Tag: thejesusprayer

Posted in Holy Name PRAYERS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, The HOLY NAME

Catholic Devotion for JanuaryThe Month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Catholic Devotion for January
The Month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS

“Oh Most Sacred Name,
Name of peace,
Balsam of life,
which is the centre of all the sighs,
of the most fervent lovers of Jesus.
The Sign of those who truly love Jesus
is to bear Jesus imprinted in the heart
and to name often and with devotion,
the Most Holy Name of Jesus.”

St Leonard of Port Maurice (1676-1751)

Very early on, Christians came to understand, that the very Name of Jesus had great power, and the recitation of His Name, was itself, a prayer. This short prayer is a combination of that early Christian practice and the prayer offered by the publican in the parable of the pharisee and the publican (Luke 18:9-14).
It is perhaps the most popular prayer among Eastern Christians, both Orthodox and Catholic.

The Word of God:
“Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” – Luke 18:9-14

And so we say the Jesus Prayer:

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
have mercy on me, a sinner.”

The Second Council of Lyons in 1274 decreed that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow; whenever that glorious name is recalled, especially during the Sacred Mysteries of the Mass, everyone should bow the knees of his heart, which he can do even by a bow of his head.”

It may very well be that the custom of bowing the head at the name of Jesus has passed out of general use, as have other laudable customs, in recent times but, that does not prevent us personally, from continuing to live it and passing on to our children this ancient custom.

At the mention of the Most Holy Name, BOW YOUR HEAD and in private prayer, make an ACT of REPARATION, at the misuse of the MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS.

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Quote/s of the Day – 2 July – I am a sinner

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Quote/s of the Day – 2 July – “Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Readings: Genesis 23: 1-4, 19; 24: 1-8, 62-67, Psalms 106: 1b-2, 3-4a, 4b-5, Matthew 9: 9-13

“It is not the healthy
who are in need of the physician
but those who are sick”

Matthew 9:12

“… Veiled in a human body,
He was able to communicate with humans.
He who wanted to assist the guilty
hides the fact that He is a Judge.
He who did not deny dignity to faithful servants,
conceals his Lordship.
He who desired the weak
to be embraced by a parent’s love,
covers His Majesty.”

St Peter Chrysologus (c 400-450)
“Doctor of Homilies”
Father and Doctor of the Church

” Indeed, the instant you say:
“I have sinned against the Lord”,
the response is given you:
“Your sins are forgiven” (Mt 9:2).
… Only do not keep away, or distance yourself,
from He who has chosen you to sing
and pray but all your life long,
remain close to Him,
either through pure confidence,
or by a holy audacity and courageous confession.”

John of Karpathos (7th Century) Bishop

“My beloved Redeemer,
how much did it cost You to raise me from the ruin,
which I brought on myself through my sins?
What can I do without Your grace?
I can do nothing but pray
that You will help me
but even this prayer comes
from the merits of Your suffering and death!
O my Jesus, help me!”

St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most zealous Doctor

“Even if we are unfaithful servants
and are covered with the leprosy of sin,
let us go to Him and He will heal us.
Even if we have deserved Hell a thousand times,
let us shed tears of repentance at His feet
as Magdalen did and,
He will give us His forgiveness and His peace.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

“Lord Jesus Christ,Son of God,
Have Mercy on me, a sinner.”

(Cf Luke 18:13)

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, LENT 2020, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, The WILL of GOD, The WORD, Uncategorized

Lenten Reflection – 13 March – Lord, have mercy on us.

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Lenten Reflection – 13 March – Friday of the Second Week of Lent, Readings: Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28, Psalm 105:16-21, Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

“Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.”

