Lord Grant Us Saints!: February 2016

Monday, February 29, 2016

Lenten reflection 2-29-16

They rose up, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

As I read this verse what comes to mind is the protection of our heavenly Father of His Son and all of his children. We may feel pressed in on every side, and like there is no way out. The reasons may be physical, financial, emotional, spiritual or from our community to name a few. No matter the circumstances we are facing, our omnipotent and loving God can allow us to pass through unharmed to the other side

Lord, thank you for always protecting me. Help me to know that whatever I am facing you are with me and will help me through it.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Lenten reflection 2-28-16

Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future

Once again in this reading we hear of God’s immense mercy. While in human terms we may feel we have run out of chances and should be “cut down”, our God never ceases to reach out to us, to extend great love and compassion, all we have to do is humbly admit our failings and ask for forgiveness.

Lord, thank you for your ceaseless attempts to find me where I am. Let me not take your mercy and love for granted. Give me the grace to receive it and share it with others

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Lenten reflection 2-27-16

While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.

In this jubilee year of mercy, let us pay special attention to this reading about the mercy of our heavenly Father. Let these words sink deeply into our hearts and souls and completely overwhelm us. If we are preparing during this season to go to the sacrament of reconciliation, and feel apprehensive about our sinfulness, let us be reminded of the Father who longs to embrace us while we are still a long way off

Lord, increase my desire to meet you through the priest in the sacrament of reconciliation. Remind me of your love and the unsearchable depth of your mercy that I may receive it with utter joy and be ever more merciful to my brothers and sisters.

Friday, February 26, 2016

Lenten reflection 2-26-16

The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes.

What a comfort it should be to us to know that the Lord knows our pain, that He has been rejected as we so often are. He can take our pain and rejection and make it something beautiful, a cornerstone on which to build a new beginning.

Lord help to bring my pain and rejection to you so that I can unite it with your cross and you can make something beautiful from it.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Lenten reflection 2-25-16

Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.

This statement and the entire reading is both comforting and unsettling at the same time. On the one hand it speaks of the reality that good and evil cannot coexist in heaven but on the other it speaks of the great torment for those who reject God. Before we are too quick to assume which side we are on, we must be honest with ourselves that there have been times we have accepted God gladly, and other times when we have rejected him.

Lord teach me to stay ever closer to you, and run from those people and situations that are displeasing to you, and do everything I can to help my brothers and sisters do likewise

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Lenten reflection 2-24-16

Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

The definition of ransom is a sum paid for the release of a prisoner. We are all prisoners to sin and death. Jesus in His life and death has freed us. Let us not take such an unspeakable gift for granted

Lord you have ransomed us from sin and death. Help us to never stop being grateful and giving our lives in service to you in return.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Lenten reflection 2-23-16

The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Jesus was the clearest example of the humble servant. He washed the disciples feet at the last supper and told us as His followers we should do the same. Going back to the readings on Ash Wednesday, much of what we do for God should be in secret.

Lord teach me to be aware of my words and actions toward others. Show me ways to humbly serve and to give all the credit to You.

Monday, February 22, 2016

Lenten reflection 2-22-16

You are Christ, the Son of the living God.

What boldness was given to Peter in the moment he spoke those words. In sharp contrast I am most often very timid about my faith—either saying very little or nothing at all.

Lord give me courage to speak for you. The next time someone asks me about my life and my disposition, let my words reflect love for You and complete dependence on You.

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Lenten reflection 2-21-16

This is my chosen Son, listen to him

None of us have had the experience of seeing Jesus in dazzling white, and hearing God’s voice from a cloud proclaiming His identity as His chosen Son.

I have no doubt, however, that many of us have had the experience of knowing with absolute certainty that we are in God’s presence.

We may say words to a friend in need or in front of a group of people that had never even occurred to us until the very moment we said them. We may write or be on the receiving end of a letter or a poem or a song that comes so fluidly to us in such a rush that it is abundantly clear to us that we are listening to the voice of God.

Lord teach me to hear your still small voice, that I may act on what I hear and be an instrument of your love to the world

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Lenten reflection 2-20-16

Please join Pro Sanctity Members as we reflect on the Gospel reading each day of Lent. We will post this on our blog and our facebook page. Please share your comments and also please let me know if you would like to help with the reflections. If you would like to help please email me at djkash@cox.net

But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father.

It is hard for me to think of myself as having an enemy, someone who is openly hostile toward me, but then I realize our daily lives are full of conflict, big and small. A person could feel anger toward someone who cut him/her off in traffic

but what we may not know is that person may be on his/her way to the hospital to visit a dying relative.

Lord the next time I am faced with conflict and opposition, help me to remember that I do not know the circumstances the person is facing and why he/she behaved that way, and help me to take just a moment to pray for him/her.

Friday, February 19, 2016

Lenten reflection 2-19-16

Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

God wants us to have a close and personal relationship with Him, but here we see it is just as important to him that we have close and personal relationships to our brothers and sisters.

It is easy for me to speak and think uncharitably toward those I barely know and even those in my biological and spiritual family, especially when I think no one is listening.

