14th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Monday - God, the Divine Lover

 Last week, our first readings were taken exclusively from the prophet Amos. Remember, Amos, born in the south, was called by God up to the northern kingdom of Israel, to preach during the reign of Jeroboam II, a time of prosperity, for some. The rich were getting richer by exploiting the poor. Idol worship also was prevalent during this time.

Today we began reading from the prophet Hosea. Now Hosea was a native of the north during this period of exploitation and social injustice and idolatry. Hosea’s ministry overlapped with the tail end of Amos’ prophetic campaign. 

And Hosea will pick up right where Amos left off: condemning injustice and religious deviance. Like Amos, Hosea called for repentance and a return to true worship of God and warned of impending judgment if the people didn't change their ways. 

While their message was similar, Hosea would adopt a different approach—his approach was much more emotional. Hosea described God and Israel as lovers, but Israel had turned her back on God her faithful husband and began an adulterous affair with the idols of the world. 

And although  he has been betrayed, Hosea portrays God as loving, faithful, longsuffering, who, while deeply betrayed by Israel's unfaithfulness, God pursues reconciliation.

So, in our reading today, we hear how God describes his plan to lead Israel into the desert that place where he provided for Israel during the exodus and He will appeal to her heart—he will remind Israel of the tender, personal communication, they once shared—he will make a heartfelt plea for Israel to return to the loving and forgiving arms of her husband. God hopes that the love that they had in the beginning would be rekindled—the early days of Israel in which Israel was faithful and zealous for God.

This passage shows that God continues to pursue a relationship with us even when we've been unfaithful. God is always ready to welcome us back when we’ve sinned. So too, God desires a personal, deeply felt relationship with us—he desires to speak to our hearts in prayer every day. A genuine relationship with God involves a deep, experiential knowledge of Him. This includes intellectual understanding of his ways, but a personal, lived experience of God in the concrete details of our life.

It's never too late to start anew in our relationship with God, rekindling the passion and commitment we may have lost. We do well to examine our personal relationship with God from time to time, and ensure that we are striving for a deep connection with God based on love. A healthy relationship with God affects all aspects of our lives - our moral choices, our emotions, our leisure activities, our involvement in our parish and politics. Everything. 

May we know God’s deep abiding presence with us by turning away from our sins and living in the embrace of his love for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Church, that we may always be open to God's loving pursuit and respond with faithfulness and zeal. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who feel distant from God, that they may experience His tender call and find the courage to turn to His embrace. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our society, that we may recognize and address the exploitation of the poor and vulnerable, fostering justice and compassion and that our world, often torn by conflict and division, may experience God's reconciling love and work together for peace and unity. Let us pray to the Lord

For all believers, that we may deepen our personal relationship with God through sincere prayer and lived experience of His presence and for those struggling with idolatry in various forms, that they may turn away from false gods and find true fulfillment in God's love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the loving mercy of the Precious Blood of Jesus, be close to them in their trials.

And that all those redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus may come to the glory of heaven, especially X for whom this mass is offered.

Loving and faithful God, you pursue us with unending love, even when we stray from Your paths. Grant us what we truly need to remain in right relationship with you and to be faithful in serving your Holy Will. Through Christ our Lord. 

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024 - My grace is sufficient

 In the lives of the saints, we find records of extraordinary mystical phenomena, special visions,  and  revelations from heaven.

For example, St. Faustina, the little polish nun from the beginning of the 20th century had visions of the Lord Himself, who tasked her with making known the message of His Divine Mercy. 

The holy children of Fatima, St. Bernadette and St. Juan Diego were visited by Our Lady.

St. Theresa of Avila, as well as St. Francis of Assisi, Alphonsus Ligouri, and St. Padre Pio are said to have sometimes levitated, they began to hover above the earth, as they became enraptured in mystical prayer.

St. Catherine of Siena’s life was filled with mystical phenomena: such as ecstatic raptures, and her mystical marriage to the Lord Himself.

