A LAMP TO MY FEET. A LIGHT FOR MY PATH.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus Christ’s state was divine,

yet He did not cling

to His equality with God

but emptied Himself

to assume the condition of a slave

and became as men are;

and being as all men are,

He was humbler yet,

even to accepting death,

death on a cross.

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But God raised Him high

and gave Him the name

which is above all other names

so that all beings

in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld,

should bend the knee at the name of Jesus

and that every tongue should acclaim

Jesus Christ as Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

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– Philippians 2:6-11 (JB)

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REFLECTION…

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Our Lord offers us a perfect example of humility

– He is a model for us to follow.

Jesus shows us the way Christian virtues should be practised

– He is the way!

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Jesus humbles Himself by becoming man,

then His humility brought Him to the extreme

where, as man, He obediently accepted death on the cross.

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Jesus’ death on the cross is the supreme example of humility.

Christ’s humiliation lay not in His becoming a man like us

and cloaking the glory of His divinity in His sacred humanity:

it also brought Him to lead a life of sacrifice and suffering

which reached its climax on the cross,

where He was stripped of everything He had, like a slave.

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However, now that He has fulfilled His mission,

He is made manifest again,

clothed in all the glory that befits His divine nature

and which His human nature has merited.

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We should learn from Jesus.

United to Him, we will be drawn to imitate His life of dedication,

His unlimited love

and His sacrifice unto death.

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PRAYER…

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Jesus, my Lord,

I so want to be like You.

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Help me die to myself

and be born to a new life.

Help me obey Your will

and accept and carry my cross

with humility and unselfishness

so that I may one day join You

and live forever in Your glory.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, I so want to be like You.

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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[…] Following Christ and united with Him,

Christians can strive to be "imitators of God as beloved children, and walk in love" (Eph 5:12)

by conforming their thoughts, words and actions to the "mind…which is yours in Christ Jesus," (Phil 2:5)

and by following His example.

[CCC 1694]

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“Why do you see

the speck in your neighbour’s eye,

but do not notice

the log in your own eye?”

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– Luke 6:41 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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Why can we be so arrogant

and destructively judgemental towards others?

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Perhaps we should look at ourselves first.

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This saying comes to mind:

“When you point our finger at someone,

three fingers are pointing back at you!”

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Every time we feel the urge

to point out the perceived lackings of others,

we should stop … and reflect on our own.

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Such instances are perfect opportunities

for us to swallow our pride,

and put aside any resentment.

This is when we should call upon Jesus

to help us look, with all humility, at ourselves.

..

With His help,

we may realise that we sometimes suffer,

to some extent or other,

from excessive self-esteem

and the result is arrogance and prejudice,

which only lead us away from God.

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PRAYER…

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Lord,

help me look into myself,

rather than destructively criticise others.

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Give me the grace

to recognise and acknowledge,

my own defects, lackings and weaknesses,

which so sadden You

and which end up drawing me further away from You.

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Lord Jesus, help me remove

the log from my eye

because I truly want to love You

with all my heart, mind, soul and strength,

and I also want to love all others

like You commanded.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord Jesus, help me remove the log from my eye!

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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All are called to the same end: God Himself.

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There is a certain resemblance between the unity of the divine persons

and the fraternity that men are to establish among themselves

in truth and love.

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Love of neighbour is inseparable from love for God.

[CCC 1878]

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.”

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– Luke 6:20 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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This is the first beatitude expressed by Jesus,

as He addressed the issue of where true happiness is found.

The word beatitude literally means happiness or blessedness.

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Jesus’ way of happiness,

demands a transformation from within

– a conversion of heart and mind

which can only come about through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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How can one possibly find happiness in poverty?

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If we want to be filled with the joy and happiness of heaven,

then we must empty ourselves of all that would shut God out of our hearts.

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Jesus promises that the joys of heaven

will more than compensate for the troubles and hardships we can expect in this world.

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God will bless and grant happiness

to those who recognise Him as the greatest treasure possible

and who yearn for Him alone,

in spite of their worldly possessions, or the lack of them.

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God will bless and grant happiness

to those who are poor “in spirit”

and who humbly acknowledge and confess their moral imperfections

and constantly feel a great longing and need for the Lord.

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PRAYER…

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Lord, increase my yearning for You

and show me the way that leads to everlasting happiness and peace.

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May I desire You above all else

and find perfect joy in doing Your will.

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I need You, Lord.

