Chinese New Year 2014 ~ Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia.

Feast of St.John Britto and Rededication of Church ~ Jalan Sungai Pinang, Penang, Malaysia.

Church of Saint John Britto

139, Jalan Sungai Pinang,

10150 Penang,

Malaysia

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Saint John de Britto, priest, martyr

1 March, 1647 (Lisbon, Portugal) 

~ 

11 February, 1693 (Oriyur, India)

St. John de Britto was one of the earliest Jesuit missionaries in India to adopt elements of the local culture in his evangelization. John de Britto, a young energetic man from a royal family in Portugal,.When Britto was young, he almost died of an illness and his mother vowed he would wear a Jesuit cassock for a year if he were spared. He regained his health and walked around court like a miniature Jesuit. In 1673, John de Britto arrived in Goa, India. Impelled by the zeal to announce the good news of Christ to all peoples and cultures, John de Britto traveled on foot, on horseback and bullock cart all over Tamil Nadu and elsewhere. Next to St. Thomas the Apostle, Britto is the only martyr-Saint in India to date. Catholic Church in Tamil Nadu has seen some remarkable Jesuit missionaries. St. Francis Xavier and St. John de Britto stand out as strong pillars of Christian faith. His eighteen years of tireless service won for him the hearts of many Catholics.

On 4 February, 1693 at Oriyur in Tamil Nadu, the blood he had shed for the Christian faith, so attests the long cherished tradition, has miraculously turned the soil at the site of his martyrdom into red colour. No wonder John de Britto is popularly called even today the Red Sand Saint! In 1683, John de Britto had to leave India but returned in 1691. Arrested, tortured, and commanded to leave India, he refused and was put to death. He was beatified by Pius IX on 21 August, 1853 and later was canonized by Pius XII, 22 June, 1947.

St John De Britto-Documentary Film

Shrine of St. John de Britto, India.

St. Jude, pray for me and may my request by your intercession be granted by the Lord today

Most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honours and invokes you universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Make use I implore you, of that particular privilege given to you, to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly - 

I desperately need the money to settle some backlog financial payments. I have delay them for sometime but I can't postpone it any more as I have committed to the parties involved that I will settle it by today. I need to attain RM10,000 urgently by end of today. I realise that this amount is not small St.Jude and I am unable to raise it myself by today. But St.Jude, I truly believe by the power bestowed on you and by your prayer and intercession to Lord, this is not an impossible request for the Lord. Please ask the Lord to have mercy on a sinner like me and grant me my request and needs today.

that I may praise God with you and all the elect forever. I promise, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favour, to always honour you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen.

Psalm 143 ~ My Soul Thirsts for You

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
2 Enter not into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.

3 For the enemy has pursued my soul;
he has crushed my life to the ground;
he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.

5 I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all that you have done;
I ponder the work of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

7 Answer me quickly, O Lord!
My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
I have fled to you for refuge.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
on level ground!

11 For your name's sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
12 And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am your servant.

Father in Heaven, I am in desperate and urgent need ....

Hear my prayer, O Lord;

let my cry come to you!

Do not hide your face from me

in the day of my distress!

Incline your ear to me;

answer me speedily in the day when I call!

~ * ~ Psalm 102:1-2 ~ * ~

Lord, I need to attain RM10,000 urgently by end of today. I realise that this amount is not small Lord and I am unable to raise it myself by today. I have no means Lord, but I truly believe Lord that only You have the power and might to grant me the miracle I need. I desperately need the money to settle some backlog financial payments. I have delay them for sometime but I can't postpone it any more as I have committed to the parties involved that I will settle it by today. I know Lord, I am a sinner and am only human, HAVE MERCY on me. all these are due to my mistakes. Lord, You have always been by my side especially in my lowest times. Come Lord, and GRANT me your healing from this situation which I am in urgent need of a solution. I repent Lord for all my sin, please forgive me Lord, and command your angels to come today an LIFT me out of this situation and saves me. Lord, Father in Heaven, I am asking You for this great favour, in the name of Your son JESUS and I truly believe and trust that in accordance of Your will You will grant my request, soon today. AMEN.

Call on God, Depend on God and Trust in God for He will surely Help In Desperate Times

When everything seems to be falling in around us, when the walls seem to be closing in on us, when nothing in our world or in this world seems to hold any hope, when everything looks completely hopeless, just remember to call, depend and trust the Lord our God, who is good all the time. God truly loves those that are His. He loves you!

