DAY 32 – MARY, GATE OF HEAVEN, PRAY FOR US STATE OF GRACE Devil’s Tactic #1 – Cut us off from our supply lines The first major strategy from the father of lies is actually as old as the Garden of Eden itself. It is simply to convince us we do not need God (Gen. 3:5-6), nor do we need his strength and his power (Eph. 6:10). In modern times, we have witnessed this in the effective campaign of militant secularists who have sought to de-mythologize our faith, a flat out rejection of the supernatural power of God. Once the devil has us convinced that we can challenge him under our own natural power, or simply deny that he even exists, he’s cut us off from the only real power capable of defeating him: God’s supernatural grace. More and more common is the modern “secularized” version of religion that sees it reduced to a kind of psychotherapy for self-actualization. Some seminaries seem to focus on training therapeutic practitioners rather than theologians. In other words, instead of seeing Jesus as God with us — a real and ever-present source of supernatural love and grace — he is reduced to a historic figure we simply emulate as a model in our efforts at self-actualization. Sadly, this secular version of religion has become so prevalent that most people’s eyes begin to glaze over at the mere mention of God’s supernatural grace as a necessary source of power in our lives. St. Peter warns us to be fortes in fide, strong in faith, because the devil prowls around like a lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Pt 5:8-9). Lions size up a herd to find the weakest and easiest target. Once we are detached from God and his supernatural grace, we are powerless to defend ourselves from the tactics of the devil. Our ancestors and all of the saints knew all about this supernatural power and strength and that being in a state of grace was the armor of God that was to be treasured and protected at all cost. Like the scriptural images for the kingdom of God, this Divine Life in God (state of grace) is the “hidden treasure” and the “pearl of great price” (Mt 13:44-46). (excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual). PRAY A ROSARY Choose either: Rosary of the Day: Sorrowful Mysteries Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Sorrowful Mysteries PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary. In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother! In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother. Say: The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be. The Agony in the Garden – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of resignation to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Scourging at the Pillar – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of mortification and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Crowning with Thorns – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Carrying of the Cross – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of patience in adversity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Crucifixion – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of love of our enemies and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Say: The Hail Holy Queen. In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary … In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc.
DAY 33 – MARY, MORNING STAR, PRAY FOR US UNITY IN TRUTH Devil’s Tactic #2 – Divide and Conquer The second modern tactic of the devil is actually the very ancient military strategy of “divide and conquer.” This strategy is defined as one that separates a force that would be stronger if united. As we said, the devil is roaming around like a lion that sizes up the herd to find the easiest target. He is also watching to see who is separated from the herd. Large, coordinated forces are difficult to defeat. If the enemy can separate us into small units or individuals, he can more easily defeat each one. “Strike the shepherd and the sheep scatter” (Zec 13:7). There’s no doubt that the devil has focused his assault on the religious leaders of our day. While these leaders may have had noble intentions of charity and pastoral sensitivity, the results have been devastating. Decades of lenient, non-confrontational leadership have left the faithful feeble and prone to be “conformed to the pattern of this world” (Rom 12:2). St. Augustine once said, “Charity is no substitute for justice withheld.” The unfortunate laxity of discipline has permitted confusion and strife where there should be clarity and harmony, an authentic unity based on the truth. As a result, the modern trend among those who believe and teach falsehoods that directly contradict the Church’s teaching is to consider these pockets of dissent as merely “differing tribes” within the Catholic Church. In this deceptive tribal system, those who believe in and teach all that the Church teaches are then considered extreme among these tribes. Right or wrong, religious leadership seemed to calculate that it is better to refrain from “charged issues” for fear of offending some or even losing members. However, St. Peter Canisius cautioned: “Better that only a few Catholics should be left, staunch and sincere in their religion, than that they should, remaining many, desire as it were to be in collusion with the Church’s enemies and in conformity with the open foes of our faith.” (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual). PRAY A ROSARY Choose either: Rosary of the Day: Glorious Mysteries Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Joyful Mysteries PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary. In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, full-blown white roses, tinged with the red of the passion, to remind thee of thy glories, fruits of the sufferings of thy Son and thee, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother! In thanksgiving (last 27 days):Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses full blown white roses, tinged with the red of the passion, to remind thee of thy glories, fruits of the sufferings of thy Son and thee each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou bast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother. Say: The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be. For each of the following Mysteries, say: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. The Resurrection – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of faith and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Ascension – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of hope and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Descent of the Holy Spirit – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Assumption of Mary – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of union with Christ and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Coronation of the Blessed Mother – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of union with thee and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Say: The Hail Holy Queen. In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary … In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc.
