March 29, 2009

Defend our Holy Father and Our Lord!

Please do this!


You are urgently requested to protest a sacrilegious cartoon in the French newspaper Le Monde - because the cartoon depicts Our Lord handing out prophylactics from a boat to the excited masses.

The cartoon reads:

"The multiplication of the condoms followed the multiplication of the loaves."

The cartoon targets the Pope too. He is shown as a decrepit old man who says: "Anything goes!"

As Catholics, you and I cannot accept such an attack on Our Lord and the Papacy!

That's why I ask you to please send a protest message via email to Le Monde at:

courrier-des-lecteurs@lemonde.fr

I've written a sample message that you may copy and send as yours. Please see it below. Or you can use it to help you in writing your own email message.

Whatever option you prefer, it's vital that you send your message right away. While the issue is hot. Perhaps even within the next 15 minutes. The honor of Our Lord and the Papacy is precious and cannot be brushed aside.

But there's more -

Le Monde also wrote an editorial against the Pope. They harshly criticized Benedict XVI for his statement in favor of morality during his recent trip to Cameroon.

All the Pope did was to reaffirm Church teaching about chastity and showed how prophylactics, instead of helping to protect lives and restrict the spread of AIDS, actually contribute to spread the disease and cause more deaths.

Logic. Facts. Morals. Not what the secular libertine world wants to hear.

In response, an angry and bitter chorus of liberal anti-Catholic voices swept Europe, and Le Monde was the most evident expression of hatred against Catholic morality over the last week.

That's why it is so important that you and I, united with Catholics across the world, raise a thundering protest against Le Monde - an expression of love, faith and loyalty to God, the Papacy and Catholic morality.

I once again urge you to please send a protest message via email to Le Monde at: courrier-des-lecteurs@lemonde.fr

And feel free to use the sample message below, if that helps you to get yours done and sent in a timely fashion.

You and I cannot sit this one out on the sidelines.

For the love of God and the Catholic Church and morality, please send your message today, and consider forwarding this email to all the Catholics you know.

May God bless you!

Sincerely,

Robert E. Ritchie, Director

PS - Here's the sample message you may use:

Le Monde:

As a Catholic, I was shocked and deeply pained to learn that your newspaper published a sacrilegious cartoon showing Our Lord Jesus Christ handing out prophylactics from a boat to the excited masses. The cartoon places words in the mouth of Our Lord and the Pope that are totally unacceptable.

I do not accept this warped and portrayal of Our Lord, the Pope and Catholic morality.

In response, I demand that you apologize for the cartoon and pledge never to publish such offensive material again.

With a heartfelt prayer for your conversion, and for the spiritual and material wellbeing of France.

The Stations of the Cross

IX Station.
Jesus falls the third time
V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee:
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world!

Meditation
Jesus, arriving exhausted at the foot of Calvary, falls for the third time to the ground. His love for us, however, is not diminished, not extinguished. What a fearfully oppressive burden our sins must be to cause Jesus to fall so often! Had He, however, not taken them upon Himself, they would have plunged us into the abyss of hell.

Prayer
Most merciful Jesus! I return Thee infinite thanks for not permitting me to continue in sin and to fall, as I have so often deserved, into the depths of hell. Enkindle in me an earnest desire of amendment; let me never again relapse, but vouchsafe me the grace to persevere in penance to the end of my life.
Our Father, etc.; Hail Mary, etc.

V. Lord Jesus, crucified:
R. Have mercy on us!


X. Station
Jesus is stripped of His garments.

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee:
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world!

Meditation
When Our Savior had arrived on Calvary, He was cruelly despoiled of His garments. How painful must this have been, because they adhered to His wounded and torn body and with them parts of His bloody skin was removed! All the wounds of Jesus are renewed. Jesus is despoiled of His garments that He might die possessed of nothing: how happy will I also die after laying aside my former self with all evil desires and sinful inclinations!

Prayer
Induce me, O Jesus! to lay aside my former self and to be renewed according to Thy will and desire. I will not spare myself, however painful this should be for me: despoiled of things temporal, of my own will. I desire to die, that I may live to Thee forevermore.
Our Father, etc.; Hail Mary, etc.

