Memorial of Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr

We praise your glorious name, O mighty God. “Blessed may you be, O LORD, God of Israel our father, from eternity to eternity.”

What a wonderful blessing it is to have God as our Father. His Divine Love created us in His Divine Image. His blessings and graces are poured out for us constantly. Every gift, talent, and good we possess He has passed onto us through His Hands. He will never abandon or forsake us. He is always with us. He knows what is best for us, even when we don’t. He is our most perfect Father and will protect us from every evil as long as we let Him. So, let us praise His Glorious Name and thank our Mighty God for all He has done, is doing, and will ever do for us.

Do we accept and acknowledge God as out Heavenly Father? What do we do to be good and faithful children to Him? How can we show our appreciation for everything He has given us?

O Lord, our Father, blessed may you be.

Amen.

Thirtieth Thursday in Ordinary Time

Save me, O Lord, in your mercy. Do you, O GOD, my Lord, deal kindly with me for your name’s sake; in your generous mercy rescue me; For I am wretched and poor, and my heart is pierced within me.

There are moments in our lives when we just have to ask God to save us. We are lost in a sea of confusion. We are battered by storms of doubt and difficulties. We are crushed beneath a mountain of worries. We are pierced by sufferings and sorrows. We don’t have the strength to get back onto our feet without God’s Help. Thankfully, God is always listening and He will never give us a burden we cannot bear. He will always grant us graces, blessings, and strengths to overcome our trials. He takes pity on us, wretched and poor, and deals kindly with us. He tends to our wounds, guides us back to where we are meant to be, and shows us the way forward.

Do we ask God to save us or do we try to save ourselves? How can we learn to trust that God will deal with us kindly and rescue us from harm? What can we do to imitate His generous mercy in our own daily lives?

O Lord, in your generous mercy rescue us.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption. I trust in the LORD; my soul trusts in his word. My soul waits for the LORD more than sentinels wait for the dawn.

Trusting in God means that sometimes we have to wait for Him. We need to learn patience and allow God to work in His own time. He knows better than us when we need help and what help is best for us. We might have our own notions about how God can help us, but they are not necessarily the best ways He can aid us. We can often grow impatience and upset when God seems to fail to answer our pleas, but that is our own selfishness blinding us to God’s work in our lives. He will never abandon us, we have only to bear our crosses and trust in His Saving Graces, which will come when and where it is most needed.

Do we trust in God and His Word? Are we patient enough to wait for His Help? Do we recognize all God is doing for us even in the midst of our trials?

O Lord, we wait for you more than sentinels wait for the dawn.

Amen.

Memorial of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin/Doctor of the Church

God is with us. I tell of Egypt and Babylon among those that know the LORD; Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia: “This man was born there.” And of Zion they shall say: “One and all were born in her; And he who has established her is the Most High LORD.”

We are all born to become citizens of the City of God. We are all given rights and responsibilities by the mere fact of our conception. God is with us from the moment of creation and remains with us even through death to the final judgment and beyond. He wants us all to be good and faithful servants, willing to do our duty to Him and to all His children. So, let us come together as one and live out our calling to be God’s representatives on earth in hopes of one day enjoying the Heavenly banquet with our Lord and King.

Have we accepted our citizenship within the City of God? How are we respecting the rights of others and fulfilling our responsibilities as Christians? What can we do to build up the Kingdom of God?

O Lord, we will strive to be good and faithful citizens of your Kingdom.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest

Hope in God; I will praise him, my savior and my God. Do me justice, O God, and fight my fight against a faithless people; from the deceitful and impious man rescue me.

God is more than willing to stand beside us in our battles against temptation and sin and impiety. He will armor us with virtues and arm us with graces and blessings. He will lend us His Strength and shall not abandon us during our times of need. However, He will not do anything, if we reject His help. If we think we can handle our difficulties on our own, He will not force his protection on us. If we choose evil over good, He will withdraw from us until we make amends. This is not to say He will completely abandon us, He will always be within reach, but there are some sins that require us to go to confession and do penance so we might open our hearts more fully to Him. And even when we are in a state of sin, God will constantly offer us opportunities to make things right with Him and with others because He wants us to spend the rest of eternity with Him.

