A CALL TO PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH - THE BODY OF CHRIST - MAY WE BECOME A SPOTLESS BRIDE

 

A CALL TO PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH - THE BODY OF CHRIST - MAY WE BECOME A SPOTLESS BRIDE

 

The divisions and issues in the Church break my heart. 

The lack of proper catechism for the faithful. 

The destruction of beautiful old alters and sanctuaries. 

The restrictions of the beautiful Tridentine Mass. 

The confusion.

The forgetting of The Churches beautiful treasury of devotions.

The barely heard tones of Gregorian chant in our liturgies.

The lack of vocations. 

The continued schism from doctrine and tradition that helped form saints. 

The division. 

The waxing cold of Charity. 

The lack of faith in and reverence for The real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Sacrifice of The Mass. 

With all this, I feel such a sense of loss for my children. Yet I also feel a burden to learn and pass on as much of the faith as I can to them. As a result, I am learning so much and it is such an unbelievable blessing.

So, despite it all,  there is always Hope. 

In this sifting we are forced to confront sins of pride, self righteousness, anger and despair.

We are called to rejoice under persecution and Love of God as our all and others as ourselves: To love as He who Loved us even unto death.

We are all called to humility, meekness, steadfastness, courage and holiness.

But we can’t fulfil this call in our own strength. We can do nothing on our own. We must ask Our Lord for help. We must ask that He aid us to Love Him through His Most Sacred Heart, which is ‘meek and humble’ and in which ‘we will find rest for our souls’.

When we Love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength we will be able to Love others as ourselves. 

From His Sacred Heart came the Blood and Water. 

We can Love through His Most Sacred Heart. 

The adversary’s darts and arrows are useless against this Love, this pure Charity. This LOVE, breaks the bonds of death. 

This LOVE transfigures and resurrects.

6 Set me as a seal upon your heart,
    as a seal upon your arm,
for love is strong as death,
    jealousy is fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
    the very flame of the Lord.

Saint Alphonsus de Liguori said ‘THE whole sanctity and

perfection of a soul consists

in loving Jesus Christ,

our God, our sovereign good, and our redeemer.’

God willing, before Sunday Mass I will pray the chaplet of Saint Michael and after Sunday Mass, I will start praying the chaplet of the Sacred Heart in church, for the special intention that The Church would be united in Truth under Christ Who is The Way, The Truth and The Life and that our Love for God and one another would be kindled by the flames of His Most Sacred Heart, through The Immaculate Heart of Mary.

May we become His spotless Bride.

I invite anyone who feels called to join me.

 

You can make or purchase a Sacred Heart Chaplet and pray the following prayers:

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON,  AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN.

• Begin by reciting the Anima Christi on the crucifix:

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me,
O good Jesus, hear me,
Within Thy wounds hide me,
Separated from Thee let me never be,
From the malicious enemy defend me,
In the hour of my death call me 
and bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee 
with Thy saints Forever and ever. Amen.

On the first bead recite:

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I implore You, that I may love Thee more and more.

On the three beads recite:

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I put all my trust in You (x3)

Sacred Heart of Jesus, be my salvation.

• On each “large” bead, recite:
  “Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, make my heart like unto Thine.”
• On each “small” bead group, recite:
  “Sweet Heart of Jesus, be Thou my love!”
• After each “small” bead group of six, recite:
  “Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation!”
• At the conclusion of the Chaplet, recite:
  “O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. O Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever more. Amen.”

Carmelite Meditations for the Chaplet

1. Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem: Our Savior, meek and humble of Heart and born on an ass, entered triumphantly into the City of David as His people sang Hosanna in Excelsis.
2. Agony in the Garden: Christ began His suffering for us, to the point of sweating His Blood, out of love for sinful and disobedient humanity. There He asked His disciples to remain, pray and keep vigil with Him.
3. Road to Emmaus: Christ accompanied his disciples and interpreted the Scripture for them. Their hearts burned within them, and He revealed Himself in the breaking of the bread.
4. The Blessed Sacrament: Given to humanity in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass upon all the altars of the world, He remains reposed in the tabernacle, and exposed for Eucharistic Adoration, where He is present – Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity.
5. In His Sacred Heart: Given to St. Margaret Mary, His Heart represents the Hypostatic Union with our nature, the interior life of His soul, and His affection and burning love for each of us, desiring a fervent love for Him in the Blessed Sacrament.

HERE IS A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER OF REPARATION TO THE SACRED HEART THAT COULD BE PRAYED AS WELL.

It is altogether impossible to enumerate the heavenly gifts which devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has poured out on the souls of the faithful, purifying them, offering them heavenly strength, rousing them to the attainment of all virtues. – Ven. Pius XII

Do not let the past disturb you, just leave everything in the Sacred Heart and begin again with joy. – St. Teresa of Calcutta

::

I need a heart burning with tenderness

Who will be my support forever,

Who loves everything within me, even my weakness...

And who never leaves me day or night.

I could find no creature

Who could always love me and never die.

I must have a God who takes on my nature

And becomes my brother and is able to suffer!

You heard me, only Friend whom I love.

To ravish my heart, you became man.

You shed your blood, what a supreme mystery!

And you still love for me on the Altar.

If I cannot see the brilliance of your Face

Or hear your sweet voice,

O my God, I can live by your Grace,

I can rest on your Sacred Heart!

Saint Therese of Lisieux