Sunday, April 26, 2020

A CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT BY LUMIERE IN REMEMBRANCE OF ALL RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO HAVE DIED DURING THE CORONAVIRUS


A CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT IN REMEMBRANCE OF ALL RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY DURING THE CORONAVIRUS. 
DEEP GRATITUDE IS DUE TO THEM FOR THEIR YEARS OF DEDICATED MINISTRY. MAY THEY REST IN PEACE. 
OUR THOUGHTS ARE ALSO WITH THEIR FAMILIES AND THOSE TO WHOM THEY MINISTERED. 
MAY STRENGTH AND BLESSINGS BE THEIRS DURING THIS HEARTBREAKING TIME.

Sunday, April 12, 2020

A CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT IN REMEMBRANCE OF ECUADOR DURING CORONAVIRUS SUFFERING


A CANDLE HAS BEEN LIT BY LUMIERE IN REMEMBRANCE OF ECUADOR DURING CORONAVIRUS SUFFERING. OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH ALL WHO ARE AFFLICTED; FOR ALL WHO HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES, FOR THEIR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, CARERS, COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS. WE PRAY, TOO, FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY, THAT GOD WILL STRENGTHEN THEM AT THIS DIFFICULT TIME. OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THOSE PUBLIC SERVICES OVERWHELMED BY THE SHEER MULTITUDE OF SUFFERING FACING THEIR DEDICATED SERVICE. MAY ALMIGHTY GOD BE WITH ECUADOR DURING THIS PANDEMIC, AND BRING THIS SUFFERING TO A SPEEDY END.

St Michael the Archangel has for centuries been acclaimed as great healer during plagues and epidemics. Why not pray the Novena to St Michael?

NOVENA TO ST MICHAEL
This Novena is to be recited for nine consecutive days


NOVENA
INTENTION:
"O Archangel Michael, intercede for me for the particular intention that I humbly present to you. [Here tell him of your particular need].
Please bring my petition before the Throne of God, that it may be granted to me if it conforms to the Holy Will of God.

PRAYER
O Jesus, splendour and power of the Father! O Jesus, life of our hearts, we praise You in union with all Angels, who ceaselessly serve You and adore You.
Uncountable celestial spirits surround Your Throne. Among them You have elected Saint Michael as Prince of Princes among the celestial hosts.
Saint Michael is the Protector of the Church of God upon earth. It is Michael whom You chose as Guardian of the Blessed Sacrament.
Michael is the Glorious Prince of the heaveny armies as their triumph over the powers of hell.
Michael hurled proud lucifer into the depths and fought the evil and rebellious spirits who fled Heaven, never to return.

With deep humility and sincere love for God, let us follow the example of our invincible Prince of Angels who battles against the master of pride, so that we too may be worthy to receive the crown of glory in Heaven.

THE FIRST GRACE
O Saint Michael the Archangel, we ask you, together with the Prince of Seraphims, to light up our hearts with perfect love so that, through you, we may leave far behind the false flattery of the world's pleasures.

Our Father
Our Father Who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name,
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy Will be done,
One earth as it is in 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.

Invocation of Saint Michael the Archangel
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in the hour of battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.
May God restrain him we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God thrust down into hell satan and all the other wicked spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls, Amen.

THE SECOND GRACE
O Prince of the Celestial Jerusalem, you have proven victorious over satan.
We humbly ask you, together with the Prince of Cherubims, to protect us especially when we are tempted by the enemy.

The Our Father [see First Grace for full prayer]

Invocation of Saint Michael the Archangel [see First Grace for full prayer]

THE THIRD GRACE
We beseech you, O invincible Custodian of Heaven, that, together with the Prince of Thrones, you will allow neither evil spirits nor infirmity to oppress us. 

The Our Father [see First Grace for full prayer]

Invocation of Saint Michael the Archangel [see First Grace for full prayer]

THE FOURTH GRACE
In humility, we beseech you, Leader of the Celestial Court, together with the Prince of Dominions, to defend the People of God on earth. 
Grant us strength and devotion to God in our daily journey, and glory in Heaven.

The Our Father [see First Grace for full prayer]

Invocation of Saint Michael the Archangel [see First Grace for full prayer]

THE FIFTH GRACE
O Archangel, we beseech you, together with the Prince of Virtues, that you may deliver us, your servants, from the hands of our enemies - both visible and invisible.
Deliver us, our families, our city and our nation from false witnesses, division, hunger, hate, moral decadence, war and natural disasters.

