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JUNE 2019
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DAILY PRAYER FOR TODAY’S CATHOLIC
Canticle of Zechariah (Benedictus) Luke 1:68-79
B lessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;

he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet
of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
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DAILY PRAYER FOR TODAY’S CATHOLIC
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CONTENTS June 2019 ◆ Volume 9, Issue 6

Peter and Paul: Imperfectly Ideal Fr. Michael Casey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Teach Us to Pray: Let the Spirit Move You Fr. James Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Prayer for Calm and Moderate Weather Bishop Emil Wcela . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Prayers and Blessings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Prayer at Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Daily Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Order of Mass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Liturgy of the Word (with Holy Communion) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356
Guide to Lectio Divina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Hymns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
About the Cover Br. Ælred Senna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
Peter and Paul: Imperfectly Ideal
Fr. Michael Casey
I t is surely remarkable that the two great pillars of the

primitive Church were men of such notable weakness. To
our way of looking at things, they should have been towering
figures of wisdom and integrity. And, if they were not, their
imperfections should have been covered over by efficient
public relations and their strengths and virtues exaggerated.
The New Testament does not do this. It allows Simon,
called Peter, and Saul, called Paul, to stand naked before us,
each with his own particular liabilities. No effort is made to
disguise the fact that when it came to their role in the
burgeoning Church, they saw things differently, did things
differently, and were sometimes at each other’s throat.
We have allowed ourselves to become so obsessed with
an unrealistic ideal of perfection that we cannot admit
humanity is a work in progress. We are slowly moving
forward. But we are still incomplete. Our lives will reach
their final state only at the end, when it will draw together
all the strands of our days and years, blending them into
something truly beautiful. Something foreseen by God and
not designed by us to meet our own delusional ideals.
Artists employ a technique known as chiaroscuro, which
is the effect achieved by the interplay between light and
dark colors. Without these contrasting components, the
only result would be a blank canvas. The total and
immediate impact of a painting comes from its strong and
harmonious blending of opposites.
It is this coming together of opposites that is often
missing in biographies of the saints. Especially in the
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6
centuries before the idea of human development was
adopted, these lives were often presented as nothing other
than good character, virtue, and holiness. Popular art often
follows this lead. No flaring tempers, no struggles with lust,
no annoying quirks of everyday behavior. It is not
surprising that we get a bit discouraged with ourselves
when we read about them.
The descriptions of Peter and Paul are clearly different
from such bland stereotypes. Peter is presented as
impetuous and inconstant, a man with plenty of good will
but lacking in prudence and perseverance. Paul was a man
whose life was shaped by his experience on the Damascus
road: an inaugural vision that dominated his thought
throughout his life. He was a person of colossal
determination, unfazed by hardships and persecutions, but
a fiery and at times abrasive and uncompromising figure.
The less-than-perfect lives of Peter and Paul are best
understood in terms of Paul’s theology of God’s gratuitous
love. It is not a matter of “human will or exertion” but of
“God showing mercy” (Rom 9:16). Good intentions and
their practical implementation are important, but the key
factor in the life of the Christian is allowing the grace of
God room to act: to change us and bring us to the place
God wishes us to be.
Like us, Paul was exasperated by the slowness of the
process and wanted to speed it up. God’s response to him
was forthright: “My grace is sufficient for you; for power is
made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9).
Michael Casey, a Cistercian monk of Tarrawarra Abbey in
Australia, is a well-known retreat master and lecturer, and the
author of many books on spirituality, including The Road to
Eternal Life and Balaam’s Donkey.
Teach Us to Pray
Let the Spirit Move You
Fr. James Martin, SJ
Sometimes in our prayer or in our daily lives, we become

conscious of a great stirring within us. We may, for example,
feel regret that we have hurt someone. A friend recently said
something sarcastic to me (which barely registered). A week
later, he called me to say, “That comment kept coming up in
my prayer, and I feel bad about it, so I want to apologize.”
Likewise, we may feel a desire to lead a holier and more
selfless life. Or we may feel an urge to speak out on an unjust
situation in our world, our workplace, or our family.
What’s going on? Well, it may be the voice of the Holy
Spirit, encouraging us to do something. How else would
God’s desires for the world be made manifest?
When we think of the Holy Spirit inspiring the great prophets
to proclaim God’s word, we may conclude that we “regular
people” could never be such vessels of the Spirit. But it is pre-
cisely through these gentle nudges in our prayer and in our
daily lives that the Spirit works most clearly. (Besides, at our
baptisms we all become “priests, prophets, and rulers.”)
So pay attention to those interior movements encouraging
you to take some action. How can you “test” these move-
ments, to make sure it’s the Spirit? Any that lead to an in-
crease of love and charity in your life and in the lives of others
are surely ones to pay attention to.
James Martin is a Jesuit priest, editor at large of America
magazine, and author of many books, including Jesus: A
Pilgrimage, The Jesuit Guide, and In All Seasons, For All Reasons,
a collection drawn from this column in Give Us This Day.
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Prayer for Calm and Moderate Weather
In your mercy and love, O Lord,
protect your people and come to their aid.
Grant us relief from storms and danger,
and bring us calm and moderate weather.
Let us live secure in your peace,
that we may enjoy the fruits of the earth
and the harvest of your love.
With confidence we make our prayer
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—Blessings and Prayers for Home and Family
•
In 2017, a preacher made news by assuring the world that
she and her congregation had prayed away Hurricane Irma
from the Florida coast. The claim creates a bizarre caricature:
God, absent for a moment from other concerns, is seated at
the weather control board, calculating which region in the
hurricane’s path has enough deposits in their prayer account
to justify pulling the “Change Direction” lever.
Ridiculous as this may sound, Scripture does remind us
to acknowledge the One who is master of the weather. The
psalmist, for example, tells us:
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;

with the lyre make music to our God,
Who covers the heavens with clouds,
provides rain for the earth . . . (147:7-8)
And Jesus, awakened by his disciples during a fierce storm

on the Sea of Galilee, “rebuked the wind and the waves, and
they subsided and there was calm” (Luke 8:24).
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We believe that God holds our universe together and has
the power to control the weather. We need good weather, and
Jesus tells us to pray trustingly for all our needs. The issue is,
how does God respond to our prayers for good weather? Does
God directly set in play every storm, every flood, every period
of sunshine? Or is God’s hand at work in more subtle ways?
Much of what God does in our world, is done through the
efforts of the men and women God put on this earth to “cul-
tivate and care for it” (Gen 2:15). Humankind still carries
that great responsibility, even in dealing with the weather.
We can work to control activities that accelerate climate-
warming trends, which melt icebergs and raise sea levels,
increasing the threat of more catastrophic storms. We can
manage wisely natural resources such as rivers and forests
that so affect erosion and flooding. We can develop land re-
sponsibly so as to preserve natural barriers to the ravages of
storms. We can keep trying to understand better the effects
human activity has on the climate.
In short, God expects us to be good stewards of his
creation.
Should we pray for “calm and moderate weather”? Abso-
lutely! But we should expect that a great part of God’s answer
to our prayers will be his grace and guidance to help us see
the importance of taking care of this world. God entrusts this
earth to all of us, to provide not only for ourselves but for
generations to come.
Bishop Emil A. Wcela
Emil A. Wcela served as auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rockville
Centre, New York, for nineteen years before retiring in 2007. Author
of several books on the Bible, he continues to teach and write.
10 Prayers and Blessings
Prayer to the Trinity

Almighty God, Lord and Ruler of all,
Trinity, Father in the Son,
Son in the Father, with the Holy Spirit,
forever in all things,
existing before all things,
Lord, blessed by all forever:
I commend my soul into your powerful hands
so that you may watch over it
by day and by night, every moment of every hour.
—9th Century
•
Prayer for Fathers
For those who have fathered us into birth,
for those we call “father” who have shown us the face of
our Father in heaven,
for expectant fathers and those whose arms ache to cradle
their own,
for fathers who have borne the pain of losing a child,
for fathers who have laid down their life for their children:
May the one who is Father and Lord of all be their guide
and their peace.
For all fathers, living or dead,
those nearby or those distanced by miles, disease, or
division:
May they all be embraced and strengthened
by the loving arms of God, the Father of us all. Amen.
—Diana Macalintal
Prayers and Blessings 11
Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O most holy heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing,
I adore you, I love you,
and with lively sorrow for my sins
I offer you this poor heart of mine.
Make me humble, patient, pure
and wholly obedient to your will.
Grant, Good Jesus, that I may live in you and for you.
Protect me in the midst of danger.
Comfort me in my afflictions.
Give me health of body,
assistance in my temporal needs,
your blessing on all that I do,
and the grace of a holy death. Amen.
•
Meal Prayer
There is nothing in death or life,
nothing in all creation
that can separate us from the love of God
in Christ Jesus the Lord.
For to this day he sustains us
with his goodness, kindness, and loving favor.
All-loving God,
bless this table
and through the work of your Spirit
shape us into the likeness of your Son,
Jesus Christ, the Lord. Amen.
—Fr. Michael Kwatera and Br. Dietrich Reinhart
Prayer at Night
God, come to my assistance.
Lord, make haste to help me.
Examination of Conscience
Briefly consider your day: What did I do well? What could
I have done better? Whom did I offend? Whom did I help
or encourage?
Pray the Act of Contrition or another prayer of sorrow and
promise of amendment.
Psalm 91:1-2, 5-6, 10-11

You who dwell in the Most High’s hidden place,
and abide in the shade of the Almighty,
say to the Lord, “My refuge,
my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!”
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the plague that prowls in the darkness,
nor the scourge that lays waste at noon.
Upon you no evil shall fall,
no plague approach your tent.
For you has God commanded the angels
to keep you in all your ways.
Glory to the Father . . .
Scripture 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19, 23-24
R ejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circum-

stances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you
in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.
May the God of peace himself make you perfectly holy
and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved
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Prayer at Night 13
blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one
who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.
Antiphon
Protect us, Lord, while we are awake and safeguard us
while we sleep, that we may keep watch with Christ and
rest in peace. Amen.
Canticle of Simeon
Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.
Marian Antiphon (or another Marian hymn, pp. 364–65)

