Purgatory ~ depth of God's mercy

Based on Catholic doctrine and teaching 'Purgatory' is a period of purification after death.

Each man receives his eternal retribution in his immortal soul at the very moment of his death, in a particular judgement that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness of heaven � through a purification or immediately, � or immediate and everlasting damnation. (CCC, 1022)

It is not exactly a second chance given for those who have not won the reward of kingdom of God (heaven). It is a transitional state for those who have merited heaven but still have aspects of their souls that still require purification. It reveals the depth of God's mercy whereby even those who are not yet perfect can attain the fullness of heaven.

All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven. (CCC, 1030)

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; 

And let perpetual light shine upon them. 

May they rest in peace. Amen.

Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great

Eternal Father, I offer Thee 

the most Precious Blood of Jesus, 

with all the Masses 

being said all over the world this day, 

for the Souls in Purgatory.

Our Lord showed St. Gertrude a vast number of souls leaving Purgatory and going to Heaven as a result of this prayer, which the Saint was accustomed to say frequently during the day.

Saint Anthony of Padua, priest & doctor ~ 13 June 2015

Saint Anthony of Padua died on 13 June, 1231, the feast day marks our remembrance of his death. We specially honour him for all his pray, intercession and deeds. Saint Anthony of Padua is one of the most popular saints,. patron of lost things, a miracle and wonder worker, and patron for the poor and needy.

Saint Anthony was buried on a Tuesday. Tuesdays are special days of honoring him throughout the year. It is customary to pray a Novena to him on thirteen consecutive Tuesdays.

Almighty ever-living God, who gave Saint Anthony of Padua to your people as an outstanding preacher and an intercessor in their need, grant that, with his assistance, as we follow the teachings of the Christian life, we may know your help in every trial. 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. Amen.

St. Anthony Preaches to the Fishes (A wonder)

St Anthony began to preach to them most solemnly, saying: "My brothers the fishes, you are bound, as much as is in your power, to return thanks to your Creator, who has given you so noble an element for your dwelling; for you have at your choice both sweet water and salt; you have many places of refuge from the tempest; you have likewise a pure and transparent element for your nourishment. God, your bountiful and kind Creator, when he made you, ordered you to increase and multiply, and gave you his blessing. In the universal deluge, all other creatures perished; you alone did God preserve from all harm. He has given you fins to enable you to go where you will. To you was it granted, according to the commandment of God, to keep the prophet Jonas, and after three days to throw him safe and sound on dry land. You it was who gave the tribute-money to our Saviour Jesus Christ, when, through his poverty, he had not wherewith to pay. By a singular mystery you were the nourishment of the eternal King, Jesus Christ, before and after his resurrection. Because of all these things you are bound to praise and bless the Lord, who has given you blessings so many and so much greater than to other creatures." 

At these words the fish began to open their mouths, and bow their heads, endeavouring as much as was in their power to express their reverence and show forth their praise. 

St Anthony, seeing the reverence of the fish towards their Creator, rejoiced greatly in spirit, and said with a loud voice: "Blessed be the eternal God; for the fishes of the sea honour him more than men without faith, and animals without reason listen to his word with greater attention than sinful heretics." 

And whilst St Anthony was preaching, the number of fishes increased, and none of them left the place that he had chosen. And the people of the city hearing of the miracle, made haste to go and witness it. With them also came the heretics of whom we have spoken above, who, seeing so wonderful and manifest a miracle, were touched in their hearts; and threw themselves at the feet of St Anthony to hear his words. The saint then began to expound to them the Catholic faith. He preached so eloquently, that all those heretics were converted, and returned to the true faith of Christ; the faithful also were filled with joy, and greatly comforted, being strengthened in the faith. 

After this St Anthony sent away the fishes, with the blessing of God; and they all departed, rejoicing as they went, and the people returned to the city. But St Anthony remained at Rimini for several days, preaching and reaping much spiritual fruit in the souls of his hearers.

I need you Lord Jesus Christ ....

I have desired greatly to eat this Paschal supper 

with you before I suffer, alleluia.

Lord, you have given your people the food of angels, from heaven untiringly sending them bread already prepared, containing every delight, satisfying every taste.

I will go up to the altar of God, alleluia.

I will receive Christ, 

who renews my youth, alleluia.

