aeternus

Well, the novena to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is over. I pray that many graces were given to the participants who attended with hearts purposefully devoted and united in prayer to the needs and aspirations of our most Blessed Mother. And, as a friend said to me, “surely many graces also came because everyone endured such great heat!” You see, it seems the temperature reached 107 last night! Praise be to God those beautiful priests, seminarians, decons and altar boys did not melt into the ground wearing all those beautiful vestments!

Today’s saint gave me much to think about so far today. I thought I would pass along my favorite passages from this morning’s Office of Readings:

“There is a spiritual life that we share with the angels of heaven and with the divine spirits, for like them we have been formed in the image and likeness of God. The bread that is necessary for living this life is the grace of the Holy Spirit and the love of God. But grace and love are nothing without faith, since without faith it is impossible to please God. And faith is not conceived unless the word of God is preached. Faith comes through hearing, and what is heart is the word of Christ…

For the word of God is a light to the mind and a fire to the will. In enables man to know God and to love him. And for the interior man who lives by the Spirit of God through grace, it is bread and water, but a bread sweeter than honey and the honeycomb, a water better than wine and milk. For the soul it is a spiritual treasure of merits yielding an abundance of gold and precious stones. Against the hardness of a heart that persists in wrongdoing, it acts as a hammer. Against the word, the flesh and the devil it serves a sword that destroys all sin.”

– From a sermon by Saint Lawrence of Brindisi

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Some good soul left this prayer in the Carmelite Chapel and after stumbling upon it I have been praying it. The card is actually at the foot of St. Anthony, but I don’t think he minds. I’m sure he is friendly with Benedict…

“O glorious St. Benedict, sublime model of all virtues, pure vessel of God’s grace! Behold me, humbly kneeling at thy feet. I implore thy loving heart to pray for me before the throne of God. To thee I have recourse in all the dangers which daily surround me. Shield me against my enemies, inspire me to imitate thee in all things. May thy blessing be with me always, so that I may shun whatever God forbids and avoid the occasions of sin.

Graciously obtain for me from God those favors and graces of which I stand so much in need, in the trials, miseries and afflictions of life. Thy heart was always so full of love, compassion, and mercy towards those who were afflicted or troubled in any way. Thou didst never dismiss without consolation and assistance any one who had re-course to thee. I therefore invoke thy powerful intercession, in the confident hope that thou wilt hear my prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favor I so earnestly implore (mention it), if it be for the greater glory of God and the welfare of my soul.

Help me, O great St. Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to be ever submissive to His holy will, and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven. Blessed by God both in grace and in name, who, while standing in prayer, with hands raised to heaven, didst most happily yield thy angelic spirit into the hands of thy Creator, and hast promised zealously to defend against all the snares of the enemy in the last struggle of death, those who shall daily remind thee of thy glorious departure and heavenly joys; protect me, I beseech thee, O glorious Father, this day and every day, by thy holy blessings, that I may never be separated from our dear Lord, from the society of thyself, and of all the blessed. Through the same Christ our Lord.

Amen.”

I wish I knew who wrote this icon… It is a beauty!

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I thought I would post a couple of photos from our 4th of July Adventure and tell our little story…

We enjoyed a humble bar-b-que with a family who are some old neighbors and fellow parishoners. They are very anti-cultural in America in that they use their car quite sparingly. Biking is the favored mode of transportation. (For those who do not live in the U.S. you don’t know how shocking this is!) In any case, we brought along our bikes (they lent me one of their extras since I don’t have one). After our big meal of hamburgers we convoyed downtown through the mayhem of Festivalers toward the Riverfront. Before starting out I earnestly begged our Guardian Angels to stick to us like glue and keep trouble from us. (I especially asked for protection for my daughter for this was going to be her biggest and most challenging biking effort to date!)

Of course the children insisted on getting as close to the Gateway Arch as possible so we really had to crawl our way through the crowds. I really don’t enjoy crowds so this was a difficult experience, however, I try very hard not to be the one who ruins the fun. So onward and Eastward we navigated until we were near the Arch grounds. It was our little group along with nearly a 100,000 or so others who were vying for the best fireworks viewing position. I did not want to panic, but there were just TOO many other bodies in too little space. In a moment of clear and prayerful thinking (and because I wanted to get a good photo) I suggested we move South a bit and go over toward the Old Cathedral of St. Louis. Everyone agreed to this and we crossed a few more little streets and VOILA - Sanctuary! I don’t know why, but we ended up being the only ones there! There was nobody around (well, maybe there were 12 others or so) and it was safe and very peaceful just 100 yards away from the roaring crowds! As usual, I just need to TRUST more for Our most merciful Lord always shows me the path!

