Fifth Day of the Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes

Please join me in this novena asking for Our Lady's intercession. Today is the Fifth day of this Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes. Please join me in praying this novena even if you have not started yet. Is anyone praying along with me in this novena?

Novena (Feb 2-10):

O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfort to the Afflicted,you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy.

By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal.I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession.

Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests.Through gratitude for favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory.Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Amen.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.)

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The Five Types of Prayer

Preface: For a listing of hundreds of prayers with indulgences and special blessings attached to them, be sure to refer to a copy of the Raccolta often.  Click here to order one.





Adoration – In adoration we adore God as we rightfully should.  God is our Creator and Lord and by His divinity, He is worthy of praise and honor.  The angels who are before God’s throne unceasingly praise Him for His perfection and majesty.  If only we would devote a small fraction of our day to adoring Our God!

Contrition – As sinful creatures, we offend our Lord when we break His divine Law.  The be God’s friend and be in the state of grace, it is necessary to observe His Law – the Commandments.  Our Lord has said, “If you love me, keep My Commandments.”  We should regularly pray in reparation for our sins.  While only Sacramental confession can wash away the guilt of sin and restore us to God’s friendship, works of charity, indulgences, and prayers can make restitution to Divine Justice and pay the debt of our sins – thus saving us from prolonged trials in purgatory after death. If you do not, you should pray the Act of Contrition every single night before bed.  Start doing so tonight!

Thanksgiving - Giving God the thanks He deserves. We were created and redeemed by Him yet He continues to bless us and love us. God is deserving of all respect, yet this type of prayer is the least common one. What would happen if you one day you couldn't give thanks to God? What would happen if you suffered from a horrible condition and could no longer give God thanks? Remember to thank Your One God for His unexplainable love and blessings. The greatest expression of thanksgiving should be after one receives the Eucharist.

Petition - This is probably the most common type of prayer. We bring our requests before God for ourselves, our family, or our friends. At Mass petitions are read, but petitions can be said anytime or anywhere. Prayer doesn't have to be limited to one place. Some people do not believe in attending the Holy Mass. They say, "God is everywhere". Yes, but He is everywhere in different ways. God is truly present in the Eucharist - the most real presence of Our Lord on this earth. While we can pray anywhere the greatest prayers are those before the Eucharist, where the veil between Heaven and earth is at its thinnest.



The above are the four kinds of prayer known as the ACTS.  There is also a fifth sometimes considered called: 

Supplication (known also as intercession) - These prayers are very similar to those of petition, but there is a distinct difference. In prayers of intercession we are asking praying for others. These are the one type of prayer that includes the saints. We can ask these servants of God already in Heaven to pray for us just as we ask our friends on earth to pray for

We also need to be aware of a few other kinds of prayer:

Persevering Prayer - These are the prayers for the deepest intentions of our heart. If we pray night and day for this intention then this is persevering prayer. Job persevered in his prayers as illustrated in the Old Testament. I will go as far to say that all persevering prayers are answered as our Lord said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7)

Meditative prayer - This is the simplest of prayers. In these we don't say anything. We simply meditate on God's love and mercy. These prayers are very common in those quiet moments of Eucharistic Adoration. Just being one with Our Lord is the greatest gift.

Note: This post is sponsored by CatechismClass.com and specifically is featured in their course: Prayer and Spirituality. 

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Memorial of St. Paul Miki

Memorial (1969 Calendar): February 6

Today is the Memorial of St. Paul Miki and Companions, martyrs. These saints were murdered for their faith in Christ.

St. Paul Miki (1562-1597) was a Jesuit and felt a calling to religious life. He was converted to Christianity by St. Francis Xavier, and St. Paul Miki preached the Gospel throughout Japan and for that he was condemned to death. He, along with his companions, were marched 600 miles so they could be abused along the way. The entire time, the saints sung the Te Deum, one of my favorite prayers.

His preaching lead to many converting to Christianity. His last sermon was from the Cross he was crucified on. Here is an account of his martyrdom:

The crosses were set in place. Father Pasio and Father Rodriguez took turns encouraging the victims. Their steadfast behaviour was wonderful to see. The Father Bursar stood motionless, his eyes turned heavenward. Brother Martin gave thanks to God’s goodness by singing psalms. Again and again he repeated: “Into your hands, Lord, I entrust my life”. Brother Francis Branco also thanked God in a loud voice. Brother Gonsalvo in a very loud voice kept saying the Our Father and Hail Mary.