The mystics experienced both mystical ecstasies as well as mystical sufferings: St. Francis, Padre Pio, St. Catherine, suffered the mystical stigmata, the wounds from Our Lord’s passion and crucifixion appeared in their flesh. St. John Vianney would be harassed and physically assaulted by the devil, often when a long-time sinner would be making a good confession to Fr. Vianney.

The New Testament describes several mystical experiences of the Apostle Paul: we know Paul had a life-changing encounter with the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus. He saw the Lord, spoke with Him, and gave his life over to Him. In II Corinthians, Paul writes about being mystically brought up to the third heaven: I do not know what that means, perhaps he experienced levels of closeness to God in heaven like Dante in the Divine Comedy.

And, in the second reading today, Paul writes about an “abundance of revelations” he received from the Lord. But then, Paul writes of this very strange phenomenon,  “a thorn in the flesh was given to me,” he writes, “an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.”

Perhaps this “thorn in the flesh” referred to the stigmata, a wound from the Lord’s Crown of Thorns? But, we honestly don’t know exactly what Paul means. Some wonder if it was embarrassing skin affliction. Or it may have referred to a reoccurring sensual temptation, an unwanted attraction to something he knew was bad for his soul that he had to remain vigilant against. Or maybe he was referring  to a particularly difficult challenge in his ministry, a certain group of people that simply would not convert. But we really don’t know exactly what he’s talking about. We can surmise that Paul is clearly not talking about some little passing problem. It was a thorny circumstance that wouldn’t go away.

What we do know is what Paul tells us: he prayed to be delivered of this “thorn in the flesh”.  “Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me.” In other words, over and over and over Paul begged God to be relieved of this suffering. I think we can all relate to Paul here. Who here hasn’t had some challenge, some hurdle, some temptation, some suffering, that no matter how often we prayed, we couldn’t be rid of it?

I think many people who struggle with addiction relate to Paul here. Many addicts will even use the same language, “my addiction is like a demon that I can’t be free of.”

But no doubt, every one of us has some thorn, something physical or psychological, emotional or spiritual, some problem that won’t go away, even when we pray for deliverance, for help. 

So why won’t the Lord deliver us, why won’t he free us from our thorns? Likely, to teach us the same lesson he taught Paul. “Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you.” God wants to teach us that his grace is sufficient for us.

What do we mean by grace? The unmerited love of God, the strength and help and power that God gives…is enough. No matter what our suffering consists of—an illness, a loss, a temptation, God’s grace is sufficient for us…to what?…to flourish!…to become the people God made us to be! When the Christian is reliant on God’s grace we have everything we need to overcome temptation, to get through difficulty, to carry our cross, and to remain on the road to heaven. 

Every illness, every loss, every temptation, can become an opportunity to grow in grace. For the Christian, behind every curse there is a blessing, behind every suffering, there is joy, in knowing God’s grace sustains us.

St. Paul, St. Catherine, St. Padre Pio had these amazing mystical experiences, but they also had their thorns—they had great ecstasies but also great afflictions. And they teach us that the Christian life will always be filled with both: joys and sorrows. We will never be free from thorns during our earthly journey, but we are also never abandoned. 

The thorns are proof that God wants something great from all of us: he wants great trust in His grace, he wants not mediocre Christian faith, but great sanctity. He wants us to be the Francis’ and Paul’s and Catherine’s of this age.

The thorns are reminders that none of us are finished products: we never reach such a point of sanctity that we become independent of God. In fact, as the saint grows in holiness, they recognize their utter dependence on God.

In the Gospel today, Jesus Himself is rejected by his neighbors. What a thorn that must have been: to be rejected by the people you grew up with! So too the Christian, if we are living our faith authentically, it’s likely we’ll face similar rejection. You might be mocked for being a Christian, you might be mocked for going to Church every week, your children and grandchildren might laugh at your faith. But in those times, we need to trust that our task isn’t to be liked by everybody, but to share the Christian Gospel and to live the Christian Gospel faithfully. Being rejected for the Gospel isn’t proof that we are doing something wrong, but doing something right.

