INNER PEACE T A'Kempis "Turn ye to God with your whole heart...abandon the vanities of this world...and you shall find great peace."

DAZZLING Henry Vaughn "There is in our God, some say, a deep but puzzling darkness." Our God is Light that shines forever. Darkness is only our ignorance showing itself. To be kinder: We seek Him and He is there but we do not 'see' Him...it is our faith that 'sees' Him. This faith, He inspires...Gave it as a gift...It is a richness that many would like to possess but, sadly, do not yet.Let them boldly ASK.

INTO THE LIGHT Dan Koontz "None of us can ever save himself, we are the instruments of each others' salvation...By the hope (through His grace) we give to others, we lift ourselves out of the darkness."

PARDON-PEACE Isaias 12:1 "...Lord, praised be Thy name for the storm is passed and I am safe in Your pardon...Oh, I am at peace!" How happy is the soul that seeks and finds the Lord in heartfelt prayer...nothing else is of such happiness.

EXPECT TRIALS T A'Kempis "Behold...you cannot have both...to reign with Christ in glory and to be spared any trial or temptation in this life." 'The way of the Cross'...if there was a better, easier way would He not tell His mother? And she what she suffered. Mater Dolorosa ora.

TO SING HIS PRAISE Ps 91 (Adapted from) "Sweet it is to sing His praise...O most High, how great Thy name. All Thy works delight us so. O to be as trees planted in Thy courts, fruitful and a delight to see...Indeed, a joyful place to be.How beautiful is the prayer of praise for God...Wonderful is Thy kindness...Light You are for our former blindness...What He has done, has been done so well...Gladly of His works we tell...Refuge You are for us...In all times of woe...Your aid is not too slow...How glad the heart that resounds with gratitude and gladsome song...We sing in the early morning light...And when we see His stars in the night. To love Him well...His praises to lovingly tell."

IF I HAVE NOT CHARITY...Paul reminds us of the great need to do what we do in service BUT in great love. The generous deed will count for zero if there is not love backing it up. Also, by reverse, a very tiny deed done with great love is immense in God's eyes. Lord, give us this gift 'caritas.'

WHERE CAN SATAN SLEEP? Fulton Sheen "How busy he is in the places of prayer and penance...where there is love for God...and loving service to the poor. There...he cannot sleep. He must be at work to destroy goodness. BUT in the places where sin is in vogue...where men call 'evil good and good evil' There he shall sleep so peacfully for these already belong to him. Pray that you always belong to Jesus, most merciful and kindly King of all."

SIMPLICITY T A Kempis "How blessed is that simplicity which leaves all questioning and travels on the clear and plain plan that God intends for us." He would not ask us to do His will...and then hide it from us. Oh kind and most merciful One we pray: That we know and love Your will for us.

TRAPS "Think of the idols men have made. God detests them and yet man seeks after them that entangle their souls and set full of traps for the unwary." Lord, aid us on the journey...let see more clearly the wise path and the foolish one...Aid us in choices.

ALL WITHOUT DIFFICULTY Job 42:2 "Lord, I fully admit that Thou canst do all things...no thought is to difficult for Thee to grasp nor make come into being." Lord, increase our faith. Let us pray to Thee with confident hearts.

PRAYER THAT WINS THEE...Judith 9:16 "...from a humble soul the prayer comes that wins Thee." Give us this humility of heart that so pleases You. Mindful of our littleness, how can we come to prayer in pride?

BLESSED ARE YOU (Various parts of New Testament) "Blessed are you, the humble of heart who labor to bring peace...the Kingdom shall have a place for you...Blessed are they who are meek and humble and joyful knowing the blessings that God supplies...Blessed are the mourners, for they shall find comfort indeed...Blessed are who desire the holiness of servants of God and who hunger for His grace...Blessed are they who seek not self but others in varius needs..Blessed are they who are concerned with justice, fairness, peace...Blessed are those who hunger for peace in the world for peace shall have its day...Blessed are the persecuted for a day will come for them that shall be joyful, indeed...Blessed are the hated for God's sake for God shall see and seek peaceful settlements...Blessed are they who are reviled for My Name's sake... they shall receive honor themselves...Blessed are they who know pain for a special healing awaits them. Blessed are those whom the Spirit fills...They shall know love, joy and peace...Blessed are the long suffering...Thy shall learn affability, peace and patient gentleness. Blessed are they who strive for self control...They shall find the aid they need. There is but one body but many parts...Each part needs the others for together, they can work much good.Blessed are they who welcome the Spirit for they shall be surprised at His work done through them. There is only One Whom we serve...but many are the works done to serve that One...To sum up: Many are the needs and there is one Giver in Whom we trust.." We are only one and the needs are many but so powerful is our God that He shall (and does) intervene for great good. Thanks be to God

A MISSION FOR EACH St John Neumann "Everyone who breathes, high and low, educated and ignorant, young and old, man or woman, has a mission, has a work." Lord, I pray that I do Your work well and solely to please You. Let me not seek any praise for my efforts. Only let all my strivings be to Your glory. I have a mission...I pray to do all that that implies...and do it with a most loving heart.

HOW FAR HAVE COME? T A'Kempis "We may think of ourselves as just beginners in the journey to a deeper love for God...and for our neighbor. But, really, how far have we traveled?" We do not know, but He does. Lord, You know all things...You know where we are on the journey...May we move ever closer to You for that is our greatest wealth. Those who have no time for You...are poor indeed. Bless them...bring them closer. How sad...those who care so little for You and things that pertain to You.

HATRED FOR SIN T A'Kempis "He who would live a spiritual life...first of all must desire to be parted from all that stains the soul." Lord, be Thou the Fountain of graces that splashes on us all the helps we sinners need. Misere Domine.

STAY NEAR, LORD H. Jenz "Friends move into our lives and out again...but God remains steadfast." Beautiful thought for the soul. We know that He does not give up on us. He is not here today, gone on the morrow. Steadfast is He...like a rock fortress...like a brass wall...like the flow of the river. Lord, let us always be grateful for Your constancy...fidelity...caring. Gratias agimus Domine.

SILENCE THAT IS FULL OF PRAYER T Merton "Truth arises in the silence of being focused on the tremendous Presence of God...We sink into the attentive silence and we hear the truth bearing down upon us...caressing our souls...Oh, the silence of God in which He teaches the soul!" Lord, give us this silence. The noises of life fill us with distraction...no wonder we say 'Lord, I didn't hear You say that.' When we are still and empty and focused on Him...wow...what the soul hears. A friend prays: "Lord, in the silence pray for me the prayer I do not yet know...Fill me with the love and wisdom I do not yet possess...Write upon my heart words I shall never forget...tho I know them not yet." Silencio...

ALL ALONE? Never allow yourself to sit in isolation. Remember that He said 'I am with you all days.' Remember others are lonely too...go and find one. Together you make a team of companionship. In fact, that may be the very reason that God allowed you to feel the pain of 'all alone.' To think of others frees us up for better things. Praise Him...Love Him.

LORD,MOST MERCIFUL Lord, compassionate One, hear our prayer this day. We pray for all departed ones...even those unknown to us...those who have no soul that believes in aid by prayer for another...forgotten ones...souls of people we have been blessed by...souls of the unjust (We remember how Your rain falls on the fields of the just AND the unjust)...those most forgotten souls...those who have stayed the very longest time in that place of waiting. We hear You say: The One who made the ear, shall He not hear? The One who made the eye, shall He not see...The creator of the heart...shall He not know how to love? Amen. Amen. Laudate...

HE SHALL LEAD US Isaias 2-3 Many shall make their way to the mountain...They shall be taught there and He shall point each one to the path that is best for them." Lord, let us climb the mountain and be with You in prayer. What glory we wish You to have...what needs we have to pour out before You. How merciful...How kindly Thou art!

WILL OF GOD Thomas Merton "The problem is life itself. Life comes not by reasoning, life comes by living. Not until we have lived does prudence have something to work on...and a failure is the start of a 'working it out.' Thus, we come to the will of God for us." Lord, show us Thy will...aid us...and it is enough for us.

ST ELIZABETH ANN SETON "He is more with us than were are with ourselves." Lord, let us learn how close You are to all. Even the worst sinner in the world, has the Lord whispering in his ear 'Come to Me' "I am the Savior of the world...Why do you not turn to Me?' He 'pesters' the sinner out of immense love. Remember the story of the Prodigal...' The father seeing him in the distance RUNS to greet him , and love him, and have feast in honor of his return.

SUCH PEACE T A'Kempis "Lift up your heart and eyes to the Lord. Ask for Hi pardon and peace. Learn the vain things to the vain people but do thou dwell in God and dwell in His thought. Close the door...be alone with Him. How rich this time is. Where else is such peace?" Lord, teach us for we are slow to wisdom and quick to nonsense.

TO REMEMBER HIS CROSS St. Rose of Lima "Apart from the Cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to Heaven." Lord, teach us the way of the Cross...a way of great love...and of the emptying of self. In order to pray while working, some souls divide the task into five parts (Five wounds of Christ). The task gets done and the soul has had a time for silent prayer. How many times in the day could we be getting things done but still letting our hearts be mindful of the most kindly One.

UNITY OCTAVE Division is not of God's making...nor His plan. To love is not an emotion...it is a choice. Lord, we CHOOSE to love and respect others...no matter how they may understand You. Who has complete knowledge of Thee...save only the other two of the Trinity? 'That they all may be one...'

CONVERSION OF PAUL...the last day of the Octave for Unity. Lord, You have called us all 'Beloved.' Let us live that way 'all are beloved by the Lord Most High.'

MERCY BECKONS Isaias 1:18 "Come back, said the Lord...Crimson dyed be your sins...they shall be white as snow." Lord of kindness and compassion, our hearts are grateful for Your merciful love.

DIVINE POTTER Wisdom 15:7 "Despise we never the potter's handiwork...here a cup...there a dish...now a jar...then a bowl. From the same clay they have all come...the Potter decides what comes next." Lord, may we learn surrender and the peace that follows it.

PEACE OF SOUL T A'Kempis "What great peace and tranquility would he have if he stopped the useless worry and solicitude about matters of this life and thought only about thoughts of God!...and to remember the Divine Mercy and kindness of our God.

AGAIN, UNITY OCTAVE The divisions we see among believers are a source of scandal to outsiders. They can rightly say 'Look, they don't even practice what they preach.' Lord, You love all mankind...our names are written on the palm of Your hand...hear us in this prayer for unity, mutual respect, loving regard for those who may differ with us in matters of belief.

TEMPTATION Even Christ endured them...so He knows all about them...first hand. I believe what one writer said 'Resist beginning...When the flame is small like a twig burning, it is easily put out...but when the forest is ablaze...THEN we have a real task". Another good step: Talk to God about something else...like the many blessings that He has given...like the needs of those who are dying now and have not a shred of faith to carry them home. Blessings. He knows you through and through...He knows and loves each one. Even the least among you.

SUCCESS J. Winters "I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it." Lord...help us in our view of ourselves. It is only to succeed in Your plan that we ought to care about. I am not perfect...but I went on trying to love You more...just the way I am...safe in Your care. You know all things...You know that this sinner does love You...even without 'success.'

LIVING WITH SELF Wisdom 17:20 ",,,each man has the heavy burden to bear, the burden of his own companionship." When we have done wrong and not asked for pardon, we have an unhappiness nestled in our heart and it is not to carry it around. The man of clear conscience has repented and has the joy of living with his 'forgiven' self. The choice is up to the individual. 'Are you enjoying your self-companionship?'

HE SHALL GUIDE Wisdom 18:3 "...Thy own chosen people...to them, You gave a pillar of fire to guide them...and a sun not to harm them..." Joy for us...we rejoice in the mercy and kindness of our God! We shall find our way!

WHAT WE LOVE Thomas Merton "...the things we love tell on us...a person is good when they rejoice in good...and evil when they delight in evil." Lord, guard our hearts. Let us love truly all that is good...You are the Author of good...To draw near to goodness is to sit in Your Presence in loving adoration. Ad Te clamavi, Domine.

IMITATION Lord Christ, grant to us the grace of imitating You for that would be the absolute right path for us. Be with us...show us...aid us...for we wish to resemble Thee, if only in the slightest degree.

FREE Anne Lindbergh 'Him that I love, I wish to free...even from me.' Lord, forgive us for the self-seeking that we called 'love.' It was not love...it was possession. How free You have made us...'the truth shall make you free.' When catch a butterfly, we gaze at it.. .and, if we love it truly, we send it on its way.

UNITY OCTAVE '...that they all may be one.' Lord...give us that gift we most need in the world...perhaps, more compassion...perhaps more mutual respect...perhaps less selfishness...etc. Give us, merciful God, a gift that fits our needs right now...like the glove that fits the hand. We boldly ask for You told us to 'knock' and be a pestering beggar or neighbor at midnight.'

UNITY OCTAVE Jan 18 to Jan 25th...an invitation for all people to pray to God as they understand Him and to ask for unity, love and peace between all religious faiths. Does not the world need a little more love, respect, caring, unselfish thoughtfulness, non biasedl thinking?...etc. Please join "That they all may be one, o Father, as Thou in me and I in Thee." Every religion that we know of has a maxim to this effect "Treat the neighbor well...like you hope to be treated" or a principle, worded differently, but meaning the same thing. Come and pray with us.

WHAT TO LEAVE ALONE In the spiritual life, there are things to be left alone: (In my opinion) What others have done...What faults others might have...the hurts that were way back in the past...the thoughts that lead us away like 'plans for today.' our own past and forgiven sins, our great plans for good that fell apart,that which we did not make and so do not have to fix. Let us be still...let God be in charge...Go only where He leads...Have great trust and faith and hope...and crown these all with love. Lord, I love Thee...increase in me the ability to love You more and more.

A LITTLE HUMOR (Unknown) "God promised women that they could find a perfect husband in all corners of the earth...Then He made the world round!!! In a good marriage, each realizes that they are not perfect and that they should not expect perfection to the highest degree. Almost daily, if we want harmony, we must ask pardon and extend pardon. In fact, this exchange makes for a wonderful marriage. In the rose garden, there are thorns and roses...which are you going to make?

HIS WILL NOT MINE Wisdom 5:5 "Lord, am I not Thy servant..and to Thy service born?" My gladness of heart will grow each time I turn to the Divine Will and offer all my effort up to Him.

LOVE FOR GOD Thomas A'Kempis "If I knew all that there was to know and cared not for God, what would be my gain...what would that total up to?" Lord, You are Love Itself...teach us.

JESUS OVER ALL St Kateri Tekawitha "I am not my own; I have given myself to Jesus. He must be my only love." This beautiful native American suffered martyrdom for her faith. We note the theme of her life...dedication to Christ and the will of Christ in her life. "Singleness of the heart' would be her first lesson for us.

EVERYTHING St Clare of Assisi "Love God, serve God: everything is in that." The heart that is simple and uncluttered is a heart in peace. God, teach us the way.

THE MOST LOVING HEART OF GOD Wisdom 11:25 "Lord, Almighty, hate and create Thou couldst not...all are loved by You.." Joyful thought for us with all our good intentions and actualities that fall short.

IN GOD'S HOUSE Went to a funeral today. Man, only 69, in a nearby parish died of a heart attack. Bob was such a great example of what it means to give of one's self. Countless hours of effort...everyday, he was in the church helping, serving, welcoming. So glad he is now in the Eternal home of God. And is probably taking care of something that might need fixing. Blessed are you...come into the house of my Father.

PRUDENCE Wisdom 7:7 "To God I prayed and the spirit of wisdom came upon me...This is how prudence came to dwell in me." To live a prudent life is to see things in proper light...this is worthwhile..this is to be avoided...this is to serve...this is to pray...this is to offer to God all of our lives to live simply in His Divine will. Each one would have his/her own list, of course, but in it all, we want what God wants in our lives.

PRIDE IN KNOWLEDGE T A'Kempis " Be not drawn to seeking wisdom upon wisdom...always remember the things you do not know far outweigh the the things you do know," Lord, let us be wise in the ways that please You most.

SIGN OF THE CROSS When Our Lady appeared to Bernadette at Lourdes, she told her "When you cross yourself...do it widely and generously for you are wrapping around yourself the loving mercy and kindness of God." What a great gesture-prayer this is!

I CALLED TO HIM Wisdom 8:21 "...I was wise enough to know the Source of all good, so earnestly I turned to the Almighty." He never looks away when a soul searches for Him.

PRAY FOR OTHERS St Bernardette of Lourdes (on her First Communion Day) "I love You O Jesus. Forgive all sinners. For them, I give my life." Daily, we ought to pray for those who have strayed away. Truly, we all need the kindly mercy of God.

LOVE AND GRATITUDE Thomas Merton "God is glorified by His own works and gifts in us and He is most glorified by those in whom His mercy has produced the greatest love and gratitude." Lord, may we be more loving and more thankful for all Your gifts.

HOW FAIR THY FACE Song of Songs 3:4 "O come, so beautiful, so beloved...show me Thy face...let me hear Thy voice which is sweet as Thy face is fair." So kind and merciful...He is easy to love.

HIS HOLY NAME T A'Kempis "Let all peoples...all nations magnify Thy most glorious name...sweet it i and so powerful. Let them sing out with great joy and fervor of heart." I know a man who every time he hears the Name of God badly used, makes an interior act of 'blessing the Most Holy Name.' Not a bad idea...The all holy One is offended so much when He ought to receive all our reverence.

OVER ALL THINGS Proverbs 21:31 "Against the Lord's will and design, there is no wisdom, no prudence,no counsel higher." No wonder the saints often spoke and wrote about 'the will of God.' Is that not the map of life for us?

MERCY OF THE LORD Ps 115:2 "The Lord's mercies have never failed me." How beautiful a prayer of confidence in the kindness of God. Too often we fail to keep this in mind when we are judging someone...or even judging self.May the love and mercy of God generate for us all,Thy pardon, Thy blessing, Thy peace.

YEARN Wisdom 1:1 "Learn to love justice, learn to ponder thoughts of God and sincerely aspire to Him." With daily prayer, it is not so difficult to keep an attitude of aspiration for Him and the things He loves.

CONFIDENCE IN GOD St Padre Pio "Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer." So many times we pray...then we continue to worry. How well have we prayed?

WOUNDED Song of Songs 5:9 "What a wound Thou hast made, my God, in this heart of mine...pierced by the arrow of Thy love." God, in this heart of mine." One thinks of Teresa of Avila or Teresa of Calcutta...wounded hearts that could not be filled unless they were filled with compassion for all in need...and with the love of God to the brim.

PATIENT..Ps 129:5 "My soul waits patiently for the Lord..like the sentinel who watches for the dawn."To live a spiritual life is to daily draw near to God, knowing that someday you shall be with Him in the Kingdom and He blesses those who are resigned and patient. 'He knows what He is about'...as Newman said.

HUMBLE T A'Kempis "..to the best of thy ability do willingly and gladly what lies within your abilities...God will do the rest." Comforting words for all who cannot change all the negative things that are around them...and have come to understand that He does not ask the impossible.

FAITH IN GOD Jeremias 32:27 "Am I not the Lord, the God of all that is? How should any task be too difficult for Me." O Lord, let us always come to You and carry with us a lively faith in You...in Your love...in Your power.

A CERTAIN DIGNITY Lester Roloff "God's greatest blessings are upon those who show a proper respect for the poor and the needy." It might just be that we might fall into hardship similar to theirs...how would like to be treated then?

CHARITY Song of Songs Ch 7:7 "Love is a fire no waters can quench...even floods shall not put out. In love, one gives all he has and counts it as nothing lost." Lord, give us the gift of loving and not counting the cost. St Elizabeth Ann Seton (Jan 4th) taught her nuns this principle: To love is to give and not to count the cost.

HIDDEN IDENTITY T Merton "And so we venerate in the saints this secret innocence of theirs hidden perfectly in God." We admire this goodness in the holy people we know...it is this secret love and reverence for God. There is a part of them known only to God...and that makes it even more precious. All you saints pray for us sinners.

REMORSE Job 42:5 "Lord, I have heard Thy voice; nay, I have even seen Thee and in remorse I do penance in dust and ashes." When we consider the wonderful goodness of God and our many short comings, we realize that we need to do penance. How pleased is the Lord with the return of wandering souls...He waits to embrace each one. He even says 'thy sins shall be as far away as the east is from the west.'

HOLY SPIRIT Isaias 59:21 "...the Lord says: Spirit of mine that dwells in thee, words of mine entrusted to thy lips.." The Lord has promised that He will inspire us to the words that will aid, comfort, give peace, etc. Our gentlest words are born in Him.

GOD-DESIRE Song of Songs Chapter 2: 3 "Truly my hearts longs for Him...like a cool shady tree to rest under...like a fruit sweet to the taste...like the fnding of an apple tree in the wild...so is my desire to be with Him." Lord, keep alive in our hearts, those good intentions we make of always staying beneath the shadow of Thy wings.

SIMPLE AND HUMBLE T A Kempis "Truly Thou art a hidden God...but...Thy conversation is with the humble and simple." Lord, grant this: That we may learn the way of humility and simplicity from the example of Jesus and that we may hear Thy voice deep within. Daily let us find a little time for stillness in His Presence. Blessed indeed.

THEY FOUND HIM...Mary and Joseph looked for the Christ Child and found Him in the temple. 'Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?' He replied to them with kindly smile. We might be lead to pray: Lord, Jesus, teach us to be daily in our Father's house...in His will...in His peace and justice...in His love. Surely, this is most worthwhile: 'To dwell in My Father's house.'

LORD GOD OF ALL AGES...Lord, we turn to You as the New Year arrives. Our needs are great but Thy generosity is far greater than our needs. May we carry this assurance with us all year through...that in all things You are watching, caring, and providing. Keep us in this spirit of Faith and Hope and Charity. How blessed shall we be... if always close to Thee.

DRAW ME Song of Songs Ch 1:3 ""Draw me after Thee where Thou wilt: see we hasten after Thee..." Lord, give me this desire: to be Yours in time and eternity. So many lesser things call to me...foolish for me to run in their direction. Be Thou an invitation and a 'pull' towards to Thee. Who else...what else...would I trade for You?

SEND ME Isaias 6:8 "I heard the Lord ask about who He should send to be His messenger. I said 'Send me...here I am at Thy bidding...I will go to tell the news.' Each of us has a bit of missionary on our agenda...He looks for us to spread the Good News by our example and, sometimes, by our words. Francis said it well: 'We go forth preaching the Gospel...sometimes, we use words.'

AID Psalm 79:3 "Lord...come to our aid, restore us as we are in need; smile upon us and we shall be joyful in our deliverance." May we always remember our need for God...and also remember His mercy and kindness which prompts Him to aid us.

GIFTS OF GRACE T A 'Kempis "If you will deny self, you will find Me. Pass by self seeking and you shall be ahead. With denial of self, comes gifts of grace." Lord, teach us the way of less self and more of Thee.

BE NOT FOOLISH Ecclesiastes 10:1 " What...wouldst thou barter away wisdom and honor for a moment's folly?" We are called to love daily and faithfully. When we fail, we hurry back to God's loving Presence where we should have stayed. Mercy of God...How full and rich is this quality of His.

THREE KINGS Sunday, we celebrate the coming of the wise men and so the Lord is seen by the gentiles. They were eager to come to Him. A lesson for us...Are we eager to draw near to Him...to adore Him... to bow in awe before the Light of the World and the Lord Who shall come on the last day? The Pope reminded us, on Christmas eve,"Let God In" How often we are too busy for prayer...even the simple prayer of quiet pondering. Mary can teach us how to 'ponder.' What moments of grace we miss when we neglect prayer time.

HOW GREAT Psalm 8:10 "O God, our Master, how the greatness of Thy name fills the whole earth." As we pray, let us make expiation for all the sinful use of God's holy Name. "Lord, holy is Thy name and to be glorified forever." If we love someone, their name has a special richness about it...so with our God!

ASK THE SAINTS "Lord I ask that Your dear saints pray for my intentions. I like to say "Lord, merciful and full of kindness consider the prayers of all the saints...let all their works shine forth to glory You as though the acts of theirs were being repeated this very day.

FUNNY Every year it was my job to go with Dad and pick out a live tree. One year we were so broke that we bought two trees, each one was a deformed 'half tree.' We tied them together...and it looked almost like the best tree around! The envy of the neighborhood! We would set the tree up...I would get down on the floor and slowly turned the tree until my Mom saw the best view. Almost always...it was the very spot we started at! I never told her. Dear parents...had much love but not a lot of cash...didn't matter...it was a great day. Love to Gene and Irene.

AWAIT HIS COMING As the people of God in ancient times waited for the coming of that Most Special One...so we, too, today await His coming in glory. Only the Father knows the day but the Son has told us "Be ready...Be on the watch for He shall come like a thief in the night." Lord, we watch in faith...keep us ever in reverent anticipation.

REFUSING THE EVIL PATH Job 28:28 "To man He has revealed this: wisdom is revering the Lord God; In holy discernment we refuse the evil path." Lord, be with us on the journey. Be Strength for us...Be our firm resolve.

FOR ALL IN SADNESS..."Lord, merciful and kindly...full of compassion, hear our prayer. Bless abundantly all who mourn and all who are in great need of prayer. As you love them all...so let us love them as well. Fashion for each a blessing shaped to fit their each particular need. Kindly, Lord we ask in faith and with a belief-inspired confidence."

SHIELDED Jeremiah 442:11 " The Lord said...I am at your side...have no fear for I will protect and deliver you." Lord, happy assurance we have knowing that You watch over us in all circumstances. May we be ever grateful.

NO KINDNESS GOES UNSEEN Proverbs 22:9 "For every loaf of bread given to the hungry, blessings shall be the reward of kindly hearts." It is done to imitate the goodness of God to us...not the seeking of some great reward in return.

GRATEFUL Psalm 42:2: "Lord, be Thou strength for me...some would know no piety... and are full of treachery. Thou art all my aid and my trust." With the Lord to champion our cause, we are sure to win the day.

FOR LOVE OF GOD T A'Kempis "The man of God has left all else but must be sure that he has also left himself." We leave ourselves in His hands and in His loving care...where else would we wish to be?

TO LOVE HIM Proverbs 23:26 "My son, give to Me the the gift of thy heart and scan closely the path I direct you to." Lord, let our love for Thee grow with each hour of the day and may obedience to Thy law be greatly in our concern.

MERCY OF GOD Psalm 135:3 "Let praises be offered to His name for His mercy is everlasting." What a comfort it is for us to ponder the loving mercy that God directs towards us.

SACRED HEART When Christ appeared to Margaret, He said: 'Behold this heart which has loved mankind so much and in return, has received so much ingratitude." Oh Jesus, we thank Thee and honor Thee.

EVER QUIET Psalm 130:2 "I kept my soul every quiet, ever at peace. The thoughts of a child at his mother's breast...these were all the thoughts I kept in my heart." When we are very still...God has a chance to speak deep within.

LESSONS T A Kempis "Far greater in value are those lessons taught by the Almighty than all the learning of mere mortals." Where is there true wisdom...but in Him?

ST AUGUSTINE "Patience is the companion of wisdom." Is he truly wise who grows so impatient with those around him?

JOHN PAUL II Lord, give us a culture of peace which conquers wars and a culture of life that defeats the culture of death. Be merciful to us...we fail so often in our ways. Let us follow You into Eternal Life."

WISDOM Job 28:28 "To man, He has told this much, that wisdom is fearing the Lord: And there is discernment in refusing the evil path." Lord, help us to be wise and keep to Your path.

TRUTH St Augustine "A thing is not necessarily true because badly uttered, nor is it false because it was spoken magnificently." Lord, let us love the truth and not try to twist it. What is false is false even though said in a sublime manner.

LIKE THE SAINTS T A'Kempis "The saints...what they believed, so do I...What they hope for, so do I...Where they are now, so will I be by His loving mercy." Bring us home to Thee, O Lord of kindness.

St. Augustine "Late have I loved Thee, Thou Beauty ever old ever new,...My bonds You burst asunder and unto You I make my offering of praise." Lord, that we we praise Thee more often and love Thee more completely.

FOREVER Psalm 100:2 "Let my song be about the justice that God loves to see. Sing we a psalm and ask Him to guide our steps to wherever He bids us. Oh that we may come to dwell in Thy Presence forever." So be it, Lord.

THANKS, O LORD Psalm 117:28 "Thou art my God, mine to thank Thee...Thou art my God, mine to extol. Thee." Let us sing our praise...all of our days.

ALL MY SEEKING T A'Kempis "Lord, be Thou the whole quest of my heart...never let me turn aside.." Blessed are they who truly know their need for Him.

BOOK OF LIFE T Merton "Christ, the Incarnate Word, is the very book of life in whom we read GOD." Jesus, let Your light be on our path...let Your love be alive in our hearts and deeds...As the hymn went: 'We need Thee, Precious Jesus...'

Pat Neshek Please look up Pat Neshek...Pitcher for Alanta Team USA...He pitched a marvelous game in memory of his only child, a baby boy only 23 hrs old who died just days before Pat was asked to pitch. He pitched for his little son...loving dad. Don Brennan USA

HOPE Psalm 111:28 "On the Lord, his hope is fixed without change. In quiet, he waits... patient and steadfast is such a one." Lord, increase our sense of trusting hope. In Thy will, all shall be well. I take Your hand...what evil shall befall me? Is there darkness all around? ...You are my Light.

WHAT RETURN...Psalm 115:3 "...the Lord's mercies have never failed me; what return to Him is most fitting?" We honor Him most when we use our ability and talents to serve others...like a singer who goes to homes for the elderly just to sing for them...or the baseball player with the big name goes to the childrens' ward to see the little ones...etc

MATERNITY OF MARY...October 11th used to bea feast in the church calendar for this date. My dear sister, had a tragic death on this date years ago. She often said to me: "If I make it to Heaven, Mary will be the one who led me to her Son." RIP Colleen Marie Brennan

PULLING AWAY FROM EARTHLY DELIGHTS T A'Kempis "As a soul withdraws from earthly delights and vanities, so much the more does that one draw nearer to God Almighty." What a trade we make!!!

FAITHFUL Psalm 116:2 "Faithful is the Lord forever...So full is His mercy towards us." Wonderful mercy of His...beyond all desert...beyond all merit. The Blood of the Lamb has paid the bill...and so mercy reigns down upon us...the just and the unjust. In eternity, we shall understand much better this great and wonderful thing of compassion beyond our deserts..

SILENCE Habacuc 2:20 "And all the while the Lord is in His holy temple. Keep silence, earth, before Him." How beautiful is the prayer of reverent awe...with no words getting in the way. Ask St Teresa of Avila...she can help you in the area of prayer without the words getting in the way.

LOOKING UP T Merton "Meditation is simple a struggle to turn ourselves completely to God...By faith, to seek His face" Teach us how to pray, Lord. There is such joy in the simplicity of a prayer that has no words...just love.

PEACE T A'Kempis "Seek peace not in men...but in God alone. Peace here below??? Certainly peace in Heaven." Da nobis pacem.

Oct 16th ST MARGARET MARY " This Divine Heart is an abyss filled with blessings and the poor should hurry to it to submerge all their needs...An abyss of joy...there to place our sorrows...An abyss where we can come and pour out all our foolish choices...It is an abyss of Mercy...there we can place all our sins and failures." Margaret Mary, how great are the lessons which you teach us. Why has this devotion been so neglected in recent times? Do we no longer need the Heart on fire with love for us?

St TERESA OF AVILA "Accustom yourself to any acts of love each day for they please God and they inflame and melt the soul." She can teach us much abut prayer..if we but listen. Feast Oct 15th.

