Catholic Prayers

Thank You Lord

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 04:33:00 +0000

Lord God Almighty, I thank you for all the blessings you have given me. Thank you for the life full of happiness and love. You have provided me with everything I need. You gave me my family and friends who inspire, encourage and bless me with love and kind words. They are always there to lift me up when I feel down and in sorrow. If not because of you, I won’t be loved this much. Thank you, oh lord, for your glorious and unwavering love and kindness. Even with my sins and misgivings that made you suffer in the Cavalry, you still give me the people who you knew can love and protect me the way you want to love and protect me as my Father.

Lord God, I also thank you for granting all my prayers. Even with the wrong doings I have done, you always find in your heart to listen and answer my prayers. I have never imagined that you will bless me this much my Almighty Father. You keep me safe by providing me home. You make me and my family secure because of the work you have given me. Thank you Lord for providing me everything according to your riches and glory, oh God.

Thank you Jesus Christ for your grace and mercy even with the disbelief and weakness my flesh has shown over you. Thank you for the everyday life you have given me. Thank you for allowing to me to see the beauty of sunrise and the mystery of sunset again. But above all, thank you Father God for giving me another chance to spend more time with my family and friends. That alone oh Lord is enough for me to thank you and be grateful for what you have done for me, now and for always.

I know my Almighty Father that I am not worthy of your love and glory, of your forgiving heart. But still Father God, accept my sincerest apologies and my deepest thanks to you who gave me life, who gave me my happiness and who made my life entirely complete. If not for you Jesus Christ, I wouldn’t be who I am now. Thank you my Father and my Savior. In this I pray, in your name Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Prayer of Hope and Redemption

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Tue, 07 May 2013 04:26:00 +0000

Heavenly Father, you are a merciful God! You know what is in my heart and I call for you for help. Have mercy on your servant and help me gain redemption from this wretchedness. Yours is an UNFAILING LOVE.

My hope and strength leaves me as men continue to criticize and degrade my character. They have defiled my name and I have become an object of their contempt. Many have hurt me and misunderstood my words and actions but you O Lord, can comprehend the truest and deepest desires of my heart. I was disgraced and my shame has dampened my spirits. I have walked with too much burden and kept my eyes on the ground and have tried to avoid others. It has become difficult to trust anyone. I was afraid to be treated the same way again and again that I have withdrawn from others who offer of sympathy and friendship and turned to you to be safe.

Come to my rescue O Father so that I may not give up and be inspired to continue to do your will in my life. Dearest God and Father, I am truly confused and downhearted. Have I sinned so great that they have done this to me? Purify my heart and make me understand why these things are happening. Take away my pride and humble me so that I will be able to see other people’s perspective. Teach me your ways O Lord and correct me with your loving kindness. Open my heart to opportunities to be changed and to be an instrument for the change you want to happen. Use me mightily and let your hope burn inside my heart so that I will be able to carry on and be more sensitive to other people’s needs more than my own. For my hope is in you O Lord and I will praise your name forever. You are my God and your faithfulness is forever before me. I know that despite all these, you will continue to keep me safe and protect me from the plans of my enemies. You have kept me in the past and you are still doing so now. Thank you for reminding me that Your faithfulness is great! In Jesus’ mighty name.

Amen.

Congratulations Catholics!

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:17:00 +0000

Congratulations Catholics. We have a new Pope. He is is Cardinal Jorge Borgoglio of Argentina.

Parent's Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:44:00 +0000

All praise to You, Lord Jesus, Lover of children: Bless our family, And help us to lead our children to You. Give us light and strength, And courage when our task is difficult. Let Your Spirit fill us with love and peace, So that we may help our children to love You. All glory and praise are Yours, Lord Jesus, For ever and ever. Amen.

Golden Arrow

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:06:00 +0000

May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable,
most mysterious and unutterable Name of God be
always praised, blessed, loved, adored, and
glorified, in Heaven, on earth, and under the
earth, by all the creatures of God, and by the
Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the most
holy Sacrament of the altar.

Amen.

