Prayer Before Mass Prayer After Mass
 December, 2007 February, 2008 

January

30 31 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31 1 2
 
 
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Octave Day of Christmas: Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
Numbers 6:22-27
Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:16-21

Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death.

-- Lumen gentium 59

Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors (Memorial)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 John 2:22-28
Psalm 98:1-4
John 1:19-28

Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him....He does nothing in vain; He may prolong my life, He may shorten it; He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends, He may throw me to strangers, He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide the future from me; still He knows what He is about.

-- St. John Henry Cardinal Newman

Thursday, January 3, 2008
The Holy Name of Jesus (Memorial)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
Philippians 2:5-11
Psalm 113:1-8
Matthew 1:18-23

It is impossible for a person who prays regularly to remain in serious sin; because the two are incompatible, one or the other will have to be given up.

-- St. Teresa of Avila

Friday, January 4, 2008
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (Memorial)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 John 3:7-10
Psalm 98:1, 7-9
John 1:35-42

You strayed from the way and did not return because you were ashamed. It would be more logical if you were ashamed not to return.

-- St. Jose Escriva'

Saturday, January 5, 2008
St. John Neumann, Bishop (Memorial)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 John 3:11-21
Psalm 100:1-5
John 1:43-51

Trials and tribulations offer us a chance to make reparation for our past faults and sins. On such occasions the Lord comes to us like a physician to heal the wounds left by our sins. Tribulation is the divine medicine.

-- St. Augustine

Sunday, January 6, 2008
The Epiphany of the Lord (Solemnity)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13
Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

We must often draw the comparison between time and eternity. This is the remedy of all our troubles. How small will the present moment appear when we enter that great ocean.

-- St. Elizebeth Ann Seton

Monday, January 7, 2008
Weekday
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 John 3:22 -- 4:6
Psalm 2:7-8, 10-12
Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25

Nothing is sweeter than the calm of conscience, nothing safer than purity of soul - yet no one can bestow this on himself because it is properly the gift of God's grace.

-- St. Columbanus

Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Weekday
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 John 4:7-10
Psalm 72:1-4, 7-8
Mark 6:34-44

Anxiety is the greatest evil that can befall a soul, except sin. God commands you to pray, but He forbids you to worry.

-- St. Francis de Sales

Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Weekday
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 John 4:11-18
Psalm 72:1-2, 10, 12-13
Mark 6:45-52

The affairs of God are accomplished little by little and almost imperceptibly. The Spirit of God is neither violent nor hasty. He does all things in His time.

-- St. Vincent de Paul

Thursday, January 10, 2008
Weekday
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 John 4:19 -- 5:4
Psalm 72:1-2, 14-15, 17
Luke 4:14-22

You don't love in your enemies what they are, but what you would have them become by your prayers.

-- St. Augustine

Friday, January 11, 2008
Weekday
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 John 5:5-13
Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20
Luke 5:12-16

If you embrace all things in this life as coming from the hands of God, and even embrace death to fulfill His holy will, assuredly you will die a saint.

-- St. Alphonsus Liguori

Saturday, January 12, 2008
St. Bernard of Corleone, Religious (Memorial)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
Ezekiel 33:12-16
Psalm 51:8-12, 17, 19
Luke 15:3-7

Anxiety is the soul's greatest enemy, sin only excepted. When the heart is anxious and disquieted within itself, it looses the power to preserve those virtues which are already acquired, and also the means of resisting the temptations of Satan, who does not fail to test the strength of that rope.

-- St. Francis DeSales

Sunday, January 13, 2008
The Baptism of the Lord (Feast)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7
Psalm 29:1-4, 3, 9-10
Acts 10: 34-38
Matthew 3:13-17

Sometimes hatred is charming, while love must show itself severe.

-- St. Augustine

Monday, January 14, 2008
Weekday
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 Samuel 1:1-8
Psalm 116:12-19
Mark 1:14-20

The Devil never runs upon a man to seize him with his claws until he sees him on the ground, already having fallen by his own will.

-- St. Thomas More

Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Weekday
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 Samuel 1:9-20
(Ps) 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-8
Mark 1:21-28

No mother could snatch her child from a burning building more swiftly than God is constrained to succor a penitent soul.

-- St. Henry Suso

Wednesday, January 16, 2008
St. Berard, OFM, Priest and Companions, Protomartyrs (Memorial)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 Corinthians 4:9-13
Psalm 126:1-6
Matthew 10:16-22

God has deemed it better to bring good out of evil than not to permit evil at all.

-- St. Augustine

Thursday, January 17, 2008
St. Anthony, Abbot (Memorial)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 Samuel 4:1-11
Psalm 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25
Mark 1:40-45

We must neither doubt nor hesitate with respect to the words of the Lord; rather, we must be fully persuaded that every word of God is true and possible, even if our nature should rebel against the idea; for in this lies the test of faith.

