April 30, 2015 - Thursday

I will sing of your mercy forever, LORD
proclaim your faithfulness through all ages. (Psalm 89:2 NABRE)

I will sing of your mercy, Lord, during this day. You who created all things have shown your mercy toward me many times! I will proclaim your faithfulness, Lord, throughout this thankful Thursday. You who were before time have remained faithful to me despite my foolishness and wandering.


Today, on this Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter, I will celebrate each small moment of grace and remember that the Lord is with me.


Saint Pope Pius V, who implemented many changes brought about by the Council of Trent, pray for us.

April 29, 2015 - Wednesday

Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me,
and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.
I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. (John 12:44-46 NABRE)

Jesus had just ridden into Jerusalem on that fateful donkey. With so many around him who were still unsure what to think of him, and knowing he was nearly out of time, he continues to teach but with increased urgency.

So, what is it Jesus, the Son of God, says when he is pressed for time? He tells everyone who can hear him to believe in him!

Believe in Jesus. When you do, you believe also in God the Father who sent him. When you do, you gain the light that he brings and leave the darkness.

At an earlier time (8:12), Jesus described himself to the Pharisees as the Light of the World. Jesus the light of the world. He may have been referring to the four torches of the illumination of the temple as the light of joy, indicating that he himself replaces them.*

Lord Jesus, light of joy, light of the world, dispeller of darkness, I believe in you and the one who sent you. Thank you for coming to bring your light to me. Thank you for the joy of your presence in my heart.


Today, on this Wednesday of the fourth week of Easter, the Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, I will recall and be grateful for my Catholic education, which I received at a school which has the motto: See Christ in Others. Be Christ for Others.


Saint Catherine of Siena, who saw holiness as a goal to be sought over the course of a lifetime, pray for us.

April 28, 2015 - Tuesday

So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me.
But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. (John 10:24-26 NABRE)

Not long before Jesus made this statement to the Jews in the temple area during the Dedication feast, John recounts for us another time when he spoke to some Pharisees and others present with him in the temple area:

You belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies.
But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me.
Can any of you charge me with sin? If I am telling the truth, why do you not believe me?
Whoever belongs to God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not listen, because you do not belong to God. (8:44-47)

Lord Jesus, let me hear your truth. Help me to listen for the words of God. Welcome my belief and do not release me to the father of lies. Help me to remember the words of Cardinal Newman, "No one is a martyr for a conclusion, no one is a martyr for an opinion; it is faith that makes martyrs."


Today, on this Tuesday of the fourth week of Easter, I will listen faithfully for the words of God in my own day and circumstance.


Saint Peter Chanel, martyr and patron of oceania, pray for us.

April 27, 2015 - Monday

I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:14-15 NABRE)

Sheep herding is not an occupation familiar to me. Yet, there is something about the relationship Jesus describes between the shepherd and his sheep that resonates deeply in my own experience. He describes a quality of closeness which strengthens the bond between them. They "know" one another and there is trust and sacrifice as a result.

How do relationships become so strong? How does trust grow? Why would one sacrifice for another?

There is something that happens between us when we remain in close proximity over time. We begin to recognize details about each other. We learn to see each other's patterns. We come to know the emotions and expectations, the character and heart of the other. Intimacy grows. We learn the tones of voice and we come to see the subtle nuances of face as the events of life affect us together. We become familiar. We come to "know" one another. And we learn about trust. And we find ourselves sacrificing for the other.

Lord Jesus, you call each of us into close, strong relationship with you. You have sacrificed for us, inverting our innate way of understanding such a thing--unless it is true that you already know us intimately. My friend, I thank you for your sacrifice and I trust in you. As time passes, I am learning about you as you reveal more of yourself to me, your character and heart, your emotions and expectations. Jesus, brother, my good shepherd, speak so that I might always recognize your voice and follow you.


Today, on this fourth Monday of Easter, I will listen for the sound of my shepherd's voice.



Saint Simeon, thought possibly to be Jesus' cousin, pray for us.

April 26, 2015 - Sunday

He is ‘the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.'
There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved. (Acts 4:11-12 NABRE)

Wow! What powerful words. What authority! And spoken by the same terrified guy who not long before found himself weeping bitterly after having denied even knowing his best friend!

