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November 08 Thanksgiving1. Thanksgiving After Confession:
"My dearest Jesus, I have told all my sins as well as I could. I have tried hard to make a good confession. I feel sure that You have forgiven me. I thank You. It Is only becasue of all Your sufferings that I can go to confession and free myself from my sins. Your Heart Is full of love and mercy for poor sinners. I love You because You are so good to me."
"My Savior, I shall try to keep from sin and to love You more each day."
This Thanksgiving holiday, lets remember all of the graces which we have received. Lets be thankful above all, for the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ gave us so many things to be thankful for! This Thanksgiving season, I am thankful for the Holy Family. I am thankful for my Savior who has made my Salvation possible!
At the Last Supper, on the night when He was betrayed, our Savior Instituted the Eucharist sacrifice of His Body and Blood. He did this In order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the centuries until He should come again, and so to entrust to His beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of His Death and Resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet in which Christ Is eaten, the mind Is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory Is given to us.
The Mass Is:
1.) The true sacrifice of the New Covenant, In which a holy and living Victim Is offered Jesus Christ, and we In union with Him, as a gift of love and obedience to the Father;
2.) a sacred meal and spiritual banquet of the children of God;
3.) a paschal meal, which evokes the passage (passover) of Jesus from this world to the Father; It renders Him present and makes Him live again In souls, and It anticipates our definitive passage to the Kingdom of God;
4.) a communitarian meal, that Is, a gathering together of the Head and His members, of Jesus and His Church, His Mystical Body, In order to carry out a perfect divine worship.
Also, the Mass Is the greatest prayer we have. Through It we give thanks and praise to the Father for the wonderful future He has given us In His son. We also ask forgiveness for our sins and beg our Father's blessing upon ourselves and our fellow human beings.
As we are approaching Thanksgiving Day, lets not only be grateful for this beautiful country we are living In; Lets not only be grateful for our families and good friends; Lets not only be grateful for our successes In this life, or our prosperities; Lets not only be grateful for our good health. Lets offer our greatest thanks and praises for the Lord Jesus Christ and for The Holy Family which shall be the very guests at our table If we so choose to extend full Invitation.
I pray that you will all experience a blessed Thanksgiving Mass!
God bless you all this Thanksgiving Season!
Cella October 29 My apologiesMy apologies for not paying much attention to my space lately. I have been trying like mad, ha...to get my media player working. However, I have given up! ha!
I am currently going through divorce. Not a very easy subject for me. Michelle has told me that she is currently constructing a new website with pages on the subject of women suffering divorce, and children from broken homes. Michelle has been counseling with me now for quite some time. It is funny how oftentimes we can give wonderful advice to others, yet, when we are the ones feeling devestated, we are helpless to help ourselves.
I have two children from this marriage who are very wounded.
Spiritually and emotionally.
I promise I will try to get back to you all on a regular basis again.
Right now I just needed some time to myself with my own thoughts and to regroup. I thank you all for your understanding.
Cella October 08 Contemplating the Face of Christ with St. Joseph, Guardian of the Word IncarnateIn announcing a special Year of the Eucharist, Pope John Paul II expressed his hope that "by contemplating with greater perserverance the Face of the Incarnate Word, truly present in the Sacrament, [the faithful] will train themselves in the art of prayer and undertake that high standard of Christian living, and indispensable condition for effectively developing the new evangelism."
Certainly St. Joseph, the Guardian of the Word Incarnate, knew what a wondrous privlege it was to contemplate "the Face of the Incarnate Word."
By accepting his mission as the Foster-Father of Jesus, Joseph looked upon the face of the Jesus often and completely submitted to the will of God, trusting in that which was revealed to him on his pilgrimage of faith.
To prepare ourselves to be an integral part of the "new evangelization" envisioned by the Holy Father, we ought to look to St. Joseph, who was a true artisan of prayer and who lived his life totally focused on the Christ the Incarnate Word. Drawing from Sacred Scripture, let us ponder five qualities of St. Joseph and begin to apply their spiritual lessons in our everyday lives.
"Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary his betrothed who was with Mary, who was with Child." ~(Lk 2:4-5)
The Humility of St. Joseph:
Humility is the virtue that enables us to recognize and act on the recognition of our true relationship to God first, and then to other persons. By this standard, St. Joseph was a very humble man. He recognized his place and knew that he was inferior to Mary and Jesus in the order of grace, yet he accepted his rold as spouse of Mary and guardian of the Son of God.
A truly humble person does not consider himself more than he is (which is pride); but we also do not deny what we are, or claim to be less, which is false humility and a failure to recognize and use God's gifts.