The fireworks were fun and the children just had a wonderful time together. I’m sure they will always remember this year biking down through the crowds and finding repose outside God’s house. For my daughter this was a big ride and she kept up with everyone just fine. As we peddled home we were getting a bit tired going uphill when we drove past a dark area and looked down a pathway. There shining brightly was a shrine to Our Lady at St. Raymond’s Marionite Cathedral. We peddled down the path and said a few Ave’s to our Mother and admired the lovely mosaic to St. Charbel a Lebanese hermit. Pope John Paul II canonized him in 1977 and said: “a new eminent member of monastic sanctity is enriching, by his example and his intercession, the entire Christian people. May he make us understand, in a world largely fascinated by wealth and comfort, the paramount value of poverty, penance and asceticism, to liberate the soul in its ascent to God…”

(In the mosaic pictured here below there are two other saints, but I admit to not knowing exactly who they are.)
Anyway, what a blessing this night turned out to be. What is an ordinary life event becomes a special one filled with little graces and blessings. He is everywhere if we look for Him. God is good indeed!

As a p.s. to the story… We met another nice young family last evening and they invited us to a day of Gaelic festivities this afternoon. I have never watched Hurling before, but I gotta admit that if I was 20 years younger I’d be out running around with my stick wacking that ball. It is the perfect mix of Field Hockey, Baseball and Soccer which were my three favorite sports back in my young and athletic days. What an exciting game! Miss Veritas (if you are reading) do ya’ want ta play?!

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As today is the Fourth of July I thought I would pass along two wonderful prayers for our Nation. Enjoy your hot dogs and fireworks today!

Almighty God,

You have given us this good land for our heritage.

We humbly ask You that we may always prove ourselves.

a people mindful of Your favor and glad to do Your will.

Bless our land with honorable endeavor,

sound learning and pure manners.

Save us from violence, discord, and confusion,

from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way

Defend our liberties and fashion into one united

people the multitude brought here out of many

nations and tongues.

Endow with the Spirit of wisdom those to whom in Your Name

we entrust the authority of government,

that there may be justice and peace at home,

and that through obedience to Your law we may show forth

Your praise among the nations on earth.

In time of prosperity fill our hearts with thankfulness,

and in the day of trouble do not allow our trust in You to fail.

Amen.

~~ by Thomas Jefferson

I also thought this an appropriate time to remember what our good Bishops did for this country when at their meeting in Dallas, Texas 2002 they prayed this prayer. The prayer was adapted from one used by August Cardinal Hlond of Poland in 1946 when he renewed Our Lady as patroness of Poland as originally done on 1656 by King Casimir. Our own bishops formally consecrated the United States to Immaculate Mary as our Patroness in the mid-1800s.

Consecration of America for U.S.Catholic Bishops Meeting

“In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…

Immaculate Mary, most Holy Mother of God and of Our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, we the people of the United States of America at this historic
moment stand before you in a humbled condition of love, loyalty, affection,
and thankfulness. To your Immaculate Heart we recommit and dedicate
ourselves throughout the entire American nation. To your Son Jesus Christ we
pledge to serve His teaching, His church, and to work for His kingdom on
earth. O Mary, to you do we flee for protection. Surround the American
family with your maternal care; enfold us in your arms. Give to this
American land, built on the blood and tears of so many faithful forebears, a
peaceful and praiseworthy existence in truth, love, justice, and freedom. O
Mary, we submit to you as the Patroness of our beloved country. O Mary, Help
of Christians, enfold the Holy Father and the Catholic Church within your
protective cloak; be our shield in the days ahead. Give to the Church true
holiness and freedom. Obtain for our leaders holy zeal, the ability to face
the truth, and the courage to correct all abuses. Stop the flood of atheism,
greed, heresy, impurity, lukewarmness, materialism, and selfishness that
threaten our nation. Show to those who have strayed from the Church the way
to Our Lord Jesus Christ. Mother of God, accept our personal consecration to
you and, through you, bind us forever to the Holy Trinity. Gather us all
into your Immaculate Heart and unite us forever with Jesus.
O Mary, we love you.

Amen.

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“When Abba Arsenius was in the palace, he prayed to
God, and said, “O Lord, direct me how to live”; and
a voice came to him, saying, “Arsenius, flee from
men, and thou shalt live.”

