March 31, 2016 - Thursday

He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”
Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.
And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:44-48 NABRE)

The risen Jesus. The man who had died and then came back to life, overcoming death, joined his friends. They became witnesses to his resurrection. The group of them spoke with him, touched him, even ate with him. And he explained to them in the clearest terms how his experiences fulfilled what the prophets had written.


Today, I will remember that Jesus calls me to repentance, and he does so with the authority of God's own Son, the Messiah promised to God's people. And I remember that he is the one who fulfilled all prophecy and overcame death--with witnesses--so that you and I could be reconciled to God and share in his inheritance eternally. And I will put aside my own pride, laziness and fear which keep me from growing closer to the heart of Jesus.


Saint Benjamin, martyr and deacon, pray for us.

March 30, 2016 - Wednesday

But they urged him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.
With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.
Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:29-32 NABRE)

Not long after the tomb was discovered to be empty, two of Jesus' followers encountered him as they walked along the road to Emmaus, a town several miles outside of Jerusalem. They did not recognize Jesus at first, but during the evening meal, their eyes were opened so they were able to recognize him.

It can be helpful to remember that Jesus walks with us even when we don't recognize him. And it's not uncommon for us to have our eyes open to his presence during difficult times. May we see him by the burning in our hearts, by seeing him in others, and by regular prayer and reading of scripture.


Today, I will look to see Jesus in the face of each person I encounter.


Saint John Climacus, learned abbot, spiritual director, and sixth-century monk of Mount Sinai, pray for us.

March 29, 2016 - Tuesday

Peter [said] to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit.
For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39 NABRE)

Repentance is a positive concept, a change of mind and heart toward God reflected in the actual goodness of one’s life. It is in accord with the apostolic teaching derived from Jesus (Acts 2:42) and ultimately recorded in the four gospels.*

Luke presents baptism in Acts as the expected response to the apostolic preaching about Jesus and associates it with the conferring of the Spirit (Acts 1:5; 10:44–48; 11:16).*

Peter called people to repent and be baptized. He echos Jesus' first public message which is to repent. When we change our minds and hearts toward God not only is there a visible change in the way we live our lives, we invite the Spirit into our lives. And it is this Holy Spirit who is one with the Father and the Son who brings us power and wisdom even in today's world.


Today, I will seek to continually change my mind and heart, inclining them more and more toward God, seeking to act on the change, and to welcome the Spirit as my constant companion.


Saint Ludovico of Casoria, whose personal suffering moved you toward compassion for others, pray for us.

March 28, 2016 - Monday

Then [Mary Magdalene and the other Mary] went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples.
And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:8-11 NABRE)

The risen Jesus appeared first to these two women who had come to see the tomb. For days now, in their grief, his friends must have felt hopeless, defeated, and afraid. Despite that, in their desperate loss, they ventured to the tomb just as we would today.

During the past few days, if you've been imagining yourself, along with me, sitting at the foot of the cross, then imagine with me now what it was like for these women! Perhaps it all made no sense, or perhaps, as incredible as it was, everything began to make a little sense to them in that moment.


Today, I will live each moment as intently as I can, aware that God is in this moment with me.


Saint Catharine of Bologna, patron of artists and who wrote a book on the seven spiritual weapons to be used against temptation, pray for us.

March 27, 2016 - Sunday

We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and (in) Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree.
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 10:39-43 NABRE)

Because he rose and they were his witnesses, we still remember today! And each day, we are a day closer to his return!


Today, on this Easter Sunday, I will remember that He is risen!


Lazarus, friend of Jesus who reminds to be certain that Jesus waits to raise us too, pray for us.

March 26, 2016 - Saturday

We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.
As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God.
Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as [being] dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:9-11 NABRE)

The day after. On that Friday, Jesus died on the cross for the sins I commit. He paid the price, the ransom, for my sins so that I might have a restored relationship with God, and a path to eternal life. Thank you Jesus. Today, I praise you, and I wait, as your friends did, for your resurrection.


Today, on this Holy Saturday, I will recall my relationship to Jesus who died so that sin and death would not have power over me.


Blessed Didacus Joseph of Cadiz, whose loving heart, listening ear and wealth of compassion reflected your close relationship with God, pray for us.

March 25, 2016 - Friday

He was spurned and avoided by men,
a man of suffering, knowing pain,
Like one from whom you turn your face,
spurned, and we held him in no esteem.
Yet it was our pain that he bore,
our sufferings he endured.
We thought of him as stricken,
struck down by God and afflicted,
But he was pierced for our sins,
crushed for our iniquity.
He bore the punishment that makes us whole,
by his wounds we were healed.
We had all gone astray like sheep,
all following our own way;
But the LORD laid upon him
the guilt of us all. (Isaiah 53:3-6 NABRE)

Written about 700 years B.C., these prophetic words have been understood to refer to Jesus. As we sit at the foot of the cross in meditation today, these words give us a glimpse of the enormity of his sacrifice. They should inspire us to gratitude and spur us to action on behalf of others in need.


Today, on this Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord, I will venerate the Cross at my church during the Hour of Great Mercy.


Saint Alfwold, whose austere way of life set a Christian example for local royalty in Winchester England, pray for us.

March 24, 2016 - 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)

At his final meal with his friends, knowing his own death was imminent, of all the things he could do as one of the final lessons he taught them, Jesus chose to wash their feet. Jesus put a towel around his waist and with a basin of water washed the dirty feet of his friends, lowering himself from his rightful place as Lord of lords to that of a humble servant.

Jesus explains that he did this as a model for us to follow. He tells us to do the same for others.


Today, on this Holy Thursday, I will look for a concrete way to imitate Jesus in an act of service to someone in need.


Saint Catherine of Genoa, whose love of God was renewed in you by the Scriptures and the sacraments, pray for us.

March 23, 2016 - Wednesday

Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. (Matthew 26:14-16 NABRE)

The motive of avarice is introduced by Judas’s question about the price for betrayal, which is absent in the Marcan source.* (Mark 14:10–11) Much is made of Judas' betrayal, and rightly so. Regardless of his expectation of what the ultimate outcome might or might not be, he betrayed his friend to certain suffering for money.

I remain focused on my own culpability as we draw to the end of this season of Lent.

In what ways do I expose my faith in Jesus to various dangers brought on by the enemy? Do I put my faith in jeopardy when I quietly allow the culture to have my full attention? Do I betray Jesus when I pursue profit at the expense of human needs? Do I neglect what matters most when I remain silent in the face of verbal challenges?

How often do I betray Jesus for money or comfort or out of timidity or weakness? How often this week? How many times today?

Today, I will ask the Holy Spirit for strength and wisdom during times of temptation and challenge.


Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, who, together with Rose of Lima is the first known saint of the New World, served the Lord in Peru, South America, for 26 years, pray for us.