Humility is the moral virtue that keeps a person from reaching beyond himself. It is the virtue that restraints the unruly desire for personal greatness and leads people to an orderly love of themselves based on a true appreciation of their position with respect to God and their neighbors. Religious humility recognizes one's total dependance on God. Moral humility recognizes one's creaturely equality with other human beings.
Prayer:
"St. Joseph, teach us the virtue of humility so that we might always seek to conform ourselves perfectly to the Divine Will. May we come to know and accept ourselves for who we truly are in the eyes of God and always appreciate our total dependence as creatures upon our Most Loving Creator. Amen."
"Joseph, Son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
~(Mt 1:20-21)
The Chastity of St. Joseph:
The Church's constant traditiion holds that St. Joseph lived a life of consecrated chastity. Some apocryphal gospels picture him as an old man, even a widower. This is not the Church's teaching. We are rather to believe that he was a virgin, who entered into a virginal marriage with Mary to protect Mary's reputation and safeguard the dignity of her Son.
What is the lesson for us? That chastity has an apostolic purpose: to help us win souls. It also shows how highly God regards the virtue of chastity, seeing that he providentially arranged a series of miracles of chastity in the conception and birth of the Son of God, the marriage of Mary and Joseph, and the life of Jesus Christ.
Chastity is the virtue that moderates the desire for sexual pleasure according to the principles of faith, moderating or even totally sacrificing the desire in conformity with one's state in life.
Chastity and purtiy, modesty and decency are comparable in meaning freedom from whatever is lewd or salacious. Yet they also differ. Chastity implies an opposition to the immoral in the sense of lustful or licentious, an avoidance of anything that might defile or make the soul unclean. It implies refraining from all acts or thoughts that are not in accordance with the Church's teaching about the use of one's reproductive powers.
Prayer:
"St. Joseph, teach us the virtue of chastity so that we might always seek to win souls for Christ. May we come to discover the true meaning of freedom according to our specific vocation in life and so come to fully appreciate and integrate the wondrous gift of human sexuality."
"When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary as his wife." ~ (Mt 1:24)
The Obedience of St. Joseph:
Joseph's obedience pervades every aspect of his life. He was obedient in marrying the Blessed Virgin Mary; in going to Bethlehem to be registered with Mary, and accepting the humiliation of Jesus' birth in a stable cave; in taking the Child and His Mother by night and fleeing to Egypt; in taking the Christ Child to Jerusalem, as prescribed by the law, and accepting God's mysterious will when the Child was lost and when Jesus told Mary that He must be about His Father's affairs - even grievously paining Joseph, His Foster-Father - in order to do the will of His Father.
What are the lessons for us? Obedience is the test of our love of God. His laws are God's way of enabling us to prove our love for Him; there is no obedience where there is no love, there is much obedience where there is much love. As head of the Holy Family, Joseph did not have identifiable superiors whom he should obey. Joseph's obedience consequently was mainly interior.
We may say that Joseph obeyed God's will by supernatural instinct. Joseph obeyed not because he was told to but because his mind was always conformed to the mind of God. Joseph's faith alwlays saw in Jesus the living God who instructed His Foster-Father constantly in everything that the Lord wanted him to do.
prayer:
"St. Joseph, teach us the virtue of obedience so that we might manifest our love for God in all aspects of our lives. May we always be open ourselves to daily inspirations that come our way during the day, especially in the silence of our hearts and through quiet prayer and personal reflection. Amen."
"When [Joseph and Mary] had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own Nazareth. The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him." ~(Lk 30-40)
The Prudence of St. Joseph:
The prudence of St. Joseph is part of the Catholic faith. It is especially shown in his remarkable practice of silence. Of course, Joseph talked. Yet the Gospels do not record a single word he spoke, no doubt to teach us that if we wish to practice the virtue of prudence, we must look to our practice of silence.
We are to be silent when others want us to speak, and we practice charity by our self-control. We are to be silent when it is clearly necessary to do do something and not talk about it. Speech is no substitute for actions.
St. Joseph teaches us that prudence is the correct knowledge of things that ought to be done and of things that should be avoided. Prudence is the intellectual virtue by which one recognizes in any matter what is good and what is evil. Prudence as a moral virtue enables a person to devise, choose, and prepare suitable means for the avoidance of any evil. Prudence resides in the practical intellect and is both acquired by one's own acts and infused along with sanctifying grace.
As an act of virtue, prudence involves three stages of mental cooperation: to take counsel carefully with oneself and from others; to judge correctly on the basis of the evidence at hand; and to direct the rest of one's activity according to the norms determined after a prudent judgment has been made.
Prayer:
"St. Joseph, teach us the virtue of prudence so that we might arrive at the knowledge of things that ought to be done and of things that should be avoided. May we come to develop this virtue naturally by our own human efforts, and also be open ourselves to God's graces in order to develop it supernaturally. Amen."
"Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the Child and His Mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child, to destroy Him." And he rose and took the Child and His mother by night, and departed for Egypt." ~(Mt 2:13-14)
The Love that Joseph Had for Jesus and Mary:
St. Joseph deserves our admiration for his many other virtues, but he is to be especially imitated in his love for Jesus and Mary. He was placed into their lives by an all-wise Providence and lived up to God's expectations by giving them his deepest attention and care.
What most bears emphasis is not so much that Jesus and Mary were physically so close to St. Joseph. He was in their company day after day for many years. It was rather that Joseph put his love into practice. He did no merely tell Jesus and Mary that he loved them. He lived his love.
That is the secret of true love. We are as truly devoted to Christ and His Mother as we do what we know they want us to do. and what is that? It is to see God's providence in everything that enters our lives:
* the disappointments and failures
* the unexpected turn of events
* the frustrating delays
* the unwanted demands on our time
* the mysterious silence of God who often hides His purpose and yet tells us, through people, what He wants us to do.
St. Joseph is surely worth studying and invoking to help us love Jesus and Mary as he loved them.
Prayer:
"St. Joseph, teach us the secret of true love so that we can love Jesus and Mary as you did. May we come to understand what Mary meant when she said, "Be it done to me according to your will." And what Jesus meant when He said, "If you love me, keep my commandments."
May you all have a blessed weekend as we Celebrate the Happy Feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.
These meditations are based upon an article on St. Joseph written by IRL founder, Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.
Peace be with you all!
"Praise J*M*J"!
Happy First Friday & Happy Feast of Our Lady of the Most Holy RosaryThe Five Luminous Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary:
1. Christ's Baptism in the Jordan River
~(Mt 3:13-17; Mk 1:9-11; Lk 3:21-22)
2. Christ's Self-manifestation at the Wedding of Cana
~(Jn 2:1-11)
3. Christ's Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with His Call to Conversion
~(Mt 3:17; Mk 1:14-15; Lk 4:14-22)
4. Christ's Transfiguration on Mount Tabor
(Mt 17:1-8; Mk 9:2-8; Lk 9;28-36
5. Christ's Institution of the Most Holy Eucarist as the Sacramental Expression of the Paschal Mystery - His Passion, Death and Resurrection
~(Mt 26:26-29; Mk 14:22-25; Lk 22:19-20; Jn 6:22-58; 1 Cor 11:23-27)
To commemorate the twenty-fourth anniversary of his election as the Vicar of Christ, Pope John Paul II, on Wednesday, October 16, 2002 during his weekly General Audience in Vatican City, signed his latest Apostolic Letter entitled Rosarium Virginis Mariae (The Rosary of the Virgin Mary).
This fifty-four page document is an aspiring consideration of Our Lady's Most Holy Rosary. Of special interest is the Holy Father's emphasis on
Blessed Bartolo Longo (1841-1926), who, instrumental in constructing the famous Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Pompei, Italy, was beautified on October 26, 1980 by Pope John Paul II, who saluted him as the "Man of Mary." We have entered the "Year of the Rosary," which extends until October 2003. Facinatingly, The Rosary of the Virgin Mary is the introduction of five new decades - the Mysteries of Light ("Luminous Mysteries"). We now have four sets of five mysteries each: the Joyful, the Luminous, the Sorrowful and the Glorious.
The Luminous Mysteries, which the Successor of St. Peter recommends to be prayed on Thursdays (while the Joyful are recited on Mondays and Saturdays, the Sorrowful on Tuesdays and Fridays, and the Glorious on Wednesdays & Sundays), are 1.) Christ's Baptism in the Jordan River;
2.) Christ's Self-Manifestation at the Wedding of Cana; 3.) Christ's Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with His Call to Conversion; 4.) Christ's Transfiguration on Mount Tabor; 5.) Christ's Institution of the Most Holy Eucharist as the Sacramental Expression of the Paschal Mystery - His Passion, Death and Resurrection.
Prayerful meditation on each mystery is paramount. The Holy Father writes: "The Rosary, precisely because it starts with Mary's own experience, is an exquisitely comtemplative prayer" (no.12). The Servant of God Pope Paul VI (1963-1978), in his February 2, 1974 Apostolic Exhortation Marialis Cultus (Marion Devotion), warned against an almost unconscious rattling of memorized prayers. "Without comtemplation, the Rosary is a body without a soul, and its recitation runs the risk of becoming a mechanical repetition of formulas, in violation of the admonition of Christ: "In praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think they will be heard for their many words" (Mt 6:7). By its nature the recitation of the Rosary calls for a quiet rhythm and a lingering pace, helping the individual to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord's life as seen through the eyes of her who was closest to the Lord. In this way the unfathomable riches of these mysteries are disclosed." (no. 47).
In his new Apostolic Letter, Pope John Paul II recalls that the Holy Rosary, his "favorite prayer" (no.2), is "based on the constant comtemplation - in Mary's company - of the face of Christ" (no.15). We remember Jesus with Mary, learn Jesus from Mary, become conformed to Jesus with Mary, pray to Jesus with Mary and proclaim Jesus with Mary.
Here are the meditations, primarily applicable to priests, religious and other consecrated persons, for the Luminous Mysteries.
1.) Christ's Baptism in the Jordan River:
The Son of God and Son of Mary was baptized by His Precursor, John the Baptist. Our Lord, completely without sin, plunges Himself into the water. Then, as the Messiah, immersed in prayer leaves the river, the resolute but gentle voice of the Father from Paradise exclaims, "You are my Beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." The Holy Spirit in the form of a dove shows Himself above Jesus.
We contemplate in this Mystery the rapidity with which Jesus always fulfilled His Father's will. I obey my Father's designs when I submit to the teachings of the Church and to my lawful superiors when they command me. How important is the counsel of obedience for me?
*Our Father...10 Hail Marys...Glory Be...***"Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell; lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy Mercy."
2.) Christ's Self-Manistestation at the Wedding of Cana:
During the nuptial feast, Jesus performed the first of His countless miracles. When Our Lady notices that the wine is gone, she confides in her Divine Son. After Christ's reply, the Madonna addressed the waiters, urging them to do as the Master directs. Jesus transforms the water stored in six stone jars into tasty wine.
We contemplate in this Mystery the esteem Jesus had for Mary - the only woman hailed as both Virgin and Mother. I note how Christ honors His Mother and how Mary points her children to Jesus. Do I enthusiastically venerate Mary and genuinely encourage others to imitate the God-man?
***Our Father...10 Hail Marys...Glory Be...O my Jesus, forgive us our sins...
3.) Christ's Proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with His Call to Conversion:
The merciful Redeemer exhorted His listeners to recognize that the Kingdom of God was among them. Emmanuel comes to redeem and save all peoples. His is compassionate and forgiving. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. The sacred responsibility of those who hear His message is simple and straightforward: concert and believe in the Good News.
We contemplate in this Mystery the overwhelming love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I attest to His mercy when I recieve the Sacrament of Penance. Is my encounter with the Divine Physician in Confession frequent and profound?
***Our Father...10 Hail Marys...Glory Be...O my Jesus, forgive us our sins...
4.) Christ's Transfiguration on Mount Tabor:
Jesus took Peter, James and John with Him and ascended the mountain. While He is praying, His face and clothes are radically changed in appearance, becoming brilliant. The Teacher allows His Divinity - the God-head - to shine forth from Him. Suddenly Moses and Elijah are speaking with Him. Peter is stupefield and wishes to fashion three tents for Christ and His unexpected visitors. A luminous cloud covers the Apostles. Once again, the father announces from His celestial throne: "This is My Son, the Chosen One, listen to Him." Peter, James and John put their faces to the ground because they are scared. But the Lord reassures them. Then, Jesus alone remains with the trio of Apostles.
We comtemplate in this Mystery the innumerable favors that the Almighty bestows on those who search for Him. I admire the intimacy that Sts. Peter, James and John had with Jesus. Do I often ask the Savior for a deeper friendship with Him?
***Our Father...10 Hail Marys...Glory Be...Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins...
5.) Christ's Institution of the Most Holy Eucharist as the Sacramental Expression of the Paschal Mystery - His Passion, Death and Resurrection:
Gathered with His Apostles during the Last Supper on Holy Thursday evening, Jesus took bread and a cup filled with wine and pronounced: "This is my Body...This is the Chalice of My Blood." Christ unhesistatingly gives His very self to His friends for their everlasting beautitude. The next day, on Good Friday, He will offer to His Eternal Father through the Holy Spirit the singular Sacrifice of Calvary, whose sacramental expression is effected in the Upper Room the night before and is renewed at every Mass.
We comtemplate in this Mystery the Food and Drink that Jesus conceded for the challenging pilgrimage to His Father's house. I thank God for the Most Holy Eucharist. Do I prepare well for Holy Communion and treasure the Mass as the center of my life?
***Our Father...10 Hail Marys...Glory Be...O my Jesus, forgive us our sins...
(The Salve Regina follows:)
Christ Jesus, "the Light of the World" (Jn 8:12), is the model par excellence for all His brothers and sisters but particularly for priests, religious and other consecrated persons. Praying the Luminous Mysteries of Our Blessed Mother's Holy Rosary provides consecrated men and women with the golden opportunity of pondering well - with Our Lady- the person and mission of the Risen Lord Jesus and His relentless, urgent summons to Christian perfection.
For anyone interested in receiving leaflets in quantity with the above Meditations may send payment to the following address, or call:
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Blessings to all!
October 02 A Sunday PrayerGood morning viewers and all Circle of Prayer members. My prayer for this morning is that you all have a very blessed Sunday!
My best wishes to you all~
Cella September 28 Plea For Divine Help"Hear us, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God; and graciously send Your holy angel from heaven to watch over, to cherish, to protect, to abide with, and to defend all who dwell in this house. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."
Prayer To Jesus
"Jesus Christ, my God, I adore You and I thank You for the many favors You have bestowed on me this day. I offer You my sleep and all the moments of this night, and I pray You to preserve me from sin. Therefore, I place myself in Your most sacred Side, and under the mantle of our Blessed Lady, my Mother. May the holy angels assist me and keep me in peace, and may Your blessing be upon me. Amen."
Prayer For The Home
"We beseech You, O Lord, to visit this home, and to drive far from it all the snares of the enemy: let Your holy angels dwell therein so as to preserve us in peace; and let your blessing be always upon us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."
September 20 Daily Prayers:Morning Prayers:
Offering to the Holy Trinity
"Most holy and adorable Trinity, one God in three persons, I praise You and give You thanks for all the favors You have bestowed upon me. Your goodness has preserved me until now. I offer You my whole being and in particular all my thoughts, words and deeds, together with all the trials I may undergo this day. Give them Your blessing. May Your Divine Love animate them and may they serve Your greater glory.
I make this morning offering in union with the Divine intentions of Jesus Christ Who offers Himself daily in holy Sacrafice of the Mass, and in union with Mary, His Virgin Mother and our Mother, who was alwqys the faithful handmaid of the Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen."
For Divine Guidance through the day
"Lord, God Almighty, You have brought us safely to the beginning of this day. Defend us today by Your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, but that all our words may so proceed and all our thoughts and actions be so directed, as to be always just in your sight. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."
"Direct, we bed You, O Lord, our actions by Your holy inspirations, and carry them on by Your gracious assistance, that every prayer and work of ours may begin always with You, and through You be happily ended. Amen."
Morning Offering
"O My God, I offer You all my prayers, works and sufferings, in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, for the intentions for which He pleads and offers Himself in the Holy Sacrafice of the Mass, in thanksgiving for Your favors, in reparation for my offenses, and in humble supplication for my temporal and eternal welfare, for the conversion of sinners, and for the relief of the poor souls in purgatory. I wish to gain all the indulgences attached to the prayers I shall say and to the good works I shall perform this day. Amen."
Another Morning Offering
"O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrafice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all our associates and in particular for all the intentions of this month of September, the many prayers being said for those who are on our Circle of Prayer list. O Jesus, bestow your blessings upon all Circle of Prayer members who offer their prayers selflessly for those in need. Lord hear our prayers! Amen."
May God bless all who visit here.
~Cella September 19 Evening Prayer:Prayer to the Blessed Trinity:
"I adore You, my God, and I thank You for having created me, for having made me a Christian and preserved me this day. I love You with all my heart and I am sorry for having sinned against You, (as none who have ever lived on Earth are free of sin) because You are infinite Love and infinite Goodness. Protect me during my rest and may Your love be always with me. Amen."
May God bless you all in MSN land and be with you all , always.
Goodnight!
~Cella September 11 Our Prayers for the Suffering Needed!Prayer for various needs: Prayer for Cities
"Cities are for needs and wants, divine Father, that cannot be met in isolation. Have we expected from them too much and put in too little? Spur us to renew our cities as You renew the earth in spring, that families may have decent living space, that the poor may have hope fulfilled, that the sick and aged may be treated as persons. May our cities be filled with love, truly homes and not merely structures. Amen."
Prayer for all people:
"O Lord, we bring before You the distress and dangers of the imprisoned and the captive, the sorrows of the grief-stricken, the needs of the refugees, the impotence of the weak, the weariness of the despondent, and the weaknesses of the aging. O Lord, stay close to all of them. Amen."
