Is "Easter" a Pagan Idea or Word?

Our Lady of the Rosary October 7

Our Lady of the Rosary

October 7

Battle of Lepanto

This commemorative feast was established by Saint Pius V on the anniversary of the naval victory won by the Christian fleet at Lepanto (against Muslim invaders).  The victory was attributed to the help of the Holy Mother of God whose aid was invoked through praying the rosary.  

The celebration of this day invites all to meditate upon the mysteries of Christ, following the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary who was so singularly associated with the incarnation, passion and glorious resurrection of the Son of God.

We should meditate on the 

Mysteries of Salvation

From a sermon by Saint Bernard, abbot

St. Bernard, abbot

The child to be born of you will be called holy, the Son of God, the fountain of wisdom, the Word of the Father on high.  Through you, blessed Virgin, this Word will become flesh, so that even though as He says: I am in the Father and the Father is in me, it is still true for Him to say: “I came forth from God and I am here.”

In the beginning was the Word. The spring was gushing forth, yet still within Himself.  Indeed, the Word was with God, truly dwelling in inaccessible light.  And the Lord said from the beginning: I think thoughts of peace and not of affliction.  Yet your thought was locked within you, and whatever you thought, we did not know; for who knew the mind of the Lord, or who was His counselor?

And so the idea of peace came down to do the work of peace: The Word was made flesh and even now dwells among us.  It is by faith that He dwells in our hearts, in our memory, our intellect and penetrates even into our imagination.  What concept could man have of God if He did not first fashion an image of him in His Heart?  By nature incomprehensible and inaccessible, He was invisible and unthinkable, but now He wished to be understood, to be seen and thought of.

But how, you ask was this done?  He lay in a manger and rested on a virgin’s breast, preached on a mountain, and spent the night in prayer.  He hung on a cross, grew pale in death, and roamed free among the dead and ruled over those in hell.  He rose again on the third day, and showed the apostles the wounds of the nails, the sign of victory; and finally in their presence He ascended to the sanctuary of heaven.

How can we not contemplate this story in truth piety and holiness?  Whatever of all this I consider, it is God I am considering; in all this He is my God.  I have said it is wise to meditate on these truths, and I have thought it right to recall the abundant sweetness, given by the fruits of this priestly root; and Mary drawing abundantly from heaven, has caused this sweetness to overflow for us.

taken from Liturgy of the Hours Weeks 18-34

Saint Cajetan August 7

Saint Cajetan, priest

St. Cajetan, priest

August 7

From a letter by Saint Cajetan, priest

Christ dwells in our hearts by Faith

I am a sinner and do not think much of myself; I have recourse to the greatest servants of the Lord, that they may pray for you to the blessed Christ and His Mother.  

But do not forget that all the saints 

can not endear you to Christ 

as much as you can yourself.  

It is entirely up to you.  

If you want Christ to love you 

and help you, 

you must love Him 

and always make an effort to please Him. 

Do not waver in your purpose, because even if all the saints and every single creature should abandon you, He will always be near you, whatever your needs.

You know, of course, that we are pilgrims in this world, on a journey to our true home in heaven.  The man who becomes proud loses his way and rushes to death.  While living here we should strive to gain eternal life.  Yet or ourselves we cannot achieve this since we have lost it through sin; but Jesus Christ ha recovered it for us.  For this reason we must always be grateful to Him and love Him.  We must always obey Him, and as far as possible remain united with Him.

He has offered Himself 

to be our food.  

How wretched is the man 

who knows nothing of such a gift!  

To us has been given the opportunity 

to receive Christ, son of the Virgin Mary, 

and we refuse Him.  

Woe to the man who does 

not care enough to receive Him. 

My daughter, I want what is good for myself; I beg the same for you.  Now there is no other way to bring this about than to ask the Virgin Mary constantly to come to you with her glorious Son.  Be bold!  Ask her to give you her Son, Who in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar is truly food of your soul.  Readily will she give HI to you, still more readily will He come to you, giving you the strength to make your way fearlessly through this dark wood.  In it large numbers of our enemies lie in wait, but they cannot reach us if they see us relying on such powerful help.

Nor, my child, must you receive Jesus Christ simply as a means to further your own plans; 

I want you to surrender to Him, that He may welcome you and, as your divine Saviour, do to you and in you whatever He wills.  

