To our Lady of Sorrows

 The feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary is always celebrated on the Friday of Passion Week, this year March 31.  St. Gabriel of our Lady of Sorrows spoke thus of our Sorrowful Mother,

“Love Mary!… She is loveable, faithful, constant. She will never let herself be outdone in love, but will ever remain supreme. If you are in danger, she will hasten to free you. If you are troubled, she will console you. If you are sick, she will bring you relief. If you are in need, she will help you. She does not look to see what kind of person you have been. She simply comes to a heart that wants to love her. She comes quickly and opens her merciful heart to you, embraces you and consoles and serves you. She will even be at hand to accompany you on the trip to eternity”

To our Lady of Sorrows

 By St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Seraphic Doctor of the Church 

O most holy Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, by the overwhelming grief you experienced when you witnessed the Martyrdom, the Crucifixion and the Death, of your Divine Son, look upon me, with eyes of compassion and awaken in my heart, a tender commiseration for those sufferings and a sincere detestation of my sins, in order that, being disengaged from all undue affection for the passing joys of this earth, I may sigh after the eternal Jerusalem and that, henceforward, all my thoughts and all my actions may be directed towards this one most desirable object, the honour, glory and love of our divine Lord Jesus, and to you, the Holy and Immaculate Mother of God. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Seven Prayers of St. Gregory on the Passion of the Lord

Holy Mother Church honors Pope St. Gregory the Great with a feast on March 12.  Well-educated and pious, St. Gregory worked tirelessly for the Church.  He was chosen Pope in 590 and reigned until 604.  During that time he fought against heresies, sent missionaries to convert pagans, including to England, and took care of the poor and sick.  He watched over the priests and the sacred traditions of the Church, and he is also well-known for his influence over the Church's music with Gregorian Chant. From the words from an antiphon in his office, he was called, "the Father of the City, the joy of the World."

The following prayer, penned by St. Gregory the Great, was a well-known medieval prayer often found in prayer books containing the Hours.  Pious tradition holds that one day while St. Gregory was celebrating Mass, Christ Himself appeared during the Consecration as a sign of His True Presence in the Eucharist. Thus, often accompanying the prayer in these prayer books was a picture of St. Gregory, genuflecting at the Consecration, with Christ appearing on the Crucifix in front of the Altar.

+       +       +

 Seven Prayers of St. Gregory on the Passion of the Lord

I. O Lord Jesus, I adore Thee hanging on the Cross, wearing a crown of thorns upon Thy head. I beg Thee that Thy Cross may free me from the deceiving Angel. Amen. 
1 Our Father. 1 Hail Mary. 

II.  O Lord Jesus, I adore Thee hanging wounded on the Cross, given vinegar and gall to drink. I beg Thee that Thy wounds may be the remedy of my soul. Amen. 

1 Our Father. 1 Hail Mary.

III. O Lord Jesus, I ask by the bitterness of Thy Passion, which Thou didst undergo in the hour of Thy death, so much so when Thy most holy soul left Thy blessed body, have mercy upon my soul when it leaves my body, and lead it to eternal life. Amen. 

1 Our Father. 1 Hail Mary.

 
IV. O Lord Jesus, I adore Thee placed in Thy tomb, anointed with myrrh and aromatic spices. I beg Thee that Thy death may be my life. Amen. 

1 Our Father. 1 Hail Mary. 

V.  O Lord Jesus, I adore Thee descending into hell and freeing the captives from there. I beg Thee, that Thou mayest never permit me to enter there. Amen.  

1 Our Father. 1 Hail Mary. 

VI. O Lord Jesus, I adore Thee rising from the dead, ascending into heaven, and sitting at the right hand of the Father. I beg Thee that I may be worthy to follow Thee and be with Thee. Amen. 

1 Our Father. 1 Hail Mary. 

VII. O Lord Jesus, O good Shepherd, preserver of the just, justifier of sinners, have mercy upon all the faithful and be gracious to me, a wretched and unworthy sinner. Amen. 

1 Our Father. 1 Hail Mary. 

Prayer:  I beseech Thee, Lord Jesus Christ, that Thy Passion may be a strength to me by which I may be strengthened, protected and defended. May Thy wounds be to me food and drink by which I may be nourished, inebriated, and delighted. May the sprinkling of Thy Blood be to me an ablution for all my sins. May Thy death be eternal glory to me. In these may my refreshment, joy, health, zeal, delight, and desire of my body and soul, now and forever. Amen. 

