Sunday, May 4, 2008

The Ultimate Call to Prayer

The Ultimate Call to Prayer : A Catholic Reflection:

"The Ascension of Jesus is the most powerful and successful call to prayer in the Bible. After the Ascension, apostles who didn't pray an hour in the garden of Gethsemani devoted themselves to constant prayer (Acts 1:14). On this holy day of the Ascension, the Lord offers us a special invitation to pray and a gift to pray. Accept the invitation, pray, and receive the Spirit."

PENTECOST Novena(Day 3)

PENTECOST Novena of Seven Gifts:

"THIRD DAY (7th Sunday of Easter)
Thou, of all consolers best, Visiting the troubled breast, Dost refreshing peace bestow.

The Gift of Piety

The gift of Piety begets in our hearts a filial affection for God as our most loving Father. It inspires us to love and respect for His sake persons and things consecrated to Him, as well as those who are vested with His authority, His Blessed Mother and the Saints, the Church and its visible Head, our parents and superiors, our country and its rulers. He who is filled with the gift of Piety finds the practice of his religion, not a burdensome duty, but a delightful service. Where there is love, there is no labor.

Prayer
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Piety, possess my heart. Enkindle therein such a love for God, that I may find satisfaction only in His service, and for His sake lovingly submit to all legitimate authority. Amen.

Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts"

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

To be recited daily during the Novena

PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work 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 ever 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 perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.

Prayer request from a friend

"Hi Essy, Can you kindly spread the word for my nephew Stevie,he needs prayers. He is in Mass General. They think he is leaking infection into his body from his intestines, he is on strong antibiotic IV. One of the many things he suffers from is slow motility meaning waste does not move through him very well. He has a dialated colon due to back-up that extends into his intestines. He is in touble. Please pray. Thanks so much."

Saturday, May 3, 2008

PENTECOST Novena (Day 2)

SECOND DAY (Saturday, 6th Week of Easter)

Come. Father of the poor. Come, treasures which endure; Come, Light of all that live!

The Gift of Fear

The gift of Fear fills us with a sovereign respect for God, and makes us dread nothing so much as to offend Him by sin. It is a fear that arises, not from the thought of hell, but from sentiments of reverence and filial submission to our heavenly Father. It is the fear that is the beginning of wisdom, detaching us from worldly pleasures that could in any way separate us from God. "They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and in His sight will sanctify their souls."

Prayer

Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set you, my Lord and God, before my face forever, help me to shun all things that can offend You, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Your Divine Majesty in heaven, where You live and reign in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity, God world without end. Amen.

Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.
Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts

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

To be recited daily during the Novena

PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work 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 ever 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 perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of Your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.

Friday, May 2, 2008

PENTECOST Novena (Day 1)

PENTECOST Novena of Seven Gifts

FIRST DAY (Friday, 6th Week of Easter)

Holy Spirit! Lord of Light! From Your clear celestial height, Your pure beaming radiance give!

The Holy Spirit

Only one thing is important -- eternal salvation. Only one thing, therefore, is to be feared--sin· Sin is the result of ignorance, weakness, and indifference The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Light, of Strength, and of Love. With His sevenfold gifts He enlightens the mind, strengthens the will, and inflames the heart with love of God. To ensure our salvation we ought to invoke the Divine Spirit daily, for "The Spirit helpeth our infirmity. We know not what we should pray for as we ought. But the Spirit Himself asketh for us."

Prayer

Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Spirit, and hast given us forgiveness all sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us your sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. Amen.

Our Father and Hail Mary ONCE.
Glory be to the Father SEVEN TIMES.

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

God is Good (come on, sing it with me)




God is good all the time by Don Moen


Chorus:
God is good all the time
He put a song of praise
In this heart of Mine;
God is good all the time
Through the darknes night
His light we shine
God is good, God is good
all the time.

***
God is good all the time
He put a song of praise
In this heart of Mine;
God is good all the time
Through the darknes night
His light we shine
God is good, God is good
all the time.

If youre walking through the shadows
And there are shadows all around
Do not fear, He will guide you
He will keep you safe and sound
He has promised to never leave you
Nor forsake you, and His word is true

***
God is good all the time
He put a song of praise
In this heart of Mine;
God is good all the time
Through the darknes night
His light we shine
God is good, God is good
all the time.

II
We were sinners so unworthy
Still for us He chose to die
Filled us with His Holy spirit
Now we can stand and testify
That His love everlasting
And his mercies they will never end.
Though I may not understand
All the plans You have for me
My life is in Your hands
And thorough the eyes of faith
I can clearly see.

(repeat chorus)
He’s so good, God is good,
He’s so good, God is good,
He’s so good all the time."

God is indeed good all the time!

USCCB - (NAB) - May 2, 2008:
"Gospel
Jn 16:20-23

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices;
you will grieve, but your grief will become joy
.
When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived;
but when she has given birth to a child,
she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy
that a child has been born into the world.
So you also are now in anguish.
But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice,
and no one will take your joy away from you.
On that day you will not question me about anything.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.”"

Those of you who have been with me a while are probably getting sick of hearing this story...lol...it has become my 'Passover' story for the past six years now. My testimony of God's great love for me and my family. There are moments when I forget...it's probably better that way...but then there are days like today when it all comes flooding back to me.

