I think there are two instances when we come at the finest points of realizing the value of a human life. The first one is when a mother gives birth to her child. The second one is when someone close to us dies.

On my part, I have realized it when I lost my grandmother. Although she was already 94 years old then, and we cared for her at home several months before she passed away, it was still a shocking moment when she died.

It was not that she did not die in peace. Because she did. I believe that she died a blessed death surrounded by her family. She died with the sacraments and with the prayers of those who loved her.

Yet even then, that moment when she finally breathed her last was something we could never forget. How could we? Up until her last day, we could still talk to her. Her breathing may be labored, but her mind was clear. She had been with us to her very last hour.

In the blink of an eye, however, she died. She was gone from us, never to be heard again. Never to be with us again.

A person doesn’t need to do much to notice one’s absence once the person is gone. You’d feel the difference. The feeling that the soul has finally left the physical body.

While a person is still there, no matter how sick or unconscious, the presence of life can still be felt. But once the person dies, everything becomes empty. The kind of emptiness that cannot be filled again.

How could it be filled again? None can replace a human being. None can ever replace a human life.

Science may one day reach as far as creating a robot that looks just like the person you’ve lost. But that artificial creation would never have the same eyes that looked at you, the same ears that listened to your cries, the same fingers that touched you and made you feel how much you were loved.

Even if someone were to steal the physical body of a dead person to preserve it and to make of it some monster that moves somehow, that would be the greatest desecration to human life because the physical body would be forced like a puppet to move without a soul.

Life is so valuable because it is unique and once it’s gone, you could never give it back. It doesn’t matter how rich or powerful you are. You can never return a soul to a person who has died.

And because you could never give it, how could you so easily take it away? Dare not think you could put a price in someone’s life for it can never be bought.

A new life may come to us, as when a child is born, but none of us can ever will that same life again. For not even a twin can copy another soul.

Only one person can see us and hear us and think about us in the exact same way. Only one person can make us feel loved in a way that no other person ever could again.

And that’s how valuable one human life is. You can learn to re-create a star, but never the same human being. Never the same human life.

Subscribe now

Sometimes, you just have to forgive.

There is no use in trying to argue. There is no use in trying to make the other person understand your point. There is no use in trying to ask for amends.

Sometimes, you just have to forgive.

You can’t expect the other person to listen. You can’t expect the other person to show remorse. You can’t expect the other person to help restore what you have lost.

Sometimes, you just have to forgive.

For your peace of mind. For your healing. For your own good.

You forgive not because the other person deserves forgiveness.

You forgive not because it would make the other person repent.

You forgive just because you need to set yourself free. You need to move on where you can find what you’re looking for.

Sometimes, you just have to forgive.

Forgive as God forgives.

Look towards love instead of resentment. Look towards healing instead of pain.

Only by looking at God’s face can you find the answers.

And you can only look at Him once you decide to let go.

Let go of your need for revenge.

Let go of your need to be justified in other people’s eyes.

Let go of your need to seek something from someone who could never give it to you.

Because sometimes, you just have to forgive.

“Forgive your neighbor the wrong done to you;
then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven.
Does anyone nourish anger against another
and expect healing from the Lord?”
- Sirach 28:2-3 (NABRE)

Subscribe now

These days, when faith and science just seem to be too incompatible with each other, I’d like to tackle a very important topic about the origin of the universe. While most Christians would agree that it is God who made everything that ever began to exist, we live in a culture that seems to mock that belief in the name of science.

But what is science? If we try to simplify things, science is a search for truth. And I think that no Christian would ever be against that.

God is Truth itself. And in light of that, I believe that faith and science should not be incompatible things.

The First Cause

It is natural to think that the existence of anything that ever began to exist depends upon something else.

“To do away with a supreme cause is to claim that, as someone has said, ‘A brush will paint by itself provided it has a very long handle.’” — Reginald Garrigou LaGrange

Christians believe that the ultimate cause of everything is God, the “Uncaused Cause”.

Atheists and Agnostics are not united in how they believe the universe came to be. Some may agree that the cause of everything that ever began to exist may indeed be something immaterial, but that doesn’t necessarily have to be God. Some may insist that there is no such thing as an immaterial source, only a material explanation.

But if it is a material explanation, wouldn’t we be left with the two most plausible explanations? The first is an infinite series of material events that goes back to an infinite past that could never be explained. The second is that there is a specific point in time when the material universe began to exist (as can be gleaned from the Big Bang Theory).

The Beginning of Time

If the Big Bang Theory agrees that the universe indeed began in time, wouldn’t it coincide with the Christian belief that God created it at a specific moment?

It would be no surprise to learn that the Big Bang Theory was first conceived by a priest named Georges Lemaître. A post titled “Origins of the universe, explained” at National Geographic states:

“The most popular theory of our universe’s origin centers on a cosmic cataclysm unmatched in all of history — the big bang.”

“A Belgian priest named Georges Lemaître first suggested the big bang theory in the 1920s, when he theorized that the universe began from a single primordial atom.”

If the universe began from that single primordial element, where could that element have come from? Wouldn’t it be logical to think that it was made by someone outside of time and space? Someone who is intelligent enough to make such a design?

And if this universe had a beginning, wouldn’t it follow also that it was not eternal? If not eternal, how could it have made itself to exist out of nothing?

Certainly, non-believers may ask, “What about God?”

Beyond Time and Space

God is not like the universe that had a beginning and needs an explanation for its existence. God is eternal and is the cause of everything that has ever begun to exist.

For a rough comparison, think about an entire computer game coming from a single file that needs to be extracted and installed. From that single file, everything begins to exist for that computer game, a whole universe populated by various characters, places and possibilities. But the maker of the game is someone outside of the game, someone intelligent enough to design it and to make everything work in that virtual world.

Still, the non-believer may fail to see the point of the comparison and ask, “What about the person who made the game? What was his cause?”

The Substance That Moves The Universe

We do know that the human being who made the game was born from another human being. But that is not the point of the comparison.

The point is that the whole universe that has been made for the computer game is so drastically different in substance from the human being who made it. In that way also, consider how drastically different in substance is the material universe from the God who made it to exist.

“The life of God is above the past, the present, and the future; it is measured by the single instant of immobile eternity.”― Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, The Three Ages of the Interior Life: Prelude of Eternal Life

Perhaps our main problem is our inability to even imagine God. By what kind of substance could He be made of?

I’m making a very big leap here when I answer, “The substance of God can be understood through Love.”

“I use the word love, not meaning sentimentality, but a condition so strong that it may be that which holds the stars in their heavenly positions and that which causes the blood to flow orderly in our veins.” — Maya Angelou

I’m just amazed at that definition by Maya Angelou. She was able to show how God Himself holds the entire universe together, the God who is also known as Love. Perfect Love.

Perhaps we need to know more about love so could know more about God.

What is love?

Love is light. Love is goodness. Love is beauty. Love is wisdom. Love is strength.

What does love do?

Love creates. Love moves. Love empowers. Love gives life.

If there is ever a substance that could create an entire universe beaming with beauty, wonder and life, shouldn’t it be love itself?

Subscribe now

Read more proofs on the existence of God in the book “To Love an Invisible God.”

Buy the book on Amazon

Get the book from Amazon

Get my books from other digital stores.