Inspiring Prayer on New-Year's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000

O triune God, Thus have we again by Thy grace brought a year of our
wretched life and weary pilgrimage upon earth to a close, and to-day in
Thy name begin another. Lord! how unspeakably great is Thy goodness, how
innumerable are Thy benefits which Thou hast shown unto me and mine in
the past, though on account of our sins we have deserved nothing at Thy
hands but wrath and punishment! Thou hast graciously preserved Thy
precious Word and holy sacraments in Thy holy congregation, peace and
unity in the government, prosperity and blessing in material comforts,
and didst richly bestow for our enjoyment all manner of blessings for
body and soul. Thou with paternal care didst protect Thy church from
false doctrine and persecution on account of the true faith, our land
from hostile invasion and evil contagion, our houses and property from
fire and water, and didst by Thy care faithfully avert from us all dire
calamities. How shall I find words to express the inestimable value of
these blessings? How can I according to my obligations be sufficiently
thankful? Behold, Lord, I offer to Thee, at the close of the old year,
the fruits of my lips, and glorify Thy grace and mercy with all my
strength and powers. My soul must honor Thee, my spirit must praise Thee,
my mouth shall thank Thee, and all that is within me must proclaim Thy
glory. I prostrate myself in heartfelt sorrow before Thy feet and confess
unto Thee with a penitent heart all my sins in which I was conceived and
born, and with which I have offended Thee during the past year, as well
as during the whole of my past life.

Most beloved Father! do not now reckon such past sins to my condemnation,
and do not remember in Thy wrath my past transgressions, but graciously
forgive and forget the same for the sake of the sufferings of Thy dearly
beloved Son. Jesus, my beloved Saviour, be merciful to me, a poor sinner,
blot out like a cloud and mist all my transgressions by Thy merit, cast
them into the sea of Thy innocent blood, that they may never more come to
light or before the judgment of God. O God, Holy Spirit! create within me
the new man, that I may not bring into the new year old sins and
impurities, but to-day begin a new life and partake anew of Thy grace.
Withhold from me, O Triune God! all long and well deserved punishment,
and continue to bless me and mine with all manner of bodily and
spiritual, temporal and eternal gifts. Let Thy grace rest upon us anew
every morning, and renew Thy good will to all who in this new year seek
their refuge with Thee and wait upon Thy goodness. Grant unto us still
further Thy precious Word, which is a joy and comfort to our hearts.
Enlighten our teachers and preachers, and grant unto their holy work the
blessing of heaven; strengthen our faithful rulers and prosper all their
good undertakings, which are pleasing to Thee. Bless our parents, and
prosper Thou the work of their hands. Fill our souls with true fear of
God, and our hearts with joy in the Holy Ghost. Bestow unto our bodies
health, and grant peace within our borders. Crown this year with Thy
goodness and grant unto us that which is necessary to the support of
life. Protect Thy church from error in the faith and from scandalous
living, our land from war, famine and pestilence, our homes from
consuming flames and all damage and danger, the products of the field
from hail and tempest. Curb the wrath and fury of satan, and send Thy
heavenly hosts that they may guard and protect us in all our ways.
Convert our enemies and check all our persecutors, help the oppressed,
provide for the poor, feed the hungry, give drink unto the thirsty,
clothe the naked, free the innocent captives, comfort the distressed,
gladden the sorrowing, strengthen the weak, care for the sick, be
merciful to the widows and orphans, deliver the oppressed, guide the
traveler and accompany the dying through death unto life.

Lord! teach us to act according to Thy good pleasure, and Thy good Spirit
direct our footsteps, that we may walk before Thee in faith, patience and
hope, in godliness and honesty, in meekness, humility and chastity, and
all Christian virtues. But when we sin, then chastise us gently; when our
sins trouble us, comfort us with Thy grace, and Thy joyful Spirit uphold
us. When satan assails us, do Thou support us, when the world persecutes
us, then protect us; when our flesh and blood would overpower us, then
strengthen our spirit; when we err, set us aright again. When we fall,
lift us up by Thy hand. When we become weak and weary in our calling,
refresh us. When we are in necessity and danger, relieve us. When we are
sick and weak, then be our physician. Should we according to Thy will
during this year depart from hence, grant that our spirits be commended
into Thy hands. O Lord! hear; Lord! be merciful; Lord! take heed and
grant it for Jesus' sake. Amen.

One of the Most Inspiring New Year Prayer I Have Read.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 02:45:00 +0000

Dear Fellow Catholics,

Truly God is great. As other people said that 2012 is the end of World, but God didn't allow that to happen. This coming year, let's all prepare for the new life that God has given to us. Let's all rejoice and pray.

I would like to share to you this New Year prayer that has been inspiring many people every year. Kindly click this link...

Inspiring New Year Prayer for Catholics

Kindly share this prayer to your family and friends. It will be the greatest New Year gift you can give to them.

Happy New Year!

