Hosea, Chapter 5

(1) Hear ye this, O priests; and hearken, ye house of Israel; and give ye ear, O house of the king; for judgment is toward you, because ye have been a snare on Mizpah, and a net spread upon Tabor. (2) And the revolters are profound to make slaughter, though I have been a rebuker of them all. (3) I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled. (4) They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the LORD. (5) And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them. (6) They shall go with their flocks and with their herds to seek the LORD; but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them. (7) They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions. (8) Blow ye the cornet in Gibeah, and the trumpet in Ramah: cry aloud at Bethaven, after thee, O Benjamin. (9) Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: among the tribes of Israel have I made known that which shall surely be. (10) The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water. (11) Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment. (12) Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth, and to the house of Judah as rottenness. (13) When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound. (14) For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him. (15) I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.

A Random Prayer...

Prayer before Communion - "Divine Master, Spouse of My Heart"

Divine Master, Spouse of my heart, I will follow Thee everywhere with Mary, my Mother. Having Thee, do I not possess all riches? To love Thee and please Thee -- is not that the greatest happiness of life? To share Thy sacrifices, Thy sufferings, Thy death -- is not that the most glorious victory of love? O my God, my mind is made up! I make no more conditions or reservations in my love for Thee. I will follow Thee in all things, yes, even to Calvary! Speak, pierce, cut, burn! My heart is altar and victim! . . . by St. Peter Julian Eymard

more prayers...