Do we place our trust and hope in God? How can we resist the temptation to sin and instead remain loyal to God in all things? What can we do to make amends with God after we do fall from grace?

O Lord, fight with me against my own faithlessness and the temptations of the deceitful.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

You have searched me and you know me, Lord. Where can I go from your spirit? From your presence where can I flee? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.

God is ever-present in our lives. There is not a moment when He abandons us, even if we might sometimes feel that way. He is always beside us, even when we turn our backs on Him. He does not leave us alone, no matter how much we might push Him away with sin. He is a loving Father who is always waiting for us to return to Him when we go astray. And sometimes, He goes far out of His way to find us and bring us home. There is no place we can flee that is out of His reach and nothing we can do that He won’t forgive if we are truly sorry and contrite. So, let us not be afraid of Him, but rather embrace Him and make Him a central part of every day.

Do we sometimes think we can escape God? How can we embrace God as central to our lives? What can we do to make ourselves more present to Him as He is ever-present for us?

O Lord, you are always there for us.

Amen.

Twentieth Friday in Ordinary Time

Praise the Lord, my soul! Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD, his God, Who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them.

Sometimes we can become so caught up in doing things that we can forget God wants to be our helper. He wants to protect us from evil. He wants to show us how to know, love, and serve Him and others. He wants to inspire us and guide us to become better people. He gives us every grace to help us to overcome the obstacles in our way and succeed at what is most important in life... being good and faithful servants to God. And this truth should give us an abundance of hope in our futures because with God on our side nothing can stand in the way of us becoming what we are called to be.

What are the things in our lives that we are struggling with? How can we make time to ask God for help when we need? Do we place our trust in God above ourselves?

O Lord, bless and help us in all we think, say, and do.

Amen.

Nineteenth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

The portion of the Lord is his people. For I will sing the LORD’s renown. Oh, proclaim the greatness of our God! The Rock–how faultless are his deeds, how right all his ways!

We should indeed sing the Lord’s renown for not only what He has done throughout the ages, but also what He has done for us. We are merely specks in the grand scheme of His Divine Plan and yet He has become our Heavenly Father, sacrificed His Beloved Son for us, and given us His Holy Spirit. There is nothing on earth, under the seas, or in the skies that can satisfy us more profoundly and completely than God. He is righteous and good and loving beyond all expectations. He is the rock of our salvation and it is upon Him that we should all build our lives.

Do we understand what it means to be part of God’s Holy Family through the Church? In what ways do we proclaim the greatness of our Heavenly Father? How can we imitate Him and all His righteous ways?

O Lord, we will sign of your renown and greatness all the days of our lives.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Dominic, Priest

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD; let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalms to him.

God will provide. He always does. When the night is darkest, He gives us light. When the way is uncertain, He gives us a narrow path to follow. When we need spiritual food and drink, He gives it to us. When we are weak, He carries us. When we are alone, He is with us. When all the world seems to be against us, He stands by our side. He is the Rock of our Salvation and from Him flows all grace, love, and mercy. And all He asks in return is our faith, our hope, and our love.

Do we sing joyfully to God for all He has done for us? Do we acclaim Him as the source of our salvation? How can we provide for the good of others?

O Lord, we sing joyfully to you.

Amen.

Fifteenth Friday of Ordinary Time

I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving, and I will call upon the name of the LORD. My vows to the LORD I will pay in the presence of all his people.

We are all asked by God to make sacrifices. Some are asked to suffer and work harder than others. Some are tried greatly. Others are tried lightly. Each is tried and tested according to their abilities and what God needs from them as followers. He never gives us more than we can handle. He always is with us and provides us the graces to overcome every obstacle. All we have to do is trust in Him, to call on Him in our times of need, and do His Will with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths.

What sacrifices is God asking of us? Are we willing to make them? How can we pay what we owe God in terms of love, loyalty, and trust?

O Lord, we offer you sacrifices of thanksgiving for all you’ve done for us.

