Episode 2944: Clothed in Christ - Nightly Episode

“O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received from You. I am sorry that I have not made better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear Guardian Angel, and all you saints of God, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen.”
Clothed in Christ: Strength, Order, and Love
We seek to deepen our love for God through the wisdom of the saints and the eternal truths of our Catholic faith.
Tonight, we will meditate on how our relationship with God must be the very center of our lives. When we truly love Him, everything else falls into its proper place. The world offers distractions, temptations, and confusion, but when we take refuge in Christ and allow Him to be our strength, order is restored, and we find true peace.
St. Claude la Colombière and Fr. John Bartunek offer us profound insights on this spiritual reality. Let us reflect on their words and examine whether Christ is truly the armor that covers us and the foundation upon which our entire lives rest.
The Armor of Christ: St. Claude la Colombière’s Insight
St. Claude la Colombière, a Jesuit priest and the spiritual director of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, reminds us of the importance of being completely enveloped in Christ:
“Make use of Our Lord as an armour which covers [us] all about, by means of which [we] shall resist every device of [our] enemies. You shall then be my Strength, O my God! You shall be my Guide, my Director, my Counsellor, my Patience, my Knowledge, my Peace, my Justice and my Prudence.”
This is the essence of spiritual protection—clothing ourselves in Christ so that we may not fall prey to the enemy. The devil seeks to divide and scatter us, to distract us with passing concerns, but when we make the Lord our armor, our refuge, and our guide, we are shielded from every attack.
St. Paul echoes this in his letter to the Ephesians:
“Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11)
To be covered in Christ means to entrust every aspect of our being to Him—our thoughts, actions, desires, struggles, and victories. He must be our Strength in weakness, our Guide in uncertainty, our Peace in turmoil, and our Justice in trials.
God as the Center: Fr. John Bartunek’s Reflection
Fr. John Bartunek beautifully describes the centrality of God in our lives:
“When I love God with all my heart, my relationship with him becomes the axis of my activity, the magnet that brings order and dynamism into all the otherwise scattered shards of my life, the organizing principle around which every other element is arranged.”
How often do we find ourselves spiritually fragmented? One moment, we are devoted to prayer; the next, we are overwhelmed by worldly concerns. We may long for holiness, yet allow trivial matters to take priority.
But when God becomes our axis—our central point of reference—everything in our lives aligns properly. When He is first, everything else follows:
• Our daily responsibilities become offerings to Him.
• Our sufferings are united to the Cross.
• Our decisions are guided by His wisdom.
• Our relationships are purified by His love.
It is not enough to call upon God in moments of distress; He must be our constant guide, our unshakable foundation. As Our Lord Himself said:
“Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)
When we love God with all our hearts, everything else finds its rightful place. We are no longer tossed about by fleeting worries; we are anchored in Him.
A Call to Reflection: Are We Clothed in Christ?
As we prepare to rest tonight, let us ask ourselves:
• Do I seek Christ as my armor, my refuge, and my strength?
• Is my relationship with God truly at the center of my life?
• Do I allow worldly concerns to distract me from my ultimate purpose holiness?
Our goal as Catholics is to live fully clothed in Christ, allowing Him to direct every thought, word, and action. To love God above all things means to make Him our first priority, our daily focus, our life’s foundation.
Conclusion & Nighttime Prayer
Let us close with a prayer, entrusting ourselves to the Lord’s guidance and protection.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
You are my Strength, my Shield, and my Refuge. Cover me in the armor of Your grace, that I may stand firm against all trials and temptations.
Through the intercession of St. Claude la Colombière and all the saints, grant that I may rest in Your peace tonight and rise tomorrow with renewed zeal to serve You.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Good night, and may the peace of Christ dwell in your heart always.