and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Mark 6:13
The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. The Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated on October 7. October falls during the liturgical season known as Ordinary Time, which is represented by the liturgical color green. This symbol of hope is the color of the sprouting seed and arouses in the faithful the hope of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven, especially the hope of a glorious resurrection. It is used in the offices and Masses of Ordinary Time.
The Holy Father’s Intentions for the Month of October 2020
Prayer to St. Raphael
for Help and Protection against the Corona Virus
Holy St. Raphael allow this healing balm, healing oil that was blessed in Heaven to flow through my entire body and touch every organ and heal me of any known and unknown ailments, then + bless yourself with the oil +, St. Raphael protect us from any diseases, plagues, chastisements, flus coming upon the earth. Amen.
(You can also place a cross of the oil, above your doorposts and windows. It is used as a healing balm and/or a protection against evil and pestilence.)
The feast day of Raphael was included for the first time in the General Roman Calendar in 1921, for celebration on October 24. With the 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar, the feast was transferred to September 29 for celebration together with archangels Saints Michael and Gabriel. Holy Raphael pray for us!
ORDINARY TIME OCTOBER 24
Saturday of the Twenty-Ninth Week of Ordinary Time; Optional Memorial of St. Anthony Claret, bishop
Today the Church celebrates the optional memorial of St. Anthony Claret, bishop, the founder of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Anthony Mary Claret died in the Cistercian monastery at Fontfroide in France on this date in 1870. He was canonized in 1950 and listed in the Roman Calendar in 1960.
According to the 1962 Missal of St. John XXIII the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite, today is the feast of St. Raphael, the Archangel. In the Ordinary Form this feast is celebrated on September 29 with two other archangels, St. Michael and St. Gabriel.
St. Anthony Claret
Anthony was born at Salent in the Diocese of Vich in Catalonia, Spain, in the year in which Napoleon invaded Spain. He was trained for manual labor, since his father was a weaver, but in 1829 he entered the seminary at Vich. Ordained to the priesthood in 1835, he was assigned as pastor in his home parish. Later he went to Rome to work for the Propagation of the Faith. He also entered the novitiate of the Jesuits but had to leave because of ill health, so he returned to Spain and was assigned as pastor of a parish. His apostolate consisted of rural preaching, conferences for the clergy and publications (he wrote more than 150 books). Because of his successful apostolate he aroused the animosity of some of the clergy and as a result he left Catalonia for the Canary Islands (1848). After a year he returned to Catalonia and resumed his preaching apostolate.
In 1849 Anthony gathered together five priests who formed the basis of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (popularly known as Claretians). At the suggestion of the Queen of Spain, Isabella II, Anthony was named archbishop of Santiago, Cuba (1850). For the next seven years he made pastoral visitations, preached against the slavery of the Negroes, and regularized numerous marriages. As a result of his activity he was frequently threatened with death and on one occasion an attempt was actually made on his life. In 1857 he was recalled to Spain as confessor to the queen. In this way he was able to exert some influence in the naming of bishops, set up a center of ecclesiastical studies at the Escorial, and work towards the recognition of religious orders in Spain. In 1869 he was in Rome, preparing for the First Vatican Council. He followed Isabella II into exile and at the insistence of the Spanish ambassador, was placed under house arrest in the Cistercian monastery at Fontfroide, where he died at the age of 63. His remains were ultimately returned to Vich.
Excerpted from Saints of the Roman Calendar by Enzo Lodi
Patron: Catholic press; Claretians; Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; weavers; savings banks; foundations.
Things to Do:
- Read more about the life of St. Anthony Mary Claret, Autobiography of St. Anthony Mary Claret or order The Autobiography of St. Anthony Mary Claret: Priest, missionary, archbishop, and founder of the Congregation of Missionaries, Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and read his own words.
