Lunes, Hulyo 25, 2011
Where Faith Begins: Prayer to St. Anthony For the Recovery of Lost Gra...
Where Faith Begins: Prayer to St. Anthony For the Recovery of Lost Gra...: "O great and faithful friend of the Lord, Who by the great purity of thy heart, didst merit to see and converse with Him even in this life..."
Prayer to St. Anthony For the Recovery of Lost Graces
O great and faithful friend of the Lord,
Who by the great purity of thy heart,
didst merit to see and converse with Him even in this life,
Thou to whom He granted,
According to the firm belief of the faithful,
the gift of recovering for those who invke thee
the precious gifts which they had lost,
obtain for us (name your petition)
by the prayers and meritsm all the holy friendship and union with God which we should have had if we had always been faithful to Him. Amen
THE MIRACULOUS RESPONSORY
If then you ask for miracles
Death error, all calamities
The leprosy and demon fly,
And health succeeds infirmities
R. The sea obeys and fetters break,
and lifeless limb thou dost restore,
Whilst treasure lost are found again
When young and old thine aid implore
All dangers vanish at thy prayer
And direst need doth quickly flee;
Let those who know thy power proclaim,
Let Paduans say, "These are of thee"
R. The sea obeys and fetters break,
and lifeless limb thou dost restore,
Whilst treasure lost are found again
When young and old thine aid implore
To the Father, Son and, Holy Spirit, all glory be eternally
R. The sea obeys and fetters break,
and lifeless limb thou dost restore,
Whilst treasure lost are found again
When young and old thine aid implore
Pray for us, St. Anthony of Padua
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Linggo, Hulyo 24, 2011
Devotion to the Prophet Elijah. An ancient and laudable practice
Prophet Elijah
His name, "Yahweh is my God," may be a title applied to him because of his challenge to Baal worship.
The Providence of God worked through all the life of the Prophet Elijah. He was the Prophet during the time when Israel is adulterous in their worship to God. It is during those times that because of a corrupt leader King Ahab who is influenced by a pagan wife Jezebel that Israel had worshiped Baal alongside with their worship to God. Hence Israel was punished with a drought.
Though the whole country suffers famine Elijah was supplied by God with his daily necessities through the ravens that brought him his daily ration of bread in the morning and meat in the evening. And his thirst is satiated by the streams of Cherith. (Kings 17: 2-6)
There where miracles brought by this prophet which turned the hearts of the people to worship God and reject their idolatrous worship of Baal.
The first is the Miracle to the Widow and his son in Sidon, where through their charity to the prophet, God reward them with Oil and Flour which will never run out till until the drought is finished. The Second was the dead child been brought to life (Kings 17:22) The third was Sacrifice consumed by fire 1 Kings 18:38, the fourth miracle was the Captains and men slain by fire 2 Kings 1:10. And after the many days of drought Rain was brought 1 Kings 18:41. And finally before his assumption in to heaven, by his cloak the Water of Jordan divided 2 Kings 2:8.
Elijah the Prophet was taken up by a Chariot of Fire into the heaven.
The Prophet Elijah appeared with Moses together with our Lord Jesus Christ in the Mountain of Transfiguration. This apparition signifies the threefold mission of every Christian, The Priestly, Mission embodied by Christ, The Mission of the King as embodied by Moses, and the Prophetic Mission embodied by Elijah.
Elijah as the Carmelite Patriarch
(A Statue of Elijah in the Church of Mount Carmel, Jerusalem)
When on the holy day of Pentecost the Apostles, through heavenly inspiration, spake in foreign tongues, and worked many wonders by the invocation of the most sacred Name of Jesus ; it is said that many men, who were walking in the footsteps of the holy prophets Elias and Eliseus, and had been prepared for the coming of Christ by the heralding of John the Baptist, saw and were assured of the truth. They at once embraced the faith of the Gospel, and began to venerate the most blessed Virgin (whose conversation and familiar intercourse they were happily able to enjoy) with a certain peculiar affection, so that they, before all others, built a chapel to that purest of Virgins on that very spot of Mount Carmel where Elias of old had seen a cloud arising, a remarkable symbol of the Virgin. (From the Roman Breviary)
The early Christians prays to their elder brethren in heaven. As they are the young believers, the elder Saints are the one to whom the Eternal Word has passed through their hearts and by their lips. And it is so that the devotion to Prophet Elijah goes back to the Ancient times of Christianity. However our Eastern Brothers and Sisters in the Greek, Byzantine Church still continuous to call on the Prophet Elijah. And it is also an unceasing devotion of our Carmelite Brothers and Sisters.