DAY 34 – MARY, HEALTH OF THE SICK, PRAY FOR US THIS DAY WE FIGHT Spiritually speaking, the devil is doing all that he can to catch us isolated and unarmed on the battlefield — no spiritual armor, no spiritual weapons, and no comrades in the heavenly realm to fight alongside of us. In other words, the reason evil is promoted so effectively today is because we’re ignoring God’s offer of supernatural strength and power and ignoring the mightiest of all allied forces: the Communion of Saints. C.S. Lewis wrote, “Enemy-occupied territory — that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us: “This dramatic situation of ‘the whole world, which is in the power of the evil one,’ (1 Jn 5:19; cf. 1 Pt 5:8) makes man’s life a battle: ‘the whole of man’s history has been the story of dour combat with the powers of evil, stretching, so our Lord tells us, from the very dawn of history until the last day. Finding himself in the midst of the battlefield, man has to struggle to do what is right, and it is at great cost to himself, and aided by God’s grace, that he succeeds in achieving his own inner integrity’ (Gaudium et Spes, 37:2)” (CCC 409). Are you ready to do battle? In the movie, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Aragorn calls his men to throw down the gauntlet against the forces of evil. Let this call be ours: “My brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me! A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the age of Men comes crashing down! But it is not this day! This day we fight!” (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual). PRAY A ROSARY Choose either: Rosary of the Day: Glorious Mysteries Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Joyful Mysteries PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary. In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys, each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee, thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother! In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, Dispenser of God’s graces. and Mother of all who invoke thee! thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother. Say: The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be. The Annunciation – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Visitation – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Nativity – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of detachment from the world and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Presentation – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of purity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of obedience to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Say: The Hail Holy Queen. In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary … In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc.
DAY 35 – MARY, REFUGE OF SINNERS, PRAY FOR US CATCH EXCELLENCE The desire to enter the fight is a desire to enter into a genuine training in holiness, pursuing the goal of becoming one of God’s champions. St. Paul put it this way: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Cor 9:24-27). St. Paul talks about a strict training and a desire to run in such a way as to win. The famous Green Bay Packer coach, Vince Lombardi, would have heard these words from St. Paul many times in his life, as he went to Mass every day. In fact, he admitted, “I derive my strength from daily Mass and Communion.” As Coach Lombardi describes what it takes to be number one, see if you do not recognize a bit of St. Paul in his words: “And in truth, I’ve never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn’t appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something in good men that really yearns for discipline and the harsh reality of head to head combat. I don’t say these things because I believe in the ‘brute’ nature of men or that men must be brutalized to be combative. I believe in God, and I believe in human decency. But I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour — his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear — is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle — victorious.” Sadly, far too many people have become conditioned to cower when they hear the words, “strive for perfection.” In the coddled culture in which we live, the reflex response is, “I will never be perfect.” Yet, Coach Lombardi said, “Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual). FIND “CATCH EXCELLENCE” GEAR: HERE PRAY A ROSARY Choose either: Rosary of the Day: Joyful Mysteries Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Sorrowful Mysteries PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary. In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother! In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother. Say: The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be. The Agony in the Garden – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of resignation to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Scourging at the Pillar – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of mortification and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Crowning with Thorns – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Carrying of the Cross – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of patience in adversity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Crucifixion – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of love of our enemies and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Say: The Hail Holy Queen. In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary … In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc.
I found this article by Fr Heilman, speaking of the mid point in the Novena. A few days late, however better late than never! https://www.romancatholicman.com/novena-nation-mid-point-assessment/ As we have just passed through the mid-point of our 54 day “Novena for Our Nation,” I wanted to look back at what I wrote, as we began this very important appeal to Our Lady and Our Lord. Why? Because much has happened in the past four weeks, including the threat of nuclear war, hurricanes, earthquakes and fires. These events are interesting, when we recall Elijah’s encounter with God in 1 Kings:11-13 … the Lord was not in the wind, earthquake or fire, but in the still small voice. Many look for God in these events, but will not find Him until they set aside their worldly distractions and come to him in those quiet moments of prayer. It is only in these still moments of “Divine Connection” that we receive the “Gift of Discernment” … that necessary gift that “informs our soul” of the will of God. God wants an army, but He wants an army willing to “take orders.” Unless and until we seek this “Divine Connection,” we will continue to be tossed about by the stormy waves of this chaotic world, whose prince wants our demise. Here’s what I wrote on August 14 – the eve of “Novena for Our Nation” … On the eve of the start of Novena for Our Nation, I’d like to speak to the significance of what we are about to do. Many of us have seen this time as, possibly, one of the most important times in salvation history to pray. Not only are we now in the “womb” of the centennial year of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima (May 13 to October 13), but many are also taking note of celestial signs in the sky – Solar Eclipse on August 21 & Rev. 12 Sign on September 23 … I wrote about these HERE. Add to this the division in our world and our Church, and the increased tension between countries. Pray, we must! But, there is more to it than that. At least, right now, I fall into this camp. If we believe what was reported to have happened to Pope Leo XIII in 1884 (I wrote about that HERE), many, including me, believe we are passing through a century of the “unbinding of Satan.” And, many believe this 100 year period began with Our Lady’s warnings in Fatima in 1917 (exactly 