bible diary 2012

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Dedication

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ARCHDIOCESE OF CEBUOFFICE OF THE ARCHBISHOP

Message

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI in his post-synodal apostolic exhortation on the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church wrote: The Christian life is essentially

marked by an encounter with Jesus Christ, who calls us to follow Him… With the Synod Fathers I express my heartfelt hope for the flowering of “a new season of greater love for Sacred Scripture on the part of every member of the People of God, so that their prayerful and faith-filled reading of the Bible will, with time, deepen their personal relationship with Jesus (Verbum Domini 72).

The Bible Diary has been a constant companion of thousands of people in their journey with the Word of God. For almost two decades, this daily devotional has helped many Christians to encounter Jesus and established a personal relationship with Him through the daily bible readings according to the liturgy of the Church. Thus it has contributed to what the Pope and the Synod Fathers called the “flowering of a new season of greater love for Sacred Scripture.”

For this year 2012, the reflections for the Bible Diary are compilations of the best commentaries of Donagh O’Shea, a Dominican author whose contributions are some of the favorites of many devoted readers. For the Sundays, the new features of Lectio Divina are adapted from the new Catholic Prayer Bible – Lectio Divina Edition by Paulist Press.

The Holy Father and the Synod on the Word of God frequently insisted on the need for a prayerful approach to the Sacred text as a fundamental element in the spiritual life of every believer, in the various ministries and states in life, with particular reference to Lectio Divina. “And the privileged place for prayerful reading of Sacred Scripture is the liturgy and particularly the Eucharist, in which, as we celebrate the Body and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament, the word itself is present and at work in our midst. In some sense the prayerful reading of the Bible, personal and communal, must always be related to the Eucharistic celebration. Just as the adoration of the Eucharist prepares for, accompanies and follows the liturgy of the Eucharist, so too prayerful reading, personal and communal, prepares for, accompanies and deepens what the church celebrates when she proclaims the word in a liturgical setting. By so closely relating lectio and liturgy, we can better grasp the criteria which should guide this practice in the area of pastoral care and in the spiritual life of the People of God.” (Verbum Domini 86)

I hope and pray that those who faithfully read the bible, practice the Lectio Divina, participate in the liturgy with the help of this Bible Diary will strengthen and support the various ministries and states of life of our Beloved Church.

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph,

Jose S. Palma, DDArchbishop of Cebu


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Personal InfoBIBLE DIARY® 2012Copyright © 2011 Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.U.P. P.O. Box 4, Diliman, 1101 Quezon City, PhilippinesTel: (6 32) 921-3984 • Fax: (6 32) 921-7429Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

The Bible Diary® is a pastoral endeavor of the Claretian Missionaries in the Philippines. It aims at promoting a renewed spirituality that is rooted in the process of total liberation and the promotion of human dignity, responding to the needs, challenges, and pastoral demands of the Church today.

Biblical texts taken from Christian Community Bible, Catholic Pastoral Edition

Daily Reflections by Donagh O’Shea, OPSunday Lectio Divina from The Catholic Prayer Bible (Lectio-Divina Edition)

used with permission from Paulist Press

Cover by Jayson Elvin GuevaraIllustrations by Fr. Nick Eucapor, CMFCreative design by Romequel R. TulioInside Back Cover Illustration by Mark S. Castillo

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means without written permission from the publisher.

Bible Diary® is a registered trademark of Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.

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ISSN: 1656-457X (Philippines)ISBN: 971-501-332-5 (USA)