The Our Father [see First Grace for full prayer]

Invocation of Saint Michael the Archangel [see First Grace for full prayer]

THE SIXTH GRACE
We implore you, O Glorious Prince of the Heavenly Armies, together with the Prince of Powers, to look at our necessities with love.
Pray for our nation, and in particular our city, granting that our political leaders may always work toward peace, justice and concord.

The Our Father [see First Grace for full pryaer]

Invocation of Saint Michael the Archangel [see First Grace for full prayer]

THE SEVENTH GRACE
We ask of you, O Prince of Angels, together with the Prince of Principalities, to deliver us, your servants, our city and our nation from physical and, above all, spiritual illness.

The Our Father [see First Grace for full  prayer]

Invocation of Saint Michael the Archangel [see First Grace for full prayer]

THE EIGHTH GRACE
We beseech you, O Prince of Angels, with the Archangels and all the choirs of Angels, to watch over us during our lifetime and at the hour of our death.
Assist us at our last moments, so that, under your protection, victorious over satan, we may come to the joy of God's Presence in heaven and glorify Him with you and all the angels.

The Our Father [see First Grace for full prayer]

Invocation of Saint Michael the Archangel [see First Grace for full prayer]

THE NINTH GRACE
Finally, we ask you, O Glorious Prince and Defender of the People of God on earth, together with all choirs of angels, to care for and assist those who are particularly devoted to you.
Assist us, our families and all those we carry in our heart, so that under your protection, we may share with you the contemplation of God forever and ever, Amen.

The Our Father [see First Grace for full prayer]

Invocation of Saint Michael the Archangel [see First Grace for full prayer]

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO ST MICHAEL
O Saint Michael the Archangel, most noble Prince of the Angelic Hierarchies, valorous Warrior of Almighty God, and eternally loving and faithful to the Most High.
Desiring to be numbered among your devoted servants, I offer and consecrate myself to you.
I place myself, my family, my friends, my work, and all I possess under your most powerful protection.
I entreat you to gaze with favourable eye, at the heartfelt affection with which this offering is made.
Fom this day onward, I place myself under your holy patronage. Please grant me assistance throughout all my life, and procure for me from the Holy Throne of God the pardon of my many sins.
I ardently desire the grace to love God, Jesus our Saviour andour Mother Mary with all my heart.
Obtain for me the help necessary to arrive at my crown of glory.
Defend me always from my spiritual enemies, particularly in the last moments of my life.
Come, O Glorious Prince, to assist me in my last moments.
With your power, cast far from me into banishment that prevaricator and proud angel that you prostrated in the celestial battle.
Saint Michael, defend us in our daily battles to that we may not perish at the Last Judgement, Amen.

The Invocation of Saint Michael the Archangel ws given to us by holy Pope Leo XIII

Sunday, April 5, 2020

ENGLAND WAS REDEDICATED TO MARY AFTER CENTURIES


https://video.twimg.com/amplify_video/1245303947440644096/vid/720x720/uaT-O0YwhUHdXZSl.mp4?tag=13


ENGLAND WAS REDEDICATED TO MARY AFTER CENTURIES ON SUNDAY 29th MARCH 2020.  More than half a million people took part in the rededication of England as the Dowry of Mary. This was accomplished via livestream from England's Marian Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham. 

First Dedication
King Richard II - eighth King of the House of Plantagenet -  oversaw the first dedication of England to Our Lady in 1381 during the Peasant's Revolt. The 1381 poll tax was the spark which led to the revolt during which many were killed. The root of the conflict lay within tensions between landowners and peasants. These tensions were precipitated by the economic and demographic consequences of the bubonic plague pandemic and subsequent outbreaks of the plague.  

2020 Dedication
This year, English bishops had originally asked for gatherings in churches and cathedrals for the rededication but were constrained to change their plans due to the coronavirus pandemic. The bishops then extended the invitation to follow the rededication ceremony live at home via livestream. Pope Francis has prayed that the rededication would "inspire all to persevere in the urgent task of sharing the joy of the Gospel with the men and women of our times." (EWTNVatican video from Twitter)

We turn to Mary in our hour of need
Cardinal Vincent Nichols referred to the fact that in 1360 when Richard II was king, the country was recovering from the ravishing of the bubonic plague, which had slaughtered vast swathes of Europe. The Cardinal went on to say, "Now this virus is not of the same measure, but we still turn to Mary in our hour of need." [1] Pope Francis had blessed the new image of Our Lady of Walsingham presented by Cardinal Nichols. [1] 


History of Shrine of Walsingham 
In 1061 the holy widow Richeldis, lady of the manor at of Little Walsingham in Norfolk, prayed to Our Lady to ask how she could honour her in some special way. In answer, Mary led Richeldis in spirit to Nazareth and showed her the house in which she had first received the angel's message. 

