"There have been 42.4 million world-wide abortions in 2019 as of December 31st, according to Worldometers, an organization that keeps a running tally of major world statistics and was recognized as one of the best free reference websites by the American Library Association (ALA). Worldometers calculates abortion numbers based on the latest statistics published by the World Health Organization (WHO)."
IF ABORTION IS OUTLAWED WORLD-WIDE,
GOD WILL REMOVE THE CORONA VIRUS,
AND SHOW US HOW TO CONQUER IT.
IF ABORTION IS NOT OUTLAWED
MORE HORRIBLE PUNISHMENTS
WILL FALL UPON THE EARTH
God punished Sodom and Gomorah for their many sins:
Genesis18:20 - 19:1-29
20 And the Lord said: The cry of Sodom and Gomorrha is
multiplied, and their sin is become exceedingly grievous.
21 I will go down and see whether they have done according to
the cry that is come to me: or whether it be not so, that
I may know.
22 And they turned themselves from thence, and went their way
to Sodom: but Abraham as yet stood before the Lord.
23 And drawing nigh he said: Wilt thou destroy the just with
the wicked?
24 If there be fifty just men in the city, shall they perish
withal? and wilt thou not spare that place for the sake of
the fifty just, if they be therein?
25 Far be it from thee to do this thing, and to slay the just
with the wicked, and for the just to be in like case as
the wicked, this is not beseeming thee: thou who judgest
all the earth, wilt not make this judgment.
26 And the Lord said to him: If I find in Sodom fifty just
within the city, I will spare the whole place for their
sake.
27 And Abraham answered, and said: Seeing I have once begun,
I will speak to my Lord, whereas I am dust and ashes.
28 What if there be five less than fifty just persons? wilt
thou for five and forty destroy the whole city? And he
said: I will not destroy it, if I find five and forty.
29 And again he said to him: But if forty be found there,
what wilt thou do? He said: I will not destroy it for the
sake of forty.
30 Lord, saith he, be not angry, I beseech thee, if I speak:
What if thirty shall be found there? He answered: I will
not do it, if I find thirty there.
31 Seeing, saith he, I have once begun, I will speak to my
Lord. What if twenty be found there? He said: I will not
destroy it for the sake of twenty.
32 I beseech thee, saith he, be not angry, Lord, if I speak
yet once more: What if ten should be found there ? And he
said: I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.
33 And the Lord departed, after he had left speaking to
Abraham: and Abraham returned to his place.
Lot, entertaining Angels in his house, is delivered from Sodom,
which is destroyed: his wife for looking back is turned into
a statue of salt.
1 And the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and
Lot was sitting in the gate of the city. And seeing them,
he rose up and went to meet them: and worshipped prostrate
to the ground,
2 And said: I beseech you, my lords, turn in to the house of
your servant, and lodge there: wash your feet, and in the
morning you shall go on your way. And they said: No, but
we will abide in the street.
3 He pressed them very much to turn in unto him: and when
they were come in to his house, he made them a feast, and
baked unleavened bread and they ate:
4 But before they went to bed, the men of the city beset the
house both young and old, all the people together.
5 And they called Lot, and said to him: Where are the men
that came in to thee at night? bring them out hither that
we may know them:
6 Lot went out to them, and shut the door after him, and
said:
7 Do not so, I beseech you, my brethren, do not commit this
evil.
8 I have two daughters who as yet have not known man : I
will bring them out to you, and abuse you them as it shall
please you, so that you do no evil to these men, because
they are come in under the shadow of my roof.
9 But they said: Get thee back thither. And again: Thou
camest in, said they, as a stranger, was it to be a
judge? therefore we will afflict thee more than them.
And they pressed very violently upon Lot: and they were
even at the point of breaking open the doors.
10 And behold the men put out their hand, and drew in Lot
unto them, and shut the door:
11 And them that were without, they struck with blindness
from the least to the greatest, so that they could not
find the door.
12 And they said to Lot: Hast thou here any of thine? son in
law, or sons, or daughters, all that are thine bring them
out of this city:
13 For we will destroy this place, because their cry is grown
loud before the Lord, who hath sent us to destroy them.
14 So Lot went out, and spoke to his sons in law that were to
have his daughters, and said : Arise : get you out of this
place, because the Lord will destroy this city. And he
seemed to them to speak as it were in jest.
15 And when it was morning, the angels pressed him, saying:
Arise, take thy wife, and the two daughters which thou
hast: lest thou also perish in the wickedness of the city.
16 And as he lingered, they took his hand, and the hand of
his wife, and of his two daughters, because the Lord
spared him.
17 And they brought him forth, and set him without the city:
and there they spoke to him, saying : Save thy life : look
not back, neither stay thou in all the country about: but
save thyself in the mountain, lest thou be also consumed.
18 And Lot said to them: I beseech thee my Lord,
19 Because thy servant hath found grace before thee, and thou
hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewn to me, in
saving my life, and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest
some evil seize me, and I die :
20 There is this city here at hand, to which I may flee, it
is a little one, and I shall be saved in it: is it not a
little one, and my soul shall live?
21 And he said to him: Behold also in this, I have heard thy
prayers, not to destroy the city for which thou hast
spoken.
22 Make haste and be saved there, because I cannot do any
thing till thou go in thither. Therefore the name of that
city was called Segor.
23 The sun was risen upon the earth, and Lot entered into
Segor.
24 And the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrha brimstone and
fire from the Lord out of heaven.
25 And he destroyed these cities, and all the country about,
all the inhabitants of the cities, and all things that
spring from the earth.
26 And his wife looking behind her, was turned into a statue
of salt.
27 And Abraham got up early in the morning and in the place
where he had stood before with the Lord,
28 He looked towards Sodom and Gomorrha, and the whole land
of that country: and he saw the ashes rise up from the
earth as the smoke of a furnace.
29 Now when God destroyed the cities of that country,
remembering Abraham, he delivered Lot out of the
destruction of the cities wherein he had dwelt.
15 But if thou wilt not hear the voice of the Lord thy God,
to keep and to do all his commandments and ceremonies,
which I command thee this day, all these curses shall come
upon thee, and overtake thee.
16 Cursed shalt thou be in the city, cursed in the field.
17 Cursed shall be thy barn, and cursed thy stores.
18 Cursed shall be the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of
thy ground, the herds of thy oxen, and the flocks of thy
sheep.
19 Cursed shalt thou be coming in, and cursed going out.
20 The Lord shall send upon thee famine and hunger, and a
rebuke upon all the works which thou shalt do: until he
consume and destroy thee quickly, for thy most wicked
inventions, by which thou hast forsaken me.
21 May the Lord set the pestilence upon thee, until he
consume thee out of the land, which thou shalt go in to
possess.
22 May the Lord afflict thee with miser- able want, with the
fever and with cold, with burning and with heat, and with
corrupted air and with blasting, and pursue thee till thou
perish.
23 Be the heaven, that is over thee, of brass: and the ground
thou treadest on, of iron.
24 The Lord give thee dust for rain upon thy land, and let
ashes come down from heaven upon thee, till thou be
consumed.
25 The Lord make thee to fall down before thy enemies, one
way mayst thou go out against them, and flee seven ways,
and be scattered throughout all the kingdoms of the earth.
26 And be thy carcass meat for all the Fowls of the air, and
the beasts of the earth, and be there none to drive them
away.
27 The Lord strike thee with the ulcer of Egypt, and the part
of thy body, by which the dung is cast out, with the scab
and with the itch : so that thou canst not be healed.
28 The Lord strike thee with madness and blindness and fury
of mind.
29 And mayst thou grope at midday as the blind is wont to
grope in the dark, and not make straight thy ways. And
mayst thou at all times suffer wrong, and be oppressed
with violence, and mayst thou have no one to deliver thee.
30 Mayst thou take a wife, and another sleep with her. Mayst
thou build a house, and not dwell therein. Mayest thou
plant a vineyard and not gather the vintage thereof.
31 May thy ox be slain before thee, and thou not eat thereof.
May thy ass be taken away in thy sight, and not restored
to thee. May thy sheep be given to thy enemies, and may
there be none to help thee.
32 May thy sons and thy daughters be given to another people,
thy eyes looking on, and languishing at the sight of them
all the day, and may there be no strength in thy hand.
33 May a people which thou knowest not, eat the fruits of thy
land, and all thy labours: and mayst thou always suffer
oppression, and be crushed at all times.
34 And be astonished at the terror of those things which thy
eyes shall see:
35 May the Lord strike thee with a very sore ulcer in the
knees and in the legs, and be thou incurable from the sole
of the foot to the top of the head.
36 The Lord shall bring thee, and thy king, whom thou shalt
have appointed over thee, into a nation which thou and thy
fathers know not: and there thou shalt serve strange gods,
wood and stone.
37 And thou shalt be lost, as a proverb and a byword to all
people, among whom the Lord shall bring thee in.
38 Thou shalt cast much seed into the ground, and gather
little: because the locusts shall consume all.
39 Thou shalt plant a vineyard, and dig it, and shalt not
drink the wine, nor gather any thing thereof: because it
shall be wasted with worms.
40 Thou shalt have olive trees in all thy borders, and shalt
not be anointed with the oil: for the olives shall fall
off and perish.
41 Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, and shalt not enjoy
them: because they shall be led into captivity.
42 The blast shall consume all the trees and the fruits of
thy ground.
43 The stranger that liveth with thee in the land, shall rise
up over thee, and shall be higher: and thou shalt go down,
and be lower.
44 He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him. He
shall be as the head, and thou shalt be the tail.
45 And all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall
pursue and overtake thee, till thou perish: because thou
heardst not the voice of the Lord thy God, and didst not
keep his commandments and ceremonies which he commanded
thee.
Are you not from eternity, O LORD,
my holy God, immortal?
O LORD, you have marked him for judgment,
O Rock, you have readied him punishment!
Too pure are your eyes to look upon evil,
and the sight of misery you cannot endure.
Why, then, do you gaze on the faithless in silence
while the wicked man devours
one more just than himself?
You have made man like the fish of the sea,
like creeping things without a ruler.
He brings them all up with his hook,
he hauls them away with his net,
He gathers them in his seine;
and so he rejoices and exults.
Therefore he sacrifices to his net,
and burns incense to his seine;
for thanks to them his portion is generous,
and his repast sumptuous.
Shall he, then, keep on brandishing his sword
to slay peoples without mercy?I will stand at my guard post,
and station myself upon the rampart,
And keep watch to see what he will say to me,
and what answer he will give to my complaint.
Then the LORD answered me and said:
Write down the vision
Clearly upon the tablets,
so that one can read it readily.
For the vision still has its time,
presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint;
If it delays, wait for it,
it will surely come, it will not be late.
The rash man has no integrity;
but the just man, because of his faith, shall live.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (11b) You forsake not those who seek you, O Lord.
The LORD sits enthroned forever;
he has set up his throne for judgment.
He judges the world with justice;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. You forsake not those who seek you, O Lord.
The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of distress.
They trust in you who cherish your name,
for you forsake not those who seek you, O LORD.
R. You forsake not those who seek you, O Lord.
Sing praise to the LORD enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations his deeds;
For the avenger of blood has remembered;
he has not forgotten the cry of the poor.
R. You forsake not those who seek you, O Lord.
Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before him, and said,
Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely;
often he falls into fire, and often into water.
I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.
Jesus said in reply,
O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you?
How long will I endure you?
Bring the boy here to me.
Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him,
and from that hour the boy was cured.
Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said,
Why could we not drive it out?
He said to them, Because of your little faith.
Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you will say to this mountain,
Move from here to there, and it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you.
JESUS CASTING OUT THE DEMON FROM A YOUNG MAN- MOVIE: JESUS OF NAZARETH
"At the evening of life, you will be examined in love. Learn to love as God desires to be loved and abandon your own ways of acting." --- Saint John of the Cross
St. Francis repaired three chapels. The third was popularly called the Portiuncula or the Little Portion, dedicated to St. Mary of the Angels. It is now enclosed in a sanctuary at Assisi.
The friars came to live at the Little Portion in early 1211. It became the motherhouse of the Franciscans. This is where St. Clare came to the friars to make her vows during the night following Palm Sunday in 1212 and where Sister Death came to Francis on 3 October 1226.
Because of the favors from God obtained at the Portiuncula, St. Francis requested the Pope to grant remission of sins to all who came there. The privilege extends beyond the Portiuncula to others churches, especially held by Franciscans/Capuchins, throughout the world.
A plenary indulgence is the remission, through the merits of Christ and the saints, through the Church, of all temporal punishment due to sin already forgiven. Anyone who visits a Catholic church with the intention of honoring Our Lady of the Angels and recites the Creed, the Our Father, and prays for the Pope's intentions, may receive a plenary indulgence on Aug. 2. You should be free, at least intentionally, of attachment to venial and mortal sin, and truly repentant. Make your sacramental confession 8 days before or after. Participate at Mass and receive Holy Communion 8 days before or after.
The Catholic Church teaches that after a sin is forgiven, an unhealthy attachment to created things still remains. Indulgences remove that unhealthy attachment, purifying the soul so that it is more fit to enter heaven. Indulgences are either plenary (full) or partial.
St. Francis had great love and compassion for everyone.
On a night in July, 1216, Francis was praying in the little church of the Portiuncula devoured by love for God and a thirst to save souls. He prayed for the forgiveness of sins of mankind.
Suddenly a brilliant light shone all around. In great splendor Jesus and Mary appeared in the midst of a dazzling cloud surrounded by a multitude of radiant angels.
Out of fear and reverence, St. Francis adored Our Lord prostrate upon the ground.
Then Jesus said to him: Francis you are very zealous for the good of souls. Ask me what you want for their salvation. St. Francis was rapt in ecstasy before Jesus.
When he regained his courage he said: Lord, I a miserable sinner beg You to concede an indulgence to all those who enter this church, who are truly contrite and have confessed their sins. And I beg Blessed Mary, your Mother, intercessor of man, that she intercede on behalf of this grace.
