3 Powerful Prayers of an exorcist to drive out evil

Prayers

gabriel

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January 7, 2023

3 Powerful Prayers of an exorcist to drive out evil

ANIMA CHRISTI

Soul of Christ, sanctify me; Body of Christ, save me; Blood of Christ, inebriate me; Water from the side of Christ, wash me; Passion of Christ, strengthen me; O good Jesus, hear me; within Thy wounds, hide me; let me never be separated from Thee; from the evil one, deliver me; at the hour of my death, call me and bid me come to Thee, that with Thy saints, I may praise Thee forever and ever. Amen.

PRAYER AGAINST MALEFICE FROM THE GREEK RITUAL

Kyrie eleison. God, our Lord, King of ages, All-powerful and All-mighty, You Who made everything and Who transform everything simply by Your will. You Who in Babylon changed into dew the flames of the ‘seven-times hotter’ furnace and protected and saved the three holy children. You are the doctor and the physician of our soul. You are the salvation of those who turn to You. We beseech You to make powerless, banish, and drive out every diabolic power, presence, and machination; every evil influence, malefice, or evil eye and all evil actions aimed against Your servant [name of person/s]. Where there is envy and malice, give us an abundance of goodness, endurance, victory, and charity. O Lord, You Who love man, we beg You to reach out Your powerful hands and Your most high and mighty arms and send the angel of peace over us, to protect us, body and soul. May he keep at bay and vanquish every evil power, every poison or malice invoked against us by corrupt and envious people. Then, under the protection of Your authority may we sing, in gratitude, ‘The Lord is my salvation; whom should I fear? I will not fear evil because You are with me, my God, my strength, my powerful Lord, Lord of peace, Father of all ages.”

Yes, Lord our God, be merciful to us, Your image, and save your servant [name of person/s] from every threat or harm from the evil one, and protect him/her by raising him/her above all evil. We ask You this through the intercession of our Most Blessed, glorious Lady, Mary ever Virgin, Mother of God, of the most splendid archangels and all Your saints. Amen!

PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE

My Lord, you are all powerful, you are God, you are Father. We beg you through the intercession and help of the archangels Michael, Raphael and Gabriel, for the deliverance of our brothers and sisters who are enslaved by the evil one. All saints of Heaven, come to our aid.

From anxiety, sadness and obsessions, we beg You. Free us, O Lord. From hatred, fornication, envy, we beg You, Free us, O Lord. From thoughts of jealousy, rage, and death, we beg You, Free us, O Lord. From every thought of suicide and abortion, we beg You, Free us, O Lord. From every form of sinful sexuality, we beg You, Free us, O Lord. From every division in our family, and every harmful friendship, we beg You, Free us, O Lord. From every sort of spell, malefic, witchcraft, and every form of the occult, we beg You, Free us, O Lord.

Lord, You Who said, “I leave you peace, My peace I give you,” grant that, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, we may be liberated from every evil spell and enjoy your peace always. In the name of Christ, our Lord. Amen.

8 Powerful weapons for spiritual combat

Articles

Kenneth C. Alimba

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January 7, 2023

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Confession

The Sacrament of Penance cuts directly through the devil’s strongest chains because it restores the soul to grace. St. John Paul II said: “The sacrament of Penance is the ordinary way of obtaining forgiveness and the remission of grave sins committed after Baptism.” In confession, the sinner humbles himself before God, echoing the words of St. Augustine: “The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.” The devil works hardest to keep people away from this sacrament because he knows what St. John Vianney preached with simplicity and force: “The Lord is more anxious to forgive our sins than a woman is to carry her baby out of a burning building.” Every absolution throws hell into confusion, because it restores light, restores grace, and restores strength for the spiritual battle.

