Prayerflowers

Faithfulness in Small Things - Lenten Series

2012-03-04T08:51:00.000-08:00

Faithfulness in Small Things

Then Jesus said..."Whoever is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much; and whoever dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? If you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." Luke 16:10-13

Prayer

Father help me this week to focus on the "little things" that may be big in Your eyes...Let the bread of Life that is You feed my every thought...May I Father, be blessed to feel Your presence inside of me, in my heart, in my soul, in my mind, in my spirit...completely overtaking my being Sweet Jesus, embrace me...so that my thoughts are only Your expressions in my life...I love you so much Sweet Jesus...Amen

Faithfulness in Small Things

2012-03-04T05:59:00.003-08:00

Faithfulness in Small Things

Prayer

"The Gift of Prudence" Lenten Series

2012-02-27T09:20:00.001-08:00

The Gift of Prudence
I, wisdom live with prudence, and I attain knowledge and discretion, The fear of the lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. I have good advice and sound wisdom; I have insight, I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me rulers rule, and nobles, all who govern rightly. Proverbs 8:12-16

Prayer
God of wisdom and love, help me to see that I am your beloved, that your truth is my light in this dark world, and that your steady hand is my joy and my safety net. Grant me the prudence and perception to recognize those deceptive lures that obstruct and pervert my attention and sidetrack my path to you. Help me to learn to count on your infinite skill to guide me clearly in a hostile world. Amen. by Henri J. M Nouwen

LENTEN ACTION
Choose of passage from Holy Scripture that is significant to you and memorize it.

Preparing for Lent

2012-02-15T09:37:00.000-08:00

The Lord is my Sheppard...I shall not want...Psalm 23:1

Ash Wednesday starts on February 22nd this year. Lent is another one of my favorite times of the year...it is a time to let go more of me...in hopes of serving God more each day.

"The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert."

The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, so that the devil could test him. After Jesus had gone without eating for forty days and nights, he was very hungry. Then the devil came to him and said, "If you are God's Son, tell these stones to turn into bread."

Jesus answered, "The Scriptures say:
'No one can live only on food. People need every word that God has spoken.' "

Next, the devil took Jesus to the holy city and had him stand on the highest part of the temple. The devil said, "If you are God's Son, jump off. The Scriptures say: 'God will give his angels orders about you. They will catch you in their arms, and you won't hurt your feet on the stones.' "

Jesus answered, "The Scriptures also say, 'Don't try to test the Lord your God!' "

Finally, the devil took Jesus up on a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms on earth and their power. The devil said to him, "I will give all this to you, if you will bow down and worship me."

Jesus answered, "Go away Satan! The Scriptures say:
'Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.' "

Then the devil left Jesus, and angels came to help him. Matthew 4:1-11 Contemporary English Version The Holy Bible (New York , NY: American Bible Society 1995)

Thank you St. John Bosco

2012-01-30T00:10:00.000-08:00

Dear St. John Bosco,

Thank you for all you have done for children all over the world. I have to believe in my heart because of you, someone was inspired to build the home for children that I grew up in. I thank Jesus for placing the nuns and priest that surrounded and taught me in the home.

St. John Bosco, please pray very hard for our children today. They are up against a tremendous amount of temptation and violence, things I don't remember ever even knowing anything about until well over half my life in age.

I trust in your prayers, because of the love you showed when you were here on earth.

Thank you, precious St. Bosco, thank you...Amen

St. Thomas Acquinas

2012-01-28T00:10:00.000-08:00

I had the blessing of using this picture from my friend Micky's blog

St Thomas Aquinas: Prayer for Guidance
O creator past all telling,
you have appointed from the treasures of your wisdom
the hierarchies of angels,
disposing them in wondrous order
above the bright heavens,
and have so beautifully set out all parts of the universe.

You we call the true fount of wisdom
and the noble origin of all things.
Be pleased to shed
on the darkness of mind in which I was born,
The twofold beam of your light
and warmth to dispel my ignorance and sin.

You make eloquent the tongues of children.
Then instruct my speech
and touch my lips with graciousness.
Make me keen to understand, quick to learn,
able to remember;
make me delicate to interpret and ready to speak.

Guide my going in and going forward,
lead home my going forth.
You are true God and true man,
and live for ever and ever.
--St Thomas Aquinas, 1225-74

This is a special feast day today for me...my dad passed away a year ago today. St. Thomas Acquinas please pray for him...may he rest in peace. Amen

Eternal rest give to him, Lord: and let perpetual light shine upon him. Offering it in the sight of the Most High. Amen

"Of all human evils death is the most grievous, by which human life is destroyed...". -- St. Thomas Aquinas, Compendium theologiae, lib. 1 cap. 227

"Come to their assistance, all you Saints of God: meet them, all you Angels of God: receiving their souls, offering it in the sight of the Most High. May Christ receive all those departed, who hath called you, and may the Angels conduct you to Abraham's bosom. Receiving their souls and offering it in the sight of the Most High.

My Patron Saints for 2012

2012-01-23T07:10:00.000-08:00

This is my fourth year participating in finding my patron saint for the year. Every year I have been blessed to see who picks me. This year my patron saint for my given name is St. Scholastica (her picture is on the left). She is the twin sister of St. Benedict of Nursia. I have tremendous respect and love for St. Benedict and his work, and I love his prayers. The little bit that I was able to read about St. Scholastica thus far is awesome. I look forward to learning more about her and her prayers and influence on me this year.

I also asked for a patron saint for my ministry name “Prayerflowers". The saint that was given to me is St. Louise De Marillac (her picture is on the left). I did not know of her before but immediately read briefly about her. I am excited to read about her devotion to serve God. Looking forward this year to get to know her more and for her prayers and influence in my life.

If you are interested in finding your patron saint for 2012…you can go http://yourpatronsaint.blogspot.com Marianne, has blessed so many with her dedication of bringing us a practice that was done by St. Faustina. She is serving God through the saints He has placed among us to help Him. She will be glad to assist you in finding your patron saint(s) too.

Here is one of the prayers of St. Benedict that I love…it has blessed. I know it will bless you too.

Prayer to Saint Benedict
Glorious Saint Benedict, sublime model of virtue, pure vessel of God's grace! Behold me humbly kneeling at your feet. I implore you in your loving kindness to pray for me before the throne of God. To you I have recourse in the dangers that daily surround me. Shield me against my selfishness and my indifference to God and to my neighbor. Inspire me to imitate you in all things. May your blessing be with me always, so that I may see and serve Christ in others and work for His kingdom.

Graciously obtain for me from God those favors and graces which I need so much in the trials, miseries and afflictions of life. Your heart was always full of love, compassion and mercy toward those who were afflicted or troubled in any way. You never dismissed without consolation and assistance anyone who had recourse to you. I therefore invoke your powerful intercession, confident in the hope that you will hear my prayers and obtain for me the special grace and favor I earnestly implore. {mention your petition}
Help me, great Saint Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to run in the sweetness of His loving will, and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven. Amen.

It has been a long time...

2012-01-10T10:17:00.000-08:00

Picture from a dear blogger friend of mine her blog is "thewindowshowsitall"

To those who frequent my blog;
I looked back on my post and noticed on January 12, 2009, I made a New Year's Resolution to write on my blog more. As you can see...I failed.

I currently have a website God's Flower Garden and prayer posting on a prayer forum Prayer Garden I try to keep both up everyday.

I apologize that I let this blog take a backseat to everything in my life.

The Beginning
In January 2008 because of my love for the 54 Day Miracle Novena I wanted another way to reach more people about the praying the rosary. If you need assistance on how to pray the rosary you can find directions here How to Pray the Rosary

I have reposted the orginial post a few times the last in April of 2010 in hopes to get Our Sweet Mother Mary's wish for us to pray the rosary out to more people.

