PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS NOVENA - NINTH (FINAL) DAY

Novena Prayer in Honor of the Precious Blood

O Precious Blood of Jesus, infinite Price of our redemption and both the drink and laver of our souls, You continually plead the cause of all people before the throne of Infinite Mercy.  From the depths of my heart I adore You. Jesus, insofar as I am able I want to make reparation for the insults and outrages which You receive from human beings, especially from those who blaspheme You and deny Your presence. Who would not venerate the Blood of infinite value?!  Who does not feel inflamed with love for the Jesus Who shed it? What would have become of me had I not been redeemed by this Divine Blood?  Who has drained it all from the veins of my Savior?  Surely this was the work of Love!  O Infinite Love, which has given us this saving Balm!  O Balm beyond all price, welling up from the foundation of Infinite Love!  Grant that every heart and every tongue may render You praise and thanks, now and forever! Amen.

Litany of the Most Precious Blood

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.

Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the eternal Father, save us.

Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God, save us.

Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, save us.

Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in Agony, save us.

Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, save us.

Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, save us.

Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, save us.

Blood of Christ, Price of our salvation, save us.

Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, save us.

Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls, save us.

Blood of Christ, stream of mercy, save us.

Blood of Christ, victor over demons, save us.

Blood of Christ, courage of Martyrs, save us.

Blood of Christ, strength of Confessors, save us.

Blood of Christ, bringing forth Virgins, save us.

Blood of Christ, help of those in peril, save us.

Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened, save us.

Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow, save us.

Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent, save us.

Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying, save us.

Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts, save us.

Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life, save us.

Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory, save us.

Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honour, save 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.

Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, in Thy Blood. And made us, for our God, a kingdom.

Let us pray:

Almighty and eternal God, Thou hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world and willed to be appeased by his Blood.  Grant, we beg of Thee, that we may worthily adore this Price of our salvation and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

     The Precious Blood of Christ

       by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.

Jesus is the Lamb of God. He is the Lamb of God not only because He sacrificed Himself, He is the Lamb of God because He continues sacrificing Himself in an unbloody way in every Mass He offers. And while His sacrifice is completed, ours must go on.

Having said that, the second primary foundation for the imitation of Christ is the Precious Blood of Jesus. The moment we say that Christ is the Lamb of God and explain that the Lamb of God was slain for our redemption, having further recognized and this is crucial - we further recognize that Christ, though Man, would not have died naturally because, unlike us, He was not a sinner. His death had to be inflicted outside of Himself. In a word, the Lamb of God - watch the verb - had to be slain in order to die. Moreover, Christ being the sinless Lamb of God, having no sin on His soul which would have deserved death, his mortal Body, mortal because He wanted it to be mortal, could only die by the Blood separating from that Body. Christ's Body was deprived of its Soul when the Blood left the Body. All of this, therefore, is locked up in realizing that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who by shedding His Blood redeemed the world.

The context which the Church over the centuries has used as the foundation for her devotion to the Precious Blood of Christ. Then, the understanding of the role of the Precious Blood in the life and sanctification of priests. And finally, what the Precious Blood should be in our own lives, and what devotion to the Blood of Christ ought to be in everyone who claims to be a true follower of the Lamb of God.

Church's Foundation for Devotion to Precious Blood of Christ

The revealed foundation for the Church's belief in the Precious Blood and the reason for her fostering devotion to the Precious Blood among the faithful occurs in the first chapter of the first letter of St. Peter, verses 18-19. Says Peter:

“You know that you were redeemed from the vain manner of life handed down from your fathers, not wish perishable things as silver or gold but with the Precious Blood of Christ as the Lamb without blemish and without spot.” Unquote Peter.

