Portiuncula

Our Lady of the Angels of Portiuncula

Feast Day – Aug 2

At the foot of the mountain on which Assisi is situated, hermits from Palestine had built an oratory in the first centuries of the Christian era. This oratory together with a small plot of land was given to St Benedict in the 6th century. The name Portiuncula, that is, Little Portion, is supposed to have been derived from the transfer of this small piece of property. The little church was called Saint Mary of the Angels, and the inhabitants of Assisi went there frequently to pray.

When St Francis of Assisi forsook the world, it was his first pious act to restore this sanctuary of the Queen of heaven, which had become somewhat dilapidated. Many extraordinary favors were granted to him in this little church of the Portiuncula. The Queen of heaven designated this place as the cradle of his order. Here, likewise, she implored for him the great indulgence by which the chapel became famous throughout Christendom.

A special impulse led St Francis on a certain night to go to the chapel. There he saw our Lord and His holy Mother surrounded by a great host of angels. Filled with astonishment and reverence, the saint prostrated himself upon the ground and adored the Divine Majesty. Then he heard the voice of our Lord urging him with ineffable tenderness to ask some special favor.

Nothing was so near to the heart of Francis as the salvation of souls, and so, after a few moments of reflection, he asked for the grace of a full pardon for all who, being contrite and having confessed their sins, would visit this little sanctuary. Mary cast herself upon her knees before her Divine Son, and repeated the petition of her faithful servant.

Thereupon the Lord said to Francis: “It is a great favor that you request, nevertheless it shall be granted to you. Go to my Vicar on earth, to whom I have given the power to bind and to loose, and ask him in My name to grant this indulgence.”

Forthwith Saint Francis presented himself to Pope Honorius III, who, after having assured himself of the truth of the vision, granted his request, but with the restriction that the indulgence could be gained on one day of the year. The 2nd of August was the designated day, that being the anniversary of the little church’s dedication. At the command of the pope and in the presence of 7 bishops, St Francis preached the extraordinary indulgence at the Portiuncula before a great concourse of people. From that time the Portiuncula was annually the goal of innumerable pilgrims. Subsequently the indulgence was extended to every day of the year.

A large basilica was built over the chapel, and so the little sanctuary of the Portiuncula has been preserved in its original condition. By virtue of their apostolic power the popes have extended this indulgence to all Franciscan churches, and under special conditions even to some other churches. They have also granted that the indulgence can be gained not only once, but as often as anyone, who has been to confession and to Holy Communion, visits the appointed church on Portiuncula day and prays 6 Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glorys for the intentions of the Holy Father. Besides, the indulgence can be applied to the holy souls in purgatory.

from: The Franciscan Book of Saints, ed. by Marion Habig, OFM

 

 PORTIUNCULA INDULGENCE – FROM VESPERS AUGUST 1ST TO SUNDOWN ON AUGUST 2nd!!!

 

Behold the man!

The fourth outpouring: Jesus sheds blood in the crowning of thorns

7/26/2016

Posted by Luisapiccarreta official.org  website

From the Gospel according to John (Jn 19:2-5)

And the soldiers plaiting a crown of thorns put it upon his head; and they put on him a purple garment. They came to him, and said “Hail, king of the Jews”, and they gave Him blows! Pilate went out again and said to them, “Behold, I bring him forth, that you may know that I find no fault in him”. So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”.

The wounds inflicted by the blows of the scourging were not enough. Now the soldiers call in the rest of the troop and begin to mock Jesus. They weave a crown of thorns and with a rod beat the thorns so that they penetrate deep into His flesh. His face slowly becomes a mask of blood. They slap Him and cover His face with spittle. They kneel before Him to mock Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and laugh out loud without showing any respect.

It is clear that they are so blinded by pride to the point of not noticing that before them stood their God; but they do not even see the man! They are so full of conceit that they are not aware that a man like them is before their eyes. When one gets to the point of mistreating his brother and finds enjoyment in it, then one has truly hit the bottom of his humanity! Power has this drawback: the more it is exercised, the more it perverts and becomes inhuman, more similar to a beast than the truth that abides in us.

Jesus looks at those soldiers, one by one, and in His eyes there is not the slightest trace of judgment or resentment. His face is stained with blood, marked by the grimaces of pain, but His eyes are clear and serene. The faces of the soldiers instead are contracted, their eyes are dull, their breathing is labored and they grind their teeth like wild beasts. They do not seem to withstand that peace that is felt in the presence of Jesus. One by one the injuries and insults multiply.