March 22, 2016 - Tuesday

When he had said this, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” (John 13:21 NABRE)

The Gospel of John records much of the discourse of The Last Supper. In John 13, Jesus predicts Judas' betrayal of him. At the time, the disciples did not know what Jesus meant. They clearly had no idea that Judas meant to turn him over to the authorities who would then have him crucified.

Judas has become infamous for being the ultimate betrayer of Christ. But, how often do we betray Jesus? I wonder if I also betray him in small ways.  Am I like Peter, who denied that he knew Jesus? In what ways do I personally deny knowing Jesus? In what ways, do I neglect to stand strong in defense of his name when confronted by the enemy? Do I recognize the enemy?


Today, I will look inward to see if I betray Jesus by my actions and omissions, and I will seek to recognize the enemy of my soul whenever I encounter him.


Saint Nicholas Owen, one of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales, who made a habit of seeking support in prayer and the Eucharist for your work, pray for us.

March 21, 2016 - Monday

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1 NABRE)

In today's passage, King David asserts boundless hope that God will bring rescue.* He recognizes that the Lord is his source of protection and understanding, and because of these things, he doesn't need to fear anything.

Lord, you are my source of light and salvation as you were to King David. When I place my trust in you, I fear nothing. Falling back on my belief in you, I remember you are my refuge. And your Spirit leads my in understanding and wisdom. With your guidance, I am able to act in ways which please you, confident, no matter what others think. Thank you.


Today, I will look to the Holy Spirit as a source of light and guidance.


Blessed John of Parma, who in your later years worked to heal a schism in the Church, pray for us.

March 20, 2016 - Sunday

He humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name. (Philippians 2:8-9 NABRE)

When Jesus prayed at the Mount of Olives, he "prayed, saying, 'Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.'” (Luke 22:42) To humble himself completely as he did, especially when considering his true nature, set an example that has lived on through millennia. I am still learning how full of pride I am, and how difficult it is for me to live even a small measure of Christ's humility. And yet, I continue to struggle against my inclination to think too highly of myself.


Today, on this Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, I will try to be obedient to the Father's will, as Jesus was.


Saint Salvator of Horta, known to heal the sick with the Sign of the Cross, pray for us.

March 19, 2016 - Saturday

It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith.
For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us,
as it is written, “I have made you father of many nations.” He 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,l that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “Thus shall your descendants be.” (Romans 4:13, 16-18 NABRE)

Abraham, our father in faith, totally believed God's promise to him despite how absurd it must have seemed to him--he and his wife were an elderly couple with no children. And it is entirely because of his unshakable faith that God made him such a promise. Abraham is a role model for us.

God's promise extends to us when we believe in him regardless of our temporal circumstances. We have the promise of salvation, the promise of eternal life because we believe in "the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead." (Romans 4:24b)


Today, on this Solemnity of Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I will look beyond my own circumstances and see our family of faith, and remember our inheritance.


Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary, pray for us.

March 18, 2016 - Friday

In my distress I called out: LORD!
I cried out to my God.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry to him reached his ears. (Psalm 18:7 NABRE)

Who do you call out for when you are at your wits end? Is there someone you reach for when stress overwhelms you? Have you got a shoulder ready for you when you need to cry?

The Lord always hears your cries. He cares personally about you! When you need someone to hear you out, call to him first. If you have no one else for support, turn to him. And if you are fortunate enough to have someone close to you, consider the comfort they offer may be God's way of connecting with you. See him in the healing and easing of your distress, by whatever means that happens.


Today, I will be confident that the Lord hears me when I most need him.


Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, whose life is a monument to honesty and courage, pray for us.

March 17, 2016 - Thursday

Seek out the LORD and his might;
constantly seek his face.
Recall the wondrous deeds he has done,
his wonders and words of judgment. (Psalm 105:4-5 NABRE)

Where do you see the face of God? When you look around at the ordinary, do you recognize his wonders? See him in nature and in other people. Notice him in what appears simple. Identify him in what appears complex. In each moment of this day, seek him. Over and over again. Marvel at his constant presence. Be grateful for his constant availability to you.


Today, I will seek the Lord's might and his face during the ordinary moments of the day.


Saint Patrick, patron of Ireland, engineers, and Nigeria, pray for us.

March 16, 2016 - Wednesday

Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains.
So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free. (John 8:34-36 NABRE)

We who live in the land of the free recoil at the idea of slavery. Our troubled history confronts us even today as we continue to struggle with equality among our citizens. It is clear that none of us considers himself or herself a slave, but Jesus' words from today's passage, it seems to me, are aimed at each one of us.

If as he says, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin, we should acknowledge our portion of that burden. And somehow, when we do, things shift. When we do, it prepares our hearts for the freedom Jesus provides. When we look to him for help in this life and a place with him in the next, it prepares us even more to reach out to others, opening us to offer help however it is needed.


Today, I will be mindful of the source of true freedom and the responsibility it puts on me.


Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer, who saw all your life's works meet with disaster due to religious and political tensions, and who therefore reminds us even today that followers of the crucified Jesus should see only new possibilities opening up whenever we meet failure, pray for us.

March 15, 2016 - Tuesday

LORD, hear my prayer;
let my cry come to you.
Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Turn your ear to me;
when I call, answer me quickly. (Psalm 102:2-3 NABRE)

What a wonderful God we have! To think we can turn to him and pray as the Psalmist does in today's passage. He is afflicted, wasting away, and full of anguish. He knows his time is short, and so he pleads with the Lord for help.

Let us recognize our own afflictions and the short time we have. Let us offer our own pleas to God, that he would hear us and answer us.


Today, I will seek the Lord's help in my own struggles.


Saint Louise de Marillac, patroness of social workers, pray for us.

March 14, 2016 - Monday

They suppressed their consciences and turned away their eyes from looking to Heaven or remembering their duty to administer justice. (Daniel 13:9 NRSVCE)

Isn't this exactly how it happens?! This translation, in particular, strikes me as a perfect description of my own human struggle with moral dilemmas. When I find myself in times of trouble, when I'm tempted by the promises of this world, when I think I can "get away with something," when I have to choose good or bad, I sometimes suppress my conscience and turn my eyes away from Heaven.

Wow, what a helpful thing to realize. In such simple terms, I can take away a powerful new way to think about life's moments of truth. Anytime I feel inclined to suppress that annoying voice in my head telling me not to do something, I can choose, instead, to listen to it!

New? you ask. There is nothing new about this, you say. True, I reply. But the choice of words in this translation suggests a concrete way to successfully respond to the prompting of my conscience.


Today, on this Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent, I will resist the impulse to suppress my conscience. I will allow it to speak into my thoughts. And I will look to heaven for assistance when making difficult choices.


Saint Maximilian, 21-year-old martyr who, when condemned to death for refusing to join the Roman Army in the year 295, said, "I shall not die. If I go from this earth, my soul will live with Christ my Lord," pray for us.

