Sunday, March 29, 2020
Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
LORD, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
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 Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Son of the eternal Father, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mother, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, sacred temple of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of charity, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, abode of justice and love, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom dwells the fulness of divinity, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father was well pleased, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, of whose fulness we have all received, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, patient and most merciful, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, enriching all who invoke Thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, loaded down with opprobrium, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, bruised for our offences, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, obedient unto death, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, victim for sin, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who trust in thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in Thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
V. Jesus, meek and humble of Heart:
R. Make our hearts like unto Thine.
Let us pray
O ALMIGHTY and eternal God! Look upon the Heart of Thy dearly beloved Son, and upon the praise and satisfaction He offers Thee in the name of sinners and of those who seek Thy mercy; be Thou appeased, and grant us pardon in the name of the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son; who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.
Indulgence. 300 days. (Leo XIII, April 2, 1899.)
SOurce: http://www.gutenberg.org
Thursday, March 26, 2020
St. Francis of Assisi's Way of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the HolySpirit. Amen.
ACT OF CONTRITION
MOST merciful Jesus! With a contrite heart and penitent spirit I bow down in profound humility before Thy divine majesty. I adore Thee as my supreme Lord and master; I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee above all things. I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, my supreme and only good. I resolve to amend my life; and though I am unworthy to obtain mercy, yet the sight of Thy holy cross, on which Thou didst die, inspires me with hope and consolation. I will therefore meditate on Thy sufferings, and visit the stations of Thy passion in company with Thy sorrowful Mother and my guardian angel, with the intention of promoting Thy glory and saving my soul.
I desire to gain all the indulgences granted for this exercise, for myself and for the suffering souls in purgatory. O merciful Redeemer, who hast said; "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself," draw my heart and my love to Thee, that I may perform this devotion as perfectly as possible, and that I may live and die in union with Thee. Amen.
THE FIRST STATION
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You,
because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Jesus, most innocent, who neither did nor could commit a sin, was condemned to death, and moreover, to the most ignominious death of the cross. To remain a friend of Caesar, Pilate delivered Him into the hands of His enemies. A fearful crime - to condemn Innocence to death, and to offend God in order not to displease men!
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
THE SECOND STATION
JESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
When our divine Savior beheld the cross, He willingly stretched out His bleeding arms, lovingly embraced it, tenderly kissed it, placed it on His bruised shoulders, and, though nearly exhausted, He joyfully carried it.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Third Station
Jesus falls the First Time
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Our dear Savior, carrying the cross, was so weakened by its weight that he fell exhausted to the ground. Our sins and misdeeds were the heavy burden which oppressed Him: the cross was to Him light and sweet, but our sins were galling and insupportable.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Fourth Station
Jesus meets His Sorrowful Mother
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
How painful and how sad it must have been for Mary, the sorrowful Mother, to behold her beloved Son, laden with the burden of the cross! What unspeakable pangs her most tender heart experienced! How earnestly did she desire to die in place of Jesus, or at least with Him! Implore this sorrowful Mother that she assist you in the hour of your death.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Fifth Station
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry His Cross
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Simon of Cyrene was compelled to help Jesus carry His cross, and Jesus accepted his assistance. How willingly would He also permit you to carry the cross: He calls, but you hear Him not; He invites you, but you decline. What a reproach, to bear the cross reluctantly!
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Sixth Station
Veronica wipes the Face of Jesus
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Veronica, impelled by devotion and compassion, presents her veil to Jesus to wipe His disfigured face. And Jesus imprints on it His holy countenance: a great recompense for so small a service. What return do you make to your Savior for His great and manifold benefits?
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Seventh Station
Jesus falls the Second Time
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
The suffering Jesus, under the weight of His cross, again falls to the ground; but the cruel executioners do not permit Him to rest a moment. Pushing and striking Him, they urge Him onward. It is the frequent repetition of our sins which oppress Jesus. Witnessing this, how can I continue to sin?
