aeternus

I will post meditations for praying the rosary for the intention of the election.  I found them at the back of the church today.  Our Bishop Hermann wrote a letter read at all the masses throughout the Archdiocese yesterday.  I am so pleased to have such a wonderful and truthful man of Christ as our administrator at this time while we await a new Archbishop.  Here is his letter:

“We are living in destiny changing times! Our own personal destiny and the destiny of our nation are at stake! We are living in a time of widespread abortion and infanticide. This coming election may very well be the most important election for the cause of life or death.

If you are over 35 years of age, consider yourself lucky to be alive, because up until you were born, it was illegal in this country to kill children. If you are under 35, consider yourself lucky that you are one of the gifted survivors. Over 47 million of your generation were not so lucky and were killed.

In a letter to his people, Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph wrote:

Our Catholic moral principles teach that a candidate’s promise of economic prosperity is insufficient to justify their constant support of abortion laws, including partial-birth abortion, and infanticide for born-alive infants. Promotion of the Freedom of Choice Act is a pledge to eliminate every single limit on abortions achieved over the last thirty-five years. The real freedom that is ours in Jesus Christ compels us, not to take life, but to defend it.

Together with the other bishops of Missouri, I am asking all the faithful of the Archdiocese of St. Louis to make next week a special week of prayer for the protection of human life. I am asking ever parish to offer one Holy Hour of Adoration on one day this following week for the cause of life and human dignity, and I am encouraging all parishioners to attend, if at all possible. If you can’t attend, make a good Confession or ask others to join you in praying the Rosary.

I am also encouraging every family to say the daily Rosary for this same intention. When Christian Europe was threatened by overwhelming odds in 1571, prayer to Our Lady of the Rosary brought about a tremendous victory. If they could do it then, we can do this today. With God’s help, we can make these kinds of choices. This is our calling. We are to be a people of hope. Let us ask Our Lady of Guadalupe to intercede for us.”

The Joyful Mysteries:

Annunciation - As we meditate, dear Jesus, on your holy conception in the womb of our Blessed Mother, we are sad witnesses of a new slaughter of the Innocents, the voluntary destruction of unborn children.  May the grace of Your taking our human nature bring to our country a president and legislators, who uphold the dignity and the sanctity of every human life.

Visitation - Dear Blessed Mother, as you brought Jesus to St. Elizabeth and to St. John the Baptist, please bring your Divine Son into the minds and hearts of each candidate for office in our country and every voter.  May we fiercely guard our first unalienable right, the right to life.

Nativity - Our Lady of Guadalupe, heavenly missionary to the New World, as you brought Jesus to our continent and ended human sacrifice, please continue to be our protector, defender and shield.  Teach our legislators and citizens to walk in the path of moral well-being that there may be realized in each and all the sublime ideal of one nation under God, Who is the only true governor of our beloved America.

The Presentation -  The Child is presented in the Temple because the Child belongs to God,  May all in our country deeply cherish the sanctity of life and elect leaders, who uphold God’s loving commandments.

The Finding in the Temple -  Dearest Jesus, as You taught in the Temple, please impart Your holy wisdom to each one of us that we may know the truth, and guard the truth.  May those who govern and those who vote not consider their own personal opinions or special interests but consider only God’s holy and loving will.

I am quite confused by the violence against Christians in India right now. It has been going on for awhile and since the news died down I had “hoped” that perhaps peace was restoring itself. This morning though brings news of more violence in Kerela. My ears pricked up upon hearing this part of the country mentioned because we have beautiful Carmelite Sisters of St.Teresa who work at the Seminary here in the city and they are from this area of India.

Today I wish to unite my prayers with others who wish to pray for peace and understanding to come upon this nation and peoples. May the Holy Spirit sweep through the land and inspire souls to love and to work together for the good of all humanity in love of our Heavenly Father.

Here is a prayer from Pope John Paul II. It is called “Prayer for Peace To Mary, The Light of Hope”.

Immaculate Heart of Mary,
help us to conquer the menace of evil,
which so easily takes root in the hearts of the people of today,
and whose immeasurable effects
already weigh down upon our modern world
and seem to block the paths toward the future.
From famine and war, deliver us.
From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from every
kind of war, deliver us.
From sins against human life from its very beginning, deliver us.
From hatred and from the demeaning of the dignity of the
children of God, deliver us.
From every kind of injustice in the life of society, both national
and international, deliver us.
From readiness to trample on the commandments of God, deliver us.
From attempts to stifle in human hearts the very truth of God,
deliver us.
From the loss of awareness of good and evil, deliver us.
From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us.
Accept, 0 Mother of Christ, this cry laden with the sufferings of all individual human beings,
laden with the sufferings of whole societies.
Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit conquer all sin: individual
sin and the “sin of the world,” sin in all its manifestations.
Let there be revealed once more in the history of the world the
infinite saving power of the redemption: the power of merciful love.
May it put a stop to evil.
May it transform consciences.
May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the fight of hope.
Amen.

Its Tuesday so I thought to post a reminder about the novena and election prayer we can participate in. I also found this video from Grassroots films. I tried to embed the video into the blog but I could not get it to work so you’ll have to click the link to see it. It is quite beautiful…

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

Here is a friendly request from a reader…

“I wish I would have told you about this before Advent started, but maybe it’s not too late. I learned about this on EWTN a few years ago and they were encouraging people to prepare in Advent and not celebrate Christmas in Advent. I thought you might want to notify the world on your blog about this CD, I’ve never been able to find another one like it, that is, one with only Advent music. And if you do stumble across one, please let me know. Anyway, they are called Brotherhood of Hope and their CD is called A Season of Hope. I’m sure if you google them, you’ll find them and hopefully and audio file so that you can listen to some clips yourself before posting, if you would decide to, to your blog.”

Here is the link:

www.brotherhoodofhope.org

I have debated a little bit over posting about this shameful Golden Compass trilogy but have decided for the love of my Church and my dear Lord it is the right thing to do.