33 years, to the day, from Pope Leo XIII’s vision). So, there is good news and more challenging news. If this is true, the good news is that we are about to see Satan bound again, and an era of peace and renewed faith across the planet. The “more challenging news” is that Satan is only days away from the end of his liberated time, and he is striking as hard as he can, as his days are numbered. The Latin phrase, motus in fine velocior, is commonly used to indicate the faster passing of the time at the end of an historical period. I’ve heard it said that it means, “Things accelerate toward the end.” I concur with those who believe we are living through an historical hour which is not necessarily the end of times, but certainly could be marked as the end of an era. In the United States, according to those who work in exorcism ministry, there is an alarming increase in demonic activity (see HERE). In the culture, we are seeing an overreach of evil never witnessed before. It is important to understand Satan’s names: “diabolos”means “he who places division or separation,” and “daio,” the root of “demon,” means “to divide.” In these final days of Satan’s unbinding, we have all seen how these outrageous demonic activities have caused great division in our families, our communities, and even in our Church. Also, I’m watching some people worry about these next few days, leading to the 100th anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun in Fatima. I mentioned this to the world’s leading expert on this topic, Emmett O’Regan, who wrote the quintessential book on this entitled, Unveiling the Apocalypse (The book is really thick … filled with information). Emmett said this, They shouldn’t worry. I think the end of the period of Satan’s greater power should be a good thing. Speaking about the “Three Days of Darkness,” Emmett says, I think the 3 days of darkness are right here and now in a figurative sense, and we are about to come into the light. I don’t know for sure of course, but all the indications are that the end of the period of Satan’s unbinding is very positive, and it will allow for the preaching of the Gospel to all nations before the end of the world. Emmett went on to say, Tell them not to worry about the three days of darkness. I am near certain we have lived through it since the late sixties. I think this was part of the “mid-point revolution” that you have perceived yourself. I think the restoration of the Church is at hand. It is the only thing that makes sense of the end of Satan’s greater power. The Devil will be bound again to allow for the preaching of the Gospel to the ends of the earth before the end of the world. It’s all encapsulated in the original messages of La Salette. I think what you are doing (45,000+ praying the Novena for Our Nation) will bring about great graces. Just to recap Melanie’s original secret (the Church approved one): “After all these calamities have arrived, many will recognize the hand of God on them. They will convert, and do penance for their sins. A great king will go up on the throne, and will reign many years. Religion will re-flourish and spread all over the world, and there will be a great abundance. A chastisement is still possible. But Our Lady will come through for us in the end. As Sr. Lucia said during her interview with Fr Fuentes: “And the third, because in the plans of the Divine Providence, when God is going to chastise the world He always first exhausts all other remedies. When He sees that the world pays no attention whatsoever, then, as we say in our imperfect way of talking, with a certain fear He presents us the last means of salvation, His Blessed Mother. If we despise and reject this last means, Heaven will no longer pardon us, because we will have committed a sin that the Gospel calls a sin against the Holy Spirit. This sin consists in openly rejecting – with full knowledge and will – the salvation that is put in our hands.” I’m not worried at all. There are times I even say, much like Jonah, “Bring it on, God! Whatever it takes to turn our world toward You … Bring it on!” But, like Nineveh, I believe 45,000+ people in prayer and penance can go a long way in appealing to God to pardon us. You see? God is love. He is LOVE!!! And, he has given us His mother, Mary. You and I have been chosen to embrace this “last means for salvation,” and God and our Blessed Mother will cover us and bring blessing into our lives. I believe this! As I said, at last count, we have over 45,000 people choosing to spend 54 Days in prayer and penance, in full union with the one chosen to crush the head of the serpent … the “last means for salvation.” Like many, I believe our Lady is calling for an army of “Special Forces Believers” – true believers, who actually believe in the miracle power of prayer – to rise up and be her mighty prayer warriors. Belief is a critical component (Jesus always sought this before granting a miracle). Through the power of the rosary, we are being called out to the front lines of the battlefield to stay the destructive power of evil and seek the transformation of ourselves, the nation and our world. “Penance, penance, penance” was the call of St. Michael in the Third Secret of Fatima. Yes!! We must intensify the strength of our prayers by acts of penance! The time is now to enlist in a new “Special Forces Training,” and prepare ourselves to, once again, meet the enemy with an elite fighting force! The time is now to pick up the supernatural weapons given to us by God!!! This is a call to arms!! Please do your best to convince family, friends and neighbors to come under the mantle of Mary during these last days of Satan’s unbinding. Help them, too, to find refuge under the Mary’s mantle. There are three things I am convinced we MUST do … Pray this novena with 45,000+, and pray the Rosary every day of your life Be enrolled in “Mary’s Mantle” – The Brown Scapular Be consecrated – Marian Consecration, which we will all do on Day 54
DAY 36 – MARY, COMFORTER OF THE AFFLICTED, PRAY FOR US SUPERIOR IDEAL Among the ways we have just let Coach Vince Lombardi inspire us, let’s focus on the most important one: He went to Mass and received Communion every day of his life. Pope John Paul II said the Holy Eucharist “contains the Church’s entire spiritual wealth: Christ Himself.” Precisely during a time when our culture was becoming disconnected from their True Source, Vince Lombardi remained firmly and wholly connected to his. No matter what Lombardi dedicated himself to, he never abandoned his true self as a child of God and devoted disciple of Jesus Christ. More than anything, he understood the necessity of receiving God’s Divine Life, as he brought himself, daily, to the altar of our Lord to receive him — body, blood, soul, and divinity — as the real source of power in his life. This was where his energy, his very life came from. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen once said, “As a man must be born before he can begin to lead his physical life, so he must be born to lead a Divine Life. That birth occurs in the Sacrament of Baptism. To survive, he must be nourished by Divine Life; that is done in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.” There is no other authentic way to strive for perfection. Lombardi recognized this as the superior ideal that must never be abandoned, but interwoven into all of our pursuits, whether it is as a businessman or parent or professor or coach. Vince Lombardi lived profoundly by God at the exact time our culture was unraveling and when it was all too easy to abandon God (as it continues to be today). How easy it was (and is) for so many to follow the crowd through the wide gate (Mt 7:13) of the many fads and trends of immorality, self-gratification, and anti-authority in the 1960s and up to today. Lombardi is yet another reminder that the real heroes of every age are those brave souls who courageously accept the challenge of integrity by ignoring the trends of their times while remaining true to themselves, even if it means being a signum cui contradicetur, a sign of contradiction, in the world (Lk 2:34). (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual). PRAY A ROSARY Choose either: Rosary of the Day: Sorrowful Mysteries Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Glorious Mysteries PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary. In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, full-blown white roses, tinged with the red of the passion, to remind thee of thy glories, fruits of the sufferings of thy Son and thee, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother! In thanksgiving (last 27 days):Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses full blown white roses, tinged with the red of the passion, to remind thee of thy glories, fruits of the sufferings of thy Son and thee each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou bast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother. Say: The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be. For each of the following Mysteries, say: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. The Resurrection – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of faith and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Ascension – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of hope and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Descent of the Holy Spirit – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Assumption of Mary – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of union with Christ and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Coronation of the Blessed Mother – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of union with thee and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Say: The Hail Holy Queen. In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary … In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc.
DAY 37 – MARY, HELP OF CHRISTIANS, PRAY FOR US SET THE WORLD ABLAZE The word “courage” actually derives its meaning from a Latin root word “cor” which means “heart.” It means we are never more courageous than when we “have the courage of our convictions,” that is, when we live from the heart, remaining true to who we really are. Lombardi was courageous because he simply yielded to his raison d‘être, his reason for existence. St. Catherine of Siena put it this way: “If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze!” Who are we, then, and what is our reason for existence? Sometimes the message escapes us in its simplicity. Jesus said, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike” (Mt 11:25). The Baltimore Catechism states who we are quite plainly: “We were made to the image and likeness of God … to know him, to love him, and to serve him in this world, and to be happy with him forever in heaven.” The spiritual master, Fr. Thomas Merton, wrote: “To say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love. Love is my true identity. Selflessness is my true self. Love is my true character. Love is my name.” It was on the gridiron in the 1960s that Coach Vince Lombardi, fully grounded in this superior ideal, compelled his men to strive for greatness, never settling for second best. At the very same time, the Church Fathers of the Second Vatican Council were calling upon all of us to engage a spiritual heroism — the universal call to holiness — not settling for a second – or third-rate spiritual life. The challenge is to move “ALL IN” for God and his plan for our life. (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual). PRAY A ROSARY Choose either: Rosary of the Day: Glorious Mysteries Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Joyful Mysteries PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary. In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys, each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee, thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother! In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, Dispenser of God’s graces. and Mother of all who invoke thee! thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother. Say: The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be. The Annunciation – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Visitation – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Nativity – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of detachment from the world and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Presentation – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of purity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of obedience to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Say: The Hail Holy Queen. In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary … In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc.
DAY 38 – MARY, QUEEN OF ANGELS, PRAY FOR US LOVE DEMANDS EFFORT Throughout all of salvation history we see such cries as “Let his face shine upon you” (Nm 6:25) and “Do not hide your face from me” (Ps 27:9, 69:17, 102:3). This face-to-face, “look-me-in-the-eye” bonding is essential in understanding the necessity for making a semper fi connection with Christ. This kind of face-to-face encounter with God changes everything as it calls forth, quite literally, a transformation that cannot be undone. It marks a major shift away from a “face-in-the-crowd,” “Christian in name only,” “do-only-what’s-minimally-required” empty religiosity, into a totally dedicated (semper fi) loyalty in love that remains faithful to God, to each other, and to the mission, no matter what. Pope John Paul II said, “Real love is demanding. For it was Jesus — our Jesus himself — who said: ‘You are my friends if you do what I command you’ (Jn 15:14). Love demands effort and a personal commitment to the will of God. It means discipline and sacrifice, but it also means joy and human fulfillment.” Mother Teresa said of love: “Love to be real, it must cost — it must hurt — it must empty us of self.” “We have a tendency to think only about self-protection, safety, and avoidance of trouble,” says Bishop Robert Barron, “This tends to be our primary frame of reference. But God thinks relentlessly in terms of love, even when that love entails suffering. So, we ask ourselves, what is our final frame of reference? Is it, ‘How do I avoid pain?’ or is it, ‘How do I love?’ So, if I wake up every morning and my basic question is ‘How am I going to avoid pain?’ then I am going to live my life in a certain way — ultimately, a selfish way. But if when I wake up in the morning I say, ‘How do I love today?’ then I will live the life of a saint.” (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual). PRAY A ROSARY Choose either: Rosary of the Day: Luminous Mysteries Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Sorrowful Mysteries PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary. In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother! In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother. Say: The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be. The Agony in the Garden – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of resignation to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Scourging at the Pillar – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of mortification and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Crowning with Thorns – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Carrying of the Cross – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of patience in adversity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Crucifixion – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of love of our enemies and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Say: The Hail Holy Queen. In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary … In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc.