Our Lady at once began to beseech her Son on behalf of Francis. Jesus answered: It is a very great thing that which you ask Me; but you are worthy of even greater things, Friar Francis, and greater things you will have. So I accept your request, but I want you to go to my Vicar, to whom I have given the power to bind and loose in Heaven and on earth, to ask him on my behalf for this indulgence. (ed. Note: Matthew 16: 19).
With one of his companions, Francis hastened to Pope Honorius III and prostrate implored him to proclaim that every one visiting the church and confessing their sins with a contrite heart would be as pure from all sin and punishments as he was immediately after baptism. The Pope granted this petition. This indulgence as been extended to all parish churches throughout the world.
The date was set from vespers of the first of August until sundown on the second of August, the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels. It is said that St. Francis was given this day by Our Lord because the Feast of the Chains of St. Peter celebrated on August first is the day Peter was released from prison and his chains removed.
This is an extraordinary demonstration of Gods mercy in removing the chains of sin from those who devoutly and faithfully seek to gain the indulgence by completing its requirements.
Conditions
The conditions to obtain the Plenary Indulgence of the Forgiveness of Assisi is (for oneself or for a departed soul) is as follows:
Sacramental Confession to be in Gods grace (during eight days before or after.)
Participation in the Holy Mass and Eucharist
Recitation of The Apostles Creed, Our Father and also a prayer for the Popes Intention (such as an Our Father, Hail Mary, etc.).
The Portiuncula Indulgence is a grace not to be missednot only for yourself but for the many suffering souls in Purgatory. Mark your calendar for the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels beginning at Vespers (Noon) on the First of August to August 2nd at Midnight.
Tell everyone of the magnitude of this gift. Once again, we see the unfathomable Divine Mercy of God.
ST.
DOMINIC
was born in Spain, A.D. 1170. As a student, he sold his books to feed the poor
in a famine, and offered himself in ransom for a slave. At the age of
twenty-five he became superior of the Canons Regular of Osma, and accompanied
his Bishop to France. There his heart was well-nigh broken by the ravages of the
Albigensian heresy, and his life was henceforth devoted to the conversion of
heretics and the defence of the Faith. For this end he established his threefold
religious Order. The convent for nuns was founded first, to rescue young girls
from heresy and crime. Then a company of apostolic men gathered around him, and
became the Order of Friar Preachers. Lastly came the Tertiaries, persons of both
sexes living in the world. God blessed the new Order, and France, Italy, Spain,
and England welcomed the Preaching Friars. Our Lady took them under her special
protection, and whispered to St. Dominic as he preached. It was in 1208, while
St. Dominic knelt in the little chapel of Notre Dame de la Prouille, and
implored the great Mother of God to save the
Church, that Our Lady appeared to him, gave him the Rosary, and bade him go
forth and preach. Beads in hand, he revived the courage of the Catholic troops,
led them to victory against overwhelming numbers, and finally crushed the
heresy. His nights were spent in prayer; and, though pure as a virgin, thrice
before morning broke, he scourged himself to blood. His words rescued countless
souls, and three times raised the dead to life. At length, on August 6, 1221, at
the age of fifty-one, he gave up his soul to God. "God has never," said
St. Dominic, "refused me what I have asked;" and he has left us the
Rosary, that we may learn, with Mary's help, to pray easily and simply in the
same holy trust.
In
the Catacomb of Saint Priscilla in Rome excavotors on May 25th, 1802 found a
shelf tomb sealed with slabs in a way that resembled tombs for martyrs.
The tomb had three tiles marked with these words:
LUMENA / PAXTE /CUMFI. The words
were apparently out of order and if you place the first inscripted tile last,
the inscription would read: PAX
TECUM, FILUMENA, which means "Peace be with you, Philomena." The tiles also had the symbols of a lily, arrows,
and anchor and a lance, which would indicated virginity and martyrdom. In
the coffin there were the remains of a girl of about twelve or thirteen years of
age along with a vial of her dried blood.
These findings were
transferred to the Treasury of Rare Collection of Christian Antiquity in the
Vatican and there was at that time no effort to establish that the remains
belonged to a Saint. In 1805, a priest named Don Francesco di Lucia, who
was traveling to Rome, heard about the remains and requested them to be put in
his village church at Mugnano del Cardinale, Italy.
When the remains were brought
to the village church at Mugnano, graces, favors and miracles began to occur
among the village people and in the nearby vicinity. Miracles continued to
occur year after year and in 1837, Pope Gregory XVI elevated Philomena to
Sainthood. The establishment of her sainthood was remarkable in that her
sainthood was made without any other historical records other than her remains
and her special favors and miracles which she was granting to
people.
Saint John Vianney (the Curι
of Ars), was very fond of Saint Philomena and encouraged his parishioners to
pray to her and seek her intercession. He had a shrine put into his church
where people would go and pray in front of her statue for her intercession.
Also devoted to Saint Philomena were St. Peter Julian Eymard, St. Peter Chanel,
St. Anthony Mary Claret, St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, St. Euphrasia Pelletier,
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, St. John Nepomucene Neumann, Blessed Anna Maria
Taigi and Venerable Pauline Jaricot.
In
1961, the Vatican took Philomena off the Church Calendar and forbid devotion to
her because they said that there was not enough evidence to declare her to be a
Saint. (But, it cannot be shown completely, that she is not a saint.)
Veneration and
devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
[Source:
Wikipedia.org]
Veneration of the Heart of
Mary is analogous to worship of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is, however,
necessary to indicate a few differences in this analogy, the better to explain
the character of Roman Catholic devotion to the Heart of Mary. Some of these
differences are very marked, whereas others are barely perceptible. Devotion
to the Heart of Jesus is especially directed to the "Divine Heart" as
overflowing with love for humanity, presented as "despised and outraged". In
the devotion to the Mary, on the other hand, the attraction is the love of
this Heart for Jesus and for God. Its love for humans is not overlooked, but
it is not so much in evidence nor so dominant.
A second
difference is the nature of the devotion itself. In devotion to the Sacred Heart
of Jesus, the Roman Catholic venerates in a sense of love responding to love. In
devotion to the Heart of Mary, study and imitation hold as important a place as
love. Love is more the result than the object of the devotion, the object being
rather to love God, and Jesus better by uniting themselves to Mary for this
purpose and by imitating her virtues. It would also seem that, although in the
devotion to the Heart of Mary the heart has an essential part as symbol and
sensible object, it does not stand out as prominently as in the devotion to the
Heart of Jesus; devotion focuses rather of the thing symbolized, of love,
virtues, and sentiments, of Mary's interior life.
History of devotion
The history of the devotion to the Heart of Mary is connected on many points
with that to the Heart of Jesus. The attention of Christians was early attracted
by the love and virtues of the Heart of Mary. The Gospels recount the prophesy
delivered to her at Jesus' presentation at the temple: that her heart would be
pierced with a sword. This image (the pierced heart) is the most popular
representation of the Immaculate Heart. The Gospels further invited attention to
Mary's heart with its depictions of Mary at the foot of the cross at Jesus'
crucifixion. St. Augustine said of this that Mary was not merely passive at the
foot of the cross; "she cooperated through charity in the work of our
redemption".
Another
Scriptural passage to help in bringing out the devotion was the twice-repeated
saying of Saint Luke, that Mary kept all the sayings and doings of Jesus in her
heart, that there she might ponder over them and live by them. A few of Mary's
sayings, also recorded in the Gospel, particularly the Magnificat (the words
Mary is reported to have said to describe the experience of being pregnant with
Jesus), disclose new features in Marian psychology. Some of the Church Fathers
also throw light upon the psychology of Mary, for instance, Saint Ambrose, when
in his commentary on The Gospel of Luke he holds Mary up as the ideal of
virginity, and Saint Ephrem, when he poetically sings of the coming of the Magi
and the welcome accorded them by the humble mother. Some passages from other
books in the Bible are interpreted as referring to Mary, in whom they personify
wisdom and her gentle charms. Such are the texts in which wisdom is presented as
the mother of lofty love, of fear, of knowledge, and of holy hope. In the New
Testament Elizabeth proclaims Mary blessed because she has believed the words of
the angel who announced that she would become pregnant with Jesus, although she
was still a virgin; the Magnificat is an expression of her humility. In
answering the woman of the people, who in order to exalt the son proclaimed the
mother blessed, Jesus himself said: "Blessed rather are they that hear the word
of God and keep it." The Church Fathers understood this as an invitation to seek
in Mary that which had so endeared her to God and caused her to be selected as
the mother of Jesus, and found in these words a new reason for praising Mary.
St. Leo said that through faith and love she conceived her son spiritually, even
before receiving him into her womb, and St. Augustine tells us that she was more
blessed in having borne Christ in her heart than in having conceived him in the
flesh.
It is
only in the twelfth, or towards the end of the eleventh century, that slight
indications of a regular devotion are perceived in a sermon by St. Bernard (De
duodecim stellis), from which an extract has been taken by the Church and used
in the Offices of the Compassion and of the Seven Dolours. Stronger evidences
are discernible in the pious meditations on the Ave Maria and the Salve Regina,
usually attributed either to St. Anselm of Lucca (d. 1080) or St. Bernard; and
also in the large book "De laudibus B. Mariae Virginis" (Douai, 1625) by Richard
de Saint-Laurent. Penitentiary of Rouen in the thirteenth century. In St.
Mechtilde (d. 1298) and St. Gertrude (d. 1301) the devotion had two earnest
adherents. A little earlier it had been included by St. Thomas Becket in the
devotion to the joys and sorrows of Mary, by Blessed Hermann (d.1245), one of
the first spiritual children of Saint Dominic, in his other devotions to Mary,
and somewhat later it appeared in St. Bridget's "Book of Revelations". Johannes
Tauler (d. 1361) beholds in Mary the model of a mystical, just as St. Ambrose
perceived in her the model of a virginal soul. St. Bernardine of Siena (d.1444)
was more absorbed in the contemplation of the virginal heart, and it is from him
that the Church has borrowed the lessons of the Second Nocturn for the feast of
the Heart of Mary. St. Francis de Sales speaks of the perfections of this heart,
the model of love for God, and dedicated to it his "Theotimus".
During
this same period one finds occasional mention of devotional practices to the
Heart of Mary, e.g. in the "Antidotarium" of Nicolas du Saussay (d.1488), in
Julius II, and in the "Pharetra" of Lanspergius. In the second half of the
sixteenth century and the first half of the seventeenth, ascetic authors dwelt
upon this devotion at greater length. It was, however, reserved to Saint Jean
Eudes (d. 1681) to propagate the devotion, to make it public, and to have a
feast celebrated in honor of the Heart of Mary, first at Autumn in 1648 and
afterwards in a number of French dioceses. He established several religious
societies interested in upholding and promoting the devotion, of which his large
book on the Coeur Admirable (Admirable Heart), published in 1681, resembles a
summary. Jean Eudes' efforts to secure the approval of an Office and feast
failed at Rome, but, notwithstanding this disappointment, the devotion to the
Heart of Mary progressed. In 1699 Father Pinamonti (d. 1703) published in
Italian a beautiful little work on the Holy Heart of Mary, and in 1725 Pere de
Gallifet combined the cause of the Heart of Mary with that of the Heart of Jesus
in order to obtain Rome's approbation of the two devotions and the institution
of the two feasts. In 1729 his project was defeated, and in 1765 the two causes
were separated, to assure the success of the principal one.
In 1799
Pius VI, then in captivity at Florence, granted the Bishop of Palermo the feast
of the Most Pure Heart of Mary for some of the churches in his diocese. In 1805
Pius VII made a new concession, thanks to which the feast was soon widely
observed. Such was the existing condition when a twofold movement, started in
Paris, gave fresh impetus to the devotion. The two factors of this movement were
first of all the revelation of the "miraculous medal" in 1830 and all the
prodigies that followed, and then the establishment at Notre-Dame-des-Victoires
of the Archconfraternity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Refuge of Sinners,
which spread rapidly throughout the world and was the source of numberless
alleged graces. On July 21, 1855, the Congregation of Rites finally approved the
Office and Mass of the Most Pure Heart of Mary without, however, imposing them
upon the Universal Church.
During
the third apparition at Fatima, Portugal on July 13, 1917, the Blessed Virgin
Mary said that "God wishes to establish in the world devotion to Her Immaculate
Heart" in order to save souls from going into the fires of hell and to bring
about world peace. She also asked for the consecration of Russia to Her
Immaculate Heart. On March 25, 1984, Pope John Paul ll fulfilled Our Lady's
request when he made the solemn act of consecration of the world and implicitly,
Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary before the miraculous statue of Our Lady
of Fatima brought to Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican for the momentous
occasion. Sister Lucia, (then) the only surviving visionary of Fatima confirmed
that the request of Our Lady for the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate
Heart of Mary was accepted by Heaven and therefore, was fulfilled. Again on
October 8, 2000, Pope John Paul made an act of entrustment of the world to
Immaculate Heart of Mary for the new millenium.
Heart of Mary ever Virgin, you are full of grace.
You are the dearest daughter of the heavenly Father,
the tabernacle of the Word made Flesh,
and the beloved home of the Holy Spirit.
You are the wonder and delight of angels,
of saints, and of men.
I offer you my deepest reverence.
With great love and thanksgiving I consecrate myself,
body and soul, to you this day,
and will never take back my word.
You are the marvel of God's creation;
a Virgin's heart, yet a Mother's too,
with a mother's love of Jesus and of men.
Dear Mother, fashion in my heart a child's true love of you.
Fill me with your own bright virtues:
simplicity and innocence,
meekness and courage,
and unfailing devotedness
to Jesus Christ.
Since I belong to you then, holy Mother,
save me from my enemies,
from the world, from Satan, from myself.
Keep me always in your sinless Heart
to make my poor heart more and more
like your Heart and the Heart of Jesus.