CALL on the Lord

and call on me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you will honour me.

~ Psalm 50:15 ~

‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call on me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honour him.

With long life I will satisfy him

and show him my salvation.’

~ Psalm 91:14-16 ~

Before they call I will answer;

while they are still speaking I will hear.

~ Isaiah 65:24 ~

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,

I wait for God my Saviour;

my God will hear me.

~ Micah 7:7 ~

DEPEND on the Lord

I am the vine; you are the branches. 

If you remain in me and I in you, 

you will bear much fruit; 

apart from me you can do nothing.

~ John 15:5 ~

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

~ 1 Peter 5:7 ~

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, 

which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, 

will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith? 

So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” 

or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?”

~ Matthew 6:30-31 ~

Yet he [Abraham] did not waver 

through unbelief regarding the promise of God, 

but was strengthened in his faith 

and gave glory to God, 

being fully persuaded that God had power 

to do what he had promised.

~ Romans 4:20-21 ~

TRUST in the Lord

For I am the Lord your God

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear;

I will help you.

~ Isaiah 41:13 ~

This is what the Lord says:

‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man,

who draws strength from mere flesh

and whose heart turns away from the Lord.

That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;

they will not see prosperity when it comes.

They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,

in a salt land where no one lives.

‘But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,

whose confidence is in him.

~ Jeremiah 17:5-7 ~

You are my hiding-place;

you will protect me from trouble

and surround me with songs of deliverance.

~ Psalm 32:7 ~

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight.

~ Proverbs 3:5-6 ~

For no matter how many promises 

God has made, 

they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. 

And so through him the ‘Amen’ 

is spoken by us to the glory of God.

~ 2 Corinthians 1:20 ~

Therefore he is able to save completely

those who come to God through him, 

because he always lives to intercede for them.

~ Hebrews 7:25 ~

Prayer to Infant Jesus of Prague

O miraculous Infant Jesus! 

prostrate before Thy sacred image, 

we beseech Thee to cast a merciful look 

on our troubled hearts. 

Let Thy tender Heart, 

so inclined to pity, 

be softened at our prayers, 

and grant us that grace 

for which we ardently implore Thee. 

Take from us 

all affliction and despair, 

all trials and misfortunes 

with which we are laden. 

For Thy sacred infancy's sake 

hear our prayers 

and send us consolation and aid, 

that we may praise Thee, 

with the Father 

and the Holy Ghost, 

forever and ever. 

Amen.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Prayer to the Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague

PRAYER REVELATED BY OUR LADY 

To the Venerable Father F. Cyril OCD 

O Infant Jesus, I have recourse to You and ask You through the intercession of Your Holy Mother to help me in my need, (mention it here) for I firmly believe that Your Divinity can help me.

I hope, in complete trust, to obtain Your holy grace. I love You with all my heart and with all the strength of my soul. I am truly sorry for all my sins, and beg You, O good Jesus, to give me strength to conquer them. I shall never offend You and I am ready to suffer rather than to cause You pain.

From now on I want to serve with complete faithfulness and for love of You, O Divine Child, I will love my neighbour as well as myself. Omnipotent Child, Lord Jesus, again I implore You, help me in this need of mine (mention it). 

Grant me the grace of possessing You eternally, with Mary and Joseph and of adoring You with the holy angels in Your heavenly court. AMEN.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Novena Prayer to the Miraculous Infant of Prague

Dearest Jesus, Little Infant of Prague, how tenderly You love us! Your greatest joy is to dwell among us and to bestow Your blessing upon us. Though I am not worthy that You should help me, I feel drawn to You by love because You are kind and merciful.

Dearest Jesus, Little Infant of Prague, how tenderly You love us! Your greatest joy is to dwell among us and to bestow Your blessing upon us. Though I am not worthy that You should help me, I feel drawn to You by love because You are kind and merciful. Dearest Jesus, Little Infant of Prague, how tenderly You love us! Your greatest joy is to dwell among us and to bestow Your blessing upon us. Though I am not worthy that You should help me, I feel drawn to You by love because You are kind and merciful. 

So many who turned to You with confidence have received graces and had their petitions granted. Behold me as I come before You to lay open my heart to You with its prayers and hopes. I present to You especially this request, which I enclose in Your loving Heart:

(Mention your request)

Rule over me, dear Infant Jesus, and do with me and mine according to Your Holy Will, for I know that in Your Divine Wisdom and Love You will arrange everything for the best. Do not withdraw Your hand from me, but protect and bless me forever. 