V. Lord Jesus, crucified:
R. Have mercy on us!
"The Stations of the Cross" taken from The Catholic Girls Guide by Father Lasance.

March 25, 2009

The Feast of the Annunciation


The Angel of the Lord declared to Mary:
And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art 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.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary . . .

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary . . .


Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

The Realm of Sauron is Ended

But the Nazgul turned and fled, and vanished into Mordor’s shadows, hearing a sudden terrible call out of the Dark Tower; and even at that moment all the hosts of Mordor trembled, doubt clutched their hearts, their laughter failed, their hands shook and their limbs were loosed. The Power that drove them on and filled them with hate and fury was wavering, its will was removed from them; and now looking in the eyes of their enemies they saw a deadly light and were afraid.


Then all the Captains of the West cried aloud, for their hearts were filled with a new hope in the midst of darkness. Out from the beleaguered hills knights of Gondor, Riders of Rohan, DĂșnedain of the North, close-serried companies, drove against their wavering foes, piercing the press with the thrust of bitter spears. But Gandalf lifted up his arms and called once more in a clear voice:


“Stand, Men of the West! Stand and wait! This is the hour of doom.”


And even as he spoke the earth rocked beneath their feet. Then rising swiftly up, far above the Towers of the Black Gate, high above the mountains, a vast soaring darkness sprang into the sky, flickering with fire. The earth groaned and quaked. The Towers of the Teeth swayed, tottered, and fell down; the mighty rampart crumbled; the Black Gate was hurled in ruin; and from far away, now dim, now growing, now mounting to the clouds, there came a drumming rumble, a roar, a long echoing roll of ruinous noise.


“The realm of Sauron is ended!” said Gandalf. “The Ring-bearer has fulfilled his Quest.” And as the Captains gazed south to the Land of Mordor, it seemed to them that, black against the pall of cloud, there rose a huge shape of shadow, impenetrable, lightning-crowned, filling all the sky. Enormous it reared above the world, and stretched out towards them a vast threatening hand, terrible but impotent: for even as it leaned over them, a great wind took it, and it was all blown away and passed; then a hush fell.


When I first read through the Lord of the Rings, I was glad for the included dates (Bilbo and Frodo's birthday on Sept. 22nd, the Fellowship setting out Dec. 25th, etc.) because it gave a sense that the events really happened, and here are the dates they were on. I could celebrate and look forward to each date.

It wasn't until maybe a year or so after my first read of the Lord of the Rings that I began realizing the significance of some of the dates that Tolkien picked. For example, the day that the ring was destroyed, March 25th. I don't recall exactly which biography or book about Tolkien that I read this in, but I read that Tolkien picked March 25th, because there is an old Norse legend that the 25th of March was the date of the Resurrection of Christ. I thought this was pretty neat, and given that I knew that Tolkien was a devout Catholic, his choice of this date didn't surprise me and I never really thought that much more about it, until this morning.

I've been reading and following the blog "Moments of Grace" (formerly "The Road Through Middle-Earth") since Anne Marie started writing it and her writings have caused me to start looking at the works of Tolkien in a different, more spiritual way. (By the way, if you haven't visited her blog at all, you've been missing out on some wonderful meditations!) So naturally with this new mindset, when I realized that the Destruction of the Ring and the Feast of the Annunciation were on the same day, I began thinking of ways that the two events might be similar. (I did, and maybe I'll get to those later.)

It popped into my head this morning at Mass and I realized something extraordinary. Christ began His mission of saving us from sin and death with His birth on Christmas Day, the same day that the Fellowship set out on their mission of saving Middle-Earth from the Dark Lord Sauron. Christ died on Good Friday, begging the end of His mission, and completed it on Easter Sunday, rising from the grave and defeating death and sin for all eternity. The ring was destroyed on "Easter Sunday", defeating Sauron forever, freeing Middle-Earth from darkness and death.

When I realized that, something else clicked as well. A while back I'd figured out that from the middle of "The Fellowship of the Ring" when the Fellowship sets out from Rivendell, to near the end of "The Return of the King" when the ring is destroyed, only three months have passed by, which seemed really strange to me, considering how much action occurred in those three months! But when I looked at it from the perspective of the journey starting on Christmas and ending on Easter, that short time span made sense, it fit.

