O Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of eternal life, Your Heart is a glowing furnace of Love. You are my refuge and my sanctuary. O my adorable and loving Savior, consume my heart with the burning fire with which Yours is aflamed. Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Your love. Let my heart be united with Yours. Let my will be conformed to Yours in all things. May Your Will be the rule of all my desires and actions.
By Aleteia Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the Crookston Diocese in Minnesota released a letter recently detailing his plan to investigate the life and legacy of Sr. Annella Zervas, OSB. Sr. Annella was born in Moorhead, Minnesota, on April 7, 1900, to a German immigrant family. She attended the Catholic school at her local parish and felt drawn to join the Benedictine sisters who taught there. At only 15 years old she joined St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph, Minnesota and eventually become a music teacher and organist with the Benedictine sisters. Then her life changed. In 1923 she became afflicted with a rare skin disease. This caused her a great amount of suffering, which she offered up to God as a sacrifice. Sr. Annella died when she was 24 years old, but her saintly example was an inspiration to the local community. According to the Catholic News Agency, “Those praying for the Benedictine sister’s intercession have reported miracles and answers to prayers.” Bishop Cozzens “shared that he too is inspired by the nun’s story, which he first learned about through his own sister. He acknowledged receiving many requests from people to begin the formal process of investigation to determine her holiness.” Read more…
Written by Father Teiji Yasuda, chaplain of the convent in Akita, this book was first published in Japanese with the Imprimatur of the Bishop of Niigata. On March 14th, 1989, the Most Rev. John S. Ito, retired Bishop of Niigata who knows English and who had personally read this English translation approved it in the following words:“I recommend this book and testify that its contents aretrue.” Most Rev. John S. Ito, D.D CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD EBOOK FOR FREE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLVUGL57lRg&t=14s
Hail, holy Lady, most holy Queen,Mary, Mother of God, ever Virgin.You were chosen by the Most High Father in heaven,consecrated by Him, with His most Holy Beloved Sonand the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.On you descended and still remains all the fullness of grace and every good.Hail, His Palace.Hail, His Tabernacle.Hail, His Robe.Hail, His Handmaid.Hail, His Mother.and Hail, all holy Virtues, who, by grace and inspiration of the Holy Spirit,are poured into the hearts of the faithfulso that from their faithless state,they may be made faithful servants of God through you. Amen
St. Mary Goretti, strengthened by God’s grace, you did not hesitate, even at the age of eleven, to sacrifice life itself to defend your virginal purity. Look graciously on the unhappy human race that has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation. Teach us all, and especially our youth, the courage and promptness that will help us avoid anything that could offend Jesus. Obtain for me a great horror of sin, so that I may live a holy life on earth and win eternal glory in heaven.Amen. Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be
“O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof, O God. See how your enemies growl, how your foes rear their heads.” (Psalm 83:1–2) Psalm 83 is more than a prayer or a plea to God for vengeance on Israel’s enemies; it reveals that a 10-member confederacy wants to destroy the Chosen People and possess the Promised Land. This psalm, however, was not written during a time of war. It was written some 3,000 years ago by King David’s worship leader, Asaph, during a time of great prosperity, liberty, and peace. King David had decisively triumphed over Israel’s enemies, and Israel could expand freely since the superpowers of Egypt and Assyria were both declining. (Aish) David’s kingdom, therefore, extended from the Red Sea to the Euphrates. But Asaph was not just a worshiper; according to 2 Chronicles 29:30, he was also a chozeh As a prophet, Asaph saw beyond this period of peace, to a time when this confederacy would seek the utter destruction of Israel. That time now seems to be nearing. “Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.” (Psalm 83:4) Even though Asaph’s vision was received in a time of peace, it must have been cause for some concern since many named in the confederacy had previously demonstrated their hatred. Of course, even today, conspiring against the Jewish People is considered nothing new. From the Philistines to the Nazis, the Jewish People have been plotted against. “See how your enemies growl, how your foes rear their heads. With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish.” (Psalm 83:2–3) Read more…
By Aleteia For many of us, when we sit down to pray, we are bombarded by constant distractions. It could be anything from the ticking of the clock on the wall, the honking of a horn outside, or even a barrage of thoughts about various people or relationships in our lives. It can be difficult to focus our attention on God and remain in a conversation with him. However, sometimes these distractions aren’t “distractions” at all, they are thoughts introduced by God that are aimed at our spiritual benefit. For example, here is what St. Thérèse of Lisieux wrote about being distracted during prayer. I also have many [distractions] but as soon as I am aware of them, I pray for those people the thought of whom is diverting my attention, and in this way they reap benefit from my distractions. Sometimes God wants to divert our attention and shed light on a struggling friend or family member. They may need our prayers or our charity. This way the distraction is turned in the right way and instead of taking us away from God, it brings us closer to him and his divine plan. The key is to be attentive when that happens and notice when you being thinking about someone in your life, or even something you saw on Facebook. In some instances God may want you to be praying for that individual or extending a helpful hand to them. Read more…
Glorious St. Michael, prince of the heavenly hosts, who stands always ready to give assistance to the people of God; who fought with the dragon, the old serpent, and cast him out of heaven, and now valiantly defends the Church of God that the gates of hell may never prevail against her, I earnestly entreat you to assist me also, in the painful and dangerous conflict which I have to sustain against the same formidable foe. Be with me, O mighty Prince! that I may courageously fight and wholly vanquish that proud spirit, whom you have by the divine power, so gloriously overthrown, and whom our powerful King, Jesus Christ, has, in our nature, so completely overcome; to the end that having triumphed over the enemy of my salvation, I may with you and the holy angels, praise the clemency of God who, having refused mercy to the rebellious angels after their fall, has granted repentance and forgiveness to fallen man.Amen.
Dearest and most blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, overflowing with affection, Daughter of the Sovereign King, and Queen of the Angels: Mother of Him Who created all things, this day and all the days of my life I commend to the bosom of thy regard my soul and my body, all my actions, thoughts, wishes, desires, words, and deeds, my whole life, and my end: so that through thy prayers they may all be ordered according to the will of thy beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Lady most holy, be my helper and my comforter against the attacks and snares of the ancient foe, and of all my enemies. Amen