God is With Us

"The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid." (Psalm 118:6)

The Lord is truly with us.  He is as close as the beating of our hearts, as our very breath.  He lives within us and He will fight our battles with us, inspire us when words seem to fail, strengthen us when we are weak, encourage us when there looks to be no hope, forgive us our sins when we seek to be reconciled with Him, and hold us in His loving arms and fill us with His love and mercy when we feel unloved or in need of love and compassion.  God is always with us and we have nothing to fear.  He will carry us and care for us, and provide everything we could ever need until we rest in Him for all eternity.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to realize You are always as close to me as my breath.  Help me to acknowledge Your presence with and within me.  You never leave me alone.  Thank You for Your love, Your care, and Your compassion.  I love You.

The Spirit's Help

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness." (Romans 8:26)

It is precisely in our weakness that God's strength is most evident.  When we pray to God asking for strength He pours Himself out upon us in the form of the Holy Spirit and fills us with the courage, fortitude, might, and strength we need to face what we must, do what we must, and endure what we must.  He holds nothing back, but fully gives of Himself in love.  We just need to be open to the Holy Spirit and willing to allow Him to move with power and might in our hearts, our souls, and our lives.  He will give us all that we need and more so that in the weakest moments of our lives His power is evident.  And, by allowing His movement in our lives we will bring glory to the Father.

Prayer:

Lord, I open my heart, mind and soul to Your Holy Spirit.  Fill me with every gift I need to live my life in unison with Your will for me. Strengthen me and move with power and might in my life. Thank You for Your love and constant presence with me.  Amen. 

All comes at the proper time to him who knows how to wait.

St. Vincent de Paul

God's Comfort

"As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you." (Isaiah 66:13)

Whenever our hearts are broken, we feel misunderstood, we are confused or upset, or we are hurt, God is there to comfort us with His love and mercy.  If we allow Him, He will fold us in His loving arms and hold us close to His tender heart.  He will bless us with His wisdom and understanding and allow us to feel His loving presence.  In His infinite love He will shower us with compassion and fill us with His encouragement and hope.  We are so blessed that God wants to comfort us and have us feel His unending love for us.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to turn to You when I feel broken, misunderstood, confused, upset or hurt.  I know You will take me in Your arms and hold me close, letting me feel Your unending love for me. When I need it, comfort me in whatever way is best.  Thank You for Your compassion and loving kindness, Your encouragement and hope.  Amen.

"By its nature the recitation of the Rosary calls for a quiet rhythm and lingering peace, helping the individual to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord's life as grasped by the heart of her who was closer to the Lord than all others."

Blessed Pope John Paul II

"Have courage and trust in God's goodness and mercy."

St. Anthony Mary Claret

God's Consolation

"Give me relief from my distress, have mercy on me and hear my prayer." (Psalm 4:1)

When we cry out to the Lord in distress He hears us and immediately wraps His loving arms around us and sends His Spirit upon us to console, strengthen, and encourage us.  He doesn't hesitate.  His response of love is immediate.  He opens His arms of love to help us carry our difficulties, burdens and crosses.  He never leaves us to flounder and writhe in fear, pain, distress or agony.  He is with us, as close as our heart beat.  His great mercy flows forth over us, through us, and fills us with every gift and grace we need to get through and conquer that which has caused us distress.

Know that God is with us - always.  He loves us and wants us to experience His love and consolation, to be encouraged by His Spirit dwelling within us. May we recognize God's immediate response to our cries and have grateful hearts that embrace Him in return.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for answering my cries when I am distressed.  Thank You for loving me, strengthening me, consoling me, and encouraging me with Your Spirit.  Thank You for carrying my burdens with me and for Your mercy and grace.  Help me to trust in You more each day. Amen.

"The martyrs endured their torments in their bodies; Mary suffered hers in her soul."

St. Alphonsus Liguori

Our Lord loves you, and He loves you tenderly.

St. Pio fo Pietrelcina

Jesus' Name

"Blessed be the name of the Lord both now and forever." (Psalm 113:2)

Blessed be the name of Jesus.  His name is the name above all names the name under which every knee shall bow and which every tongue confess that He is Lord of all.  

It saddens me when people use the name of Jesus loosely, combined with anger or obscenity.  The holiest of all names just thrown around disrespectfully.

May we keep Jesus' name holy and use it lovingly, prayerfully and respectfully.