March 13, 2016 - Sunday

But whatever gains I had, these I have come to consider a loss because of Christ. 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 to know him and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:7-11 NABRE)

Imagine the impact if we all considered everything we gain as a loss, except knowing Jesus as Lord! Paul, decades after his blinding encounter of Jesus on the road to Damascus, is still talking about the impact of that moment on his life. When he first encountered Jesus personally it changed his life. And after so much time passed, Paul, who gave up all earthly attachments in order to tell others about Jesus, still pleads with others to look only to Jesus for what matters.

May we all encounter Jesus personally, so that decades later we still consider our relationship with him as the supreme good in our lives.


Today, I will remember my faith in Jesus who suffered and overcame death for my sake.


Saint Leander of Seville, who introduced the practice of reciting the Nicene Creed at Mass as a way to help reinforce the faith of the people, pray for us.

March 12, 2016 - Saturday

But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance. (Luke 8:15 NABRE)

This saying continues the theme of responding to the word of God. Those who hear the word must become a light to others (Luke 8:16); even the mysteries of the kingdom that have been made known to the disciples (Luke 8:9–10) must come to light (Luke 8:17); a generous and persevering response to the word of God leads to a still more perfect response to the word.*

We are always learning. Even in our pursuit of God through his word, each time we read it we encounter a new aspect of the divine revelation. There aren't enough years in a human lifespan to fully know all God's word can teach us. And that is partly due to the influence our own experience has on our understanding of what we read. Each time we read God's word, we have new ideas and perspectives gained by recent experience and knowledge.

Let us who have heard the word continue to embrace it with further reading, let us seek to live out what we learn as we encounter its truths, and let us remain grateful for the miraculous fruit this effort bears as we persevere.


Today, I will look at my own life in the context of the Parable of the Sower.


Blessed Angela Salawa, who brought the Good News and material assistance to some of Christ’s "least ones," pray for us.

March 11, 2016 - Friday

For, not thinking rightly, they said among themselves:
Let us lie in wait for the righteous one, because he is annoying to us;
he opposes our actions,
Reproaches us for transgressions of the law
and charges us with violations of our training.
He professes to have knowledge of God
and styles himself a child of the LORD.
To us he is the censure of our thoughts;
merely to see him is a hardship for us,
Because his life is not like that of others,
and different are his ways.
He judges us debased;
he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure.
He calls blest the destiny of the righteous
and boasts that God is his Father.
Let us see whether his words be true;
let us find out what will happen to him in the end.
For if the righteous one is the son of God, God will help him
and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
With violence and torture let us put him to the test
that we may have proof of his gentleness
and try his patience.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
for according to his own words, God will take care of him.”
These were their thoughts, but they erred;
for their wickedness blinded them,
And they did not know the hidden counsels of God;
neither did they count on a recompense for holiness
nor discern the innocent souls’ reward. (Wisdom 2:1A, 12-22) NABRE)

The Book of Wisdom was written about fifty years before the coming of Christ. Its author, whose name is not known to us, was probably a member of the Jewish community at Alexandria, in Egypt.*

Notice how well these words might be applied to the religious leaders of Jesus' time who plotted to kill him.

Lord, save me from those times when I might fall in line with those who are wrong-minded and who forget who you are, or worse that I myself might forget who you are.


Today, I will remember the righteousness of Jesus who is the son of God.


Saint John Ogilvie, who undoubtedly rejoices in the ecumenical spirit fostered by the Second Vatican Council and joins us in our prayer for unity with all believers, pray for us.

March 10, 2016 - Thursday

They forgot the God who had saved them,
who had done great deeds in Egypt,
Amazing deeds in the land of Ham,
fearsome deeds at the Red Sea.
He would have decreed their destruction,
had not Moses, his chosen one,
Withstood him in the breach
to turn back his destroying anger. (Psalm 106:21-23 NABRE)

The Psalmist reminds us how the Israelites who were led out of slavery in Egypt soon forgot about the amazing deeds God performed while saving them from their enemy. More than that, they lost sight of God's greatness and their own infinitesimal smallness by comparison. And it was Moses who asked God to be merciful toward his chosen nation.

Today, we know that Jesus took the place of Moses as Savior of his people, and salvation has been opened up to all. But like the Israelites about whom the Psalmist sang, we have an awful capacity to forget the greatness of God and to exaggerate our own importance. My ideas are the best. I should be able to do whatever I want. I don't want to answer to anyone. I deserve it. Let me have it. Let me go first.

All of these things lead us away from goodness and toward evil. Each of them reflects a deception of the great enemy of our soul. And they all make us think more highly of ourselves than we ought to.


Today, I will remember Jesus' promise to save me, and I will maintain my faith in him.


Saint John Ogilvie, whose life calls us to unity among all believers, pray for us.

March 9, 2016 - Wednesday

Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to his Son, so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. (John 5:22-24 NABRE)

In context, the concept of judgment is a divine prerogative, often expressed in the scriptures as acquittal or condemnation.* God the Father, the almighty creator, gave all judgment to his Son, Jesus. In today's passage, we are called to honor Jesus, as a way also to honor the Father, by listening to his word and believing in the Father.

Unfortunately, I don't always remember to honor Jesus or the Father. And there are even times I set myself in judgment of others--assuming the role of judge and jury to what I perceive as their shortcomings.

Lord God, be merciful to me. I ask that you strengthen my faith in times of challenge. I ask for awareness so that I might not judge others harshly, but rather remember my own sinfulness. Lord Jesus, you are the true judge of all things, but you are also merciful. It is my greatest hope that you might be my soul's merciful savior rather than my just judge.


Today, I will resist the temptation to judge others, focusing instead on God's Word and seeking a deeper faith in Jesus.


Saint Frances of Rome, whose life calls each of us not only to look deeply for God in prayer, but also to carry our devotion to Jesus living in the suffering of our world, pray for us.

March 8, 2016 - Tuesday

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 46:2-3 NABRE)

Psalm 46 is a song of confidence in God’s protection. It acknowledges that the Lord is with us, mentioning the security of God’s presence even in utter chaos.* Despite that, today's passage can seem strangely remote and inaccessible. I have never experienced the earth and sea shaking and raging so violently that mountains quaked down to their foundations and even tottered like little tops.

And so how do I relate?

When I consider my own distresses, small as they are by comparison, it becomes suddenly clear to see that God helps me through such times. No matter how devastating they may be, God always gives me help, strength and protection.


Today, I will remember that no problem I have is bigger than God's ability to see me through it.


Saint John of God, whose utter humility led to a totally selfless dedication to others, pray for us.