I pray You, all-powerful and gracious Infant Jesus, for the sake of Your Sacred Infancy, in the Name of Your Blessed Mother Mary who cared for You with such tenderness, and by the greatest reverence with which Saint Joseph carried You in his arms, help me in my needs. Make me truly happy with You, dearest Infant, in time and in eternity, and I shall thank You forever with all my heart.

Amen.

Our Lady of Conception Aparecida, Saint Rita of Cassia, Saint Jude, Saint Expedite and Saint Edwiges, pray and intercede to JESUS to grant my needs today

Never fails....trust and have faith that God will provide. God is Full of Love and Mercy which is infinite and unmeasurable. He will truly heal us of our adversities and grant us His graces.

Oh! Dear Mother of God, 

Our Lady of Conception Aparecida!

Oh! Saint Rita of Cassia 

and Saint Jude worker of miracles 

and helper of impossible causes 

pray for me.

Saint Expedite, Saint of urgent causes. 

Saint Edwiges the Saint of the needy,

you know how desperate I feel, 

please ask Jesus to help me.

(Here mention your request)

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus 

be adored and glorified for ever.

Pray 1 Our Father, Hail Mary,

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.

Pray for 3 days. Publish on the 3rd day. 

See what will happen on the 4th day.

MARANATHA, Come Infant JESUS Come, Heal me, Hear my Prayers and Grant me my Needs and Save me today

Dear Sweet Divine Infant Jesus, I pray for a miraculous favour from You that to heal me from my financial woes. I trust and believe that by Your miraculous words, I will be healed from my financial adversities soon, I need Your miraculous help urgently. O Jesus, Who has said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened," through the intercession of Mary, Your Most Holy Mother, I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted. Therefore, Infant Jesus, I am not asking to be rich but to be able to attain the amount sufficient to get through these pressing times, to be able to change myself and lead a normal debt free moderate life. 

Infant JESUS, I TRUST in You. AMEN

Dear Sweet Divine Infant Jesus, I pray for a miraculous favour from You that to heal me from my financial woes. I trust and believe that by Your miraculous words, I will be healed from my financial adversities soon, I need Your miraculous help urgently. O Jesus, Who has said, "All that you ask of the Father in My Name, He will grant you," through the intercession of Mary Your Most Holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask your Father in your name that my prayer will be granted. Therefore Infant Jesus, I am not asking to be rich but to be able to attain the amount sufficient to get through these pressing times, to be able to change myself and lead a normal debt free moderate life.

Infant JESUS, I TRUST in You. AMEN

Dear Sweet Divine Infant Jesus, I pray for a miraculous favour from You that to heal me from my financial woes. I trust and believe that by You miraculous words, I will be healed from my financial adversities soon, I need Your miraculous help urgently. O Jesus, Who has said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away but My word shall not pass away," through the intercession of Mary Your Most Holy Mother, I feel confident that my prayer will be granted. Therefore I am not asking to be rich but to be able to attain the amount sufficient to get through these pressing times, to be able to change myself and lead a normal debt free moderate life.

Infant JESUS, I TRUST in You. AMEN

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. 

Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst 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.

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.


Infant JESUS,
I am a sinner, have mercy and pity on me.
It is not worthy for You to enter under my roof,
but Your WORD will heal me.
Infant JESUS, I TRUST in Thee
and by Your Miraculous Image and Word,
I am Healed.
Infant JESUS, I TRUST in THEE

MARANATHA, Come Infant JESUS Come
and Heal me today. AMEN.
MARANATHA, Come Infant JESUS Come
and Grant me, 
my prayer request and needs today. AMEN.
MARANATHA, Come Infant JESUS Come
and Save me today. AMEN.

Mother dear, O pray for me!

Mother dear, O pray for me! 

Whilst far from heav'n and thee.

I wander in a fragile bark, 

O'er life's tempestuous sea.

O Virgin Mother, from thy throne, 

So bright in bliss above. 

Protect thy child and cheer my path

With thy sweet smile of love.

The Presentation of the Lord (Feast) ~ 2014

Today on 2 February, we Christians recall and acknowledge the Lord’s entry into the Temple, the house of his Father, for the first time.

