The first day of the U.S. bishops’ novena for life!

Today is the first day of the novena for life. I will not be posting the novena every day. You can however, find the entire novena here.

Day one

Pope John Paul II - Batting Practice

Wonderful video of our dear Holy Father so young and active!

 

H/T to Catholic Association Facebook Page

The Altar Server

Please share with all altarservers and or your parish.


 

Sunday Night Prime - 2013-01-13 - How Should One Behave When One is Suffering for Christ.

Moving Images of our Suffering and Dead Lord

These were shared on Pinterest

"Christ and a Mocking Solider" by Carl Bloch

"The Pieta" by Francisco Goya

Need "quick help"? Our Lady of Prompt Succor - feast is Jan. 8

Original picture source via Pinterest

Shared by Mary Jane:

Short Novena to Our Lady of Prompt Succor, feast is Tuesday, Jan. 8th

Prompt Succor means "Quick Help"

 O, Mary, Mother of God, who, amidst the tribulations of the world, watches over us and over the Church of your Son, be to us and to the Church truly OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR, make haste to help us in all our necessities, that in this fleeting life you may be our succor, and obtain for us (here ask the particular favor you desire.) Help us to gain life everlasting through the merits of Jesus, your Son, our Lord and Redeemer.  Amen

 

O Almighty and Eternal God seeing us surrounded by so many dangers and miseries, grant in Your infinite goodness, that the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Your Divine Son, may defend us from the evil spirit, protect us against all adversities, obtain for us (here ask for the particular favor you desire) and safely guide us to the kingdom of heaven.  This we ask of You through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever. AMEN.

 

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be to the Father.

Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us.  (3 Times)

(partial indulgence) Imprimatur: +Philip M. Hannan, D.D., Archbishop of New Orleans

 

for more information & to view pictures from previous feast day Masses, celebrated by Archbishops & Bishops, in the Archdiocese of New Orleans, at the National Shrine: http://holymotherchurch.org/1620158.html

 

Longer novena with more prayers to recite each day and history of Our Lady of Prompt Succor is here:

http://www.miraclerosarymission.org/olpsnovenva.html

 

http://www.2heartsnetwork.org/OLPromptSuccor.htm

A Review of Les Miserables that Should be Read by all

Since the movie is still in theaters, I thought I would share the Catholic Wife's excellent review. Les Mis – A Drop of Poison Spoils the Cup.

Saintly Advice from Blessed John XXIII - Imitating Christ

Picture source

"Jesus, when his teaching is distorted and he is slandered as a seducer, taunted with ignorance  exposed to the mockery and scorn of all, is meekly silent; he does not confound his slanderers  he lets himself b struck, spat upon, scourged, treated as a madman, and never loses his clam or breaks his silence.

So, I will let people say whatever they will about me, assign to me the lowest pl;ace, misunderstand my words and my actions, without ever trying to justify myself or find excuses, accepting cheerfully even the rebukes of my Superiors, without saying a word..."

Journal of a Soul by Pope John XXIII

Feast of the Epiphany - Blessing

Picture source

Your yearly reminder.

Just a reminder to have your blessed chalk ready.

0 C + M + B 13
May Christ bless this House…
All who dwell and pray in it…
And All Whom they Welcome in His Name
....................

BLESSING OF A HOME AT EPIPHANY

Let us pray, In the name of + The Father, and The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

V. On entering the house, the Magi found the Child Jesus with Mary his mother.
R. They did Him homage and presented to Jesus symbolic gifts: gold to the great King, incense to the true God, and myrrh as a foreshadowing of his suffering and death.

Let us pray, God, our Father, by the guidance of a star, You revealed Your only Son as the Savior of all nations. Grant that we who already know You by faith, may be brought to the contemplation of Your glory in our heavenly home. We ask this through Christ your Son, Our Lord. Amen.

All may recite the Canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary (The MAGNIFICAT) by which Mary praised God at the time of her Visitation to the house of Elizabeth found in St. Luke's Gospel Chapter 1, verses 46-55.

V. Be enlightened, O Jerusalem, and shine forth …for Your light has come!
R. And upon you is risen the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary.
V. All nations shall walk in Your light and kings in the splendor of Your birth.
R. And upon You is risen the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary.
Now, a Reading of the Gospel for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord
from St. Matthew's Gospel, Chapter 2, verses 1 to 12.
V. Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, has appeared and been revealed to the nations.
R. The prophets foretold His coming, and the angels and shepherds adored Him.
V. The Magi rejoiced to find Him and they lay their treasures before Him.
R. All you nations and peoples, …come and adore Him!

All recite The OUR FATHER as all the rooms of the house are sprinkled with holy water …and also if possible with blessed salt.

Let us pray, Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through Your goodness we have received all benefits. Come, visit and bless + this house so that it may be a shelter of health, chastity, self-conquest, humility, goodness, mildness, obedience to the Commandments, - and thanksgiving to God, + The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

May the love and blessings of God, + The Father, and The Son, and The Holy Spirit, descend upon this house, all those who reside within it, and upon all those whom they welcome in the Sacred Name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and may God's grace and peace remain with all of them forever. Amen.

NOTE: The initials of the names ascribed by tradition to the Magi (Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar), and the numerals of the current year are to be written with the blessed chalk above all the entry doors of the house in the following manner:
20 C + M + B 13

(Some interpret the letters to stand for Christus Mansioni Benedicat! May Christ bless this house!

Source

The Most Holy Name of Jesus

Picture source

"The name Jesus was given to the Holy Child at God's command (Luke 1:31).  The Holy Name is all-powerful because of the Person who bears it; we honor it because of the command of Christ, that we should pray in His Name and because it reminds us of all the blessings we receive through our Holy Redeemer.  Hence St. Paul was able to write to the Philippians: '...at the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven, on earth, and under the earth' (Phil. 2:10).  By means of this devotion we also make amends for improper use of the Holy Name."

ACT OF REPARATION FOR BLASPHEMIES UTTERED AGAINST THE HOLY NAME  

O Jesus, my Savior and Redeemer,

Son of the living God,

behold, we kneel before Thee and offer Thee our reparation;

we would make amends for all the blasphemies uttered against

Thy holy name,

for all the injuries done to Thee in the Blessed Sacrament,

for all the irreverence shown toward Thine immaculate Virgin Mother,

for all the calumnies and slanders spoken against Thy spouse,

the Holy Catholic and Roman Church.

O Jesus, who hast said:  'If you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you," we pray and beseech Thee

for all our brethren who are in danger of sin;

shield them from every temptation to fall away from the true faith;

save those who are even now standing on the brink of the abyss;

to all of them give light and knowledge of the truth,

courage and strength for the conflict with evil,

perseverance in faith and active charity!

For this do we pray, most merciful Jesus,

in Thy name, unto God the Father, with whom Thou

livest and reignest in the unity of the Holy Ghost 

world without end. Amen.

The Prayer Book