” In prosperity, give thanks to God with humility and fear, lest by pride,

you abuse God's benefits and so offend him. “
                                                                                         

                                                          - St. Louis   

St. Joseph Calasanz, priest 

St. Louis

25 AUGUST Monday

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8b-10  

From Paul,

St. Bernard, abbot and doctor

“Jesus, what made you So small? Lovel “ 

I have leaned on the wisdom of men; O Lord, forgive me;

instead of Your light and Your mercy.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

 Judges 9:6-15 

Then all the lords of Shechem and

"For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able."

“Lord, are only a few men to be saved?”

Away from me all you workers of evil.'

Strive to enter in at the strait gate.

With joy we recall his words to the repentant thief:

“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

 Isaiah 66:18-21

Now I am going to gather

  “ Faith is a beam, radiating from the face of God.

                                             " St. John Eudes”

St. Ezequiel Moreno, bishop

St. John Eudes, priest

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Judges 6:11-24a*

The angel of the Lord (...) said to him,

 “ We must not fail to help our neighbors, because in them we serve Jesus. “

Acts of charity and service to others, are seen as direct service to Jesus himself.

He says, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did it to me". 

Blessed Virgin Mary

St. Rose of Lima, virgin

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Ruth 2:1-3,8-11;4:13-17

Naomi had a well-to-do kinsman,

  "go, sell all that you possess, and give the to the poor..."

The young man, despite having kept the commandments, is unable to part with his possessions and follow Jesus's instruction,

illustrating the difficulty of prioritizing spiritual wealth over material wealth. 

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Judges 2:11-19

The Israelites treated the Lord badly

The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary

At the Visitation, Elizabeth calls Mary “mother of my Lord.”

As in all the mysteries of Mary’s life,

She is Mother of God, because she is closely associated as the New Eve with Jesus’ redemptive work,

because of her preeminent perfection, and because of her intercessory power.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊ 

1st Reading: 

Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 140-10, 22

There was a famine

  "I have come to bring fire upon the earth"

Jesus uses the image of fire to describe the transformative and sometimes disruptive impact of his message.

It signifies the Holy Spirit's purifying and renewing power, but also the division and conflict that can arise

when people are challenged to choose between worldly values and the teachings of Christ. 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10

Then the officials told the king,

 “ Holy communion is the shortest and the safest way to heaven. “

The Eucharist, represents the body and blood of Jesus Christ,

and receiving it unites the believer with Christ.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Judges 11:29-39a*      

(...) Jephthah made a vow to the Lord:

'I desire mercy and not sacrifice. “

God values heartfelt compassion, forgiveness,

and a genuine desire to help others over the performance of religious rituals without a corresponding change of heart.

 Blessed Virgin Mary

St. Roch

St. Stephen of Hungary

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

 Joshua 24:14-29

So fear the Lord,