One Minute Reflection – 17 January
What can a man offer in exchange for his very life?……..Mt 16:26
REFLECTION – Everything of this world is sold at its price or exchanged for another equivalently priced. But the promise of life eternal is purchased at a bargain price!……St Anthony Abbot (Saint of the Day)
PRAYER – Lord of all, help me to be willing to pay the price of receiving eternal life. Let me offer myself to You in all that I do and say each day. St Anthony Abbot, Pray for us, amen.
One Minute Reflection – 16 January
May I never boast of anything but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ………Gal 6:14
REFLECTION – “Devout souls cling wholeheartedly to the cross with Christ. They thus acquire the most abundant fruits of the Redemption for themselves and for others.”…….Pope Pius XI
PRAYER – Lord Jesus, You endured crucifxion for the salvation of the world. Grant that I may love and share Your Cross on earth so that I may join You in glory in heaven. Saints Berard, Peter, Adjute, Accurs, Odo and Vitalis, Pray for us, amen!
One Minute Relection – 15 January
On the way of duty I walk, along the paths of justice, granting wealth to those who love me…………Prv 8:20-21
REFLECTION – “Mary’s grace has given glory to heaven: a God to earth: and faith to the nations. She has conferred death on vices, order on life and a rule on morals.”………St Peter Chrysologus
PRAYER – Heavenly Father, grant me the grace to have Mary as my constant intercessor. In all difficulties, let me call on her aid, for she is Your beloved Daughter and our Blessed Mother. Holy Mother of Banneux, Pray for us, amen!
One Minute Reflection – 14 January
Then will I go to the altar of God, the God of my gladness and youth……….Ps 43:4
REFLECTION – “We must strive to place ourselves completely in God’s hands. Then He will cause us to feel the effects of His goodness and protection – which are, at times extraordinary.”………St John Baptist de la Salle
PRAYER – Holy Lord God, let me live constantly in Your presence. Grant that I may possess a spirit of joy and gladness because of the firm knowledge that You are always with me and in You and through You and with You, the extraordinary is commonplace! St Felix of Nola, you did no immense deed but in 1800 years we have not forgotten your extraordinary love. Please pray for us, amen.
One Minute Reflection – 13 January
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence rely not….Prv 3:5
REFLECTION – “In our attempt to penetrate God’s truth, we are held within the bonds of ignorance, by the weakness of our minds.
We comprehend Divine ideas by earnest attention to God’s teaching and by obedience to the faith, which carries us beyond mere human apprehension.”……St Hilary of Poitiers (Saint of the Day)
PRAYER – All-knowing God, grant me the grace to come to a better understanding of Your truths. Let me not only believe them but also carry them out daily in my life. St Hilary of Poitiers, Pray for us, amen!
One Minute Reflection – 12 January
May the Lord ….make you overflow with love for one another and for all……..1 Thes 3:12
REFLECTION – “It seems to me that we do not pay enough attention to prayer, for unless it arises from the heart which ought to be its centre, it is no more than a fruitless dream. Prayer ought to carry over into our thoughts, our words and our actions…..It is true that all I have ever desired most deeply and what I still most ardently wish is that the great precept of the love of God above all things and of the neighbour as oneself be written in every heart.”……..St Marguerite Bourgeoys (Saint of the Day)
PRAYER – Loving Father, grant me the grace to strive after perfect love. Help me to bring forth frequent acts of love for my neighbour and in this, to grow each day in love for You.St Marguerite Bourgeoys Pray for us, amen.
One Minute Reflection – 11 January
If you lavish your food on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom shall become like midday; then the LORD will guide you always and satisfy your thirst in parched places, HE will give strength to your bones and you shall be like a watered garden, like a flowing spring whose waters never fail…….Isaiah 58:10-11
REFLECTION – “Love is the bond of life, the mother of the poor and the teacher of the rich.
