December 24, 2024

Devotions

Pentecost Novena begins today🕊️DAY 01-Pray With Us!

Mother & Refuge03 mins

Pentecost Novena begins today 🕊️ Day 1 of The Pentecost Novena  In the Precious Blood devotion, Our Lady revealed a new chaplet to the Holy Spirit that can be prayed on rosary beads. Begins like the Rosary, (Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be), then;It’s an ‘Our Father / Hail Mary / Glory Be’ on the decade beads, and the ‘Come O Holy Spirit …’ prayer on the small beads. Mysteries of Roses of Glorious Reign Chaplet to meditate upon for each decade;1)The Father’s Plan for redemption, to send Jesus,2)Mary is chosen (the incarnation)3)Jesus Reveals Himself (His Baptism, and Mount Tabor)4)Jesus Proclaims the Kingdom5)Jesus’ Triumph on the Cross   ‘ends with Hail Holy Queen’ Bonus Prayer A chaplet to welcome the Era of the Holy Spirit (a new global Pentecost) What Our Lady said to the catholic seer Barnabas in 2003 about this chaplet was; (THE ROSES OF  THE GLORIOUS REIGN  The Chaplet of Renewel  To be recited on ordinary Rosary beads; 7 June 2003)  Our Lady said, “I come to offer you and the  whole world another great gift from the hand  of the Eternal Father. It is a gift of joy for all  hearts that have received God’s Kingdom, and  also a gift of true repentance to all who receive it  with hope. The gift is the Roses of the Glorious  Reign… Receive it from me, for blessed are  the hands that will receive it. This prayer shall  be used to welcome the feast day of the Glorious  Reign at Midnight from the 13th to the 14th of  September, and to close the day by 11:00 pm on  on the 14th of September before the kissing of the  cross at Midnight. The prayer shall be sung and  offered with candlelight adoration (12 candles)  to welcome the Spirit of the new Pentecost.”

Read More

Our Lady of this House-Prayer for the Protection of a Home

Mother & Refuge02 mins

Prayer 1 Immaculate Mother of God, we choose thee this day as the Mistress and Lady of this house. Guard it, dear Mother, from pestilence, fire, lightning and tempest, from schisms and heresies and from the malice of enemies. Protect its inmates, sweet Mary, Watch over their going out and their coming in And preserve them from sudden death. Keep from us all sin and harm and pray to God for us that we may Live in His Service and depart this life In His Grace. Amen.   Prayer 2 O sweet and gentle Lady, Immaculate Mother of God, we choose Thee this day to be the Mistress and Lady of this house. Guard it, dear Mother from pestilence, fire, lightning, and tempests; from schisms and heresies, from depredations of burglars and the malice of enemies. Protect its inmates, sweet Mary; watch over their going out and their coming in, and preserve them from sudden death. Keep us from all sin and harm, and pray for us to God, that we may live in His service and depart this life in His grace. Amen.

