April 4, 2025

Devotions

Book of Heaven Volume 1 5 – December 8,1922

Mother & Refuge018 mins

On the Immaculate Conception of Most Holy Mary I write to Obey, and I Offer everything to my Sweet Jesus, Uniting myself to the Sacrifice of His Own Obedience, in Order to Obtain Grace and Strength to Do it as He Wants… And now, oh my Jesus, Give me Your Holy Hand and the Light of Your Intelligence, and write/read With me. I was thinking of the Great Portent of the Immaculate Conception of my Queen and Celestial Mama, and in my interior I heard Jesus say: “My daughter, the Immaculate Conception of my Beloved Mama was Prodigious and Fully Marvelous; So Much So, that Heaven and earth were Astonished, and made Feast. The Three Divine Persons Competed with each other: the Father made an Immense Sea of Power Overflow; I, the Son, an Infinite Sea of Wisdom, and the Holy Spirit, an Immense Sea of Eternal Love, which, Converging into One, Formed One Single Sea. And in the Middle of this Sea the Immaculate Conception of this Virgin was Formed, Chosen among the Chosen. Therefore, the Divinity Administered the Substance of this Conception, and not only was this Sea the Center of Life of this Admirable and Unique Creature, but it was Around Her, not only to Defend Her from anything which might shadow Her, but to Give Her In Every Instant New Beauties, New Graces, New Power, New Wisdom, New Love, New Privileges, and so on. Therefore, her little nature was Conceived in the Center of this sea, and was Formed and Grew under the Influence of these Divine Waves; So Much So, that the Divinity did not want to wait as It usually does with other creatures: as Soon as this Noble and Unique Creature was Formed, It Wanted Her Embraces, the Return of Her Love Her Kisses, and to Enjoy Her Innocent Smiles. Therefore, as Soon as Her Conception was Formed, I Gave Her the Use of Reason, I Provided Her With All Sciences, I made Her Aware of Our Joys and Our Sorrows with regard to Creation. And even from her Maternal Womb, She came into Heaven, at the foot of Our Throne, to Give Us Her Embraces, the Return of Her Love, Her tender Kisses. Throwing Herself into Our Arms, She Smiled at Us with such Delight of Gratitude and Thanksgiving as to snatch Our Smiles. Oh, how Beautiful it was to see this Innocent and Privileged Creature, Enriched with All of the Divine Qualities, coming into Our midst, All Love, All Trust, Without Fear, because Only sin is what puts distance between Creator and creature, breaking love, dissolving trust, and striking fear. So, She came into Our midst as Queen, Who, with her Love, Given by Us, Drew Us to her Volition, Enraptured Us, put Us in Feast, and Captured yet More Love. And We let Her Do – Enjoying the Love that Enraptured Us, and Constituting Her Queen of Heaven and earth. Heaven and earth Exulted and made Feast Together With Us, in having their Queen after So Many Centuries… The sun smiled in its light, and considered itself fortunate in having to Serve its Queen by Giving Her light. The heavens, the stars, and the whole Universe smiled with joy and made Feast, because they were to delight their Queen, showing Her the harmony of the spheres and of their beauty. The plants smiled, which were to Nourish their Queen; and the earth too, smiled and felt Ennobled in having to provide the residence for its Empress and to be trodden by Her steps. Only hell cried and felt itself to be losing strength by the Dominion of this Sovereign Lady. But do you know what was the First Act of this Celestial Creature when She found Herself before Our Throne for the first time? She Recognized that all of the evil for man had been the split between his human will and That of his Creator, and She trembled; without a moment’s hesitation She bound her human will to the foot of My Throne, without ever wanting to know it; and My Will Bound Itself to Her and became the Center of Her Life, to the extent that All of the currents, All of the relations, All of the communications were Opened between Us and Her, and there was not one secret which We did not Entrust to Her. This was precisely the Most Beautiful, the Greatest, the Most Heroic Act She did – to place her human will at Our feet– an act which made Us, Enraptured, Constitute Her Queen of All. Do you See then, what it means to Bind oneself to My Will and to not know one’s own human will? The Second Act was to Offer Herself for Anv Sacrifice, for Love of Us. The Third Act, to render Us the Honor, the Glory of the whole Creation, which Adam had taken away from Us by Doing his own human will. Even from her Maternal Womb She Cried For Love of Us, in Seeing Us Offended, and Cried With Sorrow over guilty man… Oh, how these Innocent Tears moved Us, and Hastened Redemption, so Longed For! This Queen Dominated Us, Bound Us, and Extracted Infinite Graces From Us. She made Us Bend toward mankind; So Much So, that We could Not Resist, Nor did We Know how to Resist Her Repeated Petitions. But where did So Much Power come from, and So Much Influence over the Divinity Itself? Ah, you have Understood: it was the Power of Our Divine Will Acting In Her, which, while Dominating Her, Rendered Her Dominator of God Himself. Moreover, how could We resist So Innocent A Creature, Possessed by the Power and Sanctity of Our Divine Will? It would be as though resisting Ourselves. We could See Our Divine Qualities In Her; like Waves did the Reflections of Our Sanctity Flow Over Her – Reflections of Divine Manners, of Our Love, of Our Power, and so forth; and Our Divine Will, Which was their Center, Attracted All the Reflections of Our Divine Qualities, and made Itself Crown and defense of the Divinity Dwelling Within Her. If…

