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Prayer to the Wounded Heart of Jesus

raphael

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June 2, 2020

Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

(This novena prayer was recited every day by Padre Pio for all those who asked his prayers)

I. O my Jesus, You have said, ‘Truly I say to you, ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.’
Behold, I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of…

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

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

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

II. O my Jesus, You have said, ‘Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, He will give it to you.’
Behold, in Your name, I ask the Father for the grace of…..

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

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

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

III. O my Jesus, You have said, ‘Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.’
Encouraged by Your infallible words, I now ask for the grace of…

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

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

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us poor sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of You, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate heart of Mary, Your tender mother and ours.

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.

… St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us

Prayer to the Wounded Heart of Jesus

O my Most Loving and Gentle Jesus, I desire with all the affections of my heart, that all beings should praise Thee, honour Thee and glorify Thee eternally for that sacred wound wherewith Thy divine side was rent. I deposit, enclose, conceal in that wound and in that opening in Thy Heart, my heart and all my feelings, thoughts, desires, intentions and all the faculties of my soul. I entreat Thee, by the precious Blood and Water that flowed from Thy Most Loving Heart, to take entire possession of me, that Thou may guide me in all things. Consume me in the burning fire of thy holy Love, so that I may be so absorbed and transformed into Thee that I may no longer be but one with Thee. Amen.

8 Ways to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus in June at home

raphael

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June 2, 2020

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8 Ways to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus in June at home

Check out these ways you can grow in your devotion to the Sacred Heart while society still adjusts to living during a pandemic.

Each of the 12 months of the year has a Catholic devotional theme. It’s a great way to bring special traditions, symbols, colors and even foods to enrich our faith life at home. During this time that so many of us are self-quarantined and face restrictions in public places, including our churches, the rich traditions and treasures of our faith provide special and reassuring blessings.June is the beautiful month of the Sacred Heart. Here are 8 ways you can make your home come alive with love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

1. START YOUR MORNING WITH THE SON

For the entire month, do the morning offering to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Leave it near your bedside, pasted on your bathroom mirror, or at the breakfast table so you remember to say it first thing in the morning:

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, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all our associates, and in particular for the intentions of our Holy Father for this month.

2. DECORATE YOUR TABLE

Set the table or a prominent place in your home with an image of the Sacred Heart and a candle or bouquet of flowers as a constant visual reminder of devotion.

3. PUT YOUR HEART INTO IT

Do a Sacred Heart craft with your kids. Here’s an easy one: get a grapevine wreath resembling the crown of thorns and place in the center of your kitchen or dining table. Make a large heart out of construction paper to place in the middle of the wreath. Upon the heart, each member of the family writes a prayer intention and/or a work of mercy they will offer to the Sacred Heart all month. Keeping it simple? Just write your prayer intentions or offerings on a paper heart and place before your image of the Sacred Heart.

4. COOK FOR THE KING

Make food in honor of the Sacred Heart. Here’s an easy one: prepare or purchase cupcakes and then top with strawberries cut in the shape of a heart. To make the recipe even more devoted to the Sacred Heart, try making them red velvet cupcakes.

5. OFFER SPECIAL PRAYERS TO THE SACRED HEART

Pray one of the many beautiful Sacred Heart prayers. As part of grace before meals you might try adding a brief but beautiful prayer such as Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and here’s a beautiful novena to the Sacred Heart that would be very meaningful to pray before sleep (it was St. Padre Pio’s go-to novena, as he recited it every day for those who requested his prayers).

6. PARTICIPATE IN EUCHARISTIC ADORATION ONLINE

Participate in a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration online or on television as a way to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus as present in the Eucharist. This is a great way to increase not only faith, hope and love … but also peace, freedom from anxiety, and comfort in your own heart.

7. SET YOUR ALARM FOR 3 P.M.

That’s the hour of Divine Mercy, a devotion inexorably linked to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as it reminds us of the outpourings of Jesus’ heart, with these words, “O blood and water which gushed forth from the heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in you.” Purpose to pray the Divine Mercy chaplet every day this month at 3 p.m., the hour that Jesus died for us. It is such a beautiful devotion that it will likely remain a favorite of yours long after June is over. Here’s how to pray it.

8. MAKE A SACRED HEART GARDEN

This is a wonderful activity for the whole family. In front of an outdoor statue of the Sacred Heart, a garden sculpture of a heart, or even a homemade stepping stone with a heart traced in the concrete, plant flowers that honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Flowers for a Sacred Heart garden could include a display of any blooms in red and orange tones. Dicentra, commonly known as “Bleeding Heart,” has a string of heart-shaped blooms that are a symbolic image of sacrificial love. Roses symbolize love and the crown of thorns, so they would be a great choice. Other beautiful choices to honor Jesus include the “Star of Bethlehem” flower and Caladium, also known as “heart of Jesus.”

Why the Holy Spirit appeared as fire

raphael

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June 1, 2020

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We can learn from this manifestation how to allow the Spirit to act in our lives.

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit… Acts 2:3-4

There are, in our Sacred Scriptures, four visible manifestations of the Holy Spirit. He appears at the baptism of Christ as a dove (Luke 3:22), at the Transfiguration of Jesus as the cloud (Luke 17:5), as wind in the Upper Room (Acts 2:2), and lastly as tongues of fire (Acts 2:3).

While one can say many things about these manifestations, the Holy Spirit considered as fire has a particular place in our tradition. Fire warms, enlightens, and cleanses. These properties of fire speak to us of the work proper to the Holy Spirit.

He especially warms, enlightens, and cleanses.

Recall what it’s like to warm cold limbs by a fire. The warmth of flame brings life back and restores flexibility and mobility. The warmth of the Holy Spirit similarly restores our mobility. The graces the Holy Spirit offers gives new horizon to life and allows ourselves to be conformed to Christ.

St. Paul says, in his Letter to the Romans,

But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you” (Rom. 8:9-11).

The Holy Spirit gives life like a fire restores vim and vigor to one coming out of the cold.

But fire not only warms, it enlightens.

The power of a beacon, a great blaze piercing the night directs and inspires. Ancient peoples used fires as signals, calling a nation to arms or sharing news of a victory. The Holy Spirit similarly drives us to action and allows us to delight in the work of the Lord.