March 7, 2016 - Monday

Seek good and not evil,
that you may live;
Then truly the LORD, the God of hosts,
will be with you as you claim. (Amos 5:14 NABRE)

Amos was a prophet of divine judgment whose message stands as one of the most powerful voices ever to challenge hypocrisy and injustice. He delivered his oracles in about the year 750 B.C.*

The fundamental call to seek good and not evil is a strong statement exhorting us even today to turn our hearts around.

This week, I have found myself returning to thoughts of Jesus as a brother and a friend. I have been involved in conversation with him. Thinking of his real presence with me. There is something about just being in his company that enriches me. I am reminded that there is good, that I have choices, and that my Lord is not ever too far away.


Today, on this Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent, I will be joyful in Jesus' presence.


Saints Perpetua and Felicity, young mothers in second-century Carthage, North Africa, who were martyred for refusing to renounce your faith in Christ, pray for us.

March 6, 2016 - Sunday

So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:20-21 NABRE)

Without trying to untangle the theology tied up in today's passage, what strikes me is how Paul describes himself as an ambassador for Christ. As such, he calls us to be reconciled to God. We too have a role to play in God's plan.

Dear Lord, thank you for calling me to be part of your plan. I ask that you would inflame my heart by your Spirit so that I can know with the firm clarity only you provide how to be the person I am meant to be.


Today, I will meditate on my part in God's plan.


Saint Mary Ann of Jesus of Paredes, whose self-denial led you to charity, pray for us.

March 5, 2016 - Saturday

The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.”
He said in reply, “It is written:
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:3-4 NABRE)

Even Jesus was tempted. Remembering how he responded to temptation gives us a powerful example we can use.

First, Jesus fasted during his time of desert trials. He denied himself food as a means of strengthening himself spiritually by denying the strong physical desire for food. When we fast, we deliberately work to overcome the physical demands of our bodies, even in small ways, so that we might become more like Jesus, gain more self-control, and be more mindful of our spiritual selves. Fasting is a powerful aid to our prayers.

Second, Jesus quoted scripture in the face of each temptation. Each time, he began with the phrase, "It is written." When he was tempted in today's passage to eat during his fast, he quoted from the book of Deuteronomy (8:3). Knowing and referring to scripture during moments of temptation is a powerful way to subdue the one who tempts us.

And so, during this Lent, let us model ourselves after Jesus. Let us fast deliberately to strengthen ourselves and enhance our prayers. And whenever we are tempted, let us speak up to the tempter, by quoting God's Word.

Remember the promise Saint Paul made to the Corinthians when he wrote, "No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10-13)

And don't be discouraged when you fail! That feeling of discouragement is little more than another temptation! It's a distraction from what matters! When we fail, we ask for the mercy Jesus promised to us. And we have the Sacrament of Penance which is our most complete experience of the gift of God's boundless mercy.


Today, I will spend some time considering the specific ways I am tempted, search God's Word for my scriptural responses, and memorize them to prepare myself.


Saint John Joseph of the Cross, whose life shows us that self-denial is never an end in itself but is only a help toward greater charity, pray for us.

March 4, 2016 - Friday

Return, Israel, to the LORD, your God;
you have stumbled because of your iniquity. (Hosea 14:2 NABRE)

Written about 2,700 years ago, the words of Hosea the prophet call the Lord's people back to him. They had strayed far from trust in him and had begun to rely on treaties and foreign governments for their security. As God's people, let us challenge ourselves. Let us look inward, as individuals, and as a society, and ask ourselves, do we place our trust in God? Or have we stumbled into patterns of unfair and immoral behavior, both privately and publicly? Let us challenge ourselves not only to look inward and judge ourselves with brutal honesty, but also to change our ways by reaffirming our trust in God, by our words and by our choices.


Today, I will treat others fairly as a sign that I am returning my heart to the Lord.


Saint Casimir, patron of Lithuania, Poland, and Russia, pray for us.

March 3, 2016 - Thursday

Say to them: This is the nation which does not listen to the voice of the LORD, its God, or take correction. Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech. (Jeremiah 7:28 NABRE)

Written about 2,600 years ago, these words seem strangely familiar today. As we engage as a nation in our elections process, as we struggle as a nation with violence toward our police and in schools, and as we worry about the impact of global financial challenges, never has there been a better time to listen to God's voice. Let faithfulness be our first response. May we listen first for the voice of the Lord as he speaks into our days. Let us take his perfect correction in cases when we experience conviction in our spirit. May we begin in our personal affairs and come to express our faithfulness in the public forums in which we participate.


Today, I will listen to the voice of the Lord and heed his correction.


Saint Katharine Drexel, whose life is an obvious reminder that holiness can be lived in today’s culture, pray for us.

March 2, 2016 - Wednesday

However, be on your guard and be very careful not to forget the things your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart as long as you live, but make them known to your children and to your children’s children. (Deuteronomy 4:9 NABRE)

These are words Moses spoke to the Israelites who were about to enter the promised land after so much wandering and challenge since leaving Egypt. Moses reminds them to remember what they saw and experienced at the foot of Mount Horeb where the Lord displayed his power in fire, dark clouds, and his voice which the people themselves heard though they could not see a form of God, only a voice. His reminder was intended to encourage the people to remain faithful to their covenant with God.

While somewhat less dramatic, the Lord speaks into each of our lives, privately, in many ways. There's a great little book called Nine Ways God Always Speaks which does a nice job, not of selling God or religion, but of sharing stories of ordinary people who "listen" to many ordinary and often small moments in a way that inclines their heart to the possibility that God does interact with us even today.


Today, I will recognize and remember the many ways that the Lord has touched my life.


Saint Agnes of Bohemia, whose route to holiness was the same as ours: a gradual exchange of our standards (inclination to selfishness) for God’s standard of generosity, pray for us.

March 1, 2016 - Tuesday

Yet even now—oracle of the LORD—
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God,
For he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love,
and relenting in punishment. (Joel 2:12-13 NABRE)

The book of Joel is believed to have been written about 450-400 BC. The words of this prophet in today's passage call us to turn our hearts back to the Lord. Especially during this season of Lent, may we lean on God's infinite mercy as we pray, fast, and give alms in our effort to return to the Lord.


Today, I will pray, fast, and make an offering to the poor.


Saint David of Wales, patron of poets and Wales, who lived in and nurtured a constant awareness of God’s nearness, pray for us.

February 29, 2016 - Monday

As the deer longs for streams of water,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, the living God.
When can I enter and see the face of God? (Psalm 4:2-3 NABRE)

How badly do you long for the chance to be in the actual presence of God? How desperate are you to look at the face of Jesus and to know his full attention? Is it as deeply as you need water? For the Psalmist, it seems, he thirsted for God with his whole being, as a deer longs for streams of water.

Lord, the thought of being in your company is beyond my capacity to truly experience. I can imagine it, but I hope to feel it too. During this Lenten season, help me to prepare myself for that moment, while at the same time appreciating this very moment, in which you are already present to me. May I appreciate what I have been given in this moment, so I will ultimately come to share the fullness of your presence at that time you have ordained.


