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.

Sts. Cosmas and Damian

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of Sts. Cosmas and Damian, priest. Collect: May you be magnified, O Lord, by the revered memory of your Saints Cosmas and Damian, for with providence beyond words you have conferred on them everlasting glory, and on us, your unfailing help. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "May you be magnified, O Lord, by the revered memory of your Saints Cosmas and Damian," -The Glory of God is the highest goal and so we begin our prayer asking that honoring these saints might increase our awe and love of God. "for with providence beyond words you...Read More

Twenty-Fifth Week of Ordinary Time

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from Twenty-Fifth Week of Ordinary Time. Collect: O God, who founded all the commands of your sacred Law upon love of you and of our neighbor, grant that, by keeping your precepts, we may merit to attain eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ... "O God, who founded all the commands of your sacred Law upon love of you and of our neighbor," -Though it my be tempting to think that Love of God and neighbor came after the Ten Commandments because of the order they appear in Scripture, the reality is that Love has always been primary. "grant that,...Read More

St. Padre Pio

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, priest. Collect: Almighty ever-living God, who, by a singular grace, gave the Priest Saint Pius a share in the Cross of your Son and, by means of his ministry, renewed the wonders of your mercy, grant that through his intercession we may be united constantly to the sufferings of Christ, and so brought happily to the glory of the resurrection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ... "Almighty ever-living God, who, by a singular grace, gave the Priest Saint Pius a share in the Cross of your Son" - We call to mind the...Read More

Twenty-Fourth Week of Ordinary Time

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from Twenty-Fourth Week of Ordinary Time. Collect: Look upon us, O God, Creator and ruler of all things, and, that we may feel the working of your mercy, grant that we may serve you with all our heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Look upon us, O God, Creator and ruler of all things," - It is an act of faith and confidence to so simply ask for the almighty creator to look upon us in our smallness. Billions of starts and billions of years, but we feel comfortable seeking God's particular attention. "and, that we may feel...Read More

Our Lady of Sorrows

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. Collect: O God, who willed that, when your Son was lifted high on the Cross, his Mother should stand close by and share his suffering, grant that your Church, participating with the Virgin Mary in the Passion of Christ, may merit a share in his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns... "O God, who willed that, when your Son was lifted high on the Cross, his Mother should stand close by and share his suffering," - We are all familiar with Mary's presence at the foot of the Cross. This was no accident,...Read More

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the feast of Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Collect: O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son should undergo the Cross to save the human race, grant, we pray, that we, who have known his mystery on earth, may merit the grace of his redemption in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "O God, who willed that your Only Begotten Son should undergo the Cross to save the human race," - We acknowledge the mysterious means of our salvation, the Cross, and recognize that it was an act of obedience and love that led Jesus to...Read More

The Most Holy Name of Mary

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. Collect: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, for all who celebrate the glorious Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, she may obtain your merciful favor. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son ... "Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, for all who celebrate the glorious Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary," - As with God's name, the name of Jesus, and the name of anyone we love dearly, the name of Mary is something precious to us. It is also an acknowledgment of her...Read More

Twenty-Third Week of Ordinary Time

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from Twenty-Third Week of Ordinary Time. Collect: O God, by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption, look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters, that those who believe in Christ may receive true freedom and an everlasting inheritance. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "O God, by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption, look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters," - We recall our adoption and invoke our status as sons and daughters of God before making our request. "that those who believe in Christ may receive true freedom and an everlasting inheritance." - That adoption...Read More

St. Peter Claver

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of St. Peter Claver, priest. Collect: O God, who made Saint Peter Claver a slave of slaves and strengthened him with wonderful charity and patience as he came to their help, grant, through his intercession, that, seeking the things of Jesus Christ, we may love our neighbor in deeds and in truth. Through our Lord Jesus Christ... "O God, who made Saint Peter Claver a slave of slaves and strengthened him with wonderful charity and patience as he came to their help," - We praise the gift of God that enabled Peter Claver to take seriously Christ's...Read More

The Nativity of Mary

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the feast of the Nativity of Mary, Mother of God. Collect: Impart to your servants, we pray, O Lord, the gift of heavenly grace, that the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin may bring deeper peace to those for whom the birth of her Son was the dawning of salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Impart to your servants, we pray, O Lord, the gift of heavenly grace," - This is a straightforward acknowledgment of our status as servants of God paired with a direct request for grace. "that the feast of the Nativity of...Read More