A Treasure To Be Shared

Guilds — from an article at   New Advent Guilds were voluntary associations for religious, social, and commercial purposes. These associations, which attained their highest development among the Teutonic nations, especially the English, during the Middle Ages, were of four kinds: religious guilds; frith guilds ; merchant guilds; and craft guilds. The word itself, less commonly, but more correctly, written  gild , was derived from the Anglo-Saxon  gildan  meaning "to pay", whence came the noun  gegilda , "the subscribing member of a guild". In its origin the word guild is found in the sense of "idol" and also of "sacrifice", which has led some writers to connect the origin of the guilds with the sacrificial assemblies and banquets of the heathen Germanic tribes. Brentano, the first to investigate the question thoroughly, associating these facts with the importance of family relationship among Teutonic nations, considers that the guild in its earli...

Heavenly Father, gracious and compassionate Lord, we humbly implore Thee to bestow upon those distraught the grace to endure, the strength to face each day with renewed awareness of Thy boundless love and the support of friends, the courage to overcome trials, and hearts filled with forgiveness. Grant serenity to those who feel abandoned, that they may be united with Thee in prayer and find the freedom of Thy abiding Presence to sustain them in hope and in Thy peace; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

ALMIGHTY GOD, Who knowest the hearts of all, I render unto Thee my heartfelt thanks for these present trials. Praised be Thy holy Name for granting me the privilege to share in the sufferings of Thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, for the salvation of souls. I pray not for respite from pains great and small, but rather to know Thee even as Thou desirest to be known, to love Thee even as Thou desirest to be loved, for I am Thy child and disciple, desiring to be known as Thy friend amidst the company of the angels and saints, willing to remain steadfast and forgetful of the cost of love, to serve Thee in this life in the fervent hope of residing in Thy Presence for all eternity; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who livest and reignest with Thee, Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. For reflection: Colossians 1:24

Revelation 4:11 |  Worthy art thou, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou didst create all things, and by thy will they existed and were created. Why do we worship God? In a day and age when people seem perfectly content, even rabidly so, to worship themselves (and things less themselves) in an attempt to maximize control over their own lives and those of others, the question hardly seems relevant when people are so fixated on fleeting matters. Let's look at a couple of authors who dig into the issue of worship to enrich our understanding so as to be proactive in our daily journey, so that we might be better prepared to meet the temptations that may distract us from the One Who rescues us from darkness and Who offers us His very life. Excerpt from  The Theo-Centric Character of Catholic Liturgy by Raymond Leo Card. Burke. The Thomistic Institute, Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception, Dominican House of Studies, Thomistic Circle: “St....

James Tissot | Jesus Stilling The Tempest O ETERNAL and everliving God, Who doth cherish them that tread the path of humility and steadfast charity, we beseech Thee, grant unto us, who seek to serve Thee in the concord of Thy company, a measure of Thy saving wisdom, that we may be sustained in the true Faith; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Almighty God, loving Father, shield Thy humble servants from all manner of assault. Grant to us an abundance of Thy grace that we may confront each tribulation with valour and charity. May every thought be conformed to Thy sacred truth, and may our every action glorify Thy holy name. This we beseech Thee, most merciful Father, through Jesus Christ Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who doth behold and know the very hearts of all men, grant unto Thy humble servant a mind both clear and steadfastly purposed towards Thee, that Thy divine intent may be made manifest for the salvation of souls; through the same Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.