Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Evil media happy that Cardinal Burke is in the hospital

Poor Cardinal Burke who has done so much to uphold tradition is in the hospital with Covid-19. We must all pray for his recovery. I thought he was older but apparently he's only 73.

The worst part about this is how the evil media is so thrilled about him being in the hospital. All the headlines are mocking him. Stuff like "Cardinal Burke, who is a Covid vaccine skeptic, is in the hospital". They just love to rub that in everyone's face. Who cares what he thinks about the vaccine. We should care about him in this moment. Truth is, they probably wouldn't have even reported on him were it not for his opposition to the vaccine.

The idea is that you must accept their narrative no matter what. They aren't reporting the news, they are trying to force their opinions on everyone else. It's evil and vile. They act like he deserves it because he has questions about the vaccine. Any sane person would have questions!

Anyway, we must ignore this nonsense and just pray for the cardinal.

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Things are getting crazy in Canada: We must defend the Catholic Church

Where is it all going for the Church in Canada? The Catholic Church is under attack like never before in our country, and I really don't know what to make of it. It's on all fronts - there is a full on offensive against our Church and our values. We cannot sit by idly and let this happen. Either you are fighting for the Church or you are opposed.

Our society has many institutions that have developed over the centuries. There are civil, judicial, and religious institutions. There are also core beliefs that make us who we are. Over the past several years, and especially recently, those institutions have come under attack by various groups.

If you are a faithful Catholic, now is not the time to sit idly by. It's really the time to fight for our Church which was given to us by Jesus Christ. If our enemies are plotting all days on ways of destroying the Church, we must at least not just sit on the sidelines and do nothing.

So, what am I talking about? There are so many lines of attack, it's hard to pick just one. I will try to explain some of them. You can see examples everywhere you look.

Free speech is being stripped away day by day. Social media, the modern-day public square, is openly hostile to Christian beliefs. People are being banned left, right and center on these platforms for expressing Christian beliefs that have been around for centuries. Some may respond to this by saying these are private companies. This is a dubious claim but even if we are to grant this, it goes further. Bill C10 which was recently passed, gives the Federal Government of Canada unprecedented power to regulate the content of social media website. The argument that private companies can allow or disallow anything they want on social media no longer holds any water. Our free speech is also being attacked by the government itself.

More and more opinions and beliefs are being deemed "hate speech" and considered a form of violence. Again, we are not allowed to express our viewpoints. As Christians, this ought to be shocking.

Another recent issue which has gained a lot of traction is residential schools in the country. They are condemned as completely evil institutions with no redeeming qualities. I have not yet researched this topic thoroughly, but from my understanding, claims of genocide are stemming from the discovery of unmarked graves. However, this claim is based on little evidence. There may be children buried there but so many questions have yet to be answered. Were these children murdered, as is implied, or did they simply die of widespread diseases such as TB? Were their graves actually unmarked or were they marked with wooden crosses which have since disintegrated? How did the children in residential schools fare compared to children who did not attend residential schools? Were any children better off for attending?

These questions are not allowed to be asked apparently. No "journalist" in Canada would ever dare even bring them up. I will be looking more into this and telling you what I find out. But even if there was murder or abuse, does that mean we can go so far as to condemn each and every person involved? What institution exists in our country or any other that has a perfect record? Do all public schools have a flawless record devoid of any abuse?

People are reacting violently against all Catholics. Churches are being burned to the ground - even churches used by aboriginals to worship which is rather ironic. Beloved Catholic statues are being desecrated. All for unproven crimes. All believers of our religion are being condemned for the actions of a few. It reminds me of a book published by a non-Catholic titled "Anticatholicism: The last acceptable prejudice". It really is true. All institutions, to varying degrees, have bad people in them. To me it doesn't make any sense to condemn the entire organization wholesale based on that.

We cannot shy away. So many Catholics I know just want to fit in with the rest of society. The rest of society wants to destroy our Church, so why are you trying so hard to fit in with them? Do you think any secular person hesitates for one nanosecond to bash the Church? Of course not. So why aren't we defending the Church all the more?

