>> A READING FROM THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. HANNAH ROSE AFTER A MEAL AT SHILOH, AND PRESENTED HERSELF BEFORE THE LORD; AT THE TIME, ELI THE PRIEST WAS SITTING ON A CHAIR NEAR THE DOORPOST OF THE LORD'S TEMPLE. IN HER BITTERNESS SHE PRAYED TO THE LORD, WEEPING COPIOUSLY, AND SHE MADE A VOW, PROMISING: O LORD OF HOSTS, IF YOU LOOK WITH PITY ON THE MISERY OF YOUR HANDMAID, IF YOU REMEMBER ME AND DO NOT FORGET ME, IF YOU GIVE YOUR HANDMAID A MALE CHILD, I WILL GIVE HIM TO THE LORD FOR AS LONG AS HE LIVES; NEITHER WINE NOR LIQUOR SHALL HE DRINK, AND NO RAZOR SHALL EVER TOUCH HIS HEAD. AS SHE REMAINED LONG AT PRAYER BEFORE THE LORD, ELI WATCHED HER MOUTH, FOR HANNAH WAS PRAYING SILENTLY; THOUGH HER LIPS WERE MOVING, HER VOICE COULD NOT BE HEARD. ELI, THINKING HER DRUNK, SAID TO HER, HOW LONG WILL YOU MAKE A DRUNKEN SHOW OF YOURSELF? SOBER UP FROM YOUR WINE! IT ISN'T THAT, MY LORD, HANNAH ANSWERED. I AM AN UNHAPPY WOMAN. I HAVE HAD NEITHER WINE NOR LIQUOR; I WAS ONLY POURING OUT MY TROUBLES TO THE LORD. DO NOT THINK YOUR HANDMAID A NE'ER-DO-WELL; MY PRAYER HAS BEEN PROMPTED BY MY DEEP SORROW AND MISERY. ELI SAID, GO IN PEACE, AND MAY THE GOD OF ISRAEL GRANT YOU WHAT YOU HAVE ASKED OF HIM. SHE REPLIED, THINK KINDLY OF YOUR MAIDSERVANT, AND LEFT. SHE WENT TO HER QUARTERS, ATE AND DRANK WITH HER HUSBAND, AND NO LONGER APPEARED DOWNCAST. EARLY THE NEXT MORNING THEY WORSHIPED BEFORE THE LORD, AND THEN RETURNED TO THEIR HOME IN RAMAH. WHEN ELKANAH HAD RELATIONS WITH HIS WIFE HANNAH, THE LORD REMEMBERED HER. SHE CONCEIVED, AND AT THE END OF HER TERM BORE A SON WHOM SHE CALLED SAMUEL, SINCE SHE HAD ASKED THE LORD FOR HIM. THE WORD OF THE LORD. >> THANKS BE TO GOD. >> MY HEART EXULTS IN THE LORD, MY SAVIOR. >> MY HEART EXULTS IN THE LORD, MY SAVIOR. >> MY HEART EXULTS IN THE LORD, MY HORN IS EXALTED IN MY GOD. I HAVE SWALLOWED UP MY ENEMIES; I REJOICE IN MY VICTORY. >> MY HEART EXULTS IN THE LORD, MY SAVIOR. THE BOWS OF THE MIGHTY ARE BROKEN, WHILE THE TOTTERING GIRD ON STRENGTH. THE WELL-FED HIRE THEMSELVES OUT FOR BREAD, WHILE THE HUNGRY BATTEN ON SPOIL. THE BARREN WIFE BEARS SEVEN SONS, WHILE THE MOTHER OF MANY LANGUISHES. >> MY HEART EXULTS IN THE LORD, MY SAVIOR. >> THE LORD PUTS TO DEATH AND GIVES LIFE; HE CASTS DOWN TO THE NETHER WORLD; HE RAISES UP AGAIN. THE LORD MAKES POOR AND MAKES RICH; HE HUMBLES, HE ALSO EXALTS. >> MY HEART EXULTS IN THE LORD, MY SAVIOR. >> HE RAISES THE NEEDY FROM THE DUST; FROM THE DUNG HEAP HE LIFTS UP THE POOR, TO SEAT THEM WITH NOBLES AND MAKE A GLORIOUS THRONE THEIR HERITAGE. >> MY HEART EXULTS IN THE LORD, MY SAVIOR. (ORGAN) >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ RECEIVE THE WORD OF GOD, NOT AS THE WORD OF MEN, BUT AS IT TRULY IS, THE WORD OF GOD ♪ >> ♪ ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA ALLELUIA ♪ >> ♪ DOMINUS VOBISCUM ♪ >> ♪ ET CUM SPIRITU TUO ♪ >> ♪ LECTIO SANCTI EVANGELII SECUNDUM MARCUM ♪ >> ♪ GLORIA TIBI, DOMINE ♪ >> JESUS CAME TO CAPERNAUM WITH HIS FOLLOWERS, AND ON THE SABBATH HE ENTERED THE SYNAGOGUE AND TAUGHT. THE PEOPLE WERE ASTONISHED AT HIS TEACHING, FOR HE TAUGHT THEM AS ONE HAVING AUTHORITY AND NOT AS THE SCRIBES. IN THEIR SYNAGOGUE WAS A MAN