October 31, 2014 - Friday

And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward. (Matthew 10:42 NABRE)


This chapter of Matthew's gospel is about being a disciple of Jesus. In speaking to his friends about their commission as disciples, Jesus describes a--to put it mildly--bleak outlook. He tells them about the persecutions they will face from all sides and from their own people. He goes on to inform them that he has come to cause division among people. His disciples must give up everything in order to follow him.

But Jesus also tells them to be courageous. He reminds them of the eternal reward for those who are his disciples, and for those who, as we see in today's verse, help them proclaim the kingdom. Jesus calls his disciples prophets, righteous men and little ones because they speak in the name of God, they are virtuous, and they are his followers.

When I face each day as a follower of Jesus, I risk persecution, humiliation and loss. But, when I speak in defense of my beliefs during these times of trouble, I find courage in knowing it is not me but God's Holy Spirit in me who speaks. And when I help other of Jesus' followers, even in little ways, I have his promise, made in today's verse, which is the freely given promise of eternal life in his presence.


Today, I will help and not hinder those who are faithful to Jesus.


Saint Wolfgang, whose life reminds us to take our responsibilities seriously, pray for us.

October 30, 2014 - Thursday

The LORD is with me; I am not afraid;
what can mortals do against me? (Psalm 118: NABRE)


In the midst of life's greatest challenges, we rely on the Lord. Like King David, when he was surrounded by enemies and remained unafraid, we are wise to recognize and trust that the Lord God is with us.

A friend of mine who is very sick expressed this same confidence recently by asking the rhetorical question, "Where else can I turn?" What faith! What hope!

For me, life's great challenges have been times when leaning on God has happened naturally. Trust has gotten me through whatever suffering I faced. But it is at times of relative comfort, when the trials of life amount to nothing more than small annoyances repeated frequently, that I struggle. It is at these times I forget to turn to my Lord and seek instead my own puny strength and misguided counsel.

Lord, for the many times in my life when I should rely on you, when I should turn to you, please soften my heart so that I might think of you first. My God and father, please whisper in my ear so that I might hear you before acting foolishly in little fits of pride, putting aside the faith and hope I do have in favor of my own self-importance. And lastly, Lord Jesus, I ask for patience, gentleness, kindness and compassion for all those around me, that I might see your face when I look at theirs, hear your voice when they speak, and glimpse your eternal life in each breath I witness of theirs.


Today, I will have confidence in the Lord's protection over my life and I will listen for his whispered guidance during my ordinary day.


Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez, who teaches us happiness is gained by service and prayer, pray for us.

October 29, 2014 - Wednesday

And I saw that there is nothing better for mortals than to rejoice in their work; for this is their lot. Who will let them see what is to come after them? (Ecclesiastes 3:22 NABRE)


At first blush, it seems odd that we should rejoice in our work. But it makes sense.

The writer of Ecclesiastes understands work is our lot in life, he says as much; so I wonder why we should seek anything more than to be resigned to the necessity of it? Yet, he tells us there is nothing better than to rejoice in it.

The writer suggests that since we cannot be certain of anything beyond this life, and since we must work to survive, we should find ways to be joyful while doing it and delighted with our results.


Today, I will seek to "be in the moment," to find the joy in my work and to take pleasure in the results of it.


Saint Narcissus of Jerusalem, bishop in the young Church, pray for us.

October 28, 2014 - Tuesday

I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you,
praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you,
because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. (Philippians 1:3-5 NABRE)


What a great way to start a letter to friends! Paul tells his fellow believers in Philippi how grateful he is for them and how much joy fills him because of their faithfulness to the gospel! I feel much the same, as though we have become a small community of believers, here, over this daily Bible reflection.

For me, having the chance to share my personal morning reflection and prayer time with you has been an unexpected gift from God, though I intended to make it just a small gift to my children--a chance to share my own prayer life with them. Praise the Lord for the ways he works! And so, I pray for you right now.

Lord my God, thank you for those who join me each day in praise and thanksgiving. You know each of our hearts. Please hear our prayers as we know you do, and answer them. Please give us the awareness of your presence in our lives so that we may boldly be partners for the gospel along with our brothers and sisters in Philippi.

