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11 Great Ways To Prepare For Mass

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gabriel

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October 2, 2021

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11 Great Ways To Prepare For Mass

1. Really get ready:

Getting ready for Mass shouldn’t be only about picking out the best outfit, it should also be about getting ready spiritually and mentally. Say a prayer or two, take a little pamphlet to read something pertaining to the Mass. Read something on the Eucharist, even something on Eucharistic Miracles to renew your faith in the Real Presence.

2. If you have a family:

Get everything ready the day before so you do not encroach into the time for Mass getting ready.

3. Get there early:

Arriving on time to me is not getting there one minute before the mass begins. I believe you need to be at mass, calm down from the trip to Church, read a thing or two, say some preparatory prayer before mass even. Meditate on what you have read or even on the Gospel of the day. Remember BTW that the mass does not begin with the Sign of the Cross, it begins with the procession and ends with the exit procession.

4. Get the right seats:

Sit as close to the altar as possible so you can participate more fully. You can hear the priest better and meditate on the gestures and rituals of the Mass. Sitting too far off the back is okay but should not be your first choice if you come early. Also, sitting in front limits distractions.

5. Kill the phones:

My bishop once gave an order for everyone to leave their phones at home while coming to Mass. While this is not very practical a rule, we should remember that distracting ourselves while at mass doesn’t show any form of faith and or charity. Faith in what we believe, in the spiritual reality before us, and charity towards other people we are distracting.

6. Renew your commitments:

Remember your biggest spiritual struggles, not only your temporary problems. Ask for pardon for sins, renew your commitment to living a life pleasing to God.

7. Participate fully:

Sing heartily, follow the gestures, they have deep spiritual meanings. Say the words with faith, and rejoice while saying the creed that you are privileged to have such faith for whom many have given their lives. Remember the struggles of the ages that prompted the writing of the Nicene Creed. This is what I usually think of and i am always filled with joy and gratitude for such a gift.

8. Listen with your whole being:

Pay attention to every word, listen to the readings and pay attention during the homily too. This is a really important way to have something of a take-home after mass. If you are blessed to have a particularly wonderful homilist, you can take home a whole lot, if not, just learn something – anything new.

9. Give:

Your Church community needs your financial support, your priest too doesn’t take salaries and needs your help to keep feeding you spiritually. So, do not skimp, give generously. Remember also to give to the poor at your own time, we have both obligations. Give to the CHurch, give to the poor.

10. Remember to meet Jesus:

Jesus is at Mass in four ways:

He is present in the Comunity who are part of his Body
The Reading of the Gospels, Jesus is present
In the priest who acts “in persona Christi, in the person of Christ”
And most improtantly in the Eucharistic spiecies.

So, do not forget to worship and adore Christ in the Eucharist, he is actually watching you and hoping to meet you. Be ready to meet him too.

Receive him too, do so reverently. Give everything you have in your soul, give all your love, your hopes, your faith, and even your darkness to Jesus.

11. Give thanks:

Whether you receive Jesus in the Eucharist or Spiritually when you are not in the State of Grace, you should not forget to give thanks. Give thanks for the grace of receiving the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist. It helps to use a prayer book for this. I love the prayers written by St Thomas Aquinas:

Prayer of Thanksgiving:

I thank You, O holy Lord, almighty Father, eternal God, who have deigned, not through any merits of mine, but out of the condescension of Your goodness, to satisfy me a sinner, Your unworthy servant, with the precious Body and Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this Holy Communion be not a condemnation to punishment for me, but a saving plea to forgiveness.
May it be to me the armor of faith and the shield of a good will. May it be the emptying out of my vices and the extinction of all lustful desires; and increase of charity and patience, of humility and obedience, and all virtues; a strong defense against the snares of all my enemies, visible and invisible; the perfect quieting of all my evil impulses of flesh and spirit, binding me firmly to You, the one true God; and a happy ending of my life. I pray too that You will deign to bring me, a sinner, to that ineffable banquet where You with Your Son and the Holy Spirit, are to your Saints true light, fulfillment of desires, eternal joy, unalloyed gladness, and perfect bliss. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

11 Great Ways To Prepare For Mass

A spiritual communion prayer when you can’t attend Mass

gabriel

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October 2, 2021

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A spiritual communion prayer when you can’t attend Mass. It is hard to stay home and not commune with Jesus when you are sick or home because of movement restrictions. So, when you cannot physically attend mass there are a couple of things you can do on your own to sort of spiritually attend.

