1/24/16 Through 1/30/16

1/24/16 Through 1/30/16

Sunday

Our faith is not a refuge for

The feint or weak of mind

But that which reaches to the core

For brawn of different kind

The realm of faith is for the free

No room there for the slave

For in this realm you only see

The gallant and the brave.

Monday

May Your light around me shine

And may my heart be ever Thine

So with others I may share

This love of Yours beyond compare

Tuesday

Fan the gift of love until

The flame is burning bright

For hands were laid on you to fill

With power, love, and might.

Wednesday

In my heart let no divide

Remove me from Your loving side

Give me a love for humble things

And let me find what meekness brings

Thursday

What we grasp, it slips away

But love of God is here to stay

In this love we cannot hold

Is where we find the purest gold.

Friday

My sin before me all the while

Revealing truth to my beguile

No hope for sin to satisfy

But want within to magnify..

Saturday

Reveal the nature of my sin

Cleanse my heart from deep within

Make me pure, as snow is white,

Shine in me Your holy light.

1/17/16 Through 1/23/16

1/17/16 Through 1/23/16

Sunday

In the water changed to wine

The Lord beginning to define

His mission here to make us whole

And grant to us His life in full.

Monday

A sacrifice no substitute

For doing as we're told

For sacrifice cannot commute

Persistent pride I'm told.

Tuesday

Each one anointed specially

For their specific task.

The Spirit wants us all to see

We need, but only ask.

Wednesday

Lord, when I clearly hear Your call

Let me respond by giving all.

Then make me strong and make me wise,

That I may never compromise.

For those You call You qualify

To be so bold and testify

Before the mighty, and the king

By patient, and long suffering.

Thursday

Our pride invites the evil one

To dwell within the soul

Corruption of the thoughts begun,

He moves to take the whole.

Humility accepts His will

At every time and place,

And though we have to suffer still

The time is filled with grace.

Friday

Virgin womb, that holy place

Within the Mother full of grace.

This haven of virginity

That cradles there Divinity.

Spread your grace throughout our land

That in His will, we all would stand

Defending life at every stage,

In every place, at every age.

Saturday

Lord grant to me a struggle stern

That through the trials I may learn,

The wisdom of a humble heart

And gladly do my simple part.

1/10/16 Through 1/16/16

1/10/16 Through 1/16/16

Sunday

Lord in each holy sacrament

You show us more what love has meant

And through each gift You shine Your light

And by Your love You show Your might.

Monday

Do in me Lord what You must

To do Lord, what You will

Instill in me a faithful trust

To quiet and be still.

To wait on You, and hear Your voice

To listen when I pray.

That I would make the finest choice,

To follow in Your way.

Tuesday/Wednesday

Guardian of Purity II

My Jesus if we only knew

How precious every soul to YouIf we were somehow made awareOf all the love that they could share.

How could we bear to see them slain?How could we let them die in vain?Those guilty of this heinous crimeAre all the men of present time.

We claim to never do such thingsBut look and see what weakness brings.The lustful stare the thoughts unchecked.Our loved one treated with neglect.

The simple things we often doThat make us fall away from YouCreate a climate rife with lustDestroying in the woman, trust.

Then simply used and thrown awayShe treats her child in this same wayMeanwhile we sit in blinded prideAnother woman cast aside.

To end this horror men must learnTo see within, how women yearnFor man to be their trusted guideProtector, always at their side.

The eyes, we must keep always free,From lust and all pornographyThen elevate in heart and mindThe dignity of womankind.

When simply we objectifyWhom God meant us to sanctifyWe, on the downward path beginThat leads us to this deadly sin.

So guard the thoughts, and mind the eyesAnd learn to sordid things despiseBecome what men were meant to beThe Guardians of Purity.

Thursday
Repentant hearts will please the King
If we a humble spirit bring
And truly turn our heads away
From worthless gods that lead astray.

Friday
Grant me wisdom, Lord I pray
To be my guide throughout this day
Keep me far away from sin
And let me bear Your Son within.

Saturday
Each one anointed specially
To do a certain work for me.
But for each to do their part
I need from them a willing heart.

1/3/16 Through 1/9/16

1/3/16 Through 1/9/16

Sunday

I don't know why He blessed me so

Perhaps one day I'll come to know

I just recall one fateful night,

I finally knew this girl was right

I took the plunge and made the call

And offered that I give her all

Then she agreed, to my delight

And sweet my dreams were all that night.