Today, I will look forward to the time when I can be more fully in God's presence.


Saint Oswald, known for your sanctity and your love for the poor, pray for us.

February 28, 2016 - Sunday

These things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things, as they did.
And do not become idolaters, as some of them did, as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel.”
Let us not indulge in immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell within a single day.
Let us not test Christ as some of them did, and suffered death by serpents.
Do not grumble as some of them did, and suffered death by the destroyer.
These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us, upon whom the end of the ages has come. (1 Corinthians 10:6-11 NABRE)

So many rules! Sometimes it can seem like everything is off limits to us, doesn't it? And yet, we can look to Jesus' summary of the Jewish law which is a useful expression of the moral code by which we should be living:

Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone!

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)

Today, I will heed Paul's warning and examine my actions and choices in the light of Jesus' words.


Blessed Daniel Brottier, whose energetic faith aided soldiers, orphaned and abandoned children, pray for us.

February 27, 2016 - Saturday

He has not dealt with us as our sins merit,
nor requited us as our wrongs deserve.
For as the heavens tower over the earth,
so his mercy towers over those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our sins from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. (Psalm 103:10-13 NABRE)

I don't think of it often enough, but what a relief it is that God doesn't deal with us as we deserve! Instead of that "eye for an eye" sort of justice, he is full of mercy for those who fear him and call him father. He has compassion on his people, removing our sins from us as though they were never there.

Especially during Lent as we share in this Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, we are called to reflect God's divine generosity by practicing works of mercy toward others.


Today, I will be grateful that the Lord deals with us mercifully and with compassion.


Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, patron of the clergy, pray for us.

February 26, 2016 - Friday

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. (John 3:16 NABRE)

When we accept the fundamental truths of faith, we find ourselves poised to move forward in a new direction. When we place our trust in the Lord, we begin to experience the physical world in the light of God's involvement with it.

And once we do those things, we begin to grow in the wisdom which is rooted in faith, we begin to seek a deeper connection with God through his Spirit, and we begin to show signs of our own personal development in the Spirit.

And all of this is possible because God the Father sent his only Son, Jesus, as our redeemer, and then sent us the Holy Spirit who remains with us as a continuing presence among us until Jesus returns. May we all demonstrate the Fruit of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.


Today, on this Friday of the Second Week of Lent, I will seek greater self control through fasting and abstinence.


Saint Maria Bertilla Boscardin, who died in 1922 and for whom rejection, ridicule and disappointment were trials which brought you closer to God and more determined to serve him, pray for us.

February 25, 2016 - Thursday

Blessed are those who trust in the LORD;
the LORD will be their trust.
They are like a tree planted beside the waters
that stretches out its roots to the stream:
It does not fear heat when it comes,
its leaves stay green;
In the year of drought it shows no distress,
but still produces fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8 NABRE)

I love this passage from Jeremiah! Carry it into every moment!


Today, I will trust in the Lord.


Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio, who helped men and women recognize their God-given dignity and destiny, pray for us.

February 24, 2016 - Wednesday

But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. (Matthew 20:26-27 NABRE)

At the heart of Jesus' message is a call to serve others. In order to respond to this message, we work first to put aside our pride and replace it with humility.

Saint Paul puts it this way: "For by the grace given to me I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than one ought to think, but to think soberly, each according to the measure of faith that God has apportioned." (Romans 12:3)

And so, as I work to resist the impulse to think more highly of myself than I should, I create room in my heart for Jesus' message and I begin to seek out opportunities to express his love for each one of us by my service.


Today, I will seek to serve.


Blessed Luke Belludi, travelling companion and attendant to Saint Anthony, pray for us.

February 23, 2016 - Tuesday

Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil;
learn to do good.
Make justice your aim: redress the wronged,
hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.
Come now, let us set things right,
says the LORD:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be red like crimson,
they may become white as wool. (Isaiah 1:16-18 NABRE)

Let's apply these challenging lines to our modern lives. Let's challenge ourselves to rethink our day, how we spend our energy, and how we see our role in this world. Where do we get our value and our purpose? These lines reflect in a very beautiful way God's answer to life's mysteries and problems.

I can put forth an effort to do good deeds. I can speak out when I witness someone being wronged. I can take action today to help someone in need. I can change my heart by focusing my thoughts on others. And when I seek to increasingly put the benefit of others at the forefront of my every thought, word, and action, I change myself in the process.


Today, I will evaluate my purpose in the context of God's Word.


Saint Polycarp, patron of those with earaches, pray for us.

February 22, 2016 - Monday

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:15-18 NABRE)

Saint Peter was a friend of Jesus. At some point during their friendship, God revealed to Peter some understanding of the divine nature of Jesus and of the purpose of his presence here. His friend was more than a teacher or a prophet. He was the one God had promised to send as a savior for his people. And more than that, as Peter became aware, Jesus was God's own son. It is almost too much to take in.

In today's passage, we read the moment when God's son, the second person of the Trinity, installed Peter as the head of his church and empowered that same church to withstand all threats of evil for all time. Jesus' church will endure. As has been said, the battle has already been won. And we are undeservedly and impossibly blessed to share in God's promise of eternal salvation.


Today, on this Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter, I will recall the continuity of the Church established by Jesus himself, the leadership of which was made human in the person of the first Holy Father, Simon Peter, and I will pray especially for Pope Francis and his intentions.


Saint Peter, whose office we still honor today, pray for us.

February 21, 2016 - Sunday

But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. (Philippians 3:20-21 NABRE)

Christians constitute a colony of heaven, as Philippi was a colonia of Rome (Acts 16:12). The hope Paul expresses involves the final coming of Christ, not a status already attained.*

Father God, may I be mindful at all times that I am your child, a citizen of heaven, and may I wait joyfully for the return of your son, Jesus. Thank you for the many blessings of this day, and especially for the chance to share your mercy with others.


Today, on this Second Sunday of Lent, I will recall my heavenly citizenship.


Saint Peter Damian, a reformer who live a thousand years ago who would have encouraged us to continue renewing the Church and to place an increasing reliance on prayer, pray for us.

February 20, 2016 - Saturday

But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? (Matthew 5:44-46a NABRE)

We are consumed today with revenge, with vengeance, with payback, with our version of fair. We are quick to understand and encourage someone who has been wronged to seek retribution, to sue, to take all they can as compensation for the loss.

But when we think this way, we lose sight of Jesus. Jesus did not seek any of these things. Jesus is the perfect imprint of God, and he calls us to live differently. Jesus, tells us to love our enemies--stop for a minute now and think who your enemies are. Who persecutes you in some way? Who is unfair with you? Who dislikes you and is glad to disparage or gossip about you?