I pray with Mary's help I can make a better effort to write more on this blog.

I welcome your prayer request and comments.

My Prayer for you
May Our Sweet Lord bless and keep all of you...May your love for His Mother show you how much she will draw the attention off of her onto her Son...she will hold your hand and walk with you...always toward Jesus...getting closer and closer to His heart...Amen

Celebrating the Third Week in Advent - Joy

2011-12-13T18:25:00.000-08:00

We light this candle of Joy to remind us of the true source of Joy:
Lord make me a channel of your peace
....where there is sadness, I may bring JOY

The Lord is Near...Rejoice the Lord is Near.
We need silence, … to ponder His words deep in our hearts. We need to be alone with God in silence to be renewed and to be transformed. Silence gives us a new outlook on life. In it we are filled with the energy of God Himself that Makes us do all things with JOY.
Blessed Mother Theresa

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin (1647-1690)

2011-10-16T02:39:00.000-07:00

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus I Trust in you!

Prayer to Saint Margaret Mary
O Holy Visitandine, to hear your name is to recall the Sacred Heart Devotion, especially as practiced on First Fridays and in making reparation for sins. From early youth you dedicated yourself to Jesus and you exhibited fervent love for him in the Eucharist. You became his chosen vessel to spread the devotion to the Sacred heart which has done wonders in modern times. Make all of us realize ever more Christ's words: "Behold this Heart that has so greatly loved people." Amen.

12 Promises of Jesus

For those devoted to His Sacred Heart:

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.

2. I will establish 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 their death.

5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.

6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source of an infinite ocean of mercy.

7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.

8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.

9. I will bless the homes where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.

10.I will give to priests the power of touching the most hardened hearts.

11.Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be effaced.

12.The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Holy Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under my displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.

October 13 - Pray for Peace - The Message of Our Lady of Fatima

2011-10-10T17:58:00.000-07:00

Our Lady of Fatima
The Blessed Virgin Mary is venerated as Our Lady of Fatima following the famous apparition to the three shepherd children -Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco- which took place during the First World War, in the summer of 1917. The Mother of God appeared six times near the town of Fatima, Portugal between May 13th and October 13th 1917 to the three children and told them that She had been sent by God with a message for every man, woman and child living in our century.

Through the children Mary urged prayer for the conversion of sinners and an end to the war, recitation of the Rosary, and works of penance. The message of Fatima included a call to conversion of heart, repentance from sin and a dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially through praying the Rosary.

Our Lady of Fatima promised that the whole world would be in peace, and that many souls would go to Heaven if Her requests were listened to and obeyed. She told us that war is a punishment for sin; that God would punish the world for its sins in our time by means of war, hunger, persecution of the Church and persecution of the Holy Father, the Pope, unless we listened to and obeyed the command of God.

The message is an anguished appeal of our Heavenly Mother, Who sees us in great danger and Who comes to offer Her help and advice. Her message is also a prophesy, a clear indication of what was about to transpire infallibly in the near future, depending on our response to Her requests. But Mary also confided several "secrets" to the children, some of which Lucy subsequently transmitted.

The Secret actually consists of three parts, the first two of which have been publicly revealed. The first part of the Secret was a horrifying vision of hell where the souls of poor sinners go" and contained an urgent plea from Our Lady for acts of prayer and sacrifice to save souls. The second part of the Secret specifically prophesized the outbreak of World War II and contained the Mother of God's solemn request for the Consecration of Russia as a condition of world peace. It also predicted the inevitable triumph of Her Immaculate Heart following Russia's consecration and the conversion "of that poor nation" to the Catholic Faith.
This article was sent to me by St. Michael Center for the Blessed Virgin Mary

Sacred Heart Of Jesus - I Love You!

2011-06-25T13:58:00.000-07:00

Matt. 11:29 "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

"478 Jesus knew and loved us each and all during his life, his agony and his Passion, and gave himself up for each one of us: "The Son of God. . . loved me and gave himself for me." He has loved us all with a human heart. For this reason, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced by our sins and for our salvation, "is quite rightly considered the chief sign and symbol of that. . . love with which the divine Redeemer continually loves the eternal Father and all human beings" without exception. "
Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Alleluia Alleluia...He Has Risen...Alleluia Alleluia

2011-04-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

" I will always seek the company of all those who are lovers of Jesus"
Padre Pio (Book II Victim to Console the Heart of Jesus)

Today my 3 1/2 year old Grandson said to me
"La La I got a bottle of holy water from church and I put in on my face and my hair, and my hands". I said to him...do you feel better now? He said...AH HUH.

Jesus...thank you for being in the hearts of my children and my grandchildren and for them loving you as much as they do...it is a gift I cherish with all my heart...Amen

Sweet Lord Thank You for Your Loving Grace

2010-11-06T05:56:00.000-07:00

Sweet Jesus help us to remember during the times trouble and misfortune that You are there...You will rescue us from the depths of our despair...You NEVER abandon us. Helps us to Trust in Your Immeasurable Mercy and Grace...Amen

Holy Mother of God please pray for us...I pray for all to know your loving grace...Amen

Feast of the Assumption August 15th

2010-08-14T05:33:00.000-07:00

We love you Mother!

Prayers in Honor of Our Lady's Assumption O almighty and eternal God, You assumed into heaven, body and soul, the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of Your Son. Grant, through her intercession, that we may ever long for You and one day be brought to the glory of the resurrection. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen. Our Father - Hail Mary - Glory be to the Father. Queen, assumed into heaven, pray for us.

Sweet Mother...Oh How I love you...

2010-05-30T08:24:00.000-07:00

Holy Mother of God, I love you with all my heart. Thank you for teaching me how to pray and puring your grace upon us. Help me best know how to share you.

I want to thank Denise for inspiring me to do this page and to share the 54 Day Novena Rosary.

When I pray this rosary the peace that comes over me is heavenly.

To pray this novena now you may go to the 54 Day Novena prayer page

http://www.prayerflowers.com/54DayNovena.htm

I pray you feel the love of Our Mother with you always,

Love in Jesus,
Prayerflowers

Feast of St. Joseph the Worker

2010-05-01T07:19:00.000-07:00

Prayer to Saint Joseph the Worker
Joseph, by the work of your hands and the sweat of your brow, you supported Jesus and Mary, and had the Son of God as your fellow worker. Teach me to work as you did, with patience and perseverance, for God and for those whom God has given me to support. Teach me to see in my fellow workers the Christ who desires to be in them, that I may always be charitable and forbearing towards all. Grant me to look upon work with the eyes of faith, so that I shall recognize in it my share in God's own creative activity and in Christ's work of our redemption, and so take pride in it. When it is pleasant and productive, remind me to give thanks to God for it. And when it is burdensome, teach me to offer it to God, in reparation for my sins and the sins of the world. Amen

54 Day Miracle Rosary Novena

2010-04-20T19:55:00.000-07:00

I love this novena and I pray that sharing it with others they too will be blessed with this prayer.

http://www.prayerflowers.com/54DayNovena.htm

If you would like to share your prayers and blessing please feel free to comment.

God bless you,

Prayerflowers

Lenten Journey

2010-02-16T07:30:00.000-08:00

I love the Lenten Season. To me it has always been a way to grow even closer to God. I know we can grow closer to God anytime of the year. But the meaning behind Lent...Jesus going into the desert for 40 days fasting with prayer to be with His Father...He showed us the way to be with Him. Be "alone" with Him.

Lent is a time for your inner jorney to take a leap...a leap of faith and to trust in God more then ever before.

