David Said it Better

During prayer I have sometimes wondered why God has stuck by me all this time, even when I didn't always stick by him. And why he continues to bless me with his love, mercy and grace..."Me Lord? Really?" David said it better today in the mass readings though.

"Who am I, Lord GOD, and who are the members of my house, that you have brought me to this point?...Lord GOD, you are God and your words are truth; you have made this generous promise to your servant." (2Samuel)

St. Angela Merici Pray for Us!

I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1)

O God, merciful Father,
St. Angela Merici in which you have given to your Church
a model of charity wise and brave,
ago 'for his example and his intercession
we can understand and bear witness to the renewing power of the Gospel.
Through Christ our Lord.

Grant us, we pray for the merits of St. Angela and her patronage of grace with confidence ...
that we ask of you. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Never to Be Silent

Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life, And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part in ending abortion.

Today I commit myself
Never to be silent,
Never to be passive,
Never to be forgetful of the unborn.

I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, And never to stop defending life Until all my brothers and sisters are protected, And our nation once again becomes A nation with liberty and justice Not just for some, but for all, Through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Stubborn

"May you be blessed forever, Lord, for offering your hand of love in my darkest, most lonely moments, for loving me more than I love myself, and for putting up with such a stubborn soul as mine." ~St. Teresa of Avila

You Have Me

My Heart

In the Bleak Midwinter
By Christina Rossetti

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Pray for Us

"What was the first rule of our dear Savior's life? You know it was to do His Father's will. Well, then, the first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly to do it in the manner He wills; and thirdly, to do it because it is His willl. I know what is His will by those who direct me; whatever they bid me do, if it is ever so small in itself, is the will of God for me. Then, do it in the manner He wills it." ~St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Your Great Name

“Glorious name, gracious name, name of love and of power! Through you sins are forgiven, through you enemies are vanquished, through you the sick are freed from their illness, through you those suffering in trials are made strong and cheerful." ~ St. Bernardine of Siena

 



Vulnerable

Pope Francis tweeted today, "God does not reveal himself in strength or power, but in the weakness and fragility of a newborn babe." This is something I thought about after mass today, in the silence, before our parish nativity. As the lights dimmed I was reflecting about just how much God humbled himself to come to us as a child. To put his trust in humans to care for him, to listen to God; be obedient... even though our track records through history had not been so good. He still did it, the will of the Father.

Made me start to ask myself do I have that same trust in God? To make myself vulnerable. Am I able to humble myself in ways that may seem radical? I pray that I do.

 

Mary, the Holy Mother of God

St. Cyril of Alexandria's
Litany of Praise of the Mother of God

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God, Virgin and Mother! Morning Star, perfect vessel.
We salute thee, Mother of God.

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God! Holy temple in which God Himself was conceived.
We salute thee, Mother of God.

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God! Chaste and pure dove.
We salute thee, Mother of God.

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God! Ever-effulgent light; from thee proceedeth the Sun of Justice.

We salute thee, Mother of God.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God! Thou didst enclose in thy sacred womb the One Who cannot be encompassed.

We salute thee, Mother of God.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God! With the shepherds we sing the praise of God, and with the angels the song of thanksgiving: Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to men of good will.

We salute thee, Mother of God.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God! Through thee came to us the Conqueror and the triumphant Vanquisher of hell.

We salute thee, Mother of God.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God! Through thee blossoms the splendor of the resurrection.
We salute thee, Mother of God.

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God! Thou hast saved every faithful Christian.
We salute thee, Mother of God.

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God! Who can praise thee worthily, O glorious Virgin Mary!
We salute thee, Mother of God."