For the Feast of St. Leo I

 St. Leo I is honored by Holy Mother Church with a feast day on April 11. St. Leo is one of  four Popes given the title of the Great.  The other three popes are St. Basil, St. Gregory, and St. Nicholas.  A great defender of the Church, St. Leo, whose name means lion, protected the Faith from two heresies against the Incarnation-- the Nestorian Heresy and the Eutychian Heresy.  This holy Pontiff governed the Church during the time of Attila the Hun's rule.  Known as the Scourge of God, Attila, marching toward Rome, was met by Pope Leo I.  Speaking with calm eloquence, Pope Leo awed Attila, who agreed to spare Rome.  Attila not only admired the Pontiff, but he also feared him, recognizing a heavenly power on the side of the virtuous Pope. The following hymn was written to honor Pope Leo I on his feast day. 

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Hymn Honoring Pope Leo I

O happy Pontiff! glorious Leo! thou hast been made companion of the faithful Priests and martyrs; for thou wast most invincible in battle, and immovable as a tower and fortress of religion.  Thou proclaimedst with most perfect orthodoxy and wisdom, the unspeakable generation of Christ.

O ruler of Orthodoxy, teacher of religion and holiness, light of the whole earth, divinely inspired glory of true believers, wise Leo!  thou enlightenest all men by thy teachings, O harp of the Holy Ghost!

Heir of the See of Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, thou presidedst over the Church: thou hadst his spirit and was inflamed with zeal for the Faith.

Beaming with most bright light, thou, O holy Leo, didst admirable preach the ineffable and divine incarnation, teaching the two Natures, and the two Wills of the Incarnate God.

Resplendent with the knowledge of divine truths, thou scatteredst on all sides the brightness of orthodoxy, and dispelledst the darkness of heresy.  Departing this life, thou, O blessed one! now dwellest in the Light that knows no setting.

O inspired Minister of God's mysteries, thou admirably preachedst that Christ is the Only son and Lord, begotten of the Father before all ages, born for us of the Virgin, and dwelling on earth like unto us.

Seated with glory upon the throne of the Pontificate, thou didst stop the mouths of lions, and madest to shine upon thy flock the light of the knowledge of God, by proclaiming the divine dogma of the adorable Trinity.  Therefore hast thou been glorified as a holy Pontiff initiated in the grace of God.

Thou as a dazzling sun, didst rise in the west: thou wisely dispelledst the error of Eutyches, who mingled and confused the two Natures, and that of Nestorius, who divided them as though they were two Persons.  Thou taughtest us to adore one Christ in two Natures, inseparably, unchangeably, unconfusedly united.  

Inspired of God, thou appearedst to the people of God as another Moses, showing them the commandments of religion written, as it were on tables.  Thou exclaimedst in the assembly of the venerable Masters:  "Praise, O ye Priests! and bless, and extol Christ forever."

Now, O Priest of Christ! thou art brightly decked with a crown of beauty.  As a faithful Priest, thou hast put on justice. Pray unceasingly for thy flock, now that thou hast entered into the admirable joy of the Paradise of delights.

Thou, O most blessed Leo! hast worthily entered the abode where are the seats and thrones and ranks of the Patriarchs; thou hast entered as a  true Patriarch, all resplendent with faith and grace.  Therefore do we all celebrate thy name forever.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Devotions for Divine Mercy

 "I am Love and Mercy Itself. There is no misery that could be a match for My mercy, neither will misery exhaust it, because as it is being granted – it increases. The soul that trusts in My mercy is most fortunate, because I Myself take care of it." –Jesus to St. Faustina 

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In 1933, God gave Saint Faustina a striking vision of His Mercy. Sister wrote, "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 Lord's wounds, and I understood that God blessed the earth for the sake of Jesus." The following day St. Faustina was taught the prayers we know as the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Jesus said later to Sister Faustina, "Say unceasingly this chaplet that I have taught you. He also requested that as “often as you hear the clock strike the third hour, immerse yourself completely in My mercy, adoring and glorifying it; invoke Its omnipotence for the whole world, and particularly for poor sinners, for at that moment mercy was opened wide for every soul” (1320). We can honor Him and fulfill His request, then, on Divine Mercy Sunday and daily at 3:00 p.m., by praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet our Lord taught St. Faustina or by using other similar devotions. One example, given below, originates from the journals of St. Faustina. 