And when Arsenius was living the ascetic life in the
monastery, he prayed to God the same prayer, and again he
heard a voice saying unto him, “Arsenius, flee, keep silence,
and lead a life of silent contemplation, for these are the
fundamental causes which prevent a man from committing sin.”

A certain man said that there were once three men who
loved labours, and they were monks. The first one chose to go
about and see where there was strife, which he turned into
peace ; the second chose to go about and visit the sick ; but
the third departed to the desert that he might dwell in quiet
ness. Finally the first man, who had chosen to still the con
tentions of men, was unable to make every man to be at peace
with his neighbour, and his spirit was sad ; and he went to
the man who had chosen to visit the sick, and he found him
in affliction because he was not able to fulfil the law which he
had laid down for himself. Then the two of them went to the
monk in the desert, and seeing each other they rejoiced, and
the two men related to the third the tribulations which had
befallen them in the world, and entreated him to tell them how
he had lived in the desert. And he was silent, but after a little
he said unto them, “Come, let each of us go and fill a vessel
“of water”; and after they had filled the vessel, he said unto
them, “Pour out some of the water into a basin, and look
“down to the bottom through it,” and they did so. And he
said unto them, “What do ye see?” and they said, “We see
nothing.” And after the water in the basin had ceased to
move, he said to them a second time, “Look into the water,”
and they looked, and he said unto them, “What do ye see?”
And they said unto him, “We see our own faces distinctly”;
and he said unto them, “Thus is it with the man who dwelleth
with men, for by reason of the disturbance caused by
this affair of the world he cannot see his sins ; but if he live
in the peace and quietness of the desert he is able to see God
clearly.”"

- Compiled by Saint Athanasius (c. 297 - 373). From: Paradise or Garden of the Holy Fathers: Volume 1 Containing the Counsels of the Holy Men and the Questions & Answers of the Ascetic Brethren Generally Known as The Sayings of the Fathers of Egypt.

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The Marian Catechists have put out a call for a Spiritual Bouquet to be prayed for His Excellency Archbishop Raymond L. Burke. Today, June 30 is his 60th birthday and Sunday was his 33rd anniversary of the holy priesthood.

As most people already know, our dear Archbishop is on his way to the Vatican to be the new prefect of the Apostolic Signature, the Church’s supreme court. We taped a television press conference with him the other evening to show the children. It is amazing to me that so many people have been so hostile towards this most humble man and servant of Our Dear Lord . Perhaps they see only his exterior which is strong. But, to look at him with the eyes of the heart, one nearly crumbles with admiration of this holy soul! When he spoke to the press about his new appointment he spoke clearly. However, when asked about leaving St. Louis this dear man actually had to pause he was so choked up. He could then hardly speak because he was so overcome with tears of sadness (which were obviously due to love of the Archdiocese). Oh, how I hope he knows how much we love him here!

My poor little ones were saddened when they saw their dear Archbishop. Young mister looks up to him with such admiration and is very happy for him to be going to Rome. He is taking this news like a good stalwart young man, though I know he is torn between happiness and sadness. He can ‘t help but feel sad he won’t be able to serve mass for him any more. Young Miss was not so tough… she cried. Her words were, “I am so sad”. I said, “That is o.k. you can tell him your sad when you see him at mass”. She said, “No Mommy, if I tell him I’m sad and cry then he’ll be sad and cry and that would not be Christian.” Bless her!

Back to business…

The spiritual bouquet to be offered is specific. The Marian Catechists asks to pray the Chaplet of the Holy Face. This chaplet is a powerful prayer for the triumph of the Church and the downfall of Her enemies. Archbishop Burke has a strong devotion to dear St. Therese of Lisieux and of course we know her religious name was “Sister Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face”. Therese wrote many prayers to express her devotion to the Holy Face. Her poems and prayers helped spread the devotion. She wrote the words “Make me resemble you, Jesus!” on a small card and attached a stamp of the Holy Face to it. She pinned the prayer in a small container over her heart, since at that time the Holy Face Medal did not exist. In August 1895, in her “Canticle to the Holy Face” she wrote:

“Jesus, Your ineffable Image is the star which guides my steps. Ah, You know, Your sweet Face is for me Heaven on earth. My love discovers the charms of Your Face adorned with tears. I smile through my own tears when I contemplate Your sorrows.”

The Chaplet of the Holy Face

For the Triumph of the Church and downfall of Her Enemies

Make the Sign of the Cross, and say:

God, come to my assistance,
Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Next, say 33 times:
Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered;
let those who hate Him flee before His Holy Face.

