aeternus

Happy Feast Day!

I pray today many souls will be open to the invitation of protection and maternal love promised by Our Lady of Mt. Carmel to those who wear her garment of grace, the most holy scapular!

A quick note:

Last evening, at the novena, I was so fortunate and so completely blessed to receive a new scapular from some new friends. I have a special devotion to St. Terese of the Andes and met a wonderful married couple from Chile. We spoke at length about what a great feast happens in their county during the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (July 16) and St. Teresa of the Andes (July 13). They said it is a National Holiday! WOW! They brought me a special scapular from Chile and on it is a photograph of dear St. Teresa of the Andes. Oh, I will treasure this gift. THANK YOU!!! You can see a celebratory video of her life here. I think it is called “Vivo solo para dios” which I believe is “live for God alone!” and it is from the Carmelite Missionaries (Carmelitas Misioneras) in Chile.

The photo above was taken last evening at the Novena. Here is a wonderful poem I found to celebrate the day…

BY this blest badge we wear, O holy Mother!
This token of thy love,
Look down on us with eyes of tenderest pity
From thy bright home above —

Thou who didst tread the Via Dolorosa
Through sorrow’s bitterest gloom,
Thou who didst stand beside the Cross in anguish,
Didst mourn beside the tomb;

Thou whose pure heart wast torn with grief whose
tortures
No mortal tongue may tell,
When died thy Son, our merciful Redeemer,
For those he loved so well.

Then, when our sins thy loving heart were breaking,
He gave us unto thee,
That thou our Mother and our Mediatrix
For evermore should be.

And thou hast proved a loving Mother to us,
Blessed Queen of love and light,
Who hast bestowed upon us this most glorious
Badge of the Carmelite —

Gift of thy love unto that chosen servant
Whose heart, wiih love aflame,
Sought daily with undying zeal to honor
Thy pure and holy name.

A boon he craved, a gift from thee, dear Mother
A token from thy hand,
Whose power would fan the flame of praise and
worship
To splendor clear and grand.

And thou didst hear his prayer — this badge thy
answer.
What rapturous surprise
Flooded his soul when from the opened heavens,
To glad his loving eyes,

Thou earnest to earth, the Infant Saviour bearing
Upon thy spotless breast,
And to thy sainted servant gave this armor
And shield for souls oppressed.

Mount Carmel’s caves, within whose shadows lonely
God’s priests and prophets prayed,
Thrilled to the music which uncounted angels
Singing around thee made.

And thence for evermore sweet strains of comfort,
Thy words of promise, flow —
Words which have fallen with a balm of healing
On many a wound of woe.

O dear, dear Mother ! through each passing moment
Look from thy home above,
And shield from tempting wiles the thousands
wearing
This livery of thy love.

Pray for thy children found in every station,
Peasant or prince or peer,
Merchant or soldier, or the rugged sailor
Whose stout heart knows no fear.

But oh ! all blessings choicest still and rarest
Flow round their hearts to-day
Who for Christ’s sake leave home and friends and
kindred,
To tread the ” narrow way ” ;

Whose every aim in life is consecrated
To God, and God alone ;
Whose prayers, a grand, perpetual adoration,
Like incense seek his throne.

Win them, sweet Mother, faith’s celestial guerdon,
To each give strengthening grace,
And let the influence of their lives heroic
Be felt in every place.

–By Marcella Agnes Fitzgerald
Poems, Published 1886 by The Catholic Publication Society, New York

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I was a little worried, only a little mind you, when that first big thunderstorm hit at around 5p.m. or so. I decided quickly not to think too much about it and that rain or shine, the first night of the Annual Outdoor Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel would be wonderful. So, despite a second quick shower at about 7:45 when everyone was filing out of the chapel and onto the monastery grounds for Holy Mass, the night was splendid. In fact, you can see from the glorious image above that the Lord was present in all His beauty. For when the shower passed, His light was upon us.

Bishop Robert Herman, who is now our Archdiocese Administrator now that Archbishop Burke is going to Rome, came to celebrate the Eucharist for us. As is per usual, his homily was just wonderful. He is a charismatic speaker and you can here is homily from the OCDS website here. You will enjoy listening him speak about the importance of the Contemplative Life in today’s world. His passion and humor are to be thoroughly enjoyed!