Our brother, Paul Miki, saw himself standing now in the noblest pulpit he had ever filled. To his “congregation” he began by proclaiming himself a Japanese and a Jesuit. He was dying for the Gospel he preached. He gave thanks to God for this wonderful blessing and he ended his “sermon” with these words: “As I come to this supreme moment of my life, I am sure none of you would suppose I want to deceive you. And so I tell you plainly: there is no way to be saved except the Christian way. My religion teaches me to pardon my enemies and all who have offended me. I do gladly pardon the Emperor and all who have sought my death. I beg them to seek baptism and be Christians themselves”.

Then he looked at his comrades and began to encourage them in their final struggle. Joy glowed in all their faces, and in Louis’ most of all. When a Christian in the crowd cried out to him that he would soon be in heaven, his hands, his whole body strained upward with such joy that every eye was fixed on him.

Anthony, hanging at Louis’ side, looked toward heaven and called upon the holy names – “Jesus, Mary!” He began to sing a psalm: “Praise the Lord, you children!” (He learned it in catechism class in Nagasaki. They take care there to teach the children some psalms to help them learn their catechism).

Others kept repeating “Jesus, Mary!” Their faces were serene. Some of them even took to urging the people standing by to live worthy Christian lives. In these and other ways they showed their readiness to die.

Then, according to Japanese custom, the four executioners began to unsheathe their spears. At this dreadful sight, all the Christians cried out, “Jesus, Mary!” And the storm of anguished weeping then rose to batter the very skies. The executioners killed them one by one. One thrust of the spear, then a second blow. It was over in a very short time.

"The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason that I die. I believe that I am telling the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ's example, I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain." - Saint Paul Miki

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To those Non-Catholic Visitors

With several non-Catholic comments, I wanted to create a welcoming post to those non-Catholics visiting and commenting on this blog. I know how different our faiths are. I know that we don't agree with many different aspects of the truth. But, we are nonetheless united in baptism and the hope of our Savior Crucified. We may be different, but let us work to love, love, and love. Through the example of the saints, may love be the foundation for all of our lives. For love makes the world go around. Our Lord Himself gives us the Cross - an instrument of torture turned into the greatest example of love. To harbor hatred and resentment for each other is to be a slave of the devil. Let us respectful debate and discuss but not hate.

For those new comments. Would you please take this poll and leave the answers in the comment box. I just wanted to know a little more about you.

1) What denomination/religion are you?
2) Were you ever Catholic or did you ever attend a Catholic Mass?
3) Please describe your faith and beliefs
4) Are you pro-life?
5) Has this blog helped you understand more about Catholicism?

Thank you and God Bless.

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On Scripture and the Eucharist

The Eucharist is truly the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Any statement that downplays this Real Presence is a lie. The Real Presence of Jesus Christ is the center of our faith. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, the Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life" (CCC 1324)

The Real Presence of Jesus was taught by Christ Himself and has been passed down through the apostles and the centuries. At the Holy Mass we take part in the Sacrifice of Christ at Calvary and receive this Sacred Food. In Eucharistic adoration we pray before the true King of Glory. The Eucharist is God! It is that beautiful.

“We should consider those moments spent before the Blessed Sacrament as the happiest of our lives.” - St. John Vianney

For a multitude of scripture passages on the Eucharist, please see the Real Presence Association.

Image Source: Images in the Public Domain. If you are interested in obtaining all of the images of this series in high resolution, please click here to visit my post to obtain them.

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Fourth Day of the Novena

Please join me in this novena asking for Our Lady's intercession. Today is the Fourth day of this Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes. Please join me in praying this novena even if you have not started yet.

Novena (Feb 2-10):

O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfort to the Afflicted,you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy.

By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal.I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession.

Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests.Through gratitude for favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory.Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Amen.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.)

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Saint for the Year Devotion Continues

I'm so overwhelmed with joy on the Saint for the Year devotion. Over 300 people have requested special patron saints for 2006. I've just posted a few more results on the results page.

If you would like a special saint to grow closer to God with this year, please just see my original post on this devotion and just ask.

Thank you!

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World Sick Day Indulgence

Pope Benedict XVI has declared a plenary indulgence for February 11th, World Sick Day. This is only his third plenary indulgence granted so far (after the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and World Youth Day).

