Sunday

**This week readings from ‘My Daily Bread’ Catholic Devotional

From the point of view of CHRIST:
MY CHILD, in a little while this earthly life of yours will be over. just how ready are you
to enter into the next Life? Man exists today, and tomorrow he is seen no more. When he is
out of sight, he is quickly also out of mind. The human heart can be so dull and hard! It
fixes its attention on things present. It often fails to provide for the things that are to come.
2. In the morning consider for a moment the fact that you may not live till evening. When
evening comes do not be too confident that you will see the next morning. These thoughts
should not make you gloomy, but practical. Live in such a way that death will never find
you unprepared. Live each day as you would want to live the last day of your life. Too
many die suddenly and unprepared.  I have warned everyone: “The Son of Man will come at
that hour when He is not expected.”
Prayer:  We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.
*Sub Tuum Praesidium

Monday

How many have deceived themselves into thinking that they still had plenty of time.
They were snatched unexpectedly from this life. How often have you heard that someone
was killed in a fight; another was drowned; another fell and broke his neck? This man died
while sitting at table. That one passed away while enjoying a game. Some die by fire; some
by violence; some are destroyed by disease; some are killed at the hands of robbers. Thus
death brings an end to all, and man’s life suddenly passes away like a fleeting shadow.

Prayer:  Holy angel of the Lord by guardian, pray to God for me.

 

Tuesday

THINK:
Why should I refuse to face facts? Will I die any sooner if I think of death? Or am I going
to escape death if I never think of it. The most terrible death which can come to me is the
death which will find me in mortal sin. Every other aspect of death is a passing thing, but
this last phase—the unprovided death—will hurt me forever.
Death, with all its uncertainties, is a fact. I should face facts and see what can be done
about them. What can I do about death? I can live in such a way that no matter when death
comes, it will find me in sanctifying grace.

Prayer:  Our Father, Who art in  Heaven, hallowed by Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

 

Wednesday
CHRIST:
MY CHILD, when your last hour arrives, you will see this earthly life in a new
light. If you were neglectful and careless about My law, you will have great regret. If you
lived as I desire, your heart will be full of joy.
2. The time is coming when you would like to have another day, or even one more hour, to
make up for the past. Take your day and your hour now that you have the time. Who can
guarantee you another hour when you feel life slipping away?
3. Death may come at any time. Always be ready for it. In this way you will be free of fear
or danger, no matter when My angel calls you from this life. Live in such a way that the
hour of death may bring you joy rather than fear.
Prayer:  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.  Amen.

 

Thursday
Never love any earthly thing too much. Place your confidence in Me and look to Me as
your greatest Treasure. I am far more to you than you can even suspect. A weak soul is
enslaved by its earthly desires and loves. The prayerful man gains a heavenly liberty from
this life, a liberty which is not understood by worldly men.
THINK:
No matter what my interests may be, or how important they may seem, when death comes,
I will leave everything and go to my judgment at once. Others will take my place and
assume my importance and my activities. Few people know that their death is near. Most
men are surprised by the arrival of death. To those who
love God, it is a cause of joy. To those who love this earthly life too much, it is a painful
parting.
Prayer:  O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name’s sake.

Friday
CHRIST:
MY CHILD, if you have a good conscience, you need not have any fear of death. It is
better to try to avoid sin than to try to escape death.
2. A wise man reflects often on the hour of death, so as to be prepared for it at all times.
3. If you want to please Me, try to become today the kind of man you would like to be at
the time of your death. Make this effort, and death will find you full of confidence and
peace. For this must you daily strive: a healthy contempt for worldly comforts, a burning
desire to advance in virtue, a love of right order in your actions, a spirit of penance,
readiness to obey authority, self-discipline, and patience to bear adversity for My sake.

Prayer:  O my God relying on Thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
*Act of Hope

Saturday

A good conscience means that I have honestly tried to learn what God desires of me, and I
have sincerely tried to do what He desires. Without these two efforts there is no good
conscience. A man who knows that he has really made those two efforts, has a good
conscience. To such a man, God gives His peace. Others may be distracted with earthly
activities and interests, but they do not have that interior peace which can remain calm even
in the face of death.

 

Prayer:   Glory to Jesus Christ…Glory forever!