Tag: Prayers

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Meditation of the Day – We Will Never be Free of Trials & Temptations While on Earth

“We will never be free of trials and temptations as long as our earthly life lasts. For Job has said: ‘Is not the life of human beings on earth a drudgery?‘ (Job 7:1). Therefore, we should always be on our guard against temptations, always praying that our enemy, the devil, ‘who never sleeps but constantly looks for someone to devour.‘ (1 Pet 5:8), will not catch us off guard. No one in this world is so perfect or holy as not to have temptations sometimes. We can never be entirely free from them. Sometimes these temptations can be very severe and troublesome, but if we resist them, they will be very useful to us; for by experiencing them we are humbled, cleansed, and instructed. All the Saints endured tribulations and temptations and profited by them, while those who did not resist and overcome them fell away and were lost. There is no place so holy or remote where you will not meet with temptation, nor is there anyone completely free from it in this life; for in our body we bear the wounds of sin—the weakness of our human nature in which we are born.” — Thomas á Kempis, p. 31

//The Catholic Company//

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Meditation of the Day – Mary Provides Extraordinary Graces and Wonderful Miracles

“When needed, Mary provides for the defense and salvation of her children extraordinary graces and wonderful miracles. What wonders have caused, sustained, spread everywhere, a confidence among Christian people! What striking proofs of her protection the Church recalls to our memory in solemn feasts and devout practices, enriched by precious indulgences! What titles Christians give her to testify to their gratitude, ‘Help of Christians, health of the sick, comfort of the afflicted, refuge of sinners, gate of heaven, our life, our sweetness, our hope!’ What a multitude of people gather to the places where she is most honored, where she obtains the most assistance to those who call on her! What prayers and acts of thanksgiving are offered at the foot of her altars! In our days, what conquests have been made by Our Lady of Victories! What favors have been bestowed on all hearts devoted to the heart of Mary!”— St. Ignatius of Loyola, p.156

//The Catholic Company//

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Sermon Notes – God Hears Our Prayers

“God Hears Our Prayers”

Father Peter Fitzgibbons

July 27 – 28, 2019

Scripture: Luke 11:1-13

The purpose of prayer is to unite ourselves to God and to resign ourselves to His will. In today’s scripture, we are told to “ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9). You may be thinking, “I have prayed for this or that and got notta….bubkes.” We did as we were told, and He reneged. We’ve all been disappointed. I have been a priest for 35 years and would like to be a monsignor, but I don’t see that happening. We expect better from those we love, but, God gives us much more than we will know until our Particular Judgement.

My evil twin brother, Paul, wrote a book on waste management. I tried reading it, but didn’t make it through the first paragraph. When he got sick, I prayed hard…I said all the prayers I knew for him to recover. What I got was a bro in a box. Am I upset? You bet. I am still upset that I’m the only one left in my family. But, in our grief, anger, and disappointment, God is trying to draw us closer to Him…to enfold us in His arms. We need to remain humble and rely on Him. We must trust Him.

God always hears our prayers, but sometimes the answer is “no.” As a result, we may feel rejected and angry. It’s okay to be angry…He can take it. But, it’s not okay to hold a grudge and not come to church or to live a life of debauchery. Remember, God sees all…outside of time. We don’t see all of the dimensions, but He does. Parents, too, don’t always give their children everything they want, especially when they ask for things like a machine gun, a horse, or a dog. Parents can see the consequences that their children may not. So, because parents want only what is best for their children, the answer may be “no” or “not yet.” It’s the same with God. He gives us what is best for us. It may not be what we want or when we want it, and it may be hard to understand or to accept His plan. But, we are called to keep praying….asking for consolation and for Him to draw us closer to his Sacred Heart.

How will you apply this message to your life? Will you trust that God hears all of your prayers and knows what is best for you? Will you pray for consolation if His answer is not what you hoped it would be?