Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 Let anyone with ears[a] listen!”

The Purpose of the Parables

10 Then the disciples came and asked him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets[b] of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 13 The reason I speak to them in parables is that ‘seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.’ 14 With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:

‘You will indeed listen, but never understand,
and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
15 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
so that they might not look with their eyes,
and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turn—
and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.

The Parable of the Sower Explained

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.[c] 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat

24 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

31 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

The Parable of the Yeast

33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with[d] three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

The Use of Parables

34 Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. 35 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet:[e]

“I will open my mouth to speak in parables;
I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.”[f]

Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds

36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears[g] listen!

Three Parables

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Treasures New and Old

51 “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” 53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.

The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth

54 He came to his hometown and began to teach the people[h] in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house.” 58 And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.

The Parable of the Sower

The Parable of the Sower

13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 Let anyone with ears[a] listen!”

The Purpose of the Parables

10 Then the disciples came and asked him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets[b] of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 13 The reason I speak to them in parables is that ‘seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.’ 14 With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:

‘You will indeed listen, but never understand,
and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
15 For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
so that they might not look with their eyes,
and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turn—
and I would heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.

The Parable of the Sower Explained

18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.[c] 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat

24 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

31 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

The Parable of the Yeast

33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with[d] three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

The Use of Parables

34 Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. 35 This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet:[e]

“I will open my mouth to speak in parables;
I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.”[f]

Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds

36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears[g] listen!

Three Parables

44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Treasures New and Old

51 “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” 53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.

The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth

54 He came to his hometown and began to teach the people[h] in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house.” 58 And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus.[a] “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii,[b] gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

The Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother

The Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother

11 Then Jesus[a] said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with[b] the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’[c] 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.

25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31 Then the father[d] said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”

The Parable of the Ten Pounds

The Parable of the Ten Pounds

11 As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12 So he said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to get royal power for himself and then return. 13 He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds,[a] and said to them, ‘Do business with these until I come back.’ 14 But the citizens of his country hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’ 15 When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he might find out what they had gained by trading. 16 The first came forward and said, ‘Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds.’ 17 He said to him, ‘Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very small thing, take charge of ten cities.’ 18 Then the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your pound has made five pounds.’ 19 He said to him, ‘And you, rule over five cities.’ 20 Then the other came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, 21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ 22 He said to him, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? 23 Why then did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could have collected it with interest.’ 24 He said to the bystanders, ‘Take the pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’ 25 (And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten pounds!’) 26 ‘I tell you, to all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But as for these enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and slaughter them in my presence.’”

The Parable of the Sower. 1 [a]On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. 3 [b]And he spoke to them at length in parables,[c] saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, 6 and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. 7 Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. 8 But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. 9 Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

The Purpose of Parables. 10 The disciples approached him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 [d]He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. 12 To anyone who has, more will be given[e] and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 [f]This is why I speak to them in parables, because ‘they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.’ 14 Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:

‘You shall indeed hear but not understand,
you shall indeed look but never see.
15 Gross is the heart of this people,
they will hardly hear with their ears,
they have closed their eyes,
lest they see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart and be converted,
and I heal them.’

The Privilege of Discipleship.[g] 16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. 17 Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

The Explanation of the Parable of the Sower.[h] 18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. 20 The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. 21 But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. 22 The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. 23 But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

The Parable of the Weeds Among the Wheat. 24 He proposed another parable to them.[i] “The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds[j] all through the wheat, and then went off. 26 When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. 27 The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let them grow together until harvest;[k] then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed.[l] 31 He proposed another parable to them. “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. 32 [m]It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the ‘birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.’”

The Parable of the Yeast. 33 He spoke to them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast[n] that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.”

The Use of Parables. 34 [o]All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, 35 to fulfill what had been said through the prophet:[p]

“I will open my mouth in parables,
I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation [of the world].”

The Explanation of the Parable of the Weeds.

36 Then, dismissing the crowds,[q] he went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37 [r]He said in reply, “He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, 38 the field is the world,[s] the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age,[t] and the harvesters are angels. 40 Just as weeds are collected and burned [up] with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom[u] all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. 42 They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. 43 [v]Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear.

More Parables.

[w] 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,[x] which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. 46 When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. 47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. 48 When it is full they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets. What is bad they throw away. 49 Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.

