I dreamed of Our Lady of Guadalupe years ago; maybe many years ago but I still remember. I was in a church I had never been in before but in the dream it was familiar. I was praying in front of a beautiful image Our Lady of Guadalupe that seemed alive in some way. The church was fairly dark, mass not having begun. There were people scattered in the pews praying and waiting.
An old man in a middle pew started talking loudly about how there were too many (insert slur for Latinos here) in the Church and we needed to “get them all out of here.” He went on and on about this. I felt such horror that he would speak this way at all but especially in the Church. I looked back at him, then back at the image of Our Lady and noticed it was smoldering in the corner and the burnt part was spreading. I ran to the man and begged him to stop. “Please Sir, don’t speak like that! Please! Not in this holy place!”
I don’t remember anything else about that dream, though I think I may have asked the angry old man to come outside with me and talk about it there.
Given what’s going on now though I wonder if it was kind of a warning or a premonition.
Today on her Feast, as Queen of the Americas, I pray for an end to the violent hatred and rage toward her Latino children living in the U.S., and end to the hateful speech, the cruelty and disregard toward them. In this holy place, this temple of the hearts of men and women, let there be love and respect, humility and understanding.
I promise to help you, Mother Mary, to pray and intercede for your immigrant children in my country.
I associate you as Our Lady of Guadalupe with love and protection, compassion for all who weep, solidarity with the lowly, conversion of heart and reconciliation between people who were once enemies. God has entrusted the Americas to you. Mother of Tepayak, of roses given in winter snow, you choose the little ones the world disregards to speak to us all and reveal to us your sweet face, your presence, your love.
Allow us to bring you the roses of dedication and celebration. Remain with us now as evening draws near. Tell us the story of Jesus, your Son.
When I don’t know what to do, I take up the rosary. And this makes total sense because praying the rosary is like holding Mary’s hand. It’s a way to pray in every style and on every level. It’s the prayer of the people. Our Lady urges us to pray it. St. Jacinta of Fatima said it was able to stop wars. It’s an offering to God, an offering to Mary.
October is the month of the Holy Rosary. The awful things that have happened this week have been horrifying and broken my heart, probably yours too.
All I can do with this is run to Mary in the rosary. She knows what to do.
She knows how her migrant children are being treated. She knows about what’s happening in the land she lived her earthly life in. She loves Ukrainians and Russians alike. She loves her MAGA children and her children on the opposite side. She loves us all. She is our mother, our sister, our friend.
Today I have written reflections and prayers for the rosary that go with Catholic values and the things that have concerned me the most this week as I took in current events. I plan to keep doing that for the month of October until I cover all of the mysteries. So I will add to this each week of October. I’m praying for everyone though, for the whole world, asking that God’s will be done, that the Kingdom will come, for the promised triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, that love will win and start winning now, and if not, that at the very least it will win in me.
Come, Holy Spirit,
Come by means
Of the powerful intercession
Of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Thy well beloved spouse.
Amen
The Joyful Mysteries
(Mondays, Saturdays and the Sundays of Advent)
Every Hail Mary is a beautiful rose offered to Our Lady. So for these Joyful Mysteries we will offer her perfect pink rosebuds to commemorate and participate in her joy.
The Annunciation (rose hip: humility)
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my Spirit rejoices in God my Savior. (Luke 1:46-47)
Young Mary, I place myself with you as you hear the most astonishing message anyone on earth has ever heard, as you accept a mission and a life you never expected, displaying a strength, courage and humility we find impossible to imagine. And you conceived of the Holy Spirit, the Savior of the world. Maybe you cried after the angel left. You are overwhelmed. Maybe you will let me hold you.
Thank you sweet Mother, for your acceptance with joy even though you were scared. You had faith.
I pray in special reference to vulnerable and marginalized people especially immigrants being terrorized in my country, and those who do the terrorizing or support it. Open our hearts to humbly accept Jesus in everyone. I pray for all of us. Pray for us to know God’s will for us.
The Visitation (rose bud: charity/love of neighbor).
A new command I give you: Love one another.
As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
(John 13:34)
Let me accompany you, Mary, when you immediately left to visit your kinswoman, Elizabeth, who was part of the Secret you carried, and who needed support in her late in life pregnancy. You didn’t hesitate. You went straight there.
Pray for me, Mary my sister and friend. Pray for me that I will never hesitate to help where I can, to be in community with those who have the same purpose of charity and love of neighbor. Help me find strength, hope, encouragement and peace among people united for this. Gather us and guide us, St. Elizabeth, Holy Mary, that we may serve those in need of help and justice that they may live in dignity.
The Nativity(rose bud: poverty of spirit)
Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God (Luke 6:20)
Holy Mother, you traveled late in your pregnancy to Bethlehem on a donkey beside a husband on foot, a poor man with little means. In the sight of barn animals, on the floor of a cave, you endured the pains of birth. No one would let you stay with them. You had nowhere else to go. Let me give you water. Let me hold your hand, hug Joseph when things get hard. Let me share your joy and generosity when Jesus is born and you shared him with those who sought him.
Mother of God, pray for me that I can be in solidarity with the poor and marginalized, with immigrant women whose babies are ripped from their arms, with pregnant and birthing women who are poor and don’t get the care they need, with all people suffering from the injustices pf poverty. Show me Jesus there among them, and in them. Show him to all of us, especially those who can’t see him. There will be our peace and their prayers answered.
The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple (rose hip: love of God/obedience)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind.
(Matthew 22:37)
You emerged from the Mikva and with Joseph presented your Child in the Temple, offering him to God as required by your faith. Let me submerge in the water of purification with you, pray with you. Let me walk the steps with you and hear the blessings and prayers of the priests. Let me hear with you Simeon and Anna as they say amazing things about the Baby you hold and what he will be and do. I want to support you when you hear of his future rejection, when you are told your heart will be pierced through. How terrible for you and Joseph to know. What did you do with that? What does it mean that because of the piercing of your heart the secret thoughts of many will be revealed?
Mother pray for me that my own heart will be revealed so that I can repent of anything I should repent of. Pray for me that I can withstand the shock I feel when the hatred of so many is revealed. You see us all. Your heart us pierced for us. Pray for us Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of your young Son, innocent and free to serve. Pray for us to be wise as serpents but innocent as doves as he taught. Always may we live in the truth, especially in a time of so many lies and so much violence justified by lies. When we can’t find him, lead us to the Temple of our hearts where he is always.
The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple
With burning love I have been zealous for the Lord our God (1Kings:19:10)
Oh Mary, St. Joseph, how awful it was to lose your Child for three straight days. You looked for him everywhere. Nobody could tell you anything and God was silent. No angel spoke. You were desolate. You didn’t know whether this was the sword Simeon spoke of or not. “Mary please eat something,” Jospeh would beg you. “At least sleep a little bit.” How great your joy when you found him in the Temple asking questions and answering them from the teachers. You still confronted him on the spot like any Mother would. “Why have you done this to us?” Even as you embraced him and led him home. He insisted he had been in his Father’s house all the time and was surprised they didn’t know.
