Because of Your MercyLord God, omnipotent Father, creator of all things, you gave me a body and a soul, and created me in your image before time was. O Lord, my God, I confess my offenses to you; I have sinned before you and before your angels, and my sins are as numerous as the sands on the seashore. Yet for your love have mercy on me, God, let me not perish. Do not turn your face from me since I do not seek your forgiveness because I think I deserve it, but because of your mercy. Look down on me, Lord, from the holy seat of your majesty, and illumine the shadows of my heart with the radiance of your splendor. Protect me, Lord, with the shield of your truth and faith, so that the glowing darts of the devil may not pierce me. Have mercy, Savior of the world, who live and reign for ever.
Latin - 10th century
A Prayer of Supplication to the Poor Souls in Purgatory
O holy souls, as one truly devoted to you, I promise never to forget you and continually to pray to the Most High for your release. I beseech you to respond to this offering which I make to you, and to obtain for me, from God, with Whom you are so powerful on behalf of the living, that I may be free from all dangers of souls and body.
I beg both for myself and for my relations and benefactors, friends and enemies, pardon for our sins, and the grace of perseverance in good, whereby we may save our souls. Obtain for us peace of heart; assist us in all our actions; succor us promptly in all our spiritual and temporal needs; console and defend us in our dangers.
Pray for our Holy Father, the Pope; for the exaltation of Holy Church; for peace between nations; for Christian rulers; and for tranquility among peoples; and grant that we may one day all rejoice together in Paradise. Amen.
Give a Kind Word
Do you know a heart that hungers
For a word of love and cheer?
There are many such about us;
It may be that one is near.
Look around you. If you find it
Speak the word that's needed so,
And your own heart may be strengthened
By the help that you bestow.
Never think kind words are wasted,
Bread on waters cast are they,
And it may be we shall find them
Coming back to us, some day.
Coming back when sorely needed,
In a time of sore distress,
So, my friend, let's give them freely;
Gift and giver God will bless.
Author Unknown
BE A GIVER
It was a beautiful day for sightseeing around downtown Portland. A bunch of counselors were on their day off, away from campers, just out for some fun. The weather was perfect for a picnic, so when lunchtime came, they set their sights on a small park in town. Since they all had different cravings, they decided to split up, get what each one wanted and meet back on the grass in a few minutes.
When one of the counselors went to the hot dog stand, her friend accompanied her. They watched the vendor put together the perfect hot dog, just the way Robby wanted it. But when she took out her money to pay the vendor, he surprised them. "It looks a little on the cool side,"he said, "so never mind paying me". This will be my freebie of the day."
They said thankS, joined their friends in the park, and dug into the food. But as they talked and ate, man sitting nearby looking at them distracted them. They could tell that he hadn’t much more attention than that.
They finished eating and decided to head off for more sightseeing. But when they went to the garbage can to throw away their lunch bag, they heard a strong voice ask, "there isn’t any food in that bag, is there?" It was the man who had been watching them. They didn’t know what to say. "No, I ate already." “Oh," was his only answer, with no shame in his voice at all. He was obviously hungry, couldn’t bear to see anything thrown away, and was used to asking this question.
They felt bad for the man, but didn’t know what to do. That's when Robby said, 'I'll be right back. Please wait for me a minute" and ran off to the hot dog stand. She brought back a hot dog, crossed back to the trash can, and gave the hungry man the food.
When she came back, she simply said, 'I was just passing on the kindness that someone gave to me." "That day,' said Robby's friend, "I learned how generosity can go farther than the person you give to. By giving, you teach others how to give also." We can do the same for each other during this summer season. "Whenever you did it to the least of my brethren, you did it to me.”
PRAYER
"Lord Jesus Christ, you have all power to heal and to deliver. There is no trouble nor bondage you cannot overcome. Set me free to serve you joyfully and to love and serve others generously. May nothing hinder me from giving myself wholly to you and to your service."
He Chose to Adopt Us
This story tells of the man who set out to adopt a troubled teenage girl. One would question his logic. She was destructive, disobedient, and dishonest.
One day she came home from school and ransacked the house looking for money. By the time he arrived, she was gone and the house was in shambles.
Upon hearing of her actions, a friend urged him not to finalize the adoption. "You haven't completed the paperwork. You haven't signed any documents. Let her go."
His response was simply, "But I've already promised her that she would be my daughter."
God, too, has made a covenant to adopt his people. His covenant is not invalidated by our rebellion. It's one thing to love us when we are strong, obedient, and willing. But when we ransack his house and steal what is his? This is the test of love. And God passes the test; Despite our sin, in the face of our rebellion, He chose to adopt us.
- - -
Romans 5:8 - But God has shown us how much he loves us - it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!
Matthew 9:12-13 - (Jesus said) "People who are well do not need a doctor, but only those who are sick... I have not come to call respectable people, but outcasts."
Ephesians 1:5 - God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his sons...
July 21 - Jesus Calling
Rest in My Presence when you need refreshment. Resting is not necessarily idleness, as people often perceive it. When you relax in My company, you are demonstrating trust in Me. Trust is a rich word, laden with meaning and direction for your life. I want you to lean on, trust, and be confident in Me. When you lean on Me for support, I delight in your trusting confidence.
Many people turn away from Me when they are exhausted. They associate Me with duty and diligence, so they try to hide from My Presence when they need a break from work. How this saddens Me! As I spoke through My prophet Isaiah: In returning to Me and resting in Me you shall be saved; in quietness and trust shall be your strength.
Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
—Proverbs 3:5 amp
For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning [to Me] and resting [in Me] you shall be saved; in quietness and in [trusting] confidence shall be your strength. But you would not.
—Isaiah 30:15
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