Treasures New and Old.

51 “Do you understand[y] all these things?” They answered, “Yes.” 52 [z]And he replied, “Then every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” 53 When Jesus finished these parables, he went away from there.

V. Jesus, the Kingdom, and the Church

The Rejection at Nazareth.

54 [aa]He came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished[ab] and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? 55 Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? 56 Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” 58 And he did not work many mighty deeds there because of their lack of faith.

10 Commandments of God

Then God spoke all these words:

2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3 you shall have no other gods before me.

4 You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6 but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.

8 Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.

12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

13 You shall not murder.

14 You shall not commit adultery.

15 You shall not steal.

16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

18 When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance, 19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.” 21 Then the people stood at a distance, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

Moses Makes New Tablets

34 The Lord said to Moses, “Cut two tablets of stone like the former ones, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets, which you broke. 2 Be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai and present yourself there to me, on the top of the mountain. 3 No one shall come up with you, and do not let anyone be seen throughout all the mountain; and do not let flocks or herds graze in front of that mountain.” 4 So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the former ones; and he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tablets of stone. 5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name, “The Lord.”[a] 6 The Lord passed before him, and proclaimed,

“The Lord, the Lord,
a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
7 keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation,
forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin,
yet by no means clearing the guilty,
but visiting the iniquity of the parents
upon the children
and the children’s children,
to the third and the fourth generation.”

8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. 9 He said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”

1 John 2

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

Christ Our Advocate

2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

3 Now by this we may be sure that we know him, if we obey his commandments. 4 Whoever says, “I have come to know him,” but does not obey his commandments, is a liar, and in such a person the truth does not exist; 5 but whoever obeys his word, truly in this person the love of God has reached perfection. By this we may be sure that we are in him: 6 whoever says, “I abide in him,” ought to walk just as he walked.

A New Commandment

7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word that you have heard. 8 Yet I am writing you a new commandment that is true in him and in you, because[a] the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. 9 Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister,[b] is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves a brother or sister[c] lives in the light, and in such a person[d] there is no cause for stumbling. 11 But whoever hates another believer[e] is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.

12 I am writing to you, little children,
because your sins are forgiven on account of his name.
13 I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young people,
because you have conquered the evil one.
14 I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young people,
because you are strong
and the word of God abides in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; 16 for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 And the world and its desire[f] are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.

John 13

The New Commandment

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If God has been glorified in him,[j] God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 15

New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

Jesus the True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes[a] to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed[b] by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become[c] my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants[d] any longer, because the servant[e] does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

The World’s Hatred

18 “If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If you belonged to the world,[f] the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘Servants[g] are not greater than their master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. 21 But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 It was to fulfill the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’

26 “When the Advocate[h] comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. 27 You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.

Sins Against the Holy Spirit

You didn’t come this far to stop

Recommended, Weekly Prayers

Daily Prayers for the Days of the Week

Sunday: The Most Blessed Trinity

ANT. Blessed be the holy Creator and Ruler of all things, the sacred and undivided Trinity, now and always, through infinite ages and ages.

V. Let us bless the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

R. Let us praise and exalt Him forever.

Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, Who hast given Thy servants, in the confession of the true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the Eternal Trinity, and, in the power of Thy majesty, to adore the Unity, we beseech Thee that, by stead-fastness in the same faith, we may always be defended from all adversities. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer to the Blessed Trinity

O power of the Father, support my weakness and deliver me from the abyss of my misery; O wisdom of the Son, do Thou direct all my thoughts, words, and works; O love of the Holy Ghost, penetrate all the operations of my soul so that they may be ever in harmony with Thy divine pleasure. Amen.

Canticle of the Seraphim

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts! the heavens and earth are full of Thy glory. Glory be to the Father, glory be to the Son, glory be to the Holy Ghost.

Monday: The Souls in Purgatory

ANT. I am the Resurrection and the Life. He that believeth in Me, even though he die, shall live; and every one that liveth and believeth in Me shall not die forever.

V. I heard a voice from heaven saying to me

R. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.

Let us pray. O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, give unto the souls of Thy servants and handmaids the remission of all their sins, that through pious supplication they may obtain the pardon they have ever wished for. Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, forever and ever. Amen.

