Category: Prayers

“This is how you are to pray.” –Matthew 6:9 When we pray the “Our Father,” we are praying part of the Bible (Mt 6:9-13). Consider extending this and make praying the Bible one of your principal Lenten practices. Pray it word for word as far as possible. Just change the words slightly to put them in the form of a prayer. For example, you can pray the end of today’s first reading: “Father, may Your word that goes forth from Your mouth not return to You void but do Your will, achieving the end for which You sent it” (see...

“To the elders among you I, a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and sharer in the glory that is to be revealed, make this appeal.” –1 Peter 5:1 A chair is a symbol of authority. That’s why we call the head of a meeting the chairperson and why the Church has named this special day “The Chair of St. Peter.” Catholics believe Peter and his successors are called by the Spirit to chair the meeting of God’s people (Mt 16:18). We also believe that, if we do things God’s way, according to His order, we will see the...

“A few persons, eight in all, escaped in the ark through the water. You are now saved by a baptismal bath which corresponds to this exactly.” —1 Peter 3:20-21 After Noah’s flood, God promised: “Never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood” (Gn 9:11). In fact, God went a step farther than not destroying us by water. He decided to save us through water. “You are now saved by a baptismal bath” (1 Pt 3:21). During Lent, thousands of catechumens are preparing for new life in Christ through the waters of Baptism (see Rm...

“Jesus said to them, ‘The healthy do not need a doctor; sick people do.’ ” –Luke 5:31 Jesus is a Doctor and a Dietician. He often treats His patients by telling them what to eat. Since He is all-knowing, His diets have exceptional healing effects. The diet Dr. Jesus prescribes for us goes far beyond mere human knowledge of calories or cholesterol. He tells us to give up things we don’t think we need to give up, but we must trust our Doctor. Jesus’ diet does much more for us than help us lose weight or restore health. It gives...

“When the day comes that the Groom is taken away, then they will fast.” –Matthew 9:15 We are on the third day of forty days of fasting in imitation of Jesus. Fasting is one of the major ways we defeat the devil (Mt 17:21, NAB). It is one of the most important means the Lord has chosen to convert the world to His Gospel. The international effects of fasting begin with its individual, personal effects. When we change, the world begins to change. Fasting brings to the surface those things in the deep recesses of our hearts. Fasting does not...