At the end, say 3 times:
Glory be to the Father…
________________

The formula that we are using for the Chaplet of the Holy Face is a variation of the original chaplet. If you would like to know more about the Holy Face Devotion, visit the websire: www.holyface.org

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I recall hearing the following informational before concerning the “titles” for each of the “hours”. Perhaps this happened years ago when I began my practice of the Liturgy of the Hours prayer and integrated it into my life, but I had since forgotten it. I will say that the good thing about lacking a proper memory and forgetting what you have already been taught is that you can get very excited about learning something wonderful all over again! It never even occurs to you that you have forgotten something and so you don’t feel bad about yourself!

I’m sure many, many people already know that praying the Divine Office is a way of participating in the salvation won in the death and resurrection of Christ. This prayer is a public and common prayer by the people of God and it is rightly considered to be among the primary duties of the Church. Now, notice, we say primary duties of the Church - not just Priest, nuns and consecrated religious! This prayer is for everyone!

Through the formation of the church prayer in common gradually took the form of a set cycle of hours. Now, in praying these hours, we find them a way to recall Christ’s passion. Each of the “seven hours” is linked to an aspect of Christ’s Passion:

• Matins — Office of Readings - The Agony in the Garden
• Laudes — Morning Prayer - Jesus is Condemned to Death
• Terce — Mid-morning - Scourging & Crowning with Thorns
• Sext — Mid-day - The Way of the Cross
• Noon – Mid-afternoon - The Crucifixion
• Vespers — Evening Prayer - Jesus taken down from the Cross
• Compline — Night Prayer - Jesus placed in the Tomb

So maybe you do not have time to participate in the liturgy by taking time out to recite the psalms, but you can always take a moment for reflection and meditation with your breviary and just think about Christ’s passion during these times of the day…

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Continued…… (pay attention to the second to last paragraph… great wisdom!)
In his “Dialogues”, St. Gregory[7] tells of a certain priest, Santolo by name, who was captured by the Vandals and condemned to death. The barbarians told him to choose the manner of his death. He refused, saying: “I am in God’s hands and I gladly accept whatever kind of death he wishes me to suffer at your hands; I wish no other.” This reply was so pleasing to God that he miraculously stayed the hand of the executioner ready to behead him. The barbarians were so impressed by the miracle that they freed their prisoner. As regards the manner of our death, therefore, we should esteem that the best kind of death for us which God has designed for us. When therefore we think of our death, let our prayer be: “O Lord, only let me save my soul and I leave the manner of my death to thee!”

We should likewise unite ourselves to God’s will when the moment of death is near. What else is this earth but a prison where we suffer and where we are in constant danger of losing God? Hence David prayed: “Bring my soul out of prison[8].” St. Teresa too feared to lose God and when she would hear the striking of the clock, she would find consolation in the thought that the passing of the hour was an hour less of the danger of losing God.

St. John of Avila was convinced that every right-minded person should desire death on account of living in peril of losing divine grace. What can be more pleasant or desirable than by dying a good death, to have the assurance of no longer being able to lose the grace of God? Perhaps you will answer that you have as yet done nothing to deserve this reward. If it were God’s will that your life should end now, what would you be doing, living on here against his will? Who knows, you might fall into sin and be lost! Even if you escaped mortal sin, you could not live free from all sin. “Why are we so tenacious of life,” exclaims St. Bernard, “when the longer we live, the more we sin[9]?'’ A single venial sin is more displeasing to God than all the good works we can perform.

Moreover, the person who has little desire for heaven shows he has little love for God. The true lover desires to be with his beloved. We cannot see God while we remain here on earth; hence the saints have yearned for death so that they might go and behold their beloved Lord, face to face. “Oh, that I might die and behold thy beautiful face!” sighed St. Augustine. And St. Paul: “Having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ[10].” “When shall I come and appear before the face of God[11]?” exclaimed the psalmist.

A hunter one day heard the voice of a man singing most sweetly in the forest. Following the sound, he came upon a leper horribly disfigured by the ravages of his disease. Addressing him he said: “How can you sing when you are so terribly afflicted and your death is so near at hand?” And the leper: “Friend, my poor body is a crumbling wall and it is the only thing that separates me from my God. When it falls I shall go forth to God. Time for me is indeed fast running out, so every day I show my happiness by lifting my voice in song.”