O Queen of the heavens, rejoice,
Alleluia!
For He whom as Virgin you bore,
Alleluia!
Arose from the tomb, as he said,
Alleluia!
Pray for us to God,
Alleluia!
Blessing
May God grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end.
May the divine assistance be always with us and with all
our loved ones. Amen.
14
Saturday, June 1
Morning
O Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
(opt. hymn, pp. 360–65)
Psalm 60:3-7, 13-14
O God, you have rejected us, and broken us.
You have been angry; come back to us.
You have made the earth quake, torn it open.
Repair what is shattered, for it sways.
You have inflicted hardships on your people,
made us drink a wine that dazed us.
For those who fear you, you gave the signal
to flee from the face of the bow.
With your right hand, grant salvation, and give answer,
that those whom you love may be free.
Give us aid against the foe,
for human help is vain.
With God we shall do bravely,
and God will trample down our foes.
Scripture Isaiah 55:10-11
J ]ust as from the heavens / the rain and snow come down
/ And do not return there / till they have watered the
earth, / making it fertile and fruitful, / Giving seed to the
one who sows / and bread to the one who eats, / So shall my
Saturday 15
word be / that goes forth from my mouth; / It shall not
return to me empty, / but shall do what pleases me, / achiev-
ing the end for which I sent it.
Read, Ponder, Pray on a word or phrase from this or another of

today’s Scriptures (Lectio Divina, p. 359)
Antiphon
I came from the Father and have come into the world;
now I am going back to the Father.
Canticle of Zechariah (inside front cover)
Intercessions
Faithful God, you made St. Justin steadfast in faith and
fervent in the search for truth. In company with him, we
pray: r. God, come to our aid.
Accomplish in your Church your will for reconciliation,
unity, and peace. r.
Thwart the plots of terrorists, dictators, and oppressive
leaders. r.
Rescue child soldiers and young people who are
indoctrinated into terrorist or supremacist belief
systems. r.
Our Father . . .
May the Word of God bear much fruit in us, by the

working of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
16 June 1
Blessed Among Us
St. Simeon of Syracuse
Hermit (ca. 980–1035)
The life of St. Simeon, who was born in the late tenth century
in Sicily, was marked by numerous twists and spiritual ad-
ventures. Sent to Constantinople for schooling at the age of
seven, he eventually felt drawn to a life of prayer. After travel-
ing to the Holy Land, he experimented with various forms
of life: living with a hermit on the banks of the Jordan, living
in a monastery in Bethlehem, and finally entering St. Cath-
erine’s Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai.
At this point he was given an assignment that would
change his life. He was to travel to Normandy to collect a
promised tribute from Duke Richard II. Along the way, when
his ship was waylaid by pirates, he alone escaped by jumping
overboard and swimming ashore. Making his way to Antioch,
he joined a party of French pilgrims and so eventually made
his way to Rouen, only to find that the duke had died.
Returning home empty-handed, Simeon passed through
the German town of Trier. There he befriended Archbishop
Poppo, who asked him to serve as his guide on a pilgrimage
to the Holy Land. Returning afterward to Trier, he was pro-
vided with an enclosed cell in a tower of the town wall. There
he lived in seclusion until his death in 1035.
Simeon was canonized in 1042, the second saint canonized
after this process was formally reserved to the papacy.
“He wanted nothing other than to be a poor man following the
poor Christ.”
—From the original biography of St. Simeon by Abbot Eberwin of Trier
The “Blessed Among Us” features are written by Robert Ellsberg,

author of numerous books, including the best-selling Blessed
Among Us (Liturgical Press).
Saturday 17
Mass
St. Justin, Memorial
Entrance Antiphon Cf. Psalm 119 (118):85, 46

The wicked have told me lies, but not so is your law: / I
spoke of your decrees before kings, / and was not
confounded.
Collect
O God, who through the folly of the Cross
wondrously taught Saint Justin the Martyr
the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ,
grant us, through his intercession,
that, having rejected deception and error,
we may become steadfast in the faith.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 18:23-28

Apollos established from the Scriptures that the Christ is Jesus.
A fter staying in Antioch some time, Paul left and trav-

eled in orderly sequence through the Galatian country
and Phrygia, bringing strength to all the disciples.
A Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent
speaker, arrived in Ephesus. He was an authority on the
Scriptures. He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord
and, with ardent spirit, spoke and taught accurately about
Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John. He began
to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and
Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him
the Way of God more accurately. And when he wanted to
cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to
18 June 1
the disciples there to welcome him. After his arrival he gave
great assistance to those who had come to believe through
grace. He vigorously refuted the Jews in public, establishing
from the Scriptures that the Christ is Jesus.
The word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm 47:2-3, 8-9, 10

r . (8a) God is king of all the earth. or: r. Alleluia.
All you peoples, clap your hands;
shout to God with cries of gladness.
For the Lord, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth. r.
For king of all the earth is God;
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne. r.
The princes of the peoples are gathered together
with the people of the God of Abraham.
For God’s are the guardians of the earth;
he is supreme. r.
Gospel Acclamation John 16:28

I came from the Father and have come into the world;
now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

16:23b-28
My Father loves you because you have loved me
and believed in me.
J esus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you,

whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give
Saturday 19
you. Until now you have not asked anything in my name;
ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
“I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is com-
ing when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will
tell you clearly about the Father. On that day you will ask in
my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for
you. For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved
me and have come to believe that I came from God. I came
from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am
leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Prayer over the Offerings

Grant us, we pray, O Lord,
that we may celebrate worthily these mysteries,
which Saint Justin strenuously defended.
Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon Cf. 1 Corinthians 2:2

I resolved to know nothing while I was with you / except
Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Prayer after Communion

Refreshed by heavenly food,
we humbly implore you, O Lord,
that, attentive to the teaching of Saint Justin the Martyr,
we may abide at all times in thanksgiving
for the gifts we have received.
20 June 1
Reflection
Benevolent Foresight
It can disturb hearers with weak [faith] that, at the beginning

of this reading from the gospel, the Savior promises his dis-
ciples, “If you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will
give it to you.” Not only do people like us not receive many
things they seem to ask of the Father in Christ’s name, but
even the apostle Paul himself asked the Lord three times that
the angel of Satan with which he was tormented might depart
from him, and he was not able to obtain what he asked. But
the perplexity caused by this question has already been re-
solved by the old explanation of the fathers. They understood
truthfully that those people alone ask in the name of the Savior
who ask for those things which pertain to eternal salvation.
They understood, therefore, that the Apostle did not ask in
the Savior’s name [when he asked] to be relieved of the temp-
tation which he had received as a protection for his humility.
If he had been relieved of it, he could not have been saved, as
he affirmed when he said, “And lest the greatness of the revela-
tions should make me proud, there was given to me a goad of
my flesh, an angel of Satan to buffet me” [2 Cor 12:7]. . . .
It also sometimes happens that we seek things entirely
related to salvation with our eager petitions and devoted
actions, and yet we do not immediately obtain what we ask.
The result of our petition is postponed to some future time,
as when we daily ask the Father on bended knees, saying,
Your kingdom come, and nevertheless we are not going to
receive the kingdom as soon as our prayer is finished, but at
the proper time. It is a fact that this is often done with be-
nevolent foresight by our Maker, so that the desires [inspired
Saturday 21
by] our devotion may increase by deferment. When they have
advanced more and more by daily growth, at length they
embrace perfectly the joys they are seeking.
St. Bede the Venerable, Homily II.12
Bede the Venerable (ca. 673–735) devoted his life to the study of
Scripture, to teaching and writing, and to prayer. He was declared
a Doctor of the Church in 1899.
22 June 1
Evening
(opt. hymn, pp. 360–65)
Psalm 92:2-7, 13-16
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to make music to your name, O Most High,
to proclaim your faithful love in the morning,
and your truth in the watches of the night,
on the ten-stringed lute and the harp,
with the sound of song on the lyre.
You have gladdened me, O Lord, by your deeds;
for the work of your hands I shout with joy.
O Lord, how great are your works!
How deep are your designs!
The senseless cannot know this,
and the fool cannot understand.
The righteous will flourish like the palm tree,
and grow like a Lebanon cedar.
Planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God,
still bearing fruit when they are old,
still full of sap, still green,
to proclaim that the Lord is upright.
In God, my rock, there is no wrong.
Scripture Ephesians 3:17-21
M ay Christ] dwell in your hearts through faith; that

you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength
Saturday 23
to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth
and length and height and depth, and to know the love of
Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled
with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all
we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to him
be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations,
forever and ever. Amen.

Antiphon
Whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.
Canticle of Mary (inside back cover)
Intercessions
Most High God, you gladden us by the unsurpassable
love you have shown us in Jesus. In hope we pray:
r. Ground us in your truth, O God.
Grant us patience in suffering and courage in love. r.
Shed light upon deceitful speech and abusive actions in
Church and society. r.
Unite Christians in collaborative efforts to care for the
earth and respect all of life. r.
Our Father . . .
May God bless us with faith in Christ so that we may be

filled with all the fullness of God. Amen.
25
Sunday, June 2
Morning
(opt. hymn, pp. 360–65)
Psalm 150
Alleluia!
Praise God in the holy temple;
praise the Lord in the mighty firmament.
Praise God for powerful deeds;
for boundless grandeur, praise God.
O praise the Lord with sound of trumpet;
give praise with lute and harp.
Praise God with timbrel and dance;
give praise with strings and pipes.
O praise God with resounding cymbals;
give praise with clashing of cymbals.
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Alleluia!
Scripture Isaiah 41:1-2d, 4
K eep silence before me, O coastlands; / let the nations

renew their strength. / Let them draw near and speak;
/ let us come together for judgment. / Who has stirred up
from the East the champion of justice, / and summoned
him to be his attendant? / To him he delivers nations / and
The Martyrdom of St. Stephen, Book of Hours of Simon de Varie, France, 1455.
26 June 2
subdues kings; / Who has performed these deeds? / Who
has called forth the generations from the beginning? / I, the
Lord, am the first, / and at the last I am he.

Antiphon
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the
beginning and the end.
Intercessions
Ever-living God, you are the Alpha and the Omega, the
first and the last. With joy and unending praise, we pray:
r. God of glory, hear our prayer.
Strengthen your Church to advocate justice for
immigrants and stewardship for the earth’s resources. r.
Inspire your Church to reach out to youth and care for
the elderly. r.
Empower your Church to proclaim your Word and serve
the poor. r.
Our Father . . .
May the peace of Christ reign in our hearts, through

faith, now and always. Amen.
Sunday 27
Mass
Seventh Sunday of Easter*
* In those places where the observance of the solemnity of the Ascension
of the Lord has been transferred to this day, see pages 32–37 for the
Mass readings and reflection.
Entrance Antiphon Cf. Psalm 27 (26):7-9

O Lord, hear my voice, for I have called to you; / of you
my heart has spoken: Seek his face; / hide not your face
from me, alleluia.
Gloria (p. 328)
Collect
Graciously hear our supplications, O Lord,
so that we, who believe that the Savior of the human race
is with you in your glory,
may experience, as he promised,
until the end of the world,
his abiding presence among us.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

I see the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.
S tephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently

to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing
at the right hand of God, and Stephen said, “Behold, I see
the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the
right hand of God.” But they cried out in a loud voice, cov-
ered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw
him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses
laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named
28 June 2
Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord
Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell to his knees and cried
out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against
them”; and when he said this, he fell asleep.
Responsorial Psalm 97:1-2, 6-7, 9

r . (1a and 9a) The Lord is king, the most high over all the
earth. or: r. Alleluia.
The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice;
let the many islands be glad.
Justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne. r.
The heavens proclaim his justice,
and all peoples see his glory.
All gods are prostrate before him. r.
You, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth,
exalted far above all gods. r.
A reading from the Book of Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20

Come, Lord Jesus!
I , John, heard a voice saying to me: “Behold, I am coming

soon. I bring with me the recompense I will give to each
according to his deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the
first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Blessed are they who wash their robes so as to have the
right to the tree of life and enter the city through its gates.
“I, Jesus, sent my angel to give you this testimony for the
churches. I am the root and offspring of David, the bright
morning star.”
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let the hearer say,
“Come.” Let the one who thirsts come forward, and the one
who wants it receive the gift of life-giving water.
Sunday 29
The one who gives this testimony says, “Yes, I am coming
soon.” Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
Gospel Acclamation Cf. John 14:18

I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord.
I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 17:20-26

That they may be brought to perfection as one!
L ifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy

Father, I pray not only for them, but also for those who
will believe in me through their word, so that they may all
be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also
may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.
And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they
may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that
they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world
may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even
as you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that
where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my
glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the
foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also
does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you
sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make
it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in
them and I in them.”
Creed (p. 329)

30 June 2
Accept, O Lord, the prayers of your faithful
with the sacrificial offerings,
that through these acts of devotedness
we may pass over to the glory of heaven.
Communion Antiphon John 17:22

Father, I pray that they may be one / as we also are one,
alleluia.

