Novena to the Holy Spirit

Dear Friend in Christ Jesus,

Today [Friday] begins the Novena to the Holy Spirit. 

I totally believe that if everyone opens themselves more deeply and widely to a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit, we will experience God's supernatural gifts much more inside the Church. And we will become successful as the evangelizers that Jesus commissioned us to be. In today's world, preaching the truth is no longer effective; it needs to be backed and proven by the divine power of God -- just like we read happened again and again in the Acts of the Apostles.

PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

O Lord Jesus Christ, before ascending into heaven You promised to send us the Holy Spirit to finish Your work upon the Earth. Grant the same Holy Spirit to me so that my soul may be sanctified and grow in the works of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal; the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth; the Spirit of Counsel, that I may always choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven; the Spirit of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation; the Spirit of Knowledge, that I may know God and know myself and grow in holiness; the Spirit of Piety, that I may find the service of God sweet and enjoyable, and the Spirit of Fear of the Lord, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread displeasing Him in any way. Help me, dear Lord, to be one of Your true disciples, and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.

Have a renewal in the Lord this Pentecost!

Come Holy Spirit, renew me.
Come Holy Spirit, fill me like never before.
Come Holy Spirit, you have my permission to change me.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Novena to the Holy Spirit

“This is the mystery of Pentecost: The Holy Spirit illuminates the human spirit and, by revealing Christ Crucified and Risen, indicates the way to become more like him, that is, to be ‘the image and instrument of the love which flows from Christ.'” (Pope Benedict XVI, June 4, 2006)

OPENING PRAYER
Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love. Send forth Your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.

The following two prayers are said at the end of each day’s novena prayer:

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
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 righteousness of Your justice, and the unconditional nature of Your love. You are the strength and light of my soul. In You I live and move and have my being. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness, and I pray with all my heart for help in avoiding even the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, listen to Your voice, and follow Your inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You by Your compassion to watch over me in my weakness. I implore You, Adorable Spirit, helper of my infirmity, to keep me always in Your grace. 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 is listening.” Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
O Lord Jesus Christ, before ascending into heaven You promised to send us the Holy Spirit to finish Your work upon the Earth. Grant the same Holy Spirit to me so that my soul may be sanctified and grow in the works of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal; the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth; the Spirit of Counsel, that I may always choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven; the Spirit of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation; the Spirit of Knowledge, that I may know God and know myself and grow in holiness; the Spirit of Piety, that I may find the service of God sweet and enjoyable, and the Spirit of Fear of the Lord, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread displeasing Him in any way. Help me, dear Lord, to be one of Your true disciples, and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.

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FIRST DAY: For all the gifts
Almighty and eternal God, You have restored me into your image and likeness by the water of baptism and the Holy Spirit, and You gave me the forgiveness of all sin. Send forth from heaven upon me your sevenfold Spirit: Fill me with the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and the Spirit of Holy Fear. Help me to come alive in all these gifts, that I may be purified, turn away from all evil, and serve Your kingdom well. Amen.

One “Our Father” and “Hail Mary”; Seven “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts

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SECOND DAY: The Gift of Wisdom
Come and fill me, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, in their exceeding greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth and to prefer Your wisdom over the so-called wisdom of this world. Help me to grow in Your wisdom, especially during temptations, trials, and all the daily challenges that I face. Amen.

One “Our Father” and “Hail Mary”; Seven “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts

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THIRD DAY: The Gift of Understanding
Come and fill me, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten my mind, that I may accept and believe the mysteries of salvation and the truths of Your kingdom in order to stay on the path to heaven and serve Your kingdom in my daily life. Help me to discern what is evil, and enlighten me so that I may be holy here on earth and live forever in the light of Your glory with a clear vision of You and the Father and the Son. Amen.

One “Our Father” and “Hail Mary”; Seven “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts

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FOURTH DAY: The Gift of Counsel
Come and fill me, O Spirit of Counsel. Help me and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do Your holy will. Incline my heart to prefer only what is good; turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the straight path of Your commandments to that goal of eternal life for which I long. Amen.

One “Our Father” and “Hail Mary”; Seven “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts

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FIFTH DAY: The Gift of Fortitude
Come and fill me, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude. Protect my soul in times of trouble and adversity. Sustain my efforts in holiness, strengthen me in my weakness, and give me courage against all the assaults and temptations of my enemies, that I may not be overcome and separated from You, my God and greatest Good. Amen.

One “Our Father” and “Hail Mary”; Seven “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts

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SIXTH DAY: The Gift of Knowledge
Come and fill me, O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant that I may perceive the will of the Father in all things, in every moment of every day. Give me an awareness of the pointlessness of earthly things and the ugliness of unholy desires, that I may stay pure in all my decisions and use the things of this world only if they bring You glory. Tell me what I need to know for my salvation and for the service of others. Amen.

One “Our Father” and “Hail Mary”; Seven “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts

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SEVENTH DAY: The Gift of Piety
Come and fill me, O Blessed Spirit of Piety. Possess my heart. Purify me. Humble me. Enkindle in me such a love for God that I may be satisfied only in His service and lovingly submit to all legitimate authority for the sake of Your kingdom. Make me increasingly uncomfortable with everything that is evil, so that I turn away from it and live only in You. Amen.