I will try to post more later…

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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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As we are getting ready for Pentecost, I remembered to dig out one of my favorite poems from a dear Carmelite, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. It was a poem that was never completed and one of her last writings before she was taken off to Auschwitz and killed during  August of 1942. The manuscript itself remains in the Carmel in Echt and was probably written in the Summertime of 1942.

By St. Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)

Who are you, sweet light, that fills me
And illumines the darkness of my heart?
You lead me like a mother’s hand,
And should you let go of me,
I would not know how to take another step.
You are the space
That embraces my being and buries it in yourself.
Away from you it sinks into the abyss
Of nothingness, from which you raised it to the light.
You, nearer to me than I to myself
And more interior than my most interior
And still impalpable and intangible
And beyond any name:
Holy Spirit eternal love!

Are you not the sweet manna
That from the Son’s heart
Overflows into my heart,
The food of angels and the blessed?
He who raised himself from death to life,
He has also awakened me to new life
From the sleep of death.
And he gives me new life from day to day,
And at some time his fullness is to stream through me,
Life of your life indeed, you yourself:
Holy Spirit eternal life!

Are you the ray
That flashes down from the eternal Judge’s throne
And breaks into the night of the soul
That had never known itself?
Mercifully relentlessly
It penetrates hidden folds.
Alarmed at seeing itself,
The self makes space for holy fear,
The beginning of that wisdom
That comes from on high
And anchors us firmly in the heights,
Your action,
That creates us anew:
Holy Spirit ray that penetrates everything!

Are you the spirit’s fullness and the power
By which the Lamb releases the seal
Of God’s eternal decree?
Driven by you
The messengers of judgment ride through the world
And separate with a sharp sword
The kingdom of light from the kingdom of night.
Then heaven becomes new and new the earth,
And all finds its proper place
Through your breath:
Holy Spirit victorious power!

Are you the master who builds the eternal cathedral,
Which towers from the earth through the heavens?
Animated by you, the columns are raised high
And stand immovably firm.
Marked with the eternal name of God,
They stretch up to the light,
Bearing the dome,
Which crowns the holy cathedral,
Your work that encircles the world:
Holy Spirit God’s molding hand!

Are you the one who created the unclouded mirror
Next to the Almighty’s throne,
Like a crystal sea,
In which Divinity lovingly looks at itself?
You bend over the fairest work of your creation,
And radiantly your own gaze
Is illumined in return.
And of all creatures the pure beauty
Is joined in one in the dear form
Of the Virgin, your immaculate bride:
Holy Spirit Creator of all!

Are you the sweet song of love
And of holy awe
That eternally resounds around the triune throne,
That weds in itself the clear chimes of each and every being?
The harmony,
That joins together the members to the Head,
In which each one
Finds the mysterious meaning of his being blessed
And joyously surges forth,
Freely dissolved in your surging:
Holy Spirit eternal jubilation!

image above: Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, Folio 79r - Pentecost the Musée Condé, Chantilly.

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My daughter is to receive her first communion in a few weeks and when we were talking at bedtime the other evening she asked me if there was a special novena we could pray for the event. I thought that was such a sweet request and certainly a beautiful gracious thought to come to her. I have gone in search of such a novena. I was hoping to find one quite specific for a FIRST communion but was not able to. However, I did find this beautiful novena dedicated to “Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament”

If anyone knows of another such novena, please pass it along. I am going to make copies of this prayer and distribute it to all the second graders at school. During this “Easter Season of the Eucharist” would it not be great to spread this throughout all our parishes and schools!