MARCH1

2

3 Katharine Drexel

4 Psalter II, 2nd Sunday of Lent

5

6

7 Perpetua / Felicity

8 John of God

9 Frances of Rome

10

11 Psalter III, 3rd Sunday of Lent

12 3rd Week of Lent

13

14

15

16

17 Patrick

18 Psalter IV, 4th Sunday of Lent

19 Joseph, Husband of Mary

20

21

22

23 Toribio de Mogrovejo

24

25 Psalter I, 5th Sunday of Lent

26 Annunciation of Our Lord

27

28

29

30

31

APRIL1 Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

2 Francis of Paola

3

4 Isidore of Seville

5 Holy Thursday

6 Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion

7 Holy Saturday

8 Easter Sunday

9 Octave of Easter – Monday

10 Octave of Easter – Tuesday

11 Stanislaus/ Octave of Easter – Wednesday

12 Octave of Easter – Thursday

13 Martin I/ Octave of Easter – Friday

14 Octave of Easter – Saturday

15 Psalter II, 2nd Sunday of Easter

16

17

18

19

20

21 Anselm

22 Psalter III, 3rd Sunday of Easter

23 George / Adalbert

24 Fidelis of Sigmaringen

25 Mark, Evangelist

26

27

28 Louis Mary de Montfort / Peter Chanel

29 Psalter IV, 4th Sunday of Easter

30 Pius V

Liturgical and Sanctoral Catholic Calendar

JANUARY1 Mary, Mother of God

2 Basil the Great / Gregory of Nazianzen

3 Most Holy Name of Jesus

4 Elizabeth Ann Seton

5 Bl. John Neumann

6 Bl. André Bessette

7 Raymond of Peñafort

8 Epiphany of the Lord

9 Baptism of the Lord

10 1st Week in Ordinary Time

11

12

13 Hilary

14

15 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (USA)

15 Feast of Sto. Niño (Philippines)

16

17 Anthony

18

19

20 Fabian / Sebastian

21 Agnes / Vincent

22 Psalter III, 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

23

24 Francis de Sales

25 Conversion of St. Paul

26 Timothy and Titus, Bishops

27 Angela Merici

28 Thomas Aquinas

29 Psalter IV, 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time

30

31 John Bosco

FEBRUARY1

2 Presentation of the Lord

3 Blasé / Ansgar

4

5 Psalter I, 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

6 Paul Miki and companions

7

8 Jerome Emiliani / Josephine Bakhita

9

10 Scholastica

11 Our Lady of Lourdes

12 Psalter II, 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

13

14 Cyril/Methodius

15

16

17 Seven Founders of the Order of Servites

18

19 Psalter III, 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

20

21 Peter Damian

22 Ash Wednesday

23 Polycarp

24

25

26 Psalter I, 1st Sunday of Lent

27

28

29

Liturgical and Sanctoral Catholic Calendar


Prayer for GenerosityO Lord, teach me to be generous.Teach me to serve you as you deserve;To give and not to count the cost;To fight and not to heed the wounds;To toil and not to seek for rest;To labor and not to ask for rewardSave that of knowing that I am doing your holy will. Amen.

Soul of ChristSoul of Christ, sanctify me.Body of Christ, save me.Blood of Christ, inebriate me.Water from the side of Christ, wash me.Passion of Christ, strengthen me.O good Jesus, hear me.Within your wounds, shelter me.Permit me not to be separated from you.From the evil one protect me.At the hour of my death call me and bid me come to you, that I may praise you with all your saints for ever and ever. Amen.

The BeatitudesFortunate are those who have the spirit of the poor, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Fortunate are those who mourn, they shall be comforted.Fortunate are the gentle, they shall possess the land.Fortunate are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied.Fortunate are the merciful, for they shall find mercy.Fortunate are those with a pure heart, for they shall see God.Fortunate are those who work for peace, they shall be called children of God.Fortunate are those who are persecuted for the cause of justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Fortunate are you, when people insult you and persecute youand speak all kinds of evil against you because you are my followers. Be glad and joyful,for a great reward is kept for you in God.

Prayer for MeetingsOpening Lord, as we gather in your name,we want to be in your presence.Grant us a spirit of dialogue,illumine our minds with the light of truthand strengthen our fraternal spiritthat we may always seek and do your will.Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Closing Father of goodness, we thank you for this encounter in which we have shared our dreams and doubts, our projects and our difficulties.Make us always respond efficaciouslyto our vision and our mission in the world.Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Apostles’ CreedI believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. Who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Grace Before MealsBless us, O Lord, and these your gifts which we are about to receive from your bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Grace After MealsWe give you thanks almighty God, for all your gifts, through Christ our Lord, who live and reign, now and forever. Amen.

