Friday, December 31, 2021

Prayer For A New Beginning




Heavenly Father,

I am about to embark on new beginnings as I face an end to this chapter of my life.

So, I ask that You lead and direct me as I go through new challenges.

Father, will You stay close to me so that I do not stray from You. You are my Good Shepherd and I am Your sheep; so help me to keep my eyes fixed on You as I trust You in all things.

Grant me provision for all that I need, in order to start this new journey, through the directing of Your Holy Spirit.

Thank You Father, Amen.



— Psalm 22:11, John 10:11, Hebrews 12:2

Tuesday, December 28, 2021

PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR






May the Lord make my New Year a happy one...




Not by shielding me from sorrow and pain, but by strengthening me to bear it if it comes.




Not by making my path easy, but by making me sturdy enough to tread any path.




Not by taking hardship from me, but by taking all cowardice and fear from my heart as I meet hardships.




Not by granting me unbroken sunshine, but by keeping my face bright even in the shadows.




Not by making my life always pleasant, but by showing me where men and His cause need me most and by making me zealous to be there and to help...



God, make my year a happy one.




— from Guideposts magazine

Holy Innocents Day



Innocents Day 


HOLY INNOCENTS DAY -DECEMBER 28

The day commemorates the execution of the innocent, male children in Bethlehem as told in Matthew 2:16. Also known as the Feast of the Holy Innocents (and referred to as Childermas), the day refers to King Herod's order found in Matthew's account of the king's reaction to the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy.

Massacre of the Innocents is the incident in the nativity narrative of the Gospel of Matthew (2:16–18) in which Herod the Great, king of Judea, orders the execution of all male children two years old and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem. The Catholic Church regards them as the first Christian martyrs, and their feast – Holy Innocents' Day (or the Feast of the Holy Innocents) – is celebrated on 28 December.

According to the New Testament, Holy Innocents’ Day was the massacre of some 20,000 boys, two years old and below. It was ordered by a furious King Herod more than 2,000 years ago, after he learned that he was tricked by the Three Kings, whom he asked to drop by at his Palace in Bethlehem so he would go with them to visit the newly born child, Jesus Christ. But deep inside Herod was his sinister plot to kill Baby Jesus, whom he considered a rival to his throne. 

In the reading of Matthew 2:16-18, it says: “When Herod realized that the visitors (Three Kings) from the East tricked him, he was furious. He gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and neighborhood who were two years old and younger.

Matthew also wrote that the Holy Family fled to Egypt after “an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and said, ‘Herod will be looking for the child in order to kill him. So get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you to leave.”

According to the Gospel of Matthew, Herod ordered the execution of all young male children in the vicinity of Bethlehem, so as to avoid the loss of his throne to a newborn King of the Jews, whose birth had been announced to him by the Magi.

The slain children were regarded by the early church as the first martyrs, but it is uncertain when the day was first kept as a saint’s day. It may have been celebrated with Epiphany, but by the 5th century it was kept as a separate festival. In Rome it was a day of fasting and mourning.

Sunday, December 26, 2021

Prayer to the Holy Family



THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

Scripture tells us practically nothing about the first years and the boyhood of the Child Jesus. All we know are the facts of the sojourn in Egypt, the return to Nazareth, and the incidents that occurred when the twelve-year-old boy accompanied his parents to Jerusalem. In her liturgy the Church hurries over this period of Christ's life with equal brevity. The general breakdown of the family, however, at the end of the past century and at the beginning of our own, prompted the popes, especially the far-sighted Leo XIII, to promote the observance of this feast with the hope that it might instill into Christian families something of the faithful love and the devoted attachment that characterize the family of Nazareth. The primary purpose of the Church in instituting and promoting this feast is to present the Holy Family as the model and exemplar of all Christian families.




The Holy Family Prayer

JESUS, Son of God and Son of Mary, bless our family. Graciously inspire in us the unity, peace, and mutual love that you found in your own family in the little town of Nazareth.


MARY, Mother of Jesus and Our Mother, nourish our family with your faith and your love. Keep us close to your Son, Jesus, in all our sorrows and joys.


JOSEPH, Foster-father to Jesus, guardian and spouse of Mary, keep our family safe from harm. Help us in all times of discouragement or anxiety.


HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH, make our family one with you. Help us to be instruments of peace. Grant that love, strengthened by grace, may prove mightier than all the weaknesses and trials through which our families sometimes pass. May we always have God at the center of our hearts and homes until we are all one family, happy and at peace in our true home with you. Amen.





CONSECRATION OF OUR FAMILIES TO THE HOLY FAMILY.


Jesus, Mary, Joseph, we consecrate our Hearts and Souls in Your Hands.


Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Be With Us till our Last moment on this earth.



Jesus, Mary, Joseph, fill our families, with the Heavenly joy and peace. Amen.





Saturday, December 25, 2021

Chaplet of the Holy Family



 The chaplet is prayed using a beaded chaplet chain or a rosary in the following manner:

  1. Start by seeking the presence of the Holy Spirit; “Come, Holy Spirit, renew my family in your love.”
  2. Say one Our Father, one Hail Mary and one Glory Be.
  3. On each of the 10 beads, say the following prayer after recalling the particular intention you are praying for:

    Mary, mother of faithful love; Joseph, gentle and humble man of God;
    Jesus, Son of Mary, Bless, Guide and protect the families you created.

