Happy Feast of the Assumption!

Venerable Louis of Granada expounds:

God in creating Adam deemed it fitting to create also a paradise for him to live in. So to is a paradise made for the New Adam, Jesus Christ, to dwell, the Blessed Virgin Mary. And, thus, it is fitting for Christ to bring Mary into paradise with Him. 

Prayer by Saint Alphonsus Ligouri:

Most holy Virgin Immaculate, my Mother Mary, it is to you, who are the Mother of my Lord, the Queen of the world, the advocate, the hope and the refuge of sinners, that I have recourse today, I, who most of all am deserving of pity. Most humbly do I offer you my homage, O great Queen, and I thank you for all the graces you have obtained for me until now, and particularly for having saved me from Hell, which, by my sins, I have so often deserved.

I love you, O most lovable Lady, and because of my love for you, I promise to serve you always and to do all in my power to win others to love you also. In your hands I place all my hopes; I entrust the salvation of my soul to your care. Accept me as your servant, O Mother of Mercy; receive me under your mantle. And since you have such power with God, deliver me from all temptations, or rather, obtain for me the strength to triumph over them until death. Of you I ask the grace of perfect love for Jesus Christ. Through your help I hope to die a happy death. O my Mother I beg you, by the love you bear my God, to help me at all times, but especially at the last moment of my life. Do not leave me, I beseech you, until you see me safe in Heaven, blessing you and singing your mercies for all eternity, amen. So I hope, so may it be.

Gratitude to a wonder-worker!

A happy Feast of Saint Philomena to you! (Late in the day, with time to reflect on her magnificent work).


Today, I received in the mail, printed copies of the adapted Rule of life written by Saint Paul of the Cross in 1775. It took me years to find the Rule and then the past year to study and adapt it to our current times, without sacrificing the original intent of Saint Paul of the Cross. 

I truly owe this work to Saint Philomena. I was doing house chores as the package arrived this afternoon with the copies of the Rule. I wasn’t expecting the package for a couple more days, but I shouldn’t have underestimated Saint Philomena. 

I was hit between the eyes when I held a copy in my hands. I was able to experience in a more profound way what it means to live a Holy Rule. 


My thought was that I am not worthy to embrace such a life. Domine, non sum dignus….

Flipping through the pages of the Rule, one might feel constricted by its commands. The counsels migbt seem for an age gone past. But in all this anticipation, and finally in the realization, of a scripted Rule of life I have come to see and understand just how freeing such a life can be. 

So I give thanks to God this day for the beautiful work of His virgin-Martyr, Saint Philomena!

Novena to Saint Philomena: Day 9

img_1771

O Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, St Philomena! I rejoice with thee in the power which God gave thee for the glory of His Name, for the edification of His Church, and to reward the merits of thy life and death. I rejoice to see thee so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ and to His Gospel, and so splendidly rewarded in Heaven and on Earth. Attracted by thy example to the practice of solid virtue, full of hope at the sight of the recompense granted to thee in avoiding all evil and in fully obeying what God commands. Help me, O great Saint, by thy powerful intercession. Obtain for me particularly, a purity inviolable for ever, a strength of soul always invincible in every kind of assault, a generosity which denies no sacrifice to God and a love as strong as death for the Faith of Jesus Christ, for the Holy Roman Church and for Our Holy Father, the Father of all the Faithful, the Shepherd of shepherds and of their flocks, the Vicar of Jesus Christ over all the world.

With all the fervour of my soul, I implore these graces from thee, and in addition, I ask these other benefits from thee, with equal confidence in obtaining them through thy powerful intercession. (Here tell the Saint what you need, with simplicity, confidence and humility.)
Surely that God so good for Whom thou didst give thy blood and thy life, that God so good Who is so generous to thee and through thee through thy mediation, so generous with gifts and favours to us, that God so good Who has loved me even unto dying for me, even unto giving me Himself under the Eucharistic appearances, surely He will never be deaf to thy prayers, nor to my appeals, unless it be that He Himself is in some different way seeking to do me good. Full of confidence, I place all my trust in Him and in thee. Amen

 

