This feast was instituted by the Carmelites
between 1376 and 1386 under the title "Commemoratio B. Marif Virg.
duplex" to celebrate the victory of their order over its enemies on
obtaining the approbation
of its name and constitution from Honorius III
on 30 Jan., 1226 (see Colvenerius, "Kal. Mar.", 30 Jan. "Summa
Aurea", III, 737). The feast was assigned to 16 July, because on
that date
in 1251, according to Carmelite
traditions, the scapular
was given by the Blessed Virgin
to St. Simon Stock;
it was first approved by Sixtus V
in 1587. After Cardinal Bellarmine
had examined the Carmelite
traditions in 1609, it was declared the patronal feast of the order,
and is now celebrated in the Carmelite
calendar as a major double of the first class with a vigil and a
privileged octave (like the octave of Epiphany, admitting only a
double of the first class) under the title "Commemoratio solemnis
B.V.M. de Monte Carmelo". By a privilege given by Clement X
in 1672, some Carmelitemonasteries
keep the feast on the Sunday after 16 July, or on some other Sunday
in July. In the seventeenth century the feast was adopted by several
dioceses
in the south of Italy,
although its celebration, outside of Carmelite
churches, was prohibited in 1628 by a decreecontra abusus.
On 21 Nov., 1674, however, it was first granted by Clement X
to Spain
and its colonies, in 1675 to Austria,
in 1679 to Portugal
and its colonies, and in 1725 to the Papal States of the Church,
on 24 Sept., 1726, it was extended to the entire Latin Church
by Benedict XIII.
The lessons contain the legend of the scapular;
the promise of the Sabbatine privilege
was inserted into the lessons by Paul V
about 1614. The Greeks of southern Italy
and the Catholic
Chaldeans have adopted this feast of the "Vestment of the Blessed
Virgin Mary". The object of the feast is the special predilection of
Mary
for those who profess themselves her servants by wearing her scapular
(see CARMELITES).
____________
LITANY OF OUR LADY OF MT. CARMEL
[say your prayer request]
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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.
Holy Mary, pray for us sinners. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Queen of heaven, pray for us. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, vanquisher of Satan,
pray for us. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most dutiful Daughter,
pray for us. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most pure Virgin, pray for us. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most devoted Spouse,
pray for us. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, most tender Mother, pray for us. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, perfect model of virtue,
pray for us. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, sure anchor of hope,
pray for us. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, refuge in affliction,
pray for us. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, dispenser of God's gifts,
pray for us. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, tower of strength against our foes,
pray for us. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our aid in danger,
pray for us. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, road leading to Jesus,
pray for us. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our light in darkness,
pray for us. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, our consolation at the hour of death,
pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, advocate of the most abandoned sinners,
pray for us.
For those hardened in vice,
with confidence we come to
thee O Lady of Mount Carmel. For those who grieve thy Son,
with confidence we come to
thee O Lady of Mount Carmel.
For those who neglect to pray,
with confidence we come to
thee O Lady of Mount Carmel.
For those who are in their agony,
with confidence we come to
thee O Lady of Mount Carmel.
For those who delay their
conversion,
with confidence we come to
thee O Lady of Mount Carmel.
For those suffering in Purgatory,
with confidence we come to
thee O Lady of Mount Carmel.
For those who know thee not,
with confidence we come to
thee O Lady of Mount Carmel.
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.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Hope of the Despairing Intercede for us with thy
Divine Son.
SANCTITY and
learning raised Bonaventure to the Church's highest honors, and from a child he
was the companion of Saints. Yet at heart he was ever the poor Franciscan friar,
and practised and taught humility and mortification. St. Francis gave him his
name; for, having miraculously cured him of a mortal sickness, he prophetically
exclaimed of the child, "O bona ventura!"—good luck. He is known also as the
"Seraphic Doctor," from the fervor of divine love which breathes in his
writings. He was the friend of St. Thomas Aquinas, who asked him one day whence
he drew his great learning. He replied by pointing to his crucifix. At another
time, St. Thomas found him in ecstasy while writing the life of St. Francis, and
exclaimed, "Let us leave a Saint to write of a Saint." They received the
Doctor's cap together. He was the guest and adviser of St. Louis, and the
director of St. Isabella, the king's sister. At the age of thirty-five, he was
made general of his Order; and only escaped another dignity, the Archbishopric
of York, by dint of tears and entreaties. Gregory X. appointed him Cardinal
Bishop of Albano. When the Saint heard of the Pope's resolve to create him a
Cardinal, he quietly made his escape from Italy. But Gregory sent him a summons
to return to Rome. On his way, he stopped to rest himself at a convent of his
Order near Florence; and there two Papal messengers, sent to meet him with the
Cardinal's hat, found him washing the dishes. The Saint desired them to hang the
hat on a bush that was near, and take a walk in the garden until he had finished
what he was about. Then taking up the hat with unfeigned sorrow, he joined the
messengers, and paid them the respect due to their character. He sat at the
Pontiff's right hand, and spoke first at the Council of Lions. His piety and
eloquence won over the Greeks to Catholic union, and then his strength failed.
He died while the Council was sitting, and was buried by the assembled bishops,
A.D. 1274.
REFLECTION.—"The fear of God," says St.
