Commendation to the Sacred Heart

 On October 17 Holy Mother Church honors St. Margaret Mary Alocoque.  At the age of twenty-two, St. Margaret Mary made her profession at the convent of the Visitation at Paray-le-Monial, and after a few quiet years in the convent, St. Margaret Mary began receiving revelations from Our Lord Who informed her of His great desire to be loved by all men. He also wanted devotion to His Sacred Heart to be spread, making twelve promises to those who practiced a true devotion to his Sacred Heart. Through these revelations and her zeal and love for Our Lord, devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus spread throughout the world.  She spoke of the Sacred Heart, saying, 

"Behold this Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify its love."

The following prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was found in the writings of St. Margaret Mary.

+                         +                    +

Commendation to the Sacred Heart 

O Lord, I elect Thy Sacred Heart my abiding-place. May it be my strength in combat, my support in weakness, my light and guide in darkness; may it supply for my defects and sanctify all my intentions and actions. In union with Thine Own I offer them up that I may be prepared to receive Thee. 

Strengthen and support, O most sacred Heart, the purpose and desire of loving and serving Thee with which Thou didst inspire me, and grant that I perform all the good that according to Thy will I should. 

Be Thou, O God, my strength; do Thou support and defend me, for I am and intend to be forever Thine.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer in Honor of St. Raphael Archangel

 "Angelus Domini Raphael apprehendit et ligavit daemonem.  Magnus Dominus noster, et magna virtus ejus." ("The angel of the Lord, Raphael, took and bound the devil.  Great is our Lord, and great is His power." --Tobias 8:3)  

Holy Mother Church celebrates the feast of St. Raphael the Archangel on October 24.  As is revealed to us in the Bible, St. Raphael is one of the seven who stand before the throne of God; he is the angel who accompanied young Tobias on his journey, who bound the demon in the desert, and who healed the blind Tobit.  In fact, St. Raphael the Archangel's name means 'God heals.'  May we thank God for all of our heavenly helpers, and may we especially remember St. Raphael on his feast day.

+

Prayer in Honor of St. Raphael the Archangel 

Vouchsafe, O Lord God, to send unto our assistance Saint Raphael the Archangel: and may he, who, we believe, evermore standeth before the throne of Thy Majesty, offer unto Thee our humble petitions to be blessed by Thee; through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

 Let us pray: O glorious Archangel, St. Raphael, great Prince of the heavenly Court, illustrious for thy gifts of wisdom and grace, guide of those who journey by land or sea, consoler of the afflicted and of sinners: I beg thee to assist me in all my needs and in suffering of this life, as once thou didst help the young Tobias in his travels. And because thou art the “Medicine of God,” I pray thee to heal the many infirmities of my soul, and the ills which afflict my body, if it be for my greater good. I especially ask of thee an angelic purity, which may fit me to be the temple of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Christe, Sanctorum 

(taken from Vespers of the feast of St. Raphael) 

Christ, Thou glory of the holy Angels, The Creator and Redeemer of the human race,  Grant that we may ascend to the happy abodes  Of the Blessed.  As the physician of our salvation  May the Angel Raphael come down from heaven,  That he may heal all who are sick,  And give guidance in the uncertain affairs of life.  May the Virgin, Queen of Peace,  May the Mother of the Light  May the sacred choir of Angels  And also the court of radiant heaven ever assist us.  Grant us this, Blessed Godhead  Of the Father, And Son, and likewise of the Holy Spirit,  Whose glory resounds  Throughout the whole world.			Christe,  sanctorum decus Angelorum  Gentis humanae Sator et Redemptor  Caelitum nobis tribuas beatas  Scandere sedes.  Angelus nostrae medicus salutis,  Adsit e caelo Raphael, ut omnes  Sanet aegrotos, dubiosque vitae  Dirigat actus.  Virgo dux pacis Genitrix-que lucis,  Et sacer nobis chorus Angelorum  Semper assistat, simul et micantis  Regia caeli.  Praestet hoc nobis Deitas beata  Patris, ac Nati, pariterque Sancti  Spiritus, cujus resonat per omnem  Gloria mundum.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Novena for the Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux

  Holy Mother Church honors St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as the Little Flower, on October 3.  She is well-known for her life of simplicity, her love of serving God, and her zeal for souls.  The following prayer is a novena asking for the intercession of St. Therese.  To end the novena on the vigil of her feast day, October 2, one should begin praying it on September 24.

"You know well enough that our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them."--St. Therese of Lisieux

"I have given nothing but love to God, and He will repay with love.  After my death, I will let fall a shower of roses."  --St. Therese of Lisieux

+

Novena in Honor of the Little Flower

 After the Special Prayer for each day, say the Concluding Prayers given at the end of the Novena. Thoughts for the day are taken from the words of the Little Flower. 

 Prayers to be said each day:

+ Holy Ghost, come and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Divine love. V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created. R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.  

+ Let Us Pray: O God, Who hast instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen. O my God! I believe in Thee: do Thou strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in. Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more. 

+ Then make an Act of Contrition.

+ Prayer:  O Lord Who hast said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the virgin, blessed Therese, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen. 

SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR EACH DAY

First Day:

St. Therese, privileged Little Flower of Jesus and Mary, I approach thee with childlike confidence and deep humility. I lay before thee my desires, and beg that through thine intercession they may be realized. Did thou not promise to spend thy Heaven doing good upon earth? Grant me according to this promise the favors I am asking from thee. Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through thine intercession. Amen. 

Thought for the day: CONFIDENCE IN GOD. "We can never have too much confidence in the good God Who is so powerful and so merciful. We obtain from Him as much as we hope for. What offends Jesus, what wounds His Sacred Heart, is lack of confidence in Him. If you are nothing, do you forget that Jesus is everything? You have only to lose your nothingness in His Infinity and think only of loving Him."

Second Day:  O dear little Saint, now that thou seest the crucified Jesus in Heaven, still bearing the wounds caused by sin, thou knowest still more clearly than thou didst upon earth the value of souls, and the priceless worth of that Precious Blood which He shed to save them. As I am one of those children for whom Christ died, obtain for me all the graces I need in order to profit by that Precious Blood. Use thy great power with our Divine Lord and pray for me. Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through thine intercession. Amen. 