Holy Communion

The Eucharist is strength, protection, and divine intimacy. St. Ignatius of Antioch called it plainly: “The medicine of immortality, the antidote against death.” When we receive Christ, the soul is united to the One before whom demons flee. St. Cyril of Jerusalem taught with clarity: “Do not doubt whether this is true, but take the Savior’s words with faith, for He said: ‘This is My Body.’” Holy Communion draws us into a union that strengthens us for every battle, fulfilling what Pope St. Pius X wrote: “Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to Heaven.” Approaching the altar with a prepared conscience fills the soul with the presence of Christ Himself—the One who conquers every darkness.

The Virgin Mary

No spiritual weapon terrifies the enemy as much as the Mother of God. St. Louis de Montfort—whose Marian teaching the Church has repeatedly endorsed—wrote plainly: “The devils fear the Blessed Virgin more than God Himself, not because the power of God is not infinitely greater, but because God has given Mary the power to defeat them.” Her intercession is immediate and maternal. At Fatima, she spoke clearly and without confusion: “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.” Turning to her in prayer, especially through the Rosary, makes the soul untouchable, echoing St. Padre Pio’s constant reminder: “The Rosary is the weapon for these times.” Wherever Mary is sincerely invoked, hell retreats.

St. Joseph

St. Joseph’s authority in spiritual warfare rests on his unique mission as guardian of Jesus and Mary. Pope Leo XIII affirmed this directly in Quamquam Pluries: “Joseph was in his day the lawful and natural guardian, head and defender of the Holy Family.” His protection continues for the Church because the Church is the Body of Christ. St. Teresa of Ávila testified from her own life: “I do not remember ever having asked anything of him that he did not obtain.” His purity, obedience, and silence crush the noise and impurity through which the devil works. Invoking him under his title “Terror of Demons” is not symbolic—it reflects the real spiritual authority he exercises in God’s plan.

The Scapular

The Brown Scapular has been recognized by the Church as a sign of Marian protection and consecration. Pope Pius XII affirmed this devotion with clarity: “The scapular is a sign of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” The one who wears it commits himself to Mary’s protection and her way of life. At Fatima, Our Lady herself said to Lucia: “I want all my children to wear the Scapular.” The scapular is powerful not because of superstition, but because it marks the soul as belonging to Mary, and as St. Maximilian Kolbe declared: “Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.” The soul that belongs to Mary is shielded by her mantle.

Prayer

Prayer keeps the soul awake and guarded. St. Teresa of Ávila said it with perfect clarity: “He who neglects prayer is like a fish out of water.” Prayer draws God’s presence into the heart and forces the devil out. St. John Chrysostom called prayer a weapon without limits: “Prayer is the root, the fountain, the mother of a thousand blessings.” Pope Benedict XVI reminded the Church that prayer is not escape, but strength: “Prayer is the lifeblood of the Christian, without which he cannot survive.” A consistent prayer life—morning, night, and throughout the day—builds an interior fortress that the devil cannot enter.

Humility

Humility destroys pride, and pride is the devil’s native language. St. Augustine explained the spiritual hierarchy of virtues with unmatched clarity: “If you should ask me what are the ways of God, I would tell you that the first is humility, the second is humility, and the third is humility.” Humility opens the soul to grace, while pride closes it. Pope St. Gregory the Great wrote: “Pride makes us lose the blessings we have; humility enables us to gain those we have lost.” The devil cannot imitate humility because it is rooted in truth, and he is the father of lies. The humble soul, admitting its weakness before God, becomes strong beyond measure.

Fasting and Abstinence

Fasting attacks the enemy precisely where he works—disordered desire. Scripture records the teaching of Jesus Himself: “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.” (Mark 9:29, RSVCE). St. Basil the Great described its spiritual effect clearly: “Fasting gives wings to prayer.” Pope St. Leo the Great taught the Church with authority: “Fasting gives strength against sin, suppresses evil desires, and heals the wounds of the soul.” When we fast or abstain, we reclaim our freedom from the impulses the devil tries to exploit. Hunger offered for God sharpens the will, clears the mind, and strengthens the heart for spiritual battle.

What About Crystal Energy and Healing Stones?

Q&A

gabriel

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January 7, 2023

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What About Crystal Energy and Healing Stones?