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Explanation of Mother of Unity and Hope Image

Mother & Refuge13 mins

Bishop Roman Danylak, former bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Toronto, Canada, approved this image. A priest from the Vatican called the image a “complete theology”, and had it blessed by Pope Benedict XVI. Summoning her children with an intensity found throughout the messages given to a privileged soul, Our Mother of Unity and Hope is calling us to “come home in confidence to your Father’s family.” She is inviting her children into her Immaculate Heart to bring us closer to Jesus through her call to unity. “Have no fear,” she says “for unity is you harbor in the storm.” To simplify the message, the following is a summation and explanation of the image, along with an outline of the symbols that Our Mother asked to be depicted in the image. In the message, Our Mother of Unity and Hope said that she is revealing the image as a sign of hope for mankind. The image she tells us, represents the full essence and understanding of her call to unity. Our hope, she says, is found in our complete union with the Most Holy Trinity, with her and with Holy Mother Church, including our brothers and sisters on earth and the angels and saints in Heaven. This image she says is given to us now from the Father “to reaffirm you in hope since its fulfillment is near” https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=367&v=ulO87oowyik&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heartsoftheholyfamily.org%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heartsoftheholyfamily.org&source_ve_path=Mjg2NTksMjM4NTE&feature=emb_title

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Meditations for Advent| Meditation I- The Heart of the Infant Jesus, Our Coming Light

Mother & Refuge08 mins

“Behold, the Lord cometh, and all His saints with Him; and in that day there shall be a great light.” All. Ant. at Lauds. “And the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day when the Lord shall bind up the wound of His people, and shall heal the stroke of their wound.” (Is. xxx. 26.) 1st Prelude. – Represent to yourself the Heart of the Infant Jesus in the womb of Mary as a flame of clear and beautiful light coming to enlighten all nations. Represent also to yourself the terrible light of the second coming, which will be open and manifest to all. 2nd Prelude. – Pray that you may be so enlightened by the light of the first coming, that you may not be terrified by the light of the second coming. 1st Point. – Look at the Heart of the Infant Jesus. It lies hidden in the womb of Mary, even as his blessed Humanity will be hidden hereafter in the tabernacle. Oh, what a holy, beautiful, peaceful light is the light of the Infant Heart of Jesus! How it longs to come forth and manifest itself to all, to console, to instruct, to illuminate! Are we, also, longing to receive this light? Are we praying with our whole hearts that it may come to us, and that we may be prepared to receive it? However great our spiritual enlightenment may be, we are still, in some measure, “sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.” But the light is coming; already we can see the dawn upon the mountain. When Mary was born, the first ray of light tinged the eastern sky; when Jesus was born, the light of this mystic moon was as the light of the true sun, because of her perfect union with Him; and the light of the sun was sevenfold, as the light of seven days. The light was sevenfold; that is, the light was perfect, for it was the light of God. 2nd Point. – Let us beseech the Infant Jesus to enlighten us in that particular way in which we most need light. We are all “born blind” through the sin of our parents; and, unhappily, though we have obtained light in the waters of baptism, we too often, by our own fault, relapse into blindness more or less intense. Sometimes we do not wish to see the sin we should forsake, or the virtue we should practise, because it would cost us something to act upon this light; sometimes we profit so little by the light, that it is withdrawn from us, or it is not imparted in the fullness and brightness with which more faithful souls are favoured. There are souls in whom the light of God shines so brightly, that they cannot commit the shadow of an imperfection without perceiving it immediately; there are souls in whom that light shines so resplendently, that they see even the shadow of an imperfect motive in the best action they perform. Why should we not be thus favoured? It is not because the light is unwilling to come, but because we are unwilling to receive it. 3rd Point. – What shall we do to obtain this great grace? Let us go to Mary. Let us devote our Advent to Mary. Let us consecrate every thought, word, and action to Mary during this holy season; and then, on the blessed Christmas morning, she will herself place her Infant in our arms; nay, rather, she will lay Him down to rest in our hearts; and He is so obedient to His sweet mother, that He will never stir from the heart wherein she places Him, unless she comes to take Him away. Surely we will not oblige her to do so? Advent should be a time of special devotion to Mary. Jesus again lies mystically in her womb. Again she pleads unweariedly for her people, as she pleaded in that blessed Advent when He took flesh of her flesh, and bone of her bone. Oh, let us kneel before her now as we would have knelt before her then, and implore her to intercede for us with Jesus, to obtain for us that He may indeed be our light, and that we may never be of the number of those who prefer darkness. Then, indeed, may we hope that the light of His second coming will be a light of glory to us, and not a light of condemnation. Aspiration. – Come and enlighten us, O sweet Infant Jesus. Form your resolution, and place it in the Heart of the Infant Jesus. Examen of Meditation.

