Prayer Journal 2015
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Transcript of Prayer Journal 2015
2015 prayer journal
The Gif t of
Eternal Life
intro_2015_pj.indd 1 3/27/14 5:12 PM
Published by The Word Among Us Press7115 Guilford Drive, Suite 100
Frederick, Maryland 21704www.wau.org
ISBN: 978-1-59325-255-7
© 2014 by The Word Among UsAll rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education
of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Excerpts from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America, copyright © 1994,
United States Catholic Conference, Inc.—Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission.
Scripture readings from the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar are adapted for use in the United States. Celebrations of solemnities, feasts, memorials, or other observances particular to your country, diocese, or
parish may result in some variation.
Compiled by Jeanne Kun
Cover design by Andrea Rivas
Front cover: Madeley Lake, Whistler, British Columbia Thinkstock Images
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or any other—except for brief quotations in printed
reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Printed in China
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Dear Friend in Christ,
W here are you going? If you were traveling to your favorite vacation spot, you would have a ready
answer. But what if you were asked that question in light of your Christian faith? Home—to heaven—is the only true answer you could give. Ever since Adam’s and Eve’s exile from the Garden of Eden, human beings have yearned to return to that blissful exis-tence of union with God for which they were created. Reflecting this desire through the ages, heaven has been called “our father-land,” “our true homeland,” and “our heart’s deepest longing.” As much as we love this earth—and rightly so, since it is God’s gift to us—we are homesick for heaven.
So how do we keep our focus on heaven as we complete our journey on this earth? Daily prayer can keep us in touch with God and our desire to be with him always—both here in this life and in the life to come. The theme of this year’s prayer journal, “The Gift of Eternal Life,” will also help you focus your heart and mind on the joys that await you in heaven on that day when you behold our God face-to-face.
Why keep a prayer journal? This simple practice will help you better grasp—and later recall—the insights that you experience in your encounters with the Lord during your times of prayer, meditation, and Scripture reading. Reading through your jour-nal at the end of the month or year will bring fresh life to those encounters and remind you of how the Lord has worked in your life. Many saints, among them St. Faustina Kowalska, Blessed Frederick Ozanam, St. Bernadette, and St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), recorded their reflections and resolu-tions in a daybook spiritual journal, retreat notebook, or diary.
intro_2015_pj.indd 3 3/5/14 12:52 PM
Indeed, Pope St. John XXIII began keeping a journal when he was barely fourteen years old, and he continued this practice until a few months before his death at the age of eighty-one!
As is customary, this year’s Prayer Journal provides the Mass readings for each day of the year. In 2015 the Church is follow-ing Cycle B, with the Gospel readings for the Sundays in Ordi-nary Time taken from the Gospel of Mark. For weekdays, the Mass readings follow Year I.
At the top of each page of the journal, you will find a short verse from Scripture or a quotation from a saint, an ancient or contemporary Christian writer, or a Church document. Most of these texts reflect the journal’s theme, while others correspond to the feast days of the saints, special holy days and seasons in the liturgical year, or the Scripture readings from the Mass of the day. You will also find, at the beginning of each month, a lon-ger inspirational quote on the theme, “The Gift of Eternal Life.” You may want to reflect on this selection throughout the month, so that the hope of one day entering into the joys of heaven will take deep root in your heart.
Our human existence is a journey toward heaven, a journey “back home.” As we progress, day by day, on our pilgrimage to eternity, let us foster within us the hope of heaven and the antic-ipation of its infinite joys.
