Loving Mary, Mother of Jesus and our mother too.
Thank you for always saying yes to God’s call.
We praise Jesus, the fruit of your yes.
Bless all women who are with child.
Help them see the great gift they carry.
May their response like yours be a yes to life.
Fill their hearts with joy and peace.
Walk with them as their child comes to birth.
Like you Mary, may mothers everywhere
ponder and treasure this gift in their hearts.
Amen
- A Columban Missionary
Heavenly Father, You made the sunset
of my life more beautiful by unlocking the door
to eternal life through the death
and resurrection of Your Son.
Renew my faith, and prepare my heart
as I draw nearer to my heavenly home.
Help me to understand death
as Your messenger sent to lead me
into eternal life to be with You
and all those who love You
forever and ever.
Amen
- Columban Fr. John Marley
Your day of birth …
Filled with possibilities. But mostly…
Filled with God.
With light and love that spans the universe
of who you are.
This is God’s gift to you.
Your heart’s calling to guide you.
How can this Gift be honored?
God expects nothing – but desires for you
happiness, to love as you are loved by Him,
and the fulfillment of your heart in growing
closer to Him,
My God’s light and love guide you
on this, your birthday and always.
- Roseanne Walters, U.S. Columban Mission Office
O God, how precious I am to You.
Since the beginning of time,
You were there for me.
You were there when I was happy;
You were there when I was sad.
You never left me.
Once when I felt so alone,
so broken and in grief,
I thought You had left me.
But I was wrong because You never left me.
It was me, O God, who had left, It was me,
who did not seek, did not trust, did not
surrender to Your love.
How great is Your love for me, O God!
Yet, I still doubt; I steal fear your Love.
Why can’t I believe that You love me?
How little faith I have in Your, O God.
Why can’t I believe that Your love me,
that You want me?
Why can’t I accept that being myself
Is enough for You, O God?
Why do I need reasons and answers?
What use are these for me?
Does everything have an answer?
Does Your love for me have a reason?
Help me, God, to let go of my doubts.
Help me see the beauty of Your love,
Open my heard – the place where You dwell.
Help me to accept that love needs no reason,
that love doesn’t doubt, that love has no fear.
Fill me with Your love, O God.
Fill me with Your unceasing love.
A love without end.
- Columban Lay Missionary Vida Hequilan
God, You are the source of all life.
You created me and formed me in my mother’s womb.
(Psalm 139)
You gave Your only Son Jesus so that I may
have live, and have it to the full.
(John 10:10)
You shaped me and blew the breath of life
into me and made me become a living being.
(Genesis 2:7)
My pride and selfishness makes me think I am God,
and this blinds me to think that I live for myself.
Your servant St. Paul reminds me that while I live,
I live for You, God, and if I die, I am Yours.
(Romans 14:8)
Facing the music of life that it offers,
the challenges at times makes me “cut out”
myself from the very source of life.
I am like the branch that cuts out from the true vine.
(John 15:5)
When I am not connected to the source of life or the true vine,
I really feel empty, and it makes me think
that life is not worth living.
The source of life fills me with all the blessings and graces I need.
Restore me that I may be one with You.
You are my life.
- Columban Fr. Taaremon Matauea
In You, O God, I put my trust.
In you, O God, I have experienced Your grace.
My trust and confidence come from knowing You, O Lord.
It is the reason I have confidence in Your goodness, O Lord.
In time of pain and misery, I have confidence in You, O Lord,
since You stay faithful and listen compassionately to me.
In times when I cannot get out of darkness,
You are there to raise me with Your love.
You embrace me like a lost son
looking for affirmation and assurance.
Your love and presence to me, Lord,
is why I have confidence in You.
I have confidence in You, Lord, since
You have helped me through others.
In the thickness of things, You stay close to me
like a trustworthy friend.
You do not judge me in my shortcomings,
but Your gaze of love melts my heart.
You, O Lord, are full of love and compassion
towards a broken-hearted soul.
Your gaze is what gives me the confidence
to get up and journey on in life.
I have no confidence in money or power that five false security.
I have no confidence in fame, prestige, or the praise of others.
I have no confidence in pride, achievement, or success.
But I have every confidence in your
unconditional love and goodness.
I have every confidence in your mercy and forgiveness.
It is this confidence in Your, O Lord,
that draws me closer and closer to You.
- Columban Fr. Felisiano Fatu
Jesus, we know You are calling us to follow
You just as You called Your first disciples.
You need us. You want us to be Your hands,
Your feet and Your welcoming smile.
We tell You that we are too young,
too inexperienced. That won’t work.
You want us to imitate Your Mother
who, while young and inexperienced,
said “Your will be done.”
We could claim old age. We can’t walk very far.
