Topical Scripture

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marriage / married / marry

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Mary (mother of Jesus)

Click here for "Marian Scripture References" [Mary, Our Mother section]

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Mary, canticle of

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Mass (links)

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Jesus (links) [J]

Eucharist, Holy [E]

church [C4]

reverence / honor to God [R8]

worship [W12a]

Bible / Word of God [B3]

Jesus' Last Supper Prayer [J]

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Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (Topic Page)

Sacraments

Latin Mass & Catholic Tradition

Priests & Vocations

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Matrimony (Sacrament)

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meek

humble / humbled / humbly / humility [H20]

Now, Moses himself was by far the meekest man on the face of the earth. [NUM 12:3]

It is better to be humble with the meek than to share plunder with the proud. [PROV 16:19]

From him was to spring the man who won the favor of all: Dear to God and men, Moses, whose memory is held in benediction. God's honor devolved upon him, and the Lord strengthened him with fearful powers; God wrought swift miracles at his words and sustained him in the king's presence. He gave him the commandments for his people, and revealed to him his glory. For his trustworthiness and meekness God selected him from all mankind; He permitted him to hear his voice, and led him into the cloud, Where, face to face, he gave him the commandments, the law of life and understanding, That he might teach his precepts to Jacob, his judgments and decrees to Israel. [SIRACH 45:1-5]

Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, Meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass. He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; The warrior's bow shall be banished, and he shall proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. [ZECH 9:9-10]

[Jesus said,] "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land." [Taken from MT 5:5]

[Jesus said,] "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." [Taken from MT 11:28-30]

When they drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them here to me. And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, 'The master has need of them.' Then he will send them at once." This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: "Say to daughter Zion, 'Behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.'" The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them. They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them, and he sat upon them. The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest." And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, "Who is this?" And the crowds replied, "This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee." [MT 21:1-11]

Also try:

mild / mildness [M]

patient / patience [P3]

peace / peaceful / peaceable [P4a]

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Reflections: A-Z | Categorized

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Melchizedek

priest / priestly / priesthood [P15a]

When Abram returned from his victory over Chedorlaomer and the kings who were allied with him, the king of Sodom went out to greet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine, and being a priest of God Most High, he blessed Abram with these words: "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, the creator of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your foes into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. [GEN 14:17-20]

The LORD says to you, my lord: "Take your throne at my right hand, while I make your enemies your footstool." The scepter of your sovereign might the LORD will extend from Zion. The LORD says: "Rule over your enemies! Yours is princely power from the day of your birth. In holy splendor before the daystar, like the dew I begot you." The LORD has sworn and will not waver: "Like Melchizedek you are a priest forever." [Taken from PS 110:1-4]

Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal patiently with the ignorant and erring, for he himself is beset by weakness and so, for this reason, must make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honor upon himself but only when called by God, just as Aaron was. In the same way, it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest, but rather the one who said to him: "You are my son; this day I have begotten you"; just as he says in another place: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." In the days when he was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, declared by God high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. [HEB 5:1-10]

Human beings swear by someone greater than themselves; for them an oath serves as a guarantee and puts an end to all argument. So when God wanted to give the heirs of his promise an even clearer demonstration of the immutability of his purpose, he intervened with an oath, so that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to hold fast to the hope that lies before us. This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil, where Jesus has entered on our behalf as forerunner, becoming high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. [HEB 6:16-20]

This "Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High," "met Abraham as he returned from his defeat of the kings" and "blessed him." And Abraham apportioned to him "a tenth of everything." His name first means righteous king, and he was also "king of Salem," that is, king of peace. Without father, mother, or ancestry, without beginning of days or end of life, thus made to resemble the Son of God, he remains a priest forever. See how great he is to whom the patriarch "Abraham (indeed) gave a tenth" of his spoils. The descendants of Levi who receive the office of priesthood have a commandment according to the law to exact tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, although they also have come from the loins of Abraham. But he who was not of their ancestry received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises. Unquestionably, a lesser person is blessed by a greater. In the one case, mortal men receive tithes; in the other, a man of whom it is testified that he lives on. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, was tithed through Abraham, for he was still in his father's loins when Melchizedek met him. If, then, perfection came through the levitical priesthood, on the basis of which the people received the law, what need would there still have been for another priest to arise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not reckoned according to the order of Aaron? When there is a change of priesthood, there is necessarily a change of law as well. Now he of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, of which no member ever officiated at the altar. It is clear that our Lord arose from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. It is even more obvious if another priest is raised up after the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become so, not by a law expressed in a commandment concerning physical descent but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. For it is testified: "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek." On the one hand, a former commandment is annulled because of its weakness and uselessness, for the law brought nothing to perfection; on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. And to the degree that this happened not without the taking of an oath - for others became priests without an oath, but he with an oath, through the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: 'You are a priest forever'" - to that same degree has Jesus (also) become the guarantee of an (even) better covenant. Those priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office, but he, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them. [HEB 7:1-25]

