San Francisco de Asís

09/12/2026

🙏🏼✝️🙏🏼
Family Prayer Time Together

Father/Mother: Let us begin with the sign of the Cross.

All: In the name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.

Amen.
All: Dear Jesus,
we are here to spend a few minutes
with you in prayer.
We want to pray for ourselves,
our friends and neighbours
and for everyone in the world.
We know that you came
to call all of us to know,
love and serve your heavenly Father
so that we would be one big, happy family.

Parent: Jesus, be close to us now
as we pray to the Father in the words you taught us.

All: Our Father,
who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven;
give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Parent: Jesus, we want to pray
to your Mother too.
We want to remember how the angel told her
she was to be your Mother.
We want to remember how she went to Elizabeth
who praised her for saying to God,
"Be it done to me as you wish."
That was saying a big "yes" to God.
We want to ask Mary to pray for us
because we know, Jesus,
that if we are close to her,
we will be close to you.

All: Hail Mary, full of grace.
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed are thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Parent: Jesus, as God,
you were in existence before the world was made.
Then you became a human being with Mary
as your mother so that you could tell the world
how you and the Father and the Holy Spirit
together love all of us
and want to share your holy life with us.
all praise to this Most Holy Trinity.

All: Glory be to the Father
and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.

Amen 🙏🏼

09/12/2026

✝️🙏🏼✝️
Prayer to Grow in Faith and Love

Loving God, Although Your ways are far above mine, Sometimes I wish I could see Why things happen the way they do Or purpose not apparent to me. Lord Jesus, You promised a day to come Of not wanting to ask anything. Help me to have faith until the time That all questions and doubts take wing. Holy Spirit, Source of discernment and hope, May Your wisdom come into my soul. Please color my outlook with Your grace, Blessed palate for love made whole.
Amen 🙏🏼

09/12/2026

✝️🙏🏼✝️
Prayer to Our Merciful God

Almighty God and Father, May I be open to forgiveness, Received and given as You will. May I live faithfully with joy And holy purpose to fulfill.
Amen 🙏🏼

09/12/2026

Today’s Gospel Reflection

The Interior Life in Action
September 12, 2026

Jesus said to his disciples: “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles.” Luke 6:43–44

The interior life in Catholic spiritual theology refers to the hidden workings of God’s grace within the soul—silently yet powerfully transforming us from within so that what lies deep in the heart becomes manifest in our exterior actions. Our interior life is the foundation of who we are; our exterior life is the visible and faithful expression of that foundation.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches two parables with complementary meanings—both revealing the essential connection between the interior and the exterior. The first parable, the Parable of the Tree and its Fruit, presents the image: “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.” The “tree” is a metaphor for the soul, and the inner life of grace to which each of us is called. Though every person is fundamentally “good” by virtue of being created in the image and likeness of God, the goodness to which Jesus refers here is the goodness of a soul transformed by grace—a soul that cooperates with God’s grace and lives by His Word.

Such a soul is like a tree that receives the proper nourishment: the rain of divine mercy, the light of truth, the warmth of charity, and the rich soil of the Sacraments and prayer. It is a tree made strong by supernatural grace. But though there is great value in a tree that is healthy and vibrant—just as there is intrinsic value in a soul filled with God’s life—the ultimate purpose of a healthy fruit tree is to bear good fruit for the benefit of others.

In a sense, a fruit tree that is strong and beautiful yet bears fruit that no one consumes falls short of its purpose. Likewise, a Christian whose interior life is rich must allow that life to overflow into concrete acts of love, mercy, truth, and service. The “fruit” of our lives—our words, decisions, and deeds—must nourish those around us and draw others into the life of God. If the fruit remains hidden or is spoiled by selfishness or fear, then our interior life has not yet reached its fulfillment.

Jesus complements this parable by teaching another that He introduces by saying, “I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them.” He then tells the Parable of the Two Foundations. The first foundation—the well-formed interior life—“is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built” (Luke 6:47–48). Just as a strong interior life leads to the good fruit of charity, it also prepares the soul to endure the storms of life. Trials, temptations, and sufferings will inevitably come, but the soul built on Christ will remain steadfast.

Conversely, Jesus warns that “the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed” (Luke 6:49). A shallow spiritual life—one of sentiment without substance—cannot withstand the forces of this world. It may appear sufficient when all is calm, but it will crumble in the time of testing, producing no fruit.