Prayer: O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, place Thy Passion, Cross, and Death between Thy judgment and my soul, now and in the hour of my death. Deign to grant me grace and mercy, pardon to the living, eternal rest to the dead, peace to Thy Church, and life and eternal glory to all sinners. Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen

--from the Paradisus Animae (1670)

God bless!

+JMJ+

Fun Lenten and Easter crafts

 I wanted to share two links from Holy Heroes for fun Lenten and Easter Triptych crafts.   They are very well drawn and are free downloads too.  I hope to have my three youngest children make them.

I pray you all have a blessed Holy Week!

God bless!

+JMJ+

A Very Useful Manner of Hiding Oneself in the Five Sacred Wounds

According to a private revelation of St. Bridget of Sweden, our Lord revealed to her that during His Passion His Wounds totaled 5,480.  The five primary wounds upon which meditations are often made, however, are the wounds in His Hands and Feet and the Sacred Wound in His side.  Devotion to our Lord's Wounds began early within the Church, especially increasing in devotion among the Faithful during the time of St. Francis of Assisi.

The following prayer honoring our Lord's Wounds was taught to St. Mechtilde by Christ Himself as she went to kiss the Cross one Good Friday.  It is a beautiful prayer on which to meditate and to recite throughout Lent, but it especially is fitting now as Passion Sunday approaches and, soon after, Holy Week.

May this simple prayer help us to unite ourselves with the Passion of our Lord throughout the remainder of Lent and always.

+

In Honor of the Five Sacred Wounds

I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the painful Wound of Thy left foot, from which flowed the Precious Blood that washes away our sins. In it I sink and hide all the sins I have ever committed. Amen. 

I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the painful Wound of Thy right foot, from which the fountain of peace flowed to us. In its depths I sink and bury all my desires, that they may be purified and remain unspotted by any earthly stain. Amen. 

I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the painful Wound of Thy left hand, from which the well of grace flowed to us. In it I enclose all my spiritual and bodily ills, that in union with Thy sufferings they may become sweet to me, and by patience become a fragrant odor before God. Amen. 

I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the painful Wound of Thy right hand, from which the medicine of the soul was poured forth. In it I hide all my negligences and omissions which I have committed in my virtuous exercises, that they may be atoned for by Thy zealous works. Amen. 

I thank Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, for the healing Wound of Thy sweetest Heart, from which living Water and Blood and the riches of all good flowed to us. I place myself in this Wound, and there unite all my imperfect love to Thy Divine love, that thus it may be perfected. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Miserere

A traditional devotion for the Lenten season is to pray the beautiful Seven Penitential Psalms. These psalms are: 6, 31, 37, 50, 101, 129, and 142 in the Douay Rheims version of the Bible. By order of Pope Innocent III (1198-1216), these prayers were to be prayed on the days of Lent. If they cannot be said on each day of Lent, they can be prayed on Lenten Fridays (or one could pray one prayer on each of the 7 Fridays of Lent). The Penitential Psalms are prayers of mercy and contrition, and their recitation aids us in recognizing our sins, expressing our contrition, and begging God's mercy. The traditional practice of praying these psalms is kneeling. Begin and ends with the antiphon, and recites a Gloria in between. Psalm 50, Miserere, is provided below. You can find psalm 129, De Profundis, here. 