Daily Meditation:
“God planted the vineyard of the human race when at the first he formed Adam (Gn 2:7) and chose the fathers.   Then he let it out to husbandmen through the gift of the Law passed on to Moses.   He hedged it round about, that is, he marked out the land they were to cultivate; he built a tower, that is, he chose Jerusalem;  he dug a winepress, that is, he prepared those who were to receive the prophetic Spirit.   And he sent them prophets prior to the Babylonian exile and then, after the exile, others again in even greater number to seek the fruits, saying to the :  “Cleanse your ways and
your doings” (Jer 7:3);   “Execute just judgment and “Each one act with pity and compassion towards his brother.   Do not oppress the widow, the orphan, the stranger or the poor, and let none of you treasure up evil against his brother in your hearts” (Zac 7:9-10)   “Wash, make yourselves clean, put away evil from your hearts; learn to do good, seek judgment, protect the oppressed” (Is 1:16-17).

See by what preachings the prophets sought the fruits of righteousness.   But last of all He sent to those unbelievers His own Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, whom those wicked husbandmen slew and cast out of the vineyard.   That is why God entrusted it – no longer hedged around but thrown open throughout all the world – to other husbandmen, who would render the fruits in due season.   The elect tower is raised everywhere in all its beauty, for everywhere the Church now shines and everywhere the winepress is dug because everywhere are they, who receive the Spirit of God.

That is why the Lord said to His disciples, to make us become good workmen:  “Take heed to yourselves and watch at all times lest your hearts be overcharged with debauchery, drunkenness and the cares of this life”  (Lk 21:34.36);  “Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning, and be like those who wait for their master to come” (Lk 12:35-36).” … Saint Irenaeus (c 130-c 202) Bishop, Martyr, Theologian – Against the heresies, IV 36, 2-3

“Therefore, I say to you,
the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and be given to a people that will produce its fruit.”
— Matthew 21lent-friday-of-the-second-week-matthew-21-43-22-march-2019 and 13 march 2020

Intercessions:
Let us pray to Christ our Saviour, who redeemed us by His death and resurrection::
Lord, have mercy on us.
You went up to Jerusalem to suffer and so enter into Your glory,
– bring Your Church to the Passover feast of heaven.
Lord, have mercy on us.
You were lifted high on the cross and pierced by the soldier’s lance,
– heal our wounds.
Lord, have mercy on us.
You made the cross the tree of life,
– give its fruit to those reborn in baptism.
Lord, have mercy on us.
On the cross You forgave the repentant thief,
– through which we are cleansed of our sins.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!

the jesus prayer 24 sept 2019

Closing Prayer:
Loving God, Caring parent,
I am a child who so often turns my back
on Your love.
Please accept my small acts of sorrow today
and help to release me from the self-absorption
that closes my heart to You.
As I journey through Lent,
let me remember the feast You have prepared for me
in the resurrection
and let me be filled with thanks to You.

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

“Let us serve God but let us do so according to His will.
He will then take the place of everything in our lives.
He will be our strength and the reward of our labours.”

St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)let us serve god but let us do so according to his will st vincent de paul 13 march 2020

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, MARTYRS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, SAINT of the DAY

Quote of the Day – 12 November – St Josaphat “I am ready to die….”

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Quote of the Day – 12 November – The Memorial of St Josaphat Kuncewicz (1584-1623) Martyr

“I am ready to die for the holy union,
for the supremacy of Saint Peter
and of his successor,
the Supreme Pontiff.”i-am-ready-to-die-st-josaphat-12-nov-2017 and 2019

St Josaphat’s favourite devotional exercise was to make prostrations in which the head touches the ground, saying, the Jesus prayer:

‘Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of God,
have mercy on me,
a sinner.”

St Josaphat Kuncewicz (1584-1623)

Pope Pius XI’s “He gave his life for the unity of the Church” is here:

https://anastpaul.com/2018/11/12/thought-for-the-day-12-november-he-gave-his-life-for-the-unity-of-the-church-the-memorial-of-st-josaphat-1584-1623-bishop-and-martyr/

the jesus prayer - st josaphat's fav - 12 nov 2019.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY

Thought for the Day – 27 October – ‘In the first place, be in the last…’

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Thought for the Day – 27 October – Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Luke 18:9–14

Blessed Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916)

Always descend, always humble yourself.