Bonaventure, "forbids a man to give his heart to transitory things, which are
the true seeds of sin."
ST.
BENEDICT, blessed by grace and in name, was born of a noble Italian family about
480. When a boy he was sent to Rome, and there placed in the public schools.
Scared by the licentiousness of the Roman youth, he fled to the desert mountains
of Subiaco, and was directed by the Holy Spirit into a cave, deep, craggy, and
almost inaccessible. He lived there for three years, unknown to any one save the
holy monk Romanus, who clothed him with the monastic habit and brought him food.
But the fame of his sanctity soon gathered disciples round him. The rigor of his
rule, however, drew on him the hatred of some of the monks, and one of them
mixed poison with the abbot's drink. But when the Saint made the sign of the
cross on the poisoned bowl, it broke and fell in pieces to the ground. After he
had built twelve monasteries at Subiaco, he removed to Monte Cassino, where he
founded an abbey in which he wrote his rule, and lived until death. By
prayer he did all things: wrought miracles, saw visions, and prophesied. A
peasant, whose boy had just died, ran in anguish to St. Benedict, crying out,
"Give me back my son." The monks joined the poor man in his entreaties; but the
Saint replied, "Such miracles are not for us to work, but for the blessed
Apostles. Why will you lay upon me a burden which my weakness cannot bear ?"
Moved at length by compassion he knelt down, and prostrating himself upon the
body of the child prayed earnestly. Then rising, he cried out, "Behold not, 0
Lord, my sins, but the faith of this man, who desireth the life of his son, and
restore to the body that soul which Thou halt taken away." Hardly had he spoken
when the child's body began to tremble, and taking it by the hand he restored it
alive to its father. Six days before his death he ordered his grave to be
opened, and fell ill of a fever. On the sixth day he requested to be borne into
the chapel, and, having received the Body and Blood of Christ, with hands
uplifted, and leaning on one of his disciples, he calmly expired in prayer on
the 21st of March, 543.
REFLECTION.—The Saints never feared to undertake any work, however arduous, for
God, because distrusting self they relied for assistance and support wholly upon
prayer.
INERCESSORY PRAYER: Ask Saint Benedit to pray for your needs.
SAINT
BENEDICT, PLEASE PRAY FOR [STATE YOUR PRAYER REQUEST.]
LITANY IN HONOUR
OF
SAINT BENEDICT.
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 Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary,
Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God,
Pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Pray for us.
Holy Father, Saint Benedict,
Pray for us.
Father most reverend,
Pray for us.
Father most renowned,
Pray for us.
Father most compassionate,
Pray for us.
Man of great fortitude,
Pray for us.
Man of venerable life,
Pray for us.
Man of the most holy conversation,
Pray for us.
True servant of God,
Pray for us.
Light of devotion,
Pray for us.
Light of prayer,
Pray for us.
Light of contemplation,
Pray for us.
Star of the world,
Pray for us.
Best master of an austere life,
Pray for us.
Leader of the holy warfare,
Pray for us.
Leader and chief of monks,
Pray for us.
Master of those who die to the world,
Pray for us.
Protector of those who cry to thee,
Pray for us.
Wonderful worker of miracles,
Pray for us.
Revealer of the secrets of the human heart,
Pray for us.
Master of spiritual discipline,
Pray for us.
Companion of the patriarchs,
Pray for us.
Equal of the prophets,
Pray for us.
Follower of the Apostles,
Pray for us.
Teacher of martyrs,
Pray for us.
Father of many pontiffs,
Pray for us.
Gem of abbots,
Pray for us.
Glory of confessors,
Pray for us.
Imitator of anchorites,
Pray for us.
Associate of virgins,
Pray for us.
Colleague of all the saints,
Pray for 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.
V. Intercede for us, O holy father Saint Benedict,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let Us Pray
O God, Who hast called us from the vanity of the world,
and Who dost incite us
to the reward of a heavenly vocation
under the guidance of our holy patriarch
and founder, Saint Benedict,
inspire and purify our hearts
and pour forth on us Thy grace,
whereby we may persevere in Thee.
Through Jesus Christ,
Our Lord.
Amen
__________
MASS
READINGS FOR
TODAY
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
- Year C
Book of Genesis
18:1-10.
The LORD appeared to Abraham by the terebinth of Mamre,
as he sat in the entrance of his tent, while the day was growing
hot.
Looking up, he saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them,
he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them; and bowing
to the ground,
he said: "Sir, if I may ask you this favor, please do not go on
past your servant.
Let some water be brought, that you may bathe your feet, and
then rest yourselves under the tree.
Now that you have come this close to your servant, let me bring
you a little food, that you may refresh yourselves; and
afterward you may go on your way." "Very well," they replied,
"do as you have said."
Abraham hastened into the tent and told Sarah, "Quick, three
seahs of fine flour! Knead it and make rolls."
He ran to the herd, picked out a tender, choice steer, and gave
it to a servant, who quickly prepared it.
Then he got some curds and milk, as well as the steer that had
been prepared, and set these before them; and he waited on them
under the tree while they ate.
"Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There in the tent,"
he replied.
One of them said, "I will surely return to you about this time
next year, and Sarah will then have a son."
Psalms 15(14):2-3.4.5.
Response: (1a) He who does justice will live in the
presence of the Lord.