My first unnerving came this week when 7 year-old daughter came home with her monthly Scholastic Book order form. Smack dab on the front page was advertised a new picture book for the movie. To her credit, bless her soul, this little 2nd grader was already empowered and cautioned as to the book and movie’s harmful matter and so raised her hand to tell the teacher that “this book should not be for sale to children”. Many of the class then questioned her saying they could not wait to see the movie. When she told them the movie was about “children trying to KILL God” she got a quite proper reaction – fear! Indeed her classmates had no idea and were shocked by her words. I think the teacher did not want to go into discussion so further questions were put privately to my daughter at recess.

The second shocker came yesterday when my 11 year-old son said he was having to do another “Catholic apologetics and philosophical debate” with person(s) in his class. Bless this little soul too for he really fears for the harm it will do to his friends to be apathetic about the real deception and subterfuge of such militant atheist propaganda. (Mind you this sweet boy spent 1 month of recesses convincing his best friend that the material in the DaVinci code was all bunk! He gave him evidence after evidence refuting each outrageous claim of Mr. Brown.) Nevertheless, many in his class to were eager to see the movie and one boy told of his 4th grade sister reading the book right now.

The shameful and most outrageous thing about this Golden Compass Trilogy is that it is designed to sell such un-God(ly) beliefs to unknowing and innocent little souls and to mislead good and trusting parents into believing the story is actually harmless! The fact is that the author is trying to indoctrinate young minds into skepticism, disbelief and hate of organized religion. He is a man with a clear, clever and I dare say, evil agenda!

I might hope that parents will look further into this subject. As educators of our children it is a certain Christian duty to keep our children as far away from the harms which come at them under many disguises in all subject matters. This film and books series are parading about as innocent and harmless entertainment (and make no mistake, the previews for the movie are FANTASTIC!) But the truth is (and you will discover if you read further below to the list of quotations I have included) that this is another diabolical trap launched on our culture , this time aimed at innocent children.

To combat this most recent assault on the children, our young little souls must be educated in the truths of their faith so they may defend themselves and help to bring about positive change in the world they are to lead. We should not step away from this opportunity to help their intelligence in Catholic philosophies to grow and mature. We must help them to develop wisdom and right judgment! There does exist an ultimate right and wrong - an objective truth which is not to be distorted.

I encourage all you good parents to tell your pastors and parish school principals and librarians about these books. Feel free to write an email or a letter. Cut and paste from this post, download a PDF booklet from the Catholic League (God bless their efforts to get the word out about Catholic bigotry!) or just tell a few of your friends and family members. I wrote a note to my school and they were so very good and appreciative. They are going to send out a notice to all the families and even had the courage to call Scholastic Books! AMEN!

But really, this is a no-brainer. The author himself has said that the books are about “KILLING GOD” so I don’t think we need to be some radical deconstuctionist pseudo philosophers and read the book ourselves to find out if he is actually right. He’s telling us, there is no guess work to be done!

Read below some quotations and factoids you can find available easily by doing a little “googling” around. Protect the little souls entrusted to you!

Quotations from Philip Pullman, author of the Golden Compass series:

“I’ve been flying under the radar, saying things that are far more subversive than anything poor old Harry has said. My books are about killing God,” he explained. (Terry Mattingly/Scripps Howard News Service
Saturday, November 17, 2007)

“I’m an atheist. There’s no God here. There never was.” (Pullman vs. the Magisterium by Terry Mattingly)

· Pullman, along with Michael Rosen, has created a DVD for 11-year-olds called “Why Atheism?” In the video, students talk frankly about their atheism and why they left their religion. Pullman wants atheism to be taught in the schools, which is why he made the DVD. (from “Why Philip Pullman Wants to Teach Children about Atheism,” The Independent, July 10, 2007.)

· When a children’s book was released that portrayed a teenage girl who morphs into a fornicating dog, Pullman objected to the book’s critics—not the book. (Catholic League Booklet : THE GOLDEN COMPASS: AGENDA UNMASKED)

· Of the Narnia books, Pullman says, “I hate them with a deep and bitter passion, with their view of childhood as a golden age from which sexuality and adulthood are a falling away.” In fact, Pullman considers the Narnia series “one of the most ugly and poisonous things I’ve ever read.” (Catholic League Booklet : THE GOLDEN COMPASS: AGENDA UNMASKED)

· Pullman wants to turn the story of Adam and Eve on its head. He beckons kids to learn that “the temptation in the Garden of Eden was that of enlightenment rather than an invitation to evil disobedience.” Indeed, two of his central characters, Will and Lyra, “are a sort of Adam and Eve,” notes Deborah Ross, but “instead of reaffirming the Creation story, CS Lewis-style, they subvert it.” According to Ross, Pullman is “all for Eve listening to the serpent and trying the fruit.” Pullman himself admits that “I see it as a positive act.” When asked if Eve’s defiance shows curiosity and a willingness to embrace life, he answered, “Yes. Absolutely.” (Catholic League Booklet : THE GOLDEN COMPASS: AGENDA UNMASKED)

About the book:

The book tells of Lyra’s quest to rescue a kidnapped friend and then charts her efforts to save the fantastical world she inhabits. She has to fight the forces of the dominant religious authority, the evil Magisterium, which condones the abduction of children for experimentation by cutting. The three-part series culminates in an epic battle in which God dies - at the hand of a child.

Excerpts from the novel:

One fallen angel tells one of the novel’s young heroes, “The Authority, God, the Creator, the Lord, Yahweh, El, Adonai, the King, the Father, the Almighty – those were all names he gave himself. He was never the creator. He was an angel like ourselves – the first angel, true, the most powerful, but he was formed of Dust as we are, and Dust is only a name for what happens when matter begins to understand itself.”

When the hero finally finds this “god,” he is ultimately described as a “demented and powerless” creature that “could only weep and mumble in fear and pain and misery.” The boy then kills this “god” by breaking him out of his crystal cell, thereby evaporating him. The only “god” in this universe is matter.

In the book, the Church is depicted as an organization bent on power, control and the torture of children by cutting.

One heroine in the story who turns from the Church did so when she realized, “there wasn’t any God at all and…the Christian religion is a very powerful and convincing mistake, that’s all.”

