Elija

Don Bosco and trust

Elija31st January 202629th January 2026

Phil 4:4–9

Reading for the Memorial of St. John Bosco

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you.

In 3 Minutes for God the Father

MASTER OF YOURSELF

Elija31st January 202630th January 2026

“Remain steadfast in yourself! No enemy, whether internal or external, can defeat you if you are master of yourself” (St. Bonaventure).

We could also paraphrase St. Bonaventure as follows: “Keep your inner house in order so that everything is centered on God and in harmony with His will. Then, no matter what happens, we can retreat to that inner refuge of peace and remain there.”

In 3 Minutes for God the Father

A CHASTE GUARDIAN

Elija30th January 202628th January 2026

“Chastity is the guardian of the beauty of the soul” (Inspired word).

Mystics often describe the original beauty of the soul and marvel at the wonder of the Lord’s work in creating man. St. Gregory Nazianzen, for example, describes it in these terms:

In Reflexion

Saint Martina of Rome

Elija30th January 202627th January 2026

Today we celebrate once again one of the holy virgins who suffered martyrdom at the beginning of the spread of Christianity in the Roman Empire, thus becoming seeds for the growth of the Kingdom of God. It is admirable to see with what faith and determination these young women remained faithful to the Lord, unbowed. Not only should we remember them and imitate their example, but we can concretely ask them to help us to remain faithful to the Lord when we ourselves suffer slander and persecution.

Time and again in my meditations and conferences I have said that I believe our faith today is threatened both from without and from within. Certainly it has been threatened in every age, but we cannot overlook the fact that we are now in a time when the truth of our faith is under attack globally (though with varying intensity depending on the region). This can easily lead to a situation of persecution.

In 3 Minutes for God the Father

RIGHT CONFIDENCE AND VIGILANCE

Elija29th January 202628th January 2026

“Let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Cor 10:12)

This warning from St. Paul is intended to protect us from living with a false sense of security.

In Reflexion

The Wisdom of St. Francis de Sales

Elija29th January 202627th January 2026

For those who prefer to read a reflection on the Gospel of the Day in the Novus Ordo, here is the link: en.elijamission.net/2021/01/28

In the traditional calendar, Saint Francis de Sales is commemorated today. He was born on 21 August 1567 in the Savoy region of France. The young man, who belonged to the nobility, was initially destined for a secular career. He studied law at Paris and Padua. At the same time, he studied theology because the Calvinist doctrine of predestination caused him a crisis. After obtaining a doctorate in civil and canon law, he was to become a senator, but despite his father’s opposition, he decided to become a priest.

In 3 Minutes for God the Father

PRAYING WITH ALL OUR STRENGTH

Elija28th January 202627th January 2026

“The prayer that a person offers with all their strength has great power. It sweetens a bitter heart, cheers a sad heart, enriches a poor heart, makes a foolish heart wise, makes a timid heart brave, strengthens a weak heart, opens the eyes of a blind heart, and warms a cold soul. It draws the great God to a small heart and lifts the hungry soul to the God of fullness” (St. Matilda of Hackeborn).

In Biblical Meditations

In praise of wisdom

Elija28th January 202626th January 2026

Wis 7:7-10.15-16

Reading for the memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas

And so I prayed, and understanding was given me; I entreated, and the spirit of Wisdom came to me. I esteemed her more than sceptres and thrones; compared with her, I held riches as nothing. I reckoned no precious stone to be her equal, for compared with her, all gold is a pinch of sand, and beside her, silver ranks as mud. I loved her more than health or beauty, preferred her to the light, since her radiance never sleeps. May God grant me to speak as he would wish and conceive thoughts worthy of the gifts I have received, since he is both guide to Wisdom and director of sages; for we are in his hand, yes, ourselves and our sayings, and all intellectual and all practical knowledge. Read More

In 3 Minutes for God the Father

SPEAK TO GOD AS YOU WOULD SPEAK TO A MAN

Elija27th January 202626th January 2026

“Faith truly exists when one speaks to God in the same way one would speak to a man” (St. John Vianney).

In Biblical Meditations

The true parentage of Jesus

Elija27th January 202626th January 2026

Mk 3:31-35

At that time, his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

This Gospel passage is in no way a rejection by the Lord of His mother and brothers and sisters, as might appear at first glance. Rather, the Lord broadens our gaze by directing it to the whole of humanity, which is called to constitute a single heavenly and universal family.