One “Our Father” and “Hail Mary”; Seven “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts

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EIGHTH DAY: The Gift of Holy Fear
Come and fill me, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear. Penetrate my inmost heart so that I may honor, obey and prefer You and my Lord Jesus and my Father God above all else. Help me to despise all things that offend You, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Your Divine Majesty in heaven, where You live and reign forever in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity. Amen.

One “Our Father” and “Hail Mary”; Seven “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts

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NINTH DAY: The Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Come and fill me, O Divine Spirit. Fill my heart with Your heavenly fruits: Your love for others, Your joy, Your peace, Your kindness, Your generosity, Your faithfulness, Your gentleness, and Your temperance for self-control, that I may never weary in the service of God. Keep me close to You so that my life produces Your fruits in ever-increasing abundance. Help me to continually and faithfully submit to Your divine inspiration so that I will be united eternally with You in the love of the Father and the Son. Amen.

One “Our Father” and “Hail Mary”; Seven “Glory be to…”
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts

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God Bless You.....

Rosary Family

The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”

SAINT QUOTE OF THE DAY : Friday - May 31, 2019

  

Friday - May 31, 2019

O Mother of God! If I place my confidence in thee, I shall be saved; if I am under thy protection, I have nothing to fear; for the fact of being thy client is a possession of a certainty of salvation which God grants only to those whom He intends to save.

-St. John Damascene

 

May 31 2019

 

« May 30  |  June 1 »

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lectionary: 572

Reading 1ZEP 3:14-18A

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart, 
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you,
he has turned away your enemies;
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.

Or   ROM 12:9-16

Brothers and sisters:
Let love be sincere;
hate what is evil,
hold on to what is good;
love one another with mutual affection;
anticipate one another in showing honor.
Do not grow slack in zeal,
be fervent in spirit,
serve the Lord.
Rejoice in hope,
endure in affliction,
persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the holy ones,
exercise hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you,
bless and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep.
Have the same regard for one another;
do not be haughty but associate with the lowly;
do not be wise in your own estimation.

Responsorial PsalmISAIAH 12:2-3, 4BCD, 5-6

R.(6)  Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst 
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

AlleluiaSEE LK 1:45

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelLK 1:39-56

Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
"Most blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled."

And Mary said:

"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever."

Mary remained with her about three months
and then returned to her home.

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Being Visited by Our Blessed Mother

Imagine what it might have been like for Elizabeth when Mary visited her, as told in today's Gospel story. Have you been personally visited by Our Blessed Mother? I'm not talking about having visions or getting messages from her. Do you know what it's like to have a personal relationship with her, in which you experience her motherly concern for you? Because God loves you and wants the best for you, through his power this is possible!

I grew up Protestant. Although I became Catholic in 1977, I couldn't feel any personal connection to Mary. I listened to what others with more experience said about her, but it just didn't seem real. I learned to pray the Rosary, but it was boring and less meaningful than my other methods of praying.

After a few years of trying and failing to understand how to experience Mary's motherly involvement in my life, I gave up and told Jesus that if he wanted me to have a relationship with his mom, he'd have to introduce her to me. A few more years went by.

In 1990, I landed a job as a staff reporter for a Catholic newspaper. One day, I was invited to write about a Marian speaker named Wayne Weible while he toured my diocese. As I interviewed the man who had organized the event, he told me that Our Lady had personally selected me to cover this story. Wow! She picked me? This was not just a decision by my editor? What a thought!

I travelled with Mr. Weible from church to church for my article. I questioned him, I listened to him, I prayed with him. I watched people thank him for his words. Some of them gave him gifts, such as a crucifix and a picture of Mary. Each time, he turned and gave them to me and said, "Your mother wants you to have this." Really? Mary was giving me gifts through these people?

I was not convinced. She continued to feel like a stranger. I knew about her, but she seemed long-dead and far away. That night before I went to sleep, I told Jesus again that if he wants me to have a relationship with his mother, he'd have to make it happen.

The next morning, I awoke feeling very different. Don't ask me how it happened, but I now had a genuine understanding of who Mary is to me:that she loves me, knows me, cares about me, prays for me, prays with me, and works to accomplish much good for me. She has been dear to me ever since. She guided me into starting Good News Ministries even before I knew God's plans for this.

Mary cares about you, too, and every person you know. From heaven, she mourns for those who reject her Son, and she laughs for joy with those who delight in the Lord. She is real. Her love for you is real. She very much wants to have an "Elizabeth experience" with each of us and to praise the Lord with us. She wants us to sing our own Magnificat with her. This is the basis of our relationship with her: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord .... "

Imagine the two of you making this a duet for the Father! "God who is mighty has done great things for us, and holy is his name!"

Today's Prayer:

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving us Your own Mother as an aid to our salvation. Praised be You, Holy Spirit, because Your full presence in Mary reaches us through her intercession. Amen.

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God Bless You.....