It is the nurse of orphans, the attendant of the elderly, the treasure of the indigent and the common port of all the afflicted.”……..St Gregory of Nyssa.
PRAYER – O God, whose blessed Son became poor that we through His poverty might be rich, deliver us from an inordinate love of this world, that we, inspired, by the devotion of Your servant St Theodosius the Cenobiarch, may serve You with singleness of heart and attain to the riches of the age to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. St Theodosius the Cenobiarch. Pray for us! Amen
Thought for the Day – 9 January
The same Spirit, that descended on the water of the River Jordan wafted over the waters during the first creation (Gen 1:2). Therefore, the Baptism in the Jordan presents yet another truth: that Jesus has started a new creation. He is the second man (1 Cor 15:47) or the last Adam (1 Cor 15:45), that comes to repair the first Adam’s guilt. He does this as the Lamb of God that takes away our sins.
‘Looking at the events in light of the Cross and Resurrection, the Christian people realised what happened: Jesus loaded the burden of all mankind’s guilt upon His shoulders; He bore it down into the depths of the Jordan. He inaugurated His public activity by stepping into the place of sinners’ (Joseph Ratzinger, Jesus of Nazareth, Bloomsbury 2007, p 18).
One Minute Reflection – 9 January
“You are my beloved Son”……….Luke 3: 22
REFLECTION – “Jesus entered into contact with the Father, Heaven opened above Him. At this moment we can think that Heaven has also opened here, above these children of ours who, through the Sacrament of Baptism, come into contact with Jesus. Heaven opens above us in the Sacrament. The more we live in contact with Jesus in the reality of our Baptism, the more Heaven will open above us.”.Pope Benedict XVI (Feast of the Baptism of the Lord – 7 January 2007)
PRAYER – Heavenly Father, I pray to live each day in Your shadow, living out my Baptismal Vows and following Your Son on my journey home to You. Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us, that we may faithfully live as true Christians each moment of our lives, amen.
Celebrating the
CHRISTMAS SEASON
The Third Week
SOLEMNITY of EPHIPHANY
8 January 2017
“Lord, open my lips,and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Daily Meditation:
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. …
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment,
and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. 1 John 4
“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”
He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were (completely) astounded.
They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened. Mark 6
How often fear takes away our ability to love!
But, love drives out fear.
It appears that the key is to “understand the incident of the loaves.”
If Jesus has power, then it is foolish for us to fear.
If we won’t let Jesus have power in our lives,
then our hearts are still hardened.
Let us surrender our hearts to the Lord,
that we might let him love us
and take away all our fears,
that we might love more courageously, more completely.
Closing Prayer:
Lord.give me the joy of lasting peace
and fill my heart with so much love
that there is no more room for the worry and dread.
Teach me too, to follow Your Star and thus to become a shining star in the world.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
One Minute Reflection – 8 January
…..and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. …………..Mt 2:11
REFLECTION – If we approach with faith, we too will see Jesus….; for the Eucharistic table takes the place of the crib.
Here the Body of the Lord is present, wrapped not in swaddling clothes but in the rays of the Holy Spirit……………..St John Chrysostum
PRAYER – Lord, God, teach me to see the living presence of Your Divine Son in the Eucharist. Make my faith so vivid that I will gladly come to encounter Jesus in every Mass.
Holy Christ Child, intercede for us, amen.
Celebrating the
CHRISTMAS SEASON
The Second Week
Saturday 7 January 2017
“Lord, open my lips,and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Daily Meditation:
In this is love: not that we have loved God,
but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. 1 John 4
O God, give your judgment to the king; your justice to the son of kings;
That he may govern your people with justice, your oppressed with right judgment, …
That he may defend the oppressed among the people, save the poor and crush the oppressor. Psalm 72
His heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things.
They all ate and were satisfied. Mark 4
Jesus is full of compassion for us in His unconditional love for us.
Even when it seems impossible, He still shows us the way
and nourishes us with His love.
