Catholic Health Prayers and Reflections: Recent Episodes
Catholic Health Association of the United States
An invitation to reflect and pray through the ancient practice of walking the labyrinth.
Reflexión en audio para el Año Jubilar. Adaptada de la columna de oración de George Avila para Health Progress.
An audio reflection for the Jubilee year. Adapted from George Avila's prayer column for Health Progress, Summer 2025.
Three-centered knowing is informed by Diarmuid Rooney's article “Cultivating Our Inner Environment: Three-Centered Knowing” in Health Progress: https://www.chausa.org/docs/default-source/health-progress/formation---cultivating-our-inner-environment---three-centered-knowing.pdf?sfvrsn=0
Three-centered knowing is informed by Diarmuid Rooney's article “Cultivating Our Inner Environment: Three-Centered Knowing” in Health Progress: https://www.chausa.org/docs/default-source/health-progress/formation---cultivating-our-inner-environment---three-centered-knowing.pdf?sfvrsn=0
The Examen exercise by Saint Ignatius offers those in spiritual care a means for reflection after a shift or at the end of the day.
Jeanette Washington, Director of Mission Integration at CHI Health, Creighton University Medical Center – Bergan Mercy, discusses the presence of mentor and how great leaders bring people with them.
Pilar Williamsen, a chiropractor at Mercy Hospital St. Louis, discusses the presence of physical touch and how the image of a water droplet illustrates the impact we have on each other.
Thomas Otten, Assistant Vice President of Behavioral Health at the Avera Behavioral Health Center, discusses the presence of Christ and relishing in the joy created by time with family.
Ryan Conklin, Program Director of Ministry Formation at CHRISTUS Health, discusses his personal growth in being present and the way his family brings him back to the peace of the moment.
CHA is pleased to offer this audio reflection to honor and celebrate Juneteenth, which commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. The holiday was first celebrated in Texas, where, on June 19, 1865, General Granger read General Order Number 3, which declared all who were enslaved free. As we join our hearts in prayer, we renew our commitment to working for justice and remember our call to be bearers of peace.
In this week’s Christmastide Conversation, Jill Fisk, CHA’s Director of Mission Services and Sr. Mary Haddad, CHA's President and CEO, discuss Sr. Mary's stories of hospitality through her own life, including her time spent in ministry and as a child. Then, Sr. Mary shares a childhood favorite “recipe” with some key tips on preparing the meal.
In this week's Advent Conversation, Brian Reardon, CHA's Vice President of Communications and Marketing, and Coletta Barrett, Vice President of Mission at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, La., discuss hospitality in the home, sharing space with visitors and family, and a generational family recipe Barrett received from her father and mother in law.
In this week’s Advent Conversation, Dennis Gonzales, CHA’s Senior Director of Mission Innovation and Integration, and Mela Perez, Director of Community Health Services at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health, discuss hospitality amongst family and community. Mela recalls memories of time spent with family before sharing a recipe that can also be used as a holiday gift.
In this week's Advent Conversation, Lori Ashmore-Ruppel, CHA's Director of Sponsor Services, and Paulo Pontemayor, CHA's Senior Director of Government Relations, discuss the influence of hospitality in Paulo's Filipino upbringing. Paulo reflects on the way the way his upbringing extends to his work in Washington DC and shares a simple recipe beloved by his family.
In this week's Advent Conversation, CHA's Director of Mission Services Jill Fisk and Cristina Stephenson, Director of Pastoral Care at SSM Health St. Louis University, discuss the concept of hospitality in the Italian language, stories of communities banding together and how to make passatelli.
From September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and the many Spanish-speaking countries and cultures which have positively contributed to the diversity we share in the United States. CHA is pleased to present the following poem – "Como Tú" – in both Spanish and English translations, along with some questions for reflection. "Como Tú" was penned in Spanish by the Salvadoran poet Roque Dalton (1935-1975) and translated by Jack Hirschman (1933-2021), an American poet from New York. Both were passionate social activists committed to advocating for the poor and vulnerable.
The Catholic Health Association is committed to partnering with the Laudato Si Action Platform and is pleased to offer a series of guided audio meditations in this season. Each brief reflection will invite those who serve or are served by the ministry of Catholic health care to listen to the voice of creation through fire, water, earth and air and to prayerfully consider “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”
The Catholic Health Association is committed to partnering with the Laudato Si Action Platform and is pleased to offer a series of guided audio meditations in this season. Each brief reflection will invite those who serve or are served by the ministry of Catholic health care to listen to the voice of creation through fire, water, earth and air and to prayerfully consider “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”
Silence
A reflection on the wonders of God’s creation. Crafted by Sr. Beatrice Hernandez, OSF, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Coordinator for the Wheaton Franciscans based in Wheaton, IL. Written in the style of St. Francis’ Canticle of Creation.
