Dear Jesus,
At times we get caught up in the tasks of doing things.
The busyness of our lives may harden us.
We act as if our value and worth depend on accomplishments.
We fail to appreciate the gift of life and who we are.
You remind us that we are to become
like little children – open to being open to life.
Help us to cherish Your love for us as we are,
so that in turn we may show a tender, compassionate
heart to others.
Amen.
— By a Columban Missionary
Heavenly Father, we Your followers live in an in-between world.
We know by Faith of Your victory over sin and death
through Your Life, Death and Resurrection.
Yet we see the reality of evil in people being exploited,
in land, sea and sky being polluted,
in people brought to despair by poverty.
We continue Your mission of Hope by our own attempts
to be fair and caring in our day-to-day lives;
in the struggles to bring about true peace and justice;
in announcing to others that life has meaning
and is fulfilled in compassion.
By Your example of self-giving, guide us to true Love and Life.
— By a Columban Missionary
Flowers are blooming, signs of hope and joy.
Dear Jesus Your rising from the dead gives
the promise of new life.
Help me be aware of other people’s needs
especially the poor and all who have less in life.
Help me understand how we are all related in Your creation.
Guide me to know Your truth.
Help me to make good choices that my love may
reflect Your love and remember that You first loved us.
May Mary Your mother help me hear Your Word and follow You.
Amen.
— By a Columban Missionary
Dear Jesus, at times I feel empty within.
Slowing down and remembering all the things
for which I am thankful, gives an opening to real prayer
and not just mumbled phrases.
Then feeling Your presence and friendship
I can bring to you my cares and also be open
to Your invitation to love and give of myself to others.
Show me the way.
Amen.
— By a Columban Missionary
Dear Jesus, Days grow longer and hopefully a bit warmer.
Lent is upon us, a time for renewal and new life.
Open my wintry heart with the heat of Your love.
With Your tender mercy reveal the wounds
of my selfishness and sin.
Let me contemplate the wounds You endured.
Free me to share with others the good You see in me.
Amen.
— By a Columban Missionary
A shimmer of light I saw
Beckoning me to go…. Ah! HOPE
To freedom I go
Out of this dark, cold, filthy tunnel
Where fear, anguish and chaos exist.
You rescued me, O Lord
No more of tunnels of hell
Bring me to thy fold.
Hope to life anew
Hope to start something of value
Hope to freedom with you
Cringing from past old self no more
Standing straight and tall
Walking, not without faltering, but
Walking incessantly towards the shimmering
of light, your love, my hope
Hold me still that I may continue
To walk freely the life you unfold before me.
— Arlenne Villahermosa, Columban lay missionary
When I’m not feeling well,
and tired, I can get so down,
down with others,
down with myself,
down with everything,
my spirit withers within me.
I become like a flower in a dry land,
desperate for rain,
just wishing to feel at rights,
so I can enjoy my life again.
Lord, make haste to help me,
send the showers of Your love upon me,
so that like flowers refreshed in rain,
I can lift up my drooping head,
and rejoice in You instead.
Amen.
— By Columban Fr. Patrick Sayles
Lord, just as a flower can radiate its precious beauty,
and cast its fragrance everywhere, so I ask You
to cast the sweet fragrance of Your presence over me.
Surround me with Your love,
fill me with Your healing balm,
enfold me with Your peace,
comfort me with Your presence.
May your fragrance linger in the stillness of my soul,
May Your healing love renew my very being.
Amen.
— By Columban Fr. Patrick Sayles
Lord, time is so precious.
Time to heal and be healed,
time to sort myself out, to understand,
to get it all together, to see Your hand.
Where does each day go?
So fast, like a mountain stream,
so past, like a distant dream,
so lost, before we know, so time seems to flow.
So there’s no time to be lost,
I start here, this very moment,
I begin my prayer for healing here and now.
I lay the foundations with renewed heart
as stone by stone a wall is laid,
so prayer by prayer my hope is made
for a fresh start with You, Lord.
Amen.
— By Columban Fr. Patrick Sayles
Lord, I made a vow to my spouse and to You.
It was never my desire to undo this vow.
Over the years, isolation, tears, and unhappiness
invaded our marriage.
Attempts to recover what we once had were futile.
I constantly prayed for Your help.
Eventually, we realized that we could not fix it.
"I cannot take this anymore!" was my cry and prayer.
And sadly, it was over.
As I embark on this new journey, let me not be bitter
from the pains and errors of the past.
Let the beautiful fruits of our marriage, our children,
continue to grow and blossom.
Bless me with Your peace.
Amen.
— By a Columban Missionary
Lord, bless us in our reflections and ideas:
No matter the doubts they are seeds
seeking nourishment, sunshine and life-giving water.
May the lord bless us in all our ways, Father, Son and Spirit.
Amen
Lord, as a water lily
opens itself to the sun,
so may we open our hearts to you,
to give you thanks and praise.
For like the sun shining down
to nurture and give life,
so you shine down on us
with the light of countless blessings,
blessings beyond measure,
generous gifts of your love
given without conditions,
a love that does not count the cost.
To all who open their hearts to you
you never refuse the gift of your love.
May our hearts rejoice in thanking you
for the abundant goodness
you share with us,
for the love you give to all.
Amen.
— By a Columban Missionary
Often, instead of loving You, I seem to fear You.
I move away from your gaze, not sure, not ready to trust You.
Like a little duckling, I scurry away to hide in the reeds.
Teach me, Lord, to turn to You with trust, to allow your holiness
to come close to me, not to be afraid.
Teach me, Lord, to love You.
Amen.
— By a Columban Missionary
So much in life makes me feel small, even trivial.
I feel so dwarfed by this world, powerful things, powerful people.
Yet I know, Lord, that the least are precious in your sight.
Lord, help me, small though I be, to see You as the power in my life,
the real force that raises me up, makes me feel worthy.
Amen.
— By a Columban Missionary