Celestine Designs and Media

  Saint Aloysius Gonzaga was born on March 9, 1568, into a wealthy and influential Italian family. Even from a young age, Aloysius showed remarkable devotion and a deep commitment to God. He was the eldest son, which meant he was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a soldier. But God had other plans for him! Despite the pressures to conform to the world’s expectations, Aloysius felt a strong call to serve God and lead a life of holiness. By the age of nine, he had already decided to dedicate his life to God, a decision that put him at odds with his family's ambitions for him. A Life of Devotion and Sacrifice Aloysius’s life wasn’t an easy one. He struggled with various health issues, but his faith remained unwavering. At the age of 17, he renounced his title and wealth and joined the Jesuits, an order dedicated to education and missionary work. His family was initially against this decision, but Aloysius persisted. He felt that his calling was to serve others an...

FIRST READING The mystery of Christ has now been revealed, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs of the promise. Ephesians 3: 2 - 12 Brethren: I assume that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.  When you read this you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ; which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.  Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for a...

FIRST READING “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with it’s passions" Galatians 5: 18 - 25 Brethren: If you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are plain: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. The Word of the Lord . RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 1: 1 - 2, 3, 4, 6 (R.)   R/. He who follows you, Lord , will have the light of life. Blessed indeed is the man who follows not the co...

MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN XXIII, Pope FIRST READING Circumcision is of no avail, but faith working through love. GALATIANS 5: 1 - 6 Brethren: For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Now I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is bound to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love. The Word of the Lord. RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 119: 41, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48 (R.) 41a R/. Lord, let your mercy come upon me. Lord, let your mercy come upon me,  the salvation you have promised. R/. Never take the word of truth from my mouth,  for I hope in your decrees. R/. ...

FIRST READING We are not children of the slave but of the free woman. GALATIANS 4: 22 - 24, 26 - 27, 31 - 5: 1 Brethren: It is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman.  But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written, “Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not with labour pains; for the desolate has more children than she who has a husband.” So, brethren, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman. For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. The Word of the Lord. RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 113: 1b - 2, 3 - 4, 5a, 6 - 7 (R.)  2 R/. May the name of the Lord be blest forevermore. Or:  All...

MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARIA FAUSTINA KOWALSKA, Apostle of Divine Mercy FIRST READING “They perceived the grace that was given to me.” GALATIANS 2: 1 - 2, 7 - 14 Brethren: After fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up by revelation; and I laid before them (but privately before those who were of repute) the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, lest somehow I should be running or had run in vain.  But on the  contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just  as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel  to the circumcised (for he who worked through Peter for the mission to the circumcised worked through me also for the Gentiles), and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised; only they wou...

TWENTY-SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C MEMORIAL OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI , Religious FIRST READING “He revealed his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles.” Galatians   1: 13 - 24 Brethren: You have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.  But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus.  Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lor...

MEMORIAL OF SAINT JEROME, Priest and Doctor of the Church FIRST READING Have you ever commanded the morning, and entered into the springs of the sea? JOB 38: 1, 12 - 21; 40: 3 - 5 The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? It is changed like clay under the seal, and it is dyed like a garment.  From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken. Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?  Declare, if you know all this. “Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness, that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home? You know, for yo...

TWENTY-SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C FIRST READING "How can a man be just before God? ” JOB 9: 1 - 12, 14 - 16 Job answered his friends: “Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be just before God? If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.  He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength — who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded? — he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger; who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars; who alone stretched out the heavens, and trampled the Waves of the sea; who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south; who does great things beyond understanding, and marvellous things without number.  Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him. Behold, he snatches away; who can hinder him? Who will s...

By G.A Chavalla,  St. Maurus Kurasini. Bwana kama wewe ungehesabu maovu yetu, (nani angesimama)*3 mbele yako. 1. Lakini kwako kuna msamaha, ili wewe uogopwe, nimemngoja Bwana, roho yangu, na neno lake nimelitumaini. 2. Nafsi yangu inamngoja Bwana, kuliko walinzi, walinzi waingojavyo asubuhi Naam walinzi waingojavyo asubuhi. 3. Ee Bwana toka vilindini, nimekulilia. Bwana sauti yangu usikie, masikio yako yasikie Dua zangu.

TWENTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C FIRST READING "All are yours,’ and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s." 1 Corinthians 3: 18 - 23 Brethren: Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”  So let no one boast of men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future, all are yours; and you are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s. The Word of the Lord. RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 24: 1 - 2, 3 - 4ab, 5 - 6 (R.) 1ab R/. The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness. The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,  the world, and all who dwell in it. It is he who set it on the seas;  on the rivers he made it firm. R/. Who shall climb the mountain of the Lo...

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28TH 2022 TWENTY SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C FIRST READING Humble yourself so you will find favour in the sight of the Lord. SIRACH 3: 17 - 20, 25 - 29 My son, perform your tasks in meekness; then you will be loved more than a giver of gifts.  The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself; so you will find favour with God. There are many who are noble and renowned, but it is to the humble that he reveals his mysteries.  For great is the might of the Lord; he is glorified by the humble. The affliction of the proud has no healing, for a plant of wickedness has taken root in them, though it will not be perceived.  The mind of the wise man will ponder the words of the wise, and an attentive ear is the wise man’s desire. The Word of the Lord RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 65: 4 - 5ae, 6 - 7ab, 10 - 11 (R.) 11b R/. In your goodness, O God, you provided for the poor. The just shall rejoice at the presence of God; they shall exult with glad rejoicing. ...

You are not alone. People felt the same even in biblical times. Psalm 31:10 For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away. Psalm 116:3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish Luke 10:41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” What God Says Joshua 8:1 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear or be dismayed" Jeremiah 31:13  I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow. Philippians 4:6-7 Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. John 14:1 “Let not you...