You can consider tuning in on YouTube to such Catholic broadcasting networks as EWTN and Catholic TV.

You can also participate by offering a prayer of Spiritual Communion. It is a way to express your sincere desire to be united to God because you cant receive sacramentally at Mass.

Act of Spiritual Communion

O my divine Jesus, how great is my desire to receive your sacred body! Oh, come now into my soul, at least, by a spiritual communion! O Jesus, my divine Savior, save me. O my God, hiding myself with a humble confidence in your dear wounds, I give up my soul into your divine hands. Oh, receive it into the bosom of your mercy. Amen.

POPE FRANCIS prayer to Our Lady, Health of the Sick, for protection during the Coronavirus Pandemic

O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick. At the foot of the Cross, you participated in Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith. You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need. We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the Father’s
will and to do what Jesus tells us: He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.

We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

A spiritual communion prayer when you can’t attend Mass

Prayers to the 4 Saints of impossible causes

raphael

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October 2, 2021

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St. Rita of Cascia, St. Jude Thaddeus, St. Philomena, and St. Gregory Thaumaturgus are widely known for their intercession on behalf of impossible causes.

Prayers to the 4 Saints of impossible causes is a great place to start when all seem hopeless! The communion of saints (in Latin, communio sanctorum) is the spiritual union of the members of the Christian Church. This includes both living and dead. They are all part of a single “mystical body”, with Christ as the head, in which each member contributes to the good of all and shares in the welfare of all.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the communion of saints is the Church itself:

What is the Church if not the assembly of all the saints? The communion of saints is the Church. Communion with the saints. “It is not merely by the title of example that we cherish the memory of those in heaven; we seek, rather, that by this devotion to the exercise of fraternal charity the union of the whole Church in the Spirit may be strengthened. Exactly as Christian communion among our fellow pilgrims brings us closer to Christ, so our communion with the saints joins us to Christ, from whom as from its fountain and head issues all grace, and the life of the People of God itself”

Affirmed in the Apostles’ Creed, the communion of saints exists in the three states of the Church, the Churches Militant, Penitent, and Triumphant. The Church Militant (Ecclesia militans) consisting of those alive on earth; the Church Penitent (Ecclesia poenitens) consisting of those undergoing purification in purgatory in preparation for heaven; and the Church Triumphant (Ecclesia triumphans) consisting of those already in heaven. The earliest known use of the term “communion of saints” to refer to this mystical bond uniting both the living and the dead is found in the works of the bishop, theologian, and hymnist Saint Nicetas of Remesiana (c. 335–414). Since then, the notion played a central role in all formulations of the Christian creed.

Christians belonging to the Roman Catholic Church ask the intercession of saints in heaven, whose prayers are seen as helping their fellow Christians on earth, as read in Revelation 5:8. Often in life, we encounter situations where nothing seems to work, and we feel like the world is against us. In such cases, as with everything in life, it is most appropriate to seek out God and beg his divine intervention. Catholics understand saints are helpful in this regard, speedily bringing our petitions to our Heavenly Father. In particular, here are Prayers to the 4 Saints of impossible causes

St. Rita of Cascia

A saint from the 15th century, Rita was known during her life for tending to plague victims. She did this without contracting the plague, a miraculous preservation that likely led to her association with impossible causes.

O Holy Patroness of those in need, St. Rita, whose pleadings before thy Divine Lord are almost irresistible, who for thy lavishness in granting favors hast been called the Advocate of the Hopeless and even of the Impossible; St. Rita, so humble, so pure, so mortified, so patient and of such compassionate love for thy Crucified Jesus that thou couldst obtain from Him whatsoever thou askest, on account of which all confidently have recourse to thee expecting, if not always relief, at least comfort; be propitious to our petition, showing thy power with God on behalf of thy suppliant; be lavish to us, as thou hast been in so many wonderful cases, for the greater glory of God, for the spreading of thine own devotion, and for the consolation of those who trust in thee.

