Catholic Daily Readings.

Weekday (21) Vestment: Green Today’s Rosary: The Sorrowful Mystery FIRST READING         “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to men, but to those who are called, the wisdom of God.” A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (I Corinthians 1:17-25) Brethren : Christ did not send me to baptise but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs...

Weekday (21) Vestment: Green Today’s Rosary: The Luminous Mystery FIRST READING  “In every way you were enriched in him. The beginning of the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians  1:1-9) Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, to the Church of God which is at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to God always for you because of the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him with all speech and all knowledge — even as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you — so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ; who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of...

Weekday (21) Vestment: Red Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mystery THE BEHEADING (PASSION) OF JOHN THE BAPTIST  (Memorial): Today we recall the martyrdom of John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Lord. His death hints at the future fate of Jesus and some of his disciples who will also die as witnesses for the truth. Today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark narrates the details of John’s martyrdom within the context of the evil schemes that were planned in order to silence the prophet. Death Anniversary: AWKA: Bishop Simon Okafor-29/08/2014 Entrance Antiphon  Cf. Ps 119:46-47 I spoke, O Lord, of your decrees before kings, and was not confounded I pondered your commands and loved them greatly. Collect O God, who willed that Saint John the Baptist should go ahead of your Son both in his birth and in his death, grant that as he died a Martyr for truth and justice, we, too, may fight hard for the confession of what you teach. Through our Lord.. FIRST READING   ...

Weekday (21) Vestment: White Today’s Rosary: The Sorrowful Mystery LAGOS: Tomorrow is the 47th Anniversary of the Episcopal ordination of Anthony Cardinal O. Okogie, (emeritus) 29th August 1971. ONITSHA: Tomorrow is the 53rd Anniversary of the Episcopal ordination of Francis Cardinal Arinze, 29th August 1965. AWKA: Tomorrow is the 4th Anniversary of the Episcopal ordination of Bishop Jonas B. Okoye, (Auxillary) 29th August 2014. FIRST READING      “Hold to the traditions which you were taught by us. A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians 2: 1 -3a.14-17) Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet him, we beg you, brethren, not to be quickly shaken in mind or excited, either by spirit or by word, or by letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. God has called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the...

Weekday (21) Vestment: White Today’s Rosary: The Joyful Mystery FIRST READING “May the name of our Lord Jesus Christ be glorified in you, and you in him.” The beginning of the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians (2 Thessalonians I: 1 -5. 11b- 12) Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the Church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, as is fitting, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God for you steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the affliction which you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgement of God, that you may be made worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. May our God make you worthy of his call, and fulfil every good resolve and work ...

TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR  Vestment: Green Today’s Rosary: Glorious Mystery Theme of the Sunday:   Free to Choose Christ . In our lives there are two paths, the path of love and the path of selfishness. The second reading states clearly the meaning of “love.” A married couple give their love to each other by looking after each other. We must all choose the relationship we want with others. The first reading informs us about the choice made by the people of Israel at the great assembly of Shechem: they decided to choose God and to reject all idols. A life of love is neither easy nor comfortable. It demands self-denial, self-giving and control of our passions. So many prefer the other way. This is the central idea of today’s gospel. Christ says that we must identify ourselves with him, be with him, walk with him along the way of self-sacrifice. Many leave him, and “accompany him no more” but there are some who remain firm. God grant that we are among those. The Gloria...

Weekday (20) Vestment: White Today’s Rosary: The Joyful Mystery B. V. M. on Saturday   FRST READING “The glory of the Lord entered the temple. ” A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 43:1-7a) [The angel] brought me to the gate, the gate facing east. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the east; and the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with his glory. And the vision I saw was like the vision which I had seen when he came to destroy the city, and like the vision which I had seen by  the  river  Chebar;  and  I fell upon my face. As the glory of the Lord entered the temple by the gate facing east, the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out of the temple; and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the sole...

SAINT BARTHOLOMEW, AP. (FEAST) Entrance Antiphon cf. Ps96:2-3 Proclaim the salvation of God day by day; tell among the nations his glory. The Gloria            When indicated this hymn is either sung or said Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. Collect Strengthen in us, O Lord, the faith by which the blessed Apostle Bartholomew clung whole heartedly to y...

Weekday (20) Vestment: White/Green Today’s Rosary: The Luminous Mystery FIRST READING       “Anew heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you.” A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 36:23-28) Thus says the Lord:  “I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them; and the nations will know that I am the Lord, says the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. For I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to wal...

Weekday (20) Vestment: White Today’s Rosary: The Glorious Mystery QUEENSHIP OF THE B. V. M. (Memorial) This memorial of Our Lady was established in 1954 by Pope Pius XII at the end of the Marian Year. It is linked to the feast of her assumption which we celebrate eight days ago, and highlights her spiritual motherhood and “queenship.” Associated with Christ, Our Lord and King, Mary intercedes for us from heaven and looks after us, she encourages us to live our Christian life to the full, like her, to live in faith, hope and love. FIRST READING        “I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food  for them.” A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 34: 1-11) The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ho, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? ...

Weekday (20) Vestment: White Today’s Rosary: The Sorrowful Mystery FIRST READING        “You are but a man, and no god, though you consider yourself as wise as a god.” A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 28: 1- I0) The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord GOD: “Because your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods, in the heart of the seas,’ yet you are but a man, and no god, though you consider yourself as wise as a god — you are indeed wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you; by your wisdom and your understanding you have gotten wealth for yourself, and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries; by your great wisdom in trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth — therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you consider yourself as wise as a god, therefore, behold, I will bring stran...

Weekday (20) Vestment: White Today’s Rosary: The Joyful Mystery FIRST READING        “Thus shall Ezekiel be to you a sign,’ according to all that he has done you shall do.” A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 24:15-24) The word of the Lord came to me : “Son of man; behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep nor shall your tears run down. Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of mourners.” So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded. And the people said to me, “Will you not tell us what these things mean for us, that you are acting thus?” Then I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: ‘Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary,...