Advent daily prayer and meditation ( third week )

Let us pray
that God will fill us with joy at the coming of Christ.
Lord God,
may we, Your people,
who look forward to the birthday of Christ
experience the joy of salvation
and celebrate that feast with love and thanksgiving.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Daily Meditation:
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks.

We begin this third week of Advent asking to feel the joy
that comes from knowing our Lord's coming to us is near.
In these precious days ahead, we are praying, longing, hoping
in the background of our everyday lives.

His mission is to the poor, the brokenhearted, prisoners and captives.
His mission is for us. It is good news, full of healing, liberty and release.
We can smile today as we imagine the freedom He has won for us
and how liberating it will be to live it, with Him, for others.
It is right to give our God thanks and praise.

The one who calls you is faithful,
and He will also accomplish it. 1 Thes. 5

As the earth brings forth its plants,
and a garden makes its growth spring up,
so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise
spring up before all the nations. Is. 61

Intercessions:
To God our Father, who has given us the grace
to wait in graceful hope for the revelation of
our Lord Jesus Christ, let us make our prayer:
Show us Your mercy, Lord.

Sanctify us in mind and body,
to keep us without sin until the coming of Your Son.

Make us walk this day in holiness,
to and live upright and devout lives in this world.

May we be clothed in our Lord Jesus Christ,
to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Lord, help us to stand watchful and ready,
until Your Son is revealed in all his glory.

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

Sunday Advent prayer and meditation

We begin this third week of Advent asking to feel the joy that comes from knowing our Lord's coming to us is near.
In these precious days ahead, we are praying, longing, hoping in the background of our everyday lives.
His mission is to the poor, the brokenhearted, prisoners and captives.
His mission is for us. There are good news full of healing, liberty and release.
We can smile today as we imagine the freedom He has won for us and how liberating it will be to live it, with him, for others.
It is right to give our God thanks and praise.

The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will also accomplish it. 1 Thes. 5

As the earth brings forth its plants,
and a garden makes its growth spring up,
so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise
spring up before all the nations. Is. 61

Intercessions:
To God our Father, who has given us the grace
to wait in graceful hope for the revelation of
our Lord Jesus Christ, let us make our prayer:

Show us Your mercy, Lord.
Sanctify us in mind and body,
- keep us without sin until the coming of Your Son.
Make us walk this day in holiness,
- and live upright and devout lives in this world.
May we be clothed in our Lord Jesus Christ,
- and filled with the Holy Spirit.
Lord, help us to stand watchful and ready,
- until Your Son is revealed in all His glory

Let us pray, this Advent for joy and hope in the coming Lord :
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
ever faithful to Your promises
and ever close to Your Church:
the earth rejoices in hope of the Savior's coming
and looks forward with longing
to His return at the end of time.

Prepare our hearts and remove the sadness
that hinders us from feeling the Joy and Hope
which His presence will bestow,
for He is Lord for ever and ever.
We lift our heart up to You, Lord,
to thank You for the blessings
You shower on us each day.
You are the 'joy of our soul.'
We know that in Your great love,
we are held and protected by You.
We rejoice, we rejoice, down to our soul.
Help us to prepare our heart
to be open and able to receive Your immense love

Amen

Third week of Advent : Gaudete Week

The week begins with "Gaudete" Sunday. Gaudete means "Rejoice" in Latin. It comes from the first word of the Entrance antiphon on Sunday.

The spirit of joy that begins this week comes from the words of Paul, "The Lord is near."
This joyful spirit is marked by the third candle of our Advent wreath, which is rose colored, and the rose colored vestments often used at the Eucharist.
The second part of Advent begins on December 17th each year - this year, in 2008, it is Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent. For the last eight days before Christmas we enter into the story of how Jesus' life began. These stories are filled with hints of what his life will mean for us. Faith and generosity overcome impossibility. Poverty and persecution reveal glory.
We prepare this week by feeling the joy. We move through this week feeling a part of the waiting world that rejoices because our longing has prepared us to believe the reign of God is close at hand. And so we consciously ask:
Prepare our hearts
and remove the sadness
that hinders us from feeling
the joy and hope
which his presence
will bestow.
Each morning this week, in that brief moment we are becoming accustomed to, we want to light a third inner candle. Three candles, going from expectation, to longing, to joy. They represent our inner preparation, or inner perspective. In this world of "conflict and division," "greed and lust for power," we begin each day this week with a sense of liberating joy.

Perhaps we can pause, breathe deeply and say,
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my savior."
Each day this week, we will continue to go through our everyday life, but we will experience the difference our faith can bring to it. We are confident that the grace we ask for will be given us. We will encounter sin - in our own hearts and in our experience of the sin of the world. We can pause in those moments, and feel the joy of the words,
"You are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people
from their sins." Mt 1:21
We may experience the Light shining into dark places of our lives and showing us patterns of sinfulness, and inviting us to experience God's mercy and healing. Perhaps we wish to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconcilation this week. We may want to make gestures of reconcilation with a loved one, relative, friend or associate. With more light and joy, it is easier to say, "I'm sorry; let's begin again."
Each night this week we want to pause in gratitude.

Whatever the day has brought, no matter how busy it has been, we can stop, before we fall asleep, to give thanks for a little more light, a little more freedom to walk by that light, in joy.
Our celebration of the coming of our Savior in history, is opening us up to experience his coming to us this year, and preparing us to await his coming in Glory.

God bless and be with all of you !

Daily Advent Prayer ~ Thursday ~

May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

Almighty Father,
give us the joy of Your love
to prepare the way for Christ our Lord.
Help us to serve You and one another.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Daily Meditation:

The afflicted and the needy seek water in vain
The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.