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Holy Orders (Sacrament) [S2]

Jesus (links) [J]

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Priests & Vocations

Priests (Topic Page)

Reflections: A-Z | Categorized

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merchant

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mercy / merciful / merciless

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Messiah (NT)

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mild / mildness

humble / humbled / humbly / humility [H20]

"I am also bearing in mind that the neighboring rulers, especially those on the borders of our kingdom, are on the watch for opportunities and waiting to see what will happen. I have therefore appointed as king my son Antiochus, whom I have often before entrusted and commended to most of you, when I made hurried visits to the outlying provinces. I have written to him the letter copied below. Therefore I beg and entreat each of you to remember the general and individual benefits you have received, and to continue to show good will toward me and my son. I am confident that, following my policy, he will treat you with mildness and kindness in his relations with you." So this murderer and blasphemer, after extreme sufferings, such as he had inflicted on others, died a miserable death in the mountains of a foreign land. [2MACC 9:25-28]

A mild answer calms wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. [PROV 15:1]

Should the anger of the ruler burst upon you, forsake not your place; for mildness abates great offenses. [ECCL 10:4]

For when they had been tried, though only mildly chastised, they recognized how the wicked, condemned in anger, were being tormented. [WISDOM 11:9]

But your holy ones had very great light; And those others, who heard their voices but did not see their forms, since now they themselves had suffered, called them blest; And because they who formerly had been wronged did not harm them, they thanked them, and pleaded with them, for the sake of the difference between them. Instead of this, you furnished the flaming pillar which was a guide on the unknown way, and the mild sun for an honorable migration. [WISDOM 18:1-3]

Also try:

meek [M]

patient / patience [P3]

peace / peaceful / peaceable [P4a]

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Reflections: A-Z | Categorized

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miracles

Click here for "Jesus' Miracles & Signs" [Scripture / Parables section]

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miscarriage

Father / fathers / fatherhood [F5a]

The LORD, your God, you shall worship; then I will bless your food and drink, and I will remove all sickness from your midst; no woman in your land will be barren or miscarry; and I will give you a full span of life. [EX 23:25-26]

So angry was the LORD against them that when he departed, and the cloud withdrew from the tent, there was Miriam, a snow-white leper! When Aaron turned and saw her a leper, "Ah, my lord!" he said to Moses, "please do not charge us with the sin that we have foolishly committed! Let her not thus be like the stillborn babe..." Then Moses cried to the LORD, "Please, not this! Pray, heal her!" [Taken from NUM 12:9-13]

Once the inhabitants of the city complained to Elisha, "The site of the city is fine indeed, as my lord can see, but the water is bad and the land unfruitful." "Bring me a new bowl," Elisha said, "and put salt into it." When they had brought it to him, he went out to the spring and threw salt into it, saying, "Thus says the LORD, 'I have purified this water. Never again shall death or miscarriage spring from it.'" And the water has stayed pure even to this day, just as Elisha prophesied. [2KGS 2:19-22]

Should a man have a hundred children and live many years, no matter to what great age, still if he has not the full benefit of his goods, or if he is deprived of burial, of this man I proclaim that the child born dead is more fortunate than he. [ECCL 6:3]

Also try:

mourn / mourning [M7]

sorrow / sorrowful [S23]

grief [G10]

dead / death [D1a]

barren [B]

mother / mothers [M6a]

parent / parents [P2]

womb [W10]

pregnant / with child [P12]

Other resources:

Pro-Life (Topic Page)

Reflections: A-Z | Categorized

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misdeeds

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miser

selfish / selfishness [S]

A man may become rich through a miser's life, and this is his allotted reward: When he says: "I have found rest, now I will feast on my possessions," He does not know how long it will be till he dies and leaves them to others. [SIRACH 11:18-19]

