May 23, Friday Weekday

The Lord is kind and merciful.-- Psalm 103:8

Mass readings: James 5:9-12 / Mark 10:1-12

The Marriage Angel

Jesus' teaching about marriage in today's Gospel makes me want to be extra careful in my search for a good, holy man to be my spouse. But as my single friends and I know, finding a faith-filled husband or wife in the 21st century requires guts, perseverance and lots of prayers. My favorite prayer for this intention invokes the mighty Archangel Raphael.

In the Book of Tobit he safely brought together Sarah and Tobiah -- after her seven previous husbands were murdered by a jealous demon on their wedding nights.

Surely Raphael can direct me -- you, your friends, your loved ones -- to ''the person with whom I can best cooperate in doing God's holy will, with whom I can live in peace, love, and harmony in this life, and attain to eternal joy in the next.''

Prayer: St. Raphael, patron of those seeking a marriage partner, pray for us!