Category: The Daily Collection

The Daily Collection is a series of reflections based on the “Collect” of the Mass, which most people call the opening prayer. This section breaks down that prayer and provides a few points of reflection on that prayer. Maybe the reflection will be profound and helpful, maybe it will seem kind of hum-drum, and maybe you’ll have your own insights that are better than mine – great! The goal is to get you to notice the prayer in the first place. They are often beautiful, if not a little dense, and starting to recognize their existence and meaning is just one more way to achieve the “Full, Conscious, Active participation” at Mass called for by the Second Vatican Council. It’s a small way to help you on your way to ordinary holiness.

Daily Collection: Trinity Sunday

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity: "God our Father, who by sending into the world the Word of truth and the Spirit of sanctification made known to the human race your wondrous mystery, grant us, we pray, that in profession the true faith, we may acknowledge the Trinity of eternal glory and adore your Unity, powerful in majesty. 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 Our prayer begins by recalling the truth that the Trinity is...Read More

Daily Collection: St. Philip Neri

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Memorial of St. Philip Neri, Priest: "O God, who never cease to bestow the glory of holiness on the faithful servants you raise up for yourself, graciously grant that the Holy Spirit may kindle in us that fire with which he wonderfully filled the heart of Saint Philip Neri. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reign with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." Reflection St. Philip Neri lived from 1515 to 1595 in Florence and Rome. He was a priest, a powerful preacher, a...Read More

Daily Collection: St. Rita of Cascia

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Memorial of St. Rita, Virgin: "Bestow on us, we pray, O Lord, the wisdom and strength of the Cross, with which you were pleased to endow Saint Rita, so that, suffering in every tribulation with Christ, we may participate ever more deeply in his Paschal Mystery. Who lives and reign with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever." Reflection The wisdom and strength of the Cross seem like foolishness and weakness to the world. Often enough, they seem like foolishness to us, so our prayer looks to the example...Read More

Daily Collection: Mary, Mother of the Church

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church: "O God, Father of mercies, whose Only Begotten Son, as he hung upon the Cross, chose the Blessed Virgin Mary, his Mother, to be our Mother also, grant, we pray, that with her loving help your Church may be more fruitful day by day and, exulting in the holiness of her children, may draw to her embrace all the families of the peoples. 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."...Read More

Daily Collection: Pentecost

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Solemnity of the Pentecost is: "O God, who by the mystery of today's great feast sanctify your whole Church in every people and nation, pour out, we pray, the gifts of the Holy Spirit across the face of the earth and, with the divine grace that was at work when the Gospel was first proclaimed, fill now once more the hearts of believers. 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 Just as the Holy Spirit crossed...Read More

Daily Collection: St. John I

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Memorial of St. John I, Pope and Martyr: "O God, who reward faithful souls and who have consecrated this day by the martyrdom of Pope Saint John the First, graciously hear the prayers of your people and grant that we, who venerate his merits, may imitate his constancy in the faith. 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 Yes, God rewards faithful souls. We "earn" this reward in a sense, but it is only by God's...Read More

Daily Collection: Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter is: "May your Spirit, O Lord, we pray, imbue us powerfully with spiritual gifts, that he may give us a mind pleasing to you and graciously conform us to your will. 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 Continuing our focus on the coming of the Spirit, we now ask particularly for a "mind pleasing" to God. This is a mind that knows God and that fills itself with the...Read More

Daily Collection: Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter is: "Graciously grant to your Church, O merciful God, that, gathered by the Holy Spirit, she may be devoted to you with all her heart and united in purity of intent. 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 As we draw closer to Pentecost, our prayer increasingly focuses on receiving the Holy Spirit. This is a wonderful echo of the way the Apostles and Mary prayed and waited for the...Read More

Daily Collection: Memorial of St. Isidore the Farmer

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Memorial of St. Isidore the Farmer: "Lord God, to whom belongs all creation, and who call us to serve you by caring for the gifts that surround us, inspire us by the example of Saint Isidore to share our food with the hungry and to work for the salvation of all people. 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 St. Isidore lived in Spain around the year 1100. Our prayer begins by recalling that all things...Read More

Daily Collection: St. Matthias the Apostle

Posted on by Father Albert
The Collect for the Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle and Martyr: "O God, who assigned Saint Matthias a place in the college of Apostles, grant us, through his intercession, that, rejoicing at how your love has been allotted to us, we may merit to be numbered among the elect. 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 St. Matthias is a particular example of God's mysterious designs; He has a plan in mind for each of us. After spending all of...Read More