Wealth ill becomes the mean man; and to the miser, of what use is gold? What he denies himself he collects for others, and in his possessions a stranger will revel. To whom will he be generous who is stingy with himself and does not enjoy what is his own? None is more stingy than he who is stingy with himself; he punishes his own miserliness. If ever he is generous, it is by mistake; and in the end he displays his greed. In the miser's opinion his share is too small; he refuses his neighbor and brings ruin on himself. The miser's eye is rapacious for bread, but on his own table he sets it stale. My son, use freely whatever you have and enjoy it as best you can; Remember that death does not tarry, nor have you been told the grave's appointed time. Before you die, be good to your friend, and give him a share in what you possess. Will you not leave your riches to others, and your earnings to be divided by lot? All flesh grows old, like a garment; the age-old law is: All must die. As with the leaves that grow on a vigorous tree: one falls off and another sprouts - So with the generations of flesh and blood: one dies and another is born. All man's works will perish in decay, and his handiwork will follow after him. [SIRACH 14:3-13,15,17-19]

On a man generous with food, blessings are invoked, and this testimony to his goodness is lasting; He who is miserly with food is denounced in public, and this testimony to his stinginess is lasting. [SIRACH 31:23-24]

Speak not to a woman about her rival, nor to a coward about war, to a merchant about business, to a buyer about value, to a miser about generosity, to a cruel man about mercy, to a lazy man about work, to a seasonal laborer about the harvest, to an idle slave about a great task: pay no attention to any advice they give. [SIRACH 37:11]

Also try:

greed / greedy [G9]

almsgiving [A]

deeds / works [D3a]

aid / assist / avail [H11a]

generous / generosity [G]

financial [F8]

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Reflections: A-Z | Categorized

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misery / miserable

suffer / suffered / suffering [S30]

Leah conceived and bore a son, and she named him Reuben; for she said, "It means, 'The LORD saw my misery; now my husband will love me.'" [GEN 29:32]

"Go and assemble the elders of the Israelites, and tell them: The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, has appeared to me and said: I am concerned about you and about the way you are being treated in Egypt; so I have decided to lead you up out of the misery of Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey." [EX 3:16-17]

Misfortune is not observed in Jacob, nor misery seen in Israel. The LORD, his God, is with him; with him is the triumph of his King. [NUM 23:21]

But be careful not to take, in your greed, anything that is under the ban; else you will bring upon the camp of Israel this ban and the misery of it. [JOSH 6:18]

Joshua said, "The LORD bring upon you today the misery with which you have afflicted us!" And all Israel stoned him to death and piled a great heap of stones over him, which remains to the present day. Then the anger of the LORD relented. That is why the place is called the Valley of Achor to this day. [JOSH 7:25-26]

Thus was Israel reduced to misery by Midian, and so the Israelites cried out to the LORD. [JUDG 6:6]

But the Israelites said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do to us whatever you please. Only save us this day." And they cast out the foreign gods from their midst and served the LORD, so that he grieved over the misery of Israel. [JUDG 10:15-16]

Hannah rose after one such meal at Shiloh, and presented herself before the LORD; at the time, Eli the priest was sitting on a chair near the doorpost of the LORD'S temple. In her bitterness she prayed to the LORD, weeping copiously, and she made a vow, promising: "O LORD of hosts, if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid, if you remember me and do not forget me, if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to the LORD for as long as he lives; neither wine nor liquor shall he drink, and no razor shall ever touch his head." As she remained long at prayer before the LORD, Eli watched her mouth, for Hannah was praying silently; though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli, thinking her drunk, said to her, "How long will you make a drunken show of yourself? Sober up from your wine!" "It isn't that, my lord," Hannah answered. "I am an unhappy woman. I have had neither wine nor liquor; I was only pouring out my troubles to the LORD. Do not think your handmaid a ne'er-do-well; my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery." Eli said, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him." [1SAM 1:9-17]

"At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin whom you are to anoint as commander of my people Israel. He shall save my people from the clutches of the Philistines, for I have witnessed their misery and accepted their cry for help." [1SAM 9:16]

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, it roused his anger and he became very much incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, saying in the presence of his brethren and the troops of Samaria: "What are these miserable Jews trying to do? Will they complete their restoration in a single day? Will they recover these stones, burnt as they are, from the heaps of dust?" [NEH 3:33-34]

