This week’s Gospel message for Sunday, August 15th is from Luke 1:39-56.
“Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said . . . ‘Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.’”
“When the angel Gabriel visited the young virgin Mary with the momentous shocking news that she would be the mother of God’s Son, she responded faithfully, ‘May it be done to me according to your word.’ Though not as dramatic, every day we too make choices whether to accept or not accept God’s will.
At the end of her earthly life God drew Mary home, assuming her into heaven where she would reign as queen until the end of time. From the beginning of her life on earth, when she was immaculately conceived, until the end, the Blessed Virgin Mary conformed her life to God’s will.” SOURCE: Pastoral Patterns, Autumn 2021
DAILY READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday Judges 2:11-19; Matt 19:16-22
Tuesday Judges 6:11-24a; Matt 19:23-30
Wednesday Judges 9:6-15; Matt 20:1-16
Thursday Judges 11:29-39a; Matt 22:1-14
Friday Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14b-16, 22; Matt 22:34-40
Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church (Memorial) – “Born in France, he entered the Benedictine abbey of Citeaux. After three years, he was made abbot of a new monastery in a valley known as Clairvaux (the Valley of Light). His writings have had a profound and lasting influence on Catholic spirituality. When he died, all of Europe mourned. He was declared a doctor of the Church in 1830.”
Saturday Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17; Matt 23:1-12
Saint Pius X, Pope (Memorial) – “Born in Italy, Giuseppe Sarto spent seventeen years involved in pastoral ministry before becoming bishop of Mantua, cardinal patriarch of Venice, and pope. His sacramental recommendations and encyclicals reflected his pastoral background, advocating frequent communion for adults, sacramental preparation for children, and instruction in catechism for everyone.” SOURCE: Living With Christ, August 2021