The belief that crystals have spiritual healing powers is not based on scientific evidence and is often associated with the “New Age” movement, which is a term used to describe a broad range of spiritual practices that are not based on the teachings of traditional religions. These practices often involve the belief in a “universal energy” or “life force” that can be harnessed for personal benefit, and crystals are often seen as a way to access or channel this energy.

However, this belief is not supported by the teachings of Christianity and is considered a form of divination or magic, which are practices that are condemned in the Bible and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In the Bible, divination is described as seeking knowledge of the future or the hidden through supernatural means, such as consulting with spirits or using magical objects. Magic, on the other hand, is described as using supernatural powers to achieve an end, such as controlling natural forces or manipulating the will of others. Both of these practices are seen as a form of idolatry, as they involve turning to something other than God for guidance or power.

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, these practices are described as “gravely contrary to the virtue of religion” and “attempts to rely on supernatural powers other than God.” The Catechism also notes that “all forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ‘unveil’ the future.” Therefore, as a Christian, it is important to reject any belief or practice that involves seeking knowledge or power through means that are not in accordance with the teachings of the Bible and the Church.

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

Divination and magic

2115 God can reveal the future to his prophets or to other saints. Still, a sound Christian attitude consists in putting oneself confidently into the hands of Providence for whatever concerns the future, and giving up all unhealthy curiosity about it. Improvidence, however, can constitute a lack of responsibility.

2116 All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to “unveil” the future.48 Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone.

2117 All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one’s service and have a supernatural power over others – even if this were for the sake of restoring their health – are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another’s credulity.

Turn to these four saints in desperate situations

Prayers

gabriel

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January 7, 2023

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Turn to these four saints in desperate situations

Cancer

St. Peregrine, an Italian saint from the 14th century, is well-known for his powerful ability to intercede on behalf of and heal those suffering from cancer. During his lifetime, Peregrine was miraculously healed of a cancerous infection in his leg. After his death, he became the Patron Saint of Cancer Patients and has been credited with countless miraculous healings.

Prayer:

O great St. Peregrine, you have been called “The Mighty,” “The Wonder-Worker,” because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have had recourse to you. For so many years you bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being, and who had recourse to the source of all grace when the power of man could do no more. You were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal your affliction. Ask of God and Our Lady, the cure of the sick whom we entrust to you.(Pause here and silently recall the names of those for whom you are praying)Aided in this way by your powerful intercession, we shall sing to God, now and for all eternity, a song of gratitude for His great goodness and mercy.Amen.

Failing Marriages:

St. Edward the Confessor was a king of England who lived 500 years before Henry VIII and is known for his efforts to adhere to the laws of the Catholic Church. He married Edith, the daughter of Godwine, the Earl of Essex and one of the most influential earls in England at the time. Some historians believe that Edith was a strong-willed and sometimes short-tempered woman. Edward is often invoked by people who are experiencing difficulties in their marriages or are separated from their spouses.

Prayer

Most glorious St. Edward,you showed your devotion to God

with patience, gentleness and generosity. Like you, may I serve to strengthen the Kingdom of God
through patient prayer and charity.
Speak on my behalf for my petition which seems so impossible from my position.

(Here mention your request ).Confident in your intercession, I place this cause in your hands.Amen

Unemployment, St Cajetan:

O glorious St. Cajetan, you studied to be a lawyer, but when you felt that the Lord was calling you to his service, you abandoned everything and became a priest. You excelled in virtues, shunning all material rewards for your labor, helping the many unemployed people of your time. You provided loans without interest and you attracted a lot of benefactors who donated to your resources so that you could go on with your activities. Look on us with mercy. We wish to find employment that could help us and our families live with dignity. Listen to our petitions, dear saint; you, who could easily give up the food on your table for the needy, bring our petitions to Jesus (here make your request). Amen.

Hopeless Cases, St Jude the Apostle:

Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of, Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone.Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly –(make your request here)– and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.Amen.

