RELIGION AND ART

Wisdom takes care of those who look for her, she raises them to greatness.  Loving her is loving life itself; rising early to look for her is pure joy.  Anyone who obtains Wisdom will be greatly honoured. Wherever he goes, the Lord will bless him.  Wisdom's servants are the servants of the Holy One, and the Lord loves every- one who loves her.  Those who obey her will give sound judgments; those who pay attention to her have true security..... But if you go astray, she will abandon you and let you go to your own ruin.  4:11-19 Readings

My child, if you are going to serve the Lord, be prepared for times when you will be put to the test. Be sincere and determined. Keep calm when trouble comes. Stay with the Lord; never abandon him, and you will be prosperous at the end of your days.  Accept whatever happens to you.  Even if you suffer humiliation, be patient. Gold is tested by fire, and human character is tested in the furnace of humiliation.  Trust the Lord, and he will help you. Walk straight in his ways, and put your hope in him...... The Lord is kind and merciful; he forgives our sins and keeps us safe in time of trouble.  Sir 2:1-11 Readings

All wisdom comes from the Lord and with him it remains forever, and is before all time. The sand of the seashore, the drops of the rain, the days of eternity: who can number these? Heaven's height, earth's breath, the depths of the abyss: who can explore these? Before all things else wisdom was  created; prudent and understanding, from eternity. The word of God on high is the fountain of wisdom, and her ways are everlasting....... Sir. 1:1-10 Readings

Saul set off and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, accompanied by three thousand men chosen from Israel to search for David in the wilderness of Ziph. So in the dark David and Abishai made their way towards the force, where they found Saul asleep inside the camp, his spear stuck in the ground beside his head, with Abner and the troops lying round him. Then Abishai said to David, "Today God has put your enemy in your power; so now let me pin him to the ground with his own spear. Just one stroke! I will not need to strike him twice."  David answered Abishai, "Do not kill him, for who can lift his hand against the Lord's anointed and be without guilt?.... Readings

Brothers and sisters: Faith is the realization of what is hoped for Saint Polycarp and evidence of things not seen.   Because of it the ancients were well attested.  By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God, so that what is visible came into being through invisible. By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice greater than Cain's. Through this, he was attested to be righteous, God bearing witness to his gifts, and through this, through dead, he still speaks..... Readings

THE CHAIR OF ST PETER We pray for Pope Francis. May God's spirit remain with him to guide and direct him. Readings

May the LORD answer you in a day of trouble; may the name of Jacob's God protect you. May He send you help from the sanctuary, and sustain you in Zion. May He remember all your offerings and accept all your burn offering.... Psalm 20 Readings Psalm 27

The Lord saw that the wickedness of human was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made humankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, " I will blot from the earth human beings I have created, people together with animals and creeping things, birds of the air, for I am sorry that I made them. "But Noah found favor in God sight...... Gen. 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10 Readings Psalm 51

The man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying "I have produced a man with the help of the LORD" Next she bore his brother Abel. Abel became a keeper of flocks, and Cain a tiller of the soil.... Gen. 4:1-15,25 Readings

Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh says the Lord. Matt. 5:3-12 Readings Pauline Prayer: Father in heaven, the loving plan of your wisdom took flesh in Jesus Christ, and changed mankind's history by his command of perfect love. May our fulfilment of his command reflect your wisdom and bring your salvation to the ends of the earth. We ask this though Christ our Lord.

Now the snake was the most cunning animal that the LORD God had made. The snake asked the woman, "Did God really tell you not the eat fruit from any tree in the garden" "We may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden," the woman answered, except the tree in the middle of it. God told us not to touch it; if we do, we will die" The snake replied, "That's not true; you will not die. God said that, because he knows that when you eat it you will be like God and know what is good and what is bad...  That evening they heard the LORD God walking in the garden, and they hid from him among the trees ... Gen 3:1-8 Readings Psalm 51

The Lord God Said: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him" So the Lord God formed out out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call Saint Valentine them; whatever the man called each of them would be its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man..... Gen. 2:18-25 Readings

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light" and  there was light... Gen. 1:1-19 Readings

Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of lips that confess his name, Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls and will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with sighing, for that would be harmful to you. Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Heb 13:15-17, 20-21 Readings

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them, those who are being tortured. Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said "I will never leave you or forsake you. "So we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; not be afraid. What can anyone do to me? Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.Heb. 13:1-8 Readings

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake St. Agatha  of joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. Heb. 12:1-4 Readings Images of Saint Agatha

"Before I formed you in the womb knew you, and were born consecrated you; appointed a prophet to nations." But gird up your loins; stand tell them everything that I command you....  Jer, 1:4-5, 17-19 Readings

See, I am sending 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 THE PRESENTATION you delight indeed, he  is coming says the Lord of hosts. 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; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver until they present offerings to the Lord as in the days of old and as in the former years.  Mal 3:1-4 Readings  

I have never held anything that the poor desire,  or have caused the desire of the widow fail, or eaten my morsel alone,  and the orphan has not eaten from it... Job 31:16-20 Readings