Our Lady holding Jesus as He accepts flowers from the shepherd child

Our Lady holding Jesus as He accepts flowers from the shepherd child

Welcome to our intercessory prayer ministry for families, babies, little ones and those who love them.

In our prayers for families, we pray for the sanctity of all life and for vocations to marriage, the priesthood and consecrated life, which are born and nurtured in families.

The
Prayer of Entrustment to Mary was prayed for this ministry at the icon of the Madonna Salus Populi Romani (Salvation of the Roman People, Our Lady of Good Health) in the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of Mary Major) in Rome, Italy, in Nossa Senhora do Rosario da Fatima (Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary) in Fatima, Portugal, in Eglise du Sacre-Coeur (Sacred Heart Parish Church), the site of St. Bernadette's baptismal font, in Lourdes, France and at The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts at the Shrine of the Holy Innocents before Our Lady of Guadalupe and at Basilica Papale de San Pietro in Vaticano (St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City) at the Tomb of St. John Paul II in Rome, Italy and at the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe) in Mexico City, Mexico.

This ministry is consecrated to Jesus Christ, Wisdom Incarnate, through the hands of Mary and dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. In our prayers to Mary, we honor and worship her Son Jesus. When He was on the Cross, He gave His Mother to John and she became our Mother as well. "Behold, your Mother." John 19:27

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
For the greater glory of God

June 27, 2015

FAMILY DIVINE MERCY

ACT OF CONSECRATION OF THE FAMILY TO THE DIVINE MERCY

O Jesus, you showed us Your infinite compassionate love by exhausting the very last drop of blood and water from Your body. From this day forward, with full confidence, we entrust our families to Your Divine Mercy. We abandon our past, our present and our future. We place into Your wounds all our wounds which are caused by lack of love, understanding and trust. Jesus, expel Satan and all evil from our families, free us from the consequence of sin and protect us from further harm. Heal our wounds. May our families learn to venerate Your Divine Image that they will never perish but experience Your loving mercy. Amen.  Imprimatur + John J. Myers D.D. J.C.D. Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey 07/12/2013 SMA Fathers, Dedham, Massachusetts USA

June 25, 2015

Reflection: The Memorare...

Saint Bernard wrote about the great spiritual advantage of true devotion to our Blessed Mother in a wonderful prayer, "Look to the star of the sea, call upon Mary… in danger, in distress, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. May her name never be far from your lips, or far from your heart … If you follow her, you will not stray; if you pray to her, you will not despair; if you turn your thoughts to her, you will not err. If she holds you, you will not fall; if she protects you, you need not fear; if she is your guide, you will not tire; if she is gracious to you, you will surely reach your destination."

Our Mother Mary understands the sufferings and hurts in our hearts. Let us bring them to her and ask for her intercession to her Beloved Son Jesus. Her heart was pierced when she heard Simeon's words, as she held her precious baby. She did not understand, but she kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Let us look to Mary and bring to her our sufferings and those for whom we pray by praying the Memorare.

Mary was petitioned as "Mother of God" at least by the 3rd Century, in the Sub Tuum prayer:  This prayer, known in Latin as "Sub tuum Praesidium" was first found in a Greek papyrus, c. 300, and is the oldest known prayer to the Virgin:

We turn to you for protection, Holy Mother of God. Listen to our prayers and help us in all our needs. Save us from every danger, glorious and blessed Virgin.

The "Memorare" is a sixteenth-century version of a fifteenth-century prayer that began "Ad sanctitatis tuae pedes, dulcissima Virgo Maria." Claude Bernard (1588-1641) popularized the idea that the "Memorare" was written by Saint Bernard.

The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions but in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen. 

On earth, the Blessed Virgin Mary offered her life in obedient service which is true worship of God. In heaven, she leads the song of eternal praise which rises like incense before the throne of God.  Let us imitate Mary and ponder everything in our heart.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

June 21, 2015

Reflection: The Hand of God...

Touch of the Master’s Hand

​T'was battered and scarred and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while t​o waste much time on the old violin, but held it up with a smile. "What am I bidden, good folks," he cried, "Who’ll start the bidding for me?"  "A dollar, a dollar," then, two! Only two?  "Two dollars, and who’ll make it three? "Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice; Going for three . . . "But no, from the room, far back, a grey haired man came forward and picked up the bow; t​hen, wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, 

He played a melody pure and sweet as a caroling angel sings.

