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SAINT ANDREW CHRISTMAS
NOVENA
We begin the novena on the feast of St. Andrew on November 30 and conclude
on Christmas Eve. Tradition holds that we pray the novena 15 times daily for
a particular intention. This being said, pray in a way that works best for
you.
Time needed: 5
minutes
Pray this novena for 25 days.
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Make the Sign of the Cross.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
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Say the St. Andrew Christmas Novena prayer.
Hail and blessed be the
hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure
Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In
that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and
grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and
of His blessed Mother. Amen.
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Name any intentions or other prayers you wish to share with God.
Maybe consider your response to Jesus’s call to follow Him; just as
he called on Andrew and Peter, he also calls on us to let go and
surrender.
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Conclude with the Sign of the Cross.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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If you’re praying this novena in the traditional fashion …
Repeat the above steps 14x throughout your day.
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Continue praying the novena daily through Christmas Eve!
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SAINT FOR TODAY
OR FEAST DAY
December 9
SAINT
JUAN DIEGO
CUAUHTLATOATZIN
(1474-1548)
Juan Diego was born in 1474 in Mexico City and was given the name "Cuauhtlatoatzin"
("the talking eagle") in Cuautlitlán. He was baptized by a Catholic priest
when he was 50 years of age. Juan had been a married man with no children, but
his wife died in 1529. On December 9, 1531, when he was on his way to
morning Mass, the Blessed Mother appeared to him on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico
City. She told him to tell his Bishop to have a shrine built on this site
where she appeared. Juan went to the Bishop who did not believe him and
the Bishop asked for a sign to know that it was true. On December 12th at
Tepeyac, the Blessed Mother told him to climb the hill and pick flowers that
were growing there in winter time. Juan found roses, which he folded up in
his garment and took to the Bishop. When he showed the Bishop the roses,
an image of the Blessed Mother showed up on his garmet with Our Lady's image
imprinted on it. The bishop had the Catholic shrine built and Juan spent
the rest of his life in devotion and prayer to God and his blessed Mother.
The image below is the image that was imprinted on his garmet. He was
canonized as a saint by Pope John Paul II on July 31, 2002 at the basilica of
Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico.
INTERCESSORY PRAYER: Ask Saint Juan
to increase our devotion to the Blessed Mother.
PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
O Virgin of Guadalupe,
Mother of the Americas,
grant to our homes the grace of loving
and respecting life in its beginnings,
with the same love with which
you conceived in your womb
the life of the Son of God.
Blessed Virgin Mary,
Mother of Fair Love,
protect our families so that
they may always be united
and bless the upbringing of our children.
Our hope, look upon us with pity,
teach is to go continually to Jesus,
and if we fall
help us to rise again and return to Him
through the confession of our faults
and our sins in the Sacrament of penance,
which gives peace to the soul.
We beg you to grant us a great love
of all the holy Sacraments,
which are, as it were,
the signs that your Son left us on earth.
Thus, Most Holy Mother,
with the peace of God in our consciences,
with our hearts free from evil and hatred,
we will be able to bring to all others
true joy and peace,
which come to us from your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
who with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.
(Pope John Paul II.)
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How
God views the abortions of mankind according to Saint Faustina
"She wrote in her diary that Jesus
Himself said that He was about to destroy one of the most beautiful cities
of our country like Sodom was destroyed on account of the crimes perpetrated
there. Having read about these things in the Diary I asked
her what does the prophecy mean? She answered confirming what she wrote and
replying to a further question of mine, on account of what kind of sins God
was going to inflict these punishments. She
answered: especially for the killing of infants not yet born, the most
grievous crime of all."
The
Most Grievous Crime of All
This crime against unborn children
and women was already growing, seeping in from the Soviet Union, which in
1920 became the first country in the world to legalize abortion. Available
upon request and often for no cost, by the mid-1920s, hospitals there were
so severely congested by abortion procedures that special clinics had to be
opened to free up beds, and many doctors began to become concerned.
Abortion was banned in Poland
without exceptions until 1932. In that year, restrictions were loosened,
and the new Penal Code legalized abortion when there were medical reasons
and, for the first time in Europe when the pregnancy resulted from a
criminal act. Warsaw, the cosmopolitan capital of Poland, now comes to be
known as “the place to go” if one “needs” an abortion.
It is reported that as much as one out of every three pregnancies was
terminated there between the two world wars.
Toward the end of 1937, less than
12 months before her death, St. Faustina again mentions God’s anger with her
country, recording in Diary entry 1533:
I saw the anger of God hanging
heavy over Poland. And now I see that if God were to visit our country
with the greatest chastisements, that would still be great mercy
because, for such grave transgressions, He could punish us with eternal
annihilation. I was paralyzed with fear when the Lord lifted the veil a
little for me. Now I see clearly that chosen souls keep the world in
existence to fulfill the measure of justice.
SEE:
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FIFTH COMMANDMENT:
"Thou shalt not kill."
When people vote for a prochoice
candidate because they want women to be to obtain abortions whenever
they choose, they violate the fifth commandment and become
accessories to the crime of murder. Part of obeying the Fifth
Commandment means to protect innocent life.
What is considered an
accessory to murder?
A person who aids a murder offender before or after the crime is
referred to as an accessory to murder. They are never at the scene of
the crime itself.
How Our
Lady Saved the World from a Nuclear War
Article from National Catholic
Register
Joseph Pronechen Joseph Pronechen is staff writer with the National
Catholic Register-October 13, 2019
Sr. Lucia of Fatima revealed that Our Lady told her if the
consecration had not been made by John Paul II, there would have
been a nuclear war.
(photo: Alexander Antropov/Pixabay/CC0)
Joseph Pronechen Blogs
October 13, 2019
On Sept. 1, 1983, flying from Anchorage to Seoul, a Korean Air
Lines Boeing 747 with 269 people on board strayed off its planned
route and flew over an island that violated Soviet air space.
Quickly, a Russian fighter plane shot down.
The outrageous action prompted five Western European countries
including Great Britain and Germany to okay accepting United States
medium-range missiles beginning in November of that year.
With their military advantage rapidly shrinking, the Soviets were
readying for war.
Then 205 days later, On March 25, 1984, St. John Paul II
consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He invited
all the bishops in the world to join him for this ceremony closing
the Holy Year of Redemption. He did the consecration at St. Peter’s
in Rome as he knelt before the statue of Our Lady of Fatima brought
there from Fatima.
Less than two months later in 1984, on May 13, the 67th
anniversary of the first apparition of Fatima, catastrophe hit the
Russia fleet at the Severomorsk naval base located near Finland on
the Barents Sea.
A fire, believed caused by a cigarette, turned catastrophic. Like
a spark in a huge fireworks factory, it triggered the explosion of a
huge stockpile of missiles.
Of 900 anti-aircraft missiles, 580 were destroyed. Of 400
surface-to-surface missiles able to carry nuclear warheads, 320 were
obliterated. Upwards of 300 military personnel died.
It devastated the Soviet Union’s Northern Fleet.
Years later, Sr. Lucia wrote: “Everyone knows perfectly well that
we went through one of the most critical moments in human history,
when the great, mutually hostile powers planned a nuclear war that
would have destroyed the world, if not the whole world, then the
greater part of it. And what would have remained? What chances of
survival? And who could have dissuaded those arrogant people,
surrounded by their war plans…? Who, if not God.”
Grzegorz Gorny and Janusz Rosikon record this in Fatima
Mysteries.
The following year, 1985, during an apparition in her convent,
Sr. Lucia would reveal that Our Lady told her if that consecration
had not been made by John Paul II, there would have been a nuclear
war. Because of the consecration this didn’t happen. There was an
undeniable link between it and the major destruction of weapons of
the Soviet’s Northern Fleet.
Sr. Lucia would later tell this to Cardinals Antony Padiyara of
India and Ricardo Vidal of the Philippines when they visited her in
her convent.
A Preview in 1983?
