Job, Chapter 17

(1) My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me. (2) Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? (3) Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me? (4) For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them. (5) He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. (6) He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret. (7) Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow. (8) Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. (9) The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. (10) But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you. (11) My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart. (12) They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness. (13) If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness. (14) I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister. (15) And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? (16) They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.

A Random Prayer...

Prayer to Mary Queen of Apostles

Immaculate Mother of God, Queen of the Apostles, we know that God's commandment of love and our vocation to follow Jesus Christ impels us to cooperate in the mission of the Church. Realizing our own weakness, we entrust the renewal of our personal lives and our apostolate to your intercession. We are confident that through God's mercy and the infinite merits of Jesus Christ, you, who are our Mother, will obtain the strength of the Holy Spirit as you obtained it for the community of the apostles gathered in the upper room. Therefore, relying on your maternal intercession, we resolve from this moment to devote our talents, learning, material resources, our health, sickness and trials, and every gift of nature and grace, for the greater glory of God and the salvation of all. We wish to carry on those activities which especially promote the catholic apostolate for the revival of fatih and love of the people of God and so bring all men and women into the faith of Jesus Christ. And if a time should come when we have nothing more to offer serviceable to this end, we will never cease to pray that there will be one fold and one shepherd Jesus Christ. In this way, we hope to enjoy the results of the apostolate of Jesus Christ for all eternity. Amen. Saint Vincent Pallotti

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