I didn't know back on that day

How strong the words we had to say

Much more than just a platitude

They grew into an attitude

Of giving all we have to give

And learning how we ought to live

By answering His holy call

And offering, to Him, our all.

Monday

Niby asks for just one thing 

A holy priest to be

With all devoted to the King

His will to clearly see.

One Hail Mary everyday

To help his whole life long

He humbly asks the flock to pray

To keep him standing strong

Tuesday

Everyday with holy bread

A multitude of souls are fed

The charge for those who do partake

To show the world what grace can make.

A heart of generosity

Devoid of animosity

A humble willing servant who,

Says do with me what You would do.

Wednesday

We all know well just what we need

To learn to love and love indeed

It beckons everyday to find

A way to love and be more kind.

But why then, do we always fear

Preventing Him from drawing near?

Because we look upon the cross

And see He counted all as loss

Oh, bring me to that awful place

And make me look upon His face

That speaks of what true love provides

A soul with all else crucified.

Thursday AM

This day the scripture is fulfilled

The dawn on high arrived

A love for all in us instilled

His plan for us revived.

Thursday PM

What should I give, Lord, back to Thee

But only what You've given me

Each talent is a precious gift

For me to bless Your family with.

Say not I am the weakest one.

Say not, that I am much too young

For I have chosen you to be

My instrument to captives free.

Belittle not, My gifts to you

I've given them for you to do

My work on earth as instruments

Becoming living sacraments.

A sign to show My love for all

To help your neighbor hear My call

Through service, help them find their way

And hear My voice, in what you say.

For to everyone I grant

Ability for seed to plant

And then enjoy in love sublime

A feast with Me at harvest time.

Friday

If You wish Lord, make me clean

And let Your love, in me, be seen

For You my ask is not too much

Just heal me with your simple touch.

Saturday

In everyone, Lord, let me see

The presence of the King

And like the holy wise men three

Give them an offering.

12/27/15 Through 1/2/16

12/27/15 Through 1/2/16

Sunday

The perfect love and perfect home 

We pray we all achieve

But such a thing is only known

To those who do believe

For love is more than wedded bliss

True love is meant to love like this:

A total gift renewed each day

In many and in varied way

A sacrifice, a patient word,

For greater love, desire deferred.

True joy and happiness is found

When Christ, the family King is crowned.

Monday

Today I sit and wonder why

The thoughts of self are placed so high,

And problems always seem so clear,

Especially in those held dear.

Please fix me first, oh Lord of life

And then, perhaps, also my wife.

But let me always see within

My heart, the best place to begin.

Tuesday

I want to know and love your way

I want to listen and obey

But all too often self invades

And once again to sin persuades

If I but knew how love was made'

I'd then refuse a worthless trade

I'd be the man I'm meant to be

And love would then desire me.

Wednesday

Enticements of this world

Will quickly pass away

But works for Christ the Lord

Are firmly here to stay.

Thursday

Many the voices that sound in my ear

Proclaiming the praises of something else here.

Promoting in some way a pleasure or fear

But only one voice that is true and is clear.

Friday

The voice of the Church, our dear mother on earth.

The voice of the one who can bring a new birth.

The power of one who will do the right thing

The power of one that salvation does bring.

Saturday

Trust His mighty spoken word

That you, from the beginning, heard

He'll not forsake a promise made

His love for us will never fade.

12/20/15 - 12/26/15

12/20/15 - 12/26/15

Sunday

Rising in the midst of night

To do Your will is my delight

When no one in the house is stirred

Much clearer then, I hear Your word.

Monday

A new era comes this season

Complimenting faith and reason

Proofs that even blind can see

Proofs of how things came to be.

In spite of this some choose to say

It happened quite some other way

Defying logic and the facts

Continuing their vain attacks.

In this year of grace and mercy

Lead the blind and doubtful to see

In that humble domicile

Love has come to reconcile.

Tuesday

No sacrifice that I would make

Could compensate for what I take

For what I offer, Lord to Thee,

Is only what You've given me.

Tuesday PM

This night a humble man passed on

To find eternal day

He changed the world he lived upon

In one important way.

He brought the light of faith to me

Though less than ten years old.

He taught me what a man should be 

If he be young or old.

Wednesday

Lord bring on me Your furnace fire

And burn away the muck and mire

So when at last, I thee behold

My heart be purified as gold.