  4. Close with the following prayer for families:

    Jesus, Mary, Joseph, model for all Christian families, I entrust my family to your care and protection. Bless each member of my family. Help me and the members of my family to love, listen to, support and accept one another. Encourage us to challenge one another to be compassionate, merciful and forgiving as we struggle with the difficulties of our lives. 

    Guide us to seek goodness and holiness in our everyday choices, actions and attitudes. Encourage us when our faith is weak and when we fail to lead one another to Christ. Make our home a real dwelling place of peace, joy and love, where you are ever present among us. May we work to uphold each one’s dignity, integrity and unique contributions to the well-being and growth of our family. And when our time on earth is complete, bring us all safely home to you in the company of heaven. Amen.

Friday, December 24, 2021

PRAYER TO MARY MOTHER OF GOD






O Mary, my Mother and my Lady, I offer you my soul, my body, my life and my death, and all that will follow it. I place everything in your hands. O my Mother, cover my soul with your virginal mantle and grant me the grace of purity of heart, soul and body. 


Defend me with your power against all enemies, and especially against those who hide their malice behind the mask of virtue . Fortify my soul that pain will not break it. Mother of grace, teach me to live by God's power.


O Mary, a terrible sword has pierced your holy soul. Except for God, no one knows of your suffering. Your soul does not break; it is brave, because it is with Jesus. 


Sweet Mother, unite my soul to Jesus, because it is only then that I will be able to endure all trials and tribulations, and only in union with Jesus will my little sacrifices be pleasing to God. 


Sweetest Mother, continue to teach me about the interior life. May the sword of suffering never break me. O pure Virgin, pour courage into my heart and guard it. Amen. 




Morning Offering Prayer

 



In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
I will begin this day. I thank you, Lord, for having preserved me during the night. I will do my best to make all I do today pleasing to You and in accordance with Your will. My dear mother Mary, watch over me this day. My Guardian Angel, take care of me. St. Joseph and all you saints of God, pray for me. O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart. ~ Amen

Thursday, December 23, 2021

NOVENA PRAYER TO THE HOLY TRINITY

Novena to the Holy Trinity





God Eternal Father, bless me through the love with which You have begotten Your only Son from all eternity and shared with Him the fullness of Your Divinity. Bless me through the love which has adopted us as children, and made us partakers of the treasures of Your Divinity. Bless me through the love which sent us Your Son and the Holy Spirit to work the miracles of Your power and mercy in us. Grant that I may always revere and honor You as my great God, and love You with my whole heart as the best of fathers. Eternal Father, grant my petition:


(Mention your request)


God Eternal Son, image of the splendor of the Father, bless me through the love with which You surround us, Your poor creatures. You have become our Brother according to the flesh to make us Your brothers according to Your Divinity, and an image of Your splendor. Bless me through the marvelous goodness of Your Sacred Heart which chose death to bring us life. Bless me through the love with which You plead for us before the throne of God, in the Blessed Sacrament, and with which You give Yourself to us in Holy Communion. Grant that all this love and bitter pain may not be lost on me. Eternal Son, grant my petition:


(Mention your request)


God Holy Spirit, mutual Love of the Father and the Son, bless me through the love with which You proceed from the Father and the Son and unite Them in eternal unity. Bless me through the love with which You give Yourself to us as our greatest Gift, dispensing Your Divine graces to us and transforming sinners into children of God. Bless me through the love with which You dwell in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, through Whose merits the earth is filled with grace, and made a dwelling place for the God of heaven. Grant that I, Your faithful servant, may always allow You to lead me so I may advance in virtue and reach eternal happiness. Eternal Holy Spirit, grant my petition:


(Mention your request)


Most Holy Trinity, Godhead indivisible, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, our first beginning and our last end, You have made us after Your own image and likeness. Grant that all the thoughts of my mind, all the words of my mouth, all the affections of my heart, and all my actions be always conformed to Your holy Will. After having seen You here below in Your manifestations and by faith, may I come at last to see You face to face in the perfect possession of You forever in heaven. Amen.




Prayer:
Almighty and Everlasting God, by the profession of the true faith, You have given us, Your servants, grace to acknowledge the glory of the Eternal Trinity, and in the power of Your Divine Majesty to worship the Unity. We beg You to grant that, by our fidelity in this same faith, we may always be defended from all dangers. Through Christ our Lord.


Amen.


Pray 3 Our Fathers...




A Beautiful Christmas Prayer




 A Christmas Prayer

By Robert Louis Stevenson


Loving Father,

Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clean hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Your children, and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven for Jesus' sake. Amen. 

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Prayer for Help to be Debt Free


PRAYER FOR CLEARING DEBTS 


God, you have called us to be lenders and not borrowers (Deuteronomy 28:12) and your word requires that we have no outstanding debt but the continual debt of love (Romans 13:8).


Lord, I want to honor your word by becoming debt-free.


As I put action behind my faith (James 2:17), I ask for the supernatural acceleration of debt payoff. As I do the natural, God you do the supernatural (1 Corinthians 15:46).


Lord, this is a burden in my life, but you said that we can cast our burdens on you (Psalm 55:22). I am giving you this burden.


Free me from the bondage of debt so that I am no longer a slave to my lenders (Proverbs 22:7).