So often we are "afflicted and needy" and we seem to "seek water in vain."
Today we listen to a refreshing promise of how much our Lord desires to refresh us.
Each of us can fill in what we need the most and ask, with trust, for our Lord to come and save us.

I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand;
It is I who say to you, "Fear not, I will help you." Isaiah 41

Whoever has ears ought to hear. Matthew 11

Intercessions:
Let us pray to God our Father who sent his Son to save
mankind:
Show us your mercy, Lord.

Father most merciful, we confess our faith in your Christ
with our words,
- keep us from denying him in our actions.

You have sent your Son to rescue us,
- remove every sorrow from the face of the earth and
from our country.

Our land looks forward with delight to the approach of
your Son,
- let it experience the fullness of your joy.

Through your mercy makes us live holy and chaste lives in
this world,
- eagerly awaiting the blessed hope and coming of Christ
in glory.

Closing Prayer:
Lord, like a loving parent,
you offer me your comforting hand
and tell me not to be afraid.

Help me to wait for your coming with patience
and to listen to what you ask of me.

I want so much to be one of "your people"
and to live my life in you.

Thank you for the way you bless my life.
Thank you for listening to my prayers
and for planting deep in my heart
the knowlege that with you,
nothing is impossible.
Amen

Preparing our Hearts and asking for the Grace of Christmas

Here we are in the middle of the second week of Advent .

Each morning this week, if even for that brief moment at the side of our beds, we should try to light a second inner candle. We should try to let it represent "a bit more hope." Perhaps we can pause, breathe deeply and say,
"Lord, I place my trust in you."
Each day this week, as we encounter times that are rushed, even crazy, we can take that deep breath, and make that profound prayer. Each time we face some darkness, some experience of "parched land" or desert, some place where we feel "defeated" or "trapped," we hear the words, "Our God will come to save us!"
The grace we desire for this week is to be able to hear the promise and to invite our God to come into those real places of our lives that dearly need God's coming. We want to be able to say:
"Lord, I place my trust in your promise. Please, Lord, rouse your power and come into this place in my life, this relationship, into this deep self-defeating pattern. Please come here and save me."
Each night this week we can look back over the day and give thanks for the moments of deep breath, that opened a space for more trust and confidence in God's fidelity to us. No matter how difficult the challenges we are facing - from the growing realization of our personal sinfulness, to any experience of emptiness or powerlessness, even in the face of death itself - we can give thanks for the two candles that faithfully push back the darkness. And, we can give thanks for the graces given us to believe that "Our God will come to save us" because we were given the courageous faith to desire and ask boldly.
Come, Lord Jesus. Come and visit your people.
We await your coming. Come, O Lord.

This day meditation and prayer

2 Corinthians 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

God knows the state of your heart at all times. The testimony of Christ working in your life is written upon your heart. When God sees you, His eyes gaze upon your heart. When God talks to you, He sends His message within your heart. God does not care about how you look on the outside. God cares about how you carry His words and love within your heart. It is through your heart others come to know Him. To be right in your heart with Christ is the greatest way to be near God. Uprightness in your heart is the best way to show others the way to Christ. When you hurt, take your heart to God. When you hurt, He will touch your heart and His touch will be seen by others.. When you are full of thanksgiving, take your heart to God. In your thanksgiving, He will touch you and rejoice with you. When you are in despair, take your heart to God. He will lift your heart up. Then others will see His touch upon you.

Let us pray :

My Lord and Saviour Jesus ,
Most Merciful God Almighty Father
Truly Awesome And Ever-present Holy Spirit…
Give me a clear mind and an open heart to see you and know You.
Give me a clear mind and an open heart to take in Your love.
Bestow upon me a quiet humility.
Let me never be proud or arrogant.
Let me own up to my failings and mistakes
In Your Love and in Your Grace, may my faith be everlasting.
In Your Love and in Your Grace, may I always stand secure in knowing You love me and You gave Your life for me.
All these things I humbly pray in the name of my most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, my Mighty God, and my Ever-present Holy Spirit upon whom I can rely.
Amen

Daily meditation and prayer

Mark 6:34
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. (NIV)

We are all fallible. We all make mistakes. We all experience the trials of falling down. After falling down, we sometimes we have a difficult time recovering. We all get lost. Even if we are afraid to venture out, we can still get lost in our fear and anxiety. No matter how invincible we might think we are, eventually we become like sheep without a shepherd. Jesus is portrayed many ways to us in the New Testament. In the verse above, He is shown to us to be a teacher with great compassion for us. Jesus not only has great compassion for us, He also wants us to learn from Him. In everyday life, this means we should learn from the Bible and apply its truth. If we are open and trusting, we can learn His ways and receive His blessings

Let us pray :

Most Precious Lord Jesus, Gentle And Wonderful God, Truly Awesome And Ever-present Holy Spirit,
Precious Lord Jesus, I love you.
You are my Lord, in you I have peace.
You are my Shepherd and I am one of your flock.
When I was without hope, you gave me eternal life.
When I turned to my own way, you called my name and saved me from falling down into the eternal abyss.
When I was injured, because you love me, you bound up my wounds and healed me.
When I was weak, you strengthened me.
In your love, because of you, I shall have eternal life and never die.
In your love, I no longer want.
In your love, you lead me to lie down in green pastures.
In your love, you lead me to drink from still waters.
In your love, you lead me in the paths of righteousness for your names sake.
In your love, you restore my soul.
Now I live in the shadow of the most high where there is no shadow.
Now I live in the shadow of your cross where there is no shadow.
Thank you, Precious Lord Jesus.
All these things I humbly pray in the name of my most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, my Mighty God, and my Ever-present Holy Spirit upon whom I can rely.
Amen

