Theme 92 : St Michael, the Archangel

St Michael is an angel of supreme power and the leader of God's army. In the Catholic writings, he acts as the defender of the Church and the chief opponent of satan. Michael is mentioned three times in the book of Daniel. In the New Testament, Michael leads God's armies against satan's forces in the book of Revelation, where during the war, he defeats satan. In the Epistle of St Jude, Michael is specifically referred to as "the archangel Michael". Let us take the help of St Michael in our daily spiritual battle.

Prayer :
Thank YOU, Almighty God, for the gift of St Michael, the archangel. Holy Michael, the Archangel, defend us in the battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. 

Theme 91 : The Inner Smile

Smiling is a great secret to health, calmness and warmth. Mother Theresa believed that peace begins with a smile. A genuine smile puts us at ease while a frown creates misery. The universal language of smile speaks straight to the heart, bypassing the intellect and the ego. A sincere smile shines from the soul brightening up the inner and the outer self. In the 'Inner Smile', we smile inwardly to the organs and systems of our body, activating within us the energy of loving kindness. This allows us to direct the healing energy of a smile into every part of our body, mind and surroundings. A deep inner smile spreads transforming the negative into positive.

Prayer :
O Loving Spirit of God, I want to breathe in YOUR fresh love every morning and start my day with an inner smile. Bless me with an unfading inner smile that enlightens and enlivens my whole being even in the midst of hardships.

Theme 90 : The Art of Focusing

'Having a clear focus in life' keeps motivating us to take life ahead confidently. 'Staying focused' is indeed a fulfilling experience. If one gives a direction to one's life with the help of prayer and reflection, the situations will not take the person for a ride. It is worth spending time in jotting down the unique vision of one's life. Setting and letting our companions know of our priorities will make it easier to have boundaries around our time. Saying 'Yes' to our focus means saying 'No' to certain other things. We need to decide what can or should be eliminated from or added to our schedule so that we save time and energy in order to stay focused. There are always people and circumstances that distract us from our focus. The more we have faith in our direction, the more likely we will be able to stand up for what is important for our life.

Prayer :
Unchanging God, may I ever be aware of my thought patterns that rule my behaviour patterns. YOU, my Maker, know what pattern is the best for my make. Teach me to set my priorities as they are the beacons that guide my every move. Tune in me the art of focusing that I may function optimally and live a content life.

Theme 89 : Eternal Life vs Eternal Death

Everyone receives his/her eternal reward in the immortal soul from the moment of death. Eternal life is reigning with Christ for ever, glorified in body and soul. Eternal death is the eternal separation from God in whom alone we can have the life and happiness for which we were created and which we actually long for. "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." (Daniel 12:2). "The wicked will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matthew 25:46).  Eternal life begins the moment a person exercises Faith in Jesus Christ. Eternal death awaits those who ultimately reject God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ remaining in their sin.  If we do not embrace the saving message of Jesus Christ, we will perish in our sin and be under eternal death.

Prayer :
Jesus, the Lord of the Universe, YOU are the Way, the Truth and the Life. O my Lord, Jesus, I confess that YOU are my way, my truth and my life. I thank YOU for YOUR precious gift of Salvation as I embrace YOUR Saving Message. I believe and trust in YOU. My hope is to reign with YOU forever. 

Theme 88 : Bond of Togetherness

'Cement' is a binder used in constructions that sets and binds the materials together. 'Group Prayer' is an essential binder used in groups that sets and binds the members together. United prayer in any group has tremendous power as it is the union of the spirits of the members and the Spirit of God. A family that prays together stays together happily. The Grace of the united prayer renews not only one's relationship with God, but also the relationships with each other. Today, family ties get weakened due to lack of family prayer. Christians cannot reach the full blessing God bestows through His Spirit until they seek and receive it in the fellowship with each other. It was to the group praying together in total agreement under the same roof that the Spirit came from the throne of the Glorified Lord.