From the President of the National Secular Society is flaming mad that the movie’s producers tried to “water down” the aetheism in the book:

It was clear right from the start that the makers of this film intended to take out the anti-religious elements of Pullman’s book,’ said Terry Sanderson, president of the society. ‘In doing that they are taking the heart out of it, losing the point of it, castrating it. It seems that religion has now completely conquered America’s cultural life and it is much the poorer for it. What a shame that we have to endure such censorship here too.’ (Catholic League Booklet : THE GOLDEN COMPASS: AGENDA UNMASKED)

Reality versus fictional facts in the book:

The Roman Catholic Church’s Magisterium

The body consists of the bishops and the Pope. ‘The task of interpreting the Word of God authentically has been entrusted solely to the Magisterium of the Church.’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. 1997, pt. 1, sect. 1, ch. 2, art. 2, III.)
Pullman’s Magisterium

In the parallel universe set up by Pullman in his series His Dark Materials, Magisterium becomes the name of a dark and malevolent religious organisation that perpetrates abuse, torture and murder.
Hollywood’s Magisterium

The Golden Compass, the new film version of Pullman’s Northern Lights, will represent the Magisterium as a catch-all didactic authority. It will now stand for the evils perpetrated by any non-democratic, powerful government.

Role of Scholastic Book Corporation:

“Equally dishonest is the role of Deborah Forte, president of Scholastic Entertainment, the media arm of Scholastic Corporation. She has been associated with the film from the get-go, acting as producer for New Line Cinema.

Scholastic Corporation is the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children’s books. In making the movie, the mega-corporation expressly violated the tenets of its own Credo, one part of which says, “To help build a society free of prejudice and hate, and dedicated to the highest quality of life in community and nation.” Astonishingly, Scholastic also professes a belief in “High moral and spiritual values,” and says its stands square against “discrimination of any kind on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, age, or national origin.” Except when it comes to Christians.

Just as with Pullman, the rank hypocrisy of Scholastic is made worse by its glaring deceitfulness. On its website, it features a short review of each of the three books that comprise His Dark Materials, a short biography of the author and a two- plus page interview with Pullman. Not surprisingly, there is not a single hint of Pullman’s in-your-face atheism.13 In short, it amounts to a sanitized cover-up.” (excerpt from Catholic League Booklet : THE GOLDEN COMPASS: AGENDA UNMASKED)

(more…)

I was just entering chapel last week when I was pulled outside to talk by a man who was in a fury. He is a wonderful, prayerful man who is zealous in his activities for the Lord. To me, and to many others, this man is a great inspiration. I gave him my attention while he heaved out in a sigh, “have you heard about Mother Teresa and the article in Time Magazine?”

Well, I was taken aback. If there was an article in Time Magazine about Mother Teresa surely it would be B A D for in my reformed journalistic opinion, nothing good (for the sake of Catholicism at least) can come from such a wretched periodical. (Shame on me for being so completely nasty, but… well you can see I have a long way to go on my road of purgation!)

I had actually heard a brief account of what was in this Time story, so I muttered that I did not read the article, but I was not hopeful because it erred on the side of Atheism. But my friend, this good and righteous man, was so very quick to point out his utter enthusiasm and happiness with the article. Bless his heart, he was so happy to know that even Mother Teresa suffered the Dark Night. He knew, just as many prayerful and spiritual people understand, that the road to heaven is not always lit up as a shiny and sparkley path of glory and rainbows! Indeed, most of the time it is a rough and dark road navigated only through blind faith and courageous trust in God.

This news about Mother Teresa’s darkness gave my friend an even more sincere love and admiration for this great Blessed of Calcutta. Truly, it was wonderful to see the happiness in his face because this man knows and can relate to the torture of a soul lost in this abyss of darkness.

I have been thinking about dear, dear Mother Teresa a whole lot this past week. At first I wanted to read the story about her in Time, but I decided against that (for I am afraid I would not be as forgiving as my friend if I read one bad word about this heroic woman). Instead I spent the week musing on the different aspects of Mother and of her Sisters and the influence they have had on me over the years.

The first time I actually saw, in person, religious Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity was in JFK airport. I was 18 years old and on my way to London with a friend and her family. The airport was packed and there was hardly any room to move about. But in a flash, amidst the flailing throng of travelers I saw their white and blue saris blurred ahead of me. I knew exactly who they were and my whole person just stopped. Stopped dead in my tracks. I was unable to move, unable to speak and immediately tears filled me eyes. I just stood there frozen and starred. It was like getting hit over the head with a brick and you never saw it coming. The beauty before me was tremendous and I knew it deep inside. I was being jostled and bumped about by an anxious scurry around me but I still could not move. Eventually my friend noticed I was no longer walking with her and that there was something amiss. Heading back through the crowd she found me and shook me out of my sweet reverie. I shall never forget that instance of my first encounter…

There have been numerous other encounters since that time. Stories of small miracles, stories of prayer, stories of humility and grace - each tale as beautiful as you can imagine. But the most important one to date occurred this past spring. I was at mass with my children on a Saturday morning when three Missionaries of Charity came and sat a couple of pews ahead of us. After mass was over they came over to my daughter (age 6) and knelt down to her. With great love and affection they looked her straight in the eye and told her she was a beautiful soul. Smiling and patting her little head they told her with beautiful voices that Jesus loved her very much. My daughter was so taken by this, so moved, that she could not stop beaming the most happy smile for the rest of the day. Indeed, there was nothing which could dare extinguish that joy and when it came time for bed she wanted to recount the story to me again and again. In fact, she still likes to recall this event, and each time it is with the same joy. What a blessing! What a great and tremendous blessing! Thank you Jesus for showing your love to this little girl! May the name of the Lord be praised!

So that is what I have tried to think of this week in meditation. I have tried to focus on how great a suffering our dear Mother Teresa endured. She always spoke of Jesus’ suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane as being far more painful than the pain endured during His crucifixion. For in the Garden He suffered eternally in His Spirit. The physical suffering of His torture, though this be of a magnitude unimaginable, did present itself a limit in death. But the suffering in the garden was a suffering for all time. It knows not time, past or future, it is a abyss of suffering for souls which lasts for ever

How great than was Mother’s spiritual suffering. How alone the humble soul felt by not feeling God’s presence. Indeed, her desire to keep loving the poor, her desire to serve them and humble herself to them was all for love of Jesus. There is NO lack of faith in this what so ever, NONE at ALL! Instead it is itself a brilliant paradox. Her faith was TRUE faith. It was not based in feelings or emotions. It was pure, blind, courageous faith!