Thank you Anne Marie, for helping me to discover this! And a Happy End-of-the-Reign-of-Sauron-Memorial-Day to you all!

Sing now, ye people of the Tower of Anor,
for the Realm of Sauron is ended for ever,
and the Dark Tower is thrown down.

Sing and rejoice, ye people of the Tower of Guard,
for your watch hath not been in vain,
and the Black Gate is broken, and your King hath passed through,
and he is victorious.

Sing and be glad, all ye children of the West,
for your King shall come again,
and he shall dwell among you all the days of your life.

And the Tree that was withered shall be renewed,
and he shall plant it in the high places,
and the City shall be blessed.

Sing all ye people!

March 22, 2009

The Stations of the Cross

VII. Station

Jesus falls the second time


V. We adore Thee O Christ, and praise Thee:

R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world!


Meditation

The suffering Jesus, under the weight of His cross, again falls to the ground; but the cruel executioners do not permit him to rest a moment. Pushing and striking Him, they urge Him onward. It is the frequent repetition of our sins which oppresses Jesus. Witnessing this, how can I continue to sin?


Prayer

O Jesus, Son of David! Have mercy on me! Extend to me Thy gracious hand and support me that I may never fall again into my old sins. From this very moment I will earnestly strive to reform; nevermore will I sin! O Help of the weak, strengthen me with Thy grace, without which I can do nothing, that I may carry out faithfully this my resolution.

Our Father, etc.; Hail Mary, etc.


V. Lord Jesus, crucified:

R. Have mercy on us!


VIII. Station

Jesus meets the weeping women of Jerusalem


V. We adore Thee O Christ, and praise Thee:

R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world!


Meditation

These devoted women, moved by compassion, weep over the suffering Savior. But he turns to them, saying “Weep not for Me Who am innocent, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” Weep thou also; for there is nothing more pleasing to the Lord, and nothing more profitable for thyself, than tears that are shed in contrition for sin.



Prayer

O Jesus! Who will give to my eyes a fountain of tears that day and night I may weep for my sins? I beseech Thee, through Thy bitter and bloody tears, to move my heart by Thy divine grace, so that I may weep all my days over Thy sufferings and still more over their cause, my sins.

Our Father, etc.; Hail Mary, etc.


V. Lord Jesus, crucified:

R. Have mercy on us!


“The Stations of the Cross” from The Catholic Girls Guide by Father Lasance.

March 20, 2009

Happy Birthday

A Very Happy 17th Birthday
To our Dear Rose!
You become more beautiful
with every passing year.

Love,
Dad, Mom, Lady Kathleen, Yaviel,
Beccaboo, TJ, Rosebud and Buster Brown

March 19, 2009

Happy Feast Day!


Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary,
Pray for us.
Holy Joseph,
Pray for us.

Noble Son of the House of David,
Pray for us.
Light of the Patriarchs,
Pray for us.
Husband of the Mother of God,
Pray for us.
Chaste Guardian of the Virgin,
Pray for us.
Foster-father of the Son of God,
Pray for us.
Sedulous Defender of Christ,
Pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family,
Pray for us.
Joseph most just,
Pray for us.
Joseph most chaste,
Pray for us.
Joseph most prudent,
Pray for us.
Joseph most valiant,
Pray for us.
Joseph most obedient,
Pray for us.
Joseph most faithful,
Pray for us.
Mirror of patience,
Pray for us.
Lover of poverty,
Pray for us.
Model of all who labor,
Pray for us.
Glory of family life,
Pray for us.
Protector of Virgins,
Pray for us.
Pillar of families,
Pray for us.
Consolation of the afflicted,
Pray for us.
Hope of the sick,
Pray for us.
Patron of the dying,
Pray for us.
Terror of the demons,
Pray for us.
Protector of the holy Church,
Pray for us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.

He made him master of his house,
and ruler of all his possessions.


O God, You were pleased to choose Saint Joseph as the husband of Mary and the guardian of your Son. Grant that, as we venerate him as our protector on earth, we may deserve to have him as our intercessor in heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint Joseph... Pray for Us!

