00 INTRO_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 1
3/4/15 3:44 PM
The Word Among Us Press 7115 Guilford Drive, Suite 100 Frederick, Maryland 21704 www.wordamongus.org ISBN: 978-1-59325-276-2 © 2015 by The Word Among Us All Rights Reserved Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965 and 1966, and the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, both 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 John M. Lucas Inside design by Andrea Alvarez 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
00 INTRO_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 2
3/4/15 3:44 PM
Dear Friend in Christ,
O
nly a few days after his election in 2013, Pope Francis noted, “Jesus has this message for us: mercy. I think—and I say it with humility—that this is the Lord’s most powerful message: mercy.” Since then, the Holy Father has repeatedly—indeed, almost unceasingly—reminded us of God’s compassion and patience. Over and over again, he encourages us not to hesitate to ask the Lord for his help and forgiveness because he is always ready to show mercy to us sinners. So it is fitting that we have chosen “The Infinite Mercy of God” as the theme for the 2016 Prayer Journal. At the beginning of each month and at the top of each page of the journal, you’ll find a Scripture verse or quotation from a saint, spiritual writer, or Church document. Most of these selections—including numerous ones from Pope Francis—speak of the mercy of God. So as you come before the Lord each day in prayer, open your heart to his grace and compassion, his favors and blessings, and his pardon—all signs of his unfailing mercy! You’ll also find ample space for journaling, a useful spiritual and practical tool to record your daily encounters with the Lord. You might find it helpful to make a note of Scripture passages that seem to speak particularly to you or jot down those circumstances in your life that you find challenging as well as those instances when you experience a “victory” or a special blessing from the Lord. Or perhaps you’d like to summarize what you learn in your times of quiet meditation, record resolutions you make in response to God’s word to you, or keep track of petitions and answered prayers. At the end of the year, you’ll have a convenient record that you can leaf through to help you recall how the Lord has worked in your life and what he has spoken to you. Day after day, week after week, month after month, “let us not forget that the Lord always watches over us with mercy; he always watches over us with mercy. Let us not be afraid of approaching him” (Pope Francis). The Word Among Us Press
00 INTRO_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 3
3/4/15 3:44 PM
Abbreviations of
Books of the Bible Acts • Acts of the Apostles 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
Ob • Obadiah
Jdt • Judith
Phil • Philippians
Jer • Jeremiah
Phlm • Philemon
Jgs • Judges
Prv • Proverbs
Jl • Joel
Ps • Psalms
Jn • John
1 Pt • 1 Peter
1 Jn • 1 John
2 Pt 2 Peter
2 Jn • 2 John
Rom • Romans
3 Jn • 3 John
Ru • Ruth
Jon • Jonah
Rv • Revelation
Jos • Joshua
Sg • Song of Songs
Jude • Jude
Sir • Sirach
1 Kgs • 1 Kings
1 Sm • 1 Samuel
2 Kgs • 2 Kings
2 Sm • 2 Samuel
Lam • Lamentations
Tb • Tobit
Lk • Luke
1 Thes • 1 Thessalonians
Lv • Leviticus Mal • Malachi
2 Thes • 2 Thessalonians
1 Mc • 1 Maccabees
Ti • Titus
2 Mc • 2 Maccabees Mi • Micah Mk • Mark Mt • Matthew
1 Tm • 1 Timothy 2 Tm • 2 Timothy Wis • Wisdom Zec • Zechariah Zep • Zephaniah
Na • Nahum Neh • Nehemiah Nm • Numbers
00 INTRO_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 4
3/4/15 3:44 PM
JANUARY
2016 F E B R U A RY
S M T W T F S
S M T W T F S
M A RCH S M T W T F S
1 2
1 2 3 4 5 6
1 2 3 4 5
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
28 29
27 28 29 30 31
31
APR I L
MAY
S M T W T F S
S M T W T F S
JUNE S M T W T F S
1 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
29 30 31
26 27 28 29 30
JULY S M T W T F S
AUGUST S M T W T F S
SEPTEM BER S M T W T F S
1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6
1 2 3
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
28 29 30 31
25 26 27 28 29 30
31
O C TO B E R
N OV E MB E R
D ECEM BER
S M T W T F S
S M T W T F S
S M T W T F S
1
1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
27 28 29 30
25 26 27 28 29 30 31
30 31
00 INTRO_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 5
3/4/15 3:44 PM
JANUARY Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 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
01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 6
3/4/15 3:44 PM
God’s face is the face of a merciful father who is always patient. Have you thought about God’s patience, the patience he has with each one of us? That is his mercy.
