Nativity of Jesus (Birth of Jesus)

"CHRIST the Reason for the Season" 

The word Nativity comes from "Nativus" in Latin, which means "born".

An angel appears to Mary, telling her she's been chosen by God to bear the Son of God, who will be Savior of the people (Annunciation of the Lord, celebrated on 25 March, exactly 9 months before Christmas) and also about her cousin Elizabeth, who's ostensibly too old to have children, is already six months pregnant. This is a great proof God's power to do anything as He wills. Mary agrees to God's , and travels to visit Elizabeth. Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah, a priest who was told in the temple that  his aged wife would conceive and bear a son, to be named John. Zechariah lost his ability to speak as he did not believe what he was foretold. When Mary arrives, Elizabeth seems to be aware of Mary's impending pregnancy, saying her own child leapt in her womb in joy. Mary tells Elizabeth she's scared, since the law requires she remain pure and thinks nobody will believe she's kept her vows. Elizabeth comforts her by telling her to believe, trust and have faith in God. Mary stayed until Elizabeth's child is born, while Zechariah's voice was restored  and he insisted the child named as John.

Mary shortly then return home and is noticeably pregnant causing scandal by the town people, and Joseph is broken hearted. Mary's parents can't believe Mary explainantions as they fear she might have been raped by Herod's soldiers and told her the punishment could be death for violating her vows to Joseph. Joseph who is upset and bitter has decided not to put charges on the violation of the vows. The the angel once again appeared but this time to Joseph in a dream who tells him “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21). Joseph then woke up and  followed what the angel of the Lord had commanded by taking Mary home as his wife but did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son and named Jesus, the Immanuel (God with us).

King Herod worried about the prophecy of a new King of Jews who will be a Messiah, and  decides to take advantage of Caesar's intentions for a census to make everyone return to their ancestral home. As the prophecy had said the Messiah is to come from a descendant of David, Herod's plans to force them into Bethlehem, the City of David, capture and kill this child. Joseph is the force to go to Bethlehem and Mary agrees to follow him on an arduous journey. While on the journey to Bethlehem,  Mary realizes Joseph as a good, self-sacrificing man., therefore affection and trust begins grows between them.
 

Three Magi from Persia, who have been interpreting the prophecy, decide to travel to Judea because the alignment of a star with two planets indicates to them that the real King of Jews will be born in Bethlehem, Judea. They stopped in Jerusalem, and told the rulers in Jerusalem that the Messiah king is not  grown man, but a a newly born baby. Herod pretends with intentions to pay homage to the new king and tells them to return with directions upon them finding the newly born Messiah. Upon the Magi's departure, Herod plans to put an end to the people's hope in the prophecy by sending out his soldiers to kill all the new born babies in Bethlehem.

Upon their arrival in Bethlehem, Mary starts having contractions and Joseph goes looking for a place for her delivery, but all that's he could find was a stable. As Mary gives birth, the three celestial bodies line up, and a ray of light falls directly on the stable. Some shepherds show up to see the child as a message the received from an angel, including the one showed kindness to Joseph. Mary announces her baby is born for all mankind. The shepherds visit is the followed by the three gagi arrival, they presented their gifts of gold for the king of kings, frankincense for the priest of priests, and myrrh for the one who must sacrifice. Upon the shephards and three magi depature, Mary and Joseph slept while Herod's soldiers begin their terrible infanticide (killing all new borm babies). Herod's soldiers begin their terrible infanticide. The three magi did not go to Herod for they had been warned through a dream of Herod's plot to destroy the child. The angel's again came to Joseph in his dream to warn him about Herod's soldiers killing and ask the to flee out Bethlehem. Joseph quickly wakes up and again follows the command of the angel. Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus flee heading for Egypt escaping Herod's soldiers. Jesus, Mary and Joseph stayed in Egypt until Herod had died, and after which they returned to Nazareth.

 

 

It's a time for Christians to focus our hearts and love in anticipation of  the birth of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Savior of World.