March 17, 2009

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!


Christ shield me this day:
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 arise,
Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me

Saint Patrick... Pray for Us!

March 15, 2009

Rose Randomly Rambles Rather than Retiring

Ok ok, one last post for today and then I'll go to bed I promise!
What? Oh, hi there! Sorry, talking to my mom, who actually hasn't told me to go to bed yet but will. But I must say a few things before Sunday is over. Er, rather, sing a few things. Ok, I'm going to sing to you!
I am 16 going on 17
I know that I’m naive
Fellows I meet may tell me I'm sweet
And willingly I believe

I am 16 going on 17 innocent as a rose
Bachelor dandies
Drinkers of brandies
What do I know of those?

Totally unprepared am I
To face a world of men
Timid and shy and scared am I
Of things beyond my ken

I need someone
Older and wiser
Telling me what to do
You are 17 going on 18
I'll depend on you

Tada! Thank you! Thank you! I just had to sing that today, because I won't be able to after this week. Why, may you ask? Well, I shall whisper you a secret... I turn 17 on Friday! It's my birthday preciouss! Ha, that reminds me. The other day, I was in a rather hyper mood, and I was talking in a Gollum/Smeagol voice to my sister Yaviel and I looked out the window and saw the UPS coming up the drive. I declared that I would answer the door, grab the package and say (in a Gollum voice, of course) "It's my birthday present preciousss, and we wantss it!" Yavi actually believed me (and to tell the truth, I might have really done it!) and chased me into the basement so I couldn't open the door.

Second thing I wanted to share with you... I registered the domain name for my web-site last week! The address is modesty-mall.com. Nothing is up yet, but I will definitely keep you all posted! For those of you who didn't know (and that would probably be all of you), I have been working on building a website on modesty since the start of the school year. It's going to be all about modesty, why to dress modestly, how to dress modestly, where to find modest clothing, books on modesty and a whole bunch of other fun stuff.

Now you may be thinking, "What! She started back in August and just registered her domain name? She must not have been working much on it!" Wrong, as a matter of fact, I work on it at least two hours a week. So you may then think, "Well at least two hours a week, what's her problem? Just registered her domain name!? Sheesh! I would have registered it a long time ago and been writing a bunch of pages by now!" Well, if you think that, then you've never heard of SiteSell. To learn just what SiteSell is, simply click on the link. I think you will find it quite fascinating. Basically, the whole concept is building a site - centered on something you know and love. Building a site that is successful, popular and earns you an income! Interested now? ;)

Third thing, if you would, I would like to direct you to a new blog that I discovered Catholicism Rediscovered. It's written by my little sister's friend's older brother, recently started, but promises to be quite fascinating! So just pointing that out to y'all!

Okay, so, that's it for this week! See you later!


Protest NOW!

Urge YouTube to Remove "Jesus Juice" Video


How do you feel about YouTube allowing people to post videos showing the Holy Eucharist being desecrated and mocked?

For example, did you know there's a video called "Jesus Juice" on YouTube showing a man who takes a Host and mixes it with fresh fruit in a juicer machine?

Did you know that the video maker mocks Our Lord by saying: "I think that even Jesus himself would drink this juice it is so delicious...I can almost see Jesus in that juice already."

He also says: "If you want to make this yourself at home, you might be saying - where can I find that secret ingredient? Well, I bet if you just think about it hard enough, you'll be able to figure it out."

Finally, he mocks Our Lord before drinking the "Jesus Juice" in these words:

"Jesus, we thank you for this juice. May it nourish my body. And
thank you for giving me the idea as I sat in church..."

This is a sacrilege! And don't you consider it shocking that YouTube allows someone to post this type of offensive speech on its video sharing site?

So please send your protest message to YouTube.

The good news is that tens of thousands of Catholics joined our previous email protests against similar desecration videos on YouTube. Other Catholic sites and groups joined us, and we were able to get the desecration videos pulled from YouTube - thank God!

That victory reminds me of the protest we did against e-Bay auctioning consecrated hosts online. We won that one too! E-bay changed its policy and no longer facilitates the sale of consecrated hosts online.

