Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Solemn Feast of Saint Clare of Assisi 2011

May the Almighty God bless you! May He look upon you with the eyes of His mercy and give you His Peace. May He pour forth His graces on you abundantly, and in heaven may He place you among His saints. Amen. (Blessings of St.Clare)

Poor Clare Monastery, Cebu, Philippines

Theme: Gospel Poverty, A Marvelous Exchange

‎"Clare's contemplative journey which will culminate in her vision of the 'King of Glory', begins precisely in her total abandonment to the spirit of the Lord, after the example of Mary at the Annunciation: that is to say, it begins with that SPIRIT OF POVERTY which empties her everything but the simplicity of a gaze fixed on God."

Blessed Pope John Paul II

Friday, August 5, 2011

Well, I am a child of Holy Church, and the Church is a Queen, because she is now espoused to the Divine King of Kings. I ask not for riches or glory, not even the glory of Heaven—that belongs by right to my brothers the Angels and Saints, and my own glory shall be the radiance that streams from the queenly brow of my Mother, the Church. Nay, I ask for Love. To love Thee, Jesus, is now my only desire. Great deeds are not for me; I cannot preach the Gospel or shed my blood. No matter! My brothers work in my stead, and I, a little child, stay close to the throne, and love Thee for all who are in the strife.

~Thérèse

Child of light, as I am, I understood that my desires to be all things, and to embrace all vocations, were riches that might well make me unjust; so I set to work to use them for the making of friends. Mindful of the prayer of Eliseus when he asked the Prophet Elias for his double spirit, I presented myself before the company of the Angels and Saints and addressed them thus:

Photo credit: catholicrelics.co.uk

“I am the least of all creatures. I know my mean estate, but I know that noble and generous hearts love to do good. Therefore, O Blessed Inhabitants of the Celestial City, I entreat you to adopt me as your child. All the glory that you help me to acquire, will be yours; only deign to hear my prayer, and obtain for me a double portion of the love of God.”

~Sainte Thérèse

"Must I die of sorrow because of my helplessness? Oh, no! I will not even grieve. With daring self-abandonment there will I remain until death, my gaze fixed upon that Divine Sun. Nothing shall affright me, nor wind nor rain. And should impenetrable clouds conceal the Orb of Love, and should I seem to believe that beyond this life there is darkness only, that would be the hour of perfect joy, the hour in which to push my confidence to its uttermost bounds. I should not dare to detach my gaze, well knowing that beyond the dark clouds the sweet Sun still shines."

Monday, August 1, 2011

I feel how powerless I am to express in human language the secrets of heaven, and after writing page upon page, I find that I have not yet begun. There are so many different horizons, so many nuances of infinite variety that only the palette of the Celestial Painter will be able to furnish me after the night of this life with the colors capable of depicting the marvels He reveals to the eye of the soul

~Story of a Soul

A Little Child Shall Lead Us ~Victoria Parco

Thérèse, now is the time of your conquests. Conquer and win the hearts of the young people!

A little Child Shall Lead Us ~Victoria Parco

Your message is the message of someone who committed her life to God at the age of fifteen and whose life was consumed with love at the age of twenty-four. You can speak to young people who seek a profound spiritual experience. You know how to communicate to them the sense of a life of love transformed into a gift of self. In their search for true freedom, you can show them that its authentic meaning lies in forgetfulness of self for the sake of self-donation.The young are looking for meaningful when it is dedicated to loving, when it is offered to Jesus Christ, God's love made visible. Surrounded by violence, materialism, and hedonism, young people are looking for what truly matters, for what lasts forever, for the peace that this world cannot give. In the depths of their anguished and confused lives, they are asking the deepest questions: "What shall I do to obtain eternal life? Where can I find my heart's desire? Where can I find a cause to live and die for? How can I be holy and loving?"

Thérèse, you went through your pilgrimage of search, struggle, and sorrow. Reach out to young people. Teach them your little way to Jesus. Convince them that it is possible to hope, that the mercy of God is infinitely greater than their mistakes, failures, and sins. In possessing Him, they possess everything else worth possessing. In finding Jesus, they will find the joy of an eternal springtime, a fountain of youth forever flowing.

From the book

Thérèse

A Saint for a New Millenium

Victoria Parco

Firm in the Faith

“Planted and Built Up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith”

- Saint Paul (Col 2:7)

WYD2011 Theme

"Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness." (Col 2:7)

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for August 2011

"That World Youth Day in Madrid may encourage young people throughout the world to have their lives rooted and built up in Christ."

Mission prayer intention for August 2011

"That Western Christians may be open to the action of the Holy Spirit and rediscover the freshness and enthusiasm of their faith."