Take the steps that Jesus did. Take time to be alone with God...pray...fast. There is also a commentary I found that relates to prayer and fasting....I pray it will help you understand the prayer and fasting it is truly a lantern to show you the way.

Saint Peter Chrysologus (c.406-450), Bishop of Ravenna, Doctor of the Church….Sermon on prayer, fasting and almsgiving; PL 52, 320

“Then they will fast”

There are three actions, my brethren, on which faith stands firm, in which piety consists and by which virtue is upheld: prayer, fasting, mercy. Prayer knocks at the door; fasting obtains; mercy receives. Prayer, mercy, fasting: these three make up one thing and, all together, give life to each other. Thus, fasting is the soul of prayer and mercy is the life of fasting. Let no one set them apart; the three together cannot be separated. Anyone who puts only one or two of them into practice has done nothing at all. Therefore, the one who prays must fast, and the one who fasts must have mercy. Let him hear the man who asks and who, in asking, wishes to be heard. Whoever does not refuse to listen to others when they plead to him will be listened to by God. Whoever practices fasting must understand what fasting is, that is to say, he must sympathize with the hungry man if he wants God to sympathize with his own hunger. Whoever hopes to obtain mercy must show mercy; whoever wants to benefit from kindness must practice it; whoever would like someone to give him something must be someone who gives… So be yourself the measure of the mercy to be shown to you: if you would like others to show you mercy in such-and-such a way, according to such a measure and with just such a readiness, then show mercy yourself to others with the same sort of readiness, according to the same measure, and in the same way And so prayer, mercy, fasting must make up one, single sponsor to recommend us to God, one defense, one prayer in our favor under this threefold form.

You are welcomed to share your journey with me and others...God bless you!

Your Sister In Christ
Prayerflowers

Solemnity of the Mother of God

2010-01-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

Mary, Mother of God
Remember on Christmas morning how we found our way to the stable? It may have been the stable on the mantle or under the Christmas tree or in our parish church. We gazed at the baby in the manger just like the shepherds had done so long ago. Jesus was there with Mary and Joseph. Today we begin our new year at the Eucharistic Celebration. We thank God for Mary, Jesus' mother, who brought the Savior into the world. Because she is the mother of Jesus, God's Son, she truly is the Mother of God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary conceived Jesus. Joseph was Jesus' loving foster-father.
God chose Mary to be the mother of his Son. She was a teenager and her parents were Joachim and Anne. Mary loved God and her Jewish religion. She was probably considered ordinary by her neighbors. It would be God's work in her that would make her so special, so blessed. God sent the Archangel Gabriel to Mary's town of Nazareth. The angel asked her to accept a wonderful plan-wonderful for her and for all of us. Mary wanted to please God and she accepted the plan. She became Jesus' mother. Mary and her husband, Joseph, tried to raise Jesus the best way they could and with great love. Jesus spent many happy, quiet years with Mary and Joseph in Nazareth.
When Jesus was about thirty years old, he began his preaching and healing ministry. This is usually called his public life. It seems that sometime before that Joseph had died. Jesus could not now stay just in the little home and carpenter shop at Nazareth. Mary frequently went with her friends to be near her Son. Mary attended a marriage celebration in Cana. Jesus and his disciples came too. When the wine was gone, Mary asked Jesus to do something. She wanted him to save the couple from being embarrassed in front of their guests. He worked the miracle of turning plain water into delicious wine. Mary loved Jesus and believed in him. She was there when he was nailed to the cross. In fact, she stayed right beneath the cross and received his dead body into her arms. After the resurrection, Mary waited with Jesus' apostles for the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. The apostles loved her. They knew they needed more courage to be real followers of Jesus. Mary prayed for them and encouraged them. She taught them how to be disciples of her Son. Mary's feast days are special events that happen throughout the year. Today's feast honors her as God's Mother. She wants to be our mother, too. (taken from an email sent to me by the St. Michael Center for the Blessed Mother)

Blessed Brother Andre of St. Joseph Novena

2009-12-30T08:14:00.000-08:00

Blessed Brother Andre of St. Joseph Novena
Start Novena - Dec 30th
End on Brother Andre's Feast Day January 6th

Prayers of Brother Andre
http://www.saint-joseph.org/en_1019_index.asp
Novena to Brother Andre

Brother André, you always helped others.
Help us to become more attentive to those around us.

People constantly asked you for favours.
Teach us to give rather than to receive.

With your aid, we can help in every possible way
all those with whom we come in contact,
and can find joy in being truly generous.

Josette Massy
Grand Associate of Brother André

Celebrating the Fourth Week of Advent - LOVE

2009-12-20T06:10:00.000-08:00

We light the candle of love, to remind us that God is Love.

God created us out of Love and redeemed us out of Love, and He wants to be born in our hearts.

Let us pray as Advent draws to a close, that Christ will truly come into our hearts.
Lord, fill our hearts with your love, and as you revealed to us by an angel the coming of your son as man, so lead us through his suffering and death to the glory of his resurrection. Amen.

Born is us Incarnate Love…

All powerful Father your eternal Word took flesh on our earth when the Virgin Mary place her life at the service of your plan.

O God of love, we do not know how to love you Open our minds to receive the Spirit who prepares us for his coming. Be born in us Incarnate Love…

Behold I come to do your will…Heb 10:5-10

At Christmas Christ comes to us as a little child small and helpless
So much in need of all that love can give…
Let us pray that we shall be able to welcome Jesus at Christmas not in
The cold manger of a selfish heart,
but in a heart full of love, compassion, joy and peace,a heart warm with love for one another. (Blessed Teresa of Calcutta)

Celebrating the Third Week of Advent - JOY

2009-12-16T09:20:00.000-08:00

St. Lucy of Syracuse

2009-12-13T00:07:00.000-08:00

Saint Lucy, your beautiful name signifies light. By the light of faith which God bestowed upon you, increase and preserve this light in my soul so that I may avoid evil, be zealous in the performance of good works, and abhor nothing so much as the blindness and the darkness of evil and of sin.
By your intercession with God, obtain for me perfect vision for my bodily eyes and the grace to use thme for God's greater honor and glory and the salvation of all men.
Saint Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. Amen.

Celebrating the Second Week of Advent

2009-12-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

Let us prepare our hearts with greater Love, for his coming through humility and meekness. Therefore…take one line at a time, of the prayer of peace:

Lord make me a channel of your peace

And use it the whole day for the whole week. Pray the sentence again and again as often as possible... Put it into action. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

More...Daily Prayers for Advent http://www.prayerflowers.com/#Advent

Rosary Madonna and the Child Jesus

2009-10-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

My prayer is for more and more people to pray the rosary. In our Lady's message to fatima she share with us the importance to pray the rosary for peace and to save souls. Mother as we celebrate the gift of life this month help us to see all the ways we can respect life each day.

Holy Mother we offer up those praying for those with cancer and for a cure for this horrible deisease.

Thank you Sweet Mother Mary for your loving grace. Please teach us how to pray the way we ought. Guide us each day to be obedient to your Son, Jesus...Amen

St. Margaret Mary

2009-10-13T07:11:00.000-07:00

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus I Trust in you!

12 Promises of Jesus

For those devoted to His Sacred Heart:

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.

2. I will establish 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 their death.

5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.

6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source of an infinite ocean of mercy.

7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.

8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.

9. I will bless the homes where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.

10.I will give to priests the power of touching the most hardened hearts.

11.Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be effaced.

Novena for Faithful Citizenship

2009-09-02T04:20:00.000-07:00

Calling all Catholics!

Let us join together in praying for the upcoming election! A friend of mind sent told me of this site "Faithful Citizenship". Start this novena on September 2nd. 9 weeks before the election.