Thursday

The lustrous pearl of night descends

Without perceiving, starlight ends

Then beauty of the morning sun

Brings light and life to everyone.

Friday

In the darkness of the night

A star has come, now shining bright

A quiet stillness in the air

A tiny babe in manger there.

Can it be that one so small

Is truly here to save us all?

In this humble stable born

The Son of God, this Christmas morn.

Saturday

Trust in God in times of trial

When the end appears so bleak

Refining for a little while

Reveals the perfect love we seek.

12/13/15 through 12/19A/15

12/13/15 through 12/19/15

Sunday

How is it John the Baptist

The greatest man alive

Would think himself not worthy 

For assistance to provide?

He saw the true Messiah

The One to save the earth

Come from the highest heaven

to lowly manger birth.

Monday

A prophet, Balaam, claimed to be

A man of high integrity

A man that sees what God can see

A man that sees what comes to be.

But that prophet, old and silly,

Beat his donkey willy nilly.

He couldn't see upon the pass,

Angels seen by his simple ass.

Dear Lord, my eyes, like Balaam's, clear

And let me know that You are near

Speak to me throughout the day

And guard me in the things I say.

Tuesday 1

How easily we let in pride

It's always waiting at our side

Humility we have to choose

Or risk eternal life to lose.

Tuesday 2

What good is anger in my soul

It keeps my soul from getting full

A foolish grasp at happiness

A sinful act I must confess.

A child of lacking gratitude

A selfish sinning attitude

Impatient burst of pride and shame

The way to earn a tarnished name.

Tuesday 3

This time I spend with you for love

To draw your heart towards Him above

To One who fashioned you alone

To do the things His will made known.

The way to find a happy life

Is not just find a man or wife,

But find the reason you were made

And nevermore His will evade.

This time, I pray, you will not waste

Soon with decisions, you'll be faced.

To find the best way you were made

To live and love, BE NOT AFRAID!

Wednesday

Must you ask, "Are you the One"

Just look and see the work I've done

The lame can walk, the blind can see,

Those trapped by sin have been set free.

Thursday

More than mind can hope to fathom

Farther than the eye can see

Wonders all, and You have made them

Let the glory, be to Thee.

Friday

Dear Joseph with the virgin pure

You had a love to long endure

No sordid lust to cloud the view

Of perfect beauty close to you.

Saturday

Don't shave the head.  Take no strong drink.

Be set apart and clean.

Stay close to Him, is what I think

The vow is meant to mean.

12/6/15 Through 12/12/15

12/6/15 through 12/12/15

Sunday

Every path that leads to Him

Will cross the desert sand

It's there we learn to trust in Him

Like in the promised land.

Monday

A stretcher lowered through the tiles

By faith, the trip was worth the miles.

Hearing words of mercy spoken

Chains of sin are finally broken.

Tuesday

Mary pure and spotless mother

Purest member of our race

Sinless virgin, like no other

Filled with beauty, charm, and grace.

Wednesday

Holy virgin, full of grace,

Let your presence fill this place.

Pure and spotless, favored one

Who bore within, God's only son.

Conceived without the stain of sin

The font of grace you held within

A ready fiat on your lips

A zeal for souls none can eclipse.

The prophets feared to see His face

Or enter in that holy place.

For if they looked upon the  light

Their death would come by holy fright.

If they, but dared, to touch the Ark

The wrath of God, on them would spark.

For oxen stumbled, Uzzah tried,

To steady things, but then he died.

But not for you, oh Privileged One,

Upon your breast, you fed God's Son.

For nine full months, oh Full of Grace,

He made of you His dwelling place.

Without concupiscence they say

It sure did palliate your way.

But, au contraire, is my belief

The serpent gave you no relief.

The one who knows the devil's strength

Is one who fights to any length.

You watched and waited while He bled

And there you crushed the serpent's head.

How many times you thought it plain

But then, His will was not the same,

Yet every time you'd acquiesce

And utter once again that yes.

Thursday

The worm cannot conceive a plan.

The maggot cannot think or stand.

When I am he that makes the plan

Then I AM does not grasp the hand.

Friday

The Lord He teaches what is good

He leads us to the Way

We'd have it all if we but would

Just listen, and obey.

Saturday

 (To the Tune of Come O long Expected Jesus)

Virgin of the Tilma save us

Make our land be truly free

Save us from the sin that harms us 

Lead us to thy Son through thee.

