Today's Bible Reading -- Deutronomy 30:15-20

¹⁵ "See, I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil. ¹⁶ If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you this day, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in His ways, and by keeping His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD Your God will bless you in the land which you are entering to take possession of it. ¹⁷ But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, ¹⁸ I declare to you this day, that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land which you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. ¹⁹ I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live, ²⁰ loving the LORD your God, obeying His voice, and cleaving to Him; for that means life to you and length of days, that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."

Today's Bible Reading--John 20:24-28

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe." 26 Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." 28 Thomas answered Him, "My Lord and my God!"

As The Deer

To St. Benedict

GLORIOUS ST. BENEDICT, sublime model of all virtues, pure vessel of God's grace! Behold me, humbly kneeling at your feet. I implore your loving heart to pray for me before the throne of God. To you I have recourse in all the dangers which daily surround me. Sheild me against my enemies; inspire me to imitate you in all things. May your blessings be with me always, so that I may shun whatever God forbids and avoid the occasions of sin.

Graciously obtain for me from God those favours and graces of which I stand so much in need in the trials, miseries and afflictions of life. Your heart was always full of love, compassion, and mercy towards those who were afflicted or troubled in any way. You never dismissed without consolation and assistance anyone who had recourse to you. I therefore, invoke your powerful intercession, in the confident hope that you will hear my prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favour I so earnestly implore (mention it), if it be for the greater glory of God and the welfare of my soul.

Help me, O great St. Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to be ever submissive to His holy will, and to obtain the eternal happiness of heaven. Amen.


The Life of St. Benedict
from: www.officine.it/montecassino/storia_e/benedett.htm

ST. BENEDICT, founder of Montecassino and great legislator of Western monasticism, was born to a patrician family in Norcia (Perugia) in or about 480 A.D.

After his initial studies, he went to Rome. Disgusted by rampant vice, he abandoned everything and retired to the lonely rocks of Subiaco where he led a hermit's existence: "soli Deo placere cupiens" as his biographer St. Gregory Magnum wrote - "with the only desire to be agreeable to the Lord".


Some monks living in his neighbourhood and attracted by his saintly life, begged him to become their Superior and Teacher. Benedict accepted, but when he tried to correct their far from exemplary way of life, they made an attempt on his life with a goblet full of poison. But he shattered the goblet with a miraculous sign of the cross.

After having founded twelve small convents, St. Benedict left Subiaco and went southward with a few disciples. The reasons which made him chose the mountain "a cui Cassino è nella costa" (on which flank Cassino is located, Dante, Parad. XXII, 37) are not known but it may be related to some patrician benefactor.

Benedict who was gifted with practical sense, adjusted the existing temple, the actual entrance cloister, to become an oratory for his community, while using the remaining buildings to house the monks and pilgrims, as well as for various activities.

Another small oratory dedicated to St. John the Baptist is built at the mountain top where the graveyard will be located. It is still the site where the grave of St. Benedict and of his Sister St. Scolastica are venerated and it is exactly coinciding with the lower part of the High Altar in the Basilica.

In addition to founding his monastic order, St. Benedict also spread the Gospel to the population of the down below Plain. This mission is still entrusted to this monastic Community, so that the town of Cassino and its 20 surrounding municipalities all belong to the pastoral jurisdiction of the Abbot of Montecassino.

At Montecassino, St. Benedict completed writing his Regula monachorum, i.e. the Order Rule, while according to Bossuet, can be defined as a small compendium of the Gospel.

Nearing his 70th year, the Great Patriarch closed his hearthly life in Montecassino. Just before he died, as he felt his forces ebb away, he asked to be carried to the S. Martino Oratory where he was administered the Holy Communion and passed away while raising his arms to heaven. The date of his death is traditionally established on March 21, 547 A.D.

