Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, in heaven,
holy be your name;
your Kingdom come;
your will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.

Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now,
and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Glory be
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Come Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your faithful
and enkindle in them
the fire of your love.
Send forth your spirit
and they shall be created;
and you will renew the face of the earth.
Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit,
you have taught the hearts of your faithful.
In the same Spirit help us to relish
what is right and always rejoice
in your consolation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Benedictus
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel!
He has visited his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior
in the house of David his servant,
as he promised by the lips of holy men,
those who were his prophets from of old.
A savior who would free us from our foes,
from the hands of all who hate us.
So his love for our fathers is fulfilled
and his holy covenant remembered.
He swore to Abraham our father
to grant us, that free from fear,
and saved from the hands of our foes,
we might serve him in holiness
and justice all the days of our life
in his presence.
As for you, little child,
you shall be called a prophet
of God, the Most High.
You shall go ahead of the Lord
to prepare his way before him.
To make known to his people
their salvation through forgiveness
of all their sins, the loving-kindness
of the heart of our God
who visits us like the dawn from on high.
He will give light to those in darkness,
those who dwell in the shadow of death,
and guide us into the way of peace.

The Magnificat
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior;
because he has regarded
the lowliness of his handmaid;
for behold henceforth
all ages shall call me blessed.
Because he who is mighty
has done great things for me,
and holy is his name;
and his mercy is from generation
to generation on those who fear him.
He has shown might with his arm,
he has scattered the proud
in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty
from their thrones and has exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has given help to Israel,
his servant, mindful of his mercy,
even as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his posterity forever. Amen.

Hail Holy Queen
Hail Holy Queen,
Mother of mercy;
hail, our life, our sweetness,
and our hope.
To you do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve;
to you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy toward us;
and after this, our exile,
show us the blessed fruit
of your womb, Jesus;
O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.

Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled
to your protection,
implored your help,
or sought your intercession
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly to you,
O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother.
To you I come, before you I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions
but in your mercy, hear and answer me.
Amen.

The Angelus
V. The angel of the Lord declared to Mary.
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary…
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done to me
according to your Word.
Hail Mary…
V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary…
V. Pray for us, holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy
of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray:
Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord,
your grace into our hearts,
that we to whom the incarnation of Christ
your Son was made known
by the message of an angel, may,
by his passion and cross be brought to the glory
of his resurrection, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Queen of Heaven
Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia!
For Christ, your Son and Son of God,
has risen as he said, alleluia!
Pray to God for us, alleluia!
V. Rejoice and be glad,
O Virgin Mary, alleluia!
R. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia!

Let us Pray:
God of life, you have given joy to the world
by the resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through the prayers of his mother, the Virgin Mary,
bring us to the happiness of eternal life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Apostles' Creed
I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only son, our Lord.
Who was conceived by the power
of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again
to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

Grace Before Meals
Bless us, O Lord, and these your gifts
which we are about to receive
from your bounty, through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Grace After Meals
We give you thanks almighty God,
for all your gifts, through Christ our Lord,
who live and reign, now and forever.
Amen.

Act of Contrition
My God, I am sorry for my sins
with all my heart.
In choosing to do wrong
and failing to do good,
I have sinned against you
whom I should love above all things.
I firmly intend, with your help,
to do penance, to sin no more,
and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered
and died for us.
In his name, my God, have mercy.

Prayer for Peace (St. Francis of Assisi)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born
to eternal life.

Morning Offering
O Jesus,
through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer you all of my prayers,
works, joys, and sufferings of this day
in union with the Holy Sacrifice
of the Mass throughout the world.
I offer them for all the intentions
of your Sacred Heart:
the salvation of souls,
reparation for sin,
the reunion of all Christians.
I offer them for the intentions
of our bishops,
and of all Apostles of Prayer,
and in particular
for those recommended
by our Holy Father this month.
Amen.

Prayer for Generosity
O Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
To give and not to count the cost;
To fight and not to heed the wounds;
To toil and not to seek for rest;
To labor and not to ask for reward
Save that of knowing
that I am doing your holy will.
Amen.

Soul of Christ
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds, shelter me.
Permit me not to be separated from you.
From the evil one protect me.
At the hour of my death
call me and bid me come to you,
that I may praise you with all your saints
for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Beatitudes
Fortunate are those
who have the spirit of the poor,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Fortunate are those who mourn,
they shall be comforted.
Fortunate are the gentle,
they shall possess the land.
Fortunate are those who hunger and thirst
for justice, for they shall be satisfied.
Fortunate are the merciful,
for they shall find mercy.
Fortunate are those with a pure heart,
for they shall see God.
Fortunate are those who work for peace,
they shall be called children of God.
Fortunate are those who are persecuted
for the cause of justice,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Fortunate are you, when people insult you
and persecute you
and speak all kinds of evil against you
because you are my followers.
Be glad and joyful,
for a great reward is kept for you in God.

