Our Suffering Lord

Our Lord was brutally tortured beyond human comprehension.  He was was mocked, spit upon, struck repeatedly and He even had to endure the humiliation of having every piece of clothing stripped from His sacred body.  How anyone could have endured what He did is hard to fathom.

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My wounded Jesus, 

I contemplate the pain inflicted on Your innocent body

and I am filled with shame for ever having complained

over my little crosses.

How can You continue to love us so much?

I don't deserve Your love.

I don't deserve Your mercy.

 Instead, I deserve the pain and isolation You experienced in the agony in the garden for

the many times I betrayed You by choosing the

world's enticement over Your pure love.

I deserve the scourging You endured for the many

times the pleasures of the flesh, lured me away from You.

I deserve the crowning of the thorns for the many times I

dwelt on past hurts, judged others, thought of no one but myself.

My crosses that I bear are nothing compared to the cross you had

to carry to Calvary.  Each step for You was brutal and agonizing.

My crosses are light because You carry the brunt of the weight,

yet, I continue to complain.

Not even knowing what You went through to save my soul makes me stop my 

complaining.

I deserve the pain and humiliations those barbarians

inflicted on You.  

You did nothing wrong.  It is I who chose to do wrong.

Yet, You continue to love me.

You did for me as You died for each one of us.

May we never take Your love or sacrifice for granted.

Jesus, I trust in You.

Jesus, I love You.

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10 year anniversary of the death of St. John Paul II

Shared by Mary Jane.

(1) Litany to Saint John Paul II

 

Kyrie eleison; Kyrie eleison
Christe eleison; Christe eleison
Kyrie eleison; Kyrie eleison
Christ hear us, Christ graciously 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
Saint John Paul II, pray for us
Perfect disciple of Christ, pray for us
Generously gifted with the gifts of the Holy Spirit; pray for us
Great apostle of Divine Mercy; pray for us
Faithful Son of Mary; pray for us
Totally dedicated to the Mother of God; pray for us
Persevering preacher of the Gospel; pray for us
Pilgrim Pope; pray for us
Pope of the Millennium; pray for us
Model of industry; pray for us
Model of priests; pray for us
Drawing strength from the Eucharist; pray for us
Untiring man of prayer; pray for us
Lover of the rosary; pray for us
Strength of those doubting their faith; pray for us
Desiring to unite all those who believe in Christ; pray for us
Converter of sinners; pray for us
Defender of the dignity of every person; pray for us
Defender of life from conception to natural death; pray for us
Praying for the gift of parenthood for the infertile; pray for us
Friend of children; pray for us
Leader of youth; pray for us
Intercessor of families, pray for us
Comforter of the suffering; pray for us
Manly bearing his pain; pray for us
Sower of divine joy; pray for us
Great intercessor for peace; pray for us
Pride of the Polish nation; pray for us
Brilliance of the Holy Church; pray for us
That we may be faithful imitators of Christ; pray for us
That we may be strong with the power of the Holy Spirit;
pray for us
That we may have trust in the Mother of God; pray for us
That we may grow in our faith, hope, and charity; pray for us
That we may live in peace in our families; pray for us
That we may know how to forgive; pray for us
That we may know how to bear suffering; pray for us
That we may not succumb to the culture of death; pray for us
That we may not be afraid and courageously fight off various
temptations; pray for us
That he would intercede for us the grace of a happy death; pray
for us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, spare us, O
Lord
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, graciously
hear us, O Lord
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy
on us
Pray for us, Saint John Paul II,
That we may become worthy of the promises of Christ.


(2) Litany to Saint John Paul II
Kyrie eleison, Christ eleison, Kyrie eleison
Christ, hear us Christ, graciously hear us.
Father of Heaven, God – have mercy on us.
Son, Redeemer of the world, God - have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit - have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God - have mercy on us.
Holy Mary – pray for us.

Saint John Paul II – pray for us
Immersed in the Father rich in mercy….
United with Christ, the Redeemer of man…
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Lord and Giver of life…
Completely devoted to Mary...
Friend of the saints and blessed…
Successor of Peter and the servant of servants of God…
Guardian of the Church, teaching the truths of faith....
Father of the Council and Executor of its indications…
Supporting the unity of Christians and the whole human family...
Zealous Lover of the Eucharist...
Tireless Pilgrim of the earth...
Missionary of all nations...
Witness of faith, hope, and love...
Participant persistent in sufferings of Christ...
Apostle of reconciliation and peace...
Promoter of the civilization of love...
Propagator of new evangelization...
Master, calling us to sail into the deep...
Teacher showing us holiness as a measure of life...
Pope of Divine Mercy…
High Priest gathering the Church for sacrificing...
Shepherd leading the flock to Heaven...
Brother and Master of priests...
Father of consecrated persons...
Patron of Christian families...
Strengthening spouses....
Defender of the unborn...
Protector of children orphans and abandoned...
Friend and Teacher of the youth...
Good Samaritan for the suffering...
Support for the elderly and lonely...
Propagator of the truth about the dignity of man...
Man of prayer immersed in God...
Lover of the liturgy sacrificing at the altars of the world...
The personification of hard work...
Love in the cross of Christ....
Implementing your vocation properly...
Patient in suffering...
Example of life and death for the Lord....
Reprimanding sinners....
Showing the way to the misguided...
Forgiving wrong-doers...
Respecting opponents and persecutors...
Spokesman and Defender of the persecuted...
Supporting the unemployed...
Concerned about the homeless...
Visiting prisoners...
Supporting the weak...
Teaching everybody solidarity...

