December 25 Christmas Acclamation 18th Century, German Praise and adoration be to our God, for he is good. His grace and mercy fill the heavens and earth. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving, and joyfully praise our creator. As a father, he loves us, his children. Sing his praises with joyful thanks in love and devotion! Let us … Read More
Christmas Eve – 2024
December 24 O God, you have made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that we who have known the mysteries of that Light here on earth may come to the fullness of his joys in heaven; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Hymn for Reflection: … Read More
Advent Week 4 – 2024
December 22 Opening Prayer: Almighty God, fulfill our desire and kindle our hearts by your Spirit, that being filled with the oil of your grace, we may shine as bright lights at the coming of your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Silence (5 minutes) Hymn for Reflection: … Read More
Advent Week 3 – 2024
December 15, 16 Call to Prayer: Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belongs escape from death. (Psalm 68) Silence (3 minutes) Scripture for Interiorization: “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of … Read More
Advent Week 2 – 2024
December 8, 9 Call to Prayer: “Give the gift of wise rule to the king, O God, the gift of just rule to the crown prince. May he judge your people rightly, be honorable to your meek and lowly.” (Psalm 72, The Message) Silence (2 minutes) Scripture for Interiorization: “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on … Read More
Advent Week 1 – 2024
December 1 and 2 Call to Prayer: “For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.” (Psalm 62) Silence (1 minute) Scripture for Interiorization: “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us…” (Repeat slowly, 5 times) Prompts for Prayer Focus in on the first phrase of the … Read More
The Dawn From On High
The Lord be with you friends. If you have gotten your hands or eyes on this journal, we have arrived at the Advent season 2024. This journal is a simple guide for daily prayer. Hopefully it is rather intuitive to navigate, but here are a few thoughts to help us through over the next few weeks. We are being guided … Read More
Captivated By Christ in a Distracted Age
It is not hard to diagnose the level of distraction we face in our cultural moment. Endless feeds that scroll and scroll by, Advertisements everywhere we turn, Cultural voices saying “buy this and you’ll be happier!” “consume this and you’ll feel better!” And perhaps we’ve gotten so used to the “24 hour news cycle” that we don’t even feel its … Read More
Captivated II
When I was in college, I would occasionally take the train from Wheaton into Chicago to visit the Art Institute. I didn’t meander through the galleries in any intentional order or direction, but each time without fail, I found myself in the same grand room in the ‘Painting and Sculpture of Europe’ section, sitting on a small bench, staring up … Read More
Captivated I
St. John, in his Gospel, records John the Baptist saying of Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” St. John was inviting the crowds then, and us still, to slow down, look up, pay attention, “the lamb of who takes away the sin of the world.” There is so much vying for our … Read More