On February 19, 1900, in describing one of her visions, Luisa sees many people moving about who do nothing but weave crowns of thorns, so much so that while she was careful to remove them from Jesus’ head, another and more painful crown would be sunk into His head.

Luisa compares these thorns that wound Jesus’ head to the pride of our times. The greatest misfortune is to lose one’s head, because by losing the head with the brain, all the other members become incapacitated or enemies of oneself and of others. And so it happens that the person opens the door to all the other vices.

In another passage of September 9, 1901, Luisa asks Jesus to take His thorns and to sink them into her head to relieve His suffering. Jesus tells her that when she suffers the pains of His thorns, He feels relieved and freed from those pains. When she humbles herself and feels unworthy to suffer them she atones for the sins of pride that are committed in the world.

By suffering Luisa wants to give the glory to God that all men should give, were there no sin of pride. And in suffering Luisa also wishes to ask for many graces for all creatures so that this sin will be destroyed.

The soldiers bring Jesus back to Pilate. He orders them to take Jesus to a spot where all the people can see Him, and showing Him in this terrible state, he shouts loudly: “Behold the Man!”. The whole crowd at that moment should have grown silent and been moved by all the love, which like a fragrant perfume, issued from the wounds of Jesus’ crowned head. Instead, the screams reach even to the heavens; a hellish pit had replaced that mob. Behold the men!

Jesus looks at them and His heart cries tears of blood. Before Him is not only a crowd of people who shout out in scorn but also the fate of every single human being that Jesus wants to set free. They are “blood of my Blood,” and for love of them the Son of God became flesh. Jesus became incarnate in each one of them, and their blood is His own blood, but a blood that must be purified. And like the heart that contracts and decontracts in a diastolic movement to receive incoming blood carrying waste products from the tissues, so Jesus remains silent and spreads out His arms of mercy to receive all the sin that comes from the fabric of our individual lives.

In ‘The Hours of the Passion’, there is a very beautiful and interesting passage where Luisa experiences the moment “Behold the Man!”.Sheunder stands that not only is the death sentence of Jesus ratified by the people but above all also man’s salvation by means of the Redemption.

“Jesus, my Love, let me hold You, because I see that not able to stand under the weight of so many pains, You stagger. Ah! At this solemn moment Your fate is sealed –at Pilate’s words a profound silence fills the Heavens, the earth and hell! And then, in one single voice I hear the cry of all: “Crucify him, crucify him; we want him dead no matter what!”.

My Life, Jesus, I see that You tremble … the cry of death descends into Your Heart, and in these voices you hear Your own dear Father’s voice saying, “My son, I want You dead, and dead crucified!”.You also hear Your Mama, though transfixed and desolate, who echoes Your dear Father: “Son, I want You dead!”.The Angels, the Saints and hell itself –all in one voice cry “Crucify him, crucify him”. And so there is no soul that wants you alive … and Alas! Alas! To my greatest shame, pain and horror, I too feel compelled by a supreme force to cry out “Crucify him!”.

My Jesus, forgive me if I too, a miserable sinful soul, want you dead! … But I beg You not to let me die alone, but with You.

And my tormented Jesus, moved by my pain says to me: “My child, cling to my Heart and take part in My pains and my reparations. The moment is solemn .The moment has come to decide for My death or for the death of all creatures. At this instant, two currents pour into My Heart; in one enter the souls who want me dead because they want to find life through Me. And by My accepting to die, they are freed from eternal damnation and the gates of Heaven open to receive them. In the other current enter those souls who want Me to die out of hate and to seal their death sentence; My Heart is torn and feels the death of each one and the pains of hell! Ah! My Heart cannot bear these bitter pains. I feel death at every heartbeat and with every breath, and I go repeating: How much blood will be shed in vain! So much suffering will be useless for so many! Ah, daughter, bear me up for I cannot take any more. Take part in My sufferings; let your life be a continuous offering to save souls and to sweeten My pains which are so excruciating!”» (Hour XVII, from9:00 to 10:00 a.m.).

While all the people shout “Crucify him!”, Jesus thinks back on the time when He spoke to them from the top of a mountain, as He does now from the height of the balcony without anyone being able to understand the secrets that His silence is whispering to their hearts. “Blessed are you when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in Heaven”. The words of life that Jesus spoke so freely up to a few days before now become manifest in these last acts of love. “Neither do men light a lamp, and put it under the bushel, but on the stand; and it shineth unto all that are in the house. Even so let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven”. That praetorium Is Jesus’ stand, and Jesus is the light of the world. Now, it is very clear what He meant that day on the mountain: “But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father who is in Heaven”.

