Sunday

MY CHILD, let my infinite wisdom teach you what is best for you in your daily conduct
on earth. Think of your sins with great displeasure and sorrow. Never consider yourself big
because of your good works. The simple truth is that you are a sinner. Too often your
actions are controlled by emotions or feelings rather than intelligence and grace.
2. If I leave you to yourself, you tend to what is wrong and fall into sin. You are easily
overcome by selfishness. Your self-control falls apart in a short time. You are much weaker
than you think. You have little reason to take pride in yourself and many reasons for
humbling yourself.
3. Fear nothing so much as your disorderly tendencies and your sins. Run from them more
than from anything else. They should displease you more than any other trouble. Be afraid
of My judgment and fear the anger of the Almighty. Do not presume to criticize the works
of the Most High. Look to your faults. Consider the wrong you have done and the good you
have neglected.
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

4. Be angry with yourself, and do not let pride control you in anything. Foolish heart, what
have you to complain about? Can you not accept the trials which come to you, when you
have so often offended Me and deserved hell? My love has spared you. Still, you must be
honest with yourself. Face the truth about yourself and be patient with your defects and
limitations.
THINK:
God loves an honest man. Why should it be so hard to admit what I am? If I hide the truth
from myself, how can I ever become pleasing to God? I need not become depressed and
discouraged as I look at my many faults. All that God expects of me is that I begin today to
fight against them. Being a sinner is not the worst thing. The worst thing is to remain a
sinner. God loves the repentant sinner, that is, one who detests his sins and makes an
honest effort to be rid of his faults.

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

 

Tuesday

MY CHILD, I give strength to those who make an honest effort in fighting against their
faults. The harder they try, the more will they advance in virtue. The self-control which I
give is a man’s greatest glory because he approaches closer to My perfection.
2. No two men have the same combination of faults, nor have they the same amount of
grace. I give more grace to those who make good use of what they have already received.
3. As you make progress against your main fault, you will find your other faults easier to
control. Once you are the master of your heart, you will be the master of your life. Your
intelligence will be guided by My grace and your will, will follow My wise and holy law.

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
4. Begin at last! Attack first your most frequent fault. When you fall back into that fault,
instead of becoming sad and discouraged, prove your sorrow by beginning again. You will
find selfishness at the bottom of every fault. Your feelings will rebel, but you must fix your
eyes on Me, and let your will stand firm on My law.
5. Prayer, penance, and My sacraments will help you to see Me near, and will give you the
strength to follow My Will.
THINK:
Every man has a predominant fault, that is, an outstanding one, because of which he
commits most of the sins in his daily life. Conquering that fault means overcoming many
different sins. This fault will not die easily, but a sincere and continued effort will weaken
it more and more. Our Lord will not let me fight in vain. He will give me strength to make
true progress against this fault. I need only to continue trying, doing whatever is necessary
to overcome this fault.

Prayer:  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.  As it was in the beginning it is now and ever shall be.  World without end.  Amen.

 

Thursday
MY CHILD, everyone must take a reasonable care of himself. In time of temptation arouse
yourself, warn yourself, guard yourself and avoid idleness. No matter how much you do for
others, do not neglect yourself altogether. Beware of too much talking. Whenever possible,
try to be alone with Me. Take advantage of My presence. Every moment of your life is
lived in My presence. You possess Him Whom the whole world cannot take from you. I am
worth more than everything else put together.
2. If you neglect yourself, you can lose in a short time the spiritual strength which was
acquired slowly and with great effort over a long period. Reflect often on the eternal
purpose of your earthly life. You have to be a spiritual an to reach this goal. I tell you
through My Church how to live this earthly life. There is no other way. Examine your
progress each day. In a short time your present life will be over. If you have been faithful,
you will never again know fear nor sorrow. For the little labor which you do on earth, you
will gain a glorious reward and unending joy. I shall not fail those who have been faithful
to My Will.

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.
(Easetern Prayer)

Friday
The man who has learned to pray and reflect, looks on self-perfection as his first and
highest business. One who studies himself honestly, finds it easy to be silent about others.
Learn to hold your tongue about the affairs of others unless your duty obliges you to speak.
Fix your attention on your own faults and do something about them. If you are a true man
of God, the doings of others will not make you worse than you are. If you can remedy a
bad situation, do so. Many times, however, you can do nothing but pray over the misdeeds
of others. Do this as one sinner praying for another, not as a superior being, praying for
inferiors. When you have learned to fix your attention on your own affairs, you will find
great peace of soul.
THINK:
As far as I can, I should strive to help others. In many things however, I can help only by
prayer, good example, and silence. Prayer gives grace to me and others. Good example
reminds others of what they should be doing. Silence prevents the spreading of scandal and
the flaring of tempers. Minding one’s own business is a great virtue. My first task is to save
my soul. As far as I can, I must also try to help others live a holier and happier life. Many
things, however, are not in my power. After I have done what I can to help matters, I
should leave them in God’s hands.

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
MY CHILD, there is one thing that stops many from making spiritual progress and keeps
them from improving themselves. It is a fear of the difficulties or of the work required by
their effort. The people who rise highest in holiness are those who are brave enough to
fight against whatever holds them back from Me, no matter how hard or disagreeable the
effort may be. The more you try to master your feelings and blind desires, the greater are
the graces which I offer to you. If you keep on trying, you will gain as much success as I
desire of you.
2. Different men have to face different obstacles. Yet, a diligent and zealous person will
make greater progress in virtue, even though he may have to fight more defects than others.
Some people have fewer defects to overcome, and still they do not advance in holiness
because they are less fervent in the pursuit of virtues.
THINK:
Many are frightened by the thought of changing their ways in daily life. Yet the way can be
quite simplified if only they will make the effort. First, they need a spiritual director to
guide them along and to help them see themselves without prejudice or fear. Second, they
must be honest in striving for the virtues opposed to their main faults. Third, they must
realize that their feelings and blind desires will go on rebelling and making their daily
efforts more difficult. Lastly, they must learn to gain spiritual profit from all occasions,
imitating the virtues which they see in others and avoiding the defects of their neighbors.

Glory to Jesus Christ – Glory forever!
(Eastern Acclamation)