Mother of God, so many children of immigrants are having their parents taken away, and being taken from their parents. The parents are sometimes unable to find their children or ever see them again. Pray for them, Holy Mother. You know how they feel. You hear the screams of the children, the cries of parents. Pray for me when I can’t see God at work, when I can’t see anything but Jesus being persecuted and dragged away. Help me also to the joy you knew in finding your Son. Tell me he is at work helping these people now. Tell them. O God these are ugly days. Help me still find beauty and love. Help me find you. You are there. Doing the Father’s work all the time.
Closing Prayers
Queen of the Holy Rosary, I offer you these of pink rose buds I have woven into a crown to place on your sweet head. I love you. I love you so much. I just want to sit with you a while and be happy with you.
O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor haughty my eyes; I have not gone after things too great,
or marvels beyond me.
Truly I have set my soul
In silence and peace like a weaned child in its mother’s lap even so my soul.
Oh Israel, hope in the Lord forever!
Psalm 131
The Luminous Mysteries (Thursdays)
For these Luminous Mysteries we will offer her these bright yellow roses to represent the Light of Christ.
Come, Holy Spirit,
Come by means
Of the powerful intercession
Of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Thy well beloved spouse.
The Baptism of the Lord (rose hip: dedication to God’s will)
Sacrifice and offering you did not desire— but my ears you have opened burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, “Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”
Psalm 40:6-8
Jesus, you accepted baptism from John humbly as a dedication, a consecration, a willingness do do the will of your Father, to give yourself to us to teach, heal and save us. Reflecting your dedication, and in memory of my own baptism, I pray:
God, I offer myself to thee, to do with me and build with me as you will. Relieve me of the bondage of self that I may better do thy will. Take away my difficulties that victory over them may bear witness to thy power, thy love, thy way of life. May I do thy will always. Amen.
3rd Step Prayer, Alcoholics Anonymous
*Go down into the river Jordan with Jesus, and hear with him the words of the Father, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased,” and know these words are meant for you too. Let Jesus dry your face and hair. Maybe you would like to hug him.
The Wedding at Cana (rose hip: trust in Mary’s intercession)
Do whatever he tells you
John 2:5
Jesus, your mother sees our troubles, and she comes to you to intercede for us. In some towns during your ministry you didn’t work many miracles because people had no faith. It was Mary’s faith that led you to perform your first public miracle. She turns to me and says, “I have prayed for you to my Son, now do whatever he tells you.” Sometimes I even know what you want but we’re scared to do it. But you and Our Lady look at me and your presence gives me strength. May I always trust in her motherly, sisterly love and her friendship. The paths of her heart always take me back to yours- all good, all beautiful, all love. Trace in my heart the lines of her love for you, and transform me as water to wine.
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
(rose hip: Love of the Poor, the Outcast, the Persecuted of the world)
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor… to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.
Luke 4:18-19
Lord there are so two different meanings to your Word here, at least two. I know that you came to set us free from sin and from the grip of the devil’s oppression. You also say to me in these words that you want to see actual captives free, actual sight returned to the blind, for the oppressed of our world to be free. To me this means that I am to be part of this work in both ways. I should be part of the salvation of every soul I come across, and I should pray for all to be saved, be an example, answer questions of faith and spread love always. I understand that the Kingdom is also about social justice, about people being free from prison and migrant detention, about wrongs set right, the poor being free of poverty, the sick being cared for and healed. Lord help me to love my brother, my sister, you. Let me rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). This is what your Sacred Heart does and I want to share the love you have for everyone, to be one with you.
The Transfiguration of the Lord (rose hip: a spirit of prayer)
One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple
Psalm 27:4
How beautiful you are, Lord Jesus. Your beauty will always draw me after you, making me long to contemplate your face. Your loveliness and glory, your divinity and at the same time, you feet standing on the earth that day, maybe with muddy toes, satisfy my soul. Never may I deny you, Lord, nor you me. I with you, you with me, may we abide always together. May it be revealed to me who am devoted to you, the holy truth of the Gospel, of your glory and love, that you complete all things, the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. Even if I fall asleep, even if I say ridiculous things, never leave me. Console ,me and prepare me for the difficulties before me so that I will always stay with you and stand up for love.
The Last Supper, and the Institution of the Eucharist(rose hips: a spirit of humble service, love of the Eucharist)
“Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
John 12b-15
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, gave thanks,* and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you,
for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:26-28
Jesus, you have washed my feet and taught me to let myself be loved. You have inspired me to wash the feet of my brothers and sisters. Help me to serve humbly as a matter of course, without needing gratitude or any other return, and to go on to the next feet, the next person to love and to serve. The Eucharist is in the Poor as well, we know (Matthew 25:40) so we are nourished when we receive them, and when we serve.
Jesus you feed me yourself in the Eucharist. This truth is my bedrock that lives at the heart of my faith. With gratitude I adore you there and receive you into myself to cherish. And now let me be a little pyx to carry you to everyone as I go about my life. Fill my day with reminders of your presence among us.
Closing Prayer
Holy Mother, I bind these bright yellow roses of the Luminous Mysteries into a pretty crown for your hair. Please accept it as a symbol of my love for you, and of my prayers for all people, along with your own.
The Sorrowful Mysteries
Each Hail Mary of these mysteries is a deep red rose presented to Mary in honor of her Son’s Passion and her co-offering of him to God as the sword of sorrow pierced her heart.
Come, Holy Spirit,
Come by means
Of the powerful intercession
Of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Thy well beloved spouse.
Amen
The Agony in the Garden(rose hip: courage)
Lord I am in straights! Be my surety!
Psalm 119:122
Jesus, you know what it is to be in terror of violent men on their way to arrest you and take you away, and the horrible things that would follow. You know what it is to be taken from your family and friends, to lose everything, to be betrayed to the authorities who have no mercy at all. You sweated blood mixed with tears and you cried out to your Father. Hear the cries of those who live in fear now. Go to them quickly with your aid. Add my prayers to theirs. Help them face this moment. Open the hearts of those who know not what they do, and especially those that know exactly. Convert us all to the compassion your mother had that night as she prayed for you and your friends even as everyone else slept. Help us to stay awake in prayer.
The Scourging at the Pillar (rose hip: nonviolence)
For the insolent rise up against me, and violent men seek my life.
They have no fear of God before their eyes.
But surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.
Psalm 54:3-4
Oh Lord Jesus, you were tortured, whipped and beaten almost to death. May I never forget what you endured for love. Allow me to be there with you. When the soldiers finally leave, let me come and anoint your wounds with the balm of compassion and love, with my commitment to nonviolence. This is reparation to you; never to act with cruelty or violence of any kind, remembering you and your suffering at the hands of violent men and the indifference and justification of others for your unjust and excessive punishment. May I have the courage to defend others by sacrifice and not force, as you would have me do. You have set the example.
