Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle
Monday, July 20, 2026
HAIL, HOLY QUEEN
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy,
Hail our life, our sweetness, and our hope;
Do thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
To thee do we send up our sighs,
Mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us;
And after this, our exile,
Show unto us the Blessed Fruit of thy womb Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary,
Pray for us, O most holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
O God, Whose only begotten Son, by His Life, Death and
Resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation;
Grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating upon the mysteries of
the most holy rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that we may both
imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise, through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle
HAIL MARY, FULL OF GRACE
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.
Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle
LORD JESUS REGARDED HIM
Mark 10
The Rich and the Kingdom of God
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. “Good Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good - except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honour your father and mother.’[d]”
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” He said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow You!”
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for Me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields - along with persecutions - and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
What Might Have Been
A wealthy young man knelt one day,
Before the Lord to seek the Way;
Christ looked with love into his face,
And called him to a life of grace.
"Go, sell your treasures, follow Me;
Come walk the road that makes you free."
Yet bound by all his riches dear,
He turned away with heart sincere.
He left with sadness in his eyes,
Still captive to earth's gilded prize.
His purse was full, his barns were wide,
Yet something precious in him died.
The Twelve knew hunger, dust, and rain;
Long roads and weariness and pain.
No certain bed, no purse of gold,
Yet hearts on fire, courageous, bold.
They crossed the seas and climbed the hills,
To do their Master's holy Will.
Though earthly comforts they had none,
Their souls rejoiced in God's own Son.
They heard His laughter on the way,
They learned from Him from day to day.
They watched His mercy freely flow,
And felt His endless love bestow.
They shared the labour and the strife,
Yet found the deepest, richest life.
For every burden they embraced,
Was brightened by the Master's grace.
The years rolled by with silent tread;
The young man, now grown old instead;
Looked round upon his treasured store,
Yet found it satisfied no more.
His silver gleamed, his vineyards spread,
His tables groaned with daily bread.
But through the silence came again
The Voice that once had called his name.
He wondered, with a longing sigh,
"What joy have I let pass me by?
What roads with Christ I might have trod,
To build the Kingdom of my God."
"What friends in faith I never knew,
What wonders I declined to view;
What souls I never helped to see,
The love that first was shown to me."
His wealth remained; his years had fled;
His heart recalled the words once said.
Too late he saw what love had shown:
No treasure shines like Christ alone.
So let us heed the Master's call,
And freely yield to Him our all.
Though hardship marks the pilgrim's way,
His faithful Presence lights each day.
The cross is heavy; still we sing,
For Christ is with us, Lord and King.
No sacrifice for Him is vain;
Eternal joy is greater gain.
Let none look back with sorrow's tear,
And wish they had drawn Christ more near.
Walk with Him while yet you may,
Nor grieve for chances cast away.
For those who answer to His call,
Find Christ the richest Gift of all.
The Master's friendship, pure and true,
Is worth far more than all we knew.
Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle
Sunday, July 19, 2026
SOLEMNITY OF THE ASSUMPTION
Solemnity of the Assumption
The Solemnity of the Assumption invites us to contemplate not only where Mary is, but who she became through God's Grace. Throughout her life, Mary allowed the Lord to shape her heart into a dwelling place of perfect love. Her soul became radiant with holiness because she responded each day with faith, humility, and complete trust in God's will. The beauty of Mary was not merely outward; it was the golden beauty of a soul entirely surrendered to God.
Continuous offering of love
From the moment of her joyful "Yes" at the Annunciation until she stood faithfully beneath the Cross, Mary's life was a continuous offering of love. She treasured God's Word, pondered His mysteries in her heart, and remained steadfast through every joy and every sorrow. Grace transformed her from within, making her a living reflection of God's goodness and mercy.
Dormition
According to the ancient tradition of the Church, when Mary's earthly life drew to its close, she entered her Dormition, her peaceful "falling asleep" in the Lord. Her death was not a defeat but the completion of a life wholly united to Christ. Because she belonged so completely to her Son, God did not allow the body that had borne the Incarnate Word to remain in the grave. Mother Mary was assumed, body and soul, into heavenly glory, where she now rejoices forever in the presence of the Holy Trinity.
Promise of hope
Mary's Assumption is more than a privilege granted to one holy woman; it is a promise of hope for all who follow Christ. Her glorified life reveals the destiny God desires for His faithful people. Holiness is not beyond our reach. Like Mary, we are called to let God's grace transform our hearts day by day until the beauty of Christ shines within us.
Honour Our Lady
As we honour Our Lady today, let us ask for her prayers. May she teach us to treasure God's Word, to trust Him in every circumstance, and to grow in the golden beauty of holiness. Then, when our own earthly pilgrimage is complete, we too may be welcomed into the eternal joy of heaven, where we shall behold God face to Face and sing His praises forever.
Golden Beauty of Mary's Soul
When Mary's earthly race was run,
She journeyed to her glorious Son.
The gates of heaven opened wide,
To welcome Christ's dear Mother inside.
No stain of sin her soul could claim,
She lived for God's most holy Name.
Her heart was pure, her soul did shine,
As living temple for Divine.
Her golden soul with splendour glowed,
Reflecting every grace God had bestowed;
More radiant than the morning's light,
She glowed with heaven's beauty bright.
The angels sang with joyful voice,
The saints in glory did rejoice;
Their Queen had come with humble praise,
To share God's everlasting days.
Her head, often bowed so deep in prayer,
Was crowned with glory beyond compare.
Her faithful "Yes," so meek and free,
Now blossomed into victory.
Assumed to heaven, body and soul,
God crowned the one He had made whole.
The Queen of Heaven, crowned above,
Now reigns within God's endless Love.
Yet Mary's heart has not grown far;
She watches where her children are.
She gently leads us day by day,
To follow Christ, the Truth, the Way.
She teaches us that holiness
Is found through love and faithfulness.
A humble heart, obedient still,
Delights to do the Father's Will.
O Mary, Mother, gracious Queen,
The fairest soul the world has seen;
Pray we may walk the narrow way,
And join your song one glorious day.
Then with the angels we shall raise
Our grateful hearts in endless praise.
Where Christ our King is all in all,
And love forever conquers all.
Image by CN Whittle
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