25 Ways to Spend an Hour with Jesus

1. Slowly read Scripture until something hits you. Then listen.
2. Pray the Rosary.
3. Let God look at you.
4. Tell Him something that made you happy. Then listen.
5. Tell Him what you are afraid of. Then listen.
6. Tell Him what angers you. Then listen.
7. Speak about you loved ones.
8. Pray for an enemy.
9. Talk to Him about work.
10. Sing a song for Him in your heart.
11. Promise to trust Him.
12. Imagine mary sitting next to you and praying with you.
13. Renew your loyalty to His Church.
14. Lean on Him. Tell Him you love Him.
15. Thank Him for the Sacraments.
16. Tell Him your failures. Ask for help. Then listen.
17. Slowly recite the Beatitudes.
18. Say one Our Father slowly.
19. Say one Hail Mary slowly.
20. Say the Creed slowly.
21. Pray for vocations.
22. Ask Him to show you the next step.
23. Look at yourself. Count your gifts. Then thank Him.
24. Pray for the world.
25. Enjoy just being in His presence.

God Bless you all !

April is ~~ God bless you all

The month of April is dedicated to The Holy Spirit.


To believe in the Holy Spirit is to profess that the Holy Spirit is one of the persons of the Holy Trinity, consubstantial with the Father and the Son: "with the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified." (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
The Holy Spirit is the Person of Love in the life of God. He is also like a breath, an aspiration of infinite Love, from which we draw the breath of life.
Everything depends on the Holy Spirit's operation in us. The more fully we allow ourselves to be drawn and guided by the Holy Spirit, the closer we shall come to Jesus and His mysteries and graces. The Holy Spirit must draw us to every good thought, word and deed. Every act of faith, of hope and of love for God requires the inspiration and help of the Holy Spirit. If our virtues and our deeds are to be truly perfect and worthy of God, they need the special and continual touch of the Holy Spirit. Even though we are endowed with all the supernatural virtues, we still remain mere apprentices in the spiritual life. We know what we must do; and yet lack the virtue and the faculty to perform these things with ease. The Holy Spirit must guide us. He must seize our intellect and our wills and guide us in prayer, in work, in the decisions we have to make, and in the difficulties we encounter every day. He must share with us His manner of seeing, of loving, of thinking, and of working.

The entire month falls during the liturgical season of Easter. The liturgical color is white — the color of light, a symbol of joy, purity and innocence .
After our solemn commemoration of the last days and death of Our Lord we will spend the month of April celebrating. As Spring breaks forth even nature will join us as buds and blooms begin to surface and we spend this month basking in the joy of the Resurrection. We continue throughout the entire month our cry, "Christ is risen, Christ is truly risen."

The saints that we will focus on this month — those who have already shared in the rewards of the Resurrection — are St. Francis of Paola (April 2), St. Isidore (April 4), St. Vincent Ferrer (April 5), St. John Baptist de la Salle (April 7), St. Stanislaus (April 11), St. Bernadette (April 16), St. Anselm (April 21), St. George and St. Adalbert (April 23), St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen (April 24), St. Mark (April 25), Our Lady of Good Counsel (April 26), St. Louis Mary de Montfort and St. Peter Chanel (April 28), St. Catherine of Siena (April 29) and St. Pius V (April 30).

The feast of St. Martin I (April 13) falls on Sunday.
The feasts on the General Roman Calendar celebrated during the month of April are:

2. Francis of Paola, Opt. Mem.
4. Isidore of Seville, Opt. Mem.
5. Vincent Ferrer, Opt. Mem.
6. Third Sunday of Easter, Sunday
7. John Baptist de la Salle, Opt. Mem.
11. Stanislaus of Cracow, Opt. Mem.
13. Fourth Sunday of Easter, Sunday
20. Fifth Sunday of Easter, Sunday
21. Anselm, Opt. Mem.
23. George; Adalbert, Opt. Mem.
24. St. Fidelis, Opt. Mem.
25. St. Mark, Feast
26. Our Lady of Good Counsel (Can), Opt. Mem.
27. Sixth Sunday of Easter, Sunday
28. Peter Chanel (NZ, Feast); Louis Mary de Montfort, Opt. Mem.
29. Catherine of Siena, Memorial
30. Pius V; Bl. Marie de l'Incarnacion (Can), Memorial

Many blessings in Jesus Christ our ressurected Lord and Savior

~~ Feast of Annunciation ~~

Beautiful meditation today on the Feast of the Annunciation from Catholic Exchange :

Today, when we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation, we not only celebrate the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary, but also the great mystery of the Incarnation, taking place at the moment Mary declares, in obedience to the Lord, “be it done.” The dialogue we observe between Mary and the angel (found in Luke, chapter 1) is rather concise; the angel’s greeting to Mary, the announcement of God’s plan, and Mary’s humble acceptance to be the Lord’s handmaid. But in this short narration- just a few handfuls of sentences- a great deal of information and meaning is conveyed.

