Catholic Spiritual Living Journal

Fourth meditation for Tuesday : Blessed Saint Joseph

2006-10-17T22:50:00.000+02:00

PLACE yourself in the presence of God, kneeling with your hands clasped.
Read slowly and devoutly :

"Fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is no one who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on humankind to see if there are any who are wise, who seek after God. They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse; there is no one who does good, no, not one. Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call upon the LORD? There they shall be in great terror, for God is with the company of the righteous. You would confound the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge. O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad."

Meditate :

Bring all you have read before you at once, as if you saw our Lord.

Then say to Him whatever comes into your mind to say; for instance:

Joseph was pure and innocent in a way unlike any other man who ever lived, our Lord excepted. His soul was as white as snow. He had nothing whatever within his heart to make him ashamed, and he would have found it most difficult to find matter for confession.

0 Blessed Joseph, make me so blameless and irreproachable that I should not care though friends saw into my heart as perfectly as Jesus and Mary saw into thine. 0 gain me the grace of holy simplicity arid affection, so that I may love thee, Mary, and, above all, Jesus, as thou did love Jesus arid Mary.

Joseph was as humble as he was sinless. He never thought of himself, but always of the Infant Savior, whom he carried in his arms.

0 Holy Joseph, make me like thee in purity, simplicity, innocence and devotion.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, pray for me.

Third meditation for Monday : dedicated to Guardian Angel

2006-10-16T22:55:00.000+02:00

PLACE yourself in the presence of God, kneeling with your hands clasped.

Read slowly and devoutly : Psalm 91

"You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust."
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;
he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day,
or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place,
no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.
When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.
With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation."

Before meditation :

Bring all you have read before you, as if you saw the Angels protecting you, especially your Guardian Angel.

Then say to God whatever is suggested to you; for instance:

"He has given His Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. In their hands they shall bear thee up, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."

Prayer :

O my God, I will go forward in Thy way, for my Guardian goes with me. I am very blind; I know not what is before me. I know not what will happen to me in life. I do not know whether I shall live long, or die young. But this I know, that in health and sickness, in joy and sorrow, in youth and age, Thou wilt be with me.

O my sweet Guardian, how beautiful thou art. I wish I could see thee. And thou art as pure and holy as thou art beautiful, and thy breath inspires chaste thoughts. And as gentle and kind as thou art pure.

God of Angels, have mercy on me. Queen of Angels, pray for me.

Second Meditation for Sunday : OUR LORD

2006-10-15T23:00:00.000+02:00

PLACE yourself in the presence of God, kneeling with your hands clasped.
Read slowly and devoutly

Apocalypse, chap. i, verses 11-18. I was," & down to " of death and of hell." *

"
Apocalypse 1:10: I was in the spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Apocalypse 1:11 Saying: What thou seest, write in a book and send to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamus and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.

Apocalypse 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks:

Apocalypse 1:13 And in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks, one like to the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Apocalypse 1:14 And his head and his hairs were white as white wool and as snow. And his eyes were as a flame of fire:

Apocalypse 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as in a burning furnace. And his voice as the sound of many waters.

Apocalypse 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars. And from his mouth came out a sharp two-edged sword. And his face was as the sun shineth in his power.

Apocalypse 1:17 And when I had seen him, I fell at his feet as dead.

And he laid his right hand upon me, saying: Fear not. I am the First and the Last,

Apocalypse 1:18 And alive, and was dead. And behold I am living for ever and ever and have the keys of death and of hell.

Meditation :
Bring all you have read before you at once, as if you saw our Lord.

Then say to Him whatever comes into your mind to say; for instance:--

" His eyes were as a flame of fire," and " His countenance shone as the sun shining [at full] strength."

O my God, the day will come when I shall see that countenance and those eyes, when my soul returns to Him to be judged,

Those eyes are so piercing: they see through me; nothing is hid from them. You count every hair of my head; You know every breath I breathe; You see every morsel of food I take.

Those eyes are so pure. They are so clear that I can look into their depths, as into some transparent well of water, though I cannot see the bottom; for You art infinite.

Those eyes are so loving; So gentle, so sweet; they seem to say, " Come to Me."

15 October 2006 : Feast of Saint Teresa of Avila

2006-10-15T09:37:00.000+02:00

Saint Teresa of Avila experienced what the Church has always taught regarding Jesus presence. He is actually present Body, Soul, Blood and Divinity on our altars and holy tables through the consecrated bread and wine. And He remains in all Catholic Churches around the world where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the tabernacles. He is also present in a special manner in the soul and body of every creature on the face of the earth. He is present in God's word and many other manners. God is ubiquitous and His Sacred Humanity stays with us in an ineffable manner.
The saint's writings and your prayer will furthermore inspire you to spend more time and reflection on this divine Person who dwells with us on earth as He is in Heaven. St Teresa's mystical writings lived out will steep you in unforgettable contemplation of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Sincere prayer is unitive and Trinitarian and encourages and impels you to show and have love for God and all of God's creatures .
God promised and sent the Holy Spirit to his believers from the very beginning of recorded history and he gave us the prophets and holy women. Later Christ sent the fathers, apostles, martyrs, saints and doctors, like St Teresa, to help us in the transmission and transformation of that holy faith through their example, writings and life so that we might imitate them.