We promise, if our petition is granted, to glorify thee by making known thy favor, to bless and sing thy praises forever. Relying then upon thy merits and power before the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we pray thee grant that [here mention your petition]. Pray for us, O holy St. Rita, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

St. Jude Thaddeus

Jude is a saint who was often forgotten throughout history because of his name. Christians didn’t want to pray to him because his name was similar to Judas Iscariot (in Latin his name is “Judas,” but he is not the same person as Judas Iscariot). Jude is a friend of all hopeless causes and is known for his powerful intercession.

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.

St. Philomena

A young girl from the 3rd century, Philomena would have been forgotten to history if not for a miraculous vision that identified her with a tomb that was discovered over 1,500 years later.

We beseech Thee, O Lord, to grant us the pardon of our sins by the intercession of Saint Philomena, virgin and martyr, who was always pleasing in Thy sight by her eminent chastity and by the profession of every virtue. Amen.

Illustrious virgin and martyr, Saint Philomena, behold me prostrate before the throne whereupon it has pleased the Most Holy Trinity to place thee. Full of confidence in thy protection, I entreat thee to intercede for me with God, from the heights of Heaven deign to cast a glance upon thy humble client! Spouse of Christ, sustain me in suffering, fortify me in temptation, protect me in the dangers surrounding me, obtain for me the graces necessary to me, and in particular

(Here specify your petition).

Above all, assist me at the hour of my death. Saint Philomena, powerful with God, pray for us. Amen.

O God, Most Holy Trinity, we thank Thee for the graces Thou didst bestow upon the Blessed Virgin Mary, and upon Thy handmaid Philomena, through whose intercession we implore Thy Mercy. Amen.

St. Gregory Thaumaturgus

Not well known in the Western Church, St. Gregory is known in the East as the “Miracle-Worker,” and there are numerous miracles associated with his life and intercession.

O holy Saint Gregory, confessor and priest of the Lord, I pray thee that thou wouldst intercede with our Lord God for me, that, being purified from all vice, I may please Him in all things, and that He will grant me the peace possessed by all His servants. Amen.

How did Saint Joseph die?

raphael

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October 2, 2021

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His departure from earth is known as the perfect example of a “happy death.”

How did Saint Joseph die? Not much is known factually about the life of Saint Joseph, foster father of Jesus Christ. He is mentioned only a few times in the Gospels, and never says a word.

However, most biblical scholars believe Joseph died prior to Jesus’ crucifixion. This is mainly due to the fact that Joseph was not present at the crucifixion. Also, in the Gospel of St. John, Jesus entrusts his mother to someone outside the family (cf. John 19:27).

Keeping in mind this historical scenario, many traditions hold that Joseph died in the arms or presence of Jesus and Mary. It’s a beautiful image, one that has led the Church to proclaim Joseph the patron saint of a “happy death.”

The bi-locating nun on the death of Saint joseph

There are numerous accounts of this moment. One that is particularly touching is from the writings of Venerable Mother Mary of Jesus of Agreda (a.k.a the bi-locating nun). She wrote about the episode in “Mystical City of God,” and it is recorded as a private revelation.

Then this man of God, turning toward Christ, our Lord, in profoundest reverence, wished to kneel before Him. But the sweetest Jesus, coming near, received him in his arms, where, reclining his head upon them, Joseph said; “My highest Lord and God, Son of the eternal Father, Creator and Redeemer of the World; give thy blessing to thy servant and the works of thy hand; pardon, O most merciful King, the faults which I have committed in thy service and intercourse.

I extol and magnify Thee and render eternal and heartfelt thanks to Thee for having, in thy ineffable condescension, chosen me to be the spouse of thy true Mother; let thy greatness and glory be my thanksgiving for all eternity.” The Redeemer of the world gave him his benediction, saying: “My father, rest in peace and in the grace of my eternal Father and mine; and to the Prophets and Saints, who await thee in limbo, bring the joyful news of the approach of their redemption.” ‘At these words of Jesus, and reclining in his arms, the most fortunate Saint Joseph expired and the Lord himself closed his eyes.

