Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Mt 5:20-26


Lord please heal the brokeness in my family. I would like to do something, but I know meddling usually makes things worse. I turn to You my Lord for help. Help me to be a better person, strengthen my relationships and give me the words and actions to help healing occur.

Jesus said to his disciples: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asked for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”
Mt 7:7-12

Jesus, show me Your will for my life. I believe that I should be doing something besides being home. Is it school? ministry? job? I have so many ideas floating around in my head that I do not know which way to go. I am stuck in doing nothing because I can not decide what I should do. I need the external motivation, committment to keep me healthy. The depression has not become a threat yet. I was so afraid that it would happen. I am thankful for my health but I feel as though I should be doing something. Something to further my future, marriage, home, and/or family and always building up Your kingdom. I love You Lord, please guide me.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.

For you are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Psalm 51


A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Only with Your grace can I move forward. Thank you for the undeserved gift of Your love. My life is truly blessed.

Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This is how you are to pray:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

“If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
Mt 6:7-15


Lord it is frightening to think that my forgiveness is based on my ability to forgive others. I know You are merciful and loving. I will continue to do my best to be forgiving and hope in You! Please forgive me. Thank you for teaching us how to pray. I lift my voice with Yours in praying to OUR FATHER....

And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Mt 16


Lord, thank You for the gift of faith. There have been so many times in my life when I don't know what I would have done without You. Thank You for the gift of the Church. It has given me direction and encouragement. Thank You especially for my parish family as they have been truly life giving for me. I have experienced Your love and grace through them many, many times!

Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
Because he clings to Me, I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he acknowledges My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in distress; I will deliver him and glorify him.
Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.
Ps 91

pride,
covetousness (also known as avarice or greed),
lust,
anger,
gluttony 1 : excess in eating or drinking 2 : greedy or excessive indulgence
envy: 1 : painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage
sloth (acedia): 1. disinclination to action or labor 2. spiritual apathy and inactivity


Be with me Lord when I am in trouble, be with me Lord I pray. I know I have an unhealthy attachement to sweets. Help me to see them as one of your good gifts and not as a need.
Be with me Lord when I am in trouble, be with me Lord I pray. Is my feelings of being less or inadequate based in envy? Help me Lord to see the truth.
Be with me Lord when I am in trouble, be with me Lord I pray. I am to inactive both spiritually and physically. Help me to have self discipline, interest and energy.
Guide me to be the person you want me to be.

Incline your ear, O LORD; answer me, for I am afflicted and poor. Keep my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God.

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for to you I call all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. Hearken, O LORD, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading.
Psalm 86


Send Your Spirit Lord to guide my thoughts, actions and prayer. I love You.

“Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom. If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today, loving him, and walking in his ways,and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees, you will live and grow numerous,

If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen, but are led astray and adore and serve other gods, I tell you now that you will certainly perish; you will not have a long life

I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then,
that you and your descendants may live, by loving the LORD, your God, heeding his voice, and holding fast to him. For that will mean life for you,
Dt 30


Lord it is so easy to get caught up in "things" that distract us from You. Help me to keep my priorities straight to remember that things, even good things are just stuff to use and enjoy on the journey not the purpose of the journey. Guide my heart, mind and actions toward You. I choose life, help me to live as Your daughter.

Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning; Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment. Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing, Offerings and libations for the LORD, your God.
Jl 2:12-18

Lent begins today. O Lord may this lent bring me ever closer to You. I have faith, forgive my doubts. I have hope, wash away my depression. I have love, help my unloving.

Blessed the man whom you instruct, O LORD, whom by your law you teach, Giving him rest from evil days.

For the LORD will not cast off his people, nor abandon his inheritance; But judgment shall again be with justice, and all the upright of heart shall follow it.

When I say, “My foot is slipping,” your mercy, O LORD, sustains me; When cares abound within me, your comfort gladdens my soul.
Psalm 94:


Blessed be God our Father the Almighty! Thank you Lord for yesteray, a day of energy, direction and motivation. Your love is great and it sustains me.

The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from Him a sign from heaven to test Him. He sighed from the depth of His spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Then He left them, got into the boat again, and went off to the other shore.
Mk 8:11-13


Lord I find great comfort in knowing that You too experienced frustration, disappointment and discouragement. You removed Yourself from that environment to rest and renew Yourself. I know You did not abandon Your mission, just regrouped. I often "sigh from the depth of my spirit", it is so hard not to just give up. From Your example I know that it is okay to step away. This encourages me as I often need to back up and review my perspective. Thank you Lord for helping me not to lose faith and run away. There have been many times that I couldn't have made it without You. My mind, heart and soul give You praise and thanksgiving!

then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” (that is, “Be opened!”)And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Mk 7:31-37

Lord please open my ears to hear You. I know You speak to me through elements of this world. There is so much noise, it is so hard to hear. Tune my heart to hear Your words of love and guidance. Guide my mouth to speak Your words. May the Holy Spirit guide my words to be loving and true. To say the right thing at the right time. To bring Your love and Your message to the world around me. Praise, glory and honor to You my Lord for You have done great things for me.

Blessed are they who observe what is right, who do always what is just. Remember us, O LORD, as you favor your people; visit us with your saving help.

But they mingled with the nations and learned their works. They served their idols,
which became a snare for them.
Psalm 106:


How easy it is for me to become captured by the lures of our society. There are so many good people but we have become accustomed to the evil around us. It just seems normal. Help me to live rightly and to behave lovingly toward others and myself. Help me to avoid the snares around me.

When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) “But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”
Mk 7:14-23


Lord help me to guard what I take into my heart and mind. It is so difficult sometimes to discern what is right and what is wrong. Give me understanding to know the truth and the courage to stand up for what is right.

Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of the whole community of Israel, and stretching forth his hands toward heaven, he said, “LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below; you keep your covenant of mercy with your servants who are faithful to you with their whole heart.
1 Kgs 8:

After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak;and as many as touched it were healed.
Mk 6:53-56


Jesus there was no rest for You. Everywhere You went the people followed for their own benefits. Today we do the same. Yet, You taught us to persevere in prayer. Please help me to pray for the right things. Not just for benefits for myself but for the benefit of others, the building up of Your kingdom and that Your will might be fulfilled. I believe in You, help my unbelief. I love You Lord, help my unloving.

Your right hand saves me. The LORD will complete what He has done for me; your kindness, O LORD, endures forever; forsake not the work of Your hands.
Psalm 138

Dear Jesus I give you thanks for the many blessings in my life. Help me to always see the good; the goodness of your love, the blessings I take for granted, the goodness of all your beloved children. When I see the glass as half full, help me to remember your love and grace fills it to the brim.

With his every deed he offered thanks to God Most High, in words of praise. With his whole being he loved his Maker and daily had his praises sung;
Sir 47:

Lord help me to remember to give you thanks and glory. It is you who created me and all that I am. Nothing exists without you. Give me the energy to do what I am supposed to do and the self control to do it.