TOP

Prayer for Meetings

Opening Prayer
Lord, as we gather in your name,
we want to be in your presence.
Grant us a spirit of dialogue,
illumine our minds with the light of truth
and strengthen our fraternal spirit
that we may always seek and do your will.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

Closing Prayer
Father of goodness,
we thank you for this encounter
in which we have shared
our dreams and doubts,
our projects and our difficulties.
Make us always respond efficaciously
to our vision and our mission in the world.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

TOP

Scriptural Rosary

JOYFUL MYSTERIES
monday and Saturday

1. The Annunciation
Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name his Jesus"… Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."
Verses 30 and 38 of Luke 1:26-38

2. The Visitation
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb… Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." Verses 41-42, and 45 of Luke 1:39-45

3. The Birth of Jesus
While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Verses 6-7 of Luke 2:1-20

4. The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord.
Verse 22 of Luke 2:22-38

5. Finding Jesus in the Temple
And [Jesus] said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" But they did not understand what he said to them. Verses 49-50 of Luke 2:41-50

TOP

SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
tuesday and Friday

1. Jesus' Agony in the Garden
My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!
Verse 42 of Matthew 26:36-42

2. Jesus is Scourged
So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified. Verse 15 of Mark 15:1-16

3. Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head. Verses 29-30 of Matthew 27:27-31

4. Jesus Carries His Cross
So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha.
Verses 16-17 of John 19:16-22

5. Jesus Dies on the Cross
When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, "It is finished." And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.
Verse 30 of John 19:23-30

TOP

GLORIOUS MYSTERIES
wednesday and Sunday

1. The Resurrection of Jesus
Then the angel said to the women in reply, "Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay." Verses 5-6 of Matthew 28:1-10

2. The Ascension of Jesus
Then he led them {out} as far as Bethany, raised his hands, and blessed them. As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven. Verses 50-51 of Luke 24:44-53

3. The Coming (or "Descent") of the Holy Spirit
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Verse 4 of Acts 2:1-13

4. The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Verse 1 of Revelation 12:1-6

5. Mary is Crowned Queen of Heaven
The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name… He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. Verses 49 and 52 of Luke 1:46-55

TOP

LUMINOUS MYSTERIES
Thursday

1. The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River
After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened {for him}, and saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove {and} coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." Verses 16-17 of Matthew 3:13-17

2. The Miracle at the Wedding of Cana: Jesus Changes Water into Wine
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him. Verse 11 of John 2:1-11

3. Jesus Proclaims the Kingdom of God
After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." Mark 1:14-15

4. The Transfiguration of Jesus
And [Jesus] was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white; such as no fuller on earth could bleach them… Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." Verses 3 and 7 of Mark 9:2-10

5. Institution of the Eucharist
While they were waiting, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins." Verses 26-28 of Matthew 26:17-35

TOP

The Way of the Cross

In the church or at home, this prayer will help you to meditate on the last moments of Jesus' life. To begin each one of the stations, pray:
V. We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
R. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

Then, you make a minute or two of silence, meditating on the content of the station. You can end praying Our Father.

1. The Last Supper
2. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
3. Jesus Before the Sanhedrin
4. Jesus Before Pontius Pilate
5. The Whipping and Crowning with Thorns
6. The Carrying of the Cross
7. Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry His Cross
8. Jesus Comforts the Women of Jerusalem
9. The Stripping and Crucifixion of Jesus
10. The Repentant Thief
11. Mary and John Before the Cross of Jesus
12. The Death of Jesus on the Cross
13. The New Sepulchre
14. The Resurrection of Jesus

TOP

Praying with the Bible

PRAYING THE BIBLE IN GROUPS

First Step
Inviting the Lord and his Spirit. The coordinator asks a member of the group to invoke the presence of the Lord and his Spirit. The rest of the group may complete the prayer and share their own prayer.

Second Step
Reading the text. The coordinator points out the chapter and verses to be read. One member of the group reads the text aloud. After the reading, all observe a moment of silence.

Third Step
Abiding with the text. Let each participant say aloud a word or a sentence that is of special importance to him or her. After each participant says the word or sentence, there is a short moment of silence. Each one can repeat interiorly two or three times the words that were spoken, allowing them to sink in. Once all have spoken, the whole text is read again, aloud and slowly.

