Category Archives: Feasts & Solemnities

Daily Mass: The Lord calls us to do his work today. Catholic Inspiration

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After his night vigil in prayer, the Lord calls forth from his disciples twelve Apostles by name to carry out his work.

Mass Readings – Feast of Simon & Jude, Apostles (#666)

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Catholic Inspiration Archives

St. Simon & Jude, pray for us!


Study, Pray, Serve: All Souls

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There are abundant selections for the Feast of All Souls, and depending on the Mass you attend you may hear any one of the following:

Old Testament

  • Wisdom 3:1-9 “The souls of the just are in the hands of God…”
  • Wisdom 4:7-15 “The just man, though he die early, shall be at rest.”
  • Isaiah 25:6-9 “On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide…”

Responsorial Psalm

  • 23 “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.”
  • 25 “To you, O Lord, I lift my soul”
  • 27 “The Lord is my light and my salvation”

New Testament

  • Romans 5:5-11 “Hope does not disappoint…”
  • Romans 5:17-21 “Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more…”
  • Romans 6:3-9 “As Christ was raised…we too might live…”
  • Romans 8:14-23 “Those led by the Spirit of God and sons of God…”
  • Romans 8:31b-35,37-39 “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
  • Romans 14:7-9,10c-12 “If we live, we live for the Lord…”
  • 1st Corinthians 15:20-28 “Christ has been raised from the dead…”
  • 1st Corinthians 15:51-57 “Behold, I tell you a mystery…”
  • 2nd Corinthians 4:14-5:1 “We have a building from God…”
  • 2nd Corinthians 5:1,6-10 “We are courageous…”
  • Philippians 3:20-21 “Our citizenship is in heaven…”
  • 1st Thessalonians 4:13-18 “We believe that Jesus died and rose…’
  • 2nd Timothy 2:8-13 “If we have died with him, we shall live with him…”

Gospel

  • Matthew 5:1-12a “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”
  • Matthew 11:25-30 “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened…”
  • Matthew 25:31-46 “As a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”
  • Luke 7:11-17 “Young man, I tell you, arise!”
  • Luke 23:44ff; 24:1-6a “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
  • Luke 24:13-16,28-35 “The Lord has truly been raised…!”
  • John 5:24-29 “Whoever hears my word and believes…has eternal life.”
  • John 6:37-40 “I shall raise him up on the last day.”
  • John 6:51-59 “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.”
  • John 11:17-27 “I am the resurrection and the life…”
  • John 11:32-45 “Lazarus, come out!”
  • John 14:1-6 “I am the way, and the truth and the life…”

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

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Catholic Inspiration Archives


Daily Mass: Jesus shows us how to live our faith in the world. Catholic Inspiration

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Jesus sends out seventy-two disciples to prepare people for his coming, and he shows them how they are to live and act in a practical and powerful way.

Mass Readings – St. Luke the Evangelist (#661)

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Catholic Inspiration Archives

St. Luke the Evangelist, pray for us!


Daily Mass: Angel of God, my guardian dear! Catholic Inspiration

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On this feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, we call upon the heavenly help that God provides “to light and guard, to rule and guide” as we journey through this life.

Mass Readings – Holy Guardian Angels (#458/650)

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Catholic Inspiration Archives

Holy Guardian Angels, pray for us!


Daily Mass: The sorrow of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Catholic Inspiration

On this Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, we recall how Mary’s steadfast trust in God empowered her to be present to Christ, even in the midst of overwhelming grief.

Mass Readings – Our Lady of Sorrows (#443/639)

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Catholic Inspiration Archives

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us!


The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

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In the midst of several recent high profile murders we gaze at the Cross of Christ, whose triumph inspires us to humbly engage one another with charity.

Mass Readings – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (#638)

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Catholic Inspiration Archives


Daily Mass: The example of Joseph and Mary inspires us to follow the Lord. Catholic Inspiration

On this Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we see in the example of the Holy Family an invitation to follow the Lord with all our heart and soul.

Mass Readings – Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (#636)

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Catholic Inspiration Archives

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!


Study, Pray, Serve: Exaltation of the Holy Cross

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Here are some of the themes that we find in the Mass Readings for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

1st Reading – Numbers 21:4b-9

  • Filled with impatience, the people complain against God and Moses about the wretched food.
  • In punishment God sends saraph serpents that bite the people and many die.
  • After the people pray for forgiveness, Moses makes a bronze serpent which he fixes on a pole, and those that gaze upon it will live.

Psalm – 78:1-2,34-38

  • “Do not forget the works of the Lord!”
  • The psalm recalls God’s might, and how the people often strayed.

2nd Reading – Philippians 2:6-11

  • Jesus “empties himself” and takes on our human form and weakness, even to death on a cross.
  • Because of this, God exalted him, and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Gospel – John 3:13-17

  • Jesus tells Nicodemus that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
  • “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…!”

Mass Readings – Exaltation of the Holy Cross (#638)


Daily Mass: The passion of John the Baptist

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The death of John the Baptist reveals the wickedness of our world, reminding us to hold fast to our faith in Christ when we encounter the stark reality of evil in our lives.

Mass Readings – The Passion of John the Baptist (#429/634)

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Catholic Inspiration Archives

St. John the Baptist, pray for us!


The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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Mary’s proclamation of praise inspires us to rejoice in the saving power of God at work in our lives.

Mass Readings – Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (#622)

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Catholic Inspiration Archives

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!