It is good to realize just how much we all have in common. So, I'd like to share what I think is a special gift with you--another way that I've found to help keep my thoughts on the Lord during the day is by listening to Relevant Radio, "Talk radio for Catholic life." My first reaction was, not interested! But I listened a little and was surprised to find I was encouraged, challenged and surprised. I kept returning primarily because I was surprised to hear others praying and speaking as I do, from all over the country. We are not alone in our spiritual lives, we have many who join us in bringing the gospel to life in our culture and in our world. Check it out. I listen with the mobile app!


Today, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for your intentions. 


Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles of Jesus, pray for us.

October 27, 2014 - Monday

For kingship belongs to the LORD,
the ruler over the nations. (Psalms 22:29 NABRE)


It is important to remember who we worship. It can be so easy to be caught up in the daily rush of responsibilities and pleasures that we forget who it is we praise and honor with our lives.

My God, you are the King of kings and the Lord of lords. You are above all. The living and the dead will remember and turn to you. All will bow before you (Psalms 22:28). Lord God, thank you for the many blessings of this life. I will remember that you are the one true king and ruler over all nations. 


Today, I will remember the Lord and turn to him in my need, and I will offer him my humble praise.


Saint Abraham the Poor, who lived a simple and faithful life, pray for us.

October 26, 2014 - Sunday

We know that the law is good, provided that one uses it as law. (1 Timothy 1:8 NABRE)


Saint Paul begins his first letter to Timothy with a warning to instruct certain fellow believers in Ephesus not to teach false doctrines. Apparently, some of the Ephesian Christians had begun to look at the law (the Old Testament) as something other than the first part of God's revealed plan of salvation fulfilled by Jesus Christ's life, death and resurrection.*

Avoiding false doctrines remains a practical challenge for our own Church leaders even today. The recent Synod on the Family shows that we still struggle to reconcile the truth of doctrine with our pastoral command to bring the gospel to all the world.

Paul's aim: That the Ephesians should stay focused on what matters most, which was instructing others correctly and living lives that reflected their faith in God's salvation through his son, Jesus Christ.

Pope Francis' aim today (though I would not pretend to speak for him): That our bishops will seek discernment through the Holy Spirit and the intersession of the Holy Family of Nazareth as they look for ways to be welcoming while remaining faithful to the truth found in Church doctrine.


Today, I will pray for our bishops as they continue this year-long journey regarding family, and for all who are in positions of leadership who also help define family in our world.


Holy Family of Nazareth, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us.

October 25, 2014 - Saturday

That you may act discreetly,
and your lips guard what you know. (Proverbs 5:2 NABRE)


Proverbs, chapter five, is a straightforward warning against adultery. It describes the deep human damage caused when one spouse is unfaithful to the other: Adultery causes bitterness, bloodshed, and death. It destroys honor, wastes the years of life, despoils* hard-earned wealth, and brings remorse in the end. This is no philosophical warning, but clearly the practical, painful wisdom of experience that is shared.

By contrast, marital fidelity brings happiness and security.* Chapter five begins by telling us that understanding and discretion are necessary to avoid adultery.* I find this interesting, worth considering, because it startles me. I never would have considered it on my own, but it makes sense. Understanding is having insight and good judgment.* Discretion is the quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information.* We should honor our spouses at all times and carefully guard our marriages.

The best defense against adultery is appreciating and loving one’s spouse.


Today, I will recall the power of my marriage, God's role in it, and the happiness and security it provides.


Mary, mother of Jesus, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, husband of Mary, pray for us.
Saint Antônio de Sant’Anna Galvão, who dedicated himself with love and devotion to the afflicted, the suffering and the slaves of his era in Brazil, pray for us.

October 24, 2014 - Friday

Then God said: Let there be a dome in the middle of the waters, to separate one body of water from the other.
God made the dome, and it separated the water below the dome from the water above the dome. And so it happened. (Genesis 1:6-7 NABRE)


The so-called ongoing debate between science and religion with respect to the creation of the universe is a misdirection which serves no good purpose.

As Christians, we believe that God lives outside of time. We believe he was here at the beginning of what we know as time and created all that exists, both visible and invisible. We believe he is infinite.

Many people put their faith in science. They believe in it. My concern is that science itself is not a thing to be believed in. Rather, it is something to be used by us to increase our understanding of and insight into this existence we are part of. Science is good. Science is a gift, an aspect of how we think of and observe the world around us.

