Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Feast of Saint Nicholas - December 6

Welcome Christmastide !


"Who is Saint Nicholas? Who is Santa Claus? Are they the same?"
Find out here






Devotions to Saint Nicholas of Myra
Visit the website here
↓ 



pictures of Father and Mother Christmas online; a.k.a. Santa and Mrs. Claus 



It's tough being a reindeer ...




stop in and check out wikipedia - "Legendary Christmas gift-bearing figures including Santa Claus, [Sinterklaas], Father Christmas, Christkind, and Saint Nicholas ..."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas_Day


Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Year of Mercy Rosary (examples only)

Holy Year of Mercy Rosary
December 8, 2015 – November 20, 2016

For use with the Hirten Franciscan Crown 7-decade Rosary
(unofficial and for personal use only)

Before reciting this rosary, be sure to recite the normal 7-decade rosary (Seven Joys of Mary) - http://www.prayerfulrosary.com/Franciscan.html

On the cross:
Pope Francis' Prayer for the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy
Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved. Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief. Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: "If you knew the gift of God!"

You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified. You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God.

Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind.

We ask this through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy, you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

On the first beadOur Father
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

On the next two beads:  Hail Mary
Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death Amen.

On the next beadGlory Be
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

1st time around:  Corporal works of Mercy (large beads); Merciful Like the Father (small beads)

2nd time around:  Spiritual works of Mercy (large beads); Merciful Like the Father (small beads)


Corporal Works of Mercy          Spiritual Works of Mercy
1.  Feed the Hungry                   1.  To instruct the ignorant
                     Merciful like the Father x 10

2.  Give drink to the thirsty        2.  To counsel the doubtful
                     Merciful like the Father x 10

3.  Clothe the naked                    3.  To admonish sinners
                      Merciful like the Father x 10

4.  Shelter the homeless              4.  To bear wrongs patiently
                      Merciful like the Father x 10

5.  Visit the sick                          5.  To forgive offences willingly
                      Merciful like the Father x 10

6.  Visit the imprisoned                6.  To comfort the afflicted
                      Merciful like the Father x 10

7.  Bury the dead                          7.  To pray for the living & the dead
                      Merciful like the Father x 10

Conclude with prayer on the centerpiece:
Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace, Saint Francis Prayer
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

... the 8th work of mercy "care for our common home" (Genesis 2:15) spiritual work gratefully contemplating God's world, and corporal work of holy performance to build a better world (see https://cvcomment.org/2016/09/01/pope-declares-care-of-creation-the-eighth-work-of-mercy/ )



another example ...



Holy Year of Mercy Rosary
December 8, 2015 – November 20, 2016

Dominican 5-decade Rosary
unofficial and based on the Threshold Divine Mercy bible study book

Before reciting this rosary, be sure to recite the normal 5-decade rosary - https://www.dummies.com/religion/christianity/catholicism/how-to-pray-the-rosary/


Thirty bible study book chapters divided into six sets of five meditations - two sets shown below (for the remaining four sets, purchase the bible study book)

* Say the Trisagion prayer on the small beads - Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.


Threshold Divine Mercy Table of Contents excerpt:


Set #1  (Based on Lessons 1 -5)  Meditations on the large beads:


1.      God Has Ears for the Afflicted (Exodus 2::23 – 3:15)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.


2.      A God Rich in Mercy (Exodus 34:4 – 9)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.


3.      Remember the Alien, the Orphan, and the Widow (Leviticus 19:9 – 18; Deuteronomy 24:17 – 22)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.


4.      God Chose You in Mercy (Deuteronomy 4:27 – 31; Deuteronomy 7:6 – 13)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.