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Powerful Repentance Prayer ‘O my God! reject me not, as I deserve. . .’

Mother & Refuge02 mins

by St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori from ‘The Great Means of Salvation and Perfection’ O my God! reject me not, as I deserve, for I will amend. I know well that so negligent a life as mine cannot satisfy Thee. I know that I have myself, by my lukewarmness, shut the door against the graces which Thou didst desire to bestow upon me. O Lord! do not yet abandon me, continue to be merciful towards me; I will rise from this miserable state. I will for the future be more careful to overcome my passions, to follow Thy inspirations, and never will I through slothfulness omit my duties, but I will fulfil them with greater diligence. In short, I will, from this time forward, do all I can to please Thee, and I will neglect nothing which I may know to be pleasing to Thee. Since thou, O my Jesus! hast been so liberal with Thy graces towards me, and hast deigned to give Thy blood and Thy life for me, there is no reason I should act with such reserve towards Thee. Thou art worthy of all honor, all love, and to please Thee one ought gladly to undergo every labor, every pain. But, O my Redeemer! Thou knowest my weakness, help me with Thy powerful grace; in Thee I confide. O Immaculate Virgin Mary! thou who hast helped me to leave the world, help me to overcome myself and to become a Saint. Amen

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Act of Love from the Augustinian Manual

Mother & Refuge05 mins

O my Lord and my God, true and only lover of my soul, what more canst Thou do to make me love Thee! Oh, immensity of love! Incomprehensible and infinite love! A God gives himself to me! A God – Ah, my God! I love Thee above all things. I love Thee more than myself, more than my life; and I delight to love Thee, because Thou art so deserving of my love. Begone from my soul, ye earthly affections, and give place to the love of God. Since Thou, O dear Jesus, wilt this morning give Thyself entirely to me, it is just that I also should give myself wholly to Thee. I offer myself entirely and unreservedly to Thee; my senses, my powers, my desires, my affections, my whole self. I solemnly declare before heaven and earth that I no longer wish to live but for Thee; to work, to speak, to breathe, only for Thee, in Thee, and with Thee. Oh, that my heart were all tenderness for Thee, and could pine away for love of Thee! Would that it could be moved by transports of devotion such as those with which thy affectionate mother burned when she pressed Thee to her bosom! Oh, that I could see Thee loved by all! Oh, that I had power to cause all creatures to love Thee as Thou deservest! Alas! good Jesus, grant that I may be a perfect victim to thy holy love. O most amiable Redeemer, how I grieve for having so much offended Thee during my past life! Thou hast even died for my salvation, and I have despised Thy grace and Thy love. Ungrateful, thankless creature that I am! I repent, and grieve from my heart for having so outrageously offended Thee. I hope that Thou hast already pardoned me; but if not, oh, forgive me now before I receive Thee in this Divine Sacrament! Have pity and receive me into thy favour, whilst I prepare for Thee in my heart a suitable abode. Behold, O Jesus, I approach to feed on thy divine flesh. But who am I? Who art Thou? Thou art the Lord Supreme, the source of all purity and perfection; and I am but a worm of the earth, denied by sin and corruption. And dare I purpose to receive Thee in the Holy Communion? The seraphim are not sufficiently pure in thy sight; and shall I, who am but dust and ashes, misery and sin, receive Thee upon my tongue, unite Thee to my heart, and clasp Thee to my bosom? I, who by my sins am unworthy to remain in thy divine presence, and deserve only to be cast into hell, and to be for ever separated from Thee? Ah, my God! My unworthiness is too great. But since by thy goodness I am called to receive Thee, behold I come humbled and confused on account of the great displeasure which I have given Thee; but my only trust is in thy goodness, and in the love which Thou bearest to me. Come, then, O deal Jesus, come into my soul, which longs after Thee. Amen