Maybe people think if they defend the Church, they are somehow defending people who have done wrong. This is absolute nonsense. If there were doctors or nurses who did things which were immoral, would it make sense to bash all healthcare workers and healthcare in general? Would it be sensible to say all people who care for the sick are evil? Anyone would recognize this as absolute absurdity.

I think we have an obligation to defend the Church at all turns. We don't need to help others in finding fault. When the entire world is out there bashing and attempting to destroy the Church in our country, we need faithful believers to act as defense attorneys. It's already one-sided, we don't need to help the prosecution!

I will attempt to publish more articles with information that can be valuable to debunk the evil myths that are being spread. Catholics must stick together because we have so many enemies. Even our own Prime Minister is throwing the Church under the bus, even though his government is just as much or more responsible for residential schools, especially his father Pierre Trudeau.

Stay tuned to this blog for updates.

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Is anyone out there? Do you read this blog?

I've been falling down on the job. Although I used to type on this blog frequently, especially a few months ago, when I was posting something nearly everyday, that has somewhat fallen to the wayside.

Part of the problem is that I really don't know how the blog is doing. Are people reading it? Do I have followers? Or are people just accidentally clicking on my links and then exiting soon afterwards? Please comment below if you fall into any of those categories. I love to hear from people but I simply have not very often.

I looked at the stats and it indicates I continue to receive about 30-40 visitors daily, despite not adding new content. I do have well over 1000 blog posts so it seems some are somewhat "evergreen", meaning they continue to have relevance. I guess it's kind of like the Church herself.

So that's it on the blog front. Maybe I will start writing more articles. I would love to hear what kind of articles you want to see. More news? More opinion pieces? What are you looking for? Do you want things which are more personal? Perhaps you want me to just talk about things that are perhaps not directly related to the faith but just all kinds of topics informed by my faith? Let me know!

Otherwise in my life, I am trying to get things off the ground in terms of having a legitimate income, but it's proving to be quite difficult. Please pray for me to have some success. Thanks.

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Ireland Banning Confessions!!

No, this is not some exaggerated or click-bait title. Ireland is literally banning the Sacrament of Confession in the country under the pretext of Covid regulations.

It's not that there are rules surrounding how it must be conducted. No. It is just outright banned. Obviously for Catholics, they must disregard this law completely. Going to jail or risking a fine pales in comparison to having an unforgiven mortal sin on ones soul.

This is astounding and shocking.

Details can be found in an article here.

For those arguing this is only about Covid, the article points out that it will remain legal for a priest to have a "chat" with a parishioner. Can anyone tell me how a "chat" can be conducted which would exclude the possibility of a confession? No one can.

Again, this is all irrelevant. Faithful Catholics will find a way to seek out confession. Priests must make themselves available in a covert way. There are various possibilities. I mean for one thing, they could just rename confession as "a chat" for any public official or police officer.

This is beyond ridiculous. The Church is under attack and singled out like never before.

Pray for this situation and remain strong.

Friday, April 16, 2021

Happy Birthday Pope Benedict!

Happy Birthday to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who today turns 94 years old. He is about one year younger than Queen Elizabeth who turns 95 next week on Wednesday.

Who'd have thought that Pope Benedict would still be around 8 years after his retirement? I'm sorry he left so soon. He is a deep and complex character with much to offer to the Church. I have written about the potential damage being done by the current pontiff. While Pope Benedict offered, in what some might see as stereotypically German, clarity, Pope Francis on the other hand tends to offer confusion.

Pope Francis has done some good things as well, but it mainly seems like virtue-signaling to appeal to enemies of the Church. I will leave it to readers to make that evaluation.

I think Pope Benedict got a bad rap. He was attacked in the media, but it was all based on some kind of emotional reaction to him. "He doesn't look all that friendly". Stuff like that. As if that has anything to do with anything. Most people only know what the media tell them. They hear he is strict or orthodox or conservative, etc. and that's about all they know.