Dear wonderful saint, model of fidelity to vows, you gladly carried a heavy cross following in the steps of Christ who chose to be crucified for us. You realized that God like a merciful Father chastises those whom He loves — which to worldings seems silly indeed. Grant to N. relief from great pains if this is in line with God's plan.
Amen.

God, You raised up St. Teresa by Your Spirit so that she could manifest to the Church the way to perfection. Nourish us with the food of heaven, and fire us with a desire for holiness.
Amen.

O Wonderful daughter of Spain, you taught us to walk the way of Christian perfection which is the Way of the Cross. You inspired innumerable men and women by your writings as well as your conduct, deserving the title of Doctor of the Church. Ever faithful to St. Peter's successors, inspire fidelity to religious vows on the part of those who have taken them and make them ever true to their vocation.
Amen.

O God, who by your Holy Spirit moved Teresa of Avila to manifest to your Church the way of perfection: Grant us, we pray, to be nourished by her excellent teaching, and enkindle within us a keen and unquenchable longing for true holiness; through Jesus Christ, the joy of loving hearts, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen

Litany of St. Theresa of Avila

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, the Sanctifier,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us.
Holy Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
Pray for us.
Saint Teresa of Avila,
Pray for us.
St. Teresa, whose heart was transverberated by the love of God,
Pray for us.
St. Teresa, most humble servant of God,
Pray for us.
St. Teresa, most zealous for the glory of God,
Pray for us.
St. Teresa, woman truly strong in mind,
Pray for us.
St. Teresa, truly detached from all created objects,
Pray for us.
St. Teresa, great light of the Catholic Church,
Pray for us.
St. Teresa, reformer and glory of the Carmelite Order,
Pray for us.
St. Teresa, queen of mystical theology,
Pray for us.
St. Teresa, lustrous name of Avila and Spain,
Pray for us.
St. Teresa, who didst forever glorify the name of Teresa,
Pray for us.
St. Teresa, wishing to suffer or to die,
Pray for us.
St. Teresa, exclaiming, "O Lord, how sweet and pleasing are Thy ways!"
Pray for us.
St. Teresa, desiring so much the salvation of souls,
Pray for us.
St. Teresa, tasting and seeing how sweet is the Lord, even in this vale of miseries,
Pray for us.
St. Teresa, exclaiming, "O death, who can fear thee who art the way to true life!"
Pray for us.
St. Teresa, true lover of the Cross of Christ,
Pray for us.
St. Teresa, who didst live to love, who didst die to love, and who wilt love eternally,
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,
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 Saint Teresa,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Prayer meditation :
O God, Who didst replenish the heart of Thy blessed servant St. Teresa with the treasures of Thy Divine love, grant that, like her, we may love Thee and suffer all things for Thee and in union with Thee, that we may gain souls for Thee, and that we may secure the salvation of our own soul. This we beg through the merits of our Savior and the intercession of Thy glorious virgin Teresa.
Amen.

First Meditation for Saturday : Mary Immaculate Mother of God

2006-10-14T16:40:00.000+02:00

1. PLACE yourself in the presence of God, kneeling with your hands clasped.
2. Read slowly and devoutly

Isaiah xxxv :

Isaiah. 35:1 ff. NRSV. "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you." Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God's people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

3. Think of Mary as robed in white, like the lily.
4. And say:

(1) Thou, Mary, art the Virgin of Virgins. To have a virgin soul, is, to love nothing on earth in comparison of God, or except for His sake. That soul is virginal which is ever looking for its Beloved who is in heaven, and which sees Him in whatever is lovely upon earth, loving earthly friends very dearly, but in their proper place, as His gifts, and His representatives, but loving Jesus alone with sovereign affection, and bearing to lose all, so that she may keep Him.
(2) 0 Mary, I wish I could see how you used to behave towards father and mother, especially towards St. Anne; and then how you behaved towards the priests of the temple; and then towards St. Joseph; and towards St. Elizabeth, and St. John Baptist; and afterwards towards the Apostles, especially towards St. John. I should see how sweet and lovely you were to every one of them; but still your heart was with Jesus only. And they would all feel and understand this, however kind you were to them.

5. Conclusion.-0 Mary, when will you gain for me some little of this celestial purity, this true whiteness of soul, that I may fix my heart on my true love?

8 Days Meditation

2006-10-14T16:27:00.000+02:00

"Meditation is above all a quest. The mind seeks to understand the why and how of the Christian life, in order to adhere and respond to what the Lord is asking... We are usually helped by books [especially scripture]."

"To meditate on what we read helps us to make it our own by confronting it with ourselves."

In these meditations, Cardinal Newman suggests you use your imagination to enrich scripture and prayer. "Don't forget that it was St. Ignatius of Loyola who strongly promoted the use of imagination in meditation. His work, the Spiritual Exercises, is a monumental classic of the Catholic Tradition. In it he shows how fantasy will enhance our understanding and appreciation of Scripture, and how we can talk to Christ using the imagination.