Mary told Richeldis to take the measurements of this house and build another one like it in Walsingham. It would be a place where people would come to honour her and her Son, remembering especially the mystery of the Annunciation and Mary's joyful 'yes' to the conception of the Saviour. [2] Walsingham thereafter became a place of pilgrimage for England, one built by one of their own countrywomen. 

After some time Augustinian canons took over the care of the holy house and enshrined it in a special chapel within a larger church. Pilgrims came from England and abroad to seek peace in prayer at the Shrine. Walsingham ranked with Jerusalem, Rome and Compostella in importance as a pilgrimage destination  In 1538 the Walsingham Shrine was destroyed. In 1896 Charlotte Boyd bought the Slipper Chapel, restored it to its former beauty and pilgrims began to return to Walsingham.  



[1] Cardinal Nichols on the rededication of England as Mary's Dowry, Alleged News

[2] The Story of Walsingham

Search Results

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With thanks to EWTNVatican, vaticannews.va, walsinghamcommunity.org and youtube

POPE FRANCIS: THE PASSION AND THE PANDEMIC



POPE FRANCIS: THE PASSION AND THE PANDEMIC

With thanks to youtube

HOLY WEEK MESSAGE FROM POPE FRANCIS




HOLY WEEK MESSAGE FROM POPE FRANCIS

With thanks to youtube

THE TRAGEDY OF ABORTION

The Massacre of the Innocents

CARDINAL ROBERT SARAH SAID ABORTION IS THE GREATEST TRAGEDY OF OUR TIME AND THE PRO-LIFE CAUSE IS PART OF THE FINAL BATTLE ... BETWEEN GOD AND SATAN, ALLEGED NEWS.
 [1]

"The most striking objective sign indicating that we are going into the abyss, a bottomless pit, is the tragic force of the rejection of life," the Cardinal said during a March 25, 2017 lecture in France: Alleged News. [1] That day, on which the conception of Christ in the womb of the Virgin Mary is celebrated, also marks the International Day of the Unborn Child; Alleged News. [1]

Anesthetized
Cardinal Sarah said killing a preborn child is made all the more tragic by the fact that many people no longer view it as a crime, since they have been anesthetized to its horror by "financial and media powers",  Alleged News. [1]

"It is really horrible, criminal, and sacrilegious," he said, speaking of preborn children who are specifically targeted for abortion because of a deficit, Alleged News. [1]

The Cardinal, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship at the time of his speech, made his remarks at a Parisian event commemorating the 23rd anniversay of the death of the Servant of God Professor Jerome Lejeune, Alleged News. [1]

Father of genetics
Professor Lejeune was a Catholic French geneticist who in 1958 discovered the link between chromosomal abnormalities and disease, Alleged News. [1] He is known as the father of modern genetics. Professor Lejeune's public opposition to allowing his discovery to be used to target preborn children with Down's Syndrome for abortion cost him a Nobel Prize: Alleged News. [1] Due to his commitment to life as well as his deep faith, Pope John Paul II appointed him first president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Alleged News. [1] Professor Lejeune's cause for sainthood was opened in 2007, Alleged News. [1]

Child of Bethlehem
Cardinal Sarah quoted a warning Professor Lejeune once made to leaders of Christian countries who thought their countries could accept abortion while remaining Christian, Alleged News. [1] "If one really wants to attack the Son of man, Jesus Christ, there is only one way: to attack the sons of men. Christianity is the only religion that says: "Your model is a child," the child of Bethlehem. When you have been taught to despise the child, there will be no Christianity in this country," quoted the Cardinal of Professor Lejeune: Alleged News. [1] 

The tiny embryo
Cardinal Sarah pointed out how the battle rages against even the smallest of human beings, the tiny embryo, an innocent and defenceless human life, that he said must be protected if civilization is not to revert to "barbarism," Alleged News. [1]

