Consecration to two Hearts, Jesus and Mary

The Hearts of Jesus and Mary

The image of the two hearts speaks to us of their infinite love toward people, toward each parish, each family, and each individual. When we speak of Jesus' and Mary's hearts we think of Jesus and Mary under the aspect of the richness of their inner lives, especially of their love for the Father and all people. Mankind today needs God's goodness, love and mercy more than ever. We share in this in consecration to Jesus' and Mary's hearts and in living out this consecration.

Their love towards sinful mankind reveals itself from the time of Jesus' birth in the stable of Bethlehem to his death on the cross on Golgotha. Their love is so wonderful especially because it is a love that has experienced crucifixion.

In the acknowledgement of their love, Jesus and Mary want to lead us to selfless love of God and our neighbor which is the core of holiness to which we are called. Because they love us they want to save mankind that has gone astray. The messages of Fatima also speak about this. It is necessary for us to believe in their love and trust them in order to commit ourselves to them totally. They will renew our hearts so that we will begin to think, speak, work and love as they do.

Jesus assured Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque that tepid Christians who would consecrate themselves to the heart of Jesus would become fervent, and the fervent ones would rise quickly to great perfection.

With consecration to Mary, we commit ourselves to Jesus: our souls and bodies, our spiritual progress, our prayers, sacrifices, good deeds, hidden spiritual struggles, our state of health, our families, acquaintances and friends, our profession and all our material goods.

A new life starts in us, formed after the hearts of Jesus and Mary. When we consecrate ourselves to the hearts of Jesus and Mary consciously, they too give themselves to us in a new way. It's a covenant of two loves. When we commit ourselves to Jesus and Mary we become their property. They will take care of us as their property. All for Jesus through Mary!

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us and for all the names we receive through this prayer ministry.

40 Days to New Life

 

We are in the special season of Lent. The word Lent comes from the “lengthening” of daylight hours as we progress from the darkness of winter to the new light of spring.  It is the season of the forty days.

 It is forty weeks that a woman carries her developing baby before a new life can come forth from the womb.  We do penance for forty days because Jesus fasted forty days in the wilderness. Noah built the Ark and watched the rain fall for 40 days and forty nights. Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and received the 10 commandments. The Israelites wandered around the desert for 40 years.  All these “forties” are a necessary prelude for something new. In Noah’s case, it’s the rebirth of a sinful world that had been cleansed by raging flood waters. In Moses’ case, it was the birth of the people of the covenant. For the nomadic Israelites, it was the start of a new, settled existence in the Promised land. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness so that we could be liberated from sin, reconciled to God.

Our battle is not against flesh and blood, says Saint Paul. Fasting breaks undue attachments to material blessings and stimulates our spiritual appetite. Humble service breaks the stranglehold of pride. Reverent worship leads us to authentic faith. The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit, the secret weapon that slashes through the enemy’s lies.

Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones and also for me, that speech may be given me to open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains, so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.
Ephesians 6:11-20

Let us use our forty days as a time to break the strongholds through prayer, fasting and humble service. Let us make little sacrifices each day for all the names we have received and all the names we will receive through this baby prayer ministry Let us seek the heavenly bread of the Eucharist and the Word of God. In this way, we enter into greater freedom. Darkness gives way to increasing light. Something new and wonderful can be born in us.

"Behold, I make all things new." Then he said, "Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true." He said to me, "They are accomplished. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water.  Revelation 21:5-6

30 Day Novena to Saint Joseph

The Feast Day of Saint Joseph is March 19th. If you begin this 30 Days of Prayer tomorrow, this novena will end on Saint Joseph's Feast Day. This is a powerful novena. Ask Saint Joseph to intercede for your intentions.

Thirty Days Prayer to St. Joseph
In honor of the 30 years he spent with Jesus and Mary

Ever blessed and glorious Joseph, kind and loving father, and helpful friend of all in sorrow! You are the good father and protector of orphans, the defender of the defenseless, the patron of those in need and sorrow. Look kindly on my request. My sins have drawn down on me the just displeasure of my God, and so I am surrounded with unhappiness. To you, loving guardian of the Family of Nazareth, do I go for help and protection.

Listen, then, I beg you, with fatherly concern, to my earnest prayers, and obtain for me the favors I ask.

I ask it by the infinite mercy of the eternal Son of God, which moved Him to take our nature and to be born into this world of sorrow.

I ask it by the weariness and suffering you endured when you found no shelter at the inn of Bethlehem for the holy Virgin, nor a house where the Son of God could be born. Then, being everywhere refused, you had to allow the Queen of Heaven to give birth to the world's Redeemer in a cave.

I ask it by the loveliness and power of that sacred Name, Jesus, which you conferred on the adorable Infant.

I ask it by that painful torture you felt at the prophecy of holy Simeon, which declared the Child Jesus and His holy Mother future victims of our sins and of their great love for us.