In this very difficult times, let us turn back to the Lord, whom the secular world has abandoned. Our present age is similar to that of the Holy Prophet Elijah. As we are governed by corrupt politicians, and a corrupt government who worships the baal in the form of worldliness. We are not aware that we are already forgetting the path of a true Christian. “The Path of Christ”. The path of Christ is a way of life of entrusting our cares to the Most Powerful Eternal Father who never abandon us, and who loves us. We are already deluded that the Divine Providence is a Myth and we and the work of our hands are only the reliable agents to brought about our daily necessities. We make a god of ourselves, in divorcing our dependence on God who can give and grant all that we need. We all know that God has provided unceasingly since time immemorial, through the words of the Scriptures and through the History of Man his intervention is unceasing.
Man also forgets that his life is only a pilgrimage to eternity and that he in this life is to procure heavenly treasures which not even a moth or worm can destroy, nor can thieves steal. Man is deluded by his ambition for riches and forgets his eternity. “Away with the eternity he says to himself, what matters is my earthly life.” More so man in this meager desires in life is also given to the worship of sexual pleasure, trudging his baptismal grace and Christian dignity he makes way for the dominion of the kingdom of devil and not of God. Hence the result of this is immorality of the nation, and the degeneration of life.
Let us turn to Prophet Elijah whose spirit and body dwells in heaven. Let us implore him to return spiritually and visit us in this pagan age. Let us ask him to teach us never to despair but like the widow in Sidon to carry out the Way of Christ, the Way of Charity.
Our Blessed Mother in her love for mankind has also given a powerful means to be defended by heaven and to be protected by her maternal protection. The Scapular, which if we will reflect deeply patterns to the cloak of Elijah. It is one of the legend that it is the Blessed Virgin who ministered and evangelized the holy hermits who are followers by the Prophet, hence the institution of the Carmelite was established. May this mantle of Scapular help us to cross the rivers of tribulation. May it give us the identity of becoming modern prophet Elijah. True Christians who believes in God’s power of Divine Providence, believer that this falling nation can be restored back to life, propagator of faith, and an advocate as well as a witness of living a life of grace. May our actions loudly cry to every people that they are living an idolatrous life of worldliness and impurity. So that in the end, God’s kingdom shall reign over our life and towards the whole world.
By: Bro. Jose Gerard La Rosa
An angel in the flesh and the cornerstone of the prophets, the second forerunner of the coming of Christ, Glorious Patriarch Elijah sent grace from on high to Elisha to dispel disease and to cleanse lepers. Therefore, he pours for the healings on those who honour him.
Prophet Elijah of great renown, seer of the mighty works of God, by your comman you held back the rain! Pray for us to the only Lover of mankind! (In silencse say your intentions)
1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 1 Gloria
Holy Glorious Prophet Elijah .......... Pray for us
Lunes, Hulyo 11, 2011
THE SONG OF THE FATHER OF THE PRODIGAL SON
THE SONG OF THE FATHER OF THE PRODIGAL SON
By Jose Gerard
Come home to me,
You who were lost from the wilderness.
Come home to me.
For I wait for you in kindness.
And when you are already here.
I will refresh you.
Your mistakes shall be washed out.
And you will never regret, that you are here.
Your clothes of rags, shall be exchanged with garb anew.
A royal robe made of silk
A dress of beauty made for you.
Your hand, and your feet of dirt.
Shall be washed, and be cleansed.