First there is the greeting God’s messenger uses to address Mary; “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” (Lk 1:28), indicating that even at this point, Mary is already filled with God’s grace. Mary’s reaction here, first unassuming silence, and then humbly asking how God’s intentions for her will be carried out, is fitting of one who was, as we know, conceived free from original sin. We see Mary react to the angel Gabriel with humility and obedience, even fear- a sharp contrast to the actions of Eve in the garden. St. Irenaeus, considered to be the first great Catholic theologian, elaborates on the contrast between Eve and the Blessed Virgin in book 5 of Against Heresies:
“For as Eve was seduced by the word of an angel to flee from God, having rebelled against his Word, so Mary by the word of an angel received the glad tidings that she would bear God by obeying his Word (Luke 1:38). The former was seduced to disobey God [and so fell], but the latter was persuaded to obey God, so that the Virgin Mary might become the advocate of the virgin Eve. As the human race was subjected to death through [the act of] a virgin, so was it saved by a virgin, and thus the disobedience of one virgin was precisely balanced by the obedience of another.”
And when Mary readily submits to God’s will, she does it in a most humble way, as apologist Dr. Scott Hahn describes in his book Hail, Holy Queen:
“A True Mother, Mary considers none of her glories her own. After all, she points out, she is only doing God’s bidding: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; it be to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). Even when she recognizes her superior gifts, she recognizes that they are gifts: “All generations will call me blessed” (Lk 1:48). For her part, Mary’s own soul “magnifies” not herself, but “the Lord” (Lk 1:46).”
Stepping back from Mary’s role, which was chosen by God from the very beginning, we can also take a moment to contemplate why the annunciation took place as it did. God is not bound to our expectations, and the virginal conception had been foretold, so why was it necessary for God’s messenger to announce God’s plan to Mary? St. Thomas Aquinas explains the logic of announcing to the Virgin Mary what was to be done to her in his magnum opus, the Summa Theologica:
“It was reasonable that it should be announced to the Blessed Virgin that she was to conceive Christ. First, in order to maintain a becoming order in the union of the Son of God with the Virgin-namely, that she should be informed in mind concerning Him, before conceiving Him in the flesh. Thus Augustine says (De Sancta Virgin. iii): “Mary is more blessed in receiving the faith of Christ, than in conceiving the flesh of Christ”; and further on he adds: “Her nearness as a Mother would have been of no profit to Mary, had she not borne Christ in her heart after a more blessed manner than in her flesh.”
Secondly, that she might be a more certain witness of this mystery, being instructed therein by God.
Thirdly, that she might offer to God the free gift of her obedience: which she proved herself right ready to do, saying: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord.”
Fourthly, in order to show that there is a certain spiritual wedlock between the Son of God and human nature. Wherefore in the Annunciation the Virgin’s consent was besought in lieu of that of the entire human nature.”
To understand, more fully, Mary’s role in the Redemption of the human race, we recommend Adrienne Von Speyr’s Mary in the Redemption.
Rejoice O Virgin, Birthgiver of God, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. For you have born the Savior of our souls. Amen.

Feast of Annunciation

The Angelus
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived by the Holy Spirit. [Recite the Hail Mary]
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord. R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word. [Recite the Hail Mary]
V. And the Word was made flesh. R. And dwelt among us. [Recite the Hail Mary]
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. R. 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.
Promise : "Whoever shall devoutly recall to me the joy I felt upon uttering the words, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord," I will most truly show him that I am his Mother, and unfailingly, I will succor him." ----- The Blessed Mother to St. Gertrude the Great

Regina Coeli

Queen of Heaven, rejoice, Alleluia: For He whom thou merited to bear, Alleluia, Has risen, as He said, Alleluia. Pray for us to God, Alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia.
R. Because the Lord is truly risen, Alleluia.
Let us pray :
O God, Who by the Resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, granted joy to the whole world: grant, we beg Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may lay hold of the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Regina Coeli carries a Partial Indulgence like the Memorare.

Divine Mercy Sunday

Let us pray the prayer is read to the pilgrims publicly in the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Krakow, Poland


Oh Jesus, your pierced heart is the Ocean of infinite Mercy from which your Blood and Water so generously emanate over us. Your Blood that set us free from our sins, and water that purifies and enlivens our hearts. You are the open fountain of Salvation in which we desire to submerge ourselves, so that we may be transformed by the redemptive power of Your Mercy.

Jesus, in this image of Your Merciful Heart revealed to Saint Faustina, You have offered us a vessel through which we can come to the fountain of Mercy to receive without limit, your abundant graces of conversion, healing and redemption.

Oh Jesus, I trust in You! To You I entrust my entire life, my heart, my fears, my fragilities, my dreams, and all the sufferings of my body as well as the most intimate sufferings of my heart and soul.

I trust in You, oh Divine Mercy! You, who see my weakness with compassionate eyes; You, who lift up my misery with the power of your love; You, who give life to my unfruitfulness and who trust in me in spite of my failings.

In You, I trust! You who calm the tempests of the soul and the great storms that violently assail the ship of our lives, our families, communities, nations and the entire world. In You, Jesus, I entrust the past that in so many ways crushes us; the present that causes much anxiety and the future that often times, we face with anguish.

Oh, Merciful Heart! In your sacred wound we hide, finding our refuge and our rest… our everlasting peace. In the unfathomable ocean of your Heart, we sinners submerge ourselves today, awaiting with confidence the greatest gift of your love for humanity: your Mercy.”

Divine Mercy Sunday ( prayer and meditation )

What is the Divine Mercy? It is a special devotion to Jesus that calls us to a deeper understanding of God's unlimited love and forgiveness. This mercy is available to everyone who seeks it with a repentant heart, even the greatest sinners.



"Do all you possibly can for this work of My mercy. I desire that My mercy be worshiped, and I am giving mankind the last hope of salvation; that is, recourse to My mercy" (The Diary of St. Faustina, 998).