Many people put their faith in religion. They believe in it. My concern is that religion itself is not a thing to be believed in either. Rather it is something to be used by us to increase our understanding of and insight into this existence we are part of. Religion is good. Religion is a gift.

Christianity, which we believe is the religion founded by the one true God, in the person of Jesus Christ, has just one purpose and that is to teach, encourage and sustain faith in God for all people during this life.

Science does not disprove God. There is no need for disagreement, intolerance, and disrespectfulness between believers on both sides of this shaky non-issue. Honesty is called for. No one living today was here for the creation of the world. Tolerance is also in order on both sides of this issue. Respect for the value each mind brings to considering this ultimate question should always be present.


Today, I will respect all people and their ability to think, even when we disagree.


Saint Anthony Claret, whose suffering for your faith included 14 attempts on your life, pray for us.

October 23, 2014 - Thursday

Two are better than one: They get a good wage for their toil.
If the one falls, the other will help the fallen one. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10a NABRE)


These modern days, we talk of introverts and extroverts. Some who are extroverts are more inclined to seek the company of and interactions with other people. Others who are introverts seek the solitude and quiet of a more solitary life. Recognizing the degree to which each of us inclines in one direction or the other is important.

Understanding which of these personality traits is more dominant in myself has value. When I know my own preference, I can use it to strive toward my best. When I don't know my preference, I can be pulled easily in different directions, limiting my effectiveness in life's pursuits.

We can call it personality, preference, style, inclination or choice, but really it is a gift from God which we can use to his glory and for his praise.

Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert? How can you use such a gift for the Lord's glory?

Today, I will harness the power of my gifts to give praise to God.


Saint Hilarion, who sought a life of solitude and prayer but instead found fame and many followers, pray for us.
Saint John of Capistrano, optimist, defender of the faith, and patron of judges, pray for us.

October 22, 2014 - Wednesday

And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and in his own house.” (Matthew 13:57 NABRE)


Have you ever wanted to try something new, but didn't try it because of what other people might say? Have you ever felt like you should say something, but didn't say it because others wouldn't like it? I think that must be how Jesus felt when his own Nazareth neighbors and friends were offended by his preaching. What's different, however, is that Jesus spoke anyway!

How can we speak the important things when we know others will reject what we say? Where do we find the courage to disregard the insults and odd looks we may rightly expect to encounter and speak out at the prompting of our consciences?

When we are facing certain ridicule and judgment for our beliefs, we should call on the same Holy Spirit that Jesus called upon, asking that he give us the words to speak, the right actions to take, and the courage to speak and act as we are called to. Each situation is different, but the Holy Spirit is with us in each moment, no matter how difficult it is, no matter how unprepared we feel, and he is always ready to lead us through them.

Holy Spirit--who dwelt in Jesus, the one who also dwells within me, the third person of the Trinity, clothing of divine power, the promise of God the Father, the Spirit who filled the Apostles on Pentecost and gave them voice to speak the truth about Jesus and the courage to bear witness to his life--guide me. Give me the words I need to speak when I need them so that I never need to worry if I said "the right thing." And as you take away my anxiety, replace it with the courage to speak into difficult moments and the certainty to act according to the will of the Father.


Today, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for all those who find themselves in difficult and even threatening situations, that in those moments they may know the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.


Saint John Paul II, who urges us to “Open wide the doors to Christ,” especially on this your first feast day, pray for us.
Saint Faustina, who was canonized by John Paul II in 2000 and whose willingness to write her dreams in a diary gives us a new and deeper understanding of divine mercy, pray for us.

October 21, 2014 - Tuesday

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. (Ephesians 1:3 NABRE)


In this opening blessing of Saint Paul's letter to the believers in Ephesus, we can see the beginnings of our understanding of the Trinity.

Also in this verse, and the following eleven verses, Paul lists spiritual blessings Christians have received through Christ.* Paul points out that God has given us many spiritual gifts, that through Christ:

• God calls us to holiness. 
• He adopts us as his children. 
• He liberates us from sin. 
• He reveals his plan of salvation. 
• And he chose us beforehand and gave us our faith in Christ.

Today, I will gratefully appreciate having been chosen first by God so that I may now, and every day, choose him.


Saint Philip, Apostle of Jesus, early Church leader and witness to Christ, pray for us.