Loss of the sacred respect of human life, said the Cardinal, together with advances in the science of genetics, has led man to the false notion that he is now the master of life who can manipulate it as he pleases, Alleged News. [1]  This has led to the terrifying theory of transhumanism, said Cardinal Sarah, which proposes an augmented humanity through the "triumph of eugenics and the selection of the best genetic capital among all beings in order to created the ideal superman," Alleged News. [1]

Cardinal Sarah encouraged pro-life and pro-family organizations never to lose sight of the sacredness of life and the respect it deserves, Alleged News. [1] "Indeed, in the life of every human person, even the weakest and most wounded, the image of God shines and manifests itself in all its fullness with the coming and the Incarnation of Jesus, the Son of the Saviour God," the Cardinal said; Alleged News. [1]

[1] Cardinal Sarah: Fight against abortion is 'part of the final battle...between God and satan'; Alleged News

With thanks to lifesitnews.com

DONUM VITAE AND DIGNITAS PERSONAE



DONUM VITAE AND DIGNITAS PERSONAE

INSTRUCTION ON RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE IN ITS ORIGIN AND ON THE DIGNITY OF PROCREATION
REPLIES TO CERTAIN QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Donum Vitae was issed on February 22, 1987, by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It addresses biomedical issues.
The content is addressed to all married couples, as well as pharmacists, doctors, ethicists, theologians, politicians and industrialists. 
The doctrine specifically indicates that the Church is opposed to in vitro fertilization (IFV).

In 2008 the instruction Dignitas Personae was released as a supplement to address newer bioethical issues and technologices.

To access Donum Vitae, click in the following link:

To access Dignitas Personae, click in the following link:

With thanks to Vatican.va

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

CALL TO ALL PRIESTS DURING CORONAVIRUS

Jesus Christ, Light of the world

AS PRIESTS CONTINUE IN LOCKDOWN, 
WHAT CAN WE DO?

1. Celebrate the Eucharist for those suffering from Coronavirus, for the repose of the soul of those who have died, offer prayer for carers, families and friends
2. Pray to Almighty God for an end to this heavy cross which weighs over the world
3. Minister through social media. Many sufferers and those affected by Coronavirus are reaching out for pastoral help. Ministry is possible through platforms such as Twitter and blog posts
4. Offer podcasts, blog posts, prayer chapels through your church's social media
5. If you do not have an online church, why not start one now. It's very easy. Enrol on a blogging platform, give your church a name, and begin ministry
6. How can you minister? Each priest has a unique ministry. Come before the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer, and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. You will receive your personal guidace. Remember, too, that the guidance you receive during one chapter of your life may not be the same guidance you receive during another chapter of your life. Holiness as a priest entails being able to listen, and follow, the guidance of the Holy Spirit
7. Prayer: Pray before the Blessed Sacrament. Or pray through online prayer chapels. Pray the Rosary. Pray through all-night prayer vigils, if you health, strength and circumstances allow this. Or pray a Holy Hour
8. Be gentle and non-judgemental in your ministry. We are called to be the signpost leading towards God, the all-merciful and loving as well as just. Let us be worthy of this call
9. Herewith please find a list of ministry resource materials from Good Shepherd Church which may prove an inspiration to you as you minister within lockdown. These resources may be used and shared free for this worthy purpose:

9.1 Download your free book "Practical Handbook for the priest" at the following link;

9.2 Coronavirus Anointing of the Sick service if you are ill or caring for the seriously ill

9.3 Coronavirus Prayer of the Rosary service

9.4 Coronavirus Prayer Vigil

9.5 The Great Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

9.6 Prayer of the Rosary with Pope Francis; prayer for an end to the Coronavirus

9.7 Prayer in Time of Sickness

9.8 His Holiness Pope Francis gives Urbi et Orbi Blessing during Coronavirus

9.9 Light a Prayer Candle service

9.10 Explanation of the Sacraments of the Church: download your free copy of "The Seven Sacraments", a resource book

9.11 Download free Care Ministry Training Manual, a free pastoral resource book. Keep in mind current lockdown restrictions when reading this book

9.12 Celebrate Eucharist online chapel - spiritual communion


FOR THOSE WHO FEEL THE CALL TO BECOME A PRIEST AT THIS TIME OF TRIAL, ORDINATION FOR FREE AND FOR LIFE MAY BE ACCESSED AT THE FOLLOWING LINK:

With thanks to ulcseminary.org