Contemplating the Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ means pondering a sublime mystery. When we consider His proposal of forgiveness and His promise of mercy, we can barely approach an understanding of His perfect goodness and love.

In our sinfulness, even the most pious of us can not fathom such perfect mercy. We're unable to practice it ourselves and have never been recipients of it through human nature. It is more than we can believe that such a treasure, unmerited, would be ours through the merits of God Himself.

"I am Love and Mercy itself. There is no misery that could be a match for My mercy, neither will misery exhaust it, because as it is being granted — it increases. The soul that trusts in My mercy is most fortunate, because I Myself take care of it" (1273).

God's mercy, taught in scripture and in tradition, takes on a life-altering power in the Divine Mercy's devotion and spirituality. In this great gift of His limitless forgiveness, Christ brings to us the intimacy of a personal relationship in which love overcomes all sin. He urges us to call upon Him with trust, to receive His mercy and to let it flow to others in forgiveness and joy. In this way He chooses to draw all people to Himself.

As we pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, we commit ourselves to trusting completely in the infinite mercy of God to save His people despite their sins: "Eternal Father, I offer You the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and for those of the whole world. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world."

"Jesus, I trust in You," we pray as we consider the Divine Mercy which flows from Christ and seeks to inundate our lives with grace. It is a divine mystery that defies the logic of the world and raises our heads to the supernatural Truth, to the God who loves us.

Divine Mercy Sunday

Today is the Second Sunday of Easter known as Divine Mercy Sunday .
Our Holy Father John Paul II had proclaimed, "I give thanks to divine Providence that I have been enabled to contribute personally to the fulfillment of Christ's will, through the institution of the Feast of Divine Mercy." Our Lord also insisted that it be celebrated on a specific day - the Sunday after Easter
During the Mass of canonization of St. Faustina on April 30, 2000, the year of the Great Jubilee, Pope John Paul II proclaimed: "It is important then that we accept the whole message that comes to us from the word of God on this Second Sunday of Easter, which from now on throughout the Church, will be called Divine Mercy Sunday." The readings on that Sunday are always about mercy, trust and the forgiveness of sins.
By the words "the whole message," the Holy Father was referring to the strict connection between the "Easter Mystery of the Redemption" -- the suffering, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, followed by the sending of the Holy Spirit -- and this Feast of Divine Mercy, the Octave Day of Easter. This feast adds so much more meaning to the Easter celebrations. It was Jesus, Himself who asked for it to be celebrated on this particular Sunday following Easter.

This Feast of Mercy is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Day of Atonement (see Lv 16, Lv 23:29-32 and Sir 50) which was an annual feast where all sins and punishment were washed away. The Feast of Mercy is an annual celebration, which, as Jesus revealed, also has the promise of the total forgiveness of sins and punishment. Our Lord Jesus said, "The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain the complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened." (Diary, 699) .

Divine Mercy Novena Day 9

Divine Mercy Novena Day 8

"Today bring to Me
the souls who are detained in purgatory,
and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy.
Let the torrents of My Blood
cool down their scorching flames.
All these souls are greatly loved by Me.
They are making retribution to My justice.
It is in your power to bring them relief.
Draw all the indulgences
from the treasury of My Church
and offer them on their behalf.
Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer,
you would continually offer for them
the alms of the spirit
and pay for their debt to My justice."

Most Merciful Jesus,
You Yourself have said that You desire mercy;
so I bring into the abode
of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory,
souls who are very dear to You,
and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice.
May the streams of Blood and Water
which gushed forth from Your Heart
put out the flames of Purgatory,
that there, too,
the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.

Eternal Father,
turn Your merciful gaze
upon the souls suffering in Purgatory,
who are enfolded
in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus.
I beg You,
by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son,
and by all the bitterness
with which His most sacred Soul was flooded:
Manifest Your mercy to the souls
who are under Your just scrutiny.
Look upon them in no other way
but only through the Wounds of Jesus,
Your dearly beloved Son;
for we firmly believe
that there is no limit
to Your goodness and compassion.

Amen.

In the end of Novena pray Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy Novena Day 7

"Today bring to Me
the souls who especially venerate
and glorify My mercy,
and immerse them in My mercy.
These souls sorrowed most over my Passion
and entered most deeply into My spirit.
They are living images
of My Compassionate Heart.
These souls will shine
with a special brightness in the next life.
Not one of them will go into the fire of hell.
I shall particularly defend
each one of them at the hour of death."

Most Merciful Jesus,
whose Heart is Love itself,
receive into the abode
of Your Most Compassionate Heart
the souls of those who particularly extol
and venerate the greatness of Your mercy.
These souls are mighty
with the very power of God Himself.
In the midst of all afflictions
and adversities they go forward,
confident of Your mercy;
and united to You, O Jesus,
they carry all mankind on their shoulders.
These souls will not be judged severely,
but Your mercy will embrace them
as they depart from this life.

Eternal Father,
turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls
who glorify and venerate
Your greatest attribute,
that of Your fathomless mercy,
and who are enclosed
in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus.
These souls are a living Gospel;
their hands are full of deeds of mercy,
and their hearts,
overflowing with joy,
sing a canticle of mercy to You,
O Most High! I beg You O God:
Show them Your mercy according to the hope
and trust they have placed in You.
Let there be accomplished in them
the promise of Jesus,
Who said to them that during their life,
but especially at the hour of death,
the souls who will venerate
this fathomless mercy of His,
He, Himself, will defend as His glory.

Amen.