Ejaculation

Lord, give unto them eternal rest, and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

Tuesday: The Holy Angels

ANT. Angels, Archangels, Thrones and Dominations, Principalities and Powers, Virtues of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, bless the Lord forever.

V. All ye angels of the Lord, bless the Lord.

R. Sing a hymn and exalt Him above all forever.

Let us pray. O God, Who in a wonderful manner dost distribute the ministries of angels and men, mercifully grant that as Thy holy angels ever wait upon Thee and do Thee service in heaven, so our lives may be defended by them upon earth. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Invocation of the Nine Choirs of Angels

O Holy Angels, watch over us at all times during this perilous life;

O holy Archangels, be our guides on the way to heaven;

O heavenly choir of the Principalities, govern us in soul and body;

O mighty Powers, preserve us against the wiles of the demons;

O celestial Virtues, give us strength and courage in the battle of life;

O powerful Dominations, obtain for us dominion over the rebellion of our flesh;

O sacred Thrones, grant us peace with God and man;

O brilliant Cherubim, illumine our minds with heavenly knowledge;

O burning Seraphim, enkindle in our hearts the fire of charity. Amen.

Wednesday: St. Joseph

ANT. In whatever tribulation they shall cry to me, I will hear them and be their protector always.

V. Obtain for us, O Joseph, to lead an innocent life.

R. And may it ever be safe through thy patronage.

Let us pray.O God, Who in Thine unspeakable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the husband of Thy most holy Mother, mercifully grant that, as we venerate him for our protector on earth, we may deserve to be aided by his intercession in heaven. Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen.

Memorare to St. Joseph

Remember, O most pure spouse of Mary ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that never has it be known that anyone ever invoked thy protection, or besought aid of thee, without being consoled. In this confidence I come before thee; I fervently recommend myself to thee. Despise not my prayer, foster-father of our Redeemer, but do thou in thy pity graciously receive it. Amen.

Prayer to St. Joseph

Guardian of virgins, and holy father, St. Joseph, to whose faithful custody Christ Jesus, Innocence itself, and Mary, Virgin of virgins, were committed, I pray and beseech thee, by these dear pledges, Jesus and Mary, that being preserved from all uncleanness, I may with spotless mind, pure heart and chaste body, ever serve Jesus and Mary most chastely all the days of my life. Amen.

Thursday: The Most Blessed Sacrament

ANT. O sacred banquet in which Christ is received, the memory of His Passion is recalled, the soul is filled with grace, and the pledge of future glory is given us.

V. Thou hast given them Bread from heaven,

R. Containing all manner of sweetness.

Let us pray. O God, Who hast left us, in this wonderful Sacrament, a perpetual memorial of Thy Passion, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to reverence the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Blood that we may ever find in our souls the fruit of Thy Redemption, Who livest and reignest, forever and ever. Amen.

Ave Verum Corpus Natum

Hail to Thee! true Body, sprung

From the Virgin Mary’s womb!

The same that on the Cross was hung,

And bore for man the bitter doom!

Thou, Whose side was pierced, and flow’d

Both with Water and with Blood;

Suffer us to taste of Thee,

In our life’s last agony.

Son of Mary, Jesu blest!

Sweetest, gentlest, holiest!

Sing My Tongue | Pange Lingua

Sing, my tongue, the Saviour’s glory,

Of His Flesh, the mystery sing;

Of His Blood, all price exceeding,

Shed by our immortal King,

Destin’d for the world’s redemption

From a noble Womb to spring.

Of a pure and spotless Virgin

Born for us on earth below,

He, as Man, with man conversing,

Stay’d the seeds of truth to sow;

Then He closed in solemn order

Wondrously His Life of woe.

On the night of that Last Supper,

Seated with His chosen band,

He, the Paschal Victim eating,

First fulfils the Lord’s command;

Then as Food to all His brethren,

Gives Himself with His own Hand.

Word-made-Flesh, the bread of nature

By His Word to Flesh He turns;

Wine into His Blood He changes:

What though sense no change discerns!

Only be the heart in earnest,

Faith her lesson quickly learns.

Down in adoration falling,

Lo! the sacred Host we hail!

Lo! o’er ancient forms departing,

Newer rites of grace prevail;

Faith for all defects supplying,

When the feebler senses fail.

To the Everlasting Father,

And the Son Who reigns on high,

With the Holy Ghost proceeding

Forth from each eternally,

Be salvation, honour, blessing,

Might and endless majesty. Amen.

