“Almighty, eternal, just and merciful God, give us miserable ones the grace to do for You alone what we know you want us to do and always to desire what pleases You. Inwardly cleansed, interiorly enlightened and inflamed by the fire of the Holy Spirit, may we be able to follow in the footsteps of Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and by Your grace alone, may we make our way to You, Most High, Who live and rule in perfect Trinity and simple Unity, and are glorified God almighty, forever and ever. Amen.”
About Gretchen Filz
A Short Prayer & Reflection for the 3rd Sunday of Advent
“O Almighty God, gracious provider and giver of life, we anxiously await the celebration of your birth. Like the people of long ago, our ancestors in faith, we, too, are in need of light, in need of direction, in need of your Word, to show us the way. Our busy lives and the consumerism that surrounds us make it difficult to recognize your kingdom and to hear your voice. Help us Lord, to focus on you.We pray that you hear our prayer in the name of Jesus. Amen.”
A Short Prayer & Reflection for the 2nd Sunday of Advent
O holy, patient, and loving God, in this season of grace-filled longing, we await the coming of your Son and our Savior. It is difficult for us to remember that this is a holy time. There are many distractions: commitments seem to pile up, and expectations are high. In the midst of our busy world, our busy lives, we need your help to remind us of what is important and necessary.
A Short Examination of Conscience Based on the Beatitudes
In order to make a good confession, we must first make a good examination of conscience. Many of us are familiar with examinations of conscience based on the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), but there is also another biblical guide that we can use to prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation: the Beatitudes. While the Ten Commandments […]
A Short Prayer & Reflection for the 1st Sunday of Advent
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT: IN EXPECTATION OF OUR LORD View The Catholic Company’s entire selection of Advent Prayer Books here. TODAY’S GOSPEL Jesus said to his disciples: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. […]
The Devil’s Drink: How the Pope Cheated Hell by “Baptizing” Coffee
A dark, bitter, boiling hot, and addictive beverage that bestowed almost super-human energy, sharpened the wits, and had its origins in the land of the infidels was certainly suspicious in 16th century Europe. Yet it was becoming so popular that some began to demand that the pope forbid Christians from consuming the wicked brew.
A Prayer To St. Joseph To Protect the Church In Times Of Tribulation
During his earthly life, St. Joseph was the divinely-appointed guardian and protector of the Child Jesus and His Holy Mother. This God-given mission did not end when he died—death expanded his mission to include all members of the Body of Christ. St. Joseph continues his role from heaven as the guardian and protector of the Catholic […]
What You Should Know About the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Over the centuries, as the saints and theologians reflected on what it means for Our Lady to have pondered and treasured the sacred events from the life of Jesus in her heart, as attested in Scripture, Mary’s heart began to be recognized as something to be imitated in daily practice. Devotion to Mary’s holy heart then developed, in much the same way as it did for the Sacred Heart, which was physically pierced by the lance on the Cross to give Eternal Life to men. So also does Mary’s heart, which was also pierced (as prophesied by Simeon) in union with her Son, give life—that is, grace—to the Christian soul.
How To Offer Up Your Intentions At Mass
As Catholic laity, we often hear about “active participation” at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We may think that “active” participation means “physical” participation—such as being a cantor, lector, or an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. However, first and foremost, the active participation of the laity is our interior participation at Mass.
A Vision of Mary’s Heavenly Glory by St. Bridget of Sweden
Saint Bridget of Sweden (1303 – 1373) was one of the most important and famous mystics of the Middle Ages, causing her to be named one of the patron saints not only of Sweden, but of all Europe. Among the many visions she records in her Revelations is this remarkable description of the Blessed Virgin Mary in her glory as the Queen of Heaven. In this vision St. Bridget sees Our Lady possessing seven lilies and seven precious stones in her heavenly crown. Each one symbolizes a different quality or characteristic. Seven, of course, is the biblical number symbolizing perfection.
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