Forty days after the birth of Jesus at Christmas, we observe and celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on 2 February. On this day in obedience Mary and Joseph with the infant Jesus went to the Temple at Jerusalem to offer sacrifice, both on behalf of Mary and on behalf of Jesus as a first-born male in accordance with Mosaic law. It was Jewish belief that, because of the bleeding, a mother was ritually unclean after giving birth and hence was in need of ritual purification. On giving birth to a son, a Jewish woman would be in semi-seclusion for 40 days (in the case of a girl, the period was longer). At the end of that period, the mother would then, in the case of her first-born, present him to the Lord in acknowledgement of his being source of all life.

Christ the Lord, 

a light to illuminate the Gentiles 

and a glory for His people Israel.

Inspired the words of the canticle "a light to the revelation of the Gentiles", the custom of blessing candles is done on the Feast of the Presentation. The candles were then lit, and a procession took place through church while the Canticle of Simeon was sung. Due to this the feast is also known as the Candlemas. 

Let us all hasten to meet Christ and be eager to join the procession and to carry a light. Our lighted candles are a sign of the divine splendour of the one who comes to expel the dark shadows of evil and to make the whole universe radiant with the brilliance of his eternal light. Our candles also symbolises how bright our souls should be when we go to meet Christ. The Mother of God, the most pure Virgin, carried the true light in her arms and brought him to those who lay in darkness. We too should carry a light for all to see and reflect the radiance of the true light as we hasten to meet him. The true light has come, the light that enlightens every man who is born into this world. Let all of us, my brethren, be enlightened and made radiant by this light. Let all of us share in its splendour, and be so filled with it that no one remains in the darkness. Let us be shining ourselves as we go together to meet and to receive with the aged Simeon the light whose brilliance is eternal. Rejoicing with Simeon, let us sing a hymn of thanksgiving to God, the Father of the light, who sent the true light to dispel the darkness and to give us all a share in his splendour. Through Simeon’s eyes we too have seen the salvation of God which he prepared for all the nations and revealed as the glory of the new Israel, which is ourselves. As Simeon was released from the bonds of this life when he had seen Christ, so we too were at once freed from our old state of sinfulness. By faith we too embraced Christ, the salvation of God the Father, as he came to us from Bethlehem. Gentiles before, we have now become the people of God.

In Pope John Paul II taught's ,‘Simeon's words seem like a second Annunciation to Mary, for they tell her of the actual historical situation in which the Son is to accomplish his mission, namely, in misunderstanding and sorrow.’ (Redemptoris Mater, n16) The archangel’s announcement was a fount of incredible joy because it pertained to Jesus’ messianic royalty and the supernatural character of His virginal conception.

Almighty ever-living God, we humbly implore your majesty that, just as your Only Begotten Son was presented on this day in the Temple in the substance of our flesh, so, by your grace, we may be presented to you with minds made pure. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

Sunday, 2 February, 2014
The Presentation of the Lord (Feast)

Reading 1

Malachi 3: 1 - 4
1	"Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
2	But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? "For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap;
3	he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the LORD.
4	Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.

Psalm

Psalms 24: 7 - 10
7	Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
8	Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle!
9	Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
10	Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! [Selah]

Reading 2

Hebrews 2: 14 - 18
14	Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
15	and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage.
16	For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham.
17	Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people.
18	For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Gospel

Luke 2: 22 - 40
22	And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23	(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")
24	and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
25	Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26	And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27	And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,
28	he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29	"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;
30	for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
31	which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32	a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel."
33	And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him;
34	and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against
35	(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."
36	And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity,
37	and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
38	And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39	And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
40	And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Or

Luke 2: 22 - 32
22	And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23	(as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")
24	and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."
25	Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26	And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27	And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law,
28	he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29	"Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word;
30	for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
31	which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32	a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel."

Thank you, Lord for the graces we receive each day ....

God's grace is wonderful.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; 

his love endures forever. 

~ Psalm 118:1 ~

God is so great that He gives us His grace because of His love for us. Grace is God showing His love to you even though you don't deserve it or it is unworthy for Him to enter under your roof. God also shows His grace by giving you strength and guidance, and by taking care of you each day. God, by His grace, gives you strength to handle difficult problems in your life.

St. John Bosco, Priest (Memorial)

On 31 January, the Roman Catholic Church honours St. John Bosco (Don Bosco) for his ministry work in reaching out and working with the young inclusive of youth in areas of faith, education, and work opportunities. St. John Bosco was the founder of the Salesian Society, named in honour of St. Francis de Sales, and of the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians. 

