Father Werenfried van Straaten, the late founder of Aid to the Church in Need, with his famous 'hat of millions'. Photo: Aid to the Church in Need Saturday, 31st July 2010

Feast Day
Saint Ignatius of Loyola, priest

Readings for the Day
From the Common of pastors
or
From the Common of holy men and women [for religious]
or
From the Proper of the Season
(Saturday of the Seventeenth week in Ordinary Time)
First Reading: Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34
Gospel: Matthew 14:1-12
or
From this reading
First Reading: First Corinthians 10:31--11:1

Thoughts for the Day

Father Werenfried van Straaten was the founder of Aid to the Church in Need. Throughout the 90 years of his life, including 56 years running Aid to the Church in Need, he was never afraid to speak out on matters of spirituality, charity, persecution and human suffering.

Each day of the year, we will present words of wisdom from Father Werenfried. Please take some time to reflect on his words, and to remember persecuted and suffering Christians in your prayers.

We hope you will be inspired!

Father Werenfried’s Thought for the Day

Saturday, 31st July 2010

God has entrusted me with a heavy task and closed both eyes at my frailties and sins. He has frequently presented me with insuperable difficulties, and then resolved them himself. He has granted great power to the prince of darkness, but never permitted him to destroy our work.
He has taken a great deal from me, and yet given me still more, and every time that I was wilful, foolish or rebellious, defenceless or helpless, he has proved that it is he himself who guides our work.