Or we can hardly seek or hear.
But then we read about old Simeon
who spent all his old age
waiting to greet his Messiah.
You want all of us to continue
as your disciples no matter our age.
We can always put a feeble hand
on another’s trembling shoulder.
We can spread Your message
in so many ways.
You don’t want to be stuck in a tabernacle.
You want to be out among us
working through us and with us.
We thank You for asking us to be
an important part of Your plan,
and important part of Your Kingdom.
Amen
- Columban Fr. Gerald Wilmsen
Lord of patience and kindness –
You share in my ups and downs of recovery.
I believe in Your healing mercy,
and in the restoring energies of nature
You have put in my body and spirit.
I see the signs of Your healing love in me,
and joy surges in my heart.
I tell You aloud my thanksgiving
and smile my trust in You.
But You know how changeable I am,
how impatient to be cured.
You let me complain as much as I desire
and assure me that You still are there.
I tire myself out with doubts about
what Your power can do for me,
and You simply repeat,
“Trust Me! Will you trust Me?”
until I finally say, “I will!”
Then, You show me that You are most faithful.
You restore me to full health,
and I go forward rejoicing to follow
You along the road.
- Columban Fr. Joseph Joyce
Today, again, I am in Your presence,
Your real presence, Your saving presence.
I adore You.
I am allowed by You to be before You here.
I see it’s a beautiful day outside, a pure blue sky.
The sun shines on the green and gold house
reminding me of home and family.
Here I am in Alto Hospicio.
It was dark earlier when I got up,
but now it’s bright.
You say to me, “Neither do I condemn you.”
I depend on these words;
I believe in these words.
It makes me happy that You are merciful,
especially to those who live so much alone.
I want to be merciful, too.
Give me Your Holy Spirit today
to keep me from sin and live in Your peace.
You who is merciful as Your Father is merciful.
- Columban Fr. Michael Howe
My soul magnifies the Lord
And My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
Because He has regarded the humility of His handmaid:
for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Because He that is mighty has done great things to me:
and holy is His Name.
And His mercy is from generation to generations,
to them that fear Him.
He has shown might in His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty from their seat
and has exalted the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He sent empty away.
He has received Israel His servant,
being mindful of His mercy.
As He spoke to our fathers:
to Abraham and to his seed forever.
Lord God, for a long time,
I disregarded brothers and sisters;
Neither did I show respect
for the earth and all of Your Creation.
These days, by Your abundant grace and blessings;
I have time and attention for the sisters and brothers
who live in poverty.
And, Dear Jesus, I am more attentive
to our common home.
There is a deeper awareness
about how my behaviors contribute
to pollution of air, land and sea.
So, aided by Your tremendous love and blessing, these days,
I can see the dignity of many of the people
who come into my life.
Further, I am more generous
about the gift of creation.
Please help me to lessen my excesses
so that others can share in the clean water
and have pure air to breathe.
Praise be to You, Lord Jesus Christ,
who makes all things possible.
Amen.
— By a Columban Missionary
O Lord of Peace, the world awaits.
It cries of children torn from families.
Of mothers broken and shattered.
Of fathers helpless and distraught.
O Lord of Peace, the world awaits.
Bless this world, O Lord,
with the peace You promised.
Begin in me Your work of peace;
guide me in the path of peace
complete in me Your peace.
May Your peace bring healing
to wounds caused by hate and anger.
May Your peace move us to act.
Grant us the grace to be merciful and understanding,
Removing indifference and be more loving.
O Lord of Peace, the world awaits
when children return to their families,
of mothers whole and complete,
of fathers strong and hopeful.
O Lord of Peace, the world awaits.
- Columban Fr. Kurt Zion Pala
Dear God, we thank You for the love
and many blessings You give Us.
May we cherish the gift of each other.
Help us to show our gratitude
by loving each other as You love us
and sharing that love with others,
especially those who have less in life.
Make us understanding and patient
with one another – quick to admit
our failings and ask forgiveness –
generous in sharing the joy
and strength we can give each other.
Father, give our family a faith
that goes beyond words.
May our friendship with You
be shared with those around us.
Direct each of us to lives
that follow Your Way.
Help us to use Your gifts
in service of others.
We entrust our family to Your care.
May we see the world as Your gift
and not use it for selfish and
destructive purposes.
Help us daily to draw closer
to You and to each other,
so that we may anticipate
the joys of Heaven with You.
Jesus Mary and Joseph,
help us to be a holy family.
- Columban Fr. John Comiskey
May Thursday be a hope filled day,
That floods my fears with light,
A day that quiets all anxious thoughts
As I encounter Christ.
Let Thursday always prompt my heart
To stop and find Your peace,
And live upon the truth You give
My eyes to You I lift.