Gracious God,
You filled the heart of Philippine Duchesne
with charity and missionary zeal,
and gave her the desire
to make You known among all peoples.
Fill us who honor her memory today,
with that same love and zeal
to extend Your kingdom to the ends of the earth.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
November 18, 2019
November 17, 2019
I have broken out of my prison
... but I am still not free.
I have been comforted in weakness
... yet I have too little strength.
I have experienced the warmth
and depth of human friendship
... but I am not fulfilled.
I seek, I give, I possess
and yet I yearn -
It is You I seek, O Lord,
my unlosable friend forever.
November 16, 2019
I salute you through the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
all you holy angels and saints of God.
I rejoice in your glory,
and I give thanks to our Lord
for all the benefits which He has showered upon you.
November 15, 2019
God, You made St. Albert great
by enabling him to combine human wisdom and Divine Faith.
Help us so to adhere to his teaching
that we may progress in the sciences
and at the same time come to a deeper
understanding and love of you.
Amen.
November 14, 2019
In this year of grace, countless people have known
the overflowing joy of the mercy
which the Father has given us in Christ.
In the particular Churches throughout the world,
and still more in this center of Christianity,
the widest array of people have accepted this gift.
Here the enthusiasm of the young rang out,
November 13, 2019
On my first day of prison visitation, Ate (big sister) Sally accompanied me to Stanley prison where she gave me an introduction to the process from initial registration at the gate to visiting the inmates on the inside.
November 13, 2019
Almighty and Eternal Father,
Giver of all gifts,
show us Your mercy,
and grant, we beseech You,
through the merits of Your faithful servant,
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini,
that all who invoke her intercession
may obtain what they desire
according to the good pleasure of Your Holy will.
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini,
November 12, 2019
Stir up within Your Church, we beseech You, O Lord,
the Spirit with which blessed Josaphat,
Your Martyr and Bishop, was filled,
when he laid down his life for his sheep:
so that, through his intercession,
we too may be moved and strengthen by the same Spirit,
and may not shrink from giving our lives for our brethren.
November 11, 2019
Lord, if Your people still have need of my services,
I will not avoid the toil.
Your will be done.
I have fought the good fight long enough.
Yet if You bid me continue to hold the battle line
in defense of Your camp,
I will never beg to be excused from failing strength.
I will do the work You entrust to me.
While You command,
November 11, 2019
Then a young priest, I was appointed in 1975 to the islands of Kadavu, Fiji, which is about 60 miles from the capital of Suva. Over the years, Kadavu had not been well served. There were not enough priests, and so parishioners were visited only once in a while.
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.