The Lord called me to Mass this morning...as I was pulling out of the driveway, I sort of wondered what He was up to...lol. He seems to draw me in at the moments when I really need to hear something. So I sat at Mass and listened...1'st reading was ok...but nothing hit me particularly hard...until the Gospel was proclaimed. WOW...the tears started falling down my cheeks...but unlike tears that I had shed in the past...these were happy tears...tears that came from remembering that God indeed is Good all the Time.

You see...the Gospel that was read today is the same one that was read at my husband's Cursillo weekend, six years ago. During Lectio Divina that weekend, he was asked to meditate on the above scripture and to allow the Lord to speak to Him personally. That weekend was also Mother's Day weekend. One of the hardest that I had ever had to endure. I had lost my mom a few years before, was childless, was alone for the weekend and in physical pain...I spent the day in bed actually...in gut wrenching agony.

Well...a couple of days later we got a call from Catholic Charities...and got the news that a baby had indeed been born that Mother's Day (it was May 12'th that year). The rest is history. We will be celebrating Sarah's birthday in just a short while, and today the Lord reminded me of how far He has carried me.

Thursday, May 1, 2008

May...month of Mary

toc

If you have ever felt called to a deeper relationship with our Lord's Blessed Mother...the Carmelite Order may be just thing for you. Check out the link above.

Are you ready?

"Perfect Storm" : A Catholic Reflection:

"Tomorrow we begin praying the Pentecost Novena, nine days of fervent prayer to prepare for receiving a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. What storm will result if you receive the Holy Spirit during or after this Novena? It may mean that:

you must leave your job, as did St. Joseph (Mt 2:14),
you start a new job, which becomes the launching pad for a new ministry (Acts 18:3, 5),
you pack up and move where the Spirit leads (Acts 18:1),
you lose your spiritual mentor (Jn 16:17) and have to step out and take leadership, as did the apostles,
you will weep, mourn, and grieve (Jn 16:20),
you step out in bold obedience to the Holy Spirit, and because of that, your church is instantly divided (Acts 18:4ff),
talented leaders are converted and raised up (Acts 18:8),
many hear the word of God and come to believe in Jesus (Acts 18:8), and
you 'shake' off the spiritual and physical debris left by the storm (Acts 18:6), and, undaunted, continue bearing fruit in the power of the Spirit (see Mt 7:24-25).

'Receive the Holy Spirit' (Jn 20:22), and let Him 'stir' up your world (2 Tm 1:6).

PRAYER: Father, may I be more concerned with being separated from the Holy Spirit than I am with having to endure upheaval.
PROMISE: 'Your grief will be turned into joy.' –Jn 16:20
PRAISE: St. Joseph accepted Mary as his wife, thus enduring scandal, rejection, and relocation, and did so joyfully."


So...are you ready to start 'marching to a different drummer'? It might throw you out of sync...but oh the JOY that is to come!

Out of sync?

USCCB - (NAB) - May 1, 2008:

"Amen, amen, I say to you,
you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices;
you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”"


Sometimes being a Christian means that we are just bit out of sync with the rest of the world. We may be told to 'wait' while every one else is rushing forward...or to go ahead when it just doesn't make sense to anyone else. This may indeed cause pain...but only for a little while...wait...the joy is coming!

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

YouTube - Days of Elijah

The Future Of The United States.?

National Day of Prayer Task Force

National Day of Prayer Task Force | Home | Home Page

Here's the direct link to the National Day of Prayer Web site.

National Day of Prayer

"just got an email about a national day of prayer tomorrow, May 1. This is not
a Catholic initiative but it sounds very good. Would you please post in your
blog or email list. Here are some of the details:

web site:
http://www.ndptf.org/home/index.cfm?flash=1

Local event:

National Day of Prayer Gathering in Stoneham, MA
Additional Information: All are welcome to attend.
Location: Town Hall around the flag pole
35 Central St
Stoneham, MA 02180
Start Date & Time: 05/01/2008 12:00 PM
End Date & Time: 05/01/2008 12:30 PM
Coordinator: Nancy Smith
978-531-7912
pbsmith51@aol.com "

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Come Holy Spirit

USCCB - (NAB) - April 27, 2008:

"Now when the apostles in Jerusalem
heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God,
they sent them Peter and John,
who went down and prayed for them,
that they might receive the Holy Spirit,
for it had not yet fallen upon any of them;
they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then they laid hands on them
and they received the Holy Spirit."


Let us pray for one another!

Come Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Cardinal Seán’s Blog

Cardinal Seán’s Blog » Red socks at Yankee Stadium

Cardinal Sean has beautiful pictures of last weekend's events at his blog. I was blessed to be able to personally attend the Boston Women's Conference...it was amazing!

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Archdiocese of Boston Cursillo

CURSILLO

Archdiocese of Boston

Please join us on May l0, 2008 from 9:00 - l:00
For the lst Cursillo Day of Renewal - Cost is $20.00/person

Place: Marist House, 5l8 Pleasant Street, Framingham, Ma.

The program will include presentations, small group discussions, guided meditations and a
Prayer Service orMass.

Anyone that would like to stay after is welcome to bring their bagged lunch. Registration and payment are due that day.

DIRECTIONS: can be downloaded or call The Office of Worship and Spiritual Life at 6l7-779-

Friday, April 11, 2008

Pope Benedict XVI Prayer Intentions

Pope Benedict XVI Prayer Intentions

Today is the deadline to get your prayer intentions in to the site above.