Here is the information:

"The indulgence will be granted, under the usual conditions, to those who participate in the Mass for the World Day of the Sick, to be held this year in Adelaide, Australia, and to those who participate in a similar ceremony that day "at any other place decided by the ecclesiastical authorities." (The "usual conditions" for a plenary indulgence are sacramental Confession, Communion, prayer for the Pope's intentions, and the absence of attachment to sin.)

The indulgence is also granted to health-care personnel whose duties make it impossible for them to attend ceremonies for the World Day of the Sick, and to sick people who cannot attend the ceremonies, if they pray for the welfare of the sick on that day, and fulfill the ordinary conditions as soon as they are able. A partial indulgence is granted to anyone who prays for the sick on the days surrounding the World Day of the Sick, February 9 to 11."

(Source: Catholic World News)

If you would like general information on indulgences please see my post on Indulgences.

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Was Mary sinless? Yes!

Someone posted this comment for one of my posts:    Mary was sinful like us

This is simply a lie. Mary had to be sinless for her to become the Ark of the New Covenant, Our Lord's dwelling. If you also believe what this commenter does, please see the post of mine on the Immaculate Conception.

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Third day of the Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes

Today is the Third day of this Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes. Please join me in praying this novena even if you have not started yet.

Novena (Feb 2-10):

O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfort to the Afflicted,you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy.

By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal.I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession.

Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests.Through gratitude for favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory.Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Amen.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.)

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St. Padre Pio and Humility

Our Lord has given us the greatest image of humility – the Cross. For on that instrument of torture Our Lord offered up His life. In becoming a man, Jesus Christ made our salvation possible. As we celebrate on Christmas, Our Lord lay in a cold manager in the night. Imagine, the God of Heaven and earth willingly born in a manager for love of you!

St. Padre Pio: "I want to be only a poor friar who prays… God sees blemishes even in the angels, can you imagine what He sees in me!"

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St. Joseph of Leonissa

Today the Church remembers St. Joseph of Leonissa (1556-1612), a saint I was not too familiar with. He was born in the Kingdom of Naples and lived life by denying himself hearty meals and comfortable quarters in order to live a humble life focused on Christ’s humility and love.

In 1587, St. Joseph journeyed to Constantinople to take for the Christian slaves working for the Turkish. His work there for the Gospel lead to his imprisonment. St. Joseph was released and told never again to help the Christian slaves. And, St. Joseph went and helped them still. He was imprisoned and condemned to die when he was miraculously freed. St. Joseph journeyed to Italy and worked to heal family feuds and serve the poor.

St. Joseph of Leonissa was beatified by Clement XII in 1737 canonized in 1746 by Benedict XIV.

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First Friday of the Month

Today is the First Friday of February. Because today is the first Friday of the Month, many Catholic parishes will have special Masses today for the First Friday Devotion.

Beginning on December 27, 1673, through 1675, Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque asking her to receive Him in Holy Communion on the first Friday of every month and to meditate on His passion from 11:00 PM to 12:00 midnight each Thursday. He also revealed to her twelve promises for all who are devoted to His Sacred Heart; he asked for a Feast of the Sacred Heart to be instituted in the liturgical calendar of the Church. Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque with twelve promises for those devoted to His Most Sacred Heart.

Promises for those devoted to the Sacred Heart:

1. "I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life."
2. "I will establish peace in their homes."
3. "I will comfort them in their afflictions."
4. "I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all in death."
5. "I will bestow a large blessing upon all their undertakings."
6. "Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy."
7. "Tepid souls shall grow fervent."
8. "Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection."
9. "I will bless every place where a picture of My Heart shall be set up and honored."
10. "I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts."
11. "Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out."
12. "I promise thee in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who communicate on the First Friday in nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving the Sacraments; My Divine heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment."

Pro-life Action:

MarchTogether.com has a monthly Call for Life in which pro-lifers are urged to call their elected officials and voice their support for the dignity of life. Today, being the first Friday, is this month's Call for Life.

For more information on the First Friday Devotion, please see The Miracle of the Rosary Mission. Please remember to pray for the unborn today and make an act of reparation to Our Lord. Remember, it was on Friday that Our Lord died and all Fridays in the year are days of penance (Canon 1250 - 1253)

Prayer of Reparation:


O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore thee profoundly. I offer thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of thee the conversion of poor sinners. Amen.