- St. Anthony was interested in the Catholic press, and the Claretians continue the publishing apostolate. Every Catholic home should have a healthy collection of good Catholic books, both for young and old, and these should be read and displayed prominently;
- St. Anthony spoke at Vatican Council I. Learn more about this Church council and its teaching on papal infallibility in particular.
MASS READINGS
October 24, 2020 (Readings on USCCB website)
COLLECT PRAYER
Almighty ever-living God, grant that we may always conform our will to yours and serve your majesty in sincerity of heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
O God, who for the evangelization of peoples strengthened the Bishop Saint Anthony Mary Claret with admirable charity and long-suffering, grant, through his intercession, that, seeking the things that are yours, we may earnestly devote ourselves to winning our brothers and sisters for Christ. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Daily Meditation: Ephesians 4:7-16
. . . to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:12)
Perhaps you zipped through this reading and thought, “This doesn’t apply to me. I’m not an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, a teacher.” Think again! It might not be your role to stand at the pulpit to instruct a congregation, but every person in the body of Christ is a teacher as well as a learner. Each of us has our own unique expertise in both practical and spiritual matters. Each of us is meant to use our gifts to equip and build up our brothers and sisters in Christ.
How can we be teachers? Maybe you’re computer savvy, and a friend or family member has asked you how to do something online. It’s tempting to say, “Sure, that’s easy” and proceed to outline a series of steps or, quicker still, to click icons one after another yourself until the task is accomplished. It takes far longer to have your friend do the navigation himself as you look on, offering only the instruction or encouragement he needs at that moment.
But which method better equips him to do the work the next time a similar challenge arises? Sharing your expertise by walking alongside him as he performs the tasks himself will give him the long-term skills he needs. That’s what a good teacher does. And that’s what equipping the body of Christ looks like.
Your aptitudes or experiences are necessary to build up the Church. So recognize your gifts. Maybe you have children and have learned from experience how to run a household. Maybe you are handy around the house. Or perhaps you have studied Scripture and can share your insights. Even if your skills don’t seem all that impressive to you, you can be a wonderful teacher of love.
Don’t disparage the value of what you can teach. Remember, it takes all of us working together to come to the “full stature of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). You are an integral part of the body of Christ. You have been blessed by God, and he wants you to share those blessings with your brothers and sisters.
“Lord, I offer you my gifts. Help me build up your people today.”
Psalm 122:1-5
Luke 13:1-
Ephesians 4:7-16; Psalm 122:1-2,3-4ab,4cd-5; Luke 13:1-9
IF WE DO NOT REPENT, WE WILL PERISH
“But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” (Luke 13:3)
▪Most times when misfortunes happen to people, there is a tendency not to be concerned about them, simply because we are not the victims; and we go about our normal businesses as usual. Many have died of the COVID-19, some have died in natural disasters like earthquakes, fire outbreaks, hurricanes and others.
~ These victims by no means were not the worst of all creatures; sometimes they are humanly speaking, better people than us, but their lives witnessed mishaps.
~ In the midst of crises facing the world at the moment, which have claimed so many lives, we are being encouraged to think about how we should seek the face of God now.
▪Misfortunes do not happen to people because they are bad, nor do fortunes come to people because they are good. These things happen in line with the plans of God for us. When we are with God, in the midst of misfortunes of our lives, we will still find fortunes because everything will always work for our good, (c.f. Romans 8:28). Do not be carried away by false teachings that tell us that if we repent there will be no more crosses.
~ The only truthful thing is that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, (c.f. Hebrews 13:8) and His teaching remains immutable.
~ Now that we are in a time of great dictatorship of relativism carrying many into the sea of confusions, St. Antony Mary Claret reminds us that “Christian perfection consists in three things: praying heroically, working heroically and suffering heroically.”
▪Dear friend, the atmosphere is fully charged now with frustrations, anger, hatred, vengeance and violence. We can never achieve a better society with these vices; unless we give love a chance in our lives, we may be heading to perdition. None of these vices offer positive values to our lives; we do not need them.