Thought for the day: SIN. "The only grace I ask, O Jesus, is never to offend Thee. By love and not by fear, does a soul avoid committing the least voluntary fault. Yes, even if I had on my conscience a possible crime, I should lose none of my confidence; my heart breaking with sorrow should go and throw myself into the arm of my Saviour. The remembrance of my faults humbles and makes me afraid to rely on my strength. which is nothing but weakness." 

Third Day:  Dear Little Flower, make all things lead me to Heaven and God. Whether I look at the sun, the moon, the stars and the vast expanse in which they float, or whether I look at the flowers of the field, the trees of the forest, the beauties of the earth so full of color and so glorious, may they speak to me of the love and power of God; may they all sing His praises in my ear. Like thee may I daily love Him more and more in return for His gifts. Teach me often to deny myself in my dealings with others, that I may offer to Jesus many little sacrifices. Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through thine intercession. Amen. 

Thought for the day: THE USE OF GOD'S GIFTS. "How much benefit have I received from the beauties of nature, bestowed in such abundance. How they raise me to Him Who placed such wonders in this land of exile which is only to last a day. O sparkling nature, if I did not see God in thee, thou wouldst be naught but a great tomb. With Thy little hand which caresses Mary, Thou sustaineth the universe and bestow life; and Thou thinkest of me, O Jesus my little King. I do not wish creatures to have one atom of my love. I wish to give all to Jesus, since He has shown me that He alone is perfect happiness."

Fourth Day:  Dear Little Flower of Carmel, bearing so patiently the disappointments and delays allowed by God, and preserving in the depths of thy soul an unchanging peace because thou didst seek only God's Will, ask for me complete conformity to that adorable Will in all the trials and disappointments of life. If the favors I am asking during this Novena are pleasing to God, obtain them for me. If not, it is true I shall feel the refusal keenly, but I too wish only God's Will, and pray in the words thou didst use, that it "may ever be perfectly fulfilled in me." Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through thine intercession. Amen. 

Thought for the day: ABANDONMENT TO GOD. "I fear only one thing -- to keep my own will; take it, my God, for I choose all that Thou choosest. The only happiness here below is to strive to be always content with what Jesus gives us. I can demand nothing with fervor, except the perfect accomplishment of God's will in my soul. O my Beloved, I offer myself to Thee, that Thou may perfectly accomplisheth in me Thy holy designs, and I will not allow anything created to be an obstacle in their path."

Fifth Day:  Little Flower of Jesus, from the very first moment of thy religious life thou didst think only of denying thyself in all things so as to follow Jesus perfectly; help me to bear patiently the trials of my daily life. Teach me to make use of the trials, the sufferings, the humiliations, that come my way, to learn to know myself better and to love God more. Intercede for us all the days of our life but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through thine intercession. Amen. 

Thought for the day: PATIENCE IN SUFFERINGS. "I do not fear trials sent by Jesus, for even in the most bitter suffering we can see that it is His loving hand which causes it. When we are expecting nothing but suffering, we are quite surprised at the least joy; but then suffering itself becomes the greatest of joys when we seek it as a precious treasure. Far from resembling those beautiful Saints who practiced all sorts of austerities from childhood, my penance consisted in breaking my self-will, in keeping back a sharp reply, in doing little kindnesses to those about me, but considering these deeds as nothing."

Sixth Day:  St. Therese, Patroness of the Missions, be a great missionary throughout the world to the end of time. Remind our Master of His Own words, "The harvest is great, but the laborers are few." Thy zeal for souls was so great, obtain a like zeal for those now working for souls, and beg God to multiply their numbers, that the millions to whom Jesus is yet unknown, may be brought to know, love and follow Him. Intercede for us all the days of our life but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through thine intercession. Amen. 

Thought for the day: ZEAL FOR SOULS. "Let us work together for the salvation of souls. We have only the day of this life to save souls and to give them to the Lord as proofs of our love. I tell Jesus that I am glad not to be able to see, with the eyes of my soul, this beautiful Heaven which awaits me, in order that He may vouchsafe to open it forever to poor unbelievers. I cannot perform brilliant works; I cannot preach the Gospel or shed my blood. But what matter? My brothers work in place of me, and I, a little child, keep very close to the royal throne. I love for those who are carrying on the warfare. My deeds, my little sufferings, can make God loved all over the world."

Seventh Day:  O little martyr of Love, thou knowest now even better than in the days of thy pilgrimage that Love embraces all vocations; that it is Love alone which counts, which unites us perfectly to God and conforms our will with His. All thou didst seek on earth was love; to love Jesus as He had never yet been loved. Use thy power in Heaven to make us love Him. If only we love Him we shall desire to make Him loved by others; we shall pray much for souls. We shall no longer fear death, for it will unite us to Him forever. Obtain for us the grace to do all for the love of God, to give Him pleasure, to love Him so well that He may be pleased with us as He was with thee. Intercede for us all the days of our life but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through thine intercession. Amen. 

Thought for the day: LOVE OF GOD. "I will love God alone and will not have the misfortune of attaching myself to creatures, now that my heart perceives what He has in store for those who love Him. What attracts me to the Kingdom of Heaven is the call of our Lord, the hope of loving Him as I have so desired and the thought that I shall be able to make Him loved by a great number of souls who will bless Him forever. When Christ said, 'Give Me to drink,' it was the love of His poor creatures that He, the Creator of all things, desired. He thirsted for love. Remember that the dear Jesus is there in the Tabernacle expressly for you, for you alone. Remember that He is consumed with a desire to come into your heart."

Eighth Day:  Dear St. Therese, like thee I have to die one day. I beseech thee, obtain from God, by reminding Him of thine own precious death, that I may have a holy death, strengthened by the Sacraments of the Church, entirely resigned to the most holy Will of God, and burning with love for Him. May my last words on earth be "My God, I love Thee." Intercede for us all the days of our life but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through thine intercession. Amen. 

