Ignatius of Loyola

O God, by whose grace your servant Ignatius, enkindled with the fire of your love, became a burning and a shining light in your Church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline, and may ever walk before you as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

1 I will praise the Lord at all times.

    I will constantly speak his praises.

2 I will boast only in the Lord;

    let all who are helpless take heart.

3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;

    let us exalt his name together.

4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.

    He freed me from all my fears.

5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;

    no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;

    he saved me from all my troubles.

7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard;

    he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.

    Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Psalm 34 – New Living Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Judges 2:1-5, 11-23 - Romans 16:17-27 - Matthew 27:32-44

William Wilberforce

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, enkindle in your Church the Never-failing gift of love, that, following the example of your servant William Wilberforce, we may have grace to defend the children of the poor, and maintain the cause of those who have no helper; for the sake of him who gave his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

1 Praise the Lord!

   Let all that I am praise the Lord.

2  I will praise the Lord as long as I live.

    I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.

3 Don’t put your confidence in powerful people;

    there is no help for you there.

4 When they breathe their last, they return to the earth,

    and all their plans die with them.

5 But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,

    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

6 He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.

    He keeps every promise forever.

Psalm 146 – New Living Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Joshua 24:16-33 - Romans 16:1-16 - Matthew 27:24-31

Merciful God, you willed that by the grace of adoption we should become children of light; grant that we not be cloaked in the darkness of error but rather stand forth in the splendor of truth. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

1 O Lord, God of my salvation;

    I cry out day and night before you.

2 Let my prayer come before you;

     incline your ear to my cry!

3 For my soul is full of troubles,

    and my life draws near to Sheol.

4 I am counted among those who go down to the pit;

    I am a man who has no strength,

5 like one set loose among the dead,

    like the slain that lie in the grave,

    like those whom you remember no more,

    for they are cut off from your hand.

6 You have put me in the depths of the pit,

    in the regions dark and deep.

7 Your wrath lies heavy upon me,

    and you overwhelm me with all your waves.

Psalm 88 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Joshua 9:22-10:15 - Romans 15:14-24 - Matthew 27:1-10

Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Almighty God, heavenly Father, we remember in thanksgiving this day the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary; and we pray that we all may be made one in the heavenly family of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

11 The Lord swore to David a sure oath

      from which he will not turn back:

    “One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne.

12 If your sons keep my covenant

    and my testimonies that I shall teach them,

   their sons also forever shall sit on your throne.”

13 For the Lord has chosen Zion;

    he has desired it for his dwelling place:

14 “This is my resting place forever;

    here I will dwell, for I have desired it.

15 I will abundantly bless her provisions;

    I will satisfy her poor with bread.

16 Her priests I will clothe with salvation,

    and her saints will shout for joy.

17 There I will make a horn to sprout for David;

    I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.

18 His enemies I will clothe with shame,

    but on him his crown will shine.”

Psalm 32 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Joshua 9:3-21 - Romans 15:1-13 - Matthew 26:69-75

St James the Elder, Apostle

O gracious God, we remember before you today your servant and apostle James, first among the Twelve to suffer martyrdom for the Name of Jesus Christ; and we pray that you will pour out upon the leaders of your Church that spirit of self-denying service by which alone they may have true authority among your people; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

1 O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge;

   save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,

2 lest like a lion they tear my soul apart,

   rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.

3 O LORD my God, if I have done this,

   if there is wrong in my hands,

4 if I have repaid my friend with evil

   or plundered my enemy without cause,

5 let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it,

   and let him trample my life to the ground

   and lay my glory in the dust.

6 Arise, O LORD, in your anger;

    lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies;

    awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.

7  Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you;

    over it return on high.

Psalm 7 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Joshua 8:30-35 - Romans 14:13-23 - Matthew 26:57-68

Thomas A Kempis

Holy Father, who have nourished and strengthened your Church by the writings of your servant Thomas a Kempis: Grant that we may learn from him to know what we ought to know, to love what we ought to love, to praise what highly pleases you, and always to seek to know and follow your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen

1 Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!

     Praise befits the upright.

2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;

    make melody to him with the harp of ten strings!

3 Sing to him a new song;

    play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

4 For the word of the Lord is upright,

    and all his work is done in faithfulness.

5 He loves righteousness and justice;

     the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

20 Our soul waits for the Lord;

    he is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart is glad in him,

    because we trust in his holy name.