IN HIM T A'Kempis "Lord, let my heart be converted and find its rest in Thee alone." Where is peace...where is contentment...but in the Lord?

GLAD IN THE LORD Psalm 114:2 "My heart is aflame for so gracious is He whenever I sent up my pleas to Him." Does your heart not burn when the tremendous blessings flow down from His throne? When did you call and not receive a reply?

AGAIN AND AGAIN Psalm 105:43 "Again and again He brought them deliverance... Ever was there evil to drag them through the dust." And so, it is with us...He pardons and yet we fail. It is good to be in the state of always knowing that we need Him...and that He loves us no matter our failings. We may fall... we get up and begin again with the loving help of God.

OCT 1st Little Flower The love behind the deed...that is the important thing in His eyes." May we learn this simple maxim and do many things with great love.

ALWAYS TO HONOR HIM Psalm 113:26 " We surely bless the Lord...from this day even unto eternity!" Indeed, Lord, all praise to Thee...what blessings have we ever received that did not flow from Thy goodness?

HAVE FAITH Numbers 11:23 "And the Lord answered: Has my arm lost its power?...You shall see soon whether this promise comes to be or not." Lord, increase our faith.

PASSION OF THE CHRIST T A'Kempis "Sometimes a good person suffers much because of the lies of another. In humility...you can be glad for you resemble Jesus...the Innocent One sent to pay the price of another's sins." Passio Christi in Cor Meum sempitennam.

HIS LIGHT Psalm 111:4 "Good men shall see a light in the darkness: His light...He who is faithful and kind and merciful." Lord, how dark the way sometimes is...shine on my path.

NOW T A'Kempis "Lord, would that I might be not so much in the future 'maybes'...Let me stay here in the' nows' of life to serve You as best I can...supported by Thy unmerited grace!"

PLAN AHEAD Winston Churchill "It is always wise to look ahead, but difficult to look further than you can see." We do well to plan as best we can but wisdom tells us to be ready to make changes...as situations change and, if we are smart, we are ready to meet that change. Surely the Lord looks down and helps those who plan good and who face difficulties they never foresaw. And in the end, those who trust completely will win the day.

TO REALLY LIVE Johnathon Swift "May you live all the days of your life." How do we do this? Live all the days of our lives... When we strive to do the Father's will, we are more alive than we realize. To be more alive...is to live in goodness, peace of mind, creative, with thoughts of others in various needs. Everyday, someone needs our love...which is really from God since that is where it comes from. May you really be alive everyday!

SEE OUR NEED, LORD Psalm 108:21 'Thou, Lord and Master, do Thou take my part. No mercy is as Thine. Deliver us who call...See our need." Who goes wrong when he takes the hand of God and walks, childlike, with Him?

NEVER Lam. 3:22 "The steadfastness of the Lord never ceases." Lord, what a pledge of constant help...of watchful love...of a daily blessing! Gratias agimus Tibi!

DELIGHT, MY SOUL Psalm 110:2 " He, the Lord God, is the delight and study of all who love Him." Lord, let it be so with me...I delight in Thy mercy and unmerited love!!!

THE LORD'S ETERNAL SUMMER...Wm Shakespeare "But Thy eternal summer shall not fade." Wonder of wonders...He, Lord of all majesty invites me...the sinner...to His eternal Summer! Beyond any merits...beyond all human wisdom...beyond all deserts...and so He calls my name!

WHERE DO YOU STAND? "Be sure to place your feet in the right place and the stand firm." So often, we make wonderful resolves. By the next hour we have forgotten what that promise was. Lord, give us a constancy of heart that clings to a good resolve of the heart and rejoices for we know it is the right way and the way that delights You..

JUST TO OFFER THANKS "Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul." Henry Ward Beecher. To say 'thanks' ..Is that a task too hard to bear? To be honored by another's love and to say thank you...is that too much to ask? How did we get here..in this land of gimme and getta get and no word of thanks? The devil smiles at of ungrateful hearts...for he knows he has almost got us in his net. Domine, gratia in fulgencia. Gratia agimus Tibi ..Semper.

TO BE LOVED His palms have thy name written upon them...Do you doubt it? Can it be that I have been so sinful that I have moved so far from Him that my hand is no longer written there? Have I gone beyond His mercy? Fools might think like this. Faith teaches that His love is not like ours...fickle and inconstant. Forever is His name...Forever is His merciful love.

THE LORD HAD A VINEYARD He toiled so hard..brought in fertilizer..dug the ground...pruned the vines...He did much to produce a good crop but at harvest, he had only bitter and sour grapes. 'What more could I have done??? So it is with the Lord...He labors with His people.He does all He can...He receives a meager and very poor crop. How to atone? Shall we not try to do our part as well? Shall we not help Him have a bountiful harvest? Lord, be merciful...we produce the sour and bitter. Hear us...Chang us...Enable us. Ref Luke 9

THE SAYERS...Great story. A parish near us had a new pastor installed. His name was Father Sayers. On his first visit to the parish, he walked through a He prayed as he went along. On his way, he met the first-parish-neighbor. He said 'Hi, I am Fr, Sayers, the new pastor. The man looked at him and said 'Well...that is good news... But the Lord sent the wrong guy...We need more Doers than Sayers!!!!' It was sort of 'God, You sent the wrong guy?????'' What is up? Have You lost it????

A CUP OF COLD WATER...Mark 9...This Sunday's reading has Christ reminding His flock that even a cup of cool water, given in His name, shall have its reward. A response: Take a sheet of paper and write on it...'a cup of cool water...' and leave numbered blanks. Mine has 10. In the next week, try to see if you can fill those blanks...you will be so happy in doing this...it is the Scripture come alive in your heart and DEEDS. First...I have given some offering to a group that feeds the hungry...how, we don't really know but that food keeps flowing in and flowing out to the hungry. "I was hungry and YOU gave me to eat..."

SILENCE Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God." Lord, in Thy Presence, let us silence learn...What shall we tell You that You do not already know? Thine is the Wisdom...Glory and Power.

BEAUTY AND ITS CREATOR Albert Camus "Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." Just to gaze at His works...His thumb prints around us...is that not a prayer not needing words? Stillness...as in the desert...is by far a most beautiful way to pray. Teach us..for we know but little, Lord.

BACK TO HIM WHO LOVES US Jeremiah 51:4 "Both Juda and Israel shall come back...weeping as they make their journey back." For any and for all who might have forgotten the Majesty and wonder of His love...remember how He loves you all. He has carved your name in the palms of His hands. Lift up your hearts!

WHAT GLORY IS HIS Psalm 103:2 "Bless the Lord, O my soul...What magnificence is Thine...Glory and beauty are Thy attire!" Whom shall we admire more than He? Whom will receive our hearts' love? Where shall my prayer go today..but to Him?

OCT 4th ST FRANCIS POOR MAN OF ASSISI, IL POVERELLO He said: "All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the meager light of one single candle." Oh Lord, let us be that candle which glows in the darkness and is a sign to pilgrims that there is love and shelter awaiting them. Let all who come be received as though they were the Christ Himself!

JOHN PAUL II "Jesus...full of gace and truth, You are the Light which illumines every person open to Your light,...You give abundance of life to all who seek You in sincerety...Mankind's Redeemer are You and to You, and the everlasting Father, and to the most Holy Spirit be all glory and honor forever." Lord, open our hearts as we open our mouths to prayer.

October 2nd GUARDIAN ANGELS Recall the words of Jesus..."...for their angels look on the face of the Father even now..."Matt 18... An Irish Greeting: (Author Unknown) "These things, I warmly wish for you, blessings, quite a few...May you find someone to love...some work to do (not too hard)... a bit of sun to warm you...a soft breeze to cool you...and every day a bit of goodly cheer and a dear Guardian Angel ever near!" I will thank my Angel everyday...He has much to do.

October 7th HOLY ROSARY It is said of the Rosary...'It is the chain with which we hold up to Mary and she reaches down to draw us even to Her Son's throne.' A dear friend...Brother Rosarius...celebrates October seventh as namesday. Blessings on you, Brother Rosarius!

IN THAT HOLY NAME OF HIS Psalm 1043 "Let all your triumph be in that most holy name...Let every heart that seeks the Lord, rejoice exceedingly." Blessed be Thy Holy Name!!!

ADAPTED FROM 54 " IT IS THE LORD WHO UPHOLDS US

WHO DO YOU SAY I AM? Ref. Mark Ch 8 We hear Christ ask us the question: "Who...? We must answer Him. Lord, I need to say more often: You are my precious Saviour...You are the Lamb offered up for me...You are Light for the world...You are bread from Heaven...You are the One Who shall come in glory at the end of time...etc Where does the list end? In eternity, we shall know so much more...but for now, He has given us plenty of knowledge about who He is. Domine, doceti nos.

TEACHING DAYS T. Merton "Precious were the 40 years of wandering in the desert..it taught God's people so much. After they had come to the promised land, they remembered the desert days with love and gratitude for all God had done there for them.In that dry and barren place, they learned much. They had learned to lean upon God and trust Him always." Father, teach us today as well.

OCTOBER 1ST LITTLE FLOWER She said: "The science of loving...that is the only science I want. I would barter away all else to win it." Pray for us, dear saint of 'little things.'

LEAN UPON ME Isaiah 50:10 " Who is there who seeks his way through the darkness? Surely, he that trusts in the Lord will find the way...and that one who has learned to lean upon his God." Lord, behold we indeed lean on Thee.

MERCY OF OUR GOD Psalm 102:4 "He heals thee of mortal ills...Pardon He splashes upon the earth to those who seek pardon...He is Rescue beyond our hopes...He crowns thee with the circle of His mercy upon Thy head." Gratias Tibi Domine.

IN NEED OF PARDON Fulton Sheen "Never deny that you are a sinner...Our Lord is ever willing to forgive if we only WELCOME that forgiveness!' Domine, misere nobis. Ad Te clamavi!

IN THE LITTLE THINGS We may never be asked to do a BIG thing for God...like martyrdom but everyday, we can offer some of the most mundane things ...all for love for Him and in gratitude for ALL He has done for us. T A'Kempis wrote: 'The eye of your intention must be purified...Let it be single and simple and completely directed to the very heart of God!' For example...one man, while shaving takes five swipes with the razor in honor of those wounds of Jesus...and again...and again. Who is to say that is not prayer????? It is not the gift...it is the love behind the gift!

PITY THE FOOLISH T A'Kempis "All things perish that come not of God. Behold, sadly, the selfish and the foolish who will not learn denial...who seek self without ceasing. They seem to have no care about the things of God. It seems they have been bound by fetters. Pity them all." Lord, release those in captivity. What a prison sinful habits make!

WAITING..."Now that I am old and waiting to be, in Him, reborn...I look to Him in utter trust...He is my All and in Him, is all my trust! Life has its times of waiting...So it is there I am...He is all my Hope...With my dim eyes, I grope. Mercy, Lord of kindness and peace...My trust in You shall never cease! Don Brennan I wrote this for my nun-teacher, 1940...She is in her mid nineties and, with patience, waiting. Sent her a note just yesterday. A treasure for sure! Sister Marie, OP..pray for her final journey!

ALL IN ALL (Author unknown) "Listen, dear child, as I teach you how to pray. Without quiet medation, where is peace? Without God, where is peace? God is the Well -spring of peace and a great Fountain of mercy and kindliness." Lord, do Thou teach us...for without a share of Thy wisdom, what do we have?

MGR Soon, the Feast of the Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael will be celebrated. Piety through the ages has 'assigned' tasks for each...Michael is the defender in the day of battle...Gabriel is the messenger...Raphael is the companion of the journey. There is a little story about a certain novice mistress. She took chalk and boldly wrote on her door 'M G R' When the Mother Superior to came to visit, she told the Novice mistress that she thought MGR on the door was a bit too commanding and wished it washed off. But the novice mistress explained that they stood for Michael, Garbriel , and Raphael to whom she prayer\d for help in her job. Sure , the older novices know that story but the postulants and younger novices don't know that so it keeps them in line. MGR, pray for us all.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL Sept 27th Geat lover of the poor...He once told his helpers "You must love the poor so that the humble needs." Also "Charity is the cement that binds communities to God and one person to another." And "Charity is the very queen of virtues; we must leave all else to live it." And "Another aspect of charity is to rejoice with those who rejoice and so, come to a union of minds." Dear St Vincent...would that we could imitate you more.

IN HIS DESIGNS T A'Kempis (Imitation of Christ) "Oh the changes in the heart of man...sometimes joyful, sometimes sad,... often troubled, often at peace,...in sorrow sometimes, in joy at others... The truly wise one, acting with prudence, stands apart from these changes (they float by like clouds in the sky) and finds rest only in God's designs." Domine, pacem da nobis.

PAT AND AMY Pat was buried today...a heroic cop and dear wife.. He died doing what he could to make the world a beter place to be. How we love them both and their children. "When you love someone, they can never get away...Someone hold them to their heart everyday.' How true in this story. Support them all in prayer please... Don and Pat Brennan

HOLY IS HE Psalm 98:8,9 "O Thou good and merciful Lord, Thou didst listen and hear...pardon Thou has poured upon us...Behold 'Our God is all holy' and forever to be blessed!

Sept 15th Sorrows of Mary Special day to glorify God and do show love for His Mother. She knew well the pains of life below...she points us to the glories above.

INCREASE OUR FAITH St Therese: "Jesus has greatly increased my faith." Note how the Lord gets the credit...the praise. When we indicate that what goodness lies in us, it is all HIS doings...then, we shall have made progress.

LITTLE FLOWER "I am ready to shed the very last drop of my blood to profess my faith..." Hers was not a martyerdom of blood...rather it was a martyrdom of doing all for God with love...even the smallest acts. Pray for us O great servant of God.

THE BETTER PART Luke 10:42 "...Mary has chosen the better part..." After our days here on earth are done, we shall be so glad for the times that we chose not to be so busy that we forgot about Him. When we consider how much of our lives are 'so very busy' that we have no time for Him...We shall see it all differently. Lord, let us come more often to sit at Your feet and listen quietly. Don Brennan

LITTLE FLOWER OF JESUS "...I am ready to shed the very last drop of my blood to profess my faith." Such ardent desire to please God in all things. How much love she sent up to Heaven...even in the smallest things of life. She was a martyr, not by blood shedding...but by daily giving all to the glory of God. Therese, pray for us.

EXAMPLE, LOUDER THAN WORDS Psalm 86:12 "Rejoice, you just and publish everywhere the renown of our God!" Tell the Good News is most effective when the good works and kindnesses are shown...not just preached.

IT BEGINS WITHIN T A'Kempis "From a pure heart proceeds a good life". Lord, bless our hearts and fill them with the goodness you wish to see come to fruition.

O SAVING POWER Psalm 97:3 "He has not forgotten His promise...He has surely kept faith...No corner of the earth exists without a sign of His saving power." Lord, blessed be Thy Name forever.

A DESIRE FOR GOOD T Merton "In everybody, there is a desire for good and for the shunning of evil. But, sadly, it lies sterile unless we act upon that desire that He has implanted. Then we shall experience the good that God has planted in our hearts...a wonderful thing to rejoice in." Lord, let us pay heed to what goodness You place in our hearts. Ref Thoughts in Solitude by Merton.

INDEED, HE DOES HEAR AND SEE Psalm 94:9 "He that made the ear, shall He not hear? He that made the eye, shall He not see?" Lord, deepen our faith and teach us many truths. Here is one of those truths...He really does hear and see when He looks down upon man. Mercy and kindness of God fall upon all who look to You this day.

WHERE? T A'Kempis "The Lord spoke to the man in prayer: 'Where is true peace to be found? Where is there everlasting glory? In Me." Lord we look for peace and often in the wrong places. Be our Aid.

WHEN A FLOWER BLOOMS...When a flower blooms or a tree turns color...when the sky is colorful at morning or eventide...when the work of God 'speaks'...then the silent prayer to Him emerges from the hearts of all who love contemplative prayer. Much is 'said' in the silence. Be still, O man, for you are in His Presence!

LADY OF SORROWS Sept 15th Holy Mother, be a comfort to all who suffer...obtain peace for those in conflict situations...be an example of peace when the times are rough...be a support for all who carry a heavy cross, even a cross that they have not made, but someone else has...Be water for those who thirst...and food for the hungry in heart... You know all about sorrow...be solace for all who weep. How much we need Thy powerful intercession before the throne of God!

WHERE TO GO? T A Kempis ls"Blessed are You, O Lord as this trial falls upon me. Where to flee but unto Thee?" Lord, let our faith in Thee be our greatest aid.

GLORY TO OUR GOD Psalm 91:2,3 "How sweet it is to praise the Lord...to honor His name...to proclaim His mercy and kindness. From sunrise even beyond sunset, let us sing the praises of Our God." How blessed are all who seek Him daily. Sadly, some think of Him so rarely.

EXALT THE LORD AND HIS CROSS September 14th No one can say that they love the Lord without having a love of the cross. How rich are the thoughts that come to mind when we think of Him and the Cross...He would have done this even if only one soul needed His redeeming gift...here is the suffering Lamb...here is the sin offering for all times...here is hope for all sinners who wish to be with Him always...here is peace and joy for the dying...here is the Light that the darkness could not swallow. Domine, Jesu...ad Te clamavi.

SHELTER Ref Ps 90 "Under His wings is thy shelter place...therein you shall dwell secure...' What peace we often miss when we forget that we have such a place of comfort...of surely being loved. Deo Gratias.

THE INTERIOR LIFE T A'Kempis"If you walk interiorily, you will make small account of words flying about. In all things, turn to Me and the judgment of man will not affect you." Lord, let me have this concern...a great concern over You and Thy Will and little regard for the idle words that fly through the air and pass on to non existence. Surely Thy love and Thy will are my greatest concern. Be with me in all I do.

THY WILL Tobias 3:6 "Lord, do with me as Thy will is..." We know that He has a plan for each one...blessed are those who find and are true to that path. We can think of Mother Teresa who found her way in an unexpected change...leaving the order she was in and going into the streets. Another wonderful beauty in her life was her experience of 'the dark night' that lasted so many years and she continued her calling with a dry faith. So much we admire that steadfastness. Pray for us, dear Saint of God.

SIMPLE DEEDS How pleased God is when we think of Him in the midst of the ordinary. I knew a saint of a woman who would put her seasonings in the sauce in three measures...Father...Son...Holy Spirit. Foolish to some maybe but think of God's view...she was prayerfully busy with the routine work of the home and yet her heart was singing to God. I have no doubt about where she is singing now. Let us love Him even in the ordinary!

TO FIND WISDOM Psalm 89:12 "Lord, teach us to count each passing day as we search and finally find wisdom." Wisdom is that wonderful gift of God that enables us to see wealth where there seems to be mere poverty...that helps us to treasure the interior life...to be full of gratitude for the Divine Wisdom which directs all things as He so wills. Teach us wisdom, teach us love.

GOD'S BEAUTY A friend recently visited the great northwest...Oregon and area around. In one place he was struck by the great beauty he saw and felt. " I wanted to start my meditation...but I realized the meditation was already in process as the beauty of God's works mingled. I wanted to begin a prayer...then, I realized that a prayer was already there...I had simply stepped into it." May God be blessed in all His works.

OUT OF THE HEART St Bonaventure "When we pray, the words must come from the heart and not merely the mouth." Lord, give grace to learn to pray with utmost sincerity and utter truth.

PARDON Psalm 98:8 "And Thou, O Lord our God, didst listen to them and they found Thee to be a God of pardon..." Lord, the Sacred Word encourages us to come to Thee for the cleansing blessing of Thy loving mercy.

HUMBLE T A'Kempis "To the humble, He reveals much and He sweetly draws all to Himself. Even in the midst of reproach, the humble one remains in peace for he depends not on man but on His God." Lord, teach us this meek way.

MERCY AND KINDNESS How enriched our prayer moments are when we begin with a mention and thought about the mercy and kindliness of God. Try it. It so encourages the soul to great faith and confidence in God's goodness...even when the the need is so great that it frightens us. 'O good Jesus, let me always recall gratefully all the mercy and kindness of Your most loving Heart.'

BETTER THAN A RELIC So many have been caught up in the wonders of having relics of the great saints. But there are others who would say "Better to imitate the saints than to treasure their bones, etc. Paul of the Cross was so in love with the Crucified that he often made a cross over his heart. How good it would be for us to imitate that than to have a first class relic of the Saint. Surely the good actions are more to be imitated than are the bones to be venerated.

WITH YOU St.Teresa of Avila "God dwells within you and there you should dwell with Him." As He loves us, so let us love Him...As He cares for us, let us care for the things that please Him...We cannot ever praise Him too much...that is not possible.

FOR THYSELF Wisdom 18:8 "...Lord, how proud are we that Thou didst single us out for Thyself." In all circumstances, we rely on the fact that we are His beloved ones and that He will be with us all days as He has promised.

TRUST Author Unknown "Do not tell God how great your storm is...rather, tell Him how great is

WHEN ARROWS COME A relative was recently hurt by her brother when he yelled angrily at her and hung up the phone. I have tried to help her to let these arrows pass on by, and not become direct hits. Often the angry words are really about something else that troubles the abusive person. There is much peace in praying for the angry one than in accepting the angry words...that surely, even God knows were not deserved by the kindly person. Pray for peace over this.

CONFIDE IN HIM Psalm 83:13 "O Lord, how blessed is the person who places all confidence in Thee...Thy bounty falls so richly upon the just." What joy we miss when we forget to entrust our cares and woes to His loving mercy. What gifts of grace we forfeit when we have not thought of calling on Him. How blessed are they who begin the day with a prayer of asking for grace with great confidence that it will come.

LIFT ME UP T. A'Kempis "Lift me up, O Lord, oppressed with my sins and failures...Raise all my thoughts towards the things of Heaven...Let me taste of the Divine sweetness and therefore have no more relish for things of earth, of little worth...Rescue me ...None else shall gladden my heart but Thee..Thou alone art sufficient for those who love Thee."

FAITH IN HIM Micheas 6:5 "...canst thou now doubt the faithfulness of the Lord's friendship?' We might ask ourselves this question when we look over our day and recall the many gifts and graces, even the tiny ones, that came to us because of His love.Many blessings are on us and we are not even aware...in eternity, He will explain these hidden blessings. There is no day when He is 'Not In.'

KEEP WATCH T A Kempis "Keep thyself in good peace...let all the unquiet be as unquiet as they may be. To Me, keep all things committed." What peace we often forfeit just because we failed to be still and wait in patience and persevere in hope. Lord, teach us.

REJOICE Psalm 94:2 "Come, friends, rejoice we all in God's honor; Let us call our merrily for He is our Strength and Deliverer; Come we into His courts with joyful songs and sincere thanks." We do glorify Thee, Lord...as we are full of thanks to Thee.

SIMPLICITY A really simple prayer is to sit quietly and go over all the 'I am" quotes that come to mind. Like: 'I am the Good Shepherd'...'I am the Bread that has come down from Heaven."...I am the One Who has come so that you might be set free.'...'I am the Light which the darkness tried to swallow, but it could not" "I am with you all days.'..."I am the vine and you the branches.' I am Alpha and Omega'... "I am the way, the truth, the life.' etc. You will find much to lovingly ponder and your prayer will be blessed with a fullness that only He can give.

THE SMILE OF GOD Psalm 66:2 " May we see the mercy of our God poured upon us...May He smile on us." What better way to pray than to be mindful of His mercy pouring out and His kindliness blessing all who seek Him? Unmerited goodness comes to us daily and we are not always as greatful as we could be.

HOMAGE TO GOD Judith 16:17 "Let all creatures do homage unto Him...Were they not created by His word?...When He speaks, should not all obey?" Lord, let us grow in our love for Thee. Thou art our All.

BLESSED BE HIS NAME Job 1:21 "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away...blessed be the name of the Lord." Surrender...What an important point for the lovers of God to remember. Many things come and go into and out of our lives. The servant of God accepts both the coming and going for it is the Creator's wish. Another word would be detachment...I will strive to detach myself from whatever is not God's plan for me right now...maybe later but not now. We cannot go wrong if we are faithful to this surrender and detachment. Lord, teach us.

PRAYER OF AWE T A'Kempis "Lord, when I consider Thy infinite perfection, I am brought to silence; I honor Thee in wordless awe." A quiet prayer without words can be a most wonderful prayer...He needs not our words...He seeks our love.

ATONEMENT Ref Romans 5:11 "Let us rejoice in Christ Our Savior in Whom we have received the Atonement." In love, Christ in His Passion became for us sinners, the Atonement. We ought to daily make that remembrance in our prayers...Thanks be to God for our Atonement. We were once far off, but now we are brought near.

GRACE AT WORK T A'Kempis " Behold, O Lord, my littleness and poverty. I shall be stuck in the mire without Your gracious help. Pull me from the snare...aid me so that I may be freed to run after Thee. All my ways are known to Thee...nothing is obscure to You. "

BE CONFIDENT Baruch 5:27 "...take courage...He has not forgotten you.:" A little phrase but how encouraging for us pilgrims on the way. May God give us His grace and keep us ever in His care.May He keep alive in our hearts, this confidence in Him and His providence.

LOVE FOR THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT If you ardently love Jesus in the Sacrament of the altar, you will be fond of St Pius X...He encouraged Communion at an earlier age and encouraged more frequent Communion and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. St Pius, pray for us still on our journey and needing to be fed along the way.

ST BERNARD August 20th is the feast of Bernard. He had great devotion to Mary and is said to be the author of the Memorare...'Remember, O gracious Virgin Mary...' May he intercede for us all in our various needs. Such faith is not without reward.

IN HER CARE A relative, who died many years back, had many troubles and additive behaviour. She died tragically on the feast of the Maternity of Mary...and often, she told me 'If at last I am saved, it will be because Mary, Mother of God, has watched over me and brought me safely home.' Never forgot that faith and love for Mary. It was a bridge for her to cross over to the Saviour and eternal life in peace and joy. Maria, Dominus tecum.

MARY OUR QUEEN This week we remember Mary and honor her as God is pleased to have her honored. Mother of God, let us sing your praise while remembering how Jesus loved you and the Spirit became your Spouse and how pleased the Father has been with your love of His will. Pray that we might also love God with such constancy as Thou. Hail Holy Queen...

SOME CHOOSE TO WALK AWAY In the Gospel we read of some who found His message too hard and chose to walk away. What a sad choice for anyone. The promises that await for the faithful are so great, we will be amazed if we are among those who continue a walk with Him. Dear Jesus,merciful and kind...We seek Thy mercy and Thy kindly blessings...each day.

THINK UPON THE LORD Tobias 4:6 "...do thou, whilst thou hast life, ever think upon the Lord..." Lord, give us a faithfulness in our devotion to You. Let us never forget all Thy mercy and kindness. Even in sorrow, let us be grateful for the blessings that came on another day and will come again.

OPEN TO GOD Ezechiel 44:5 "Son of man, give good heed...the open eye, the open ear." In our spiritual journey, we must pay heed to promptings of grace so that we may follow the Lord's way more faithfully. Many times, He speaks and we are too busy to hear...or we are too indifferent to act...or too distracted by minor things to really heed. He indeed does speak...but do we hear like we might?

CHARITY St Gregory the Great "Where love exists, it works great things." We proclaim our love...but do we show it? We speak of love...but do we really treasure it? We ask for the gift of charity...but do we act on God's response?

HEAR US 2 Esdras 1:11 " Lord, let not Thy ears be deaf to the prayers of those who serve You...who hold Thy name in great reverence. Speed Thy servants well this day..." Let us call to Him with confidence for Who loves us as He? Let our prayers ascend to Him with greatest confidence in His mercy and kindliness.

THAT WINS THEE Judith 9:16 Still, it is from a humble soul and obedient will that comes the prayer that wins Thee." O Gracious Lord, let my prayer come from an inner self that is humble and obedient.. from one who loves Thy will in all circumstances. The best prayer springs from the soul that is lowly and that is glad in the obeying of God.

THE HAND OF GOD T A'Kempis "O God, by Thee visited, we are raised up, enlivened, strengthened and inflamed." Be with us, Lord.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION There are many times when it is not possible for us to be at Mass...but we can go spiritually to adore and revere the Christ in so great a Gift. A person might say: "Lord, I adore You in all the Masses said this day in all the world. I honor You in all places of Eucharistic Devotion. I especially honor and love You in those places where You are least revered. Come, kindly Jesus, to me spiritually as thought I knelt at Thy table for a Sacramental Communion. 'Lord, I am not worthy...but say the word...and come."

EDITH STEIN Today, let us remember St Theresa Benedicta of the Cross. She died along with so many others because of their being Jews and of serving God in a manner different from their oppressors. Edith, pray that hate be reduced in this world by the charity of so many like you. What bitter fruit grows on the evil tree. Only love can crowd out hatred...let there be no more room for hateful deeds.

PRAYER FOR TIMES OF LOSS "Lord, most kind and merciful see me in my need. Be with me in this sad time. Be light in the darkness around me. My best hope is the hope I place in Thee. You have known such times of pain Yourself...so You fully understand all our needs. Sweet Jesus, our trust is in Thee."

AID US LORD Psalm 59:7 "O God, give us aid...we are the people who love You...give answer to our prayer...lift Thy right hand to save us." O God of mercy and kindness, be Thou merciful and kind towards us.

LOVE A holy man wrote: "God considers not so much the gift of the lover...but, the love of the giver." Lord, let us do even the little things out of love for Thee.

MORNING PRAYER What can fill the void when morning prayer is forgotten or just not done? The joy of coming to God at the start of the day with faith and trust in Him...what can substitute for this? To ask His mercy for our sins...to ask for strength for this day ahead...to thank Him for the blessings that have no number...What kind of day begins without prayer?

GOOD EXAMPLE We never know when God might be using us in a kind deed to simply touch souls and draw them near to His heart. Lord, fill me...use me...as You will.

DIVINE PRESENCE How blessed are the ones who never forget that God is still with His loved ones...'Behold, I am with you all days even to the consummation of the world."

DIVINE PRESENCE How blessed are the ones who never forget that God is still with His loved ones...'Behold, I am with you all days even to the consummation of the world."

BY PADRE PIO "May Jesus comfort you in all your over you always with His grace, and indicate the safe path that leads to eternal salvation. And may He render you always dearer to His Divine heart and always make you more worthy of eternal life with Him in Paradise." How beautiful a prayer from this Saint of God!

ST JOHN OF THE CROSS "At the end of life we shall all be judged by this...charity." Lord, give us hearts to love more completely.

HAVE FAITH "Psalm 93:9 "He that made the ear..shall He not hear? He that made the eye...shall He not see?" Lord, do we doubt? You are watching over and listening well.

IN OUR Need Baruch 1:12 "May the Lord grant to us all, courage and hope." Lord, misere

THE GIFT T A'Kempis "Nothing is quite like the gift to God of a heart in love with Him...and longing for union with Him." Lord, help us on the way.

GOOD INTENT T A Kempis "..always carry a good will in your heart...and a holy intention and thus, you shall prepare a path for Him...to your very door." Welcome..Come with Thy Spirit.

MUCH UNCHANGING...From the bishops gathered for Vatican II: " In all these upheavals, there is much that is unchanging, much that has it foundation in Christ, Who is unchanging...same yesterday, today, and all days to come!!!" Bless Your Church, O Lord...we are gathered in Your Name.

DO IT WITH JOY Jeremiah 48:10 "Cursed be that one who does God's work with a grudging heart." Lord, let us do Your work with joy and eagerness.

GO...Mark 16:15 'And He said to them: Go to all the world and tell them...' Remember, we are not just to sit in church and feel good about God's great love...but we are SENT. Misere Domine. Manet nobis...Lord, enable us to carry the Good News to all...sometimes using words.

