Author: diocesan-gainesville

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Though this may be hard to understand and to believe, interior sacrifice united with pure prayer does incredible good for the proclamation of the Gospel throughout the world.  In fact, if missionaries did not have the power of holy souls who offered daily interior sacrifices and prayers, their efforts would have little effect.  The grace of God is what moves people and this grace is especially won through souls whose sacrifices are: silent, hidden, permeated with love and imbued with prayer.  (See Diary #1767).

Reflect upon the fact that you have so very much to offer for the upbuilding of the Kingdom of God through your personal and interior sacrifices.  By choosing those things that are difficult, and even repulsive to your feelings, you are able to offer powerful intercession for the good of the Church.  There is an incredible amount of spiritual power in this kind of sacrifice.  God chooses some special souls to offer this sacrifice in a profound way, but everyone must strive to do so.  Reflect upon the opportunities you have right now to embrace some interior struggle.  By embracing it and offering it to God, you transform this suffering into grace that prayer and work alone could never achieve.

Lord, help me to understand the power of my interior sacrifices.  Help me to know that choosing You and embracing my sufferings for You becomes a powerful source of grace in this world.  When this confuses me, dear Lord, help me to put my eyes on You and to know Your most holy Will.  Jesus, I trust in You.

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The tempter, satan, is real, but he is no one to fear.  You should pay no attention to him.  You should not engage his ideas.  You should not bargain with him.  In the face of temptations you should have courage, trust in the Mercy of God, and hope.  Do not become curious about the sins of others, do not talk about them, do not be upset when mistreated, and do not complain.  Seek wise counsel from others when confused and listen to their advice, as long as it leaves you at peace and is from the Lord.  Have strong convictions and do not worry about the battles of this world.  Keep your mind and heart on Jesus and let Him defend you (See Diary #1760).

When you feel the oppression of the evil one, how do you react?  Do you allow your feelings to take over and enter into anger, despair and doubt?  When a spiritual battle rages within, there is one defense.  Put your eyes on Jesus and not on the temptations or evils.  Seek out His peace and remain sheltered in His Mercy.  Reflect upon how well you do this.  If you struggle, then resolve to pray, pray and pray some more.

Lord, You and You alone can fight off the temptations of the evil one.  Give me the grace to keep my eyes on You and to trust in Your abundant Mercy.  Give me Your peace in times of adversity and courage to face all that I may endure.  Jesus, I trust in You.

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With God there is no time.  Time is strictly an earthly phenomenon.  In God, all things are, always were and always will be.  One effect of this eternal love is that God has loved you for all eternity.  He has known you even before the foundation of the world and will know and love you forevermore.  This all-encompassing love should give you great comfort.  There never was a time that God did not perfectly love you and there never will be a time when His love fails.  God’s love is eternal, and it is offered before you were created, every second of your life, and for eternity and beyond (See Diary #1754).

Ponder eternity today.  Though it’s possible to understand what eternity means, it’s impossible to comprehend its depths.  Ponder also the simple fact that God’s love is eternal.  For that reason, the same truth applies.  You can understand that God’s love is eternal, but you will never comprehend the depths of God’s love.  This is very comforting to know.

God of Eternity, I thank You for Your perfect love and for its infinite nature and depth.  May I spend my eternity plunging into this love, never growing weary of receiving it and becoming more immersed in its beauty.  Jesus, I trust in You.

Saint Andrew Christmas Novena
Traditionally prayed 15 times a day from November 30 through Christmas Eve.

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Often, when we speak of the Mercy of God, we speak of the forgiveness of sins.  This is the first act of God’s Mercy.  He sees every sin, even the slightest imperfection, and despite the suffering these sins impose upon Our Lord, He lavishly bestows Mercy to forgive.  Forgiveness becomes total and permanent.  God never brings up sins that have been forgiven.  But God doesn’t stop there.  It’s important to understand that God bestows many graces in addition to forgiveness.  One such grace is that, when He forgives a particular sin, He actually transforms it in such a way that He is able to use it for our good.  Amazingly, God is even able to use sin for His glory in the end (See Diary #1745).