When we read something, a story or a novel, we create a picture of it in our minds. St. Ignatius simply builds on this natural tendency. Thus, in the material for the second week of the Spiritual Exercises he says, " The first Prelude is a composition, seeing the place: ...here [we] see with the sight of the imagination, the synagogues, villages and towns through which Christ our Lord preached."

Weeked meditation remembering our Holy Father John Paul II ( I miss you so much )

2006-10-14T13:44:00.000+02:00

If you knew the gift of God

31. "If you knew the gift of God" (Jn 4:10), Jesus says to the Samaritan woman during one of those remarkable conversations which show his great esteem for the dignity of women and for the vocation which enables them to share in his messianic mission.

The present reflections, now at an end, have sought to recognize, within the "gift of God", what he, as Creator and Redeemer, entrusts to women, to every woman. In the Spirit of Christ, in fact, women can discover the entire meaning of their femininity and thus be disposed to making a "sincere gift of self" to others, thereby finding themselves.

During the Marian Year the Church desires to give thanks to the Most Holy Trinity for the "mystery of woman" and for every woman - for that which constitutes the eternal measure of her feminine dignity, for the "great works of God", which throughout human history have been accomplished in and through her. After all, was it not in and through her that the greatest event in human history - the incarnation of God himself - was accomplished?

Therefore the Church gives thanks for each and every woman: for mothers, for sisters, for wives; for women consecrated to God in virginity; for women dedicated to the many human beings who await the gratuitous love of another person; for women who watch over the human persons in the family, which is the fundamental sign of the human community; for women who work professionally, and who at times are burdened by a great social responsibility; for "perfect" women and for "weak" women - for all women as they have come forth from the heart of God in all the beauty and richness of their femininity; as they have been embraced by his eternal love; as, together with men, they are pilgrims on this earth, which is the temporal "homeland" of all people and is transformed sometimes into a "valley of tears"; as they assume, together with men, a common responsibility for the destiny of humanity according to daily necessities and according to that definitive destiny which the human family has in God himself, in the bosom of the ineffable Trinity.

The Church gives thanks for all the manifestations of the feminine "genius" which have appeared in the course of history, in the midst of all peoples and nations; she gives thanks for all the charisms which the Holy Spirit distributes to women in the history of the People of God, for all the victories which she owes to their faith, hope and charity: she gives thanks for all the fruits of feminine holiness.

The Church asks at the same time that these invaluable "manifestations of the Spirit" (cf. 1 Cor 12:4ff.), which with great generosity are poured forth upon the "daughters" of the eternal Jerusalem, may be attentively recognized and appreciated so that they may return for the common good of the Church and of humanity, especially in our times. Meditating on the biblical mystery of the "woman", the Church prays that in this mystery all women may discover themselves and their "supreme vocation".

May Mary, who "is a model of the Church in the matter of faith, charity, and perfect union with Christ",63 obtain for all of us this same "grace", in the Year which we have dedicated to her as we approach the third millennium from the coming of Christ.

With these sentiments, I impart the Apostolic Blessing to all the faithful, and in a special way to women, my sisters in Christ.

Given in Rome, at Saint Peter's, on 15 August, the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the year 1988, the tenth of my Pontificate.

More in :
APOSTOLIC LETTER
MULIERIS DIGNITATEM
OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF
JOHN PAUL II
ON THE
DIGNITY AND VOCATION
OF WOMEN
ON THE OCCASION
OF THE MARIAN YEAR
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_15081988_mulieris-dignitatem_en.html

Papal Mission Intentions of the Month

2006-10-13T17:35:00.000+02:00

Each month, through the Apostleship of Prayer, the Holy Father asks Catholics throughout the world to pray for two special intentions: a general and a mission. Pope Benedict XVI has asked that these intentions be included in the prayer of daily offering.

General Intention

For peaceful co-existence among Christians, Jews and Muslims in the Holy Land.

Mission Intention

That In Oceania priestly and religious vocations for evangelization in the local Churches may receive special care.

Prayer

Oh Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world.

I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, the reunion of all Christians.

I offer them for all the intentions of our bishops and of all the Apostles of Prayer and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.

Inspiration for a better day

2006-10-12T23:54:00.000+02:00

A young man was at the end of his rope, seeing no way out, dropped to his knees in prayer. "Lord, I can't go on," he said. "I have too heavy of a cross to bear."
The Lord replied, "My son, if you can't bear its weight, just place your cross inside this room. Then, open that other door and pick out any cross you wish."
The man was filled with relief and said, "Thank you, Lord," and he did as he was told. Upon entering the other door, he saw many crosses, some so large the tops were not visible. Then, he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall. "I'd like that one, Lord," he whispered. And the Lord replied, " My son, that is the cross you just brought in."

When life's problems seem overwhelming, it helps to look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself far more fortunate than you imagined.

Your Cross

Whatever your cross, whatever your pain,
There will always be sunshine after the rain..

Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall,
But God's always there to help you through it all.