Dear, merciful Mother,
look with a mother's love and pity on the poor,
sinful, suffering children of the whole human family.
Our Holy Father Pius XII has consecrated them to your Immaculate Heart.
Do not turn them away.
Remember the cruel pain your heart
suffered for their salvation with Jesus Christ on Calvary.
Save them by His precious Blood.
Draw them out of the darkness and despair
of their sin and misery into the light, peace,
and holiness of the Church.
Then with the angels and saints,
may they join us in singing the everlasting Magnificat of praise,
gratitude, and love to your tender
and Immaculate Heart,
and to the adorable and merciful Heart of Jesus.
Amen.
June 13th
ST.
ANTONY OF PADUA, C.
DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH
FEAST DAY: JUNE XIII
[His genuine life has received
several interpolations from popular reports of no authority. But Wadding's
Annals of his Order furnish us with good memoirs relating to his life and
actions. See the judicious notes of the Bollandists, Acta Sanctorum Junii, t.
ii. p. 706 ; Ragnaud, t. viii. Mic. Ant. Bibl. Hisp. and Andreich.] [BUTLER'S
LIVES OF THE SAINTS.]
DIED: A.D. 1231.
ST. ANTONY, though a native,
of Lisbon, in Portugal, received his surname from his long residence at Padua,
which city is possessed of the treasure of his relics. He was born in 1195, and
christened by the name of Ferdinand, which he changed for that of Antony when he
entered the Order of St. Francis, out of devotion to the great patriarch of
monks, who was the titular saint of the little chapel of his Order in which he
took the habit. His father was Martin de Bullones, an officer in the army of Alphonsus I., surnamed El Consultador, who having defeated five kings of the
Moors in the battle of Orique, in 1139, was crowned King of Portugal, and
died in 1185.
(1) Osce ii. 14.
This prince's father, Henry of
Burgundy, grandson of Robert, King of France, had begun the conquest of that
country, but never took the title of king. The mother of our saint was Mary of Tevera, one of the most accomplished of women. Both his parents were equally
distinguished by their nobility and virtue. They placed their son very
young in the community of the canons of the Cathedral of Lisbon, where his
rising genius was carefully cultivated, and from his tender years he always
advanced both in his knowledge and devotion. At fifteen years of age he entered
among the regular canons of St. Austin, near Lisbon ; but not bearing the
interruption and distraction which the visits of his friends there gave him, he
desired, two years after, to be sent to the convent of the Holy Cross of the
same Order at Coimbra, a hundred miles from the former city. The close
retirement and the austerity in which he there lived astonished his brethren,
whilst he pursued his studies, and read assiduously the holy scriptures and
fathers. By his regular method and application, and by his sound and piercing
judgment, he made a quick progress, and together with a profound knowledge of
theology, acquired a perfect habit of.nervous and convincing eloquence. In the
mean time he inflamed his devotion by assiduous prayer and holy meditation, and
nourished daily in his soul the strongest sentiments and affections of piety,
without which means the heart is left spiritually dry, the usual consequence of
studies, whether sacred or profane, unless prayer imparts to them its unction.
But the saint was called by God to serve him with greater fervour, and to be the
ornament and support of another illustrious rising Order of religious men.
He had
lived at Coimbra near eight years, when Don Pedro, Infant of Portugal, brought
over from Morocco the relics of the five Franciscans who had been lately there
crowned with martyrdom. Ferdinand was strongly affected at the sight, and
conceived an ardent desire to lay down his life for Christ. Shortly after,
certain Franciscan friars came to his monastery of the Holy Cross to beg an alms
for their community. Ferdinand discovered to them his inclination to embrace
their institute, and was by them encouraged to put it in execution. No sooner
was this known among the canons, but they endeavoured to dissuade him from such
a resolution, and he suffered much from their railleries and bitter reproaches.
But he rejoiced in humiliations, and he began by them to learn to overcome
himself, and to root out of his heart all lurking poison of pride. Whilst he
examined his vocation, and begged the direction of the Holy Ghost, he found his
resolution every day to gain new strength from the esteem he conceived for an
Order which inspired an eminent spirit of martyrdom, and still enjoyed the
direction and living example of its holy founder. Its poverty and austerities
had also charms to him. Having therefore obtained the consent of his prior, he
received this new habit in 1221, in the little Franciscan convent, dedicated to
the great St. Antony, patriarch of the monks, near Coimbra. After some time
spent in solitude, prayer, and penitential austerities, burning with, a desire
of martyrdom, he obtained leave to go into Africa to preach the gospel to the
Moors. He was scarce arrived there, when God; satisfied with the sacrifice of
his heart, visited him with a severe fit of illness, which obliged him to return
to Spain for the reestablishment of his health. But by contrary winds, the
vessel on which he was embarked was driven to Sicily, and touched at Messina,
where he was informed that, St. Francis was then holding a general chapter at Assisium. Sick and weak as he was, the desire of seeing the holy founder of his
Order carried him to Assisium. When he had seen St. Francis he desired to
cultivate the happiness which he enjoyed in the company of the saint ; and a
order to stay nearer his person, offered himself to the provincials and
guardians of Italy. St. Francis approved his inclination to renounce his friends
and country; but not one of the superiors there assembled would be troubled with
him, so compromising and sickly was his aspect; or he took care to conceal his
learning end talents, and presented himself only to serve in the kitchen. At
last a guardian in the province of Romagna, named Iratiani, took pity of him,
and sent him to the hermitage of Mount-Paul, a little solitary convent near
Bologna. Antony thought of nothing but of burying himself here in obscurity
unknown to the world, joining the sweets of heavenly contemplation with the
austerities of a penitential life, and the humiliations of such a state. He
never let fall one word which might show his learning, much less any thing of
the sublime communications of his soul with God; but listened to every body,and only spoke when obliged, till an accident made him known to the world. 1n
assembly of the neighbouring Dominican and Franciscan friars was held at Forli,
in which the Dominicans, as strangers, were desired to make an exhortation to
the company. They all excused themselves, every one saying that he was not
prepared. Then St. Antony's guardian ordered him to speak, and to say whatever
the Holy Ghost should put in his mouth. The saint begged to be excused, alleging
that he had been only used to wash the dishes in the kitchen, and to sweep the
house; but the superior resisting upon his compliance, he spoke with such
eloquence, erudition, and unction as astonished the whole company. He was
at that time about twenty-six years old.
St. Francis was informed of the discovery of this
hidden treasure in his order, and sent him to Vercelli, there to apply himself
to the study of theology, and after a short time to teach the sacred
sciences ; yet recommending him to make the assiduous exercise of contemplation
and prayer his principal employment, lest his studies should otherwise
extinguish in him the spirit of devotion and piety. St. Francis's letter was
couched in the following terms : "To my most dear brother Antony, Friar Francis
wishes health in Jesus Christ. It seemeth good to me, that you should read
sacred theology to " the friars; yet so, that you do not prejudice yourself by
too great earnestness in studies ; and be careful that you do not extinguish in
yourself or in them the spirit of holy prayer." St. Antony taught divinity some
years with great applause at Bologna, Toulouse, Montpellier, and Padua, and was
appointed guardian at Limoges. In all these employments he never made use of the
general dispensation allowed to professors, of an exemption from any of the
regular duties of his community, and he found time to preach assiduously to the
people. He at length forsook the schools to apply himself wholly to the
functions of a missionary preacher; for he thought the conversion of souls from
vice, and the reformation of manners called for his whole attention and zeal. He
seemed formed, both by nature and grace, for this most important office. He had
a polite address, an easy carriage, and a very pleasing countenance. His voice
was strong, clear, and agreeable; he was endowed with a happy memory, and was a
complete master of all the arts of persuasion. To his other advantages he added
that of the most graceful action and accent, by which he knew how to get into
the very souls of his hearers by seizing on their senses, having learned that
man has as much of a sensible as of a rational creature. He was perfectly versed
in the holy scriptures, had an excellent talent of applying them to the purpose
on all occasions, and displayed in a clear light, and with inexpressible energy
the genuine sense, and the spirit and marrow of the sacred text. But what made
his eloquence most prevailing, and rendered it like a torrent of fire which bore
down all before it, was the unction with which he spoke ; for his heart being
filled with the warmest and most feeling sentiments of every virtue, he poured
these forth with an energy and zeal that seemed irresistible. His words were so
many darts, which pierced the hearts of his hearers ; for he had long treasured
up by the exercises of humility, silence, mortification, contemplation, and
prayer what he afterwards communicated to his hearers ; and his soul was itself
all flame before he endeavoured to kindle the fire of divine love in others.
Full of a sovereign contempt of the world and himself, and burning with a desire
to die for Jesus Christ, and to see his pure love reign in all hearts, he was
above the reach of all temptations which could warp his integrity, or make him
weaken or disguise the maxims of the gospel, which he announced with equal
dignity and zeal to the great ones and the small. The learned admired the
loftiness of his thoughts, and the strong images with which he painted the most
sublime mysteries, and added an unspeakable dignity to the most obvious and
common truths of religion and morality ; yet a natural simplicity rendered all
his discourses no less intelligible and easy to the most vulgar understandings.
Charity and prudence took off the edge of harshness from his reprehensions, and
his very reproofs were not bitter or austere, but amiable and insinuating.
Whilst he beat down presumptuous sinners by the terrors of the divine judgments,
he at the same time took care to raise and encourage their sinking souls by
confidence in divine goodness and mercy. He opposed the fashionable vices and
growing heresies of those times with equal vigour and success. The most
obstinate heretics and the most hardened sinners threw themselves at his feet,
declaring themselves conquered hearing him preach at Rome in 1227, in his
surprise, figuratively called him, The Ark of the Covenant, or rich spiritual
treasure. The sanctity and severity of his life gave also great weight to his
words. Such was the gravity of his countenance and the edifying modesty of his
deportment, that he seemed to preach by every action. Having once invited a
brother to go out with him to preach, he returned to his convent without making
any sermon to the people. His companion asked him why he had not preached. " We
have done it," said the saint, " by our modest looks, and by the gravity of our behaviour." The frequent miracles which were performed by him much enhanced the
reputation of his eminent sanctity wherever he came. The crowds were every where
so great at his sermons that he was often obliged to preach in market-places or
fields. He travelled through cities, towns, and villages with an unwearied zeal,
and preached in France, Spain, and Italy. When he was one day going to begin his
sermon to a most numerous assembly in the fields in France, the sky was on a
sudden covered with thick clouds, and violent claps of thunder presaged a
dreadful storm. The people began to disperse, and run to the neighbouring city.
But the saint encouraged them to stay, and by his prayers obtained that the
audience, as if they had been covered with an invisible canopy, felt nothing of
the dreadful shower of rain and hail, whilst the neighbouring fields and
highways were covered with a deluge.
The saint
was no less admirable in the confessional and in the private direction of souls
than in the pulpit. Wherever he came, dissensions and animosities were
extinguished, usurers restored their unjust gains, sinners melted into tears at
his discourses, and by their sobs often interrupted his sermons, and every one
sought his particular advice for the direction of his own conscience and
conduct. In Lombardy, for the protection of the oppressed people, he put his
life in the hands of one the most furious of tyrants. Ezzelino, native of the
marquisate of Treviso, but German extraction, having put himself the head of a
party of the Gibellins, Imperialists, made himself master of Verona, Padua, and
several other cities in Lombardy, and exercised in them the most horrible
tyranny during forty years. He contemned the anathemas of Gregory IX., Innocent
IV., and Alexander IV. Hearing that the citizens of Padua had volted from him,
he put to death in one day twelve thousand persons of that country. The city of
Verona, which was the place of his residence, had lost most its inhabitants, and
was filled with his guards, whose terrible armour added fierceness to their
savage countenances. The saint, who feared no danger in the cause of God and his neighbour, went boldly to Verona. He found the streets solitary and mournful,
and advancing to the palace, desired an audience of the prince. Being introduced
into his chamber, he saw him seated on a throne, surrounded, by his troop of
murderers, who stood armed, ready to execute his bloody orders the instant they
were issued. Antony, no way dismayed, told the tyrant, that his murders,
sacrileges, and plunders called to heaven for vengeance upon his head, and that
those whom he had slain oppressed were witnesses before God against him. The
saint said many things the same purpose, and the guards kited every moment to
hear the tyrant command him to be cut to pieces. But their great astonishment,
he descended from his throne pale and trembling, and fitting his girdle round
his neck for a halter, cast himself at the feet of the humble servant of God,
and with many tears begged him to intercede with God for the pardon of his sins.
The saint led him up, and gave him suitable advice to do penance. Some time
afterwards he sent a great present to St. Antony, which the holy man refused to
accept, saying, the only agreeable present the prince could make him would be to
restore to the poor what he had unjustly taken from them. Ezzelino seemed for
some time to change his conduct, but after the death of the saint, relapsed into
his former disorders. At length being taken prisoner by the confederate princes
of Lombardy, in 1259, he died distracted in close confinement.
St. Antony,
when invested with several dignities in his Order, was watchful to maintain the
primitive spirit and regularity in the houses under his inspection. He saw it
almost in its birth exposed to imminent danger, and saved it by his zeal and
prudence. St. Francis dying in 1226, brother Elias, a man of a worldly spirit,
was chosen general; who abusing his authority, began to introduce several
relaxations of the rule, which tended to the ruin of its fundamental
constitutions and spirit. He built a church too magnificent for the poverty
which the rule required and professed, applied money to his own private use,
bought himself a horse, kept servants, ate in his own chamber, and had better
fare than the community prepared for him. Most of the provincials and guardians,
out of human respects, were gained to his way of thinking; and the rest; who saw
that the tendency of such an innovation was to open a door to relaxations which
must necessarily extinguish the spirit and glory of the Order, had not courage
to speak against it. Only St. Antony and an Englishman, named Adam, boldly
opposed and condemned these abuses; but were loaded with injuries and
ill-treatment, and only by flight escaped perpetual imprisonment in their cells,
which the general, with several provincials, decreed against them as turbulent
and seditious men. They addressed themselves to Pope Gregory IX., by whom they
were graciously received and heard. His holiness summoned Elias to appear before
him at Rome, and having examined into the abuses by him introduced, deposed him
from the generalship. Antony was at that time Provincial of Romagna; but took
this occasion to extort by importunities license from the pope to resign that
post, and also to leave the court, where his holiness earnestly desired to
detain him. He retired first to Mount Alverno; thence returned to his convent at
Padua, which he had pitched upon for his abode some time before he was
Provincial of Romagna, and where he had formerly taught divinity and preached.