Fourth Step
Silence. After a second reading of the text, the coordinator invites everybody to keep silent letting them know how long the silence will be (3 to 5 minutes). This silence prepares the participants to reflect together on the text and to pray the text.

Fifth Step
Sharing what has touched their life. Participants are invited to share spontaneously from their hearts what has touched them. This is the time to put together the words reflected upon from Scripture and the individual feelings and experiences of each participant.

Sixth Step
Praying together. The coordinator invites the group to pray. Participants respond with spontaneous prayers to God who has spoken to them through the text. The meeting may conclude with a song.

TOP

PRAYING THE BIBLE ALONE

Begin with this prayer:
Father, you created me
and put me on earth for a purpose.
Jesus, you died for me
and called me to complete your work.
Holy Spirit, you help me to carry out
the work for which I was created and called.
In your presence and name-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-I begin my meditation.
Follow these steps:
1. Read the meditation prayerfully.
(About one minute.)
2. Think about what struck you most as you read the meditation. Why this?
(About four minutes.)
3. Speak to God about your thoughts. (About one minute.)
4. Listen to God's response. Simply rest in God's presence with an open mind and an open heart. (About four minutes.)
5. End each meditation by praying the Lord's Prayer slowly and reverently.

TOP

SHORT LIST OF BIBLICAL PRAYERS
that can be used at any time or according to your personal situation.

Genesis 15:2-3
Supplication of Abraham for his son.
Exodus 5:22-23
Moses complains to God about the situation of his People.
Isaiah 12:1-6
Song of thanksgiving for the liberation
of the People.
Daniel 3:26-49
Prayer of the Three Youths condemned
to the furnace, interceding for the People.
Luke 1:45-55
Song of Mary, the Magnificat, for what God has made in her and in history.
Luke 1:68-79
Zechariah's thanksgiving song for what God has made for his people.
Matthew 6:9-13
The Our Father.
John 11:41-42
Jesus' prayer of thanksgiving
at Lazarus' resurrection.
Acts 4:24-30

Communitarian prayer asking for interior fortitude to announce the Word of God.

TOP

BIBLICAL PRAYERS FOR A PERSON
IN DANGER OR VERY SICK

Read each supplication slowly, asking the sick person
or the person in danger to repeat it, if possible, as a litany.
Other supplications from the Bible can be added.

o The Lord is my light and my salvation.
(Ps 27:1)

o My soul thirsts for God, for the living
God. (Ps 42:3)

o Although I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for
you are beside me. (Ps 23:4)

o I stretch out my hands to you, and thirst
for you like a parched land. (Ps1 43:6)

o To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. (Ps 25:1)

o My loving God will come to help me.
(Ps 59:11)

o Fill me with joy and gladness. (Ps 51:10)

o Send forth your light and your truth; let them be my guide. (Ps 43:3)

o Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared
for you. (Mt 25:34)

o We will be with the Lord forever.
(1 Thes 4:17)

o Who shall separate us from the love
of Christ? (Rom 8:35)

o We love our brothers and sisters, and
with this we know that we have passed from death to life. (1 Jn 3:14)

o Now has salvation come, with the power
and the kingdom of our God. (Rev 12:10)

o Yes, I am coming soon. Amen.
Come Lord Jesus. (Rev 22:20)

TOP

How to use the BIBLE DIARY®

Some useful tips on how to make fruitful use of the Bible Diary®

o Reserve a particular time daily for reading the day's biblical texts and commentary. Allow some time for reflection and prayer. God speaks to you. Listen with your heart and you will discover and understand God's message.

o Make the Bible Diary® very personal to you so that you may have the freedom to write on it without reservations.

o Put into writing all the feelings you experience through the day: feelings of love, fear, guilt, or anger. Write down your reflections and realizations, your resolutions, little dialogues with yourself; your dreams, wishes, and hopes; your responses to events and to people.

o Be creative and compose your own prayers, verses, sayings and poems.

o When you look back and read them all over, you will begin to see and discover more about yourself. Then your Bible Diary® becomes a dialogue not only with yourself but with God who always speaks and is present through his Word.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Some portions of several Bible readings have been carefully condensed to enable the one-page per weekday or two-page per Sunday format. Condensed readings have been marked with an asterisk ( * ). Complete list of these condensed readings are itemized in the "List of Condensed Readings" at the latter part of this Diary. Thank you very much.

- The Editor

TOP