Catholic Voice of Cross River State.

21/06/2020

CATHOLIC MISSAL

JUNE 21ST, 2020

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 94
Reading 1: Jeremiah 20:10-13
Jeremiah said:
“I hear the whisperings of many:
‘Terror on every side!
Denounce! let us denounce him!’
All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine.
‘Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail, and take our vengeance on him.’
But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion:
my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.
In their failure they will be put to utter shame,
to lasting, unforgettable confusion.
O LORD of hosts, you who test the just, who probe mind and heart,
let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause.
Sing to the LORD, praise the LORD, for he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!”

Responsorial Psalm PS 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35
R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me.
For your sake I bear insult,and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers,
a stranger to my children,
Because zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
I pray to you, O LORD,
for the time of your favor, O God!
In your great kindness answer me with your constant help.
Answer me, O LORD, for bounteous is your kindness; in your great mercy turn toward me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
“See, you lowly ones, and be glad; you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.
Let the heavens and the earth praise him, the seas and whatever moves in them!’‘
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Reading II: Romans 5:12-15
Brothers and sisters:
Through one man sin entered the world,and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned—
for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world,
though sin is not accounted when there is no law.
But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin after the pattern of the trespass of Adam,
who is the type of the one who was to come.
But the gift is not like the transgression.
For if by the transgression of the one the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ
overflow for the many.

Alleluia John 15:26B, 27A
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of truth will testify to me, says the Lord; and you also will identify.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mathew 10:26-33
Jesus said to the Twelve:
“Fear no one.
Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.
And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;
rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy
both soul and body in Gehenna.
Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?
Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge.
Even all the hairs of your head are counted.
So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father."

The Gospel of the Lord.

21/06/2020

Pope Francis adds three titles to Catholic litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-adds-three-titles-to-catholic-litany-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-23190

In his letter, Cardinal Sarah noted where each invocation should be added, using the Latin formulations.

1. “Mater misericordiae,” which means, “Mother of mercy,” should be placed after “Mater Ecclesiae.”

2. “Mater spei,” which means “Mother of hope,” should follow “Mater divinae gratiae,” and

3. “Solacium migrantium,” which means “Comfort of migrants,” should follow “Refugium peccatorum.”

*The Litany of Loreto*

V. Lord, have mercy.
R. Christ have mercy.
V. Lord have mercy. Christ hear us.
R. Christ graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of Virgins,

Mother of Christ,
Mother of the Church
*MOTHER of Mercy*
Mother of divine grace,
*MOTHER of Hope*
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good Counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Savior,

Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,

Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
*COMFORT of Migrants*
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,

Queen of Angels,
Queen of Patriarchs,
Queen of Prophets,
Queen of Apostles,
Queen of Martyrs,
Queen of Confessors,
Queen of Virgins,
Queen of all Saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Queen of families,
Queen of peace,

Pope Francis has approved the inclusion of three additional invocations in the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also called the Litany of Loreto.

15/06/2020

CATHOLIC MISSAL

JUNE 15TH, 2020

Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 365

Reading 1: 1 Kings 21:1-16
Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel
next to the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria.
Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to be my vegetable garden,
since it is close by, next to my house.
I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or,
if you prefer, I will give you its value in money.”
Naboth answered him, “The LORD forbid that I should give you my ancestral heritage.”
Ahab went home disturbed and angry at the answer Naboth the Jezreelite had made to him:
“I will not give you my ancestral heritage.”
Lying down on his bed, he turned away from food and would not eat.
His wife Jezebel came to him and said to him,
“Why are you so angry that you will not eat?”
He answered her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite
and said to him, ‘Sell me your vineyard, or,
if you prefer, I will give you a vineyard in exchange.’
But he refused to let me have his vineyard.”
His wife Jezebel said to him,
“A fine ruler over Israel you are indeed!
Get up.
Eat and be cheerful.
I will obtain the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.”
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and, having sealed them with his seal, sent them to the elders and to the nobles
who lived in the same city with Naboth.
This is what she wrote in the letters:
“Proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people.
Next, get two scoundrels to face him and accuse him of having cursed God and king.
Then take him out and stone him to death.”
His fellow citizens—the elders and nobles who dwelt in his city—
did as Jezebel had ordered them in writing,
through the letters she had sent them.
They proclaimed a fast and placed Naboth at the head of the people.
Two scoundrels came in and confronted him with the accusation,
“Naboth has cursed God and king.”
And they led him out of the city and stoned him to death.
Then they sent the information to Jezebel
that Naboth had been stoned to death.
When Jezebel learned that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab,
“Go on, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you,
because Naboth is not alive, but dead.”
On hearing that Naboth was dead, Ahab started off on his way
down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite,
to take possession of it.

