Purgatory

"Their [the holy souls] silence is their loudest call, because it is the echo of God's silence...They are silent because they live, just as we chatter so loudly to try to make ourselves forget that we are dying. Their silence is really their call, the assurance of their immortal love for us. O silent God...God of those who are silently summoning us to enter into Your life, never let us forget our dead or our living. May our love and fiathfulness to them be a pledge of our belief in You, the God of eternal life.

Let us not be deaf to the call of the their silence, which is the surest and sincerest word of their love. May this word of theirs continue to accompany us, even after they have taken their leave of us to enter into You, for thus their love comes all the closer to us.

When we pray 'Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and let thy perpetual light shine upon them,' let our words be only the echo of the prayer of love that they themselves are speaking in the silence of eternity."  From: Encounters with Silence by Karl Rahner

We should do as much as we can for the Holy Souls, even just an short prayer for them at Mass, at adoration, lighting a candle of them, giving alms for them. In praying for the Holy Souls, God is beholden to us  Giving for the holy souls is entirely disinterested, and thus very good in the sight of God. "Of all the prayers, the most meritorious, the most acceptable to God, are prayers for the dead, for they imply all the works of charity, both spiritual and corporal," St. Thomas Aquinas points out. 

Their suffering is so much greater than anything we could experience here on earth. Is it then like another hell? Absolutely not, for the flames of purgatory are flames of love, and the souls in purgatory if given the chance to skip it and head straight to heaven, would not for they see their sin and their imperfections and they desire to perfect themselves for God. Their worst pain is to be deprived of the face of God, for they caught a glimpse of Him at their judgement and it is the most wonderful sight they could imagine.

Here on earth, if we realize that we have some imperfection or a sin upon our soul, we can work on it, go to confession, and make restitution. The Holy Souls are no longer able to help themselves or to do anything like fasting, giving alms, or praying for forgiveness. If we pray for them and assist them on this last step to heaven, how grateful will they be? They are now saints and will shower their prayers and assistance upon those who helped them in their time of need, on the last leg of their trip. Whenever I have some horribly difficulty something to deal with, I always turn to the Holy Souls.

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

Universal Prayer

I recently found this prayer and fell in love with it. Not only does it touch on every issue that I've felt the need to pray about but does it well. It also works to simply pray a couple paragraphs only, focusing on that specific part. It makes a great thanksgiving after Mass too. Anyhow, I felt that this is the sort of prayer that every Christian should pray because it is somehow appropriate in every stage of the spiritual life.

The Universal Prayer (Pope Clement XI)

Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith.
I trust in you: strengthen my trust.
I love you: let me love you more and more.
I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow.

I worship you as my first beginning,
I long for you as my last end,
I praise you as my constant helper,
and call on you as my loving protector.

Guide me by your wisdom,
correct me with your justice,
comfort me with your mercy,
protect me with your power.

I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on you;
my words: to have you for their theme;
my actions: to reflect my love for you;
my sufferings: to be endured for your greater glory.

I want to do what you ask of me:
in the way you ask,
for as long as you ask,
because you ask it.

Lord, enlighten my understanding,
strengthen my will,
purify my heart,
and make me holy.

Help me to repent of my past sins
and to resist temptation in the future.
Help me to rise above my human weaknesses
and to grow stronger as a Christian.

Let me love you, my lOrd and my God,
and see myself as I really am:
a pilgrim in this world,
A Christian called to respect and love all whose lives I touch,
those in authority over me or those under my authority,
my friends and my enemies.

Help me to conquer anger with gentleness,
greed by generosity,
apathy by fervor.
Help me to forget myself and reach out toward others.

Make me prudent in planning,
courageous in taking risks.
Make me patient in suffering,
and unassuming in prosperity.

Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer,
temperate in food and drink,
diligent in my work,
and firm in my good intentions.

Let me conscience be clear,
my conduct without fault,
my speech blameless,
my life well-ordered.

Put my on guard against my human weaknesses.
Let me cherish your love for me,
keep your law,
and come at last to your salvation.

Teach me to realize that this world is passing,
that my true future is the happiness of heaven,
that life on earth is short,
and the life to come eternal.

Help me to prepare for death
with a proper fear of judgment
but a greater trust in your goodness.
Lead me safely through death to the endless joy of heaven.

Grant this thorugh Christ our Lord. Amen.

By an Unknown Confederate Soldier

I didn't find this one on my own, but from a friend.