Amen.

Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Our help is in the name of the Lord. Then would the waters have overwhelmed us; The torrent would have swept over us; over us then would have swept the raging waters. Blessed be the LORD, who did not leave us a prey to their teeth. 

God will never leave us to be destroyed by those who hate us. We might suffer setbacks and trials, but in the end, God will help us to overcome our enemies. He will free us from their hold and lead us to the Promised Land. He will part the turbulent waters that stand in our way and make a path for us to the other side. And if we trust Him, then we shall march through the sea confident in Him, while our foes are washed away. We might wander through the desert for a time, but in the end the Spirit of God will guide us to the land of milk and honey, the land of our salvation.

Do we call on God to help us in our times of need? Or do we forget all He has done for us and try to fix everything ourselves? How can we become more trusting of God in our daily lives?

O Lord, thank you for all your help.

Amen.

Fourteenth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

In justice, I shall behold your face, O Lord. Hear, O LORD, a just suit; attend to my outcry; hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.

When we are suffering, God is listening. He is watching over us even in our times of trials. He will not abandon us, but He will not always answer us in the way we seek. He may indeed save us from our trials and tribulations, but if He chooses not to do so, we have no reason to be angry with Him. He is just and merciful, but He also will not hand us life on a silver platter. He will not solve all of our problems. He wants us to learn and grow in our own unique ways. He wants us to discover our unique callings and not force them on us. He hears our outcries, but we should remember that He might not answer us at the time or in the way we expect. Instead, He will help us in ways that will offer us a chance to grow in faith, hope, and love. Let us pray we take these opportunities and accept their challenges so one day Our Heavenly Father might say, “Well done, my good and faithful servants.”

How do we suffer? Do we complain and get angry and get even? Or do we offer everything up to God and accept the sacrifices asked of us without hesitation or moaning?

O Lord, attend to my outcries how you deem best.

Amen.

Thirteenth Thursday of Ordinary Time

I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living. Our God is in heaven; whatever he wills, he does. Their idols are silver and gold, the handiwork of men.

The world will often taunt us, “Where is your God?” The worldly will mock and persecute us and call us fools for trusting in a God we cannot see. They will trust in their gods of wealth, fame, success, and pleasure and wonder why we could be so blind as to follow a ghost. However, if we are able to resist their onslaught of ignorance and attacks of malice, we will walk in God’s Presence through our darkest of hours and soon see the light on the other side. Their idols might offer them moments of self-gratification, but they will ultimately leave them empty with no lasting fruits. Our God on the other hand will see us through suffering and persecution to an eternal life that is blessed beyond imagination. So, when we are asked by the world, “Where is your God?” We can say, “He is with us and we are with Him.”

Do we resist the temptation to rely on ourselves or worldly things more than God? How can we be more mindful of God’s Divine Presence in our lives? What can we do to walk more perfectly in the Presence of the Lord?

O Lord, we are with you.

Amen.

Tenth Friday of Ordinary Time

To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise. I believed, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; I said in my alarm, “No man is dependable.” 

When we are going through tough times, we can be tempted to lose hope and despair. However, as long as we remember God is with us in all things, we will be able to fight off this temptation to doubt and worry and instead choose to trust in God no matter what is happening to us. Yes, even when we are greatly afflicted, we can be calm and at peace with the knowledge that God is always by our side. He is there as a comforter, guide, and protector and as long as we let go and let Him work within our lives we will be rewarded, if not in this life, then in the next.

Do we offer up all our trials and tribulations as sacrifices of praise to God? How can we keep hope even in our darkest hours? What can we do to help others through their difficulties?

O Lord, we will always hope in you no matter what afflicts us.

Amen.

Sixth Sunday of Easter

I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb.

Each of our souls is a city. We build them up over the course of our lives. Some of us have straight and narrow roads. Others wide and winding streets. Some place God in the center of their souls. Others put money, fame, passions, and others things in the center of their lives. Still others never settle on a center and their cities are chaotic with no rhyme or reason to them. Hopefully, we are the ones who found ourselves on God... and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our Holy Lamb. If we do this, then our lives will shine for all to see and give glory to God for everything He has done for us.

