Saturday, July 02, 2011

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Pasquale Sarullo "Maria Immaculata"

Picture source

"To be devoted to the Immaculate Heart of Mary means to contemplate this maternal love that the Mother of God injects into the mystery of the Redemption and into the life of the Church.  It means to acknowledge therein a more comprehensible and accessible sign of the Father's love.  it means to cast ourselves on the heart of Mary, Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church, to live the mystery of the Redemption in all its vivifying depth and fullness and to place ourselves at the service of our brothers and sisters on each.

What it means to consecrate ourselves to Mary's Immaculate Heart.
"...some of the special fruits which devotion to the Heart of Mary cannot fail to produce in the souls of those who practice it.  They are...1.  a unified and profound understanding of the mystery of Mary;
2.  a serious spiritual commitment, sustained by consecration to her Immaculate heart; and
3.  a greater facility for and assurance of reaching union with Christ who lives in the Immaculate Heart of His Mother."

Dictionary of Mary, Catholic Book Publishing.

Friday, July 01, 2011

Eucharistic Miracle at St. Augustine's Parish in Saint Paul Minnesota

Wow! You can read and see for yourselves here.

Mahalo to Mary Jane for sharing.

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - First Friday - Hour of Reparation


"Will you not watch with Me one Hour?"

For public or private recitation.

Holy Hour of Reparation for:

one fold --

and one shepherd --

for reparation --

for sinners --

for Thanksgiving --

and for a just peace --

"Behold the Heart which has so loved men"


"That the necessity of EXPIATION OR REPARATION is especially urgent today must be evident to everyone who considers the present plight of the world. 'seated in wickedness' (John, v. 9). The Sacred heart of Jesus promised to St. Margaret Mary that He would reward abundantly with His graces all those who should render this honor to HIS HEART."

- Pope Pius XI - Encyclical Miserentissimus



HIS HOUR

The Sacred Heart of Jesus...began this devotion of the Holy Hour of Reparation, when He entered the Garden of Gethsemani on Mount Olivet. He said to His Apostles: 'My soul is sorrowful even unto death. Stay you here and watch with Me.' Later He said to them: 'Could you not watch one hour with Me? Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation.' (Matt. XXVI.38, 40, 41.)

As Jesus spoke to His Apostles, so He pleads with us to stay and watch and pray with Him. His Sacred heart is filled with sadness, because so many doubt Him, slap Him, accuse Him, condemn Him. In the Sacrament of His Love, so m any forget Him. Every mortal sin brings down the terrible scourges on His Sacred Body, presses the sharp thorns into His Sacred Heat, and hammers the cruel nails into His Sacred hands and Feet. The ingratitude of mankind continually pierces His sacred heart.

When Jesus saw the sins of the world and the reparation that must be made to His Heavenly Father, He began to fear and to be sad and sorrowful. 'Kneeling down, He prayed: 'Father, if Thou will, remove this Chalice from Me; But not My Will, Thine be done.' There appeared an angel from heaven to strengthen Him, and being in agony, He prayed the longer and His sweat became as drops of blood trickling to the ground.' (Luke XXII. 41, 44.)

The Sacred heart of Jesus said to St. Margaret Mary, 'Make reparation fro the ingratitude of men. Spend an hour in prayer to appease divine justice, to implore mercy for sinners, to honor Me, to console Me for My bitter suffering when abandoned by My Apostles, when they did not WATCH ONE HOUR WITH ME.'

In the Name of the Father, + and of the Son, and the Holy Holy. Amen


Here Make the intention for the Holy Hour.

O Sacrament most holy. O Sacrament divine! All praise and all thanksgiving to be every moment Thine!

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.


Heart of Jesus, I put all my trust in Thee!


ACT OF CONTRITION

Oh My God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and avoid the near occasions of sin.

Amen.


O Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, have mercy on us!


My Jesus,
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

Prayer source - EWTN


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I adore Thee every moment,
O Living Bread from heaven,
Great Sacrament!