Facing that hellish pit Jesus thinks of the Father and looks toward the heavens and dreams of a paradise for each one of us. He is giving His life for us, for His friends; this is the only thing that matters to Him. With tearful eyes we understand the freedom that He found in wanting to die to give life to those He loves. And Jesus asks us to do the same, because it is in giving one’s life for our friends that we are free, and it is in forgiving our enemies that the millstone of pride is thrown into the tomb.

Jesus looks at us, and it is as if He were telling us not to trust our thinking more than His words. He knows that it seems absurd for us to do as He asks us, but He also knows that we desire to do as He has done for us. That is why He gave us an example and why He chose to give His life for us.

But why was Jesus crowned with thorns? Of course, for those who condemned Him it was a means to mock Him, but for Jesus it was an instrument for teaching us many things about our lives.

Jesus tells Luisa on October 12, 1903, that the crowning of thorns is almost incomprehensible to the human mind because His head wanted to be honored with a specific and special portion, not general, of suffering and bloodshed of its own, almost competing with the body. The reason being that the head is what unites the whole body and soul and is the essential part of the whole man; so much so that if the body sins or does good, it is the head that directs, because the body is only an instrument. Thus Jesus’ head, needing to restore command and dominion to the human mind and merit that new heavens of graces and new worlds of truth should enter it, and to oppose new hells of sins which men bring upon themselves becoming cowardly slaves of vile passions wanted to crown with glory the entire human family with honor and dignity, firstly by crowning and honoring His Humanity, albeit with a painful crown of thorns, symbol of the immortal crown that was taken away by sin and that was being given back to creatures. Besides this, the crown of thorns means that there is no glory and honor without thorns, that there can never be any rule over passions and no possession of virtue without feeling pricked down into the flesh and the spirit, and that to truly reign means to govern oneself through the pricks of mortification and sacrifice. Furthermore, these thorns mean that the true and only King is Jesus, and only a person who makes Jesus King of his heart enjoys peace and happiness. In turn, Jesus makes him king of his own kingdom. All those streams of blood flowing from His head are many rivulets that bind the human intelligences to the knowledge of God’s sovereignty over them.

Sobbing with emotion we understand that the life to which the Lord calls us is another. To be His disciples is much more than what we can imagine. In His loving silence we recognize the secret to freedom and choose to follow Him, as far as He wishes, even to the gates of Paradise. Then crossing over its threshold we enter with Him and everyone into eternity. These are the men and women we want to be!

 

Oh King of the universe,

may the Blood of the crowning with thorns

destroy our selfishness and our pride,

that we may humbly serve our brothers in need

and grow in your love.

 

a cura di don Marco

 

7/29 The Novena to God the Father starts today, July 29th!

This Feast takes place on the First Sunday of August
This year it is Celebrated August 7th

God the Father Novena

Day 1

“God, Creator of the Universe”

A. Opening SongHow Great Thou Art— Carl G. Boberg and R.J. Hughes

O Lord my God

when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the world

Thy hands have made

I see the stars

I hear the rolling thunder

Thy pow’r throughout

the universe displayed.Refrain:

Then sings my soul
my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art,
how great Thou art!

(Repeat Refrain)

B. SCRIPTURE READING(Gen 2, 1-4)Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work hat he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.C. MEDITATIONThe Old Testament suggests and the New Covenant reveals the creative action of the Son and the Spirit, inseparably one with that of the Father. this creative co-operation is clearly affirmed in the Church’s rule of faith: “There exists but one God… He is the Father, God, the Creator, the author, the giver of order. He made all things by Himself, that is, by His Word and by His Wisdom,” “by the Son and the Spirit” who, so to speak, are “His hands.” Creation is the common work of the Holy Trinity (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC 292]).

D. PRAYER

(Psalm 8, 1-9)

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all he earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also he beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whtaever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

E. LITANY TO GOD THE FATHER

Leader: O God, Father of Heaven
All: * Have mercy on us.

