St. Andrew Pray for Us!

Lord, You called St. Andrew the Apostle to preach the Gospel and to guide Your Church in faith. May he always be a friend to us and help us with his prayers. Amen.

http://www.oblatesusa.org

"Let nothing disturb you; all things are passing, and nothing remains but God."
~ St. Teresa of Avila

Roses

I have two rose  bushes planted in my flower bed outside. One was here when Mike and I moved in and the other was given to us when Mike began hospice. Neither Mike nor I were good with plants so I planted it right away outside figuring if I planted it properly, God would take care of the bush.

 

One day when Father came over to administer communion to Mike, he was unable to consume the Eucharist. When asked what to do with the Eucharist, Father said to  bury it. I thought the perfect spot would be next to new rose bush.

 

Over the years this rose bush has grown...and still now, with a couple light snow falls, 30+/- degree weather, it is still blooming! Regardless of the reason why, the beauty of the roses, (not to my avail...all to God's handiwork) is enough to make me smile each day and appreciate how good God is and how magnificent his design is of all creation.

 

 

Poem to the Virgin Mary: Mystical Rose with Prayer

Mystical Rose

THERE is no rose of such virtue
As is the rose that bear Jesu:
Alleluia.

For in this rose containéd was
Heaven and earth in little space:
Res Miranda.

By that rose we may well see
There be one God in Persons Three:
Pares forma.

The angels sang, the shepherds too:
Gloria in Excelsis Deo:
Gaudeamus.

Leave we all this worldly mirth
And follow we this joyful birth:
Transeamus.

By an unknown Medieval Author

Res Miranda, thing to be marvelled at. Pares forma, equal in nature. Gaudeamus, let us rejoice. Transeamus, let us go hence.

 

 

A Prayer

Mystical Rose, Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, I venerate thee that I might honor thy Divine Son and thereby win His mercy. I ask for thy help in the clemency of thy Maternal Heart in all confidence that I will be heard.

Hail Mary . . .

Mystical Rose, Mother of the Savior, Queen of the Holy Rosary and Mother of the Church, Christ's Mystical Body, I beseech thee on behalf of a war-torn world enslaved by sin, be merciful to those about to be lost for all eternity, especially those who have no one pray for them, and pray for us, your children through consecration.

Hail Mary . . .

Mystical Rose, Queen of the Apostles and the clergy, grant to priests hearts docile to thee and thy Motherly Heart, holy zeal for souls and a love of poverty in union with thee and Jesus Christ. I beg thee on behalf of those priests who know you little and seek not thy friendship in the Holy Rosary: pour on them thy mercy and solicitude.

Hail Mary . . .

Hail Holy Queen . . .

Mystical Rose,
Help of Christians, pray for us.
Mystical Rose of the Immaculate Conception,
protectress of priests and the consecrated,
win them the favor of Jesus Christ! Amen.

http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/mystical-rose.htm

Daily Prayer

God our Father, bless all our thoughts, words and actions this day. May we show by our actions the faith we hold in our hearts. Keep us ever faithful to You. Amen.

 

www.oblatesusa.org

Eretz Yisrael

 Cardinal O'Brien left today to travel to  Eretz Yisrael, the land of Israel.

 

Our Father in Heaven, Rock and Redeemer of the people of Israel;

Bless the State of Israel with its promise of redemption.

Shield it with Your love;

spread over it the shelter of Your peace.

Guide its leaders and advisers with Your light and Your truth.

Help them with Your good counsel.

Strengthen the hands of those who defend our Holy Land.

Deliver them; crown their efforts with triumph.

Bless the land with peace, and its inhabitants with lasting joy.

And let us say:

Amen.

(translation from Siddur Sim Shalom)

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Black Friday...here's the best deal I've found! As many map out shopping routes for Friday, check out http://masstimes.org/ for a local parish by you. Attending mass is free and a gift that God has blessed us with. The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word, Thanksgiving, how fitting!

 

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever. ~Psalm 136.1

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer

Loving God,

Who created and sustains the universe,

Who loved us all into being,

and who gives us every good thing,

We thank you for the blessings that you bring into our lives.

 

We thank you for the gift of life itself,

Which you gave us in our mothers' wombs.

We thank you for the fresh start of each new day,

Which is a sign of your renewing and creative love.