Reflect upon two things.  First, look at the forgiveness that God has offered you for past sins.  This should leave you with humble gratitude.  Second, look for ways that God has used even your past sins, once forgiven, for His glory.  The Lord’s Mercy is overwhelming and awe-inspiring.  Allow it to leave you in eternal gratitude.

Lord, I thank You for the forgiveness that You offer me and even more for the infinite grace that You bestow after You forgive.  I pray that I will always be aware of these graces and will open my heart to them without hesitation.  I love you, dear Lord, and I am eternally grateful to You for all things.  Jesus, I trust in You.

Saint Andrew Christmas Novena
Traditionally prayed 15 times a day from November 30 through Christmas Eve.

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Pieter Aertsen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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When someone is troubled, you may shy away from them.  It’s easy to think that engaging them will impose a heavy burden on your time and energy.  But if the Lord is the one directing your conversation, He can do amazing things in a short while.  Sure, there are times when love demands many hours of care, but often times a few words, a listening ear, or a gentle smile will do more for a person in need than you could ever imagine (See Diary #1736).

Reflect upon the fact that God is able to accomplish amazing things with very little effort on your part.  All it takes is a willing response to the gentle promptings of His Heart so as to speak a kind word, listen to a burdened heart, or offer a work of charity.  If it’s done as a result of the promptings of the Holy Spirit, it will be amazingly simple, delightful and well worth the effort.  Ponder how well you listen to the daily inspirations of the Holy Spirit and seek to act the next time you are moved to do so.

Lord, I pray that I will always be ready and willing to act as an instrument of Your Mercy.  Please inspire me, dear Lord, to act on the promptings that You send me, and help me to express Your love to others in the simplest of ways.  Jesus, I trust in You.

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Saint Andrew Christmas Novena
Traditionally prayed 15 times a day from November 30 through Christmas Eve.

O Antiphons of Advent
December 17–23

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When there is excitement in your life, your heart begins to beat faster.  This is a natural reaction.  For that reason, it is good to ponder whether your heart ever beats for God?  Do you allow yourself to become caught up in a holy awe of the presence of God?  Do you become excited about the mission that God has given you?  And, if so, do you ever find that your heart beats faster as you ponder the great mysteries of His love and Mercy?  Your whole being must react to the majesty and splendor of our glorious God (See Diary #1728).

Try this simple examination today.  Ponder the last time that you truly became excited over God and His holy Will.  Was your excitement something that affected you so much that even your heart began to beat faster?  Though this may not be an infallible sign of the presence of God in your life, it may reveal much more than you realize.

Lord, I desire that my heart beat for You every day.  May I experience the joy and excitement of Your perfect glory and desire with my mind, spirit and even body, the fulfillment of Your Will.  I love You, dear Lord.  May my heart beat for You with great intensity and love.  Jesus, I trust in You.

O Antiphons of Advent
December 17–23

Saint Andrew Christmas Novena
Traditionally prayed 15 times a day from November 30 through Christmas Eve.

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Some people are very good at talking about others.  They offer continual opinions and judgments of them and speak freely, as if they have everything figured out.  Do not be like one of these people.  Those who have their minds and tongues occupied with the activities of others have little time to look into their own souls so as to discover who they are (See Diary #1717).

Do you struggle with idle talk?  In other words, do you speak regularly and freely about others, issuing opinions and judgments upon them while, at the same time, fail to honestly evaluate your own soul?  If you do this it may be hard to admit it.  But if this is you, admit it here and now.  Tell our Lord you are aware of this struggle and seek His Mercy as your help.  He will help you, but only if you are honest with your struggle.

Lord, please free me from the idle chatter and judgments I tend to place upon others.  Help me, instead, to become truly recollected and aware of my own life and sin.  Help me to also see the abundance of Your Mercy which I must rely upon and offer to others.  My Lord, I repent of my sin, please come to my help.  Jesus, I trust in You.

Saint Andrew Christmas Novena
Traditionally prayed 15 times a day from November 30 through Christmas Eve.