After his return, he again preached the Lent there with such fruit, that the
whole city seemed changed by his sermons. Then it was that he put the last hand
to the Latin sermons, which we have, though not as he preached them ; for he
diversified them according to circumstances, and spoke as the ardour of his soul
directed him. They are no more than general heads or commonplaces, destitute of
the ornaments and flowers which he added in speaking.
When Lent
was over, St. Antony being much spent with labour, and his penitential life,
finding also his health and strength declining very fast under an inward decay,
he desired to give himself some interval between business and eternity. He
therefore retired out of town, to a solitary place called Campietro, or Field of
Peter, there to attend solely to himself and God, and by fervent prayer to
dispose his soul for the enjoyment of God ; for he knew that his earthly
pilgrimage was drawing to an end, and that he was then called to receive the
reward of his labours. He took with him into his solitude two companions, men of
great virtue. His distemper increasing very much upon him, he desired to be
carried back to his convent in Padua ; but the crowds of people pressing to kiss
the hem of his habit were so great and so trouble-some, that he stopped in the
suburbs, and was laid in the chamber of the director of the nuns of Arcela,
where, having received the rites of the church with many tears, he recited
the seven penitential psalms, and a hymn in honour of the Blessed Virgin, till
he gave up his happy soul to him who had created it for his own great glory, on
the 13th of June, 1231, being only thirty-six years old, of which he had lived
ten in the Order of St. Francis. At the first news of his departure, the
children ran about the streets, crying out, " The saint is dead ! " Innumerable
miracles testified his sanctity, and he was immediately canonized by Pope
Gregory IX., in 1232, whose bull was dated at Spoletto. That pope had been
personally acquainted with the saint, and was a great, admirer of his virtues.
Thirty-two years after his death, a stately church was built in Padua for his
Order, and his remains were translated into it. The flesh was all consumed
except the tongue, which was found incorrupt, red, and as fresh as it was whilst
he was living. St. Bonaventare, who was then general of the Order, and present
at this ceremony, took it into his hands, and bathing it with his tears, and
kissing it with great devotion, said, " 0 blessed tongue, that didst always
praise God, and hast been the cause that an infinite number learned to praise
Him : now it appears how precious thou art before Him who framed thee to be
employed in so excellent and high a function." The tongue is kept in the same
church in a most costly case. This is at present a great and famous house of conventual Franciscan friars, which often furnishes the university, which
is certainly to be ranked among the best in Europe, with able professors. The
sepulchral monument of the saint in the church is exceeding rich and
magnificent; and the basso-relievo with which it is adorned a master-piece of
art. The costly lamps which hang before it are the several presents of many
cities. The Portuguese likewise honour him with singular veneration.
On his miracles Papebroke, the Bollandist, may be consulted.1
Pope Gregory I.X. in the bull of his canonization says, " We therefore commanded
the said bishop (of Padua), brother Jordan, Prior of St. Bennet's, and brother
John, Prior of St. Austin's, a monastery of the Dominicans in Padua, to make
diligent scrutiny into the miracles wrought at his sepulchre, and into the
merits of his life. Having seen the authentic proofs of the miracles of the
aforesaid venerable man, besides what we know ourselves of his holy life and
conversation, of which we have had experience, we, by the advice of our
brethren, together with all the prelates with us, have enrolled him in the
number of the saints." He had said before in the same bull: "St. Antony,
residing now in heaven, is honoured on earth by many miracles daily seen at his
tomb, of which we are certified by authentic writings."
Whilst we
admire the graces and extra-ordinary gifts with which God was pleased to glorify
his servant, we must not forget that he was raised so high only because, by
divine grace, through the paths of self-denial and humility, he had learned
perfectly to die to himself, and to be nothing in his own eyes. Pride makes our
hearts an abomination to God, and puts him at the greatest distance from us.
This is the deep wound of our souls, the main-spring of all our passions, the
deadly poison of virtue, the fortress of the devil, and the source of all
disorders. If we perfectly root out this evil, then will divine grace begin to
establish its reign, and display its treasures in our souls.
(1)
T. ii. Junij, p.718.
_____________
INTERCESSORY PRAYER: SAINT ANTHONY, PLEASE PRAY FOR [STATE YOUR PRAYER
REQUEST.]
THE LITANY OF
SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven,
have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,
have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit,
have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
have mercy on us.
Holy Mary,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony of Padua,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, glory of the Friars Minor,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, ark of the Testament,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, sanctuary of heavenly wisdom,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, destroyer of worldly vanity,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, conqueror of impurity,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, example of humility,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, lover of the Cross,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, martyr of desire,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, generator of charity,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, zealous for justice,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, terror of infidels,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, model of perfection,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, consoler of the afflicted,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, restorer of lost things,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, defender of innocence,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, liberator of prisoners,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, guide of pilgrims,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, restorer of health,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, performer of miracles,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, restorer of speech to the mute,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, restorer of hearing to the deaf,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, restorer of sight to the blind,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, disperser of devils,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, reviver of the dead,
have mercy on us.
Saint Anthony, tamer of tyrants,
have mercy on us.
From the snares of the devil,
Saint Anthony deliver us.
From thunder, lightning and storms,
Saint Anthony deliver us.
From all evil of body and soul,
Saint Anthony deliver us.
Through your intercession,
Saint Anthony protect us.
Throughout the course of life,
Saint Anthony protect us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
V. Saint Anthony, pray for us.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
O my God,
may the pious commemoration of Saint Anthony,
Your Confessor and Proctor,
give joy to Your Church,
that she may ever be strengthened
with Your spiritual assistance
and merit to attain everlasting joy. Through Christ our Lord.
"I want this image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter; that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy. On that day, the depths of My Mercy will be open to all. Whoever will go to confession and Holy Communion on that day will receive complete forgiveness of sin and punishment. Mankind will not enjoy peace until it turns with confidence to My Mercy."
The Image
On February 22, 1931, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ appeared to this simple nun, bringing with Him a wonderful message of Mercy for all mankind. Sister Faustina Kowalska tells us in her diary under this date: "In the evening, when I was in my cell, I became aware of the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand was raised in blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From the opening in the garment at the breast there came forth two large rays, one red, and the other pale, In silence I gazed intently at the Lord; my soul was overwhelmed with fear, but also with great joy. After a while Jesus said to me: 'paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the inscription: Jesus, I trust in You.' "
Some time later, Our Lord again spoke to her: "The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous; the red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays issued forth from the depths of My most tender Mercy at that time when My agonizing Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross . . . Fortunate is the one who will dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him."
Jesus said to Sister Faustina, "Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if it had more sins than there are grains of sand in the world, all would be drowned in the unmeasurable depths of My mercy."
"Whoever will go to confession and Holy Communion on that day will receive complete forgiveness of sin and punishment."
The Novena
Jesus further asked that this Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good Friday. He gave her an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena, saving for the last day the most difficult intention of all, the lukewarm and indifferent of whom He said: "These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their account that I said: 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by.' The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy."
The Chaplet
In 1933, God gave Sister Faustina a striking vision of His Mercy. Sister tells us: "I saw a great light, with God the Father in the midst of it. Between this light and the earth I saw Jesus nailed to the Cross and in such a way that God, wanting to look upon the earth, had to look through Our Lords wounds. And I understood that God blessed the earth for the sake of Jesus." Of another vision on September 13, 1935, she writes: I saw an Angel, the executor of God's wrath... about to strike the earth ... I began to beg God earnestly for the world with words which I heard interiorly. As I prayed in this way, I saw the Angel's helplessness, and he could not carry out the just punishment...
The following day an inner voice taught her to say this prayer on ordinary rosary beads:
"First say one: 'Our Father', one 'Hail Mary' and 'I Believe (Apostles Creed)'.
Then on the large beads say the following words:
'Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.'
On the smaller beads you are to say the following words:
'For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.' "
In conclusion you are to say these words three times:
'Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.'
Jesus said later to Sister Faustina:"Say unceasingly this chaplet that I have taught you. Anyone who says it will receive great Mercy at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners as the last hope. Even the most hardened sinner, if he recites this Chaplet even once, will receive grace from My infinite Mercy. I want the whole world to know My infinite Mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in My Mercy."
Subsequent History
One day in the same year, 1935, Sister Faustina wrote to her spiritual director: "The time will come when this work, which God so commends, [will be] as though in complete ruin, and suddenly the action of God will come upon the scene with great power which will bear witness to the truth. It will he as a new splendor for the church, though it has been dormant in it from long ago.
This indeed came to pass. On the 6th of March, 1959, the Holy See, acting on information that was inaccurately presented, prohibited "the spreading of images and writings advocating devotion to the Divine Mercy in the form proposed by Sister Faustina." As a result, there followed almost twenty years of total silence. Then, on the 15th of April, 1978, the Holy See, after a thorough examination of original documents previously unavailable to it, completely reversed its decision and again permitted the devotion. The one man primarily responsible for this reversal of decision was Karol Cardinal Wojtyla, the Archbishop of Cracow. On October 16, 1978 he was elevated to the See of Peter as Pope John Paul II. On March 7, 1992, Sr. Faustina's virtues were declared heroic; on December 21, 1992, a healing through Sr. Faustina's intercession was declared a miracle; and on April 18, 1993, Pope John Paul II had the honor to declare the Venerable Servant of God Sister Faustina Blessed. Sister Faustina Kowalska was declared a Saint by Pope John Paul II on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 30, 2000.
(With Ecclesiastical Approval)
The Humble Instrument
On October 5, 1938, a young religious by the name of Sister Faustina (Helen Kowalska) died in a convent of the Congregation of Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Cracow, Poland. She came from a very poor family that had struggled hard on their little farm during the terrible years of World War I. Sister had had only three years of very simple education. Hers were the humble tasks in the convent, usually in the kitchen or the vegetable garden, or as porter. The Apostle of Divine Mercy---Saint Faustina Kowalska of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy (1905 -- 1938).
A novena to obtain graces through the intercession of Saint Faustina Kowalska
0 Jesus, who filled Your handmaid Saint Faustina with profound veneration for Your boundless Mercy, deign, if it be Your holy will, to grant me, through her intercession, the grace for which I fervently pray . . .
My sins render me unworthy of Your Mercy, but be mindful of Saint Faustina's spirit of sacrifice and self-denial, and reward her virtue by granting the petition which, with childlike confidence, I present to You through her intercession.
Saint Faustina, pray for us.
"I want this image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter; that Sunday is to be the Feast of Mercy. On that day, the depths of My Mercy will be open to all. Whoever will go to confession and Holy Communion on that day will receive complete forgiveness of sin and punishment. Mankind will not enjoy peace until it turns with confidence to My Mercy."
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Abortion was the number one cause of human death worldwide in 2019 by far, with over 42 million killed.
"There have been 42.4 million abortions in 2019 as of December 31st, according to Worldometers, an organization that keeps a running tally of major world statistics and was recognized as one of the best free reference websites by the American Library Association (ALA). Worldometers calculates abortion numbers based on the latest statistics published by the World Health Organization (WHO)."
Titular Archbishop of Newport
Bishop Emeritus of Rochester
Archbishop Sheen on a set for one of his regular television programs
Church Catholic Church
Appointed October 21, 1966
Term ended October 6, 1969
Predecessor James Edward Kearney
Successor Joseph Lloyd Hogan
Other posts
Titular Archbishop of Neoportus (Latin: Newport, Wales; personal title, 19691979)
Auxiliary bishop of New York (19511966)
Titular bishop of Caesariana (19511966)
Orders
Ordination September 20, 1919
by Edmund M. Dunne
Consecration June 11, 1951
by Adeodato Giovanni Piazza
Personal details
Birth name Peter John Sheen
Born May 8, 1895[1]
El Paso, Illinois,[1] United States
Died December 9, 1979 (aged 84)
New York City, United States
Buried St. Patricks Cathedral, New York City (19792019)
St. Mary's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Peoria, Illinois (since 2019)
Nationality American
Denomination Roman Catholic
Residence El Paso, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Bourbonnais, Illinois
Minnesota
Washington, D.C.
Louvain, Belgium
Rome, Italy
London, UK
New York City
Rochester, New York
Occupation Catholic archbishop, and televangelist and radio host on philosophy and theology
Profession Catholic archbishop and evangelist
Alma mater
St. Viator College
St. Paul Seminary
Catholic University of America
Catholic University of Leuven
Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas
Motto Da per matrem me venire (English: Grant that I may come [to You] through the mother [Mary])
Signature Fulton J. Sheen's signature
Coat of arms Fulton J. Sheen's coat of arms
Sainthood
Venerated in Roman Catholic Church (especially in the United States sees of Peoria, Rochester, and New York City)
Title as Saint Venerable
Attributes Archbishop's attire
Shrines Tomb (presently in St. Mary's Cathedral, Peoria, Illinois; formerly in St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York City); birthplace museum in El Paso, Illinois; Fulton Sheen Museum in the Diocesan Museums, Spalding Pastoral Center, Peoria; papers held at a theology school near Rochester, New York)
Ordination history of
Fulton J. Sheen
History
Episcopal succession
Styles of
Fulton J. Sheen
Reference style The Most Reverend
Spoken style Your Excellency
Religious style Your Excellency
Posthumous style Venerable
Fulton John Sheen (born Peter John Sheen, May 8, 1895 December 9, 1979) was an American bishop (later archbishop) of the Catholic Church known for his preaching and especially his work on television and radio. Ordained a priest of the Diocese of Peoria in 1919,[1] Sheen quickly became a renowned theologian, earning the Cardinal Mercier Prize for International Philosophy in 1923. He went on to teach theology and philosophy at the Catholic University of America as well as acting as a parish priest before being appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of New York in 1951. He held this position until 1966, when he was made the Bishop of Rochester. He resigned in 1969[2] as his 75th birthday approached, and was made the Archbishop of the titular see of Newport, Wales.
