Mary, you are the vessel
and tabernacle containing all Mysteries.
You know what the Patriarchs did not know;
you experienced what was not revealed to the Angels;
you heard what the Prophets did not hear.
In short, everything that was hidden
from preceding generations
was made known to you; even more,
most of these wonders depended on you.
September 3, 2020
September 2, 2020
I venerate you with all my heart, O Virgin most holy,
above all Angels and Saints in paradise,
as the beloved Spouse of the Spirit of God,
and to you I consecrate my heart and all its affections,
imploring you to obtain for me from the Most Holy Trinity
all the means of salvation.
September 1, 2020
Dear Mother Mary, with this virus going around
I ask you to pray to Jesus for my children.
How I would love to make the world safe for them.
But deep down I know that is impossible and yet I wish I could.
Nonetheless, I pray that I may be able to pass on to them
the gift of faith and a heart with the impulse to pray.
Then, in whatever dangerous situation they find themselves,
whether it be sickness or violence or famine,
they will believe in you and turn to you.
Amen.
- Columban Fr. John Burger, U.S. Regional Director
August 31, 2020
My Queen! My Mother!
Remember I am thine own.
Keep me, guard me,
as thy property and possession.
August 30, 2020
Father, to You I raise my whole being,
a vessel emptied of self.
Accept Lord, this my emptiness,
and so fill me with Yourself,
Your Light, Your Love, Your Life,
that these precious gifts may radiate through me
and over-flow the chalice of my heart
into the hearts of all with whom I come in contact this day,
revealing to them the beauty of Your joy and wholeness
and the Serenity of Your peace
which nothing can destroy.
Amen.
August 29, 2020
O God, you raised up St. John the Baptist
to prepare a perfect people for Christ.
Fill Your people with the joy of possessing His grace,
and direct the minds of all faithful in the way
of peace and salvation.
Grant that St. John was martyred for truth and justice,
so we may energetically profess our Faith in You,
and lead others to the Way, the Truth, and Eternal Life.
Amen.
August 28, 2020
Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know You,
And desire nothing save only You.
Let me hate myself and love You.
Let me do everything for the sake of You.
Let me humble myself and exalt You.
Let me think of nothing except You.
Let me accept whatever happens as from You.
And ever desire to follow You.
Let me fly from myself and take refuge in You,
That I may deserve to be defended by You.
Let me fear for myself, let me fear You,
And let me be among those who are chosen by You.
Let me distrust myself and put my trust in You.
Let me be willing to obey for the sake of You.
Let me cling to nothing save only to You,
Look upon me, that I may love You.
Call me that I may see You,
And for ever enjoy You.
Amen.
August 27, 2020
Dear St. Monica,
troubled wife and mother,
many sorrows pierced your heart during your lifetime.
Yet, you never despaired or lost faith.
With confidence, persistence, and profound faith,
you prayed daily for the conversion
of your beloved husband, Patricius,
and your beloved son, Augustine;
your prayers were answered.
Grant me that same fortitude, patience,
and trust in the Lord.
Intercede for me, dear St. Monica,
that God may favorably hear my prayers
and grant me the grace to accept His will in all things.
Amen.
August 26, 2020
Merciful Mother, Grant me a holy recollection,
the grace of being aware of Your holy presence,
and the virtue of silence.
Grant me from God the holy virtue
of spiritual and bodily purity;
as well as purity of conscience through humble,
frequent, and sincere confession,
for the greater glory of God.
Obtain for me a heroic faith along with a loving,
confidence in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
and in Your Motherly affection.
Grant me fervent zeal for the glory of God
and the salvation of souls,
letting me perform the duties of my priestly ministry perfectly.
See to it that I celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
and recite the Holy Canonical Hours
with deep recollection and intimate devotion.
August 25, 2020
Eternal Father, we praise you for sending your Son
to be one of us and to save us.
Look upon your people with mercy,
for we are divided in so many ways,
and give us the Spirit of Jesus to make us one in love.
We ask this gift, loving Father,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
August 24, 2020
O Eternal God and loving father,
you have given us the glorious Apostle Bartholomew
as our beloved Patron Saint
and powerful advocate in heaven.
We offer you our prayers,
animated by a spirit of confidence
that through the intercession of Saint Bartholomew,
we shall merit your unfailing help and protection
and shall ever remain loyal and devoted
to Divine will all the days of our life.
August 23, 2020
Every day I need you Lord
but this day especially,
I need some extra strength
to face whatever is to be.
This day more than any day
I need to feel you near,
to fortify my courage
and to overcome my fear.
By myself, I cannot meet
the challenge of the hour,
there are times when humans help,
but we need a higher power
to assist us bear what must be borne,
and so dear Lord, I pray,
hold on to my trembling hand
and be near me today.
Amen.
August 22, 2020
O Mary Immaculate Queen, look down
upon this distressed and suffering world.
You know our misery and our weakness.
O you who are our Mother, saving us in the hour of peril,
have compassion on us in these days of great and heavy trial.
Jesus has confided to you the treasure of His grace,
and through you He wills to grant us pardon and mercy.
In these hours of anguish, therefore, your children
come to you as their hope.
August 21, 2020
Glorious Pope of the Eucharist, St. Pius X,
you sought to restore all things in Christ.
Obtain for me a true love of Jesus
so that I may live only for him.
Help me to acquire a lively fervor
and a sincere will to strive for sanctity of life,
and that I may avail myself f the riches
of the Holy Eucharist in sacrifice and sacrament.
By your love for Mary, Mother and Queen of all,
inflame my heart with tender devotion to her.
Blessed model of the priesthood,
obtain for us holy, dedicated priests,
and increase vocations to the religious life.
Dispel confusion and hatred and anxiety,
and incline our hearts to peace and concord,
so that all nations will place themselves
under the sweet reign of Christ.
Amen.
August 20, 2020
Jesus, the very thought of You
with sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Your face to see
and in Your presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
nor can the memory find,
a sweeter sound than Jesus' name,
the Savior of mankind.
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.