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First Reading: Rom 4:13.16-18
Brothers and sisters:
It was not through the law that the promise was made to
Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world,
but through the righteousness that comes from faith. For this
reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the
promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those
who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of
Abraham, who is the father of all of us, as it is written, I have
made you father of many nations. He is our father in the sight
of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and
calls into being what does not exist. He believed, hoping against
hope, that he would become the father of many nations,
according to what was said, Thus shall your descendants be.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 105:6-7,8-9,42-43
R./ The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R./ The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations—
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac.
R./ The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
For he remembered his holy word
to his servant Abraham.
And he led forth his people with joy;
with shouts of joy, his chosen ones.
R./ The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Gospel Reading: Luke 12:8-12
Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before people, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But the one who denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.
"There will be pardon for the one who criticizes the Son of Man, but there will be no pardon for the one who slanders the Holy Spirit.
"When you are brought before the synagogues, governors and rulers, don't worry about how you will defend yourself or what to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you have to say."
ST. THERESA OF JESUS, Virgin and Church Doctor
Memorial
October 15
Introduction
St Teresa of Jesus (of Avila) (1515–1582) had to grow from a lukewarm Carmelite nun into a fervent one. In The Interior Castle, she describes her mystic experience of deep union with the Lord. God is felt with a quiet, mystic feeling as living in one's deepest castle. Notwithstanding much opposition, Teresa reformed her Carmel and much of the Carmelite order on the basis of a life of deep prayer and a profound sense of community. Because of her writings about mysticism, she became the first woman to be a doctor of the Church.
Opening Prayer
Our living and loving God,
St. Teresa of Jesus was deeply aware
how much you live in the deepest of ourselves.
May Teresa help us to live Jesus' life
as living branches attached to the vine,
who bear plenty of fruit
of justice, goodness, and love.
Let our union with Jesus become visible
in our openness to one another
and in a deep sense of prayer.
We ask this though Christ, our Lord.
General Intercessions
- That missionaries may generously leave their homes and all that is familiar to them for the sake of Christ, we pray:
- That young people may leave father and mother for the love of each other, trusting in God as their faithful companion and guide, we pray:
- That in our Christian communities we may learn to grow in love and to trust one another more, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God, center of our lives,
you planted your Son among us
as the true, life-giving vine.
Let him give himself to us
as our bread of strength
and pour himself for us
as the vigorous, unifying vine,
that he may live in us and we in him
and that we can do all things in him,
for he is our Lord for ever.
Prayer after Communion
God, core of our life,
we thank you for filling us
with the sap of life of Jesus, our true vine.
May we go on living in deep union
with him and with one another,
that in the uncertainties of life
we may go on believing, hoping,
and building together a kingdom of love.
And when we go again our selfish ways,
use your pruning knife
to purify our faith and love.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord.