And upon your finger, a ring shall be invested.
For my love for you did not change ever new.
Your head shall be anointed.
With fine oils, and perfume.
And upon it a diadem, shall be set.
For you have come to home with me.
And I shall call the serf; together with the nobles we shall celebrate.
For once my child is lost and dead.
And now he is found and has risen from the dead.
And my heart shall rejoice,
And yours shall be satisfied.
And forever gladness shall overflow from your heart.
For you have come to home with me.
The Broken and Rusty Bell
The Broken and Rusty Bell
I will tell you of a story, of a broken and rusty bell. Once there was an old church with a tower. And in that tower, there is an old and rusty bell. It was a long time that worship was celebrated in this old church. And ever since, no one would enter this old and dusty church.
This old and empty church caught the attention of the Lord. Forever since there was no worship, nor sermons done, the people in the land lived a sinful life. So the lord in his goodness went down to this old empty church. He wanted to save the souls in the land and be given a chance. He opened the door, and he cleansed the pew. He decorated the old and frail altar. He lighted the candles, he prepared bread and wine. Then, he said to himself it is now the time to call the people in the land.
He went into the tower, which holds the broken and rusty bell. Then he said. I will sound you to call the people in the land to repentance. I will use you to call them, to come back home to me. But the Bell replied: But, Master who will listen to such an old and rusty bell. Who will come to you to this house, to worship you and to repent from their own sinful ways? I am nothing but an old and rusty bell, and people may not listen, because my sound is ugly, and my vibration is frail. Then the Lord said, I will use all the things of the world whenever I want to, even if they are old or new, even if they are ugly or pretty, even if they are sinful or holy. So the Bell said, your will be done oh, Master.
Then the Lord take hold of the rope, and sounded the chime. An hour passed, and two people came. Another hour passed, and five families came. And an hour passed, one person came. Then the Lord went down to the tower, and the people were astonished for it was the Lord. They all came near to him and asked for his mercy, they all plead and cried for pardon. Then the Lord said, you are all forgiven, but where are the other hundreds of family, and the youth of weary? Then the people said, they did not heed the sound of the old and rusty bell my Lord.
So, the Lord closed the doors, and raised his hand. Fire and brimstones rained down to the land. All the unrepentant man and women in the land perished. And only the few people who came to the church was saved from the chastisement of the Lord.
It is sometimes that the lord use frail spirit to call back man to repentance. But sometimes we do not hid his call because we judge this frail spirits by their appearance or by their past. The Lord makes use of everything he wills to use. And by faith we must see, hear, and f eel him through the others, whatever, and whoever they might be.
A Glorious Future
A glorious future
Oh men, if you only knew,
What God has prepared for you.
The Happiness and joy in future.
A peace in your being, what bliss so pure.
If you only knew his plan divine.
Maybe you will no longer ask for things in vain.
For more things, and more happiness lies in-store.
Which God had prepared ever since your birth before.
Look at the stars so bright.
And even the nature that was designed so right.
Oh what a beauty, oh what a glory.
For every life is designed in each own particular majesty.
Look at the cross there he hangs.
So great deed that he suffered for us.
In order that the consequences of man’s sinfulness.
Be suspended to give way for man’s eternal happiness.
Oh, man if you only knew.
The glorious things that God had prepared for you.
Maybe you will leave this city of vanity.
And go to the desert, and embrace the silence so holy.
And even if you run away for solitude.
Even if you dwell in the noisy places of the City.
These glorious things will follow you.
For God has a great love for me and you.
And oh men I pray for you.
That you may not build worldly walls around you.
May you not destroy this glorious plan.
Which God has prepared for me and you.
May all of us be not deluded.
By sins, which will make us, secluded.
From this eternal plan.
Which God has prepared for man.
Oh, man if you only knew.
What God has prepared for you.
Let not this hope be destroyed.
By the sadness and trials which the world had employed.
Oh, man if you only knew.
What God has prepared for you.
