Blessed Kuriakos Elias Chavara

1805-1871 - Optional Memorial – January 3rd

Blessed Kuriakos, co-founder and first prior general of the Congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate, was born at Kainakary in Kerala, India on February 10, 1805. He entered the seminary in 1818 and was ordained priest in 1829. He made his religious profession in 1855 in the congregation he had founded. In 1861 he was named vicar general for the Syro-Malabar church; in this capacity he defended ecclesial unity threatened by schism when Tomas Rochos was sent from Mesopotamia to consecrate Nestorian bishops. Throughout his life he worked for the renovation of the church in Malabar. He was also co-founder in 1866 of the congregation of the Sisters of the Mother of Carmel. Above all, he was a man of prayer, zealous for the Eucharistic Lord and devoted to the Immaculate Virgin Mary. He died at Koonammavu in 1871.

On The Beatitudes...

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

"Poor in spirit" means to be humble. Humility is the realization that all your gifts and blessings come from the grace of God. To have poverty of spirit means to be completely empty and open to the Word of God. When we are an empty cup and devoid of pride, we are humble. Humility brings an openness and an inner peace, allowing one to do the will of God. He who humbles himself is able to accept our frail nature, to repent, and to allow the grace of God to lead us to Conversion.

It is pride, the opposite of humility, that brings misery. For pride brings anger and the seeking of revenge, especially when one is offended. If every man were humble and poor in spirit, there would be no war!

"Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

If we are humble and appreciate that all of our gifts and blessings come from God, we grow in love and gratitude for Jesus Christ our Savior. But this can only produce mourning and regret over our own sins and the sins of this world, for we have hurt the one who has been so good to us. One also mourns for the suffering of others.

St. Gregory describes another reason to mourn: the more one ascends in meditation of Divine Truth, Beauty, and Goodness, and then realize the poverty of human nature, man can only be left in sorrow. When one contemplates that we were made in the image and likeness of God and lived in Paradise, the Garden of Eden, and compare that to our present state after the Fall, one can only mourn our present condition. But the sentence continues that they shall be comforted, by the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, and hopefully one day in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Mourning in this context is called a blessing, because mourning our fallen nature creates in us a desire to improve ourselves and to do what is right!

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

St. Gregory of Nyssa taught that the Beatitudes build one upon another. A humble person becomes meek, or becomes gentle and kind, and exhibits a docility of spirit, even in the face of adversity and hardship. A person that is meek is one that exhibits self-control. St. Augustine advises us to be meek in the face of the Lord, and not resist but be obedient to him. Obedience and submission to the will of God are certainly not in vogue these days, but they will bring one peace in this world and in the next.

"Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."

A continuous desire for justice and moral perfection will lead one to a fulfillment of that desire - a transition and conversion to holiness. This is true for all the virtues - if you hunger and thirst for temperance, you will head towards the goal you have in mind. St. Augustine, in his discourse on the Lord's Sermon on the Mount, notes the correspondence of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and their necessity in fulfilling the Beatitudes. For example, one must have the gift of fortitude so one may be courageous in seeking justice.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

Mercy is the loving disposition towards those who suffer distress. Love, compassion, and forgiveness towards one's neighbor will bring peace in your relationships. We say in the Lord's Prayer: Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. As we are merciful to others, so our Heavenly Father will be merciful with us! Jesus reminds us that whatever "you did to the least of my brethren, you did it to me (Matthew 25:31-46)." St. Paul calls for the obedience of faith in the beginning and end of his Letter to the Romans (1:5, 16:25-27). The following are ways to be merciful to your neighbor, as well as obedient in faith to Christ our Savior.

The Corporal Works of Mercy
1 Feed the Hungry
2 Give drink to the thirsty
3 Clothe the naked
4 Shelter the homeless
5 Comfort the imprisoned
6 Visit the sick
7 Bury the dead

The Spiritual Works of Mercy
1 Admonish sinners
2 Instruct the uninformed
3 Counsel the doubtful
4 Comfort the sorrowful
5 Be patient with those in error
6 Forgive offenses
7 Pray for the living and the dead

"Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God."