A year earlier, there was also a major near-miss of nuclear war
between Russia and the United States. Surely Our Lady of Fatima must
have had a hand in preventing this horrendous possibility in 1983
because the year before, on May 13, 1982, in Fatima, John Paul II
also made that Act of Entrustment of the world but it didn’t
completely fulfill the requests of Our Lady because it wasn’t done
in union with all the bishops in the world. He intended to do it
that way, but the letters informing the bishops were sent too late.
They result? They were unable to join him that time.
This event appeared to reflect what happened in 1942 during World
War II. On Oct. 31 that year, Venerable Pius XII consecrated the
world and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as Our Lady of
Fatima had requested. But the consecration wasn’t done in union with
all the bishops of the world either. It was a critical time in the
war as the enemy was making major advances. Yet Sr. Lucia would say
Our Lord showed his “delight” even though the consecration was
incomplete and promised an end soon to the war. Shortly after, the
tide turned as the Allies began to win key battles.
Similarly, John Paul II’s 1982 entrustment, even without all the
bishops of the world, must have had the same effect when we consider
what could have happened during that 1983 event to follow.
A year earlier, there was also a major near-miss of nuclear war
between Russia and the United States. Surely Our Lady of Fatima must
have had a hand in preventing this horrendous possibility in 1983
because the year before, on May 13, 1982, in Fatima, John Paul II
also made that Act of Entrustment of the world but it didn’t
completely fulfill the requests of Our Lady because it wasn’t done
in union with all the bishops in the world. He intended to do it
that way, but the letters informing the bishops were sent too late.
They result? They were unable to join him that time.
This event appeared to reflect what happened in 1942 during World
War II. On Oct. 31 that year, Venerable Pius XII consecrated the
world and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as Our Lady of
Fatima had requested. But the consecration wasn’t done in union with
all the bishops of the world either. It was a critical time in the
war as the enemy was making major advances. Yet Sr. Lucia would say
Our Lord showed his “delight” even though the consecration was
incomplete and promised an end soon to the war. Shortly after, the
tide turned as the Allies began to win key battles.
Similarly, John Paul II’s 1982 entrustment, even without all the
bishops of the world, must have had the same effect when we consider
what could have happened during that 1983 event to follow.
The Russian Connection Event
Back to the 1983 event after the entrustment a year earlier. As
God used Cyrus to help the Israelites as Isaiah recounted, could it
not be possible Our Lady also averted a nuclear war using a single
officer in the Soviet Air Defense Forces?
His name
— Stanislav
Petrov.
In the early morning hours on Sept. 26, 1983, Petrov was at his
post in a secret command center outside Moscow. As the duty officer,
the 44-year-old Lieutenant Colonel had the job of watching the
computer that monitored the Soviets early warning system linked to
satellites over the United States on the lookout for missile
launches.
It was 25 days after the Soviets shot down the Korean passenger
plane. Earlier, President Ronald Reagan had condemned the Soviets as
an “evil empire.” Short range missiles were being placed in Europe.
The Cold War was at the boiling point.
Everyone was on edge-of-the-seat alert. Petrov was at his post.
Unexpectedly, less than an hour after midnight, the alarms sounded.
“The siren howled, but I just sat there for a few seconds,
staring at the big, back-lit, red screen with the word ‘launch’ on
it,” he would tell an interviewer years later. The system insisted
the alert was reliable and the United States had launched an ICBM
missile.
“A minute later the siren went off again,” Petrov said. “The
second missile was launched. Then the third, and the fourth, and the
fifth. Computers changed their alerts from ‘launch’ to ‘missile
strike.’”
The system was calling for the Soviet protocol — retaliate.
“There was no rule about how long we were allowed to think before
we reported a strike,” Petrov eventually told the BBC. “But we knew
that every second of procrastination took away valuable time; that
the Soviet Union's military and political leadership needed to be
informed without delay. All I had to do was to reach for the phone;
to raise the direct line to our top commanders — but I couldn't
move. I felt like I was sitting on a hot frying pan.”
All the data was telling him there was a nuclear missile attack
on the way. In less than 30 minutes the missiles would reach their
target and explode. His duty was to report any attack warnings to
his superiors for Soviet leaders to decide about retaliating with
their own missiles.
Petrov's role was the critical middleman.
But something — could it have been someone? — held him back from
reaching for that phone immediately.
Instead, he delayed his response. Shortly, it didn’t seem sound
to him that the United States with their hundreds of missiles should
launch only five ICBM’s to start a nuclear war.
“I had a funny feeling in my gut,” he would say. As his delaying
stretched out, Soviet ground radar systems reported they were not
picking up anything. Despite their report, the protocol response
from him was to be based on the computer information.
Then another thought came to Petrov. He knew this early warning
computer system was new and he had some misgivings about it. Once
the missiles were detected, the information had to go through up to
29 security levels and Petrov wasn’t certain that was possible so
quickly.
Still not fully sure whether the computer alarm information was
correct or wrong, he had to make an agonizing decision. As duty
officer, he reached for the phone to the Soviet army's headquarters.
He reported the early warning system — Malfunctioned. A false alarm.
“Twenty-three minutes later I realized that nothing had
happened,” he said during a 2013 interview. “If there had been a
real strike, then I would already know about it. It was such a
relief.”
Looking back at that harrowing time, he felt his civilian
education had helped him make the
decision. All the other officers
who could have been on duty at that critical moment were
professional soldiers trained
by the military and would have immediately followed instructions and
protocol to the letter to report incoming missiles. Why was he the
only one who would have hesitated on duty at this critical moment?
Was it heaven’s choice?
Although Petrov’s decision helped prevent a nuclear war, and
although his superior officers first praised him for his action,
they reprimanded him for not recording everything to the letter in
his log book at the time.
Aftermath
A year later he retired from the military, worked as an engineer
at a defense-related institute, then retired on a pittance of a
pension to life in a small town outside Moscow to care for his
sickly wife. Fifteen years after he made the decision that stopped
the potential nuclear war, what he did finally became known publicly
when the retied commander of the Russian defense system revealed the
story. Recognition came from outside Russia. In 2006 he was brought
to New York for an award from the Association of World Citizens and
in 2013 given the Dresden peace prize.
But on May 19, 2017 when he died at age 77 from pneumonia in his
small town, nobody knew until four months later when a foreign
journalist started inquiring about him.
There is one piece of the story that has rarely been mentioned.
And it surely seems to reflect indirectly on what Sr. Lucia said she
was told in 1985.
We know the Soviets were atheists. Of course that included the
military. But we have to wonder if that applied to Stanislav Petrov
when we look at what he said in 2004 during an interview with
Christian Science Monitor. He affirmed, “I wish I could say there is
no chance of [an accidental nuclear launch today]. But when we deal
with space — when we [play] God — who knows what will be the next
surprise?”
Our Lady of Fatima had the answer and directions. It’s up to
mankind to stop playing God and follow them.
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| DIVINE MERCY  "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."
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 int/div>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." PRAY THE FOLLOWING PRAYER FOR THE CONVERSION OF OUR PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS TO BE CHRISTIAN AND COMPLETELY PROLIFE: DIVINE MERCY PRAYER: You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.
