Proud Couples

13/06/2026

13/06/2026

St. Anthony of Padua
Saint of the day
-Memorial-
June 13

St. Anthony of Padua, born Fernando Martins in Lisbon to a wealthy family, entered the Abbey of Santa Cruz in Coimbra, Portugal at fifteen to study theology and Latin. Feeling a strong calling, he later joined the Franciscan Order and took the name Anthony. His missionary work took him to Morocco, but illness forced his return to Portugal. His return journey took an unexpected turn, landing him in Sicily before he settled at the San Paolo hermitage in Tuscany.

During a visit from Dominican friars, Anthony delivered an impromptu yet powerful sermon, revealing his natural talent for preaching. Impressed by his virtues, St. Francis of Assisi entrusted him with the education of the friars. Anthony's treasured book of psalms was once stolen but was later returned by a remorseful novice and is now preserved in Bologna.

While Anthony taught at various universities, his true passion was preaching. His clear and simple teachings earned him the title of Doctor of the Church in 1946 by Pope Pius XII. In one notable instance, when skeptics ignored his sermons, Anthony famously preached to the fish, captivating both his critics and the local community.

St. Anthony passed away at the young age of 35 and was canonized just a year later by Pope Gregory IX. When his body was exhumed, his tongue remained incorrupt, a sign of his pure teachings. Widely known as the 'finder of lost items,' St. Anthony is honored around the world, with many miracles attributed to him.

13/06/2026

Gospel of the day

Matthew 5:33-37

June 13, 2026

Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all;
not by heaven, for it is God's throne;
nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head,
for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.'
Anything more is from the Evil One."

Reflection:

Jesus says: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father." God makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and unjust alike.

Loving enemies is the summit of Christian love. Even sinners love those who love them—there is nothing extraordinary in that. But loving those who hate us reflects the very nature of God, who loves unconditionally.

Is there someone you consider an enemy? Someone who has deeply wounded you? Christ invites you to pray for that person today—not to approve of evil, but to participate in God's own love. This is the most powerful and transformative act a Christian can perform.

Prayer:

Father, You love all Your children, even those who reject You. Give me the grace to love my enemies and pray for those who wrong me, reflecting Your boundless mercy in my life.

Jesus, I trust in You.

12/06/2026

Daily Mass Readings
June 13, 2026

Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 364

Reading 1
1 Kings 19:19-21

Elijah set out, and came upon Elisha, son of Shaphat,
as he was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen;
he was following the twelfth.
Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak over him.
Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said,
"Please, let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,
and I will follow you."
Elijah answered, "Go back!
Have I done anything to you?"
Elisha left him and, taking the yoke of oxen, slaughtered them;
he used the plowing equipment for fuel to boil their flesh,
and gave it to his people to eat.
Then he left and followed Elijah as his attendant.


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 16:1b-2a and 5, 7-8, 9-10

R. (see 5a) You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.


Alleluia
Psalm 119:36a, 29b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees;
and favor me with your law.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel
Matthew 5:33-37

Jesus said to his disciples:
"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all;
not by heaven, for it is God's throne;
nor by the earth, for it is his footstool;
nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Do not swear by your head,
for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.'
Anything more is from the Evil One."

12/06/2026

St. John of Sahagun
Saint of the day
-Memorial-
June 12

St. John of Sahagun, born John Gonzales de Castrillo in Sahagun, Leon, Spain, was first taught by Benedictine monks. He became a priest in 1445 and soon addressed the problem of holding multiple church positions by resigning all except his post at St. Agatha in Burgos.

After four years studying at the University of Salamanca, he spent ten years gaining fame as a preacher and spiritual guide. A significant surgery changed his path, leading him to join the Augustinian friars in 1463.

Throughout his religious journey, John excelled in training new members and served as a prior in Salamanca. He was recognized for his spiritual talents, including having visions, performing miracles, and understanding people's innermost thoughts.