Hermit and Missionary in the Sahara

Retreat, Holy Land, Lent 1898in-the-first-place-be-spiritually-in-the-last-bl-charles-foucauld-1-sept-2019 and 27 oct 2019.jpg

“[Christ:]   See [My] devotion to men and consider what your own should be.   See that humility for man’s good and learn to humble yourself to do good… to make yourself small to win others, not to fear to go lower or lose your rights when it is a matter of doing good, not to believe that in descending you make yourself powerless to do good.  To the contrary, by descending you imitate Me, by descending you make use of the same means, for the love of humankind, that I Myself employed, by descending you walk in My way and, therefore, in the truth and you are in the best place to lay hold of life and give it to others…  By my incarnation I place Myself on a level with creatures, by My baptism …on that of sinners, descent, humility…  Always descend, always humble yourself.

Let those who are first always stand in the last place, through humility and in disposition of spirit, with an attitude of descent and service.   Love of men, humility, the last place, in the last place, so long as the divine will does not call you to another, since then you must obey.   Obedience before all else, conformity to God’s will.   In the first place, be spiritually in the last, through humility, occupy it in the spirit of service, telling yourself, that you are only there, to serve others and lead them to salvation.”

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

have mercy on me a sinner!lord jesus christ son of god have mercy on me a sinner the jesus prayer - 27 oct 2019.jpg

Posted in DIVINE MERCY, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on JUSTICE, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 24 October – ‘The requirement to live “underway.”

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One Minute Reflection – 24 October – Wednesday of the Twenty Ninth week in Ordinary Time Year C, Gospel: Luke 12:39-48 and The Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer

“Everyone to whom much is given, of him will much be required”…Luke 12:48luke 12 48 - everyone to whom much is given - 23 oct 2019.jpg

REFLECTION – “In various ways the Gospel modifies the challenge to Christians to live in a constant state of departing.
The more richly God has endowed Christians with gifts and thereby with assignments, the more God varies the requirement to live “underway.”
God’s assignments are carried out best if His servant, never loses sight of the fact, that he might be called to account at any moment – in other words – if every temporal moment is lived and shaped directly in and toward the light of eternity.   If he forgets this immediacy, he has forgotten the content of his earthly mission and the justice and righteousness it incorporates (“he begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants”).   It now becomes clear, that this justice-righteousness, can only be retained if the believer looks beyond the world to the requirements of eternal justice-righteousness, which is not merely an “idea” but is the living Lord, for whose appearance, all of the world history waits!” … Cardinal Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988)luke 12 48 everyone to whom much is given - to live underway - hans urs von balthasar 23 oct 2019.jpg

PRAYER – Heavenly Father, help me to keep my death constantly before my eyes, for this is my final account. pray You for a holy life that my death may be holy and that I may come to You and live for all eternity with You. hen my hour is come, bid me come to You, Lord. ear the prayers of the Blessed Virgin, our Mother and your saints, who lived each moment of their lives for the glory of Your Kingdom. e ask this through Christ, our Lord with the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!the jesus prayer - 23 oct 2019.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DISCIPLESHIP, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on TRUST in GOD

Thought for the Day – 8 October – Reaching out towards God – St Gertrude

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Thought for the Day – 8 October – Tuesday of the Twenty Seventh week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Luke 10:38–42

Reaching out towards God

Saint Gertrude the Great of Helfta (1256-1301)
The Herald of Divine Love, Book III, SC 143

On a certain occasion, while she was interiorly worrying that she was unable to feel as much desire as was fitting to the glory of God, Gertrude received this divine explanation: that God is fully satisfied when a person, without being able to do more, is in a state of wanting, if possible, to have great desires.   Just as great as they would like to have, so they are before God.   In a heart filled with the desire, of wanting to desire, God finds greater delights to dwell, than we do in the flowering of early spring.