+

Antiphon.  Remember not, O Lord. our or our parents’ offences: neither take vengeance of our sins.  Miserere: Psalm 50  Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy.  And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.  Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me.  To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words and mayst overcome when thou art judged.  For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me.  For behold thou hast loved truth: the uncertain and hidden things of thy wisdom thou hast made manifest to me.  Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.  To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice. Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.  Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.  Cast me not away from thy face; and take not thy holy spirit from me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and strengthen me with a perfect spirit.  I will teach the unjust thy ways: and the wicked shall be converted to thee.  Deliver me from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall extol thy justice.  O Lord, thou wilt open my lips: and my mouth shall declare thy praise.  For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would indeed have given it: with burnt offerings thou wilt not be delighted.  A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.  Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.  Then shalt thou accept the sacrifice of justice, oblations and whole burnt offerings: then shall they lay calves upon thy altar.  (Repeat the Antiphon.)  Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.		Antiphon. Ne reminscáris Dómine delícta nostra, vel paréntum nostrórum: neque vindíctam sumas de peccátis nostris.  Miserere: Psalm 50  Miserére mei Deus, secúndum magnam misericórdiam tuam.  Et secúndum multitúdinem miseratiónum tuárum, dele iniquitátem meam.  Ámplius lava me ab iniquitáte mea: et a peccáto meo munda me.  Quóniam iniquitátem meam ego cognósco: et peccátum meum contra me est semper.  Tibi soli peccávi, et malum coram te feci: ut iustificéris in sermónibus tuis, et vincas cum iudicáris. Ecce enim in iniquitátibus concéptus sum: et in peccátis concépit me mater mea.  Ecce enim veritátem dilexísti: incérta et occúlta sapiéntiæ tuæ manifestásti mihi.  Aspérges me hyssópo, et mundábor: lavábis me, et super nivem dealbábor.  Audítui meo dabis gaúdium, et lætítiam: et exsultábunt ossa humiliáta.  Avérte fáciem tuam a peccátis meis: et omnes iniquitátes meas dele.  Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: et spíritum rectum ínnova in viscéribus meis.  Ne proícias me a fácie tua: et Spíritum sanctum tuum ne áuferas a me.  Redde mihi lætítiam salutáris tui: et spíritu principáli confírma me.  Docébo iníquos vias tuas: et ímpii ad te converténtur.  Líbera me de sanguínibus, Deus, Deus salútis meæ: et exsultábit lingua mea iustítiam tuam.  Dómine, lábia mea apéries: et os meum annuntiábit laudem tuam.  Quóniam si voluísses sacrifícium, dedíssem útique: holocaústis non delectáberis.  Sacrifícium Deo spíritus contribulátus: cor contrítum et humiliátum, Deus, non despícies.  Benígne fac, Dómine, in bona voluntáte tua Sion: ut ædificéntur muri Ierúsalem.  Tunc acceptábis sacrifícium iustítiæ, oblatiónes, et holocáusta: tunc inpónent super altáre tuum vítulos. (Repeat the Antiphon.)  Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto. Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Irish Litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary

The following Marian prayer dates back to 8th century Ireland, exemplifying the ancient devotion of the Irish people to the Blessed Mother.  The litany was approved in 1862 for private use by Pope Pius IX.  With the feast of St. Patrick fast approaching on March 17, this Irish prayer to our Lady seems most fitting to recite.

Irish Litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary

O great Mary, pray for us.  ***Repeat after each invocation. 

O Mary, greatest of Marys, 

Most great of women, 

Queen of the angels, 

Mistress of the heavens, 

Woman full and replete with the grace of the Holy Spirit,

Blessed and most blessed, 

Mother of eternal glory, 

Mother of the heavenly and earthly Church, 

Mother of love and indulgence, 

Mother of the golden light, 

Honor of the sky, 

Harbinger of peace. 

Gate of heaven, 

Golden casket, 

Couch of love and mercy, 

Temple of the Divinity, 

Beauty of virgins, 

Mistress of the tribes, 

Fountain of the gardens, 

Cleansing of sins, 

Washing of souls, 

Mother of orphans,

Breast of the infants, 

Refuge of the wretched, 

Star of the sea, 

Handmaid of God, 

Mother of Christ, 

Abode of the Godhead, 

Graceful as the dove, 

Serene like the moon, 

Resplendent like the sun, 

Destruction of Eve s disgrace, 

Regeneration of life, 

Perfection of women, 

Chief of the virgins, 

Garden enclosed, 

Fountain sealed, 

Mother of God, 

Perpetual Virgin, 

Holy Virgin, 

Prudent Virgin, 

Serene Virgin, 

Chaste Virgin, 

Temple of the Living God, 

Throne of the Eternal King, 

Sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, 

Virgin of the root of Jesse, 

Cedar of Mount Lebanon, 

Cypress of Mount Sion, 

Crimson rose in the land of Jacob, 

Fruitful like the olive, 

Blooming like the palm, 

Glorious son-bearer, 

Light of Nazareth, 

Glory of Jerusalem, 

Beauty of the world, 

Noblest born of the Christian people, 

Queen of life, 

Ladder of Heaven, 

Hear the petition of the poor; spurn not the wounds and the groans of the miserable. Let our devotion and our sighs be carried through thee to the presence of the Creator, for we are not ourselves worthy of being heard because of our evil deserts. O powerful Mistress of heaven and earth, wipe out our trespasses and our sins. Destroy our wickedness and depravity. Raise the fallen, the debilitated, and the fettered. Loose the condemned. Repair through thyself the transgressions of our immorality and our vices. 