Hear us, O God our Savior,
and grant us confidence,
that through these sacred mysteries
there will be accomplished in the body of the whole Church
what has already come to pass in Christ her Head.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Reflection
In Our Falling
Two years ago, I felt incurably alone. Having burned out of

a doctoral program in theology, the pursuit of which had
guided my decisions for a full decade, I was at a total loss—
petrified for my future and lacking any sort of road map for
action.
My journey forward was little more than a continuous
falling into the hands of people, some strangers, who had
compassion on me: an exquisite career counselor who took
on my case pro bono; a Palestinian teenager in Bethlehem
Sunday 31
who for a day took me into his home, played pick-up basket-
ball with me, and sent me home with a Lebron James bracelet
to commemorate the moment; and an acquaintance I hadn’t
spoken with in years who recommended my name for a job
that got me back on my feet.
Jesus prays in today’s Gospel not only for the disciples
gathered at the Last Supper but for all whose understanding
of God would depend on the loving care and compassion of
those first followers. As Jesus returns to the arms of his Dad,
whose love in that dark hour was his only shelter, he knows
he must go away from his earthly friends—there is the mys-
tery of the Ascension—so they could similarly entrust them-
selves to each other. Only in this precise way could they “all
be one.” Only thus could they enter into the bond of love
between Father and Son. And only thus could the world know
whose glory shines resplendent in all this falling, trusting,
and mercy-giving.
Justin Bartkus
Justin Bartkus is an aspiring human-centered designer enrolled in
graduate studies at the Institute of Design in Chicago. He also holds
a master’s degree in theological studies from the University of Notre
Dame.
32 June 2
The Ascension of the Lord, Solemnity
Entrance Antiphon Acts 1:11

Men of Galilee, why gaze in wonder at the heavens? / This
Jesus whom you saw ascending into heaven / will return
as you saw him go, alleluia.
Gloria (p. 328)
Collect
Gladden us with holy joys, almighty God,
and make us rejoice with devout thanksgiving,
for the Ascension of Christ your Son
is our exaltation,
and, where the Head has gone before in glory,
the Body is called to follow in hope.
Or:
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that we, who believe that your Only Begotten Son,
our Redeemer,
ascended this day to the heavens,
may in spirit dwell already in heavenly realms.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
Sunday 33
A reading from the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles
1:1-11
As the Apostles were looking on, Jesus was lifted up.
I n the first book, Theophilus, I dealt with all that Jesus did
and taught until the day he was taken up, after giving in-
structions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he
had chosen. He presented himself alive to them by many
proofs after he had suffered, appearing to them during forty
days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While meet-
ing with them, he enjoined them not to depart from Jeru-
salem, but to wait for “the promise of the Father about which
you have heard me speak; for John baptized with water, but
in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord,
are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or
seasons that the Father has established by his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon
you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he
had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and
a cloud took him from their sight. While they were looking
intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed
in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of
Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This
Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return
in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.”
34 June 2
Responsorial Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9
r. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of
trumpets for the Lord. or: r. Alleluia.
All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
for the Lord, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth. r.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
the Lord, amid trumpet blasts.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise. r.
For king of all the earth is God;
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne. r.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians

1:17-23 (opt. for Year C, Heb 9:24-28; 10:19-23)
God seated Jesus at his right hand in the heavens.
B rothers and sisters: May the God of our Lord Jesus

Christ, the Father of glory, give you a Spirit of wisdom
and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes
of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is
the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory
in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the
surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, in
accord with the exercise of his great might, which he worked
in Christ, raising him from the dead and seating him at his
right hand in the heavens, far above every principality, au-
thority, power, and dominion, and every name that is
named not only in this age but also in the one to come. And
he put all things beneath his feet and gave him as head over
Sunday 35
all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of
the one who fills all things in every way.
Gospel Acclamation Matthew 28:19a, 20b

Go and teach all nations, says the Lord;
I am with you always, until the end of the world.
A reading from the conclusion of the holy Gospel

according to Luke 24:46-53
As he blessed them, he was taken up to heaven.
J esus said to his disciples: “Thus it is written that the

Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third
day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would
be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from
Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold I
am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in
the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, raised his hands,
and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them
and was taken up to heaven. They did him homage and then
returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were con-
tinually in the temple praising God.
Creed (p. 329)

We offer sacrifice now in supplication, O Lord,
to honor the wondrous Ascension of your Son:
grant, we pray,
that through this most holy exchange
we, too, may rise up to the heavenly realms.
36 June 2
Communion Antiphon Matthew 28:20
Behold, I am with you always, / even to the end of the age,
alleluia.

Almighty ever-living God,
who allow those on earth to celebrate divine mysteries,
grant, we pray,
that Christian hope may draw us onward
to where our nature is united with you.
Reflection
The Long Good-Bye
One year on the feast of the Ascension my sister was in labor.

The question the angels ask the disciples—why look to the
heavens?—inspired me to write a poem that ends: “And now
the new mother, that leaky vessel, / begins to nurse her child,
/ beginning the long good-bye.”
Audiences gasp when I read that line, unexpectedly and
perhaps uncomfortably reminded of human mortality.
Women risk their lives in pregnancy, and I’ve long felt that
it’s an act of unfathomable courage to give birth to a person
who will one day die.
As I grow older and more of my loved ones die, I wonder
if Ascension begins the “long good-bye” that God asks of us.
Jesus prepares the disciples for his departure by asking them
to wait for the Holy Spirit, who will inspire them to minister
in his name. Until Pentecost, Jesus will keep saying that his
departure is necessary, and even a good thing.
Sunday 37
But we don’t want to hear that from our loved ones as they
prepare to leave us. Even the promise—I will see you again—
seems a forlorn hope in the stark fact of their absence. Yet
Jesus promises that our mourning will one day become a joy
as great as that of a mother who has endured great pain and
now holds a beloved child in her arms. As the late poet Robert
Lax said when, in his eighties, someone asked if he feared
death: “We’re all brought into this life because heaven loves
us, and back to that love we go.”
Kathleen Norris
Kathleen Norris is an oblate of St. Benedict and the author of many
books, including The Cloister Walk and Acedia and Me.
38 June 2
Evening
(opt. hymn, pp. 360–65)
Psalm 141:1-5, 8-10
I have called to you, Lord; O hasten to help me!
Hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer be as incense before you,
the raising of my hands like an evening oblation.
Set, O Lord, a guard on my mouth;
keep watch at the door of my lips!
Do not turn my heart to things that are evil,
to wicked deeds with those who are sinners.
Never allow me to share in their feasting.
If someone righteous strikes me it is kindness;
but let the oil of the wicked not anoint my head.
Let my prayer be ever against their malice.
To you my eyes are turned, O Lord, my Lord.
In you I take refuge; spare my soul!
From the trap they have laid for me, keep me safe;
keep me from the snares of those who do evil.
Let the wicked together fall into their traps,
while I pursue my way unharmed.
Scripture 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
W ]e ought to give thanks to God for you always . . .

because God chose you as the firstfruits for salvation
through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in truth. To
this end he has [also] called you through our gospel to pos-
Sunday 39
sess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore . . . stand
firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught,
either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,
who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement
and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts
and strengthen them in every good deed and word.

Antiphon
I have given them the glory that you gave me, so that they
may be one, as we are one.
Intercessions
God of truth and mercy, your goodness is everlasting. In
faith we pray: r. Turn our hearts to you, O God.
Help us to listen without judgment and speak the truth in
love. r.
Inspire us to greater appreciation for the gifts of faith, life
in Jesus, and support of family and friends. r.
Enable us to extend warmth and kindness to those who
are lonely. r.
Our Father . . .
May God look upon us with mercy, encourage our hearts,

and strengthen us in every good deed and word, through
Jesus our brother. Amen.
June 2–8
Seventh Week of Easter
Within the Word

Living in the Unity and Love of God
The Gospel of John offers a unique voice within the New

Testament. No other work contains a higher view of Christ
or a more unified theology concerning his mission. That the-
ology is most clearly expressed in the Farewell Discourses
(John 13–17). Chapter 17 of John concludes these discourses
with a prayer by Jesus to his Father, a prayer that lifts up two
aspects of the relationship between the Father and the Son.
The two aspects are unity and love. Jesus asserts that the
Father and the Son are one (verses 11, 21) and that such unity
is characterized by a love that existed before the foundation
of the world (verse 24, also 23 and 26).
What is startling about Jesus’ prayer is that it includes us.
Jesus prays that we, his disciples, may share in the unity and
love of the Father and the Son. Jesus asks the Father to make
us one, “as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also
may be in us” (verse 21). He prays “that the love with which
you loved me may be in them and I in them” (verse 26). Most
people readily admit that unity and love should be part of
the Christian life. However, this prayer of Jesus reveals that
unity and love are not external mandates or philosophical
ideals but essential reflections of the nature of God. We are
to love one another and strive for unity not because it is a
part of a moral system but because we have been invited to
live within the relationship of the Father and the Son.
40
41
Although John’s theology lifts us up into the divine life, it
has clear ramifications for our everyday existence. When we
accept the perspective of John and see ourselves sharing in
the life of the Father and the Son, it increases our joy (John
15:11). Human life assumes a deeper dimension. Every act
of love—whether it is offered by a parent, spouse, friend, or
stranger—becomes a reflection of God’s love. Every step
toward unity—whether it is within a family, church, or na-
tion—is a movement that mirrors the divine nature. Because
unity and love are the ground of existence, each time we
encounter them, they shine with divine light.
John’s theology should also give us courage when love and
unity fail. When we are unable to love a family member or as-
sociate as we should, when our overtures to peace and forgive-
ness are rejected, when efforts to work together fall apart, we
can lose hope. It is then important to remember that love and
unity are not simply the products of our strength and abilities.
They reside in God’s own self. Love and unity remain secure
and unassailable from human failure, always ready to emerge
again with the next attempt to establish them in our world.
We should embrace Jesus’ profound invitation to share in
the unity and love he possesses with his Father. Living in the
unity and love of God, we will be able to find joy in a thou-
sand faces and encounters. We will also stir up the courage
to believe that our attempts to find love and unity are not as
fragile as they seem. They flow from the very life of God.
—Fr. George M. Smiga
George M. Smiga, STD, is pastor of St. Noel Church in Willoughby
Hills, Ohio. He teaches at St. Mary Seminary and Graduate School
of Theology and speaks frequently on the topics of Scripture and
homiletics. His website is Building on the Word: A Resource for
Scripture, Culture, and Faith, at buildingontheword.org.
42
Monday, June 3
Morning
(opt. hymn, pp. 360–65)
Psalm 8
O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic
is your name through all the earth!
Your majesty is set above the heavens.
From the mouths of children and of babes
you fashioned praise to foil your enemy,
to silence the foe and the rebel.
When I see the heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you arranged,
what are human beings that you keep them in mind,
mortal creatures that you care for them?
Yet you have made them little lower than the angels;
with glory and honor you crowned them,
gave them power over the works of your hands:
you put all things under their feet,
All of them, sheep and oxen,
yes, even the cattle of the fields,
birds of the air, and fish of the sea
that make their way through the seas.
O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic
is your name through all the earth!

Monday 43
Scripture Zechariah 13:7a-e, 9b-f
A wake, O sword, against my shepherd, / against the one

who is my associate / —oracle of the Lord of hosts. /
Strike the shepherd / that the sheep may be scattered. / I
will refine them as one refines silver, / and I will test them
as one tests gold. / They will call upon my name, and I will
answer them; / I will say, “They are my people,” / and they
will say, “The Lord is my God.”