This is what I want, this is what I beg of you, this, as far as I can, is what I compel you to do.

taken from Liturgy of the Hours Weeks 18-34

Our Lady of Sorrows

Lady of Sorrows

Our Lady of Sorrows

September 15

His Mother stood by the Cross

From a sermon by Saint Bernard, abbot

Prophesy of Simeon

The martyrdom of the Virgin is set forth both in the prophecy of Simeon and in the actual story of our Lord’s passion.  The holy old man said of the infant Jesus: He has been established as a sign which will be contradicted.   He went on to say: And your own heart will be pierced by a sword.

Truly, O blessed Mother, a sword has pierced your heart.  For only by passing through your heart could the sword enter the flesh of your Son.  Indeed, after your Jesus—who belongs to everyone, but is especially yours—gave up His life, the cruel spear, which was not withheld from His lifeless body, tore open His side.  Clearly it did not touch His soul and could not harm Him, but it did pierce your heart.  For surely His soul was no longer there, but yours could not be torn away.  Thus the violence of sorrow has cut through your heart, and we rightly call you more than martyr, since the effect of compassion in you has gone beyond the endurance of physical suffering.

Christ gives His Mother to John

Or were those words: Woman, behold your Son, not more than a sword to you, truly piercing your heart, cutting through the division between soul and spirit?  What an exchange!  John is given to you in place of Jesus the servant in place of the Lord, the disciple in place of the Master; the son of Zebedee replaces the Son of God, a mere man replaces God Himself.  How could these words not pierce your most loving heart, when the mere remembrance of them breaks ours, hearts of stone and iron though they are!

Do not be surprised, brothers , that Mary is said to be martyr in spirit.  Let him be surprised who does not remember the words of Paul, that one of the greatest crimes of the Gentiles was that they were without love.  That was far from the heart of Mary; let it be far from her servants.

Perhaps someone will say: “Had she not known before that He would not die?”  Undoubtedly.  “Did she not experience Him to rise again at once?”  Surely.  “And still she grieved over her crucified Son?” Intensely.  Who are you and what source of your wisdom that you are more surprised at the compassion of Mary than the passion of Mary’s Son?  For if He could die in body, could she not died with Him in spirit?  He died in body through a love greater than anyone had known.  She died in spirit through love unlike any other since His.

Father,

As your Son was raised on the cross,

His mother Mary stood by Him, sharing His sufferings.

May Your Church be united with Christ

In His suffering and death

And so come to share in his rising to new life,

Where He lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,

One God, for ever and ever.

Taken from Liturgy of the Hours,  Our Lady of Sorrows

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLESSED MOTHER! (SEPT 8)

Feast of the Nativity

 of the 

Blessed Virgin Mary, 

September 8

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel.”

                                                                              Matthew 1:23

We all love to celebrate birthdays.  Today is the birthday celebration of our dear Mother.  In December we honor her Immaculate Conception.  In January we celebrate her as the Mother of God.  In August we celebrate her Assumption into Heaven and there are many other days throughout the year where we honor a unique aspect of her life.  But today is simply her birthday celebration!

Celebrating her birthday is a way of celebrating her simply for being herself.  We do not necessarily focus in on any of the unique, beautiful and profound aspects of her life today.  We do not necessarily look at all she accomplished, her perfect yes to God, her coronation in Heaven, her assumption or any other specifics.  All parts of her are glorious, beautiful, awe-inspiring and worth of their own unique feasts and celebration.

Today, however, we simply celebrate our Blessed Mother because she was created and brought into this world by God and that alone is worth celebrating.  We honor her simply because we love her and we celebrate her birthday as we would celebrate the birthday of anyone we love and care for.

Reflect, today, upon the fact that Mother Mary is your mother.  She truly is your mother and its’s worth celebrating her birthday in the same way you would celebrate anyone’s birthday who was a member of your family.  Your honoring of Mary, today, is a way of solidifying your bond with her and assuring her that you desire her to be an important part of your life.

Happy Birthday, Blessed Mother! We love you dearly!

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee.  Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb JESUS.  Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

Precious Jesus, through the heart of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, our Mother, we trust in YOU!

--Taken from the book “Daily Reflections for Ordinary Time: Weeks 18-34” by John Paul Thomas

I highly recommend this book which give you a reflection of the reading every day.

