O Most Merciful Jesus, Lover of Souls: I pray Thee, by the Agony of Thy most Sacred Heart, and by the sorrows of Thy Immaculate Mother, cleanse in Thy Blood the sinners of the whole world who are now in their agony and are to die this day. Amen.
Heart of Jesus Agonizing, have mercy on the dying.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, we love Thee, save souls.
...Pope Pius XII in Mystici Corporis (#88) urged frequent confession of venial sins “to ensure more rapid progress day by day in the path of virtue.”Read Bishop's Finn's article in it entirety here
According to the Pope, some of its benefits are these: Genuine self-knowledge is increased; Humility grows; Bad habits are corrected; Spiritual neglect and tepidity are resisted; The conscience is purified; The will strengthened; A helpful self-control is attained; and Grace is increased in virtue of the Sacrament itself.
I have found personally that frequent confession – I try to go every week – helps me to try harder to be a better and more holy bishop.
Judging by the drastic drop in confessions in countries like the United States, the false opinion is gaining ground that Confession is not to be received, or made, frequently.Read the rest at The Real Presence's Fr. John Hardon Archives
No doubt, one reason for this sad state of affairs is the prevalence of some wild theories about mortal sin. For example, the Fundamental Option theory claims that no mortal sin is committed unless a person totally rejects God. Who but the devil hates God? One adultery or one abortion is not a mortal sin. On these grounds, there are parishes in which almost no one goes to Confession.
1) ...examine our consciences regularly and thoroughly;
2) ...wait our turn in line patiently;
3) ...come at the time confessions are scheduled, not a few minutes before they are to end;
4) ...speak distinctly but never so loudly that we might be overheard;
5) ...state our sins clearly and briefly without rambling;
6) ...confess all mortal sins in number and kind;
7) ...listen carefully to the advice the priest gives;
8) ...confess our own sins and not someone else’s;
9) ...carefully listen to and remember the penance and be sure to understand it;
10) ...use a regular formula for confession so that it is familiar and comfortable;
11) ...never be afraid to say something "embarrassing"... just say it;
12) ...never worry that the priest thinks we are jerks…. he is usually impressed by our courage;
13) ...never fear that the priest will not keep our confession secret… he is bound by the Seal;
14) ...never confess "tendencies" or "struggles"... just sins;
15) ...never leave the confessional before the priest has finished giving absolution;
16) ...memorize an Act of Contrition;
17) ...answer the priest’s questions briefly if he asks for a clarification;
18) ...ask questions if we can’t understand what he means when he tells us something;
19) ...keep in mind that sometimes priests can have bad days just like we do;
20) ...remember that priests must go to confession too … they know what we are going through.
How are husbands to love their wives?Encyclical of Pope Pius XI Casti Connubii (On Christian Marriage)
Husbands, love your wives as Christ also loved the Church. (Paragraph 23 - Quoting the Bible)
What is the hierarchy of the family?
This order includes both the primacy of the husband in regard to the wife and children, the ready subjection of the wife and her willing obedience, which the Apostle commends in these words: "Let women be subject to their husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ is the head of the Church." (Paragraph 26)
The man is the ruler of the family, and the head of the woman; but because she is flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone, let her be subject and obedient to the man.....(Paragraph 29 - Quoting Pope Leo XIII)
Is the wife then the slave of her husband?
.....not as a servant but as a companion, so that nothing be lacking of honor or of dignity in the obedience which she pays. Let divine charity be the constant guide of their mutual relations, both in him who rules and in her who obeys, since each bears the image, the one of Christ, the other of the Church. (Paragraph 29 - continued from previous quote of Pope Leo XIII)
But is not this subjection of the wife to her husband against her human dignity?
The same false teachers who try to dim the luster of conjugal faith and purity do not scruple to do away with the honorable and trusting obedience which the woman owes to the man. Many of them even go further and assert that such a subjection of one party to the other is unworthy of human dignity.....(the false teachers say) the woman is to be freed at her own good pleasure from the burdensome duties properly belonging to a wife as companion and mother.....