A Child's Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:57:00 +0000

O Almighty God,
who hast given unto me my father and mother,
and made them to be an image of Thine authority,
and love, and tender watchfulness;
and hast commanded me to love, and honour,
and obey them in all things:
give me grace cheerfully and with my whole heart
to keep this Thy law.
Help me to love them fervently,
to honour them truly,
to yield a ready obedience to their commands,
to comply with their wishes,
to study their happiness in everything,
and to bear their rebukes with patience and humility.
Deliver me O God, from pride,
rebellion and wilfulness,
from passion and stubbornness,
from sloth and carelessness.
Make me diligent in all my duties and studies,
and patient in all my trials;
that so living, I may deserve to be Thy child,
who art our Father in Heaven.

Amen.

Bless This Day

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:40:00 +0000

This day is full of beauty and adventure,
help me Lord to be fully alive to it all.
During this day, may I become a more thoughtful person,
a more prayerful person, a more generous and kindly person.
Help me not to be turned in on myself but
to be sensitive and helpful to others.
Let me do nothing today that will hurt anyone,
but let me help at least a little,
to make life more pleasant for those I meet.

When night comes, may I look back on this day without regrets;
and may nobody be unhappy because of anything
I have said or done or failed to do.

Lord God, bless this day for me and all of us.
Make it a day in which we grow a little more like your Son,
and gentle as Mary His Mother.

Amen.

Solemnity of Christ The King: Prayer of the Faithful

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 14:21:00 +0000

For the Holy Catholic Church and all Christian churches, may we trust in Christ and become one vigorous, fruitful community of faith, so that the world may see one King of Glory and one Kingdom of God,

Let Us Pray to the Lord;

For all of the devoted pastors, dedicated deacons, faith-filled teachers, and enthusiastic musicians, choir, lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, welcomers, ushers, and altar servers, who serve their faith community, and make our celebration of mass moving, uplifting, and spirit-filled,

Let Us Pray to the Lord;

For the children of the world, may they be protected from hunger, abuse, illiteracy, disease, neglect, and violence, and allowed to enjoy lighthearted and carefree childhoods, gently molded by God’s laws and loving discipline,

Let Us Pray to the Lord;

For all who suffer: the diseased, the poor, those denied dignity, and those who live without hope, grant them the peace of knowing that Christ the King will never abandon them nor tire of tending to their needs;

Let Us Pray to the Lord;

For those who have died, may they receive the grace of redemption and join their King in paradise,

Let Us Pray to the Lord.

Doing the Impossible

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 15:48:00 +0000

God is Enough

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 15:21:00 +0000

Novena to Saint Roque

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 21:42:00 +0000

O Blessed San Roque, Patron of the sick, Have pity on those Who lie upon a bed of suffering. Your power was so great When you were in this world, That by the sign of the Cross, Many were healed of their diseases. Now that you are in heaven, Your power is not less. Offer, then, to God Our sighs and tears And obtain for us that health we seek Through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Repeat the following 3 times) San Roque, pray for us, That we may be preserved From all diseases of body and soul.

Preface of Peter and Paul

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 16:03:00 +0000

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God. For by your providence the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul bring us joy: Peter, foremost in confessing the faith, Paul, its outstanding preacher, Peter, who established the early Church from the remnant of Israel, Paul, master and teacher of the Gentiles that you call. And so, each in a different way gathered together the one family of Christ; and revered together throughout the world, they share one Martyr’s crown.

Novena to Saint Sergius and Saint Bacchus

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 21:45:00 +0000

Oh glorious Martyrs,
St. Sergius and St. Bacchus,
your courage and love
are an inspiration and joy to me.
I call upon you now
and beseech you
to intercede for me to our Lord,
God, Christ Almighty.
You are the two servants of our Lord,
whose trust in the One God,
and Holy Trinity,
was so great,
that neither public humiliation,
nor torture,
nor even the threat of death
could sway you from publicly
proclaiming your faith
in the Son of the Father, Jesus.
Our God showed how proud He was
of your love and courage,
when after the death of Bacchus,
when Sergius,
being at his lowest and loneliest,
began to lose heart,
and so the Lord sent
the spirit of Bacchus to Sergius
to allow him to console Sergius
with the promise that the two of you
would again be together in Heaven.

I beseech you now
to implore the Lord our God
and pray

(State your intention here...)

and that I may at the end of this life’s journey
join you and all of the saints
and angels and the elect in Heaven
to behold the face of God
and to praise God throughout eternity.
In return for your help and intercession,
I promise to spread the word
of your love and courage and devotion
to God our Lord.
And one final thing,
I pray that you be at my side
along with my guardian angel
to guide and guard and encourage me
throughout all the days of my life,
but especially at those times
when life seems to be most difficult
and my sufferings seem to be greatest.
Pray for me and watch over me
St. Sergius and St. Bacchus.

Amen.