~ May God give us the grace to seek out for the things that will heal the society more than those that destroy it. Through Christ our Lord. Amen
“A son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary… is a man who unceasingly expends himself to light the fire of divine love in the world. Nothing stops him.” St. Antony Mary Claret
May St. Antony Mary Claret pray for us today
May God heal the wounds in the hearts of families that have lost their loved ones in this trying time of our history. May the departed rest in peace!
God bless you
Fr Joseph Chukwugozie Ikegbunam
Holy Days for 2020*
- Wednesday, January 1, 2020 – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
- Thursday, May 21, 2020– Ascension of the Lord – a holy day of obligation
- Saturday, August 15, 2020 – Assumption of Mary – a holy day of obligation
- Sunday, November 1, 2020 – All Saints –
- Tuesday, December 8, 2020 – Immaculate Conception – a holy day of obligation
- Friday, December 25, 2020 – Christmas – always a holy day
- Friday, January 1, 2021 – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
*Whenever January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, or August 15, the Solemnity of the Assumption, or November 1, the Solemnity of All Saints, falls on a Saturday or on a Monday, the precept to attend Mass is abrogated.
Other important liturgical days:
- Ash Wednesday: February 26, 2020
- Palm Sunday: April 5, 2020
- Holy Thursday: April 9, 2020
- Good Friday: April 10, 2020
- Easter Sunday: April 12, 2020
- Pentecost Sunday: May 31 , 2020
- The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ: Sunday,June 14, 2020
- The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: Friday, June 19, 2020
- First Sunday of Advent: November 29, 2020
St. Raphael the Archangel whose name means “Medicine of God” or “God heals” in Hebrew; is one of the seven Archangels that stand before the throne of GOD.
“I am Raphael, one of the seven who stand before the Lord.” [Tob. 12: 15]When we pray for his help he intercedes directly to God the Father. He is one of the three angels mentioned by name in holy scripture. St. Raphael appears in the deutero-canonical Book of Tobit, a beautiful narrative in the Old Testament.
He heals Tobit of blindness, he protects and guides Tobias on his travels and he delivers Sarah from an evil demon. Tobit, Tobias and Sarah were beset by trials and difficulties to purify them, but they remained steadfast in their faith during the period of testing, and eventually enjoyed God’s blessings and mercy. All prayed for deliverance and God sent St. Raphael. The longest recorded speech of an angel is Chapter 12 of the Book of Tobit.
He is the healing and deliverance Archangel, and the patron of travelers, the blind, bodily ills, nurses, physicians,medical workers, happy meetings and marriages.
The feast day of Raphael was included for the first time in the General Roman Calendar in 1921, for celebration on October 24. With the 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar, the feast was transferred to September 29 for celebration together with archangels Saints Michael and Gabriel.
+We continue to propagate the Tuesday devotion to Holy Raphael, please pray for his intercession on Tuesdays.+
Glorious Archangel St. Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners.I beg you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels. Because you are the “medicine of God” I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body. I especially ask of you the favor (here mention your special intention), and the great grace of purity to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
- Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
- Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
- Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
- Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
- Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.”
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with Thee;
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death. Amen
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. And the Word was made Flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
LET US PRAY
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
May the Divine assistance remain always with us and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
When prayed in a group setting a leader recites the verses and everyone recites both the responses and the Hail Mary’s in between each verse, as shown above.
Although the Angelus has been traditionally said three times daily, at 6 am, noon and 6 pm, you can pray it at anytime especially at NOON. It is still accompanied by the ringing of a bell (the Angelus bell) in some places such as Vatican City and parts of Germany and Ireland.
Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His angels and in His Saints.
May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen
PRAYER TO THE INFANT OF PRAGUEO Infant of Prague, who said, “The more you honor me, the more I will bless you,” give us the strength to bear the burden of daily life in this sinful world. Give us a firm purpose of amendment and a resolve to lead a better life. Help us endure our afflictions and sorrows with patience and courage. Finally, O beloved Infant King if it be your will grant my petition (mention petition here). But whatever you choose, give me the strength to submit to your will in all things. Amen.
