A Year of Daily Offerings

Maria V. Gallagher discovers a rich spiritual resource for busy moms in the new page-a-day devotional by Father James Kubicki, S.J.

A Year of Daily Offerings: Giving Your Life to God One Day at a Time

Father James Kubicki, S.J.

Publisher: Ignatius Press

A Year of Daily Offerings

For busy Catholic moms, it can be difficult to spare the time that it takes to do effective spiritual reading. You just settle into an easy chair when you find the toddler has spilled the contents of her sippy cup, the teenager is looking for a lost sweater, or the college co-ed has just rushed in for an afternoon snack. Life with children is big, beautiful, and boisterous. So you might find it nearly impossible to spend an hour curled up with a good spiritual book.

I have found that daily devotionals are a godsend in such circumstances, when the spirit might be willing, but the flesh just really wants to take a nap. In the time it takes to heat up leftovers, you can receive your spiritual fill. By reading just a page a day, you can improve your relationship with God, with your family, and with your very self.

A Year of Daily Offerings: Giving Your Life to God One Day at a Time is a true blessing for those of us who long to love the Lord but find ourselves incredibly short on time. Author Father James Kubicki, S.J., has created a work of elegant prose which nearly sings off the page. The devotions are deep, but also amazingly satisfying.

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The book, published by Ignatius Press, offers a powerful reflection for each day of the year. Father Kubicki draws on the lives of the saints to exemplify various virtues which can enhance our method of living. He also includes poignant questions for you to ponder for a few precious moments at the end of your day.

For the entry on January 5th, for instance, the author includes a reflection on Saint John Neumann, the former bishop of Philadelphia who created a Catholic educational system and encouraged Eucharistic adoration.

Father Kubicki quotes the illustrious saint on page 17 of the book:

How much I love you, O my Jesus. I wish to love you with my whole heart. Take entire possession of me. To you I consecrate all the powers of my soul and body, my whole being. Would that I could infuse into all hearts a burning love for you. What great glory would be given to you here on earth, if every heart were an altar on which every human will were laid in perfect conformity with your will to be consumed by the fire of your love.

For the evening review for that day, Father Kubicki asks, “In what ways did I share the burning love of Jesus with others today?”

Father Kubicki also quotes virtuous figures of our own time, drawing from their words inspiration which can serve us well.

For example, the June 20th reflection features the words of Pope Benedict XVI, who ponders the meaning behind devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On page 188, the pontiff is quoted as saying:

Every person needs a ‘centre’ for his own life, a source of truth and goodness to draw from in the daily events, in the different situations and in the toil of daily life. Every one of us, when he/she pauses in silence, needs to feel not only his/her own heartbeat, but deeper still, the beating of a trustworthy presence, perceptible with faith’s senses and yet much more real: the presence of Christ, the heart of the world.

What a gift Father Kubicki has given us in A Year of Daily Offerings. May you find it as encouraging as I did as you journey along your spiritual path!

Ask for A Year of Daily Offerings at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Ignatius Press.

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A Year of Daily Offerings