Author: Malta Catholic Youth Network

1st April – Lord answered me

1st April - Just 15 Minutes

During this third week of social distancing, let us take time to meditate on the word of God. Let us make time to be with Him, that he may transform us as we cooperate and allow His words to change us, and give us new life.


      • Find a suitable place where you can sit and be calm. 
        • Close your eyes for a few moments and listen to the sounds surrounding you, be aware of your posture and make yourself present to enter into a moment of intimacy with Jesus.

       

      • Make the sign of the cross and remain for a few more moments in silence. TIP: If it helps you to concentrate and to bring yourself before Jesus in prayer, play a song or two of praise. If you do not have any specific song, we suggest this song

Psalm 118:1-9

 

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

    his steadfast love endures forever!

 

Let Israel say,

    “His steadfast love endures forever.”

Let the house of Aaron say,

    “His steadfast love endures forever.”

Let those who fear the Lord say,

    “His steadfast love endures forever.”

 

Out of my distress I called on the Lord;

    the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.

With the Lord on my side I do not fear.

    What can mortals do to me?

The Lord is on my side to help me;

    I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

    than to put confidence in mortals.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

    than to put confidence in princes.

      • ‘His steadfast love endures forever!’
        • In these difficult moments, I often struggle to accept that God loves me. Yet throughout scripture we continuously find over and over again that God is with us passing through the darkness moments. His Love is constant, and He is the one who delivers us. 
        • Take a moment to thank God for all the good things you can observe around you, shift your vision, and see God’s work in action before you.
        • Take a moment and look back at difficult moments in your life, and thank God that in these moments he stood by your side, and  has delivered you by his grace. 
      • Allow a moment of silence and try to listen to what God wants to tell you today. We suggest using a notebook to write some short points. 
      • Ask Mary to guide you to her son Jesus and intercede for others. Recite a Hail Mary. 
        • What are the requests I wish to bring to God through Mary? For whom will I intercede?
      • Close this moment of prayer by thanking God for this moment of intimacy together. 
        • Grant us Jesus the ability to see you in our darkest moments.  
      • Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.   – Make the sign of the cross. 

The Rosary will be prayed every day at 5:30pm and live-streamed on TVM2, Newsbook & Church.mt, from the Curia’s chapel. We encourage you all to join us in this prayer. If you have any prayer intentions which you’d like us to pray for, you can write them below. These intentions will be kept in confidence.

31st March – Power to save

31st March - Just 15 Minutes

At the start of this third week of social distancing, let us take time to meditate on the word of God. Let us make time to be with Him, that he may transform us as we cooperate and allow His words to change us, and give us new life.

    • Find a suitable place where you can sit and be calm. 
      • Close your eyes for a few moments and listen to the sounds surrounding you, be aware of your posture and make yourself present to enter into a moment of intimacy with Jesus.
    • Make the sign of the cross and remain for a few more moments in silence. TIP: If it helps you to concentrate and to bring yourself before Jesus in prayer, play a song or two of praise. If you do not have any specific song, we suggest this song: 

     

James 1:19-27

You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

 

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.  For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

 

If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

    • ‘the implanted word that has the power to save your souls’
      • I find myself spending a few minutes reading scripture during the week, do I allow the word of God to take root in my heart? Do I daily choose to take concrete actions on what I have read – such as serving those around me, being patient and more compassionate?
      • When living out this call to live a saintly life, I find it difficult at times to do these things requested of me? Do I persevere? Do I ask God for the grace and the strength to help me live out this life to the full?
      • What am I seeking? Do I seek to fall in love with Jesus and become his disciple? or do I fall into the trap of being a mediocre christian? Do I counteract my difficulties and serve and love others, or do I choose the comfortable way out?
    • Allow a moment of silence and try to listen to what God wants to tell you today. We suggest using a notebook to write some short points. 
    • Ask Mary to guide you to her son Jesus and intercede for others. Recite a Hail Mary. 
      • What are the requests I wish to bring to God through Mary? For whom will I intercede?
    • Close this moment of prayer by thanking God for this moment of intimacy together. 
      • Grant us Jesus your courage to love even in the most difficult situations.  
    • Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.   – Make the sign of the cross.