Bestow upon us through thyself the blossoms and ornaments of good actions and virtues. Appease for us the Judge by thy prayers and thy supplications. Allow us not, for mercy s sake, to be carried off from thee among the spoils of our enemies. Allow not our souls to be condemned, but take us to thyself for ever under thy protection. 

We, moreover, beseech and pray thee, holy Mary, to obtain, through thy potent supplication, before thy only Son, that is, Jesus Christ, the son of the living God, that God may defend us from all straits and temptations. Obtain also for us from the God of Creation the forgiveness and remission of all our sins and trespasses, and that we may receive from Him further, through thy intercession, the everlasting habitation of the heavenly kingdom, through all eternity, in the presence of the saints and the saintly virgins of the world; which may we deserve, may we enjoy, for ever and ever. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

A Prayer for Holy Week

"Look at His adorable face. Look at His glazed and sunken eyes. Look at His wounds. Look Jesus in the Face. There, you will see how He loves us." ~ St. Therese of Lisieux 

Prayer to Jesus Christ to Obtain His Holy Love 

My crucified Love, my dear Jesus! I believe in Thee, and confess Thee to be the true Son of God and my Saviour. I adore Thee from the abyss of my own nothingness, and I thank Thee for the death Thou didst suffer for me, that I might obtain the life of Divine grace. My beloved Redeemer, to Thee I owe all my salvation. Through Thee I have hitherto escaped Hell; through Thee have I received the pardon of my sins. But I am so ungrateful that, instead of loving Thee, I have repeated my offenses against Thee. I deserve to be condemned, so as not to be able to love Thee any more. But no, my Jesus, punish me in any other way, but not in this. If I have not loved Thee in time past, I love Thee now; and I desire nothing but to love Thee with all my heart. But without Thy help I can do nothing. Since Thou dost command me to love Thee, give me also the strength to fulfill this Thy sweet and loving precept. Thou has promised to grant all that we ask of Thee: 'You shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done unto you.' 

Confiding, then, in this promise, my dear Jesus, I ask, first of all, pardon of all my sins; and I repent, above all things, because I have offended Thee, O Infinite Goodness! I ask for holy perseverance in Thy grace till my death. But, above all, I ask for the gift of Thy holy love. Ah, my Jesus, my Hope, my Love, my All, inflame me with that love which Thou didst come on earth to enkindle! 

For this end, make me always live in conformity with Thy holy will. Enlighten me, that I may understand more and more how worthy Thou art of our love and that I may know the immense love Thou has borne me, especially in giving Thy life for me Grant, then, that I may love Thee with all my heart and may love Thee always, and never cease to beg of Thee the grace to love Thee in this life; that living always, and dying in Thy love I may come one day to love Thee with all my strength in Heaven, never to leave off loving Thee for all eternity. 

O Mother of beautiful love, my advocate and refuge, Mary, who art of all creatures the most beautiful, the most loving, and the most beloved of God, and whose only desire it is to see Him loved! ah, by the love thou barest to Jesus Christ, pray for me, and obtain for me the grace to love Him always, and with all my heart! This I ask and hope for from thee. Amen. 

--St. Alphonsus Liguori

May you have a blessed Holy Week!

God bless!

+JMJ+

In Imitation of St. Joseph

Holy Mother Church devotes the entire month of March to St. Joseph. The Church encourages us to be devoted to St. Joseph because he was a model in the practice of all the virtues. Pope Leo XIII says of devotion to this glorious saint, “It greatly behooves Christians, while honoring the Virgin Mother of God, constantly to invoke with deep piety and confidence her most chaste spouse, Saint Joseph. We have a well-grounded conviction that such is the special desire of the Blessed Virgin herself." 

Throughout the Gospels it is St. Joseph's actions that exemplify his dedication to God through his service to Christ and Mary, following God's will in all things.  Our Lady told St. Bridget of Sweden, 

"St. Joseph was so reserved and careful in his speech that not one word ever issued from his mouth that was not good and holy, nor did he ever indulge in unnecessary or less than charitable conversation. He was most patient and diligent in bearing fatigue; he practiced extreme poverty; he was most meek in bearing injuries; he was strong and constant against my enemies; he was the faithful witness of the wonders of Heaven, being dead to the flesh and the world, living only for God and for Heavenly goods, which were the only things he desired. He was perfectly conformed to the Divine Will and so resigned to the dispositions of Heaven that he ever repeated ‘May the Will of God ever be done in me!’…” 

We would do well to look to St. Joseph as a model of how to perfectly follow God's will in our lives and ask St. Joseph to pray for us. 