Suffering, Tribulation From the writings of St. Rose of Lima

St. Rose of Lima, Virgin

From the writings of St. Rose of Lima

Let us know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge

Our Lord and Saviour lifted up his voice and said with incomparable majesty: “Let all men know what grace comes after tribulation.  Let them know that without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace.  Let them know that the gifts of grace increase as the struggles increase.  Let men take care not to stray and be deceived.  This is the only true stairway to paradise, without the cross they can find no road to climb to heaven.

When I heard these words, a strong force came upon me and seemed to place me in the middle of a street, so that I might say in a loud voice to people of every age, sex and status: “Hear, O people; hear, O nations.  I am warning you about the commandment of Christ by using words that came from his own lips: 

We cannot obtain grace unless we suffer afflictions.  

We must heap trouble upon trouble to attain 

a deep participation in the divine nature, 

the glory of the sons of God and perfect happiness of soul.”

That same force urged me to proclaim the beauty of divine grace.  It pressed me so that my breath came slow and forced me to sweat and pant.  I felt as if my soul could no longer be kept in the prison of the body, but that it had burst its chains and was free and alone and was going very swiftly through the whole world saying: 

“If only mortals would learn how great 

it is to possess divine grace, 

how beautiful, how noble, how precious.  

How many riches it hides within itself, 

how many joys and delights!  

Without doubt they would devote all their care and concern to winning for themselves pains and afflictions.  All men throughout the world would seek trouble, infirmities and torments, instead of good fortune, in order to attain the unfathomable treasure of grace.  This is the reward and the final gain of patience.  No one would complain about his cross or about troubles that may happen to him, if he would come to know the scales on which they are weighed when they are distributed to men.”

St. Blaise, Feast Day February 3rd

St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr

Feast Day February 3rd

Saint Blaise was the bishop of Sebastea and a doctor. The first known record of the saint's life comes from the medical writings of Aëtius Amidenus, where he is recorded as helping with patients suffering from objects stuck in their throat. Many of the miraculous aspects of St. Blaise's life are written of 400 years after his martyrdom in the "Acts of St. Blaise."

Saint Blaise is believed to begin as a healer then, eventually, became a "physician of souls." He then retired to a cave, where he remained in prayer. People often turned to Saint Blaise for healing miracles.

In 316, the governor of Cappadocia and of Lesser Armenia, Agricola, arrested then-bishop Blaise for being a Christian. On their way to the jail, a woman set her only son, who was chocking to death on a fish bone, at his feet.

Blaise cured the child, and though Agricola was amazed, he could not get Blaise to renounce his faith. Therefore, Agricola beat Blaise with a stick and tore at his flesh with iron combs before beheading him.

In another tale, Blaise was being led to the prison in Sebastea, and on the way came across a poor old woman whose pig had been stolen by a wolf. Blaise commanded the wolf return the pig, which it did -alive and uninjured - to the amazement of all.

When he reached Sebastea, the woman came to him and brought two fine wax candles in an attempt to dispel the gloom of his darkened cell.

In the Middle Ages, Blaise became quite popular and his legend as a beast tamer spread. He was then referred to as the "saint of the wild beast."

Taken from http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=28

St. Blaise in Medieval Art

Prayer to St. Blasé (Blaise, Blaize)

O glorious Saint Blase, who by thy martyrdom has left to the Church a precious witness to the faith, obtain for us the grace to preserve within ourselves this divine gift, and to defend, without human respect, both by word and example, the truth of that same faith, which is so wickedly attacked and slandered in these our times. Thou who didst miraculously cure a little child when it was at the point of death by reason of an affliction of the throat, grant us thy powerful protection in like misfortunes; and, above all, obtain for us the grace of Christian mortification together with a faithful observance of the precepts of the Church, which may keep us from offending Almighty God. Amen.

Blessing of Throats on Feast of St. Blaise February 3

Blessing of Throats

PRAYER OF BLESSING

With the crossed candles touched to the throat of each person, the celebrant says immediately:

Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and from every other illness:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit.

Presentation of the Lord - Feast Day February 2nd

Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple

Let us Receive the Light 

Whose Brilliance is Eternal

From a sermon by Saint Sophronius, bishop

In Honor of the Divine Mystery that we celebrate today, let us all hasten to meet Christ.  Everyone should be eager to join the procession and to carry a light.