Thought for the day: DEATH. "It says in the catechism that death is nothing but the separation of the soul and body. Well, I have no fear of a separation which will unite me forever with the good God. I am happy to die because I shall be able to help souls who are dear to me, far more than I can here below. Life is not sad; it is very joyous. If you say, "This exile is sad," I understand you. We are wrong to give the name "life" to something which will end; it is only to the things of Heaven that we should apply this beautiful name."

Ninth Day:  Dear little St. Therese, by love and suffering while on earth, thou didst win the power with God which thou doth now enjoy in Heaven. Since thy life there began, thou hast showered down countless blessings on this poor world; thou hast been the instrument made use of by thy Divine Spouse to work countless miracles. I beg of thee to remember all my wants. Sufferings must come to me also, may I use them to love God more, and follow my Jesus better. Thou art especially the little missionary of love. Make me love Jesus more, and all others for His sake. With all my heart I thank the most Holy Trinity for the wonderful blessings conferred on thee, and upon the world through thee. Intercede for us all the days of our life but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through thine intercession. Amen. 

Thought for the day: THE MISSION OF THE LITTLE FLOWER. "I do not intend to remain inactive in Heaven. I want to work for the Church and for souls. I have asked this of God and I am certain that He will grant my request. I will spend my Heaven doing good upon earth. This is not impossible, since the Angels, though always enjoying the Beatific Vision, watch over us. No, I cannot be at rest until the end of the world. I beseech Thee, O Jesus, to cast Thy Divine glance on a great number of little souls. I beg Thee to choose in this world a legion of little victims, worthy of Thy Love." 

CONCLUDING PRAYERS 

We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us from all dangers, O ever glorious and blessed Virgin. V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray: Grant O Lord God, we beseech Thee that we Thy servants may rejoice in continual health of mind and body; and through the glorious intercession of blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may be freed from present sorrow and enjoy eternal gladness, through Christ our Lord. Amen. O God, Who didst inflame with Thy Spirit of Love, the soul of Thy Servant, Therese of the Child Jesus, grant that we also may love Thee and make Thee much loved. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

For the Feast of Christ the King

                                                              

Holy Mother Church celebrates the feast of Christ the King on the last Sunday in October.  This feast was promulgated by Pope Pius XI in 1925 with his encyclical Quas Primas.  On this feast day of our Lord, we pray for the conversion of all people to Christ and for all governments to recognize Christ as King, ruling their lands in conformity with His laws.  In Quas Primas Pope Pius XI writes,

“The Church, founded by Christ as a perfect society, has a natural and inalienable right to perfect freedom and immunity from the power of the state; and that in fulfilling the task committed to her by God of teaching, ruling, and guiding to eternal bliss those who belong to the kingdom of Christ, she cannot be subject to any external power... Nations will be reminded by the annual celebration of this feast that not only private individuals but also rulers and princes are bound to give public honor and obedience to Christ. It will call to their minds the thought of the last judgment, wherein Christ, who has been cast out of public life, despised, neglected and ignored, will most severely avenge these insults; for his kingly dignity demands that the State should take account of the commandments of God and of Christian principles, both in making laws and in administering justice... The faithful, moreover, by meditating upon these truths, will gain much strength and courage, enabling them to form their lives after the true Christian ideal. If to Christ our Lord is given all power in heaven and on earth; if all men, purchased by His Precious Blood, are by a new right subjected to His dominion; if this power embraces all men, it must be clear that not one of our faculties is exempt from His empire. He must reign in our minds…He must reign in our wills…He must reign in our hearts…He must reign in our bodies and in our members…”

 

Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus 

Most Sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thine altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united to Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates ourselves today to Thy Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known Thee; Many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart. 

Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful children, who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children, who have abandoned Thee; Grant that they may quickly return to their Father’s house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. 

Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.  

Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism, and refuse not to draw them into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy towards the children of the race, once Thy chosen people: of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Savior; may it now descend upon them a laver of redemption and of life. 

Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry; praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; To it be glory and honor forever.  Amen. 

--Pope Leo XIII

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer for our Church and our Country

 "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. 

+

Fr. Stinson, North American District Superior of the FSSP, has requested that all of the Faithful recite this prayer throughout the month of October.

+

“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 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+

Act of Consecration by Ven. Pope Pius XII

 Holy Mother Church devotes the month of October to the Holy Rosary and specifically honors our Lady of the Rosary on October 7.

+

“The Rosary is a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight and to keep oneself from sin…If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the Rosary. Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labors.” – Pope Pius XI

 

Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of all, to fulfil the desires of the Sacred Heart and the request of the Vicar of thy Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to thy Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and we recommend to thee, all the people of our country and all the world. Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as thou wish to accomplish thy designs upon the world. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and Queen of the World, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, Our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism; kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the Rosary more faithfully. We come with confidence to thee, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love. Inflame us with the same Divine Fire which has inflamed thy own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes thy shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with thy rule, triumphant in every heart and home.

 --By Ven. Pope Pius XII

“Go to the Madonna. Love her! Always say the Rosary. Say it well. Say it as often as you can! Be souls of prayer. Never tire of praying, it is what is essential. Prayer shakes the Heart of God, it obtains necessary graces!” -St. Padre Pio

God bless!

+JMJ+

On the Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux

 Holy Mother Church honors St. Therese of Lisieux on October 3.  Known as the Little Flower, St. Therese desired to live each day of her life as a little soul for our Lord.  In her prayer "Act of Oblation of a Little Soul," she humbly expresses her prayer to be His servant of love for his glory and the salvation of souls.  May we likewise strive to live for our Lord.  

