“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – Psalm 119:33-40

Posted on 24 September 2013 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…and PRAYER

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Teach me, Lord, the way of Your decrees,
that I may follow it to the end.
Give me understanding, so that I may keep Your law
and obey it with all my heart.
Direct me in the path of Your commands,
for there I find delight.
Turn my heart toward Your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.
Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to Your word.
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Fulfill your promise to Your servant,
so that You may be feared.
Take away the disgrace I dread,
for Your laws are good.
How I long for Your precepts!
In Your righteousness preserve my life.

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– Psalm 119:33-40 (GNT)

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Come Holy Spirit, teach me, direct me, and give me understanding.

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit bestowed upon Christians

are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude,

knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

[CCC 1845]

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – Luke 8:16

Posted on 23 September 2013 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“No one lights a lamp and covers it with a bowl

or puts it under a bed.

Instead, it is put on the lampstand,

so that people will see the light as they come in.”

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– Luke 8:16 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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As Jesus, the Light of the World, shines upon us

and, provided we welcome His Light with all our heart, mind and soul,

then by our words, deeds and demeanour we will lift Him higher,

and gladly and generously reflect His Light on to others.

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If, on the other hand, we find ourselves dampening the Light

because we don’t want to feel embarrassed in this increasingly secular world,

then we must ask ourselves if Jesus is truly welcome in our life;

if He is truly our Lord;

if we are truly Christian after all.

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JESUS ALSO SAID…

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“I am the Light of the World.

Whoever follows me will have the light of life

and will never walk in darkness.”

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– John 8:12 (GNT)

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PRAYER…

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Jesus, my Jesus,

I welcome Your Light in my heart.

Come, Lord, and remove all my darkness.

Come, Lord, and empty me from myself

and fill the void with Your loving grace.

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My Lord Jesus Christ,

O Light of the World,

teach me how to truly love You;

to be more like You;

to faithfully follow You;

to joyfully reflect You in all I do;

and to gladly encourage others to come to You.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Shine upon me, Lord Jesus, shine!

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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[…] The social duty of Christians

is to respect and awaken in each man the love of the true and the good.

It requires them to make known the worship

of the one true religion which subsists in the Catholic and apostolic Church.

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Christians are called to be the light of the world.

Thus, the Church shows forth the kingship of Christ over all creation

and in particular over human societies.

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[CCC 2105]

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – Luke 16:13

Posted on 22 September 2013 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“No slave can serve two masters;

for a slave will either hate the one and love the other,

or be devoted to the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve God and wealth.”

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– Luke 16:13 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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In the culture of Jesus’ time

“service” involved such commitment to one’s master

that a servant could not take on any other work or serve any other master.

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Our service to God, our sanctification,

requires us to direct all our actions towards Him.

A Christian does not divide up his time,

allocating some of it to God and some of it to worldly affairs:

everything we do should become a type of service to God and neighbour

– by doing things with upright motivation, and being just and charitable.

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The Pharisees jeered at what Jesus was saying,

in order to justify their own attachment to material things.

Sometimes people make fun of total commitment to God and detachment from material things

because they themselves are not ready to practice virtue;

they cannot even imagine other people really having this generosity.

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Am I totally committed to God,

putting Him as absolute first

and totally above anything and anyone else?

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PRAYER…

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O Lord, my God,

how can I call out to You in this manner,

acknowledging You as my Maker;

as my Lord God Almighty,

if I do not put You first…before everything and everyone else?

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Lord, forgive me for my betrayals;

for my lapses;

for those times when I put myself and my selfish interests first.

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Lord, grant me the gift of discernment;

give me self-control and perseverance;

and increase my faith and my trust in You

so that I will always serve…only You!

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For this I pray with all my heart.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Only You, my Lord and my God!

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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“Lead us not into temptation”[in the Lord’s Prayer] implies a decision of the heart:

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

… No one can serve two masters.” (Mt 6:21,24)

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“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”(Gal 5:25)

In this assent to the Holy Spirit the Father gives us strength.

“No testing has overtaken you that is not common to man.

God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your strength,

but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape,

so that you may be able to endure it.”(1 Cor 10:13)

[CCC 2848]

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Such a battle and such a victory become possible only through prayer. […]

[CCC 2849]

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – 1 Corinthians 15:28

Posted on 21 September 2013 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…

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When everything is subject to Christ,

then the Son Himself will also be subject to the One who subjected everything to Him,

so that God may be all in all.

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– 1 Corinthians 15:28 (HCSB)

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REFLECTION…

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The final victory of Jesus Christ

will restore to all creation its
original harmony, which sin destroyed.

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QUOTE…

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“Who can realise the indescribable sweetness contained in these few words: ‘God will be all in all’?

[…] Everyone who lives according to the spirit

senses in this present life how far he falls short of wholeness and perfection.

Why is this, if not because God is not yet everything to everyone?”

