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Let us pray for the respect and protection of human life in all its stages, recognizing it as a gift from God.

Father of all nations and ages, we recall the day when our country claimed its place among the family of nations; for what has been achieved we give you thanks, for the work that still remains we ask your help, and as you have called us from many peoples to be one nation, grant that, under your providence, our country may share your blessings with all the peoples of the earth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Readings: Is 55:10-11; Ps 65:10-14; Rom 8:18-23; Mt 13:1-23 BASILICA VIGIL: 5:00 PM Rev Christopher Brennan CSC BASILICA SUNDAY MASS: 10:00 AM Rev Karl Romkema CSC 12:00 PM Rev Karl Romkema CSC

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart serves as the University Church for the University of Notre Dame. Consecrated on August 15, 1888, it was elevated to the rank of Minor Basilica on January 17, 1992. Neo-gothic in style the Basilica is home to the largest collection of 19th century French stained glass in the world as well as the oldest carillon in North America. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. As the University Church, the Basilica helps to serve the spiritual needs of the students, faculty, and staff of the University of Notre Dame, as well as members of the greater South Bend community. Mass is celebrated and confessions are heard at the Basilica each day and the Basilica regularly hosts weddings, funerals, and baptisms. It also hosts the Profession of Perpetual Vows and Presbyteral Ordinations for the Congregation of Holy Cross. The Basilica is open regularly for private prayer and touring.

The 11 canonized saints of the United States, and the five Blesseds as well as the numerous Venerables who are on the path to official recognition as saints, are a true representation of the best of the Land of the Free. Many were immigrants and others were born here. Some came as missionaries. They include a Native American saint, and African Americans and members of despised immigrant groups whose personal sanctity overcame bigotry in the name of Jesus. They all shared a commitment to evangelizing the Gospel and helped build our country with schools, hospitals, orphanages and much more. (8) St. Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680) Native American and consecrated virgin Patron saint of Native Americans and the environment St. Kateri Tekakwitha is the first Native American canonized by the Catholic Church. She died at the age of 24 at least partially from lingering effects of the smallpox she survived as a child, a disease that killed her parents and left her an orphan at 4. Smallpox scarred her face and damaged her eyesight. Because of this handicap she was called "She who bumps into things," or in Mohawk, "Tekakwitha," AmericanCatholicHistory.org reports. She was raised by her uncle, the chief of the Mohawk village. When priests came to the village, St. Kateri converted at the age of 19 and was baptized with the Mohawk form of the name "Catherine," which is "Kateri." Because she refused to work on Sundays, she was denied meals that day. Finally, a missionary encouraged her to run away to Montreal, Canada, where she lived in Kahnawake, a village for Native Americans who had become Catholic. Surrounded by fellow Catholics, she was aflame with divine love and lived a life of intense prayer and penance, taking a vow of virginity and becoming a bride of Jesus Christ. She was beatified in 1980 and canonized on Oct. 21, 2012, by Pope Benedict XVI. Feast day: July 14. (9) St. Marianne Cope (1838 – 1914) Missionary to the lepers of Molokai, Hawaii Patron saint of lepers, outcasts, those with HIV/AIDS and Hawaii St. Marianne Cope is also known as St. Marianne of Molokai for her work with lepers. She was born in Germany but when she was a year old her family moved to Utica, New York. As one of the older children of a large family, she went to work in a factory after the eighth grade, later joining the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. A gifted administrator, she was principal of a parish school and directed two hospitals. By 1883, Sister Marianne had become the superior general of her congregation, when she received a plea for help from Hawaii. King Kalakaua himself sent the letter asking for co-workers to help St. Damien at the Molokai leper colony. Mother Marianne responded generously, leaving Syracuse with six sisters and arriving in Hawaii on Nov. 8, 1883. For the next 35 years she worked for the lepers, tirelessly devoted to their welfare even when she was confined to a wheelchair. She was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. Feast day: January 23. https://sfarch.org/holy-heroes-saints-in-the-united-states/