Thursday, March 6, 2014

St. Faustina's Prayer to be Merciful to Others

O Most Holy Trinity! As many times as I breathe, as many times as my heart beats, as many times as my blood pulsates through my body, so many thousand times do I want to glorify your mercy.
I want to be completely transformed into your mercy and to be Your living reflection O Lord. May the greatest of all divine attributes, that of your unfathomable mercy pass through my heart and soul to my neighbor.
Help me O Lord that my eyes may be merciful, so that I may never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbors souls and come to their rescue.
Help me O Lord that my ears may be merciful, so that I may give heed to my neighbors needs and not be indifferent to their pains and moanings.
Help me O Lord that my tongue may be merciful so that I should never speak negatively of my neighbor, but have a word of comfort and forgiveness for all.
Help me O Lord that my hands may be merciful and filled with good deeds, so that I may do only good to my neighbors and take upon my self the more difficult and toilsome tasks.
Help me O Lord that my feet may be merciful, so that I may hurry to assist my neighbor, overcoming my own fatigue and weariness. My true rest is in the service of my neighbor.
Help me O Lord that my heart may be merciful so that I myself may feel all the sufferings of my neighbor. I will refuse my heart to no one. I will be sincere even with those who will abuse my kindness. And I will lock myself up in the most merciful Heart of Jesus. I will bear my own suffering in silence. May your mercy O Lord rest upon me.

You yourself command me to exercise the three degrees of mercy. The first; the act of mercy of whatever kind. The second; the word of mercy – if I cannot carry out a work of mercy, I will assist by my words. The third; prayer – if I cannot show mercy by deeds or words, I can always do so by prayer. My prayer reaches out even there where I cannot reach out physically. O my Jesus, transform me into yourself, for you can do all things.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Unaware that his 'good things' were from the Lord, the greedy landowner in today's parable thinks he is the source of all that he has. He thinks he can store it all. In the end, greed is the opposite of thankfulness.
when we become aware of all that we have and in reality all that we are is from God, we avoid greed and live lives of gratitude, trying to return to the Lord with thanks for all the good that He has done.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Lord teaches us to pray, but in the end, seems to say it is not as much about how we say it, but rather that we be persistent and it be in line with God's will. God is good, and He desires us to be in relationship with Him, so we continue to grow in prayer.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Martha and Mary are often depicted as two forms of Christians, the active and the contemplative. In reality, though, neither is sufficient on their own - the one caught in activity needs to spend time with Jesus, but the contemplative also needs to do something. In the case of Mary, however, she is active listening to Jesus! How necessary both forms (especially in Religious life) are needed!