The Rosary will be prayed every day at 5:30pm and live-streamed on TVM2, Newsbook & Church.mt, from the Curia’s chapel. We encourage you all to join us in this prayer. If you have any prayer intentions which you’d like us to pray for, you can write them below. These intentions will be kept in confidence.

30th March – The one body

30th March - Just 15 Minutes

In this second week of social distancing we entrust our lives and the lives of those around us to Jesus. We hope that these 15 minutes together with Christ are helping you grow deeper in intimacy with God, whilst allowing Him to give you the gift of his peace in these difficult situations.

We ask you to pray for all those who are suffering at the moment and those who are on the health workers fighting this pandemic.

        • Find a suitable place where you can sit and be calm. 
          • Close your eyes for a few moments and listen to the sounds surrounding you, be aware of your posture and make yourself present to enter into a moment of intimacy with Jesus.
        • Make the sign of the cross and remain for a few more moments in silence. TIP: If it helps you to concentrate and to bring yourself before Jesus in prayer, play a song or two of praise. If you do not have any specific song, we suggest this song: 

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9e_QO1ATho&list=PLAFC3BF61F242A1C6&index=2

Collosians 3:12-17

 

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

        • ‘Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.’
          • How can I daily grow in love for God and my neighbours through compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience?
          • Who are my neighbours today? In what concrete ways can I give glory to God by serving them?
          • What do I need to thank God for today? How has He been with me in the good and bad situations I am facing today?
        • Ask Jesus for opportunities to love your family members, friends and those you come in contact with.
          •  Jesus, I do not often realise when people are struggling or suffering. I pray, open my eyes that I may seek ways to honour you through loving those  I come in contact with.
            • Allow a moment of silence and try to listen to what God wants to tell you today. We suggest using a notebook to write some short points. 
            • Ask Mary to guide you to her son Jesus and intercede for others. Recite a Hail Mary. 
              • What are the requests I wish to bring to God through Mary? For whom will I intercede?
            • Close this moment of prayer by thanking God for this moment of intimacy together. 
              • Grant us Jesus your courage to love even in the most difficult situations.  
            • Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.   – Make the sign of the cross.

The Rosary will be prayed every day at 5:30pm and live-streamed on TVM2, Newsbook & Church.mt, from the Curia’s chapel. We encourage you all to join us in this prayer. If you have any prayer intentions which you’d like us to pray for, you can write them below. These intentions will be kept in confidence.

29th March – You know me

29th March - Just 15 Minutes

At the end of this second week of social distancing, we come to God in humility and gratitude. We thank him for the beautiful moments or prayer alone, or together through the different media. We continue to entrust our lives and the lives of those around us to you Jesus. 

    • Find a suitable place where you can sit and be calm. 
      • Close your eyes for a few moments and listen to the sounds surrounding you, be aware of your posture and make yourself present to enter into a moment of intimacy with Jesus.
    • Make the sign of the cross and remain for a few more moments in silence. 
    • Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl7ckz0iPoU

JN 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

 

Jesus moved about within Galilee; he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. 

But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret. Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.”  So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.

      • ‘I know him, because I am from him.’
        • Who is the Father to me? And how can I get to know him through his son Jesus?
        • What does Jesus tell me about the love the Father has for us?
        • Is his love also available to me? 
      • Ask Jesus for opportunities to recognise Him in your daily activities.
        •  Jesus, I often go about my day without realising you are near. Give me sight to see you working in our lives.
      • Allow a moment of silence and try to listen to what God wants to tell you today. We suggest using a notebook to write some short points. 
      • Ask Mary to guide you to her son Jesus and intercede for others. Recite a Hail Mary. 
        • What are the requests I wish to bring to God through Mary? For whom will I intercede?
      • Close this moment of prayer by thanking God for this moment of intimacy together. 
        • Grant us Jesus, sight that we may see you and recognise the Father daily.  
      • Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.   – Make the sign of the cross.