In August 1815, St. John Bosco was born to a Catholic family in peasant farmers in Castelnuovo d'Asti (Castelnuovo Don Bosco), Turin, Italy. John Bosco was ordained a priest in 1841. He started of his minitry with reaching to boy and young men on the streets, those without education or work. He founded a group known as the Oratory of St. Francis de Sales and was determined to save these boy and young men from life of degradation. 

John began his ministry to the young by first forming catechism classes that met after Sunday Mass. At these classes he would offer schooling in the faith for free and he soon had a group of over 400 children to teach. John formulated a system of education based on "reason, religion and kindness."

John Bosco died in the early hours of 31 January, 1888 after spending his whole life working for the cause of the young and the youth. His last message before dying was “Tell the boys that I shall be waiting for them all in Paradise.” John was canonized by Pope Pius XI on Easter Sunday, 1934. St. John Bosco is the patron saint of young people, apprentices, schoolchildren, students, Catholic publishers and editors. by Pope Pius XI in 1934. St. John Bosco was named as "teacher and father to the young" by Pope John Paul II. St. John Bosco is also known as the "Apostle of Youth".

Every virtue in your soul is a precious ornament which makes you dear to God and to man. But holy purity, the queen of virtues, the angelic virtue, is a jewel so precious that those who possess it become like the angels of God in Heaven, even though clothed in mortal flesh.

~ St. John Bosco ~

Prayer to Saint John Bosco

Admirable apostle of youth, founder of religious Congregations, catechist, educator, writer, and a light that shone brightly in our time, you know that one of the greatest powers today is the power of the Press. Prompt editors to be always truthful and to work for the good of human beings, thus serving the greater glory of God. Amen.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

O God, who raised up the Priest Saint John Bosco as a father and teacher of the young, grant we pray, that, aflame with the same fire of love, we may seek out souls and serve you alone. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

Friday, 31 January, 2014
St. John Bosco, Priest (Memorial)

Reading

2 Samuel 11: 1 - 10, 13 - 17
1	In the spring of the year, the time when kings go forth to battle, David sent Jo'ab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they ravaged the Ammonites, and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
2	It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking upon the roof of the king's house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful.
3	And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, "Is not this Bathshe'ba, the daughter of Eli'am, the wife of Uri'ah the Hittite?"
4	So David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house.
5	And the woman conceived; and she sent and told David, "I am with child."
6	So David sent word to Jo'ab, "Send me Uri'ah the Hittite." And Jo'ab sent Uri'ah to David.
7	When Uri'ah came to him, David asked how Jo'ab was doing, and how the people fared, and how the war prospered.
8	Then David said to Uri'ah, "Go down to your house, and wash your feet." And Uri'ah went out of the king's house, and there followed him a present from the king.
9	But Uri'ah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house.
10	When they told David, "Uri'ah did not go down to his house," David said to Uri'ah, "Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?"
13	And David invited him, and he ate in his presence and drank, so that he made him drunk; and in the evening he went out to lie on his couch with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house.
14	In the morning David wrote a letter to Jo'ab, and sent it by the hand of Uri'ah.
15	In the letter he wrote, "Set Uri'ah in the forefront of the hardest fighting, and then draw back from him, that he may be struck down, and die."
16	And as Jo'ab was besieging the city, he assigned Uri'ah to the place where he knew there were valiant men.
17	And the men of the city came out and fought with Jo'ab; and some of the servants of David among the people fell. Uri'ah the Hittite was slain also.

Psalm

Psalms 51: 3 - 7, 10 - 11
3	For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
4	Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in thy sight, so that thou art justified in thy sentence and blameless in thy judgment.
5	Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6	Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
7	Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
10	Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
11	Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy holy Spirit from me.

Gospel

Mark 4: 26 - 34
26	And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground,
27	and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how.
28	The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.
29	But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."
30	And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?
31	It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth;
32	yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."
33	With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it;
34	he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

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Prayer To Our Lady, Help Of Christians 

by St. John Bosco 

Most Holy Virgin Mary, Help of Christian,

how sweet it is to come to your feet

imploring your perpetual help.

If earthly mothers cease not to remember their children, 

how can you, the most loving of all mothers forget me?

Grant then to me, I implore you, 

your perpetual help in all my necessities, 

in every sorrow, and especially in all my temptations.

I ask for your unceasing help for all who are now suffering.

Help the weak, cure the sick, convert sinners.

Grant through your intercessions many vocations to the religious life. 

Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians,

that having invoked you on earth we may love and eternally thank you in heaven.

AMEN.

Mary Help of Christians, 

Pray for us!