The Crown of Thorns(rose hip: reverence for the dignity of the human person)
A faithful God, without deceit,just and upright is he!5Yet his degenerate children have treated him basely,a twisted and crooked generation!
Dueteronomy 23:5
Oh Lord, you are the only King, the most beautiful, holy, humble and gracious, all powerful and glorious King. I can’t imagine hurting you. And yet I do. Every time I dehumanize anyone, I forget they are yours and made in your image. The least among us are you. And yet at times I act like their suffering is an inevitable part of who they are, as if it is acceptable. Forgive me, forgive us all for all the times we caused you pain, disrespect or humiliation in our fellow human beings. Lord may I always adore you everywhere I find you – in the Eucharist, in prayer, in my brothers and sisters – especially the least of these who are suffering. Let me be there to love you wherever you can be loved. Allow me to console you and make living reparation to you for all that you suffered in the Crowning with Thorns and the mockery of the men who tortured you.
The Way of the Cross (rose hip: doing my part)
Two are better than one…For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Lord, you carried your cross alone until your executioners got help from Simon of Cyrene – and only because they didn’t want you to die on the way. With patient endurance let me do my part to carry your criss with you, to help my brothers and sisters carry theirs. May I see where I can help and step in. May I wipe your face with Veronica. May I walk by your side with your Mother. May I help you like Simon. May I take up my own cross and follow you. And if I fall with exhaustion or in the pain of it, lend me your determination to get up again and keep going until the work you have given me is accomplished. All I want is to be with you and share your life.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 6:36
Lord your mercy is incomprehensible it is so deep, vast, filling the universe and all you have made. It is your greatest attribute and you taught us that it is what you want us to give others as a show of gratitude for what you have done for us. Make my heart merciful, Lord, to be like yours. Let me think merciful thoughts, and let my hands be merciful to serve, my arms to embrace. I want to be with you Lord and see with merciful eyes as you do. Grant that my heart be like your Sacred Heart. Let my unhesitating service be like the flow of your compassion. Allow me to enter into your life, your heart, to live and move in mercy. May I learn to stand at the foot of your cross as your Mother did, in strong support and compassion, offering all to you. Let me ever thankful for your sacrifice and for the way you took my suffering on yourself to share in my life too. If I have to suffer let me do so in a spirit of offering. Never let me close my heart to you. Our Lady never did. Nor did she close her heart to me.
Closing Prayer
Oh Mary, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, I offer you these red roses in memory and in a partaking with you of your Son’s passion and death, for a beautiful crown for your hair. Rejoice forever Mary, because you shared in your Son’s suffering, and now you reign with him in Heaven. Amen.
The Glorious Mysteries
Queen of glory, we offer you these white roses in honor of the glorious mysteries of the life of your Son you shared so deeply in, and of the glory you know now at his side forever.
Come, Holy Spirit,
come by means
of the powerful intercession
of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Thy well-beloved spouse.
Amen
The Resurrection of the Lord (rose hip: faith)
…but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
John 16:22b
Oh Lord, how intense the joy, relief and incomprehension, the feelings of complete overwhelm your Mother and your friends must have felt. I bet they cried tears of joy and surprise. I bet they had so many questions. In your compassion and love you stayed to answer them all, to give as many hugs and reassurances as they needed. You are all love, and love is stronger than death. I think of the families torn apart and the joy of reunion they will know, Oh Lord, because of your love. You will make all things right. You will make all things new. And we will know that you loved us and protected us all along, that your sacrifice made all things possible.
Grant me the faith to trust in your goodness and the power of your love in all things no matter what happens. It is faith that moves the great reformers and leaders of all times and places. We need that faith now – that faith in Resurrection and renewal possible in you not only in the future but now, in ourselves and in the people you died and rose for.
The Ascension of the Lord (rose hip: hope)
Rise up, O LORD, and go to your resting place
Psalm 138a
She let you go, Jesus. She was joyful, she was grieving, she was proud of you. She let you go in hope. She stayed behind with your family of followers to be a Mother to them. Without her key parts of the Gospel would never have been written. Your friends stood in shock until an angel came to remind them of hope. They all must have needed that reminder badly for an angel to bring them to their senses. They had a commission to carry out, nine days of prayer to pray, the Holy Spirit to receive, your Mother to cherish. You left them the Eucharist and you left them the poor so that they would always have you near to love and be close to. You left them one another and the new Commandment to love one another. They had hope; faith in what they couldn’t grasp or process at the time.
So they continued to meet at the Temple, to break bread, to give thanks, to talk about you, teach about you. To pray and to wait for the Holy Spirit to come as you promised.
The Descent of the Holy Spirit (rose hip: love)
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Ephesians 1:18
With Mary praying beside us, open our hearts, Lord. Enlighten us and strengthen our love of you and one another. Fill us with the Spirits’ wisdom which is greater than any other. Grant us all that we need to understand the mission you have called us to. Grace us with the courage of the disciples to speak, to go out, to be sent, to hear you better than ever, to give you to the world.
Renew in me the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit; Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.
Holy Spirit, grant me especially the graces I stand most in need of now.
The Assumption of Mary (rose hip: union with God)
My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
Song of Songs 2:14
Oh Mother, how could you have anticipated the beauty of this moment? Lifted up body and soul, earth and Heaven, in the trail of your glory you drew us with you, into your union with God. Now you live in the heart of the Trinity where we will one day join you. First of all believers, you went before us in your simple humanity given to God, given to love, given to us your children.
Lord draw me after your Mother, who sees with your eyes, from the vantage point of your arms. Raise my heart to you in unity of love and will with you. Help me be a light in these troubled times when people use religion to justify evil deeds. Help me always to remember love, remember you, remember Mary, and return only good for evil, love for hate and indifference. Then I can spread the joy of you, the joy Mary had, the love she knows in heaven with you.
Queen of Heaven (union with Mary)
Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God, above all the women on earth; and blessed be the Lord God, the creator of heaven and earth, who guided your blow at the head of the leader of our enemies.
Your deed of hope will never be forgotten by those who recall the might of God.
May God make this redound to your everlasting honor, rewarding you with blessings, because you risked your life when our people were being oppressed, and you averted our disaster, walking in the straight path before our God.” And all the people answered, “Amen! Amen!
Judith 13:18b-20
Mary our Mother, our Sister and our Queen, you gave over your life for Jesus and for us to the Kingdom of God. May we do the same helped by your prayers and your love for us. Be our advocate at God’s throne. Remind is that our tears in the life will be jewels on our clothes in Heaven. Remind is that even now though we can’t see them, we are crowned with stars too, clothed in the sun, laboring to give birth to God in this world filled with violence, greed, lies and hate. Help us see the beauty of God as you know it, all things alive with his loveliness. With his love and mercy we are crowned and clothed and held. Make us one with your participation in the life and love of the Blessed Trinity. We belong to you now and forever. Hear the prayers of your children and wrap us in your grace and protection.
