EXPLORE THE SUNDAY GOSPEL
The Lord's Prayer, Further Teachings on Prayer, & The Answer to Prayer
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished,
one of his disciples said to him,
"Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples."
He said to them, "When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread
and forgive us our sins
for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,
and do not subject us to the final test."
And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend
to whom he goes at midnight and says,
'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey
and I have nothing to offer him,'
and he says in reply from within,
'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked
and my children and I are already in bed.
I cannot get up to give you anything.'
I tell you,
if he does not get up to give the visitor the loaves
because of their friendship,
he will get up to give him whatever he needs
because of his persistence.
"And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What father among you would hand his son a snake
when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven
give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"
MEET OUR EXTENDED FAMILY
Blessed Solanus Casey (Feast Day July 30)
November 25, 1870-July 31, 1957
Bernard Francis Casey was one of sixteen children born to Irish immigrants in Wisconsin. The Casey family were devout Catholics who prayed daily and attended Mass as often as they could. It was no surprise when Bernard decided to devote his life to God as a priest. For years, he struggled with his studies in seminary until he was told he would be better off joining a religious order. Bernard left Wisconsin to join the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. He was accepted into the order at the age of 33 and, taking the name Solanus after St. Francis Solano, was ordained a "simplex priest," meaning he could not hear confessions or preach doctrinal sermons. Still, Fr. Solanus loved to celebrate Mass.
He served as a porter, answering the door and hearing people's needs. Fr. Solanus was recognized as a holy man, spending much of his time feeding the poor and caring for the sick. Many of the people he prayed for were miraculously cured of their illnesses; people would line up for blocks to see Fr. Solanus. He never turned people away when they wanted to speak to him. Many miracles have been attributed to Fr. Solanus Casey's intercession.
On July 31, 1957, Fr. Solanus Casey passed away. His last words reportedly were "I give my soul to Jesus Christ." Fr. Solanus was beatified on November 18, 2017, at Ford Field in Detroit. His tomb is located inside the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit. Today, people continue to ask Blessed Solanus for help by writing their prayer requests on a piece of paper and placing it on his tomb.
TAKE TIME TO CHAT
In today's Gospel, Jesus is teaching us how to pray. How do you like to pray?
Discuss the words of the Our Father given to us by Jesus. In your own words, explain the meaning of this prayer.
What is something you want to ask for in prayer?
Blessed Solanus Casey struggled with his studies but that did not stop him. What is something that you struggle with? How can your family support you and pray for you?
FAMILY FUN
Learn More About Blessed Solanus
The beatification of Fr. Solanus Casey happened only a few years ago.
Here are some fun things you can do to learn more about him:
- Watch the beatification Mass at Ford Field: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPSl55ljtNc
- If you live near Detroit, visit the Solanus Casey Center. Visit https://www.solanuscenter.org/ to plan your trip. Before you go, write a list of prayer intentions on a piece of paper. When you visit, you can place those intentions on the tomb.
- If you do not live nearby, take a virtual tour at https://vimeo.com/showcase/solanus-casey-center-virtual-tour and mail your prayer intentions to the Solanus Casey Center. They can place your prayer intentions on Blessed Solanus' tomb.
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Easy Homemade Bread
If a friend comes to your house asking for bread, you will have something to offer!
2 cups warm water, 110 F
½ cup white sugar
1 ½ Tbsp active dry yeast
1 ½ tsp salt
¼ cup vegetable oil
5-6 cups flour (all-purpose or bread flour)
In a large bowl, dissolve 1 Tbsp of the sugar in warm water and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam, about 5 minutes. Mix remaining sugar, salt, and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. Dough should be tacky and clean the sides of the bowl save for a small part at the bottom. Too much flour added in yields a dry loaf of bread, so if you're worried you added too much, add a bit more hot water, until you get the correct consistency. Knead dough for 7 minutes. Place in a well-oiled bowl and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. Punch dough down. Knead for 1 minute and divide in half. Shape into loaves and place into two greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans. Bake at 350 F for 30-40 minutes. Cool, brush with butter and enjoy!
FAMILY PRAYER
Prayer for the Canonization of Blessed Solanus Casey
O God, I adore you. I give myself to you. May I be the person you want me to be, and may your will be done in my life today.
I thank you for the gifts you gave Father Solanus. If it is your will, bless us with the Canonization of Father Solanus so that others may imitate and carry on his love for all the poor and suffering of our world.
As he joyfully accepted your divine plans, I ask you, according to your will, to hear my prayer for... [state your intention] through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
"Blessed be God in all His Designs."
Imprimatur: The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron, Archbishop of Detroit, May 2017
LITURGY LINK
In today's Gospel, Jesus taught his followers the "Our Father." We pray this prayer each time we celebrate Mass.
Listen for the Our Father prayer at Mass.
FAMILY CHALLENGE
Blessed Solanus was known for saying, "Thank God ahead of time!" This week, begin each day by thanking God for what your day will hold.
FUN FACTS
Blessed Solanus had some quirky habits, such as combining all his food into one bowl at mealtimes and playing his harmonica to calm the bees in the monastery's hive. His violin playing was another unique aspect of his simple and humble life. Despite his enthusiasm, Solanus was not a particularly skilled violinist. He taught himself to play and would play for his fellow friars and even before the Blessed Sacrament.
