November 21, 2015 - Saturday

I said to myself: ‘Into what tribulation have I come, and in what floods of sorrow am I now! Yet I was kindly and beloved in my rule.’
But I now recall the evils I did in Jerusalem, when I carried away all the vessels of silver and gold that were in it, and for no cause gave orders that the inhabitants of Judah be destroyed.
I know that this is why these evils have overtaken me; and now I am dying, in bitter grief, in a foreign land.” (1 Maccabees 6:11-13 NABRE)

How often are we brutally honest with ourselves?

In today's passage, King Antiochus, lying on his deathbed, is brutally honest with himself. He had always considered himself to be a kind ruler who was loved by his subjects, and therefore he was disturbed and confused to hear news that the Jews had taken back the temple in Jerusalem (which he had taken from them and desecrated). Realizing he was going to die soon, look at his change of heart! His regret is palpable in the scene as he connects his disregard for the people of Judah with his own demise.

Lord, save me from final regret! Change my heart now. Show me the way to love and respect other people, even people who would harm me. Help me to encourage and protect your people, Lord, rather than tear them down. As Mary, your mother who carried you in her womb, was a greater temple than any made by human hands, each of us is also a temple, a home for your Holy Spirit dwelling within us. May I recognize your Spirit in the people I encounter today.


Today, I will pray for a deeper respect for all people, the words to encourage them to conversion, and the wisdom and right timing of the Holy Spirit.


Mary, mother of God and our spiritual mother, whose own presentation in the temple we commemorate today, pray for us.

November 20, 2015 - Friday

Yours, LORD, are greatness and might,
majesty, victory, and splendor.
For all in heaven and on earth is yours;
yours, LORD, is kingship;
you are exalted as head over all.
Riches and glory are from you,
and you have dominion over all.
In your hand are power and might;
it is yours to give greatness and strength to all. (1 Chronicles 29:11-12 NABRE)

King David makes this beautiful tribute to the Lord at the dedication of the temple built by his son, Solomon. This acknowledgement of God's greatness comes shortly after David announces that he is giving his personal fortune of gold and silver to the temple for use as raw material to overlay the walls and for artisans to create works of art. And he challenges others to do the same.

Lord God, you are the author of creation. There is nothing greater than you. There is no one above you. You alone have no beginning and no end. All that exists finds its source and sustenance in your will. Thank you for my life, Lord, this earthly time of course, but especially for the eternal part of me which reflects you. May I live each day of this life shining your light in this sometimes dark world. May I know with certainty that all I have is really yours, and that I merely borrow from you. And may this inspire me to greater generosity toward those in need.


Today, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, for an increase in compassion and generosity.


Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, who once said: “We cultivate a very small field for Christ, but we love it, knowing that God does not require great achievements but a heart that holds back nothing for self.... The truest crosses are those we do not choose ourselves.... He who has Jesus has everything.” pray for us.

November 19, 2015 - Thursday

But Mattathias answered in a loud voice: “Although all the Gentiles in the king’s realm obey him, so that they forsake the religion of their ancestors and consent to the king’s orders,
yet I and my sons and my kindred will keep to the covenant of our ancestors.
Heaven forbid that we should forsake the law and the commandments.
We will not obey the words of the king by departing from our religion in the slightest degree.” (1 Maccabees 2:19-22 NABRE)

Mattathias was the originator of the Maccabean rebellion*  against the Seleucids.* He refused and resisted the pagan worship being required by the occupying Greek king, Antiochus Epiphanes.

Coin of Antiochus IV Epiphanes

There are times when God's people are called to resist those who would put themselves and their word ahead of God. There are times when God's people have to make a choice, even when the stakes in this life are very high and the risk to life is present. There are times when we are called to see beyond this earthly place, to remember where our true citizenship lies, and to remain loyal to him who is the King of kings.

Today, I will remember my first loyalty is to the Lord.


Saint Agnes of Assisi, thirteenth-century Poor Claire nun who was devoted to prayer and penance, pray for us.

November 18, 2015 - Wednesday

I beg you, child, to look at the heavens and the earth and see all that is in them; then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things. In the same way humankind came into existence. (2 Maccabees 7:28 NABRE)

In a scene that touches a bit too close to scenes that still play out today, a mother whispers in her son's ear just before he is executed for his faith in God. Her words bring courage, boldness in the face of imminent death, because of their certainty.

We always have the chance to relive this moment. Regardless of our current conditions, we can look at the heavens and the earth and see the evidence of the creator in his creation. We can look at other people and see the same. And once we confront the reality that this existence is created, somehow and by someone we can never understand, we strengthen our own faith.

If we have lost our sense of faith, and it does happen to each of us along the way, we can live such a moment and regain what was lost. If we will unlock the door of our heart and open it just a crack--inviting Him in, He will join us. He will confirm our faith. He will provide the evidence we seek. He will provide sight to our blindness.


Today, I will remember who is the Creator and who is the creature, and I will ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that I can act with resolve in the face of challenges to my faith.


Saints Peter and Paul, both martyred in Rome for your witness to Christ, we commemorate today the dedication of churches in your name, pray for us.

November 17, 2015 - Tuesday

When he was about to die under the blows, he groaned, saying: “The Lord in his holy knowledge knows full well that, although I could have escaped death, I am not only enduring terrible pain in my body from this scourging, but also suffering it with joy in my soul because of my devotion to him.” (Maccabees 6:30 NABRE)

"He" was Eleazar, a man described as "one of the foremost scribes, a man advanced in age and of noble appearance." (2 Maccabees 6:18) The story of his martyrdom was written to encourage God’s people in times of persecution.*

As we know all too well these days, living a life of faith has always taken a great deal of courage. In every generation, there have been those who actively seek to do harm to people of faith.

Lord Jesus, show me how to live a courageous life of faith. Grant me the grace I need in moments of trial to maintain my integrity as Eleazar did and as you did. And protect me from such dangers. Lord, I pray for faithfulness and courage for myself, for my family, and for all who trust in you. I pray also for those who would inflict harm on someone else because of their faith in you. We are all your children, Lord God, and we ache for the day when we will see an end to such things.


Today, I will pray for courage and faithfulness, and for forgiveness for those times I let fear rule in my heart.


Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, patron of bakers, pray for us.

November 16, 2015 - Monday

The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me!”
Then Jesus stopped and ordered that he be brought to him; and when he came near, Jesus asked him,
“What do you want me to do for you?” He replied, “Lord, please let me see.”
Jesus told him, “Have sight; your faith has saved you.”
He immediately received his sight and followed him, giving glory to God. When they saw this, all the people gave praise to God. (Luke 18:39-43 NABRE)

Have you ever closed your eyes and tried to imagine living in this world as a blind person must? It is a humbling thing to do. And so, it is easy to understand how a blind man would in desperation call out to Jesus--Son of David--to have pity on him. He must have heard about what Jesus could do. He had nothing to lose. And so he turned to Jesus asking for pity, asking for a miracle cure, asking for sight.