: O God, Son, Redeemer of the World *
: O God, Holy Spirit *
: Father, Creator of the world *
: Father, eternal wisdom *
: Father, infinite goodness *
: Father, bountiful *
: Father, fount of everything *
: Father, most sweet *
: Father, infinite mercy *
: Father, and defender *
: Father, our glory and happiness *
: Father, wealth of all people *
: Father, triumph of all nations *
: Father, hope of all Christians *
: Father, splendor of the Church *
: Father, splendor of kings *
: Father, overturner of idols *
: Father, consolation of people *
: Father, happiness of priests *
: Father, guide of men and women *
: Father, gift of family life *
: Father, help of the poor *
: Father, guide of youth *
: Father, friend of childen *
: Father, freedom of slaves *
: Father, light of those who live in darkness *
: Father, destroyer of the proud *
: Father, wisdom of the just *
: Father, rest in tribulations *
: Father, hope in toil *
: Father, harbor of safety in danger *
: Father, consolation of the afflicted *
: Father, refuge of the hopeless *
: Father, refuge of orphans *
: Father, refuge of the aged *
: Father, refuge of the dying *
: Father, that relieves our thirst and poverty *
: Father, life of the dead *
: Father, glory of all the saints *

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,

* forgive us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,

* graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,

* have mercy on us, O Lord.

Prayer:

(taken from “The Father Speaks to His Children” p.68-69)

Father, the world needs You
Every person needs You
The heavy and polluted air needs You.
We beg You, dear Father
Come back to walk the streets of the world
Come back to live among Your people
Come back to guide the nations
Come back to bring peace with Your justice
Come back to bring the fire of Your love.

So… redeemed by sorrows
we can become a new creation.
Amen.

F. CLOSING SONG

From Heaven The Lord Looks Down

From Heaven The Lord Looks Down
upon the children of men
To see if there be but one
who does good
and keeps the law in his heart.

Refrain:

My heart overflows
I sing my ode to the King
My tougue flows
life the pen of a scribe
I sing the praise of the Lord
hmmm, hmmm.
How lovely is this place
The dwelling place of the Lord
My heart and soul
have yearned and pined
for God the living God.

(Repeat Refrain)

Day 2

Father of all Humankind

A. Opening Song

Let Heaven Rejoice

–Bob Dufford, S.J.

Refrain:

Let Heaven rejoice and earth be glad;
Let all creation sing.
Let children proclaim to every land,
Thy hands have made
“Hosanna to our King.”

1. Sound the trumpet into the night;
the day of the Lord is near.
Wake His people, lift your voice
proclaim it t the world.

(Repeat Refrain)

2. Rise in splendor; shake off your sleep;
put on your robes of joy
And in the morning you shall see
the glory of the Lord.

(Repeat Refrain)

B. SCRIPTURE READING

(Is 44, 1-2; Jn 14, 1-4)

“But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen.”(Is 44,1-2)

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in god; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”
(Jn 14, 1-4)

C. MEDITATION

God who created man out of love also calls him to love the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being. For man is created in the image and likeness of God who is himself love. Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love which God blesses is intended to be fruithful and to be realized in the common work of watching over creation: “And God blessed them, and God said to them: ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.’ (Gen 2, 28)(CCC 1604)

D. PRAYER

(Ps 14, 1-7)

The Fool says in his heart, “There is no God. “They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.

They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD?

There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. You would shame the plans of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge.

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

E. LITANY TO GOD THE FATHER

F. CLOSING SONG

You are Near

Dan Schutte S.J.

Refrain:

Yahweh I know You are near
Standing always at my side
Your guard me from foe
And You lead me in ways everlasting

1. Lord you have searched my heart
And You know when I sit And when I stand
Your hand is upon me Protecting me from death
Keeping me from harm.

(Repeat Refrain)

2. Where can I run from Your love
If I climb to the heavens You are there
If I fly to the sunrise Or sail beyond the sea
Still I’d find you there.

(Repeat Refrain)

3. You know my heart and its ways
You who formed me before I was born
In secret of darkness Before I saw the sun
In my mother’s womb.

(Repeat Refrain)

4. Marvelous to me are Your works
How profound are Your thoughts my Lord
Even if I could count them They number as the stars
you would still be there.

(Repeat Refrain)

Day 3

Giver of the Commandments

A. Opening Song

Prodigal Son

Eugene O’Reilly

1. Father I have sinned
let me find my way.
Remember not my sins
just let me hear you say

Refrain:

I forgive you, I love you,
You are mine
Take my hand, go in peace
sin no more, beloved one.

(Repeat Refrain)

2. Father I have turned my back
and walked away
Depending on my strength
and lived life my own way.

(Repeat Refrain)

3. Father I’ve returned.
I’m home with you to stay
Standing by your door,
knowing that you’ll say.

(Repeat Refrain)

B. SCRIPTURE READING

(Dt 5,6-21)

‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

‘You shall have no other gods before me.