Finish by saying:
3 Our Father...,
3 Hail Mary...,
3 Glory be..., and
1 Apostles' Creed....

Bless This Day

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 12:53:00 +0000

This day is full of beauty and adventure, help me Lord to be fully alive to it all. During this day, may I become a more thoughtful person, a more prayerful person, a more generous and kindly person. Help me not to be turned in on myself but to be sensitive and helpful to others. Let me do nothing today that will hurt anyone, but let me help at least a little, to make life more pleasant for those I meet. When night comes, may I look back on this day without regrets; and may nobody be unhappy because of anything I have said or done or failed to do. Lord God, bless this day for me and all of us. Make it a day in which we grow a little more like your Son, and gentle as Mary His Mother. Amen.

Easter Sunday Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 01:23:00 +0000

God our Father,
We thank You for the gift
Even before You raised Christ Your Son
You already planted in our heart and soul
The spirit of Your Son Jesus Christ
by raising Christ your Son
Not to prove that You can conquer the power of death
But to make us realize that
the Christ has always been in our heart
and opened for us the way to eternal life.

Today we celebrate this gift
Today we celebrate that we can accomplish more
because His spirit is within us
Today we celebrate that we can be strong for
all the challenges that we have encountered.
Today we celebrate that we can be happy
and nothing to be afraid of.
Today we celebrate that we are always safe
since the Christ is within us to protect us all the time
Today we celebrate that we have hope
for all the people in the world
Today we celebrate the renewal of our lives
by His Spirit within us
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Easter Even

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 14:22:00 +0000

THE COLLECT.

Grant, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy
blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, so by continual mortifying
our corrupt affections we may be buried with him; and that,
through the grave, and gate of death, we may pass to our joyful
resurrection; for his merits, who died, and was buried, and rose
again for us, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

THE EPISTLE. 1 St Peter iii. 17.

It is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for
well-doing, than for evil-doing. For Christ also hath once
suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us
to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the
Spirit: by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in
prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering
of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing;
wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water. The like
figure whereunto, even baptism, doth also now save us, (not the
putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience towards God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: who
is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God, angels and
authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xxvii. 57.

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named
Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple. He went to Pilate,
and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be
delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a
clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had
hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of
the sepulchre, and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene, and
the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. Now the next
day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests
and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember
that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days
I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made
sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night and
steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead:
so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto
them, Ye have a watch; go your way, make it as sure as you can. So
they went and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and
setting a watch.

Good Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:12:00 +0000

THE COLLECTS.

Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family,
for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and
given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon
the cross, who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy
Ghost, ever one God, world without end. _Amen_.

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of
the Church is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications
and prayers, which we offer before thee for all estates of men in
thy holy Church, that every member of the same, in his vocation
and ministry, may truly and godly serve thee; through our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ. _Amen_.

O merciful God, who hast made all men, and hatest nothing that thou
hast made, nor wouldest the death of a sinner, but rather that he
should be converted and live: Have mercy upon all Jews, Turks,
Infidels, and Heretics, and take from them all ignorance, hardness
of heart, and contempt of thy word; and so fetch them home, blessed
Lord, to thy flock, that they may be saved among the remnant of
the true Israelites, and be made one fold under one shepherd,
Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the
Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. _Amen_.

THE EPISTLE. Hebr. x. 1.

The law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very
image of the things, can never with those sacrifices, which they
offered year by year continually, make the comers there unto
perfect: for then would they not have ceased to be offered? because
that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience
of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made
of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls
and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore, when he cometh into
the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but
a body hast thou prepared me: in burnt-offerings and sacrifices for
sin thou hast had no pleasure: then said I, Lo, I come (in the
volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God.
Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt-offerings
and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure
therein, (which are offered by the law;) then said he, Lo, I come
to do thy will, O God: he taketh away the first, that he may
establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified, through
the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every
priest standeth daily ministering, and offering oftentimes the
same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this man,
after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on
the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies
be made his foot-stool. For by one offering he hath perfected for
ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a
witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the
covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the
Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds
will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember
no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering
for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the
holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he
hath consecrated for us, through the vail, that is to say, his
flesh; and having an High Priest over the house of God; let us draw
near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our
hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed
with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith
without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us
consider one another to provoke unto love, and to good works; not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of
some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see
the day approaching.

THE GOSPEL. St John xix. 1.

Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. And the soldiers
platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put
on him a purple robe, and said, Hail, King of the Jews: and they
smote him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again, and
saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may
know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing
the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto
them, Behold the man! When the chief priests therefore and officers
saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate
saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault
in him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he
ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. When Pilate
therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; and went
again into the judgement-hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art
thou? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then saith Pilate unto him,
Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to
crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou
couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given
thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath
the greater sin. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him:
but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art
not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh
against Caesar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought
Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgement-seat, in a place that is
called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the
preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith
unto the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with him,
away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify
your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar.
Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified: and they
took Jesus, and led him away. And he, bearing his cross, went forth
into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the
Hebrew, Golgotha: where they crucified him, and two other with him,
on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a
title, and put it on the cross; and the writing was, JESUS OF
NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.

This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus
was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew,
and Greek, and Latin. Then said the chief priests of the Jews to
Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am the
King of the Jews. Pilate answered, What I have written, I have
written. Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took
his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and
also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top
throughout. They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend
it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the Scripture
might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them,
and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the
soldiers did. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother,
and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary
Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple
standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman,
behold thy son. Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother.
And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished,
that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. Now there
was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with
vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. When
Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished:
and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. The Jews therefore,
because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain
upon the cross on the sabbath-day, (for that sabbath-day was an
high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and
that they might be taken away. Then came the soldiers, and brake
the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with
him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already,
they brake not his legs. But one of the soldiers with a spear
pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he
knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. For these things
were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him
shall not be broken. And again another Scripture saith, They shall
look on him whom they pierced.

Thursday Before Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:08:00 +0000

THE EPISTLE. 1 Cor. xi. 17.

In this that I declare unto you, I praise you not; that ye come
together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all,
when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions
among you, and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies
among you, that they who are approved may be made manifest among
you. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not
to eat the Lord's supper: for in eating every one taketh before
other his own supper; and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
What, have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the
church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to
you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. For I have
received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That
the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread;
and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat;
this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of
me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped,
saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as
oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat
this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he
come. Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup
of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of
the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that
bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh
unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning
the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you,
and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be
judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that
we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren,
when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man
hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto
condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

THE GOSPEL. St Luke xxiii. 1.

The whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. And they
began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the
nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying, That he
himself is Christ a King. And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou
the King of the Jews? And he answered him, and said, Thou sayest
it. Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I
find no fault in this man. And they were the more fierce, saying,
He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning
from Galilee to this place. When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked
whether the man were a Galilaean. And as soon as he knew that he
belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who
himself was also at Jerusalem at that time. And when Herod saw
Jesus he was exceeding glad; for he was desirous to see him of a
long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped
to have seen some miracle done by him. Then he questioned with him
in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests
and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. And Herod with his
men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a
gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. And the same day
Pilate and Herod were made friends together; for before they were
at enmity between themselves. And Pilate, when he had called
together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, said unto
them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth
the people: and behold, I, having examined him before you, have
found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse
him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and lo, nothing
worthy of death is done unto him. I will therefore chastise him,
and release him. For of necessity he must release one unto them
at the feast. And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with
this man, and release unto us Barabbas: (who for a certain sedition
made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) Pilate
therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. But
they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. And he said unto
them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found
no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let
him go. And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he
might be crucified: and the voices of them and of the chief priests
prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they
required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and
murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered
Jesus to their will. And as they led him away, they laid hold upon
one Simon a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they
laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. And there
followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also
bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus, turning unto them, said,
Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves,
and for your children. For behold, the days are coming, in the
which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that
never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they
begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover
us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be
done in the dry? And there were also two other, malefactors, led
with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place
which is called Calvary, there they crucified him; and the
malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they
do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people
stood beholding; and the rulers also with them derided him, saying,
He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen
of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and
offering him vinegar, and saying, If thou be the King of the
Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over
him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING
OF THE JEWS. And one of the malefactors, which were hanged, railed
on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the
other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God,
seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly;
for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done
nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou
comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto
thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. And it was about
the sixth hour: and there was a darkness over all the earth until
the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the vail of the
temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud
voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and
having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion
saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was
a righteous man. And all the people that came together to that
sight, beholding the things that were done, smote their breasts
and returned. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed
him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

Wednesday Before Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:05:00 +0000

THE EPISTLE. Hebr. ix. 16.

Where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of
the testator: for a testament is of force after men are dead; other
wise it is of no strength at all whilst the testator liveth.
Whereupon, neither the first testament was dedicated without
blood: for when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people,
according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats,
with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book
and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament,
which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover, he sprinkled with
blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. And
almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without
shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that
the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with
these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices
than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made
with hands, which are the figures of the true, but into heaven
itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor yet that
he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into
the holy place every year with blood of others: for then must he
often have suffered since the foundation of the world; but now once
in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the
sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die,
but after this the judgement: so Christ was once offered to bear
the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear
the second time without sin unto salvation.

