Intro to the day: “As for us, we hold to what we believed ten and twenty years ago; to what our forefathers believed one hundred years ago, and one thousand years ago, and to that which the whole Catholic world has always believed.” - Saint Solomon Le Leclercq
Today is Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week of Ordinary Time. We are praying for the faculty, staff, and families of St. Mary's Catholic School in Fort Walton, FL
In the Gospel, Jesus drives out an unclean spirit
Opening: God come to our assistance, Lord make haste to help us. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia.
Daily Psalm: Psalm 43
Gospel: Luke 4:31-37
Saint of the Day: Saint Solomon Le Leclercq
Saint Solomon Le Leclercq was one of the 191 “Martyrs of September” during the French Revolution. Born in 1745 to a merchant family, he was educated by the Brothers of the Christian Schools and eventually entered the order himself in 1767. After taking his vows, he was sent to be a mathematics teacher and was known for his gentle but engaging demeanor. Br. Solomon also served as secretary to the superior general and as director of novices for the order. With the onset of the French Revolution, the Brothers of the Christian Schools were forced to shut down all operations because they would not take an oath that would renounce the papacy. Although he was forced to live as a regular civilian, he still remained hopeful for his vocation. In 1792, however, he and other priests and religious were arrested and taken to a Carmelite convent in Paris. They were martyred in the garden, and he was canonized by Pope Francis in 2016.
Reflection: This is the first Gospel of this school year where we see Jesus casting out demons. He is doing something so extraordinary. He has power not just over nature, but over the supernatural. He is the Lord of everything, including the Lord of our hearts. Are there places in us that we don’t invite Him to heal us because we don’t believe that He will? Are there pains, crosses, addictions that we are too ashamed to show Him? Here He stands in the Gospel today, freeing a man from an evil spirit. He is showing us that His desire for us is to be truly free. Free from those things outside of us, and free from those things that we hold on to that we don’t want to give to Him. Sometimes we place Him back in the stories of the Gospel as if He is still not active today. Yet, the Gospel which is for each of us today tells us of His power. The power of freedom. It is also important to share these stories with children, not to frighten them about demons and the supernatural, but simply to let them know that there is evil that wants our destruction, but it has no power whatsoever in relation to our God. Jesus does not fight with the evil spirits; He simply casts them out. He is all-powerful.
Today, let us look into our lives, our relationships, our hurts, and ask ourselves if we truly believe that Jesus wants to help and heal us, our friends, our family members. Let Him know where your unbelief is, ask Him to help your unbelief. You may also reach out to someone that you know is in need of healing, go to them, pray with them, and let them know that Jesus desires them to be whole as well.
Marian prayer for the day: Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy, hear and answer me.
Amen
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