Miyerkules, Hunyo 29, 2011
Detachment Reflection
Think about this... You are a custodian of a garden. And the Owner is God. You were given the garden to take care with. But the garden was already filled with flowering weeds, and some wild plants. And you thought that it was the plants that you must take care with. You water them, trim them, and you said to yourself you are doing your job. The Owner comes now to fullfill his plan to landscape the garden. And so he hired some person to uproot the weeds, and the wild plants. And as the day ends the whole garden is now a barren field of soil.
You in your sentiments will be sad, for you were already attached to what you think are your plants. You do not know the plan of the Owner, and in your loneliness you miss the plants that were uprooted. But as the new day begins, the worker now fills the Garden with plants and herbs. The worker now sowed some flowering plants, and planted new trees. They put some stones for decoration and arranged it according to the plan of the Owner. And so now you are care taker of an English Garden, a garden beautiful than ever.
In our life sometimes we see some things or person taken away from us. Person and things which we thought we need, but in reality we are only fixated upon them. We only think that we need them, because we are already accustomed in being with them. But it is in this attachment, this crowdedness, and these preoccupations that we are becoming unaware or ignorant on what is God's plan for our life, the plan of God to the Garden of our existense.
The kindness and mercy of God over our lives will always insist, because of his great love for each and every one of us. There will be an opportunity in our lives wherein these persons, these things, and these preoccupations will be taken away from us. As the course of life takes away from us, our attachment it will be natural us to feel temporary emptiness, the barreness, and what we believe unfruitfullness. But it is in this, that when we let go, and we let God take. That God can only re-nourish our life. It is in the barren soil of our loneliness there can only God plant His seeds. 
We are sometimes content on the weeds of life, weeds that when it grows are really good for nothing. May we let God uproot the weeds in our life so that he can accomplish the fruitfullness in us, the flower of our existence and the beauty and significance of our life.
Huwebes, Hunyo 23, 2011
Prayer to St. Catherine of Bologna
Prayer to St. CatherineOh Holy St Catherine of Bologna,/ you who in wisdom and humility./ Was dedicated to prayer/ but was always ready to serve;/ generous in sacrifice but full of joy/ in welcoming Christ with the Cross. Help us by your prayers always to be careful and diligent in striving to do good./ Help us to believe that, alone we will never be able to do something truly good/ but we must strive to always trust in God and, for love of him./ May we never fear in the battle against evil,/ either in the world or within ourselves./ May we never shrink with fear, but in the Holy Name of Christ and in Faith be brave to defeat the evils the surrounds us./ Help us to meditate often on the events and words of the life of Jesus,/ and especially on his Passion and his death./ And to always be grateful for this wonderful and immense goodness of God/ in order to save our very self./ Pray for us always to remember that we must die;/ to focus our minds firmly on memory of the goods of Heaven./ Help us to be familiar with Sacred Scripture,/ always cherishing it in our hearts/ so that it may give direction to all our thoughts and all our actions. / Thus, establishing God’s reign in our hearts and in the hearts of others.
St. Catherine, may we always use our youthful days as you did,/ in the service of God./ May we never grow weary on consecrating our life for his glory/ and for the good of our souls./ Oh holy abbess of bologna, Sweet St. Catherine, / as you became an instrument of charity in your earthly life./ We do believe that your Love is now more strong than ever./ That you can not resist the prayers of us who still journey in this earthly life./ Along with all the grace, and weapons we are asking,/ may you grant us this request. (Mention your request). Present this prayer to the throne of your Divine Spouse,/ may he answer these necessities according to what will give glory to Him,/ and to what will benefit us the most. Amen
(Let us pray seven Our Fathers and seven Hail Mary that St. Catherine may ask the Father to send the holy spirit to grant us the grace we ask and most of all the grace to overcome the evil in us and in our society)
Miyerkules, Hunyo 22, 2011
Devotion and Novena to the Holy Angels
To the Holy Archangels St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael.