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world –
Spare us, Lord.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world –
Hear us, Lord.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world –
Have mercy on us.
Pray for us, Saint John Paul II.
So that we would proclaim to the world with life and words
Christ the Redeemer of man.

Let us pray:
Merciful God, accept our thanksgiving
For the gift of Saint John Paul’s II apostolic life and mission
And through his intercession, please, help us grow in love for you
And proclaim boldly the love of Christ to all people.
Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

The Litany has the imprimatur of Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, Archbishop of Cracow from 12 April 2011.

 

PRAYER FOR THE SICK

Saint John Paul, you invited us to look at the difficult situations in our lives from the perspective of faith, so as to see the mystery of pain's contribution to our
lives.
In Jesus, who suffered with us and for us, you have taught us to find meaning and value in the
physical and psychological ills that often fill our days and nights.  We pray for all those who
have suffered the effects of war and for those who carry the burden of illness for a lifetime.
We entrust to your prayers those who are in hospitals and nursing homes; people who are disabled or emotionally disturbed; men, women and children who have a terminal illness and
who live the Calvary of suffering and loneliness.  May those who accompany and care for the sick find their hearts expanded by love.  May they recognize in the sick the presence of
the poor, crucified Christ.  We pray for those who have turned their back on God and faith because of the seemingly unanswerable question of suffering, that they might discover that the
mystery of pain can only be understood in Jesus Christ who reveals to us most deeply who we are.  In their pain, may they hear the words of the Master: "Follow me." AMEN.
(mention those whom you are praying for who are ill and/or suffering)Imprimatur: Sean Cardinal O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Boston
          
 Prayer to St. John Paul II

Oh, St. John Paul, from the window of heaven, grant us your blessing! Bless the church that you loved and served and guided, courageously leading it along the paths of the world in order to bring Jesus to everyone and everyone to Jesus. Bless the young, who were your great passion. Help them dream again, help them look up high again to find the light that illuminates the paths of life here on earth.

 

May you bless families, bless each family! You warned of Satan’s assault against this precious and indispensable divine spark that God lit on earth. St. John Paul, with your prayer, may you protect the family and every life that blossoms from the family.

Pray for the whole world, which is still marked by tensions, wars and injustice. You tackled war by invoking dialogue and planting the seeds of love: pray for us so that we may be tireless sowers of peace.

Oh St. John Paul, from heaven’s window, where we see you next to Mary, send God’s blessing down upon us all. Amen.(mention your intentions here)

The Lord's Supper - Pray for Our Priests

"The Last Supper" by Bartolomeo Carduccio

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As we enter the Holy Triduum, we ask that you remember in your prayers our Holy Father, our bishop Larry and all the bishops, our priests, our seminarians and the persecuted Church. It was at the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday that Jesus Himself instituted the Holy Eucharist and the priesthood in order to perpetuate this most august sacrament.

The following blog post is a must-read:

http://www.philipkosloski.com/why-we-need-holy-priests-and-how-to-pray-for-them/  Why We Need Holy Priests and Why We have to Pray for Them.  

Good Friday - Pray the Holy Rosary for World Peace

Bishop Larry Silva praying the Rosary publicly 

An email has been circulating asking all Catholics to pray the Holy Rosary together on the same day:

Imagine what might happen if every Catholic in the world would pray a Rosary on the same day! 

We have an example in October of 1573, when Europe was saved fromthe invasion of the mighty Turkish fleet, by the praying of the Rosary by all Christians!  So, on Good Friday April 3rd, let us all pray a Rosary for peace in the world and the return of moral values into our communities.

If possible, please pray your Rosary between noon and 3:00 p.m.. Also, please e-mail this message to every Catholic on your address list, and ask them to pass it along to every Catholic on their lists.
  

Let's unite in praying one of the most powerful prayers in existence, for these intentions, on one of the holiest days in our Church year. God bless us all!

Did you also know that when you are about to forward this message, Satan will try to discourage you?  Forward it anyway and help hasten the triumph of Mother Mary!

Send this to your prayerful friends and see how the Holy Spirit works! There is a great deal to gain and absolutely nothing to lose!