(Repeat three times)
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You! Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for Our Country and for the World. “The fruit of abortion is nuclear war.” -Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta. | |
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| NEED A PRAYER ANSWERED, NEED A MIRACLE, PRAY THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLETFrom the DIARY, DIVINE MERCY IN MY SOUL, BY Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. NOTEBOOK III, Section 1128: "May 22, 1937. The heat is so intense today that it is difficult to bear. We are all thirsting for rain, and still it does not come. For several days the sky has been overcast, but there is not rain. When I looked at (35) the plants, thirsting for the rain, I was moved with pity, and I decided to say the chaplet until the Lord would send us rain. Before supper, the sky covered over with clouds, and a heavy rain fell on the earth. I had been saying this prayer without interruption for three hours. And the Lord let me know that everything can be obtained by means of this prayer." | |
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| PRAYER BEFORE THE NOVENA GREAT Saint Joseph, prostrate at thy feet with feelings of unlimited confidence we beg thee to bless the Novena that I began in thy honor. I will meditate upon thy virtues; grant that I may learn fully to appreciate them. The knowledge of them will be the source of great confusion for me because of the poverty and destitution of my soul. Great dispenser of the heavenly treasures, assist me in my poverty, help me to display thy virtues in my own soul. "Thou art never invoked in vain," says the seraphic Theresa of Jesus; be thou to me what thou hast been to that Spouse of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; graciously hearken to me as thou didst hearken to her. Amen. (MAKE YOUR PRAYER REQUEST) PRAYERS TO BE SAID OVER THE NINE DAYS FIRST DAY
SECOND DAY
THIRD DAY
FOURTH DAY
FIFTH DAY
SIXTH DAY
SEVENTH DAY
EIGHTH DAY
NINTH DAY SAINT JOSEPH, MODEL OF THE LIFE OF FAITH THE words of the great Apostle: "The just man liveth by faith," may be applied particularly to Saint Joseph who was the most just of men and whose life was ever guided by faith. Joseph submitted his intelligence to the holy truths of religion. He applied his heart from his tenderest infancy to the observance of the divine precepts. p;In the trials and sorrows of life, Joseph was sustained by faith. He shaped his whole conduct by the desire to please God and he attained the great aim of man upon earth, which is to adore God, to serve Him, and hence to deserve the everlasting Truth. Let us glorify this great Servant of God who possessed faith so universal, so simple, so enlightened, so firm, so constant, and, above all, so fruitful in good works. Let us examine ourselves with regard to this great virtue and see how we resemble him. Is my faith firm, unshaken? Is my conduct animated by faith! Is the predominant thought that directs my acts to please God, and to obtain merit for everlasting life? Have I tried to derive consolation and strength from the thought of faith in time of trial? PRAYER GREAT Saint, † model of the just living by faith, revive that virtue in our souls. † May it be principle, † the motive, † the aim of all my actions; consolation and my strength in the trials of this life, the source of abundant merit for everlasting life. † Amen ****** SAINT JOSEPH, MODEL OF HOPE JOSEPH, abandoning himself entirely to the care of Divine Providence, glorified God by his life. Among all the virtues, hope is the most pleasing to God, because its infinite goodness. In the sufferings of this life it is the source of the greatest consolation and encouragement. Joseph hoped in the Lord. He hoped for His grace in the accomplishment of His adorable will; for His help in time of trial; for His light in the difficulties of life. By hope he detached his heart from the perishable goods and the deceitful affections of this world. In the hour of trial he sustained his courage by hope, and fortified his heart with a peace that nothing could alter. Let us imitate Saint Joseph. Let us elevate our hopes towards the only veritable and imperishable treasures. Let us trust in the wisdom and solicitude of Divine Providence. Let us rely upon the grace of the Lord; upon His goodness, and upon His power. Let us renew our confidence in the hour of trial. Let us avoid discouragement, which outrages the wisdom and goodness of God. PRAYER JOSEPH, † do thou cause the gift of Christian hope to descend into my heart. † May it enlighten me, † console me, † defend me. † May it detach me from the earth † so as to elevate my thoughts and my affections towards Heaven. † May it henceforward inspire my whole conduct † and give me the right to die like thee, † saying: "Lord, I have hoped in Thee; † I shall not be confounded." ****** SAINT JOSEPH, MODEL OF CHARITY JOSEPH loved God from his earliest youth and loved Him during his whole life. Joseph loved God with his whole heart, with his whole soul, with his whole strength. Joseph loved God with a love of preference, giving Him his first affections, and cutting off his heart from all that could hinder or alter his love for his Lord and Sovereign Master. Joseph loved God with a love of union, keeping himself; constantly united to God by prayer, meditation, the thought of His holy presence, and the most perfect conformity to the will of God. Joseph loved God with a love of immolation which prompted him to perfect devotedness, enabling him to perform with joy the greatest and most numerous sacrifices. Joseph loved God with a love of perseverance that experienced neither decrease nor alteration. He always loved God with all his power to love, and constantly endeavored to love Him more and more. PRAYER BLESSED Saint, † enkindle in my cold heart a spark of thy charity. † May God be always the first and only object of my affections. † Keep my soul always, in sanctifying peace, † and, if I should be so unhappy as to lose it, † give me the strength to recover it immediately by a sincere repentance. Grant me such a love of my God † as will always keep me united to Him, † and will be the principle and motive of all my actions. † Grant me a generous love that will make me overcome all obstacles, † and accept the greatest sacrifices rather than separate myself from the charity of my God. † Amen. ****** SAINT JOSEPH, MODEL OF PURITY "How beautiful is the chaste generation!" (Wisdom iv) "The whole weight of gold is as nothing in comparison with a pure soul." (Eccles. xxv) SAINT Joseph was preeminent in purity because he feared God and faithfully observed His holy law; because he safeguarded his virtue by fear of the Sovereign Good and by prudence; because he sheltered it under the virginity of Mary, and felt the influence of Jesus, the divine Son of all sanctity. How pure must he have been who was to become the worthy spouse of the Immaculate Virgin! How holy must he have been whose relations with the thrice holy God were so intimate. PRAYER JOSEPH, † help me to understand the excellence of purity † and how dear it is to the heart of God. Teach me to preserve carefully this delicate virtue † and the shadow of the fear of God; † to safeguard it by prayer, by vigilance, † by shunning the world, † by careful watch over my heart and my senses. † Grant that I may hence forward close my heart to all disorderly affections; † that I may deserve to enjoy like thee upon earth † the friends and intimacy of Jesus, † and that it may be given to me one day to sing in Heaven the canticle reserved for Virgins. ****** SAINT JOSEPH, MODEL OF HUMILITY JOSEPH excelled in humility because he realized that glory is due to God alone, and that, of himself, man is but misery and nothingness. By reason of his humility Joseph was accorded the most glorious privileges and entrusted with the most sublime mission. To accomplish His designs, God employs only the humble who do not claim for themselves the glory. As Foster Father of Jesus and Spouse of the Queen Heaven and earth, Joseph was more highly honored than any king in this world. What pretexts, furnished by zeal for the glory of God, might have prompted him to speak, to put himself forward, to attribute to himself the greatness of the precursor of the Messiah, and the glories of the apostles! He rather conceals the astonishing prodigies which have been revealed to him, and the sublimity of the functions he exercises. Under an impenetrable veil he hides all that can draw upon him the esteem of men. PRAYER O JOSEPH, † what a lesson for me † ever so eager to appear, † so anxious to display before the eyes of men † the graces that I owe entirely to the liberality of God. † Obtain that I may attribute to God the glory of all things; † that I may love the humble and hidden life; † that I may not desire any other position than the one given by Providence; † and that I may always be a docile instrument in the hands of God. ****** SAINT JOSEPH, MODEL OF PATIENCE CONSIDER how Joseph suffered in his life time. He tasted, indeed, ineffable consolations, but he also endured much suffering. In contrast with the glories of his fallen family, his was a life of labor and self denial. What did he not have to suffer, especially after the Incarnation of the Son of God? It is verily Joseph who experienced that wherever Jesus enters, He comes with His Cross and His Crown of Thorns. He suffers in perfect conformity with the Divine Will. Joseph renews his courage in the hope of eternal joys and treasures, in the examples of patience which are given him by Jesus and Mary. Thus, whatever may be his trials they cannot trouble the peace of his soul. PRAYER JOSEPH, model of patience, † teach me this virtue; which is so necessary † in the midst of the sufferings and trials of this sorrowful life. Grant that your example and that of Mary, † as well as the hope of celestial joys, † may ever renew my courage. Amen. ****** SAINT JOSEPH, MODEL OF PRUDENCE LET US honor in Saint Joseph the faithful and prudent servant to whom Almighty God entrusted the care of His family. Prudence inspired Saint Joseph to adopt as the foundation and rule of his conduct, the great principles of faith; God, the end of man in this world; God, the reward of man in