Jesus does restore his sight, but more importantly, he tells the man that his faith has saved him.


Today, I will seek to give up my own blindness, turn to Jesus in faith, and ask for his pity.


Saint Margaret of Scotland, queen who, with your husband, served orphans and the poor on your knees during Advent and Lent , pray for us.

November 15, 2015 - Sunday

So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.
The LORD God then built the rib that he had taken from the man into a woman. When he brought her to the man, the man said:

“This one, at last, is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
This one shall be called ‘woman,’
for out of man this one has been taken.”

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body. (Genesis 2:21-24 NABRE)

On this day twenty-nine years ago, two young people left their parents and clung to one another as man and wife. Today, they are still blessed to overflowing by God, united as one. May our marriage be a sign to all of Christ's love for his Church, for all of us, and may the qualities of our marriage reflect the love, sacrifice, forgiveness, and joy Christ shares with all who will trust in him.


Today, I will celebrate the anniversary of my marriage and the overwhelming gift it has been.

Saint Anselm Abbey Church, Manchester, NH

All the saints, whose names echo in our hearts as patrons of the parishes and schools where we grew, pray for us:

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
Saint Anselm
Saint Augustine
Saint James
Saint Timothy
Saint Catherine of Sienna
Saint Francis Xavier
Saint Andrew

Saint Albert the Great, who we celebrate today, Doctor of the Church, patron of medical technicians, philosophers, and scientists, pray for us.

November 14, 2015 - Saturday

Sing praise to him, play music;
proclaim all his wondrous deeds!
Glory in his holy name;
let hearts that seek the LORD rejoice! (Psalm 105:2-3 NABRE)

Psalm 105 is a hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people of Israel. In today's passage, Israel is invited to praise and seek the presence of God. In subsequent verses, Israel is reminded that God had been faithful to the promise of land to their ancestors. In every phase of Israel's national story God remained faithful, reiterating the promise of the land to successive servants.*

Lord God, just as you invited the people of Israel to praise you and to seek your holy presence, you invite all your children to do the same. Even after all the time that has passed since the days you first chose Israel to be your people, you have been faithful to those who belong to you. Thank you for your faithfulness and especially for inviting me. I will seek you in each moment of this day. I am filled with joy. I celebrate your greatness today and every day!


Today, I will accept God's invitation to praise him and seek his presence.


Saint Gertrude the Great, thirteenth-century mystic whose life reminds us that prayer is the heart of the Christian life, pray for us.

November 13, 2015 - Friday

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the firmament proclaims the works of his hands. (Psalm 19:2 NABRE)

The heavenly elements of the world, are evidence of the power and wisdom of their creator.*

The book of Wisdom puts it this way, "For from the greatness and the beauty of created things their original author, by analogy, is seen." (Wisdom 13:5)


Today, I will deliberately observe God's artistry in all the world around me.


Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini, patron of hospital administrators, immigrants, and impossible causes, pray for us.

November 12, 2015 - Thursday

Let my soul live to praise you;
may your judgments give me help.(Psalm 119:175 NABRE)

Psalm 119, the longest by far in the Psalter, praises God for giving such splendid laws and instruction for people to live by. The Psalm is fascinated with God’s word directing and guiding human life.

Each verse contains an English translation of a Hebrew word meaning "instruction.” The nine words for “instruction” used in this translation are: law, statute, commandment, precept, testimony, word, judgment, way, and promise. Today's verse, obviously uses the word judgement.*


Today, I will praise the Lord for the helpful instruction he provides in his Word.


Saint Josaphat, bishop, martyr, and the first saint of the Eastern Church to be canonized by Rome, pray for us.

November 11, 2015 - Wednesday

Rejoice always.
Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NABRE)

How beautiful to see these directives given side-by-side! In context they are instructions from Saint Paul on how to live together as Church. In the same way, this brief passage reminds us how to live as a community of believers, so others will recognize us by how we treat one another.

Rejoice. Live in a state of joyfulness. And be this way always. Not just some of the time. The implications are clear: Joy does not require happiness, contentment, or comfort. Joy is not limited by emotions or experience. Joy can be chosen. Decide to rejoice right now!

Pray. All the time. Share all your moments with the Lord. Not just some of them. Prayer is the secret key to a strong relationship with God, and it is our only source of true joy, wisdom, and peace. What are you experiencing right now, as you read this? Share it with God. Listen for a whispered response. Don't be surprised by a loud one either (sometimes that happens)! Acknowledge and welcome what comes back, and admire the variety of ways God speaks to you!

Give Thanks. Regardless of your circumstances. Begin now, in this moment, by thanking the Lord for it, for the breath you just took, for the eyes you just used to read this, and for all the other gifts this place in time contains.


Today, I will praise Jesus without ceasing and give thanks in all my circumstances.


Saint Martin of Tours, patron of soldiers, pray for us.

November 10, 2015 - Tuesday

Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. (John 14:23-24 NABRE)

At the Last Supper, while he was still with them, Jesus told his friends about things that would happen in the future, so that when his predictions came true, they would believe.

In today's passage, Jesus tells us about God the Father and also about the Holy Spirit who would come into each believer. Jesus' words tell us something about the triune nature of God, about the three distinct persons in one God. While there is no way for us to truly understand the mystery of the Trinity, we can marvel at and appreciate how fortunate we are to have a creator God who, by his very nature, can be with us at all times.

Jesus tells us that the Spirit of God is within us and remains with us always, that this is the Spirit of Jesus himself, the Spirit of truth. The Spirit teaches us and reminds us of Jesus. It is by the Spirit that we are in union with Jesus, and through him, the Father.

And to be one with our God, we need to love Jesus, which he tells us means to have and to keep his commandments.


Today, I will love Jesus, listen for the teaching of his Spirit, and keep his commandments throughout the day.


Saint Leo the Great, who used your talents in areas where spirit and structure are inseparably combined: doctrine, peace and pastoral care, pray for us.

November 9, 2015 - Monday

God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Thus we do not fear, though earth be shaken
and mountains quake to the depths of the sea,
Though its waters rage and foam
and mountains totter at its surging. (Psalm 46:2-4 NABRE)

Earth shaking, tottering mountains quaking into the sea, ocean waters raging and foaming: These were figurative language used in the ancient Near East to describe social and political upheavals.* And suddenly it makes more sense and feels a bit more relevant.

When we are in the midst of social and political upheaval, we look to God for protection, strength and help. We are confident that he is ever-present. We do not fear.

Lord my God, like the psalmist, I live in a time of frightening and constant social and political upheaval. Now is a time when we, as a global society, too often compromise our humanity, neglecting the dignity of people most in need and forgetting our common bond of interdependence and fragility. Please forgive our failures as we seek to overcome our inability to change. Show us your mercy as we struggle against indifference, cruelty, anger, bitterness, and self-righteousness. 

Lord God, I ask that you help me, by your Spirit, to recognize my own false beliefs, misperceptions, and destructive attitudes. Lead me, by that same Spirit, to replace these evils with wisdom, discernment based on your will, and compassion for each of your creatures.


