I agree….probably most of the corrections necessary for reforms in our church/ Vatican fall directly on us. It’s a spiritual war and we need to be in this.
Perhaps in the way Padre Pio needed superiors that misunderstood and silenced him, so that he would become even holier through obedience and humility? The Holy Spirit knows what is best for our spiritual growth, and that often involves a permission of persecution. God's ways are not our ways.
100% agree!!! St Francis of Assisi's order members said much the same thing about him. They even threw him out! As a friend who was a high profile lawyer in some very high profile cases said one time in reference to a case that was in the headlines: "there are no heroes here " In other words everybody carries the blame no matter the outcome. Not our great saints of course but all the rank and file bring our straws to the camel's load. We are in for strong medicine.
Wow, I didn't know this about St Francis of Assisi! All saints really do follow in Christ's footsteps.
I agree with you Beth... we need to "up our game"!! Time is running out and we don't want to look back on our participation in the"battle"with remorse knowing that we had the opportunity to do more and DIDN'T because we were "busy" with worldly distractions. I have increased my prayers....daily masses....fasting and recitations of the Divine Mercy Chaplet and even more. BUT....my biggest distraction is TV...I'm addicted to Fox News!! I try to get three rosaries in a day ..but could do more if I didn't have to watch some shows on Fox!! I realize that alot of "prayer warriors" have jobs and or kids to tend to and don't have the time that a retired empty nester has... but as they say " Where there's a will ..there's a way!!" And not only that... Its hard to spend a big chunk of the day.... doing battle!! It's alot nicer to sit back and watch Fox and Friends with a big mug of coffee and a blueberry muffin!
So... I don't know how familiar y'all are with Our Lady of Good Success, but she promised that when things were getting their worst in the world and the Church, she would send a very holy pope to restore the Church. But this would not happen, she said, until the Franciscans came back to again be in charge of the Conceptionist Convent in Quito (where Mother Marianna lived and which houses the miraculous statue of OL of Good Success). This hasn't happened yet. Since Mary advised us to pray hard for the sending of this "great prelate," I am going to pray a 54-day rosary novena for the Franciscans to return to the care of the Conceptionist convent in Quito, and for the arrival of this great saintly pope. In case anyone else here is interested in also praying for this. Edit: After re-reading everything about this, I realized I remembered it wrong... The return of the Franciscans will happen WHEN the great pope arrives. So I think I just got the order backwards. The important thing is that she asked us to pray hard for the coming of this great pope that would restore the Church, and she did say it would take place "after the 20th century."
I personally own this… I know it. I’m praying for the graces to do more…because I absolutely can. And yes, the distractions of the world get me too…but if you’re doing three rosaries a day, I wish I could say that. You’re much better than you know! Ok, you’ve also inspired me! Thank you Ellen!
When are you starting PF..Ill include my rosaries !! Are there any other prayers along w rosaries in this novena??
But...I have all the time in the world to do more! I'm not an overachiever... I just don't want to be sorry after its all over and there could have been more souls saved ... who are now lost!!
Gosh Ellen i could have written this! Not fox News but you tube. Its always sensus fidellium or grace force or marino restrepo--all very edifying. But digging into actual prayers is so hard. The last 8 weeks have been nearly impossible. My son and his family were staying with us. Wonderful to have them but prayer time went pffft. Too busy during the day too tired at night. I did manage to pray but quality and quantity suffeted. They left Friday and I am picking up the pieces of my prayer life. Starting in August I hope to be back at Adoration and daily Mass. Upping my game!!!
Yes there are some additional prayers, before, during, and after. The first 27 rosaries are prayed in petition, and the second 27 rosaries are prayed in thanksgiving. It's all explained here: https://www.romancatholicman.com/the-miraculous-54-day-rosary-novena/ I prayed this novena at the start of Covid for the protection of all of my family, close and extended, against serious Covid. Not one person anywhere in my or my husband's families got anything more than a very mild case of Covid. It is a very powerful novena!
And I'm starting this Friday, July 23. That way the last day of the novena will be on the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, and the eve of Our Lady of Sorrows.
Not me, I will be sticking with the Marian calendar and pray leading up to August 8th, the dedication of the basilica of Mary Major, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dedication_of_the_Basilica_of_Saint_Mary_Major Also, known as Our Lady of Snows. I know they do have a national shrine in Illinois, I am sure it would be inspirational.
