Grace is often seen as something OUTSIDE us. It is in the way we speak and in our every day lives. We use rosaries from Rome (blessed by Pope Francis himself!) as if a rosary blessed by Pope Francis is somehow more holy than one blessed by the local priest. We get water from Lourdes, … Continue reading #55: How Lovely Is Your Dwelling Place
#54: We Interrupt This War
We are aware of how war has fragmented our families, our societes, our world. In the name of God, or principle, or money, we come to do violence on other people. War has the terrible consequence of making us less human, less humane. Today, we pray for the cessation of hostilities. Today we remember the … Continue reading #54: We Interrupt This War
#53: God of the Flyblown and the Foreign
We are often impatient when things do not go our way. It is difficult not to be in control of situations. We feel out of sorts, in shambles, without integrity. But it is when we are not in control that we are potentially nearest to God. It is when life is not neat and orderly … Continue reading #53: God of the Flyblown and the Foreign
#52: When I Despair
There is much to despair about in this world--pain and suffering seems to be part of every day life. In Pope Francis' visit to the Philippines, one young girl asked him, “Why is God allowing such things to happen, even if it is not the fault of the children? And why are there only very … Continue reading #52: When I Despair
#51: Beannacht
A 'beannacht' is old Irish for blessing or benediction. John Donohue wrote this for his mother, Josie. It is good to pray this today. Imagine a very important person in your life right now in your mind's eye, offer him/her to God, dedicate this prayer to him/her, and say this prayer aloud. Beannacht John O'Donohue … Continue reading #51: Beannacht
#50: Shifting Sands
Faith and reason has always been and will always remain a tension in our lives, specially in this world of scientific exploration and technological advance. There is grace in the tension of faith and reason: when we don't use reason, we water down faith—it becomes blind, uninformed, naive. But when all we use is reason, … Continue reading #50: Shifting Sands
#49: Savor the Little Things
Do you eat while reading? If so, you might have noticed the phenomenon I’ve noticed: sometimes you can eat an entire meal without even really tasting the food. This applies to a lot of things in our lives: we can spend an hour with our family without really talking to them. We can go to a park or the beach, and not really notice the things around us.
#48: I Choose to Breath the Breath of Christ
A spiritual director of mine, Fr. Vic Baltazar, described grace this way: id quod volo. It means THAT WHICH I DESIRE THE MOST. Grace is: that which we desire the most--even before we know it, even before it is right in front of our face, even before our feelings and emotions starts to kick in. … Continue reading #48: I Choose to Breath the Breath of Christ
prayersofapilgrim.com 