Below is a Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file that you can print out to distribute for yourself, family or church members. http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org/docs/FC_Novena.pdf

"The field is the world" Comment by Pope Benedict XVI

2009-07-21T08:45:00.000-07:00

Pope Benedict XVISacramentum caritatis, 79 (© copyright Libreria Editrice Vaticana)

"The field is the world" (Mt 13,38)

In Christ, Head of his Body, the Church, all Christians are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people he claims for his own, to declare his wonderful deeds" (1 Pet 2:9).
The Eucharist, as a mystery to be "lived", meets each of us as we are, and makes our concrete existence the place where we experience daily the radical newness of the Christian life. The eucharistic sacrifice nourishes and increases within us all that we have already received at Baptism, with its call to holiness, and this must be clearly evident from the way individual Christians live their lives. Day by day we become "a worship pleasing to God" by living our lives as a vocation. Beginning with the liturgical assembly, the sacrament of the Eucharist itself commits us, in our daily lives, to doing everything for God's glory.And because the world is "the field" (Mt 13:38) in which God plants his children as good seed, the Christian laity, by virtue of their Baptism and Confirmation, and strengthened by the Eucharist, are called to live out the radical newness brought by Christ wherever they find themselves. They should cultivate a desire that the Eucharist have an ever deeper effect on their daily lives, making them convincing witnesses in the workplace and in society at large.

I encourage families in particular to draw inspiration and strength from this sacrament. The love between man and woman, openness to life, and the raising of children are privileged spheres in which the Eucharist can reveal its power to transform life and give it its full meaning. The Church's pastors should unfailingly support, guide and encourage the lay faithful to live fully their vocation to holiness within this world which God so loved that he gave his Son to become its salvation (cf. Jn 3:16).

June Dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

2009-06-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

Pentecost Sunday - May 31st

2009-05-30T22:45:00.000-07:00

Come, Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Your Divine Love. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created, and You shall renew the face of the earth. Oh God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit instructed the hearts of the faithful, Grant, that by the same Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for Pentecost Sunday
Almighty and ever-living God, you fulfilled the Easter promise by sending us your Holy Spirit. May that Spirit unite the races and nations on earth to proclaim your glory. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever

Bible Quote on Pentecost Sunday
“And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”- Acts 2: 1-4

Quotable Quote on Pentecost Sunday
“ This is the mystery of Pentecost: The Holy Spirit illuminates the human spirit and, on revealing Christ crucified and risen, indicates the way to become more like him, that is, to be "expression and instrument of love that comes from him" ("Deus Caritas Est," No. 33). The Church, gathered with Mary, as at her birth, today implores: "Veni Sancte Spiritus!" -- "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful and enkindle in them the fire of thy love!"- Pope Benedict VXI, Pentecost Mass, June 4, 2006

Ascension of the Lord

2009-05-24T10:23:00.000-07:00

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
On my knees I before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice, and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, "Speak Lord for Your servant heareth." Amen.

Divine Mercy Novena Sunday

2009-04-19T03:00:00.000-07:00

April 19th is "DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY"

JESUS, I TRUST YOU!
From the Diary of St. Faustina's At three o'clock , implore My Mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in my abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great Mercy for the whole world. I will allow you to enter into my mortal sorrow. In this hour, I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of me in virtue of My Passion.

Jesus asked that the Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good Friday. He gave St. Faustina an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena, saving for the last day the most difficult intention of all, the lukewarm and indifferent of whom He said: "These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their account that I said: 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by.' The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy."

In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her:
"On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy ... On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls."

The Sign of the Cross
Using regular rosary beads
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty yourself out upon us.

(3 times) Oh blood and water which gushed forth from the heart of Jesus as a fountain of mercy for us I trust in you!
(One) Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.
(One) Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.
(1) The Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified; died, and was buried. He descended into hell, the third day he arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting, Amen.

On the five large beads: Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
On the ten small beads: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.
At the end of the Divine Mercy Chaplet say three times:

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,
have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. Amen

A prayer for Divine Mercy
Oh greatly merciful God infinite goodness today all mankind calls out from the abyss of its misery to your mercy to your compassion Oh God and it is with its mighty voice of misery it cries out Gracious God...do not reject the prayer of this earths exiles Oh Lord goodness beyond our understanding who are acquainted with our misery through and through and know that by our own power we cannot ascend to you. We implore you, anticipate us with your grace and keep on increasing your mercy in us that we may faithfully do your holy will all through our life and at deaths hour....let your mercy shield us from the darts of our salvations enemies that we may with confidence as your children await your final coming that day known to you alone...and we expect to obtain everything promised us by Jesus in spite of all our rigidness for Jesus is our hope through His merciful heart as through an open gate we pass through to heaven...Amen.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
*Kissing the Crucifix at the end of the Rosary
You are showing your love to God and thanking Him.

1572 I remind you my daughter that as often as you hear the clock strike the third hour, immerse yourself completely in My Mercy, adoring and glorifying it; invoke its omnipotence for the whole world, and particularly for poor sinners; for at that moment Mercy was opened wide for every soul.
Saint Faustina Pray for us.
Resources
http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/index.htm

http://www.theworkofgod.org/Devotns/DivMercy/prepare.htm

Easter Vigil and Holy Saturday

2009-04-11T08:40:00.001-07:00

Blessed Guerric of Igny (v.1080-1157), Cistercian abbot 3rd. Sermon for Easter (©Cistercian Fathers series; SC 202, p.249f. rev.)

This is the day the Lord has made

Brethren, «this is the day which the Lord has made, let us exult and rejoice in it.» (Ps 118[117], 24) Let us exult in the hope it brings, that we may see and rejoice in its light. Abraham exulted that he might see the day of Christ and by this token he saw and rejoiced. (Jn 8,56) You too, if you keep watch daily at the doors of wisdom (Prv 8,34)..., if you stay awake through the night with Magdalen at the entrance of his tomb, if am not mistaken you will experience with Mary how true are the words we read of the Wisdom which is Christ: "She is easily seen by those who love her and she is found by those who seek her» (Wis 6,12)...

So did Christ, Wisdom himself, promise in the words: "I love those who love me, and they who from early morning keep watch for me will find me." (Prv 8,17) Mary found Jesus in the flesh. For this she was keeping watch. Over his tomb she had come to mount guard while it was still dark. You, who no longer ought to know Jesus according to the flesh (2Cor 5,16) but according to the spirit, will be able to fmd him spiritually if you seek him with a desire like Mary's...:

"My soul has longed for you during the night, my spirit too, deep within me; from early morning I will keep watch for you." (Is 26,9). Say with the voice and the mind of the Psalmist: "God, my God, for you as soon as it is light I keep watch, my soul is athirst for you" (Ps 62,2)...

Keep watch then, brethren, intent in prayer... especially since the morning of that day which has no sunset has already shone upon us... Indeed it is time now for us to arise from sleep; the night has passed away, while the day has drawn near (Rm 13,11-12). Keep watch, I say, that the morning light may rise for you, that is Christ, whose coming forth has been made ready like the dawn,(Hos 6,3) ready to renew often the mystery of the morning of his resurrection in those who keep watch for him. Then you will sing with jubilant heart: "God the Lord has shone upon us. This is the day which the Lord has made; let us exult and rejoice in it."

Divine Mercy Novena (starts on Good Friday)

2009-04-10T07:15:00.000-07:00

"Divine Mercy Novena starts March 21st to March 29th
March 30th is "DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY"

Please remember to do the Divine Mercy Novena starting Good Friday. It is like a second baptism. Here is what is required: http://www.theworkofgod.org/Devotns/DivMercy/prepare.htm

HOW TO PRAY THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET
THREE O'CLOCK PRAYER TO THE DIVINE MERCY
You expired, O Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls and an ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us. O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You. Amen.