THE GOSPEL. St Luke xxii. 1.

Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the
Passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might
kill him; for they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas
surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went
his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he
might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to
give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray
him unto them in the absence of the multitude. Then came the day of
unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. And he sent
Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may
eat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? And
he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there
shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into
the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the good-man of
the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest-chamber,
where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he shall shew
you a large upper-room furnished; there make ready. And they went,
and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the
passover. And when the hour was come he sat down, and the twelve
Apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have
desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: for I say
unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled
in the Kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and
said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I say unto
you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom
of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake
it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body, which is given for
you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after
supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is
shed for you. But behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with
me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goeth as it was determined;
but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed. And they began to
inquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this
thing. And there was also a strife among them, which of them should
be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the
Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and they that exercise
authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so:
but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and
he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he
that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at
meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. Ye are they which have
continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a
kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and
drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the
twelve tribes of Israel. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold,
Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but
I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art
converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord,
I am ready to go with thee both into prison and to death. And he
said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before
that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. And he said unto
them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked
ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. Then said he unto them, But
now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip:
and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. For
I say unto you, That this that is written must yet be accomplished
in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things
concerning me have an end. And they said, Lord, behold, here are two
swords. And he said unto them, It is enough. And he came out, and
went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives, and his disciples also
followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them,
Pray, that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn
from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down and prayed,
saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me:
nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. And there appeared
an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an
agony, he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great
drops of blood falling-down to the ground. And when he rose up
from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping
for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest
ye enter into temptation. And while he yet spake, behold, a
multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went
before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said
unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss? When
they who were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him,
Lord, shall we smite with the sword? And one of them smote the
servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. And Jesus
answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and
healed him. Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains
of the temple, and the elders who were come to him, Be ye come out
as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with
you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but
this is your hour, and the power of darkness. Then took they him,
and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house: and
Peter followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the
midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among
them. But a certain maid beheld him, as he sat by the fire, and
earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. And after a
little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them.
And Peter said, Man, I am not. And about the space of one hour
after, another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this
fellow also was with him; for he is a Galilean. And Peter said,
Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet
spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter;
and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto
him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter
went out, and wept bitterly. And the men that held Jesus mocked
him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they
struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is
it that smote thee? And many other things blasphemously spake
they against him. And as soon as it was day, the elders of the
people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and
led him into their council, saying, Art thou the Christ? tell us.
And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe: and if
I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go. Hereafter
shall the Son of Man sit on the right hand of the power of God.
Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto
them, Ye say that I am. And they said, What need we any further
witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

Tuesday Before Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:02:00 +0000

FOR THE EPISTLE. Isaiah l. 5.

Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither
turned away back. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to
them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and
spitting. For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be
confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know
that I shall not be ashamed. He is near that justifieth me; who
will contend with me? Let us stand together; who is mine adversary?
let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God will help me; who is
he that shall condemn me? Lo, they all shall wax old as a garment:
the moth shall eat them up. Who is among you that feareth the Lord,
that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and
hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon
his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves
about with sparks; walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks
that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand, ye shall
lie down in sorrow.

THE GOSPEL. St Mark xv. 1.

And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation
with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus,
and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. And Pilate
asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said
unto him, Thou sayest it. And the chief priests accused him of
many things: but he answered nothing. And Pilate asked him again,
saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness
against thee. But Jesus yet answered nothing: so that Pilate
marvelled. Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner,
whomsoever they desired. And there was one named Barabbas, which
lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had
committed murder in the insurrection. And the multitude, crying
aloud, began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them. But
Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the
King of the Jews? For he knew that the chief priests had delivered
him for envy. But the chief priests moved the people, that he should
rather release Barabbas unto them. And Pilate answered, and said
again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye
call the King of the Jews? And they cried out again, Crucify him.
Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they
cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. And so Pilate, willing
to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered
Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. And the soldiers
led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together
the whole band. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a
crown of thorns, and put it about his head: and began to salute
him, Hail, King of the Jews. And they smote him on the head with a
reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him,
and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him. And
they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the
country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. And
they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted,
The place of a skull. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with
myrrh; but he received it not. And when they had crucified him they
parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should
take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the
superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE
JEWS. And with him they crucify two thieves, the one on his right
hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled,
which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors. And they
that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah,
thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief
priests mocking said among themselves, with the scribes, He saved
others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel
descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they
that were crucified with him reviled him. And when the sixth hour
was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth
hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,
_Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?_ which is, being interpreted, My
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And some of them that stood
by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. And one ran
and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave
him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come
to take him down. And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the
ghost. And the vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to
the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him,
saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this
man was the Son of God.