Antiphon
You will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered
the world.
Intercessions
Sovereign God, in Jesus you crown all you have created
with glory and honor. In hope we pray: r. Let us see
your kindness, O God.
Illumine our minds and hearts to know your presence in
all of creation. r.
Rescue victims of torture, slavery, and human
trafficking. r.
Relieve the pain and suffering of those who are
recovering from surgery or treatment for illness. r.
Our Father . . .
May God send us the Spirit of truth to be with us always,

through Jesus our redeemer. Amen.
44 June 3
Blessed Among Us
St. Blandina and Companions
Martyrs of Lyons (177)
The Roman persecution of Christians occurred in sporadic

waves. One notable outbreak occurred in 177 in Lyons in the
province of Gaul. Beginning with a campaign of social ostra-
cism, it eventually led to the roundup of Christians for public
interrogation. When this yielded no incriminating informa-
tion, the Christians were subjected to terrible tortures. Still
they would neither confess to any crime nor renounce their
faith. Approximately fifty martyrs were executed in a variety
of ways. According to a witness, “They offered up to the
Father a single wreath, but it was plaited of diverse colors and
flowers of all kinds.”
Among the martyrs was a slave girl, Blandina. Her com-
panions, who included her “mistress according to the flesh,”
feared that Blandina would wilt under pressure. Instead, “she
was endued with so much power that even those who in
relays tortured her from morning until evening grew faint
and weary.”
When she was finally hung on a stake, she became for her
fellow Christians an image of Christ himself: “The sight of
this woman, as it were crucified, praying with a loud voice,
put much heart in the combatants.” The last among her party
to die, this slave was likened to “a mother of high degree,”
who, “after encouraging her children and sending them on
before as victors to the King, hastened to join them.”
“Blandina entered the arena like a young beauty whom a prince

comes to escort to a seat at his side at the eternal feast.”
—Eusebius, from his Ecclesiastical History
Monday 45
Mass
St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, Memorial
Entrance Antiphon Cf. Wisdom 3:6-7, 9

As gold in the furnace, the Lord put his chosen to the test;
/ as sacrificial offerings, he took them to himself; / and in
due time they will be honored, / and grace and peace will
be with the elect of God, alleluia.
Collect
O God, who have made the blood of Martyrs
the seed of Christians,
mercifully grant that the field which is your Church,
watered by the blood
shed by Saints Charles Lwanga and his companions,
may be fertile and always yield you an abundant harvest.

Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?
W hile Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through

the interior of the country and down to Ephesus
where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you
receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They
answered him, “We have never even heard that there is a
Holy Spirit.” He said, “How were you baptized?” They re-
plied, “With the baptism of John.” Paul then said, “John
baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to
believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in
Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name
of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them,
46 June 3
the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues
and prophesied. Altogether there were about twelve men.
He entered the synagogue, and for three months debated
boldly with persuasive arguments about the Kingdom of God.
Responsorial Psalm 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab

r . (33a) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
or: r. Alleluia.
God arises; his enemies are scattered,
and those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so are they driven;
as wax melts before the fire. r.
But the just rejoice and exult before God;
they are glad and rejoice.
Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
whose name is the Lord. r.
The father of orphans and the defender of widows
is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
he leads forth prisoners to prosperity. r.
Gospel Acclamation Colossians 3:1

If then you were raised with Christ,
seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Take courage, I have conquered the world.
T he disciples said to Jesus, “Now you are talking plainly,

and not in any figure of speech. Now we realize that
you know everything and that you do not need to have any-
Monday 47
one question you. Because of this we believe that you came
from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now?
Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of
you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave
me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with
me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have
conquered the world.”

We offer you sacrifice, O Lord, humbly praying
that, as you granted the blessed Martyrs
grace to die rather than sin,
so you may bring us to minister at your altar
in dedication to you alone.
Communion Antiphon Psalm 116 (115):15

How precious in the eyes of the Lord / is the death of his
holy ones, alleluia.

We have received this divine Sacrament, O Lord,
as we celebrate the victory of your holy Martyrs;
may what helped them to endure torment, we pray,
make us, in the face of trials,
steadfast in faith and in charity.
48 June 3
Reflection
Fitfully and Gradually
“Whoa!” This might be the right word to say to the disciples

at this juncture in their journey. Their response to Jesus is
definitely premature: “Now we realize that you know every-
thing. . . . Because of this we believe that you came from
God.” These first disciples had to learn what each new
generation of believers and each individual believer must
learn: that belief in Jesus is not that easily attained. Sure, there
are and have always been some who, like the disciples here,
feel they have achieved in one fell swoop a pure and total
belief. Let us grant that one or two people (possibly St. Paul)
have had this experience. For most of us, as for the disciples,
the required total saving trust in the Lord is only fitfully and
gradually gained.
The belief in the Lord that saves us and even cushions us
against despair comes about only by being tested in life’s every
circumstance. It is tested by prosperity and poverty, by suc-
cess and sorrow, each in different ways. Like the old Israel,
we must pass through the waters and the desert of disap-
pointment, betrayal, grief, loss, fear, numbing dryness—one
or some of these—to come to the promised land of genuine
belief. Our awareness that in so many ways our faith is pro-
visional and not fully developed gives us good reason to pray
to the Holy Spirit for this gift of faith as probably the most
basic gift of all.
Fr. Don Talafous, adapted from Homilies for Weekdays
Don Talafous, OSB, is a member of St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville,
Minnesota, and alumni chaplain for St. John’s University. His Daily
Reflection can be found at www.saintjohnsabbey.org/reflection.
Monday 49
Evening
(opt. hymn, pp. 360–65)
Psalm 146:1-2, 5-10
Alleluia!
My soul, give praise to the Lord;
I will praise the Lord all my life,
sing praise to my God while I live.
Blessed the one who is helped by Jacob’s God,
whose hope is in the Lord our God,
who made the heavens and the earth,
the seas and all they contain,
Who preserves fidelity forever,
who does justice to those who are oppressed.
who furnishes bread to the hungry;
the Lord who sets prisoners free,
the Lord who opens the eyes of the blind,
the Lord who raises up those who are bowed down.
It is the Lord who loves the righteous,
the Lord who protects the stranger
and upholds the orphan and the widow,
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, from age to age.
Alleluia!

50 June 3
Scripture 1 Peter 3:18-21
C hrist also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the
sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God.
Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the spirit.
In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, who had
once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the
days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few
persons, eight in all, were saved through water. This prefig-
ured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of
dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear con-
science, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Antiphon
We were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Intercessions
Faithful God, you are the source of all life and the cause
of our joy. In hope we pray: r. Show us your mercy,
O God.
Free those who are unjustly imprisoned. r.
Ease the pain of those who are depressed. r.
Protect the orphans and widows of war and disaster. r.
Our Father . . .
May God strengthen us to act justly, love tenderly, and

walk humbly in the light of Christ. Amen.
51
Tuesday, June 4
Morning
(opt. hymn, pp. 360–65)
Psalm 119:1-8
Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord!
Blessed are those who keep his decrees!
With all their hearts they seek him.
They never do anything evil,
but walk in God’s ways.
You have laid down your precepts
to be carefully kept.
May my ways be firm
in keeping your statutes.
Then I shall not be put to shame
as I fix my eyes on all your commands.
I will thank you with an upright heart,
as I learn your righteous judgments.
I will keep your statutes;
do not ever forsake me.
Scripture Wisdom 15:1-3
Y ]ou, our God, are good and true, / slow to anger, and
governing all with mercy. / For even if we sin, we are
yours, and know your might; / but we will not sin, knowing
that we belong to you. / For to know you well is complete
52 June 4
righteousness, / and to know your might is the root of
immortality.

Antiphon
This is eternal life, to know you, the only true God and
Jesus Christ whom you sent.
Intercessions
God of salvation, in Jesus you show us the depth of your
mercy and love. We bless you and pray: r. Lead us in the
ways of your love, O God.
Help us to control our passions and resolve conflicts in
peace. r.
Unite Christians in care for those who are homeless or
hungry. r.
Give peace to those who suffer from Alzheimer’s or
dementia, and grant patience to their caregivers. r.
Our Father . . .
May God strengthen our faith in Jesus and make our

boast in the cross of Christ, crucified and risen. Amen.
Tuesday 53
Blessed Among Us
Margaret Anna Cusack
Founder, Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace (1829–1899)
Margaret Anna Cusack, a Poor Clare in Ireland, became

widely known as “the Nun of Kenmore” for her prophetic
writings on issues of her day, for urging women to claim their
rights and dignity, criticizing the abuses of absentee land-
lords, and challenging laws that punished the poor. Her out-
spokenness won her many friends but also enemies—among
them her own bishop, who instructed her convent to “put
her out on the streets of Dublin.” With permission of Pope
Leo XIII, however, she founded a new congregation, the Sis-
ters of St. Joseph of Peace, to serve the needs of young women.
In 1885 she traveled to America and established a center
for Irish immigrant women in Newark. But troubles with
Church authorities continued to dog her. She was accused of
having defamed the archbishop of New York, though the
particulars of her offense were never revealed. “In many
cases,” she said, “Roman Catholic priests and superiors put
obedience to themselves in place of obedience to God.” Be-
lieving that baseless charges were impeding the work of her
community, she asked the pope’s permission to withdraw
from the congregation she had founded. She retired to En-
gland, where she died on June 5, 1899. Her congregation
continues to honor the memory of their founder.
“My desire is for peace and justice. Not indeed peace at any
price. . . . Nor indeed the justice, which, like the statue in
front of Dublin Castle, by happy accident, turns its back toward
the people and its face toward the great.”
—Margaret Anna Cusack
54 June 4
Mass
Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Entrance Antiphon Revelation 1:17-18

I am the first and the last, / I was dead and am now alive.
/ Behold, I am alive for ever and ever, alleluia.
Collect
Grant, we pray, almighty and merciful God,
that the Holy Spirit, coming near
and dwelling graciously within us,
may make of us a perfect temple of his glory.

I am finishing my course and the ministry that I received
from the Lord Jesus.
F rom Miletus Paul had the presbyters of the Church at

Ephesus summoned. When they came to him, he ad-
dressed them, “You know how I lived among you the whole
time from the day I first came to the province of Asia. I
served the Lord with all humility and with the tears and
trials that came to me because of the plots of the Jews, and
I did not at all shrink from telling you what was for your
benefit, or from teaching you in public or in your homes. I
earnestly bore witness for both Jews and Greeks to repen-
tance before God and to faith in our Lord Jesus. But now,
compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem. What will
happen to me there I do not know, except that in one city
after another the Holy Spirit has been warning me that im-
prisonment and hardships await me. Yet I consider life of
Tuesday 55
no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and
the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear
witness to the Gospel of God’s grace.
“But now I know that none of you to whom I preached
the kingdom during my travels will ever see my face again.
And so I solemnly declare to you this day that I am not re-
sponsible for the blood of any of you, for I did not shrink
from proclaiming to you the entire plan of God.”
Responsorial Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21

or: r. Alleluia.
A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your
inheritance;
you restored the land when it languished;
Your flock settled in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the
needy. r.
Blessed day by day be the Lord,
who bears our burdens; God, who is our salvation.
God is a saving God for us;
the Lord, my Lord, controls the passageways of death. r.

I will ask the Father
and he will give you another Advocate
to be with you always.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 17:1-11a

Father, glorify your Son.
J esus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the

hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son
56 June 4
may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all
people, so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave
him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you,
the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you
gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the
glory that I had with you before the world began.
“I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out
of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to
me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that
everything you gave me is from you, because the words you
gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them
and truly understood that I came from you, and they have
believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for
the world but for the ones you have given me, because they
are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything
of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And
now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the
world, while I am coming to you.”

