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Prayer of Saint Gertrude the Great:  Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for all sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen

 Prayer and Devotions for the Holy Souls

In the Catholic Church, the month of November is traditionally given over to prayers for the Holy Souls. The most powerful form of prayer for the Souls in Purgatory is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. A quote often used by Catholics in the UK is ‘Masses for our dead, not flowers’ and it makes perfect sense. Flowers decorate a grave but wither and die, with no benefit to the soul of the deceased at all. The benefit is for the donor and the surviving family members, often with pride as to how many wreaths have been donated. We have the opportunity to assist the Holy Souls in purgatory through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. They cannot help themselves but they do remember us with gratitude in their prayers.

At every Holy Mass, we enter into the timeless reality of the perfect and acceptable Sacrifice of Christ to the Father for our sake. And from that Sacrifice, immeasurable graces flow for all people and especially for those for whom the Mass is being offered. This is particularly the case for the deceased who may be undergoing purification in purgatory to prepare them for the joy of heaven. We can offer the Holy Souls no better comfort and solace than to attend a Mass for them, or have Masses said for them.

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One Minute Meditation

“My Heart overflows with great mercy for souls, and especially for poor sinners…it is for them that the Blood and Water flowed from My Heart as from a fount overflowing with mercy.  For them I dwell in the tabernacle as King of Mercy.  (Diary, 367) 

words of our Merciful Savior to St. Faustina, feast day October 5th

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These prayers are based on the words of the Archangels that appeared to the Franciscan sister, Mother Mariana on January 20, 1610.  On this night, Mother Mariana was praying to Our Lord, Jesus Christ to be able to offer some proof of her strong love for Him. Her love for Christ rivaled that of the angelic spirits. As a result of this prayer, the three archangels appeared to Mother Mariana to strengthen and prepare her for the appearance of Our Lady with all of the prophetic messages she was to give her and for the encouragement to obey the request for a statue to be made for this devotion.  She would also have the aid of St. Francis of Assisi.

Prayers to the Archangels:  (more…)

One Minute Meditation

Daily Prayer for 40 Days for Life Fall Campaign:

Heavenly Father, we praise you and give you thanks for all your wonderful blessings. You are the Source and Fountain of Life. We acknowledge you as Lord, not only of individuals but of countries and governments as well. Awaken in every heart reverence for the work of your hands. All human life is sacred from the first moment of conception to natural death for it is created in your image and likeness.

Jesus, the firstborn of all creation, you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Have mercy on us, on our families and our country. Accept our prayers and fasting in atonement for the tragic sin of abortion in the world, especially in our country. By the merits of your precious blood, shed for our redemption, instill in all hearts a profound respect for life and bring about an end to abortion, euthanasia, and every other assault on innocent human life.

Come, Holy Spirit, strengthen us and give us courage to work tirelessly to promote a true Culture of Life, whether in season or out of season – a culture that recognizes the dignity and sanctity of every person. Raise up men and women to serve in public office who will work tirelessly for the protection of all human life.

Blessed Mary, Mother of God, and our Mother, you bore the Author of Life in your womb, by your intercession may our hearts be conformed to yours so that we might accept, nurture, and cherish all human life. Sacred heart of Jesus, pierced for love of our love, we trust in your mercy and goodness. Amen.

Written by Bishop James D. Conley, Auxiliary Bishop of Denver

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One Minute Meditation

Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home; lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on.
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till the night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile, which I
Have loved long since, and lost awhile!

Meantime, along the narrow rugged path, Thyself hast trod,
Lead, Savior, lead me home in childlike faith, home to my God.
To rest forever after earthly strife
In the calm light of everlasting life.

Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman

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One Minute Meditation

Holy light on earth’s horizon; ­Star of hope to those who fall,

Light amid a world of shadows, Dawn of God’s design for all,

Chosen from eternal ages, You alone of all our race,

By your Son’s atoning merits Were conceived in perfect grace.

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Mother of the world’s Redeemer, Promised from the dawn of time:

How could one so highly favored Share the guilt of Adam’s crime? 

Sun and moon and stars adorn you, Sinless Eve, triumphant sign;

You it is who crushed the serpent, Mary, pledge of life divine.

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Earth below and highest heaven, Praise the splendor of your state,   

You who now are crowned in glory Were conceived immaculate.

Hail, beloved of the Father, Mother of his only Son,

Mystic bride of Love eternal, Hail, 0 fair and spotless one!

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One Minute Meditation

As to the afflictions of your heart, you can easily see for yourself those for which there is a remedy and those for which there is none. Where a remedy is possible you must try and apply it gently and peace­fully; where there is none, you must bear it as a mor­tification sent by Our Lord to try you and make you all his. 