Today, on this Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, I will lean on God who protects, strengthens, and helps me.


Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, pray for us.

November 8, 2015 - Sunday

Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment,
so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him. (Hebrews 9:27-28 NABRE)

Centuries before Jesus was born, there was a ceremony during which after some time spent in the Temple Holy of Holies, the high priest reappeared on the Day of Atonement. After the people waited, he emerged from the Holy of Holies, which he had entered to take away sin. This dramatic scene is described in Sirach 50:5–11. In a similar way, Jesus, our high priest who has left us for a time will appear a second time at the parousia.*

Lord Jesus, I look forward to your return with great eagerness. As you are now in the presence of God our Father, I desire to share in your divine presence along with the angels and saints who have gone before me. As I wait in joyful hope, thank you for sharing your Spirit so that I might have some share in the first fruits of your Kingdom in this life. 


Today, I will thank the Lord who will bring salvation when he appears again.


Blessed John Duns Scotus, who placed your best thinking at the service of the human family and of the Church, pray for us.

November 7, 2015 - Saturday

The LORD supports all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look hopefully to you;
you give them their food in due season.
You open wide your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing. (Psalm 145:14-16 NABRE)

Listen to the joy and hope in today's passage! When we fail, when we are humbled before others, when we hunger for some need, the Lord is always there. He supports us, lifts us up, and satisfies us with all we need. His resources are endless. We are invited to trust him with confidence that he will provide all we need.

God’s mighty acts show his divine kingship, a major theme in the literature of early Judaism and in Christianity. Psalm 145 is a hymn in acrostic form; every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostic poems usually do not develop ideas but consist rather of loosely connected statements. The opening verses invite all to praise God.*

Lord God, thank you for the many ways you provide for my family and me. Enliven your Spirit within me so that my trust grows stronger today. Increase my confidence in your endless graces and the love you have for me. Lord, please be with me in times of suffering and struggle so that I might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit myself to Your holy will, which is love and mercy itself.* 


Today, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.


Saint Didacus, who used your life to serve God and God’s people, pray for us.

November 6, 2015 - Friday

In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to boast in what pertains to God.
For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me. (Romans 15:17-18 NABRE)

After his conversion, Paul became Apostle to all who were not Jewish. He taught people about Jesus Christ all the way from Jerusalem to Illyricum (northwest of Greece), and then as far as Rome. On his  three separate missionary journeys, he was a spiritual guide to many believers including the faithful in Rome, to whom he addressed the words in today's passage. His intention was to evangelize the Roman world all the way to Spain.

And with such a strong sense of mission, notice Paul's humility. He was certainly aware of the great impact he was having for God, yet he recognized it was Christ working through him that was noteworthy, it was what pertained to God that gave him reason to boast.

Lord Jesus, thank you for using me as you used Saint Paul. I leave myself open to your Spirit today and I ask that you guide me in word and action as I confront the circumstances of this new day.


Today, I will surrender my will so that God's will may be done.


Saint Nicholas Tavelic and Companions, Franciscan friars martyred in the Holy Land for preaching openly about Jesus, pray for us.

November 5, 2015 - Thursday

Why then do you judge your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. (Romans 14:10 NABRE)

God welcomes all of us, not just people I understand or with whom I agree. He welcomes us all. We each walk a different path to God and it is not for me to have an opinion on anyone else's walk.

Lord God, Saint Paul reminds me to avoid judging others, especially fellow believers. Help me instead to support others, to encourage peace, and to be aware of the joy you place in my heart. Instead of thinking myself better than anyone, let me think of myself as least in any group. Instead of clawing for more, let me renounce the claim that my possessions have on me. I ask so that these changes will turn me toward you, my Lord. May I consider only my own shortcomings and with your patient help change them.


Today, I will consider my thoughts and my words regarding others so that I might not fall into the trap of judging them.


Venerable Solanus Casey, Wisconsin-born priest who lived until 1957 and who knew that pure love of God and one’s fellowmen as children of God are in the final event all that matter, pray for us.

November 4, 2015 - Wednesday

Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, [namely] “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:8-10 NABRE)

When love directs the Christian’s moral decisions, the interest of law in basic concerns, such as familial relationships, sanctity of life, and security of property, is safeguarded. Love anticipates the purpose of public legislation, namely, to secure the best interests of the citizenry.*

It is said that love is not simply a feeling but a commitment. Today's verse tells us that love is also what motivates right. It precedes our daily choices. In practical terms, love requires us to put the needs and interests of others ahead of our own.


Today, I will pray for awareness of my own choices, so that I will put the needs and interests of others ahead of my own.


Saint Charles Borromeo, patron of catechists, catechumens, and seminarians, pray for us.

November 3, 2015 - Tuesday

Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.
Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality.
Bless those who persecute [you], bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not be wise in your own estimation. (Romans 12:9-16 NABRE)

The twelfth chapter of Paul's letter to the Romans is a powerful list of ways that we should live as Christians. It is like a multivitamin for our spirits. Today's passage is from a section dedicated to mutual love among Christians. If we want to live for God's pleasure, we can learn a lot from Romans 12. I suggest a quick read of the entire chapter (it's hardly longer than this post) and a few minutes of meditation this morning will yield an insight for you worthy of the day's consideration.


Today, I will meditate on how I show love to other Christians, especially when personalities or opinions differ.


Saint Martin de Porres, patron of African-Americans, barbers, hairdressers, race relations, and social justice, pray for us.

November 2, 2015 - Monday

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,
and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if to others, indeed, they seem punished,
yet is their hope full of immortality;
Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself. (Wisdom 3:1-5 NABRE)

Each person who maintains faith in Christ should seek to live in a way that is pleasing to God. One word used to describe those who work at this is righteous. Perfection is not required, but faith is necessary for righteousness. It motivates and energizes our efforts to live rightly.

Suffering is a roadblock for many, often turning us bitterly from God, either briefly or for a long time. And while we may grow angry with God, confused as to why suffering has to happen, we should never let go of our faith that in the end, God's plan is bigger than our plans, his love never leaves us, and his mercy is greater than any sin we can ever commit.

The author of the book of Wisdom affirms that, for the righteous, sufferings are not punishments but purification and opportunities to show fidelity, whereas for the wicked suffering is truly a punishment.*

Lord God, Father of us all, creator of all things, who sustains me in this very moment, please accept my faith, and use it to shape all my actions--the good ones and the bad ones--to your plan. Conform me to your will, so that I might participate in building your Kingdom during this life and share in your promise for the next, in the company of all the faithful who have gone before me.


Today, on this Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, I will pray for members of my family, friends, acquaintances, coworkers, and others I've known who have died in faith--standing with them in God's presence, so that they will experience the final purification of God's grace and his eternal company.


All you Faithful Departed, pray for us.

