TUESDAY, JULY 27, 2021
“Even at the darkest moments, as in these months of pandemic, the Lord continues to send angels to console our loneliness and to remind us: “I am with you always.” He says this to you, and He says it to me… As a long period of isolation ends and social life slowly resumes may every grandfather, every grandmother, every older person, especially those among us who are most alone, receive the visit of an angel!”
Pope Francis

Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 103
The Lord is kind and merciful.
The LORD secures justice
    and the rights of all the oppressed.
He has made known his ways to Moses,
    and his deeds to the children of Israel.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
    slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
    nor does he keep his wrath forever.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
    nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
    so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
As far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
    so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
The Lord is kind and merciful.

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MONDAY, JULY 26, 2021
“The pandemic swept down on us like an unexpected and furious storm; it has been a time of trial for everyone, but especially for us elderly persons. Many of us fell ill, others died or experienced the death of spouses or loved ones, while others found themselves isolated and alone for long periods. The Lord is aware of all that we have been through in this time. He is close to those who felt isolated and alone, feelings that became more acute during the pandemic.”
Pope Francis

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Psalm 106
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Our fathers made a calf in Horeb
    and adored a molten image;
They exchanged their glory
    for the image of a grass-eating bullock.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
They forgot the God who had saved them,
    who had done great deeds in Egypt,
Wondrous deeds in the land of Ham,
    terrible things at the Red Sea.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Then he spoke of exterminating them,
    but Moses, his chosen one,
Withstood him in the breach
    to turn back his destructive wrath.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

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SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2021
““I am with you always” (Mt 28:20): this is the promise the Lord made to His disciples before He ascended into heaven. They are the words that He repeats to you today, dear grandfathers and grandmothers, dear elderly friends. “I am with you always” are also the words that I, as Bishop of Rome and an elderly person like yourselves, would like to address to you on this first World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. The whole Church is close to you – to us – and cares about you, loves you and does not want to leave you alone!”
Pope Francis

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm 145
The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
    and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
    and speak of your might.
The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
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.
The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
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.
The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

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SATURDAY, JULY 24, 2021
“If we learn to truly rest, we become capable of true compassion; if we cultivate a contemplative outlook, we will carry out our activities without that rapacious attitude of those who want to possess and consume everything; if we stay in touch with the Lord and do not anesthetise the deepest part of ourselves, the things to do will not have the power to cause us to get winded or devour us. We need – listen to this – we need an “ecology of the heart”, that is made up of rest, contemplation and compassion. Let us take advantage of the summer time for this! It will help us quite a bit.”
Pope Francis

Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 50
Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth,
    from the rising of the sun to its setting.
From Zion, perfect in beauty,
    God shines forth.
Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
“Gather my faithful ones before me,
    those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
    for God himself is the judge.
Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
“Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
     and fulfill your vows to the Most High;
Then call upon me in time of distress;
     I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me.”
Offer to God a sacrifice of praise.

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FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2021
“God’s style is to draw near, compassion and tenderness… Only a heart that does not allow itself to be taken over by hastiness is capable of being moved; that is, of not allowing itself to be caught up in itself and by things to do, and is aware of others, of their wounds, their needs. Compassion is born from contemplation.”
Pope Francis

 

THURSDAY, JULY 22, 2021
“Let us beware, brothers and sisters, of efficiency, let us put a halt to the frantic running around dictated by our agendas. Let us learn how to take a break, to turn off the mobile phone, to contemplate nature, to regenerate ourselves in dialogue with God.”
Pope Francis

Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene

Psalm 63
My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.
My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.
My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.
My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
You are my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
My soul clings fast to you;
your right hand upholds me.
My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2021
“How many times this happens in the Church: we are busy, we run around, we think that everything depends on us and, in the end, we risk neglecting Jesus and we always make ourselves the centre… For it is not enough to “unplug” ourselves, we need to truly rest. And how do we do this? To do so, we must return to the heart of things: to stop, to remain in silence, to pray so as not to go from the frenzy of work to the frenzy of times of relaxation.”
Pope Francis

Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 78
The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
They tempted God in their hearts
    by demanding the food they craved.
Yes, they spoke against God, saying,
    “Can God spread a table in the desert?”
The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Yet he commanded the skies above
    and the doors of heaven he opened;
He rained manna upon them for food
    and gave them heavenly bread. 
The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Man ate the bread of angels,
    food he sent them in abundance.
He stirred up the east wind in the heavens,
    and by his power brought on the south wind.
The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
And he rained meat upon them like dust,
    and, like the sand of the sea, winged fowl,
Which fell in the midst of their camp
    round about their tents. 
The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

---

TUESDAY, JULY 20, 2021
“Let us pray to the Madonna, who cultivated silence, prayer and contemplation and who is always moved with tender compassion for us, her children.”
Pope Francis

Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Exodus 15
Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
At the breath of your anger the waters piled up,
    the flowing waters stood like a mound,
    the flood waters congealed in the midst of the sea.
The enemy boasted, “I will pursue and overtake them;
    I will divide the spoils and have my fill of them;
    I will draw my sword; my hand shall despoil them!” 
Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
When your wind blew, the sea covered them;
    like lead they sank in the mighty waters.
    When you stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them!
Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
And you brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your inheritance—
    the place where you made your seat, O LORD,
    the sanctuary, O LORD, which your hands established. 
Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory

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MONDAY, JULY 19, 2021
“Once, a good bishop told me that in a very bad moment in his life, a great trial, a moment of darkness, he looked up in the Basilica and saw this phrase written: “I, Peter, will pray for you.” And this gave him strength and comfort… Do this memory exercise, repeat this. When there is a difficulty, when you feel the orbital pull of distractions: Jesus is praying for me… With our first and last name, before the Father, showing him the wounds that are the price of our salvation.”
Pope Francis

Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Exodus 15
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.
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.
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.
Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

---

SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021
“Jesus prays for me: each one of us can carry this in their heart. We must not forget this. Even in the worst moments. We are already welcomed into Jesus’ dialogue with the Father, in communion of the Holy Spirit. We were willed by Christ Jesus, and even in the hour of His passion, death and resurrection, everything was offered for us. And so, with prayer and with life, all that remains is only to have courage and hope, and, with this courage and hope, to deeply feel Jesus’ prayer and to keep on going: so that our life may be one of giving glory to God in the knowledge that He prays for me to the Father, that Jesus prays for me.”
Pope Francis

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
    he refreshes my soul.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
He guides me in right paths
    for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
    I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
    that give me courage.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
You spread the table before me
    in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
    all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
    for years to come.
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

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SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2021
“Let us recognize that there is no other way to come to the dawn than by passing through the night. And in the night of crisis, all of us need to remain united. Together, through honest dialogue and pure intentions, we can bring light where there is darkness. Let us entrust every effort and commitment to Christ, the Prince of Peace… Brothers and sisters, may the night of conflicts recede before a new dawn of hope.”
Pope Francis

Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 136
His mercy endures forever. 

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
    for his mercy endures forever;
Who remembered us in our abjection,
    for his mercy endures forever;
And freed us from our foes,
    for his mercy endures forever.
His mercy endures forever.

Who smote the Egyptians in their first-born,
    for his mercy endures forever;
And brought out Israel from their midst,
    for his mercy endures forever;
With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm,
    for his mercy endures forever.
His mercy endures forever.
Who split the Red Sea in twain,
    for his mercy endures forever;
And led Israel through its midst,
    for his mercy endures forever;
But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea,
    for his mercy endures forever.
His mercy endures forever.    