Oh Peter, what changed in you?! What led you from cowardice to courage? How did you change from that man who lied to the crowd of strangers about who you were, into the man who now confronts the leaders and elders of the community who have the power to condemn you? And yet you stand before them, on the record, calling them murderers as you yourself stand accused of ignoring their directive not to preach or heal in Jesus' name.

See the power of the Holy Spirit and how it can change a man!

With one month until we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, it is good to acknowledge the great power of God within us, and to see the ways he leads each of us to advance the Kingdom in our lives. Jesus told the Apostles that God's Kingdom--a somewhat unfamiliar concept--was at hand. For now, suffice it to say that today, believers live in the Kingdom partially-realized and we await the fulfillment when Jesus returns. In the meantime, we have the Holy Spirit as our guide and advocate. Let's lean on him each day.


Today, on this fourth Sunday of Easter, I will rely on the Holy Spirit, as Peter did, as Saint Pedro de San José Betancur, and as all saints do, to lead me along my path regardless of my own expectations.


Saint Pedro de San José Betancur, who practiced mercy “heroically with the lowliest and the most deprived,” pray for us.

April 25, 2015 - Saturday

So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God.
But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs. (Mark 16:19-20 NABRE)

The Lord worked with them. He confirmed the word through signs. As the eleven apostles began sharing the good news about Jesus, the incredible, hard-to-believe news about who he was and all he accomplished, Jesus was with them in Spirit working with them! The book of the Acts of the Apostles recounts for us some of the accompanying signs so that we still have a record of some of what they did.

And we still see personal signs today. To the believer, the Spirit of God is close at hand. Because we believe, we see less coincidence in the world and recognize more cause. Many times we pray for assistance, and often in terrible circumstances, and sometimes utter desperation. And then it happens, forcing us to consider the connection. Our prayer is answered! We see the impossible situation dissolve. We watch the crisis dissipate. We pray again, with thanks. We remember to praise the Lord for his kindness and help. And we tell others about what happened.

Do you believe in the power of prayer? It is the beginning of all good things when we talk with our God.


Today, I will pray with confidence that when I'm acting in God's will, he works with me and confirms my faith with signs.


Saint Mark, writer of the first Gospel, known as the Evangelist, pray for us.

April 24, 2015 - Friday

So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit.”
Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength. (Acts 9:17-19 NABRE)

I'm sure much has been said over the years about this experience of Saul, his blindness and the restoration of his sight. And I'm sure the impact of losing one's sight is not lost on anyone. However, I'm not so sure we recognize spiritual blindness as readily, though it is far more limiting. Physical blindness only affects us during this life. Spiritual blindness harms us for eternity.

Lord Jesus, speak to the hearts of those who are blind to your truth. As you did for Saul, open their eyes to see! Show them that the signs you left us with are at least enough to step toward you in faith. And when they do take that one first step, show them the personal confirmation you so willingly promise. Lord Jesus, allow them reasons to want to step toward you, so that your quiet voice can be heard. And let their first hesitating steps grow into a march characterized by confidence and certainty. Holy Spirit, come to our aid. Heal our pain. Limit our suffering for long enough that we might stop resisting your company in our hearts. Shower your gifts upon each of us so that we might always continue to grow in them, bringing forth fruit into our world each day.


Today, on this third Friday of the Easter Season, I will pray for all who have not yet had their spiritual sight restored by the Lord, that they might in God's time come to know the truth of Jesus.



Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, whose prayer against apathy and concern for the poor and weak make you a saint whose example is still valuable today, pray for us.

April 23, 2015 - Thursday

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
In (his) humiliation justice was denied him.
Who will tell of his posterity?
For his life is taken from the earth.” (Acts 8:32b-33 NABRE)

One of the most astounding aspects of today's passage is it's endurance! Originally, these words were probably penned by a disciple of the prophet Isaiah, (53:7-8) toward the end of the Babylonian exile, about 700 years before we see them quoted here in the book of Acts.

In Acts (8:32-33), Philip, one of Jesus' disciples, was travelling along a road some time after Jesus had left them at the Ascension. At the prompting of the Holy Spirit, he struck up a conversation with an Ethiopian official who happened to be reading Isaiah while travelling. Philip explained the meaning of the passage, proclaimed Jesus to him, and baptised him in some water as they passed by.