5.      What the Lord Requires of You (Deuteronomy 10:12 – 22)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.



Set #2  (Based on Lessons 6 - 10)  Meditations on the large beads:

1.      The Ultimate Gift of Divine Mercy (2 Maccabees 7:20 – 29)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

2.      God Pursues His Beloved (Hosea 2:14 – 23)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

3.      God Delights in Showing Mercy (Micah 6:6 – 8; Micah 7:18 – 20)  

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

4.      God’s Everlasting Compassion and Mercy (Isaiah 54:4 – 10; Isaiah 55:6 – 9)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

5.      Great Is Your Steadfast Love (Psalm 86:1 – 17)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.



Conclude with Prayer of Saint Dominic on the centerpiece:




May God the Father who made us bless us.
May God the Son send his healing among us.
May God the Holy Spirit move within us
and give us eyes to see with, ears to hear with,
and hands that your work might be done.
May we walk and preach the word of God to all.
May the angel of peace watch over us
and lead us at last by God’s grace to the Kingdom.
Amen


Free printable Saint Dominic Prayer Card at:

http://www.stdominic.org.uk/st_dominic_prayer.pdf


This is a highly recommended bible study course.  Check it out. 


They have an additional bible study book on Mysteries of the Rosary



For Other Abrahamic Religions (more examples) ...



Create your own prayer cards with the

Thirteen Attributes of Mercy in Judaism


Based on Exodus 34:6-7

New American Bible (Revised Edition)


So the Lord passed before him and proclaimed: The Lord, the Lord, a God gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love and fidelity, continuing his love for a thousand generations, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin; yet not declaring the guilty guiltless, but bringing punishment for their parents’ wickedness on children and children’s children to the third and fourth generation!

reference and excerpt combined:


1.     Adonai — compassion before a person sins


– The Lord! (Adonai)–God is merciful before a person sins! Even though aware that future evil lies dormant within him.


2.     Adonai — compassion after a person has sinned

– The Lord! (Adonai)–God is merciful after the sinner has gone astray.


3.     El — mighty in compassion to give all creatures according to their need


– God (El)–a name that denotes power as ruler over nature and humankind, indicating that God’s mercy sometimes surpasses even the degree indicated by this name.

4.     Rachum — merciful, that humankind may not be distressed

– Compassionate (rahum)–God is filled with loving sympathy for human frailty does not put people into situations of extreme temptation, and eases the punishment of the guilty.

5.     VeChanun — and gracious if humankind is already in distress

– Gracious (v’hanun)–God shows mercy even to those who do not deserve it consoling the afflicted and raising up the oppressed.

6.     Erech appayim — slow to anger

– Slow to anger (ereh apayim)–God gives the sinner ample time to reflect, improve, and repent.

7.     VeRav chesed — and plenteous in kindness

– Abundant in Kindness (v’rav hesed)–God is kind toward those who lack personal merits, providing more gifts and blessings than they deserve; if one’s personal behavior is evenly balanced between virtue and sin, God tips the scales of justice toward the good.

8.     VeEmet — and truth

– Truth (v’emet)–God never reneges on His word to reward those who serve Him.

9.     Notzer chesed laalafim — keeping kindness unto thousands

– Preserver of kindness for thousands of generations (notzeir hesed la-alafim)–God remembers the deeds of the righteous for thebenefit of their less virtuous generations of offspring (thus we constantly invoke the merit of the Patriarchs).

10.     avon — forgiving iniquity

– Forgiver of iniquity (nosei avon)–God forgives intentional sin resulting from an evil disposition, as long as the sinner repents.

11.     VaFeshah — and transgression

– Forgiver of willful sin (pesha)–God allows even those who commit a sin with the malicious intent of rebelling against and angering Him the opportunity to repent.

12.     VeChata'ah — and sin

– Forgiver of error (v’hata’ah)–God forgives a sin committed out of carelessness, thoughtlessness, or apathy.

13.     VeNakeh — and pardoning

– Who cleanses (v’nakeh)–God is merciful, gracious, and forgiving, wiping away the sins of those who truly repent; however, if one does not repent, God does not cleanse.