Jesus help me to guard my thought s and words this Lent, You who know everything about me know how much damage they can do. Help me be aware enough to apologize and seek forgiveness when necessary

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Lenten Reflection 2-18-16

Jesus said to his disciples: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you”

What encouraging words those are from today’s Gospel! God wants to give his children infinitely good gifts from His loving righteous hands. But I must remember that it is not a magic wand or a vending machine these things come from.

Lord give me the wisdom to ask, seek and knock from a quiet and prayerful heart, knowing that you will only give me those things that are the very best for me, which you know infinitely more than I do

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Lenten Reflection 2-17-16

This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign but no sign will be given it

Jesus spent His time on earth doing good, feeding the hungry, healing the sick, even raising a man from the dead. But His signs were not an end in and of themselves, they were a physical manifestation of the transformation He wanted to accomplish in our hearts. How heartbroken He must have been to know that for some people the physical was all they wanted to see.

Lord please open the eyes of my heart to see the possibility of transformation in myself and the people around me so that I can cooperate with You in accomplishing it. You have such amazing dreams for all of us.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Lenten Reflection 2-16-16

“If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you, but if you do not forgive men, neither will your heavenly father forgive your transgressions"

Who do I need to forgive, the customer who was rude to me on

the phone, the supervisor who treated me unfairly, the child or

neighbor who spoke to me abruptly? If I am honest with

myself and count my multitude of sins, I most certainly need

forgiveness from others and from God. I must give it in order

to receive it.

Lord help me to be forgiving, knowing how infinitely generous

you are with your forgiveness

Monday, February 15, 2016

Lenten Reflection 2-15-16

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, in prison and you visited me.

How Jesus longs for us to put our faith into action. We do not need to work in a soup kitchen, a refugee center, a prison or a hospital to find the people He describes here. Those who are hungry, thirsty, strangers, naked, ill an in prison are all around us at every moment if we just have the eyes to see them.

Lord, guide me to those who are hungry and thirsty for kindness, help me to give a warm smile to those who are new at my school or work and bring love to those who are ill and in prison from loneliness.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Lenten Reflection day 5 2-14-16

He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him,“If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live by bread alone.

In Matthew’s gospel this verse continues “but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”. Of course God is concerned with our physical needs but our spiritual needs are even more important.

Lord help me be your word to others this lent, through an act of kindness, a word of encouragement, and an attentive listening ear.

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Lenten reflection day 4 2-13-16

“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
Jesus said to them in reply,
“Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do.
I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

Jesus was not afraid to reach out to anyone who was willing to listen to him. From the rich to the poor, the educated and uneducated. All were welcome at the table of his love. I fear that I am not so welcoming, From time to time I am generous and open, more often than not I would rather keep to myself and pursue my own interests.

Lord, help me find courage this lent. Work through me to find those who are most in need of your love and embrace them.

Friday, February 12, 2016

Lenten Reflection day 3 2-12-16

The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

What does fasting mean to you? I used to have a very limited definition of fasting, that it was abstaining from meat on Fridays during lent and sweets all the time.

Those are very good sacrifices and should continue, but I have come also to think about the things that take up too much of my time that are not of real value, such as watching too much television and playing too many computer games. Let us strive this lent to make use of our time in a way that honors the Lord and spend more time in prayer and service and spiritual reading

Lord help me spend my time in ways that honor you, and fast from those things that are not of eternal value

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Lenten Reflection Day 2 2-11-16

If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

What cross are you carrying today? Whether it by physical pain, emotional struggles or financial worries, take a moment at the beginning of this Lenten journey to close your eyes and picture Christ there beside you to help with your burden. He knows every bit of the pain you are feeling and cares about your personal situation.

Lord thank you for the cross you have given me and the knowledge that you are there with me to help carry it.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Lenten reflection day 1 Ash Wednesday

Lenten Reflection Day 1 Ash Wednesday

Mt 6:1-6, 16-18
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing

But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret

But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,

I like to be noticed and appreciated. When I read these words from Jesus I am convicted because I know many times the opinion of others means more that God's opinion of me

I want to strive this lent to do more "in secret". How can we be more detached this lent?

Lord please help us to know the beauty of eternal rewards as we draw closer to You this Lenten season

Prayer for the Beatification of
Bishop William Giaquinta

O loving God, Father of all goodness Christ our Redeemer, Spirit of Holiness, in your infinite and untiring love for us you never fail to invite us to holiness. We thank you because in our servant, William Giaquinta, you have made your gifts shine forth. He contemplated the infinite love of your Son and he was a tireless apostle of the Universal Call to Holiness. We pray to you, if it is your will, to manifest in him your glory and by his intercession to grant us the grace that we ask of you:

(Pause for your own personal intentions.) Amen.

With ecclesiastical approval Diocese of Brooklyn July 19, 2004

If anyone has had a miracle, grace or questions
about the Canonization cause of our founder, please write:
PSM@PROSANCTITY.ORG (ENGLISH)
postulazione.giaquinta@prosanctitate.org (Italian)