NO HEED?...Jeremiah 44:5 " ...but to Me they gave no heed nor hearing..." Lord, speak...We shall open our ears...Open, Thou our hearts!

UNION T A Kempis "You depend upon yourself and not on Me...Why? You offer not yourself to the Divine...Why not? Shall a deeper union between us come to be?????? Lord,let us be joined to Thee for where else can we find real JOY????

SUGGESTION...TURN TO THE PSALMS These old hymns are so full of inspiring insights. I pick one each day...and journal with the wonderful prayers that Christ Himself used. Recall the Passion... "My God, why have You forsaken Me?'

PROTECTED (cf) Jeremiah 39:17 "Never shall dreaded foe have the mastery over you...You are mine...I am there with you." Lord, You indeed, bend down low to protect each of your loved ones!!!

SUNRISE Sacred moment...if you let it be. Look to God...think of His love...Remember His Son came from the East...and so, the early glow reminds the heart that Christ, Light of the world, and dear Saving One, came for our sakes...not for His own. Bow your head eastward... And recall His love. He comes each day as well in the Holy Mass offered all over the world. "I have come so they may have life (and light) more abundantly. Take the time..need not be long. It is such a blessing..and praise for Him..too often forgotten..unappreciated...let your heart speak it's love.

PRAYER T A Kempis "Never to neglect pray...for in it, we find grace and mercy..so ready to be poured out in great abundance." Many things press on us...BUT...let something else be neglected so that the soul's contact with God ia not neglected. Lord, give us this grace...to pray always.

LIFE THAT IS ETERNAL Is there such a thing? Look at Christ this Easter Day. He promised a life after this life for those who believe...and He Himself leads the way in His Risen life. A mystery...but life is full of mysteries. Trust in the risen Lord to bring you to the life after death ...to a life with Him forever. HAPPY EASTER to one and all.

PETER...THREE TIMES In our thoughts of the Passion, we come upon our first Pope...Peter. Though he proclaimed, quite boldly, that HE would never deny the Lord. Not long after, 'before the rooster crowed' he had denied that he even knew this this man of Nazareth. When Christ turned, later, and looked at Peter...Peter felt such sorrow that he went out and wept bitterly. What a moment of turning back...a thought for us each time to confess our sins. We are turning back to Him Who has loved us so much...He died for our sakes. One writer says it this way: 'He paid a debt He did not owe.' Peter...remember to pray for us that we might regret our sins bitterly and rejoice in our return to Our Saviour.

JUDAS What shall we say but PITY. Here is a good man who followed Jesus and was glad to be in that band going forth to spread the good news. Somewhere, a turn away takes place...Judas agrees to hand him over to the Roman soldiers and see Him sentenced to death. PITY If you realize that in your sins and failings you also are with Judas. As you have turned back to the merciful Lord so we sincerely hope he also turned back...moved by the grace of the Lord acting within him Who knows? Perhaps there was a gift of grace that helped him in the last moments of consciousness. By his death he was certainly saying, we like to think,'I made a terrible mistake and I hope God can forgive me...so sinful a man I have become'. I like to think the Jesus DID give him that grace at the last moment and we shall see him with the Lord in heaven. If you have never sinned...then you don't understand what I am saying. Peace...especially to those who know the joy of turning back

JOSEPH AND NICODEMUS Patrons of all who work in bereavement...for they buried Christ. Consider their boldness and lack of worry over selves. They were intent...to do a service to the One so abused and now, cold in death. May we always find it in our hearts to do whatever we can to ease some pain, sense of loss, confusion that loved ones suffer. Is that not our calling?

FAITH AND HOPE T A'quinas "Faith has to do with things not seen. Hope has to do with things not yet at hand." Lord, fill us with faith...and lift us up in ardent hope. Increase our faith and bolster out hope. You are Lord of all.. and canst do all things. Aid us, merciful One.

WHAT GOOD I PLAN FOR YOU...Jeremiah 29:11 "I have not lost sight of My plan for you...it is for your welfare, not for your woe...it is not your undoing. For you, My plan is a destiny and a great hope." Be it as You wish, O Lord.

MY GREAT NEED T A'Kempis "How necessary for me...weak and sinful...to come at once to Thee...come to the Sacraments and to the feast of rememberng...and so I find renewal, strength, cleansing, and become inflamed by love." To draw near to God's loving heart is indeed, to be changed.

LONGINUS There was a centurion there on Calvary When Jesus gave up the ghost there was an earthquake, boulders split, and even tombs were opened When he saw the darkness come down and heard that the veil in the temple had been torn from top to bottom, he called out: " Clearly, this was the Son of God." We hear even this Roman centurion declare the divine origin of this Jesus of Nazareth. Now, was that his name...or is it only legend? It matters little to us. The importance of this lies in this declaration of faith in Christ. It is said that he was converted and helped the early Church and prepared their gathering place...when they were not gathered at home in prayer. We are told that the early believers went to the temple to pray and then continued their prayers at home and perhaps, even sharing the bread and the cup as Jesus had said: "When you do this, remember Me." Lord, any profession of faith is a moving sight for those who love You and have faith in

WHO DID THIS TO GOD'S SON? Francis of assisi expressed it like this: "Did the demons crucify Him? ...You did if you delighted in your sin and loved your vices." Lord, we look upon the Cross...melt our hearts by that simple devotional act. Convict us of our uncaring and selfishness. Teach us about the areas of our soulsl that need the cleansing of Your sacrifice. Let us never LOVE our sins

DIVINE VICTIM Paul of the Cross "Oh Infinite Sweetness, Why are your bones laid bare? ...what sorrows...what sufferings. Dear wounds of Jesus, I want to keep them with me forever." Lord, may Thy Passion always have a corner of my heart...there to remind me that I have been the object of His overwhelming Love...Do I ask for more?

HIS LOVE PURSUES US...Psalm 23:6 "All my life long, Thy loving favor pursues me..." What kindness and compassion is there in this ONE?

TRUTH Thomas A'quinas "Wherever truth is spoken...there the Spirit is the Author." Think of that when making evaluations concerning certain groups or various congregations. Lord, we love the truth...and so, we love the Spirit. Veni

A MAN IN THE GARDEN "I saw a man praying under the olive trees...He seemed to be alone, but the Father and Spirit were there with Him...I saw a great inferno...Saw the light and felt the heat...I wanted to speak but could not." Lord, let us lovingly recall each step of the journey to Calvary...with great fervor and love.

STANDING THERE We see Mary, mother of the dear Christ, standing there beneath the Cross...the blood drips down...the soil is made red at her feet. Can we not love her/ His very first human blood was from her and we reflect on how our Redeemer became man. There is no love without some sorrow...at least, here on earth.

JOHN, THE BELOVED Next to Mary, at the foot of the cross, he is told to take Mary as his mother and she to see him as son. Faithful and caring...he is the example that we all can benefit from. John, pray for us that we be truly faithful.

THAT FIRST STEP C.S. Lewis "What saves a man is to take one step...then another...etc" We pray, Lord, by the merits of Thy Passion, grant to us the grace to step in the right direction ...and to continue. You cannot advance without that first stepping towards the light.

LIFE LAID DOWN John 10:11 "Jesus said: I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lies down his life for the sheep." Lord Jesus, maake us ever mindful of Thy love and constant caring. What peace we would have if only we followed this truth and held it close to our hearts!.

THE PATH Job:28:28 '''He has told us this...wisdom is in refusing the evil path." Lord, make us wise in our path choices. So easy to follow our weakness right into the pit that we had wanted to avoid. God's mercy and grace are our hope. How shall we be holy without aid from Him? A daily prayer of mine is "Father, Son and Spirit, grant to me faith and hope and charity so that I might serve you with clear eye and clean hands. Cleanse me from all my sins. I lean upon Thy Divine Mercy. Amen."

MEANT FOR ETERNITY C.S. Lewis "Has this world been so kind to you that you should leave it in great sorrow and regret? There are far better things ahead than whatever we leave behind." Lord, keep us mindful of our calling...made to know Him and love Him and serve Him in this life and BE FOREVER HAPPY WITH HIM IN THE NEXT.

FOR YOUR HAPPINESS Francis of Sales "When you have received Him, stir up thy heart to do Him homage...tell Him of your needs...of your spiritual life...Remember, He is present for your happiness." Lord, how gracious the Gift of Your Self.

PALM SUNDAY and the DAYS FOLLOWING On Sunday, we recall those who acclaimed Him as He came into the city on a donkey...Some of these same people called for His blood a few days later. Loyal? Lord, we recall our times of prayerful love and times when we wanted it another way. Pardon us...for we are like the reeds bending to the winds...now here...now there. Let us learn something from the whole story of the Passion. Happy Holy Week to each reader.

HIS REGARD Ecclesiasticus 16:30,31 "...and on earth He let fall His regard and filled the earth with His blessings...covered the face of it with living things that breathe there..." Lord, may we ever be mindful of our loving Creator and He who holds all in being..."

LOVE AND SORROW T A'Kempis "...there is no living in love without some sorrow." Consider the lives of the saints. How much sorrow they endured along the way. It was not all roses without a single thorn...it was not living in an endless tranquility. Now they know JOY...but on earth they knew what sorrow was as they lived their lives. Pray for us, O saints of God.

MERCY OF THE LORD Psalm 76:9,10 "Can His favor desert us altogether? Or can His promise be set aside forever? Can He forget to be gracious...Can anger compel Him to with hold His mercy?" What powerful words...what consolation for us who strive and fail...and run to seek Him once more. Misere, Domine.

FIRE Jeremiah 23:29 "My word is a fire..." Like a fire, we pray that Christ's words burn in our hearts...urging us to seek peace and accord...to instruct us...to inspire us...to motivate us to good. So be it Lord.

TO THE END T A'Kempis "When you have found Christ, you are indeed rich. He is all sufficient for thee. Men quickly change but He endures lovingly forever and will stand by us to the very end." Lord, receive our grateful hearts.

GOD KNOWS God knows how to bless each one in their particular need...and so, it is good for us to pray for others...even ones we do not know...like those who are in terrible distress...those in loneliness...those in depression...those who shall die this day...those who have been a blessing to us...etc Lord, how great is Thy love...how small our requests!

SILENCE What a prayer silence can be. We are filled with words...some of us more than others... There is a kind of prayer, quite old, called contemplation. Silence in God's Presence is the heart of this prayer...The rest of the prayer is simply loving to be in the Divine Eye...and open to Him. Lord, teach us how to be still...so to hear that 'still small whisper.'

IN YOUR HEART F. Sheen "Show me your heart. Have you left any room for the Divine Love?" Lord...grant us this grace: to always be open to You and to welcome that Divine affection which flows generously upon us each day. We forget, sometimes, that He has carved our names on the palms of His hands. We fail to open up a space for that caring which is directed towards us.

LOVE FOR MARY Fulton Sheen, author and preacher, wrote and spoke often of his love for Mary, the Mother of Jesus. He used to say "When I die, I hope to hear the Lord saying 'I have heard My mother speak of you.' At his funeral...the last words spoken were" Farewell, Archbishop Sheen...I trust, that by now He has said to you: "I have often heard My mother speak of you' " Lord, give us a true devotion to Mary. May we love her and confide in her for she loves us and prays for us all.

WHAT WOUNDS...Zacharias 13:6 " What wounds be these in Thy clasped hands? Thus wounded was I in the house of my friends..." Precious wounds of Christ, intercede for all of us sinners. What love He displays for us in His Passion...How much He paid that He did not owe. Mercy on Your people, Lord.

RICH IN PARDON Jonas 4:2 "...I knew from the start what manner of God Thou art...ever quick to pardon...how kind and merciful, vengeance ever ready to forego.." Lord, I thank You for Your merciful pardon poured out so many times on us...We strive and fail...and come once more to Thee. May we grow in our love and fidelity to Thee each day.

DIVINE LOVE Fulton Sheen: "Show me your hands. Do they have scars from giving? Show me your feet. Are they wounded from service? Show me your heart. Have you left a place for Divine love?" Lord, that we may open our selves to Thee and Thy inspirations.

YOUR LIGHT A prayer adapted from Psalm 4...Oh Lord, look upon us kindly...We call on Thy sacred Name...In all trouble, Thou art our Aid...What is our greatest need, if not Thee? Lord, see us in our needs...Let us not be hard hearted but open to Thy caring love...In kindly blessing, look towards us...Always You hear the call of those who trust in You...In our hearts, we have gladness when we recall Thy love...Turn Thy face towards us for we put our trust in You...Where else shall we go?...Surely Your light will be on our path; Thy promise is our basis of our hope...It is our faith in Thy word. Amen

PALM SUNDAY Lord, let us honor You with most grateful hearts for You came and , for our sake, endured such torment and death. Ever let us remember Thy love for us sinners. John 8:29 "...I do always what pleases Him...The Father is with Me and has not left Me all alone..."

WILLINGLY T. A'Kempis "Do willingly what lies in thee. Do not wholly neglect thyself...especially your spiritual self." Lord, let me learn the ways of real faith and trust. Let me daily seek after Thee...even in the simple things of everyday life.

LOVE OF SELF T A'Kempis ""..Thou must give all for all and be nothing of thy own...the love of self is more hurtful to thee than anything in the world. The things that you love will cling to thee. Let thy love be pure, simple, well ordered so that you are not captive to anything." Lord,be it so with me for I know it is a lesson I must learn and cherish.

PEACE Thomas A'Kempis "My peace is with the humble and meek of heart; Thy peace shall be in much patience." Lord, we pray for a little more patience. Our impatience causes others to feel badly and does nothing to help the matter at hand. How patient You were in Your Passion...How much we could learn from You.

LOVE OF GOD FOR US Song of Songs 8:6 "Lord...hold me close to Thy heart...not even death is as strong as love.." Lord, in Thy love we are hid as in a mighty fortress. We are as the tree planted by the water's edge...we are as rock that forms the mountain side. Thank You for Your immense love...and countless blessings joined to that affection of Yours.

IN HIS KEEPING Psalm 53:6 "Ah but God is here to help me; He has my safety in His keeping." Lord, that we might have such firm faith in Thee and Thy tender care. Surely...a faith like this will carry us through many storms of life. Misere.

I COME Psalm 62:3 "I come, O Lord into Thy presence...I come so that I may thirst and hunger no more nor go hungry...In the desert of sin there is only thirst and hunger." Lord, You know how to fill us in the ways which we most need. Behold, we come. Let us say daily "Lord, behold I come..'

A HEART FULL OF FAITH Jeremiah 12:2 "Their lips proclaim Thee, O Lord, but their hearts are distanced from Thee." In all circumstances, O Lord, be our Help in our frail ways.

TO FIND TRUE LIGHT T A'Kempis "None but the servants of the Cross ever find the way of bliss." Merciful Lord, be merciful to us. If we love the Cross we shall find a great blessing in that caring.

ALL SHALL BE WELL Isaiah 30:15 "...come back and be still...and all shall be well with you. In quietude and in confidence is your strength." Lord, we mean well...keep us in good resolves. To truly love You is to truly hate all that is contrary to Thy will. Misere.

RESOLVE T A'Kempis Keep thy resolution firm towards the Lord...and keep thy intention steadfast." Kindly Lord, deal with us kindly. Give to us grace for good resolves and finest of intentions.

ST JOSEPH How much we admire this man of God...model of unselfish giving...model for workers...example of those who deeply trust in God...joy to the dying, for he died( we believe) with Jesus and Mary at his side...humility was certainly one of his many virtues. Dear Joseph, so loving towards God, be thou loving towards us as well. Ora pro nobis.

A PRAYER I DO NOT KNOW The old monk said "Sometimes I ask the Spirit to give me a prayer 'I do not know.' The young monk asked about that odd remark. The elder explained it like this: "Sometimes we make up such beautiful prayers that we are quite entertained by them. We say our poetic and beautiful prayer...when what God wishes is a prayer that is more humble and attuned to His will. In the prayer I do not know is the very prayer that most pleases God for me to say at this point in my life...and so, I sit in silence and devoutly 'say' that prayer I do not know." Lord, let us pray more completely in Thy will and with simplicity and trust.

ENLIGHTENMENT Jeremiah 6:23 "The enlightenment which comes with wisdom is true to its name; known to so few, yet where men are acquainted with it, it waits to light them into the presence of God." Lord, let Thy light shine on us.

WISDOM Proverbs 14:33 "In the heart of the prudent, dwells wisdom..." Lord, let our hearts be filled with this wisdom that we so need. We might be learned in many ways but so ignorant of the things we need for our life hereafter.

EACH DAY Psalm 41:9 "...with me daily is a canticle unto to my God." The lover of God finds time to pray each day...not as a chore...but as a joy. Lord, give us the grace to always come gladly and draw near to Love itself.

AMEND Jeremiah 7:3 "Amend your ways if you would have Me dwell in your midst." Lord, be merciful to us...let us turn from evil and turn to You...and so may You gladly dwell in us forever. How shall we welcome Thee into a house unclean?

COME TO THE LORD Jeremiah 3:23 "Lord, see we come to Thee...Art Thou not the God and Lord of us? How false these other gods." Deliver us from evil, Lord...especially the evil that comes to us disguised as 'good.' Foolish are we when we walk a different route than God the one intended for us.

THE BEST CHOICE Isaiah 66:4 "...ever My voice unheard and My call unanswered...What things I hated, these people chose." Lord, let our hearts ever seek all those things which are good in Thy sight and find our joy in Thy will. Let us say with Mary: '..according to Thy will.'

MARCH AND ST JOSEPH We think of you, Joseph, and your obedience to God...love for Jesus and Mary...humble acceptance of what God wished for you,... Pray for us that we may find our best selves in the doing of what God has in mind for us and come to our life with God forever in Heaven. Amen.

PRIDE Psalm 18:14 "Lord, I am Thy own servant...keep me from the sin of pride...Let it not lord over me...Keep it far from my door." How good to ask God often for this virtue. Think of the humble Virgin Mary...humble souls are in her company.

KINDNESS OF GOD T A'Kempis "Lord, never have You despised a humble and contrite heart." Bless us with the grace to hear Your invitation to cleansed from sin and be in joyful union with You. How merciful to all who call...who seek.

FAITH IN OUR CREATOR Francis Thompson "An athiest is one who believes himself to be an accident." Lord, our beloved Creator, may we always cherish life as it springs forth from Your love. We are not 'accidents' but rather an expression of the Divine will.

AVAILABLE Is. 65:12 "So ready to answer and they will not call on Me...so easily found but they do not search for Me." The Lord reminds His people that He is available when they call and when they search.

OUR HOPE T 'Kempis "This is the hope that you ought to hold: That is life and in death, God may always be glorified in thee." Lord, let us grow in this desire...that honor be always given to Thee in all our choices.

FOR BERNARD Most kindly Lord, be kindly to Bernard in his illness. Grant him complete healing. We pray with deep trust for You have promised 'Ask and you shall receive.' We ask not for ourselves but for this dear man in his sickness. We pray for all who love him and are suffering with him. Blessed be Thy Name and Thy healing ways with the sick and needy.

READY TO LISTEN...I Kings 3:10 "And the Lord came to his side and stood there waiting. ...He called him by name...Samuel answered "Speak on my Lord, I am listening..' " Ready to hear the words of God...a blessing for us. How God loves this willingness of heart when we are open to the kindly words He has to say and learn His will for us..

NOT IN FEAR Josue 1:9 "Courage is what I ask of thee...nor fearful shrinking back. You know that I am at they side wherever thou dost go." Lord, let me grow in confident love of Thee and not to be fearful when I have Your aid at my side.

STRONG Psalm 72:26 "...God will be my stronghold and eternally my inheritance." Lord, what comfort I find in this: Thou art at my side and in the end, an inheritance awaits me.

THE PROUD T A''Kemnpis "Let this fall of the proud ones, serve you as a warning...seek always the humble path." Lord, let me not fall into the prideful ways. I am only what I am in Your eyes...nothing more.

REMEMBER HIM Job:8: 13 "So frail their happiness, who leave God unremembered..." Lord, let us never forget Thy kindness nor Thy majesty. Our life goes on in Thy love and Thy power. How shall we forget Thee?

THINK OF GOD Tobias 4:6 "...do thou, while thou hast life, think ever upon your God." Lord, let this be our daily joy: to always be mindful of You...directly in prayer...or in an indirect manner by intending to do Thy will in what lies before us...those things that we believe as the will of the Lord for us.

FAITH IN OUR GOD Psalm 93:9 "Is He deaf Who created the ear? Has He grown blind Who created the eye?" Lord, grant to us this kind of faith. You are the One Who always hears and always sees...With love for us You respond daily.

FIXED Psalm 111:7 "No fear shall he suffer who keeps his hopes fixed firmly on the Lord" Lord, be with us and keep us. Our fears melt away when we remember that You are with all those who trust in You.

FAITHFUL Psalm 110:3 "See the Lord: His deeds are high and glorious and faithful is He to all eternity." Lord, Thy faithfulness is our greatest consolation. Why should we halter or fear when we know Thou wilt be with us in our efforts for good?

AND LOVE...T A'Kempis " Love flies and runs and rejoices; It is free and nothing can hold it back." God's love for us is quite beyond our understanding for He loves not as we love...He sees all things with an eye different from ours.

RESCUE US Isaiah 37:20 "It is to Thee that we call...rescue us and show the nations that there is no other more powerful than Thee." Lord, we call on Thee and we do so with confidence. How great is Thy power and Thy mercy.

WITH US Josue 1:9 "...no room for fear when the Lord God is at your side wherever thou dost go." Lord, be our Confidence when are leaning towards fear and lack of faith.

WATCH FOR HIM Mattie Stepanek "Let our souls be those who watch for the Lord waiting with wonder and with want." Lord, bless us as we wait and watch and hope and pray. We know that Thou art Goodness itself and that our love watches for us like a mother that watches for her child to return home.

HE IS WITH US Josue 1:9 "No room for fear...when the Lord God is at your side wherever thou dost go." We will have courage knowing that God is with us in all circumstances. Blessed be the Lord always and forever.

WONDERFUL Isaiah 28:29 "This lesson would He also teach us: How wonderful are His designs...how high above us are His dealings." Lord, that we may learn a greater deal of trust and surrender to Thy providence. We would have much peace if we could engrave this upon our inmost self...He is our God and His ways are inscrutable.

OUR SHIELD Ecclesiasticus 34:19 "...His eyes watch over thee...here is strong protection for thee...here is firm support...shelter from the heat and shade in the noontime." No other god is such as our God.

FAITH IN GOD II Esdras 8:10 "To rejoice in the Lord, therein lies our strength." To rejoice in Him implies a wonderful trust in Him and in His providence. It is assured confidence that we are in His love and in His care each day. Lord, give us this kind of faith.

THE WAY OF LOVE Song of Songs 8:7 "Yes, love is a fire no waters can quench...For love, a man will give all and count his giving as nothing." Lord, that we might love Thee more.

FEBRUARY 2ND, Candlemas...I have always loved this feast. Some call it the 'feast for grandma and grandpa,' for Simeon and Anna. I think part of its charm is in that Christmas is not completely over. The Christ child is brought to the temple...there Simeon and Anna hold the Child and sing with joy for here is the long awaited One...in our midst...in our very arms. Would that we each had some of that gladness of spirit...Indeed, He has come to save us!!!!!

ALL THE WHILE...Psalm 53:4 "Lord, listen to me as I pray...Let me be assured that all the while, You are listening." Faith teaches the soul to have confidence that the ear of God is always ready to hear...as His heart is always in love with us.

UNITY OCTAVE January 25th is the closing of the octave for Unity. Lord, bless this effort. We need a more loving regard for the other person's belief. Many different views but still only one God. Help us to regard as sacred, the other person's belief just as we hope they will regard our creed as sacred to us.

LISTEN We speak to God but do we take time to listen? Recently, a priest told me that in his vocation search, he prayed to God but was not too careful in listening. It was when he listened, things started to click. Lord, you gave us one tongue and two ears...Did You imply that we should spend more time listening than speaking? "Be still and know that I am God."

OUR CALL We may not think of it so much but we are daily being called even as the early followers were called...invited to walk with Him. A daily time of quiet prayer will help us 'hear' that call of God. It may not be a great thing for us to do...but it is the thing He asks this day. How shall we refuse?

WHAT WE DO NOT KNOW T A'Kempis "Even if a man seems to be greatly wise,... still, ...the total of what he does not know is a greater entity than what he knows." See our limitations, Lord...be merciful for we are still in some darkness.

CHARACTER St Augustine "If you ask about the character of a man...I will tell you to find out what his loves are." Lord, as we wish to be pleasing to Thee, help us to ever love the good things that we may think and say and do. How can we be good without an abiding love of all that is good and worthwhile?

ALL THINE T A'Kempis "A loud cry in the ear of God is that ardent affection of the soul that says 'O God, Thou art all mine and I am all thine,' " Lord, bring us to this place where we are so dedicated to Thee that our wills are completely one with Yours. How shall we ever love so fully? ... . Not unless the Spirit of God dwells so fully in us. Come. O Holy Spirit.

MY AID Psalm 54 "God Himself is all my Help. He upholds my life. To Him, I offer a willing sacrifice, praising His name for all His goodness." Lord, how mighty is Thy hand in protecting love.

NOT THE GIFT T A'Kempis "The prudent lover considers not so much the gift of the lover, as the love of the giver." Think of God and how much He loves the deed that is done to honor Him...not necessarily a great deed but one done with much love. Lord, may we love much...even in the smallest acts that we do. It is not the expense of our gift...it is the fervent love behind the giving of that gift.

TRUSTING IN HIM T A'Kempis "My promise deceives no man...and I do not leave hands empty that are seeking and trusting in My blessings." Lord, teach us to live daily in this trusting mode.

GOD"S AID Wisdom 19:20 "...no means would the Lord neglect in order to aid His people...always and everywhere He came to their side..." Consider this quote in regards to your own life. Do you think He would neglect you in your need...in your sorrow or distress? Always and ever...now and forever...is His love around us.

WE ARE CALLED T Merton "Whatever may be our vocation, we are all called to be witnesses and ministers of the Divine Mercy." As we begin our day in prayer, let us think upon the Divine Mercy towards us...towards all the world. Then we shall be ready to go forth living that message.

SHIELDED St Francis de Sales "If you are armored with the armor of faith nothing can harm you." Lord, give me this armor. To be enfolded in Your love and to receive Your graces...what more do we seek?

A LOOK AT LIFE Robert L. Stevenson ""Don't judge each day by the harvest gathered...Judge rather by how many seeds you have planted." God would have us always to consider what 'seed planting' we might do. A kind act...a child taught...an old person helped...a mean person treated patiently...an example set...a lesson taught...

CALL OF THE APOSTLES This Sunday we read from John 1 and reflect on the call of the Apostles. A good day to reflect on the 'calling' of each one of us. Created by God, loved by God...we each have our call from Him. He does nothing without a plan and we are in His plan in some way. Let us reflect...let us pray that we might do His will for us.

TO FOCUS ON GOD T A'Kempis "Happy are they who rejoice in being wholly intent on God and leave the worldly return to trivia. Lord, draw us ever closer to Thee. What desire is greater than this?

GOOD AND EVIL...Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to you who call evil, good...and who call good, evil. Woe also to those who call darkness, light and who see the light as a form of darkness." Lord, give us grace to see things as You see them...then we shall be aligned to Thy will.

A TIME TO SPEAK UP St Ambrose "We shall be called into account not only for every idle word but for every idle silence." God forgive us for that time when we should have spoken up for the one unjustly treated...for the cheated victim...for the poor man in our midst...and we did not open our mouths. So many times we spoke for vain things, foolish things...but not for goodness. Misere Domine.

IN PAIN Lord, let me go to that one in pain...physical or mental...from whatever the cause. Let me be a balm for their wounds. Let me bear some of their pain and lighten their load. Let my heart be caring and let that caring be seen by the afflicted. To one who has received much, much will be expected...let me not fail to be that comfort another needs. There is no greater joy for a person than to know that another's path is a little brighter...their pain, a little lessened...their sorrow be lessened by any comfort I may show. In Thy Name, I pray...Let me not fail.

THE CROSS T A'Kempis "Quickly it shall be better with thee when thou hast accepted the crosses sent to thee by God and you shall find much peace." Peace is in the result of acceptance by us, of the crosses that come...'He knows what He is about'..as Newman said.

GOD WILL PROTECT Isaiah 4:6 "Blessed by God, shelter they will find...a canopy will cover them...they shall be shaded by day and and find a refuge from the storms..." Such is the loving care of God for us. May we offer a prayer of gratitude everyday. Deo Gratias...again and again.

AN ACT OF FAITH T Merton "A perfect act of faith should also, at the same time, be an act of perfect humility." What is true humility? It is simply the truth about ourselves...all good in us is of His doing.

WHO IS RICH? T A'Kempis "The wealthy man?...Is it not he who knows how to love God and to place himself in the very last place?" Lord, forgive us when we forget to humble ourselves and admit our weakness and immense need for Thee.

WE ARE HIS PEOPLE Zacharias 13:9 "I will lead them ...Theirs to call on me and it is mine to grant their plea...My very own people I call them...And they say the Lord is my very own God." Lord, truly we are Yours.

LORD CREATOR GOD Wisdom 13:1 "What folly when so much good is seen and yet the Creator of it all remains hidden to us. All this good...and still the Author of it is unknown to many." Lord, make us wise in Your lore. Teach us to think aright and to know from Whom our benefits flow.

A NEW SONG Psalm 149:1 "Let us sing Him a new song..here in this place where we gather to offer Him praise." How 'special' is that 'new' song...it is not in the book...it is still in your heart.

PEACE T A'Kempis "The Kingdom is within you. Shall you look for peace? Quit this world, come aside, look within...give your heart to God and the things of God." Lord, we seek peace...but often in the wrong places.

BETTER IS WISDOM...Ecclesiastes 9:17 "...a wise man's whisperings are greater than loud speech from a fool..." May God speak to us through those who are wise in His ways...learned in love...full of understanding.

GRATITUDE T Merton "Gratitude is the very heart of the devout solitary life, as it is the heart of all Christian life." We cannot call ourselves followers of Christ unless daily gratitude travels with us each and everyday. What kind of follower of Christ does not overflow with thanksgiving as he journeys through life to its climax?

TEMPTATIONS...T A'Kempis "The devil sleeps not and temptations are to the left and to the right...prepare for the battle for your enemy does not take a rest." The best part of a temptation is that it is the start of a very fervent and humble prayer. "Lord, look and see...how much I am drawn to evil...Let Thy grace come to me and be more abundant than ever. Where sin abounded, still did the grace of God yet more abound...as Paul put it."

HEALING...Ecclesiastes 16:12 "Lord of life and all goodness...the healing is from Thee...not just in herb we take or the paste we apply." In seeking a healing, let us remember the great willingness of God to pour His blessings. Let us also remember His mercy and kindness...and that He knows what is best for our souls as well as our bodies.

GOD AND HIS HELP Wisdom 14:3 "The boat upon the seas is only man's work...but the sea is the Lord's work and He makes a safe way to you to travel. How great is His protection and His providence." Be glad...for the Lord is with thee.

MERCY OF GOD Psalm 35: 6-8 Lord, Thy mercy is high as heaven itself...Thy fidelity reaches beyond the clouds. Man and beast find aid from Thee, so rich is Thy mercy...under the shelter of Thy wings is great confidence to be had." Lord, how great is Thy gift of merciful love!

LOOK TO SELF T A'Kempis "Look to thy own interior life...let others do as they will." How blessed are they who seek Him without end.

SEEK HIM T Merton "If in all things, you seek after God, truly you will find God. If you seek self ...indeed, you shall find self but not to your benefit." Lord, let us always be searching for Thee...wherever You may be found.