Friday: The Passion of Christ

ANT. O all ye who pass by the way, attend and see if there is any sorrow like unto my sorrow.

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee.

R. Because by Thy holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.

Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Who at the sixth hour didst mount the gibbet of the Cross for the Redemption of the world and didst shed Thy Precious Blood that our sins might be washed away, we humbly beseech Thee that after our death Thou wouldst suffer us to pass with joy through the gates of heaven. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

O God, Who to redeem the world didst vouchsafe to be born amongst men, to be circumcised, rejected by the Jews, betrayed by the traitor Judas with a kiss, to be bound with cords, and as an innocent lamb to be led to the slaughter; Who didst suffer Thyself to be shamelessly exposed to the gaze of Annas, Caiphus, Pilate and Herod; to be accused by false witnesses, tormented by scourges and insults, crowned with thorns, smitten with blows, defiled with spittings, to have Thy divine countenance covered, to be struck with a reed, to be stripped of Thy clothes, nailed to and raised high upon a Cross between two thieves, to be given gall and vinegar to drink, and then pierced with a lance; do Thou, O LORD, by these most sacred sufferings, which I, unworthy as I am, yet dare to contemplate, by Thy holy Cross and by Thy bitter Death, free me from the pains of hell, and vouchsafe to bring me to Paradise, whither Thou didst lead the thief who was crucified with Thee, my Jesus, Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest, God forever and ever. Amen.

Pray a Pater Noster, Ave Maria, and Gloria five times

Invocation of St. Thomas Aquinas

The Cross is my sure salvation;

the Cross I ever adore;

the Cross of my Lord is with me;

the Cross is my refuge.

Saturday: The Blessed Virgin Mary

ANT. O glorious Mother of God, Mary, ever Virgin, who alone wast found worthy to bear the Lord of all, and though a virgin, to nurse the King of angels; be graciously mindful to us, we beseech thee, and pray to Christ for us, that we, being upheld by thy care, may deserve to attain to the heavenly kingdom.

V. Holy Mary, Mother of Christ.

R. Hear thy humble servants who implore thee.

Let us pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we, Thy servants, may enjoy continual health of mind and body; and that through the glorious intercession of blessed Mary, ever Virgin, we may be delivered from present sorrow, and attain eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Inviolata

Thou art inviolate, undefiled and chaste, O Mary.

Though hast been made the resplendent gate of heaven.

O loving and dearest Mother of Christ,

Accept our devout acclamations in praise of thee.

That our minds and bodies may be pure,

Devoted hearts and lips now implore thee.

Through thy sweetest sounding prayers,

Gain us pardon forever.

O kind one, who alone didst remain inviolate.

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy clemency hear and answer me. Amen.

Prayers for Each Day Day of the Week

For prayers for each day of the week centered around the above devotions, see the final set of prayers on the Prayers for Every Day of the Week page.

The first three sets of prayers below come from the 1910 Raccolta, but are otherwise unrelated aside from the fact that each set consists of prayers for every day of the week -- Sunday through Saturday. I couldn't resist including them on this site.

The first set is made of prayers by St. Alphonsus to the Blessed Virgin to beg her pity, dedicate oneself to her, and ask for her help at death. The second set consists of prayers to St. Philip Neri, asking him to help one obtain humility, patience, purity, love of God, love of neighbor, detachment from the world, and perseverance. The third set is of prayers for the souls in Purgatory.

The fourth set of prayers isn't strictly designed to be for "every day," but there are seven of them nonetheless -- each pertaining to one of the seven deadly sins.

The fifth set consists of meditations for every day of the week. They come from "The Golden Manual: Being a Guide to Catholic Devotion, Public and Private," published in 1850.

The sixth set consists of prayers related to how the day of the week is dedicated (e.g., Sunday is dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity, Monday to the Souls in Purgatory, Wednesday to St. Joseph, Thursday to the Blessed Sacrament, Friday to Christ's Passion, and Saturday to the Blessed Virgin).

I offer them all below, with the options to download each separately in pdf format.