Reflect today on the foundation of your own soul. Have you dug deeply into the life of prayer, embraced the Sacraments, and allowed the Word of God to pe*****te and shape every part of your being? Are you bearing fruit that nourishes others, and does your life rest securely upon the unshakable rock of Christ? The integrity of your spiritual house depends entirely on the depth and strength of your interior life. Do not be content with surface appearances. Go deep, and allow the grace of God to make your foundation solid rock, your soul rich, your words good fruit, and your life a dwelling place that endures forever.

Lord of Grace and Truth, You continually speak to me and offer the aid of Your grace through prayer and the Sacraments. May I always listen attentively to Your Word and cooperate fully with Your grace, so that the interior life of my soul may be strong—bearing good fruit and withstanding every trial. Jesus, I trust in You.🙏🏼

09/12/2026

Today’s Readings
Saturday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 442

Reading 1
1 Corinthians 10:14-22
My beloved ones, avoid idolatry.
I am speaking as to sensible people;
judge for yourselves what I am saying.
The cup of blessing that we bless,
is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ?
The bread that we break,
is it not a participation in the Body of Christ?
Because the loaf of bread is one,
we, though many, are one Body,
for we all partake of the one loaf.

Look at Israel according to the flesh;
are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?
So what am I saying?
That meat sacrificed to idols is anything?
Or that an idol is anything?
No, I mean that what they sacrifice,
they sacrifice to demons, not to God,
and I do not want you to become participants with demons.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of demons.
You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons.
Or are we provoking the Lord to jealous anger?
Are we stronger than him?

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 116:12-13, 17-18
R. (17) To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.

R. To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.

R. To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

Alleluia
John 14:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Luke 6:43-49
Jesus said to his disciples:
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command?
I will show you what someone is like who comes to me,
listens to my words, and acts on them.
That one is like a man building a house,
who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock;
when the flood came, the river burst against that house
but could not shake it because it had been well built.
But the one who listens and does not act
is like a person who built a house on the ground
without a foundation.
When the river burst against it,
it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”🙏🏼
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As a valued parishioner or guest of our Church community, we invite you to support our mission to uplift and serve our faithful communities. You can make a meaningful contribution or donation at sfranchos.org, where you can also set it and forget it by setting your online contributions on a recurring basis. You can also access our bulletin. Thank you for your support of our Church so that we may continue our mission of service to our faithful communities. May your kindness be abundantly blessed.🙏🏼

San Francisco de Asís is an 18th century adobe National Historic Landmark. It is an active church which includes the outlying “Capillas” of Nuestra Senora del Carmen in Llano Quemado, San Isidro in Los Cordovas, and Nuestra Senora de San Juan de Los Lagos in Talpa. Constructed of mud and straw ...

09/11/2026

✝️🙏🏼✝️
A Catholic Prayer of Remembrance

God of Peace and Mercy, on this anniversary of September 11, we lift up the souls who perished on that day. Welcome them with loving arms into Your kingdom. Comfort their families and friends, and help us to mourn alongside them with a constant compassion rooted in You.

Lord, grant eternal rest to the departed, strength to survivors and their families, and protection for first responders and all who serve with courage. As we pray for our nation's continued healing, let us implore the Holy Spirit to make us instruments of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, in a fractured world.
Amen 🙏🏼

09/11/2026

✝️🙏🏼✝️
Saint Raymond Nonnatus

O God, Who didst make blessed Raymund, Thy confessor, wonderful in delivering Thy faithful held in captivity by the infidels,
grant us by his intercession that, being loosed from the bonds of our sins,
we may with quiet minds perform those things which are pleasing to Thee.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Amen 🙏🏼

09/11/2026

🙏🏼✝️🙏🏼
St. Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen 🙏🏼

09/11/2026

🙏🏼✝️🙏🏼
Heavenly Treasure

Heavenly Father, The effects of my words or deeds or prayers May be invisible to me, And yet I believe that goodness will come If, in faith, I let You work through me. Please show me where I can be of help, Even in a small way. Help me to reach the potential You intend In all I do and pray today.
Amen 🙏🏼

09/11/2026

✝️🙏🏼✝️
Prayer for All Who Labor

Lord Jesus, How often, as a child, did You marvel At the things that Joseph made? Please bless all who work with skillful hands, Building the Kingdom through their trades. You grew up in the love and care of Mary, Who became our Mother, too. Please bless the unsung work of parents In bringing children close to You. You told a parable of workers waiting In the vineyard to labor. Please bless all now searching for new work; Through employment, grant them favor. To each person is granted a vocation, Holy purpose to fulfill. Please bless workers devoted in every field With strength to do the Father’s will.
Amen 🙏🏼