“Holiness consists simply in doing God's will, and being just what God wants us to be.”  ― St. Thérèse de Lisieux

An Act of Oblation of a Little Soul 

Behold, Sweet Jesus, I offer my life to Thee. Take me as a little victim of love and do with me whatever Thou willest. Oh, how I love Thee! I offer Thee all my faculties both of soul and of body. Take them, Jesus, also every moment of my life. Let me know and love no one but Thee, my Sweet Love. Take from me all liberty to sin. I offer myself entirely to Thee and beg Thee to rivet me within Thy Holy Wounds. Let my love of Thee have no limit or bounds, but let it be known over the earth when life has fled and I am resting in Thy Arms. Jesus, Thou Who art the lover of little souls, may my life be one act of perfect love. May I be plunged deeper within Thee at every heart-throb. Imprint within me Thy Divine Likeness so that I may draw many souls to the enjoyment of the happiness of living in Thee. Jesus, take my heart; make it Thy furnace of love so that many souls may be inflamed by its fire. Take me, wound me, so that the imprint may go with me into Eternity. O my God, take from me everything I have if it please Thy Wounded Heart. O Jesus, may my life be a martyrdom of love. May I become a perfect little victim. May suffering be the key to my happiness. I long only to love Thee passionately even unto folly and to burn others in the fire of this love. May I be a beacon-light to souls who are following in darkness the pleasures of this world. And when the evening of life comes may I fly to Thee, even though it be with empty hands, to receive once more Thy Heavenly embrace and fall asleep in Thy Arms --- for all eternity in Heaven. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis

 While Holy Mother Church celebrates the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4, this great saint is also honored on September 17, the day on which the Church remembers the Stigmata of St. Francis.  Although St. Francis received the Wounds of Christ on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, September 14, the Church honors this awesome event on September 17 that it might have its own commemoration.  In the Little Flowers of St. Francis, one reads of St. Francis receiving the Stigmata,

"For upon his hands and feet began immediately to appear the figures of the nails, as he had seen them on the Body of Christ crucified, who had appeared to him in the likeness of a Seraph. And thus the hands and feet appeared pierced through the midst by the nails, the heads whereof were seen outside the flesh in the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, and the points of the nails stood out at the back of the hands, and the feet in such wise that they appeared to be twisted and bent back upon themselves, and the portion thereof that was bent back upon themselves, and the portion thereof that was bent back or twisted stood out free from the flesh, so that one could put a finger through the same as through a ring; and the heads of the nails were round and black. In like manner, on the right side appeared the image of an unhealed wound, as if made by a lance, and still red and bleeding, from which drops of blood often flowed from the holy breast of St Francis, staining his tunic and his drawers... Now although these sacred wounds, which had been impressed upon him by Christ, gave great joy to his heart, yet they caused unspeakable pain to his body; so that, being constrained by necessity, he made choice of Brother Leo, for his great purity and simplicity, to whom he revealed the whole matter, suffering him to touch and dress his wounds on all days except during the time from Thursday evening till Saturday morning, for then he would not by any human remedy mitigate the pain of Christ’s Passion, which he bore in his body, because at that time our Saviour Jesus Christ was taken and crucified, died and was buried for us."

O Divi Amoris Victima

O victim dear of heavenly love, impurpled by thy fivefold sign, Saint Francis, father of the poor, of Jesus' Cross a living shrine. Thou, burning with the glowing flames of love of God and love of man, dost yearn for Christ to shed thy blood and thrice dost try the seas to span. Although denied thy heart's desire, thou lettest not thine ardor wane; but kindled still with love divine to stir new fires thou strivest amain. Still living in thine Orders three, thou art found in many a savage clime; and frozen hearts, warmed at thy flame, grow fervent with thy fire sublime. So shalt thou crush the powers of hell, thy conquering arms our foes dismay; when Holy Church doth seem to fail, still is thy mighty strength her stay. Come, help us, father, while we pray, thy love within our hearts inspire, thy boundless love, that spreads abroad the glowing brightness of its fire. Praise we the Father and the Son, praise we the Holy Paraclete: He grant us grace to emulate Our father's spirit, as is meet. Amen.

O divi amoris victima Quino cruenta vulnere, Francisce qui vivam Crucis Christi refers imaginem. Tu caritatis fervidis Flammis adustus, sanguinem Christo daturus, barbara Ter cogitasti litora. Voti sed impos, non sinis Languere flammas desides: Et excitas caelestia, Flagrans amore incendia. In prole vivens efferas Pervadis oras; algida Gelu soluto, ut ferveant Ardore sancto pectora. Sic pertimendis lividum Armis Avernum conteris; Virtutis et firmum latus Templo labanti subiicis. Adsis, Pater, precantibus Ignemque, late quo tua Exarsit ingens caritas, Accende nostris mentibus. Sit laus Patri et Filio, Sit inclyto Paraclito, Qui nos Parentis optimi Det aemulari spiritum. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

An Fun Prayer Encouragement

 I pray everyone is doing well and that you have a blessed Candlemas! I  hope to begin blogging again soon (on a regular basis) since my littlest one is now a bit more independent.  I have many birthday posts to write and prayers to give you.  For today, however, I only have a picture that I thought was fun.  I hope you enjoy it!

God bless!

+JMJ+

Upcoming Feasts

 

A quick reminder of some upcoming feasts in the Church with links for prayers to say on these days.

St. Teresa of Avila

St. Margaret Mary Alocoque

A prayer to St. Joseph (The following prayer was prescribed by Pope Leo XIII to be prayed after the recitation of the Holy Rosary and the Litany of our Lady during the month of October.)

I pray you are having a blessed day on this holy 100th anniversary of our Lady of Fatima.

May we remember to pray the rosary daily and do much penance for the conversion of sinners and reparation for sins committed against the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayers Requested and Our Lady of Fatima

 +  Please remember in your prayers Fr. Goodwin, FSSP, who suffered a major stroke today.  He is currently in the hospital in a coma.  Please pray for a speedy recovery for him, or, if it is God's will instead, his entrance into heaven.  May God reward you.  +

+               +               +               +               +

Tomorrow, October 13, is the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun in connection with the appearances of Our Lady of Fatima.  To honor Mary on this day, it would be most fitting to recite the Rosary and do acts of penance, as Our Lady requested at Fatima.  Another method through which to honor our Lady of Fatima is the recitation of the following prayer, "Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima."  In this beautiful prayer we pray for Mary's intentions, rather than our own, realizing that nothing we could ask could be as perfect as her requests.  We, her children, give her our hearts, trusting her to love and guide us as our Heavenly Mother.

