Blessed Catholic Saints and Angels


~~Witnesses of Faith pray for us ! ~~

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Blessed Feast of Saint Jude Thaddeus and Saint Simon the Zealot



God, we thank you for the glorious company of the Apostles, and especially on this day for Simon and Jude; and we pray that, as they were faithful and zealous in their mission, so we may with ardent devotion make known the love and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Saint Simon and Saint Jude were apostles, which means they were followers of Christ. After Christ's Resurrection and Ascension into Heaven, the apostles travelled all over the world, bringing the word of Christ to the people. This is what Christ asked them to do, and he gave them instructions on how they were to travel and what they were to teach. These two apostles probably did not travel together. Saint Jude preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Syria, and Mesopotamia. When he was quite old, in 62 AD, he returned to Jerusalem to help with the selection of a bishop for Jerusalem. It is interesting to realise that in just 62 years, or maybe even less, the Church that Jesus Christ began by giving his life, and that the Apostles build and spread with their lives, had grown so large that it needed bishops to help the priests and deacons look after and teach the people.

Saint Jude Thaddeus the Apostle

Saint Jude was the brother of Saint James the Less and Saint Simeon. There were several brothers and cousins among the Apostles - after all, if you had found the Messiah, who would you tell first, your own family or a stranger on the street? Andrew and Simon Peter were brothers, Saint James the Greater and Saint John the Evangelist were brothers, and Saint Jude, Saint James the Less (called that because he was shorter, not less important) and Saint Simeon were brothers.
After the Last Supper it was Jude who asked Our Lord why he chose to reveal Himself only to the disciples. He received the reply: "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:22)
Saint Jude Thaddeus wrote one Bible Epistle and is a passionate appeal to preserve the purity of the Christian faith and the good reputation of Christian people. The writer tells the readers that he planned to write a different letter, but hearing of the misleading views put out by some false teachers in the Christian community, he is urgently writing to warn the church not to heed them. It includes a memorable exhortation to "contend for the faith once delivered to the saints," and an even more memorable closing:
"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding great joy, to the only wise God, or Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."
Blessed Saint Jude is often, in popular usage, referred to as the patron of desperate causes, the "saint of last resort," the one you ask for help when all else fails. There may be several reasons for this. First, since his name is remiscent of Judas Iscariot, there is a tendency for someone asking a Christian brother now with the Lord for intercessory prayers to try one of the other apostles first. Hence, Jude has come to be called "the saint of last resort," the one whom you ask only when desperate.
Another possible reason is that that Jude travelled long distances and was often far removed from his brother Apostles. In the early days of the Church, when most of the members will still alive, it was common to join in prayer. In fact to ask 'for prayers' is to ask for the other to join you in prayer. Since Jude was often absent, he would not have been asked 'for prayers' often, and hence was approached as a last resort.
Of course, it is also possible that Jude had a reputation for managing difficult or seemingly impossible feats, either of strength, procurement, conversion or spirituality. As such a 'wonder-worker' he would be the logical choice to approach, even after death, with a seemingly insoluble problem
When Saint Simeon, Saint Jude's brother was elected Bishop of Jerusalem, Saint Jude went back to travelling and teaching. He was martyred in Armenia. a country which did not completely convert to Christianity for another 250 years.

Saint Simon the Zealot

Saint Simon was called 'the Zealot' to keep his name different from Saint Peter (whose name was really Simon, Jesus called him 'Peter' which means 'rock') and from Saint Simeon, the brother of Saint James the Less. The name 'Zealot' means someone who is very energetic and dedicated to a cause.
Simon was (see Matthew 10:4 and Mark 3:18) born in Cana, the site of Jesus' first public miracle. Some tradition accounts say that he was the bridegroom recipient of the miracle. The miracle at Cana of turning water into wine, is significant for two reasons. First, it was Jesus' first public miracle, done out of compassion for the newly weds, but also, secondly done in obedience to the request of His blessed mother. It may have been this miracle that prompted Simon to follow Jesus.
The Gospel of Luke tells us that Simon was a 'Zealot' (Luke 6:15 and Acts 1:13), which either means that he was a member of a party of Jewish patriots of the time, or refers to the fervor with which he pursued Jewish law before his calling by Jesus. Modern scholars say the Simon was more likely to have been a Galilean and that "the Cananaean" and "the Zealot" both mean "the zealous."
Saint Simon loved Jesus and His teachings and was very determined to spread the Good News of Christ's teachings. He travelled to Persia and was martyred there.

Novena for the Feast of Saint Jude Thaddeus ~~ 28th October ~~

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~~ Day 9~~
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love. Send forth the spirit, and they shall be created; And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let Us Pray : O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending them the Light of Thy Holy Spirit. Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His Holy Comfort through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle of Saint Jude ...verse 25:
We pray Thee, O Almighty and Eternal God, who through Jesus Christ has recaled Thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of Thy mercy that Thy Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of Thy Name.

We pray Thee, who alone art good and Holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life, Our Sovereign Pontiff, the vicar of our Lord Jesus Christ; likewise our beloved bishop; all other bishop, prelates, and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise among us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct Thy people in the ways of salvation .

We pray to Thee, O Lord of Mercy, to remember the souls of Thy servants departed who are gone before us with the sign of faith and repose in the sleep of peace: the souls of our parents, relatives, and friends; the souls of those who, when living, were devotees of St. Jude, and particularly of such as lately deceased; the souls of all benefactors who proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and all who rest in Christ, grant, we beseech, a place of refreshment, light, and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior . Amen

Novena Prayers
O My God, I firmly believe / that Thou art really and corporally present / in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. / I adore Thee here present / from the very depths of my heart, / and I worship Thy sacred presence / with all possible humility. /

O my soul, / what Joy to have Jesus Christ / always with us, / and to be able to speak to Him / heart to Heart / with all confidence. / Grant, O Lord, / that I / having adored Thy divine Majesty / here on earth / in this wonderful Sacrament, / may be able to adore It eternally in Heaven. Amen

O Glorious Apostle, St. Jude Thaddeus, / true relative of Jesus and Mary, / I salute thee through the most Sacred Heart of Jesus! / Through this Heart / I praise and thank God / for all the graces He has bestowed upon thee. / Humbly prostrate before thee, / I implore thee through His Sacred Heart / to look down upon me / with compassion. / Oh, despise not my poor prayers; / let not my trust be confounded! / To thee God has granted the priviledge/ of aiding mankind in the most desperate cases. / Oh, come to my aid, / that I may praise the mercies of God! / All my life I will be grateful to thee / and will be thy faithful client / until I can thank thee in Heaven. Amen.

Blessed Apostle, with confidence we invoke thee!
St. Jude, help of the hopeless, aid us in our distress!
Pray for us, / that before death / we may expiate all our sins / by sincere repentance / and the worthy reception fo the Holy Sacraments!
Pray for us, / that we may appease the Divine Justice / and obtain a favorable judgement!