Moses (Exodus 33:20), John (1:18), and Paul (1Timothy 6:16) all say that no one can see God here on earth! But Jesus says the pure of heart shall see God! To be pure of heart means to be free of all selfish intentions and self-seeking desires. What a beautiful goal! How many times have any of us performed an act perfectly free of any personal gain? Such an act is pure love. An act of pure and selfless giving brings happiness to all.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God."

Peacemakers not only live peaceful lives but also try to bring peace and friendship to others, and to preserve peace between God and man. St. Gregory of Nyssa calls a peacemaker a man who brings peace to another; but one cannot give another what one does not possess oneself. Hence the Lord wants you first to be yourself filled with the blessings of peace and then to communicate it to those who have need of it. By imitating God's love of man, the peacemakers become children of God.

"Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."

Jesus said many times that those who follow Him will be persecuted. "If they persecute me, they will persecute you" (John 15:20-21). Stephen, Peter and Paul, nearly all of the Apostles, and many Christians in the Roman era suffered martyrdom. The twentieth century with its two World Wars and endless regional conflicts has seen its share of martyrs such as Maximilian Kolbe, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and the Central American martyrs. But the Lord promised those that suffer for his sake will be rewarded with the Kingdom of Heaven!

Jesus

Mary

The Bible

REFERENCES

1 The Navarre RSV Holy Bible. Four Courts Press, Dublin, Ireland, 2001-2005.

2 St. Gregory of Nyssa. The Lord's Prayer and The Beatitudes. Ancient Christian Writers, Paulist Press, Mahwah, New Jersey.

3 St. Augustine. The Lord's Sermon on the Mount. Ancient Christian Writers, Paulist Press, Mahwah, New Jersey.

4 Pope John Paul II. The Splendor of Truth, the encyclical Veritatis Splendor. Pauline Books & Media, Boston, 1993.

5 Pope Benedict XVl. Jesus of Nazareth. Doubleday, New York, 2007.

6 Brown RE, Fitzmeyer JA, Murphy RE (eds): The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1990.

7 Spielvogel JJ. Western Civilization, Sixth Edition, Thomson Wadsworth, Belmont, California, 2006.

Litany to St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila)

Let nothing trouble you, let nothing make you afraid. All things pass away. God never changes. Patience obtains everything. God alone is enough.... Saint Teresa of Avila

 

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us. 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 Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel,

Pray for us.

St. Teresa, whose heart was transverberated by the love of God,

Pray for us.

St. Teresa, most humble servant of God,

Pray for us.

St. Teresa, most zealous for the glory of God,

Pray for us.

St. Teresa, truly detached from all created objects,

Pray for us.

St. Teresa, great light of the Catholic Church,

Pray for us.

St. Teresa, reformer and glory of the Carmelite Order,

Pray for us.

St. Teresa, queen of mystical theology,

Pray for us.

St. Teresa, lustrous name of Avila and Spain,

Pray for us.

St. Teresa, who didst forever glorify the name of Teresa,

Pray for us.

St. Teresa, wishing to suffer or to die,

Pray for us.

St. Teresa, exclaiming, "O Lord, how sweet and pleasing are Thy ways!"

Pray for us.

St. Teresa, desiring so much the salvation of souls,

Pray for us.

St. Teresa, tasting and seeing how sweet is the Lord,

even in this vale of miseries,

Pray for us.

St. Teresa, exclaiming,

"O death, who can fear thee who art the way to true life!"

Pray for us.

St. Teresa, true lover of the Cross of Christ,

Pray for us.

St. Teresa, who didst live to love,

who died to love, and who wilt love eternally,

Pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Have mercy on us.

V. Pray for us, O holy Saint Teresa,

R.That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray

O God, Who didst replenish the heart of Thy blessed servant St. Teresa with the treasures of Thy divine love, grant that, like her, we may love Thee and suffer all things for Thee and in union with Thee, that we may gain souls for Thee, and that we may secure the salvation of our own soul. This we beg though the merits of our Savior and the intercession of Thy glorious virgin Teresa.

R. Amen.

Prayer from: Sr. Mariam of Jesus Crucified

Holy Spirit; Inspire me.

Love of God; Consume me.

Along the true road,

Lead me.

Mary, my Good Mother,

Look down upon me.

With Jesus, Bless me.

From all Evil,

All Illusion,

All Danger,

Preserve me.

