Month: June 2018

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

– John 15:4-5

Live the Faith! Tip of the Week:
When and where are you going to pray today? Tomorrow? Carve out a space each day this week for intentional prayer. With a structure in place, that time of intentional prayer can then expand into spontaneous prayers throughout the day, uniting you to God.

Prayer:
Lord, give us this day our daily bread.
We need new manna for today. Our own strength will not suffice.
Lord, give us this day our daily bread.
Amen.

“When the door was shut and the two were alone, Tobias got up from the bed and said, ‘Sister, get up, and let us pray that the Lord may have mercy upon us.’”

– Tobit 8:4-5

Live the Faith! Tip of the Week:
How is your daily prayer life? What routine do you have? This week, look at your plan of life and then speak with your spouse about how you can incorporate prayer together into this schedule. Start simple – perhaps finding one time this week to pray together – and then see if you can make prayer with your spouse a part of your daily life.

Prayer:
Blessed art thou, O God of our fathers,
and blessed be thy holy and glorious name for ever.
Let the heavens and all thy creatures bless thee.
Thou madest Adam and gavest him Eve his wife
as a helper and support.
From them the race of mankind has sprung.
Thou didst say, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone;
let us make a helper for him like himself.’
And now, O Lord, I am not taking this sister of mine because of lust, but with sincerity. Grant that I may find
mercy and may grow old together with her. Amen.
-Tobit 8:5-7

“Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

– Philippians 4:6-7

Live the Faith! Tip of the Week:
Resolve to pray the Rosary at least once this week, perhaps even daily, with specific intentions for each decade. Set a time and place for prayer and consider keeping your rosary visible at all times in that place as your reminder. Recall Our Lady’s words to St. Dominic, “All who recite the Rosary are my sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters of my only Son, Jesus Christ!”

Prayer:
O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, we beseech Thee, that, meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. (Closing Prayer of the Rosary)

“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Live the Faith! Tip of the Week:
If we want to become world changers like St. Francis, the pathway is actually quite simple: humility. Take a moment to reflect on what you desire for the world and for your community, and then offer yourself – even your weaknesses – to the Lord. When we surrender by saying yes to the Lord and allowing the Lord to use us, He will in fact change the world through us. Recall St. Francis’s words, “If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.”

Consider Organizing a “Movie Night for The Family” at Your Parish This Fall:
A Sign of Contradiction will be a feature-length documentary and include live-action re-enactments of certain stories from the life of St. Francis as well as key interviews with “experts” on the life of St. Francis and individuals who exemplify St. Francis’s way of life. Check out the trailer and more information here.

Prayer:
“Lord, I am nothing, but, although nothing, I adore thee.”
-Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930), Secretary of State for Pope Saint Pius X