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Eighth Station
The women of Jerusalem weep over Jesus
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
These devoted women, moved by compassion, weep over the suffering Savior. But He turns to them, saying: "Weep not for Me, Who am innocent, but weep for yourselves and for your children." Weep You also, for there is nothing more pleasing to Our Lord and nothing more profitable for Yourself, than tears shed from contrition for Your sins.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Ninth Station
Jesus falls the Third Time
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Jesus, arriving exhausted at the foot of Calvary, falls for the third time to the ground. His love for us, however, is not diminished, not extinguished. What a fearfully oppressive burden our sins must be to cause Jesus to fall so often! Had He, however, not taken them upon Himself, they would have plunged us into the abyss of Hell.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Tenth Station
Jesus is stripped of His Garments
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
When Our Savior had arrived on Calvary, He was cruelly despoiled of His garments. How painful this must have been because they adhered to His wounded and torn body, and with them parts of His bloody skin were removed! All the wounds of Jesus were renewed. Jesus was despoiled of His garments that He might die possessed of nothing; how happy will I also die after laying aside my former self with all evil desires and sinful inclinations!
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Eleventh Station
Jesus is nailed to the Cross
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Jesus, being stripped of His garments, was violently thrown upon the cross and His hands and feet were cruelly nailed thereto. In such excruciating pains He remained silent, because it pleased His heavenly Father. He suffered patiently, because He suffered for me. How do I act in sufferings and in troubles? How fretful and impatient, how full of complaints I am!
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Twelfth Station
Jesus is raised upon the Cross and Dies
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Behold Jesus crucified! Behold His wounds, received for love of you! His whole appearance betokens love: His head is bent to kiss you; His arms are extended to embrace you; His Heart is open to receive you. O superabundance of love, Jesus, the Son of God, dies upon the cross, that man may live and be delivered from everlasting death!
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Thirteenth Station
Jesus is taken from the Cross and given to His Mother
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Jesus did not descend from the cross but remained on it until He died. And when taken down from it, He in death as in life, rested on the bosom of His Mother. Persevere in your resolutions of reform and do not part from the cross; he who perseveres to the end shall be saved. Consider, moreover, how pure the heart should be that receives the body and blood of Christ in the Adorable Sacrament of the Altar.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Fourteenth Station
Jesus is laid in the Sepulcher
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
The body of Jesus is interred in a stranger's sepulchre. He who in this world had not whereupon to rest His head, would not even have a grave of His own, because He was not from this world. You, who are so attached to the world, henceforth despise it, that you may not perish with it.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
Closing Prayer
ALMIGHTY and eternal God, merciful Father, who hast given to the human race Thy beloved Son as an example of humility, obedience, and patience, to precede us on the way of life, bearing the cross; graciously grant, that we, inflamed by His infinite love, may take up the sweet yoke of His Gospel, together with the mortification of the cross, following Him as His true disciples, so that we shall one day rise gloriously with Him, and joyfully hear the final sentence: "Come, ye blessed of my Father, and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you from the beginning," where Thou reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, and where we hope to reign with Thee throughout all eternity. Amen.
- Saint Francis of Assisi
ACT OF CONTRITION
MOST merciful Jesus! With a contrite heart and penitent spirit I bow down in profound humility before Thy divine majesty. I adore Thee as my supreme Lord and master; I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee above all things. I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, my supreme and only good. I resolve to amend my life; and though I am unworthy to obtain mercy, yet the sight of Thy holy cross, on which Thou didst die, inspires me with hope and consolation. I will therefore meditate on Thy sufferings, and visit the stations of Thy passion in company with Thy sorrowful Mother and my guardian angel, with the intention of promoting Thy glory and saving my soul.
I desire to gain all the indulgences granted for this exercise, for myself and for the suffering souls in purgatory. O merciful Redeemer, who hast said; "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself," draw my heart and my love to Thee, that I may perform this devotion as perfectly as possible, and that I may live and die in union with Thee. Amen.
THE FIRST STATION
JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You,
because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Jesus, most innocent, who neither did nor could commit a sin, was condemned to death, and moreover, to the most ignominious death of the cross. To remain a friend of Caesar, Pilate delivered Him into the hands of His enemies. A fearful crime - to condemn Innocence to death, and to offend God in order not to displease men!