Flos Carmeli

O beautiful flower of Carmel,

most fruitful vine,

splendor of heaven,

holy and singular,

who brought forth the Son of God,

still ever remaining a pure Virgin,

assist us in this necessity.

(Pause & Quietly mention your petitions)

O Star Of The Sea, help us, and protect us!

Show me that thou art my Mother.

O Mary conceived without sin,

pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Mother and Ornament of Carmel, pray for us.

Patroness of all who wear the Scapular, pray for us.

Help of all who die wearing the Scapular, pray for us.

St. Joseph, friend of the Sacred Heart, pray for us.

St. Joseph, chaste spouse of Mary, pray for us.

St. Joseph our patron,

pray for us.

O sweet heart of Mary,

be our salvation.

Amen

Holy God, We Praise Thy Name

1.   Holy God, we praise thy name;

      Lord of all, we bow before thee;
      all on earth thy scepter claim;
      all in heaven above adore thee.
      //Infinite thy vast domain;
      everlasting is thy reign.\\


2.   Hark the glad celestial hymn
      angel choirs above are raising;
      cherubim and seraphim,
      in unceasing chorus praising,
      //Fill the heavens with sweet accord:
      Holy, holy, holy Lord.\\


3.   Lo! the apostolic train
      joins thy sacred name to hallow;
      prophets swell the glad refrain,
      and the white-robed martyrs follow.
      //And from morn to set of sun,
      through the church the song goes on.\\

4.   Holy Father, Holy Son,
      Holy Spirit: three we name thee,
      though in essence only one;
      undivided God we claim thee,
      //and adoring bend the knee
      while we own the mystery.\\

//Repeat a second time\\

Text: Sts. 1-4, Ignaz Franz, Trans. by Clarence Walworth; Sts. 5-7, F. Bland Tucker

Music: Katholisches Gesanbuch, Vienna, c. 1774

Tune: GROSSER GOTT, Meter: 78.78.77

THE DIVINE PRAISES

Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be His Most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His angels and in His Saints.

ALL: May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen.

-------------------------------------------------

The Divine Praises are acclamations, which traditionally conclude Benediction. Although the present official rite makes their use optional during the reposition of the sacrament, the Divine Praises are still generally recited or sung immediately following the blessing with the Host. The recitation sometimes takes the form of a litany, recited by the priest and repeated by the people, or priest and people recite the Praises together.

The original form is attributed to the eighteenth-century Jesuit Luigi Felici, who promoted them as reparation for public blasphemy. The litany has been added to over the years and indulgenced by the Holy See until assuming their present form.

Tantum Ergo...

Priest: Panem de coelo praestitisti eis.

People: Omne delectamentum in se habentem.

To hear the Chant, go to:

http://www.revcastor.com/jubilate/tantum_ergo.htm

Closing Prayer to the Blessed Sacrament

As this time of Adoration closes, O Jesus, * I renew my faith and trust in Thee. * I am refreshed after these moments with Thee, * and I count myself among a privileged number, * even as Thy disciples were, * who shared Thy actual presence. *

Realizing that my visit to Thee is of little avail unless I try to live a better life and set a better example, * I am resolved to go forth again to my duties and my concerns * with a renewed spirit of perseverance and good will. * In my daily life I will try to love and serve God well, * and love my neighbor also, * for these two things go together. * I will try to be a true disciple, indeed. * Help me. O Jesus, * in this my resolution. *

Bless me, dear Lord, before I go. * And bless not me alone, O Lord, * but all as well who are here present, * and all who could not come, *especially the sick and the dying. * Bless our homes and all the children there. * Bless all our life and the hour of our death. *

Grant rest to the souls of the faithful departed, * and bring them into the light of Thy divine glory. * So may we who have worshiped Thee * and been blessed by Thee here on earth, * come to behold the radiant glory * of Thy unveiled countenance in heaven for ever and ever. * Amen. *

Say three times:

Sacred Heart of Jesus, * Thy Kingdom come!

300 days Indulgence.

Follow with:

1 Our Father - 1 Hail Mary - 1 Glory Be.

(For the intentions of the Holy Father and to gain the indulgences for this Holy Hour.)

Close with:

O Sacrament most holy * O Sacrament divine! *All praise and all thanksgiving * be every moment Thine!