‘Your shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that it’s in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

‘You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God Commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your female servant may rest as well as you. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

‘Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

‘You shall not murder.

‘And you shall not commit adultery.

‘And you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

‘And you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.’

C. MEDITATION

The word “Decalogue” means literally “ten words” (Ex 34,28;Dt 4,13). God revealed these “ten words” to his people on the holy mountain. They were written “with the finger of God” (Ex 31,18;Dt 5,22)., unlike the other commandments written by Moses (Dt 31,9.24). They are pre-eminently the words of god. They are handed on to us in the books of Exodus(Ex 20,1-7) and Deuteronomy (Dt 5,6-22). Beginning with the Old Testament, the sacred books refer to the “ten words,” but it is in the New Covenant in Jesus Christ that their full meaning will be revealed. (CCC 2056)

D. PRAYER

(Ps 19, 7-14)

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is you servant warned; in keeping them there is great rewards.

Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then i shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

F. CLOSING SONG

Create in Me

Psalm 51

Refrain:

Create in me a clean heart,
put a new and right Spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

1. Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness.
In Your compassion, blot out all my sin.
Thoroughly cleanse me from all of my guilt.
Wash me ’till I’m whiter than snow.

(Repeat Refrain)

2. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.
Uphold me with a willing spirit. So I will teach
transgressors your ways. And sinners will
return to You.

(Repeat Refrain)

3. You are pleased with sincerity of heart,
not with sacrifices or with holocausts.
My sacrifice is a broken spirit, for You will not refuse
a humble heart.

(Repeat Refrain)

Day 4

Obedience

— the Price of Salvation

A. Opening Song

Glory and Praise

Antiphon:

Glory and praise to our God,
who alone gives light to our days.
Many are the blessings He bears
to those who trust in His ways.

1. We, the daughters and sons of Him
who built the valleys and plains,
praise the wonders our God has done
in ev’ry heart that sings.

2. In His wisdom He strengthen is,
like gold that’s tested in fire.
Though the power of sin prevails,
our God is thre to save.

3. Ev’ry moment of ev’ryday
our God is waiting to save,
always ready to seek the lost,
to answer those who pray.

B. SCRIPTURE READING

(Lev 26, 3-6)

If you walk in my statues and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely. I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. And I will remove harmful beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land.

C. MEDITATION

Following Jesus Christ involves keeping the Commandments. The Law has not been abolished, but rather man is invited to rediscover it in the person of his Master who is its perfect fulfillment. In the three synoptic Gospels, Jesus’ call to the rich young man to follow him, in the obedience of a disciple and in the observance of the Commandments, is joined to the call to peverty and chastity. The evangelical counsels are inseperable from the Commandments.(CCC 2056)

D. PRAYER

(Ps 15, 1-5)

O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tougue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reprouch against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innovent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

F. CLOSING SONG

I Surrender All

J.W. Van Deventer

All to the Father, I surrender
all to Him I give freely.
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live.

Refrain:

I surrender all, I surrender all
All to the Blessed Trinity, I surrender all.

All to Jesus, I surrender
all to Him I give freely.
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live.

(Repeat Refrain)

All to the Holy Spirit, I surrender
all to Him I give freely.
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live.

(Repeat Refrain)

Day 5

Sent Jesus and the Holy Spirit

A. Opening Song

Sing a Joyful Song

 

Refrain:

Sing a joyful song to the Lord!
Alleluia!
Let the heavens and earth rejoice
Alleluia! Alleluia!

1. The Heavens proclaim His name,
And earth in reply
Echoes back
with joyful songs of praise.

2. Our God is a mighty God,
Unequalled in pow’r.
Yet His gentle mercy covers the earth.

3. Sing praise, O Jerusalem!
Sing praise to your King!
He shall rule with justice
age after age.

4. Sing praise to the God of Gods.
The ancient of Days!
Holy, holy, holy Lord of all.

B. SCRIPTURE READING

(Acts ,1-5)

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

C. MEDITATION

The One whom the Father has sent into our hearts, the Spirit of his Son, is truly God. (Gal 4,6) Consubstantial with the Father and the Son, the Spirit is inseparable from them, in both the inner life of the Trinity and his gift of love for the world. In adoring the Holy Trinity, lifegiving, consubstantial, and indivisible, the Church’s faith also professes the distinction of Persons. When the Father sends his Word, he always sends his Breath. In their joint mission, the Son and the Holy Spirit are distinct but inseparable. To be sure, it is Christ who is seen, the visible image of the invisible God, but it is the Spirit who revels him.(CCC 689)

D. PRAYER

(Jn 14,23-26)

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make out home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.”