Be careful not to give way to complaining; make your heart suffer in stillness. If you are seized with any sort of impatience, restore peace and gentleness in your heart the moment you become aware of what is happening. Believe me, my dear daughter, God loves the souls that are tossed about by the waves and tempests of the world, as long as they receive their hardships as coming from his hands, and like valiant warriors, try to keep faithful in the thick of the attack and fighting. 

The chief thing I ask is that in the course of the day you should continually recollect yourself and lift your heart up to God to say a few short words telling him of your faithfulness and love.

+St. Francis de Sales

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One Minute Meditations

St. Lawrence of Brindisi (1559-1619) Feast Day is July 21st

“God is love, and all his operations proceed from love. Once he wills to manifest that goodness by sharing his love outside himself, then the Incarnation becomes the supreme manifestation of his goodness and love and glory. So, Christ was intended before all other creatures and for his own sake. For him all things were created and to him all things must be subject, and God loves all creatures in and because of Christ. Christ is the first-born of every creature, and the whole of humanity as well as the created world finds its foundation and meaning in him. Moreover, this would have been the case even if Adam had not sinned”

(St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Doctor of the Universal Church, Capuchin Educational Conference, Washington, D.C.).

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One Minute Meditation

I bring to Mass today:

–my hopes and my needs, my trials and my fears;

–my gratitude for all that I have received from my Father’s hand up to the present moment;

–my desire to remain close to my Father and come ever closer to Him during this day.

I come to the altar today:

–to give thanks for the daily mystery of my redemption and salvation;

–to seek the strength and perseverance that I find so lacking in myself;

–to seal again the covenant with God, my Father, in and through Christ Jesus my Lord.

The Servant of God Terence Cardinal Cooke

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One Minute Meditation

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Ave Maria Meditations

Prayer to be merciful 
Written by St. Maria Faustina 

“O Lord. I want to be completely transformed into Your mercy and to be Your living reflection. May the greatest of all divine attributes, that of Your unfathomable mercy, pass through my heart and soul to my neighbor.

Help me, O Lord, that my eyes may be merciful, so that I may never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbors’ souls and come to their rescue.

Help me, O Lord, that my feet may be merciful, so that I may hurry to assist my neighbor, overcoming my own fatigue and weariness (…)  May Your mercy, O Lord, rest upon me” (Diary # 163).

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One Minute Meditation

THE CRUCIFIXION

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One Minute Meditation

Jesus, Man of Sorrows, those drops of Blood that flow down Your Face, those deep gashes caused by the thorns that cir­cle Your holy head, make You dearer to me than if Your forehead shone with pre­cious stones. Such signs remind me of the Divine love that burns in Your Heart for me. I love the noble, sorrowful maj­esty of Your holy Face. You reject the crown of gold and the rich robes of royal state, and accept instead a crown of thorns and the purple rags of mockery and scorn.

You consent to be a mock-king, a king of fools, only to be the real King of my soul. My thorn-crowned King,  I adore You as my very God.  I subject myself entirely to Your Divine Kingship of love. I would rather be a fool in the eyes of men for Your sake and have You reign over me, than be king of the world and be the slave of the prince of darkness.  I adore You as the Conqueror of hearts, whose Kingdom is not of this world, but of heav­en.

Fr. Lawrence Lovasik

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One Minute Meditation

The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery:   THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS

• One condemned to death by crucifixion is forced to carry the cross to the place of execution.
• The suffering of Jesus is intense as the cross is laid on His bruised and wounded back and shoulders.
• Weak and exhausted from loss of blood, lack of food and rest, Jesus falls three times under the cross.
• Jesus meets His afflicted Mother causing untold anguish in the Hearts of Son and Mother.
• The countenance of Jesus is disfigured with blood and sweat, with dust and spittle.
• Veronica wipes His face, leaving on her towel the image of His countenance.
• Fearing that Jesus might die on the way, the soldiers force Simeon of Cyrene to carry the cross behind Jesus.
• Jesus speaks to weeping women; “Weep not for Me, but for yourselves and your children.”
• “If anyone is to be My disciple, let him take up his cross and follow Me.”
• Father, by the merits of this painful journey to Calvary, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

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One Minute Meditation

THE CROWNING WITH THORNS

• Pilate asks, “Are You a king?” Jesus answers: “I am a King, but My kingdom is not of this world.”
• In the praetorium, the soldiers place an old purple robe on Jesus in mockery of His claim to be a king.
• They fashion a crown out of thorns, and forcefully press it down upon His head.
• In His bound hands they place a reed, as a sceptre, in mockery of His kingship.
• Kneeling before Him in derision, they spit on Him, and cry out: “Hail, King of the Jews!”
• Taking the reed from His hand they strike Him on the head, driving the thorns more deeply into His scalp.
• Pilate brings Jesus before the people, hoping His pitiful sight will soften them: “Behold the man!”
• Their response: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
• Our Blessed Lord submitted to this terrible humiliation to make reparation for our pride.
• Father, by the merits of this painful humiliation, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

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