TO GOD, SEND YOUR HEART T A'Kempis Let thy soul be naked, pure and free, and bear a great seeking for God so that you may experience His great sweetness and not be entangled in the trash below." Lord, may we find the freedom to run after Thee and not stumble along the way.

GOD'S WILL Wisdom 15:7 "Let us not despise the potter's hand...now a bowl...now a cup or dish...It shall be the Potter's right to do as He shall choose." In His will are all things and in His love, all good things are planned for us. It is up to us to be soft clay in His hands...He shall make something beautiful.

IN SO MANY WAYS Psalm 143:2 "He blesses us in so many ways..." How shall we name them all? Let no day go by without some reflection on the goodness of God towards mankind. In eternity we shall be glad for every moment that we spent contemplating Him while we were still on our journey.

IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME Gal 4 ref. A beautiful phrase 'in the fullness of time.' It meant that God had a plan and it was to unfold just as He had planned...not before and not after. When we beseech God for a favor let us remember that He orders all things and He has plan for each. This blessing may come soon or later and it will come or not, as He has planned. Let us surrender to His time table and to His loving will. Maybe we need to endure this trial a little longer...maybe He has a good to come about that is unknown to us but it is in His 'fullness of time.' In all things, He bids us to grow in trust. He knows what He is about...as Newman said.

TO GLORY IN CHRIST...T A'Kempis "How short lived is that glory given by men. To glory in tribulation with patience and with faith in God is to glory in the very cross of Christ" May we glory only in You O God.

PRAISE Wisdom 10:21 "Wisdom has opened mouths that were dumb and made them ring with eloquent songs of praise". Lord, teach these lips to sing Thy praise...to chant of Thy goodness...to relate Thy mercies.

FULL OF PRAYER...T Merton "When I am liberated by silence I am no longer tied to a measurement of life but freed to a living of it. I find a mode of prayer that has no distraction in it as my whole life has become my prayer. My life has become full of silence...my silence has become full of prayer."

KINDNESS OF THE LORD Wisdom 12:1 " Lord, Thy kindly influence is all about us." To be so loved by our God...was there ever a people like this? May we be ever so grateful Lord...what is so cold as the ungrateful heart?

FAITH FLOWING Billy Graham "We are not made to be cisterns for storing water; we are made to be pipes or conduits designed for sharing.' Let us ask ourselves this...Have we stored up the Good News or are we trying to share it? Some will never hear the invite of God if you are silent. Some will remain in darkness unless they see the light you are carrying. Some will remain hungry unless you share your bread. Lord, makes us channels of Your grace. In giving, it is that we receive as Francis said.

A NEW SONG "Sing to Him a new song." Ps 33 Think about these words. What is a new song? It is not the one in the book...though it may be very good...still it is not new. The new song has not yet been written...it is the song you sing out of your faith and love, your joy and hurts, your deepest needs and fears. This is the song He waits to hear. Your song is not my song...my song is not yours. Both songs thrill the heart of God.

I AM HIS T Merton "True poverty is riches indeed...it is full of gratitude to God...and it seeks him everyday...it wishes to see Him even in His hiding...it desires to possess nothing that would possess us for we are His." Lord, teach us this great truth: We are Yours and always will be Yours. No honor is greater than this.

NO RIDDLE TOO HARD Wisdom 9:11 "Lord, with wisdom at my side...I find that I see Your will..her prudence comes to aid me. In her no riddle is too hard to understand." Lord, bless us with Your wisdom...what a blessing that would be.

DAILY T A"Kempis "He taught the people to be one of heart in their desire to please God and to praise Him everyday." Daily prayer for one who loves is like the air we breathe...there is no life without it.

ALL AS PRAYER PARTNERS T Merton "Let me seek always...the gifts of silence, poverty, and solitude. Then everything I touch is turned to prayer...the sky, the birds and their songs, the wind in the trees, the sunlight on the fields, the clouds drifting by, the rain falling gently... Lord teach me the way of prayer.

WHO CARE NOT Psalm 96:7 "Shame on those who adore Him not...the angels rejoice to praise Him." How could you not adore Him Who is Source of all...even the Source of our very existence?

HEBREWS 1...In former days, He sent prophets to instruct His people, but now He has sent His very own Son." How much love is borne by this message...delivered by the very So of the Most High. Surely, they will hear my Son.

REVERENCE DUE Ecclesiastes 3:14 " Be certain of this: All that He has made shall endure as long as He wishes...no adding on or taking away...In all things, He commands our sincere reverence." Lord, we do revere Thee.

LORD HELP ME J. Lelen "Grant, O Lord, that I may be animated by Thy love...clothed in robes of justice...supported by Thy mercy and compassion...and directed by Thy Holy Spirit." Misere

FOR GOD'S SAKE T A'Kempis "They indeed obey and do the right thing but they grumble all the while. If love is their motivation...let them joyfully do the good for God's sake." In reverence, we say 'In God's sake.'

LITTLE ONE IN THE HAY...O Jesus, poor and yet so rich...so weak yet so mighty...so helpless yet so mighty...we come in adoration. What God is this who comes to us clothed as one of us? O wondrous mystery...O love sublime!

GOOD NEWS..."How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of Him Who brings good news.." Isaiah 52 Let us reflect on this passage and think about the Good News that He brought...the promise of eternal happiness in Heaven with God after a live lived in faith and hope and charity. It is almost beyond belief...no wonder some reject it since, to them, is it too good to be true. You and I are called by the Master and He came to save us even if we were the only ones needing saving. Gratias agimus tibi.

OUR BROTHER'S FAULTS T A'Kempis "Far better to accuse ourselves than to accuse our brothers and sisters. As we wish to be borne with...so we must bear with one another." Lord, give us the grace to see our own failings before we see another's.

TO HIM I TURNED Wisdom 8:21 "Only by God's bounty could I hope for the gift to be master of self...I knew from whence the gift had to come... and therefore, I turned to the Lord in prayer..." The Source...Lord, bless us for You are the Source of all that is good. Mercy, Lord.

HUMBLE...T A'Kempis "To the humble, God gives secrets...He calls to them...invites them to draw near. The humble man has real peace because he is not in conflict with anyone...he freely gives to each the path they have chosen...in all things He depends on God not upon himself." Lord, that we may learn.

PETITION "He that made the ear...shall He not hear? He that made the eye, shall He not see?" Ps 93:9 When we ask God, we are assured that, indeed, He has ears to hear and eyes to see. Lord, increase our faith.

OBEDIENCE And so we see Mary and Joseph making the trip to Bethlehem to be enrolled...how the design of God works out...He was of the line of David and so He would be born in David's city. In our own lives, He writes straight with crooked lines. What seems not quite right turns out to be the circumstance which is best for our salvation. How many saints came to sanctity by odd routes!

THERE WAS NO ROOM Consider how He wants to come to our hearts. In some cases, there 'is no room' for the heart is already full...but with the stuff of Christmas...not with the spiritual emptyness that longs for His indwelling. Lord, let us clean the stable of our hearts..o to make room.

A GIFT The old monk prayed and prayed...what would he give to the new born King? In a dream, that night, the Christ child came to him and reaching towards the monk, said 'Give me thy heart.' Lord, in all the days ahead, let us do just that "give our hearts." What shall enrich God Who has all things and yet seeks one more thing...our love.

CHERISH WISDOM Ecclesiastes 10:15 "Be not unwise...Behold the fool's errand when he knows not the way to town." To lack wisdom is such a poverty...it is to be ignorant when to all, God is willing to pour out His wisdom. Teach us, O Lord...Behold our open ears and attentive hearts.

NEVER EXPECTED T Merton " The solitary is one drawn by the Father into the wilderness.. there to be fed by the spiritual food which Jesus supplies...and so comes to an enrichment beyond expectation." Lord, see our need.

RECOLLECTED...T A'Kempis "The man of interior life, comes easily to prayer for he has never really given himself over to the exterior things...the frivolous things...and vain things." Lord, give us this grace...to relish the things that please Thee most.

GRACE Wisdom: 6:4 "Power is none to you except what comes to you from the Lord...He the One above all..." He, the One who gives heart to the weary, cheer to the saddened ones, directions to the lost, company to the lonely, health to the sick. Seek Him and be ready to have your basket filled to the brim.

AS GOD WILLS FOR US Wisdom 5:7 "How lonely were the paths we followed when we missed the path that He had in mind for us." Lord, be Thou our guide...lead us on...keep us ever on that path that is Your will for us. What matters is only that it is the path YOU wish for us.

HERE BEFORE YOU...Ecclesiastes 6:9 "Better to focus on what is before you than imagine a good done elsewhere...Labor lost it is to chase after some vain dream of doing good somewhere else." Here and now...Lord, I do not have to search for the good thing to do...it is here before me.

SILENCE AND HUMILITY...T Merton ... "Words of humility are so simple, and so gentle, and so poor that they easily find their way to the very silence of God...they echo His silence." When we pray without words we are simply coming to God in great peace and in self surrender. He welcomes such a loving soul with His silence...a silence that speaks words of love that are so deep that they need not words...He easily addresses the soul using no words at all. Try the prayer of silence...you will 'hear' Him speak and you will cherish contemplative prayer from that day forth.

GRACE THAT TRANSFORMS Francis of Assisi "If God can work through me, He can work through anyone." Lord, be with me and in me...so to urge me to goodness.

IN GOD IS OUR RICHES...T A'Kempis The servant of God does not rejoice in abundance nor be sad in little for he has, in God, found his joy...All in all...peace upon peace." Lord, we thank you for Your blessings in whatever way You have given them.

TO SAY BUT NOT DO...J Lelen "O God, when shall silence and retirement and prayer become the main occupation of my soul as now, they are only desires on my part. How much I propose...how little I do." Miserere

TO LOVE T AKempis "We truly deceive ourselves when we cherish the earthly over the eternal...Be in repentance for thy sins so that you may be numbered among those who love Him." Let this be our intent...our aim...to do all with a love for God in our hearts. Be the deed great or very tiny, it matters what the motivation was. And as for our failures...let us rely on the compassion of the Lord.

CHARITY St Aelred "Charity may be a very little work but, with its meaning of pure love, it sums up man's entire relationship with God and with his neighbor." Lord, let our works be motivated by a love for You and for our neighbor for love is the important thing...not the deed itself.

WE FEAR NOT T A Kempis "For he that loves God with whole heart fears not death, nor punishment, nor harsh judgment...for perfect love casts out fear and great love is the bridge to the very heart of God." Lord, may we be as a flame burning before Thee.

GONE TO GOD...Wisdom 3:2 "They are in the hand of God...and yet some think of death as loss and as annihilation; All is well with those who have gone to Him with loving hearts." Lord, may this be...to come to Thee with a most loving heart.

LIKE A SHADOW PASSING Wisdom:2:5 "Only as a passing shadow...this life below. And there is no returning..." Lord, let us do that good we are putting off. We are like candles in the wind...suddenly the flame is gone.

NOT SELF St Vincent Ferrer "Whatever you do, think not of self, but of God." Let the accent be on God...for God...with God...in God...In God's love. Too often the accent was on self...but so much better, to focus on Him.

PEACE Francis of Assisi "While you are proclaiming 'peace' be sure to have it within your own hearts." Lord, let me never think that I shall call another to the light if I do not carry a lighted torch witihin my own heart.

EMBRACED BY LOVE T Merton "O Father, I love You whom I do not know..I embrace You whom I do not see...I abandon myself to You whom I have often offended...and in all this, You love me in Your dearly loved Son and I am lost in Your embrace." Lord, it is beyond us...Thy love is overwhelming.

CHARITY AND WISDOM Francis of Assisi "Where there is charity and wisdom there, in that place, is found neither fear not ignorance." Lord, give us the grace to be servants of charity and wisdom. Only then should we be called children of God.

SPIRIT OF THE LORD Ecclesiastes 1:7 "The Spirit of the Lord fills all of creation and this Spirit is the bond which holds all in place and is fully aware of every sound we utter." Lord...how gracious You are to us. Even a whisper of a child is fully heard by You. Let us not neglect the times of prayer for they are precious moments.

TO SEEK HIM T Merton "Know this: the internal silence in you is fed by a continual seeking...a looking over the abyss..a cry in the darkness...We must never stop in our search for Him" Lord, we seek Thee in silence...We need Thee...Thou art the All in all for us.

LET GOODNESS PRECEDE THEE T A Kempis "Keep thy heart free and lifted up unto God for here thou hast not a lasting city. Send up to God your prayers and good deeds so they might reach God before you do. " Lord, You call to us...invite us...love us. As we come to You may there be proofs of our love to precede us.

LITTLENESS Ecclesiastes 11:5 "Do thou think to understand all the ways of God? Accept your littleness." Lord, indeed, we are so little...and we see dimly...and we learn slowly...and we see with various distortions. Be merciful on Your little ones.

DO GOOD TO ALL Francis of Assisi " Start by doing the necessary...then do what is possible...suddenly, you are doing what you thought was impossible. " Lord, only by Your grace at work in us can we do the good that needs the doing. Flood us with Thy grace for we, by ourselves, are poor indeed.

THE SPIRIT OF OUR PRAYER...T A'Kempis "When you come to God in prayer...come in faith...come in reverence...come with humility...come with a desire for God's will to prevail...and come mindful of God's wonderful compassion towards mankind." It is not the words...it is the heart felt yearning behind them.

GOD'S LOVE...T Merton..."A saint is a person in whom God's love has had a chance to develop and a likeness of the Creator begins to surface." Lord, melt us, mold us...

THINK OF OTHERS Billy Graham "Tears shed for self are weakness displayed...Tears shed for others are signs of strength." Lord, let my heart go out to others...and let self-thoughts rest on the back burner. Better yet...let self thoughts be lost in Thee and Thy great caring.

SMILE Francis of Assisi "It is not fitting when we are servants of God, to go about with gloomy face or chilling look." Lord, that we might have a smile for others and cheer those in sadness and anxiety.

SINNER T Merton "The man who sins in spite of all his good intentions and never loves his sin...that man is not a sinner in the fullest sense of the word." Lord, have mercy...we fail but let us never give our hearts to our failures but to give our hearts to You...merciful and kind are You and worthy of all our affection.

EXAMPLE Francis of Assisi "We go forth proclaiming the gospel...sometimes we use words." The world may not hear our words...but they shall be moved by the example we show. Lord, grant us the grace to reach souls...capture them for You...we know the actions speak louder than words...aid us in living a good example.

HOPE Billy Graham I have read the last page of the Bible. It's going to come out alright." Much needed hope expressed in a style dearly loved. We must never give in to gloomy thoughts about our world...'it comes out OK.' The Lord loves His people and He will give us grace so that good may prevail and the evil shall be defeated. Let us keep faith...and a great sense of hope, too.

BIRTHDAY Love the plan that God has in mind for you. Ecclesiastes 7:2 "...a man's true birthday is the day of his death." The day which marks the beginning of our eternal life with God is far greater than the day we came from our mother's womb. Lord,grant us the graces we need to come to eternal life with You.

THAT IT MAY GROW...T Merton..."Grace, which is charity, contains in itself all manner of virtues...hidden in a potential manner. It is like the little acorn which yearns to be a great oak. Habitual grace brings to us all virtues in a seed form." O Lord,we pray that the 'seeds' of goodness within us will sprout and grow into acts and habits of goodness which are pleasing to God and to man. How shall this be? By Thy wonderful grace, O Lord.

WTH HEART...1 Kings 12:20 "Do not fear...only follow close where the Lord leads you...serve Him with all your heart." Lord, grant me this grace: to follow wherever You lead. Your grace is all I need. I will not know fear...for, indeed, You are always near.

AS A NEEDY ONE...Thomas Aquinas "...Lord, behold I come like a sick one to the physician...like an unclean one to the fountains...as a blind one or one who sees but poorly...as a poor one to Thy bounty, O Lord of Heaven and earth. Do Thou heal me, wash me, enlighten my being, enrich my poverty, clothe my nakedness..." Misere.

LOVE THEM ALL Francis of Assisi "If you should find one that excludes any of God's creatures from sheltering compassion and pity...Beware, for he shall do likewise to his fellowman." Lord, let my heart reach out to all Your little ones...They are the work of Your hands...and I shall love them.

BELIEF John Main "Our challenge is not to try to convert people to our way of belief but to love them and to be ourselves a living incarnation of what we believe...to live that which we believe...to love that credo in our hearts...to live that belief to our best possibility." Lord, give us this grace: To love all people and to accept where they are. You love them and so do we. Amen.

LOVE D H Lawrence "In every living thing there is the desire for love." How basic is this desire for someone's caring...for another's charity...for someone's concern. As we need it, so we should we attuned to the giving times that come daily with everyone we encounter. Lord, You are Love itself...Give us a measure of love to pour out each day...and fill us anew for the morrow.

JOY IN GOD T A'Kempis "What a great joy would a man have if he would abandon all vain solicitude and would dwell on the things of God...things of eternity...and thoughts of the goodness and mercy of God...etc" No wonder we have so little peace...the noise of the world keeps us from all that is so worthwhile.

YES AND NO J. Lelen "Grant me, O Lord, this grace...to not be one who promises but does not do...carries the intent but does not carry through...to have the idea but not the good action. " Lord, be our Aid. The Kingdom is for they who DO the will of the Father.

ON PONDERING THE SACRED WORD T Merton "By reading the Sacred Scripture and pondering them I am so renewed...all nature seems renewed around me...the sky seems a deeper and cooler blue...the green of the trees is greener yet... The whole world is charged with the glory of God and I feel fire and music beneath my feet." Lord, give us a deeper love of the Sacred Texts.

TO OBEY...Ecclesiastes 4:17 "Obedience is better than sacrifice." We might have a grand plan for something but our superior is thinking about another way of working it out. It is far better to go with the superior's plan and direction than to follow our own. In our own plan, there is, sometimes, a lack of humility. And the pride involved in being the 'expert.' Better to obey than go the prideful way of our own wishes. God will see and reward the humble heart that has chosen to live in obedience for the sake of the Kingdom.

PEACE, ACCORD...J. Lelen "Grant me, O Lord, to invite all whom I may meet to a place of mutual peace...I in Thee, Thou in me; Peace to every soul; Lord, make us whole. " We may not always remember but when we encounter anyone, the Lord is within us, and we bring Him to the encounter. We hope to be carriers of His peace...channels of light...good flowing to them as the Christ in us reaches out to them. Tonight I visited a middle aged man who has advanced cancer and his mother. Sometimes we are called to be quite quiet as we preach to them (without a sermon) and just to be with them. May the Lord in our hearts do His blessed work of love and mercy whenever we are trying to be 'carriers.' Pray for Ken and his mother Nell.

DOMINUS TECUM Saw a Christmas card the other day...on it a beautiful picture of Mary, Mother of God. Of course, it refers to the Virgin Mary..".The Lord is with you"...but it is also an apt greeting for someone is great sorrow. Recently, a good man from the parish buried his wife ... I sent the greeting to him to let him realize 'the Lord is with you'...In our pain...and confusion and worry...in anxiety, etc. surely the Lord is with us too.

THE STRUGGLE...T A'Kempis "Let us lay the axe to the root...only then, can we be free. God is so ready to help all who will battle against the enemy of their soul." Be our Aid, O Lord...You, by whom all things were made.

STRIVE J. Lelen "How happy I would be, dear Lord, if I strove after duty and obedience with as much fervor as I put forth striving after the foolish...the vain things...the things that pull me away from You." Misere.

THE POTTER'S CLAY...As long as the potter has good soft and workable clay he can fashion so many different things...some very decorative...some plain but oh so useful...and some, like the spoon rest have very humble functions...but all are in the potter's will. Lord, we are the clay in Thy sacred hands...do what Thou will...Our wish is to conform to Thy plan...Whatever, wherever that takes us to. Misere, Domine.

ADVENT...Behold the love of God for He comes as a little One,,,clothed with our humanity. Prepare the way...Be glad... watch, be alert,seek, weep, and pray.

LOVING CARE BY GOD Psalm 141:4 "...Lord, Thou art watching over my path. I called to You for mercy and You heard my call. Loud was my call...deep was my need. What comfort I found in Thy loving care of me." Lord, we forget much...Let us never forget Thy tender care.

MARY...LADY OF ADVENT ...Dearest Mother Mary, you said 'yes' to the Angel's message. O most dear mother pray for us that we might also love the 'yes' to God. In all the things He asks, He promises His aid to fufill our gift to Him. How wonderful was your response to Him...in trust and humility...in a future that was not at all known to you with all its sorrows and uncertainties. Lady of Advent, we await His coming...May we wait upon Him somewhat like thee. Teach us',lovely lady dressed in blue.' Ora pro nobis.

THE TEMPLE OF HIS HEART "Lord, the sinful self is not the self I desire. I call to Your mercy...liberate me from this ugly self. Christ's love has taken possession of me and cleansed away my sins. Now...He presents me to You. In the sanctuary of His heart I await Thee...in this most holy place...most sacred temple."

HUMBLE T A'Kempis "The more a person lives in humility, the more he lives in the shadow of God's love. You know that such a person will have acquired much wisdom along the way. " Lord, we are prone to pride and self centeredrness...Let us become 'God centered.' So good for that soul who stays at Your side.

BE ALERT Ref Mark 13 We are told to be on the alert...be ready...be watchful. For what? The end of our journey. A child coming from the mother's womb, going down the birth canal, is so easily understood and accepted. There is another 'tunnel' we must pass through...it is called death. We are not to fear as Christ has assured us...but we must be alert and watchful. At the time of our 'again' passage we shall be judged according to our use of talents...our love for God...our service to others, especially those in our lives that we were especially bound to help and guide. We have nothing to fear if we have done the best we could and trusted in God's merciful kindness all along the way. The last day for us is not a dread to those who love the Lord and trust Him with whole heart. Mercy of God, cover us.

WHEN...In Matt 25 we are reminded that kindness done to others is seen by God, as kindness to Him. Also, in a similar way, ill treatment will also be seen by God as neglect or hurt inflicted on Him. Powerful leson for us. We might feel like neglecting our neighbor but we have to say "Christ lives over there" or "He is that person that I try to avoid." Not easy but what grace will come to those who step out and do the good and shun the evil. That is the Gospel truth. Lord, let us grow in likeness to You...then, what kindness we will show!

GOD AND HELP...Psalm 126:1 "Vain is the builders' work if the Lord be not THE builder." In all good works, the glory is to be given to God for He is at work in all the good that we can see.

GOD IS FAITHFUL ...Baruch 1:12,15 "Courage...May the Lord grant to us all courage that is really a gleam of hope...The Lord, His was never the blush of shame. The fault was with us and ours is the blush of shame." Lord, let us always remember that You are so ready to aid us...if we just turn to Thee.

SILENCE...T Merton..."My whole silence is full of prayer...I am happy to be immersed in a world of silence for then, my whole life becomes a prayer. " Lord, be merciful. May I learn to cherish the silence that is not idle but is full of love. Let me be empty so that I can be full of You.

WE HEAR NOT...T A'Kempis " He that has His Spirit will surely find a hidden manna...the gift of God that sustains. When we have not the Spirit of God, we hear not the liberating message of Christ." Lord, be with us on the way...Sometimes it is dark and we are afraid. Take our hand...

FERVOR...T A'Kempis "The slothful man...Let him go to the Lord and seek grace. The Lord shall bestir his heart and make him fervent once more." How easy to become lazy and neglect the spiritual life. But, it is God Who stirs the heart...and He is so eager to bless all who seek Him. He searches for the straying lambs and rejoices when the lamb hears His call. In fact...it is certainly true that we find the Lord after He has been looking for us and has found us...not we found Him.

RELIANCE ON GOD Proverbs 3:5,6 "I tell you this: Put all thy confidence in the Lord...Rely never on thy own skill...Keep God ever in thy thoughts wherever you go." Lord, let me be of this mind: To rely on Thee with all my heart...To know that the right path is the one You direct me to. Ever shall I trust in Thee...How great is Thy care for me...Wise I am to shun my own way...When it is Thou that lights up my day.

AS WE PRAY FOR OTHERS When we pray for the welfare of others, let us ask that God keep them...but ALSO, let us ask that they perceive in their hearts that wonderful assurance that INDEED they are being cared for by an all loving Being. We pray for a blessing for them and also for an increase in faith so that they know He is watching and providing.

CONFIDENCE Psalm 130:2 "Lord, bear me witness: I kept my soul ever still...ever at peace...ever content like a child upon his mother's chest." Beautiful image presented for us by the Psalmist. What peace and security are here represented!

UNITED TO THEE T A"Kempis "O my Lord, by Thy sacred Presence inflame me, consume me, transform me so that I may be one spirit with Thee by Thy precious grace, by internal union with Thee and by a melting love in abundance." What more do we desire than this? Joined to our God without ceasing.

OUR SOULS SHALL HEAR T Merton "Silence is ordered that we might hear words of faith deep within...Christ shall utter those words in the holy silence of our desert...and our souls shall be glad to hear them." Lord, that we may love the silence that our souls hunger for.

WISDOM T A'Kempis "The wisdom that is true and heavenly...not seeking high places nor special praise here below...Ah, the precious pearl hidden from many but found by those lowly ones." Lord, that we might find that wisdom...and come to see Thee more clearly.

HE WAS WITH ME...Psalm 128:2 "Poorly have they treated me but never overwhelmed me for He was with me and blessed me." A prayer of confidence which so pleases the heart of God. He rejoices in the souls who never lose faith in Him.

TALENTS Ref Matthew 25 In His Divine plan for each soul, God wills that various 'talents' be given to souls and that they honor Him in using these talents or skills...apptitudes, you might call them...for good. Wasted talents will not be overloooked. God has given each gift for good reason and He shall be watching to see how they are used. We glorify Him so much when we use them to make our world a better place. Much happiness shall follow the talent used...and regret shall come to the ones who burried their talents and did not bring them to full use.. Lord, bless us and help us to do good with any and all talents You have given. As for talents given, I like the words of Cardinal Newman: "He knows what He is about."

TO LOVE WHAT HE LOVES...Psalm 118:10 Lord, be Thou the whole quest of my heart...let me love what Thou dost love and require." We cannot say that we love God without loving all that He requests of us.

THE PITY OF GOD Psalm 115:3 "The Lord's mercies have never failed me...what return shall I make unto Him?" In all His goodness He comforts us...and in love we seek to return His unbounded charity.

PRAYER FOR OTHERS...Psalm 121: "My prayer: For the love of my neighbor I seek peace for them...for their happiness I plead." A loving prayer for the welfare of others is so dear to the heart of God. More good can be wrought by our prayer than we might suspect.

A GOOD HEART...Psalm 107:2 "Lord, give me a good heart as I draw near...A caring heart...A praising heart...and a concerned heart, concerned about the welfare of all peoples." Lord, You cleanse our hearts and fill them with all good.

AID FROM GOD Psalm 109:7 " The servant of God...he shall drink of the brook on the way and he shall lift up his head in victory." Lord, we know that You are the Help of all who trust in You. Be Thou with us.

CARRY US...Isaiah 46:4 "Even to your old age I am your God. Even when your hair turns grey, I will carry you. I have always supported you, and I will continue to carry you to safety." Lord, Thy love is our support, our fortress. Let us always be most grateful.

THANKS BE TO GOD...I Thes 1 Paul reminds us to look at the 'faith response' of the saints and let us ask God to give us the grace to serve Him with more daily loving intent on goodness. Lord, we are weak but, by Thee, made strong.

CALLED...In Isaias 45 (Sunday) We are reminded that we each are called by God to goodness of life. Some respond so well...as you see the examples of good people in your life. Others respond with little enthusiasm. Let us ask God for a little more effort to goodness. Lord, please have mercy...we are sometimes only at half speed.

GRACE TO DO THE GOOD...See Phil 4 Paul is reminding the people that strength for goodness is available to them by their connectedness to Christ. Why are we so weak? Why do we limp along in the spiritual race? Could it be that we have forgotten that all good things can come to be...in union with the Christ ? His aid is available but do we seek it and work with it?

MY HOUSE SHALL BE FULL...See Matt 22 Jesus taught them with a parable. A great man was to have a wonderful feast and invited many. Many did not wish to be bothered and so the tables were not full. The rich man sent his servants out to gather in all that they could..."I have not made a banquet that is not to be filled with glad guests. My tables shall be full. Think of how God loves the world and He invites all to draw near...many come but some are not bothering to come. They insult their host by indifference. Do we see some of this indifference today? Are some too busy with the material things to care about the spiritual? Is Christ lonely in so many tabernacles tonight? Is He saying...'I died for them...Why will they not come?'

PEACE...Thomas A'Kempis "Never are they at rest, the proud ones and the covetous. It is the humble who abide in much peace." Lord, we are Thy people. In love, You have brought us into being. Help us to work for the peace that You desire for all. Are we the proud ones? Are we those who covet the foolish things and perhaps, the evil? Mercy, Lord.

MERCY...Psalm 32:5 "...Behold, the earth is full of the mercy of God." While we praise God for His Mercy, let us ask for a deeper love of His law. To love Him is to hate those things that are contrary to His will. Help, us O Lord.

SEE MY NEED...Psalm 30:3 "Lord, be Thou to me a house of refuge, a place of safety...a protecting shield." With Thee, I shall be secure.

HE LISTENS Psalm 27:6 "Blessed be the Lord Who has heard my call." Lord, we are grateful that You always are listening when anyone calls to You.

HIS WILL T A'Kempis " Lord, in all matters, may Thy hand govern all my actions." Be with me so that I may choose well and glorify Thee.

PEACE IN GOD T A'Kempis "If you walk an interior life you will make small account of the sayings of this one or that one...they are like clouds floating away...or leaves passing on a stream." Lord, be with us and with over us in our needs.

NOT AS I WILL T A Kempis "Those who are resigned to my will will not suffer over loss. Remember, they are never at rest who seek only their own ends." Our peace is in loving Thy Divine Will.

TO LACK WISDOM Psalm 26:5 "Sad...they have not understood the works of God...nor His teaching." Help us, Lord.

TO DESIRE GOD ALONE T A'Kempis "Lord, by the grace of the Spirit, grant me to see all things as passing and myself as well...Let me not be drawn away by foolish thoughts and ambitions." In Thee, is all my hope.

PEACE AND STRENGTH Psalm 28:10 "The Lord will give peace and strength to His people." The Word of God inspires us to come to Him with confidence.

PRAISE FOR GOD Psalm 25:7 "O Lord, that I may hear the voices of praise for You and join by telling of Your wonders." Lord, how great thou art!

FEAR NOT Psalm 22:4 "Lord, I shall not fear evils for Thou art with me..." In Thee, we are consoled and aided.

FLY UNTO HIM T A'Kempis "This is my hope and comfort, to fly unto Thee, O Lord, in all tribulations and to await Thy consolation." To Whom else shall we go?

JOY IN THE LIGHT Psalm 4:7 "Thy light is upon us, O Lord, and we are glad of heart." He blesses us with His visitations...He is our true joy.

CARE OF GOD...T A'Kempis "Commit thy cause to Me always...I shall be solace in your sorrows..." Lord, grant us Thy peace and the strength that only You can supply.

GLORY OF THOSE IN GOD Psalm 20:6 "How great is the glory of those who have been blessed by the Lord's salvation..." Lord, have mercy.

LITTLE ONES...Psalm 18:8"...the Lord's light gives wisdom to little ones...faithful is He in His promises." Lord, be good to us for we are weak and wavering.

LOOK TO ME...T A'Kempis "If thou should feel overcome and in confusion...look up to Me and the graces I will send." Lord, we thank You for Your abiding love which is always faithful.