-- St. Basil the Great

Friday, January 18, 2008 (Week of Prayer for Christian Unity)
Weekday
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22
Psalm 89:16-19
Mark 2:1-12

No, my dear children, we need never fear that the Mass hinders us in the fulfillment of our temporal affairs; it is altogether the other way around. We may be sure that all will go better and that even our business will succeed better than if we have the misfortune not to assist at Mass.

-- St. John Vianney

Saturday, January 19, 2008 (Week of Prayer for Christian Unity)
Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1
Psalm 21:2-7
Mark 2:13-17

God in His infinite goodness sometimes sees fit to test our courage and love by depriving us of the things which it seems to us would be advantageous to our souls; and if He finds us earnest in their pursuit, yet humble, tranquil and resigned to do without them if He wishes us to, He will give us more blessings than we should have had in the possession of what we craved.

-- St. Philip Neri

Sunday, January 20, 2008 (Week of Prayer for Christian Unity)
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
Isaiah 49:3, 5-6
Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-10
1 Corinthians 1:1-3
John 1:29-34

When you love unseemly conversation, you prepare a feast for demons and sell you soul for their fodder.

-- St. Ephraem the Syrian

Monday, January 21, 2008 (Week of Prayer for Christian Unity)
St. Agnes, Virgin, Martyr (Memorial)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 Samuel 15:16-23
Psalm 89:20-22, 27-28
Mark 2:18-22

He is generous even to exhaustion; and what is most wonderful is, that He gives Himself thus entirely, not once only, but every day, if we wish it. Every fresh Communion is a new gift which Jesus Christ makes of Himself.

-- St. Ignatius Loyola

Tuesday, January 22, 2008 (Week of Prayer for Christian Unity)
Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm 89:20-22, 27-28
Mark 2:23-28

Help, Lord, the souls that Thou hast made, the souls to Thee so dear, in prison for the debt unpaid of sin committed here. These holy souls, they suffer on, resigned in heart and will, until Thy high behest is done, and justice has it's fill.

-- St. John Henry Newman

Wednesday, January 23, 2008 (Week of Prayer for Christian Unity)
Weekday
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51
Psalm 144:1-2, 9-10
Mark 3:1-6

Some false and pernicious ideas on immodest dress prevail in the world and lead into error souls desirous to do right. Remember, therefore, it matters not how many others sin, yours can never be justified before God, and where it is fashionable to sin it is likewise the fashion to go to hell. The choice is always yours to make.

-- St. John Chrysostom

Thursday, January 24, 2008 (Week of Prayer for Christian Unity)
St. Francis de Sales, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
1 Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7
Psalm 56:2-3, 9-13
Mark 3:7-12

"Guard" says St Paul, "what has been committed". What does it mean? It is what has been faithfully entrusted to you, not what has been discovered by you; what you have received, not what you have thought up; be not the leader but the follower!

-- St. Vincent of Lerins

Friday, January 25, 2008 (Week of Prayer for Christian Unity)
The Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle (Feast)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
Acts 22:3-16 or 9:1-22
Psalm 117:1-2
Mark 16:15-18

In order to acquire tranquility in action it is necessary to carefully consider what we are capable of accomplishing and never to undertake more than that. It is self-love, ever more anxious to do much rather than to do well and this self-love that wishes to undertake everything and accomplishes nothing!

-- St. Francis DeSales

Saturday, January 26, 2008
Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops (Memorial)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
2 Timothy 1:1-8 or Titus 1:1-5
Psalm 96:1-3, 7-8, 10
Mark 3:20-21

He who has undertaken the pastoring of souls must prepare himself to render to God an account of them.

-- St. Benedict of Nursia

Sunday, January 27, 2008
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading:
Psalm:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
Isaiah 8:23 -- 9:3
Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14
1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17
Matthew 4:12-23 or 4:12-17

What is impossible to God? Not that which is difficult to His power, but that which is contrary to His nature.

-- St. Ambrose of Milan

Monday, January 28, 2008
St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
2 Samuel 5:1-7, 10
Psalm 89:20-22, 25-26
Mark 3:22-30

Never rise from the table without having given thanks to the Lord. If we act in this way we need have no fear of the wretched sin of gluttony.

-- St. Padre Pio

Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Weekday
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
2 Samuel 6:12-15, 17-19
Psalm 24:7-10
Mark 3:31-35

Mental prayer is nothing else but being on terms of friendship with God, frequently conversing in secret with Him.

-- St. Teresa of Avila

Wednesday, January 30, 2008
St. Hyacinth Marescotti, Virgin (Memorial)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
2 Samuel 7:4-17
Psalm 89:4-5, 27-30
Mark 4:1-20

Imagine your anger to be a kind of wild beast, because it has ferocious teeth and claws, and if you don't tame it, it will devastate all things even corrupting the soul.

-- St. John Chrysostom

Thursday, January 31, 2008
St. John Bosco, Priest (Memorial)
First Reading:
Psalm:
Gospel:
2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29
Psalm 132:1-5, 11-14
Mark 4:21-25

Whenever anything disagreeable or displeasing happens to you, remember Christ crucified and be silent.

-- St. John of the Cross