HEALING PRAYERLORD, JESUS CHRIST, I AM DEEPLY SORRY FOR MY SINS. HAVE MERCY ON ME. In Your name, JESUS, I ask You for the grace to forgive myself. I ask your forgiveness for hurting others. I ask for the grace to forgive all those who have hurt me in this life, and especially the one person who has hurt me the most. I renounce forever Satan, ALL the evil spirits and all their works. I give you my entire self Lord JESUS, now and forever, you are my Lord, God, SAVIOR AND REDEEMER. Please heal me, change me, strengthen me in body, mind and spirit for my greater service in Your Kingdom. Allow me to lead other souls to You through my good example. JESUS I trust in you! Come Lord JESUS, cover me with Your most precious blood, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit, I praise You, I thank You, I glorify Your name, JESUS. I love You JESUS WITH MY WHOLE HEART, SOUL, MIND, BODY AND MY WHOLE BEING. O’ Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with Holy Raphael the Archangel and all the holy Angels and Saints, pray for us! Amen
Holy Raphael says in Chapter 12 in the
BOOK OF TOBIT 12:7-10
7 A king’s secret it is prudent to keep, but the works of God are to be declared and made known. Praise them with due honor. Do good, and evil will not find its way to you.
8 Prayer and fasting are good, but better than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than abundance with wickedness. It is better to give alms than to store up gold;
- 10 but those habitually guilty of sin are their own worst enemies.
We must work in the Vineyard and
not return to GOD with empty hands!
THE CORPORAL ACTS
- To feed the hungry;
- To give drink to the thirsty;
- To clothe the naked;
- To visit the imprisoned;
- To visit the sick;
- To shelter the homeless;
- To bury the dead.
- To instruct the ignorant;
- To counsel the doubtful;
- To admonish the sinner;
- To bear wrongs patiently;
- To forgive offences willingly;
- To comfort the sorrowful;
- To pray for the living and the dead.
| 44 Messianic Prophecies of Jesus | |||
| Prophecies of Jesus | Old Testament Scripture | New Testament Fulfillment | |
| 1 | Messiah would be born of a woman. | Genesis 3:15 | Matthew 1:20 Galatians 4:4 |
| 2 | Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. | Micah 5:2 | Matthew 2:1 Luke 2:4-6 |
| 3 | Messiah would be born of a virgin. | Isaiah 7:14 | Matthew 1:22-23 Luke 1:26-31 |
| 4 | Messiah would come from the line ofAbraham. | Genesis 12:3 Genesis 22:18 | Matthew 1:1 Romans 9:5 |
| 5 | Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac. | Genesis 17:19 Genesis 21:12 | Luke 3:34 |
| 6 | Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob. | Numbers 24:17 | Matthew 1:2 |
| 7 | Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah. | Genesis 49:10 | Luke 3:33 Hebrews 7:14 |
| 8 | Messiah would be heir to King David’s throne. | 2 Samuel 7:12-13 Isaiah 9:7 | Luke 1:32-33 Romans 1:3 |
| 9 | Messiah’s throne will be anointed and eternal. | Psalm 45:6-7 Daniel 2:44 | Luke 1:33 Hebrews 1:8-12 |
| 10 | Messiah would be called Immanuel. | Isaiah 7:14 | Matthew 1:23 |