Using normal rosary beads, begin with:
Our Father..., Hail Mary..., The Creed.
On the five large beads:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
On the ten small beads:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.
At the end of the Divine Mercy Chaplet say three times:
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,have mercy on us and on the whole world.have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Holy Thursday

2009-04-09T05:32:00.000-07:00

Pope Benedict XVI Apostolic Exhortation « Sacramentum caritatis » (© copyright Libreria Editrice Vaticana)

«No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends» (Jn 15,13)

The sacrament of charity, the Holy Eucharist is the gift that Jesus Christ makes of himself, thus revealing to us God's infinite love for every man and woman. This wondrous sacrament makes manifest that "greater" love which led him to "lay down his life for his friends" (Jn 15:13). Jesus did indeed love them "to the end" (Jn 13:1). In those words the Evangelist introduces Christ's act of immense humility: before dying for us on the Cross, he tied a towel around himself and washed the feet of his disciples. In the same way, Jesus continues, in the sacrament of the Eucharist, to love us "to the end," even to offering us his body and his blood. What amazement must the Apostles have felt in witnessing what the Lord did and said during that Supper! What wonder must the eucharistic mystery also awaken in our own hearts!

In this sacrament, the Lord truly becomes food for us, to satisfy our hunger for truth and freedom. Since only the truth can make us free (cf. Jn 8:32), Christ becomes for us the food of truth... Each of us has an innate and irrepressible desire for ultimate and definitive truth. The Lord Jesus, "the way, and the truth, and the life" (Jn 14:6), speaks to our thirsting, pilgrim hearts, our hearts yearning for the source of life, our hearts longing for truth. Jesus Christ is the Truth in person, drawing the world to himself.

In the sacrament of the Eucharist, Jesus shows us in particular the truth about the love which is the very essence of God. It is this evangelical truth which challenges each of us and our whole being. For this reason, the Church, which finds in the Eucharist the very centre of her life, is constantly concerned to proclaim to all, opportune importune (cf. 2 Tim 4:2), that God is love. Precisely because Christ has become for us the food of truth, the Church turns to every man and woman, inviting them freely to accept God's gift.

Psalm Sunday (Passion Sunday)

2009-04-05T06:37:00.000-07:00

Saint Andrew of Crete (660-740), monk and Bishop
Sermon for Palm Sunday; PG 97,1002
Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel! (Jn 12,13)

Have courage, daughter of Zion, do not be afraid. «Behold, your king comes to you, humble and mounted on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden» (Zec 9,9). He is coming who is everywhere present and pervades all things; he is coming to achieve in you his work of universal salvation. He is coming «who came to call to repentance not the righteous but sinners» (Lk 5,32), coming to recall those who have strayed into sin. Do not be afraid, then: «God is in the midst of you, and you shall not be shaken» (Ps 46[45],6) Receive him with open, outstretched hands, for it was on his own hands that he sketched you. Receive him who laid your foundations on the palms of his hands. Receive him, for he took upon himself all that belongs to us except sin, to consume what is ours in what is his... Rejoice exceedingly, daughter of Jerusalem, sing and leap for joy... «Be enlightened, for the light has come to you and the glory of the Lord has risen over you» (Is 60,1).

What kind of light is this? It is that «which enlightens every man coming into the world» (Jn 1,9). It is the everlasting light... revealed in time, the light manifested in the flesh although hidden by nature, the light that shone round the shepherds and guided the Magi. It is the light that was in the world from the beginning, through which the world was made, yet the world did not know it. It is that light which came to its own, and its own people did not receive it.

And what is this glory of the Lord? Clearly it is the cross on which Christ was glorified, he, the radiance of the Father's glory, even as he said when he faced his passion: «Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him, and will glorify him at once» (Jn 13,31). The glory of which he speaks here is his lifting up on the cross, for Christ's glory is his cross and his exultation upon it, as he plainly says: «When I have been lifted up, I will draw all men to myself» (Jn 12,32).

Communion for Forgiveness - The Sin of Judging

2009-03-21T09:40:00.000-07:00

Communion for Forgiveness
If the unity of Christians in One Body makes the church, a sign of God in the world, and if men tend unfortunately to conflict and division by reason of their weakness, selfishness and sin, then the will to reconciliation and pardon is necessary if the Church is to make God visible in the world. Nor can this pardon, this communion in forgiveness, remain interior and invisible. It must be clearly manifest. So the mystery of the Church demands that Christians love one another in a visible and concrete way....Christ will not be visible to the world in His Church except in proportion as Christians seek peace in unity with one another and with all men. But since conflict is inevitable, unity cannot be maintained except in great difficulty, with constantly renewed sacrifice, with lucid honesty, openness, humility and readiness to ask forgiveness and to forgive.
Thomas Merton Seasons of Celebration, 216-217

The Sin of Judging - Luke 6:37-42
"Do not judge and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for measure you give will be measure you get back,"
He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone that is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you seek the speck in your neighbors eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, "Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye," when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye."

Suggested Prayer (by Thomas Merton)
Not a day goes by that I do not find myself judging and condemning the sins and failures of others. With the slightest examination of my conscience, my lack of compassion is obvious to me. Soften my judging heart, Lord. Let me see myself for who I truly am a sinner among sinners. Quiet my judging heart.

Lenten Action (by Thomas Merton)
If Lent is the Church's call to forgive and to be forgiven, how are you answering it?

Acknowledge God’s Love - Lenten Series

2009-03-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Acknowledge God’s Love
The most important thing you have to say about God’s love is that God loves us not because of anything we’ve done to earn that love, but because God, in total freedom, has decided to love us. At first site, this doesn’t seem to be very inspiring; but if you reflect on it more deeply this thought can affect and influence your life greatly. Were inclined to see our whole existence in terms of quid pro quo. We assume that people will be nice to us if we are nice to them; that they will help us if we help them; …that they will love us if we love them. And so the conviction is deeply rooted in us that being loved is being something you have to learn…. We can scarcely conceive of getting something for nothing. Henri J. M. Nouwen, Letters to Marc about Jesus.

Luke 6:27-31
Jesus looked up at his disciples and said: "But I said to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, Bless those who curse you, Pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you."

Prayer
God most high, please take me back again into your love that I can never earn. I confess that I have fail, that your forgiveness is wholly undeserved. I am mired in the human belief that love is something I earn, that others will only love me if I act as if I love them. What can I do with a love that is not rationed, that is boundless, that cannot be withdrawn. I am truly awed. Grant me the grace to accept this gift. Amen.

Lenten Action
This week pray for any who have abused you, pray for your enemies, and return good for evil.