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. but the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

F. CLOSING SONG

Holy God We Praise Thy Name

Ignaz Franz

Holy God, we praise Thy Name;
Lord of all, we bow before Thee!
All on earth Thy scepter claim,
All in Heaven above adore Thee;
infinite Thy vast domain,
Everlasting is Thy reign.

Hark! the loud celestial hymn
Angel choirs above are raising,
Cherubim and seraphim,
In unceasing choirs praising;
Fill the heavens with sweet accord:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord.

Day 6

One in the Trinity

A. Opening Song

Trinity Song

1. Father in my life I see
You are God who walks with me!
You hold my life in your hands!
Close beside you I will stand
I give all my life to you!
Help me Father to be true.

2. Jesus in my life I see
You are God who walks with me!
You hold my life in your hands!
Close beside you I will stand
I give all my life to you!
Help me Father to be true.

3. Spirit in my life I see
You are God who walks with me!
You hold my life in your hands!
Close beside you I will stand
I give all my life to you!
Help me Father to be true.

B. SCRIPTURE READING

(Mt 28,19)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C. MEDITATION

Christians are baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” Before receiving the sacrament, they respond to a three-part question when asked to confess the Father, the Son, and the Spirit: “I do.” The Faith of all Christians rests on the Trinity.”(CCC 232).

“The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life.”(CCC 234).

D. PRAYER

(Jn 14,23-26)

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again, He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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.

F. CLOSING SONG

God Father Praise and Glory

1. God Father praise and glory
Thy children bring to Thee
Goodwill and peace to Thee
Shall now forever be.

Refrain:

O Most Holy Trinity
undivided Unity
Cherubim and seraphim,
O Holy God, Mighty God
God immortal be adored.

2. And thou, Lord co-eternal
God’s sole begotten Son.
O Jesus, King anointed
Who hast redemption won.

(Repeat Refrain)

3. O Holy Ghost Creator
The gift of God Most High
Life, love and sacred unction
Our weakness Thou supply.

(Repeat Refrain)

Day 7

Beloved of Jesus

A. Opening Song

Only This I want

Refrain:

Only this I want:
but to know the Lord,
and to bear His cross,
so to wear the crown He wore.

1. All but this is loss,
Worthless refuse to me,
For to gain the Lord
Is to gain all i need.

2. I will run the race;
I will fight the good fight,
So to win the prize
Of the Kingdom of my Lord.

3. Let your hearts be glad,
Always glad in the Lord
So to shine like stars
In the darkness of the night.

B. SCRIPTURE READING

(Jn 17,1-5)

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

C. MEDITATION

The Son of God, who came down “from heaven, not to do [his] own will, but the will of that who sent [him]”(Jn 6, 38), said on coming into the world, “Lord, I have come to do your will, O God.” “And by that will we have been sanctified Through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb 10, 5-10). From the first moment of his Incarnation the Son embraces the Father’s plan of divine salvation in his redemptive mission: “My food i to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplished his work”(Jn 4, 34). The sacrifice of Jesus “for the sins of the whole world” (1 Jn 2,2) expresses his loving communion with he Father. “The Father loves me, because I lay down my life,”(Jn 10, 17)said the Lord, “[for] I do as the Father has commended me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.”(Jn 14, 31)(CCC 606)

By his loving obedience to the Father, “unto death, even death on a cross”(Phil 2,8),Jesus fulfills the atoning mission(cf. Is 53, 10) of the suffering Servant, who will make many righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities.” (Is 53, 11; cf Rom 5, 19)(CCC623)

D. PRAYER

(Jn 17, 20-26)

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may al be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world, O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them our name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.

F. CLOSING SONG

Dwelling Place

by John Foley, SJ

I fall on my knees to the Father of Jesus
The Lord who has shown us the glory of God.
May He is His love give us Strength for our living
The Strength of His Spirit, the glory of God.

Refrain:

May Christ find a dwelling place
of faith in our hearts
May our lives be rooted in love,
rooted in love (Interlude)

May grace and peace be yours in
God our Father and in His Son.