October 20, 2014 - Monday

The fear of the LORD leads to life;
one eats and sleeps free from any harm. (Proverbs 19:23 NABRE)


Yesterday, we read in Ecclesiastes that wisdom is the singular matter of fearing God's judgment and keeping his commandments.* Today, we see the reason why it matters. By fearing the Lord, we benefit in this life and in the next. So what is fear of the Lord? Here are some useful explanations of this life-giving attitude:

Fear of the Lord is said to be the beginning of Wisdom (Proverbs 1:7).

Fear of the Lord is one of the Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.* It "fills us with a sovereign respect for God, and makes us dread, above all things, to offend Him."* 

For the believer, fear is reverence and awe of God. It is the motivating force for us to surrender to the creator of the universe. Fear of the Lord includes understanding who God is--that he is holy, just and righteous, and how much God hates sin and fearing his judgment on sin--even in the life of a believer. And so, we should seek to live our lives in such a way that pleases him.* 

Fearing God means having such a reverence for Him that it has a great impact on the way we live our lives. The fear of God is respecting Him, obeying Him, submitting to His discipline, and worshipping Him in awe.* 

Fearing God is good because it saves us from caving into our own sinful nature.* 

Today, I will meditate on the reverence and awe I have for the Lord, I will evaluate how it affects my choices, and I will change whatever I learn needs changing.


Saint Paul of the Cross, devoted to spreading among the faithful the memory of Christ's passion, pray for us.

October 19, 2014 - Sunday

Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth,
all things are vanity! (Ecclesiastes 12:8 NABRE)


Ecclesiastes 12 draws a picture of old age and encourages the young to give up their self-absorbed ways and to remember our Creator while still young and able to act for the Lord before the limits of old age get in the way.

In the chapter's epilogue, we are told to give up our excessive pride and endless searching for meaning and wisdom. The writer tells us, essentially, that it's not complicated. In his conclusion, he explains that wisdom is the singular matter of fearing God's judgment and keeping his commandments.

Lord my God, thank you for the times you guide my heart away from concern for myself and toward concern for others. It is only in such moments that I really grasp your love and compassion for us. Help me each day to give up my vanities, my expectations, and my desires in favor of your praises, your plans and your direction for my life.


Today, I will seek to put away whatever self-interest of mine arises within me, offering up my effort as a prayer, thankful to have the chance to overcome that which places my interests ahead of God's.


Blessed Paul VI, who as Pope oversaw the completion and implementation of Vatican II, pray for us.

October 18, 2014 - Saturday

Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights. (Psalm 148:1 NABRE)


Psalm 148 begins with the exclamation Hallelujah! and today's verse. It's a simple thing really, but one I sometimes forget when I'm distracted by my personal concerns: Praise God at all times!

This week has brought our family one of those perfect reminders that the Lord of life deserves our constant praise. The birth of a baby displays the timeless truth of this passage playing out in our lives. And so, we have another touchstone to the divine, another life, another soul created to bring glory, a new promise of hope for the future, another child of God to love.

Praise the Lord!


Today, I will join all creation which brings glory to God for his greatness, working to bring glory to him by my way of living, my words, and my praise.


Saint Luke, writer of the third gospel and Acts of the Apostles, patron of artists, brewers, butchers, doctors, notaries, painters, physicians and surgeons, pray for us.

October 17, 2014 - Friday

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7 NABRE)


Does God answer our prayers? Yes. Jesus assures us that God does answer our prayers.

In fact, Jesus tells us that God our heavenly Father answers our requests far more than we as human fathers can even provide for our children. I know as a father, there is nothing I would not give for my children! In the short passage of Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus explains how much more God gives us good things when we ask him in prayer.

In Mark 11:22-24, Jesus tells us a few additional things about how we should bring our requests to God in prayer:

• We are to believe in advance that God will answer our request
• In Mark 11:25, he tells us we are to forgive others as we begin our prayer
• In Matthew 18:19-20, he tells us we should gather together in his name when bringing our requests to God

The Our Father is such a perfect model of this pattern, we should remember to pray it often, whenever we have a few minutes during the day. Even when we have nothing specific that is concerning to us, the Our Father gives us a chance to reconnect in our most important relationship. And when we pray it together, at Mass or even with just two together, we can be certain that God hears and answers us.


Today, I will pray the Our Father, bringing my needs to God, confident in his answer.


Saint Ignatius of Antioch, who was martyred in Rome about A.D. 107, who reminds us of the Christian martyrs in the Middle East even today, pray for us.

