Tuesday, May 26
This post was provided by Elaine Weber-Greene
When I am desperate for a word from God I always read Psalm 91 for nine consecutive days, then I put the matter in His hands. It gives me a great measure of calm.
- Elaine Weber-Greene
Psalm 91
The translation below is from the 1963 Grail Psalms used in the Liturgy of the Hours.
Psalm 91 can be accessed in the online version of the New American Bible Revised Edition.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
and abides in the shade of the Almighty
says to the Lord: “My refuge,
my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!”
It is he who will free you from the snare
of the fowler who seeks to destroy you;
he will conceal you with his pinions
and under his wings you will find refuge.
You will not fear the terror of the night
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the plague that prowls in the darkness
nor the scourge that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand fall at your right,
you, it will never approach;
his faithfulness is buckler and shield.
Your eyes have only to look
to see how the wicked are repaid,
you who have said: “Lord, my refuge!”
and have made the Most High your dwelling.
Upon you no evil shall fall,
no plague approach where you dwell.
For you has he commanded his angels,
to keep you in all your ways.
They shall bear you upon their hands
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
On the lion and the viper you will tread
and trample the young lion and the dragon.
Since he clings to me in love, I will free him;
protect him for he knows my name.
When he calls I shall answer: “I am with you,”
I will save him in distress and give him glory.
With length of life I will content him;
I shall let him see my saving power.
Monday, May 25
This post was provided by Father Desmond Drummer
Memorial Day 2020
Servant of God
Father Emil Joseph Kapaun
On April 11, 2013, President Barack Obama posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor to Father Emil J. Kapaun, a Catholic priest who served as an Army chaplain in the Korean War. He died as a prisoner of war at the age of 35 on May 23, 1951. While Father Kapaun's heroism as a non-combatant is recognized by the Medal of Honor, his heroic Christian virtue is the reason he was declared "Servant of God" in 1993 - the first step on the path to becoming a canonized saint in the Catholic Church.
Korean War Army Chaplain Awarded Medal of Honor
To view the full 20-minute ceremony, click HERE.
Prayer for Father Kapaun’s Canonization
Lord Jesus, in the midst of the folly of war, your servant, Chaplain Emil Kapaun,
spent himself in total service to you on the battlefields and in the prison camps of Korea,
until his death at the hands of his captors.
We now ask you, Lord Jesus, if it be your will,
to make known to all the world the holiness of Chaplain Kapaun
and the glory of his complete sacrifice for you by signs of miracles and peace.
In your name, Lord, we ask, for you are the source of peace,
the strength of our service to others, and our final hope. Amen.
Chaplain Kapaun, pray for us!
Learn more about Father Emil J. Kapaun and the cause for sainthood on the dedicated webpage of the Diocese of Wichita.
Sunday, May 24
This post was provided by Father Desmond Drummer
World Day of Prayer on the Fifth Anniversary of Laudato Si'
from the Bishops of the Archdiocese of Atlanta
To access more care for creation resources, visit the environmental justice webpage of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Saturday, May 23
This post was provided by Monica Woodson
Prayer During Coronavirus Pandemic
from Morning Offering (The Catholic Company)
O clement, O loving, O sweet Mother Mary,
We, your children of every nation,
Turn to you in this pandemic.
Our troubles are numerous; our fears are great.
Grant that we might deposit them at your feet.
Take refuge in your Immaculate Heart,
And obtain peace, healing, rescue,
And timely help in all our needs.
You are our Mother.
Pray for us to your Son.
Amen.
To access more prayers and daily resources, visit Morning Offering.
Friday, May 22
This post was provided by Rhonda Haney
Excerpt from
Jesus Calling
by Sarah Young
As you sit Quietly in my presence, remember that I am a God of abundance. I will never run out of resources; My capacity to bless you is unlimited. You live in a world of supply and demand, where necessary things are often scarce. Even if you personally have enough, you see poverty in the world around you. It is impossible for you to comprehend the lavishness of My provisions: the fullness of My glorious riches.
Through spending time in My presence, you gain glimpses of my overflowing vastness. These glimpses are tiny foretastes of what you will experience eternally in heaven. Even now you have access to as much of Me as you have faith to receive. Rejoice in My abundance, living by faith, not by sight.
Philippians 4:19; Philippians 3:20-21; 2 Corinthians 5:7
Learn more about Jesus Calling and other books by Sarah Young.
Thursday, May 21
This post was provided by Deacon Fred Toca
Meet Me in the Desert
A Prayer from Catholic Relief Services
Lord of Lent, Lord of Easter,
As you went into the desert
So do I follow
Putting aside that which distracts me
Grabs at me
Falsely claims me.
To search inside
To confront myself
My best, my worst
My good works and my sins.
And each time,
I find you there
To call to me again
With words of challenge and words of mercy.
And as I fall to my knees, in prayer, in fasting
In sacrifice and penitence
Somehow, you have it in yourself to reach out and gently lift me
To renew me
To claim me as nothing of this world can claim me.
Meet me in the desert, Lord.
Claim me anew.
Amen.
Click HERE to access globally-minded prayers from Catholic Relief Service.
Wednesday, May 20
This post was provided by Stefanie Barnes
A Man Was Asked to Paint a Boat
Author Unknown
A man was asked to paint a boat. He brought his paint and brushes and began to paint the boat a bright red, as the owner asked him.
While painting, he noticed a small hole in the hull, and quietly repaired it.
When he finished painting, he received his money and left.
The next day, the owner of the boat came to the painter and presented him with a nice check, much higher than the payment for painting.
The painter was surprised and said “You've already paid me for painting the boat Sir!”
“But this is not for the paint job. It's for repairing the hole in the boat.”
“Ah! But it was such a small service... certainly it's not worth paying me such a high amount for something so insignificant.”
“My dear friend, you do not understand. Let me tell you what happened:
“When I asked you to paint the boat, I forgot to mention the hole.
“When the boat dried, my kids took the boat and went on a fishing trip.
“They did not know that there was a hole. I was not at home at that time.
“When I returned and noticed they had taken the boat, I was desperate because I remembered that the boat had a hole.
“Imagine my relief and joy when I saw them returning from fishing.
“Then, I examined the boat and found that you had repaired the hole!
“You see, now, what you did? You saved the life of my children! I do not have enough money to pay your 'small' good deed.”
So no matter who, when or how, continue to help, sustain, wipe tears, listen attentively, and carefully repair all the 'leaks' you find. You never know when one is in need of us, or when God holds a pleasant surprise for us to be helpful and important to someone.
Along the way, you may have repaired numerous 'boat holes' for several people without realizing how many lives you've save.
Make a difference....be the best you...