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 The Praises of the Divine Mercy 

Divine Mercy, gushing forth from the bosom of the Father, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, greatest attribute of God, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, incomprehensible mystery, I trust in Thee.

Divine Mercy, fount gushing forth from the mystery of the Most Blessed Trinity, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, unfathomed by any intellect, human or angelic, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, from which wells forth all life and happiness, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, better than the heavens, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, source of miracles and wonders, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, encompassing the whole universe, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, descending to earth in the Person of the Incarnate Word, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, which flowed out from the open wound of the Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, enclosed in the Heart of Jesus for us, and especially for sinners, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, unfathomed in the institution of the Sacred Host, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, in the founding of Holy Church, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, in our justification through Jesus Christ, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, accompanying us through our whole life, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, embracing us especially at the hour of death, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, endowing us with immortal life, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, accompanying us at every moment of our life, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, shielding us from the fire of Hell, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, in the conversion of hardened sinners, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, astonishment for Angels, incomprehensible to Saints, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, unfathomed in all the mysteries of God, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, lifting us out of every misery, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, source of our happiness and joy, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, in calling us forth from nothingness to existence, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, embracing all the works of His hands, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, crown of all of God's handiwork, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, in which we are all immersed, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, sweet relief for anguished hearts, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, only hope of despairing souls, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, repose of hearts, peace amidst fear, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, delight and ecstasy of holy souls, I trust in Thee. 

Divine Mercy, inspiring hope against all hope, I trust in Thee. 

Eternal God, in Whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Thy mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Thy holy will, which is Love and Mercy Itself (950).

God bless!

+JMJ+

Fun Lenten and Easter crafts

  I wanted to share two links from Holy Heroes for fun Lenten and Easter Triptych crafts.   They are very well drawn and are free downloads too.  I hope to have my three youngest children make them.

I pray you all have a blessed Holy Week!

God bless!

+JMJ+

A Very Useful Manner of Hiding Oneself in the Five Sacred Wounds

 According to a private revelation of St. Bridget of Sweden, our Lord revealed to her that during His Passion His Wounds totaled 5,480.  The five primary wounds upon which meditations are often made, however, are the wounds in His Hands and Feet and the Sacred Wound in His side.  Devotion to our Lord's Wounds began early within the Church, especially increasing in devotion among the Faithful during the time of St. Francis of Assisi.

The following prayer honoring our Lord's Wounds was taught to St. Mechtilde by Christ Himself as she went to kiss the Cross one Good Friday.  It is a beautiful prayer on which to meditate and to recite throughout Lent, but it especially is fitting now as Passion Sunday approaches and, soon after, Holy Week.

May this simple prayer help us to unite ourselves with the Passion of our Lord throughout the remainder of Lent and always.

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In Honor of the Five Sacred Wounds

I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the painful Wound of Thy left foot, from which flowed the Precious Blood that washes away our sins. In it I sink and hide all the sins I have ever committed. Amen. 

I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the painful Wound of Thy right foot, from which the fountain of peace flowed to us. In its depths I sink and bury all my desires, that they may be purified and remain unspotted by any earthly stain. Amen. 

I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the painful Wound of Thy left hand, from which the well of grace flowed to us. In it I enclose all my spiritual and bodily ills, that in union with Thy sufferings they may become sweet to me, and by patience become a fragrant odor before God. Amen. 

I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the painful Wound of Thy right hand, from which the medicine of the soul was poured forth. In it I hide all my negligences and omissions which I have committed in my virtuous exercises, that they may be atoned for by Thy zealous works. Amen. 

I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the healing Wound of Thy sweetest Heart, from which living Water and Blood and the riches of all good flowed to us. I place myself in this Wound, and there unite all my imperfect love to Thy Divine love, that thus it may be perfected. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

On the Feast of St. Gemma Galgani

 Holy Mother Church honors St. Gemma Galgani on April 11. Even from an early age, St. Gemma held a great love for our Lord and our Lady.  She spent her life striving for heaven by practicing virtue, especially obedience, and mortification.  Already at her First Communion she felt a great detachment from the world and a longing for Jesus.  After receiving our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament she remarked, “I understood at that moment that the delights of heaven are not like those of the earth. I felt myself overcome by the desire to render that union with my God continual. I felt weary of the world more and more, and more disposed to recollection.”  St. Gemma suffered much during her earthly life, even enduring the stigmata.  She offered all to Jesus out of love for Him and to save her souls and the souls of others. 