The Way of the Cross with the Blessed Virgin

2009-03-06T06:39:00.000-08:00

The Way of the Cross with the Blessed Virgin
By Mother Marie des Douleurs – foundress of the Benedictine Sisters of Jesus Crucified

“The Way of the Cross is not only a great testimony to an inner depth and maturity, but it is in fact a school for interiority and consolidation. It is also a school of the examination of conscience, for conversion, for inner transformation and compassion – not as sentimentality, as a mere feeling, but as a disturbing experience that knocks on the door of my heart, that obliges me to know myself and to become a better person.”
Pope Benedict XVI
Blessed Virgin, mother of fair love, tell us where your Beloved has gone. Teach us to follow him truly and no longer to follow ourselves. Show Jesus crucified in all his meekness and humility to s whose eyes have been blinded by pride and whose hearts are hardened by selfishness.
First Station - Jesus Is Condemned to Death
YES, MY CHILD, I want to show you my Son. Be very attentive and recollected in the depths of your soul, far from all things, beyond all sensibility and reasoning; perceive the word which never ceases to act efficaciously. May your soul be flexible and gentle like Veronica’s veil so as to reproduce all the divine features.
Imagine at first someone who willingly and peacefully humbles himself till the end, who does not revolt before injury, whom mockery does not cause to wince, and who submits to all the abjections with a tranquil heart. Behold my Son, the Author and Prince of peace, and consider: are you truly one of his disciples, you for whom a look, a frown, a breath of suspicion suffices to wound deeply and to cause you to withdraw from recollection for yours, even days?
Second Station - Jesus Is Laden with the Cross
MY SON CAME ON EARTH FOR THIS HOUR. He has accepted his mission and fulfilled it point by point in order to arrive at the end which is the cross.
You also must attach yourself passionately to the will of the Father so that you will know how to say yes not only in advance for what your imagination represents to you as a future cross, but according to the degree that suffering causes revulsion to your body and anguish to your heart… to the degree that suffering disheartens your spirit and compasses your soul entirely.
Third Station -Jesus Falls for the First Time
LEARN NOT TO BE SCANDALIZED BY HUMAN WEAKNESS – this weakness which God knew, this weakness which he became himself.
Because of Jesus lying beneath the cross, be compassionate, devoted, and come to the aid of the weakness of your neighbor.
For yourselves, do not wonder and allow yourselves to be troubled by the weight of your body. Be humble before its weariness; bear it with simplicity, and then as soon as you can, take up again your burden. The task is not yet finished; Calvary is still far off.
Fourth Station - Jesus Meets His Mother
GIVE YOUR HEARTS TO MY SON all emptied, thirsting, and turned solely toward him, wholly unoccupied with yourself.
You have met him many times, but you did not know it, because your spirit was full of plans, anxieties, and thoughts which were not concerned with this unique love.
Oh, how sad it is for my Son to seek with so great a desire of a loving look from one who remains distracted, dreaming, or even laughing with the foolishness and dissipation of the world.
Fifth Station - Jesus is Helped by Simon
HOW I DESIRE THAT YOU WOULD NOT RESEMBLE SIMON, this poor Simon who considered it a burdensome task to help carry the cross.
I desire that you love the cross very much and that you consider that it is my Son who grants you a grace in asking you to help him, and not you who would do him one by accepting an additional task or a trial or some physical suffering.
I would have you spouses of Jesus crucified, of those who do not content themselves, who do not measure, who give all without knowing what they give and who do not discover new sacrifices and new crosses at each hour of the day.
Sixth Station - A Holy Woman Wipes the Face of Jesus
VERONICE FOLLOWED THE IMPUSE OF HER HEART and did not ask herself what the people around her would think of her gesture.
You also, go ahead, allow yourself to be enkindled by the Holy Spirit and never again fall into this miserable human respect. Be entirely simple, and do the least little things in the best way you can, without solicitude for those who see you, solely occupied with him who suffers, who loves and waits for you. Each one of your minutes can be a reparation if you seek nothing but the face of your Bridegroom. May nothing frighten you, may nothing prevent you from accomplishing everything most perfectly.
Seventh Station - Jesus Falls for the Second Time
THERE HAVE BEEN DAYS, AND THERE WILL BE AGAIN, when you will be as if crushed under the burden of temptation, disgust, and trouble. It is to help you to rise again that my Son willed to fall the second time.
When everything seems too heavy, humble yourself beneath the burden which you do not know how to carry; confess your weakness and the small amount of you generosity. Make yourself little, very little, and the spirit of strength will come in you and will raise you up, and you will go on, even to the summit of Calvary.
Eighth Station - Jesus Consoles the Daughters of Jerusalem
LEARN TO HAVE YOUR SOULD PERFECTLY OPEN, wholly comprehensive of the weakness and miseries of your neighbor. Always be prepared to pour out your soul on those who are hungry. You should serve as their nourishment, for you are here so that the sad may become joyous, the faint-hearted recomforted, and the bad converted.
Oh! Do not fail my Son who awaits all these souls and who desires to have them through you. Think no longer of yourself; do not speak of yourself; you must not waste the time, for your task is immense. My Son is in agony until the end of the world because of all those who have not understood the cross. Do not allow yourself to be occupied with self during this time.
Ninth Station - Jesus Falls for the Third Time
EVEN IF YOU REMEMBER YOUR SINS, even if it happens that you again commit some of them, or even if you should be scandalized by the faults of consecrated souls, raise yourself up and continue. By his third fall, Jesus, my gentle Son, has redeemed all. Do not give the enemy the occasion to triumph. What he wants is to discourage and stop you. Only to attain this end does he desire to permit you to commit faults.
Be courageous even to death, begin again, fight, and advance at any price. Your fall could be the occasion of a great triumph for the glory of God.
Tenth Station - JESUS IS Despoiled of His Garments
IN ORDER TO ADVANCE MORE RAPIDLY, my children, allow yourselves to de despoiled. Love the most holy poverty; love this spiritual destitution which leaves you marvelously free.
So long as you reserve an attachment for something and believe that you have need of a support coming from riches or of consideration, you do not yet resemble him who was despoiled of all things, even the robe which I had woven for him myself. Do not believe that you have need of anything, and allow everything to be taken away as soon as it is asked of you. Even seek the detachments; it is this that will make your soul great and strong.
Eleventh Station - Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross
MY CHILDREN, YOU DO NOT YET KNOW WHAT THE CROSS IS; you cannot know it. Your crosses are those in your imagination, and you fabricate sufferings to occupy yourselves when you lives are not full enough.
Ask for nothing, but refuse nothing. Behold my Son allowing himself to be nailed to the cross without saying anything, with the immense joy in his heart of adhering to the will of the Father.
You should also do the same; do not resist, allow yourselves to be loved. He who disposes all things according to the designs of his infinite love knows what you need to win souls and sanctify yourself. Extend your hands and feet, and allow yourself to be nailed.
Twelfth Station - Jesus Dies on the Cross
MY CHILDREN, ASK FOR THE GRACE OF PERSEVERANCE and do not be sure of yourselves. It is grand to die on the cross, in sentiments of peace and love, in thanksgiving for participating in the state of the divine crucified. It is grand to stay at the foot of the cross right to the end, without having any terror for flight, nor any weight or weariness. But how many were we?
I have asked for your perseverance. Ask for it again through me, and fear nothing. You shall be there until the end, in a growing love, but only if you are humble, if you know that by yourselves only cowardice and calamities can happen.
Thirteenth Station - Jesus Is Replace in the Arms of His Mother
“ALL IS CONSUMMETED.” May this be said of you also. May all the graces you have received become fruitful; all that has been confided to you terminated like the task of a good laborer when evening comes. Let nothing be neglected, not one iota of the law. May you have treated nothing as being too small to be worth accomplishing with a great deal of love.
I would like to be able to reunite, on the last evening of your life, all your days in a splendid sheaf, and offer it to my Son in eternal thanksgiving for the sinner that you could have been and who has become a saint by the mercy of the blood of my Son.
Fourteenth Station - Jesus Is Place in a Tomb
IT IS VERY NECESSARY THAT YOU KNOW THIS, because your presumption still hides it – suffering is not just a great cry of love which opens heaven without agony. No, it also has a whole train of inabilities and humiliations of all kinds. We must feel everything in us being paralyzed and have some idea of the cold and emptiness of the tomb. The more you shall be bound thus, the more you shall be ready for the resurrection. The more you shall have been reduced to nothing, the more you shall be rich for the glory of God eternally.