October 16, 2014 - Thursday

One can put on gold and abundant jewels,
but wise lips are the most precious ornament. (Proverbs 20:15 NABRE)


In this life, we should spend our time seeking wisdom rather than the approval of others based on our appearance. Today's proverb reminds us that wisdom is preferable to to gold and jewels. It points out that inner beauty is preferable to extravagant accessorizing.


Today, I will work to speak with wise lips and to act with compassion for others in need.


Saint Hedwig, who chose poverty over her wealth to help the poor and to better appreciate the supernatural life of God's grace, pray for us.

October 15, 2014 - Wednesday

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well. 

My frame was not hidden from you 

when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 

Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all the days ordained for me were written in your book 

before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:13-16 NIV)

Lord God of hope, author of life, I thank you for the gift of new life. I am humbled in your almighty presence. 

I pray for our soon-to-be new family. For the parents, I pray that they will know more of you each time they look at their son, much like Mary and Joseph must have. And for the child we await, I pray that he will grow strong in body and spirit, safe in your arms.

Today, I will celebrate the joy, hope and mystery of life.

Holy Family, pray for us.

October 14, 2014 - Tuesday

I will rejoice and be glad in your mercy,
once you have seen my misery,
[and] gotten to know the distress of my soul. (Psalm 31:8 NABRE)

...You will not abandon me into enemy hands,
but will set my feet in a free and open space.

I place my trust in God. Trusting God in all circumstances means having confidence in his mercy.

In today's verse, the Psalmist takes this a step further by rejoicing in God's mercy.  He recognizes something important about the character of God, that the Lord sees our misery and our distress and does not ignore it.  He knows our suffering and responds to it with mercy.

Lord God, I know you will not abandon me into the hands of the enemy. I believe you will protect me and it is with this confidence I pray that your mercy is shown to others who suffer to the point where they forget you, lose their confidence in you, or grow angry and cold toward you.  May you see and respond with only your mercy to the distress and misery which brings them to that dark place so far from your heart. It is with this confidence that I also pray for others who remain mindful of your mercy, that they continue to experience it and express it in their lives so that your will becomes visible in new ways in our world.


Today, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy for the participants at the Synod on the Family.


Saint Callistus I, who reminds us of the Church's role to balance mercy and doctrine, pray for us.

October 13, 2014 - Monday

First, I give thanks to my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is heralded throughout the world. (Romans 1:8 NABRE)


Isn't it interesting how we lead such different lives and can seem to have little or nothing in common? We can share no common interests. We can live in different places and at different times.  And yet, each of us is called to live in a unique way that gives glory to God.

Wherever we are in this life, each of us can be an ambassador for the Lord. Each day, we look at the life of one saint. Some knew Jesus. Others are our contemporaries. Some were fishermen, doctors, lawyers, and teachers. Others are mechanics, computer programmers, insurance agents, and managers.

When we live our faith in our time and place, we animate the living body of Christ. We are the Church, with all our human imperfections and shortcomings. Despite our human failings, how we live matters. Trying matters. Giving and forgiving matter.


Today, I will continue to live my life, uniquely giving glory to God.


Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher of Canada, whose life centered around prayer, penance and charity, pray for us.

October 12, 2014 - Sunday

Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near. (Isaiah 55:6 NABRE)


Lord, you are merciful to me even though I do not deserve your mercy. You generously forgive my sins which I seem unable to change by my own efforts.  So again, I look for you now.  I call for you while I can.  I humbly place all of myself before you: My needs, my hurts, my joys, my sins, my praise. I ask that you accept what little I can offer.  I ask for your mercy and forgiveness. I ask for healing and comfort.  I ask for courage and peace.

Please Lord, forgive my sins and in your compassion pour out your mercy upon me so that I might confidently submit myself to your holy will, which is love and mercy itself.


Today, I will seek the Lord's forgiveness and perform the day's work in a spirit of gratefulness and holiness.


Saint Seraphin of Montegranaro, who did ordinary work in a spirit of holiness, pray for us.

October 11, 2014 - Saturday

Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you. (Romans 16:16 NABRE)


Posting this post a bit late today, I've been reading background material on this week's Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the topic: The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization. There has been broad news coverage of this first of two meetings, but the detailed information offered by the US bishops, while heavy reading, offers strong insight into the beautiful effort of our Church leadership on this topic.

