.=: M O R N I N G P R A Y E R :=. From Father Pat Umberger __________________________________________________ .=: S A I N T O F T H E D A Y :=. Martyrdom of John the Baptist The drunken oath of a king with a shallow sense of honor, a seductive dance and the hateful heart of a queen combined to bring about the martyrdom of John the Baptist. The greatest of prophets suffered the fate of so many Old Testament prophets before him: rejection and martyrdom. The "voice crying in the desert" did not hesitate to accuse the guilty, did not hesitate to speak the truth. But why? What possesses a man that he would give up his very life? For more, follow the link below: Saint of the Day: http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintofDay/ .=: S C R I P T U R E S F O R T H E D A Y := Nevertheless we urge you, brothers and sisters, to progress even more, and to aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you. ~1 Thessalonians 4:9-11 He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. ~Mark 6:17-29 Scriptures: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/ .=: M E D I T A T I O N F O R T H E D A Y :=. What would others think? We can focus more on that than on doing right. Herod did that in today's Gospel, and John the Baptist is beheaded. Still, his martyrdom inspires many others to follow the way and to do right. .=: P R A Y E R F O R T H E D A Y :=. I pray that I may worry more about doing right than what others might think of me. I pray that my example may lead others closer to Christ. .=: W E P R A Y :=. Tammy who is a single mother prays for guidance and strength to provide for her family financially and to ease her struggle in doing so. Ro asks prayers for her brother's family whose son was murdered wed night in his home. Trish asks prayers for a special intention. Sharon asks prayers for a special intention. Bettye and Bernard ask prayers for a very special intention. Carrie asks prayers for her friend who is recovering from surgery. Judi asks prayers for a special intention. Chris asks prayers for his son-in-law who is having eye problems, and due to a corporate merger, is at risk of losing his job. A mother requests prayers for her son for a special intention. George asks prayers for a friend who is fighting cancer. Tom asks prayers for a special intention. Jean requests prayer for a friend who is again battling cancer. Jean asks prayers for her husband who begins the medical process to replace a heart valve. A member requests prayers for a young mother who has stage four breast cancer, that she may be healed. Jeannine requests prayers for her friend Nadia who is going through a difficult pregnancy. We pray for unity in our country and that we may build a Culture of Life. We pray for the safety of our troops, their safe return and their families at home. We pray for a deep and profound respect for life, and for the courage and willingness to stand up for life. We pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. Have a good day! May God Bless you and those you love, and keep you safe! Father Pat "Be still and know that I am God." ~Psalm 46:10 __________________________________________________ <MP>Morning Prayer is free, and comes from: Father Pat Umberger, a priest of the Diocese of La Crosse in Wisconsin U.S.A. Web Site: www.frpat.com Evangelization (reaching out): www.cmonback.com .=: M A K E A D O N A T I O N ? :=. www.frpat.com/donation.htm .=: F O R W A R D I N G :=. Please leave these credits when doing so. Newly written each day by Father Pat Umberger. Morning Prayer may not be published by others, but is a good resource for preachers and those who attend Daily Mass, and those who would like to keep up with the Lectionary Readings and are not always able to attend Daily Mass. .=: C H A N G E Y O U R S U B S C R I P T I O N :=. Unsubscribe from your old address before you subscribe with your new address. Use this link: www.frpat.com/morningprayer.htm#mp .=: S U B M I T A P R A Y E R :=. Intentions to be included with <MP>Morning Prayer: www.frpat.com/prayers.htm