O Antiphons of Advent
December 17–23

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When a person begins to lie, and forms a habit of this sort, they will eventually become entangled in a web of lies.  One lie leads to another and pretty soon they do not know how to break free of this web.  This is where you must offer mercy.  It’s very easy to be harsh toward someone who has clearly led themselves down the wrong path.  It’s easy to point the finger and rub in their sin.  But the Lord wants you to look at this person with love and help untangle them from the web they have woven.  This is done by being clear and direct about their errors, but also without judgment or harshness.  If they perceive you to be offering the truth with mercy, they may just accept your invitation to undo that which they have done.  This principle applies to many types of sins (See Diary #1712).

Reflect upon anyone in your life who appears to be tangled in a web of sin and cannot get out.  Let your heart grow in mercy for this person, refraining from all judgment.  Love them, seek to bring them the humbling truth and do so gently but clearly so that they can be set free.

Lord, sin binds us and causes much distress in life.  Give me the grace of a merciful heart so that I can be an instrument of freedom to those caught in a life of sin.  Give me the grace, dear Lord, to love them with Your perfect Heart of Mercy.  Jesus, I trust in You.

O Antiphons of Advent
December 17–23

Saint Andrew Christmas Novena
Traditionally prayed 15 times a day from November 30 through Christmas Eve.

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Hans Memling, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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Music is a discovery and expression of the natural laws of God’s creation, relying upon the order and rhythm found in its natural design.  Some music uses the natural order of things to glorify earthly realities.  Some forms of music even express sin and disorder.  But the greatest form of music is that which beautifully and clearly articulates the high order, harmony and symmetry of the life of God.  Our lives become like a hymn of glory, offered to God, when we act in perfect harmony with the Will of God.  The “music” of your soul must become a hymn of this glory (See Diary #1708).

Reflect upon the idea of your life being like a hymn.  What does the “hymn of your life” sound like?  Is it ordered, beautiful and reflective of the inner life of God?  Or does your life better express disorder and interior dysfunction?  Be honest and ponder the “music” that comes forth from your life.  Allow the Master Musician to take hold of you so as to bring forth a hymn worthy of His glory.

Lord, may my life become a hymn of worship, rising up to Your glorious throne of grace, echoing forth the lovely melody of Your inner life.  Take hold of me, dear Lord, and use me as Your instrument of Mercy and Grace in this world.  Jesus, I trust in You.

O Antiphons of Advent
December 17–23

Saint Andrew Christmas Novena
Traditionally prayed 15 times a day from November 30 through Christmas Eve.

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Lucas Cranach the Elder, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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It may not be pleasant to consider the chastisement of God.  But it must be understood that His chastisements are real and are an act of His abundant Mercy.  When souls turn from God and refuse His Mercy, this deeply wounds His Heart.  As a result, God becomes more “passionate” so to speak in His tireless pursuit.  One way He seeks to open their hearts is through chastisements.  Think of the Pharisees, for example.  They were filled with pride and egotism and the Lord rebuked them harshly.  But He did so to win them back as an act of great Mercy.  It worked for some, for others it did not (See Diary #1703).

Are you aware of the chastisements of God?  For example, have you felt the pain of extreme guilt for your sins?  If so, pay attention to this.  Know that if you have gone astray, especially through pride, the Lord will pour down judgment upon you.  If you persist, He will pour it down with a vengeance.  And when a soul remains obstinate, God’s Mercy cannot enter.  But when these chastisements produce a sense of holy guilt, this means that the conscience is working and is in a position to change.  Do not hold onto guilt and do not ignore it.  Run to the Mercy of God so that He can free you from your sin and return His peace to your heart.

Lord, please give me the grace I need to turn to You in all things.  May I never be in need of the fierce chastisements of Your Mercy.  But if I am in need of this grace, please help me to respond with conversion from my sins.  Jesus, I trust in You.

O Antiphons of Advent
December 17–23

Saint Andrew Christmas Novena
Traditionally prayed 15 times a day from November 30 through Christmas Eve.

Advent Resources

More Divine Mercy Reflections

Daily Gospel Reflections

Saints/Feasts for Today