Friday, April 30, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Friday, April 30, 2010

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.
-
John 20:29

Reflection: This Gospel text certainly applies to us--but only if we confirm our faith by our works. Those truly believe who carry out in practice what they believe.
-
Pope St. Gregory the Great

Prayer: Jesus, my Lord and my God, help me to believe in You with all my might. And let me translate that belief into practivce by obeying Your commands every day.



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

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, April 29, 2010

I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
- John 14:6

Reflection: Many want to go ahead of Christ not after Him--by laying out a way to their own specifications. They seek to serve God and obtain virtue without effort. But they deceive themselves, for Christ is "the way."
- St. Catherine of Siena

Prayer: Lord Jesus, guard me from the desire to take the easy way. Grant that I may faithfully and diligently follow the way You have traced out to the Father for us.



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

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know Me?
-
John 14:9

Reflection: Jesus Christ is very little known by those who claim to be His friends. We observe them seeking in Him not His sorrows but their own consolation.
-
St. John of the Cross

Prayer: Lord Jesus, let me know myself and let me know You. Grant me the grace to follow You in Your sorrows--accepting all the sorrows of my life for Your sake.




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

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Through [Jesus] let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess His Name.
- Hebrews 13:15


Reflection: The hour has sounded for joyful chants: Alleluia. Let us praise God with our life, with our voice, with our heart, and with our deeds.
- St. Augustine

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to give You constant praise in my heart. At the same time, let this attitude bear fruit in my life--producing truly Christian deeds.



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

Monday, April 26, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, April 26, 2010

Comfort one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
-
1 Thessalonians 5:11

Reflection: If on any particular day we do nothing more than give a little joy to a neighbor, that day will not be wasted. For we have succeeded in giving comfort to an immortal soul.
-
Blessed Contardo Ferrini

Prayer: God of all consolation, teach me put put all my trust in You. Let me then go out and offer my neighbor Christian consolation in every tribulation.



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

Friday, April 23, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Friday, April 23, 2010

The eyes of the Lord are upon the just and His ears are open to their prayers.
-
1 Peter 3:12

Reflection: A just life constitutes a song for the ears of our heavenly Father. It is as pleasing to Him as the most beautiful prayer.
-
St. Cyprian

Prayer: Heavenly Father grant me the grace to live justly in all my activities. Let my life be ever pleasing to You on earth and obtain eternal life for me in heaven.



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

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, April 22, 2010

Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit life everlasting.
- Matthew 19:29

Reflection: To other human beings, grace has been given with measure. But to Mary, it has been poured out beyond measure!
- St. Sophronius

Prayer: O Mary, you are full of grace, possessing more than all the Angels and Saints combined. I bow down in awe at the breadth of your holiness, and I ask you to pray to the all-holy God for me.



From: Mary Day By Day (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, April 21, 2010

When they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier opened his side with a lance, and immediately blood and water poured out.
- John 19:33-34

Reflection: Reflection: It is your Heart, O Mary, that is pierced with the steel of the lance. Much more so that the Heart of your Son, Who has already breathed His last.
- St. Bernard

Prayer: O Mary, let me grieve with you over the saving death of your beloved Son. "Holy Mother, pierce me through. In my heart each wound renew of my Savior crucified!"



From: Mary Day By Day (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, April 20, 2010

The work of each will be manifested, for the Day of the Lord will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire.
- 1 Corinthians 3:13

Reflection: How essential it is for the life of society that people not lose faith in their own work. How essential it is that they not suffer disillusionment because of this work.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to see my work as a calling from You. Enable me to regard my coworkers as people whom You have sent into my life for a reason.



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

Monday, April 19, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, April 19, 2010

The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel.
- Mark 1:15

Reflection: A sincere and zealous reformer will avoid extremes and never overstep the bounds of true reform. The true reformer will always be united the closest bonds with the Church of Christ, her Head.
- Pope Pius X

Prayer: O Lord, we have heard that virtue lies in the middle, and that extremes bring division. Teach me to balance my opinions so that I may serve love and not my own pet theories.



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

Friday, April 16, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Friday, April 16, 2010

Seek the Kingdom of God, and all these things will be given you as well.
- Luke 12:31

Reflection: The Church reaffirms the religious and supernatural values of penitence. She invites everyone to accompany the inner conversion of the spirit with the voluntary exercise of external acts of penitence.
- Pope Paul VI

Prayer: O Lord, give me the courage and the wisdom to seek You above all other goods. Help me to see things with the proper perspective, so that food or leisure or work may never become the center of my life.