The prayer is labeled a novena, so it would be most appropriate to pray it nine days prior to this anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima, beginning on October 4, or nine days prior to Our Lady of Fatima's feast (which is on May 13).  It could also be prayed for nine days beginning with October 13, this anniversary of her appearance, and extended from there.  Such a beautiful prayer also seems like a wonderful prayer to recite throughout October, to provide our Heavenly Mother with greater devotion and love from us.  

Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima

Immaculate Heart of Mary, my Mother, I come to you this day as a little child in prayer.  I beg to make this offering of my heart as simple and childlike as I can.  The three little ones of Fatima have taught us what it is that  pleases your maternal heart.

I earnestly desire that all the people of the world be brought back to a humble knowledge and love of the Sacred Heart of your dear Son.  I pray, dear Mother of my God, that the indescribable beauty and the glow-white purity of your own Immaculate Heart may so captivate our souls that we will detest all sin and dedicate our lives to the honor and glory of the God Who created us.  As much as I feel the need of many things, I do not dare in this novena, Mother Mary, to ask one selfish petition for myself.  You revealed the secrets of your own sad heart at Fatima and begged for the restoration of the world to God.  What can I ask of greater good than to unite my heart to yours in this great yearning?  What can I add but the fervent prayer that all the world may listen to your pleading?

I give my heart to you, my heavenly Queen, and in utmost confidence I leave to you the choice of what is best for me in answer to my prayer of love and reparation.  Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, I give you my heart.  Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, I put my trust entirely in you.  

Immaculate Heart of the Mother of my God, we implore, through your powerful intercession the conversion of the hearts of men, complete victory over sin, and the return of peace which you have promised.  Amen.  

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer to St. Joseph for the Month of October

                                   

Pope Leo XIII's encyclical Quamquam Pluries was the first encyclical dedicated to St. Joseph.  In it he states, it is "...of high importance that the devotion to St. Joseph should engraft itself upon the daily pious practices of Catholics..."  He urges the use of prayer, joining to the intercession of Mary that of St. Joseph, to implore God's help.  Quamquam Pluries states, "We judge it of deep utility for the Christian people, continually to invoke with great piety and trust, together with the Virgin-Mother of God, her chaste Spouse, the Blessed Joseph; and We regard it as most certain that this will be most pleasing to the Virgin herself."

To encourage this devotion to St. Joseph in union with devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pope Leo XIII therefore attached to his encyclical the prayer "Ad te Beate Ioseph," ordering that it be added to the end of the recitation of the rosary throughout the month of October. To this prayer he attached an indulgence.

Ad te Beate Ioseph

AD te beate Ioseph, in tribulatione nostra confugimus, atque, implorato Sponsae tuae sanctissimae auxilio, patrocinium quoque tuum fidenter exposcimus. Per eam, quaesumus quae te cum immaculata Virgine Dei Genetrice coniunxit, caritatem, perque paternum, quo Puerum Iesum amplexus es, amorem, supplices deprecamur, ut ad hereditatem, quam Iesus Christus acquisivit Sanguine suo, benignus respicias, ac necessitatibus nostris tua virtute et ope succurras.

Tuere, o Custos providentissime divinae Familiae, Iesu Christi subolem electam; prohibe a nobis, amantissime Pater, omnem errorum ac corruptelarum luem; propitius nobis, sospitator noster fortissime, in hoc cum potestate tenebrarum certamine e caelo adesto; et sicut olim Puerum Iesum e summo eripuisti vitae discrimine, ita nunc Ecclesiam sanctam Dei ab hostilibus insidiis atque ab omni adversitate defende: nosque singulos perpetuo tege patrocinio, ut ad tui exemplar et ope tua suffulti, sancte vivere, pie emori, sempiternamque in caelis beatitudinem assequi possimus. Amen.

+                         +                         +

Prayer to St. Joseph

TO thee, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of thy most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also. Through that charity which bound thee to the immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which thou embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg thee to graciously regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with thy power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

O most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be propitious to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness; and, as once thou rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by thy constant protection, so that, supported by thy example and thy aid, we may be able to live piously, to die holy, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Novena to our Guardian Angel

                                                          

"Our guardian angels are our most faithful friends, because they are with us day and night, always and everywhere. We ought often to invoke them." -- St. John Vianney

Holy Mother Church thanks God for our blessed Guardian Angels and honors them by celebrating their feast on October 2.  How often do we go about our day without a thought to these heavenly helpers?  Out of His great love for us, the Heavenly Father saw fit to provide each of us with one of His angelic beings as our guide, our protector, and our help to gain heaven.  These beings, so holy and powerful in His sight, remain always at our side, not only protecting us from physical perils but also from dangers to our souls.

+

May we daily remember these heavenly friends, thanking them and listening to their promptings as we journey with them to our heavenly goal.  May we especially honor them on their feast, that of the Holy Guardian Angels.  In the following prayer, which is to be recited as a novena, we thank our blessed Guardian Angels and ask for their continual help until we reach Heaven.  It would be most fitting to recite this prayer nine days before their feast (sorry I posted too late for that but it would be wonderful to pray anyway around the time of their feast), beginning on September 23 and ending on October 1, the eve of this feast day.

+

The following novena is also one way to pray for the Souls in Purgatory since, in it, we ask our heavenly angels to seek relief for the Poor Souls in Purgatory.  This would make a most suitable novena to pray for the poor souls, beginning on  October 24 and ending on November 1, the day prior to the feast of the Holy  Souls.  As Saint John Vianney says of the act of helping the poor souls,
“Consider then...the magnitude of these sufferings which the souls in Purgatory endure; and the means which we have of mitigating them: our prayers, our good works, and, above all, the holy sacrifice of the Mass.”