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OFFERING OF THE HOLY HOUR

My Sweet Jesus, I desire to spend this Hour with Thee, to console Thee, and to make some reparation by the love of my poor heart for the agony Thou didst suffer in Gethsemani. In that lone hour Thou wast forsaken, and the creatures, whom Thou didst create to love Thee, loved Thee not. The weight of all our sins pressed on Thee, and mine as well; and for the sorrow which I caused Thee then by my sins, I will endeavor to repay Thee now by my love. Strength it, my Jesus, that it may in some small measure given Thee consolation.


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Sacred heart of Jesus, strengthened in Thine agony by an Angel, comfort us in our agony.


My Lord Jesus Christ, it is Thy great love for men that keeps Thee day and night in this Sacrament, full of pity and love, expecting, inviting, and welcoming all who visit Thee. I believe that Thou art really present in this Sacrament of the Altar. From the depth of my nothingness, I adore Thee and I thank Thee for the many graces Thou hast given me especially for the gift of Thyself in this Sacrament, for the gift of Thy most holy Mother as my intercessor and for the privilege of visiting Thee in this Church.

I now speak to Thy most loving Heart with a threefold intention: to thank Thee for the gift of Thyself; to atone for all the insults which Thy enemies heap upon Thee in this Sacrament; and to adore Thee wherever Thy Eucharistic Presence is dishonored or forgotten.

My Jesus, I love Thee with my whole heart. I am very sorry for my ingratitude to Thy infinite goodness. I now resolve with the help of Thy grace never to offend Thee again. And, sinful as I am, I consecrate to Thee my entire self, my whole will, my affections, my desires, and all that I have. From now on, do with me and mine as Thou pleasest. I ask for and desire only Thy love, final perseverance, and the grace always to do Thy holy will.

I intercede with Thee for the souls in purgatory, especially for those who were most devoted to the Blessed Sacrament, and to Thy most holy Mother. I recommend to Thee also, all poor sinners. And lastly, my dear Savior, I unite all my desires with the desires of Thy most loving Heart. Thus united, I present them to Thy Eternal Father, and beg Him in Thy Name, and for the love of Thee, to hear and answer them.

- by St. Alphosus di Liguori

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Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our heart like unto Thine.


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ACT OF FAITH

O MY GOD, I firmly believe that Thou art one God in Three Divine Persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. I believe that Thy Divine Son became Man, and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because Thou hast revealed them, Who canst neither deceive nor be deceived.

ACT OF HOPE

O MY GOD, relying on Thy almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I
hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and Life Everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.

ACT OF CHARITY

O MY GOD, I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.

Source

Jesus, I live for Thee. Jesus, I die for Thee, Jesus, I am thine in life and in death. Amen.


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Sweet heart of Jesus, have mercy on us and on our erring brethren.


PRAYER TO CHRIST THE KING

Christ Jesus, I acknowledge You King of the universe.
All that has been created has been made for You.
Make full use of Your rights over me.

I renew the promises I made in Baptism,
when I renounced Satan and all his pomps and works,
and I promise to live a good Christian life
and to do all in my power
to procure the triumph of the rights of God
and Your Church.

Divine Heart of Jesus,
I offer you my efforts
in order to obtain that all hearts
may acknowledge your Sacred Royalty,
and that thus the Kingdom of Your peace
may be established throughout the universe.
Amen.

Source



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Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in Thy love for me.


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Conseration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Ordered by His Holiness, Pope Pius XI, December 11, 1925, for One Fold, One Shepherd.


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Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy Kingdom come!


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O Sacred Heart of Jesus, animated with a desire to repair the outrages unceasingly offered to Thee, we prostrate before Thy throne of mercy, and in the name of all mankind, pledge our love and fidelity to Thee.

The more Thy mysteries are blasphemed, the more firmly we shall believe them, O Sacred Heart of Jesus!

The more impiety endeavors to extinguish our hope of immortality, the more we shall trust in Thy Heart, sole Hope of mankind!

The more hearts resist Thy Divine attractions, the more we shall love Thee, O infinitely amiable Heart of Jesus!

The more unbelief attacks Thy Divinity, the more humbly and profoundly we shall adore It, O Divine Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy holy laws are transgressed and ignored, the more we shall delight to observe them, O most holy Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy Sacraments are despised and abandoned, the more frequently we shall receive them with love and reverence, O most generous Heart of Jesus!

