This past week, I had the opportunity to continue our theme of H.O.P.E. (Helping Others Pray Every day), with our day school and PSR students.  Each month, we learn about a saint and how they prayed.  Then, hopefully, we can adopt their way of praying and teach others to do the same.  This week we learned about St. Frances Xavier Cabrini.  Her life is fascinating!  She was a 19th century missionary who traveled to America from Italy.  She founded a religious order called the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  While in America, she established 67 schools, hospitals and orphanages.  What gave her the power to do this?  PRAYER!  Her devotion to the Sacred Heart, the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary enabled her to live a life full of self-giving love!  St. Frances Xavier Cabrini also took time to write prayers that address realities like anxiety, gratitude and trust in the Lord.  As you take time to be with the Lord this weekend at Eucharistic Devotions, pray about these realities.  What is giving you anxiety or worry in life?  What is your cause for gratitude in life?  What is holding you back from trusting in the Lord?  Once you name these, pray with her words and receive the help only Jesus can give…

For Anxiety.  Jesus, fortify me with the grace of Your Holy Spirit and give Your peace to my soul that I may be free of all needless anxiety, solicitude, and worry.  Help me to desire always that which is pleasing and acceptable to You so that Your will may be my own.

A Prayer of Praise.  Oh Jesus, my Love, what are You like? I understand You — and yet I do not understand You — but I profoundly adore Your majesty, bless Your mercy, love Your bounty, and love You Yourself.  Yes, I love You, I love so much, so very much! With Your grace, loving Jesus, I will run behind You to the end of the race, forever, for always. Help me, Jesus, because I want to do this ardently, swiftly.

A Prayer of Trust.  My Beloved, enlarge my soul so that I may understand all Your goodness and mercy… I completely surrender myself totally to You with great faith and rest tranquilly in Your arms, like an infant with her mother.

Rest in His arms,
Fr. Jeremy