November 1, 2015 - Sunday

Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me, “Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?”
I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.” He said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:13-14 NABRE)

The writing style of the book of Revelation is a challenge to modern readers, but "like Daniel and other apocalypses, it was composed as resistance literature to meet a crisis. The book itself suggests that the crisis was ruthless persecution of the early church by the Roman authorities."*

The message of Revelation is that, "Those who remain steadfast in their faith and confident in the risen Lord need have no fear. Suffering, persecution, even death by martyrdom, though remaining impenetrable mysteries of evil, do not comprise an absurd dead end. No matter what adversity or sacrifice Christians may endure, they will in the end triumph over Satan and his forces because of their fidelity to Christ the victor. This is the enduring message of the book; it is a message of hope and consolation and challenge for all who dare to believe.* 

Today's passage ends with a description of the martyrs of the early Church who did dare to believe, who maintained their faith, and who were made clean, just like we are, by Jesus' merciful sacrifice.


Today, on this Solemnity of All Saints, I will remember all our brothers and sisters in faith who have gone before us.


All you holy men and women who have gone before us, as martyrs and by other paths to sanctity, pray for us.

October 31, 2015 - Saturday

Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position.’ Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table.
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. (Luke 14:10-11 NABRE)

One sabbath, Jesus was dining at the home of a prominent Pharisee. Noticing that the guests were choosing seats of honor at the table and in effect their status in the grouping, he tells them a parable about being humble.

He makes the point that humbling ourselves is not only practical and helps us avoid embarrassment, but it is how God wants us to evaluate ourselves, putting others ahead of ourselves.

The banquet scene found only in Luke provides the opportunity for these teachings of Jesus on humility and presents a setting to display Luke’s interest in Jesus’ attitude toward the rich and the poor.*


Today, I will test my own attitude about myself in relation to every other person I encounter. If I discover I think better of myself than I do of anyone, I will reverse my thinking with the sincere hope that my heart will follow.


Saint Wolfgang of Regensburg, who resisted a personal inclination to monastic life in order to do the work you were led to do, pray for us.

October 30, 2015 - Friday

They are Israelites; theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; theirs the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, is the Messiah. God who is over all be blessed forever. Amen. (Romans 9:4-5 NABRE)

The Isrealites. The children of Israel, a man who was first known as Jacob. The chosen people of God. The creator of all that is, our God, selected this people as his own. What a remarkable gift that is, and it will be true for all times. The adopted children of God became the channel through whom he communicated so much of his Word including his own son, Jesus, the Messiah.

Saint Paul desperately desired that these people, his kin, would come to believe in Jesus.

And what a great gift we have been given: To be included as children of God, we who call ourselves Christians have the main job of sharing this good news! All are welcome to the family of faith and to share in the inheritance!


Today, I will cling to my family--gratefully, joyfully, and peacefully, and I will invite others to join us.


Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez, who found happiness and contentment through simple service and prayer, pray for us.

October 29, 2015 - Thursday

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39 NABRE)

God loves you.

Nothing in all the universe can change that. No evil could ever change that.


Today, I will thank God for loving me just as I am.


Saint Narcissus of Jerusalem, second-century bishop whose miracles are widely reported, pray for us.

October 28, 2015 - Wednesday

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22 NABRE)

This past weekend, it dawned on me in a new way how important community is for us. I had a simple insight which suddenly deepened my understanding and awareness of the value that community provides. I had a sudden thought that we cannot be truly Christian alone. Christians rely on faith in the context of a community with a purpose, the mission of Jesus Christ. Of course we are individuals, each claiming a unique relationship with God; yet, there is something vital about the community of believers that becomes our fueling station for the mission at hand.

God, in his wisdom, created this community so that we could draw strength from it in order to go out into the world with the good news. The community is also a sign itself of our faith, so that when non-believers see how we act in love, they will find a path to Christ. And in today's passage, we see that the whole Christian community is a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. We are the temple which has its foundation in the apostles and prophets and which has Jesus as the cornerstone.


Today, I will celebrate and pray for the wonderful gift of a vibrant Christian community.


Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles whose lives remind us that holiness does not depend on human merit, culture, personality, effort or achievement, but is entirely God's creation and gift, pray for us.

October 27, 2015 - Tuesday

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. (Romans 8:18 NABRE)

The glory that believers are destined to share with Christ far exceeds the sufferings of the present life. Paul considers the destiny of the created world to be linked with the future that belongs to the believers. As it shares in the penalty of corruption brought about by sin, so also will it share in the benefits of redemption and future glory that comprise the ultimate liberation of God’s people.*

Lord God, thank you sharing with me your Spirit. Knowing that I am already sharing in the first fruits of your promised full freedom, I am energized and encouraged to persevere. When life becomes burdensome, I turn to you and you hear me. You lift me out of my suffering to a place of joy and peace. Lord, even amidst the trials of today, I never cease to find solace whenever I encounter your Spirit. Thank you for that.


Today, I will be grateful for the Spirit of God living in me.


Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza, who used your skills as a preacher to challenge the heresies of your day, pray for us.

October 26, 2015 - Monday

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba, Father!”
The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:14-17 NABRE)

Many of us struggle with family issues. All of us, probably. Let's stop and rethink how we define family. Certainly blood relates us. No doubt, committed love relates us. But in today's passage we see something greater happening. We see the divine bond. We see family defined by God's Spirit within us!

Just like Jesus, we are children of God. We are related. Our spiritual family means we are joint heirs with Christ to the promise of eternal life.

If you've ever felt alone or lonely. If you've ever struggled with tensions at home. If you've ever wanted the deep love among family that you imagined was possible, turn to God as Jesus did. Call on him because he is our Father. Listen for the quiet voice of his Spirit as he reassures you that you are loved and protected and blessed, even in the most difficult of life's circumstances. And when you least understand why bad things happen, offer up your suffering with the suffering of Jesus on his cross, as a prayer for others who have felt so much pain, anger, and fear that they turn away from the greatest of family gifts.


Today, I will listen for the whisper of the Holy Spirit who leads me as a child of God.


Saint Peter of Alcantara, sixteenth-century Church reformer whose reform began with yourself, pray for us.

October 25, 2015 - Sunday

Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.”
Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way. (Mark 10:51-52 NABRE)

Bartimaeus, the blind man in the story, was physically unable to see. He knew about the miraculous healings Jesus of Nazareth had performed, and so when he heard that Jesus was passing by, he called out to him for help.

Matthew recounts Mark's story, but with two blind men. (Matthew 20:29-34) The cure of the blind men is probably symbolic of what will happen to the disciples, now blind to the meaning of Jesus’ passion and to the necessity of their sharing his suffering. As the men are given sight, so, after the resurrection, will the disciples come to see that to which they are now blind.*

We are all blind in some way to Jesus, and so we can learn from the blind Bartimaeus who called out to Jesus saying, "Master, I want to see." May we have faith enough to ask for sight and courage enough to follow Jesus once we have our sight.


Today, I will celebrate my sight as well as the great gift of faith which I have been given.


Saint Antônio de Sant’Anna Galvão, whose life was a living sign of God's steadfast love, pray for us.

