Thursday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Year of Saint Joseph

Year of the Family "Amoris Laetitia The Joy of Love"

National Back to School Month

The Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Feast of Our Lady of the Snow

Saints: Blessed Frederic Janssone (1838-1916)

Readings of the Day

RB: Ch 53:16-24 The Reception of Guests

Mass: Nb 20:1-13; Resp Ps 95; Mt 16;13-23

Oh, that today you would hear His voice.

OU LADY OF THE SNOW,

PRAY FOR US.

As we celebrate the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore), the oldest church in the West dedicated to Our Lady, and located on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, a prayer can be taken from Saint Cyril of Alexandria. Here is part of homily he delivered at the Council of Ephesus in 431. 

Mary, Mother of God, we salute you. Precious vessel, worthy of the whole world's reverence, you are an ever-shining light, the crown of virginity, the symbol of orthodoxy, an indestructible temple, the place that held Him whom no place can contain, mother and virgin. Because of you the holy gospels could say: Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord ...

Behold then the joy of the whole universe. Let the union of God and man in the Son of the Virgin Mary fills us with awe and adoration. Let us fear and worship the undivided Trinity as we sing the praise of the ever-virgin Mary, the holy temple of God, and of God Himself, her Son and spotless Bridegroom. To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

(From a homily delivered at the Council of Ephesus by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop, in Office of Readings, August 5)

MARY, MOTHER OF GOD,

MARIA, SALUS POPULI ROMANI, 

BLESSED FREDERIC JANSSONE,

SAINT JOSEPH,

PRAY FOR US.

Today's photo: More beauty on Kauai.

© Gertrude Feick 2021