November 2024: Thought for the Day
Thought for the Day
Solemnity of All Saints
1 November 2024
Holiness is for everyone, not just for a privileged few: it does not consist in accomplishing extraordinary feats, but in fulfilling with love the little duties of each day. ‘Do you really want to be a saint? Carry out the little duty of each moment: do what you ought and concentrate on what you are doing.
‘Great’ holiness consists in carrying out the ‘little duties’ of each moment.
Just think, there are so many men and women on earth, and the Master does not fail to call every single one. He calls them to a Christian life, to a life of holiness, to a chosen life, to life eternal.
St Josemaria The Way, nos. 815, 817 & The Forge no.13
www.opusdei.org
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Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
3 November 2024
God, thank you for the people in our lives whom we are remembering in a special way during the month of November. We thank you for being a compassionate God who walks with us in our dark moments of grief and loneliness. We are thankful for all who continue to love and support us through our grief.
Lord, continue to be a light for us, giving us hope, direction and courage. May we now live our lives treasuring the memories of those special people we have known and loved and help us to bring light and hope to others.
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Remembrance Prayer
Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference Synodal reflection for Prisoners’ Sunday
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Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
10 November 2024
It has been traditional in Ireland to regard the dead as very close to us who are living. Peig Sayers, a traditional storyteller who lived on the Great Blasket island off the Kerry coast was once asked where heaven was. In reply she said it was just a few inches above the head of the tallest man on the island. Heaven and earth, like life and death were one in the traditional way of thinking.
The great medieval mystic known as Meister Eckhart when asked where the soul goes after death said, ‘No place. Where else would the soul be going, where else is the eternal world? It can be nowhere other than here.’
Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, Now is the Time
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Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
17 November 2024 • World Day of the Poor
Be thankful you don’t have everything you desire. If you did what would there be to look forward to? Be thankful when you don’t know something for it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for your mistakes, they will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary because it means you’ve made a difference.
A life of rich fulfilment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles and they can become your blessings.
Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart
Reflection for November
Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
24 November 2024
Often, we light candles as a sign of remembering and, like the remembrance of God, we do something too. As we light the candle we say a prayer for that person that they may be enjoying the marvellous light of heaven. The candlelight reminds us that we too have the opportunity to share the light of hope that we carry with others. When you are in a dark place, the warmth of a smile or a kind word can mean a lot. It may feel that our own light is very small and insignificant in times of darkness but each time it is shared, it is not halved but doubled. Together we really can make a difference.
Dr Lynn Bassett
www.artofdyingwell.org