In the Old Testament a pillar of fire led the Israelites forth from Egypt. The Book of Exodus wrote,

The Lord preceded them, in the daytime by means of a column of cloud to show them the way, and at night by means of a column of fire to give them light. Thus they could travel both day and night. Neither the column of cloud by day nor the column of fire by night ever left its place in front of the people (Ex. 13:21-22).

The fiery column assured the people of the presence of the Lord and enlightened them by directing and leading them.

Finally, fire cleanses.

We were made in the image and likeness of God. We will never be happy until that day when we can delight in the perfect vision of God. Until that day comes, we will be continually cleansed and purified, making our hearts more and more ready to bear the good gifts of God.

Think of how a forest fire cleanses and renews the landscape of the wilderness. Clearing away all the debris accumulated over the years, a fire restores order and readies the landscape for new growth.

So too the Holy Spirit cleanses our hearts of the debris that we have built up over the years. Removing all those obstacles which impede our relationship with God, the Holy Spirit purifies us, readying our hearts to accept every good gift he sends. Only then can we be ready to grow and progress in the spiritual life.

This Pentecost may the Holy Spirit who appears as fire comfort, enlighten, and cleanse our hearts. May we be strengthened and filled with His every good gift, that our hearts may be more perfectly conformed to the love of divine things.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
on our dryness pour thy dew;
wash the stains of guilt away;

bend the stubborn heart and will;
melt the frozen, warm the chill;
guide the steps that go astray.

On the faithful, who adore
and confess thee, evermore
in thy sevenfold gift descend;

give them virtue’s sure reward,
give them thy salvation, Lord;
give them joys that never end.

Prayer to receive the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

Prayers

raphael

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May 31, 2020

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Prayer to receive the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

Ask God to pour into your soul the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially for those preparing for confirmation.

One of the beliefs of the Catholic Church is that the coming of the Holy Spirit also brought with it seven gifts. The Catechism of the Church Church explains, “The moral life of Christians is sustained by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit” (CCC 1830).These gifts are imparted to the soul at baptism, but then sealed and strengthened through the sacrament of confirmation.

Whether we are preparing for the sacrament of confirmation, or want to renew in ourselves these gifts, here is a prayer from the Golden Manual that asks God for the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

O almighty and eternal God, you have adopted me as your child in the holy sacrament of Baptism; granted to me the remission of my sins at the tribunal of penance; and has fed me with the bread of angels; perfect in me, I beseech you, all these benefits. Grant unto me the spirit of Wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world, and love the things that are eternal; the spirit of Understanding, to enlighten me and to give me the knowledge of religion; the spirit of Counsel, that I may diligently seek the surest ways of pleasing God and obtaining heaven; the spirit of Fortitude, that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation; the spirit of Knowledge, that I may be enlightened in the ways of God; the spirit of Piety, that I may find the service of God both sweet and amiable; the spirit of Fear, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God, and may dread in any way to displease him. Seal me, in your mercy, with the seal of a disciple of Jesus Christ, unto everlasting life; and grant that, carrying the cross upon my forehead, I may carry it also in my heart, and confessing you boldly before men, may merit to be one day reckoned in the number of your elect. Amen.

How to celebrate Pentecost at home

raphael

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May 31, 2020

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Here you have the prayers, readings, and everything else you need to celebrate with God’s Word.

In order to worthily sanctify Pentecost,

Aleteia proposes this celebration of the Word of God at home.

In collaboration with Magnificat magazine

Instructions:

This celebration requires the presence of at least two people.
If you’re alone, you can simply read this celebration, united in your heart and spirit with the Church. You can also watch the Mass on television.
Choose the most convenient time, from Saturday evening (the vigil of Sunday) to Sunday evening.
This celebration is particularly suitable for use with family. In order to respect quarantine measures, you should refrain from inviting others from outside your household. If anyone in your house is ill, make sure they remain in isolation to ensure that all safety guidelines are strictly followed.
Set up the needed number of chairs in front of a prayer corner, respecting an appropriate distance of at least a yard between each.
Take the time to renew a little the prayer corner’s decorations: images, candles, real or artificial flowers, drawings by your children, garlands, etc.
A simple cross or crucifix must always be visible in the background.
Designate a person to lead the prayer.
The leader will also direct the preparation of the celebration, during which he or she will mark the length of the periods of silence.
Designate readers for the readings.
During the preparation of the celebration: you can prepare petitions for the Prayers of the Faithful or Universal Prayer (in case that is not possible, a standard list of petitions is provided here for use during the course of the celebration). You may also prepare suitable hymns.

PENTECOST

Celebration of the Word

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful

and kindle in them the fire of your love.

The leader of the celebration reads:

Brothers and sisters,

By the outpouring of the Holy Spirit

on the day of Pentecost,

Christ’s Paschal Mystery was

brought to its completion.

The Holy Spirit prepares

us with his grace in order to draw us

to Christ. He manifests the Risen Lord to us,

opening our minds. He makes present the

mystery of Christ.

And he reconciles us, bringing us

into communion with God.

Saint Thomas Aquinas says that the

Holy Spirit interiorly perfects our spirit,

communicating to it a new dynamism

so that it refrains from evil for love.

With the Holy Spirit within

us, “it is quite natural for people

who had been absorbed by the things of this world to

become entirely otherworldly in outlook,

and for cowards to become people of great courage” (Saint Cyril of Alexandria).

After three minutes of silence, all rise and make the Sign of the Cross, saying:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The leader continues:

To prepare ourselves to receive God’s Word

and in order for it to heal us,

we recognize ourselves as sinners.

The penitential rite follows. For example:

Have mercy on us, O Lord.

For we have sinned against you.

Show us, O Lord, your mercy.

And grant us your salvation.

May Almighty God have mercy on us;

forgive us our sins,

And bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.

The following is said or sung:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

The Gloria is then said or sung:

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to people of good will.

We praise you, we bless you,

we adore you, we glorify you,

we give you thanks for your great glory.

Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us;

you take away the sins of the world,

receive our prayer;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father,

have mercy on us.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

Glória in excélsis Deo

et in terra pax homínibus bonae voluntátis.

Laudámus te, benedícimus te,

adoramus te, glorificámus te,

gratias agimus tibi propter magnam glóriam tuam,

Dómine Deus, Rex cæléstis, Deus Pater omnípotens.

Dómine Fili Unigénite, Jesu Christe,

Dómine Deus, Agnus Dei, Fílius Patris,

qui tollis peccáta mundi, miserére nobis;

qui tollis peccáta mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram.

Qui sedes ad déxteram Patris, miserére nobis.

Quóniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dóminus,

tu solus Altíssimus, Jesu Christe,

cum Sancto + Spíritu : in glória Dei Patris.

Amen.

PRAYER

The leader says the opening prayer:

Grant, we pray, almighty God,

that the splendor of your glory

may shine forth upon us

and that, by the bright rays of the Holy Spirit,

the light of your light may confirm the hearts

of those born again by your grace. Amen.

All sit down.

FIRST READING (Acts 2:1-11)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,

they were all in one place together.

And suddenly there came from the sky

a noise like a strong driving wind,

and it filled the entire house in which they were.

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,

which parted and came to rest on each one of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit

and began to speak in different tongues,

as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.

At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,

but they were confused

because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,

“Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?

Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?

We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,

inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,

Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,

Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,

as well as travelers from Rome,

both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,

yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues

of the mighty acts of God.”

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

PSALM (104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34)

R/ Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Bless the LORD, O my soul!

O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!

How manifold are your works, O Lord!

the earth is full of your creatures; R/

May the glory of the LORD endure forever;

may the LORD be glad in his works!

Pleasing to him be my theme;

I will be glad in the LORD. R/

If you take away their breath, they perish

and return to their dust.

When you send forth your spirit, they are created,

and you renew the face of the earth. R/

SECOND READING (1 Corinthians 12:3B-7, 12-13)

Brothers and sisters:

No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;

there are different forms of service but the same Lord;

there are different workings but the same God

who produces all of them in everyone.

To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit

is given for some benefit.

As a body is one though it has many parts,

and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body,

so also Christ.

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body,

whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons,

and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

SEQUENCE

Veni, Sancte Spiritus

Come, Holy Spirit, come!

And from your celestial home

Shed a ray of light divine!

Come, Father of the poor!

Come, source of all our store!

Come, within our bosoms shine.

You, of comforters the best;

You, the soul’s most welcome guest;

Sweet refreshment here below;

In our labor, rest most sweet;

Grateful coolness in the heat;

Solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed Light divine,

Shine within these hearts of yours,

And our inmost being fill!

Where you are not, we have naught,

Nothing good in deed or thought,

Nothing free from taint of ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew;

On our dryness pour your dew;

Wash the stains of guilt away:

Bend the stubborn heart and will;

Melt the frozen, warm the chill;

Guide the steps that go astray.

On the faithful, who adore

And confess you, evermore

In your sevenfold gift descend;

Give them virtue’s sure reward;

Give them your salvation, Lord;

Give them joys that never end. Amen.

Alleluia.

All rise.

GOSPEL (John 20:19-23)

Alleluia. Alleluia.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful

and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Alleluia.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

On the evening of that first day of the week,

when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,

for fear of the Jews,

Jesus came and stood in their midst

and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.

As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,

“Receive the Holy Spirit.

Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,

and whose sins you retain are retained.”

At the end of the Gospel, all sing or say again the joy of the Resurrection:

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

All are seated, and the leader repeats slowly,

as if it were a far-off echo:

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful

and kindle in them the fire of your love.

All observe three minutes of silence for silent personal meditation.

PROFESSION OF FAITH

All then stand to profess the faith of the Church

saying the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God,

the Father almighty,

Creator of heaven and earth,

and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried;

he descended into hell;

on the third day he rose again from the dead;

he ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;

from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and life everlasting. Amen.

UNIVERSAL PRAYER

All remain standing for the prayers of the faithful, as prepared ahead of time. The following intercessions may be used instead, separating the intentions with an intervening moment of silence.
The leader of the prayer says:

The Holy Spirit manifests Christ to us, recalls his words, and opens our minds to the Paschal Mystery. Rejoicing in the Spirit we pray:

All say the refrain:

R/ Lord, hear our prayer.

That the Holy Spirit, who makes present the mystery of Christ, will reconcile all people
and bring them into communion with the Church. R/
That the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, will show his richness to all those in need. R/
For those who have grown lukewarm in their faith: that the Holy Spirit will drive out the torpor of coldness and rekindle the desire for heaven. R/
That all the relationships in our own lives be made holy through the gift of the Holy Spirit, the bond of love in the Blessed Trinity R/
For the marginalized, the doubt-ridden, and those on the verge of despair: that the peace of the Spirit will bring them to new life. R/
For the grace this week to be free of fear, and to live with the strength bestowed on us by the Holy Spirit. R/
For an end to the coronavirus pandemic, for God’s mercy on all who are suffering and dying, and for strength and protection on all healthcare workers dedicated to fighting it. R/

The people present may add, in turn, their own intentions. At the end of each of them, all repeat the refrain together:

R/ Lord, hear our prayer.

The leader introduces the Lord’s Prayer:

United in the Spirit and in the communion of the Church,

we dare to pray as the Lord Jesus himself

taught us:

All say or sing the Our Father:

Our Father…

Continuing immediately with:

For the kingdom…

Then the leader invites those present to share a sign of peace:

We have just joined our voices

with that of the Lord Jesus to pray to the Father.

We are sons and daughters in the Son.

In the love that unites us with one another,

renewed by the word of God,

we can exchange a gesture of peace,

a sign of the communion

we receive from the Lord.

All then exchange a greeting of peace from a distance: for example, by bowing deeply towards each other in turn; or, as a family, by blowing each other a kiss. Then all sit down.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

The leader says:

When we cannot receive sacramental communion for lack of a Mass, Pope Francis urges us to practice spiritual communion, also called “communion of desire.”

