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Tuesday, July 6, 2021

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St. Maria Goretti


Genesis 32:23-33
Psalm 17:1-3, 6-8, 15
Matthew 9:32-38

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tongue-tied

“Some people brought Him a mute who was possessed by a demon.” —Matthew 9:32

In Matthew’s Gospel, we go with Jesus on a miracle and healing tour (Mt 8 and 9). Matthew saves the best till last when Jesus loosens the tongue of a mute by expelling a demon (Mt 9:33). Three chapters later, Matthew recounts the healing and deliverance of another mute (Mt 12:22).

The deliverance of the mute is very important to Matthew because he knows that all of us are tongue-tied by the devil in some way. We may not be able to spontaneously pray, enthusiastically praise, or boldly evangelize. We are like Zechariah during the nine months John was in the womb (Lk 1:20). The devil’s got our tongues. If he controls our tongue, he controls our entire body (Jas 3:2).

The Holy Spirit is poured out to free our tongues so we can pray and praise both in our native language and in the gift of tongues (Acts 2:4). Either the Spirit loosens our tongues and the devil is tied, or our tongues are tied and the devil set free. Our sword against the evil one is the Spirit using our tongues to wield the prophetic Word of God (Eph 6:17). Let’s unsheathe our tongues and attack the gates of hell (Mt 16:18).

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, use my tongue for warfare against Satan.

Promise:  “Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go until you bless me.’ ” —Gn 32:27

Praise:  When she was twelve years old, St. Maria Goretti was stabbed to death resisting rape by an eighteen-year-old neighbor boy. While in prison, the boy had a dream of Maria gathering flowers and giving them to him. He repented of his sin and knelt in St. Peter’s Square at her canonization.

Reference:  (For a related teaching on Speaking in Tongues, order, view, or download our leaflet on our website.)

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the period from June 1, 2021 through July 31, 2021. Reverend Steve J Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 20, 2021"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.