THE GOODNESS OF GOD T A'Kempis "Thou, O Lord, art the source of all the goodness that comes our way...We celebrate Thy goodness, mercy, and bounty poured out." Let daily thanks always be a prayer that we are faithful in saying.

TO SEEK HIM Psalm 13:2 "The Lord looked down to see if one soul understood and came seeking Him." In His love He always waiting for that soul that truly seeks Him. Lord, grant us the grace...to watch for Thee and listen for Thy call.

A DEAF EAR...T A'Kempis "In many things it is better for thee to pass by with a deaf ear...Think rather of matters of justice and peace." Lord, let us busy ourselves with the worthwhile and neglect the foolish things of life.

TRUST...Psalm 9:11 " Lord, let them trust in Thee who call on Thy name...Never do You forsake those who seek You." All who seek Him are to be blessed for His love is upon them.

LOOK TO GOD T A'Kempis "Keep God ever before thy eyes and do not argue with the troubled in heart." Lord, let us leave all to keep close to Thee.

THE RIGHT PATH Proverbs 10:29 "The strength of the upright is found in the way of the Lord. Evil doers shall live in fear and fail over and over." Lord, bless Thy people and guide them along the right path.

GLORIFY THE LORD...Psalm 8:2 "O Lord, our Lord, how admirable is Thy name in all the earth." When we recall God's mercies upon the world, we are urged to give Him praise over and over. Let us gladly give Him praise for He is worthy of all glory.

BE GLAD Psalm 2:11 "Serve the Lord with glad heart...revere Him and rejoice in Him." Spirit of God, grant to us this gift: to be joyful while never forgetting all His goodness.

MERCY OF GOD Psalm 5:8 "Lord, I dwell in the abundance of Thy mercy...I come to Thy house with a holy awe." Lord, how much love and merciful regard You have for us.

OUR HELP...T A'Kempis "Those who willingly serve Me shall find in Me a fountain pouring out grace upon grace." Lord with Thy aid, we are strong.

WITH LOVE T A'Kempis "Do willingly what it is you can...God does not ask for the impossible." Lord, receive our little gifts with the love we wrap them in.

LOVE MATTERS...T A'Kempis "What matters to God? The gift the lover or the love the giver has?" Lord, let our deeds be offered with great love. In loving, we most resemble You.

BE GLAD...T A 'Kempis "Happy is that soul which leans upon the Lord...that waits for His words of comfort." Lord, be with us each day.

TO ADMIT LITTLENESS...Proverbs 9:4 "Wisdom calls: Whoever is a little one, let him come to me." A humble heart, O Lord, You will not turn away.

GOD'S WILL FOR YOU...T. A'Kempis "...and a certain man, when he entrusted himself to the Divine Will, found that all his anxious thoughts were gone." Lord, in Thy Will is our peace.".

UNION WITH OUR GOD...T A'Kempis "Remember this: Here thpou hast no lasting city...thou art a stranger and a pilgrim...and no rest shall you find except in union with your God." Lord, may this grace be with us: to hunger and thirst after Thee all our lives. Is there a desire better than this?

LOOK FOR WISDOM...Proverbs 8:17 "I love them that love me and they that seek me, shall find me." Lord, we love the wisdom that You want to teach us...we welcome Thy saving words.

TO GOD...T A'Kempis "Wretched is that man who never turns to God but rather turns to this and that and all things that are quickly passing away." Lord, give us this grace: To daily seek Thee before all else.

A HEART FREE...T A'Kempis "Keep thy heart free and lifted up to God for thou hast not here a lasting city." Lord, bless us...we are from Thee and destined to Thee.

PRUDENCE AND WISDOM...Proverbs 7:4 "Say to wisdom 'Thou art my sister' and to prudence 'Thou art my friend.' " Lord,Without Thy grace, we wither away. With Thy grace we are fruitful. be with us, Lord.

TO LOVE WISDOM...Proverbs 5:12 "Why have I hated instruction and my heart not accepted reproof." Lord, make us eager for the growth in wisdom so needed by us.

TO HATE WISDOM...Provrbs 1:22 "How long shall you love childishness?...and desire things that may be hurtful to self?...and how long shall the unwise hate wisdom?" Lord, we seek Thee, the Source of all Truth,. Be with us each day...Without Thee, how shall we find our way?

LOVE AND MORE LOVE...Mother Teresa "I have found a paradox...If you love til it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love." Teach us Lord, the way of love.

ABOVE ALL...Psalm 148:14 "To praise Him above all is indeed fitting...He has blessed His people." Lord, daily we come with a word of praise for Thee. We shall never exceed Thy worthiness of praise.

EARLY MORNING PRAYER...Lord, I come to You with love and seek Your Divine Mercy. I place all the cares of this day in Your hands...what shall befall me when I have taken You as my buckler and shield? Author Unknown

BLIND SOMETIMES...T A'Kempis "Often we are quite unaware of how interiorly blind we are...we see the little failings of others and ignore worse things in ourselves." Lord, let us seek the picture a little more clearly and a little more kindly.

GLORY IN HIS SACRIFICE..."T A'Kempis To glory in hardship and tribulation is not hard for those who love for it is to glory in the very Cross of Christ." Lord, we glorify Thee in Thy most loving sacrifice borne for our sakes.

"He is my mercy, my refuge, my strength, the One who delivers me...and I have hoped in Him." Lord, Thou art the Hope of the world. May more and more souls turn to Thee in love and gratitude.

MERCY OF GOD...Psalm 144:9 "His tender mercies are over all His works..." Lord, Thy love and mercy give us great hope...let us lift up our hearts!

PEACE...T 'Kempis "Peace is not in the heart of the carnal man...nor with those devoted to only outward things. It is found in the heart of the fervent and spiritual man." Lord, teach us the way.

A ROCK OF SAFETY...Psalm 70:3 "Thou O God, art my firmament...a protector...a place of strength." Lord, I shall climb upon the rock where I shall be safe from those who assail me.

TO FOCUS ON THE SPIRITUAL...T A'Kempis "He is very unwise who attends more earnestly to material things to the neglect of all spiritual things." Lord, lead us and keep us on the path that leads surely to You.

PRAYER THAT IS EVERYWHERE...T Merton "Let me seek, then, the gifts of silence and poverty and solitude where everything I touch is a prayer...the sky...the the things He has made."

FOR THE HONOR OF GOD...T A'Kempis " Come to prayer with a great humility and lowly reverence...come with faith and be intent on the honor of God...not any creature here below." To Thee all glory be...our words of love for Thee above.

DESIRE FOR VIRTUE...T Merton..."The grace of God produces in us a desire for good which is an anticipated experience of virtue...before we can even possess it." Lord, the desire for grace is a prayer even before it has found. the words to express it..

SPIRITUAL RICHES...T A'Kempis "How vain it is to pursue a long life and many possessions and to neglect thy soul and the riches available to it." Lord, let me seek those things which are above...not things below.

SEEK HIS BLESSING...Psalm 142:6 "Lord, I seek Thee for my soul is like lands without water..." Lord, be merciful to me.

LIKE INCENSE...Psalm 140:2 "Lord, let my prayer arise before Thee like incense rising." Lord, give us the grace to pray with the faith that, indeed, our prayers come to You.

BEST EFFORTS...Helen Keller "When we do the best we can we never know what miracle is wrought in our life or in the life of another." Lord, may we offer Thee our best effort, focused on the good that may come about.

HOLY SIGN OF THE CROSS...St. Bernadette of Lourdes "The Lady spoke to me and said that I should sign myself with the sign of the Cross fully, with devotion, and with care for by it, we are wrapping ourselves in the loving care of the all merciful God."

NOT JUST ROUTINE...St John Vianney "...sad to say but there are so many who do what they do just out of routine when what is hoped for is to do all things out of a love for God." Lord, keep alive in our hearts, a love which daily seeks Thee, not by routine but by a sincere desire to return love for love.

COME, LORD T A'Kempis "Lord, Thou dost know what good things I most stand in need of...of my utter poverty...Come to my aid."

GOD GIVES STRENGTH...Psalm 137:3 "I shall call, Lord and You shall hear...And strength shall be multiplied in my soul." Be with us, O God, for we are in weakness all the day long.

OFFERING...T A'Kempis "Lord, let me desire nothing for myself but only for Thee. Let me most willingly offer all that I am and all I do and all I have for Thy glory." Lord, help us in our desires to love You more completely.

MERCY WITHOUT END...Psalm 135:26 "Give glory to God for His mercy endures forever." Such mercy that finds no ending.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD...Sunday's reading ( John 10) has us ponder the truly good shepherd who comes as one to nurture not to abuse...to love and guide...not to harm and steal. Lord, let us be always grateful for Your Good Shepherding. Keep us, Lord.

I HAVE WAITED...Psalm 129:4 "With Thee, O Lord, is merciful forgiveness...and so I have waited for Thee." To wait upon the Lord is a most beautiful stance...and indeed, so pleasing to Him for He loves us so.

SAD BUT YET EXPECTING JOY...Psalm 125:5-7 "They that sow in tears shall reap at harvest time. They went forth weeping...but they shall return carrying in the wheat.." Lord, let us always trust in Thee for You love us and always work towards good for us.

GRACE TO SUSTAIN US...T A'Kempis "Out of me, they shall draw living water...grace upon grace as from a great and ever flowing fountain." Lord, daily we draw near to Thee with most grateful hearts.

CONSTANT IS HIS CARING...Deut 11:12 "..and the Lord God faithfully visits the land from the start of the year til the very end...so concerned is He with us all." Lord, faith tells us to rest in the care of Our God. May we do just that.

GIFT OF SELF.. T. Merton "A complete commitment is a total gift of ourselves and to lay aside all selfish interests and acquired things not really necessary for us. We shall not miss anything...for the Lord is the Treasure of His people." Lord, hear our prayer.

A SONG OF PRAISE...T A'Kempis Lord, in simplicity of heart I offer myself this day to be Thy willing servant, loving all that You love...To offer homage and to be a continual song of praise in Thy ear." Lord, our joy is in Thy glory.

TO REVERE HIM...Psalm 111:1 Blessed is that one who fears (reveres) the Lord...he shall delight in His commandments..." Our reverence for God is touched by the fear that we shall not be fully faithful. Be with us, Lord, all along the journey.

WERE NOT OUR HEARTS AFLAME?...In Sunday's reading,(Luke 24) we are touched by the story of the disciples walking away from Jerusalem...they meet a stranger. Later, they realize that the stranger was Christ, Himself. They spoke of His teaching and inspiring words...'Were not our hearts aflame as He spoke to us?' In our Holy Communions, should there not be some of this fire that 'burns within us?' We pray, Lord. Inflame our hearts for we are sluggish and dull of heart.

LOVE OF SELF OR OTHERS Francis of Assisi..."Grant that I may not seek so much to be understood as to understand. " (Attributed to St Francis) In love, we search for understanding another...knowing the heart and the hope of our neighbor. This we sometimes forget because we are seeking that they will look into our hearts and understand where we are. How great is the virtue of those who forget self and focus on their neighbor. Lord, teach the way of selfless devotion and service for in that we shall imitate God's great love for us all..

THEY ARE WHERE HE IS...T Merton All truly contemplative souls have this in common:...Where He is, they are there also. It is by the will and loving intent that they find Him. He carries them to that place where they shall find Him and thrill to His Presence." Lord, we seek...Help us to find.

ONLY IN HIS GRACE...Psalm 126:1 "Unless the Lord buillds the house, they labor in vain who build...Unless the Lord keeps the city, they guard in vain who guard." Never doubt our need for God's goodness and power. Let this be a daily prayer...'Lord, see how great in our need.' "

AGAINST HATRED..."Lord, we beg Thee, rid the world of the bigotry that calls evil good...and good , evil. How terrible are the words and actions that do not glorify You...but they are seeds of hate sown in the hearts of too many. How shall we find peace if not in THEE?

ENLARGE YOUR HEART...T A'Kempis " Dear ones, enlarge thy heart...Receive the words I plant therein...Keep close to Me and serve Me with a holy will." So be it, Lord. What joy is there for those who draw near to Him with expanded hearts, ready to receive His words.

KINDNESS OF OUR GOD Psalm 107:5 Lord, how great is Thy kindness...Thy mercy is above the heavens...How dependable is Thy truth and Thy promise..." Blest be the kindness of Our God.

TO PRAY...T A'Kempis "In prayer, we honor God, rejoice with the angels, recall the saints, and assist the living and departed. And above all this, we partake in the very life and goodness of the Lord God." Lord, teach how to pray...and more often.

HE LOVES, HE CARES...Psalm 124:2 "...as the hills are round about Jerusalem, so are the arms of the Lord round about His people." Never doubt it...you are loved more than you and can imagine.

TO LOOK TO GOD...Ecclesiasticus 49:4 "...and he looked to God with all his heart." How pleased God must be when a soul looks to Him in faith and confidence.

RESIST BEGINNINGS...A holy man was asked about temptations and how to fight them. He said 'Resist beginnings...the fire is easily put out when it is only a lit match...but when it is a whole forest aflame, that is another thing. When I first become aware of my temptation I turn it to prayer saying 'Lord, see my weakness...come to my aid.'

ALL...T A'

GLORY TO OUR GOD...Sirach 4:17,18 "...conduct your affairs with humility and you shall be loved more than any gift giver...Great is our God and by the humble, He is glorified." Lord, grant us the grace of truly humble hearts...out of the heart flows all our actions.

CALLED TO OBEY...Psalm 122:2 "...our eyes are fixed on the hand of the Master until that day when He calls us forth." As the good servant watches for the gesture of the master, so we look to the intent of God in our regard. Our stance is eagerness to do His will. Help us, Lord, for we are weak and frail.

INTENT ON DOING GOOD...Romans 2:10 "...glory, honor, and peace hall be the lot of all obedient...those intent on doing good." The right intent is the start of something very good...it is goodness looking for an expression of itself.

WORD OF GOD...T A'Kempis "Lord, Thy words are Thine for Thou didst utter them...They are also mine for Thou didst utter them for my instruction and my salvation." Lord, let us never neglect Your Words. For where else shall real wisdom be found?

PERSIST IN PRAYER...Ps 120:3 " May He prevent harm from coming to me...I will not let Him slumber nor sleep.." Even though God is all attentive, it is His wish that we not give up prayer...or pestering, if you will.

SACRED PRESENCE...T Merton..."When we act in grace our actions are not ours alone for they belong God...we hope to follow these inspirations for they will lead us to their Source, God Himself. His actions in us reveal to us His love and His sacred Presence in us." Mercy,good Lord.

EMPTY YOUR HEART...Mother Teresa: "Not even God can fill a heart that is already full." Lord, let us make room for Thee in our hearts. Perhaps there is lots of clutter there.

SILENCE AND AWE BEFORE GOD Zacharias 2:13 "Let all flesh be silent in the Presence of our God;...For He has risen from His holy habitation." To ponder the presence of God in our midst is to be filled with silence for it is beyond us.

REMEMBER HIS KINDNESS Psalm 115:12 "What shall I give to my God for all He has given me?" Lord, give this grace: to never forget all Thy kindness towards us...the good, the not so good, the indifferent, even those who deny Your existence.

TO LEAVE ALL...T Merton..."The great secret of God is God Himself. He waits to tell me...but in a way that I find I cannot explain to others. In silence and fervor, I must continue to desire this knowledge...and to find it, I must leave all things behind." Lord, be merciful for we are quick to act, slow to learn, dull in our thinking.

REFUGE IN HIM...T A'Kempis " Lord, in Thee I place all my hope and sense of refuge...My trials and anguish I bring unto Thee,for all things that are not Thee are vain, weak, and foolish, and inconstant refuges.

BE OF GOOD HEART EVEN IN TRIALS...Psalm 119:7 "With those who hated peace, I was peaceable; I spoke kindly to them tho they hated me without cause." Lord, give us this grace...to not hate those who differ from us. We surrender them to Thee.

WONDERFUL...Psalm 117:23 "Consider the Lord's doings and they are wonderful in our eyes." Lord, let my soul sigh and often whisper 'How great Thy works!'

WHY IS THAT DAY CALLED GOOD?...Goodness itself suffered and died in agony for all the world...those who would love Him and those who would despise or ignore Him. The Divine Mercy was shown to the world that day on Golgotha. Our redemption and promise of life eternal...all on that day called 'good.'

TO SEEK HIM...Psalm 118:2 "Blessed are they who seek Him with whole heart and soul." To seek Him is to be already found by Him. In His love, He acts first...and we come searching for Him.

TO BE IN HIS HOUSE...T A'Kempis "...make it thy goal...thy firm aim...to be found, at last, in God's Kingdom...even as the last one." To be with Him for all eternity...even the last place is wonderful.

I STAND AND WAIT...Rev 3:20 "I stand at the door and knock...if anyone open to Me the door, I shall come in and sup with him...I in him and he in Me." Lord, how good of You to seek entrance into my poor heart. Your love seeks to be with me...and each one that You have given Your life for in Eternal Redemption. Praise, Lord.

NOT BEYOND OUR REACH...Mother Teresa..."Love is a fruit of all seasons and all times and within the reach of every hand." Love is not that something over there,,,way beyond our grasp. Love is us and now and the kind word and the cheerful smile we offer. It is here and sitting on our shelf so easily to be reached and given way. Let us not waste the opportunity to love as He loves...without condition. It is a fruit of all seasons.

PRAISE GOD...Psalm 116:1 "His mercy is confirmed upon us...let all peoples give Him praise..." Let us remember to praise Him and join ourselves to all who lovingly praise Him. He is worthy, indeed.

THE CROSS...T A'Kempis "If thou wouldst be honored in heaven, humble thyself in this world. Shall you reign with Me? Are you ready to bear the cross with Me?" Lord, teach us the way.

HOLY PRIESTHOOD...As we know, Holy Thursday is also the feast of Holy Orders. Let us help our priests with prayer and encouragement. We love those servants of God who follow Him faithfully and do so much good in this troubled world. To our priests: "The Lord bless thee and preserve Thee. May He be your joy and your crown."

IN NEED...T A'Kempis "Lord, I stand in need of grace to overcome nature which is prone to evil...I need Thy help to aspire to the higher things as would please Thee most." Lord, have mercy. How shall we stand unless Thy arm is there to support us?

HE DELIVERED ME...Psalm 114:4-5 "The Lord is just and merciful...He is Keeper of the little ones. I was brought low and He delivered me."

WARNING TO THE PRIDEFUL...Daniel 4:34 "I do now praise, magnify, and glorify the king of heaven...All His works are true...Those who walk in pride, He is able to put down." Give us, Lord, humble hearts...what are we all by ourselves?

THE FLOW OF GRACE...T A'Kempis..."Learn this: My grace is precious...it does not permit itself to mingle with external and foolish things. Cast away all those things which impede the flow of God's grace to thy soul." Lord, we know that Your help is always ready to aid us...but we are not always ready to welcome it and cooperate with it. Mercy, Lord.

PAUL ON EASTER SUNDAY...See Col 3..."Seek what is above, not the things below for you are dead to sin and alive to goodness of life." So good a choice of reading for the feast. By the plan of God, we were dead in sin but now alive in Christ since we were baptized into His death and Resurrection.

PRAISE...Psalm 112:3 "Praise to His name from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same...So worthy is He of our praise." Lord, remind us that we might come to You with love and praise...rather than of long lists of wants. Praise for You is so fitting.

BLEST ARE THEY...We are called to share the faith we hold in our hearts.Isaiah 52:7 "How lovely on the mountain tops are the feet of Him who brings good news." Lord, may we have the grace to spread the word by living it.

SACRED WORDS OF SCRIPTURE...T A'Kempis " I will open before thee the most pleasant fields of the holy writings...and so, in wisdom, you shall be freed from needless anxieties." We thank You , O Lord, for the graces that flow from the inspired words...they are food for the soul...water that refreshes...light that shines on the path.

HONOR GOD IN HIS DEEDS...Psalm 110:3 "His works deserve our praise for they are wonderful. Forever continues the justices of our God." Love that never forgets us in our needs...this is His gift.

FORGET NOT THY MERCIES...Daniel 3:34-35 "O God, we beseech thee, take not away Thy mercies...abolish not Thy covenant...take not away from us Thy great kindness..." Lord, be merciful for we have sinned and turn to Thee in seeking pardon.

OUR LADY OF COURAGE...Ponder a little about the mother of Christ so faithful to the very end. See her on the road to Golgotha...she will not flee. See her beneath the Cross...she will not abandon her Son. Mother of Christ, pray for us that we might have courage when we are faced with great trials and sorrows.

GRACE AND PEACE...Wisdom 3:9 "The ones who continue to be faithful in loving deeds shall rest in God's heart...grace and peace are to His elect." Lord help us to faithfully follow the wisdom that we have been given...the inspiration that comes...the need that calls for our attention.

WE GO TO GOD...Psalm 108:4 "Lord, in my needs, I betook myself to prayer. I loved them all but they spread lies about me." We pray for all who have done us harm. When we love, we are more concerned over the liars' welfare than we care about his lies. So it was with Christ in His Passion.

BE MINDFUL OF GOD...T A'Kempis, in the Imitation, says: "Mind what thou art about...labor faithfully...continue in His grace. Peace shall come on one day known but to the Lord." Lord, aid us in our daily walk. Tend Your flock.

TO SEEK IN SIMPLICITY...T A'Kempis "He that trusts in Thee, O Lord...and seeks Thee with a simple heart doth not so easily fall from goodness of life." To walk the simple path is simply to love all that He loves...and that is quite a long list. When we own our littleness, we then find a simpler way of talking with Him.

SING PRAISE...Psalm 97:1 "He has done wonders...sing to Him a new canticle...His arm is mighty...His hand is holy." The soul that loves Him, rejoices in anything that honors Him. Sing a NEW song...not that one in the book...but the one in your heart.

WHAT GOD HAS PREPARED...T A'Kempis... "O day always joyful...Oh to come to dwell in His house where no night never obscures the eternal light." Lord, keep alive in our hearts this faith in Thee and in Thy promises.

DETERMINED...In one of Sunday's readings (Is 50) we hear the words " I have set my face like flint and i shall not be turned away." We think of Christ and His Passion to be comemorated. We recall how steadfast He was in wanting to do His Father's will...not His own. Beautiful determination...to suffer and die for all mankind...those who will be grateful and those who will not. His love in unconditional. Domine, misere.

BE THOU MY AID...T A'Kempis in Imitation of Christ.." Lord, be Thou my strength and my entire confidence since I am not sufficient unto myself." The stance of 'littleness' before the Lord is so important to our spiritual life. May God help us to continue in a child like faith that takes the Father's hand without hesitation and knows He will carry us when we are too tired to walk..

WONDERS HE HAS WROUGHT...Psalm 106:8 "Let the mercies of the Lord give Him great glory. Consider all His wonders..." The heart of our prayer must be filled with an awe about how wonderful is our God. Without this...perhaps we are not praying but mouthing some pious thought.

TO THEE BE THE GLORY...Psalm 102:1-2 "Bless Thee O Lord, the most high...bathed in brightest light...the highest point of beauty...and always worthy of all praises." We are quick to ask His aid...so slow to take time to sing His praise. Mercy, Lord.

WORDS OF GOD...T A'Kempis "Give ear to My word and the ten thousand words of man shall not be treasured at all." Lord, that we may treasure the words that lead to Life. Mercy, Lord.

COME IN< O LORD...Psalm 100:2 'Lord, when Thou shalt be my Guest then I shall understand the lessons on virtue.' God Himself will come in to teach the soul the way of the goodness...the path to life eternal...the ways that make a person truly joyful. Come, Thou Teacher of my soul.

NOT TO FORGET...Psalm 102:2 "Bless the Lord, O my soul...forget not all His has done." To love Him is to daily recall all His kindness shown to us in our whole lives. Love does not forget.

BE GLAD...Psalm 96:10 "You that love the Lord, hate evil ways...wicked deeds...and a faithless heart. Be glad in your deliverance..be glad in His mercy."

MARY AT THE CROSS...See the Virgin mother beneath the Cross. She has not fled. She is not ashamed. She is His faithful one, full of love and sorrow over this Son's terrible suffering. She ponders it all. We do well in calling her 'Queen of martyrs.' Mary, intercede for us all. By His Cross we have been washed clean and dressed in the white garments of the Lamb.

BEFORE THE CRUCIFIX...Some say this prayer every Friday, before a crucifix, in honor of the Sacred Passion. It is adapted from Christ's prayer on the Cross..."My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me? Why do I call and hear nothing in reply? Our fathers trusted in You and were delivered. I call and hear nothing. Come now to My aid. I call out and they mock me. In folly He calls to God. Surely God would save Him for He said the He was God's Son. I call out and they mock Me and spit at me.In Thee, the fathers trusted and were so blessed. Their prayer to Thee was not in vain. See Me...hands and feet nailed to a cross of shame. You can count all my bones. I am a worm. I am an outcast. See how they come at Me like wild beasts. But, in some future time, there shall be a great feast and solemn rejoicing. The story of Thy goodness shall be told. Even those not yet born shall be thrilled at the story of Your greatness."

LORD, WITHOUT THEE...T A'Kempis "Lord, without

ALWAYS...T A'Kempis "Lord, Thou art always the same, eternally ever good...doing all things well...acting in justice and in holiness...thinking with mercy and with perfect wisdom." Mercy, Lord.

SHELTER...Psalm 90:4 "...under these wings you shall learn trust..." Lord, do Thou teach us the way of confident trust.

AT THE WELL...,In this story of the Samaritan woman, one item stands out: Jesus said to her that if she knew...she would have asked for a greater good. We, ourselves, do not ask for that greater gift...when we know it is Jesus we are speaking with. Let us be bold and ask for the gifts of grace that we need far more than some of the other things we ask for. He reminds us of His goodness and invites to come and ask. Christ, have mercy.

WHERE IS TRUE PEACE OF MIND?...Psalm 90:4 "...under His wings thou shall learn to trust.." Anxious souls have learned peace of mind in My love for them. We can choose to worry and fret or we can hurry to Him in all our concerns.

PEACE...T A'Kempis "Forsake yourself for My sake and you shall come to a great peace..." Lord, strengthen us so that we may love Your will with a greater constancy.

PEACE...T A'Kempis "Seek true peace...not in men... but in God alone." The peace that He gives is in perfect accord with His will for us...and that will is always aimed at our greatest good. Give us this peace, O Lord, for we are weary and anxious over many things.

ABOVE ALL ELSE THAT IS...Psalm 88:7 "...Who is like our God?..who is as He is?" Let us bow our heads before His majesty and willingly bend the knee.

ANGELUS...This beautiful prayer is in honor of the wonderful fact that Jesus came to Mary's womb by the power of the Spirit after her 'fiat.' The Feast is March 25th...nine months before our celebration of His birth. Let us honor the day with some special deed done in love to show God our joy for His coming among us.

FOCUS...T A'Kempis..."Have God before thy eyes...look up to Him..." Focus on His kindly ways and loving manner towards us. We lose this focus when we neglect our daily time for prayer. Lord, let us be glad to carve out a time to be alone with You. Our souls are hungry and thirsty...Thou art food and drink to the inner man.

KINDNESS OF GOD...Psalm 89:10 "...mildness has come upon us..." So many times, we can see the hand of God coming upon us to aid and bless. It is good for us to keep this ever in mind, His Divine Mercy, and seek it daily.

IN ANXIOUS TIMES...We all have times of anxious thoughts and deep concerns...we would not be fully human without these moments. For us, as faith people, it is for us to hold firm to the faith that tells us God is still watching and caring for His flock. Aid us, Lord.

TOO SLOW...T A'Kempis "What is it that hinders the coming of heavenly comfort? It is simply this: We are too slow to go the fervent prayer." God loves each one and is always ready to come to our aid. We need only to ask with simple faith.

MERCY OF GOD...Psalm 66:2 "We ask for God's mercy...May He shine His face upon us." Let us pray for the mercy of God, not just for ourselves, but for all the world.

LET US GIVE PRAISE...Psalm 78:13 " ...We, Thy people, Lord, shall offer thanks and praise for endless days..."

NOT ONE...Psalm 24:3 "...No one who puts his trust in God will be left unaided..." How consoling a thought. Not a single soul shall be without aid if they call on God to help them. The saints knew this well and so lived in grace by God's blessing because they trusted in Him.

HOW MERCIFUL...Ps 23:5 " Bessing from God he shall receive...and mercy." Let us be open to those gifts that He sends each day and gladly receive His blessings with thankful hearts. His mercy is far beyond our sinfulness. Lift up your hearts!

MLK JR...A day for all of us to remember the unfairness and injustice that is in our world. Let each one do something to reduce the bias among us...it is our duty and our joy.

UNION...Imitation of Christ Bk 4 Ch 8 "Do not stand on your own will but offer yourself to God's will...then there shall be a most wonderful union with the Divine." Lord...be merciful...draw us to Thee...Take our hand...and take our willingness.

ASK FOR IS GUIDANCE...Psalm 16:5 "Lord, that my steps be always on the path of Thy goodness...watch over me." How foolish is that man who does not ask for help along the path God intends for him.

SILENCE...M Ghandi "In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light...What was deceptive resolves into crystal clearness." How many times we would have understood better if we had pondered in silence before we spoke. What clarity comes to the quieted soul.

SILENCE...M Ghandi "In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light...What was deceptive resolves into crystal clearness." How many times we would have understood better if we had pondered in silence before we spoke. What clarity comes to the quieted soul.

SIGN OF THE CROSS...When Mary appeared to Bernadette she taught her how to make the Sign of the Cross in a most reverent manner...She stressed that it should be a 'full' sign for it was 'wrapping oneself in the loving care of God.' We get careless and forget how beautiful this prayer-gesture is.

BE FULL OF FAITH...T A'Kempis "Be not too anxious nor stop to dispute thy thoughts...but believe the words of God and the enemy of your soul shall flee." The man of faith is firmly situated on a mighty rock.

MAKE READY THE ROOM...T A Kempis "Everyone that loves, prepares a suitable house to welcome that special one. The guest is honored by all the preparations." So with Our God...let us prepare our hearts to welcome Him.

GOD ALONE...Thomas A'Kempis "Lord, help me to find Thee alone...to open my heart to Thee...to enjoy Thy Presence...to gladly leave all earthly things behind so to love You more...Who shall help me?

MERCIFUL LOVE...Psalm 5:8 "Lord, I come to You and I behold the multitude of Your mercies..." Lord, let our hearts sing with gratitude for Thy goodness towards us sinners.

HEAVEN...T A'Kempis..."Imagine a day that is unending...a day of peace and joy...a secure day...an unchanging day...a day of happiness just to be with the Lord your God." Lord, be merciful to us for we forget how much You love us and the joy that awaits all who walk in love.

IN HIM...T Merton..."...unless He shows Himself to me, I shall not have peace...I long to be near Him and in Him and find my rest in Him..." Lord God, open wide the door so we might enter unto Thee.

BE NOT CAST DOWN...T A'Kempis "...Let My promises console and strengthen thee...Be not cast down by labors or tribulations from any source whatsoever." Lord, have mercy.

ST JOHN, BELOVED...Let us recall the beautiful friendship between Jesus and John, the Beloved. It is evident that Jesus held John in high esteem as He gave Mary to him as his mother...to love and care for. In that, John represented all of us...the children of Mary, from that moment on Calvary. John, pray for us...we are your brothers and sisters.

INCREASE...Proverbs 29:2 "When the numbers of the just shall increase..therein there shall be added joy to all the world." Help us Lord. Like sheep we tend to wander off.