May we be grateful for His love for us
May we be like Him in our love for one another.
Closing Prayer:
Jesus, You became one of us on this earth.
What I want now is to be more like You:
more compassionate and patient,
more guided by Your Holy Spirit.
‘In this is love.’ It is impossible to believe
in the kind of love You have for me.
If only I believed it – how different my life would be!
It seems impossible that You could love me as You do
and yet You are the very centre of that impossible love.
Help me to be more grateful for all You have given me
so that my response might be one of generosity
to You and those You have placed in my life..
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
One Minute Reflection – 7 January
…….while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of our faith.
For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame
and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God………..Heb 12:2
REFLECTION – “Look then on Jesus, the author and preserver of faith: in complete sinlessness He suffered, and at the hands of those who were His own, and was numbered among the wicked. As you drink the cup of the Lord Jesus (how glorious it is!), give thanks to the Lord, the iver of all blessings.”………….St Raymond of Peñafort
PRAYER – O Lord, help me always to keep my eyes on You. Teach me too to endure and offer You all the sufferings and hardships of this earthly life, for Your greater Glory. St Raymond, your life is an example to us all of the practise of keeping our eyes on the Lord. Please pray for us, amen!
Celebrating the
CHRISTMAS SEASON
FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK
6 January 2017 – EPIPHANY of the LORD
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Daily Meditation:
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. …
There is no fear in love but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment,
and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love………… 1 John 4
“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”
He got into the boat with them and the wind died down.
They were astounded.
They had not understood the incident of the loaves.
On the contrary, their hearts were hardened”………….. Mark 6
How often fear takes away our ability to love!
But, love drives out fear.
It appears that the key is to “understand the incident of the loaves.”
If Jesus has power, then it is foolish for us to fear.
If we won’t let Jesus have power in our lives,
then our hearts are still hardened.
Let us surrender our hearts to the Lord,
that we might let Him love us
and take away all our fears,
that we might love more courageously, more completely.
Closing Prayer:
My love for You is so imperfect, Lord.
I know I am filled with fear
and yet I long to taste the depths of Your love.
Give me the joy of lasting peace
and fill my heart with so much love
that there is no more room for the worry and dread.
Open my eyes to those around me
and give me the courage to act in justice
to help make their lives better,
to share Your love with all.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
One Minute Reflection – 6 January
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home…..Mt 1:24
REFLECTION – “When you invoke St Joseph, you don’t have to say much.
Say, “if you were in my place, St Joseph, what would you do? Well, pray for this on my behalf.”……..St André Bessette
PRAYER – Heavenly Father, You constantly provide us with examples of holy life. St André Bessette is a wonderful example of service, as was his hero, the foster Father of Your Divine Son, St Joseph. May both be intercessors and examples to me, to give to You my all. St André Bessette, Pray for us, amen!
One Minute Reflection – 4 January
When the Shepherd appears
you will win for yourselves
the unfading crown of glory………1 Pt 5:4
REFLECTION – You are children of eternity. Your immortal crown awaits you and the best of Fathers waits there to reward your duty and love. You may indeed sow here in tears but you may be sure there to reap in joy……St Elizabeth Ann Seton (Saint of the Day)
PRAYER – Heavenly Father, thank You for making me a child of eternity. Help me to live each day in such a way that I may deserve to be a child of Yours forever. St Elizabeth Ann Seton Pray for us, amen.
Celebrating CHRISTMAS
THE SECOND WEEK:
Wednesday 4 January 2017
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Daily Meditation:
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. …
There is no fear in love,but perfect love drives out fear
because fear has to do with punishment,
and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love. 1 John 4
“Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!”
He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were (completely) astounded.
They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened. Mark 6
How often fear takes away our ability to love!
But, love drives out fear.
It appears that the key is to “understand the incident of the loaves.”
If Jesus has power, then it is foolish for us to fear.
If we won’t let Jesus have power in our lives,
then our hearts are still hardened.