Open eyes entrapped in darkness

Shine the light that they may see.

Rescue those in evil's harness

Grant the gift of faith through thee.

11/29/15 Through 12/5/15

11/29/15 Through 12/5/15

Sunday

A Happy New Year may this be,

That I would grow and learn to see,

That I must put myself aside

And patiently, in love, abide

Monday

Since Mercy granted ministry

Discouraged, now we cannot be

But persevering in the cause

We ask the Lord to fix our flaws.

Tuesday

Blessed the eyes that see His face

Blessed the hearts He fills with grace.

The prophets longed to see this day

When Christ would come to show the way.

Tuesday PM

Stupid One

I feel like such a stupid one,

I don't know how to get things done.

What's simple for the younger crowd

Can start me cursing things out loud.

The senses dull, the mind is slow,

I've got no clue which way to go.

I search for things to fill the gap,

But find in each new thing, a trap.

Every day I try and then,

I only find I've failed again.

So filled with things, I ought to burst,

But none of them can slake this thirst.

Maybe now has come the time

For me to hear the church bells chime,

And ask the Lord, what's on His mind.

Perhaps He knows, what I should find.

I've tried for years to give His due

But even there had failure too.

For pride can stain the goodness where

We're like the pharisee in prayer.

I want to say this very night,

"To do Your will is my delight."

Just ask of me and I will do

Whatever, Lord, that pleases You.

Have mercy on Your sinful son

And finish now, Your work begun.

Let me, in silence, beat my breast

And in repentance, face each test.

Wednesday

At banquet feast He feeds the least

With choicest wine and meat.

He breaks the net, and cancels debt,

His loved ones there to greet.

Thursday

Take the Word and spread it out

To people far and near.

Then act on it, so all about

The folks both see and hear.

For action is the factor that

We see across the land

Shows them that your house, in fact,

Is built on rock, not sand.

Friday

Unless, for sure, we want to see

The blindness will remain.

But in the search for Truth will be,

The light that will sustain.

Saturday

The path to tread not always clear,

For children of this day

But if we listen we can hear

His voice that calls, "This way".

11/22/15 Through 11/28/15

11/22/15 through 11/28/15

Sunday

Oh Lord of Lords, and King of Kings,

To You this day our praises ring

The maker of the stars at night

The One who reigns in power and might.

Monday

They trusted God, the youthful wise

And let the Word become their guide.

When suffering their captor's pride

The angel kept the flames aside.

Tuesday

Changes happen everyday

In what we do, or what we say.

We fail to act, neglect to pray,

Then wonder how things got this way.

Wednesday

So plain the writing on the wall

It's there for one and there for all.

Expressing all the rules we've bent

And calling all now to repent.

There is but precious little time

To sit and play with silly rhyme.

The Master's coming to the feast

To shame the proud and raise the least.

Thursday

We thank you for these blessings Lord

For life with You in one accord

We thank you for such love from You

A grateful heart is blessing too.

Friday

The triumph of the King at last

Will wipe away our sinful past

and we'll be changed by living for

A Love that reigns forevermore.

Saturday

We ask the Holy Virgin pure

The grace to now, and death endure

Two crucial times in just one breath

Both now and at the hour of death.

11/15/15 Through 11/21/15

11/15/15 Through 11/21/15

Sunday

Can I last until the end,

Will truth and right I still defend?

Enticing beauty can I see,

With eyes of love and purity?

Will I look beyond the now

To see a life of love somehow,

Will bring about the holy state

That all the saints so long await?

Monday

Lord I ask for eyes to see

The poor and needy close to me

That they would see, in me, a light 

To make their day a bit more bright.

Tuesday

The joy of others stirred in me

A simple curiosity

What had they found that I had not?

This part of faith I never got.

The scripture was a foreign land

Not visited by modern man

But I found within that book,

A man of love with baited hook.

He set it deep within my soul,

Through love He made my quiver full.

A mate to help me on the way

To find the path to brighter days

A grateful heart looks back to find

Religion of a different kind

Remembering forevermore

The climbing of that sycamore.

Then coming down to sup with Him

To chase the dark and light the dim

I found the joy that I had sought.

Now others seek what I have got.

Wednesday

The ones who torture and defile

Refuse to love or reconcile

No demand that's ever met

Will give them what they want to get.

For evil, peace cannot be found.

Their enemies are all around.

Conversion is the only way

To fight the terror of this day.

