Jun 3, 2015 |
Dear Sisters in Christ,
I do not think it is a coincidence that today, the Birthday of Leonie Martin, is the first day of the Novena to Sacred Heart, leading up to the Solemnity on Friday, June 8th. Leonie was a Visitation Sister, the very same order as Saint Margaret Mary Alocoque who, with the help of her confessor Saint Claude de la Columbiere, helped promulgate the formal devotion to the Sacred Heart.
The devotion to the side of Christ has existed since His side was pierced on the Cross on Good Friday, but the many devotions, prayers, and novenas we pray today came after Jesus appeared to Saint Margaret Mary. These next nine days we will be posting Novena Prayers and praying them for those who have left the convent and all of those who have asked for our prayers.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Servant of God Leonie Martin, intercede for us.
Jun 2, 2015 |
The first fact about the celebration of a birthday is that it is a way of affirming defiantly, and even flamboyantly, that it is a good thing to be alive. – GK Chesterton.
As we celebrate the birthday of our patroness (born June 3rd, 1863), please offer a prayer for those who are bringing the cause of her beatification before Rome, and also for women who are struggling now, as she did, to find their vocation in life. Servant of God Lenie Martin, pray for us!
May 1, 2015 |
Lord God and Creator of the universe, You imposed on mankind the law of work.
Give us the grace, by Saint Joseph’s example and at his intercession, to finish the works You gave us to do, and to come to the rewards You promise. Amen.
Apr 11, 2015 |
Burdened all her life by chronic illness, Gemma Galgani longed to become a Passionist nun, but was forced to surrender this desire to God when it became clear that her health would not allow it. She died on the 11th of April 1903, at the age of twenty-five. On this, her Feast day, let us ask for her intercession in discerning the will of God in the joys and disappointments of our lives.
The prayer of Saint Gemma Galgani:
O my crucified God, behold me at Your feet; do not cast me out, now that I appear before You as a sinner. I have offended You exceedingly in the past, my Jesus, but it shall be so no longer. Before You, O Lord, I place all my sins; I have now considered Your own sufferings and see how great is the worth of that Precious Blood that flows from Your veins. O my God, at this hour close Your eyes to my want of merit, and since You have been pleased to die for my sins, grant me forgiveness for them all, that I may no longer feel the burden of my sins, for this burden, dear Jesus, oppresses me beyond measure. Assist me, my Jesus, for I desire to become good whatsoever it may cost; take away, destroy, utterly root out all that You find in me contrary to Your holy will. At the same time, I pray to You Lord Jesus, to enlighten me that I may be able to walk in Your holy light. Amen.
Mar 18, 2015 |
By Maria Jacinta.
HAPPY FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH TO EVERYONE!!!
I hope many graces came from the novena posted about a week ago. I encourage you all to continue praying to St. Joseph. He is an amazing saint! Let’s take some time to reflect on the qualities of St. Joseph, along with events in his life and see how we can apply them to our own life:
- His immediate yes to the angel:
We read in the first chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel: “When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.”
What courage it takes to answer God immediately, no questions asked! I am not saying we should make rash decisions, as careful discernment is required at times. But when we are sure that God is calling us to do something, we should not delay fulfilling what He wills.
Think about the HUGE responsibility that St. Joseph had as the spouse of Our Lady and foster father of God Himself! It takes true humility to accept such a role. It can be easy to play what I call the “false humility card” in thinking that we are not good enough to do something. Sometimes, though, God calls us to certain tasks that we think are beyond our power to accomplish. It’s true in that we are not capable of doing anything without God, but thinking we are not worthy does not make for a valid excuse in saying no. As St. Teresa of Avila says, “Humility is truth.” We know our weaknesses and strengths and should not be afraid to use these strengths! After all, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”
- His decision to divorce Our Lady quietly:
After finding out that Mary was pregnant, St. Joseph “unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.” (Matthew 1: 19)
This decision here proves that he really was a just man. He was obedient to the Law and knew very well that any woman caught in adultery was to be stoned to death. On the other hand, he may have seen something special in Mary that made him wonder how she could ever commit a sin. He knew her goodness and purity and truly loved her, so he did what was best for her. Something we can take from this is to love others for WHO THEY ARE. The more we understand human dignity, the easier this becomes.
Similar to Our Lady, St. Joseph was close to Jesus and so knows him very well. We can go to St. Joseph to better learn how to imitate Christ. St. Joseph, pray for us!!!
Dear Sisters in Christ,
Lord God and Creator of the universe, You imposed on mankind the law of work.
Burdened all her life by chronic illness, Gemma Galgani longed to become a Passionist nun, but was forced to surrender this desire to God when it became clear that her health would not allow it. She died on the 11th of April 1903, at the age of twenty-five. On this, her Feast day, let us ask for her intercession in discerning the will of God in the joys and disappointments of our lives.
By Maria Jacinta.
ather of God Himself! It takes true humility to accept such a role. It can be easy to play what I call the “false humility card” in thinking that we are not good enough to do something. Sometimes, though, God calls us to certain tasks that we think are beyond our power to accomplish. It’s true in that we are not capable of doing anything without God, but thinking we are not worthy does not make for a valid excuse in saying no. As St. Teresa of Avila says, “Humility is truth.” We know our weaknesses and strengths and should not be afraid to use these strengths! After all, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”
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