Act of ContritionMy God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things.

I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.

Prayer for Peace (St. Francis of Assisi)Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.Where there is hatred, let me sow love;Where there is injury, pardon;Where there is doubt, faith;Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light;Where there is sadness, joy.O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Morning OfferingO Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you all of my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin,the reunion of all Christians.I offer them for the intentions of our bishops,and of all Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month. Amen.

Daily Prayers


JANUARYSunday

1st Reading: Numbers 6:22-27The Lord bless you

Then Yahweh spoke to Moses saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons and say to them: This is how you shall bless the people of Israel; you shall say:

May Yahweh bless you and keep you!May Yahweh let his face shine on you,

and be gracious to you!May Yahweh look kindly on you, and give

you his peace!In that way shall they put my name on

the people of Israel and I will bless them.”

Gospel: Luke 2:16-21Mary treasured all these

The shepherds came hurriedly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby lying in the manger. On seeing this they related what they had been told about the child, and all were astonished on hearing the shepherds.

As for Mary, she treasured all these messages and continually pondered over them.

The shepherds then returned giving glory and praise to God for all they had heard and seen, just as the angels had told them.

On the eighth day the circumcision of the baby had to be performed; he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

ReadMary and Joseph were simple, law-

abiding people. They were poor, as were the shepherds who came to share their company. In those times and in that place, they did not command much respect or even much notice.

ReflectThe present-day struggle to achieve status

is misconceived. God is not impressed by human prestige. How wasteful in our society is all the energy invested in climbing the social ladder. There are better things to which we could devote our time and effort.

Pray God, grant me the clarity of vision to see that all the exertion expended in achieving a high standing among my peers is, in the end, wasted effort. There are better, more worthwhile goals available to me.

Act Scrutinize your list of friends to see if it includes any people who are “just ordinary” in the eyes of the world.

01Mary, Mother of God

Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8May God bless us in his mercy.

2nd Reading: Galatians 4:4-7Born of woman

But when the fullness of time came, God sent his Son. He came born of woman and subject to the Law, in order to redeem the subjects of the Law, that we might receive adoption as children of God. And because you are children, God has sent into your hearts the Spirit of his Son which cries out: Abba! that is, Father!

You yourself are no longer a slave but a son or daughter, and yours is the inheritance by God’s grace.

Psalter: Proper

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JANUARY02Monday Ps 98: 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4All the ends of the earth have seen the

saving power of God.

1st Reading: 1 John 2:22-28 Who is the liar? The one who denies that Jesus is

the Christ. This is an antichrist, who denies both the Father and the Son. The one who denies the Son is without the Father, and those who acknowledge the Son also have the Father.

Let what you heard from the beginning remain in you. If what you heard from the beginning remains in you, you, too, will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise he himself gave us: eternal life. I write this to you thinking of those who try to lead you astray.

You received from him an anointing, and it remains in you, so you do not need someone to teach you. His anointing teaches you all things, it speaks the truth and does not lie to you; so remain in him, and keep what he has taught you.

And now, my children, live in him, so that when he appearsin his glory, we may be confident and not ashamed before him when he comes.

Gospel: John 1:19-28This was the testimony of John when the Jews sent

priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” John recognized the truth and did not deny it. He said, “I am not the Messiah.”

And they asked him, “Then who are you? Elijah?” He answered, “I am not.” They said, “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” Then they said to him, “Tell us who you are, so that we can give some answer to those who sent us. How do you see yourself?” And John said, quoting the prophet Isaiah, “I am the voice crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord.”

Those who had been sent were Pharisees; so they put a further question to John: “Then why are you baptizing if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?” John answered, “I baptize you with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know; although he comes after me, I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal.”

This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

At the beginning of a drama you need to get to know the characters. “Who are you?” the Pharisees asked John. John answered by saying who he was (which is just as important as saying who you are). Then he said, “I am a voice….” It was enough. He was a voice speaking of God, a finger pointing to the new thing that God was doing in the world. That was his deepest identity. His, and also ours!