For only when we forfeit pride

Can different ones live side by side.

When stinginess and egos cease

Is only when we live in peace.

Thursday

When missed the opportunity,

Is gone with it, felicity.

If we but knew the joy we lost

Would it be worth so great a cost?

Friday

Drive away each evil thought

And cleanse this soul which You have bought.

Take my anger, lust, and greed

And make me pure in word and deed.

Saturday

Mary's gift at Presentation

Brought so great a consolation

That forever she may be

United with the Trinity.

11/8/15 Through 11/14/15

11/8/15 Through 11/14/15

Sunday

The widow gave her final cent

But only One knew what it meant

We hear the others' money fall,

But this poor woman gave her all.

Monday

From the temple water flows

That all around the tree that grows

May bear its fruit the whole year round

And healing in its leaves be found.

Oh make of me a fruitful tree

That food for others I may be.

And let me give to those around

The healing love that I have found.

Tuesday

The humble heart that's supple

Will dart about through stubble

Though for a time they were chastised

They have become the gold that's tried.

To do as we're obliged to do

Deserves no great reward

For we are worthless servants who 

Deserve to be ignored.

Wednesday

The day will come when morning dawns

And Christ himself will right the wrongs

The blind shall see the shining Son

And all is well my faithful one.

But oh, the wicked, oh for those

Who face the frightful judgement woes

Great torment now in certainty

Awaits for all eternity.

Thursday

Confusion reigns within my soul

For wisdom needs to make me whole

Firm, secure, and tranquil light

The aura of the the God of might.

Fairer beauty than the Sun

A spotless mirror of the One

Shining victor in the fight

Refulgent beauty conquers night.

Friday

Oh how foolish are the wise

Who see His works, but in disguise

Amidst the great complexity

In search of how it came to be.

Discern in Him the origin,

And let the doubting mind begin

To comprehend how small are we

How vast the strength and charm of He.

Saturday

Persistent prayer the only hope

For one so weak as me

Who in the darkness only grope

And say, Lord let me see.

11/1/15 through 11/7/15

11/1/15 Through 11/7/15

Sunday

Who are these ones in robes of white

Please tell me Mighty One

Blood from the Lamb has made them bright

Disciples of the Son

Monday

Beloved dead have run the race

Their lot in life is cast

No chance to find another grace

Or mend a sinful past

They hope in us from here below

Through prayer and sacrifice

That God, on them, will soon bestow

The gift of endless light

Tuesday/Wednesday

If I've but just one gift to give

Let it be faith that you might live

For all is naught without the Lord

Accept the gift wealth can't afford

Dear children of my wedding vow

I wish to spend with you somehow

More than some time along the way

Eternity in endless day.

I didn't know when we first met

What blessings I, through love, would get

For love was then two souls embraced,

But grew to many trials faced.

The tiny seed was planted then

And watered with commitment when

Each difficulty we would face

Would bring with it sufficient grace.

To love, the challenge for each life

For celibate, or man and wife

And know, in spite of times we fall

The Lord, in time, will conquer all.

Thursday

We foolishly stray from the Word

And leave the safety of the herd

Then in our lost and wandering way

The Shepherd comes to find the stray.

Friday

The crafty steward knows the way

Of dealing with his kind

But commendation brings dismay

Dishonesty enshrined.

Saturday

Sadness over something lost

Should be for us a sign

A warning that attachments cost

Connection to the Vine.

10/25/15 Through 10/31/15

10/25/15 Through 10/31/15

Sunday

I recognize this prison now

Of sinful selfish ways

The weight of guilt upon my brow

Has darkened light of day.

Then finding that You travel near

With faith my guarantee

I call aloud in hopes You'll hear

"Dear Lord, I want to see"

Monday

Bent and crippled eighteen years

She passed the temple gate

Then by His touch dispelling fears

She started standing straight.

Tuesday

To suffer now cannot compare

To glories yet unseen

The time when mortal men can share

What those in heav'n have seen.

Wednesday

The heavens declare His glory

The stars proclaim His praise

We hear the ancient story

And holy hands we raise.

Thursday

No power now can separate

The living soul God did create

No heinous crime or grave offence

From blazing love that's so intense.

Friday

Lord I offer You this day

The things I do and things I say

May I make for all around

A place where peace and love are found.

Saturday

With the humble and the kind

The Spirit of the Lord we find

For at the banquet or the feast

We find Him sitting with the least.