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.

Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from Seventeenth Week of Ordinary Time. Collect: O God, protector of those who hope in you, without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy, bestow in abundance your mercy upon us and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may use the good things that pass in such a way as to hold fast even now to those that ever endure. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "O God, protector of those who hope in you, without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy, bestow in abundance your mercy upon us" - Protector, foundation,...Read More

St. Martha

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the feast of St. Martha, virgin. Collect: Almighty ever-living God, whose Son was pleased to be welcomed in Saint Martha's house as a guest, grant, we pray, that through her intercession, serving Christ faithfully in our brothers and sisters, we may merit to be received by you in the halls of heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Almighty ever-living God, whose Son was pleased to be welcomed in Saint Martha's house as a guest," - We begin with awe at the humility of God's decision to become the guest of a mere human being. "grant, we pray,...Read More

Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time. Collect: Show favor, O Lord, to your servants and mercifully increase the gifts of your grace, that, made fervent in hope, faith and charity, they may be ever watchful in keeping your commands. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Show favor, O Lord, to your servants and mercifully increase the gifts of your grace," -We deserve nothing from God, so for Him to give us grace is both a sign of favor and an act of mercy. But, confident in God's mercy and His promises, we ask without any attempt to justify why...Read More

Sts. Joachim & Anne

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the feast of Sts. Joachim & Anne, parents of Mary. Collect: O Lord, God of our Fathers, who bestowed on Saints Joachim and Anne this grace, that of them should be born the Mother of your incarnate Son, grant, through the prayers of both, that we may attain the salvation you have promised to your people. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "O Lord, God of our Fathers, who bestowed on Saints Joachim and Anne this grace, that of them should be born the Mother of your incarnate Son," -The providence of God arranges all things to work...Read More

St. James the Greater

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the feast of St. James the Greater, Apostle. Collect: Almighty ever-living God, who consecrated the first fruits of your Apostles by the blood of Saint James, grant, we pray, that your Church may be strengthened by his confession of faith and constantly sustained by his protection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Almighty ever-living God, who consecrated the first fruits of your Apostles by the blood of Saint James," -It is fitting that James, known for his zeal and desire to reign in the kingdom, be the first to suffer martyrdom. We recall God's goodness in acknowledging this...Read More

St. Sharbel Makhluf

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of St. Sharbel Makhluf, priest. Collect: O God, who called the Priest Saint Sharbel Makhluf to the solitary combat of the desert and imbued him with all manner of devotion, grant us, we pray, that, being made imitators of the Lord's Passion, we may merit to be co-heirs of his Kingdom. Who lives and reigns ... " O God, who called the Priest Saint Sharbel Makhluf to the solitary combat of the desert and imbued him with all manner of devotion," - Sharbel went to combat in the desert, not against some external enemy, but primarily against himself....Read More

St. Mary Magdalene

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of St. Mary Magdalene, apostle to the Apostles. Collect: O God, whose Only Begotten Son entrusted Mary Magdalene before all others with announcing the great joy of the Resurrection, grant, we pray, that through her intercession and example we may proclaim the living Christ and come to see him reigning in your glory. Who lives and reigns... "O God, whose Only Begotten Son entrusted Mary Magdalene before all others with announcing the great joy of the Resurrection," - As always, the honor we see given to a particular person is counted toward the glory of God. So...Read More

Lawrence of Brindisi

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, priest and doctor. Collect: O God, who for the glory of your name and the salvation of souls bestowed on the Priest Saint Lawrence of Brindisi a spirit of counsel and fortitude, grant, we pray, that in the same spirit, we may know what must be done and, through his intercession, bring it to completion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "O God, who for the glory of your name and the salvation of souls bestowed on the Priest Saint Lawrence of Brindisi a spirit of counsel and fortitude," - The...Read More

St. Apollinaris

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of St. Apollinaris, bishop and martyr. Collect: Direct your faithful, Lord, in the way of eternal salvation, which the Bishop Saint Apollinaris showed by his teaching and martyrdom, and grant, through, his intercession, that we may so persevere in keeping your commandments as to merit being crowned with him. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Direct your faithful, Lord, in the way of eternal salvation, which the Bishop Saint Apollinaris showed by his teaching and martyrdom" - As a shepherd, St. Apollinaris was charged not only with giving instruction, but with modeling the life of Christ...Read More

St. Camillus de Lellis

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of St. Camillus de Lellis, priest. Collect: O God, who adorned the Priest Saint Camillus with a singular grace of charity towards the sick, pour out upon us, by his merits, a spirit of love for you, so that, serving you in our neighbor, we may, at the hour of our death, pass safely over to you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "O God, who adorned the Priest Saint Camillus with a singular grace of charity towards the sick, pour out upon us, by his merits, a spirit of love for you," - God gives...Read More