---

FRIDAY, JULY 16, 2021
“Plans for peace and not for woe. As Christians, today we wish to renew our commitment to building a future together. For our future will be peaceful only if it is shared. Human relationships cannot be based on the pursuit of partisan interests, privileges and advantages. No, the Christian vision of society arises from the Beatitudes; it is born of meekness and mercy, and it inspires us to imitate in this world God’s own way of acting, for he is a father who desires his children to live in peace. We Christians are called to be sowers of peace and builders of fraternity, not nursing past grudges and regrets, not shirking the responsibilities of the present, but looking instead with hope to the future. We believe that God has shown us but one way: the way of peace.”
Pope Francis

Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 116
I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
    for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
    and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
Precious in the eyes of the LORD
    is the death of his faithful ones.
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
    you have loosed my bonds.
I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
    and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
    in the presence of all his people.
I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

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THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2021
“I have felt your closeness and the support of your prayers. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!... Let us remember that, in the protocol of the final judgment – Matthew 25 – one of the things they will ask us will be about closeness to the sick. In these days of being hospitalized, I have experienced once again how important good health care is, accessible to all, as it is in Italy and in other countries… And let us pray for all the sick… Accompany them with prayer, especially for those in the most difficult conditions: may no one be left alone, may everyone receive the anointing of listening, closeness, tenderness and care. Let us ask this through the intercession of Mary, our Mother, Health of the Sick.”
Pope Francis

Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Psalm 105
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
    make known among the nations his deeds.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
    his portents, and the judgments he has uttered. 
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

He remembers forever his covenant
    which he made binding for a thousand generations
Which he entered into with Abraham
    and by his oath to Isaac. 
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

He greatly increased his people
    and made them stronger than their foes,
Whose hearts he changed, so that they hated his people,
    and dealt deceitfully with his servants.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

He sent Moses his servant;
    Aaron, whom he had chosen.
They wrought his signs among them,
    and wonders in the land of Ham.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

---

WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2021
“It often happens in life that we seek from our experiences and even from people only what conforms to our own ideas and ways of thinking so as never to have to make an effort to change. And this can even happen with God, and even to us believers, to us who think we know Jesus, that we already know so much about Him and that it is enough to repeat the same things as always. And this is not enough with God. But without openness to what is new and, above all – listen well – openness to God’s surprises, without amazement, faith becomes a tiring litany that slowly dies out and becomes a habit, a social habit.”
Pope Francis

Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin

Psalm 103
The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
    and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
    he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
    he crowns you with kindness and compassion. 
The Lord is kind and merciful.
The LORD secures justice
    and the rights of all the oppressed.
He has made known his ways to Moses,
    and his deeds to the children of  Israel. 
The Lord is kind and merciful.

---

TUESDAY, JULY 13, 2021
“There is a difference between knowing and recognizing. In essence, this difference makes us understand that we can know various things about a person, form an idea, rely on what others say about that person, we might perhaps meet that person every now and then in the neighbourhood; but all that is not enough. This is a knowledge, I would say ordinary, superficial, that does not recognize the uniqueness of the person. We all run this risk: we think we know so much about a person, even worse, we use labels and close the person within our own prejudices.”
Pope Francis

Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 69
Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.
I am sunk in the abysmal swamp
    where there is no foothold;
I have reached the watery depths;
    the flood overwhelms me.
Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.
But I pray to you, O LORD,
    for the time of your favor, O God!
In your great kindness answer me
    with your constant help.
Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.
But I am afflicted and in pain;
    let your saving help, O God, protect me;
I will praise the name of God in song,
    and I will glorify him with thanksgiving.
Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.
“See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
    you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
    and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.”
Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.

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MONDAY, JULY 12, 2021
“Now, in prayer, let us ask the Madonna, who welcomed the mystery of God in her daily life in Nazareth, for eyes and hearts free of prejudices and to have eyes open to be amazed: “Lord that we might meet you!” and when we encounter the Lord there is this amazement. We meet him in the normal: eyes open to God’s surprises, at His humble and hidden presence in daily life.”
Pope Francis

Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 124
Our help is in the name of the Lord
Had not the LORD been with us–
    let Israel say, had not the LORD been with us–
When men rose up against us,
    then would they have swallowed us alive,
When their fury was inflamed against us. 
Our help is in the name of the Lord
Then would the waters have overwhelmed us;
The torrent would have swept over us;
    over us then would have swept 
    the raging waters.
Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave us
    a prey to their teeth. 
Our help is in the name of the Lord
We were rescued like a bird 
    from the fowlers’ snare;
Broken was the snare, 
    and we were freed.
Our help is in the name of the LORD,
    who made heaven and earth.
Our help is in the name of the Lord

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SUNDAY, JULY 11, 2021
“Everything has been prepared in God’s plan. He weaves our history, the story of each one of us: He weaves our history and, if we correspond with trust to His plan of salvation, we will become aware of it. The calling always implies a mission to which we are destined; that is why we are asked to prepare ourselves seriously, knowing that it is God Himself who sends us, it is God Himself who supports us with His grace. Brothers and sisters, let us allow ourselves to be led by this awareness: the primacy of grace transforms existence and makes it worthy of being placed at the service of the Gospel. The primacy of grace covers all sins, changes hearts, changes lives, and makes us see new paths. Let us not forget this.”
Pope Francis

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm 85
Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
I will hear what God proclaims;
    the LORD —for he proclaims peace.
Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him,
    glory dwelling in our land.
Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
Kindness and truth shall meet;
    justice and peace shall kiss.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
    and justice shall look down from heaven.
Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.
The LORD himself will give his benefits;
    our land shall yield its increase.
Justice shall walk before him,
    and prepare the way of his steps.
Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

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SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2021
“How inscrutable are the ways of the Lord! We experience this every day, but especially if we think back to the times when the Lord called us. We must never forget the time and the way in which God entered our lives: let us keep fixed in our hearts and minds that encounter with grace, when God changed our existence.”
Pope Francis

Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 105
Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!
Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
    make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
    proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!
Glory in his holy name;
    rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
    seek to serve him constantly.
Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
    sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
    throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
Be glad you lowly ones; may your hearts be glad!

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FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2021
“May Our Lady, Consoler of the suffering, help us bring a caress to those with wounded hearts whom we meet on our journey. And do not judge; do not judge the personal, social reality of others. God loves everyone! Do not judge; let others live and try to approach them with love.”
Pope Francis

Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 37
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Trust in the LORD and do good,
    that you may dwell in the land and be fed in security.
Take delight in the LORD,
    and he will grant you your heart’s requests.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The LORD watches over the lives of the wholehearted;
    their inheritance lasts forever.
They are not put to shame in an evil time;
    in days of famine they have plenty. 
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
Turn from evil and do good,
    that you may abide forever;
For the LORD loves what is right,
    and forsakes not his faithful ones. 
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.
The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
    he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
    he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they take refuge in him.
The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

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THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021
“Sister, brother, you are here, let Jesus look at and heal your heart. I too have to do this: let Jesus look at my heart and heal it. And if you have already felt His tender gaze upon you, imitate Him, and do as He does. Look around: you will see that many people who live beside you feel wounded and alone; they need to feel loved: take the step. Jesus asks you for a gaze that does not stop at the outward appearance, but that goes to the heart: a gaze that is not judgmental, — let us stop judging others — Jesus asks us for a gaze that is non-judgmental, but rather welcoming. Let us open our hearts to welcome others. Because love alone heals life, love alone heals life.”
Pope Francis

Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 105
Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
When the LORD called down a famine on the land
    and ruined the crop that sustained them,
He sent a man before them,
    Joseph, sold as a slave.
Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
They had weighed him down with fetters,
    and he was bound with chains,
Till his prediction came to pass
    and the word of the LORD proved him true.
Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
The king sent and released him,
    the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He made him lord of his house
    and ruler of all his possessions.
Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 2021
“Jesus lets himself be touched by our suffering and our death... He tells us that death is not the end. He defeats this enemy, from which alone we cannot free ourselves… What is the greatest illness of life? Cancer? Tuberculosis? The pandemic? No. The greatest illness of life is a lack of love; it is not being able to love…Especially at this time, we understand how important contact and relationships are.”
Pope Francis

Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 33
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
Sing to him a new song;
pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of  gladness.
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
The LORD brings to nought the plans of nations;
he foils the designs of peoples.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you

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TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2021
“For ecumenism is not an exercise of ecclesial diplomacy but a journey of grace. It depends not on human negotiations and agreements, but on the grace of God, which purifies memories and hearts, overcomes attitudes of inflexibility and directs towards renewed communion.”
Pope Francis

Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 17
In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
    attend to my outcry;
    hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.
In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
From you let my judgment come;
    your eyes behold what is right.
Though you test my heart, searching it in the night,
    though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me.
In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
    incline your ear to me; hear my word.
Show your wondrous mercies,
    O savior of those who flee from their foes.
In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings.
I in justice shall behold your face;
    on waking, I shall be content in your presence.
In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord.