October 24, 2015 - Saturday

And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. [So] cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’
He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9 NABRE)

God is a patient gardener, always cultivating the ground around us. And we are like fig trees who need tending, but who may in time produce good fruit. The parable of the barren fig tree presents a story about the continuing patience of God with those who have not yet given evidence of their repentance.*

We are called to recognize our own need for God's grace and mercy. Until we do, God waits patiently for us. He is not inactive however. He is continually creating opportunities for us to know him by others around us. Let us choose to grow in God's divine garden and yield the fruit we were meant to produce.


Today, I will pray for patience, remembering how patient God is with me.


Saint Anthony Claret, nineteenth-century missionary, religious founder, social reformer, queen’s chaplain, writer and publisher, archbishop and refugee, known as the "spiritual father of Cuba," pray for us.

October 23 2015 - Friday

At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. (Matthew 11:25 NABRE)

This saying introduces a joyous note into this section of Matthew's gospel. The childlike have accepted Jesus’ preaching and the significance of his mighty deeds. Acceptance depends upon the Father’s revelation, which is granted to those who are open to receive it and refused to the arrogant.*

Jesus, my teacher, thank you for the many ways you teach me. I am grateful for your words that continue to startle and amaze me--fresh and new, as though each reading of them is my first. May the challenge to be childlike draw me in so that I will trust and follow you even in my most difficult moments. Lord God, thank you for not hiding from me the truth of Jesus' words and actions. I am open to receiving it, and I consider openness the greater gift. May all who know even a little about you leave aside arrogance and the trust they have placed in themselves, so that they may be granted acceptance of the truth of Jesus and the salvation it promises.

Today, I will seek to be childlike, accepting Jesus' preaching and the significance of his deeds.


Saint John of Capistrano, patron of judges, pray for us.

October 22, 2015 - Thursday

Blessed is the man who does not walk
in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the way of sinners,
nor sit in company with scoffers.
Rather, the law of the LORD is his joy;
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted near streams of water,
that yields its fruit in season;
Its leaves never wither;
whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3 NABRE)

Where do we find our joy? I'm not talking about short-lived pleasure that accompanies amusement. I am referring to joy that transcends all of life and which is rooted in hope.

The Psalmist reminds us that joy comes from meditating on God's Word day and night. (I know, not exactly a party, but hang in there with this.)

He emphasizes the importance of meditating constantly on God's Word by explaining how to clear our calendars in order to have the time for God: We should stop taking advice from others who would do us harm, we should stop imitating others who primarily show us how to act wrongly, and we should stop seeking encouragement from those who do not respect our faith in the Lord.

And once we clear our schedules, we are able to invite God into each little moment of the day. We are able to share with him our triumphs and our failures right when they happen! In our confident and constant hope made possible by Jesus, we begin to grow in a relationship with God which inevitably turns us back toward others. And it is in this process of having our new hearts placed back with others that we begin to live as joyful people.

And so, we have access to joy even in discomfort and a fruitful life even in suffering!

We pray for the conversion of those who would do us harm, who embrace bad behavior, and who resist faith in God. We pray that the Lord will bless them as he did Saint Paul, showing them there is no sin bigger than God's mercy. May the Lord show them their own path to his peace and joy.


Today, I will speak with joy to all those who cross my path.


Saint John Paul II, who urged us to “Open wide the doors to Christ,” pray for us.

October 21, 2015 - Wednesday

Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come. (Luke 12:39-40 NABRE)

Jesus talks to us in the gospel of Luke about the time we are living in right now. Though he speaks in parables, he is talking about the time between his ascension to the Father, which has already happened, and his return, which has not yet happened. He is speaking to each one of us in this very moment!

Jesus reminds us that he will be returning and that we should be living as if it could happen today. He tells us to be prepared, to be vigilant, and to be faithful servants as we wait.

The implications of this are many. They are played out in the encounters and situations we face throughout our days. But really, Jesus is encouraging us to live in such as way that gives honor to God and does not succumb to weaknesses of the flesh.

As Saint Paul tells us, "Therefore, sin must not reign over your mortal bodies so that you obey their desires." (Romans 6:12) Christians have been released from the grip of sin, but sin endeavors to reclaim its victims.*


Today, I will seek to constantly remember that divine grace has claimed me and identified me as someone who is alive for God's interests.*


Saint Hilarion, celebrated as the founder of monasticism in Palestine, pray for us.

October 20, 2015 - Tuesday

Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36 NABRE)

An eternal perspective is helpful as we live each moment of this life. Jesus reminds us to keep a close watch for his return. He tells us to live as if he were about to arrive!

I like to picture how busy we get at my house in the last few hours before party guests arrive, cooking and cleaning, decorating and attending to final details! And then, driving down our street, we see the guests approaching. At this point, nothing else we may have meant to do will be done. It is too late. It is the appointed time.

And so, keep watch and pray, live as if Jesus were about to arrive at your house! And when you pray, ask God for the strength to endure the difficulties of each day as you yourself prepare to welcome back our guest, our living redeemer, our Lord.


Today, I will pray for strength of spirit, I will live in joyful hope, and I will watch and pray for Jesus' return.


Saint Paul of the Cross, whose devotion to Christ's passion nurtured compassion and supported a preaching ministry that touched the hearts of many listeners, pray for us.

October 19, 2015 - Monday

Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” (Luke 12:15 NABRE)

Jesus' words here do not say we should avoid having possessions, nor does he say that wealth is bad. Look at how he focuses on our hearts, our attitudes. He tells us to guard against greed. Now that is a challenge!

Lord Jesus, thank you for teaching me to turn my heart to you and not to money--I seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. I do not worry about all these things around me, these possessions. I am confident in your desire and ability to provide me with all I need so that I might do my small part in building your kingdom here on Earth. Jesus, keep me mindful of your great love and mercy, so that I might share the same with others.


Today, I will look closely at my own mindset regarding my possessions, seeking to put aside my greed.


Saint Isaac Jogues, Jean de Brébeuf and Companions, eight Jesuit martyrs of North America who were canonized in 1930, pray for us.

October 18, 2015 - Sunday

Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:43b-45 NABRE)

Ambition is one of those things we struggle with as Christians in western society. Our core societal beliefs, it seems, are grounded in the so-called virtues of success and getting ahead.

Jesus confronts that mindset in today's passage with a counter-intuitive perspective for the Apostles as well as for us. In the simplest terms, Jesus calls us to be servants to others. He tells us that greatness and the opportunity to be first is bestowed on the person who willingly becomes a slave to others.

And Jesus lived this philosophy as an example for us. He served others. He even served us by suffering and dying on our behalf.

When we find ourselves wanting to ask the Lord to raise us up to a place of honor above others, we should hear these words of Jesus ringing in our hearts. Instead, let us ask for the vision to see how Jesus is asking us to serve others in our days.


Today, I will gratefully welcome each opportunity to serve.


Saint Luke, writer of the third Gospel and Acts of the Apostles, pray for us.

October 17, 2015 - Saturday

As it is written, “I have made you father of many nations.” [Abraham] is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist.
He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “Thus shall your descendants be.” (Romans 4:17-18 NABRE)

Nothing is impossible with God. Abraham was an old man, yet he became father to many nations, indeed a spiritual father to us all, because he believed.