Let us surrender our hearts to the Lord,
that we might let Him love us
and take away all our fears,
that we might love more courageously, more completely.
Closing Prayer:
My love for You is so imperfect, Lord.
I know I am filled with fear
and yet I long to taste the depths of Your love.
Give me the joy of lasting peace
and fill my heart with so much love
that there is no more room for the worry and dread.
Open my eyes to those around me
and give me the courage to act in justice
to make try to improve their lives by my love
as You would do.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
Celebrating CHRISTMAS
The Second Week
Tuesday 3 January 2017
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Daily Meditation:
In this is love: not that we have loved God,
but that he loved us and sent his Son
as expiation for our sins. ….1 John 4
O God, give your judgment to the king; your justice to the son of kings;
That he may govern your people with justice, your oppressed with right judgment, …
That he may defend the oppressed among the people, save the poor and crush the oppressor. Psalm 72
His heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd;
and he began to teach them many things. …
They all ate and were satisfied. Mark 6
Jesus is full of compassion for us in His unconditional love for us.
Even when it seems impossible, He still shows us the way
and nourishes us with His love.
May we be grateful for His love for us.
May we be like Him in our love for one another.
Closing Prayer:
Jesus, You became one of us on this earth.
What I want now is to be more like You:
more compassionate and patient,
more guided by Your Holy Spirit.
‘In this is love.’ It is impossible to believe
in the kind of love You have for me.
If only I believed it – how different my life would be!
It seems impossible that You could love me as You do
and yet You are the very center of that impossible love.
Help me to be more grateful for all You have given me
so that my response might be one of generosity
to You and those You have placed in my life.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
One Minute Reflection – 3 January
I planted the seed and Apollos watered it but God made it grow…………1 Cor 3:6
REFLECTION – We must work as if success depended upon us alone.
At the same time, we must be wholeheartedly convinced that we are doing nothing – it is God Who is doing everything………St Ignatius Loyola
PRAYER – All-powerful God, let me realise that no matter what I do, it is only through You that I do it. Help me to work as if all depended on me and pray as if all depended on You. St Genevieve you were a sure example of working as if all dependd on you, please pray for us. St Ignatius and all the great saints of the Society of Jesus, pray for us unceasingly, amen!
Celebrating the CHRISTMAS SEASON
OCTAVE DAY – 1 JANUARY
SOLEMNITY of MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
Sunday, 1st January is the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God. It is also the World Day of Prayer for Peace.
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Daily Meditation:
Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. Isaiah 60
May the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute, the kings of Arabia and Seba offer gifts.
May all kings bow before him, all nations serve him.
For he rescues the poor when they cry out, the oppressed who have no one to help.
He shows pity to the needy and the poor and saves the lives of the poor. Psalm 72
The Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body and co-partners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Ephesians 3
This great feast – celebrated in the East as the Baptism of the Lord – is a feast of “revelation.”
Jesus is the beloved Son of God,
a light for the whole world,
the very one who comes to us in time, this year,
to be our saviour:
to rescue the poor, to hear our cry,
to save us in our need, in our poverty.
May we bring Him the gifts of our faith and trust and hope.
May we recognize Him as our Saviour
who gave His own life to set us free from the power of sin and death.
Come, let us adore Him.
Closing Prayer:
Light of the world,
You have come into my life; You are here for me in my poverty.
I am dazzled by the gifts You bring to me on this day:
“Your light is strong, your love is near.”
Truly You have drawn me far beyond the limits of the world,
and into the limit-less boundaries of Your dizzying love.
My gifts are small, and often filled with fear.
They are my trust and my hope.
Please accept them and heal me
and let me be free enough to rejoice
that You are the Beloved Son
and that You have come for me
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
Celebrating the Christmas Season – 31 December: The MEMORIAL of ST POPE SYLVESTER I – DAY SEVEN OF THE OCTAVE
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Daily Meditation:
I write to you not because you do not know the truth
but because you do and because every lie is alien to the truth.1 John 2: 21
John testified to him and cried out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said,
‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’”John 1:15
Jesus baptises us the the Holy Spirit. All that has prepared us for His coming
gives witness to His presence with us now.