"So now, deal with me as you please, and command my life breath to be taken from me, that I may go from the face of the earth into dust. It is better for me to die than to live, because I have heard insulting calumnies, and I am overwhelmed with grief. Lord, command me to be delivered from such anguish; let me go to the everlasting abode; Lord, refuse me not. For it is better for me to die than to endure so much misery in life, and to hear these insults!" [TOBIT 3:6]

"We adjure you by heaven and earth, and by our God, the Lord of our forefathers, who is punishing us for our sins and those of our forefathers, to do as we have proposed, this very day." All in the assembly with one accord broke into shrill wailing and loud cries to the Lord their God. But Uzziah said to them, "Courage, my brothers! Let us wait five days more for the Lord our God, to show his mercy toward us; he will not utterly forsake us. But if those days pass without help coming to us, I will do as you say." Then he dispersed the men to their posts, and they returned to the walls and towers of the city; the women and children he sent to their homes. Throughout the city they were in great misery. [JDTH 7:28-32]

The Simon mentioned above as the informer about the funds against his own country, made false accusation that it was Onias who threatened Heliodorus and instigated the whole miserable affair. [2MACC 4:1]

Jason then slaughtered his fellow citizens without mercy, not realizing that triumph over one's own kindred was the greatest failure, but imagining that he was winning a victory over his enemies, not his fellow countrymen. Even so, he did not gain control of the government, but in the end received only disgrace for his treachery, and once again took refuge in the country of the Ammonites. At length he met a miserable end. [Taken from 2MACC 5:5-8]

So this murderer and blasphemer, after extreme sufferings, such as he had inflicted on others, died a miserable death in the mountains of a foreign land. [2MACC 9:28]

So I have been assigned months of misery, and troubled nights have been told off for me. [JOB 7:3]

If you set your heart aright and stretch out your hands toward him, If you remove all iniquity from your conduct, and let not injustice dwell in your tent, Surely then you may lift up your face in innocence; you may stand firm and unafraid. For then you shall forget your misery, or recall it like waters that have ebbed away. [JOB 11:13-16]

May God not store up the man's misery for his children; let him requite the man himself so that he feels it, Let his own eyes see the calamity, and the wrath of the Almighty let him drink! For what interest has he in his family after him, when the number of his months is finished? [JOB 21:19-21]

Why should the wicked scorn God, say in their hearts, "God doesn't care"? But you do see; you do observe this misery and sorrow; you take the matter in hand. To you the helpless can entrust their cause; you are the defender of orphans. [PS 10:13-14]

For God has not spurned or disdained the misery of this poor wretch, Did not turn away from me, but heard me when I cried out. [PS 22:25]

I will rejoice and be glad in your love, once you have seen my misery, observed my distress. You will not abandon me into enemy hands, but will set my feet in a free and open space. [PS 31:8-9]

Awake! Why do you sleep, O Lord? Rise up! Do not reject us forever! Why do you hide your face; why forget our pain and misery? We are bowed down to the ground; our bodies are pressed to the earth. Rise up, help us! Redeem us as your love demands. [PS 44:24-27]

But he poured out contempt on princes, made them wander the trackless wastes, Where they were diminished and brought low through misery and cruel oppression, While the poor were released from their affliction; their families increased like their flocks. The upright saw this and rejoiced; all wickedness shut its mouth. [PS 107:39-42]

The LORD remembered us in our misery, God's love endures forever; Freed us from our foes, God's love endures forever; And gives food to all flesh, God's love endures forever. [PS 136:23-25]

Every day is miserable for the depressed, but a lighthearted man has a continual feast. [PROV 15:15]

Give strong drink to one who is perishing, and wine to the sorely depressed; When they drink, they will forget their misery, and think no more of their burdens. [PROV 31:6-7]

Another goes his way a weakling and a failure, with little strength and great misery - Yet the eyes of the LORD look favorably upon him; he raises him free of the vile dust, Lifts up his head and exalts him to the amazement of the many. [SIRACH 11:12-13]

A miserable life it is to go from house to house, for as a guest you dare not open your mouth. [SIRACH 29:24]

Through the sin of which she is guilty, Jerusalem is defiled; All who esteemed her think her vile now that they see her nakedness; She herself groans and turns away. Her filth is on her skirt; she gave no thought how she would end. Astounding is her downfall, with no one to console her. Look, O LORD, upon her misery, for the enemy has triumphed! [LAM 1:8-9]

Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever: Wrapped in the cloak of justice from God, bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name. For God will show all the earth your splendor: you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God's worship. [BARUCH 5:1-4]