For 20 years as Father Sheen, later Monsignor, he hosted the night-time radio program The Catholic Hour on NBC (19301950) before moving to television and presenting Life Is Worth Living (19521957). Sheen's final presenting role was on the syndicated The Fulton Sheen Program (19611968) with a format very similar to that of the earlier Life is Worth Living show. For this work, Sheen twice won an Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Television Personality, and was featured on the cover of Time Magazine.[3] Starting in 2009, his shows were being re-broadcast on the EWTN and the Trinity Broadcasting Network's Church Channel cable networks.[4] Due to his contribution to televised preaching, Sheen is often referred to as one of the first televangelists.[5]
The cause for his canonization was officially opened in 2002. In June 2012, Pope Benedict XVI officially recognized a decree from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints stating that he lived a life of "heroic virtues" a major step towards beatification and he is now referred to as "Venerable."[6][7] On July 5, 2019, Pope Francis approved a miracle that occurred through the intercession of Archbishop Sheen, clearing the way for his beatification.[8]
Fulton Sheen and the miracle of baby James
Madeleine Teahan
1 July, 2014
Bonnie Engstrom with her son, James Below:
Bonnie Engstroms third pregnancy was unlike any of her others. My husband Travis and I had a really beautiful experience during the pregnancy with God providing for us and taking care of us, she tells me. We really felt like we were on the brink on something really special and amazing, even more than with the other babies. We would joke about how I must be pregnant with the future Pope because God was really faithful and generous with us throughout.
I spoke to Bonnie days before the Vatican announced that its theologians had approved the miracle that occurred in her life, after she sought the intercession of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, the charismatic American televangelist who died in 1979.
Fulton Sheen was born in El Paso, Illinois, close to where Bonnie Engstrom was raised. He was ordained for the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, where Bonnie, her husband and five children now live. Ive always kind of known who he was because he was a local boy, she explains when I ask how her devotion to Fulton Sheen developed. But when I was pregnant with James, I started doing some research into his life and I started watching YouTube videos. So that was how I really started to appreciate who he was. Listening to him preach and seeing how powerful and dynamic he was that was when my devotion to him started to grow.
Bonnies beautiful pregnancy, coloured by a deepening devotion to Sheen, was followed by a beautiful labour covered in prayer. Jamess pregnancy had been a really healthy and normal pregnancy and we were planning my third home birth with him. The day I went into labour was a pretty normal day so I just kind of did what you do when youre going to give birth. I have to say it was a really beautiful September evening and it felt really special. I was in active labour at night. I was praying, which was really important, and I knew that I had a bunch of people praying for me. It was a beautiful
labour. It really was.
It is especially cruel when tragedy strikes within seconds of euphoria. Moments after Jamess birth, the abundant joy of the previous nine months abruptly died: Bonnies baby was stillborn.
When James was born the midwife scooped him up and put him in my hands. But I noticed that his legs and arms dangled down. He wasnt moving. He wasnt breathing. He wasnt crying, he was kind of a blue colour. So I held him for a second and then my midwife took him and she began CPR.
It was at this point that Bonnie fell into a state shock. Her friend, who was present at the birth, called an ambulance and her husband calmly performed an emergency baptism. At the moment that Travis traced water on his sonΉs forehead and baptised him James Fulton, Bonnies friend began to pray for the intercession of the newbornΉs namesake.
At that moment, in my head I couldnt really think of anything, Bonnie says. But in my head I was saying Fulton Sheens name over and over again. And that was my way of praying by calling on his name.
By the time the paramedics arrived there was still no pulse. Bonnie spent the 20-minute journey to the hospital in a separate ambulance from her husband and baby, lying alone, unaware if her son was dead or alive.
Fulton
When they arrived at the hospital it was Traviss turn to endure a solitary, harrowing wait. He lingered outside the hospital emergency room while doctors desperately tried to resuscitate his baby.
Five men eventually emerged with tears in their eyes. They said to him: Your son is alive and Travis understood in that moment that what they were really saying was: Hes alive now but just for right now. The fact that they were crying meant that he knew that things were really bad.
But when he came to see me, what he said to me was: James is alive and everythings going to be OK, because he just had faith. My husband had faith. It was amazing. And because I was still in a state of shock I naοvely accepted it. My husband just had the faith in that moment.
The miraculous breath had come after 61 excruciating minutes. James had breathed again at the moment doctors gave up their efforts and stopped to record his time of death.
They then took me to the neonatal intensive care unit and then I saw how bad he looked. He was covered in wires and he wasnΉt breathing on his own. They had knocked him out. They had intubated him. Yeah, it was really
Bonnies voice begins to crack and she summons up the composure to complete the sentence: it was really sad.
A small pause follows before she quietly adds: Its such a little word but I hope it conveys She trails off again. It was really sad.
Bonnie starts to explain to me the full extent of the miracle. The way my doctor explained it to me was: Its amazing that James came back to life and itΉs a miracle that he is doing as well as he is.Ή Because he should have had massive organ failure and then they expected him to be very severely disabled. Then they thought that he would have very severe cerebral palsy. They thought that he would have to be strapped to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, have a feeding tube and probably be blind. They thought that mentally he would not be aware of anything. It was supposed to be pretty grim and that was if he even lived.
Bonnie was able to bring her baby home after seven weeks in hospital. As he continued I think they gave us an increasingly better prognosis. So it went from very severely disabled to: OK, so hes going to have cerebral palsy. We just donΉt know what it will look like. But he continued to get better and seemed more and more like a normal baby I mean, there was always some big question marks for about the first six to 12 months just because he was a baby, so we had to wait for him to hit his milestones to know how complete the miracle was.
But my husband, and I and family and friends, were all at home interacting with James when he was two and a half months old, when he was five months old, and were sitting there thinking: This kid is normal. Hes like any of our other babies weΉve seen at this age. This really is a miracle.'
Bonnie still prays to Fulton Sheen and he remains a central figure in her familys life. I asked her what she most admired about him.
The day he was ordained he made a promise to God that he would keep a holy hour every single day for the rest of his life and he kept that promise, she says. So for over 60 years he made a holy hour every single day and that devotion to the Eucharist is really a wonderful example for me. I think it would be a wonderful example to the world, which is why I hope he is a canonised saint.
He would have to be really creative sometimes and he would find a church in the middle of nowhere to make that holy hour to keep that promise. He was really loyal to Christ and that prayer time meant a lot to him. His example is really beautiful to me.
Bonnie also tells me that Sheen heroically carried many burdens, but only confided them to very few people who have refused to speak about them since. When St John Paul II visited St Patricks Cathedral in New York City in 1979 he was surprised to discover Sheen was not concelebrating Mass. When Sheen was invited to come forward, the pope embraced him, telling him: You are a loyal son of the Church. Sheen died a few months later.
He suffered a lot, Bonnie says. But he never really talked about his suffering. Only the people closest to him knew about the pain in his body and the pain in his heart, and even they will not talk about it. Fulton Sheen didnΉt want to talk about it, because he didnΉt want to create scandal and feed gossip. ThatΉs just beautiful.
Nowadays if we have a problem with someone we write it on Facebook. But he really bore that internally. So when John Paul II sought him out and embraced him that was a really powerful moment.
I think it was two months later that he died so it was a really beautiful ending to his life, to have the Holy Father tell him: You are a faithful son of the Church. I mean, gosh, I would probably die too if Pope Francis said that to me.
PRAYER TO OBTAIN A FAVOR THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF THE SERVANT OF GOD
ARCHBISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN
Eternal Father, You alone grant us every blessing in Heaven and on earth, through the redemptive mission of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, and by the working of the Holy Spirit. If it be according to Your Will, glorify Your servant, ARCHBISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN, by granting the favor I now request through his prayerful intercession (mention your request). I make this prayer confidently through Jesus Christ,our Lord. Amen.
OUR
LADY OF THE ROSARY
FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 7TH
HAIL MARY, FULL OF GRACE, THE LORD
IS WITH THEE, BLESSED ART THOU AMONGST WOMEN, AND BLESSED IS
THE FRUIT OF THY WOMB JESUS, HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD, PRAY
FOR US SINNERS NOW AND AT THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH. AMEN!
THE VIRGIN MARY POURS OUT SPECIAL
GRACES FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO SAY THE ROSARY!
SAINT PADRE PIO PRAYED HIS ROSARY THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND WOULD SAY AT LEAST 15
DECADES OF THE ROSARY EACH DAY. THE MESSAGE HE WANTED TO LEAVE THE WORLD WITH BEFORE
HE DIED WAS FOR PEOPLE TO PRAY THE ROSARY.
Our Lady of the Rosary
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Our Lady of the Rosary,
also known as Our Lady of the Most Holy
Rosary, is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary in relation to the Rosary. The
Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is on October 7, the anniversary of the
decisive victory of the combined Christian fleet in 1571 at the Battle of Lepanto,
defeating an Ottoman fleet off western Greece. It was formerly sometimes
known as the Feast of Our Lady of Victory.
According to Dominican tradition, in 1214, St. Dominic was
in Prouille, France
attempting to convert the Albigensians back
to the Catholic faith. The young priest had little success until one day he
received a vision of the Blessed Virgin, who gave him the Rosary as a tool
against heretics.[1] While Mary's giving the rosary to St. Dominic is generally acknowledged as a
legend, the development of this prayer form owes much to the followers of St.
Dominic, including the 15th century priest and teacher, Alanus de Rupe.[2]
On December 3, 1836, Fr. Charles Elιonor des Genettes had an interior locution directing him to dedicate the parish of Our
Lady of Victory to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.[3]
On October 13, 1917, Our Lady of Fatima told the shepherd children, "I am the Lady of the Rosary".[4]
In 1987, during the civil war with the
anti-clerical Sandinista government in Nicaragua,
sacristan Bernardo Martinez reported seeing an apparition of Our Lady who urged
him to pray the rosary and work for peace. One of the appearances was in the
parish church of Our Lady of Victories near Cuapa.
CATHOLIC ENCYLOPEDIA:
Apart from the signal defeat of the Albigensian heretics at the battle of Muret in 1213 which legend has attributed to
the recitation of the Rosary by St. Dominic, it is believed that Heaven
has on many occasions rewarded the faith of those who had recourse to
this devotion in times of special danger. More particularly, the naval
victory of Lepanto gained by Don John of Austria over the Turkish fleet
on the first Sunday of October in 1571 responded wonderfully to the
processions made at Rome on that same day by the members of the Rosary
confraternity. St. Pius V thereupon ordered that a commemoration of the
Rosary should be made upon that day, and at the request of the Dominican
Order Gregory XIII in 1573 allowed this feast to be kept in all churches
which possessed an altar dedicated to the Holy Rosary. In 1671 the
observance of this festival was extended by Clement X to the whole of
Spain, and somewhat later Clement XI after the important victory over
the Turks gained by Prince Eugene on 6 August, 1716 (the feast of our
Lady of the Snows), at Peterwardein in Hungary, commanded the feast of
the Rosary to be celebrated by the universal Church. A set of "proper"
lessons in the second nocturn were conceded by Benedict XIII. Leo XIII
has since raised the feast to the rank of a double of the second class
and has added to the Litany of Loreto the invocation "Queen of the Most
Holy Rosary". On this feast, in every church in which the Rosary
confraternity has been duly erected, a plenary indulgence toties quoties is granted upon certain conditions to all who visit therein the Rosary
chapel or statue of Our Lady. This has been called the "Portiuncula" of
the Rosary.
THE POWER AND THE BLESSINGS THAT COME FROM
PRAYING THE ROSARY
THE FIFTEEN PROMISES OF MARY TO CHRISTIANS WHO RECITE THE
ROSARY
These promises were given by the
Blessed Mother to Saint Dominic and Blessed Alan.
1.
Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the rosary, shall
receive signal graces.
2. I promise my special protection and
the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the rosary.
3. The rosary shall be a powerful armour against hell, it will destroy
vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. It will cause
virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant
mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the
world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal
things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the
rosary, shall not perish.
6. Whoever shall recite the rosary
devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries
shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His
justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he
shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal
life.
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the rosary shall
not die without the sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who are
faithful to recite the rosary shall have during their life and at their
death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment
of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in
paradise.
9. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been
devoted to the rosary.
10. The faithful children of the rosary
shall merit a high degree of glory in heaven.
11. You shall
obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the rosary.
12. All
those who propagate the holy rosary shall be aided by me in their
necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the
advocates of the rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial
court during their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who
recite the rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son Jesus
Christ.
15. Devotion of my rosary is a great sign of
predestination.
THE PROMISES MADE BY OUR LORD TO THOSE WHO HAVE DEVOTION TO THE WAY OF THE CROSS.~Jesus to Brother Estanislao
I promise eternal life to those who pray, from time to time, the Way of the Cross.
I promise them my greatest graces.
I will deliver the faithful from purgatory on the first Tuesday or Friday after their death.
I promise them a special glory in Heaven.
I will grant them everything they ask through praying the Way of the Cross with faith.
I will grant them the remission of all their sins, even if they be as scarlet; if they be more than the grains of sand on the seashore and the stars in the heavens, all of them will be erased by the Way of the Cross.
I will preserve them from sudden death.
I promise them my special protection; my hands will always be open to protect them.
I will bless them at each Way of the Cross and my blessing will follow them everywhere on earth, and after their death, in Heaven for all eternity.
