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: Athanasius

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the Memorial of St. Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Collect: Almighty ever-living God, who raised up the Bishop Saint Athanasius as an outstanding champion of your Son's divinity, mercifully grant, that, rejoicing in his teaching and his protection, we may never cease to grow in knowledge and love of you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ... "Almighty ever-living God, who raised up the Bishop Saint Athanasius as an outstanding champion of your Son's divinity" - St. Athanasius fought hard before during and after the council of Nicaea to ensure that the truth about Jesus Christ was taught. God...Read More

Daily Collection: St. Joseph the Worker

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker Collect: O God, Creator of all things, who laid down for the human race the law of work, graciously grant that by the example of Saint Joseph and under his patronage we may complete the works you set us to do and attain the rewards you promise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "O God, Creator of all things, who laid down for the human race the law of work" - Labor and work are not a result of the fall. It is important to remember that God commanded Adam and...Read More

Daily Collection: Catherine of Siena

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the Memorial of St. Catherine of Siena Collect: O God, who set Saint Catherine of Siena on fire with divine love in her contemplation of the Lord's Passion and her service of your Church, grant, through her intercession, that your people, participating in the mystery of Christ, may ever exult in the revelation of his glory. Who lives and reigns... "O God, who set Saint Catherine of Siena on fire with divine love in her contemplation of the Lord's Passion and her service or your Church" - To be "on fire with divine love" is our ultimate destiny and...Read More

Daily Collection: Ash Wednesday

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect: Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service" - Christian service is a "campaign," meaning it is like an army making a strategic attack against an enemy. Not only is the Christian life a battle, but the ability to fight is itself a gift; thus, we have to ask for the grace to...Read More

Daily Collection: Angela Merici

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the Memorial of St. Angela Merici Collect: May the Virgin Saint Angela never fail to commend us to your compassion, O Lord, we pray, that, following the lessons of her charity and prudence, we may hold fast to your teaching and express it in what we do. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "May the Virgin Saint Angela never fail to commend us to your compassion, O Lord, we pray" - When we pray to a saint, we are essentially asking them to pray for us because they are closer to God and, quite simply, they pray better...Read More

Daily Collection: Timothy & Titus

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of Sts. Timothy & Titus Collect: O God, who adorned Saints Timothy and Titus with apostolic virtues, grant through the intercession of them both, that, living justly and devoutly in this present age, we may merit to reach our heavenly homeland. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son "O God, who adorned Saints Timothy and Titus with apostolic virtues" - As always, we start our prayer by calling to mind the good that God has done. In this case, it is the virtues found in these two men who served as the first generation of leaders immediately...Read More

Daily Collection: St. Hilary of Poitiers

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect from the optional memorial of St. Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor Collect: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we may rightly understand and truthfully profess the divinity of your Son, which the Bishop Saint Hilary taught with such constancy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we may rightly understand and truthfully profess the divinity of your Son" - Jesus Christ is God and every generation has had trouble accepting this fact, so the Church prays for us to not only accept it, but actually profess it in the face of worldly denial. "which...Read More

Daily Collection: The First Day of Ordinary Time

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the mass of the day, Monday of the First Week of Ordinary Time  Collect: Attend to the pleas of your people with heavenly care, O Lord, we pray, that they may see what must be done and gain strength to do what they have seen. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son... "Attend to the pleas of your people with heavenly care, O Lord, we pray" -Short and to the point, the Church begs of God to hear us and care for us. Yet, the request the Church is about to make of us is not for our own...Read More

Daily Collection: December 23

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the mass of the day. Collect: Almighty ever-living God, as we see how the Nativity of your Son according to the flesh draws near, we pray that to us, your servants, mercy may flow from your Word, who chose to become flesh of the Virgin Mary and establish among us his dwelling, Jesus Christ out Lord. Who lives and reigns... "Almighty ever-living God, as we see how the Nativity of your Son according to the flesh draws near" - We know that Christ is also the eternal son of God, so the Church is careful to recall that Christmas...Read More

Daily Collection: St. Josaphat

Posted on by Father Albert
Collect taken from the memorial of St. Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr Collect: Stir up in your Church, we pray, O Lord, the Spirit that filled Saint Josaphat as he laid down his life for the sheep, so that through his intercession we, too, may be strengthened by the same Spirit and not be afraid to lay down our life for others. Through our Lord Jesus Christ... "Stir up in your Church, we pray, O Lord, the Spirit that filled Saint Josaphat as he laid down his life for the sheep" -- We call to mind that Josaphat was killed for his defense of...Read More