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AUGUST 2014

DAILY PRAYER FOR TODAY’S CATHOLIC

Give Us This Day®Canticle of Zechariah (Benedictus) Luke 1:68-79

Blessed 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 fathersand 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 salvationby the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our Godthe 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.

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

1 W

St. Alphonsus Liguori

✛ St. Alphonsus Liguori Catherine de Hueck

Doherty

2 G

[St. Eusebius of Vercelli; St. Peter Julian Eymard]

✛ St. Eusebius of Vercelli

Fr. Guerric DeBona

3 Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

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Pope John Paul II

4 W

St. John Vianney

✛ Bp. Enrique Angelelli Sr. Pat Kozak

5 G

[Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica]

✛ St. Lydia Fr. Paul Philibert

6 W

Transfiguration of the Lord

✛ Noah Chiara Lubich

7 G

[St. Sixtus II and Companions; St. Cajetan]

✛ St. Cajetan Edward Hahnenberg

8 W

St. Dominic

✛ St. Dominic Mother Maria

Skobtsova

9 G

[St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross]

✛ St. Candida Maria of Jesus

Sr. Martha AlkenWithin the Word: “Prophet” HananiahSr. Joan Cook

10 Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

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Julian of Norwich

11 W

St. Clare

✛ St. Clare Fr. Eric Hollas

12 G

[St. Jane Frances de Chantal]

✛ St. Susanna Sr. Edith

Prendergast

13 G

[Sts. Pontian and Hippolytus]

✛ Bd. Otto Neururer and Jakob Gapp

John Shea

14 R

St. Maximilian Kolbe

✛ Jonathan Daniels Sr. Mary McGlone

15 W

Assumption of Mary

Michelle Francl-Donnay

16 G

[St. Stephen of Hungary]

✛ John Courtney Murray

Card. Chito TagleWithin the Word: “Woman Clothed with the Sun” Fr. Daniel Harrington

17 Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

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Fr. Anthony Oelrich

18 G

✛ Ven. Mary Magdalen Bentivoglio

Renée LaReau

19 G

[St. John Eudes]

✛ St. Joan Delanoue Sr. Meg Funk

20 W

St. Bernard

✛ Jessica Powers St. Catherine of Siena

21 W

St. Pius X

✛ St. Abraham of Smolensk

St. Gregory the Great

22 W

Queenship of Mary

✛ Ninoy Aquino Kathy McGovern

23 G

[St. Rose of Lima]

✛ Luis de Leon Fr. Patrick Hartin

Within the Word: “Can these bones come to life?” Mahri Leonard-Fleckman

24 Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time

G

Sr. Katherine Howard

25 G

[St. Louis; St. Joseph Calasanz]

✛ St. Genesius the Actor Fr. Daniel Horan

26 G

✛ St. Emily de Vialar Origen

27 W

St. Monica

✛ St. Monica Fr. Anthony Gittins

28 W

St. Augustine

✛ St. Augustine St. John Chrysostom

29 R

Passion of St. John the Baptist

✛ Dom Helder Camara Rachelle Linner

30 G

✛ St. Jeanne Jugan Michael Leach

Within the Word: Fear of the LordAbbot Gregory Polan

31 Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time

G

Kathleen Norris

August 2014

Key✛ Blessed Among Us by Robert Ellsberg Reflection / Within the Word Author[ ] Optional MemorialVestment colors:G Green R Red W White

Give UsThısDay®DAILY PRAYER FOR TODAY’S CATHOLIC

Editorial Advisors James Martin, SJ ◆ Irene Nowell, OSB Bishop Robert F. Morneau ◆ Timothy Radcliffe, OP Kathleen Norris ◆ Ronald Rolheiser, OMI

Peter Dwyer, PublisherMary Stommes, Editor

Catherine Donovan, Associate PublisherNancy Bauer, OSB, Assistant Editor

Robert Ellsberg, “Blessed Among Us” AuthorIrene Nowell, OSB, Scripture Editor, Morning and Evening

Susan Barber, OSB, Intercessions

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Published with the approval of the Committee on Divine Worship, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

CONTENTS August 2014 ◆ Volume 4, Issue 8

Full of Grace Bishop Robert Morneau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Teach Us to Pray: Finding God in All Things Fr. James Martin . . . . . . . . . . . 7Evening Prayer Melissa Musick Nussbaum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Prayers and Blessings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Prayer at Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Daily Prayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Order of Mass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332Liturgy of the Word (with Holy Communion) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362Guide to Lectio Divina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365Hymns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366

37

Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, illustration from The Life of Christ, 1487, Ludolph of Saxony.