Similarly, remaining faithful to the Church’s moral teaching might feel like this painful thorn in the flesh. But we don’t just practice Christianity when it’s easy. We discover, like Paul, that our weaknesses are made strong by God’s grace, and what we endure for His sake brings about powerful conversions and transformation in our world and in our souls.

So pray for each other and pray with each other, to remain faithful when we suffer the thorns of this world. May we all come to really trust that amidst all the thorns and challenges and rejections and illnesses and setbacks and great sufferings of our lives, that Lord’s grace is sufficient. That through them, the Lord works to transform us into saints, into the people he made us to be, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

First Friday Holy Hour - July 2024 - The invitation to follow Christ in mercy and sacrifice

 

Like St. Matthew in the Gospel today, the Lord has given us an invitation: “follow me”. And that invitation has led us here, to the Lord’s Eucharistic presence.

With those two simple words, “Follow me”, Jesus transformed Matthew’s life. And Matthew? He responded without hesitation, leaving behind his old life to follow Christ.

Leaving something behind in order to follow Christ always leads to the transformations God wants for us. 

In the Eucharist, we see the same Jesus who dined with tax collectors and sinners. He continues to invite us – sinners though we are – to His heavenly banquet. Just as He transformed bread and wine into His body and blood, He seeks to transform our lives through the Eucharist—in our adoration of the Eucharist and of course our reception of the Eucharist at mass.

The Pharisees questioned why Jesus ate with sinners. Yet here we are, sinners ourselves. As Jesus said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do." In the Eucharist, we find our divine physician, healing our souls and nourishing us for our journey of faith.

Christ's words, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice," take on profound meaning in light of the Eucharist in which Jesus offers Himself as both the mercy we receive and the sacrifice that saves us. He invites us not because of our worthiness, but because of His limitless love and mercy.

As we adore Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, let us reflect:

How is Christ calling us to follow Him more closely through our devotion to the Eucharist?

What must we leave behind to respond more fully to His invitation?

To whom are we being challenged to extend the same mercy to others that Christ extends to us?

How is God calling me to sacrifice more fully my time, talent, and treasure for the mission of the Church?

May this time of adoration deepen our love for the Eucharist and strengthen our resolve to follow Christ. Let us allow the transformative power of His presence to change us, just as it changed Matthew, so that we may become living witnesses of His love and mercy in the world for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

13th Week of Ordinary Time 2024 - Friday - "I desire mercy"

 Earlier in the week, we considered how the prophet Amos was sent by God to the northern kingdom, particularly those with economic, social, and political power, taking them to task for their mistreatment of the needy, poor, and afflicted—enriching themselves at the expense of the vulnerable.

In today’s reading we hear about how the greedy merchants were eager for the religious feasts to be over so that they could return to their unethical business practices. They would “add to the weights, and fix their scales for cheating”. In other words, they would falsify the volume of their product and the price of the product, so that the buyer would be doubly cheated. 

This passage is certainly a warning from the word of God for all those engaged in business. However, Amos also describes how these sins against the poor were bringing destruction to the kingdom. Theft and exploitation and greed are antithetical to the order of God. 

In its section on the seventh commandment’s prohibition of theft, the catechism talks about how “those responsible for business enterprises have a responsibility to society for the economic and ecological effects of their operations. They have an obligation to consider the good of persons and not only the increase of profits.”

Now, most of us do not own our own businesses, but there is certainly a lesson here for all of us. You don’t have to own a business to be tempted by greed or covetousness or pure self-interest. Only thinking about yourself is bad for you and for everybody. Rather, the individual and society thrive when each of us aims at the highest good for ourselves and others. Christ-like sacrificial self-giving which alleviates the burdens of others and works for their betterment, is good pro omnibus et singulis—for all and for the individual.