Accept, O Lord, the prayers of your faithful
with the sacrificial offerings,
that through these acts of devotedness
we may pass over to the glory of heaven.

The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, /
will teach you all things and remind you of all I have told
you, / says the Lord, alleluia.
Tuesday 57
We have partaken of the gifts of this sacred mystery,
humbly imploring, O Lord,
that what your Son commanded us to do
in memory of him
may bring us growth in charity.
Reflection
The Course of Christ
Thanks to GPS we can easily see the miles before us and our
estimated time of arrival before we set out on a journey. An
airplane seat-back screen shows us the state or country below
and the weather for our destination, while our smartwatch
measures the number of calories we burn each day. If only
our faith was so easily programmed.
It’s amazing to think of pilgrims setting off on a spiritual
quest with only a plan and a path—and no cell phone service.
The apostle Paul demonstrates an even greater trust in God
as he is compelled to go to Jerusalem, despite his inner GPS
warning him of possible hardship ahead. For Paul, life in the
Spirit was go big or go home, so he pressed forward to finish
his course.
Paul encourages us to let go of the need to know exactly
where Christ is leading us. Every moment is a time of arrival
when we walk with the faithful assurance of God’s guiding
love. Do we really need technology to walk the “Course of
Christ” and answer the call to ministry we have been given? If
you’ve ever left home without your cell phone, your answer
might be a resounding, “Yes!”
58 June 4
But if you are baptized and trust in the Spirit and mystery
of God, you already have a homing device to guide you
through any distress. Now is the time to proclaim this grace
with our lips and our lives—and, most importantly, our
love—as we run the Course of Christ before us!
Fr. Ricky Manalo
Ricky Manalo, CSP, is a liturgical composer, teaches at Santa Clara
University, and serves as an advisor to the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Cultural Diversity in the
Church.
Tuesday 59
Evening
(opt. hymn, pp. 360–65)
Psalm 26:1-8
Give judgment for me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity.
I have trusted in the Lord; I have not wavered.
Examine me, Lord, and try me.
O test my heart and my mind.
Your faithful love is before my eyes,
and I walk according to your truth.
I never take my seat with liars,
and with hypocrites I shall not go.
I hate the evildoer’s company;
I will not take my seat with the wicked.
I wash my hands in innocence
and take my place around your altar,
singing a song of thanksgiving,
recounting all your wonders.
O Lord, I love the house where you dwell,
the place where your glory abides.
Scripture Colossians 1:24-27
I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I

am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ
on behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a
minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me
to bring to completion for you the word of God, the mystery
60 June 4
hidden from ages and from generations past. But now it
has been manifested to his holy ones, to whom God chose
to make known the riches of the glory of this mystery
among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope for glory.

Antiphon
I consider life of no importance, if only I may bear
witness to the Gospel of God’s grace.
Intercessions
O God beyond all praising, we recount your wonders and
pray: r. Uphold us by your love, O God.
Help us to model your patience, compassion, and mercy
to young people. r.
Sustain those who work tirelessly for peace, justice, and
diplomacy. r.
Grant safety to travelers, missionaries, and pilgrims. r.
Our Father . . .
May God bless us with every gift of the Spirit, promised

by Jesus, the Wisdom of God. Amen.
61
Wednesday, June 5
Morning
(opt. hymn, pp. 360–65)
Psalm 41:2-6, 11-13
Blessed are they who have concern for the poor.
In time of trouble, the Lord will rescue them.
The Lord will guard them, preserve their life,
and make them blessed in the land,
not give them up to the will of their foes.
The Lord will help them on their bed of pain;
in their sickness, you tend even to their bedding.
As for me, I said, “Lord, have mercy on me;
heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.”
My foes speak evil against me and wonder,
how long before I die and my name is forgotten?
But you, O Lord, have mercy on me.
Raise me up and I will repay them.
By this I know your favor:
that my foes do not triumph over me.
In my integrity you have upheld me,
and have set me in your presence forever.
Scripture Baruch 4:21-23
T ake courage, my children; call upon God; / he will de-

liver you from oppression, from enemy hands. / I have
put my hope for your deliverance in the Eternal One, / and
62 June 5
joy has come to me from the Holy One / Because of the
mercy that will swiftly reach you / from your eternal Savior.
/ With mourning and lament I sent you away, / but God will
give you back to me / with gladness and joy forever.”

Antiphon
Father, keep them in your name that they may share my
joy completely.
Intercessions
O God, in your mercy you strengthened the faith of your
martyr St. Boniface and established him in truth. In faith
we pray: r. Teach us your wisdom, O God.
Inspire and enlighten Pope Francis and bishops in your
ways of compassion and justice. r.
Imbue your Church with courage to witness to the world
the all-inclusive love of Christ. r.
Endow parents and guardians, teachers and coaches with
patience, strong hearts, and merciful love. r.
Our Father . . .
May God gladden our spirits in the joy of Christ and

bring us together to everlasting life. Amen.
Wednesday 63
Blessed Among Us
André Trocmé
Pastor of Le Chambon (1901–1971)
During the years of Nazi occupation in France, the citizens

of a small Huguenot village called Le Chambon offered a safe
haven to thousands of Jewish refugees who were thus saved
from certain death. Many hundreds took part in this “con-
spiracy of goodness,” but no doubt a key role was played by
the pastor André Trocmé and his wife Magda.
At the core of Trocmé’s ministry was a literal commitment
to the Sermon on the Mount and a conviction that the essence
of the Gospel lay in the love of God and neighbor. Within a few
years, he had managed to instill these principles in his flock.
In 1942, when the order came to deliver all Jews for de-
portation, the village undertook a dangerous form of resis-
tance. During the years of the war it is estimated that as many
as 3,500 Jews were protected in the village and surrounding
farms. The risks of such a venture, operating under the eyes
of the Gestapo, were evident. Trocmé himself was at one point
detained and later went into hiding. Still the rescue contin-
ued. Trocmé so invigorated the faith and conscience of his
flock that they risked their own lives to protect the lives of
those labeled “outsiders.” Beside the slaughter of those years,
the numbers rescued were modest—yet extraordinary, when
one considers that for Jews this small French village was per-
haps the safest place in all of occupied Europe.
Trocmé died on June 5, 1971. The following year he was
honored in Israel with the “Medal of Righteousness.”
“Look hard for ways to make little moves against destructive-

ness.”
—André Trocmé
64 June 5
Mass
St. Boniface, Memorial
Entrance Antiphon
This holy man fought to the death for the law of his God /
and did not fear the words of the godless, / for he was
built on solid rock.
Or: Cf. Wisdom 10:12
The Lord granted him a stern struggle, / that he might
know that wisdom is mightier than all else.
Collect
May the Martyr Saint Boniface be our advocate, O Lord,
that we may firmly hold the faith
he taught with his lips and sealed in his blood
and confidently profess it by our deeds.

I commend you to God who has the power to build you up
and to give you an inheritance.
A t Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church

of Ephesus: “Keep watch over yourselves and over the
whole flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you
overseers, in which you tend the Church of God that he
acquired with his own Blood. I know that after my depar-
ture savage wolves will come among you, and they will not
spare the flock. And from your own group, men will come
forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away
after them. So be vigilant and remember that for three
Wednesday 65
years, night and day, I unceasingly admonished each of you
with tears. And now I commend you to God and to that
gracious word of his that can build you up and give you the
inheritance among all who are consecrated. I have never
wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You know well
that these very hands have served my needs and my com-
panions. In every way I have shown you that by hard work
of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the
words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed
to give than to receive.’ ”
When he had finished speaking he knelt down and
prayed with them all. They were all weeping loudly as they
threw their arms around Paul and kissed him, for they were
deeply distressed that he had said that they would never see
his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.
Responsorial Psalm 68:29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab

or: r. Alleluia.
Show forth, O God, your power,
the power, O God, with which you took our part;
For your temple in Jerusalem
let the kings bring you gifts. r.
You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,
chant praise to the Lord
who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.
Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:
“Confess the power of God!” r.
Over Israel is his majesty;
his power is in the skies.
Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel;
he gives power and strength to his people. r.
66 June 5
Gospel Acclamation See John 17:17b, 17a
Your word, O Lord, is truth;
consecrate us in the truth.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

17:11b-19
May they be one just as we are one.
L ifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy

Father, keep them in your name that you have given me,
so that they may be one just as we are one. When I was with
them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and
I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son
of destruction, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so
that they may share my joy completely. I gave them your
word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong
to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not
ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep
them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in
the truth. Your word is truth. As you sent me into the world,
so I sent them into the world. And I consecrate myself for
them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.”

Sanctify our offerings by your blessing,
O Lord, we pray,
and by your grace may we be set afire
with that flame of your love
through which Saint Boniface overcame every bodily
torment.
Wednesday 67
Or:
May the offerings we bring in commemoration of blessed
Saint Boniface
be acceptable to you, we pray, O Lord,
so that they may be pleasing to your majesty
just as the shedding of this Martyr’s blood
was precious in your sight.
Communion Antiphon Cf. Matthew 16:24

Whoever wishes to come after me, must deny himself, /
take up his cross, and follow me, says the Lord.
Or: Matthew 10:39
Whoever loses his life for my sake, / will find it in
eternity, says the Lord.

May the sacred mysteries of which we have partaken,
O Lord, we pray,
give us that determination which made your blessed
Martyr Saint Boniface
faithful in your service
and victorious in suffering.
68 June 5
Reflection
As We Listen In
If you had the chance to script the last paragraphs you would
speak before dying, what would you say and to whom would
you most wish to speak?
Today, we hear parts of Paul’s last message to his friends
in Ephesus and Jesus’ farewell to his friends gathered at his
Last Supper. Like a dying parent who knows they will not be
around for their children in the trials to come, both Paul and
Jesus show more concern for those they love than for them-
selves. Paul encourages his disciples to keep watch over them-
selves and one another. Jesus asks the Father, “Keep them in
your name so that they may be one.”
Neither Jesus nor Paul speaks about their accomplish-
ments; they focus on their friends and the mission they are
leaving them. They don’t mention the details of the mission
but focus on its goal: their friends’ relationship with God.
They don’t say they are worried about their friends, yet
there are things they must express. Paul says, “I commend
you to God who has the power to build you up.” Speaking to
the Father, Jesus reveals what he wants the disciples to know
about his hopes for them.
As we listen in, we know that Jesus and Paul are speaking
to us as well. They understand that evil lurks and looks to
lure us in, so they remind us that we are consecrated, made
Christlike. Their final message is that we are able to live up
to their hopes for us.
Sr. Mary McGlone
Mary McGlone, CSJ, PhD, is a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet and
a researcher and writer in the CSJ Historical Research Office.
Wednesday 69
Evening
(opt. hymn, pp. 360–65)
Psalm 55:2-9
Give ear, O God, to my prayer;
do not hide from my pleading.
Attend to me and reply;
with my cares, I cannot rest.
I tremble at the shouts of the foe,
at the cries of the wicked,
for they pile up evil upon me;
in anger they malign me.
My heart is stricken within me;
death’s terror falls upon me.
Trembling and fear come over me,
and horror overwhelms me.
I say, “O that I had wings like a dove,
to fly away and be at rest!
I would indeed escape far away,
and take refuge in the desert.
I would hasten to find my shelter
from the raging wind and tempest.”
Scripture 2 Timothy 1:6-8
I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have
through the imposition of my hands. For God did not
give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love
and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony
70 June 5
to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your
share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that
comes from God.