Catholic healing prayers

Prayers

gabriel

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January 7, 2023

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PRAYER FOR THE SICK INVOKING JESUS’ MIRACULOUS HEALINGS

Lord Jesus Christ, Savior and consoler of our weakness, who delivered Peter’s mother-in-law and the ruler’s son from a high fever; who restored strength to the paralytic, cleansed the lepers, healed the centurion’s servant; who saved the woman suffering from hemorrhage, raised up the man lying helpless on his pallet at the pool of Bethsaida, went about the towns and villages healing all kinds of ailments … may the sick … be freed from their illness and restored in body and mind, and may rightly see fit to praise your power until the end of their days; you who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

PRAYER TO ST. GIANNA FOR HEALING OF COMPLICATIONS IN PREGNANCY

O compassionate Saint Gianna,
physician and caregiver to the poor, the elderly,
to children and expectant mothers,
look lovingly upon my humble prayer,
and intercede for me with our Heavenly Father.

As a dedicated wife and mother,
you imitated the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ,
even to the point of giving your life to save
the life of your preborn child.

Ask the Holy Spirit, I pray, to fill me with courage,
so that your words may become my own:
“Whatever God wants.”

If it is in God’s loving plan for me,
pray that my intention may be granted
(make your request here).
Amen.

PRAY THIS PRAYER TO THE ARCHANGELS FOR PROTECTION AND HEALING

Heavenly King, You have given us archangels
to assist us during our pilgrimage on earth.

Saint Michael is our protector;
I ask him to come to my aid,
fight for all my loved ones,
and protect us from danger.

Saint Gabriel is a messenger of the Good News;
I ask him to help me
clearly hear Your voice
and to teach me the truth.

Saint Raphael is the healing angel;
I ask him to take my need for healing
and that of everyone I know,
lift it up to Your throne of grace
and deliver back to us the gift of recovery.

Help us, O Lord,
to realize more fully the reality of the archangels
and their desire to serve us.
Holy angels,
pray for us.
Amen.

PRAY THIS POWERFUL PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF CANCER

O great St. Peregrine, you have been called “The Mighty,” “The Wonder-Worker,” because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have had recourse to you. For so many years you bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being, and who had recourse to the source of all grace when the power of man could do no more. You were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal your affliction. Ask of God and Our Lady, the cure of the sick whom we entrust to you.
(Pause here and silently recall the names of those for whom you are praying)
Aided in this way by your powerful intercession, we shall sing to God, now and for all eternity, a song of gratitude for His great goodness and mercy.
Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE RECOVERY OF A SICK PERSON

Most merciful Jesus, who are the consolation and salvation of all who put their trust in you, we humbly beseech you, by your most bitter passion, grant the recovery of health to your servant N.N., provided this be for his/her soul’s welfare, that with us he/she may praise and magnify your holy name. Amen.

MATTHEW 8:8

Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed. (Matthew 8:8)

PRAY FOR HEALING WITH THIS NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF LOURDES

Be blessed, O most pure Virgin, for having vouchsafed to manifest your shining with life, sweetness and beauty, in the Grotto of Lourdes, saying to the child, St. Bernadette: “I am the Immaculate Conception.” A thousand times we congratulate you upon your Immaculate Conception. And now, O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of mercy, Health of the sick, Refuge of sinners, Comforter of the afflicted, you know our wants, our troubles, our sufferings; deign to cast upon us a look of mercy.

By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors, and already many have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and physical. We come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain for us, O loving Mother, the granting of our request.

(state your request)

Through gratitude for your favors, we will endeavor to imitate your virtues, that we may one day share your glory. Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your divine son while upon earth. You have the same influence now in Heaven. Pray for us; obtain for us from your Divine Son our special requests if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

Did Jesus have siblings?

Q&A

gabriel

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January 7, 2023

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Did Jesus have siblings?

Question: Mark 6:3 – Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” Doesn’t this mean that Jesus had siblings?

