Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, August 31, 2009

He told them a parable about the need for them to pray always and never to lose heart.
-Lk 18:1

Reflection: Pray always--here is what these words mean: Either prayer must always be on our lips to as for some grace. Or it must be in our heart in the desire for this grace. Or it must be in our works, which are a preparation for efficacious prayer.
-St. Bonaventure

Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me the value of praying always. Grant that every event of my life may be the occasion for praying--with my lips, my heart, or my works.

From: Everyday Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, August 27, 2009

The life I am now living…I am living by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.

-Gal 2:20

Reflection: The crucifix is an open book that all can read. The crucifix is an infinite declaration of love.

-St. Catherine of Siena

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, inspire me to read the Crucifix often. Grant that I may return thanks and love to You for Your great love for me.

From: Everyday Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

-Eph 5:20

Reflection: We must never fail to thank our Lord after we have received some sign of goodness, some benefit, from Him. For God loves grateful hearts and heaps blessings on them.

-St. Mary Euphrasia

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for all the graces and blessings You have bestowed on me from my birth. Help me to show my gratitude by using all Your gifts for Your glory and the betterment of human beings.

From: Everyday Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Mickey Rourke Thanks God and Catholic Faith for Saving His Life

Famed Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke, who was at the Sarajevo Film Festival last week, told a Bosnian newspaper that he thanks God and his Catholic faith for giving him a “second chance” in life to overcome his addictions, which almost led him to commit suicide.





via [Catholic Fire]

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, August 25, 2009

When you have done everything that was commanded you, say, “We are unprofitable servants.”

-Lk 17:10

Reflection: Christians should conscientiously take up their civic duties in a spirit of disinterested service. This will lead them to renounce seeking their personal gain, power, or prestige, if it is harmful to others.

-Pope Paul VI

Prayer: O Lord, grant me the generosity of spirit of St. Louis, the King. He served his country all his life; citizens to build a society based on Christ’s teachings. Help me to do the same.

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, August 24, 2009

God saw fit to reveal His Son to me, so that I might preach the Good News about Him to the Gentiles.

-Gal 1:16

Reflection: No matter where you may be or where you may be working, make sure the world will be renewed upon contact with you. Make the Lord more present to human beings and the Gospel more known and loved by them.

-Pope Paul VI

Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me to imitate Your divine Son in my life. Grant that by my presence as well as by my deeds, I may bring Christ and His message to everyone I meet.

From: Everyday Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, August 20, 2009

Keep hold of...a good conscience. Some people have let that go and have had their faith ruined.
- 1 Tim 1:19

Reflection: A good conscience is a treasury of riches. Indeed, what greater riches can there be--or what can be sweeter--than a good conscience?
- St. Bernard

Prayer: All-knowing God, let me be able to stand in Your presence with a good conscience. Help me to avoid anything that would sully my conscience and do all I can to remain united with You.

From: Everyday Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, August 19, 2009

You are my children, for whom I am enduring a mother's pain again, until Christ is formed in you.
- Gal 4:19

Reflection: There is only one reason for us to be living on earth. We are to bear, manifest, sanctify, glorify, and cause to live and reign in us the name, life, qualities and perfections, dispositions, and inclinations, and virtues and actions of Jesus.
- St. John Eudes

Prayer: Heavenly Father, impress upon my mind and heart that I must be conformed to Your Son in all things. Let me imitate Him so completely that I may truly be "another Christ."

From: Everyday Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Well done, good and faithful servant...Come and share your master's joy.
- Mt 25:21

Reflection: In God's house we must try to accept whatever job He gives us: cook, kitchen boy, waiter, stable boy, or baker. For we know that our rewards depends not on the job itself but on the faithfulness with which we serve God.
- Pope Paul I

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to accept the task You have given me to do in life. Let me be faithful to it all my days and be able to attain Your eternal reward in heaven.

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, August 17, 2009

This is My Blood of the Covenant, which will be shed in behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.
- Mt 26:28

Reflection: The Eucharist may be termed a perpetual Calvary. Without it how many times God's wrath would have erupted on our heads!
- St. Peter Eymard

Prayer: Heavenly Father, make me realize that the Eucharist is the memorial of Christ's actions that freed me of my sins. Help me to participate devoutly in every Eucharist and obtain the grace to avoid sin.