Here is the prayer:

FIRST DAY
THE TITLE OF OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, Mother of Jesus and our tender Mother, we invoke thee under the title of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, because thou art the Mother of the Savior who lives in the Eucharist, and because it was from thee that He took the Flesh and Blood with which He there feeds us! We invoke thee under that title because, again, thou art the sovereign dispensatrix of all graces and, consequently, of those contained in the august Eucharist, also, because thou didst first fulfill the duties of the Eucharistic life, teaching us by thy example how to assist properly at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, how to communicate worthily, and how to visit frequently and piously the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!
LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

SECOND DAY
MARY AND THE HOLY MASS

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, after having been present at the death of thy Divine Son on Calvary, where thou didst unite thy immense sorrow to the Redeemer?Ts sacrifice, thou didst frequently assist at the real, though mysterious, renewal of that adorable sacrifice in the celebration of the Holy Mass. Teach us by thy example to esteem as it deserves the divine action performed at the altar, and obtain for us the grace to be able often, and even daily, to assist piously at the Holy Sacrifice.

Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!
LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

THIRD DAY
MARY AND HOLY COMMUNION

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, thy Communions were the most fervent, the most holy that were ever made! When thou didst possess thy Divine Son in thy breast, thou didst love Him with a love exceeding that of any other creature soever for his God. Teach us to make Holy Communion the center of our life, and may that life be spent in preparing us for so great an action and in thanking God for so inappreciable a benefit!

Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

FOURTH DAY
MARY AND THE REAL PRESENCE

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, who after the ascension of thy Divine Son, didst console thy exile on earth by thy Real Presence of Jesus in the Sacrament, and didst spend before the tabernacle the greater part of thy days and even thy nights, make us comprehend the treasure we possess on the altar. Inspire us to visit often the God of Love in the Sacrament in which He abides to receive the homage that He deserves by so many titles, and to guide, protect, and console us in this exile!
Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

FIFTH DAY
MARY, THE MODEL OF ADORERS

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, thou art our perfect Model in the service of the Divine Eucharist. With the most lively faith and the most profound respect thou didst adore Jesus hidden under the sacramental veils. After thy example, we desire to render to the Sacred Host all the honor due the Divinity and the glorified Humanity of the Son of God made Man. We wish to maintain at all times in the holy place the modesty and recollection becoming true adorers.

Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

SIXTH DAY

MARY, THE MODEL OF THANKSGIVING

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, who didst return to Jesus so perfect Thanksgiving for the institution of the Divine Eucharist and the ineffable Gift in which the Savior exhausted His power and the treasures of His Heart, teach us to thank thy Divine Son for this great benefit, and especially to make our thanksgiving well when we have had the happiness of receiving Him in Holy Communion.
Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

SEVENTH DAY

MARY, THE MODEL OF REPARATION

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, thou didst adore thy Divine Son in His state of perpetual Victim, always immolated on our altars, incessantly demanding, by His death, grace and mercy for sinners. We unite with thy dolors and thy perfect reparation. We desire to accept our daily trials for love of Him, and with thee to console Jesus for the ingratitude of men and the outrages He daily receives in the Blessed Sacrament.

Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

EIGHTH DAY

MARY, THE MODEL OF PRAYER

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, while the Apostles went to preach the Gospel, thou didst remain close to the tabernacle, supplicating for them the goodness of the Savior, and thy prayer obtained for them the grace to convert the world! Teach us to pray, above all, to pray near the tabernacle, where Jesus wills to abide continually in order to hear our petitions. Teach us to pray for the extension of the Eucharistic kingdom, for the salvation of the whole world, for the exaltation of the Holy Church, and most especially for the sanctification of the clergy and the conversion of sinners.
Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

NINTH DAY

MARY, THE DISPENSATRIX OF EUCHARISTIC GRACES

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine. Blessed be the holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God!
O Virgin Immaculate, Mother most loving and admirable Model of adorers of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, thou art also the dispensatrix of the graces necessary to fulfill that great duty! Grant us, then, we beseech thee, as the fruit of this novena, the virtues that will render our adoration less unworthy of thy Divine Son. Teach us to honor so well this Mystery of mysteries that we may receive here below the graces it contains, in order to enjoy in heaven the eternal life of which it is the pledge!

Versicle:Pray for us, O Virgin Immaculate, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Response: That the Eucharistic Kingdom of Jesus Christ may come among us!