Open up opportunities for me to increase my income to pay off debt.


Give me wisdom on where to reduce my expenses and how to be responsible with my money. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

A Catholic's Advent Prayer

 


PRAYER FOR A FRUITFUL ADVENT 

My hidden Lord Jesus, I love You and thank You with profound gratitude for uniting Yourself with fallen humanity. When You first entered into this world, You remained hidden for nine months in the Immaculate Womb of Your Blessed Mother. She carried You, body and blood, soul and divinity, within the sanctuary of Her body. She also carried You within Her heart as a result of Her perfect love for You and Her perfect obedience to the will of the Father. 


Precious Lord, as I embrace this Advent Season, please open my eyes to see the great value and blessing of Your Incarnation. Help me to discover Your hidden presence in this world and within my own soul. I desire to see, understand and experience the profound effects that Your Incarnation has on my life and I desire to receive those effects more fully this Advent. May I become a sanctuary in which You dwell so that I, like Your dear Mother, may bring Your presence into the world. 

 

My loving Jesus, I choose You, this Advent, as my King and my God. I abandon myself to You and seek to put all my trust in Your tender care. Draw me close to You and free me from my sin so that I may love You with a pure and holy heart. 

 

Mother Mary, as You carried your dear Son in your immaculate womb, you also carried Him in your heart. Pray for me, this Advent, that I may surrender myself to the will of the Father in imitation of you. You said “Yes” to all that God asked of you and never hesitated to fully embrace His divine will. Pray that I may imitate your perfect example so as to share a deeper union with you and your divine Son. 

Source:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/prayer-for-a-fruitful-advent/

Sunday, December 19, 2021

Prayer to Jesus in the Manger




Prayer to Jesus in the Manger


O divine redeemer Jesus Christ, prostrate before thy crib, I believe thou art the God of infinite majesty, even though I do see thee here as a helpless babe. I humbly adore and thank thee for having so humbled thyself for my salvation as to will to be born in a stable. I thank thee for all thou didst wish to suffer for me in Bethlehem, for thy poverty and humility, for thy nakedness, tears, cold and sufferings.

Would that I could show thee that tenderness which thy virgin mother had toward thee, and love thee as she did. Would that I could praise thee with the joy of the angels, that I could kneel before thee with the faith of St. Joseph, the simplicity of the shepherds. Uniting myself with these first adorers at the crib, I offer thee the homage of my heart, and I beg that thou wouldst be born spiritually in my soul. Make me reflect in some degree the virtues of thy admirable nativity. Fill me with that spirit of renunciation, of poverty, of humility, which prompted thee to assume the weakness of our nature, and to be born amid destitution and suffering.Grant that from this day forward, I may in all things seek thy greater glory, and may enjoy that peace promised to men of good will.

- Author Unknown

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS

 




SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS
-a great lover of Mary




A young John de Yepes y Álvarez, aged 4, had fallen in a pond while throwing sticks in it. As he was trying to get out of the water, a "beautiful lady" – whom he later acknowledged to be the Virgin Mary – held out her hand to help him. John refused to grab her hand because his were covered with sludge. A laborer who was walking by pulled him out of the water with his goad.




Later, his mother, a poor widow, sent him to a school of Christian doctrine. There, he fell into the well of a waterwheel. The people who rescued him marveled that he hadn't drowned or wasn't hurt. John said he was under the protection of the Virgin Mary.




He chose the order of the Carmelites, out of love for Mary. The Carmelite brothers helped him to attend the University of Salamanca, where he received a rigorous, broad education.




The year of his novitiate, in Medina, John of the Cross wrote a poem (now lost) called: "In thanksgiving for the grace which (the Lord) has given him to make him worthy to belong to the said order (the Carmel), under the protection of His most Blessed Mother.”




Chosen by Saint Teresa of Avila and sent by the apostolic vicar, John of the Cross became the confessor of the Carmel of Avila and the reformer of the order. After that he founded several Carmelite monasteries for men. Although he was younger than her, Saint Teresa of Avila called him her spiritual father.




His brothers of Andalusia gave the following testimony, around the years 1585-1588:




"Father John of the Cross was so devoted to Our Lady that he recited the office of Our Lady each day, on his knees... In all his homilies and conversations, he talked about the Blessed Sacrament and the Most Blessed Virgin, Our Lady."




On December 7, 1591, John received the last rites. He died at midnight on the following Friday, at the beginning of the office of matins, on a Saturday, a day especially dedicated to the Virgin Mary.




Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

WAYS TO PRAY FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY.


SOME WAYS TO PRAY FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY.