Novena to our Guardian Angel for the Holy Souls

O holy Angel, whom God, by the effect of His goodness and His tender regard for my welfare, has charged with the care of my conduct, and who assists me in all my wants and comforts me in all my afflictions, who supports me when I am discouraged and continually obtains for me new favors, I return thee profound thanks, and I earnestly beseech thee, O most amiable protector, to continue thy charitable care and defense of me against the malignant attacks of all my enemies. Keep me away from all occasions of sin. Obtain for me the grace of listening attentively to thy holy inspirations and of faithfully putting them into practice.

In particular, I implore thee to obtain for me the relief and deliverance of all the Souls in Purgatory, the ones who prayed for the Souls themselves while still on earth; the forgotten and abandoned Souls; the souls of my relatives and friends; the souls of priests and religious; the souls of all those to whom I am obligated by charity to pray for and may have neglected by laxity in memory; and most especially for the Soul I here name in this novena. (Mention or think of the person.)

Protect me in all the temptations and trials of this life. but most especially at the hour of my death, and do not leave me until thou hast conducted me into the presence of my Creator in the mansions of everlasting happiness. Amen.

"Brethren, we will love God's angels with a most affectionate love; for they will be our heavenly co-heirs some day, these spirits who now are sent by the Father to be our protectors and our guides. With such bodyguards, what are we to fear? They can neither be subdued nor deceived; nor is there any possibility at all that they should go astray who are to guard us in all our ways. They are trustworthy, they are intelligent, they are strong — why, then, do we tremble? We need only to follow them, remain close to them, and we will dwell in the protection of the Most High God. So as often as you sense the approach of any grave temptation or some crushing sorrow hangs over you, invoke your protector, your leader, your helper in every situation. Call out to him and say: Lord, save us, we are perishing." --St. Bernard Clairvaux

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer to St. Dominic Guzman

 Although the feast of St. Dominic Guzman is celebrated on August 4 (August 8 on the new calendar), October, the month of the Holy Rosary, is a fitting month to ask this saint for his intercession. St. Dominic, born in Spain and well-know for his love of learning, charity, and our Lady, was ordained a priest at age twenty-five and lived according to the rule of St. Augustine. However, during a journey through France, Dominic saw the lack of Faith among the common people, with the Albigensian heresy gaining popularity, and the great need to convert them to the Truth. From that moment St. Dominic understood God's will for him was preaching in the world, thus he founded the Order of Preachers, or Dominicans.

St. Dominic worked tirelessly to combat the spread of heresy, imploring heaven in this task. Tradition holds that Mary appeared to St. Dominic, telling him that he would only conquer the enemies of the Church with her Rosary. She encouraged him to pray the Rosary and spread its use throughout the world. It was by following our Lady's command that St. Dominic was able to overcome the Albigensians, and the use of the Holy Rosary continued to increase among the faithful.

+

As the month of the Holy Rosary comes to a close, may we remember to pray our Lady's psalter, her Rosary, imploring heaven, as did St. Dominic, for grace and virtue for ourselves and the entire world. Through Mary's Rosary as our “weapon” we may also transform souls and bring them to the Truth, following the holy St. Dominic Guzman. Through the following prayer to St. Dominic, we seek his intercession in obtaining an increase of virtues, to aid us in living a holy life, filled with love of God, prayer, and kindness toward all.

A Prayer to Saint Dominic

O glorious Saint Dominic, thou who wast a model of mortification and purity, by punishing thy innocent body with scourges, with fastings, and with watchings, and by keeping inviolate the lily of thy virginity, obtain for us the grace to practice penance with a generous heart and to keep unspotted the purity of our bodies and our hearts. *** Recite 1 Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be.

O great Saint, who, inflamed with divine love, didst find thy delight in prayer and intimate union with God, obtain for us to be faithful in our daily prayers, to love Our Lord ardently, and to observe His commandments with ever-increasing fidelity. ***Recite 1 Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be.

O glorious Saint Dominic, who, being filled with zeal for the salvation of souls, didst preach the Gospel in season and out of season and didst establish the Order of Friars Preachers to labor for the conversion of heretics and poor sinners, pray thou to God for us, that He may grant us to love all our brethren sincerely and to cooperate always, by our prayers and good works, in their sanctification and eternal salvation. *** Recite 1 Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be.

V. Pray for us, Saint Dominic; R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who are weighed down by the burden of our sins may be raised up by the patronage of blessed Dominic Thy Confessor. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

On the Feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

The feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque traditionally is celebrated on October 17. As a child, St. Margaret Mary endured many hardships, but she remained devout in her faith and kind to everyone. At the age of twenty-two, St. Margaret Mary made her profession at the convent of the Visitation at Paray-le-Monial. The nuns of the Order of the Visitation, which was founded by St. Francis de Sales, were widely known for their humility and charity, both virtues of which St. Margaret Mary generously possessed. She also practiced severe penances throughout her life as a nun. After a few quiet years in the convent, St. Margaret Mary began receiving revelations from Our Lord Who informed her of His great desire to be loved by all men. He also wanted devotion to His Sacred Heart to be spread, making twelve promises to those who practiced a true devotion to his Sacred Heart. Through these revelations and her zeal and love for Our Lord, devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus spread throughout the world. 

+

St. Margaret Mary spoke of the Heart of our Lord, saying
"The Sacred Heart of Christ is an inexhaustible fountain and its sole desire is to pour itself out into the hearts of the humble so as to free them and prepare them to lead lives according to His good pleasure.
From this divine heart three streams flow endlessly. The first is the stream of mercy for sinners; it pours into their hearts sentiments of contrition and repentance. The second is the stream of charity, which helps all in need and especially aids those seeking perfection in order to find the means of surmounting their difficulties. From the third stream flow love and light for the benefit of His friends who have attained perfection; these He wishes to unite to Himself so that they may share His knowledge and commandments and, in their individual ways, devote themselves wholly to advancing His glory.
This divine heart is an abyss filled with all blessings, and into it the poor should submerge all their needs. It is an abyss of joy in which all of us can immerse our sorrows. It is an abyss of lowliness to counteract our foolishness, an abyss of mercy for the wretched, an abyss of love to meet our every need."