Whatever did happen then, Saint Joseph must have died a “happy death.” He is surrounded by the most loving wife and son in the whole universe.

Here is a short prayer to Saint Joseph, asking him to intercede for us that our death may be “happy” as well.

O BLESSED JOSEPH, who yielded up thy last breath in the arms of Jesus and Mary, obtain for me this grace, O holy Joseph, that I may breathe forth my soul in praise, saying in spirit, if I am unable to do so in words:“Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I give Thee my heart and my soul.” Amen.

Pray to your family’s guardian angels

raphael

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October 2, 2021

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Before you start your day,Ask them to protect your family and lead you all to make better choices.

There are numerous ways to begin your day as a family, but one that you may not have thought of is to pray together to all your guardian angels. Catholics firmly believe that each person have a designated Guardian Angel. They are always there to protect and guide us in our daily tasks.

This is good news as we need all the help we can get to live a life of virtue. These angels are always with us, but we don’t always see their influence. Often this is because we aren’t open to their guidance or we don’t call upon them in our need.

One way to remind the entire family to invoke their Guardian Angel throughout the day is to offer a morning prayer to these angels. Here is an adapted prayer from the Golden Manual that can be prayed as a family.

O holy guardian angels, to whose care we have been entrusted by God, enlighten, preserve, and govern us this day; defend us from all temptations, and obtain for us all needful grace, that we may love God, and serve him here, until we join with you to love, praise, and enjoy God’s presence, in everlasting life.
May the Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life; and may the souls of the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Prayer, taken from the Golden Manual

9 Secrets To Transforming Your Prayer Life

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gabriel

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October 1, 2021

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9 Secrets To Transforming Your Prayer Life, also how to begin and grow in your prayer life.

How do you see God?

It is not a secret that the things you believe about God are basically what inform your prayer life. If you believe God is loving, and understand that his love for us has no boundaries, you are better positioned to have a healthier prayer life than if you believed him to be a stern judge for instance.

Prayer doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful, but our attitude towards prayer needs to be constantly worked on. Our knowledge and view of God need to keep growing and maturing so that our prayer lives can be better.

Be quiet, be still:

Your physical posture, the place you pray, and the things around you can affect your focus and mindset while you pray. So, pick a place you can have the quietest time. If this is not possible, do not be discouraged still, you can still pray in a noisy place or a place that brings you so much distraction. Even though the former is more desirable, it doesn’t mean that is the only place you can pray. The constant struggle to center your mind on God is an effort that God welcomes, insofar as the distractions are not coming from us or things we are holding onto that we can put down or do without for a while.

Prayer should be enjoyed:

Well, not literally enjoyed, at least not all the time. But, prayer should not be thought of as a chore you have to do. Prayer needs to be seen as an opportunity to encounter Jesus who loves us and is always there for us. This is why i said our attitude towards prayer need to change and grow constantly. Do not be in a hurry just because you promised to say a rosary every day or this or that Novena. Before you begin, ask Our Lady to give you her laser-sharp focus so that you can meditate on each word and allow the Holy Spirit to both pray with you and transform you from your words and His in your heart.

We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
Romans 8:26

9 Secrets To Transforming Your Prayer Life

When you are too lazy to pray:

Sometimes we get lazy to utter a word of prayer. Sometimes because prayer seems like a useless engagement with no physical results or something it is just spiritual weariness.

Whichever it is, all you need to do is simply begin. I recommend saying a passionate “Hail Mary”. When you know you need to pray and cannot seem to find the strength to begin, Mary has a way of gaining for us the grace to begin. The be honest, those times you feel discouraged to pray and pray anyway, that is when God actually appreciates our efforts the most. This is because at that time we are being tested to see how far we have come. If we always need “candy” or if we can handle the dry deserts leading to His Holy Mountain!

Make it regular:

If you are having issues beginning a life of prayer, PLEASE DO NOT START BIG. Starting big can be too risky, as risky as soaring too high before you have actually learned to fly. The fall can be really devastating. Starting small guarantees two things:

You will find it easy to follow thorugh everyday.
You will be able to form a habit, albeit of saying short prayers daily.

