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 Madonna of the Rosary   Lorenzo Lotto [ Web Gallery of Art ] Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.  When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.  All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers ( Acts 1:12-14 ). First Reading, Mass of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. Madonna of the Rosary   Lorenzo Lotto [ Web Gallery of Art ] Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.  When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son o

Lala , with Jordan I try to mark Lala's birthday every year. Fewer and fewer persons with Down Syndrome  are being born in European countries.  This is because more and more children with Down Syndrome are being aborted. Below is what I posted last year. +++ I first wrote this post in October 2008 and used it again in 2011 under the title  Lala and Queen Elizabeth II . I have re-posted it a number of times, with variations, because Lala's story is one that should be told over and over again.  This year I am re-posting what I posted last year and also four years ago, with a couple of updates on ages. It is also the first time I have referred to Queen Elizabeth as 'the late Queen Elizabeth'. On the 27th  Lala will be celebrating another birthday. No doubt, the occasion will be marked at  Punla, Ang Arko, where Lala lives, the only  L'Arche community  in the Philippines, in Cainta, Rizal, part of the metropolitan sprawl of Manila.  The Pope's Universal Prayer Inten

St Peter in Penitence El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art ]   Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 18:21:35  ( English Standard Version Anglicised, India) Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”   Jesus said to him,  “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. ” “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.   When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.   And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.   So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’   And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him an

  First Holy Communion Holy Family Home for Girls, Bacolod City, Philippines Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 11:25-30  ( English Standard Version Anglicised, India) At that time Jesus declared,  “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;   yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.   All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.   Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.   Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.   For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Léachtaí i nGaeilge The Census a

  The Harvest (Breton Landscape) Émile Bernard [ Web Gallery of Art ] The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few;   therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest  (Matthew 9:37-38; Gospel). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 9:36-10:8  ( English Standard Version Anglicised, India) When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.   Then he said to his disciples,  “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few;   therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.” And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.   The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who i

St Margaret Mary Alacoque Contemplating the Sacred Heart of Jesus Corrado Giaquinto [ Web Gallery of Art ] This morning I celebrated the Mass for the memorial of St Justin Martyr. He was born of Greek parents in Palestine around AD100, was a philosopher who taught and defended Christian teaching and was martyred around AD165. As I did not have a congregation I used the readings that may be used for this saint instead of the readings for Thursday of Week 8 in Ordinary Time. The readings for the memorial are extraordinarily apt for the first day of June, the beginning of the Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Christ in Agony on the Cross El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art] The First Reading is from  1 Corinthians 1:18-25 . Some quotations:  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 Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,   but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,

  The Blessed Virgin Mary  Mother of the Church Monday After Pentecost Sunday Pentecost El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art ] The disciples devoted themselves with one accord to prayer with Mary, the Mother of Jesus  (Cf Acts 1:14; Entrance Antiphon). In 2018 the Church established the  Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church  to be celebrated on the Monday after Pentecost Sunday . Please continue at Bangor to Bobbio .

  Pentecost Sir Anthony van Dyck [ Web Gallery of Art ] Pentecost Sunday, Year A NB: The Vigil Mass has its own prayers and readings. It is a celebration proper to the evening before Pentecost Sunday and may be celebrated in an extended form. It also fulfils our Sunday obligation. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)     Gospel   John 7:37-39 ( English Standard Version, Anglicised, India) On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out,  “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.   Whoever believes in me, as   the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”   Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Mass during the Day, Year A Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Aust

The Holy Family with the Father and the Holy Spirit Carlo Dolci [ Web Gallery of Art ] I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you for ever,   even the Spirit of truth  (John 14:16-17; Gospel). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel :  John 14:15-21  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.   And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you for ever,   even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.   Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.   In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in m

  Apostle St Thomas El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art ] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”   Jesus said to him,  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life"   (John 14:5-6; Gospel). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel :   John 14:1-12  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Jesus said to his disciples: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.   In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?   And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.   And you know the way to where I am going.”     Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”   Jesus said to him,  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life