In today’s reading, we see the Spirit resting on Jesus. Others were touched for a moment by God’s Spirit, but the Spirit comes and stays with Jesus. He has become the place where the mysterious Sprit of God can be touched. Images of the Spirit are “wind,” “fire,” both of which have very unclear outlines, or rather none. But in Jesus, the Spirit is given a human face, hands, eyes, mouth… a human mind and heart.

JANUARY 03TuesdayPs 98: 3cd-4All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. The Holy Name of Jesus

Before Epiphany1st Reading: 1 John 2:29—3:6

You know that he is the Just One: know then that anyone living justly is born of God.

See what singular love the Father has for us: we are called children of God, and we really are. This is why the world does not know us, because it did not know him.

Beloved, we are God’s children and what we shall be has not yet been shown. Yet when he appears in his glory, we know that we shall be like him, for then we shall see him as he is. All who have such a hope try to be pure as he is pure.

Anyone who commits a sin acts as an enemy of the law of God; any sin acts wickedly, because all sin is wickedness. You know that he came to take away our sins, and that there is no sin in him. Whoever remains in him has no sin, whoever sins has not seen or known him.

Gospel: John 1:29-34When John saw Jesus coming towards him, he said,

“There is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. It is he of whom I said: A man comes after me who is already ahead of me, for he was before me. I myself did not know him, but I came baptizing to prepare for him, so that he might be revealed in Israel.”

And John also gave this testimony, “I saw the Spirit coming down on him like a dove from heaven and resting on him. I myself did not know him but God who sent me to baptize told me: ‘You will see the Spirit coming down and resting on the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ Yes, I have seen! and I declare that this is the Chosen One of God.”

Basil the Great and Gregory NazianzenBefore EpiphanyPsalter: Week 1 Psalter: Week 1

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JANUARYSunday

1st Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20A prophet like Moses

Moses spoke to all the people, saying, “The Lord will raise up for you a prophet like myself from among the people, from your brothers, to whom you shall listen. Remember that in Horeb, on the day of the Assembly, you said: “I am afraid to die and I do not want to hear the voice of Yahweh again or see again that great fire.” So Yahweh said to me: “They have spoken

2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:32-35Be free from anxieties

I would like you to be free from anxieties. He who is not married is concerned about the things of the Lord and how to please the Lord. While he who is married is taken up with the things of the world and how to please his wife, and he is divided in his interests.

Likewise, the unmarried woman and the virgin are concerned with the service of the Lord, to be holy in body and spirit. The married woman, instead, worries about the things of the world and how to please her husband.

I say this for your own good. I do not wish to lay traps for you but to lead you to a beautiful life, entirely united with the Lord.

Gospel: Mark 1:21-28Teaching with authority

Jesus and his disciples went into the town of Capernaum and began to teach in the synagogue during the Sabbath assemblies. The people were astonished at the way he taught, for he spoke as one having authority and not like the teachers of the Law.

It happened that a man with an evil spirit was in their synagogue and he shouted, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: You are the Holy One of God.” Then Jesus faced him and said with authority, “Be silent and come out of this man!” The evil spirit shook the man violently and, with a loud shriek, came out of him.

All the people were astonished and they wondered, “What is this? With what authority he preaches! He even orders evil spirits and they obey him!” And Jesus’ fame spread throughout all the country of Galilee.

ReadJesus begins his ministry of healing. He

has power over all evil and all unclean spirits.

ReflectIf Jesus has power over all evil, especially

physical evil, why is there so much suffering in our world? Is it all right to pray for physical healing? What if the healing does not take place? Are physical pain and suffering related to sin?

PrayFaithful followers can pray for anything

they want. Praying for another’s physical healing helps that person, since it signifies love and concern.

ActTalk to someone who is ill. Visit a sick

friend. Volunteer in a hospital.

294th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ps 95: 1-2, 6-7, 7-8If today you hear his voice,

harden not your hearts

Psalter: Week 4

well. I shall raise up a prophet from their midst, one of their brothers, who will be like you. I will put my words into his mouth and he will tell them all that I command. If someone does not listen to my words when the prophet speaks on my behalf, I myself will call him to account for it. But any prophet who says in my name anything that I did not command, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.”

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bible diary 2012

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