Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodríquez Santiago (Feast Day July 13)

November 22, 1918-July 13, 1963

Carlos was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He suffered from a condition called ulcerative colitis, which made him unable to complete school. Still, Carlos was an avid reader, and studied the liturgy closely. He even published two magazines, called Liturgy and Christian Culture. Carlos worked tirelessly to promote the renewal of the liturgy and restore lost liturgical customs.

He was a strong advocate for restoring the Easter Vigil to a nighttime celebration, and in 1951, Pope Pius XII updated the Easter Vigil liturgy and moved it to the evening. One of Carlos' favorite sayings about the Easter Vigil was Vivimos para esa noche, meaning "We live for this night." This is the line engraved on his tomb, located in the Cathedral of Caguas. Blessed Carlos is the first Puerto Rican, the first Caribbean-born, and first layperson in U.S. history to be beatified.

• Which is harder . . . to love God with everything you have or to love your neighbor as yourself?

• In today's Gospel story, Jesus teaches us that everyone is our neighbor, which means that we should love everyone. Are there any people in your life who are hard to love?

• Share a time when someone helped you in a time of need. In what way was God present at that moment?

• "We live for this night" was a favorite saying about the Easter Vigil for Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodríquez Santiago. What do you think that phrase means?

Hiking

The Good Samaritan was on a journey when he stopped to help his neighbor; go on your own hiking journey today.

Find a local park or hiking trail to explore a path. Be sure to stretch, stay hydrated, and follow posted safety guidelines. Take time to appreciate the beauty of God's creation and be friendly to the people you meet along the way.

Oil and Wine Steak Marinade

In today's Gospel, oil and wine were used to heal the man who was hurt by the robbers. Those two ingredients can also make your steaks taste delicious!

1 ½ cups cooking oil
¾ cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp fresh ground pepper
2 Tbsp salt
1 cup dry red wine
1 tsp dried parsley
(optional) 2 Tbsp dry mustard
(optional) 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

In a quart-size Mason jar, combine all ingredients. Cover and shake vigorously. Pour over steaks and let them marinade for 2 hours or more. Cook steaks as preferred. Any leftover marinade can be frozen for future use.

Act of Love

This simple prayer will help you be obedient to God's command to love our neighbor. Consider naming your neighbors and any intentions on their behalf.

O Lord God, we love you above all things and we love our neighbor for your sake because you are the highest, infinite and perfect good, worthy of all our love. We pray especially for [insert names and intentions here]. In this love we intend to live and die. Amen.

Jesus tells us to "Go and do likewise" in today's Gospel. At the end of Mass, the priest or deacon says something similar. 

What does he say?

Do something special for a neighbor this week. Here are some ideas: yard work, grocery shopping, cooking a meal, a friendly visit, etc.

July 14th is National Be Nice to Bugs Day!