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Devotion to the Dolors of Mary with Promises Attached

Mother & Refuge012 mins

Devotion to the Dolors of Mary Many are the promises given to those who show devotion to the Mother of God in the light of her sorrows. It is clearly revealed of the Lord that He has an especial love for the honor given to His Mother’s sorrows, and throughout history He has promised to those who show this love special graces. The Seven Dolors of Mary The dolors of Mary have often been honored under the title of the Seven Dolors, these particular seven occasions of great sorrow are: I. The circumcision of Our Lord, when she saw His blood shed for the first time and heard the Prophecy of Simeon.II. The Holy Family’s flight into Egypt to save the life of the little Infant Jesus when Herod was seeking to kill Him.III. The three days the Holy Family lost the Christ Child in Jerusalem.IV. When she saw Christ carrying His Cross.V. The death of Christ on the cross.VI. When Christ was taken down from the Cross.VII. When Christ was laid in the sepulchre. The Promises of Grace to those who are Devoted to the Dolors of Mary St. Alphonsus Liguori, writes that Our Lord revealed to St. Elizabeth of Hungary four special graces that are given to those who are devoted to the dolors of Mary: That those who before death invoke the Blessed Mother in the name of her sorrows, should obtain true repentance of all their sins.That He would protect in their tribulations all who remember this devotion, and that He would protect them especially at the hour of death.That He would impress upon their minds the remembrance of His Passion, and that they should have their reward for it in Heaven.That He would commit such devout clients to the hands of Mary, so that she might obtain for these souls all the graces she wanted to lavish upon them. St. Bridget of Sweden has related that the Blessed Virgin Mary grants these graces to the souls who honor her daily by saying seven Hail Marys and meditate on her tears and dolors: I will grant peace to their families.They will be enlightened about the divine mysteries.I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work.I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of my divine Son or the sanctification of their souls.I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives.I will visibly help them at the moment of their death, they will see the face of their Mother.I have obtained from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors, will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son and I will be their eternal consolation and joy. Prayers in Honor of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Maryapproved by Pope Pius VII V. O God, come to my assistance.R. O Lord, make haste to help me. V. Glory be to the Father. . .R. As it was in the beginning. . . I. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the affliction of your tender heart at the prophecy of the holy and aged Simeon. Dear Mother, by your heart so afflicted, obtain for me the virtue of humility and the gift of the holy fear of God. Hail Mary. . . II. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the anguish of your most affectionate heart during the flight into Egypt and your sojourn there. Dear Mother, by your heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of generosity, especially toward the poor, and the gift of piety. Hail Mary. . . III. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in those anxieties which tried your troubled heart at the loss of your dear Jesus. Dear Mother, by your heart so full of anguish, obtain for me the virtue of chastity and the gift of knowledge. Hail Mary. . . IV. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the consternation of your heart at meeting Jesus as He carried His Cross. Dear Mother, by your heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of patience and the gift of fortitude. Hail Mary. . . V. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the martyrdom which your generous heart endured in standing near Jesus in His agony. Dear Mother, by your afflicted heart obtain for me the virtue of temperance and the gift of counsel. Hail Mary. . . VI. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, in the wounding of your compassionate heart, when the side of Jesus was struck by the lance before His Body was removed from the Cross. Dear Mother, by your heart thus transfixed, obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the gift of understanding. Hail Mary. . . VII. I grieve for you, O Mary most sorrowful, for the pangs that wrenched your most loving heart at the burial of Jesus. Dear Mother, by your heart sunk in the bitterness of desolation, obtain for me the virtue of diligence and the gift of wisdom. Hail Mary. . . Let us pray Let intercession be made for us, we beseech You, O Lord Jesus Christ, now and at the hour of our death, before the throne of Your mercy, by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Your Mother, whose most holy soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the hour of Your bitter Passion. Through You, O Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever and ever. Consecration to Our Lady of Sorrows Most holy Virgin and Queen of Martyrs, Mary, would that I could be in Heaven, there to contemplate the honors rendered to thee by the…