Lastly, we should unite ourselves to the will of God as regards our degree of grace and glory. True, we should esteem the things that make for the glory of God, but we should show the greatest esteem for those that concern the will of God. We should desire to love God more than the seraphs, but not to a degree higher than God has destined for us. St. John of Avila[12] says: “I believe every saint has had the desire to be higher in grace than he actually was. However, despite this, their serenity of soul always remained unruffled. Their desire for a greater degree of grace sprang not from a consideration of their own good, but of God’s. They were content with the degree of grace God had meted out for them, though actually God had given them less. They considered it a greater sign of true love of God to be content with what God had given them, than to desire to have received more.”

This means, as Rodriguez explains it, we should be diligent in striving to become perfect, so that tepidity and laziness may not serve as excuses for some to say: “God must help me; I can do only so much for myself.” Nevertheless, when we do fall into some fault, we should not lose our peace of soul and union with the will of God, which permits our fall; nor should we lose our courage. Let us rise at once from this fall, penitently humbling ourselves and by seeking greater help from God, let us continue to march resolutely on the highway of the spiritual life. Likewise, we may well desire to be among the seraphs in heaven, not for our own glory, but for God’s, and to love him more; still we should be resigned to his will and be content with that degree of glory which in his mercy he has set for us.

It would be a serious defect to desire the gifts of supernatural prayer — specifically, ecstasies, visions and revelations. The masters of the spiritual life say that souls thus favored by God, should ask him to take them away so that they may love him out of pure faith — a way of greater security. Many have come to perfection without these supernatural gifts; the only virtues worth-while are those that draw the soul to holiness of life, namely, the virtue of uniformity with God’s holy will. If God does not wish to raise us to the heights of perfection and glory, let us unite ourselves in all things to his holy will, asking him in his mercy, to grant us our soul’s salvation. If we act in this manner, the reward will not be slight which we shall receive from the hands of God who loves above all others, souls resigned to his holy will.

Uniformity With God’s Will

Saint Alphonsus de Ligouri Chapter 6 — Spiritual Desolation.

“Perfection is founded entirely on the love of God: ‘Charity is the bond of perfection;’ and perfect love of God means the complete union of our will with God’s.”

– St. Alphonsus

Translated by Thomas W. Tobin, C.SS.R

• [7] St. Greg. Dial. Bk. 3, chap. 37.[8] Psalm 141:8.

  [9] St. Bernard, Med. chap. 8.

  [10] Philippians 1:23.

  [11] Psalm 41:3.

  [12] St. John Avila. Audi fil. c. 13.

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Continued…..

Palladius, the author of the “Lives of the Fathers of the Desert,” experiencing great disgust in prayer, went seeking advice from the abbot Macarius. The saintly abbot gave him this counsel: “When you are tempted in times of dryness to give up praying because you seem to be wasting your time, say: ‘Since I cannot pray, I will be satisfied just to remain on watch here in my cell for the love of Jesus Christ!’ “Devout soul, you do the same when you are tempted to give up prayer just because you seem to be getting nowhere. Say: “I am going to stay here just to please God.” St. Francis de Sales used to say that if we do nothing else but banish distractions and temptations in our prayers, the prayer is well made. Tauler states that persevering prayer in time of dryness will receive greater grace than prayer made amid great sensible devotion.

Rodriguez cites the case of a person who persevered forty years in prayer despite aridity, and experienced great spiritual strength as a result of it; on occasion, when through aridity he would omit meditation he felt spiritually weak and incapable of good deeds. St. Bonaventure and Gerson both say that persons who do not experience the recollection they would like to have in their meditations, often serve God better than they would do if they did have it; the reason is that lack of recollection keeps them more diligent and humble; otherwise they would become puffed up with spiritual pride and grow tepid, vainly believing they had reached the summit of sanctity.

What has been said of dryness holds true of temptations also. Certainly we should strive to avoid temptations; but if God wishes that we be tempted against faith, purity, or any other virtue, we should not give in to discouraging lamentations, but submit ourselves with resignation to God’s holy will. St. Paul asked to be freed from temptations to impurity and our Lord answered him, saying: “My grace is sufficient for thee[6].”

So should we act when we find ourselves victims of unrelenting temptations and God seemingly deaf to our prayers. Let us then say: “Lord, do with me, let happen to me what thou wilt; thy grace is sufficient for me. Only never let me lose this grace.” Consent to temptation, not temptation of itself, can make us lose the grace of God. Temptation resisted keeps us humble, brings us greater merit, makes us have frequent recourse to God, thus preserving us from offending him and unites us more closely to him in the bonds of his holy love.

