Mary's Little Office

Saturday, October 7, 2023

Feast of the Most Holy Rosary


Our Lady and St. Bernadette, Lourdes

Above the grotto of Massabielle, in a rustic niche formed by the rocks, and standing upright in the midst of a supernatural light, was a Woman of incomparable splendor. Of medium stature, and of a beauty to which no earthly beauty approaches, she was vested in a long and trailing white robe: the naked feet rested in the rock and lightly pressed a branch of wild rose; upon each of the feet appeared a mystical rose of golden color. A blue girdle encircled the waist, fastened by a half-knot with long ends. A white veil fastened round her head descended to the foot of the robe behind. She wore neither rings, necklace, crown, or jewels, but between her hands, piously joined, hung a chaplet of milk-white beads and golden chains. The beads slid through the fingers of the Virgin, but her lips did not move; in place of reciting the Rosary, she doubtless listened to the everlasting echo of the Angelic Salutation that rose up from all parts of the earth.


The Virgin Mother According to Theology, Fr. J. Petitalot, 1889




Pray Your Rosary Every Day


Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Who Made Us?





Who Made Us?

There is no doubt about this, for the ninety-ninth Psalm of holy David says, "He made us and not we ourselves." Some people do, indeed deny the existence of God; but to do this is to act against reason, for they thereby make their own existence a greater mystery than that which they deny.

The Catechism Simply Explained,
B. Herder Book Company, 1899



The die is cast, the years have gone,
We cannot live ours lives again
But trust that hope which led us on
To win the race which we began.




Thursday, September 7, 2023

Happy Birthday Mother Mary

Compliments of Catholic Cuisine


Each year, on the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, our family makes a cake to celebrate. Last year we made a Blueberry Cheesecake and this year we opted for a Lemon Blueberry Cake.   Although the type of cake varies from year to year, I usually make sure the cake itself is white, symbolizing Mary's purity, and then we add blueberries to symbolize her blue mantle.

We top the cake with a small statue of Mary and surrounded it with a circle of 10 candles, representing one decade of the rosary.  The children then take turns lighting the candles as the whole family prays a "Hail Mary" for each candle.  Afterwards we sing Happy Birthday and let the children blow out the candles!!!  My children look forward to this tradition every year!



Lemon Blueberry Cake
adapted from the Food Network

Ingredients:

  • 2 (8-inch) round white cakes (I made mine using a boxed white cake mix)
  • 1/3 cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
  • 2 teaspoons lemon extract, divided
  • 2 (12-ounce) cans cream cheese frosting
  • Fresh blueberries (I used frozen since I had some in the freezer.)
  • Fresh mint sprigs and Lemon slices, quartered (optional)


Directions:

Use a knife to slice cake layers in half horizontally. Use a pastry brush to brush each layer with lemonade concentrate; set aside.

Stir 1 teaspoon of lemon extract into each can of frosting; set aside.

To assemble cake: frost and stack the cake layers on top of each other.

Decorate the cake with blueberries.  You can then add the optional clusters of mint sprigs and quartered lemon slices for further decoration if you'd like.



Happy Birthday Dear Blessed Mother!



Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Today is The Queenship of Mary


O Queen of Heaven, rejoice, Alleluia.

For He Whom thou didst merit to bear, Alleluia.

Is risen, as He said. Alleluia.

Pray for us to God. Alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary. Alleluia.

R. Because the Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia.



Let Us Pray

O God, Who by the resurrection of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, hast vouchsafed to make glad the whole world, grant, we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may attain the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.


Monday, May 22, 2023

Hiurled Like a Leaf

 
Suddenly, a terrific explosion filled the air with one bursting thunderstroke. An invisible force lifted me from the chair, hurled me through the air, shook me, battered me, whirled me 'round and 'round like a leaf in a gust of autumn wind.  (Father Hubert Schiffer)



Thursday, May 4, 2023

Evening Prayers




Look Closely to see the trees sway in this real time event.


EVENING PRAYER

Manual for The Children of Mary

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.
  
ACT OF ADORATION

O MY GOD, I adore thee with all the submission which the presence of thy Sovereign Majesty inspires; I believe in thee because thou art truth itself; I hope in thee because thou art infinitely good; I love thee with my whole heart because thou art sovereignly amiable; and I love my neighbour as myself, for the love of thee.

ACT OF THANKSGIVING

HOW shall I thank thee, O my God, for all the favours which thou hast bestowed upon me? Thou hast drawn me out of nothing; thou hast given thy life to save me; and every day thou bestows new favours upon me. Alas! Lord, what return can I make thee for so much goodness.
  
O ALL ye blessed Spirits, unite with me in praising God, for all the favours which He is continually bestowing upon the most unworthy and ungrateful of His creatures.


PRAYER TO ASK THE LIGHT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

O ETERNAL Source of Light, Holy Spirit, enlighten me, that I may discover the enormity and the malice of sin; grant me grace, O my God, to conceive so great a horror of it, that I may hate it as thou hatest it, and carefully avoid it for the future.

Here let us examine what sins we have committed against God, our neighbour, and ourselves.

ACT OF CONTRITION

BEHOLD me, O Lord, all covered with confusion, and penetrated with sorrow at the sight of my faults. I am heartily sorry for them, because they have offended a God so good, so amiable, and so worthy of being loved.
Is this, O my God, all the return I have made to thee for the love that made thee shed, for me, the last drop of thy most precious blood?
Yes, Lord! I have carried my malice and ingratitude too far; I humbly implore thy pardon; and I beg thee, O my God, by that goodness which has been so often shown to me, to grant me the grace of sincere repentance.

PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT.

O THAT I had never offended thee, my God! But since I have been so unfortunate as to displease thee, I will endeavour to testify my contrition by a conduct quite opposite to that which I have hitherto pursued.
I now renounce sin, and all the occasions of sin, and particularly that into which I most frequently fall; and, if thou wilt deign to grant me thy grace, I will endeavour to fulfill faithfully all my duties, and to promote as much as possible thy honor and glory.

THE LORD'S PRAYER



Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name: thy kingdom come: thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.  Amen. 

THE HAIL MARY

HAIL MARY, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

THE APOSTLES' CREED

I 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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell, the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of Saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

THE CONFITEOR.

I 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 the 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 us, and forgive us our sins, and bring us to life everlasting. Amen.

May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution and remission of our sins. Amen.
I beg thy blessing, O my God, on the repose that I am going to take, so that strengthened by it, I may serve thee better for the future.

PRAYER FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE SAINTS

HOLY MARY, Mother of God, and after Him my only hope; my good Angel, and holy Patron, intercede for me; protect me this night and during the rest of my life, but more particularly at the hour of my death.

PRAYER FOR THE LIVING AND THE DEAD

BLESS, O Lord, my parents, benefactors, friends, and enemies; protect my spiritual and temporal superiors; succor the poor, the afflicted, the sick, the agonizing, prisoners, and travellers; convert all heretics, and enlighten all infidels.
  
O God of goodness and mercy, have compassion on the souls of the faithful departed; terminate their sufferings, and grant repose and light to those in particular for whom I ought to pray.

ON LYING DOWN TO REST

IN THE NAME of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified, I lay myself down to rest; bless me, O Lord, defend and govern me this night and for ever; and, after this short and miserable pilgrimage, bring me to everlasting happiness with thee.  Amen.



You May Conclude Here or Continue with 

Our Lady's Litany

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. 

Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, Pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, Pray for us.
Mother of Christ, Pray for us.
Mother of divine grace, Pray for us.
Mother most pure, Pray for us.
Mother most chaste, Pray for us.
Mother inviolate, Pray for us.
Mother undefiled, Pray for us.
Mother most amiable, Pray for us.
Mother most admirable, Pray for us.

