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Prayer for the Month
Heavenly Father, in this month of January, as we begin this new calendar year, we ask you to send your Holy Spirit in its cleansing power and evangelical purpose upon our nation and especially upon the people of diocese of Kalamazoo. We pray for our Bishop Paul that he may be ever more effective in his ministry and mission to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the people of our diocese, and we also pray that, when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will appoint a worthy successor who will protect the flock, proclaim the Truth, and be an efficacious proclaimant of the Gospel. We especially ask the Holy Spirit in this month to bear in us the fruit of Goodness and activate in us the gift of Fortitude that we may especially not be afraid to be witnesses of Christ’s love in all the good he does for us each day to the those we encounter who deep down thirst for meaning and the love of God and his goodness in their lives. We ask this through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord, who lives and reigns, God forever and ever. Amen.
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Cenacle Readings
For January through Pentecost please add the following prayer of St. Augustine to the Holy Spirit as part of the opening prayers of the Weekly Cenacle:
Prayer of Saint Augustine to the Holy Spirit
“Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.”
Cenacle Readings for the Month of January
Week 1: 2 Elderly Jewish man faces martyrdom: Maccabees 6:18-31
Week 2: Daniel in the Lions’ Den: Daniel 6:2-24
Week 3: Moses’ Mission From God: ‘Exodus 3:1-22, 4:1-17
Week 4: On the fruit of Goodness: The Beatitudes and the Salt of the Earth: Matthew 5:1-16
Alternate Reading on Goodness: Jesus mandates the Corporal Works of Mercy: Matthew 25:31-46
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Saints for the Month
Saints exemplifying the gift of Fortitude: Saint Paul the Apostle (Jan 25), Saint Agnes (Jan 21), ad St. Sebastian (Jan 20)
Saints exemplifying the fruit of Goodness: Saint Francis de Sales and St. John Bosco