Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time, Optional Memorial of Bl. Patrick O’Healy and Companions, Martyrs of Ireland
O God, who strengthened Blessed Patrick O’Healy and his companions to remain steadfast in faith and fearless in witness, even to the shedding of their blood, grant that we who honor their martyrdom may be renewed in courage, fidelity, and love for your Church. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Daily Thought from the Saints
"If we but paused for a moment to consider attentively what takes place in this Sacrament of the Eucharist, I am sure that the thought of Christ's love for us would transform the coldness of our hearts into a fire of love and gratitude."
— St. Angela of Foligno
Daily Scripture Verse
"Who has commanded and it came to pass, unless the Lord has ordained it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and evil come? Why should a living man complain, a man, about the punishment of his sins? Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven."
Lamentations 3:37-41
Daily Meditation
"[Purity of intention] which is intimately connected with zeal, enables us to forget ourselves in all things, and to seek first the glory of God and the accomplishment of His good pleasure, persuaded that the more we sacrifice our own interests in His service, the greater advantage and blessing we shall reap. For this reason we must examine the motives of all our actions, that we may labor purely for God, since nothing is more subtle than self-love, which insinuates itself into every work, unless we maintain a constant guard. ... The practice of the moral virtues and the most severe mortifications are meritorious before God only inasmuch as they are animated by His Divine Spirit. The temple of Jerusalem contained nothing which was not either of gold or covered with gold. It is no less fitting that in our souls, the living temples of the Divinity, there should be nothing that is not charity or animated by it. Let us bear in mind that God values the intention more than the action, and that the simplest work becomes noble when performed with a noble intention, while the greatest will be of little value if performed from an indifferent motive. By endeavoring to acquire this purity of intention we shall follow the example and counsel of Our Saviour, who tells us to love as He has loved – that is, purely and disinterestedly. Happy is he who imitates this noblest characteristic of the divine love. Rapid will be his growth in the likeness of God, and consequently in His love, for resemblance usually begets love. Let us rid ourselves of human respect, and, keeping God ever before our eyes, let us not suffer selfish or worldly motives to mar the merit of our good works and rob us of their reward, which is Heaven and the possession of God Himself."
— Venerable Louis of Grenada
Day by Day With Mary, the Mother of God
There is no storm that can shipwreck the most sweet heart of Mary. When you see the squall coming, if you seek safety in the firm refuge that is Mary, there will be no danger of your being hurled off course or going down.
—St. Jose Escriva
A Prayer from Notre Dame University
Rev. Paul Kollman, C.S.C.
O God, we can be anxious about so many things, even though Jesus, your Son, counseled us to be free of worry. Assist us to trust you in all things and to be mindful of your providential care for us. Might we thus receive your abundant gifts openly, cherish them reverently, and share them generously, confident in the inexhaustible concern you show. We make this prayer through Jesus your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
TODAY'S SAINT: Blessed Osanna of Mantua (see the “Great Cloud of Witnesses”)