Responsorial Psalm PS 5:2-3AB, 4B-6A, 6B-7
R. (2b) Lord, listen to my groaning.
Hearken to my words, O LORD, attend to my sighing.
Heed my call for help,
my king and my God!
R. Lord, listen to my groaning.
At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you.
For you, O God, delight not in wickedness; no evil man remains with you; the arrogant may not stand in your sight.
R. Lord, listen to my groaning.
You hate all evildoers.
You destroy all who speak falsehood;
The bloodthirsty and the deceitful the LORD abhors.
R. Lord, listen to my groaning.

Alleluia Psalms 119:105
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mathew 5:38-42
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one to him as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go with him for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

13/06/2020

Today's Saint and Quote: St Anthony of Padua – June 13th

- Christ acts like a loving mother. To induce us to follow Him, He gives us Himself as an example and promises us a reward in His kingdom.

- Christians must lean on the Cross of Christ just as travelers lean on a staff when they begin a long journey.

- Earthly riches are like the reed. Its roots are sunk in the swamp, and its exterior is fair to behold; but inside it is hollow. If a man leans on such a reed, it will snap off and pierce his soul.

- Attribute to God every good that you have received. If you take credit for something that does not belong to you, you will be guilty of theft.

13/06/2020

HHOLY MASS READING, DAILY MESSAGES AND PRAYERS WITH YOUR FAMILY FROM FADA J.
ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA. (memorial). 13-6-2020
1 Kings 19:19-21, Psalms 16, Mathew 5:33-37
Today, the great prophet Elijah make some sense of a "New Creation" when he threw his cloak or mantle on a young man called Elisha showing that the old life must be left behind to embrace a new when he became Elijah's helper and eventually his successor. At that time, the prayer of the psalmist; "You are my inheritance O'Lord" will manifest. Every vocation is a call from God to carry on God's work. Hence our preference must give way to what God wants. A similar radical challenge is heard from the Gospel; "Do not swear at all. Take no oath, but say yes when you mean yes and no when you mean no" then the glorious dream of God's kingdom will be attained. Let us possess kindness, honesty, compassion, justice, transparency and pure motive to live a Gospel base life. May St Anthony of Padua guide us to a new discovery of whatever we have lost.
PRAYER: Lord, release your mantle on me and my family for divine exploit.
FADA JACOB USMAN

13/06/2020

CATHOLIC MISSAL

JUNE 13TH, 2020

Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 364

Reading 1: 1 Kings 19:19-21
Elijah set out, and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat, as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen; he was following the twelfth.
Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him.
Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said,
“Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow you.”
Elijah answered, “Go back!
Have I done anything to you?”
Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them; he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh, and gave it to his people to eat.
Then he left and followed Elijah as his attendant.

Responsorial Psalm PS 16:1B-2A AND 5, 7-8, 9-10
R. (see 5a) You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the LORD who counsels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices, my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Alleluia PS 119:36A, 29B
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees; and favor me with your law.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mathew 5:33-37
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’
Anything more is from the Evil One.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

11/06/2020

CATHOLIC MISSAL

JUNE 11, 2020.

Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle
Lectionary: 580/362

Reading 1: Acts 11: 21b-26; 13: 1-3
In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
"Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them. "
Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off.

Responsorial Psalm 98: 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6
R. (see 2b) The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him, his holy arm.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
The LORD has made his salvation known: in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Sing praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn sing joyfully before the King, the LORD.
R. The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

Alleluia John 13: 34
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I give you a new commandment:
love one another as I have loved you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mt 5: 20-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother, Raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool, ' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court with him.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny. "

The Gospel of the Lord.

10/06/2020

10th of June 2020

Good Morning.

God Bless You.

"I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me;
I am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me"

May your Wednesday be a Blessing to you & your family in Jesus' Name Amen.

May the Lord be with you to guide & protect you from all evil in Jesus' name Amen.

May you have an all round success and testimony this day in Jesus' Name Amen.

I bind all principalities,power of the air,wickedness in high places,thrones, dominions, etc over my family/your family in Jesus' Name Amen.

May the Lord destroy every embargo placed on you or your family members in Jesus' Name Amen.

I de-programme whatever has been placed into my family and your family by satanic kingdoms in Jesus Name Amen.

Add your private intentions.

Ps 31

May Almighty God bless you:the Father+++the Son+++and the Holy Spirit+++Amen.

Have a glorious wednesday.