His mortal remains, and those of his sister Scolastica, rest beneath the High Altar (70). St. Benedict, Patron Saint of engineers, speleologists and of "Opera della Bonifica" (land reclaiming) was proclaimed main Patron of Europe by Pope Paul VI on the occasion of his visit to Montecassino on October 24, 1964 with the following motivation: "Messenger of Peace, Unifier, Master of Civilization and in particular Herald of Faith and Iniziator of monastic life in Western Europe". (Papal Brief - Pacis Nuntius).

Feast, March 21 and July 11.

Today's Bible Reading--Romans 8:18-27

18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. 27 And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

The Potter's Hand

Today's Bible Reading--1 Corinthians 6:12-20

12 "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. 13 "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food" --and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two shall become one flesh." 17 But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Ten Thousand Angels Cried

Today's Bible Reading--2 Corinthians 1:3-11

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. 8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of the affliction we experienced in Asia; for we were so utterly, unbearably crushed that we despaired of life itself. 9 Why, we felt that we had received the sentence of death; but that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead; 10 He delivered us from so deadly a peril, and He will deliver us; on Him we have set our hope that He will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to many prayers.

Imagine Me Without You

Today's Bible Reading--Philippians 1:3-11

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel thus about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Today's Bible Reading--Psalm 6

1 To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments; according to The Sheminith. A Psalm of David. O LORD, rebuke me not in Thy anger, nor chasten me in Thy wrath. 2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled. 3 My soul also is sorely troubled. But Thou, O LORD--how long? 4 Turn, O LORD, save my life; deliver me for the sake of Thy steadfast love. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of Thee; in Sheol who can give thee praise? 6 I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. 7 My eye wastes away because of grief, it grows weak because of all my foes. 8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil; for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping. 9 The LORD has heard my supplication; the LORD accepts my prayer. 10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and sorely troubled; they shall turn back, and be put to shame in a moment.

Change My Heart O God

A Daily Prayer for Priests

O ALMIGHTY ETERNAL GOD, look upon the face of Thy Christ, and for love of Him who is the eternal High-priest, have pity on Thy priests. Remember, O most compassionate God, that they are but weak and frail human beings. Stir up in them the grace of their vocation which is in them by the imposition of the Bishop's hands. Keep them close to Thee, lest the enemy prevail against them, so that they may never do anything in the slightest degree unworthy of their sublime vocation.

O JESUS, I pray Thee for Thy faithful and fervent priests; for Thy unfaithful and tepid priests; for Thy priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields; for Thy tempted preists; for Thy lonely and desolate priests; for Thy young priests; for Thy aged priests; for Thy sick priests; for Thy dying priests in purgatory.

But above all, I commend to Thee the priests dearest to me: the priest who baptized me; the priests who absolved all my sins; the priests at whose Masses I assisted and who gave me Thy Body and Blood in Holy Communion; the priests who taught and instructed me or helped me and encouraged me; all the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way, particularly... (name of priest). O Jesus, keep them all close to Thy heart and bless them abundantly in time and eternity. Amen.

Today's Bible Reading--Hebrews 13:5-16

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have; for He has said, "I will never fail you nor forsake you." 6 Hence we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?" 7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever. 9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings; for it is well that the heart be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited their adherents. 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through His own blood. 13 Therefore let us go forth to Him outside the camp and bear the abuse He endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city which is to come. 15 Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Thank You Lord

Today's Bible Reading--Genesis 3:9-19

9 But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" 10 And he said, "I heard the sound of thee in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." 11 He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" 12 The man said, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate." 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I ate." 14 The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle, and above all wild animals; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." 16 To the woman He said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." 17 And to Adam He said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

When God Ran

Today's Bible Reading--1 Timothy

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. 5 As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry. 6 For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Today's Bible Reading--Romans 5:1-11

1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through Him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us. 6 While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Why, one will hardly die for a righteous man--though perhaps for a good man one will dare even to die. 8 But God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we are now justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life. 11 Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received our reconciliation.