1. Pray the Novena to the Holy Souls.

2.  Offer up Holy Communion for Souls in Purgatory.

3.  Have Masses said for your departed loved ones, especially on the anniversary of his/her death.

4. Pray the Way of Cross for the Souls in Purgatory.

5. Pray the Rosary specially for Holy Souls.

6.  Obtain indulgences: indulgences reduce or cancel the temporal punishment that we incur through sin.

7. Give alms to the poor.

8. Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

9. Prayer of St. Gertrude.

10. Sprinkle holy water on the ground for the spiritual benefit of the suffering souls.

11. When passing by a cemetery, or at any time pray the short "Eternal Rest prayer: Eternal rest grant unto them, Oh Lord. And let the perpetual light shine upon them. And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen."(It carries partial indulgence)

12. Repent, go to Confession: Confessing your own sins makes prayers for Souls more effective.

13.  Eucharist Adoration: make reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for those in Purgatory.

14.  Sacrifices: practice acts of self_denial and offer these penances up for the poor Souls.

15.  Pray the Liturgical Prayers for the Souls.

16.  Ask for the intercession of saints who were great friends of the Holy Souls during their lifetime.

17.  Throughout your day,  offer up short and spontaneous prayers for the holy souls.

18.  Spread devotion to the Holy Souls: Make others aware of the great need these suffering souls have for our prayers.

 

Monday, December 13, 2021

SAINT LUCY OF SYRACUSE

 




Saint Lucy of Syracuse, Virgin and Martyr-Memorial December 13

St. Lucy (283-304) was born in Syracuse, Sicily, where she also died. She was of a noble Greek family, and was brought up as a Christian by her mother, who was miraculously cured at the shrine of St. Agatha in Catania. Lucy made a vow of virginity and distributed her wealth to the poor. This generosity stirred the wrath of the unworthy youth to whom she had been unwillingly betrothed and who denounced her to Paschasius, the governor of Sicily. When it was decided to violate her virginity in a place of shame, Lucy, with the help of the Holy Spirit, stood immovable. A fire was then built around her, but again God protected her. She was finally put to death by the sword. Her name appears in the second list in the Canon.

Saint Lucy's Day, also called the Feast of Saint Lucy, is a Christian feast day celebrated on 13 December in Advent, commemorating Saint Lucy, a 3rd-century martyr under the Diocletianic Persecution, who according to legend brought "food and aid to Christians hiding in the catacombs" using a candle-lit wreath to "light her way and leave her hands free to carry as much food as possible. Her feast once coincided with the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year before calendar reforms, so her feast day has become a Christian festival of light. Falling within the Advent season, Saint Lucy's Day is viewed as an event signaling the arrival of Christmastide, pointing to the arrival of the Light of Christ in the calendar, on Christmas Day.


Saint Lucy's Prayer:

Saint Lucy, you did not hide your light under a basket, but let it shine for the whole world, for all the centuries to see. We may not suffer torture in our lives the way you did, but we are still called to let the light of our Christianity illumine our daily lives. Please help us to have the courage to bring our Christianity into our work, our recreation, our relationships, our conversation -- every corner of our day. Amen

Sunday, December 12, 2021

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

 



Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe



Our LADY OF GUADALUPE, who blessed Mexico and all the Americas by your appearance to Juan Diego, intercede for the holy Church, protect the pope, and help everyone who invokes you in their necessities.



O mystical rose, hear our prayers and our petitions, especially for the particular one we are praying for at this moment (mention your request).



Since you are the ever Virgin Mary and Mother of the true God, obtain for us from your Most Holy Son the grace of keeping our faith, sweet hope in the midst of the bitterness of life, burning charity, and the precious gift of final perseverance as we pray in the DIVINE WILL. Amen.🙏

Saturday, December 11, 2021

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE



OUR LADY of GUADALUPE


(FEAST DAY- December 12)

"Hear me and understand well, my son the least, that nothing should frighten or grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything."

— Our Lady to Juan Diego




In the winter of 1531
, a poor, 57-year-old Aztec Indian living five miles outside of Mexico City encountered a miraculous happening on his way to morning Mass. First he heard strange music coming from Tepeyac Hill, and then he heard a woman's voice calling his name. Juan Diego climbed the hill and encountered a young woman, appearing to be of his own people in physical appearance and dress. The woman identified herself as the Virgin Mary, and told Juan Diego to ask the bishop of Mexico City to build a church on the hill to assist in the conversion of the nation and be a source of consolation to the people.

Juan Diego obeyed the request, but the bishop was skeptical regarding the message, even though he perceived that Juan was a humble, and well meaning Catholic. Juan reported the bishop's doubt to Our Lady at Tepeyac Hill, and she asked him to return to the bishop once again, bearing the same message. The bishop once again heard the story, and told Juan Diego to ask Our Lady for a sign that it was indeed herself that wished for the church to be built.

When he returned to the hill, Mary gave Juan Diego such a sign. Miraculously, roses appeared on the hill in the middle of winter, and Juan gathered them in his tilma, or cloak. Our Lady arranged the roses in his tilma with her own hands, and Juan returned to the bishop's presence. When Juan released the tilma, allowing the flowers to fall to the floor, it was revealed that a miraculous image of Our Lady had imprinted itself on his tilma.

The bishop immediately fell to his knees, and came to believe in Juan Diego's message. A church was built on the spot of the apparition, as Mary had requested, and 8 million people converted to Catholicism in a short period of time upon hearing of or viewing the miraculous image of Our Lady.

The tilma of Juan Diego has been the subject of much modern research. The tilma, woven out of coarse cactus fiber, should have disintegrated after 20 years, but although over 500 years have passed the tilma is still in perfect condition. The pupils of Mary in the picture reflect the Indians and clergy present at the time of the first revelation of the image. No paint was used, and chemical analysis has not been able to identify the color imprint. Additionally, studies have revealed that the stars on Mary's mantle match exactly what a Mexican would have seen in the sky in December of 1531.

