The Collect for Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter is:
“O God, restorer and lover of innocence, direct the hearts of your servants towards yourself, that those you have set free from the darkness of unbelief may never stray from the light of your truth. 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 loves innocence, but we don’t have innocence. So, God restores our innocence so that He can take delight in us. Remembering that, we pray for Him to re-orient our hearts away from those things that take away our innocence. We’re asking not to lose what we gained in Baptism: the light of faith symbolized by our Baptismal candle and the Easter Candle, which is still in the sanctuary of the Church throughout this joyful season.
So, for your daily contribution to the Church’s collection of prayer,
stop to consider your baptismal candle. Do you know where it is? Its fine if not, but it may be helpful to imagine your baptismal candle burning quietly within you – the light of faith. Reflect on the ways that you allow sin and selfishness to stir up wind and disturbance in your soul, threatening that tiny flame. Pray to God to help you protect it and, should it go out, to relight it through a good confession and Holy Communion. Then spiritually unite that prayer to all the Masses throughout the world today. That way, when the priest says “Let us pray,” you can be a part of that “us” even if you don’t get to attend Mass.