DAY 39 - MARY, QUEEN OF PROPHETS, PRAY FOR US ONE THING NECESSARY Pope Benedict XVI said, "The heart open to God, purified by contemplation of God, is stronger than guns and weapons of every kind ... the Evil One has power in this world, as we experience continually; he has power because our freedom continually lets itself be led away from God." This brings us to the key to Pope John Paul II's master plan for the new millennium, as he asks us to set aside our disconnected busy-ness, and to start fresh by contemplating the face of Christ. It is clear that the Holy Father was encouraging us to place our emphasis on reconnecting to the Divine Life of God, which is classically referred to as the unum necessarium, the one thing necessary. The "one thing necessary" constitutes the essential foundation for the interior life and consists in hearing the word of God and living by it (I will serve!). It stems from the story of Martha and Mary (Lk 10:38-42), where we first see that, amazingly, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity was sitting right in their living room. Now, Martha remains busy with the good and noble protocol of hospitality while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus, her eyes locked on his holy face, peering into his soul, hanging on his every word. Mary is actually in adoration, soaking in everything our Lord wants to give her. I like to say that she is "Mary-nating" - soaking in the gusher of God's graces. When Martha objects to Mary's lack of activity, Jesus tells Martha that she remains anxious and upset about many things while Mary has chosen the better portion, the "one thing necessary" (unum necessarium). Mary was the one who was making the guest truly feel welcomed while Martha remained detached, going through the motions of the demands of protocol. God is light and love and truth who brings order and meaning and serenity to our lives. While we remain disconnected from our Source, we remain easily agitated and frustrated in our disordered and chaotic existence as we continue to walk in darkness. (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual). PRAY A ROSARY Choose either: Rosary of the Day: Sorrowful Mysteries Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Glorious Mysteries PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary. In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, full-blown white roses, tinged with the red of the passion, to remind thee of thy glories, fruits of the sufferings of thy Son and thee, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God's graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother! In thanksgiving (last 27 days):Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses full blown white roses, tinged with the red of the passion, to remind thee of thy glories, fruits of the sufferings of thy Son and thee each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou bast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother. Say: The Apostles' Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be. For each of the following Mysteries, say: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. The Resurrection - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of faith and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Ascension - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of hope and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Descent of the Holy Spirit - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Assumption of Mary - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of union with Christ and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Coronation of the Blessed Mother - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of union with thee and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Say: The Hail Holy Queen. In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary ... In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc. Order 54 Day Novena Prayers and Reflections in Book Form: HERE Order 54 Day Novena Prayers and Reflections in Book Form (bundle of 20): HERE Order Combat Rosary: HERE Order Scapular Medal: HERE *All sales support Catholic charities
23 Sep Day 40, Novena for Our Nation – Divine Connection Richard Heilman Comments are off DAY 40 – MARY, QUEEN OF APOSTLES, PRAY FOR US DIVINE CONNECTION The Gospel story Pope John Paul II sets as the foundation for his new millennium appeal is the “Call of the First Disciples” (Lk 5:1-11). This is the classic scene in which Jesus tells Peter to “Put out into deep water (duc in altum), and let down the nets for a catch.” Peter’s response is: “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” They proceed to catch the maximum amount of fish their nets can hold. Peter, filled with awe and wonder once he realizes he is in the presence of divinity, does not feel worthy to be called. But Jesus says, “Do not be afraid, from now on you will be fishers of men.” Why does the Holy Father choose this particular Gospel reading as the basis for his new millennium master plan? Because Peter’s words — “We’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything” — could not speak any more directly to the modern tsunami-like wave of secularism rolling across our planet, as well as our endless parade of parish programs that are mostly done as though God were not there (etsi Deus non daretur). In other words, the story of the great catch is meant to show that when we try to move only under our own natural power without God (we’ve worked hard), we will flounder in the chaos of darkness (all night) and come up empty (caught nothing) every time. Jesus asks us to get in sync with him (to obey him) and not be afraid to set aside our superficial (man-powered) tendencies, as we enter the depths of a supernatural (God-powered) life. Everything in the religious order — sacraments, devotions, teaching, scripture, moral discipline, preaching, etc. — is meant to bring us to this deeper state of being, to this Divine Connection. Jesus calls it “abiding” (Jn 15:4). The Latin for this is maneo which means “to remain” or “to stay” or “to endure” (or like the Marine Corps’ semper fi). This Divine Connection, this conformity to love, this participation in the Divine Life of God is the very power of the Holy Spirit and is referred to as being in a state of grace. (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual). PRAY A ROSARY Choose either: Rosary of the Day: Joyful Mysteries Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Joyful Mysteries PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary. In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys, each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee, thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother! In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, Dispenser of God’s graces. and Mother of all who invoke thee! thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother. Say: The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be. The Annunciation – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Visitation – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Nativity – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of detachment from the world and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Presentation – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of purity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of obedience to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Say: The Hail Holy Queen. In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary … In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc. Order 54 Day Novena Prayers and Reflections in Book Form: HERE Order 54 Day Novena Prayers and Reflections in Book Form (bundle of 20): HERE Order Combat Rosary: HERE Order Scapular Medal: HERE *All sales support Catholic charities