This day gospel

2006-10-12T22:05:00.000+02:00

Saint Symeon the New Theologian (around 949-1022), Orthodox monk
Invocation to the Holy Spirit, Introduction to the Hymns

“How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Come, Holy Spirit. Come, true light. Come, eternal life. Come, hidden mystery. Come, nameless treasure. Come, ineffable reality. Come, unending happiness. Come, light that never sets. Come, you who awaken those who are asleep. Come, resurrection of the dead. Come, oh Powerful One, who always makes and remakes and transforms everything simply by your will. Come, you who always remain motionless and who nevertheless are entirely in movement at every moment, so as to come to us who are lying among the dead, oh you who are above the highest heavens.

Come, eternal joy. Come, you who desired and desire my destitute soul. Come, you who are the Only One to the one who is alone, since as you see, I am alone. Come, you who separated me from everything and who made me solitary in this world. Come, you who yourself became desire in me, who caused me to desire you, the absolutely inaccessible One. Come, my breath and my life. Come, consolation of my poor soul. Come, my joy, my glory, my unending delight.

I give you thanks for having become one single spirit with me (Rom 8:16), without confusion, without change, without transformation, you the God above everything, and for having become for me all in all (1 Cor 15:28)… I give you thanks for having become for me the light that never sets, the sun that does not go down; for you have nowhere to hide, you who fill the universe with your glory! No, you have never hidden from anyone, but it is we who always hide from you, refusing to go with you…

So come, oh Master, set up your tent in me today (Jn 1:14); build your house and dwell in me, your servant, constantly, inseparably, until the end, oh you who are very good. And when I leave this world, may I also find myself again in you, oh you who are very good, and may I reign with you, God, who are above everything.

Daily Reading & Meditation

2006-10-12T22:01:00.000+02:00

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 11,5-13.

And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,'
and he says in reply from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.'
I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.
And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him?"

2006-10-12T12:56:00.000+02:00

for my long missing to all who eventually were passing through my catholic journal .

God bless you all !

Prayer for The Feast of The Day : St. Rose of Lima

2006-08-23T08:47:00.000+02:00

God, our protector, keep us in mind; always give strength to your people.
For if we can be with you even one day, it is better than a thousand without you. (Ps 83)

Lord Jesus, we celebrate the feast of St. Rose of Lima who devoted her life to prayer and fasting. We pray for all those who live in fear of their lives, who search for food for their families and who face the hardship of injustice and war. May they know of your love for them and may they reach out to you in their pain. We ask this in your name. Amen.

God our Father, for love of you Saint Rose gave up everything to devote herself to a life of penance. By the help of her prayers may we imitate her selfless way of life on earth and enjoy the fullness of your blessings in heaven. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Daily Reading & Meditation

2006-08-23T08:12:00.000+02:00

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12a

1 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him.
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven .

Meditation:

What is the good life which God intends for us, and the ultimate end or purpose of life? Is it not happiness, which is none other than the complete good, the sum of all goods, leaving nothing more to be desired? Jesus addresses this question in his sermon on the mount.

The heart of Jesus' message is that we can live a very happy life. The call to holiness, to be saints who joyfully pursue God's will for their lives, can be found in these ten beatitudes. Jesus' beatitudes sum up our calling or vocation -- to live a life of the beatitudes. The word beatitude literally means "happiness" or "blessedness".

What is the significance of Jesus' beatitudes, and why are they so central to his teaching? The beatitudes respond to the natural desire for happiness that God has placed in every heart. They teach us the final end to which God calls us, namely the coming of God's kingdom (Matt. 4:17), the vision of God (Matt. 5:8; 1 John 2;1), entering into the joy of the Lord (Matt. 25:21-23) and into his rest (Hebrews 4:7-11). Jesus' beatitudes also confront us with decisive choices concerning the life we pursue here on earth and the use we make of the goods he puts at our disposal. God alone satisfies. Do you seek the highest good, the total good, which is above all else?

The beatitudes which Jesus offers us are a sign of contradiction to the world's understanding of happiness and joy. How can one possibly find happiness in poverty, hunger, mourning, and persecution? Poverty of spirit finds ample room and joy in possessing God as the greatest treasure possible. Hunger of the spirit seeks nourishment and strength in God's word and Spirit. Sorrow and mourning over wasted life and sin leads to joyful freedom from the burden of guilt and spiritual oppression. God reveals to the humble of heart the true source of abundant life and happiness. Jesus promises his disciples that the joys of heaven will more than compensate for the troubles and hardships they can expect in this world. Thomas Aquinas said: "No one can live without joy. That is why a person deprived of spiritual joy goes after carnal pleasures." Do you know the happiness of hungering and thirsting for God alone?

"Lord, increase my hunger for you and show me the way that leads to everlasting peace and happiness. May I desire you above all else and find perfect joy in doing your will".

Psalm 24:1-6

1 The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein;
2 for he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the LORD, and vindication from the God of his salvation.
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob

Prayer on the Beatitudes

Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Keep us from being preocuppied with money and worldly goods, and with trying to increase them at the expense of justice.

Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth."
Help us not to be ruthless with one another, and to eliminate the discord and violence that exists in the world around us.

Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
Let us not be impatient under our own burdens and unconcerned about the burdens of others.

Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be filled."
Make us thirst for you, the fountain of all holiness, and actively spread your influence in our private lives and in society.

Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."
Grant that we may be quick to forgive and slow to condemn.

Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God."
Free us from our senses and our evil desires, and fix our eyes on you.

Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God."
Aid us to make peace in our families, in our country, and in the world.

Lord Jesus, You said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of justice, for the kingdom of heaven in theirs."
Make us willing to suffer for the sake of right rather than to practice injustice; and do not let us discriminate against our neighbors and oppress and persecute them.

Proverbs31: 28 - 31

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Proverbs31_2831, originally uploaded by jade blue.

Meditation on The Queenship Of Mary

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1. Mary, Mother of God, I believe that you are Mediatrix with Jesus you share also in His sovereign dominion over the universe. You are Queen because you are the Mother of the Word Incarnate. Christ is universal King because He rules all creatures by His personal union with the divinity. You brought Him into the world that He might be King, according to the words of the archangel: "And of His kingdom there shall be no end." By consenting to His birth, you made Him King.

Mary, My Mother, you are Queen also because your are Co-Redemptrix. Jesus reigns over us not only by natural right, but also by the right of redemption. As
cooperator with your Son in that work of redemption, you also acquired the right to reign with Him. God chose you to be His Mother and by that very choice has associated you with Himself in the work of the salvation of men. Since you had your place beside Jesus when there was question of ransoming us and meriting for us all the graces necessary for our salvation, you must in like manner have your place beside Him now, when there is question of securing for us by your prayers in heaven the graces prepared for us in view of the merits of Christ. This is my hope that you will be a Mother to me and obtain for me the grace I need to save my soul.

2. Mary, Mother of God, yours is a queenship of goodness. You add a degree of motherly sweetness to the joy of the angels and saints and to the blessed of the Church triumphant. To the Church suffering you bring consolation, relief, deliverance, to the Church militant you offer aid, confidence, victory.

Yours is a queenship of dominion. You exercise your queenly dominion over the minds, the hearts, the wills and even over the bodies of your subjects. You rule over their minds, by making them understand better the teaching of Christ, over their hearts, by turning them to Jesus through the charm of your motherly affection, over their wills, by gently inclining them to observe all the commandments of your Son; over their bodies, by teaching men to subject their members to the law of God through the practice of temperance and chastity. The more fully you are Queen in a soul, the more does Jesus reign there as King. Reign over my mind and heart and will and body, so that I may belong completely to Jesus through you.

Mary, My Mother, yours is a queenship of conquest. How many souls have still to be brought under the rule of Christ the King! Fulfill your apostolic mission of winning the world for Christ. As formerly the shepherds and the magi found Jesus close to you, so now may all sinners, unbelievers and pagans find Jesus through you, His Mother. Hasten the reign of Christ by ruling over all of us, your children.

3. Mary, Mother of God, the apostolic mission confided to you as Queen by your Son is to help Him to the end of time in the sanctification and the salvation of all the souls that come into the world. This apostolic mission is a consequence of your office as Mother, as Co-Redemptrix and as Dispenser of all graces.

As Mother, it is your mission to preserve your children from sin and to make them live the supernatural life. You are the first apostle of your children not only because you are the most perfect of mothers, but especially because you are our spiritual Mother. Your apostolic work-to snatch souls from Satan and from sin to make them live the supernatural life-is the very reason for your motherhood.

As Co-Redemptrix, you must finish your work by applying the grace of redemption to each individual soul, for only then the redemption is achieved. This is the very heart of your apostolate. No apostolic act bears fruit without grace. But all graces come through you. Through your prayers all graces have come to the apostle and to the souls converted or sanctified. By granting them these graces you have performed a work of the apostolate. Your apostolate is universal because you are the spiritual Mother of all men and the universal Co-Redemptrix. All other apostles and workers for the salvation of souls depend upon you for blessing upon their missionary work. Bless the work of those who spend themselves to bring souls to your loving Son. Through your powerful intercession obtain for them the graces they need. Sanctify them first, so that they may then more effectively sanctify others.

Mary, My Mother, as Dispenser of all graces, you make the world share in the infinite merits of the redemption. You are the Mediatrix of our peace with God and the Giver of heavenly graces. You have entered into the highest state of power and glory in Heaven in order that you may help us in our journey through so many dangers to the kingdom of Heaven. I believe with the Church that from the great treasury of graces that Jesus has merited for us, nothing comes to us, by the will of God. except through you. Hence, it is through you that we must go to Christ, almost in the same way as through Christ we approach our Heavenly Father. You are our Mediatrix with our Mediator.

We do not attribute to you the power of producing supernatural grace, even though you are the Mother of God, for this power belongs to God alone. But, because you surpass all other creatures in holiness and in the closeness of your union with Jesus and. because you have been, according to the Divine Plan, associated with Jesus in the work of Redemption, you have merited by a merit of fitness all that Christ has merited by a merit of justice, and God has made you the Giver of His Graces.

You are Queen of the universe, not by force, but by the power of love. You embrace the universe in the realm of your love and enrich it through your unfailing intercession. You are "Suppliant Omnipotence" because your prayer obtains all graces from the infinite treasures of God.