The Rosary will be prayed every day at 5:30pm and live-streamed on TVM2, Newsbook & Church.mt, from the Curia’s chapel. We encourage you all to join us in this prayer. If you have any prayer intentions which you’d like us to pray for, you can write them below. These intentions will be kept in confidence.

28st March – Because I am

29th March - Just 15 Minutes

In this second week of social distancing we entrust our lives and the lives of those around us to Jesus. We hope that these 15 minutes together with Christ are helping you grow deeper in intimacy with God, whilst allowing Him to give you the gift of his peace in these difficult situations.

We ask you to pray for all those who are suffering at the moment and those who are on the health workers fighting this pandemic.

  • Find a suitable place where you can sit and be calm. 
  • Close your eyes for a few moments and listen to the sounds surrounding you, be aware of your posture and make yourself present to enter into a moment of intimacy with Jesus.
  • Make the sign of the cross and remain for a few more moments in silence. TIP: If it helps you to concentrate and to bring yourself before Jesus in prayer, play a song or two of praise. If you do not have any specific song, we suggest this song.

JOHN 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Jesus moved about within Galilee; he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him. But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. 

But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret. Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Christ? But we know where he is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.”  So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.

      • ‘I know him, because I am from him.’
        • Who is the Father to me? And how can I get to know him through his son Jesus?
        • What does Jesus tell me about the love the Father has for us?
        • Is his love also available to me? 
      • Ask Jesus for opportunities to recognise Him in your daily activities.
        •  Jesus, I often go about my day without realising you are near. Give me sight to see you working in our lives.
      • Allow a moment of silence and try to listen to what God wants to tell you today. We suggest using a notebook to write some short points. 
      • Ask Mary to guide you to her son Jesus and intercede for others. Recite a Hail Mary. 
        • What are the requests I wish to bring to God through Mary? For whom will I intercede?
      • Close this moment of prayer by thanking God for this moment of intimacy together. 
        • Grant us Jesus, sight that we may see you and recognise the Father daily.  
      • Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.   – Make the sign of the cross.

The Rosary will be prayed every day at 5:30pm and live-streamed on TVM2, Newsbook & Church.mt, from the Curia’s chapel. We encourage you all to join us in this prayer. If you have any prayer intentions which you’d like us to pray for, you can write them below. These intentions will be kept in confidence.

26th March – Love is patient

26th March - Just 15 Minutes

In this second week of social distancing we entrust our lives and the lives of those around us to Jesus. We hope that these 15 minutes together with Christ are helping you grow deeper in intimacy with God, whilst allowing Him to give you the gift of his peace in these difficult situations.

We ask you to pray for all those who are suffering at the moment and those who are on the health workers fighting this pandemic.

  • Find a suitable place where you can sit and be calm. 
  • Close your eyes for a few moments and listen to the sounds surrounding you, be aware of your posture and make yourself present to enter into a moment of intimacy with Jesus.
  • Make the sign of the cross and remain for a few more moments in silence. TIP: If it helps you to concentrate and to bring yourself before Jesus in prayer, play a song or two of praise. If you do not have any specific song, we suggest this song.

1 Corinthians 13:1-8

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.

      • Love Never Ends
        • How do I love those around me? Am I patient with those who take long to understand? Am I kind to those who ask something of me? Am I jealous of my friends? Do I boast or am I arrogant with my parents and family? 
        • How does this scripture shed light on the way I love?
        • Jesus, teach me how to love as you love. 
      • Ask Jesus for the grace to love event when you feel it very difficult to do so.
        •  Jesus, I sometimes find it difficult to love those to oppose me and do me harm. Teach me to love as you love, to be patient and kind, and persevere in this new life you are offering me.
      • Allow a moment of silence and try to listen to what God wants to tell you today. We suggest using a notebook to write some short points. 
      • Ask Mary to guide you to her son Jesus and intercede for others. Recite a Hail Mary. 
        • What are the requests I wish to bring to God through Mary? For whom will I intercede?
      • Close this moment of prayer by thanking God for this moment of intimacy together. 
        • Grant us Jesus your courage to love even in the most difficult situations.  
      • Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.   – Make the sign of the cross.

