Tuesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time 1st Reading – Daniel 2:31-45 Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar:“In your vision, O king, you saw a statue, very large and exceedingly bright, terrifying in appearance as it stood before you. The head of the statue was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs bronze, the legs iron, its feet partly iron and partly tile. While you looked at the statue, a stone which was hewn from a mountain without a hand being put to it, struck its iron and tile feet, breaking them in pieces. The iron, tile, bronze, silver, and gold all crumbled at once, fine as the chaff on the threshing floor in summer, and the wind blew them away without leaving a trace. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. “This was the dream; the interpretation we shall also give in the king’s presence. You, O king, are the king of kings; to you the God of heaven has given dominion and strength, power and glory; men, wild beasts, and birds of the air, wherever they may dwell, he has handed over to you, making you ruler over them all; you are the head of gold. Another kingdom shall take your place, inferior to yours, then a third kingdom, of bronze, which shall rule over the whole earth. There shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron; it shall break in pieces and subdue all these others, just as iron breaks in pieces and crushes everything else. The feet and toes you saw, partly of potter’s tile and partly of iron, mean that it shall be a divided kingdom, but yet have some of the hardness of iron. As you saw the iron mixed with clay tile, and the toes partly iron and partly tile, the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. The iron mixed with clay tile means that they shall seal their alliances by intermarriage, but they shall not stay united, any more than iron mixes with clay. In the lifetime of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed or delivered up to another people; rather, it shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and put an end to them, and it shall stand forever. That is the meaning of the stone you saw hewn from the mountain without a hand being put to it, which broke in pieces the tile, iron, bronze, silver, and gold. The great God has revealed to the king what shall be in the future; this is exactly what you dreamed, and its meaning is sure.”   Responsorial Psalm – Daniel 3:57, 58, 59, 60, 61 R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. “Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord,praise and exalt him above all forever.” R. Give glory and eternal praise to him. “Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord,praise and exalt him above all forever.”

Monday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time 1st Reading – Daniel 1:1-6, 8-20 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came and laid siege to Jerusalem. The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and some of the vessels of the temple of God; he carried them off to the land of Shinar, and placed the vessels in the temple treasury of his god. The king told Ashpenaz, his chief chamberlain, to bring in some of the children of Israel of royal blood and of the nobility, young men without any defect, handsome, intelligent and wise, quick to learn, and prudent in judgment, such as could take their place in the king’s palace; they were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans; after three years’ training they were to enter the king’s service. The king allotted them a daily portion of food and wine from the royal table. Among these were men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself with the king’s food or wine; so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement. Though God had given Daniel the favor and sympathy of the chief chamberlain, he nevertheless said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king; it is he who allotted your food and drink. If he sees that you look wretched by comparison with the other young men of your age, you will endanger my life with the king.” Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief chamberlain had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days. Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then see how we look in comparison with the other young men who eat from the royal table, and treat your servants according to what you see.” He acceded to this request, and tested them for ten days; after ten days they looked healthier and better fed than any of the young men who ate from the royal table. So the steward continued to take away the food and wine they were to receive, and gave them vegetables. To these four young men God gave knowledge and proficiency in all literature and science, and to Daniel the understanding of all visions and dreams. At the end of the time the king had specified for their preparation, the chief chamberlain brought them before Nebuchadnezzar. When the king had spoken with all of them, none was found equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; and so they entered the king’s service. In any question of wisdom or prudence which the king put to them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom.   Responsorial Psalm – Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56 R.  Glory and praise for ever! “Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,praiseworthy and exalted above all

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe 1st Reading – Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17 Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will look after and tend my sheep. As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep. I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark. I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD. The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly. As for you, my sheep, says the Lord GOD, I will judge between one sheep and another, between rams and goats.   Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6 R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.In verdant pastures he gives me repose. R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Beside restful waters he leads me;he refreshes my soul.He guides me in right pathsfor his name’s sake. R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. You spread the table before mein the sight of my foes;you anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows. R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Only goodness and kindness follow meall the days of my life;and I shall dwell in the house of the LORDfor years to come. R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.   2nd Reading – 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28 Brothers and sisters: Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through man, the resurrection of the dead came also through man. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order: Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. When everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all.   Alleluia – Mark 11:9, 10 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!R. Alleluia, alleluia.   Gospel – Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all