Find all of CHA's reflections and resources for the Season of Creation at: https://www.chausa.org/environment/season-of-creation.
The Catholic Health Association is committed to partnering with the Laudato Si Action Platform and is pleased to offer a series of guided audio meditations in this season. Each brief reflection will invite those who serve or are served by the ministry of Catholic health care to listen to the voice of creation through fire, water, earth and air and to prayerfully consider “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”
Earth
A reflection with Mother Earth. Crafted by Sr. Beatrice Hernandez, OSF, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Coordinator for the Wheaton Franciscans based in Wheaton, IL. Written in the style of St. Francis’ Canticle of Creation.
Find all of CHA's reflections and resources for the Season of Creation at: https://www.chausa.org/environment/season-of-creation.
The Catholic Health Association is committed to partnering with the Laudato Si Action Platform and is pleased to offer a series of guided audio meditations in this season. Each brief reflection will invite those who serve or are served by the ministry of Catholic health care to listen to the voice of creation through fire, water, earth and air and to prayerfully consider “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”
Air
A reflection with Father Air. Crafted by Sr. Beatrice Hernandez, OSF, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Coordinator for the Wheaton Franciscans based in Wheaton, IL. Written in the style of St. Francis’ Canticle of Creation.
Find all of CHA's reflections and resources for the Season of Creation at: https://www.chausa.org/environment/season-of-creation.
The Catholic Health Association is committed to partnering with the Laudato Si Action Platform and is pleased to offer a series of guided audio meditations in this season. Each brief reflection will invite those who serve or are served by the ministry of Catholic health care to listen to the voice of creation through fire, water, earth and air and to prayerfully consider “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”
Water
A reflection with Sister Water. Crafted by Sr. Beatrice Hernandez, OSF, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Coordinator for the Wheaton Franciscans based in Wheaton, IL. Written in the style of St. Francis’ Canticle of Creation.
Find all of CHA's reflections and resources for the Season of Creation at: https://www.chausa.org/environment/season-of-creation.
The Catholic Health Association is committed to partnering with the Laudato Si Action Platform and is pleased to offer a series of guided audio meditations in this season. Each brief reflection will invite those who serve or are served by the ministry of Catholic health care to listen to the voice of creation through fire, water, earth and air and to prayerfully consider “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”
Fire
A reflection with Brother Fire. Crafted by Sr. Beatrice Hernandez, OSF, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Coordinator for the Wheaton Franciscans based in Wheaton, IL. Written in the style of St. Francis’ Canticle of Creation.
Find all of CHA's reflections and resources for the Season of Creation at: https://www.chausa.org/environment/season-of-creation.
CHA is pleased to offer a Visio Divina reflection series to support its members through their Advent journey. Each week participants are invited to consider the hope, excitement, wonder and confusion of the story from a unique perspective. While perhaps not always given significant attention, these oft-overlooked characters of the Nativity story have much to contribute to the spiritual life. Built around five newly commissioned works of art, imaginative prayer and invitations to reflection, the series is offered digitally as well as in print.
Find the visual art, print, video and other resources for this weekly Advent reflection at https://www.chausa.org/prayers/advent-2021/the-nativity-and-the-midwives.
CHA is pleased to offer a Visio Divina reflection series to support its members through their Advent journey. Each week participants are invited to consider the hope, excitement, wonder and confusion of the story from a unique perspective. While perhaps not always given significant attention, these oft-overlooked characters of the Nativity story have much to contribute to the spiritual life. Built around five newly commissioned works of art, imaginative prayer and invitations to reflection, the series is offered digitally as well as in print.
Find the visual art, print, video and other resources for this weekly Advent reflection at https://www.chausa.org/prayers/advent-2021/the-magi-set-up-camp.
CHA is pleased to offer a Visio Divina reflection series to support its members through their Advent journey. Each week participants are invited to consider the hope, excitement, wonder and confusion of the story from a unique perspective. While perhaps not always given significant attention, these oft-overlooked characters of the Nativity story have much to contribute to the spiritual life. Built around five newly commissioned works of art, imaginative prayer and invitations to reflection, the series is offered digitally as well as in print.
Find the visual art, print, video and other resources for this weekly Advent reflection at https://www.chausa.org/prayers/advent-2021/the-visitation-and-zechariah.
CHA is pleased to offer a Visio Divina reflection series to support its members through their Advent journey. Each week participants are invited to consider the hope, excitement, wonder and confusion of the story from a unique perspective. While perhaps not always given significant attention, these oft-overlooked characters of the Nativity story have much to contribute to the spiritual life. Built around five newly commissioned works of art, imaginative prayer and invitations to reflection, the series is offered digitally as well as in print.