I ask it through your sorrow and pain of soul when the angel declared to you that the life of the Child Jesus was sought by His enemies. From their evil plan you had to flee with Him and His Blessed Mother to Egypt. I ask it by all the suffering, weariness, and labors of that long and dangerous journey.

I ask it by all your care to protect the Sacred Child and His Immaculate Mother during your second journey, when you were ordered to return to your own country. I ask it by your peaceful life in Nazareth where you met with so many joys and sorrows.

I ask it by your great distress when the adorable Child was lost to you and His Mother for three days. I ask it by your joy at finding Him in the Temple, and by the comfort you found at Nazareth, while living in the company of the Child Jesus. I ask it by the wonderful submission He showed in His obedience to you.

I ask it by the perfect love and conformity you showed in accepting the Divine order to depart from this life, and from the company of Jesus and Mary. I ask it by the joy which filled your soul, when the Redeemer of the world, triumphant over death and hell, entered into the possession of His kingdom and led you into it with special honors.

I ask it through Mary's glorious Assumption, and through that endless happiness you have with her in the presence of God. O good father! I beg you, by all your sufferings, sorrows, and joys, to hear me and obtain for me what I ask: (Here name your petitions or think of them.)

Obtain for all those who have asked my prayers everything that is useful to them in the plan of God. Finally, my dear patron and father, be with me and all who are dear to me in our last moments, that we may eternally sing the praises of:

JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH
"A blameless life, St. Joseph, may we lead, by your kind patronage from danger freed."

On Earth as it is in Heaven

As we enter into the season of Lent, let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and listen to his teachings, always remembering that He made us for eternal life with Him.



Matthew 6:1-21 Jesus teaches us about almsgiving, prayer and fasting.

Teaching about Almsgiving
Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

Teaching about Prayer
When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

The Lord’s Prayer

This is how you are to pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one. If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.

Teaching about Fasting
When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.

Treasure in Heaven
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.

Song of Songs 8:6,7
"Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm. Many waters cannot quench love nor will rivers overflow it."

Blessed Mother Mary, we ask you to keep us as a seal in your Immaculate Heart and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Help us to love as you love. Protect all those for whom we pray through this ministry dedicated to you. Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.

54 Day Rosary Novena

A Miraculous Devotion

Church history reveals to us that on March 3, 1884, Our Lady of Pompeii appeared before the gravely ill daughter of an Italian military officer. Through her, Our Lady gave the world the miraculous devotion of the 54 days Rosary Novena. For over a year, Fortuna Agrelli had been in great distress even near death. Her illness was so serious, it was considered hopeless by her physicians. In desperation, on February 16th, the afflicted girl and her family began a novena of Rosaries. One evening two weeks later, the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared to Fortuna. Sitting upon a high throne, surrounded by luminous figures, Our Lady was holding the Divine Child on her lap and a Rosary in her hand. Both were arrayed in golden garments and were accompanied by Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine of Siena.

Our Lady said, "Child, your faith has pleased me. Whoever desires to obtain favours from me should make three Novenas of the prayers of the Rosary, and three Novenas in thanksgiving."

Obedient to Our Lady's invitation, Fortuna and her family completed the six novenas. The young girl was restored to perfect health and her family was showered with many blessings.

The Devotion of the Miraculous Rosary Novena

To complete one Novena, pray the Rosary for nine days. Three Novenas of nine days of Petition. Then, three more Novenas must be said in Thanksgiving. In total, there must be 27 days of Rosary prayers of Petition and 27 days of Rosary prayers in Thanksgiving. This makes a total of 54 days.

Whether the Prayer Petition has been answered or not after the first 27 days, pray the rosary for 27 days in Thanksgiving.

When praying this novena, follow the day-to-day meditations in accordance with the guideline followed in the Catholic Church for the Joyful Mysteries, the Sorrowful Mysteries, the Glorious Mysteries and the Luminous Mysteries.

Our Lady of the Rosary, we entrust this ministry and all the intentions we receive to you.

Made in the Image of God

Genesis 1:26-31 Then God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground." God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them, saying: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth." God also said: "See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food." And so it happened. God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed, the sixth day.



Prayer to Our Blessed Mother Mary for assistance in the Spiritual Battle From a book of prayers called "The Lion Roars, Prayers for the Remnant" written by Dave VanVickle.
"O Mary, conceived without sin! O Woman clothed with the Sun! Come now and intercede for us in this battle against evil. You who are despised and feared by the father of lies, help us powerfully. You whose beauty is so bright, so pure that devils tremble in fear, help us powerfully. You who strike at the head of the old serpent, the devil, help us powerfully. O Mary whose name is so sweet, come and cover us with your protective mantle and protect us in this battle with evil. O humble Woman, vanquish the evil one. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."