Catechism says, “God blesses those who come to the aid of the poor and rebukes those who turn away from them: "Give to him who begs from you, do not refuse him who would borrow from you"; "you received without pay, give without pay." It is by what they have done for the poor that Jesus Christ will recognize his chosen ones.”

This is why in the Gospel, the Lord tells the pharisees to go and learn the meaning of the words, “I desire mercy”. 

When we engage in works of mercy-- coming to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities—instructing, advising, consoling, comforting, feeding, clothing, healing, and visiting the lonely, we transform lives and the fabric of our society. May we be found in all of our dealings to be honest, generous, and merciful for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For all Christians, that we may heed the call to show mercy and compassion in our daily lives, recognizing Christ in the face of the poor and marginalized. Let us pray to the Lord.

That the values of the kingdom of God may guide our government leaders and legislators, our families, businesses, civil institutions, and all our domestic affairs. 

For those suffering from poverty and exploitation: may they find relief and support through the work and charity of the Church and people of good will, and for the conversion of the greedy and selfish.

That our parish may continue to respond generously to the needs of our neighbors. 

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the loving mercy of the Precious Blood of Jesus, be close to them in their trials.

And that all those redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus may come to the glory of heaven, especially X for whom this mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

July 4 2024 - Independence Day - No national Freedom without spiritual and moral freedom

 As we gather today to celebrate Independence Day, we reflect on the values and freedoms that define our nation. Today’s reading from Galatians offers us profound insights into living a life guided by the Spirit, which aligns beautifully with the principles of freedom and justice that we hold dear as Americans.

Saint Paul tells us, “For the flesh has desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you may not do what you want.”  This struggle is something we all experience. It is the battle between our earthly desires and our higher calling to live according to the Spirit of God.

On this Independence Day, we are reminded that the freedom to pursue liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness—requires a deeper freedom. True freedom is pursued not in indulging our every desire but in living by the Spirit.

Our nation's founding fathers envisioned a land where liberty and justice prevail, but they also understood that true freedom requires a moral foundation. They knew that without virtue, freedom could easily devolve into chaos and self-destruction. Saint Paul warns us of the “works of the flesh,” such as immorality, impurity, jealousy, and selfishness, which lead us away from the kingdom of God. These vices not only enslave the individual but also corrode the very fabric of our society. The inevitable consequence of abusing freedom is loosing freedom.  Bad habits which start out as cobwebs can end up as chains.  

Rather, on this Independence Day, we renew our commitment to live by the Spirit, which brings forth the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These virtues are the bedrock of a truly free and just society; they are the hallmarks of a life led by the Spirit, a life of true freedom.  When we embody these fruits, we contribute to the common good, nurturing a nation where every person can flourish.

Living by the Spirit means more than avoiding sin; it means actively pursuing a life of virtue. It means loving our neighbors, seeking peace, showing kindness and generosity, being faithful in our commitments, practicing gentleness, and exercising self-control. 

Our freedom as a nation was hard-won and is maintained through the sacrifices of many. Similarly, our spiritual freedom was purchased at a great price—through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As Paul reminds us, "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires."

National freedom and the active, intentional turning away from vice and nurturing spiritual fruit are all intertwined. Which is why as Christians, we seek spiritual and moral reform for ourselves, and pray for it in our neighbors. We are to witness to them what authentic freedom looks like—a life surrendered to Christ, in which spiritual fruit is evident and abundant.

We all have a responsibility to make this country great, to build it up, and to preserve freedom. But more effective than political activism or internet arguments is your personal sanctification. You and I becoming the saints God made us to be, but turning away from vice and practicing heroic virtue, is the reform our nation needs. 

The soul’s union with Christ through the Holy Spirit is the greatest defense against tyranny. For freedom of the Spirit is freedom against every earthly and spiritual evil.