In reality, Pope Benedict wrote 66 books, 3 encyclicals and 3 exhortations, on a wide range of topics. He was an esteemed professor at several universities and became a full professor at the age of 31.

Over his career, Pope Benedict became more and more conservative as he saw the problems afflicting a more liberal point of view in the Church. He staunchly defended traditional Catholic doctrines.

To be honest, I have not read a large number of Pope Benedict's books, but I think it is something worth doing.

So Happy Birthday Pope Benedict, we miss you!


Sunday, April 04, 2021

Happy Easter 2021! God Loves You.

I would like to wish a very happy and blessed Easter to all my readers and everyone around the world.

A holy priest yesterday had a great homily which I can summarize as follows. God worked throughout the history of mankind towards our salvation. Starting all the way back to Adam, God made covenants with his people. The Jewish people awaited the coming of the Messiah for centuries and generations. Isaiah, Ezekiel, and others prophesized His coming. Everything led up to Jesus, his birth, and ultimate death and resurrection. The eternal sacrifice and covenant.

At times things seemed dark, full of despair and darkness, yet there was always a plan for those who trusted in the Lord. Think of the Passion. The Apostles may have thought "well, this is it. We thought Jesus was the savior, but now he's crucified." They may have given up in despair. But that wasn't the end. Jesus rose again, in the most joyous event in human history - the Resurrection, Easter.

The same God who brought about the salvation of the whole world is there to bring about our own salvation. Despite the darkness we sometimes encounter, we must trust in the Lord. He is ready and waiting to make us part of salvation history. If you are experiencing your own passion, remember that God has a great Easter planned for you. Happy Easter to all my readers and to people everywhere!

Catholic Church Mass Readings for Sunday, April 4, 2021: Easter Sunday - The Lord's Resurrection

Catholic Church Mass Readings for Sunday, April 4, 2021: Easter Sunday - The Lord's Resurrection

Lectionary: 42


Reading I

Acts 10:34a, 37-43

Peter proceeded to speak and said:

“You know what has happened all over Judea, 

beginning in Galilee after the baptism

that John preached, 

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth

with the Holy Spirit and power.

He went about doing good

and healing all those oppressed by the devil, 

for God was with him.

We are witnesses of all that he did

both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.

They put him to death by hanging him on a tree.

This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible,

not to all the people, but to us,

the witnesses chosen by God in advance,

who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

He commissioned us to preach to the people

and testify that he is the one appointed by God

as judge of the living and the dead.

To him all the prophets bear witness,

that everyone who believes in him

will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”


Responsorial Psalm

118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

R.  (24) This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

or:

R.  Alleluia.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

    for his mercy endures forever.

Let the house of Israel say,

    “His mercy endures forever.”

R.  This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

or:

R.  Alleluia.

“The right hand of the LORD has struck with power;

    the right hand of the LORD is exalted.

I shall not die, but live,

    and declare the works of the LORD.”

R.  This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

or:

R.  Alleluia.

The stone which the builders rejected

    has become the cornerstone.

By the LORD has this been done;

    it is wonderful in our eyes.

R.  This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.

or:

R.  Alleluia.


Reading II

Col 3:1-4

Brothers and sisters:

If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, 

where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ your life appears,

then you too will appear with him in glory.


OR:


I Cor 5:6b-8


Brothers and sisters:

Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough?

Clear out the old yeast,

so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, 

inasmuch as you are unleavened.

For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.

Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, 

not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, 

but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.


Sequence

Victimae paschali laudes

Christians, to the Paschal Victim

    Offer your thankful praises!

A Lamb the sheep redeems;

    Christ, who only is sinless,

    Reconciles sinners to the Father.

Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:

    The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.

Speak, Mary, declaring

    What you saw, wayfaring.

“The tomb of Christ, who is living,

    The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;

Bright angels attesting,

    The shroud and napkin resting.

Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;

    to Galilee he goes before you.”

Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.

    Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!

    Amen. Alleluia.