And today, we recall the long history of God's Word. We remember how God's relationship with us began long before each of us came to be. And we are amazed and grateful for so great a love that Jesus came among us to share in our humanity and give us a path to eternal life by his suffering, death, and resurrection.


Today, on this third Thursday of the Easter Season, I will wonder at the unfolding of God's plan throughout the history of mankind and the record we have of salvation history.


Saint George, who was willing to pay the supreme price to follow Christ, pray for us.

April 22, 2015 - Wednesday

For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him [on] the last day. (John 6:40 NABRE)

With this statement, Jesus wraps up his discourse on being the bread of life with the promise of eternal life for all who believe in him. All these years later we still believe, though we have not seen him. We trust in the witness of the Apostles and the traditions that have been passed down to us for the past two hundred centuries. And, we place our hope in the promise because he rose from the dead!


Today, on this third Wednesday of the Easter Season, I will listen to the witness of those who saw the risen Jesus and I will believe.


Saint Adalbert of Prague, martyred bishop with a zeal for saving souls, pray for us.

April 21, 2015 - Tuesday

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. (John 6:35 NABRE)

Generally speaking, I'm not one to use the words never or always. Each is such an extreme word that it doesn't allow for any flexibility or opposing viewpoint. In today's verse from John's gospel, Jesus is speaking to a crowd of people who seek a miracle like the manna which God supplied to the Israelites during their desert wandering, specifically they were hungry and wanted food. This was the same crowd he had fed the day before with just a few loaves and fishes.

Interestingly, John does not tell us whether Jesus fed the crowd in the manner they hoped for. Instead, what Jesus taught them about himself was more than most were able or willing to understand. They were concerned for earthly bread, but he taught them not to "work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life." (John 6:27a)

Lord Jesus, you are the bread of life, the bread that endures into eternity. I come to you because the Father has drawn me. Help me never to lose my faith in you because of distractions in this life--that kind of food and drink which perishes. Help me to share in the eternal life which you now share with the Father. 


Today, on this third Tuesday of the Easter Season, I will work to keep focused on what matters most.


Saint Anselm, known by the title "Father of Scholasticism" for your attempt to analyze and illumine the truths of faith through the aid of reason, pray for us.

April 20, 2015 - Monday

Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”
So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” (John 6:27-9 NABRE)

It is tragically simple to lose focus on what really matters. Look around and you can see countless examples of it. Watch the news and you can see the endless parade of tragic stories, extending across the globe, which all have their root in a flawed humanity that has forgotten and neglected what really matters. Look inside your own heart and you can see those parts of yourself you'd rather not admit to. But do not lose heart!

Start here: There IS an eternity. There IS proof. This life is temporary, but what we do in it impacts eternity. Reset your perspective. Course-correct. Put aside the constraints of time and circumstance, and consider that there is more than what you see before you.

And so, what really matters?

Developing your connection to that which is eternal.

The debate will rage for all of history, but God is eternal and Jesus is his great connection with us, when he entered time and experienced humanity with us. He came to have a relationship with us because he loves us. Go ahead and challenge God to show himself to you personally, to show you some proof he is with you right now in your circumstance! But first, be willing to accept what comes back, don't have any expectations, and most of all believe he will answer you.

Faith first. Trust that God will respond. And what follows will amaze you into eternity!


Today, on this third Monday of the Easter Season, I will simply remember that Jesus is my Lord, sent to me by God the Father.


Saint Conrad of Parzham, who united yourself to God in prayer, pray for us.

April 19, 2015 - Sunday

My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.
The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments. (1 John 2:1-3 NABRE)

Jesus repaired our relationship with God the Father. He shared with us the way to live. And he will speak on our behalf as a merciful savior, not as a just judge, if we will keep his commandments.

In addition to loving God and our neighbor, we're called to repent* and to seek God's forgiveness for the times when we do not do these things, but instead, do what we prefer in the moment.  Put simply, we are told to be sorry for our sins and to turn away from whatever causes us to sin.