Firmes en la fe

http://www.madrid11.com/en

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Words of the Little Flower

The Eight Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 3)
Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. (Verse 4)
Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Verse 5)
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. (Verse 6)
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. (Verse 7)
Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. (Verse 8)
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Verse 9)
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Verse 10)

Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10

All About Thee Mary

"HEAR, O most sweet Virgin Mary, hear things new and wonderful!"~St. Boneventure

"My tongue faileth, Lady, for my mind is insufficient. Lady, all that is within me burns that I may render thee thanks for thy so great benefits." ~St. Jerome

"I fear and tremble, all the while that I long to fulfill your expectations, lest I should prove to be an unworthy panegyrist." St. Jerome

"For there is in me neither sanctity nor eloquence, worthily to praise the Blessed and glorious Virgin." St. Jerome

"Dear Mary, my holy mother...Help me to love my neighbor as a child of God. Help me to love myself as a child of God. Amen"

Dear Mary, my holy mother, I love you so much and I give you my heart. Help me to love God. ~Consecration to Mary

She is the one who is full of grace and the sum of all perfections;and she is also our Mother. ~(Friends of God) J. Escriva

Purest of lilies, That flowers among thorns, Bring help to the true heart That in weakness turns and trusts in thee.~ Flos Carmeli

Tota pulchra es, Maria. ~ You are all beautiful, Mary.

"O Virgin Mary, most powerful Mother of Mercy, Queen of Heaven and earth, I consecrate myself today to your Immaculate Heart."

"My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God." ~ Second Apparition June 13, 1917

O Morning Star, splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness: Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

"Never was it known that anyone who fled to Thy protection, implored Thy help or sought Thy intercession, was left unaided." ~Memorare

Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue

Lovely Lady dressed in blue
Teach me how to pray!
God was just your little boy,
Tell me what to say!

Did you lift Him up, sometimes,
Gently on your knee?
Did you sing to Him the way
Mother does to me?

Did you hold His hand at night?
Did you ever try
Telling stories of the world?
O! And did He cry?

Do you really think He cares
If I tell Him things
Little things that happen? And
Do the Angels' wings

Make a noise? And can He hear
Me if I speak low?
Does He understand me now?
Tell me for you know.

Lovely Lady dressed in blue
Teach me how to pray!
God was just your little boy,
And you know the way.

Saints of Carmel

O Jesus, Savior of the world,

We come and for redemption plead,
Mother of God, his saving grace
Win for your children in their need.

All choirs of angels we invoke;
We beg the prophets of God’s call
And patriarchs who led us flock
To gain God’s pardon for us all.

O saints of Carmel, throned above
In Mary’s court, obtain this grace --
That where you are in glory now
We, too, may find a resting-place.

May martyrs, brave in word and deed,
Confessors, holy pastors pray,
And choirs of virgins intercede
That God may wash our sins away.

O blessed saints of solitude,
And all the heavenly company,
Obtain for us that life in God
Which lasts for all eternity.

Praise to the Father evermore
And to the Spirit he bestows,
To Jesus whom that Virgin bore
From whom all Carmel’s beauty flows.

Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, hear us

[R] Have mercy on us.

God, the Father in Heaven,
God the Son, redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, one God,

[R] Help us to love.

Therese, bright Star of Carmel,
Therese, star of the ends of the earth,
Therese, star of races and nations,
Therese, star of the pontificate of Pope Pius XI ,
Little Queen of the great King,
Dear Child of the Virgin Mary,
Child cured by the smile of Mary,
Doctor of the way of spiritual Childhood,
Lover of the Child Jesus,
Lover of the Face of Christ
Lover of the Cross of Christ,
Lover of the Word of God,
Herald of the Tenderness of God,
Mirror of the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Rose plucked for the Child Jesus,
Love in the Heart of the Church,
Word of God for our time,
Model of purity of heart,
Living monstrance consumed by love,
Silent sacrifice before the Eucharist,
Treasure of joy in suffering,
Martyr of the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
Valiant warrior in the field of the apostolate,
Therese, showering down roses,
Therese, distributing graces,
Therese, offered to Merciful love,
Therese, seated at the table of sinners,
Angel of prisonners and the sicks,
Little sister of the poor in spirit,
Protrectress of exiles,
Tender treasure of orphans,
Consolation of missionnaries,
Ardent model of consecrated souls,
Hidden little sister of all,
Apostle of mercy,
Apostle of confidence and abandonment,
Apostle of simplicity of heart,
Patroness of the missions,
Doctor of the Church,
Prophet of the last times,

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us, O Lord.

Pray for us Saint Therese, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray _ God our Father, You have primised your Kingdom to those who are willing to become like little children. Help us to follow the way of saint Therese with confidence, so that by her prayers, we may come to know your eternal glory. Grant this through our Lord Jesus-Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy spirit, one God for ever and ever.
Amen