Pray for us, / that we may be admitted / into the company of the blessed / to rejoice in the pressence of our God forever. Amen

Most Holy Apostle, / St. Jude Thaddeus, / faithful servant and friend of Jesus, / the name of the traitor who delivered thy beloved Master / into the hands of His enemies / has caused thee to be forgotten by many, / but the Holy Church honors / and invoke thee universally / as the patron of hopeless cases / and of things despaired of. Pray for me / who am so miserable; / make use, I implore thee, / of that particular privilege accorded to thee / to bring visible and speedy help / where help is almost despaired of. / Come to my assistance / in this great need / that I may receive / the consolations and succor of heaven / in all my necessities, / tribulations and sufferings, / particularly (here make your request) / and that I may bless God with thee / and all the elect forever.
I promise thee, / O Blessed Jude, / to be ever mindful / of this great favor / and I will never cease to honor thee / as my special and powerful patron / and to do all in my power / to encourage devotion to thee. Amen.
St. Jude, Pray for Us! And for those who invoke thy aid!

Let Us Pray : O Saint Jude Thaddeus , Thou relative of Jesus Christ, / Thou glorious Apostle and Martyr, / renowned for thy virtues and miracles, / faithful and prompt intercessor of all who honor thee and trust in thee! / Thou art a powerful patron and helper in grievous afflictions. / I come to thee and entreat thee from the very depths of my heart; / come to my aid with thy powerful intercession, / for thou hast received from God the privilege / to assist with thy manifest help, / those who almost despair of all hope. / Look down upon me; / my life is a life of crosses, my days are days of tribulation / and my heart is an ocean of bitterness. / All my paths are strewn with thorns / and scarcely one moment passes / but is witness of my tears and sighs; / uneasiness, discouragement, mistrust / and almost despair press upon my soul. / Thou canst not forsake me in this sad plight. / I will not depart from thee until thou hast heard me. / Oh! hasten to my aid, / I will be grateful to thee all my life. / I will honor thee as my special patron, / I will thank God for the graces bestowed upon thee / and will encourage devotion to thee according to my power. Amen
St. Jude, Pray for Us! And for those who invoke thy aid!
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Novena for the Feast of Saint Jude Thaddeus ~~ 28th October ~~


~~ Day 8 ~~
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love. Send forth the spirit, and they shall be created; And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let Us Pray : O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending them the Light of Thy Holy Spirit. Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His Holy Comfort through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle of Saint Jude ...verse 23:
Ask what Thou wilt, O dearest Lord,
Nothing will we deny;
But only give us countless souls
For Thee before we die.
Let others pray about themselves,
Thy grace leads many ways;
Give us souls 'tis thus Thy Spirit in us prays.
A life-long sorrow, if thou wilt,
And sharp enduring pain;
All, all were light, if souls for Thee
Might be the precious gain.
Tears will be sweet, for Thou has wept,
And blood, if need must be;
No cost too great purchase souls,
O dearest Lord, for Thee.
Whatever be the price, O Lord,
This grace to us impart:
Souls from the world and sin set free,
Souls for Thy Sacred Heart.
Eternal God, Creator of all things, remember that the souls of infidels have been created by Thee and formed to Thine own image and likeness.
Behold, O Lord, how to Thy dishonor hell is being filled with these same souls. Remember that Jesus Christ, Thine only Son, has suffered a most cruel death for their Salvation. Do not permit, we beseech Thee, O Lord that Thy divine Son be despised any longer by infidels, but rather be Thou appeased by the prayers of Thy saints and of the Church, the most holy spouse of thy Son, and vouchsafe to be mindful of Thy mercy. Forget their idolatry and infidelities; bring them also to know Him whom Thou didst send, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord, who is our health, life and resurrection, through whom we have been redeemed and saved, to whom be all glory forever. Amen.
Divine Heart of Jesus, convert sinners, save the dying, deliver the holy souls in purgatory.
Almighty and everlasting God, who seekest not the death of sinners, but always that they may live: graciously receive our prayer, and deliver the heathen from the worship of idols and gather them into Thy Holy Church unto the praise and glory of Thy name. Through Christ our Lord.

Novena Prayers
O My God, I firmly believe / that Thou art really and corporally present / in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. / I adore Thee here present / from the very depths of my heart, / and I worship Thy sacred presence / with all possible humility. /


O my soul, / what Joy to have Jesus Christ / always with us, / and to be able to speak to Him / heart to Heart / with all confidence. / Grant, O Lord, / that I / having adored Thy divine Majesty / here on earth / in this wonderful Sacrament, / may be able to adore It eternally in Heaven. Amen

O Glorious Apostle, St. Jude Thaddeus, / true relative of Jesus and Mary, / I salute thee through the most Sacred Heart of Jesus! / Through this Heart / I praise and thank God / for all the graces He has bestowed upon thee. / Humbly prostrate before thee, / I implore thee through His Sacred Heart / to look down upon me / with compassion. / Oh, despise not my poor prayers; / let not my trust be confounded! / To thee God has granted the priviledge/ of aiding mankind in the most desperate cases. / Oh, come to my aid, / that I may praise the mercies of God! / All my life I will be grateful to thee / and will be thy faithful client / until I can thank thee in Heaven. Amen.

Blessed Apostle, with confidence we invoke thee!
St. Jude, help of the hopeless, aid us in our distress!
Pray for us, / that before death / we may expiate all our sins / by sincere repentance / and the worthy reception fo the Holy Sacraments!
Pray for us, / that we may appease the Divine Justice / and obtain a favorable judgement!

Pray for us, / that we may be admitted / into the company of the blessed / to rejoice in the pressence of our God forever. Amen

Most Holy Apostle, / St. Jude Thaddeus, / faithful servant and friend of Jesus, / the name of the traitor who delivered thy beloved Master / into the hands of His enemies / has caused thee to be forgotten by many, / but the Holy Church honors / and invoke thee universally / as the patron of hopeless cases / and of things despaired of. Pray for me / who am so miserable; / make use, I implore thee, / of that particular privilege accorded to thee / to bring visible and speedy help / where help is almost despaired of. / Come to my assistance / in this great need / that I may receive / the consolations and succor of heaven / in all my necessities, / tribulations and sufferings, / particularly (here make your request) / and that I may bless God with thee / and all the elect forever.
I promise thee, / O Blessed Jude, / to be ever mindful / of this great favor / and I will never cease to honor thee / as my special and powerful patron / and to do all in my power / to encourage devotion to thee. Amen.
St. Jude, Pray for Us! And for those who invoke thy aid!

