Sun Oct 18: 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A; Gospel Matthew 22:15-21)
Prayer (Suscipe, the offering prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola), chosen for today's Gospel, "render… to God, the things that are God's"; this is not a saint's day (St. Ignatius of Loyola is July 31). St. Luke (Oct 18) is not celebrated this year because the Sunday takes precedence; privately one may add: "Saint Luke, pray for us." Take, O Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my whole will. Thou hast given me all that I am and all that I possess; I surrender it all to Thee that Thou mayest dispose of it according to Thy will. Give me only Thy love and Thy grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will have no more to desire.
Source: St. Ignatius of Loyola, Spiritual Exercises (Contemplation to Attain Love, commonly cited as no. 234); English text from Hammer, General Catholic Devotions (Benziger, 1909; Imprimatur John M. Farley), "Offering", public domain: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/33676/33676-h/33676-h.htm
Scripture (Matthew 22:21, DR): “They say to him: Caesar's. Then he saith to them: Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God, the things that are God's.”
Reflection: We carry God's image, so we owe Him our whole selves, our work included.
Thu Oct 22: St. John Paul II (optional memorial)
Prayer: Saint John Paul II, pray for us.
Follow it with the Memorare (on the Weekly Prayer Rhythm page), in keeping with his Marian motto Totus Tuus.
Source: the invocation follows the form of the Litany of the Saints.
Scripture (John 21:17, DR, final clause): “He said to him: Feed my sheep.”
Reflection: Every pathway we build is meant to help pastors feed their sheep, never to replace them.
Sun Nov 1: All Saints (Solemnity; holyday falls on Sunday)
Prayer (from the Litany of the Saints): All ye men and women, saints of God: Make intercession for us.
Source: Litany of the Saints, in Hammer, General Catholic Devotions (1909), public domain (link above). The whole litany in that edition may be prayed instead.
Scripture (Matthew 5:8, DR): “Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.”
Reflection: Holiness is the destination of the whole journey, not an extra.
Mon Nov 2: All Souls (Commemoration)
Prayer (Eternal rest / Requiem aeternam): Eternal rest give to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. V. May they rest in peace. R. Amen.
Source: traditional prayer for the dead (Latin "Requiem aeternam"); English text from Hammer, General Catholic Devotions (1909), public domain (link above).
Scripture (2 Machabees 12:46, DR): “It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.”
Reflection: Praying for the dead is a holy and wholesome work of mercy, and it binds the Church together across death.
Scripture: Douay-Rheims (Challoner). Weekly Prayer Rhythm · ← All prayers