DAY 41 - MARY, QUEEN OF MARTYRS, PRAY FOR US GOD STRONG The U.S. Army ran a very effective "Army Strong" advertising campaign to recruit soldiers. The key message was: "There is strong, and then there is Army Strong." The commercial goes on to say, "It is a strength like none other. It is a physical strength. It is an emotional strength. It is strength of character. It is strength of purpose. The strength to do good today, and the strength to do well tomorrow. The strength to obey, and the strength to command. The strength to build, and the strength to tear down. The strength to get yourself over, and the strength to get over yourself." These are warrior assets necessary to overcome the enemy. However, recall that our struggle is not against flesh and blood combatants, but against the much stronger and craftier spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm (Eph 6:11). This means it is not enough for you to possess the power of a warrior. You must discover what it means to be supernaturally empowered by God. You are to become not just Army Strong, but God Strong. You must know what it means to be in a state of grace. St. Ignatius of Loyola said, "Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to him and if they were to allow his grace to mold them accordingly." Fr. John Hardon wrote: "St. Thomas Aquinas believed that man is more than a composite of body and soul, that his is nothing less than elevated to a supernatural order which participates, as far as a creature can, in the very nature of God. Accordingly, a person in the state of grace, or divine friendship, possesses certain enduring powers, the infused virtues and gifts, that raise him to an orbit of existence as far above nature as heaven is above earth, and that give him abilities of thought and operation that are literally born, not of the will of flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual). PRAY A ROSARY Choose either: Rosary of the Day: Glorious Mysteries Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Sorrowful Mysteries PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary. In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God's graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother! In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God's graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother. Say: The Apostles' Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be. The Agony in the Garden - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of resignation to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Scourging at the Pillar - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of mortification and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Crowning with Thorns - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Carrying of the Cross - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of patience in adversity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Crucifixion - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of love of our enemies and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Say: The Hail Holy Queen. In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary ... In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc. Order 54 Day Novena Prayers and Reflections in Book Form: HERE Order 54 Day Novena Prayers and Reflections in Book Form (bundle of 20): HERE Order Combat Rosary: HERE Order Scapular Medal: HERE
I am sorry guys, I had a medical procedure today which left me a bit off all day. 25 Sep Day 42, Novena for Our Nation – You Made Us for Yourself Richard Heilman Comments are off DAY 42 – MARY, QUEEN OF CONFESSORS, PRAY FOR US YOU MADE US FOR YOURSELF The unfortunate reality is that the modern campaign of militant secular indoctrination has been so severe that fewer remain who believe or trust in God’s supernatural power. In spiritual terms, this makes us puny and scrawny rather than strong and powerful mighty warriors ready to confront the powers of darkness in the heavenly realm. With so many modernized Christians ignoring the reality of grace, it is no wonder that evil is thriving in our day. In speaking of the need for a New Evangelization, Pope Benedict XVI said, “the true problem of our times is the ‘Crisis of God,’ the absence of God, disguised by an empty religiosity” … a kind of lukewarmness, going through the motions of one’s faith, which ends up collapsing completely. The terrible consequence of this war on the supernatural is seen in the epidemic of spiritual sloth in our times — hearts deadened to the Divine Life of God. Bishop Robert Barron draws attention to this very real epidemic in our times: “A real concrete statistic around this is that 70 percent of the baptized faithful are staying away from Mass on a regular basis. And we’re doing well in comparison with the European countries. Vatican II said the Mass is the source and summit of the Christian life … everything leads to and flows from the Mass. The Eucharist is everything, and 70 percent could care less about it. Yes, there are many reasons around why some do not go to Mass, but I suspect that, for most, they are suffering from spiritual sloth; they could just care less.” Aristotle said, “No one can long remain in sadness without any joy.” Depriving oneself of spiritual joy through neglect and sloth leaves one desperate to fill that void with inferior pleasures. Hence, it is no wonder why we see so many people frantically attempting to fill their lives with every kind of activity and distraction possible, desperately trying to avoid the gloom of emptiness. St. Augustine said, “You have made us for yourself, Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual). PRAY A ROSARY Choose either: Rosary of the Day: Joyful Mysteries Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Glorious Mysteries PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary. In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, full-blown white roses, tinged with the red of the passion, to remind thee of thy glories, fruits of the sufferings of thy Son and thee, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother! In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses full blown white roses, tinged with the red of the passion, to remind thee of thy glories, fruits of the sufferings of thy Son and thee each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother. Say: The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be. For each of the following Mysteries, say: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. The Resurrection – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of faith and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Ascension – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of hope and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Descent of the Holy Spirit – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Assumption of Mary – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of union with Christ and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Coronation of the Blessed Mother – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of union with thee and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Say: The Hail Holy Queen. In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary … In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc. Novena For Our Nation Website: HERE Order 54 Day Novena Prayers and Reflections in Book Form: HERE
