Pope Dedicates Prayer in June to Priests

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VATICAN CITY, MARCH 31, 2011 (Zenit).- Benedict XVI is dedicating the month of June to pray that priests be united to the heart of Christ. Read the rest here



Apostleship of Prayer

First Friday Devotion - Promises of Jesus to Persons and Families who Honor His Sacred Heart

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1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will give peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.
5. I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.
9. I will bless those places wherein the image of
My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.
10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
11. Persons who propagate this devotion shall
have their names eternally written in my Heart.
12. In the excess of the mercy of my Heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.

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"There is no grater proof of our Lord's earnest desire that we practice devotion to His Heart than the remarkable and almost unbelievable promises He made t those who carry out His requests.

When we stop to consider that the one who made these promises is the second person of the Most Blessed Trinity, 'who can neither deceive nor be deceived,' we are amazed that individuals and families would hesitate to place all their trust in the Sacred Heart for the solution of each and every one of their difficulties...

If Jesus promises, He intends to keep them. No one can ever accuse Him of breaking His world. For those who trust Him and who carry out His requests, He will, if necessary, work miracles to redeem His pledge...

Truly we can call the promises of the Sacred Heart a hidden treasure. ..

Most prayer books and manuals of devotion enumerate twelve promises with the result that the majority of Catholics think these are all the promises our Lord made and that they were made exactly as they were published.

Actually, however, the so-called "twelve promises" do not begin to enumerate all the promises made by our divine Lord to St. Margaret Mary. As a matter of fact, they are not even a summary of them, but rather are a selection of those best calculated to arouse sentiments of love for the Sacred heart in the hearts of the faithful and get them to practice the devotion. It is true, these twelve promises are to be found in the writings of St. Margaret Mary, but not all in one place nor in exactly the same words..."

Enthronement of the Sacred Heart by Rev. Francis Larkin, SS.CC.

Sacred Heart of Jesus - Prayer to Jesus, Our True Friend

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Jesus, You are my only true friend.


You share my burdens; You take them upon Yourself; You alone know how to turn them to my advantage. You listen to me kindly when I tell you my troubles and You never fail to lighten them.

I find You at all times and in all places; You never leave me, and if I am obliged to change my abode, I will always find You wherever I go.

You are never annoyed at listening to me; You never cease to help me. If I love You, I am sure of being loved in return. You have nothing to gain from my possessions and You do not make Yourself poor in sharing Yours with me.

No matter how miserable I may be, You will never cease to be my friend for the sake of someone else more noble, more worthy, or even more holy; and death itself- which separates us from ll other friends - will serve only to reunite us forever. Old age or misfortune will not cause You to abandon me; on the contrary, You will never be closer to me, n or will I enjoy Your presence more, than when all seems to go against me.

You tolerate my faults with admirable patience; even my infidelities and ungratefulness never hurt You to such a degree that You are not always ready to come to me, if I so desire it.

O Jesus, grant that I may die praising You, that I may die loving You, that I may die for the love of You.

Amen.

- From Reflections on St. John, the Friend of Jesus Christ, by St. Claude la Columbiere, S.J.

Enthronement of the Sacred Heart, by Rev. Francis Larkin. SS.CC.

Ascension Thursday

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"The disciples worshiped the most high Lord who had come down from above the heavens, made the earth into heaven and gone up again whence he came, having united things below with things above and formed one Church, at the same time heavenly and earthy, to the glory of his love for mankind. Then they returned with joy from the Mount of Olives, whence the Master had ascended, to Jerusalem and were continuously in the temple with their minds set on heaven, praising and blessing God (Lk 24:53) and preparing themselves to receive the promised coming of the divine spirit..

...that is how those called by Christ's name should order their lives. They should persevere in prayers and supplications, and in imitation of the angels, have their eyes lifted up to the Master above the heavens, praising and blessing him with irreproachable conduct, and waiting for his mystical coming..."

- Saint Gregory Palamas, Meditation of the Day, Magnificat, June 2011, Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord

Reminder - Novena to the Holy Spirit for Pentecost Starts Tomorrow

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Just wanted to remind you that not only is tomorrow the First Friday of June, the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, it is also the first day of the the Novena to the Holy Spirit. The entire nine day novena can be found at EWTN.

The novena in honor of the Holy Spirit is the oldest of all novenas since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord Himself when He sent His apostles back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost. It is still the only novena officially prescribed by the Church. Addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is a powerful plea for the light and strength and love so sorely needed by every Christian.

Novena to the Holy Spirit for the Seven Gifts

The Blessings of Having a Large Family

I was blessed with growing up the eldest of 5 children. We are still extremely close to one another. They are the best brothers and sisters in the world and I am not just saying that. I sometimes feel sorry for our son, being an only child. But it was all in God's plan.

The Month of June - Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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"I will say with David: 'I have found my heart to pray to my God' (2 Kings 7:27); yes, I have found this Heart in the adorable Eucharist when I have found there the Heart of my Lord, of my Friend, of my Brother, that is to say, the Heart of my amiable Redeemer."

- St. Bernard, , Vitis Mystica

Source: Enthronement of the Sacred Heart by Rev. Francis Larkin, SS.CC., St. Paul Editions

Bl. Jerzy Popieluszko Anniversary June 6

The following was shared by Mary Jane D.

June 6 is the first anniversary of the Beatification of Father Jerzy Popieluszko, who was murdered by the Communists in 1984.

His 100 year old Mother attended.

God, source of all good, I thank you that in your love you have endowed Blessed Father Jerzy Popiełuszko with the dignity of the priesthood.

You sent him to ardently proclaim Your word, dispense the holy sacraments, courageously act in Your name and be close to every human being, calling for forgiveness, unity and peace. You endowed him with the grace of martyrdom through which he came to resemble Christ along the way of the cross.