Finally, we should be united to God’s will in regard to the time and manner of our death. One day St. Gertrude, while climbing up a small hill, lost her footing and fell into a ravine below. After her companions had come to her assistance, they asked her if while falling she had any fear of dying without the sacraments. “I earnestly hope and desire to have the benefit of the sacraments when death is at hand; still, to my way of thinking, the will of God is more important. I believe that the best disposition I could have to die a happy death would be to submit myself to whatever God would wish in my regard. For this reason I desire whatever kind of death God will be pleased to send me.”

to be continued…..

Uniformity With God’s Will

Saint Alphonsus de Ligouri Chapter 6 — Spiritual Desolation.

“Perfection is founded entirely on the love of God: ‘Charity is the bond of perfection;’ and perfect love of God means the complete union of our will with God’s.”

– St. Alphonsus

Translated by Thomas W. Tobin, C.SS.R

• [5] Eccli. 6:10.[6] 2 Corinthians 12:9.

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I don’t know what I was thinking, I guess I just wasn’t!

Last night when we arrived to Mount Grace for the Novena to the Sacred Heart I did not realize it was the last night! Maybe I was just deeply hoping the novena would continue throughout the whole entire summer, maybe I was in denial, maybe I was just stupid. However, when the organ sounded the entrance hymn of Come Holy Ghost and I turned around to see the Archbishop ready to process into the chapel, I knew the jig was up. The end was here. And I had a very sad private moment and a pang in my heart at the beginning of the mass. Oh, I wish I could communicate how much I love this annual novena! And, by the way, my children do to. I think my husband will even miss going tonight!

The mass was as usual, lovely. The highlight of the evening was after mass when Archbishop Burke blessed the Pink Sister’s new outdoor statue of St. Joseph. They have renovated a side garden next to the front of the chapel to make a swirling meditative path for walking and the most lovely statue of a 30ish St. Joseph with a 2 year old Jesus on his lap. Jesus is looking up and praying to His Heavenly Father. It really is a beautiful statue to be sure.

Now, I would like to mention here that it seems I am quite “attached” to this novena. And that would probably be a good and easy assessment to make of me. I am a poor soul and I suppose I rely greatly on this chapel, these beautiful nuns and this most beautiful novena to the Sacred Heart. Who could not be inspired by their continual adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, day and night, for the good of souls! Deo Gratias! It should raise your hearts to heaven!

However, as I am studying St. John of the Cross’s Ascent of Mount Carmel I must analyze myself a bit…

Saint John of the Cross discusses in detail all forms of misplaced attachment throughout his book. In Chapter 43 of Book III he discusses “the large variety of ceremonies that many people use as another motivating means for prayer.” He also in the previous chapter talks about the “three different kinds of places, I find, by which God usually moves the will.” To be sure, I am motivated by both this chapel and the novena itself and if I did not know St. John of the Cross better, I might think that he is cautioning me and making me think I am too attached to this novena. We know that we all must endeavor to quell attachments (for the good of our souls) however, I also take to heart the goodness of devotion as John says, “God alone knows why he chooses one place in which to receive praise more than another. What we should know is that he does all for our own benefit and so he may hear our prayers in these places - or anywhere we beseech him with integral faith”

I will post some photos now, but I am already missing my very cold pink lemonade and vanilla chocolate chip cookies (which the Sister’s most kindly share with us after every mass!) I don’t know how I’ll get to sleep tonight without them!

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The following prayer is prayed each night at the Pink Sister’s Novena in honor of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus…

Sacred Heart of Jesus, you revealed to St. Margaret Mary your desire to reign over Christian families. To fulfill this desire, we today proclaim your complete dominion over our family. From now on we wish to live your life, to cultivate in our home those virtues which bring us your peace, and avoid that worldliness which you have condemned. You will rule over our minds by simple faith and over our hearts by a love kept aflame by frequent Communion.

Divine Heart of Jesus, be pleased to preside over our family, to bless all we do, to dispel our troubles, sanctify our joys, lighten our sufferings. If one of us should ever offend you by sin, remind us, merciful Jesus, of your goodness and mercy to the penitent sinner. And when the hour of separation strikes, when death brings its grief into our midst, those of us who go and those of us who stay will be submissive to what you have decreed. Then it will be our consolation to remember that the day will come when our entire family, reunited in heaven, will be able to sing forever of your glory and mercy.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the glorious patriarch, St. Joseph, present to you this our Consecration and keep us ever mindful of it all the days of our life. All glory to the Sacred Heat of Jesus, our King and our Father!