One who walks blamelessly and does justice;
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
Who harms not his fellow man,
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
by whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
Who lends not his money at usury
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
One who does these things
shall never be disturbed.
Letter to the Colossians 1:24-28.
Brothers and sisters: I rejoice in my sufferings for your
sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the
afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the
church,
of which I am a minister in accordance with God's stewardship
given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God,
the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past. But now
it has been manifested to his holy ones,
to whom God chose to make known the riches of the glory of this
mystery among the Gentiles; it is Christ in you, the hope for
glory.
It is he whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching
everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect
in Christ.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke
10:38-42.
Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was
Martha welcomed him.
She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet
listening to him speak.
Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, "Lord,
do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the
serving? Tell her to help me."
The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious
and worried about many things.
There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part
and it will not be taken from her."
_______
Commentary of the day
Saint Bernard (1091-1153), Cistercian monk and doctor of the
Church 3rd Sermon for the Assumption
Martha and
Mary
Who better than those who have charge of communities merit to
have these words applied to them : “Martha, Martha, you are
anxious about many things”? Who is anxious about many things if
not he to whom it falls to concern himself just as much with the
contemplative Mary as with her brother Lazarus and others too?
You recognize the anxious Martha, overburdened with numerous
cares, in the apostle who has “the care of all the churches”
(2Cor 11:28), keeping watch that the shepherds tend their
flocks. “Who is weak and I am not weak?” he says: “who is led
into sin and I am not indignant?” (v.29). So let Martha welcome
the Lord into her house since to her is entrusted the direction
of the household… Let those who share her tasks also receive the
Lord, each according to their particular service. Let them
welcome Christ and serve him, helping in the person of his
members the sick, the poor, travelers and pilgrims.
While they are undertaking these ministries, let Mary
remain at rest, knowing “how good is the Lord” (Ps 33[34]:9).
Let her take great care to take her place at Jesus’ feet, her
heart full of love and her soul in peace, without losing him
from her sight, attentive to all his words, admiring his
beautiful face and his speech. “Fairer in beauty are you than
the sons of men; grace is poured out upon your lips” (Ps
44[45]:3), he is even more beautiful than the angels in their
glory. O Mary, acknowledge your joy and give thanks, you who
have chosen the better part. Happy the eyes that see what you
see, the ears that are worthy of hearing what you hear! (cf. Mt
13:16). How happy you are above all to hear the beating of the
heart of God in that silence where it is good to wait upon the
Lord!
AS I offered Myself willingly to God the Father
for your sins with hands outstretched and body naked on the cross, so
that nothing remained in Me that had not become a complete sacrifice to
appease the divine wrath, so ought you to be willing to offer yourself
to Me day by day in the Mass as a pure and holy oblation, together with
all your faculties and affections, with as much inward devotion as you
can. What more do I ask than that you give yourself entirely to Me? I
care not for anything else you may give Me, for I seek not your gift but
you. Just as it would not be enough for you to have everything if you
did not have Me, so whatever you give cannot please Me if you do not
give yourself. Offer yourself to Me, therefore, and give yourself
entirely for God -- your offering will be accepted. Behold, I offered
Myself wholly to the Father for you, I even gave My whole Body and Blood
for food that I might be all yours, and you Mine forever. But if you
rely upon self, and do not offer your free will to Mine, your offering
will be incomplete and the union between us imperfect. Hence, if you
desire to attain grace and freedom of heart, let the free offering of
yourself into the hands of God precede your every action. This is why so
few are inwardly free and enlightened -- they know not how to renounce
themselves entirely. My word stands: "Everyone of you that doth not
renounce all that he possesseth, cannot be My disciple."[51] If,
therefore, you wish to be My disciple, offer yourself to Me with all
your heart.
We Should Offer Ourselves and All That
We Have to God, Praying for All
The Disciple:
ALL things in heaven and on earth, O Lord, are
Yours. I long to give myself to You as a voluntary offering to remain
forever Yours. With a sincere heart I offer myself this day to You, O
Lord, to Your eternal service, to Your homage, and as a sacrifice of
everlasting praise. Receive me with this holy offering of Your precious
Body which also I make to You this day, in the presence of angels
invisibly attending, for my salvation and that of all Your people. O
Lord, upon Your altar of expiation, I offer You all the sins and
offenses I have committed in Your presence and in the presence of Your
holy angels, from the day when I first could sin until this hour, that
You may burn and consume them all in the fire of Your love, that You may
wipe away their every stain, cleanse my conscience of every fault, and
restore to me Your grace which I lost in sin by granting full pardon for
all and receiving me mercifully with the kiss of peace. What can I do
for all my sins but humbly confess and lament them, and implore Your
mercy without ceasing? In Your mercy, I implore You, hear me when I
stand before You, my God. All my sins are most displeasing to me. I wish
never to commit them again. I am sorry for them and will be sorry as
long as I live. I am ready to do penance and make satisfaction to the
utmost of my power. Forgive me, O God, forgive me my sins for Your Holy
Name. Save my soul which You have redeemed by Your most precious Blood.