O innocent Jesus, having sinned, I am guilty of eternal death, but You willingly accept the unjust sentence of death, that I might live. For whom, then, shall I live, if not for You, my Lord? Should I desire to please men, I could not be Your servant. Let me, therefore, rather displease men and all the world, than not please You, O Jesus.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
THE SECOND STATION
JESUS CARRIES HIS CROSS
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
When our divine Savior beheld the cross, He willingly stretched out His bleeding arms, lovingly embraced it, tenderly kissed it, placed it on His bruised shoulders, and, though nearly exhausted, He joyfully carried it.
O my Jesus, I cannot be Your friend and follower if I refuse to carry the cross. Dearly beloved cross! I embrace You, I kiss You, I joyfully accept You from the hands of my God. Far be it from me to glory in anything save in the cross of my Lord and Redeemer. By it the world shall be crucified to me and I to the world, that I may be Yours forever.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Third Station
Jesus falls the First Time
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Our dear Savior, carrying the cross, was so weakened by its weight that he fell exhausted to the ground. Our sins and misdeeds were the heavy burden which oppressed Him: the cross was to Him light and sweet, but our sins were galling and insupportable.
O my Jesus, You bore my burden and the heavy weight of my sins. Should I, then, not bear in union with You, my easy burden of suffering and accept the sweet yoke of Your commandments? Your yoke is sweet and Your burden is light: I willingly accept it. I will take up my cross and follow You.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Fourth Station
Jesus meets His Sorrowful Mother
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
How painful and how sad it must have been for Mary, the sorrowful Mother, to behold her beloved Son, laden with the burden of the cross! What unspeakable pangs her most tender heart experienced! How earnestly did she desire to die in place of Jesus, or at least with Him! Implore this sorrowful Mother that she assist you in the hour of your death.
O Jesus, O Mary, I am the cause of the great and manifold pains which pierce your loving hearts! Oh, that also my heart would feel and experience at least some of your sufferings! O Mother of Sorrows, let me participate in the sufferings which You and Your Son endured for me, and let me experience Your sorrow, that afflicted with You, I may enjoy Yourassistance in the hour of my death.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Fifth Station
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry His Cross
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Simon of Cyrene was compelled to help Jesus carry His cross, and Jesus accepted his assistance. How willingly would He also permit you to carry the cross: He calls, but you hear Him not; He invites you, but you decline. What a reproach, to bear the cross reluctantly!
O Jesus! Whosoever does not take up his cross and follow You, is not worthy of You. Behold, I join You in the Way of Your Cross; I will be Your assistant, following Your bloody footsteps, that I may come to You in eternal life.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Sixth Station
Veronica wipes the Face of Jesus
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Veronica, impelled by devotion and compassion, presents her veil to Jesus to wipe His disfigured face. And Jesus imprints on it His holy countenance: a great recompense for so small a service. What return do you make to your Savior for His great and manifold benefits?
Most merciful Jesus! What return shall I make for all the benefits You have bestowed upon me? Behold I consecrate myself entirely to Your service. I offer and consecrate to You my heart: imprint on it Your sacred image, never again to be effaced by sin.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Seventh Station
Jesus falls the Second Time
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
The suffering Jesus, under the weight of His cross, again falls to the ground; but the cruel executioners do not permit Him to rest a moment. Pushing and striking Him, they urge Him onward. It is the frequent repetition of our sins which oppress Jesus. Witnessing this, how can I continue to sin?
O Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! Offer me Your helping hand, and aid me, that I may not fall again into my former sins. From this very moment, I will earnestly strive to reform: nevermore will I sin! Thou, O sole support of the weak, by Your grace, without which I can do nothing, strengthen me to carry out faithfully this my resolution.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Eighth Station
The women of Jerusalem weep over Jesus
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
These devoted women, moved by compassion, weep over the suffering Savior. But He turns to them, saying: "Weep not for Me, Who am innocent, but weep for yourselves and for your children." Weep You also, for there is nothing more pleasing to Our Lord and nothing more profitable for Yourself, than tears shed from contrition for Your sins.
O Jesus, Who shall give to my eyes a torrent of tears, that day and night I may weep for my sins? I beseech You, through Your bitter and bloody tears, to move my heart by Your divine grace, so that from my eyes tears may flow abundantly, and that I may weep all my days over Your sufferings, and still more over their cause, my sins.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Ninth Station
Jesus falls the Third Time
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Jesus, arriving exhausted at the foot of Calvary, falls for the third time to the ground. His love for us, however, is not diminished, not extinguished. What a fearfully oppressive burden our sins must be to cause Jesus to fall so often! Had He, however, not taken them upon Himself, they would have plunged us into the abyss of Hell.