Monday Before Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:58:00 +0000

FOR THE EPISTLE. Isaiah lxiii. 1.

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?
this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness
of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like
him that treadeth in the wine-fat? I have trodden the wine-press
alone, and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread
them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury, and their blood
shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my
raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year
of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help;
and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own
arm brought salvation unto me, and my fury it upheld me. And I
will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in
my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth. I will
mention the loving-kindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the
Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the
great goodness towards the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed
on them, according to his mercies, and according to the multitude
of his loving-kindnesses. For he said, Surely they are my people,
children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. In all their
affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved
them: in his love, and in his pity, he redeemed them, and he bare
them, and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled,
and vexed his Holy Spirit; therefore he was turned to be their
enemy, and he fought against them. Then he remembered the days of
old, Moses and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them
up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he
that put his Holy Spirit within him? that led them by the right
hand of Moses, with his glorious arm, dividing the water before
them, to make himself an everlasting name? that led them through
the deep as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not
stumble? As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of
the Lord caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to
make thyself a glorious name. Look down from heaven, and behold
from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory; where is
thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels, and of thy
mercies towards me? Are they restrained? Doubtless thou art our
Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge
us not: Thou, O Lord, art our Father, our Redeemer, thy name is
from everlasting. O Lord, why hast thou made us to err from thy
ways? and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy
servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. The people of
thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries
have trodden down thy sanctuary. We are thine: thou never barest
rule over them; they were not called by thy name.

THE GOSPEL. St Mark xiv. 1.

After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened
bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might
take him by craft, and put him to death. But they said, Not on the
feast-day, lest there be an uproar of the people. And being in
Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there
came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard, very
precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head. And
there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said,
Why was this waste of the ointment made? for it might have been sold
for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor:
and they murmured against her. And Jesus said, Let her alone; why
trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me: for ye have the
poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good;
but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could; she is
come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto
you, Wheresoever this Gospel shall be preached throughout the whole
world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a
memorial of her. And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto
the chief priests to betray him unto them. And when they heard it
they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how
he might conveniently betray him. And the first day of unleavened
bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him,
Where wilt thou that we go and prepare, that thou mayest eat the
passover? And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto
them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing
a pitcher of water; follow him: and wheresoever he shall go in, say
ye to the good-man of the house, The Master saith, Where is the
guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
And he will shew you a large upper-room furnished and prepared:
there make ready for us. And his disciples went forth, and came
into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made
ready the passover. And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.
And as they sat, and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you,
One of you which eateth with me shall betray me. And they began to
be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another
said, Is it I? And he answered and said unto them, It is one of
the twelve that dippeth with me in the dish. The Son of Man indeed
goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son
of Man is betrayed: good were it for that man if he had never been
born. And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and
brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to
them: and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my
blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say
unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that
day that I drink it new in the Kingdom of God. And when they had
sung an hymn they went out into the mount of Olives. And Jesus
saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night:
for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall
be scattered. But, after that I am risen, I will go before you
into Galilee. But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be
offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say
unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow
twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. But he spake the more vehemently,
If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise.
Likewise also said they all. And they came to a place which was
named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here,
while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter and James and
John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy, and saith
unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death; tarry ye
here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the
ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass
from him. And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto
thee; take away this cup from me; nevertheless, not what I will,
but what thou wilt. And he cometh and findeth them sleeping, and
saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch
one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation: the
spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. And again he went
away, and prayed, and spake the same words. And when he returned
he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither
wist they what to answer him. And he cometh the third time, and
saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough,
the hour is come; behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands
of sinners. Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at
hand. And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of
the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves,
from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. And he that
betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall
kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely. And as
soon as he was come he goeth straightway to him, and saith,
Master, master; and kissed him. And they laid their hands on him,
and took him. And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and
smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. And Jesus
answered, and said unto them, Are ye come out as against a thief,
with swords and with staves, to take me? I was daily with you in
the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the Scriptures must
be fulfilled. And they all forsook him, and fled. And there followed
him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked
body; and the young men laid hold on him: and he left the linen
cloth, and fled from them naked. And they led Jesus away to the
high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests
and the elders and the scribes. And Peter followed him afar off,
even into the palace of the high priest; and he sat with the
servants, and warmed himself at the fire. And the chief priests and
all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to
death; and found none. For many bare false witness against him,
but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain,
and bare false witness against him, saying, We heard him say, I
will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three
days I will build another made without hands. But neither so did
their witness agree together. And the high priest stood up in the
midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it
which these witness against thee? But he held his peace, and
answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto
him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said,
I am; and ye shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of
power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest
rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned
him to be guilty of death. And some began to spit on him, and to
cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy:
and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands. And
as Peter was beneath in the palace there cometh one of the maids
of the high priest; and when she saw Peter warming himself she
looked upon him, and said. And thou also wast with Jesus of
Nazareth. But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I
what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock
crew. And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that
stood by, This is one of them. And he denied it again. And a little
after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one
of them; for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth there
to. But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this
man of whom ye speak. And the second time the cock crew. And Peter
called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock
crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought
thereon, he wept.

