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Spirituality
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Sunday, Feb. 5 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Jb 7:1-4, 6-7 Reading 2 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23 Gospel Mk 1:29-39
Monday, Feb. 6 Memorial of Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs Reading 1 1 Kgs 8:1-7, 9-13 Gospel Mk 6:53-56
Tuesday, Feb. 7 Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 1 Kgs 8:22-23, 27-30 Gospel Mk 7:1-13
Wednesday, Feb. 8 Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 1 Kgs 10:1-10 Gospel Mk 7:14-23
Thursday, Feb. 9 Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary TimeReading 1 1 Kgs 11:4-13 Gospel Mk 7:24-30
Friday, Feb. 10 Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin Reading 1 1 Kgs 11:29-32; 12:19 Gospel Mk 7:31-37
Saturday, Feb. 11 Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 1 Kgs 12:26-32; 13:33-34 Gospel Mk 8:1-10
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Sunday, Feb. 12 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Lv 13:1-2, 44-46 Reading 2 1 Cor 10:31-11:1 Gospel Mk 1:40-45
Monday, Feb. 13 Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Jas 1:1-11 Gospel Mk 8:11-13
Tuesday, Feb. 14 Memorial of Saint Cyril, monk, and Saint Methodius, Bishop Reading 1 Jas 1:12-18 Gospel Mk 8:14-21
Wednesday, Feb. 15 Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Jas 1:19-27 Gospel Mk 8:22-26
Thursday, Feb. 16 Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Jas 2:1-9 Gospel Mk 8:27-33
Friday, Feb. 17 Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Jas 2:14-24, 26 Gospel Mk 8:34?9:1
Saturday, Feb. 18 Saturday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Jas 3:1-10 Gospel Mk 9:2-13
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Today's readings on the USCCB's Web site: http://www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml |
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Sunday scripture column
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Written by Pam Payne
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Thursday, Feb. 09, 2012 -- 12:00 AM |
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My first Confession was probably my best. I don’t mean this as conceit. It’s just that when I went to the sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time — at age 34 — I felt myself carrying a sizable burden of sin.
I’d always believed in a loving, merciful God. But I’d never before made a conscientious examination of my sinfulness.
As I prepared to enter the Catholic Church, my understanding of my faith grew, and my relationship with Christ deepened.
February 12 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 11 1 Corinthians 10:31 to 11:1 Mark 1:40-45 |
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When I went to Reconciliation that first time, my belief that Jesus would forgive all my failings — including some very serious sin — was unshakable. As I painstakingly named my sins and heard the priest speak the words of absolution, I physically felt the burden lift. I felt clean.
I went into that Confession with the same belief that the leper in this weekend’s Gospel had when he said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” The Lord’s response in the sacrament also was the same: compassion and mercy. I sensed it without doubt.
The cleansing of the leper in Mark’s Gospel, of course, symbolizes Jesus’ power to remove our sinfulness.
The passage from Leviticus in Sunday’s readings emphasizes that we must acknowledge it. As long as a person bears the “sore,” he must declare himself unclean, the Scripture explains, adding that the unclean one must dwell apart.
So it is that when our sin remains, it infects everything and everyone around us, isolating us from the love of God.
I have to admit that since that first time, I haven’t always prepared so well for the sacrament of Reconciliation.
Consequently, I haven’t felt its power so acutely. Often I avoid admitting to certain sins, stubbornly unwilling to declare that I’m unclean.
However, when I open myself to truly believing that God can make me clean if he wishes, then I have the courage to ask him to help me wish it, too.
The first step is healing my unbelief.
For reflection:
- Is there some sin in your life that you avoid admitting?
- What do you most need from God to help you believe he can make you truly clean?
This column is offered in cooperation with the North Texas Catholic of Fort Worth, Texas. |
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Pope's Prayer Intentions |
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February General Intention
Access to Water. That all peoples may have access to water and other resources needed for daily life.
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February Mission Intention
Health Workers. That the Lord may sustain the efforts of health workers assisting the sick and elderly in the world’s poorest regions.
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The following are Holy Days of Obligation for 2012.
| Holy Days of Obligation |
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Sunday, January 1
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Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God
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Thursday, May 17
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Ascension Thursday
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Wednesday, August 15
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Solemnity of the Assumption
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Thursday, November 1
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All Saints
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Saturday, December 8
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Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception |
Tuesday, December 25
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Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
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Glorious Archangel St. Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners. We beg you, assist us in all our needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels. Because you are the "medicine of God" we humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of our souls and the ills that afflict our bodies. We especially ask your guidance of our diocese as we journey toward the rebuilding of a cathedral bearing your name, and the great grace of purity to prepare us to be temples of the Holy Spirit. As our intercessor, beg the Blessed Trinity to prosper the work of our hands and, above all, to bring us, face-to-face, into their Holy presence. Amen. |
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