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– St. Bernard

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PRAYER…

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You are my strength when I am weak,
You are the Treasure that I seek,
You are my all in all.
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Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord, to give up I’d be a fool.
You are my all in all.
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Taking my sin, my cross, my shame,
raising up again I bless Your name.
You are my all in all.
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When I fall down You pick me up,
when I run dry You fill my cup.
You are my all in all..

Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God
Worthy is Your name
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Amen.

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[The words of today’s prayer are FROM the lyrics of the song of worship, “You Are My All In All”.

To lift your heart, mind and soul to God in song, please click here >> “YOU ARE MY ALL IN ALL”.].

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, You are my all in all.

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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By the Eucharistic celebration

we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy

and anticipate eternal life, when God will be “all in all.” (1 Cor 15:28)

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[CCC 1326]

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – 1 Timothy 6:11-12

Posted on 20 September 2013 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Strive for righteousness, godliness, faith,

love, endurance, and gentleness.

Run your best in the race of faith,

and win eternal life for yourself;

for it was to this life that God called you…

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– 1 Timothy 6:11-12 (GNT)

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QUOTE…

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“Truly, perseverance reflects eternity in some way;

only to perseverance is eternity granted

or, to put it better, only perseverance obtains eternity for man”

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– St. Bernard

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PRAYER…

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Lord Jesus,

thank You for getting me to realise

that the whole purpose of my existence

is to be saved.

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Lord, send Your Spirit upon me

to counsel me in righteousness and godliness,

to strengthen my faith;

fill me with love;

give me endurance;

and bless me with gentleness.

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This is my prayer, Lord,

to be a true Christian,

a true believer,

persevering in the Truth

that leads to eternal life in Your glorious Presence.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, grant me the grace to persevere in Your Truth.

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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At the end of time, the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness.

Then the just will reign with Christ for ever,

glorified in body and soul,

and the material universe itself will be transformed.

God will then be "all in all" (1 Cor 15:28), in eternal life.

[CCC 1060]

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – Psalm 4:2

Posted on 19 September 2013 by Christ the King Prayer Group

TODAY’S WORD…

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Children of men,

how long will you be heavy of heart,

why love what is vain

and chase after illusions?

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– Psalm 4:2 (NJB)

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REFLECTION…

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How true!

We all get those moments

of heaviness of heart

– sometimes lasting

much more than just moments.

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Why?

A thousand reasons…

if we try justifying.

Wrong reasons, most of them…

if we are honest with ourselves!

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Whatever the reasons

behind our sadness, our anxiety,

our anger, or our panic,

if we call out to God

– who is always there, right beside us –

He will help us admit our vanities

and recognise our illusions.

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He will give us consolation and lasting peace

– if we trust in Him

and if we do as He tells us.

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PRAYER…

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My Lord and my God,

forgive me for the time I waste feeling sorry for myself,

when I should be praising and thanking You instead.

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Lord, increase my faith

and my trust in You.

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Lord, decrease my self-seeking.

and help me overcome my self-pity.

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Lord,

I want to give You glory and praise instead.

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I want to learn from You,

and trust in You

and do Your will.

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Lord, fill me with the love, joy and peace

that only You can bring.

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Thank You, Lord.

You raise me up, Lord.

I love You, Lord.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Thank you, Lord – You raise me up!

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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The human heart is heavy and hardened.

God must give man a new heart.

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Conversion is first of all a work of the grace of God

who makes our hearts return to Him:

"Restore us to Thyself, O LORD, that we may be restored!" (Lam 5:21)

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God gives us the strength to begin anew.

It is in discovering the greatness of God’s love

that our heart is shaken by the horror and weight of sin

and begins to fear offending God by sin

and being separated from Him.

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The human heart is converted

by looking upon Him whom our sins have pierced. […]

[CCC 1432]

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – Philippians 2:3-4

Posted on 18 September 2013 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.

Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

not looking to your own interests

but each of you to the interests of the others.

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– Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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We should always act humbly and with an upright intention

if we want love to reign among us.

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In their work; in their social life,

true Christians should be upright in all their dealings.

Therefore, we should go about everything, even apparently unimportant things,

in a humble way,

doing them for God.

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Kindness and generosity towards others

must come from the heart,

must not be boastful or self-serving,

but practiced in a humble and loving manner.

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Moreover, we should always remember

that our behaviour has an effect on others.

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PRAYER…

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Lord Jesus,

Son of the Living God,

Divine Saviour,

my Generous Redeemer,

grant me the grace

to see others in the way that You did;

to give to others in the way that You did;

to love others unconditionally in the way that You did.

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Remove from me

all my prejudices,

all my self-centeredness,

all unkindness,

all greed.

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Lord, help me see You in all others

…in every situation,

always.

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Jesus, help me be more like You.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, help me be more like You.

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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On coming into the world,

man is not equipped with everything he needs for developing his bodily and spiritual life.