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“If you really want to love Jesus, first learn to suffer, because suffering teaches you to love.--St. Gemma” 

Triduum of Prayers in Honor of St. Gemma Galgani to Obtain a Special Grace 

Day 1: 

Oh most merciful Lord, we humbly prostrate ourselves before Thy Infinite Majesty, and we adore Thee and dedicate to Thy glory the devout prayers which we now present to Thee, as an act of devotion to your servant, St. Gemma Galgani, whose intercession we are now imploring. 

Most compassionate virgin St. Gemma, during thy short life on earth, you gave a most beautiful example of angelic innocence and seraphic love, and was found worthy to bear in thy flesh the marks of our Lord's Passion. Have pity on us who are so much in need of God's Mercy, and obtain for us through thy merits and intercession, the special favor which we now fervently implore (mention request).

***Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be. Pray for us, St. Gemma, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

Let us pray: O God, Who fashioned thy servant St. Gemma into a likeness of Thy Crucified Son, grant us through her intercession, the favor that we humbly request, and through the passion, death and resurrection of Thy Son, may we be united with You for all eternity. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 

Day 2: 

Oh most merciful Lord, we humbly prostrate ourselves before Thy Infinite Majesty, and we adore Thee and dedicate to Thy glory the devout prayers which we now present to Thee, as an act of devotion to your servant, St. Gemma Galgani, whose intercession we are now imploring. 

O worthy Spouse of the Lamb of God and faithful virgin St. Gemma, you preserved the innocence and splendor of virginity, giving to the world a bright example of purity and the most exalted virtues, look down with pity from thy high place in heaven upon us who confide in thee, as we implore thee for the favor we so ardently desire (mention request).

***Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be. Pray for us, St. Gemma, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: O God, Who fashioned thy servant St. Gemma into a likeness of Thy Crucified Son, grant us through her intercession, the favor that we humbly request, and through the passion, death and resurrection of Thy Son, may we be united with You for all eternity. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 

Day 3: 

Oh most merciful Lord, we humbly prostrate ourselves before Thy Infinite Majesty, and we adore Thee and dedicate to Thy glory the devout prayers which we now present to Thee, as an act of devotion to your servant, St. Gemma Galgani, whose intercession we are now imploring. 

O most loving virgin St. Gemma, with an intense love for Jesus you suffered immensely for the conversion of sinners as a victim for sin, and you loved others greatly, out of love for God. Do not forget us then, who remain here on earth, and look down with kindness on us who implore thee, in the confident hope of receiving this favor through thy loving intercession (mention request).

***Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be. Pray for us, St. Gemma, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. 

Let us pray: O God, Who fashioned thy servant St. Gemma into a likeness of Thy Crucified Son, grant us through her intercession, the favor that we humbly request, and through the passion, death and resurrection of Thy Son, may we be united with You for all eternity. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

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“Why did you suffer for me, dear Jesus? For love! The nails…the crown…the cross…all for the love of me! For You I sacrifice everything willingly. I offer You my body with all of its weakness, and my soul with all its love." --St. Gemma

God bless!

+JMJ+

Meditation for Easter

 The Mystery of Paschal Time

Taken from The Liturgical Year
by Abbot Guéranger
From Volume VII: Paschal Time, Book 1

"Of all the Seasons of the Liturgical Year, Eastertide is by far the richest in mystery. We might even say that Easter is the summit of the Mystery of the sacred Liturgy. The Christian who is happy enough to enter, with his whole mind and heart, into the knowledge and the love of the Paschal Mystery, has reached the very center of the supernatural life. Hence it is, that the Church uses every effort in order to effect this: what she has hitherto done, was all intended as a preparation for Easter. The holy longings of Advent, the sweet joys of Christmas, the severe truths of Septuagesima, the contrition and penance of Lent, the heart-rending sight of the Passion-----all were given us as preliminaries, as paths, to the sublime and glorious Pasch which is now ours...