Expressing sorrow for having done things that offend God requires humility at times we are most vulnerable, and so it can be exceptionally difficult. We won't allow ourselves to be "the bad guy." But if we will turn to Jesus and ask him for the courage to honestly confront our own shortcomings, we find the humility to admit that, yes, what we've done was wrong in God's eyes. We also find the strength to express sorrow for it. Sometimes this can take some time to work out, other times it can happen quickly; so, do not worry about time lines and do not concern yourself with your own shame, but honestly ask Jesus for his help. He will stand with you as you confront your own guilt and make your admission. And he will be there for you once you do.


Today, on this third Sunday of the Easter season, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.


Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, who gave totally of yourself to God and to others, pray for us.

April 18, 2015 - Saturday

Rejoice, you righteous, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
on the ten-stringed lyre offer praise. (Psalm 33:1-2 NABRE)

Rejoice--be glad, feel happiness, experience joy. Do it in the Lord. To be "in" anything is to be included as part of that something. So to do anything "in the Lord" suggests something profound about our call to relationship with God. Each of us is called to joy as a member of and because of God and his creation.

Give thanks and offer praise with music! Isn't music one of the ways all mankind celebrates? We sing and dance, we play instruments and can even find ourselves transformed by sound as we do. It is in these moments that I believe we may glimpse a little bit of heaven's depth and character, fleetingly and incompletely, but it is there nonetheless.

As God's people, this is what we are told to do! Raise our awareness of God's greatness and wonder by singing thanks and praise to him with joy in our hearts, regardless of circumstances. Saint Paul teaches us this as well, from a Roman prison, as he reminds us to, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!"


Today, on this second Saturday of the Easter season, I will sing my thanks to God with great joy!


Blessed James Oldo, led to build up treasures in heaven and to build God's realm on earth, pray for us.

April 17, 2015 - Friday

Wait for the LORD, take courage;
be stouthearted, wait for the LORD! (Psalm 27:14 NABRE)

Today's psalm reminds us of one of life's most difficult challenges: We are told to wait for the Lord with courage and determination. How often, when things are at their worst, do we become consumed with anxiety, anger, frustration, or impatience? Such natural responses get in the way of our trusting in God.

There is an old saying that God is never early and never late, but always right on time. The Lord's timing is indeed perfect, but it is not always our timing! When we need help, when we suffer, when we are desperate, of course we want a solution immediately (if not sooner...asking why our problem even had to happen).

Having to wait for God to answer our prayers is one of the biggest reasons people give up on Him. Don't do that! Do not become bitter. Instead, hold on and continue to pray with great confidence! But why, you might ask?

Suffering has benefits for us. As St. Vincent de Paul said, "If we only knew the precious treasure hidden in infirmities, we would receive them with the same joy with which we receive the greatest benefits, and we would bear them without ever complaining or showing signs of weariness." Consider the perspective of many of our revered saints with regard to their own suffering, some of which are collected helpfully at whitelilyoftrinity.com.


Today, on this second Friday of the Easter season, I will face my own little sufferings and seek patience, courage, and determination as a path to deeper understanding of the love Jesus has for us.


Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, patron of the homeless, pray for us.

April 16, 2015 - Thursday

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted,
saves those whose spirit is crushed.
Many are the troubles of the righteous,
but the LORD delivers him from them all. (Psalm 34:19-20 NABRE)

Another passage from Psalm 34, today's words offer hope and encouragement for anyone with a broken heart, a crushed spirit, or who seeks to live a life of virtue. We are reminded that as we face life's trials--and we are not immune to trials, the Lord delivers us from them.

I am not a patient sufferer! I don't naturally accept discomfort and hurt with grace and a good-natured perspective. No, I complain most of the time, perhaps proving the adage that misery loves company. This is something I work at, but struggle with. In truth, I don't suffer much, just poorly!

Lord, help me to change. Remind me that you are always with me. Grant me the encouragement and hope of the Psalm when I find myself suffering. Jesus, I trust in you. Help me to demonstrate that by my outlook and attitude as the assaults of this life batter at times. Rather than complaining about how unjust my suffering is, help me to join my small suffering with your sacrifice on the cross, as a way to pray for the needs of others. Lord Jesus, when my heart breaks, accept my trust on behalf of the lukewarm soul. When my spirit is crushed, accept my faith in you as a prayer for the one who forgets you. And when I manage to act in virtue, accept my humble offering for the one struggling under the often-unrecognized difficult burden of this life.


Today, on this second Thursday of the Easter season, I will seek simplicity, trusting and hoping in the many promises of the Lord.