See, I place myself at Your mercy. I commit myself to Your hands. Deal
with me according to Your goodness, not according to my malicious and
evil ways. I offer to You also all the good I have, small and imperfect
though it be, that You may make it more pure and more holy, that You may
be pleased with it, render it acceptable to Yourself, and perfect it
more and more, and finally that You may lead me, an indolent and
worthless creature, to a good and happy end. I offer You also all the
holy desires of Your devoted servants, the needs of my parents, friends,
brothers, sisters, and all who are dear to me; of all who for Your sake
have been kind to me or to others; of all who have wished and asked my
prayers and Masses for them and theirs, whether they yet live in the
flesh or are now departed from this world, that they may all experience
the help of Your grace, the strength of Your consolation, protection
from dangers, deliverance from punishment to come, and that, free from
all evils, they may gladly give abundant thanks to You. I offer You also
these prayers and the Sacrifice of Propitiation for those especially who
have in any way injured, saddened, or slandered me, inflicted loss or
pain upon me, and also for all those whom I have at any time saddened,
disturbed, offended, and abused by word or deed, willfully or in
ignorance. May it please You to forgive us all alike our sins and
offenses against one another. Take away from our hearts, O Lord, all
suspicion, anger, wrath, contention, and whatever may injure charity and
lessen brotherly love. Have mercy, O Lord, have mercy on those who ask
Your mercy, give grace to those who need it, and make us such that we
may be worthy to enjoy Your favor and gain eternal life.
YOU must often return to the source of grace and
divine mercy, to the fountain of goodness and perfect purity, if you
wish to be free from passion and vice, if you desire to be made stronger
and more watchful against all the temptations and deceits of the devil.
The enemy, knowing the great good and the healing power of Holy
Communion, tries as much as he can by every manner and means to hinder
and keep away the faithful and the devout. Indeed, there are some who
suffer the worst assaults of Satan when disposing themselves to prepare
for Holy Communion. As it is written in Job, this wicked spirit comes
among the sons of God to trouble them by his wonted malice, to make them
unduly fearful and perplexed, that thus he may lessen their devotion or
attack their faith to such an extent that they perhaps either forego
Communion altogether or receive with little fervor. No attention,
however, must be paid to his cunning wiles, no matter how base and
horrible -- all his suggestions must be cast back upon his head. The
wretch is to be despised and scorned. Holy Communion must not be passed
by because of any assaults from him or because of the commotion he may
arouse. Oftentimes, also, too great solicitude for devotion and anxiety
about confession hinder a person. Do as wise men do. Cast off anxiety
and scruple, for it impedes the grace of God and destroys devotion of
the mind. Do not remain away from Holy Communion because of a small
trouble or vexation but go at once to confession and willingly forgive
all others their offenses. If you have offended anyone, humbly seek
pardon and God will readily forgive you. What good is it to delay
confession for a long time or to put off Holy Communion? Cleanse
yourself at once, spit out the poison quickly. Make haste to apply the
remedy and you will find it better than if you had waited a long time.
If you put it off today because of one thing, perhaps tomorrow a greater
will occur to you, and thus you will stay away from Communion for a long
time and become even more unfit. Shake off this heaviness and sloth as
quickly as you can, for there is no gain in much anxiety, in enduring
long hours of trouble, and in depriving yourself of the divine Mysteries
because of these daily disturbances. Yes, it is very hurtful to defer
Holy Communion long, for it usually brings on a lazy spiritual sleep.
How sad that some dissolute and lax persons are willing to postpone
confession and likewise wish to defer Holy Communion, lest they be
forced to keep a stricter watch over themselves! Alas, how little love
and devotion have they who so easily put off Holy Communion! How happy
and acceptable to God is he who so lives, and keeps his conscience so
pure, as to be ready and well disposed to communicate, even every day if
he were permitted, and if he could do so unnoticed. If, now and then, a
man abstains by the grace of humility or for a legitimate reason, his
reverence is commendable, but if laziness takes hold of him, he must
arouse himself and do everything in his power, for the Lord will quicken
his desire because of the good intention to which He particularly looks.
When he is indeed unable to come, he will always have the good will and
pious intention to communicate and thus he will not lose the fruit of
the Sacrament. Any devout person may at any hour on any day receive
Christ in spiritual communion profitably and without hindrance. Yet on
certain days and times appointed he ought to receive with affectionate
reverence the Body of his Redeemer in this Sacrament, seeking the praise
and honor of God rather than his own consolation. For as often as he
devoutly calls to mind the mystery and passion of the Incarnate Christ,
and is inflamed with love for Him, he communicates mystically and is
invisibly refreshed. He who prepares himself only when festivals
approach or custom demands, will often find himself unprepared. Blessed
is he who offers himself a sacrifice to the Lord as often as he
celebrates or communicates. Be neither too slow nor too fast in
celebrating but follow the good custom common to those among whom you
are. You ought not to cause others inconvenience or trouble, but observe
the accepted rule as laid down by superiors, and look to the benefit of
others rather than to your own devotion or inclination.
Unfailing
Novena To The Virgin Mary Untier of Knots
How this devotion started?
To show us the mission granted to
the Virgin Mary by Her Son, an artist Johann Melchior Georg Schmittdner
painted Mary Undoer of Knots with great grace. Since 1700, his painting
has been venerated in the Church of St. Peter in Perlack, Augsburg,
Germany. It was originally inspired by a meditation of Saint Irenaeus
(Bishop of Lyon and martyred in 202) based on the parallel made by Saint
Paul between Adam and Christ. Saint Irenaeus, in turn, made a comparison
between Eve and Mary, saying:“Eve, by her disobedience, tied the knot of
disgrace for the human race; whereas Mary, by her obedience, undid it”.