300 days Indulgence.

Opening Prayer to the Blessed Sacrament

My Lord Jesus Christ, * it is Thy great love for men * that keeps Thee day and night in this Sacrament, * full of pity and love, * expecting, * inviting, * and welcoming all who visit Thee. * I believe Thou art * really present * in the Sacrament of the Altar. * From the depth of my nothingness, * I adore Thee; * and I thank Thee * for the many graces Thou hast given me, * especially * for the gift of Thyself in this Sacrament, * for the gift of Thy most holy Mother as my intercessor, * and for the privilege * of visiting Thee in this Chapel.*

I now speak to Thy most loving Heart * with a three-fold intention: * to thank Thee for the great gift of Thyself; * to atone for all the insults * which Thy enemies heap upon Thee in this Sacrament; * and to adore Thee * wherever Thy Eucharistic Presence * is dishonored or forgotten. * My Jesus, * I love Thee with my whole heart. * I am very sorry for my ingratitude * to Thy infinite goodness. * I now resolve, * with the help of Thy grace, * never to offend Thee again. * And, sinful as I am, * I consecrate to Thee * my entire self, * my whole will, * my affections, * my desires, * and all that I have. * From now on, * do with me and mine * as Thou pleasest. * I ask for and desire only Thy love, * final perseverance, * and the grace always to do Thy holy will. *

I intercede with Thee for the souls in purgatory, * especially for those * who were most devoted to the Blessed Sacrament, * and to Thy most holy Mother. * recommend to Thee also, * all poor sinners. * And lastly, * my dear Savior, * I unite all my desires * with the desires of Thy most loving Heart. * Thus united, * I present them to Thy Eternal Father, * and beg Him in Thy Name * and for love of Thee, * to hear and answer them. *

PRAYER OF LOYALTY TO GOD

(kneel)
Priest:   God the Father, Creator of Heaven & Earth ...
People:  I LOVE YOU, O MY GOD.
              (same response for all invocations)

God, the Son, Redeemer of the World ...
God, the Holy Spirit ...
Holy Trinity, one God ...
You, who are Infinite Love ...
You, Who did first love me ...
You, Who asks me to love You ...
With all my heart ...
With all my soul ...
With all my mind ...
With all my strength ...
Above all possessions and honors ...
Above all pleasures and enjoyments ...
More than myself ...
More than anything belonging to me ...
More than all my relatives and friends ...
More than all men and angels ...
Above all created things ...
Because You are the Sovereign God ...
Because You are Limitless Love ...
Because You are Infinite Goodness ...
Because You are Unfathomed Devine Mercy ...
Because You are Infinitely Holy ...
Because You are Worthy of all love ...
Even if You had not promised heaven ...
Even if You had not menaced me with hell ...
Even should You try me with want and misfortune ...
In wealth and in poverty ...
In prosperity and adversity ...
In health and in sickness ...
In time and in eternity ...
In union with that love wherewith the Angels in heaven love You ...
In union with that love wherewith the Saints love You ...
In union with that love wherewith the Blessed Virgin Mary loves You ...
In union with that love wherewith You love Yourself eternally ...

Father We Adore You...

Father, we adore You

Lay our lives before You...

         How we love You.

Jesus, we adore You

Lay our lives before You...

         How we love You.

Spirit, we adore You

Lay our lives before You...

         How we love You.

The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy...

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.


Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).
4. Conclude with (three times):

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,
have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Closing Prayer:

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion --- inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your Mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your Holy Will, which is Love and Mercy itself. - In the name of the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit - Amen.

In 1933, God gave Sister Faustina a striking vision of His Mercy, Sister tells us:


"I saw a great light, with God the Father in the midst of it. Between this light and the earth I saw Jesus nailed to the Cross and in such a way that God, wanting to look upon the earth, had to look through Our Lord's wounds and I understood that God blessed the earth for the sake of Jesus."


Of another vision on Sept. 13, 1935, she writes:


"I saw an Angel, the executor of God's wrath... about to strike the earth...I began to beg God earnestly for the world with words which I heard interiorly. As I prayed in this way, I saw the Angel's helplessness, and he could not carry out the just punishment...."

