Collect taken from the feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori, bishop and doctor.
Collect: O God, who constantly raise up in your Church new examples of virtue, grant that we may follow so closely in the footsteps of the Bishop Saint Alphonsus in his zeal for souls as to attain the same rewards that are his in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son…
“O God, who constantly raise up in your Church new examples of virtue,”
-Raising up examples of virtue is an extension of Christ’s promise to be with us always, so we acknowledge this aspect of God’s providence to stir up our faith. It also provides hope that we might, in some small way, become an example of virtue to others for the glory of God.
“grant that we may follow so closely in the footsteps of the Bishop Saint Alphonsus in his zeal for souls as to attain the same rewards that are his in heaven.”
-St. Alphonsus took and kept a vow to never waste time, so his zeal provides an excellent example of how to take seriously our journey toward heaven. This requires an authentic hope which makes heavenly rewards seem real enough to motivate our actions here and now. Thus, we are asking for an increase in this virtue and in the fortitude needed to hold to this hope.
Questions & Advice: How greatly do you desire to grow in virtue? How much time do you usually waste throughout the day? Does heaven seem like a distant reality, or something that weigh on your decision-making here an now?
Read about the call to Holiness in the Catechism (2012-16). Spend some of your daily prayer time reflecting on how better use the time given you on earth. Pray for an increase in hope, fortitude, and zeal. Consider laying out a “rule of life” – a general outline of how you plan to spend your time each day during the week.
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| Sancte Alphonse, ora pro nobis! |