​A Runner’s Thoughts: “As long as a man has, he must give. And when he has nothing more, he is free. This freedom is far nobler than the former giving, for he no longer gives in accident but in essence, and he no longer gives one gift, but all gifts, and he no longer gives to just one man, but to all men.” (Johannes Tauler, O.P.)
 
Today’s Blessing Prayer: Sunday blessings and greetings to all! I hope you Sunday is starting off well and that you are continuing to navigate through these Summer days with faith and a hopefulness for the future.
 
Once again, I offer you Pope Francis’ Prayer…
 
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, and the Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain,
with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of All People, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that,
as you did at Cana of Galilee,
joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the Father’s will
and to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us,
through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
 
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
(Prayer Composed by Pope Francis)
 
Today is the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola the founder of the Jesuits so I send a shout out to Pope Francis and all Jesuits today – Happy Feast Day – many blessings and much peace to all!
 
I would especially like to remember Fr. Ron Windmueller, S.J. and Fr. Chet Gator, S.J. both of whom have passed on but through their friendship during my St. Louis years helped to make my vocation possible because they shared the treasure of God’s Kingdom with me. And Fr. Louis Padovano, S.J. who also has passed but who often showed me the light of God’s grace when I founded myself in darkness. Rest in peace with God my good Jesuit friends!
 
My prayer of blessing today is that God will bless all of us with a beautiful day, one in which we will celebrate the gift of life. May we be blessed with a day that is holy, sacred, graced, and full joy, hope, and love. May we be blessed with a day of rest and enjoyment. Please know as always, you are in my prayers. Be safe and healthy as you journey through this day. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Today’s Prayer: Lord God, we have no idea where we are going. We do not see the road ahead of us. We cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do we really know ourselves, and the fact that we think that we are following your will does not mean that we are actually doing so. But we believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And we hope we have that desire in all that we are doing. We hope that we will never do anything apart from that desire. And we know that if we do this you will lead us by the right road though we may know nothing about it. Therefore, will we trust you always though we may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. We will not fear, for you are ever with us, and you will never leave us to face our perils alone. (Adapted from a prayer by Thomas Merton)

​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Saturday greetings and blessings to everyone. I hope you are continuing to navigate through these closing July days with faith and a hopefulness for the future.
 
Once again, I offer you Pope Francis’ Prayer…
 
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, and the Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain,
with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of All People, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that,
as you did at Cana of Galilee,
joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the Father’s will
and to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us,
through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
 
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
(Prayer Composed by Pope Francis)
 
May God bless our Saturday with peace. May God’s blessings be upon our day and our weekend, may our day be filled with grace, strength, faith, hope, love, and my it be rich in the presence of God in wherever we go and in whomever we encounter. If we need a little quiet time may that be part of the grace that we encounter today! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Today’s Prayer:
Lord, teach us to be generous;
Teach us to serve you as you deserve;
To give and not to count the cost;
To fight and not to heed the wounds;
To toil, and not to seek for rest;
To labor, and not to ask for reward –
 except to know that we are doing your will.
(Adapted from a prayer by St. Ignatius of Loyola)
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​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Friday greetings and blessings to everyone! I hope you will be blessed with the spirits of Sts. Martha, Mary and Lazarus today so that you can continuing to navigate through these Summer and late July days with faith and a hopefulness for the future.
 
Once again, I offer you Pope Francis’ Prayer…
 
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, and the Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain,
with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of All People, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that,
as you did at Cana of Galilee,
joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the Father’s will
and to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us,
through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
 
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
(Prayer Composed by Pope Francis)
 
My blessing prayer today is that God will bless our day with many good experiences through the presence of God and like Sts. Martha, Mary and Lazarus we will have the faith to recognize God’s presence in our encounters today. I pray and hope that we will all have a great Friday no matter where we are or what this day brings to our life! I pray for God’s blessings upon all of us as we navigate through your day. May God bless us in the spirit of Sts. Martha, Mary and Lazarus in all our endeavors, in all of our challenges and in all of our struggles. Let us trust in the presence of God that we carry within us and let us not be afraid to share our gift. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Today’s Prayer:
O Lord, when we receive you we accept our day just as it is.
We do not need to have any lofty feelings in our heart to recount to you.
We can lay our day before you just as it is,
for we receive it from you yourself,
the day and its inward light,
the day and all its meaning,
the day and the power to endure it,
the pure awareness of it,
which becomes the faint vision of your eternal life.
(Adapted from a prayer by Fr. Karl Rahner, S.J.)
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Today’s Blessing Prayer: Thursday greetings and blessings to all! I hope this find you well and continuing to navigate through these unusual and at time difficult days with faith and a hopefulness in for the future.
 
Once again, I offer you Pope Francis’ Prayer…Please continue to pray for Pope Francis on his Canadian visit...
 
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, and the Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain,
with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of All People, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that,
as you did at Cana of Galilee,
joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the Father’s will
and to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us,
through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
 
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.  (Prayer Composed by Pope Francis)
 
My prayer of blessing today is – May God, the Eternal Potter, who formed us in our mother’s womb, who breathed life into us, who gifted the world with our present, hold us once again in his loving potter’s hands as we journey through this day. May God bless us with the gift of a joy filled day. May God bless us with the gift of his presence that we will share with everyone we encounter and may God keep us safe, healthy, and graced in his love this day and always! Blessings on your Thursday journey everyone. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Today’s Prayer: Christ Jesus, we ask not that you will spare us affliction, but that you will not abandon us in it. When we encounter affliction, teach us to see you in it as our sole comforter. Let affliction strengthen our faith, fortify our hope, and purify our love. Grant us the grace to see how we can use our affliction to your glory, and to desire no other comforter but you, our Savior, Strengthener, and Friend. Amen (Prayer by St. Bernadette Soubirous)
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​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Wednesday greetings and blessing to all! I hope you are continuing to navigate through these late July days with faith and a hopefulness for the future.
 
Once again, I offer you Pope Francis’ Prayer…Please continue to keep Pope Francis in your prayers as he continues his ‘penitential pilgrimage' to Canada.
 
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, and the Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain,
with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of All People, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that,
as you did at Cana of Galilee,
joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the Father’s will
and to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us,
through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
 
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
(Prayer Composed by Pope Francis)
 
Novena finished and it was a great experience as always. Heading home to soon to prepare for my next adventure!
 
Enjoy your Wednesday everyone and may God bless our day with many good experiences and people! May our Wednesday be rich in the presence of God, blessed with the energy to live fully and graced with encounters of God’s Kingdom. May we find a hidden treasure or a pearl of great price and be willing to give all we have to possess it! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Today’s Prayer: O Lord, the helper of the helpless, the hope of those who are past hope, the savior of the tempest-tossed, the harbor of the voyagers, the physician of the sick. You know each soul and our prayer, each home and its need. Become to each one of us what we most dearly desire. Pour on us your peace and love. O Lord our God. Amen. (Orthodox Liturgy of St. Basil)
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