On another occasion, due to illness, she had been less attentive to God for several days when, regaining consciousness of this fault, she started to confess this negligence to the Lord with a pious humility.   And as she was fearing she would have to bear a long delay before recovering the former sweetness of the divine presence, all at once, in a flash, she was aware that God was bending towards her with a truly loving embrace with these words:  “Daughter, you are always with me and all that is mine, is yours” (cf. Lk 15:31). She understood by this reply that, even though, through the weakness of nature, a person might sometimes omit to direct their attention to God, nevertheless, in His merciful kindness, He Himself does not neglect to hold all our works, as worthy of an eternal reward, provided only, that we do not deliberately turn away from Him and that we always repent of everything, for which our consciences reproach us.

“You are always with me and all that is mine, is yours”

The Elder Brother’s Prayer

Teach me, my Lord,
to be sweet and gentle in all the events of life,
in disappointments,
in the thoughtlessness of those I trusted,
in the unfaithfulness of those on whom I relied.
Let me put myself aside,
to think of the happiness of others,
to hide my little pains and heartaches,
so that I may be the only one to suffer from them.
Teach me to profit by the suffering
that comes across my path.
Let me so use it that it may make me
patient, not irritable.
That it may make me broad in my forgiveness,
not narrow, haughty and overbearing.
May no one be less good
for having come within my influence.
No one less pure, less true, less kind,
less noble for having been a fellow traveller
in our journey toward Eternal Life.
As I go my rounds from one distraction to another,
let me whisper from time to time,
a word of love to Thee.
May my life be lived in the supernatural,
full of power for good,
and strong in its purpose of sanctity.
Amenprodigal the elder brother's prayer - beautiful fantastic 8 october 2019 - martha amry luke 10 42.jpg

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!the jesus prayer - 3 jan 2018.jpg

Posted in GOD is LOVE, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on FREE WILL, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SIN, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 24 September – An Affair of the Will – C S Lewis

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Thought for the Day – 24 September – Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth week in Ordinary Time, Year C, Gospel: Luke 8:19-21

An Affair of the Will
C S Lewis (1898-1963)

“In this is love, not that we loved God
but that he loved us
and sent his Son ….”

1 John 4:10

On the whole, God’s love for us, is a much safer subject to think about, than our love for Him.
Nobody can always have devout feelings and even if we could, feelings are not what God principally cares about.
Christian love, either toward God, or toward man, is an affair of the will.
If we are trying to do His Will, we are obeying the commandment, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God.”   He will give us the feelings of love if He pleases.   We cannot create them for ourselves and we must not demand them as a right.
But the great thing to remember, is that, though our feelings come and go, His Love for us does not.   It is not wearied by our sins or our indifference and, therefore, it is quite relentless in its determination that we shall be cured of those sins, at whatever cost to us, at whatever cost to Him!

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

have mercy on me a sinner!

the jesus prayer 24 sept 2019.jpg

Posted in ARMOUR of CHRIST, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The HOLY CROSS, The WORD

Thought for the Day – 8 September – ‘The heavenly trumpet of Christ urges the soldier to battle..’ St Augustine

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Thought for the Day – 8 September – Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, Luke 14:25–33

“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”… Luke 14:26

Saint Augustine comments on this verse from the Gospel proclaimed during today’s Mass:

“The Lord gives the signal for us to stand guard in camp and to build the tower from which we may recognise and ward off the enemy of our eternal life.   The heavenly trumpet of Christ urges the soldier to battle and his mother holds him back.

What does she say or what argument does she give?   Perhaps is it those ten months when you lay in her womb and the pangs of birth and the burden of rearing you?   You must kill this with the sword of salvation.   You must destroy this in your mother that you may find her in life eternal.   Remember, you must hate this in her if you love her, if you are a recruit of Christ and have laid the foundations of the tower.   Passers-by may not say, “This man began to build and was not able to finish.”   That is earthly affection.   It still has the ring of the “old man.”   Christian warfare invites us to destroy this earthly affection both in ourselves and in our relatives.   Of course, no one should be ungrateful to his parents or mock the list of their services to him, since by them he was brought into this life, cherished and fed.   A man should always pay his family duty but let these things keep their place where higher duties do not call.