This, however, is not the true emancipation of woman, nor that rational and exalted liberty which belongs to the noble office of a Christian woman and wife; it is rather the debasing of the womanly character and the dignity of motherhood, and indeed of the whole family, as a result of which the husband suffers the loss of his wife, the children of their mother, and the home and the whole family of an ever watchful guardian. More than this, this false liberty and unnatural equality with the husband is to the detriment of the woman herself, for if the woman descends from her truly regal throne to which she has been raised within the walls of the home by means of the Gospel, she will soon be reduced to the old state of slavery (if not in appearance, certainly in reality) and become as amongst the pagans the mere instrument of man.
This equality of rights which is so much exaggerated and distorted, must indeed be recognized in those rights which belong to the dignity of the human soul and which are proper to the marriage contract and inseparably bound up with wedlock. In such things undoubtedly both parties enjoy the same rights and are bound by the same obligations; in other things there must be a certain inequality and due accommodation, which is demanded by the good of the family and the right ordering and unity and stability of home life. (Paragraphs 74-76)
Suggested Intentions for the June 17 prayer warriors are:
(Note: As practicing Catholics, we are filled with compassion and pray for those who struggle against violent temptation to homosexual sin. We pray for those who fall into homosexual sin out of human weakness, that God may assist them with His grace.)
1. That Americans who still defend a moral law be victorious in their efforts to protect marriage from the attacks of the homosexual revolution and its secularist allies.
2. That America resist the imposition on our country of “morals” opposed to those of Christ.
3. That our resistance be accompanied by sincere, ardent, and persevering trust, since, as the Savior admonished us, “without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
4. That since the legalization of homosexual “marriage” is a public sin that can draw God’s punishment upon our country, we sacrifice and do penance, for God does not despise “a contrite and humbled heart.” (Ps. 50:19)
5. That by taking energetic and faithful action in this struggle, we can heed the Blessed Mother’s maternal warning at Fatima, recognize and correct our failings, and rightly be one nation under God.
6. That Our Lady help us all to do our duty, in full and faithful compliance with the perennial and immutable teaching of Holy Mother Church on the intrinsic evilness of homosexual acts.
The love of marriage has the power to stir the human heart to great courage, confidence, and generosity.from The Road of Hope: A Gospel From Prison., Pauline Books and Media
Love helps your spouse to grow and gives your spouse the means for growth. To force your spouse to change by making that change a prerequisite of your love completely removes the very means of bringing about change.
The unique way to secure a change in one's spouse is to accept him or her in love-just as when that love was new. Change is effected only when one knows and feels oneself to be loved.
If a person does not love the 'flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones' and cannot bring happiness to this fundamental unit of society-upon which every other society is based-then how can such a person think of reforming the world?
Are you surprised to hear of the 'vocation to be parents of a family'? People are mistaken when they restrict the idea of a vocation, that is, a calling to perfection, to the priest or religious alone. When, by means of the sacrament of Matrimony, two people solemnly sear to love one another in Christ for their entire lives, is this not a profession of faith a profession of vows?
It is truly regrettable that the civilized world's comprehension of the Catholic doctrine concerning marriage is limited to some of its prohibitions. From these the world does not gain the slightest inkling that Jesus came to redeem humanity through love, and that through the sacrament of Matrimony humanity is enriched in an extraordinary way. Therefore, study and present the beautiful and positive aspects of Catholic Marriage.
To love your spouse is to act according to the will of God. When you realize this, you will understand that you can fulfill your vocation in the most ordinary circumstances of your life by perceiving God's call even in the most trifling sanctify. This is a revelation that will revolutionize your whole life.
The love between husband and wife is an image of the love of Christ for the Church (cf. Eph 5:31-32). In this mystery you will discover dignity, strength, and unity. The love that exists between a husband and wife is an extension of God's love. How uplifting and supportive is this love of the partners!
