Day 24
A reading from the First Letter of St. John
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:5-10)
From the letters of St. Catherine of Siena (+1380)
Hide yourself under the wings of God’s mercy, for he is more ready to pardon than you are to sin. Immerse yourself in the blood of Christ, where your soul will grow fat on hope. Oh gentlest love! How well this mercy suits you! Take a good look! What kept God from ordering the earth to swallow us up and the animals to devour us after our first fall? Instead he lent us time and waited patiently for us. What explains our having received such favor? Our non-existent virtues? No! Only God’s infinite mercy! So now that he is treating us so mercifully when we are lying in the darkness of deadly sin, we should be so much more hopeful in lively confidence that he will do the same if we acknowledge our sins and return to the ark, to the yoke of obedience. There let us trample underfoot and kill our selfish will and sleep no longer. Take on once again the yoke of obedience and the key of Christ’s blood which you have thrown into the deep well. Take them up again with heartfelt contrition, with contempt for the sin you have committed and with lively faith. Gaze into supreme eternal Truth, and take hold of the firm confidence that God will mercifully welcome you and pardon you the sin you have committed. And the eternal Father will come to meet you with the overflowing fullness of his grace.
RESPONSORY
God is light and in him there is no darkness at all -- and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another -- and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Musical Selection (with lyrics)
Collect
God of life and love, from the pierced heart of your Son flowed water and blood, cleansing the world and giving birth to your Church. Renew within your people the love poured out on us in baptism, and through the blessing-cup we share keep us always faithful to your life-giving covenant. We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. (Sacred Heart of Jesus; ICEL 1998)