eternity. Remembering that life is short and uncertain, that upon a moment may depend our eternity, Saint Joseph wisely employs his time. He is careful to make a holy use of his senses and his other faculties in order to give to his Lord and Master a faithful account of the talents entrusted to him; he watches over the world around him, yielding to the world in the measure willed by God, but not giving himself up to it. He makes within himself a retreat accessible to God alone and impenetrable to creatures. PRAYER FAITHFUL and prudent servant, † watch over my weakness and my inexperience; † obtain for me that prudence which reminds me of my end, † which directs my paths, † and which protects me from every danger. Amen. ****** SAINT JOSEPH, MODEL OF OBEDIENCE JOSEPH regarded obedience as rendering man particularly pleasing to God. What esteem Joseph had particularly for obedience, when he heard Mary answering the Angel: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word!" When he saw Jesus submit to his orders, anticipate his wishes, execute them faithfully and promptly! When he considered that the Incarnate Word would be obedient until death, even the death of the Cross. PRAYER JOSEPH, so faithful to display in thy conduct the obedience of Jesus and Mary, † obtain for me this important virtue. † Obtain for me a perfect docility of heart † to accomplish the will of God, † and that of those who replace Him. † Inspire me by your example, † to obey with promptness and generosity; † obtain for me above all, † the grace to obey without murmuring, † without reasoning † upon the orders given me, † in spite of every pretext, † and with an entire immolation of my own will. ****** SAINT JOSEPH, MODEL OF DETACHMENT SAINT Joseph loved poverty because it detaches man from all passing and perishable goods, delivers the soul from dangerous obstacles, and from a thousand evils and cares, and permits him to keep his eyes raised toward Heaven, instead of stooping, like a slave, toward the earth. Saint Joseph loved poverty, because he saw it practised in the highest degree by Jesus Christ. Did he not regard it as a hidden and priceless treasure, when he contemplated Jesus in His abnegation, when he saw Him stretch out His divine hands to ask for the most necessary needs of life? Saint Joseph suffered the privations of life with patience, without murmur of complaint, using his poverty to detach himself more and more from worldly goods, and to seek the goods of Heaven. PRAYER () JOSEPH, make me understand the excellence of poverty. † Grant that I may enter into the interior dispositions † which animated thee in regard to that virtue. † Disclose to me the snares of riches, † the dangers which are attached to them, † the solicitude which they engender. Make me understand how much God favors us, † when he refuses us riches, † since he furnishes us a precious occasion to detach us from ourselves † and from creatures, † and to increase our merit for Heaven. Amen. 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 Ghost, Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Pray for us. Saint Joseph, Pray for us. Renowned offspring of David, Pray for us. Light of patriarchs, Pray for us. Spouse of the Mother of God, Pray for us. Chaste guardian of the Virgin, Pray for us. Foster Father of the Son of God, Pray for us. Diligent protector of Christ, Pray for us. Head of the Holy Family, Pray for us. Joseph, most just, Pray for us. Joseph, most chaste, Pray for us. Joseph, most prudent, Pray for us. Joseph, most strong, Pray for us. Joseph, most obedient, Pray for us. Joseph, most faithful, Pray for us. Mirror of patience, Pray for us. Glory of home life, Pray for us. Guardian of virgins, Pray for us. Pillar of families, Pray for us. Saint Joseph, Lover of poverty, Pray for us. Model of laborers, Pray for us. Solace of the wretched, 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 Holy Church, Pray for us. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, 0 Lord, Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, 0 Lord, Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us. V. He made him the lord of His household. R. And prince over all his possessions. Let Us Pray GOD, WHO in Thy ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose blessed Joseph to be the spouse; of Thy most holy Mother; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may have for our advocate in heaven him whom we venerate as our protector on earth: Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen. SAINT TERESA OF AVILA HIGHLY RECOMMENDS PRAYING TO SAINT JOSEPH TO OBTAIN FAVORS FROM GOD
"I took for my advocate and lord the glorious Saint Joseph and commended myself earnestly to him; and I found that this my father and lord delivered me both from this trouble and also from other and greater troubles concerning my honour[91] and the loss of my soul, and that he gave me greater blessings than I could ask of him. I do not remember even now that I have ever asked anything of him which he has failed to grant. I am astonished at the great favours which God has bestowed on me through this blessed saint, and at the perils from which He has freed me, both in body and in soul. To other saints the Lord seems to have given grace to succour us in some of our necessities but of this glorious saint my experience is that he succours us in them all and that the Lord wishes to teach us that as He was Himself subject to him on earth (for, being His guardian and being called His father, he could command Him) just so in Heaven He still does all that he asks. This has also been the experience of other persons whom I have advised to commend themselves to him; and even to-day there are many who have great devotion to him through having newly experienced this truth. I used to try to keep his feast with the greatest possible solemnity[92]; but, though my intentions were good, I would observe it with more vanity than spirituality, for I always wanted things to be done very meticulously and well. I had this unfortunate characteristic that, if the Lord gave me grace to do anything good, the way I did it was full of imperfections and extremely faulty. I was very assiduous and skilful in wrongdoing and in my meticulousness and vanity. May the Lord forgive me. I wish I could persuade everyone to be devoted to this glorious saint, for I have great experience of the blessings which he can obtain from God. I have never known anyone to be truly devoted to him and render him particular services who did not notably advance in virtue, for he gives very real help to souls who commend themselves to him. For some years now, I think, I have made some request of him every year on his festival and I have always had it granted. If my petition is in any way ill directed, he directs it aright for my greater good. If I were a person writing with authority, I would gladly describe, at greater length and in the minutest detail, the favours which this glorious saint has granted to me and to others. But in order not to do more than I have been commanded I shall have to write about many things briefly, much more so than I should wish, and at unnecessarily great length about others: in short, I must act like one who has little discretion in all that is good. I only beg, for the love of God, that anyone who does not believe me will put what I say to the test, and he will see by experience what great advantages come from his commending himself to this glorious patriarch and having devotion to him. Those who practise prayer should have a special affection for him always. I do not know how anyone can think of the Queen of the Angels, during the time that she suffered so much with the Child Jesus, without giving thanks to Saint Joseph for the way he helped them. If anyone cannot find a master to teach him how to pray, let him take this glorious saint as his master and he will not go astray. May the Lord grant that I have not erred in venturing to speak of him; for though I make public acknowledgment of my devotion to him, in serving and imitating him I have always failed. He was true to his own nature when he cured my paralysis and gave me the power to rise and walk; and I am following my own nature in using this favour so ill." | |
|  Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy – JesusPray the Divine Mercy Chaplet with thousands of Catholics at Relevant Radio, the Drew Mariani Show, at 4pm Eastern Time, for Spiritual help and healing of sickness and the end of abortion: The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is a prayer of intercession prayed on ordinary rosary beads in as little as ten minutes, yet its prayerful recitation comes with a plethora of graces and promises. Jesus instructed Saint Faustina, My daughter, encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given you. It pleases Me to grant everything they ask of Me by saying the chaplet. (Diary, 1541)
If the Lord is saying “It pleases Me to grant everything they ask of Me by saying the chaplet,” shouldn’t we take every opportunity to recite this prayer with intentions for our country, our neighbors, our world? As are many of us today, St. Faustina was greatly concerned for all mankind. Her lamentations then sound remarkably familiar to what one might hear today. She records in Diary passage 929: When I had rested near His sweetest Heart, I told Him, “Jesus, I have so much to tell You.” And the Lord said to me with great love, “Speak, My daughter.” And I started to enumerate the pains of my heart; that is, how greatly concerned I am for all mankind, that “they all do not know You, and those who do know You do not love You as You deserve to be loved. I also see how terribly sinners offend You; and then again, I see how severely the faithful, especially Your servants, are oppressed and persecuted. And then, too, I see many souls rushing headlong into the terrible abyss of hell. You see, Jesus, this is the pain that gnaws at my heart and bones. And, although You show me special love and inundate my heart with streams of Your joys, nevertheless, this does not appease the sufferings I have just mentioned, but rather they penetrate my poor heart all the more acutely. Oh, how ardently I desire that all mankind turn with trust to Your mercy. Then, seeing the glory of Your name, my heart will be comforted.”