Antiphon
I commend you to God and to God’s gracious word.
Intercessions
God, you are our refuge and our strength. Confident in
your care for us, we say: r. Give ear to our prayer,
O God.
Help us to dialogue with those whose religious and
political views differ from ours. r.
Lead women in crisis pregnancies to find compassion and
assistance for their needs. r.
Relieve those who suffer from insomnia or anxiety. r.
Our Father . . .
May God equip us with every gift of the Spirit so that we

may bear witness to the saving power of the Gospel,
through Jesus our brother. Amen.
71
Thursday, June 6
Morning
(opt. hymn, pp. 360–65)
Psalm 16:1-2, 5-11
Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord.
You are my good, you alone.”
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;
it is you yourself who secure my destiny.
Pleasant places are marked out for me:
a fair heritage indeed is my lot!
I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,
who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord before me always;
with God at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;
even my body shall rest in safety.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
nor let your holy one see corruption.
You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand, bliss forever.
Scripture Wisdom 4:7-10a, 13-14a
T ]he righteous one, though he die early, shall be at rest.

/ For the age that is honorable comes not with the
72 June 6
passing of time, / nor can it be measured in terms of years.
/ Rather, understanding passes for gray hair, / and an unsul-
lied life is the attainment of old age. / The one who pleased
God was loved . . . / Having become perfect in a short
while, / he reached the fullness of a long career; / for his
soul was pleasing to the Lord.

Antiphon
I am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.
Intercessions
Holy God, you alone show us the path of life and the
fullness of joy in your presence. In hope we pray:
r. Direct our hearts to you, O God.
Strengthen your Church to bear witness to your justice
and love. r.
Heal divisions in your Church and among Christians. r.
Deepen our care for one another and for our neighbor. r.
Our Father . . .
May God bless us with mercy, fill our hearts with the
peace of Christ, and send us the Spirit to be with us
always. Amen.
Thursday 73
Blessed Among Us
St. Philip the Deacon
(First Century)
According to the Acts of the Apostles, St. Philip was among

the first of seven men in the early Christian community to be
appointed to serve at table and to attend to the needs of widows
and the poor. (These tasks were later deemed to be the origin
of the office of deacon.) Little is known of his career, but he is
associated with a critical moment in the Church’s expansion.
Following the martyrdom of St. Stephen, the Church in
Jerusalem scattered. Philip crossed into Samaria, where he
found a surprisingly receptive audience. At that point an
angel instructed him to travel south toward Gaza. On the
road he encountered an Ethiopian eunuch, a servant of the
queen of Ethiopia, who was reading the book of Isaiah. When
Philip asked the Ethiopian whether he understood what he
read, he replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”
The text was about the Suffering Servant, a providential entry
to the story of Jesus. As the two traveled together the Ethiopian
pointed out a body of water and asked to be baptized on the
spot. So “they both went down into the water, Philip and the
eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of
the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip; and the eu-
nuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing.”
This striking story foreshadows the subsequent spread of
the Gospel beyond the confines of Israel. Through Philip and
his convert, Africa is represented in the infancy of the uni-
versal Church.
“And the multitudes gave heed to what was said by Philip, when
they heard him and saw the signs which he did.”
—Acts 8:6
74 June 6
Mass
Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
[St. Norbert, opt. memorial]
Entrance Antiphon Hebrews 4:16

With boldness let us approach the throne of grace, / that
we may receive mercy / and find grace as a timely help,
alleluia.
Collect
May your Spirit, O Lord, we pray,
imbue us powerfully with spiritual gifts,
that he may give us a mind pleasing to you
and graciously conform us to your will.
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 22:30; 23:6-11

You must bear witness in Rome.
W ishing to determine the truth about why Paul was

being accused by the Jews, the commander freed him
and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to
convene. Then he brought Paul down and made him stand
before them.
Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some
Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, “My broth-
ers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; I am on trial for
hope in the resurrection of the dead.” When he said this, a
dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and
the group became divided. For the Sadducees say that there
is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees
acknowledge all three. A great uproar occurred, and some
Thursday 75
scribes belonging to the Pharisee party stood up and sharply
argued, “We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a
spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” The dispute was so
serious that the commander, afraid that Paul would be torn
to pieces by them, ordered his troops to go down and rescue
Paul from their midst and take him into the compound. The
following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take cour-
age. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jeru-
salem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”
Responsorial Psalm 16:1-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11

r. (1) Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or: r. Alleluia.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the Lord, “My Lord are you.”
O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot. r.
I bless the Lord who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the Lord ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. r.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo
corruption. r.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever. r.
76 June 6
May they all be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you,
that the world may believe that you sent me, says the Lord.

May they all be one.
L ifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “I pray

not only for these, but also for those who will believe
in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as
you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be
in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I
have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may
be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they
may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may
know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as
you loved me. Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that
where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my
glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the
foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also
does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you
sent me. I made known to them your name and I will make
it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in
them and I in them.”

Graciously sanctify these gifts, O Lord, we pray,
and, accepting the oblation of this spiritual sacrifice,
make of us an eternal offering to you.
Thursday 77
I tell you the truth, it is for your good that I go; / for if I
do not go away, the Paraclete will not come to you, / says
the Lord, alleluia.

May the mysteries we have received, O Lord, we pray,
enlighten us by the instruction they bring
and restore us through our participation in them,
that we may merit the gifts of the Spirit.
Reflection
Does It Really Matter?
Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes a

contentious meeting of various groups in the early Church.
There was “a great uproar,” and the dispute was so serious
that the commander who had convoked the meeting was
afraid Paul would be torn to pieces.
This was not a nice and polite gathering, and it did not
seem to follow any rules of order. It was the kind of meeting
that has become ever more frequent today. In our churches,
in our schools, in the panels of pundits, and in political gath-
erings of every size we are seized by disagreements that seem
ever more destructive. Culture wars and tribal differences are
tearing our religious and political communities to pieces.
Paul knew that he had caused this fracas when he expressed
his hope in resurrection from the dead. It was an uproarious
dispute, but it was about something very important. It mat-
tered whether people believe in resurrection or not.
78 June 6
This should give us pause. Are our disagreements really
about something that matters, or are they simply opportuni-
ties to vent our anger?
In the midst of the great uproar of our times, today’s Gospel
invites us to pray with Jesus. He prayed that all would be one
so that the world might believe. He did not pray that all would
agree or that all would think and act in the same way. He
prayed that all would be one. Let us take this prayer to heart.
Mary Jo Leddy
Mary Jo Leddy is director and founder of Romero House in Toronto
and the author of The Other Face of God: When the Stranger
Calls Us Home.
Thursday 79
Evening
(opt. hymn, pp. 360–65)
Psalm 68:5-7, 20-21, 36
O sing to God; make music to God’s name.
Extol the One who rides on the clouds,
whose name is the Lord, in whose presence we exult.
Father of orphans, defender of widows:
such is God in the holy place.
God gives the desolate a home to dwell in,
and leads the prisoners forth into prosperity,
while rebels must dwell in a parched land.
Day after day, may the Lord be blest
who bears our burdens; God is our savior.
This God of ours is a God who saves.
The Lord our Lord provides an escape from death.
Awesome are you, O God, in your holy place,
You who are the God of Israel.
You give strength and power to your people.
Blest be God!
Scripture 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17
I ]f we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God,

through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen
asleep. Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the
Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the
80 June 6
voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will
come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise
first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the
air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Antiphon
Jesus declares: I wish that where I am they also may be
with me.
Intercessions
Provident God, you give strength and power to your
people. In hope we pray: r. Favor us by your love,
O God.
Restore life to lands ravaged by war or disaster, and bless
efforts of emergency aid workers. r.
Ease the transition of those who have recently been
released from prison, and bless their families. r.
Save those who are embittered by injury, betrayal, or
grave disappointment. r.
Our Father . . .
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in
believing, that we may know the depth of Christ’s love for
us, by the working of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
81
Friday, June 7
Morning
(opt. hymn, pp. 360–65)
Psalm 69:17-19, 31-35
Lord, answer, for your love is kind;
in your abundant compassion, turn towards me.
Do not hide your face from your servant;
answer me quickly, for I am in distress.
Come close to my soul and redeem me;
ransom me because of my foes.
Then I will praise God’s name with a song;
I will glorify the Lord with thanksgiving:
a gift pleasing the Lord more than oxen,
more than a bull with horns and hooves.
The poor when they see it will be glad,
and God-seeking hearts will revive;
for the Lord attends the needy,
and does not spurn those in their chains.
Let the heavens and the earth give praise to God,
the seas and everything that moves in them.
Scripture Deuteronomy 6:4-9
H ear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone!

Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with your
whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole
strength. Take to heart these words which I command you
today. Keep repeating them to your children. Recite them
82 June 7
when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie
down and when you get up. Bind them on your arm as a sign
and let them be as a pendant on your forehead. Write them
on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.

Antiphon
Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.
Intercessions
Lover of the poor, you shepherd your Church in love.
In faith we pray: r. God, in your compassion, hear
our prayer.
Inspire your Church’s efforts to practice solidarity with
the poor, the immigrant, and the most vulnerable. r.
Uphold the integrity of those who suffer mental illness,
and strengthen their caregivers by your love and peace. r.
Comfort and console those who grieve. r.
Our Father . . .
May God refresh our hearts in the peace of Christ and

send us the Holy Spirit to be with us always. Amen.
Friday 83
Blessed Among Us
Servant of God Julia Greeley
Ex-Slave, Third Order Franciscan (d. 1918)
Of the early life of Julia Greeley, little is known. She was born
a slave in Hannibal, Missouri, as her biography notes, some-
time “between 1833–1848.” Though she seldom spoke of
those times, she bore the mark of bondage, having lost one
of her eyes to a slave master’s whip. After emancipation in
1865 she found employment as a cook or housekeeper with
a series of families, first in Missouri, and ultimately in Denver,
where she moved in 1878.
In 1880 she was conditionally baptized in the Catholic
Church, and from then on her parish church, Sacred Heart,
became her true home. When not working, Julia spent all her
time ministering to the poor. Aside from her own meager
income, she relied on begging and scavenging to deliver food,
clothing, and coal to needy families, all of which she pulled
along in a little red wagon. Tireless and indefatigable, she was
described as a “one-person St. Vincent de Paul Society.”
When she died on June 7, 1918, hundreds of people turned
out for her funeral, and tributes appeared in many papers.
Having in 1901 taken vows as a Third Order Franciscan, she
was buried in her Franciscan habit. A hundred years later,
after being declared a Servant of God, her remains were dis-
interred and moved to Denver’s Cathedral Basilica of the
Immaculate Conception.
“Here was the secret of her influence. She had taken Christ liter-
ally, as had [St. Francis] of Assisi. Like him, she had given away
all to the poor and had gone about making melody in her heart
unto the Lord.”
—Fr. Eugene Murphy, SJ
84 June 7
Mass
Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Entrance Antiphon Revelation 1:5-6

Christ loved us and washed us clean of our sins by his
Blood, / and made us into a kingdom, / priests for his
God and Father, alleluia.
Collect
O God, who by the glorification of your Christ
and the light of the Holy Spirit
have unlocked for us the gates of eternity,
grant, we pray,
that, partaking of so great a gift,
our devotion may grow deeper
and our faith be strengthened.
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 25:13b-21

Jesus was dead, whom Paul claimed to be alive.
K ing Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea on a visit

to Festus. Since they spent several days there, Festus
referred Paul’s case to the king, saying, “There is a man here
left in custody by Felix. When I was in Jerusalem the chief
priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against
him and demanded his condemnation. I answered them
that it was not Roman practice to hand over an accused
person before he has faced his accusers and had the op-
portunity to defend himself against their charge. So when
they came together here, I made no delay; the next day I
took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be
Friday 85
brought in. His accusers stood around him, but did not
charge him with any of the crimes I suspected. Instead they
had some issues with him about their own religion and
about a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul claimed
was alive. Since I was at a loss how to investigate this con-
troversy, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and
there stand trial on these charges. And when Paul appealed
that he be held in custody for the Emperor’s decision, I
ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar.”
Responsorial Psalm 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20ab

r. (19a) The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
or: r. Alleluia.
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits. r.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us. r.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the Lord, all you his angels,
you mighty in strength, who do his bidding. r.