Psalm 33 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Joshua 8:1-22 - Romans 14:1-12 - Matthew 26:47-56

Mary Magdalene (transferred)

Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and mind, and called her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by your grace we may be healed of all our infirmities and know you in the power of his endless life; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

1 As a deer pants for flowing streams,

    so pants my soul for you, O God.

2  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

   When shall I come and appear before God?[b]

3 My tears have been my food day and night,

   while they say to me all the day long,

    “Where is your God?”

4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul:

   how I would go with the throng

   and lead them in procession to the house of God

   with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.

5  Why are you cast down, O my soul,

    and why are you in turmoil within me?

    Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

    my salvation 6 and my God.

Psalm 42 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Joshua 7:1-13 - Romans 13:8-14 - Matthew 26:36-46

O God, who alone can probe the depths of the heart, you hear the prayer of the humble and justify the repentant sinner. As we stand before you, grant us the gift of humility, that we may see our own sins clearly and refrain from judging our neighbor. We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen

1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,

    whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,

    and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away

    through my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;

    my strength was dried up[b] as by the heat of summer. Selah

5 I acknowledged my sin to you,

    and I did not cover my iniquity;

   I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”

    and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Psalm 32 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Joshua 4:19-5:1, 5:10-15 - Romans 12:9-21 - Matthew 26:17-25

Father in Heaven, You made me Your child and called me to walk in the Light of Christ. Free me from darkness and keep me in the Light of your Truth. The Light of Jesus has scattered the darkness of hatred and sin. Called to that Light, I ask for your guidance. Form my life in Your Truth, my heart in Your Love. Give me the power of your Grace that I may walk in the Light of Jesus and serve Him faithfully. Amen

14 Turn again, O God of hosts!

     Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine,

15 the stock that your right hand planted,

    and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.

16 They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down;

    may they perish at the rebuke of your face!

17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,

    the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!

18 Then we shall not turn back from you;

     give us life, and we will call upon your name!

19  Restore us, O Lord God of hosts!

    Let your face shine, that we may be saved!

Psalm 80 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Joshua 3:14-4:7 - Romans 12:1-8 - Matthew 26:1-16

O God, protector of those who hope in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, enfold us in your gracious care and mercy, that with you as our ruler and guide, we may use wisely the gifts of this passing world and fix our hearts even now on those which last for ever. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Praise the Lord!

For it is good to sing praises to our God;

    for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.

2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;

    he gathers the outcasts of Israel.

3 He heals the brokenhearted

    and binds up their wounds.

4 He determines the number of the stars;

    he gives to all of them their names.

5  Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;

     his understanding is beyond measure.

6 The Lord lifts up the humble;

    he casts the wicked to the ground.

Psalm 147 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Joshua 3:1-13 - Romans 11:25-36 - Matthew 25:31-46

Bartolome de las Casas

Eternal God, we give you thanks for the witness of Bartolomé de las Casas, whose deep love for your people caused him to refuse absolution to those who would not free their Indian slaves. Help us, inspired by his example, to work and pray for the freeing of all enslaved people of our world, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

8  Understand, O dullest of the people!

    Fools, when will you be wise?

9  He who planted the ear, does he not hear?

    He who formed the eye, does he not see?

10 He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke?

     He who teaches man knowledge—

11 the Lord—knows the thoughts of man,

    that they are but a breath.

12  Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord,

    and whom you teach out of your law,

13 to give him rest from days of trouble,

    until a pit is dug for the wicked.

14  For the Lord will not forsake his people;

    he will not abandon his heritage;

15 for justice will return to the righteous,

    and all the upright in heart will follow it.

Psalm 94 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Joshua 2:15-24 - Romans 11:13-24 - Matthew 25:14-30

Almighty God, whose unfailing providence rules all things both in heaven and on earth, listen to the cry of your people and guide in your peace the course of our days. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen

1 To you I lift up my eyes,

   O you who are enthroned in the heavens!

2 Behold, as the eyes of servants

   look to the hand of their master,

   as the eyes of a maidservant

   to the hand of her mistress,

   so our eyes look to the LORD our God,

   till he has mercy upon us.

3 Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us,

   for we have had more than enough of contempt.

4 Our soul has had more than enough

   of the scorn of those who are at ease,

   of the contempt of the proud.

Psalm 123 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Joshua 2:1-14 - Romans 11:1-12 - Matthew 25:1-13