Ninth Day
1. Consider that St Philomena, having sacrificed everything in this miserable world for Jesus Christ, received back from Himself in this world more than the hundredfold of what she had given! What renown! What power! What glory! What greatness humbled at her feet! What throngs of pilgrims to her different Shrines! What festivities in her honour! What tributes of reverence have been paid to her! What an ardent longing to get possession of her relics! Thus precisely does God fulfil His promises. Ah! If only we maintained our promises to Him with the same fidelity! But when we deprive Him of His glory, do we not perhaps deprive ourselves of great merit and favour both in this world and in the next?……Courage, therefore….Be faithful, in order that God may be faithful with you.
2. Today do some little work of mercy in honour of the Saint. Prepare yourself by a good confession to receive Our Lord, Jesus Christ in a fitting manner in Holy Communion

3. Assist at Holy Mass in her honour and visit one of her statues or pictures if you can do so conveniently.

 
Let us pray.
O God, who in Thy great might didst raise up martyrs even from among the weaker sex, grant we beseech Thee that we who celebrate the feast of Thy blessed Virgin and Martyr, Philomena, may be led by her example and brought by her to Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, one God, in perfect Trinity, for ever and ever. Amen

Prayer for Lapsed Catholics 

 

Let us pray.

O Almighty Father, who desirest not the death of the sinner, but rather that he be converted and live, pour out upon us Thy mercy and hear the prayers of Thy servants. Soften the hearts of Thy children who have strayed from the true paths, which Thou didst establish for their salvation. They are now forgetful of their duties as Catholics, and pursue only the transitory pleasures of the world. Grant that they may speedily return to the practice of every Christian virtue, so that their lives may shine with the integrity of faith, the fervour of piety and the ardour of charity. Restore all of them to Thy sacraments and to the life of Thy grace, through the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary

O Mother of Jesus Christ and our Mother, we pray thee to obtain for us the grace of serving God faithfully in this world that we may have the happiness of loving Him eternally in heaven. Hear the prayers that we address to thee, O Mother. Defend us against the enemies of our salvation, and against our own infirmities. Obtain for us pardon for our sins and perseverance in the determination never to fall away again. We implore thee to take under thy protection those who have abandoned the practice of their Catholic duties. May they be converted again and become faithful servants of thy Son. O Mother of Mercy, be for us all “the cause of our joy” and show unto us Jesus Christ, thy Son, as thy gift to us both for time and for eternity. Amen.
Our Lady of the Atonement, intercede for us.
That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son: “That all may be one.”

Prayer to St. Peter

O glorious St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles and firm foundation of the Church, obtain for us all a lively faith, which we may openly and fearlessly profess in it’s fullness and purity, even, if need be, to the shedding of our blood. Obtain for us also, a true love of our Holy Mother the Church, and keep us ever zealous in the fulfillment of our religious duties. We pray to thee today to intercede for those who have wandered from the Church which Christ established for their salvation. Through thine intercession, may they receive from God the grace to return speedily to their Father’s house, so that on earth they may enjoy peace and tranquility, and one day attain everlasting happiness in heaven. Amen.
O ye holy Apostles Peter and Paul, pray for us.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us Pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, most gracious Saviour of the world, we humbly beg of Thee by Thy most Sacred Heart, that all the sheep now wandering astray may be converted unto Thee, the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. Who livest and reignest from this time forth for evermore. Amen.

St Philomena, pray for us.

Novena to Saint Philomena: Day 8

saint-philomena-manon-massari

O Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, St Philomena! I rejoice with thee in the power which God gave thee for the glory of His Name, for the edification of His Church, and to reward the merits of thy life and death. I rejoice to see thee so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ and to His Gospel, and so splendidly rewarded in Heaven and on Earth. Attracted by thy example to the practice of solid virtue, full of hope at the sight of the recompense granted to thee in avoiding all evil and in fully obeying what God commands. Help me, O great Saint, by thy powerful intercession. Obtain for me particularly, a purity inviolable for ever, a strength of soul always invincible in every kind of assault, a generosity which denies no sacrifice to God and a love as strong as death for the Faith of Jesus Christ, for the Holy Roman Church and for Our Holy Father, the Father of all the Faithful, the Shepherd of shepherds and of their flocks, the Vicar of Jesus Christ over all the world.

With all the fervour of my soul, I implore these graces from thee, and in addition, I ask these other benefits from thee, with equal confidence in obtaining them through thy powerful intercession. (Here tell the Saint what you need, with simplicity, confidence and humility.)
Surely that God so good for Whom thou didst give thy blood and thy life, that God so good Who is so generous to thee and through thee through thy mediation, so generous with gifts and favours to us, that God so good Who has loved me even unto dying for me, even unto giving me Himself under the Eucharistic appearances, surely He will never be deaf to thy prayers, nor to my appeals, unless it be that He Himself is in some different way seeking to do me good. Full of confidence, I place all my trust in Him and in thee. Amen

 

Eighth Day
1. Consider that when St Philomena died for love of Jesus Christ, to all the things of this wretched world, she entered into the joy of eternal life…Yes, I am certain, she said in her heart: “The Supreme Judge will give me the crown of justice which He has promised me in return for all the fleeting goods which I sacrificed for His love.” She dies…….and behold her in the tabernacle of God,with the Saints who follow the Lamb……Are these the thoughts which I try to have when I find myself confronted with some sacrifice?…….What impression do they make on my spirit?……To what side do they make my allegiance fall?…Ah! In order to gain all, the Saints used to say: “Let us lose all.”….and what shall I say?
2. Today let us decide on some voluntary sacrifice…….Let us do readily and with a good heart everything in connection with our duties, etc.

3. Assist at Holy Mass in her honour and visit one of her statues or pictures if you can do so conveniently.

 
Let us pray.
O God, who in Thy great might didst raise up martyrs even from among the weaker sex, grant we beseech Thee that we who celebrate the feast of Thy blessed Virgin and Martyr, Philomena, may be led by her example and brought by her to Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, one God, in perfect Trinity, for ever and ever. Amen

Prayer for Lapsed Catholics 

 

Let us pray.

O Almighty Father, who desirest not the death of the sinner, but rather that he be converted and live, pour out upon us Thy mercy and hear the prayers of Thy servants. Soften the hearts of Thy children who have strayed from the true paths, which Thou didst establish for their salvation. They are now forgetful of their duties as Catholics, and pursue only the transitory pleasures of the world. Grant that they may speedily return to the practice of every Christian virtue, so that their lives may shine with the integrity of faith, the fervour of piety and the ardour of charity. Restore all of them to Thy sacraments and to the life of Thy grace, through the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary

O Mother of Jesus Christ and our Mother, we pray thee to obtain for us the grace of serving God faithfully in this world that we may have the happiness of loving Him eternally in heaven. Hear the prayers that we address to thee, O Mother. Defend us against the enemies of our salvation, and against our own infirmities. Obtain for us pardon for our sins and perseverance in the determination never to fall away again. We implore thee to take under thy protection those who have abandoned the practice of their Catholic duties. May they be converted again and become faithful servants of thy Son. O Mother of Mercy, be for us all “the cause of our joy” and show unto us Jesus Christ, thy Son, as thy gift to us both for time and for eternity. Amen.
Our Lady of the Atonement, intercede for us.
That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son: “That all may be one.”

Prayer to St. Peter

O glorious St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles and firm foundation of the Church, obtain for us all a lively faith, which we may openly and fearlessly profess in it’s fullness and purity, even, if need be, to the shedding of our blood. Obtain for us also, a true love of our Holy Mother the Church, and keep us ever zealous in the fulfillment of our religious duties. We pray to thee today to intercede for those who have wandered from the Church which Christ established for their salvation. Through thine intercession, may they receive from God the grace to return speedily to their Father’s house, so that on earth they may enjoy peace and tranquility, and one day attain everlasting happiness in heaven. Amen.
O ye holy Apostles Peter and Paul, pray for us.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us Pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, most gracious Saviour of the world, we humbly beg of Thee by Thy most Sacred Heart, that all the sheep now wandering astray may be converted unto Thee, the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. Who livest and reignest from this time forth for evermore. Amen.
St Philomena, pray for us.

Novena to Saint Philomena: Day 7

philomenanovena copy

O Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, St Philomena! I rejoice with thee in the power which God gave thee for the glory of His Name, for the edification of His Church, and to reward the merits of thy life and death. I rejoice to see thee so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ and to His Gospel, and so splendidly rewarded in Heaven and on Earth. Attracted by thy example to the practice of solid virtue, full of hope at the sight of the recompense granted to thee in avoiding all evil and in fully obeying what God commands. Help me, O great Saint, by thy powerful intercession. Obtain for me particularly, a purity inviolable for ever, a strength of soul always invincible in every kind of assault, a generosity which denies no sacrifice to God and a love as strong as death for the Faith of Jesus Christ, for the Holy Roman Church and for Our Holy Father, the Father of all the Faithful, the Shepherd of shepherds and of their flocks, the Vicar of Jesus Christ over all the world.