Our lighted candles are a sign of the divine splendor of the one who comes to expel the dark shadows of evil and to make the whole universe radiant with the brilliance of His Eternal Light.  Our candles also show how bright our souls should be when we go to meet Christ.

Presentation of Our Lord, Mary & Joseph, Simeon

The Mother of God, the most pure Virgin, carried the true light in her arms and brought Him to those who lay in darkness.  We too should carry a light for all to see and reflect the radiance of the True Light as we hasten to meet Him.

The Light has come and has shone upon a world enveloped in shadows; the Dayspring from on high has visited us and given light to those who lived in darkness.  This, then, is our feast, and we join in procession with Lighted candles to reveal the Light that has shoe upon us and the glory that is yet to come to us through Him.  So let us hasten all together to meet our God.

The True Light has come, the Light that enlightened every man who is born in this world.  Let all of us, my brethren, be enlightened and made radiant by this light.  Let all of us share in its splendor, and be so filled with it that no one remains in the darkness.  Let us be shining ourselves as we go together to meet and to receive with the aged Simeon the Light whose brilliance is eternal.  Rejoicing with Simeon, let us sing a hymn of thanksgiving to God, the Father of the Light, who sent the True Light to dispel the darkness and to give us all a share in His splendor.

Simeon Blessed God for Allowing him to see the Messiah

Through Simeon’s eyes we too have seen the salvation of God which He prepared for all the nations and revealed as the glory of the new Israel, which is ourselves.  As Simeon was released from the bonds of this life when he had seen Christ, so we too were at once freed from our old state of sinfulness.

By faith we too embraced Christ, the salvation of God the Father, as He came to us from Bethlehem.  Gentiles before, we have now become the people of God.  Our eyes have seen God Incarnate, and because we have seen Him present among us and have mentally received Him into our arms, we are called to new Israel.  Never shall we forget this presence; every year we keep a feast in its honor.

Novena to the Holy Face of Jesus

NINE DAY NOVENA IN HONOR OF

THE MOST HOLY FACE OF JESUS

This novena prayer may be said at any time, but especially in the nine days leading up to the Feast of the Holy Face on Shrove Tuesday - i.e. starting two Sundays before the start of Lent.

"All those who, attracted by my love, and venerating my countenance, shall receive, by virtue of my humanity, a brilliant and vivid impression of my divinity. This splendor shall enlighten the depths of their souls, so that in eternal glory the celestial court shall marvel at the marked likeness of their features with my divine countenance." (Our Lord Jesus Christ to St. Gertrude)

DAILY PREPARATORY PRAYER

O Most Holy and Blessed Trinity, through the intercession of Holy Mary, whose soul was pierced through by a sword of sorrow at the sight of the passion of her Divine Son, we ask Thy help in making a perfect Novena of reparation with Jesus, united with all His sorrows, love, and total abandonment.

We now implore all the Angels and Saints to intercede for us as we pray this Holy Novena to the Most Holy Face of Jesus and for the glory of the most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. (Start novena)

DAY ONE  -- CONSOLE THE HOLY FACE

Recite the Daily Preparatory Prayer then…

Psalm 51, 3-4.  

Have mercy on me, O God in Thy goodness, in Thy great tenderness wipe away my faults; wash me clean of my guilt, purify me from my sin.

O most Holy Face of Jesus, look with tenderness on us who are sinners. Thou art a merciful God, full of love and compassion. Keep us pure of heart, so that we may see Thee always. Mary, our Mother, intercede for us; Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Through the merits of Thy precious blood and Thy Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition; Pardon and Mercy.

Prayer to Our Almighty Father

Almighty Father, come into our hearts, and so fill us with Thy love that forsaking all evil desires, we may embrace Thee, our only good. Show us, O Lord our God, what Thou art to us. Say to our souls, I am Thy salvation, speak so that we may hear. Our hearts are before Thee; open our ears; let us hasten after Thy voice. Hide not Thy Face from us; we beseech Thee, O Lord. Open our hearts so that Thou mayst enter in. Repair the ruined mansions that Thou mayst dwell therein. Hear us, O Heavenly Father, for the sake of Thy only Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with Thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (St. Augustine)

*Our Father, Hail Mary (3x), Glory Be. 

*O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (3x)

DAY TWO -- CONSOLE THE HOLY FACE

Recite the Daily Preparatory Prayer

then…

Psalm 51, 5-6a.

