Friar Emma

Let us pray with today's Gospel Reading (Matthew 13:31-35) Almighty Father,  You are the Divine Sower who plants seeds of your Kingdom in the hidden soil of our hearts. As we begin this new week, we meditate on the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast, reminded that Your…

Thought n° 209 Monday 28 July Vainglory is an enemy that assails those who have consecrated themselves to the Lord and embraced the spiritual life. Hence it can rightly be called the consuming moth of souls tending to perfection. The saints refer to it as the woodworm of…

Let us pray with today's Gospel Reading (Luke 11:1-13) God Our Father,  Just as your disciples once asked, “Lord, teach us to pray,” we come before You today with the same longing and humility. In a world that rushes past silence, that doubts the power of prayer, and that…

In a world that rushes past silence, that doubts the power of prayer, and that trusts more in noise and effort than in grace, remind us again, Lord, that prayer is not wasted time, but sacred communion with You, our loving Father. Amen

Thought n° 208 Sunday 27 July Simplicity is a virtue, but up to a point, it must never be without prudence; on the other hand cunning and slyness are diabolical and do a lot of harm. Padre Pio Pensiero n° 208 Domenica 27 luglio La semplicita è una virtù, però fino ad un certo…

"Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2).

Let us pray with today's Gospel Reading (Matthew 13:24-30) as we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary: God Our Father,  You are the patient and loving Sower of all that is good in the world and in our hearts. On this day, as…

Thought n° 207 Saturday 26 July You must always have prudence and love. Prudence has the eyes, love the legs. Love that has the legs would like to run to God, but its impulse to rush towards Him is blind, and might sometimes stumble if it was not guided by prudence which has the…

Let us pray with today's Gospel Reading (Matthew 20:20-28) O glorious Saint James, Apostle and martyr, you heard the voice of the Lord and left all to follow Him. Today, as we reflect on the words of Jesus in the Gospel, we are reminded that true greatness in the Kingdom of God…

Happy Feast Day of St James, Apostle: Lord, may we not seek honor, but holiness. May we not long for titles, but for truth. And may we, like Saint James, be ready to drink the cup You offer, with hearts on fire for the Gospel and lives poured out in love. Through Christ our…

Thought n° 206 Friday 25 July Don't refuse in any way or for any reason to act charitably to all without exception. Go out of your way to do this when you get the chance. The Lord desires it and you must make an effort to do it. Padre Pio Pensiero n° 206 Venerdì 25 luglio Non…

Happy Feast Day of Saint Charbel (Joseph) Makhluf, a priest of the Lebanese Maronite Order: In his yearning and search for a life of austere solitude and higher perfection, he retired from the monastery of Annaya in Lebanon to a hermitage, where he served God day and night in the…

"Only someone who has seriously meditated on how heavy the Cross is can understand how serious sin is" (ST. ANSELM OF CANTERBURY). "Let us not be ashamed to profess the Crucified One; let us confidently seal our forehead with our fingers, let us make the Sign of the Cross on…

Let us pray with today's Gospel Reading (Matthew 13:10-17) God Our Father,  You who reveal the secrets of the Kingdom not to the proud but to the humble of heart, we thank You for the gift of Your Word, a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. Lord Jesus, You told Your…

Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have heard without listening, seen without perceiving, and received without responding. Grant us the grace to draw closer to You through prayer, silence, and contemplation, so that Your teachings may bear fruit in our lives. Amen

Thought n° 205 Thursday 24 July Fight like a strong soul if you wish to obtain the reward of strong souls. Padre Pio Pensiero n° 205 Giovedì 24 luglio Combattete, figliuola, da forte, se vi preme di avere il premio delle anime forti (Epist. III, p. 405). Padre Pio

Let us pray with today's Gospel Reading (Matthew 13:1-9) as we celebrate the Feast of St Bridget of Sweden: Heavenly Father,  You sent Your Son Jesus to sow the seeds of Your Kingdom in the hearts of all people. On this day, as we celebrate the Feast of Saint Bridget of Sweden,…