(Repeat Refrain)

Day 8

Source of Divine Providence

A. Opening Song

A Thanksgiving Song

Lord, in a special way,
we’d like to give thanks to Thee
Lord, in a special way,
we’d like to give thanks to Thee
For all the wonderful things you’ve done
Lord, we give thanks to you
For a chance to be with you
For the world and the people all around
So with love in our hearts,
we offer everything we have
Oh our Lord, we thank you for Your love
Yes, our Lord,
we thank You
for the morning, noon and night time,
Oh our Lord, we thank You
for giving us the chance to be with You.
Once every morning,
a prayer for a greeting
And me in Your keeping safe and sound.

B. SCRIPTURE READING

(Wis 11, 24)

But You have mercy upon all, because You can do all things, and overlook the sins of men for the sake of repentance.

C. MEDITATION

With creation, God does not abandon his creatures to themselves. He not only gives them being and existence, but also, and at every moment, upholds and sustains them in being, enables them to act and brings them to their final end. (CCC 301)

Jesus asks for childlike abandonment to the providence of our heavenly Father who takes care of his children’s smallest needs: ” Therefore do not be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat?” or What shall we drinks?” … Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” (Mt 6, 31-33)(CCC 305)

D. PRAYER

(Ps 127)

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

F. CLOSING SONG

The Living God

1. Sing praises to the living God, glory hallelujah!
Come adore the living God, glory Hallelujah!
Though sun and moon may pass away His words
will ever stay. His power is forever more,
glory hallelujah!

Refrain:

Glory to the Trinity,
the Undivided Unity.
The Father, Son and Spirit one
From whom all life and goodness come.

2. To the living God we sing, Glory Halleluiah!
Let our love an praises sing, glory halleluiah!
To His son He always gives mercy and His love.
Praise Him now and forevermore, glory halleluiah!

(Repeat Refrain)

Day 9

Source of All Blessings

A. Opening Song

Tantum Ergo

St. Thomas Quinas

Down in adoration falling,
Lo! the sacred Host we hail,
Lo! oe’r ancient forms departing
Newer rites of grave prevail;
Faith for all defects supplying,
Where the feeble senses fail.

To the everlasting Father,
And the Son Who reigns on high
With the Holy Spirit proceeding
Forth from each eternally,
Be salvation, honor blessing,
Might and endless majesty. Amen.

B. SCRIPTURE READING

(Dt 6,5-9)

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

C. MEDITATION

Blessing is a divine and life-giving action, the source of which is the Father; his blessing is both word and gift. When applied to man, the word “blessing” means adoration and surrender to his Creator in thanksgiving. (CCC 1078)

From the beginning until the end of time the whole of God’s work is a blessing. From the liturgical poem of the first creation to the canticles of the heavenly Jerusalem, the inspired authors proclaim the plan of salvation as one vast divine blessing. (CCC 1079)

D. PRAYER

(The Lord’s Prayer)

Our Father in heaven, holy be Your name,
Your kingdom come, Your will be done
on the earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread
and forgive us our sins as we forgive
those who sin against us. Do not bring us
to the test but deliver us from evil. Amen.

F. CLOSING SONG

I Will Serve You

Bill Gather

I will serve You
Because I love You
You have given life to me.
I was nothing until You found me.
You have given life to me.
Heartaches, broken people,
You have given life to me.
Ruined lives are why you died on Calvary.
Your touch was what I longed for,
You have given life to me.

 

 

 

 

 

JULY 26.—ST. ANNE AND ST. JOACHIM

SAINT ANNE was the spouse of St. Joachim, and was chosen by God to be the mother of Mary, His own Blessed Mother on earth. They were both of the royal house of David, and their lives were wholly occupied in prayer and good works. One thing only was wanting to their union—they were childless, and this was held as a bitter misfortune among the Jews. At length, when Anne was an aged woman, Mary was born, the fruit rather of grace than of nature, and the child more of God than of man. With the birth of Mary the aged Anne began a new life : she watched her every movement with reverent tenderness, and felt herself hourly sanctified by the presence of her immaculate child. But she had vowed her daughter to God, to God Mary had consecrated herself again, and to Him Anne gave her back. Mary was three years old when Anne and Joachim led her up the Temple steps, saw her pass by herself into the inner sanctuary, and then saw her no more. Thus was Anne left childless in her lone old age, and deprived of her purest earthly joy just when she needed it most. She humbly adored the Divine Will, and began again to watch and pray, till God called her to unending rest with the Father and the Spouse of Mary in the home of Mary’s Child.