My offenses truly I know them; My sin is always before me. Against Thee, Thee alone, have I sinned; what is evil in Thy sight I have done.

Prayer

Most Holy Face of Jesus, we are truly sorry that we have hurt Thee so much by constantly doing what is wrong; and for all the good works we have failed to do. Immaculate Heart of Mary; Saint Joseph, intercede for us, help us to console the Most Holy Face of Jesus. Pray that we may share in the tremendous love Thou hast for one another and for the most Holy and Blessed Trinity. Amen.

Through the merits of Thy precious blood and Thy Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition; Pardon and Mercy.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, Sanctifier, all powerful God of love, Thou Who didst fill the Virgin Mary with grace, Thou Who didst wonderfully transform the hearts of the Apostles, Thou Who didst endow all Thy martyrs with a miraculous heroism, come and sanctify us; illumine our minds, strengthen our wills, purify our consciences, rectify our judgments, set our hearts on fire and preserve us from the misfortune of resisting Thine inspirations. We consecrate to Thee our understanding, our heart and our will, our whole being for time and for eternity. May our understanding be always submissive to Thy heavenly inspirations and to the teachings of Thy Holy Catholic Church, of which Thou art the infallible guide; may our heart be ever inflamed with love of God and neighbor; may our will be ever conformed to the divine will, and may our whole life be a faithful imitation of the life and virtues of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and Thee be honor and glory forever. Amen.

*Our Father, Hail Mary (3x), Glory Be.

*O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (3x)

DAY THREE -- CONSOLE THE HOLY FACE

recite the Daily Preparatory Prayer

then…

Psalm 51, 6b-7.  Thou art just when Thou dost pass sentence on me, blameless when Thou givest judgment. Thou knowest I was born guilty, a sinner from the moment of conception.

Prayer of Pope Pius IX

O Jesus! Cast upon us a look of mercy; turn Thy Face towards each of us as Thou didst to Veronica; not that we may see it with our bodily eyes, for this we do not deserve, but turn it towards our hearts, so that, remembering Thee, we may ever draw from this fountain of strength the vigor necessary to sustain the combats of life. Amen. Mary, Our Mother, and Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Through the merits of Thy precious blood and Thy Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition; Pardon and Mercy.

Prayer of Saint Francis

All highest, glorious God, cast Thy light into the darkness of our hearts, give us true faith, firm hope, perfect charity and profound humility, so that with wisdom, courage and perception, O Lord, we may do what is truly Thy holy will. Amen.

Prayer to the Angels and Saints

We salute Thy, through the Holy Face and Sacred Heart of Jesus, O all ye Holy Angels and Saints of God. We rejoice in Thy glory, and we give thanks to Our Lord for all the benefits which He has showered upon ye; we praise Him and glorify Him, and offer ye, for an increase of Thy joy and honor, the most Holy Face and gentle Heart of Jesus. Pray that we may become formed according to the heart of God. Amen.

*Our Father, Hail Mary (3x), Glory Be.

*O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (3x)

DAY FOUR -- CONSOLE THE HOLY FACE

Recite the Daily Preparatory Prayer

then…

Psalm 51, 8-9.   

Indeed, Thou dost love truth in the heart; then in the secret of my heart teach me Wisdom. O purify me, then I shall be clean; O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.

Prayer  

O Lord Jesus, Who has said, learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart, and Who did manifest upon Thy Holy Face the sentiments of Thy divine heart, grant that we may love to come frequently and meditate upon Thy divine features. We may read there Thy gentleness and Thy humility, and learn how to form our hearts in the practice of these two virtues which Thou desirest to see shine in Thy servants. Mary our Mother and Saint Joseph help us.

Through the merits of Thy precious blood and Thy Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition; Pardon and Mercy.

Prayer in Honor of the Dolors of the Blessed Virgin

O Most Holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs! Who stood beneath the cross, witnessing the agony of thy dying Son, look down with a mother’s tenderness and pity on us as we kneel before thee to venerate thy Dolors, and place our requests, with filial confidence, in the sanctuary of thy wounded heart. Present them on our behalf to Jesus, through the merits of His most sacred Passion and Death, together with thy sufferings at the foot of the cross, and, through the united efficacy of both, obtain the favor which we humbly ask. To whom shall we go in our wants and miseries if not to thee? O Mother of Mercy, who having so deeply drunk of the chalice of thy Son, graciously alleviate the sufferings of those who still sigh in this land of exile. Amen.