Alleluia

Cf. 1 Cor 5:7b-8a

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed;

let us then feast with joy in the Lord.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel

Jn 20:1-9

On the first day of the week,

Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,

while it was still dark, 

and saw the stone removed from the tomb.

So she ran and went to Simon Peter 

and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, 

“They have taken the Lord from the tomb, 

and we don’t know where they put him.”

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.

They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter 

and arrived at the tomb first; 

he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

When Simon Peter arrived after him, 

he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, 

and the cloth that had covered his head, 

not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.

Then the other disciple also went in, 

the one who had arrived at the tomb first, 

and he saw and believed.

For they did not yet understand the Scripture 

that he had to rise from the dead.

Saturday, April 03, 2021

Catholic Church Mass Readings for Saturday, April 3, 2021: Holy Saturday Easter Vigil

Catholic Church Mass Readings for Saturday, April 3, 2021: Holy Saturday Easter Vigil

Lectionary: 41


Reading I

Gn 1:1—2:2

In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth,

the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss,

while a mighty wind swept over the waters.


Then God said,

"Let there be light,"" and there was light.

God saw how good the light was.

God then separated the light from the darkness.

God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night."

Thus evening came, and morning followed—the first day.


Then God said,

"Let there be a dome in the middle of the waters,

to separate one body of water from the other."

And so it happened:

God made the dome,

and it separated the water above the dome from the water below it.

God called the dome "the sky."

Evening came, and morning followed—the second day.


Then God said,

"Let the water under the sky be gathered into a single basin,

so that the dry land may appear."

And so it happened:

the water under the sky was gathered into its basin,

and the dry land appeared.

God called the dry land "the earth, "

and the basin of the water he called "the sea."

God saw how good it was.

Then God said,

"Let the earth bring forth vegetation:

every kind of plant that bears seed

and every kind of fruit tree on earth

that bears fruit with its seed in it."

And so it happened:

the earth brought forth every kind of plant that bears seed

and every kind of fruit tree on earth

that bears fruit with its seed in it.

God saw how good it was.

Evening came, and morning followed—the third day.


Then God said:

"Let there be lights in the dome of the sky,

to separate day from night.

Let them mark the fixed times, the days and the years,

and serve as luminaries in the dome of the sky,

to shed light upon the earth."

And so it happened:

God made the two great lights,

the greater one to govern the day,

and the lesser one to govern the night;

and he made the stars.

God set them in the dome of the sky,

to shed light upon the earth,

to govern the day and the night,

and to separate the light from the darkness.

God saw how good it was.

Evening came, and morning followed—the fourth day.


Then God said,

"Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures,

and on the earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the sky."

And so it happened:

God created the great sea monsters

and all kinds of swimming creatures with which the water teems,

and all kinds of winged birds.

God saw how good it was, and God blessed them, saying,

"Be fertile, multiply, and fill the water of the seas;

and let the birds multiply on the earth."

Evening came, and morning followed—the fifth day.


Then God said,

"Let the earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures:

cattle, creeping things, and wild animals of all kinds."

And so it happened:

God made all kinds of wild animals, all kinds of cattle,

and all kinds of creeping things of the earth.

God saw how good it was.

Then God said:

"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.

Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,

the birds of the air, and the cattle,

and over all the wild animals

and all the creatures that crawl on the ground."

God created man in his image;

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them.

God blessed them, saying:

"Be fertile and multiply;

fill the earth and subdue it.

Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air,

and all the living things that move on the earth."

God also said:

"See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth

and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food;

and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air,

and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground,

I give all the green plants for food."

And so it happened.

God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good.

Evening came, and morning followed—the sixth day.

Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed.

Since on the seventh day God was finished

with the work he had been doing,

he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken.


Or

Gn 1:1, 26-31a

In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth,

God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.

Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,

the birds of the air, and the cattle,

and over all the wild animals

and all the creatures that crawl on the ground."

God created man in his image;

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them.

God blessed them, saying:

"Be fertile and multiply;

fill the earth and subdue it.

Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air,

and all the living things that move on the earth."

God also said:

"See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth

and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food;

and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air,

and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground,

I give all the green plants for food."

And so it happened.

God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good.


Responsorial Psalm

Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35

R. (30) Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!

You are clothed with majesty and glory,

robed in light as with a cloak.

R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

You fixed the earth upon its foundation,

not to be moved forever;

with the ocean, as with a garment, you covered it;

above the mountains the waters stood.

R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

You send forth springs into the watercourses

that wind among the mountains.

Beside them the birds of heaven dwell;

from among the branches they send forth their song.

R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

You water the mountains from your palace;

the earth is replete with the fruit of your works.

You raise grass for the cattle,

and vegetation for man's use,

Producing bread from the earth.

R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

How manifold are your works, O LORD!

In wisdom you have wrought them all—

the earth is full of your creatures.

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

R.  Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.


or

Ps 33:4-5, 6-7, 12-13, 20 and 22

R.  (5b) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Upright is the word of the LORD,

 and all his works are trustworthy.

He loves justice and right;

 of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

By the word of the LORD the heavens were made;

 by the breath of his mouth all their host.

He gathers the waters of the sea as in a flask;

 in cellars he confines the deep.

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,

 the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.

From heaven the LORD looks down;

 he sees all mankind.

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Our soul waits for the LORD,

 who is our help and our shield.

May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us

 who have put our hope in you.

R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.


Reading II

Gn 22:1-18

God put Abraham to the test.

He called to him, "Abraham!"

"Here I am,"  he replied.

Then God said:

"Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love,

and go to the land of Moriah.

There you shall offer him up as a holocaust

on a height that I will point out to you."

Early the next morning Abraham saddled his donkey,

took with him his son Isaac and two of his servants as well,

and with the wood that he had cut for the holocaust,

set out for the place of which God had told him.


On the third day Abraham got sight of the place from afar.

Then he said to his servants:

"Both of you stay here with the donkey,

while the boy and I go on over yonder.

We will worship and then come back to you."

Thereupon Abraham took the wood for the holocaust

and laid it on his son Isaac's shoulders,

while he himself carried the fire and the knife.

As the two walked on together, Isaac spoke to his father Abraham:

"Father!" Isaac said.

"Yes, son," he replied.

Isaac continued, "Here are the fire and the wood,

but where is the sheep for the holocaust?"

"Son," Abraham answered,

"God himself will provide the sheep for the holocaust."

Then the two continued going forward.


When they came to the place of which God had told him,

Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it.

Next he tied up his son Isaac,

and put him on top of the wood on the altar.

Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.

But the LORD's messenger called to him from heaven,

"Abraham, Abraham!"

"Here I am!" he answered.

"Do not lay your hand on the boy," said the messenger.

"Do not do the least thing to him.

I know now how devoted you are to God,

since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son."

As Abraham looked about,

he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket.

So he went and took the ram

and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son.

Abraham named the site Yahweh-yireh;

hence people now say, "On the mountain the LORD will see."


Again the LORD's messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said:

"I swear by myself, declares the LORD,

that because you acted as you did

in not withholding from me your beloved son,

I will bless you abundantly

and make your descendants as countless

as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore;

your descendants shall take possession

of the gates of their enemies,

and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing--

all this because you obeyed my command."


Or

Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18

God put Abraham to the test.

He called to him, "Abraham!"

"Here I am," he replied.

Then God said:

"Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love,

and go to the land of Moriah.

There you shall offer him up as a holocaust

on a height that I will point out to you."


When they came to the place of which God had told him,

Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it.

Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son.

But the LORD's messenger called to him from heaven,

"Abraham, Abraham!"

"Here I am," he answered.

"Do not lay your hand on the boy," said the messenger.

"Do not do the least thing to him.

I know now how devoted you are to God,

since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son."

As Abraham looked about,

he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket.

So he went and took the ram

and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son.