I will add to this novena as we go through it to the Feast of St. Michael
Day 1
But the angel of the Lord said to him, “Peace! Don’t be afraid. You’re not going to die.”
Judges 6:23
“I knew it [was St. Michael] by his speech and by the language of Angels and by what he told me to do that was only good.When I am baffled in some manner, because someone does not wish to credit the things that I speak on the part of God, I retire apart, and I pray to God , complaining that those to whom I speak are hard of belief. My prayer to God finished, I hear a Voice that says to me: ‘Daughter of God, go, go, go; I will aid thee go.’ And when I hear this Voice I have great joy. I would like always to hear it.”
St. Joan Of Arc
St. Michael, so many lives are inhibited or destroyed by fear. Fear keeps us from speaking up, from defending others, from moving forward, from fulfilling our purpose in our lives. Fear stunts our growth, holds back whole nations, and causes violence and hate. Pray for us, St. Michael, that we may have the clarity that comes from God about what we are to do, and in what direction we are created to grow in. May fear never hold us back from what is right.
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. .
Day 2
Michael is the Breath of the Redeemer’s Spirit, Who at the end of the World, will combat and destroy the antichrist, as he did Lucifer in the beginning
St. Thomas Aquinas
Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me.
Daniel 10:13b
St. Michael, when we feel overwhelmed by evil, remind us that you are near, that you are among us, that you shelter us behind your shield and defend us. Pray for us, Prince of the Heavenly Host, that we will never be consumed or overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good, with prayer, and with the power of God. Accompany us when we set out to do good, or to face whatever evil we must within and without. May we remain in the grace of Our Lord and under your wings of protection.
Pray the St. Michael Prayer as above.
Day 3
May the Lord rebuke you
Jude 1:9
Be angry against iniquity without forgetting your humanity. Do not quench your thirst for revenge even when the criminals have committed atrocities, but rather have as your intention healing the wounds of those sinners.
St. Augustine
St. Michael, the only words we have from you in the Scripture were to Satan, “May the Lord rebuke you.” You didn’t presume to mete out punishment yourself even though you would conquer the evil one someday. You knew everything belongs to God, even rebuking Lucifer himself. When we are carried away with our anger, with the vainglorious need to feel power over our enemies or rejoice in their humiliations, remind us that any vengeance is God’s alone, (Deuteronomy 32:35 ) and only he knows the full truth about anyone. May we consider your humility; and defer to the Lord in all things. Therein lies your glory and ours as well.
Pray the St. Michael Prayer as above
Day 4
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways
Psalm 91:11
You will need the help of Saint Michael living in this world!
St. Pio
St. Michael, protect and defend us in this world that sometimes feels its unraveling, bringing out the worst in everyone. Protect us from temptations against love, against truth. Protect us from confusion and the kind of doubt that leads us in the wrong direction. Pull us into the shadow of your beautiful wings and keep us close to you. Walk beside us and keep guard over us in dangers of every kind. Keep us on the royal road of prayer and service.
Pray the St. Michael prayer as above
Day 5
The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.
Exodus 14:14
For it is not by striving with the devil that one gains liberty, but by surrendering oneself entirely into God’s hands.
St. John of the Cross
St. Michael, pray for us when we are in God’s way, trying to confront evil on our own, or when we think force is the answer, even forceful prayers that only make us feel powerful for a moment. Teach us to step aside and allow the Lord to take his part in the fight. Then we can see his will for us. You never do anything apart from him. You never seek anything outside of his will. Let us never be deceived about our lack of self sufficiency, our need for God. With him we will do bravely, and we will conquer all our foes.
Pray the St. Michael Prayer as above.
Day 6
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many
Mark 10:45
If you want God to hear your prayers, hear the voice of the poor. If you wish God to anticipate your wants, provide those of the needy without waiting for them to ask you. Especially anticipate the needs of those who are ashamed to beg. To make them ask for alms is to make them buy it.
St. Thomas of Villanova
St. Michael, in his rebellion, Satan declared, “nom servium,” or “I will not serve.” You chose the opposite. “We cannot know if we really love God but we can know if we serve our neighbor.” (Teresa of Avila)
As you are at God’s service by caring for and defending us, let us reflect your own love of God by caring for defending, serving others and in doing so, serving Jesus. Lead us to the next person who needs a kind word, something to eat, a listening heart, a wing to rest beneath. Let us take up your battle cry: “Serviam,” “I will serve!”
Pray the St. Michael Prayer as above.
Day 7
To crush underfoot all prisoners in the land,
to deny people their rights before the Most High,
to deprive them of justice — would not the Lord see such things?
Lamentations 3:34-36
St. Michael tells me that I must fight bravely against the infernal enemy. He says he is always near me, and that I must call him often.
St.Gemma Galgani
St. Michael, when we are incredulous at injustice, violence and hate, be near to us. We will never have the strength to even open our mouths without the power of the love of God. Untie from us the ropes of frozen dismay and the trap of constant outrage. Let us glimpse the flash of your sword and the glint of your shield in these moments. Remind us that our armor of God is different than any other armor. Fit us with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness. Ready us with the boots of the Gospel of peace. Hand us the shield of faith, with which we can put out the fiery arrows of the evil one.Place on our heads the helmet of salvation, arm us with the sword of the Spirit, which is the beautiful word of God, (Ephesians 6:10-18) and we will walk beside you, fighting our real enemies; the powers and principalities of darkness, lies, that assail us and make us feel powerless when we are not. We are weak, St. Michael, but the love of God will make us strong. Lead us, therefor, into battle under the banner of love.
Pray the St. Michael Prayer as above.
Day 8
I thank you, Lord, with all my heart,
you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I will bless you.
I will adore before your holy temple.
I thank you for your faithfulness and love
which excel all we ever knew of you.
On the day I called, you answered;
you increased the strength of my soul.
Psalm 138:1-3
“Prayer is an aspiration of the heart. It is a simple glance directed to Heaven. It is a cry of gratitude and love in the midst of trial as well as joy.”
–St. Therese Lisieux
St. Michael, in gratitude may we bless the Lord with you. We set everything aside for the moment to remember the mercies of God toward us. Sometimes we are feeling hopeless or despairing or upset. Remind us in these times to make a little offering at the altar of our hearts; during the sweet incense of gratitude to the Lord who has given us the sun and the moon, the stars, the trees and grass and flowers, the animals, the people we love. We are grateful to you too, St. Michael, for all the times you saved us from danger; times we know about and times we don’t know about yet. For all the times in our lives you have guided us in your secret ways or in ways we understood, for the hope we have that you will triumph in the end. In many ways we know you already do, Prince of the Heavenly Host, and we are grateful. We thank God for giving us so great a friend.
Pray the St. Michael Prayer as above.
Day 9
Let the praise of God be in their mouths and a two-edged sword in their hand.
Psalm 149:6
Michael is rightly interpreted as ‘Who is like God?’ And whenever anything is to be done showing great power, Michael is believed to be sent, so that from his action and his name it may be declared that no one can do what God can do.