From: Everyday Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Friday, August 14, 2009

Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.
- Prov 8:14

Reflection: When we dedicate ourselves to Mary, we become instruments in her hands just as she is an instrument in God's hands. Let us then be guided by her for she will provide for the needs of body and soul and overcome all difficulties and anxieties.
- St. Maximilian Kolbe

Prayer: Dear Jesus, in all my trials and difficulties, let me have recourse to You through Your holy Mother. Grant that she may comfort me and lead me to You.

From: Everyday Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, August 13, 2009

Jesus went about...curing every kind of disease and infirmity. And seeing the crowds, He had compassion on them.
- Mt 9:35-36

Reflection: Whenever you help a sick person, you are a sign of Christ's compassion for all who suffer.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You taught that whenever we do something for one of Your least ones, we are doing it for You. May I always reach out to those who need my help and my comfort.

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, August 12, 2009

A gracious woman wins respect...A kindly man does good to himself.
- Prov 11:16-17

Reflection: Do not chase after all kinds of knowledge, enlightenment, and understanding in the hope of gaining the hearts of others. You will gain those hearts more surely by showing openness and graciousness to them.
- St. John Chrysostom

Prayer: Gracious Lord, help me to show openness and graciousness to others. In this way, let me win over their hearts on earth and gain their souls for eternity.

From: Everyday Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, August 11, 2009

[Wisdom] is the reflection of the everlasting light and a spotless mirror of the power of God.
- Wis 7:26

Reflection: Every day, look into the spotless mirror that is Jesus Christ, and study well your reflection. In that way, you may adorn yourself, mind and body, with every virtue.
- St. Clare of Assisi

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to dwell often on the manner in which I am following You. Let me strive each day to become more and more like You in all things.

From: Everyday Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, August 10, 2009

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, fidelity, gentleness, and self-control.
- Gal 5:22

Reflection: The sun penetrates crystal and makes it more dazzling. In the same way, the sanctifying Spirit indwells in souls and makes them more radiant. They become like so many powerhouses beaming grace and love around them.
- St. Basil

Prayer: Heavenly Father, let me be ever ready to cooperate with the graces given by Your indwelling Spirit. Grant that I may bring forth the fruits You desire.

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Friday, August 07, 2009

Even though my father and my mother may abandon me, the Lord will receive me.
- Ps 27:10

Reflection: If you want Christ to love you and help you, you must love Him and always endeavor to please Him. Do not waverr in your purpose, because even if all the Saints and every single creature were to abandon you. He will always be near you, no matter what your needs may be
- St. Cajetan

Prayer: Lord Jesus, let me love You above all things and ever remain united with You. Help me to do always the things that are pleasing to You.

From: Everyday Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, August 06, 2009

My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.
- 2 Cor 12:9

Reflection: The value and the cost of grace is its interior unction which recollects us in God. An interior grace is worth more than a thousand external graces. Our virtues and our devotion have life only through the recollection that animates them and unites them to God.
- St. Peter Eymard

Prayer: Father of all gifts, pour down on me Your inner grace and make me truly recollected in You. May all my outward activities be the result of Your grace and obtain more grace for me.

From: Everyday Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, August 05, 2009

God's mercy extends from generation to generation to those who fear Him.
- Lk 1:50

Reflection: In her Magnificat, which has become the canticle of the Church and of humanity yearning for salvation, Mary has proclaimed human and feminine liberation. She is the most perfect image of freedom and of the liberation of humanity and of the universe.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: I thank You, O Lord, for You have offered me true liberation: the forgiveness of my sins and the healing of my weakness.

From: Minute Meditations from the Popes (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, August 04, 2009

That is why the Father loves Me for this; because I lay down My life.
- Jn 10:17

Reflection: Martyrdom is as nothing in comparison with the Mass. Martyrdom is the sacrifice that human beings make of their lives to God. But the Mass is the sacrifice that God makes, on behalf of people, of his Body and Blood.
- St. John Vianney

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to realize that the Mass is the greatest sign of Your boundless love for me. At every Mass, let me thus offer to You my whole self, with all its joys and sorrows, successes and failures.

From: Everyday Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, August 03, 2009

Whoever loves Me will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
- Jn 14:23

Reflection: By His grace God dwells in the just soul as in a temple, in a very close and special way. This accounts for that bond of love which unites the soul to God and makes it rejoice in Him.

- Pope Leo XIII

Prayer: Triune God, help me to prepare my soul and keep it unstained for Your sacred Indwelling. Let me never do anything that will cause me to lose grace and force You to depart from my soul.