Most merciful Jesus, I return You infinite thanks for not permitting me to continue in sin and to fall, as I have so often deserved, into the depths of Hell. Enkindle in me an earnest desire of amendment; let me never again relapse, but vouchsafe me the grace to persevere in penance to the end of my life.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Tenth Station
Jesus is stripped of His Garments
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
When Our Savior had arrived on Calvary, He was cruelly despoiled of His garments. How painful this must have been because they adhered to His wounded and torn body, and with them parts of His bloody skin were removed! All the wounds of Jesus were renewed. Jesus was despoiled of His garments that He might die possessed of nothing; how happy will I also die after laying aside my former self with all evil desires and sinful inclinations!
Induce me, O Jesus, to lay aside my former self and to be renewed according to Your will and desire. i will not spare myself, however painful this should be for me: despoiled of things temporal, of my own will, I desire to die, in order to live for You forever.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Eleventh Station
Jesus is nailed to the Cross
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Jesus, being stripped of His garments, was violently thrown upon the cross and His hands and feet were cruelly nailed thereto. In such excruciating pains He remained silent, because it pleased His heavenly Father. He suffered patiently, because He suffered for me. How do I act in sufferings and in troubles? How fretful and impatient, how full of complaints I am!
O Jesus, gracious Lamb of God, I renounce forever my impatience. Crucify, O Lord, my flesh and its concupiscences; scourge, scathe, and punish me in this world, do but spare me in the next. I commit my destiny to You, resigning myself to Your holy will: may it be done in all things!
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Twelfth Station
Jesus is raised upon the Cross and Dies
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Behold Jesus crucified! Behold His wounds, received for love of you! His whole appearance betokens love: His head is bent to kiss you; His arms are extended to embrace you; His Heart is open to receive you. O superabundance of love, Jesus, the Son of God, dies upon the cross, that man may live and be delivered from everlasting death!
O most amiable Jesus! Who will grant me that I may die for You! I will at least endeavor to die to the world. How must I regard the world and its vanities, when I behold You hanging on the cross, covered with wounds? O Jesus, receive me into Your wounded Heart: I belong entirely to You; for You alone do I desire to live and to die.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Thirteenth Station
Jesus is taken from the Cross and given to His Mother
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
Jesus did not descend from the cross but remained on it until He died. And when taken down from it, He in death as in life, rested on the bosom of His Mother. Persevere in your resolutions of reform and do not part from the cross; he who perseveres to the end shall be saved. Consider, moreover, how pure the heart should be that receives the body and blood of Christ in the Adorable Sacrament of the Altar.
O Lord Jesus, Your lifeless body, mangled and lacerated, found a worthy resting-place on the bosom of Your virgin Mother. Have I not often compelled You to dwell in my heart, full of sin and impurity as it was? Create in me a new heart, that I may worthily receive Your most sacred body in Holy Communion, and that You may remain in me and I in You for all eternity.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
The Fourteenth Station
Jesus is laid in the Sepulcher
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
The body of Jesus is interred in a stranger's sepulchre. He who in this world had not whereupon to rest His head, would not even have a grave of His own, because He was not from this world. You, who are so attached to the world, henceforth despise it, that you may not perish with it.
O Jesus, You have set me apart from the world; what, then, shall I seek therein? You have created me for Heaven; what, then, have I to do with the world? Depart from me, deceitful world, with Your vanities! Henceforth I will follow the Way of the Cross traced out for me by my Redeemer, and journey onward to my heavenly home, there to dwell forever and ever.
OUR FATHER, HAIL MARY, GLORY BE
Lord Jesus, crucified, have mercy on us!
Closing Prayer
ALMIGHTY and eternal God, merciful Father, who hast given to the human race Thy beloved Son as an example of humility, obedience, and patience, to precede us on the way of life, bearing the cross; graciously grant, that we, inflamed by His infinite love, may take up the sweet yoke of His Gospel, together with the mortification of the cross, following Him as His true disciples, so that we shall one day rise gloriously with Him, and joyfully hear the final sentence: "Come, ye blessed of my Father, and possess the kingdom which has been prepared for you from the beginning," where Thou reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, and where we hope to reign with Thee throughout all eternity. Amen.