Eternity in Heaven is the true Pasch: hence, our Pasch, here on earth, is the Feast of feasts, the Solemnity of solemnities. The human race was dead; it was the victim of that sentence, whereby it was condemned to lie mere dust in the tomb; the gates of life were shut against it. But see! the Son of God rises from His grave and takes possession of eternal life. Nor is He the only one that is to die no more, for, as the Apostle teaches us, 'He is the first-born from the dead.' [Coloss. i. 18] The Church would, therefore, have us consider ourselves as having already risen with our Jesus, and as having already taken possession of eternal life. The holy Fathers bid us look on these fifty days of Easter, as the image of our eternal happiness. They are days devoted exclusively to joy; every sort of sadness is forbidden; and the Church cannot speak to her Divine Spouse without joining to her words that glorious cry of Heaven, the Alleluia, wherewith, as the holy Liturgy says, the streets and squares of the heavenly Jerusalem resound without ceasing. We have been forbidden the use of this joyous word during the past nine weeks; it behooved us to die with Christ-----but now that we have risen together with Him, from the tomb, and that we are resolved to die no more that death, which kills the soul, and caused our Redeemer to die on the Cross, we have a right to our Alleluia.

The Providence of God, who has established harmony between the visible world and the supernatural work of grace, willed that the Resurrection of our Lord should take place at that particular season of the year, when even nature herself seems to rise from the grave. The meadows give forth their verdure, the trees resume their foliage, the birds fill the air with their songs, and the sun, the type of our triumphant Jesus, pours out his floods of light on our earth made new by lovely Spring... Speaking, in the Canticle, to the faithful soul, and inviting her to take her part in this new life which He is now imparting to every creature, our Lord Himself says: 'Arise, my dove, and come! Winter is now past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers have appeared in our land. The voice of the turtle is heard. The fig tree hath put forth her green figs. The vines, in flower, yield their sweet smell. Arise thou, and come!' [Cant. ii. 10, 13]"

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer for Making a Spiritual Communion

 Cardinal Merry del Val, Secretary of  State to St. Pope Pius X, held a great love for the Most Blessed Sacrament.  He always advised people to make frequent acts of spiritual Communion throughout our day to keep our Lord constantly within us.  Each morning before saying Mass, the cardinal would recite a prayer he composed, titled "Morning Offering to Almighty God."  Through it he prayed each morning,

 "...I detest and weep over my sins and negligences, which like a huge mountain rise up before me, and which I oppose with the Passion of my Lord.  I weep over the sins and iniquities of the whole world, especially over the sacrileges and indifference which is shown to Thee in the Most Blessed Sacrament of Thy love. I desire to make reparation and expiation for all these faults. I desire to live spiritually within the tabernacle with Thee, to visit thee and adore Thee and receive Thee spiritually wherever thou art present under the sacramental veil and there, at the foot of Thy Eucharistic throne, to live and die..." 

The following prayer was composed by Cardinal Merry del Val for the purpose of making Spiritual Communions.

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Prayer for Making a Spiritual Communion

At Thy feet, O my Jesus, I prostrate myself, and I offer Thee the repentance of my contrite heart, which is humbled in its nothingness and in Thy holy presence. I adore Thee in the Sacrament of Thy love, the ineffable Eucharist. I desire to receive Thee into the poor dwelling that my heart offers Thee. While waiting for the happiness of sacramental Communion, I wish to possess Thee in spirit. Come to me, O my Jesus, since I, for my part, am coming to Thee! May Thy love embrace my whole being in life and in death. I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee. Amen.

--Cardinal Merry del Val

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus

 Saint Peter Eymard stated, "The life of Christ in the Eucharist is a life of love for His Father, to Whom He is incessantly offering His actions, His sacramental presence, His previous Passion now commemorated in the Mass. It is also a life of love for men who have to be saved. His Heart is the centre of all hearts."

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Holy Mother Church dedicates the month of June to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.  While the two major aspects of devotion to the Sacred Heart are reparation and confidence, another focus, often overlooked, is that of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, the Heart which loves with such love that He chooses to remain in all of the tabernacles of Catholic Churches throughout the world, waiting for us to visit Him, pray to Him, and love Him in return.  As Pope Benedict XV stated about this devotion to our Lord,

"...the Church wishes... the faithful to approach this sacred mystery with confidence, and to inflame their hearts with that divine charity which consumed the Sacred Heart of Jesus when, in His infinite love, He instituted the Most Holy Eucharist, wherein the Divine Heart guards and loves them by living with them, as they live and abide in Him. For in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist He offers and gives Himself to us as victim, companion, nourishment, viaticum, and pledge of our future glory."