These victories spur me to action today, to reach out to millions more Catholics out of the one billion Catholics worldwide. Ultimately, I hope 100,000 people sign this protest message to YouTube.

Will you help do it by passing on this message to your friends and family?

Thank you for helping. And if you like the work we're doing please:

Go here to send a small gift to spread the YouTube protest to millions of Catholics in America and abroad.
Sincerely,
Robert Ritchie
Robert E. Ritchie, Director

The Rosary of Our Lady of Sorrows

The Rosary of Our Lady of Sorrows, also known as the Rosary of the Mater Dolorosa, is an ancient prayer, that dates back to the first centuries. My family heard about this prayer from the priests of Miles Christi, and Our Lady of Kibeho asked people to pray it during her apparitions in Rwanda. In light of this, as well as it is a good devotion for Lent, I decided to share with you the Method for the Rosary of the Mater Dolorosa.


This is what the Mater Dolorosa rosary looks like. Instead of a crucifix, there is a medal with Our Lady of Sorrows on one side, and a scene of the crucifixtion on the other. There are seven decades, with seven Hail Mary's each, and instead of beads for the Our Fathers, there are medals with scenes of each of the seven sorrows. You can still pray this on a regular rosary, if you don't have a Mater Dolorosa rosary, just remember there are only seven Hail Mary's and not ten!


Method for the Rosary of the Mater Dolorosa


V. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen


I believe in God the Father the Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

R. I belive in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.


V. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

R. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.


V. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

R. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.


V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.


V. Today we will meditate on the Sorrows of Our Lady. In the first sorrow let us contemplate (The Prophecy of…)


V. Our Father…

R. Give us this day…


V. Hail Mary…

R. Holy Mary…

[seven times]


V. Glory be to the Father…

R. As it was…


O my Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy!


V. In the second sorrow let us contemplate…


At the end of the seventh sorrow say:

V. Let us pray for the intentions of the Holy Father, in order to obtain the holy indulgences. (Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be)


V. Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.


V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we made be made worthy of the promises of Christ.


Seven Sorrows of our Lady

  1. The Prophecy of Holy Simeon.
  2. The Flight of the Holy Family into Egypt.
  3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple.
  4. The Encounter of Jesus with His Blessed Mother as He Carries the Cross.
  5. The Crucifixion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ and Mary at the Foot of the Cross.
  6. The Descent from the Cross, and Jesus in the Arms of His Most Blessed Mother.
  7. The Burial of Our Lord, and the Loneliness of the Blessed Virgin.

The Stations of the Cross

III. Station

Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry His cross.


V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee:

R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world!

Meditation

Simon of Cyrene was compelled to assist Jesus in carrying His cross, and Jesus accepted his assistance. How willingly would He also permit you to carry the cross: He calls, but you hear Him not; He invites you, but you decline His invitation. What a reproach it is to bear the cross reluctantly!


Prayer

O Jesus! Whosoever does not take up his cross and follow Thee is not worthy of Thee. Behold, I will accompany Thee on the way of the cross; I will help Thee to carry the cross; I will walk in Thy bloodstained footsteps, and follow Thee, that I may be with Thee in life eternal.

Our Father, etc.; Hail Mary, etc.

V. Lord Jesus, crucified:

R. Have mercy on us!




VI. Station

Veronica wipes the face of Jesus.


V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee:

R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world!


Meditation

Veronica, impelled by devotion and compassion, wipes the face of the disfigured face of Jesus with her veil. And Jesus imprints on it His holy countenance: a great recompense for so small a service. What return do you make to your Savior for His great and manifold benefits?


Prayer

Most merciful Jesus! What return shall I make for all the benefits Thou didst bestow upon me? Behold I consecrate myself entirely to Thy service. I offer and consecrate to Thee my heart: imprint on it Thy sacred image, never again to be effaced. By sin.

Our Father, etc.; Hail Mary, etc.


V. Lord Jesus, crucified:

R. Have mercy on us!

"The Stations of the Cross", taken from the Catholic Girls Guide by Father Lasance

March 8, 2009

The Stations of the Cross

III. Station
Jesus falls the first time.

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee:
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou has redeemed the world!