Rosary Family

The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”

SAINT QUOTE OF THE DAY : Thursday - May 30, 2019

  

Thursday - May 30, 2019

O how long ago the earth would have been destroyed, if Mary had not interposed!

-St. Fulgentius

 

May 30 2019- The Ascension of the Lord

 

« May 29  |  May 31 »

The Ascension of the Lord
Lectionary: 58

Reading 1ACTS 1:1-11

In the first book, Theophilus,
I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught
until the day he was taken up,
after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit
to the apostles whom he had chosen.
He presented himself alive to them
by many proofs after he had suffered,
appearing to them during forty days
and speaking about the kingdom of God.
While meeting with them,
he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem,
but to wait for "the promise of the Father
about which you have heard me speak;
for John baptized with water,
but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

When they had gathered together they asked him,
"Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons
that the Father has established by his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
throughout Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth."
When he had said this, as they were looking on,
he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going,
suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.
They said, "Men of Galilee,
why are you standing there looking at the sky?
This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven
will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."

Responsorial PsalmPS 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9

R. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All you peoples, clap your hands,
shout to God with cries of gladness,
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:  a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:  a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
For king of all the earth is God;
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.
R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy:  a blare of trumpets for the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Reading 2EPH 1:17-23

Brothers and sisters:
May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelation
resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,
what are the riches of glory
in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
for us who believe,
in accord with the exercise of his great might:
which he worked in Christ,
raising him from the dead
and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,
far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,
and every name that is named
not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he put all things beneath his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the church,
which is his body,
the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

OrHEB 9:24-28; 10:19-23

Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands,
a copy of the true one, but heaven itself,
that he might now appear before God on our behalf. 
Not that he might offer himself repeatedly,
as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary
with blood that is not his own;
if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly
from the foundation of the world. 
But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages
to take away sin by his sacrifice. 
Just as it is appointed that men and women die once,
and after this the judgment, so also Christ,
offered once to take away the sins of many,
will appear a second time, not to take away sin
but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since through the blood of Jesus 
we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary 
by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil, 
that is, his flesh,
and since we have Aa great priest over the house of God, " 
let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, 
with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience 
and our bodies washed in pure water.
Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, 
for he who made the promise is trustworthy.

AlleluiaMT 28:19A, 20B

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Go and teach all nations, says the Lord;
I am with you always, until the end of the world.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelLK 24:46-53

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer
and rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name
to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things. 
And behold I am sending the promise of my Father upon you;
but stay in the city
until you are clothed with power from on high."

Then he led them out as far as Bethany,
raised his hands, and blessed them.
As he blessed them he parted from them
and was taken up to heaven.
They did him homage
and then returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
and they were continually in the temple praising God.

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Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

In today's Gospel reading, Jesus says, "You will lose sight of me, but soon after you'll see me again." Have you ever lost sight of Jesus? Of course, we all have. Whenever we focus on our troubles, we take our eyes off Jesus and we become blind to what he's doing to help us. Spiritual growth means improving our self-control so that we focus on Jesus no matter what's happening. The sooner we remember to do this, the sooner we see him again.

Keeping our eyes on Jesus does not mean ignoring everything else. Quite the contrary! We are to look at the world and look at others with eyes wide open, fantasizing nothing, apathetic toward nothing, in denial over nothing, but viewing it all through the eyes and the vision of Jesus Christ.

Whatever problem catches your attention today, take a minute to pray and discern how Jesus is viewing it. What's he doing to redeem it? If he's not doing it yet, what would he like to do? Whomever you encounter today, consider how Jesus sees that person. Care as he cares! When your work or ministry preoccupies you, remember that Jesus is beside you, instructing you in what to do, how to do it, and how to be a witness of his love and truth. You are never alone. He's your companion with a view of a much bigger picture, a much HUGER understanding of what's happening.

Losing sight of Jesus makes us vulnerable to sin. Then, when we get in touch with our sins and realize that we've crucified Christ by hurting others and ourselves, we truly do mourn and weep, as Jesus prophesied in this Gospel reading. But notice that he added: "You will grieve for a time, but your grief will be turned into joy."

What is grieving you now? Where is your joy lacking? Why are you lacking it? How can your grief be turned into joy? Jesus knows the answer! Keep your eyes on him. Follow him.

When we deny our need for forgiveness, or when we seek it but afterward deny that we've been forgiven, we lose the joy of our salvation. Likewise, when we look to externals for our joy, we lose the gift of joy that Jesus has given us. Only by seeing Jesus as the true source of joy can we find hope and healing and lasting happiness. Only by noticing how he handled life can we develop the right attitudes about our own life. Only by observing why Jesus was glad to suffer for the sake of others can we find blessings in our own sufferings.

So go ahead and rejoice! (That means, have joy over and over again. Have you lost sight of Jesus? Look again!)

Today's Prayer:

Beloved Father: I want to allow myself to be loved by You, but I can't do it as I'd like to. Heal my heart of everything that blocks me from receiving You in union with Jesus. I want to be a good dwelling place for Your Holy Spirit. Amen.

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God Bless You.....

Rosary Family

The mother of Jesus promised St. Dominic that, “one day through the rosary & the scapular I shall save the world!”