Novena for Faithful Citizenship

Calling all Catholics!

Let us join together in praying for the upcoming election! A friend of mind sent told me of this site "Faithful Citizenship". Start this novena on September 2nd. 9 weeks before the election.

Below is a Adobe Acrobat (PDF) file that you can print out to distribute for yourself, family or church members. http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org/docs/FC_Novena.pdf

June Dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Matt. 11:29 "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."


"478 Jesus knew and loved us each and all during his life, his agony and his Passion, and gave himself up for each one of us: "The Son of God. . . loved me and gave himself for me." He has loved us all with a human heart. For this reason, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced by our sins and for our salvation, "is quite rightly considered the chief sign and symbol of that. . . love with which the divine Redeemer continually loves the eternal Father and all human beings" without exception. "
Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Communion for Forgiveness - The Sin of Judging

Communion for Forgiveness
If the unity of Christians in One Body makes the church, a sign of God in the world, and if men tend unfortunately to conflict and division by reason of their weakness, selfishness and sin, then the will to reconciliation and pardon is necessary if the Church is to make God visible in the world. Nor can this pardon, this communion in forgiveness, remain interior and invisible. It must be clearly manifest. So the mystery of the Church demands that Christians love one another in a visible and concrete way....Christ will not be visible to the world in His Church except in proportion as Christians seek peace in unity with one another and with all men. But since conflict is inevitable, unity cannot be maintained except in great difficulty, with constantly renewed sacrifice, with lucid honesty, openness, humility and readiness to ask forgiveness and to forgive.
Thomas Merton Seasons of Celebration, 216-217

The Sin of Judging - Luke 6:37-42
"Do not judge and you will not be judged; do not condemn and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven; give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for measure you give will be measure you get back,"
He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but everyone that is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you seek the speck in your neighbors eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, "Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye," when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye."

Suggested Prayer (by Thomas Merton)
Not a day goes by that I do not find myself judging and condemning the sins and failures of others. With the slightest examination of my conscience, my lack of compassion is obvious to me. Soften my judging heart, Lord. Let me see myself for who I truly am a sinner among sinners. Quiet my judging heart.

Lenten Action (by Thomas Merton)
If Lent is the Church's call to forgive and to be forgiven, how are you answering it?

"Let him take up his cross daily and follow me"

Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), Foundress of the Missionary Sisters of Charity A Gift for God: prayers and meditations

"Let him take up his cross daily and follow me"Lord,

help us to see in your crucifixion and resurrection an example of how to endure and seemingly to die in the agony and conflict of daily life, so that we may live more fully and creatively. You accepted patiently and humbly the rebuffs of human life, as well as the tortures of your crucifixion and passion. Help us to accept the pains and conflicts that come to us each day as opportunities to grow as people and become more like you. Enable us to go through them patiently and bravely, trusting that you will support us. Make us realize that it is only by frequent deaths of ourselves and our self-centred desires that we can come to live more fully; for it is only by dying with you that we can rise with you.

Writing in my blog – one of my New Year’s Resolutions

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to start writing…to my family, friends and myself. I use to journal a long time ago…before my accident. I would like to start again. I decided to write more often in my blog, and share my love for Jesus with you too.

Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord

Yesterday, we celebrated the Baptism of Jesus. Jesus shows us how the water cleanses us...and the Holy Spirit fills us with all that is Love and True. The Baptism of Jesus…is the end of the Christmas Season.

We are usually anxious to get all the Christmas decorations up and the clutter all put away. Every year, I get less and less anxious to put away all the reminders of Christmas…the Nativity scenes, the pretty trees…they all remind me of the strength of that we long for from Jesus.

I absolutely love the Advent Season, I always have, I love everything about the steps we take in preparing for the Birth of Jesus..."rebirth of love in our hearts". The gathering of family and friends, the heighten awareness of charitable actions, the music, I love the miracles we hear about on Christmas morning…that are retold over and over again.

You may be thinking, we can do these things without the Christmas Season, Yes we can! But we don't, not because we don't want to...but the hectic schedules of many can make it difficult. If we only could, we would see that “Love” being born every day.

We are given life savers during the year… the special feasts days...that touch our hearts, they open our hearts afresh to be "reborn with the Love of Jesus".

Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Christ

(the pictures above are from "Holy Card for Your Inspiration"
http://thewindowshowsitall.blogspot.com/

My brothers and sisters in Jesus...it is important to see Today's Gospel as words of trust "without seeing".

Trusting without seeing means we may not get that sign (i.e. smell, rose) from my notes and letters that I have received...they count on those signs to know they were heard from above. God wants us to trust Him without any doubts. He already gave us a sign...He gave us Jesus, who suffer and died to save us. Hang on to that sign when you are struggling with doubt, fear and longing for an answer from above...hold on the the sign of Jesus dying on the cross for us.

My precious brothers and sisters in Jesus...offer your pain, suffering, unanswered prayers to God for His purpose...for the salvation of many. Give it all to God, place it at the foot of the cross...with all of your being and leave it there.

Letter to the Romans 12,1-2. I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.

I can promise you that the words of Jesus will come back and bless you over and over again. He takes care of His children, we need to give Him our worries and TRUST HIM. The letting go is the same as you would let go if there was a fire and the relief you get when the fireman come...or the relief you get when you treading water and see the life boat coming to save you.

That is the letting go you need to do when you offer ALL THAT SUFFERING TO GOD...AS SOON AS YOU DO YOU CAN BREATHE A SIGN OF RELIEF...BECAUSE GOD TAKES OVER...HIS KNOWS YOUR HEART, YOUR TROUBLES, YOUR PAIN WITHOUT YOU SAYING A WORD...HE WILL TEND TO YOUR NEEDS AS YOU OFFER YOURSELF AND YOUR SUFFERING UP TO HIM.

Take a deep sigh of relief, as you give God all that you are hanging on too...finances, pain, sickness, brokenness of heart and mind. God will take You up in His arms and heal and bless you...Amen

For those of you who may ask me how do you know this...I know in a very small way...I have not suffered as many of you have but in my suffering my physical pain and emotional pain...when I give my pain to Jesus and tell Him to use it for His purpose...I am blessed. Jesus even blesses you in your pain...God is such a gentleman He does not even let you suffer when you decide you will for Him...He takes the pain away...the impact of the pain is no longer a focus in your heart and mind...the focus becomes Jesus. You let Him in Your heart mind, soul and body totally and completely...from there you are traveling the road that walks with Jesus...Amen.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 16,21-27. From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, "God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you." He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do." Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? Or what can one give in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct.

Thank you my precious friends and love ones for allowing me to share Jesus with you. Love, Prayerflowers

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus - Feast Day May 30

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated by the Catholic faithful on May 30, the Friday following the second Sunday of the Pentecost. The feast instituted God's infinite love for mankind by dying on the cross. This then contributed to the creation among the faithful of a powerful current of devotion which since then has grown steadily stronger.

EFFICACIOUS NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
This novena prayer was recited every day by Padre Pio for all who asked for his prayer. You are invited to recite it daily, so as to be spiritually united with the prayer of St. Pio of Pietrelcina.

I. O my Jesus, You have said "Truly I say to you, ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you." Behold I knock, I seek, and I ask for the grace of . . . .

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

II. O my Jesus, You have said, "Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in My Name, He will give it to you." Behold, in Your name, I ask the Father for the grace of . . . .

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

III. O my Jesus, You have said, "Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away, but My words willl not pass away." Encouraged by Your infallible words, I now ask for the grace of . . . .

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father...
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have mercy on us sinners, and grant us the grace which we ask of You, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Your tender mother and ours.

Say the Hail Holy Queen (Salve Regina) prayer.
Conclude with: St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us

Prayer for the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Father, we rejoice in the gifts of love we have received from the heart of Jesus your Son. Open our hearts to share his life and continue to bless us with his love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Quotable Quote on the Sacred Heart of Jesus
“In biblical language, "heart" indicates the centre of the person where his sentiments and intentions dwell. In the Heart of the Redeemer we adore God's love for humanity, his will for universal salvation, his infinite mercy. Practising devotion to the Sacred Heart of Christ therefore means adoring that Heart which, after having loved us to the end, was pierced by a spear and from high on the Cross poured out blood and water, an inexhaustible source of new life” - Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus 5 June 2005