From your heart we hope to obtain the love of God that He expects from His creatures, and also the pardon that guilty but repentant creatures ask from their merciful Creator. All souls belong to you and your Son. He is King and you are Queen of all hearts. Rule over us by the queenly power of your love that the Kingdom of your Son-the Kingdom of Truth and Life, Holiness and Grace, Justice, Love and Peace-may come upon earth.

Today is the Feast of Holy Mother of God , Queen of Peace

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Queen of Peace
Written by Pope Benedict XV

The following two excerpts from the early twentieth century pontiff, Pope Benedict XV, a pope renowned for his great Marian love and his untiring efforts for peace and reconciliation, reveal his extraordinary love for Our Lady, his articulation of her role as Queen of Peace and Mediatrix of all graces, and the Pope's belief in her intercessory power to bring peace during a troubled time for the world (World War I). Let us invoke this former pontiff for the pontificate of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, to follow the pattern of his predecessor of name in calling upon Our Lady, Queen of Peace, for the spiritual and global peace so needed in our present day. – Ed.

Mediatrix of Peace

The scene of Jesus' birth is complete through the presence of Mary. The faith of her believers and her children's love consider her not only God's Mother, but also the Mediatrix with God.

Mother of the Prince of peace, Mediatrix between rebellious man and the merciful God, she is the dawn of peace shining in the darkness of a world out of joint; she never ceases to implore her Son for peace although His hour is not yet come (John 2:4); she always intervenes on behalf of sorrowing humanity in the hour of danger; today she who is the mother of many orphans and our advocate in this tremendous catastrophe will most quickly hear our prayers.

In view of these considerations and the better to direct Christian thought and trust in the most powerful intercession of the Mother of God We, in answer to the requests of many children far and near, consent that they address the Blessed Virgin in the Litany of Loreto with the invocation, "Queen of Peace." And will Mary, who is Queen of a kingdom of peace and not of wars and disasters, reject the desires and prayers of her trusting children?

On this holy night in which the prophetic promises of the golden age and of blessed times were fulfilled and on which the very Author of peace gave us the heavenly child, will she not smile on hearing the voices of innocent children called by the Episcopate and by Us to the Eucharistic Table on this lovely solemnity?

When man has hardened his heart and hate has overrun the earth, when fire and sword convulse the world and make it resound with clash of arms and of wailing, when human plans have proved misleading, and when all social well-being is upset, faith and history point to Mary as the only refuge, the all powerful intercessor, the Mediatrix of all grace… therefore, let us say with sure trust: Queen of Peace, pray for us!

Delivered to the Consistory of Cardinals, December 24, 1915.

Queen of Peace

…And since all the graces which God deigns to bestow in pity upon men are dispensed through the most holy Virgin, We urge that more than ever in this terrible hour, the trusting petitions of her most afflicted children be directed to the august Mother of God.

Hence we direct Your Eminence to make known to all the bishops of the world that it is our fervent desire that mankind turn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus—the Throne of Grace—and that recourse to this Throne be made through Mary. Accordingly We ordain that beginning with the first day of June this year, there be placed in the Litany of the Blessed Virgin the invocation: Queen of Peace pray for us….

From every corner of the earth—from the majestic churches and the humble chapels; from the mansions of the rich as well as from the huts of the poor; from wherever dwells a faithful soul; from the bloodstained battlefields and war swept seas, may this pious and ardent invocation arise to Mary, the Mother of Mercy who is all-powerful in grace! To Mary may be brought each anguished cry of mothers and wives, each tear of innocent children, each longing of generous hearts! May her loving and most merciful solicitude be moved to obtain for this convulsed world the peace so greatly desired! And may the ages yet to come remember the efficacy of Mary's intercession and the greatness of her blessings to her suppliants!

First day of meditation : Guardian Angel

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1. Place yourself in the presence of God, kneeling with your hands clasped.

2. Read slowly and devoutly Psalm 91

"You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust."
For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;
he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day,
or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place,
no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.
When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.
With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation."

3. Bring all you have read before you, as if you saw the Angels protecting you, especially your Guardian Angel.

4. Then say to God whatever is suggested to you; for instance:

"He has given His Angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. In their hands they shall bear thee up, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."

(1) 0 my God, I will go forward in Thy way, for my Guardian goes with me. I am very blind; I know not what is before me. I know not what will happen to me in life. I do not know whether I shall live long, or die young. But this I know, that in health and sickness, in joy and sorrow, in youth and age, Thou wilt be with me.

(2) 0 my sweet Guardian, how beautiful thou art. I wish I could see thee. And thou art as pure and holy as thou art beautiful, and thy breath inspires chaste thoughts. And as gentle and kind as thou art pure.

5. Conclusion. God of Angels, have mercy on me. Queen of Angels, pray for me.

Eight Day Meditation ( John Cardinal Newman )

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The Catholic Catechism states that "meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion and desire. This mobilization of faculties is necessary in order to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the conversion of our heart, and strengthen our will to follow Christ." Sec. 2708 (emphasis added). "Meditation is above all a quest. The mind seeks to understand the why and how of the Christian life, in order to adhere and respond to what the Lord is asking... We are usually helped by books [especially scripture]." Sec. 2705. "To meditate on what we read helps us to make it our own by confronting it with ourselves." Sec. 2706. Catechism of the Catholic Church.

In these meditations, Cardinal Newman suggests how to enrich your soul with scripture and prayer. "Don't forget that it was St. Ignatius of Loyola who strongly promoted the use of imagination in meditation. His work, the Spiritual Exercises, is a monumental classic of the Catholic Tradition. In it he shows how fantasy will enhance our understanding and appreciation of Scripture, and how we can talk to Christ using the imagination.

When we read something, a story or a novel, we create a picture of it in our minds. St. Ignatius simply builds on this natural tendency. Thus, in the material for the second week of the Spiritual Exercises he says, " The first Prelude is a composition, seeing the place: ...here [we] see with the sight of the imagination, the synagogues,[5] villages and towns through which Christ our Lord preached."

Things are not always as they seem

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let your light shine in, originally uploaded by Sara Heinrichs (awfulsara).

There are lots of things that can make us say what we just heard Paul say in the epistle: "These are evil days." If you doubt that, watch the TV news for ten minutes. Or closer to home, take a look in the mirror: It's either pimples or wrinkles! You finally get rid of the one and then the other starts to show up - and the wrinkles don't go away, they just invite in all their friends!

Trials and tribulations, irritations, aggravations: That's life, but only one side of life. Because hidden inside every trouble and every aggravation is an opportunity just waiting to be noticed and taken hold of. That's what Paul is telling us ever so subtly. Every one of life's difficulties and challenges is an invitation from God to let go of what doesn't matter or doesn't work, and to search for what does matter and what can bring us joy and freedom.

And so for example, whether we're looking at pimples or wrinkles, what's really in front of us is God's invitation to let go of our worrying about appearances and to focus on straightening out what's behind the face, what's inside the head and the heart.

Sometimes we have to face a pain or frustration that just has to be lived with; we can't make it go away. What's the opportunity there? Perhaps it's an invitation to relax in the Lord, to give ourselves over to him at long last; perhaps it's an invitation to let go of our obsessive perfectionism or our excessive need to control.

We each have our own special collection of stresses and hurts, and we know them well. But have we looked behind them? Have we searched in faith for the invitation God has wrapped inside them? If we haven't, we're wasting a lot of pain. And that isn't what God wants for us. God is offering us joy and freedom for the taking, here and now. Look a little deeper and you'll find it, wrapped discretely inside your troubles. If you look, you'll find it. It's there!

Today meditation : A New Life

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Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

John 6:51-58

Jesus said to the crowds: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."

Introductory Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I firmly believe in your Real Presence in the Eucharist. I ask that this meditation be an act of praise and thanksgiving for the great gift you give us of yourself under the species of bread and wine.

Grant, Lord, that I may grow in faith in the Eucharist.

1. A New Life.

It is always good to reflect on the basic and most fundamental truths of our faith. We can get so used to them that we lose the sense of marvel before them. God became man that we might participate in the very life of God. We who, thanks to our First Parents’ sin, were born with a life that was doomed, have by God’s mercy received the gift of a new life, a life that will never end. This new life we received at baptism when we were incorporated into the Mystical Body of Christ, becoming children of God. We participate in the divine life of the Holy Trinity through the Son of God who became man for our sakes. What an extraordinary gift we have received! All of us need to reflect on it in God’s presence so as to grow in appreciation and love for God whose mercy toward us is boundless.

2. New Life – New Food.

We have received life, the very life of God. We have this new life in Christ. It comes entirely from him, not from the world, not from men and not from angels. Christ became man that we might have this new life. But as is always the way of human beings, we are weak and we need food so as to live. No earthly food that can sustain such a life. So we should marvel at the food that we have received as nourishment for this new life. In fact, Christ has given himself to be our “true food.” A new food for a new life is what we have received. In the Eucharist he has become our food and our drink. Let us stop and wonder in silent adoration before the generosity of the Son of God.

3. The Food of Promise.

The Eucharist is an extraordinary gift. We cannot fathom its infinite riches, as it is the Son of God himself. The bread is no longer bread and the wine is no longer wine. We are in the presence of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. He came that we might have life and have it to the full. He came and gave us himself to sustain on our journey. The food he gives – himself – is also the food of promise, for whoever eats his sacred Body and drinks his precious Blood will have eternal life and will be raised up on the last day. All other food is rendered useless at death. The Eucharist brings about the triumph over death; it is a new food for a new life – Eternal Life.

Daily talk with our Saviour and Redeemer Jesus

Lord, to whom shall we go? You are the Bread of Life! Lord Jesus, there are not enough days in this life to thank you for your love. There is not enough time to spend in thanksgiving for the greatness of the Eucharist. Here I am; I come to love you as best I can. I trust that through your Mother Mary’s help I will be able to love you.

I will invite my family to make a Eucharistic visit or to make a spiritual communion.

The Prayer of Longing ( St. John Chrysostom )

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"Prayer is the light of the spirit "

Prayer and converse with God is a supreme good: it is a partnership and union with God. As the eyes of the body are enlightened when they see light, so our spirit, when it is intent on God, is illumined by his infinite light. I do not mean the prayer of outward observance but prayer from the heart, not confined to fixed times, or periods but continuous throughout the day and night.

Our spirit should be quick to reach out toward God not only when it is engaged in meditation; at other times also, when it is carrying out its duties, caring for the needy, performing works of charity, giving generously in the service of others, our spirit should long for God, and call him to mind, so that these works may be seasoned with the salt of God's love, and so make a palatable offering to the Lord of the universe. Throughout the whole of our lives we may enjoy the benefit that comes from prayer if we devote a great deal of time to it.

Prayer is the light of the spirit, true knowledge of God, mediating between God and man. The spirit, raised up to heaven by prayer, clings to God with the utmost tenderness; like a child crying tearfully for its mother, it craves the milk that God provides. It seeks the satisfaction of its own desires, and receives gifts outweighing the whole world of nature.

Prayer stands before God as an honored ambassador. It gives joy to the spirit, peace to the heart. I speak of prayer, not words. It is the longing for God, love to deep for words, a gift not given by man but by God's grace. The apostle Paul says: "We do not know how we are to pray but the Spirit himself pleads for us with inexpressible longings." Rom. 8:26.

When the Lord gives this kind of prayer to [someone]; he gives him riches that cannot be taken away, heavenly food that satisfies the spirit. One who tastes this food is set on fire with an eternal longing for the Lord: his spirit burns as in a fire of the utmost intensity.

Practice prayer from the beginning. Paint your house with the colors of modesty and humility. Make it radiant with the light of justice. Decorate it with the finest gold leaf of good deeds. Adorn it with the walls and stones of faith and generosity. Crown it with the pinnacle of prayer. In this way you will make it a perfect dwelling place for the Lord. You will be able to receive him as in a splendid palace, and through his grace you will already possess him, his image enthroned in the temple of your spirit. "

CONTEMPLATING CHRIST WITH MARY

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The contemplation of Christ has an incomparable model in Mary.

In a unique way the face of the Son belongs to Mary. It was in her womb that Christ was formed, receiving from her a human resemblance which points to an even greater spiritual closeness. No one has ever devoted himself to the contemplation of the face of Christ as faithfully as Mary. The eyes of her heart already turned to him at the Annunciation, when she conceived him by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the months that followed she began to sense his presence and to picture his features. When at last she gave birth to him in Bethlehem, her eyes were able to gaze tenderly on the face of her Son, as she “wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger” (Lk 2:7).

Thereafter Mary's gaze, ever filled with adoration and wonder, would never leave him. At times it would be a questioning look, as in the episode of the finding in the Temple: “Son, why have you treated us so?” (Lk 2:48); it would always be a penetrating gaze, one capable of deeply understanding Jesus, even to the point of perceiving his hidden feelings and anticipating his decisions, as at Cana (cf. Jn 2:5). At other times it would be a look of sorrow, especially beneath the Cross, where her vision would still be that of a mother giving birth, for Mary not only shared the passion and death of her Son, she also received the new son given to her in the beloved disciple (cf. Jn 19:26-27). On the morning of Easter hers would be a gaze radiant with the joy of the Resurrection, and finally, on the day of Pentecost, a gaze afire with the outpouring of the Spirit (cf. Acts 1:14).

Mary's memories

11. Mary lived with her eyes fixed on Christ, treasuring his every word: “She kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19; cf. 2:51). The memories of Jesus, impressed upon her heart, were always with her, leading her to reflect on the various moments of her life at her Son's side. In a way those memories were to be the “rosary” which she recited uninterruptedly throughout her earthly life.

Even now, amid the joyful songs of the heavenly Jerusalem, the reasons for her thanksgiving and praise remain unchanged. They inspire her maternal concern for the pilgrim Church, in which she continues to relate her personal account of the Gospel. Mary constantly sets before the faithful the “mysteries” of her Son, with the desire that the contemplation of those mysteries will release all their saving power. In the recitation of the Rosary, the Christian community enters into contact with the memories and the contemplative gaze of Mary.

The Rosary, a contemplative prayer

12. The Rosary, precisely because it starts with Mary's own experience, is an exquisitely contemplative prayer. Without this contemplative dimension, it would lose its meaning, as Pope Paul VI clearly pointed out: “Without contemplation, 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”.14

It is worth pausing to consider this profound insight of Paul VI, in order to bring out certain aspects of the Rosary which show that it is really a form of Christocentric contemplation .

( APOSTOLIC LETTER ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF JOHN PAUL II TO THE BISHOPS , CLERGY AND FAITHFUL ON THE MOST HOLY ROSARY )

Trusting Jesus ! He's my Saviour and Lord

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Trusting Jesus ! He's my Saviour and Lord, originally uploaded by jade blue.

We are like children, who stand in need of masters to enlighten us and direct us; and God has provided for this, by appointing his angels to be our teachers and guides.
~Saint Thomas Aquinas

For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. ~~ Psalm 91:11

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Little angel, originally uploaded by jade blue.

Make yourself familiar with the angels, and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen, they are present with you.
~St. Francis De Sales

But if these beings guard you, they do so because they have been summoned by your prayers.
~Saint Ambrose

The angels are the dispensers and administrators of the divine beneficence toward us; they regard our safety, undertake our defense, direct our ways, and exercise a constant solicitude that no evil befall us.
~ John Calvin