Fr. Kubicki 2 Minute Prayer Reflections

Today is the feast of the founder of the Jesuits, Saint Ignatius Loyola. Saint Ignatius wrote a book, called the Spiritual Exercises, about how to navigate the spiritual life in many of its facets. Father Kubicki shares a powerful prayer from this book.

Father Kubicki shares some words from Pope Francis about today's Gospel reading from the book of Matthew. We must seek out God like a pearl of great price. To discover God, the true treasure, means to abandon your sinful lifestyle.

Today is the feast of Saint Martha, Mary and Lazarus, close friends of Jesus during His ministry. Father Kubicki shares some words from Pope Saint John Paul II about Martha and some deeply profound truths about revelation and faith.

Today is the feast of Stanly Rother, a priest from Oklahoma who was shot and killed today in the year 1981. Fr. Rother was beatified by Pope Francis in 2016. He struggled in the seminary but remained faithful to God and served his people.

Father discusses todays reading from the book of Exodus when God revealed Himself to the Israelites in thunder and lightning. Now God reveals himself to us through Jesus in the Eucharist, making Mass the greatest thing on earth.

Today is the feast of a married couple, Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of Mary and grandparents of our Lord Jesus Christ. Grandparents have the role of keeping the faith and passing it on to the next generation. 

Today is the feast of the Apostle Saint James the Greater. Today is also the anniversary of an encyclical from Pope Saint Paul the VI released in 1968 called Humanae Vitae, a document which defends the Church teaching on the sanctity of life and contraception.

Today is the feast of Saint Charbel Makhlouf, a hermit who died in the year 1898. Father Kubicki talks about how sometimes God waits until after someone enters into eternity to make his/her sanctity known as was the case for Saint Charbel.

Father Kubicki explains today’s Gospel of Matthew chapter 13 which talks about the field of wheat and weeds. Pope Francis talks about the weeds of our own heart which are temptations. Let us not let temptation grow in our life and overcome the field of our heart.

Father Kubicki explains the hierarchy of feast days in the Catholic Church. Today is the feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, whose feast day was elevated by Pope Francis. Mary Magdalene is known as the Apostle of the Apostles.

Today is the feast of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, a capuchin Franciscan priest who had a great knack for learning languages. Father Kubicki shares the universal language that everyone can use, smiling. As Christians we should communicate with this language.

Today is the feast of Saint Apollinaris, father talks about an Old Testament figure who is reverenced today in the Eastern Church, namely, Elijah. Like the Prophet Elijah we should look for God in the small whisper of our life.

Father Kubicki shares something Pope Francis disclosed to the public about his personal prayer life.  In his prayer Pope Francis uses biblical passages in order to ask to be made clean. We can pray in the same way as Pope Francis.

Today The United States of America celebrate the feast of Saint Camillus. Saint Camillus lived in the 1500s and was a soldier who after needing to leave the army gambled away his possession. Eventually he worked in hospitals, became a priest, and served the sick.

Father Kubicki talks about a group of cloister Carmelite sisters who were executed during the French revolution because they would not renounce their religious beliefs and faith in Jesus.  Let us be steadfast in our faith like these martyrs.

Today’s Gospel, from the book of Matthew, talks about the sower who scattered seed. Father Kubicki shares some important points which Pope Benedict made about this passage in the first volume of his book Jesus of Nazareth.

Today is the feast of Saint Bonaventure, a name which means “good fortune.” Father Kubicki shares some writings from Saint Bonaventure about his love for Jesus especially in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The heart of Jesus is given to us in the Eucharist.

Today is the feast of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, the first North American saint canonized by the church in AD 2012. Father Kubicki shares the story of how Saint Kateri grew rapidly in the faith through the help of the Jesuits and is a model for us today.

Today is the feast of Saint King Henry II, a holy Roman emperor who lived about 1000 years ago. Father Kubicki shares some words from Vatican II about the importance of living a holy life in any vocation, including the laity.

Today is the feast of Louis and Zelie Martin, the only married couple to be canonized together. Father Kubicki shares some words from Pope Francis who canonized them about the ideal of family life. The fruits of their marriage produced a doctor of the Church.

Today is the feast of Saint Benedict who founded the order that has the moto Ora et Labora, meaning prayer and work. We should not separate prayer and work in our lives. Let us incorporate this important moto in our lives.

Father Kubicki shares the story of Rose Hawthorne, the daughter of the American author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Rose, who passed away yesterday day in the year AD 1926, converted to the Catholic faith and started an order as a religious for cancer patients.

Today is the 14th Sunday of Ordinary time and we have some Mass readings which fit well with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Father Kubicki shares some words from Pope Benedict about Jesus’ power of love which draws good from evil.

Today is the feast of Saints Priscilla and Aquila. They met Saint Paul and like him worked as tent makers. Father Kubkicki shares some words from Pope Benedict about the importance of these two married saints of the early Church.

Father Kubicki shares the story of a man, who lived in Papua New Guinea, named Peter. Peter wanted to be a priest but was unable to. Eventually when all the religious were imprisoned, Peter as a lay person could help serve the people.