---

 

MONDAY, JULY 5, 2021
“It is also a question of helping to fully overcome the stigma with which mental illness has often been branded and, in general, to ensure that the culture of community prevails over the mentality of rejection, according to which greater care and attention is given to those who bring productive advantages to society, forgetting that those who suffer allow the irrepressible beauty of human dignity to shine forth in their wounded lives.”
Pope Francis

Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 91
In you, my God, I place my trust.
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High,
    who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
Say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”
In you, my God, I place my trust.
For he will rescue you from the snare of the fowler,
    from the destroying pestilence.
With his pinions he will cover you,
    and under his wings you shall take refuge. 
In you, my God, I place my trust.
Because he clings to me, I will deliver him;
    I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in distress. 
In you, my God, I place my trust.

---

SUNDAY, JULY 4, 2021
“Dear brothers and sisters, everything that God’s grace is giving us the joy to experience and share – progress in overcoming divisions, the gradual healing of memory, reconciled and fraternal cooperation – is grounded in the “one baptism for the forgiveness of sins” (Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed). Holy baptism is the primordial divine gift at the basis of all our religious efforts and our commitment to the achievement of full unity.”
Pope Francis

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm 123
Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
To you I lift up my eyes
    who are enthroned in heaven —
As the eyes of servants
    are on the hands of their masters.
Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
As the eyes of a maid
    are on the hands of her mistress,
So are our eyes on the LORD, our God,
    till he have pity on us.
Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.
Have pity on us, O LORD, have pity on us,
    for we are more than sated with contempt;
our souls are more than sated
    with the mockery of the arrogant,
    with the contempt of the proud.
Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

---

SATURDAY, JULY 3, 2021
“The pandemic has presented health workers with enormous challenges, showing us all the need to have an appropriate approach to health care to ensure no one is left behind and to care for all in an inclusive and participatory manner.”
Pope Francis

Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle

Psalm 117
Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
Praise the LORD, all you nations;
    glorify him, all you peoples!
Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
For steadfast is his kindness for us,
    and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever. 
Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

---

FRIDAY, JULY 2, 2021
“Caring for others is not just a skilled job, but a real mission, which is fully realized when scientific knowledge meets the fullness of humanity and is translated into the tenderness that knows how to approach and take others to heart.”
Pope Francis

Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 106
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
    for his mercy endures forever.
Who can tell the mighty deeds of the LORD,
    or proclaim all his praises?
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Blessed are they who observe what is right,
    who do always what is just.
Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people. 
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
Visit me with your saving help,
That I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones,
    rejoice in the joy of your people,
    and glory with your inheritance.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

---

THURSDAY, JULY 1, 2021
“We pray that, in social, economic and political situations of conflict, we may be courageous and passionate architects of dialogue and friendship.”
Pope Francis

Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 115
I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.
Not to us, O LORD, not to us
    but to your name give glory
    because of your kindness, because of your truth.
Why should the pagans say, 
    “Where is their God?”
I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.
Our God is in heaven;
    whatever he wills, he does.
Their idols are silver and gold,
    the handiwork of men.
I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.
They have mouths but speak not;
    they have eyes but see not;
They have ears but hear not;
    they have noses but smell not.
I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.
Their makers shall be like them,
    everyone who trusts in them
The house of Israel trusts in the LORD;
    he is their help and their shield.
I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living.

---

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2021
“Inflexibility is typical... The path is the liberating and ever-new path of Jesus, Crucified and Risen; it is the path of proclamation, which is achieved through humility and fraternity.”
Pope Francis

Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 34
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Fear the LORD, you his holy ones,
for nought is lacking to those who fear him.
The great grow poor and hungry;
but those who seek the LORD want for no good thing.
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
Come, children, hear me;
I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Which of you desires life,
and takes delight in prosperous days?
The Lord hears the cry of the poor.

---

TUESDAY, JUNE 29, 2021
“Ultimately, faith in the Holy Spirit present in the Church carries us forward and will save us.”
Pope Francis

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Psalm 34
The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
    his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
    the lowly will hear me and be glad.
The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Glorify the LORD with me,
    let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
    and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
    and from all his distress he saved him.
The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
The angel of the LORD encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
    blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him

---

MONDAY, JUNE 28, 2021
“My thoughts turn to the elderly, to young people, to the sick and to newlyweds. As I encourage you to renew your intentions of generous Christian witness, I invoke upon each of you the continued assistance of the Lord.”
Pope Francis

Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr

Psalm 103
The Lord is kind and merciful.

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
    and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits. 
The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
    he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
    he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
    slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
    nor does he keep his wrath forever.
The Lord is kind and merciful.

---

 

SUNDAY, JUNE 27, 2021
“Quite often we, beaten by the trials of life, have cried out to the Lord: “Why do you remain silent and do nothing for me?” Especially when it seems we are sinking, because of love or the project in which we have laid great hopes disappears; or when we are at the mercy of the unrelenting waves of anxiety; or when we feel we are drowning in problems or lost in the middle of the sea of life, with no course and no harbour. Or even, in the moments in which the strength to go forward fails us, because we have no job, or an unexpected diagnosis makes us fear for our health or that of a loved one. There are many moments in which we feel we are in a storm; we feel we are almost done in… In these situations and in many others, we too feel suffocated by fear… The Lord is there, present; indeed, He waits – so to speak – for us to engage Him, to invoke Him, to put Him at the centre of what we are experiencing.”
Pope Francis

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm 30
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.
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.
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.
I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

---

 

SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021
“May the Virgin Mary, who in her life never stopped trusting in God, reawaken in us the basic need of entrusting ourselves to Him each day.”
Pope Francis

Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Luke 1
The Lord has remembered his mercy.
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
The Lord has remembered his mercy.
“For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.”
The Lord has remembered his mercy.
“He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.”
The Lord has remembered his mercy.
“He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”
The Lord has remembered his mercy.

---

FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 2021

“Fear leads us to look at the difficulties, the awful problems and not to look at the Lord… How often we remain fixated on problems rather than going to the Lord and casting our concerns into him! How often we leave the Lord in a corner, at the bottom of the boat of life, to wake him only in a moment of need! Today, let us ask for the grace of a faith that never tires of seeking the Lord, of knocking at the door of his Heart. May the Virgin Mary, who in her life never stopped trusting in God, reawaken in us the basic need of entrusting ourselves to him each day.”
Pope Francis

Friday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 128
See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.
See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.

---

THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021
“Faith begins from believing that we are not enough for ourselves, from feeling in need of God. When we overcome the temptation to close ourselves off, when we overcome the false religiosity that does not want to disturb God, when we cry out to him, he can work wonders in us. It is the gentle and extraordinary power of prayer, which works miracles.”
Pope Francis

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

Psalm 139
I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
O LORD, you have probed me, you know me:
    you know when I sit and when I stand;
    you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
    with all my ways you are familiar.
I praise you for I am wonderfully made.
Truly you have formed my inmost being;
    you knit me in my mother’s womb.
I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;
    wonderful are your works.
I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.
My soul also you knew full well;
    nor was my frame unknown to you
When I was made in secret,
    when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth.
I praise you, for I am wonderfully made.