During this month of our Lord, as we strive to make reparation for the sins committed against His most adorable Heart, may we also remember to give Him due honor and love by visiting Him and adoring Him in adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament.  May we always call to mind the Love that awaits for us in the tabernacle.  Let us draw near to His Sacred Heart, which is waiting in silence for us, and remain, listening out of love, in silence with Him.  The prayer that follows is a beautiful prayer to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

Prayer to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus

Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, gracious companion of our exile, I adore You.  Eucharistic Heart of Jesus -- lonely Heart -- humiliated Heart -- abandoned Heart -- forgotten Heart -- despised Heart -- outraged Heart -- Heart ignored by men -- Heart which loves our own hearts -- Heart pleading for our love--Heart so patient in waiting for us--Heart so eager to listen to our prayers -- Heart so anxious for our requests -- Heart, welcome refuge of the hidden life -- Heart, teacher of the secrets of union with God -- Heart of Him who sleeps but watches always -- Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

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O Jesus Divine Victim, I desire to comfort You; I unite myself to You; I offer myself in union with You.  I regard myself as nothing in Your presence.  I long to forget myself in order to think only of You, to be despised and forgotten for love of You.  I have no desire to be understood or loved by anyone but You.  I will keep silent in order to listen to You, and I will abandon myself in order to lose myself in You.

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Grant that I may thus satisfy Your thirst for my salvation, Your burning thirst for my holiness, and that once purified I may give You a sincere and pure love.  I am anxious not to tire You further with waiting; take me, I hand myself over to You.  I give You all my actions, my mind to be enlightened, my heart to be directed, my will to be stabilized, my wretchedness to be relieved, my soul and body to be nourished by You.

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Eucharistic Heart of my Savior, whose blood is the life of my soul, may I myself cease to live and You alone live in me.  Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

For the Feast of St. Catherine of Siena

 The Feast of St. Catherine of Siena traditionally is celebrated on April 30.  St. Catherine, who in 1970 was declared a Doctor of the Church, became a Third Order Dominican when she was sixteen years old. She lived a life in close union with Jesus, receiving visions of Him and conversing with Him; she also received the stigmata from our Lord. Although St. Catherine died at the young age of thirty-three, she converted many souls through her love of God and her love of neighbor. She joyfully dedicated her life to prayer, penance, and works of charity, especially for the Roman Pontiff  and priests.  You can read one of her prayers for this intention at St. Catherine's Prayer for the Church and Priests.

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St. Catherine is a wonderful example of living to serve God.  On her deathbed she prayed to God, saying, "  O eternal God, receive the sacrifice of my life on behalf of the Mystical Body of the Holy Church.  I have nothing else to give, except what You have given me."
May we pray to her especially on her feast day, asking her intercession to help us also live each day for God, loving Him ever more and bringing others to love Him more as well, as she did.  May we remember to pray and sacrifice for Holy Mother Church, especially for priests and the Pope, but also for the entire Church Militant and the Church Suffering.

Prayer to St. Catherine of Siena

St. Catherine, most blessed and favored patron saint, thou who sought the truth with perseverance, loved the truth in humility, taught the truth in charity, and defended the truth with courage, pray for us. Obtain for us the grace to persevere in truth, to be a light in the darkness of the times in which we live, and to convey to others, both in our written words and in our actions, the responsibility, wisdom, and knowledge to proclaim the truths of our holy Faith as proclaimed by the Church. O holy virgin and bride of Christ, whose letters inspired, guided, and led the Church to renewal and transformation, obtain too for us the grace to live the truth, the patience to endure the trials and hardships, to carry our Cross in the spirit of prayer and self denial, and to defend the Church in its hour of crucifixion. We ask these in Christ's name. Amen.

My Nature is Fire

In Your nature, eternal Godhead,

I shall come to know my nature.

And what is my nature, boundless Love?

It is fire, because You are nothing but a fire of love.

And You have given humankind

a share in this nature,

for by the fire of love You created us.

And so with all other people

and every created thing;

You made them out of love.

O ungrateful people!

What nature has Your God given you?

His very own nature!

Are you not ashamed to cut yourself off from such a noble thing

through the guilt of deadly sin?

O eternal Trinity, my sweet love!

You, Light, give us light.

You, Wisdom, give us wisdom.

You, Supreme Strength, strengthen us.

Today, eternal God,

let our cloud be dissipated

so that we may perfectly know and follow Your Truth in truth,

with a free and simple heart.

God, come to our assistance!

Lord, make haste to help us!  Amen.