How much more should we admire her and take her for our example during our own attempts at purification of our egos and temperments. Dear, dear Mother, thank you so much for all you still continue to give us as you lead us to your Jesus. May you be serving Him now as you served Him with us…. AMEN.

Here is a nice little tid bit from the Newswire…

28-August-2007 — ZENIT.org News Agency
Mother Teresa’s Dark Night Unique, Says Preacher VATICAN CITY, AUG. 27, 2007 (Zenit.org).

- Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s dark night of the soul kept her from being a victim of the media age and exalting herself, says the preacher of the Pontifical Household. Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa said this in an interview with Vatican Radio, commenting on previously unpublished letters from Mother Teresa, now made public in Doubleday’s book “Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light,” edited by Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, postulator of the cause of Mother Teresa’s canonization.

In one of her letters, Mother Teresa wrote: “There is so much contradiction in my soul. Such deep longing for God — so deep that it is painful — a suffering continual — and yet not wanted by God — repulsed — empty — no faith — no love — no zeal. Souls hold no attraction. Heaven means nothing — to me it looks like an empty place.”

Father Cantalamessa explained that the fact that Mother Teresa suffered deeply from her feeling of the absence of God affirms that it was a positive phenomenon. Atheists, he contended, are not afflicted by God’s absence but, “for Mother Teresa, this was the most terrible test that she could have experienced.” He further clarified that “it is the presence-absence of God: God is present but one does not experience his presence.” Martyrdom Father Cantalamessa contended that Mother Teresa’s spiritual suffering makes her even greater. He said: “The fact that Mother Teresa was able to remain for hours in front of the Blessed Sacrament, as many eye-witnesses have testified, as if enraptured … if one thinks about the condition she was in at that moment, that is martyrdom!

“Because of this, for me, the figure of Mother Teresa is even greater; it does not diminish her.” The Capuchin priest further lauded Mother Teresa’s ability to keep her spiritual pain hidden within her. “Maybe, this was done in expiation for the widespread atheism in today’s world,” he said, adding that she lived her experience of the absence of God “in a positive way — with faith, with God.”

Not scandalous Father Cantalamessa affirmed that Mother Teresa’s dark night should not scandalize or surprise anyone. The “dark night,” he said, “is something well-known in the Christian tradition; maybe new and unheard of in the way Mother Teresa experienced it.” He added: “While ‘the dark night of the spirit’ of St. John of the Cross is a generally preparatory period for that definitive one called ‘unitive,’ for Mother Teresa it seems that it was one stable state, from a certain point in her life, when she began this great work of charity, until the end. “In my view, the fact of this prolongation of the ‘night’ has meaning for us today. I believe that Mother Teresa is the saint of the media age, because this ‘night of the spirit’ protected her from being a victim of the media, namely from exalting herself. “In fact, she used to say that when she received great awards and praise from the media, she did not feel anything because of this interior emptiness.”

I am so very happy to learn that my favorite Podcast, Meditations from Carmel, was just nominated as one of the best 2007 Podcasts in the Religion Inspiration category at the Peoples Choice Podcast awards. This is actually a very big deal because this is the BIG podcast award giver on the Internet. Last year Fr. Rodrick (from the Netherlands who is a technology geek and started the SQPN network) won as the overall peoples choice beating out dozens and dozens of secular podcasts (and many of which are on horrible and vile topics). It was a great affirmation for those who are Podcasting for the Lord!

The SQPN network is filled with some rather Catholic light bantering and I’m not too sure you will find it very prayerful except for the PrayerCast (which only has 4 episodes) and Verbum Domini (daily scripture readings from the Liturgical Calendar). I pray that the network will become more evangelistic in teaching our faith to the world. They are not very “EWTN” at all (if I am to use EWTN as a adjective). There is a nice podcast on their network though called the SaintCast which can be quite interesting.

There is also a very large group of Protestant podcasting going on and they can be found on the Godcast Network. You will find a few Catholic’s amongst the very large group, but you’ll have to scroll around a bit to find them.

Anyway, I am, obviously, quite partial to this Carmelite podcast. It is so wonderful to “hear the voice of Teresa of Avila” and I like Therese’s voice too. But, it is their words about prayer and devotion and love of our Lord through the Garden of Carmel which help to elevate my mind and heart… ahhhhh…..

The contest will run for the next 2 weeks and you can vote daily. I am SURE the Carmelites would value the support. Also, it would be a strong voice to the Catholic community what a great tool the Internet can be in being the voice of good and love in the world. –AMEN!

Here is a news release about the contest:

The Meditations from Carmel Podcast has been voted into the final round of the 2007 Podcast Awards in the “People’s Choice Religion Inspiration” category. In this year’s nomination procedure a count of over 335,000 people submitted, 6 million plus shows! Voting for each Podcast category begins today and you may vote 1 time per day for your favorite podcast. We hope the faithful will support Catholic media by casting their daily ballot!

About the Podcast:

Meditations from Carmel podcast is produced by the Secular Carmelite Community at the Carmel of St. Joseph in St. Louis, Missouri. The meditations come directly from the treasury of writings of the great Carmelite Saints including St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Therese of Lisieux, Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity, St. Teresa of the Andes, Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, St. Teresa Benedicta and many others. As Carmelites living in the world, we listen to hear the whisper of God in the silence of our hearts. We seek Him, who we know loves us, and contemplate His wonders. We hope these short reflections will inspire you to take up the practice of prayer in your life. As St. Teresa of Avila reminds us is:

“Prayer is nothing else than an
intimate sharing between friends;
it means taking time
frequently
to be alone with Him
who we know loves us.”

Voting:

You can vote each day between July 28 and August 11, 2007 for your favorite shows at www.PodcastAwards.com. Voters may select one or all categories to vote for and a verification email with a clickable link will be emailed to you so that the vote can be verified.