Again the LORD's messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said:

"I swear by myself, declares the LORD,

that because you acted as you did

in not withholding from me your beloved son,

I will bless you abundantly

and make your descendants as countless

as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore;

your descendants shall take possession

of the gates of their enemies,

and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing--

all this because you obeyed my command."


Responsorial Psalm

Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11

R. (1) You are my inheritance, O Lord.

O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,

you it is who hold fast my lot.

I set the LORD ever before me;

with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,

my body, too, abides in confidence;

because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,

nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

You will show me the path to life,

fullness of joys in your presence,

 the delights at your right hand forever.

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.


Reading III

Ex 14:15—15:1

The LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me?

Tell the Israelites to go forward.

And you, lift up your staff and, with hand outstretched over the sea,

split the sea in two,

that the Israelites may pass through it on dry land.

But I will make the Egyptians so obstinate

that they will go in after them.

Then I will receive glory through Pharaoh and all his army,

his chariots and charioteers.

The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD,

when I receive glory through Pharaoh

and his chariots and charioteers."


The angel of God, who had been leading Israel's camp,

now moved and went around behind them.

The column of cloud also, leaving the front,

took up its place behind them,

so that it came between the camp of the Egyptians

and that of Israel.

But the cloud now became dark, and thus the night passed

without the rival camps coming any closer together

all night long.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea,

and the LORD swept the sea

with a strong east wind throughout the night

and so turned it into dry land.

When the water was thus divided,

the Israelites marched into the midst of the sea on dry land,

with the water like a wall to their right and to their left.


The Egyptians followed in pursuit;

all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and charioteers went after them

right into the midst of the sea.

In the night watch just before dawn

the LORD cast through the column of the fiery cloud

upon the Egyptian force a glance that threw it into a panic;

and he so clogged their chariot wheels

that they could hardly drive.

With that the Egyptians sounded the retreat before Israel,

because the LORD was fighting for them against the Egyptians.


Then the LORD told Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea,

that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians,

upon their chariots and their charioteers."

So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea,

and at dawn the sea flowed back to its normal depth.

The Egyptians were fleeing head on toward the sea,

when the LORD hurled them into its midst.

As the water flowed back,

it covered the chariots and the charioteers of Pharaoh's whole army

which had followed the Israelites into the sea.

Not a single one of them escaped.

But the Israelites had marched on dry land

through the midst of the sea,

with the water like a wall to their right and to their left.

Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day

from the power of the Egyptians.

When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore

and beheld the great power that the LORD

had shown against the Egyptians,

they feared the LORD and believed in him and in his servant Moses.


Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD:

I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant;

horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.


Responsorial Psalm

Ex 15:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 17-18

R. (1b) Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant;

horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.

My strength and my courage is the LORD,

and he has been my savior.

He is my God, I praise him;

the God of my father, I extol him.

R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

The LORD is a warrior,

LORD is his name!

Pharaoh's chariots and army he hurled into the sea;

the elite of his officers were submerged in the Red Sea.

R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

The flood waters covered them,

they sank into the depths like a stone.

Your right hand, O LORD, magnificent in power,

your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy.

R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

You brought in the people you redeemed

and planted them on the mountain of your inheritance

the place where you made your seat, O LORD,

the sanctuary, LORD, which your hands established.

The LORD shall reign forever and ever.

R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.


Reading IV

Is 54:5-14

The One who has become your husband is your Maker;

his name is the LORD of hosts;

your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,

called God of all the earth.

The LORD calls you back,

like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,

a wife married in youth and then cast off,

says your God.

For a brief moment I abandoned you,

but with great tenderness I will take you back.

In an outburst of wrath, for a moment

I hid my face from you;

but with enduring love I take pity on you,

says the LORD, your redeemer.

This is for me like the days of Noah,

when I swore that the waters of Noah

should never again deluge the earth;

so I have sworn not to be angry with you,

or to rebuke you.