Prayer:

Lord, Jesus, I love You.  I promise to do my best to use Your name lovingly, respectfully and prayerfully.  I ask Your forgiveness for any times when I have not honored Your holy name.  You are my Lord and my God.  

"The Blessed Virgin Mary, for the love she bore us, was willing to see her Son sacrificed to Divine Justice by the barbarity of men.  This great torment, then, which Mary endured for us - a torment that was more than a thousand deaths - deserves both our compassion and our gratitude.  If we can make no other return for so much love, at least let us give a few moments this day to consider the greatness of the sufferings by which Mary became the Queen of Martyrs; for the sufferings of her great martyrdom exceed those of all the martyrs; being, in the first place, the longest in point of duration; and in second place, the greatest in point of intensity."

St. Alphonsus Liguori

Imitate Good

"Do not imitate that which is evil but what is good." (3 John 1:11)

Many of us have heroes, people we look up to and emulate in our lives. But some of our human heroes are broken, troubled and fall into sin. They sometimes do not live their lives in ways that are good, wholesome, and holy. Frankly, many of our heroes do or say things that are scandalous, upsetting, or disturbing.  So the question is, should we be looking up to them and holding them up as an example to follow?  Or should we be choosing different heroes who are trying to live virtuous, grace-filled lives in imitation of Christ the only true hero.

Jesus is perfect in every way.  He is love itself.  He is all that is good, virtuous and holy.  So, it makes sense that He be our hero, the one we look up to and emulate.  He will never lead us astray and we can imitate Him in every area of our lives.  May we live our lives imitating Jesus Who is all good and all loving.

Prayer:

Lord, I choose you as my hero.  May I always imitate You in what I say and do.  May I always look to You when I need an example of how to live and love.  Thank You for loving me and guiding me to all that is good and virtuous.  Amen.

The Spirit Helps Us

"Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness." (Romans 8:26)

I

t is precisely in our weakness that God's strength is most evident.  When we pray to God asking for strength He pours Himself out upon us in the form of the Holy Spirit.  And, the Holy Spirit fills us with the courage, fortitude, might, and strength we need to face what we must, do what we must, and endure what we must.  God holds nothing back, but gives fully of Himself in love.  

We just need to be open to the Holy Spirit and willing to allow Him to move with power and majesty in our lives.  He wants to help us in every moment of every day.  May we open up and allow the Holy Spirit the freedom to bless us, dwell in us, inspire us, and help us at all times.

Prayer:

Come Holy Spirit.  Fill me with every gift and grace.  I open myself to You and ask You to dwell in me and move in my life with power and majesty.  I give You control.  Lead me, guide me, and strengthen me so that I can do Your will.  Amen.

Rosary of the Seven Sorrows

Make An Act of Contrition: 

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins, because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen.

Pray:

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your Divine Love.  Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created and You shall renew the face of the earth.  Enlighten our minds, we beseech You, O Lord, with the light of Your brightness, that we might see what we ought to do and be able to do what is right, through Christ, Our Lord.  Amen.

The First Sorrow - Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (pray 1 Our Father)

Mary presented her only son in the temple, laid him in the arms of holy Simeon, and heard the prophetic words, “This one shall be a sword of sorrow to pierce your own heart.”

While meditating on the Sorrow, pray the Hail Mary seven times.

The Second Sorrow - Mary flees into Egypt with Jesus and Joseph (pray 1 Our Father)

Forced to endure the hardships of a long journey, and becoming a foreigner in a strange land, Mary and her family flee to protect the child Jesus from those who would destroy him.

While meditating on the Sorrow, pray the Hail Mary seven times.

The Third Sorrow - Mary seeks Jesus lost in Jerusalem (pray 1 Our Father)

At the age of twelve, Jesus disappeared for three days in Jerusalem, causing his parents, especially Mary, agonizing sorrow.

While meditating on the Sorrow, pray the Hail Mary seven times.

The Fourth Sorrow - Mary meets Jesus on the way to Calvary (pray 1 Our Father)

As Jesus made his way to Calvary, condemned to crucifixion, He met His mother, Mary.  Bruised, derided, cursed and defiled, Jesus drags His own cross up the hill for His crucifixion and her sorrow is immeasurable.

While meditating on the Sorrow, pray the Hail Mary seven times.

The Fifth Sorrow - Mary stands near the cross of her Son (pray 1 Our Father)

Mary stands near her dying Son unable to help him as he hangs in agonizing pain.  She hears him promise heaven to a thief and forgive his enemies.  

While meditating on the Sorrow, pray the Hail Mary seven times.