About the 2007 Podcast Awards
The People’s Choice:

We have taken great care in the design and launching of this site to give all podcasters an equal chance in the opportunity to win a People’s Choice Podcasting Award in their specific category.

This is the third annual event that will recognize the best podcasters in the world by allowing the people (Listeners and Podcasters) to nominate, and then vote for their favorite podcast. This will culminate with awards and prizes being given during the 2007 Awards ceremony that take place during Podcast Expo in Ontario California on September 28, 2007. The website will see over 250,000 hits per day based upon 2006 levels.

Other Catholic Podcast Nominations:

People’s Choice
- Catholic Insider

Best Mobile Phone Formated Podcast
- Praystation Portable

Cultural/Arts
- Secrets of Harry Potter

Health/Fitness
- Healthy Catholic

PodSafe Music
- Catholic Rockers

Religion Inspiration
- Catholic Insider
- Daily Breakfast
- iPadre
- Meditations from Carmel
- The Hands and Feet Show

I wonder how long it will be before anyone guesses why I love this podcast so much?…..

Last week I was privileged to meet someone quite astounding. We met after mass at the Carmelite Monastery where she had been staying over the past week or so. She was in the United States to meet with colleagues in her organization called “International Research Center for Spirituality in Business Practice” which is a program affiliated with the University of Mystic, at Avila, in Spain.

The aim of her project is to promote spirituality in the workplace by leadership training. They “favor spiritual progress of people at work, as managers and leaders, by giving them answers to meet the challenges of today’s economic world.”

This sounds not unlike what is today quite common in America, Bible Study at lunch with your colleagues (or in a way motivational efforts to lift employees to a higher level in the whole lives not just at work). To challenge these efforts already in place in many places of employment, the center is looking to evangelize through authentic Catholic spiritualites and charisms. They want to make an effort to show the beauty behind our tradition by introducing prayer in pure and time tested fashions. Igniting anew the enthusiasm for those special graces contained within the Church’s observance of prayerful and reverent worship through the many flowering vines of beauty we hold through sacred tradition and history.

The center for spirituality in business practice is an “intellectual frame of Carmelite mystic theology, but in a non exclusive way. The variety of spiritualities within the Roman Catholic Church (Benedictine, Franciscan, Dominican, Ignacian, Rhenan, of the French school, the Opus Dei…), the other religions (other Christian churches, Jews, Muslim…), and agnostics are strongly encouraged to participate.

This sounds great does it not? A blessing indeed! Something to be excited about and shout from the rooftops! But, here is the catch… this wonderful woman is trying to make this happen in France. Do I have to say more, or have you already sighed in a knowing sadness just what seeming futility she is up against? Though she is not the least bit pessimistic about the value and importance of this ministry she is trying to launch, surely I was able to see her holding back tears of frustration over the weight of her task in France.

Not to worry though, I am confident that all will work out for the best. You see, the hero of this story lives just two doors down from “Les Buissonnetes” in Liseiux. For those of you who do not know this famed address, it is the childhood home of Saint Thérèse (the littel flower of Carmel) where her father (Louis) moved after the death of Thérèse’s mother (Zelie). The home is on a little road called “Chemin du Paradis” (“Paradise Way”). It was in this home that Thérèse Martin spent eleven years of her life here, until she joined the Carmelite Convent, and here that our new Carmelite Apostle is beginning her quest to bring Carmelite Spirituality into the workplace. Is it no small consolation to have a friend and neighbor like Thérèse on your side! Not to mention I pray that the other holy Martin Sisters (Carmelites: Mother Agnes of Jesus, Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart, Sister Genevieve of the Holy Face and Visitation Sister Françoise-Thérèse) will be helping too! May they send down the roses from heaven please!

I thought it quite fitting then yesterday when I read of Pope Benedict’s equal frustration with contemporary European Culture and its attempts at playing with this new societal evil which is an irrational new humanism. The pontiff noted “the current cultural crisis in Europe as suffering from “a false dichotomy between theism and authentic humanism.” In its extreme form, this belief sees “an irreconcilable conflict between divine law and human freedom”.”

It seems that in Europe tradition and spirituality are like oil and water. Tradition is a mere “habit” while the actual practice of heritage (like spirituality) is an exercise they are unwilling to partake in. It is like the exact opposite of America. Here we will indulge in plenty of spirituality, though certainly it can be seen that it adhears to no absolute form of tradition. How many protestant churches are there now listed in the Yellow Pages? 5,ooo or so!?!

I pray for the efforts being born in a land which is so desolate. It certainly seems to me that the lands of rationalist Europe are completely opportune to hear a different voice. The voice of truth and love at an objective level. It certainly gets tiresome listening to the secular voice shouting that “everyone is right” no matter how skewed their viewpoint. I pray that instead of following the heard of sheep falling off the cliff of despair that the voice of our Heavenly Father will be heard. It is He who wants to shepherd us all into an enchanted and blissful eternity of ceaseless love with Him.

I would WELCOME any thoughts or ideas about this new “Center for Spirituality in the Workplace”. Is this a project that could happen in America or am I totally wrong? Is there a chance this could happen with a good old grass roots effort? Would not this effort be welcomed by many Third Order community apostolates? Remember this is not just a Carmelite effort. Please forward this article on to any persons you might think could benefit from it and I will send it along to France.

In the meantime, here is the article from the Catholic News Agency:
The Holy Father Reflects on “A New Humanism”

Vatican City, June 24 (CNA).-The Holy Father joined rectors and university professors from all over Europe in the Paul VI Auditorium on Saturday to discuss the theme of a ‘New Humanism.’ The meeting was organized to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, “which gave rise to the present European Union”, the Holy Father noted.

The pontiff first noted the moral climate of Europe: “Europe is presently experiencing a certain social instability and diffidence in the face of traditional values, yet her distinguished history and her established academic institutions have much to contribute to shaping a future of hope.”

Commenting on what this new philosophy might embody, Benedict remarked: “Promoting a new humanism, in fact, requires a clear understanding of what this “newness” actually embodies. Far from being the fruit of a superficial desire for novelty, the quest for a new humanism must take serious account of the fact that Europe today is experiencing a massive cultural shift, one in which men and women are increasingly conscious of their call to be actively engaged in shaping their own history.”