Though the mountains leave their place

and the hills be shaken,

my love shall never leave you

nor my covenant of peace be shaken,

says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

O afflicted one, storm-battered and unconsoled,

I lay your pavements in carnelians,

and your foundations in sapphires;

I will make your battlements of rubies,

your gates of carbuncles,

and all your walls of precious stones.

All your children shall be taught by the LORD,

and great shall be the peace of your children.

In justice shall you be established,

far from the fear of oppression,

where destruction cannot come near you.


Responsorial Psalm

Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13   

R. (2a) I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear

and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.

O LORD, you brought me up from the netherworld;

you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.

R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,

and give thanks to his holy name.

For his anger lasts but a moment;

a lifetime, his good will.

At nightfall, weeping enters in,

but with the dawn, rejoicing.

R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;

O LORD, be my helper.

You changed my mourning into dancing;

O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.

R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.


Reading V

Is 55:1-11

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.

As I made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander of nations,

so shall you summon a nation you knew not,

and nations that knew you not shall run to you,

because of the LORD, your God,

the Holy One of Israel, who has glorified you.


Seek the LORD while he may be found,

call him while he is near.

Let the scoundrel forsake his way,

and the wicked man his thoughts;

let him turn to the LORD for mercy;

to our God, who is generous in forgiving.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.

As high as the heavens are above the earth,

so high are my ways above your ways

and my thoughts above your thoughts.


For just 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 word be

that goes forth from my mouth;

my word shall not return to me void,

but shall do my will,

achieving the end for which I sent it.


Responsorial Psalm

Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6

R. (3) You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

God indeed is my savior;

I am confident and unafraid.

My strength and my courage is the LORD,

and he has been my savior.

With joy you will draw water

at the fountain of salvation.

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;

among the nations make known his deeds,

proclaim how exalted is his name.

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;

let this be known throughout all the earth.

Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,

for great in your midst

 is the Holy One of Israel!

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.


Reading VI

Bar 3:9-15, 32--4:4

Hear, O Israel, the commandments of life:

listen, and know prudence!

How is it, Israel,

that you are in the land of your foes,

grown old in a foreign land,

defiled with the dead,

accounted with those destined for the netherworld?

You have forsaken the fountain of wisdom!

Had you walked in the way of God,

you would have dwelt in enduring peace.

Learn where prudence is,

where strength, where understanding;

that you may know also

where are length of days, and life,

where light of the eyes, and peace.

Who has found the place of wisdom,

who has entered into her treasuries?


The One who knows all things knows her;

he has probed her by his knowledge--

The One who established the earth for all time,

and filled it with four-footed beasts;

he who dismisses the light, and it departs,

calls it, and it obeys him trembling;

before whom the stars at their posts

shine and rejoice;

when he calls them, they answer, "Here we are!"

shining with joy for their Maker.

Such is our God;

no other is to be compared to him:

he has traced out the whole way of understanding,

and has given her to Jacob, his servant,

to Israel, his beloved son.


Since then she has appeared on earth,

and moved among people.

She is the book of the precepts of God,

the law that endures forever;

all who cling to her will live,

but those will die who forsake her.

Turn, O Jacob, and receive her:

walk by her light toward splendor.

Give not your glory to another,

your privileges to an alien race.

Blessed are we, O Israel;

for what pleases God is known to us!


Responsorial Psalm

Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 

R. (John 6:68c) Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

The law of the LORD is perfect,

refreshing the soul;

the decree of the LORD is trustworthy,

giving wisdom to the simple.

R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

The precepts of the LORD are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the command of the LORD is clear,

enlightening the eye.

R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

The fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever;

the ordinances of the LORD are true,

all of them just.

R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

They are more precious than gold,

than a heap of purest gold;

sweeter also than syrup

or honey from the comb.

R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.


Reading VII

Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28

The word of the LORD came to me, saying:

Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their land,

they defiled it by their conduct and deeds.

Therefore I poured out my fury upon them

because of the blood that they poured out on the ground,

and because they defiled it with idols.

I scattered them among the nations,

dispersing them over foreign lands;

according to their conduct and deeds I judged them.

