For the Feast of St. Philomena

Holy Mother Church honors St. Philomena with a feast day on August 11. St. Philomena was the thirteen year old daughter of the king and queen of a small Grecian state.  At baptism she was given the name Philomena, which means "Friend of the Light."  During a trip with her parents to Rome to discuss peace with the emperor, she was asked by the pagan emperor to marry him in exchange for peace.  However, St. Philomena refused him, having made a vow of chastity at age 11, despite her parents and the emperor trying to persuade her.  Furious Emperor Diocletian threw Philomena into prison. For 37 days he tried to get her to agree to marriage, but when she held vast to her vow, the emperor furiously increased her torments.  

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At the end of the 37 days, the Blessed Mother and the Divine Child appeared to the young girl.  Our Lady told her that she would remain three more days in the dungeon, and on the fortieth day she would undergo cruel torture.  Mary comforted Philomena and the apparition ended.  On the fortieth day Emperor Diocletian ordered Philomena to be tied to a pillar and scourged without mercy, accompanied by horrible blasphemies.  When she returned to the prison, two angels appeared to her and healed her wounds with heavenly balm.  The next morning the emperor found her stronger and more beautiful than ever.  The order was then given to tie an iron anchor to her neck and throw her into the Tiber River.  However, two angels rescued her, bringing her to the bank completely dry. The emperor ordered her to be pierced with arrows and returned to the prison.  

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Yet the next day he found her unscathed and more beautiful.  Emperor Diocletian, enraged, ordered her to be shot with arrows again, but the arrows would not leave the bows.  He next ordered the arrows to be heated red hot, but again God protected the little saint.  The arrows turned back on the archers, six of whom were killed.  People began to convert at the miracles before them.  At last the tyrant pagan emperor ordered Philomena to be beheaded.  This act ended her life on earth and sent her soul victoriously into heaven.

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St. Philomena has been named St. Philomena, the Wonder Worker due to the great number of miracles that occurred through her intercession.  St. John Vianney held a great devotion to St. Philomena, even writing a litany in her honor.  We would do well to imitate St. John Vianney, adding devotion to this powerful young Saint to our lives.  May we strive to imitate her in her faithfulness to God, her purity, her fortitude, and her love for our Lord.  

The Novena to St. Philomena should be said from August 2-August 10, to end of the vigil of her feast day.  St. Philomena, pray for us!

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Novena to St. Philomena 

 O great St. Philomena, glorious Virgin and Martyr, wonder-worker of our age, I return most fervent thanks to God for the miraculous gifts bestowed on thee, and beseech thee to impart to me a share in the graces and blessings of which thou hast been the channel to so many souls. 

Through the heroic fortitude with which thou didst confront the fury of tyrants and brave the frowns of the mighty rather than swerve from thy allegiance to the King of Heaven, obtain for me purity of body and soul, purity of heart and desire, purity of thought and affection. Through thy patience under multiplied sufferings, obtain for me a submissive acceptance of all the afflictions it may please God to send me and as thou didst miraculously escape unhurt from the waters of the Tiber, into which thou wert cast by order of thy persecutor, so may I pass through the waters of tribulation without detriment to my soul. 

In addition to these favours, obtain for me, O faithful spouse of Jesus, the particular intention I earnestly recommend to thee at this moment. O pure Virgin and holy Martyr, deign to cast a look of pity from Heaven on thy devoted servant, comfort me in affliction, assist me in danger, above all come to my aid in the hour of death. Watch over the interests of the Church of God, pray for its exaltation and prosperity, the extension of the faith, for the Sovereign Pontiff, for the clergy, for the perseverance of the just, the conversion of sinners, and the relief of the Souls in Purgatory, especially those dear to me., and those most forgotten. O great Saint, whose triumph we celebrate on earth, intercede for me, that I may one day behold the crown of glory bestowed on thee in Heaven, and eternally bless Him who so liberally rewards for all eternity the sufferings endured for His love during this short life. Amen.

Hymn to St. Philomena

We praise thee Philomena 

Blest martyr and blest maid! 

Since Christ through thee works wonders 

We come to thee for aid. 

Red Rose of sweetest fragrance 

Glowing with charity. 

Yet white with lily whiteness 

Of angels’ purity. 

All Hail Saint Philomena 

Thou virgin of the Lord 

Help us to love and praise Him 

And make His Name adored. 