The Sixth Sorrow - Mary received the body of Jesus taken down from the cross (pray 1 Our Father)

The passion and death are over but Mary’s grief continues as she holds Jesus’ broken and dead body in her arms.

While meditating on the Sorrow, pray the Hail Mary seven times.

The Seventh Sorrow - Mary places the body of Jesus in the tomb (pray 1 Our Father)

Mary in inconsolable sorrow wraps and lays the body of her Son in the tomb.

While meditating on the Sorrow, pray the Hail Mary seven times.

Pray the Hail Mary three times in honor of the tears shed by Our Lady.

Pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary, and a Glory Be for the intentions of the Pope.

Pray “Virgin most Sorrowful, pray for us.”, three times.

Christ Died for Us

"But God showed his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

Jesus died for you and for me even though we are sinners who habitually sin.  He loves us so much that He chose to give His life for us long before we were born.  He saved us knowing full well every mistake, bad judgement, and sin we would ever commit.  What incredible love!

Jesus doesn't ask or expect us to be perfect or sinless.  He knows and understands human frailty.  But 

He does ask us to allow Him to strengthen us when we feel weak, encourage us when we feel hopeless, enlighten us when we need guidance, and be present within us to love us when we need to feel loved.  Jesus does ask us to embrace His Holy Spirit and all the grace that He pours out upon us through His Spirit so that we can be changed daily into a more perfect image of Him.  How blessed we are.

Prayer:

Lord, I am not perfect.  I never will be perfect.  But, I want to be a better reflection of You to all I meet.  Help me to embrace You and Your Spirit so that I can be transformed each day into a more loving, giving, accepting, hope filled person.  Thank You for dying for me so that I could live in You. Amen.

God is Faithful

"God is faithful." (1 Corinthians 1:9)

We can trust that God is always faithful.  Our friends, family members, co-workers, fellow students may hurt, upset or even turn away from us, but God never will.  He is always with us.  He lives in us and has chosen us for His own and will never forsake us.  God is as close as our very breath, as close as the beating of our hearts.  We are precious to Him and we can rest assured that He loves us exactly as we are - sinful and broken.  There is nothing we could ever do to stop God from loving us. He will always be faithful to us even when we are unfaithful to Him.  It is Who He Is - LOVE!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank You for being faithful.  Thank You for loving me exactly as I am - broken and sinful.  Thank You for Your love that blesses and transforms me.  Help me to realize You are as close to me as my breath, as the beating of my heart.  I love You, Lord.  Amen.

Return to God

"Return to me, and I will return to you." (Malachi 3:7)

God does not leave us.  We leave Him each time we sin.  As our sins pile up we further separate ourselves from our God Who Is Love.

When we recognize our sins, confess them, and seek forgiveness for them God rejoices because we have returned to Him and have allowed Him to return to us.  

May we choose to walk in God’s grace, live lives guided by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and allow God to love us fully with grateful, humble hearts.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for always being there to forgive my sins.  Thank You for allowing me to return to You, to the fullness of Your love and grace.  Help me to recognize sin and choose to turn from it and walk a life of virtue. Amen.

Believing in God

"Whoever lives by believing in me will never die." (John 11:26)

How simple this is - to believe in God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  And yet, how hard to believe, especially in Jesus in Holy Eucharist.  It takes great faith to believe Jesus is truly present - body, blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist.  And if we receive Jesus in Holy Communion believing that He is truly present, entering into us, filling us with His healing love, and permeating every fiber of our beings, and transforming us into His living presence for the world we will have eternal life.  Jesus has promised that to us, but we must faithfully do our part and with a proper disposition of heart, mind, body and soul receive Him and glorify Him at the altar and within us after Communion.  May we live believing in God and in believing rise to eternal life at our deaths.

Prayer:

God - I believe in You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  I believe You come to me in Holy Eucharist.  I believe that You fill me to overflowing with Your presence and Your love when I receive You in Holy Communion.  Transform me every time I receive You into Your living presence for the world. Thank You, Lord for coming to me. Thank You, for loving me. Thank You for transforming me. Amen.

“Apart from the cross, there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.”

- St. Rose of Lima

Litany of the Holy Cross

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy upon us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us.
God the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, have mercy upon us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy upon us.

Christ Jesus, laden with the Cross and led to Calvary, have mercy upon us.
Christ Jesus, nailed to the Cross, have mercy upon us.
Christ Jesus, raised up on the Cross, have mercy upon us.
Christ Jesus, obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross, have mercy upon us.
Christ Jesus, bearing our sins in thine own Body on the Tree, have mercy upon us.
Christ Jesus, by whose stripes we are healed, have mercy upon us.