Take another minute now, and decide to pray for that one person. Promise yourself, right now to love them as much as you love yourself. And be confident that it will lead you to the heart Jesus wants you to have.


Today, I will pray for everyone I encounter, regardless of how they treat me.


Blesseds Jacinta and Francisco Marto, to whom our Lady of Fatima appeared in 1917, pray for us.

February 19, 2016 - Friday

You say, “The LORD’s way is not fair!” Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair? Are not your ways unfair?
When the just turn away from justice to do evil and die, on account of the evil they did they must die.
But if the wicked turn from the wickedness they did and do what is right and just, they save their lives. (Ezekiel 18:25-27 NABRE)

For many of us, it is really difficult to accept our individual responsibility. In fact, as I write this, I find it difficult to think that I am one of those who is unfair, who turns away from justice, who does evil things. I do not like to think of my personal culpability. I'd rather blame someone else, even God, for my bad choices. Instead, I prefer to think positively about myself, that I am fair and fair minded, that I avoid doing evil things, and that I do what is right and just.

But Lord, how is it that I am so often deceived--most often deceived about myself? Lord, grant me sight so that I might come to recognize my true shortcomings, so that I might change those attitudes, beliefs, and habits which draw me farther and farther away from you. Lead me away from evil choices that lead to death. Lead me toward right choices, toward the just decisions which lead to life in your presence.


Today, I will remember my individual responsibility to choose what is right and just.


Saint Conrad of Piacenza, who reminds us of the greatness of God and of the joys of heaven, pray for us.

February 18, 2016 - Thursday

The LORD is with me to the end.
LORD, your mercy endures forever.
Never forsake the work of your hands! (Psalm 138:8 NABRE)

The psalmist, having experienced salvation, trusts that God will always be there in moments of danger.* Each one of us is a work of God's hands. His mercy is unfathomable and he never turns his gaze away from us. May we trust that he is with us at all times, especially at times of greatest difficulty and challenge, and times when we do not sense his presence. May our faith in his promise carry us through such times to see the fulfillment of the promise.


Today, I will ask the Lord to be with me in my moments of danger.


Blessed John of Fiesole, known as Fra Angelico, patron of Christian artists, pray for us.

The Virgin of the Annunciation - Fra Angelico

February 17, 2016 - Wednesday

Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love;
in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions.
Thoroughly wash away my guilt;
and from my sin cleanse me.
A clean heart create for me, God;
renew within me a steadfast spirit.
Do not drive me from before your face,
nor take from me your holy spirit. (Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13 NABRE)

Today's passage asks deliverance from sin, not just from a past act but also from its emotional, physical, and social consequences. It also seeks something more profound than wiping the slate clean: nearness to God, living by the spirit of God.*

Dear Lord, if I could just walk away from my sinful nature! Since you are my only means to a clean heart, I ask in all humility that you would be merciful to me, a sinner. Thank you for watching over me and for the Spirit you have placed within me.


Today, I will ask the Lord to wash away my guilt.


Seven Founders of the Servite Order, who remind us that we are all faced in a new and urgent way with the challenge to make our lives decisively centered in Christ, pray for us.

February 16, 2016 - Tuesday

If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions. (Matthew 6:14-15 NABRE)

These verses reflect a set pattern which theologians call “Principles of Holy Law.” Human action now will be met by a corresponding action of God at the final judgment.* The main thrust of this passage is that forgiveness of our fellow man/woman is crucial to our relationship with the Father through the Son.  We cannot ask God to forgive us if we withhold our forgiveness of others.*


Today, I will not withhold my forgiveness from anyone who has hurt me.


Saint Gilbert of Sempringham, who chose to share his wealth with the poor, filling "the plate of the Lord Jesus,", pray for us.

February 15, 2016 - Monday

The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart.
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye. (Psalm 19:8-9 NABRE)

While it may not be intuitive, rules can give us freedom. In today's passage from Psalm 19, we see David's awareness of just this. He reminds us that God's guidance is perfect and meant to refresh the soul. God's Word is trustworthy, gives us wisdom if we are open to it. His direction is objectively correct, giving us joy. And his commands are clear.

I read the Bible to gain clear, correct, trustworthy and perfect guidance.

I read the Bible for refreshment, wisdom, joy and enlightenment.

Thank you, king David, for reminding me of these remarkable benefits of knowing and living by the precepts of God.


Today, on this Monday of the First Week of Lent, I will read from God's Word.


Saint Claude de la Colombière, who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us.

February 14, 2016 - Sunday

Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”

Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.’”

Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’” (Luke 4:4, 8, 12 NABRE)

In the desert, Satan tempted Jesus three times. And three times Jesus--a man like us--avoided the temptation offered to him. How did he do it? At the moment of choice, what did he do consistently to avoid a temptation?

Each time Jesus was tempted, he quoted scripture. In fact, he quoted Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Bible, the conclusion of the Torah, which contains laws given by Moses to the Israelites.

Deuteronomy 8:3 states, "He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger, and then fed you with manna, a food unknown to you and your ancestors, so you might know that it is not by bread alone that people live, but by all that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD."

Deuteronomy 6:13 states, "The LORD, your God, shall you fear; him shall you serve,^* and by his name shall you swear."

Deuteronomy 6:16 states, "You shall not put the LORD, your God, to the test, as you did at Massah."


Today, on this First Sunday of Lent, I will try recalling scripture if I encounter temptation.


Saints Cyril and Methodius, patrons of Slavic peoples, pray for us.

February 13, 2016 - Saturday

Teach me, LORD, your way
that I may walk in your truth,
single-hearted and revering your name. (Psalm 86:11 NABRE)

During Lent, we encounter many passages from God's word which are either instructive or condemning, many verses which make us uncomfortable--if we really think about them--and even have the power to spur us to action.

Today's verse, however, does none of these things. Today's verse, words of a king, are a simple and humble plea to God. In these words, David acknowledges his own personal need for God's instruction. May we put aside any arrogance we might have and adopt this same humility.

And with David, may we pursue God's way, God's truth, and God's presence in our day.


Today, on this Saturday after Ash Wednesday, I will examine my own heart for arrogance, asking God to replace it with humility before him, and an openness to his instruction.


Saint Giles Mary of St. Joseph, who had a healthy sense of his own sinfulness—not paralyzing but not superficial either, pray for us.

February 12, 2016 - Friday

Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking off every yoke?
Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry,
bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own flesh? (Isaiah 58:6-7 NABRE)

These words of God to Isaiah explain the type of fasting he chooses, rather than the hypocritical fasting that was occurring without alignment with other actions. In other words, God wants us to fast as a sign of a personal change that leads us to help others in need. He does not want us to deny ourselves food, for example, while ignoring those who have no food.

And do you hear the echo of Jesus' final judgment (Matthew 25:31-46)? May we see clearly the connection between our fasting, our attitudes and actions toward those in need, and our final salvation.