​The music ceased and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low, s​aid: "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow. "A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two? Two thousand! And who’ll make it three? Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice; and going and gone," said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not quite understand what changed its worth?" Swift came the reply: "The touch of a master’s hand." And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin, is​ auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin. A "mess of ​potage," a glass of wine; ​a​ game, and he travels on. He is "going" once and "going" twice. He’s "going" and almost "gone." But the Master comes and the foolish crowd ​n​ever quite understands ​t​he worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought ​b​y the touch of the Master’s hand.  Myra Welsh


Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:7,16

One day, I witnessed an exchange between a little girl and an elderly woman. The woman had curly grey hair and she bent over to say hello to the child. With both hands outstretched, the little girl reached up and touched the woman's soft grey curls and said, "I love your hair!" The woman's heart melted.  It may have been a long time since anyone complimented her on her hair. "God is love" and this is the loving exchange that happened between the little girl and the elderly woman. Another time, this little girl came to Eucharistic Adoration. It was the Hour of Divine Mercy and the chapel was filled with people singing the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The little girl knelt on the kneeler before Jesus in the Eucharist, her arms reaching up, as she sang, "For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world." Watching her sing with all her heart, the hearts of those in the chapel that day melted with the pure love and joy the little girl expressed.  

The hands of the little girl were an expression of love when she touched the woman's hair and when she reached up praising Jesus, singing the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Love came from her little heart and love spread to those she encountered. 

Love came from the hands of the grey haired man when he picked up the bow of the violin, tightened the strings and "played a melody pure and sweet as a caroling angel sings."  Love came through his hands and made a the beautiful melody. The crowd at the auction suddenly saw the worth of the old violin by the beautiful melody it produced.  "The touch of a master’s hand...And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin, is​ auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin."    

Today we honor fathers. God is our Papa. God looks at you with pure love and He is delights in you. If you have turned away from the Lord and become "battered and marred by sin," turn back to Him. He is waiting for you with outstretched arms. Run to Confession. It is there, you will experience the love and mercy of Jesus. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, you will receive the "Touch of the Master's hand. He will restore you and heal you. Come...let the Hand of God touch you...He is waiting for you...and He will welcome you with outstretched arms into His loving embrace...This is your invitation...Come to the Father and let Him place His hand upon you...

O Lord, our Lord, how awesome is Your Name through all the earth! I will sing of Your majesty above the heavens with the mouths of babes and infants.  Psalm 8:2

June 13, 2015

Reflection: Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Two Holy Hearts...

Prayer of Consecration to “Two Hearts”
Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I consecrate my entire self to the Most Holy Love of Your Two Hearts. I wish to make reparation for all the sins of the world including my own. I offer these things for the love of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

I will keep my mind on beauty and turn my thoughts from evil things. I will hold my temper and bear the mistakes of others with love and a forgiving heart. I will admit when I am wrong and ask others to forgive me. I will not show off but remain humble. I will offer up all my sufferings, sickness and hurts. I will seek God’s will not my own. I will show appreciation for all the kindness, the blessings that I receive, and thank God for all things. I will do everything in my life for love of God. And I will love others as God has loved me.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, receive the offering and consecration I now make of my self to You. Keep me faithful unto death. Bring me one day to the happy home in heaven. I desire to live forever with God the Father and the Most Holy Spirit and You my Jesus together with your Most Immaculate Mother Amen.

Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

"Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart." Luke 2:19

It was the Heart of Mary which expressed her "yes" to God. This was her response to the message sent through the angel at the Annunciation. By her loving consent, Mary first conceived Christ in her heart and then in her womb.

"Jesus wishes to use you in order to make me known and loved. He wishes to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world. I promise salvation to those who embrace it; and these souls will be beloved of God like flowers arranged by me to adorn His throne." Our Lady of Fatima

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus


"One of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a lance, and at once there flowed out blood and water." John 19:34

The Heart of Jesus is pure love. The revelation of the Heart of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque showed the mark of the piercing and the purifying flame of love with the cross within it, which crowns the Divine Heart. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is surrounded by the crown of thorns to signify the entire Passion by which He poured out His life for us.

The heart of a precious baby


This prayer ministry began praying for an unborn baby, Lily Grace. Before she was born, doctors discovered she would need heart surgery. So many prayers were offered for her during the pregnancy and after her birth. The heart surgery was performed when she was three months old and she weighed about five pounds. She was born with only two chambers in her heart. Four chambers are needed in a human heart. Doctors placed a little plastic wall between each chamber, creating four chambers out of two. They literally created a new heart in her. These doctors are truly the Hands of God, performing such miraculous surgery on the heart of such a tiny baby.

The human heart was created "to know love" and "to live by love." This is a love that gives life. Of all creation, only the human heart can love. We can love because we are "of God" and we can freely choose to live according to our dignity in the image and likeness of God.