The Shepherds

Angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds by night and announced the good news that a Savior, the Messiah had been born in the town of David, Bethelehem, Ephrath, Judea. Suddenly a great host of heavenly beings appeared with the angels, singing praises to God. Then, the shepherds decided to make their way to Bethlehem, where they found and saw the newly born Jesus, Mary and Joseph in a stable. Later the sheperds went on their way still praising and glorifying God and to spread the word about this amazing child and everything the angel had about the child. Mary did not say a word but she treasured their words and pondering them in her heart. It was beyond her ability to grasp, that sleeping in her arms, is the tender child who is the Savior of the world, the Messiah and the Lord, King of all Kings.

The Magi

At this time wise men (Magi) from the east saw a star, they search, knowing the star signified the birth of the king of the Jews. These wise men came to the Jewish rulers in Jerusalem, to find out where new King of the Jews is born. The rulers explained as in Micah 5:2, "In Bethlehem in Judea,". Herod secretly met the Magi and told them to inform him upon finding the child, as he wanted to go and worship the child but secretly Herod was plotting to kill the child. The wise men continued to follow the star and found the new born king, Jesus with his mother in Bethlehem. They bowed and worshipped him, offering treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The wise men  left and they did not go to Herod for they had been warned through a dream of Herod's plot to destroy the child.

 

 

The birth of Jesus as written in the Holy Scriptures and Gospels.

 

Micah 5:2

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”

 





Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.


Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

 

Matthew 1:18-2:12

 

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

 

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵ But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

The Magi Visit the Messiah

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Note :
The Magi also referred to as the Wise Men, Kings, or Kings from the East.


Luke 1:26-33

 
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”


Luke 1:39-45
 

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Luke 2:1-21
 

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

²¹ On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Away in a Manger

 

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there.

Visiting Jesus at the Most Blessed Sacrament

"Jesus waits for us in this Sacrament of Love."

Pope John Paul II

Letter Dominicae Cenae

 http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_24021980_dominicae-cenae_en.html
 

We should every effort to visit the Blessed Sacrament (Jesus) more often and best if we can do it daily. Christ is present wherever the Blessed Sacrament is. If Jesus were actually visible in church, everyone would run to welcome him, but his presence remains in the Sacred Host under the appearance of bread and he is calling us to faith, that we may go him in humility. He waits for our little Acts of faith, adoration, love, thanksgiving, repentance, reparation and charity that we can offer Him as we contemplate, His Divine Majesty. We grow spiritually with each moment spent with Jesus. He invites us to become His friend and disciple. Jesus calls and wants us to keep Him in Divine Intimacy and to observe in His love by keeping His Commandments. (John 15:4, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me."; 1 John 3:23, And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.)

"What wonderful majesty! What stupendous condescension! O sublime humility! That the Lord of the whole universe, God and the Son of God, should humble Himself like this under the form of a little bread, for our salvation."

St.Francis of Assisi

 

The Blessed Sacrament is the ever living Fountain of Life where  that quenches our thirst for the love of Christ, who alone have loved us,  loves us and will love us for eternity. Therefore make greater effort in becoming closer in wonderful union with  Lord Jesus Christ by devoting your time, attention and love towards Him. If we have visited and face Jesus often in the Blessed Sacrament, it will much easier for us to face Him on Judgement day . Each visit to the Blessed Sacrament is an act of faith, of love, and of self-purification. Come to Jesus often and He will shower more of His gifts upon our soul. Jesus is interested in our thoughts, desires, needs, hopes, ambitions, efforts, and labors of our daily life. Each of our visit gives Jesus a new reason to grant us more blessings as He is glad to see come to Him.

“The hidden treasure… is Jesus himself, the Kingdom in person. In the Sacred Host, he is present, the true treasure, always waiting for us. Only by adoring this presence do we learn how to receive him properly-we learn the reality of communion”.
Pope Benedict XVI,
address to Religious and seminarians,
Altotting, Germany, 11 September, 2006

Psalm 63: 1-5

¹ O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.
² I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.
³ Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you!
⁴ I will praise you as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
⁵ You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
I will praise you with songs of joy.