Answer:

If you are referring to the usage of the words “Brother” and “Sisters” at the time, then yes, Jesus had siblings. However, these weren’t literally his brothers and sisters, they were most likely his cousins. As is many languages at the time, there were no words for “Cousin”.

The belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, conceived and gave birth to Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit, and that she remained a virgin throughout her life, is a central tenet of the Christian faith. This teaching is based on the accounts of Jesus’ birth in the New Testament, which state that Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus. Despite references in the New Testament to Jesus having brothers and sisters, it is the belief of the Church that these siblings were actually cousins or other close relatives, and that Mary remained a virgin throughout her life.

This belief in Mary’s perpetual virginity is rooted in the understanding of the time in which she lived, as well as in the cultural practices of certain societies today, where people refer to their cousins or other close relatives as “brothers” or “sisters.” Additionally, the belief that Mary remained a virgin serves to underscore the unique relationship between Jesus and his mother, as Mary is the only blood relation to Jesus, and her bond with him is spiritual rather than physical. This spiritual bond, rooted in Mary’s perfect faith and obedience, is seen as being even stronger than a natural blood relationship, and serves to highlight the special relationship between Mary and her son, Jesus.

How to make a lasting New Year Resolution

Articles

gabriel

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January 6, 2023

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How to make a lasting New Year Resolution

Making a lasting new year resolution as a Catholic can be a meaningful way to begin the year off on a positive note and grow in your faith. Here are a few suggestions to help you make a resolution that will last:

Choose a resolution that is specific and achievable:

It’s important to choose a resolution that is specific, because this will help you know exactly what you are working towards. For example, instead of resolving to “read the Bible more,” try setting a goal to read a certain number of chapters each week. This gives you a specific target to aim for. It’s also important to choose a resolution that is achievable. If you set a goal that is too ambitious, you may become discouraged if you can’t achieve it.

Make a plan for how you will accomplish your resolution:

Once you have chosen a specific and achievable resolution, it’s important to make a plan for how you will accomplish it. For example, if your resolution is to pray more, you might decide to set aside a specific time each day for prayer, or to pray before meals or before going to bed. By having a plan in place, you are more likely to follow through with your resolution.

Share your resolution with a friend or family member and ask for their support:

It can be helpful to have someone to hold you accountable when trying to accomplish a goal. Share your resolution with a friend or family member and ask them to support you in reaching your goal. They can help you stay motivated and on track.

Keep track of your progress:

It can be helpful to keep track of your progress as you work towards your resolution. This can help you stay motivated and see how far you have come. You might use a journal or calendar to track your progress, or you might ask a friend or family member to check in with you regularly to see how you are doing.

Don’t be too hard on yourself if you have setbacks:

It’s important to remember that you are only human, and it’s normal to have moments of weakness. If you have setbacks or struggle to keep up with your resolution, don’t be too hard on yourself. Just get back on track and keep working towards your goal. It’s important to be kind to yourself and to remember that progress is often slow and incremental. New year resolution simply means you will never stop trying to achieve your goals not that you can never make mistakes.

Vandal destroys a statue of the Virgin Mary in Colombia

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Vatican

gabriel

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January 6, 2023

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Vandal destroys a statue of the Virgin Mary in Colombia

Early Wednesday morning, a man destroyed a statue of the Virgin Mary that stood in a small brick grotto at the entrance to the town of Sopó in the Cundinamarca District of Colombia.

The Marian image was more than 70 years old. A video circulating on social media shows an individual viewed from the back striking the statue of the Virgin.

In a video posted on the town’s Facebook page, the mayor of Sopó, Miguel Alejandro Rico Suárez, said that the attack was committed by “a young man with psychiatric problems, who was captured at the time.”

In the wake of the attack, the mayor called on the people to strengthen their faith “and show all our love for the Virgin.”

The mayor invited the faithful to participate in a Mass that will be offered Jan. 8 at 2 p.m. in the Alpina roundabout “to also bless the new image that will accompany us from this date forward.”