But
what are these knots? There are the problems
and struggles we face for which we do not see any solution … knots of
discord in your family, lack of understanding between parents and
children, disrespect, violence, the knots of deep hurts between husband
and wife, the absence of peace and joy at home. There are also the knots
of anguish and despair of separated couples, the dissolution of the
family, the knots of a drug addict son or daughter, sick or separated
from home or God, knots of alcoholism, the practice of abortion,
depression, unemployment, fear, solitude…Ah, the knots of our life! How
they suffocate the soul, beat us down and betray the heart’s joy and
separate us from God.
Day after day, more and more
Christians kneel to pray to Her as soon as they meet the Mother of the
Fair Love. Many families have become reconciled! Many diseases
have been healed! Many spouses have returned to the Church! Many jobs
have been given! Many conversions have taken place! Many Catholics have
been on their knees praying and giving thanks for graces received from
our sweet Mother. For that reason, Mary Who undoes the knots, Who was
chosen by God to crush the evil with Her feet, comes to us to reveal
Herself. She comes to provide jobs, good health, to reconcile families,
because She wants to undo the knots of our sins which dominate our
lives, so that – as sons of the King – we can receive the promises
reserved for us from eternity. She comes with promises of victory,
peace, blessings and reconciliation.
Then, free from our knots – filled
with happiness, we can be a testimony of the Divine Power in this world,
like pieces of God’s heart or small bottles of perfume exhaling mercy
and love to our neighbor. Like ambassador of Jesus Christ and the Virgin
of the fair love, we can rescue those who cry without any consolation,
those who are lonely, tied with knots, who have no God, no Father nor
Mother.
Mother of the Rising Sun,
Immaculate, our Advocate, Helper in moments of affliction, Mother of God
and made by Him our Mother, this is how Mary, Undoer of Knots is
presented. Above all, She comes as the Queen of Mercy, the one who knows
all about us, who has compassion for us and hurries to rescue us,
praying for each one of us to Her beloved Jesus.
PRAYER TO MARY, UNDOER OF KNOTS Virgin Mary,
Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a
child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to serve your beloved
children because they are moved by the divine love and immense mercy
that exists in your heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see
the snarl of knots that exist in my life. You know very well how desperate I am, my
pain and how I am bound by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the
undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I entrust into your
hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the evil one himself, can
take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot
that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your grace and
intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your
hands today this knot...I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once
for all, You are my hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God
gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my
destitution and with Christ the freedom from my chains. Hear my plea. Keep me, guide me, protect me, o safe refuge!
Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me
ST.
JOSEPH, THE WORKER
LITANY OF ST JOSEPH
(Approved by Pope
St. Pius X in 1909.)
[SAINT
JOSEPH, ASK GOD TO BLESS THE U.S. WITH A PROLIFE PRESIDENT AND
VICE-PRESIDENT] [SAINT JOSEPH, PLEASE PRAY FOR DONALD TRUMP,
THAT HE WOULD FOLLOW OUR LORD AND ALL HIS TEACHINGS.] [MENTION YOUR PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH]
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 Spirit, have mercy on us.Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.Holy Mary, pray for us.St. Joseph, pray for us. Renowned offspring of David, pray for us. Light of Patriarchs, pray for us.Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.Chaste guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.Foster father of the Son of God, pray for us.Diligent protector of Christ, pray for us.Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.Joseph most just, pray for us.Joseph most chaste, pray for us.Joseph most prudent, pray for us.Joseph most strong, pray for us.Joseph, most obedient, pray for us.Joseph most faithful, pray for us.Mirror of patience, pray for us.Lover of poverty, pray for us.Model of artisans, pray for us.Glory of home life, pray for us.Guardian of virgins, pray for us.Pillar of families, pray for us.Solace of the wretched, pray for us.Hope of the sick, pray for us.Patron of the dying, pray for us.Terror of the demons, pray for us.Protector of Holy Church, pray for us.Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.V. He made him the lord of his household. R. And prince over all his possessions.Let us pray;O God, in Your ineffable providenceYou were pleased to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Your most holy Mother, grant, we beg You, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our Protector; You who lives and reigns forever and ever.Amen.
(Approved by
Pope St. Pius X in 1909.)
BEN
CARSON DENOUNCES PLANNED PARENTHOOD FOR TRYING TO ELIMINATE BLACK
PEOPLE:
Ben Carson was asked this
week about Obama’s support of Planned Parenthood. “You wonder if
he actually knows the history of Planned Parenthood and Margaret
Sanger, who was trying to eliminate black people,” Carson
replied. “That was
the whole purpose of it.” That is obviously political hyperbole.
But founder Margaret Sanger was a eugenicist, who
constantly talked about
the need to keep “inferior” types from breeding, even if she did
not specify the nature of their inferiority. “[We should] apply
a stern and rigid policy of sterilization and segregation to
that grade of population whose progeny is tainted, or whose
inheritance is such that objectionable traits may be transmitted
to offspring.” “The most merciful thing that the large family
does to one of its infant members is to kill it.”