DAY 43 - MARY, QUEEN OF VIRGINS, PRAY FOR US OIL - OBEDIENCE IN LOVE How then are we to prepare our restless hearts to receive the power of the Holy Spirit? Recall Jesus' parable of the ten virgins (Mt 25:1-12), five of whom were wise and five of whom were foolish. When the time came to meet the Bridegroom and go in to join the festivities, the foolish ones did not have enough oil for their lamps. They were forced to go get more oil while everyone else went in to "join the dance." Why has study after study shown that people of religious conviction are the happiest? For those who have yielded to a deeply devoted (semper fi) love relationship with Jesus, there is a distinctive serenity and joy about them. There seems to be an extra spring in their step and twinkle in their eye. Far from the boredom and misery of sloth, they radiate a supernatural love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, and gentleness (Fruit of the Holy Spirit, Gal 5:22-23). They are attracted to spiritual things. They have a resolve to lighten the burdens of others. They have a sense of purpose and mission. They seem to have discovered the way to "join the dance" of life. In the meantime, like the five foolish virgins, there are those who seem to be "on the outside looking in," wondering what it takes to be invited to "the dance of life." Now, the Holy Spirit is often depicted as fire. Jesus said, "I have come to cast fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled" (Lk 12:49). So, what is the fuel we offer for the Holy Spirit's fire? The word "oil" provides a superb acronym to describe the necessary fuel for receiving the fire of the Holy Spirit: O.I.L. = Obedience In Love. Blessed Charles de Foucauld called obedience the "yardstick of love." It's a clear way we measure the fidelity and unselfishness of our hearts. Jesus said that his yoke is easy and his burden light (Mt 11:28-30) not because he would ask less of us, but because he knew that love renders suffering bearable and even joyful. St. Ignatius of Loyola said, "It is not hard to obey when we love the one whom we obey." (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual). PRAY A ROSARY Choose either: Rosary of the Day: Sorrowful Mysteries Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Joyful Mysteries PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary. In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys, each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God's graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee, thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother! In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, Dispenser of God's graces. and Mother of all who invoke thee! thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother. Say: The Apostles' Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be. The Annunciation - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Visitation - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Nativity - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of detachment from the world and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Presentation - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of purity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of obedience to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Say: The Hail Holy Queen. In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary ... In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc. Order 54 Day Novena Prayers and Reflections in Book Form: HERE Order 54 Day Novena Prayers and Reflections in Book Form (bundle of 20): HERE Order Combat Rosary: HERE Order Scapular Medal: HERE *All sales support Catholic causes
Don, I hope that you are doing ok and that you have recovered from the medical procedure you mentioned above. I just want to state that I think Father Heilman is amazing! I bet his book, is a good investment. So many of the messages on each day's novena appear so timely right now, it is almost as if he knew the future with some of the day's messages. Of course, the messages are important everyday. Looking at day 41, this past Sunday which was right around the time that the Filaill Correction was submitted to the press, GOD STRONG The U.S. Army ran a very effective "Army Strong" advertising campaign to recruit soldiers. The key message was: "There is strong, and then there is Army Strong." The commercial goes on to say, "It is a strength like none other. It is a physical strength. It is an emotional strength. It is strength of character. It is strength of purpose. The strength to do good today, and the strength to do well tomorrow. The strength to obey, and the strength to command. The strength to build, and the strength to tear down. The strength to get yourself over, and the strength to get over yourself." These are warrior assets necessary to overcome the enemy. However, recall that our struggle is not against flesh and blood combatants, but against the much stronger and craftier spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm (Eph 6:11). This means it is not enough for you to possess the power of a warrior. You must discover what it means to be supernaturally empowered by God. You are to become not just Army Strong, but God Strong. You must know what it means to be in a state of grace. St. Ignatius of Loyola said, "Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to him and if they were to allow his grace to mold them accordingly." Fr. John Hardon wrote: "St. Thomas Aquinas believed that man is more than a composite of body and soul, that his is nothing less than elevated to a supernatural order which participates, as far as a creature can, in the very nature of God. Accordingly, a person in the state of grace, or divine friendship, possesses certain enduring powers, the infused virtues and gifts, that raise him to an orbit of existence as far above nature as heaven is above earth, and that give him abilities of thought and operation that are literally born, not of the will of flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual). PS - This idea first occurred to me a few days ago when I read the Novena for September 16th entitled, "Divide and Conquer". This is, of course, another common theme but I had just posted about it a few days earlier and then I read the article about Cardinals Sarah and Muller encouraging unity, http://www.patheos.com/blogs/cathol...rah-urge-unity-charity-in-liturgical-matters/. It is quite possible that many of us are being led in the same direction at the same time.
Yes I agree Carol. I picked up this book as well as a few other pocket sized ones. I am convinced that the spiritual battle rages on every day and especially now these writings are very timely. We can either pick up our cross or sit it out (or so we think) but in the end we all are playing a role and will give account to Our Lord. Let it be that each of us did what was given them.
Don, How are you feeling? I haven't purchased his book yet but the impression from the posts is that is seems good and now that you have stated so, I will be getting a copy. Thank you!