Pope St. Gregory the Great
St. Michael, even the praise of God from the lips of children and babies defeats the enemy, silences the foe and the rebel, (Psalm 8). Your name is a praise of God. No one can compare to him, no one and nothing can do what God does or be what God is.
Lead us, St. Michael in the praise of God as we come to the end of our novena. May we who have “set our hope on Christ…. live for the praise of his glory.” (See Ephesians 1:12). Fill our hearts with this praise that all creation shares in; all living things, even rivers, rocks, the seas, trees, mountains and hills, meadows and deserts, all bless you, the sky, the wind, the stars and planets, the galaxies, the universe and beyond. You are forever God and King, forever and everywhere.
St. Michael, when we are confronted with evil, trouble or temptation, let us recall your name, “Who is like God?” God to whom we belong forever. Amen
*Let’s join St. Michael now and all the court of heaven in the praises of God in theTe Deum
You are God: we praise you; You are God: we acclaim you; You are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you: Father, of majesty unbounded, Your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, And the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide. You, Christ, are the king of glory, The eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free You did not spurn the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death, And opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come, and be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your people, Bought with the price of your own blood, And bring us with your saints To glory everlasting. Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance. Govern and uphold them now and always. Day by day we bless you. We praise your name forever. Keep us today, Lord, from all sin. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy. Lord, show us your love and mercy; For we put our trust in you. In you, Lord, is our hope: And we shall never hope in vain
We can end as we have through this novena, with the prayer of St. Michael as above.
If I don’t watch out I can become a bit of a news junky; especially these days when scary, cruel and chaotic things happen daily. I feel like I have to keep up with all the news and analysis. This is so I can be a better activist and verbal defender of all that is good, and better able to speak up when there is injustice. I also say I keep up with world and national events because I want to hear about things I should pray about. I do pray about these things. However it occurs to me sometimes when I have read the same story or heard the basically the same discussion about the same story over and over in a week’s time, or even in one day, that my time could certainly be better spent praying.
I am thinking about this a lot today especially because it is the feast day of the beautiful Carmelite Saint, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Eidth Stein). My Secular Discalced Carmelite Community is named for her.
I have a strong belief that prayer takes us in Spirit along with Jesus and Mary to comfort those who suffer. St. Teresa Benedicta wrote about this beautifully.
The world is in flames: do you wish to put them out? Contemplate the Cross: from the open Heart the blood of the Redeemer pours, blood which can put out even the flames of hell. Through the faithful observance of the vows, you make your heart free and open; and then the floods of that divine love will be able to flow into it, making it overflow and bear fruit to the furthest reaches of the earth.
Through the power of the Cross you can be present wherever there is pain, carried there by your compassionate love, by that very love which you draw from the Divine Heart. That love enables you to spread everywhere the Most Precious Blood in order to ease pain, save, and redeem.
She would have known, from her formation in the Teresian Carmel, that prayer is a true work of the Church. Her spiritual Mother, St. Teresa of Avila taught this and Teresa Benedicta saw how relevant it was for the times she lived in, there in Nazi Germany when she was a woman of a Jewish family and at the end of her life, a Discalced Carmelite nun. She was taken, along with her sister, Rosa, to be put to death in a concentration camp. She was writing in urgent times. She offered her life for her Jewish people.
Some Carmelite nuns used to have a blog called, “Praying the News.’ Each week a different Sister took a news story that stood out to her and write a reflection and prayer, seemingly following the basic pattern of St. Teresa of Avila’s Prayer of Recollection. These particular nuns retired years ago and their blog is now defunct.
However, maybe I should take up their idea. I think I will do something like this. Some Chrsitian publications are doing a prayerful “nonpartisan” reflection and a little prayer about the news. It may not surprise you that I think the time for not taking a side is long over. As St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross put it, “The world is in flames.”
The world is in flames. The struggle between Christ and Antichrist rages openly, and so if you decide for Christ you can even be asked to sacrifice your life.
To me this is self-evident if you aren’t entangled in Trump-ism. The man is an anti-Christ personality and has even led many good people astray though I will never understand how that could have happened.
There are some things I can do about it such as stand up for vulnerable people in the ways I can, and offer them my love, presence and support.
Otherwise I can pray. This kind of prayer is not of the “Oh thoughts and prayers” variety. It’s the kind that trusts God to act, not even knowing what God will do but knowing he hears and that he will.
So I’m going to start thinking about how I can pray the news, more than use up so much time reading and listening to it. (Once is enough, right?)
I’ll see what I can work on. I will try posting a “Praying the news” here each week. How about Sundays?
O beautiful flower of Carmel, most fruitful vine, holy and singular, who did bring forth the Son of God, ever still remaining a pure Virgin, assist us in our necessity.
Oh Star of the Sea, help and protect us.
Show us that thou art our Mother.
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel,
pray for us.
Amen
Day 1
*Pray the Flos Carmeli
I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak to her heart.
Hosea 2:14
Mary, Queen of Carmel, take us to the places where God spoke to your heart. Teach our hearts to soften, to open as yours did, that we might hear what the Lord has to say in that tender voice of his. Clear our minds of their scurrying, and help us to be still. Lead us, gentle star, into the deepest depths of quiet and peace by your side. Draw us into the Heart of Jesus.
Spend a quiet moment with Mary now. Walk with her in silence the craggy path to the peaks of Mt. Carmel overlooking the sea. A gentle breeze flutters her veil. Watching, you realize the breeze is a voice speaking to you, that it is the Holy Spirit. What does the Spirit say to you as it ruffles your hair and kisses your face?
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, pray for us.
Day 2
*Pray the Flos Carmeli
The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.
Isaiah 35:1
In you, Mary, the Word was treasured as you meditated in your heart, and in you the Gospel blossomed abundantly. Your soul and your body were miraculously fruitful. In your humble simplicity the Spirit crowned you with splendor and glory beyond our understanding. But when I see you, Mary, you are quiet and smiling- your ornaments all within. Teach us to adorn ourselves with humility and simplicity. Draw us after you by the scent of your flowers of the heart, warmed by the sun that is the Lord’s joy shining on us.
Spend a quiet moment with Mary now. She is walking in a field of wildflowers. Catch up to her. She is picking flowers and filling the hem of her mantle with them. She motions to you and you offer her the bottom of your shirt for the overflow. She smiles and begins to fill the pocket you made for all these flowers. You have to sit down so she can fill your lap too. Lift some to your face and breathe in their scent.
Mary, beauty and glory of Carmel, pray for us
Day 3
*Pray the Flos Carmeli
Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.
Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.
Mark 3:33-35
Mary, you leapt to do the will of God at every sign of it with the love and trust of a little child, with the courage of a warrior bold. You were not only the physical Mother of the Lord, you were his spiritual mother and sister as well. You not only pondered the word of God given to you, but acted on it. Always you “arose and went with haste” wherever the Spirit called you. Teach us to listen, ponder, pray and to act on God’s word to us as you did unfailingly.
