Happy Thanksgiving

 

Are You Ready? - Fr. Altier

 

Halloween Special - Fr. Columba

 

Parler CEO: Facebook rebranding to Meta 'terrifying'"

 

The Rise and Fall of America?

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” – Preamble to the U.S. Constitution.

American greatness started with this! Thomas Jefferson and his fellow forefathers acknowledged the existence of unalienable rights.  Recognizing God’s Divine Mandate, that man was created to be free in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness by God’s own hand, was critical in the foundation of this new experiment in government they set to establish. 

Signing the Declaration of Independence

Alternatively, if the concept of freedom was established as coming from man himself, it could be taken away at any time by men.  God is the source of these rights. When man denies God, he denies for himself the very source of his Freedom which then leaves him subject to men as his arbiter.  If able, evil men will place their brother into bondage.

As many in society increasingly choose the perceived conveniences, comfort, and security of the secular world, they steadily move away from God.  And with that chosen course they steadily find themselves losing the freedom our forefathers had so wisely recognized in God’s creation and enshrined in our nation’s founding.

The Constitution was constructed to deliver a Republic form of government, not a pure Democracy where the majority of opinion rules even if that rule is wrong, harmful or endangering to life, liberty or the pursuit of happiness in a segment of our society.  Our Republic is different in that it CAN operate for the protection of the individual against the majority when they get out of control. The three branches of government and the representative nature of our congress offers some protection to individual rights. But even a republic cannot save a people from themselves if they choose to stray.

William Tytle (1711-1792) a Scottish lawyer and historical writer documents the life cycle of democracies and republics. Attributed to him is this description of the rise and fall of democratic nations:

“A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.

The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to complacency; From complacency to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.

Even though the progression described by Tytle seems to be confirmed by history, could there be another outcome?  If we could understand the drivers that move us to the next step then perhaps we could break the cycle!   Is it possible?

Looking at the life cycle there are 4 steps to the rise and 4 steps to the fall of democratic societies.  One could divide the circle in two with a straight line up and down.  There is commonality to the four items on the right(rise) and a different commonality to 4 items of the left(fall).   Understanding this exposes the reason for the pivot point from rise to fall.

In society there is individual virtue.  Virtuous choices are ones made according to the natural law as embodied in Matthew 22;34-40:  Love God above all and love your neighbor as yourself.  When taken as a whole, societal virtue is a composite of its member’s virtue (or lack thereof).

In the rise of nations societal virtue is growing and becomes strong.   First is faith and the search for unity among the people. The Second is courage born of faith and unity. Next is liberty which manifests in a people united in faith, which then have courage and numbers to break the tyrannical bondage. During the rise of society, the measure of societal virtue is also rising.

In the life cycle of nations, it becomes obvious that the rise of nations is during the period where faith and the practice of the Golden Rule is strong and growing.   It is also obvious that the demise of nations follows when these are abandoned by more than one half of society.   This results in a situation where neighbor steals from neighbor and fosters other immoral acts under the protection of the government controlled by the now immoral majority. Here are two examples: the taking of innocent life in abortion and the legitimized theft inherent in entitlement and other programs designed for the political benefit of government officials and not for the common good.

In the fall of nations, we see a gradual abandonment of the virtues and then an increasingly rapid pursuit of the vices.  This marginalizes God and abandons the Golden Rule, resulting in grace being largely diminished.  We are then left to the influences of evil.

Very simply, it is Grace that supports the rise of nations.  Without Grace nations collapse.  Without faith the practice of the Golden Rule is gone and is replaced by selfishness.  And without the Golden Rule the flow of grace is halted, and societies move to narcissism, violence and irresponsibility; eroding the pillars of society until they collapse!

It is not hard to see that as a nation, America has moved past the mid-point.  Selfishness abounds and dependence is becoming the norm for a growing part of our society.  I fear for where we are heading with apparent haste!

So that’s the bad news. Now for the good news!

I take issue with Tytle’s conclusion that “A democracy is always temporary in nature.” Here is why.

God is constantly open to us returning to him.  In fact, Heaven gives us easy paths back and even extends personal invitations for us to come to Him.  This is true for individuals and nations.

Right now, America has a personal invitation to return to a life of virtue and practice of the Golden Rule in the devotion to Our Lady, the Immaculate Virgin, Patroness of America.   Our Lady of America is calling us to imitate the Holy Family where virtue was perfect, and sin was perfectly avoided.  