Conformity to the Will of God 

Great St. Joseph, to whose will the Savior subjected Himself, obtain for me the grace to subject myself in all things to the will of God. Through the merits you obtained when in the darkness of night you obeyed the angel's commands, ask for me this grace, that nothing may detain me from fulfilling the will of God with perfect conformity. In the stable of Bethlehem, on the flight to Egypt, you recommended yourself and those dear to you to divine Providence. Ask for me this same grace to conform myself to the will of God in discouragement and despondency, in health and sickness, in happiness and misfortune, in success and failure so that nothing may disturb the tranquility of my soul in obediently following the way of God for me. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

For the Feast of the Annunciation

Normally the feast of the Annunciation is celebrated on March 25, but since it fell on Palm Sunday this year, the feast was transferred to Monday, April 9.  There are a few common prayers to recite in our Lady's honor on this important feast, including the Litany of Loreto and the Ave Maria.  A lesser known devotion to pray on the feast of the Annunciation is the "Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin Mary."  This prayer is a chaplet based on St. John's vision of our Lady in Revelations, honoring the 12 stars in our Lady's crown as they symbolize her motherhood and queenship.

The oldest form of praying the chaplet is simply the recitation of 1 Pater, 4 Aves, and 1 Glory Be, repeated three times to honor Mary's virtues of excellence, power and goodness.  Much loved by the holy St. Louis de Montfort, this saint included additional prayers to the chaplet.  He recommended its recitation to all who strove to serve Jesus through Mary.  The following form is that composed by St. Louis de Montfort.  

Little Crown of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and enkindle winthin them the fire of Thy love!

V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray. O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit dost instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant us by this same Spirit to relish what is right and ever to rejoice in His consolation, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

First Crown: The Crown of Excellence

To honor the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Virgin, her ineffable Virginity, her purity without stain and her innumerable virtues:

**Recite one Pater; Recite One Ave
Blessed art thou, O Virgin Mary, who didst bear the Lord, the Creator of the world; thou didst give birth to Him Who made thee, and remainest a Virgin forever. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
O holy and immaculate Virgin, I know not with what praise to extol thee, since thou didst bear in thy womb the very One Whom the Heavens cannot contain. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
Thou are all fair, O Virgin Mary, and there is no stain in thee.  Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
Thy virtues, O Virgin, surpass the stars in number.  Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
**Recite a Glory Be

Second Crown: The Crown of Power

To honor the royalty of the Blessed Virgin, her magnificence, her universal mediation, and the strength of her rule:

**Recite one Pater; Recite One Ave
Glory be to thee, O Empress of the world! Bring us with thee to the joys of Heaven. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
Glory be to thee, O treasure house of the Lord's graces! Grant us a share in thy riches. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
Glory be to thee, O Mediatrix between God and man! Through thee may the Almighty be favorable to us. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
Glory be to thee who destroyest heresies and crushest demons! Be thou our loving guide. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
**Recite a Glory Be

Third Crown: The Crown of Goodness

To honor the mercy of the Blessed Virgin toward sinners, the poor, the just, and the dying:

**Recite one Pater; Recite One Ave
Glory be to thee, O refuge of sinners! Intercede for us with God.  Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
Glory be to thee, O Mother of orphans! Render the Almighty favorable to us. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
Glory be to thee, O joy of the just! Lead us with thee to the joys of Heaven. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary;
Rejoice a thousand times!

**Recite One Ave
Glory be to thee who are ever ready to assist us in life and death! Lead us with thee to the kingdom of Heaven! Rejoice, O Virgin Mary; Rejoice a thousand times!
**Recite a Glory Be

**Concluding Prayer
Let Us Pray. Hail, Mary, Daughter of God the Father; Hail, Mary, Mother of God the Son; Hail, Mary, Spouse of the Holy Ghost; Hail, Mary, Temple of the most Holy Trinity; Hail, Mary, my Mistress, my treasure, my joy, Queen of my heart; my Mother, my life, my sweetness, my dearest hope ---- yea, my heart and my soul! I am all thine and all that I have is Thine, O Virgin blessed above all things! Let thy soul be in me to magnify the Lord; let thy spirit be in me to rejoice in God. Set thyself, O faithful Virgin, as a seal upon my heart, that in thee and through thee I may be found faithful to God. Receive me, O gracious Virgin, among those whom thou lovest and teachest, whom thou leadest, nourishest and protectest as thy children. Grant that for love of thee I may despise all earthly consolations and ever cling to those of Heaven until, through thee, His faithful spouse, Jesus Christ thy Son be formed in me for the glory of the Father. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Seven Sorrows and Joys of St. Joseph

"One has to suffer, in patience, the setbacks to our perfection, doing whatever we can to make progress in good spirit.  We hope with patience, and instead of getting frustrated at having done so little in the past, we try diligently to do more in the future." 