| 11 | Messiah would spend a season in Egypt. | Hosea 11:1 | Matthew 2:14-15 |
| 12 | A massacre of children would happen at Messiah’s birthplace. | Jeremiah 31:15 | Matthew 2:16-18 |
| 13 | A messenger would prepare the way for Messiah | Isaiah 40:3-5 | Luke 3:3-6 |
| 14 | Messiah would be rejected by his own people. | Psalm 69:8 Isaiah 53:3 | John 1:11 John 7:5 |
| 15 | Messiah would be a prophet. | Deuteronomy 18:15 | Acts 3:20-22 |
| 16 | Messiah would be preceded by Elijah. | Malachi 4:5-6 | Matthew 11:13-14 |
| 17 | Messiah would be declared the Son of God. | Psalm 2:7 | Matthew 3:16-17 |
| 18 | Messiah would be called a Nazarene. | Isaiah 11:1 | Matthew 2:23 |
| 19 | Messiah would bring light to Galilee. | Isaiah 9:1-2 | Matthew 4:13-16 |
| 20 | Messiah would speak in parables. | Psalm 78:2-4 Isaiah 6:9-10 | Matthew 13:10-15, 34-35 |
| 21 | Messiah would be sent to heal the brokenhearted. | Isaiah 61:1-2 | Luke 4:18-19 |
| 22 | Messiah would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. | Psalm 110:4 | Hebrews 5:5-6 |
| 23 | Messiah would be called King. | Psalm 2:6 Zechariah 9:9 | Matthew 27:37 Mark 11:7-11 |
| 24 | Messiah would be praised by little children. | Psalm 8:2 | Matthew 21:16 |
| 25 | Messiah would be betrayed. | Psalm 41:9 Zechariah 11:12-13 | Luke 22:47-48 Matthew 26:14-16 |
| 26 | Messiah’s price money would be used to buy a potter’s field. | Zechariah 11:12-13 | Matthew 27:9-10 |
| 27 | Messiah would be falsely accused. | Psalm 35:11 | Mark 14:57-58 |
| 28 | Messiah would be silent before his accusers. | Isaiah 53:7 | Mark 15:4-5 |
| 29 | Messiah would be spat upon and struck. | Isaiah 50:6 | Matthew 26:67 |
| 30 | Messiah would be hated without cause. | Psalm 35:19 Psalm 69:4 | John 15:24-25 |
| 31 | Messiah would be crucified with criminals. | Isaiah 53:12 | Matthew 27:38 Mark 15:27-28 |
| 32 | Messiah would be given vinegar to drink. | Psalm 69:21 | Matthew 27:34 John 19:28-30 |
| 33 | Messiah’s hands and feet would be pierced. | Psalm 22:16 Zechariah 12:10 | John 20:25-27 |
| 34 | Messiah would be mocked and ridiculed. | Psalm 22:7-8 | Luke 23:35 |
| 35 | Soldiers would gamble for Messiah’s garments. | Psalm 22:18 | Luke 23:34 Matthew 27:35-36 |
| 36 | Messiah’s bones would not be broken. | Exodus 12:46 Psalm 34:20 | John 19:33-36 |
| 37 | Messiah would be forsaken by God. | Psalm 22:1 | Matthew 27:46 |
| 38 | Messiah would pray for his enemies. | Psalm 109:4 | Luke 23:34 |
| 39 | Soldiers would pierce Messiah’s side. | Zechariah 12:10 | John 19:34 |
| 40 | Messiah would be buried with the rich. | Isaiah 53:9 | Matthew 27:57-60 |
| 41 | Messiah would resurrect from the dead. | Psalm 16:10 Psalm 49:15 | Matthew 28:2-7 Acts 2:22-32 |
| 42 | Messiah would ascend to heaven. | Psalm 24:7-10 | Mark 16:19 Luke 24:51 |
| 43 | Messiah would be seated at God’s right hand. | Psalm 68:18 Psalm 110:1 | Mark 16:19 Matthew 22:44 |
| 44 | Messiah would be a sacrifice for sin. | Isaiah 53:5-12 | Romans 5:6-8 |
https://www.thoughtco.com/prophecies-of-jesus-fulfilled-700159
| MIRACLES OF JESUS CHRIST Healing Miracles
Other Miracles
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