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The Word Among Us Press

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ISBN: 978-1-59325-276-2

© 2015 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

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Inside design by Andrea Alvarez

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

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Dear Friend in Christ,

O nly a few days after his election in 2013, Pope Francis noted, “Jesus has this message for us: mercy. I think—and I say it with humility—that this is the Lord’s most powerful

message: mercy.” Since then, the Holy Father has repeatedly—indeed, almost unceasingly—reminded us of God’s compassion and patience. Over and over again, he encourages us not to hesitate to ask the Lord for his help and forgiveness because he is always ready to show mercy to us sinners. So it is fitting that we have chosen “The Infinite Mercy of God” as the theme for the 2016 Prayer Journal.

At the beginning of each month and at the top of each page of the journal, you’ll find a Scripture verse or quotation from a saint, spiritual writer, or Church document. Most of these selections—including numerous ones from Pope Francis—speak of the mercy of God. So as you come before the Lord each day in prayer, open your heart to his grace and compassion, his favors and blessings, and his pardon—all signs of his unfailing mercy!

You’ll also find ample space for journaling, a useful spiritual and practical tool to record your daily encounters with the Lord. You might find it helpful to make a note of Scripture passages that seem to speak particularly to you or jot down those circumstances in your life that you find challenging as well as those instances when you experience a “victory” or a special blessing from the Lord. Or perhaps you’d like to summarize what you learn in your times of quiet meditation, record resolutions you make in response to God’s word to you, or keep track of petitions and answered prayers. At the end of the year, you’ll have a convenient record that you can leaf through to help you recall how the Lord has worked in your life and what he has spoken to you.

Day after day, week after week, month after month, “let us not forget that the Lord always watches over us with mercy; he always watches over us with mercy. Let us not be afraid of approaching him” (Pope Francis).

The Word Among Us Press

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2016Acts • Acts of theApostles

Am • Amos

Bar • Baruch

1 Chr •1 Chronicles

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

Jb • Job

Jdt • Judith

Jer • Jeremiah

Jgs • Judges

Jl • Joel

Jn • John

1 Jn • 1 John

2 Jn • 2 John

3 Jn • 3 John

Jon • Jonah

Jos • Joshua

Jude • Jude

1 Kgs • 1 Kings

2 Kgs • 2 Kings

Lam • Lamentations

Lk • Luke

Lv • Leviticus

Mal • Malachi

1 Mc • 1 Maccabees

2 Mc • 2 Maccabees

Mi • Micah

Mk • Mark

Mt • Matthew

Na • Nahum

Neh • Nehemiah

Nm • Numbers

Ob • Obadiah

Phil • Philippians

Phlm • Philemon

Prv • Proverbs

Ps • Psalms

1 Pt • 1 Peter

2 Pt 2 Peter

Rom • Romans

Ru • Ruth

Rv • Revelation

Sg • Song of Songs

Sir • Sirach

1 Sm • 1 Samuel

2 Sm • 2 Samuel

Tb • Tobit

1 Thes •1 Thessalonians

2 Thes •2 Thessalonians

Ti • Titus

1 Tm • 1 Timothy

2 Tm • 2 Timothy

Wis • Wisdom

Zec • Zechariah

Zep • Zephaniah

Abbreviations ofBooks of the Bible

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2016JANUARY

S M T W T F S

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31

FEBRUARY S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29

MARCH S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

APRIL S M T W T F S

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

MAY S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31

JUNE S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30

JULY S M T W T F S

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31

AUGUST S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31

SEPTEMBER S M T W T F S

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30

OCTOBER S M T W T F S

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

30 31

NOVEMBER S M T W T F S

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30

DECEMBER S M T W T F S

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

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JANUARYSun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31

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God’s face is the face of a merciful

father who is always patient. Have you

thought about God’s patience, the patience

he has with each one of us? That is his mercy.

He always has patience, patience

with us; he understands us, he waits

for us, he does not tire of forgiving us if we

are able to return to him with a contrite heart.

—Pope Francis, Angelus Address,

St. Peter’s Square, March 17, 2013

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2saturday

1friday

SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GODNm 6:22-27 • Ps 67:2-3, 5-6, 8 • Gal 4:4-7 • Lk 2:16-21Holy Day of Obligation

SAINTS BASIL THE GREAT AND GREGORY NAZIANZEN1 Jn 2:22-28 • Ps 98:1-4 • Jn 1:19-28

May Mary, the Mother of God and our tender Mother, support us always, that we may remain faithful to

our Christian vocation.—Pope Francis

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January

4monday

3sunday

SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON1 Jn 3:22–4:6 • Ps 2:7bc-8, 10-12a • Mt 4:12-17, 23-25

Let us follow the star of inspiration and divine attraction which calls us to the crib, and let us go there to adore and

love the Child Jesus and offer ourselves to him.

