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Thursday, January 27, 2022

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St. Angela Merici


2 Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29
Psalm 132:1-5, 11-14
Mark 4:21-25

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bless this house

“By Your blessing the house of Your servant shall be blessed forever.” —2 Samuel 7:29

Even more than God blessed David’s house, the Lord wants to bless Christian families and communities, for their members have been baptized into Christ (Gal 3:27), the Son of David and the Son of God.

For our families or communities to receive the Lord’s unfathomable blessings, we should pray — not only individually but together as families or communities. The Lord promises to those who pray communally: “Again I tell you, if two of you join your voices on earth to pray for anything whatever, it shall be granted you by My Father in heaven. Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in their midst” (Mt 18:19-20).

The Lord is calling you not only to pray together but to pray daily as a family or a community. Daily, communal prayer is one of the main ways the Lord has chosen to open us to receive His blessings. Pope St. John Paul II taught: “The family celebrates the Gospel of life through daily prayer, both individual prayer and family prayer” (The Gospel of Life, 93; see also Church in America, Pope St. John Paul II, 46).

Therefore, no matter how difficult the devil makes it, let us pray together daily as families and communities. We will receive blessings beyond anything we can ask for or imagine (Eph 3:20).

Prayer:  Father, may I let You bless me as greatly as You wish.

Promise:  “In the measure you give you shall receive, and more besides.” —Mk 4:24

Praise:  St. Angela Merici founded the first teaching, secular order of women in the Church known as the Company of St. Ursula. Their purpose was to teach Catholic principles to future wives and mothers.

Reference:  (For a related teaching on Family Prayer, listen to, download or order our CD 59-1 or DVD 59 on our website.)

Rescript:  "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from December 01/2021 through January 31, 2022 Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio May 5, 2021"

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.