 ---St. Francis de Sales

+

I am very grateful to everyone who prayed for our family during these past weeks of illness.  Thankfully we are nearly recovered, and the sound of children playing is beginning to resound through our home again.  Deo gratias!  During all the days of sickness, many of my Lenten plans were put on hold.  While many times I may have grown frustrated at my inability to follow through with my Lenten resolutions, I believe the above quote by St. Francis de Sales is a more fitting response to the difficulties and slow progress we may face during our Lenten journey and, in fact, our entire spiritual journey.  St. Francis' quote is one I am currently contemplating and trying to remember as we work toward finishing the Lenten season with perseverance, devotion, and love of all the little crosses God chooses to give us.

+               +               +

With the Feast of St. Joseph rapidly approaching, a fitting practice to add to our Lenten prayers would be to pray and meditate on the seven sorrows and joys of St. Joseph.  This holy figure is a shining example of complete surrender and trust in God's Divine Plan, a shining example of diligence and devotion lived in daily life, and a shining example of true love for our Lord and our Lady.  May we, upon meditating on the sorrows and joys of St. Joseph, imitate this great saint throughout Lent and our lives.

"The Dream of St. Joseph"

Seven Sorrows and Joys of St. Joseph

(***Recite one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be after each number)

1. St. Joseph, Chaste Spouse of the Holy Mother of God, by the SORROW with which thy heart was pierced at the thought of a cruel separation from Mary, and by the deep JOY that thou didst feel when the angel revealed to thee the ineffable mystery of the Incarnation, obtain for us from Jesus and Mary the grace of surmounting all anxiety. Win for us from the Adorable Heart of Jesus the unspeakable peace of which He is the Eternal Source. ***

2. St. Joseph, Foster-Father of Jesus, by the bitter SORROW which thy heart experienced in seeing the Child Jesus lying in a manger, and by the JOY which thou didst feel in seeing the Wise men recognize and adore Him as their God, obtain by thy prayers that our heart, purified by thy protection, may become a living crib, where the Savior of the world may receive and bless our homage. ***

3. St. Joseph, by the SORROW with which thy heart was pierced at the sight of the Blood which flowed from the Infant Jesus in the Circumcision, and by the JOY that inundated thy soul at thy privilege of imposing the sacred and mysterious Name of Jesus, obtain for us that the merits of this Precious Blood may be applied to our souls, and that the Divine Name of Jesus may be engraved forever in our hearts. ***

4. St. Joseph, by the SORROW when the Lord declared that the soul of Mary would be pierced with a sword of sorrow, and by thy JOY when holy Simeon added that the Divine Infant was to be the resurrection of many, obtain for us the grace to have compassion on the sorrows of Mary and share in the salvation which Jesus brought to the earth. ***

5. St. Joseph, by thy SORROW when told to fly into Egypt, and by thy JOY in seeing the idols overthrown at the arrival of the living God, grant that no idol of earthly affection may any longer occupy our hearts, but being like thee entirely devoted to the service of Jesus and Mary, we may live and happily die for them alone. ***

6. St. Joseph, by the SORROW of thy heart caused by the fear of the tyrant Archelaus and by the JOY in sharing the company of Jesus and Mary at Nazareth, obtain for us, that disengaged from all fear, we may enjoy the peace of a good conscience and may live in security, in union with Jesus and Mary, experiencing the effect of thy salutary assistance at the hour of our death. ***

7. St. Joseph, by the bitter SORROW with which the loss of the Child Jesus crushed thy heart, and by the holy JOY which inundated thy soul in recovering thy Treasure on entering the Temple, we supplicate thee not to permit us to lose our Savior Jesus by sin. Yet, should this misfortune befall us, grant that we may share thy eagerness in seeking Him, and obtain for us the grace to find Him again, ready to show us His great mercy, especially at the hour of death; so that we may pass from this life to enjoy His presence in heaven, there to sing with thee His divine mercies forever. ***