Mother of good counsel, Pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, Pray for us.
Mother of our Saviour, Pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, Pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, Pray for us.
Virgin most renowned, Pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, Pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, Pray for us.
Virgin most faithful, Pray for us.
Mirror of justice, Pray for us
Seat of wisdom, Pray for us.
Cause of our joy, Pray for us.
Spiritual vessel, Pray for us.
Vessel of honor, Pray for us.
Vessel of singular devotion, Pray for us.
Mystical rose, Pray for us.
Tower of David, Pray for us.
Tower of ivory, Pray for us.
House of gold, Pray for us.
Ark of the covenant, Pray for us.
Gate of heaven, Pray for us.
Morning star, Pray for us.
Health of the weak, Pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, Pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, Pray for us.
Help of Christians, Pray for us.
Queen of angels, Pray for us.
Queen of patriarchs, Pray for us.
Queen of prophets, Pray for us.
Queen of apostles, Pray for us.
Queen of martyrs, Pray for us.
Queen of confessors, Pray for us.
Queen of virgins, Pray for us.
Queen of all saints, Pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin, Pray for us.

Queen of the most holy Rosary, Pray for us.
Queen of peace, Pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
     

     V.  Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
     R.  That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.


Let us Pray

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Ind. of 300 days, each time.―Pius VII. Sept. 30, 1817.)

Ejaculations to the Blessed Virgin

Mary. 
(Ind. of 25 days, each time.―Clement XIII. Sept. 5, 1750.)

Mary, Virgin Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me. 
(Ind. of 50 days, once each day.―Leo XIII. March  29, 1894.)

Mary our hope, have pity on us. 
(Ind. of 300 days, each time.―Pius X. Jan 8, 1906.) 

My Mother, my trust. 
(Ind. of 300 days, each time.―Benedict XV. Sept. 6, 1915.)

Our Lady of the most Holy Sacrament, pray for us. 
(Ind. of 300 days, each time, before the Blessed Sacrament exposed.―Pius X.  Jan 10, 1906.)

The Man of God
Fr.  Callan & McHugh
Authors of "Blessed Be God."
P. J. Kennedy & Sons, 1928


Friday, April 28, 2023

From the Pasture

Pasture Brook - Wengen, Switzerland


O Lily of the Valley,
O Mystic Rose, what tree
Or flower, e'en the fairest,
Is half so fair as thee!
Oh let me, though so lowly,
Recite my Mother's fame;
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
I'll love and bless thy name.  


Sancta Maria, Ora pro nobis
Holy Mary, Pray for us.




Tuesday, April 25, 2023

27 Times


The artist Murillo painted his picture of the Immaculate Conception twenty-seven times. After each attempt, he was not satisfied. It did not praise Mary enough. On the twenty-seventh attempt, he painted the most beautiful picture of Mary ever painted. 

Today, somewhere in this world, there is a soul which loves Mary more than anyone else. Why couldn't that soul be one of us?

A blind girl was once asked what she would most like to see and she replied "Sometimes, I think that I should like to see the Mother of God."

We too hope someday to see the Mother of God in heaven. Therefore, we should listen to the words of Saint Bernard:

"If the winds of temptation arise, if you should fall on the rocks of tribulation, look toward that star―call on Mary. If anger or avarice or the allurements of the flesh have dashed against the ship of your soul look towards Mary. When endangered, when perplexed, think of Mary―call on Mary."


Bartolomé Esteban Murillo 
(born December 1617, baptized January 1, 1618 – April 3, 1682)


Sunday, April 23, 2023

Prayers for Holy Communion - Best of the Best!

1. Say these Prayers slowly, a few words at a time.
2. It is well to stop after every few words that they may sink into the heart.
3. Each prayer may be said several times.


BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION


Prayer for Help

O my God help me to make a good Communion. Mary, my dearest Mother, pray to Jesus for me. My dear Angel Guardian, lead me to the Altar of God.

Act of Faith

O God, because Thou hast said it, I believe that I shall receive the Sacred Body of Jesus to eat, and His precious Blood to drink. My God, I believe that with all my heart.

Act of Humility

My God, I confess that I am a poor sinner; I am not worthy to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus on account of my sins. Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest enter under my roof; say but the word, and my soul shall be healed.

Act of Sorrow

My God, I detest all the sins of my life. I am sorry for them, because they have offended Thee, my God who art so good. I resolve never to commit sin any more. My good God, pity me, have mercy on me, forgive me. Amen.

Act of Adoration

O Jesus great God, present on the Altar, I bow down before Thee, I adore Thee.


Act of Love and Desire

Sweet Jesus, I love Thee. I desire with all my heart to receive Thee. Most sweet Jesus, come into my poor soul, and give me Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to drink. Give me Thy whole self, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, that I may live forever with Thee.

O most sweet Virgin Mary, Mother of God and my Mother, lend me, I beseech thee, thy Immaculate Heart to receive my Jesus: that so I may receive Him by thee, by  whom the world received Him.

O Jesus, I offer Thee Thy sinless Mother's Heart, with its perfect dispositions at the moment of Thy Incarnation and all her communions. Come to me now by her, as I came to Thee by her. With her heart let me receive Thee.




AFTER HOLY COMMUNION



O my Queen, thou hast given me Jesus in thy heart, therefore, now, with the same true heart, entertain Him for me. Adore Him, thank Him, and implore Him for the graces thou knows me to need-in particular . . . . .

Act of Faith

O Jesus, I believe that I have received Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to drink, because Thou hast said it, and Thy word is true.

Act of Adoration

O Jesus, my God, my Creator, I adore Thee, because from Thy Hands I came and with Thee I am to be happy forever.

Act of Humility

O Jesus, I am but dust and ashes, and yet Thou hast come to me, and my poor heart may speak to Thee.

Act of Love

Sweet Jesus, I love Thee; I love Thee with all my heart. Thou knows that I love Thee, and wish to love Thee daily more and more.

Act of Thanksgiving

My good Jesus, I thank Thee with all my heart. How good, how kind Thou art to me, sweet Jesus. Blessed be Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

Act of Offering

O Jesus, receive my poor offering. Jesus Thou hast given Thyself to me, and let me give myself to Thee:


I give Thee my body, that it may be chaste and pure.


I give Thee my soul, that it may be free from sin.


I give Thee my heart, that it may always love Thee.


I give Thee every breath that I shall breathe. and especially my last; I give Thee myself in life and in death, that I may be Thine for ever and ever.


O Jesus, wash away my sins with Thy precious Blood.


O Jesus, the struggle against temptation is not yet finished. My Jesus, when temptation comes near me, make me strong against it. In the moment of temptation may I always say, "Jesus, mercy! Mary, help!"


O Jesus, may I lead a good life; may I die a happy death. May I receive Thee before I die. May I say when I am dying, "Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul."

Listen now for a moment to Jesus Christ; perhaps He has something to say to you. There may be some promise you have made and broken, which He wishes you to make again and keep. Answer Jesus in your heart, and tell Him all your troubles. Then pray for others.

O Jesus, have mercy on Thy Holy Church; take care of it.


O Jesus, have pity on poor sinners, and save them from hell.


O Jesus, bless my father, my mother, my brothers and sisters, and all I ought to pray for, as Thy Heart knows how to bless them.


O Jesus, have pity on the poor souls in Purgatory, and give them eternal rest.


Sweet Jesus, I am going away for a time, but trust not without Thee. Thou are with me by Thy grace. I will never leave Thee by mortal sin. I do not fear to do so, though I am so weak, because I have such hope in Thee. Give me grace to persevere. Amen.


    

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Let's Go to Church





My father was a mill hand, and during the last 15 years of his life he was a hopeless invalid. Always vigorous and active he suddenly became sick, and could not work. It was his heart.

A little group of friends would come to visit him every evening. Plain people. This is Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, a mill and mining town. These men, with the lined faces, and bent backs, and gnarled hands, who worked every day from sunup to sundown, were brought together by my father’s illness.

Before, they had spent their free hours in noisy play, freeing themselves from the monotonous drudgery of the mill and mine. Now, sitting there, clustered around my father, they all asked themselves: Who are we? Where do we come from?

They all had heard of God. They all believed. But they didn’t work at it. They never really listened hard. Now they came within earshot of Him. There was a new light in all their faces, including my father’s. It shone when he said: “Become poor in spirit and share the light with me.”

At the time I didn’t understand all this. I was 14. But I knew that my father was showing me how to believe in many ways. His last 15 years were years of pain, but they were the happiest years of his life. 

They couldn’t have been made so happy because of what he owned. Pop never made more than $175 a month. But he raised 13 kids, and not one of them a black sheep. We all worked. It was natural for me to start at the age of 11 in a barber shop. 

Before school I opened the shop and lit the stoves. After school I swept the hair off the floors, polished the mirrors, and the owner taught me how to cut hair. My pay was 50¢ a week. My ambition then was to be the best barber between Canonsburg and Cleveland. 

When I was 14, my father set me up in my own shop. If things got slow, I’d pick up my guitar and sing. You put someone with Italian blood down in the bleak mine country, and his only defense against the bleakness is to sing. The singing was also a reflection of the joy that came from a happy home. 

By the time I was 20, I was making a big fat $40 a week. My mother and father thought that was the height of prosperity. To Pop, prosperity meant “enough to remind you to be thankful.” My mother even predicted that some day I’d be making $60 a week. 

Later, much later, my father never could understand what they call success in the singing business. He was always puzzled by how a man standing in front of a microphone could earn a lot of money. 

The first time he heard me sing was in a theatre where I was appearing. After the show I rushed to him, asking silently for his approval. 

“Bravo,” was all he said. 

At first I was hurt. But when Pop added: “The audience ... do all your audiences cheer you so loud and crazy?” I realized what he meant: applause every day keeps feeding your vanity and pride and greed. And that’s no way to become poor in spirit. 

Besides, to people like Pop, singers meant Caruso, Martinelli, Scotti. And you know, maybe they’re right. 

Anyway, I wouldn’t have had my father different. 

And my mother, she’s still teaching me how to be poor in spirit. I’d like her to come and stay with me and my wife Roselle and our three kids. But she won’t. At her house in Canonsburg, with all her grandchildren, it’s like a big party all the time. She sits on the porch and everybody who comes by says hello. 

Up here in New York nobody says hello in quite the same way. She’s probably right. To people like Mom, a little conversation with a friend is more important than running around for big things. 

Roselle and I and the kids get down to see her every month, and Mom still can’t figure out what I do for a living. When we bring her a gift, and it’s a little expensive, she looks at me suspiciously, and asks: “Where did you get the money?” 

I wouldn’t have her different either. 

Sure, I got the things money can buy now. But the things money can’t buy my mother and my father gave me. 

My wife Roselle gives them to me too. She’s as blonde and pretty as the day I married her 20 years ago. A year after we were married, we went off for a week’s vacation to Cleveland, and there Roselle talked me into singing for a band leader named Fred Carlone. 

He offered me $25 a week. That was the end of my making an honest living. But it began seven years of one-night stands, climbing on and off buses, living in flea bag hotels. Three years with Carlone, and four with another band leader named Ted Weems. 

Roselle traveled with me. It was like the foreign legion. We couldn’t get out. No, I take that back. Going from $25 to $125 a week was a lot of money. I didn’t want to get out—until our son Ronnie was on the way. 

We went back home, and I was all ready to open a barber shop when I got a phone call from New York. Columbia Broadcasting offered me $76 a week on a sustaining show of my own. I hesitated. But Roselle said: “Honey, you can always open up a barber shop.” I went to New York. 

It was the time of the Frank Sinatra bonfire. Anyone with some hair, a set of his own teeth, and a voice that could stay in key had plenty of chances. They gave me the jackpot; theatres, night clubs, records; Then they signed me to a big radio show; and I even got a movie contract. All within a few months. And now television. 

It was crazy, but it was the singing business. A barber can work from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. to make $50 a week—maybe. An engineer, a scientist, a doctor, a writer, they sweat and study long and hard before they can even start earning a buck. But in this business a guy makes one record and gets $50,000. 

Somewhere along the line Someone sure put His hand on my head. I keep trying to deserve it. 

We’ve got reason to be thankful, Roselle and I. But we never talk about it. That kind of gratitude isn’t for conversation. Faith is a word for doing, not talking. 

We have three kids, Ronnie is 14. We adopted two more: David, who’s seven, and Terri, our daughter, who’s six. We got David when he was four, and Terri when she was six months old. 

They all have an equal place in our hearts. They all reflect our own beliefs. But the way children believe, it’s like an inner beauty that shines right through to the outside. 

I see it when I know they’ll all be home waiting for me to get there. 

I see it when they all put their arms around me and kiss me goodnight, with the complete assurance that they’re loved and wanted. 

I see it when Ronnie takes the four and a half dollars he saved and asks his mother to match it so he can buy a rod and reel for his brother and take Davey fishing. 

I see it every Sunday when we all march off to church together, including the maid. 

And I see it shining when we sit down at the table. The kids won’t start eating unless Grace is said. Who do you think says Grace? The two small ones, Davey and Terri. 

When they mumble, Ronnie, the sergeant, says: “Say the words so we can all understand them.” And he gets them to say them over and over until they do it right. 

And I see it when they say their prayers before they climb into bed every night. 

I pray just like my kids do. Were my prayers ever answered? If you believe, anything you think, do, or have is an answer to prayer. If you believe, you know that without anybody having to tell it to you. Then your heart’s at peace. 

If your heart’s at peace, everything else is. If it isn’t, everything else is wrong. That’s the way it always is. 

Everything that’s ever happened to me has been the result of faith. The faith I found in my father’s house, and now find in my own house, and in my world. Sure, there are different beliefs, but as long as men believe, they believe basically the same thing. The lyrics may be different, but the music is always the same. 

I know now that with his illness and poverty, my father had wealth beyond money. His heritage to his children was greater than any fortune. 

That’s the only heritage a man can give his children while he’s alive. 

It’s the only one that becomes more precious after his death.

Thursday, April 20, 2023

I Will Use Time


O My Lord Jesus, I will use time. It will be too late to pray when life is over. There is no prayer in the grave 🙏 there is no meriting in Purgatory. Low as I am in Thy all Holy sight, I am strong in Thee, strong through Thy Immaculate Mother, through Thy Saints; and thus I can do much for the Church, for the world, for all I love. O let not the blood of souls be on my head. O let me not walk my own way without thinking of Thee. Let me bring everything before Thee, asking Thy leave for everything I purpose, Thy blessing on everything I do . . . As the dial speaks of the sun, so will I be ruled by thee alone, if Thou will take me and rule me. Be it so, my Lord Jesus, I give myself wholly to Thee. Amen.


Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Secret Weapon Novena

When someone asks you to pray for them,   why not pray with “Padre Pio Power”?



Padre Pio’s Sacred Heart Novena Prayer


O my Jesus, You have said: “Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.” Behold I knock, I seek and ask for (Name) grace for his spiritual and temporal well being and for his needs. Jesus I trust in you.

Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

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

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You. (Repeat 3 times.)


Conclude with Hail Holy Queen


Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen. 

"St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us."


Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Daily Daily Sing to Mary






Who Made You

Country School, Boyd Michigan, USA - 1951



Who Made You?

There is no doubt about this, for the ninety-ninth Psalm of holy David says, "He made us and not we ourselves." Some people do, indeed deny the existence of God; but to do this is to act against reason, for they thereby make their own existence a greater mystery than that which they deny.

The Catechism Simply Explained,
B. Herder Book Company, 1899


Motorist Prayer

Lord grant me a steady hand and a watchful eye.

That no man my be hurt when I pass by.

Thou gravest life, I pray no act of mine may take away or mar that act of Thine.

Shelter those, dear Lord, who bear me company, from evil of fire and all calamity; 

Teach me to use my car for others need nor miss through love of speed the beauty of this world; that thus I may with joy and courtesy go happily life's way.

And reach without mishap―eternal day. 

St. Christopher, Pray for us.

(My Retreat Companion, Lourdes Retreat House, Cedar Lake, Indiana, 1964)