They will be assured of being joined to the Supreme Choir Of Angels.
I will give them the grace never again to commit a mortal sin for I will give them the grace never again to separate themselves from me.
I will lift all power from the devil at the hour of death that they may repose tranquilly in my arms
I will make of each one of them a living ciborium in which it will please me to pour my graces
I will give them a special drought from the fountain of My Deity.
As I am nailed to the cross, so also will I always be with those who honour me in making the Way Of The Cross frequently.
BROTHER ESTANISLOA
Brother Estanisloa was born in 1903. At an early age, he entered the Christian schools of charity in Bugedo, Spain. Herehe took vows of regularity, perfection and pure love. In October 1926 he offered himself to Jesus through Mary. Soon after this heroic donation he fell ill and was obliged to rest. He died in the odor of sanctity in March, 1927 of tuberculosis. According to the master of novices he was a privileged soul who received messages from heaven. Confessors and theologians recognize these supernatural facts. His spiritual director asked him to write down the promises made by Our Lord to those who have devotion to the Way of the Cross as written here.
Best Time to Pray the Stations is on Friday at 3pm if possible as Jesus told St. Faustina,
At three o'clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy. ... In this hour I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion (Diary,1320).
As often as you hear the clock strike the third hour, immerse yourself completely in My mercy, adoring and glorifying it; invoke its omnipotence for the whole world, and particularly for poor sinners; for at that moment mercy was opened wide for every soul. In this hour you can obtain everything for yourself and for others for the asking; it was the hour of grace for the whole world mercy triumphed over justice. ...
My daughter, try your best to make the Stations of the Cross in this hour, provided that your duties permit it; and if you are not able to make the Stations of the Cross, then at least step into the chapel for a moment and adore, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, My Heart, which is full of mercy; and should you be unable to step into chapel, immerse yourself in prayer there where you happen to be, if only for a very brief instant (1572).
The honored name of the Virgin Mary, which is said to mean "star
of the sea," is most fitting for the Virgin Mother. She may well be compared to
a star; for, as a star beams forth its rays without any diminution of its own
luster, so too the Virgin gave birth to a Son with no loss to her virginity. The
departing rays do not lessen the star's brightness, nor Mary's Son her inviolate
maidenhood. She is, therefore, that noble star risen from Jacob and raised by
nature above this great and wide sea. She shines with merits, she enlightens
with her example. You, all you who are cast about upon the sea of temporalities
in storms and tempests more than you walk on solid land, do not turn your eyes
away from the brightness of this star. Think of Mary, call upon Mary, so that
you may experience for yourself how fittingly it was said, "And the Virgin's
name was Mary." -- Pope Innocent XI ordered the feast of this most holy name,
which had already been honored with a special rite in some parts of the
Christian world, to be celebrated each year by the universal Church as a
perpetual memorial of the great blessing of that signal victory won at Vienna in
Austria over the cruel Turkish tyrant who had been grinding down the Christian
people in 1683.
(From
Matins of the feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
The Most Holy Name of Mary
St. Bernard says and we say with him: "Look to the star of the
sea, call upon Mary... in danger, in distress, in doubt, think of Mary, call
upon Mary. May her name never be far from your lips, or far from your
heart... If you follow her, you will not stray; if you pray to her, you will
not despair; if you turn your thoughts to her, you will not err. If she
holds you, you will not fall; if she protects you, you need not fear; if she
is your guide, you will not tire; if she is gracious to you, you will surely
reach your destination." (Pope Benedict XVI address at Heiligenkreuz Abbey, September 9, 2007)
Ask the Blessed
Virgin Mary to assist you with your special needs today.
DEAR BLESSED MOTHER,
PLEASE PRAY FOR [STATE YOUR PRAYER REQUEST.]
Litany
of the Holy Name of Mary
For
private use only.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord,
have mercy. Son of Mary, hear us. Son of Mary, graciously hear us.
Heavenly Father, of Whom Mary is the Daughter, Have mercy on us.
Eternal Word, of Whom Mary is the Mother, Have mercy on us. Holy
Spirit, of Whom Mary is the spouse, Have mercy on us. Divine
Trinity, of Whom Mary is the Handmaid, Have mercy on us.
Mary
, Mother of the Living God, pray for us. Mary, daughter of the Light
Eternal, pray for us. Mary, our light, etc. Mary, our sister,
Mary, flower of Jesse, Mary , issue of kings, Mary, chief work of
God, Mary, the beloved of God, Mary, Immaculate Virgin, Mary,
all fair, Mary, light in darkness, Mary, our sure rest, Mary,
house of God, Mary, sanctuary of the Lord, Mary, altar of the
Divinity, Mary, Virgin Mother, Mary, embracing thy Infant God,
Mary, reposing with Eternal Wisdom, Mary, ocean of bitterness, Mary,
Star of the Sea, Mary, suffering with thine only Son, Mary, pierced
with a sword of sorrow, Mary, torn with a cruel wound, Mary,
sorrowful even to death , Mary, bereft of all consolation, Mary,
submissive to the law of God, Mary, standing by the Cross of Jesus,
Mary, Our Lady, Mary, Our Queen, Mary, Queen of glory , Mary,
glory of the Church Triumphant, Mary, Blessed Queen, Mary, advocate
of the Church Militant, Mary, Queen of Mercy, Mary, consoler of the
Church Suffering, Mary, exalted above the Angels, Mary, crowned with
twelve stars, Mary, fair as the moon, Mary, bright as the sun,
Mary, distinguished above all, Mary, seated at the right hand of Jesus, Mary, our hope, Mary, our sweetness, Mary, glory of Jerusalem , Mary, joy of Israel, Mary, honor of our people, Mary, Our Lady
of the Immaculate Conception, Mary, Our Lady of the Assumption,
Mary, Our Lady of Loreto, Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, Mary, Our Lady
of Fatima, Mary, Our Lady of Czestochowa, Mary, Our Lady of the
Miraculous Medal, Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Mary, Our Lady of
the Angels, Mary, Our Lady of Dolors, Mary, Our Lady of Mercy,
Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, Mary, Our Lady of Victory , Mary, Our
Lady of La Trappe, Mary, Our Lady of Divine Providence,
Lamb of
God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord Jesus.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us,
O Lord Jesus. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us, O Lord Jesus. Son of Mary , hear us. Son of Mary,
graciously hear us. V. I will declare thy name unto my brethren. R.
I will praise thee in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Us Pray.
O Almighty
God, Who beholdest Thy servants earnestly desirous of placing themselves
under the shadow of the name and protection of the Most Holy Virgin
Mary, vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, that by her charitable intercession,
we may be delivered from all evil on earth, and may arrive at
everlasting joys in Heaven, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. R. Amen.
Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to serve your beloved children because they are moved by the divine love and immense mercy that exists in your heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exist in my life. You know very well how desperate I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I entrust into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the Evil One himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot.
[Mention your request here]
I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my destitution, and, with Christ, the freedom from my chains. Hear my plea. Keep me, guide me, protect me, o safe refuge!
On February 22, 1931, Our Lord appeared to this
simple nun, bringing with Him a wonderful message of Mercy for all mankind. Sister Faustina Kowalska tells us in her diary under this date: "In
the evening, when I was in my cell, I became aware of the Lord Jesus clothed in a white
garment. One hand was raised in blessing, the other was touching the garment at the
breast. From the opening in the garment at the breast there came forth two large rays, one
red, and the other pale, In silence I gazed intently at the Lord; my soul was overwhelmed
with fear, but also with great joy. After a while Jesus said to me: 'paint an image
according to the pattern you see, with the inscription: Jesus, I trust in You.' "
Some time later, Our Lord again spoke to her: "The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls
righteous; the red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays
issued forth from the depths of My most tender Mercy at that time when My agonizing Heart
was opened by a lance on the Cross . . . Fortunate is the one who will
dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him."
Some time later, Our Lord again spoke to her: "The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls
righteous; the red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays
issued forth from the depths of My most tender Mercy at that time when My agonizing Heart
was opened by a lance on the Cross . . . Fortunate is the one who will
dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him."
GO TO CONFESSION ON SATURDAY, APRIL 27TH OR SUNDAY, APRIL 28TH, DURING DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY WEEKEND. JESUS TOLD SISTER FAUSTINA:
"I want this image to be
solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter; that Sunday is to be
the Feast of Mercy. On that day, the depths of My Mercy will be open to
all. Whoever will go to confession and Holy Communion on that day will
receive complete forgiveness of sin and punishment. Mankind will not
enjoy peace until it turns with confidence to My Mercy."
Divine Mercy, gushing forth from the bosom of the Father, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, greatest attribute of God, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, incomprehensible mystery, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, fountain gushing forth from the mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, unfathomed by any intellect, human or angelic, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, from which wells forth all life and happiness, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, better than the heavens, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, source of miracles and wonders, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, encompassing the whole universe, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, descending to earth in the Person of the Incarnate Word, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, which flowed out from the open wound of the Heart of Jesus, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, enclosed in the Heart of Jesus for us, and especially for sinners, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in the institution of the Sacred Host, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, in the founding of the Holy Church, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, in our justification through Jesus Christ, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, accompanying us through our whole life, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, embracing us especially at the hour of death, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, endowing us with immortal life, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, accompanying us every moment of our life, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, shielding us from the fire of hell, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, in the conversion of hardened sinners, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, astonishment for Angels, incomprehensible to Saints, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, unfathomed in all the mysteries of God, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, lifting us out of every misery, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, source of our happiness and joy, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, in calling us forth from nothingness to existence, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, embracing all the works of His hands, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, crown of all God?s handiwork, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, in which we are all immersed, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, sweet relief for anguished hearts, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, only hope of despairing souls, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, repose of hearts, peace amidst fear, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, delight and ecstasy of holy souls, I trust in You
Divine Mercy, inspiring hope against all hope, I trust in You
Prayer:
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.
Lord, have mercy on
us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of
Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, spouse of St.
Joseph, Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, confirmed in grace, Pray
for us.
Saint Joseph, guardian of the Word Incarnate, Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, favorite of the King of Heaven, Pray for us.
Saint
Joseph, ruler of the family of Jesus, Pray for us.
Saint Joseph,
spouse of the ever-blessed Virgin, Pray for us.
Saint Joseph,
foster father to the Son of God, Pray for us.
Saint Joseph,
example of humility and obedience, Pray for us.
Saint Joseph,
mirror of silence and resignation, Pray for us.
Saint Joseph,
patron of innocence and youth, Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, exited
with Christ into Egypt, Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, intercessor for
the afflicted, Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, advocate of the humble,
Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, model of every virtue, Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, honored among men, Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, in
whom is the union of all Christian perfections, Pray for us.
Lamb
of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O
Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have
mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O holy Saint Joseph, R. That we may
be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let Us Pray.
Assist
us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, by the merits of the spouse of Thy
most holy Mother, that what our unworthiness cannot obtain, may be
given us by his intercession with Thee, Who livest and reignest with God
the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without
end.
Amen.
PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH
O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before
the throne of God, I place in thee all my interests and desires. O thou
Saint Joseph, do assist me by thy powerful intercession, and obtain for me
from thy divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord;
so that, having engaged here below thy heavenly power, I may offer my
thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers. O Saint Joseph, I
never weary contemplating thee, and Jesus asleep in thy arms; I dare not
approach while He reposes near thy heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His
fine head for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying
breath. Saint Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for me. Amen!
"At the evening of
life, you will be examined in love. Learn to love as God desires to be loved and
abandon your own ways of acting." ---Saint John of the Cross
THIRTY-THREE
PETITIONS IN HONOUR OF THE SACRED HUMANITY
OF OUR LORD JESUS
O good Jesus, Word of the Eternal Father,
Convert me.
O good Jesus, Son of Mary,
Make me her child.
O good Jesus, My Master,
Teach me.
O good Jesus, Prince of peace,
Give me peace.
O good Jesus, my Refuge,
Receive me.
O good Jesus, my Pastor,
Feed my soul.
O good Jesus, Model of patience,
Comfort me.
O good Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Make my heart like unto Thine.
O good Jesus, my Redeemer,
Save me.
O good Jesus, my God and my All,
Possess me.
O good Jesus, the true Way,
Direct me.
O good Jesus, Eternal Truth,
Instruct me.
O good Jesus, Life of the blessed,
Make me live in Thee.
O good Jesus, my Support,
Strengthen me.
O good Jesus, my Justice,
Justify me.
O good Jesus, my Mediator,
Reconcile me to Thy Father.
O good Jesus, Physician of my soul,
Heal me.
O good Jesus, my Judge,
Absolve me.
O good Jesus, my King,
Govern me.
O good Jesus, my Sanctification,
Sanctify me.
O good Jesus, Abyss of goodness,
Pardon me.
O good Jesus, Living Bread from Heaven,
Satiate me.
O good Jesus, the Father of the prodigal,
Receive me.
O good Jesus, Joy of my soul,
Refresh me.
O good Jesus, my Helper,
Assist me.
O good Jesus, Magnet of love,
Attract me.
O good Jesus, my Protector,
Defend me.
O good Jesus, my Hope,
Sustain me.
O good Jesus, Object of my love,
Make me love Thee.
O good Jesus, Fountain of life,
Cleanse me.
O good Jesus, my Propitiation,
Purify me.
O good Jesus, my Last End,
Let me obtain Thee.
O good Jesus, my Glory,
Glorify me.
Amen.
V. Jesus, hear my prayer.
R. Jesus, graciously hear me.
Let Us Pray
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who hast said,
"Ask and you shall receive,
seek and you shall find,
knock and it shall be opened unto you,"
mercifully attend to our supplications,
and grant us the gift of Thy Divine charity,
that we may ever love Thee with our whole hearts,
and may never cease from praising Thee,
Who livest and reignest world without end.
R.