LITANY OF INTERCESSION TO OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL

 




LITANY OF INTERCESSION TO OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL




🌹Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,

God the Holy Ghost,

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us sinners.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Queen of heaven,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, vanquisher of Satan,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most dutiful Daughter,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most pure Virgin,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most devoted Spouse,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most tender Mother,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, perfect model of virtue,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, sure anchor of hope,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, refuge in affliction,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, dispenser of God's gifts,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, tower of strength against our foes,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our aid in danger,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, road leading to Jesus,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our light in darkness,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our consolation at the hour of death,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, advocate of the most abandoned sinners, pray for us sinners.




🌹For those hardened in vice, with confidence we come to thee, O Lady of Mount Carmel.

For those who grieve thy Son,

For those who neglect to pray,

For those who are in their agony,

For those who delay their conversion,

For those suffering in Purgatory,

For those who know thee not, with confidence we come to thee, O Lady of Mount Carmel.




🌹Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.

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

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

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Hope of the Despairing, intercede for us with thy Divine Son.




🌹Let us pray.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, glorious Queen of Angels, channel of God's tenderest mercy to man, refuge and advocate of sinners, with confidence I prostrate myself before thee, beseeching thee to obtain for me [insert your request here]. In return I solemnly promise to have recourse to thee in all my trials, sufferings, and temptations, and I shall do all in my power to induce others to

love and reverence thee and to invoke thee in all their needs. I thank thee for the numberless blessings which I have received from thy mercy and powerful intercession. Continue to be my shield in danger, my guide in life, and my consolation at the hour of death.

Friday, December 10, 2021

Act of Consecration to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

 


Act of Consecration to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal


O Virgin Mother of God,
Mary Immaculate,
we dedicate and consecrate ourselves to you
under the title of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
May this Medal be for each one of us
a sure sign of your affection for us
and a constant reminder of our duties towards you.
Ever while wearing it,
may we be blessed by your loving protection
and preserved in the grace of your Son.
O most powerful Virgin,
Mother of our Saviour,
keep us close to you every moment of our lives.
Obtain for us,
your children,
the grace of a happy death;
so that, in union with you,
we may enjoy the bliss of heaven forever.

Amen.

O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to you.

O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to you.

O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to you. 

About the History of the Miraculous Medal 
Source: Wikipedia 
The Miraculous Medal (French: Médailleō miraculeuse), also known as the Medal of Our Lady of Graces, is a devotional medal, the design of which was originated by Saint Catherine Labouré following her apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary[2] in Rue du Bac, Paris, France. It was made by goldsmith Adrien Vachette.[3]
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal
Miraculous medal.jpg
The Miraculous Medal design was executed by Adrien Vachette based on Saint Catherine Labouré's visions.
LocationParisFrance
Date18 July 1830
27 November 1830
WitnessSaint Catherine Labouré
TypeMarian apparition
Approval1836[1]
Archbishop Hyacinthe-Louis de Quélen
Archdiocese of Paris
ShrineChapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous MedalParis, France
PatronageSpecial graces, architects, miners, prisoners
According to the teaching of the Catholic Church, the use of sacramentals such as this medal[4] prepares people to receive grace and disposes them to cooperate with it. 

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

ADVENT ADORATION BLESSINGS


 

Advent blessings!

–––––––––––––––

The Divine Praises

Blessed be God.

Blessed be His Holy Name.

Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.

Blessed be the name of Jesus.

Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.

Blessed be His Most Precious Blood.

Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.

Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.

Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.

Blessed be her glorious Assumption.

Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.

Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.

Blessed be God in His angels and in His Saints.

May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen.

Prayer for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception


 FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

December 8 

O most pure Virgin Mary conceived without sin, from the very first instant, you were entirely immaculate. O glorious Mary full of grace, you are the mother of my God – the Queen of Angels and of men. I humbly venerate you as the chosen mother of my Savior, Jesus Christ.


The Prince of Peace and the Lord of Lords chose you for the singular grace and honor of being His beloved mother. By the power of His Cross, He preserved you from all sin. Therefore, by His power and love, I have hope and bold confidence in your prayers for my holiness and salvation.


May your prayers give me the grace to imitate your holiness and submission to Jesus and His Divine Will.


Queen of Heaven, I beg you to pray to Jesus my Savior to grant me these requests… (Mention your intentions)


My Holy Mother, I know that you were obedient to the will of God. In making this petition, I know that God’s will is more perfect than mine. So, grant that I may receive God’s grace with humility as you did.


As my final request, I ask that you pray for me to increase in faith, hope and love in our risen Lord Jesus! 


Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.


Immaculate Conception - December 8


 

December 8th, is the feast of the Immaculate Conception. It celebrates an important point of Catholic teaching, and it is a holy day of obligation.


The Immaculate Conception is a doctrine of the Roman Catholic church that states that the Virgin Mary was free of original sin from the moment of her conception.


CONSECRATION PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION


The Immaculata prayer is a Traditional Catholic Marian prayer composed by Saint Maximillian Kolbe.


It is a prayer of consecration to the Immaculata, i.e. the immaculately conceived Virgin Mary.


The consecration prayer is as follows:


O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you. I, (name), a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet, humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to yourself as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you.
If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: "She will crush your head," and "You alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world." Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you enter you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
V. Allow me to praise you, O Sacred Virgin
R. Give me strength against your enemies
AMEN.