She is calling us, the United States of America, back to increasing greatness by our faith and our imitation of the Holy Family.  She is calling us to place God first, and our brothers and sisters next.  She is calling us to pursue the virtues and avoid sin.  She is calling us to the Golden Rule. She is showing us the way. 

But most importantly she has a promise for us.  She promises that if we pursue imitation of the Holy Family, fervently desire purity, frequent the Sacraments, practice the virtues, avoid sin and pray, she will lavish the graces to persevere in this Holy pursuit.  And if enough of us do this, it will change the future of our Nation.

Growing up I was blessed with wonderful parents.  I forget the context but have never forgotten the words my mother said to me as a young boy; “One person can change the world.”   The more I see in life the more I know this to be true – both for the better or the worse.

Heaven has a hope and plan for America – to lead the world to peace!  Will we rise to the call or disappoint our Sorrowful Mother?  By tapping the infinite treasury of God’s graces merited by Our Lord, Jesus Christ anyone can change the world for the better.  We are called by baptism to do exactly this!

This slide into bondage is not a certainty! We can change the course of history; one soul at a time. Commit today to changing the world in cooperation with Our Lady’s call to America.  We can do this! We must not fail!  Millions of souls are at stake.

Spiritual Direction

 

Not All Fun & Games - Fr. Mark Goring

 

How to live the Little Way St. Therese

 

St. John Paul II And Pastoral Ministry As A Gift

For many, St. John Paul II is a model pastor for our age.  So many priests of our day have looked up to him in admiration.  Some have discovered their vocation, in part, thanks to his influence.  Then there’s the JPII generation or JPII Catholics.  And his canonization confirms this devotion to the man the crowds greeted with a “JPII, we love you!”  It’s natural to wonder, How did he become such a great and beloved pastor? Of course, many things came together to make it happen.  I just want to focus on one.  It’s something that gives us a window into the soul of Karol Wojtyla as he was a young man preparing for the priesthood, and it can help all of us develop a pastoral heart,  the heart of the Good Shepherd. John Paul II wrote a “Meditation on Givenness” in 1994, which was published a year after his death.  In it, he recounts his state of soul as he prepared for the priesthood.  He goes on at some length as he says, “I was aware that my vocation to the priesthood would put many people in my path, and that God would entrust each one of them in some special way to me: giving them to me and tasking me with them.  It was then that the great need of Marian entrustment was born within me—that need which is encapsulated in the call: Totus Tuus. “These words, first and foremost, are not so much a declaration, as a plea that I do not succumb to any desire, however subtly camouflaged.  They are a prayer that I remain pure, and thus transparent to God and to men.  I pray that my vision, hearing, and intellect remain pure.  Totus Tuus: they all should be at the service of revealing the beauty God has given to man…Totus Tuus.  All yours. Yes.  We must ourselves be a total gift, a disinterested, sincere gift in order to recognize, in every man, the gift that he is, to thank the Giver for the gift of the human person” (Communio 2014, p 882). Part of this is rather surprising.  We all know how important the Totus Tuus Marian consecration was to JP II.  But what’s striking here is what he identifies as the most pressing reason for him to make this total entrustment to our Lady.  He wants to be sure in ministry that he truly receives others as a gift.  He wants to receive those he ministers to adequately as the gift that they truly are, placed in his path by God. Again in his words, “I was aware that my vocation to the priesthood would put many people in my path, and that God would entrust each one of them in some special way to me: giving them to me and tasking me with them.  It was then that the great need of Marian entrustment was born within me—that need which is encapsulated in the call: Totus Tuus.” them.  It was then that the great need of Marian entrustment was born within me—that need which is encapsulated in the call: Totus Tuus.” So that’s some insight into the soul of Karol Wojtyla as he was preparing for the priesthood.  His heart was being formed after the Good Shepherd’s own heart: to receive the people he ministered to as a gift given to him by God.  And it showed in his demeanor as pastor, did it not?  In his deep joy and steady enthusiasm. The pastoral ministry was not so much an obligation to be carried out, though it is that too.  It’s not so much heroic virtue in the service of others, though that too is called for.  It’s not so much sacrificial altruism, though selfless sacrifice is part of it.  On the deepest level, for JPII, the pastoral ministry was the receiving of “the other” as a gift, receiving the people he ministered to as a gift he was then tasked with.  As he says, God “giving them to me and tasking me with them.” And it’s not so far-fetched.  I have a friend who just finished a degree and has begun teaching.  In a casual email, he wrote these words to me, “I am grateful for the students. They are truly a gift. And I thank God I can feel the gift they are.”  That’s nice, huh?  Now, shortly after this, the same friend was telling me how much work it is.  Teaching is hard work.  But that doesn’t negate his earlier words about the gift. So that’s the call of JPII’s pastoral heart: to see the students of the class you teach as a gift God has entrusted you with.  To see the people of the parish you’re assigned to as a gift.  To see the person knocking at your door as a gift God is giving you and tasking you with.  That’s what was in the heart of JPII, a model pastor. In the end, part of God’s overflowing goodness is the “dignity of secondary causality”: to give us a share in His work, through our ministering to others.  It’s part of God’s overflowing goodness.  And as our Gospel tells us, the Lord himself girds himself and ministers to us—hopefully on the Last Day but even now, every day, in the Eucharist. 