The Holy Spirit will teach you everything
and remind you of all I told you.
86 June 7
Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.
A fter Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and

eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love
you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He then said to
Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you
love me?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know
that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said
to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love
me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third
time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you
know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to
him, “Feed my sheep. Amen, amen, I say to you, when you
were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you
wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your
hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where
you do not want to go.” He said this signifying by what kind
of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this,
he said to him, “Follow me.”

Look mercifully, O Lord, we pray,
upon the sacrificial gifts of your people,
and, that they may become acceptable to you,
let the coming of the Holy Spirit
cleanse our consciences.
Friday 87
When the Spirit of truth comes, / he will teach you all
truth, says the Lord, alleluia.

O God, by whose mysteries
we are cleansed and nourished,
grant, we pray,
that this banquet which you give us
may bring everlasting life.
Reflection
No Other Question
Christ rose again in the flesh, and Peter rose in the spirit
because, when Christ died in his passion, Peter died by his
denial. Christ the Lord was raised from the dead, and out of
his love he raised Peter. He questioned him about the love he
was confessing and entrusted him with his sheep. After all,
what benefit could Peter confer on Christ by the mere fact of
his loving Christ? If Christ loves you, it is to your advantage,
not Christ’s. And if you love Christ, it is to your advantage,
not Christ’s. And yet Christ the Lord wanted to indicate how
people ought to show that they love Christ. And he made it
plain enough by entrusting him with his sheep.
“Do you love me?”
“I do.”
“Feed my sheep.”
All this once, all this a second time, all this a third time.
Peter made no other reply than that he loved him. The Lord
88 June 7
asked no other question but whether he loved him. When
Peter answered, our Lord did nothing else but entrust his
sheep to him.
St. Augustine, Sermon 229
St. Augustine (354–430) experienced a pivotal conversion as an
adult. In 395, within eight years of his baptism, he became bishop
of Hippo.
Friday 89
Evening
(opt. hymn, pp. 360–65)
Psalm 22:2-5, 7-12
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you far from saving me,
so far from my words of anguish?
O my God, I call by day and you do not answer;
I call by night and I find no relief.
Yet you, O God, are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you set them free.
But I am a worm, not even human,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
All who see me deride me;
they curl their lips, they shake their heads:
“You trusted in the Lord, may you now be saved,
yes, released, for in you God delights.”
Yes, it was you who took me from the womb,
kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
To you I was committed from birth;
from my mother’s womb, you have been my God.
Stay not far from me;
trouble is near, and there is no one to help.

90 June 7
Scripture 1 Peter 4:7-11
T he end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be serious

and sober for prayers. Above all, let your love for one
another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins.
Be hospitable to one another without complaining. As each
one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good
stewards of God’s varied grace. Whoever preaches, let it be
with the words of God; whoever serves, let it be with the
strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may
be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory
and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Antiphon
Feed my lambs; feed my sheep.
Intercessions
Faithful God, you never abandon your own. In trust we
pray: r. Let love be our quest and our aim, O God.
Help us to be hospitable to one another without
complaining. r.
Deepen the gifts of justice and contemplation in your
Church. r.
Strengthen those who serve the poor in food kitchens,
shelters, and on the streets. r.
Our Father . . .
May we prefer nothing to the love of Christ, and may he

bring us together to everlasting life. Amen.
91
Saturday, June 8
Morning
(opt. hymn, pp. 360–65)
Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the mountains;
from where shall come my help?
My help shall come from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
The Lord will keep your foot from stumbling.
Your guard will never slumber.
No, the guardian of Israel
neither sleeps nor slumbers.
The Lord your guard, the Lord your shade
at your right hand.
By day the sun shall not smite you,
nor the moon in the night.
The Lord will guard you from evil,
will guard your soul.
The Lord will guard your going and coming,
both now and forever.
Scripture 1 Maccabees 2:51, 53, 55, 59-61
R emember the deeds that our ancestors did in their

times, / and you shall win great honor and an everlast-
ing name. / Joseph, when in distress, kept the command-
ment, / and he became master of Egypt. / Joshua, for
92 June 8
executing his commission, / became a judge in Israel. /
Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael, for their faith, / were saved
from the fire. / Daniel, for his innocence, / was delivered
from the mouths of lions. / And so, consider this from gen-
eration to generation, / that none who hope in Heaven shall
fail in strength.”

Antiphon
It is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains.
Intercessions
Guardian of our souls, you tend your flock with care and
lead us to peace. Secure in your love, we pray: r. Hear
our prayer, O God.
Endow all who serve in public office with a spirit of
integrity, love for truth, and respect for difference. r.
Grant meaningful employment to those who seek work. r.
Protect young people from the lure of drug dealers and
harmful gangs. r.
Our Father . . .
May God heal us of every affliction, deliver us from

harm, and fill our hearts with peace, through Jesus, the
Good Shepherd. Amen.
Saturday 93
Blessed Among Us
Gerard Manley Hopkins
Jesuit Priest and Poet (1844–1889)
Gerard Manley Hopkins was born in England to a prosperous
Anglican family. Though he excelled at Oxford and seemed
destined for a brilliant career, these expectations were dashed
when he announced his decision in 1866 to become a Roman
Catholic, and then a Jesuit priest. Hopkins was a gifted poet,
but in becoming a Jesuit he presumed he must renounce his
literary interests. In 1875, however, he read about a shipwreck
off the coast of Kent. Among the victims was a group of Fran-
ciscan nuns escaping anti-Catholic persecution in Germany.
When his superior casually mentioned it would make a good
subject for a poem, Hopkins felt authorized to resume his writ-
ing. It was as if a dam had burst. The result was his epic “The
Wreck of the Deutschland,” one of the most remarkable poems
in the English language. In compressed, highly charged lan-
guage, he used this event to describe the victory wrought by
Christ through his passion and resurrection. Yet neither this
nor any of his subsequent poems was published in his lifetime.
His friends found his style bizarre and incomprehensible.
Hopkins spent most of his life wracked by doubts regarding
his abilities and accomplishments. Only toward the end of his
life did he seem to resolve the identity of his vocations as priest
and poet. Poetry, he came to see, was his means of naming
and replicating the sacramental character of the created world,
his way of expressing his true being and returning praise to
his Creator. He died of typhoid on June 8, 1889. His last words:
“I am so happy.”
“The world is charged with the grandeur of God. / It will flame
out, like shining from shook foil; / It gathers to a greatness, like
the ooze of oil / Crushed.” —Gerard Manley Hopkins
94 June 8
Mass
Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Entrance Antiphon Acts 1:14

The disciples devoted themselves with one accord to
prayer / with the women, and Mary the Mother of Jesus, /
and his brethren, alleluia.
Collect
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that we, who have celebrated the paschal festivities,
may by your gift hold fast to them
in the way that we live our lives.
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 28:16-20, 30-31

Paul remained at Rome, proclaiming the Kingdom of God.
W hen he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by

himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews.
When they had gathered he said to them, “My brothers,
although I had done nothing against our people or our
ancestral customs, I was handed over to the Romans as a
prisoner from Jerusalem. After trying my case the Romans
wanted to release me, because they found nothing against
me deserving the death penalty. But when the Jews objected,
I was obliged to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no
accusation to make against my own nation. This is the rea-
son, then, I have requested to see you and to speak with
you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear
these chains.”
Saturday 95
He remained for two full years in his lodgings. He re-
ceived all who came to him, and with complete assurance
and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God
and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Responsorial Psalm 11:4, 5 and 7

r . (see 7b) The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.
or: r. Alleluia.
The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord’s throne is in heaven.
His eyes behold,
his searching glance is on mankind. r.
The Lord searches the just and the wicked;
the lover of violence he hates.
For the Lord is just, he loves just deeds;
the upright shall see his face. r.
Gospel Acclamation John 16:7, 13

I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord;
he will guide you to all truth.
A reading from the conclusion of the holy Gospel

according to John 21:20-25
This is the disciple who has written these things
and his testimony is true.
P eter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus

loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest
during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one
who will betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus,
“Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “What if I want
him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours?
You follow me.” So the word spread among the brothers
96 June 8
that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him
that he would not die, just “What if I want him to remain
until I come? What concern is it of yours?”
It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has
written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There
are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were
to be described individually, I do not think the whole world
would contain the books that would be written.

May the Holy Spirit coming near, we pray, O Lord,
prepare our minds for the divine Sacrament,
since the Spirit himself is the remission of all sins.

The Holy Spirit will glorify me, / for he will take from
what is mine and declare it to you, / says the Lord, alleluia.

Hear in your compassion our prayers, O Lord,
that, as we have been brought
from things of the past to new mysteries,
so, with former ways left behind,
we may be made new in holiness of mind.
Saturday 97
Reflection
It’s Not a Contest
Summer is here, school is getting out, and it’s time for all the
get-togethers with family and friends. But oh the humanity!
Such gatherings are also the breeding ground for the deadly
sin of envy, along with her sister sins: jealousy and gossip.
Our envy radar is up, scanning the crowd to see who’s wearing
what. We compare lawns and kids. Who got the best marks
on their final report cards? Where are the grads going to
college? And did you see Helen’s new car?
The Christ among us is no stranger to such petty jealou-
sies. Jesus was surrounded by them. The brothers James and
John bickered about which one was better. Nathanael was
dismissive of people from Nazareth.
Peter, chief among the apostles, in today’s episode shows
signs of being a little miffed at the special treatment the Be-
loved Disciple receives from the risen Jesus. It’s been building.
The passage recalls the Last Supper scene when the disciple
rested his head on the Lord’s chest. Now it comes out. Peter
tips his hand. So the Lord tells Peter to mind his own bees-
wax. Perfect!
It isn’t hard to see our own families and our own lives
reflected in this Gospel story. The message is clear. So what
if somebody is better off than I am? It’s not my purpose in
this world to win the “who’s on top” contest. Jesus is leading
all of us to eternal happiness, the reason for which we were
created. Our job is to simply follow.
Fr. Paul Boudreau
Fr. Paul Boudreau is the pastor of St. Mary Church in Portland,
Connecticut. He is coauthor, along with Alice Camille, of Fearless:
Stories of the American Saints.
98 June 8
Evening
(opt. hymn, pp. 360–65)
Psalm 81:2-4, 6c-11
Sing joyfully to God our strength,
shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.
Raise a song and sound the timbrel,
the sweet-sounding lyre with the harp;
blow the trumpet at the new moon,
when the moon is full, on our feast.
A voice I did not know said to me:
“I freed your shoulder from the burden;
your hands were freed from the builder’s basket.
You called in distress and I delivered you.
“I answered, concealed in the thunder;
at the waters of Meribah I tested you.
Listen, my people, as I warn you.
O Israel, if only you would heed!
“Let there be no strange god among you,
nor shall you worship a foreign god.
I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up from the land of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.”
Scripture 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
A s God is faithful, our word to you is not “yes” and “no.”

