From The Sacred Heart

12 Promises to St. Margaret Mary

1. Heart of Jesus, give us all the graces necessary for our state in life. Thou hast promised it, O Jesus!

2. Heart of Jesus, grant peace to our families.

Thou Hast promised it, O Jesus!

3. Heart of Jesus console us in all our sorrows.

Thou hast promised it O Jesus!

4. Heart of Jesus, be our safe Refuge during life, and above all at the hour of our death.

Thou hast promised it, O Jesus!

5. Heart of Jesus, pour abundant blessings on all our labors.

Thou hast promised it, O Jesus.

6. Heart of Jesus, be for sinners the Source and Infinite Ocean of Mercy.

Thou hast promised it, O Jesus!

7. Heart of Jesus, make indifferent souls fervent.

Thou hast promised it, O Jesus!

8. Heart of Jesus, make fervent souls advance rapidly to perfection.

Thou hast promised it, O Jesus!

9. Heart of Jesus, bless the houses where Thine Image is exposed and honored.

Thou hast promised it, O Jesus!

10. Heart of Jesus, give to priests the power of touching the most hardened hearts.

Thou hast promised it, O Jesus!

11. Heart of Jesus, engrave on Thy Heart forever the names of those who propagate this devotion.

Thou hast promised it, O Jesus!

12. Heart of Jesus, give those who RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION NINE CONSECUTIVE FIRST FRIDAYS, the grace of final repentance, that they may not die under Thy displeasure, but, strengthened by the reception of the Sacraments, may Thy heart be their secure refuge at their last hour. Thou hast promised it, O Jesus!

(from) My Sunday Missal, Rev. Joseph F. Stedman

Lovers Of The Cross

Chapter 11

On the Small Number of the Lovers of the Cross

1. Jesus has many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but few cross-bearers. Many desire His consolation, but few His tribulation. Many will sit down with Him at table, but few will share His fast. All desire to rejoice with Him, but few will suffer for Him.

Many will follow Him in the breaking of the bread, but few will drink the bitter cup of His Passion. Many revere His miracles, but few follow the shame of His cross. Many love Jesus when all goes well with them, and praise Him when He does them a favor; but if Jesus conceals Himself and leaves them for a little while, they fall to complaining or become depressed.

2. They who love Jesus purely for Himself and not for their own sake bless Him in all trouble and anguish as well as in time of consolation. Even if He never sent them consolation, they would still praise Him and give thanks.

3. Oh how powerful is the pure love of Jesus, when not mixed with self-interest or self-love! Are not they to be called hirelings who always look for comforts? And they who think only of their own advantage, do they not show themselves to be lovers of self rather than of Christ? Where will a person be found ready to serve God without looking for a reward?

(from) The Imitation of Christ. Book 2: Considerations for the Interior Life

Monday Morning Prayer

Reading
Remember me, Lord, visit me,
and avenge me on my persecutors.
Because of your long-suffering banish me not;
know that for you I have borne insult.
When I found your words, I devoured them;
they became my joy and the happiness of my heart,
because I bore your name,
O Lord, God of hosts
Jeremiah 15: 15-16

Morning Prayer

Hymn

To Peter, son of blessed Father,
let praises sound forevermore,
who lived in poverty severe,
and every hardship bravely bore.

Unto the world a wondrous pattern
aglow with love of Christ he showed,
and by his life of rigid penance
drew sinners back to virtue's road.

Enduring thirst and pangs of hunger,
in rough and shabby clothes arrayed,
he through his daily cruel scouring's
for sin complete atonement made.

His lean, emaciated body
in iron bonds was firmly held,
until from each tormented member
a constant bloody streamlet welled.

On bended knee in adoration
upon the cross he fixed his sight;
then, lo, the cross began to glisten
and filled his soul with heavenly light.

Accept, you glory of our Order,
the joyful praises we bestow;
O blessed Father, look with mercy
upon your children here below.

To Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
be endless glory, honor, praise.
Conduct us to the joys of heaven
along blest Peter's humble ways.

October 22 Peter of Alcantara, Priest
(from) Proper Offices of Franciscan Saints and Blesseds
in the Liturgy of the Hours

Wednesday, Morning Prayer

Psalm 36:1-3

Sin speaks to the sinner
in the depths of his heart.
There is no fear of God
before his eyes.

He so flatters himself in his mind
that he knows not his guilt.
In his mouth are mischief and deceit.
All wisdom is gone.


Psalm-prayer
Lord, you are the source of unfailing light. Give us
true knowledge of your mercy so that we may renounce
our pride and be filled with the riches of your house.

Without losing another minute, Mother Mariana went to the room of the recluse. Entering it, she found the defiant sister lying on the bed, moaning in pain from a colic. The holy Superior approached and embraced her, saying, "My dear sister, you need no longer stay here. Today I have obtained permission from the Bishop to release you from this seclusion. Since you are ill, I am going to prepare a bed for you immediately in the infirmary so that you be better attended."

"Then I allow you to do so," replied the religious coldly.