---

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021
“Today we can ask ourselves: what are the winds that beat against my life? What are the waves that hinder my navigation, and put my spiritual life, my family life, even my psychic life in danger? Let us say all this to Jesus; let us tell Him everything. He wants this; He wants us to grab hold of Him to find shelter from the unexpected waves of life.”
Pope Francis

Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 105
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
    make known among the nations his deeds.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
    proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

Glory in his holy name;
    rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
Look to the LORD in his strength;
    seek to serve him constantly.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
    sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
    throughout the earth his judgments prevail. 
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

He remembers forever his covenant
    which he made binding for a thousand generations—
Which he entered into with Abraham
    and by his oath to Isaac.
The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.

---

TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 2021
“A prayer that alienates itself from life is not healthy. A prayer that alienates us from the concreteness of life becomes spiritualism, or worse, ritualism… The time dedicated to being with God revives faith, which helps us in the practicalities of living, and faith, in turn, nurtures prayer, without interruption. In this circularity between faith, life and prayer, one keeps alight that flame of Christian love that God expects of us.”
Pope Francis

Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 15
He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
He who walks blamelessly and does justice;
    who thinks the truth in his heart
    and slanders not with his tongue.
He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who harms not his fellow man,
    nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
By whom the reprobate is despised,
    while he honors those who fear the LORD.
He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Who lends not his money at usury
    and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
    shall never be disturbed. 
He who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

---

MONDAY, JUNE 21, 2021
“May Mary Most Holy, the Lord’s humble handmaid, teach us to see the greatness of God who works in the little things and to overcome the temptation of discouragement. Let us trust in Him every day!”
Pope Francis

Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious

Psalm 33
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
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.
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
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.
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

---

SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 2021
“In the Church too, weeds of doubt can take root, especially when we witness the crisis of faith and the failure of different projects and initiatives. But let us never forget that the results of sowing do not depend our abilities: they depend on the action of God. It is up to us to sow, and sow with love, with dedication and with patience.”
Pope Francis

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm 107
Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.

They who sailed the sea in ships,
    trading on the deep waters,
These saw the works of the LORD
    and his wonders in the abyss.
Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.

His command raised up a storm wind
    which tossed its waves on high.
They mounted up to heaven; they sank to the depths;
    their hearts melted away in their plight.
Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.

They cried to the LORD in their distress;
    from their straits he rescued them,
He hushed the storm to a gentle breeze,
    and the billows of the sea were stilled.
Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.

They rejoiced that they were calmed,
    and he brought them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his kindness
    and his wondrous deeds to the children of men.
Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.

---

SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2021
“In so many of life’s situations, indeed, it may happen that we get discouraged… And we may allow ourselves to be paralyzed by doubt when we find we are working hard but the results are not achieved, and things seem never to change. The Gospel asks us to take a fresh look at ourselves and at reality; it asks us to have bigger eyes, that are able to see further, especially beyond appearances, in order to discover the presence of God who as humble love is always at work in the soil of our life and that of history. This is our confidence, this is what gives us the strength to go forward every day, patiently, sowing the good that will bear fruit.”
Pope Francis

Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 34
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
The angel of the LORD encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
    blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Fear the LORD, you his holy ones,
    for nought is lacking to those who fear him
The great grow poor and hungry;
    but those who seek the LORD want for no good thing.
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Come, children, hear me;
    I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Which of you desires life,
    and takes delight in prosperous days?
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

---

FRIDAY, JUNE 18, 2021
“In everything, Jesus teaches that poverty is not the result of fate, but a concrete sign pointing to His presence among us. We do not find Him when and where we want, but see Him in the lives of the poor, in their sufferings and needs, in the often inhuman conditions in which they are forced to live. As I never tire of repeating, the poor are true evangelizers, for they were the first to be evangelized and called to share in the Lord's joy and His kingdom (cf. Mt 5:3).”
Pope Francis

Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 34
From all their distress God rescues the just.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
    his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
    the lowly will hear me and be glad.
From all their distress God rescues the just.
Glorify the LORD with me,
    let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears. 
From all their distress God rescues the just.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
    and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
    and from all his distress he saved him.
From all their distress God rescues the just.

---

THURSDAY, JUNE 17, 2021
“It is crucial that we grow in our awareness of the needs of the poor, which are always changing, as are their living conditions. Today, in fact, in the more economically developed areas of the world, people are less willing than in the past to confront poverty. The state of relative affluence to which we have become accustomed makes it more difficult to accept sacrifices and deprivation… We need to be open to reading the signs of the times that ask us to find new ways of being evangelizers in the contemporary world.”
Pope Francis

Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 111
Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart
    in the company and assembly of the just.
Great are the works of the LORD,
    exquisite in all their delights.
Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.

Majesty and glory are his work,
    and his justice endures forever.
He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;
    gracious and merciful is the LORD.
Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.

The works of his hands are faithful and just;
    sure are all his precepts,
Reliable forever and ever,
    wrought in truth and equity. 
Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.

---

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2021
“God is at work, like a good little seed that silently and slowly germinates. And, little by little, it becomes a lush tree, which gives life and rest to everyone. The seed of our good works too can seem like a small thing, yet all that is good pertains to God, and thus it humbly, slowly bears fruit. Good, let us remember, always grows in a humble way, in a hidden, often invisible way.”
Pope Francis

Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 112
Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
    who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
    the upright generation shall be blessed.
Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

Wealth and riches shall be in his house;
    his generosity shall endure forever.
Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
    he is gracious and merciful and just.
Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

Lavishly he gives to the poor;
    his generosity shall endure forever;
        his horn shall be exalted in glory.
Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

---

TUESDAY, JUNE 15, 2021
“Let us repeat the simple prayer that it is so good to repeat during the day. All together: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!”… I invite everyone to grow in a spirit of constant prayer, capable of uniting our daily lives and making them a sacrifice pleasing to the Lord. Upon you and your families I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!”
Pope Francis

Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 146
Praise the Lord, my soul!

Praise the LORD, my soul!
    I will praise the LORD all my life;
    I will sing praise to my God while I live.
Praise the Lord, my soul!

Blessed he whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the LORD, his God,
Who made heaven and earth,
    the sea and all that is in them.
Praise the Lord, my soul!

Who keeps faith forever,
    secures justice for the oppressed,
    gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free. 
Praise the Lord, my soul!

The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
    the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers. 
Praise the Lord, my soul!

---

MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021
“A father and a mother, caught up in a thousand tasks, may feel nostalgia for a time in their life in which it was easy to find regular times and spaces for prayer. Then come children, work, family life, ageing parents.... One has the impression that it will never be possible to get through it all. It is good then for us to think that God, our Father, who must take care of the entire universe, always remembers each one of us. Therefore, we too must always remember Him!”
Pope Francis

Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 98
The Lord has made known his salvation.
Sing to the LORD a new song,
    for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him, 
    his holy arm.
The Lord has made known his salvation.
In the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
    toward the house of Israel. 
The Lord has made known his salvation.
All the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
    break into song; sing praise.
The Lord has made known his salvation.

---

SUNDAY, JUNE 13, 2021
“Little prayers: “Lord, have mercy on us,” “Lord, help me.” So, prayer is a kind of musical staff, where we arrange the melody of our lives. It is not in contrast with daily work; it does not contradict the many small obligations and appointments; if anything, it is the place where every action finds its meaning, its reason and its peace.”
Pope Francis

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Psalm 92
Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
    to sing praise to your name, Most High,
To proclaim your kindness at dawn
    and your faithfulness throughout the night.
Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
The just one shall flourish like the palm tree,
    like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow.
They that are planted in the house of the LORD
    shall flourish in the courts of our God.
Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
They shall bear fruit even in old age;
    vigorous and sturdy shall they be,
Declaring how just is the LORD,
    my rock, in whom there is no wrong.
Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

---

SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2021
““Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!” A simple prayer, but very beautiful. A prayer that, little by little, adapts itself to the rhythm of breath and extends throughout the day. Indeed, breath never stops, not even while we sleep; and prayer is the breath of life.”
Pope Francis

Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Psalm 103
The Lord is kind and merciful.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
The Lord is kind and merciful.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes. 
The Lord is kind and merciful.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us. 
The Lord is kind and merciful.