Photo above was taken during Prayer before the Noontime mass on Friday.

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The Solemnity of Corpus Christi commemorates the institution of the Holy Eucharist and yesterday it was celebrated with great joy at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. The day started with heavy rain and severe storms, but cleared in time for mass and the outdoor procession. Our Archbishop carried the monstrance throughout the neighborhood stopping at 3 outdoor altars for benediction services before ended up back inside the Cathedral for a final Benediction of the Eucharist. As the crowd processed (my estimate is there were 350 to 450 people) hymns were sung and litanies were prayed. I would LOVE to write about every moment of this most beautiful service, but as I said, we had severe storms in St. Louis yesterday and now we are busy trying to dry out our basement which was flooded with about 1/2 foot of water in the night time! (yeach!) In any case, I wanted to share some photos - which will tell the story much better than I could anyway!

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Today we can begin our Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Feast day next Friday the 30th of May).

OR

We can pray along with my favorite “PINK SISTERS” (Holy Spirit Sister’s of Perpetual Adoration) up at Mount Grace Convent in St. Louis. This year (for whatever reason they have) the Sister’s will begin their annual Novena on the Friday.

BUT

We can do both novenas!

Pope Leo XIII, wrote and issued his Encyclical Letter, Annum Sacrum, on May 25, 1899. The letter consecrated humanity to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Though there had been devotion to the Sacred Heart before this time, Pope Leo XIII hoped his consecration “shall be in a manner the crowning perfection of all the honors that people have been accustomed to pay to the Sacred Heart, and which We confidently trust will be most pleasing to Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.”

Our wonderful (excuse my obvious adjective of admiration) Archbishop, Raymond Burke is a strong devote of the Sacred Heart and he has built a special altar and shrine in our Cathedral Basilica in this honor. He encourages families to “Enthrone” a photo of the Sacred Heart in their homes and there is a special ceremony for doing this (click here).

In a letter written to the faithful of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Archbishop Burke reminded us of Pope John Paul II’s feelings on the Sacred Heart when he said:

“Placing our hearts, with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, into the glorious pierced Heart of Jesus, we are filled with the divine mercy and love which is our mission in the world. Our devoted love of our Lord Jesus, expressed in our devotion to His Most Sacred Heart, is not some static state or feeling. It is, rather, a relationship with God the Son made man, in which we take up with Him the mission given to Him by the Father, so that all men may be saved and our world may be prepared to welcome our Lord at His coming on the Last Day. Placing our hearts into the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we are necessarily engaged in His kingly mission, in which reigning is serving, especially, serving our brothers and sisters in most need (Pope John Paul II, encyclical letter Redemptor hominis [At the Beginning of His Papal Ministry], March 4, 1979, n. 21).”

What words!

Here is a 9 day Novena prayer to start you on your own prayer journey…

Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

OPENING PRAYER

O most Sacred Heart of Jesus, in which dwells the fullness we have all received, who are the fountain of life and holiness.

Grant me a heart that is like unto You. You are our refuge and our strength. You are the Author of Mercy, listen to my prayers and grant that what I ask in faith I may effectually obtain if it be for the good of my soul and the greater glory of God. Amen.

First Day:

Divine and Most Merciful Heart of Jesus, who through Your sincere desire and deep love to bring me into salvation, has given consolation and dispelled the fears that becloud our hearts; inflame my heart with love of You, and wash away the indifference to which my soul is often subjected because of my innumerable sins. Grant me the grace necessary to atone for all my iniquities and ingratitude. O Heart most lovable, may my offering be acceptable to You, so that it may purify me from my sins and grant that I may obtain the grace I need during this novena if it be for the good of my soul and the greater glory of God. Amen.

Second Day:

O most adorable Heart of Jesus, the heaven’s gate that paves the way to the throne of the Most High, deign to hear my supplications. Grant me the graces that will help me love You more and more, so that I may be worthy to praise Your Glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit for all eternity in Your kingdom. Grant me strength of will and perseverance in the fulfillment of Your commandments so that You may bestow upon me the infinite wealth of Your love and thus make a worthy reparation for all my sins. Heart of Jesus most lovable, I humbly ask you to give me the graces I wish to obtain during this novena, if it be for the good of my soul and for the greater glory of God. Amen.

