Saint Faustina's Devotion to Saint Joseph

As a nun, Sister Faustina has a deep connection to the saints. She eventually would gain the title herself. Her closeness and devotion to the holy ones no doubt helped her attain a high degree of glory in heaven. What a good model for us. Be close to the saints if you yourself want to make it to heaven to glorify God for all eternity. 

Here's what she wrote in her diary about good Saint Joseph. Let us pray the prayers she did for his special protection.

Saint Joseph urged me to have a constant devotion to him. He himself told me to recite three prayers [the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be] and the Memorare once every day. He looked at me with great kindness and gave me to know how much he is supporting this work [of mercy]. He has promised me this special help and protection. I recite the requested prayers every day and feel his special protection. (Diary entry 1203)

Memorare 

Remember, O most pure spouse of Mary, and my dearly beloved guardian, Saint Joseph, that never was it known that anyone who invoked your care and requested your help was left without consolation. Inspired with this confidence, I come to you and with all the ardor of my spirit I commend myself to you. Do not reject my prayer, O Foster Father of the Savior, but graciously receive and answer it. Amen. 

Novena prayer

Good Saint Joseph, ever watchful guardian of the Holy Family, protect the chosen people of Jesus Christ, keep us free from the blight of error and corruption, and be our ally in the conflict with the powers of darkness. As of old you rescued the child Jesus from the plots of Herod, so now defend the universal Church from all harm. Keep us one and all under your continual protection, so that by your help and example, we may lead a holy life, die a happy death, and come to possess eternal life in heaven. Amen. 

Act of Reparation for First Saturdays

O Most Holy Virgin and our Mother, we listen with grief to the complaints of your Immaculate Heart surrounded with the thorns which ungrateful men place therein at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. 

Moved by the ardent desire of loving you as our Mother and of promoting a true devotion to your Immaculate Heart, we prostrate ourselves at your feet to prove the sorrow we feel for the grievance that men cause you, and to atone, by means of our prayers and sacrifices, for the offenses with which men return your tender love.

Obtain for them and for us the pardon of so many sins. A word from you will obtain grace and amendment for us all.

Hasten, O Lady, the conversion of sinners, that they may love Jesus and cease to offend the Lord, already so much offended, and will not fall into hell. Turn your eyes of mercy toward us, that henceforth we may love God with all our heart while on earth and enjoy Him forever in heaven. 

Amen.  

Holy Souls Prayer of Saint Gertrude

Our Lord told Saint Gertrude the Great that the prayer here would release 1,000 souls from Purgatory each time it is said. The prayer was extended to include living sinners which would alleviate the indebtedness accrued by them during their lives.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

Saint Gertrude the Great was born in Germany in 1263 and died in 1334. She was a Benedictine nun who meditated on the Passion of Christ, which many times brought floods of tears to her eyes. She did many penances, and Our Lord appeared to her many times. Her feast day is today, November 16.

Novena for Christ the King. Jesus, You Are a King of Mercy.

This November 22 is the holy feast of Christ the King, which means the advent season starts a week later. A good preparation for Christ the King's feast and advent is a daily prayer with a novena. 

From EWTN

Almighty and merciful God, you break the power of evil and make all things new in your Son Jesus Christ, the King of the universe. May all in heaven and earth acclaim your glory and never cease to praise you.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

One Our Father, One Hail Mary and One Glory Be per day followed by the novena prayer.

O Lord our God, You alone are the Most Holy King and Ruler of all nations. 
We pray to You, Lord, in the great expectation of receiving from You, O Divine King, mercy, peace, justice and all good things.
Protect, O Lord our King, our families and the land of our birth.
Guard us we pray Most Faithful One.
Protect us from our enemies and from Your Just Judgment
Forgive us, O Sovereign King, our sins against you.
Jesus, You are a King of Mercy.
We have deserved Your Just Judgment
Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us.
We trust in Your Great Mercy.
O most awe-inspiring King, we bow before You and pray;
May Your Reign, Your Kingdom, be recognized on earth.
Amen.

Act of Consecration to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

This prayer of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque is amazingly beautiful and powerful.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee.

I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be Thou, O Most Merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited. I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Thine infinite Goodness. Annihilate in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Imprint Thy pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget Thee or be separated from Thee.

I beseech Thee, through Thine infinite Goodness, grant that my name be engraved upon Thy Heart, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and to die as one of Thy devoted servants.

Amen.

From EWTN.

Today's Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. 

Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

I will remember you upon my couch,
and through the night-watches I will meditate on you:
You are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.

