Pills of Faith December 29 "Now, Lord, let your servant go in peace"

MEDITATION OF THE DAY
After my first mass on the tomb of St. Peter, here are the hands of the Holy Father Pius X, placed on my head in a blessing of good wishes for me and for the beginning of my priestly life. And after more than half a century, here are my hands extended on Catholics - and not only on Catholics - of the whole world, in a gesture of universal fatherhood ... Like St. Peter and his successors, I was in charge of governing the entire Church of Christ, one, holy, catholic and apostolic. All these words are sacred and surpass unimaginably any personal exaltation. They leave me in the depth of my nothingness, raised to the sublimity of a ministry that prevails over every human greatness and dignity.

When, on October 28, 1958, the cardinals of the holy Roman Church designated me to be responsible for the universal flock of Christ Jesus, at the age of seventy-seven, the conviction spread that I would be a transitional pope. Instead, here I am on the eve of my fourth year of pontificate and in the perspective of a solid program to be carried out in front of the whole world that looks and waits. As for me, I find myself as Saint Martin who "did not fear dying, nor refused to live".

I must always be ready to die suddenly and live as much as the Lord will like to leave me here. Yes, always. On the threshold of my eighty-fourth year, I must be ready; both to die and to live. And in one case as in the other, I must take care of my sanctification. Since everywhere they call me "Holy Father", as if this were my first title, well, I must and I really want to be.

GIACULATORIA OF THE DAY
Jesus, King of all nations, your Kingdom be recognized on earth.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
CONSECRATION of the family to the Crucifix

Jesus Crucified, we recognize from you the great gift of Redemption and, for it, the right to Paradise. As an act of gratitude for so many benefits, we solemnly enthrone you in our family, so that you may be their sweet Sovereign and Divine Master.

May your word be light in our life: your morals, a sure rule of all our actions. Preserve and reinvigorate the Christian spirit to keep us faithful to the promises of Baptism and preserve us from materialism, the spiritual ruin of many families.

Give parents living faith in Divine Providence and heroic virtue to be an example of Christian life for their children; youth to be strong and generous in keeping your commandments; the little ones to grow in innocence and goodness, according to your divine Heart. May this homage to your Cross also be an act of reparation for the ingratitude of those Christian families who have denied you. Hear, O Jesus, our prayer for the love that your SS brings us. Mother; and for the pains you suffered at the foot of the Cross, bless our family so that, living in your love today, I can enjoy you in eternity. So be it!