---

FRIDAY, JUNE 11, 2021
“Each time we receive the Bread of Life, Jesus comes to give new meaning to our fragilities… What fragilities? Let’s think. That of feeling resentment toward those who have done us harm – we cannot heal from this on our own; that of distancing ourselves from others and closing off within ourselves – we cannot heal from that on our own; that of feeling sorry for ourselves and lamenting without finding peace; from this too, we cannot heal on our own… The Eucharist is an effective medicine for these closures. The Bread of Life, indeed, heals rigidity and transforms it into docility.”
Pope Francis

Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Isaiah 12
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.
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.
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!
You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 2021
“There is another strength that stands out in the fragility of the Eucharist: the strength to love those who make mistakes… betrayal is the worst suffering for one who loves. And what does Jesus do? He reacts to the evil with a greater good… When we receive the Eucharist, Jesus does the same with us: He knows us; He knows we are sinners; He knows we make many mistakes, but He does not give up on joining His life to ours. He knows that we need it, because the Eucharist is not the reward of saints, but the Bread of sinners. This is why He exhorts us: “Do not be afraid! Take and eat.””
Pope Francis

Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 99
Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
    and worship at his footstool;
    holy is he!
Holy is the Lord our God.
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
    and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
    they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
Holy is the Lord our God.
From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
    they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.
Holy is the Lord our God.
O LORD, our God, you answered them;
    a forgiving God you were to them,
    though requiting their misdeeds. 
Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
    and worship at his holy mountain;
    for holy is the LORD, our God.
Holy is the Lord our God.

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TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 2021
“Jesus shows us that the aim of life lies in self-giving, that the greatest thing is to serve… Jesus becomes fragile like the bread that is broken and crumbled. But His strength lies precisely therein, in His fragility. In the Eucharist fragility is strength: the strength of the love that becomes small so it can be welcomed and not feared; the strength of the love that is broken and shared so as to nourish and give life; the strength of the love that is split apart so as to join us in unity.”
Pope Francis

Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 119
Lord, let your face shine on me.
Wonderful are your decrees;
    therefore I observe them.
Lord, let your face shine on me.
The revelation of your words sheds light,
    gives understanding to the simple.
Lord, let your face shine on me.
I gasp with open mouth
    in my yearning for your commands.
Lord, let your face shine on me.
Turn to me in pity
    as you turn to those who love your name.
Lord, let your face shine on me.
Steady my footsteps according to your promise,
    and let no iniquity rule over me.
Lord, let your face shine on me.
Let your countenance shine upon your servant,
    and teach me your statutes. 
Lord, let your face shine on me.

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MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021
“Even if our prayers were only stuttering, if they were compromised by a wavering faith, we must never cease to trust in Him: I do not know how to pray but He prays for me. Supported by Jesus’ prayer, our timid prayers rest on eagle wings and soar up to Heaven. Do not forget: Jesus is praying for me. Now? Now. In the moment of trial, in the moment of sin, even in that sin, Jesus is praying for me with so much love.”
Pope Francis

Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 34
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
    his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
    the lowly will hear me and be glad. 
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,
    let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
    and delivered me from all my fears.
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
    and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
    and from all his distress he saved him. 
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
The angel of the LORD encamps
    around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
    blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

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SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021
“The beauty of the Gospel asks to be lived – unity – and proven in the harmony among us, who are so diverse! And this unity I dare say is essential to Christians: it is not an attitude, a manner of speaking, no; it is essential, because it is the unity that is born from love, from the mercy of God, from the justification of Jesus Christ and from the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts”
Pope Francis

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Psalm 116
I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

How shall I make a return to the LORD
    for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
    and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

Precious in the eyes of the LORD
    is the death of his faithful ones.
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
    you have loosed my bonds.
I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
    and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
    in the presence of all his people.
I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

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SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2021
“There is the Father to whom I pray with the Our Father; there is the Son, who gave me redemption, justification; there is the Holy Spirit who abides in us and inhabits the Church.”
Pope Francis

Memorial of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr

Tobit 13
Blessed be God, who lives for ever.
He scourges and then has mercy;
    he casts down to the depths of the nether world,
    and he brings up from the great abyss.
No one can escape his hand.
Blessed be God, who lives for ever.
So now consider what he has done for you,
    and praise him with full voice.
Bless the Lord of righteousness,
    and exalt the King of ages. 
Blessed be God, who lives for ever. 
In the land of my exile I praise him
    and show his power and majesty to a sinful nation.
Blessed be God, who lives for ever. 
Bless the Lord, all you his chosen ones,
    and may all of you praise his majesty.
Celebrate days of gladness, and give him praise.
Blessed be God, who lives for ever.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2021
“Evil is never lord of the last day, no: the penultimate, the moment when the night is darkest, just before the dawn. There, on the penultimate day, there is temptation, when evil makes us think it has won: “Did you see? I won!”… God is the Lord of the last day. Because that belongs to God alone, and it is the day when all human longings for salvation will be fulfilled. Let us learn this humble patience, of waiting for the Lord’s grace, waiting for the final day. Very often, the penultimate day is very hard, because human sufferings are hard. But the Lord is there. And on the last day, he resolves everything.”
Pope Francis

Friday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 146
Praise the Lord, my soul!

Praise the LORD, O my soul;
    I will praise the LORD all my life;
    I will sing praise to my God while I live. 
Praise the Lord, my soul!

The LORD keeps faith forever,
    secures justice for the oppressed,
    gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
Praise the Lord, my soul!

The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who are bowed down;
    the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
Praise the Lord, my soul!

The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
    but the way of the wicked he thwarts
The LORD shall reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, through all generations! Alleluia.
Praise the Lord, my soul!
 

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THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021
“Lord, give me faith! May my faith grow! Ask for this grace, to have faith. Jesus, in the Gospel, says that faith moves mountains. But, having real faith. Jesus, before the faith of his poor, of his people, is won over; he feels special tenderness, before that faith. And he listens.”
Pope Francis

Memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs

Psalm 128
Blessed are those who fear the Lord
 Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
    who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
    Blessed shall you be, and favored.
Blessed are those who fear the Lord
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
    in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
    around your table. 
Blessed are those who fear the Lord
Behold, thus is the man blessed
    who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
    may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
    all the days of your life. 
Blessed are those who fear the Lord
 

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2021
“Let us pray for young people who are preparing for marriage with the support of a Christian community: may they grow in love, with generosity, faithfulness and patience.”
Pope Francis

Wednesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Psalm 25
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
In you I trust; let me not be put to shame,
    let not my enemies exult over me.
No one who waits for you shall be put to shame;
    those shall be put to shame who heedlessly break faith.
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
    teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my savior.
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
    and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
    because of your goodness, O LORD.
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Good and upright is the LORD;
    thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
    he teaches the humble his way. 
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
 

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TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2021
“When we pray we must be humble, so that our words are actually prayers and not just idle talk that God rejects… I go to pray but You, Lord, convert my heart so that it asks for what is convenient, for what will be best for my spiritual health… On some occasions, therefore, the solution to the problem is not immediate… Then, over time, things have worked out but in God’s way, the divine way, not according to what we wanted in that moment. God’s time is not our time.”
Pope Francis

Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr

Psalm 112
The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.

Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed.
The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.

An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear
till he looks down upon his foes. 
The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.

Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.
The heart of the just one is firm, trusting in the Lord.