R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Chiara Badano's Feast Day

Chiara Luce Badano was a young Italian woman who died at age 18 in 1990. She was beatified 10 years ago, and October 29 is her feast day. 

The active and athletic teenager had a great love for Jesus, which was exemplified during her painful trial and agony with a rare form of bone cancer. Refusing medication to ease her pain, she said, “I want to share as much as possible in His suffering on the Cross." To those whom she met in her last struggles, she profoundly touched with the divine light of peace, holiness and grace. 

Let us pray and ask Blessed Chiara for the faith, goodness and strength she had during her short time on earth, and that those graces will bring us close to the Heavenly Father.

I Love You, Lord, My Strength. Today's Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51 

R. I love you, Lord, my strength. 

 I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. 

R. I love you, Lord, my strength. 

My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
and I am safe from my enemies. 

R. I love you, Lord, my strength. 

The LORD lives and blessed be my rock!
Extolled be God my savior.
You who gave great victories to your king
and showed kindness to your anointed. 

R. I love you, Lord, my strength.

Prayer to Saint John Paul II on His Feast Day

As pope, John Paul II was a champion of Divine Mercy. He worked to make Divine Mercy universally known through helping Saint Faustina's diary to be released, and he instituted the Feast of Divine Mercy and even canonized Saint Faustina. Like Saint Faustina, John Paul II was born in Poland.

As we are grateful to Saint Faustina, we must be grateful to Saint John Paul II for bringing us God's Mercy.

O Saint John Paul, from the window of heaven, grant us your blessing! Bless the Church that you loved and served and guided, courageously leading her along the paths of the world in order to bring Jesus to everyone and everyone to Jesus. 

Bless the young, who were your great passion. Help them dream again, help them look up to the heavens again to find the light that illuminates the paths of life here on earth.

May you bless each and every family! You warned of Satan’s assault against this precious and indispensable divine spark that God lit on earth. Saint John Paul, with your prayer, may you protect the family and every life that blossoms from the family.

Pray for the whole world, which is still marked by tensions, wars and injustice. You opposed war by invoking dialogue and planting the seeds of love: pray for us so that we may be tireless sowers of peace.

O Saint John Paul, from heaven’s window, where we see you beside Mary, send God’s blessing down upon us all.

Amen.

From the Saint John Paul II Society

Prayer of Spiritual Communion

 

Eternal Father, I offer up to Thee my intellect, that it may learn to know Thee alone.  Sweetest Jesus, I offer up to Thee my memory, that it may remember Thee alone.  

Holy Spirit, Spirit of Charity, I offer up to Thee my will, that Thou mayest enkindle and warm it by Thine divine love.   

Adorn my soul with Thy seven gifts, and let me become thy pure temple. Fill me with Thy grace, and prepare my heart to receive spiritually my God.  

Jesus, my God, as I am unable to receive Thee sacramentally, do Thou receive me into Thy Heart and unite me so perfectly with It that nothing may ever be able to separate me, even for a moment, from Thee.  

Engulf my misery and my nothingness in the abyss of Thy mercy, that I, changed into Thee, may henceforth live only for Thee, by Thee, and in Thee.  

Come, therefore, Thou, my only satisfaction, come to take possession of this heart, which belongs to Thee, and cannot live one moment without Thee.  Amen

Pray to a New Blessed, Carlo Acutis

Today was the Beatification Mass in Assisi, Italy, for Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old who died in 2006 after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia. Read this beautiful article on his life and death. 

In his life, he was devoted to the Virgin Mary through the Holy Rosary, praying it each day, and he had a special dedication to the Holy Eucharist. He created a website of Eucharistic miracles and went on pilgrimages. 

He told people that "the more often we receive the Eucharist, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on this earth we will have a foretaste of heaven."

Carlo is a model for the young faithful. He practiced self-control in many ways and used his free time to help others. 

Carlo already has had many miracles attributed to his intercession. He is a powerful intercessor for us. Pray to him for healing, hope, faith and charity. His feast day is October 12.

Official prayer asking for the Canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, from his cause's website. 

O Father, who has given us the ardent testimony, of the young Blessed Carlo Acutis, who made the Eucharist the core of his life and the strength of his daily commitments so that everybody may love You above all else, let him soon be counted among the Saints in Your Church.

Confirm my faith, nurture my hope, strengthen my charity, in the image of young Carlo who, growing in these virtues, now lives with You. Grant me the grace that I need...