Let Us Pray : O Saint Jude Thaddeus , Thou relative of Jesus Christ, / Thou glorious Apostle and Martyr, / renowned for thy virtues and miracles, / faithful and prompt intercessor of all who honor thee and trust in thee! / Thou art a powerful patron and helper in grievous afflictions. / I come to thee and entreat thee from the very depths of my heart; / come to my aid with thy powerful intercession, / for thou hast received from God the privilege / to assist with thy manifest help, / those who almost despair of all hope. / Look down upon me; / my life is a life of crosses, my days are days of tribulation / and my heart is an ocean of bitterness. / All my paths are strewn with thorns / and scarcely one moment passes / but is witness of my tears and sighs; / uneasiness, discouragement, mistrust / and almost despair press upon my soul. / Thou canst not forsake me in this sad plight. / I will not depart from thee until thou hast heard me. / Oh! hasten to my aid, / I will be grateful to thee all my life. / I will honor thee as my special patron, / I will thank God for the graces bestowed upon thee / and will encourage devotion to thee according to my power. Amen
St. Jude, Pray for Us! And for those who invoke thy aid!
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Novena for the Feast of Saint Jude Thaddeus ~~ 28th October ~~


~~ Day 7 ~~
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love. Send forth the spirit, and they shall be created; And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let Us Pray : O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending them the Light of Thy Holy Spirit. Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His Holy Comfort through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle of Saint Jude ...verse 21:
I love Thee, O Jesus, who are perfect charity; who in Thine essence art true God and true man; in whom are contained the treasures of the Divinity and all the fullness of grace which descends to us upon this earth.
I love Thee, Dear Jesus, who for love of me, hast made Thyself like unto me; enkindle within me the flame of Thy sacred Love, which Thou didst bring from Heaven, that loving Thee, I may grow into Thy likeness.
I love Thee, Divine Jesus, my Lord and Master, because Thou has redeemed and freed me, poor slave of sin, by Thy Precious Blood. Of Thy sweet Mercy, grant that I may enjoy the full fruit of Thy Redemption.
O sweetest Jesus, I implore that I may love Thee more and more!
Most loving Redeemer, at Thy departure from this world Thou didst not wish to leave us orphans. In Thy compassionate love Thou didst institute the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, wherein Thou hast given Thyself in order to draw our hearts to Thee and enrich us with the plentitude of Thy graces. In this sacred mystery it is Thy desire to hear our prayers and to be our refuge in every need, our support in all difficulties, our comfort in every affiction.
Thou art wonderful, O Lord, in all Thy works, but in none more wonderful than in the Sacrament of Thy Love. With deepest reverence and awe we behold the divine Majesty, whom Heaven and earth cannot contain, enclosed under the humble appearance of bread. Here the Creator and Ruler of the entire universe condescends to dwell with the children of men and invites the poor and needy to come to Him.
O Jesus, our Advocate, both High Priest and Lamb of God forever, it was for our redemption and sanctification that Thou didst offer Thyself upon the altar of the Cross. In Thy boundless love Thou didst desire that this sacrifice of salvation should be daily renewed throughout the entire world until the end of time that through the merits of Thy Passion we may obtain the forgiveness of our sins and be filled with Thy grace and blessing.
In every place there is a sacrifice and there is offered to My name a clean oblation. The Holy Mass is our only means of worthily adoring and thanking our heavenly Father. Through this sacrifice the divine justice is unceasingly honored and appeased and the trasures of grace are opened to us. O God, how impenetrable is Thy wisdom; how infinite Thy power; how boundless Thy goodness and love!
Novena Prayers
O My God, I firmly believe / that Thou art really and corporally present / in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. / I adore Thee here present / from the very depths of my heart, / and I worship Thy sacred presence / with all possible humility. /


O my soul, / what Joy to have Jesus Christ / always with us, / and to be able to speak to Him / heart to Heart / with all confidence. / Grant, O Lord, / that I / having adored Thy divine Majesty / here on earth / in this wonderful Sacrament, / may be able to adore It eternally in Heaven. Amen

O Glorious Apostle, St. Jude Thaddeus, / true relative of Jesus and Mary, / I salute thee through the most Sacred Heart of Jesus! / Through this Heart / I praise and thank God / for all the graces He has bestowed upon thee. / Humbly prostrate before thee, / I implore thee through His Sacred Heart / to look down upon me / with compassion. / Oh, despise not my poor prayers; / let not my trust be confounded! / To thee God has granted the priviledge/ of aiding mankind in the most desperate cases. / Oh, come to my aid, / that I may praise the mercies of God! / All my life I will be grateful to thee / and will be thy faithful client / until I can thank thee in Heaven. Amen.

Blessed Apostle, with confidence we invoke thee!
St. Jude, help of the hopeless, aid us in our distress!
Pray for us, / that before death / we may expiate all our sins / by sincere repentance / and the worthy reception fo the Holy Sacraments!
Pray for us, / that we may appease the Divine Justice / and obtain a favorable judgement!

Pray for us, / that we may be admitted / into the company of the blessed / to rejoice in the pressence of our God forever. Amen

Most Holy Apostle, / St. Jude Thaddeus, / faithful servant and friend of Jesus, / the name of the traitor who delivered thy beloved Master / into the hands of His enemies / has caused thee to be forgotten by many, / but the Holy Church honors / and invoke thee universally / as the patron of hopeless cases / and of things despaired of. Pray for me / who am so miserable; / make use, I implore thee, / of that particular privilege accorded to thee / to bring visible and speedy help / where help is almost despaired of. / Come to my assistance / in this great need / that I may receive / the consolations and succor of heaven / in all my necessities, / tribulations and sufferings, / particularly (here make your request) / and that I may bless God with thee / and all the elect forever.
I promise thee, / O Blessed Jude, / to be ever mindful / of this great favor / and I will never cease to honor thee / as my special and powerful patron / and to do all in my power / to encourage devotion to thee. Amen.
St. Jude, Pray for Us! And for those who invoke thy aid!

Let Us Pray : O Saint Jude Thaddeus , Thou relative of Jesus Christ, / Thou glorious Apostle and Martyr, / renowned for thy virtues and miracles, / faithful and prompt intercessor of all who honor thee and trust in thee! / Thou art a powerful patron and helper in grievous afflictions. / I come to thee and entreat thee from the very depths of my heart; / come to my aid with thy powerful intercession, / for thou hast received from God the privilege / to assist with thy manifest help, / those who almost despair of all hope. / Look down upon me; / my life is a life of crosses, my days are days of tribulation / and my heart is an ocean of bitterness. / All my paths are strewn with thorns / and scarcely one moment passes / but is witness of my tears and sighs; / uneasiness, discouragement, mistrust / and almost despair press upon my soul. / Thou canst not forsake me in this sad plight. / I will not depart from thee until thou hast heard me. / Oh! hasten to my aid, / I will be grateful to thee all my life. / I will honor thee as my special patron, / I will thank God for the graces bestowed upon thee / and will encourage devotion to thee according to my power. Amen
St. Jude, Pray for Us! And for those who invoke thy aid!
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Novena for the Feast of Saint Jude Thaddeus ~~ 28th October ~~


