Dear St. Joseph,
The bible never quotes your words.
We know you through the gospels
as the protector of our Lord Jesus
and his blessed mother, Mary.
We know you by your actions and your dreams.
Help us to take action, to do all we can in this time of crisis
to lovingly keep those around us safe.
But also inspire us with dreams,
dreams of a better world,
a world of truth and justice, love and peace.
Amen
– By Columban Fr. John Burger, U.S. Regional Director
Loving Lord, in this time of anxiety, give me serenity.
In this time of fear, give me confidence in You.
In this time of illness, help me preserve my health
and the health of all those around me.
In this time of social isolation, let my phone calls be
full of wisdom and compassion.
In this time of worry, give me the courage
to reaffirm my belief that
"All I know of tomorrow is that
Providence will rise before the Sun.”
Amen.
– By Columban Fr. John Burger, U.S. Regional Director
Dear Lord,
I have been the recipient of so much of your goodness in my life.
Please keep me open my mind and heart to receive whatever grace you wish to give me.
In this time of pandemic, it could be that you are giving me new eyes to see
how much I have been taking for granted in my daily life and how much I have
received without taking notice.
You have given me years and years of blessings.
When my friends and I emerge from this period of isolation, may we
truly treasure each person we know as a gift from You.
I pray, in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
– By Columban Fr. John Burger, U.S. Regional Director
Dear Lord, Jesus brought healing during his ministry on earth.
He healed the sick and brought the dead to life.
By his own death and resurrection he brings the promise,
hope and means of healing to us all.
Now we need his healing more than ever.
We need not only the healing from physical illness
brought on by the COVID-19 virus but healing for
human hearts, communities and world society.
Open our hearts that we may not turn in
on ourselves and our own needs.
Let unity, compassion and care mark us all.
Inspire us to serve the poor and abandoned.
May we use our skills in service of others.
May more fortunate countries come to the aid
of those less prosperous.
May we be concerned less about public image
but more about doing the right thing.
"This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples:
if you love one another." (John 13:35).
Amen.
— By Columban Fr. John Comiskey
Almighty God, You know that we have
no power in ourselves to help ourselves.
Keep us both outwardly in our bodies
and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended
from all adversities which may happen to the body,
and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
This Lent, Lord, help me leave behind the distractions
of my daily life and make this a time of spiritual retreat,
of letting go all that holds me back from taking the risk
of drawing closer to You, allowing Your Spirit to lead me,
and speak to my heart.
Forty days, or four, or forth minutes or four!
Whatever I can manage!
The time spent is not the key, I know,
but my willingness to look into my frailty,
and they to trust in You and to seek Your will for me.
Amen.
O God, whose glory is always to have mercy: Be gracious
to all who have gone astray from Your ways,
and bring them again with penitent hearts
and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast
the unchangeable truth of Your Word,
Jesus Christ Your Son; who with You and the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
To the God of constant change, transitions, transitions, transitions.
Some good, some bad, some mundane repetitions.
Sometimes I responded openly.
Sometimes I responded reservedly.
Sometimes I simply did not respond.
But through it all, You give me strength to leave behind.
You give me strength to take up anew.
To console me, to encourage me, to push me through.
- Columban Fr. Chris Saenz
Almighty and everlasting God,
You hate nothing You have made
and forgive the sins of all who are penitent:
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts,
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God,
forever and ever.
Amen
May you always be my hope, my trust, my riches,
my delight, my joy and gladness, my rest and quiet,
my food, my refreshment, my refuge and help,
my wisdom, portion and possession,
my treasure in which my mind and heart
shall be rooted forever, fixed, firm and immovable.
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
Lord Jesus Christ, my heart
reaches out in gratitude.
You have raised me up
from the darkness.
You have taken me from night
into the light of day.
Lord Jesus, even in my stubborn
pride, and lazy ways;
You continued to find me.
Gracious God, I thank You
from the depths of my heart
for Your goodness continues
reaching out in love.
Each day, my gratitude soars
for the life of blessing that
You shower upon each of us.
Amen.
— By a Columban Missionary
Thank you, Thank you;
the women and men murmur politely.
It was a crowded room of 93
people experiencing homelessness.
On this cold winter day, they repeated their gratitude;
the prayerful expressions of appreciation
for the food and companionship.
Thank you Lord Jesus for the graciousness
of the people who have little materially
but, are rich in grace and gratitude.
- By a Columban Missionary