Be thou the guide of pilgrims 

Restore the steps that stray. 

Bring health to those who suffer 

Be thou their gladsome ray. 

Cheer those whose hope is waning 

And warm the hearts grown cold. 

Console the sad and lonely, 

Strengthen the weak and old. 

Thou well-beloved maiden, 

All girt with Heaven’s might. 

Help those who sit in darkness, 

Thou daughter of the Light. 

Make us who now implore Thee 

Loving and brave and wise. 

May we one day behold thee, 

Princess of Paradise.

God bless!

+JMJ+

The Grotto

 Blessed Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus!

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I wanted to introduce everyone to my newest page at the top of my blog, entitled Grotto.  I am very excited about this addition to my blog.  Once on the page, if you simply click on a candle, you can add your prayers intentions.  The candle will burn for 24 hours; you can watch it slowly burn down.  While your candle is lit, be assured that your intentions will be added to our family rosary each day.  Please add your intentions any time.  When you add your intentions, please pray for the other intentions on my Grotto page as well.  May our Lady watch over you and your needs.

I hope you enjoy this new addition and find it useful.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

***Please take note of the new tab at the top of my blog labeled Grotto.  I will write a brief post about it soon, but feel free to use it.  God bless!

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The entire month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  However, Holy Mother Church especially honors our Lord under the title of the Sacred Heart with a feast day on the Friday after the Octave of Corpus Christi, which is on June 12 this year. 

Jesus spoke to St. Margaret Mary, saying, "Behold this Heart, which has so loved men, as that it has spared nothing, even to the exhausting and wearing itself out, in order to show them its love; and instead of acknowledgment I receive, from the greater number, nothing but ingratitude, by their irreverences and sacrileges, and by the coldness and contempt wherewith they treat Me, in this Sacrament of love." 

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 With the words of our Lord to St. Margaret before us, may we strive throughout this month and always to love our Lord with our whole being, offering Him adoration and thanksgiving for His love and sacrifice for us. Our Lord yearns to give us His Heart, waiting in silence for us to give ours to Him in return.  We can honor our Lord through prayers, the enthronement of His Image in our homes, and by  fulfilling the First Friday devotion, which Jesus revealed to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. 

During the 17th century our Lord revealed to her that it was His desire that the first Friday of each month be consecrated to the devotion and adoration of His most Sacred Heart. He made twelve promises for those who sincerely practiced this devotion. 

From the writings of St. Margaret Mary, we learn of a few of them.  She wrote, 

"On Friday during Holy Communion, He said these words to His unworthy slave, if I mistake not: I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that its all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on nine first Fridays of consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they will not die under my displeasure or without receiving their sacraments, my divine Heart making itself their assured refuge at the last moment." 

In order to make this devotion of the nine first Fridays, we must receive Holy Communion, with the intention of offering reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Throughout this month of June and each time we venerate His Sacred Heart, we should remember Jesus' great love for us, flowing forth from His Heart.  In return we should strive to express our love and devotion to Him through acts of adoration and repentance. 

Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus 

Hail! O Sacred Heart of Jesus, living and quickening source of eternal life, infinite treasure of the Divinity, and burning furnace of divine love. Thou art my refuge and my sanctuary, O my amiable Savior. Consume my heart with that burning fire with which Thine is ever inflamed. Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Thy love, and let my heart be so united with Thine, that our wills may be one, and mine in all things, conformed to Thine. May Thy divine will be equally the standard and rule of all my desires and of all my actions. Amen.

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The 12 Promises of Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Regarding Those Who Receive Communion on Nine First Fridays 

1. I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life. 

2. I will establish peace in their houses. 

3. I will comfort them in all their afflictions. 

4. I will be their strength during life and above all during 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 penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Feast of St. Joan of Arc

 Blessed Feast of St. Joan of Arc!!!!

Below is a prayer for recitation on her feast day, May 30.  It seems most fitting to honor this great Saint since she is the patroness of my blog.

As we recite the Litany of St. Joan of Arc, may we pray that we will grow in the virtues of Faith, love of God, fortitude, and perseverance--virtues St. Joan clearly possessed during her life.  May we use these virtues to help transform this world to become a mirror of the love and goodness of God.  St. Joan, pray for us!

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Litany of St. Joan of Arc 

Lord, have mercy on us!