May our nation be blessed, in its citizens and institutions with true moral and spiritual freedom for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Please stand for our petitions.  Our petitions this morning are those composed for the inauguration of President George Washington by Archbishop John Carroll, First Roman Catholic bishop in our country whose brother Charles Carroll was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

We pray Thee, O almighty and eternal God! Who through Jesus Christ hast revealed Thy glory to all nations ... 

We pray Thee, O God of might, wisdom, and justice! Through Whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Thy holy spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of the United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty. 

We pray for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they maybe enabled, by Thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability. 

We recommend likewise, to Thy unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Thy most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world can not give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal. 

And we pray especially for all of our countrymen who have gone before us in faith, for all those who have fought and died for our country’s freedom, for all the of the deceased members of our family and friends, and for N., for whom this Mass is offered.  Hear the petitions we have thus voiced, and those we hold in the silence of our hearts. This we ask through Christ our Lord.

July 3 2024 - St. Thomas the Apostle - Doubt and Faith

 Doubt. For his moment of incredulity, St. Thomas is associated with doubt. Is doubt good or bad? Well, that depends. 

Doubt can sometimes be a very good thing.  If we believed every advertisement, every swindler and snake oil salesman, and scam artist, we would be broke. If we believed every new age guru, self-help expert, alien abductee, we’d be drawn away from the truth of Christ. If we believed everything we heard, every exaggerating politician or family member, then our mind would be filled with so many contradictory ideas, we wouldn’t be able to function.  In an era of fake news, Artificial Intelligence created deep-fakes, and internet scams, doubt can be a very good thing.

Our justice system requires us to doubt a person’s guilt; we are to presume innocence unless it can be disproven beyond a reasonable doubt. Scripture even tells us to be on guard against false prophets, wolves in sheep’s clothing, and those who only tell us what we want to hear.

On the other hand, Scripture condemns the sort of doubt that undermines our faith in God.

The letter of James says, “the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind”. When St. Peter began to sink after walking toward Jesus on the water, the Lord says, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt” St. Paul writes to the Romans, “But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”

Doubt which preserves us from being duped and swindled and taken advantage of—that’s the good sort of doubt; and then there is the sinful doubt which keeps us from putting our faith in God, that’s the bad kind of doubt.

But notice, in his alleged doubt, Thomas possesses an openness to the truth. “If I can see his wounds, I will believe.” 

The catechism differentiates between voluntary and involuntary doubt. One is sinful, one is not. Catechism says, Voluntary doubt about the faith disregards or refuses to hold as true what God has revealed and the Church proposes for belief. Involuntary doubt refers to hesitation in believing, difficulty in overcoming objections connected with the faith, or also anxiety aroused by its obscurity. If deliberately cultivated, doubt can lead to spiritual blindness (CCC 2088).

Voluntary doubt about matters of faith is truly dangerous. It is a violation of the first commandment which “requires us to nourish and protect our faith with prudence and vigilance, and to reject everything that is opposed to it” (CCC 2088). It is a sin against faith. In the face of involuntary doubt, we, like Apostle Thomas, need to seek the Truth, to be open to the Truth, and when Truth is made known, we are to change our life accordingly. 

And St. Thomas did that, to a heroic degree. After Pentecost, he marched across the known earth, preaching the Good News to the Persians and Medes, until he reached India, where he evangelized and was eventually martyred in 72 A.D. by those who refused to believe.

May we who have come to believe through the testimony of the apostles, through the intercession of St. Thomas, come to that blessedness promised by our Lord, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Church, that like St. Thomas, we may boldly proclaim our faith in the risen Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those struggling with doubt, that through the example of St. Thomas, they may find renewed faith and trust in God. Let us pray to the Lord.

For missionaries around the world, inspired by St. Thomas's journey to India, that they may courageously share the Gospel. Let us pray to the Lord.

For architects and builders, under the patronage of St. Thomas, that their work may glorify God and serve humanity. Let us pray to the Lord.