"Let him take up his cross daily and follow me"

2009-02-26T04:42:00.000-08:00

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), Foundress of the Missionary Sisters of Charity A Gift for God: prayers and meditations

"Let him take up his cross daily and follow me"Lord,

help us to see in your crucifixion and resurrection an example of how to endure and seemingly to die in the agony and conflict of daily life, so that we may live more fully and creatively. You accepted patiently and humbly the rebuffs of human life, as well as the tortures of your crucifixion and passion. Help us to accept the pains and conflicts that come to us each day as opportunities to grow as people and become more like you. Enable us to go through them patiently and bravely, trusting that you will support us. Make us realize that it is only by frequent deaths of ourselves and our self-centred desires that we can come to live more fully; for it is only by dying with you that we can rise with you.

Writing in my blog – one of my New Year’s Resolutions

2009-01-12T10:56:00.001-08:00

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to start writing…to my family, friends and myself. I use to journal a long time ago…before my accident. I would like to start again. I decided to write more often in my blog, and share my love for Jesus with you too.

Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord

Yesterday, we celebrated the Baptism of Jesus. Jesus shows us how the water cleanses us...and the Holy Spirit fills us with all that is Love and True. The Baptism of Jesus…is the end of the Christmas Season.

We are usually anxious to get all the Christmas decorations up and the clutter all put away. Every year, I get less and less anxious to put away all the reminders of Christmas…the Nativity scenes, the pretty trees…they all remind me of the strength of that we long for from Jesus.

I absolutely love the Advent Season, I always have, I love everything about the steps we take in preparing for the Birth of Jesus..."rebirth of love in our hearts". The gathering of family and friends, the heighten awareness of charitable actions, the music, I love the miracles we hear about on Christmas morning…that are retold over and over again.

You may be thinking, we can do these things without the Christmas Season, Yes we can! But we don't, not because we don't want to...but the hectic schedules of many can make it difficult. If we only could, we would see that “Love” being born every day.

We are given life savers during the year… the special feasts days...that touch our hearts, they open our hearts afresh to be "reborn with the Love of Jesus".

Celebrating the First Week of Advent

2008-12-03T06:13:00.000-08:00

Celebrating The First Week of Advent

Preparing for the coming of Jesus...

We wait for the Coming of our Lord Jesus when he will come in his glory at the end of this world.

That's why we have to stay awake in this wait. Staying awake not only in the prayer, but also in the love for one another... because we shall pass our eternity loving!

Then, in that first Sunday of Advent, in the blessed hope and with the whole Church, which prays and watches, let us turn toward the One who is to come (Rev 1:4):

More...Daily Prayers for Advent http://www.prayerflowers.com/#Advent

Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Christ

2008-08-31T08:03:00.000-07:00

(the pictures above are from "Holy Card for Your Inspiration"
http://thewindowshowsitall.blogspot.com/

My brothers and sisters in Jesus...it is important to see Today's Gospel as words of trust "without seeing".

Trusting without seeing means we may not get that sign (i.e. smell, rose) from my notes and letters that I have received...they count on those signs to know they were heard from above. God wants us to trust Him without any doubts. He already gave us a sign...He gave us Jesus, who suffer and died to save us. Hang on to that sign when you are struggling with doubt, fear and longing for an answer from above...hold on the the sign of Jesus dying on the cross for us.

My precious brothers and sisters in Jesus...offer your pain, suffering, unanswered prayers to God for His purpose...for the salvation of many. Give it all to God, place it at the foot of the cross...with all of your being and leave it there.

Letter to the Romans 12,1-2. I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

I can promise you that the words of Jesus will come back and bless you over and over again. He takes care of His children, we need to give Him our worries and TRUST HIM. The letting go is the same as you would let go if there was a fire and the relief you get when the fireman come...or the relief you get when you treading water and see the life boat coming to save you.

That is the letting go you need to do when you offer ALL THAT SUFFERING TO GOD...AS SOON AS YOU DO YOU CAN BREATHE A SIGN OF RELIEF...BECAUSE GOD TAKES OVER...HIS KNOWS YOUR HEART, YOUR TROUBLES, YOUR PAIN WITHOUT YOU SAYING A WORD...HE WILL TEND TO YOUR NEEDS AS YOU OFFER YOURSELF AND YOUR SUFFERING UP TO HIM.

Take a deep sigh of relief, as you give God all that you are hanging on too...finances, pain, sickness, brokenness of heart and mind. God will take You up in His arms and heal and bless you...Amen

For those of you who may ask me how do you know this...I know in a very small way...I have not suffered as many of you have but in my suffering my physical pain and emotional pain...when I give my pain to Jesus and tell Him to use it for His purpose...I am blessed. Jesus even blesses you in your pain...God is such a gentleman He does not even let you suffer when you decide you will for Him...He takes the pain away...the impact of the pain is no longer a focus in your heart and mind...the focus becomes Jesus. You let Him in Your heart mind, soul and body totally and completely...from there you are traveling the road that walks with Jesus...Amen.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 16,21-27. From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.

Thank you my precious friends and love ones for allowing me to share Jesus with you. Love, Prayerflowers

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus - Feast Day May 30

2008-05-23T17:13:00.000-07:00

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated by the Catholic faithful on May 30, the Friday following the second Sunday of the Pentecost. The feast instituted God's infinite love for mankind by dying on the cross. This then contributed to the creation among the faithful of a powerful current of devotion which since then has grown steadily stronger.

EFFICACIOUS NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
This novena prayer was recited every day by Padre Pio for all who asked for his prayer. You are invited to recite it daily, so as to be spiritually united with the prayer of St. Pio of Pietrelcina.

I. O my Jesus, You have said "Truly I say to you, ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you." Behold I knock, I seek, and I ask for the grace of . . . .

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

II. O my Jesus, You have said, "Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in My Name, He will give it to you." Behold, in Your name, I ask the Father for the grace of . . . .

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

III. O my Jesus, You have said, "Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away, but My words willl not pass away." Encouraged by Your infallible words, I now ask for the grace of . . . .

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have mercy on us sinners, and grant us the grace which we ask of You, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Your tender mother and ours.

Say the Hail Holy Queen (Salve Regina) prayer.
Conclude with: St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us

Prayer for the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Father, we rejoice in the gifts of love we have received from the heart of Jesus your Son. Open our hearts to share his life and continue to bless us with his love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Quotable Quote on the Sacred Heart of Jesus
“In biblical language, "heart" indicates the centre of the person where his sentiments and intentions dwell. In the Heart of the Redeemer we adore God's love for humanity, his will for universal salvation, his infinite mercy. Practising devotion to the Sacred Heart of Christ therefore means adoring that Heart which, after having loved us to the end, was pierced by a spear and from high on the Cross poured out blood and water, an inexhaustible source of new life” - Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus 5 June 2005

May the month of "Our Blessed Mother Mary"

2008-05-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

HAIL MARY:
GENTLE WOMAN
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blest is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death. Amen.

Gentle woman, quiet light
Morning star, so strong and bright,
gentle Mother, peaceful dove,
teach us wisdom; teach us love.

You were chosen by the Father;
You were chosen for the Son.
You were chosen from all women

and for women, shining one.

Gentle woman, quiet light
Morning star, so strong and bright,
gentle Mother, peaceful dove,
teach us wisdom; teach us love.

Blessed are you among women,
blest in turn, all women, too.
Blessed they with peaceful spirits.
Blessed they with gentle hearts.

Gentle woman, quiet light
Morning star, so strong and bright,
gentle Mother, peaceful dove,
teach us wisdom; teach us love.