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Let us Defend the Church

I noticed a huge amount of non-Catholics commenting negatively on Our Blessed Mother on the my post for the Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes. It is sad that they reject Mary, Our Mother, who Christ gave to us, His Church: "Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son. After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own" (John 19:26-27).

On one of their blogs, I was called a "Mary worshiper". How sad... Mary, pray for us sinners!

Mary is such an important part of our faith as are the saints, which these commenters challege. I however, welcome their comments. It gives me a topic to pray upon and something to write about. I ask you non-Catholics to please read some of these posts of mine and other websites below. You don't have to agree, but please be informed. I've heard too many times that "Catholics worship Mary." It's time for people to learn the truth, and I want to help spread this truth of the Catholic faith.

1. Why is Mary sinless?
2. Why is Mary called Co-Redemptrix?
3. Everything you'd like to know on praying to the saints
4. Saint Worship?

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Blessing of the Throats

With today being the Feast of St. Blase, it's time to get your throat blessed!

For centuries, it has been a tradition for Catholics to have their throats blessed on the Feast of St. Blase, the patron saint against throat ailments. It's a lovely tradition with St. Blaise, who healed a boy with a fishbone stuck in his throat. St. Blase is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

The priest takes two unlit candles and crosses them. He places one on one side of the parishioner's neck and one on the other. And, the priest says this prayer:

By the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every malady of the throat, and from every possible mishap; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. R. Amen.

Also, the priest will pray over and bless the candles prior to using them for this blessing.  The blessing he will use is this: Blessing of Candles for the Feast of St. Blase.

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Alito Votes Pro-life Already

Although he was confirmed only a few days ago, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has sided with liberals and moderates in his recent decision. This decision stopped Missouri from executing a man, and as a death-penalty opponent I'm pleased with the outcome.

For more information on this case, please see MSNBC

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Second Day of the Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes

Today is the Second day of this Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes. Please join me in praying this novena even if you have not started yet.

Novena (Feb 2-10):

O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfort to the Afflicted,you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy.

By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal.I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession.

Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests.Through gratitude for favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory.Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Amen.

(Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.)

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St. Blase, Bishop and Martyr

Simple (1955 Calendar): February 3

St. Blase's feast day is today. Many people, including myself, go to Mass today to receive a special blessing of the throats. I have always loved this devotion after I received it one year and my sore throat was healed the next morning. See also the special candle blessing given on this day.

Before the changes to the Roman Calendar in the early 1960s, the Divine Office provided this lesson on his life for our edification:

Blase, whose signal virtues made him dear to the people of Sebaste in Armenia, was chosen bishop of that city. When the emperor Diocletian waged his cruel persecution against the Christians, the saint hid himself in a cave on Mount Argeus, and there he remained some time concealed, but was at length discovered by some soldiers of the governor Agricolaus, while they were hunting. They led him to the governor, who gave orders that he should be put into prison. During his imprisonment, many sick people, attracted by the reputation of his sanctity, came to him, and he healed them. Among these was a boy, whose life was despaired of by the physicians, on account of his having swallowed a bone, which could not be extracted from his throat. The saint was twice brought before the governor, but neither fair promises nor threats could induce him to offer sacrifice to the gods. Whereupon, he was first beaten with rods, and then his flesh was torn with iron hooks while he lay stretched on the rack. At length he was beheaded, and nobly gave testimony to the faith of Christ our Lord, on the third of the Nones of February (February 3).

Prayer:

O God, Who dost gladden us by the annual feast of blessed Blase, Thy Martyr and Bishop: mercifully grant that we, who celebrate his heavenly birthday, may also rejoice in his protection. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal

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Remember to Spread the Light of Christ

On the Feast of the Purification of Our Lady.

We are also called to be these beacons of light in a world of darkness. On the EWTN Mass today, the priest called for us to be missionaries for the whole world. Right now the world is 27% Christian. He said our goal is 100%. We are all called to work to saving others souls. Your very prayers and works could save dozens for souls. This is the responsibility to each of us.

The priest said his father goes out to libraries and puts pro-life pamphlets in books on abortion. The point is this - serve Christ. Be his light and He shall give to you life, eternal life.

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First Day of the Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes

Please join me in prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes for the health of all those who suffer. Today is the first day of the Novena, but please keep praying with me for the whole nine day of this novena.

Novena (Feb 2-10):

O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfort to the Afflicted,

you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy. By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal.

I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests.
Through gratitude for favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Amen. (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be.)

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