Prayer to the Souls in Purgatory

My Jesus, by the sorrows Thou didst suffer in Thine agony in the garden, in Thine scourging and crowning with thorns, in the way to Calvary, in Thine crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken. Deliver them from the dire torments they endure. Call them and admit them to Thy most sweet embrace in Paradise. Amen.

*Our Father, Hail Mary (3x), Glory Be.

*O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (3x)

DAY FIVE -- CONSOLE THE HOLY FACE

Recite the Daily Preparatory Prayer

then…

Psalm 5 1, 10-11.

Make me hear rejoicing and gladness that the bones Thy have crushed may revive. From my sins turn away Thy Face, and blot out all my guilt.

Prayer

Holy Face of Jesus, Sacred Countenance of God, how great is Thy patience with humankind, how infinite Thy forgiveness. We are sinners, yet Thou lovest us. This gives us courage. For the glory of Thy Holy Face and of the Blessed Trinity, hear and answer us. Mary our Mother, intercede for us; Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Through the merits of Thy precious blood and Thy Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition; Pardon and Mercy.

Prayer to Saint Joseph

Dear Saint Joseph! Adopt us as thy children, take charge of our salvation; watch over us day and night; preserve us from occasions of sin; obtain for us purity of body and soul, and the spirit of prayer, through thy intercession with Jesus, grant us a spirit of sacrifice, of humility and self-denial; obtain for us a burning love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and a sweet, tender love for Mary, our Mother.

Saint Joseph, be with us in life, be with us in death and obtain for us a favorable judgment from Jesus, our merciful Savior. Amen.

*Our Father, Hail Mary (3x), Glory Be.

*O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (3x)

DAY SIX -- CONSOLE THE HOLY FACE

Recite the Daily Preparatory Prayer

then…

Psalm 51, 12-13.

A pure heart create for us, O God; put a steadfast spirit within us. Do not cast us away from Thy presence nor deprive us of Thy Holy Spirit.

Prayer

May our hearts be cleansed, O Lord, by the inpouring of the Holy Spirit, and may He render them fruitful by watering them with His heavenly dew. Mary, most chaste spouse of the Holy Spirit, intercede for us. Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Through the merits of Thy precious blood and Thy Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition; Pardon and Mercy.

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel

O Victorious Prince, most humble guardian of the Church of God and of faithful souls, who with such charity and zeal took part in so many conflicts and gained such great victories over the enemy; for the conservation and protection of the honor and glory we all owe to God, as well as for the promotion of our salvation, come, we pray Thee, to our assistance, for we are continually besieged with such great perils by Thy enemies: the flesh, the world, and the devil; and as Thou wast a leader for the people of God through the desert, so also be our faithful leader and companion through the desert of this world, until Thou conduct us safely into the happy land of the living, in that blessed fatherland from which we are all exiles. Amen.

*Our Father, Hail Mary (3x), Glory Be.

*O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (3x)

DAY SEVEN -- CONSOLE THE HOLY FACE

Recite the Daily Preparatory Prayer

then…

Psalm 51, 14-15.

Give me again the joy of Thy help, with a spirit of fervor sustain me; that I may teach transgressors Thy ways and sinners may return to Thee.

Prayer

Lord Jesus! After contemplating Thy features, disfigured by grief, after meditating upon Thy passion with compunction and love, how can our hearts fail to be inflamed with a holy hatred of sin, which even now outrages Thy Adorable Face! Lord, suffer us not to be content with mere compassion, but give us grace to so closely follow Thee in this Calvary, so that the opprobrium destined for Thee may fall on us, O Jesus, that thus we may have a share, small though it may be, in expiation of sin. Amen.

Mary, our Mother, intercede for us. Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Through the merits of Thy precious blood and Thy Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition; Pardon and Mercy.