--by St. Catherine of Siena

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer of Preparation Before Receiving Holy Communion

                                     

Holy Mother Church dedicates the month of April to the Most Blessed Sacrament.  During this Easter season may we truly learn to contemplate and love this great Gift from Our Lord!  After Christ's burial, the Apostles and our Blessed Mother had to wait until the resurrection for Our Lord's presence once again.  However, in the Blessed Sacrament we not only have the great privilege of continuously having God physically present, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, in the tabernacle, we also, although unworthy, are able to receive our Blessed Lord within us in holy communion!

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How often do we contemplate this immense gift of our Lord?  How well do we ensure we are focused on this Gift of Love, our Lord Himself, especially during Mass and Adoration?  Do we strive to ensure our souls are worthy dwelling places for the King of Kings?  In Catholic Churches throughout the world, our Blessed Lord dwells within the tabernacles, waiting and thirsting for souls to seek Him, visit Him, and love Him.  Throughout this month of April and always, may we work to shower our Lord with thanksgiving and love, truly treasuring the wondrous gift of His Presence, the Holy Eucharist.

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In the following beautiful prayer by St. Ambrose, we implore God's mercy on our sins and seek His help to overcome them, with the hope of worthily receiving our Blessed Lord in this great Sacrament.  I love reciting this prayer before Holy Communion, and I am grateful that our FSSP parish has this book, which includes St. Ambrose's prayer, in the pews.  I am also very grateful for the FSSP overall and the beautiful, reverent Masses and devotions we are privileged to experience through them.  Please keep these wonderful priests in your prayers.

Prayer of Preparation before Holy Communion

O loving Lord Jesus Christ, I a sinner, presuming not on my own merits, but trusting in Thy mercy and goodness, with fear and trembling approach the table of Thy most sacred banquet. For I have defiled both my heart and body with many sins, and have not kept a strict guard over my mind and my tongue. Wherefore, O gracious God, O awful Majesty, I, a wretched creature, entangled in difficulties, have recourse to Thee, the font of mercy; to Thee do I fly that I may be healed, and take refuge under Thy protection. And I ardently desire to have Him as my Savior, Whom I am unable to withstand as my Judge.

To Thee, O lord, I show my wounds, to Thee I lay bare my shame. I know that my sins are many and great, on account of which I am filled with fear. But I trust in Thy mercy, of which there is no end. Look down upon me, therefore, with the eyes of Thy mercy on me, who am full of misery and sin, Thou Who wilt never cease to let flow the fountain of mercy.

Hail, Victim of salvation, offered for me and for all mankind on the tree of the Cross. Hail, noble and precious Blood, flowing from the wounds of my crucified Lord Jesus Christ and washing away the sins of the whole world. Remember, O Lord, Thy creature, whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Blood. I am grieved because I have sinned, I desire to make amends for what I have done.

Take away from me, therefore, O most merciful Father, all my iniquities and sins, that, being purified both in soul, and body, I may worthily partake of the Holy of Holies. And grant that this holy oblation of Thy Body and Blood, of which, though unworthy, I purpose to partake, may be to me the remission of my sins, the perfect cleansing of my offenses, the means of driving away all evil thoughts and of renewing all holy desires, the accomplishment of works pleasing to Thee, as well as the strongest defense for soul and body against the snares of my enemies.   Amen.

--St. Ambrose

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer of St. Gemma Galgani to Jesus Crucified

 "I wish, oh Jesus, that my voice could reach to the ends of the world, to call all sinners and tell them to enter into Thy Heart....Oh, if only all sinners would come to Thy Heart!... Come! Come sinners, do not be afraid! The sword of Justice cannot reach you Here!"

~St Gemma Galgani

Prayer of St. Gemma Galgani

O my crucified God, behold me at Thy feet; deign to cast me not out, now that I appear before Thee as a sinner.  I have offended Thee exceedingly in the past, my Jesus, but it shall be so no longer.  Before Thee, my God, I put all my sins...; I have now considered them and behold, they do not deserve Thy pardon; but do Thou cast one glance upon Thy sufferings and see how great is the worth of that Precious Blood that flows from Thy veins.  O my God, at this hour close Thine eyes to my want of merit and open them to Thine infinite mercy, and since Thou hast been pleased to die for my sins, grant me forgiveness for them all, that I may no longer feel the burden of my sins, for this burden, dear Jesus, oppresses me beyond measure.  Assist me, my Jesus, for I desire to become good whatsoever it may cost; take away, destroy, utterly root out all that Thou findest in me contrary to Thy holy will.  At the same time I pray Thee, O Jesus, to enlighten me, that I may be able to walk in Thy holy light.