Where is God in our lives? Is He in the center of our souls or on the outskirts begging to come in? What can we do to build up a holy dwelling place for God within our hearts?

O Lord, enter into the cities of our souls.

Amen.

Fifth Monday of Easter

Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory. Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name give glory because of your mercy, because of your truth. Why should the pagans say, “Where is their God?”

Everything we do should be for God’s glory, honor, or praise. Our every act should have Him as its Source, its Center, and its Summit. No matter what our status, occupation, or position in life is, we should find ways to imitate Christ. Our days should be filled with works of charity and mercy toward whoever comes our way, even our enemies and those whom we find most difficult to love. We should magnify God in our work and in play by having a charitable mindset in all things. Our lives should constantly point others toward God. And if we receive praise for what we do, then we should make clear God is the source of all our good.

Do we give glory to God as often as we should? Do our thoughts, words, and works magnify the goodness of our Lord? Do our lives reveal the presence of God to others?

O Lord, grant us the graces we need to show others that you are with us.

Amen.

Fourth Thursday of Easter

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. "My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him, and through my name shall his horn be exalted. He shall say of me, 'You are my father, my God, the Rock, my savior.'"

God’s faithfulness and mercy are always with us just as He is always with us through the presence of the Divine Image He has engraved within our souls. His presence is in us every step of our way through this journey called life. And if we tend and take care of the Divine Image within us, then we, too, will be exulted one day and enter into the kingdom. We, like David, will be able to say to God, “You are our Father, God, Rock and Savior. Thank you for all you’ve done for us.”

Do we remember that God is with us? How should we amend our lives so we do remember this truth, especially when we are most tempted? Are we able to sing the goodness of the Lord along with David and all our fore-bearers in the faith?

O Lord, you are our Father, God, Rock, and Savior.

Amen.

Fourth Sunday of Easter

They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or any heat strike them. For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

God is a Good Shepherd. He is constantly looking out for our best interests. If we begin to wander away from Him, He gives us ample warning. If we put ourselves before others, He reminds us what is true important. If we get into danger, He guards us. If we are lost, He will guide us. If we are in need, He provides for us. If we are in sorrow, He comforts us. If we have fallen into sin, He offers us His Divine Grace to help us return to Him.

Are we good shepherds of those who are put into our care? How can we become better shepherds of others? Are our ears open for God to call us?

O Lord, with you, we will never be spiritually hungry or thirsty.

Amen.

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? All who see me scoff at me; they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads: “He relied on the LORD; let him deliver him, let him rescue him, if he loves him.”

There are times in our lives when we feel abandoned. Our family, our friends, our neighbors fail us in some great or small way or persecute us in some manner. They mock us... perhaps for our beliefs or our way of life or any number of things. They scoff at us and shake their heads at us. Sometimes we even feel God has left us, but nothing can be further from the truth. He is always with us and if we rely on Him, He will deliver us from our fears, doubts, worries, and foes. He will rescue us because He loves us even to the point of sacrificing His Only Beloved Son for us on the cross.

How can we fight off the feeling of abandonment? What can we do to remind ourselves that God is with us? Are we willing to place our lives in God’s Hands and rely on His saving grace?

O Lord, rescue us.

Amen.

Fifth Friday of Lent

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and he heard my voice. I love you, O LORD, my strength, O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.

God is always listening for our voice, in good times and in our distress. He waits patiently for us to turn to Him in our triumphs and our hours of need. He hears our prayers of thanksgiving as well as those of petition. He is our Rock in Whom we trust. He is our fortress against fear, doubt, and worries. He is our deliverer from sin, death, and evil. If we come to Him with humble and contrite hearts, He will welcome us into His Grace and lead us to eternal life.

Do we believe God is listening? Then, why do we hesitate or forget to praise His Holy Name, ask Him for help, or plead for His Mercy? How can we show our love for God, Who shows us love and compassion every moment of our lives?

O Lord, we call upon you, hear our voices.

Amen.