23. But on this matter I did instruct them, saying: Listen to my voice, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. And walk in the entire way that I have commanded you, so that it may be well with you.24. But they did not listen, nor did they incline their ear. Instead, they walked by their own will and in the depravity of their own wicked heart. And so, they went backward, and not forward,25. from the day when their fathers went forth from the land of Egypt, even to this day. And I have sent all my servants, the prophets, to you, throughout the day, rising at first light and sending them.26. But they have not listened to me, nor have they inclined their ear. Instead, they have stiffened their neck, and they have behaved worse than their fathers did.27. And so, you will speak to them all these words, but they will not listen to you. And you will call to them, but they will not respond to you.28. And you will say to them: This is the nation that has not listened to the voice of the Lord their God, nor accepted discipline. Faith has perished and been taken away from their mouth.

1. The Praise of a Canticle, of David himself. Come, let us exult in the Lord. Let us shout joyfully to God, our Savior.2. Let us anticipate his presence with confession, and let us sing joyfully to him with psalms.6. Come, let us adore and fall prostrate, and let us weep before the Lord who made us.7. For he is the Lord our God, and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.8. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts:9. as in the provocation, according to the day of temptation in the wilderness, where your fathers tempted me; they tested me, though they had seen my works.

14. And he was casting out a demon, and the man was mute. But when he had cast out the demon, the mute man spoke, and so the crowds were amazed.15. But some of them said, “It is by Beelzebub, the leader of demons, that he casts out demons.”16. And others, testing him, required a sign from heaven of him.17. But when he perceived their thoughts, he said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself will become desolate, and house will fall upon house.18. So then, if Satan is also divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebub that I cast out demons.19. But if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your own sons cast them out? Therefore, they shall be your judges.20. Moreover, if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then certainly the kingdom of God has overtaken you.21. When a strong armed man guards his entrance, the things that he possesses are at peace.22. But if a stronger one, overwhelming him, has defeated him, he will take away all his weapons, in which he trusted, and he will distribute his spoils.23. Whoever is not with me, is against me. And whoever does not gather with me, scatters.

St. Aurea was born around the year 1042 in the village of Villavelayo, Spain, in a region controlled by Moors. As a youth, Aurea studied the Scriptures and the lives of the early martyrs of the Church. Her favorite saints to meditate upon and try to copy were Agatha, Eulalia and Cecilia. As a young woman, Aurea decided to leave home and join a religious convent. She was welcomed into the convent of San Millan de la Cogolla and completely applied herself to monastic life. Soon after joining the convent, Aurea received a vision of her three favorite saints and was encouraged to follow her chosen lifestyle with more zeal. God used St. Aurea to work many miracles and many people began to seek her advice and prayers. Aurea spent only a few years of her life in the monastery. Around the year 1069 she contracted a painful disease and died. At the time of her death, Aurea was twenty-seven years old.