Pope Francis entrusted the work of this meeting to the Holy Family and provided this prayer in his Angelus address on the Feast of the Holy Family (Dec. 29, 2013):

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
in you we contemplate
the splendor of true love,
to you we turn with trust. 

Holy Family of Nazareth,
grant that our families too
may be places of communion and prayer,
authentic schools of the Gospel
and small domestic Churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
may families never again
experience violence, rejection and division:
may all who have been hurt or scandalized
find ready comfort and healing. 

Holy Family of Nazareth,
may the approaching Synod of Bishops
make us once more mindful
of the sacredness and inviolability of the family,
and its beauty in God's plan. 

Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
graciously hear our prayer.

Pope John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council in 1962, a meeting of bishops which dramatically altered how we practice our faith.  On his deathbed he said: “It is not that the gospel has changed; it is that we have begun to understand it better. Those who have lived as long as I have…were enabled to compare different cultures and traditions, and know that the moment has come to discern the signs of the times, to seize the opportunity and to look far ahead.”


Today, I will remember how we are to treat one another as Christian believers, I will pray for discernment for our leaders, and I will seek to recognize that our times offer us the chance to better understand the gospel of Jesus.


Saint John XXIII, who was canonized just this year by Pope Francis, pray for us.

October 10, 2014 - Friday

let the plains be joyful and all that is in them.
Then let all the trees of the forest rejoice (Psalm 96:12 NABRE)

...before the LORD who comes,
who comes to govern the earth,
To govern the world with justice
and the peoples with faithfulness.

Our God is the sole and just ruler of all that is visible and invisible.  Worship belongs to him alone, so much so that even inanimate creation praises him with joy!*

On this morning especially, our family lives in a state of great anticipation. We can hardly contain our excitement. We have no words to express our longing for the wondrous life events which are upon us: the birth of a child and the establishment of a new family home. This longing we feel. It is how all creation awaits the return of Jesus. We don't know when it will happen exactly, but we know it could be today!

In today's psalm, we have a beautiful picture of the utter joy and the unrestrained rejoicing of all existence in God's presence!  God willing, we will know part of this joy today as he reveals himself again in our lives.

Lord, we thank you for revealing yourself in our lives! We celebrate new life and new beginnings with the certainty of your participation in our days; with the confidence of your protection over our hearts, minds and souls; and with the joy of your happiness in our praise.


Today, I will rejoice in God's presence!


Saint Anne, mother of Our Lady, Grandmother of Jesus, patron of women in labor, pray for us.
Raphael the Archangel, patron of young people, blindness, and lovers, pray for us.
Saint Daniel and Companions, martyrs of the 13th century who remind us we do not choose the exact conditions of our witness to Jesus, pray for us.

October 9, 2014 - Thursday

Set a guard, LORD, before my mouth,
keep watch over the door of my lips. (Psalm 141:3 NABRE)


We return again to Psalm 141, the beautiful and surprising (to me anyway) prayer of Israel's great King David. In today's verse he asks God to guard the things he says, so that his words are righteous, opposing to evil, and pleasing to God.

David was acutely aware of his own mortality and the afterlife each of us faces.  He knew that his words in this life actually affect what his eternity would be like.  And he recognized that God is in control and can affect all things, so he asks the Lord to help him live as he should, even down to the words he speaks--and the words he leaves unspoken.

In the 19th century, John Henry Newman composed a prayer in which I notice the same recognition:

God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have a mission; I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons; He has not created me for naught. I shall do good—I shall do his work. I shall be an angel of peace while not intending it if I do but keep his commandments. Therefore, I will trust him.

Today, I will seek to be a connection between persons, asking the Holy Spirit to guard the words I speak.


Blessed John Henry Newman, whose historical research made you suspect that the Roman Catholic Church was in closest continuity with the Church that Jesus established, pray for us.

October 8, 2014 - Wednesday

As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:31 NABRE)


Just after Jesus ascended, his friends were filled with the the Holy Spirit and their prayers change as a result.  Their thoughts were no longer for themselves, but for others. They asked for courage to speak boldly about Jesus despite threats all around them.

When I pray, how often do I pray for others?  When I pray for myself, is it for the courage to speak boldly about Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, our Savior, the Son of God?