This is particularly helpful for when you start getting discouraged, you remember the prayers aren’t so long, so you find the strength faster to not only pray but pray with the required keenness of mind.

When you have kept this habit for at last 3 months, you can begin adding a little more things here and there. Before you know it, you can pray for an hour without thinking about it.

A guide:

Having a spiritual director helps a lot. Usually a priest you prayerfully choose to guide you in your quest for devotion. You needn’t see this priest regularly, you just need to have a channel of communication open, receive wise counsel and encouragement. This person can recommend where to begin and when to change things up.

A Spiritual Guide isn’t absolutely required, but it is necessary if you want to really soar high in your prayer/spiritual life.

Fasting:

Fasting has always been at the center of deep prayer commitment. It has to be frequent, but not necessarily big. It can be small but regular acts of self-denial or actual fasting from food. Self-denial means for instance going a while without talking (if your day-to-day doesn’t require this and if you find you enjoy talking a lot), going a while without screens, or sugar or something else you really enjoy. Or giving up something important to you or sacrificing your place in line for someone else. It can be anything you offer to God as a sacrifice to help bring you closer to Him in prayer. Fasting also helps you become more spiritually disciplined and consequently more capable to maintain a prayer life.

Again, read:

Studying the Scriptures can help a lot. For a beginner, i however recommend reading stories of Saints and how they lived their own prayer lives. Do not be too focused on miracles and flashy occurrences, those things won’t happen to you. You should NEVER pray to have those extraordinary gifts as they can be your own undoing. All you need to focus on when you read their stories is how they loved God and saw God in everyone and everything. How they sacrificed and suffered for other people’s sins and offered penances for them. How their words and actions converted souls to Jesus. Focus on these and learn a thing or two as you begin to ascend to God.

Finally, set an alarm:

Prioritize prayer, set an alarm, never forget.

May God bless and bring you to himself.

9 Secrets To Transforming Your Prayer Life

What do you know about “Our Lady of Perpetual Help”?

raphael

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October 1, 2021

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What do you know about “Our Lady of Perpetual Help”?

Also known as Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, is celebrated on June 27 by the universal Church.

The devotion to this Marian advocation revolves around the picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, painted on wood, with background of gold. It is Byzantine in style and is supposed to have been painted in the thirteenth century. It represents the Mother of God holding the Divine Child while the Archangels Michael and Gabriel presenting Him the instruments of His Passion. Over the figures in the picture are some Greek letters which form the abbreviated words Mother of God, Jesus Christ, Archangel Michael, and Archangel Gabriel respectively.

The icon was brought to Rome towards the end of the fifteenth century by a pious merchant, who, dying there, ordered by his will that the picture should be exposed in a church for public veneration. It was exposed in the church of San Matteo in the famous Roman street of Via Merulana, which connects the basilicas of Saint Mary Major and Saint John Lateran. Crowds flocked to this church, and for nearly three hundred years many graces were obtained through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin. The picture was then popularly called the Madonna di San Matteo. The church was served for a time by the Hermits of Saint Augustine.

These Augustinians were still in charge when the French invaded Rome (1812) and destroyed the church. The picture disappeared; it remained hidden and neglected for over forty years, but a series of providential circumstances between 1863 and 1865 led to its rediscovery in an oratory of the Augustinian Fathers at Santa Maria in Posterula. Pope Pius IX, who as a boy had prayed before the picture in San Matteo, became interested in the discovery. But at that time, the ruins of San Matteo were in the grounds of a convent of the Redemptorists -the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer-, founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787).

The Father General of the Redemptorists, Most Rev. Nicholas Mauron, decided to bring the whole matter to the attention of the Pope. The Pope listened attentively and felt sure it was God’s will that the icon should be gain exposed to public veneration and the logical site was their church of St. Alphonsus, standing as it did between the Basilicas of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran.