Saint Bernadette Soubirous, to whom the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared at Lourdes, France in 1858, pray for us.

April 15, 2015 - Wednesday

I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be always in my mouth.
My soul will glory in the LORD;
let the poor hear and be glad.
Magnify the LORD with me;
and let us exalt his name together. (Psalm 34:2-4 NABRE)

This song of King David has always been one of my favorite psalms. It resonates with me. I admire the Psalmist's desire to focus on the Lord at all times.

Look at the many wonderful ways we are invited to spend ALL our time:

• To bless* the Lord by speaking openly that God is holy* and worthy* of respect.
• To praise* the Lord by expressing our approval and admiration of him.
• To glory* in the Lord, giving him public honor and praise.
• To do these things so that the poor--those who are defenseless and need to trust in God alone*--may hear and be glad
• To join together with the Psalmist and one another in increasing our appreciation of and regard for the Lord

Will you accept David's invitation?


Today, on this second Wednesday of the Easter season, I will join with the Psalmist and give back to the Lord all my moments, so that my entire day gives glory to him.


Blessed Caesar de Bus, who developed a program of family catechesis, pray for us.

April 14, 2015 - Tuesday

There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need. (Acts 4:34-35 NABRE)

Based on the writings of Luke, we see three characteristics of life in the earliest Christian community:

1. Adherence to the teachings of the Twelve and the centering of its religious life in the Eucharistic liturgy
2. A system of distribution of goods that led wealthier Christians to sell their possessions when the needs of the community’s poor required it
3. Continued attendance at the temple

Today's verse describes the "sharing of material possessions [which] continues a practice that Luke describes during the historical ministry of Jesus and is in accord with the sayings of Jesus in Luke’s gospel."*

I'm reminded of Saint Paul's words to the Corinthians (9:6), which echo Proverbs 11:24, "Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."


Today, on this second Tuesday of the Easter season, I will consider my own wealth and profound blessings, and seek to act with generosity.


Blessed Peter Gonzalez, who was humbled one day and gave his life over to service, pray for us.

April 13, 2015 - Monday

And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness,
as you stretch forth [your] hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus. (Acts 4:29-30 NABRE)

After Peter and John were released by the Sanhedrin, they returned to the gathering of believers. When they told the story of what had happened to them and how they had been held and threatened to no longer heal or preach in Jesus' name, the entire community began to pray, remembering the beginning of Psalm 2 and recognizing it as a prophecy describing Herod and Pilate who, together, took a stand against Jesus.

And the community continued its prayer, asking the Lord for protection, boldness in teaching Jesus' message, and the ability to continue healing and offering signs and wonders in Jesus' name as further proof to encourage others to believe that he is indeed the Christ.

Lord, please grant me your protection against the forces arrayed against me. Help me to know them and give me boldness to speak your word into each day's circumstances. May others see and take notice of my actions, and may their observations lead them to you.


Today, on this second Monday of the Easter season, I will continue to pray for those who are lukewarm in faith, that they may find a fire in their heart for you.


Saint Martin I, seventh-century pope and martyr who was a witness for the faith, pray for us.

April 12, 2015 - Sunday

Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (John 20:26b-29 NABRE)

Jesus tells us to be at peace. And by his words to to Thomas he blesses us who have not seen him and yet have believed. Today's verse from John's gospel precedes an interesting little passage, the conclusion of the gospel, which is often overlooked:

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book.  But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name. 

Lord, I thank you for the great gift of faith. I thank you for coming among us as savior and redeemer. I thank you for the peace you call me to. And I thank you especially for your mercy. May those who are like Thomas, aching for proof, struggling with belief, or unwilling to believe without signs, be moved to trust in you first, leaving them open to your blessings, peace, and mercy.


Today, on this Sunday of Divine Mercy, the Second Sunday of Easter, I will remember the words of Saint Faustina, "nothing will deter me from doing the will of God."

Saint Teresa of Los Andes, who wrote in your diary. “He created me and is my beginning and my end,” pray for us.

April 11, 2015 - Saturday

So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:18 NABRE)

Despite the miraculous signs they performed, religious liberty was not something the first followers of Jesus Christ were afforded. In today's verse, the Sanhedrin warn Peter and John against speaking or teaching any more in the name of Jesus. In fact, these leaders would have preferred to punish the pair for what they had already done (most recently healing the lame beggar and then preaching in Jesus' name), but they were afraid of the reaction of the crowd that had begun to praise God because of what had happened.