How kindly and tenderly Jesus deals with her outpourings. What a consolation for us who share St. Faustina’s heart. St. Faustina continues: Jesus listened to these outpourings of my heart with gravity and interest, as if He had known nothing about them, and this seemed to make it easier for me to talk. And the Lord said to me, My daughter, those words of your heart are pleasing to Me, and by saying the chaplet you are bringing humankind closer to Me. After these words, I found myself alone, but the presence of God is always in my soul.
The Lord asked St. Faustina to pray the chaplet for many causes as outlined below. Let us pray the Chaplet of Mercy as often as possible for all the things St. Faustina prayed for and more. Seek her intercession. Ask her to pray each chaplet with you thankful for the goodness and generosity of the Lord. Promises of the Chaplet for all ThingsI desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy. (687) My daughter, encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given to you. It pleases Me to grant everything they ask of Me by saying the chaplet. (1541)
Promises of the Chaplet to Appease God’s AngerThis prayer will serve to appease My wrath. (476) When this chaplet is said by the bedside of a dying person, God’s anger is placated. (811) This chaplet mitigates God’s anger, as He Himself told me. (1036) It [the chaplet] appeases the anger of God. (1565)
Promises of the Chaplet for SinnersPriests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy. (687) When hardened sinners say it, I will fill their souls with peace, and the hour of their death will be a happy one. (1541)
Promises of the Chaplet for StormsToday I was awakened by a great storm. The wind was raging, and it was raining in torrents, thunderbolts striking again and again. I began to pray that the storm would do no harm, when I heard the words: Say the chaplet I have taught you, and the storm will cease. I began immediately to say the chaplet and hadn’t even finished it when the storm suddenly ceased, and I heard the words: Through the chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will. (1731) When a great storm was approaching, I began to say the chaplet. Suddenly I heard the voice of an angel: “I cannot approach in this storm, because the light which comes from her mouth drives back both me and the storm.” Such was the angel’s complaint to God. I then recognized how much havoc he was to have made through this storm; but I also recognized that this prayer was pleasing to God, and that this chaplet was most powerful. (1791)
Promises of the Chaplet for the FaithfulThe souls that say this chaplet will be embraced by My mercy during their lifetime and especially at the hour of their death. (754) While I was saying the chaplet, I heard a voice which said, Oh, what great graces I will grant to souls who say this chaplet; the very depths of My tender mercy are stirred for the sake of those who say the chaplet. O what a great multitude of souls I see! They worshiped the Divine Mercy and will be singing the hymn of praise for all eternity. (848)
Promises of the Chaplet for the DyingI realize more and more how much every soul needs God’s mercy throughout life and particularly at the hour of death. This chaplet mitigates God’s anger, as He Himself told me. (1036) At the hour of their death, I defend as My own glory every soul that will say this chaplet; or when others say it for a dying person, the pardon is the same. When this chaplet is said by the bedside of a dying person, God’s anger is placated, unfathomable mercy envelops the soul, and the very depths of My tender mercy are moved for the sake of the sorrowful Passion of My Son. (811) OUR LORD’S PROMISES ATTACHED TO THE
PRAYING OF THE
CHAPLET OF DIVINE MERCY
AS REVEALED TO ST. FAUSTINA KOWALSKA - “I promise that the soul that will venerate this image (of Divine Mercy) will not perish. I also promise victory over (its) enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory.” (Diary, 48)
- “The souls that say this chaplet will be embraced by My mercy during their lifetime and especially at the hour of their death.” (Diary, 754)
- “When hardened sinners say it, I will fill their souls with peace, and the hour of their death will be a happy one.” (Diary, 1541)
- “When they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as a just Judge but as a merciful Savior.” (Diary, 1541)
- “Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death.” (Diary, 687)
- “Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy…I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy.” (Diary, 687)
- “To priests who proclaim and extol My mercy, I will give wondrous power; I will anoint their words and touch the hearts of those to whom they will speak.” (Diary, 1521)
- “The prayer most pleasing to Me is prayer for the conversion for sinners. Know, my daughter, that this prayer is always heard and answered.” (Diary, 1397)
- “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…I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion.” (Diary, 1320; also, cf. Diary, 1572)
- “Souls who spread the honor of My mercy…at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Savior.” (Diary, 1075)
- “The two rays denote Blood and Water…These two rays issued from the very depths of My tender mercy when My agonized Heart was opened by a lance on the Cross. These rays shield souls from the wrath of My Father…I desire that the first Sunday after Easter be the Feast of Mercy…whoever approaches the Fount of Life on this day will be granted complete remission of sins and punishment. Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy.” (Diary, 299-300)
- “I desire that the Feast of Mercy…be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter…The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion (in a state of grace on this day) shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” (Diary, 699)
- “Through this chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will.” (Diary, 1731)
- “My mercy is greater than your sins and those of the entire world.” (Diary, 1485)
Note: Excerpts taken from the Diary of St. Faustina Kowalska, titled Divine Mercy in My Soul, ©1987, Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception, Stockbridge, MA 01263.
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| | SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES
Feast Day: January 24th
(1567-1622)
Bishop of Geneva, Switzerland and a Doctor of the Church  FRANCIS was born of noble and pious parents, near Annecy, A.D. 1567, and studied with brilliant success at Paris and Padua. On his return from Italy he gave up the grand Career which his father had marked out for him in the service of the State, and became a priest. He studied at Annecy, Paris, France and Padua, Italy. He received a doctorate in law at the age of twenty-four. He was ordained a priest in 1593. When the Duke of Savoy had resolved to restore the Church in the Chablais, Francis offered himself for the work, and set out on foot with his Bible and breviary and one companion, his cousin Louis of Sales. It was a work of toil, privation, and danger. Every door and every heart were closed against him. He was rejected with insult and threatened with death. But nothing could daunt or resist him, and ere long the Church burst forth into a second spring. It is stated that he converted 72,000 Calvinists. He was then compelled by the Pope to become Coadjutor Bishop of Geneva, and succeeded the see A.D. 1602. At times the exceeding gentleness with which he received heretics and sinners almost scandalized his ends, and one of them said to him, " Francis of Sales will go to Paradise, of course; but I am not so sure of the Bishop of Geneva: I am almost afraid his gentleness will play him a shrewd turn." "Ah," said the saint, " I would rather account to God for too great gentleness than for too great severity. Is not God all love? God the Father is the Father of mercy; God the Son is a Lamb; God the Holy Ghost is a Dove, that is, gentleness itself. And are you wiser than God ?" He became an outstanding confessor and spiritual director and spiritually guided Blessed Marie Acarie and St. Jane Francis de Chantal. He founded several schools. He was gifted in spiritual writing and wrote the spiritual classics: Introduction to the Devout Life and the Treatise on the Love of God. In union with St: Jane Frances of Chantal he founded at Annecy the Order of the Visitation, which soon spread over Europe. Though poor, he refused provisions and dignities, and even the great see of Paris. He died at Avignon, A.D. 1622. He was canonized in 1653 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1877. REFLECTION.-"You will catch more flies," St. Francis used to say, " with a spoonful of honey than with a hundred barrels of vinegar. Were there any thing better or fairer on earth than gentleness, Jesus Christ would have taught it us ; and yet he has given us only two lessons to learn of him—meekness and humility of heart." Excerpt from Saint Francis de Sales' book, Introduction to the Devout Life: CHAPTER XVII. NINTH MEDITATION. On the Choice upon to you between Heaven and Hell. Preparation. 1. PLACE yourself in the Presence of God. 2. Humble yourself before Him, and ask His inspiration. Considerations. 1. Imagine yourself alone with your good angel (46) in an open plain, as was Tobit on his way to Rages. Suppose the Angel to set before you Paradise, full of delights and joys; and on the other hand Hell, with all its torments. Contemplate both, kneeling in imagination before your guardian Angel. Consider that you are most truly standing between Hell and Paradise, and that both the one and the other are open to receive you, according to your own choice. 2. Consider that the choice you make in this life will last for ever in the next. 3. Consider too, that while both are open to receive you according to your choice, yet God, Who is prepared to give the one by reason of His Justice, the other by reason of His Mercy, all the while desires unspeakably that you should select Paradise; and your good Angel is urging you with all his might to do so, offering you countless graces on God's part, countless helps to attain to it. 4. Consider that Jesus Christ, enthroned in Heaven, looks down upon you in loving invitation: "O beloved one, come unto Me, and joy for ever in the eternal blessedness of My Love!" Behold His mother yearning over you with maternal tenderness--" Courage, my child, do not despise the Goodness of my Son, or my earnest prayers for thy salvation." Behold the Saints, who have left you their example, the (47) millions of holy souls who long after you, desiring earnestly that you may one day be for ever joined to them in their song of praise, urging upon you that the road to Heaven is not so hard to find as the world would have you think. "Press on boldly, dear friend,"--they cry. "Whoso will ponder well the path by which we came hither, will discover that we attained to these present delights by sweeter joys than any this world can give." The Choice. 1. O Hell, I abhor thee now and for ever; I abhor thy griefs and torments, thine endless misery, the unceasing blasphemies and maledictions which thou pourest out upon my God;--and turning to thee, O blessed Paradise, eternal glory, unfading happiness, I choose thee for ever as my abode, thy glorious mansions, thy precious and abiding tabernacles. O my God, I bless Thy Mercy which gives me the power to choose--O Jesus, Saviour, I accept Thine Eternal Love, and praise Thee for the promise Thou hast given me of a place prepared for me in that blessed New Jerusalem, where I shall love and bless Thee for ever. 2. Dwell lovingly upon the example set before you by the Blessed Virgin and the Saints, and strive to follow where they point you. Give (48) yourself up to your guardian Angel, that he may be your guide, and gird up your courage anew to make this choice. ****** | |
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Lord, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy,
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy.