References and excerpts from: 
Jewish Publication Society https://amzn.com/0827608829

Want more information on the 13 attributes of mercy in Judaism?





Dua - Muslim Prayers
http://islam.about.com/od/prayer/qt/DuaForgiveness.htm
Islamic Prayer Beads:  Subha
http://islam.about.com/od/prayer/g/Subha.htm
Want more information on Christian, Jewish, and Islamic studies?
https://icjs.org/

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Saint Patrick's Day - March 17th

Rebecca's

Irish Prayer Short Cord

for Saint Patrick’s Day


This prayer short cord consists of 7 beads for 7 prayers and 1 pendant for 1 concluding prayer - three strand braid (four small beads for prayers 1, 3, 5, 7; three large beads for prayers 2, 4, 6; one pendant of a flat five round point flower)  Others are of Irish knots and braids or with a flat four leaf clover pendant - make your own !




Normally, this irish prayer short cord is considered a prayer cord and not a chaplet.  Click here for the Chaplet of Saint Patrick


Saint Patrick Prayer Short Cord

  • May The Blessing Of Light Be On You
May the blessing of Light be on you
Light without and light within,
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
And warm your heart till it glows like
A great peat fire, so that the stranger
May come and warm himself at it,
And also a friend.
And may the light shine out of the two eyes of you,
Like a candle set in two windows of a house,
Bidding the wanderer to come in out of the storm.

And may the blessing of the Rain be on you
The soft sweet rain. May it fall upon your spirit
So that all the little flowers may spring up,
And shed their sweetness on the air.
And may the blessing of the Great Rains be on
You, may they beat upon your spirit
And wash it fair and clean,
And leave there many a shining pool
Where the blue of heaven shines,
And sometimes a star.

And may the blessing of the Earth be on you
The great round earth; may you ever have
A kindly greeting for them you pass
As you're going along the roads.
May the earth be soft under you when you rest upon it,
Tired at the end of the day,
And may it rest easy over you when,
At the last, you lay out under it;
May it rest so lightly over you,
That your soul may be out from under it quickly,
And up, and off, and on its way to God.



  • Saint Patrick's "Breastplate" Prayer
I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever.
By power of faith, Christ's incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the cherubim;
The sweet 'well done' in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,
The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.



  • An Irish Blessing
May there always be work for your hands to do.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine on your windowpane.
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.



  • Saint Patrick’s Hymn
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation



  • A Gaelic Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.



  • Prayer for the Faithful by Saint Patrick
May the Strength of God guide us.
May the Power of God preserve us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct us.
May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us.
May the Shield of God defend us.
May the Angels of God guard us.
- Against the snares of the evil one.

May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us,
Christ be over all!

May Thy Grace, Lord,
Always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and forevermore.
Amen.



  • An Old Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!



  • conclude with your favorite prayer





getting married on Saint Patrick's Day ?




Celtic Triquetra Wedding, Handfasting Cord, Irish 
by Divinity Braid 
sold at Amazon http://amzn.com/B0100NAA2E

Friday, February 5, 2016

Saint Valentine's Day - February 14th

Chaplet of Saint Valentine



On The Cross and Heart:

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit





On The First Bead:


O glorious advocate and protector,
Saint Valentine,
look with pity upon our wants,
hear our requests,
attend to our prayers,
relieve by your intercession the miseries
under which we labour,
and obtain for us the divine blessing,
that we may be found worthy to join you
in praising the Almighty for all eternity:
through the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.