How long, O LORD? I cry for help but you do not listen! I cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; why must I look at misery? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and clamorous discord. [HAB 1:2-3]

Too pure are your eyes to look upon evil, and the sight of misery you cannot endure. Why, then, do you gaze on the faithless in silence while the wicked man devours one more just than himself? [HAB 1:13]

Well, then, are we better off? Not entirely, for we have already brought the charge against Jews and Greeks alike that they are all under the domination of sin, as it is written: "There is no one just, not one, there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. All have gone astray; all alike are worthless; there is not one who does good, (there is not) even one. Their throats are open graves; they deceive with their tongues; the venom of asps is on their lips; their mouths are full of bitter cursing. Their feet are quick to shed blood; ruin and misery are in their ways, and the way of peace they know not. There is no fear of God before their eyes." [ROM 3:9-18]

What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I concur that the law is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh. The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want. Now if (I) do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. So, then, I discover the principle that when I want to do right, evil is at hand. For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self, but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body? [ROM 7:15-24]

Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. [JMS 5:1]

Also try:

sorrow / sorrowful [S23]

mourn / mourning [M7]

grief [G10]

misfortune [M]

Other resources:

Suffering / Death (Catholic Life Section)

Reflections: A-Z | Categorized

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misfortune

afflict / afflicted / affliction [A1]

Misfortune is not observed in Jacob, nor misery seen in Israel. The LORD, his God, is with him; with him is the triumph of his King. [NUM 23:21]

"You have indeed conquered Edom, and you have become ambitious. Enjoy your glory, but stay at home! Why involve yourself and Judah with you in misfortune and failure?" [2KGS 14:10]

Jabez prayed to the God of Israel: "Oh, that you may truly bless me and extend my boundaries! Help me and make me free of misfortune, without pain!" And God granted his prayer. [1CHRON 4:10]

But when he heard that Tobit had lost his eyesight, he was grieved and wept aloud. He said to Tobiah: "My child, God bless you! You are the son of a noble and good father. But what a terrible misfortune that such a righteous and charitable man should be afflicted with blindness!" He continued to weep in the arms of his kinsman Tobiah. [TOBIT 7:7]

Many who sought to live according to righteousness and religious custom went out into the desert to settle there, they and their sons, their wives and their cattle, because misfortunes pressed so hard on them. [1MACC 2:29-30]

Therefore, the Place itself, having shared in the people's misfortunes, afterward participated in their good fortune; and what the Almighty had forsaken in his anger was restored in all its glory, once the great Sovereign became reconciled. [2MACC 5:20]

Now I beg those who read this book not to be disheartened by these misfortunes, but to consider that these chastisements were meant not for the ruin but for the correction of our nation. It is, in fact, a sign of great kindness to punish sinners promptly instead of letting them go for long. Thus, in dealing with other nations, the Lord patiently waits until they reach the full measure of their sins before he punishes them; but with us he has decided to deal differently, in order that he may not have to punish us more severely later, when our sins have reached their fullness. He never withdraws his mercy from us. Although he disciplines us with misfortunes, he does not abandon his own people. [2MACC 6:12-16]

When they had done this, they prostrated themselves and begged the Lord that they might never again fall into such misfortunes, and that if they should sin at any time, he might chastise them with moderation and not hand them over to blasphemous and barbarous Gentiles. [2MACC 10:4]

The Gentiles from Judea, who would have banished Judas, came flocking to Nicanor, thinking that the misfortunes and calamities of the Jews would mean prosperity for themselves. [2MACC 14:14]

Now when three of Job's friends heard of all the misfortune that had come upon him, they set out each one from his own place: Eliphaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuh, and Zophar from Naamath. They met and journeyed together to give him sympathy and comfort. [JOB 2:11]

They say in their hearts, "We will never fall; never will we see misfortune." Their mouths are full of oaths, violence, and lies; discord and evil are under their tongues. [PS 10:6-7]

In my misfortune I called, the LORD heard and saved me from all distress. [PS 34:7]

Put to shame and confound all who relish my misfortune. Clothe with shame and disgrace those who lord it over me. [PS 35:26]

Those who seek my life lay snares for me; they seek my misfortune, they speak of ruin; they plot treachery all the day. [PS 38:13]

Happy those concerned for the lowly and poor; when misfortune strikes, the LORD delivers them. [PS 41:2]

No harm befalls the just, but the wicked are overwhelmed with misfortune. [PROV 12:21]