Sunday, August 3

MorningO Lord, open my lips.And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

(opt. hymn, pp. 366–73)Psalm 100Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.Serve the Lord with gladness.Come before him, singing for joy.

Know that he, the Lord, is God.He made us; we belong to him.We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Enter his gates with thanksgivingand his courts with songs of praise.Give thanks to him, and bless his name.

Indeed, how good is the Lord,eternal his merciful love.He is faithful from age to age.

Glory to the Father . . .

Scripture Wisdom 16:20-21, 26

You nourished your people with food of angels / and furnished them bread from heaven, ready to hand,

untoiled-for, / endowed with all delights and conforming to every taste. / For this substance of yours revealed your sweetness toward your children, / and serving the desire of

38 August 3 Sunday 39

the one who received it, / was changed to whatever flavor each one wished.

That your children whom you loved might learn, O Lord, / that it is not the various kinds of fruits that nourish, / but your word that preserves those who believe you!

Read, Ponder, Pray on a word or phrase from today’s Scriptures (Lectio Divina, p. 365)

AntiphonListen to me, and you shall delight in rich fare.

Canticle of Zechariah (inside front cover)

IntercessionsGod, your merciful love is eternal. In hope we pray: r. Shepherd your people, O God.

Grant your Church an abundance of compassion for the needs of the hungry, the searching, the sick, and the disadvantaged. r.

Heal the brokenhearted. r.

Teach us the wisdom of moderation in all things. r.

Our Father . . .

May the Spirit of the Lord be upon us, empowering us to be messengers of the Good News to all we meet. Amen.

MassEighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Entrance Antiphon Psalm 70 (69):2, 6O God, come to my assistance; / O Lord, make haste to help me! / You are my rescuer, my help; / O Lord, do not delay.

Gloria (p. 334)

CollectDraw near to your servants, O Lord,and answer their prayers with unceasing kindness,that, for those who glory in you as their Creator and guide,you may restore what you have createdand keep safe what you have restored.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 Book of the Prophet Isaiah 55:1-3

Hasten and eat.

Thus says the Lord: / All you who are thirsty, / come to the water! / You who have no money, / come, receive

grain and eat; / come, without paying and without cost, / drink wine and milk! / Why spend your money for what is not bread; / your wages for what fails to satisfy? / Heed me, and you shall eat well, / you shall delight in rich fare. / Come to me heedfully, / listen, that you may have life. / I will renew with you the everlasting covenant, / the benefits assured to David.The word of the Lord.


Responsorial Psalm 145:8-9, 15-16, 17-18

r. (cf. 16) The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness.The Lord is good to all and compassionate toward all his works. r.

The eyes of all look hopefully to you, and you give them their food in due season;you open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. r.

The Lord is just in all his ways and holy in all his works.The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. r.

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans 8:35, 37-39

No creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Brothers and sisters: What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or

famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.The word of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 4:4bOne does not live on bread alone,but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 14:13-21

They all ate and were satisfied.

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.

The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the dis-ciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over—twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.The Gospel of the Lord.

Creed (p. 335)

Prayer over the OfferingsGraciously sanctify these gifts, O Lord, we pray,and, accepting the oblation of this spiritual sacrifice,make of us an eternal offering to you.Through Christ our Lord.


Communion Antiphon Wisdom 16:20You have given us, O Lord, bread from heaven, / endowed with all delights and sweetness in every taste.

Or: John 6:35I am the bread of life, says the Lord; / whoever comes to me will not hunger / and whoever believes in me will not thirst.

Prayer after CommunionAccompany with constant protection, O Lord,those you renew with these heavenly giftsand, in your never-failing care for them,make them worthy of eternal redemption.Through Christ our Lord.

ReflectionMotivated by Love

The crowds of starving people—children, women, the elderly, immigrants, refugees, the unemployed—raise their cry of suffering. They implore us, hoping to be heard. How can we not open our ears and our hearts and start to make available those loaves and fishes that God has put into our hands?

If each one of us contributes, we can all do something for them. Of course, this will require sacrifice, which calls for a deep inner conversion. Certainly, it will involve changing our exaggerated consumerist behavior, combating hedonism, and resisting attitudes of indifference and the tendency to disre-gard our personal responsibilities.

With more than 800 million people suffering from mal-nutrition, it is often difficult to find immediate solutions for

improving these tragic situations. We must nevertheless seek them together so that we will no longer have, side by side, the starving and the wealthy, the very poor and the very rich, those who lack the necessary means and others who lavishly waste them. Such contrasts between poverty and wealth are intolerable for humanity.