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus Christ, our King and our God, who having become Man to make us sharers in Thy Divinity, art truly our Bread in the adorable Eucharist, grant, we beseech Thee, that in venerating so great a Mystery, we may be mindful of the most sweet Virgin Mary, of whom Thou didst will to be conceived by the operation of the Holy Ghost! Grant, also that we may imitate the worship that she rendered while on earth to this most august Sacrament, so we may behold Thy Eucharistic Kingdom spread and flourish throughout the whole world! O Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever!
Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT

O Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the glory of Christians, the joy of the universal Church, and the hope of the world, pray for us. Kindle in all the faithful a lively devotion to the most Holy Eucharist, so that they may be worthy to receive Holy Communion every day. Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Let us with Mary Immaculate adore, thank, supplicate, and console the most sacred and beloved Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.

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I don’t know how I forgot this morning (I guess it has something to do with the transfer of his feast day this year) but today we can begin a novena to St. Joseph.  What I find so very beautiful about this particular novena prayer is how it mentions Joseph dying in the arms of Mary and Jesus.  What a beautiful death must his have been.  After a whole life of quiet service he was comforted to his passing by Jesus himself.

The novena prayer is the same prayer every day…

Saint Joseph, you are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love
and venerate you. I have special confidence in you. You are powerful with
God and will never abandon your faithful servants.

I humbly invoke you and commend myself, with all who are dear to me, to your
intercession. By the love you have for Jesus and Mary, do not abandon me
during life, and assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the immaculate Virgin, Foster-father of
Jesus Christ, obtain for me a pure, humble, and charitable mind, and perfect
resignation to the Divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model
through life that I may merit to die as you did in the arms of Jesus and
Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to
you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Heart of
Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare,
particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now
implore: (mention your request).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I am confident that your prayers in my
behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God.

MEMORARE

Remember, most pure spouse of Mary,
ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph,
that no one ever had recourse to your protection
or asked for your aid without obtaining relief.
Confiding, therefore, in your goodness,
I come before you and humbly implore you.
Despise not my petitions,
foster-father of the Redeemer,
but graciously receive them.

Amen.

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Latin:

O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel;
qui aperis, et nemo claudit;
claudis, et nemo aperit:
veni, et educ vinctum de domo carceris,
sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.

English:

O Key of David and sceptre of the House of Israel;
you open and no one can shut;
you shut and no one can open:
Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,
those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Isaiah had prophesied: “I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open.” Isaiah 22:22 “His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore.” Isaiah 9:7

Novena Prayer:

O Lord, stir up your might and come! Be our protector and savior. Rescue us from the dangers that threaten us because of our sins, and and lead us to salvation. Hear our prayers, O Lord, and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the light of your coming on earth, you who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, Amen.

Prayer to Obtain Favors:

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of OUr Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother.

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Latin:

O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum,
super quem continebunt reges os suum,
quem Gentes deprecabuntur:
veni ad liberandum nos, jam noli tardare.

English:

O Root of Jesse, standing as a sign among the peoples;
before you kings will shut their mouths,
to you the nations will make their prayer:
Come and deliver us, and delay no longer.

Isaiah had prophesied:

“A shoot shall come out from the stock of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.” Isaiah 11:1 “On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.” Isaiah 11:10

Novena Prayer:

O Lord, stir up your might and come! Be our protector and savior. Rescue us from the dangers that threaten us because of our sins, and and lead us to salvation. Hear our prayers, O Lord, and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the light of your coming on earth, you who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, Amen.

Prayer to Obtain Favors:

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of OUr Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother.

Thanks to Karen here you can listen to this anitphon chanted!

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I suppose I was a little too quick yesterday in posting because I forgot to insert the novena prayer! OOPS! (I will quickly re-insert it!) Also, you may not that some Catholics pray this Novena from the feast of Saint Andrew (30 November) all the way through to Christmas Eve. Also, I believe that one way to celebrate this novena is to say the prayer 15 times a day! There is also the tradition of mixing the prayer with the O Antiphons which is how I am presenting the prayer. In any case, it is just a matter of opening your heart to beg this beautiful child, God and Savior to come in His infinite goodness and mercy to us again this year.

O Adonai

Latin:

O Adonai, et Dux domus Israel,
qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti,
et ei in Sina legem dedisti:
veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.