I trust in You, Father, and your Beloved Son Jesus, in the Virgin Mary, our Dearest Mother, and in the intervention of Your Blessed Carlo Acutis. Amen

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Prayer to Saint Joseph to Be Said After the Most Holy Rosary

This prayer to Saint Joseph, composed by Pope Leo XIII, is to be added to the end of the Holy Rosary, especially during the month of October, which is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. Today is the feast of the Most Holy Rosary. The following prayer may be said after the Salve Regina and concluding prayer. 

To you, O blessed Joseph, do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse, we confidently invoke your patronage also.

Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood, and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ; O most loving father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be kind to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness.

As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril, so now protect God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness, and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven.

Amen.

Saint Faustina's Feast Day!

Saint Faustina's prayer, 'Jesus I trust in You.'

Today is the feast day of our friend Saint Faustina. She died on this day in Poland in 1938 at the age of 33.

Make a special appeal to her today for her help to increase your trust in Jesus. 

Jesus desires our trust as we can't truly love unless we trust.  

Saint Faustina is a model for trust. She was very, very ill in her lifetime and suffered many deep hardships, but she didn't lose her trust in Jesus. She gave all of herself to God. 

As the Apostle of Divine Mercy, she is dedicated to God's Love and Mercy. She can help us on our journey to reach God the Father and His Kingdom. 

But we must trust, no matter the circumstance. It's hard to do in very difficult situations.

Be strong, and don't be discouraged. 

Run to Saint Faustina for her intercession. A great way to increase your trust in Jesus is to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3 o'clock each day and dedicate it for the souls of the dying. How much good you will do for them. Ask Saint Faustina to intercede for them and for you at the hour of your death, and ask her to help you trust Jesus even more.

Prayer of Saint Faustina 

O greatly Merciful God, Infinite Goodness, today all mankind calls out from the abyss of its misery to Your mercy -- to Your compassion, O God; and it is with its mighty voice of misery that it cries out.

Gracious God do not reject the prayer of this earth's exiles!

O 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 death's hour.

Let the omnipotence of Your Mercy shield us from the darts of our salvation's 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 wretchedness.

For Jesus is our Hope: Through His merciful Heart as through an open gate we pass through to heaven.

Amen.

Prayer of Saint Francis

Today is the feast day of Saint Francis. Here is one of his signature prayers.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

 

Mary Is With Us. October Is the Month of the Holy Rosary.

The liturgical feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated on October 7, and the month of October is dedicated to the Blessed Mother and her Rosary. 

If you haven't picked up your Rosary beads in a while, or never have said the Rosary, right now is an excellent time to commit to praying daily the Most Holy Rosary. It is a beautiful and powerful prayer. 

If you are intimidated by it, please don't be. It can be said in parts throughout the day, in which case it only takes a few minutes at a time.

The Rosary is a necessary prayer for healing of mind, body and soul. 

The Rosary is a powerful weapon against Satan and his dark angels. 

The Rosary is call for peace in your heart, your family, your nation and our world. 

Our Lady, Mother of God, never abandons us. As Sister Emmanuel says in the video, Mary comes to us when we say the Holy Rosary.

If you need Mary's help (and each of us does), then call out to her using her beloved prayer, the Holy Rosary. 

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina Feast Day

'Pray, Hope and Don't Worry'

“No matter how great the trial…never lose heart. Have recourse, with more childlike trust, to Jesus who will never be able to resist bestowing on you some little solace and comfort.” --Saint Padre Pio

Prayer to Saint Padre Pio

O God, You gave Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, Capuchin priest, the great privilege of participating in a unique way in the passion of Your Son, grant me through his intercession the grace of …

which I ardently desire; and above all grant me the grace of living in conformity with the death of Jesus, to arrive at the glory of the resurrection. Amen.

Glory be to the Father… (three times)

Novena to Saint Padre Pio, from the National Centre for Padre Pio in Pennsylvania. 

If you don't know of Saint Padre Pio, a humble Capuchin friar, now is the time to know him. 

Here are excerpts from a biography posted on the website of the Padre Pio shrine located at Saint John's Church in New York, N.Y. The shrine has on display a few relics, including the one pictured above as well as a brown fingerless woolen glove and a white linen sock, which has the stains of Padre Pio's blood from his stigmata.

The saint was born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887. His parents, Orazio and Giuseppa Forgione, were poor country people. The Forgiones had eight children, three of whom died in infancy and two of whom became professed religious. They lived in the little farming village of Pietrelcina, in the Province of Benevento, not many miles from Naples. They were God-fearing people.