It is from the love of God that Christians learn to help the needy and to share with them their own material and spiritual goods. Such concern not only provides those experiencing hardship with material help, but also represents an opportu-nity for the spiritual growth of the giver. . . .

For each of us, moderation and simplicity ought to become the criteria of our daily lives. The quantity of goods consumed by a tiny fraction of the world population produces a demand greater than available resources. A reduction of this demand constitutes a first step in alleviating poverty, provided that it is accompanied by effective measures to guarantee a fair dis-tribution of the world’s wealth. . . .

It is necessary once more to state the characteristic prin-ciple of Christian social doctrine: the goods of this world are originally meant for all. The right to private property is valid and necessary, but it does not nullify the value of this principle.

As far as the Church is concerned, the social message of the Gospel must not be considered a theory, but above all else a basis and a motivation for action.

Pope John Paul II, Go in Peace

John Paul II, born Karol Józef Wojtyła in 1920, was elected pope in 1978 and exercised his ministry with a tireless missionary spirit. He died in 2005 and was canonized in 2014.


EveningGod, come to my assistance.Lord, make haste to help me.

(opt. hymn, pp. 366–73)Psalm 118:1-4, 10-14Give praise to the Lord, for he is good;his mercy endures forever.

Let the house of Israel say,“His mercy endures forever.”Let the house of Aaron say,“His mercy endures forever.”Let those who fear the Lord say,“His mercy endures forever.”

The nations all encircled me;in the name of the Lord I cut them off.They encircled me all around;in the name of the Lord I cut them off.

They encircled me about like bees;they blazed like a fire among thorns.In the name of the Lord I cut them off.

I was thrust down, thrust down and falling,but the Lord was my helper.The Lord is my strength and my song;he was my savior.


Scripture 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over,

took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and

said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remem-brance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.


AntiphonJesus blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to give to the crowds.

Canticle of Mary (inside back cover)

IntercessionsGod, your mercy endures forever. In faith we pray: r. God, let us be instruments of your mercy.

Teach us humility, and help us to refrain from judging others. r.

Make your Church a place of welcome for all people, especially those who suffer alienation. r.

Animate your Church to place faith in your abundant love and compassionate care for the needs of the hungry, the poor, the young, and the elderly. r.

Our Father . . .

May God nurture our being by the Body and Blood of Christ and lead us to walk on paths of peace. Amen.

47August 3–9Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Within the WordThe “Prophet” Hananiah

Each of us has heard someone speak insistently, often judg-mentally, interpreting the present or foretelling the future. We find ourselves wondering, “How does he know that? How can she be so sure?” Monday’s first reading recounts a similar experience of Jeremiah’s. The year was 594 BC. Three years earlier the Babylonians had attacked Jerusalem, deported King Jehoiachin to Babylon, and ransacked the Jerusalem Temple, effectively establishing Babylonian control over all of Judah. The Jerusalemites made several attempts to break loose from Babylonian rule, but none of these efforts was successful.

In the midst of this turmoil, Jeremiah receives a message of reassurance from Hananiah, son of Azzur. The text refers to him as “the prophet Hananiah,” suggesting he was well known. And the city of Gibeon, his place of origin, was only about four miles from Anathoth, Jeremiah’s hometown. The two men use similar communication styles. Both speak in the Temple, in the presence of many witnesses. Both use the prophetic messenger formula, “Thus says the Lord . . .” Both refer to the people’s present reality. But Hananiah’s message is the opposite of Jeremiah’s. He begins and ends with the Lord saying, “I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon,” thus assuring his audience that their present difficulties would be short-lived and life would return to the way it was before Babylonian control.

Jeremiah’s response highlights the similarities and differ-ences in the two men’s messages. Jeremiah acknowledges his longing for Hananiah’s words to be fulfilled. But then he refers to the distinction between true and false prophecy in the book

of Deuteronomy, a passage that is part of the instructions given to the people in the wilderness on the way to the Prom-ised Land: “If you say to yourselves, ‘How can we recognize an oracle which the Lord has spoken?’ know that, even though a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if his oracle is not fulfilled or verified, it is an oracle which the Lord did not speak” (18:21-22).