Prayer in Honor of Mary

Hail Mary, Most Delightful Daughter of God the Father! Hail Mary, Most Admirable Mother of God the Son! Hail Mary, Most Chaste Spouse of God the Holy Spirit! Hail Mary, Temple and Sacrarium of the Most Holy Trinity! Hail Mary, our mistress, our wealth, our mystic rose, Queen of our hearts, our Mother, our life, our sweetness, and our dearest hope! We are all thine, and all we have is thine. O Virgin blessed above all things, may thy soul be in us to magnify the Lord; may thy spirit be in us to rejoice in God. Place thyself, O faithful Virgin, as a seal upon our hearts, that in thee and through thee we may be found faithful to God. Grant, most gracious Virgin, that we may be numbered among those whom thou art pleased to love, to teach and to guide, to favor and to protect as thy children. Grant that with the help of thy love, we may despise all earthly consolation and cling to heavenly things, until through the Holy Spirit, thy faithful spouse, and through thee, His faithful spouse, Jesus Christ, thy Son, be formed within us for the glory of the Father. Amen. (St. Louis Marie Grignon de Montfort).

*Our Father, Hail Mary (3x), Glory Be.

*O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (3x)

DAY EIGHT -- CONSOLE THE HOLY FACE

Recite the Daily Preparatory Prayer

then…

Psalm 51, 16-17.

O rescue me, God my helper, and my tongue shall ring out Thy goodness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise.

Prayer

Most merciful Face of Jesus, Who in this vale of tears was so moved by our misfortunes to call Thyself the healer of the sick, and the good Shepherd of the souls gone astray, allow not Satan to draw us away from Thee, but keep us always under Thy loving protection, together with all souls who endeavor to console Thee. Mary, our Mother, intercede for us. Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Through the merits of Thy precious blood and Thy Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition; Pardon and Mercy.

Prayer to Saint Peter

O glorious Saint Peter, who, in return for thy lively and generous faith, thy profound and sincere humility and thy burning love, was honored by Jesus Christ with singular privileges, and in particular, with the leadership of the other apostles and the primacy of the whole Church, of which thou wast made the foundation stone, do thou obtain for us the grace of a lively faith that shall not fear to profess itself openly in its entirety and in all of its manifestations, even to the shedding of blood, if occasion should demand it, and to the sacrifice of life itself in preference to surrender. Obtain for us likewise a sincere loyalty to our Holy Mother the Church. Grant that we may ever remain most closely and sincerely united to the Holy Father, who is the heir of thy faith and of thy authority, the one true visible head of the Catholic Church. Grant, moreover, that we may follow, in all humility and meekness, the Church’s teaching and counsels and may be obedient to all her precepts, in order to be able here on earth to enjoy a peace that is sure and undisturbed, and to attain one day in heaven to everlasting happiness. Amen.

*Our Father, Hail Mary (3x), Glory Be.

*O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (3x)

DAY NINE-- CONSOLE THE HOLY FACE

Recite the Daily Preparatory Prayer

then…

Psalm 51, 18-21.

For in sacrifice Thou take no delight, a burnt offering from me Thou wouldst refuse; my sacrifice a contrite spirit. A humbled, contrite heart Thou wilt not spurn. In Thy goodness, show favor to Zion; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then Thou shalt be pleased with lawful sacrifice; holocausts offered on Thy altar.

Prayer

Sacred Face of Our Lord and Our God, what words can we do to express our gratitude? How can we speak of our joy? That Thou hast deigned to hear us, that Thou hast chosen to answer us in our hour of need. We say this because we know that our prayers will be granted. We know that Thou, in Thy loving kindness, listened to our pleading hearts, and will give, out of Thy fullness, the answer to our problems. Mary, our Mother, we thank Thee for Thy intercession on our behalf. Saint Joseph, we thank Thee for Thine prayers.

Through the merits of Thy precious blood and Thy Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition; Pardon and Mercy.

Prayer to the Holy Trinity

Most Holy Trinity, Godhead indivisible, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, our first beginning and our last end. Since Thou hast made us after Thy own image and likeness, grant that all the thoughts of our minds, all the words of our tongues, all the affections of our hearts, and all our actions may be always conformed to Thy most Holy Will, so that after having seen Thee here on earth in appearances and in a dark manner by the means of faith, we may come at last to contemplate Thee face to face, in the perfect possession of Thee forever in paradise. Amen.

*Our Father, Hail Mary (3x), Glory Be.

*O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine. (3x)

THE GOLDEN ARROW PRAYER

May the most holy, most sacred, most adorable, most incomprehensible and ineffable Name of God be forever praised, blessed, loved, adored, and glorified in Heaven, on earth, and under the earth, by all the creatures of God, and by the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.