The Holy Father at once took a piece of paper and wrote a short memorandum ordering the Augustinian Fathers of St. Mary in Posterula to surrender the picture to the Redemptorists, on condition that the Redemptorists supply the Augustinians with another picture of Our Lady or a good copy of the icon of Perpetual Help. The Icon meant much to the Augustinians, but when the two Redemptorists came armed with the Pope’s signed memorandum, what could they do but obey?

On January 19, 1866, Fathers Marchi and Bresciani brought the miraculous picture to St. Alphonsus’ church. Preparations were now made to inaugurate the new public reign of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. On April 26th, a great procession was staged in which the picture was carried throughout the Esquiline region of Rome. Upon returning to the church, the picture was enthroned over the high altar, in a resplendent shrine-niche especially constructed for it.

The report of marvelous healings spread rapidly throughout the city of Rome and people came by the hundreds to visit the shrine. Soon the whole area around the altar was filled with abandoned crutches and canes and several whole glass-covered cabinets were filled with gold and silver thanksgiving offerings in the shapes of miniature hearts, arms, legs and other votive offerings. Scarcely two weeks after the solemn exposition of the picture, Pope Pius IX himself came to visit the shrine. He stood quietly before it for a long time and then exclaimed: “How beautiful she is!”.

Pope Leo XIII, the next pontiff, had a copy of the picture on his desk so that he might see it constantly during his working day. St. Pius X sent a copy of the icon to the Empress of Ethiopia and granted an indulgence of 100 days to anyone who repeated the phrase: “Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for us.” Pope Benedict XV had the picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help placed immediately over his chair of state in the throne room.

Here it could be seen by all just over his head, as if to say: “Here is your true Queen!”. Pope Pius IX told the Redemptorists, in speaking to them of the treasure he had committed to their care: “Make her known!” It seems as though they hardly needed the exhortation. In the United States, they built the first Our Lady of Perpetual Help church in the Roxbury section of Boston, and it was eventually raised to the honor of a “Papal Basilica” by Pope Pius XII.

Symbolism of the icon of Perpetual Help

The influence of Eastern icons in the West, around the XII and XIII centuries brought a class of icons called Cardiotissa, from the Greek word kardia, meaning heart. Cardiotissa means “having a heart” or showing sympathy and mercy and compassion. In them the face of Our Lady appears full of sorrow, yet supremely dignified in her contemplation of the sufferings of her Son. His passion is represented by angels holding instruments of His passion, most often the cross, the lance, the sponge, and the nails.

The Our Mother of Perpetual Help icon is of this type. The angels holding the instruments of the Passion have their hands covered with a protecting veil as a sign of reverence in handling sacred objects. The Child Jesus is shown with an adult face and a high brow, indicating His divine Mind of infinite intelligence.

As God, He knew that the angelic apparition was prophetic of His future passion. Yet in His human nature as a small child, He is frightened and runs to His Mother for protection. Our Lady hastily picks Him up and clasps Him to her bosom. This action is indicated by the fact that the Lord’s right foot is nervously curled about the left ankle and in such haste that His right sandal has become loosened and hangs by a single strap. Further action is indicated by the way the Child Jesus clasps His Mother’s right hand with both of His, holding tightly to Our Lady’s thumb.

Our Lady is clothed in a dress of dark red which was long reserved in the Byzantine world for the Empress alone, indicating the Queenship of Mary. Some commentators on color claim that bluish purple became the color of penance in the Western Church (during Lent and Advent) because purple is a combination of blue and red. The blue reminds us of heaven, to which we wish to arrive by our penance, and the red recalls martyrdom, because all penance requires a dying to oneself, especially mortifying inordinate desire for food and pleasure.

The archangels Gabriel and Michael were tunics of purple since they carry the instruments of the passion and death of Christ. The figures of the icon are identified with abbreviations of their names and Mary is designated by her chief title to glory: Mother of God. Our Lady’s face is of unspeakable majesty and calm and yet her large eyes, partly closed, express ineffable sorrow and sympathy. Our Lady is not looking at Jesus, but rather to us, to express compassion for us in our fears and sorrows.