A shorter version of the prayer can be used for the daily renewal of the consecration:


Immaculata, Queen and Mother of the Church, I renew my consecration to you for this day and for always, so that you might use me for the coming of the Kingdom of Jesus in the whole world. To this end I offer you all my prayers, actions and sacrifices of this day.

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Prayer to Saint Nicholas -December 6

 

December 6

Saint Nicholas Day

December 6th is the feast day of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children, which appropriately falls during the Advent season. This feast day is an especially exciting one for children as they count down the days on their Advent calendars in anticipation of Christmas day.

St. Nicholas of Myra is a major saint in many European and Eastern countries, and one of the old Christian traditions surrounding his feast day is for kids to leave their shoes out overnight in front of the fireplace, on the windowsill, or outside their bedroom door so that St. Nicholas can fill them with special fruits, candies, and other small gifts and treats

A PRAYER TO ST NICHOLAS

Blessed Saint Nicholas,

we honor you for your acts of kindness,

goodwill and charity to those on the margins of life.

Inspire us with your desire for justice and joy for all people;

help us learn from you what faith and action means,

and make us aware of those around us.

Give us the same sense of joy you had in your ministry.

And when we remember you

may we also remember the Lord you loved and followed,

both in times of tribulation, famine, persecution and humiliation,

as well as in times of joy and peace.

Monday, December 6, 2021

These 15 Prayers Were Taught By the Lord Jesus To Saint Bridget

 



The

Fifteen Prayers

Revealed by Our Lord to Saint Bridget of Sweden In the Church of St. Paul at Rome

Are published under sanction of the Decree of November 18, 1966, published in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Vol. 58, No. 16 of December 29, 1966.

Prayers Approved by Pope Pius IX


Pope Benedict XV expressed himself as follows on the Revelations of St. Bridget:

“The approbation of such revelations implies nothing more than, after mature examination, it is permissible to publish them for the unit of the faithful.  Though they don’t merit the same credence as the truths of religion, one can, however, believe them out of human faith, conforming to the rules of prudence by which they are probable, and supported by sufficient motives that one might believe in them piously.

(Les Petits Bollandistes, tome XII)



The 14th of June 1303, at the moment Bridget was born, Benedict, the curate of Rasbo, prayed for the happy deliverance of Ingeborde.  Suddenly he found himself enveloped by a luminous cloud out of which Our Lady appeared:


“A child has been born at Birger; her voice will be heard by the entire world.”


Sagii, die XXIV Aprilis 1903 

Imprimature. 

FJ. Girard, V.G.


These prayers have been copied from a book printed in Toulouse in 1740 and published by the P. Adrien parvilliers of the Company of Jesus, Apostolic Missionary of the Holy Land, with approbation, permission and recommendation to distribute them.


Pope Pius IX took cognizance of these Prayers with the prologue; he approved them May 31, 1862, recognizing them as true and for the good  of Souls.


Visitors to the Church of St. Paul at Rome can see the crucifix, above the Tabernacle in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, sculptured by Pierre Cavallini, before which St. Bridge knelt when she received these 15 prayers from Our Lord.  The following inscription is placed in the church to commemorate the event: “Pendentis, Pendente Dei verba accepit aure accipit et verbum corde Brigitta Deum.  Anno Jubilei MCCCL.”


As St. Bridget for a long time wanted to know the number of blows Our Lord received during His Passion, He one day appeared to her and said: “I received 5480 blows on My Body.  If you wish to honor them in some way, say 15 Our Fathers and 15 Hail Mary’s with the following Prayers (which He taught her) for a whole year.  When the year is up, you will have honored each one of My Wounds.”


Promises of St. Bridget Prayers

When someone says these prayers for a year's time, these are the promises promised by Our Lord:


1) "I will deliver fifteen souls of his lineage from Purgatory."

 

2) "Fourteen souls of his lineage will be confirmed and preserved in grace."

 

3) "Fifteen sinners of his lineage will be converted."

 

4) "Whoever recites these prayers will obtain the first degree of perfection."

 

5) "Fifteen days before his death, I will give him My Precious Blood to drink lest he thirst eternally. "

 

6) "Fifteen days before his death he will conceive a deep contrition for all his sins and a perfect knowledge of them."

 

7) "I will place before him My Victorious Cross for his help and defense against the attacks of his enemies."

 

8) "Before his death I will come with My Dearest and Beloved Mother."

 

9) "I will graciously receive his soul, and will lead it into Eternal Joys."

 

10) "And having led it there, I will give him a special draught from the fountain of my deity, something I will not do for those who have not recited My Prayers."

 

11) "Let it be known that whoever may have been living in a state of mortal sin for thirty years, but who will recite devoutly, or have the intention to recite these prayers, I, the Lord will forgive him all of his sins."

 

12) "I will defend him against evil temptations."

 

13) "I will preserve and guard his five senses."

 

14) "I will preserve him from a sudden death."

 

15) "His soul will be delivered from eternal death."

 

16) "He will obtain all he asks for from God and the Blessed Virgin."

 

17) "If he has lived all his life doing his own will, and he is to die the next day, his life will be prolonged."

 

18) "Every time one recites these prayers he will gain a hundred days indulgences."

 

19) "He will be assured of being joined to the Supreme Choir of Angels."