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

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, April 15, 2010

I have planted and Apollos has watered. But it is God Who has given the increase.
- 1 Corinthians 3:6

Reflection: May prayers give wings to work, purify intentions, and be a defense against the longing of materialism. And may work in its turn lead to the refreshing encounter with God in which humanity rediscovers its primordial vocation and the true meaning of its existence.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: O Lord, teach me the balance between work and prayer. Help me to do my part in giving birth to the Kingdom of God, but let me also turn over to You that which only You can do.



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

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, April 14, 2010

May your father and your mother have joy. May she who bore you be glad.
- Proverbs 23:25

Reflection: Responsible parenthood involves not only bringing children into the world, but also taking part personally and responsibly in their upbringing and education. True love in the family is forever.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: O Lord, let me value my family above my work, my career, any other thing that might tempt me away from those whom I love.



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

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, April 13, 2010

For I am not ashamed of the Gospel; it is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe.
- Romans 1:16

Reflection: Those who deem themselves to be Christian must know this fact. They are bound by conscience to the basic, imperative duty of bearing witness to the truth in which they believe and to the grace that has transformed their soul.
- Pope John XXIII

Prayer: O Lord, teach me to make my life ever more transparent and consistent, so that I may live ever more fully in Your truth



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

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Saturday, April 10, 2010

Let my prayer rise like incense before You; the lifting of my hands, like the evening sacrifice.
- Psalms 141:2

Reflection: Prayer also for your brothers and sisters and for all the children of the world, especially those who are poor and hungry. Pray for those who do not know Jesus, for those who are alone and sad.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: O Lord, let my prayers for those in need rise up to Your heavenly throne like incense. Join the love found in these prayers with Your love and pour it down upon the parched hearts of this world.



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

Friday, April 9, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Friday, April 09, 2010

Walk in the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
- Galatians 5:16

Reflection: We must insist on the priority of ethics over technology, on the primacy of the person over things, on the superiority of the spirit over nature. Humanity will be served if science and culture ally themselves with conscience.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: O Lord, the world proclaims that what is new must be good. Help me to remember that the dignity of the individual is of primary value, and it should never be compromised for convenience' sake.

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

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, April 08, 2010

All who believed were together and ... would sell their possessions and goods and distribute them among all according as had need.
- Acts 2:44-45

Reflection: Christians must share in the task of building up the city, creating new modes of neighborliness and relationship. They must also perceive an original application of social justice and undertake responsibility for this collective future.
- Pope Paul VI

Prayer: O Lord, let me remember that every Christian is called to transform this world, to make it more just, more peaceful, and more loving. Help me to do my part.



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

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Rather, blessed are they who hear the Word of God and keep it.
- Luke 11:28

Reflection: When the Word of God is duly accepted and properly observed, it assures unity in families as well as stability in society. It also assures an indestructible joy that will last beyond time and be transformed for all eternity into a life that suffers no decline.
- Pope John XXIII

Prayer: O Lord, in this time of chaos, I seek an ordered life for myself and my family. Let me find the source of that order in Your Word that gives life.



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

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Behold how good and how pleasant it is where brothers and sisters dwell together as one.
- Psalms 133:1

Reflection: Watch! Do not let the precious values of faithful married love and family life be taken away from you. Do not reject them, or think that there is some other human prospect for happiness and human fulfillment.
- Pope John Paul II

Prayer: Shower Your love upon my family, O Lord. Let all of us be filled with concern for each other. Make us willing to sacrifice, ready to forgive, and generous with time and talent.



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

Friday, April 2, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Friday, April 02, 2010

Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things. Yet only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part.
- Luke 10:41-42

Reflection: Christian renunciation is an authentic way of Christian life. It implies a hierarchical classification of its goods and it stimulates us to choose the better part. It gives us practice in self-control, and it establishes a mysterious economy of expiation, which makes us participants in Christ's redemption.
- Pope Paul VI

Prayer: O Lord, Let me rememberr that saying "Yes" to Your love also involves saying "No" to those things that separate me from that love.



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

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, April 01, 2010

Anyone who loves his life loses it, but the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
- John 12:25

Reflection: There are Christians who are still puffed up with inordinate self-love. Such persons should not think that they have achieved renunciation of self or that they are really following Jesus Christ.
- St. John of the Cross

Prayer: Heavenly Father, uproot in me all inordinate love of self. Enable me to have a true Christian attitude toward myself, so that I may really be a follower of Your Son.



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