“Every drop of earthly bitterness will be changed into an ocean of heavenly sweetness.” — St. Henry

Let God heal you. Hide not your wounds and your hurts. Present your every tear to God who can wipe them all away.

He knows your pain for He has suffered with you. Never think you are alone, for He has gone through death itself to save you.

Let God heal you. Let Him mend your heart. Rest in Him and let your soul find comfort in His gentle arms. You need not fear anything for He will watch over you and keep you safe.

Rest for a while and let God do His work. It is not always for you to do everything. Surrender to your Father’s embrace for He has waited so long to catch you and to comfort you.

Let your tears fall one by one. Let all bitterness be revealed. Let all worries leave your heart.

You have a God who cares, who loves you so deeply He will never let you go.

Subscribe now

Have you ever wanted to find Catholic prayers for family, friends and loved ones who are sick? Below are some of prayer of healing including prayers to saints and those who are patrons of those suffering from various kinds of illness and afflictions.

“Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.” — James 5:14–15, NABRE

Prayer of a Sick Man

By Jocelyn Soriano

My Lord, I’ve been bed-ridden for so long that I could hardly remember the time I’ve been well enough to take a simple walk out of my garden. I’ve been suffering night and day and the pangs of pain seem to get stronger with the passing of each day. I am losing hope of ever getting any better, of being well again.

And my pain only doubles up whenever I see the suffering of my own family. I know how much they miss the person I used to be. I know the troubles they go through to put up happy faces in front of me while hiding away their own pain. They don’t want me to worry so they say that everything’s fine. But I know that things are not so fine anymore. Surely by now the house is already mortgaged and the kids are working triple time just so they can pay the loan. Surely by now prospects of a new business project is dim and my wife is pulling herself two ways — attending to me and worrying about our financial distress. I should be the man of the house.

I should be the one taking care of my family. But here am I lying in bed, waiting for my hour when I shall shatter their hearts again just so I can escape from pain. Forgive me God for my waning courage. Forgive me for giving up hope at the time it is needed most.

I come before you almighty Healer. If my time has truly come, let it be so. But I will not give up without a fight. I trust in your goodness and unfailing love. I trust that the miracles you did you still do today and if only you will will it, you can heal me. You can save me and my loved ones from these dark days that have sapped all our laughter and our hope. Touch me O God with your healing power, forgive me of my sins and let me arise from this bed, whole and willing to serve you strongly once again! Amen.

Healing Prayer

by Saint Padre Pio

Heavenly Father, I thank You for loving me. I thank You for sending Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to the world to save and to set me free. I trust in Your power and grace that sustain and restore me.

Loving Father, touch me now with Your healing hands, for I believe that Your will is for me to be well in mind, body, soul and spirit. Cover me with the Most Precious Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.

Cast anything that should not be in me. Root out any unhealthy and abnormal cells. Open any blocked arteries or veins and rebuild and replenish any damaged areas. Remove all inflammation and cleanse any infection by the power of Jesus’ Precious Blood.

Let the fire of Your healing love pass through my entire body to heal and make new any diseased areas so that my body will function the way You created it to function.

Touch also my mind and my emotion, even the deepest recesses of my heart. Saturate my entire being with Your presence, love, joy, and peace and draw me ever closer to You every moment of my life.

And Father, fill me with Your Holy Spirit and empower me to do Your works so that my life will bring glory and honor to Your Holy Name. I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer to St. Roch (Patron of the Sick)

O most merciful God
Who through an angel promised St. Roch
That whoever should invoke his name
Would be preserved from pestilence
And contagious diseases.
Grant that through his intercession we
May be preserved from all dangers,
Both of soul and body
Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Novena

O Blessed St Roch, Patron of the sick, have pity on those who lie upon a bed of suffering.

Your power was so great when you were in this world, that by the sign of the Cross, many were healed of their diseases.

Now that you are in heaven, your power is no less. Offer to God our sighs and tears and obtain for us the physical and spiritual health we seek:

(Share your request…)

This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

St Roch: Pray for us, that we may be relieved from all diseases of body and soul. (Repeat 3 times)

Lord Jesus, may thy will be done.

Say: Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be…

St Roch, Pray for Us …

Prayers to St. Peregrine

Patron saint for persons suffering from cancer, AIDS, and other life-threatening illnesses

Prayer for Self

St. Peregrine, whom Holy Mother Church has declared Patron of those suffering from Cancer, I confidently turn to you for help in my present sickness. I beg your kind intercession. Ask God to relieve me of this sickness, if it be his Holy Will. Plead with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Sorrows, whom you loved so tenderly and in union with whom you have suffered the pains of Cancer, that she may help me with her powerful prayers and loving consolation.

But if it should be God’s Holy Will that I bear this sickness, obtain for me courage and strength to accept these trials from the loving hand of God with patience and resignation, because he knows what is best for the salvation of my soul. St. Peregrine, be my friend and patron. Help me to imitate you in accepting suffering, and to unite myself with Jesus Crucified and the Mother of Sorrows, as you did. I offer my pains to God with all the love of my heart, for his glory and the salvation of souls, especially my own. Amen.

Prayer for Others Who Are Sick

O great St. Peregrine, you have been called “The Mighty,” “The Wonder-Worker,” because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have had recourse to you. For so many years you bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being, and who had recourse to the source of all grace when the power of man could do no more. You were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal your affliction. Ask of God and Our Lady, the cure of the sick whom we entrust to you. (Pause here and silently recall the names of the sick for whom you are praying) Aided in this way by your powerful intercession, we shall sing to God, now and for all eternity, a song of gratitude for His great goodness and mercy. Amen.

Prayer to St. Raphael, The Archangel

Glorious Archangel St. Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners. I beg you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels. Because you are the “medicine of God” I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body. I especially ask of you the favor (here mention your special intention), and the great grace of purity to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer to St. Therese of Lisieux

My Novena Rose Prayer

O Little Therese of the Child Jesus, please pick for me a rose
from the heavenly gardens and send it to me as a message of love.

O Little Flower of Jesus, ask God to grant the favors
I now place with confidence in your hands . .

(mention in silence here)

St. Therese, help me to always believe as you did in God’s great love for me, so that I might imitate your “Little Way” each day.

Amen

Miraculous Invocation to St. Therese

O Glorious St. Therese,
whom Almighty God has raised up to aid
and inspire the human family,
I implore your Miraculous Intercession.

You are so powerful in obtaining every need
of body and spirit from the Heart of God.
Holy Mother Church proclaims you “Prodigy of Miracles…
the greatest saint of Modern Times.”

Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition
(mention in silence here)
and to carry out your promises of
spending heaven doing good on earth…
of letting fall from Heaven a Shower of Roses.

Little Flower, give me your childlike faith,
to see the Face of God
in the people and experiences of my life,
and to love God with full confidence.

St. Therese, my Carmelite Sister,
I will fulfill your plea “to be made known everywhere”
and I will continue to lead others to Jesus through you.

Amen.

Prayer to St. Dymphna

Patron saint of those who suffer from mental illness

Good Saint Dymphna, great wonder-worker in every affliction of mind and body, I humbly implore your powerful intercession with Jesus through Mary, the Health of the Sick, in my present need. (Mention it.) Saint Dymphna, martyr of purity, patroness of those who suffer with nervous and mental afflictions, beloved child of Jesus and Mary, pray to Them for me and obtain my request.

(Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be.)

Saint Dymphna, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us.

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP

(In Sickness)

Mother of perpetual Help,
you know how much I suffer because of my sickness.
Not only my body but my soul is also affected.
I do not even have the strength to pray as I should.
Nothing gives me any relief.
Even the visits and compassion of my friends bring me no comfort.
My courage is beginning to fail;
impatience and sadness are having their effect on me.
Most tender and loving Mother,
in my feelings of distress,
I put all my trust in you.
Your compassionate heart will surely have pity on me.
Merciful Mother,
do not forget your devoted, afflicted child’s

[Mention your intention(s) here…]

Ask your Son, Jesus,
to give me the courage and strength
to accept my sickness as the will of God
and to bear it with patience and resignation.
If it is God’s will,
intercede for me in recovering my former good health;
but if it is God’s will that I continue to suffer, or,
that this sickness should lead me to a better life,
I am perfectly resigned.
Loving Mother,
I am confident you will obtain the grace
to do whatever God asks of me.

Amen.

Consecration of the Sick to Mary

PRAYER OF POPE PIUS XII

O kind and good Mother,
whose own soul was pierced by the sword of sorrow,
look upon us while,
in our sickness,
we arraign ourselves beside you
on the Calvary where your Jesus hangs.
Dowered with the high grace of suffering,
and hopeful of fulfilling in our own flesh
what is wanting in our sharing of Christ’s passion,
on behalf of his Mystical Body, the Church,
we consecrate to you ourselves and our pain.
We pray that you will place them
on that Altar of the Cross to which Jesus is affixed.
May they be little victims of propitiation for our salvation,
for the salvation of all peoples.
O Mother of Sorrows,
accept this consecration.
Strengthen our hopeful hearts,
that as partakers of Christ’s sufferings
we may also share in his comfort now and for evermore.

Amen.

THE MEMORARE

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother, to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.

Mary Our Strength

PRAYER OF POPE PIUS XII

O Virgin, fair as the moon,
delight of the angels and saints in heaven,
grant that we may become like you
and that our souls may receive a ray of your beauty,
which does not decline with the years
but shines forth into eternity.

O Mary, sun of heaven,
restore life where there is death
and enlighten spirits where there is darkness.
Turn your countenance to your children
and radiate on us your light and your fervor.

O Mary, powerful as an army,
grant victory to our ranks.
We are very weak
and our enemy rages with uttermost conceit.
But under your banner
we are confident of overcoming him.

Save us, O Mary,
fair as the moon,
bright as the sun,
awe inspiring as an army set in battle array
and sustained not by hatred
but by the ardor of love.

Amen.

The Divine Mercy Chaplet

Using ordinary rosary beads

Our Father

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. Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

The Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

On the “Our Father” beads

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

On the “Hail Mary” beads

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

PASS AND SHARE these prayers with those who need healing of mind, body or spirit. God bless you!

Subscribe now

Have you ever felt as though you needed to rush in praying because you still had many important things to do?

I sometimes feel that during my morning prayers. Many times, so many thoughts can’t help but come to mind. Thoughts about the projects I can begin. Thoughts about the tasks that need my attention. Thoughts about the many ideas I can explore.

And to think that I only needed to pray for about 15 minutes in addition to reading the relevant Bible verses for the day.

That’s so short a time to feel the need to think about other things, but I have to struggle sometimes so that I can regain my focus on God.

When I come to think about it, it’s somewhat similar to our encounters with the people that we love. It can be to a child who needs our attention about something. Or it can be to a mother who just wants to ask about how we’re doing. It can be towards a friend who called, seeking some support from us.

While we know how important these people are, there are times when we may feel the urge to shorten our encounter with them. In our minds, we may think that we MUST finish something first. And then we can go about talking with our loved ones and spending time with them. IF ONLY we could accomplish the important things we had in mind, we could then devote ourselves to actually being with the people we love.

Theoretically, that could work. In reality, however, it seldom does.

What often happens is that WORK NEVER ENDS. After we finish something, there is always another task that needs our attention. There is always a new project that can make us busy. And there is always a schedule we must fulfill.

Meanwhile, we fail to spend as much time as we wanted with our children. And we never get to give our parents that little time they needed so they could connect with us again. That friend? We may keep on delaying that call until we forget it altogether.

What we must realize today is that time passes by so swiftly. Before we know it, another year has already passed. After that, ten years could pass by without our knowing.

There is always something to do. It is up to us to prioritize what matters most.

I’m not saying we should act irresponsibly.

What I’m saying is that the day we’re counting on may never even come. All we may have is this day or this moment.

If this were your very last, how would you spend it? What would truly matter in the end?

Love shouldn’t come only after we’ve finished everything else.

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” - Luke 10:41–42 (NABRE)

PRAYER

Lord, help me to fix my gaze upon you when I pray. Clear my mind from useless worries and fears. Instead of worrying, let me entrust everything to you.

Help me also to spend my time wisely. Guide me at work but let me not forget the more important things.

May I love as you have loved. Let me begin by being fully present to You and to the people around me. Teach me how important that presence is when it comes to love.

Grant me patience when my schedule is interrupted, wisdom to do what I must and humility to accept that I cannot do everything.

To you I surrender my time and entrust everything. Amen.

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.” - Psalm 90:12 (NABRE)

Subscribe now

Jocelyn is the author of the Catholic Devotional “366 Days of Compassion.”

Whether early in the morning or late in the evening, or any hour in between, one can read in this Catholic devotional a simple quote like a breath of fresh air in one's busy day. One can silently say a prayer and meditate upon the beauty of Him whose face is happiness itself. One can take a peek at a poem and find in it something like a mirror reflecting the cries of the heart both in sorrow and in deep joy.

Where is God? God is with us, but we often do not know where to look and so we do not see. God is there, pursuing us, waiting for us to take the time to call on Him in our helplessness, in the routine of our daily lives. He is the one who will fill our lives with meaning and our hearts with hope. In Him we find the home we've been searching for, we find a Father who will protect us and provide for our needs. We find a Friend who loves us as we are, who sees the beauty in our souls, who will never leave us even in our worst day.

Buy the book from Amazon

Buy the book from Amazon

Buy from other digital stores

Purchase the digital copy from Gumroad

Have you ever wondered how we could never seem to be happy? Have you ever wondered why two people who used to love each other could eventually end up bitter and hurting each other the most?

Why Is Love Often So Painful?

Because there are currently so many things that block it. Ignorance, selfishness, fear — such are the things that bring bitterness to something that could have otherwise been so sweet, beautiful and full of happiness.

It is our imperfections that keep us from loving each other without difficulty. It is our imperfections that turn our love into hatred, and that ruins every good thing we wanted to possess.

We are embittered because we cannot fully understand another person’s feelings and thoughts. We do not possess this wisdom. We do not know why they’re doing something that hurts us.

In the same way, our actions have also been misinterpreted many times. People do not know how much we really cared for them. We do something good and even sacrifice a lot for it, only to be rejected and turned away.

God’s Perfection Is Different

God on the other hand is perfect, and with it comes perfect wisdom. He knows us. He knows every detail of our lives, every tear we’ve ever shed, every dream we ever dared to dream. And that is why He is able to understand us. And because He is able to, He can forgive us and love us without end.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could have wisdom like that? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to love like that?

How Can We Love Without Being Perfect?

But how could we ever love perfectly if we can’t be perfect? Unlike God, we possess very limited knowledge and wisdom. We are weak. We run out of strength and of resources. We are insecure and afraid. We worry a lot. We doubt, we fret, we get jealous, we lose hope. We hurt so easily that we put up a million defenses against one another, even against those we love.

The Key of Faith

We may not attain the perfection of God, but a way has been opened for us in order to have access to His perfection, and that is the way of FAITH.

“Faith is the key by which an imperfect man is granted access to the One Perfect God.”

Hence, even if we cannot have perfect wisdom, we can have access to His wisdom. Even if we could not have perfect courage, we can overcome many things, by faith.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” — John 3:16 (NABRE)

With faith in Jesus, we learn to forgive and give mercy to others because we know that we ourselves are imperfect.

With faith in Jesus, we draw the courage we need in order to love because we believe that God will always be there for us, ready to catch us if we fall, ready to defend us from all evil, even as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death!

With faith in Jesus, our selfishness and insecurities decrease because we believe that God can and will provide for our needs.

With faith in Jesus, our ignorance is healed, because we know that we can always pray for Wisdom to guide us in everything we do.

With faith, we don’t easily give up even if things don’t seem to work out according to our plans. We know that God can make a way even when there seems to be none.

With faith, our lives become meaningful because we believe in God’s wonderful purposes for us.

With faith, we become secure in love because we know Somebody has loved us so much that He suffered and died for our sake so that we may have joy, so that we may be saved… by faith!

A Beauty That Never Fades

I have seen so much beauty in this life.

I have felt overflowing love.

I have been happy, I’ve been filled with so much joy.

But O, I have also seen so much hatred and violence and apathy.

I’ve felt so much sorrow that almost drained my eyes of tears.

I have seen how something so beautiful

could suddenly be corrupted, twisted, decayed and left to waste.

I have seen how something so wonderful

could suddenly end,

and how something so precious

could suddenly be taken away from you,

tearing both your heart and your soul.

What is this life worth then?

What does it all mean?

Why must darkness spoil the light?

Why must love be filled with pain?

Is there a way to restore everything back to wholeness?

Is there some chance that good might not end in evil things?

Only God holds the key.

From everlasting to everlasting

the One who changes not,

whose Light never dims,

and whose Beauty never fades,

He alone can save

and keep what’s good and beautiful and true.

Left to ourselves, we grow weak.

We turn love to hatred,

we hold something beautiful

and it soon withers away and dies.

With God however, all things are kept,

cleansed and made whole.

Sorrow turns to joy.

Suffering turns to strength.

We approach in ignorance

and we leave with wisdom.

We approach in fear,

and we leave with courage.

We live forever in LOVE!

Subscribe now

Lent is a time for reflection and change of heart.

As we strive to grow deeper in faith, reflecting on the mysteries of the Holy Rosary could help us know more about the depths of God’s Love for all of us.

Following are some of my personal reflections on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary:

First Sorrowful Mystery

The Agony in the Garden

When was the last time you felt such a deep sorrow you felt your heart would almost break into pieces? When was the last time you felt you could hardly contain your tears?

What makes our sadness even worse is the feeling that we are alone. Just like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, you may have asked some people to watch with you, to just stay where you are. But maybe none of them came, none were able to bear the deepest griefs welling up from within your heart.

As we meditate upon the suffering of Jesus in the Garden, let us remember that He understands where we’re coming from.

He knows what it’s like to feel real pain. He knows what it’s like to be left alone by the people you have counted upon most.

Would you decide to stay with Jesus even for a while? Could you spend a moment today in prayer, joining your heart to the One who knows your pain?

Second Sorrowful Mystery

The Scourging at the Pillar

Few of us today could relate to the pain of being physically scourged. But we can all try to imagine just how painful it must have been for Jesus. Tied to a pillar, He was scourged mercilessly and repeatedly. We have no idea how many wounds He had as His flesh suffered from being whipped. We have no idea how much blood He lost even before carrying His cross.

Emotionally and psychologically, have we not felt being scourged also by other people around us?

Maybe there were times when we received negative comments and our reputation is damaged, all the while suffering without having anyone to help us. Maybe we were blamed for something we never did. Maybe we were punished for crimes we did not commit.

As we meditate on this mystery today, may we remember that no matter how weak we may feel, we can still overcome our struggles with God’s help.

Third Sorrowful Mystery

Share Catholic Diary

The Crowning with Thorns

To be crowned with thorns is not only to feel the physical pain of thorns piercing one’s head. It is to suffer humiliation. It is to be mocked and belittled by those who do not even know who you are or what you’re going through.

Haven’t we felt like that many times in life? As Christians, how many times have you felt that you have already been judged even before you say a single word? How many times have you been considered an outcast by those who are in power?

People like to feel that they are in control, that they have power over others. To do that, they may try to put others down and hurt anyone whoever gets in their way.

In God’s eyes, however, it is not the proud who will be honored. It is the humble man who can please the Lord.

Remember that we are not here to please people. We must do what we think is right and leave all else to God who is merciful and just.

“If all the world hated you, and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved you, and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends.”
– Helen Burns (Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë )

Fourth Sorrowful Mystery

The Carrying of the Cross

How many times have you felt like the weight of your cross is too heavy for you to bear? How many times have you fallen and felt as though you could never get up again?

It’s not easy to carry our cross. Many times, we feel tired. Sometimes, we don’t even know how long we can still go on.

We see others succeed as though they don’t have any burden to bear. People praise them and look up to them. And no one seems to care about the crosses we bear. Worse, we often feel that we are being unjustly punished in life. That we don’t deserve our many troubles.

As we meditate upon this mystery today, let us remember how Jesus carried His cross. Of all people, Jesus never deserved to be punished. For what evil has He done? All He did was help people. He fed the hungry, He gave sight to the blind, He cured the sick, He even made the dead to rise again.

But He willingly took up His cross for our sake, for the sake of Love.

Friends, however heavy your cross may be right now, know that you are never alone. God carries your cross with you. He carried our burdens long before we were even born because He knew what we could never carry on our own.

Don’t give up no matter how many times you fall. Remember how Jesus also fell three times, but He rose again and again to give us hope, and to pave the way for our salvation.

Fifth Sorrowful Mystery

The Crucifixion

Have you ever felt that things were so bad you could never see how they could still turn out right in the end? Have you ever felt that you’ve already given your everything but even that was never enough to accomplish what you wanted to do?

How could the end be so sad when you thought you were just doing the right thing? How could God be silent to your prayers?

Friends, let us remember Jesus when He died on the cross. Who could believe then that things could still turn out fine?

But through His death, Jesus obtained for us our salvation. Through His crucifixion, death has been overcome!

And yet even before this final triumph, Jesus gave everything and surrendered Himself entirely to the Father. He loved to the full and He loved us to the very end.

“Christianity, unlike any other religion in the world, begins with catastrophe and defeat. Sunshine religions and psychological inspirations collapse in calamity and wither in adversity. But the Life of the Founder of Christianity, having begun with the Cross, ends with the empty tomb and victory.” ― Fulton J. Sheen, Life of Christ

“For the little I have understood during these years, I can tell you only that Love is the center of our life. Because we are born from an act of love, we live in order to love and in order to be loved, and we die in order to know the true love of God. The goal of our life is to love and to be always ready to learn how to love others as only God is able to teach you. Love consumes you, but it is beautiful to die consumed precisely as a candle that goes out only after it reaches its goal. Whatever you do will have sense only if you see it in terms of eternal life.” – Chiara Corbella Petrillo, A Witness to Joy

“It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end… because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing… this shadow. Even darkness must pass.” – J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers

“If you say the Rosary faithfully until death, I do assure you that, in spite of the gravity of your sins ‘you shall receive a never-fading crown of glory.’ Even if you are on the brink of damnation, even if you have one foot in hell, even if you have sold your soul to the devil as sorcerers do who practise black magic, and even if you are a heretic as obstinate as a devil, sooner or later you will be converted and will amend your life and will save your soul, if-- and mark well what I say-- if you say the Holy Rosary devoutly every day until death for the purpose of knowing the truth and obtaining contrition and pardon for your sins.” - St. Louis Marie de Montfort

Pray the Rosary…

Subscribe now

In the parable about the rich man and Lazarus, there is a very interesting conclusion I was in doubt before.

For those who are not familiar with the story, the rich man and a poor beggar called Lazarus both died but while Lazarus was comforted by Abraham, the rich man suffered the fires of hell. The rich man later asked Abraham to send Lazarus back to the rich man’s brothers to testify about the afterlife.

Here is the interesting conclusion I was talking about:

“He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.’”
- Luke 16:27–31 (NABRE)

When I was younger, I wondered a little about that conclusion. In my mind, I asked: “Why would anyone not believe the testimony of someone who has risen from the dead?”

In recent times, however, I understood little by little what Jesus meant.

Here’s what other people might say:

“He didn’t really die. Maybe it was a wrong diagnosis.”

“He fooled people into dying. He bribed the doctors that pronounced him dead.”

“Maybe he has a twin. He couldn’t be the one!”

“It’s just a hologram we’re seeing. It’s not real.”

“Someone gave us a hallucinating drug to give us this illusion.”

“Given certain conditions, maybe there is some scientific explanation why some people who died can come back to life (even after 3 days of being dead). But that doesn’t mean we should believe in the afterlife.”

“Everything he saw could just be a dream.”

“Perhaps a virus made his body move like a zombie.

I tell you, there would be no end to the excuses some people would make to deny the truth about someone rising from the dead.

During the time of Jesus, He raised a dead man (also named Lazarus) back to life. For this reason, many people believed. But even with this event, others remained in unbelief.

“If I had not done works among them that no one else ever did, they would not have sin; but as it is, they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But in order that the word written in their law might be fulfilled, ‘They hated me without cause.’”
 — John 15:24–25 (NABRE)

Today, while we may not see anyone rising from the dead, we have the historical record of Someone whose resurrection paved the way for Christianity, the largest religion in the world. Jesus had to die such a public and excruciating death so that there would be no doubt that He died.

In the book “The Case for Christ”, we can read more discussion about how Jesus couldn’t have lived after suffering from all His wounds and torments. He was not only scourged, but crucified and pierced with a lance right through His heart.

The book also mentioned the evidence we now have on the authenticity of the Gospels as compared with historical documents, not to mention how the apostles gave their testimony even to the point of their death.

But all of these proofs amount to nothing for a person who does not want to believe.

His eyes are closed, His heart is calloused, His mind is set on believing something else. For this person, any big proof would be an insignificant idea that merely passes his ears. He would rather believe some small theory somewhere else if that would support something he wants to believe in.

Yes, I am now convinced. Even if a man like Jesus comes today, dies such a horrific death, and rises back to life after three days, many people would still linger in unbelief. They wouldn’t see the truth because they refuse to see it. They cannot be convinced not because of the absence of proof but because of the stubbornness of their hearts.

“So I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance, because of their hardness of heart, they have become callous and have handed themselves over to licentiousness for the practice of every kind of impurity to excess.” — Ephesians 4:17–19 (NABRE)

Subscribe now

Jocelyn Soriano is the author of the book “To Love an Invisible God”.

Is it really possible to love a God we cannot even see? Can we really love Him as we love another Person? A Person who can listen to us and respond to us? A Person who can know us far more intimately than any human being ever can.

Buy the book

I sometimes hear people who have been called to religious life or to certain ministries like evangelization about the demands of their calling.

This calling sometimes requires more time to be devoted to the mission, as in the case of lay preachers who must balance their time between family and their spiritual work.

In the case of priests and nuns, this requires absolute focus on their Godly mission and they must leave behind the thought of marriage and having a family of their own.

God sometimes calls us towards unexpected lifestyles, and to follow Him, we must forgo the normal life.

When we talk about normal life, however, what do we mean exactly?

Because many times, each of us has a different picture in our minds when it comes to what normal means. And because many times, we can get the idea that the normal life is the easy life.

What is the normal life?

In the case of saints who lived on fasting and great sacrifices, the normal life could mean that kind of life when we are not required to practice our faith in such measures.

For religious people like priests and nuns, the normal life can mean the life that we, the laity have. It is a life without their religious vows, a life where we can have families of our own. It is a life where we are called to serve in the world and where we can make a living through our different occupations. Hence, some of us can be writers while others can be entrepreneurs, teachers, accountants, doctors, scientists, craftsmen and other experts in their field.

That seems to be where the majority of people belong and considered to be normal.

Hence, from that perspective, the normal life is a life with family and/or that devoted to a particular work in the world.

But is the normal life the easy life?

Let’s try to envision what each of us may have gone through and perhaps we’d see that there were many difficult days that led us to where we are today.

It isn’t easy trying to find your life partner. No one ever says it’s easy when your heart gets broken or when you feel you could never love again.

It isn’t easy trying to start a family. When you don’t know how you can raise a family considering your limited income, how do you even start?

It isn’t easy to find a job. After late nights studying and even passing examinations to be certified, it isn’t easy being rejected for your job applications while keeping your hopes up for the next job interview.

It isn’t easy fitting in. Whether in school where you were bullied or in the office where your efforts remained unrecognized for years, no one could ever say it was easy.

It isn’t easy when your loved one gets sick and you don’t have the money for their hospitalization.

It isn’t easy when you are fired and you don’t know how to start again.

It isn’t easy when your loved one dies and all you can do is grieve in silence, trying to be brave for those who are still counting upon you.

We all have to take up our crosses each day and ask for God’s grace to sustain us in our journey here below.

None of us is exempt from problems. None is exempt from pain.

And that includes the normal life.

Thinking about it now, I guess that’s what normal means.

It is a life where you must take up the challenges coming your way each day. It is a life that includes joy but also includes sorrow. It is a life that can be wonderful at one moment and then painful the next.

This normal life is the life that God saw us all living and He knew He had to come to us so we may not crumble along the way.

Jesus lived this normal life where He had to eat and rest just like the rest of us. In this normal life, He enjoyed the company of family and friends. He had the pleasure of loving and helping people.

But in this normal life as well, He experienced betrayal and abandonment. He suffered pain and anguish on the cross.

Let us not be afraid because Jesus walks with us in this normal life.

Wherever you may be right now, know that God sees you and He loves you so much! He knows what you are going through.

It is normal to cry, but He is there to wipe your tears away. It is normal to fall, but Jesus will help you to rise again!

Share

See Jocelyn’s books on Gumroad or Amazon:

God isn’t with you only on days when you are productive.

He is also with you when you feel tired and uninspired and all you could do is rest.

God isn’t with you only on days when you feel happy.

He is also with you when your heart cries out to heaven and you feel as though you’d break apart.

God isn’t with you only on days when you feel so strong in your faith.

He is also with you in your doubts and in your weaknesses.

God isn’t with you only when you feel grateful because you are showered with blessings.

He is also with you in poverty, in hunger and in want.

God isn’t with you only when you are healthy.

He is also with you when you are sick and all you could do is stay in bed all day, enduring your pain.

God isn’t with you only when you are loved by those around you.

He is with you even in times when you feel unwanted, dejected and unloved.

God is with you in good days and in bad days. He is with you through all those years you may not have even known that there is a God.

God is with you still and will always be with you. Even when the rest of the world walks away. Even when you feel judged and misunderstood by everyone else.

God will remain.

He loves you more than anyone else ever could.

Will you also be there when He calls your name?

“Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:7-8 (NABRE)

Subscribe now

Below is a song I wrote about remembering God’s great love and mercy for us as we look at the cross. You may want to listen to it as part of your reflection this Lent:

When I was younger, I thought it would be easy to be a good person. Things seem to be simpler then. It wasn’t so hard to follow God’s commandments.

As I got older, I understood God’s laws more. I saw more of my sins and I came to see my weaknesses.

I realized how idealistic I had been and how I overestimated my strength. I was like St. Peter who proudly proclaimed to Jesus that he would die for Him. When the time of crisis came, however, he denied Jesus three times.

I can no longer count how many times I failed. And in a way, God must have allowed me to fall so that I may learn some lessons in humility.

Now, I have a greater awareness of my tendencies and how much I need God in every moment.

I knew how I could easily be affected by the physical conditions of my body. I knew how my temper could make me say words that hurt others.

Eventually, however, there.came this undue fear that became like the other extreme of being too confident of myself.

It came to a point when I worried about the situations I may face in life and I feared disappointing God again.

Could I carry the cross I had to bear? What if I turn away from Jesus after everything He has done for me?

God must have known my struggle so He helped me learn more about His kindness, wisdom and compassion.

Eventually, I learned that He woudn’t give me burdens too hard for me to bear.

Why should I be worried when God knows me even more than I know myself?

Why should I live in fear when I can live trusting in His mercy and love?

I have a God who has etched my name upon His hands, a God who was crucified for my sake so I can be saved.

If there is anyone I can trust, that would be Jesus. And Jesus always tells us the truth.

How could I not believe Him when His hands still bear the scars of His love for me?

God loves me and in Him, I can fully trust and rest.

“The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His holy Name, anointed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God.”
― St. Francis de Sales

“No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NRSVCE)

Subscribe now

Have you ever wondered about how so much evil could happen in the world? How could people plan terrible things and harm those around them?

Even in our personal lives, we may sometimes ask how some people could deliberately try to hurt us. What wrong have we done to deserve such ill will?

Indeed, we live in a world that wounds us. We live in a life that can hurt us and break our hearts.

And yet with God, we need not be afraid. He knows what we're going through. He is aware of the intentions and actions of the people around us. He will not let us suffer anything without having a better plan for our good.

Other people may plan evil things against us, but God can turn even such things around to bless us. From Him comes a far greater good for those who continue to believe in His power, wisdom and goodness.

And what a comfort we have in knowing how wise, powerful and loving our Savior is! Our fate is in His strong and loving hands.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The Lord is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
When evildoers come at me
to devour my flesh,
These my enemies and foes
themselves stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart does not fear;
Though war be waged against me,
even then do I trust.
One thing I ask of the Lord;
this I seek:
To dwell in the Lord’s house
all the days of my life,
To gaze on the Lord’s beauty,
to visit his temple.
For God will hide me in his shelter
in time of trouble,
He will conceal me in the cover of his tent;
and set me high upon a rock.
Even now my head is held high
above my enemies on every side!
I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and chant praise to the Lord.”
- Psalm 27 (NABRE)

Subscribe now

“But Joseph replied to them: ‘Do not fear. Can I take the place of God? Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve this present end, the survival of many people.’” - Genesis 50:19–20 (NABRE)

“Let nothing disturb you.
Let nothing frighten you.
All things pass away.
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
They who have God lack nothing.
God alone is enough.”
- St. Teresa of Avila

Fasting is one of the ways by which we can enter into a spirit of repentance and conversion of heart. It helps us to detach ourselves from the pleasures of the flesh so that we can focus on heavenly things. It empties us so we can receive the fullness of blessings God wants to pour upon us.

During Lent, many of us decide to fast not only on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday but on the 40 days of preparation for Easter. Here, we give up some of the things that used to bring us comfort and satisfaction.

Some people give up chocolates and sweets. Others give up meat. Many nowadays fast from the use of social media.

While all of these can be good for our souls, we must be careful so that our fasting does not end up yielding the wrong fruits.

Don’t fast if:

1. It’s going to make you irritable

Some people become cranky when hungry. (I think I’m one of them!) As a result, too much fasting can result in losing one’s temper and ultimately, getting into arguments and fights.

Don’t fast on food so much this Lent if you are just going to be so irritable and impatient. Don’t let those around you suffer because of your temper.

What good would fasting do if it makes you hurt the people around you?

2. It’s going to make you bitter

You may fast from coffee and your favorite drinks, but if this only makes you more bitter than coffee or dark chocolate, think again.

Fasting should raise our minds towards heavenly things. It should help us focus on prayer and peace. If you fast but resent every moment of it as though you are being punished or deprived, this kind of fasting isn’t helping you become a better person.

“Fasting is directed to two things, the deletion of sin, and the raising of the mind to heavenly things.” - St. Thomas Aquinas

3. It’s going to make you proud

There are some people who can be so good at fasting that they can start to feel superior to those who struggle at it.

Fasting isn’t meant to be about who has the strongest will. This isn’t a contest or competition you should win.

It would have been better if you tried your best and failed and then repented in humility rather than if you have succeeded but boasted of your own strength.

“The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity—greedy, dishonest, adulterous—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Luke 18:11-14 (NABRE)

Here are the more important things to fast from:

1. Fast from selfishness

2. Fast from ungratefulness

3. Fast from pride

And here are the fruits that you must look for in true fasting:

1. Charity that cares for one’s neighbor

2. A spirit of gratefulness for God’s blessings

3. Humility and dependence on the Lord

Let Us Offer Everything to God

Let us entrust everything to our Lord, including our Lenten sacrifices. Let us offer to Him our desire to unite with His suffering, repent from our sins and convert our hearts. May our fasts lead to greater humility, charity and gratitude for all of God’s blessings.

Even when we fail, let us offer to Him our weaknesses. His mercy is greater than all of our sins and shortcomings. Praised be the Lord. Let us give thanks to Him at all times with a grateful heart!

“Jesus’ call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward works, “sackcloth and ashes,” fasting and mortification, but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion.” (CCC 1430)

“Temper all your works with moderation, that is to say, all your abstinence, your fasting, your vigils, and your prayers, for temperance sustains your body and soul with the proper measure, lest they fail. It reminds an honorable person that he is ashes and shall return to ashes.”- St. Hildegard of Bingen

You may also want to read my article on Patheos:

“Is Failing the Ash Wednesday Fast a Sin?”

Let us thank the Lord for His Love and Mercy!

It’s not always easy to do what is good.

Sometimes our efforts seem futile. We see so much darkness in the world that we can’t see how our little lights can be of any help.

Sometimes we try to do something good for years, but despite our perseverance, we don’t see anything being accomplished.

Sometimes we intend the best for everyone, and yet even despite our best intentions, our efforts don’t seem to be enough.

As a result, we may soon feel tired, so tired that we just want to stop altogether. “What is the point of it all?” we ask ourselves.

But God tells us that even if we don’t see for now, doing what is right is indeed the right thing to do.

There will be a time for the fruits of our labor to ripen.

There will be a day when the ripples of our actions will begin to take effect.

There will be a season of reaping and of healing.

We may not see for now, but we trust in the God who can do all things.

In His time, every good seed is bound to grow. In His time, even the smallest offering will be blessed beyond our expectations.

Trust in God’s power and generosity. Trust always in His wisdom and love.

Let us always pray that we may continue to do every good we could possibly do.

A Prayer To Keep Doing What Is Good

Lord, help us to do good always.

To do good even when our efforts are unrecognized.

To do good even when our generosity is rejected.

To do good even to our enemies.

Help us to do whatever good we can as we journey along in this life,

knowing that we have but so little time,

trusting that you see whatever good that we do,

hoping that even when it feels so difficult,

You are the one who will bless our offering a thousandfold.

May we become channels of Your everlasting goodness

that we may abide in Your holy and lovely presence evermore. Amen.

“But I said, ‘I have labored in vain,
I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the Lord,
and my reward with my God.’”
- Isaiah 49:4 (NRSVCE)

“To walk is an art...To walk is the art of looking at the horizon, thinking about where I want to go but also enduring the fatigue. And many times, the walk is difficult, it is not easy… There is darkness… even days of failure… one falls… But always think this: do not be afraid of failure. Do not be afraid of falling. In the art of walking, what is important is not avoiding the fall but not remaining fallen. Get up quickly, continue on, and go...” - Pope Francis

If you ever feel too tired or down even to pray, may this song express your prayer asking for God’s loving hands. May He hold you and strengthen you and refresh you with hope.

May this devotional also help you find daily refreshment in your journey in life. May your strength return to you as you receive spiritual nourishment from Him who is always by your side.

366 Days of Compassion: A Catholic Devotional

Buy the book

Buy the book from Amazon

Buy from other digital stores

Purchase the digital copy from Gumroad

Love is in our daily mess of living. In our small talks and in our household chores. In our daily meals and in our leisure hours. In our busy mornings and in our late-night chats.

Love is there as we go about our work and our play, as we shop for our groceries, as we teach the kids at home, as we care for our sick folks, and as we talk about our plans for the future.

Love survives our times of crisis and our moments of pain. It remains hopeful in moments of misunderstanding and in times of hurt.

Love is in a million words of kindness and in countless acts of goodwill, sacrifice and sharing. It is not just a word or a promise made in time. It is a way of life that we choose to walk daily as we show up every day with all our triumphs and losses, our laughter and our tears.

Love is in the ordinary, in the steady flow of life which leads us ever closer and stronger than before. We may fail to see it for what it really is, but as we look back, we can recognize that extraordinary thread that has kept us together and that has certainly made life worth living for.

“You can pray while you work. Work doesn’t stop prayer and prayer doesn’t stop work. It requires only that small raising of the mind to him: I love you God, I trust you, I believe in you, I need you now. Small things like that. They are wonderful prayers.” — Mother Teresa

We often dream of great deeds that will make our name known throughout the world. We desire to make a big difference in the lives of others. We want to accomplish heroic tasks to prove our worth, to prove that we have lived meaningful lives.

Many times, however, it is the little things that can make a big difference. It is the simple lives that can truly count. And it is the small deeds done with great love that can change the world.

In truth, we avoid the little things because it is the little things that we fear. We know that it is the small things that are concrete and real in our daily lives. And it is the small sacrifices we make that can truly hurt.

To forego small offenses and forgive a hurting word, to give courtesy and respect where it is rare, to give attention to someone who is speaking, to do a tedious chore no one else wants to do, to wake up early so you can pray, to not brag about your accomplishment, to not spread false reports, to keep silent when there is nothing good to be said. These are small things, but may we have the courage to do them and thereby live heroic lives every day.

“Saints are rarely made in the spotlight and often made in the hidden martyrdom of daily sacrifice.” — Christina Mead

Little Deeds of Love

A glance of kindness
To keep the fire burning;
A touch of patience
To keep the love alive.

A word of courtesy,
A nod of gratitude,
A pat of consolation,
To uplift the mood.

A smile,
A quick embrace,
A kiss,
Never miss one deed.

And you know
That all you need
Are these little things
To keep the love alive.

“I can say that my life is a continuous prayer, for everything I do I do it out of love for my Jesus” — St. Teresa of the Andes, (Letter 52)

Have you ever cared for someone so much that you wanted to give this person as many gifts as you could? Whether it’s for this special someone’s birthday or for Christmas, you can’t stop thinking about the many things you wanted to buy. Will this person like this? Or is there something better? No, it must be the best!

Even if that person does not exert the same effort for you, you can’t help but continue giving out of the abundance of your love.

Indeed, love is like that. Love can’t help but give. It goes on giving of itself because it overflows.

Why love is like this is a mystery. All we know is that love finds it hard to remain silent. It cannot be kept without stagnating. It has to manifest in countless ways; it’s like a strong current from a river that cannot be stopped.

It is no wonder, then, that God’s love is the same. He who is Love Himself can’t help but give of everything He could. He keeps on giving even if He receives nothing back from us. He remains good even when we fall.

“But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.”
- Matthew 5:44-45 (NABRE)

I must admit that there were times when I felt disheartened when I felt God was not answering my prayers.

At the back of my mind, I have several questions:

Why is God delaying His gifts?

Is this too much to ask?

Why is He withholding this from me?

We ask God these questions sometimes when we’re overwhelmed or suffering too deeply. In our pain, we can’t help but wonder where God is.

Does He know what I’m going through? Is He listening? Or has He abandoned me?

Little do we know that the God of Love could never withhold anything good for us unless He wanted to give us something better.

We have experienced it ourselves, how hard it is to keep ourselves from giving something to a loved one who asks. Many times, perhaps we wanted to give in, to satisfy what another person asks of us.

But if we know that giving it would cause harm or that there is a far better thing we could give, we restrain ourselves. We wait for the right time, we choose the better gift, and we do what is best for those we love the most.

It may be difficult for us to understand why God allows us to suffer while waiting for His answers. But when we come to think of it, doesn’t the one who loves suffer more upon seeing the suffering of those one loves?

God is not indifferent to our sufferings. But His compassion compels Him to love us so much that He must bear seeing us suffer for a while.

Here is what St. Therese told her sister Celine about God allowing His children to suffer:

“Be not afraid. . . . He is here at hand. He is watching, and it is He who begs from us this pain, these tears. . . . He needs them for souls, for our souls, and He longs to give us a magnificent reward. I assure you that it costs Him dear to fill us with bitterness, but He knows that it is the only means of preparing us to know Him as He knows Himself, and to become ourselves Divine! Our soul is indeed great and our destiny glorious. Let us lift ourselves above all things that pass, and hold ourselves far from the earth! Up above, the air is so pure. . . . Jesus may hide Himself, but we know that He is there.”

Jesus is here with us. He is with you and me, withholding His gifts for the perfect time to give them all away. We may suffer while we wait, but He suffers with us.

God is Love. We may not always understand, but we can believe in Him who did not withhold even His own life on the cross to give us eternal joy!

“And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.” - 1 Peter 5:10 (NABRE)

“As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you…” - Isaiah 66:13 (NRSVCE)

Subscribe now

There is a mysterious way by which thankfulness heals the soul. It penetrates deep within us, entering through all the open cracks and shining its light. It moves gradually and gently, casting its warmth upon our miseries until it breathes new life unto our spirits, lifting us up and making us new.

It’s not always obvious. And it certainly isn’t always easy.

But thankfulness enables us to transcend our instincts to wallow in our darkness. It helps us to see beyond our grief and leads us closer to the light that gives us hope.

Here are five ways that thankfulness heals our souls:

1. It humbles us

The grateful person grows in humility because one acknowledges the source of one’s blessings.

“I’m so grateful!” the soul says. And when one is grateful, one thanks someone.

Humility grows and heals the soul wounded by the pride of relying only upon the self for so long. It lifts one’s eyes towards another, towards Him who gives, and who gives because He loves.

2. It makes us hopeful

When one becomes hopeful, one is rescued from the depths of despair. It is like being able to breathe at last after suffocating from never-ending tiredness and the feeling of being trapped.

3. It gives us joy

We are grateful because we are happy with something or somebody. It is the thankful heart that finds joy because it is ever open to seeing the goodness around.

Previously, one’s eyes may have been blind. It is sad because it doesn’t see anything worth praising. But once its eyes are opened, it sees the things that can make it happy. And for this happiness, one exclaims “Thank You” with a light and joyful heart.

4. It makes us resilient

Life does not always happen the way we planned it. Our dreams do not always follow the path we visualized.

But a thankful heart is one that can endure the ups and downs of life because it always sees the blessings behind each circumstance.

When one has reached success, one is grateful. Yet even before that, and even when the day one awaits lingers, the heart is not darkened. It still rejoices in being able to grow in patience. The grateful heart always has reason to celebrate because one knows that God is ever faithful and works out everything for one’s good.

5. It enables us to become more generous

The grateful heart is a heart that is full. In its fullness, it even overflows! It gives because it has received so many blessings.

Generosity heals the soul because it unblocks the way of love. Without giving, the heart becomes blocked and is unable to love. Love is like a current that needs to flow and the more it flows, the stronger it becomes

Those Who Receive So Much More

Have you noticed it when you give someone a gift and that person overflows with joy and gratitude? You yourself become happy and filled. And you want to keep that joy and love flowing by giving more. You want to see that person happy again and brimming with light!

The same happens to those who have a grateful heart. The more thankful you are, the more you shall receive. And the more you receive, the more joyful you are and the more you give in return.

Let your heart be filled with gratitude. Thankfulness heals the soul in so many ways. It is the very key that unlocks miracles and showers you with every blessing from above.

“O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;for his steadfast love endures forever.”- Psalm 107:1 (NRSVCE)

Subscribe now

Subscribe now

A Prayer of Gratitude

O Lord, teach me to have a grateful heart.

Let me see what is good and beautiful,

finding hope even when the day is painful and dark.

Lead me in the way of true generosity and love,

praising you always with a thankful and humble heart.

Heal my soul, O Lord, and let me be ever grateful,

knowing that you are always near,

loving me, protecting me and showering me

with blessings from up above. Amen.

Have you ever wondered about the difference between being happy and blessed? When do we say that we are happy? And when do we say that we are blessed?

We hear it almost everyday. Many people say that they are blessed whenever they are grateful for the good things they have in life. On the other hand, many people say that they are happy when all is going well in their lives.

When we come to think of it, there seems to be a very fine line between the two. Even the beatitudes in the Bible have used both words in different translations:

In the New American Bible (NABRE), here is what Matthew 5:3-10 says:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the clean of heart,

for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

- Matthew 5:3-10 (NABRE)

When we look at the Good News Translation, here are the verses that follow:

“Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted.” - Matthew 5:11-12 (GNT)

What these seem to say is that when you are blessed, you are also happy. And when you are happy, it is because you are blessed!

When we understand it correctly, this is true.

Isn’t it natural to feel happy when one is blessed?

Perhaps the exception to this is when we are blessed, but we fail to recognize our blessings. When we fail to see God’s many gifts, we may feel sad or even abandoned.

Those who are truly blessed, therefore, and also truly happy are those who have learned to be grateful to God and to praise Him in everything.

The kind of happiness that the world knows depends upon our changing circumstances. Thus, we can be happy today for the good weather and then feel suddenly sad the moment the rain starts to pour. We can be happy when we’re recognized at work and then feel dejected when someone else gets the credit. We can be happy when we have all the food we want, but we doubt our faith when we experience financial difficulties.

On the other hand, the beatitudes taught by Jesus Christ proclaim the kind of happiness that can never be taken away. Here, the happiness one has recognizes the blessings amid the trials. It gives rise to hope despite the challenges that come.

Hence, even the poor and those who mourn can be happy. They are happy not because of poverty or grief, but because they shall be blessed in a different way, in a far deeper way that will truly satisfy them in the end.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains how the beatitudes respond to our innate desire for happiness:

“The Beatitudes respond to the natural desire for happiness. This desire is of divine origin: God has placed it in the human heart in order to draw man to the One who alone can fulfill it:

We all want to live happily; in the whole human race there is no one who does not assent to this proposition, even before it is fully articulated.

How is it, then, that I seek you, Lord? Since in seeking you, my God, I seek a happy life, let me seek you so that my soul may live, for my body draws life from my soul and my soul draws life from you.

God alone satisfies.”

(CCC 1718)

God has blessed us even with temporal and material things that can help lift our hearts towards gratitude. Yet beyond these things, God wants us to see the greater blessings He is showering upon us each day.

In the end, all these blessings draw us towards God, the source of true and everlasting happiness. With Him, we find that kind of happiness that fully satisfies our souls and none could ever take away.

Subscribe now

How Do You Start a New Year?

You start not with a burdened heart,

but with a heart awaiting to be filled;

you start not with hopelessness,

but with a vision clear and sure for the year;

you start not with anxieties,

but with trust upon God and upon your God-given seeds;

you start not with demands,

but with thanksgiving for all your many blessings;

you start not with anger,

but with a forgiving and peaceful heart;

you start not with jealousy,

but with a spirit that rejoices with your friends;

you start not with defeat,

but with a victorious voice;

you start not with chaos,

but with a prayerful song;

you start not with evil,

but with good, and an enlightened heart…

You start with all that God has given you,

and with the hope of all that is to come,

knowing that whatever happens,

you are a child of God,

special,

beloved,

and destined for something

even more wonderful

than the stars!

Subscribe now