The following day an inner voice taught her to say this prayer on ordinary rosary beads:

"First say one 'Our Father', 'Hail Mary', and 'I believe'. Then on the large beads say the following words: 'Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.' On the smaller beads you are to say the following words: 'For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.' In conclusion you are to say these words three times: 'Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world'.


Jesus said later to Sister Faustina:


"Say unceasingly this chaplet that I have taught you. Anyone who says it will receive great Mercy at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners as the last hope. Even the most hardened sinner, if he recites this Chaplet even once, will receive grace from My Infinite Mercy. I want the whole world to know My Infinite Mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in My Mercy...."


"....When they say this Chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person not as the just judge but as the Merciful Savior".

hymn: Heart of Jesus

1.                 Heart of Jesus, meek and mild,

               Hear, oh hear, Thy feeble child.

                    In the tempest, most severe

               Heart of Jesus, hear.

Refrain:         Sweetly we rest on Thy Sacred Heart

               Never from Thee, O let us part...

                     Hear then, Thy loving children's prayer.
               Heart of Jesus, Heart of Jesus, hear...

2.                  Make me Truly, wholly Thine.

               Take, O take, this heart of mine.

                     Guide me through this world so drear.

               Heart of Jesus hear.       (refrain)

ACT OF REPARATION

TO THE SACRED HEART

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, * animated with a desire * to repair the outrages unceasingly offered to Thee, * we knell before the Throne of Thy Mercy, * and in the name of all mankind, * pledge our love and fidelity to Thee!

The more Thy mysteries are blasphemed, * the more firmly we shall believe them, * O Sacred Heart of Jesus!

The more impiety endeavors to extinguish our hopes of immortality, *

the more we shall trust in Thy Heart, * sole hope of mankind!

The more hearts resist Thy Divine attractions, * the more we shall love Thee, * O Infinitely Amiable Heart of Jesus!

The more unbelief attacks Thy Divinity, * the more humbly and profoundly we shall adore It, * O Divine Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy holy laws are transgressed and ignored, * the more we shall delight to observe them, * O Most Holy Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy Sacraments are despised and abandoned, * the more frequently we shall receive them with love and reverence, * O Most Liberal Heart of Jesus!

The more the imitation of Thy virtues is neglected and forgotten, * the more we shall endeavor to practice them, * O Heart, Model of every Virtue!

The more the devil labors to destroy souls, * the more we shall be inflamed with desire to save them, * O Heart of Jesus, zealous Lover of souls!

The more sin and impurity destroy the image of God in man, * the more we shall try, by purity of life * to be a living temple of the Holy Spirit, * O Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy Holy Church is despised, * the more we shall endeavor * to be her faithful children, * O Sweet Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy vicar on earth is persecuted, * the more we will honor him * as the infallible head of Thy Holy Church, * show our fidelity, and pray for him, * O Kingly Heart of Jesus!

O Sacred Heart, * through Thy powerful grace, * may we become Thy apostles * in the midst of a corrupted world, * and be Thy Crown in the Kingdom of Heaven. - Amen

(* Means to pause - Especially, when said together as a group.)

O Salutaris Hostia...

O salutaris Hostia,

Quae caeli pandis ostium:

Bella premunt hostilia,

Da robur, fer auxilium.

Uni trinoque Domino

Sit sempiterna gloria,

Qui vitam sine termino

Nobis donet in patria.

Amen

As a liturgical text,

the hymn is usually sung in Latin.

Literal Translation

O salutary Host,

Who expandest the door of the sky,

Hostile wars press.

Give strength; bear aid.

To the Lord One in Three,

May there be sempiternal glory;

for life without end

he gives to us in our homeland.

Amen.

O salutaris Hostia, "O Saving Host", is a section of one of the Eucharistic hymns written by St Thomas Aquinas for the Feast of Corpus Christi. He wrote it for the Hour of Lauds in the Divine Office. It is actually the last two stanzas of the hymn Verbum supernum prodiens, and is used for the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

The Angelus...

The Angelus...

The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:

And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord:

Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

And the Word was made Flesh:

And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,

that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

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"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you" (Lk 1:28)

"Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb" (Lk 1:42).

Prayer for the Poor Souls

God of Justice, God of Mercy, You have no choice but to love us because love is the only word in your vocabulary. Love is the only thing You think of or say or do, even when we deserve punishment for our sins.

