Paul Daneo writes: “ In prayer by night I was at peace and also a little distracted. I had special recollection in offering His most holy Life, death and Passion, and also in my petitions, especially for heretics. I had a particular impulse to pray for the conversion of England, especially because I want the standard of the holy Faith to be erected so that there will be an increase of devotion and reverence, of homage and love, with frequent acts of adoration for the Blessed Sacrament, the ineffable mystery of God’s most holy Love, and so that His holy Name may be glorified in a very special way. The desire to die as a martyr, especially for the Blessed Sacrament, in some place where people do not believe, does not leave me.      “ At holy Communion I was almost without feeling and then distractions came on as well. Later in the evening I was recollected and felt moved to make reparation for irreverences , especially in the Church, feeling inspired to remedy these by admonitions as indeed by God’s grace I have been in the habit of doing. I felt inspired to say: ‘Ah, my dear Jesus, would that we could flee instantly from this church and that angels would carry away the Blessed Sacrament to a place where it would not be thus profaned by irreverences and grave misdeeds!’ I ask Him to give me the grace to shed tears of blood— something I greatly desire.”

     Berta’s entry: Dear Lord Jesus, please forgive them for they do not know what they do! This is what I pray for unbelievers. Then I continue by asking for Your grace, Lord Jesus, to heal their unbelief by helping them to see and hear. Thank You, my God, for Your patience and understanding, because as You know, I was one of those unbelievers!

     Orlando’s entry: On this day Paolo gives us an insight into his prayer of intercession and into the urgency of his life’s mission. It leads me to pray:     Dear Lord, in the same way that Paolo was disturbed by so much unbelief, by the fate of martyrs, I feel and pray for all those Christians throughout the world who worship You at great peril to their lives. I pray for fellow Christians who feel that the Host is just a mere symbol and are missing out on Your True Presence, Your True Kiss, in the Blessed Sacrament. I pray for our Church— Pope, Bishops, Priests, and Laity— that they all keep their eyes on YOU. Our churches are even emptier, due to the pandemic. Fellow Catholics see our Church as corrupt and perverse….. Lord, fill us with Your Spirit. Help us to renew our Church through Your power and love.