Lord, have mercy on us
Christ, have mercy on us
Lord, have mercy on us
Christ, hear us
Christ, graciously hear us
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us
God, the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us
Holy Mary, pray for us
St. Joseph, pray for us
Blessed offspring of David, pray for us
Light of patriarchs, pray for us
Spouse of the mother of God, pray for us
Chaste custodian of the Blessed Virgin, pray for us
Guardian of the Son of God, pray for us
Defender of Christ, pray for us
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us
O Joseph, most just, pray for us
O Joseph, most chaste, pray for us
O Joseph, most prudent, pray for us
O Joseph, most forceful, pray for us
O Joseph, most obedient, pray for us
O Joseph, most faithful, pray for us
Mirror of patience, pray for us
Lover of poverty, pray for us
Model of laborers, pray for us
Patriarch of the home, pray for us
Protector of virgins, pray for us
Strength of the family, pray for us
Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us
Hope of the sick, pray for us
Patron of the dying, pray for us
Terror of demons, pray for us
Protector of the church, pray for us
Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, forgive us O Lord
Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, hear us O Lord
Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Let us pray
Lord Jesus, through the merits of the devoted spouse
of your most holy Mother, help us, we beseech thee,
that what of ourselves we cannot obtain,
may be granted through the intercession
of the Most Holy Patriarch, Saint Joseph.
You who reign with God, the Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit now and forever.
Amen.
O Woman full and replete with the grace of the Holy Spirit,
pray for us.
O Blessed and most blessed,
pray for us.
O Mother of Eternal Glory,
pray for us.
O Mother of the heavenly and earthly Church,
pray for us.
O Mother of Love and Indulgence,
pray for us.
O Mother of the Golden Heights,
pray for us.
O Honor of the sky, pray for us.
O Sign of tranquillity,
pray for us..
O Gate of Heaven,
pray for us.
O Golden Vessel,
pray for us.
O Couch of Love and Mercy,
pray for us.
O Temple of Divinity,
pray for us.
O Beauty of virgins,
pray for us.
O Mistress of the tribes,
pray for us.
O Fountain of gardens,
pray for us.
O Cleansing of sins,
pray for us.
O Purifying of souls,
pray for us.
O Mother of orphans,
pray for us.
O Breast of infants,
pray for us.
O Solace of the wretched,
pray for us.
O Star of the sea,
pray for us.
O Handmaid of the Lord,
pray for us.
O Mother of Christ,
pray for us.
O Resort of the Lord,
pray for us.
O Graceful like the dove,
pray for us.
O Serene like the moon,
pray for us.
O Resplendent like the sun,
pray for us.
O Cancelling Eve's disgrace,
pray for us.
O Regeneration of life,
pray for us.
O Beauty of women,
pray for us.
O Leader of virgins,
pray for us.
O Garden Enclosed,
pray for us.
O Fountain sealed up,
pray for us.
O Mother of God,
pray for us.
O Perpetual Virgin,
pray for us.
O Holy Virgin,
pray for us.
O Prudent Virgin,
pray for us.
O Serene Virgin,
pray for us.
O Chaste Virgin,
pray for us.
O Temple of the Living God,
pray for us.
O Royal Throne of the Eternal King,
pray for us.
O Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit,
pray for us.
O Virgin of the Root of Jesse,
pray for us.
O Cedar of Mount Lebanon,
pray for us.
O Cypress of Mount Sion,
pray for us.
O Crimson Rose of the Land of Jacob,
pray for us.
O Blooming like the palm tree,
pray for us.
O Fruitful like the olive tree,
pray for us.
O Glorious Son-bearer,
pray for us.
O Light of Nazareth,
pray for us.
O Glory of Jerusalem,
pray for us.
O Beauty of the world,
pray for us.
O Noblest-Born of the Christian flock,
pray for us.
O Queen of Life,
pray for us.
O Ladder of Heaven,
pray for us.
PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF GOOD REMEDY FOR ABORTION TO BE OUTLAWED WORLD-WIDE
HISTORY
Over 800 years ago Christians were being captured and
sold into slavery by the thousands, and nobody knew what to do about it.
Then, in the year 1198, a man had an idea. St. John of Matha founded the
Trinitarians to go to the slave markets, buy the Christian slaves and
set them free. To carry out this plan, the Trinitarians needed large
amounts of money. So, they placed their fund-raising efforts under the
patronage of Mary. They were so successful at that, over the centuries,
the Trinitarians were able to free thousands and thousands of people and
to return them safely home. In gratitude for her miraculous assistance,
St. John of Matha honored Mary with the title of "Our Lady of Good
Remedy." Devotion to Mary under this ancient title is widely known in
Europe and Latin America, and the Church celebrates her feast day on
October 8. Our Lady of Good Remedy is often depicted as the Virgin Mary
handing a bag of money to St. John of Matha. When in need - for whatever
reason, but especially where you have had difficulty obtaining help -
invoke the aid of Our Lady of Good Remedy, and you will surely
experience the power of her intercession.
(We ask the Virgin Mary to bring end to all abortion.)
O QUEEN OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, Most Holy Virgin, we venerate thee. Thou art the beloved
Daughter of the Most High God, the chosen Mother of the Incarnate
Word, the Immaculate Spouse of the Holy Spirit, the Sacred Vessel of
the Most Holy Trinity. O Mother of the Divine Redeemer, who under
the title of Our Lady of Good Remedy comes to the aid of all who
call upon thee, extend thy maternal protection to us. We depend on
thee, Dear Mother, as helpless and needy children depend on a tender
and caring mother.
Hail, Mary....
O LADY OF GOOD REMEDY, source of
unfailing help, grant that we may draw from thy treasury of graces in
our time of need. Touch the hearts of sinners, that they may seek
reconciliation and forgiveness. Bring comfort to the afflicted and the
lonely; help the poor and the hopeless; aid the sick and the suffering.
May they be healed in body and strengthened in spirit to endure their
sufferings with patient resignation and Christian fortitude.
Hail, Mary....
DEAR LADY OF GOOD REMEDY, source of unfailing help, thy
compassionate heart knows a remedy for every affliction and misery we encounter
in life. Help me with thy prayers and intercession to find a remedy for my
problems and needs, especially for... (Indicate your special intentions here).
On my part, O loving Mother, I pledge myself to a more intensely Christian
lifestyle, to a more careful observance of the laws of God, to be more
conscientious in fulfilling the obligations of my state in life, and to strive
to be a source of healing in this broken world of ours. Dear Lady of Good
Remedy, be ever present to me, and through thy intercession, may I enjoy health
of body and peace of mind, and grow stronger in the faith and in the love of thy
Son, Jesus.
Hail, Mary.....
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of Good Remedy, R. That we
may deepen our dedication to thy Son, and make the world alive with His
Spirit.
PETER, while still a youth, left his home at Alcantara in Spain, and entered a convent of Discalced Franciscans. He rose
quickly to high posts in the Order, but his thirst for penance was still
unappeased, and in 1539, being then forty years old, he founded the first
convent of the "Strict Observance." The cells of the friars resembled graves
rather than dwelling-places. That of St. Peter himself was four feet and a half
in length, so that he could never lie down ; he ate but once in three days; his
sackcloth habit and a cloak were his only garments, and he never covered his
head or feet. In the bitter winter he would open the door and window of his cell
that, by closing them again, he might experience some sensation of warmth.
Amongst those whom he trained to perfection was St. Teresa. He read her soul,
approved of her spirit of prayer, and strengthened her to carry out her reforms.
St. Peter died, with great joy, kneeling in prayer, October 18th, 1562, at the
age of sixty-three.
REFLECTION.-If men do not go about barefoot
now, nor under-go sharp penances, as St. Peter did, there are many ways of
trampling on the world; and our Lord teaches them when He finds the necessary
courage.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER: Saint
Teresa of Avila said concerning Saint Peter of Alcantara that, "The
Lord once told me that no one should ask Him for anything in his
name and not be heard."
Saint Peter of Alcantara, please
pray for us today [state your prayer request.]
POPE
FRANCIS PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR 2020 JANUARY
Promotion of World Peace
We pray that Christians, followers of other religions, and all people of goodwill may promote peace and justice in the world.
FEBRUARY
Listen to the Migrants Cries
We pray that the cries of our migrant brothers and sisters, victims of criminal trafficking, may be heard and considered.
MARCH
Catholics in China
We pray that the Church in China may persevere in its faithfulness to the Gospel and grow in unity.
APRIL
Freedom from Addiction
We pray that those suffering from addiction may be helped and accompanied.
MAY
For Deacons
We pray that deacons, faithful in their service to the Word and the poor, may be an invigorating symbol for the entire Church.
JUNE
The Way of the Heart
We pray that all those who suffer may find their way in life, allowing themselves to be touched by the Heart of Jesus.
JULY
Our Families
We pray that todays families may be accompanied with love, respect and guidance.
AUGUST
The Maritime World
We pray for all those who work and live from the sea, among them sailors, fishermen and their families.
SEPTEMBER
Respect for the Planets Resources
We pray that the planets resources will not be plundered, but shared in a just and respectful manner.
OCTOBER
The Laitys Mission in the Church
We pray that by the virtue of baptism, the laity, especially women, may participate more in areas of responsibility in the Church.
NOVEMBER
Artificial Intelligence
We pray that the progress of robotics and artificial intelligence may always serve humankind.
DECEMBER
For a life of prayer
We pray that our personal relationship with Jesus Christ be nourished by the Word of God and a life of prayer.
PRAYER
Queen of Heaven and earth, most Holy Virgin, we venerate thee.
Thou art the beloved daughter of the Most High God, the chosen
mother of the Incarnate Word, the immaculate spouse of
the Holy Spirit, the sacred vessel of the Most Holy Trinity.
O Mother of the Divine Redeemer, who under the title of Our
Lady of Good Remedy comes to the aid of all who call upon
thee, extend thy maternal protection to us. We depend on thee,
dear Mother, as helpless and needy children depend on a tender
and caring mother.
O Lady of Good Remedy, source of
unfailing help, grant that we may draw from thy treasury of
graces in our time of need. Touch the hearts of sinners,
that they may seek reconciliation and forgiveness. Bring
comfort to the afflicted and the lonely; help the poor and the
hopeless; aid the sick and the suffering. May they be healed
in body and strengthened in spirit to endure their sufferings
with patient resignation and Christian fortitude.
Dear Lady of Good Remedy, source of
unfailing help, thy compassionate heart knows a remedy for
every affliction and misery we encounter in life. Help me with
thy prayers and intercession to find a remedy for my problems and
needs, especially for...
(Mention your personal
intention)
On my part, O loving Mother, I pledge myself to a more
intensely Christian lifestyle, to a more careful observance of
the laws of God, to be more conscientious in fulfilling the
obligations of my state in life, and to strive to be a source of
healing in this broken world of ours.
Dear Lady of Good
Remedy, be ever present to me, and through thy intercession,
may I enjoy health of body and peace of mind, and grow stronger
in the faith and in the love of thy Son, Jesus.
Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come
to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to
serve your beloved children because they are moved by the divine
love and immense mercy that exists in your heart, cast your
compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exist in
my life. You know very well how desperate I am, my pain, and how I
am bound by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the
undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I entrust into
your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the Evil One
himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands
there is no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your
grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus,
take into your hands today this knot.
[Mention your request here]
I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my
hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the
fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my
destitution, and, with Christ, the freedom from my chains. Hear my
plea. Keep me, guide me, protect me, o safe refuge!
Pray hard for him. If you have time now please
say one Hail Mary and One Glory Be for him now. Pray that he would do God's will while working as President for our
country. That he would protect the unborn, help the poor and keep
peace throughout this world.
President Trump said during his State of the Union address in January
2019, that he wanted a record number of immigrants to come into the U.S.
legally. This is the way it should be, showing compassion to the
poor and the oppressed by allowing them to come into our country
legally. He also alerted us to the fact the many, many drugs are
being smuggled into our country from the Southern border which is
causing enormous damage to the citizens of this country.
President Trump is doing his best to protect the unborn from
abortion by appointing people to the Supreme Court and to other government
positions that will protect the lives of unborn children.
He has been under tremendous attack from the Press, Democrats
and nasty people in general which is all being orchestrated by demons. Please pray for him.
SAY THE FOLLOWING PRAYERS:
Prayer to St. Michael
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle;
be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do you, O prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan and the other evil spirits
who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls.
Amen.
SAY THIS PRAY FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION:
PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH
O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before
the throne of God, I place in thee all my interests and desires. O thou
Saint Joseph, do assist me by thy powerful intercession, and obtain for me
from thy divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord;
so that, having engaged here below thy heavenly power, I may offer my
thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers. O Saint Joseph, I
never weary contemplating thee, and Jesus asleep in thy arms; I dare not
approach while He reposes near thy heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His
fine head for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying
breath. Saint Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for me. Amen!
Saint Joseph, terror of demons, pray for
President Donald Trump!
IMPEACHMENT SHOULD INCLUDE ALL THE JUDGES, CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS WHO HAVE SUPPORTED ABORTION LEGISLATION, FUNDING AND THE PROMOTION OF ABORTION WHICH IS THE MURDER OF UNBORN CHILDREN.
ABORTION AND THE PROMOTION OF ABORTION IS A HIGH CRIME ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE. A MORTAL SIN.
The taking of human life is expressly forbidden. Jesus elaborates on this commandment in the Sermon on the Mount, revealing that the sin of murder begins in the heart (Matt. 5:21-22).
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
The Constitution also allows for involuntary removal from office of the president, vice president, Cabinet secretaries, and other executive officers, as well as judges, who may be impeached by the House of Representatives and tried in the Senate.
Any official convicted by the Senate is immediately removed from office, and the Senate may also order, by a simple majority, that the removed official be forever disqualified from holding any federal office.[48][49][50]
While no other punishments may be inflicted pursuant to the impeachment proceeding, the convicted party remains liable to trial and punishment in the courts for civil and criminal charges.[51]
Each standard size cross-mark represents 50,000 people killed.