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MONDAY, MAY 31, 2021
“United in this month of May with Our Blessed Lady, may we grow in the certainty that our heavenly Father always hears our prayers. Upon you and your families I invoke the joy and peace of the Lord. May God bless you!”
Pope Francis

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Isaiah 12
Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
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.
Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
    among the nations make known his deeds,
    proclaim how exalted is his name.
Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
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!
Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

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SUNDAY MAY 30, 2021
“Indeed, when we pray we can give in to the risk of not being the ones to serve God, but of expecting Him to serve us. This is, then, a prayer that is always demanding, that wants to direct events according to our own design, that admits no plans other than our own desires. Jesus, on the other hand, had great wisdom in teaching us the Lord’s Prayer. It is a prayer of questions only, as we know, but the first ones we utter are all on God's side. They ask for the fulfilment not of our plan, but of His will for the world. Better to leave it to Him: "Hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done" (Mt 6:9-10).”
Pope Francis

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Psalm 33
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
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.
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made;
    by the breath of his mouth all their host.
For he spoke, and it was made;
    he commanded, and it stood forth.
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
    upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
    and preserve them in spite of famine.
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
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.
Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.

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SATURDAY, MAY 29, 2021
“There is a radical objection to prayer, which derives from an observation that we all make: we pray, we ask, and yet sometimes our prayers seem to go unheard… We have this experience, very often… If the reason for which we prayed was noble such as intercession for the health of a sick person, or for the end of a war, for instance, the non-fulfilment seems scandalous. For example, for wars: we are praying for wars to end, these wars in so many parts of the world… But if God is Father, why does He not listen to us? … Prayer is not a magic wand: it is a dialogue with the Lord.”
Pope Francis

Saturday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Psalm 19
The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
    refreshing the soul.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
    giving wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
    rejoicing the heart.
The command of the LORD is clear,
    enlightening the eye.
The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
    enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
    all of them just
The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.
They are more precious than gold,
    than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
    or honey from the comb.
The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.

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FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021
“The Lord knows how to reach us and open the doors to our hearts. He sends upon us the Holy Spirit who envelops us and overpowers all our hesitations, tears down our defenses, dismantles our false certainties… Today let us ask the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, to intercede so that the Holy Spirit descends in abundance, fills the hearts of the faithful and kindles the fire of His love in everyone.”
Pope Francis

Friday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Psalm 149
The Lord takes delight in his people.
  
Sing to the LORD a new song
    of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
    let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
The Lord takes delight in his people.

Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
    let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
    and he adorns the lowly with victory.
The Lord takes delight in his people.
 
Let the faithful exult in glory;
    let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
    This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia. 
The Lord takes delight in his people.
 

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THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2021
“The Holy Spirit is like a strong and freely flowing wind; that is, he brings us strength and brings us freedom: a strong and freely flowing wind. He cannot be controlled, stopped, nor measured; nor can his direction be foreseen. He cannot be understood within our human exigencies – we always try to frame things – He does not let Himself be framed in our methods and our preconceptions. The Spirit proceeds from God the Father and from his Son Jesus Christ and bursts upon the Church; he bursts upon each one of us, giving life to our minds and our hearts.”
Pope Francis

 Thursday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Psalm 33
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
    with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
Sing to him a new song;
    pluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made.
For 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.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made.
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.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made.
Let all the earth fear the Lord;
    let all who dwell in the world revere him.
For he spoke, and it was made;
    he commanded, and it stood forth.
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 2021
“The Gospel passage (Mk 16:15-20) — the conclusion of the Gospel of Mark — presents us with the Risen One’s final encounter with the disciples before He ascends to the right hand of the Father. Usually, as we know, farewell scenes are sad. They cause a feeling of loss, of abandonment in those who remain; instead, none of this happens to the disciples. Despite their separation from the Lord, they do not appear grief-stricken, but rather, they are joyful and ready to go out into the world as missionaries.”
Pope Francis

Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest
Psalm 79
Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindness.
Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;
    may your compassion quickly come to us,
    for we are brought very low.
Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindness.
Help us, O God our savior,
    because of the glory of your name;
Deliver us and pardon our sins
    for your name’s sake.
Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindness.
Let the prisoners’ sighing come before you;
    with your great power free those doomed to death.
Then we, your people and the sheep of your pasture,
    will give thanks to you forever;
    through all generations we will declare your praise.
Show us, O Lord, the light of your kindness.

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TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021
“Prayer works miracles, because prayer goes directly to the heart of the tenderness of God, who loves us like a father. And when he does not grant us a grace, he will grant us another that in time we will see. But always, it is necessary to battle in prayer to ask for grace. Yes, at times we ask for a grace we do not need, but we ask for it without truly wanting it, without fighting. But serious things are not asked for this way. Prayer is combat, and the Lord is always with us.”
Pope Francis

Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Psalm 50
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Gather my faithful ones before me,
    those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”
And the heavens proclaim his justice;
    for God himself is the judge.
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Hear, my people, and I will speak;
    Israel, I will testify against you;
    God, your God, am I.
Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you,
    for your burnt offerings are before me always.”
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Offer to God praise as your sacrifice
    and fulfill your vows to the Most High.
He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies me;
    and to him that goes the right way I will show the salvation of God.”
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

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MONDAY, MAY 24, 2021
“One must learn to always walk. True progress in spiritual life does not consist in multiplying ecstasies, but in being able to persevere in difficult times: walk, walk, walk on…. and if you are tired, stop a bit and then start walking again. But with perseverance.”
Pope Francis

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
Psalm 87
Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
    the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
    more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.
Glorious things are said of you,
    O city of God!
And of Zion they shall say:
    “One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
    is the Most High LORD.”
Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
    “This man was born there.”
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
    “My home is within you.”
Glorious things are told of you, O city of God.

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SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2021
“In the last hours of His life, Jesus prays. In those sorrowful moments, as He prepares to take leave of His disciples and this world, Jesus prays for His friends. Even though He bears in His heart and in His flesh all the sin of the world, Jesus continues to love us and pray for us. From His prayer, we learn how to deal with dramatic and painful moments in our own lives. Let us think about one particular word that Jesus uses in His prayer to Father: it is the word “keep”. Dear brothers and sisters… let us ask ourselves: what we are being called to keep?... In the first place, to keep the faith. We need to keep the faith lest we yield to grief or plunge into the despair of those who no longer see a way out… Second, to keep unity. Jesus asks the Father to preserve the unity of his disciples, so that they may be “completely one” (Jn 17:21), one family in which love and fraternity reign… Finally, and third, we are called to keep the truth… Keeping the truth does not mean defending ideas, becoming guardians of a system of doctrines and dogmas, but remaining bound to Christ and being devoted to his Gospel.”
Pope Francis

Pentecost Sunday
Psalm 104
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!
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
    the earth is full of your creatures.
Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
    may the LORD be glad in his works!
Pleasing to him be my theme;
    I will be glad in the LORD.
Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

If you take away their breath, they perish
    and return to their dust
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
    and you renew the face of the earth.
Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

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FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021
“All Godly men and women report not only the joy of prayer, but also the tediousness and fatigue it can bring: at times it is a difficult struggle to keep to the time and ways of praying... Silence, prayer and concentration are difficult exercises, and sometimes human nature rebels. We would rather be anywhere else in the world, but not there, in that church pew, praying. Those who want to pray must remember that faith is not easy, and sometimes it moves forward in almost total darkness, without points of reference. There are moments in the life of faith that are dark… But I continue to pray.”
Pope Francis

Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Psalm 103
The Lord has established his throne in heaven.

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
    and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
    so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he put our transgressions from us.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven.

The LORD has established his throne in heaven, 
    and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, all you his angels,
    you mighty in strength, who do his bidding.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven.
 