Find the visual art, print, video and other resources for this weekly Advent reflection at https://www.chausa.org/prayers/advent-2021/the-annunciation-and-st-ann.
CHA is pleased to offer a Visio Divina reflection series to support its members through their Advent journey. Each week participants are invited to consider the hope, excitement, wonder and confusion of the story from a unique perspective. While perhaps not always given significant attention, these oft-overlooked characters of the Nativity story have much to contribute to the spiritual life. Built around five newly commissioned works of art, imaginative prayer and invitations to reflection, the series is offered digitally as well as in print.
Find the visual art, print, video and other resources for this weekly Advent reflection, "The Angel Gabriel En Route to Mary" at https://www.chausa.org/prayers/advent-2021/the-angel-gabriel-en-route-to-mary.
CHA is pleased to offer a set of Meditation Practices varying in length in both video and audio formats. These practices are specifically designed to help support your well-being, amidst the chaos of the day.
www.chausa.org/meditations
CHA is pleased to offer a set of Meditation Practices varying in length in both video and audio formats. These practices are specifically designed to help support your well-being, amidst the chaos of the day.
www.chausa.org/meditations
CHA is pleased to offer a set of Meditation Practices varying in length in both video and audio formats. These practices are specifically designed to help support your well-being, amidst the chaos of the day.
www.chausa.org/meditations
Beauty in Breakdown (a meditation)
Pause. Breathe. Heal.
Dwell in the beauty you have found and bring it with you into the rest of your day. Even now, God is with you, as near to you as your breath. Continue giving yourself the gift to pause, breathe and heal, knowing you are not alone.
One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
- Psalm 27:4
BOTH DAY AND NIGHT
BELONG TO YOU
Even now, God is with you, as near to you as your breath. Continue giving yourself the gift to pause, breath, and heal knowing you are not alone.
The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon.
- Psalm 74:16
YOUR STEADFAST LOVE
ENDURES FOREVER
Even now, God is with you, as near to you as your breath. Continue giving yourself the gift to pause, breath, and heal knowing you are not alone.
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”
- Psalm 138:8
GOD’S EYE ON THE SPARROW
GOD’S EYE ON ME
Even now, God is with you, as near to you as your breath. Continue giving yourself the gift to pause, breath, and heal knowing you are not alone.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
- Matthew 6:25-26
DO NOT BE AFRAID
I AM WITH YOU
Even now, God is with you, as near to you as your breath. Continue giving yourself the gift to pause, breath, and heal knowing you are not alone.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
- Psalm 23:4
I FIND REST
IN YOUR SHELTER
Even now, God is with you, as near to you as your breath. Continue giving yourself the gift to pause, breath, and heal knowing you are not alone.
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
- Psalm 91:1
YOU ARE OUR REFUGE
AND OUR STRENGTH
Even now, God is with you, as near to you as your breath. Continue giving yourself the gift to pause, breath, and heal knowing you are not alone.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
- Psalm 46:1
I WILL NOT BE AFRAID
FOR YOU ARE WITH ME
Even now, God is with you, as near to you as your breath. Continue giving yourself the gift to pause, breath, and heal knowing you are not alone.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
- Psalm 23:4
BE STILL
AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOD
Even now, God is with you, as near to you as your breath. Continue giving yourself the gift to pause, breath, and heal knowing you are not alone.
He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
- Psalm 46:10
NOTHING CAN SEPARATE ME
FROM THE LOVE OF GOD
Even now, God is with you, as near to you as your breath. Continue giving yourself the gift to pause, breath, and heal knowing you are not alone.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Romans 8:38-39
www.chausa.org/meditations
HUMBLE AND GENTLE ONE,
YOU ARE REST FOR MY SOUL
Even now, God is with you,
as near to you as your breath. Continue giving yourself
the gift to pause, breathe, and heal knowing you are not alone.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
- Matthew 11:28-30
www.chausa.org/meditations
We celebrate this Easter that no matter what, we are beloved of God – not even death can separate us, and in spite of all that may point to the contrary, we belong to one another. Where we had been broken, Christ mends us. Where we had been scattered, Christ binds us together. Where we had fallen, Christ lifts us up again. Where we had been dead, Christ brings new life. Take a moment now to celebrate Easter and reflect on its truths.
During Holy Week, when we walk with Jesus in his Passion and ultimate death on the Cross, we are offered the chance to enter God’s suffering in the way that God enters ours. While we know that our show of care does not change Jesus’ ending, or make the suffering go away, we are reminded that—as ‘God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every other name’—we, too, are strong and will be okay. Take a moment. Still yourself amidst your hectic day and listen to CHA's Reflection for Holy Week.