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,
pray for us.
Holy Mother of God,
pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins,
pray for us.
Mother of Christ,
pray for us.
Mother of the Church,
pray for us.
Mother of Divine grace,
pray for us.
Mother most pure,
pray for us.
Mother most chaste,
pray for us.
Mother inviolate,
pray for us.
Mother undefiled,
pray for us.
Mother most amiable,
pray for us.
Mother most admirable,
pray for us
Mother of good counsel,
pray for us.
Mother of our Creator,
pray for us.
Mother of our Saviour,
pray for us.
Virgin most prudent,
pray for us.
Virgin most venerable,
pray for us.
Virgin most renowned,
pray for us.
Virgin most powerful,
pray for us.
Virgin most merciful,
pray for us.
Virgin most faithful,
pray for us.
Mirror of justice,
pray for us.
Seat of wisdom,
pray for us.
Cause of our joy,
pray for us.
Spiritual vessel,
pray for us.
Vessel of honour,
pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion,
pray for us.
Mystical rose,
pray for us.
Tower of David,
pray for us.
Tower of ivory,
pray for us.
House of gold,
pray for us.
Ark of the covenant,
pray for us.
Gate of heaven,
pray for us.
Morning star,
pray for us.
Health of the sick,
pray for us.
Refuge of sinners,
pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted,
pray for us.
Help of Christians,
pray for us.
Queen of angels,
pray for us.
Queen of patriarchs,
pray for us.
Queen of prophets,
pray for us.
Queen of apostles,
pray for us.
Queen of martyrs,
pray for us.
Queen of confessors,
pray for us.
Queen of virgins,
pray for us.
Queen of all saints,
pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin,
pray for us.
Queen assumed into heaven,
pray for us.
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
pray for us.
Queen of peace,
pray for us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
spare us, 0 Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, 0 Lord
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, 0 Holy Mother of God,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
Grant, we beg You,
0 Lord God,
that we Your servants
may enjoy lasting health
of mind and body,
and by the glorious intercession
of the Blessed Mary ever Virgin,
be delivered from present sorrow
and enter into the joy
of eternal happiness.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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| | "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 | RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION IN THE STATE OF GRACE "Anyone who desires to receive Christ in Eucharistic communion must be in the state of Grace. Anyone aware of having sinned mortally must not receive communion without having received absolution in the sacrament penance." Sec. 1415. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Saint and Pope John Paul II. Catholic Government officials who endorse the legalization and the acceptance of abortion are involved with mortal sin and should not receive Holy Communion until they have repented and confessed their sins to a priest. They have violated the sixth commandment, "Thou Shall not Kill." Anyone who has voted intentionally for Pro Abortion candidates with the intent of allowing abortions to take place in a country should not receive Holy Communion until they have repented and confessed their sins to a priest. "If a person conscious of mortal sin receive this sacrament, he "eateth and drinketh judment to himself" (1 Corinthians 11:29). Such receiving adds to the sin already on the reciver's soul, the new mortal sin of sacrilege." Saint Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, The Third Part, Question 80. Tour of the Summa, Msgr. Paul J. Glenn. I answer that, In this sacrament, as in the others, that which is a sacrament is a sign of the reality of the sacrament. Now there is a twofold reality of this sacrament, as stated above (III:73:6): one which is signified and contained, namely, Christ Himself; while the other is signified but not contained, namely, Christ's mystical body, which is the fellowship of the saints. Therefore, whoever receives this sacrament, expresses thereby that he is made one with Christ, and incorporated in His members; and this is done by living faith, which no one has who is in mortal sin. And therefore it is manifest that whoever receives this sacrament while in mortal sin, is guilty of lying to this sacrament, and consequently of sacrilege, because he profanes the sacrament: and therefore he sins mortally. | | |
| Feast Day: June 12th 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.
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. | |
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|  OUR LADY OF THE ROSARYFEAST DAY: OCTOBER 7THHAIL 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! SEE SAINT LOUIS DE MONTFORT'S BOOK ON THE ROSARY: THE SECRET OF THE ROSARY 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 RosaryFrom 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 Eléonor des Genettes had an interior locution directing him to dedicate the parish of Our Lady of Victory to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.[3] 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 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. | |
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| The Blessed Virgin Mary grants seven graces to the souls who honor her daily by saying seven Hail Mary's and meditating on her tears and dolors. The devotion was passed on by St. Bridget. The following are the seven sorrows of Mary with a suggested reading for each sorrow from the Bible and from the visions of Venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich. These readings are only suggested, a person may make up their own mental meditations of the seven sorrows as they pray the seven Hail Marys. SEVEN SORROWS OF THE VIRGIN MARY: - THE PROPHECY OF SIMEON.
(St. Luke II, 34, 35) - THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.
(St. Matthew II, 13-14) - THE LOSS OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE.
(St. Luke II, 43-45)
THE MEETING OF JESUS AND MARY ON THE WAY OF THE CROSS. THE CRUCIFIXION. THE TAKING DOWN OF THE BODY OF JESUS FROM THE CROSS. THE BURIAL OF JESUS.
(John 19: 38-42)
- I will grant peace to their families.
- They will be englightened about the divine mysteries.
- I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work.
- I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of my divine Son or the sanctification of their souls.
- I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives.
- I will visibly help them at the moment of their death, they will see the face of their Mother.