The Rosary will be prayed every day at 5:30pm and live-streamed on TVM2, Newsbook & Church.mt, from the Curia’s chapel. We encourage you all to join us in this prayer. If you have any prayer intentions which you’d like us to pray for, you can write them below. These intentions will be kept in confidence.

25th March – Will be opened

25th March - Just 15 Minutes

In this second week of social distancing we entrust our lives and the lives of those around us to Jesus. We hope that these 15 minutes together with Christ are helping you grow deeper in intimacy with God, whilst allowing Him to give you the gift of his peace in these difficult situations.

We ask you to pray for all those who are suffering at the moment and those who are on the health workers fighting this pandemic.

  • Find a suitable place where you can sit and be calm. 
  • Close your eyes for a few moments and listen to the sounds surrounding you, be aware of your posture and make yourself present to enter into a moment of intimacy with Jesus.
  • Make the sign of the cross and remain for a few more moments in silence. TIP: If it helps you to concentrate and to bring yourself before Jesus in prayer, play a song or two of praise. If you do not have any specific song, we suggest this song.

Matthew 7:7-11

 

‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

    • How much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him
      • Ask, Search, Knock. – What am I asking for, what am I searching for and why am I knocking at heaven’s door? What do I truly seek? 
      • If I take a moment to look beyond the first level of what I wish, maybe at this moment, the gift of health, safety and comfort. Can I ask God for something much more important? What does my heart truly desire?
      • Jesus I desire the gift of faith, the strength to persevere on this journey, I ask you for the gift of the Holy Spirit in my life.
    • Ask Jesus for the grace and gift you wish to receive at this moment in your life.
      •  Jesus I believe that you will answer my call, that you will find me and that you will open the doors for me. 
    • Allow a moment of silence and try to listen to what God wants to tell you today. We suggest using a notebook to write some short points. 
    • Ask Mary to guide you to her son Jesus and intercede for others. Recite a Hail Mary. 
      • What are the requests I wish to bring to God through Mary? For whom will I intercede?
    • Close this moment of prayer by thanking God for this moment of intimacy together. 
      • Grant us Jesus your courage and strength, to daily do your will. 
    • Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.   – Make the sign of the cross. 

The Rosary will be prayed every day at 5:30pm and live-streamed on TVM2, Newsbook & Church.mt, from the Curia’s chapel. We encourage you all to join us in this prayer. If you have any prayer intentions which you’d like us to pray for, you can write them below. These intentions will be kept in confidence.

24th March – Cling to Him

24th March - Just 15 Minutes

In this second week of social distancing, we entrust our lives and the lives of those around us to Jesus. We hope that these 15 minutes together with Christ are helping you grow deeper in intimacy with God, whilst allowing Him to give you the gift of his peace in these difficult situations.

We ask you to pray for all those who are suffering at the moment and those who are on the health workers fighting this pandemic.

  • Find a suitable place where you can sit and be calm. 
  • Close your eyes for a few moments and listen to the sounds surrounding you, be aware of your posture and make yourself present to enter into a moment of intimacy with Jesus.
  • Make the sign of the cross and remain for a few more moments in silence. TIP: If it helps you to concentrate and to bring yourself before Jesus in prayer, play a song or two of praise. If you do not have any specific song, we suggest this song.

Sirach 2:1-11

My child, when you come to serve the Lord,

    prepare yourself for testing.

Set your heart right and be steadfast,

    and do not be impetuous in time of calamity.