The more the imitation of Thy virtues is neglected and forgotten, the more we shall endeavor to practice them, O Heart, model of every virtue!

The more the devil labors to destroy souls, the more we shall be inflamed with desire to save them, O Heart of Jesus, zealous Lover of souls!

The more sin and impurity destroy the image of God in man, the more we shall try by purity of life to be a living temple of the Holy Spirit, O Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy Holy Church is despised, the more we shall endeavor to be her faithful children, O Sweet Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy Vicar on earth is persecuted, the more will we honor him as the infallible head of Thy Holy Church, show our fidelity and pray for him, O kingly Heart of Jesus!

O Sacred Heart, through Thy powerful grace, may we become Thy apostles in the midst of a corrupted world, and be Thy crown in the kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

Source


Picture source via here.

Praise and adoration ever more be given to the most Holy Sacrament!


During the remaining time, pray the sorrowful mysteries of the Holy Rosary, silently adore our Lord, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, offer prayers for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, recall the promises to St. Margaret Mary for devotion to His Most Sacred Heart.


Picture source - Lety's Creations

Be an Apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

1. Personally consecrate oneself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and recite the Consecration Prayer daily - for One Fold and One Shepherd.

2. Participate in the Holy Mass and receive Holy Communion daily, if possible - for reparation.

3. Offer a Holy Hour once a week - for reparation and encourage others to do the same.

Nihil Obstat - John J. Clifford, S.J. Censor Liborum
Imprimatur - Samuel A. Stritch, December 17, 1943, Archbishop of Chicago

From Behold My Heart Which Has So Loved Men.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul

Saints Peter and Paul by Rembrandt van Rijn

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"Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart" (Mt. 1:29)

"Jesus is always our pacesetter. He leads the way in everything He asks of us. Humility stands out as one of His divine attributes. 'He humble himself, obediently accepting death, death on a cross.' (Phil. 2:8).

Paul admonishes us: 'Think humbly of others as superior to yourselves, each of you looking to the other's interest rather than to his own.'" (Phil. 2:3).


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"He took bread, pronounced the blessing, then broke the bread and began to distribute it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him." (Lk 24:30-31)

The Eucharist is a great mystery. Only divine love could have devised such a celestial gift. Truly He is Emmanuel: God with us. However, His presence is a hidden presence. The disciples were restrained from recognizing Him. We likewise, can behold Him only with eyes of faith. When Jesus asked the apostles if they could accept this mystery. Peter answered for all of us: 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (Jn. 6:68).

- Abide in Me by David E. Rosage

Happy 60th Anniversary to Our Holy Father Benedict XVI


Picture source

Dear Lord,
Bless, protect and guide our dear Holy Father, Benedict XVI
today on the 60th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.
Bless him with continued good health so that he will tirelessly
work to bring more and more souls to salvation.
May he continue to be the shining example of a priest to all who have answered
the call to the priesthood.
May Your Blessed Mother Mary, cover him with her mantle of love and protection
all the days of his life.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Eucharistic Procession in the Diocese of Paterson



It was a beautiful day for a procession fit for our King.


I have been visiting my mother and family in New Jersey. Yesterday we were privileged to accompany Our Lord truly present in the Blessed Sacrament along with many of the faithful, as He processed from Blessed Sacrament Church onto the neighboring streets. The Feast of Corpus Christi is the feast day of  Blessed Sacrament Church.



I believe it is a Hispanic tradition to have families who live in the area prepare an altar in front of their house. The Monstrance then stops at these 5 altars (symbolizing Jesus Five wounds perhaps?) where the Gospel is read and then the priest blesses the people.  The first house we stopped was greeted by a beautiful image of El Señor de los Milagros, a beloved and popular Peruvian image of our Lord.



The Eucharistic Procession took place at the end of the Mass but before the final prayer. After processing out onto the streets, we were instructed to return to the Church for the Benediction and the final blessing.



Legionaries of Christ, Padre Ortega was the celebrant and the priest who carried the Blessed Sacrament.



It was lovely to come home to this parish, which happened to be the very first church my family belonged to when we arrived from Peru.



Note: Blessed Sacrament Parish will also be celebrating the 100th anniversary this October.