Give us the grace to by-pass the purifying flames of Your love in purgatory by now living lives of sincere prayer, fervent self-denial, and unselfish love.

Help us to unite our labors of love with those of your divine Son to win the release of those suffering souls who have been part of our lives, especially our family members, relatives, friends, benefactors, and those You want us to remember to pray for.

Keep us alert to the indulgences we may gain to help our departed brothers and sisters, by making the Stations of the Cross, by reading Sacred Scripture in a prayerful way, by spending time before the Blessed Sacrament, and by reciting the Rosary with others at home or in Church.

Lord, we know that where the poor souls are now we may well be soon. Their cries are pleading for our prayers at this very moment! "Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, at least you my friends because the hand of the Lord has touched me."

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace.  -  Amen.

Reflection:

Can we help those who are in Purgatory? Definitely! That's why the Church provides us with a memorial Mass for all the faithful departed. We're praying for those who died in the arms of Jesus but who have not yet reached the full glory of heaven. Think of your loved ones who died believing in Jesus and wanting to be loved by Jesus. Even if there was the smallest seed of faith in them, as long as they didn't reject Jesus when he came for them as they took their final breath, they are with him now.

We can be assured of this because of what Jesus said in today's Gospel reading. The Father's decision is that everyone who recognizes Jesus as the Son of God, believing that he is our Savior and the Redeemer of our sins, will have eternal life. "And I shall raise him on the last day," Jesus promised.

However, rarely does anyone die in the full state of grace, perfect in holiness. Most still have unrepented or unexpiated sins ("unexpiated" means insufficient penance has been made to rectify the damage of sin). And God wants all of his children to receive the fullness of his perfect love, which means being united to him in a state of complete holiness. Nothing unholy exists in heaven, so when souls realize what they've forfeited by clinging to their sins, they want to be purged. They gladly choose the state of Purgatory to reach the state of full grace.

Our loving prayers help them make the transition.

Pope Leo XIII wrote in his encyclical on the Eucharist, "Mirae Caritatis", on May 28, 1902: "The communion of saints is nothing else but a mutual sharing of help, satisfaction, prayer and other good works, a mutual communication among all the faithful, whether those who have reached Heaven, or who are in the cleansing fire, or who are still pilgrims on the way in this world."

Through Jesus and our love for the souls in Purgatory, we can do penances on their behalf in imitation of Jesus who was crucified on our behalf. Such penances include prayers, alms-giving, fasting, sacrifices, good works and other acts of piety. A bonus benefit is that we're also purified, here on earth instead of later after our own deaths, because such deeds made on behalf of others will increase our own holiness.

By offering Masses for the souls in Purgatory, publicly and privately, we consciously give them our love and we commend them more fully to Jesus' love. The celebration of All Souls Day and the whole month of November is given over to this important ministry of the Church. What are you going to do this month that will help your loved ones who've gone Home to Jesus but who are probably not yet enjoying the fullness of his love for them?

The Method of Centering Prayer...

Centering Prayer is a method designed to facilitate the development of contemplative prayer by preparing our faculties to cooperate with this gift. It is an attempt to present the teaching of earlier time (e.g. The Cloud of Unknowing) in an updated form and to put a certain order and regularity into it. It is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer; it simply puts other kinds of prayer into a new and fuller perspective. During the time of prayer we consent to God's presence and action within. At other times our attention moves outward to discover God's presence everywhere.

The Guidelines

1. Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention to consent to God's presence and action within.

2. Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God's presence and action within.

3. When you become aware of thoughts, return ever so gently to the sacred word.

4. At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes.

Explanation of the Guidelines

"Choose a sacred word as the symbol of your intention

to consent to God's presence and action within."

The sacred word expresses our intention to be in God's presence and to yield to the divine action. The sacred word should be chosen during a brief period of prayer asking the Holy Spirit to inspire us with one that is especially suitable for us. (Examples: Lord, Jesus, Abba, Father, Mother Other possibilities: Love, Peace, Shalom) Having chosen a sacred word, we do not change it during the prayer period, for that would be to start thinking again. A simple inward gaze upon God may be more suitable for some persons than the sacred word. In this case, one consents to God's presence and action by turning inwardly toward God as if gazing upon him. The same guidelines apply to the sacred gaze as to the sacred word.