But when they came among the nations wherever they came,

they served to profane my holy name,

because it was said of them: "These are the people of the LORD,

yet they had to leave their land."

So I have relented because of my holy name

which the house of Israel profaned

among the nations where they came.

Therefore say to the house of Israel: Thus says the Lord GOD:

Not for your sakes do I act, house of Israel,

but for the sake of my holy name,

which you profaned among the nations to which you came.

I will prove the holiness of my great name, profaned among the nations,

in whose midst you have profaned it.

Thus the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD,

when in their sight I prove my holiness through you.

For I will take you away from among the nations,

gather you from all the foreign lands,

and bring you back to your own land.

I will sprinkle clean water upon you

to cleanse you from all your impurities,

and from all your idols I will cleanse you.

I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you,

taking from your bodies your stony hearts

and giving you natural hearts.

I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes,

careful to observe my decrees.

You shall live in the land I gave your fathers;

you shall be my people, and I will be your God.


Responsorial Psalm

Ps 42:3, 5; 43:3, 4

When baptism is celebrated.


R.  (42:2) Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for you, my God.

Athirst is my soul for God, the living God.

When shall I go and behold the face of God?

R. Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for you, my God.

I went with the throng

and led them in procession to the house of God,

Amid loud cries of joy and thanksgiving,

with the multitude keeping festival.

R. Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for you, my God.

Send forth your light and your fidelity;

they shall lead me on

And bring me to your holy mountain,

to your dwelling-place.

R. Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for you, my God.

Then will I go in to the altar of God,

the God of my gladness and joy;

then will I give you thanks upon the harp,

O God, my God!

R. Like a deer that longs for running streams, my soul longs for you, my God.


Or 

Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6

When baptism is not celebrated.R. (3) You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

God indeed is my savior;

I am confident and unafraid.

My strength and my courage is the LORD,

and he has been my savior.

With joy you will draw water

at the fountain of salvation.

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;

among the nations make known his deeds,

 proclaim how exalted is his name.

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;

let this be known throughout all the earth.

Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,

for great in your midst

 is the Holy One of Israel!

R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.


or

Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19

When baptism is not celebrated R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God.

A clean heart create for me, O God,

and a steadfast spirit renew within me.

Cast me not out from your presence,

and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.

Give me back the joy of your salvation,

and a willing spirit sustain in me.

I will teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners shall return to you.

R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.

For you are not pleased with sacrifices;

should I offer a holocaust, you would not accept it.

My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;

a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.


Epistle

Rom 6:3-11

Brothers and sisters:

Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus

were baptized into his death?

We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,

so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead

by the glory of the Father,

we too might live in newness of life.


For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his,

we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.

We know that our old self was crucified with him,

so that our sinful body might be done away with,

that we might no longer be in slavery to sin.

For a dead person has been absolved from sin.

If, then, we have died with Christ,

we believe that we shall also live with him.

We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;

death no longer has power over him.

As to his death, he died to sin once and for all;

as to his life, he lives for God.

Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as being dead to sin

and living for God in Christ Jesus.


Responsorial Psalm

Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

R. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

for his mercy endures forever.

Let the house of Israel say,

“His mercy endures forever.”

R. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The right hand of the LORD has struck with power;

the right hand of the LORD is exalted.

I shall not die, but live,

and declare the works of the LORD.

R. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

By the LORD has this been done;

it is wonderful in our eyes.

R. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel

Mark 16:1-7

When the sabbath was over, 

Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James, and Salome 

bought spices so that they might go and anoint him.

Very early when the sun had risen,

on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb.

They were saying to one another, 

“Who will roll back the stone for us

from the entrance to the tomb?”

When they looked up,

they saw that the stone had been rolled back;

it was very large.

On entering the tomb they saw a young man

sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe,

and they were utterly amazed.

He said to them, “Do not be amazed!

You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified.

He has been raised; he is not here.

Behold the place where they laid him.

But go and tell his disciples and Peter, 

‘He is going before you to Galilee; 

there you will see him, as he told you.’”