WITH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT; HE CRIED OUT, WHAT HAVE YOU TO DO WITH US, JESUS OF NAZARETH? HAVE YOU COME TO DESTROY US? I KNOW WHO YOU ARE THE HOLY ONE OF GOD! JESUS REBUKED HIM AND SAID, QUIET! COME OUT OF HIM! THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT CONVULSED HIM AND WITH A LOUD CRY CAME OUT OF HIM. ALL WERE AMAZED AND ASKED ONE ANOTHER, WHAT IS THIS? A NEW TEACHING WITH AUTHORITY. HE COMMANDS EVEN THE UNCLEAN SPIRITS AND THEY OBEY HIM. HIS FAME SPREAD EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE REGION OF GALILEE. ♪ VERBUM DOMINI ♪ >> ♪ LAUS TIBI, CHRISTE ♪ >> TODAY'S 1ST READING FOCUSES ON HANNAH. HANNAH IS A WOMAN FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT THAT CANNOT CONCEIVE A CHILD. SHE IS SAD, SHE GRIEVES, SHE HURTS BUT WHAT DOES SHE DO? SHE PRAYS. SHE TRUSTS IN GOD. SHE HAS CONFIDENCE THAT GOD WILL GRANT HER PRAYERS. AND SHE MAKES A PROMISE, IF SHE IS GIVEN A MALE CHILD, SHE WILL GIVE THIS CHILD TO OUR LORD. IN OTHER WORDS SHE WILL CONSECRATE OR ENTRUST HER CHILD COMPLETELY TO GOD. WHAT HAPPENS? WE KNOW. OUR LORD ANSWERS HER PRAYERS. SHE CONCEIVES SAMUEL. SAMUEL IS THE ONE WHO EVENTUALLY ANOINTED DAVID AS THE KING OF ISRAEL. WHAT CAN WE LEARN AT LEAST FROM THE 1ST READING? GOD ANSWERS ALL OF OUR PRAYERS. SOMETIMES HE SAYS YES, SOMETIMES HE SAYS NO. I THINK MOST OF THE TIME HE TELLS US TO WAIT. PRAYER INVOLVES PERSEVERANCE. IF WE GET WHATEVER WE PRAY FOR ALL OF THE TIME, WE WILL BE SPOILED CHILDREN. GOD KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR US. LOVES US MORE THAN ALL OF THE FATHERS IN THIS WORLD COMBINED. SO AT TIMES WE THINK WE KNOW WHAT IS BETTER THAN WHAT GOD WANTS. SO WE NEED TO SAY THY WILL BE DONE AND WAIT AT TIMES. SO NEVER GIVE UP ANY SPECIFIC INTENTION THAT YOU PRAY FOR EVEN IF IT IS OVER 16 YEARS LIKE ST. MONICA PRAYING FOR ST. AUGUSTINE. GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS ACCORDING TO HIS WILL IN HIS OWN TIME. NOW THE STORY OF HANNAH. I REMEMBER MY MOM ACTUALLY TELLING ME A STORY WHICH HAD SOME SIMILARITIES TO WHAT WE HAVE READ HERE IN THE 1ST READING. MY MOM MARRIED MY FATHER IN THE PHILIPPINES AND THEY WERE ABLE TO MOVE HERE TO UNITED STATES. THEY HAD MY OLDER BROTHER BUT UNFORTUNATELY MY DAD HAD SOME JOB COMPLICATIONS WHERE THEY HAD TO MOVE BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES. THEN THEY HAD MY OLDER SISTER AND THEY PRAYED AND THOUGHT WHY DO WE NOT TRY ONE MORE TIME TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES TO RAISE OUR FAMILY? EVENTUALLY THEY MOVED TO LOS ANGELES AND MY MOM CONCEIVES HER 3RD CHILD. THANKS BE TO GOD MY DAD WAS ABLE TO GET A STABLE JOB; AFTER ABOUT A MONTH OR 2 MY FATHER COMES UP TO MY MOTHER AND SAYS I AM SORRY TO SAY I AM BARELY MAKING MONEY TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE, A ROOF OVER OUR HEAD. I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE MONEY WILL COME FROM FOR THIS 3RD CHILD'S BIRTH. PLEASE ASK OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. OF COURSE MY MOM WAS DISAPPOINTED TO HEAR THIS BUT SHE KNEW THAT MY FATHER WAS PRACTICALLY WORKING OVERTIME TO PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILY. SO SHE ASKED AROUND TO NO SUCCESS. AND MONTH