We adore and thank you, Lord, for this great gift to the Church, especially because you have made him an intermediary in the dispensing of grace. In Your infinite mercy, deign to include him in the communion of saints and through his intercession grant me the grace of ………………, mention your intentions for which I trusting implore You. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.



(Information on any grace received should be submitted to:

The Postulancy of Blessed Jerzy Popie³uszko

ul, Hozjusza 2

01-565 Warsaw, Poland)



Litany to Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.

God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

Blessed Jerzy, martyr, pray for us.

Courageous follower of Christ, pray for us.

Faithful witness to the Gospel, pray for us.

Worshiper of the Cross of our Redeemer, pray for us.

Venerator of Mary Immaculate, pray for us.

Dedicated to God in childhood, pray for us.

Raised in a pious family, pray for us.

Devoted to the service of the altar, pray for us.

Yearning to follow the example of saints, pray for us.

Faithful to the voice of vocation, pray for us.

Apostle of human dignity, pray for us.

Defender of the unborn, pray for us.

Merciful towards the suffering, pray for us.

Sensitive to the plight of the wronged, pray for us.

Good shepherd of the working people, pray for us.

Teaching that evil must be overcome with good, pray for us.

Appealing for courage and solidarity, pray for us.

Defender of evangelical values, pray for us.

Admonisher against the desire for revenge, pray for us.

Unjustly accused, pray for us.

Brutally tortured, pray for us.

Priest faithful to the very end, pray for us.

Martyr of truth and freedom, pray for us.

Advocate of the causes of the Church and nation, pray for us.

*****

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

*****

V. I announced your deed to a great assembly

R. I did not restrain my lips; you, Lord, are my witness.



Let us pray:

Almighty eternal God, You in Your Providence have made the priest Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko an indomitable witness to the Gospel of love, gaze upon his martyr’s death in defense of the faith and human dignity and through his example let us live in true freedom and overcome evil with good.

Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

For more information: BEATIFICATION OF FATHER JERZY POPIEŁUSZKO

May Feelings IV- To Finish Off the Month of May

Thank you Padre Luis for sharing this very moving video.

"MY FRIEND DALE, A SOLDIER, DIED TODAY" - Memorial Day

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Shared by Dean Murphy:

He still stood tall and proud
And his uniform fit him well,
And he hung around with the Honor Guard,
relating stories he liked to tell.

Of a war that he had fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to strangers
His tales seem like a joke,
All his military buddies listened
For they knew of what he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For old Dale has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a real soldier died today.

He will be mourned by many friends,
his children and his wife.
For he lived an extraordinary
And quite eventful life.

He did a job and raised a family,
Quietly going on his way;
And the world may not note his passing,
but a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell politicians life stories
From the time that they were young,
But the passing of a soldier often
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
A guy who breaks his promises
And cons his fellow man?

Or the extraordinary fellow who,
In times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country
And offers up his life?

A politician's salary
And the style in which he lives,
Are sometimes disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And a pension often small.

It's so easy to forget them,
For it was so long ago,
That the old Dales of our country
Went to battle, oh how, we know.

It was not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our Country still enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you want a politician
With his ever-shifting stand?

Or would you prefer a soldier,
Who has sworn to defend,
His home, his kin and Country
And would fight until the end?

He was a uncommon Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his memory should remind us
We may need his likes again.

For when countries are in conflict,
Then we find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot give him due honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him respect
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
in a paper that would say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
FOR MY FRIEND DALE, A SOLDIER, DIED TODAY

7 Common Holy Communion Abuses

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The following is from Courageous Priest.


Do You Commit One Of Theses 7 Common
Holy Communion Profanations

A Letter from The Cathedral Rector by Very Rev. Fr. John Lankeit, Rector, Ss. Simon & Jude Cathedral Phoenix, AZ January 30, 2011 to his parishioners...

Blessing oneself with the host before consuming it. (The act of blessing with the Eucharist is called “Benediction” and is reserved to clergy).

Receiving the host in the palm of the hand, contorting that same hand until the host is controlled by the fingers, then consuming it (resembling a one-handed “watch-the-coin-disappear” magic trick).

Popping the host into the mouth like a piece of popcorn.

Attempting to receive with other items in the hands, like a dirty Kleenex or a Rosary.

Receiving the host with dirty hands.

Receiving the host, closing the hand around it, then letting the hand fall to the side (as if carrying a suitcase) while walking away and/or blessing oneself with the other hand.

Walking away without consuming the host.

Giving the host to someone else after receiving (including animals)… yes, it happens

Unfortunately, as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion I have seen most of the above, especially the first one. I have also witnessed the last one. Shocking but true. Fortunately, the pastor took swift and appropriate action.

Memorial Day 2011 - Remembering Father Capodanno and all who died serving our country

On this solemn Memorial Day, let us remember the service men and women, and chaplains who gave their lives so that we can be free. Say a special prayer for them and for their families who remained behind.

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Prayer for the Canonization of the Servant of God Father Vincent Capodanno
Heavenly Father, source of all that is holy, in every age you raise up men and women who live lives of heroic love and service. You have blessed your Church through the life of Vincent Capodanno, Vietnam War Navy chaplain, who had the “courage of a lion, and the faith of a martyr.” He was killed in action offering medical assistance to the wounded and administering last rites to the dying on the battlefield. Through his prayer, his courage, his faith,  and his pastoral care he is an example of laying down one’s life for one’s friends: Jesus told us that there is no greater love than this. If it be your will, may he be proclaimed a saint! We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Prayer Source: Father Vincent Capodanno.

I recently found out that Father Capodanno was the next door neighbor of my mother's pastor's mom. They grew up together as children in Staten Island.