Category: The Daily Collection

The Daily Collection is a series of reflections based on the “Collect” of the Mass, which most people call the opening prayer. This section breaks down that prayer and provides a few points of reflection on that prayer. Maybe the reflection will be profound and helpful, maybe it will seem kind of hum-drum, and maybe you’ll have your own insights that are better than mine – great! The goal is to get you to notice the prayer in the first place. They are often beautiful, if not a little dense, and starting to recognize their existence and meaning is just one more way to achieve the “Full, Conscious, Active participation” at Mass called for by the Second Vatican Council. It’s a small way to help you on your way to ordinary holiness.

Daily Collection: Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter is: "O God, restorer and lover of innocence, direct the hearts of your servants towards yourself, that those you have set free from the darkness of unbelief may never stray from the light of your truth. 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 God loves innocence, but we don't have innocence. So, God restores our innocence so that He can take delight in us. Remembering that, we pray for Him...Read More
Via Wikimedia: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DNA_com_GGN.jpg

Daily Collection: Monday of the Second Week of Easter

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for Monday of the Second Week of Easter is: "Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who have been renewed by paschal remedies, transcending the likeness of our earthly parentage, may be transformed in the image of our heavenly maker. 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 This whole Easter season (the longest one except Ordinary Time) will focus on heavenly things, baptism, and renewal. So, we pray to make the renewal complete by "transcending... our earthly parentage."...Read More
Via Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_of_thorns#/media/File:Christ_Carrying_the_Cross_1580.jpg

Daily Collection: Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Fourteenth Week of Ordinary Time: [During Ordinary Time, the masses during the week use the same collect as the previous Sunday] "O God, who in the abasement of your Son have raised up a fallen world, fill your faithful with holy joy, for on those you have rescued from slavery to sin you bestow eternal gladness. 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 This world is fallen. The sin of Adam and Eve affected all of...Read More

Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Thirteenth Week of Ordinary Time: [During Ordinary Time, the masses during the week use the same collect as the previous Sunday] "O God, who through the grace of adoption chose us to be children of light, grant, we pray, that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth. 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 After the fall, the kingdom of darkness...Read More

Daily Collection: St. Anthony of Padua

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor: "Almighty ever-living God, who gave Saint Anthony of Padua to your people as an outstanding preacher and an intercessor in their need, grant that, with his assistance, as we follow the teachings of the Christian life, we may know your help in every trial. 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 St. Anthony lived in the 1200s in Portugal, France, and Italy. He was known for his...Read More

Daily Collection: St. Barnabas

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Memorial of St. Barnabas, Apostle: "O God, who decreed that Saint Barnabas, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, should be set apart to convert the nations, grant that the Gospel of Christ, which he strenuously preached, may be faithfully proclaimed by word and by deed. 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 St. Barnabas is mentioned in Scripture in the Acts of the Apostles as well as in some of St. Paul's letters....Read More

Daily Collection: Tenth Week of Ordinary Time

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time: [During Ordinary Time, the masses during the week use the same collect as the previous Sunday] "O God, from whom all good things come, grant that we, who call on you in our need, may at your prompting discern what is right, and by your guidance do it. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." Reflection We call on God in our need precisely because all good things come from him. The prayer does...Read More

Daily Collection: The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary: "O God, who prepared a fit dwelling place for the Holy Spirit in the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, graciously grant that through her intercession we may be a worth temple of your glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." Reflection The devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary goes back to at least the 1600s when St. John Eudes preached it with devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus....Read More

Daily Collection: The Visitation of Mary

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: "Almighty ever-living God, who, while the Blessed Virgin Mary was carrying your Son in her womb, inspired her to visit Elizabeth, grant us, we pray, that, faithful to the promptings of the Spirit, we may magnify your greatness with the Virgin Mary at all times. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." Reflection It is noteworthy that Mary's first action after discovering her pregnancy with Jesus was not focused  on...Read More

Daily Collection: Eighth Week of Ordinary Time

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Eighth Week of Ordinary Time: [During Ordinary Time, the masses during the week use the same collect as the previous Sunday] "Grant us, O Lord, we pray, that the course of our world may be directed by your peaceful rule and that your Church may rejoice, untroubled in her devotion. 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 Our prayer this week is a straightforward request for peace and tranquility. It's interesting that we ask the course...Read More