*Spend a quiet moment with Mary now. She puts a plate of food in front of you; bread, lentils and dates perhaps. She sits down to eat with you. As you bless the food together, you think, “Let us eat the bread of the will of God.” She smiles at you. You know you will have everything you need to do just that. And this is really good food, too.
Mary, Mother of the Word, pray for us.
Day 4
*The Flos Carmeli
God lives. I am standing in his presence. – The Prophet Elijah . (See 1Kings 17:1)
Mother of Carmel, you tended the fire of continual awareness of God’s presence in your heart daily as you swept the floor, made dinner, worked in the fields, held your Child, shopped in the market, loved and served the people around you. Open our hearts to perceive God within us, and in our daily lives; among the pots and pans, in the work we do daily, in the stolen moment of quiet, in the breaths before sleep. Help us come into the glow of constant contact with God you lived in within you and around you. Teach us the Practice of the Presence of God (Brother Lawrence)
*Spend a quiet moment with Mary now, tending the hearth, keeping the fire burning brightly, talking with her about this and that. Feel the fire’s warm glow on your face. She leans her head on your shoulder.
Mother in whose heart we live, where we find our Beloved, pray for us.
(St. Maryam of Jesus Crucified said, “I live in the Heart of my Mother. There I find my Beloved.”)
Day 5
*The Flos Carmeli
The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.
Habakkuk 2:20
Mary you were the temple of the Lord in a unique way. How beautifully you show us the truth that we who love Jesus are his temples too. Help us to make time to be alone and silent before God in the temple of our hearts with the One who we know loves us. (Teresa of Avila) As you did, let us cherish the Lord within us, love him, know him, listen to him, silently speak to him, look at him and let him look at us.
Take Mary’s hand now and allow her to lead you gently to your inner Temple where Jesus waits. Be there for a moment.
Mother of Divine Love, pray for us.
Day 6
*Pray the Flos Carmeli
I have set myself in silence and peace,
as a little child has rest in in it’s mother’s arms,
even so my soul.
Psalm 131: 2
Oh Mary, the lowly handmaid, the simple girl who loved God in your littleness, teach us to be little too. Help us to be humble in your easy, joyful way. Help us to be free to run lightly in God’s paths, to laugh easily, to dance without thinking, to be happy in his world that is so beautiful, and vast. The world around us is sign of his creative love, a glimpse of the Kingdom to come we are helping to make present by being little and humble in the arms of Jesus.
Spend a quiet moment playing with the little Mary a game you loved as a child. Let her throw her arms around you then. Hug her back.
Child Mary, little, humble and free, pray for us.
Day 7
*The Flos Carmeli
As Elisha watched, [Elijah being taken up to Heaven] he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And he saw Elijah no more. So taking hold of his own clothes, he tore them in two. Elisha also took up the mantle that had fallen from Elijah. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. And when he had struck the waters, they parted to the right and to the left, and Elisha crossed over.…
2 Kings 2: 12-14
Holy Mother and Queen of Carmel, your Scapular is your prophetic mantle over our shoulders, a sign of our consecration to you, our silent devotion to you all though the day and during the night when we sleep figuratively wrapped in it’s protection.. The Brown Scapular is your hand on on our shoulder as we travel the Royal Road of prayer, and in the good works you lead us to. Help us to go forward with courage, to stand confidently as your children; seeing as you see, loving as you love, and serving from the heart. Help us to live as worthy sons and daughters of so wonderful a Mother.
*Spend a moment with Our Lady now. Lay your scapular in her lap and let her kiss it and put in on you again over your head and shoulders.
Mary, spiritual daughter of Elijah the Prophet, pray for us who wear your Scapular.
Day 7
*The Flos Carmeli
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Galations 6:2
Mary, in Carmel you are not only Mother and Queen, you are our sister and friend. Friends bear one another’s burdens. We know that you have always helped us bear our burdens and that you hear our sorrows. We want you to know we are here for you too. Share with us the sorrows of your loving heart, your concerns for your children. We know you always lead people to your Son, that you love us all, that human cruelty breaks your heart terribly. Help us to care about all that you care about, to listen to you, and to do something to help you in your mission to humanity, to be your kindly hands in this world where there is so much hate and indifference. Help us to find joy in all that you take joy in, the good things people do, the beauty to be seen, the love that is there in everything.
*Spend a quiet moment with Mary. Sit with her at her kitchen table maybe with tea or coffee. Ask her what she wants to tell you about. What does she say? Maybe today you can act on one of her concerns.
Mary, our friend and Sister, pray for us.
Day 8
Pray the Flos Carmeli
Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.”
So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.
1 Kings 17:3-6
Mary, as Elijah did, you allowed the Lord to protect and take care of you, to take care of everything. You hid in the heart of God, drinking deeply from the stream of Divine Love. With you let us learn to hear the still, small voice of God, to let him care for us when we are afraid of the consequences of doing as he asks us. Remind us that when we hear him and respond, he will give us all that we need every time, just as he did for Elijah and for you.
*Spend a quiet moment with Mary now. Watch her as she fills a clay jar with water from the stream. It’s a sunny balmy morning. Birds are singing. You can hear the brook flowing. She brings you the water to drink. Drink deeply.
Mary, help of Christians, and Mother of Mystics, pray for us.
Day 9
Like a cedar in Lebanon I grew tall,
like a cypress on Mount Hermon;
I grew tall like a palm tree in Engedi,
like rosebushes in Jericho;
Like a fair olive tree in the field,
like a plane tree beside water I grew tall.
Like cinnamon and fragrant cane,
like precious myrrh I gave forth perfume;
Like galbanum and onycha and mastic,
like the odor of incense in the holy place.
I spread out my branches like a terebinth,
my branches so glorious and so graceful.
I bud forth delights like a vine;
my blossoms are glorious and rich fruit.
Come to me, all who desire me,
and be filled with my fruits.
You will remember me as sweeter than honey,
better to have than the honeycomb.
Those who eat of me will hunger still,
those who drink of me will thirst for more.
Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame,
and those who serve me will never go astray.
Sirach 24:13-22
Mary, Mother and Queen of Carmel, you are all of this and more to us, our beauty, our joy, our wisdom, our love for you an incense offered to the Lord who loves you even more than we can. Today we consecrate ourselves to you, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. We dedicate our lives to God’s beauty and glory, and to yours. We belong to you, to your Son, to light and life and love. We want to spend our lives in the sweet companionship of your Spirit.
*Spend a quiet moment with Mary now. She is luminous in loveliness, as if she were made of light. You kneel before her. Closing your eyes, to pray, then opening them to see her again, you realize you are next to her in the kitchen. She is chopping vegetables. Join her. Stay with her all day.
Mary, Mother and Queen of Carmel, our Sister the Throne of Wisdom, pray for us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Mary, pray for us. Heart of Mary, according to the heart of God, pray for us. Heart of Mary, united to the Heart of Jesus, pray for us.
