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.

Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from Fifteenth Week of Ordinary Time. Collect: O God, who show the light of your truth to those who go astray, so that they may return to the right path, give all who for the faith they profess are accounted Christians the grace to reject whatever is contrary to the name of Christ and to strive after all that does it honor. Through our Lord Jesus Christ... "O God, who show the light of your truth to those who go astray, so that they may return to the right path" - This is Salvation History: the story of God showing...Read More

St. Maria Goretti

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of St. Maria Goretti, virgin and martyr. Collect: O God, author of innocence and lover of chastity, who bestowed the grace of martyrdom on your handmaid, the Virgin Saint Maria Goretti, in her youth, grant, we pray, through her intercession, that, as you gave her a crown for her steadfastness, so we, too, may be firm in obeying your commandments. Through our Lord Jesus Christ... "O God, author of innocence and lover of chastity, who bestowed the grace of martyrdom on your handmaid, the Virgin Saint Maria Goretti, in her youth," - The Christian demand for chastity...Read More

Independence Day (USA)

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the special prayers provided for Independence Day. Collect: God of justice, Father of truth, who guide creation in wisdom and goodness to fulfillment in Christ your Son, open our hearts to the truth of his Gospel, that your peace may rule in our hearts and your justice guide our lives. Through our Lord Jesus Christ... "God of justice, Father of truth, who guide creation in wisdom and goodness to fulfillment in Christ your Son," - Creation is good and there are many good things we human beings seek to do, but the fulfillment of goodness is found only in...Read More

St. Thomas the Apostle

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of St. Thomas the Apostle. Collect: Grant, almighty God, that we may glory in the Feast of the blessed Apostle Thomas, so that we may always be sustained by his intercession and, believing, may have life in the name of Jesus Christ your Son, whom Thomas acknowledged as the Lord. Who lives and reigns... "Grant, almighty God, that we may glory in the Feast of the blessed Apostle Thomas, so that we may always be sustained by his intercession" - Not only do we seek St. Thomas' intercession, but ask for even the grace to seek it...Read More

St. Junipero Serra

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of St. Junipero Serra, priest. Collect: O God, who by your ineffable mercy have been pleased through the labors of your priest Saint Junipero Serra to count many American peoples within your Church, grant by his intercession that we may so join our hearts to you in love, as to carry always and everywhere before all people the image of your Only Begotten Son... "O God, who by your ineffable mercy have been pleased through the labors of your priest Saint Junipero Serra to count many American peoples within your Church," - Bringing people into the Church...Read More

First Martyrs of Rome

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of the First Martyrs of Rome. Collect: O God, who consecrated the abundant first fruits of the Roman Church by the blood of the Martyrs, grant, we pray, that with firm courage we may together draw strength from so great a struggle and ever rejoice at the triumph of faithful love. Through our Lord Jesus Christ... "O God, who consecrated the abundant first fruits of the Roman Church by the blood of the Martyrs," - The first fruits of the Roman Church are the converts to Christianity. But, just as Christ completed his ministry through his passion...Read More

Sts. Peter and Paul

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles. Collect: O God, who on the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul give us the noble and holy joy of this day, grant, we pray, that your Church may in all things follow the teaching of those through whom she received the beginnings of right religion. Through Christ our Lord... "O God, who on the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul give us the noble and holy joy of this day," - The Church's feasts are not just moments of memory, but occasions of actual joy. In this case,...Read More

Daily Collection: St. Cyril of Alexandria

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and doctor. Collect: O God, who made the Bishop Saint Cyril of Alexandria an invincible champion of the divine motherhood of the most Blessed Virgin Mary, grant, we pray, that we, who believe she is truly the Mother of God, may be saved through the Incarnation of Christ your Son... "O God, who made the Bishop Saint Cyril of Alexandria an invincible champion of the divine motherhood of the most Blessed Virgin Mary," - God has promised to protect his Church against the gates of the netherworld and that includes protection...Read More

Daily Collection: 12th Week of Ordinary Time

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from Twelfth Week of Ordinary Time. During Ordinary time, the collect from Sunday is used throughout the week. Collect: Grant, O Lord, that we may always revere and love your holy name, for you never deprive of your guidance those you set firm on the foundation of your love. Through our Lord Jesus Christ... "Grant, O Lord, that we may always revere and love your holy name," - Although it is our natural duty to worship and reverence God, our fallen nature makes twists and obscures this instinct. So, we ask for the grace to do it. The word for...Read More

Daily Collection: St. Ephrem

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of St. Ephrem, Deacon and Doctor Collect: Pour into our hearts O Lord, we pray, the Holy Spirit, at whose prompting the Deacon Saint Ephrem exulted in singing of your mysteries and from whom he received the strength to serve you alone. Through our Lord Jesus Christ... "Pour into our hearts O Lord, we pray, the Holy Spirit, at whose prompting the Deacon Saint Ephrem exulted in singing of your mysteries" - It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we can adequately praise God's goodness and the mysteries of our redemption. So, while...Read More