*St. John Paul II Warned Us!* by Dan Lynch

October 22 is the Memorial of St. John Paul II. Our Apostolates promote devotion to him since he inaugurated the New Evangelization and named Our Lady of Guadalupe as the Star of Evangelization.

St. John Paul II credited Our Lady of Guadalupe as his guide. He said, “Ever since I went on pilgrimage for the first time to the splendid Shrine of Guadalupe on January 29, 1979, she has guided my steps in these almost twenty five years of service as Bishop of Rome and universal pastor of the Church. I wish to invoke her, the sure way to encounter Christ, and who was the first evangelizer of America, as the ‘Star of Evangelization,’ entrusting to her the ecclesial work of all her sons and daughters of America.”

Let us not forget St. John Paul II’s warning to America. I led a procession carrying the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe many miles to his World Youth Day Mass at Cherry Creek State Park in Denver, Colorado in 1993.

He preached during his homily,  

Death battles against Life: a "culture of death" seeks to impose itself on our desire to live, and live to the full. . . . In our own century, as at no other time in history, the "culture of death" has assumed a social and institutional form of legality to justify the most horrible crimes against humanity: genocide, "final solutions", "ethnic cleansings", and the massive "taking of lives of human beings even before they are born, or before they reach the natural point of death." . . .

Woe to you if you do not succeed in defending life. . . . in order to create a civilization of true justice and love.

Biblical “woes” were warnings of terrible afflictions and chastisements. Jesus Himself warned of a “woe” of the destruction of Jerusalem. He said, “Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:23-24).

He wept over Jerusalem and gave this prophetic warning because the people failed to repent and to recognize the day of His visitation.

His prophetic warning was fulfilled in the year 70 A.D. when the Roman General Titus destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple and killed tens of thousands of people, resulting in  the dispersion of the Jews throughout the world.
 
We need to heed the warning of St. John Paul II to “succeed in defending life” lest we suffer from a “Great Storm” from the dark cloud that overshadows us filled with the potential chastisements of untold terror, violence and war, the use of nuclear weapons by rogue regimes, persecution of Christians, economic devastation and the pandemic of COVID-19.

 We need to hope and pray for the New Era of Peace prophesied by Our Lady of Fatima and St. John Paul II.

Our Lady told Father Stefano Gobbi of the Marian Movement of Priests in 1995, “It is precisely through the sacrifice of [Pope John Paul II] this, the first of my beloved sons, that divine justice will be espoused to a great mercy. After the time of the trial, which will be one of purification for all the earth, there will spring up upon the world the New Era foretold and announced by him; and thus, in these final times, he invites you all to cross the bright thresholds of hope.”

Using almost the same exact language several years later, Pope John Paul II wrote, “Now is the time of the New Evangelization to lead the People of God in America to cross the threshold of the third millennium with renewed hope.” (Apostolic Exhortation, The Church in America).

Later he announced the New Era that Our Lady prophesied would be announced by him. He wrote,

At the dawn of the new Millennium, we wish to propose once more the message of hope which comes from the stable of Bethlehem: God loves all men and women on earth and gives them the hope of a new era, an era of peace.