~~ Day 6 ~~
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love. Send forth the spirit, and they shall be created; And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let Us Pray : O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending them the Light of Thy Holy Spirit. Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His Holy Comfort through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle of Saint Jude ...verse 20:
O Holy Spirit, who on the solemn day of Pentecost didst suddenly descend upon the Apostles gathered in the Upper Room in parted tongues as it were fire and didst so enlighten their minds, inflame their hearts, and strengthen their wills, that henceforth they went through the entire world and courageously and confidently proclaimed everywhere the teaching of Christ and sealed it with shedding of their blood, renew, we beseech thee, the wondrous outpouring of Thy grace in our hearts also.
How grievously our minds are afflicted with ignorance concerning the nature and dignity of those divine truths which from the object of faith without which no man may hope for salvation. How far may man go astray from a just estimation of earthly goods, which too often are put before the soul itself. How often our hearts do not beat with love of the Creator as they ought, but rather with an ignoble lust for creatures. How often are we lead by a false respect for human judgement, when we ought to profess openly the precepts of Jesus Christ and to reduce them to action with a sincere heart and with the loss, if need be, of our worldly substance. What weakness we manifest in embracing and carrying with a serene and willing heart the crosses of this life, which make alone the Christian a worthy follower of his divine Master.
O Holy Spirit, enlighten our minds, cleanse our hearts, and give new strength to our wills; to such a degree, at least, that we may clearly recognize the value of our soul, and in like manner, despise the perishable goods of this world; that we may love God above all things, and, for the love of Him, our neighbor as ourselves; that we may not only be free from fear in professing our faith publicly, but rather may glory in it; finally, that we may accept only prosperity but also adversity as from the hand of the Lord, with all confidence that He will turn all things into good for those who lovingly tend towards Him. Grant, we beseech Thee, that we, by constantly answering the sweet impulses of Thy grace and doing that which is good with a presevering heart, may deserve one day to receive the rich reward of glory everlasting. Amen

Novena Prayers
O My God, I firmly believe / that Thou art really and corporally present / in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. / I adore Thee here present / from the very depths of my heart, / and I worship Thy sacred presence / with all possible humility. /

O my soul, / what Joy to have Jesus Christ / always with us, / and to be able to speak to Him / heart to Heart / with all confidence. / Grant, O Lord, / that I / having adored Thy divine Majesty / here on earth / in this wonderful Sacrament, / may be able to adore It eternally in Heaven. Amen

O Glorious Apostle, St. Jude Thaddeus, / true relative of Jesus and Mary, / I salute thee through the most Sacred Heart of Jesus! / Through this Heart / I praise and thank God / for all the graces He has bestowed upon thee. / Humbly prostrate before thee, / I implore thee through His Sacred Heart / to look down upon me / with compassion. / Oh, despise not my poor prayers; / let not my trust be confounded! / To thee God has granted the priviledge/ of aiding mankind in the most desperate cases. / Oh, come to my aid, / that I may praise the mercies of God! / All my life I will be grateful to thee / and will be thy faithful client / until I can thank thee in Heaven. Amen.

Blessed Apostle, with confidence we invoke thee!
St. Jude, help of the hopeless, aid us in our distress!
Pray for us, / that before death / we may expiate all our sins / by sincere repentance / and the worthy reception fo the Holy Sacraments!
Pray for us, / that we may appease the Divine Justice / and obtain a favorable judgement!

Pray for us, / that we may be admitted / into the company of the blessed / to rejoice in the pressence of our God forever. Amen

Most Holy Apostle, / St. Jude Thaddeus, / faithful servant and friend of Jesus, / the name of the traitor who delivered thy beloved Master / into the hands of His enemies / has caused thee to be forgotten by many, / but the Holy Church honors / and invoke thee universally / as the patron of hopeless cases / and of things despaired of. Pray for me / who am so miserable; / make use, I implore thee, / of that particular privilege accorded to thee / to bring visible and speedy help / where help is almost despaired of. / Come to my assistance / in this great need / that I may receive / the consolations and succor of heaven / in all my necessities, / tribulations and sufferings, / particularly (here make your request) / and that I may bless God with thee / and all the elect forever.
I promise thee, / O Blessed Jude, / to be ever mindful / of this great favor / and I will never cease to honor thee / as my special and powerful patron / and to do all in my power / to encourage devotion to thee. Amen.
St. Jude, Pray for Us! And for those who invoke thy aid!

Let Us Pray : O Saint Jude Thaddeus , Thou relative of Jesus Christ, / Thou glorious Apostle and Martyr, / renowned for thy virtues and miracles, / faithful and prompt intercessor of all who honor thee and trust in thee! / Thou art a powerful patron and helper in grievous afflictions. / I come to thee and entreat thee from the very depths of my heart; / come to my aid with thy powerful intercession, / for thou hast received from God the privilege / to assist with thy manifest help, / those who almost despair of all hope. / Look down upon me; / my life is a life of crosses, my days are days of tribulation / and my heart is an ocean of bitterness. / All my paths are strewn with thorns / and scarcely one moment passes / but is witness of my tears and sighs; / uneasiness, discouragement, mistrust / and almost despair press upon my soul. / Thou canst not forsake me in this sad plight. / I will not depart from thee until thou hast heard me. / Oh! hasten to my aid, / I will be grateful to thee all my life. / I will honor thee as my special patron, / I will thank God for the graces bestowed upon thee / and will encourage devotion to thee according to my power. Amen
St. Jude, Pray for Us! And for those who invoke thy aid!
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Feast of Saint Raphael the Archangel ~~ October 24 ~~


The feast day of Raphael was included for the first time in the General Roman Calendar in the year 1921, for celebration on October 24. With the reform of the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints in 1969, this feast was transferred to September 29for celebration together with Saint Michael and Saint Gabriel. The Church of England has also adopted the September 29 date for celebrating "Michael and All Angels".

In some local calendars and among Traditional Roman Catholics, St Raphael's feast is still celebrated on October 24.

The feast day of St. Raphael reminds us that he is an eminent intercessor – a special patron of the sick and travelers – who brings our prayers to God. He is one of the highest angelic spirits that assist God and, therefore, has conditions to ask God for the graces we need.
Let us ask him to help us to reach Heaven in order to contemplate him. We should also ask him to help us maintain a constant consideration of the celestial order to give us consolation and the hope of Heaven and the Reign of Mary in the increasingly sad days in which we live.

Let us faithfully pray :

St. Raphael, of the glorious seven who stand before the throne of Him Who lives and reigns. Angel of health, the Lord has filled your hand with balm from heaven to soothe or cure our pains. Heal or cure the victim of disease, and guide our steps when doubtful of our ways. Amen.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Novena for the Feast of Saint Jude Thaddeus ~~ 28th October ~~


~~ Day 5 ~~

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love. Send forth the spirit, and they shall be created; And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let Us Pray : O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending them the Light of Thy Holy Spirit. Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His Holy Comfort through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle of Saint Jude ...verse 15:
Day of wrath and doom impending,
David's word with Sibyl's blending,
Heaven and earth in ashes ending!
O what fear man's bosom redenth,
When from heaven the Judge descendeth,
On whose sentence all dependeth!
Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth,
Through earth's sepulchres it righeth,
All before the throne it bringeth.
Death is struck, and nature quaking,
All creating is awaking,
To its Judge an answer making.
Lo! the book exactly worded,
Wherein all hath been recorded;
Thence shall judgement be awarded.
When the Judge His seat attaineth,
And each hidden deed arraigneth,
Nothing unavenged remaineth.
What shall I, frail man, be pleading?
Who for me be interceding,
When the just are mercy needing?
King of majesty tremendous,
Who dost free salvation send us,
Fount of pity, the befriend us!.
Think kind Jesus! - my salvation
Caused Thy wondrous Incarnation;
Leave me not to reprobation.
Faint and weary Thou hast sought me,
On the Cross of suffering bought me,
Shall such grace be vainly brought me?
Rigtheous Judge! for sin's pollution
Grant Thy gift of absolution
Ere that day of retribution
Guilty, now I pour my moaning,
All my shame with anguish owning;
Spare, O God, thy suppliant groaning!
Through the sinful woman shriven,
Through the dying thief forgiven,
Thou to me a hope hast given.
Worthless are my prayers and sighing,
Yet, good Lord, in grace complying,
Rescue me from fires undying.
With Thy sheep a place provide me,
From the goats afar divided me,
To Thy right hand do thou guide me.
When the wicked are confounded,
Doomed to shame and woe unbounded,
Call me, with thy Saints surrounded.
Low I kneel, with heart's submission,
See, like ashes my contrition!
Help me in my last Condition!
Ah! that day of tears and mourning!
From the dust of earth returning
Man for judgement must prepare him:
Spare, O God, in mercy spare him!
Lord, all-pitying, Jesus blest,
Grant them thine eternal rest.Amen