Let Us Pray
O God, Who in Thine ineffable Providence has vouchsafed to choose Blessed Joseph to be the Spouse of Thy most holy Mother, grant, we beseech Thee, that we may deserve to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our holy protector, Who lives and reigns forever and ever.   Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Miraculous Novena of Grace to St. Francis Xavier (begins November 25)

***With Advent nearly upon us, I wanted to provide you with the links of past Advent-related posts.  You can easily find all of the Advent prayers so far posted by going to my Advent page here.  However, I will also list them individually, in case you are looking for one in particular, and I plan to add to the Advent prayers this coming season.

• One of my favorite Advent devotions is the St. Andrew Novena, which begins November 30 and extends throughout Advent.
• The Christmas Rose Novena is another beautiful Advent devotion.
• Another favorite devotion for our family this time of year is the O Antiphons.

I pray these Advent devotions help you and your family have a very blessed, holy season of Advent.

+               +               +

The Miraculous Novena of Grace was revealed by St. Francis Xavier to Fr. Marcello Mastrilli, S.J.
The priest, having received a severe head injury, was nearing death, but in December of 1633, St. Francis Xavier appeared to Fr. Marcello, requesting that the priest renew a vow to work for souls in Japan. He then told Fr. Mastrilli,

"All those who implore my help daily for nine consecutive days, from the 4th to the 12th of March included, and worthily receive the Sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist on one of the nine days, will experience my protection and may hope with entire assurance to obtain from God any grace they ask for the good of their souls and the glory of God."

Instantly Fr. Mastrilli's health was fully restored, and he worked to spread the devotion.  This devotion to St. Francis proved so fruitful it became known as the Novena of Grace. While the recitation of the devotion was originally March 4-12, the latter being the date of St.Francis' canonization, the efficacy of the novena is not limited to these days; rather it is also fitting to pray the novena in preparation for the saint's feast day. In that case the novena would be prayed from November 25 through December 3, the Feast of St. Francis Xavier.

The Miracles of St. Francis Xavier by Rubens

Miraculous Novena of Grace to Saint Francis Xavier

Most amiable and most loving St. Francis Xavier, in union with thee I reverently adore the divine Majesty. I rejoice exceedingly on account of the marvelous gifts which God bestowed upon thee. I thank God for the special graces He gave thee during thy life on earth and for the great glory that came to thee after thy death. I implore thee to obtain for me, through thy powerful intercession, the greatest of all blessings-that of living and dying in the state of grace. I also beg of thee to secure for me the special favor I ask in this novena. (Here you may mention the grace, spiritual or temporal, you wish to obtain).

In asking this favor I am fully resigned to the divine will. I pray and desire only to obtain that which is conducive to the greater glory of God and the good of my soul.
V. Pray for us, St. Francis Xavier.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. O God, Who didst vouchsafe, by the preaching and miracles of St. Francis Xavier, to join unto Thy Church the nation of the Indies; grant, we beseech Thee, that we who reverence his glorious merits, may also imitate his example, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

**Recite 3 Our Fathers and 3 Hail Marys, in remembrance of St. Francis' devotion to the Holy Trinity, and Glory Be 10 times, in thanksgiving for the graces received during the ten years of his apostleship.

+               +               +              +               +

St. Francis Xavier's Hymn of Love

O Deus, ego amo Te! Nec amo Te ut salves me, Aut quia non amantes Te, Aeterno punis igne: Tu, tu, mi Jesu, totum me Amplexus es in cruce. Tulisti clavos, lanceam Multamque ignominiam. Innumeros dolores, Sudores et angores, Ac mortem: et haec propter me, Ac pro me peccatore! Cur igitur non amem Te, O Jesu amantissime? Non ut in coelo salves me, Aut ne aeternum damnes me, Nec praemii ullius spe; Sed sicut Tu amasti me. Sic amo et amabo Te, Solum quia Tex meus es, Et solum quia Deus es.

O God I love Thee for Thyself And not that I may heaven gain, Nor because those who love The not, Must suffer hell's eternal pain. Thou, O my Jesus! Thou didst me Upon the cross embrace; For me didst bear the nails and spear And manifold disgrace; And griefs and torments numberless, And sweat of agony; E'en death itself—and all for one Who was Thine enemy. Then why, O blessed Jesus Christ, Should I not love Thee well: Nor for the sake of winning heaven, Or of escaping hell; Not with the hope of gaining aught, not seeking a reward; But as Thyself hast loved me, O ever-loving Lord? E'en so I love Thee, and will love, and in Thy praise will sing; Solely because Thou art my God And my eternal King.