EVEN IF ONLY ONE...They asked the old monk what he thought as he prayed. He said: 'I tried to stay empty and blank so that God might write upon my heart.' And they asked him what God might have said. He relied: "Know this for certain...I came for each and every soul...but I would have come even you were the ONLY ONE needing a Saviour."

THE INTENT...T Merton...Surely, the desire to please God, does, indeed, please God...We hope to have that desire in all that we do...While He is leading what or whom do we fear?" Lord, we pray for the loving intent to spend each day in the desire to honor You. Whatever we are doing...let it be as a song sung only to praise You.

THE INTENT...T Merton...Surely, the desire to please God, does, indeed, please God...We hope to have that desire in all that we do...While He is leading what or whom do we fear?" Lord, we pray for the loving intent to spend each day in the desire to honor You. Whatever we are doing...let it be as a song sung only to praise You.

COME OVER TO SEE THE CHILD...We are invited to the manger bed...to see the Long Awaited...to hold Him in our hearts...to live in such a way that people will know that we have seen a great Light.

SCIENCE OF THE SAINTS...Proverbs 30:3 "Lord, I have not leaned wisdom...I have not known the science of the saints." Lord...You are Wisdom for You are Light of the World. And what of 'the science of the saints?' What is this?...surely it is to realize that God is our Treasure...He is what we hold as Precious. Mercy on us, Lord.

ON THE FEAST OF STEPHEN...Sometimes overlooked, this is a feast to celebrate forgiveness. As Stephen was being stoned to death, he braved that his killers would not have this sin against them. How do you do that? Forgive and pray for pardon for the one who will slay you? Only by a deep love for God and for every soul there is...good, bad, indifferent. Lord, what an example for us!

JOSEPH AND THE THE HOLY CHILD...Lord, I pray and ask that I become a little more like Joseph...in faith...in self forgetting...in love...in willingness to follow the Divine Law...in finding joy in nearness to Jesus and Mary.

TAKE THE CHILD AND FLEE...As life happens, times of joy and peace are followed by days of worry and alarm... Lord, help us on all days...in quiet ones and in fearful ones. Always, You are near...why shall we fear? Thy grace shall be with us all days. To Thee, we sing our praise.

WAITING...But He is already here! Advent is good for the soul for it helps us to appreciate all those years that the people longed for this 'Mighty One.' It also a good reminder that we await that day when we shall come into His majestic Presence and see His face and know more fully what it is to be loved so deeply.

CUT OFF...John 15:4 "The branch cut off cannot bear fruit...and so, you too, cannot bear fruit unless joined to the the Vine." Lord, we pray: Keep us ever joined unto You.

THE GOOD LIFE Ref Col. Ch 3 "Put on, then, compassion and kindness, humility and gentleness, patience and pardon, ...and add to these charity which is the bond of perfection." Lord, how shall we do all this? You shall call Me and I shall come to you to be your strength.

WAKE US, LORD...John 11:11 "Jesus said...Lazarus is asleep...I go to awake him..." Jesus, would that You would come to us all for how much we need that Divine ministration.

JOHN THE BAPTIZER...See Matt 3 In John, we see an obedience to God that we may learn so much from. Doing as he was directed to, he performed his part in the plan of God for the good of mankind. He fasted and prayed...he did pennance...he preached a way of penitence...he pointed to the Christ, the Lamb of God. What if that were said of us when we die? 'He did all that the Lord directed him to.'

THE LITTLE THINGS...Sometimes, we are asked to do just the little things...a greeting...a door held open...a helping hand to the feeble. Little as they are, they can be great things in the eyes of God. He sees all things...great and small. Often, it is just a little thing He asks. In His goodness, He makes of it something so very good. Never miss a chance to do a kind thing out of love for Him.

AVOID THE EVIL...Proverbs 22:3 "The wise man sees evil and goes by another route...the fool goes on without heed to his sadness." Lord, if we walk with Thee, we shall be secure.

TRIALS...Proverbs 27:21 "As silver is tried by the fire and gold, as well, so is the good man afflicted but for his betterment." Lord, be with us who seek Thee.

IMMACULATE VIRGIN...O Mary, mother of the Lord, how beautiful is your place in God's plans. Born free of original sin...so to be a fit dwelling for Him Who came to save us from sin's defeat. Pray for us, dearest mother...'of all women, thou the best...to all the weary thou art rest.'

ST FRANCIS XAVIER..."Millions there are who are waiting to hear the word of God...and where are they who will say 'Here I am...Send me? ' "

LOVINGLY ASCEND...Thomas A'Kempis "As a person descends lower in love of self, so does he ascend lovingly to God so much the more." Lord, teach us...be the Light on our path.

HIGHEST PLACE???...Proverbs 25:7 "...it is better for thee to hear the words 'Come up higher.' " Lord, how foolish are we when we seek the very highest place. Teach us humility of heart...and action.

LONELY...We usually think of that as negative. We say 'Go and meet some people' 'Go and volunteer' 'Mingle'. BUT there is a positive side to being alone. That just could be the very time you need for prayer to God...heart to heart...words are not as important as faith...He is here and I, in joy, am here. Being lonesome is not always a curse...sometimes it is a blessing...a time for God to fill.

ONLY IN GOD...Thomas A'Kempis "I know this for certain: I shall never be satisfied except in Thee, O Lord. Comfort my soul. Refresh me in goodness. You welcome the poor and the humble."

LONGING...Advent is a time for our hearts to learn to look for Him in deepest longing. He comes to light the world...the darkness tried to swallow the Light...but it could not. What better gift than this?

WISE AND PRUDENT...Proverbs 24:3 "In wisdom let your house be built. In prudence, let it be held together in strength." Be with us, Lord.

NOT WATER ALONE...In Sunday's Gospel, we are reminded that Christ will baptize not just with water...but with FIRE...and the SPIRIT. Let us ask for a renewal so that our love and faith and hope may increase in us.

GOD WEIGHS THE MATTER...Proverbs 21:2 "The Lord weighs the hearts of men...are they for good or evil? Lord, all things are known to Thee. Be daily with us giving us the graces we need.

LIVE IN GOD'S PRESENCE...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 38 "...be as one with the left eye on passing things BUT with the right eye looking on eternal things of heaven.." Lord, be merciful to us and keep our hearts centered on You.

LIKE A THIEF...Ref Matt 24...Christ tells us to be alert, stay awake for it will come like a thief in the night. Many are concerned over the end of the world and do not focus on our own 'end.' The wise one keeps ready for the moment...whether the end of the world or the own personal 'end.' Lord, let live in the light and in goodness...so to be ready when You call.

TO GIVE...The old man asked God: 'What shall I give?' God replied: 'Consider the goodness and mercy and gifts I have given you so freely and so generously...give only a portion of them. That shall please Me more than holocausts.'

MERCY OF GOD...L. Bourdeau "We firmly believe that God's righteousness is greater than all our mistakes and...His mercy is greater than all our sins." Lord, make us always grateful for we have a God above all gods.

FOLLOW WISDOM...Proverbs 18:2 "The fool refuses wisdom...rather he follows his own heart's plan to his ruin." Lord, help us to seek You and follow that better path You direct us to.

JOY IN WORSHIP...Psalm 122:1 "I rejoiced when they said to me 'We shall go up to the house of the Lord.' " When we go to worship, is there a real happiness in our hearts? Is it a thrill to go and pay homage? Is it vital to us that we are going to give homage to God? Sad...some go as an 'obligation.'

PRAY FOR US, ST ANDREW..."First called"...He was called by Christ with his brother, Peter. At his death, he is said to be crucified in an X shaped cross...for he was not worthy to die as Jesus. Tha beautiful flag of Scotland honors him with the X shaped cross. Pray for us all, dear Andrew...'fisher of men.'

SILENCE...T Merton... "When I am liberated by silence...then I can discover a form of prayer in which there is no lasting distraction. My full silence gives me an emptyness to welcome the fullness of God...so my silence is full of prayer." Lord, let us find Thee in simplicity and silence.

FOCUS...T Merton..."That soul which is offered to God sincerely and repeatedly is totally attentive to Him." Lord, be merciful...for we forget our Focus.

HE WILL BE WITH US...God is taking part in our human history. His light still shines in deepest darkness. In His Truth, is our peace...firmly grounded so that no matter ow confused we may become, God has chosen and promised to be with us in our human struggles. He refuses to be indifferent to our pains and our hopes." (L. Bourdeau) Thanks be to God.

SHAME ON THE HATERS...Proverbs 17:5 "...To rejoice in someones's sorrow...shall never please the Lord." Let us pray for those who yell out lies and foul words at the funerals of the fallen. Hard to imagine how a people could think that they are doing God's work in such behavior. Outrage!

WELCOME WISE DIRECTION..."The fools laugh at instruction...those who are prudent, listen and take to heart the wisdom offered." Lord, let Thy wisdom be with each one.

THOSE KNOWN TO GOD...As we pray, let us pray for those known by God to be in great need...we do not know them...but He does... Lord, most merciful, bless all who are near death...bless all who are beginning to think that abortion is the solution...Lord we pray for those who have done wrong but do not think of coming to the Fount of Mercy...etc...

WISDOM IN GODLY WAYS...Proverbs 14:3 "Have not the ignorant mouth of a fool...seek rather to have lips of wisdom." Mercy Lord, for we are poor. May we become wise in Godly ways.

GOD GIVES AID...Imitation Bk 3 Ch 35 "Son and daughter, thou are never secure in this life...spiritual weapons shall always be necessary for you." Lord, do Thou come to our aid. Without Your grace we shall be wiped out...completely vanquished." Lord,be merciful to us in our poverty.

SEEK WISDOM...T MERTON..."Wisdom is God Himself, living in us and reveling Himself to us." Lord, I need the Wisdom that You are.

BLESS US LORD...Fr L Bourdeau..."So to each and everyone I wish: For your mind -more light and truth...For your will - more strength...For your body - more health...For your heart, more love and more mercy. In other words, I wish you a Christ-centered life." Mercy, Lord. Bless us all in our need.

DIRECT TO GOD...Imitation Bk 3 Ch 33 "Many things get in our way as we look for God...BUT let our intention be purified so that it is purely directed unto Him." We mean well...but soon we drift from our great desire to be always willing toward God. Think of His willingness towards us!

SPIRITUAL WEALTH...Proverbs 13:7 "One who seemed poor was indeed rich...One who, to the eyes of men, was very wealthy was sadly very poor." Lord, we pray that we might desire those riches that are of the Spirit. Shall the devil succeed over those who call on the Lord?

FEARFUL...Psalm 10:2 "I have trusted in the Lord...Do not say to me 'Flee, like some frightened sparrow." Faith in God helps us to rise above our foolish fears. Mercy, Lord.

TRUST..."Son, do not trust in feelings for they change from moment to moment...But learn to trust in Me." Lord, take my hand...the night is dark and I have no lantern.

ACCEPT CORRECTION...Proverbs 12:1 "Foolish are the ones who hate instruction...To accept wisdom is wise indeed." Lord, we pray: Let us benefit by the good lessons You send daily.

CLING TO WHAT...The inner voice said:"Cling not to the things passing away...cling rather to the Eternal God Who cannot deceive nor be deceived."

A SIMPLE PRAYER...Imitation Bk 3 Ch 34 "My God and my All' To say it often is a delight to the soul." ..and to the merciful heart of God.

THE HUMBLE HEART...Proverbs 11:2 "...where there is humility, there is also great wisdom." Lord, help us to humbly see ourselves as needy people...may we be wise in the ways of goodness.

WISDOM FOR US...Proverbs 9:4 " Whosoever is a little one, let him come to Me." A great way to recall our littleness and see ourselves as so dependent upon God and all He is...all He does...all He loves.

LOVE FOR GOD...Imitation Bk 3 Ch 34 " 'My God and my All' Say this often for it is a delightful practice to one who loves." I know a certain person who has the habit of beginning the day...as his foot hits the floor, to say this 'I love You Lord' over and over while waking up.

PERSEVERE...Considering Lk Chapter 21...Christ told the people 'You are so taken up with the beauty of this temple...but I remind you to think upon God Who shall endure forever. As for the temple 'a stone shall not rest upon a stone.' We might consider how much time and effort we spend on the non-lastings of earth and neglect the things of eternity. That kindness that you extended today shall endure...The car you bought today will be junk before you know it. Domine, misere.

THE IMMENSE CARING OF GOD...I know a certain man who daily spends time in quiet reflection on this single point: The immense caring of God. Imitation Bk 3 Ch 17 "Lord...greater is Thy care for me than all the care I might expend on myself." Lead, us Lord...for we forget.

THE EVIL OF THE CHEATING ONE... Proverbs 10-2 "The riches that are born in wickedness shall profit no one." Lord, bless the minds of those who cheat so that they might repent and make atonement to those they have cheated. Peace to that soul who comes back to right deeds.

THE LOVE THAT GOD HAS FOR US..."O God...the gift of Thy love...I receive it knowing I am unworthy...and I shall ove You even more and glorify You." Give us grace, dear God, so that our hearts burn within us on the way.

TO LOVE HIS WILL...Proverbs 7:2 "...Keep My law as the apple of thine eye...obey the commands..." Would that we, like the saints, had this great love for the ways of God...surely our lives would be better lived.

OUR NEED FOR GOD...Behold O my God, my poverty and fraility...so completely known to Thee." Lord, what good can we do all by ourselves? If Thy grace support us not we are barren vines and produce nothing of value.

ST AUGUSTINE..."Oh the One true God, Thou hast never ceased to do good...By Thy gifts we have succeeded in our good works...We hope to find our rest in Thy sanctification which You have worked in us..." To God be the credit and praise...not to us.

CHRIST.. CROWNED AS KING...May the Lord bless this undertaking.(The giant statue of Christ in western Poland) May many hearts turn back to Him in love and devotion. Some have lost faith...some haver forgotten Him...some have ignored Him. May all be reminded of the Kingship of Christ and enthrone Him in their hearts. Bless us, merciful Lord.

November Fifth...Father Solanus Casey, Capuchin monk who fed the poor and counselled many. Healing came from God due to the love and prayers of this good man...God worked through him to the good of of those who came to him. 'Blessed be God in all His designs' was one of his favorite expressions and it is carved on the wooden panel which covers his burial spot in the chapel where he helped so many. Pray for us, dear man of God.

YOUR REST IS IN HIM...Imitation Bk 3 Ch 21 " In all things, above all, do thou, O my soul, rest in the Lord for He is the everlasting rest for all His saints." As we go hither and yon...let our inner selves remember Him and find our repose in Him. Recall how He said: "Come unto Me.."

ROOM FOR GRATITUDE...Lord, my heart and mind are so filled with various thoughts. I pray that, in my heart, there ALWAYS will be a spirit of gratitude to You. Amen.

LOVE THE GOOD PATH...Psalm 36:1-3 "Do not envy the wicked; do not desire their way of life...for they shall wither like the grass and fail...Trust in the Lord and do good...He shall be your wealth." Lord, we pray that we will always desire the good path.

THANK HIM AHEAD OF TIME Fr Solanus Casey: "Let us foster confidence in our God and thank Him ahead of time for what He chooses to send us." God has a plan for each one. He desires good for us all. Thanking Him ahead of the blessing is a special act of faith for we are saying that surely He will aid us and bless us and help us in whatever circumstance we are in.

ALL SAINTS...What shall we ponder about the Saints...even the ones never to be canonized.?See the faith and hope and charity that they showed in their lives. Be glad in their goodness for they were pleasing to God. His rejoicing is certainly our rejoicing...All you Saints of God, intercede for us.

HIS HAND IS BLESSING US...Psalm 138:5 "Lord...Thou hast formed each of us...Thy hand is lovingly upon us...All things are known to Thee, recent things and the far off past..." Thanks be to God for His caring love.

LETTER OF JUDE 20-21 "You, my dearly beloved, continue building yourselves upon your most holy faith, praying always in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves continually in the love of God...wait for His mercy which leads to life everlasting." Most Holy Spirit...see my poverty of virtue. Fill me. Strengthen me for every good.

THE LAMP...Mother Teresa...Let us love with words of kindness...a loving thought...our ways of looking, speaking, and acting... Keep your lamp burning so you shall recognize Him." What wisdom from this great woman. She was certainly filled with many graces.

GLAD ARE WE...Psalm 143:15 "...happy are we, the people whose God is the Lord." Let us worship Him in clean attire...with robes washed in the blood of the Lamb.

COMPASSION OF GOD...Ps 146:3 He will heal the broken hearts...He will nurse those who are cut and bruised." Many are the ones who found the living God just because they had so much pain and despair that they were driven to their knees. Happy the woundeness that leads us unto Him.

SOLITUDE...T Merton.."The solitary life is the life of one drawn by the Father into the desert where His Son shall be that soul's spiritual food...like a continual Communion." Blessed aloneness...which opens the door to a time with God alone. Certainly a gift to aspire to.

HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THE PRAYER OF THE HUMBLE...The proud pray, giving themselves credit for the success that came from their own excellemce. The humble know that they are nothing but a spec of dust unless God breathes life into it. The humble man prays for mercy and thanks God for the good in his life...which are God's gifts.

DESPAIR...T Merton "The matter of despair: Trample it down under His Cross...and He shall be found at your side." Consider the joy of God when the soul comes to trample despair with firm faith in the merits of His passion.

BLESS THAT SACRED NAME...Psalm 144:1 "Lord, I shall bless Thy holy name unto eternal days...days without end." How long shall our praise continue?

VINE TENDER...Psalm 80:14 "O God of hosts, once more look down from heaven and take thought for this vine needing Thy tending." Lord, how much we need Thy care...without it, we are fruitless indeed.

BE GLAD...T Merton "We can be glad in our helplessness when we truly believe the power of God's love is made perfect in the midst of infirmity." Thanks be to God. Without His aid, we are poor indeed.

TO THE HOLY SPIRIT...May the Spirit of God be with us so that we may live in faith...hang on to hope...and continue to love all our lives. How shall we be holy if Thou art absent?

TO PURSUE THE GOOD DEED...T Merton "Every man desires good but that desire remains fruitless without the experience of what it means to do good and to be good." We are called to goodness...like the bird that is called to sing. When we desire good and do not act on that impulse we are like the blossom on the tree that falls off before being pollinated.

PATIENCE ON THE JOURNEY...Imitation Bk 3 Ch 13 "I have spared thee because thy soul is precious in My sight. May you have, always, a grateful heart. Bear with patience while you are on your journey." Lord, bless that empty spot in me where my patience ought to sit waiting.

CLEANSING GRACE...Psalm 142:2 "Be merciful O God...for no living man is spotless in Thy sight." In His mercy, He cleanses us and gives us the white robe which has been cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb.

CALLING OUT...Psalm 139:7 "Lord, Thou art my God...hear the voice of my supplication." In all our day's activities, what can be more important than turning to God in homage? Those who do find a great reception.

PRAYER IN SILENT AWE...T Merton... "Let me seek Thee in silence and in poverty...where the sky is my prayer...the birds are my prayer...the wind in the trees even...for Thou art, Lord, all in all." To be still and to ponder His goodness is a marvelous prayer...He knows all the words without our speaking them.

HE IS ALL...Imitation of Christ Bk 4 Ch 1 "He is our sanctification and our redemption...consolation for the pilgrim on the way...and the eternal fruition of the Saints." Lord, mercy on us all. Keep us ever in the 'narrow gate.'

REJOICE...Psalm 97:12 "You that follow His sacred path, rejoice ye in the Lord and praise His holy name. Man may choose evil or good. Those who choose the good find a special joy in knowing, deep down,that the Lord is pleased with them.

GRATEFUL FOR LOVE...St Peter Alcantera..."No tongue can ever express the greatness of the love which Jesus Christ bears to our souls." How shall we love Him in return? Lord, Your love falls upon us like the rain upon the fields in Spring. Let us be fruitful in love.

FAITH...T Merton..."To live in the Spirit is to live for a God that we have faith in though we do not see Him. We renounce what is seen so to come to the Unseen and draw near. We promise not to rest in created things." Lord, when we are offered riches, why do we choose the rubble? Amen.

NEED FOR GRACE...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 14 "There is no sanctity if Thou O lord withdraw Thy hand...By Thee visited we are lifted up and strengthened." Blest be the Lord Who visits us with His favor.

OUR HOPE...Ps 141:5-6 "There is no one that hath regard for my soul...save Thou. Thou, Lord, art my hope and my portion." When all have forgotten...God is still there remembering us.

THE LITTLE DEEDS...V VanGogh..."Great things are not done by impulse but by a series of small things brought together." Imagine a lifetime of little acts of unselfish love...What a beautiful TOTAL that would become. Lord, help us do just that.

PARDON...Psalm 129:4 "Lord, with Thee is merciful forgiveness..." Our thanks we offer, Lord, for the pardon You extend to us. You cleanse us and give us the white garment which has been washed by the Blood of the Lamb. Thus cleansed, we can stand before Thee in homage and praise.

WHEN ALL IS WELL...When all is going well we do not feel, as easily, our daily need for God's sustaining grace. May we never forget how poor and in need we really are. Trials and temptations can serve us well...for they are the beginnings of fervent prayer for the hand of God to shield us.

TO HEAR...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 1 "Happy the soul which hears the Lord speaking within her...words of wisdom and comfort." Lord, often we do not 'hear' the inner promptings because the things of this world are 'ringing in our ears'...we have not taken the time to find a quiet spot to listen well.

HOMAGE...Psalm 133:1 "Bless ye the Lord, all you servants of the Lord..." Most Blessed Trinity, give us the gift of prayer...the gift that reminds us to offer homage as is due...to confess our sins and littleness...to thank You for gifts, too many to count.

PRAY ALWAYS...Ecclesiasticus 18:22 "Let nothing hinder thee from praying always..." How shall we be always in prayer? When we love, we are united closely with God. When we are joined to Him, we are deeply in prayer...even if the words are not audible to us...they are to Him. Lord God, aid us in our prayer...forever we are in Your care.

IN HIS LIKENESS...T Merton "From the Father we receive light, truth, wisdom, and peace...We are somewhat the reflection of God for we are made in His image and likeness. We look at a child and say "How much he looks like his father."

BEYOND MY ILLUSIONS...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 8 "If I seek to see myself without my illusions, then shall God's grace draw near to me...His light will guide me...His grace will fill me and my pride shall lose itself." Thanks be to God...He is at work in us and in our lives. And as Newman put it "He knows what He is about."

HOPE...Psalm 130:3 "Let Israel hope in the Lord now and forever." Since we all are children of the same Father, we are 'Israel.' Lord, may we always put our confidence in You...for to whom else shall we turn? Our fortress...our rock...our wall of brass.

NOT THE GIFT, THE LOVE BEHIND THE GIFT...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 6 "Wisdom teaches us that the gift of the lover is not important,...but the love of the giver means everything. Lord, sometimes our gift is so little...but we bring it with love.

WHAT SHALL WE BECOME?...T Merton...".In our creation, God asked a question. In our living in grace and goodness, He finds an answer." Lord, be merciful. Help us to so live that we may daily rejoice the heart of God. He has created us in love and to love...let this be our path.

PERSIST...Christ taught His followers to persist in prayer...not to give up...not to fail in pesrering God. Lord, we pray again and again for the good of souls and for blessing for all for whom we pray. Some are not even known to us...for exaple 'all in terrible confusion and sorrow'...'for all in pain'...'for all searchers after truth'...etc.

LONELY FOR GOD...Psalm 136:4 "How shall we sing the Lord's song in a far off land?" The soul that is in love with God experiences a certain sadness due to not being there fully united with Him. Lord, this 'sadness' is a good...a grace of desire for all goodness...a yearning for a return to our homeland.

INTENTION...T Merton..."Your intention to love Him will bless and purify that self that was previously intent on created things."

FULLY YOU...When we learn to love and give it away...that is a blessing. To learn how to receive love and welcome it...that is whole new dimension in our lives. The giving and receiving of love for God is the whole of the spiritual life.

AS WE REVEAL OURSELVES...T Merton..."Our idea of God tells us much more about ourselves than of God." He knows us so fully...let us pray to know Him even a little more than we do. To know Him is to fall in love with Him...to love Him is to be one with Him...to be one with Him is to seek no other wealth.

DEVOTION...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 7 "When the grace of devotion comes...we ought to receive it humbly and see it as a gift to one so unworthy." Grace of devotion is a gift unmerited by us...it springs from the Redemptive love of Christ on the Cross.

GLORY...Psalm 135:26 "Give glory to God for His mercy endures forever." How blessed art we whenever His merciful glance falls on us. Let us pray that the mercy of God belief shall grow and spread so that no soul is without hope.

THAT WISDOM FROM ABOVE...Psalm 131:17 "...a lamp I have prepared for my anointed." Lord, pity all those who grope in the darkness because they have not welcomed Your Light.

COME UNTO ME...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 3 "My promise deceives no man nor sends away empty him that comes to Me in trust." Lord we pray for confidence in Your blessed help...for You never promise in deceit.

LAMP...Psalm 131:17 "...a lamp Thou hast provided for thy anointed." Lord, You are the Light which lights up my path. Without You, I would grope in darkness.

GREAT THINGS...Psalm 124:3 "The Lord has done great things for us; He has made us joyful..." Lord, may we always come to Thee with appreciative hearts for what good exists that did not come from Thy hand?

THANK HIM AHEAD OF TIME...A very holy friar, Father Solanus, used to counsel the troubled with these words: 'God has a plan for each...a certain design. And it is good...though we may not always see the present as 'good.' Still there are gifts of grace waiting in the wings...Thank God ahead of time.'

ALL TO BE LOVED...T Merton "We pour out our charity on all for our love song is perfect and comes from a perfect Father." Let us seek to love...intend to love...act in love. He shall give the grace if we bring the willingness.

EVEN IN DARKNESS...Imitation of Christ Bk 2 Ch 11 "For all who love God...even if they never had received consolation from Him, would still always offer Him thanks." Lord, we pray for hearts of gratitude for who is like Thee?

BLEST ...Psalm 127:4 "How blest are they who revere the Lord." This is not our burden...it is our joy. God loves those who come with willing hearts. Lord, be our grace for living well.

CONTRADICTIONS...T Merton... "Contradictions have always existed in the souls of man...we are meant to live with them and rise above them and not to let them overcome us." Paul expressed it well when he wrote that the good we would do, we leave undone...The evil we wish to avoid, that we do. Lord, we look to You.

LORD, WE ARE THANKFUL...Imitation of Christ Bk 2 Ch 10 "God doth well in is His giving of gifts; man doth ill by not returning thanks." Lord, everyday, let my heart sing a song of thanks for Your blessings on all Your creation. Let my song go even to those places where there is perhaps no prayer being offered up.

GOD LOVES EACH ONE...T Merton...O kind and beautiful love, which God has given to me...and I would not know it if He did not love me." Great thought to bring us to prayer. We are more loved than we deserving. It is a fountain that flows all the time...His caring splashes us daily.

ONLY WITH HIS AID...Psalm 126:1 "Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build." I deeply appreciated this quote for it reminds me of my daily need for God's help and mercy. May God be with us in our daily walk. How shall we serve Him well without His aid?

LEANING UPON GOD...T Merton "The proud man loves his own illusion of self sufficiency; The poor man loves his insufficiency." Those who are little in their own eyes, keep always an eye in God's direction for they depend on Him...not on self.

TO REMEMBER...Blessed are they who do not forget the God of blessings and mercy. Psalm 125:3 "The Lord has done good things for us and we are become joyful"

ANGEL AT MY SIDE...Lord, I thank Thee for the Angel that You have placed at my side...to watch over my goings and comings...to guide me in the right path...to remind me always of the destiny that is in Thy plan for each soul. Let me rejoice that I do not travel all alone. 'Angel at my side...Help me in God to abide.'

BLESSED ARE THE HUMBLE...T Merton "Humility sets us free...shows us our illusions and withdraws us from our will to have those things that are only apparent good." The humble man rejoices because he need not worry about his true self being known; he worries not about the mask slipping away. He is free to let God have all the glory...all the esteem...all the homage.

ENTRUST THYSELF...Imitation of Christ Bk 2 Ch 7 "In life and in death keep thyself joined to Jesus...entrust thyself to His care. He will not fail thee though others walk away." Give us this grace, Lord...to always remember that our victory is in You.

HIS AID...Psalm 123: 1-3 "...Let them say: 'If the Lord had not been with us, we would have been swallowed alive.' " Lord, in You we glory...in You is our victory. Give us the grace to always realize our need for Thee.

OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY...What a beautiful prayer this is...to go to God while contemplating all His goodness. Like Mary who 'pondered all these things in her heart' we come to God mindful of His mercy and love. In learning and wisdom...do you rank the very highest or just the ordinary?...No matter, for when you come to God in Mary's prayer, you are indeed blessed.

IN TIMES OF TRIAL...Imitation of Christ Bk 2 Ch 6 "To glory in tribulation is not hard if you have love; To glory in suffering is to glory in the Cross of the Lord." Lord, be with us in the storms of life.

DIRECTED UNTO HIM...Psalm 122:1 "To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my eyes...To You Who dwells in the highest heaven."May God help us to always keep our gaze on Him and the eternal life He calls us to. Let us return again and again to this desire: To be mindful of God all our days.

JESUS AND HIS PASSION...Passio Christi mane nobiscum. Passion of Christ remain with us. Let us often remember the love of Christ and the sufferings He endured for us all. There is no being who is excluded from the willingness of God to caress and bless. Pity those who turn away from His love.

GOOD THINGS I SOUGHT...Psalm 121:9 "...I have sought good things for thee because of the riches of the house of God." Lord, bless all who look to Thee and hope for Thy blessings this day. Let them rejoice in Thy kindness.

UNAWARE...Imitation of Christ Bk 2 Ch 5 "So often we are not aware of our own blindness and the need we have for light from God." Lord of glorious light, hear us and pour light upon our path. Those in darkness will stumble and fall...not so for the servants of God.

SOMEWHERE...In all those 'somewheres' let us send an angel to be there in praise of God. Let them shout the glories of God and sing to Him so that in every place there be prayer to God in His glory. Let the somewheres without praise be nonexistent.

INTENT UPON HIM...Psalm 118:2 "Blessed are they who seek Him with their whole heart..." May God give us this daily intent...to seek Him daily as the plants reach for the sun...as the bird loves to fly...as the mountains stand in firmness.

THE CLEANSED HEART...Imitation of Christ Bk 2 Ch 4 "If there be any joy on earth, surely, the pure of heart have grasped it." To be cleansed from all sin is so great a blessing...and God calls us to it daily. Lord, wash away our sins, come let us be pure in Thy sight...give to us the garments cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb.

FAMILIES IN DISTRESS...Pray with understanding and love for those families who suffer. I am thinking of a family whose beautiful child is an alcoholic and refuses to go to High School This addiction causes a daily sorrow and needs God's mighty blessing.

MILDNESS...Psalm 119:7 "With those who were not peaceable, I was calmly peaceful." The mild reply can do wonders. When love greets those who would like to fight with us...something great happens.

PEACE AND JOY...Imitation of Christ Bk 2 Ch 1 "The Kingdom of God is great peace and joy in the Holy Spirit and is not given to those who choose wicked ways...It is for all those who care for the ways of God." Lord, be our help so that we might follow the Christ into the Kingdom.

STRENGTH FOR ME..."Psalm 117:5 "In all my troubles I called on Him and He heard...and He became strength for me." Lord, in all my weakness, I shall remember my need for Thee.

LOOK UPON THY OWN LIFE...Imitation of hrist Bk 1 Ch 21 "Keep an eye on your own behavior...teach thyself rather than others what is a holy life." Lord, help us...we see the weeds in our neighbor's yard and do not see our own weeds.