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Very Powerful Prayer Against Witchcraft And Evil Spirits

Mother & Refuge09 mins

By thecatholichandbook The prayer against every evil is a powerful prayer in the Catholic church. It’s meant to expel demonic attachment to a soul by invoking the precious name of Jesus. the prayer also breaks the attachments to any spells or hoaxes cast upon a soul leading you to freedom from the curses. Heavenly Father, I love You, I praise You, and I worship You. I thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Who won victory over sin and death for my salvation. I thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit Who empowers me, guides me, and leads me into fullness of life. I thank you for Mary, my Heavenly Mother, who intercedes with the holy angels and saints for me. Lord Jesus Christ, I place myself at the foot of Your cross and ask You to cover me with Your Precious Blood which pours forth from Your Most Sacred Heart and Your Most Holy Wounds. Cleanse me, my Jesus, in the living water that flows from Your Heart. I ask You to surround me, Lord Jesus, with Your Holy Light. Heavenly Father, let the healing waters of my baptism now flow back through the maternal and paternal generations to purify my family line of Satan and sin. I come before You, Father, and ask forgiveness for myself, my relatives, and my ancestors, for any calling upon powers that set themselves up in opposition to You or that do not offer true honor to Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ Holy Name, I now reclaim any territory that was handed over to Satan and place it under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, reveal to me, Father, any people I need to forgive and any areas of unconfessed sin. Reveal aspects of my life that are not pleasing to You, Father, ways that have given or could give Satan a foothold in my life. Father, I give to You any unforgiveness; I give to You my sins; and, I give to You all ways that Satan has a hold of my life. Thank You, for Your forgiveness and Your love. Lord Jesus, in Your Holy Name, I bind all evil spirits of the air, water, ground, underground, and netherworld. I further bind, in Jesus’ Name, any and all emissaries of the satanic headquarters and claim the Precious Blood of Jesus on the air, atmosphere, water, ground and their fruits around us, the underground and the netherworld below. Heavenly Father, allow Your Son Jesus to come now with the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the holy angels and the saints to protect me from all harm and to keep all evil spirits from taking revenge on me in any way. (Repeat the next sentence three times: once in honor of the Father, once in honor of the Son, and once in honor of the Holy Spirit.) In the Holy Name of Jesus, I seal myself, my relatives, this room (place, home, church, car, plane, etc…), and all sources of supply in the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. (To break and dissolve all satanic seals, repeat the next paragraph three times in honor of the Holy Trinity because satanic seals are placed three times to blaspheme the Holy Trinity.) In the Holy Name of Jesus, I break and dissolve any and all curses, hexes, spells, snares, traps, lies, obstacles, deceptions, diversions, spiritual influences, evil wishes, evil desires, hereditary seals, known and unknown, and every dysfunction and disease from any source including my mistakes and sins. In Jesus’ Name, I sever the transmission of any and all satanic vows, pacts, spiritual bonds, soul ties, and satanic works. In Jesus’ Name, I break and dissolve any and all links and effects of links with: astrologers; bohmos; channelers; charters; clairvoyants; crystal healers; crystals; fortune tellers; mediums; the New Age Movement; occult seers; palm, tea leaf, or tarot card readers; psychics; santeros; satanic cults; spirit guides; witches; witchdoctors; and, Voodoo. In Jesus’ Name, I dissolve all effects of participation in seances and divination, ouija boards, horoscopes, occult games of all sorts, and any form of worship that does not offer true honor to Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, please reveal to me through word of knowledge any evil spirits that have attached themselves to me in any way. (Pause and wait for words to come to you. Pray the following for each of the spirits revealed.) In the Name of Jesus, I rebuke you spirit of _________________. I command to go directly to Jesus, without manifestation and without harm to me or anyone, so that He can dispose of you according to His Holy Will. I thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your Love. I thank You, Holy Spirit, for empowering me to be aggressive against Satan and evil spirits. I thank You, Jesus, for setting me free. I thank You, Mary, for interceding for me with the holy angels and the saints. Lord Jesus, fill me with charity, compassion, faith, gentleness, hope, humility, joy, kindness, light, love, mercy, modesty, patience, peace, purity, security, tranquility, trust, truth, understanding, and wisdom. Help me to walk in Your Light and Truth, illuminated by the Holy Spirit so that together we may praise, honor, and glorify Our Father in time and in eternity. For You, Lord Jesus, are, “…the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6 ), and You “…have come that we might have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 ). “God indeed is my savior; I am confident and unafraid. My strength and courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior” ​ (Isaiah 12:2). Amen. Alleluia. Amen. Read more…