I have obtained(This Grace) from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors, will be taken directly from the earthly life to eternal happiness since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son and I will be their eternal consolation and joy. CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: SEVEN SORROWS OF THE VIRGIN MARY | |
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| Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus came into the Catholic faith through a Catholic sister known as Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690). At the age of 24, Margaret Mary entered the Visitation convent at Paray-le-Monial in France. She began to have visions of Our Lord and on December 27, 1673, on the Feast of St. John, she began to have visions that lasted for eighteen months. Jesus told her that she was to become his instrument in spreading devotion to his Sacred Heart. While kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, Our Lord appeared to her and invited her to "rest a long time on His Divine Breast". Jesus revealed to her the marvels of the love that His Sacred Heart had for mankind. Jesus said to her: "MY DIVINE HEART IS SO FULL OF LOVE FOR MEN AND FOR YOU IN PARTICULAR THAT, NO LONGER ABLE TO CONTAIN WITHIN ITSELF THE FLAMES OF ITS BURNING CHARITY, IT MUST SPREAD THESE FLAMES BY MEANS OF YOU, AND IT MUST MANIFEST ITSELF TO MEN IN ORDER TO ENRICH THEM WITH ITS PRECIOUS TREASURES. I HAVE CHOSEN YOU TO ACHIEVE THIS GRAND CRUSADE OF LOVE." Saint Margaret Mary had frequent visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. According to Saint Margaret Mary, His Divine Heart was "more radiant than the sun and as transparent as crystal," with its adorable wound visible, and as a "furnace" of burning flames. In June, 1675: during the feast of Corpus Christi, while praying before Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Monstrance. Our Lord revealed His Heart to her and said: "HERE IS THE HEART THAT HAS SO LOVED MEN AS TO SPARE NOTHING FOR THEM, EXHAUSTING AND CONSUMING ITSELF IN ORDER TO PROVE ITS LOVE FOR THEM; AND IN RETURN I RECEIVE, FROM MOST OF THEM, ONLY INGRATITUDE." Jesus asked her to have a special feast established in honor of His Sacred Heart on the Friday after the feast of Corpus Christi. Jesus asked his followers to receive Holy Communion on that day and to make atonement for the sins of the world by an act of reparation. Jesus asked her to have an image made of His Sacred Heart and to have it promoted throughout the world with special promises to those souls who would display His image of His Sacred Heart. She consulted with her enlightened spiritual director whom God had given her. On the following Friday, June 21, Father de la Colombiere, her priest-director, and Saint Margaret Mary consecrated themselves to the Sacred Heart. With great sufferings and humiliations, Father de la Colombiere and Saint Margaret Mary made every effort to spread the new devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Lord Jesus revealed to Saint Margaret Mary the following promises to those souls who would honor the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: "1. I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life. "2. I will establish peace in their homes. "3. I will comfort them in all their afflictions. "4. I will be their secure refuge during life and above all in death. "5. I will bestow a large blessing upon all their undertakings. "6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy. "7. Tepid souls shall grow fervent. "8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection. "9. I will bless every place where a picture of My Heart shall be set up and honored. "10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts. "11. Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out. "12. I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who communicate on the first Friday in nine consecutive months, the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment." Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ graciously hear us R. Have mercy on us.
God the Father of Heaven,
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, One God, Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father,
Heart of Jesus, formed in the womb of the Virgin Mother by the Holy Ghost,
Heart of Jesus, united substantially with the word of God,
Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty,
Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God,
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High,
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven,
Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of charity,
Heart of Jesus, vessel of justice and love,
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love,
Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues,
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise,
Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts,
Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,
Heart of Jesus, in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Divinity,
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased,
Heart of Jesus, we have all received,
Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills,
Heart of Jesus, patient and rich in mercy,
Heart of Jesus, rich to all who invoke Thee,
Heart of Jesus, fount of life and holiness,
Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, saturated with revilings, .
Heart of Jesus, crushed for our iniquities,
Heart of Jesus, made obedient unto death,
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance,
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation,
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, .
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation,
Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in Thee,
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in Thee,
Heart of Jesus, delight of all saints,
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, oh Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Christ graciously spare us.
Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
V. Jesus, meek and humble of Heart. R. Make our hearts like unto Thine. Let us pray - Almighty and everlasting God, look upon the Heart of Thy well-beloved Son and upon the acts of praise and satisfaction which He renders unto Thee in the name of sinners; and do Thou, in Thy great goodness, grant pardon to them who seek Thy mercy, in the name of the same Thy Son, Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, world without end.
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| St. Joseph, Intercede for us.
St. Jude Thaddeus, Pray for us.
St. Mary of Cleophas, Pray for us.
St. Philip Neri, Pray for us.
St. Louis Grignion de Montfort, Pray for us.
St. Maximillian Kolbe, Pray for us. | |
| WORLD-WIDE REPENTANCE IS REQUIRED: The Bible says: "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)." The governments of the world need to outlaw abortion as soon as possible. God will not overlook the immensity of this sin of abortion. The world must repent. | |
| The Most Reverend Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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, 1969–1979)
Auxiliary bishop of New York (1951–1966)
Titular bishop of Caesariana (1951–1966)
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. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City (1979–2019)
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 (1930–1950) before moving to television and presenting Life Is Worth Living (1952–1957). Sheen's final presenting role was on the syndicated The Fulton Sheen Program (1961–1968) 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]
Contents Miracle of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen: Source: https://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2014/07/01/fulton-sheen-and-the-miracle-of-baby-james/ Fulton Sheen and the miracle of baby James
Madeleine Teahan
1 July, 2014
Bonnie Engstrom with her son, James Below: 
Bonnie Engstrom’s 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. “I’ve 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.”
Bonnie’s “beautiful” pregnancy, coloured by a deepening devotion to Sheen, was followed by a beautiful labour “covered in prayer”. “James’s 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 you’re 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 James’s birth, the abundant joy of the previous nine months abruptly died: Bonnie’s 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 wasn’t moving. He wasn’t breathing. He wasn’t 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 son¹s forehead and baptised him James Fulton, Bonnie’s friend began to pray for the intercession of the newborn¹s namesake.
“At that moment, in my head I couldn’t really think of anything,” Bonnie says. “But in my head I was saying Fulton Sheen’s 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 Travis’s 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: ‘He’s 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 everything’s 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 naïvely 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 wasn¹t breathing on his own. They had knocked him out. They had intubated him. Yeah, it was really…”
Bonnie’s 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: “It’s 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: ‘It’s amazing that James came back to life and it¹s a miracle that he is doing as well as he is.¹ 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 he’s going to have cerebral palsy. We just don¹t 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. He’s like any of our other babies we¹ve seen at this age. This really is a miracle.'”
Bonnie still prays to Fulton Sheen and he remains a central figure in her family’s 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 Patrick’s 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 didn¹t want to talk about it, because he didn¹t want to create scandal and feed gossip. That¹s 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 7THHAIL 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! SEE SAINT LOUIS DE MONTFORT'S BOOK ON THE ROSARY: THE SECRET OF THE ROSARY 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 RosaryFrom 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 Eléonor des Genettes had an interior locution directing him to dedicate the parish of Our Lady of Victory to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.[3] 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. | |
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| Prayer to Mary, Undoer of KnotsVirgin 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! Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.