Novena Prayers
O My God, I firmly believe / that Thou art really and corporally present / in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. / I adore Thee here present / from the very depths of my heart, / and I worship Thy sacred presence / with all possible humility. /

O my soul, / what Joy to have Jesus Christ / always with us, / and to be able to speak to Him / heart to Heart / with all confidence. / Grant, O Lord, / that I / having adored Thy divine Majesty / here on earth / in this wonderful Sacrament, / may be able to adore It eternally in Heaven. Amen

O Glorious Apostle, St. Jude Thaddeus, / true relative of Jesus and Mary, / I salute thee through the most Sacred Heart of Jesus! / Through this Heart / I praise and thank God / for all the graces He has bestowed upon thee. / Humbly prostrate before thee, / I implore thee through His Sacred Heart / to look down upon me / with compassion. / Oh, despise not my poor prayers; / let not my trust be confounded! / To thee God has granted the priviledge/ of aiding mankind in the most desperate cases. / Oh, come to my aid, / that I may praise the mercies of God! / All my life I will be grateful to thee / and will be thy faithful client / until I can thank thee in Heaven. Amen.

Blessed Apostle, with confidence we invoke thee!
St. Jude, help of the hopeless, aid us in our distress!
Pray for us, / that before death / we may expiate all our sins / by sincere repentance / and the worthy reception fo the Holy Sacraments!
Pray for us, / that we may appease the Divine Justice / and obtain a favorable judgement!

Pray for us, / that we may be admitted / into the company of the blessed / to rejoice in the pressence of our God forever. Amen

Most Holy Apostle, / St. Jude Thaddeus, / faithful servant and friend of Jesus, / the name of the traitor who delivered thy beloved Master / into the hands of His enemies / has caused thee to be forgotten by many, / but the Holy Church honors / and invoke thee universally / as the patron of hopeless cases / and of things despaired of. Pray for me / who am so miserable; / make use, I implore thee, / of that particular privilege accorded to thee / to bring visible and speedy help / where help is almost despaired of. / Come to my assistance / in this great need / that I may receive / the consolations and succor of heaven / in all my necessities, / tribulations and sufferings, / particularly (here make your request) / and that I may bless God with thee / and all the elect forever.

I promise thee, / O Blessed Jude, / to be ever mindful / of this great favor / and I will never cease to honor thee / as my special and powerful patron / and to do all in my power / to encourage devotion to thee. Amen.
St. Jude, Pray for Us! And for those who invoke thy aid!

Let Us Pray : O Saint Jude Thaddeus , Thou relative of Jesus Christ, / Thou glorious Apostle and Martyr, / renowned for thy virtues and miracles, / faithful and prompt intercessor of all who honor thee and trust in thee! / Thou art a powerful patron and helper in grievous afflictions. / I come to thee and entreat thee from the very depths of my heart; / come to my aid with thy powerful intercession, / for thou hast received from God the privilege / to assist with thy manifest help, / those who almost despair of all hope. / Look down upon me; / my life is a life of crosses, my days are days of tribulation / and my heart is an ocean of bitterness. / All my paths are strewn with thorns / and scarcely one moment passes / but is witness of my tears and sighs; / uneasiness, discouragement, mistrust / and almost despair press upon my soul. / Thou canst not forsake me in this sad plight. / I will not depart from thee until thou hast heard me. / Oh! hasten to my aid, / I will be grateful to thee all my life. / I will honor thee as my special patron, / I will thank God for the graces bestowed upon thee / and will encourage devotion to thee according to my power. Amen
St. Jude, Pray for Us! And for those who invoke thy aid!
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Novena for the Feast of Saint Jude Thaddeus ~~ 28th October ~~


~~ Day 4 ~~

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love. Send forth the spirit, and they shall be created; And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let Us Pray : O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending them the Light of Thy Holy Spirit. Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His Holy Comfort through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle of Saint Jude ...verse 10:
O Lord Jesus, Let me know myself.
Let me know Thee and desire nothing but Thee alone.
Let me hate myself and love Thee.
And do all things for the sake of Thee.
Let me humble myself and exalt Thee.
And think of nothing but Thee alone.
Let me die to myself and live in Thee.
And take whatever happens as coming from Thee.
Let me foresake myself and walk after Thee.
And ever desire to follow Thee.
Let me flee from myself and turn to Thee.
That thus I may merit to be defended by Thee.
Let me fear for myself.
Let me fear Thee and be among those who are chosen by Thee.
Let my distrust myself and trust in Thee.
And ever obey for the love of Thee.
Let me cleave to nothing but only to Thee.
And ever be poor for the sake of Thee.
Look upon me that I may love Thee.
Call me that I may see Thee.
And forever possess Thee. Amen.

O most holy Virgin Mary, who didst bear Jesus our Savior and didst shed the everlasting Light upon the world, O Mother of divine knowledge, whose merciful intercession hath procured the grace of increasing in knowledge and piety for countless minds that were rude and ignorant, I choos thee as the guide and patroness of my studies.
By thine intercession, O Mother of fruitful studies, may the Holy Spirit fill my spirit with light and fortitude, prudence and humility; may He give me a good will, intelligence, memory and ability in sufficient measure, and above all, a spirit of docility both inmind and heart, that I may proceed in all things according to the counsels of divine Wisdom.
Defend me good Mother, against the spirit of pride and presumption of vain curiosity and instability; keep me from every occasion of stumbling, from all erroneous opinion, and from all things that might corrupt my faith and disturb the clearness of my understanding, the purity of my heart, and the peace of my soul.
Grant, O Mary, that under thy protection, I may ever be submissive to the direction and teachings of Holy Church, my mother, and many advance in the way of the truth and virtue surely, courageously and without wavering; at length may I attain to the knowledge, the love and the everlasting possession of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Novena Prayers
O My God, I firmly believe / that Thou art really and corporally present / in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. / I adore Thee here present / from the very depths of my heart, / and I worship Thy sacred presence / with all possible humility. /

O my soul, / what joy to have Jesus Christ / always with us, / and to be able to speak to Him / heart to Heart / with all confidence. / Grant, O Lord, / that I / having adored Thy divine Majesty / here on earth / in this wonderful Sacrament, / may be able to adore It eternally in Heaven. Amen

O Glorious Apostle, St. Jude Thaddeus, / true relative of Jesus and Mary, / I salute thee through the most Sacred Heart of Jesus! / Through this Heart / I praise and thank God / for all the graces He has bestowed upon thee. / Humbly prostrate before thee, / I implore thee through His Sacred Heart / to look down upon me / with compassion. / Oh, despise not my poor prayers; / let not my trust be confounded! / To thee God has granted the priviledge/ of aiding mankind in the most desperate cases. / Oh, come to my aid, / that I may praise the mercies of God! / All my life I will be grateful to thee / and will be thy faithful client / until I can thank thee in Heaven. Amen.