There are certain words and phrases in the revealed statement that we have just read that we should begin to unravel in order to understand something of the depth of meaning behind those two simple words, Precious Blood. Peter begins by reminding the faithful to remember the hardest thing in this life for us is to remain mindful of the truths of faith. Because what we believe on God's revealed Word is twice removed from the common experience that we have in this world. What we believe is first of all not immediately perceptible to the senses. Moreover, what we believe is not even penetrable to the naked reason. The word, remember, is an imperative: keep in mind. Arouse your faith in what and how you were redeemed. And it is the how we were redeemed that is the foundation stone of the mystery of the Precious Blood. God took on a human nature so that in that human nature He could die. In order to die, the soul had to separate from the body. But for the Body to have the soul separate, the body itself had to be deprived of His Blood. Theologically speaking and physiologically speaking, the All-Holy Son of God who became Man to redeem us could only have died by being drained of His Blood. Christ, listen, could not have died of some disease. Christ could not have died because of some mortal illness. All illness, disease, the natural debilitating of the body is the result of sin. Let me emphasize this. 

All our illness, our disease, our sickness, our wasting away of our body for all of us this is our faith - is the result of our sinful nature. Not so with Christ. 

That draining of the human body of His Blood was the one way that Christ, Sinless Son of God and Son of Mary that He was, the one way that He could die.

Peter goes on: “we were redeemed, we were ransomed.” What is Peter talking about? 

What is Peter saying when he says that we were redeemed? 

Literally it means “bought back”. Having sinned before God, we incurred a heavy debt. The debt was death. But all of the deaths (plural) of all of the human beings since the beginning of time, we believe, would not have been adequate - again, it is our faith – would not have been adequate to ransom, to make up for, the infinite gravity of the sin not only of our first parents but by now the accumulated - what a low figure of speech - mountain of sin. Because an infinite being was in His Being offended by His creatures, only an Infinite Being could provide adequate ransom to redeem.

Peter goes on: "We were therefore not redeemed by anything corruptible". 

And you would think that Peter would find two better words than gold and silver. Because of all material things that are corruptible, two of the most incorruptible are gold and silver. But not even the most precious things that the world can provide, no other ransom, would have been adequate. But we have been redeemed, bought back, ransomed, by the Precious Blood of the Lamb of God. Try not to forget the title. Precious Blood is the revealed title, part of God's inspired biblical teaching in the first letter of the first Vicar of Christ.

Why does Peter identify the Blood of the Lamb of God as “Precious?” 

Well, it is surely Precious because it is the Blood of no human being. It is the Blood of the living God who took on human nature, capable of shedding His Blood. Why was the Blood of Christ Precious? Because it is the Blood of God who took on human nature in order to be able to suffer and to bleed and, let us add, in order to bleed to death. Why Precious? Because it is the Blood of the living God.

MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART - THIRTIETH DAY

On the third means of being devout to the Sacred Heart - Visiting the Most Holy Sacrament.

The divine Eucharist not only profits those who receive it, but those who look upon it. Who desire it, who visit it really, or even spiritually. Visiting the Holy Sacrament was a favorite practice of St Alphonsus Liguori. F. Sales, S. J., was filled with consolation when he heard the Holy Sacrament spoken of; he was never tired visiting it. On going from one part of the house to another, he always contrived to visit his dear master, so that it was remarked that scarcely did an hour of the day pass in which he did not do so. This at length merited for him the favor of dying by the hands of heretics, while defending the truth of this mystery. SS. Aloysius and Stanislaus, angelical youths, found no comfort but at the foot of the altar. It was in the same holy spot St. Xavier took some rest after his apostolic labors, and received new strength to return to them. Devotion to Jesus, immolated on our altars, has, in fine, been the devotion of all the saints. There is nothing which more certainly gains the sacred heart of Jesus than such visits. This adorable heart is in his sacrament as a living source which flows night and day uninterruptedly, and which only requires an inlet to our hearts to purify and fertilize them. He himself invites all men to come to draw these waters from the recess of his sanctuary. He exclaims, as formerly to the Jews, “If any one thirst, let him come to me.” The solitariness of his temples shows us that he is as little heard now as formerly. Hence it is, that on the few faithful souls who hearken to him, he abundantly pours his graces; for it is commonly during their visits that he is more lavish of his gifts to them, particularly the immense one of his love. Do not say you have not time for this devotion. As you find so much for vain occupations, surely you can daily give five minutes to Jesus; and such is the love of his heart, that this short time will satisfy him, if you can spend no more with him.