Mother church is also the mother of your mother.   She conceived you both, in Christ. Know that, her Spouse took human flesh, that you might not be attached to fleshly things. Know that, all the things for which your mother scolds you were undertaken by the eternal Word, that you might not be subject to the weakness of flesh.   Ponder his humiliations, scourging and death, even the death of the cross.”   (Letter 243)

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy on me a sinner!

Amenthe jesus prayer say it 1000 times per day 8 sept 2019

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, HOLY WEEK, HOLY WEEK 2019, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, STATIONS of the CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The STATIONS of the CROSS

The Stations of the Cross – 19 April – Stations Ten and Eleven

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The Stations of the Cross – 19 April – Friday of the Passion of the Lord

Meditations on the Stations of the Cross
By Blessed John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

Begin with an Act of Contrition

V. Adoramus te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi.
R. Quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum.
V. We adore You, O Christ and we bless You.
R. Because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

The Tenth Station
Lord Jesus, You are stripped of Your garments

They strip your garments off You and as they do, Your blood encrusted wounds are ripped open again and start to bleed once again and in Your pain, they mock You in Your nakedness, thinking that they are revealing how pitiful You are.
What they don’t see is how God exalted man by becoming man.
Taking Your clothes, the soldiers want to leave You nothing but You are God and cannot be made nothing.
They want You to be shamed in your nakedness, as Adam and Eve were shamed but You are God and cannot be shamed.
They want to reveal Your guilt but instead only reveal Your innocence.
They try to take away your dignity and every last bit of You but You are God, You alone are everything.tenth station jesus is tripped - bl john henry newman - 19 april 2019

The Eleventh Station
Lord Jesus, You are nailed to the cross

Wounded, mangled, bleeding, dying, You consent to the violent attack of the hammer. Patient in Your agony, You allow the cruel tearing of Your body to make me one with You.
Pilate writes “Jesus Christ, King of the Jews” to mock You.   If only He knew how right He was!   Onto that wood is nailed the Messiah, the Christ, the King.
You give me Bread of life to fill me, even as You receive the nails caused by my sin.
You are constantly bombarded by sin, all the rage, all the hatred lust and greed and incessant lies of all mankind through all the ages bearing on You.   You are bombarded with poison and still You love.
Because of Your love, You have holes ripped into Your hands and Your feet and You continue to bleed for me.the eleventh station jesus is nailed to the cross bl john henry newman 19 april 2019

V. Have mercy on us, O Lord.
R. Have mercy on us.

I love You, Lord Jesus,
my love above all things,
I repent with my
whole heart for having
offended You.
Never permit me
to separate myself
from You again
grant that I may love always
and then do with me
what You will.
(St Alphonsus Liguori)

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a Sinner.

the jesus prayer - good friday 19 april 2019.jpg

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The HOLY NAME, Uncategorized

JANUARY is the Month of THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS

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Monthly Catholic Devotions:

JANUARY is the Month of THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS

The month of January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus.   “In the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth and under the earth” (Phil 2:10). Christ’s name is chosen in heaven and the Angel Gabriel announces it when he informs the Blessed Virgin of the incarnation:  “Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus”.   It is a name that has marvellous implications, for it means “saviour.”   The very name bespeaks the magnitude of His mission, His infinite love, a love that will cause Him to offer Himself up for us.1-january-2018-the-most-holy-name

The name of Jesus is the sweetest of all names and He who bears it is most worthy of all love.   He who calls Jesus his friend can be assured that this friend is the most devoted and unselfish of all friends.