So how will this play out? The symbol of the yoke adds to the drama. Earlier God had instructed Jeremiah to make a yoke and wear it on his shoulders as a symbol of the burden of Babylonian control (Jer 27:2-12). Hananiah now breaks Jeremiah’s yoke, announcing that God would break the yoke of Babylonian control within two years. But God has other plans, and Jeremiah delivers the message to Hananiah: the wooden yoke will be replaced by an even stronger yoke of iron. In other words, not only will there not be peace, but all the people would suffer under the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. In the name of the Lord, Jeremiah calls Hananiah a false prophet and predicts his fate. Again, there are echoes of Deuteronomy: “But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die” (18:20). Hananiah’s death two months later confirms the prediction.

If a false prophet has to die before we know they are a false prophet, of what help is Hananiah’s story? We need help in discerning who among the living are true and false prophets! But what if Hananiah and Jeremiah are us? Then this is a helpful and cautionary story: to speak in the name of God is a very solemn responsibility that must not be taken lightly.

—Sr. Joan E. Cook

Joan E. Cook, SC, is president of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. She is a contributor to The Bible Today and speaks on the subjects of biblical prayer and biblical women.

Monday 4948

Monday, August 4


(opt. hymn, pp. 366–73)Psalm 120To the Lord in the hour of my distressI call—and he answers me.“O Lord, save my soul from lying lips,from the tongue of the deceitful.”

What should he give you, what repay you,O deceitful tongue?The warrior’s arrows sharpened,with red-hot coals from the broom tree!

Alas, that I live in Meshech,dwell among the tents of Kedar!I have had enough of dwellingwith those who hate peace.I am for peace, but when I speak,they are for war.


Scripture Deuteronomy 18:18-22

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kindred, and will put my words into the mouth of

the prophet; the prophet shall tell them all that I command. Anyone who will not listen to my words which the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will hold accountable for it. But if a prophet presumes to speak a word in my name that

I have not commanded, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.

Should you say to yourselves, “How can we recognize that a word is one the Lord has not spoken?”, if a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord but the word does not come true, it is a word the Lord did not speak. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; do not fear him.


AntiphonOnly when his word comes to pass is a prophet recognized as sent by the Lord.


IntercessionsGod, we long for you, and we pray: r. Teach us your way of love, O God.

Impart wisdom and compassion to confessors, pastors, and all entrusted with the guidance of souls. r.

Clothe your Church with justice and mercy. r.

Help us to take time for one another, face-to-face. r.

Our Father . . .

May God strengthen us with every gift of the Holy Spirit, through Christ our Saving Word. Amen.

50 August 4 Monday 51

Blessed Among UsEnrique AngelelliBishop and Martyr (1923–1976)

Enrique Angelelli was appointed bishop of La Rioja in Argentina in 1968. Among the largely conservative hierarchy of Argentina, he was among the few to strongly support the prophetic line of the Latin American bishops at Medellín. In his first message as bishop he said, “With one ear I listen to the gospel and with the other I listen to the people.” Before long he was on a collision course with the military and other powerful interests, who complained that he was a communist who had “ruined the church of Pius XII.”

In 1976 a military coup unleashed a vicious era of persecu-tion. By and large the Church hierarchy stood silent—or worse, offered tacit blessings to the military’s defense of order and “Christian values.” Angelelli denounced the terror, which included the abduction and murder of his priests. He com-piled documents proving government responsibility for these murders. These documents were with him on August 4 when two cars ran his truck off the road. He was found twenty-five yards away with his skull smashed in and his briefcase miss-ing. The police labeled it an accident.

With the return of democracy, a court in 1986 reopened the case and termed it a clear homicide. In 2006 at a Mass commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of his death, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, became the first Argentine prelate to refer to Angelelli as a martyr.

“The thought crosses my mind that the Lord needs a bishop in jail or killed in order to make us wake up to our episcopal collegiality and live it more deeply.”

—Bishop Enrique Angelelli

MassSt. John Vianney, Memorial

Entrance Antiphon Cf. Psalm 132 (131):9Your priests, O Lord, shall be clothed with justice; / your holy ones shall ring out their joy.

CollectAlmighty and merciful God,who made the Priest Saint John Vianneywonderful in his pastoral zeal,grant, we pray,that through his intercession and examplewe may in charity win brothers and sisters for Christand attain with them eternal glory.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 Book of the Prophet Jeremiah 28:1-17

The Lord has not sent you, and you have raised false confidence in this people.