Today, in our culture, our religious liberty is again under threat. We are called not only to live the gospel, but to become educated in the issues eroding our liberty and to take action, to pray, and where we have a voice, to speak out. America was founded on the principle of freedom of religion, but we continue to drift toward a society that prefers freedom from religion. Let us pray that this shift corrects itself by God's providence leading the actions of good people.

Today, on this Easter Saturday, I will pray the final day of the Divine Mercy Novena (Day 9).

Saint Stanislaus, patron of Poland who dared to denounce corruption in high places, pray for us.
Saint Faustina, through whom we have been given deep insight into Jesus' merciful heart, pray for us.
Saint John Paul II, who instituted the feast of Divine Mercy, pray for us.

April 10, 2015 - Friday

If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved, then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed.
He [Jesus] is ‘the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.’
There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.” (Acts 4:9-12 NABRE)

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Saint Peter here confronts the growing discomfort of the religious leadership--the Sanhedrin, many of whom, known as Sadducees, believed bodily resurrection was alien to the ancient Mosaic religion.* He and John had been arrested early the previous evening for healing a crippled beggar in the name of the risen Jesus (see Acts 3). Peter and John had been held in custody and are being questioned by the Sanhedrin regarding what power or by what name they had healed this man.

In his reply, Peter tells them the beggar had been saved by the name of Jesus. He goes on to point out that it is only by the name of Jesus that anyone can be delivered.*

Lord, help me to believe, as this crippled beggar did, that my salvation is given to me in the name of Jesus your son. Save me from the worldly perspective of the Sanhedrin displayed in today's verse so that I might carry your message as Peter did, filled with your Spirit and confident in your Word.


Today, on this Easter Friday, I will continue to pray the Divine Mercy Novena (Day 8).

Saint John Francis Regis, whose faith and goodness touched others and brought them to deeper faith, pray for us.

April 9, 2015 - Thursday

This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice in it and be glad. (Psalm 118:24 NABRE)

Put aside whatever concerns you. Dwell for just a moment, the span of a few breaths, on this truth: That this day was MADE. This moment was made. It was made for you--made for you to experience it. And the creator of this very moment, in his Word, tells you to rejoice in it. You are told to be glad.

Lord God, let me experience the great joy and delight you intend for this moment. Ease my heart so that I may know the gladness you call me to right now. Remind me, as the risen Jesus reminded his disciples that I live this very moment in your presence, Lord, and that you have not left me alone. And Lord, help me through this moment, the span of these breaths I am taking, so that I might know you deeper, draw closer to your heart of mercy, and share your love with others.


Today, on this Easter Thursday, I will continue to pray the Divine Mercy Novena (Day 7).


Saint Casilda, who lived a quiet, simple life of service to her Creator—first as a Muslim, then as a Christian, pray for us.

April 8, 2015 - Wednesday

Give thanks to the LORD, invoke his name;
make known among the peoples his deeds!
Sing praise to him, play music;
proclaim all his wondrous deeds! (Psalm 105:1-2 NABRE)

For some reason, these words of the Psalmist remind me of the gifts of the Holy Spirit which Saint Paul lists in his letter to the Galatians (5:22-23): love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Rather, if we act as today's verse tells us to, it seems to me we also demonstrate the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

When we give thanks, sing praise, play music and proclaim his wondrous deeds are we not living joyfully?! When we invoke his name or make known his deeds, are we not expressing our love of the Lord and others?!

Lord God, our Father, may each of us grow in love today. May we know your joy which transcends mere happiness. May we express patience, kindness, generosity, and gentleness toward those around us. And may our faithfulness and self-control increase so that we might be better witnesses to the many graces you share with us. I ask these things in the name of Jesus, your son.


Today, on this Easter Wednesday, I will continue to pray the Divine Mercy Novena (Day 6).


Saint Julie Billiart, who in spite of your suffering, continued to do God’s work on earth, pray for us.