 "The Blessed Sacrament is the ‘Living Heart’ of each of our churches and it is our very sweet duty to honor and adore the Blessed Host, which our eyes see, the Incarnate Word, whom they cannot see."

Pope Paul VI

Credo of the People of God

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/motu_proprio/documents/hf_p-vi_motu-proprio_19680630_credo_en.html

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶ But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. ¹⁷ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 1:15-17 

 
²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 
John 10:27-28

@ @ @ @ @ @

Prayer to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament
St. Alphonsus Liguori
 

My Lord Jesus Christ, Who, through the love which You bear toward men, does remain with them day and night in this Sacrament, full of mercy and love, awaiting, inviting and receiving all who come to visit You, I believe that You are present in the Sacrament of the Altar. From the abyss of my nothingness, I adore You. I thank You for all the graces which You have bestowed upon me, particularly for having given me Yourself in this Sacrament, for having given my Your most holy Mother Mary for my advocate, and for having called me to visit You in this church. I pay my homage to Your most loving Heart for these three ends:
1) in thanksgiving for this great Gift;
2) to make amends to You for all the outrages which You do receive in this Sacrament from all Your enemies;
3) I intend by this visit to adore You in all the places on earth in which You are present in this Sacrament and in which You are the least honored and the most abandoned.
 

My Jesus, I love You with my whole heart. I am sorry for having offended Your infinite goodness so many times. I purpose, with the help of Your grace, never more to offend You; and, at this moment, mniserable as I am, I consecrate my whole being to You. I give You my entire will, all my affections and desires and all that I have. From this day forward, do what You will with me and with everything that belongs to me. I ask and desire only Your holy love, the gift of final perseverance and the perfect fulfillment of Your will. I commend to You the souls in Purgatory, particularly those who were most devoted to the Most Blessed Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin Mary; and I also commend to You all poor sinners. Finally, my dear Saviour, I unite all my affections with the affections of Your most loving Heart; and thus united, I offer them to Your Eternal Father, and I entreat Him, in Your Name and for Your sake, to accept and answer them.
AMEN.

Feast of Our Lady Of Guadalupe programme , Novena 2012, Puchong

Church Of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Lot 8437, Jalan Industri PBP ½,
Taman Industri Pusat Bandar Puchong,
47100, Selangor Darul Ehsan.
Parish Tel: 603 8062 1304
Fax: 603 8062 4014
Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Leonard Lexson
Parish Email: info@olgpuchong.org
Parish Website: www.olgpuchong.org

 

 

Saint Bridget Fifteen Prayers

She was born in 1303 and died 23 July, 1373 and was canonized on 7 October, 1391. She was the founder of the Bridgettines nuns and monks. She is one of the six patron saints of Europe, together with Benedict of Nursia, Saints Cyril and Methodius, Catherine of Siena and Edith Stein.

 

Saint Bridget prayed for a long time to know how many blows Our Lord suffered during His terrible Passion. Rewarding her patience, one day He appeared to her and said:

"I received 5475 blows upon My Body. If you wish to honor them in some way, recite fifteen Our Fathers and fifteen Hail Marys with the following Prayers, which I Myself shall teach you, for an entire year. When the year is finished, you will have honored each of My Wounds."

 

Our Lord made the following promises to anyone who recited the 15 St. Bridget Prayers for a whole year:

Promises

 

 

1. I will deliver 15 souls of his lineage from Purgatory.

2. 15 souls of his lineage will be confirmed and preserved in grace.

3. 15 sinners of his lineage will be converted.

4. Whoever recites these Prayers will attain the first degree of perfection.

5. 15 days before his death I will give him My Precious Body in order that he may escape eternal starvation; I will give him My Precious Blood to drink lest he thirst eternally.