God has given you a loving spouse and beautiful children to help each other to become holy. What have you done with this gift?
You must discover that you can and indeed have the responsibility to become holy in marriage and through marriage.
The unity between husband and wife has to be absolutely complete: unity of body, love, mind, and spirit, through the presence of Christ. To love ach other in God is very beautiful, and doing this for God's sake is even more beautiful; then, the whole family listens attentively to God and advances together toward greater intimacy with him.
I. I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides Me.For the rest of the 10 Commandments, please visit Sue's blog.
Have I:
1. Remembered to love and adore God each day?
2. Prayed my morning prayers, evening prayers and other prayers of the day with attention and devotion?
3. Studied my religion?
4. Prayed for the suffering souls in Purgatory?
5. Been devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels and saints and tried to honor them?
6. Observed Friday as a day of penance?
7. Tried to bring others closer to Jesus by my words and example?
Clipart from this siteWhy it is important to call for a priest early on to administer the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick to a loved one who is near deathYou can read the entire post over at Sue's blog.
Here are some of the most important reasons :
1. The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick takes away all mortal and venial sins, even if the person is unconscious. To hear the person’s last confession and to provide them with the Viaticum ( Holy Eucharist ), prepares them for their journey to Our Lord. In addition, the apostolic pardon takes away any temporal punishment (purgatory time) that remains for the soul.
Apostolic Pardon: (to be given by a priest only): ” By the authority granted me by the Holy See, I hereby grant you full pardon and remission of all your sins: In the Name of the Father + and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
2. The devil at the time of death tempts the soul to despair by accusing it of its sins. Among other reasons, Our Lord instituted the Chaplet of Divine Mercy to drive him away at this time.
The following is an excerpt from It's Hard to Be Holy by Larry and Mary Sue Eck:..."We realized that the only vow we ever took in our lives was to love, honor and cherish each other until death. Marriage Encounter and Father Chuck (Gallagher who championed Worldwide Marriage Encounter in the 60's and who gave the following advice to couples: 'It's fine and holy to lift your arms up in praise of God, as long as you put them around each other when you bring them down') taught us that our holiness must begin and end with how we lived out that vow. In other words, we can go to a prayer meeting every night, spend hours in Adoration, go to daily Mass, say rosary after rosary but if we aren't living our Sacrament of Matrimony well, we aren't holy. In fact, maybe we are deeply in sin. Our spirituality is not contemplative. It is matrimonial. We personally believe that matrimonial holiness is one heck of a lot harder to live. For example, we shouldn't ask God's forgiveness for hurting each other if we haven't asked each other's forgiveness first. That's tough..."From the Editorial by Larry and Mary Sue Eck and appearing in the Winter Issue 2007 of Medjugorje Magazine.
The Family in the Image of the TrinityFrom Mother Angelica's Little Book of Life Lessons and Everyday Spirituality, Raymond Arroyo.
by Mother Angelica
The family is a beautiful image of he Trinity. The man is head and he resembles the eternal Father, and like the Father he is to protect, to provide, to create, and to understand. He is to be compassionate like the Father and full of mercy.
The woman is made to the image of Jesus, and like Jesus she is to be meek, loving, a means of reconciliation and gentleness. She has intuition . She has something a man doesn't have: she is intuitive.
The children are like the Spirit. As the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son, so the children proceed from the husband and wife. Like the Spirit they are a power, a bond of union, joy and love. We call this 'family.'
Now, when the one in the middle wants to be head of the children want to be head, we have a distortion of the family image made to the Trinity, and you cannot deviate from this plan of God! When you do, you have a monster in your family. That's way the families today are not what they should be...
Within the conjugal and family communion-community, the man is called upon to live his gift and role as husband and father. With his wife a man should live a very special form of personal friendship. As for the Christian, he is called upon to develop a new attitude of love, manifesting towards his wife a charity that is both gentle and strong like that which Christ has for the Church.Pope John Paul II (November 22, 1981)