The Council of Trent reminds us that this “consists in an ardent desire to feed on the Heavenly Bread, with a living faith that acts through charity and that makes us participants in the fruits and graces of the Sacrament.” The value of our spiritual communion depends therefore on our faith in the presence of Christ in the Eucharist as a source of life, love and unity, and our desire to receive Communion in spite of our inability to do so.

With that in mind, I now invite you to bow your head, to close your eyes and recollect yourselves.

Silence

Deep in our hearts,

may a burning desire arise within us to unite ourselves with Jesus,

in sacramental communion,

and then to bring His love to life into our lives,

loving others as He loved us.

All remain in silence for 5 minutes for a

heart-to-heart conversation with Jesus Christ.

You may optionally stand and say or sing a beautiful Alleluia once more:

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

All remain standing, turning to face the Cross of Christ. With hands joined in prayer, the prayer leader, in the name of all, says the prayer of blessing:

FINAL BLESSING

May God, the Father of lights,

who was pleased to enlighten the disciples’ minds

by the outpouring of the Spirit, the Paraclete,

grant us gladness by his blessing

and make us always abound with the gifts of the same Spirit. Amen.

May the wondrous flame that appeared above the disciples,

powerfully cleanse our hearts from every evil

and pervade them with its purifying light.Amen.

And may God, who has been pleased to unite many tongues

in the profession of one faith,

give us perseverence in that same faith

and, by believing, may we journey from hope to clear vision. Amen.

All together, each with hands joined in prayer:

And may the blessing of almighty God,

come down on us and remain with us for ever. Amen.

All make the Sign of the Cross.

Then parents may trace the Sign of the Cross on their children’s foreheads.

To conclude the celebration, the participants may sing the Regina Caeli,

or some other joyful, well-known Marian hymn.

Regína caéli, lætáre, Allelúia!

Quia quem meruísti portáre, Allelúia!

Resurréxit, sicut dixit, Allelúia!

Ora pro nóbis Déum, Allelúia!

O Queen of heaven rejoice! Alleluia!

For He whom thou didst merit to bear, Alleluia!

Hath arisen as he said, Alleluia!

Pray for us to God, Alleluia!

Ask Jesus to open his heart to you with this prayer

raphael

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May 29, 2020

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Ask Jesus to open his heart to you with this prayer

The next time you pray, try using this prayer to be even closer to Jesus.

Prayer at its basic level is about our relationship with God. It is focused on how deeply we are united with God and how that affects our everyday life.Here is a short prayer from the Golden Manual that should help you deepen that relationship, asking Jesus to open his heart to you and taking the opportunity to stay with him. When prayed with faith and devotion, this will prayer bring down God’s love upon your soul and establish a peace that will endure.

O divine Jesus, inexhaustible fountain of all good things, open to us, we beseech you, the interior of your Heart; that, having entered, by pious meditation, into this sanctuary of divine love, we may fix for ever there our hearts, as the place wherein are found the treasure, the repose, and the happiness of holy souls; who lives and reign for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for the Morning, MAY 26 Saint Philip Neri

Prayers

raphael

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May 26, 2020

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Prayer for the Morning, MAY 26 Saint Philip Neri

Let us rejoice in the Lord always, alleluia.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!

HymnMeter: CM

This hymn can be sung to the tune used for

Where Charity and Love Prevail

Dear father Philip! holy sire!

We are poor sons of thine,

Thy last and least—then to our prayers

A father’s ear incline.

By haughty word, cold force of mind,

We seek not hearts to rule;

Hearts win the hearts they seek! Behold

The secret of our school!

By winning way, by playful love,

Our wonders will we do—

The playfulness of such as know

Their faith alone is true.

By touch and tone, by voice and eye,

By many a little wile,

May cold and sin-bound spirits own

In us our father’s guile.

Dear father Philip! give to us

Thy manners gay and free,

Thy patient trust, thy plaint of prayer,

Thy deep simplicity.

Psalm 33:1-5

A cheerful glance brings joy to the heart. (Prv 15:30)

To have a sense of humor is to be wise enough to see things in proportion. Saint Philip Neri was noted for his ability to be cheerful and to laugh from the depths of his burning love for the crucified Christ and to win other hearts for Christ by the quality of his joy.

Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just;

for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.

Give thanks to the Lord upon the lyre,

with a ten-stringed harp sing him songs.

O sing him a song that is new,

play loudly, with all your skill.

For the word of the Lord is faithful

and all his works to be trusted.

The Lord loves justice and right

and fills the earth with his love.

Glory to the Father….

Word of God (Romans 14:17-19)

The kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Spirit; whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by others. Let us then pursue what leads to peace and to building up one another.

With him are wisdom and might;/ his are counsel and understanding.(Jb 12:13)

Canticle of Zechariah

Fear of the Lord warms the heart,/ giving gladness and joy and length of days. (Sir 1:10)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;

he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior,

born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old

that he would save us from our enemies,

from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

to set us free from the hands of our enemies,

free to worship him without fear,

holy and righteous in his sight

all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet

of the Most High;

for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,

to give his people knowledge of salvation

by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God

the dawn from on high shall break upon us,

to shine on those who dwell in darkness

and the shadow of death,

and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father…

Intercessions

God inflamed the heart of Saint Philip Neri with joyful and self-sacrificing love. Through his intercession let us pray:

R/Give joy to your people, O Lord.

Lighten our hearts of the burdens of anxiety and fear. R/

Enliven our Gospel living with the leaven of joy rooted in faith. R/

Illumine the world around us by the gift of your love radiating through us. R/

Personal intentions

Our Father….

O Shepherd of your flock, the Church, you have blessed your people with the self-forgetful joy of Saint Philip Neri. Make us wise, that we may see the bright and dark moments of this day as you see them, and grow in a sense of proportion dictated by the values of your Kingdom, who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.

Pray to St. Raphael for anyone suffering

raphael

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May 25, 2020

1

Pray to St. Raphael for anyone suffering

Glorious Archangel St. Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners. I beg you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels. Because you are the “medicine of God” I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body. I especially ask of you the favor (here mention your special intention), and the great grace of purity to prepare me to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

St. Raphael, the Archangel

St. Raphael is one of the seven Archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord, and one of the only three mentioned by name in the Bible. He appears, by name, only in the Book of Tobit. Raphael’s name means “God heals.” This identity came about because of the biblical story that claims he “healed” the earth when it was defiled by the sins of the fallen angels in the apocryphal book of Enoch.