Jesus Christ, have mercy on us! 

Lord, have mercy on us! 

Jesus Christ, hear us! 

Jesus Christ, graciously hear us! 

Our Heavenly Father, Who art God, have mercy on us! 

Son, Savior of the world, Who art God, have mercy on us! 

Holy Spirit, Who art God, have mercy on us! 

Holy Trinity, Who art God, have mercy on us! 

Holy Mary, virgin Mother of God, pray for us. 

Our Lady of the Assumption, principal patron of France, pray for us. 

Saint Michael the Archangel, patron and special protector of France, pray for us. 

Saint Catherine of Alexandria, virgin and Martyr, pray for us. 

Saint Margaret of Antioch, virgin and Martyr, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, chosen by God at Domremy, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, informed by Saint Michael, the Archangel and his Angels, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, compliant to the call of God, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, confidant in and submissive to her voices, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, model of family life and labor, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, faithfully devoted to Our Lady, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, who delighted in the Holy Eucharist, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, model of generosity in the service to God, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, example of faithfulness to the Divine vocation, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, model of union with God in action, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, virgin and soldier, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, model of courage and purity in the field of battle, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, compassionate towards all who suffer, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, the pride of Orleans, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, glory of Reims, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, liberator of the Country, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, abandoned and imprisoned at Compiegne, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, pure and patient in thy prison, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, heroic and valiant before thy judges, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, alone with God at the hour of torment, pray for us. 

Saint Joan of Arc, Martyr of Rouen, pray for us. 

Saint Joan or Arc and Saint Therese of Lisieux patronesses of France, pray for us. 

All the Saints of France, intercede for us. 

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, 

Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, 

Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, Lord. 

Saint Joan of Arc, pray for us, that we may become worthy of the promises of Our Savior Jesus Christ. 

 Let us pray. Oh God, Who hast raised up in an admirable manner, the virgin of Domremy, Saint Joan of Arc, for the defense of the faith and country, by her intercession, we ask Thee that the Church triumph against the assaults of her enemies and rejoice in lasting peace; through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

"Hold the Cross high so I may see it through the flames." --St. Joan of Arc

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer to Our Lady Help of Christians

Our Lady's help has been invoked since Apostolic times, and during the Middle Ages the title for Mary, Help of Christians was widely used. People implored Mary's help while honoring her with the recitation of the Holy Rosary. In the 1800s the feast day for Our Lady Help of Christians was established within the Church and placed on May 24. 

In modern times we would do well to remember these Catholic traditions and implement them in our own lives. In the midst of such a troubled world, may we implore Our Lady Help of Christians, asking for her aid to bring Christ to all people and peace throughout the world. Meanwhile may we once again, like Catholics of old, hold tight to our rosaries, honoring Our Lady with this great devotion. The following prayer to Our Lady Help of Christians is a beautiful prayer to recite, asking our Lady to help each of us, the Church, and the whole world. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!

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Prayer to Our Lady Help of Christians 

Most holy and immaculate Virgin Mary, our tender Mother and mighty Help of Christians, we dedicate ourselves wholly to thy dear love and holy service. We dedicate to thee our minds and all our thoughts, our hearts and all our affections, our bodies and all our senses and all our strength; we promise to be ever willing to labor for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls. Meanwhile, do thou, O incomparable Virgin, who hast ever been the helper of the Christian people, continue to show thyself to be so in these our days. Bring low the enemies of our holy religion and frustrate their wicked designs. Enlighten and strengthen our Bishops and our priests; keep them always in close union and obedience to the Pope, their infallible Teacher; preserve thoughtless youth from sin and irreligion; increase holy vocations and multiply the number of the sacred ministers, that by means of them the kingdom of Jesus Christ may be preserved amongst us and be extended even to the uttermost parts of the earth. 

We pray thee, moreover, dear Mother, to keep thine eyes of mercy ever turned upon young men and maidens, who are exposed to so many dangers, as well as upon poor sinners and those who are dying; be thou, O Mary, to them all a source of sweet hope, thou who art the Mother of mercy and the Gate of heaven. 