10/06/2020

CATHOLIC MISSAL

JUNE 10TH, 2020

Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 361

Reading 1: 1 Kings 18:20-39
Ahab sent to all the children of Israel
and had the prophets assemble on Mount Carmel.
Elijah appealed to all the people and said,
“How long will you straddle the issue?
If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him.”
The people, however, did not answer him.
So Elijah said to the people,
“I am the only surviving prophet of the LORD,
and there are four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal.
Give us two young bulls.
Let them choose one, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood, but start no fire.
I shall prepare the other and place it on the wood,
but shall start no fire.
You shall call on your gods, and I will call on the LORD.
The God who answers with fire is God.”
All the people answered, “Agreed!”
Elijah then said to the prophets of Baal,
“Choose one young bull and prepare it first,
for there are more of you.
Call upon your gods, but do not start the fire.”
Taking the young bull that was turned over to them, they prepared it
and called on Baal from morning to noon, saying,
“Answer us, Baal!”
But there was no sound, and no one answering.
And they hopped around the altar they had prepared.
When it was noon, Elijah taunted them:
“Call louder, for he is a god and may be meditating, or may have retired, or may be on a journey.
Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.”
They called out louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears,
as was their custom, until blood gushed over them.
Noon passed and they remained in a prophetic state until the time for offering sacrifice.
But there was not a sound; no one answered, and no one was listening.
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.”
When the people had done so, he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been destroyed.
He took twelve stones, for the number of tribes of the sons of Jacob,
to whom the LORD had said, “Your name shall be Israel.”
He built an altar in honor of the LORD with the stones, and made a trench around the altar
large enough for two measures of grain.
When he had arranged the wood, he cut up the young bull and laid it on the wood.
“Fill four jars with water,” he said, “and pour it over the burnt offering and over the wood.”
“Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.
“Do it a third time,” he said, and they did it a third time.
The water flowed around the altar, and the trench was filled with the water.
At the time for offering sacrifice,
the prophet Elijah came forward and said,
“LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
let it be known this day that you are God in Israel
and that I am your servant and have done all these things by your command.
Answer me, LORD!
Answer me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God
and that you have brought them back to their senses.”
The LORD’s fire came down and consumed the burnt offering, wood, stones, and dust, and it lapped up the water in the trench.
Seeing this, all the people fell prostrate and said,
“The LORD is God! The LORD is God!”

Responsorial Psalm PS 16:1B-2AB, 4, 5AB AND 8, 11
R. (1b) Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
They multiply their sorrows who court other gods.
Blood libations to them I will not pour out,
nor will I take their names upon my lips.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
O LORD, my allotted portion and cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.

Alleluia PS 25:4B, 5A
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Teach me your paths, my God, and guide me in your truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Mathew 5:17-19
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven.
But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments
will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

07/06/2020

Today’s Reflection

The Most Holy Trinity, the communion of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the source of all creation, Redemption and Sanctification and the origin and culmination of love, is the mystery of mysteries. Human beings have toiled in vain to comprehend, interpret and explain the mystery of the Trinity but have humbly accepted the truth that it is beyond their comprehension and understanding. God’s unconditional love for his children made him to send his only Son to us, the Son committed to follow and live the Father’s will sacrificed himself to redeem us, and the spirit who teaches us to call God, Abba, Father sanctifies us. God’s love goes beyond all human conditions and realms and penetrates into each fiber of our existence to grant us his gift of salvation.

The Trinity is a mystery to be believed and lived and a not a concept to be explained. The Trinity invites us to live the virtues of faith, hope and love and practice values of self-sacrifice and self-giving. The Trinity teaches us that there is but One, Absolute and Eternal being from whom all things proceed, and auto whom all shall return. May the Father who created us in his own image and likeness, Jesus who redeemed us on the cross, and the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us, make us truly children of God!

07/06/2020

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY, YEAR A(Exodus 34:4-6.8-9; 2 Cor. 13:11-13; John 3: 16-18).

The church today celebrates the mystery of the Trinity. The three persons in one God. This does not indicate that we have three different gods but ONE God in three; coeternal, consubstantial, equal in dignity.

The Trinity is a teaching about the existence of God the Father, God the Son & God the Holy Spirit. Operating differently but equal in dignity and substance.
The simplest explanation to drive home the reality of the Trinity is the existence of WATER.
Water as we know it can exist in three different forms of LIQUID, GAS & SOLID without ceasing to be water and not becoming three different types of Water. So we're celebrating today, one God in three persons.

The beauty & unity of the Trinity is what must be replicated in the lives of believers today especially in a world where people and families have been torn apart by the realities which should have united us because of strong sentiments of jealousy, envy, selfishness and greed, unhealthy rivalry and competition.
Growth and progress is highly impeded & peace and unity becomes a mirage.

But we must imbibe the nature, life & mode of operation of the Trinity. God the Father created but would not abandon his creatures so out of love for humanity, he sent his Son to accompany us on this heavenly pilgrimage and on returning to the Father, Jesus asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit, the advocate, the counsellor & the sanctifier to continue the work.
And this is the message contained in the readings of this Sunday. We cannot return from the worship of the Trinity(God the Father, Son & Holy Spirit) and still live in the opposite.

May the celebration the Trinity today, restore peace, unity and progress in our society and families now and always. May the Union of the Trinity heal our world and families.