Leaving the key with the sick sister, Mother Mariana went quickly to the infirmary and called for Mother Francisca of the Angels. She told her, "My daughter, our poor sister in seclusion is sick with colic. Let us prepare a bed and all that is necessary to restore her to health. I have just received permission from the bishop to release her from seclusion. Let us remember that since it is she who is forming our souls for Heaven, we should love her dearly. For if the beautiful statues had the use of reason, they would cherish the instruments that carved and polished them. We, then, who have the use of reason, should do what the statues cannot do."

(from) The Admirable Life of Mother Mariana - Volume 1 Chapter 23

by Fr. Manuel Sousa Pereira (Translated by Marian T. Horvat, Ph.D.)

Te Deum

You are God: we praise you;

You are the Lord: we acclaim you;

You are the eternal Father:

All creation worships you.

To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,

Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you.

The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.

The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

Throughout the world the holy church

acclaims you:

Father, of majesty unbounded,

your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,

and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You, O Christ, are the king of glory,

the eternal Son of the Father.

When you became man to set us free

you did not spurn the Virgin's womb.

You overcame the sting of death,

and opened the kingdom of heaven to

all believers.

You are seated at God's right hand in glory.

We believe that you will come, and be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,

bought with the price of your own blood,

and bring us with your saints

to everlasting glory.

Amen.

Composed by St. Nicetas, A.D. 370

Prayer

Lord,
I am poor and needy. I am better
only when with heartfelt sorrow I
renounce myself and seek your mercy
so that my deficiencies are
overcome and transformed.

(from) ST. Augustine, Confessions 10, 38

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

Body of Christ, save me.

Blood of Christ, inebriate me.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O good Jesus, hear me.

Within Thy wounds, hide me.

Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.

From the malignant enemy, defend me.

In the hour of my death, call me.

And bid me come to Thee,

That, with Thy saints, I may praise Thee

For ever and ever. Amen

(from) My Catholic Faith, appendix, The Most Important Prayers

Morning Prayer, Canticle

We wait for peace, to no avail;
for a time of healing, but terror comes instead.
We recognize, O Lord, our wickedness,
the guilt of our fathers;
that we have sinned against you.

For your names's sake spurn us not,
disgrace not the throne of your glory;
remember your covenant with us, and break it not.

Jeremiah 14: 19-21

Evening Prayers: Penance

Eternal Father, I offer thee the

Sacred Heart of Jesus, with all Its

Love, all Its sufferings and all Its merits:

TO EXPIATE all the sins I have committed

this day, and during all my life. Glory be

to the Father, and to the Son, and to

the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,

is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

TO PURIFY the good I have done in my

poor way this day, and during all my life.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the

beginning, is now and ever shall be, world

without end, Amen.

TO MAKE UP for the good I ought to have

done and that I have neglected this day,

and during all my life. Glory be to the Father,

and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now and ever

shall be, world without end, Amen.

(from) My Sunday Missal, by Rev. Joseph F. Stedman

Psalm-Prayer

Lord Jesus, you have revealed your justice to all
nations. We stood condemned, and you came to be
judged in our place. Send your saving power on us
and, when you come in glory, bring your mercy to
those for whom you were condemned.

Solemnity

Responsory

My heart and my flesh
-cry out for the living God.

My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord
-cry out for the living god.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
-My heart and my flesh cry out to the living God.

Morning Prayer, Oct. 4, Holy Father, Francis of Assisi, Deacon, Founder of the Three Orders

Act of Reparation

O Good Jesus,

in gratitude for Thy many Graces,

I wish at this moment, both for myself,

ever ungrateful,

and for the world,

ever criminal,

to make an Act of Solemn Reparation.

Listen then, O merciful Savior of our souls,

listen to these Acts of Faith,

to these expressions of sorrow:

For the irreverence we have committed in the House of God -

I wish to make reparation.

For our careless and distracted attendance at Sunday Mass -

I wish to make reparation.

For our lack of preparation before, and our poor thanksgiving after Holy Communion -

I wish to make reparation.

For our failure to co-operate with Thy daily Graces -

I wish to make reparation.

For our sins of pride, sensuality and of our entire life -

I wish to make reparation.

For our bad example and the sins we have caused in others -

I wish to make reparations.

For our tragic indifference to Thy words of Holy Scripture and to the words of our Holy Father the Pope -

I wish to make reparations.

For the deplorable untruths of heresy, for all deserters, and apostates -

I wish to make reparations.

For the pleasure-seeking and money-mad profaners of the Lord's Day -

I wish to make reparations.

For the sacrilegious treatment of Thy Churches and Altars -

I wish to make reparations.

For the diabolical agents of Hell, ever seeking whom they may devour -

I wish to make reparations.

For the heartbreaking outrages committed by those who should be Thy greatest consolation -

I wish to make reparation.

"O Love neglected! O Goodness but too little known."

(from) The New Revised Jesus, Mary, Joseph Novena Manual by Father Stedman

Amendment of Our Whole Life

8. Consider the strict life others lead who are bound by the rules of the cloister. They seldom go out, live in retirement, eat sparingly, are poorly clothed, work hard, speak little, keep long vigils, rise early, pray much, read often and discipline themselves.
Look how the Carthusians, Cistercians and many other religious men and women rise in the night to sing the Divine Office. Aren't you ashamed, then, of being so lazy and lukewarm?

Book 1: ADMONITIONS FOR A SPIRITUAL LIFE (The Imitation of Christ, Thomas Kempis)