- Saint Francis of Assisi
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Pope Francis' Prayer For Protection and Help
O Mary,
you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain,
keeping your faith firm.
You know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings and
You know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to feasting
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings and
carried our sorrows to lead us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.
Under your protection, we seek refuge,
Under your protection, we seek refuge,
Holy Mother of God.
Do not disdain the entreaties of those of us
who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Amen.
Sunday, March 22, 2020
St. Benedict Novena
Glorious St. Benedict, sublime model of virtue,
pure vessel of God's grace!
Behold me humbly kneeling at your feet.
I implore you in your loving kindness to
pray for me before the throne Of God.
To you I have recourse in the dangers
that daily surround me.
Shield me against my selfishness
and my indifference to God and to my neighbor.
Inspire me to imitate you in all things.
May your blessing be with me always,
so that I may see and serve Christ in
others and work for His kingdom.
Graciously obtain for me from God
those favors and graces which I
need so much in the trials, miseries
and afflictions of life.
Your heart was always full of love,
compassion and mercy toward those
who were afflicted or troubled in any way.
You never dismissed without consolation
and assistance anyone who had recourse to you.
I therefore invoke your powerful intercession,
confident in the hope that you will hear
my prayer and obtain for me the special
grace and favor I earnestly implore (name it).
Help me, great St. Benedict. to live and
die as a faithful child of God,
to run in the sweetness of His loving will
and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven.
Amen.
pure vessel of God's grace!
Behold me humbly kneeling at your feet.
I implore you in your loving kindness to
pray for me before the throne Of God.
To you I have recourse in the dangers
that daily surround me.
Shield me against my selfishness
and my indifference to God and to my neighbor.
Inspire me to imitate you in all things.
May your blessing be with me always,
so that I may see and serve Christ in
others and work for His kingdom.
Graciously obtain for me from God
those favors and graces which I
need so much in the trials, miseries
and afflictions of life.
Your heart was always full of love,
compassion and mercy toward those
who were afflicted or troubled in any way.
You never dismissed without consolation
and assistance anyone who had recourse to you.
I therefore invoke your powerful intercession,
confident in the hope that you will hear
my prayer and obtain for me the special
grace and favor I earnestly implore (name it).
Help me, great St. Benedict. to live and
die as a faithful child of God,
to run in the sweetness of His loving will
and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven.
Amen.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Prayer After Holy Communion by Padre Pio
Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You, I am without meaning and hope.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, and without You, I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.
Stay with me, Lord, so that I can hear Your voice and follow you.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You ever more, and to be always in Your company.
Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be always faithful to You.
Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I wish it to be a place of consolation for You, a dwelling of Your love.
Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late; the days are coming to a close and life is passing. Death, judgement and eternity are drawing near. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way, for that I need You. It is getting late and death approaches. I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need you, my Jesus, in this night of exile!
Stay with me, Jesus, because in the darkness of life, with all its dangers, I need You.
Help me to recognize You as Your disciples did at the Breaking of the Bread, so that the Eucharist Communion be the light which disperses darkness, the power which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.
Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death I want to be one with You, and if not by Communion, at least by Your grace and love.
Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolations because I do not deserve them, but I only ask for the gift of Your Presence. Oh yes! I ask this of You.
Stay with me, Lord, for I seek You alone, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and I ask for no other reward but to love You more and more, with a strong active love.
Grant that I may love You with all my heart while on earth, so that I can continue to love you perfectly throughout all eternity, dear Jesus.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, and without You, I am without meaning and hope.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, and without You, I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.
Stay with me, Lord, so that I can hear Your voice and follow you.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You ever more, and to be always in Your company.
Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be always faithful to You.
Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I wish it to be a place of consolation for You, a dwelling of Your love.
Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late; the days are coming to a close and life is passing. Death, judgement and eternity are drawing near. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way, for that I need You. It is getting late and death approaches. I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need you, my Jesus, in this night of exile!
Stay with me, Jesus, because in the darkness of life, with all its dangers, I need You.
