Prayer Journal 2012: The Good Shepherd

The Word Among Us Press 7115 Guilford Drive Frederick MD 21704 www.wau.org ISBN: 978-1-59325-186-4 © 2011 by The Word Among Us All Rights Reserved

Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965 and 1966, and the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, both by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Excerpts from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America, copyright © 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc. – Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with permission.

Scripture readings from the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar are adapted for use in the United States. Celebrations of solemnities, feasts, memorials, or other observances particular to your country, diocese, or parish may result in some variation.

Compiled by Jeanne Kun Cover design by John Hamilton Design Cover image: Tanner, Henry Ossawa (1859-1937) The Good Shepherd, 1920.

Photo Credit: The Newark Museum/Art Resource, NY No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

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Dear Friend in Christ, Why have so many Christians over the years found it helpful to use a prayer journal? Journaling is a time-honored way to stay close to the Lord in prayer. It often helps us listen more closely to the Lord as we pray. With pen in hand, we can “talk” to the Lord through our journal. If we sense that God is saying something to us or if a particular Scripture passage strikes us, we can write it down.

A journal also provides us with a record of our daily times with God—something we can return to whenever we want to see how he has been working in our lives. As one woman recently wrote, “At the end of the year, I like to go back and read what I made note of in the journal, because that way I can remember and be truly grateful for what God has done for me.”

As in other years, the 2012 Prayer Journal includes a complete listing of the Mass readings for each day of the year, an inspiring selection of prayers and quotations at the beginning of each month, and a Scripture verse or quotation from a saint or well-known spiritual writer on each page.

Each year we choose a specific theme for the prayer journal—one that will help us grow in our love for God and better understand God’s incredible love for us. This year’s theme is Jesus as the Good Shepherd who has laid down his life for us. Daily he cares for us, guides us, and protects us. We pray that in 2012, our Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, will continue to lead you to his heart. As you spend time with him, may you come to know him even more intimately, and may you hear his voice calling you his beloved son or daughter.

The Word Among Us Press

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A b b r e v i at i o n s o f Books of the Bible Acts Acts of the Apostles

Jb Job

Ob Obadiah

Am Amos

Jdt Judith

Phil Philippians

Bar Baruch

Jer Jeremiah

Phlm Philemon

1 Chr 1 Chronicles

Jgs Judges

Prv Proverbs

Jl Joel

Ps Psalms

Jn John

1 Pt 1 Peter

1 Jn 1 John

2 Pt 2 Peter

2 Jn 2 John

Rom Romans

3 Jn 3 John

Ru Ruth

Jon Jonah

Rv Revelation

Jos Joshua

Sg Song of Songs

Jude Jude

Sir Sirach

1 Kgs 1 Kings

1 Sm 1 Samuel

2 Kgs 2 Kings

2 Sm 2 Samuel

Lam Lamentations

Tb Tobit

Lk Luke

1 Thes 1 Thessalonians

2 Chr 2 Chronicles Col Colossians 1 Cor 1 Corinthians 2 Cor 2 Corinthians Dn Daniel Dt Deuteronomy Eccl Ecclesiastes Eph Ephesians Est Esther Ex Exodus Ez Ezekiel Ezr Ezra Gal Galatians Gn Genesis Hb Habakkuk Heb Hebrews Hg Haggai Hos Hosea Is Isaiah Jas James