St. Anthony of Padua � Franciscan Priest

During his lifetime, God was pleased to work countless miracles in the life of the Franciscan Priest St. Anthony of Padua (born: 1195 - died: 1231) and his reputation for sanctity was universally acclaimed. Nearly everywhere St. Anthony is asked to intercede with God for the return of things lost or stolen. They pray to him saying �St. Anthony, St. Anthony, turn around. Something�s lost and must be found.�

Prayer of Confidence to St. Anthony

Most holy St. Anthony, Beloved Friend of Jesus, I place myself in your heavenly care. Be with me, especially in life�s troubles and difficulties. Intercede before the Lord for me, so that I may confidently know I do not face my problems alone.

I join my prayers to yours, O Great Saint, as I ask God to give me consolation in times of sorrow, courage when I am afraid, and healing from all the ills that afflict me.

Obtain for me from God, Most High, the grace to accept whatever is God�s holy will for me and my loved ones. Strengthen my faith so that I will never despair, but always have hope in God�s healing presence and power in my life. Amen.

The Chaplet of St. Anthony

The Chaplet of St. Anthony is composed of thirteen Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glorys in honour of the thirteen favours mentioned in the �Miraculous Responsory� above. The following invocation may be used before each Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

1 Most gracious St. Anthony, keep me from sin and enable me to persevere in goodness.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory)

2 Great St. Anthony, keep whatever is uncharitable far from me.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory)

3 Dear St. Anthony, make mine a true, lasting and vibrant faith.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory)

4 Good St. Anthony, Banish from my heart all that would cloud God�s love.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory)

5 St. Anthony, encouraged by your gentleness, help me to grow in genuine conversion of heart.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory)

6 St. Anthony, heal me. Obtain for me true love of God and health of mind and soul.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory)

7 St. Anthony, with my Guardian Angel, guide me through the perils of this life and keep me safe.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory)

8 St. Anthony, protect me from the devil�s temptations and obtain for me God�s help.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory)

9 St. Anthony, healer of the sick, preserve my life and grant me blessings of good health.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory)

10 Saint of miracles, finder of lost things, help me to discover what is truly important in my life.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory)

11 St. Anthony, my helper and friend of God, be my defense and security in times of doubt.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory)

12 St. Anthony and friend of God, I ask your intercession at God�s throne for divine grace.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory)

13 St. Anthony, I join with your now and with the whole company of heaven in praising the Father, Son and Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory)

Pray for us, blessed Anthony. Make us worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray.

Lord God, may the votive commemoration of blessed Friar Anthony, Your Confessor and Doctor, be a source of joy for your people. May they always be strengthened with his spiritual assistance and deserve eternal rewards. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

We bring bread and wine 

which Christ transforms.

This Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ represents the Church�s act of homage and gratitude to Christ for instituting the Holy Eucharist, in which He gave the Church her greatest treasure, the source and summit of the Christian life as it contains the Church�s entire spiritual wealth of Christ Himself, our Passover and living bread..The feast brings our attention to the Holy Eucharist, the Real Presence of Christ in it and the Church, Christ body in which He is the head of the Church, which are the two manifestations of the Body of Christ. The feast accents the joyous aspect of institution of the blessed sacrament the Holy Eucharist on Holy Thursday which was in the somber atmosphere as it's nearness to Good Friday.

This feast a moveable feast, where Corpus Christi is celebrated on the Thursday following Trinity Sunday therefore the celebration may be transferred to the following Sunday.

O Sacrament most holy,

O Sacrament divine!

All praise and all thanksgiving

Be ev'ry moment Thine.

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying,�This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.� In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, �This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. ~ Luke 22:19-20

Come let's share in the banquet of the Lord,

In the blessed sacrament,

Come let's share in the supper of the Lord,

In the blessed sacrament.

Chorus:

Eat the bread and drink the wine,

Flesh and blood of the Lord divine,

Share His life, it is yours and mine,

For we are one in His design.

Come let's share in the passion of the Lord,

In the blessed sacrament,

Come let's share the resurrection of the Lord,

In the blessed sacrament.

Come let's share in the ascension of the Lord,

In the blessed sacrament,

Come let's share our union with the Lord,

In the blessed sacrament.

Come let's share in the life of the Lord,

In the blessed sacrament,

Come let's share in the love of the Lord,

In the blessed sacrament.