On The Middle Three Beads:
Psalm 18 - Psalm of the love for God

or Our Father

Psalm 31 - Love Yahweh all faithful

or Hail Mary

Psalm 119 - Love God's law

or Glory Be



On The Last Bead:


Dear Lord, who art high in the Heavens,
Giver of Love and Passion,
And He who strings the heart's cords,
Lead the Lovers this day, February ten plus four.
The day during the month of two,
When the date is the perfect number of God
Greater two souls and two hearts.
Some Loves are fleeting,
But that which is built on you will never fail.
So guide the Lovers to know what is to be.
Your truths the Lovers' mouths should speak,
For Your truth is that which is honest to the heart.
Only this, then, should pass over the red lips of the Lovers.
Your art, the Lovers simply a medium.
It is only with True Hearts that You can create a Masterpiece,
So let the Lovers remember that their Soul's Desire
Is the one for which You light their Fire.
And let it be You who creates the Art of the Lovers;
The art of two into one.




On The Saint Valentine Metal:  


Grant, we beseech thee, O Almighty God,
that we who solemnize the feast day of Saint Valentine, priest and martyr,
may, by his intercession, be delivered from all the evils that threaten us
Through Christ Our Lord.  Amen



clasp chaplet in hand and conclude with:  Saint Valentine Pray for us.
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

St. Valentine Receiving A Rosary  (David Teniers III)






Saint Valentine Heart Rosary


For this rosary, do not use the chain.  Sign of the Cross to start, Apostles’ Creed or Nicene Creed on the cross, and one Hail Mary on the center piece before concluding prayer

First Bead:
  • Sermon by St. Augustine, Bishop
Today we keep our annual celebration of the triumph of the blessed Martyr Valentine, and the Church, while rejoicing in his glory, places him before us, that we may follow in his footsteps. If we suffer with him, we shall be glorified with him. There are two things to be considered in this glorious combat: namely, the hard-hearted cruelty of the torturer, and the unconquered patience of the Martyr--the cruelty of the torturer, that we may detest it; the patience of the Martyr, that we may imitate it. Hear what the Psalmist says in reproof of wickedness: Be not emulous of evildoers, for they shall shortly wither away as grass. But the Apostle teaches patience with the wicked in the words: Patience is necessary for you, that you may receive the promise.



Next Three Beads: 
  • An Act of Love
O my God, I love Thee with my whole heart, and above all things, because Thou art infinitely good in Thyself and infinitely to be loved; and for the love of Thee I love my neighbor as myself.
  • A Daily Oblation
My God and my all, I most earnestly desire, by my every breath, every thought, every word, every desire, and my every movement of body and soul,--to tell thee a thousand times that I love Thee more than life, or any thing in this world; and I offer and dedicate myself to Thee, renewing my baptismal vows, together with the promises and resolutions of my life past. I offer thee also (and by every movement of my body and soul I desire to renew the oblation) all the praise, thanks, and adoration of the Church militant, triumphant, and suffering; all that it has offered Thee, or will offer to the end of time; all the love, complacency, and delights thou possessest in Thy divine essence; all the homage rendered to Thee by my Savior Jesus Christ in the most adorable Sacrament of the Altar; all the Masses that are now celebrating, have been, or will be celebrated to the end of time, to Thy honor and glory, without any other wish or desire but that of pleasing Thee, loving Thee, living for Thee, and dying for Thee. I am thine, my God and my all; oh, make me so entirely and eternally. Above all, take my heart; extirpate from it all other affections, and make it for the future a furnace of the purest flames of Thy most ardent love. Amen.
  • An Act of Contrition 
O Father of mercies! who desirest not the death of sinners; look upon me, a miserable sinner, according to the multitude of Thy mercies. I acknowledge and confess, and am heartily sorry for, all the sins of my past life, and of this day in particular. I cast myself at Thy feet, and beseech Thee to cover all my sins with that infinite love with which Thou hast loved us from all eternity. I grieve from the bottom of my heart that I have been so ungrateful to Thee for Thy benefits, and have so often offended Thee, my God and my chief good. Spare me, I beseech Thee, by the death and love of Jesus Christ thy Son; and mercifully forgive me whatsoever sins I have this day, or heretofore, committed against Thee, my neighbour, or myself.


Next Bead:



  • Our Father

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, they kingdom come, thy will be done here on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day, our daily bread, forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Amen.