AFTER MONTH PASSED. IT WAS MAYBE ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE SHE WAS GOING TO GIVE BIRTH TO HER 3RD CHILD. SHE WAS VERY CONCERNED. WHERE WILL THE MONEY COME FROM? EVENTUALLY MY MOM THANKS BE TO GOD A WOMAN OF FAITH, SHE GOES TO A LOCAL CHURCH. ST. BRENDAN'S IN LOS ANGELES. SHE GOES IN FRONT OF THE STATUE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. SHE KNEELS DOWN AND STARTS TO WEEP SIMILAR TO WHAT HANNAH DID IN OUR 1ST READING. AND SHE SAID A PRAYER. SHE SAID A PRAYER TO OUR LADY. SHE SAID MOTHER, YOU KNOW THAT I AM PREGNANT. YOU KNOW THAT WE NEED THE MONEY FOR THIS CHILD'S BIRTH. BUT I TRUST IN YOUR INTERCESSION. IF YOU PROVIDE FOR THIS CHILD'S BIRTH SHE SAID, I WILL COMPLETELY GIVE THIS CHILD TO GOD THROUGH YOU. SO SHE PROBABLY PRAYED A HAIL MARY AND MADE THE PROMISE AND LEFT THE CHURCH. AS MY MOM WAS LEAVING THE CHURCH THE PASTOR WAS WALKING IN AND THE PASTOR SAW MY MOTHER CRYING. HE SAID, MY DAUGHTER, WHAT IS WRONG? HOW CAN I HELP YOU? MY MOM WAS 1ST ASHAMED AND EMBARRASSED TO TELL THE PASTOR THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT AND HER FAMILY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR THIS CHILD'S BIRTH. BUT EVENTUALLY THE PASTOR KEPT ON INSISTING. MY MOM SAID, MSGR. AS YOU SEE I AM PREGNANT. THIS IS MY 3RD CHILD. MY HUSBAND IS PRACTICALLY WORKING OVERTIME TO PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR FAMILY AND WE DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE MONEY WILL COME FROM FOR THIS CHILD'S BIRTH. PLEASE PRAY FOR US. THE PASTOR HEARD MY MOM OUT. HE SAID, MY DAUGHTER, DO NOT WORRY. THE CHURCH WILL PAY FOR EVERY SINGLE CENT OF YOUR CHILD'S BIRTH. GO HOME AND TELL YOUR HUSBAND EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE. SO WHAT DID MY MOTHER DO AFTER SHE WAS TOLD THAT NEWS? SHE STARTED TO CRY AGAIN. NO LONGER TEARS OF SORROW. TEARS OF JOY. BUT BESIDES THAT WHERE DID SHE GO? DIRECTLY BACK TO THAT PLACE IN FRONT OF THE STATUE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY AND SHE DID WHAT SHE PROMISED. SHE COMPLETELY ENTRUSTED OR GAVE HER CHILD TO GOD THROUGH OUR LADY. NOW JUST IN CASE YOU HAVE NOT GUESSED, THAT CHILD WAS ME. I WAS COMPLETELY CONSECRATED AND ENTRUSTED TO GOD THROUGH OUR LADY. NOW WHY DO I TELL YOU THE STORY? MY MOM WAS TELLING ME THE STORY BEFORE I WAS ORDAINED. SHE SAID SON DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU ARE GOING TO BE A PRIEST? I GUESS MOM'S HAVE THEIR OWN VOCATION STORIES FOR THEIR SONS. I GUESS THEY DESERVE THAT. SHE SAID IT IS EASY, YOU ARE PAYING THE CHURCH BACK, SHE SAID. I'M THINKING OKAY I DID NOT NECESSARILY HAVE A CHOICE THEN BUT I FREELY ACCEPT IT. SO I WAS COMPLETELY GIVEN TO GOD THROUGH OUR LADY BEFORE I WAS BORN. I OWE MY VOCATION, MY LIFE TO A MOTHER. IN THIS CASE 3 OF THEM. MY OWN PHYSICAL MOTHER AND THANKS BE TO GOD MY MOM IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE VERY EMBARRASSED WHEN SHE WATCHES THIS LATER FROM CALIFORNIA BUT THANKS BE TO GOD THERE ARE HOLY MOTHERS, MANY I AM SURE WHO ARE WATCHING OR LISTENING HERE OR EVEN IN THIS CHAPEL THAT NEVER DOUBT GOD. THAT ALWAYS TRUST THAT HE WILL PROVIDE FOR OUR NEEDS. SO THANKS BE TO GOD. THANK ALL OF YOU SPIRITUAL MOTHERS, PHYSICAL