The Collect for the Memorial of St. John I, Pope and Martyr:
“O God, who reward faithful souls and who have consecrated this day by the martyrdom of Pope Saint John the First, graciously hear the prayers of your people and grant that we, who venerate his merits, may imitate his constancy in the faith. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.”
Reflection
Yes, God rewards faithful souls. We “earn” this reward in a sense, but it is only by God’s grace that we can be faithful. In the same way, Pope St. John was faithful unto death, but we give God the credit for “consecrating” the day because it was his grace and providence that made it possible. The tension between gratuitous faith and holy merit continues. We have just given God the credit for Pope St. John’s fidelity, but here we venerate St. John even while we ask God for the grace to do what he did.
So, for your daily contribution to the Church’s collection of prayer,
Think about what you may have done to earn a reward from God. Consider how often you take credit for whatever successes you’ve had. Pray to God for the grace to humbly admit your dependence on him for every success. Pray also for the grace to persevere even if nothing you’ve done looks like success. Then spiritually unite that prayer to all the Masses throughout the world today. That way, when the priest says “Let us pray,” you can be a part of that “us” even if you don’t get to attend Mass.