The Word Among Us Press
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Acts Acts of theApostles
Am Amos
Bar Baruch
1 Chr 1 Chronicles
2 Chr 2 Chronicles
Col Colossians
1 Cor 1 Corinthians
2 Cor 2 Corinthians
Dn Daniel
Dt Deuteronomy
Eccl Ecclesiastes
Eph Ephesians
Est Esther
Ex Exodus
Ez Ezekiel
Ezr Ezra
Gal Galatians
Gn Genesis
Hb Habakkuk
Heb Hebrews
Hg Haggai
Hos Hosea
Is Isaiah
Jas James
Jb Job
Jdt Judith
Jer Jeremiah
Jgs Judges
Jl Joel
Jn John
1 Jn 1 John
2 Jn 2 John
3 Jn 3 John
Jon Jonah
Jos Joshua
Jude Jude
1 Kgs 1 Kings
2 Kgs 2 Kings
Lam Lamentations
Lk Luke
Lv Leviticus
Mal Malachi
1 Mc 1 Maccabees
2 Mc 2 Maccabees
Mi Micah
Mk Mark
Mt Matthew
Na Nahum
Neh Nehemiah
Nm Numbers
Ob Obadiah
Phil Philippians
Phlm Philemon
Prv Proverbs
Ps Psalms
1 Pt 1 Peter
2 Pt 2 Peter
Rom Romans
Ru Ruth
Rv Revelation
Sg Song of Songs
Sir Sirach
1 Sm 1 Samuel
2 Sm 2 Samuel
Tb Tobit
1 Thes 1 Thessalonians
2 Thes 2 Thessalonians
Ti Titus
1 Tm 1 Timothy
2 Tm 2 Timothy
Wis Wisdom
Zec Zechariah
Zep Zephaniah
Abbreviations ofBooks of the Bible
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Januar y S M T W T F S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Februar y S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
March S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
Apr i l S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30
May S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
June S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
July S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
August S M T W T F S
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
September S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30
October S M T W T F S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
November S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30
December S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
2015
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Januar y S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Februar y S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29
March S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
Apr i l S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
May S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
June S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30
July S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
August S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
September S M T W T F S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
October S M T W T F S
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
November S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30
December S M T W T F S
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
2016
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J a n u a r y
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What man, stationed in a foreign land,
would not want to return to his own
country as soon as possible? Well, we
look upon paradise as our country, and a
great crowd of our loved ones awaits us
there. . . . What joy both for them and
for us to see one another and embrace!
. . . O the supreme and endless bliss of
everlasting life!
—St. Cyprian
J a n u a r y
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Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God• Nm 6:22-27 • Ps 67:2-3, 5-6, 8 • Gal 4:4-7 • Lk 2:16-21
Holy Day of Obligation
Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen• 1 Jn 2:22-28 • Ps 98:1-4 • Jn 1:19-282
Friday
Christ was born of a virgin and took his flesh from her, as was his will, in accord with the economy of salvation. . . .
Thus, the virgin became the Mother of God.—St. Proclus of Constantinople
1Thursday
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J a n u a r y
The Epiphany of the Lord• Is 60:1-6 • Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13 • Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6 • Mt 2:1-12
The Magi gaze in deep wonder at what they see: . . . man in God, God in man, one whom the whole universe
cannot contain now enclosed in a tiny body.—St. Peter Chrysologus
The Most Holy Name of Jesus• 1 Jn 2:29–3:6 • Ps 98:1, 3c-6 • Jn 1:29-34
4Sunday
3Saturday
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Saint John Neumann• 1 Jn 3:22–4:6 • Ps 2:7bc-8, 10-12a • Mt 4:12-17, 23-25
Saint André Bessette• 1 Jn 4:7-10 • Ps 72:1-4, 7-8 • Mk 6:34-44
5Monday
6Tuesday
A man must always be ready, for death comes when and where God wills it.
—St. John Neumann
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J a n u a r y
• 1 Jn 4:19–5:4 • Ps 72:1-2, 14-15, 17 • Lk 4:14-22a
Saint Raymond of Penyafort• 1 Jn 4:11-18 • Ps 72:1-2, 10, 12-13 • Mk 6:45-52
May God shelter you from disturbance in the hidden recesses of his love, until he brings you at last into that place of fullness
where you will repose forever in the vision of peace.—St. Raymond of Penyafort
8Thursday
7Wednesday
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• 1 Jn 5:5-13 • Ps 147:12-15, 19-20 • Lk 5:12-16
• 1 Jn 5:14-21 • Ps 149:1-6a, 9b • Jn 3:22-30
9Friday
10Saturday
For your faithful, Lord, life is changed, not ended, and, when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is made
ready for them in heaven.
—Roman Missal, Preface of Christian Death I
jan_2015_journal.indd 14 3/5/14 1:12 PM
J a n u a r y
• Heb 1:1-6 • Ps 97:1, 2b, 6, 7c, 9 • Mk 1:14-20
The Baptism of the Lord• Is 42:1-4, 6-7 or 55:1-11 • Ps 29:1-4, 9-10 or Is 12:2-3, 4-6
• Acts 10:34-38 or 1 Jn 5:1-9 • Mk 1:7-11
Let us be buried with Christ by Baptism to rise with him; let us go down with him to be raised with him; and let us rise with him
to be glorified with him.