The Pope and Pelosi

 

Archbishop Cordileone Calls on Catholics to Pray for Speaker Nancy Pelosi

 

St. Therese of the Little Flower Novena September 22-30 9

Day Nine

 Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance , and to amend my life. Amen.

Day Nine Prayer: Dear Little St. Thérèse, by love and suffering while you were on earth, you won the power with God which you now enjoy in Heaven. Since your life there began, you have showered down countless blessings on this poor world; you have been an instrument made use of by your Divine Spouse to work countless miracles. I beg of you to remember all my wants. Sufferings must come to me also, may I use them to love God more, and follow my Jesus better. You are especially the little missionary of love. Make me love Jesus more, and all others for His sake. With all my heart I thank the Most Holy Trinity for the wonderful blessings conferred on you, and upon the world through you.

(Offer your personal intentions…) Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: The Mission of the Little Flower. I do not intend to remain inactive in Heaven. I want to work for the Church and for souls. I have asked this of God and I am certain that He will grant my request.

I will spend my Heaven doing good upon earth. This is not impossible, since the angels though always enjoying the beatific vision, watch over us. No, I cannot be at rest until the end of the world.

I beseech Thee, O Jesus, to cast Thy divine glance on a great number of little souls. I beg of Thee to choose in this world a legion of little victims, worthy of Thy Love.

Concluding Prayer:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

St. Therese of the Little Flower Novena September 22-30 8

 

Day Eight

 Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance , and to amend my life. Amen.

St. Therese of the Little Flower Novena September 22-30 7

Day Nine

 Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance , and to amend my life. Amen.

Day Nine Prayer: Dear Little St. Thérèse, by love and suffering while you were on earth, you won the power with God which you now enjoy in Heaven. Since your life there began, you have showered down countless blessings on this poor world; you have been an instrument made use of by your Divine Spouse to work countless miracles. I beg of you to remember all my wants. Sufferings must come to me also, may I use them to love God more, and follow my Jesus better. You are especially the little missionary of love. Make me love Jesus more, and all others for His sake. With all my heart I thank the Most Holy Trinity for the wonderful blessings conferred on you, and upon the world through you.

(Offer your personal intentions…) Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: The Mission of the Little Flower. I do not intend to remain inactive in Heaven. I want to work for the Church and for souls. I have asked this of God and I am certain that He will grant my request.

I will spend my Heaven doing good upon earth. This is not impossible, since the angels though always enjoying the beatific vision, watch over us. No, I cannot be at rest until the end of the world.

I beseech Thee, O Jesus, to cast Thy divine glance on a great number of little souls. I beg of Thee to choose in this world a legion of little victims, worthy of Thy Love.

Concluding Prayer:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

St. Therese of the Little Flower Novena September 22-30 6

Day Six

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance , and to amend my life. Amen.

Day Six Prayer: St. Thérèse, Patroness of the Missions, be a great missionary throughout the world to the end of time. Remind our Master of His own words, “The harvest is great, but the laborers are few.” Your zeal for souls was so great, obtain a like zeal for those now working for souls, and beg God to multiply their numbers, that the millions to whom Jesus is yet unknown may be brought to know, love and follow Him.

(Offer your personal intentions…) Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Zeal for souls. Let us work together for the salvation of souls. We have only the day of this life to save souls and to give them to the Lord as proofs of our love.

I tell Jesus that I am glad not to be able to see, with the eyes of my soul, this beautiful Heaven which awaits me, in order that He may vouchsafe to open it forever to poor unbelievers.

I cannot perform brilliant works; I cannot preach the Gospel or shed my blood. But what matter? My brothers work in place of me, and I a little child, keep very close to the royal throne. I love for those who are carrying on the warfare.

My deeds, my little sufferings, can make God loved all over the world.

Concluding Prayer:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

St. Therese of the Little Flower Novena September 22-30 5

Day Five

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance , and to amend my life. Amen.

Day Five Prayer: 

Dear St. Thérèse, like you I have to die one day. I beseech you, obtain from God, by reminding Him of your own precious death, that I may have a holy death, strengthened by the Sacraments of the Church, entirely resigned to the most holy Will of God, and burning with love for Him. May my last words on earth be, “My God. I love You.”

(Offer your personal intentions…) Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Death. It says in the catechism that death is nothing but the separation of the soul and body. Well, I have no fear of a separation which will unite me forever with the good God.