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Prayers of St. Alphonsus Liguori for Every Day of the Week

Prayers to St. Philip Neri for Every Day of the Week

Prayers for the Souls in Purgatory for Every Day of the Week

Prayers Against the Seven Deadly Sins

Meditations for Every Day in the Week

Daily Prayers for the Days of the Week

Download in pdf format

Download in pdf format

Download in pdf format

Download in pdf format

Download in pdf format

Download in pdf format

Recommended, Weekly Prayers

Meditations for Every Day of the Week

For Sunday: On Eternal Happiness

Preparation:

1. Having put away all earthly cares and affections, say: "Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love

Prayer: "O God, Who hast taught the hearts of the faithful, by the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us, by the same Spirit, to have a right understanding in all things, and continue to rejoice in his consolation; through Christ our Lord."

2. Picture to yourself, as well as you are able, the spacious and most beautiful mansions of the blessed, and in them God, with His holy angels, etc.

3. Ask grace of God, that, as far as may be, you may be able to see and appreciate that heavenly glory.

First Point for Consideration: Consider what the happiness of heaven is. It is the perfect combination of every good, without any admixture of evil, in which the blessed repose securely in the fullest satisfaction of all their desires. According to Psalm 16: "I shall be satisfied when Thy glory shall appear."

Affections: What have I in heaven, and what do I desire upon the earth, besides Thee?

Second Point of Consideration: Consider how sweet, in that heavenly city (the brightness of whose walls and gates and streets are described in Apocalypse 21), will be the society of Christ, and of the blessed Virgin Mary, and of the Apostles, and the other saints, when all shall be united to God, and God shall be in all; where the highest will embrace the lowest without the least admixture of contempt, and the lowest embrace the highest without any envy of their superiority.

Affections: "How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts! My soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord," etc. Psalm 83.

Third Point of Consideration: Consider the differences of glory. I Corinthians 15:41: "One is the glory of the sun, another the glory of the moon, and another the glory of the stars. For star differeth from star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead." For the glory of each one shall be greater in proportion as he has this life done or suffered more for the sake of God.

Affections: And shall I, then, seek to escape from labours and the cross, although the sufferings of this world are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come?

Colloquy: Give thanks to God, that He has prepared a great reward for such slight services as we can render unto Him. Reproach thyself for thine own ingratitude and negligence. Commend the whole of this act and devotion to the protection of the blessed Virgin Mary; and say, We fly to thy patronage, etc.

For Monday: On Death

Preparation: Having put away all earthly cares and affections, say: "Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love."

Prayer: "O God, Who hast taught the hearts of the faithful, by the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us, by the same Spirit, to have a right understanding in all things, and continue to rejoice in his consolation; through Christ our Lord."

Imagine yourself in your last agony, lying on your bed, with a crucifix in one hand and a taper in the other.

First Point of Consideration: Consider that "it is appointed to all men once to die" (Hebrews 9); but that the day and hour is uncertain. For "the day of the Lord shall so come as a thief in the night. For when they shall say peace and security, then shall sudden destruction come upon them." I Thessalonians 5:3 The wise man truly observes (Ecclesiastes 9): "As fishes are taken with the hook, and as birds are caught with the snare, so men are taken in the evil time."

Affections: Why, then, do I not hold myself in readiness every day and every hour, as Christ exhorteth? Matthew 24: "Be ye ready, for ye know now at what hour the Son of man will come."

Second Point of Consideration: Consider how great may be at that time your bodily pain: on account of which, you may neither be able to pray, or to repent, or even to remember your sins. For that shall be fulfilled. Psalm 40: "Thou has turned all his couch in his sickness."

Affections: "Therefore, while we have time let us do good" Galatians 6:10 But, concerning this present time, it is said (II Corinthians 6:2): "In an accepted time have I heard thee, and in the day of salvation have I helped thee: behold now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation."

Third Point of Consideration: Consider in what great straits will thy soul then be, when it is about to leave the body, and knows not "whether it is worthy of hatred or love;" whether it is to be received into heaven or thrust down into hell. The sould of Hilarion, who had served Christ for nearly seventy years, trembled at its departure from the body. "Why art thou afraid, O my soul, to depart?" said he. Job, also, at the prospect of death, says (Job 10:20)," Suffer me that I may lament my sorrows a little before I go, and return no more to a land that is dark, and covered with the mists of death." How much more cause for fear have you! "But the souls of the just are in the hands of God, and the torments of death shall not touch them." Wisdom 3:1

Affections: Would that I might so ponder these things, and so arrange my life, that I might be able to say, "To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21

Colloquy: Accuse yourself to Christ of having neglected meditation on death, and promise Him to amend.