--St. Gemma Galgani

God bless!

+JMJ+

Act of Adoration and Thanksgiving

 As Thanksgiving Day approaches, let us remember to give thanks to God for all of the blessings He has bestowed upon us. Let us also especially remember to thank Him for the great gift of Himself in the Blessed Sacrament, the Holy Eucharist.

An Act of Adoration and Thanksgiving

I adore Thee, Eternal Father, and I give Thee thanks for the infinite love, with which for my redemption Thou didst deign to send Thine only-begotten Son to be the food of my soul. I offer Thee all the acts of adoration and thanksgiving that are offered to Thee by the Angels and Saints in heaven and by the just on earth. I praise Thee, I love Thee, and I thank Thee, with all the praises, love and thanksgiving wherewith Thine own Son praises Thee, loves Thee and thanks Thee. And I pray Thee to grant that He may be known, loved, honored, thanked, and worthily received by all men in this Most Blessed Sacrament.
 ** 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory be.

I adore Thee, Eternal Son, and I thank Thee for the infinite love which caused Thee to become incarnate for me, to be born in a stable, to be brought up in the carpenter’s shop, and to be willing to endure hunger, thirst, cold, fatigue, hardships, contempt, persecution, scourges, thorns, nails and death on the hard wood of the Cross. I thank Thee, in company with Thy whole Church, militant and triumphant, for the infinite love with which Thou didst institute the Blessed Sacrament to be the food of my soul. I adore Thee in all the consecrated Hosts throughout the whole world. I give Thee thanks also on behalf of those who know Thee not and who fail to thank Thee. Would that I could lay down my life to cause Thee to be known, loved, and honored by all men in this Sacrament of love, and to put an end to all the irreverences and sacrileges that are committed against Thee! I love Thee, my Jesus, and I desire to love Thee and receive Thee with all the love, purity, and affection of Thy most holy Mother, and with the perfect love of Thine own Sacred Heart. Ah, most loving Spouse of my soul, come to me in Thy Sacrament and bring forth in me all those fruits for the sake of which Thou comest to us, and grant that I may die rather than ever receive Thee unworthily.
 ** 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory be.

I adore Thee, Eternal Spirit, and I give Thee thanks for the infinite love with which Thou hast wrought the ineffable mystery of the Incarnation, and for the infinite charity wherewith Thou didst form out of the most pure blood of the Blessed Virgin Mary the sacred Body of Jesus, which in this Sacrament is the food of my soul. I pray Thee to enlighten my mind and purify my heart and the hearts of all men, that they may come to know the great gift of Thy love, and may receive this Blessed Sacrament in all worthiness.
 ** 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Glory be.
--The Raccolta

Honoring the Blessed Sacrament in April

 Holy Mother Church dedicates the month of April to the Blessed Sacrament since it is often during this month that Catholics celebrate Holy Thursday, the day on which we remember the Last Supper when Our Lord instituted the Holy Eucharist. The best way to honor Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is by attending Holy Mass as often as possible and worthily receiving Him in Holy Communion .

 After receiving Our Lord, we should always remember to spend those next moments speaking with Him in thanksgiving, worship, and love for we truly hold Jesus within us at that time. St. Alphonsus Liguori once wrote,

“there is no prayer more dear to God than that which is made after communion...” and that our loving thoughts and prayers after communion have greater merit “because they are then animated by the presence of Jesus Christ, Who is united to our souls.” 

 Once Holy Mass has ended, again we should kneel in silence before Our Lord to thank Him for coming to us in such a great sacrament and for the graces He has bestowed on us out of love, although we are unworthy to even receive Him. Numerous prayers, many written by the saints, are fitting to recite after Holy Communion. The following prayer by St. Thomas Aquinas is one example.

Thanksgiving After Communion

Lord, Father all-powerful and ever-living God, I thank You, for even though I am a sinner, Your unprofitable servant, not because of my worth but in the kindness of Your mercy, You have fed me with the Precious Body and Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this Holy Communion may not bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation. May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will. May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions. May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience, and growth in the power to do good. May it be my strong defense against all my enemies, visible and invisible, and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses, bodily and spiritual. May it unite me more closely to You, the One true God, and lead me safely through death to everlasting happiness with You.  And I pray that You will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where You, with Your Son and Holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect happiness to Your saints. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

--written by St. Thomas Aquinas