Heart of Mary sister of our hearts pray for us
Heart of Mary in whom the Gospel blossomed in contemplation pray for us
Heart of Mary always merciful pray for us
Heart of Mary stout and of great courage pray for us
Heart of Mary free and open for God pray for us
Heart of Mary always ready to be the first to love, to serve, to be present, pray for us
Heart of Mary in which there is room for everyone pray for us
Heart of Mary, her gracious core of love, understanding, and acceptance pray for us
Heart of Mary, freely humble and giving pray for us
Heart of Mary, never failing to love anyone pray for us
Heart of Mary seeing each one’s beauty and Godly purpose pray for us
Heart of Mary, loving and understanding each of us completely, pray for us
Heart of Mary, always seeing God, living in his presence pray for us
Heart of Mary, attentive to the Word pray for us
Heart of Mary, holding Jesus our Treasure pray for us
Heart of Mary, gifting us the Pearl of Great Price pray for us
Heart of Mary, our friend, pray for us
Heart of Mary, hearing the cries of the world, pray for us
Heart of Mary, scarred by suffering love, pray for us
Heart of Mary, strong in faith even when she did not understand what was happening, pray for us
Heart of Mary, with us in our work, one with us in all things but sin, pray for us
Heart of Mary trusting and bold like the heart of a child , pray for us
Heart of Mary drawing us to Jesus, pray for us
Heart of Mary, deepening our prayer, pray for us
Heart of Mary, accompanying us always pray for us
Heart of Mary, in solidarity with the lowly, pray for us
Heart of Mary praying that the lowly will be lifted up, the mighty de-throned, the hungry filled, the rich emptied, the proud scattered in their inmost thoughts, pray for us
Heart of Mary to be found among the least of our brothers and sisters, pray for us
Heart of Mary full of joy and always sharing it with us, pray for us
Heart of Mary, ready to laugh, of easy smiles and good humor, pray for us
Heart of Mary, drawing us after you in the fragrance of your holiness, pray for us
Heart of Mary filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom pray for us
Heart of Mary bursting with the praises of God, pray for us
Heart of Mary, drawing the Spirit to rest on God’s people, pray for us
Heart of Mary always speaking Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, pray for us
Immaculate Heart of Mary, meek and humble of Heart, Make our hearts according to the Heart of Jesus.
Let us pray:
O most merciful God, who for the salvation of sinners and the refuge of the wretched, has made the Immaculate Heart of Mary most like in tenderness and pity to the Heart of Jesus, grant that we, who now commemorate her most sweet and loving heart, may by her merits and intercession, ever live in the companionship of the hearts of both Mother and Son, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy Christ, have mercy Christ, have mercy Lord, have mercy Lord, have mercy
God our Father in heaven have mercy on us God the Son, Redeemer of the world have mercy on us God the Holy Spirit have mercy on us Holy Trinity, one God have mercy on us Heart of Jesus, Son of the eternal Father have mercy on us Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, inmost being of the incarnate Son and his love, both divine and human * have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, natural sign and symbol of the boundless love of Christ *
Heart of Jesus part of Christ’s holy risen body, *
Heart of Jesus, inseparable from the Son of God who assumed a human body forever *
Heart of Jesus, beating, real, alive, loving us *
Heart of Jesus, receiving our love in return *
Heart of Jesus, our friend *
Heart of the same Jesus who for love of us, was born in Bethlehem, passed through Galilee healing the sick, embracing sinners and showing mercy, who loved us to the very end, opening wide his arms on the cross, rose from the dead and now living among us in glory. *
Heart of Jesus, centre and source from which salvation flowed for all humanity *
Heart of Jesus, profound unifying centre of his body, expression of the totality of his person *
Heart of Jesus, signifying the divine love of Christ, united forever and inseparably to his wholly human love transformed by his Divine love *
Heart of Jesus, beating with the most tender and human affection *
Heart of Jesus, in whose human love, we encounter his divine love *
Heart of Jesus, the Holy Spirit’s masterpiece *
Heart of Jesus, heart of the world *
Heart of Jesus, nourishing our lives with the strength of the Eucharist *
Heart of Jesus, pierced, gushing living water, a flowing fountain, outpouring of a spirit of compassion and supplication, wellspring of new life for us *
Heart of Jesus, warm and tender *
Heart of Jesus, who feeds us from his own breast
Heart of Jesus, in which we rest in contemplation *
Heart of Jesus, source of life and interior peace *
Heart of Jesus, open to all *
Heart of Jesus, in whom our names are carved *
Heart of Jesus , thinking of me, even the smallest hair of my head *
Heart of Jesus whose intense love is fire and light *
Heart of Jesus, free of anger, free of bitterness, filled with genuine compassion towards its enemies *
Heart of Jesus, infinite in mercy *
Heart of Jesus, living in us *
Heart of Jesus, our only Treasure *
Heart of Jesus, all love, forgiveness and justice *
Heart of Jesus one in solidarity with those who are poor and rejected by the world *
Heart of Jesus, consoling us that we might console others *
Heart of Jesus, thirsting for our love *
Heart of Jesus, transforming our hearts *
Heart of Jesus, loving and serving in us *
Heart of Jesus, consoled by our service and love of Christ *
Let us pray.
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who glory in the Heart of your beloved Son and recall the wonders of his love for us, may be made worthy to receive an overflowing measure of grace from that fount of heavenly gifts. Through Christ our Lord. R/. Amen
Dilexit Nos is an encyclical written by Pope Francis
As the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is, at this writing, tomorrow, (Friday June 27th in 2025), and June is traditionally the month of the Sacred Heart, I’ve been pondering the heart’s virtues, such as love, compassion, mercy, solidarity, and empathy especially. This seems an urgent topic to write about right now as so many seem to glory in cruelty, others going so far as to call empathy a supposed “sin”.
I’ve had somebody say to me in response to a plea for compassion for migrants, that we “aren’t supposed to be the Church of ‘nice.” “No, I said, “we are supposed to be the Church of radical love.”
The argument that there is a “sin” of empathy, I likely don’t have to tell most of you, is antithetical to the Gospel. At best this argument is coming from people who are trying to protect their hearts from the pain of empathy or their conscience telling them to do something about it. Maybe it’s to justify the hardness of their hearts. God knows what it is. In any case this is the work of the devil. It’s ugly and contrary to love. Love, remember, is what God is and what we are supposed to be doing. Maybe they’ve re-interpreted what that was supposed to mean to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. It’s hard to understand how that is possible. However here we are hearing anti-empathy declarations.
This belief that empathy is to be quashed and not nurtured or respected is mostly found in certain corners of ultra-reactionary or hyper-rationalist “theology.” The argument usually goes something like:
“Empathy clouds judgment. It leads us to condone sin in others. It makes us sentimental and irrational.”
One time I came home from work and my teen and pre-teen were playing seriously inappropriate music loudly in the house. I turned it off and made them stand in front of a picture of Our Lady and recite the lyrics to her. They couldn’t. I wonder if people who discourage or disdain empathy can look into the face of Jesus and tell him that nonsense they say to other people. Lacking empathy, campaigning against it is the more likely sin.