Disguised as a human in the Book of Tobit, Raphael refers to himself as “Azarias the son of the great Ananias” and travels alongside Tobit’s son, Tobiah. Once Raphael returns from his journey with Tobiah, he declares to Tobit that he was sent by the Lord to heal his blindness and deliver Sarah, Tobiah’s future wife, from the demon Asmodeus. It is then that his true healing powers are revealed and he makes himself known as “the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord” Tobit 12:15.

The demon Asmodeus killed every man Sarah married on the night of the wedding, before the marriage could be consummated. Raphael guided Tobiah and taught him how to safely enter the marriage with Sarah.

Raphael is credited with driving the evil spirit from Sarah and restoring Tobit’s vision, allowing him to see the light of Heaven and for receiving all good things through his intercession.

Although only the archangels Gabriel and Michael are mentioned by name in the New Testament, the Gospel of John speaks of the pool at Bethesda, where many ill people rested, awaiting the moving of the water. “An angel of the Lord descended at certain times into the pond; and the water was moved. And he that went down first into the pond after the motion of the water was made whole of whatsoever infirmity he lay under” John 5:1-4. Because of the healing powers often linked to Raphael, the angel spoken of is generally associated with St. Raphael, the Archangel.

St. Raphael is the patron saint of travelers, the blind, bodily ills, happy meetings, nurses, physicians and medical workers. He is often pictured holding a staff and either holding or standing on a fish. His feast day is celebrated on September 29, along with St. Michael and St. Gabriel.

For other uses, see Raphael (disambiguation).
Raphael (/ˈræfiəl/; Hebrew: רְפָאֵל, translit. Rāfāʾēl, lit. ‘It is God who heals’, ‘God Heals’, ‘God, Please Heal’; Ancient Greek: Ραφαήλ, Coptic: ⲣⲁⲫⲁⲏⲗ, Arabic: رفائيل‎ or إسرافيل Ethiopic (Ge’ez):ሩፋኤል ) is an archangel responsible for healing in the traditions of most Abrahamic religions. Not all branches of these religions consider the identification of Raphael to be canonical.

In Christianity, Raphael is generally associated with an unnamed angel mentioned in the Gospel of John, who stirs the water at the healing pool of Bethesda. Raphael is recognized as an angel in the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, as he is briefly mentioned in the Doctrine and Covenants.[2] Raphael is mentioned in the Book of Tobit, which is accepted as canonical by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and some Anglicans.

In Islam, Raphael is the fourth major angel; and in the Muslim tradition, he is known as Isrāfīl. Though unnamed in the Quran, hadith identifies Israfil with the angel of Quran 6:73. Within Islamic eschatology, Israfil is traditionally attributed to a trumpet, which is poised at his lips, and when God so commands he shall be ready to announce the Day of Resurrection.

In Judaism

The angels mentioned in the Torah, the older books of the Hebrew Bible, are without names. Shimon ben Lakish of Tiberias (AD 230–270), asserted that all the specific names for the angels were brought back by the Jews from Babylon, and modern commentators would tend to agree.[3]

According to the Babylonian Talmud, Raphael is identified as one of the three angels that appeared to Abraham in the oak grove of Mamre, in the region of Hebron. (Gen. xviii; Bava Metzia 86b). Michael, as the greatest, walked in the middle, with Gabriel to his right and Raphael to his left (Yoma 37a). All three angels were commanded to carry out a specific mission. Gabriel’s mission was to destroy Sodom; Michael’s mission was to inform Sarah that she would give birth to Isaac in a year’s time; Raphael’s mission was to heal Abraham (from his recent circumcision) and save Lot. Rashi writes, “Although Raphael’s mission included two tasks, they were considered a single mission since they were both acts that saved people.”

Raphael is named in several Jewish apocryphal books. The Life of Adam and Eve lists the archangels as well: Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, Raphael and Joel. Medieval Jewish philosopher Maimonides made a Jewish angelic hierarchy, which includes the archangel Raphael.

Medieval French rabbi, author and Hebrew Bible commentator Rashi views Raphael as being one of the three angels that appeared to Abraham in the oak grove of Mamre in the Book of Genesis. Raphael is also mentioned in the Book of Enoch alongside archangels Michael, Gabriel and Uriel.

In the Book of Enoch

Raphael bound Azazel under a desert called Dudael according to Enoch 10:4–6:

And again the Lord said to Raphael: “Bind Azazel hand and foot, and cast him into the darkness: and make an opening in the desert, which is in Dudael, and cast him therein. And place upon him rough and jagged rocks, and cover him with darkness, and let him abide there for ever, and cover his face that he may not see light. And on the day of the great judgment he shall be cast into the fire.”[5]

“Raphael, one of the holy angels, who is over the spirits of men.” (1 Enoch 20:7)

When Enoch asked who the four figures were that he had seen: “And he said to me: ‘This first is Michael, the merciful and long-suffering: and the second, who is set over all the diseases and all the wounds of the children of men, is Raphael: and the third, who is set over all the powers, is Gabriel: and the fourth, who is set over the repentance unto hope of those who inherit eternal life, is named Phanuel.’ And these are the four angels of the Lord of Spirits and the four voices I heard in those days.” (Enoch 40:9)

Of archangels in the angelology of post-Exilic Judaism, only Michael, mentioned as archangel (Daniel 12:1), and Gabriel are mentioned by name in canonical books.

Christianity

In Catholicism and in the Eastern Orthodoxy

The Book of Tobit is considered deuterocanonical by Catholics, Orthodox, and some Anglicans.[who?] In it, Raphael first appears disguised as the human travelling companion of Tobit’s son, Tobiah (Greek: Τωβίας/Tobias), calling himself “Azarias the son of the great Ananias”. During the course of the journey, the archangel’s protective influence is shown in many ways including the binding of a demon in the desert of upper Egypt. After returning and healing the blind Tobit, Azarias makes himself known as “the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord” Tobit 12:15.[6] He is venerated as Saint Raphael the Archangel.