The Decades: Glory Be (Our Father) and the Acts of the Love of God (Hail Mary)



Glory Be

1. My God, my sovereign good, would that I had always loved thee!

2. My God, I detest the time in which I loved Thee not.

3. How have I lived so long without Thy holy love!

4. And Thou, my God, how hast Thou borne with me?

5. I thank Thee, O my God, for so much patience.

6. Now I desire to love Thee for ever.

7. I would rather die than cease to love Thee.

8. My God, deprive me of life rather than permit that I should cease to love Thee.

9. The grace I ask of Thee is, that I may always love Thee.

10. With Thy love I shall be happy.


Glory Be


1. My God, I desire to see Thee loved by all men.

2. I should consider it a happiness to give my blood, in order that all men may love Thee.

3. Blind are they who love Thee not.

4. Enlighten them, O my God!

5. Not to love Thee, O Sovereign Good, is the only evil to be feared.

6. Never will I be of the number of those blind souls who love Thee not.

7. Thou, O my God, art my Joy and all my good.

8. I desire to be wholly Thine for ever.

9. Who shall ever be able to separate me from Thy love!

10. Come, all created beings: come, all of you, and love my God.


Glory Be


1. My God, would that I had a thousand hearts to love Thee!

2. Would that I had the hearts of all men to love Thee!

3. How I should rejoice were there many worlds, who might all love Thee!

4. I should be happy if I could love Thee with the heart of all possible creatures.

5. Thou, indeed, dost merit it, O my God!

6. My heart is too poor and too cold to love Thee!

7. O woful insensibility of man, in regard of this Sovereign Good!

8. Oh, the blindness of worldlings, who know not true love!

9. O blessed inhabitants of heaven, who know it and love it!

10. O happy necessity, to love God!


Glory Be



1. O my God, when shall I burn with love for Thee?

2. Oh, how happy would be my lot!

3. But since I know not how to love Thee, I can rejoice at this,
that so many others love Thee with all their hearts.

4. I rejoice at this particularly, that the angels and saints love Thee in heaven.

5. I unite my feeble heart to their inflamed hearts.

6. Would that I could love Thee as well as those saints who have been most inflamed with love for Thee!

7. Would that I had for Thee a love similar to that of St. Mary Magdalene,
St. Catherine, and St. Teresa!

8. Or such as that of St. Augustin, St. Dominic, St. Francis Xavier, St. Philip Neri, St. Aloysius Gonzaga.

9. Or as that which was entertained for Thee by the holy Apostles; and particularly by St. Peter, St. Paul, and the beloved disciple.

10. Or, in fine, as that with which the great patriarch St. Joseph loved Thee.


Glory Be


1. Would, moreover, that I could love Thee as the blessed Virgin loved thee upon earth!

2. As she loved Thee, particularly when she conceived Thy divine Son in her virginal womb, when she brought Him into the world, when she nourished Him with her milk, and when she saw Him die.

3. Would that I could love Thee as she loves Thee now, and as she will love Thee for ever in heaven!

4. But to love Thee as thou deservest to be loved, O God, infinitely good, even this would not suffice.

5. I should wish, moreover, to love Thee as the Divine Word made Man loved Thee.

6. As he loved Thee at His birth.

7. As he loved Thee expiring on the cross.

8. As He loves Thee continually in the tabernacles where he lies hid.

9. As He loves, and shall low Thee for ever.

10. In line, my God, I wish to love Thee as thou lovest us; but since that is impossible, grant that I may love thee as well as I know how, as much as I can, and as much as Thou wishest me. Amen.



Concluding Prayer:



O God, who has prepared invisible rewards for those who love Thee, pour forth some of Thy love into our hearts, to the end that, loving Thee in all and above all, we may obtain the accomplishment of Thy promises, which surpass all desire; through our Lord Jesus Christ.

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St. Valentine Baptizing St. Lucilla  (Jacopo Bassano)