—St. Gregory Nazianzen
12Monday
11Sunday
jan_2015_journal.indd 15 3/5/14 1:12 PM
Saint Hilary• Heb 2:5-12 • Ps 8:2ab, 5-9 • Mk 1:21-28
• Heb 2:14-18 • Ps 105:1-4, 6-9 • Mk 1:29-39
13Tuesday
14Wednesday
Christ is the wellspring of our life.—St. Hilary
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J a n u a r y
• Heb 4:1-5, 11 • Ps 78:3-4, 6c-8 • Mk 2:1-12
• Heb 3:7-14 • Ps 95:6-11 • Mk 1:40-45
We have become partners of Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end.
—Hebrews 3:14
16Friday
15Thursday
jan_2015_journal.indd 17 3/5/14 1:12 PM
Saint Anthony• Heb 4:12-16 • Ps 19:8-10, 15 • Mk 2:13-17
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time• 1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19 • Ps 40:2, 4, 7-10 • 1 Cor 6:13c-15a,
17-20 • Jn 1:35-42
17Saturday
18Sunday
Earthly riches are like the reed. . . . Its exterior is fair to behold; but inside it is hollow. If a man leans on such a reed,
it will snap off and pierce his soul.—St. Anthony
jan_2015_journal.indd 18 3/5/14 1:12 PM
J a n u a r y
• Heb 5:1-10 • Ps 110:1-4 • Mk 2:18-22
Saint Fabian; Saint Sebastian• Heb 6:10-20 • Ps 111:1-2, 4-5, 9, 10c • Mk 2:23-28 20
Tuesday
19Monday
Our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
—Philippians 3:20
jan_2015_journal.indd 19 3/5/14 1:12 PM
Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children• Heb 7:25–8:6 • Ps 40:7-10, 17 • Mk 3:7-12
Saint Agnes• Heb 7:1-3, 15-17 • Ps 110:1-4 • Mk 3:1-621
Wednesday
22Thursday
Even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s creation . . .
and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect. —Pope Francis
jan_2015_journal.indd 20 3/5/14 1:12 PM
J a n u a r y
24Saturday
23Friday
Resolve from now on to keep heaven before your mind, to be ready to forego everything that can hinder you or cause you to
stray on your journey there.—St. Francis de Sales
Saint Vincent; Saint Marianne Cope• Heb 8:6-13 • Ps 85:8, 10-14 • Mk 3:13-19
Saint Francis de Sales• Heb 9:2-3, 11-14 • Ps 47:2-3, 6-9 • Mk 3:20-21
jan_2015_journal.indd 21 3/5/14 1:12 PM
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time• Jon 3:1-5, 10 • Ps 25:4-9 • 1 Cor 7:29-31 • Mk 1:14-20
Saints Timothy and Titus• 2 Tm 1:1-8 or Ti 1:1-5 • Ps 96:1-3, 7-8a, 10 • Mk 3:22-30
25Sunday
26Monday
Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called.
—1 Timothy 6:12
jan_2015_journal.indd 22 3/5/14 1:12 PM
J a n u a r y
The pleasant companionship of all the blessed in heaven will be a companionship replete with delight. For each one will rejoice
in the happiness of others’ goods as well as their own. —St. Thomas Aquinas
Saint Angela Merici• Heb 10:1-10 • Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8a, 10-11 • Mk 3:31-35
Saint Thomas Aquinas• Heb 10:11-18 • Ps 110:1-4 • Mk 4:1-20
27Tuesday
28Wednesday
jan_2015_journal.indd 23 3/5/14 1:12 PM
• Heb 10:19-25 • Ps 24:1-6 • Mk 4:21-25
• Heb 10:32-39 • Ps 37:3-6, 23-24, 39-40 • Mk 4:26-34
29Thursday
30Friday
Looking at the heavenly homeland, we shall receive new light and fresh strength, both in our commitment
and in our daily efforts.—Pope Francis
jan_2015_journal.indd 24 3/5/14 1:12 PM
J a n u a r y
How beautiful heaven must be! Take heart! —St. John Bosco
31Saturday
Saint John Bosco• Heb 11:1-2, 8-19 • (Ps) Lk 1:69-75 • Mk 4:35-41
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