MOTHERS. AND SECONDLY I OWE MY VOCATION AND LIFE TO THE MOTHER CHURCH. WHO NOT ONLY PAID FOR EVERY SINGLE CENT OF MY BIRTH BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY PROVIDED FOR THE SUPERNATURAL NEEDS I HAVE SUCH AS BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION AND THE HOLY EUCHARIST. AND THE PRIESTHOOD OF JESUS CHRIST. THANKS BE TO GOD. LAST BUT NOT LEAST I OWE MY VOCATION AND LIFE TO NONE OTHER THAN THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. WHOM I WAS CONSECRATED TO EVEN BEFORE I WAS BORN IN THIS WORLD. AGAIN GOD ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS. SOMETIMES HE SAYS YES. SOMETIMES HE SAYS NO. AND A LOT OF TIMES HE TELLS US TO WAIT. HE WILL GIVE IT TO US AT THE BEST TIME. BY THE WAY MY MOM CONCEIVED OF HER 4TH CHILD. MAYBE SHE THOUGHT TO HERSELF, IF IT WORKED THE 1ST TIME MAYBE I CAN DO THIS A 2ND TIME. SO MY YOUNGER BROTHER IS ALSO A PRIEST OF THE FATHERS OF MERCY AS WELL. MY MOM HAD GREAT DEVOTION TO ST. ANTHONY. ST. ANTHONY IS 1 OF THE GREATEST PREACHERS WITHIN THE HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND MY BROTHER HE IS A PRETTY GOOD PREACHER. SO GOD BLESS HIM. BY THE WAY I WAS BORN AND CONSECRATED TO OUR LADY IN LOS ANGELES. PEOPLE THINK IT IS THE CITY OF THE ANGELS. THE FULL TITLE OF LOS ANGELES IS OUR LADY QUEEN OF THE ANGELS. THAT IS THE FULL TITLE OF THAT CITY. PERHAPS SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT SEEM IT IS CONSECRATED TO OUR LADY, BUT IT IS. SO WE PRAY FOR HOLINESS IN THAT CITY AND ALL THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. BY THE WAY I HAVE JOINED THE FATHERS OF MERCY. OUR FULL TITLE IS FATHERS OF MERCY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. WE ARE A MARIAN COMMUNITY. IT IS IN OUR CONSTITUTION, WE HAVE TO CONSECRATE OURSELVES TO JESUS THROUGH HER ON DECEMBER 8 EVERY YEAR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. I WAS ALREADY CONSECRATED AND ENTRUSTED TO OUR LADY BUT I FREELY DO THIS AS A FATHER OF MERCY EVERY YEAR. SO GO TO OUR LADY. SHE WILL PRAY FOR US. YOU KNOW GOD IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST COULD HAVE COME DOWN AS A 33-YEAR-OLD ADULT. AND THEN DIE ON THE CROSS THAT WAY. JESUS CAN DO WHAT EVER HE WANTS. HE IS GOD. THE POINT IS HE CAME TO US THROUGH OUR LADY. NOT ONLY HIS BODY, BLOOD AND TRUE HUMAN SOUL WHICH HE RECEIVED IN THE WOMB OF OUR MOTHER BUT ALSO HIS DIVINITY WAS DEPENDENT UPON THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. SINCE YOU CANNOT SEPARATE HIS HUMANITY FROM HIS DIVINITY, THEY ARE TOGETHER IN THE PERSON OF THE WORD. SO WHAT EVER GOD DOES HE DOES PERFECTLY. HE DOES NOT DO IT BY ACCIDENT. HE IS SHOWING US THE WAY. GO TO HIM THROUGH OUR LADY. THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO BE UNITED WITH GOD. SO LET US HAVE CONFIDENCE. LET US HAVE TRUST IN OUR HEAVENLY FATHER BUT ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. HE WILL PROVIDE FOR US AS LONG AS WE GO TO HIM THROUGH OUR LADY ESPECIALLY THROUGH PRAYING HER ROSARY. WEARING THE BROWN SCAPULAR. OTHER POPULAR MARIAN DEVOTIONS. HE IS PLEASED WITH. AS ST. MAXIMILIAN KOLBE HAS STATED, NEVER WORRY ABOUT LOVING MARY TOO MUCH BECAUSE YOU CAN NEVER LOVE HER MORE THAN JESUS DID.
