Lord, I offer you my whole self: my thoughts, desires, decisions, actions, hopes, fears, weaknesses, failures and petty successes. I open my entire being to you, aware that you know everything already. I’m certain of your mercy and of the purifying power of your penetrating, loving gaze.
Jesus, let me fulfill your command of charity.
We are called to an intimate friendship with the Holy Spirit, the “Sweet Guest of the Soul.” Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit upon us at our baptism to be the craftsman of our holiness, and our consolation and strength as we await Christ’s return.
Today we celebrate Saint Dymphna who is the patron saint of mental disorders. As many struggle with disconnection, anxiety and loneliness, let’s pray for the presence of God to envelope these hurting minds and hearts.
No one wants to face the world alone and unaided and we do not have to because we have the help of Christ’s advocate. Let’s be aware of the gentle presence of the Holy Spirit in our souls. Let’s be attentive and docile to his inspirations and movements to console our weary hearts.
Lord, as I begin this prayer, I offer you my whole self: my thoughts, desires, decisions, actions, hopes, fears, weaknesses, failures, and petty successes. I open my entire being to you, aware that you know everything already. I’m certain of your mercy and of the purifying power of your penetrating, loving gaze. Amen
Jesus stresses two essential qualities for effective prayer: confidence and perseverance. Prayer brings our mind into the brightness of divine light and exposes our will to the warmth of divine love. Nothing else can purge our mind from its ignorance and our will from disordered affections. As St. Francis de Sales says: It is a blessed fountain which, as it flows, revives our good desires and causes them to bring forth fruit, washes away the stains of infirmity from our soul and calms the passions of our hearts.
When we put our heart at Jesus’ feet, this is the gift that he loves the most.
Lord, grant us the confidence and perseverance to meet you in prayer, bringing us into the light of your face. Amen
Our Lady of Fatima is a Marian devotion that offers hope and protection to those who are suffering. This is the title given to the Virgin Mary as she appeared before three shepherd children in the village of Fatima Portugal in 1917. She promised that God would grant peace to the entire world if Her requests for prayer, reparation and consecration were heard and obeyed.
How healthy and strong is your prayer life? And your sacrifice for the reparation of sins? Are you committed to holiness and being a saint?
In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart; I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33). The message of Fatima invites us to trust in this promise.
Lord, call us to be hope in this suffering world in which we live while being called to our eternal home. Amen
Heavenly Father, I lift up to you today my mothers and all mothers. Bless them with strength to continue to care for their children, with the same bold, selflessness Mary showed Jesus. Help my mother and all mothers feel our gratitude and truly know their impact. May we honor them today and on all days as vessels of Your love. In Your name I pray. Amen.
The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help,
or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence
I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To thee do I come,
before thee I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
We all need to surrender and trust God. We learn to trust God beyond our psychological experiences. We become more courageous in facing, and letting go of the dark corners of ourselves and begin to participate, actively in dismantling all our pre-rational emotional crutches. We cannot escape from the world that is inside us, but we can acknowledge and confront it. The invitation to allow God to change our motivation from selfishness to divine love IS the transforming union.
Lord, I was born a sinner, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from my heart, so you can teach me to be wise in my being. Purify me for my sins, and I will be clean; wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Amen
We are all broken, that’s how the light gets in. Even so we can live with lightness and joy as this is God‘s promise if you ask God to lift the heaviness and fill you with light today.
Lord, create in me, a clean heart, oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Amen
Today is the Christian holiday that celebrates Jesus Christ’s ascension into heaven 40 days after Easter Sunday. In the Ascension, we find the completion of Christ’s earthly mission – our redemption is accomplished and we celebrate the victory.
In his Passion, Jesus lovingly bears the weight of the whole world’s sin, from the beginning to eternity. In his Crucifixion, he is raised up that he might defeat death. In his Resurrection, he unveils the life to come. And today, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, is raised up in glory, opening our heavenly path to heavenly glory. We are indeed bound for heaven and the Ascension reminds us that our gaze is to be fixed on Christ in glory as we labor tirelessly for him in this present age.
O God, in your mercy help us as we pray. Just as we believe the Savior of the world is seated with you in your majesty, we may also be assured that he dwells with us as he has promised, even to the end of the age; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
When we search the world, it doesn’t fill us. The empty praise and treasures that fade are never enough. Our hearts are restless until we allow God to put us back together and every desire is satisfied by this agape love.
You turn mourning into dancing and give beauty for ashes. You turn shame into glory, and turn graves into gardens. There is nothing better than You.
Lord, there’s nothing better than you, I’m not afraid to show you my weakness, my failures and flaws. You’ve seen them all and you call me friend because you are everywhere. There is not a place where your mercy and Grace won’t find me.
God welcomes us into the mystery. Into the circle of love between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are called to remain in this love but we forget. Let us wake up and remember.
Lord, we remember you, and remembrance leads us to worship, and as we worship you, our worship leads to communion, we respond to your invitation, we remember you.
Smitten With Goodness 