 

20) "Whoever teaches these prayers to another will have continual joy and merit which will last throughout eternity."

 

21) "There, where these prayers are being said or may be said in the future, God will be present there by His Grace."


Prayers Taught by Jesus to Saint Bridget of Sweden

Prayers Approved by Pope Pius IX


First Prayer 

Our Father – Hail Mary. 

O Jesus Christ!  Eternal Sweetness to those who love Thee, joy surpassing all joy and all desire, Salvation and Hope of all sinners, Who hast proved that Thou hast no greater desire than to be among men, even assuming human nature at the fullness of time for the love of men, recall all the sufferings Thou hast endured from the instant of Thy conception, and especially during Thy Passion, as it was decreed and ordained from all eternity in the Divine plan.


Remember, O Lord, that during the Last Supper with Thy disciples, having washed their feet, Thou gavest them Thy Most Precious Body and Blood, and while at the same time Thou didst sweetly console them, Thou didst foretell them Thy coming Passion.


Remember the sadness and bitterness which Thou didst experience in Thy Soul as Thou Thyself bore witness saying: “My Soul is sorrowful even unto death.”


Remember all the fear, anguish and pain that Thou didst suffer in Thy delicate Body before the torment of the Crucifixion, when, after having prayed three times, bathed in a sweat of blood, Thou wast betrayed by Judas, Thy disciple, arrested by the people of a nation Thou hadst chosen and elevated, accused by false witnesses, unjustly judged by three judges during the flower of Thy youth and during the solemn Paschal season.


Remember that Thou wast despoiled of Thy garments and clothed in those of derision; that Thy Face and Eyes were veiled, that Thou wast buffeted, crowned with thorns, a reed placed in Thy Hands, that Thou was crushed with blows and overwhelmed with affronts and outrages.


In memory of all these pains and sufferings which Thou didst endure before Thy Passion on the Cross, grant me before my death true contrition, a sincere and entire confession, worthy satisfaction and the remission of all my sins.  Amen


Second Prayer 

Our Father – Hail Mary. 

O Jesus! True liberty of angels, Paradise of delights, remember the horror and sadness which Thou didst endure when Thy enemies, like furious lions, surrounded Thee, and by thousands of insults, spits, blows, lacerations and other unheard-of-cruelties, tormented Thee at will.  In consideration of these torments and insulting words, I beseech Thee, O my Savior, to deliver me from all my enemies, visible and invisible, and to bring me, under Thy protection, to the perfection of eternal salvation.  Amen


Third Prayer 

Our Father – Hail Mary. 

O Jesus!  Creator of Heaven and earth Whom nothing can encompass or limit, Thou Who dost enfold and hold all under Thy Loving power, remember the very bitter pain Thou didst suffer when the Jews nailed Thy Sacred Hands and Feet to the Cross by blow after blow with big blunt nails, and not finding Thee in a pitiable enough state to satisfy their rage, they enlarged Thy Wounds, and added pain to pain, and with indescribable cruelty stretched Thy Body on the Cross, pulled Thee from all sides, thus dislocating Thy Limbs.  I beg of Thee, O Jesus, by the memory of this most Loving suffering of the Cross, to grant me the grace to fear Thee and to Love Thee.  Amen.


Fourth Prayer 

Our Father – Hail Mary. 

O Jesus!  Heavenly Physician, raised aloft on the Cross to heal our wounds with Thine, remember the bruises which Thou didst suffer and the weakness of all Thy Members which were distended to such a degree that never was there pain like unto Thine.  From the crown of Thy Head to the Soles of Thy Feet there was not one spot on Thy Body that was not in torment, and yet, forgetting all Thy sufferings, Thou didst not cease to pray to Thy heavenly Father for Thy enemies, saying “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”


Through this great Mercy, and in memory of this suffering, grant that the remembrance of Thy Most Bitter Passion may effect in us a perfect contrition and the remission of all our sins.  Amen.


Fifth Prayer 

Our Father – Hail Mary. 

O Jesus!  Mirror of eternal splendor, remember the sadness which Thou experienced, when contemplating in the light of Thy Divinity the predestination of those who would be saved by the merits of Thy Sacred passion, Thou didst see at the same time, the great multitude of reprobates who would be damned for their sins, and Thou didst complain bitterly of those hopeless lost and unfortunate sinners.


Through this abyss of compassion and pity, and especially through the goodness which Thou displayed to the good thief when Thou saidst to him: “This day, thou shalt be with Me in paradise.”  I beg of Thee, O Sweet Jesus, that at the hour of my death, Thou wilt show me mercy.  Amen.


Sixth Prayer 

Our Father – Hail Mary. 

O Jesus!  Beloved and most desirable King, remember the grief Thou didst suffer, when naked and like a common criminal, Thou was fastened and raised on the Cross, when all Thy relatives and friends abandoned Thee, except Thy Beloved Mother, who remained close to Thee during Thy agony and whom Thou didst entrust to Thy faithful disciple when Thou saidst to Mary:  “Woman, behold thy son!”  and to St. John: “Son, behold thy Mother!”


I beg of Thee O my Savior, by the sword of sorrow which pierced the soul of Thy holy Mother, to have compassion on me in all my affliction and tribulations, both corporal and spiritual, and to assist me in all my trials, and especially at the hour of my death. Amen


Seventh Prayer 

Our Father – Hail Mary. 