Help me to recognize You as Your disciples did at the Breaking of the Bread, so that the Eucharist Communion be the light which disperses darkness, the power which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.
Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death I want to be one with You, and if not by Communion, at least by Your grace and love.
Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolations because I do not deserve them, but I only ask for the gift of Your Presence. Oh yes! I ask this of You.
Stay with me, Lord, for I seek You alone, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and I ask for no other reward but to love You more and more, with a strong active love.
Grant that I may love You with all my heart while on earth, so that I can continue to love you perfectly throughout all eternity, dear Jesus.
Spiritual Communion Prayer
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.
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.
Thursday, March 5, 2020
My Daily Way of the Cross
****MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS
1. Jesus is condemned to die
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, You embraced Your cross to redeem the world. Help me to embrace the crosses in life-the hardships, struggles, disappointments, and pain. Only by recognizing my own weakness, can I discover Your strength.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
3. Jesus falls for the First Time
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
OPENING SCRIPTURE READING
"The Son of Man is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected, and to be raised up on the third day. If anyone wants to be a follower of Mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow Me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for My sake, that man will save it" (Luke 9: 22-24).
"The Son of Man is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected, and to be raised up on the third day. If anyone wants to be a follower of Mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow Me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for My sake, that man will save it" (Luke 9: 22-24).
1. Jesus is condemned to die
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, often I judge others and fail to be understanding or loving. Help me to see the people in my life through Your eyes, not the eyes of Pontius Pilate.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
Pater noster, qui es in cælis:
sanctificetur nomen tuum;
adveniat regnum tuum;
fiat voluntas tua, sicut in cælo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie;
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris;
et ne nos inducas in tentationem;
sed libera nos a malo.
sanctificetur nomen tuum;
adveniat regnum tuum;
fiat voluntas tua, sicut in cælo, et in terra.
Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie;
et dimitte nobis debita nostra,
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris;
et ne nos inducas in tentationem;
sed libera nos a malo.
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
2. Jesus willingly takes up His Cross
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
2. Jesus willingly takes up His Cross
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, You embraced Your cross to redeem the world. Help me to embrace the crosses in life-the hardships, struggles, disappointments, and pain. Only by recognizing my own weakness, can I discover Your strength.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
3. Jesus falls for the First Time
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, You know how often I fall trying to follow You. Yet, You are always there to life me up. Help me always to trust in Your loving care for me.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
4. Jesus meets His Blessed Mother
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, Your mother Mary's grief was surpassed by her love for you. So often You come to me in others and their love gives me new life. Help me to see how often You love me through the people in my life.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
5. Simon the Cyrene helps Jesus carry His Cross
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, sometimes I am indifferent to the needs of others in my life. I even neglect those whom I love. Help me to see that loving others is the surest way to find You in my life.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
6. Veronica wipes the Holy Face of Jesus
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, at times I am afraid to reach out to others. I do nothing when I should act; I say nothing when I should speak out. Give me a deeper and more courageous faith. Help me to trust that You are with me.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
7. Jesus falls for the Second Time
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, failure and disappointment sometimes lead me to despair. I hide behind my pride and self-pity, withdrawing from You and others. Give me the hope I need and help me never to be afraid to begin again.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem who weep for Him
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, Your great compassion for others overwhelms me. I feel petty and selfish when I think of You and the way You love. Help me to pour out my love, that You might fill me with Your Love.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
9. Jesus falls for the Third Time
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, Your failing strength makes me see how helpless I am. Without You, I can do nothing. Help me to rely on Your strength, to see how much I need You.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
10. Jesus is stripped of His garments
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, seeing You so cruelly humiliated makes me realize how I cling to my accomplishments, my possessions, my way. Help me to let go of those things in my life that prevent me from growing closer to You and others.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
11. Jesus is nailed to the Cross
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, I can never doubt Your great love for me when I see You crucified. Help me to see Your cross as the great sign of Your love for me.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
12. Jesus dies on the Cross
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, Your broken and lifeless body calls me to deeper faith. You chose death, even death on the cross. Help me to see my crosses as ways of loving You.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
13. Jesus is taken down from the Cross and given to His Mother
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, seeing Your body taken from the cross reminds me how fearful I am of letting go of my own life. I am frightened when I think of being unimportant, useless, and helpless. Help me to place my life in Your hands.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
14: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, when I see the great stone sealing Your tomb, I feel alone and abandoned. Even though You sometimes seem distant or absent in my life, help me always to believe in Your closeness and loving presence.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
CLOSING SCRIPTURE READING
"On the first day of the week, at the first sign of dawn, they went to the tomb with spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, but on entering they discovered that the body of the Lord Jesus was not there. As they stood there not knowing what to think, two men in brilliant clothes suddenly appeared at their side. Terrified, the women lowered their eyes. But the two men said to them, "Why look among the dead for someone who is alive? He is not here; He has risen. Remember what He told you when He was still in Galilee: that the Son of Man had to be handed over to the power of sinful men, be crucified, and rise again on the third day?" And they remembered His words"(Luke 24: 1-8).