Pray thrice: Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

'Adoration' - Blessed Mother Adoring Christ - Giovanni-Battista-Salvi

MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART - TWENTY NINTH DAY

Second means of obtaining devotion to the Sacred Heart  

On frequent communion

Devotion to the sacred heart of Jesus is, properly speaking, an exercise of love. Now, it is sufficient to know what. Holy Communion is, to be convinced that there is no more certain means of’ being quickly inflamed with love for Jesus Christ, than that of frequently participating in it. “It is impossible to carry fire in one's bosom, and not to burn," says the Wise man. This sacred fire is the Adorable Eucharist, which is, as St Bernard says, the love of loves. Let us, then, often approach to this source of all good; it is there that, united and incorporated with Jesus Christ, the author of all holiness, grace shall be abundantly communicated to us; our passions, gradually weakened, will ultimately disappear; our inclination to evil will be changed into a sweet attraction for all the virtues of which the heart of Jesus is the sanctuary, and the model. It is' there that, possessing the hidden treasure, we shall receive a pledge of that eternal happiness promised to those who shall worthily approach to this mystery of love; for he who possesses Jesus in his holy sacrament, can want nothing for his perfection and salvation. This is so true, that after participating therein, the faithful souls, as says St Magdalen of Pazzi, can exclaim, “All is consummated.” This celestial food contains all goods, and enriches the soul with all graces our souls in a state to communicate oftener? The primitive Chris tians approached the holy table daily, and hence their extraordinary faith and fervor. Ah! If we knew how indifference for the holy Eucharist pains the heart of Jesus! He complained of it, as we elsewhere said, to Sister M. Alacoque. Let us not be of the number ' of these ungrateful souls; let us approach to Jesus Christ often, and with the proper dispositions. But if we be a ready in the custom, why do we not make a better use of so powerful a means of perfection? Why, after so many communions, are we always the same? Why do We not cast our selves with faith and confidence at the feet of our Lord, really present in us, and say, “I will not leave you, O Lord, until you have blessed me: I shall not let you go" till you have enabled me to surmount the inclinations which lead me so often from you, and give me an effectual and insatiable desire to do and suffer all for your love, and to accomplish in all your most holy will? And fear not a refusal. Having given you himself, he can refuse you nothing.

Say thrice: Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

On the image of the Sacred Heart

Great efficacy of converting people has been attached to the use of the image of the Sacred Heart.

"Even at the hour of death, incredulous, indifferent, hardened souls have been converted by simply showing them a picture of the Sacred Heart, which sufficed to restore these sinners to the life of hope and love, in a word, to touch the most hardened. It would, indeed, be a great misfortune to any apostolic man to neglect so powerful a means of conversion, and in proof of this I will mention a single fact which will need no comment. A religious of the Company of Jesus had been requested by the Blessed Margaret Mary to make a careful engraving of the Sacred Heart. Being often hindered by other occupations, there was much delay in preparing this plate. ' This good father,' writes the saint, 'is so much occupied by Monsignor d'Autun in the conversion of heretics, that he has neither time nor leisure to give to the work so ardently desired by the Heart of our Divine Master. You cannot imagine, my much-loved mother, how greatly this delay afflicts and pains me. I must avow confidently to you my belief that it is the cause of his converting so few infidels in this town. I seem constantly to hear these words: ' That if this good father had acquitted himself at once of his promise to the Sacred Heart, Jesus would have changed and converted the hearts of these infidels, on account of the joy He would have felt at seeing Himself honored in the picture He so much wishes for. As, however, he prefers other work, even though to the glory of God, to that of giving Him this satisfaction, He will harden the hearts of these infidels, and the labors of this mission will not be crowned with much fruit."

MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART - TWENTY EIGHTH DAY

           On Prayer

First means of obtaining a true devotion to the Sacred Heart. The first means of obtaining a true devotion to the sacred heart, is prayer

It is astonishing that Christians are not all-powerful, having so infallible a means of obtaining what they wish, as that of prayer. There is nothing which Jesus Christ has so often and so solemnly engaged to do, as to hear all the petitions which we make to him. Ask, does he say, and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. Hitherto you have not asked the Father for anything in my name; ask, and you shall receive, that your joy may be full." Let us then pray, and pray with confidence. Prayer, says St Lawrence Justinian, disarms the anger of God. He pardons the sinner when he prays to him with humility. It obtains all that it solicits; it triumphs over all the efforts of hell; it changes sinners into saints. “I had no sooner asked it of God," says Solomon, “than he granted me wisdom."  I had but opened my mouth, says David, “when the Lord succored me." Our Lord revealed to St Bridget that he would every moment bestow favors on us, if we asked for them as we ought. But of all the prayers which we make, there cannot be one more agreeable to our Lord than to ask him for grace to love his sacred heart. Let us conjure him to grant it to us; the very doing so will put us in possession of it, particularly it. we ask it through this blessed heart itself. St Mechtilde says, that having one day asked our Lord for a favor for another, he told her to tell this person that whatsoever she wanted she should seek it in his heart, that she should ask for all through this' heart, like a child who uses no other artifice with his parent, than what love suggests, and that thus she would certainly find it.

Say thrice: Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

       12 Promises of the Sacred Heart                    

 1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.

 2. I will give peace in their families.

 3. I will console them in all their troubles.

 4. I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.

  5. I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.

  6. Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.

 7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.

 8. Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.

 9. I will bless those places wherein the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.

10.   I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.

11.  Persons who propagate this devotion shall have their names eternally written in my Heart.

12.   In the excess of the mercy of my Heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.

PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS NOVENA - EIGHTH DAY

                       CrucifixionJosse Lieferinxe (1493-1508)

Devout commemoration of the most precious blood shed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

THE PIERCING OF THE HEART

Inspires me to final perseverance in my life of union with God. His Love for me persevered until His Heart was emptied unto the last Drop. "Take courage," He says, "I have overcome the world." I reply, "Lord, what wilt Thou have me do?"

"By the Merits of Thy Precious Blood, shed seven times, keep me ever united to Thee; save me at death from the agonizing memory of a wasted life."

"But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out Blood and water." (John 19:34).

Novena Prayer in Honor of the Precious Blood

O Precious Blood of Jesus, infinite Price of our redemption and both the drink and laver of our souls, You continually plead the cause of all people before the throne of Infinite Mercy.  From the depths of my heart I adore You. Jesus, insofar as I am able I want to make reparation for the insults and outrages which You receive from human beings, especially from those who blaspheme You and deny Your presence. Who would not venerate the Blood of infinite value?!  Who does not feel inflamed with love for the Jesus Who shed it? What would have become of me had I not been redeemed by this Divine Blood?  Who has drained it all from the veins of my Savior?  Surely this was the work of Love!  O Infinite Love, which has given us this saving Balm!  O Balm beyond all price, welling up from the foundation of Infinite Love!  Grant that every heart and every tongue may render You praise and thanks, now and forever! Amen.

Petitions in Honor of the Precious Blood of Jesus

Precious Blood of Jesus, shed in the circumcision, make me pure of mind, heart and body.

Precious Blood, oozing from every pore of Jesus in the Agony, enable me to love God's holy will above all.

Precious Blood, flowing from the scourging at the pillar, inspire me with a sorrow for my sins, and a tolerance for suffering.

