12/8/24 Through 12/14/24

 12/8/24 Through 12/14/24

Sunday

I pray that love in you increase

And you discern what's true

What hold's its value ne'er to cease

And righteousness comes through.

For this alone will lead to joy

All others, worthless dross

Don't with the passing pleasures toy

And find that all is loss.

Monday

Conceived without sin His Mother must be

No spot or no wrinkle that Satan could see

No way to corrupt a one who's so pure,

A vessel that's perfect to carry the Cure.

Her radiant beauty, the image of man

The Star of Creation in God's holy plan.

Our model who shows what the Garden once lost

The price that our lack of obedience cost

The singular boast of the whole human race

The Virgin Most Holy, Dispenser of Grace.

Oh, Mother of Mercy and Star of the Sea

Obtain every grace of conversion for me.

Then bring me along to the place of your Son

Our King who on Calvary victory won

Where light dispels dark and love banishes hate

Where God ever merciful opens the gate.

Monday Evening

Immaculate she was conceived

But not that you should be deceived

She had to choose still every day

To follow on the Father's way.

She lived amid a world of sin

Yet never turned her heart from Him

She pondered that not understood

But trusted that His way was good.

A vessel pure and undefiled

Who bore the tender little child

As free of sin as one could be

One filled with grace and fully free.

Tuesday

The mountains trimmed, the valleys filled

Our time on Earth at last fulfilled

A single breath shall wilt and fade

The every shelter man has made

It's time His glory be revealed

At last the land be cleansed and healed

Cry out! Cry out!  The Lord is near

At last your recompense is here

He's come to gather all His fold

So too, the stray out in the cold

He hearkens to their bleating sound

Rejoicing when the lost is found.

Wednesday

Lift up your eyes and see the stars

For such a One this God of ours

To orchestrate their nightly dance

And place the mortal mind in trance.

He knows them all in each detail

Both strong and mighty, weak and frail

Why think that you might hide your ways

From such a One who made these days?

Have you not seen or ever heard

What He can do with just a word?

He made the all that you can see,

The flesh and soul of you and me.

No bound to what His strength can do

His works are always fresh and new

He strengthens those about to fall 

If they but hearken to His call

When hope is placed in Him alone

His love and care are clearly shown

With strength renewed and weary gone

Those trusting Him will carry on.

Thursday

God's temple was opened, the Ark could be seen

Clothed with the Sun, on the Moon was the Queen

With Child She wailed, as She labored in pain

For soon to be born was the greatest of gain.

And so, then another appeared in the sky

A dragon intent that the Child should die

The Child appeared but was caught up by God

The Woman, to safety, was taken abroad.

So, now that salvation and power have come

A gift from the Father, anointed His Son.

It's up to the faithful to hear and obey,

To treasure each word that our Savior will say.

To hastily go to the person in need

And carry within the Divine Living Seed.

To ponder within and to cast away fear

Always trusting His mercy and power are near.

This Mother of ours is a gift from above

A Tower of Ivory, a Temple of Love.

A Mirror of Mercy, a Radiant Light

Dispelling the shadows and darkness of night.

The Father Himself said to honor this one

Made Mother of All on the Cross by His Son

So, now we rejoice on this heavenly feast

He has humbled the proud and exalted the least.

Friday

No matter what you choose to say

Excuse is found along the way.

To turn from that which You desire

And wallow in our selfish mire.

You prosper man in simple ways

If he but listens and obeys

Prosperity will flow for all

Who hearken to Your sacred call.

Like wave on wave from endless sea

The grace would flow from You to me.

The grains of sand my progeny

Would never then depart from Thee.

Saturday

Elijah, John and maybe you

Are called to mighty actions do.

Their work which saved so many souls

Not man, but only God extols.

Obedience to every word

That came from God the prophets heard

Would mark their mission every day

And guide them on their sacred way.

So too could be a one like you

To seek his will in all you do,

To follow well each word you hear

And others to this treasure steer.