Lord, may your Holy Spirit guide my prayer life by drawing me deeper into relationship with you.  May the prayers of my heart be for others in need of your mercy. Guard me from all who would gather against your kingdom.  Merciful Jesus, turn the heads of the lost so that they might again see your face.  Lift the veil from their eyes so that they might again recognize your presence in others around them.  Heal us all so that our pain cannot separate us from you.


Today, I will pray for all who experience separation from God.


Saint Elizabeth, patron of expectant mothers, pray for us.

October 7, 2014 - Tuesday

Let my prayer be incense before you;
my uplifted hands an evening offering. (Psalm 141:2 NABRE)


Incense is the smoke which rises up from an alter of sacrifice. Uplifted hands are a gesture of supplication made as we humbly ask God for something.*

This is from the beginning of a prayer of King David asking God for help.  So what would this great king ask of the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords? He asks God to guard his heart so he won't fall into evil thinking and action. To some, it might seem strange that David would ask for such a thing; but it is important to realize that God is not our genie in a lamp waiting to grant us our three wishes.  God is not our butler waiting to take our orders.

God is the creator of all that is visible and invisible, of all that has ever been and ever will be.  If we step out of our tiny perspective for even a brief moment occasionally to remember this, we recognize that it is us who need God, not the other way around.

So, no matter what our rank in life is, we do well to follow the lead of King David. God wants us to turn to him when we have needs, and he hears and answers our prayers.


Today, I will offer up my humble requests to the Lord, certain of his divine love and mercy.


Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.
Saint Monica, patron of mothers, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, patron of fathers, pray for us.

October 6, 2014 - Monday

Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.
Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. (Acts 10:34-35 NABRE)


We are all the same in God's eyes.

This radical thought was clarified for Saint Peter in a dream.  It runs through the entire Jewish scripture and Saint Paul's writings, but it was not understood until Peter had the insight above, which he shared during a strange meeting with Cornelius and his family in Ceasarea.  Here are other passages that reinforce and clarify this truth:

Dt 10:17
2 Chr 19:7
Jb 34:19
Wis 6:7
Rom 2:11
Gal 2:6
Eph 6:9
1 Pt 1:17

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob shows no partiality.  We are all equal in his eyes.  We all need the saving grace of Jesus, which gives us endurance for this life and hope for the next.

God does not withhold divine favor from anyone.*

Today, I will praise God for accepting me, and pray for all who create barriers among people.


Saint Bruno, contemplative from Cologne, Germany, pray for us.

October 5, 2014 - Sunday

Planted in the house of the LORD,
they shall flourish in the courts of our God. (Psalm 92:14 NABRE)


From a psalm of praise to God, today's verse compares how those who are just will flourish in God's presence, while his enemies will face destruction.

Though it is certainly an encouragement for the faithful who work for justice; for me, today's verse underscores a particular aspect of justice: God's Divine Mercy, which was revealed in a special way to Saint Maria Faustina Kowalski in the early twentieth century in Poland, and which she documented in her diary.*

Jesus spoke to Saint Faustina in dreams which she recorded in her diary.  He told her, "I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My Merciful Heart." (Diary, 1588)

We are not only to receive the mercy of God, but to use it by being merciful to others through our actions, our words, and our prayers.* Jesus told Faustina, "I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor: the first — by deed, the second — by word, the third — by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love for Me. By this means a soul glorifies and pays reverence to My mercy." (Diary, 742)


Today, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, seeking to express mercy in deed and word too.


Saint Faustina, through whom we are given the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, pray for us.

October 4, 2014 - Saturday

Every word of God is tested;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. (Proverbs 30:5 NABRE)


Trust in God. Today's verse expresses total confidence in the one who rescues from death.* Trust is having confidence in someone and relying on them.*

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38). She trusted God completely when Gabriel the archangel informed her she would be the mother of the long-awaited savior. She accepted God's call on her life with trust.

God gives signs to justify our trust in him.  For Mary, she was told about Elizabeth, by Gabriel.  Elizabeth had conceived a son in her old age as a sign that nothing is impossible with God.

Do we look for the signs in our own lives?  Do we exercise our faith with the openness that is required to see God's hand on our lives?

Today, as Mary and Joseph did, as Saint Francis of Assisi did, and as so many others have done after recognizing the signs of God in this world, I will trust in him in all situations.