In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, the prophet Hana-

niah, son of Azzur, from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the Lord in the presence of the priests and all the people: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two years I will restore to this place all the vessels of the temple of the Lord which Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, took away from this place to Babylon. And I will bring back to this place Jeconiah, son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles of Judah who went to Babylon,’ says the Lord, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’ ”


The prophet Jeremiah answered the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people assembled in the house of the Lord, and said: Amen! thus may the Lord do! May he fulfill the things you have prophesied by bringing the vessels of the house of the Lord and all the exiles back from Babylon to this place! But now, listen to what I am about to state in your hearing and the hearing of all the people. From of old, the prophets who were before you and me prophesied war, woe, and pestilence against many lands and mighty kingdoms. But the prophet who prophesies peace is recognized as truly sent by the Lord only when his prophetic prediction is fulfilled.

Thereupon the prophet Hananiah took the yoke from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it, and said in the presence of all the people: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Even so, within two years I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, from off the neck of all the nations.’ ” At that, the prophet Jeremiah went away.

Some time after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: Go tell Hananiah this: Thus says the Lord: By breaking a wooden yoke, you forge an iron yoke! For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: A yoke of iron I will place on the necks of all these nations serving Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and they shall serve him; even the beasts of the field I give him.

To the prophet Hananiah the prophet Jeremiah said: Hear this, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you, and you have raised false confidence in this people. For this, says the Lord, I will dispatch you from the face of the earth; this very year you shall die, because you have preached rebellion against the Lord. That same year, in the seventh month, Hananiah the prophet died.The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm 119:29, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102

r. (68b) Lord, teach me your statutes.

Remove from me the way of falsehood, and favor me with your law. r.

Take not the word of truth from my mouth, for in your ordinances is my hope. r.

Let those turn to me who fear you and acknowledge your decrees. r.

Let my heart be perfect in your statutes, that I be not put to shame. r.

Sinners wait to destroy me, but I pay heed to your decrees. r.

From your ordinances I turn not away, for you have instructed me. r.

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 4:4One does not live on bread alone,but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 14:22-36

Command me to come to you on the water.

Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side of the sea, while he dismissed the crowds.

After doing so, he went up on the mountain by him self to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried


out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

After making the crossing, they came to land at Gen-nesaret. When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought to him all those who were sick and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were healed.The Gospel of the Lord.

Prayer over the OfferingsReceive, O Lord, we pray,the offerings placed on your altarin commemoration of blessed Saint John,so that, as you brought him glory,you may, through these sacred mysteries,grant to us your pardon.Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon Cf. Matthew 24:46-47Blessed is the servant whom the Lord finds watching / when he comes. Amen I say to you: / He will put that servant in charge of all his property.

Or: Luke 12:42This is the steward, faithful and prudent, / whom the Lord set over his household, / to give them their allowance of food at the proper time.

Prayer after CommunionMay partaking at the heavenly table, almighty God,confirm and increase strength from on highin all who celebrate the feast day of blessed Saint John,that we may preserve in integrity the gift of faithand walk in the path of salvation you trace for us.Through Christ our Lord.

ReflectionSoaked and Safe

Sometimes I think Peter gets a bad rap in this Gospel, even from Jesus. “O you, of little faith, why did you doubt?” But doesn’t Peter deserve credit for at least getting out of the boat in the first place?

I’ve had the good fortune of being on a boat on the Sea of Galilee a number of times, one time at night. As I stood there, hearing the words of this Gospel play out in my head, I wished I could hear the invitation Peter heard, “Come.” And yet, honestly, I was grateful all I heard was the wind.

I believe desire is what draws us forward—that mysterious combination of God’s call and our own heart’s longing. We want to get out of the boat, to engage in the work of faith—struggling for justice, offering hospitality, creating commu-nity. Yet our own fear, confusion, or self-preoccupation drowns out the call: “Come. Leave the safety of the boat and come.” Our staying put is not simply a failure of faith; it is


also a failure to see how intimate and real are the power and love of God. But perhaps believing and doubting go hand in hand. Maybe it is our heart’s deep desire for God that sustains us. We are, after all, human beings awakening to our whole-ness and holiness.

The disciples in the boat are credited with proclaiming, “Truly, you are the Son of God.” But I think it was Peter, soaked and safe, his hand still feeling the strength of Christ’s presence, who truly got it.

Sr. Pat Kozak

Pat Kozak, CSJ, is a process facilitator and consultant for religious congregations across the United States and Canada. She regularly co-leads pilgrimages for women in the Holy Land.


(opt. hymn, pp. 366–73)Psalm 119:73-80It was your hands that made me and shaped me;grant me insight to learn your commands.Those who revere you see me and rejoice,for I trust in your word.

O Lord, I know that your decrees are right;though I am humbled, you are just.Let your merciful love console meby your promise to your servant.