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THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021
“Christian prayer, like all Christian life, is not a “walk in the park.” … Yes, one can pray like a parrot — blah, blah, blah, blah, blah — but this is not prayer. Prayer certainly gives great peace, but through inner struggle, sometimes difficult, which can accompany even long periods of life Praying is not something easy, and this is why we flee from it. Every time we want to pray, we are immediately reminded of many other activities, which at that moment seem more important and more urgent. This happens to me too… Almost always, after putting off prayer, we realize that those things were not essential at all, and that we may have wasted time.”
Pope Francis

Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Psalm 16
Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
    I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
    you it is who hold fast my lot. 
Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

I bless the LORD who counsels me;
    even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
    with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
    my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
    nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

You will show me the path to life,
    fullness of joys in your presence,
    the delights at your right hand forever.
Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
 

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 2021
“To love like Christ means saying ‘no’ to other ‘loves’ that the world offers us: love of money, love of success, vanity… These deceptive paths of “love” distance us from the Lord’s love and lead us to become more and more selfish, narcissistic, overbearing. And being overbearing leads to a degeneration of love, to abuse others, to making our loved ones suffer… To love as the Lord loves us means to appreciate the people beside us, to respect their freedom, to love them as they are, not as we want them to be, gratuitously. Ultimately, Jesus asks us to abide in His love, to dwell in His love, not in our ideas, not in our own self-worship. Those who dwell in self-worship live in the mirror: always looking at themselves… Opening our heart to others, this is love, giving ourselves to others.”
Pope Francis

Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Psalm 68
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

Show forth, O God, your power,
    the power, O God, with which you took our part;
For your temple in Jerusalem
    let the kings bring you gifts.
Sing to God, O Kingdoms of the earth. 

You kingdoms of the earth, sing to God,
    chant praise to the Lord
    who rides on the heights of the ancient heavens.
Behold, his voice resounds, the voice of power:
    “Confess the power of God!”
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

Over Israel is his majesty;
    his power is in the skies.
Awesome in his sanctuary is God, the God of Israel;
    he gives power and strength to his people.
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

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TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021
“Jesus told us: “That my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” And the Lord wants that the joy He possesses, because He is in complete communion with the Father, to be in us insofar as we are united to Him. The joy of knowing we are loved by God despite our infidelities enables us to face the trials of life confidently, makes us live through crises so as to emerge from them better. Our being true witnesses consists in living this joy, because joy is the distinctive sign of a true Christian. True Christians are not sad; they always have that joy inside, even in difficult moments.”
Pope Francis

Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Psalm 68
 
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.
A bountiful rain you showered down, O God, upon your inheritance;
    you restored the land when it languished;
Your flock settled in it;
    in your goodness, O God, you provided it for the needy.
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

Blessed day by day be the Lord,
    who bears our burdens; God, who is our salvation.
God is a saving God for us;
    the LORD, my Lord, controls the passageways of death. 
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

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MONDAY, MAY 17, 2021

“To love as Jesus means to offer yourself in service, at the service of your brothers and sisters, as He did in washing the feet of the disciples. It also means going outside of ourselves, detaching ourselves from our own human certainties, from earthly comforts, in order to open ourselves up to others, especially those in greater need. It means making ourselves available, as we are and with what we have. This means to love not in word but in deeds.”
Pope Francis

Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Psalm 68
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

God arises; his enemies are scattered,
    and those who hate him flee before him.
As smoke is driven away, so are they driven;
    as wax melts before the fire. 
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

But the just rejoice and exult before God;
    they are glad and rejoice.
Sing to God, chant praise to his name;
    whose name is the LORD. 
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

The father of orphans and the defender of widows
    is God in his holy dwelling.
God gives a home to the forsaken;
    he leads forth prisoners to prosperity.
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth.

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SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2021
“I invite all men and women in our world to make good use of the gifts that the Lord has entrusted to us to preserve and make His creation even more beautiful… In order to ensure the proper care of our common home, we must become a “we” that is ever wider and more co-responsible, in the profound conviction that whatever good is done in our world is done for present and future generations. Ours must be a personal and collective commitment that cares for all our brothers and sisters who continue to suffer… A commitment that makes no distinction between natives and foreigners, between residents and guests, since it is a matter of a treasure we hold in common, from whose care and benefits no one should be excluded.”
Pope Francis

Seventh Sunday of Easter
Psalm 103
The Lord has set his throne in heaven.

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
    and all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits.
The Lord has set his throne in heaven.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
    so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he put our transgressions from us.
The Lord has set his throne in heaven.

The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
    and his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the LORD, all you his angels,
    you mighty in strength, who do his bidding.
The Lord has set his throne in heaven.

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SATURDAY, MAY 15, 2021
“What is born of prayer and not from the presumption of our ego, what is purified by humility, even if it is a hidden and silent act of love, is the greatest miracle that a Christian can perform… This act of love in silent dialogue with Jesus does so much good for the Church.”
Pope Francis

Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Psalm 47
God is king of all the earth.

All you peoples, clap your hands;
    shout to God with cries of gladness.
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
    is the great king over all the earth.
God is king of all the earth.

For king of all the earth is God;
    sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
    God sits upon his holy throne. 
God is king of all the earth.

The princes of the peoples are gathered together
    with the people of the God of Abraham.
For God’s are the guardians of the earth;
    he is supreme. 
God is king of all the earth.

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FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2021
“I look at him and he looks at me!” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2715) It is like this: loving contemplation, typical of the most intimate prayer, does not need many words. A gaze is enough. It is enough to be convinced that our life is surrounded by an immense and faithful love that nothing can ever separate us from. Jesus was a master of this gaze. His life never lacked the time, space, silence, the loving communion that allows one’s existence not to be devastated by the inevitable trials, but to maintain beauty intact. His secret was His relationship with His heavenly Father.”
Pope Francis

Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle
Psalm 113
The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.

Praise, you servants of the LORD,
    praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD
    both now and forever.
The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.

From the rising to the setting of the sun
    is the name of the LORD to be praised.
High above all nations is the LORD;
    above the heavens is his glory.
The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.

Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high
    and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?
The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.

He raises up the lowly from the dust;
    from the dunghill he lifts up the poor
To seat them with princes,
    with the princes of his own people.
The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people.

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THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021
“We can contemplate by gazing at the sun that rises in the morning, or at the trees that deck themselves out in spring green; we can contemplate by listening to music or to the sounds of the birds, reading a book, gazing at a work of art or at that masterpiece that is the human face…. First of all to contemplate is not a way of doing, but a way of being. To be contemplative. And being contemplative does not depend on the eyes, but on the heart.”
Pope Francis

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord
Psalm 47
God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
All you peoples, clap your hands,
    shout to God with cries of gladness,
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
    is the great king over all the earth.
God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:  a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
    the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
    sing praise to our king, sing praise.
God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:  a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
r king of all the earth is God;
    sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
    God sits upon his holy throne.
God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:  a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 2021
“The Lord wants to tell us that before the observance of His commandments, before the beatitudes, before works of mercy, it is necessary to be united to Him, to abide in Him. We cannot be good Christians if we do not abide in Jesus… The fruitfulness of our life depends on prayer… Let us entrust ourselves to the intercession of the Virgin Mary. She always remained completely united to Jesus and bore much fruit. May she help us abide in Christ, in His love, in His word, to bear witness to the Risen Lord in the world.”
Pope Francis

Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Psalm 148
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Praise the LORD from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights.
Praise him, all you his angels;
    praise him, all you his hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,
    the princes and all the judges of the earth,
Young men too, and maidens,
    old men and boys.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Praise the name of the LORD,
    for his name alone is exalted;
His majesty is above earth and heaven.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

He has lifted up the horn of his people;
Be this his praise from all his faithful ones,
    from the children of Israel, the people close to him. 
    Alleluia.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

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TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2021
“Every moment of Jesus’ earthly life, through the grace of prayer, can become immediate to us, thanks to the Holy Spirit… And thanks to the Holy Spirit, we too are present at the River Jordan when Jesus immerses himself to receive baptism. We too are guests at the wedding at Cana, when Jesus gives the best wine for the happiness of the couple, that is, it is the Holy Spirit who connects us with these mysteries of the life of Christ because in contemplation of Jesus we experience prayer, to join us more closely to Him.”
Pope Francis

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Psalm 138
Your right hand saves me, O Lord.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
    for you have heard the words of my mouth;
    in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple,
    and give thanks to your name.
Your right hand saves me, O Lord.