Read More

Ten Ways to Prepare for a Happy & Holy Death | FR. ED BROOM, OMV

Mother & Refuge08 mins

The most important moment in our life is the very moment that we die. This will determine our destiny for all eternity. Either we will be saved or damned. Either we will be with God for all eternity or we will be lost for all eternity. The best way for all of us to have a holy death is to right now and until we die prepare for a holy and happy death. Hopefully these short but poignant ten sign posts can help you to make the right decisions so that when you die the Lord Jesus will be your Savior waiting to open up the eternal gates of Heaven to receive you! 1. Live Each Day. Live each day of your life as if it were your last; indeed it could be. Jesus warns us: “He will come like a thief in the night.” Be prepared! 2. No to Sin, Yes to God! Sin leads to sadness, slavery and death. Let us renounce sin at all costs and turn to God who gives life. Jesus said: “I am the way, the Truth, and the Life.” 3. Do What You Are Doing. This is a key concept of the saints. It means to live the Sacrament of the Present moment and always strive to do your duty and obligation with the best of intentions—meaning for the honor and glory of God! 4. Fall? Get up again! If you fall into sin, which will happen because we are all sinners, then get up right away. Never put off your conversion for tomorrow; rather move on your conversion immediately—before the sun goes down! 5. Love. Aim always for the greatest of all virtues: love! Jesus clearly tells us what is the greatest of all commandments and it is a double commandment: to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. But the second part is to love our neighbor intensely as we love ourselves. With reference to a holy death, Saint John of the Cross teaches us: “In the twilight of our existence, we will be judged on love.” Led us aim for a more intense and burning love every day! Like the Virgin Mary let us die of love! 6. Bring Others to Heaven. Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen gives us great advice on how to get to heaven. “If you want to get to heaven, then take somebody to heaven with you.” Jesus says, “By their fruits they will be known.” Our desire should be to love what God loves and God loves the salvation of immortal souls. Hopefully this will by our ardent and all-consuming desire! 7. Think of Heaven! Of enormous value in attaining a holy and happy death is the constant thought of gaining heaven but also the meditation on actually what heaven is! Saint Paul gives us a mere glimpse with these inspiring words: “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the mind of man the wonderful things that God has prepared for those who love Him.” Do this! Think of the happiest two hours of your life, multiply that by a million times and then add eternity to it— meaning forever and ever and ever.You have a mere taste or mere glimpse of the glory of Heaven that awaits you! 8. Tell Jesus What You Want. From the depths of your heart talk to Jesus and express to Him the greatest desire of your heart and it is this: that you want to grow to love Him more and more each day, but that you want to love Him in heaven for all eternity. Tell Jesus this, but remind Him every day. Ask your Guardian Angel to come to your aid! 9. Purgatory and Suffering. Why not ask the Lord Jesus to give you your Purgatory here while on earth? It is so true the saying: “Pay now or pay later!” Indeed much better to pay here while on earth then to pay in the fires of Purgatory after we die. How can this become a reality? Simple but hard at the same time. We all have to suffer and in many ways: physically, emotionally, economically (many of us), socially, and spiritually. Why not offer your suffering for the conversion of sinners, the purification of the souls in Purgatory but also that this suffering on earth would serve to be your Purgatory on earth to allow you to go quickly to heaven? Many of us never thought of this but God does not want us to go to Purgatory; rather, He wants us to go straight and directly to heaven, nonstop! Read More with Catholic Exchange here

Read More

Prayer for Conversion of Relative or Friend

Mother & Refuge01 mins

(If the prayer is for a woman, use the feminine pronoun where necessary.) O Mary, Queen of the Angels and of men, behold me an unworthy servant and listen to my prayerin behalf of (Name) who remains separated from the Churchestablished by thy Divine Son. My Mother, dispensatrix of grace, strip from (Name)the bands of prejudice and ignorance that hold him captive,and let the true light of Faith enlighten his mind and quicken his will. Gently draw him my Mother, into the fold of Christ, that his salvations may be better secured and that theKingdom of God upon earth may grow stronger overthe infernal enemy. Amen

Read More

A prayer of exorcism taught by Saint Anthony

Mother & Refuge01 mins

Popular tradition holds that St. Anthony taught a prayer to a poor woman who sought help against the temptations of the devil. The Franciscan Pope Sixtus V had the prayer — also called “the motto of St. Anthony” — engraved into the base of the obelisk erected in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. In the original Latin, the prayer says Ecce Crucem Domini!  Fugite partes adversae!  Vicit Leo de tribu Juda,    Radix David! Alleluia! And translated, it reads Behold, the Cross of the Lord!  Begone, all evil powers!  The Lion of the tribe of Judah,  The Root of David, has conquered!  Alleluia, Alleluia!  This short prayer has the flavor of a small exorcism. We can use it too — both in Latin and in English — to be able to overcome all the temptations we face. Translated from the Italian. Source: Aleteia