By thine Agony and Bloody Sweat, Good Lord, deliver us.
By thy buffetings and stripes, Good Lord, deliver us.
By thy Crown of Thorns, Good Lord, deliver us.
By thy Cross and Passion, Good Lord, deliver us.
By the anguish of thy Sacred Heart upon the Cross, Good Lord, deliver us.
By thy most precious Death, Good Lord, deliver us.

We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, that we may die unto sin and live unto righteousness, we beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord.
That we may take up our cross daily and follow thee, we beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord.
That we may perfectly know thee, the Crucified, we beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord.
That we may never crucify thee afresh, we beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord.
That being made partakers of thy sufferings, we may share also in thy consolations, we beseech thee to hear us, Good Lord.

Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

Let us pray.

O Lord Jesus Christ, our merciful High Priest, who on the Cross didst offer to the Father a pure offering, to reconcile sinners unto God by the infinite merits of thy Life, thy Passion and thy Death; give us grace, we beseech thee, to die to the world, and live to thee alone, and finally depart in peace, through thy merits; who lives and reigns ever, one God, world without end.  Amen.

The Glory of God

"Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" (John 11:40)

If you believe, truly believe in God, in all He has promised, and in all He has done for us, including giving us His body and blood in Holy Eucharist, His forgiveness by His death, and the gift of opening Heaven to us through His resurrection you will see the glory of God on earth and for all eternity in Heaven.

God allows us to see Him in all His glory in His works, His miracles, His creation, in His true presence in Holy Eucharist while we walk through this life.  And if we truly believe in God and live according to our belief, doing His will each day, we will be blessed with eternal life in Heaven.  How awesome will it be to be united with God in all His glory for all eternity?

Prayer:

Lord, open my eyes to see Your glory in the world around me.  Open my heart to believe more fully in Your promises and in Your presence in Holy Eucharist.  Help me to live according to Your laws and my belief in You so that I may spend eternity resting in Your grace, glorifying You. Amen.

"So great a love has our Heavenly Mother for us, that she deserves our gratitude, and that gratitude should be shown by at least meditating upon, and pitying her in her sorrows."

St. Alphonsus Liguori

“The rich man is not one who is in possession of much, but one who gives much.”

—	St. John Chrysostom

“The soul is more precious than the whole world!”

—	St. John Chrysostom

Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows

V. Lord, have mercy on us.
R. Christ, have mercy on us.
V. Lord, have mercy on us. 
Christ, hear us.
R. Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of the Crucified, pray for us.
Mother most sorrowful, pray for us.
Mother most tearful, pray for us.
Motherafflicted, pray for us.
Mother forsaken, pray for us.
Mother bereft of thy Son, pray for us.
Mother pierced with the sword, pray for us. 
Mother consumed with grief, pray for us. 
Mother filled with anguish, pray for us.
Mirror of patience, pray for us.
Rock of constancy, pray for us.
Joy of the afflicted, pray for us.
Ark of the desolate, pray for us.
Refuge of the abandoned, pray for us.
Shield of the oppressed, pray for us.
Conqueror of the incredulous, pray for us.
Solace of the wretched, pray for us.
Medicine of the sick, pray for us.
Help of the faint, pray for us.
Strength of the weak, pray for us.
Haven of the shipwrecked, pray for us.
Calmer of tempests, pray for us.
Companion of the sorrowful, pray for us.
Treasure of the Faithful, pray for us.
Theme of Prophets, pray for us.
Staff of the Apostles, pray for us.
Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.
Light of Confessors, pray for us.
Pearl of Virgins, pray for us.
Comfort of Widows, pray for us.
Joy of all Saints, pray for us.

Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world.
Spare us, O Lord.Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world.
Hear us, O Lord.Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world.
Have mercy upon us.
Let us pray.

Imprint, O Lord, thy wounds upon our hearts, that we may read therein sorrow and love; sorrow to endure all suffering for thee; love to despise all love but thine; who lives and reigns, world without end, Amen.

O God, in whose Passion, according to the prophecy of Simeon, a sword of grief pierced through the most sweet soul of Thy glorious Blessed Virgin Mother Mary: grant that we, who celebrate the memory of her Sorrows, may obtain the happy effect of Thy Passion, Who lives and reigns world without end. Amen.