PCF Rector Fr. Gregory Ramon Gaston (3rd from right) and other officers of the Associazione dei Rettori dei Collegi Ecclesiastici di Roma (ARCER) pose for a group photo during their general assembly at the College of Legionaries of Christ in Rome on Nov. 23. By CBCP News November 24, 2023 Manila, Philippines Fr. Gregory Ramon Gaston of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino has been reelected as a council member of the association of rectors of seminaries, colleges, and other ecclesiastical institutes in Rome. Eight out of the 10-member council of the Associazione dei Rettori dei Collegi Ecclesiastici di Roma (ARCER) were reelected, including Gaston. The priest from the Archdiocese of Manila has been serving as PCF Rector since 2010. ARCER has also reelected its president, Benedictine Fr. Mauritius Wilde of St. Anselm College, for a second two-year term. The other colleges elected to the Council were the Urbanian Seminary (for seminarians from mission territories), Brazilian, Sedes Sapientiae Seminary (run by Opus Dei for diocesan seminarians), French, English, Polish, Croatian, Belgian, and St. Paul (for priests from mission territories). The election took place during the ARCER general assembly, which was held at the College of Legionaries of Christ in Rome on Nov. 23. ARCER represents 131 ecclesiastical colleges that serve as homes to seminarians or priests studying in Rome. In Europe, “colleges” usually refer to student residences rather than schools or universities. ARCER was established in 1989 after an assembly held in the Mexican Pontifical College, with the approval of the statute by the Congregation for Catholic Education, now known as the Dicastery for Culture and Education. The association aims to stimulate dialogue among the rectors regarding the life of their institutes and to act as a spokesperson for the rectors’ common requests to the dicasteries of the Roman Curia and other bodies that influence the life of the seminaries and colleges in Rome. DONATE TO CBCP NEWS CBCPNews is a church-based news agency operated by the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.  This apostolate aims at helping the work of the new evangelization through the news media.  This is non-commercial and non-profit.  That being the case, it totally depends on generosity of its readers and supporters. Should you wish to donate kindly press the donate button.  Thank you.  

Bishop Ruperto Santos, CBCP Promoter of Stella Maris-Philippines. STELLA MARIS-MANILA By CBCP News November 24, 2023 Manila, Philippines Global maritime charity Stella Maris intends to build more centers in the Philippines to reach areas with a large number of seafarers and fishers. Bishop Ruperto Santos, CBCP Promoter of Stella Maris-Philippines, said the organization is only present in 15 archdioceses and dioceses making it “difficult” for them to extend their services across the country. “As such, we aim to establish new Stella Maris Centers in other dioceses to continue providing pastoral care to more seafarers and their families,” Santos said. “We are also committed to generate financial resources to carry out programs and services in order to address the issue of lack of volunteers and paid workers due to financial constraints,” he said. The bishop made the statement during the network’s meeting in Brazil’s city of Sao Paulo from Nov. 20 to 23. The Filipino seafarers are significantly contributing to the country’s economy by sending home an average of $5 billion every year. According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), as of 2022, there were approximately 490,000 Filipino seafarers working in various parts of the world. Santos assured that Stella Maris, formerly known as Apostleship of the Sea, “will always be by their side, providing hope, care and inspiration”. “Whatever challenges that our seafarers may face will purify them and make them stronger,” he said. DONATE TO CBCP NEWS CBCPNews is a church-based news agency operated by the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.  This apostolate aims at helping the work of the new evangelization through the news media.  This is non-commercial and non-profit.  That being the case, it totally depends on generosity of its readers and supporters. Should you wish to donate kindly press the donate button.  Thank you.  

Photo by Dra. Mylene A. Santos, MD, in Tagalag, Valenzuela City, 13 September 2023. The Lord Is My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog IIWednesday, Memorial of St. Cecilia, Virgin & Martyr, 22 November 2023 Praise and glory to you, God our loving Father! Today I pray to you for the gift of a “noble spirit” like that courageous mother of seven brothers who died on the same day before her as she extolled them to resist temptations and remained faithful to you: “Filled with a noble sprit that stirred her womanly heart with manly courage” (2 Maccabees 7:21). What a beautiful description of that woman’s great courage and faith in you, dear God! Give us a noble spirit, Lord, a selfless soul that thinks more of others than one’s self especially in this age when we are so self-conscious and conceited with our bloated egos always on the take, as if the world revolves around us; a soul that is not selfish and other centered because of deep faith and trustin you, Father. Stir your noble spirit in us, Lord; let us find anew our moral compass, our moral grounding in you and your laws especially in this age when “everything and anything goes” regardless of morals and virtues, an age that glorifies every person as a universe in himself, crowning himself as god, yet so afraid of the truth, so ignorant of freedom, without any idea of the real meaning of living and loving that in the end, could not accept death. Like that courageous woman and St. Cecilia, stir the noble spirit within us, Lord Jesus, to embrace wholeheartedly our being human, our being finite, our being-towards-death so that we may start livingas you have taught us by giving and sharing ourselves and everything we have in order to be fulfilled, by facing death so that we may live in you. Amen. Today's Readings Homilies

Thursday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time 1st Reading – 1 Maccabees 2:15-29 The officers of the king in charge of enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modein to organize the sacrifices. Many of Israel joined them, but Mattathias and his sons gathered in a group apart. Then the officers of the king addressed Mattathias: “You are a leader, an honorable and great man in this city, supported by sons and kin. Come now, be the first to obey the king’s command, as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah and those who are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons shall be numbered among the King’s Friends, and shall be enriched with silver and gold and many gifts.” But Mattathias answered in a loud voice: “Although all the Gentiles in the king’s realm obey him, so that each forsakes the religion of his fathers and consents to the king’s orders, yet I and my sons and my kin will keep to the covenant of our fathers. God forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments. We will not obey the words of the king nor depart from our religion in the slightest degree.” As he finished saying these words, a certain Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein according to the king’s order. When Mattathias saw him, he was filled with zeal; his heart was moved and his just fury was aroused; he sprang forward and killed him upon the altar. At the same time, he also killed the messenger of the king who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar. Thus he showed his zeal for the law, just as Phinehas did with Zimri, son of Salu. Then Mattathias went through the city shouting, “Let everyone who is zealous for the law and who stands by the covenant follow after me!” Thereupon he fled to the mountains with his sons, leaving behind in the city all their possessions. Many who sought to live according to righteousness and religious custom went out into the desert to settle there.   Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 50:1B-2, 5-6, 14-15 R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. God the LORD has spoken and summoned the earth,from the rising of the sun to its setting.From Zion, perfect in beauty,God shines forth. R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.  “Gather my faithful ones before me,those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”And the heavens proclaim his justice;for God himself is the judge. R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God. “Offer to God praise as your sacrificeand fulfill your vows to the Most High;Then call upon me in time of distress;I will rescue you, and you shall glorify me.” R. To the upright I will show the saving power of God.   Alleluia – Psalms 95:8 R. Alleluia,

The Archdiocesan Shrine of Sto. Niño in Tacloban City is illuminated in red lights for “Red Wednesday” in remembrance of persecuted Christians around the world, Nov. 24, 2021. FILE PHOTO By CBCP News November 22, 2023 Manila, Philippines The papal charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) will commemorate “Red Wednesday” on Nov. 29, an event of solidarity that serves as a reminder that Christian persecution is an ongoing phenomenon. ACN Philippines is once again inviting parishes to join the annual observance “to commemorate the day of remembrance for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ”. This year’s Red Wednesday, themed “Embracing Persecuted, Oppressed, and Needy Christians,” highlights “the pastoral work of the Church in supporting Christians from various walks of life”. “If possible, the building façade of the Churches, schools, hospitals, houses, and other institutions is to be illuminated and/or decorated in red,” said Fr. Jaime Marquez, administrator of ACN Philippines. “The local Church may also encourage the faithful to wear red on that day as remembrance for the shed blood of Christ on the Cross as persecuted and martyred and for the blood of our persecuted brethrens,” he said. Red Wednesday is an initiative launched in 2015 by ACN, a Catholic charity that supports suffering and persecuted Christians. ACN notes that approximately 250 million Christians worldwide live in environments where they face violent persecution, discrimination, or restrictions on practicing their faith freely. DONATE TO CBCP NEWS CBCPNews is a church-based news agency operated by the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.  This apostolate aims at helping the work of the new evangelization through the news media.  This is non-commercial and non-profit.  That being the case, it totally depends on generosity of its readers and supporters. Should you wish to donate kindly press the donate button.  Thank you.  

Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr 1st Reading – 2 Maccabees 7:1, 20-31 It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested and tortured with whips and scourges by the king, to force them to eat pork in violation of God’s law. Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother, who saw her seven sons perish in a single day, yet bore it courageously because of her hope in the Lord. Filled with a noble spirit that stirred her womanly heart with manly courage, she exhorted each of them in the language of their ancestors with these words: “I do not know how you came into existence in my womb; it was not I who gave you the breath of life, nor was it I who set in order the elements of which each of you is composed. Therefore, since it is the Creator of the universe who shapes each man’s beginning, as he brings about the origin of everything, he, in his mercy, will give you back both breath and life, because you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his law.” Antiochus, suspecting insult in her words, thought he was being ridiculed. As the youngest brother was still alive, the king appealed to him, not with mere words, but with promises on oath, to make him rich and happy if he would abandon his ancestral customs: he would make him his Friend and entrust him with high office. When the youth paid no attention to him at all, the king appealed to the mother, urging her to advise her boy to save his life. After he had urged her for a long time, she went through the motions of persuading her son. In derision of the cruel tyrant, she leaned over close to her son and said in their native language: “Son, have pity on me, who carried you in my womb for nine months, nursed you for three years, brought you up, educated and supported you to your present age. I beg you, child, to look at the heavens and the earth and see all that is in them; then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things; and in the same way the human race came into existence. Do not be afraid of this executioner, but be worthy of your brothers and accept death, so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again with them.” She had scarcely finished speaking when the youth said: “What are you waiting for? I will not obey the king’s command. I obey the command of the law given to our fathers through Moses. But you, who have contrived every kind of affliction for the Hebrews, will not escape the hands of God.”   Responsorial Psalm – Psalms 17:1BCD, 5-6, 8B AND 15 R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full. Hear, O LORD, a just suit;attend to my outcry;hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.

The Filipino chaplains in Italy gather for their annual convention in Florence, Italy from Nov. 13 to 15. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO By CBCP News November 20, 2023 Rome, Italy The Filipino chaplains in Italy gathered in the city of Florence recently and talked how to better serve the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Hosted by Fr. Reynold Corcino, chaplain in Florence, the annual convention was held last November 13 to 15. “The chaplains discussed how to better serve our OFW’s, who have become our overseas Filipino missionaries,” said Fr. Gregory Gaston, national coordinator for Filipino chaplains in Italy and rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino. “Also tackled were how to minister to religious and civic organizations and bring them closer to the chaplaincies, always according to the guidelines of the host Italian dioceses,” he said. Fr. Gianni Guida, who first started the community 35 years ago, was present during the convention. Among the highlights of the convention was the online conversation with Msgr. Bernardo Pantin, CBCP Secretary General, who talked about the proposed Personal Prelature for Filipinos. He said the personal prelature is meant to support the Filipino chaplains’ mission and needs worldwide. “Rather than keeping our migrants away from the parishes abroad, the personal prelature will do everything it can to incorporate them into the parishes in the countries where they settle,” Pantin said. The personal prelature, conceived by the Vatican Council II and further developed in Church documents and papal teachings, has been the subject of academic, pastoral, and canonical studies concerning Filipino migrants for the past 30 years. Over the last two years, it has been repeatedly discussed in various Permanent Council and plenary meetings of the CBCP. DONATE TO CBCP NEWS CBCPNews is a church-based news agency operated by the Media Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.  This apostolate aims at helping the work of the new evangelization through the news media.  This is non-commercial and non-profit.  That being the case, it totally depends on generosity of its readers and supporters. Should you wish to donate kindly press the donate button.  Thank you.