Regarding the healing powers attributed to Raphael, there is his declaration to Tobit (Tobit, 12) that he was sent by the Lord to heal him of his blindness and to deliver Sarah, his future daughter-in-law, from the demon Asmodeus, who kills every man she marries on their wedding night before the marriage can be consummated.

In the New Testament, only the archangels Gabriel and Michael are mentioned by name (Luke 1:9–26; Jude 1:9). Later manuscripts of John 5:1–4 refer to the pool of Bethesda, where the multitude of the infirm lay awaiting the moving of the water, for “an angel of the Lord descended at certain times into the pond; and the water was moved. And he that went down first into the pond after the motion of the water was made whole of whatsoever infirmity he lay under”. Because of the healing role assigned to Raphael, this particular angel is generally associated with the archangel.[8]

In Protestantism

The identification of Raphael is not accepted as canonical by most denominations of Protestantism, as the name only appears in the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit. Nevertheless, the name “Raphael” is widely recognized in church tradition as a result of Protestantism’s origins in Catholic Christianity. Raphael (and other traditional angels) are not venerated in Protestantism.

Patronage

Due to his actions in the Book of Tobit and the Gospel of John, Saint Raphael is accounted patron of travelers, the blind, happy meetings, nurses, physicians, medical workers, matchmakers,[9] Christian marriage, and Catholic studies. As a particular enemy of the devil, he was revered in Catholic Europe as a special protector of sailors: on a corner of Venice’s famous Doge’s Palace, there is a relief depicting Raphael holding a scroll on which is written: “Efficia fretum quietum” (Keep the Gulf quiet). On July 8, 1497, when Vasco Da Gama set forth from Lisbon with his four ship fleet to sail to India, the flagship was named—at the King of Portugal’s insistence—the St. Raphael. When the flotilla reached the Cape of Good Hope on October 22, the sailors disembarked and erected a column in the archangel’s honor. The little statue of St. Raphael that accompanied Da Gama on the voyage is now in the Naval Museum in Lisbon.

Iconography

Raphael is said to guard pilgrims on their journeys, and is often depicted holding a staff. He is also often depicted holding or standing on a fish, which alludes to his healing of Tobit with the fish’s gall.[10] Early mosaics often show him and the other archangels in the clothing of a Byzantine courtier.[11]

Feast day

The feast day of Raphael was included for the first time in the General Roman Calendar in 1921, for celebration on October 24. With the 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar, the feast was transferred to September 29 for celebration together with archangels Saints Michael and Gabriel.[12] Due to Pope Benedict XVI’s Summorum Pontificum, the Catholic Church permits, within certain limits for public use, the General Roman Calendar of 1960, which has October 24 as Raphael’s feast day.

The Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates his feast on Kouji Nabot 3[13] and Koiak 13.[14]

Apparitions

The Archangel Raphael is said to have appeared in Cordova, Spain, during the 16th century; in response to the city’s appeal, Pope Innocent X allowed the local celebration of a feast in the Archangel’s honor on May 7, the date of the principal apparition. Saint John of God, founder of the Hospital order that bears his name, is also said to have received visitations from Saint Raphael, who encouraged and instructed him. In tribute to this, many of the Brothers Hospitallers of St. John of God’s facilities are called “Raphael Centers” to this day. The 18th century Neapolitan nun, Saint Maria Francesca of the Five Wounds is also said to have seen apparitions of Raphael.

In Islam

The Archangel Israfil, made in Egypt or Syria, late 14th–early 15th century
Raphael (Arabic: إسرافيل‎, romanized: Isrāfīl, alternate spellings: Israfel, Esrafil) is a venerated archangel according to Islamic tradition. In Islamic eschatology, Israfil will blow the trumpet from a holy rock in Jerusalem to announce the Day of Resurrection (Yawm al-Qiyāmah). The trumpet is constantly poised at his lips, ready to be blown when God so orders.[15]

In religious tradition

The name “Israfil” (or “Israfel”, “Esrafil”) is not specifically written in the Quran, although there is mention of an unnamed trumpet-angel assumed to identify this figure:

“And the trumpet shall be blown, so all those that are in the heavens and all those that are in the earth shall swoon, except him whom Allah will; then it shall be blown again, then they shall stand up awaiting.” — Qur’an (39.68).

Certain Islamic sources indicate that, created at the beginning of time, Israfil possesses four wings, and is so tall as to be able to reach from the earth to the pillars of heaven.[16] A beautiful angel who is a master of music, Israfil sings praises to God in a thousand different languages, the breath of which is used to inject life into hosts of angels who add to the songs themselves.[17] Further he is probably the highest angel, since he also mediates between God and the other archangels, reading on the Preserved Tablet (al-lawh al-mahfooz) to transmit the commands of God.[18] Although disputed, some reports assert, he visited Muhammad prior to the archangel Gabriel.[19]

According to Sufi traditions reported by Imam al-Suyuti, the Ghawth or Qutb (‘perfect human being’), is someone who has a heart that resembles that of the archangel Israfil, signifying the loftiness of this angel. The next in rank are the saints who are known as the Umdah or Awtad, amongst whom the highest ones have their hearts resembling that of archangel Mikhail (archangel Michael), and the rest of the lower ranking saints having the heart of Jibrail (archangel Gabriel), and that of the previous prophets before the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The earth is believed to always have one of the Qutb.[20]

Legacy

The following places have been named in honor of Raphael:

Saint Raphaël, France; Saint Raphaël, Quebec, Canada; and San Rafaels in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Peru, and the Philippines; also San Rafael de El Moján and San Rafael de Orituco in Venezuela.

In the United States, San Rafaels inherited from Spain survive in California (where besides the city there are the San Rafael Mountains)

New Mexico, and Utah, where the San Rafael River flows seasonally in the San Rafael Desert.
St. Raphael’s Cathedral, the seat of the Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin
St. Raphael’s Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Dubuque
Mission San Rafael Arcángel in San Rafael, California.
St. Raphael’s Church, Huccaby, Hexworthy, Dartmoor National Park, Devon, England
San Rafael, Vecindario, Santa Lucia de Tirajana Gran Canaria

Prayer to St. Monica for your children

raphael

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May 25, 2020

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O Saint Monica, lover of Christ and His Church,

pray for me, and for my child [Name], that we may acquire heaven,

joining with you, there, in offering constant and thankful

praise to God.