In the same video, Father Luis Javier Boyacá, parochial vicar of the town of Sopó, said that the Divine Savior parish community joins “the cause of the Mayor’s Office of Sopó and the religious sentiments of our town, in reparation for the sacrilege to the most holy image of the Virgin Mary.”

“Although we know she is not there, [the statue] is in fact a representation of her maternal support and protection for our town,” he said.

In a statement to ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language sister news agency, the priest said that “believers are shocked by what happened.”

The priest invited the faithful to join in praying the rosary “next Saturday at 6 a.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Holy Mass in reparation” for the destruction of the image of the Virgin Mary.

Pope Francis’ homily at Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s funeral Mass

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Vatican

gabriel

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January 6, 2023

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Pope Francis’ homily at Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s funeral Mass

Vatican City, Jan 5, 2023 / 03:46 am

At 9:30 a.m. this morning Pope Francis presided over the funeral Mass of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. This is the full text of his homily:

“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Lk 23:46). These were the final words spoken by the Lord on the cross; his last breath, as it were, which summed up what had been his entire life: a ceaseless self-entrustment into the hands of his Father. His were hands of forgiveness and compassion, healing and mercy, anointing and blessing, which led him also to entrust himself into the hands of his brothers and sisters. The Lord, open to the individuals and their stories that he encountered along the way, allowed himself to be shaped by the Father’s will. He shouldered all the consequences and hardships entailed by the Gospel, even to seeing his hands pierced for love. “See my hands,” he says to Thomas (Jn 20:27), and to each of us: “See my hands.” Pierced hands that constantly reach out to us, inviting us to recognize the love that God has for us and to believe in it (cf. 1 Jn 4:16).

“Father into your hands I commend my spirit.” This is the invitation and the programme of life that he quietly inspires in us. Like a potter (cf. Is 29:16), he wishes to shape the heart of every pastor, until it is attuned to the heart of Christ Jesus (cf. Phil 2:5). Attuned in grateful devotion, in service to the Lord and to his people, a service born of thanksgiving for a completely gracious gift: “You belong to me… you belong to them,” the Lord whispers, “you are under the protection of my hands. You are under the protection of my heart. Stay in my hands and give me yours.” Here we see the “condescension” and closeness of God, who is ready to entrust himself to the frail hands of his disciples, so that they can feed his people and say with him: Take and eat, take and drink, for this is my body which is given up for you (cf. Lk 22:19). The total synkatabasis of God.

Attuned in prayerful devotion, a devotion silently shaped and refined amid the challenges and resistance that every pastor must face (cf. 1 Pet 1:6-7) in trusting obedience to the Lord’s command to feed his flock (cf. Jn 21:17 ). Like the Master, a shepherd bears the burden of interceding and the strain of anointing his people, especially in situations where goodness must struggle to prevail and the dignity of our brothers and sisters is threatened (cf. Heb 5:7-9). In the course of this intercession, the Lord quietly bestows the spirit of meekness that is ready to understand, accept, hope and risk, notwithstanding any misunderstandings that might result. It is the source of an unseen and elusive fruitfulness, born of his knowing the One in whom he has placed his trust (cf. 2 Tim 1:12). A trust itself born of prayer and adoration, capable of discerning what is expected of a pastor and shaping his heart and his decisions in accord with God’s good time (cf. Jn 21:18): “Feeding means loving, and loving also means being ready to suffer. Loving means giving the sheep what is truly good, the nourishment of God’s truth, of God’s word, the nourishment of his presence.”

Attuned also in devotion sustained by the consolation of the Spirit, who always precedes the pastor in his mission. In his passionate effort to communicate the beauty and the joy of the Gospel (cf. Gaudete et Exsultate, 57). In the fruitful witness of all those who, like Mary, in so many ways stand at the foot of the cross. In the painful yet steadfast serenity that neither attacks nor coerces. In the stubborn but patient hope that the Lord will be faithful to his promise, the promise he made to our fathers and to their descendants forever (cf. Lk 1:54-55).

