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Welcome to the Fourth Day

     May God’s peace be with you, dear visitor to our Discover Hope site, Joy Retreat.

As you progress on your journey of faith and prayer, you may be experiencing aridity or dryness and weariness that make prayer and a life of virtue difficult. Our reflections today are offered to assist you in dealing with these weaknesses and renew courage and hope in your relationship with our Good God who loves you so much.

     Take a moment now to breathe deeply and clear your mind and heart of any anxious thoughts and feelings that disturb your peace. Calmly resting in God, enter into the prayers of this fourth day.

A Prayer for the Day

    Heavenly Father, how will I accept and carry my own crosses—physical, emotional, mental pain and anguish and the difficulties that are all part of life? My good God, by your gracious favor, I know myself to be loved and forgiven.  I am grateful to you for being present in me and for me.  Seeing that I am so loved and forgiven through your grace, may I find and accept countless ways to express my own love. I pray to have the heart of Jesus to reach out to all those who do not know about Jesus and his love. I want to be compassionate toward those who are discouraged and sad, yearning to love and be loved, searching for you, my Father.

   I ask you for the capacity and strength to embrace those who are heavily burdened and present them to Jesus, so he may console them with the Good News of his love for them. Teach me how to pray in good times and in challenging times—when I am fervent and feel your presence and when you seem far away. Help me, dear Lord, to be faithful to prayer and receive your mercy and forgiveness.

Come to Me


“Come to Me” and unburden your soul in the Sacrament of Reconciliation or confession. Come! Come, to my welcoming embrace of mercy. “I reject no one who comes to me.” Your humble repentance gives joy to me and the Father in the Holy Spirit and to all of heaven! I have joy in your efforts to love me. I see in you all the good you do with love. My mercy is yours. In confession when the priest says the words of absolution, you hear my very words that I have indeed forgiven you. Be thankful for mercy and also for the joy I have in you. Rejoice in me and live!




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