Archive for category: General Thoughts & Reflections

As the feast day of Padre Pio happened during the week, we say a prayer to him asking for his continued  intercession:-

 

Prayer for the Intercession of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

Dear God, You generously blessed Your servant,
St. Pio of Pietrelcina,
with the gifts of the Spirit.
You marked his body with the five wounds
of Christ Crucified, as a powerful witness
to the saving Passion and Death of Your Son.
Endowed with the gift of discernment,
St. Pio labored endlessly in the confessional
for the salvation of souls.
With reverence and intense devotion
in the celebration of Mass,
he invited countless men and women
to a greater union with Jesus Christ
in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

Through the intercession of St. Pio of Pietrelcina,
I confidently beseech You to grant me
the grace of (here state your petition).

Glory be to the Father… (three times). Amen.

LITANY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy on us.

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

Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father Almighty, have mercy on us.

Jesus, Eternal Son of the Father, Redeemer of the world, save us.

Spirit of the Father and the Son and Infinite Love of Both, sanctify us.

Most Holy Trinity, hear us.

Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, come to us.

Promise to the Father,

Gift of God Most High,

Ray of heavenly light,

Fount of Living Water,

Consuming Fire,

Author of all good,

Spiritual Union,

Ardent Charity,

Spirit of wisdom,

Spirit of understanding,

Spirit of counsel and of fortitude,

Spirit of knowledge and of piety,

Spirit of the fear of the Lord,

Spirit of truth and of love,

Spirit of grace and of prayer,

Spirit of peace and of sweetness,

Spirit of modesty and of innocence,

Spirit of consolation,

Spirit that governs the Church,

Spirit that fills the universe,

Spirit of adoption of the Son of God,

 

Holy Spirit, imprint on our hearts a horror for sin,

we beseech you, hear us.

Holy Spirit, come and renew the face of the earth.

Holy Spirit, shed your light upon our understanding.

Holy Spirit, engrave your law upon our hearts.

Holy Spirit, open to us the treasure of your grace.

Holy Spirit, teach us how we ought to pray.

Holy Spirit, enlighten us with your heavenly inspirations.

Holy Spirit, grant us the knowledge that is necessary.

Holy Spirit, instill into us the practice of the virtues.

Holy Spirit, grant that we may persevere in justice.

Holy Spirit, be our reward.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,

send us your Holy Spirit

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,

imbue us with the spirit of wisdom and the Holy Spirit

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,

imbue us with the spirit of wisdom and devotion.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,

And kindle in them the fire of your love.

 

Let us pray

O God, who instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and ever to rejoice in consolation.

Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Holy Spirit, spirit of truth, come into our hearts; shed the brightness of your light upon the nations, so that they may please you in unity of faith.

Holy Spirit, sweet Guest of my soul, abide in me and grant that I may ever abide in you.

God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

May the grace of the Holy Spirit enlighten our senses and our hearts. May our hearts be cleansed, O Lord, by the inpouring of the Holy Spirit and may he render them fruitful by watering them with his heavenly dew. With all our heart and voice, we acknowledge, we praise, and we bless you God the Father unbegotten; God, the only begotten Son; God, the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, O holy and undivided Trinity! Amen

 

St. Therese of Lisieux is one of the most beloved saints of our time. Her life reminds us that we don’t need to accomplish great feats in order to become a saint. We can become holy by saying yes to God in the tasks and events of everyday life.

Most of us are familiar with St. Therese and her “Little Way.” But did you know that St. Therese comes from a family of saints?

In 2015, Pope Francis canonized St. Therese’s parents, Louis and Zelie Martin. This canonization was unprecedented because no other married couple has been recognized as saints at the same time. Zelie helped her children to grow in holiness during her short time on earth. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and died at the age of forty-five. She embraced the physical pains of cancer, but suffered over the sorrow that her death would cause her family. However, she fully surrendered herself to God’s will and kept her faith in His sovereignty.

Louis also suffered much loss in his life. He lost Zelie to breast cancer and later, each of his daughters entered the convent. Essentially, he had to let go of his family as they followed God’s will for their lives. Despite the loss he endured, he kept his love for Christ and his faith in Him.

Louis and Zelie had five daughters, most of whom are saints or Servants of God: Marie, Pauline, Leonie, Celine, and Therese. When Zelie died, Marie and Pauline had to act as the mother figure for their younger sisters. Leonie was declared a Servant of God in 2015. She suffered a difficult temperament and was abused by a servant several times, unbeknownst to her mother. She had to leave several convents (because of poor health) before successfully remaining in the Visitation convent at Caen. Leonie is a great patron for those who have suffered abuse and trauma.

Celine waited to enter the convent because she was worried about her father’s declining health. She believed that she was called to the religious life, but a part of her was unsure. As Louis suffered various mental and physical illnesses, Celine remained at his side and trusted in God’s hand in everything. She entered Carmel after her father’s passing. Celine is a phenomenal example of trusting that God is in control when you are not sure about your vocation or plan for your life. She is also a model for those who are caregivers for family and friends.

In one sense, St. Therese and her family seem so ordinary—but that is exactly what makes them so special. When we look at the lives of many saints, we’re inspired by their heroic actions but tend to think, “That’s awesome, but I could never do THAT. How could I ever become a saint?” St. Therese and her family prove that it is possible for anyone to become a saint simply by having faith and saying yes to God in the midst of day-to-day activities and struggles.

 

from get fed @ Catholic company.com