May 17, 2026 | SPIRITUALITY
"When we take up the rosary, gaze upon an icon, or call upon her in any other way, Mary shelters us under her mantle. We then disappear from the sight of others, becoming visible to God.” /Krzysztof Pałys OP/ We have various ways to draw closer to Mary, to ask her for help, and also to learn from her. But do these practices create a true, living bond between me and the Person of Mary? Or do they remain merely an expression of outward piety? When I turn to You, Mary, with You I can pray better, listen more attentively to and meditate on God’s Word in my heart, and trust more deeply in God’s love. Under your mantle, I can hear God’s calls and inspirations more clearly. Under your protection, I can gain the courage and perseverance to be better for others. Mary, our refuge—pray for us
May 17, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Siódma niedziela Wielkanocna Czytania: Dz 1,12–14; Ps 26(27),1.4.7–8; 1 P 4,13–16; J 17,1–11 W tę siódmą niedzielę Wielkanocną Kościół w modlitwie przeżywa ten cenny czas między Wniebowstąpieniem a Zesłaniem Ducha Świętego, oczekując przyjścia Ducha Świętego. W Dziejach Apostolskich (1, 12–14) uczniowie pozostają zjednoczeni w modlitwie z Maryją, wytrwale pokładając nadzieję po Wniebowstąpieniu Pana. Psalm wyraża najgłębszą tęsknotę tego czasu: „O jedno proszę Pana, tego pragnę: mieszkać w domu Pańskim przez wszystkie dni mego życia, aby rozkoszować się słodyczą Pana”. Tęsknota ta nie dotyczy jedynie miejsca, ale komunii z samym Bogiem. Wniebowstąpienie wyniosło naturę ludzką do chwały nieba, a teraz serca wierzących są przyciągane w górę, ku tej boskiej komunii. W Pierwszym Liście św. Piotra (4, 13–16) chrześcijanie są zaproszeni do pozostania wiernymi nawet pośród cierpień, radując się, że uczestniczą w życiu Chrystusa. W Ewangelii (J 17, 1–11) Jezus modli się do Ojca za swoich uczniów, ujawniając, że należą oni do Boga i są zachowani w Jego imieniu. Okres między Wniebowstąpieniem a Zielonymi Świątkami staje się zatem czasem wewnętrznej tęsknoty, modlitwy, jedności i zaufania, czasem, w którym Kościół uczy się pragnąć ponad wszystko obecności Boga i przygotowuje się na przyjęcie Ducha Świętego, który prowadzi nas do pełni życia Bożego. Zastanówmy się: czy naprawdę pragnę żyć w obecności Boga, pozwalając, aby ten czas oczekiwania między Wniebowstąpieniem a Zielonymi Świątkami pogłębił moją modlitwę, moją jedność i moje pragnienie Ducha Świętego?
Don Giorgio
May 17, 2026 | SPIRITUALITY
“He who commands the sun, the stars, and the moon,
Is carried within the pure Virgin, filled with grace from heaven.
How great is the dignity of the Mother who became the dwelling place
Of the Creator who holds the entire immeasurable universe in His hand!”
/from the Hymn of the Hour of the Blessed Virgin Mary/
An incomprehensible mystery: God, the Creator of the universe, humbled Himself so much that in your womb, Mary, He became man—for us. Your dignity is beyond compare, for in your humility you became the dwelling place of God.
And yet Jesus says in the Gospel that each of us is invited to such a great and incomprehensible grace: “If anyone loves me, they will keep my word, and the Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” /Jn 14:23/
Do I believe this?
Help me, Mother of the Creator, to see what I can do today, how to show love—so that God may dwell in me.
Mother of the Creator—pray for us
May 15, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Saturday of the 6th week of Eastertide
Gospel: John 16:23-28
In this sacred period between Ascension and Pentecost, the Church learns to wait in prayer and desire for the coming of the Holy Spirit. In today’s Gospel, Jesus says: “Ask and you will receive, and so your joy will be complete.” These words reveal that prayer is not merely asking for things, but opening ourselves to receive the fullness of God’s greatest gift, the Holy Spirit. The disciples, after the Ascension, remained together in expectation, praying with trust because they believed in the promise of Christ. The Holy Spirit is the source of true joy because He unites us with the Father through the Son and makes the life of the Risen Christ alive within us. Human joys are often fragile and temporary, but the joy born from the Spirit is complete because it comes from divine communion. This time between Ascension and Pentecost therefore becomes a school of prayer, teaching us to desire not only blessings from God, but God Himself dwelling within us through the Holy Spirit. The more we ask with faith, the more our hearts are prepared to receive the joy that only the Spirit can give. Let’s reflect: Am I truly praying and waiting for the Holy Spirit as the greatest gift of God, allowing Him to fill my heart with a joy that is complete?
Don Giorgio
May 15, 2026 | SPIRITUALITY
“Hail, light that is born in an inexpressible way,
Hail, you who have revealed to no one ‘how’ your mystery is,
Hail, you who surpass the knowledge of all the wise,
Hail, you who enlighten the minds of the faithful.
Hail, Virgin Bride…” /from the Akathist/
Teach me, Prudent Virgin, to distinguish
what is important from what is unimportant;
what is necessary from what is unnecessary;
what builds up from what tears down;
what draws me closer to God from what distances me from Him;
what I can do from what I cannot do, etc., etc.
May your prudence, Mary, and your wisdom in life be a guide and help to me in making good decisions in the light of faith.
Prudent Virgin—pray for us
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
