Come, let us sing to the Lord; let us raise joyful shouts to the Rock of our salvation.
- Psalms 95:1
Reflection: We do not use only our voices and our lips when we sing a song. We utter an inner song because there is in us Someone Who listens.
- St. Augustine
Prayer: Heavenly Father, let me sing Your praises with all that I think, say, or do. Grant that my whole life will reflect Your abiding presence within me to everyone I encounter.
From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)
When Christ came into the world, He said..."I have come to do Your Will, O God."...By one offering He mad perfect forever those who are made holy.
- Hebrews 10:5
Reflection: Jesus Christ, the God-Man, was born in a manger and is spiritually reborn on the altar. He suffered on Calvary and continues to offer Himself on the altar. In His earthly life He spread His teaching and worked miracles among the crowds. In the Eucharist, He spans the centuries and communicates Himself to all.
- St. John Chrysostom
Prayer: Heavenly Father, in contemplating the birth of Your =Son in time and in the Eucharist, may I ever attain a new birth.
From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)
A child is born to us, a son is given us; and 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)
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)
My heart and my flesh give a shout of joy for the 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)
Do not be concerned about storing up treasures on earth....Store up treasure for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves cannot break in and steal.
- Matthew 6:19-20
Reflection: Let us lose nothing of what God bestows on us. Difficulties and sufferings will disappear, but the merit we acquire through our fidelity will remain forever. Let us therefore, build our eternity through all the things that pass away.
- Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
Prayer: Father in heaven, teach me to store up a treasure of merits for eternity. Grant that I may use this earthly life to be the person You want me to be for eternity.
From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)
[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)
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)
Do not cast me away from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.
- Psalms 51:13
Reflection: When the Holy Spirit is in a soul. He communicates Himself in one way or another. We can say that He makes virtue contagious and turns a simple faithful into an apostle.
- St. Claude de la Colombiere
Prayer: Heavenly Father, grant that Your Holy Spirit may inspire me to be a true follower of Your Son Jesus. May He dwell in me always and keep me ever on the path of holiness.
From: Every Day Is A Gift (Catholic Book Publishing Corp., New York)
