Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, August 31, 2010

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

Reflection: Pray always--here is what the words mean: Either prayer must always be on our lips to ask 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 to 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: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, August 30, 2010

Suddenly, a great storm came upon the lake, so...that the boat was being swamped by the waves. But Jesus was sleeping...
- Matthew 8:24

Reflection: It is impossible to go through life without trials, because trials are the natural proofs of faith. Like watchful mariners, we should be sure to awaken the Pilot of our ship. Those who allow themselves to be overcome by fear while in the company of Jesus deserve to be reproached by Him. For all who are united with Him cannot perish.
- St. Ambrose

Prayer: Jesus, in every trial let me come to You with confidence. Make me realize that You are always present and ready to respond to my call.

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

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, August 26, 2010

Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Ephesians 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: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, August 25, 2010

The servant of the Lord...must be able to teach, gently instructing those who oppose him.
- 2 Timothy 2:24-25

Reflection: All who undertake to teach must be endowed with deep love, the greatest patience, and, most of all, profound humility. They must perform their work with earnest zeal. Then, through their humble prayers, the Lord will find them worthy to become fellow workers with Him in the cause of truth.
- St. Louis

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to teach others about You by my example as well as my words. Grant that I may spread Your truth and Your light wherever I go.

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

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, August 24, 2010

God saw fit to reveal His Son to me, so that I might preach the Good News about Him to the Gentiles.
- Galatians 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: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, August 23, 2010

In Christ we have redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of His grace that He lavished on us.
- Ephesians 1:7

Reflection: If only we would learn how great it is to possess divine grace and how many riches it has within itself, how many joys and delights. We would devote all our concern to winning for ourselves pains and afflictions in order to attain the unfathomable treasure of grace.
- St. Rose of Lima

Prayer: God of all goodness, keep ever in my mind the surpassing riches of Your grace. Grant that I may devote all my efforts to cooperating with that grace and growing in it day by day.

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

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Friday, August 20, 2010

Keep hold of...a good conscience. Some people have let that go and have had their faith ruined.
- 1 Timothy 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: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, August 19, 2010

You are my children, for whom I am enduring a mother's pain again, until Christ is formed in you.
- Galatians 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 an 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: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Well done, good and faithful servant....Come and share your master's joy.
- Matthew 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 reward depends not on the job itself but on the faithfulness with which we serve God.
- Pope John 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.

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

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, August 17, 2010

This is My Blood of the Covenant, which will be shed in behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.
- Matthew 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 action that freed me of my sins. Help me to participate devoutly in every Eucharist and obtain the grace to avoid sin.

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

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, August 16, 2010

If you show favoritism, you are committing a sin and stand convicted before the Law.
- James 2:9

Reflection: Do not show favor only to relations and kin, or to the most eminent--whether they are leaders or the wealthy or neighbors or citizens of the same country. Show favor to all who come to you. By fulfilling your duty in this way, you will reach the highest state of happiness.
- St. Stephen of Hungary

Prayer: Just Father, help me to overcome all tendencies to show favoritism in my life. Let me treat all persons as brothers and sisters in Christ and work and pray for their salvation.

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

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Friday, August 13, 2010

[God] has given us a new birth...into an imperishable, unsullied and unfading inheritance, kept in heaven for you.
- 1 Peter 1:3-4

Reflection: You have within you everything that you need to purchase the Kingdom of Heaven. Joy will be purchased by your sorrow, rest by you labor, glory by you humiliation, and eternal life by your passing death.
- St. Augustine

Prayer: Loving Father, teach me how to make every event on earth lay up treasures for me in heaven. Help me to endure sorrows, labors, humiliations, and death willingly so as to attain heaven.

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

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, August 12, 2010

A gracious woman wins respect...A kindly man does good to himself.
- Proverbs 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: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, August 11, 2010

[Wisdom] is the reflection of the everlasting light and a spotless mirror of the power of God.
- Wisdom 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: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Tuesday, August 10, 2010

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

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

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, August 09, 2010

God proves His love for us by the fact that Christ died for us when we were still sinners
- Romans 5:8

Reflection: A soul is a great treasure and a rich deposit. For the eternal Wisdom, Who cannot be deceived, regarded it as more precious than His own Blood.
- St. Bernard

Prayer: Heavenly Father, let me never forget the incomparable value of my immortal soul. Help me to be willing to die rather than risk doing anything to lose that soul.

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

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Friday, August 06, 2010

My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.
- 2 Corinthians 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: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Thursday, August 05, 2010

Hail Mary, full of grace!. the Lord is with you.
- Luke 1:28

Reflection: The salvation of the whol world began with the "Hail Mary." Hence, the salvation of each person is also attached to this prayer.
- St. Louis Grignion de Montfort

Prayer: Lord Jesus, let the great prayer to You holy Mother be on my lips morning, noon and night. Enable me to say it especially at the hour of my death--for she will ensure my salvation.

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

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Wednesday, August 04, 2010

That is why the Father loves Me for this; because I lay down My life.
- John 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 bound-less 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: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)

Scripture, Reflection and Prayer for Monday, August 02, 2010

A faithful friend is beyond price; there is no way to measure his worth.
- Sirach 6:15

Reflection: Friendship constitutes a country for those in exile, a fortune for the poor, a remedy for the sick, and a life for the dead. It provides pleasure for those who are well, strength for the weak, and a reward for the strong.
- St. Augustine

Prayer: Loving Father, grant me the great grace to form true Christian friendships. May my friends and I help one another to lead good lives and attain the happiness of those who serve You.

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