July 19
"The best way to prepare for death is to spend every day of life as though it were the last. Think of the end of worldly honor, wealth, and pleasure and ask yourself: And then? And then?"
-St. Philip Neri
Today's Reflection:
To what does my "and then" lead? How can I make my "and then" count today?
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July 18
"Do now, do now, what you will wish to have done when your moment
comes to die."
-St. Angela Merici
Today's Reflection:
Mentally make a list of those things you will have wished to have done when your moment comes to die. Are there people you will have wished to forgive or from whom you wished to have asked for forgiveness? Are there little niceties and kindnesses you will have wished to have offered? Are there faults and failings, bad habits and weaknesses you would have liked to overcome? Of these, what can I "do now" so I will have no lingering regrets? How will this help my life to be happier for as long as it is mine?
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July 17
"Happy is the man who keeps the hour of death always in mind, and daily prepares for it."
-Thomas À Kempis
Today's Reflection:
At first glance, this quote seems to be a contradiction. How can one be happy if he is always keeping his death in mind? How can the reality of death lead us to true happiness of life? What part does preparation for death play in our happiness?
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July 16
"We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep."
-1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
Today's Reflection:
We indeed have hope! What blessed assurance – this is a great consolation to know we will always be with the Lord and, so, too, our loved ones who have gone before us.
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July 15
“Then we make mention also of those who have already fallen asleep: first, the patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, that through their prayers and supplications God would receive our petition; next, we make mention also of the holy fathers and bishops who have already fallen asleep, and, to put it simply, of all among us who have already fallen asleep, for we believe that it will be of very great benefit to the souls of those for whom the petition is carried up, while this holy and most solemn sacrifice is laid out.”
- St. Cyril of Jerusalem
Today's Reflection:
Do I pray for those who have gone before us on a regular basis - not just on this Feast of All Souls Day? Do I pray for those in most need of mercy and have nobody to pray for them? I must remember to pray these souls forward and in turn they will pray me forward.
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July 14
"The glorious company of the apostles praise Thee. The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise Thee. The white-robed army of martyrs praise Thee.
All Thy saints and elect with one voice do acknowledge Thee,
O Blessed Trinity, one God!"
- Antiphon at Lauds from the Te Deum
Today's Reflection:
Am I looking toward the Heavens on this day, hoping to be there with the saints at the end of my earthly days or do I just keep my nose to the grindstone waiting for the last minute to prepare for my journey's end?
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July 13
“'We must not make purgatory into a flaming concentration camp on the brink of hell—or even a ‘hell for a short time.’ It is blasphemous to think of it as a place where a petty God exacts the last pound—or ounce—of flesh....' St. Catherine of Genoa, a mystic of the 15th century, wrote that the ‘fire’ of purgatory is God’s love ‘burning’ the soul so that, at last, the soul is wholly aflame. It is the pain of wanting to be made totally worthy of One who is seen as infinitely lovable, the pain of desire for union that is now absolutely assured, but not yet fully tasted."
-Leonard Foley, O.F.M.
Today's Reflection:
Oh, the longing and anxiety of when, Lord, when, will I be with you at long last? When will I be like fire tried gold – with all the dross finally purged from my soul? Am I preparing now so that I can have a happy death and a short time in purgatory at the most?
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July 12
"I have given everything to my Master: He will take care of me. The best thing for us is not what we consider best, but what the Lord wants for us."
- St. Josephine Bakhita
Today's Reflection:
Is there something that I am holding on to and which I am afraid to surrender? What is it? Can I trust God to do what is best? Now, in confidence, I will release this concern to Him.
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July 11
"Faith is a gift, but for very few is it a gift given without any demand for equal time devoted to its cultivation."
- Flannery O'Connor
Today's Reflection:
In what ways do I devote time to the cultivation of a mature Catholic faith?
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July 10
"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most precious blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home, and within my family. Amen."
-St. Gertrude the Great
Today's Reflection:
This prayer was given to St. Gertrude by Jesus. He promised that every time it was said, 1,000 souls would be released from Purgatory and allowed into God's Presence. Am I willing to incorporate this prayer into my daily life? I will show my sincerity of heart by praying it again right now.
(Correction: The quote should have said 1,000 not 100,000)
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