Read More

The Forgotten Feast of Our Lady, Mother of the Good Shepherd

Mother & Refuge04 mins

The Saturday before Good Shepherd Sunday is a special day to honor Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd, and was a popular feast in certain parts of the world. The Sundays following Easter Sunday have various themes, such as Divine Mercy Sunday and Good Shepherd Sunday. The readings for Good Shepherd Sunday (the Fourth Sunday of Easter, this year falling on April 21) have always included a passage from the Gospel according to St. John in which Jesus refers to himself as the Good Shepherd: I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11 Our Lady, Mother of the Good Shepherd Historically, the Saturday preceding Good Shepherd Sunday was dedicated to Our Lady, Mother of the Good Shepherd. This devotion comes to us from Capuchin Franciscans in Spain in the 18th century.   The Capuchins of Central Canada have an extensive history of this devotion on their website (their providence is called Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd). It all began with a particular friar who depicted Mary in this way: In the year 1703, Br. Isidore of Sevilla, a great popular preacher, was inspired to be accompanied in his mission by a banner with a particular representation of the Virgin Mary: dressed with the humble clothes of a shepherdess, sitting on a rock, under a tree, wearing an ordinary wide-brimmed hat (sombrero), and with some lambs portrayed around her. A pious devotion developed around this portrayal of Mary and spread first in Spain and later in Latin America: [T[he devotion to the “Shepherdess of souls,” which popularly became known as the “Divine Shepherdess,” expanded rapidly with the creation of many groups of the faithful linked to her throughout Spain. They became known as Mary’s Flock. Eventually there were even liturgical texts developed for this special feast, used by Capuchins at Mass and in the Liturgy of the Hours. To this day all Capuchin missions around the world are entrusted to Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd: We entrust this great undertaking to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd, who gave birth to Christ, the light and salvation of all nations, and who, on the morning of Pentecost, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, presided in prayer at the dawn of evangelization. Read more…

Read More

St. Bernadette’s Last Words

Mother & Refuge05 mins

The final hours of St. Bernadette’s life on earth were agonizing, as she united her suffering with that of Christ and prayed to the Virgin Mary for strength. As the miraculous waters at Lourdes became widely known, St. Bernadette chose to live a life of prayer and solitude. She joined the Sisters of Charity and spent the rest of her life in the convent at Nevers, France. For many years she suffered various ailments and eventually died at the young age of 35. She died on April 16, 1879, which was Easter Wednesday, the Wednesday during the Octave of Easter. French writer Paul Joseph Henri Lasserre de Monzie wrote about the final day of her death in his pious biography, Bernadette.   He begins the chapter on her death recalling the words the priest would have said at Mass on that day: On the Wednesday in Easter Week, the sun rose brightly as befitted a festival and all the priests of the Christian world, as they mounted the steps of the altar, began in these divine words the Introit of the Mass: “Come ye blessed of My Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!“ It was a fitting day for St. Bernadette as those words summarized what God was calling St. Bernadette to enjoy. Her most tortuous hours were between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. These corresponded with Jesus’ last agony as well: [S]he appeared to be seized by intolerable sufferings and being doubtless aware that the last thread of life was about to break, she wished to unite herself by indissoluble love to the divine agony of Him who died for us all. With her failing hand she took the crucifix which lay upon her heart and raising it to her lips, kissed twice over tenderly and slowly the Five most Sacred Wounds of our Savior Jesus. After the 3:00 hour, she entered into her final agony: The Mother of Sorrows present on Golgotha was present also although invisibly at the agony of this child, whom she loved and to whom she had promised happiness, not in this world but in the world to come. And Bernadette spoke to her. In a clear voice she repeated with emphasis, Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for me, a poor sinner. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me a poor sinner. Shortly after this, “All was not yet over. With an expressive gesture, for her breath was so far gone that her voice could no longer be heard, she said, ‘I am athirst‘…She drank a few drops, they wiped her lips and then bending her head, she breathed forth her soul to God.” Read more…