The current moral and intellectual crisis is largely due to the attempt “to build a regnum hominis detached from its necessary ontological foundation.” Modern man has attempted to construct a kingdom of mankind, without any reference to its Creator.

The Holy Father diagnosed the current cultural crisis in Europe as suffering from “a false dichotomy between theism and authentic humanism.” In its extreme form, this belief sees “an irreconcilable conflict between divine law and human freedom”.

Quoting his predecessor, John Paul II, Benedict questioned the result of man’s progress: “we need to ask ‘whether in the context of all this progress, man, as man, is becoming truly better, that is to say, more mature spiritually, more aware of the dignity of his humanity, more responsible and more open to others.’” (Redemptor Hominis, 15).

Benedict spoke of a theme often touched on by John Paul II: Man cannot know himself without knowing Christ. He said, “In my recent visit to Brazil, I voiced my conviction that “unless we do know God in and with Christ, all of reality becomes an indecipherable enigma.”

In conclusion, the Holy Father referred to universities as “laboratories of culture”, stated that they provided a needed service of wisdom to society, and hoped that they would work, with the help of theologians, to address “the questions of particular importance to society.”

Top Photograph: The room of Thérèse’s sister, Marie, where she was cured by the Virgin Mary on Sunday 13th May, 1883.

Pope Says Saint a Model of “Purified Love” Letter Recalls Life of St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi

VATICAN CITY, MAY 29, 2007 (Zenit.org).-

St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi is a symbolic figure of living love that recalls an essential dimension of every Christian life, says Benedict XVI.

The Pope said this in a letter to the Cardinal Ennio Antonelli of Florence, Italy, in honor of the 400th anniversary of the Carmelite mystic’s death (1566-1607).

“She did not let herself be conditioned by the world; the world, though Christian, did not satisfy her desire to become ever more similar to her crucified Spouse,” wrote the Holy Father.

Born in Florence on April 2, 1566, into a noble family, she was baptized with the name Catherine. The future saint entered the Monastery of San Giovannino of the Dames of Malta.

It was there, on March 25, 1576, that she received her first Communion, and then a few days later, she made a vow of perpetual virginity.

When she was 16, she entered the cloistered Carmelite Monastery of St. Mary of the Angels and took the name Mary Magdalene.

In March 1584, she fell ill, but was able to make her religious profession later that year on the feast of the Holy Trinity.

Ecstasies

“Thus began an intense mystical period from which would come her fame as a great ecstatic,” recalled the Pope.

Her confessors, in order to determine if these ecstasies where divinely inspired, obliged her to tell her superiors everything that she was experiencing. Her sisters wrote down her words during and after the ecstasies.

Benedict XVI described these as intense experiences “that, at only 19 years old, rendered her capable of understanding the mystery of salvation — from the incarnation of the Word in Mary’s womb to the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.”

These experiences were published as “Forty Days” (1584), “Discussions” (1585), and “Revelations and Understandings” (1585).

The volumes describe “eight days of wonderful ecstasy from the vigil of Pentecost to the Feast of the Trinity,” wrote the Holy Father.

He continued: “Five years of interior purification were to follow — Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi spoke of it in her book ‘Probation,’ in which the Word, her Spouse, removed from her the feeling of grace and left her, like Daniel in the lions’ den, to suffer many trials and temptations.

“Her great desire for Church reform was born during this time, after witnessing rays of light from on high in the summer of 1586, showing her the true state of the Church in the era after the Council of Trent.

“Like Catherine of Siena, she felt ‘compelled’ to write letters to the Pope, cardinals of the Curia, her archbishop and other Church leaders, encouraging them to work for the ‘Renewal of the Church,’ as the title of the manuscript says.”

Calvary

Eventually, tuberculosis forced her to slowly withdraw from the active life of the community.

“Purified love, which beat so strongly in her heart, opened her to the desire for full conformity with Christ, her Spouse, even unto sharing with him the ‘nudo patire’ [naked suffering] of the cross,” the Pope continued. “The last three years of her life were a true Calvary of sufferings for her.”

She died on May 25, 1607. Her incorrupt body is under the altar of the Church of the Monastery of St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi in Careggi, Florence.

She was beatified on May 8, 1626, by Pope Urban VIII, also from Florence, and was canonized by Pope Clement IX on April 28, 1669.

Benedict XVI added: “During her life she would ring the bells and exhort her fellow sisters saying: ‘Come to love Love!’

“The great mystic from Florence, from her convent and from the Carmelite monasteries that aspire to her, we pray that we may still hear her voice in the entire Church, spreading the proclamation of God’s love for every human creature.”

China to Dynamite Shrine to Our Lady of Mount Carmel
TIANJIAJING, China, JUNE 21, 2007 (Zenit.org ).

The sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel will be dynamited following a government decision that the pilgrimage site is a place of illegal religious activity.

The Henan Province government will prevent the annual July 16 pilgrimage, which normally draws 40,000 pilgrims for the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, AsiaNews reported.

The shrine was built in 1903 by a priest from the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, Monsignor Stefano Scarsella, then apostolic vicar to northern Henan. The shrine was meant to thank the Blessed Virgin for preserving Christians from the dangers of the Boxer Rebellion.

The sanctuary lies in Tianjiajing, in the Diocese of A! nyang, in a scenic, mountainous area that some speculate will be used for a commercial or government building.

The provincial government has mobilized 700 soldiers for military exercises in the area since May 12, when the planned destruction was announced. Roads leading to the shrine are closed and pedestrians who go near the area are searched.

The faithful of the Diocese of Anyang, appealing through AsiaNews, said: “We ask all our brothers and sisters in the Lord to pray for us and spread our message to all the faithful of the world.”

