May Thursday be a hope filled day,
That floods my fears with light,
A day that quiets all anxious thoughts
As I encounter Christ.
Let Thursday always prompt my heart
To stop and find Your peace,
And live upon the truth You give
My eyes to You I lift.
May 3, 2018
May 2, 2018
O Virgin, fair as the moon,
delight of the angels and saints in heaven,
grant that we may become like you
and that our souls may receive a ray of your beauty,
which does not decline with the years
but shines forth into eternity.
O Mary, sun of heaven,
restore life where there is death
and enlighten spirits where there is darkness.
Turn your countenance to your children
and radiate on us your light and your fervor.
May 1, 2018
O Mary, you are praying for us,
you are always praying for us.
We know it, we feel it.
Oh what joy and truth,
what sublime glory,
in this heavenly and human interchange of sentiments,
words and actions,
which the rosary always brings us:
the tempering of our human afflictions,
the foretaste of the peace that is not of this world,
the hope of eternal life!
- Pope John XXIII
April 30, 2018
O God, Creator of the universe,
who extends your paternal concern over every creature
and guides the events of history to the goal of salvation,
we acknowledge Your fatherly love
when You break the resistance of mankind and,
in a world torn by strife and discord,
You make us ready for reconciliation.
Renew for us the wonders of Your mercy;
send forth Your Spirit that he may work in the intimacy of hearts,
that enemies may begin to dialogue,
that adversaries may shake hands and peoples
may encounter one another in harmony.
May all commit themselves to the sincere search for true peace
which will extinguish all arguments,
for charity which overcomes hatred,
for pardon which disarms revenge.
- Pope John-Paul II
April 29, 2018
Risen Lord, You heal our
broken hearts and give us peace.
Help me to be a source of encouragement
to those troubled by pain and suffering.
Loving Jesus, Your abiding presence gives us hope.
Help me to be a loving presence to others.
Mighty Lord, You command us to love as you have loved.
Cleanse my heart of pride, selfishness, and prejudice
so that I may love unconditionally.
April 28, 2018
Let me pause as I begin this new day to give it to You, Lord.
Before the tumult of activities breaks in;
before breakfast plates crash through my still sleepy mind;
for this last moment in my bed, thank you, Lord.
Let me hold Your promise of new life.
Keep me from slipping back
for I know that what is forgiven is as if it never were.
Each new day,
Your grace gives me a fresh start to walk in Your light again.
May the Lord support us all the day long,
till the shades lengthen and the evening comes,
and the busy world is hushed,
and the fever of life is over,
and our work is done.
Then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging,
and a holy rest,
and peace at the last.
Amen.
April 27, 2018
Risen Lord, Your grace and love are all I need.
Help me to do Your will today.
You are the bread of life that satisfies my life.
Help me to be more attentive
to the health of my spiritual life.
You have blessed me with the gift of life.
Help me to use this precious gift to share
your hope, joy, compassion and love in the world.
April 26, 2018
Loving God,
We believe You live among us
and the place where You are is Holy Ground,
We know You love all peoples and that their
ways and lands are also Holy.
Help us to discover all Your wonders in their
faith, their lives and their stories.
Send us Your spirit, and we will listen,
learn and meet You in Your
Holy Ground.
Amen.
- A Columban Missionary
April 25, 2018
Lord Jesus Christ,
who are called the Prince of Peace,
who are yourself our peace and reconciliation,
grant us peace.
Make all men and women witnesses of truth,
justice, and brotherly love.
Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace.
Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee
and defend the great gift of peace.
May all peoples of the earth becomes as brothers and sisters.
May longed-for peace blossom forth
and reign always over us all.
- Pope John XXIII
April 24, 2018
Gracious Lord almighty, Jesus Christ,
let Your sufferings aid us,
and defend us from all pain and grief,
all peril and misery,
all uncleanness of heart,
all sin, all scandal and infamy,
from sudden and unforeseen death,
and from all persecution of our foes visible and invisible.
For we know that in what day or hour we call to mind Your Passion,
we shall be safe.
Therefore, relying on Your infinite tenderness,
we beg You,O loving Savior,
by Your most sacred sufferings
to protect us and preserve us from all evil.
Amen.
April 23, 2018
Lord, You love me and answer all my needs.
Help me to be less self-focused in life
and more attentive to the needs of others.
Lord, through Your Body and Blood
You offer me the gift of eternal life.
Help me to make sacrifices
and share what I have with the poor.
Lord, out of brokenness and weakness
You saved my life.
Help me to embrace my weakness
so that I can walk in solidarity
with the poor and suffering.
April 22, 2018
Lord Jesus Christ,
You are the Author of Life,
Who died and now lives forevermore.
May we who work and pray
That all life may be protected
Always draw strength, confidence, and joy
From Your victory over death,
For you are Lord forever and ever.
April 21, 2018
Risen Lord, You have blessed us
with abundant gifts.
Open my ears to hear
the teaching of the Holy Spirit
that I may use these gifts
to bring hope, peace, and love
to those in need.
Amen.
April 20, 2018
O Lord, You are the Good Shepherd
who leads me along safe paths.
Help me to be a good shepherd to all people.
You watch over us and protect us from all harm.
Open my heart to embrace and share
Your vision of love and peace with all people.
April 19, 2018
Lord Jesus Christ, my heart
reaches out in gratitude.
You have raised me up
from the darkness.
You have taken me from night
into the light of day.
Lord Jesus, even in my stubborn
pride, and lazy ways;
You continued to find me.
Gracious God, I thank You
from the depths of my heart
for Your goodness continues
reaching out in love.
Each day, my gratitude soars
for the life of blessing that
You shower upon each of us.
Amen.
- Columban Fr. Tom Glennon
The Columbans are a society of missionaries, including priests and lay people, who minister to people of various cultures as a way of witnessing to the universal love of God.