The Seven Last Words of Christ

Jesus, remember me, when You come into Your Kingdom. Luke 23:42

Even as many were amazed at him so marred was his look beyond that of man, and his appearance beyond that of mortals. So shall he startle many nations, because of him kings shall stand speechless; For those who have not been told shall see, those who have not heard shall ponder it. Who would believe what we have heard? To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot from the parched earth; There was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him. He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, One of those from whom men hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem. Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured, While we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed.   Isaiah 52:14-15, 53:1-5




The Seven Last Words of Christ
John 19:28 I thirst.
Luke 23:34 Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.
Luke 23:43 Amen I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.
Luke 23:46 Father, into Your hands, I commend My Spirit.
Mark 15:34 My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?
John 19:30 It is finished.
John 19:26-27 Women, behold your Son...Behold your mother.

Be only all for Jesus through Mary. Let Mary open your hearts to hear whatever Jesus would tell you to do. As Mary instructs, "Do whatever He tells you." John 2:5

The Angelus

The word Angelus means Angel. It is a prayer coming from the Bible calling to mind the Incarnation of Jesus. Luke 1:26-38 “The angel of the Lord announced unto Mary.” In Latin it is “Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ.” The naming of the prayer and ring of the bell is called Angelus.



In the development of the custom of three rings of the Angelus, the first development was to ring the Angelus at the evening. This ringing was focused on the Incarnation of Jesus which happened in the evening. Later the custom developed to ring the Angelus also in the morning. Here the focus was on Jesus’ resurrection which happened in the morning. As time continued, a third ringing at noon was added. This third ringing was focused on Jesus’ death which happened around noon. During the year the Angelus is said. During Easter time the Regina Caeli (Queen of Heaven) is said.

O Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, pray for us and for all the names we receive through this prayer ministry.

Saint Joseph

"Saint Joseph was a just man, a tireless worker, the upright guardian of those entrusted to his care. May he always guard, protect and enlighten families."  Blessed John Paul II

Today we celebrate the solemnity of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Virgin Mary and patron of the universal Church and the patron saint of fathers, families, those in need, workers, travelers, the persecuted, the poor, the aged and the dying. The discretion with which Joseph carried out the role entrusted to him by God highlights his faith even more, which consisted in always listening to the Lord, seeking to understand His Will and to obey it with his whole heart and strength. This is why the Gospel describes him as a "just" man Matthew 1,19. In fact, the just man is the person who prays, lives by faith, and seeks to do good in every concrete circumstance of life.

Saint Joseph and fathers
Faith nourished by prayer: this is the most precious treasure that Saint Joseph transmits to us. Generations of fathers have followed in his footsteps who, with the example of a simple and laborious life, imprinted on their children's souls the inestimable value of faith. He is a model for fathers to live their mission in the family and society in an exemplary way.

According to ancient tradition, Saint Joseph watches over and protects the Church. He is considered the model of perfect Christian life and the patron of a happy death. His patronage extends over the Mystical Body of Christ, over the Christian family and schools, carpenters, fathers, laborers, and all individuals who appeal to his charity and intercession, especially in the hour of death. Joseph, when dying, received the loving ministry of his foster Son, Jesus, and his spouse, the Blessed Virgin Mary, so it is believed that his intercession may well obtain the mercy of God and the grace of a peaceful and holy death.

As the Bible tells us, Saint Joseph was descended from the royal house of David. A village carpenter of Nazareth, he was chosen among all men to be the husband and protector of the Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ. To his loving care was entrusted the childhood and youth of the Redeemer of the world. He reveals to us the perfect model of Christianity through his purity of heart, patience, and fortitude. Poor in worldly possessions, he was rich in grace.

Parent's Prayer to Saint Joseph
O glorious Saint Joseph, to you God committed the care of His only begotten Son amid the many dangers of this world. We come to you and ask you to take under your special protection the children God has given us. Through holy baptism they became children of God and members of His holy Church. We consecrate them to you today, that through this consecration they may become your foster children. Guard them, guide their steps in life, form their hearts after the hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Diary of Saint Faustina 1203
"Saint Joseph urged me to have a constant devotion to him. He himself told me to recite three prayers (Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be) and the Memorare once a day. He looked at me with great kindness and gave me to know how much he is supporting this work (of mercy). He has promised me this special help and protection. I recited the requested prayers every day and felt his special protection."

The memorare is a prayer that is said by the whole Congregation of Saint Faustina's religious community.

Memorare to Saint Joseph
Remember, O most pure spouse of Mary, and my dearly beloved guardian, St. Joseph, that never was it known that anyone who invoked your care and requested your help was left without consolation.

Inspired with this confidence, I come to you, and with all the ardor of my spirit I commend myself to you. Do not reject my prayer, O Foster Father of the Savior, but graciously receive and answer it. Amen.

Saint Joseph, intercede for us and for all these babies, little ones and their families.

Mary, Mother of Mercy

As the Mother of Jesus, our Merciful Redeemer, Our Lady is rightly named Mother of Mercy.

The origin of this feast day dates back to the Middle Ages and the foundation of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy after Our Blessed Mother appeared to a young nobleman in France. Responding to her appeal for compassion and mercy for the men, women and children who were taken as prisoners from Europe to Africa as slaves by the Moors, Saint Peter Nolasco set out to redeem these people. He and his companions dedicated their lives and possessions to gathering alms to free them from their cruel captors. These slaves would otherwise have been forced to deny their faith. Protecting the faith of the captives who were persecuted because of their Christianity was the main objective of the heroic priests of Our Lady of Mercy who even offered and gave their own lives as ransom when there was not enough money.

The Blessed Virgin appeared in 1218 in separate visions to Saint Peter Nolasco, Saint Raymund of Penafort, and James, king of Aragon, asking them to found a religious order dedicated to freeing Christian captives from the barbarous Saracens, who at that time held a great part of Spain. The Mercedarians' pious work spread everywhere and produced heroes of charity who collected alms for the ransom of Christians, and who often gave themselves up in exchange for Christian prisoners.

As their numbers grew, some of the priests extended their works of Mercy to include missionary work. Traveling with Columbus on his expedition, one of their numbers made devotion to Our Lady of Mercy the first Marian devotion in America! Their work now has been expanded to those exposed to the dangers of denying their faith, the social, political and psychological forms of captivity in today’s world. The mission is thus multiple: missions, parishes, education, prison and hospital work.

Mother of Mercy
I walked in darkness, yet felt no fear; for through the void I knew her near. She bound my wounds that lightless day and cooled my fever midst battle's fray. Not only I have seen her there, but many others through painful tear have felt her tender, soothing, healing hand, I looked long and clearly into eyes that understand the pain and anguish of death to come, for man did this to her only Son.

O Mary, Mother of Mercy, pray for us and for all those for whom we pray through this prayer ministry.