Today, on this Friday after Ash Wednesday, I will continue my personal Lenten journey focused on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy which extend God's love to those most in need.


Saint Apollonia, patron of dentists and those with toothaches, pray for us.

February 11, 2016 - Thursday

Then [Jesus] said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. (Luke 9:23-24 NABRE)

Luke adds the word "daily" to this saying of Jesus. By so doing, he removes the saying from a context that envisioned the imminent suffering and death of the disciple of Jesus (as does the saying in Mark 8:34–35) to one that focuses on the demands of daily Christian existence.*

Dear Lord, you have shown me how to follow you and it does not happen easily for me! Help me to challenge myself each day, to disrupt my own thinking and inclinations, and to push through my desire for self-protection. Denying myself requires a crystal clear choice based on a firm and resolute faith. Grant me, by your Spirit, the courage and discernment to make these choices throughout the day which lead me toward you, even when it means difficulty for me. For I know you are always with me.


Today, I will take up my cross, recognizing the demands of daily Christian living.


Our Lady of Lourdes, patroness of those suffering bodily ills, pray for us.

February 10, 2016 - Wednesday

Yet even now—oracle of the LORD—
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God,
For he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love,
and relenting in punishment. (Joel 2:12-13 NABRE)

God calls us back to him. He desires a relationship with us. In his perfection, he extends grace and mercy to us, his creatures, for the many ways we turn away from him and even deny his existence. May we answer his call, turning our hearts back to him, constantly, aware of our failings, willing to change ourselves, and grateful for his love and mercy.


Today, on this Ash Wednesday, I will begin my personal Lenten journey focused on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy which extend God's love to those most in need.


Saint Scholastica, twin sister of Saint Benedict and patroness of nuns, pray for us.

February 9, 2016 - Tuesday

He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
In vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.’
You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! (Mark 7:6-9 NABRE)

Jesus had harsh words for the religious leaders of his day. They had drifted away from the spirit of God's laws, misled by the traditions that had grown up around them. And so, what likely began out of good intention, changed with time into something far from the original intent.

Lord Jesus, thank you for reminding me of the importance of understanding our traditions in the light of your commands. May I always look to our long-established traditions to see how they reflect the will of the Father. When I don't understand or agree with our tradition, lead me to study its history, how it was established, and why it has endured. And may I accept our traditions as I learn to better understand them.


Today, I will examine places in my life where I cling to human tradition while disregarding God's commandment.


Saint Jerome Emiliani, patron of orphans and abandoned children, pray for us.

February 8, 2016 - Monday

He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. (Matthew 4:23 NABRE)

Jesus had become well known in the region and knowledge of him spread by the activities of his ministry: Teaching, proclaiming the gospel, and healing people.* While we don't often think about it, his impact made such a deep and wide impression on people that we remember much of what he did even today. Added to his impossible resurrection from the dead, his healings and re-evaluating of the path to salvation became the foundation for our faith today.


Today, I will try and imagine myself present during the ministry of Jesus, able to see him, hear him, and possibly touch him myself.


Saint Josephine Bakhita, a slave who worked under many "masters" was finally happy to address God as "master" and carry out everything that she believed to be God's will for her, pray for us.

February 7, 2016 - Sunday

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” “Here I am,” I said; “send me!” (Isaiah 6:8 NABRE)

The sending of Isaiah has two parts. God's call and Isaiah's response. Isaiah's willing and enthusiastic response to God's call is unusual. More often than not, mankind tends to run from God's call rather than toward it.


Today, I will run enthusiastically toward God's call.


Saint Colette, who once said, "May the Father of all mercy, the Son by his holy passion, and the Holy Spirit, source of peace, sweetness and love, fill us with their consolation," pray for us.

February 6, 2016 - Saturday

Now, LORD, my God, you have made me, your servant, king to succeed David my father; but I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act—
I, your servant, among the people you have chosen, a people so vast that it cannot be numbered or counted.
Give your servant, therefore, a listening heart to judge your people and to distinguish between good and evil. For who is able to give judgment for this vast people of yours?” (1 Kings 3:7-9 NABRE)

Solomon was the son of King David. He became king after his father and has since been remembered for his great wisdom. Today's passage illustrates how much like his father Solomon was.

The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, "Whatever you ask I shall give you." As we read, Solomon does not ask the Lord for a long life, riches, or the destruction of his many enemies. Instead, he asks God for discernment to know what is right. And God granted this and more.


Today, I will thank God for his Spirit, who provides each of us with discernment to know what is right.


Saint Paul Mika and Companions, 26 faith-filled souls who became martyrs in Japan in 1597, pray for us.

February 5, 2016 - Friday

With his every deed he offered thanks
to God Most High, in words of praise.
With his whole heart he loved his Maker
and daily had his praises sung;
He added beauty to the feasts
and solemnized the seasons of each year
With string music before the altar,
providing sweet melody for the psalms
So that when the Holy Name was praised,
before daybreak the sanctuary would resound. (Sirach 47:8-10 NABRE)

The Book of Sirach was written in Hebrew in the early years of the second century B.C., finished about 175. The text was translated into Greek by the author’s grandson, Yeshua, after 117 B.C. Yeshua also wrote a foreword which contains valuable information about the book, its author, and himself as translator. We know that this book, The Wisdom of Ben Sira, got its title from the author, “Yeshua [Jesus], son of Eleazar, son of Sira” (50:27). A large portion of Sirach contains a eulogy of the heroes of Israel, including King David, the subject of today's compelling passage.(44:1–50:24)*

Lord God, let me emulate David's constant habit of giving you thanks. I want to be consciously grateful in every moment of my day. Let me offer you words of praise throughout each day. I want to open my heart to you entirely as David did. May the many expressions of my joy and confidence in you add beauty to my world, solemnize my world, and cause the places I spend my day to resound with reminders of your presence.


Today, I will give thanks and praise to the Lord.


Saint Agatha, virgin, martyr, and patroness of nurses, foundry workers, and against breast disease, pray for us.

February 4, 2016 - Thursday

He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.
He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick—no food, no sack, no money in their belts.
They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic. (Mark 6:7-9 NABRE)

Jesus required of his apostles a total dependence on God for food and shelter.*

This should challenge us today. While we are out in the world doing the work of Jesus, do we rely on God, or do we rely on Visa? We are so deeply conditioned in our society to believe in our own abilities and the sometimes-too-easily-accessed resources of our instant-gratification culture that we either minimize God's role in our daily work or forget him completely. We have flipped over the model of life and mission which Jesus asked his apostles to follow.

We are not all called to live by taking nothing for our journey; but we are, I believe, called to take what we need, to remember that God is our provider, and to rely on his sufficient care. We are called to set aside the extravagant excesses of this world and remember we are merely passing through this life, looking forward to the next.


Today, I will spend some time thinking about where I might let go of wasteful excess in my day.


