I am numbered with those who go down into the pit;
I am a man without strength.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
My couch is among the dead,
like the slain who lie in the grave,
Whom you remember no longer
and who are cut off from your care.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
You have plunged me into the bottom of the pit,
into the dark abyss.
Upon me your wrath lies heavy,
and with all your billows you overwhelm me.
R. Let my prayer come before you, Lord.
Alleluia Mk 10:45
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
REFLECTION
"Let my prayer come before you, Lord." (Psalm 88:3
Do you still write letters to relatives or friends?
My experience with letters goes back to my childhood. My Dad had to travel to Venezuela and Belize to inspect some mahogany lumber. He had to stay there for a month. We did not have any way to communicate with him other than by mail. It was exciting getting my Dad's letters. He described the places he was visiting and drew little pictures of the things he saw. Then my Mother told us to write a letter and she would include ours with hers to send back. My Dad told us when he returned home that our letters helped him when he missed us, because he could reread the letters and feel our love in his heart.
When I was older we wrote letters to penpals in other countries. I went to a Catholic School and the nuns gave us names and addresses of children our age living in South America or Europe. It was interesting to read their letters and learn about their lives in their country. We shared our faith and encouraged each other by offering prayers for upcoming exams or things that worried us at school or home.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus had a longing to be a missionary so she could spread the Gospel. Her wishes to become a missionary seemed impossible, since she was a cloistered Carmelite.
God made it possible for Therese to help missionary priests. The Mother Superior of the house received a letter from a seminarian asking for prayers and she gave it to Therese. Therese vowed that she would devote herself to the salvation of his soul.
As Therese kept corresponding with the young seminarian. He was encouraged by her loving suggestions for solutions to his problems. She always included that she would offer up her suffering and prayers for him daily. He was very grateful to her.
Today I belong to a lay apostolate, PAPA (Priest Always Prayer Apostolate) We send notes and emails with permission from the priests to pray for their intentions and to encourage them to persevere in their vocation. The priests sometimes have time to thank us and express how helpful our thoughts and prayers are for them.
"Let my prayer come before you, Lord." (Psalm 88:3)
You can help us to pray for priests and to be a part of this special apostolate. Contact us at papa@papamio.org Join us now in praying for all priests to be holy.
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