Saint Paul, in his letter to the Romans, which is part of God's Word, recognizes it was this faith of Abraham, more than anything else, which pleased God.

And so we have these role models, these older brothers, these spiritual parents, these people we name as saints. They show us how to live in such a way that God is first. They are not blind fools who believe in a man-made deity, who believe in a fairy tale, or who seek imaginary comfort in sadness. Not at all! They experienced God first-hand! They are changed by their experience and cannot deny what they know and remember. They are witnesses throughout time and in all sorts of different circumstances.

We have Abraham. We have Peter and Paul. We have Ignatius of Antioch. We have John Paul II. And this Sunday, we will add the first married couple to be canonized together, the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux (October 1), Louis Martin (1823-1894) and Marie Zelie Guerin Martin (1831-1877). We have so many role models, so many older sisters and brothers to look up to. And they all point us to the truth which they knew first by faith and then by experience.

And we are today's saints! We confess our faith. We experience God in our days. We struggle in peace. We share our stories. We endure in joy. We change hearts by example. We pray with confidence. We love by deciding.


Today, I will be a saint, a role model, confessing my faith and sharing my experience of God with others. I ask in prayer that you join me!


Saint Ignatius of Antioch, first century bishop who wrote seven letters (including a letter to the Romans) on his way to Rome to face his martyrdom in 107 AD, pray for us.

October 16, 2015 - Friday

Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7 NABRE)

In today's passage, Jesus tells a crowd not to fear the inevitable persecutions of men that will come when they acknowledge what they know about Jesus. Jesus is exhorting the crowd to be courageous even when under pressure from others. He tells them God will protect them. Jesus also warns them to fear the persecution of God if they deny what they know about Jesus.

Jesus concludes his exhortation with these words, "I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God. (Luke 12:9-10)


Today, I will acknowledge Jesus as God's son who is worthy of all my praise.


Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, who said, "I need nothing but God, and to lose myself in the heart of Jesus," pray for us.

October 15, 2015 - Thursday

If you, LORD, keep account of sins,
Lord, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness
and so you are revered. (Psalm 130:3-4 NABRE)

At some point during the Last Supper, Jesus said to [Thomas], “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through [faith in] me." (John 14:6)

Saint Paul teaches that, "all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God." But, he continues, all of us, "are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24)

Put a little more simply, Jesus repaired mankind's broken relationship with God for all time. Because he did what he did, we can all experience an eternal relationship with God. He became the means by which God expressed his forgiveness to all who seek him in faith.


Today, I will revere God because of his mercy and I will be confident that the experience of God’s mercy leads me to a greater sense of him.* 


Saint Teresa of Avila, virgin, Doctor of the Church, and patron of those who suffer with headaches, pray for us.

October 14, 2015 - Wednesday

My soul rests in God alone,
from whom comes my salvation.
God alone is my rock and salvation,
my fortress; I shall never fall. (Psalm 62:2-3 NABRE)

What a wonderful song to sing! It resonates in my heart. I need rest, protection, and the hope of salvation. God alone provides these.

To turn entirely to God for rest is something I can do! It means I recognize the Lord as the one who can actually meet my deep need for real rest.

To turn to God for protection against all sorts of threats gives me strength to endure circumstances I could never otherwise handle.

To trust in God and his promise of salvation is a constant reminder of why it is important and valuable to endure, to believe, and to have faith.


Today, I will praise the Lord for his faithfulness toward me, providing rest, protection, and hope.


Saint Callistus I, the first pope (except for Peter) to be commemorated as a martyr in the earliest martyrology of the Church, pray for us.

October 13, 2015 - Tuesday

They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and revered and worshiped the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen (Romans 1:25 NABRE)

When Paul wrote these words to the believers in Rome, he was describing our inclination to resist God, to push him aside in favor of our own desires, preferences, and interests. At some point, the faithful person should experience a moment in which he or she consciously chooses right over wrong. Clearly, at other times, we choose wrong over right; yet even if that becomes our routine, even if it evolves into our lifestyle, God remains.

God is faithful and will never say no to an honest and humble heart who turns back to him asking for his help and mercy. Like any loving parent, he waits for that moment, his focus is on that moment, his joy lives most completely in that moment. Let us remember who we are, created, and who God is, creator. Let us turn to the Lord, turn back to him if necessary, and seek closeness with him.


Today, I will look at my own interests, to see better those areas of my life that have become idols which lead me to revere the creature rather than the creator.


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

October 12, 2015 - Monday

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah,
as on the day of Massah in the desert. (Psalm 95:7C-8 NABRE)

Meribah is a place where the Israelites quarreled with God. Massah is the place where they put God to the trial.*

Why, even when we see the works of the Lord, do we test God, as though one more sign, one more special favor would prove to us that God is real, that our faith is warranted, that Jesus really did open a door for us back into relationship with the Father?

I pray today for anyone who resists the inclination to believe. I pray for the hurt they have known. I pray for healing in their hearts. I pray for honesty and conversion so that all of God's creation will praise him, more than merely acknowledging him at the appointed time.


Today, I will pray for all people of good will, especially those who have lost faith along the way, that they will find a path back through pain and fear and anger and pride and self-determination and cynicism to relationship with the one true God.


Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, who worked in many different places but always with the zeal to help people know God’s saving love and compassion, pray for us.

October 11, 2015 - Sunday

Lord, you have been our refuge
through all generations.
Before the mountains were born,
the earth and the world brought forth,
from eternity to eternity you are God. (Psalm 90 1b:2 NABRE)

Today's passage opens Psalm 90 which is entitled A prayer of Moses, the man of God. And so we see that Moses, the ancient man whom God chose to meet on Sinai, understood God's eternal nature as much as any man might.

Eternal God, you remain the refuge of all who are faithful even these many generations later. What seems like such a long time to us, is as the Psalmist says merely a day gone by. You were before the mountains were born, Lord. You were before this world was brought forth. You were, as we grasp for understanding, from eternity. And you will be to eternity God, creator of all that is.


Today, I will praise the greatness of God, who created and sustains all.


Saint John XXIII, who cooperated with God’s grace throughout your life, believing that the job at hand was worthy of your best efforts, pray for us.

October 10, 2015 - Saturday

He replied, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” (Luke 11:28 NABRE)

These words of Jesus remind me of the difficulty of hearing God's word and of the profound challenges to observing it. Even for someone like myself who wants to carve out a little time each day to spend reading and meditating on God's Word, it can be close to impossible. Surrounded by the time pressures of everyday life, the distractions of responsibilities, and the sensory overload of our culture, when do we make the time?!

Each of us is different, and praying amid the chaos is not a good starting place for most people. For me, waking up just a little earlier than I "need to" gives me a quiet time to spend with the Lord. When do you make your most important time of the day?

Lord Jesus, you told us that we are blessed when we hear the word of God and observe it. Thank you for so many ways to access you truth in this world that resists you so desperately. Thank you for the time each day that I get to spend with you. And thank you for the many chances each day that I get to express your truth into my world.