Misfortune pursues sinners, but the just shall be recompensed with good. [PROV 13:21]

The path of the upright avoids misfortune; he who pays attention to his way safeguards his life. [PROV 16:17]

The fear of the LORD is an aid to life; one eats and sleeps without being visited by misfortune. [PROV 19:23]

So my feelings turned to despair of all the fruits of my labor under the sun. For here is a man who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill, and to another, who has not labored over it, he must leave his property. This also is vanity and a great misfortune. For what profit comes to a man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has labored under the sun? All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation; even at night his mind is not at rest. This also is vanity. [ECCL 2:20-23]

This is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun: riches kept by their owner to his hurt. Should the riches be lost through some misfortune, he may have a son when he is without means. [ECCL 5:12-13]

Cast your bread upon the waters; after a long time you may find it again. Make seven or eight portions; you know not what misfortune may come upon the earth. [ECCL 11:1-2]

For wickedness, of its nature cowardly, testifies in its own condemnation, and because of a distressed conscience, always magnifies misfortunes. [WISDOM 17:11]

Accept whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient; For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation. [SIRACH 2:4-5]

Some misfortunes bring success; some things gained are a man's loss. [SIRACH 20:8]

Forget not the kindness of your backer, for he offers his very life for you. The wicked turn a pledge on their behalf into misfortune, and the ingrate abandons his protector; Going surety has ruined many prosperous men and tossed them about like waves of the sea, Has exiled men of prominence and sent them wandering through foreign lands. [SIRACH 29:15-18]

Every counselor points out a way, but some counsel ways of their own; Be on the alert when one proffers advice, find out first of all what he wants. For he may be thinking of himself alone; why should the profit fall to him? He may tell you how good your way will be, and then stand by to watch your misfortune. [SIRACH 37:7-9]

Awake, awake! Arise, O Jerusalem, You who drank at the LORD'S hand the cup of his wrath; Who drained to the dregs the bowl of staggering! She has no one to guide her of all the sons she bore; She has no one to grasp her by the hand, of all the sons she reared! - Your misfortunes are double; who is there to condole with you? Desolation and destruction, famine and sword! Who is there to comfort you? [ISA 51:17-19]

A conspiracy has been found, the LORD said to me, among the men of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem. They have returned to the crimes of their forefathers who refused to obey my words. They also have followed and served strange gods; the covenant which I had made with their fathers, the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken. Therefore, thus says the LORD: See, I bring upon them misfortune which they cannot escape. Though they cry out to me, I will not listen to them. Then the cities of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to which they have been offering incense. But these gods will give them no help whatever when misfortune strikes. Do not intercede on behalf of this people, nor utter a plea for them. I will not listen when they call to me at the time of their misfortune. [Taken from JER 11:9-12,14]

The LORD of hosts who planted you has decreed misfortune for you because of the evil done by the house of Israel and by the house of Judah. [Taken from JER 11:17]

None shall be spared among them, for I will bring misfortune upon the men of Anathoth, the year of their punishment. [JER 11:23]

Woe to me, mother, that you gave me birth! a man of strife and contention to all the land! I neither borrow nor lend, yet all curse me. Tell me, LORD, have I not served you for their good? Have I not interceded with you in the time of misfortune and anguish? [JER 15:10-11]

Heal me, LORD, that I may be healed; save me, that I may be saved, for it is you whom I praise. See how they say to me, "Where is the word of the LORD? Let it come to pass!" Yet I did not press you to send calamity; the day without remedy I have not desired. You know what passed my lips; it is present before you. Do not be my ruin, you, my refuge in the day of misfortune. Let my persecutors, not me, be confounded; let them, not me, be broken. Bring upon them the day of misfortune, crush them with repeated destruction. [JER 17:14-18]