O Jesus!  Inexhaustible Fountain of compassion, Who by a profound gesture of Love, said from the Cross: “I thirst!” suffered from the thirst for the salvation of the human race.  I beg of Thee O my Savior, to inflame in our hearts the desire to tend toward perfection in all our acts; and to extinguish in us the concupiscence of the flesh and the ardor of worldly desires.  Amen


Eighth Prayer 

Our Father – Hail Mary. 

O Jesus!  Sweetness of hearts, delight of the spirit, by the bitterness of the vinegar and gall which Thou didst taste on the Cross for Love of us, grant us the grace to receive worthily Thy Precious Body and Blood during our life and at the hour of our death, that they may serve as a remedy and consolation for our souls.  Amen


Ninth Prayer 

Our Father – Hail Mary. 

O Jesus!  Royal virtue, joy of the mind, recall the pain Thou didst endure when, plunged in an ocean of bitterness at the approach of death, insulted, outraged by the Jews, Thou didst cry out in a loud voice that Thou was abandoned by Thy Father, saying: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?”


Through this anguish, I beg of Thee, O my Savior, not to abandon me in the terrors and pains of my death. Amen


Tenth Prayer 

Our Father – Hail Mary. 

O Jesus!  Who art the beginning and end of all things, life and virtue, remember that for our sakes Thou was plunged in an abyss of suffering from the soles of Thy Feet to the crown of Thy Head.  In consideration of the enormity of Thy Wounds, teach me to keep, through pure love, Thy Commandments, whose way is wide and easy for those who love Thee.  Amen


Eleventh Prayer 

Our Father – Hail Mary. 

O Jesus!  Deep abyss of mercy, I beg of Thee, in memory of Thy Wounds which penetrated to the very marrow of Thy Bones and to the depth of Thy being, to draw me, a miserable sinner, overwhelmed by my offenses, away from sin and to hide me from Thy Face justly irritated against me, hide me in Thy Wounds, until Thy anger and just indignation shall have passed away.  Amen


Twelfth Prayer 

Our Father – Hail Mary. 

O Jesus!  Mirror of Truth, symbol of unity, link of Charity, remember the multitude of wounds with which Thou was covered from head to foot, torn and reddened by the spilling of Thy adorable blood.  O great and universal pain which Thou didst suffer in Thy virginal flesh for love of us!  Sweetest Jesus!  What is there that Thou couldst have done for us which Thou hast not done! May the fruit of Thy sufferings be renewed in my soul by the faithful remembrance of Thy passion, and may Thy love increase in my heart each day, until I see Thee in eternity, Thou Who art the treasury of every real good and every joy, which I beg Thee to grant me, O sweetest Jesus, in Heaven.  Amen


Thirteenth Prayer 

Our Father – Hail Mary. 

O Jesus!  Strong Lion, Immortal and Invincible King, remember the pain which Thou didst endure when all Thy strength, both moral and physical, was entirely exhausted, Thou didst bow Thy head, saying:  “It is consummated!”


Through this anguish and grief, I beg of Thee Lord Jesus, to have mercy on me at the hour of my death when my mind will be greatly troubled and my soul will be in anguish.  Amen


Fourteenth Prayer 

Our Father – Hail Mary. 

O Jesus! Only Son of the Father, splendor and figure of His substance remember the simple and humble recommendation Thou didst make of Thy Soul to Thy Eternal Father, saying: “Father, into Thy Hands I commend My Spirit!”  And with Thy body all torn, and Thy Heart broken, and the bowels of Thy mercy open to redeem us, Thou didst expire.  By this precious death, I beg of Thee O King of Saints, comfort me and help me to resist the devil, the flesh and the world, so that being dead to the world I may live for Thee alone.  I beg of Thee at the hour of my death to receive me, a pilgrim and an exile returning to Thee. Amen


Fifteenth Prayer 

Our Father – Hail Mary. 

O Jesus!  True and fruitful Vine!  Remember the abundant outpouring of Blood which Thou didst so generously shed from Thy Sacred Body as juice from grapes in a wine press.


From Thy Side,  pierced with a lance by a soldier, blood and water issued forth until there was not left in Thy Body a single drop, and finally, like a bundle of myrrh lifted to the top of the Cross, Thy delicate flesh was destroyed, the very Substance of Thy Body withered, and the Marrow of Thy Bones dried up.


Through this bitter Passion and through the outpouring of Thy precious Blood, I beg of Thee, O Sweet Jesus, to receive my soul when I am in my death agony.  Amen


Conclusion


O Sweet Jesus!  Pierce my heart so that my tears of penitence and love will be my bread day and night; may I be converted entirely to Thee, may my heart be Thy perpetual habitation, may my conversation be pleasing to Thee, and may the end of my life be so praiseworthy that I may merit Heaven and there with Thy saints, praise Thee forever.  Amen


O Jesus! True liberty of angels, Paradise of delights, remember the horror and sadness which Thou didst endure when Thy enemies, like furious lions, surrounded Thee, and by thousands of insults, spits, blows, lacerations and other unheard-of-cruelties, tormented Thee at will.  In consideration of these torments and insulting words, I beseech Thee, O my Savior, to deliver me from all my enemies, visible and invisible, and to bring me, under Thy protection, to the perfection of eternal salvation.  Amen



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