by Faith Central & Steve Welsh
Catholic TV Mass for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Feb. 4, 2018, from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. [Click here for Mass Readings]
[featured image is file photo]
“… Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. …. [Jesus] approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. … He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and He drove out many demons …. Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. …”
“Lord, teach me Your Statutes. …”
“… Today’s Feast of Jesus’ Presentation at the temple 40 days after his birth places before our eyes a special moment in the life of the Holy Family: Mary and Joseph, in accordance with Mosaic law, took the tiny Jesus to the temple of Jerusalem to offer him to the Lord (cf. Lk 2: 22). Simeon and Anna, inspired by God, recognized that Child as the long-awaited Messiah and prophesied about him. We are in the presence of a mystery, both simple and solemn, in which Holy Church celebrates Christ, the Anointed One of the Father, the firstborn of the new humanity. …”
“Let us go to meet Christ, all we who fervently honor and venerate His Mystery; let us make our way towards Him with all our hearts. Let everyone without exception take part in this encounter and let all bring their lights along with them. If our candles give off such brightness it is first of all to demonstrate the divine Radiance of He who comes, He who makes the whole world resplendent and bathes it in an everlasting light, scattering the darkness of evil. But it is also, and above all, to show with what brightness of soul we ourselves should go to meet Christ. Indeed, just as the Mother of God, the most pure Virgin, bore the True Light in her arms to meet ‘those who lay in darkness’ (cf Is 9:1; Lk 1:79), so let us, lit up by Their Rays and carrying in our hands a Light that all can see, make haste to encounter Christ. …”
Catholic TV Mass for Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, from Loretto Abbey in the Archdiocese of Toronto. [Click here for Mass Readings]
[featured image adapted from image at Creative Commons Wikimedia Commons Pjposullivan, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Loretto_Abbey_chapel_interior,_Toronto.JPG, with additional conditions stated at that link and in the alt-tag here]
“… Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord … Simeon … was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. … and when the parents brought in the child Jesus … he took Him into his arms and blessed God …. There was also a prophetess, Anna … she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. …”
Catholic TV Mass for Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time, Feb. 1, 2018, from Loretto Abbey in the Archdiocese of Toronto. [Click here for Mass Readings]
[featured image adapted from image at Creative Commons Wikimedia Commons Pjposullivan, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Loretto_Abbey_chapel_interior,_Toronto.JPG, with additional conditions stated at that link and in the alt-tag here]
[featured image is file photo]
“Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two
and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick
–no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
… they went off and preached repentance.
The Twelve drove out many demons,
and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.”