SEE: BLACK GENOCIDE SITE: http://blackgenocide.org/home.html
"Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in America. 78% of
their clinics are in minority communities. Blacks make up 12% of the
population, but 35% of the abortions in America."
Each standard size cross-mark
represents 50,000 people killed. The smaller
cross-marks represent less than 50,000 deaths. The war
casualties represent all American combat-related deaths.
Statistics from 1982 World Almanac.
REVOLUTIONARY
WAR 25,324†
CIVIL
WAR 496,332
††††††††††
WORLD WAR
I 116,708†††
WORLD WAR
II 407,316†††††††††
KOREAN
WAR 54,246††
VIETNAM
WAR 58,655†
WAR
ON UNBORN CHILDREN
OVER 57,762,169 ...since
abortion was legalized in 1973
PRAY
FOR DONALD TRUMP FOR THIS UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
* Ask God to give him the wisdom to do and say
the things that are mostly pleasing to the Almighty regarding all
issues, political, governmental and moral in regards to governing the
United States.
While Donald Trump does not always say and do
the right things, he has told us that abortion should be outlawed, that
Roe vs. Wade should be overturned. He recognizes the value of unborn
children.
Pray hard for him. If you have time now
please say one Hail Mary and One Glory Be for him now.
THE POWER AND
THE BLESSINGS THAT COME FROM PRAYING THE ROSARY
THE
FIFTEEN PROMISES OF MARY TO CHRISTIANS WHO RECITE THE ROSARY
These promises were given by the
Blessed Mother to Saint Dominic and Blessed Alan.
1.
Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the rosary, shall
receive signal graces.
2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those
who shall recite the rosary.
3. The rosary shall be a powerful armour against hell, it will destroy
vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for
souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from
the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire
of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this
means.
5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the
rosary, shall not perish.
6. Whoever shall recite the rosary devoutly, applying himself to the
consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by
misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not
perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the
grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the rosary shall not die
without the sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who are faithful to recite the rosary shall have during their
life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His
graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of
the saints in paradise.
9. I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the
rosary.
10. The faithful children of the rosary shall merit a high degree of
glory in heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the rosary.
12. All those who propagate the holy rosary shall be aided by me in
their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the
rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during
their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who recite the rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son
Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion of my rosary is a great sign of predestination.
Graces Derived from
Going to Mass (Note: Assisting at Mass simply means
attending Mass. By attending a Mass Catholics are actually assisting in
Mass.)
THE FOLLOWING
IS FROM THE
PIETA PRAYER BOOKLET,
Published in U.S.A. by MLOR Corporation,
1186 Burlington Drive, Hickory Corners, MI 49060-9330:
1. The Mass is
Calvary continued.
2. Every Mass is
worth as much as the sacrifice of our Lord's life, sufferings and death.
3. Holy Mass is
the most powerful atonement for your sins.
4. At the hour
of death the Masses you have heard will be your greatest consolation.
5. Every Mass
will go with you to judgment and plead for pardon.
6. At Mass you
can diminish more or less temporal punishment due to your sins,
according to your fervor.
7. Assisting
devoutly at Holy Mass you render to the sacred humanity of Our Lord the
greatest homage.
8. He supplies
for many of your negligences and omissions.
9. He forgives
the venial sins which you have not confessed. The power of Satan
over you is diminished.
10. You afford
the souls in Purgatory the greatest possible relief.
11. One Mass
heard during life will be of more benefit to you than many heard for you
after your death.
12. You are
preserved from dangers and misfortunes which otherwise might have
befallen you. You shorten your Purgatory.
13. Every Mass
wins for you a higher degree of glory in Heaven.
14. You receive
the priest's blessing which Our Lord ratifies in Heaven.
15. You kneel
amidst a multitude of holy angels, who are present at the adorable
Sacrifice with reverential awe.
16. You are
blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.
In eternity, we
shall fully realize that it was certainly worthwhile to have assisted at
Holy Mass daily. PRAY FOR PRIESTS THAT THEY MAY OFFER THE MASS
WITH HOLY LOVE AND REVERENCE.
For each
Mass we hear with devotion, Our Lord sends a saint to comfort us at
death. (revelation of Christ to St. Gertrude the great).
Padre Pio, the stigmatic
priest, said, the world could exist more easily without the sun than
without the Mass.
The Cure'd' Ars, St. Jean
Vianney said, if we knew the value of the Mass we would die of joy.
A great doctor of the
Church, St. Anselm, declares that a single Mass offered for oneself
during life may be worth more than a thousand celebrated for the same
intention after death. St. Leonard of Port Maurice supports this
statement by saying that one Mass before death may be more profitable
than many after it.
"The Holy Mass would be
of greater profit if people had it offered in their lifetime, rather
than having it celebrated for the relief of their souls after death."
(Pope Benedict XV).
Once, St. Teresa was
overwhelmed with God's Goodness and asked Our Lord, "How can I thank
you?" Our Lord replied, "ATTEND ONE MASS".
**************
MARIAN PRAYERS
Saint
Louis De Montfort stresses that people should give there hearts and
wills to Jesus through Mary and that by doing this a soul will be able
to soar toward God. See Saint Louis's book
True Devotion To Mary.Saint Louis
warns of the devil's great ability to deceive souls, including souls of
saints:
"Because the devils, who
are skillful thieves, wish to surprise us unawares, and to strip us.