Im doing better today Carol, thank you for asking. Yesterday was rough after having the biopsy and with the nature of this illness I could be feeling poorly in a few hours. It ebbs and flows that way. I am making the best of it though and just offering it up to Our Lord and Lady. I made it to Mass this morning so it is a good day! Also, the letter to Pope Francis really saddened me. I hate to see the Church going through this but I trust that it will work out in the end.
DAY 44 - MARY, QUEEN OF ALL SAINTS, PRAY FOR US "CAN'T QUIT - WON'T FALL - PUT ME IN THE FIGHT!" The Soldier's Creed of the United States Army states: "I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills." Former Navy SEAL Eric Greitens said: "One of the things that makes a warrior into a warrior is that they are dedicated to developing their strength in service to others." Whether it's a Navy SEAL or a saint, we admire those who put it all on the line - go "all in!" - those who are totally dedicated to the mission. In the military, this dedication is revealed in the Warrior Ethos, four simple lines embedded in the Soldier's Creed: I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. Sustained and developed through discipline, commitment, and pride, these four lines motivate every soldier to persevere and, ultimately, to refuse defeat. What would happen if we dedicated ourselves to the training and mission of Jesus Christ with the same intensity Eric Greitens and his comrades dedicated themselves to the "Warrior Ethos" and to their training to become Navy SEALs? What is keeping us from becoming, in essence, SEALS for Christ? We must learn the special operations (special ops) techniques and procedures for search and rescue missions of fallen comrades (those who have become weak in their faith). Although rarely wielded by the Catholics today, this supernatural strength and these techniques are truly authentic gifts of the Church that are field-tested and battle-hardened. We must commit ourselves to their restoration if we ever hope to stem the tide of evil and rescue our lost loved ones who may be destined for eternal damnation. (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual). PRAY A ROSARY Choose either: Rosary of the Day: Glorious Mysteries Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Sorrowful Mysteries PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary. In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God's graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother! In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses blood red roses to remind thee of the passion of thy divine Son, with Whom thou didst so fully partake of its bitterness each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God's graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother. Say: The Apostles' Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be. The Agony in the Garden - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of resignation to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Scourging at the Pillar - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of mortification and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Crowning with Thorns - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Carrying of the Cross - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of patience in adversity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Crucifixion - Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these blood red roses with a petition for the virtue of love of our enemies and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Say: The Hail Holy Queen. In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary ... In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc. Order 54 Day Novena Prayers and Reflections in Book Form: HERE Order 54 Day Novena Prayers and Reflections in Book Form (bundle of 20): HERE Order Combat Rosary: HERE Order Scapular Medal: HERE
28 Sep Day 45, Novena for Our Nation – You Are a Commissioned Officer Richard Heilman Comments are off DAY 45 – MARY, QUEEN CONCEIVED WITHOUT ORIGINAL SIN, PRAY FOR US YOU ARE A COMMISSIONED OFFICER Admission into Christ’s elite fighting force begins by knowing that by your baptism you have been “commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ to fulfill a most dramatic mission; it is the mission of saving souls. This mission cannot be accomplished without entering into conflict with ‘the world, the flesh and the devil.’ It is not a mission for the fainthearted or for those who wish to take the wide road to heaven. It is the path of warfare, of spiritual battle.” “Holiness,” writes Pope Benedict XVI, “has its deepest root in the grace of baptism, in being grafted on to the Paschal Mystery of Christ, by which his Spirit is communicated to us, his very life as the Risen One.” “Jesus Christ is the one whom the Father anointed with the Holy Spirit and established as priest, prophet, and king. The whole People of God participates in these three offices of Christ and bears the responsibilities for mission and service that flow from them” (CCC 783). In St. Faustina’s Diary (742), our Lord put it this way: “I am giving you three ways of exercising mercy toward your neighbor: the first — by deed, the second — by word, the third — by prayer. In these three degrees is contained the fullness of mercy, and it is an unquestionable proof of love of me.” Notice how these three degrees of mercy — prayer, word, and deed — are present in the corresponding offices of priest, prophet, and king. From the very first days of our membership in the Mystical Body of Christ, we are, in essence, commissioned officers in the Church Militant. In other words, the power of the Holy Spirit to combat evil and rescue souls proceeds precisely through the three offices of Christ: Priest, Prophet, and King. (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual). PRAY A ROSARY Choose either: Rosary of the Day: Luminous Mysteries Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Glorious Mysteries PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary. In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, full-blown white roses, tinged with the red of the passion, to remind thee of thy glories, fruits of the sufferings of thy Son and thee, each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! Thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother! In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses full blown white roses, tinged with the red of the passion, to remind thee of thy glories, fruits of the sufferings of thy Son and thee each rose recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee! thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother. Say: The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be. For each of the following Mysteries, say: Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. The Resurrection – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of faith and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Ascension – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of hope and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Descent of the Holy Spirit – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Assumption of Mary – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of union with Christ and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. The Coronation of the Blessed Mother – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be. Concluding Prayer: I bind these full-blown roses with a petition for the virtue of union with thee and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet. Say: The Hail Holy Queen. In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary … In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc. Order 54 Day Novena Prayers and Reflections in Book Form: HERE Order 54 Day Novena Prayers and Reflections in Book Form (bundle of 20): HERE Order Combat Rosary: HERE Order Scapular Medal: HERE *All sales support Catholic causes