English:

O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel,
who appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush
and gave him the law on Sinai:
Come and redeem us with an outstretched arm.

Isaiah had prophesied: “[…] but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.” Isaiah 11:4-5 “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our ruler, the Lord is our king; he will save us.” Isaiah 33:22

Novena Prayer:

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable at midnight in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires

(mention request here).

Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother.

Amen

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Tonight at Vespers we can begin our Christmas Novena - can you believe He comes in only 9 more days! With a great snowfall this past Saturday night the children were hoping He had come early as it would have been glorious to celebrate His birthday with a blanket of beautiful snow.

The novena for Christmas is celebrated by the famous “O Antiphons” which are sung by the church at vespers in the liturgy of the hours each evening. At Carmel this morning though, the faithful took a privilege and began them after mass. I will post each days “O’s” as we near the big day…

O Sapientia

Latin:

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem,
fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

English:

O Wisdom, coming forth from the mouth of the Most High,
reaching from one end to the other,
mightily and sweetly ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.
Isaiah had prophesied:

“The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.” Isaiah 11:2-3 “

Novena Prayer:

O Lord, stir up your might and come! Be our protector and savior. Rescue us from the dangers that threaten us because of our sins, and and lead us to salvation. Hear our prayers, O Lord, and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the light of your coming on earth, you who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever, Amen.

Prayer to Obtain Favors:

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of OUr Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother.

Amen.

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Day 9 - our final day and our feast will be celebrated tomorrow….

Beginning Prayer to be said each day:

O glorious St. John of the Cross, through a pure desire of being like Jesus
crucified, you longed for nothing so eagerly as to suffer, to be despised,
and to be made little of by all; and your thirst after sufferings was so
burning that your noble heart rejoiced in the midst of the cruelest torments
and afflictions. Grant, I beseech you, O dear Saint, by the glory which
your many sufferings have gained for you, to intercede for me and obtain
from God for me a love of suffering, together with strength and grace to
bear with firmness of mind all the trials and adversities which are the sure
means to the happy attainment of all that awaits me in heaven. Dear Saint,
from your most happy place in glory, hear, I beseech you, my prayers, so
that after your example, full of love for the cross I may deserve to be your
companion in glory. Amen.

Ninth Day: Holy Abandonment

Prayer:

O my loving father St. John of the Cross, to imitate more perfectly our
Lord, you generously renounced every consolation, even the spiritual; prayed
to suffer and to be despised for God’s sake; and finally died suffering,
happy to be condemned by men. Obtain for me the grace of abandonment to the
Will of God that, placing all my joy and my hope in the passion of my
Savior, I may at last rest eternally with you in His glory. Obtain for me
also the special grace I ask through your intercession during this novena,
if it be for the glory of God and for my salvation (make request).

Three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys.

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Day 8

Beginning Prayer to be said each day:

O glorious St. John of the Cross, through a pure desire of being like Jesus
crucified, you longed for nothing so eagerly as to suffer, to be despised,
and to be made little of by all; and your thirst after sufferings was so
burning that your noble heart rejoiced in the midst of the cruelest torments
and afflictions. Grant, I beseech you, O dear Saint, by the glory which
your many sufferings have gained for you, to intercede for me and obtain
from God for me a love of suffering, together with strength and grace to
bear with firmness of mind all the trials and adversities which are the sure
means to the happy attainment of all that awaits me in heaven. Dear Saint,
from your most happy place in glory, hear, I beseech you, my prayers, so
that after your example, full of love for the cross I may deserve to be your
companion in glory. Amen.

Eighth Day: Comfort in Affliction

Prayer:

St. John of the Cross, my glorious protector, in your lifetime you were the
father of the poor, the consoler of the afflicted and the assured refuge of
the suffering; you worked miracles of charity for all, miracles which you
repeat even now by means of your holy images and relics. Deign also to be
my consoler and my father; comfort me in my sorrows and aid me to see in
every cross a pledge of divine mercy that, through the cross, I may gain
heaven. Obtain for me, too, the special grace I ask through your
intercession during the novena, if it be for the glory of God and for my
salvation (make request).

Three Our Fathers and three Hail Marys.

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