Precious Blood, falling in profusion from the crown of thorns, grant me a ready acceptance of humiliations.

Precious Blood, shed profusely in the crucifixion of our Lord, make me die entirely to self-love.

Precious Blood, shed to the very last drop by the opening of Christ's Sacred Heart, give me that generous love which sacrifices all for God.

Precious Blood, sacred Price of my Redemption, apply to me your infinite merits.

Precious Blood, I adore You from the depths of my heart; I invoke You ardently, for You are my salvation, and by You I hope to obtain the joys of heaven.  Amen.

                   The Holy Lance, displayed in the Imperial Treasury 

                   at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria

PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS NOVENA - SEVENTH DAY

Devout commemoration of the most precious blood shed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

THE CRUCIFIXION 

Application 

Never give up the ideal of a life united with God. Jesus now clings to His Eternal Ideal. When I am tempted to give up my old ideals of prayer, sacrifice and purity, I must plead with Him to raise these dead ideals to life.

"By the Merits of Thy Precious Blood, shed seven times, keep me ever united to Thee; save me at death from the agonizing memory of a wasted life."

"There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them." (John 19:18)

Novena Prayer in Honor of the Precious Blood

O Precious Blood of Jesus, infinite Price of our redemption and both the drink and laver of our souls, You continually plead the cause of all people before the throne of Infinite Mercy.  From the depths of my heart I adore You. Jesus, insofar as I am able I want to make reparation for the insults and outrages which You receive from human beings, especially from those who blaspheme You and deny Your presence. Who would not venerate the Blood of infinite value?!  Who does not feel inflamed with love for the Jesus Who shed it? What would have become of me had I not been redeemed by this Divine Blood?  Who has drained it all from the veins of my Savior?  Surely this was the work of Love!  O Infinite Love, which has given us this saving Balm!  O Balm beyond all price, welling up from the foundation of Infinite Love!  Grant that every heart and every tongue may render You praise and thanks, now and forever! Amen.

"I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord." Psalm 116:13

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my Blood of the covenant, which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins." Mt 26:27-28

"For my Flesh is food indeed, and my Blood is drink indeed." John 6:56

As this was a hard saying for Jesus' hearers, so it is difficult today for many of our separated brethren.  Yet Sacred Scripture tells us that Jesus truly gives us His Sacred Body and Precious Blood in the Eucharist:

"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion in the Blood of Christ?

The bread which we break, is it not a communion in the Body of Christ?" I Corinthians 10:16

This need not trouble our separated brethren.  When we partake of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, we are not eating dead flesh or blood, since Christ is risen and alive forevermore (Rev 1:10).  We are actually receiving the whole Person of our Risen Lord:  His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity!  How wonderful it is to sacramentally partake of the ever-living, glorified Blood of our Risen Saviour under the appearance of bread and wine.  Praise you, Lord Jesus, for this tremendous Gift!

"To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His Blood and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen!" 

STS. PETER AND PAUL NOVENA - FINAL DAY

    Simon, son of John, lovest thou me?