Blessed Apostle, with confidence we invoke thee!
St. Jude, help of the hopeless, aid us in our distress!
Pray for us, / that before death / we may expiate all our sins / by sincere repentance / and the worthy reception fo the Holy Sacraments!
Pray for us, / that we may appease the Divine Justice / and obtain a favorable judgement!

Pray for us, / that we may be admitted / into the company of the blessed / to rejoice in the pressence of our God forever. Amen

Most Holy Apostle, / St. Jude Thaddeus, / faithful servant and friend of Jesus, / the name of the traitor who delivered thy beloved Master / into the hands of His enemies / has caused thee to be forgotten by many, / but the Church honors / and invoke thee universally / as the patron of hopeless cases / and of things despaired of. Pray for me / who am so miserable; / make use, I implore thee, / of that particular privilege accorded to thee / to bring visible and speedy help / where help is almost despaired of. / Come to my assistance / in this great need / that I may receive / the consolations and succor of heaven / in all my necessities, / tribulations and sufferings, / particularly (here make your request) / and that I may bless God with thee / and all the elect forever.

I promise thee, / O Blessed Jude, / to be ever mindful / of this great favor / and I will never cease to honor thee / as my special and powerful patron / and to do all in my power / to encourage devotion to thee. Amen.
St. Jude, Pray for Us! And for those who invoke thy aid!

Let Us Pray : O Saint Jude Thaddeus , Thou relative of Jesus Christ, / Thou glorious Apostle and Martyr, / renowned for thy virtues and miracles, / faithful and prompt intercessor of all who honor thee and trust in thee! / Thou art a powerful patron and helper in grievous afflictions. / I come to thee and entreat thee from the very depths of my heart; / come to my aid with thy powerful intercession, / for thou hast received from God the privilege / to assist with thy manifest help, / those who almost despair of all hope. / Look down upon me; / my life is a life of crosses, my days are days of tribulation / and my heart is an ocean of bitterness. / All my paths are strewn with thorns / and scarcely one moment passes / but is witness of my tears and sighs; / uneasiness, discouragement, mistrust / and almost despair press upon my soul. / Thou canst not forsake me in this sad plight. / I will not depart from thee until thou hast heard me. / Oh! hasten to my aid, / I will be grateful to thee all my life. / I will honor thee as my special patron, / I will thank God for the graces bestowed upon thee / and will encourage devotion to thee according to my power. Amen
St. Jude, Pray for Us! And for those who invoke thy aid!
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Novena for the Feast of Saint Jude Thaddeus ~~ 28th October ~~


~~ Day 3 ~~

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love. Send forth the spirit, and they shall be created; And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let Us Pray : O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending them the Light of Thy Holy Spirit. Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His Holy Comfort through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle of Saint Jude ...verse 7:
O good Jesus, I know that every perfect gift and above all others, that of chastity depends on the powerful action of Thy divine Providence; I know that without Thee a creature can do nothing. This is why I bessech Thee to defend, by Thy grace, the purity of my soul and of my body. And if I have ever received any impression whatsoever of a sentiment capable of soiling this ineffable virtue, do Thou, O supreme Master of my faculties, blot it out from my soul that with a clean heart I may advance in Thy love and in Thy service, offering myself chaste all the days of my life on the most pure altar of Thy Divinity.
It is the Cross that I adore. The Cross of the Lord is with me. The Cross is my refuge.

Jesus, Lover of chastity, Mary Mother most pure, and Joseph, chaste guardian of the Virgin, to you I come at this hour, begging you to plead with God for me.
I earnestly wish to be pure in thought, word, and deed in imitation of Your own holy Purity. Obtain for me, then, a deep sense of modesty which will be refected in my external conduct. Protect my eyes, the windows of my soul, from anything that might dim the luster of a heart that must mirror only Christ-like purity. And when the "Bread of angels becomes the Bread of men" in my heart at Holy Communion, seal it forever against the suggestions of sinful pleasures. Heart of Jesus, Fountain of all Purity, have mercy on us.

Confirm me, O God, by the grace of Thy Holy Spirit. Grant me power to be strengthned in the inner man, and to cast out of my heart all unclean thoughts; not to be drawn away with various desires but to view all things as passing away, and myself also as passing with them. For nothing is lasting under the sun, where all is vanity and affliction of spirit. Oh, how wise is he who judges in this way.
Grant me, O Lord, celestial wisdom, that I may learn above all things to seek Thee and to find Thee; above all things to relish Thee and to love Thee, and to understand all other things as they are, according to the order of Thy wisdom. Grant that I may prudently avoid all impure temptation and patiently endure those I cannot avoid, resisting to the end by the power of Thy Grace. Amen

Novena Prayers
O My God, I firmly believe / that Thou art really and corporally present / in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. / I adore Thee here present / from the very depths of my heart, / and I worship Thy sacred presence / with all possible humility. /

O my soul, / what joy to have Jesus Christ / always with us, / and to be able to speak to Him / heart to Heart / with all confidence. / Grant, O Lord, / that I / having adored Thy divine Majesty / here on earth / in this wonderful Sacrament, / may be able to adore It eternally in Heaven. Amen

O Glorious Apostle, St. Jude Thaddeus, / true relative of Jesus and Mary, / I salute thee through the most Sacred Heart of Jesus! / Through this Heart / I praise and thank God / for all the graces He has bestowed upon thee. / Humbly prostrate before thee, / I implore thee through His Sacred Heart / to look down upon me / with compassion. / Oh, despise not my poor prayers; / let not my trust be confounded! / To thee God has granted the priviledge/ of aiding mankind in the most desperate cases. / Oh, come to my aid, / that I may praise the mercies of God! / All my life I will be grateful to thee / and will be thy faithful client / until I can thank thee in Heaven. Amen.

Blessed Apostle, with confidence we invoke thee!
St. Jude, help of the hopeless, aid us in our distress!
Pray for us, / that before death / we may expiate all our sins / by sincere repentance / and the worthy reception fo the Holy Sacraments!
Pray for us, / that we may appease the Divine Justice / and obtain a favorable judgement!

Pray for us, / that we may be admitted / into the company of the blessed / to rejoice in the pressence of our God forever. Amen

Most Holy Apostle, / St. Jude Thaddeus, / faithful servant and friend of Jesus, / the name of the traitor who delivered thy beloved Master / into the hands of His enemies / has caused thee to be forgotten by many, / but the Church honors / and invoke thee universally / as the patron of hopeless cases / and of things despaired of. Pray for me / who am so miserable; / make us, I implore thee, / of that particular privilege accorded to thee / to bring visible and speedy help / where help is almost despaired of. / Come to my assistance / in this great need / that I may receive / the consolations and succor of heaven / in all my necessities, / tribulations and sufferings, / particularly (here make your request) / and that I may bless God with thee / and all the elect forever.