Prayer :

O Holy Spirit, YOU manifest YOUR full power in the union of believers. O Jesus, YOUR presence, alive in the fellowship of YOUR praying disciples, makes their prayers powerful. May I never miss the daily family prayer or the united group prayer wherever I stay. 

Theme 87 : Divine Law on human heart

A word, a deed or a desire contrary to the Divine Law written on the human heart is called sin. It wounds the human nature and injures the human solidarity. Sin creates more inclination to sin and produces vices. This results in wicked inclinations that cloud the conscience and corrupt the concrete judgment of good and evil. All the same, sin cannot destroy the moral sense at its root. The human heart is the depths of one's being, where one decides for or against God. The root of all sins lies in one's heart. To choose deliberately something gravely contrary to the Divine Law is to commit a mortal sin. Unrepented, it brings eternal death. We have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them ignoring the Divine Law written on our heart.
                         (Ref. CCC 1865-1874)

Prayer :
All Loving God, thank YOU for writing YOUR Law on my heart. In the depths of my being, I decide for YOU and I count on YOUR Grace to be away from sin. Let me not ignore the lighter or the heavier sins. Merciful God, rising without delay with true repentance and making a good Confession are my hope. Thank you so much. 

Theme 86 : Significance of the NOW !

We are called to live acknowledging every moment. If the present moment is in our awareness always, how wonderful that would be! Right now, let us have an inner smile and just be..  God, the Lord of the TIME, gives us just a moment at a time, which we can manage beautifully. This is a natural law. Living the present in its best automatically makes the future its best. 'Worrying in the present about the future' spoils both the present and the future. If we are in the imaginary world in the present, our future will also be imaginary and we will never feel lived. Let us live the now in the light of the reality. Only the NOW is in our hand and it has tremendous power, which needs to be tapped. As we breathe for every now, living along with the breath helps us in being in the present.

Prayer :
Lord of the NOW, let me be here now fully. Every moment YOU speak to me to express YOUR Love to me and to lead me on. But, many a time I do not hear it as I have been either in the past or in the future. I desire a change and yearn to be fully present in the present. Hold me close, my dear God. YOU are the nearest. YOU are the closest. And, YOU are the truest.

Theme 85 : Photosynthesis in me !

A tree is known by its fruit. All trees do not have the same kind of fruit and some trees have no fruit. We know that during the process of photosynthesis, using the sunlight, plants convert water, carbon dioxide and minerals into oxygen and carbohydrates, the most important source of energy for our body. 'What a tree brings out' is of its acquired treasure within. If I am a tree, what treasure do I have inside to bring out?  What kind of fruit do I bear? Who all have been my gardeners so far? Is my rooting strong and wide-spread to take in all the nutrients provided ? Am I receptive to the essential light energy ? How green and efficient are my leaves? What kind of a tree am I? How effective is the process and the product of photosynthesis in me?

Prayer :

Marvellous God, I join the whole creation in praising YOU. I surrender myself to YOU completely that I may consistently bear good fruit. YOUR accompaniment at each little step of my life is sufficient. I want to receive the energy of YOUR Light and Love constantly that I may be a channel of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Theme 84 : The Greatest Might

The human person is created in such a way that he/she is at his/her best when connected to the Creator. Prayer is a connection and a relationship with God through which all the good and the power can flow to the one who is praying. Prayer protects. Prayer gladdens. Prayer comforts. Prayer supports. Prayer strengthens. Prayer purifies. Prayer heals. Prayer frees. Prayer fills. Prayer builds. Prayer unites. Prayer uplifts. Prayer saves. Prayer nourishes. Prayer calms. Prayer teaches. Prayer empowers. A day without prayer brings dullness and dryness to a person. Prayer is both soothing and very powerful. It is the greatest might one can have.

Prayer :

O Almighty God, come to my aid that I may understand what prayer really is and how I can pray daily in my unique way. Teach me to pray without ceasing so that I may always be connected to you. Let me be convinced of the importance of being in touch with you and experience the sweetness and the might of prayer.

Theme 83 : Repeating of Prayers

'Human being' is a 'complex being' made up of multiple components. There are various conscious, subconscious and unconscious parts and dynamisms in the human system. All of those might not take part in the prayers one makes. Repetition of the prayers provides an opportunity for the whole person to participate and mean the prayer made. Prayers repeated mindfully and heartfully are very effective, fruitful and interesting. Such a repeating of prayers is beneficial in loving God with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul and with all our strength. Mindless or heartless repetitions can be monotonous, less fruitful and boring.

Prayer :
O Lord of the universe and of my being, I desire to worship, praise and love you in spirit and truth with my entire being. Holy Spirit God, teach me to pray. Let my each prayer resound in my whole system and spread all around me giving Glory to YOU.

Theme 82 : Eastern Monasticism

It is in the East that Monasticism began and continues to have the strongest influence on the daily life of local Christian communities. Eastern Monasticism is a 'Living Movement' in the Catholic Church and a stream of 'Living Water' that springs straight out of the Wellspring of the Gospel. In a fast-paced world, Monasticism slows down to relish and nourish the lasting values of the Heavenly Kingdom. Monasticism has a Cosmic task through a life-style where the Original Harmony is restored in the whole universe. Monasticism is geared toward the Lord's Second Coming. Monastic prayer life, community life, dynamic intercession, hospitality and anointed ministry are powerful Evangelical Witness inspiring people how to tap from within. The Holy Spirit directs the monastic for personal holiness and for cosmic Holiness. A monastic is a mystic and a prophet who makes 'Ecumenism' and 'Evangelization' most possible through the Church.

Prayer :
Sweet Jesus, YOU fill the Monastics with YOUR abundant grace to choose 'separation from the world' to a great extent in order to stay intimate with YOU and to be solely engaged in building up the Church through life-giving spiritual ministries. YOU make us understand that the deepest thirst of a human heart is the natural desire to experience YOU. Thank you for all the Spiritual Inns that heal, nurture and direct the human heart to quench its strong thirst.

Theme 81 : Monasticism

Monastic life is a religious way of life in which one renounces worldly pursuits to devote oneself fully to spiritual work. The Acts of the Apostles give evidence of the beginnings of monastic life. By the second and third centuries, the Desert Fathers of Egypt had emerged as the leaders of this ascetical way of life and prayer. Among the Fathers, St Anthony the great is regarded as the first Christian monk. The first formal Christian monastic communities, both of men and of women, were organized by St Pachomius, a peer of St. Anthony. St Basil established guidelines for monastic life which focused on community life, liturgical prayer and manual labour. Saint Basil is described as “a luminary of the Church”. Together with Pachomius, Basil is remembered as the father of communal monasticism in the Eastern Christianity. St Benedict is known as the father of Western monasticism.

Prayer :  
Thank you Lord for all the Monastics (Monks and Nuns) of all times..right from the beginning of Christianity till today. I come to realize that Christian monasticism is rooted in your earthly life. Jesus, YOU embodied the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience. YOU invite YOUR followers to give up everything for YOUR name’s sake in order to have focus in glorifying Abba.

Theme 80 : Religious Life

Religious life was born in the East during the first centuries of Christianity. Religious life in its various forms is called to signify the very charity of God in the language of our time. All religious take their place among the collaborators of the diocesan bishop in his pastoral duty. From the outset of the work of evangelization, the missionary "planting" and expansion of the Church require the presence of the religious life in all its forms. History witnesses to the outstanding service rendered by religious families in the propagation of the faith and in the formation of new Churches: from the ancient monastic institutions to the medieval orders, all the way to the more recent congregations.   (Ref. CCC 925-927)

Prayer :

Jesus, the bridegroom of the Church, I thank you for all the religious all over the world living the vows of obedience, chastity and poverty. May the genuine vocations to the religious life be protected and promoted according to YOUR Will. Awaken those who are called by YOU and give them the grace and courage to respond to YOUR Call.

Theme 79 : Specially Consecrated

The state of Consecrated Life is one way of experiencing a more intimate relationship with God. In the consecrated life, Christ's faithful, moved by the Holy Spirit, propose to follow Christ more nearly giving themselves to God totally. Different religious families have come into existence in which spiritual resources are multiplied for the progress in holiness. Hermits devote their life to the praise of God and salvation of the world through a stricter separation from the world, the silence of solitude, diligent prayer and penance. They manifest to everyone the interior aspect of the mystery of the Church, that is, personal intimacy with Christ. The life of a hermit is a silent preaching of the Lord, to whom he/she has surrendered his/her life simply because HE is everything to him/her.          (Ref. CCC 916-921)

Prayer :
Jesus, the Saviour of the whole world, I am aware that from the very beginning, there were men and women who set out to follow YOU with greater liberty and to imitate YOU more closely. YOU invite individual persons uniquely to continue the mission YOU began. Help me to discern and live my vocation fully. Enable me to help others to discern and live theirs. 

Theme 78 : Sacred Relationship

The intimate community of love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator. God HIMSELF is the author of marriage. The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator. Marriage is not a purely human institution. The well-being of the individual person and of both human and Christian society is closely bound up with the healthy state of family life. God blessed them said to them: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it." The Holy Scripture affirms that man and woman were created for one another: The woman, "flesh of his flesh," his equal, his nearest in all things, is given to him by God as a "helpmate"; she thus represents God from whom comes our help. Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh. The Lord himself shows that this signifies an unbreakable union of their two lives.
                    (Ref. CCC 1603-1605)

Prayer :

O God, YOU created the human being out of love and calls him/her to love the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being. YOU created human beings as man and woman and their mutual love becomes an image of YOUR unfailing love. Help us to respect and promote the sacredness of marriage and family life.

Theme 77 : God's Style

Each of us has a style of functioning. Many a time, we tend to expect God to function in our style, trying to put God in certain boxes. God has God's own style of being and doing things. Though God is omnipotent, omnibenevolent and omnipresent, HE mostly acts in humble and simple ways. To those who seek, God reveals those ways. God could have saved the human race just commanding from Heaven. But HIS style was to take the human form and live with the human beings to offer them salvation. Looking at Jesus's life on earth, HIS Passion, Death and Resurrection, we can learn God's ways. God's children adopt HIS ways by sitting at HIS feet in prayer. That is the best way to enjoy peace at all times.

Prayer :  

Sovereign and Humble God, thank you for making me YOUR beloved child. Teach me YOUR ways. May I turn to YOU without delay each time I go away from YOU. Help me to see myself and others through YOUR eyes.

Theme 76 : SOURCE & medium

When we do charity, it happens not from us but through us. God is the SOURCE of all that is good and each of us is called to be a 'medium' of what comes from that SOURCE. The SOURCE is capable of sending all that it contains directly to all at all times. But the SOURCE chooses to let some goodness flow directly to each and some goodness through a medium. This helps each medium to be in good connection with the SOURCE as well as other mediums. Without the SOURCE of goodness, the medium is empty of goodness. If this is realized, there is no room for pride. What flows to the medium from the SOURCE keeps the medium clean and strong. A clean medium can carry the SOURCE's goodness in good quality and a strong medium in good quantity.

Prayer :

O Great SOURCE of all goodness, pass your goodness to me and through me. Help me discern what comes from YOU and not to let anything else come to me. I eagerly wait for you to fill me and sustain me. May I ever be a pipe that happily transports what flows to me from you.

Theme 75 : Necessity of 'Scanning'

As we know, scanning is the close examination of an area of the body with a sensing device by recording and displaying an image of the area. When does a doctor ask the patient to take a scan and for what purpose? Let us quickly become conscious of the answer...  Likewise, mental, emotional and spiritual scanning also can be done to examine, to record, to display, to study, to diagnose and to treat certain areas of our mind, heart and soul. All do not go for all the scans of all the areas and some prefer preventing than curing. For curing, we first need to pause and be aware of the symptoms of the seeming disorder. The next step is going to the doctor and following the medications given. And if still not cured, the scanning might be necessary to facilitate complete healing.

Prayer :

Jesus, my greatest Healer, teach me to live in awareness of the changes in any function, sensation or appearance of my whole being. As soon as I notice the signals that indicate the presence of something undesirable, may I place myself into YOUR Care or the Scan Room of Prayer so that my holistic healing is brought about. 

Theme 74 : 'Charged' and 'Recharged'

Being the regular users of electronic devices, we are familiar with 'charging and recharging'. What about the Spiritual devices within us? It is only God who can charge and recharge them. HE provides us with opportunities and waits for us to respond. Our job is to make use of those opportunities and submit ourselves fully to HIM. God, who is full of Love, will act only in love purely for our good. We are spiritually charged in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. Spiritual recharging can best be done through the Confession and the Holy Mass. How often are we recharged?

Prayer :

O Eternal Source of all that I need, I surrender myself to you in trust. Thank you for charging my Spiritual battery. Help me to take care that it is recharged as often as needed for my best functioning.

Theme 73 : 'Limited' and 'Unlimited'

Have we recognized both limited and unlimited aspects of our being? In today's fast-paced world, making time for that recognition is indeed worthwhile. Otherwise, we tend to unlimit the limited and limit the unlimited through our thoughts, attitudes, words or deeds. Mindfulness is the first and a great step in the process of building ourselves up. Holding on to our integral inner person provides more security than holding on to that which is outside of us. Let us count on our inner resource and inner strength to make lasting advancements in life.

Prayer :

O Limitless and Luminous God, it is in YOUR Light that I see myself. Help me to pause few times a day, even in my busy schedule, to grow in awareness of myself so that I treat the limited and unlimited aspects of me in its best possible way. I believe that I am called to eternal life.

Theme 72 : True Peace

'Peace at all times' is a human desire deep within. It is good to be aware how peaceful we are internally while peaceful externally. Speaking with inner silence is more effective than speaking with inner noisiness. Those with inner calmness are in touch with their spirit. For this, stillness in the mind and heart is necessary. 'Peace' is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. When the Divine Spirit takes control of the human spirit, there is tranquility in that person. Only Jesus can give us the true peace in the Holy Spirit. Let us breathe in the peace that Jesus offers us. Once we have that peace within, it automatically flows to others.

Prayer :

Ever peaceful God, fill my mind and heart with your peace. Still my mental and emotional disturbances and let me know that YOU are my God. May I experience the true peace within my being. Make me a peace lover and a peace maker.

Theme 71 : Passion

The dictionary gives the meaning of 'passion' as : powerful emotion, fervour, determination, the suffering of Jesus leading up to and during HIS Crucifixion, enduring of imposed pain, an innate quality, ardour, fire in the belly, zeal, etc. 'Passion' is a natural component of the human psyche that forms the passageway and ensure the connection between the life of the senses and the life of the mind. Our Lord called one's heart the source from which the passion springs. In itself 'passion' is neither good nor evil. It is morally qualified only to the extent that it effectively engages reason and will. Passions are morally good when they contribute to a good action and evil in the opposite case. In the Christian life, the Holy Spirit accomplishes HIS work by mobilizing the whole being, with all its passions, as is visible in the Lord's Life, Agony, Passion, Death and Resurrection.           
                      (Ref. CCC 1764-1769)

Prayer :

Christ, my Role Model, instil in me the most fundamental passion, YOUR Love. May I have a passion for YOU and for YOUR ways. Help me to love - to always will the good of the other. May all my attitudes and actions have their source in genuine movements of my heart for the good.