Saint Joseph of Leonissa, whose life challenges us to face life courageously and get to the heart of it: life with God, pray for us.

February 3, 2016 - Wednesday

Then I declared my sin to you;
my guilt I did not hide.
I said, “I confess my transgression to the LORD,”
and you took away the guilt of my sin.
Therefore every loyal person should pray to you
in time of distress.
Though flood waters threaten,
they will never reach him.
You are my shelter; you guard me from distress;
with joyful shouts of deliverance you surround me. (Psalm 32:5-7 NABRE)

It may be one of the most difficult things we are asked to do, to be honest about our own faults.

We may call them shortcomings or sins, transgressions or bad choices. They are the thoughts, actions, and decisions we make, both big and small, that hurt our relationship with the Lord.

But when we recognize that each of us struggles with imperfection, each a little differently, that we can accept that we are merely human. Once we find some sense of humility, we turn to God, honestly declaring to him our sins as David did. We no longer hide our guilt and we confess what we have done and failed to do. And in his great mercy, God hears our distress and heals us. More, he strengthens us for whatever we will face next.


Today, I will pray to the Lord, confident in his Divine Mercy.


Saint Blaise, patron of throat ailments, pray for us.

February 2, 2016 - Tuesday

A light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel. (Luke 2:32 NABRE)

When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple, forty days after he was born according to custom, an elderly man, Simeon, had this to say when he recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah.

Simeon was informed by the Spirit of God. He, along with an elderly woman, Anna, represent the hopes and expectations of faithful and devout Jews who at this time were looking forward to the restoration of God’s rule in Israel. The birth of Jesus brings these hopes to fulfillment.*


Today, on this Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, I will remember Mary's purity and the arrival of a savior in our midst.


Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

February 1, 2016 - Monday

Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.” (Luke 7:16 NABRE)

Luke remarks that God has visited his people. He makes the same remark in the Canticle of Zachariah. (Luke 1:68) Recall that Zachariah was Elizabeth's husband, John the Baptist's father.

Let us never forget that God has indeed visited us. The person of Jesus, son of Mary and Joseph, is our Lord and God. He dwelt among us, raised the son of a carpenter about two thousand years ago. And during his visit with us, he did some truly astounding things, miracles that at times raised questions, fear, excitement, and confusion. With the benefit of hindsight, we are fortunate to be able to reflect on these events in a wider context.


Today, I will remember that God indeed visited his people.


Saint Ansgar, patron of Denmark, known as the “apostle of the north,” pray for us.

January 31, 2016 - Sunday

The word of the LORD came to me:
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I dedicated you,
a prophet to the nations I appointed you. (Jeremiah 1:4-5 NABRE)

God had a plan for Jeremiah even before he was born. And look at the beautiful way we learn of this. First of all, God spoke to the young man. That is a powerful statement. Also, God formed Jeremiah. Also, he knew Jeremiah even before he formed him! God dedicated Jeremiah to a task. He appointed him, even before he was born to his role in God's service.

Lord God, grant me the gift of attentiveness to your voice. I thank you for creating me, as you did Jeremiah. And while it is difficult to imagine that you knew me and had a plan for me even before I was born, I thank you for my purpose. Please help me to discover my purpose more clearly each day. Help me to walk the path you have appointed for me and to carry out the work to which you dedicated me.


Today, I will seek discernment, listen for God's voice, and consider my purpose in his divine plan.


Saint John Bosco, patron of boys, editors, and youth, pray for us.

January 30, 2016 - Saturday

He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm.
Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”
They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?” (Mark 4:39-41 NABRE)

These stories of Jesus are not cute fairy tales made up as entertainment. Nor were they designed to mislead anyone. They represent the collective memory of the witness made by the Apostles of Jesus.

When his friends panicked about their immediate circumstance, Jesus confronted them. This was not some soft comforting scene like a mother calming a hurt child. This was a challenge to their faith, posed immediately after Jesus actually displayed his power over the wind and the water. It is a retelling of some one's actual memory of the event.

Sometimes it is good to remember, specifically, that Jesus, the almighty Son of God, was also a man who lived for a time among us. And it is also good to remember that just his word subdued the storm.

In the storms that surround us, let us challenge ourselves to remain faithful and to trust Jesus.


Today, I will place my trust in Jesus. Jesus, I trust in you.


Saint Hyacintha of Mariscotti, who lived the words of Saint Francis, "Blessed is the servant who would accept correction, accusation, and blame from another as patiently as he would from himself. Blessed is the servant who when he is rebuked quietly agrees, respectfully submits, humbly admits his fault, and willingly makes amends," pray for us.

January 29, 2016 - Friday

Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love;
in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions.
Thoroughly wash away my guilt;
and from my sin cleanse me.
For I know my transgressions;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your eyes
So that you are just in your word,
and without reproach in your judgment. (Psalm 51:3-6 NABRE)

We all have our way of distancing ourselves from God's perfection. What we call sin is just that. It is our personal ways of opposing God. And like children, we often do things without really thinking about them, and only afterward look for ways to explain ourselves--to God, to ourselves, and sometimes to others.

When we rationalize our shortcomings, we indulge our pride more than anything else. To admit our faults, we worry, would be worse not better. However, it is in David's humble words that we are given a key to freedom from the slavery of sin. When we turn to our Lord in honest humility, asking for his mercy and even begging for his compassion, he hears and answers us.

And we have the Sacrament of Penance to turn our greatest weaknesses into God's strengths. It is a paradox that can be difficult to understand, but one that makes sense if we simply remember who is the creator and who is created.


Today, I will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, asking the Lord to by my merciful savior rather than my just judge.


Servant of God Brother Juniper, who St. Francis once described as having, "attained the state of perfect patience because he kept the truth of his low estate constantly in mind, [and] whose supreme desire was to follow Christ on the way of the cross," pray for us.

January 28, 2016 - Thursday

Since you, Lord GOD, are truly God and your words are truth and you have made this generous promise to your servant,
do, then, bless the house of your servant, that it may be in your presence forever—since you, Lord GOD, have promised, and by your blessing the house of your servant shall be blessed forever. (2 Samuel 7:28-29 NABRE)

These are the humble words of king David as he asked God to bless his family as he had been promised. I am struck by the contrast his words present against a modern backdrop of the pride-filled words of our political candidates.

May the hearts of our would-be leaders soften to your truth, Lord, so that they might recognize your sovereign authority over all things, and our collective call to bring your presence into this world each day. May they sense your Spirit, Lord, as they pursue more fully a sense of public service, seeking to raise out of want and poverty those most in need, seeking peace with those who disagree with us, and guiding our national policies by the intent of our founding principles.


Today, I will pray for our current leaders and those vying for elected office.


Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest, Doctor of the Church, and patron of Catholic schools, colleges, schools, and students, pray for us.