Pænitemini

"Repent, and believe in the Gospel" [Mark 1:15]

This is the Lenten Embertide, a time to fast, to pray, to examine the state of our soul, to acknowledge our failings and to rein in poorly governed passions. It is a time to thank God for blessings received and to give alms that others may share in our blessings, for all that we have and all that we are, we have received in trust from our Maker to use in His service.

50 years ago this very day, Pope Paul VI abrogated the canonical requirement of Catholics to fast this week. Nevertheless, the need remains for every Christian to take up his cross, and follow his Saviour up a difficult path.

His praise will be ever on my lips

A prayer shared with my beloved friend, in the sunset of her life...

I will bless the Lord at all times.
His praise will be ever on my lips.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever
Amen!

[Found here]

يسوع الصلاة

.يارب يسوع المسيح ابن اللّه الحيّ إرحمني أنا الخاطئ

Psalms for the Close of the Day

Psalm 4

¹ Unto the end, in verses. A psalm for David.

² When I called upon him, the God of my justice heard me: when I was in distress, thou hast enlarged me. Have mercy on me: and hear my prayer.

³ O ye sons of men, how long will you be dull of heart? why do you love vanity, and seek after lying?

⁴ Know ye also that the Lord hath made his holy one wonderful: the Lord will hear me when I shall cry unto him.

⁵ Be angry, and sin not: the things you say in your hearts, be sorry for them upon your beds.

⁶ Offer up the sacrifice of justice, and trust in the Lord: many say, Who sheweth us good things?

⁷ The light of thy countenance O Lord, is signed upon us: thou hast given gladness in my heart.

⁸ By the fruit of their corn, their wine and oil, they are multiplied.

⁹ In peace in the selfsame I will sleep, and I will rest:

¹⁰ For thou, O Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope

Psalm 30:1-6

¹ Unto the end, a psalm for David, in an ecstasy.

² In thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confounded: deliver me in thy justice.

³ Bow down thy ear to me: make haste to deliver me. Be thou unto me a God, a protector, and a house of refuge, to save me.

⁴ For thou art my strength and my refuge; and for thy name's sake thou wilt lead me, and nourish me.

⁵ Thou wilt bring me out of this snare, which they have hidden for me: for thou art my protector.

⁶ Into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth

Psalm 90

¹ The praise of a canticle for David. He that dwelleth in the aid of the most High, shall abide under the protection of the God of Jacob.

² He shall say to the Lord: Thou art my protector, and my refuge: my God, in him will I trust.

³ For he hath delivered me from the snare of the hunters: and from the sharp word.

⁴ He will overshadow thee with his shoulders: and under his wings thou shalt trust.

⁵ His truth shall compass thee with a shield: thou shalt not be afraid of the terror of the night.

⁶ Of the arrow that flieth in the day, of the business that walketh about in the dark: of invasion, or of the noonday devil.

⁷ A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee.

⁸ But thou shalt consider with thy eyes: and shalt see the reward of the wicked.

⁹ Because thou, O Lord, art my hope: thou hast made the most High thy refuge.

¹⁰ There shall no evil come to thee: nor shall the scourge come near thy dwelling.

¹¹ For he hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee in all thy ways.

¹² In their hands they shall bear thee up: lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

¹³ Thou shalt walk upon the asp and the basilisk: and thou shalt trample under foot the lion and the dragon.

¹⁴ Because he hoped in me I will deliver him: I will protect him because he hath known my name.

¹⁵ He shall cry to me, and I will hear him: I am with him in tribulation, I will deliver him, and I will glorify him.

¹⁶ I will fill him with length of days; and I will shew him my salvation.

Psalm 133

¹ Behold now bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord: Who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God.

² In the nights lift up your hands to the holy places, and bless ye the Lord.

³ May the Lord out of Sion bless thee, he that made heaven and earth.

Kenosis

He must increase, but I must decrease. [John 3:30]

Take from us, O Lord:
all greed, all envy, all malice;
all anger, all lust, all pride;
all preoccupation with this world
and all timorous fear of becoming holy.
Take from us our heart of stone
and breath into us the living Spirit,
clean and fruitful,
animating us us with a kindly charity and hope,
so that we may say with the apostle:
"And I live, now not I; but Christ liveth in me."

                        +++

Pray for us, Spirit-filled baptizer of our Lord,
that our contrition and conversion
may be sincere and thorough
and that we may persevere
through the trials of this life,
acknowledging our faults, doing penance,
and following the way of the Lord faithfully.

We ask this in the name of thy holy kinsman
Jesus our Lord,
Who has lifted thee and all the saints to Heaven,
where He reigns with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
blessing all who dwell there
with gifts of joy and understanding.

Amen.

Thank you Lord, for a good night's rest

that has refreshed and prepared me for the labors of the week ahead.  May I work promptly and joyfully, doing all things for the glory of Thy Holy Name.  Amen.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy Kingdom come. Amen.

How boundless, O Jesus, is Thy Love!

Thou hast prepared for me,
of Thy most precious Body and Blood,
a divine Banquet,
wherein Thou dost give Thyself to me without reserve.
What hath urged Thee to this excess of love?
Nothing but Thine own most Loving Heart.
O adorable Heart of Jesus,
Furnace of divine Love,
receive my soul into the wounds of Thy most sacred Passion,
that in this school of charity
I may learn to make a return of love
to that God who hath given me such wonderful proofs of His Love.

Amen.

(from Manual of Prayers, Third Plenary Council of Baltimore)

A Prayer before Holy Communion

Today is Corpus Christi. In honor of the day, here is a prayer from St. Thomas Aquinas suitable for praying before receiving the Blessed Sacrament:

Almighty and everlasting God, behold, I am about to approach the Sacrament of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I approach as one who is sick to the physician of life, as one unclean to the well-spring of mercy and goodness, as one blind to the light of eternal brightness, as one poor and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth. Wherefore I beseech Thee, of Thine infinite goodness, to heal my sickness, to wash away my filth, to enlighten my blindness, to enrich my poverty, and to clothe my nakedness, that I may receive the Bread of Angels, the King of kings, and Lord of lords with such reverence and humility, with such contrition and devotion, with such purity and faith, with such purpose and intention, as may conduce to the salvation of my soul. Grant, I beseech Thee, that I may receive not only the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Lord, but also the fruit and virtue of the Sacrament. O most indulgent and merciful God, grant me so to receive the Body of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, which he took of the Virgin Mary, that I may be found worthy to be incorporated with his mystical body and numbered among His members. O most loving Father, grant that I may one day contemplate for ever face to face Thy beloved Son, Whom now on my pilgrimage I am about to receive under a veil, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Ember Wednesday

From today's Mass, a collect:

Hasten, we beseech Thee, O Lord, tarry not: and grant us the help of Thy heavenly power, that they who trust in Thy loving kindness may be relieved by the consolations of Thy coming. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, through all the ages of ages.

A gradual:

The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.
V.: My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: and let all flesh bless His holy Name.

and the offertory:

Take courage, and now fear not: for behold our God will bring judgment: He Himself will come and will save us.

May This be a Day of Healing

O Lord, King of heaven, God the Father almighty:
O only-begotten Son of the Father, Lord Jesus Christ our Savior:
O Holy Spirit of the Father and the Son, and Comforter:
        hear us in our distress.

Through Thy mercy may R be speedily healed and strengthened. Do not let her soul be disturbed, but in loving-kindness let her abide in Thee, and draw strength and hope from Thee, and by her trials be perfected. By Thy grace, holy God, may she thank Thee always, in this world and the next.

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.

Our Lady, help of Christians, pray for her.
Saint Peregrine, pray for her.
Saint Michael, pray for her.
Good angels, guardians of our souls, pray for her.

Prayer to St.Michael

A recording of the Prayer to St.Michael, from Sonitus Sanctus.

Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in praelio. Contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur. Tuque princeps militiae caelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo divina virtute in infernum detrude. Amen.

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

A Prayer for Healing

O Sovereign Lord of every creature, look upon my friend R- with eyes of mercy. In Thy loving-kindness, rest Thy healing hand upon her and strengthen her. Blesséd Lord, please send Thy life-giving virtue into every cell of R's body and into the depths of her soul, cleansing, purifying and restoring her to wholeness and strength for service in Thy Kingdom. We ask this with faith and hope in Thy holy Name, O Lord, Who reign with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God in every age. Amen.

Holy angels, pray for her!

Today's Communion verse:

I was sick and you visited Me: Amen, amen I say to you as long as you did it to one of these My least brethren you did it to Me.

Matthew 25:36,40

Prayer for Two Weak Men

Most pure Spirit of the Father and of the Son, Holy Paraclete, save us, O merciful God, from malice towards others, from envy, from avarice, from self-serving compromises with evil. Grant us the grace, O Lord, to live always in Thy light. Make us true sons of the Father, shunning deceitful ways and all the works of the devil.

We ask this in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who reigns with Thee in the glory of the Father, one God, forever and always. Amen.

+++

And he said to them: Take heed and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life doth not consist in the abundance of things which he possesseth.

And he spoke a similitude to them, saying: The land of a certain rich man brought forth plenty of fruits. And he thought within himself, saying: What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said: This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and will build greater; and into them will I gather all things that are grown to me, and my goods. And I will say to my soul: Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years take thy rest; eat, drink, make good cheer. But God said to him: Thou fool, this night do they require thy soul of thee: and whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?

Luke 12:15-20

+++

You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not kill. And whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council. And whosoever shall say, Thou Fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother hath any thing against thee; Leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother: and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift. Be at agreement with thy adversary betimes, whilst thou art in the way with him: lest perhaps the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

Matthew 5:21-25

"Teach Us to Pray"

It came to pass, that as he was in a certain place praying, when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him: Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

And he said to them: When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.

And he said to them: Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and shall say to him: Friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine is come off his journey to me, and I have not what to set before him. And he from within should answer, and say: Trouble me not, the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

Yet if he shall continue knocking, I say to you, although he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend; yet, because of his importunity, he will rise, and give him as many as he needeth. And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

And which of you, if he ask his father bread, will he give him a stone? or a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he reach him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father from heaven give the good Spirit to them that ask him?

Luke 11:1-13 (Douay Rheims)
Show with Haydock Commentary or the Latin Vulgate Bible
Bible passage courtesy of VeritasBible.com

A Novena to the Sacred Heart of our Lord and Savior (Day Six)

Cor ad cor loquitur

Saint Paul tells us that we can pray with all kinds of prayers and requests. (Ephesians 6:18) And our dear Lord tells us to keep praying to our Father in heaven, who loves His children.

Take a few moments to enter into yourself, to calm your heart, to set aside your sorrows and preoccupations as well as you can, and then to speak to God simply and sincerely from where you are:

O most holy Heart of Jesus,
fountain of every blessing,
I adore Thee, I love Thee
and with a lively sorrow for my sins,
I offer Thee this poor heart of mine.
Make me humble, patient, pure
and wholly obedient to Thy will.
Grant, good Jesus,
that I may live in Thee and for Thee.
Protect me in the midst of danger;
comfort me in my afflictions;
give me health of body,
assistance in my temporal needs,
Thy blessing on all that I do,
and the grace of a holy death.
Within Thy Heart I place my every care.
In every need let me come to Thee
with humble trust saying,
Heart of Jesus help me.

Novena to the Holy Ghost, Day Nine

Da tuis fidelibus,
in te confidentibus,
sacrum septenarium.
Da virtutis meritum,
da salutis exitum,
da perenne gaudium.
Amen, Alleluia.

The Fruits of the Holy Ghost
The gifts of the Holy Ghost perfect the supernatural virtues by enabling us to practice them with greater docility to divine inspiration. As we grow in the knowledge and love of God under the direction of the Holy Ghost, our service becomes more sincere and generous, the practice of virtue more perfect. Such acts of virtue leave the heart filled with joy and consolation and are known as Fruits of the Holy Ghost. These Fruits in turn render the practice of virtue more attractive and become a powerful incentive for still greater efforts in the service of God, "to serve Whom is to reign". [Saint Robert Bellarmine, The Seven Words on the Cross, Book One, Chapter IV]

Prayer
Come, O Divine Spirit, fill my heart with Thy heavenly fruits, Thy charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, faith, mildness, and temperance, that I may never weary in the service of God, but by continued faithful submission to Thy inspiration, may merit to be united eternally with Thee in the love of the Father and the Son. Amen.

Our Father Who art in heaven...

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, ...

Glory be to the Father... (7 times)

Act of Consecration

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost

+++

We should pray and invoke the Holy Spirit for each one of us, for each one of us greatly needs His protection and help. The more a man is deficient in wisdom, weak in strength, borne down in trouble, prone to sin, the more he should fly to Him Who is the never ceasing fount of Light, Strength, Consolation, and Holiness.

Pope Leo XIII

Novena to the Holy Ghost, Day Eight

Flecte quod est rigidum,
fove quod est frigidum,
rege quod est devium.

The Gift of Wisdom
Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all the other virtues, Wisdom is the most perfect of the gifts. Of wisdom it is written "all good things came to me with her, and innumerable riches through her hands." It is the gift of Wisdom that strengthens our faith, fortifies hope, perfects charity, and promotes the practice of virtue in the highest degree. Wisdom enlightens the mind to discern and relish divine things, in the appreciation of which earthly joys lose their savor, while the Cross of Christ yields a divine sweetness according to the words of the Saviour: "Take up your cross and follow Me, for My yoke is sweet and My burden light." [Matthew 11:29-30]

Prayer
Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Help me to attain them and possess them for ever. Amen.

Our Father Who art in heaven...

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, ...

Glory be to the Father... (7 times)

Act of Consecration

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost

(Go to Day Nine)

Novena to the Holy Ghost, Day Seven

Lava quod est sordidum,
riga quod est aridum,
sana quod est saucium.

The Gift of Counsel
The gift of Counsel endows the soul with supernatural prudence, enabling it to judge promptly and rightly what must be done, especially in difficult circumstances. Counsel applies the principles furnished by Knowledge and Understanding to the innumerable concrete cases that confront us in the course of our daily duty as parents, teachers, public servants, and Christian citizens. Counsel is supernatural common sense, a priceless treasure in the quest of salvation. "Above all these things, pray to the Most High, that He may direct your way in truth." [Ecclesiasticus 37:19]

Prayer
Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my ways, that I may always do Thy holy will. Incline my heart to that which is good; turn it away from all that is evil, and direct me by the straight path of Thy commandments to that goal of eternal life for which I long. Amen.

Our Father Who art in heaven...

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, ...

Glory be to the Father... (7 times)

Act of Consecration

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost

(Go to Day Eight)

Novena to the Holy Ghost, Day Six

Sine tuo numine,
nihil est in homine,
nihil est innoxium.

The Gift of Understanding
Understanding, as a gift of the Holy Ghost, helps us to grasp the meaning of the truths of our holy religion By faith we know them, but by Understanding we learn to appreciate and relish them. It enables us to penetrate the inner meaning of revealed truths and through them to be quickened to newness of life. Our faith ceases to be sterile and inactive, but inspires a mode of life that bears eloquent testimony to the faith that is in us; we begin to "walk worthy of God, pleasing Him in all things, and increasing in His knowledge." [Colossians 1:10]

Prayer
Come, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten our minds, that we may know and believe all the mysteries of salvation; and may merit at last to see the eternal light in Thy Light; and in the light of glory to have a clear vision of Thee and the Father and the Son. Amen.

Our Father Who art in heaven...

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, ...

Glory be to the Father... (7 times)

Act of Consecration

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost

(Go to Day Seven)

Novena to the Holy Ghost, Day Five

O lux beatissima,
reple cordis intima
tuorum fidelium.

The Gift of Knowledge
The gift of Knowledge enables the soul to evaluate created things at their true worth - in their relation to God. Knowledge unmasks the pretence of creatures, reveals their emptiness, and points out their only true purpose as instruments in the service of God. It shows us the loving care of God even in adversity, and directs us to glorify Him in every circumstance of life. Guided by its light, we put first things first, and prize the friendship of God beyond all else. "Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesses it." [Proverbs 16:22]


Prayer
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant that I may perceive the will of the Father; show me the nothingness of earthly things, that I may realize their vanity and use them only for Thy glory and my own salvation, looking ever beyond them to Thee, and Thine eternal rewards. Amen.

Our Father Who art in heaven...

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, ...

Glory be to the Father... (7 times)

Act of Consecration

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost

(Go to Day Six)

Novena to the Holy Ghost, Day Four

In labore requies,
in aestu temperies,
in fletu solatium.

The Gift of Fortitude
By the gift of Fortitude the soul is strengthened against natural fear, and supported to the end in the performance of duty. Fortitude imparts to the will an impulse and energy which move it to undertake without hesitation the most arduous tasks, to face dangers, to trample under foot human respect, and to endure without complaint the slow martyrdom of even lifelong tribulation. "He that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved." [Matthew 24:13]

Prayer
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude, uphold my soul in time of trouble and adversity, sustain my efforts after holiness, strengthen my weakness, give me courage against all the assaults of my enemies, that I may never be overcome and separated from Thee, my God and greatest Good. Amen.

Our Father Who art in heaven...

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, ...

Glory be to the Father... (7 times)

Act of Consecration

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost

(Go to Day Five)