Divine Mercy Novena Day 6

"Today bring to Me
the meek and humble souls
and the souls of little children,
and immerse them in My mercy.
These souls most closely resemble My Heart.
They strengthened Me during My bitter agony.
I saw them as earthly Angels,
who will keep vigil at My altars.
I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace.
Only the humble soul
is capable of receiving My grace.
I favor humble souls with My confidence."

Most Merciful Jesus,
You yourself have said,
"Learn from Me
for I am meek and humble of heart."
Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart
all meek and humble souls
and the souls of little children.
These souls send all heaven into ecstasy
and they are the heavenly Father's favorites.
They are a sweet smelling bouquet
before the throne of God;
God Himself takes delight in their fragrance.
These souls have a permanent abode
in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus,
and they unceasingly sing out a hymn
of love and mercy.

Eternal Father,
turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls,
upon humble souls,
and upon little children
who are enfolded in the abode
which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus.
These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son.
Their fragrance rises from the earth
and reaches Your very throne.
Father of mercy and of all goodness,
I beg You by the love You bear these souls
and by the delight You take in them:
Bless the whole world,
that all souls together
may sing out the praises of Your mercy
for endless ages.

Amen.

In the end of Novena pray Divine Mercy Chaplet

Divine Mercy Novena Day 5

"Today bring to Me
the souls of those who have separated themselves
from My Church,
and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.
During My bitter Passion
they tore at My Body and Heart,
that is, My Church.
As they return to unity with the Church
My wounds heal
and in this way they alleviate My Passion."

Most Merciful Jesus,
Goodness itself,
You do not refuse light
to those who seek it of You.
Receive into the abode
of Your Most Compassionate Heart
the souls of those who have separated themselves
from Your Church.
Draw them by Your light
into the unity of the Church,
and do not let them escape
from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart;
but bring it about that they, too,
come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.

Eternal Father,
turn Your merciful gaze
upon the souls of those who have separated themselves
from Your Son's Church,
who have squandered Your blessings
and misused Your graces
by obstinately persisting in their errors.
Do not look upon their errors,
but upon the love of Your own Son
and upon His bitter Passion,
which He underwent for their sake,
since they, too,
are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart.
Bring it about that they also
may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages.

Amen.

In the end of Novena pray Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy Novena Day 4

Today bring to Me
those who do not believe in God
and those who do not yet know Me.
I was thinking also of them
during My bitter Passion,
and their future zeal comforted My Heart.
Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy."

Most Compassionate Jesus,
You are the the Light of the whole world.
Receive into the abode
of Your Most Compassionate Heart
the souls of those who do not believe in God
and of those who as yet do not know You.
Let the rays of Your grace
enlighten them that they, too,
together with us,
may extol Your wonderful mercy;
and do not let them escape
from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.

Eternal Father,
turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls
of those who do not believe in You,
and of those who as yet do not know You,
but who are enclosed
in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus.
Draw them to the light of the Gospel.
These souls do not know what great happiness
it is to love You.
Grant that they, too,
may extol the generosity of Your mercy
for endless ages.

Amen.

In the end of Novena pray Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy Novena Day 3

Third Day


"Today bring to Me all Devout and Faithful Souls,

and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls brought me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were a drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness."

Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.

In the end of novena we pray Divine Mercy Chaplet :

Divine Mercy Novena Day 2

Second Day

"Today bring to Me the Souls of Priests and Religious,
and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind."

Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service,* that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard -- upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.

In the end of second day of novena pray Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy Novena Day 1

First Day

"Today bring to Me All Mankind, especially all sinners and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me."

Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins, but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.

In the end pray Divine Mercy Chaplet

Divine Mercy Novena

I missed one day from this Novena , but given the nature of Divine Mercy, I doubt Christ will mind this little mistake. Better start this lovely novena late than never and today I'll pray two novena's days in one



From EWTN :
Jesus asked that the Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good Friday. He gave St. Faustina an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena, saving for the last day the most difficult intention of all, the lukewarm and indifferent of whom He said:"These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their account that I said: 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by.' The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy."In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her:"On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy ... On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls."
The different souls prayed for on each day of the novena are:

DAY 1 (Good Friday) - All mankind, especially sinners
DAY 2 (Holy Saturday) - The souls of priests and religious
DAY 3 (Easter Sunday) - All devout and faithful souls
DAY 4 (Easter Monday) - Those who do not believe in Jesus and those who do not yet know Him DAY 5 (Easter Tuesday) - The souls of separated brethren
DAY 6 (Easter Wednesday) - The meek and humble souls and the souls of children
DAY 7 (Easter Thursday) - The souls who especially venerate and glorify Jesus' mercy
DAY 8 (Easter Friday) - The souls who are detained in purgatory;
DAY 9 (Easter Saturday) - The souls who have become lukewarm.

God Bless you all praying and preparing for the great joy of our Lord and Saviour Resurrection

The Prayer Stabat Mater Dolorosa

At the Cross her station keeping
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.

Through her Heart, His sorrow sharing,
All His bitter anguish bearing,
Lo! the piercing sword had passed.

O how sad and sore distressed
Was that Mother, highly blessed,
Of the Sole-Begotten One.

Mournful, with Heart's prostration,
Mother meek, the bitter Passion
Saw She of Her glorious Son.

Who on Christ's dear Mother gazing,
In Her trouble so amazing,
Born of woman, would not weep?

Who on Christ's dear Mother thinking,
Such a cup of sorrow drinking,
Would not share Her sorrow deep?

For His people's sins rejected,
Saw Her Jesus unprotected.
Saw with thorns, with scourges rent.

Saw Her Son from judgement taken,
Her Beloved in death forsaken,
Till His Spirit forth He sent.