They watch day and night for the favorable moment. For that
end they go round about us incessantly to devour us and to snatch
from us in one moment, all the graces and merits we have gained for
many years. Their malice, their experience, their
stratagems and their number ought to make us fear this misfortune
immensely, especially when we see how many persons fuller of grace
than we are, richer in virtues, better founded in experience and far
higher exalted in sanctity, have been surprised, robbed and
unhappily pillaged. Ah! How many cedars of Lebanon, how
many stars of the firmament, have we not seen fall miserably, and in
the twinkling of an eye lose all their height and their brightness!
Whence comes that sad and curious change? It was not for want
of grace, which is wanting to no man; but it was for want of
humility. They thought themselves capable of guarding their
own treasures. They trusted in themselves, relied upon
themselves. They thought their house secure enough, and their
coffers strong enough, to keep the precious treasure of grace.
It is because of that scarcely perceptible reliance upon themselves,
though all the while it seemed to them that they were relying only
on the grace of God, that the most just Lord permitted them to be
robbed by leaving them to themselves. Alas! If they had
but known the admirable devotion which I will unfold presently, they
would have confided their treasure to a Virgin powerful and
faithful, who would have kept it for them as if it had been her own
possession; nay, who would have even taken it as an obligation of
justice on herself to preserve it for them".
Holy
Mary, my Queen and sovereign Lady, I give you myself, trusting in your
fidelity and your protection. I surrender myself entirely to your
motherly tenderness, my body, my soul, all that I am, all that I
possess, for the whole of this day, my life, and especially
at the hour of my death. I entrust to you once more all my hopes, all my
consolations, all my anxieties, all my troubles, my life, my dying
breath, so that by your prayers and merits, I may have, in all I do, one
only goal, your good pleasure and the holy will of your Son. Amen!
The
Chaplet of St. Michael
One day, Saint Michael the
Archangel appeared to Antonia d'Astonac, a most devout Servant of God
and told her that he wished to be honoured by nine salutations
corresponding to the nine Choirs of Angels, which should consist of one
Our Father and three Hail Marys in honour of each of the Angelic Choirs.
Promises of St. Michael
"Whoever would practice this
devotion in his honour would have, when approaching the Holy Table, an
escort of nine angels chosen from each of the nine Choirs. In addition,
for the daily recital of these nine salutations, he promised his
continual assistance and that all the holy angels during life, and after
death deliverance from Purgatory for themselves and all their
relations."
The Chaplet of St. Michael
O God, come to my assistance. O
Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, etc.
[Say one Our Father and three Hail
Marys after each of the following nine salutations in honor of the nine
Choirs of Angels]
[STATE YOUR PRAYER REQUEST]
1. By the intercession of St.
Michael and the celestial Choir of Seraphim may the Lord make us worthy
to burn with the fire of perfect charity.
Amen.
2. By the intercession of St.
Michael and the celestial Choir of Cherubim may the Lord grant us the
grace to leave the ways of sin and run in the paths of Christian
perfection.
Amen.
3. By the intercession of St.
Michael and the celestial Choir of Thrones may the Lord infuse into our
hearts a true and sincere spirit of humility.
Amen.
4. By the intercession of St.
Michael and the celestial Choir of Dominations may the Lord give us
grace to govern our senses and overcome any unruly passions.
Amen.
5. By the intercession of St.
Michael and the celestial Choir of Virtues may the Lord preserve us from
evil and falling into temptation. Amen.
6. By the intercession of St.
Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers may the Lord protect our souls
against the snares and temptations of the devil.
Amen.
7. By the intercession of St.
Michael and the celestial Choir of Principalities may God fill our souls
with a true spirit of obedience. Amen.
8. By the intercession of St.
Michael and the celestial Choir of Archangels may the Lord give us
perseverance in faith and in all good works in order that we may attain
the glory of Heaven.
Amen.
9. By the intercession of St.
Michael and the celestial Choir of Angels may the Lord grant us to be
protected by them in this mortal life and conducted in the life to come
to Heaven.
Amen.
Say one Our Father in honor of each
of the following leading Angels: St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael
and our Guardian Angel.
Concluding prayers:
O glorious prince St. Michael,
chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher
of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our
admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue
deliver us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us
by your gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every
day.
Pray for us, O glorious St.
Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ, that we may be made
worthy of His promises.
Almighty and Everlasting God, Who,
by a prodigy of goodness and a merciful desire for the salvation of all
men, has appointed the most glorious Archangel St. Michael Prince of
Your Church, make us worthy, we ask You, to be delivered from all our
enemies, that none of them may harass us at the hour of death, but that
we may be conducted by him into Your Presence.This we ask through the
merits of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
PURPOSE OF THIS WEB SITE
Welcome to this Catholic Spiritual Direction Web
Site. It is the intention of this site to lead people to a
closer relationship with God the Father, God the Son and God the
Holy Spirit through the promotion of prayer and Christian teaching which
will enable Christians to adhere to the straight and narrow path Jesus
speaks of in the Gospels. Included in these web pages are the
Douay-Rheims Bible and the works of Saint John of the Cross, Thomas à
Kempis and Saint Louis de Montfort, and the works of other saints of the
Catholic faith, all of whose teachings on spiritual direction have been
followed by priests, ministers, clergymen, Popes and Saints. These
teachings adhere to the teachings of the Catholic Church. This site is
dedicated to Blessed Anne Catherine
Emmerich
(Biography) (1774-1824)
Mystic, Stigmatist, Prophet, and Great
Visionary, a saintly Augustinian nun from Flamske, Germany. Her highly
descriptive visions of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ,The Sorrowful Passion of Our
Lord Jesus Christ,are presented here. In time more works from the
Saints of the Catholic Church will be added to these pages.