Holding fast to the Lord’s last words and to the witness of his entire life, we too, as an ecclesial community, want to follow in his steps and to commend our brother into the hands of the Father. May those merciful hands find his lamp alight with the oil of the Gospel that he spread and testified to for his entire life (cf. Mt 25:6-7).

At the end of his Pastoral Rule, Saint Gregory the Great urged a friend to offer him this spiritual accompaniment: “Amid the shipwreck of the present life, sustain me, I beseech you, by the plank of your prayer, that, since my own weight sinks me down, the hand of your merit will raise me up.” Here we see the awareness of a pastor who cannot carry alone what in truth he could never carry alone, and can thus commend himself to the prayers and the care of the people entrusted to him. God’s faithful people, gathered here, now accompanies and entrusts to him the life of the one who was their pastor. Like the women at the tomb, we too have come with the fragrance of gratitude and the balm of hope, in order to show him once more the love that is undying. We want to do this with the same wisdom, tenderness, and devotion that he bestowed upon us over the years. Together, we want to say: “Father, into your hands we commend his spirit.”

Benedict, faithful friend of the Bridegroom, may your joy be complete as you hear his voice, now and forever!

PHOTOS: Solemn images of the closing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s coffin

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Vatican

gabriel

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January 6, 2023

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PHOTOS: Solemn images of the closing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s coffin

The Vatican on Thursday shared the first photos of the private ritual for the closing of Benedict XVI’s coffin.

The casket was closed in St. Peter’s Basilica on the evening of Jan. 4 after three days of public visitation to the late pope’s body.

Before the wooden coffin was closed, Benedict XVI’s personal secretary, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, and Monsignor Diego Giovanni Ravelli, the Vatican’s lead master of ceremonies for papal liturgies, placed a white veil over the late pope’s face. The action is part of the funeral rites for popes.

“Almighty God, Lord of life and death, we believe that the life of the Holy Father Benedict XVI is now hidden in you … May his face contemplate your beauty,” the prayer for the rite says.

Cardinals Giovanni Battista Re, Pietro Parolin, Angelo De Donatis, Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, Edgar Peña Parra, Mauro Gambetti, and the consecrated women of the pope emeritus’ household were present for the closing of the coffin.

Before the casket was closed, a one-page summary in Latin of Benedict XVI’s papacy, called a “rogito” in Italian, was rolled into a metal cylinder and placed inside.

Gänswein kissed the top of the closed coffin, made of cypress.

Benedict XVI’s funeral and burial in the Vatican crypt took place on the morning of Jan. 5.

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Recent Comments

Articles

Prayers

Exhortations

Saints and More

Recent Comments

Articles

Prayers

Exhortations

Saints and More

3 Powerful Prayers of an exorcist to drive out evil

ANIMA CHRISTI

PRAYER AGAINST MALEFICE FROM THE GREEK RITUAL

PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE

Confession

Holy Communion

The Virgin Mary

St. Joseph

The Scapular

Prayer

Humility

Fasting and Abstinence

What About Crystal Energy and Healing Stones?

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

Turn to these four saints in desperate situations

Cancer

Prayer:

Failing Marriages:

Prayer

Unemployment, St Cajetan:

Hopeless Cases, St Jude the Apostle:

PRAYER FOR THE SICK INVOKING JESUS’ MIRACULOUS HEALINGS

PRAYER TO ST. GIANNA FOR HEALING OF COMPLICATIONS IN PREGNANCY

PRAY THIS PRAYER TO THE ARCHANGELS FOR PROTECTION AND HEALING

PRAY THIS POWERFUL PRAYER FOR THE HEALING OF CANCER

PRAYER FOR THE RECOVERY OF A SICK PERSON

MATTHEW 8:8

PRAY FOR HEALING WITH THIS NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF LOURDES

Did Jesus have siblings?

Answer:

Choose a resolution that is specific and achievable:

Make a plan for how you will accomplish your resolution:

Share your resolution with a friend or family member and ask for their support:

Keep track of your progress:

Don’t be too hard on yourself if you have setbacks:

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