TUESDAY 22 JUNE
Beginning of the Novena to the Most Precious Blood

«I wish I had a thousand tongues to move every heart toward the Most Precious Blood of Jesus», writes Saint Gaspar del Bufalo.
The novena to the Most Precious Blood, which begins today, is a good way to draw our hearts closer to this source of life. The novena to the Most Precious Blood reminds us of the inestimable sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Savior, who, precisely through the outpouring of his blood on the cross, manifests love that gives itself and forgives. Let us commit ourselves, through our lives and words, to express our gratitude to the one who truly gave his life for us, all of us, each one of us, and washed and redeemed us in his blood.

For further reading:
• Chaplet and Novena to the Most Precious Blood of Christ
• Prayers to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ

THURSDAY 24 JUNE
Nativity of Saint John the Baptist

Let us reflect on the significance and relevance of today’s solemnity with Pope Francis: «Today the liturgy invites us to celebrate the feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. His birth is the event that illuminates the lives of his parents Elizabeth and Zechariah and involves their relatives and neighbors in joy and wonder. These elderly parents had dreamed of and even prepared for that day, but by then they no longer expected it: they felt excluded, humiliated, disappointed: they had no children. Faced with the announcement of the birth of a son (cf. Lk 1:13), Zechariah remained incredulous, because the laws of nature did not allow it: they were old, they were elderly; consequently, the Lord made him mute for the entire period of the pregnancy (cf. v. 20). It is a sign. But God does not depend on our logic or our limited human abilities. We must learn to trust and remain silent before the mystery of God and contemplate in humility and silence his work, which is revealed in history and which often surpasses our imagination.
And now that the event is fulfilled, now that Elizabeth and Zechariah are experiencing that «nothing is impossible with God» (Lk 1:37), their joy is great.
The entire event surrounding the birth of John the Baptist is filled with a joyful sense of awe, surprise and gratitude. Awe, surprise, gratitude. The people are filled with a holy fear of God, «and throughout the hill country of Judea all these things were being talked about» (v. 65). Brothers and sisters, the faithful people sense that something great has happened, even if it is humble and hidden, and they ask themselves: «What then will this child be?» (v. 66). God’s faithful people are capable of living their faith with joy, with a sense of awe, surprise and gratitude. And looking at this, let us ask ourselves: what is my faith like? Is it a joyful faith, or is it always the same, a “flat” faith? Do I feel a sense of awe when I see the works of the Lord, when I hear people speak about evangelization or the life of a saint, or when I see so many good people? Do I feel grace within me, or does nothing stir in my heart? Can I feel the consolations of the Spirit, or am I closed off? Let each of us ask ourselves, in an examination of conscience: What is my faith like? Is it joyful? Is it open to God’s surprises? Because God is the God of surprises. Have I “tasted” in my soul that sense of awe given by the presence of God, that sense of gratitude? Let us reflect on these words, which are states of mind of faith: joy, a sense of awe, a sense of surprise and gratitude» (cf. Pope Francis, Angelus, June 24, 2018).

For further reading:
• At Your Word – May/June

FRIDAY, JUNE 25
Anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Medjugorje

Today in Medjugorje, the 40th anniversary of the apparitions of the Queen of Peace is being celebrated. An event that fills our hearts with awe, surprise and gratitude!
Let us turn with confidence to our heavenly Mother:

Under your protection
Under your protection we seek refuge,
Holy Mother of God:
do not despise the supplications
of us who are in trial,
and deliver us from every danger,
O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.

For further reading:
• Medjugorje. The Messages of the Queen of Peace
• Medjugorje Rosary
• Medjugorje. The Pilgrim’s Guide