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| Divine Mercy 
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 late 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." 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 LITANY 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. | |
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| SPIRITUAL DIRECTION FOR TODAY
Introduction to the  Devout Life Saint Francis of Sales Bishop and Prince of Geneva |
| | Preface by the Author | COUNSELS AND PRACTICES SUITABLE FOR THE SOUL'S GUIDANCE FROM THE FIRST ASPIRATION AFTER A DEVOUT LIFE TO THE POINT WHEN IT ATTAINS A CONFIRMED RESOLUTION TO FOLLOW THE SAME. | | I. | What True Devotion is . . . 1 | | II. | The Nature and Excellence of Devotion . . . 5 | | III. | Devotion is suitable to every Vocation and Profession . . . 8 | | IV. | The Need of a Guide for those Who Would enter upon and advance in the Devout Life ...11 | | V. | The First Step must be Purifying the Soul . . . 15 | | VI. | The First Purification, namely, from Mortal Sin . . . 18 | | VII. | The Second Purification, from all Sinful Affections . . . 20 | | VIII. | How to effect this Second Purification . . . 22 | | IX. | First Meditation--Of Creation . . . 24 | | X. | Second Meditation--Of the End for which we were Created . . . 27 | | XI. | Third Meditation--Of the Gifts of God . . . 30 | | XII. | Fourth Meditation--On Sin . . . 32 | | XIII. | Fifth Meditation--On Death . . . 35 | | XIV. | Sixth Meditation--On Judgment . . . 38 | | XV. | Seventh Meditation--Of Hell . . . 41 | | XVI. | Eighth Meditation--On Paradise . . . 43 | | XVII. | Ninth Meditation On the Choice open to you between Heaven and Hell . . . 45 | | XVIII. | Tenth Meditation--How the Soul chooses the Devout Life . . . 48 | | XIX. | How to make a General Confession . . . 51 | | XX. | A hearty Protest made with the object of confirming the Soul's resolution to serve God, as a conclusion to its Acts of Penitence . . . 53 | | XXI. | Conclusion of this First Purification . . . 56 | | XXII. | The Necessity of Purging away all tendency to Venial Sins . . . 57 | | XXIII. | It is needful to put away all Inclination for Useless and Dangerous Things . . . 60 | | XXIV. | All Evil Inclinations must be purged away . . . 62 | CONTAINING SUNDRY COUNSELS AS TO UPLIFTING THE SOUL TO GOD IN PRAYER AND THE USE OF THE SACRAMENTS. | | I. | The Necessity of Prayer . . . 64 | | II. | A short Method of Meditation. And first, the Presence of God, the First Point of Preparation . . . 68 | | III. | Invocation, the Second Point of Preparation . . . 72 | | IV. | The Third Point of Preparation, representing the Mystery to be meditated to your Imagination . . . 73 | | V. | Considerations, the Second Part of Meditation . . . 74 | | VI. | The Third Part of Meditation, Affections and Resolutions . . . 75 | | VII. | The Conclusion and Spiritual Bouquet . . . 77 | | VIII. | Some Useful Hints as to Meditation . . . 78 | | IX. | Concerning Dryness in Meditation . . . 81 | | X. | Morning Prayer . . . 83 | | XI. | Evening Prayer and Examination of Conscience . . . 85 | | XII. | On Spiritual Retirement . . . 87 | | XIII. | Aspirations, Ejaculatory Prayer and Holy Thoughts . . . 90 | | XIV. | Of Holy Communion, and how to join in it . . . 98 | | XV. | Of the other Public Offices of the Church . . . 101 | | XVI. | How the Saints are united to us . . . 103 | | XVII. | How to Hear and Read God's Word . . . 105 | | XVIII. | How to receive Inspirations . . . 107 | | XIX. | On Confession . . . 111 | | XX. | Of Frequent Communion . . . 116 | | XXI. | How to Communicate . . . 120 | CONTAINING COUNSELS CONCERNING THE PRACTICE OF VIRTUE. | | I. | How to select that which we should chiefly Practise . . . 124 | | II. | The same Subject continued . . . 131 | | III. | On Patience . . . 136 | | IV. | On Exterior Humility . . . 142 | | V. | On Interior Humility . . . 147 | | VI. | Humility makes us rejoice in our own Abjection . . . 153 | | VII. | How to combine due care for a Good Reputation with Humility . . . 158 | | VIII. | Gentleness towards others and Remedies against Anger . . . 163 | | IX. | On Gentleness towards Ourselves . . . 169 | | X. | We must attend to the Business of Life carefully, but without Eagerness or Over-anxiety . . . 173 | | XI. | On Obedience . . . 176 | | XII. | On Purity . . . 180 | | XIII. | How to maintain Purity . . . 182 | | XIV. | On Poverty of Spirit amid Riches . . . 185 | | XV. | How to exercise real Poverty, although actually Rich . . . 188 | | XVI. | How to possess a rich Spirit amid real Poverty . . . 193 | | XVII. | On Friendship: Evil and Frivolous Friendship . . . 196 | | XVIII. | On Frivolous Attachments . . . 198 | | XIX. | Of Real Friendship . . . 201 | | XX. | Of the Difference between True and False Friendship . . . 205 | | XXI. | Remedies against Evil Friendships . . . 208 | | XXII. | Further Advice concerning Intimacies . . . 212 | | XXIII. | On the Practice of Bodily Mortification . . . 215 | | XXIV. | Of Society and Solitude . . . 223 | | XXV. | On Modesty in Dress . . . 227 | | XXVI. | Of Conversation; and, first, how to Speak of God . . . 229 | | XXVII. | Of Unseemly Words, and the Respect due to Others . . . 231 | | XXVIII. | Of Hasty Judgments . . . 234 | | XXIX. | On Slander . . . 241 | | XXX. | Further Counsels as to Conversation . . . 249 | | XXXI. | Of Amusements and Recreations: what are allowable . . . 252 | | XXXII. | Of Forbidden Amusements . . . 254 | | XXXIII. | Of Balls, and other Lawful but Dangerous Amusements . . . 255 | | XXXIV. | When to use such Amusements rightly . . . 259 | | XXXV. | We must be Faithful in Things Great and Small . . . 260 | | XXXVI. | Of a Well-balanced, Reasonable Mind . . . 264 | | XXXVII. | Of Wishes . . . 267 | | XXXVIII. | Counsels to Married People . . . 270 | | XXXIX. | The Sanctity of the Marriage Bed . . . 280 | | XL. | Counsels to Widows . . . 281 | | XLI. | One Word to Maidens . . . 289 | CONTAINING NEEDFUL COUNSELS CONCERNING SOME ORDINARY TEMPTATIONS. | | I. | We must not trifle with the Words of worldly Wisdom . . . 290 | | II. | The need of a Good Courage . . . 294 | | III. | Of Temptations, and the difference between experiencing them and consenting to them . . . 296 | | IV. | Two striking illustrations of the same . . . 300 | | V. | Encouragement for the Tempted Soul . . . 302 | | VI. | When Temptation and Delectation are Sin . . . 304 | | VII. | Remedies for Great Occasions . . . 307 | | VIII. | How to resist Minor Temptations . . . 310 | | IX. | How to remedy Minor Temptations . . . 311 | | X. | How to strengthen the Heart against Temptation . . . 313 | | XI. | Anxiety of Mind . . . 315 | | XII. | Of Sadness and Sorrow . . . 319 | | XIII. | Of Spiritual and Sensible Consolations, and how to receive them . . . 323 | | XIV. | Of Dryness and Spiritual Barrenness . . . 333 | | XV. | In Illustration . . . 340 | CONTAINING COUNSELS AND PRACTICES FOR RENEWING AND CONFIRMING THE SOUL IN DEVOTION. | | I. | It is well yearly to renew Good Resolutions by means of the following Exercises . . . 346 | | II. | Meditation on the Benefit conferred on us by God in calling us to His Service . . . 348 | | III. | Examination of the Soul as to its Progress in the Devout Life . . . 351 | | IV. | Examination of the Soul's Condition as regards God . . . 354 | | V. | Examination of your Condition as regards yourself . . . 357 | | VI. | Examination of the Soul's Condition as regards our Neighbour . . . 358 | | VII. | Examination as to the Affections of the Soul . . . 359 | | VIII. | The Affections to be excited after such Examination . . . 361 | | IX. | Reflections suitable to the renewal of Good Resolutions . . . 362 | | X. | First Consideration--Of the Worth of Souls . . . 363 | | XI. | Second Consideration--On the Excellence of Virtue . . . 364 | | XII. | The Example of the Saints . . . 366 | | XIII. | The Love which Jesus Christ bears to us . . . 367 | | XIV. | The Eternal Love of God for us . . . 369 | | XV. | General Affections which should result from these Considerations, and Conclusion of the Exercise . . . 370 | | XVI. | The Impressions which should remain after this Exercise . . . 372 | | XVII. | An Answer to Two Objections which may be made to this Book . . . 373 | | XVIII. | Three Important and Final Counsels . . . 375 |
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| [MENTION YOUR PRAYER REQUEST]
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, 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! ___________ BLESSED ANNE CATHERINE EMMERICH'S VISION: | |
| | | "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 | | PRAYERS FOR TODAY THIRTY-THREE PETITIONS IN HONOUR OF THE SACRED HUMANITY
OF OUR LORD JESUSO 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. 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. LITANY TO SAINT JOSEPHLord, 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.
GAELIC LITANY TO OUR LADY
O Great Mary,
pray for us.
O Mary, greatest of Maries,
pray for us.
O Greatest of women,
pray for us.
O Queen of angels,
pray for us.
O Mistress of the heavens,
pray for us.
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.
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| 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.  | | |
| FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 19TH 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.] | |
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