6. 15 days before his death he will feel a deep contrition for all his sins and will have a perfect knowledge of them.

7. I will place before him the sign of My Victorious Cross for his help and defense against the attacks of his enemies.

8. Before his death I shall come with My Dearest Beloved Mother.

9. I shall graciously receive his soul, and will lead it into eternal joys.

10. And having led it there I shall give him a special draught from the fountain of My Deity, something I will not for those who have not recited My Prayers.

11. Let it be known that whoever may have been living in a state of mortal sin for 30 years, but who will recite devoutly, or have the intention to recite these Prayers, the Lord will forgive him all his sins.

12. I shall protect him from strong temptations.

13. I shall preserve and guard his 5 senses.

14. I shall preserve him from a sudden death.

15. His soul will be delivered from eternal death.

16. He will obtain all he asks for from God and the Blessed Virgin.

17. If he has lived all his life doing his own will and he is to die the next day, his life will be prolonged.

18. Every time one recites these Prayers he gains 100 days indulgence.

19. He is assured of being joined to the supreme Choir of Angels.

20. Whoever teaches these Prayers to another, will have continuous joy and merit which will endure eternally.

21. There where these Prayers are being said or will be said in the future God is present with His grace.

 

The Fifteen Prayers Revealed by Our Lord to
Saint Bridget of Sweden

In the Church of St. Paul at Rome

 

First Prayer
1 Our Father – 1 Hail Mary.
O Jesus Christ! Eternal Sweetness to those who love Thee, joy surpassing all joy and all desire, Salvation and Hope of all sinners, Who hast proved that Thou hast no greater desire than to be among men, even assuming human nature at the fullness of time for the love of men, recall all the sufferings Thou hast endured from the instant of Thy conception, and especially during Thy Passion, as it was decreed and ordained from all eternity in the Divine plan.

Remember, O Lord, that during the Last Super with Thy disciples, having washed their feet, Thou gavest them Thy Most Precious Body and Blood, and while at the same time Thou didst sweetly console them, Thou didst foretell them Thy coming Passion.

Remember the sadness and bitterness which Thou didst experience in Thy Soul as Thou Thyself bore witness saying: “My Soul is sorrowful even unto death.”

Remember all the fear, anguish and pain that Thou didst suffer in Thy delicate Body before the torment of the Crucifixion, when, after having prayed three times, bathed in a sweat of blood, Thou wast betrayed by Judas, Thy disciple, arrested by the people of a nation Thou hadst chosen and elevated, accused by false witnesses, unjustly judged by three judges during the flower of Thy youth and during the solemn Paschal season.

Remember that Thou wast despoiled of Thy garments and clothed in those of derision; that Thy Face and Eyes were veiled, that Thou wast buffeted, crowned with thorns, a reed placed in Thy Hands, that Thou was crushed with blows and overwhelmed with affronts and outrages.

In memory of all these pains and sufferings which Thou didst endure before Thy Passion on the Cross, grant me before my death true contrition, a sincere and entire confession, worthy satisfaction and the remission of all my sins. Amen

Second Prayer
1 Our Father – 1 Hail Mary.
O Jesus! True liberty of angels, Paradise of delights, remember the horror and sadness which Thou didst endure when Thy enemies, like furious lions, surrounded Thee, and by thousands of insults, spits, blows, lacerations and other unheard-of-cruelties, tormented Thee at will. In consideration of these torments and insulting words, I beseech Thee, O my Savior, to deliver me from all my enemies, visible and invisible, and to bring me, under Thy protection, to the perfection of eternal salvation. Amen

Third Prayer
1 Our Father – 1 Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Creator of Heaven and earth Whom nothing can encompass or limit, Thou Who dost enfold and hold all under Thy Loving power, remember the very bitter pain Thou didst suffer when the Jews nailed Thy Sacred Hands and Feet to the Cross by blow after blow with big blunt nails, and not finding Thee in a pitiable enough state to satisfy their rage, they enlarged Thy Wounds, and added pain to pain, and with indescribable cruelty stretched Thy Body on the Cross, pulled Thee from all sides, thus dislocating Thy Limbs. I beg of Thee, O Jesus, by the memory of this most Loving suffering of the Cross, to grant me the grace to fear Thee and to Love Thee. Amen.