The “sin of empathy” crowd say they feel manipulated by calls for empathy. They put labels on goodness like “virtue signaling.” rather than being inspired to act with mercy. Maybe they think the man beset by robbers deserved what he got, that the Good Samaritan was weak, stupid, being taken advantage of. Perhaps they would say that the priest and the levite who passed by without helping were the real heroes of the story. Maybe these are people who have been put-upon too much in life, or feel used when they do something for someone, or they have trouble with boundaries and they threw the “baby out with the bath water,” as my mom would say. I don’t know but they’re wrong and they try to deceive others as well.
How could empathy erase moral clarity? It can only deepen it and fill it out. As Pope Francis said in Dilexit Nos, his encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the human heart brings together fragments of ourselves into cohesion. The heart brings together soul, spirit, mind and body, enabling true discernment and understanding. We can’t attempt to cut off parts of ourselves and call that “clarity” or “judgement.” To do that only mutilates us as people, distorting our judgement and endangering our salvation.
Being “cruel to be kind” is an oxymoron when it comes to the suffering of another. It is merely mean, dumb, and contrary to the Gospel.
Empathy is the ability to enter into another’s experience — to “weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15), to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2), to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31). Jesus constantly showed empathy:
He wept over Lazarus (John 11:35) and over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41)
He touched lepers, (Matthew 8:22-26) embraced children, (Mark 10:13-16) noticed the suffering no one else saw and did something about it every time.
His Incarnation was an act of ultimate divine empathy — “He took on our infirmities and bore our diseases” (Isaiah 53:4, Matthew 8:17)
Toward the lowly he never used “tough love.” He reserved that for the powerful alone. He was angry with them for their oppression of others, for their hypocrisy, their legalism that got in the way of mercy, and for their lack of compassion. (See Matthew 23 for some serious rage from Jesus toward religious leaders for these very things).
He healed a woman with a crooked back and was angry when the Pharisees and Scribes confronted him with doing this on the Sabbath. He hated the way they put strict observance of rules over care and compassion for people. (Luke 13: 10-17)
To reject empathy is to reject Christ’s own way of loving. Our Lord never condemned anybody for being too soft hearted; quite the opposite. People were condemned by him for being legalistic without mercy (the Pharisees), for being indifferent to suffering (the priest and Levite in the Good Samaritan story Luke 10:25-37), for being harsh and arrogant instead of humble and compassionate (Luke 18:9–14).
Clearly the “sin of empathy” assertion is a serious distortion of the Gospel – anathema to it. People asking “yeah well who IS my neighbor” and trying to redefine that as people they agree with, like or approve of, are on the wrong path. Don’t listen. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Do not be carried away by strange teaching (Hebrews 13:8 and Ephesians 4:14). If anyone preaches to you a different Jesus than we (the apostles) have, said St. Paul, let them be accursed (Galatians 1:8-9, 2 Corinthians 11:4).
You cannot love God and hate your brother or sister. That would make you a liar. (1 John 4:20)
The intentions of Pope Leo XIV for the month of June are “that the world will grow in compassion.” He says, “Now is the time for love.”
It seems to me there is a battle of good and evil happening, a fight for the soul of the world. I don’t think I usually talk like this. But this anti empathy stuff is the devil. Resist him, solid in your faith. (1 Peter 5:8)
Jesus teaches us that it’s not enough just to resist evil. We have to pray for, bless and love those in the grip of it. We have to shine our light of love and compassion for all to see. And we need to grow in the virtues of the heart ourselves.
Jesus, gentle and humble of Heart, make our hearts like unto thine.
Today is the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the toddlers and babies killed by Roman soldiers at Herod’s orders after Joseph fled to Egypt with Jesus and Mary.
I have never liked the traditional way of describing these kids as martyrs. A martyr chooses death rather than betraying Christ. Little children suffer and die before the age of consent and from the terrible things adults do.
I also am not sure abortion is exactly the best modern comparison to what happened that day. As far as we know the tiny innocents in their mother’s womb do not have consciousness yet. I imagine them, at least early on, as in a dreamlike bliss, violently but quickly disturbed and ended by abortion. Abortion is violent and tragic in several ways. However, as Pat Benatar sang, “Hell is for children.”
This is a good day to pray for children around the world who suffer the violence and callousness of adults, especially from state sponsored terror and genocide where there is no safety, no relief, where parents cannot protect them, such as in Gaza where parents write their children’s names on their limbs in case they are killed so they can be identified, where children are orphaned, maimed, under the rubble, starving, sometimes being operated on without anesthesia if they are lucky enough to find care at all. Surely their blood cries out to the Lord. We all know the outrageous numbers. Hell is for children.
Ukrainian children suffer war as well, and I am struck by the fact that Russia is taking the children away from their parents and into Russia. It reminds me of our child separation policy during the last Trump administration; something a lot of us lost sleep over, protested but felt powerless to stop. The damage to those little ones is profound and many of them were sexually abused as well, or never reunited with their families. It’s a method of torture I believe, to do this to kids and their parents. Some of those children were nursing babies.
In many countries life is so dangerous or poverty is so great that parents are forced to flee with their children to find safety or go where life is possible only to be rebuffed and unwanted, subjected to detention or camps or sent back to the dangers they fled after an often long and dangerous journey.
In Sudán, famine threatens and children die of malnutrition as parents look on helplessly. This is happening in so many countries.
I haven’t heard what life is like for the children of Haiti as their country descends further into chaos, violence, and gang rule.
We know children are forced to fight and kill in parts of the world. Children are trafficked and live lives of nightmarish abuse.
Children are abused in their churches, schools, and families and too often the abusers are protected instead of the children.
And here in America, the leading cause of death for our children is gun violence. .
These are things adults have done or conditions the world of adults have created that massacre the souls minds and bodies of children who deserve safety and love, freedom to be kids. These are the holy innocents of our time.
This is overwhelming. What are we supposed to do? Jesus was stern about any harm done to little ones.
We need to be a part of lessening their suffering, advocating for them, of challenging the structural sin of our world, and the wrong headedness of the powers that be. Nothing will change if we don’t.
Hell is for children, but we are allied with Heaven and we hold the gift of prayer given to us by God. As we stand up for children and help as we can, God makes our prayers and actions big and far reaching. We can be everywhere he is, holding frightened children, drying tears, giving strength, transforming the world.
Holy Spirit, we pray for the Holy Innocents of our time and we dedicate this day to them. You are the comforter and the giver of life, the one who strengthens, uplifts, transforms, the Spirit of Love and Truth, Father of the Poor. Make your way through this world bringing light and nourishment and peace. Make us repent of the sins of the world and show us what we must do. Guide our prayer for every child everywhere in need of rescue and relief of sorrow and fear. May our leaders prioritize the needs and rights of children to safety and freedom and family life.
Bless every little heart on earth on this day of the Innocents.
Bethany Hang Out 