Today, I will celebrate my morning time with the Lord.


Saint Francis Borgia, often regarded as the second founder of the Jesuits, pray for us.

October 9, 2015 - Friday

I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart;
I will declare all your wondrous deeds.
I will delight and rejoice in you;
I will sing hymns to your name, Most High. (Psalm 9:2-3 NABRE)

Every day, even for a few minutes, it is important and good to remember how great the Lord is and to express that profound, deep, and healing joy which comes only from him.

Praise is the expression of our heart's connection to the Lord. And caught up in praise, we join with David in declaring in song and story, God's wondrous deeds. This joy that we foster and which feeds our praise, brings us delight and is sufficient cause for rejoicing. Sometimes, it even brings brings us to spontaneous singing! We are so fortunate when we express this great positive energy out into the world. And others who hear us have been known to catch our joy and turn to the Lord seeking to share in it.


Today, I will praise the Lord with unrestrained joy!


Saint Denis, third-century martyr and patron of France, pray for us.

October 8, 2015 - Thursday

Then those who fear the LORD spoke with one another,
and the LORD listened attentively;
A record book was written before him
of those who fear the LORD and esteem his name.
They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts,
my own special possession, on the day when I take action.
And I will have compassion on them,
as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.
Then you will again distinguish
between the just and the wicked,
Between the person who serves God,
and the one who does not. (Malachi 3:16-18 NABRE)

I want the Lord to listen attentively to me. I want the Lord to consider me his own special possession. I will certainly need his compassion on the day of my own judgment.

And so, I will fear the Lord. I will esteem his name. I will be just toward others. I will serve God.

These are the sorts of attitudes and reforms I need to make in order to serve and please the Lord.


Today, I will meditate on these words of Malachi, to see where I can step forward a bit more in faith and trust in God, and also to see where I can change my heart and my actions.


Saint John Leonardi, whose life reminds us that each of us has a unique mission to fulfill in God's plan for the world, pray for us.

October 7, 2015 - Wednesday

Be gracious to me, Lord;
to you I call all the day. (Psalm 86:3 NABRE)

Mercy. Pity. Favor. These are some other translations for "gracious" in this passage. One thing is clear, as one commentator says, "The best self-preservation is to commit ourselves to God's keeping."* And so, we are wise to call out to God in prayer at all times, confident that he hears and answers us.

Lord God, you are concerned about all of your creation, and I am grateful for the experience of my life. Thank you for the awareness of your overwhelming desire to have a relationship with me. Thank you for the humbling reality that you listen for me to call on you. I know you answer my pleas. I know you reach back in love each time I reach to you in faith. Thank you, Jesus. Praise you my Lord.


Today, I will call out to the Lord, asking for his mercy and confident that he will hear and answer me.


Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.

The Creation of Adam*

October 6, 2015 - Tuesday

If you, LORD, keep account of sins,
Lord, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness
and so you are revered. (Psalm 130:3-4 NABRE)

It is very difficult to think of myself as someone who needs God's forgiveness. I try to live a good life, to treat others well, and to share what I have with those less fortunate. And yet, I know the Lord could track my offenses, listing them in the register of my account, until the day I close it out, at which time he could evaluate my final balance. As uncomfortable as it makes me, I know I could never, by my own effort, generate a positive balance for myself.

But our God is a forgiving God! And when he forgives me, I gain first-hand a experience of his love. God wants a relationship with me so desperately, he is willing to forgive me time and time again. And Our Father calls me to the freedom that comes when I forgive others who, like me, do not deserve it and cannot earn it.


Today, I will forgive those who have harmed me in the past, seeking to reflect this most beautiful quality of God's love.


Saint Bruno, given to God through constant prayer and ready penance, pray for us.

October 5, 2015 - Monday

I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 NABRE)

While at the Last Supper with his disciples, Jesus doesn't so much give them a new commandment, as he puts himself on par with Yahweh.*

Such an audacious claim becomes clearer when we understand that the command, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." comes from the book of Leviticus (19:18) and it is to this verse Jesus refers.

While certainly confusing and probably uncomfortable for his disciples to hear in the time before his resurrection, to us it is a firm reminder that Jesus is Lord.


Today, I will celebrate Jesus' Lordship by opening the door of my heart just a bit wider to others.


Saint Faustina, who taught us so much about and was so dedicated to Divine Mercy, pray for us.

October 4, 2015 - Sunday

When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” (Mark 10:14-15 NABRE)

What is it about a newborn child that softens the heart? Perhaps it is because they are just so small. We see fingers and toes so perfectly formed yet tiny, almost like living replicas. We see small faces with eyes that look back at us and we wonder how that spark of life could possibly be! We hear them cry in hunger with small sound that is nonetheless perfect communication.

Though we don't remember it for ourselves, except by moments captured in photographs, each of us was once that newborn who affected someone else so deeply, who moved someone so completely that we are still here today because we were cared for. Each one of us was wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)

In today's passage, Jesus calls us to be childlike. He calls us to remember those qualities of a child that we need to relearn. He teaches us the importance of being like children in our acceptance of God's kingdom.

And so, let us seek to regain the trust we had as children and let us depend on God for all our needs as we once depended on our parents. Let us trust that God is in control, that his kingdom belongs, in part, to each of us. And let us depend on his grace to provide for us in this life and the next.


Today, I will seek to be childlike, accepting God's kingdom in total trust and depending entirely on his grace as I live out my role in it.


Saint Francis of Assisi, patron of animals, ecology, Italy, and merchants, pray for us.

October 3, 2015 - Saturday

Consider your own calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,
and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something,
so that no human being might boast before God. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NABRE)

Paul has this to tell us: Human wisdom (what I think of as cleverness), power, noble birth, strength, fame: None of these matters to God. And so we ought to ask: Why do they matter to us?

Rather, so no one has the right to boast before God, look who Jesus calls "brothers" and to whom God reveals himself: the simple, the weak, the poor and common, the foolish, the lowly and despised, those who count for nothing. And so we ought to consider: Why do we spurn these brothers of Jesus?

The gospel of Luke tells us that: At that very moment [Jesus] rejoiced [in] the holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. (Luke 10:21)


Today, I will seek to be a better brother to Jesus rather than to pursue the empty aims of this world.


Saint Theodora Guérin, whose life, Pope Saint John Paul II said in 2006, "is a testimony that everything is possible with God and for God," pray for us.

October 2, 2015 - Friday

For we did not listen to the voice of the LORD, our God, in all the words of the prophets he sent us,
but each of us has followed the inclinations of our wicked hearts, served other gods, and done evil in the sight of the LORD, our God. (Baruch 1:21-22 NABRE)

During their exile from the destroyed Jerusalem to Babylon, a punishment which they brought upon themselves by disregarding God, the people of Judah including king Jekoniah, after hearing these words read to them by the prophet Baruch from a scroll he had written, immediately recognized, regretted, and sought to make amends for their sins against God. They owned it!

