The Big year, Is a movie about Birders competing for the Birder of the Year Title.  My oldest son is an avid birder, and has passed along to me his love for Birds especially rare birds. He also has a great love for souls. So it got me reflecting on “What is my Soul Count for 2023”. How Many souls did I witness to for Christ?  Looking back, I don’t think I would have won any prizes, Ouch! Sorry Lord! By my nature I’m an Introvert but that is feeble excuse or an attempt to validate my lack of witness.  There are so many ways in which we can bring souls to Christ and the first and foremost, before witnessing is praying for Souls. Pick a soul each new day and pray of them.  Pick a friend or family member and just offer up a Hail Mary, a chaplet of Divine Mercy, a chaplet of the Holy Face or any other prayer that comes from your heart. Incidentally since beginning the devotion to the Holy Face , my love for souls has really increased and one of the promises our Lord is as follows:

“By My Holy Face you will obtain the conversion of many sinners. Nothing that you ask in making this offering will be refused to you. If you knew how pleasing the sight of My Face is to My Father!” (November 22nd , 1846 the Golden Arrow p182)

This is such an important statement from our Lord to keep in mind. So lets pray for soul per day. But don’t stop with just one soul; see a stranger on the streets, in the grocery store, the mall or anywhere offer up a prayer for them. What about the homeless man or a drugged out teenager that you encountered during the day. Pray for them that is what we are called to do. I am the first to admit I don’t do this enough, but from this day forward, I’m going to try harder, and do you know what? This new year – 2024 is going to be my “Big Year”.  God bless you and I’m hoping you will all take up the challenge for your 2024 to be “The Big Year” to win souls for Christ!

“Ostende Domine Faciem tuam, et salvi erimus”!

Show us thy face O Lord, and we shall be saved!

The little pilgrim of the Holy Face.