Dear God,

As February dawns, a new month begins, a bridge between winter's grip and the promise of spring. Thank you for the beauty of this time, the quiet stillness of the season, and the hope that stirs within us. We ask for your blessings this month. Help us to find warmth and light in the darker days, and to appreciate the small joys that surround us. Grant us the strength to face challenges with courage and resilience. Help us to be kind to ourselves and to others, and to seek opportunities for growth and connection. Bless the relationships in our lives, and guide us to be present and loving to those we cherish. We pray for those who are struggling, for those who are facing hardship, and for those who are in need. May your grace and comfort be with them. We ask all this in your name.

Amen.

A Jesuit monk and a Cellite, 1821, color engraving.

Heavenly Father, 

We thank you for the restful weekend you have given us. We have been able to recharge ourselves physically and spiritually so that we can face the challenges of the week ahead with strength and peace. We ask you to bless each day of the coming week. Give us strength for our service and work, patience in the face of difficulties, and wisdom to make the right decisions. Help us to treat our fellow human beings with love and mercy, and to seek your will in all our actions. Protect us from evil and guide us in Your light. Be with us in every moment and help us to give thanks for Your blessings at the end of the week with grateful hearts.

Amen.

This watercolor depicting a Cellite was part of a collection of similar religious drawings, probably of Dutch origin, created in a monastery by monks or nuns around 1920.

These prints are from R.P. Helyot's book, Histoire des Ordres Religieux et Militaires (History of Religious and Military Orders), first published in Paris in 1714. The author made extensive travels throughout Europe, which provided him with ample opportunity to gather material for his work on religious and military orders, as well as to discuss the history of male and female congregations up to his own time. He presents their origins, growth, decline, liquidation, or dissolution, supplementing the text with biographies of the founders and illustrations of various monastic habits. Thus, our order can also be found in the book, together with our predecessors, the Cellites.

Dear God,

As we begin this new week, we thank you for the gift of a fresh start, for new opportunities, and for the blessings that surround us. We are grateful for the rest and renewal of the weekend, and we ask for your guidance and strength as we face the days ahead. Help us to be mindful of your presence throughout the week, and to see you in the people and situations we encounter. Grant us wisdom to make good choices, to work with diligence, and to treat others with kindness and compassion. Give us the courage to overcome challenges and the resilience to learn from our mistakes. Fill us with your peace and help us to trust in your plan for our lives. We pray for those who are struggling, for those who are in need, and for those who are working to make a difference in the world. May we be instruments of your love and grace. We offer this prayer in your name.

Amen.