Show me compassion, that I may live,for your law is my delight.Let the arrogant be shamed who deflect me with lies;as for me, I will ponder your precepts.

Let those who fear you turn to me,that they may know your decrees.Let my heart be blameless in your statutes,that I may not be put to shame.


Scripture 1 Peter 1:3-7

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living

hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready

5958 August 4

to be revealed in the final time. In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.


AntiphonO you of little faith, why did you doubt?


IntercessionsGod, you satisfy the hungry. We pray: r. Fill us with your love, O Lord.

Further dialogue and understanding among Christians, Jews, and Muslims. r.

Unveil the darkness of fear, misunderstanding, jealousy, and envy. r.

Give us grace to extend ourselves generously to those in special need. r.

Our Father . . .

May God bless us, be gracious to us, protect us from evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

Tuesday, August 5


(opt. hymn, pp. 366–73)Psalm 71:17-22O God, you have taught me from my youth,and I proclaim your wonders still.

Even till I am old and gray-headed,do not forsake me, O God.Let me tell of your mighty armto every coming generation;your strength and your justice, O God,reach to the highest heavens.It is you who have worked such wonders.O God, who is like you?

You have made me witness many troubles and evils,but you will give me back my life.You will raise me from the depths of the earth;you will exalt me and console me again.

So I will give you thanks on the lyrefor your faithfulness, O my God.To you will I sing with the harp,to you, the Holy One of Israel.


Scripture Ezra 6:3a, 4b-5

In the first year of his reign, King Cyrus issued a decree: With regard to the house of God in Jerusalem: the house

60 August 5 Tuesday 61

is to be rebuilt as a place for offering sacrifices and bringing burnt offerings. The costs are to be borne by the royal house. Also, let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple of Jerusalem and brought to Babylon be sent back; let them be returned to their place in the temple of Jerusalem and deposited in the house of God.”


AntiphonThe city shall be rebuilt on its own ruins, a citadel restored where it should be.


IntercessionsGod, you never desert us. With trust we pray: r. O God, hear us.

Help us to treat others with kindness. r.

Restore and rebuild communities devastated by disaster or war. r.

Support and heal those who are undergoing treatment for illness. r.

Our Father . . .

May the God of glory favor us with the gift of faith, that we may abide in the peace of Christ all our days. Amen.

Blessed Among UsSt. Lydia“Worshiper of God” (First Century)

Evidence of the role of women in the early Church is sketchy. Those women such as St. Lydia, singled out for particular mention, provide some hint of a wider, forgotten history.

Lydia enters the story of the Church when St. Paul and his traveling companion Timothy first ventured onto European soil. In the city of Philippi in Macedonia, the missionaries went to the river where they “supposed there was a place of prayer” (a synagogue). Their audience turned out to consist entirely of women, including one named Lydia from the city of Thyatira, described as “a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God.” These mysterious details suggest she was a dealer in expensive purple-dyed fabric and a “God-fearer”—a Gentile who respected Jewish religious law.

Lydia immediately responded to the good news. She was baptized along with her entire household—the first Christian converts in Europe. She in turn pressed Paul to remain in her house: “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” To this, the narrator of Acts replies in the first person: “And she prevailed upon us.”

The Christian movement originated in such “house churches” as Lydia’s. So it is reasonable to remember her as one of the founders of the Church in Europe.

“The Lord opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul.”

—Acts 16:14


MassTuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

[The Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, opt. memorial]

Entrance Antiphon Psalm 70 (69):2, 6O God, come to my assistance; / O Lord, make haste to help me! / You are my rescuer, my help; / O Lord, do not delay.

CollectDraw near to your servants, O Lord,and answer their prayers with unceasing kindness,that, for those who glory in you as their Creator and guide,you may restore what you have createdand keep safe what you have restored.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 Book of the Prophet Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22

Because of your numerous sins, I have done this to you. See! I will restore the tents of Jacob.

The following message came to Jeremiah from the Lord: / For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: / Write all

the words I have spoken to you in a book.For thus says the Lord: / Incurable is your wound, /

grievous your bruise; / There is none to plead your cause, / no remedy for your running sore, / no healing for you. / All your lovers have forgotten you, / they do not seek you. / I struck you as an enemy would strike, / punished you cruelly; / Why cry out over your wound? / your pain is without relief. / Because of your great guilt, / your numerous sins, / I have done this to you.