MORE from Asia News

It seems difficult to imagine this happening. This small shrine certainly does not appear to be threatening in any way. Oh Mother, we shall place this cause in your hands. For the sake of the Faithful in China:

O, most beautiful flower
Of Mount Carmel,
Fruitful vine,
Splendor of Heaven.
Blessed Mother of eh Son of God,
Immaculate Virgin,
Assist me in this my necessity.
O, Star of the Sea, help me
And show me herin
You are my mother.
O, Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Queen of Heaven and earth,
I humbly beseech you
From the bottom of my heart
To succor me in this necessity.
There are none that can withstand
Your power,’
O, show me herin you are my mother.
O, Mary, conceived without sin,
Pray for us who have recourse to Thee.
Sweet Mother, I place this cause
In your hand.
Amen

Here is an article from the “Indian Catholic” who talked to the “Father of the Internet in Thailand” Srisakdi Charmonman. Srisakdi thinks that on-line communications could be such an effective evangelizer in devloping countries because their young people are so attracted to Internet Media.

He says:

“Catholics need a new strategy to attract people. The most effective way is to use available media. Catholics may join Internet chat rooms or forums, and show how important being Catholic is.

The Catholic Church should train priests to use the Internet and understand how to use media. Every priest should have his own website and chat room. Well-known websites and chat rooms should be developed and owned by Catholics, to communicate with more people.

To communicate with people through the Internet, you have to know how to speak or communicate the same topic in a different way with different people.” (READ MORE)

I am most pleased that this “Thai Father of the Internet” has such good things to say about Catholic and the Internet. Unfortunately, the ORIGINAL “Father of the Internet”, Vint Cerf (now of Google fame) is too busy battling the XXX domain name monsters with his position as President of ICANN to chime in on this. Please pray for Mr. Cerf so that he will continue to battle the deamons of on-line pornography!

The top photo is from the Knights of Columbus website in North Merrik, New York.

I would like to make an announcment about the upcomming Outdoor Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel at the Carmel of St. Joseph in St. Louis, Missouri. The dates will be earlier this year and I know everyone would like to update their itineraries like me!

This Novena will be the 59th year it is held on the Monastery’s front lawn.  As usual, the outdoor altar will be used and the old lights will be strung out again from the trees to provide a little light (along with the fireflies!). What is unusual is that Carmelites all over the world are celebrating the 800th Anniversary of the “Rule of St. Albert” this year. That rule (which have now changed over into a Constitution) was established by Albert, the Patriarch of Jerusalem. The Carmelites asked him to write for them a “formula of life” based on their current method of prayer upon the mountain top and caves surrounding Mount Carmel in Haifa.

To live in allegiance, to bind oneself by oath, is the heart of the Rule. As the first hermits on Mount Carmel desired to follow Christ by a solitary life meditating on the law of the Lord day and night so Carmelites today do the same.

When the first Carmelites were forced to flee Mount Carmel, they found that they could turn every place they lived into a Mount Carmel. “In whatever place you live, draw away from the finite and enter into enter into the infinite space which is God. Turn every place you live into a Mount Carmel.”

Here is a list of the celebrants for the novena masses. Write them in your schedule!

Novena Speakers and Dates:

Sunday, July 8
Rev. Eugene Morris
Episcopal Vicar for the Permanent Diaconate

Monday, July 9
Rev. Nicholas J. Muenks
Associate Pastor, St. Clement of Rome

Tuesday, July 10:
Rev. Stephen P. Giljum
Associate Pastor, Immaculat Conception, Dardenne

Wednesday, July 11:
Msgr. Patrick K Hambrough
Pastor, St. Mark

Thursday, July 12:
Rev. Timothy L. Bannes
Associate Pastor, Holy Infant

Friday, July 13:
Rev. Timothy P. Elliot
Pastor, St. Gianna

Saturday, July 14:
Rev. Timothy P., Cronin
Rector, Cardinal Glennon College Seminary

Sunday, July 15:
Rev. Edward M. Rice
Pastor, St. John the Baptist

Monday, July 16:
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The Most Reverend Raymond L. Burke Archbishop of St. Louis

Rosary and Benediction at 7:15
Mass begins at 8:00

Visit the Sister’s Website

This is a photo from the 2005 Novena…

I have the Carmelite Podcast, Meditations from Carmel, liked on my Blogroll, but want to say how WONDERFUL their latest podcast is! It is from Pere Jacques Bunel who is most famous from the movie “Au revoir, les enfants” about his role in World War II.

As history records, when the Nazis occupied France in 1940, Père Jacques joined the French Resistance. As part of the resistance, he hid three Jewish boys in the Petit-College, protecting them by giving them Christian names. Eventually the boys identities were discovered and the three boys were immediately deported to Auschwitz and executed. Following detainment at Fontainebleau, Compiègne, and Neue Bremm, Père Jacques was finally sent to the concentration camp at Mauthausen/Gusen in Austria. He remained there for a year until the American forces liberated the camp. A month after obtaining his freedom, however, he died in St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Linz, emaciated and exhausted from sixteen months of cruel suffering at the hands of the Nazis.

This particular Podcast on the Meditations from Carmel website is from a conference he gave to the Carmelite nuns at Pontoise in September 1943, four months before the Nazis arrested him. He councils the nuns to search for the “quiet uninterrupted conversation with God”. He says:

“We can neither find nor embrace God, just as we cannot sit at his feet in order to gaze lovingly upon him, if we are immersed in noise and activity. We cannot hear the voice of God, who speaks without words, except in silence. ”

I really love this episode of the podcast. The voice of Pere Jacques is so soothing and I really feel as though the saint was speaking just to me… maybe I am to nutty, but I do think this! Give it a listen yourself and tell me what you think!

The conference in the Podcast comes from the book, Listen to the Silence A Retreat with Pere Jacques Translated and Edited by Francis J. Murphy.  It is published by ICS Publications Institute of Carmelite Studies Washington, D.C. 2005.  I have read this book and would really reccomend it as a wonderful little book full of the conferences Pere Jacques gave to the Carmelite Nuns.  They are short enough for quick reading and meditation afterwards.

Ah, we have reached the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus! AMEN! The novena at the Pink Sisters will conclude tonight with Bishop Robert Hermann and the most outstanding Alleluia Chorus! There seems to be a little bit of a “let down” when the final night of the novena is over. Just when you get into the habit of going every night it is over and everyone seems to linger in the chapel with the Blessed Sacrament a little longer tonight. And of course, one must have an extra cup of pink lemonade to hold them over until next year!!