Most Holy Trinity, I give thanks for having created Thy angels in such a sublime manner and ingiving such strength to their leader. May Thou be adored and loved in the beauty and splendor of Thy ambassador; praise unto Thee in their glorious songs of honor and thanksgiving forever and ever. Amen.
Most Holy Princes of Heaven, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, we honor you for the love that the Most High lavishes on you and for His placing you in the seats nearest His own. Remember my needs. Chief of the Angels. remember those who place themselves under your patronage so that they may triumph over Satan forever.
Grant that the kingdom of light and of grace, of justice and of love of God may increase in all its splendor and beauty in every soul and become known to all. Amen
Oh St. Michael intercede with the Holy Ghost in my behalf, He who is king og Glory and Dispenser of all graces. AmenPrayer to the Holy Angels
Second Prayer
Oh God, who in dividing Thy Kingdom Thou most wonderfully ordained the respective duties of angels and of men, mercifully grant that the Holy Angels Who are ministering in thy presence in Heaven may also be defenders of our lives here on earth, through Christ our Lord Amen.
Holy Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominations, Virtues, Powers, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels; we join you all in praising and loving God, the True and Everlasting God in Three Divine Persons. Amen
Holy Angels, lend your assistance to the Church in combating the powers of darkness and sin and fiathlessness, so that when She has spread over the whole earth the Kingdom of God may guide men to life everlasting.
Holy Gurardian Angels, guide and defend us.
111. ANGELICAL CROWN IN HONOUR OF ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL.
(From the Raccolta Book of Indulgences)
It is a pious tradition, that the Archangel Michael revealed to a holy person that he would he well pleased by his bringing into use the following prayers in his honour and in honour of all the angelic host; and that he would repay those who practised this devotion with signal favours, particularly in such times as the Catholic Church should experience some special trial. In this belief, a holy Carmelite nun, of the convent of Vetralla, in the diocese of Viterbo, who died with the reputation of sanctity in the year 1751, made it her delight to practise this method of prayer, commonly called the "Angelic Chaplet;" and it was at the instigation of the nuns of her convent that his Holiness Pins IX., by a decree of the S. Congr. of Rites, dated August 8, 1851, granted the following Indulgences -
i. An indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines every time the Chaplet is said.
ii. An indulgence of 100 days daily to any one who carries this Chaplet about him, or kisses the medal with the representation of the holy angels appended to the said Chaplet.
iii. A plenary indulgence once a month to every one who says daily this Chaplet, on any one day when, after Confession and Communion, he shall pray for the exaltation of our holy Mother the Church and the safety of the Sovereign Pontiff.
iv. A plenary indulgence, with the conditions above named, on -
1. The Feast of the Apparition of St. Michael. May 18.
2. The Dedication of St. Michael. September 29.
3. St. Gabriel the Archangel. March 18.
4. St. Raphael the Archangel. October 24.
5. Holy Angel Guardians. October 2.
To gain these Indulgences, a Chaplet must be used consisting of nine Pater noster’s, and three Ave Maria's after each Pater noster, with four Pater noster’s at the end; the following corresponding salutations being said at the same time in their proper order, with the antiphon and prayer at the end us given below. These Chaplets must be blessed by the actual father confessor of the convent of Vetralla, or some other priest who has obtained faculties for this purpose.
METHOD OF PRACTISING THIS DEVOTION.
Let every one, according to his ability, begin with an act of sincere contrition, kneeling before a representation of the holy Archangel; then let him say with devotion the following salutations:
V. Deus in adjutorium meum intende.
R. Dontine ad adjuvandum me festina.
Gloria Patri, &c.FIRST SALUTATION.
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the First Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly choir of the Seraphim, may it please God to make us worthy to receive into our hearts the fire of His perfect charity. Amen.
SECOND SALUTATION.
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the Second Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly choir of the Cherubim, may God grant us grace to abandon the ways of sin, and run the race of Christian perfection. Amen. THIRD SALUTATION.
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the Third Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the sacred choir of the Thrones, may it please God to infuse into our hearts a true and earnest spirit of humility. Amen.
FOURTH SALUTATION.