Jesus is our all.   In His name we may pray to the Father with assurance of being heard. In His name the Church administers all her sacraments.   In His name she offers all her prayers and blesses homes, the fields and the sick.   In the name of Jesus she casts out evil spirits and at the hour of our death bids us, “Go forth, Christian soul.”   She assures us that whoever shall call upon this name will be saved.   When our soul has departed this life to seek its eternal home, the Church asks in the name of Jesus, “Eternal rest give unto him, O Lord.”…Dom Benedict Baur O.S.B. (1877-1963)

The very Angels in Heaven bow at the name of Jesus.   And even the demons in Hell.  Let us do likewise, this old Catholic practice still in use in many countries should be a standard, like the Sign of the Cross.    bow-your-head.jpg

This month, why not take a few minutes to memorise the Jesus Prayer and pray it during those moments of the day when you are between activities, or travelling, or simply taking a rest? Keeping Christ’s Name always on our lips is a good way to ensure that we draw ever nearer to Him.

THE JESUS PRAYER
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinnerthe jesus prayer - 3 jan 2018

Posted in ADVENT, DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, QUOTES of the SAINTS, The WORD

Advent and Christmas Wisdom with St Alphonsus Liguori 12 December – Wednesday of the Second week of Advent

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Advent and Christmas Wisdom with St Alphonsus Liguori

12 December – Wednesday of the Second week of Advent

Jesus is charged with the sins of the whole world

“Consider that the divine Word, in taking on the human form, chose not only to take the form of a sinner but also, to bear the sins of all humanity.   What must have been the anguish of the heart of the infant Jesus when He discovered that divine justice insisted that He make full satisfaction for each sin!   Our Lord once showed to St Catherine of Siena, the hideousness of single venial sin and such was the dread and sorrow of the saint, that she fell senseless to the gound!   What then, must have been the suffering of the infant Jesus when He saw before Him, the immense array of all the crimes of history?

My beloved Jesus, I who offended You am not worthy of Your favours.   Help me, O Lord, to make that act of contrition, which I now intend to do.   You do not deserve to be offended, my Jesus but rather, to be loved. My blessed Redeemer, help me.”

Scripture
“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:29come-to-me-all-who-are-burdened-matthew-11-28-29-jesus-asks-us-to-go-to-him-pope-benedict-19-july-2018

Prayer

O Lord,
we come to You.
We are burdened and struggling.
Our sins afflict and wound You
and ourselves.
We love You Lord Jesus,
our love above all things.
We repent with our whole hearts.
Never permit us to separate
ourselves from You again.
Grant that we may always love You
and sin no more.
O Jesus, our holy Saviour,
in Your gracious kindness,
supply what is wanting in us.
Lift us up on Your wings, O Lord.
Amen

Advent Action
Our Scripture presents us with the anchor that never rusts, the eagle that always carries us, the lamb that lifts our burdens.   In the midst of the Advent rush, let us rely on the Lord to renew our strength and to carry our burdens.   Let us take a break to turn our hearts each day to Him, to stop and rest and pray, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”the jesus prayer 3 - 13 feb 2018 - shrove tuesday

advent with st alphonsus - mt 11 29 wed 2nd week take my yoke 12 dec 2018

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DEVOTIO, MARTYRS, MORNING Prayers, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY

Quote of the Day – 12 November – The Memorial of St Josaphat (1584-1623) Martyr

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote of the Day – 12 November – The Memorial of St Josaphat (1584-1623) Martyr

St Josaphat’s favourite devotional exercise was to make prostrations in which the head touches the ground, saying, the Jesus prayer:

‘Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of God,
have mercy on me,
a sinner.”

St Josaphat (1584-1623)the jesus prayer 3 - 13 feb 2018 - shrove tuesday

the jesus prayer - st josaphat's favourite - 12 nov 2018

Posted in DEVOTIO, LENT, MORNING Prayers, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on CONVERSION, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 13 February – “Shrove Tuesday”

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 13 February – “Shrove Tuesday”

“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.”…John 17:14-15shrove tuesday 1