Without You I am nothing,

and my soul yearns for You.

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Fill me,

fill my heart with Your love,

and grant that I will gladly and generously

give of this same love to everyone.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, increase my yearning for You.

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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The Kingdom belongs to the poor and lowly,

which means those who have accepted it with humble hearts.

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Jesus is sent to “preach good news to the poor” (Lk 4:18);

He declares them blessed, for “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

To them – the “little ones” –

the Father is pleased to reveal what remains hidden from the wise and the learned.

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Jesus shares the life of the poor, from the cradle to the cross;

He experiences hunger, thirst and privation.

Jesus identifies Himself with the poor of every kind,

and makes active love toward them

the condition for entering His Kingdom.

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[CCC 544]

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TODAY’S WORD…and PRAYER…

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Every day I will thank You;
I will praise You forever and ever.
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The Lord is great and is to be highly praised;
His greatness is beyond understanding.

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All your creatures, Lord, will praise You,
and all Your people will give You thanks.
They will speak of the glory of Your royal power
and tell of Your might,
so that everyone will know Your mighty deeds
and the glorious majesty of Your kingdom.
Your rule is eternal,
and You are King forever.

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The Lord is faithful to His promises;
He is merciful in all His acts.

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– Psalm 145:2-3,10-13 (GNT)

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Every day I will thank You;
I will praise You forever and ever.

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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Certain constant characteristics appear throughout the Psalms:

simplicity and spontaneity of prayer;

the desire for God Himself through and with all that is good in His creation;

the distraught situation of the believer

who, in his preferential love for the Lord, is exposed to a host of enemies and temptations,

but who waits upon what the faithful God will do,

in the certitude of His love

and in submission to His will.

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The prayer of the psalms is always sustained by praise […]

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“What is more pleasing than a psalm?

David expresses it well:

"Praise the Lord, for a psalm is good:

let there be praise of our God with gladness and grace!"

Yes, a psalm is a blessing on the lips of the people,

praise of God,

the assembly’s homage,

a general acclamation,

a word that speaks for all,

the voice of the Church,

a confession of faith in song.” (St. Ambrose)

[CCC 2589]

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TODAY’S WORD…

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You must live your whole life

according to the Christ you have received – Jesus the Lord;

you must be rooted in Him and built on Him

and held firm by the faith you have been taught,

and full of thanksgiving.

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Make sure that no one traps you and deprives you of your freedom

by some second-hand, empty, rational philosophy

based on the principles of this world instead of on Christ.

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In His body lives the fullness of divinity,

and in Him you too find your own fulfilment,

in the One who is the Head of every Sovereignty and Power.

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– Colossians 2:6-9 (JB)

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PRAYER…

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Jesus, my Lord,

You are my life,

You are my Saviour,

my Redeemer,

my All.

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Grant, O Lord,

that nothing and no one

will ever lure me away from Your Truth;

that I will never allow myself to be trapped

so as to satisfy my selfish desires and cravings.

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Jesus, take over – completely.

Jesus, be my Guide – always.

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Jesus, I want to be with You

– make me more like You.

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Jesus, I so want to be one with You!

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord Jesus, I want to be one with You!

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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Ignorance of Christ and His Gospel,

bad example given by others,

enslavement to one’s passions,

assertion of a mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience,

rejection of the Church’s authority and her teaching, lack of conversion and of charity:

these can be at the source of errors of judgment in moral conduct.

[CCC 1792]

A good and pure conscience is enlightened by true faith,

for charity proceeds at the same time from a pure heart

and a good conscience and sincere faith.

The more a correct conscience prevails,

the more do persons and groups turn aside from blind choice

and try to be guided by objective standards of moral conduct.

[CCC 1794]

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“Those of you who do not give up everything you have

cannot be my disciples.”

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– Luke 14:33 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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Our Lord emphatically requires us

to be completely detached from possessions.

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We are foolish if we think we can can follow our Lord

without renouncing all our possessions.

This renunciation should really bite:

our heart has to be unencumbered by anything material

if we are able to follow in our Lord’s footsteps.

The reason is that it is impossible to "serve God and Mammon." (Lk 16:13).

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Our Lord asks everyone

to practice genuine detachment and generosity in the use of material things.

If we Christians have to be ready to give up even life itself,

then, with all the more reason should we renounce possessions.

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Besides, for a soul to become filled with God

it must first be emptied of everything

that could be an obstacle to God’s indwelling.

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PRAYER…

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Lord, increase my faith.

