Opening Prayer:
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Our Mission Prayer
Lord Jesus, just as you commissioned St. Simon and St. Jude to
“Go therefore and make disciples”, you are calling us to do the same!
May we respond to you by welcoming all to be part of our Eucharistic Community as we strive to grow in our knowledge, love, and service to God and to one another.
Loving Father, fill us with the power of your Holy Spirit so that we can
go forth proclaiming the Good News to all.
The Day Spiritual Reading:
A Reading from The Letter of St. Jude
But you, beloved, remember the words spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, for they told you,
“In [the] last time there will be scoffers who will live according to their own godless desires.”
These are the ones who cause divisions; they live on the natural plane, devoid of the Spirit.
But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
On those who waver, have mercy; save others by snatching them out of the fire; on others have mercy with fear, abhorring even the outer garment stained by the flesh.
The Day Topic: Merciful Advocates
Inspired our co-patron, St. Jude, we are called to defend our faith and mercifully try to encourage those who have strayed away from the faith.
The Day Reflection:
After Christ’s ascension, St. Jude went into Persia to preach the Good News. While in Persia he wrote a letter, which is the last epistle of Scripture. In the letter St. Jude complains about the false teachers, calling them “scoffers who will live according to their own godless desires.” He warns that they will call divisions. So he tells the readers of his letter to build up their own faith and keep themselves in the love of God. And with mercy try to “save others by snatching them out of the fire.” With mercy, we need to try to snatch those out of the fire who have chosen to follow a false teacher and wandered away from our Catholic Christian beliefs. With great mercy we must become advocates of our Catholic Christian beliefs. But St. Jude does warn that some we are not going to be able to snatch from the fire and we should “abhor even the outer garment.” Some people we are not going to be able to convince of our beliefs and we have to be careful not to be sucked into their godless ways.
Silent Reflection Followed by Optional Sharing
I. Is there someone you wish you could “snatch from the fire?”
II. Are there areas where you struggle with Catholic teachings?
How can we build ourselves up in the faith?
III. How should we more effectively advocate for our faith?
(State Your Intentions Here…)
Say: 1 Our Father… !0 Hail Marys… 1 Glory be to…
Concluding Prayer:
Novena Prayer
Father God, you revealed yourself to us through the preaching of your apostles Simon and Jude. By their prayers, give your Church continued growth and increase the number of those who believe in you.
O Glorious Saint Simon, you were a cousin of Jesus and a devoted follower as well. You were called “the Zealot,” indicating that you were willing to give your life for your religion and your freedom as a human person. Obtain for us the grace to be willing to give our lives for Christ and to labour for the freedom and peace that only God can give. Help us to spend ourselves for God on earth and be received by him in eternal bliss in heaven.
O Glorious St. Jude, you were honoured to be a cousin as well as a follower of Jesus, and you wrote an Epistle in which you said: “Grow strong in your holy faith through prayer in the Holy Spirit.” Obtain for us the grace of being people of faith and people of prayer. Let us be so attached to the three Divine Persons through faith and prayer on earth that we may be united with them in the glory of the beatific vision in heaven.
Our Glorious Patrons, with faith in your goodness, we ask for your help today. As Christ’s chosen Apostles, you remain pillars and foundations of His Church on earth. You are counted, we know, among the elders who always stand before God’s throne.
From your place of glory, we know you do not forget the needs and difficulties of Christ’s little ones here, still struggling, like us, on the way home to God. Please intercede for us all, gracious St. Simon and St. Jude, and be with us in our daily toil and in all our necessities, especially that we become the people of our Vision Statement.
In Christ’s name, we appeal to you again today. Amen.
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