I promise thee, / O Blessed Jude, / to be ever mindful / of this great favor / and I will never cease to honor thee / as my special and powerful patron / and to do all in my power / to encourage devotion to thee. Amen.
St. Jude, Pray for Us! And for those who invoke thy aid!

Let Us Pray : O Saint Jude Thaddeus , Thou relative of Jesus Christ, / Thou glorious Apostle and Martyr, / renowned for thy virtues and miracles, / faithful and prompt intercessor of all who honor thee and trust in thee! / Thou art a powerful patron and helper in grievous afflictions. / I come to thee and entreat thee from the very depths of my heart; / come to my aid with thy powerful intercession, / for thou hast received from God the privilege / to assist with thy manifest help, / those who almost despair of all hope. / Look down upon me; / my life is a life of crosses, my days are days of tribulation / and my heart is an ocean of bitterness. / All my paths are strewn with thorns / and scarcely one moment passes / but is witness of my tears and sighs; / uneasiness, discouragement, mistrust / and almost despair press upon my soul. / Thou canst not forsake me in this sad plight. / I will not depart from thee until thou hast heard me. / Oh! hasten to my aid, / I will be grateful to thee all my life. / I will honor thee as my special patron, / I will thank God for the graces bestowed upon thee / and will encourage devotion to thee according to my power. Amen
St. Jude, Pray for Us! And for those who invoke thy aid!
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Novena for the Feast of Saint Jude Thaddeus ~~ 28th October ~~


~~ Day 2 ~~

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love. Send forth the spirit, and they shall be created; And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.
Let Us Pray : O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending them the light of Thy Holy Spirit. Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His Holy Comfort through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle of Saint Jude ...verse 6:
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle, that we perish not in the fearful judgement.
Saint Michael, first champion of the Kingship of Christ, Pray for Us.
O Jesus! life-spring of the soul! The Father's Power and Glory bright! Thee with the Angels we extol; From Thee they draw their life and light.
Thy thousand, thousand hosts are spread, embattled over the azure sky; But Michael bears Thy standard dread, And lifts the mighty Cross on high .
He win over sign the rebel powers. Did with their dragon prince expel: And hurled them from the heaven's high towers, Down like a thunderbolt to hell.
Grant us with Michael still, O Lord to fight against the Prince of Pride ; so may a crown be our reward before the Lamb's pure throne of light.
To God the Father and the Son and Holy Paraclete to Thee, As evermore hath been before , Be glory through eternity. Amen.
O glorious Prince of the heavenly host, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle and in the fearful warfare that we are waging against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the evil spirits. Come thou to the assistance of men, whom Almighty God created immortal, making them in His own image and likeness and redeeming them at a great price from the tyranny of satan.
But behold, that first enemy of mankind, and a murderer from the beginning, has regained his confidence. Changing himself into an angel of light, he goes about with the whole multitude of the wicked spirits to invade the earth and blot out the Name of God and of His Christ, to plunder, to slay and to consign to eternal damnation the souls that have been destined for a crown of everlasting life. This wicked serpent, like an unclean torrent, pours into men of depraved minds and corrupt hearts the poison of his malice, the spirit of lying, impiety and blasphemy, and the deadly breath of impurity of every form of vice and iniquity.
Fight this day the battle of the Lord with thy legions of Holy Angels, even as of thou didst fight against lucifer, the Leader of the proud spirits and all his rebel angels, who were powerless to stand against thee, neither was their place found any more in heaven. And that apostolic angel, transformed into an angel of darkness who still creeps about the earth to encompass our ruin, was cast headlong into the abyss together with his followers.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle, that we perish not in the fearful judgement.
Saint Michael, first champion of the Kingship of Christ, Pray for Us.Amen

Novena Prayers
O My God, I firmly believe / that Thou art really and corporally present / in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar. / I adore Thee here present / from the very depths of my heart, / and I worship Thy sacred presence / with all possible humility. /
O my soul, / what joy to have Jesus Christ / always with us, / and to be able to speak to Him / heart to heart / with all confidence. / Grant, O Lord, / that I / having adored Thy divine Majesty / here on earth / in this wonderful Sacrament, / may be able to adore It eternally in heaven. Amen

O Glorious Apostle, St. Jude Thaddeus, / true relative of Jesus and Mary, / I salute thee through the most Sacred Heart of Jesus! / Through this Heart / I praise and thank God / for all the graces He has bestowed upon thee. / Humbly prostrate before thee, / I implore thee through His Sacred Heart / to look down upon me / with compassion. / Oh, despise not my poor prayers; / let not my trust be confounded! / To thee God has granted the priviledge/ of aiding mankind in the most desperate cases. / Oh, come to my aid, / that I may praise the mercies of God! / All my life I will be grateful to thee / and will be thy faithful client / until I can thank thee in heaven. Amen.

Blessed Apostle, with confidence we invoke thee!
St. Jude, help of the hopeless, aid us in our distress!
Pray for us, / that before death / we may expiate all our sins / by sincere repentance / and the worthy reception fo the Holy Sacraments!
Pray for us, / that we may appease the Divine Justice / and obtain a favorable judgement!

Pray for us, / that we may be admitted / into the company of the blessed / to rejoice in the pressence of our God forever. Amen

Most Holy Apostle, / St. Jude Thaddeus, / faithful servant and friend of Jesus, / the name of the traitor who delivered thy beloved Master / into the hands of His enemies / has caused thee to be forgotten by many, / but the Church honors / and invoke thee universally / as the patron of hopeless cases / and of things despaired of. Pray for me / who am so miserable; / make us, I implore thee, / of that particular privilege accorded to thee / to bring visible and speedy help / where help is almost despaired of. / Come to my assistance / in this great need / that I may receive / the consolations and succor of heaven / in all my necessities, / tribulations and sufferings, / particularly (here make your request) / and that I may bless God with thee / and all the elect forever.

I promise thee, / O Blessed Jude, / to be ever mindful / of this great favor / and I will never cease to honor thee / as my special and powerful patron / and to do all in my power / to encourage devotion to thee. Amen.
St. Jude, Pray for Us! And for those who invoke thy aid!

