Reflection   “Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through perseverance.”   ~ Ovid    Prayer   Merciful God,  We face many difficulties throughout life and fall many times in our striving to be dedicated disciples. Yet

Prayer

Merciful God,

We face many difficulties throughout life and fall many times in our striving to be dedicated disciples. Yet we trust in your forgiveness and mercy. Keep us steadfast in faith and faithful in perseverance. Fill us with your Holy Spirit that we might find the strength to remain constant in hope and love. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope

Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope

Prayer

Lord of life,

Saint Pius X’s coat of arms had at its center an anchor cast into the midst of a stormy sea. Open our hearts to your presence and love. Help us to recognize that devotion to you is our anchor in the midst of the stormy seas we encounter. May the faith of Saint Pius X strengthen our trust in you and give us the courage to hold fast to our anchor. We make this prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Memorial of St. Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church

Memorial of St. Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church

Prayer

Eternal and ever-living God,

We thank you for the many blessings you give us, for the many gifts you bestow upon us. Help us to be always mindful that the gifts we receive are intended for the promotion of the good of all. Touch our hearts that we might recognize that our gifts and talents are best expressed when we use them as vehicles of love for others. Inspire us, through the lives of saints, to lead lives of selfless love. We make this prayer in the name of the Lord who calls each of us to holiness. Amen.

World Humanitarian Day

World Humanitarian Day

Prayer

God of goodness,

Today, we celebrate World Humanitarian Day. May our celebration of this day enliven within us hearts dedicated to the service of others. Inspire us, through the gift of your Holy Spirit, to pursue the good of others. May our acts of kindness and goodness combine to build a world where justice and peace flourish. In hope, we pray. Amen.

     

 
    Reflection   “To make a difference in someone’s life you don’t have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful, or perfect. You just have to care.” ~ Mandy Hale    Prayer   Lord of life,  It seems our problems grow more complex by the day. Yet, we

Prayer

Lord of life,

It seems our problems grow more complex by the day. Yet, we know in our interpersonal relationships and encounters, we can still make a difference in the lives of others through our commitment to care. Fill us with the gift of your Holy Spirit that we might remain steadfast in our commitment to care for all those people whom we encounter this and every day. Amen.

Our Lady of Knock

Our Lady of Knock

Prayer

Compassionate God,

Today, we recall the appearance of Mary the mother of Jesus along with Saint Joseph and Saint John the Evangelist in County Mayo in Ireland in 1879. The mother of your son Jesus is a model for us because she heard the word of God and acted on it. As we recall inspiration Mary continues to be in the lives of so many of the faithful, stir within our hearts love for her and dedication to your call in our lives. May we, moved by the example of Mary, cultivate the development of minds open to hearing your word and hearts filled with the courage to act on it. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

     

 
    Reflection   “There are only two ways to live your life. One is though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” ~ Albert Einstein    Prayer   Merciful God,   Too often, we look for you high up and far away a

Prayer

Merciful God,

Too often, we look for you high up and far away and wait for miracles in the form of parting seas. As a result, we too often miss the daily miracles through which you reveal your loving presence. Today, we thank you for the gift of our frontline workers who daily perform miracles of compassion and care. As we continue to deal with the reality of pandemic, fill our hearts with gratitude for all those who daily sacrifice and risk in the effort to create a safe, secure, healthy world. We pray in the name of the God of miracles. Amen.