The smaller cross-marks represent less than 50,000 deaths.
The war casualties represent all American combat-related deaths.
Statistics from 1982 World Almanac.
REVOLUTIONARY
WAR 25,324
CIVIL WAR
496,332
WORLD WAR I
116,708
WORLD WAR II
407,316
KOREAN
WAR 54,246
VIETNAM WAR
58,655
WAR ON
UNBORN CHILDREN OVER 59,440,015
...since
abortion was legalized in 1973
THE FIFTEEN PROMISES OF MARY TO CHRISTIANS WHO RECITE THE ROSARY
These promises were given by the Blessed Mother to Saint Dominic and
Blessed Alan.
1.
Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the rosary,
shall receive signal graces.
2. I promise my special
protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the
rosary.
3. The rosary shall be a powerful armour against
hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain
for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of
men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them
to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify
themselves by this means.
5. The soul which recommends itself
to me by the recitation of the rosary, shall not perish.
6.
Whoever shall recite the rosary devoutly, applying himself to the
consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by
misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not
perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the
grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Whoever
shall have a true devotion for the rosary shall not die without the
sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who are faithful to recite
the rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light
of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they
shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
9.
I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the
rosary.
10. The faithful children of the rosary shall merit a
high degree of glory in heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you
ask of me by the recitation of the rosary.
12. All those who
propagate the holy rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the
rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during
their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who recite the
rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion of my rosary is a great sign of predestination.
Graces Derived from Going to Mass
(Note: Assisting at Mass simply means attending Mass.
By attending a Mass Catholics are actually assisting in Mass.)
THE FOLLOWING IS FROM THE PIETA PRAYER BOOKLET, Published in U.S.A. by MLOR Corporation, 1186 Burlington Drive,
Hickory Corners, MI 49060-9330:
1. The Mass is Calvary continued.
2. Every Mass is worth as much as the sacrifice of our Lord's life,
sufferings and death.
3. Holy Mass is the most powerful atonement for your sins.
4. At the hour of death the Masses you have heard will be your greatest
consolation.
5. Every Mass will go with you to judgment and plead for pardon.
6. At Mass you can diminish more or less temporal punishment due to your
sins, according to your fervor.
7. Assisting devoutly at Holy Mass you render to the sacred humanity of
Our Lord the greatest homage.
8. He supplies for many of your negligences and omissions.
9. He forgives the venial sins which you have not confessed. The
power of Satan over you is diminished.
10. You afford the souls in Purgatory the greatest possible relief.
11. One Mass heard during life will be of more benefit to you than many
heard for you after your death.
12. You are preserved from dangers and misfortunes which otherwise might
have befallen you. You shorten your Purgatory.
13. Every Mass wins for you a higher degree of glory in Heaven.
14. You receive the priest's blessing which Our Lord ratifies in Heaven.
15. You kneel amidst a multitude of holy angels, who are present at the
adorable Sacrifice with reverential awe.
16. You are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.
In eternity, we shall fully realize that it was certainly worthwhile to
have assisted at Holy Mass daily. PRAY FOR PRIESTS THAT THEY MAY
OFFER THE MASS WITH HOLY LOVE AND REVERENCE.
For each Mass we hear with devotion, Our Lord sends a saint to comfort
us at death. (revelation of Christ to St. Gertrude the great).
Padre Pio, the stigmatic priest, said, the world could exist more easily
without the sun than without the Mass.
The Cure'd' Ars, St. Jean Vianney said, if we knew the value of the Mass
we would die of joy.
A great doctor of the Church, St. Anselm, declares that a single Mass
offered for oneself during life may be worth more than a thousand
celebrated for the same intention after death. St. Leonard of Port
Maurice supports this statement by saying that one Mass before death may
be more profitable than many after it.
"The Holy Mass would be of greater profit if people had it offered in
their lifetime, rather than having it celebrated for the relief of their
souls after death." (Pope Benedict XV).
Once, St. Teresa was overwhelmed with God's Goodness and asked Our Lord,
"How can I thank you?" Our Lord replied, "ATTEND ONE MASS".
Saint
Louis De Montfort stresses that people should give there hearts and
wills to Jesus through Mary and that by doing this a soul will be able
to soar toward God. See Saint Louis's book True Devotion To Mary.Saint Louis warns of the devil's great ability to deceive souls,
including souls of saints:
"Because the devils, who are skillful thieves, wish to surprise us
unawares, and to strip us. They watch day and night for the
favorable moment. For that end they go round about us
incessantly to devour us and to snatch from us in one moment, all
the graces and merits we have gained for many years.
Their malice, their experience, their stratagems and their number
ought to make us fear this misfortune immensely, especially when we
see how many persons fuller of grace than we are, richer in virtues,
better founded in experience and far higher exalted in sanctity,
have been surprised, robbed and unhappily pillaged. Ah!
How many cedars of Lebanon, how many stars of the firmament, have we
not seen fall miserably, and in the twinkling of an eye lose all
their height and their brightness! Whence comes that sad and
curious change? It was not for want of grace, which is wanting
to no man; but it was for want of humility. They thought
themselves capable of guarding their own treasures. They
trusted in themselves, relied upon themselves. They thought
their house secure enough, and their coffers strong enough, to keep
the precious treasure of grace. It is because of that scarcely
perceptible reliance upon themselves, though all the while it seemed
to them that they were relying only on the grace of God, that the
most just Lord permitted them to be robbed by leaving them to
themselves. Alas! If they had but known the admirable
devotion which I will unfold presently, they would have confided
their treasure to a Virgin powerful and faithful, who would have
kept it for them as if it had been her own possession; nay, who
would have even taken it as an obligation of justice on herself to
preserve it for them".
Holy Mary, my Queen and sovereign Lady, I give you myself, trusting in
your fidelity and your protection. I surrender myself entirely to your
motherly tenderness, my body, my soul, all that I am, all that I
possess, for the whole of this day, my life, and especially
at the hour of my death. I entrust to you once more all my hopes, all my
consolations, all my anxieties, all my troubles, my life, my dying
breath, so that by your prayers and merits, I may have, in all I do, one
only goal, your good pleasure and the holy will of your Son. Amen!
One day, Saint Michael the Archangel appeared to Antonia d'Astonac, a
most devout Servant of God and told her that he wished to be honoured by
nine salutations corresponding to the nine Choirs of Angels, which
should consist of one Our Father and three Hail Marys in honour of each
of the Angelic Choirs.
Promises of St. Michael
"Whoever would practice this devotion in his honour would have, when
approaching the Holy Table, an escort of nine angels chosen from each of
the nine Choirs. In addition, for the daily recital of these nine
salutations, he promised his continual assistance and that all the holy
angels during life, and after death deliverance from Purgatory for
themselves and all their relations."
The Chaplet of St. Michael
O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to
the Father, etc.
[Say
one Our Father and three Hail Marys after each of the following nine
salutations in honor of the nine Choirs of Angels]
[STATE YOUR PRAYER REQUEST]
1. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Seraphim may the Lord make us worthy to burn with the fire of perfect
charity. Amen.
2. By
the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim may
the Lord grant us the grace to leave the ways of sin and run in the
paths of Christian perfection. Amen.
3. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Thrones
may the Lord infuse into our hearts a true and sincere spirit of
humility. Amen.
4. By
the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Dominations
may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and overcome any unruly
passions. Amen.
5. By
the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues may
the Lord preserve us from evil and falling into temptation. Amen.
6. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers
may the Lord protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the
devil. Amen.
7. By
the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of
Principalities may God fill our souls with a true spirit of obedience.
Amen.
8. By the
intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels may
the Lord give us perseverance in faith and in all good works in order
that we may attain the glory of Heaven. Amen.
9. By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Angels
may the Lord grant us to be protected by them in this mortal life and
conducted in the life to come to Heaven. Amen.
Say one Our Father in honor of each of the following leading
Say one Our
Father in honor of each of the following leading Angels: St. Michael, St.
Gabriel, St. Raphael and our Guardian Angel.
Angels: St.
Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael and our Guardian Angel.
Concluding prayers:
O glorious prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly
hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the
house of the Divine King and our admirable conductor, you who shine with
excellence and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil, who turn to
you with confidence and enable us by your gracious protection to serve
God more and more faithfully every day.
Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus
Christ, that we may be made worthy of His promises.
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who, by a prodigy of goodness and a
merciful desire for the salvation of all men, has appointed the most
glorious Archangel St. Michael Prince of Your Church, make us worthy, we
ask You, to be delivered from all our enemies, that none of them may
harass us at the hour of death, but that we may be conducted by him into
Your Presence.This we ask through the merits of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Welcome to this Catholic Spiritual Direction Web Site. It is
the intention of this site to lead people to a closer relationship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit through the
promotion of prayer and Christian teaching which will enable Christians
to adhere to the straight and narrow path Jesus speaks of in the
Gospels. Included in these web pages are the Douay-Rheims Bible and the
works of Saint John of the Cross, Thomas a Kempis and Saint Louis de
Montfort, Saint Teresa of Avila, and the works of other saints of the
Catholic faith, all of whose teachings on spiritual direction have been
followed by priests, ministers, clergymen, Popes and Saints. These
teachings adhere to the teachings of the Catholic Church. This site is
dedicated to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich (Biography) (1774-1824)
Mystic, Stigmatist, Prophet, and Great Visionary, a saintly Augustinian nun from Flamske, Germany.
Her highly descriptive visions of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ,The Sorrowful Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ,are presented here. In time more works from the Saints of the Catholic
Church will be added to these pages.
OVERCOMING
DIFFICULTIES AT WORK OR AT HOME: When difficulties come to us at work or at home it important to pray
your way through these difficulties. At work, it could be trouble
with a supervisor or a co-worker, with the result that misery is brought
into our lives. Or at home a wife or a husband, or a child or a
relative may be causing you trouble. It is important to pray your
way through these difficulties. The different forms of prayers
listed above, the Rosary, the Chaplet of Saint Michael, the Divine Mercy
Chaplet and the Holy Mass, can move God to assist us with the things the
bother us the most during our lives. Try these prayers, they
work.
And sometimes, it takes the prayers of others to help
change the current situations that are going on in our lives.
On the following web page, there are several prayer groups that will
pray for yours needs; this a great tool against our daily problems and
against the assaults of demons. Sometimes it takes the prayers of
many people to change things.
http://www.jesus-passion.com/catholic_groups_that_will_pray_for_you.htm
From the Autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila , Chapter 31. 1562 A.D.
"From long experience I have learned that there is nothing like holy
water to put devils to flight and prevent them from coming back again.
They also flee from the Cross, but return; so holy water must have great
virtue. For my own part, whenever I take it, my soul feels a particular
and most notable consolation. In fact, it is quite usual for me to be
conscious of a refreshment which I cannot possibly describe, resembling
an inward joy which comforts my whole soul. This is not fancy, or
something which has happened to me only once it has happened again and
again and I have observed it most attentively. It is let us say, as if
someone very hot and thirsty were to drink from a jug of cold water: he
would feel the refreshment throughout his body. I often reflect on the
great importance of everything ordained by the Church and it makes me
very happy to find that those words of the Church are so powerful that
they impart their power to the water and make it so very different from
water which has not been blessed."
The Catholic Church around the world uses Holy Water in every church to
make the church a fortress against the demons which assault men and
women. The Holy Water is usually situated near every entrance to
the church for people to use to anoint themselves with the Sign of the
Cross. When an individual puts on Holy Water any demons present
will flee. Catholics should put Holy Water in containers and place
them in their homes and their offices; by doing so they make their homes
and offices fortresses against the demons which are always lurking
about. Catholics should also consider carrying the Holy Water in
small containers in their pockets to ward off demonic attacks during
each day.
____________
GRACE POURED OUT FROM HOLY WATER
"because they include a movement of reverence for God and Divine things; and in this
way a bishop'sblessing, the sprinkling of holy
water, any sacramental anointing, a prayer said
in a dedicated church, and anything else of the kind, conduce to the
remission of venial sins." Saint Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica
Saint John XXIII, you spent your life deeply immersed in the truths of
the Catholic Faith. You led us by your great example of sacrifice
and love as you successively led millions to love Our Lord Jesus Christ
and His Holy Church.
We now ask for your intercession for those who are troubled and in need:
Saint John XXIII, please pray for the Holy Catholic Church and for the
following prayer request: [state your prayer request.]
O Blessed Trinity, we thank you for having graced the Church with
Saint John Paul II and for allowing the tenderness of your
fatherly care, the glory of the Cross of Christ and the
splendor of the Spirit of love to shine through him.
Trusting fully in your infinite mercy and in the maternal
intercession of Mary, he has given us a living image of Jesus
the Good Shepherd. He has shown us that holiness is the
necessary measure of ordinary Christian life and is the way of
achieving eternal communion with you. Grant us, by his
intercession,
[MENTION PRAYER REQUEST]
and according to your will, the
graces we implore, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRECIOUS BLOOD, ocean of divine mercy: Flow
upon us! Precious Blood, most pure offering:
Procure us every grace! Precious Blood, hope and
refuge of sinners: Atone for us!
Precious Blood, delight of holy souls:
Draw us! Amen.
Are you sick or do you know someone who is ill. Say the
prayer above for them everyday. Also, there is greater power of
prayer when many people are praying for the sick. Ask many fellow
Catholics to join in prayer with you for the sick. You can send
prayer requests to Catholic Groups that will join you in prayer at: http://www.jesus-passion.com/catholic_groups_that_will_pray_for_you.htm
ST.
ANTONY OF PADUA, C.
THE POWER AND THE BLESSINGS THAT COME FROM
PRAYING THE ROSARY
r, Our Lord again spoke to her: "The pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls
righteous; the red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls. These two rays
issued forth from the depths of My most tender Mercy at that time when My agonizing Heart
was opened by a lance on the Cross . . . Fortunate is the one who will
dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him."