Fourth Prayer
1 Our Father – 1 Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Heavenly Physician, raised aloft on the Cross to heal our wounds with Thine, remember the bruises which Thou didst suffer and the weakness of all Thy Members which were distended to such a degree that never was there pain like unto Thine. From the crown of Thy Head to the Soles of Thy Feet there was not one spot on Thy Body that was not in torment, and yet , forgetting all Thy sufferings, Thou didst not cease to pray to Thy heavenly Father for Thy enemies, saying “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Through this great Mercy, and in memory of this suffering, grant that the remembrance of Thy Most Bitter Passion may effect in us a perfect contrition and the remission of all our sins. Amen.

Fifth Prayer
1 Our Father – 1 Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Mirror of eternal splendor, remember the sadness which Thou experienced, when contemplating in the light of Thy Divinity the predestination of those who would be saved by the merits of Thy Sacred passion, Thou didst see at the same time, the great multitude of reprobates who would be damned for their sins, and Thou didst complain bitterly of those hopeless lost and unfortunate sinners.

Through this abyss of compassion and pity, and especially through the goodness which Thou displayed to the good thief when Thou saidst to him: “This day, thou shalt be with Me in paradise.” I beg of Thee, O Sweet Jesus, that at the hour of my death, Thou wilt show me mercy. Amen.

Sixth Prayer
1 Our Father – 1 Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Beloved and most desirable King, remember the grief Thou didst suffer, when naked and like a common criminal, Thou was fastened and raised on the Cross, when all Thy relatives and friends abandoned Thee, except Thy Beloved Mother, who remained close to Thee during Thy agony and whom Thou didst entrust to Thy faithful disciple when Thou saidst to Mary: “Woman, behold thy son!” and to St. John: “Son, behold thy Mother!”

I beg of Thee O my Savior, by the sword of sorrow which pierced the soul of Thy holy Mother, to have compassion on me in all my affliction and tribulations, both corporal and spiritual, and to assist me in all my trials, and especially at the hour of my death. Amen

Seventh Prayer
1 Our Father – 1 Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Inexhaustible Fountain of compassion, Who by a profound gesture of Love, said from the Cross: “I thirst!” suffered from the thirst for the salvation of the human race. I beg of Thee O my Savior, to inflame in our hearts the desire to tend toward perfection in all our acts; and to extinguish in us the concupiscence of the flesh and the ardor of worldly desires. Amen

Eighth Prayer
1 Our Father – 1 Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Sweetness of hearts, delight of the spirit, by the bitterness of the vinegar and gall which Thou didst taste on the Cross for Love of us, grant us the grace to receive worthily Thy Precious Body and Blood during our life and at the hour of our death, that they may serve as a remedy and consolation for our souls. Amen

Ninth Prayer
1 Our Father – 1 Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Royal virtue, joy of the mind, recall the pain Thou didst endure when, plunged in an ocean of bitterness at the approach of death, insulted, outraged by the Jews, Thou didst cry out in a loud voice that Thou was abandoned by Thy Father, saying: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me?”

Through this anguish, I beg of Thee, O my Savior, not to abandon me in the terrors and pains of my death. Amen

Tenth Prayer
1 Our Father – 1 Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Who art the beginning and end of all things, life and virtue, remember that for our sakes Thou was plunged in an abyss of suffering from the soles of Thy Feet to the crown of Thy Head. In consideration of the enormity of Thy Wounds, teach me to keep, through pure love, Thy Commandments, whose way is wide and easy for those who love Thee. Amen

