Gracious God, you call us to love, you call us to help one another. We thank you for this Dambana at The Grotto. May the example of his life and death lead us to live lives of faithful service. Lord God, we honor your faithful servant San Lorenzo Ruiz and his companion martyrs. As the first canonized Filipino Saint, San Lorenzo inspires us with his unwavering faith and tremendous courage, even to his death. Jesus came into the world as a helpless child may this image of the Santo Niño remind us that God became fully human to share his love and bring us salvation. Loving Creator, you sent your only son to be savior of all. May we see Mary as a model of faith that we are called to imitate, and may the Mother of Jesus be a source of comfort to each one of us. Loving God, bless this image of Mary, represented as Our Lady of Dambana. Give us insight as we walk the garden paths and as we pray and reflect at this Dambana. May your loving presence inspire our minds and hearts, so that we may go forth from here renewed and refreshed in mind, body, and soul. Lord God, bless this Filipino Shrine at The Grotto, and bless all who come here in search of peace, prayer, and the beauty of nature. Through your Son Jesus – with the intersession of Mary – may I continue to grow as a person of Faith, Hope and Love. May my prayers include the intentions and needs of others more than for myself. Please answer my prayers according to your wishes – your will – so that your will may be done in me. You know my heart and my deepest desires. Help me to be honest with myself and you. It is about Faith and Trust Hope and Honesty. Heavenly Father, as a child I mostly thought of you as a ‘granter of wishes’.Īs an adult I now understand that having a relationship with you is not about wishes. Help me to seek you in the many unique people, situations, and perspectives that I encounter today and every day. Help me see you at every turn – your love and mercy in the eyes of my family and friends, and your power in the robust greenery and flowers springing forth outdoors. I so often lose sight of you amid the hectic rhythm of my daily life. Help me let go of lesser things so I can hold on to that “pearl” that You have given me. Guide me always, never to lose that treasure I have been given. Today’s Gospel helps me to realize that I have been given a share in finding the greatest treasure of my life in faith. I thank You for my parents and the others sent into my life, and all who played a part in helping me find my way to faith in Christ. I have received the Sacrament of Baptism and with it the Gift of the Holy Spirit, through faith in Jesus Christ, Your Son. Thank you for making me part of Your Kingdom, knowing I have found the “pearl of great price”. I count each day In Your divine grace to assist me to stay close to You. Even so, in my life, to have the discernment to judge what is for my good and what needs to be left behind, so I remain faithfully steadfast in Your Kingdom. Like the disciples in the Gospel who hear Jesus’ parable of the net thrown into the sea and collecting many things, to discern what needs to be thrown away and what is of value. Oh, generous Father, give me this day the gift of discernment. Give me the grace today to thank You for these times of special grace to grow ever closer to You, to keep reminding me of Your presence in my life when I may grow weak. Amen. And other feasts to remember your holy Saints, those who have gone before us in following You with total commitment, to encourage us along our way to holiness. Thank You Heavenly Father for giving Your people five festivals in today’s first reading to remind your people that you care and protect. You do the same for us as the faithful following Jesus during the Liturgical year, Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter, as well as Ordinary Time.
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