"Sitting comfortably and with eyes closed, settle briefly and silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to God's presence and action within."

By "sitting comfortably" is meant relatively comfortably; not so comfortably that we encourage sleep, but sitting comfortably enough to avoid thinking about the discomfort of our bodies during this time of prayer. Whatever sitting position we choose, we keep the back straight. If we fall asleep, we continue the prayer for a few minutes upon awakening if we can spare the time. Praying in this way after a main meal encourages drowsiness. Better to wait an hour at least before Centering Prayer. Praying in this way just before retiring may disturb one's sleep pattern. We close our eyes to let go of what is going on around and within us. We introduce the sacred word inwardly and as gently as laying a feather on a piece of absorbent cotton.

"When you become aware of thoughts,

return ever-so-gently to the sacred word."

"Thoughts" is an umbrella term for every perception including sense perceptions, feelings, images, memories, reflections, and commentaries. Thoughts are a normal part of Centering Prayer. By "returning ever-so-gently to the sacred word", a minimum of effort is indicated. This is the only activity we initiate during the time of Centering Prayer. During the course of our prayer, the sacred word may become vague or even disappear.

"At the end of the prayer period,

remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes."

If this prayer is done in a group, the leader may slowly recite the Our Father during the additional 2 or 3 minutes, while the others listen. The additional 2 or 3 minutes give the psyche time to readjust to the external senses and enable us to bring the atmosphere of silence into daily life.

Some Practical Points
• The minimum time for this prayer is 20 minutes. Two periods are recommended each day, one first thing in the morning, and one in the afternoon or early evening.
• A timer can indicate the end of the prayer period, providing it does not have an audible tick or loud sound when it goes off.
• The principal effects of Centering Prayer are experienced in daily life, not in the period of Centering Prayer itself.
• Physical Symptoms
       o We may notice slight pains, itches, or twitches in various parts of the body or a generalized restlessness. These are usually due to the untying of emotional knots in the body.
       o We may also notice heaviness or lightness in the extremities. This is usually due to a deep level of spiritual attentiveness.
       o In either case, we pay no attention, or we allow the mind to rest briefly in the sensation, and then return to the sacred word.
• Lectio Divina provides the conceptual background for the development of Centering Prayer.
• A support group praying and sharing together oncee a week helps maintain one's commitment to the prayer.
Extending the Effects of Centering Prayer into Daily Life

       1. Practice 2 periods of Centering Prayer daily.
       2. Read Scriptures regularly and study Open Mind, Open Heart.

Points for Further Development:

During the prayer period various kinds of thoughts may be distinguished
       • Ordinary wanderings of the imagination or memory
       • Thoughts that give rise to attractions or aversions
       • Insights and psychological breakthroughs
       • Self-reflections such as, "How am I doing?" or, "This peace is just great!"
       • Thoughts that arise from the unloading of the unconscious

During this prayer, we avoid analyzing our experience, harboring expectations or aiming at some specific goal such as:
       • Repeating the sacred word continuously
       • Having no thoughts.
       • Making the mind a blank.
       • Feeling peaceful or consoled.
       • Achieving a spiritual experience.

What Centering Prayer is not:
       • It is not a technique.
       • It is not a relaxation exercise.
       • It is not a form of self-hypnosis.
       • It is not a charismatic gift.
       • It is not a para-psychological phenomenon.
       • It is not limited to the "felt" presence of God.
       • It is not discursive meditation or affective prayer.

Keep the Faith & Pray!

Each and everyone one of us are going through tough times right now,  but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can.

Keep the faith.

This prayer is powerful, and Prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards.

Let's continue to pray,

For one another.

The prayer:

Father,

I ask You to bless

my friends, relatives and those for whom I care deeply, who are reading this right now...

Show them a new revelation of

Your Love and Power.

God, I ask You to minister to them

At this very moment....

Where there is pain,

Give them Your peace & mercy.

Where there is self-doubt,

Release a renewed confidence

Through your grace.

Where there is need,

I ask you to fulfill their needs.

Bless their homes, families, finances,

Their goings and their comings.

In Jesus' Precious name. Amen.

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Thank You & God Bless You!