Today, also, Archbishop Raymond Burke will anoint two Deacons into the priesthood at the Cathedral Basilica. These young men are from the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest and they follow the traditional Latin Mass and have their St. Louis home at the beautiful St. Francis de Sales Oratory. Apparently this is the first time the traditional Latin liturgy will be used in an ordination here in more than 40 years!

Also of “Sacred Heat” news is that Archbishop Burke will be consecrating a new altar at the Cathedral Basilica on Sunday afternoon. The shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus will be installed in the west transept of the cathedral basilica, directly across from the baptistery and ambry, which are in the east transept. The space for the shrine is ample without necessitating the removal of any pews or disturbing, in any other way, the present ordering of the space in the cathedral basilica.

The image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has been created by the Vatican Mosaic Studio. It is modeled after the image of the Sacred Heart in the Archbishop’s Residence, which has been reproduced in various sizes for the devotion of the faithful. It is also on the holy card with the Morning Offering, which is distributed by the archdiocese.

The mosaic image of the Sacred Heart will be placed in an altarpiece made of marble from Pietrasanta in Italy. The shrine will include stands with votive candles to represent our prayers continuously lifted up to the glorious Heart of Jesus.

The shrine has been designed by Duncan G. Stroik of the School of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. He is internationally known for his design of beautiful churches and chapels, in accord with the long tradition of sacred architecture, at an affordable cost for the parish or Catholic institution. His design of the shrine of the Sacred Heart is truly beautiful and, therefore, inspiring.

The Archbishop has also encouraged the faithful to prayerfully consider “enthroning” an image of the Sacred Heart in their homes. There are 12 promises that go with the displaying of the Sacred Heart in a family home. Usually this is done by hanging the image of Jesus on the wall and having a priest come and “Enthrone” Him. The “Enthronement” is a small ceremony with special devotional prayers that invoke the protection of the Sacred & Immaculate Hearts. These 12 promises were not given in a “list” form to Saint Margaret Mary by Jesus, but as she wrote about what Jesus had told her about His loving Heart, these promises emerged. Some long time later an American businessman gleaned these promises from Saint Margaret Mary’s writings, and made a list for us to contemplate and hold.

The Twelve Promises of Our Blessed Lord to St. Margaret Mary for those who are devoted to His Sacred Heart (taken from her autobiography and letters):

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will give peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. They shall find in my Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of death.
5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and Infinite Ocean.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
9. I will bless the homes in which the image of my Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honored
10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in my Heart and it shall never be effaced.
12. The All-Powerful Love of my Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under my displeasure, nor without receiving the Sacraments; my Heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.

Since the 16th century Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. The month of June is set apart for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “From among all the proofs of the infinite goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion.” These words of Pope Pius XI refer to the Sacred Heart Devotion, which in its present form dates from the revelations given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673-75.
The devotion consists in the divine worship of the human heart of Christ, which is united to His divinity and which is a symbol of His love for us. The aim of the devotion is to make our Lord king over our hearts by prompting them to return love to Him (especially through an act of consecration by which we offer to the Heart of Jesus both ourselves and all that belongs to us) and to make reparation for our ingratitude to God.

Here are some great prayers to the Sacred Heart:

INVOCATION

O Heart of love, I put all my trust in Thee; for I fear all things from my own weakness, but I hope for all things from Thy goodness.
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART

Hail! O Sacred Heart of Jesus, living and quickening source of eternal life, infinite treasure of the Divinity, and burning furnace of divine love. Thou art my refuge and my sanctuary, 0 my amiable Savior. Consume my heart with that burning fire with which Thine is ever inflamed. Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Thy love, and let my heart be so united with Thine, that our wills may be one, and mine in all things be conformed to Thine. May Thy divine will be equally the standard and rule of all my desires and of all my actions. Amen.
Saint Gertrude

FOR THE CHURCH

O most holy Heart of Jesus, shower Thy blessings in abundant measure upon Thy holy Church, upon the Supreme Pontiff and upon all the clergy; to the just grant perseverance; convert sinners; enlighten unbelievers; bless our relations, friends and benefactors; assist the dying; deliver the holy souls in purgatory; and extend over all hearts the sweet empire of Thy love. Amen.

A PRAYER OF TRUST

O God, who didst in wondrous manner reveal to the virgin, Margaret Mary, the unsearchable riches of Thy Heart, grant that loving Thee, after her example, in all things and above all things, we may in Thy Heart find our abiding home.
Roman Missal

ACT OF LOVE

Reveal Thy Sacred Heart to me, O Jesus, and show me Its attractions. Unite me to It for ever. Grant that all my aspirations and all the beats of my heart, which cease not even while I sleep, may be a testimonial to Thee of my love for Thee and may say to Thee: Yes, Lord, I am all Thine;
pledge of my allegiance to Thee rests ever in my heart will never cease to be there. Do Thou accept the slight amount of good that I do and be graciously pleased to repair all m] wrong-doing; so that I may be able to bless Thee in time and in eternity. Amen.
Cardinal Merry del Val

MEMORARE TO THE SACRED HEART
Remember, O most sweet Jesus, that no one who has had recourse to Thy Sacred Heart, implored its help, or sought it mercy was ever abandoned. Encouraged with confidence, O tenderest of hearts, we present ourselves before Thee, crushes beneath the weight of our sins. In our misery, O Sacred Hear. of Jesus, despise not our simple prayers, but mercifully grant our requests.

Prayer Source: Prayer Book, The by Reverend John P. O’Connell, M.A., S.T.D. and Jex Martin, M.A., The Catholic Press, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1954

A great link from EWTN for Meditating on the Sacred Heart

NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART

O most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore Thee, I love Thee and with a lively sorrow for my sins, I offer Thee this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to Thy will. Grant, good Jesus, that I may live in Thee and for Thee. Protect me in the midst of danger; comfort me in my afflictions; give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, Thy blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Within Thy Heart I place my every care. In every need let me come to Thee with humble trust saying: Heart of Jesus help me.