April 7, 2015 - Tuesday

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” (John 20:14-15a NABRE)

Mary of Magdala, one of Jesus' followers, was the first to see him, but, at first, she did not recognize the risen Jesus. How often do we also fail to recognize the real presence of the risen Lord in one another, especially in the faces of those who need our help?

Lord Jesus, I seek to recognize only you in those around me. I am looking for you just as Mary did that morning at the tomb. I try to remember that you are alive and though you have gone to be with the Father, your heart remain very present to us in the needs of others, and you have shared with us your Holy Spirit who teaches us, guides us, and turns our attention back to your work.


Today, on this Easter Tuesday, I will continue to pray the Divine Mercy Novena (Day 5).

Saint John Baptist de la Salle, patron of teachers, pray for us.

April 6, 2015 - Monday

God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. (Acts 2:32 NABRE)

Remember Peter--the fear-filled coward who denied he even knew his best friend? Flash-forward about two months and look at the change in him! The terrified fisherman who once swore, "I do not know the man," (Matthew 26:69-75) is now able to speak with authority and fearlessness. He finally admits publicly what he knows, in simple clear terms for all to hear. His bold proclamation to a crowd of devout Jews who had gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost marks a turning point for Peter, and indeed for all who saw, touched, spoke to, and ate with the risen Jesus.

But what changed? What happened to Peter to cause him to make what must have seemed such an outrageous statement? As we are told, he had just been filled with God's own Holy Spirit, the same Spirit which filled Jesus during his life, and which He promised to share with his disciples. And so, His still tiny Church began to preach to others about Jesus. The truth of what happened to Jesus of Nazareth begins to spread by the courageous words of Peter. Jesus' infant Church, still insignificant in number, begins its mission to proclaim the good news of the savior of the world when the fisherman becomes the witness!

Lord Jesus, we celebrate your resurrection! Your Spirit lives on in us and we continue our mission even today. As salvation history continues to unfold one minute at a time, I ask your continued mercy and protection on all who bear witness to your real presence, and I thank you for your Spirit of Holiness which you have placed within me as my guide.


Today, on this Easter Monday, I will continue to pray the Divine Mercy Novena (Day 4).


Saint Crescentia Hoess, recognized for your wisdom and virtue, pray for us.

April 5, 2015 - Sunday

This man God raised (on) the third day and granted that he be visible,
not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.
He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.
To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name. (Acts 10:40-43 NABRE)

The stone was removed from the entrance of His tomb. Jesus was missing. His friends didn't know what to think. But Jesus was alive! The accounts we have tell us that He appeared first to Mary of Magdala and then to two disciples walking along the road, and soon to all the disciples who would become witnesses of his death and resurrection. Witnesses!

Lord, your resurrection is almost too much for me to take in. But what you did, what you taught, and the suffering you endured begin to make sense when I decide again today to accept the truth of it all. When I choose to recognize the passion in Peter's witness to Cornelius and his family. When I consider that 265 men have held the seat of Peter through the centuries, beginning with Linus and currently with Francis, I am reminded that the continuous connection to Jesus is still mine today!


Today, on this Easter day, I will marvel again at the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth and all that means for my own life today. And I will continue to pray the Divine Mercy Novena (Day 3).


Saint Vincent Ferrer, who made your work that of "going through the world preaching Christ," pray for us.

April 4, 2015 - Saturday

Our soul waits for the LORD,
he is our help and shield.
For in him our hearts rejoice;
in his holy name we trust.
May your mercy, LORD, be upon us;
as we put our hope in you. (Psalm 33:20-22 NABRE)

MY soul waits for the LORD - The part of me that is not physical, the part of me that can know the Lord, waits for him to be present to me in his Spirit.

He is MY help and shield - When I encounter his Holy Spirit, especially during difficult moments, he helps me understand, he helps me act, he helps me speak, and he protects my spirit, my soul, from the damaging influences of this earthly life.

For in him MY heart rejoices - My heart, my spirit, celebrates my moments of encounter with the Lord despite and in any physical circumstances.

In his holy name I trust - For me as a Christian, the name Jesus, the actual name, His name, is worthy of my trust; and when I act, when I pray, when I speak in his name, putting aside myself entirely, I trust confidently that my actions are conformed to his will.

May your mercy, LORD, be upon ME - So often I forget to put myself aside, and for all of these times, Lord, I ask that you shower me with your mercy and not your just judgment.