I am happy to die because I shall be able to help souls who are dear to me, far more than I can here below.

Life is not sad; it is very joyous. If you say, “This exile is sad,” I understand you. We are wrong to give the name “life” to something which will end; it is only to the things of Heaven that we should apply this beautiful name.

Concluding Prayer:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen..

St. Therese of the Little Flower Novena September 22-30 4

Day Four

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance , and to amend my life. Amen.

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance , and to amend my life. Amen.

Day Four Prayer: Dear Little Flower of Carmel, bearing so patiently the disappointments and delays allowed by God, and preserving in the depths of your soul an unchanging peace because you sought only God’s will, ask for me complete conformity to that adorable Will in all the trials and disappointments of life. If the favors I am asking during this Novena are pleasing to God, obtain them for me. If not, it is true I shall feel the refusal keenly, but I too wish only God’s Will, and pray in the words you used, that I “may ever be perfectly fulfilled in me.”

(Offer your personal intentions…) Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Abandonment to God. I fear only one thing—to keep my own will; take it, my God, for I choose all that You choose.

The only happiness here below is to strive to be always content with what Jesus gives us.

I can demand nothing with fervor, except the perfect accomplishment of God’s will in my soul.

O my Beloved, I offer myself to You, that You may perfectly accomplish in me Your holy designs, and I will not allow anything created to be an obstacle in their path.

Concluding Prayer:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

St. Therese of the Little Flower Novena September 22-30 3

 

Day Three

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance , and to amend my life. Amen.

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance , and to amend my life. Amen.

Day Three Prayer: Dear Little Flower, make all things lead me to Heaven and God, Whether I look at the sun, the moon, the stars and the vast expanse in which they float, or whether I look at the flowers of the field, the trees of the forest, the beauties of the earth so full of color and so glorious, may they speak to me of the love and power of God; may they all sing His praises in my ear. Like you may I daily love Him more and more in return for His gifts. Teach me often to deny myself in my dealings with others, that I may offer to Jesus many little sacrifices.

(Offer your personal intentions…) Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: The Use of God’s Gifts. How much benefit have I received from the beauties of nature, bestowed in such abundance. How they raise me to Him who placed such wonders in this land of exile which is only to last a day.

O sparkling nature, if I did not see God in you, you would be naught but a great tomb.

With your little hand which caresses Mary, You sustain the Universe and bestow life; and You think of me, O Jesus my little King.

I do not wish creatures to have one atom of my love. I wish to give all to Jesus, since He has shown me that He alone is perfect happiness.

Concluding Prayer:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

St. Therese of the Little Flower Novena September 22-30 2

 

Day Two

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance , and to amend my life. Amen.

Day Two Prayer: O dear little Saint, now that you see the Crucified Jesus in Heaven, still bearing the wounds caused by sin, you know still more clearly than you did upon earth the value of souls, and the priceless worth of that Precious Blood which He shed to save them. As I am one of those children for whom Christ died, obtain for me all the graces I need in order to profit by that Precious Blood. Use your great power with our Divine Lord and pray for me.

(Offer your personal intentions…) Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Sin. The only grace I ask, O Jesus, is never to offend Thee.

By love and not by fear, does a soul avoid committing the least fault.

Yes, even if I have on my conscience every possible crime, I should lose none of my confidence; my heart breaking with sorrow, I should go and throw myself into the arms of my Savior.

The remembrance of my faults humbles me and makes me afraid to rely on my own strength, which is nothing but weakness.

Concluding Prayer:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

St. Therese of the Little Flower Novena September 22-30 1

Day One

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance , and to amend my life. Amen.

Day One Prayer: St. Thérèse, privileged Little Flower of Jesus and Mary, I approach you with childlike confidence and deep humility. I lay before you my desires, and beg that through your intercession they may be realized. Did you not promise to spend your Heaven doing good upon earth? Grant me according to this promise the favors I am asking from you.

(Offer your personal intentions…) Intercede for us all the days of our life, but specially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Confidence in God. We can never have too much confidence in the good God who is so powerful and so merciful. We obtain from Him as much as we hope for.

If you are nothing, do you forget that Jesus is everything? You have only to lose your nothingness in His Infinity and think only of loving Him.

Concluding Prayer:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.n.