FEAST OF SAINTS GONSALO GARCIA, RICHARD OF LUCCA, BLESSED POPE PIUS IX – 7th FEBRUARY
February 7, 2023
FEAST OF SAINTS JOSEPHINE BAKHITA AND JEROME EMILIANI – 8th FEBRUARY
February 8, 2023
7 February, 2023
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. – Romans 5: 3-5
Heavenly Father, we believe in your Steadfastness and have full assurance of your Faithfulness and Sustenance. Jesus has warned us that we, as believers of Christ, will face many trials and tribulations, persecution and affliction, but has also assuaged our fearful hearts when he says that he has overcome them all. We believe that by our sufferings we will grow stronger in holy purpose, for you will lend us your strength, thereby producing patience when we go through sorrow, becoming emboldened when we survive trouble.
Your sustenance and care of us, in fulfilling your promises serves in giving us hope of your Presence in our lives, giving us experiential wisdom and knowledge to sanctify us. We live to add glory to your Name, dear Father, for you have delivered us at a great price and we look ahead in hope of eternal salvation. The immensity of your love for sinful mankind is reflected in your constant intervention in our lives, and in the guidance and counsel of your Holy Spirit, abiding in us.
Therefore we know that Christ has justified us by faith and has reconciled us with you to gain spiritual peace and have access to you by faith, hope and joy in tribulation, which will bequeath us just rewards when we enter our heavenly abode. We pray that the Holy Spirit will always purify our hearts with love of you and that we grow deeper in strength of spirit, to continue walking in your ways, in submission to your Holy Will, through Christ our Lord. Amen