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help me to walk with You each day of my life, even to Calvary. The sorrow and joy, the pain and healings, the failures and triumphs of my life are truly small deaths and resurrections that lead me to closeness with You. Give me the faith and trust I need to walk with You always.
Amen.
4. Jesus meets His Blessed Mother
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, Your mother Mary's grief was surpassed by her love for you. So often You come to me in others and their love gives me new life. Help me to see how often You love me through the people in my life.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
5. Simon the Cyrene helps Jesus carry His Cross
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, sometimes I am indifferent to the needs of others in my life. I even neglect those whom I love. Help me to see that loving others is the surest way to find You in my life.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
6. Veronica wipes the Holy Face of Jesus
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, at times I am afraid to reach out to others. I do nothing when I should act; I say nothing when I should speak out. Give me a deeper and more courageous faith. Help me to trust that You are with me.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
7. Jesus falls for the Second Time
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, failure and disappointment sometimes lead me to despair. I hide behind my pride and self-pity, withdrawing from You and others. Give me the hope I need and help me never to be afraid to begin again.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem who weep for Him
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, Your great compassion for others overwhelms me. I feel petty and selfish when I think of You and the way You love. Help me to pour out my love, that You might fill me with Your Love.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
9. Jesus falls for the Third Time
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, Your failing strength makes me see how helpless I am. Without You, I can do nothing. Help me to rely on Your strength, to see how much I need You.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
10. Jesus is stripped of His garments
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, seeing You so cruelly humiliated makes me realize how I cling to my accomplishments, my possessions, my way. Help me to let go of those things in my life that prevent me from growing closer to You and others.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
11. Jesus is nailed to the Cross
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, I can never doubt Your great love for me when I see You crucified. Help me to see Your cross as the great sign of Your love for me.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
12. Jesus dies on the Cross
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, Your broken and lifeless body calls me to deeper faith. You chose death, even death on the cross. Help me to see my crosses as ways of loving You.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
13. Jesus is taken down from the Cross and given to His Mother
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, seeing Your body taken from the cross reminds me how fearful I am of letting go of my own life. I am frightened when I think of being unimportant, useless, and helpless. Help me to place my life in Your hands.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
14: Jesus is Laid in the Tomb
We adore you, O Lord, and we praise You.
Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.
(genuflect or make the sign of the cross)
MEDITATION: Lord Jesus, when I see the great stone sealing Your tomb, I feel alone and abandoned. Even though You sometimes seem distant or absent in my life, help me always to believe in Your closeness and loving presence.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be
Jesus Christ crucified, have mercy on us.
CLOSING SCRIPTURE READING
"On the first day of the week, at the first sign of dawn, they went to the tomb with spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, but on entering they discovered that the body of the Lord Jesus was not there. As they stood there not knowing what to think, two men in brilliant clothes suddenly appeared at their side. Terrified, the women lowered their eyes. But the two men said to them, "Why look among the dead for someone who is alive? He is not here; He has risen. Remember what He told you when He was still in Galilee: that the Son of Man had to be handed over to the power of sinful men, be crucified, and rise again on the third day?" And they remembered His words"(Luke 24: 1-8).
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help me to walk with You each day of my life, even to Calvary. The sorrow and joy, the pain and healings, the failures and triumphs of my life are truly small deaths and resurrections that lead me to closeness with You. Give me the faith and trust I need to walk with You always.
Amen.
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