Pray with Us: A Saint for Every Day
ISBN 9781639662104
ASIN B0DMTHSRZV
This is the second volume I have read by Belinda; it will not be the last. I have followed her on social media for a while and we have some friends and contacts in common. When I had the chance to read an advanced copy of this volume I jumped at it. But like many titles from OSV, I wish they would release the eBooks to the Canadian market without being chased.
The description of this volume states:
“The saints in heaven are powerful intercessors, praying for our needs before the face of God. As part of the communion of saints, we on earth pray with power when we ask the saints to pray with and for us, especially on their feast days.
Pray with Us invites us to connect with 365 saints, blesseds, venerables, and servants of God -- one for each day of the year. Each day's entry includes a brief biography of the saint and a prayer. This book provides a concise, approachable format for individuals and families to form the habit of daily prayer and to rely more purposefully on the intercession of the saints.
Let us pray together in unity with all the saints, who love us so much and want to assist us on our spiritual journey.”
The chapters in this volume are:
Foreword by Mike Aquilina
Introduction
January: The Month of the Holy Name of Jesus
February: The Month of the Passion of Our Lord
March: The Month of Saint Joseph
April: The Month of the Resurrection of Jesus
May: The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary
June: The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
July: The Month of the Precious Blood of Jesus
August: The Month of the Assumption of Mary
September: The Month of the Seven Sorrows of Mary
October: The Month of the Holy Rosary
November: The Month of the Souls in Purgatory
December: The Month of the Immaculate Conception
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
Calendar of Saints
Mike Aquilina at the beginning of the Forward states:
“The Church forms us in many different ways, and the calendar is one of the most important.
Think about it. Most people, through most of history, couldn’t read. So they didn’t learn the Faith from catechisms. There were no catechisms, and there was no technology to mass-produce such books. And again, very few people could read anyway. But they learned the Faith, and they passed it along to their children, through the celebration of the feasts. They did what this book asks all of us to do.
I remember reading that, in antiquity, when a Jewish boy read from the Torah for the first time, his rabbi would stick a spoonful of honey in his mouth — so the Law would always be a sweet memory. Well, that’s what the feasts do for us. They make the Faith memorable, and they make it sweet.”
In the forwards Belinda states:
“The saints in heaven are particularly powerful in their prayers because they have completed their time on earth and are already enjoying eternity with God in heaven. The Church teaches, “Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness. … [T]hey do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus. … So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped” (CCC 956).
We celebrate many saints every single day of the year, and each feast day is an opportunity to spend time with the saint, joining in prayer and interceding with and praising God together. As Catholics, we should regularly ask the saints to pray for our intentions — for us, our families, and the needs of others. In this book, we will also focus on developing the habit of asking the saints to pray with us, much as we might grab the hands of a friend here and pray to God together. In this book, during the prayers for each day, we will be spiritually holding the saints’ hands, asking them to enter into our prayer and to let us enter their pure prayer before God. This way of praying has borne incredible fruit in my life, and I have experienced firsthand the power of this unified intercessory prayer. I hope that, through this book, you will too!”
A sample reflection:
“JANUARY 24
Saint Francis de Sales (1567–1622)
Saint Francis was a nobleman who heard God’s call to become a priest and followed it. Eventually he became bishop of Geneva, which at that time was under the control of Calvinist reformers, who hated the Catholic Church. He was forced to live outside of his diocese, but his kindness, gentleness, humility, and excellent writings helped many people return to Catholicism. His famous book Introduction to the Devout Life shows that holiness is God’s will for all of us, no matter our state in life. We are called to be saints, and Saint Francis’s practical suggestions help us do just that. He and Saint Jane Frances de Chantal founded the Order of the Visitation. Saint Francis is a Doctor of the Church and the patron saint of authors, spiritual writers, journalists, teachers, and people with deafness.
PRAYER
Saint Francis de Sales, your spiritual guidance continues to transform minds and hearts today. Pray for us to grow in holiness, and pray with us: Merciful Father, show each of us the unique path to sainthood you have planned for us. Inspire us to live holy lives so that we can attract and serve those who do not believe in you or your Church. Dispel confusion regarding truths of the Faith, and teach us to study our faith for the sake of our conversion and the conversion of others. Assist authors to use their writing to uphold and promote the truth. Heal people with deafness. Bless the Order of the Visitation, keeping it faithful to you. We ask this in the name of Jesus.
Amen.”
Another is:
“MARCH 17
Saint Patrick (385–461)
Saint Patrick was only sixteen when he was kidnapped from his home in Britain, taken to Ireland, and sold as a slave to do shepherd’s work. For six years he worked and prayed during the long, lonely nights, and he became close to God and learned to love Him deeply. After he escaped and returned to his home, he followed God’s call to become a priest. Following his ordination, he returned to Ireland as a bishop, and he worked tirelessly to convert the whole island to Christianity. He had the gifts of healing and miracles, and the Irish people revered him. He wrote the “Confessio” and a beautiful prayer called “The Breastplate of Saint Patrick.” Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
PRAYER
Saint Patrick, you turned the trauma of your kidnapping and slavery into an opportunity for abundant grace for you and for Ireland. Pray for us to be open to God’s work in us through our suffering, and pray with us: Dear Father, inspire us to proclaim the truth of your Gospel with love, accepting any suffering you allow. Give us a heart of compassion for all people, and free those who are enslaved in any way. Strengthen and increase in us the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Bless all bishops, making them true shepherds and virtuous leaders. We ask this in the name of Jesus.
Amen.”
And a third:
“JUNE 26
Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer (1902–1975)
Saint Josemaría had a unique mission to help people pursue holiness in every area of life, especially in their work. Born in Spain, he experienced the pain of loss, grief, and war from boyhood. As a young man, he followed God’s call to become a priest. Later, he recognized that God was calling him to help people find holiness through their ordinary lives and work, and he founded Opus Dei (Work of God) for laypeople, and later, within it, the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross. He taught the importance of sanctifying work because it is the way in which God wants to make us holy. He wrote that “work is born of love; it is a manifestation of love and is directed toward love. We see the hand of God, not only in the wonders of nature but also in our experience of work and effort.” He wrote many books, which are full of wisdom and practical help.
PRAYER
Saint Josemaría, you taught people to seek growth in holiness through their daily work. Pray for us to sanctify our work, and pray with us: Righteous Father, inspire us to pray, as Saint Josemaría did, “Lord, let me see what you want,” and then give us the grace to follow where you lead. Grant us the grace to see our work as a gift, and teach us to sanctify it. Make us saints in our ordinary lives, teaching us to see each moment as an opportunity to grow closer to you. Bless Opus Dei and the Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, keeping them faithful to you. We ask this in the name of Jesus.
Amen.”
I picked those three dates to share for personal reasons, 2 are saints I have particular devotion to. I worked through the volume much quicker than a reflection a day. I did this in order to be able to write this review. Once the eBook is available in my region I will read it again doing the day a year as planned.
I hope those three reflections give you a feel for this volume. I really enjoyed this book. It is a wonderful collection of reflections. Great for daily encouragement and to challenge us. Perfect for use during prayer or reflection time. It would be a great addition to any home library. A wonderful read.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!
Books by Belinda Terro Mooney:
A Look At Life (Poetry)
A Look at Life, Volume II (Poetry)
Christ the King Lord of History: The Continuing Story
Christ the King Lord of History: Workbook and Study Guide
Christ and the Americas Workbook
My Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes Workbook: Creating a Comprehensive Plan for a Calm, Ordered Life
Leave Me Alone!: Helping Your Troubled Teenager
…