Amen.

How to celebrate the Seventh Sunday of Easter at home

raphael

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May 25, 2020

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How to celebrate the Seventh Sunday of Easter at home

Here you have the prayers, readings, and everything else you need to celebrate with God’s Word.

In order to worthily sanctify the Seventh Sunday of Easter,
Aleteia proposes this celebration of the Word of God at home.

*Note: This guide is for those who have already celebrated the Ascension of the Lord on Thursday. If you have not celebrated the Ascension, please see our guide here.

Instructions:

This celebration requires the presence of at least two people.
If you’re alone, you can simply read this celebration, united in your heart and spirit with the Church. You can also watch the Mass on television.
Choose the most convenient time, from Saturday evening (the vigil of Sunday) to Sunday evening.
This celebration is particularly suitable for use with family. In order to respect quarantine measures, you should refrain from inviting others from outside your household. If anyone in your house is ill, make sure they remain in isolation to ensure that all safety guidelines are strictly followed.
Set up the needed number of chairs in front of a prayer corner, respecting an appropriate distance of at least a yard between each.
Take the time to renew a little the prayer corner’s decorations: images, candles, real or artificial flowers, drawings by your children, garlands, etc.
A simple cross or crucifix must always be visible in the background.
Designate a person to lead the prayer.
The leader will also direct the preparation of the celebration, during which he or she will mark the length of the periods of silence.
Designate readers for the readings.
During the preparation of the celebration: you can prepare petitions for the Prayers of the Faithful or Universal Prayer (in case that is not possible, a standard list of petitions is provided here for use during the course of the celebration). You may also prepare suitable hymns.

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Celebration of the Word

The apostles devoted themselves with one accord to prayer.

The leader of the celebration reads:

Brothers and sisters,

After the Ascension, the remaining apostles

“kept the Father’s word”; “they have believed

that the Father sent Jesus.”

They witness to the Father’s glory by enacting their own sort

of “triumphal” entry into Jerusalem, redolent of Christ’s on Palm Sunday.

It was triumphant “when they entered the city”

because the Eleven were deeply united in faith and charity,

resolved to do the will of the Father.

It is not a coincidence the way that their actions

mimic those of the Savior:

they go to the Upper Room and there devote themselves to

prayer with one accord.

As a result of this conviction,

persecution is soon to follow, but

they will rejoice to the extent

that they share in the sufferings of Christ.

At this moment, we unite our sufferings to Christ,

rejoicing that we can be with him for all eternity.

After three minutes of silence, all rise and make the Sign of the Cross, saying:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The leader continues:

To prepare ourselves to receive God’s Word

and in order for it to heal us,

we recognize ourselves as sinners.

The penitential rite follows. For example:

Have mercy on us, O Lord.

For we have sinned against you.

Show us, O Lord, your mercy.

And grant us your salvation.

May Almighty God have mercy on us;

forgive us our sins,

And bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.

The following is said or sung:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

The Gloria is then said or sung:

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to people of good will.

We praise you, we bless you,

we adore you, we glorify you,

we give you thanks for your great glory.

Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

you take away the sins of the world,

have mercy on us;

you take away the sins of the world,

receive our prayer;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father,

have mercy on us.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

Glória in excélsis Deo

et in terra pax homínibus bonae voluntátis.

Laudámus te, benedícimus te,

adoramus te, glorificámus te,

gratias agimus tibi propter magnam glóriam tuam,

Dómine Deus, Rex cæléstis, Deus Pater omnípotens.

Dómine Fili Unigénite, Jesu Christe,

Dómine Deus, Agnus Dei, Fílius Patris,

qui tollis peccáta mundi, miserére nobis;

qui tollis peccáta mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram.

Qui sedes ad déxteram Patris, miserére nobis.

Quóniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dóminus,

tu solus Altíssimus, Jesu Christe,

cum Sancto + Spíritu : in glória Dei Patris.

Amen.

PRAYER

The leader says the opening prayer:

Graciously hear our supplications, O Lord,

so that we, who believe that the Savior of the human race

is with you in your glory,

may experience, as he promised,

until the end of the world,

his abiding presence among us. Amen.

All sit down.

FIRST READING (Acts 1:12-14)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

After Jesus had been taken up to heaven the apostles

returned to Jerusalem

from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem,

a sabbath day’s journey away.

When they entered the city

they went to the upper room where they were staying,

Peter and John and James and Andrew,

Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew,

James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot,

and Judas son of James.

All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer,

together with some women,

and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

PSALM (27:1, 4, 7-8)

R/ Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

The LORD is my light and my salvation;

whom should I fear?

The LORD is my life’s refuge;

of whom should I be afraid? R/

One thing I ask of the LORD;

this I seek:

To dwell in the house of the LORD

all the days of my life,

That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD

and contemplate his temple. R/

Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call;

have pity on me, and answer me.

Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks. R/

SECOND READING (1 Peter 4:13-16)

Beloved:

Rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ,

so that when his glory is revealed

you may also rejoice exultantly.

If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you,

for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

But let no one among you be made to suffer

as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as an intriguer.

But whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed

but glorify God because of the name.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

All rise.

GOSPEL (John 17:1-11A)

Alleluia. Alleluia.

I will not leave you orphans, says the Lord.

I will come back to you, and your hearts will rejoice.

Alleluia.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said,

“Father, the hour has come.

Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you,

just as you gave him authority over all people,

so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him.

Now this is eternal life,

that they should know you, the only true God,

and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

I glorified you on earth

by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.

Now glorify me, Father, with you,

with the glory that I had with you before the world began.

“I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world.

They belonged to you, and you gave them to me,

and they have kept your word.

Now they know that everything you gave me is from you,

because the words you gave to me I have given to them,

and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you,

and they have believed that you sent me.

I pray for them.

I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me,

because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours

and everything of yours is mine,

and I have been glorified in them.