Fount of love and holy sorrow,
Mother, may my spirit borrow
Somewhat of your woe profound.

Unto Christ with pure emotion,
Raise my contrite heart's devotion,
To read love in every wound.

Those Five Wounds on Jesus smitten,
Mother! in my heart be written,
Deep as in your own they be.

You, your Saviour's Cross did bare,
You, your Son's rebuke did share.
Let me share them both with Thee.

In the Passion of my Maker,
Be my sinful soul partaker,
Weep 'til death and weep with you.

Mine with you be that sad station,
There to watch the great salvation,
Wrought upon the atoning Tree.

Virgin, you of virgins fairest,
May the bitter woe Thou bearest
Make on me impression deep.

Thus Christ's dying may I carry,
With Him in His Passion tarry,
And His Wounds in memory keep.

May His Wound both wound and heal me,
He enkindle, cleanse, strengthen me,
By His Cross my hope and stay.

May He, when the mountains quiver,
From that flame which burns forever,
Shield me on the Judgement Day.

Jesus, may Your Cross defend me,
And Your Mother's prayer befriend me;
Let me die in Your embrace.

When to dust my dust returns,
Grant a soul, that to You yearns,
In Your paradise a place.

Amen.

Also we can pray and meditate over this prayer :

Our God , Creator of the whole world ,
Into Your Hands I entrust *
For You are our Saviour ,
Eternal and Almighty God
Amen

( Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be)

Jesus-Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.
Virgin Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

* (name someone or an intention, etc.)

Wednesday of the Holy Week

Many Christian traditions call this day of the Holy Week "Silent Wednesday" because it is believed the Bible tells us very little about Christ's actions on this day. In the Catholic tradition, this is also called Dark Wednesday or the Wednesday of Darkness, to underscore the loneliness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus.
Also Wednesday of this week marks what has been known for centuries as Spy Wednesday -- traditionally, the day on which Judas spied for an opportunity to betray Jesus. It's thought to be the day when Christ's betrayer may have clinched the deal with the high priests.
In the Gospel of Today's Mass( http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew26.htm#v14that ) Judas began to look for an opportunity to betray Our Divine Lord to his enemies—to spy on him—in order to earn the thirty pieces of silver they had promised him. And the main theme for this day in the liturgy is the OBEDIENCE of Our Lord. The entrance antiphon of today’s Mass says: “Christ became obedient for us even to death, dying on a cross.” Notice: “obedient for us.” He is always obedient to the Father, since the three divine Persons are totally conformed one to the others in their Divine Will. But Jesus became obedient FOR US even to the terrible extreme of dying on a cross.

Father,
in your plan of salvation
your Son Jesus Christ accepted the cross
and freed us from the power of the enemy.
May we come to share the glory of his resurrection,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit
one God, for ever and ever.



May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

Daily meditation and prayer

for Thursday of the FifthWeek of Lent ( Genesis 17:3-9Psalm 105:4-5, 6-7, 8-9John 8:51-59 )

We hear – but, we do not understand.
In today’s Gospel, the Jews heard, but, they did not understand.“…whoever keeps my word will never see death.” I understand that statement of Jesus within the context of eternal life – and, not simply one’s physical life on earth. If I keep His Word, I will not see [eternal] death.I read the liturgical Readings of today and realize from both the Old Testament and the New Testament that God’s covenant is kept if we do our part. Both the Genesis Reading and Responsorial Psalm 105 emphasize the keeping of God’s covenant with Abraham. This theme of ‘covenant keeping’ is re-iterated by Jesus.

In today’s Gospel, we are asked to allow God to work within ourselves to change us. We are asked not to pursue Earthly things, but to pursue Heavenly things! We must not glorify ourselves, but allow God to glorify us, as Jesus says. We must remain faithful to God, and we “shall not taste death.”

How do we do that? How do we strive to remain faithful to God and be all that God wants us to be in this era? How do we live up to that potential that God wants us to? I don’t have any answers for these questions. These are all things which I struggle with constantly. We all have times that we have fallen short of what God wants from us. Sometimes I get so busy that I don’t take time for others. Sometimes, it’s easier and more convenient for me to make my own plans instead of discerning what it is that God wants from me.

We must remember that we have a forgiving God. When we don’t do everything we can to follow God, we have been blessed with the opportunity to ask God for forgiveness. Whether that is through personal prayer or a formal reconciliation service, we have the opportunity to receive forgiveness and continue to keep God at the front of our lives.

"If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing;? but it is my Father who glorifies me." John 8:54

Novena to Saint Joseph ( Spouse of the Blessed Virgin, Virginal Father of Jesus and Patron of the Universal Church († ca. 30)

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

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you

O Saint Joseph,
my patron and my advocate,
to you do I have recourse
that you may obtain for me that grace for which I humbly pray.
It is that the disappointments
and the bitterness in my life
are the just punishment for my sins.
But even If I recognize my own guilt,
need I lose hope in obtaining the help of the Lord?
‘Oh no,’ would be the answer of your devoted client,
Saint Theresa, ‘indeed, nor all you poor sinners.
No matter how great your needs,
turn to the powerful help of Saint Joseph.
Go to Saint Joseph with sincere confidence
and rest assured that your pleas will be heard.’

Following the teaching of Saint Theresa,
therefore, I present myself before your glorious throne,
0 Holy Saint Joseph
and beg for your powerful intercession in my present tribulations. Bring my petitions before the throne of God,
that by your power and mercy
I may obtain that which of myself
I would not be worthy to receive.
And grant that having obtained the favorable answer to my petition,
I may return to your altar
and there fulfill my devotion of praise and thanksgiving for your Intercession.