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the Fourth Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly choir of the Dominations, may it please God to grant us grace to have dominion over our senses, and to correct our depraved passions. Amen.
FIFTH SALUTATION.
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the Fifth Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly choir of the Powers, may God vouchsafe to keep our souls from the wiles and temptations of the devil. Amen.
SIXTH SALUTATION.
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the Sixth Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the choir of the admirable celestial Virtues, may our Lord keep us from falling into temptation, and deliver us from evil. Amen.
SEVENTH SALUTATION.
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the Seventh Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly choir of the Principalities, may it please God to fill our souls with the spirit of true and hearty obedience. Amen. One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the Eighth Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the heavenly choir of Archangels, may it please God to grant its the gift of perseverance in the faith and in all good works, that we may thereby be enabled to attain unto the glory of Paradise. Amen.
NINTH SALUTATION.
One Pater noster and three Ave Maria’s, to the Ninth Angelic Choir.
At the intercession of St. Michael and the Heavenly choir of Angels, may God vouchsafe to grant us the safe-conduct of the holy Angels through life, and after death a happy entrance into the everlasting glory of heaven. Amen.
Then say four Pater noster's in conclusion; the first to St. Michael, the second to St. Gabriel, the third to St. Raphael, the fourth to your Angel Guardian.
This exercise then ends with the following Antiphon.
ANTIPHON.
Michael, glorious Prince, chief and champion of the heavenly host, guardian of the souls of men, conqueror of the rebel angels, minister in the house of God, our worthy captain under Jesus Christ, endowed with superhuman excellence and virtue; vouchsafe to free us all from every evil, who with full confidence have recourse to thee; and by thy powerful protection enable us to make progress every day in the faithful service of our God.
V. Pray for us, most blessed Michael, prince of the Church of Jesus Christ.
R. That we may be made worthy of His promises.
PRAYER.
Almighty and eternal God, who in thine own marvellous goodness and pity didst, for the common salvation of man, choose the glorious Archangel Michael to be the prince of Thy Church; make us worthy, we pray Thee, to be delivered by his beneficent protection from all our enemies, that at the hour of our death no one of them may approach to harm us, and that by the same Archangel Michael we may be introduced into the presence of Thy high and heavenly Majesty. Through the merits of the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our community distributes the Angelic Crown for free. For request you may write your address to the Comment section or send your letter via e-mail to bro.josegerardl@gmail.com or you can mail you letters to 1052 Julio Nakpil St. Malate, Manila. Philippines.. For out of the country request we will try our very best to send you one. We only give one chaplet per request.. Thank you very much! God bless you! And may His HolyAnels guide you!
I have my children though not of my own. I was a surrogate father of four kids. Three boys and a girl.
I have my means to support them, I have a continuous job.
I enjoyed being called "Dad"
I have a family of my own.
I enjoy being worried with my kids,
I enjoy their company and love
I enjoy their courtesy.
I also enjoy scolding them....
My dream and ambition is that one day I can bring them with me in a vacation to Rome, and to Spain. I strongly wish that one day this might happen. That in every Meteor Shower, I go up to our rooftop and to wait for a falling star , to wish that this ambition, this inspiration of mine may be blessed by nature and may come true..
I remember in one of our vacation in a Beach Resort in Batangas. I brought my children with me. One night, we went to the seashore. We sat on the sand and gaze towards the dark and starry sky. And as a star fell, I embraced them tightly and wished that one day I may bring them with me to Rome, and to Spain. But eventually that superstition did not help. After they have grown they choose their own paths in life.
My daughter left me for a boyfriend. My eldest son and my second son left me to pursue the whims of their freedom. And my youngest son left me to follow his own passion.
For my job I am having a hard time to find one. I always face myself daily and ask myself what happened to me? Why am I so unlucky in life......... Yes, I pitied myself. With this, I always turn to God to pray and beg him to have mercy over my life...
In my powerlessness, in my inability to do something, in my helplessness. I turn to him and I try to listen. I am trying to reflect.
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