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed
Saturday 99
to you by us, Silvanus and Timothy and me, was not “yes”
and “no,” but “yes” has been in him. For however many are
the promises of God, their Yes is in him; therefore, the
Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory. But
the one who gives us security with you in Christ and who
anointed us is God; he has also put his seal upon us and
given the Spirit in our hearts as a first installment.

Antiphon
The testimony of Jesus’ disciples concerning God’s
promises is true.
Intercessions
Gracious God, you gladden us by your deeds. We rejoice
in the saving power you have shown us in Jesus, and we
pray: r. Faithful God, hear us.
Accomplish the Gospel vision of peace and justice in your
Church. r.
Uphold efforts to secure just health care for all people. r.
Welcome all the faithful departed into the light of your
face. r.
Our Father . . .
May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ send us
the Holy Spirit and renew the face of the earth. Amen.
The Order of Mass
❙❚ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit.
❙❚ Amen.
Greeting
A The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.
And with your spirit.
B Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
C The Lord be with you.
Penitential Act
Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
(Pause)
A I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
And, striking their breast, they say:
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
Then they continue:
328
The Order of Mass 329
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
B Have mercy on us, O Lord.
For we have sinned against you.
Show us, O Lord, your mercy.
And grant us your salvation.
These or other invocations may be used.
C You were sent to heal the contrite of heart:
Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.
You came to call sinners:
Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.
Christ, have mercy. Or: Christe, eleison.
You are seated at the right hand of the Father to
intercede for us:
❙❚ May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
❙❚ Amen.
Kyrie
The Kyrie, eleison (Lord, have mercy) invocations follow, unless they
have just occurred in a formula of the Penitential Act.
❙❚ Lord, have mercy. ❙❚ Kyrie, eleison.
❙❚ Christ, have mercy. ❙❚ Christe, eleison.
❙❚ Christ, have mercy. ❙❚ Christe, eleison.
330 The Order of Mass
Gloria
Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you,
we bless you,
we adore you,
we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
Collect (Opening Prayer)
Liturgy of the Word

First Reading
Responsorial Psalm
Second Reading
Gospel Acclamation
Gospel
Cleanse my heart and my lips, almighty God,
that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel.
❙❚ The Lord be with you.
❙❚ And with your spirit.
❙❚ A reading from the holy Gospel according to N.
❙❚ Glory to you, O Lord.
At the end:
❙❚ The Gospel of the Lord.
❙❚ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Through the words of the Gospel
may our sins be wiped away.
Homily
Profession of Faith
[The Apostles’ Creed can be found on p. 354]
Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
332 The Order of Mass
At the words that follow, up to and including and became man,
all bow.
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayer of the Faithful (Bidding Prayers)
Liturgy of the Eucharist

Presentation and Preparation of the Gifts
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,
for through your goodness we have received
the bread we offer you:
fruit of the earth and work of human hands,
it will become for us the bread of life.
Blessed be God for ever.
By the mystery of this water and wine
may we come to share in the divinity of Christ
who humbled himself to share in our humanity.
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,
for through your goodness we have received
the wine we offer you:
fruit of the vine and work of human hands,
it will become our spiritual drink.
Blessed be God for ever.
With humble spirit and contrite heart
may we be accepted by you, O Lord,
and may our sacrifice in your sight this day
be pleasing to you, Lord God.
Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
Invitation to Prayer
Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters),
that my sacrifice and yours
may be acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands
for the praise and glory of his name,
for our good
and the good of all his holy Church.
Eucharistic Prayer
❙❚ The Lord be with you. ❙❚ And with your spirit.
❙❚ Lift up your hearts. ❙❚ We lift them up to the Lord.
❙❚ Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
❙❚ It is right and just.
360 Hymns
The Lord Goes Up With Shouts of Joy
Ascension—am/pm
Familiar Tune: That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright
We Bless You, Father, Lord of Life

Easter/Pentecost—am
Hymns 361
O Gracious Maker, God of Light

Ordinary Time—am/pm
362 Hymns
Eternal Trinity of Love
Trinity—am/pm
The Heavenly Word Proceeding Forth

Body and Blood of Christ—am/pm
Hymns 363
Now Let the Earth with Joy Resound

Apostles—am/pm
Text: Anonymous 10th c., trans. Edward Caswall, 1814–1878, alt.

Music: CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM, 88 88; Plainchant, Mode III, 9th c.
Celebration of the Liturgy of the Word
[With Holy Communion]
Introductory Rites
Introduction
Deacon or lay leader:
We gather here to celebrate the Lord’s Day.
Sunday has been called the Lord’s Day because
it was on this day
that Jesus conquered sin and death and rose to new life.
Unfortunately, we are not able to celebrate the Mass today
because we do not have a priest.
Let us be united in the spirit of Christ with
the Church around the world
and celebrate our redemption in Christ’s suffering,
death, and resurrection.
Sign of the Cross
❙❚ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit.
❙❚ Amen.
Greeting
❙❚ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from
the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God for ever.
❙❚ Blessed be God for ever.
Collect
Liturgy of the Word

First Reading
Responsorial Psalm
Second Reading
Gospel Acclamation
Gospel
Homily or Reflection on the Readings
353
354 Celebration of the Liturgy of the Word
Period of Silence
Profession of Faith
[The Nicene Creed can be found on p. 331]
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
At the words that follow, up to and including the Virgin Mary,
all bow.
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.
Prayer of the Faithful
Communion Rite
Lord’s Prayer
The Father provides us with food for eternal life.
At the Savior’s command
and formed by divine teaching,
we dare to say:
Celebration of the Liturgy of the Word 355
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Invitation to Communion
Behold the Lamb of God,
behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.
Communion
Act of Thanksgiving
Concluding Rite
Invitation to Pray for Vocations to the Priesthood
Mindful of our Lord’s word, “Ask the Master of the harvest
to send out laborers for the harvest,” let us pray for an
increase of vocations to the priesthood. May our prayer
hasten the day when we will be able to take part in the
celebration of the Holy Eucharist every Sunday.
Blessing
Sign of Peace
Guide to Lectio Divina
Choose a word or phrase of the Scriptures you wish to pray.
It makes no difference which text is chosen, as long as you
have no set goal of “covering” a certain amount of text. The
amount of text covered is in God’s hands, not yours.
Read. Turn to the text and read it slowly, gently. Savor each
portion of the reading, constantly listening for the “still, small
voice” of a word or phrase that somehow says, “I am for you
today.” Do not expect lightning or ecstasies. In lectio divina,
God is teaching us to listen, to seek him in silence. God does
not reach out and grab us but gently invites us ever more
deeply into his presence.
Ponder. Take the word or phrase into yourself. Memorize
it and slowly repeat it to yourself, allowing it to interact with
your inner world of concerns, memories, and ideas. Do not
be afraid of distractions. Memories or thoughts are simply
parts of yourself that, when they rise up during lectio divina,
are asking to be given to God along with the rest of your inner
self. Allow this inner pondering, this rumination, to invite
you into dialogue with God.
Pray. Whether you use words, ideas, or images—or all
three—is not important. Interact with God as you would with
one who you know loves and accepts you. Give to God what
you have discovered during your experience of meditation.
Give to God what you have found within your heart.
It is not necessary to assess the quality of your lectio divina,
as if you were “performing” or seeking some goal. Lectio
divina has no goal other than that of being in the presence
of God by praying the Scriptures.
—Fr. Luke Dysinger
Luke Dysinger, OSB, is a Benedictine monk of Saint Andrew’s
Abbey, Valyermo, California.
About the Cover
Kost’ Markovych’s Holy Trinity is inspired by the renowned
15th-century icon of the Trinity by Andrei Rublev. Like
Markovych, countless iconographers across the centuries
have created their own versions of this most famous of Rus-
sian icons.
The image depicts the story of Abraham, Sarah, and their
three visitors as told in Genesis 18. As Abraham sat, in the
heat of the day, near the oak of Mamre, three visitors appeared
before him. He implored them to stay and rest, and he and
his wife, Sarah, offered them hospitality. In the background
of the image, we see the oak of Mamre and an edifice that
represents the tent of Abraham, though it appears more sub-
stantial than a tent. It is, in fact, reminiscent of the modern-
day Russian Orthodox Monastery of the Holy Trinity that
stands on the site.
The three visitors are depicted as angels, an aspect of the
image that is similar to Rublev’s icon. But there are several
ways in which the images differ. In Rublev’s icon, the bodies
of the three figures form a circle, representing the eternal
Trinity. For Markovych, the table around which the figures
are seated brings the eternal circle to the scene. Additionally,
in this version, we see Abraham and Sarah offering a large
bowl containing the slaughtered calf. As the figures extend
their hands to receive and bless Abraham, Sarah, and their
offering, we are reminded that whenever we welcome strangers
as God’s own representatives, we too become worthy of such
holy and eternal blessings.
—Br. Ælred Senna
Ælred Senna, OSB, is a monk of Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville,
Minnesota, and associate editor of Give Us This Day.
369
Canticle of Mary (Magnificat) Luke 1:46-55
M y soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and will be for ever. Amen.
www.giveusthisday.org
888.259.8470
Front Cover: Holy Trinity by Kost’ Markovych

Back Cover: Pentecost by Jyoti Sahi
Liturgical Press www.litpress.org

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JUNE 2019

B lessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;

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Sr. Barbara Reid

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✛ Anne Frank ✛ Martin Buber ✛ Bd. Mary Schininà ✛ St. Methodius of

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© 2019 by the Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota.

CONTENTS June 2019 ◆ Volume 9, Issue 6

I t is surely remarkable that the two great pillars of the

Sometimes in our prayer or in our daily lives, we become

Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;

And Jesus, awakened by his disciples during a fierce storm

Prayer to the Trinity

Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Psalm 91:1-2, 5-6, 10-11

Glory to the Father . . .

Scripture 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19, 23-24

R ejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circum-

Glory to the Father . . .

Marian Antiphon (or another Marian hymn, pp. 364–65)

Glory to the Father . . .

Scripture Isaiah 55:10-11

Read, Ponder, Pray on a word or phrase from this or another of

Canticle of Zechariah (inside front cover)

May the Word of God bear much fruit in us, by the

The “Blessed Among Us” features are written by Robert Ellsberg,

Entrance Antiphon Cf. Psalm 119 (118):85, 46

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 18:23-28

A fter staying in Antioch some time, Paul left and trav-

Responsorial Psalm 47:2-3, 8-9, 10

Gospel Acclamation John 16:28

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

J esus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you,

Prayer over the Offerings

Communion Antiphon Cf. 1 Corinthians 2:2

Prayer after Communion

It can disturb hearers with weak [faith] that, at the beginning

Glory to the Father . . .

Scripture Ephesians 3:17-21

M ay Christ] dwell in your hearts through faith; that

Read, Ponder, Pray on a word or phrase from this or another of

Canticle of Mary (inside back cover)

May God bless us with faith in Christ so that we may be

Glory to the Father . . .

Scripture Isaiah 41:1-2d, 4

K eep silence before me, O coastlands; / let the nations

Read, Ponder, Pray on a word or phrase from this or another of

Canticle of Zechariah (inside front cover)

May the peace of Christ reign in our hearts, through

Entrance Antiphon Cf. Psalm 27 (26):7-9

Gloria (p. 328)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 7:55-60

S tephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently

Responsorial Psalm 97:1-2, 6-7, 9

A reading from the Book of Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20

I , John, heard a voice saying to me: “Behold, I am coming

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CONTENTS June 2019 ◆ Volume 9, Issue 6