Discipleship is Costly

“Discipleship does have its cost – anyone who has dared to bring the gospel to bear on his or her own life knows that. Whether we feel it or not may be a good litmus test for discerning if we are truly following on his path, or pursuing a false trail.” ~Jeanne DeCelles

Our Lord in the Sacrament

“For me the tabernacle has always been a Bethany, a quiet and pleasant place where Christ resides. A place where we can tell him about our worries, our sufferings, our desires, our joys, with the same sort of simplicity and naturalness as Martha, Mary and Lazarus. That is why I rejoice when I stumble upon a church in town or in the country; it’s another tabernacle, another opportunity for the soul to escape and join in intention our Lord in the Sacrament.” ~Saint Josemaria Escriva, (Christ is Passing By, 154)

Free Us From This Present Sadness

Grant us, Lord, we pray, the joy of continued health of mind and body: and through the intercession of Blessed Mary ever-virgin, free us of this present sadness and fill us with eternal joy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

God is in the Driver’s Seat

“I heard an old man [at an AA meeting] speak once, someone who had been sober for fifty years, a very prominent doctor. He said that he’d finally figured out a few years ago that his profound sense of control, in the world and over his life, is another addiction and a total illusion. He said that when he sees little kids sitting in the back seat of cars, in those car seats that have steering wheels, with grim expressions of concentration on their faces, clearly convinced that their efforts are causing the car to do whatever it is doing, he thinks of himself and his relationship with God: God who drives along silently, gently amused, in the real driver’s seat.” ~Anne Lamott

Saint Anthony Mary Claret

Lord God, you strengthened Saint Antony Mary with great charity and patience in his work as a missionary bishop. Help us, at his intercession, to seek your will in all things, and to devote ourselves, in Christ, to winning our brethren. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Saint John Capistrano

Almighty God, you sent Saint John of Capistrano to comfort Christian people in a time of distress. Keep us, we pray, in the safety of your protection,  and give your Church lasting peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Saint John Paul II

O God, who are rich in mercy and who willed that Saint John Paul the Second should preside as Pope over your universal Church, grant, we pray, that instructed by his teaching, we may open our hearts to the saving grace of Christ, the sole redeemer of mankind, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

With Open Heart

“In Jesus, God has opened his heart to us. He has turned his face to us. He comes to us, reveals his thoughts, and shows us who he is and what he wills. He gives us everything we need and wants to perfect the work he has begun in us. Amazingly, we feeble and insignificant beings are the object of his concern. Out of the incomprehensible love of his heart, God loves each of us quite personally. In his concern for humankind, God seeks out all people and invites them to take part in his new creation.” ~Eberhard Arnold

29th Sunday of Ordinary Time

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Almighty, ever-living God, make us ever obey you willingly and promptly. Teach us how to serve you with sincere and upright hearts in every sphere of life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Saint John De Brébreuf, Isaac Jogues and Companions

Lord God, you consecrated the first-fruits of the faith in North America by the preaching and martyrdom of Saint John de Brébeuf, Saint Isaac Jogues and their companions. Through their intercession may the Church of Christ flourish abundantly in every nation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen