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.