Prayer
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Thoughts from Pope John XXIII
Sr. Kathy Carpenter, Walsenberg, CO
At a memorial Mass commemorating John XXIII in 2006, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone shared with the faithful
the Pope’s Daily Decalogue taken from the diary of St. John XXIII:
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1. Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of
my life all at once.
2. Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world
but also in this one.
3. Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.
4. Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.
5. Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for 12 hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.
Almighty ever-living God,
who in Pope Saint John the Twenty-Third have given a living example of Christ, the Good Shepherd, to shine throughout the whole world,
grant us, we pray, that, through his intercession,
we may joyfully pour out an abundance of Christian charity.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
(Collect from the Mass for Oct. 11)
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Praying the Evening News
Sr. Stephanie Spence, Appleton WI
​Psalm 51 says: “I am surrounded by enemies who are like lions hungry for human flesh ...their teeth are like spears and arrows; their tongues are like sharp Swords” Many of my friends can no longer watch the evening news or political ads. They say the harsh rhetoric is so disturbing that it interrupts their sleep at night. The national news stations must have received some feedback since they have started to end their programs with a human-interest story. But night after night the same harsh realities are thrust upon us. The wars seem so unjust and violent--these are our brothers and sisters, Deep
political divisions make us feel hopeless. Mass murders and incorrupt business policies are prevalent. How does one sort out the truth? How does a Christian respond?
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Those who hunger for peace and justice must first accept the reality that these awful things are being perpetrated on our brothers and sisters. Turning off the TV as in the end of the movie the Ugly American does nothing to heed their cries for help. Try taking a few deep breaths during the commercials to deep send a quick prayer to the All Merciful One to teach us compassion. When the news is over, instead of getting a snack for the next show, perhaps you could walk around a bit, remembering the Lord’s call for loving neighbor as self and the suffering in our world. If political divisions stress you, you might pray to find common ground and become a force for reconciliation and unity. Lastly sometimes you may place your concerns at the feet of the cross, and remembering to be grateful that you can at least pray for those whose sufferings you have witnessed.