THAT SEMINARIANS BE TRAINED ACCORDING TO THE INTEGRITY OF CATHOLIC TRADITION, WE PRAY YOU, LORD.

THAT SEMINARIANS BE TRAINED ACCORDING TO THE INTEGRITY OF CATHOLIC TRADITION, WE PRAY YOU, LORD.

Lord, to safeguard your honor and glory, give us holy priests.
Lord, to increase our faith, give us holy priests.
Lord, to sustain your Church, give us holy priests.
Lord, to preach your doctrine, give us...
Lord, to defend your cause, give us...
Lord, to counteract error, give us...
Lord, to annihilate sects, to uphold the truth, give us...
Lord, to direct our souls, give us...
Lord, to improve morals, give us...
Lord, to banish vices, give us...
Lord, to enlighten the world, give us...
Lord, to teach the riches of your Heart, give us...
Lord, to make us love the Holy Spirit, give us...
Lord, that all your ministers may be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, give us...

Prayer. — Heart of Jesus, holy Priest, we ask you with the greatest earnestness of soul that you increase day by day the number of aspirants to the priesthood and that you form them according to the designs of your loving Heart.  Only in this way will we obtain Holy Priests, and soon there will be only one flock and one Shepherd in the world. So be it. Amen.

(Indulgence of 7 years and one plenary session per month, with the ordinary conditions.)

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE

O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of the true God and Mother of the Church! You, who from this place manifest your clemency and compassion to all who seek your protection: hear the prayer we address to you with filial trust, and present it to your Son Jesus, our only Redeemer.

Mother of mercy, Teacher of hidden and silent sacrifice, to you, who come to meet us sinners, we consecrate on this day our whole being, all our love. We also consecrate to you our lives, our labors, our joys, our illnesses, and our sorrows.

Grant peace, justice, and prosperity to our people, for all that we have and are, we place under your care, our Lady and Mother.

We wish to be totally yours and walk with you the path of complete fidelity to Jesus Christ in his Church: do not let us go from your loving hand.

Virgin of Guadalupe, Mother of the Americas, we pray for all the Bishops, that they may lead the faithful along paths of intense Christian life, of love and humble service to God and souls.

Contemplate this immense harvest, and intercede that the Lord may inspire a hunger for holiness in all the faithful and pastors, and grant abundant vocations to priests and religious, strong in faith and zealous dispensers of the mysteries of God.

Grant our homes the grace to love and respect the life that is beginning, with the same love with which you conceived in your womb the life of the Son of God. Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of Beautiful Love, protect our families so that they may always be closely united, and bless the education of our children.

Our Hope, look upon us with compassion, teach us to continually go to Jesus, and if we fall, help us to rise again, to return to him, through the confession of our faults and sins in the sacrament of Penance, which brings peace to the soul. We beseech you to grant us a great love for all the holy sacraments, which are like the footprints your Son left for us on earth.

Thus, Most Holy Mother, with the peace of God in our consciences, with our hearts free from evil and hatred, we may bring to all the true joy and true peace that come from your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

EXCELLENT ADVICE: PRACTICE THE DEVOTION OF THE THREE HAIL MARYS DAILY

What does the devotion of the three Hail Marys consist of?

It involves praying the Hail Mary three times to the Blessed Virgin, Mother of God and our Lady, either to honor her or to obtain some favor through her mediation.

What is the purpose of this devotion?

To honor the three principal attributes of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which are:

1. The power that God the Father granted her for being his beloved Daughter.

2. The wisdom with which God the Son adorned her, choosing her as his Mother.

3. The mercy with which God the Holy Spirit filled her, choosing her as his Immaculate Spouse.

Hence, there are three Hail Marys to pray, and not a different number.

What is the way to pray the three Hail Marys?

"Mary, my Mother, deliver me from falling into mortal sin.

1. By the power the Eternal Father has given you

Hail, Mary; full of grace; the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

2. By the wisdom the Son has given you.

Hail, Mary; full of grace; the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

3. By the love the Holy Spirit has given you

Hail, Mary; full of grace; the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary,  Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen!

What is the origin of the devotion of the three Hail Marys?

Saint Matilda, a Benedictine nun, begged the Blessed Virgin to assist her at the hour of death.  The Virgin Mary told her the following: "Yes, I will; but I want you to pray three Hail Marys daily for me. The first, asking that just as God the Father raised me to a throne of unparalleled glory, making me the most powerful in heaven and on earth, so also I may assist you on earth to strengthen you and remove from you all hostile power. For the second Hail Mary, you will ask me that just as the Son of God filled me with wisdom, to such an extent that I have more knowledge of the Holy Trinity than all the Saints, so I may assist you in the trance of death to fill your soul with the lights of faith and true wisdom, so that it is not darkened by the darkness of error and ignorance. For the third, you will ask that just as the Holy Spirit has filled me with the sweetness of his love, and has made me so lovable that after God I am the sweetest and most merciful, so I may assist you in death by filling your soul with such  Gentleness of divine love, may all the pain and bitterness of death be changed for you into delights."

And this promise was extended to the benefit of all who put into practice this daily prayer of the three Hail Marys.

What are Our Lady's promises to those who prayed the three Hail Marys daily?

Our Lady promised Saint Matilda and other pious souls that whoever prayed three Hail Marys daily would have her help during life and her special assistance at the hour of death, appearing at that final hour with the radiance of such beauty that just seeing her would console them and transmit to them the joys of Heaven.

Mary renews her promise of protection:

When Sister Maria Villani, a Dominican nun (16th century), was praying the three Hail Marys one day, she heard these encouraging words from the Virgin Mary's lips:

"Not only will you obtain the graces you ask of me, but in life and in death I promise to be your special protector and that of all those like you who practice this devotion."

The Blessed Virgin also said: "The devotion of the three Hail Marys has always been very dear to me... Do not cease to pray them and to have them prayed as much as you can. Every day you will have proof of their effectiveness..."

It was the Blessed Virgin herself who told Saint Gertrude that "whoever venerates her in her relationship with the Most Holy Trinity will experience the power communicated to her by the Omnipotence of the Father as the Mother of God; she will admire the ingenious means inspired by the wisdom of the Son for the salvation of men, and she will contemplate the ardent charity kindled in her heart by the Holy Spirit."

Referring to all those who invoked her daily, commemorating the power, wisdom, and love bestowed upon them by the August Trinity, Mary told Saint Gertrude that, "At the hour of his death, I will reveal myself to him with the radiance of such great beauty that my sight will console him and communicate to him the joys of heaven."

What is the basis of this devotion?

The Catholic affirmation that the Blessed Virgin possessed, to the highest degree possible for a creature, the attributes of power, wisdom, and mercy.

This is what the Church teaches when it invokes Mary as the Powerful Virgin, Mother of Mercy, and Seat of Wisdom.

𝗔 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗗𝗼 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹

Almighty God, Creator and Sustainer of all, I come before You in humble adoration. Your wisdom surpasses all understanding, and Your love knows no bounds.

I praise You for Your infinite wisdom and boundless love. Thank You for Your constant presence in my life.

Lord, I surrender myself completely to You. Take my thoughts, my words, my actions, and my desires. Purify them, sanctify them, and align them with Your divine plan. May every breath I take be for Your greater glory.

Grant me the courage to say “yes” to Your will, as Mary did at the Annunciation. Like her, may I be Your humble servant, ready to accept whatever You ask of me.

In times of challenge, be my support. When I am weak, be my strength. When I am doubtful, be my certainty. When I am fearful, be my courage. When I am prideful, teach me humility. Grant me patience in times of waiting. Perseverance in times of trial. And gratitude in times of blessing.

Guide me in my daily walk with You. Help me to see Your hand in all things, to trust in Your infinite wisdom and love. May I find joy in serving You and others, knowing that in doing so, I fulfill Your holy will.

Guide me in my vocation and daily duties. May I be a faithful steward of the gifts You’ve given me, using them to build Your Kingdom on earth.

Lord, in my human frailty, when I stray from Your path, gently call me back. Forgive me for the times I’ve placed my will before Yours, and grant me the grace to begin anew each day.

In moments of decision, big or small, may I always ask, “What would You have me do?” Give me the wisdom to choose rightly, and the strength to follow through.

I pray not only for myself but for all Your children. May Your love and peace reign in every heart.

I offer this prayer to You, O God, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

ANGEL OF GOD

 Angel of God, my Guardian dear, to whom His love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and to guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

PRAYER FOR PRIESTS

O Jesus, eternal High Priest, good Shepherd, Source of life! By the singular magnificence of Your most sweet Heart, You gave us our Priests to fulfill in us those designs of sanctification that Your grace inspires in our hearts. We beseech You to assist them with Your merciful help.

May faith, O Jesus, vivify their works; may hope be indestructible in their trials; may charity be ardent in their resolutions. May Your word, ray of eternal Wisdom, be, through continual meditation, the perennial nourishment of their interior life; may the examples of Your Life and Passion be renewed in their conduct and in their sufferings for our instruction, for light and encouragement in our hearts.

O Lord, grant that our priests, detached from all human interest and zealous only for your glory, may remain faithful to their duty, with a pure conscience, until their last breath.

And when, through the death of their bodies, they place their well-fulfilled task in your hands, may they find in you, Lord Jesus, who were their Master on earth, the eternal reward of the crown of justice in the splendor of the saints. Amen.

MAY, MONTH OF MARY

 

This is the traditional name for this month dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, in which we offer our Heavenly Mother our best spiritual and material "flowers." A very simple method is to greet her with the following prayers:

My most loving Mother, in every moment of my life, remember me, a miserable sinner. Hail Mary

Aqueduct of divine graces, grant me an abundance of tears to mourn my sins. Hail Mary

Queen of heaven and earth, be my refuge and defense in the temptations of my enemies. Hail Mary

Immaculate daughter of Joachim and Anne, obtain for me from your most holy Son the graces I need for my eternal salvation. Hail Mary

Advocate and refuge of sinners, assist me in the trance of my death, and open the gates of Heaven to me. Hail Mary.

MATER BONI CONSILII, ORA PRO NOBIS. (Mother of Good Counsel, pray for us)

- PRAYER:

O most glorious Virgin, chosen by the eternal Council to be the Mother of the divine Word incarnate, treasurer of divine graces, and advocate of sinners: I, the most unworthy of your servants, have recourse to you, so that you may deign to be my guide and my counsel in this valley of tears. Obtain for me, through the most precious blood of your Son, the forgiveness of my sins, the salvation of my soul, and the means necessary to achieve it. Obtain for Holy Church triumph over her enemies and the expansion of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ throughout the world. Amen.

(500-day indulgence. Prayer taken from the booklet: Manual of the Heart of Jesus, 1951.)

PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH

Glorious Patriarch Saint Joseph, whose power makes impossible things possible, come to my aid in these moments of anguish and difficulty. Take under your protection the grave and difficult situations I entrust to you, so that they may have a good solution. My beloved Father, all my trust is in you. Let it not be said that I have called upon you in vain, and, as you can do all things with Jesus and Mary, show me that your goodness is as great as your power. Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE FAMILY

 Lord God Almighty, we bless you and thank you for this family of ours. Give us the grace to live united in you and do not allow the evil one to divide us. We offer you the joys and sorrows of our lives, and we present to you our hopes for the future. God, source of all good, give our family its daily food, give us health and peace and teach us to forgive, guide our steps on the path of good. Lord, allow us to live happily in our home and may we all meet one day in the happiness of Paradise. Amen.

Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, save our country, preserve our faith and free us from bad shepherds. Amen.

ORA PRO NOBIS

 

HOLY VIRGIN OF GUADALUPE

 

THANKSGIVING FOR ANOTHER YEAR

 

Our Father who art in heaven, owner of Truth, of time and of eternity: Yours is today and tomorrow, the past and the future. As we end the year 2024, on behalf of myself and my family, we want to thank you for everything we received from you.

Thank you for the family you gave us, for life and love, air and sun, for joy and pain, for everything that was possible and for what could not be.

Thank you for welcoming us into your true Church. We offer you everything we did this year that is ending. The work we were able to do, the things that passed through our hands, and what we were able to build with them in a positive way.

Also, Lord, today we want to ask for your forgiveness.

Forgiveness for our sins, for the evil we have caused, for the time lost, for the money wasted, for the omissions, for the useless word and the wasted love.

Forgive me for empty works and for work poorly done. And forgive me for living without enthusiasm. Also for the prayer, which little by little, we were postponing and which until now we do to thank you for all that you have given us.

For all our forgetfulness, carelessness and silence. Once again we ask for your forgiveness, Lord.

We will begin a new year and we stop our life, before the new calendar still unused. We present to you these future 365 days, which only You know, who will get to live them completely. If we do not finish them... help us to die in You, in sanctifying grace, after having gone - sincerely contrite - to the tribunal of Confession.

Today we ask you for each one of us: peace and joy, strength and prudence, charity and wisdom, the effort to be faithful to you and always live in your Grace, because only in Grace is the safe path traveled. Only the fool does not understand this, so we ask you to remove any blindfold that prevents us from seeing our foolishness.

Lord, help us to be jealous of your glory and that of your Church, and to live only for You, in You and for You.

We want to live each day with optimism and goodness, carrying everywhere a heart full of understanding and peace that always seeks the Truth of your Word. Let nothing tear us away from it, for your faith is our greatest treasure.

Close our ears to all slander, to false doctrines against your Word. And our lips to lying, selfish, biting or hurtful words. Open, instead, our being to all that is good.

May our spirit be filled only with blessings, and spread them in our path. Fill us with goodness and joy, so that those who live with us, or those who come close to us, find a little bit of YOU in our lives.

Thank you, Lord, for everything and forgive our debts to you. Guide us all along the path of the narrow road that will allow us one day to enter through the narrow door and be in your eternal lap to bless you forever and ever. If for this it is necessary that you use your right hand to shake us, we accept in advance any pain and sorrow, however difficult they may be.

Give us a happy 2022 and teach us to love you, always living in your grace, and to follow you with complete fidelity. Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of the past year, as well as for those that you will pour out in the year that begins.

Most Holy Virgin Mary, I commend my entire family to your Immaculate Heart.

Amen.

Mary, the Burning Thornbush and the Mystery of the Consumed Flame

Oh Mary, you are not only the thornbush that burns without being consumed, but also the one that, in humility, allows itself to be consumed to give way to the Light. Your greatness lies not in preserving yourself, but in giving yourself entirely; not in resisting the fire, but in becoming the very flame that vanishes in the radiance of Christ.

You are that thornbush which, touched by the divine fire, consumes itself in silence—not to disappear, but to let the Word shine. Is this not your highest miracle, Mother? That, being full of grace, you make yourself small; that, being the throne of the Most High, you become His handmaid. You allow yourself to be consumed, Mary, not because God annuls you, but because you give yourself completely. Your will burns in the blaze of love, so that He alone remains visible, He alone is known and loved.

As we contemplate you, burning thornbush, we see how you are consumed to become the first altar where Christ, the Lamb, is offered to the world. Your flesh gives way to His flesh; your blood, to His blood. All of you, oh Mother, are the fertile field where the heavenly wheat sprouts and bears fruit. And though you burn in this offering, you are not destroyed but glorified, for in your surrender, the world finds the doorway to heaven.

Thus, in the burning of your being, you reveal the most sublime mystery: whoever gives everything gains everything; whoever is consumed by love is exalted to eternity. Like the burning thornbush of Sinai, which ceased to be a mere bush to become a sign of the eternal, so too do you, Mary, vanish before the eyes of man so that Christ may be the only one visible. Not because you are lost, but because in Him, you find your fullness.

Oh Mary, what more can we say of you? That you are consumed by love is not loss but gain; not extinction, but perfect communion with the eternal fire. You teach us that true greatness lies not in preserving ourselves, but in giving ourselves away. Let the thornbush burn so that the light may be seen; let the mother step aside so that the Son may reign. Thus, in your humility, Mary, you guide us to the ultimate mystery: only when we disappear into the fire of divine love do we reach eternity.

Blessed are you, thornbush consumed in the fullness of Christ. For in your burning, we find the highest lesson: that total self-giving is the purest form of glory. You, who were consumed in the most perfect yes, make us living flames, little burning thornbushes, ready to vanish in the splendor of God’s love. Amen.

SWEET MARY, RETURN YOUR EYES

Most Glorious Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, turn your eyes in mercy upon us, miserable sinners; We are afflicted by the many evils that surround us in this life, but we especially feel that our hearts break within us as we hear the dreadful insults and blasphemies uttered against you, O Immaculate Virgin. Oh, how these impious sayings offend the infinite Majesty of God and His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ! How they provoke their indignation and give us reason to fear the terrible effects of their revenge! If only the sacrifice of our lives would serve to put an end to such outrages and blasphemies; If so, how joyfully should we do it, because we desire, O Most Holy Mother, to love and honor you with all our hearts, since this is the will of God.

 And just because we love you, we will do everything in our power to make you honored and loved by all men. Meanwhile, you, our merciful Mother, the supreme consoler of the afflicted, accept this our act of reparation that we offer you for us and for all our families, as well as for all those who blaspheme you impiously, without knowing what they say. You obtain for them from the Almighty God the grace of conversion, and thus you make your goodness, your power and your great mercy more manifest and more glorious. May they join us in proclaiming you blessed among women, the Immaculate Virgin and the most compassionate Mother of God.

The Importance of Praying for the Dead

The tradition of praying for the dead dates back to the earliest days of the Church. Judas Maccabeus made offerings for the dead, showing that it is a “holy and pious thought” to pray for those who have passed away (2 Macc 12:46). This practice continues today as the Church teaches the importance of interceding for the dead (CCC 1478).

The souls in purgatory rely on our prayers and sacrifices. No prayer is ever wasted; even if prayers are offered for those already in heaven, the graces benefit other souls. By performing acts of charity and prayer, we engage in one of the greatest acts of mercy.

Recite this prayer often for loved ones and all those who have passed:

"Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace."

Gaining Indulgences for the Holy Souls

Indulgences can be applied to the souls in purgatory to alleviate their suffering and hasten their entry into heaven (CCC 1032). The Church offers both plenary and partial indulgences. The conditions for gaining a plenary indulgence include:

• Being in a state of grace

• Receiving sacramental confession

• Receiving Holy Communion

• Praying for the Pope’s intentions

• Having complete detachment from all sin

View Indulgence Manual

Offering Masses & Sacrifices

The most powerful aid we can give to the souls in purgatory is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (CCC 1032). Offering Masses for the dead unites their purification to Christ’s redemptive work.

Gregorian Masses: A series of 30 consecutive Masses offered for a deceased person is especially powerful in assisting souls in Purgatory.

Additionally, small daily sacrifices can be offered for the souls in purgatory, easing their suffering and bringing them closer to heaven.

Prayers & Devotions for the Holy Souls

One of the most common and powerful prayers is the Eternal Rest prayer:

"Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace."

The Powerful St. Gertrude Prayer: Tradition holds that this prayer can release 1,000 souls from purgatory each time it is prayed.

"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home, and within my family. Amen."

Devotions like the Rosary, and the Stations of the Cross, offered for the holy souls, bring them immense comfort and hasten their journey toward heaven.

All Souls' Day (November 2) is dedicated to praying for the dead, and Catholics are encouraged to visit cemeteries, pray for the dead, and gain indulgences for the souls in purgatory during the first eight days of November.

• Read Me or Rue It

• How To Avoid Purgatory

O Mary

 

The Family that Prays Together Stays Together

Parents, like priests in the Church, have a responsibility to shepherd the flock allotted to their charge (see I Peter 5:1-4). And as parents, we must rediscover our roles as domestic priests and our corresponding responsibility to pass on our faith to our children.

Let's remind our families of the presence of God in our homes. Praying together helps us stay together. Faith and love will grow in our homes when we build a solid altar of prayer.

Dear Lord

 

LORD JESUS