JOY IN HOMAGE...Psalm 112:2 "Blessed be that Name forever..." Our great joy is in hearing God glorified...and joining our Amen to that homage.

JILL ND FAMILY Please pray for Jill, terminally ill, and for her husband and only child. Lord, send Thy blessings in abundance.

GOD'S HELP IN OUR NEED...Ps 113:8 "He turned the rock into a fountain of water...and there were pools in the desert for the people." Lord, let us ever thirst after Thee and Thy loving will. Let us daily give thanks for Thy caring heart.

TO CARE NOT...Imiatation of Christ Bk 1 Ch 22 "Sad and foolish...to be so enticed by the material things as to have no relish for the things of God." This is poverty of the soul...to not be interested in the Kingdom of God.

UNITY...Where there is no unity seeking, there is no peace. May God give us a sense of justice that will lead us to what is right...not simply to what we may want another to do So many speak of peace but care so little for justice. How shall peace emerge?.

PEACE AND OUR WILL...Imitation of Christ Bk 1 Ch 9 "if the Spirit of God is to remain with us, it needs be, sometimes, that we give up our own opinion for the sake of peace." God loves the one who can find a middle way in the midst of determined opposites.

SING, O PEOPLE...Psalm 97:1 "...wonderful are the things He has done..." Let us never cease to give glory to God for He has done wondrous deeds...He has blessed His flock...He has cared for the lowly.

THE SIMPLE KINDNESS...We shall never know how much good a simple act of kindness meant to someone. Maybe you said 'Good morning' to someone with a very sad heart. Maybe you held a door for a deeply burdened person. Maybe you let someone in line ahead of you as a simple kindness to a stranger. God will not forget any deeds of love.

TO HONOR HIM...Psalm 69:5 "May the people always say: 'The Lord be magnified.' " To glorify Him is the joy of faithful souls everywhere.

NEED FOR GRACE...Imitation of Christ Bk 1 Ch 55 "Lord, Thy grace in my heart is my light...What am I without it but a useless branch?" We cannot bear fruit without the help of God which He gladly bestows.

IN THE STILLNESS...Lord, give us those times of stillness...meditation...contemplation... It is in silence that the hungry soul is fed...the empty heart is filled...the troubled find peace.

IN HIM, OUR JOY...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 34 "To him who relishes not God nor the things of God...Where shall he ever find delight?" Even in trials and sorrows, the faithful of God find reason to be glad.

BLESSED ARE THEY...Psalm 36:4 "Delight ye in the Lord...He shall let fall His blessings on thee." Lord, may we always rremember Thy gifts and be daily grateful for them.

TO SEE MORE CLEARLY...Psalm 99:2 "I shall understand when Thou shall come to me, Lord." So much we see dimly but the day shall come when God shall open our eyes.

DEPEND NOT ON SELF...Imitation of Christ Bk 1 Ch 7 "Depend not on self but put your hope in God; Do what you can and God shall be with thee in thy goodwill..." Foolish we are if we think we shall lean upon ourselves when it is clear that we need His help.

WISDOM...Psalm 100:2 "Lord, when You come to me, I shall understand..." There is much that we do not know nor understand but the time shall come when we shall see with the vision that God will supply.For now, it is for us to be patient and wait in faith.

STRONGER...Imitation of Christ Bk 1 Ch 13 "..it is by patience and humility that we become stronger in our fight against the enticement of evil." Lord, be our Help. Our temptations are daily reminders of our need for Thee.

REMEMBER THE GOOD...Psalm 102:2 "Bless the lord, O my soul...forget not all He has done for thee..." How pleased God must be when we pause and reflect on all that He has done for us...even aiding us when we did not realize the dangers that might have lurked.

WAITING UPON GOD... Psalm 101:8 "In my watching, I have become like a solitary sparrow upon the roof." A very special prayer is that of waiting. Waiting for the guidance...the grace needed...the chance to do the good that he has inspired.We entrust the need to God...we wait in faith and trust.

TO LOVE AND SEEK TRUTH...Imitation of Christ Bk 1 Ch 5 "Let the love of simple truth lead thee...Seek knowledge with the guide of humility at thy side."

SHARE FAITH...It is our special joy to lovingly spread the good news. "Psalm 95:3 "Declare the glories of the Lord...tell of His wonders.

IN THAT EMPTY PLACE...A beautiful practice is that of praying to God from all those places where He may be without any homage at all. "Lord, behold I send a prayer to every place where there is no prayer today. Let Thy glory be magnified. Let Thy love be gratefully received. Let Thy mercy be the joyful cleansing of those sinners who long for Thee. Let there be a wonderful hymn flowing like a fountain in all those prayerless places." But then, there shall be no place without a prayer. Let us rejoice!

PRAYER TO LOVE PRAYER... "Give us, O God, a hunger for prayer.".Prayer is a union with God...with or without words. It is a longing to be lost in His Presence. It is a desire to be engulfed by His holiness and perfection. It is a desire to be purified by His merciful love. No wonder the saints were so fond of prayer...it was their meeting place with God!

ADORE GOD...Psalm 98:5 "Adore God alone...even His footstool is honorable." All the ways of God are holy...all the things of God are holy. To be with Him is our greatest blessing.

INTIMACY...Imitation of Christ Bk 1 Ch 8 "Desire intimacy with God alone." The souls's great hunger is to be in union with God. Our hearts cannot find peace apart from Him.

JOY IN THE SOUL...Psalm 93:19 Lord, Thy comforts have given joy to my soul...even when so things weighed me down." O Lord, we are most grateful for Thy daily love for us. Th whom shall we go...if not unto Thee?

PEACE OF SOUL...Imitation of Christ Bk 1 Ch 3 "...Those steadfast in heart and abiding with God will find great peace." Followers of the Lord know a great joy and peace even in the midst of their sufferings. They deeply realize His constant love for them.

EMPATHY...How good for us to know of some personal sorrow or struggle so that we may have great empathy for those who suffer in any way. Out of pain can come much good. God has a plan for each soul and it is very good...we shall see in that life beyond.

PEACE AND WISDOM...Imitation of Christ Bk 1 Ch 4 "Find humility of heart...learn obedience to His will and peace and wisdom shall be given you." His graces flow to those who show their love and gratitude.

LAUDS..."Bring to the Lord the glory due to His name." A simple plan...to give Him glory...How simple and how good! Think of the chorus that we join when we open our mouths to chant His praises!

NOT HIS GIFTS...Imitation of Christ Bk 4 Ch 8 "What more do I ask? Remember, I seek THEE, O Lord, ...not Thy gifts."

TO PRAY FOR TRUST...Psalm 79:4 " Lord, convert us...show us Thy face and we shall be safe." Often we need to turn to God with faith and entrust some concern entirely to Him. He will hear us.

SERVE...What a prayer is service. It maybe only a slight kindness like holding a door. It might be a sacrifice to give a gift to someone in need. It maybe a loving kindness for a family member who is lonely and hurting. It matters not what the deed may be...it matters that it is an imitation of the Christ Who came to earth to Love us and do us good.

THAT WE MAY BE TAUGHT...Imitation of Christ Bk 4 Ch 6 "Lord, do Thou teach us the right way...if we do not appeal to Thee we flee from life..." God is TRUTH...if we love Him not, we have ch anyone, then we have walked away from Him.

TELL OF HIS GOODNESS...Psalm 77:4 "They declared the praises of their God...They told of His wonders and powers."

MERCY AND TRUTH...Psalm 88:34 "My mercy I shall not take away and my truth shall not fail." Lord, hear our prayer. Let us ever thank Thee for the mercy which flows from Thee and engulfs all who seek Thee. Let Thy truth be our teacher...the One on whom we so depend.

ONE IN GOD...Imitation of Christ Bk 4 Ch 16 "O God, that I may be made one in spirit with Thee...this is my ardent desire..." This desire is what made the saints so intent on God and His will so greatly.

HEAR US...Psalm 87:3 "Lord...incline Thy ear to the voices of Thy servants." Ever attentive in His love for mankind...He waits and listens.

ALL REJOICING...Psalm 86:7 "Lord, ...the dwelling in You is all rejoicing." How consoling for those whose hearts are ever seeking Him.

CHERISH THAT UNION...Imitation of Christ Bk 4 Ch 13 "Lord, Thou in me and I in Thee...grant this union in Thy loving mercy.

FAITH THAT REJOICES THE HEART...Psalm 84:7 "Lord...Thy people shall find their joy n Thee..." If there be any gladness in this world, surely those calling on Him in firm belief know it.

THE LITTLE ONES...Those who please Him most, are often so humble that they feel that that have done nothing special...nothing noteworthy...nothing grand. This littleness of heart is a great act of love and humility.

LORD, TO BE WITH THEE...Imitation of Christ Bk 4 Ch 14 "Lord, let me be in that number...the souls who have sought Thee with full devotion of heart. By Thy grace, give me a most fervent desire to feast with Thee." Even the desire to be close to Him is a most worthwhile prayer. How much the intent to please Him...does indeed please Him.

SAVE THOSE WHO LOOK TO YOU...Psalm 85:2 "Lord...save thy servants who have trusted in You." Joy in the ear of God is the phrase 'Lord, all my trust rests in You.'

MAKE READY THE HEART...Imitation of Christ Bk 4 Ch 12 "Shut out the tumult of the world...find a quiet place...sit as a solitary bird upon the housetop...and prepare a place for Me."

JOY IN HIS COURTS...Psalm 83:11 "Better is one day in Thy courts...than thousands elsewhere." The joy He calls us to is not within our imagination.

MERCY...Ps 78:8 "O Lord, remember not our sins. Let Thy mercies cleanse us..." Knowing that God loves the sinner who comes back to Him should be the great consolation for all of us who need His merciful love each day.

ANXIOUS THOUGHTS...It helps much to know that all persons suffer times of doubt and worry. The lucky ones entrust themselves and all their concerns to God. He knows all...loves what is best for us...sends His love and grace daily...etc The sad ones just go on in misery.

KINGDOM OF GOD...It is our joy to be called by God to belong to His Kingdom. We are blessed more fully than we can presently understand. He tells us the Kingdom has come for us...has drawn near us...transforms us like the tiny yeast in the flour. Let us ponder His message.

PRAYER WITHOUT WORDS...Imagine yourself alone with God and saying nothing...but just being happy in His Presence. He knows all that we might say and the silence does not matter...it is the loving Presence that matters greatly.

HUMBLE THYSELF...Imitation of Christ Bk 4 Ch 2 "What better thing for me to do than to humble myself before my God and rejoice to extol His majesty?..." God loves the lowly who love their littleness.

ALL IS CLEAR...Psalm 72:11 "In mockery, they said: 'How shall God know?..." Hard to imagine that anyone could believe that God would be blind to anything? All is clear to Him...perfect knowledge belongs to Him.

REJOICE..LIFT UP YOUR HEART...Imitation of Christ Bk 4 Ch 3 "O Lord, my God, to Thee do I lift up my soul...make my heart joyful because it has come to Thee." This tiny spec of His creation makes me full of gladness because I called and I knew He heard!

THE OPEN EAR...Psalm 76:2 "...He gave ear to me when I called out to Him." What is this? The very Lord of all listens to MY calling out. What love He displays to each of us.

IN SIMPLICITY...Imitation of Christ Bk 4 Ch 4 "O God, in simplicity of heart I come now to You with all hope and patience and reverence...I come for I heard You call..." How wonderful...that Almighty God calls to each soul and lovingly invites them to draw near.

EMPTY...Psalm 75:6 "...and those of riches found nothing in their hands." To give alms and remember to aid the needy here on earth will result in a'wealth' for the next world.

TO DWELL WITH US...Imitation of Christ Bk 4 Ch 2 "A most wonderful thing is this: That the Lord Most High chooses to dwell in our midst." How shall we ever measure the height and width and length of His caring?

IN HIS LOVE...Psalm 73:12 "Behold...God is our King...see the salvation He has wrought." We glorify Him Who have loved us so much.

ACCEPT HIS PARDON...Psalm 71:13 "Was it in vain that I washed my hands among the innocent...?" God wishes us to know that He has indeed pardoned us when we have come to Him in sincere repentance. Faith tells us that we are indeed cleansed by His most merciful love.

EXAMPLE...How wonderful is the power of good example. Not words...but actions that show our love and concern. A life lived close to God life cannot be entirely hidden...its example makes itself known.

WHEN A SAINTLY MAN DIES...July 20 2010...My friend Father Patrick Rager...Paddy...went home to God. He suffered 30 years with ALS and continued to serve as he could. At the end, he could only communicate with his eye blinks. Love for the sick, resignation to his suffering, full of prayer, helpful as he could be to any disabled person. Read about him: Catholic Diocese of Pttsburgh PA. I will pray for him...AND to him for he was truly of heroic virtue. 'Come ye unto Me..'

BLESSED BY HIS GAZE...Psalm 66:2 "May the face of God look on us...shine on us."

TO FORGIVE...Lack of forgiveness is like an acid...it destroys the container that holds it. As we have been forgiven...so...the Lord directs us to be forgiving souls. Sometimes, I say 'I forgive O Lord...but enlarge my heart so that I might forgive far better than I do right now. He loves the prayer that reflects our littleness.

IN THY HOUSE, LORD...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 58 "Take heed... make it thy aim...that you might be in His Kingdom..even as the least of all." Even the spot far from the Throne is a glorious place because you are with HIM.

REJOICE...Palm 65:2 "Sing a psalm..give glory unto Him..." Unless the heart is engaged in the worship, it is hardly to be called 'worship.' When our wandering thoughts have more say during our prayer time...then how can we say 'We have prayed?' Lord, teach us how to pray.

TO LOVE HIM...Psalm 62:2 "Lord, in how many ways have I thirsted for You. I watch early at Thy gates." What better thing to do than to start the day with God...even before we are fully awake. 'Lord, I love You.' 'Be with me this day.' Direct me in the path of good.' 'Let Thy light shine upon me.'

GRATEFUL...A good test for our spiritual life is whether or not we are able to thank God for all the good that He has brought out of the ruins, ashes, wreckage we have seen along the way. Can we forgive and be grateful that the troubles brought us to our knees...and can we be glad that good did come forth.

HIS GRACE TO AID US...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 55 "Lord, may Thy grace go before me and follow me so that I may ever be intent upon good works." How pleased God is with us when we desire that His will be our daily quest.

WE LOOK TO HIM...Psalm 60:3 "..I was in anguish but Thou didst exalt me upon a rock." Times may become very hard and trials might press us down. BUT, we can be sure of this: His love will never cause Him to give up on us. In eternity, we shall know how many times He was at our side and we knew it not.

RELY...Psalm 61:2 "In God is my salvation...shall I not rely on Him?" Lord, give us this grace...to look to You in all circumstances.

HOLY SPIRIT...Imagine what would happen if the Holy Spirit was the Author of all our prayers? Even if we did not know the words...would that not be a wonderful prayer? So often we seek the things of this world...the Spirit would direct our hearts to those things above which are far richer indeed.

THE JOY OF GOD...Imagine the gladness of the heart of God when one sinner comes back to union with Him. He never desires the death of the sinner but that he find his way back. Thanks be to God.

GOOD ...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 49 "Enlarge thy heart to receive with joy the good that I have for you.' In His love, He anticipates the good things He has in mind for us...it is up to us to be open and willing. He stands at the door and knocks.

TRUST...Psalm 55:5 "...in God I have put my trust.." I did not know a thing about trust until I saw a blind man being led by a kind person who came to his aid. It was a very busy roadway. Pause and think of how 'trust' is such a complete surrender to your Guide. Teach us, Lord, how to grow in trust.

MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD...July was always remembered as the month of the precious Blood of Christ...as May is Mary's month. Let us recall, in prayer, the shedding of the Blood of Jesus for us. The Lamb of God suffered on the altar of the Cross...never was there such a sacrifice as this. Be aware of the souls who rarely give that a thought..pity their poverty of devotion. In some places, Mary is clothed in red as a reminder of her role in our redemption and so, this remembrance includes her and her part in the Great Oblation.

LITTLENESS...As God sees us, our littleness and woundedness makes us 'special' in His regard. Our poverty calls out to His generous heart. Our weakness welcomes His strength. Our failures move Him to a greater love for us, those 'wounded' ones.

LOVE FOR SINNERS...Luke 15:20 "And when he was still a long way off..the Father ran to greet him.." And so with all who err ad wish to come back to wholeness. The Lord RUNS to greet us.

A SHIELD...Psalm 47:4 "...and God shall be known when you experience His protection covering you.." Doubt not...He is ever watching in a loving manner. The apple of my eye he touches, who touches you. Be assured...He, indeed, watches over you. db

THE DESIGNS OF GOD...A very pious monk used to say to people 'Blessed be God in His designs." He told them because they complained that God was not hearing their prayers. The saintly man was telling them that God has plans for each and that, we might not understand, but that these designs were about good for us. No design of His is to our loss but only to our blessing.

WAIT...Ps 39:1 "I have waited for the Lord and He has been attentive to me." A beautiful phrase...waiting for our God and He has been watching for our glance towards Him. When we pray do we realize that He has been waiting in love?...that He deeply cares?...that He is most attentive to us? db

VICTORY...Psalm 43:4 "Blessed is that man who joins the chorus of the angels who sing of HIS glory and victories..not those of man..." Blessed are all they who always remember to give credit to God above all.

LONGING...Psalm 41:2 "...and so my soul is athirst for Thee." Where love abides, there is a yearning for the presence of the other...a desire to share together...a wish for entwined hearts. So let our love for God be full of this longing. He calls...He waits. db

PITY OF GOD...Psalm 37:10..."Lord, all my groans are known to Thee..." In His love, He is aware of us in all circumstances. Doubt not...He sends a balm for every wound we suffer. Have faith and have comfort in His daily abiding love. If Thou draw near O lord...whom should I fear? db

STRENGTH...Psalm 34:3 "Lord, say to me: 'I am Thy salvation.' " We look to Him for the strength we need in our particular walk. In love, He is always ready to help us. db

REACHING...The Kingdom of God approaches us each day. It is for us to reach out and clasp it to our hearts. It invites...it does not compel nor intrude...it gently calls.

LOOKING FOR US...Ps 13:2 "The Lord looked down to see if there be one soul that seeks for Him..." In His love, He searches for souls who might come to Him if they heard Him call. db

GLORY UPON GLORY...Psalm 8:10..."Lord, how admirable is Thy name in all the earth!

KEEP ME...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 27 "O God, hear me...Let me be strengthened in the inner man...let me not be drawn away to evil. All things are passing away but THOU art eternal."

TIME...John 7:6 "My time is not yet come...but your time is always ready..." Time to love, to work for justice,..to aid the needy...to serve rather than seek to be served.

HEART WATCH...Mark 7:15..."Those things in the heart defile a man...not the unclean hands he might have." Lord, that my heart be cleansed...for this I pray. db

GOOD SOIL...Mark 4:8 "Some of the seeds fell upon good soil and grew and produced a hundredfold." May we become, by His grace, the good soil that welcomes the Word and nurtures it. It is our calling.

NOT TO CARE...Matt 22:3...The wedding feast had been prepared...but they would not come in. So many invited...but are too busy to bother. Mercy, Lord.

LOVE...Imitation of Christ ...Bk 2 Ch 5 : "That soul who truly loves God...will despise all that is not God."

BE HOLY...Matt 5:48... "Be ye holy and perfect as yourr Father in Heaven..." Lord, how far I am from this holiness. I shall not be like Him unless Thy wondrous grace fills my soul. Fill me...fill me again and again. db

THREE THINGS...Bardic Triads..."There are three supports for the good man: God and His gifts of grace...Conscience itself...The praise of a wise and holy person."

PART OF ALL THAT WE DO...Imitation of Christ Bk 2 Ch 2 "Take no heed as to who is for you or against you...Take care that HE be a part of all you do."

THE HOUR...John 17:1..."Jesus looked up to heaven and said 'Father, the hour has come..' " Loving us He gave Himself to the awful pain He would suffer. The hour had come. Even in the manger, He knew of this hour. db

FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM...Romans 8:28..."Now we know that in the things w" What peace and joy in these words. We know in our deepest selves, that we re not alone and that somehow He works to make all circumstances work for our blessing. Such is His love...Such is His power. db

MORE ABUNDANT GRACE... Romans 5:12..."Where evils abounded, there, the grace of God did more abound." I met a man once who said this was the most consoling line of Scripture for him. He was deeply aware of His weaknesses and had often failed. Each time, he got up and made His way back to God. "Where sin has abounded, so the graces of God did MORE abound. Never forgot his words..though that goes back many years. db

WIDOW'S MITE...Luke Ch 21...Here we read of the wealthy who dropped their gifts into the treasury with much ado and the poor widow who dropped all that she could...two brass coins. Christ pointed out that she gave so much more than the others for she gave out of her needs and they gave out of their surplus for they were rich in this world's goods. A lesson for us when we make a gift that is really not a sacrifice...and we expect to be thanked for it!...or be listed in the program! db

ENTER INTO ME...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 56...'Go out from yourself as much as you can...thus, you shall be better able to enter into Me..' Mother Teresa said "Not even God can enter a heart that is already full." db

BLESSES US...Ecclesiasticus 34:26 "The mercy of God blesses us even as the rain blesses the dry and barren fields." Give us, Lord, Your blessing. Misere. db

BEYOND OUR PRAISE...Ecclesiasticus 43:32 "...Glorify Him as much as you can...and remember His majesty is far beyond our praise. Wonderful is He in His magnificence..." We shall not 'over do' db

SORROW...Ecclesiasticus 38:21 "Give not thy heart to sorrow...drive it from thee and remember thy latter end." A friend told me "The best way to help yourself through a great sorrow is to find someone for whom you can do a kindness without any hope of reward. God will bless the saddened heart that thinks of someone else in need." db

FIRMLY BUILT...Proverbs 24:3 "By wisdom and prudence shall the firm house be built...and it shall be greatly strengthened." To be open to God's Spirit is to welcome wisdom and prudence...to use them...to be grateful for them.

NOT CAPTIVE...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 27: "If thy love be pure and simple...you shall not be captive to anything else." Lord, bless us with Thy grace...everyday in every place.

CALL OUT TO ME...Psalm 49:15 "Call on Me in the day of trouble: I shall be thy aid...I shall deliver thee. And your heart shall gladly glorify Me." db

FOLLOW...Ecclesiasicus 23:38 "...it is greate glory to follow the Lord...for all who come, He will bestow length of days." To seek Him is to be found by Him. Such a Gift!

REVERE HIM...Ecclesiasticus 19:18 "...the fear of God is all wisdom...give it a place in your heart." To long to be obedient to God is a great blessing that we are wise to cherish. To love the Divine will is a saintly goal. db

IN HUMBLE MANNER...Ecclesiasticus 11:26 "...say not 'I am sufficient for myself.' How God rejoices in the meek who dare not walk away from His shepherding...who see their littleness...who know their poverty...who experience their need of Him and His loving grace. db

HUMBLE...Ecclesiasticus 6:2..."Extol not thyself in thy inmost thoughts." Any gift we might have has been given to us from above. Any thing we might boast of, belongs to Him Who made us...and to Him, we must give account.

THE KIND WORD...Proverbs 25:11 "An apt word in due time is like golden apples on a bed of silver leaves." To speak a cheerful and loving remark is to do a work so much loved by God. Never miss a chance to take someone's hand and tell them the sharings they need to hear.

I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA...Those who love God thrilll to hear these words for they reflect the sentiments of their hearts. The beginning, the end, and all in between. As Francis said: "My God and My All!" db

IN LOVE, HE CLEANSES...Ecclesiasticus 3:4 "He that loves God shall be pardoned his sins...His prayers shall be heard." The mercy of God cannot allow Him to turn a deaf ear to those who call on Him in simple and sincere faith.

THE LITTLE PRAYER OF DAILY CARE...Anon..."Lord, my God, daily concerns press upon me. I am anxious over so many things. Let me learn, by Thy grace, to give all these concerns to Thee for You to grant the blessings...each one to fit some particular concern. In faith and love, I will trust in Thee."

SO BLESSED ARE WE...Psalm 64:10 "O God...Thou hast come among us and in many ways enriched us." The river of God is ever full and ever flowing.

ACT IN FAITH...Brother Lawrence..."I did not pray for relief but I prayed for strength to suffer with courage, humility and love. Ah, how sweet it is to suffer with God! We must act purely in faith." May God give us the grace that matches the needs we face each day.

CONFIDENCE IN GOD...T Merton: "What is the use of praying if, at the moment of our prayer, we are already preparing OUR own kind of answer? Where is our confidence in Him?"

LOOK TO GOD...Psalm 45:2 "See how many troubles have found us...but we have God as Refuge and Strength." Daily, we come with our empty basket...if we are wise.

WORDLESS PRAYER...Anon..." I knelt before Him and said not a word. I was content to simply be in His Presence...that Space, so full of love and unconditional accepting. As I finished my prayer, in silence, deep within, I hear Him say 'I heard your heart...though no words were spoken.' "

THAT KEY...Anon..."Lord, they say that there is a key that leads to a better life. That key is humility. The humble man can say 'I need help...I cannot do this all alone..I shall seek out someone who shall teach me.' The snares that entangle us do have 'keys' to unlock the door. Give us that grace...to put the key in the lock and to turn it. Amen"

HEART...Anon "Lord, I draw near to Thee and unite myself with Love Itself. I unite myself to all that is holy and just and peace seeking...to all prayers and good works...to all suffering borne with love. Give me contrite heart...a humble heart...a gentle manner...a willingness to please. So shall I be blessed all this day in my union with Thee."

WISDOM SPEAKS...Proverbs 8:15 "And wisdom spoke saying 'All that find me shall find life and be blessed in the Lord's salvation.' " To listen to wisdom from above is wealth indeed!

BLESSINGS ON THE JUST...Psalm 74:11 "...the horns of the just shall be exalted...sinners shall not prosper." God sees all things. He will lift up those who choose to walk the path of goodness. A warning to those who are not contrite of heart.

IN HIS PRESENCE...T Merton: "As soon as a person is disposed to be in the Presence of God...he IS in the Presence of God. God flashes in that soul and they are illumined, wherever they may be on earth." To come into His Sacred Presence is easier than we ever thought. His love blesses the intent of that soul who chooses to be with Him.

TRUST...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 3 "My promise deceives no man...nor sends away empty any who come to Me in trust." Our trust is evidence of our belief in His infinite goodness.

THE SPIRIT...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 2 "Lord, I heard their words but if Thou be silent my heart is not inflamed. They call out words...You call forth the Spirit." The message in our ears is dead unless the Spirit is there to give it life.

HUMILITY...Proverbs 11:2 "...where there is humility, there is wisdom as well. Where there is pride there is also much to be sad about." One person said "The trouble with humility, is that as soon as you think you have...it slips away."

ALL SAINTS.. ALL SOULS...These beautiful feasts remind us of all of our loved ones who have gone on ahead of us. We praise God for those in Heaven and we pray for those still in 'that time of being purified. May His mercy be ever glorified. He knows what He is about, as Newman said.

HIS KNOWING OF US...Psalm 109:3 ".In the womb, before the day star, I begot thee." His knowledge of us is so complete that nothing is hidden nor confused to Him. We are His creation...and He loves all that he has made.

SINCERE PRAISE...Psalm 105:2 "Who shall list the infinite powers of the Lord? Who can perfectly name all His goodness which merits our praise?" Beyond our naming...beyond our telling is His majesty.

LOVE THE TRUTH...Proverbs 10:4 "Following the liar's words is useless like the foolish man chasing away the birds." May the Lord help us to follow true wisdom and to be wise in the ways of God and give ourselves to those efforts that are good and laudable.

SO WEAK AND POOR...T Merton: "The value of our weakness and poverty is that they are the soil in which God can plant the seed of desire...that desire to love Him and this is the sign of His Presence with us and a pledge of our salvation." Lord, teach us the way of littleness and poverty which will make us good soil for Thy word to grow within us.

DEEPER INTO THE LOVE ...The topic was the story of the young man who went away sad because he could not sell all and follow Jesus. One comment was about the fact that Jesus invites us to a deeper sharing in His love. The well is deeper than we thought and there is sadness about not entering into the greater love which He has prepared.

JOY IN DOING GOOD...Imitation of Christ Bk 1 Ch 11: "Consider how much peace will come to you and others when you do good for another. This will prompt you to greater desire for spiritual progress. "

GOD HAS MORE TO TELL YOU...Gracie Allen "Do not put a period where God has placed a comma." Let us wait and hear that next thing He wishes to remind us of.

PEACE...Per H. Oberhelman: "Lord, come fill me with Thy peace...Gently hold me in Thy hand...In You, I find my sweet release." His love for us brings us to peace even on the most difficult days. His care will be with us no matter what the storm will bring.

WITH WHOLE HEART...Let our praise for God be of whole heart. Psalm 137: " O Lord, with my whole heart, I shall praise Thee and I will sing to You in the sight of all the angels...Surely, You will hear me." db

IN A FAR OFF LAND...Psalm 136: 4 "...How shall we sing in a far off land?" We are not yet home and so there is, in our hearts, a yearning, a non-fufilment. Blessed are they who have gone on to that fullness which is GOD Himself. db

WHAT THE LORD BRINGS...Soren Kiekegard..."Lord, let Thyself be found carrying a great gift to all in need of it...Let us all accept with courage the good gifts You bring. Everything that comes from You is a good and perfect gift." How kind is God to us! db

DEEDS...Imitation of Christ Book 1 Ch 1 "Surely it is not sublime words that make a saintly person but a life filled with virtue." db

ORDER ITSELF...T Merton..."Only one kind of violence captures the kingdom of heaven...the violence that imposes peace deep within our soul...the violence that is order in itself." How shall we impose peace within? Maybe we need to let go of many concerns that only get in our way of prayerful living. db

WOE TO THOSE WHO CAUSE SUFFERING FOR THEIR OWN GAIN... Ps 93:7 "...but they thought that God would not see their evil deeds." Woe to those who peddle drugs and porn causing such pain in our society. And all those who inflict harm due to their selfish ways...Woe. God is not blind and all is clear to Him. db

PRAYER...See Mark Seven..."Lord, that we may truly hear Your word and grant that we may spread the Gospel by words...more importantly, by example" db

A PLEA FOR GRACE...Psalm 89:17 "Lord, direct Thou the work of our hands...May Your brightness fall upon our path and be with us always." How dark indeed are we with our own little lanterns! db

ST BERNARD...HUMILITY..."It is no great thing to be humble when you are brought low, but to be humble when you are praised is a great and rare attainment." Harder to find humility in the midst of acclaim...God will help us, we pray. db

NO PARTIALITY...James 2 We read here that there is to be no partiality in the Church...all are to be treated the same...with love and respect...no one is to sit up high while another sits back by the door...Let no one feel lessened in this community founded by Christ Who loves each and all of us. db

NOT TO BE FULL OF FEAR...Consoling words in Is. 35...They teach us about not being so fearful. "To the faint hearted preach to them...tell them not to be afraid..." Love casts out fear. db

RELICS October 2-3...Little Flower: How did she get this name? In her book, Story of a Soul, she wrote: 'There are, in the Church many stately and beautiful flowers to look at but for me, to be a little flower...maybe a violet under the burdock leaf...in the far corner of the garden where only Jesus might see me.' Another opinion is that she picked a flower for her Dad and did not mean to pluck the plants, root and all, from the ground and she told her father 'It's like me...to be transplanted into the garden of Carmel.' I prefer the first but some like the second better. db

WHEN THE SHADOWS HAVE PASSED...Imitation of Christ Book 4 Ch 11 " I must be content to walk in the light supplied by faith 'til the day of eternal brightness breaks forth...and all shadows have passed." Lord, light our pathways. db

TRUST...Psalm 85:4 "Give joy to the souls of all who call to Thee...all that come greatly trusting in Thee." If we believe in God's goodness and love, we certainly can trust in Him. db

JOYFUL FAITH...Psalm 84:4 "Turn to us, O Lord, and Thy people shall find joy in Thy Presence." Faith teaches us that our greatest joy is in union with the Divine. If there is no joy in a place...There must be a lack of faith it seems. db

ADORATION...Psalm 82:19 " 'Lord' is Thy name: Thou art Lord alone over all the earth and those who dwell therein."