Thus says the Lord: / See! I will restore the tents of Jacob, / his dwellings I will pity; / City shall be rebuilt upon hill, / and palace restored as it was. / From them will resound songs of praise, / the laughter of happy men. / I will make them not few, but many; / they will not be tiny, for I will glorify them. / His sons shall be as of old, / his assembly before me shall stand firm; / I will punish all his oppressors. / His leader shall be one of his own, / and his rulers shall come from his kin. / When I summon him, he shall ap-proach me; / how else should one take the deadly risk / of approaching me? says the Lord. / You shall be my people, / and I will be your God.The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23

r. (17) The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.

The nations shall revere your name, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth your glory,When the Lord has rebuilt Zion and appeared in his glory;When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute, and not despised their prayer. r.

Let this be written for the generation to come, and let his future creatures praise the Lord:“The Lord looked down from his holy height, from heaven he beheld the earth,To hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die.” r.

The children of your servants shall abide, and their posterity shall continue in your presence,


That the name of the Lord may be declared on Zion; and his praise, in Jerusalem,When the peoples gather together and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord. r.

Gospel Acclamation John 1:49bRabbi, you are the Son of God;you are the King of Israel.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14 (alt. Matt 14:22-36)

Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.

Some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jeru-salem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradi-

tion of the elders? They do not wash their hands when they eat a meal.” He summoned the crowd and said to them, “Hear and understand. It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles the man; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one.” Then his disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” He said in reply, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”The Gospel of the Lord.

Prayer over the OfferingsGraciously sanctify these gifts, O Lord, we pray,and, accepting the oblation of this spiritual sacrifice,make of us an eternal offering to you.Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon Wisdom 16:20You have given us, O Lord, bread from heaven, / endowed with all delights and sweetness in every taste.

Or: John 6:35I am the bread of life, says the Lord; / whoever comes to me will not hunger / and whoever believes in me will not thirst.

Prayer after CommunionAccompany with constant protection, O Lord,those you renew with these heavenly giftsand, in your never-failing care for them,make them worthy of eternal redemption.Through Christ our Lord.

ReflectionDivine Sadism?

Sometimes, with terrifying force, the word of God lets us have it. “Don’t you know why you’re on earth? Why I made you? How can you forget that I called you to be my people, my intimate friends, my own family? I refuse to watch you squander your life and squander my gifts. Are you dozing, distracted, delirious? Can’t I wake you up?!”

Today the prophet Jeremiah speaks God’s word forcefully, admonishes Israel for relegating the Lord to just another of their familiar Canaanite divinities. Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah had preceded Jeremiah in warning that God will not stand for this demeaning and insulting idolatry. But the wrath ex-pressed in today’s prophecy is rare: “Your wound is incurable, your bruise is grievous—all your lovers have forgotten you!”


As if this were not harsh enough, the Lord adds: “I have done this to you because of your numerous sins.”

Through the centuries shocked readers have misinter-preted these prophetic words as divine sadism, as though God’s people are merely his playthings. But God makes his purpose clear enough. God wills to heal, rebuild, and restore us once we are jarred back into reality. This is summed up in the covenant formula of the final line of Jeremiah today: “You shall be my people, and I will be your God.”

There are echoes of Jeremiah in this week’s Collect, when we ask God to “restore what you have created and keep safe what you have restored.” In this prayer we “take the deadly risk” of approaching God, asking God to alert us to the idols that captivate our hearts, our energies, and our attention—to purify and chasten us and awaken us to the Love that pos-sesses us.

Fr. Paul Philibert

Paul Philibert, OP, is the Promoter for Permanent Formation for the Southern Dominican Province. With Thomas O’Meara, OP, he is author of Scanning the Signs of the Times: French Dominicans in the Twentieth Century.


(opt. hymn, pp. 366–73)Psalm 31:2-9In you, O Lord, I take refuge.Let me never be put to shame.In your justice, set me free;incline your ear to me, and speedily rescue me.

Be a rock of refuge for me,a mighty stronghold to save me.For you are my rock, my stronghold!Lead me, guide me, for the sake of your name.

Release me from the snare they have hidden,for you indeed are my refuge.Into your hands I commend my spirit.You will redeem me, O Lord, O faithful God.You detest those who serve empty idols.As for me, I trust in the Lord.

Let me be glad and rejoice in your mercy,for you who have seen my afflictionand taken heed of my soul’s distress,have not left me in the hands of the enemy,but set my feet at large.


Scripture James 3:8-13

No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and

Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made

68 August 5

in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my brothers. Does a spring gush forth from the same opening both pure and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh.

Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom.


AntiphonIt is not what enters that defiles but what comes out of one’s mouth.