He always has patience, patience with us; he understands us, he waits
for us, he does not tire of forgiving us if we are able to return to him with a contrite heart. —Pope Francis, Angelus Address, St. Peter’s Square, March 17, 2013
01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 7
3/4/15 3:44 PM
May Mary, the Mother of God and our tender Mother, support us always, that we may remain faithful to our Christian vocation. —Pope Francis
1
friday
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 1:19-28
01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 8
2
saturday
3/4/15 3:44 PM
Let us follow the star of inspiration and divine attraction which calls us to the crib, and let us go there to adore and love the Child Jesus and offer ourselves to him. —St. Jane Frances de Chantal
3
sunday
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
SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON 1 Jn 3:22–4:6 • Ps 2:7bc-8, 10-12a • Mt 4:12-17, 23-25
4
monday
January 01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 9
3/4/15 3:44 PM
The love which Our Lord had during his passion puts into full light God’s love for us. —St. André Bessette
5
SAINT JOHN NEUMANN 1 Jn 4:7-10 • Ps 72:1-4, 7-8 • Mk 6:34-44
tuesday
SAINT ANDRÉ BESSETTE 1 Jn 4:11-18 • Ps 72:1-2, 10, 12-13 • Mk 6:45-52
6
wednesday
01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 10
3/4/15 3:44 PM
Jesus is never far from us sinners. He wants to pour out on us, without limit, all of his mercy. —Pope Francis
7
SAINT RAYMOND OF PENYAFORT 1 Jn 4:19–5:4 • Ps 72:1-2, 14-15, 17 • Lk 4:14-22a
thursday
1 Jn 5:5-13 • Ps 147:12-15, 19-20 • Lk 5:12-16
8
friday
January 01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 11
3/4/15 3:44 PM
The baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God’s suffering Servant. —Catechism of the Catholic Church, 536
9
1 Jn 5:14-21 • Ps 149:1-6a, 9b • Jn 3:22-30
saturday
THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD Is 42:1-4, 6-7 or Is 40:1-5, 9-11 • Ps 29:1-4, 9-10 or Ps 104:1b-4, 24-25, 27-30• Acts 10:34-38 or Ti 2:11-14; 3:4-7 • Lk 3:15-16, 21-22
01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 12
10
sunday
3/4/15 3:44 PM
O Jesus, sure joy of my soul, give me but a true love of you. Let me seek you as my only good. —Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
11
1 Sm 1:1-8 • Ps 116:12-19 • Mk 1:14-20
monday
1 Sm 1:9-20 • (Ps) 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8 • Mk 1:21-28
12
tuesday
January 01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 13
3/4/15 3:44 PM
O God, may all my thoughts and words speak of you. . . . Breathe your Spirit into my faith and the way I confess it. —St. Hilary
13
SAINT HILARY 1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20 • Ps 40:2, 5, 7-10 • Mk 1:29-39
wednesday
1 Sm 4:1-11 • Ps 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25 Mk 1:40-45
14
thursday
01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 14
3/4/15 3:44 PM
I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever, / with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. —Psalm 89:1
15
1 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22a • Ps 89:16-19 • Mk 2:1-12
friday
1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1a • Ps 21:2-7 • Mk 2:13-17
16
saturday
January 01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 15
3/4/15 3:44 PM
You don’t need to wallow in guilt. Wallow in the mercy of God. —St. John Vianney
17
sunday
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Is 62:1-5 • Ps 96:1-3, 7-10 • 1 Cor 12:4-11 Jn 2:1-11
1 Sm 15:16-23 • Ps 50:8-9, 16b-17, 21, 23 Mk 2:18-22
18
monday
01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 16
3/4/15 3:44 PM
Let us not forget that the Lord always watches over us with mercy; he always watches over us with mercy. Let us not be afraid of approaching him! —Pope Francis
19
1 Sm 16:1-13 • Ps 89:20-22, 27-28 • Mk 2:23-28
tuesday
SAINT FABIAN; SAINT SEBASTIAN 1 Sm 17:32-33, 37, 40-51 • Ps 144:1b-2, 9-10 Mk 3:1-6
20
wednesday
January 01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 17
3/4/15 3:44 PM
The deepest element of God’s commandment to protect human life is the requirement to show reverence and love for every person and the life of every person. —St. John Paul II
21
SAINT AGNES 1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7 • Ps 56:2-3, 9-13 • Mk 3:7-12
thursday
DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE LEGAL PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN 1 Sm 24:3-21 • Ps 57:2-4, 6, 11 • Mk 3:13-19
01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 18
22 friday
3/4/15 3:44 PM
Lord, have mercy on me! . . . I make no effort to conceal my wounds. You are my physician, I your patient. You are merciful; I stand in need of mercy. —St. Augustine
23
saturday
SAINT VINCENT; SAINT MARIANNE COPE 2 Sm 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27 • Ps 80:2-3, 5-7 Mk 3:20-21
THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Neh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 • Ps 19:8-10, 15 • 1 Cor 12:1230 • Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21
24
sunday
January 01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 19
3/4/15 3:44 PM
[God] saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit. —Titus 3:5
25
monday
THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL THE APOSTLE Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22 • Ps 117:1b-2 Mk 16:15-18
SAINTS TIMOTHY AND TITUS 2 Tm 1:1-8 or Ti 1:1-5 • Ps 96:1-3, 7-8a, 10 Mk 3:31-35
01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 20
26
tuesday
3/4/15 3:44 PM
Mercy is the fulfillment of justice, not its abolition. —St. Thomas Aquinas
27
SAINT ANGELA MERICI 2 Sm 7:4-17 • Ps 89:4-5, 27-30 • Mk 4:1-20
wednesday
SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS 2 Sm 7:18-19, 24-29 • Ps 132:1-5, 11-14 Mk 4:21-25
28
thursday
January 01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 21
3/4/15 3:44 PM
What tenderness there is in Jesus’ love for man! In his infinite goodness, he established, with each of us, bonds of sublime love! His love has no limits! —St. John Bosco
29
2 Sm 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17 • Ps 51:3-7, 10-11 Mk 4:26-34
friday
SAINT JOHN BOSCO 2 Sm 12:1-7a, 10-17 • Ps 51:12-17 • Mk 4:35-41
30
saturday
01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 22
3/4/15 3:44 PM
Heaven and earth may change, but God’s mercy will never be exhausted. —St. Faustina Kowalska
31
sunday
FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Jer 1:4-5, 17-19 • Ps 71:1-6, 15-17 • 1 Cor 12:31– 13:13 • Lk 4:21-30
January 01 JAN_The_InfiniteMercy_of_God_2016_Journal.indd 23
3/4/15 3:44 PM