+

May we, like St. Margaret Mary, hold a place of honor for the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in our hearts, striving to love our Lord with our whole beings and to give our entire selves to Him.  A wonderful practice honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the devotion of the First Fridays.  You can read more about this devotion in this post.

+               +               +               +               +

Prayer to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ

Place me, O my sweet Savior, in Thy Sacred Side, and in Thy adorable Heart which is a burning Furnace of pure love, and I shall be in safety. I hope, O my Jesus, My Sovereign Good, that Thou wilt bring me in thither, since I love Thee, not for the recompenses which Thou dost promise to those who love Thee, but purely for the love of Thyself. I love Thee above all things lovable, above everything good, above everything beautiful, above every pleasure, and in fine, above myself and everything that is outside of Thee, and I protest in the presence of Heaven and earth that I wish to live and die in Thy holy love, purely and simply, and that even if to love Thee in this manner, I must suffer persecution and torments and even endure death, I am quite content, and will say with St. Paul: "No creature shall ever be able to separate me from the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, whom I love and wish to love eternally."

O most amiable Heart, Thou art my strength, my support, my recompense, my safety, my refuge, my love and my all. O most holy Heart of Jesus, Heart most august, Master of all hearts, I love Thee, I adore Thee, I praise Thee; I thank Thee, I wish to be all Thine. O Heart of love, dwell with me and in me; govern me, save me, change me entirely into Thee. O most excellent and most Sacred Heart, the eternal enjoyment of which will be, without surfeit, the Source of enjoyment and the Recompense of the blessed, how desirable, how lovable Thou art! O Divine Heart, come to me, or draw me to Thee. O Heart most sublime, the Delight of Divinity! I salute Thee from exile where I am; I invoke Thee in my sorrow; I call on Thee as the remedy for my frailty. Oh! most merciful Heart, compassionate and generous Heart of my Father and my Savior, do not refuse Thy help to my unworthy heart, destroy in me the reign of sin and establish in me that of virtue in order that Thy image may be completely perfected in me and that it may one day be an ornament in Thy Heavenly palace. Amen.

--by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

God bless!

+JMJ+

On the Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux

                                                    

Holy Mother Church traditionally celebrates the feast of St. Therese of Lisieux on October 3, although on the new calendar it has been moved to October 1. St. Therese entered the Carmelite convent at the age of fifteen. For the next nine years she lived a very ordinary life, but she attained a high level of sanctity by living her “little way.” This meant that St. Therese completed her ordinary tasks with perfect fidelity. She joyfully served others and had a childlike confidence in God's love and mercy. Throughout her day St. Therese offered prayers and sacrifices to Jesus to show Him how much she loved Him. She did not feel she could do grand things for God, but she knew she was capable of little things and that even the smallest thing done for love of God is beautiful in His eyes. While she only lived to be twenty-four, St. Therese left us a great example with her “little way.”

+               +                +                 +                +

The “Twenty-four Glory be to the Father's Novena” can be said at any time. However, the 9th to the 17th of the month is most common and particularly recommended, for on those days everyone making the novena joins in prayer together. In this simple novena the "Glory be to the Father" prayer praising the Holy Trinity is said twenty-four times each of the nine days, in thanksgiving for all the blessings and favors given to Saint Therese of Lisieux, also known as St. Therese of the Child Jesus, during the twenty-four years of her life.

***Begin the novena each day with the following prayer; then recite the 24 Glory Be prayers.

"Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, I thank Thee for all the blessings and favors Thou hast showered upon the soul of Thy servant Therese of the Child Jesus, during the twenty-four years she spent here on earth, and in consideration of the merits of this Thy most beloved Saint, I beseech Thee to grant me this favor, if it is in accordance with Thy most Holy Will and is not an obstacle to my salvation." After this prayer, recite 24 “Glory Be's,” saying between each of them “St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.”

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer to the Queen of the Holy Rosary

 Holy Mother Church devotes the month of October to the Holy Rosary. In 1206 Mary appeared to St.

Dominic after he had been praying and doing severe penances because of his lack of success in fighting the Albigensian heresy. Mary praised him for his valiant battle against the heretics and then gave him the rosary as a mighty weapon, instructing him to spread its use.

+

While the rosary received its beginning hundreds of years ago, in modern times it remains a popular devotion. It is a prayer loved by countless saints and encouraged by the Church. The rosary is a powerful prayer to our Lady and is a devotion all of the faithful should try to incorporate into their daily lives. A simple practice to honor our Lady and her rosary is to recite a rosary, or even just one decade of the rosary, daily. During this month of the Holy Rosary let us strive to recite daily the holy Rosary, the prayer of our Lady, imploring her protection over Holy Mother Church.

+

Another prayer honoring this devotion of the rosary is the following prayer to the Queen of the Holy Rosary, whose feast day is October 7.

Prayer to the Queen of the Holy Rosary

O Queen of the most holy Rosary, in these times of brazen impiety, show again they power, with the signs which accompanied thy victories of old, and from the throne where thou art seated, dispensing pardon and grace, in pity watch over the Church of thy Son, His Vicar, and every order of the clergy and laity, suffering in grievous warfare. Hasten, O most powerful destroyer of heresy, hasten the hour of mercy seeing that the hour of judgment is daily challenged by enumerable offenses. Obtain for me, the lowest of men, kneeling suppliant in thy presence, the grace which may enable me to live a just life on earth, and reign with the just in Heaven, whilst with the faithful throughout the world, O Queen of the most holy Rosary, I salute thee and cry out: Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us! Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

In Honor of our Guardian Angels

 For he hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee in all thy ways.  --Psalm 90:11

On October 2 Holy Mother Church celebrates the feast of the holy Guardian Angels. As Pope John XXIII stated, Our “...Father in heaven has charged His angels to come to our assistance during our earthly journey..., so that, protected by the angels' help and care, we may avoid the snares upon our path, subdue our passions and, under this angelic guidance, follow always the straight and sure road which leads to Paradise....”