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Lv Leviticus Mal Malachi

2 Thes 2 Thessalonians

1 Mc 1 Maccabees

Ti Titus

2 Mc 2 Maccabees

1 Tm 1 Timothy

Mi Micah

2 Tm 2 Timothy

Mk Mark

Wis Wisdom

Mt Matthew

Zec Zechariah

Na Nahum

Zep Zephaniah

Neh Nehemiah Nm Numbers

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January 2012

May 2012

September 2012

S M T W T F S

S M T W T F S

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 3 4 5

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

29 30 31

27 28 29 30 31

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

February 2012

June 2012

October 2012

S M T W T F S

S M T W T F S

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4

1 2

1 2 3 4 5 6

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

26 27 28 29

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

28 29 30 31

March 2012

July 2012

November 2012

S M T W T F S

S M T W T F S

S M T W T F S

1 2 3

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

29 30 31

25 26 27 28 29 30

April 2012

August 2012

December 2012

S M T W T F S

S M T W T F S

S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

29 30

26 27 28 29 30 31

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

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J a n ua ry

C

hrist is the Good Shepherd who, by dying

on the Cross, lays down his life for his sheep. Thus a profound communion is established between the Good Shepherd and his flock. Jesus, according to the Evangelist, “calls his own sheep by name and leads them out . . . and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (John 10:3-4). Sheep and Shepherd are united by long familiarity, real knowledge, and mutual attachment: he takes care of them; they trust him and follow him faithfully.

—Pope John Paul II, Homily, Good Shepherd Sunday, April 25, 1999

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Today the Lord grants us to begin a new year in his Name and under the gaze of Mary Most Holy, the Solemnity of whose Divine Motherhood we are celebrating.

—Pope Benedict XVI

1

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

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Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen

• Nm 6:22-27 • Ps 67:2-3, 5-6, 8 • Gal 4:4-7 • Lk 2:16-21

Sunday

• 1 Jn 2:22-28 • Ps 98:1-4 • Jn 1:19-28

Monday

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Jesus! A sweet name, a delightful name! A name that comforts sinners and offers blessed hope. A name that is a joyful cry from the heart, that is music to the ear and honey in the mouth.

—St. Anthony of Padua

The Most Holy Name of Jesus • 1 Jn 2:29–3:6 • Ps 98:1, 3c-6 • Jn 1:29-34

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Tuesday

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton • 1 Jn 3:7-10 • Ps 98:1, 7-9 • Jn 1:35-42

4

Wednesday

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St. John Neumann’s love for people was authentic brotherly love. . . . It meant that he gave himself to others. Like Jesus, the Good Shepherd, he lay down his life for the sheep.

—Pope Paul VI

5

Saint John Neumann

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Saint André Bessette

• 1 Jn 3:11-21 • Ps 100:1b-5 • Jn 1:43-51

Thursday

• 1 Jn 5:5-13 • Ps 147:12-15, 19-20 • Mk 1:7-11

Friday

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The Magi gaze in deep wonder at what they see: . . . man in God, God in man, one whom the whole universe cannot contain now enclosed in a tiny body.

—St. Peter Chrysologus

Saint Raymond of Penyafort • 1 Jn 5:14-21 • Ps 149:1-6a, 9b • Jn 2:1-11

7

Saturday

The Epiphany of the Lord • Is 60:1-6 • Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13 • Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6 • Mt 2:1-12

8

Sunday

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Glory be to him who was baptized, and thus drowned our iniquity in the deep, and suffocated the one who has suffocated us!

—St. Ephrem the Syrian

9

Monday

10

The Baptism of the Lord • Is 42:1-4, 6-7 • Ps 29:1-4, 9-10 • Acts 10:34-38 or 1 Jn 5:1-9 • Mk 1:7-11

• 1 Sm 1:9-20 • (Ps) 1 Sm 2:1, 4-8 • Mk 1:21-28

Tuesday

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When [Jesus] said that he laid down his life for his sheep, he meant not only in behalf of them, but also in the stead of them.

—Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Life of Christ

• 1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20 • Ps 40:2, 5, 7-10 • Mk 1:29-39

11

Wednesday

• 1 Sm 4:1-11 • Ps 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25 • Mk 1:40-45

12

Thursday

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Christ is the wellspring of our life.

—St. Hilary

13

Saint Hilary

14

• 1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1a • Ps 21:2-7 • Mk 2:13-17

• 1 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22a • Ps 89:16-19 • Mk 2:1-12

Friday

Saturday

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John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” —John 1:35-36

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time • 1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19 • Ps 40:2, 4, 7-10 • 1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20 • Jn 1:35-42

• 1 Sm 15:16-23 • Ps 50:8-9, 16b-17, 21, 23 • Mk 2:18-22

15 Sunday

16

Monday

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