Padre Pio in his youth was deeply religious and early in life showed a love for recollection and for the things of God. At school, he learned diligently and possessed a lively intelligence, so much so that his father was determined to help his son financially to become a priest. In 1903, he began his novitiate with the Capuchins in Morcone, received the habit and was given the religious name of Pio (Pius, in English). After seven years of studies, he was ordained on August 10, 1910 at the age of 23. Because of delicate health, he was permitted to practice his ministry for several years in his parochial church of Pietrelcina.

In 1912, he received intermittently the invisible stigmata. Christ's sacred wounds were invisibly imprinted on his hands, feet and side. The wounds could not be seen, but the pain and swelling of them were there. In 1916, his superiors sent him to the friary in San Giovanni Rotondo. He lived there until he died.

On September 20,1918, at 31 years old, a piercing cry escaped his lips during his thanksgiving after Mass. He was pierced and bleeding from five deep wounds in his hands, feet and side. The stigmata had become visible and was to remain with him until shortly before he died. He was the first priest to be so honored! There have been about 300 stigmatisms in the history of the Church.

Naturally, he was subjected to endless and often very painful medical examinations. All kinds of healing treatments were applied but without success. The wounds remained completely free from healing or any infection for 50 years.

His day consisted of constant prayer, usually the rosary, Holy Mass at 5 AM, confessions all day long and through his secretaries responses to the 500 to 600 pieces of mail each day. Most of the letters were requests for prayers, cures or advice. He never took breakfast or supper. Dinner at noon consisted of nibbling at his food, but never more than 500 calories a day.

He died a holy death on September 23,1968 at 2:30 AM with the words "Jesus and Mary" on his lips and his rosary in his hands. His funeral rites were a triumph. It is estimated that over 100,000 viewed his body and 100,000 participated in the funeral rites. 

Novena to Saint John Neumann,A Powerful Friend

Saint John Neumann, C.Ss.R., immigrated to the United States in 1836. He was ordained a priest and later joined the Redemptorist order. He was the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia. He founded many schools, churches, hospitals, orphanages and religious orders in a short amount of time. He was very devoted to the Holy Eucharist. Sadly, he died when he was 48 years old in 1860. Many miracles are attributed to his intercession. He is invoked as a patron of sick children and of immigrants.

This novena prayer to Saint John Neumann is very powerful. It is taken from the website of the National Shrine of St. John Neumann in Philadelphia. The novena is prayed by the congregants at the shrine every Wednesday after each Mass. Please join your prayer to implore Saint John Neumann for his prayerful intercession and ask this through Jesus Christ. 

Novena

St. John Neumann, acknowledging our dependence upon Almighty God and recognizing the power of your intercession, we come to you because many prayers have been answered through your intercession. You were an inspiration to all who knew you. You went wherever the care of souls required your presence. You were always an example of charity and sacrifice. It was your life of virtue which merited a place in heaven. As we submit to the will of God in heaven, we pray that our petitions be granted for His honor and glory and for the salvation of souls.

St. John Neumann, pray for us.

St. John Neumann, manifest yourself to all who seek your help. Teach us to prefer God in everything we do. Protect us from spiritual and temporal harm. Alleviate the sufferings of the poor, the aged, and the infirm. Many times you experienced the sorrows of life, and yet you overcame those trials. Show us how to overcome our trials and tribulations. We want to grow in faith, hope, and love. Never let us forget that we are temples of the Holy Spirit. May we always be worthy of that honor.

St. John Neumann, intercede for us.

St. John Neumann, you had great devotion to our Eucharistic Lord. Pray that we may know and love the Eucharist as you did. Give strength and courage to the Vicar of Christ. Protect our bishops, priests, and religious. May all people be zealous for the kingdom of God. Enlighten the minds of people who seek truth. Lead them to the path of justice. How good it is to know that you will never forget our families, relatives, and friends. Protect our loved ones away from home. May your prayers comfort the souls of our departed brethren. St. John Neumann, pray that we may live and die in the state of grace.

Look upon us with favor, St. John Neumann. We claim you as our very own. You are familiar with the places where we live, work, and pray. As a priest, you lived here among our forefathers. You taught them. You blessed them. You prayed for them. How often they gathered to pray with you. You did this so that they might enjoy the glories of heaven. Just as our predecessors came to you, so now we come to you. We are confident you will not disappoint us. Pray for our intentions.

(Pause and reflect on your intentions)

Whatever God grants through your intercession, we accept with a deep sense of gratitude. We thank Him. We praise Him. We want to be with Him forever.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, you placed the holy confessor St. John Neumann among the elect of Your sanctuary. May his life be an inspiration to all who seek eternal glory. May our prayers be answered through his intercession. May they be answered not only through his intercession but most especially through the merits of Jesus Christ, Who lives forever and ever. Amen.