Cling to him and do not depart,

    so that your last days may be prosperous.

Accept whatever befalls you,

    and in times of humiliation be patient.

For gold is tested in the fire,

    and those found acceptable, in the furnace of humiliation.

Trust in him, and he will help you;

    make your ways straight, and hope in him.

 

You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy;

    do not stray, or else you may fall.

You who fear the Lord, trust in him,

    and your reward will not be lost.

You who fear the Lord, hope for good things,

    for lasting joy and mercy.

Consider the generations of old and see:

    has anyone trusted in the Lord and been disappointed?

Or has anyone persevered in the fear of the Lord and been forsaken?

    Or has anyone called upon him and been neglected?

For the Lord is compassionate and merciful;

    he forgives sins and saves in time of distress.

      • Cling to Him
        • How is my faith being tested? How am I reacting to these difficult moments?
        • Who am I clinging to when the storm rages? Do I give in to fear? or anger? Do I give up hope? or do I look up toward God?
        • Jesus I desire to follow you, I choose to be your disciple. Grant me the strength to keep my eyes on you when my faith is tested.
      • Ask Jesus for the grace to have faith even when you pass through difficult moments and your faith is being challenged.
        •  Jesus I believe and trust in you. 
      • Allow a moment of silence and try to listen to what God wants to tell you today. We suggest using a notebook to write some short points. 
      • Ask Mary to guide you to her son Jesus and intercede for others. Recite a Hail Mary. 
        • What are the requests I wish to bring to God through Mary? For whom will I intercede?
      • Close this moment of prayer by thanking God for this moment of intimacy together. 
        • Grant us Jesus your courage and strength, to daily do your will. 
      • Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.   – Make the sign of the cross.

The Rosary will be prayed every day at 5:30pm and live-streamed on TVM2, Newsbook & Church.mt, from the Curia’s chapel. We encourage you all to join us in this prayer. If you have any prayer intentions which you’d like us to pray for, you can write them below. These intentions will be kept in confidence.

23rd March – Except through me

23rd March - Just 15 Minutes

We enter into the second week of social distancing, and we entrust our lives and the lives of those around us to Jesus. We hope that these 15 minutes together with Christ are helping you grow deeper in intimacy with God, whilst allowing Him to give you the gift of his peace in these difficult situations.

We ask you to pray for all those who are suffering at the moment and those who are on the health workers fighting this pandemic.

  • Find a suitable place where you can sit and be calm. 
  • Close your eyes for a few moments and listen to the sounds surrounding you, be aware of your posture and make yourself present to enter into a moment of intimacy with Jesus.
  • Make the sign of the cross and remain for a few more moments in silence. TIP: If it helps you to concentrate and to bring yourself before Jesus in prayer, play a song or two of praise. If you do not have any specific song, we suggest this song.

John 14 1:7 

 

Jesus the Way to the Father

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.

      • I am the way, the truth and the life.
        • Jesus I do not always understand or feel you, please show me who you are. 
        • What is the new way you are calling me to? 
        • What is the truth you are telling me about?
        • What is this life that you are giving me?
      • Ask Jesus for the grace to have faith even when you do not understand or see.
        •  Jesus I believe and trust in you. 
      • Allow a moment of silence and try to listen to what God wants to tell you today. We suggest using a notebook to write some short points. 
      • Ask Mary to guide you to her son Jesus and intercede for others. Recite a Hail Mary. 
        • What are the requests I wish to bring to God through Mary? For whom will I intercede?
      • Close this moment of prayer by thanking God for this moment of intimacy together. 
        • Grant us Jesus your gift of love. 
      • Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.   – Make the sign of the cross.

The Rosary will be prayed every day at 5:30pm and live-streamed on TVM2, Newsbook & Church.mt, from the Curia’s chapel. We encourage you all to join us in this prayer. If you have any prayer intentions which you’d like us to pray for, you can write them below. These intentions will be kept in confidence.