I resolved, while I was with you, to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
- 1 Corinthians 2:2
Reflection: When we meditate on the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, we should manifest compassion for His sufferings. Then we should contemplate Him with love in this state and out of love appropriate for ourselves the sufferings He endured.
- St. Paul of the Cross
Prayer: Father of compassion, let me learn to have compassion on my crucified Lord. Teach me to dwell on His sufferings and make them part of my life in some way each day.
From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)
I am the Bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this Bread will live forever.
-John 6:51
Reflection: The Eucharist is the true standard for recognizing a disciple of Jesus Christ. It is in Holy Communion that we recognize one another.
- St. Peter Eymard
Prayer: Lord Jesus, grant that I may have surpassing love for the Blessed Eucharist. Help me to be closely united with everyone who receives You in Holy Communion.
From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)
Take up the full armor of God that you may be able to resist on the evil day.
- Ephesians 6:13
Reflection: Let us then serve in Christ's army, following His blameless commands with all our might. The great cannot exist without the small, nor the small without the great. They blend together to their mutual advantage.
- St. Clement
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to be a true member of Your spiritual army, which is Your Mystical Body. Let me treat everyone I meet as my associate in Christ and work for our mutual benefit.
From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)
Be on your guard against all kinds of greed. Life does not depend upon an abundance of one's possessions, even when one has more than he needs.
- Luke 12:15
Reflection: We all know that we must be innocent of greed. However, it is an excellent rule for us to banish greed even beyond the reach of scandal.
- St. Bernard
Prayer: All-generous God, help me to avoid all kinds of greed for the goods of this world. Teach me to amass spiritual riches which will ensure unending life with You in heaven.
From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)
Death is swallowed up in victory. "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
- 1 Corinthians 15:54-55
Reflection: Human beings are by nature afraid of death; but there is a startling fact about this. Those who have put their faith in the Cross despise even what is naturally fearful. For the sake of Christ, they are not afraid of death.
- St. Athanasius
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to put all my trust in You and face death without fear. Grant me the grace to remain faithful to You till death and to attain eternal life with You.
From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)
If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.
- Matthew 19:17
Reflection: The Ten Commandments are completed by the Evangelical Precepts of justice and love. Together these constitute the framework for individual and collective survival.
- Pope John XXIII
Prayer: Lord of eternal life, grant me the grace to follow Your Commandments and Evangelical Precepts of love and justice. Help me to base my earthly life on Your Law and thus enter into eternal life.
From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)
"'You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
- Matthew 22:37-38
Reflection: If we love our neighbor, we automatically love God as well. For it is in the unity of this twofold love that God has constituted the fullness of the Law and the Prophets.
- St. Leo the Great
Prayer: Loving Father, help me to realize that love is the most powerful force in the world. Let me love You and my neighbor because of You.
From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)