For unity among Christians, that we may heal divisions and work together to build up the Body of Christ. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our community, that we may grow in faith and be willing to touch the wounds of Christ in those who suffer. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the loving mercy of the Precious Blood of Jesus, be close to them in their trials.

And that all those redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus may come to the glory of heaven, especially X for whom this mass is offered.

Gracious Father, hear our prayers, through the intercession of St. Thomas the Apostle, grant us what we truly need to strengthen our faith, deepen our trust, and open our eyes to Your presence among us. Make us your servants to the ends of the earth, through Christ our Lord.

13th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Tuesday - Trusting Christ in the Storm

Yesterday we started reading from the book of the prophet Amos.

Amos was not a professional prophet but a shepherd and fig farmer from Judah. He was called by God to prophesy during a time of relative prosperity for both the Northern and Southern kingdoms. It was a time of economic growth and military success, but a time of rampant social injustice and religious corruption. The rich became richer while the poor were often exploited, and the north, especially, was incorporating idolatrous elements of the pagan Canaanite religion into their religious worship.

Despite being from the Southern Kingdom of Judah, Amos primarily prophesied in the Northern Kingdom, warning the people to prepare for God’s judgement, boldly indicting kings, priests, and leaders for their failure to lead the people in the ways of God.

In today’s passage, Amos asks a series of powerful rhetorical questions to help the people understand the reason they have brought themselves under God’s judgment. Does a lion roar unless there is prey? Is a bird not brought to earth unless it is snared? So too does a city experience evil unless it has turned away from God?

Amos is pointing out a very simple cause and effect relationship between our actions and the evils we bring upon ourselves. Even though there is prosperity for a time, when a city turns away from God, there will be consequences. And Amos’ message is timeless. That cause and effect relationship is at play in every city and nation and household and parish. There may be prosperity for a time, but when family members, parishioners, citizens, priests, bishops, and civic leaders turn away from God, there will be blood, there will be hell to pay.

The good news, the message from the Gospel, is that those who trust in Christ, who are in the boat with Christ and live in close friendship with him, and trust in him, have nothing to worry about. O sure, the world will crumble, the storm will wreak havoc, but the disciples of Christ will survive the storm with their souls in tact. 

Many literally sell their souls for earthly gain, for earthly prosperity, and they, who have sown the wind, shall reap the whirlwind. But those who live with Christ as Lord, who eat his flesh and drink his blood, and follow his teachings, and seek union with him through prayer, shall withstand the storm, and bear fruit that will last unto eternity.

So don’t be afraid when you see the world going to hell. It’s often a result of evils and forces beyond your control. What you can control, is whether or not you put your trust in Christ. Trust in Him and you will experience peace in the midst of the greatest storms, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Church, that we may be bold witnesses like Amos, speaking truth to power and calling all people to authentic faith and justice. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our civic and religious leaders, that they may govern with wisdom and integrity, prioritizing the common good over personal gain. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those suffering from economic exploitation and social injustice, that they may find advocates and assistance in their time of need. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our community, that we may resist the pagan influences of the world, and instead cultivate a deep and sincere relationship with God. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are experiencing storms in their lives, that they may find peace and strength in Christ, the master of wind and sea. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our parish, that we may be a beacon of hope and a place of refuge for those seeking God amidst the chaos of the world. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who have lost hope in the face of societal decay, that they may be reminded of God's enduring presence and love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the grace to bear fruit that will last unto eternity, living as faithful disciples of Christ in all aspects of our lives. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the loving mercy of the Precious Blood of Jesus, be close to them in their trials.

And that all those redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus may come to the glory of heaven, especially X for whom this mass is offered.

Almighty and ever-living God, You spoke through Your prophet Amos in times of prosperity and corruption, and You calm the storms through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant us the wisdom and all we truly need to heed Your warnings and the courage to stand firm in our faith. Through Christ our Lord.