        FIRST VESPERS

After the great solemnities of the movable cycle, and the Feast of St. John the Baptist, none is more ancient, nor more universal in the Church, than that of the two Princes of the Apostles. From the beginning, Rome celebrated their triumph on the very day itself which saw them go up from earth to heaven, June 29th. Her practice prevailed, at a very early date, over the custom of several other countries, which put the Apostles' feast towards the close of December. It was, no doubt, a fair thought which inspired the placing of these Fathers of the Christian people in the cortège of Emmanuel at his entry into this world. But, as we have already seen, to-day's teachings have intrinsically an important preponderance in the economy of Christian dogma; they are the completion of the whole Work of the Son of God; the cross of Peter fixes the Church in her stability, and marks out for the Divine Spirit the immutable centre of his operations. Rome, therefore, was well inspired when, leaving to the Beloved Disciple the honor of presiding over his brethren at the Crib of the Infant God, she maintained the solemn memory of the Princes of the Apostles upon the day chosen by God himself to consummate their labours and to crown, at once, both their life and the whole cycle of mysteries. Fully to-day, do the heavens declare the glory of God, as David expresses it, to-day do they show us the course of the Spouse completed on the eternal hills. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night revealeth the deep secret. From north and south of the newSion, from either side of her stream, Peter and Paul waft one to other, as a farewell song, as a sacred * Epithalamium, the good Word; sublime that echo, sonorous its power, vocal still throughout the whole earth, and yet to resound as long as the world lasts. These two torches of salvation blend their flames above the palaces of ancient Rome; the passing darkness of their death, that night of which the Psalmist sings, now concentrates light, for ever, in the midst of the queen city. Beside the throne of the Bridegroom fixed for ever and ever on yonder seven hills, the Gentile world, now become the Bride, is resplendent in glory, all fair in that peerless purity which she derives from their blood united as it is to that of the Son of God. 

     But seemly is it, not to forget, on so great a day, those other messengers sent forth by the divine householder, and who watered earth's highways with their sweat and with their blood, the while they hastened the triumph and the gathering in of the guests invited to the Marriage feast. To them is it due, if now the law of grace is definitively promulgated throughout all nations, and if in every language and upon every shore the good tidings have been sounded. Thus the festival of St. Peter, completed by the more special memory of St. Paul his comrade in death, has been from earliest times regarded as the festival likewise of the whole Apostolic college. In those primitive times it seemed impossible to dream of separating from their glorious leader any of those whom Our Lord had so intimately joined together in the responsibility of one common work. But in course of time, however, particular solemnities were successively consecrated to each one of the Apostles, and so the feast of June 29th was more exclusively attributed to the two Princes whose martyrdom rendered this day illustrious. More than this; as we shall presently see, the Roman Church, thinking it impossible fittingly to honor both of these on the same day, deferred till tomorrow her more explicit praises of the Doctor of the Gentiles.

Footnote - *epithalamium - a poem written specifically for the bride on the way to her marital chamber.

The Liturgical Year – Dom Gueranger, O.S.B. Time after Pentecost, Volume 3

Peter and John went up together into the Temple 

Peter and John * went up together into the Temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

The Lord said to my Lord: * Sit thou at my right hand:

Until I make thy enemies * thy footstool.

The Lord will send forth the sceptre of thy power out of Sion: * rule thou in the midst of thy enemies.

With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength: in the brightness of the saints: * from the womb before the day star I begot thee.

The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent: * Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.

The Lord at thy right hand * hath broken kings in the day of his wrath.

He shall judge among nations, he shall fill ruins: * he shall crush the heads in the land of many.

He shall drink of the torrent in the way: * therefore shall he lift up the head.

Glory be

Novena Prayer

Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, I choose you this day and forever to be my special patrons and advocates, you blessed Saint Peter - Prince of the Apostles, because you are the Rock upon the Almighty God has built His Holy Church; you blessed Saint Paul, because you were fore chosen by God as vessel of election and preacher of the truth to the whole world.

Obtain for me, I humbly pray you, lively Faith, firm Hope and burning Love, complete detachment from myself, contempt of the world,  patience in adversity, humility in prosperity, attention in prayer, purity of diligence in fulfilling the duties of my state of life, constancy in my resolutions, resignation to the Will of God and perseverance in the Grace of God even unto death, so that by the means of your intercession and your glorious merits, I might be able to overcome the evil and I be made worthy of the Promises of Christ, enjoy His Presence and love Him forever in time and eternity.