Prayer for Christ's mercy:
"O Lord, show Your mercy to me, and gladden my heart. I am like the man on the way to Jericho who was overtaken by robbers, wounded, and left half dead: O Good Samaritan, come to my aid. I am like the sheep that went astray: O Good Shepherd, seek me out and bring me home in accord with Your will. Let me dwell in Your house all the days of my life and praise You for ever and ever with those who are there. Amen."
Prayer for friends:
"Lord Jesus Christ, while on earth You had close and devoted friends, such as John, Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. You showed in this way that friendship is one of life's greatest blessings. Thank You for the friends that You have given me to love me in spite of my failures and weaknesses, and to enrich my life after Your example. Let me ever behave toward them as You behaved toward Your friends. Bind us close together in You and enable us to help one another on our earthly journey. Amen."
Prayer for the hungry:
"Lord Jesus Christ, You urged us to give You food in Your hunger which is visable to us in the starving faces of other human beings. Let me realize that there are millions of persons - children of the same God and our brothers and sisters - who are dying of hunger although they do not deserve to do so. Let us pray most especially for the suffering and afflicted Katrian Refugees in Mississippi and New Orleans. Do not allow me to remain indifferent to their crying need, or to soothe my conscience with the thought that I cannot do anything about this evil. Help me to do something - no matter how small - to alleviate their heart-rending want. Also let me pray regularly for all poor starving, homeless, afflicted peoples that they will be rewarded for this terrible suffering they are enduring, and be relieved of it as soon as possible. Amen."
Prayer for the Grace to help others:
"Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, let me sow pardon. Where there is friction, let me sow union. Where there is error, let me sow truth. Where there is doubt, let me sow faith. Where there is despair, let me sow hope. Where there is darkness, let me sow light. Where there is sadness, let me sow joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in dying that we are born into eternal life. Amen."
I received an email letter from our friend in prayer, Michelle, this morning. She is very torn by her recent experiences in the South. She somehow feels as if she did not do enough, although she had just barely only one week of a mission there. She returned home exhausted and so overwhelmed with grief that she has been spending most hours upon her return in her Church praying. So I ask all of you: How many people do we personally know who traveled South just to be there for the needs of others? I, only a hand full, our friend Michelle included. Although our friend, Michelle, is feeling lowly - as if she hasn't done or didn't do enough...she was still, in fact, there! She entirely selflessly gave of herself...of her own heart and compasion to complete strangers. She embraced their needs wholeheartedly and helped many citizens leave their home of ruins to reach safety. How many of us can say that of ourselves? She was able to share their tears and unite with their pains and sufferings as one. Together they became as one. One for another.
God bless you, Michelle. You truly are one who walks in the light of the Lord. You left your own family for as long as you could to do your part as best you could. You have done more than I, myself. You are a very special person. Could "I" myself have possibly traveled to the South for one day, one week, two weeks or longer to embrace the tragedy there??? Yes. The truth is, Yes I could have. I have not. Our friend Michelle left on the moment she received contact from her Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Within minutes she was on her way South without hesitation and no questions asked. She is one of our true heroes. She is a child of God, a true Christian soul.
From the deepest part of my heart, Cella.
August 19 PrayerPrayer To The Holy Spirit
"Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your 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 did instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit: grant that, by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be always truly wise, and ever rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."
August 18 ActsAct Of Faith:
"O My God, I firmly believe that You are one God in three Divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; I believe that Your Divine Son became Man, and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because You have revealed them, Who can neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen."
An Act Of Hope:
"O My God, relying on Your almight power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon for my sins, the help of Your grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen."
Act Of Love:
"O My God, I love You above all things with my whole heart and soul, because You are all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of You. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen."
Act Of Contrition:
"O My God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because of Your just punishments, 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 sin no more and to avoid the unnecessary occasions of sin. Amen." August 17 Bible Reading" Bear ye one another's burdens,
and so fulfill the law of Christ."
~Galatians 6:2 August 14 The ConfiteorI confess to Almighty God,
to blessed Mary ever Virgin,
to blessed Michael the Archangel,
to blessed John the Baptist,
to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul,
and to all the saints,
that I have sinned exceedingly in thought,
word and deed,
through my fault,
through my fault,
through my most grievous fault.
Therefore, I beseech
blessed Mary ever Virgin,
blessed Michael the Archangel,
blessed John the Baptist,
the holy Apostles Peter and Paul,
and all the saints
to pray to the Lord our God for me.
May Almighty God have mercy on me,
forgive me my sins,
and bring me to everlasting life. Amen.
May the almighty and merciful Lord
grant me pardon,
absolution,
and remission of all my sins. Amen. The Apostles CreedI believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell;
the third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven sitteth at the right
hand of God, the Father Almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the Communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.
August 08 REMEMBER....
The #1 member of "Circle of Prayer"
is Jesus Christ Himself!
GOD HEAR OUR PRAYERS! August 06 A Friend In ChristA "friend in prayer" is what I have found in a very special person, named 'Michelle'.
Michelle had this wonderful idea for MSN space members to join together in a "Circle Of Prayer" for their family and friends.
Michelle's "idea" has now developed into the beginning of a wonderful organization of MSN members who will be gathering for prayer for one another. I am very gracious to be acknowledged as a member of such a special group of people here on MSN spaces.
For anyone else who may be in need of prayer, or who would like to join others in a gathering for prayer may either go to:
or send your request to become a member of this extraordinary group of Christian people via email:
Always remember "you are God's temple and the Spirit of God is living within you."
~Corinthians 3:16
You are a light in this world! August 04 The Last JudgementAt The end of time, Jesus Christ will again come with great power and majesty to judge all men and to render to each according to each one's works. This general judgement will be a manifestation and confirmation of the particular judgement to which each one of us must submit immediately after death. but before the last judgement, all men will be ressurected with the same bodies they had during life on earth, so that their bodies will share the same punishment as their souls.
God wants also, by this resurrection, to render more complete the triumph of Jesus Christ over death and sin. Impenitent sinners will suffer eternal punishment; the just, on the other hand, will enjoy the vision and possession of God, eternal happiness. August 01 "Pray To Thy Father"The best known prayer begins, "Our Father which art in heaven...."
The Bible gives us to understand that we should speak directly to our heavenly Father. Jesus Himself said: "Pray to thy Father".
Some people say, "But I do not know what words to use nor how to express myself to God."
God does not require a special form of speech for prayer. The Bible contains many prayers of men with various backgrounds, and no two are alike.
Many people have said that they feel strange, as if they are speaking to nothing. This is what SATAN wants us to believe, so that we will not pray again. The truth is that the Bible assures us that wherever we are and whatever hour it may be, God hears the sincere person.
"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us". ~1 John 5:14
There are many who have been disappointed because they have asked something of God and did not receive it. They blame God and say that He does not exist. The TRUTH is that our "vision" is very limited, and we only see that which we would like for today.
If we pray often in the manner which the Bible teaches, you will learn to know God better and you will receive many blessings. Speak directly to the Father, in a frank and sincere manner, telling Him all that you feel and need. Thank Him for hearing your petition. We must pray only in the name of Jesus, because He said, "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son".
~John 14:13
Above all else we shall humble ourselves before the Almighty God. He merits our honor and thanks, since it is only by His favors that we may enter into His presence. In our prayer let us surrender ourselves to Him to serve Him will all our heart.
July 30 A Litany For LifeFor mothers and fathers ... God be with them!
For the gift of compassion... God be with them!
For the gift of patient love...
God be with them!
For a growing love of life...
God be with them!
For new mothers...
God be with them!
For teenage mothers...
God be with them!
For mothers who are beaten...
God be with them!
For mothers who are addicted...
God be with them!
For mothers who are afraid...
God be with them!
For mothers who are alone...
God be with them!
For mothers whose hearts are broken...
God be with them!
For mothers who have no one to love them...
God be with them!
For mothers who need us...
God be with them!
For unborn babies...
God be with them!
For innocent children...
God be with them!
For all who are tiny and frail...
God be with them!
For all with fragile hearts...
God be with him!
For new fathers...
God be wtih them!
For fathers who are afraid...
God be with them!
For fathers who are addicted...
God be with them!
For fathers who are angry or confused...
God be with them!
For fathers who are alone...
God be with them!
For fathers who love their children...
God be with them!
For fathers who have no one to love them...
God be with them!
For fathers who have run away...
God be with them!
For doctors who care...
God be with them!
For nurses whose hearts are gentle...
God be with them!
For doctors who are afraid...
God be with them!
For nurses who are confused...
God be with them!
For researchers who seek to heal...
God be with them!
For scientists who love true wisdom...
God b e with them!
For legislators who seek the common good...
God be with them!
For legislators whose hearts are torn...
God be with them!
For our President and those who advise him...
God be with him!
That God might guide their hearts...
God be with them!
That God might guide their hands...
God be with them!
For children, that we might love them better...
God be with them!
For children, that we might love them well...
God be with them!
For children that we might love them always...
God be with them!
(Prayer on the occasion of the candlelight vigil at the White House, April 1, 1996, to urge the President to sign legislation banning partial-birth abortion.) BELIEVE! Prayer Of Self-Dedication to Jesus Christ:
"Lord Jesus Christ,
take all my freedom,
my memory, my understanding,
and my will.
All that I have and cherish
you have given me.
I surrender all to be guided by
your will.
Your grace and your love
are wealth enough for me,
Give me these, Lord Jesus,
and I ask nothing more."
Amen. Let Peace Fill My Heart For World Peace~Sunday:
Lead me from death to life,
from falsehood to truth.
Lead me from despair to hope,
from fear to trust.
Lead me from hate to love,
from war to peace.
Let peace fill my heart,
my world, my universe.
Amen.
Monday:
Keep us, O God,
from all pettiness.
Let us be large in thought,
in word, in deed.
Let us be done with fault-finding
and leave off all self-seeking.
May we put away all pretense
and meet each other face to face,
without self pity
and without prejudice.
Grant that we may realize that
it is the little things of life that create differences,
that in the big things of life we are as one.
And, O God,
let us not forget to be kind.
Amen.
Tuesday:
I am Peace
surrounded by Peace
secure in Peace.
Peace protects me
Peace supports me
Peace is in me
Peace in mine~
All is well.
Peace to all beings
Peace among all beings
Peace from all beings
I am steeped in Peace
Absorbed in Peace
In the streets, at our work,
having peaceful thoughts,
Peaceful works, peaceful acts.
Amen.
Wednesday:
The world before me is restored in beauty.
The world behind me is restored in beauty.
The world below me is restored in beauty.
The world above me is restored in beauty.
All things around me are restored in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty.
Amen.
Thursday:
Let nothing disturb you.
Let nothing frighten you.
All things are changing.
God alone is changeless.
Patience attains the good.
One who has God
lacks nothing.
God alone fills all our needs.
Amen.
Friday:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair,
hope;
Where thereis darkness,
light;
Where there is sadness,
joy.
Amen.
Saturday:
If anyone speaks ill of you,
Praise them always.
If anyone injures you,
Serve them nicely.
If anyone persecutes you,
Help them in all possible ways.
You will attain
immense strength.
You will control
anger and pride.
You will enjoy
peace, poise and serenity.
You will become divine.
Amen!
July 26 Reading Through The Bible In A Year (2006)A friend of mine is making preparations for a group of Christian's who will begin reading the Bible the first day of January 2006 for the entire year. The group of Christian's is called: Reading Through The Bible In A Year. It has been reported that there are more Christian's signing up for participation in this year long (2006) devotion every day. This group of Christian's will not only spend a part of each day throughout the new year reading their Bible; this group of Christian's will also "pray" each day as part of a fellowship. A gathering of God's people for one another.
If you are interested in participation with this special year long devotion for 2006, then you can "sign up" by sending your request by email to:
Don't forget to mention that you heard about "Reading Through The Bible In A Year (2006) right here on Cella's Pages!
How many of us would truly like to read our Bible, yet we never seem to get around to finding "time" to do it? Well, this is a perfect way to read through your Bible, on a daily basis, and benefit from a very rewarding experience in Christ.
May The Lord be with you all. July 24 Holy Mass"AT the Last Supper, on the night when He was betrayed, our savior insituted the Eucharist sacrifice of His Body and Blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the centuries until He should come again, and so to entrust to His beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of His Death and Resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet in which Christ is eaten, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us"
(Vatican II: Sacred Liturgy, no. 47).
Thus the Mass is:
1) the true sacrifice of the New Covenant, in which a holy and living Victim is offered, Jesus Christ, and we in union with Him, as a gift of ove and obedience to the Father;
2) a sacred meal and spiritual banquet of the children of God;
3) a Paschal meal, which evokes the passage (passover) of Jesus from this world to the Father; it renders Him present and makes Him live again in souls, and it anticipates our definitive passage to the Kingdom of God;
4) a communitarian mean. that is, a gathering together of the Head and His members , of Jesus and His Church, His Mystical Body, in order to carry out a perfect divine worship.
Thus, the Mass is the greatest prayer we have. Through it we give thanks and praise to the Father for the wonderful future He has given us in His Son. We also ask forgiveness for our sins and beg the Father's blessing upon ourselves and our fellow human beings.
God be with you all and bless you all.
I pray that your presence during His mass this Sunday was a blessed one; and for those of you who were unable to attend Holy Mass this Sunday~I shall offer my prayers for you today. In return all I ask is that you try your best to attend Holy Mass in your future tomorrows.
Amen.
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