May we remain in the One who has come to be with us.
May we place our trust in the One who promises us life.
Closing Prayer:
I beg You, Lord, give me the sight I need
so that I can see You in those around me
and welcome You into my heart
with the joy of celebration.
If only my eyes could be opened!
Give me the wisdom and internal vision to see
and I will recognize You as my saviour
not only in my heart today
but in my life every day.
I ask that You help me to open my heart more fully
to Your own dizzying love for me.
Help me to be grateful for Your incredible gifts to me.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
Celebrating the CHRISTMAS SEASON – 30 December: MEMORIAL of THE HOLY FAMILY
DAY SIX OF THE CHRISTMAS OCTAVE
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
DAILY MEDITATION
And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence
and not be put to shame by him at his coming. 1 John 2
John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”John 1
Jesus baptises us in the Holy Spirit.
His baptism prepares us for His coming among us
and it gives witness to His presence with us now.
May we remain in the One who has come to be with us.
May we place our trust in the One who promises us life.
CLOSING PRAYER
I beg You, Lord, give me the sight I need
so that I can see You in those around me
and welcome You into my heart
with the joy of celebration.
If only my eyes could be opened!
Give me the wisdom and internal vision to see
and I will recognize You as my saviour
not only in my heart today
but in my life every day.
I ask that You help me to open my heart more fully
to your own dizzying love for me.
Help me to be grateful for Your incredible gifts to me, help me to appreciate my family; to live in peace with them and to treat them as You would’ve treated Your holy family: with love, respect and kindness.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
One Minute Reflection – 30 December
God sets a father in honour over his children; a mother’s authority He confirms over her sons…………… Sir 3:2
REFLECTION – Today, in the joyful atmosphere of Christmas, the Church, reliving with fresh wonder the mystery of Emmanuel, God-with-us, leads us to contemplate the Holy Family of Nazareth. From contemplation of this admirable model, the Church draws the values to hold up to the women and men of all times and all cultures………St John Paul
PRAYER – Holy Family of Nazareth, we pray for your help, that we may be granted the strength and courage to stand against all those who seek to destroy the life of traditional families. St Joseph, we pray too for your special intercession, as the Protector of the Holy Catholic Church. Amen (St John Paul)
Celebrating the Christmas Season – 29 December: the Memorial of ST THOMAS a BECKET
DAY 5 OF THE CHRISTMAS OCTAVE
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Daily Meditation:
And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence
and not be put to shame by him at his coming. 1 John 2:28
John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.”John 1:26
We are baptised in the Holy Spirit.
We have prepared for His coming
and we give witness to his presence with us now.
May we remain in the one who has come to be with us.
May we place our trust in the one who promises us life.
Closing Prayer:
I beg You, Lord, give me the sight I need
so that I can see You in those around me
and welcome You into my heart
with the joy of celebration.
If only my eyes could be opened!
Give me the wisdom and internal vision to see
and I will recognize You as my saviour
not only in my heart today
but in my life every day.
I ask that You help me to open my heart more fully
to Your own dizzying love for me.
Help me to be grateful for Your incredible gifts to me.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
Celebrating the Christmas Season – 28 December: The FEAST of THE HOLY INNOCENTS
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Daily Meditation:
God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1
There are many messages in this day.
Exile and liberation are part of the story.
Greed and lust for power are also part of the story
as the innocent suffer and die as the result of injustice.
It is difficult to look at but this is a day to remember how injustice works.
It is important for us remember that however horrible this scene is,
the injustices and violence of today are immeasurably worse.
Ultimately, Jesus himself will die at the hands of the unjust,
to stand with us, in injustice, so that no one will ever need to
suffer injustice.
