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: Memorial of St. Athanasius

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Memorial of St. Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church: "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, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." Reflection St. Athanasius fought hard before during and after the council of Nicaea to ensure that the truth about Jesus...Read More

Daily Collection: Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter is: "O God, who restore us to eternal life in the Resurrection of Christ, grant your people constancy in faith and hope, that we may never doubt the promises of which we have learned from you. 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 Before the first sin, we had eternal life, but the first sin brought death. By bringing our human nature through death and back to life, Christ has...Read More

Daily Collection: Memorial of St. Pius V

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Memorial of St. Pius V, Pope: "O God, who in your providence raised up Pope Saint Pius the Fifth in your Church that the faith might be safeguarded and more fitting worship be offered to you, grant, through his intercession, that we may participate in your mysteries with lively faith and fruitful charity. 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. Pius lived during the Protestant rebellion. He became Pope shortly after the council of Trent...Read More

Daily Collection: Fifth Sunday of Easter

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Easter is: "Almighty ever-living God, constantly accomplish the Paschal Mystery within us, that those you were pleased to make new in Holy Baptism may, under your protective care, bear much fruit and come to the joys of life eternal. 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 Notice that this is not a description but a request; We are asking God to continue to accomplish the Paschal Mystery within us. Although Christ died and...Read More

Daily Collection: Memorial of St. Louis de Montfort

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Memorial of St. Louis de Montfort, Priest: "O God, who willed to direct the steps of the Priest Saint Louis along the way of salvation and of the love of Christ, in the company of the Blessed Virgin, grant us, by his example, that, meditating on the mysteries of your love, we may strive tirelessly for the building up of your Church. 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. Louis de Montfort lived from 1673-1716...Read More

Daily Collection: Friday of the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter is: "O God, author of our freedom and of our salvation, listen to the voice of our pleading and grant that those you have redeemed by the shedding of your Son’s Blood may have life through you and, under your protection, rejoice for ever unharmed. 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 We have free will and that is the image of God in us. Sin enslaves us and takes...Read More

Daily Collection: Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter is: "O God, who restore human nature to yet greater dignity than at its beginnings, look upon the amazing mystery of your loving kindness, and in those you have chosen to make new through the wonder of rebirth may you preserve the gifts of your enduring grace and blessing. 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 not only overcame the Original Sin of Adam, but made us even more...Read More

Daily Collection: The Feast of St. Mark

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Feast of St. Mark, Evangelist: "O God, who raised up Saint Mark, your Evangelist, and endowed him with the grace to preach the Gospel, grant, we pray, that we may so profit from his teaching as to follow faithfully in the footsteps of Christ. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." Reflection St. Mark was a disciple of St. Peter and is best known for writing one of the four Gospels. From what we can tell, St. Mark's Gospel is really a written record...Read More

Daily Collection: Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter is: "Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, celebrating the mysteries of the Lord's Resurrection, we may merit to receive the joy of our redemption. 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 We pray for God to make fruitful our efforts to celebrate the mysteries of the Lord's resurrection. And we must not overlook the use of the word "mystery." The resurrection is not merely a fact we know, but a...Read More

Daily Collection for the Memorial of St. George

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Memorial of St. George, Martyr: "Extolling your might, O Lord, we humbly implore you, that, as Saint George imitated the Passion of the Lord, so he may lend us ready help in our weakness. 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. George lived in the 200s and was probably martyred during the persecution of Diocletian. All we know is that he was a soldier who was killed for not renouncing his faith. Our prayer draws...Read More