Aspirations - Before the Blessed Sacrament

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you, save souls.

Thy will be done!

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.

Most Precious Blood of Jesus, have mercy on me.

Jesus, I love you.

Jesus, truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament, guide my life.

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

My Lord and my God!

I am drawn to You my Jesus, like a moth to the flame.

Jesus, may I never offend Thee on purpose.

My soul is in peace, in Your presence, O Lord.

You dear Lord, are the source of all my happiness.

May all the honor and glory be Yours!

O my glorious and magnificent Lord!

My sweet Jesus, teach me to love.

O, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord all the days of my life!

Lord, in Your I have my being.

I truly want to love you, my most sweet Jesus.

What do You want from me Lord?

Dear God, help me to be holy.

May I accept everything in my day for love of You.

Jesus, may I see through Your eyes, may I hear through Your ears, may I love through Your heart.

O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, O praise and all thanksgiving, be every moment Thine.

My Lord, You are as radiant as the sun!

Forgive me, Jesus, forgive me!

May I overcome myself in order to love you completely.

May I embrace my littleness, my nothingness.

You must increase; I must decrease.

What joy it is to be in Your presence, O Lord!

May my love for You bring me peace.

God is love.

Lord, You called me and I came.

Thank you Lord!

THE LITANY OF LORETO

by Brother John M. Samaha, S.M.

What is a litany?

        A litany is a type of prayer in the form of a responsive petition.  This prayer form became popular in the Middle Ages.  A prayer leader proclaimed a series of invocations and the congregation alternated with responses.

        The litany form of supplication comes from the Litany of Saints, which was used in Europe as early as the seventh century.  In that litany Mary heads the list of saints and is invoked three times; these invocations are retained in her own litany. Over the centuries a number of litanies became popular prayers to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Holy Name of Jesus, St. Joseph, and several directed to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  These are still used today and are found in official prayer books.

        Several different Marian litanies appeared in the twelfth century and became popular devotional practices over the following centuries.  Their origins are often uncertain, and from time to time additions and improvements were made. Besides being recited prayers, many litanies are also sung or chanted.  And today new litanies are still being composed.

        The alternation of admiring tribute and confident supplication makes the litany a prayer both simple and replete.

Litany of Loreto

        Many Marian litanies are in use, but the best known Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary is more commonly known as the Litany of Loreto.  Because this litany was adopted by the famous Marian Shrine of the Holy House in Loreto, Italy, as indicated by a 1558 shrine record, the pilgrims who visited the shrine took to their home countries around the world this popular name for the prayer.

        The origins of the Litany of Loreto are uncertain.  It may date from the fifth century, but more likely it was composed in its present form between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries and first printed in a prayer book influenced by St. Peter Canisius in 1551.  The original approval was granted in 1587 by Pope Sixtus V. 

        The list of praises to Mary owes much to the Akathist Hymn of the Byzantine Churches.  As circumstances changed, invocations were added or dropped, and the litany is still being revised in our lifetime.

Newest invocations: Mother of the Church and Queen of Families

        In 1980 “Mother of the Church” was inserted into the Litany of Loreto after “Mother of Christ” and before “Mother of Divine Grace.”  At the close of the third session of the Second Vatican Council in 1964 Pope Paul VI officially declared this new Marian title: “For the glory of the Blessed Virgin and our consolation, we proclaim Mary most holy as ‘Mother of the Church,’ that is, of the whole People of God, both of the faithful and of the pastors who all call her their most loving Mother.”  Pope John Paul II explained that this “stresses the complete motherhood of Mary toward Christ and toward the Church, as Mother of the Head and Mother of the members of the Mystical Body.”

        Saint John Paul II authorized in 1995 the use of “Queen of Families” to be inserted after “Queen of the Most Holy Rosary” and before “Queen of Peace.”  This flows naturally from the fact that Mary is Mother of the Church, including the Domestic Church – the family.  The pope pointed out that “Mary called herself the ‘handmaid of the Lord’ (Lk 1:38).  Through obedience to the Word of God she accepted her lofty, yet not easy vocation as wife and mother in the family of Nazareth.  Putting herself at God’s service, she also put herself at the service of others: a service of love….  We invoke her as ‘Queen.’ For her to reign is to serve.  Her service is to reign.”

        Holy Mary, pray for us!

Portiuncula Indulgence - Feast of Our Lady of the Angels

Reminder: Requirements for plenary indulgence.

Bishop of Honolulu on Saint Mother Marianne Cope

Nice coverage by Father Daren.

From These Stone Walls - On the Fatherhood of Bishops With Disposable Priests

“Has Catholic culture in America become so comfortable with the notion of the last two decades that its priests should be little more than expendable targets with no ability or right for self-defense?” 

I recommend you read this post written by "Father Jim" on Father Gordon MacRae's blog and then share it with others.

 On the Fatherhood of Bishops With Disposable Priests

Saint Mother Marianne Cope Comes Home to Hawaii

Today was a festive day in Hawaii as Bishop Silva enshrined the earthly remains of our beloved mother of the outcasts in the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace.

Father Daren Z.

Our beloved bishop Larry Silva

Hawaiian Royal Societies 

Saint Marianne's remains enters the Cathedral Basilica

Procession of priests

Procession into the Cathedral Basilica for midday prayer

Media coverage as the faithful approached St. Mother Marianne's relic for veneration