PRAYER

Behold, O Mother of Perpetual Help, at thy feet a wretched sinner, who has recourse to thee and trusts in thee. O Mother of mercy, have pity on me; I hear all men call thee the refuge and hope of sinners: be therefore my refuge and my hope. Help me for the love of Jesus Christ: hold out thy hand to a fallen wretch, who commends himself to thee and dedicates himself to be thy servant forever. I praise and thank God, who of His great mercy hath given me this confidence in thee, a sure pledge of my eternal salvation.

Alas, it is only too true that in the past I have fallen miserably, because I did not come to thee. I know that with thy help I shall conquer; I know that thou wilt help me, if I commend myself to thee; but I am fearful lest in the occasions of sin I shall forget to call upon thee and so I shall be lost. This grace, then, do I ask of thee; for this I implore thee, as much as I can and know how to do; namely, that in the assaults of hell I may ever run to thy protection and may say to thee: Mary, help me; Mother of Perpetual Help, permit me not to lose my God.

Hail Mary…

O Mother of Perpetual Help, grant me ever to be able to call upon thy powerful name, since thy name is the help of the living and the salvation of the dying. Ah, Mary most pure, Mary most sweet, grant that thy name from this day forth may be to me the very breath of life. Dear Lady, delay not to come to my assistance whenever I call upon thee; for in all the temptations that assail me, in all the necessities that befall me, I will never leave off calling upon thee, ever repeating: Mary, Mary.

What comfort, what sweetness, what confidence, what tenderness fills my soul at the sound of thy name, at the very thought of thee! I give thanks to our Lord, who for my sake hath given thee a name so sweet, so lovable, so mighty. But I am not content merely to speak thy name; I would utter it for very love of thee; it is my desire that love should ever remind me to name thee, Mother of Perpetual Help.

Hail Mary…

O Mother of Perpetual Help, thou art the dispenser of every grace that God grants us in our misery; it is for this cause that He hath made thee so powerful, so rich, so kind, that thou mightest assist us in our miseries. Thou art the advocate of the most wretched and abandoned sinners, if they but come unto thee; come once more to my assistance, for I commend myself to thee. In thy hands I place my eternal salvation; to thee I entrust my soul.

Enroll me among thy most faithful servants; take me under thy protection and it is enough for me: yes, for if thou protect me, I shall fear nothing; not my sins, for thou wilt obtain for me their pardon and remission; [n]ot the evil spirits, for thou art mightier than all the powers of hell; not even Jesus, my Judge, for He is appeased by a single prayer from thee. I fear only that through my own negligence I may forget to recommend myself to thee and so I shall be lost. My dear Lady, obtain for me the forgiveness of my sins, love for Jesus, final perseverance and the grace to have recourse to thee at all times, O Mother of Perpetual Help.

Hail Mary…

Prayer for this Morning (Friday, October 1)

raphael

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October 1, 2021

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Prayer for this Morning (Friday, October 1)

Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus. First Friday of the Month

Prayer for the Morning

How great is our God through all the earth!

Glory to the Father…. Alleluia!

HYMN

Let all who lovingly avow

Those gifts the Christ Child came to share

Acclaim Thérèse’s virtues now

And praise her name in song and prayer.

Inspired by Jesus to convey

Amazing secrets of his grace,

She taught the world the simple way

Of childhood that the Gospels trace.

More like an angel than a child

She gathered virtue’s flowers at will

By whose sweet scent was God beguiled,

Whose tender fragrance charms us still.

Yet joy itself could not portray

The surge of her immense desire

Nor cloister walls have strength to stay

A love that swept the world like fire.

PSALM 8:2-7, 10

Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it. (Mk 10:15)

In a society that idolizes the surface of youth while forcing its children into artificial adulthood, Saint Thérèse might seem foolishly childish, but in fact she teaches the real wisdom of the child: trustful willingness to be led, taught, and raised to true maturity according to God’s plan rather than her own.

How great is your name, O Lord our God,

through all the earth!

Your majesty is praised above the heavens;

on the lips of children and of babes

you have found praise to foil your enemy,

to silence the foe and the rebel.

When I see the heavens, the work of your hands,

the moon and the stars which you arranged,

what is man that you should keep him in mind,

mortal man that you care for him?

