February Collects
February 2
The Feast of the Presentation
Almighty and ever-living God
We humbly implore your majesty
That, just as your Only Begotten Son
Was presented on this day in the Temple
In the substance of our flesh,
So by your grace,
We may be presented to you with minds made pure.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
February 3
Saint Blaise
Hear, O Lord, the supplications your people make
Under the patronage of the Martyr Saint Blaise,
And grant that they may rejoice in peace
In this present life,
And find help for eternal life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
February 5
Saint Agatha
May the Virgin Martyr Saint Agatha
Implore your compassion for us, O Lord, we pray,
For she found favor with you
By the courage of her martyrdom
And the merit of her chastity.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
February 6
Saint Paul Miki
O God, strength of all the Saints,
Who through the Cross were pleased to call
The Martyrs Saint Paul Miki and companions to life,
Grant, we pray, that by their intercession
We may hold with courage even until death
To the faith that we profess.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
February 8
Saint Jerome Emiliani
O God, Father of mercies,
Who sent Saint Jerome Emiliani
As a helper and father to orphans,
Grant, through his intercession,
That we may preserve faithfully the spirit of adoption,
By which we are called, and truly are, your children.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
Saint Josephine Bakhita, Virgin
O God, who led Saint Josephine Bakhita from abject slavery
To the dignity of being your daughter and a bride of Christ,
Grant, we pray, that by her example
we may show constant love for the Lord Jesus crucified,
Remaining steadfast in charity
And prompt to show compassion.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
February 10
Saint Scholastica
As we celebrate anew the Memorial of the Virgin Saint Scholastica,
We pray O Lord,
That following her example
We may serve you with pure love
And happily receive what comes from loving you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
February 11
Our Lady of Lourdes
Grant us, O merciful God, protection in our weakness,
That we, who keep the Memorial
Of the Immaculate Mother of God,
May, with the help of her intercession,
Rise up from our iniquities.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
February 14
Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop
O God, who enlightened the Slavic peoples
Through the brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius,
Grant that our hearts may grasp the words of your teaching,
And perfect us as a people of one accord
In true faith and right confession.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
February 17
The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order
Impart to us, O Lord, in kindness
The filial devotion with which the holy brothers
Venerated so devoutly the Mother of God
And led your people to yourself.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
February 22
The Chair of Saint Peter
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
That no tempest may disturb us,
For you have set us fast
On the rock of the Apostle Peter's confession of faith.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
February 23
Saint Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr
God of all creation,
Who were pleased to give the Bishop Saint Polycarp
A place in the company of the Martyrs,
Grant through his intercession,
That sharing with him in the chalice of Christ,
We may rise through the Holy Spirit to eternal life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.