Sunday

1 Corinthinan 12:1… Concerning spiritual gifts, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Prayer:
Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace good will among men.

Monday

Today begins the reading of the Gospels in Chronological order.   This takes use through the life of Jesus in order.  Passages from each Gospel will be used to give a complete picture without repetition.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2   He was in the beginning with God. 3   All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4   In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5   And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend* it. 6   There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7   This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8   He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9   That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.* 10   He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11   He came to His own,* and His own * did not receive Him. 12   But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13   who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14   And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15   John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’  ” 16   And* of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17   For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18   No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son,* who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

* Comment:  this tells of the ‘spiritual life’ of Jesus who was ‘with God’ and outlines His mission for coming to earth as man.

Prayer:   May the Strength of God guide us. May the Power of God preserve us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct us. May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us. May the Shield of God defend us.
May the Angels of God guard us. – Against the snares of the evil one.
Prayer for the Faithful of St. Patrick Part 1

Tuesday

Luke 1: 5-25 / ca. 7/ 5 BC 5   There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6   And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7   But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years. 8   So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, 9   according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10   And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. 11   Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12   And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13   But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14   And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15   For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16   And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17   He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’* and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18   And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is  well advanced in years.” 19   And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. 20   But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” 21   And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple. 22   But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless. 23   So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house. 24   Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying, 25“ Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”

Comment: John the Baptist is called the ‘forerunner’ because he prepared potential disciples and preached repentance which Jesus was able to build on rather that having to begin with no foundation at all.

Prayer:
May Christ be with us! May Christ be before us! May Christ be in us, Christ be over all!
May Thy Grace, Lord, Always be ours, This day, O Lord, and forevermore. Amen.
Prayer for the Faithful of St. Patrick  Part 2

 

Wednesday

Luke 1: 26-38 26   Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27   to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28   And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”* 29   But when she saw him,* she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30   Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31   And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32   He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33   And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

34   Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” 35   And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. 36   Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. 37   For with God nothing will be impossible.” 38   Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Comment:  this event is celebrated by the Church on March 25 as the Annunciation, 9 months before December 25.

Prayer:
Glory to Jesus Christ – Glory forever!
Thursday

Luke 1: 39-45 / ca. 6/ 4 BC 39   Now Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah, 40   and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41   And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42   Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43   But why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44   For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. 45   Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”  And Mary said:      “ My soul magnifies the Lord,     47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.     48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;       For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.     49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me,       And holy is His name.   50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him       From generation to generation.     51 He has shown strength with His arm;       He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.     52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones,       And exalted the lowly.     53 He has filled the hungry with good things,       And the rich He has sent away empty.     54 He has helped His servant Israel,       In remembrance of His mercy,     55 As He spoke to our fathers,       To Abraham and to his seed forever.” 56   And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her house.

  • Comment:  Mary went to help Elizabeth 3 months before the birth of John on June 24. These are the only record words of the Virgin Mary in Scripture of Church tradition.

Prayer:
For as many have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ…Alleluia

Friday

Luke 1: 57-66 / ca. 6/ 4 BC 57   Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. 58   When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her. 59   So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. 60   His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.” 61   But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” 62   So they made signs to his father— what he would have him called. 63   And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled.   64   Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. 65   Then fear came on all who dwelt around them; and all these sayings were discussed throughout all the hill country of Judea. 66   And all those who heard them kept them in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child will this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

 

Prayer:
Christ is in our midst – He is and always shall be

Saturday

Luke 1: 67-80 67   Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:     68 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,       For He has visited and redeemed His people,     69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us       In the house of His servant David,     70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets,       Who have been since the world began,     71 That we should be saved from our enemies       And from the hand of all who hate us,     72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers       And to remember His holy covenant,     73 The oath which He swore to our father Abraham:     74 To grant us that we,       Being delivered from the hand of our enemies,       Might serve Him without fear,     75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.     76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;  For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,     77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people       By the remission of their sins,     78 Through the tender mercy of our God,       With which the Dayspring from on high has visited* us;     79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,       To guide our feet into the way of peace.” 80   So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

 

Prayer:
Preserve O Lord while waking and guard us while sleeping that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep we may rest in peace.