This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. By “the power of the Holy Spirit” we can be witnesses and “communicators” of a new and redeemed humanity “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7 8). This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God.
NIC’s Corner My people will live in a peaceful country, in secure dwellings and quiet resting places. Isaiah 32:18 · Bucket List...
Divine Mercy Hikes
Hiking and prayer are naturals together. This was the original method of prayer used by the patriarchs. The premise of this book is to guide the prayerful hiker in completing a Novena of Hikes.
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
DAY 10 - MOTHER MOST AMIABLE, PRAY THAT WE RECEIVE THE GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING!
GOD'S WORD
"The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple." (Psalm 119:130)
"Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints ..." (Ephesians 1:18)
HEROES' WORDS
"Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that thou mayest believe, but believe that thou mayest understand." -St. Augustine
"Understanding is the sure and clear knowledge of some invisible thing." -St. Bernard
"Thus understanding and love, that is, the knowledge of and delight in the truth, are, as it were, the two arms of the soul, with which it embraces and comprehends with all the saints the length and breath, the height and depth, that is the eternity, the love, the goodness, and the wisdom of God." -St. Bernard
MEDITATION
The Gift of Understanding: The infused gift of the Holy Spirit given to the mind for grasping revealed truths easily and profoundly. It differs from faith because it gives insight into the meaning of what a person believes, whereas faith, as such, merely assents to what God has revealed. This gift produces three principal effects in those who possess it. They are enabled to penetrate to the very core of revealed truths, without ever fully understanding their meaning; they are confirmed in their belief by acquiring great certitude in the revealed word of God; and they are brought to the knowledge of a greater number of truths by drawing numerous conclusions from revealed principles. (Fr. John Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary)
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.
Spiritual Communion: My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
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, see below). 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, see below) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc.
PETITION: May truth be revealed, and may America and the Catholic Church become strong in God's power. - Ephesians 6:10
Please consider adding these prayers, until the election is called (more information HERE):
Fr. Ripperger's Recommended Prayers for Breaking Oppression and Sending Back Evil Until the Election is Called
Consecration of One's Exterior Goods to the Blessed Virgin Mary
(This prayer is particularly useful for breaking various forms of oppression. By relinquishing what belongs to us into the hands of the Blessed Virgin, Satan cannot touch them. This is a strong prayer of protection on you and yours):
I; (Name), a faithless sinner, renew and ratify today in thy hands the vows of my Baptism; I renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works; and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before. In the presence of all the heavenly court, I choose thee, O Mary, this day for my Mother and Mistress. Knowing that I have received rights over all my exterior goods by the promulgation of the Natural Law by the Divine Author, I deliver and consecrate to thee, as thy slave, all of my exterior goods, past, present and future; I relinquish into thy hands, my Heavenly Mother, all rights over my exterior goods, including our President, the fairness, honesty and accuracy of the outcome of the election, and our country and I retain for myself no right of disposing the goods that come to me but leave to thee the entire and full right of disposing of all that belongs to me, without exception, according to thy good pleasure, for the greater glory of God in time and in eternity. As I now interiorly relinquish what belongs to me exteriorly into thy hands, I entrust to thee the protection of those exterior goods against the evil one, so that, knowing that they now belong to thee, he cannot touch them. Receive, O good and pious Virgin, this little offering of what little is, in honor of, and in union with, that subjection which the Eternal Wisdom deigned to have to Thy maternity; in homage to the power which both of You have over this poor sinner, and in thanksgiving for the privileges with which the Holy Trinity has favored thee. Trusting in the providential care of God the Father and thy maternal care, I have full confidence that thou wilst take care of me as to the necessities of this life and will not leave me forsaken. God the Father, increase my trust in Thy Son's Mother; Our Lady of Fair Love, give me perfect confidence in the providence of Thy Son. Amen.
Sending Evil Back
(Fr. Chad Ripperger comments that the following prayer may appear harsh, in that it seems to seek evil befall on another, yet it is meant to expose evil and to teach that evil does not win. And, in fact, choosing evil will, eventually, lead to bad repercussions)
Jesus and Mary, I ask that if it be Your Holy Will, that any curses or evil sent against the President or the election process be sent back from whence they came.
All of the daily Novena Prayers and Reflections are also posted at usgraceforce.com
Finally,
brothers, rejoice. Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one
another, live in peace, and the God
of love and PEACE will be with you.
One
way to mend your ways and bring love and peace to your organizations and
relationships is to use an ideal developed by the late Steven Covey.
We all know how our regular bank account works. We
make deposits, save up money, and when we need that money later, we withdraw
it. An emotional bank account is an account of trust instead of money. It’s an
account based on how safe you feel with another person.
Covey identifies six ways to make deposits (or reduce
withdrawals):
1.Understanding
the Individual. This means listening intently to what the other
person is saying and empathizing with how they may feel. It’s important
to care for others and act with kindness toward them.