For Tuesday: On Judgment

Preparation: Having put away all earthly cares and affections, say: "Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love."

Prayer: "O God, Who hast taught the hearts of the faithful, by the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us, by the same Spirit, to have a right understanding in all things, and continue to rejoice in his consolation; through Christ our Lord."

Imagine that you are standing as a debtor before Christ, seated on His throne of judgment, and about to give an account of your life unto Him.

First Point of Consideration: Consider how the soul, released from the bonds of the flesh, and forsasken by all, must stand before Christ its Judge, when neither prayers nor tears shall avail, nor any excuse be admitted, and when your guardian angel and the devil shall produce your good and evil deed, etc. What shall I, a sinner, plead?

Affections: And shall I still be so careless? "If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." I Corinthians 11:31

Second Point of Consideration: Consider that you must give account not only of your grievous sins, but for every idle word. Then, perhaps, shall that writing appear against you (Daniel 5:25): "Mane, Thecel, Phares. Mane: God hath numbered thy kingdom, and hath finished it. Thecel: Thou art weighed in the balance, and art found wanting. Phares: Thy kingdom is divided, and is given to the Medes and Persians."

Affections: And shall I not fear? "Pierce thou my flesh with thy fear, for I am afraid of thy judgments." Psalm 118. "Enter not into judgment with thy servant." Psalm 142.

Third Point of Consideration: Consider with what fear and trembling each one will await the sentence of the Judge, which can never be reversed; "Come, ye blessed," etc. or "Depart, ye wicked," etc.

Affections: And shall I hereafter take any pleasure in sin? I will speak in the bitterness of my soul; I will say unto God, Do not condemn me.

Colloquy: Give thanks to Christ, that He has so long granted, and still grants to thee, the time of grace.

For Wednesday: On Hell

Preparation: Having put away all earthly cares and affections, say: "Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love."

Prayer: "O God, Who hast taught the hearts of the faithful, by the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us, by the same Spirit, to have a right understanding in all things, and continue to rejoice in his consolation; through Christ our Lord."

Imagine to yourself some vast and horrid cavern, full of serpents and other monsters, and from whence issue frightful howlings, with smoke and flames, etc.

First Point of Consideration: Consider what eternal damnation is, viz. a never-ending unchangeable condition, in which the reprobate are tormented without pity or hope of mercy; with torments so great, that the mind of man cannot understand or imagine them; of which the lake burning with brimstone and fire (Apocalypse 14:10) is but a part, and, as it were, a figure.

Affections: Truly does Isaias say (Isaias 33): "Which of you can dwell with devouring fire? Which of you can dwell with everlasting burnings?" O Lord, punish me here with fire and sword, rather than hereafter and through eternity.

Second Point of Consideration: Consider well the punishment of the senses, in the eternal torment of the soul as well as the body. The eyes shall be tormented with spectres; the ears with howlings, weeping, and blasphemies; the nostrils with intolerable stench; the tongue and the palate, with the liquid pitch and sulphur; the hands, the brest, and the rest of the body, with unendurable tortures; the memory and the intellect shall gnaw the heart with the remembrance and consideration of the neglected time of grace; the will must endure the frusration and contradiction of all its desires. "As much as she hath glorified herself, and lived in delicacies, so much torment and sorrow give ye to her." Apocalypse 18:7

Affections: Oh, the blindness of men, who, for one drop of honey, fear not the full draught of so much gall and bitterness.

Third Point of Consideration: Consider the pain of loss, which is eternal exclusion from the vision of God and the society of the saints, by far the greatest and most intolerable of all punishments.

Affections: Oh, that I might never forget these things! "Cast me away not from Thy face, O Lord." Psalm 1 Let your colloquy be the deprecation of so great misery.

Thursday: On the Mercies of God

Preparation: Having put away all earthly cares and affections, say: "Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love."

Prayer: "O God, Who hast taught the hearts of the faithful, by the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us, by the same Spirit, to have a right understanding in all things, and continue to rejoice in his consolation; through Christ our Lord."

Imagine to yourself all the gifts of God brought together at one time, and placed before your eyes.

