In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Christ, Our King.
Thy Kingdom come!
Preparatory prayer (to put me in the presence of God)
Love, more than a simple sentiment, is a willingness to give one's will and life to the one one one loves. Considering this truth, I want to place myself in your presence, my God. I offer You, even if it is not easy, everything that can distract me from You. I place in your hands my desires and concerns. Enlighten my mind and move my heart during this prayer. So be it.
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the Holy Gospel according to John 10:1-10
At that time Jesus said to the Pharisees, “Truly I tell you, whoever does not enter the sheepfold by the door but jumps out some other way is a thief, a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him that keepeth the door openeth, and the sheep know his voice; and he calleth every one by name, and leadeth them out. And when he has led out all his sheep, he walks before them, and they follow him, because they know his voice. But a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus put this comparison to them, but they did not understand what he meant. Therefore he added, “Truly I tell you, I am the door of the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but my sheep have not listened to them. I am the door; whoever enters through me will be saved, he will be able to go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal, to kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.”.
Word of the Lord.
(Or: John 10:11-18
At that time Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep; the hireling, who is neither shepherd nor owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, abandons the sheep and flees; and the wolf makes havoc and scatters them; for a hireling does not care about the sheep. I am the good Shepherd, I know my own, and my own know me, as the Father knows me, and I know the Father; I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock, one Shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it back. No one takes it from me, but I give it freely. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it back: this command I have received from my Father”).
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
Who is the only one who can open the door that lies deep in my soul? Exclusively the person who has the key. My heart will always live inclined towards you. It is never satisfied with the offers and pleasures of this world. The lock of my soul never fully fits the many doorknobs that promise to be happiness in this life. It is you, Lord, who owns the key that slips easily into the lock of my being. It is your love that is the only key that accumulates those bolts of the key of my soul... -but it is I, Lord, the only person who decides if you agree or if you remain outside.
It is hard for me to trust, it is hard for me to open my heart, especially in this world so full of falsehoods and strangers. I truly desire to know your voice, to know you, Lord Jesus. I want You to enter into my soul and to be You alone - the One to whom I give my heart.
When sin enters me, I realize how unhappy I can be. But when You enter, Lord, I can see with different eyes this world. I can see with different eyes the people You have placed around me. I can see with new eyes the meaning of my life and that of those who ask me, with silent laments, to tell them about their God.
I want to open my heart to You today, so that my beating may be consonant with Yours. I want to act always as You would do. I wish to speak to people as You would also speak to me. To give myself in my life, in my daily work with the only desire to extend your Kingdom in me, in my sister and in my brother. I offer You this day the desire to think about what You would do in my place, Lord - and with what love You would give Yourself at every moment. You came that we might have true life, and have it in abundance.
«It is true, we always have the habit of measuring situations, things with the measures we have: and our measures are small. Therefore, we would do well to ask for the grace of the Holy Spirit, to pray to the Holy Spirit, the grace to come at least a little closer to understand this love and to have the desire to be embraced, kissed with that measure without limits.».
(Homily of H.H. Francis, October 20, 2015).
Dialogue with Christ
This is the most important part of your prayer, prepare yourself to talk with much love with the One who loves you.
Purpose
Propose a personal one. The one that involves the most love in response to the Beloved... or, if you believe that this is what God is asking of you, live what is suggested below.
I offer You this day the desire to think about what You would do in my place, Lord, and with what love You would give Yourself at every moment, and to act accordingly. In your hands I place this day, Virgin Mary.
Farewell
We thank you, Lord, for all your benefits, you who live and reign forever and ever.
Amen.
Christ, our King!
Thy Kingdom come!
Most prudent Virgin, Mary, Mother of the Church.
Pray for us.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