Eleventh Prayer
1 Our Father – 1 Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Deep abyss of mercy, I beg of Thee, in memory of Thy Wounds which penetrated to the very marrow of Thy Bones and to the depth of Thy being, to draw me, a miserable sinner, overwhelmed by my offenses, away from sin and to hide me from Thy Face justly irritated against me, hide me in Thy Wounds, until Thy anger and just indignation shall have passed away. Amen

Twelfth Prayer
1 Our Father – 1 Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Mirror of Truth, symbol of unity, link of Charity, remember the multitude of wounds with which Thou was covered from head to foot, torn and reddened by the spilling of Thy adorable blood. O great and universal pain which Thou didst suffer in Thy virginal flesh for love of us! Sweetest Jesus! What is there that Thou couldst have done for us which Thou hast not done! May the fruit of Thy sufferings be renewed in my soul by the faithful remembrance of Thy passion, and may Thy love increase in my heart each day, until I see Thee in eternity, Thou Who art the treasury of every real good and every joy, which I beg Thee to grant me, O sweetest Jesus, in Heaven. Amen

Thirteenth Prayer
1 Our Father – 1 Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Strong Lion, Immortal and Invincible King, remember the pain which Thou didst endure when all Thy strength, both moral and physical, was entirely exhausted, Thou didst bow Thy head, saying: “It is consummated!”

Through this anguish and grief, I beg of Thee Lord Jesus, to have mercy on me at the hour of my death when my mind will be greatly troubled and my soul will be in anguish. Amen

Fourteenth Prayer
1 Our Father – 1 Hail Mary.
O Jesus! Only Son of the Father, splendor and figure of His substance remember the simple and humble recommendation Thou didst make of Thy Soul to Thy Eternal Father, saying: “Father, into Thy Hands I commend My Spirit!” And with Thy body all torn, and Thy Heart broken, and the bowels of Thy mercy open to redeem us, Thou didst expire. By this precious death, I beg of Thee O King of Saints, comfort me and help me to resist the devil, the flesh and the world, so that being dead to the world I may live for Thee alone. I beg of Thee at the hour of my death to receive me, a pilgrim and an exile returning to Thee. Amen

Fifteenth Prayer
1 Our Father – 1 Hail Mary.
O Jesus! True and fruitful Vine! Remember the abundant outpouring of Blood which Thou didst so generously shed from Thy Sacred Body as juice from grapes in a wine press.

From Thy Side, pierced with a lance by a soldier, blood and water issued forth until there was not left in Thy Body a single drop, and finally, like a bundle of myrrh lifted to the top of the Cross, Thy delicate flesh was destroyed, the very Substance of Thy Body withered, and the Marrow of Thy Bones dried up.

Through this bitter Passion and through the outpouring of Thy precious Blood, I beg of Thee, O Sweet Jesus, to receive my soul when I am in my death agony. Amen

Conclusion

O Sweet Jesus! Pierce my heart so that my tears of penitence and love will be my bread day and night; may I be converted entirely to Thee, may my heart be Thy perpetual habitation, may my conversation be pleasing to Thee, and my the end of my life be so praiseworthy that I may merit Heaven and there with Thy saints, praise Thee forever. Amen

 

The Gifts

The Gift of Praise
Appropriate mention, right in front of the other fellow,
of superior qualities or of a job or deeds well done.

The Gift of Consideration
Putting yourself in the other's shoes and thus providing
your genuine understanding of his side of the case.

The Gift of Concession
Humbly saying at just the right point,
"I am sorry, you are right and I am wrong."

The Gift of Gratitude
Never forgetting to say "Thank You" and never failing to mean it.

The Gift of Attention
When the other fellow speaks, listen attentively.
If his words are directed to you personally, meet his eye squarely.

The Gift of Inspiration
Plant seeds of courage and action in the other person's heart.

The Gift of Personal Presence
In sickness, in trouble, or in great joy,
there is nothing quite equal to your personal expression
of sympathy or congratulations.

Resolve to give these gifts each day.
You will be pleasantly surprised at what you will receive in return.


Ephesians 4:7-8
⁷But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it says:

“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.