When I first read the words of their confession of guilt, I was struck by my own tendency to ignore God's expectations for my life. I am, however, grateful for the example of these exiles. I can utter their words as my own prayer of repentance. Like them, I can take responsibility for the times I disregarded God.

Lord, I did not listen to your voice in all the words of the prophets you sent me. Even now, don't I find myself pushing against the recent words of Pope Francis that make me most uncomfortable--the words that threaten to include me with those he challenged to change? Of course I need to change, but I'd rather think he was talking to someone else! Holy Spirit, enlighten my mind and stir my heart to a clear and honest view of my own shortcomings. Lord God, I have followed the inclinations of my own wicked heart, served other gods, and done evil in your sight. I ask for your mercy. I ask for your forgiveness. I ask that you show me ways to be merciful and forgiving toward others, especially those against whom I am most angry.


Today, on this Feast of the Guardian Angels, I will offer a prayer of repentance, falling back on God's who calls to me, "...return to me with your whole heart...." (Joel 2:12)


Saint Maria Goretti, 20th-century Italian martyr, pray for us.

October 1, 2015 - Thursday

After this the Lord appointed seventy [-two] others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.
He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. (Luke 10:1-2 NABRE)

In today's passage, Jesus is preparing witnesses to himself and his ministry. These witnesses include not only the Twelve but also the seventy-two who may represent the Christian mission in Luke’s own day.* Remember, Luke's gospel was written as the first part of a two-volume work including the Acts of the Apostles about fifty or sixty years after Jesus' death on the cross. The author is believed to have been a second generation Christian.*

The theme of sending out his followers to prepare the way for his arrival is a preview of our own call to go out and prepare others for Jesus' return.


Today, I will be a laborer for Jesus and go out into the field to help spread the word to all who hear.


Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church, patron of florists, missionaries, and pilots, pray for us.

September 30, 2015 - Wednesday

More than that, I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having any righteousness of my own based on the law but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God, depending on faith. (Philippians 3:8-9 NABRE)

This mindset is not very modern! Writing to the congregation at Philippi about faith in God, Paul tells us he sought a relationship with Jesus above all else. Nothing this world offers was more important to him.

Paul considers knowing Jesus to be the supreme good. He considered Jesus to be the long-promised Christ who would save his people. Based on his education and training, then on his conversion experience, he knew Jesus to be the Lord of lords. Paul wanted only to, as he says, gain Christ. He wanted to be found in him. He sought a relationship with Jesus. And finally, he claims that any goodness he may have in God's eyes is because of his faith in Jesus.

To underscore his point, Paul tells us that not only did he accept losing everything, he considered everything to be rubbish! Nothing, even the good things we do on our own, he tells us, satisfies God unless we first have faith.


Today, I will ask the Holy Spirit to fill me with an even deeper faith and the desire for a renewed relationship with the Lord.


Saint Jerome, priest, Doctor of the Church, and patron of librarians, pray for us.

September 29, 2015 - Tuesday

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart;
in the presence of the angels to you I sing.
I bow low toward your holy temple;
I praise your name for your mercy and faithfulness.
For you have exalted over all
your name and your promise.
On the day I cried out, you answered;
you strengthened my spirit. (Psalm 138:1-3 NABRE)

David brings forward a reminder that praise is possible in different ways. To give full honor and glory to God, we can thank him in our hearts, bow down before him, and speak words of praise. So, our thoughts, words, and actions are all available to us as means to publicly honor God with joy-filled and humble trust.

Praise God! Praise him for his mercy and faithfulness to us. Praise him for creation. Praise him because he answers our cries. Praise him because his name is above all.


Today, I will thank the Lord for the many times he has strengthened my spirit.


Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, archangels who bring God's protection, communication and guidance in ways which defy description, pray for us.

September 28, 2015 - Monday

For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45 NABRE)

Imagine it. God's son humbled himself to serve those of his creation who were in need. And in one way or another, we are all in need of his help.

Yesterday, Pope Francis visited the imprisoned so let's pray for justice and for true interior freedom for all people. Here is a prayer from the Roman Missal for those held in captivity:*

O God, whose Son humbled himself
and took the form of a slave
to redeem the human race from being captive to sin,
grant to your servants held in confinement
that they may obtain the freedom you destine to all,
for we are your sons and daughters.
Through Christ our Lord.


Today, I will pray for my brothers and sisters held in confinement and longing for freedom.


Saint Wenceslaus, who was able to incarnate your Christianity in a world filled with political unrest, pray for us.

September 27, 2015 - Sunday

Who can detect trespasses?
Cleanse me from my inadvertent sins.
Also from arrogant ones restrain your servant;
let them never control me.
Then shall I be blameless,
innocent of grave sin.
Let the words of my mouth be acceptable,
the thoughts of my heart before you,
LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:13-15 NABRE)

It is only the one who is God who can do these things for us. We have, in today's verse, a beautiful example of humility and confidence in God.

Recently, I read a vitriolic and angry comment beneath a blog in which the commenter mentioned he did not believe in sin. While I do not recall the source and cannot be certain of the real substance behind it, the statement itself reflected such a current of popular belief and it captured well such a subtle deception to which we all fall prey, that it wants consideration in light of today's passage from Psalm 19.

The Catechism teaches us sin is naturally understood by all people regardless of creed. In part, sin is recognized as "an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as 'an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law.'” (Paragraph 1849)

Lord, please guide my conscience away from ignorance and wrong judgment. I must follow my conscience, so lead me to an ever-increasing understanding of what is good and right. When I face moral choices, show me the path of right judgment which is in harmony with reason as well as your will. Remind me, in these times, that the end cannot justify evil means. Keep me mindful of the Golden Rule. Lord Jesus, protect those I love from the blindness caused by sin so that they too may gain in wisdom and understanding. 

Today, I will pray for a clean heart.


Saint Vincent de Paul, patron of charitable societies, pray for us.

September 26, 2015 - Saturday

He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began,
but now made manifest through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
for which I was appointed preacher and apostle and teacher. (2 Timothy 1:9-11 NABRE)

Among other statements, Saint Paul teaches us here in stark terms that Jesus brought immortality to light by his life. In his actions and words, and finally by his death and resurrection, Jesus showed us that eternal life was truly available to each of us. And Paul reminds us too that we are called to a holy life fashioned according to God's design.

Lord, I accept your free gift of grace and seek to live according to your will.

*As Pope Francis speaks about immigration, religious freedom, and other matters to a large gathering at Independence Mall in Philadelphia, please join him in prayer. Here is a prayer for refugees and exiles from the Roman Missal:

O Lord, to whom no one is a strangerand from whose help no one is ever distant,look with compassion on refugees and exiles,on segregated persons and on lost children;restore them, we pray, to a homeland,and give us a kind heart for the needy and for strangers.Through Christ our Lord.

Today, I will remember my own refugee status and pray for others away from their true homes.


Saints Cosmas and Damian, who suffered martyrdom in Syria during the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian about the year 303, pray for us.