Today's Daily Decade, on the Feast of St. Nicasius and his Companions, and Ember Wednesday of Advent, we offer prayers for Gottfried, who asks to do the Will of God in his life placidly. We beg the intercession of St. Thomas the Apostle against doubt, skepticism, second-guessing, and all kinds of disturbance in faith. Today's reflection focuses on the Crowning of Our Lady, not merely the crown for her but what she represents and why God has set her up as a beacon for us, both as a symbol of the Church and an archetype of the Christian. 

Today's Daily Decade, for the Feast of St. Finian of Clonard, offers prayers for Raju and Lucia, both of whom are outside the Church but married to faithful and believing spouses. We beg the intercession of St. Monica of Thagaste on behalf of these souls and their wife (Shirley) and husband (Alex). Today's reflection is about seeking Christ, and where He is to be found - not in the world, not even in the good parts of the world, but in the place of perfection which has been set aside specifically for Him to dwell, in His Church and in the Christian who lives the life of Christ.

Today's Daily Decade, on the Feast of St. Leocadia of Toledo, offers an Itinerarium prayer for George, a very long-time listener who is travelling to the Indian Subcontinent for work and will be leaving his family here in America. Go with God, my friend! Today's reflection is on the Way of the Cross, why it is normal and human to have an aversion to suffering, and how we can perfect ourselves by imitating Christ with His perfect resignation, willing to die on the Cross after His Agony in the Garden, or the saints who actively desire suffering for Christ's sake, to "fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ" (Col i, 24).

Today's Daily Decade, on the Feast of St. Ambrose of Milan, offers prayers for an anonymous friend of long-time listener from the Telegram channel Alithea Xediplothike; this young man is apparently considering abandoning the Faith. We beg the intercession of St. Ambrose himself, who converted St. Augustine, that this anonymous servant of God be strengthened. Today's reflection focuses on the Assumption as a special gift given to Mary to exceed the tremendous mercies and gifts God already offers to the rest of us as the wages of our imperfect service to Him, manifesting the patience he showed to the ancient Hebrews and the Jews of Christ's own time. (I also digress for a time into the subject of incorruptibility). 

Today's Daily Decade, on the Feast of St. Sabbas, offers prayers for Anthony, who is struggling with depression and anxiety, afflictions all too common in this modern world. We beg the intercession of St. John of the Cross, who had such intimate knowledge of the darkness we experience on our journey to knowing God more perfectly. Today's reflection is on the two-fold Presentation in the Temple - the return of the Ark of the Covenant in the person of the Blessed Mother and the fulfilment of the purpose of the Temple with the coming of Christ, making manifest the salvation of the whole world and the humble sacrifice of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Today's Daily Decade, for the Feast of St. Viviana of Rome, offers a requiem for Thomas, a music director at a Catholic parish whose sudden passing has left them in quite a spot to find a replacement of equal talent and devotion. Today's reflection is on the Crown of Thorns as it relates to Our Lord's humble birth - how the King of kings chose the filth and the poverty of the world to manifest His humanity, and yet challenged, and continues to challenge us, to see the face of God in His Face, marred by sweat and dust and blood. We are called to know our God when we look upon Him, and to imitate His meekness, One who with a word made the world and with a word can destroy it, but chose to die for us, by our hands, and in our midst.

Today's Daily Decade, for the Feast of St. Andrew, offers prayers for Faith Agama and Esther Joseph, requested by listener Faustina Gift, for the success and health of pregnancy and the growth of their families in number, health, and faith. We beg the intercession today of St. Gerard Majella and St. Anthony of Padua toward this end. Today's reflection is on the Descent of the Holy Ghost as the means whereby we are given everything we need to attain to salvation - not by our own efforts, strengths, or powers of body or intellect, but by proper self-diagnosis before we approach the Divine Physician to heal us with His Grace. We recall what tremendous mercy this represents for us, but also how much more fearful His Judgement will be now that we have no excuses for the sins we ignore. 

Today's Daily Decade, for the Feast of St. James della Marca, offers prayers for two anonymous servants of God experiencing difficulties in courtship. We beg the intercession of St. Joseph, betrothed of the Blessed Mother, for healing of this courtship or healing of the servant and handmaid of God if the courtship has ended unsuccessfully. Today's reflection considers the Nativity of Our Lord and the way in which it reminds us of our own birth, and therefore of our purpose, and what we must do each day to be pleasing to God and to accept the offer He made to us on the day of His Nativity to come to Him seeking Salvation. 

Today's Daily Decade, for the Feast of Pope St. Clement I, offers prayers for Augustine and Anne, who are struggling with marital troubles. We beg the intercession of Ss. Joachim and Anna, whose marriage produced the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today's reflection considers the Ascension into Heaven and what it tells us about Christ as we reflect on the Four Last Things - Death, Judgement, Heaven, and Hell - and the yearning we should have for Christ to correctly approach those things.