REFLECTION – “In this sense, then, the world is everything that is opposed to our Lord Jesus Christ, that refuses to recognise Him and that resists His divine guidance.   Those false maxims which tend to weaken the love of God in our souls;  which recommended the vanities that fasten our hearts to this present life;  which cry down everything that can raise us above our weaknesses or vices;  which decoy and gratify our corrupt nature by dangerous pleasures, which, far from helping us to the attainment of our last end, only mislead us-all these are ‘the world.'”…Abbot Dom Prosper Gueranger (The Liturgical Year)

the world is everything - abbott gueranger - 13 feb 2018 shrove tuesday

PRAYER – All-provident Lord, my God, You are my Father and in You is all my hope and trust. Teach me to live according to Your precepts, knowing that through them I will attain virtue and thus be filled with true joy.   Help me to love Your Creation but never to succumb to the enticements of the material world which constantly beckon and attempt to seduce my love.   Grant us all strength during our Lenten journey to minimise the snares of the ‘world’ around us and to open our hearts only to You.   Through our Saviour, who came to teach us and lead us, in unity with the Holy Spirit, one God, amen.the jesus prayer 3 - 13 feb 2018 - shrove tuesday

Posted in CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CHRISTMASTIDE!, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY NAME

Monthly Catholic Devotions: JANUARY is the Month of THE MOST HOLY NAME OF JESUS

Posted on by AnaStpaul

1 January – Catholic Devotion of the Month – The Most Holy Name of Jesus

In Philippians 2, St Paul tells us that “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”   From the earliest days of Christianity, Christians have known the great power of Jesus’ Holy Name.   As the once-popular hymn commanded:

All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ Name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.

Small wonder, then, that the Church sets aside the first month of the year in honour of the Holy Name of Jesus. hrough this devotion, the Church reminds us of the power of Christ’s Name and encourages us to pray in His Name.  In our society, of course, we hear His Name uttered quite often but all too frequently, it is used in a curse or blasphemy.  In the past, Christians would often make the Sign of the Cross when they heard Christ’s Name uttered in such a manner and that’s a practice that would be worthwhile to revive.   

What has happened to the tradition of honouring the Holy Name of Jesus?

By way of concretising respect for the name of Jesus in a formal way the Second Council of Lyons in 1274 decreed that “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow; whenever that glorious name is recalled, especially during the sacred mysteries of the Mass, everyone should bow the knees of his heart, which he can do even by a bow of his head”.
As regards what is to be done in Mass today, the General Instruction of the Roman Missal says: “A bow of the head is made when the three Divine Persons are named together and at the names of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the saint in whose honour Mass is being celebrated” (GIRM 275).
The importance of honouring the holy name of Jesus is seen too in the feast of that name, which has been celebrated, at least at the local level, since the end of the 15th century.   The feast was inserted into the universal calendar by Pope Innocent XIII in 1721 and is now celebrated on 3 January.

Given the widespread misuse of the names of God and Jesus today in ordinary life, as well as on television, in films and in other forms of entertainment, it is especially important to do all we can to restore respect for the name of God.
Bowing our head when we pronounce or hear the name of Jesus is a good way to do this.
Also important is to make an internal act of reparation whenever we hear the name of God or Jesus blasphemed.
It should hurt us that the object of our love is mistreated in this way.
It may very well be that the custom of bowing the head at the name of Jesus will pass out of general use, as have other laudable customs in recent times but that does not prevent us personally from continuing to live it and passing on to our children this ancient custom.

LET US EACH ONE BRING IT BACK for the very Angels in Heaven bow at the name of Jesus. And even the demons in Hell.BOW YOUR HEAD!

1 january 2018 - the most holy name

Another good practice that we could take to heart during this Month of the Holy Name of Jesus is the recitation of the Jesus Prayer. his prayer is as popular among Eastern Christians, both Catholic and Orthodox, as the rosary is among Roman Catholics but it’s not as well known in the West.   This month, why not take a few minutes to memorise the Jesus Prayer and pray it during those moments of the day when you are between activities, or travelling, or simply taking a rest?   Keeping Christ’s Name always on our lips is a good way to ensure that we draw ever nearer to Him.

THE JESUS PRAYER
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinnerthe jesus prayer - 1 jan 2018