But also for ourselves do we pour forth our supplications, O mighty Mother of God. Teach us to show forth in our lives thy virtues, especially angelic purity, deep humility and burning love; so by our demeanor, our words and our example may we, according as it is given to us, be living images of thy blessed Son Jesus in the midst of the world, and make thee known and loved, in the sure hope that thus we may succeed in bringing many souls to salvation. Grant unto us, O Mary, thou Help of Christians, to be gathered under thy maternal protection. May the thought of the love thou bearest toward thy devoted clients be unto us so great a source of strength as to make us victors over the enemies of our salvation, both in life and in death, that so we may come to stand about thee in the beauty of paradise. Amen 

---from the Raccolta

God bless!

+JMJ+

Daily Prayer for the Church and Government

 "It is a characteristic of any decaying civilization that the great masses of the people are unaware of the tragedy. Humanity in a crisis is generally insensitive to the gravity of the times in which it lives. Men do not want to believe their own times are wicked, partly because they have no standard outside of themselves by which to measure their times. If there is no fixed concept of justice, how shall men know it is violated? Only those who live by faith really know what is happening in the world; the great masses without faith are unconscious of the destructive processes going on, because they have lost the vision of the heights from which they have fallen." 

 --Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

Our Lady of Victory, pray for us! 

Prayer for the Church and the Civil Authorities 

 Archbishop John Carroll, A.D. 1800 

We pray Thee, O Almighty and Eternal God, who through Jesus Christ hast revealed Thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of Thy mercy; that Thy Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue, with unchanging faith, in the confession of Thy name. We pray Thee, who alone art good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life our chief bishop, Francis, the Vicar of our Lord Jesus Christ in the government of His Church; our own Bishop, (or Archbishop,) N., (if he is not consecrated, our Bishop-elect); all other Bishops, Prelates, and Pastors of the Church ; and especially those who are appointed to exercise among us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct Thy people into the ways of salvation. 

We pray Thee, O God of might, wisdom, and justice, through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgments decreed, assist, with Thy Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude, the President of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people, over whom he presides, by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. 

Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our role and government; so, that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge, and may perpetuate to us the blessings of equal liberty. 

We pray for his Excellency the Governor of this State, for the members of the Assembly, for all Judges, Magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare; that they may be enabled, by Thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability. We recommend likewise to Thy unbounded mercy all our brethren and fellow-citizens, throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge, and sanctified in the observance of most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and, after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal. 

Finally, we pray Thee, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of Thy servants departed who are gone before us with the sign of faith, and repose in the sleep of peace: the souls of our parents, relations, and friends; of those who, when living, were members of this congregation; and particularly of such as are lately deceased; of all benefactors who, by their donations or legacies to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship, and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, light, and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

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“A nation always gets the kind of politicians it deserves. If a time ever comes when the religious Jews, Protestants and Catholics ever have to suffer under a totalitarian state, which would deny to them the right to worship God according to the light of their conscience, it will be because for years they thought it made no difference what kind of people represented them in Congress, and because they abandoned the spiritual in the realm of the temporal.”

--Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen 

God bless! 

+JMJ+

An Ancient Prayer to St. Joseph

Holy Mother Church honors St. Joseph during the month of March with a feast day on March 19 but also by devoting the entire month to him.  Many Saints throughout the history of the Church have spoken on the virtuous life of St. Joseph.  

St. Francis de Sales stated, "Truly, I doubt not that the angels, wondering and adoring, came thronging in countless multitudes to that poor workshop to admire the humility of him who guarded that dear and divine child, and labored at his carpenter’s trade to support the son and the mother who were committed to his care."

And following a similar thought, St. Madeleine Sophia Barat spoke of St. Joseph.  "Let us love Jesus above all, let us love Mary as our mother; but then, how could we keep from loving Joseph, who was so intimately united to both Jesus and Mary? And how can we honor him better than by imitating his virtues? Now, what else did he do in all his life but contemplate, study, and adore Jesus, even in the midst of his daily labors? Behold, therefore, our model."

During this month of March and throughout Lent, may we also look to St. Joseph for his example of virtue and love of our Lord and our Lady.  May we strive to imitate him in his service to God and beg his intercession to help us on our journey to heaven.

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An Ancient Prayer to Saint Joseph 

O St. 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 St. Joseph, assist me by thy powerful intercession and obtain for me all spiritual blessings through thy foster Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord, so that, having engaged here below thy heavenly power, I may offer thee my thanksgiving and homage. 

O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating thee and Jesus asleep in thine 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. St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for me.  Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+