O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption. Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reading 1
Exodus 24:3-8
When Moses came to the people
and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD,
they all answered with one voice,
"We will do everything that the LORD has told us."
Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and,
rising early the next day,
he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar
and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites
to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls
as peace offerings to the LORD,
Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls;
the other half he splashed on the altar.
Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people,
who answered, "All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do."
Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying,
"This is the blood of the covenant
that the LORD has made with you
in accordance with all these words of his."


Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
Precious in the eyes of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.


Reading 2

Hebrews 9:11-15
Brothers and sisters:
When Christ came as high priest
of the good things that have come to be,
passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle
not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation,
he entered once for all into the sanctuary,
not with the blood of goats and calves
but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
For if the blood of goats and bulls
and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes
can sanctify those who are defiled
so that their flesh is cleansed,
how much more will the blood of Christ,
who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God,
cleanse our consciences from dead works
to worship the living God.

For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant:
since a death has taken place for deliverance
from transgressions under the first covenant,
those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.


Sequence � Lauda Sion

Laud, O Zion, your salvation,
Laud with hymns of exultation,
Christ, your king and shepherd true:

Bring him all the praise you know,
He is more than you bestow.
Never can you reach his due.

Special theme for glad thanksgiving
Is the quick�ning and the living
Bread today before you set:

From his hands of old partaken,
As we know, by faith unshaken,
Where the Twelve at supper met.

Full and clear ring out your chanting,
Joy nor sweetest grace be wanting,
From your heart let praises burst:

For today the feast is holden,
When the institution olden
Of that supper was rehearsed.

Here the new law�s new oblation,
By the new king�s revelation,
Ends the form of ancient rite:

Now the new the old effaces,
Truth away the shadow chases,
Light dispels the gloom of night.

What he did at supper seated,
Christ ordained to be repeated,
His memorial ne�er to cease:

And his rule for guidance taking,
Bread and wine we hallow, making
Thus our sacrifice of peace.

This the truth each Christian learns,
Bread into his flesh he turns,
To his precious blood the wine:

Sight has fail�d, nor thought conceives,
But a dauntless faith believes,
Resting on a pow�r divine.

Here beneath these signs are hidden
Priceless things to sense forbidden;
Signs, not things are all we see:

Blood is poured and flesh is broken,
Yet in either wondrous token
Christ entire we know to be.

Whoso of this food partakes,
Does not rend the Lord nor breaks;
Christ is whole to all that taste:

Thousands are, as one, receivers,
One, as thousands of believers,
Eats of him who cannot waste.

Bad and good the feast are sharing,
Of what divers dooms preparing,
Endless death, or endless life.

Life to these, to those damnation,
See how like participation
Is with unlike issues rife.

When the sacrament is broken,
Doubt not, but believe �tis spoken,
That each sever�d outward token
doth the very whole contain.

Nought the precious gift divides,
Breaking but the sign betides
Jesus still the same abides,
still unbroken does remain.

The shorter form of the sequence begins here.

Lo! the angel�s food is given
To the pilgrim who has striven;
see the children�s bread from heaven,
which on dogs may not be spent.

Truth the ancient types fulfilling,
Isaac bound, a victim willing,
Paschal lamb, its lifeblood spilling,
manna to the fathers sent.

Very bread, good shepherd, tend us,
Jesu, of your love befriend us,
You refresh us, you defend us,
Your eternal goodness send us
In the land of life to see.

You who all things can and know,
Who on earth such food bestow,
Grant us with your saints, though lowest,
Where the heav�nly feast you show,
Fellow heirs and guests to be. Amen. Alleluia.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven,
says the Lord;
whoever eats this bread will live forever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
when they sacrificed the Passover lamb,
Jesus� disciples said to him,
"Where do you want us to go
and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
He sent two of his disciples and said to them,
"Go into the city and a man will meet you,
carrying a jar of water.
Follow him.
Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house,
'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room
where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"'
Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready.
Make the preparations for us there."
The disciples then went off, entered the city,
and found it just as he had told them;
and they prepared the Passover.
While they were eating,
he took bread, said the blessing,
broke it, gave it to them, and said,
"Take it; this is my body."
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them,
and they all drank from it.
He said to them,
"This is my blood of the covenant,
which will be shed for many.
Amen, I say to you,
I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine
until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
Then, after singing a hymn,
they went out to the Mount of Olives.