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health, that I might do great things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing I asked for...but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

Morning Reflection

Beginning this year, I have been trying to pray more, so I have been attempting the liturgy of the hours in the morning and evening. Success has been minimal, but I'm just gonna keep going on this. This morning while praying the office, I was struck by a phrase in the second psalmody, a canticle from Isaiah:

On Zion sinners are in dread,
trembling grips the impious;
"Who of us can live with the consuming fire?
Who of us can live with the everlasting flames?"

He who practices virtue and speaks honestly,
who spurns what is gained by oppression,
brushing his hands
free of contact with a bribe,
stopping his ears lest he hear of bloodshed,
closing his eyes lest he look on evil.

What captured my attention was the description of the one who practices virtue. Though the virtuous person is above evil, he does not allow himself to be exposed to it. This flies in the face of the opinion many Christians and Catholics alike hold: "I can watch immoral stuff in movies cause it doesn't affect me. I would never do that. I'm tough, I can take it." The difference between a wise man and a foolish one may be said to be determined by one thing only. That is, that the one knows his weakness and avoids it. The other denies his weakness and thinks he will become strong by exposing himself to as many evils/dangers as possible.

I'm thinking that this would be hard to live. Personally, I love murder mysteries. Closing my eyes against evil is definitely something to work on, because my curiosity may be my downfall in that. Greater vigilance is needed in the Church and in personal life.

Imitation of Christ

Taken from Preparation for Total Consecration according to Saint Louis Marie de Montfort. These speak of the littleness of man (in the sense of "homo" not "viri" for those of you who choose to take offense) and where his worth is from.

Lord, what is man that Thou art mindful of him; or the son of man, that Thou visit him? What has man deserved that Thou should give him grace? Lord, what cause have I to complain, if Thou forsakest me, or what can I justly allege, if what I petition Thou shalt not grant? I am nothing, I can do nothing of myself that is good, but I am in all things defective and ever tend to nothing. And unless I am assisted and instructed by Thee, I become wholly tepid and relaxed, but Thou, O Lord, art always the same and endure unto eternity, ever good, just and holy...

But I who am more inclined to go back than to go forward continue not always in one state for I am changed seven different times. But it quickly becomes better when it pleases Thee, and Thou stretchest out Thy helping hand: for Thou alone can change me that my heart be convereted and find its rest in Thee alone.

He who would be too secure in time of peace will often be found too much dejeced in time of war If you could continue to be humble and little in your own eyes, and keep your spirit in due order and subjection, you would not fall so easily into danger and offense. It is good counsel that, when you have conceived the spirit of fervor, you should meditate how it will be when the light shall be withdrawn.
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Wherefore, but I did know well how to cast from me all human comfort, either for the sake of devotion or thorugh the necessity by which I am compelled to seek Thee, because there is no man that can comfort me. Then might I deservedly hope in Thy favor, and rejoice in the gifl of a new consolation. Thanks be to Thee from Whom all things proceed, as often as it happenes to me, I, indeede, am but vanity and nothing in Thy sight, an inconstant and weak man. Where, therefore, can I glory, or for what do I desire to be thought of highly?

Forsooth of my very nothingness; and htis is most vain. Truly vainglory is an evil blague, because it draws away from true glory and robs us of heavenly grace. For while a man takes complacency in himself, he displeases Thee; while he looks for human applause, he is depreived of true virtues. But true glory and holy exultation is to flory in Thee and not in one's self. To find pleasure in no creature, save only for Thy sake. Let Name be praised, not mine; let Thy work be magnified, not ine; let Thy Holy Name be blessed, but let nothing be attributed to me of the praise of men. Thou art my glory; Thou art the exultation of my heart; in Thee will I glory and rejoice all the day; ut for myself, I will glory in nothing but in my infirmities.

The Chaplet of St. Gertrude for the Poor Souls

The prayer below was given to St. Gertrude of Sweeden, who had a great devotion to the holy souls. Our Lord promised that each time it is said, 1,000 souls will be freed. Later, the part in lower-case letters was added to include sinners still living.

"ETERNAL FATHER, I OFFER THEE THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF THY DIVINE SON, JESUS, IN UNION WITH THE MASSES SAID THROUGHOUT THE WORLD TODAY, FOR ALL THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen."

Say this chaplet using regular Rosary beads. Begin with the Apostles' Creed, one Our Father, three Hail Marys and a Glory Be to the Father just as with Our Lady's Rosary.

On the five decades, say the above Prayer for the Holy souls on each Hail Mary bead and the Our Father on each separator bead between the decades.
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Optional Prayers to add to the recitation of the Chaplet-

To be said after each decade...
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, open the hearts and minds of sinners to the truth and light of God, the Father.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for the conversion of sinners and the world.\
"Glory be..."