From all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to strange gods, from all the women who were present in the immense crowd, and from all the people who lived in Lower and Upper Egypt, Jeremiah received this answer: "We will not listen to what you say in the name of the LORD. Rather will we continue doing what we had proposed; we will burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out libations to her, as we and our fathers, our kings and princes have done in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. Then we had enough food to eat and we were well off; we suffered no misfortune. But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out libations to her, we are in need of everything and are being destroyed by the sword and by hunger. And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven and poured out libations to her, was it without our husbands' consent that we baked for her cakes in her image and poured out libations to her?" To all the people, men and women, who gave him this answer, Jeremiah said: Was it not this that the LORD remembered and brought to mind, that you burned incense in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem: you, your fathers, your kings and princes, and the people generally? The LORD could no longer bear your evil deeds, the horrible things which you were doing; and so your land became a waste, a desert, a thing accursed and without inhabitants, as it is today. Because you burned incense and sinned against the LORD, not obeying the voice of the LORD, not living by his law, his statutes, and his decrees, this evil has befallen you at the present day. Jeremiah said further to all the people, including the women: Hear the word of the LORD, all you Judeans in the land of Egypt: Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: You and your wives have stated your intentions, and kept them in fact: "We will continue to fulfill the vows we have made to burn incense to the queen of heaven and to pour out libations to her." Very well! keep your vows, carry out your resolutions! But listen then to the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who live in Egypt; I swear by my own great name, says the LORD, in the whole land of Egypt no man of Judah shall henceforth pronounce my name, saying, "As the Lord GOD lives." I am watching over them to do evil, not good. All the men of Judah in Egypt shall perish by the sword or famine until they are utterly destroyed. Those who escape the sword to return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah shall be few in number. The whole remnant of Judah who came to settle in Egypt shall know whose word stands, mine or theirs. [JER 44:15-28]

This was the errand given by the prophet Jeremiah to Seraiah, son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, when he went to Babylon for the king in the fourth year of the reign of Zedekiah; Seraiah was chief quartermaster. Jeremiah had written all the misfortune that was to befall Babylon in a single book: all these words that were written against Babylon. And Jeremiah said to Seraiah: When you reach Babylon, see that you read aloud all these words, and then say: O LORD, you yourself threatened to destroy this place, so that neither man nor beast should dwell in it, since it would remain an everlasting desert. When you have finished reading this book, tie a stone to it and throw it in the Euphrates, and say: Thus shall Babylon sink. Never shall she rise, because of the evil I am bringing upon her. [Taken from JER 51:59-64]

"Look, O LORD, upon my distress: all within me is in ferment, My heart recoils within me from my monstrous rebellion. In the streets the sword bereaves, at home death stalks. Give heed to my groaning; there is no one to console me. All my enemies rejoice at my misfortune: it is you who have wrought it. Bring on the day you have proclaimed, that they may be even as I. Let all their evil come before you; deal with them As you have dealt with me for all my sins; My groans are many, and I am sick at heart." [LAM 1:20-22]

Enter not the gate of my people on the day of their calamity; Gaze not, you at least, upon his misfortune on the day of his calamity; Lay not hands upon his possessions on the day of his calamity! [OBAD 1:13]

Then the mariners became frightened and each one cried to his god. To lighten the ship for themselves, they threw its cargo into the sea. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship, and lay there fast asleep. The captain came to him and said, "What are you doing asleep? Rise up, call upon your God! Perhaps God will be mindful of us so that we may not perish." Then they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots to find out on whose account we have met with this misfortune." So they cast lots, and thus singled out Jonah. [JONAH 1:5-7]

Woe to him who pursues evil gain for his household, setting his nest on high to escape the reach of misfortune! [HAB 2:9]

But I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, Who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD; the remnant of Israel. They shall do no wrong and speak no lies; Nor shall there be found in their mouths a deceitful tongue; They shall pasture and couch their flocks with none to disturb them. Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love [Taken from ZEPH 3:12-17]

Also try:

sorrow / sorrowful [S23]

suffer / suffered / suffering [S30]

tribulation / trials [T9]

grief [G10]

Other resources:

Suffering / Death (Catholic Life Section)

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mock / mocked / mockery

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modest / modesty

pure / purify / purity [P23]

When he had armed each of them, not so much with the safety of shield and spear as with the encouragement of noble words, he cheered them all by relating a dream, a kind of vision, worthy of belief. What he saw was this: Onias, the former high priest, a good and virtuous man, modest in appearance, gentle in manners, distinguished in speech, and trained from childhood in every virtuous practice, was praying with outstretched arms for the whole Jewish community. Then in the same way another man appeared, distinguished by his white hair and dignity, and with an air about him of extraordinary, majestic authority. Onias then said of him, "This is God's prophet Jeremiah, who loves his brethren and fervently prays for his people and their holy city." Stretching out his right hand, Jeremiah presented a gold sword to Judas. As he gave it to him he said, "Accept this holy sword as a gift from God; with it you shall crush your adversaries." [2MACC 15:11-16]

Choicest of blessings is a modest wife, priceless her chaste person. [SIRACH 26:15]