Theme 70 : The Journey Consciousness

What are your mental and emotional states before, during and after journeys? Will you settle down in the places you visit? Here on Earth, everyone of us are on a journey started from God to end in God. During this journey, what consciousness are we to have? Earth is a foreign land for us and not our permanent home. Do we, the mere travellers, spend all our time and energy craving to settle down in this temporary place?  What is each death teaching us? What we have with us permanently is the soul given by God as our identity, which interacts with the other identities in the society. God entrusts to every creature the functions it is capable of performing, according to the capacities of its own nature. Through the exchange with others, mutual service and dialogue, we develop our potentials to seek spiritual values. (Ref. CCC 1878-1888)
                     
Prayer :

Creator God, YOU have not willed to reserve to YOURSELF all exercise of power. Inspire us to learn the way YOU act in governing the world bearing witness to such great regard for human freedom. During our earthly journey,  may we behave as ministers of YOUR Providence with a true Journey Consciousness.

Theme 69 : 'Church' - Born in God's Heart

The Loving Father, in HIS Wisdom and Goodness, created the human beings to share in HIS Divine Life. When sin destroyed the human communion with God, a plan was born in the Father's Heart to restore that communion. This plan is the 'Church', the gathering together of all those who believe in HIS Son, the Saviour. The preparation for this 'Family of God' began when God called Abraham and chose the Israel as the People of God. Jesus enriched the new Israel by preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God. The Church was born primarily of Christ's total self-giving for our salvation, anticipated in the institution of the Eucharist and fulfilled on the Cross.The Twelve apostles closely share in Christ's Mission and HIS Power. Peter is the rock upon which Jesus is building the Church. The Holy Spirit was sent on Pentecost in order to continually sanctify the Church. The Church will receive perfection only at the second coming of Jesus Christ. (Ref. CCC 758-769)

Prayer :

Father God, thank YOU for YOUR loving plan of the 'Church'. Son God, thank YOU for the gift of YOU to us. Holy Spirit God, thank YOU for bestowing upon us, the Church, YOUR varied charismatic gifts.

Theme 68 : Rejoicing always

'Unceasing rejoicing' depends on Divine acceptance and not on human acceptance. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the Spirit. In the plan of salvation, the Father found the dwelling place in Mary, where HIS Son and HIS Spirit could dwell among the human beings. She was, by sheer Grace, conceived in her mother's womb without sin. Through the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary conceived and gave birth to the Son of God. By the Holy Spirit's power and her faith, her virginity became uniquely fruitful. At the end of this mission of the Spirit, Mary became the mother of the 'whole Christ' as the Church is the body of Christ. Thus, Mary is our mother, who rejoiced always and inspires us to rejoice in spite of the instances of human acceptance and rejection. (Ref. CCC 721-726)

Prayer :

O God, YOU accept me just as YOU accepted Mother Mary. YOU made her sinless at the time of her conception in her mother's womb. Likewise, YOU made me sinless at the time of my Baptism. Mother Mary took her responsibility of being holy very seriously and lived in Grace. Mamma Mary, O seat of Wisdom, help me to take my Baptismal Grace seriously, which will lead me to rejoice always. 

Theme 67 : Acceptance Vs Rejection

Everyone has both acceptance and rejection experiences in life. We enjoy the moments of being accepted. But, the human acceptance is limited and not constant. Many carry the inner wounds of undealt rejection-experiences. When rejected, one goes through the feelings of not belonging, not worthy and not competent. 'Being rejected' is not in our hands, but 'feeling rejected' can be guarded against. We, any time, belong to God, the Father as HIS beloved sons/daughters. We, any time, are worthy through Jesus, our Saviour. We, any time, are competent in the Holy Spirit. This is to be our constant focus than seeking belongingness, worthiness and competence here and there. People and situations in life can be changed, but God is unchanging. Feeling at home with God is the most secure home-experience and there alone lies the real acceptance-experience.