IntercessionsGod of all hopefulness, we place our trust in you and pray: r. Be with us, Lord.

Protect those who are on the streets this night. r.

Calm the troubled. r.

Give courage to those who seek reconciliation with a friend, neighbor, or loved one. r.

Our Father . . .

May God grant us joy of heart and fill us with peace. Amen.

The Order of Mass 333

332

The Order of Mass❙❚ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the

Holy Spirit.❙❚ Amen.

GreetingThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,and the love of God,and the communion of the Holy Spiritbe with you all.And with your spirit.

Grace to you and peace from God our Fatherand the Lord Jesus Christ.And with your spirit.

The Lord be with you.And with your spirit.

Penitential ActBrethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins,and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

(Pause)I confess to almighty Godand 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:

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.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.

You were sent to heal the contrite of heart:Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.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:Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.Lord, have mercy. Or: Kyrie, eleison.

❙❚ May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

❙❚ Amen.

KyrieThe Kyrie, eleison (Lord, have mercy) invocations follow, unless they have just occurred in a formula of the Penitential Act.❙❚ Lord, have mercy. ❙❚ Kyrie, eleison.❙❚ Lord, have mercy. ❙❚ Kyrie, eleison.

❙❚ Christ, have mercy. ❙❚ Christe, eleison.❙❚ Christ, have mercy. ❙❚ Christe, eleison.

❙❚ Lord, have mercy. ❙❚ Kyrie, eleison.❙❚ Lord, have mercy. ❙❚ Kyrie, eleison.

B

C

A

C

A

B

334 The Order of Mass The Order of Mass 335

GloriaGlory 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 WordFirst Reading

Responsorial Psalm

Second Reading

Gospel Acclamation

GospelCleanse 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 Gospelmay our sins be wiped away.

Homily

Profession of Faith[The Apostles’ Creed can be found on p. 363]

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 salvationhe came down from heaven,

336 The Order of Mass The Order of Mass 337

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 dayin accordance with the Scriptures.He ascended into heavenand is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again in gloryto judge the living and the deadand 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 sinsand I look forward to the resurrection of the deadand the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Faithful (Bidding Prayers)

Liturgy of the EucharistPresentation and Preparation of the GiftsBlessed are you, Lord God of all creation,for through your goodness we have receivedthe 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 winemay we come to share in the divinity of Christwho humbled himself to share in our humanity.Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,for through your goodness we have receivedthe 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 heartmay we be accepted by you, O Lord,and may our sacrifice in your sight this daybe pleasing to you, Lord God.Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquityand cleanse me from my sin.

Invitation to PrayerPray, brethren (brothers and sisters),that my sacrifice and yoursmay be acceptable to God,the almighty Father.May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your handsfor the praise and glory of his name,for our goodand the good of all his holy Church.

Prayer over the Offerings

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.

Celebration of the Liturgy of the Word 363

362

Celebration of the Liturgy of the Word[With Holy Communion]

Introductory RitesIntroductionDeacon 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 daythat Jesus conquered sin and death and rose to new life.Unfortunately, we are not able to celebrate the Mass todaybecause we do not have a priest.Let us be united in the spirit of Christ with

the Church around the worldand celebrate our redemption in Christ’s suffering,

death, and resurrection.Sign of the CrossDeacon or lay leader:❙❚ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the

Holy Spirit.❙❚ Amen.GreetingDeacon or lay leader:❙❚ 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 WordFirst ReadingResponsorial PsalmSecond ReadingGospel AcclamationGospelHomily or Reflection on the Readings

Period of SilenceProfession of Faith[The Nicene Creed can be found on p. 335]

Apostles’ CreedI 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 RiteLord’s PrayerDeacon or lay leader:The Father provides us with food for eternal life.At the Savior’s commandand formed by divine teaching,we dare to say:

364 Celebration of the Liturgy of the Word

Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name;thy kingdom come,thy will be doneon 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 CommunionDeacon or lay leader: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 worthythat you should enter under my roof,but only say the wordand my soul shall be healed.CommunionAct of Thanksgiving

Concluding RiteInvitation to Pray for Vocations to the PriesthoodDeacon or lay leader: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.BlessingSign of Peace

366 Hymns Hymns 367

For the Beauty of the Eartham/pm

Praise We Our God with Joyam/pm

368 Hymns Hymns 369

Now as New Light Reveals the Skyam

Familiar Tune: I Know That My Redeemer Lives

Be Present in Our Hearts, O Lordam/pm

Familiar Tune: Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow

We Walk by Faitham/pm

Guide to Lectio DivinaChoose 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.


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