Happy Mothers Day May 11th

2008-05-08T17:20:00.000-07:00

A poem for Our Precious Mother... I was praying earlier today and this poem/prayer just came pouring out...Our Blessed Mother is so kind and compassionate she always wants to take care of us. May you find peace reading this poem and I pray it blesses you and your love ones.
Love,

Prayerflowers

Celebration of St. Peregrine's upcoming Feast Day May 4th

2008-04-27T07:46:00.000-07:00

(Please forgive me for being late getting this up...St. Peregrine's is so faithful to praying for all those who suffer cancer and aids he is truly an awsome inspiration for all)

St. Peregrine's Novena Start - 4/26 to 5/4

Novena To St Peregrine Glorious wonder-worker, St. Peregrine, you answered the divine call with a ready spirit, and forsook all the comforts of a life of ease and all the empty honors of the world to dedicate yourself to God in the Order of His holy Mother. You labored manfully for the salvation of souls. In union with Jesus crucified, you endured painful sufferings with such patience as to deserve to be healed miraculously of an incurable cancer in your leg by a touch of His divine hand. Obtain for me the grace to answer every call of God and to fulfill His will in all the events of life. Enkindle in my heart a consuming zeal for the salvation of all men. Deliver me from the infirmities that afflict my body (especially.....). Obtain for me also a perfect resignation to the sufferings it may please God to send me, so that, imitating our crucified Savior and His sorrowful Mother, I may merit eternal glory in heaven. St. Peregrine, pray for me and for all who invoke your aid. St. Peregrine is the Patron saint for individuals, family members and care-givers whose lives have been touched by cancer and other serious illnesses to come to pray for healing, to come in thanksgiving for a petition answered or to come in remembrance of a loved one who has died from cancer. The feast day of St. Peregrine, Starts on April 26, ending on May 4th.

2008-04-13T07:29:00.000-07:00

April 13, 2008
Good Shepherd Sunday

I love this picture...
a pure example of Jesus rescuing His sheep in the thorns of life.

During my prayer time today, I was reminded of some of the times I have cried out to Jesus like the little lamb above...and just how fast I was rescued. Sweet Jesus, help me to remember how fast You come to rescue us. Help me remember no trap or snare set by Satan can survive, with You guarding us...You are The Good Shepherd who never abandons us...Amen

Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.In verdant pastures he gives me repose;beside restful waters he leads me;he refreshes my soul.He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake.Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.With your rod and your staff that give me courage.You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes;you anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows. Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life;and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.

An Invitation to Share God’s Love.

2008-04-08T08:10:00.000-07:00

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

We are graced to receive so much Love in prayer. This Love is not meant to be held on too, but to share. If we feel God’s Love during prayer....why should it stop when the prayer is over? Jesus continues to fill you up as you share His gifts...the more you share, the more He pours upon you.

My prayer today is to share a little more of Jesus then I did yesterday...each day sharing more and more...how awesome it will be to feel God's Love being pour in abundance upon us everyday.

An invitation to one reading this blog today is: reach out to one extra person that you would have not before today. Give them an ear, hand, food, Love, your unconditional compassion.

The awesomeness of this challenge is God has already gone before you...if you decide to take this extra step today...you will not be alone...He will help you and you will be fulfilled in giving.

Please don't misunderstand my brothers and sisters in Jesus. I am sure most of you reading this post...already have a ministry if not more then one.

An invitation today is to go one step further...I too will share in this challenge...I am disabled, but there is still much I can do today. I can pray an extra rosary for someone or more then one, start a novena for someone. Or call someone who may need me to listen to them. I have been able to get up a little more...I can also try to make something for a friend.

If you cook meals for the poor, cook an extra meal for your pastor/priest or someone you know that is out of work. If you tend to the sick...visit someone you know that is homebound and bring them a flower, a hug. If you work full-time...reach out to someone that is hurting at your work.

This is not a new challenge, but certainly a challenge we can exercise when we extend the loving grace that God pours over us during our prayer time.

My prayer for you...May God pour His abundant Grace upon you...may your eyes be open to see how God's Love in YOU can be shared...and may that precious love be born anew, refresh with a zeal that only God's Love can give...Amen.

Love,
Prayerflowers
P.S. If you decide to take this invitation today…would you please share with me your experience on how God’s Love in you bloomed...Thank you and God Bless you!

"God does not ration his gift of the Spirit"

2008-04-03T08:38:00.000-07:00

Saint Aphraates (c.345), monk and Bishop at Nineveh,

"God does not ration his gift of the Spirit"

If from one fire you light other fires in a great many different places, the first fire is not lessened in the least… It is just the same with God and his Christ: although they are one, yet they dwell within each of the great multitude of men. In the same way the sun is not a bit diminished in heaven because its power is poured out on the earth.

How much greater, then, is God’s power, since it is by the power of God that the sun itself subsists.

When it was a grievous burden to Moses to lead the camp alone, the Lord said to him: “I will take some of the spirit that is on you and will bestow it on the seventy elders of Israel” (cf. Nb 11,17). But when He took away some of Moses’ spirit and the seventy men were filled with it, was Moses deprived in any way? Did anyone notice that he had less spirit?

Moreover the blessed apostle Paul also said: God distributed the Spirit of his Christ and sent it into the [New Testament] prophets (cf. 1Cor 12,11.28). But Christ was not in any way hurt by this, for his Father did not ration his gift of the Spirit.

It is in this sense… that Christ dwells in faithful men. And he suffers no loss though He is divided among so many. For the Prophets received of the Spirit of Christ, each as much as he was able to bear. And today, too, it is the same Spirit of Christ who is poured forth upon all flesh so that sons and daughters, old men and youths, menservants and maidservants might prophesy (Jl 3,1; Acts 2,17).

Something of Christ is in us, yet he is in heaven at the right hand of his Father. And Christ did not receive the Spirit by measure, but his Father loved him and delivered all things into his hands, and gave him authority over all his treasure... And also our Lord said: “All things have been handed over to me by my Father” (Mt 11,27)… And finally the apostle Paul said: “Everything will be subjected to Christ excluding the Father who subjected everything to him. When everything is subjected to him then he himself will be subjected to God his Father who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all” (1Cor 15,27-28).

Happy are all who take refuge in Him

2008-03-21T11:43:00.000-07:00

Blessed Guerric of Igny (c.1080-1157),

Cistercian abbot(cf. SC 202, p.211f.)
"Happy are all who take refuge in him!"
(Ps 2,12)Blessed may he be who let his hands, his feet and side be pierced that I might make my nest “in the clefts of the rock” (Sg 2,14). Blessed may he be who has fully opened himself up to me so that I might go in to the sanctuary of God (cf Ps 42[41],5) and “conceal myself in the shelter of his tent” (Ps 27[26],5). This rock is our refuge… the doves’ sweet place of rest, since the sanctifying holes of those wounds covering his body hold out forgiveness to sinners and grant grace to the just. It is a sure abode, my brethren, “a tower of strength against the enemy” (Ps 61[60],4), when we dwell within the wounds of Christ our Saviour by means of loving and constant meditation, when we seek a sure shelter for our souls in faith and love for the Crucified: a shelter against the rebellion of the flesh, the tempests of the world, the attacks of the devil. The protection of this sanctuary lifts it above all worldly esteem…So enter into this rock, hide yourself…, take refuge in the Crucified… What is the wound in Christ’s side if not the door of the ark, open to all who will be rescued from the flood? Noah’s ark, however, was only a symbol; here is the reality. In this case it is no longer a question of restoring mortal life but of receiving the immortal…Thus it is wholly right that today Christ’s dove, his beautiful one (Sg 2,13-14),… should joyfully sing his praise. From the remembrance or the imitation of the Passion, from meditation on the holy wounds as from the clefts of the rock, his sweetest voice resounds in the Bridegroom’s ears (Sg 2,14).