Read More

Pray to St Charbel of Lebanon for Peace in Middle East! Urgent

Mother & Refuge06 mins

Words from ManuelaSt. Charbel is the saint of the Middle East with a burning heart for God! Those who do not know the essence of St. Charbel may look at the picture of the Eucharist. He didn’t do many words, lived a life of submission to God. He prays in Askese, Ecstasy. Holy fire of God lived in him.St. Charbel is a great help in need and sickness.Today we can ask him especially for peace in the Middle East.St. Charbel’s homeland is Lebanon. Let’s ask for his intercession !Saint Charbel appeared already at the time of the apparitions of Mary in Sievernich. A priest of the diocese of cologne who visited us at the time of the Apparitions of Mary, wrote a novena of Saint Charbel for us. Fervently praying, giving himself in prostration, but without having spoken a word, he appeared in Sievernich. I get to see him every now and then. In Lebanon there is a seer that meets him. One of these encounters was so intense that St. Charbel burned his hand on the body of the seer from Lebanon. So he became the living sign of St. Charbel. I’m glad that this intimate saint didn’t come so close to me.But God knows what HE is doing through His saints and Lebanon needed this sign of God through Saint Charbel for repentance. Don’t we need it too? Served! PRAYER ONE O Lord Jesus, you inspired the Saint, Monk and Hermit Charbel to live and die in your path and you gave him the strength to detach himself from the world in order to make triumph, in his hermitage, the monastic virtues. We implore Thee to bestow upon us the grace to love Thee and serve Thee following his example. God Almighty, who has manifested the power of Saint Charbel’s intercession, by the numerous miracles and favours, grant us our petition(s) by his intercession. Amen PRAYER TWO Dear Lord, You, who taught Saint Charbel how to be rooted in monastic vows which he lived in absolute silence and neutrality, conforming his life to Yours, help us to commemorate him and meditate his heroic and extraordinary life by telling him: Blessed are you Saint Charbel, for you were passionate in prayer, virtue and piety when you were still a child in your far away village in Lebanon amongst your serene family and decent relatives. Blessed are you, for entering the monastic life, accepting the call of God with full liberty and freedom. Thus, you left your humble and quiet village of Bekaa Kafra, North Lebanon and you never returned again. Blessed are you for you dedicated your life to monastic vows and to the priesthood, participating daily in mass and looking continuously and tirelessly for the face of God. Blessed are you for you shined over all the other hermits due to your absolute asceticism and your unnatural silence which astonished all those who knew you even after your death. And now, my Lord, we ask you through the intercession of Saint Charbel, to keep your Church enriched with all those who have a similar life and who follow the path of our holy priests, hermits and monks who sacrifice themselves for the salvation of the whole world. Amen PRAYER THREE O Jesus, You who invited the righteous Saint Charbel to join the monastic life rooting his faith among his Christian family in his village of Bekaa kafra, North Lebanon, give us through his intercession, families reanimated by the firm faith, the domestic virtues and the parental example so that they become source of real Christian vocations. Amen. More Prayers here

Read More

NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS

Mother & Refuge024 mins

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he commanded his apostles to “wait for the promise of the Father” in Jerusalem. Nine days later the apostles celebrated the Jewish feast of Pentecost, and God fulfilled his promise by sending the Holy Spirit. It was the first “novena.” In a unique way, we can imitate their example and join them in the Upper Room, waiting for the Advocate to come. We can prepare our hearts for the coming of the Holy Spirit and kindle a fire within us that God can set ablaze. How can we do that? The most basic action we can do to prepare for Pentecost is pray the “Novena to the Holy Spirit,” meditating on the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit each day. It is a beautiful practice that puts us there with the apostles and Mary, experiencing the graces of Pentecost as if it was our first. Here are the prayers to pray each day: ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRITTo be recited daily during the Novena On my knees I before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion, to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant heareth.” Amen. PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT To be recited daily during the Novena O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit on Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You  and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence toward God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord with the sign of Your true disciples, and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen. The Novena begins on the day after the Solemnity of the Ascension, Friday of the 6th Week of Easter, even if the Solemnity of the Ascension is transferred to the 7th Sunday. FIRST DAY (Friday after Ascension or Friday of 6th Week of Easter) Holy Spirit! Lord of Light! From Your clear celestial height, Your pure beaming radiance give! The Holy Spirit Only one thing is important — eternal salvation. Only one thing, therefore, is to be feared — sin? Sin is the result of ignorance, weakness and indifference. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Light, of Strength, and of Love. With His sevenfold gifts He enlightens the mind, strengthens the will, and inflames the heart with love of God. To ensure our salvation we ought to invoke the Divine Spirit daily, for “The Spirit helpeth our infirmity. We know not what we should pray for as we ought. But the Spirit Himself asketh for us.” Prayer Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Spirit, and hast given us forgiveness all sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us your sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. Amen. Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE. Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.  SECOND DAY (Saturday of 6th Week of Easter) Come. Father of the poor. Come, treasures which endure; Come, Light of all that live! The Gift of Fear The gift of Fear fills us with a sovereign respect for God, and makes us dread nothing so much as to offend Him by sin. It is a fear that arises, not from the thought of hell, but from sentiments of reverence and filial submission to our heavenly Father. It is the fear that is the beginning of wisdom, detaching us from worldly pleasures that could in any way separate us from God. “They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and in His sight will sanctify their souls.” Prayer Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set you, my Lord and God, before my face forever, help me to shun all things that can offend You, and make me worthy to…

Read More