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The Seven Specific Prayers Against The Seven Deadly Sins

Mother & Refuge06 mins

Against Pride O LORD Jesus Christ, Pattern of humility, who didst empty Thyself of Thy glory, and take upon Thee the form of a servant: root out of us all pride and conceit of heart, that, owing ourselves miserable and guilty sinners, we may willingly bear contempt and reproaches for Thy sake, and, glorying in nothing but Thee, may esteem ourselves lowly in Thy sight. Not unto us, O Lord, but to Thy name be the praise, for Thy loving mercy and for Thy truth’s sake.Amen. Against Covetousness O LORD Jesus Christ, who though Thou wast rich yet for our sakes didst become poor, grant that all over-eagerness and covetousness of earthly goods may die in us, and the desire of heavenly things may live and grow in us: keep us from all idle and vain expenditures, that we may always have to give to him that needeth, and that giving not grudgingly nor of necessity, but cheerfully, we may be loved of Thee, and be made through Thy merits partakers of the riches of Thy heavenly treasure.Amen. Against Lust O LORD Jesus Christ, Guardian of chaste souls, and lover of purity, who wast pleased to take our nature and to be born of an immaculate Virgin: mercifully look upon my infirmity. Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me; help me to drive away all evil thoughts, to conquer every sinful desire, and so pierce my flesh with the fear of Thee that, this worst enemy being overcome, I may serve Thee with a chaste body and please Thee with a pure heart.Amen. Against Anger O MOST meek Jesus, Prince of Peace, who when Thou wast reviled, didst not revile, and on the Cross didst pray for Thy murderers: implant in our hearts the virtues of gentleness and patience, that, restraining the fierceness of anger, impatience, and resentment, we may overcome evil with good, for Thy sake love our enemies, and as children of our heavenly Father seek Thy peace and evermore rejoice in Thy love.Amen. Against Gluttony O LORD Jesus Christ, Mirror of abstinence, who, to teach us the virtue of abstinence, didst fast forty days and forty nights, grant that, serving Thee and not our own appetites, we may live soberly and piously with contentment, without greediness, gluttony, or drunkenness, that Thy will being our meat and drink, we may hunger and thirst after justice, and finally obtain from Thee that food which endureth unto life eternal.Amen. Against Envy O MOST loving Jesus, Pattern of charity, who makest all the commandments of the law to consist in love towards God and towards man, grant to us so to love Thee with all our heart, with all our mind, and all our soul, and our neighbor for Thy sake, that the grace of charity and brotherly love may dwell in us, and all envy, harshness, and ill-will may die in us; and fill our hearts with love, kindness, and compassion, so that by constantly rejoicing in the happiness and success of others, by sympathizing with them in their sorrows, and putting away all harsh judgements and envious thoughts, we may follow Thee, who art Thyself the true and perfect love.Amen. Against Sloth O Lord Jesus, eternal Love, who in the garden didst pray so long and so fervently that Thy sweat was, as it were, drops of blood falling down to the ground: put away from us, we beseech Thee, all sloth and inactivity both of body and mind; kindle within us the fire of Thy love; strengthen our weakness, that whatsoever our hand is able to do we may do earnestly, and that, striving heartily to please Thee in this life, we may have Thee hereafter as our reward exceedingly great.

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Prayer for Protection from Despair |by St. Claude de la Colombiere |Apostle of Love and Mercy

Mother & Refuge02 mins

The saint of the day for February 15 is St. Claude de la Colombiere (1641-1682), a Jesuit missionary, (1641-1682), a Jesuit missionary, who was the brilliant and pious spiritual director of St. Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. Claude de la Colombiere is best known for his association with St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the devotion of the Sacred Heart, but his life has its own drama. He was sent to England after his spiritual direction of St. Margaret Mary was over and became entangled in the Titus Oates “Popish Plot,” was imprisoned, then exiled from England. His story is part of the history of the seventeenth century. “Lord, I am in this world to show Your mercy to others.Other people will glorify Youby making visible the power of Your graceby their fidelity and constancy to You.For my part I will glorify Youby making known how good You are to sinners,that Your mercy is boundlessand that no sinner no matter how great his offencesshould have reason to despair of pardon.If I have grievously offended You, My Redeemer,let me not offend You even moreby thinking that You are not kind enough to pardon me. Amen”

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