Praying you have a blessed Thanksgiving, and God bless!

+JMJ+

On the Feast of St. Patrick

St. Patrick's Breastplate is a beautiful prayer with which to begin our day.  May you have a very blessed Feast of St. Patrick!!

St. Patrick's Breastplate

I bind unto myself today

The strong Name of the Trinity,

By invocation of the same

The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this today to me forever

By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation;

His baptism in Jordan river,

His death on Cross for my salvation;

His bursting from the spicèd tomb,

His riding up the heavenly way,

His coming at the day of doom

I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power

Of the great love of cherubim;

The sweet ‘Well done’ in judgment hour,

The service of the seraphim,

Confessors’ faith, Apostles’ word,

The Patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls,

All good deeds done unto the Lord

And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today

The virtues of the star lit heaven,

The glorious sun’s life giving ray,

The whiteness of the moon at even,

The flashing of the lightning free,

The whirling wind’s tempestuous shocks,

The stable earth, the deep salt sea

Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today

The power of God to hold and lead,

His eye to watch, His might to stay,

His ear to hearken to my need.

The wisdom of my God to teach,

His hand to guide, His shield to ward;

The word of God to give me speech,

His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,

The vice that gives temptation force,

The natural lusts that war within,

The hostile men that mar my course;

Or few or many, far or nigh,

In every place and in all hours,

Against their fierce hostility

I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan’s spells and wiles,

Against false words of heresy,

Against the knowledge that defiles,

Against the heart’s idolatry,

Against the wizard’s evil craft,

Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave, the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.
By Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer to St. Joseph

Holy Mother Church dedicates the month of March to St. Joseph and specifically honors him during this month on March 19. As the foster-father of Jesus and the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph is regarded with high esteem; in fact, Pope Pius IX entrusted the entire Church to his care. The Church looks to St. Joseph as a great example of living a virtuous life in conformity to God's Will, while silently accepting any trials and suffering that arise. The faithful are encouraged to seek his intercession in their physical and spiritual needs.

St. Teresa of Avila said of this great saint, "To other Saints Our Lord seems to have given power to succor us in some special necessity -- but to this glorious Saint, I know by experience, He has given the power to help us in all. Our Lord would have us understand that as He was subject to St. Joseph on earth -- for St. Joseph bearing the title of father and being His guardian, could command Him -- so now in Heaven Our Lord grants us all his petitions.”

The following prayer, composed by Pope Leo XIII, asks the holy St. Joseph to help the Church and each of us to live a holy life and thus one day attain heaven.

+               +               +               +               +

To Thee, O Blessed Joseph

To thee, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of thy most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also. Through that charity which bound thee to the immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which thou embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg thee to graciously regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by His Blood, and with thy power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

O most watchful Guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be propitious to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness; and, as once thou rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by thy constant protection, so that, supported by thy example and thy aid, we may be able to live piously, to die holy, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.

--Pope Leo XIII

+                +               +               +               +

(And in the Latin)

Ad Te Beate Ioseph

Ad te beate Ioseph, in tribulatione nostra confugimus, atque, implorato Sponsae tuae sanctissimae auxilio, patrocinium quoque tuum fidenter exposcimus. Per eam, quaesumus quae te cum immaculata Virgine Dei Genetrice coniunxit, caritatem, perque paternum, quo Puerum Iesum amplexus es, amorem, supplices deprecamur, ut ad hereditatem, quam Iesus Christus acquisivit Sanguine suo, benignus respicias, ac necessitatibus nostris tua virtute et ope succurras.

Tuere, o Custos providentissime divinae Familiae, Iesu Christi subolem electam; prohibe a nobis, amantissime Pater, omnem errorum ac corruptelarum luem; propitius nobis, sospitator noster fortissime, in hoc cum potestate tenebrarum certamine e caelo adesto; et sicut olim Puerum Iesum e summo eripuisti vitae discrimine, ita nunc Ecclesiam sanctam Dei ab hostilibus insidiis atque ab omni adversitate defende: nosque singulos perpetuo tege patrocinio, ut ad tui exemplar et ope tua suffulti, sancte vivere, pie emori, sempiternamque in caelis beatitudinem assequi possimus. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+