As I put MY hope in you - And I put all of my hope in you, as a traveller here in this earthly place, certain there is truth in your promise and salvation for those of us who put our faith in you.

Jesus, I trust in you.


Today, on this Holy Saturday, I will attend the Easter Vigil in the holy night of Easter.


Saint Isidore of Seville, whose life teaches us that loving, understanding and knowledge can heal and bring a broken people back together, pray for us.

April 3, 2015 - Friday

Now Simon Peter was standing there keeping warm. And they said to him, “You are not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.”
One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?”
Again Peter denied it. And immediately the cock crowed. (John 18:25-27 NABRE)

Today is Good Friday. Today we take a hard look at the sacrifice Jesus made for us. Today we see our own shortcomings in stark contrast to Jesus' sinless nature. Today, of all days, we recognize our great need of him.

As we pray throughout the day, but especially during the three o'clock hour, we are confronted by the horror of what Jesus endured for us--his lonely, prolonged agony, and we seek to reconcile our casual denials of him--the many ways we, like Peter, sidestep our association with him for fear of inconveniences, losses, or persecutions.

Let us seek the courage backed by wisdom which Jesus displays. Let us avoid the cowardice and fear shown by Peter and the other disciples that day. Let us--not by our own strength, but by the power of God's Holy Spirit--demonstrate to the world that we continue to be the living mystical Body of Christ even today. Let us be his arms that embrace whoever needs the hug. Let us be his mouth with words of comfort, correction, and encouragement for whomever will hear. Let us be his feet, which walk the Way of Sorrow leading us to sacrifice for others before thinking of ourselves. And let us be his heart, which was so full of mercy and compassion for others, obedient to God the Father, even to death on that cross.


Today, on this Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion, I will begin praying a nine-day Divine Mercy Novena, which ends on Easter Saturday, just prior to Divine Mercy Sunday.


Saint Benedict the African, patron of African-Americans, pray for us.

April 2, 2015 - Thursday

You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am.
If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet.
I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. (John 13:13-15 NABRE)

A central theme of Holy Thursday is our call to Christian charity which is so strikingly displayed when the Lord knelt down and washed the feet of his disciples. Jesus becomes servant to them, and the story itself is presented as a “model” (“pattern”) of the crucifixion. It symbolizes cleansing from sin by sacrificial death.* The act of washing another’s feet was one that could not be required of the lowliest Jewish slave. It is an allusion to the humiliating death of the crucifixion.*

Lord Jesus, thank you for your example to me. Though I resist the call to service, to humility, and to charity, I know by your example that these should define all I do. Though this world tempts me to selfishness, pride, and indifference, I know by your example that these lead only to darkness. Lord, my God, lead me along the path to salvation, the path defined by charity and lighted by your Holy Spirit within me. Guard me from the darkness surrounding me so that I might not stray from the well-lit but narrow path which leads me always back to you.


Today, on this Holy Thursday, I will attend the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, recalling the humble life of Christian charity to which I am called.


Saint Francis of Paola, who wished only to be the "least in the household of God," pray for us.

April 1, 2015 - Wednesday

“See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, take heart!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and does not spurn those in bondage.
Let the heaven and the earth praise him,
the seas and whatever moves in them!” (Psalm 69:33-35 NABRE)

Jesus understands the greatest depths of our suffering, humility, isolation, loss and pain. He suffered and died for us, an innocent man who paid a terrible price for us, ransoming his life, to restore our chance to have a relationship with God.

And today's psalm tells us that the Lord welcomes everyone who seeks him. There is no exclusion! It does not matter how lowly or poor or alone you are, He knows and understands your suffering and hears you calling out from your heart. He does not reject anyone enslaved by the bondage of this life in any of its forms.

Lord, I praise you! I join with the seas and whatever moves in them in praise of you. May my life bring glory to you, Lord, as I seek you before all things. I take heart knowing that you understand me, even when I can't understand myself. Thank you for patiently teaching me about myself. Thank you for freedom from the tyrany of your enemy who seeks only to keep me from you. Thank you for guarding me at my moments of greatest need.


Today, I will be grateful because God understands our suffering and responds to our cries.


Saint Hugh of Grenoble, who was an effective Church reformer known for his devotion to the Church and his strong character, pray for us.