Remember O most merciful foster father of the Lord Jesus,
that no one who has ever had recourse to you was left unaided.
Countless are the graces and favors which you have obtained
in answer to the prayers addressed to you.
The sick, the oppressed, those who suffer injustice,
the betrayed, the abandoned, in short,
all who have had recourse to your protection
were aided in their afflictions.

O Holy Saint Joseph,
do not leave me to be the only one to be deprived of your help.
Show yourself kindly and generously even to me,
so that my prayers of thanksgiving for your mercy
may rebound for the greater glory of God.
O Saint Joseph,
head of the Holy Family,
I venerate you from the profoundest depth of my heart.
To the afflicted who have appealed to you before me,
you have granted comfort and peace.
Console even my own poor afflicted soul.
You know all my needs, Saint Joseph,
even before I set them before you in prayers.
O powerful Saint Joseph,
you know how important this petition is for me.
I place all my hope in your intercession.

Grant me the answer to the favor
for which I so desperately pray
and I pledge myself to spread your devotion everywhere and to support,
within the limits of my abilities,
those charities which, in your name,
aid the afflicted and the dying throughout the world.

Saint Joseph,
consoler of the afflicted,
have mercy on my Sorrow.

Amen.

Saint Joseph have mercy and save my mother from all her illness , help her in all her weakness and let her live a long life with us . Please save my mother , blessed Head of the Holy Family , foster father of our Lord and Saviour Jesus .

Saint Joseph , Spouse of the Blessed Virgin, Virginal Father of Jesus and Patron of the Universal Church († ca. 30) Novena



Saint Joseph was by birth of the royal family of David, but was living in humble obscurity as a carpenter, until God raised him to the highest office ever accorded a mortal man, by choosing him to be the spouse of the Virgin Mother, the virginal father and guardian of the Incarnate Word. Joseph, says Holy Scripture, was a just man. He was innocent and pure, as became the husband of Mary; he was gentle and tender, as one worthy to be named the father of Jesus; he was prudent and a lover of silence, as became the master of the holy house; above all, he was faithful and obedient to divine calls.

His conversation was with Angels rather than with men. When he learned that Mary bore within Her womb the Lord of heaven, he feared to take Her as his wife; but an Angel bade him put his fear aside, and all doubts vanished. When Herod sought the life of the divine Infant, an Angel told Joseph in a dream to fly with the Child and His Mother into Egypt. Joseph at once arose and obeyed. This sudden and unexpected flight must have exposed both him and his little Family to many inconveniences and sufferings; the journey with a newborn infant and a tender virgin was long, and the greater part of the way led through deserts and among strangers. Yet Saint Joseph alleges no excuses, nor inquires at what time they were to return.

Saint Chrysostom observes that God treats in this way all His servants, sending them frequent trials to clear their hearts from the rust of self-love, but intermixing with afflictions, seasons of consolation. It is the opinion of the Fathers that when the Holy Family entered Egypt, at the presence of the Child Jesus all the oracles of that superstitious country were struck dumb, and the statues of their gods trembled, and in many places fell to the ground. The Fathers also attribute to this holy visit the spiritual benediction poured on that country, which made it for many ages fruitful in Saints.

After the death of King Herod, of which Saint Joseph was informed in another vision, God ordered him to return with the Child and His Mother into the land of Israel, which our Saint readily accomplished. But when he arrived in Judea, hearing that Archelaus had succeeded Herod in that part of the land, and apprehensive that the son might be infected with his father’s vices, he feared to settle there, as he would otherwise probably have done, for the education of the Child. Therefore, directed by God through still another angelic visit, he retired into the dominions of Herod Antipas in Galilee, and to his former habitation in Nazareth.

Saint Joseph, a strict observer of the Mosaic law, journeyed each year at the time of the Passover to Jerusalem. Our Saviour, in the twelfth year of His age, accompanied His parents. Having participated in the usual ceremonies of the feast, the parents were returning with many of their neighbors and acquaintances towards Galilee, and never doubted that Jesus was with some of the company. They traveled on for a whole day’s journey before they discovered that He was not with them. But when night came on and they could find no trace of Him among their kindred and acquaintances, they, in the deepest affliction, returned with the utmost haste to Jerusalem. We are left to imagine their tears and their efforts to find Him. After an anxious search of three days they discovered Him in the Temple, discoursing with the learned doctors of the law, and asking them such questions as aroused the admiration of all who heard Him. His Mother told Him with what grief and earnestness they had sought Him and asked, “Son, why have You dealt with us in this way? Behold, Your Father and I have searched for You in great affliction of mind.” The young Saviour answered, “How is it that You sought Me? Did You not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” In this way Jesus encourages all young persons who are called to serve God to persevere in that high vocation, whatever the cost. But we are told that although He had remained in the Temple unknown to His parents, in all other things He was obedient to them, returning with them to Nazareth, and living there in all dutiful subjection to them.

As no further mention is made of Saint Joseph, he must have died before the marriage feast of Cana and the beginning of our divine Saviour’s ministry. We cannot doubt that he had the happiness of the presence of Jesus and Mary at his death, praying beside him, assisting and comforting him in his last moments; therefore he is invoked for the great grace of a happy death and the spiritual presence of Jesus in that hour.

Lord, look upon me with eyes of mercy, may your healing hand rest upon me, may your lifegiving powers flow into every cell of my body and into the depths of my soul, cleansing, purifying, restoring me to wholeness and strength for service in your Kingdom.