2.Keeping
Commitments. How do you feel when someone arrives right on
time when you have a meeting? How about when people simply do what they say
they will do? You build up an emotional reserve by keeping your commitments.
3.Clarifying
Expectations. We are not mind readers, and yet we consistently
expect others to know what we expect of them. Communicating our expectations
can help create a higher level of trust. When we ask for what we want, and we
get it, we can then trust a little more.
4.Attending
to the Little Things. Don’t you find that the little things tend to
become the BIG things when they do not receive our attention? Doing the little
things is how we honor and show respect for others. Small kindnesses, a smile,
a little extra effort, a hug, doing something you didn’t “have” to these are
the things that build trust.
5.Showing
Personal Integrity. Integrity is the moral floor upon which trusting
relationships are built. When we operate with sound moral character, it makes
it so easy for others to trust us.
6.Apologizing
When We Make a Withdrawal. We will make mistakes; it’s part of life. But
when you see you have violated a trust, sincerely apologizing is how we make a
deposit to counteract the damage we have done.
When your trust level is high, because you’ve made
lots of deposits, communication is almost effortless. You can be yourself, and
others understand and appreciate you. Then, when you make mistakes or offend
someone unexpectedly, you draw on that reserve and the relationship still
maintains a solid level of trust. Conversely, when you are discourteous,
disrespect others, interrupt others, speak sarcastically or ignore others, your
emotional bank account becomes overdrawn because you have jeopardized the trust
level. When the trust level is low, you have to be very careful of what you
say; you tend to be more political. Our most precious relationships (with our
spouse, kids, friends and boss) require constant deposits, because those
relationships continue to grow and change, and with these changes come new
expectations. If you have a teenager at home, you may make several withdrawals
in just one day! As your marriage evolves, your roles and responsibilities may
change, and your work and home lives may change over time because of career
changes or kids moving out or back in. These relationships require constant
investment.
To remind ourselves of His love
and to prepare our hearts and souls for the reception of His body we should get
to Mass early enough to say the Prayer of St. Thomas prior to Mass.
Almighty and everlasting God, behold I come to the Sacrament
of Thine only-begotten Son, our LordJesus Christ: I come
as one infirm to the physician of life, as one unclean to the fountain of
mercy, as one blind to the light of everlasting brightness, as one poor and
needy to the Lord of heaven and
earth. Therefore I implore the abundance of Thy measureless bounty that Thou
wouldst vouchsafe to heal my infirmity, wash my uncleanness, enlighten my
blindness, enrich my poverty and
clothe my nakedness, that I may receive the Bread of Angels, the King of kings,
the Lord of
lords, with such reverence and humility, with such sorrow and devotion, with
such purity and faith, with such purpose and intention as
may be profitable to my soul's salvation. Grant unto me, I pray, the grace of
receiving not only the Sacrament of our Lord's Body and Blood, but also
the grace and
power of the Sacrament. O most gracious God, grant me so to receive the Body of
Thine only-begotten Son, our LordJesus Christ, which
He took from the Virgin Mary, as to merit to
be incorporated into His mystical Body, and to be numbered amongst His members.
O most loving Father, give me grace to
behold forever Thy beloved Son with His face at last unveiled, whom I now
purpose to receive under the sacramental veil here below.Amen.
Saint Michael the Archangel was
the protector of Israel and is also traditionally known as “The Medicine of
God.” Saint Michael as the military captain of the church of God has a great
interest in the happenings of his people, their calamities and he does not
overlook their calls for his aid. Let us therefore have recourse to him in
times of sickness. He will most certainly come to our assistance bringing the
healing graces of the Redeeming Blood. Yet, if it is the will of the father
that we depart from this world Saint Michael does not abandon us for he is
especially our advocate at our hour of death and assists at every deathbed for
it is part of his office to receive the souls of the elect on their quitting
the flesh. When the last hour of our earthly career draws near we are
confronted by that awful moment when our soul must leave the body which it has
loved so much, to pass through the narrow portal of death, satanic hosts like
raving lions will make a last attack upon our souls. But we need not fear (but
be at peace) if during life we have had devotion to the Precious Blood and have
been faithful in venerating St. Michael and imploring his aid. He will cover us
with his strong shield and lead us safely through the midst of our enemies.
Every Wednesday is
Dedicated to St. Joseph
The Italian culture has
always had a close association with St. Joseph perhaps you could make
Wednesdays centered around Jesus’s Papa. Plan an Italian dinner of pizza or
spaghetti after attending Mass as most parishes have a Wednesday evening Mass.
You could even do carry out to help restaurants. If you are adventurous you
could do the Universal Man Plan: St. Joseph style. Make the evening a family
night perhaps it could be a game night. Whatever you do make the day special.
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