The Sunday Next Before Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 13:55:00 +0000

THE COLLECT.

Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards
mankind, hast sent thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon
him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind
should follow the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant,
that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be
made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ
our Lord. _Amen_.

THE EPISTLE. Philip, ii. 5.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who,
being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal
with God; but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him
the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and
being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God
also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above
every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of
things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to
the glory of God the Father.

THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xxvii. 1.

When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of
the people took counsel against Jesus, to put him to death. And
when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to
Pontius Pilate the governor. Then Judas who had betrayed him, when
he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again
the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
saying, I have sinned, in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.
And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast
down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went
and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces,
and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury,
because it is the price of blood. And they took counsel, and bought
with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Wherefore that
field was called, The field of blood, unto this day. (Then was
fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,
And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that
was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value, and gave
them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.) And Jesus
stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, saying, Art
thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he
answered nothing. Then saith Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not
how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him to
never a word, insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly. Now at
that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a
prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner,
called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate
said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or
Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had
delivered him. When he was set down on the judgement-seat, his wife
sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man:
for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they
should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and
said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto
you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do
then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let
him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he
done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a
tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the
multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person:
see ye to it. Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be
on us, and on our children. Then released he Barabbas unto them:
and when he had scourged Jesus he delivered him to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall,
and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped
him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a
crown of thorns they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right
hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying,
Hail, King of the Jews. And they spit upon him, and took the reed,
and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him they
took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and
led him away to crucify him. And as they came out they found a
man of Cyrene, Simon by name; him they compelled to bear his
cross. And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that
is to say, a place of a skull, they gave him vinegar to drink
mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not
drink. And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting
lots: that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken by the prophet,
They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they
cast lots. And sitting down they watched him there; and set up
over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF
THE JEWS. Then were there two thieves crucified with him; one on
the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by
reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest
the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself: if thou
be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the
chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He
saved others, himself he cannot save: if he be the King of Israel,
let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He
trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he
said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified
with him, cast the same in his teeth. Now from the sixth hour there
was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the
ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, _Eli, Eli, lama
sabachthani?_ that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou
forsaken me? Some of them that stood there, when they heard that,
said, This man calleth for Elias. And straightway one of them ran,
and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a
reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, Let be, let us see
whether Elias will come to save him. Jesus, when he had cried
again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And behold, the
vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom,
and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent, and the graves were
opened, and many bodies of saints which slept arose, and came out
of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city,
and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion and they that were
with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake and those things
that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the
Son of God.

The Fifth Sunday in Lent

noreply@blogger.com (Catholic Prayers) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:50:00 +0000

THE COLLECT.

We beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people;
that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved
evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
_Amen_.

THE EPISTLE. Hebr. ix. 11.

Christ being come an High Priest of good things to come, by a
greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands; that is
to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and
calves; but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy
place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood
of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the
unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh; how much more
shall the blood of Christ, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered
himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works
to serve the living God? And for this cause he is the Mediator of
the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of
the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which
are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

THE GOSPEL. St John viii. 46.

Jesus said, Which of you convinceth me of sin? and if I say the
truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's
words; ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then
answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well, that thou
art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a
devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek
not mine own glory; there is one that seeketh and judgeth. Verily,
verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never
see death. Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast
a devil: Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a
man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. Art thou greater
than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead:
whom makest thou thyself? Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my
honour is nothing; it is my Father that honoureth me, of whom ye
say, that he is your God: yet ye have not known him; but I know
him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like
unto you; but I know him, and keep his saying. Your father Abraham
rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the
Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou
seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto
you, Before Abraham was, I am. Then took they up stones to cast
at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple.