Hail and blessed be the hour and moment
In which the Son of God was born of the Virgin Mary,
at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold.
In that hour, I beseech You, O my God,
to hear my prayer and grant my desires,
through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ,
and of His Blessed Mother.
Amen.
O God, mercy and forgiveness
are Yours by nature and by right.
Receive our humble petitions.
Though we are bound tightly by the chain of our sins,
set us free by the power of Your great mercy.
Amen
O Blessed Columban, who, in your zeal for the extension
of Christ’s Kingdom and the salvation of souls,
spent your life in suffering and exile,
assist and protect, the missionaries of our day,
who have devoted their lives to preaching the Gospel
throughout the world.
Lord God, today I am grateful
for the gifts that you bestow.
They are different from a year ago
when mobility, activity, social life
were full and energizing.
These days, my gratitude is for the basics.
That there is food, and shelter and neighbors
and friends.
I’ve been working in the parish of Christ the King in Ba, which is located in the western part of Fiji, for more than a year now. Near where I live is St. Theresa’s Primary school which has a statue of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. Every time I leave the house I can’t help but glance at the statue and St.
O God, who distinguished Your holy virgin
and martyr Catherine
by the gift of great wisdom and virtue,
and a victorious combat
with the enemies of the Faith,
grant us, we beg You,
through her intercession,
constancy in the Faith and the wisdom
of the saints, that we may devote all the powers
of our mind and heart to Your service.
St. Andrew, you provided a wonderful example
to your flock of a life lived totally for God.
Pray that we may dedicate our lives
to evangelizing the Good News of God’s Love for us.
St. Andrew, you did not let fear deter you
from your work in God’s service.
Pray that we may not let people’s opinions
Living with a host family was a blessing for me. I lived with the family of Maria Rene Covarrubias Arze in Cochabamba, Bolivia. She is a widow who lives with her two daughters and three grandsons. My first three days with the host family were memorable, because I could not find the proper words to communicate with anyone. This was before my language classes began.
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.
Christ Jesus, I acknowledge You King of the universe.
All that has been created has been made for You.
Make full use of Your rights over me.
The Columbans are a society of missionaries, including priests and lay people, who minister to people of various cultures as a way of witnessing to the universal love of God.
We go in the name of the Church to announce, by deed and word, the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Missionary Society of St. Columban
1902 N. Calhoun
St. Columbans, NE 68056
Phone: 877-299-1920
Fax: 402-291-4984
email: mission@columban.org