—St. Jane Frances de Chantal

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORDIs 60:1-6 • Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13 • Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6 Mt 2:1-12

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6wednesday

5tuesday

SAINT JOHN NEUMANN1 Jn 4:7-10 • Ps 72:1-4, 7-8 • Mk 6:34-44

SAINT ANDRÉ BESSETTE1 Jn 4:11-18 • Ps 72:1-2, 10, 12-13 • Mk 6:45-52

The love which Our Lord had during his passion puts into full light God’s love for us.

—St. André Bessette

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January

8friday

7thursday

1 Jn 5:5-13 • Ps 147:12-15, 19-20 • Lk 5:12-16

SAINT RAYMOND OF PENYAFORT1 Jn 4:19–5:4 • Ps 72:1-2, 14-15, 17 • Lk 4:14-22a

Jesus is never far from us sinners. He wants to pour out on us, without limit, all of his mercy.

—Pope Francis

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10sunday

9saturday

1 Jn 5:14-21 • Ps 149:1-6a, 9b • Jn 3:22-30

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORDIs 42:1-4, 6-7 or Is 40:1-5, 9-11 • Ps 29:1-4, 9-10 or Ps 104:1b-4, 24-25, 27-30• Acts 10:34-38 or Ti 2:11-14; 3:4-7 • Lk 3:15-16, 21-22

The baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God’s suffering Servant.

—Catechism of the Catholic Church, 536

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January

12tuesday

11monday

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

1 Sm 1:1-8 • Ps 116:12-19 • Mk 1:14-20

O Jesus, sure joy of my soul, give me but a true love of you.

Let me seek you as my only good.

—Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

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14thursday

13wednesday

SAINT HILARY1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20 • Ps 40:2, 5, 7-10 • Mk 1:29-39

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

O God, may all my thoughts and words speak of you. . . . Breathe your Spirit into my faith and the way I confess it.

—St. Hilary

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January

15friday

16saturday

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

I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever, / with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.

—Psalm 89:1

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18monday

17sunday

SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIMEIs 62:1-5 • Ps 96:1-3, 7-10 • 1 Cor 12:4-11 Jn 2:1-11

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

You don’t need to wallow in guilt. Wallow in the mercy of God.

—St. John Vianney

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January

20wednesday

19tuesday

1 Sm 16:1-13 • Ps 89:20-22, 27-28 • Mk 2:23-28

SAINT FABIAN; SAINT SEBASTIAN1 Sm 17:32-33, 37, 40-51 • Ps 144:1b-2, 9-10 Mk 3:1-6

Let us not forget that the Lord always watches over us with mercy; he always watches over us with mercy.

Let us not be afraid of approaching him!—Pope Francis

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22friday

21thursday

DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE LEGAL PROTECTION OF UNBORN CHILDREN1 Sm 24:3-21 • Ps 57:2-4, 6, 11 • Mk 3:13-19

SAINT AGNES1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7 • Ps 56:2-3, 9-13 • Mk 3:7-12

The deepest element of God’s commandment to protect human life is the requirement to show reverence and love for

every person and the life of every person.

—St. John Paul II

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January

24sunday

23saturday

Lord, have mercy on me! . . . I make no effort to conceal my wounds. You are my physician, I your patient. You are

merciful; I stand in need of mercy.

—St. Augustine

SAINT VINCENT; SAINT MARIANNE COPE2 Sm 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27 • Ps 80:2-3, 5-7 Mk 3:20-21

THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIMENeh 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 • Ps 19:8-10, 15 • 1 Cor 12:12-30 • Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21

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26tuesday

25monday

THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL THE APOSTLEActs 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22 • Ps 117:1b-2 Mk 16:15-18

SAINTS TIMOTHY AND TITUS2 Tm 1:1-8 or Ti 1:1-5 • Ps 96:1-3, 7-8a, 10 Mk 3:31-35

[God] saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing

of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit.—Titus 3:5

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January

28thursday

27wednesday

Mercy is the fulfillment of justice, not its abolition.

—St. Thomas Aquinas

SAINT ANGELA MERICI2 Sm 7:4-17 • Ps 89:4-5, 27-30 • Mk 4:1-20

SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS2 Sm 7:18-19, 24-29 • Ps 132:1-5, 11-14 Mk 4:21-25

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30saturday

29friday

What tenderness there is in Jesus’ love for man! In his infinite goodness, he established, with each of us,

bonds of sublime love! His love has no limits! —St. John Bosco

2 Sm 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17 • Ps 51:3-7, 10-11 Mk 4:26-34

SAINT JOHN BOSCO2 Sm 12:1-7a, 10-17 • Ps 51:12-17 • Mk 4:35-41

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January

Heaven and earth may change, but God’s mercy will never be exhausted.

—St. Faustina Kowalska

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIMEJer 1:4-5, 17-19 • Ps 71:1-6, 15-17 • 1 Cor 12:31–13:13 • Lk 4:21-30

31sunday

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