And we thank you for our friends, our families,

our neighbors and our coworkers,

Whose human love is an image of your divine care.

 

Increase our gratitude this Thanksgiving Day,

and help us to recognize all the good things that we have,

both large and small.

And magnify our desire to share what we have with others,

So that they too may be grateful to you,

Loving God.

Amen.

James Martin S.J.

"My vocation is love!" ~Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

The Presentation Of The Blessed Virgin Mary

Virgin Mary, most loving mother,
please give me a heart like yours,
firm in its attachments
and of unshakable loyalty,
an affectionate heart
that radiates a discreet tenderness
and that is open,
a pure heart
that lives in the flesh
without being burdened by it,
a generous heart,
quick in forgetting its hurts
and always ready to forgive,
a considerate heart
that hides a great deal of love
in the smallest details,
in the most humble service,
a magnanimous heart
that rejoices in other's triumphs
and shares in their sorrows,
a heart that condemns no one,
and does not tire of being confided to,
a heart taken up by Christ,
totally given to his infinite love. Amen.

- Traditional

http://www.livingwithchrist.us/

Let me love you, my Lord and my God, and see myself as I really am: a pilgrim in this world, a Christian called to respect and love all those lives I touch, those in authority over me or those under my authority, my friends and my enemies. — from Envoy for Christ

Daily Prayer

We often fail to take time to appreciate the splendor of creation, Lord. As we experience the glorious season of autumn, let us make time to give You thanks for the world You have made for us. Amen.

www.oblatesusa.org

St. Elizabeth of Hungary Pray for Us!

St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Give me the grace, Lord,
to be strong, prudent,
just and wise in all things.
Give me an exact faith,
generous love
and unshakeable trust in you.
Fill me with the spirit
of intelligence and wisdom.
Let me always be
considerate of other people.
O perfect and eternal light,
enlighten me!

- Alcuin of York
http://www.livingwithchrist.us/

Blessings

Thank you God for blessing me.

For blessing me with my life,

For blessing me with your love.

For blessing me with the gift of the Eucharist,

which conforms me to your image.

Thank you for blessing me with the gift of reconciliation,

and forgiving me of my sins.

Your mercy is never-ending.

Thank you for blessing me with family and friends,

both the living and the dead.

Who continue to support me through love and prayer.

Thank you for blessing me with priests who bless us,

with love like Christ.

 May you grant me Lord the ability to be a blessing to others,

be it through a prayer or just a smile.

For these things and more I give you thanks and praise

all the days of my life.

Amen

"It is by the path of love, which is charity, that God draws near to us and we to God." 

~St. Albert the Great, Bishop & Doctor of the Church

Daily Prayer for Teachers

God of love,
bless those whom You have called to be teachers.
Theirs is a special vocation -
to enlighten the minds of the young
and prepare them to be the leaders of the future.
Grant them patience and perseverance, Lord,
and help them to inspire their students to greatness.
Amen.

www.oblatesusa.org

 

 

Morning Prayer

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

O God, fortify me
with the grace of your Holy Spirit
and give your peace to my soul
that I may be free
from all needless anxiety,
solicitude and worry.
Help me to desire always
that which is pleasing
and acceptable to you
so that your will
may be my will.

- St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

http://www.livingwithchrist.us/

The Lord is my light and my salvation

The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?

The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing I ask of the LORD;
this I seek:
To dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD
and contemplate his temple.

The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Psalm 27:1,4, 13-14

All Souls

Lord, for your faithful people life is changed not ended. When the body of our earthly dwelling lies in death, we gain an everlasting dwelling place in heaven. ~Preface 1 For Masses For The Dead

Solemnity of All Saints

“After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.... [One of the elders] said to me, ‘These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb’” Revelation 7:9-14

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints in which we remember and celebrate the lives of all the saints (known and unknown).What is a Saint? A Christian who has died in a state of grace. All Saints Day is a day of holy obligation in which Catholics are required to attend mass. This would also be a great time to learn about the saints! Some ideas would to be to read about the "saint of the day" you can sign-up to receive daily emails about the saints of the day, download apps on your phone or check-out this video by Fr. James Martin, SJ. Maybe you'll want to read his book, My Life With the Saints. What Saints would make your list? Any saints tucked away in your drawers?