A brave individual, he openly criticized corruption and survived several assassination attempts. His strong moral character had a deep influence, such as persuading a man to leave his mistress, who is believed to have poisoned him in revenge.

St. John of Sahagun passed away on June 11 and was declared a saint in 1690. He is celebrated each year on June 12.

12/06/2026

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
-Solemnity-
June 12

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, celebrated on the Friday after Corpus Christi, also marks the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests. This celebration highlights the Eucharist as the very Heart of Jesus, symbolizing His care and love for us.

The feast was first observed by Father Giovanni Eudes from Normandy on October 20, 1672. However, devotion to the Sacred Heart dates back to medieval German mystics like Mechtild of Magdeburg, Mechtilde of Hackeborn, Gertrude of Helfta, and the Dominican Blessed Henry Suso.

The devotion gained widespread popularity through the visions of Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun at the Paray-le-Monial convent in France. Entering the convent in 1671, Margaret Mary was already known for her mystical experiences. On December 27, 1673, she had her first vision of Jesus, who entrusted her with the role of sharing His heart with others. Jesus expressed His immense love for humanity, saying, "My Divine Heart is so passionately in love with humanity that it can no longer contain within itself the flames of its ardent love. It must pour them out. I have chosen you for this great plan."

In the following year, Margaret Mary received two more visions: one of Jesus's heart on a fiery throne and another of Christ radiating glory with flames emanating from His chest. Jesus instructed her to receive Communion on the first Friday of nine consecutive months and to spend an hour in prayer between Thursday and Friday nights. These practices led to the tradition of the First Fridays and the Holy Hour of Adoration.

In a fourth vision, Christ requested the establishment of a feast to honor His Heart and to offer prayers for reparation. Pope Pius IX declared it an obligatory feast for the universal Church in 1856. Later, in 1995, Pope John Paul II established the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests on the same day, emphasizing that the priesthood should be nurtured in Jesus's heart and remain accessible to all.

12/06/2026

Gospel of the day

Matthew 11:25-30

June 12, 2026

At that time Jesus exclaimed:
"I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

Reflection:

Jesus teaches a radical ethic of love: "Offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other." This is not weakness but the highest strength—choosing love over retaliation.

Christ Himself embodied this teaching on the Cross. He did not retaliate against those who mocked, scourged, and crucified Him. His response was forgiveness: "Father, forgive them." This divine love breaks the cycle of violence.

We naturally want justice when wronged. But Christ calls us beyond justice to mercy. This doesn't mean tolerating abuse—it means refusing to let evil dictate our response. Ask for the grace to respond to hatred with love, breaking the chains of resentment.

Prayer:

Lord, when I am wronged, give me strength to respond with love rather than revenge. Help me break the cycle of violence through Your mercy, following Your example on the Cross.

Jesus, I trust in You.

11/06/2026

Daily Mass.Readings
June 12, 2026

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Lectionary: 170

Reading 1
Deuteronomy 7:6-11

Moses said to the people:
"You are a people sacred to the LORD, your God;
he has chosen you from all the nations on the face of the earth
to be a people peculiarly his own.
It was not because you are the largest of all nations
that the LORD set his heart on you and chose you,
for you are really the smallest of all nations.
It was because the LORD loved you
and because of his fidelity to the oath he had sworn your fathers,
that he brought you out with his strong hand
from the place of slavery,
and ransomed you from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
Understand, then, that the LORD, your God, is God indeed,
the faithful God who keeps his merciful covenant
down to the thousandth generation
toward those who love him and keep his commandments,
but who repays with destruction a person who hates him;
he does not dally with such a one,
but makes them personally pay for it.
You shall therefore carefully observe the commandments,
the statutes and the decrees that I enjoin on you today."


Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 10

R. (cf. 17) The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and forget not all his benefits.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.


Reading 2
1 John 4:7-16

Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.

This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.

God is love, and whoever remains in love
remains in God and God in him.


Alleluia
Matthew 11:29ab

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Take my yoke upon you, says the Lord;
and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel
Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus exclaimed:
"I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."