Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, December 30, 2009

I have calmed and stilled my soul..like a weaned child.
- Psalms 131:2

Reflection: Strive to accustom yourself to renounce the things that you have in your heart and the little satisfactions that you desire. This is the secret that enables you to preserve peace of soul.
- St. Francis de Sales

Prayer: God of peace, let me be at peace with myself and my desires. Teach me to put all my trust in You and desire only what You have willed for me.

[From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)]

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, December 22, 2009

A child is born to us, a son is given us; a dominion rests upon His shoulder.
- Isaiah 9:5

Reflection: In adoring our Savior's birth, it is our origin that we celebrate. Christ's temporal generation is the source of the Christian people, the birth of His Mystical Body. All of us encounter in this Mystery a new birth in Christ.
- St. Leo the Great

Prayer: Heavenly Father, in celebrating the birth of Your Son on earth, let me also celebrate my birth in His Mystical Body. Grant that I may thus be brought closer to You in union with Your only Son.

[From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)]

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, December 21, 2009

The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is His Name.
- Luke 1:49

Reflection: While remaining the Mother of our Judge, Mary is a mother to us, full of mercy. She constitutes our protection. She keeps us close to Christ, and she faithfully takes the matter of our salvation into her charge.
- St. Peter Canisius

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You have filled Mary with grace and made her a Co-Redeemer with Christ Your Son. Grant that I may have constant recourse to her and attain the salvation she helped win for the world.

[From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)]

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Friday, December 18, 2009

We guide our steps by faith, not by what is seen.
- 2 Corinthians 5:7

Reflection: Faith is like a bright ray of sunlight. It enables us to see God in all things as well as all things in God.
- St. Francis de Sales

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to shine the spotlight of Your faith on the world I live in. Grant that I may see You everywhere and serve You in everything.

[From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)]

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, December 17, 2009

My heart and my flesh give a shout of joy for he living God.
- Psalms 84:3

Reflection: Desire to see God, be fearful of losing Him, and find joy in everything that can lead to Him. If you act in this way, you will always live in great peace.
- St. Theresa of Avila

Prayer: Living God, let me desire to see You and make use of everything that leads to You. Grant that I may live in such a way as to gain the blessed vision of You in heaven.

[From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)]

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Strive for uprightness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, and gentleness.
- 1 Timothy 6:11

Reflection: Virtue is a very wonderful thing for us. It is the good of life, the fruit of a clear conscience, and the peace of the innocent.

- St. Ambrose

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to build up virtue in my life. let me realize that by cultivating all the virtues I will attain happiness not only in heaven but also her on earth.

[From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)]

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, December 15, 2009

The Bread of God is He Who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
- John 6:33

Reflection: All who receive Jesus in Communion are filled with every good. Their temptations are overcome. Their troubles are turned into joys. And their piety finds nourishment.
- St. Anthony of Padua

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to receive You in Communion frequently and with fervor. Grant that all my Communions may enable me to do good, avoid evil, and live always as a dedicated Christian.

[From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)]

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, December 14, 2009

Lead a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing to Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work.- Col 1:10

Reflection: Strive unceasingly to be pleasing to God and ask Him to accomplish His Will in you. Love Him with all your might; you owe Him a great deal.- St. John of the Cross

Prayer: God of power and might, let me do always the things that are pleasing to You. For You are my Greatest Benefactor and my Sole Good.

[From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)]

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, December 10, 2009

[Jesus] said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch."
- Luke 5:4

Reflection: The bark of Peter laughs at the winds and the waves. She has the Saints as her passengers, the Cross as her mast, the Gospel teachings as her sails, the Angels as her rowers, and God as her pilot.
St. John Chrysostom

Prayer: Heavenly Father, teach me to trust Your Church as the Bark of Salvation in this world. Grant that I may work and pray to remain afloat with her amid the storms of life.

[From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)]

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, December 09, 2009

I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm...I will spew you out of My mouth.
- Revelation 3:15

Reflection: The Word of God moves swiftly. He is not won by the lukewarm nor held fast by the negligent. Be attentive to His message and diligently follow the path God tells you to take. For He is swift in His passing.
- St. Ambrose

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to avoid being lukewarm in my spiritual life. Grant me an ardent faith, hope, and love so that I may be zealous in following You every day.

[From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)]

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, December 08, 2009

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind.
- Luke 10:27

Reflection: Love for Christ pierced Mary's heart in such a way that no part of it was left unkindled. Mary thus fulfilled the first commandment of love in all its fullness and without the slightest imperfection.
- St. Bernard

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to imitate Your immaculate Daughter Mary in her love for You. Grant me the grace to love You as much as I can all my life.

[From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)]

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, December 07, 2009

You are a "chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation."
-1 Peter 2:9

Reflection: All the children of the Church are priests. At Baptism they received the anointing that gives them a share in the priesthood. The sacrifice that they must offer to God is completely spiritual--it is themselves.
- St. Ambrose

Prayer: Holy Father, teach me to offer myself to You with all my thoughts, words, and actions. Let me also exercise my "common priesthood" by faithful participation at Mass.

[From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)]

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, December 02, 2009

I am the companion of all who revere You.
- Psalms 119:63

Reflection: Cultivate the friendship of others. It is the consolation of this life to find someone who is a confidant in the mysteries of our soul. The source of Christian friendship is none other than God.
- St. Augustine

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to seek out truly Christian friends. Let me always be a genuine friend to them, working for their spiritual as well as material good.

[From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)]

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Make the most of your opportunity, for these are evil days.
- Ephesians 5:16

Reflection: Let us not allow this holy season of Advent to slip by without spiritual fruit. It is the time of salvation; let us profit from it.
St. Mary Euphrase

Prayer: God of mercy, teach me to live in tune with Your Liturgical Year. Help me to be filled with the sentiments proper to Advent and to prepare fittingly for the renewed birth of Your Son in my heart.

[From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)]