Our Father

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.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and in the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART – TWENTY SEVENTH DAY

On mortification as a means to surmount the obstacles to devotion to the Sacred Heart

The best means of surmounting the obstacles to the devotion to the sacred heart, is, interior and exterior mortification. From the former, no one can be dispensed; it is that violence which one must incessantly do himself, in order to bear away the kingdom of heaven. There is no person who cannot mortify his humor, his desires, his inclinations; who cannot be silent when vanity would prompt him to speak, or vivacity lead him to answer. Behold in what interior mortification consists; by which one weakens and reduces self- love to reason, and gets rid of his imperfections. In vain do we flatter ourselves that we love Jesus Christ; if we be not mortified, the finest sentiments of piety, the noblest practices, are suspicious without it. Hence, when St Ignatius was told that such or such a person was a saint, “He will be such," he would reply, “if he be mortified." It is not enough to mortify one's self for a time, or in some things; but at all times, and in all things. One irregular gratification con ceded to nature, renders it more stubborn and rebellious, than a hundred denied to it, would have weakened it. This virtue is familiar to all who desire to be perfect; there is nothing of which they do not make use to mortify their natural inclinations. It is enough that they wish to look upon, or say something to induce them to cast down their eyes, or be silent; a wish to hear a piece of news, or to know what is passing, is to them a subject of mortification so much the more meritorious, as it is more common, and that God alone is the witness.  To he often interrupted in a serious occupation, and to bear it with patience and sweetness; to suffer the inconveniences arising from places, persons, seasons, are so many occasions of exercising this virtue; and it may be affirmed with truth, that the most sublime sanctity commonly depends on the generosity and fidelity with which one turns all these little occasions to profit. 

Come to me, all you that labor, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. - Christ and St. Bernard

And let no one say that a mortified life is a painful and sad one: “The yoke of Jesus Christ is always sweet, and his burden light." Were the saints deceived when they said, “I super abound with joy in my tribulations?" “I am in a country," says St Francis Xavier, in one of his letters, “where I want all the comforts of life; yet I feel such interior consolation, that by force of tears I am in danger of losing my sight." 'Let us have a little courage; it is the first step which is the most painful. Try—the thing is worth little which does not value our searching for it. If after fifteen days’ perfect and continual mortification we taste not those sweets which others experience, said a great servant of God, we may say the yoke of the Lord is heavy.

Say thrice: Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

NOVENA IN HONOR OF STS. PETER AND PAUL

Liberation of St. Peter - Bartolomé Esteban Murillo

Liberation of Saint Peter - Acts Of The Apostles – Chapter 12: 1-10

Herod's persecution. Peter's deliverance by an angel.

And at the same time, Herod the king stretched forth his hands, to afflict some of the church. And he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword. And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take up Peter also. Now it was in the days of the Azymes. And when he had apprehended him, he cast him into prison, delivering him to four files of soldiers to be kept, intending, after the pasch, to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison. But prayer was made without ceasing by the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And behold an angel of the Lord stood by him: and a light shined in the room: and he striking Peter on the side, raised him up, saying: Arise quickly. And the chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said to him: Gird thyself, and put on thy sandals. And he did so. And he said to him: Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And going out, he followed him, and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel: but thought he saw a vision. And passing through the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city, which of itself opened to them. And going out, they passed on through one street: and immediately the angel departed from him.

Novena Prayer

Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, I choose you this day and forever to be my special patrons and advocates, you blessed Saint Peter - Prince of the Apostles , because you are the Rock upon the Almighty God has built His Holy Church; you blessed Saint Paul, because you were fore chosen by God as vessel of election and preacher of the truth to the whole world.

Obtain for me, I humbly pray you, lively Faith, firm Hope and burning Love, complete detachment from myself, contempt of the world,  patience in adversity, humility in prosperity, attention in prayer, purity of diligence in fulfilling the duties of my state of life, constancy in my resolutions, resignation to the Will of God and perseverance in the Grace of God even unto death, so that by the means of your intercession and your glorious merits, I might be able to overcome the evil and I be made worthy of the Promises of Christ, enjoy His Presence and love Him forever in time and eternity.

Our Father

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.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and in the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.