CONVERT US...Psalm 79:4 "Convert us O God, and show us Thy face and we shall know Thy salvation." The heart is always in need of conversion...so many things come creeping in and taking a space that was meant for God alone. db

SAD VOIDS...Psalm 81:5 "God said: '...they have not known nor understood...They walk in darkness instead...' " db

PREPARE THE HEART...Imitation of Christ Book 4 Ch 6 "Lord, do Thou teach me the right way...for how shall I prepare my heart for welcoming Thee to dwell within?" Cleanse my heart, O Lord. db

FERVENT...Imitation of Christ Book 4 Chap 7 "Let us come to the good God with greatest humility and with full faith...and a fervent desire to give honor and glory to God...above all other intentions." db

I HEARD THEE...Ps 80:8 "The Lord said: 'I heard thee in the storm...in the day of trouble...in the waters of contradiction.' " What consoling words for us...God will be listening. Happy assurance!!! db

HIS LOVE...SH Powell: "No soul so ill, He cannot heal...He can cleanse it white as snow...If we but make him Master of our lives...Then, in us, His love will grow." Lord, let this be...Thy love to flourish in us. db

IS THIS NOT JOSEPH'S SON?...IN John Ch 6 we learn of the disbelief on the part of some who heard Jesus and saw His great works. How can he do such deeds? Our faith is hampered when we stumble over a truth we cannot understand. if we understood all about Christ...where would trusting faith fit in? db

LIVE IN LOVE...We read in Ephesians Chap 4 Paul's advice 'that we live in love as Christ has loved us and gave Himself up for our sakes." What a challenge...to live everyday in such an unselfish manner. Lord, how shall we do this...unless Thy grace support us. db

HOPE...Psalm 77:7 "That they may place all their hopes in God and not forget His wonderful works...And seek always His holy pathways." Faith brings about a firm hope in God for faith teaches us about His kindly love for us. db

BOUNTY...Imitation of Christ Bk 4 Ch 4 "Lord, Thou art pleased to deal kindly with Thy people...And so they come to realize their poverty and how great is Thy bounty towards them."

PATIENCE...An old, old saying: " Even a little impatience can spoil a very good plan." Lord, let us learn patience so that we might serve Thee better. db

TRUE WEALTH...Psalm 75:6 "...and the men of riches found nothing in their hands..." True wealth, which rejoices the soul, are the spiritual riches that God makes possible in our lives. db

GRACE TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE...Imitation of Christ Book 4 Ch3 "Prone to evil, as we are, we tend to fall from grace and need the Divine succor to keep from failing...It is the good God Who helps us withdraw from evil and hasten to what is good." In His mercy, He sends His grace everyday. db

YOUR SONG...There is a Chinese proverb that goes like this: "The bird sings not because he has the answer but because he has a song." We certainly do not know all the answers but God has created us with a song within. It is good to ponder this 'song' and find ways to 'sing' it. So many songs are never sung for whatever reason. Let us ask God to help us sing that song that He has designated for us. db

REMEMBER HIM...Psalm 76:3 "I remembered God and was delighted...I was moved deep within my spirit." To ponder the goodness of God brings delight to our inmost self...a foretaste of Heaven. db

COMPLAIN,COMPLAIN...God must weary from all the complaints. In Exodus Ch 16 The people complained as they were hungry and thirsty. In His love, God answers their complaints with water from the rock, bread from heaven, quails that were easily caught. How good God is to us. He blesses us even when we grumble. In His love, what does He do? db

TO SEEK HIM, BUT WHY?...In John Ch 6 we read that the crowds clamored after Jesus for they had eaten of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. We also seek Him but for what reasons? To love Him...to thank Him..to seek His will in our lives...to cherish Him as Gift of all gifts? db

SOLACE...Imitation of Christ Bk 4 Ch 2 "Rejoice, my soul, and give thanks for the comfort He gives to us in this valley of tears...His love is never decreased...His kindness never knows depletion." What a wonderful comfort in the Divine Caring. db

KNOWLEDGE OF GOD...Ps 72:11 "...they said 'How doth God know?'..." Our faith tells us the He is all seeing...all knowledgeable...nothing is concealed from His gaze. A comfort to those who try to live as faithful children of God...a woe to those who go their own ways. db

REFUSING TO LISTEN...We have all known this one...someone we love is involved in something that almost certainly will ruin their lives. Life and death consequences...health consequences...self regard and self respect issues. BUT they will not listen. All we can do is shut up and pray even harder. They know our position. To harp or nag only makes it worse. So...we pray daily and remind ourselves that God is at work. Let go and let God. db

GOD'S LOVE...Psalm 71:6 "He shall come down like the gentle rains on the fields...like the drops of water on the fleece." How great is His love! db

TRUTH...Cardinal Newman..."Let us take things as they are, as we find them: let us not attempt to distort things into that which they are not." Truth is not 'bent'...It is straight. db

ITS NOT PERFECT...Cardinal Newman: "A man would do nothing if he would wait until he could do it so well that no could find fault." It's not a perfect world...we do the best we can...flaws and all. It is fine to strive for your best but this thinking keeps many from even trying. db

DESIRE TO BE WITH HIM...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 58 "Make it thy business and goal and foremost aim that thou be found, though even as least, in the Kingdom of God." God must be pleased with the heart that ardently seeks Him. db

DEAR LORD...C J Irwin..."Oh the joy that You impart, and when I count my blessings...I hold You to my heart." Welcome, dear Lord, into my poor heart. db

CONFIDENCE...R Wiencek..."Problems I faced yesterday...No longer obstruct my view...God has promised good to me...I know His word is true." To pray with deepest confidence is like praying twice. db

MORE THAN ENOUGH...Elisha told the servants to give the 20 loaves to the people. All ate and there was even some left over. 2 Kings Ch 4 When God blesses a giving, it becomes far more than a simple gift...it becomes much more.You shall see His blessings at work. A lesson for us all. db

PATIENCE, HUMILITY...Imitation ofChrist Bk 3 Ch 57 "Patience and humility on the difficult day shall please Me far more that all the pious devotions on the easy day." In times of darkness the patient and humble heart shall speak more loudly in the ear of God. db

ONLY A LITTLE...With only five loaves and two fish, combined with the power and caring of God, the multitude were fed...and some even left over. John Ch 6 Maybe with our littleness and goodwill and simple giving, God may again multiply so that many may benefit. Whatever you give to God is not 'little' in His hands. db

JOY IN LISTENING...C. Clevenger " On a walk through a verdant woodland...Here, the cares of the world depart,...My soul sings with nature's chorus...When I listen with a joyful heart." Blessed are they who set aside time daily for really listening. They will not be disappointed. db

HOPE FOUND...Psalm 56:2 "Have mercy dear Lord...I trust in Thee...In the shadow of Thy wings I have found my hope." As the young bird is comforted by the protecting wing of the adult, so we find great joy in God's love for us. db

SHEPHERD...In Mark 6 we read how Jesus took pity on the people who were like sheep having no shepherd. He Himself would shepherd the flock but He has called us to share that role with Him...in love for the poor...in care of the sick...in whatever we might do to make the world a better place to live. A share in His Shepherding! db

HE KNOWS THE PRAYER...Anon " When we come before God in silent waiting...expecting...open to His Word...not in wordiness but in faith...He will know the prayer though we do not...He will gently lead us to it." Submitted by db

SILENT PRAYER...Author Unknown: 'I seek the God Who has already found me. I say yes to the prayer that He has composed and He will lead me to the living of it. I pray without forgetting His love.' db

CHOSEN...Paul writes so beautifully of how we were called and chosen by God before the earth came to be. His wish for adopted children, holy and without spot and adorned with the sacred Presence of His Son. Ref. Ephesians Ch 1 Much to reflect upon. db

KINDNESS...What a beautiful prayer is an act of kindness. Not all prayers are said on our knees...or in a church...or in rituals but some prayers are 'action' prayers. Share food with another...smile and be kind to someone who needs encouragement...a wave to a neighbor...a door held for someone...The list goes on and on. God is pleased by the 'say' prayers and the 'do' prayers as well, I am sure. db

HIS WILL...Imitation of Christ Bk 3 Ch 50 "O Lord God, be Thou ever blessed...and as You will so may it be done for Thou dost ever will what is best for us." In His love, He plans the best path for us. A joy in His heart is to see us follow that path. db

WISDOM...From Wisdom 8:21 "Wisdom...I knew Whose gift this was so I went to the Lord to beseech Him...I could not be happy without it." Wisdom is of God's fashioning. Let us ask Him for this daily grace. db

ENSLAVED...St Augustine "He that is kind is free even if he be a slave...He that is evil is a slave even if he be a king." Lord, free us from all that wishes to entangle us. This is our prayer. db

OIL OF GLADNESS...Psalm 44:8 "Because you loved justice and hated the sinful way, therefore, God has anointed thee with the oil of gladness." The saints knew a certain gladness even in their trials and difficulties...the oil of gladness was within their hearts. db

WILL OF GOD...Imitation of Christ Book 3 Ch 45 "Lord, always to seek Thee the One Who knows all the hearts of men;...To wish that all things be done according to Thy will...let this be my prayer." What peace comes to that soul that makes the Divine will his or her will. db

PRAISE...Psalm 41:9 "...with me at all times is a canticle unto the praise of God." The heart that appreciates the mercy of God...His kindness and care...His daily blessings...His gifts that fall upon us... is ever ready to sing a song of praise. db

HEAL ME,O LORD..."Heal Thou my soul, O Lord,for I have sinned..." In sorrow of heart we reflect on our part in the Passion of the Christ. We know that he died for us because we were in need of an Atonement. He as human and divine was the perfect Bridge over which we might cross and find our pardon and peace. Francis has a great love for the Cricified and he called out 'My God and My All." So too we might follow his lead and treasure the Saviour Who became 'sin' for us. db

BLESSED...

GOOD SOIL...Matt 4:8 Jesus speaks of the seeds that the sower cast forth...some fell on good ground and produced much...it sprouts, it grows, it yields a thirty, a sixty, a hundredfold. A dear friend, now deceased, was a deacon, married and with a family. He was good seed in good soil. Two of his favorites works was to console the bereaved and to visit prisoners...He was gifted and he was as the excellent seed falling upon good ground. His story is a very beautiful memory for me. db

TO ADMIRE AND IMITATE...Author Unkown...Consider what happens to a people of shabby and vulgar heroes. Sad when the cheap and downgrading and crude things are held up to be copied. How much better is that people who have heroes in all who foster goodness, peace, community, decency, respect for others...and for selves. God, You have sent persons of great virtue for us to admire and to imitate. Thank You. Let us pattern ourselves after them who shine as bright stars in the climate of holiness! db

A CALL FOR SAVING GRACE,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Psalm 34:3 "Lord, say to my soul 'I am thy salvation.' Defend me...Block the path of those who would do harm."

MERCIFUL LORD...Psalm 30:8 "Lord, I will be glad and rejoice in Thy wonderful mercy...You understood my littleness..." With tender love, He looks after each one...even the ones who stray away. With tenderness He shields and guides. Our sense of littleness opens the door for Him to come in. db

THE OPEN EAR...Psalm 27:6 "Blessed be the Lord for He has heard the voice of my supplications." Such gratitude is theirs who come to realize that our God has an open ear and ready hand and caring for each and every one. db

THOSE WHO SEEK HIM...Psslm 23:6 "This is the generation of them that seek Him...that look for His face." In love, God calls to every soul but not all respond. Those who seek Him are so grateful and those who have truly heard His invitations. db

BUSY...Psalm 18:8 "He gives wisdom to little ones...the Faithful One is busy converting hearts..." In His love, He is busy everyday, calling the little and the meek. db

PATH...Psalm 16:5 "In Thy footsteps may my steps be also found...Bless my goings and comings...Let not my will be moved from the path You will for me." Where am I walking today? db

SEEKING...Psalm 13:2 "The Lord looked down to see if there be any that understand and do seek after Him." There are so many good people that indeed understand and look to God each day. May God be thanked for their witness. db

WORRY VS TRUST...Psalm 9:11 "Let all those who know Thy name have trust in Thee for Thou dost not forsake." Worry is not a prayer but TRUST is. db

THIN PLACES...We believe that our God is everywhere...but, there are places where He may more easily be found. These places speak to the soul. They are quiet and beautiful and they 'speak' without any words and His Presence is so near that if we reach up and press the veil we shall feel His hand on the other side. Near us, there is a 'thin place.' Under the very tall pines, in the quiet beauty, He is there just beyond the veil. Author unknown...db

HOW LONG?...Psalm 4:3 "How long shall you continue in dullness of heart...in vanity and self love...in walking in untruth?" Lord, help us to set aside our way and to come to Yours. db

GRATEFUL...Wisdom 19:9 "Grateful they were and praised God for His delivering them..." Lord, may we come to You each day with most grateful hearts. Who else has been so good to us? db

ALL GIFTS...Imitation of Christ Book 3 Ch 22 "All things that we possess in soul, in body, outwardly, inwardly, ...Thou hast given them all and we celebrate Thy bounty, mercy, and goodness, always, O Lord." db

WHEN THE LIGHT SHINES THROUGH...Today, after Mass, I met a monk of a fledgling order honoring Mary under the title of Rosa Mystica. What touched my heart was the words that flowed between us.I believe that the Spirit was at work. Each of us were finding enrichment that we needed simply by a loving exchange of views about Mary, about prayer, about the entangeling power of addictions, about the cleansing that God pours forth willingly on those who welcome Him. A brief encounter...but I felt a touch of the Holy Spirit today. db

WE SEE THE WORKMAN...Wisdom 13:1 "In the works of God, we see Him, Creator of all. Men are vain and do not understand that the works reveal the Maker...we learn of Him...we come near to Him." Did you see His thumb prints today? db

WHOLE SELF TO GOD...T Merton "The turning to God of our whole selves can be achieved only by a deep and sincere faith with a hope that is convinced that union with God is possible to us if we have a great desire to love his entire will." To be joined to God is to begin now, what we hope to be in all eternity. db

TRUST...Wisdom 14:1 "Let us call to God. The man trusts his boat in the raging sea...better is he to trust in God." Why are we sometimes so slow to admit our need? db

FOR ALL...Wisdom 12:13 "There is no god like Thee...caring for all..." His love smiles in all directions...His care is never ceasing. db

LOVE...Wisdom 11:25 "Lord...hate and create, Thou couldst not...All created things are loved by You...Your love flows to everything that has being." That wild flower by the side of the road has not escaped His caring. db

HIS ELECT...Wisdom 3:9 "They that trust in Him, shall understand...They who are faithful in love, shall rest in Him; To His elect, there will be grace and peace." Lord, that we may be counted in that number. db

PRAYER...T Merton: "...a man of prayer will come to know God and to know that prayers are always answered." The answers are not always exactly what the prayer person hoped...but they are answered by God...and in the most loving way that He intends.

THAT SPECIAL WAY...Proverbs 30:3 "I have not learned wisdom...I have not learned the way of the saints.' This admission of need...is it not the most essential part of the journey? db

The LOVE, NOT THE GIFT ITSELF...Imitation of Christ Book 3 Ch 6 "One who loves generously looks not to the gift but to the love that prompted it. The heart of the giver is the thing that matters. His love is above all His gifts." Let us offer Him the little 'sparks' of devotion, however brief, but offer them with much love. db

JOY OF OUR HEARTS...Imitation of Christ Book 3 Ch 5 "O Lord, my Beloved, when Thou shalt come into my poor heart, all that is within me shall be filled with joy. Thou art my Joy and the exultation of my heart." A joyful love touches the heart of God more than we might realize. db

BUSY FOR SOULS...St Therese: "I shall not rest in heaven til the end of the world when the angel says 'Time is no more.' Then, I shall rejoice with all the elect."

PRAYER...Brother Lawrence: " These short little prayers in the midst of our daily work and routine, the lifting of our mind and heart to God, simple acts of inward worship, however short, are so pleasing to God and acceptable to Him." Little prayers...like darts of great love aimed at the heart of God. db

HUMBLE SEEKING...Proverbs 24:12 "If thou shalt say ' I have not strength enough' the One Who sees into the heart will hear and understand and keep thy soul." A humble seeker is a joy to the heart of God. db

WITH JOY...Author Unknown "If the time we spend with God in worship is a boring and tedious task for us, how can we call that 'worship?' If we are in prayer and our minds are not lifted up to God but stuck in the things below, how shall we call that 'honoring' the Lord?"

TRULY WISE...T Merton "Wisdom is God Himself dwelling in us and revealing to us His very Self...Life is learned only in the living of it." Teach us, Lord. db

SO TO LEARN TRUST...Proverbs 22:19 "I have taught thee so that thy trust may be in the Lord." Great teaching...to place all in the loving and wise hands of God. How shall that be without effect? db

O FAITHFUL ONE...Imitation of Christ Book 3 Ch 3 "...My promise deceives no one, nor sends away empty those who have come with trust." What peace is theirs who have learned what it means to rely on God. db

OPEN TO HIS WORDS...Proverbs 19:27 "Cease not to welcome instruction; Be not unlearned in wisdom and knowledge." Is the door locked when He knocks? db

WILL OF GOD...Brother lawrence: "I have no will but that of God and I shall strive to accomplish that in all things with resignation." Faith that says this kind of 'yes' to God is FAITH indeed! db

HIS HOLY NAME...Proverbs 18:10 "The Lord's name is a strong tower...Wise are they who run to it..." Why are we so slow to hurry to Him? db

HIS WILL...Brother lawrence ""I would not pick up a straw from the ground if it was against His will...Purely to love Him is my desire...In all things, I have no other will but His." Lord, teach us the way. db

RICHES...Proverbs 16:16 "Seek wisdom for it is better than gold; Look for prudence for it is worth more than bags of silver." The riches we are offered are the gifts of God to us...they are offered for each day's needs. Foolish not to welcome them. db

EASTER THOUGHTS...So many thoughts concerning Easter. Here is just one: God alone knows how to bring great blessings out of the most terrible of things. From ignorance to wisdom...from weakness to strength...from darkness, light...from sadness and weeping to joy and glad hearts...from despair to firm hope... etc. In our own lives, He has a plan to do this transformation...if we let Him. db

WEALTH OF SPIRIT...Proverbs 13:7 "There is one with great wealth but he is poor; there is another who is poor but is full of riches." God allows some losses that are really great gains. db

WAIT IN PATIENCE...Imitation of Christ Book 2 Ch 8 "In trials, the children of God should not be dejected but calmly remain in faith awaiting the favor of God for after the night, day appears, after the Winter, comes the Spring, after the storm, a gentle calm." Lord, bless our waiting. db

GOD"S LOVE...Ecclesiasticus 15:19 "...so incessant is the watch he keeps over mankind." When we remember His love and mercy, we lift up our hearts in joy and gratitude. db

TO THE HUMBLE...Proverbs 9:14 "Whoever is a little one, let him come to me." Humility comes before wisdom...we are taught when we begin to realize our need to be taught...we become enriched only when we have come to know our poverty. db

IN THE DIVINE PRESENCE...Brother Lawrence: "Let us always be with Him. Let us live and die in His Presence. Faith teaches us that He never forsakes us...we are the ones who turn aside." So simple...almost too simple for those who look for complicated observances. db

LOVE THE WILL OF HIM ABOVE...Proverbs 7:2 " Keep to My way...love the law as the apple of Thine eye, and life shall be yours." Lord, teach us this way to Thee. db

TENDER CARE...E Massimilla..."Amazing grace to us is given...Let all anxious thoughts flee...With tender care, He hears our prayer...And heal us, Lord, we plea." What a blessing we enjoy...His tender care! db

MERCY...Author Unknown "Lord what mercy Thou hast towards all who search for Thee...and even towards those who seek You not."

PRAISE AND BLAME...Imitation of Christ Book 2 Ch 6 "Truly, thou art not more holy for being praised nor are you the worse for being blamed...We are what we are in His eyes...Thou canst not be more than God sees in thee at a given time." He is the Truth of who and where we are. db

HOLY WEEK...How shall I make this a truly 'holy' week? There are various good things to do...vain things to avoid...some things to give up and perhaps, give away...but in all, the INTENTION is so important. I want this time to be a time of very special INTENT...I want to offer all to Him...I want everything thing to point to Him in love and gratitude. He considers not so much the deed, but the love that lies behind the deed and gives it prayerful meaning. Blessings. db

JOY OF HEART...Imitation of Christ Book 2 Ch 5 "God, the Infinite, the Eternal, fills all things and is the solace of the soul. He who cherishes God, despises all the things less than God." Lord, let us taste this joy...a fore taste of eternity with Thee. db

PALM SUNDAY...This day, we recall His entry into Jerusalem amid shouts of acclaim. Just days later, those were shouts of hatred for Him. Let us pray for constancy in our faith and love for Him. Hosanna! db

TO WELCOME WISDOM...Proverbs4:12 "Why have I hated instruction? And have a heart not open to correction?" Humility opens the door to much needed wisdom. db

SIMPLE AND PURE...Imitation of Christ Book 2 Ch 4 "Simplicity and purity...Simplicity aims directly at God and purity takes hold of Him ...If there be any real joy in this world, surely the pure of heart have found it and rejoice in it." Lord, teach us Thy way. db

ON PRAYER...T Merton: "You pray best when the mirror of your soul is empty of everyday images and there is room for the 'image' of the Invisible Father." Lord, so we might pray well, clear our inner selves of all lesser things and sharpen our sense of the Divine Presence. db

EMPTY...T Merton: " Non spiritual books speak like the noises of the city and reduce us to despair by their weight of emptyness." May the Spirit lead us to good reading that uplifts the heart and enriches the soul. db

BRING ME, LORD...Imitation of Christ Book 1 Ch 4 "Lord, I labor indeed...I am tortured with grief and troubled over my sins...entangled by temptations. There is no one to help me but Thou. To Thee, I commend myself and all that is mine so the You might bring me safely to everlasting life. Receive me..." To whom shall we look? db

DESERT FERVOR...T Merton "Like Jesus or John, when we come from the desert with feeling expanded and strengthened against falsity, we are ready to do a great and noble and pure work for God." Prayer is the preface to the good works that God sends us to. db

FOR CERTAIN...Psalm 144:18 "Know this for certain: the Lord is neigh to all who call upon Him..." Faith teaches us to have this assurance...that God, indeed, is ever loving and watchful. A reason for us to daily lift up our hearts! db

TRUST...Wisdom 16:26 "They were to learn and understand that man thrives, not by the rippening of crops, but by Thy word which ever protects all who learn to trust in Thee." Lord, teach us the way of deeper trust. db

SHARE THE GIFT...R B Silver..."Don't hesitate to use your gift,...for it is not yours to keep. Far better would it be for you...To share it, is my belief." A gift not shared is an selfish deed. db

GOD ND HIS LOVE...S H Powell "His love flows like a river. It touches you and me. Nothing does it cost us; It is His gift to us, you see." How little thought we give to that LOVE which pours onto us everyday. db

UNLESS HIS AID IS WITH US...Psalm 142: "Help me, Lord...my soul is like earth without water...My hands reach out to Thee." This thirst for God is at the very heart of the spiritual life...in fact, it is the spiritual life. db

TRUE FAITH...Author Unknown: On the walls of a death camp, these words: "I believe in the sun even when it is not shining. I believe in God even when He is silent." Imagine such a faith in so great a time of distress! db

PRAYER...Psalm 140:2 "Like incense arising, let my prayers come unto Thee; Let my hands lifted up, be to Thy glory..." A most beautiful way of thinking about prayer. db

St PATRICK GREETINGS..."May He bless and keep thee...May the hand of God be over you to protect you...May the Cross be ahead of you so for you to follow...may the grace of God be 'the wind at your back' to aid you...May He smile on Thee warmly and give you His peace." db

ST JOSEPH'S DAY...A blessing for you...May the dear guardian and protector of Jesus and Mary intercede for you and may God's gracious blessings fall upon you. Amen. db

LOOK TO GOD'S WILL...T Merton "That man of prayer learns to forget himself and to live in expectation of God's loving will and His reply." To love God fully is to fully love what it is that He ask of us...though that might be way past our imagination. db

LONGING...Psalm 136:4 "How shall we sing the Lord's song while in a far off land?" The saints, while still here on earth, experienced a certain discontent since they were not yet home. Love yearns to be with the Loved One. db

WHEN SHALL WE PONDER...T Merton "If our life is poured out in useless words, we shall never hear anything because we opened our mouths before we had anything to say and , in the end, we shall be speechless." To ponder is to listen to our Teacher. Let silence precede the words we have to offer. db

PEACEABLE...Psalm 119:7 "...with them that hated peace, I was peaceable." One is reminded of the Saviour and all the objections He encountered. For us, to be in peace even with those who view things far differently from us. Lord, How shall we stay 'peaceable?" db

LENT...Some said it was a time to give something up...others said it was a time to gather some things up...like good thoughts ...good works done in love...love extended...pardon sought and given...etc db

From an old Benedictine Book of Prayers...(Fitting for Ash Wednesday) "O God of love and mercy, You choose to have mercy towards us rather than to be angry with us. Grant us Thy grace so that we may make amends for the wrongs we have done and to atone for the good we have left undone. Grant us Thy aid without which we cannot succeed; We ask of Thee in deep faith and trust." db

FORSAKE THE FOOLISH...Imitation of Christ Book 4 Ch 15 "The more that one forsakes the things of earth and dies to self, the more the grace of God comes more speedily and more fully and elevates the heart that has learned to be free." Lord, so be it in me. Amen. db

TRUST AND WAITING...Wisdom 3:9 "Trust Him...true thou shalt find Him; Faith waits for Him calmly and lovingly. ...Who is it that attains peace if not these, His chosen ones?" Never has there been a person who trusted in God in vain...the answer came...indeed, maybe not the expected answer but something, in the Divine Plan, much better. db

YEARNING FOR THE GOOD...H. Kushner: "Good people do good things...lots of them, because they are good. They do some not so good things because they are human but they are always asking themselves "Is this the kind of person that I really want to be?' " In His goodness, God has planted in us, a deep desire to be good and to do good. Our joy lies in following that desire. db

JOY IN HIS CARING...Wisdom 19:9 "Sheltered by His hand, they passed on their way...lighthearted like a horse in the pasture or a lamb frisking in the field...They sang their songs of joy and praise to Thee, their Rescuer." How can we not sing praise when we consider the immense goodness of God towards us? db

PRAYER...Psalm 114:1 "...The Lord will hear my prayer." To pray to God is our joy; to pray with confidence in Him is our mode. db

FASHIONED BY GOD...T Merton "A saint is one whom God has developed into a person who bears a great likeness to his Creator...He begins with the temperament, character, and emotions of the human heart as it is..." db

ANCIENT PRAYER...Author Unknown: "If you seek happiness, forget happiness and instead, find service to those in need...and happiness shall find YOU." How wise a thought...the treasure is not where we expected it. db

THAT PATH...Wisdom 5:7 "Weary it was...the way of ruin...lonely wastes we travelled...who missed the path God intended for us." Help us and guide us, O Lord. db

DESIRE FOR WISDOM...Wisdom 6:21 "A royal road this is...this desire for wisdom." God smiles when He looks and sees even one soul who eagerly searches for Him. db

BELIEF...N D Walsch: "Most people believe in God; They just don't believe in a God Who believes in them. God does believe in them...and loves them much more than most people realize." Interesting thought: How does God believe in us? In our sincere striving...in our deeds, more than our creeds...in our giving without hope of compensation...in our daily effort to find and do His will. db

THAT LAND OF LIGHT...St Augustine: "It is one thing to see the land of peace from a wooded ridge...and quite another to tread the road that leads us to it." To dream is one thing...to journey is quite another. db

COMPULSION OF GOD...C S Lewis: "The Divine Mercy...the hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men and His compulsion is our salvation." The compulsion of God is to save even the most hardened sinner. In the end, we find, we are saved, not because WE are good but because HE is good. db

ATONEMENT...Proverbs 16:6 "Love and faithfulness render atonement to God...and evil refused is reverence to the Lord." So many souls showing reverence to the Lord in the simplicity of their lives well lived. db

TO THE GOOD, GOOD...Proverbs 14:14 "The poor faithless...they shall find a payment for their ways...And all those of goodness shall find a reward in the Lord." God is not deceived. db

CLEANSED FROM SIN...Imitation of Christ Book 3 Ch 52 "O God of mercies, Thou hast never despised a heart that is contrite and humble. In You is my Refuge...Here is washed away all my defilement." The love of God towards us makes it possible to stand in His presence with the white robe of innocence. db

OPEN...Faith teaches the soul to stand ready for the inspirations that God intends to send to us. There is a chance that we are not open to all the good that He wishes to send. Psalm 107:2 "My heart is ready, Lord...my heart is ready." db

NO DESIRE FOR EVIL...Psalm 100:2 "Lord...I shall understand when Thou shalt come to me...I shall walk in innocence..." for no evil desire will be within me. db

A SIMPLE PRAYER...Psalm 101:8 "I have waited and watched like a sparrow all alone upon the rooftop." Beautiful image of the prayer of waiting and watching. If we love and trust Him, we are quite content to sit 'upon the roof top' in loving expectation. db

OUR HELP...Imitation of Christ Book 4 Ch 4 "And Thou, O God, art a Fountain ever flowing and a fire that burns and never fails..." and so we come for we are in need, are thirsty and cold. db

NOT TO BE IDLE...St Therese: "I count on not being inactive in Heaven. My desire is not to be still; But to be at work for the Church and for souls. Because I withdraw from the battlefield does not mean that I shall be at rest. I am going to be busy in heaven." Beautiful love for souls expressed here. She does not plan on idle bliss but on praying for souls to draw near, to repent, to prepare for their eternity. db

MERCY...Psalm 97:3 "The Lord hath remembered His mercy...all the ends of the earth have seen His salvation." Never does He forget His beloved children. Lift up your hearts! db

JUBILATION..."All the earth, sing to Him in joy and gladness...Come to His presence with jubilation." Faith and deep sadness cannot blend in a heart that loves God. db

GOOD AND EVIL...H. Kushner "The good person does good because he is good. They do bad things because they are human. Sometimes the good angel wins...but always, we must ask ourselves 'What kind of person do I really wish to be?' " db

LITTLE FLOWER...Quote: "My mission is to help others love the good God as I love Him; To teach others about my little way. I will send my Heaven doing good upon the earth." Such a love for God and for souls. She plans to work hard in the heavenly Kingdom leading souls to the Lord. db

PRAISE IN THE HIGHEST...Psalm 98:3 "Thy name is terrible and it is holy...let all give praise." Blest be that name above all names...blest be that glory beyond all glory! db

DIVINE PROVIDENCE...Imitation of Christ Book 3 Ch 59: "O God, there is no counting of Thy mercies for they are beyond number. Was it ever ill for me when Thou was present? Was it ever good for me when Thou didst hide Thyself?" And so, again, another inspirational thought from Thomas A'Kempis. No wonder the saints, many of them, greatly cherished their copy of this book. Mine was a gift to me from my mother in 1950...I was in the US Army at the time. I love my little book...falling apart from use. db