Saint Francis of Assisi, patron of animals, who chose poverty and humility in imitation of Christ, pray for us.

October 3, 2014 - Friday

“Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.”
For it is not the one who recommends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord recommends. (2 Corinthians 10:17-18 NABRE)


Saint Paul's words reminded both the faithful in Corinth and us today that we should boast about the amazing works of God. Those who boast too much about themselves forget it is the Lord's approval they should seek, not the approval of other people.*

One of the greatest boasts in God ever expressed is attributed to Mary as she accepts her role as his servant and the mother of Jesus.  She expresses her joy and exultation in the Lord* in the opening words of the prayer we have come to call The Magnificat.

And Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;

my spirit rejoices in God my savior. (Luke 1:46-55)

Today, I will express my great joy at the wonders God does in our lives!  And I will boast!


Saint Theodora Guérin, who reminds us, “With Jesus, what shall we have to fear?” pray for us.
Our Lady of the Rosary, mother of Jesus* and our spiritual mother, pray for us.

October 2, 2014 - Thursday

It is good sense to be slow to anger,
and an honor to overlook an offense. (Proverbs 19:11 NABRE)


Controlling anger. Now that can be a real challenge for me! My experience of anger is most often like a high-speed train that I don't see coming until it's already upon me. Placing a cognitive choice, an intellectual decision, in front of that train to make it stop seems nearly impossible.  So what does today's proverb encourage me to do here?  I have five thoughts.

First. Perhaps when I understand the cause of my anger, I can begin to create a plan for successfully expressing it. Here are some questions I might ask: Am I honest about my anger or do I disguise it as sarcasm or sadness? Do I become angry often or infrequently?  What circumstances are going on in my life when I become angry that might be influencing me? How is my health? Am I overtired? Do my motivations for being angry stem from bad experiences I've had or beliefs (valid or faulty) I hold--what are they? And at the heart of it, am I angry for a good reason?

Second. After that intellectual exercise, I can take the next step and decide in advance, while I'm not angry, that I will pause for even just a few seconds before reacting to the train of anger the next time it hits me.  Just the length of a breath, I can pause and consider how I will express the overwhelming rush of emotion I feel.  I know that the feeling I call anger has environmental, physical and emotional causes which are often out of my direct control, but expressing my anger is something I can influence, at least a little.

Third. I need to use the guilt that follows an angry outburst to reminds myself I have more to work on and apologies to offer.  I need to use the guilt as a reminder and motivator, and not as a deterrent or limiting force.

Fourth. If I can, I may need to change or adjust the surroundings and circumstances of my life that provoke my anger.

Fifth. I pray, as with all other things, for God's hand of peace to rest on me, even if it's just for those few seconds; for wisdom and guidance when I find the need to make life changes; and for God, in his endless mercy, to support me with his Spirit and the holy angels.

Jesus gives us a wonderful and encouraging example of his righteous anger when he overturns the tables of the money changers in the Temple (Matthew 21:12). When he does express his anger, it is for a good reason, not a personal agenda or a rationalization.


Today, I will pause should anger strike me; and during quiet reflection I will consider one angry outburst I've had to determine if it had a righteous cause or a selfish one.


My guardian angel, on this Feast of the Guardian Angel, represent me before God, watch over me, aid my prayer and present my soul to God at the time of my death.

October 1, 2014 - Wednesday

So Moses decided, “I must turn aside to look at this remarkable sight. Why does the bush not burn up?”
When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to look, God called out to him from the bush: Moses! Moses! He answered, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3:3-4 NABRE)


Have you ever experienced God calling your name?

I am convinced that he calls out to each of us just as he did to Moses. Yes, the God of the universe really does call us by name and he wants us to respond! Shouldn't we at least answer? He has things for us to do, but first we need to acknowledge his call.

There is generally no burning bush to get our attention, but God calls our name just the same. He makes himself visible through many little signs in this physical world of ours. He is also visible through big, dramatic signs as well.

For our part, we begin with the willingness to believe, the openness to the crazy possibility that God wants to talk to us individually, and the small but deliberate effort to "listen" for his call.

And once you recognize that call, that voice, that sign--however loud or quiet, however bright or dim it is, how do you answer?  Like Moses, is your answer, Here I am?"


Today, I will listen for God's call and answer as Moses did.


Saint Theresa of Lisieux, who responded to God's call with service and sacrifice for others, pray for us.