Because of your kindness and your truth,
    you have made great above all things
    your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
    you built up strength within me.
Your right hand saves me, O Lord.

Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
    your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
    forsake not the work of your hands.
Your right hand saves me, O Lord.

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MONDAY, MAY 10, 2021
“My thoughts turn to the elderly, to young people, to the sick and to newlyweds. May you be courageous witnesses of the Risen Christ who shows his disciples the now glorious wounds of his Passion. I offer my blessing to you all!”
Pope Francis

Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Psalm 149
The Lord takes delight in his people.

Sing to the LORD a new song
    of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
    let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
The Lord takes delight in his people.

Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
    let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
    and he adorns the lowly with victory.
The Lord takes delight in his people.

Let the faithful exult in glory;
    let them sing for joy upon their couches.
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
    This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
The Lord takes delight in his people.

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SUNDAY, MAY 9, 2021
“If an experience of prayer gives us inner peace, or self-mastery, or clarity about the path to take, these results are, so to speak, side effects of the grace of Christian prayer, which is the encounter with Jesus. That is, meditating means going to the encounter with Jesus, guided by a phrase or a word from Holy Scripture.”
Pope Francis

Sixth Sunday of Easter
Psalm 98
The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
    for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
    his holy arm.
The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

The LORD has made his salvation known:
    in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
    toward the house of Israel.
The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

All the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
    break into song; sing praise.
The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

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SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2021
“In the month of May, the month of Mary, 8 May, I look towards Luján. May memory be your guide… because strong memory guarantees a sure future. Remember all that the Virgin has accomplished in your homeland. Let yourselves be accompanied by Her, and accompany her in her journey. May God bless you all and may the Virgin keep you. And please, do not forget to pray for me.”
Pope Francis

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Psalm 100
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
    serve the LORD with gladness;
    come before him with joyful song.
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

Know that the LORD is God;
    he made us, his we are;
    his people, the flock he tends.
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

The LORD is good:
    his kindness endures forever,
    and his faithfulness, to all generations.
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

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FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021
“We join together in prayer with all the sanctuaries spread throughout the whole world, with the faithful, and with all persons of good will, to entrust into the hands of our Holy Mother the whole human race, sorely tried by this period of pandemic. Every day of this month of May we will entrust to You, Mother of Mercy, the many people who have been touched by the virus and continue to suffer its consequences; from our deceased brothers and sisters, to families who experience the pain and uncertainty of tomorrow; from the sick to doctors, scientists, nurses, engaged in the front line in this battle; from volunteers to all professionals who have given their precious service in favor of others; from people in mourning and grief to those who, with a simple smile and a good word, brought comfort to those in need; from those – especially women – who have suffered violence at home due to forced closure, to those who wish to resume the pace of daily life with enthusiasm. Mother of Help, welcome us under your mantle and protect us, support us in the hour of trial and kindle the light of hope for the future in our hearts.”
Pope Francis

Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Psalm 57
I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.

My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast;
    I will sing and chant praise.
Awake, O my soul; awake, lyre and harp!
    I will wake the dawn.
I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.

I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O LORD,
    I will chant your praise among the nations.
For your mercy towers to the heavens,
    and your faithfulness to the skies.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
    above all the earth be your glory!
I will give you thanks among the peoples, O Lord.

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THURSDAY, MAY 6, 2021
“The practice of meditation has received a great deal of attention in recent years. It is not only Christians who talk about it: the practice of meditation exists in almost all the world’s religions… We all need to meditate, to reflect, to discover ourselves, it is a human dynamic… Here, then, is the image of young people and adults sitting in recollection, in silence, with eyes half closed... It is a phenomenon to be looked on favorably. Indeed, we are not made for rushing all the time, we have an inner life that cannot always be trampled on. Meditating is therefore a need for everyone. Meditating, so to speak, is like stopping and taking a breath in life.”
Pope Francis

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Psalm 96
Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Sing to the LORD a new song;
    sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
    among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
    he governs the peoples with equity.
Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021
“We should all have the humility of certain elderly people who, in church, perhaps because their hearing is no longer acute, recite quietly the prayers they learned as children, filling the nave with whispers. That prayer does not disturb the silence, but testifies their fidelity to the duty of prayer, practiced throughout their lives without fail. These practitioners of humble prayer are often the great intercessors in parishes: they are the oaks that from year to year spread their branches to offer shade to the greatest number of people. Only God knows when and how much their hearts have been united to those prayers they recited: surely these people too had to face nights and moments of emptiness. But one can always remain faithful to vocal prayer. It is like an anchor: one can hold on to the rope and remain, faithful, come what may.”
Pope Francis

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter
Psalm 122
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

I rejoiced because they said to me,
    “We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
    within your gates, O Jerusalem.
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

Jerusalem, built as a city
    with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
    the tribes of the LORD.
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
    to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
    seats for the house of David.
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

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TUESDAY, MAY 4, 2021
“Let us pray that those in charge of finance will work with governments to regulate the financial sphere and protect citizens from its dangers.”
Pope Francis

Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter
Psalm 145
Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
    and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
    and speak of your might.
Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Making known to men your might
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages,
    and your dominion endures through all generations.
Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

May my mouth speak the praise of the LORD,
    and may all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

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MONDAY, MAY 3, 2021
“Prayer is dialogue with God… Within the human being, prayer becomes word, invocation, hymn, poetry… Words are born from feelings, but there is also the reverse path, whereby words shape feelings. The Bible educates people to ensure that everything comes to light through the word, that nothing human is excluded, censored. Above all, pain is dangerous if it stays hidden, closed up within us... Pain that is closed up within us, that cannot express or give vent to itself, can poison the soul. It is deadly.”
Pope Francis

Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles
Psalm 19
Their message goes out through all the earth.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
    and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day;
    and night to night imparts knowledge.
Their message goes out through all the earth.

Not a word nor a discourse
    whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
    and to the ends of the world, their message.
 Their message goes out through all the earth.

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SUNDAY, MAY 2, 2021
“My thoughts turn to the elderly, to young people, to the sick and to newlyweds. During this Easter Season, which invites us to meditate on the mystery of Christ’s Resurrection, may the glory of the Lord be for each of us a wellspring of new energy in the journey towards salvation. I offer my blessing to you all!”
Pope Francis

Fifth Sunday of Easter
Psalm 22
I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

I will fulfill my vows before those who fear the LORD.
    The lowly shall eat their fill;
they who seek the LORD shall praise him:
    “May your hearts live forever!”
I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

All the ends of the earth
    shall remember and turn to the LORD;
all the families of the nations
    shall bow down before him.
I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

To him alone shall bow down
    all who sleep in the earth;
before him shall bend
    all who go down into the dust. 
I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

And to him my soul shall live;
    my descendants shall serve him.
Let the coming generation be told of the LORD
    that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born
    the justice he has shown.
I will praise you, Lord, in the assembly of your people.

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SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021
“Christ’s love is not selective; it embraces everyone… He is everyone’s shepherd. Jesus wants everyone to be able to receive the Father’s love and encounter God. And the Church is called to carry on this mission of Christ. Beyond those who participate in our communities, there is the majority, many people, who do so only at particular moments or never. But this does not mean they are not God’s children: the Father entrusts everyone to Jesus the Good Shepherd, and He gave His life for everyone. Brothers and sisters, Jesus defends, knows and loves us, everyone.”
Pope Francis

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Psalm 98
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
    for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
    his holy arm.
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

The LORD has made his salvation known:
    in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
    toward the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

All the ends of the earth have seen
    the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
    break into song; sing praise.
All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

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