Today, May 13
Feast of the Day
No feast of the day
Saint of the Day
This title was given to the Blessed Virgin Mary after she appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, between May 13 and October 13, 1917. The three messages or 'secrets' of Fatima stress the importance of repentance, conversion of heart, and dedication to Our Lady, especially through daily prayer of the Rosary.©2011 Living with Christ, Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/. Reprinted with permission.
Readings of the Day
Acts of the Apostles 17,15.22-34.18,1.
After Paul's escorts had taken him to Athens, they came away with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. Then Paul stood up at the Areopagus and said: "You Athenians, I see that in every respect you are very religious. For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines, I even discovered an altar inscribed, 'To an Unknown God.' What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything. He made from one the whole human race to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions, so that people might seek God, even perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from any one of us. For 'In him we live and move and have our being,' as even some of your poets have said, 'For we too are his offspring.' Since therefore we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the divinity is like an image fashioned from gold, silver, or stone by human art and imagination. God has overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he demands that all people everywhere repent because he has established a day on which he will 'judge the world with justice' through a man he has appointed, and he has provided confirmation for all by raising him from the dead." When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, "We should like to hear you on this some other time." And so Paul left them. But some did join him, and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the Court of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. After this he left Athens and went to Corinth.
Psalms 148(147),1-2.11-12ab.12c-14a.14bcd.
Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights; praise him, all you his angels; praise him, all you his hosts. Let the kings of the earth and all peoples, the princes and all the judges of the earth, young men too, and maidens, old men and boys. Praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven. He has lifted up the horn of his people. be this his praise from all his faithful ones, from the children of Israel, the people close to him. Alleluia.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 16,12-15.
Jesus said to his disciples: "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you."
Daily Reflection
We pray to the most kind Father through you, his only-begotten Son, who for us became man, was crucified and glorified, that he send us out of his treasures the Spirit of sevenfold grace who rested upon you in all fullness: the Spirit, I say, of Wisdom, that we may taste the life-giving flavors of the fruit of the tree of life, which you truly are; the gift also of Understanding, by which the intentions of our mind are illumined; the gift of Counsel, by which we may follow in your footsteps on the right paths; the gift of Fortitude, by which we may be able to weaken the violence of our enemy’s attacks; the gift of Knowledge, by which we may be filled with the brilliant light of your sacred teaching to distinguish good and evil; the gift of Piety, by which we may acquire a merciful heart; the gift of Fear, by which we may draw away from all evil and be set at peace by submitting in awe to your eternal majesty. For you have wished that we ask for these things in that sacred prayer which you have taught us; and now we ask to obtain them through your cross for the praise of your most holy name. To you, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, thanksgiving, beauty and power, forever and ever. Amen.