Let Us Pray : O Saint Jude Thaddeus , Thou relative of Jesus Christ, / Thou glorious apostle and martyr, / renowned for thy virtues and miracles, / faithful and prompt intercessor of all who honor thee and trust in thee! / Thou art a powerful patron and helper in grievous afflictions. / I come to thee and entreat thee from the very depths of my heart; / come to my aid with thy powerful intercession, / for thou hast received from God the privilege / to assist with thy manifest help, / those who almost despair of all hope. / Look down upon me; / my life is a life of crosses, my days are days of tribulation / and my heart is an ocean of bitterness. / All my paths are strewn with thorns / and scarcely one moment passes / but is witness of my tears and sighs; / uneasiness, discouragement, mistrust / and almost despair press upon my soul. / Thou canst not forsake me in this sad plight. / I will not depart from thee until thou hast heard me. / Oh! hasten to my aid, / I will be grateful to thee all my life. / I will honor thee as my special patron, / I will thank God for the graces bestowed upon thee / and will encourage devotion to thee according to my power. Amen
St. Jude, Pray for Us! And for those who invoke thy aid!
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Blessed Feast of Saint Ignatius of Antioch ~~ October 17 ~~


All-powerful and ever-living God, you ennoble your Church with the heroic witness of all who give their lives for Christ. Grant that the victory of Saint Ignatius of Antioch may bring us your constant help as it brought him eternal glory. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

St. Ignatius is one of the great bishops of the early Church. He was the successor of St. Peter as Bishop of Antioch. He was condemned to death by wild beasts during the Emperor Trajan's persecution. On his way to Rome, he wrote seven magnificent letters, which we still have today, concerning the Person of Christ, his love for Christ, his desire for martyrdom and on the constitution of the Church and Christian life. His sentiments before his approaching martyrdom are summed in his word in the Communion antiphon, "I am the wheat of Christ, ground by the teeth of beasts to become pure bread."
The bishop and martyr Ignatius occupies a foremost place among the heroes of Christian antiquity. His final journey from Antioch to Rome was like a nuptial procession and a Way of the Cross. For the letters he wrote along the way resemble seven stations of the Cross; they may also be called seven nuptial hymns overflowing with the saint's intense love for Christ Jesus and his longing to be united with Him. These letters are seven most precious jewels in the heirloom bequeathed to us by the Church of sub-apostolic times.
The Roman emperors often visited Antioch, one of the cities of first importance of the empire. In 107, the eighth year of the reign of the emperor Trajan, he came to Antioch and forced the Christians to choose between apostasy and death. Saint Ignatius, who had already governed that church for forty years, continued to fortify it against apostasy, and did not flee. Arrested and brought before the emperor, the latter addressed him: “Who are you, poor devil, to set our commands at naught?” “Call not poor devil,” Ignatius answered, “one who bears God within him.” And when the emperor asked him what he meant by that, Ignatius explained that he bore in his heart Christ, crucified for his sake. “Change your ideas, and I will make you a priest of the great Jupiter, and you will be called ‘father’ by the Senate.” “What could such honors matter to me, a priest of Christ, who offer Him every day a sacrifice of praise, and am ready to offer myself to Him also?” “To whom? To that Jesus who was crucified by Pontius Pilate?” “Yes, and with whom sin was crucified, and the devil, its author, vanquished.”
He journeyed to Rome, guarded by soldiers, and with no fear but of losing the martyr’s crown. Three of his disciples, who accompanied him and were eyewitnesses of the spectacle, wrote the acts of his martyrdom: His face shining with joy, he reassured them as the lions were released, saying: “I am the wheat of Christ, I will be ground by the teeth of the beasts and made into flour to be a good bread for my Lord Jesus Christ!”
After the martyr’s death, several Christians saw him in vision, in prayer to Christ, and interceding for them.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Novena for the Feast of Saint Teresa of Avila ~~ Day 2 ~~


O most merciful Lord Jesus Christ! we thank Thee for the great gift of Hope which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy holy spouse, to give us a great confidence in Thy goodness, by reason of Thy Precious Blood, which Thou hast shed to its last drop for our salvation.
Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

St. Teresa, pray for us
That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray:
Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Novena to St. Teresa of Avila ~~ October 15 ~~


Novena to St. Teresa of Avila
by St. Alphonsus of Liguori


First Day:

O most amiable Lord Jesus Christ! We thank Thee for the great gift of faith and of devotion to the Holy Sacrament, which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits and by those of Thy faithful spouse, to grant us the gift of a lively faith, and of a fervent devotion toward the most Holy Sacrament of the altar; where Thou, O infinite Majesty! hast obliged Thyself to abide with us even to the end of the world, and wherein Thou didst so lovingly give Thy whole Self to us.

Say one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

St. Teresa, pray for us
That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.


Let us pray:
Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Blessed Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi ( October 4 )


Today we're celebrating and commemorating Saint Francis of Assisi , who inspires us by his love of God and Peace , by his kinship with all creatures.
Francis’s prayers and words are often in the form of direct "conversation" with God, a conversation that includes all creation. His Canticle of the Creatures proclaims: "Most High, all-powerful, good Lord, all praise, glory, honor and blessing are yours...All praise to you, Oh Lord, for Brother Sun, Sister Moon,” all these brother and sister creatures. His themes spring from Sacred Scripture, like the Psalms ("The orb of the Sun, resplendent at its rising; what a wonderful work of the Most High!") and St. Matthew’s Gospel ("Look at the birds in the sky...Learn from the way the wild flowers grow").
Francis had a vivid sense of the sacramentality of God's Creation.
All things, whether living or inanimate, reflected their Creator's love and were thus due reverence and wonder. In this spirit he composed his famous "Canticle of Creation," singing the praises of Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and even Sister Death.
Altogether his life and his relationship with the world - including animals, the elements, the poor and sick, as well as princes and prelates, women as well as men, represented the breakthrough of a new model of human and cosmic community.
Ultimately Francis attempted no more than to live out the teachings of Christ and the spirit of the gospel. His identification with Christ was so intense that in 1224, while praying in his hermitage, he received the "stigmata," the physical marks of Christ's passion, on his hands and feet. His last years were marked at once by excruciating physical suffering and spiritual happiness. "Welcome Sister Death!" he exclaimed at last. At his request he was laid on the bare ground in his old habit. To the friars gathered around him he gave each his blessing in turn: "I have done my part," he said. "May Christ teach you to do yours." So he died on October 3, 1226. His feast we're celebrating today October 4.

( quoting text from Robert Ellsberg's book All Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets, and Witnesses From Our Time. )

Friday, October 2, 2009

For the Feast of Guardian Angels


Let us celebrate the Feast of Guardian Angels together with beloved Saint Padre Pio .
Padre Pio was especially careful for the well-being, spiritual and material, of those whom he had accepted as his spiritual son or daughter. He would look after them from a distance, with the help of their guardian angel .

It is the conviction of the Church that every human being is assigned an angel of God to be his guardian, an angel who has as his task to "lead (us) to the place that (God) has prepared," Heaven.

Not everyone listens attentively to their guardian angel, however, as he seeks to enlighten them through the voice of conscience to avoid sin, or gives them good inspirations to the love and service of God and neighbor.

Certainly Padre Pio was one who did, from the earliest years of life, so that God granted him the vision not only of his own guardian angel but those of others.

Many times it was through the guardian angel of a person that their need was brought to Padre Pio's attention, who then prayed for that person.

One might ask, why would the angel bring the need to Padre Pio, rather than directly to God? First, people often sent their angel to Padre Pio to ask for prayer. The angels, for their part, like true friends were happy to perform this little service for their proteges, especially the ones who habitually listened to their guidance. Since the angel can do nothing contrary to the will of God, God Himself must have desired it, as well. As with the other forms of intercession and mediation acknowledged by the Church, God has ordained that the true magnificence of His own glory be shown through His working through creatures (angelic and human). As St. Paul noted, God chooses the weak to show up the strong (1 Cor. 1:27).

See, I am sending an angel before you, to guard you on the way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to him and heed his voice. Do not rebel against him, for he will not forgive your sin. My authority resides in him. If you heed his voice and carry out all I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes. (Ex 23:20-22)

See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. (Mt.18:10)