Meditation.
Our dear Savior carrying the cross was so weakened by its heavy weight as to fall exhausted to the ground. Our sins and misdeeds were the heavy burden which oppressed Him: the cross was to Him light and sweet, but our sins were galling and insupportable.

Prayer.
O My Jesus! Thou didst bear my burden and the heavy weight of my sins. Should I, then, not bear in union with Thee my easy burden of suffering, and accept the sweet yoke of Thy commandments? Thy yoke is sweet and Thy burden is light: I therefore willingly accept it. I will take up my cross and follow Thee.
Our Father, etc; Hail Mary, etc.

V. Lord Jesus, crucified:
R. Have mercy on us!



IV. Station
Jesus meets His afflicted mother.

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee:
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou has redeemed the world!

Meditation.
How painful and how sad it must have been for Mary, the sorrowful Mother, to behold her beloved Son laden with the burden of the cross! What unspeakable pangs her most tender heart experienced! How earnestly did she desire to die in place of Jesus, or at least with Him! Implore this sorrowful Mother to assist you graciously in the hour of your death.

Prayer.
O Jesus! O Mary! I am the cause of the great and manifold pains which pierce your loving hearts. O that my heart also would experience at least some of your sufferings! Mother of sorrows! Let me participate in the sufferings which thou didst endure for me, and let me experience thy sorrow, that, afflicted with thee, I may enjoy thy assistance in the hour of my death.
Our Father, etc; Hail Mary, etc.

V. Lord Jesus, crucified:
R. Have mercy on us!

'The Stations of the Cross' taken from the "Catholic Girls Guide" by Father Lasance.

March 1, 2009

The Stations of the Cross

- Preparatory Prayer -
Most merciful Jesus! With a contrite heart and penitent spirit I purpose now to perform this devotion in honor of Thy bitter Passion and death. I adore Thee most humbly as my Lord and my God. I thank Thee most heartily, my divine Savior, for the infinite love wherewith Thou didst make the painful journey to Calvary for me, a wretched sinner, and didst die upon the cross for my salvation. I am truly sorry for all my sins, because by them I have offended Thee, Who art infinitely good. I detest them and I am resolved to amend my life. Grant that I may gain all the indulgences which are attached to this devotion, and since Thou hast promised to draw all things to Thyself, draw my heart and my love to Thee, that I may live and die in unison with Thee. Amen.


I. Station,
Jesus is condemned to death.

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee:
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world!

Meditation.
Jesus, most innocent, Who neither did nor could commit a sin, was condemned to death, and, moreover, to the most ignominious death of the cross. To remain a friend of Caeser, Pilate delivered Him into the hands of His enemies. A fearful crime - to condemn Innocence to death, and to offend God in order not to displease men!

Prayer
O Innocent Jesus! Having sinned, I am guilty of eternal death, but Thou willingly dost accept the unjust sentence of death, that I might live. For whom, then, shall I henceforth live, if not for Thee, My Lord? Should I desire to please men, I could not be Thy servant. Let me, therefore, rather displease men and all the world than not please Thee, O Jesus.

Our Father, etc.; Hail Mary, etc.
V. Lord Jesus, crucified:
R. Have mercy on us.



II. Station.
Jesus carries His cross.

V. We adore Thee, O Christ, and praise Thee:
R. Because by Thy holy cross Thou hast redeemed the world!

Meditation.
When our divine Savior beheld the cross, He stretched out His bleeding arms towards it with eager desire, lovingly embraced it, tenderly kissed it, and placing it on His bruised shoulders, joyfully carried it, although He was worn and weary unto death.

Prayer.
O My Jesus! I cannot be Thy friend and follower if I refuse to carry the cross. O dearly beloved cross! I embrace thee, I kiss thee, I joyfully accept thee from the hands of my God. Far be it from me to glory in anything, save in the cross of my Redeemer. By it the world shall be crucified to me and I to the world, that I may be Thine, O Jesus, forever.

Our Father, etc.; Hail Mary, etc.
V. Lord Jesus, crucified:
R. Have mercy on us.

'The Stations of the Cross' taken from the "Catholic Girls Guide" by Father Lasance.