REFLECTION.—St. Anne is glorious among the Saints, not only as the mother of Mary, but because she gave Mary to God. Learn from her to reverence a divine vocation as the highest privilege, and to sacrifice every natural tie, however holy, at the call of God.

Day Fifteen The Queen of Heaven in the Kingdom of the Divine Will.

On the same Topic: Her Life in the Temple.

The soul to the Queen of Heaven:

Queen Mama, here I am; your child is at your side to follow your steps as You enter the temple. Oh, how I wish my Mama would take my little soul and enclose it in the living temple of the Will of God, isolating me from everyone, except my Jesus and Her sweet company.

Lesson of the Queen of Heaven:

My dearest child, how sweet is your whispering to my ears – hearing you say that you want to be enclosed in the living temple of the Divine Will, and that you want no other company but that of your Jesus and mine. Ah, dear child, you make the joys of a true Mother arise in my maternal Heart! If you let Me do it, I am certain that my child will be happy, and my joys will be hers; and to have a happy child is the greatest happiness and glory of a maternal heart.

Now listen to Me, my child; I arrived at the Temple only to live of Divine Will. My holy parents delivered Me to the superiors of the temple, consecrating Me to the Lord; and while they were doing so, I was dressed up in a festal manner, and hymns and prophecies were sung, which regarded the future Messiah. Oh, how my Heart rejoiced!

Afterwards, with courage, I said good-bye to my dear and holy parents; I kissed their right hands, and I thanked them for the care they took of my childhood, and for having consecrated Me to the Lord with so much love and sacrifice. My peaceful presence, without crying and courageous, infused so much courage in them, that they had the strength to leave Me and to depart from Me. The Divine Will ruled over Me and extended Its Kingdom in all of these acts of mine. Oh, power of the Fiat –You alone could give Me the heroism to separate myself from those who loved Me so much, even though I was so little and I saw that they felt their hearts break in separating themselves from Me!

Now, my child, listen to Me: I enclosed myself in the temple; the Lord wanted it so, that I might lay the Kingdom of the Divine Will in the acts which I was to do in it, so as to let Me prepare the ground with my human acts, as well as the heaven of the Divine Will which was to be formed over this ground, for all souls consecrated to the Lord. I was most attentive to all the duties which were normally done in that holy place. I was peaceful with everyone, nor did I ever cause any bitterness or bother to anyone. I submitted myself to the most humble tasks; I found difficulty in nothing, either in sweeping or in doing the dishes. Any sacrifice was an honor – a triumph for Me. But do you want to know why? I looked at nothing – everything was Will of God for Me. So, the little bell that called Me was the Fiat; I would hear the mysterious sound of the Divine Will which called Me in the sound of the little bell, and my Heart would rejoice and run to go wherever the Fiat was calling Me. My rule was the Divine Will, and I saw my superiors as the ones who imparted the commands of a Will so holy. So, for Me, the little bell, the rule, the superiors, and my actions, even the most humble ones, were joys and feasts which the Divine Fiat prepared for Me; and extending Itself also outside of Me, It called Me to extend Its Will in order to form Its Kingdom in the smallest of my acts. And I acted like the sea, which hides everything it possesses, and lets nothing but water be seen. So I did: I hid everything in the immense sea of the Divine Fiat; I could see nothing but seas of Divine Will, and so all things brought Me joys and feasts. Ah, my child, you and all souls ran within my acts! I could do nothing without my child; it was precisely for my children that I prepared the Kingdom of the Divine Will.

Ah, if all the souls consecrated to the Lord in holy places would make everything disappear in the Divine Will, how happy they would be, converting communities into many celestial families, and populating the earth with many holy souls! But, alas! – with the sorrow of a Mother, I must say: how many bitternesses, disturbances and discords are not there? – while sanctity is not in the office given to them, but in doing the Divine Will, in whatever office which may be entrusted to them. The Divine Will is the peacemaker of souls, the strength and support in the hardest sacrifices.

The soul:

O holy Mama, how beautiful are your lessons! How sweetly they descend into my heart! O please! I ask You to extend the sea of the Divine Fiat within me, and to raise it around me like a wall, so that your child may see and know nothing but Divine Will – in such a way that, journeying always through It, I may know Its secrets, Its joys and Its happiness.

Little Sacrifice:

Today, to honor Me, you will do twelve acts of love for Me, to honor the twelve years which I spent in the temple, asking Me to admit you to the union with my acts.

Ejaculatory Prayer:

Queen Mama, enclose me in the sacred temple of the Will of God.