Prayer :

O my beloved God, thank YOU for accepting me as I am. I cherish YOUR unchanging and genuine acceptance of the person of me. Even when I am rejected, I am not going to feel rejected because it is only YOUR acceptance that matters for me. Abba, Jesus, Holy Spirit, please let me have a taste of being connected with you. 

Theme 66 : Anointing

When the Father sends HIS Word (Jesus Christ), HE always sends HIS Breath (Holy Spirit). In their joint mission, the Son and the Holy Spirit are distinct but inseparable. God's Word is revealed by God's Breath. Jesus is 'anointed' and the Holy Spirit is HIS 'anointing'. The notion of anointing suggests that there is no distance between the Son and the Spirit. Just as between the surface of the body and the anointing with oil, neither reason nor sensation recognizes any intermediary, so the contact of the Son with the Spirit is immediate. Anyone who would make contact with the Son by faith first encounters the oil by contact. (Ref. CCC 687-690)

Prayer :

Lord Jesus, I can call YOU "Lord" only in the Holy Spirit and covered by the Holy Spirit when I approach you in faith. May I experience this anointing at all times so that all my words and interactions are ever meaningful and worthwhile bearing good fruit.

Theme 65 : I believe in the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the first to awaken faith in us and to communicate to us the new life, which is to know the Father and Jesus Christ. But the Holy Spirit is the last of the three Persons of the Trinity to be revealed. The Old Testament proclaimed the Father clearly, but the Son not clearly. The New Testament revealed the Son clearly and gave us a glimpse of the Divinity of the Holy Spirit. Now the Holy Spirit dwells among us and grants us a clearer vision of HIMSELF. To believe in the Holy Spirit is to profess that the Holy Spirit is one of the persons of the Holy Trinity, consubstantial with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is at work with the Father and the Son from the beginning to the completion of the plan for our salvation. In the present times, the Holy Spirit is revealed and given, recognized and welcomed as a living person and power among us.     (Ref. CCC 684-686)

Prayer :

Dear Holy Spirit, I believe in YOU and I worship YOU. I want to know YOU, experience YOUR presence and love YOU more and more day by day. Thank YOU for coming into me through the Sacraments. Remain in me actively and take control of my life.

Theme 64 : The Ultimate Trial

Before Christ's Second Coming, the Church must pass through a Final Trial that will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the "mystery of iniquity" in the form of a religious deception offering people an apparent solution to their problems at the price of abandoning the truth of Christianity. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh. The Church will enter the glory of the Kingdom only through this final Passover. The kingdom will be fulfilled only by God's victory over the final unleashing of evil. God's triumph over the revolt of evil will take the form of the Last Judgment, where the conduct of each one and the secrets of hearts be brought to light.     (Ref. CCC 675-678)

Prayer : 

Merciful God, help me to prepare myself to face the days of YOUR Justice. Relying on your Merciful Love and Grace, may I now deepen my Faith to be able to pass through the Ultimate Trial and enter YOUR Kingdom at the Last Judgment.

Theme 63 : Personal Charism

'Charism' is the spiritual power/drive/authority freely given by the Grace of God to live 'life on earth' most effectively. A true follower of Jesus will have his/her personal charism based on Jesus' Death and Resurrection, which constitute the confirmation of all HIS works and teachings. Our lives are swept up by Christ into the heart of Divine Life, so that we may live no longer for ourselves but for HIM who for our sake died and resurrected. By HIS Death, Christ liberates us from sin; by HIS Resurrection, HE opens for us the way to a new life. The truth of Jesus' Divinity is confirmed by HIS Resurrection. This new life is above all the justification that restores us in God's Grace. Christ's Resurrection is the principle and source of our future resurrection. The Risen Christ lives in the hearts of HIS faithful while they await that fulfillment. Ref. CCC 651-655)

Prayer :
O Risen Saviour, may I ever be grateful to you through my attitudes, words and gestures. Have mercy on me, a sinner and fill me with YOUR Grace and Wisdom. Show me my personal charism and enable me to live it fully.