I want to place You above everything

and everyone,

and be ready to renounce all for Your sake.

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Lord, protect me from anyone and anything

that comes in the way of my personal relationship with You.

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Lord, protect me from my greed,

from my selfishness

and from my short-sighted ego.

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Lord, protect me from myself,

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, for Your sake, I am ready to renounce all.

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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Jesus directs His disciples

to prefer Him to everything and everyone,

and bids them renounce all that they have

for His sake and that of the Gospel.

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[…] The precept of detachment from riches

is obligatory for entrance into the Kingdom of heaven.

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[CCC 2544]

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Save me by Your power, O God;
set me free by Your might!
Hear my prayer, O God;
listen to my words!

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– Psalm 54:1-2 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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The humble petitioner,

the believing Christian,

pleads with God,

asking to be set free from the bonds of sin,

and knowing that the Lord is lovingly listening.

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PRAYER…

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Save me by Your power, O God;
set me free by Your might!
Hear my prayer, O God;
listen to my words!

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I love You, O Lord my God.

Forgive me, O Lord my God.

Heal me, O Lord my God.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Hear my prayer, O God. Listen to my plea!

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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The vocabulary of supplication in the New Testament

is rich in shades of meaning:

ask, beseech, plead, invoke, entreat, cry out,

even struggle in prayer.

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Its most usual form, because the most spontaneous, is petition:

by prayer of petition we express awareness of our relationship with God.

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We are creatures who are not our own beginning,

not the masters of adversity,

not our own last end.

We are sinners who, as Christians, know that we have turned away from our Father.

Our petition is already a turning back to Him.

[CCC 2629]

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before Him, singing with joy.

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– Psalm 100:2 (NLT)

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QUOTE…

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“There’s nothing more contradictory than an unenthusiastic Christian.

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The Bible tells us that God loves us so much,

in fact, that God gave His only Son

so that all who believe in Him will have everlasting life.

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Nothing not even death can separate us from God’s love!

If we really believe that, we can’t help but overflow with joy!”

– Ronald Newhouse

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PRAYER…

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I lift my heart to You, my God,

I lift my hands in praise.

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My soul rejoices in You, my God,

because there is none like You

and You are all I need.

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I have chosen between darkness and light,

and I have chosen You, O God.

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Father, I entrust myself joyfully to You,

knowing that You love me like no other.

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You are my hope,

You are my shelter,

You are my strength,

You are my all…and I sing for joy.

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I will praise You and thank You forever. Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, thank You for the joy!

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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Moral perfection consists in man’s being moved to the good

not by his will alone, but also by his sensitive appetite,

as in the words of the psalm:

"My heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God." (Ps 84:2)

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[CCC 1770]

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The perfection of the moral good

consists in man’s being moved to the good

not only by his will

but also by his "heart."

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[CCC 1775]

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TODAY’S WORD…

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We ask God

to fill you with the knowledge of His will,

with all the wisdom and understanding that His Spirit gives.

Then you will be able to live as the Lord wants

and will always do what pleases Him.

Your lives will produce all kinds of good deeds,

and you will grow in your knowledge of God.

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May you be made strong

with all the strength which comes from His glorious power,

so that you may be able to endure everything with patience.

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And with joy give thanks to the Father,

who has made you fit to have your share

of what God has reserved for His people in the kingdom of light.

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He rescued us from the power of darkness

and brought us safe into the kingdom of His dear Son,

by whom we are set free,

that is, our sins are forgiven.

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– Colossians 1:9-14 (NLT)

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PRAYER…

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Father God,

Omnipotent and Loving Creator,

I am ever grateful for Your mercy,

for Your steadfast fatherly love,

and for the hope and joy You have placed in my heart.

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Watch over me, O God,

fill me with the knowledge of Your will

and strengthen me,

that I will always be faithful to You

and to Your commandments.

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Father, grant that all I say and do will reflect Your dignity,

and that, through grace, I will bear fruit

and take Your love, joy and peace to others.

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Amen.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Father, thank You for the hope and joy You have placed in my heart!

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YEAR OF FAITH 2012-2013

FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH…

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Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God

and believe all that He has said and revealed to us,

and that Holy Church proposes for our belief,

because He is Truth itself.

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By faith man freely commits his entire self to God.

For this reason the believer seeks to know and do God’s will.

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"The righteous shall live by faith."(Rom 1:17)

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Living faith "work[s] through charity."(Gal 5:6)