 

With all the fervour of my soul, I implore these graces from thee, and in addition, I ask these other benefits from thee, with equal confidence in obtaining them through thy powerful intercession. (Here tell the Saint what you need, with simplicity, confidence and humility.)

 

Surely that God so good for Whom thou didst give thy blood and thy life, that God so good Who is so generous to thee and through thee through thy mediation, so generous with gifts and favours to us, that God so good Who has loved me even unto dying for me, even unto giving me Himself under the Eucharistic appearances, surely He will never be deaf to thy prayers, nor to my appeals, unless it be that He Himself is in some different way seeking to do me good. Full of confidence, I place all my trust in Him and in thee. Amen

 

 Seventh Day
1. Consider that St Philomena, in dying for Jesus Christ, had to endure the jeers, the sarcasms, the outrages of her persecutors. Of her executioners and of the majority of the witnesses to her torture…She was none the less generous, none the less constant, none the less joyous in the public confession of her faith……If the world gave you a similar chalice to drink would you have enough courage to drain the bitterness of it with the same kind of sentiments? Oh! What do the jokes, the scorn, or the most unjust or bloodiest persecutions of the world matter?…Can anything ever dishonour a soul that is honoured by God? Fear nothing….Follow out your road…It is leading straight to the possession of eternal glory.
2. Do no allow your heart to be changed if abrupt words are spoken to you, or rough, biting, offensive words, etc.

3. Assist at Holy Mass in her honour and visit one of her statues or pictures if you can do so conveniently.

 
Let us pray.
O God, who in Thy great might didst raise up martyrs even from among the weaker sex, grant we beseech Thee that we who celebrate the feast of Thy blessed Virgin and Martyr, Philomena, may be led by her example and brought by her to Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, one God, in perfect Trinity, for ever and ever. Amen

Prayer for Lapsed Catholics 

 

Let us pray.

O Almighty Father, who desirest not the death of the sinner, but rather that he be converted and live, pour out upon us Thy mercy and hear the prayers of Thy servants. Soften the hearts of Thy children who have strayed from the true paths, which Thou didst establish for their salvation. They are now forgetful of their duties as Catholics, and pursue only the transitory pleasures of the world. Grant that they may speedily return to the practice of every Christian virtue, so that their lives may shine with the integrity of faith, the fervour of piety and the ardour of charity. Restore all of them to Thy sacraments and to the life of Thy grace, through the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary

O Mother of Jesus Christ and our Mother, we pray thee to obtain for us the grace of serving God faithfully in this world that we may have the happiness of loving Him eternally in heaven. Hear the prayers that we address to thee, O Mother. Defend us against the enemies of our salvation, and against our own infirmities. Obtain for us pardon for our sins and perseverance in the determination never to fall away again. We implore thee to take under thy protection those who have abandoned the practice of their Catholic duties. May they be converted again and become faithful servants of thy Son. O Mother of Mercy, be for us all “the cause of our joy” and show unto us Jesus Christ, thy Son, as thy gift to us both for time and for eternity. Amen.
Our Lady of the Atonement, intercede for us.
That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son: “That all may be one.”

Prayer to St. Peter

O glorious St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles and firm foundation of the Church, obtain for us all a lively faith, which we may openly and fearlessly profess in it’s fullness and purity, even, if need be, to the shedding of our blood. Obtain for us also, a true love of our Holy Mother the Church, and keep us ever zealous in the fulfillment of our religious duties. We pray to thee today to intercede for those who have wandered from the Church which Christ established for their salvation. Through thine intercession, may they receive from God the grace to return speedily to their Father’s house, so that on earth they may enjoy peace and tranquility, and one day attain everlasting happiness in heaven. Amen.
O ye holy Apostles Peter and Paul, pray for us.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us Pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, most gracious Saviour of the world, we humbly beg of Thee by Thy most Sacred Heart, that all the sheep now wandering astray may be converted unto Thee, the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. Who livest and reignest from this time forth for evermore. Amen.
St Philomena, pray for us.

Novena to Saint Philomena: Day 6

IMG_0633

O Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, St Philomena! I rejoice with thee in the power which God gave thee for the glory of His Name, for the edification of His Church, and to reward the merits of thy life and death. I rejoice to see thee so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ and to His Gospel, and so splendidly rewarded in Heaven and on Earth. Attracted by thy example to the practice of solid virtue, full of hope at the sight of the recompense granted to thee in avoiding all evil and in fully obeying what God commands. Help me, O great Saint, by thy powerful intercession. Obtain for me particularly, a purity inviolable for ever, a strength of soul always invincible in every kind of assault, a generosity which denies no sacrifice to God and a love as strong as death for the Faith of Jesus Christ, for the Holy Roman Church and for Our Holy Father, the Father of all the Faithful, the Shepherd of shepherds and of their flocks, the Vicar of Jesus Christ over all the world.

With all the fervour of my soul, I implore these graces from thee, and in addition, I ask these other benefits from thee, with equal confidence in obtaining them through thy powerful intercession. (Here tell the Saint what you need, with simplicity, confidence, and humility).

Surely that God so good for Whom thou didst give thy blood and thy life, that God so good Who is so generous to thee and through thee through thy mediation, so generous with gifts and favours to us, that God so good Who has loved me even unto dying for me, even unto giving me Himself under the Eucharistic appearances, surely He will never be deaf to thy prayers, nor to my appeals, unless it be that He Himself is in some different way seeking to do me good. Full of confidence, I place all my trust in Him and in thee. Amen.

 Sixth Day

1. Consider that St Philomena, in dying for Jesus Christ, had to put into practice the maxim of the Saviour: “He who does not despise his father, his mother and even his own life for love of Me, cannot be called My disciple.” She did not hesitate…..she sacrificed everything, no matter how her blood and her nature raised their voice in protest. In far less difficult circumstances do we show ourselves to be worthy of Jesus Christ? If at some juncture we were called upon to choose between God and creatures, between grace and nature, between the love of God and the affection of creatures, to whom would we give our preference?…….Oh! In the future let us no longer fall away from our dignity as sons of God and disciples of Jesus Christ.
2. Let us endeavour during this day to please only God, or to please creatures solely for God’s sake. Let us remove far from us all disordered affection.

3. Assist at Holy Mass in her honour and visit one of her statues or pictures if you can do so conveniently.

Let us pray.
O God, who in Thy great might didst raise up martyrs even from among the weaker sex, grant we beseech Thee that we who celebrate the feast of Thy blessed Virgin and Martyr, Philomena, may be led by her example and brought by her to Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, one God, in perfect Trinity, for ever and ever. Amen

Prayer for Lapsed Catholics 

Let us pray.

O Almighty Father, who desirest not the death of the sinner, but rather that he be converted and live, pour out upon us Thy mercy and hear the prayers of Thy servants. Soften the hearts of Thy children who have strayed from the true paths, which Thou didst establish for their salvation. They are now forgetful of their duties as Catholics, and pursue only the transitory pleasures of the world. Grant that they may speedily return to the practice of every Christian virtue, so that their lives may shine with the integrity of faith, the fervour of piety and the ardour of charity. Restore all of them to Thy sacraments and to the life of Thy grace, through the merits of the Most Precious Blood of Thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary

O Mother of Jesus Christ and our Mother, we pray thee to obtain for us the grace of serving God faithfully in this world that we may have the happiness of loving Him eternally in heaven. Hear the prayers that we address to thee, O Mother. Defend us against the enemies of our salvation, and against our own infirmities. Obtain for us pardon for our sins and perseverance in the determination never to fall away again. We implore thee to take under thy protection those who have abandoned the practice of their Catholic duties. May they be converted again and become faithful servants of thy Son. O Mother of Mercy, be for us all “the cause of our joy” and show unto us Jesus Christ, thy Son, as thy gift to us both for time and for eternity. Amen.
Our Lady of the Atonement, intercede for us.
That there may be fulfilled the prayer of thy Divine Son: “That all may be one.”

Prayer to St. Peter

O glorious St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles and firm foundation of the Church, obtain for us all a lively faith, which we may openly and fearlessly profess in it’s fullness and purity, even, if need be, to the shedding of our blood. Obtain for us also, a true love of our Holy Mother the Church, and keep us ever zealous in the fulfillment of our religious duties. We pray to thee today to intercede for those who have wandered from the Church which Christ established for their salvation. Through thine intercession, may they receive from God the grace to return speedily to their Father’s house, so that on earth they may enjoy peace and tranquility, and one day attain everlasting happiness in heaven. Amen.
O ye holy Apostles Peter and Paul, pray for us.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us Pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, most gracious Saviour of the world, we humbly beg of Thee by Thy most Sacred Heart, that all the sheep now wandering astray may be converted unto Thee, the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. Who livest and reignest from this time forth for evermore. Amen.
St Philomena, pray for us.

Happy Feast of Saint John Vianney! Pray for us!