And now I will no longer be in the world,

but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.”

At the end of the Gospel, all sing or say again the joy of the Resurrection:

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

All are seated, and the leader repeats slowly,

as if it were a far-off echo:

The apostles devoted themselves with one accord to prayer.

All observe three minutes of silence for silent personal meditation.

PROFESSION OF FAITH

All then stand to profess the faith of the Church

saying the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God,

the Father almighty,

Creator of heaven and earth,

and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried;

he descended into hell;

on the third day he rose again from the dead;

he ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;

from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and life everlasting. Amen.

UNIVERSAL PRAYER

All remain standing for the prayers of the faithful, as prepared ahead of time. The following intercessions may be used instead, separating the intentions with an intervening moment of silence.
The leader of the prayer says:

Rejoicing in the unity for which our Savior prayed before his death, we offer our prayers to God the Father:

All say the refrain:

R/ Lord, hear our prayer.

That through the Church’s faithful announcement of the Gospel, God’s Word may spread throughout the world and redeem all pain and suffering. R/
That people in need may find help, and that peace and security may be firmly established everywhere. R/
That our parish community may grow in faith, hope, and love. R/
For the repose of the souls of those who have died in service to our nation, and for all who continue to risk their lives in military service. R/
For the poor, the lonely, the unemployed, and all who are disheartened in any way: that they find consolation and peace in the love of Jesus. R/
For the grace this week to rejoice even when we share in the sufferings of Christ, and to glorify God in all that we say and do. R/
For an end to the coronavirus pandemic, for God’s mercy on all who are suffering and dying, and for strength and protection on all healthcare workers dedicated to fighting it. Let us pray to the Lord. R/

The people present may add, in turn, their own intentions. At the end of each of them, all repeat the refrain together:

R/ Lord, hear our prayer.

The leader introduces the Lord’s Prayer:

United in the Spirit and in the communion of the Church,

we dare to pray as the Lord Jesus himself

taught us:

All say or sing the Our Father:

Our Father…

Continuing immediately with:

For the kingdom…

Then the leader invites those present to share a sign of peace:

We have just joined our voices

with that of the Lord Jesus to pray to the Father.

We are sons and daughters in the Son.

In the love that unites us with one another,

renewed by the word of God,

we can exchange a gesture of peace,

a sign of the communion

we receive from the Lord.

All then exchange a greeting of peace from a distance: for example, by bowing deeply towards each other in turn; or, as a family, by blowing each other a kiss. Then all sit down.

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

The leader says:

When we cannot receive sacramental communion for lack of a Mass, Pope Francis urges us to

practice spiritual communion, also called “communion of desire.”

The Council of Trent reminds us that this “consists in an ardent desire to feed on the Heavenly

Bread, with a living faith that acts through charity and that makes us participants in the fruits and

graces of the Sacrament.” The value of our spiritual communion depends therefore on our faith in

the presence of Christ in the Eucharist as a source of life, love and unity, and our desire to receive

Communion in spite of our inability to do so.

With that in mind, I now invite you to bow your head, to close your eyes and recollect yourselves.

Silence

Deep in our hearts,

may a burning desire arise within us to unite ourselves with Jesus,

in sacramental communion,

and then to bring His love to life into our lives,

loving others as He loved us.

All remain in silence for 5 minutes for a

heart-to-heart conversation with Jesus Christ.

You may optionally stand and say or sing a beautiful Alleluia once more:

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

All remain standing, turning to face the Cross of Christ. With hands joined in prayer, the prayer leader, in the name of all, says the prayer of blessing:

FINAL BLESSING

May God, who by the Resurrection of his Only Begotten Son

was pleased to confer on us

the gift of redemption and of adoption,

give us gladness by his blessing. Amen.

May he, by whose redeeming work

we have received the gift of everlasting freedom,

make us heirs to an eternal inheritance. Amen.

And may we, who have already risen with Christ

in Baptism through faith,

by living in a right manner on this earth,

be united with him in the homeland of heaven. Amen.

All together, each with hands joined in prayer:

And may the blessing of almighty God,

come down on us and remain with us for ever. Amen.

All make the Sign of the Cross.

Then parents may trace the Sign of the Cross on their children’s foreheads.

To conclude the celebration, the participants may sing the Regina Caeli,

or some other joyful, well-known Marian hymn.

Regína caéli, lætáre, Allelúia!

Quia quem meruísti portáre, Allelúia!

Resurréxit, sicut dixit, Allelúia!

Ora pro nóbis Déum, Allelúia!

O Queen of heaven rejoice! Alleluia!

For He whom thou didst merit to bear, Alleluia!

Hath arisen as he said, Alleluia!

Pray for us to God, Alleluia!

sharing the faith received

sharing the faith received

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Saints and More

Recent Comments

Articles

Prayers

Exhortations

Saints and More

Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Prayer to the Wounded Heart of Jesus

Check out these ways you can grow in your devotion to the Sacred Heart while society still adjusts to living during a pandemic.

1. START YOUR MORNING WITH THE SON

2. DECORATE YOUR TABLE

3. PUT YOUR HEART INTO IT

4. COOK FOR THE KING

5. OFFER SPECIAL PRAYERS TO THE SACRED HEART

6. PARTICIPATE IN EUCHARISTIC ADORATION ONLINE

7. SET YOUR ALARM FOR 3 P.M.

8. MAKE A SACRED HEART GARDEN

We can learn from this manifestation how to allow the Spirit to act in our lives.

Ask God to pour into your soul the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially for those preparing for confirmation.

Here you have the prayers, readings, and everything else you need to celebrate with God’s Word.

PRAYER

FIRST READING (Acts 2:1-11)

The next time you pray, try using this prayer to be even closer to Jesus.

Let us rejoice in the Lord always, alleluia.

Psalm 33:1-5

Word of God (Romans 14:17-19)

Canticle of Zechariah

Intercessions

St. Raphael, the Archangel

In Judaism

In the Book of Enoch

Christianity

In Catholicism and in the Eastern Orthodoxy

In Protestantism

In Islam

In religious tradition

Legacy

Here you have the prayers, readings, and everything else you need to celebrate with God’s Word.

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