Yet you have made him little less than a god;

with glory and honor you crowned him,

gave him power over the works of your hand,

put all things under his feet.

How great is your name, O Lord our God,

through all the earth!

Glory to the Father….

Word of God (Isaiah 49:15, 26b)

Can a mother forget her infant,/ be without tenderness for the child of her womb?/ Even should she forget,/ I will never forget you.

All mankind shall know/ that I, the Lord, am your savior,/ your redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob.

So you are no longer a slave but a child,

and if a child then also an heir, through God. (Gal 4:7)

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong. (1 Cor 1:27)

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

Saint Thérèse promised to spend her heaven doing good on earth. Through her intercession, let us pray for the good of all in need:

R/Father, hear your children’s prayer.

O Wisdom of God, through you all things were made:

– protect from exploitation all children, created in your image. R/

O Wisdom of God, you are the light by which we see:

– enlighten the hearts of all those deceived by false images of maturity. R/

O Wisdom of God, you are the truth by which we live:

– grant courage to all missionaries who proclaim your truth. R/

O Wisdom of God, you speak through all the wise:

– open the ears of your people to the wisdom of Saint Thérèse for our day. R/

(Personal intentions)

Our Father….

God our Father, you inspired in Saint Thérèse the wisdom that overturns illusions by the Gospel of the cross. Through her intercession, lead all your children to follow the way of Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer of exorcism taught by St Anthony

Prayers

raphael

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October 1, 2021

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Say this prayer at any time of day, and defeat temptation!

Popular tradition holds that St Anthony taught a prayer to a poor woman who sought help against the temptations of the devil. The Franciscan Pope Sixtus V had the prayer — also called “the motto of St Anthony” — engraved into the base of the obelisk erected in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. Say this Prayer of exorcism taught by St Anthony

In the original Latin, the prayer says

Ecce Crucem Domini!

Fugite partes adversae!

Vicit Leo de tribu Juda,

Radix David! Alleluia!

And translated, it reads

Behold, the Cross of the Lord!

Begone, all evil powers!

The Lion of the tribe of Judah,

The Root of David, has conquered!

Alleluia, Alleluia!

This short prayer has the flavor of a small exorcism. We can use it too — both in Latin and in English — to be able to overcome all the temptations we face.

Translated from the Italian.

Prayer to St Jude to Overcome Addiction

raphael

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October 1, 2021

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If you find yourself addicted to a sinful habit, Say this Prayer to St Jude to overcome it.

Addiction comes in different forms and affects people from all spheres of life. It isn’t simple to overcome and often requires an intensive interior process of healing.

Depending on the depth, it occurs at a meeting of fellow addicts or through hours and hours of counselling. Ultimately, God is that source of healing. He is there with open arms, ready to accept a person back into his fold.

Another way to draw closer to that healing is through a life devoted to prayer, daily opening up our hearts to God and asking him to come down to heal us. A powerful intercessor in this realm of addiction is St Jude, known as a patron saint of desperate cases. He works tirelessly for those who are most in need of help and brings the healing touch of God upon them.

Here is one such Prayer to St Jude to overcome addiction for those suffering an addiction of any kind. Pray it daily and let God flood your heart with his infinite love and mercy.

Prayer to St Jude to Overcome Addiction

God of life, You made me in Your perfect image, to live in Your love and to give You glory, honor and praise. Open my heart to Your healing power. Come, Lord Jesus, calm my soul just as you whispered “Peace” to the stormy sea.

St Jude, most holy Apostle, in my need I reach out to you. I beg you to intercede for me that I may find strength to overcome my illness. Bless all those who struggle with addiction. Touch them, heal them, reassure them of the Father’s constant love.

Remain at my side, St Jude, to chase away all evil temptations, fears, and doubts. May the quiet assurance of your loving presence illuminate the darkness in my heart and bring lasting peace.

Amen.

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Prayer for the Morning

HYMN

PSALM 8:2-7, 10

Word of God (Isaiah 49:15, 26b)

CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH

INTERCESSIONS

Say this prayer at any time of day, and defeat temptation!

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If you find yourself addicted to a sinful habit, Say this Prayer to St Jude to overcome it.

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