When among your elders be not forward, and with officials be not too insistent. Like the lightning that flashes before a storm is the esteem that shines on modesty. [SIRACH 32:9-10]

Son of man, say now to the rebellious house: Do you not understand what this means? It is this: The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took away its king and princes with him to Babylon. Then he selected a man of the royal line with whom he made a covenant, binding him under oath, while removing the nobles of the land, so that the kingdom would remain a modest one, without aspirations, and would keep his covenant and obey him. But this man rebelled against him, sending envoys to Egypt to obtain horses and a great army. Can he prosper? Can he who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and still go free? [EZEK 17:12-15]

It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument. Similarly, (too,) women should adorn themselves with proper conduct, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hairstyles and gold ornaments, or pearls, or expensive clothes, but rather, as befits women who profess reverence for God, with good deeds. A woman must receive instruction silently and under complete control. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man. She must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. Further, Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed. But she will be saved through motherhood, provided women persevere in faith and love and holiness, with self-control. [1TM 2:8-15]

Also try:

humble / humbled / humbly / humility [H20]

immodest / impure [I]

Other resources:

Some Thoughts on Modesty / Immodest Dress [Catholic Life Section]

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monetary

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mortal sin

sin / sins / sinned / sinful / sinner [S18a]

Of forgiveness be not overconfident, adding sin upon sin. Say not: "Great is his mercy; my many sins he will forgive." [SIRACH 5:5-6]

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. [MT 12:32]

"Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin." For they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." [MK 3:29]

"Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven." [LK 12:10]

If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly. [1JN 5:16-17]

Also try

wrath [W13a]

judgment [J3a]

Confession (Reconciliation / Penance) [S2]

mercy / merciful [M3a]

forgive / forgiveness [F10]

Other resources:

Sin (Topic Page)

Catholic Basics

Sacraments

Tough Love in the New Testament

Reflections: A-Z | Categorized

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mortify / mortification

"This shall be an everlasting ordinance for you: on the tenth day of the seventh month every one of you, whether a native or a resident alien, shall mortify himself and shall do no work. Since on this day atonement is made for you to make you clean, so that you may be cleansed of all your sins before the LORD, by everlasting ordinance it shall be a most solemn sabbath for you, on which you must mortify yourselves. This atonement is to be made by the priest who has been anointed and ordained to the priesthood in succession to his father. He shall wear the linen garments, the sacred vestments, and make atonement for the sacred sanctuary, the meeting tent and the altar, as well as for the priests and all the people of the community. This, then, shall be an everlasting ordinance for you: once a year atonement shall be made for all the sins of the Israelites." Thus was it done, as the LORD had commanded Moses. [LEV 16:29-34]

The LORD said to Moses, "The tenth of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement, when you shall hold a sacred assembly and mortify yourselves and offer an oblation to the LORD. On this day you shall not do any work, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the LORD, your God. Anyone who does not mortify himself on this day shall be cut off from his people, and if anyone does any work on this day, I will remove him from the midst of his people. This is a perpetual statute for you and your descendants wherever you dwell: you shall do no work, but shall keep a sabbath of complete rest and mortify yourselves. Beginning on the evening of the ninth of the month, you shall keep this sabbath of yours from evening to evening." [LEV 23:26-32]

"On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall hold a sacred assembly, and mortify yourselves, and do no sort of work." [Taken from NUM 29:7]

"Any vow or any pledge that she makes under oath to mortify herself, her husband can either allow to remain valid or render null and void. But if her husband, day after day, says nothing at all to her about them, he thereby allows as valid any vow or any pledge she has made; he has allowed them to remain valid, because on the day he learned of them he said nothing to her about them. If, however, he countermands them some time after he first learned of them, he is responsible for her guilt." These are the statutes which the LORD prescribed through Moses concerning the relationship between a husband and his wife, as well as between a father and his daughter while she is still a maiden in her father's house. [Taken from NUM 30:14-17]

If a man again touches a corpse after he has bathed, what did he gain by the purification? So with a man who fasts for his sins, but then goes and commits them again: Who will hear his prayer, and what has he gained by his mortification? [SIRACH 34:25-26]

Also try:

fast / fasting [F4]

self-control [S]

penance [A]

Penance (Sacrament) [S2]

Other resources:

Catholic Basics

Increase Holiness

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mother / mothers

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mourn / mourning

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murder / murderer

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mysterious / mystery

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