He needs others.

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Differences appear tied to age, physical abilities, intellectual or moral aptitudes,

the benefits derived from social commerce, and the distribution of wealth.

The "talents" are not distributed equally.

[CCC 1936]

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These differences belong to God’s plan,

who wills that each receive what he needs from others,

and that those endowed with particular "talents" share the benefits with those who need them.

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These differences encourage and often oblige persons

to practice generosity, kindness, and sharing of goods;

they foster the mutual enrichment of cultures. […]

[CCC 1937]

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – Psalm 119:164

Posted on 17 September 2013 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…

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“Seven times a day I praise You…”

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– Psalm 119:164 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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We should not go one day without praising God.

In this verse, the number seven signifies

bringing to completion and perfection our daily praise of the Lord.

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How much time do we spend praising God?
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How many times a day do I praise the Lord?

Surely He is worthy of all the praise that a faithful believer can offer.

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Today is a good day to give more time and devotion to our Creator,

and so is tomorrow

…and every day!

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He is Lord, He is God.

If only we would never stop counting our blessings,

we would realise that He has done so much,

and that we have so much to be grateful and thankful for.

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Our soul should not be stifled

– we should allow it to rejoice in the Lord, its Maker.

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We should prompt our minds and hearts

to never stop seeing God’s guiding hand,

and with that we will find ourselves constantly acknowledging Him;

declaring our love for Him;

and giving Him honour, praise and thanks.

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PRAYER…

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I love You Lord

and I lift my voice

to worship You

– Oh my soul rejoice!

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Take joy my King

in what You hear,

may it be a sweet, sweet sound

in Your ear!

[The words of today’s prayer are the lyrics of the song of worship, “I love You Lord”.

To lift your heart, mind and soul to God in song, please click here >> “I LOVE YOU LORD”.].

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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I love You Lord,

I worship You Lord,

I praise and thank You Lord!

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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Praise is the form of prayer which recognises most immediately that God is God.

It lauds God for His own sake and gives Him glory, quite beyond what he does, but simply because HE IS.

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It shares in the blessed happiness of the pure of heart

who love God in faith before seeing Him in glory.

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By praise, the Spirit is joined to our spirits

to bear witness that we are children of God,

testifying to the only Son in whom we are adopted

and by whom we glorify the Father.

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Praise embraces the other forms of prayer

and carries them toward Him who is its source and goal:

the "one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist." (1 Cor 8:6)

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[CCC 2639]

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – Psalm 28:7

Posted on 16 September 2013 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…

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The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise Him.

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– Psalm 28:7 (NIV)

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PRAYER…

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I believe, Lord,

I believe that You love me,

I believe that You are my strength,

I believe that You protect me.

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Without You, my God,

I am nothing,

but with You in my heart

I need nothing.

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You are all I want,

all I need,

and because I know that You love me,

I trust in You

and I am filled with joy

and I can not but praise You!

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You are worthy, O Lord my God,

of all glory, honour,

power and praise.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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My heart leaps for joy, O God,

and with my song I praise You.

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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Fortitude is the moral virtue

that ensures firmness in difficulties

and constancy in the pursuit of the good.

It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations

and to overcome obstacles in the moral life.

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The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death,

and to face trials and persecutions.

It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defence of a just cause.

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"The Lord is my strength and my song." (Ps 118:14)

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"In the world you have tribulation;

but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."(Jn 16:33)

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[CCC 1808]

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“a Lamp to my feet. a Light for my path.” – Psalm 51:1-4;10-12

Posted on 15 September 2013 by Christ the King Prayer Group

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Have mercy on me, O God,
according to Your unfailing love;
according to Your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against You, You only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in Your sight;
so You are right in Your verdict
and justified when You judge.

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Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from Your presence
or take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

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– Psalm 51:1-4;10-12 (NIV)

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QUOTE…

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“We also [like Jesus] must learn to listen more to our conscience.

Be careful, however:

this does not mean we ought to follow our ego,

do whatever interests us,

whatever suits us, whatever pleases us.

That is not conscience.

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Conscience is the interior space

in which we can listen to and hear the truth,

the good,

the voice of God.

It is the inner place of our relationship

with Him, who speaks to our heart and helps us to discern,

to understand the path we ought to take,

and once the decision is made, to move forward, to remain faithful.”

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– Pope Francis

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PRAYER…

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Father,

here I am – a sinner –

seeking to listen to You,

seeking to do Your will

and to obey Your commands.

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Forgive me Father,

for so often letting You down.

Forgive my weaknesses

and my self-centeredness.

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Heal me O God,

restore me

and help me correctly discern the freedom You gave me

and faithfully persevere

in walking the right path

that You have laid out before me.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, heal me; restore me; lead me.

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path,

we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice.

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We must also examine our conscience before the Lord’s Cross.

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We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit,

aided by the witness or advice of others

and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church.

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[CCC 1785]

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