Third Day:

O most holy Heart of Jesus, the safe way that leads to the eternal home, You are the source and fountain of life and holiness. Deign to give me fortitude so that I may not deviate from the course of holiness You have taught me to pursue in order that I may reach Your kingdom of glory. Enlighten my mind that I may learn Your good counsels so that I may also teach even my enemies as You have set the example of loving Your enemies even unto the death on the cross. Grant me the grace to stay away from sin, in order that I may be worthy to obtain the grace I ask during this novena, if it be for the good of my soul and for the greater glory of God. Amen.

Fourth Day:

O Most Holy Heart of Jesus, the perfect mirror of all purity and goodness that should adorn my soul in this life and in the next, deign to inspire my mind to see the truth in Your love for mankind. Thus, I may think of no other thing but the steps that lead to Your Heart, the abyss of all virtues, and I may follow You in purity of action, thought and desire. Grant me the grace that will help me to strive always to expiate for my acts of ingratitude against Your love and mercy. Let me realize that in so doing alone, I shall be made worthy to obtain the graces that I ask during this novena, if it be for the good of my soul and for the greater glory of God. Amen.

Fifth Day:

O most sweet Heart of Jesus, reach unto all that call upon You, who perfects all our work of holiness, I offer this humble supplication to You as a form of my devoted service for my own salvation and the spread of Your kingdom of love on earth. I desire to advance in the work that will gain for me the glory in heaven. So, dearest Heart of Jesus, grant me the grace that will help me please You all the days of my life. Produce in me divine fervor, whereby, having tasted the sweetness of Your love in Holy Communion, I may learn to despise earthly things and love those of heaven. O pure Heart of Jesus, I beg of You to grant me the favors I desire to obtain during this novena, if it be for the good of my soul and for the greater glory of God. Amen.

Sixth Day:

O most admirable Heart of Jesus, source of all graces and most sacred temple that has contained Your infinite love and mercy, I give thanks to You for all the benefits I have obtained through my good works and for the peace and consolation You have given me from that temple of all virtues. My God, I desire to follow Your laws and persevere in the path of goodness so that I may be worthy to appear before Your throne in heaven. Grant me the grace necessary to help me atone for my sins of ingratitude and sloth in the performance of good works. O Heart most merciful, I also ask of You to grant me the favors I pray for during this novena, if it be for the good of my soul and for the greater glory of God. Amen.

Seventh Day:

O most merciful Heart of Jesus, divine propitiation for the sins of man, I believe in the words of the Gospel that “Anything you ask in my name, it shall be given to you.” I beg You to offer up my humble prayers and pleas of pardon to Your Most Holy Father in heaven in order that I may worthily receive His blessings. Let me offer You all my prayers, works and suffering so that I may do my part in expiating for my sins and those of my relations. Deign, O God, to grant me the graces I ask during this novena, if it be for the good of my soul and the greater glory of God. Amen.

Eighth Day:

O most loving Heart of Jesus, Furnace of Charity and Fountain of Love for man, You have willed that I should return that love with all my heart and mind. I desire to avoid all the occasions of sin that have made the path leading to Your Heart most difficult. Deign to grant, therefore, the grace to cleanse my life with pure love of You and let my desires center on loving You more and more. Your grace of love alone can thaw my indifference and inflame my heart with devotion. I also ask of You to grant me the favors I wish to obtain during this novena, if it be for the good of my soul and the greater glory of God. Amen.

Ninth Day:

O Heart of Jesus, that has been the victim for my sins, I finally ask of You to make me sincere in my efforts to love You and to make reparation for all of my sins. Let me then be rooted in charity and always delight in serving You. Let my works reflect my desire to acclaim You the salvation of all those that hope in You and hope of all who die in You. Let me die in Your Heart. O most loving Jesus, for in You alone is my life and resurrection. Grant me the favors I desire to obtain during this novena, if it be for the good of my soul and for the greater glory of God. Amen.

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I came across this quote today which was attributed to St. Therese of Lisieux (though I can not find it translated directly this way). I guess it does not matter so much who wrote the words, what is beautiful ARE the words…

“Virgin full of grace,
I know that at Nazareth you lived modestly,
without requesting anything more.
Neither ecstasies, nor miracles, nor other
extraordinary deeds
enhanced your life,
O Queen of the Elect.

The number of the lowly, “the little ones,” is
very great on earth.
They can raise their eyes to you
without any fear.
You are the incomparable Mother
who walks with them along the common way
to guide them to heaven.

Beloved Mother
in this harsh exile,
I want to live always with you
and follow you every day.
I am enraptured by the contemplation of you
and I discover the depths of the love of your Heart.
All my fears vanish under your Motherly gaze,
which teaches me to weep and to rejoice!

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