If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just
and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. 1 John 1
Closing Prayer:
Lord of Justice,
it is so easy for me to drift away in my own life,
caught up in my own problems and distractions.
Let me always remember those who suffer so much in this life
who are victims of violence and abuse, hunger and fear and the great number of HOLY INNOCENTS WHO ARE NOT EVEN ALLOWED LIFE!.
Let me remember that “those people”
are my brothers and sisters
and need me.
Give me the faith to pray for them,
the resources to support them,
and the strength to work to make their lives better.
Holy God, help me to pray for the end of Abortion throughout the world and to pray for the vast number of perpetrators of this immense crime of hate.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
Celebrating the Christmas Season -27 December: the Feast of St John Apostle and Evangelist
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Daily Meditation:
Blessed are those that fear the Lord and walk in his ways. Psalm 128
Every son or daughter can read the first reading and let it be a life long guide.
The second reading is a wonderful guide for family life.
We could all do well to prepare our New Year’s resolution desires from here.
The gospel is from Luke and brings us back to Mary.
A sword will pass through her faithful heart.
May God bless all our families with fidelity and courage in loving as we have been loved.
And let the peace of Christ control your hearts,
the peace into which you were also called in one body.
And be thankful. Colossians 3
Closing Prayer:
God of such faithfulness,
we are a big and messy family;
both as humans – and in my own family.
Help me today to be especially patient and loving
and to forgive those who have hurt me.
We may not look like “The Holy Family” I see in paintings,
yet we are united with Jesus, Mary and Joseph
because in Your great love for us
You sent Your son to live in this world
and to share in our human experience.
Sometimes I forget the sacredness of our family life
and the privilege it is to be together in this bond.
Help me not only love others as You love us,
but to be more aware of those families in the world
who struggle so much with poverty, war and disease.
Help me to pray with and for them today
and to carry an awareness of all families fleeing for safety,
longing for the peace you offer to us all.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen
Thought for the Day – 27 December
It is a long way from being eager to sit on a throne of power or to call down fire from heaven to becoming the man who could write: “The way we came to know love was that he laid down his life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers” (1 John 3:16).
After the Resurrection and Pentecost, St John spent his life in bearing witness to Jesus and saw in the Incarnation the very foundation of his existence, all that he was. There is really no other way – and if we love Him we have no choice but to prove it in word and deed, in our love for everyone!
St John Pray for us!
Quote of the Day – 27 December
“Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.”..1 John 3:18
Celebrating the CHRISTMAS SEASON 26 December: The FEAST of ST STEPHEN
“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”
Daily Meditation:
The gates of heaven opened for Stephen, the first of the martyrs;
in heaven, he wears the crown of victory. Entrance Antiphon
We remember the first martyr today to emphasize the invitation we have
as followers of Jesus to witness to his presence in our world, even when
it is unpopular, counter-cultural, or may even cost us our lives.
May we ask for the grace today to pray for our enemies and to
surrender even our lives in sharing this Good News with others.
Closing Prayer:
God of all great love,
you know how full of courage Stephen was
and how full of fears I am.
Help me to have the strength to be a witness for my faith,
standing up for those who are weaker,
speaking out for what I believe
and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone.
Lord, give me a share in your compassion and understanding
that I might pray for those who oppose me,
those who ridicule me,
and those who dismiss me.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
One Minute Reflection – 26 December
God is love and he who lives in love lives in God and God in him…..1 Jn 4:16
REFLECTION – Love is the source of all good things. It is an impregnable defense and the way that leads to heaven. Those who walk in love can neither go astray nor be afraid. Love guides and protects them and brings them safely to their journey’s end……….St Fulgentius
PRAYER – Loving Father, pour forth Your love into my heart and help me always to act in accord with it. Let me be ruled by Your love in all things so that I may experience it completely with You in Heaven. St Stephen you are an example of total love, pray for us all! Amen.
AnaStpaul 
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