First Point of Consideration: Consider that God, from all eternity, set His eyes upon you, and decreed that you should be created out of nothing unto everlasting salvation. Jeremias 31:3: "I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore have I drawn thee, taking pity on thee." Then, that He brought you forth in the time of grace, placed you in the Catholic Church, and gave you pious parents, etc.; that He spared you going on in sin, delivered you from many dangers, and drew you into the way of salvation, etc.

Affections: "The mercies of the Lord I will sing for ever." Psalm 80. Shall I ever offend, by any sin, so great a Benefactor?

Second Point of Consideration: Consider that God appointed the sacraments of baptism and penance that we might be delivered from our sins, not for His own, but for our sakes, for He has no need of us; He might, without injury, have condemned us to eternal damnation, etc.

Affections: "Bless the Lord, oh, my soul; and let all that is within me bless His holy name." Psalm 102.

Third Point of Consideration: Consider the incomprehensible love of God towards us, in the institution of the most Holy Eucharist, in which He gave HImself to us for our food. "There is no other nation so great, that hath God so nigh them, as our God is present to us." Deuteronomy 4.

Affections: Where is our love in return? "What shall I render unto the Lord or all the things He hath rendered to me?" Psalm 115

Colloquy: Beg of God not to withdraw His mercies from you.

Friday: On the Passion and Death of Christ

Preparation: Having put away all earthly cares and affections, say: "Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love."

Prayer: "O God, Who hast taught the hearts of the faithful, by the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us, by the same Spirit, to have a right understanding in all things, and continue to rejoice in his consolation; through Christ our Lord."

Picture to yourself the Mount of Olives, at the foot of which Christ sweat blood; Mount Sion, on which was situated the city of Solyma, where He was accused, scourged, and condemned; and Mount Calvary, where He was crucified.

First Point of Consideration: Consider what passed in the garden, the agony, the bloody sweat, the prayer.

Affections: Who will not suffer with Him, and take from His hand the cup of His passion which He giveth to drink?

Second Point of Consideration: Consider what He suffered in the city, before Annas, Caiphas, Pilate, etc.; the mockery, the buffetings, scourgings, etc.

Affections: Here none need be suggested.

Third Point of Consideration: Consider what He endured on Mount Calvary, in being stripped of His garments, having His hands and feet pierced. Consider also His words on the Cross, etc.

Affections: "Look upon the wounds of thy Saviour, as He hangs on the cross; look on the blood, which, dying, He sheds for thee, the price of thy redemption. His head is bent to kiss thee; His heart is opened to love thee; His arms stretched out to embrace thee. Consider these things, how great they be; weigh them in the balance of thy heart, that He may be wholly fixed in thy heart, who, for thee, was wholly fastened to the cross" -- St. Augustine.

Colloquy: Jesus crucified will suggest it.

Saturday: On the Blessed Virgin Mary

Preparation: Having put away all earthly cares and affections, say: "Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love."

Prayer: "O God, Who hast taught the hearts of the faithful, by the light of Thy Holy Spirit, grant us, by the same Spirit, to have a right understanding in all things, and continue to rejoice in his consolation; through Christ our Lord."

Place before thy mind the Queen of heaven and earth, exalted above all the hosts of heaven, and crowned by the blessed Trinity.

First Point of Consideration: Consider both the outward and inward loveliness of that blessed Virgin, of whom the spouse in the Canticle saith, "Thou art all fair, oh, my love, and there is not a spot in thee." How should she not be most beautiful, who brought forth Him Who was "beautiful above the sons of men"? Assuredly, "The most High hath sanctified His own tabernacle." Psalm 45

Affections: Shall not I, at so glorious a vision of Christian perfection, cleanse my soul from its stains? O most pure Virgin, obtain for me grace to do this.

Second Point of Consideration: Consider with what privileges and honours the blessed Trinity glorifies her. The Father loves her as His daughter; the Son honours her as His mother; the Holy Ghost embraces Her as His bride.

Affections: How can I sufficiently praise thee?

Third Point of Consideration: Consider the mercy and tenderness of this mother towards all in misery; and although the mercy of God be infinitely greater, yet infinite also is His justice, in which Mary has no part.

Affections: Hail holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us. And after this our exile show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.

Colloquy to the blessed Virgin Mary, may be gathered from the Affections.