"In this is love. 1 John 4:10

When we love, our heart expands and we become more like God.  When we pray, the Lord draws us close to His Sacred Heart.  The story of Saint Philip Neri is a love story.  As a young layman in Rome, Philip spent his days visiting the sick in the hospitals, teaching children catechism, serving men and women who had come to Rome on pilgrimage promoting the Forty Hour Devotion in the churches of the city. He spent his nights praying deep down in the catacombs of Saint Sebastian. During one of these prayer vigils, Philip experienced a personal Pentecost. He saw the Holy Spirit coming toward him as fire, a fire that found its way into his heart. This experience led Philip to a priestly vocation.  He had a profound love for the Eucharist and for the Mother of God and a deep, interior life of contemplation.  Every day, he prayed for hours and he held his spiritual children in his heart.

What happens to us when we pray for others?  God expands our hearts to love and to be aware of the needs of others.  In this way, our prayers are no longer about ourselves or what we think we need. Our prayers make our heart expand with love so that the needs of others are more prominent in our mind than our own needs.  

Let us consecrate ourselves and all the names we receive through this prayer ministry to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

June 12, 2015

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - World Day for Priests

Today is the Feast Day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

First Friday devotions in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: 
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Act of Reparation, The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, The Sacrament of Reconciliation 

Today is World Day for Priests and the World Rosary Relay for Priests. Saint Pope John Paul II established the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

Promises of the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus given by Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque: 
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."


Saint Thérèse, the Little Flower, Prayer for Priests

‘O Holy Father, may the torrents of love flowing from the sacred wounds of Thy Divine Son bring forth priests like unto the beloved disciple John who stood at the foot of the Cross; priests: who as a pledge of Thine own most tender love will lovingly give Thy Divine Son to the souls of men.

May Thy priests be faithful guardians of Thy Church, as John was of Mary, whom he received into his house. Taught by this loving Mother who suffered so much on Calvary, may they display a mother’s care and thoughtfulness towards Thy children. May they teach souls to enter into close union with Thee through Mary who, as the Gate of Heaven, is specially the guardian of the treasures of Thy Divine Heart.

Give us priests who are on fire, and who are true children of Mary, priests who will give Jesus to souls with the same tenderness and care with which Mary carried the Little Child of Bethlehem.

Mother of sorrows and of love, out of compassion for Thy beloved Son, open in our hearts deep wells of love, so that we may console Him and give Him a generation of priests formed in thy school and having all the tender thoughtfulness of thine own spotless love.’

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.  Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for and protect our beloved priests.

June 10, 2015

Reflection: A Child's Prayer...

Now the Word of the Lord came to me saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I consecrated you; a prophet to the nations I appointed you. Jeremiah 1:5

Jesus has a plan for you.  He calls you to come to Him as you are, come before Him with all of your problems and worries. Come messy, come with stumbling words. It does not matter if you get prayer right, what matters is that you come before Him without any pretense and ask for His guidance and help. Trust less in yourself and trust more in Him.

On many occasions, Jesus told His disciples to become like little children. Imagine what these grown men must have thought when Jesus told them that they needed to become like little children. The disciples seemed to have struggled with this teaching of Jesus as we see many instances of Jesus telling them this over and over again throughout the Gospels.  Jesus then took a little child and had the child stand among them. Jesus took the child in His arms and told the disciples that unless they become like children they will never enter the Kingdom of heaven.

Ask Jesus to help you be like a little child. Let Him take you by the hand and open your heart to Him. Tell Him your pain, hurts, worries, fears and struggles and thank Him for all He has done for you. Ask Jesus to hold you now and let Him love you...

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:1-4

Recently I was driving in the car listening to music with a little five year old. She asked for her favorite song, All in All. It was beautiful to listen as she sang the words with all her heart:

You are my strength when I am weak; You are the treasure that I seek; You are my All in All. When I fall down, You pick me up; when I am dry, You fill my cup; You are my All in All. Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is Your Name. Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is Your Name.

Heavenly Father, we ask You to bless all the families for whom we pray. Teach us to pray and sing like little children. We thank You for the gift of Your Son Jesus, for the Holy Spirit and for Our Blessed Mother Mary.


June 07, 2015

Corpus Christi: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

Today is the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. It is a time of thanksgiving and adoration for the gift of the Holy Eucharist. It is also a time when our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and carried in procession in a public way, bringing Jesus outside the Church to the rest of the world.  The Real Presence of Jesus is a powerful encounter.

Corpus Christi Procession. We have received the Bread of Heaven. Let us choose to become what we consume. These Feasts are not just rituals on a Church calendar. They are actually invitations to encounter the Lord Jesus Christ, and be changed in the encounter. On this Feast of Corpus Christi, let us ask the Lord to come and take up residence within us anew. Then, let us process into the world waiting to be born again and proclaim the Good News.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.  John 6:51-58

Pope Francis on the Feast of Corpus Christi 
While on Holy Thursday, we commemorate the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, today is for giving thanks and adoration. And in fact, there is a traditional procession with the Most Holy Sacrament on this day. To adore Eucharistic Jesus and to walk with Him. These are two inseparable aspects of today's feast, two aspects that characterize the entire life of the Christian people: a people who adore God and a people who walk: who do not stand still, who journey!

Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me." Luke 22:19

As you prepare receive the Bread from Heaven this day, ask the Lord to come into your heart in a new way. ask Him for an encounter with the living God that you may be changed by this encounter and that this encounter will lead you on a journey, walking with the living God and inviting others to walk with you.

For we are members of His Body, of His flesh and of His bones. Ephesians 5:30

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving, be every moment thine.

June 05, 2015

Reflection: Eucharistic Adoration...

Come away and rest awhile and let God gaze at you. He is waiting for you. He will love you and heal you. Come and sit before the Lord. Just be. He will give you a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Spending time in Eucharistic Adoration is the greatest blessing! Every week, my husband and I have a date with Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration in Saint Joseph Chapel. Jesus calls us to come and be with Him. In the silence, He speaks. As we sit there gazing at Him, Jesus is gazing at us. He pours His love and grace into our hearts. Imagine the Love pouring out of the Eucharist like rays of light into the hearts of all who come to sit with Him!

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving, be every moment thine.

Saint Pope John Paul II  The Eucharist is a priceless treasure: not only by celebrating it, but by praying before it outside of Mass, we are enabled to make contact with the very wellspring of grace.

I heard a beautiful priest give a prescription for healing:

Listen to God's Word.
Know God is gazing at me.
Make an act of faith.

This is your invitation: Come to Eucharistic Adoration and remember this beautiful prescription for healing.  Come to Jesus, just as you are, and let Him gaze at you.

I adore You, Lord and Creator, hidden in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I adore You for all the works of Your hands, that reveal to me so much wisdom, goodness and mercy, O Lord. You have spread so much beauty over the earth and it tells me about Your beauty, even though these beautiful things are but a faint reflection of You, incomprehensible Beauty. And although You have hidden Yourself and concealed your beauty, my eye, enlightened by faith, reaches You and my souls recognizes its Creator, its Highest Good, and my heart is completely immersed in prayer of adoration.  Writings of Saint Faustina

O Jesus, draw us into the silence of Eucharistic Adoration. O Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, pray for us and all those we entrust to you.

June 02, 2015

Mary, Mother of the Eucharist

The gift of the Eucharist is the Real Presence of Jesus. Let us pray for our priests who bring the Eucharist to us. Lord, bless them and keep them holy. Blessed Mother Mary, Our Lady of the Eucharist, keep our priests under your mantel of protection always.

Saint Irenaeus of Lyon, one of the greatest theologians of the 2nd century, is best known for refuting the Gnostic heresies in his writings, Against Heresies, 180 A.D He wrote teachings on the Eucharist:

"Christ has declared the cup, a part of creation, to be his own Blood, from which he causes our blood to flow; and the bread, a part of creation, he has established as his own Body, from which he gives increase to our bodies."

"For just as the bread which comes from the earth, having received the invocation of God, is no longer ordinary bread, but the Eucharist, consisting of two realities, earthly and heavenly, so our bodies, having received the Eucharist, are no longer corruptible, because they have the hope of the resurrection."

Totally yours
Immaculate Conception, Mary, my Mother. Live in me. Act in me. Speak in and through me. Think your thoughts in my mind. Love, through my heart. Give me your dispositions and feelings. Teach, lead and guide me to Jesus. Correct, enlighten and expand my thoughts and behavior. Possess my soul. Take over my entire personality and life. Replace it with yourself. Incline me to constant adoration and thanksgiving. Pray in me and through me. Let me live in you and keep me in this union always.  Saint Pope John Paul II

Our Blessed Mother is the Mother of the Eucharist.

Love of Our Lady and the Eucharist are central to the life of Catholics. This is symbolized powerfully by the great Polish Dominican Saint Hyacinth. When the Tartars invaded the city, he went forth to meet them, leading the procession of novices with the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance. Our Lady called out from her alabaster statue, "Take me with you." Saint Hyacinth responded that the statue was heavy and Our Lady answered, "My Son will make it light." Saint Hyacinth was able to carry the statue of Our Lady. He was armed and he walked through the Tartar danger unscathed. And so will we if, armed with the love of Our Lord in the Eucharist and the love of His Mother, we will find that nothing can take us from God. We need the Eucharist. We need the Our Mother.

She is the tree of life to them that lay hold on her, and he that shall retain her is blessed. Proverbs 3:18

O Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, pray for us and stay with us always.