+

For this great gift of His angels, we should thank God for out of His love for us, we each are accompanied by a heavenly guide. While October 2 is especially dedicated to them, we should remember our angels daily. Pope Pius XI confided that throughout each day he prayed to his guardian angel, asking for help in difficult times and also expressing gratitude for the angel's heavenly assistance.

+

St. Bernard of Clairvaux suggested we treat our Guardian Angels with “...reverence because of their presence; devotion because of their benevolence; confidence because of their solicitude.”

+

Let us, then, follow these examples and affectionately love our Guardian Angels. Let us remember to greet them when we rise, pray to them for help throughout our day, and express our gratitude for the constant help and love they give to us.

+               +               +               +                +

Saint Gertrude’s Prayer to One's Guardian Angel

O most holy Angel of God, appointed by God to my Guardian, I give thee thanks for all the benefits which thou hast ever bestowed on me in body and soul. I praise and glorify thee that thou condescended to assist me with such patient fidelity, and to defend me against all the assaults of my enemy. Blessed be the hour in which thou were assigned me for my Guardian, my defender and my patron. In acknowledgment and return for all thy loving ministries to me, I offer thee the infinitely precious and noble Heart of Jesus, and firmly purpose to obey thee henceforward, and most faithfully to serve my God. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer to St. Teresa of Avila

 On October 15 Holy Mother Church celebrates the feast of St. Teresa of Avila. Born in Spain in 1515, Teresa and her brother loved to read the lives of the saints; later she became a nun. Early in her life as a Carmelite nun, St. Teresa, although devout to our Lord, had a difficult time focusing on prayer, which her frequent sickness and visitors at the convent made worse. However, one day while praying in front of a picture of Jesus, St. Teresa felt a great sadness for not loving God more, and from that moment she vowed to live for Him alone, despite the sacrifices necessary.

 In return for her love, Our Lord allowed St. Teresa the privilege of hearing Him speak to her and taught her to pray in a wonderful way. St. Teresa obediently recorded all she experienced. Later she worked to reform the Carmelite order, opening new convents that no longer allowed worldly interruptions in order to allow the nuns undisturbed prayer. Her nuns learned to work and pray with great love for Jesus, and St. Teresa provided the best example of this for them. Once when opening a new convent, St. Teresa of Avila had only a few coins. However, she remained calm, saying, “Teresa and this money are nothing.... But God, Teresa, and this money are enough.”

Because of St. Teresa's great writings, she now is known as the doctor of mystical theology and first among women for wisdom and learning. Numerous saints looked to her for example in the spiritual life, including St. Alphonsus Liguori who composed the prayer given below. In fact, St. Alphonsus looked to her for guidance to such an extent that he tried to imitate her to the point of pledging himself, as she had done, to do nothing unless it was for the glory of God; she also became his teacher of prayer. We would do well to imitate both St. Teresa of Avila and St. Alphonsus Liguori in their desire to imitate the Saints of the Church, using past saints' examples to improve their own prayer life and love for God, trusting in Him for all things.

Prayer to St. Teresa of Avila
O Saint Teresa, seraphic Virgin, beloved spouse of thy crucified Lord, thou who on earth didst burn with a love so intense toward thy God and my God, and now dost glow with a brighter and purer flame in paradise: obtain for me also, I beseech thee, a spark of that same holy fire which shall cause me to forget the world, all things created, and even myself; for thou didst ever avidly desire to see Him loved by all men. Grant that my every thought and desire and affection may be continually employed in doing the will of God, the supreme Good, whether I am in joy or in pain, for He is worthy to be loved and obeyed everlastingly. Obtain for me this grace, thou who art so powerful with God; may I be all on fire, like thee, with the holy love of God. Amen.
---St. Alphonsus Liguori
The Raccolta

Prayer to Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, Help of Christians

 Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, help of Christians, refuge of the human race, victorious in all the battles of God, we prostrate ourselves in supplication before thy throne, in the sure hope of obtaining mercy and of receiving grace and timely aid in our present calamities, not through any merits of our own, on which we do not rely, but only through the immense goodness of thy mother’s heart. In thee and in thy Immaculate Heart, at this grave hour of human history, do we put our trust; to thee we consecrate ourselves, not only with all of Holy Church, which is the mystical body of thy Son Jesus, and which is suffering in so many of her members, being subjected to manifold tribulations and persecutions, but also with the whole world, torn by discords, agitated with hatred, the victim of its own iniquities. Be thou moved by the sight of such material and moral degradation, such sorrows, such anguish, so many tormented souls in danger of eternal loss!

+

Do thou, O Mother of mercy, obtain for us from God a Christ-like reconciliation of the nations, as well as those graces which can convert the souls of men in an instant, those graces which prepare the way and make certain the long desired coming of peace on earth. O Queen of peace, pray for us, and grant peace unto the world in the truth, the justice, and the charity of Christ. Above all, give us peace in our hearts, so that the kingdom of God may spread its borders in the tranquility of order. Accord thy protection to unbelievers and to all those who lie within the shadow of death; cause the Sun of Truth to rise upon them; may they be enabled to join with us in repeating before the Savior of the world: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.”

+

Give peace to the nations that are separated from us by error or discord, and in a special manner to those peoples who profess a singular devotion toward thee; bring them back to Christ’s one fold, under the one true Shepherd. Obtain full freedom for the holy Church of God; defend her from her enemies; check the ever-increasing torrent of immorality, arouse in the faithful a love of purity, a practical Christian life, and an apostolic zeal, so that the multitude of those who serve God may increase in merit and in number.

+

Finally, even as the Church and all mankind were once consecrated to the Heart of thy Son Jesus, because He was for all those who put their hope in Him an inexhaustible source of victory and salvation, so in like manner do we consecrate ourselves forever to thee also and to thy Immaculate Heart, O Mother of us and Queen of the world; may thy love and patronage hasten the day when the kingdom of God shall be victorious and all the nations, at peace with God and with one another, shall call thee blessed and intone with thee, from the rising of the sun to its going down, the everlasting “Magnificat” of glory, of love, of gratitude to the Heart of Jesus, in which alone we can find truth, life, and peace. Amen.
--written by Pope Piux XII                            
--The Raccolta