OVERCOMING
DIFFICULTIES AT WORK OR AT HOME:
When difficulties come to us at work or at home it
important to pray your way through these difficulties. At work, it
could be trouble with a supervisor or a co-worker, with the result that
misery is brought into our lives. Or at home a wife or a husband, or a
child or a relative may be causing you trouble. It is important to pray
your way through these difficulties. The different forms of prayers
listed above, the Rosary, the Chaplet of Saint Michael, the Divine Mercy
Chaplet and the Holy Mass, can move God to assist us with the things the
bother us the most during our lives. Try these prayers, they work.
And sometimes, it takes the prayers of others to help change the
current situations that are going on in our lives. On the following
web page, there are several prayer groups that will pray for yours
needs; this a great tool against our daily problems and against the
assaults of demons. Sometimes it takes the prayers of many people to
change things.
http://www.jesus-passion.com/catholic_groups_that_will_pray_for_you.htm
SAINT TERESA RECOMMENDS HOLY
WATER
From the Autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila , Chapter 31. 1562 A.D.
"From long experience I have learned that there is
nothing like holy water to put devils to flight and prevent them from
coming back again. They also flee from the Cross, but return; so holy
water must have great virtue. For my own part, whenever I take it, my
soul feels a particular and most notable consolation. In fact, it is
quite usual for me to be conscious of a refreshment which I cannot
possibly describe, resembling an inward joy which comforts my whole
soul. This is not fancy, or something which has happened to me only once
it has happened again and again and I have observed it most attentively.
It is let us say, as if someone very hot and thirsty were to drink from
a jug of cold water: he would feel the refreshment throughout his body.
I often reflect on the great importance of everything ordained by the
Church and it makes me very happy to find that those words of the Church
are so powerful that they impart their power to the water and make it so
very different from water which has not been blessed."
The Catholic Church around the world
uses Holy Water in every church to make the church a fortress against
the demons which assault men and women. The Holy Water is usually
situated near every entrance to the church for people to use to anoint
themselves with the Sign of the Cross. When an individual puts on
Holy Water any demons present will flee. Catholics should put Holy
Water in containers and place them in their homes and their offices; by
doing so they make their homes and offices fortresses against the demons
which are always lurking about. Catholics should also consider
carrying the Holy Water in small containers in their pockets to ward off
demonic attacks during each day.
____________
GRACE POURED OUT FROM HOLY WATER
"because
they include a movement of reverence for God
and Divine things; and in this way a bishop'sblessing,
the sprinkling of holy water, any sacramental anointing, a prayer
said in a dedicated church, and anything else of the kind, conduce to
the remission of venial sins."
Saint Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica
Saint John XXIII, you spent
your life
deeply immersed in the truths of the
Catholic Faith. You led us by your great
example of sacrifice and love as you
successively led millions to love Our
Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Church.
We now ask for your
intercession for
those who are troubled and in need:
Saint John XXIII, please pray for the
Holy Catholic Church and for the
following prayer request: [state your prayer request.]
O Blessed
Trinity, we thank you
for having graced the Church with
Saint John Paul II and for allowing
the tenderness of your fatherly care,
the glory of the Cross of Christ
and the splendor of the Spirit of love
to shine through him.
Trusting
fully in your infinite mercy
and in the maternal intercession of Mary,
he has given us a living image of
Jesus the Good Shepherd.
He has shown us that holiness
is the necessary measure of ordinary
Christian life and is the way of
achieving eternal communion with you.
Grant us, by his intercession,
[MENTION
PRAYER REQUEST]
and according to your will,
the graces we implore,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of Saint Catherine of Siena
for
Physical and Spiritual Healing.
PRECIOUS BLOOD, ocean of divine mercy: Flow upon us! Precious Blood, most pure
offering: Procure us every grace! Precious Blood, hope and refuge of sinners: Atone for us! Precious Blood, delight of
holy souls: Draw
us! Amen.
Are you
sick or do you know someone who is ill. Say the
prayer above for them everyday. Also, there is greater
power of prayer when many people are praying for the sick.
Ask many fellow Catholics to join in prayer with you for the
sick. You can send prayer requests to Catholic Groups that
will join you in prayer at:
http://www.jesus-passion.com/catholic_groups_that_will_pray_for_you.htm
CATHOLIC
ST.
JOSEPH, THE WORKER
PRAY
FOR DONALD TRUMP FOR THIS UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
PRAYER
TO
The
Chaplet of St. Michael 
PURPOSE OF THIS WEB SITE 
OVERCOMING
DIFFICULTIES AT WORK OR AT HOME:
