Act of Adoration #2

I adore Thee, O my God, present in the holy Eucharist, as my Creator, my Preserver, and my Redeemer. 

I offer Thee all that I have, all that I am, all that depends on me; I offer Thee my mind to think of Thee, my heart to love Thee; my will to serve Thee; my body to labour and suffer for Thy love. 

I am Thine, I give myself; I consecrate myself to Thee, I abandon myself to Thee, I wish to live and die for love of Thee.

Act of Adoration #1

I adore Thee,
O my God,
present in the holy Eucharist,
as my Creator,
my Preserver,
and my Redeemer.
I offer Thee all that I have,
all that I am,
all that depends on me;
I offer Thee my mind to think of Thee,
my heart to love Thee;
my will to serve Thee;
my body to labour and suffer for Thy love.
I am Thine,
I give myself;
I consecrate myself to Thee,
I abandon myself to Thee,
I wish to live and die for love of Thee.

The Four Parts of Confession

Part 1: Contrition

The word "contrition" comes from the Latin word "CONTRITIO" - "I crush".

What do I crush? I crush and pulverize my heart insofar as it is hardened by sin.

Without a soft heart, the healing graces of God flow off like water on a rock. Sin makes us selfish and hardens our hearts. But a contrite heart absorbs the graces of God like a sponge absorbs water.

I am contrite by being truly sorry for my sins. I am truly sorry for my sins by acknowledging my grievous offenses against my loving God and against my neighbor and having a deep heartfelt regret for the sins and a firm purpose of amendment not to sin again. I grow in confession especially by understanding what MY SINS have done to JESUS, especially as manifested in His Agony in the Garden, Scourging at the Pillar, Crowning with Thorns, and Carrying of the Cross, and Crucifixion and Death.

By being contrite we can do what is proper to us who are creatures wounded by sin: We cannot fix ourselves, but we can hate what is evil in us - that is, our sin. We so dispose ourselves to let God do what is proper to Him: To FORGIVE!

By heartfelt contrition, we seek our justice not "in ourselves" but in Jesus Christ. Jesus wants us to TRUST in Him. Jesus absolutely requested that the signature of the Divine Mercy image be "JESUS I TRUST IN YOU". When we look at the Divine Mercy Image we see the Picture of His infinite Mercy, Goodness, and Love; when we read the signature "JESUS I TRUST IN YOU" with our hearts we respond as we ought.

Our contrition is PERFECT when we are sorry because of what we have done to Jesus because of our sins. It is IMPERFECT when we are sorry because of what our sins do to us: disgrace, temporal and possibly eternal punishment.

Catholics are most blessed because the Sacrament of Confession perfects imperfect contrition such that even mortal sins will be forgiven. Otherwise, mortal sins can be forgiven only by having perfect contrition.

But having perfect contrition is hard especially when in the state of mortal sin. Why? Because sin causes us to love ourselves before God. Only God knows if our contrition is perfect or not. Avoid presumption and go to Confession!

If a Catholic is not in the state of grace, his perfect contrition includes to do what Jesus tells us to do thorough His Church: To go to confession! So no one should go to Holy Communion if they are aware of having an unconfessed mortal sin. Going to Holy Communion when aware of unconfessed mortal sin is sacrilege - the worst of all sins.

If our contrition is perfect, we don't need any punishment! Why? Because there is no more need of punishment since the soul already loves God above all! So continually increase your sorrow for sins, perfect your contrition, and go to confession often. Pray for the souls in Purgatory. Then when you die you can hope to go straight to heaven since there is not any need to be further cleansed in Purgatory!

For Meditation on Contrition:

(1) From the "Conversation of the Merciful God with a Sinful Soul", Diary of St. Faustina, #1485

Jesus: My mercy is greater than your sins and those of the entire world. Who can measure the extent of my goodness? For you I descended from heaven to earth; for you I allowed myself to be nailed to the cross; for you I let my Sacred Heart be pierced with a lance, thus opening wide the source of mercy for you. Come, then, with trust to draw graces from this fountain. I never reject a contrite heart. Your misery has disappeared in the depths of My mercy. Do not argue with Me about your wretchedness. You will give me pleasure if you hand over to me all your troubles and griefs. I shall heap upon you the treasures of My grace.

(2) From the "Conversation of the Merciful God with a Despairing Soul", Diary of St. Faustina, #1486

Jesus: My child, all your sins have not wounded My Heart as painfully as your present lack of trust does — that after so many efforts of My love and mercy, you should still doubt My goodness.

Part 2: Confession

I confess my sins to Jesus directly through the priest. Why "directly" through the priest? Because Jesus has ordained that man such that the priest is His instrument for forgiving sins: It is really Christ who forgives the sins.

When Jesus forgives us through His representative the priest, there is no less grace than if he was to forgive us 2000 years ago when He walked the face of the earth. Just as there is no less grace to be present at the Consecration at Holy Mass than to be on your knees before Christ when He died on the Cross.

It is fitting that Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Penance: "He breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained" (Jn 20:22-23). We offend God and His Church when we sin; we fittingly confess our sins to Jesus through His ordained representative. Sin increases our pride so that we "live a lie"; confession humbles us so as to perfect our contrition. The soul that is dead cannot revive itself but needs a new infusion of life. Jesus revives the soul, shipwrecked by mortal sin even after baptism, by the Sacrament of Confession.

We KNOW that Jesus forgives us when we confess our sins. We just have to confess our sins without hiding them.

We confess mortal sins by type and number. If we "hold back" a mortal sin, then we are not making a good confession. The confession itself becomes a sin; the soul does not even have the necessary imperfect contrition when it knowingly refuses to confess a sin.

If we forgot a sin, our confession is still good. But we need to confess the mortal sin later and as soon as we can.

It would be impossible to confess each venial sin, imperfection, and fault by type and number - there would be too many. Instead of really becoming holy by the grace of Christ, we would become preoccupied with our own defects and could actually fall into the trap of trying to perfect ourselves instead of disposing ourselves to be perfected by Christ.

Instead, confess CONTRITELY and CONCISELY your dominant venial sins and faults, knowing full well that we cannot fully express in a brief confession the depths of our misery. Thus we see the need for the MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT - the Holy Eucharist. In Holy Communion, Jesus perfects us and burns away our faults and sins by His divine love. Frequent confession - even for venial sins and faults - is a very powerful preparation for the worthy reception of the Sacrament of Love - the Holy Eucharist.

Remember: all souls are prideful and selfish. Confessing such broad generalities afford little in confession. Rather, confess HOW I am prideful and selfish, without going into unnecessary detail. (e.g., "I talked back to my parents several times and did not take their correction well.") That is the proper material to take to Confession.

Part 3: Absolution

Jesus forgives the soul directly when the priest says the words of absolution.

Do you believe in Jesus? Then believe in His will and ability to forgive the soul with the words of absolution that He speaks through the lips of His ordained ministers. Jesus was crucified because HE FORGAVE SINS - and only God can forgive sins. But His claim to forgive sins is not blasphemy but is the Truth because He - the Second Person of the Trinity - is GOD and Man.

It suffices to repeat our Lord's exhortation to St. Faustina: (Diary of St. Faustina, 1448)

Write, speak of My mercy. Tell souls where they are to look for solace; that is, in the Tribunal of Mercy [the Sacrament of Reconciliation] There the greatest miracles take place [and] are incessantly repeated. To avail oneself of this miracle, it is not necessary to go on a great pilgrimage or to carry out some external ceremony; it suffices to come with faith to the feet of My representative and to reveal to him one's misery, and the miracle of Divine Mercy will be fully demonstrated. Were a soul like a decaying corpse so that from a human standpoint, there would be no [hope of] restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God. The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full. Oh, how miserable are those who do not take advantage of the miracle of God's mercy! You will call out in vain, but it will be too late.

Part 4: Penance

We should fulfill our penance promptly and with devotion.

Does our penance take away our sins? NO! Jesus takes away our sins by shedding His Blood on the Cross. Our penance is our fitting "two bits" which is a way of expressing our sorrow and gratitude.

Our penance usually consist of a short prayer. After Jesus forgives us in absolution, we are already 'working for Him' in the work of salvation; we are 'back on track' working for His glory and for the salvation of souls - even if it is only by saying a simple prayer!

Consider the great model penitent in St. Peter who denied Jesus three times. Did He do penance? Yes, he was sorry and forgiven by Christ. Did he have his own type of "penance" similar to that of confession? Yes, three times Jesus asked him, "Simon, son of John, lovest thou me?" Peter was "hurt" as penance is sometimes hard: "Peter was grieved, because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee."

Peter is "back on track". His dignity is restored and winning souls for God.

Glorify God in His Mercy in the great Sacrament of Penance! That is not man's plan; but God's plan to revive life in the soul!

The 4 Keys To Heaven

1. Mass
2. Rosary
3. Scapular
4. Way Of The Cross

Brother Estanislao (1903 - 1927)

At the age of 18, a young Spaniard entered the Novitiate of The Brothers of the Christian Schools at Bugedo. 

He took the Vow of Regularity, Perfection and Pure Love. 

In October, 1926, he offered himself to Jesus through Mary.

Soon after this heroic donation, he felt ill, and was obliged to rest.

He died saintly in March 1927. He was, according to the master of novices, a privileged soul, who received Messages from Heaven.

Confessors and Theologians recognized these supernatural facts. 

His Director asked him to write the Promises made by OUR LORD to those who have devotion to THE WAY OF THE CROSS.

They are:

1. I will grant everything that is asked of Me with faith, when making The Way of the Cross.

2. I promise Eternal Life to those who pray from time to time, The Way of the Cross.

3. I will follow them everywhere in life and I will help them, especially at the hour of death.

4. Even if they have more sins than the blades of grass in the fields and the grains of sand in the sea, all of them will be erased by The Way of the Cross. (Note: This promise does not eliminate the obligation to confess all mortal sins, and this, before we can receive Holy Communion.)

5. Those who pray The Way of the Cross often will have a special glory in Heaven.

6. I will deliver them from Purgatory, indeed if they go there at all, the first Tuesday or Friday after their death.

7. I will bless them at each Way of the Cross, and My blessing will follow them everywhere on earth and, after their death, in Heaven for all Eternity.

8. At the hour of death I will not permit the devil to tempt them; I will lift all power from him in order that they will repose tranquilly in My Arms.

9. If they pray it with true love, I will make of each one of them a living Ciborium in which it will please Me to pour My grace.

10. I will fix My Eyes on those who pray The Way of the Cross often; My hands will always be open to protect them.

11. As I am nailed to the Cross, so also will I always be with those who honor Me in making The Way of the Cross frequently.

12. They will never be able to separate themselves from Me, for I will give them the grace never again to commit a Mortal sin.

13. At the hour of death I will console them with My Presence and we will go together to Heaven. Death will be sweet to all those who have honored Me during their lives by praying The Way of the Cross.

14. My soul will be a protective shield for them, and will always help them, whenever they have recourse.

St. Alphonsus Liguori wrote: "If you pray you are positive of saving your soul. If you do NOT pray you are just as positive of losing your soul."

The Beatitudes

Matthew 5:1-12

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him. And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying:

(1) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

(2) Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.

(3) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

(4) Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.

(5) Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

(6) Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.

(7) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called children of God.

(8) Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you.

Prayer for the First Week of Lent Devotion

[This prayer is designed to be said within the family before a Crucifix during the first week of Lent.]

Mother or a child:
From the words of St. Paul [2 Cor. 6:1-2].

Dearly beloved, we entreat you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says: "In an acceptable time I have beard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

Father:
This time of fasting has opened to us the gates of paradise. Let us accept it, praying and beseeching.

Family:
That on the day of resurrection we may be glorified in the Lord.

Father:
Let us pray.
Through the observance of Lent, O Lord, You purify Your Church every year. See to it that Your children lead a better life and so obtain the graces they are striving to acquire by doing penance. This we ask of You through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son.

Family:
Amen.
Favour this dwelling, Lord, with Your presence. Far from it repulse all the wiles of Satan. Your holy angels, let them live here, to keep us in peace. And may your blessing remain always upon us. This we ask of you through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son.

Father:
Let us bless the Lord.

Family:
Thanks be to God.

Father:
May the almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless and keep us.

Family:
Amen.

Country Prayer for Lent Devotion

Dear Lord, we are now in the holy season of Lent. 

We begin to realize anew that these are the days of salvation, these are the acceptable days. 

We know that we are all sinners. 

We know that in many things we have all offended Your infinite majesty. 

We know that sin destroys Your life in us as a drought withers the leaves and chokes the life from the land, leaving an arid, dusty desert. 

Help us now, Lord, in our feeble attempts to make up for past sin. 

Bless our efforts with the rich blessing of Your grace. 

Make us realize ever more our need of penance and of mortification. 

Help us to see, in our ordinary difficulties and duties, in the trials and temptations of every day, the best opportunity of making up for past infidelities. 

Every day we are so often reminded in field and wood, in sky and stream, of Your own boundless generosity to us. 

Help us to realize that You are never outdone in generosity, and that the least thing we do for You will be rewarded, full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and flowing over. 

Then we shall see, in our own souls, how the desert can blossom, and the dry and wasted land can bring forth the rich, useful fruit that was expected of it from the beginning. 

Amen.