To be said at the end of each Chaplet...
THANKSGIVING FOR GRACES BESTOWED ON ST. GERTRUDE
O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, I praise, extol and bless Thee, in union with that Heavenly praise which the Divine Persons of the Most Holy trinity mutually render to Each other, and which thence flows down upon Thy Sacred Humanity, upon the Blessed Virgin Mary and upon all the Angels and Saints. And I give Thee thanks for all the graces Thou didst lavish upon Thy beloved spouse, St. Gertrude. I thank Thee especially for that ineffable love wherewith Thou didst pre-elect her from all eternity, didst enrich her so highly, didst draw her so sweetly to Thyself by the strongest bonds of love, didst unite her so blissfully to Thyself, dwell with such delight in her heart, and crown her life with so blessed an end. I recall to Thee now, O most compassionate Jesus, the promise Thou didst make to Thy beloved spouse, that Thou wouldst most assuredly grant the prayers of all who come to Thee through her merits and intercession, in all matters concerning their salvation. I beseech Thee, by Thy most tender love, grant me the grace . . . [mention it] which I confidently expect. Amen.

"Heavenly Father, Help Us..." from Apple Seeds

Heavenly Father,
Help us remember that the jerk who cuts us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing off home to cook dinner, help with homework, and do the laundry, and spend a few precious moments with her children.

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.

Remind us Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store isles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, know that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, sow patience, empathy, and love.

~"Do not judge what your brother does 'til you've walked a mile in his shoes.
Who's to say if you'd run or stay and fight?"

Catholic Pick-up Lines

I take the credit for none of these (the first seven are Patrick Madrid's), but thought they were funny. However, my advice to the general Catholic male population out there would be to come up with something a bit better (you know, less trite and silly) if you're not absolutely sure that she's already in love with you. If she is in love with you, it won't really matter what the heck you say. She'll think your brilliant. Nevertheless, be careful all the same, espcially with the arogant ones. I would quite honestly go crazy if a man ever said these things to me before I new him much.

1. Did you feel what I felt when we reached into the holy water font at the same time? (Quiet Man anyone?)

2. You've got stunning scapular-brown eyes.

3. I bet I can guess your confirmation name.

4. You don't like the culture of death either? Wow! We have so much in common!

5. What's a nice girl like you doing at a First Saturday Rosary Cenacle like this?

6. Sorry, but I couldn't help but noticing how cute you look in that ankle-length, shapeless, plaid jumper. (one of my favorites)

7. May I offer you a light for that votive candle? (very cute)

8. The Bible says "Give drink to those who are thirsty, and feed the hungry"; how about dinner?

9. You look so beautiful in that mantilla you wear to Mass. (another favorite)

10. Want to go to Adoration with me? (ultimate question)

11. I didn't believe in predestination till I met you. (cute)

12. Man does not live by bread alone. So how about dinner and a movie?

13. What do you think Paul meant when he said, "Greet everyone with a holy kiss" (1Pet 5:24)? (sly)

14. A little bird... the Holy Spirit actually... tells me we should get to know each other a little better. (he had better not be lying)

15. Don't worry, I'm attracted to you purely in a spiritual way.

16. Has anyone ever told you, your eyes are like doves and your neck like the tower of David? (no! Thank goodness)

17. You look like a good vocation

18. Hey ... I don't want to embarass you but your Scapular strap is showing. So ... how long have you been wearing that? We should discuss the Sabatine promises over a 40 hours devotion sometime.

19. “A girl like you only comes along once in a Blue Army meeting.”

20. Presenting a rose: “I just may be the answer to your Little Flower novena.” (he's awefully arogant)

21. “Me, I prefer a more traditional Mass. I’m a regular Latin lover.” (sarcastic "haha")

22. “You look like (an officially approved) apparition!” bold

23. “You’re a saint! Kiss me, and make me a second-class relic!” (from Walker Solis)(whoever that is)

24. "My Guardian Angel thinks you are cute."

25. If I had a bead for every time I though of you, I'd have a joyful mystery. (ingenious)

26. You are like the book of Revelation. You've got me all confused.

27. The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. May I move my temple closer to yours?

The blushing girl tulip.

The One Thing Necessary

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, one of the holiest men in the last century, spoke on prayer on many occasions. Regarding the difficulties facing the world today, someone asked him what was the greatest crisis in the present day. He did not mention wars, crimes against humanity, genocide, abortion, contraception, the lack of respect for the sacred, unfaithfulness, sexual promiscuity, materialism, or the breaking of the family. He responded that the single most regretable and dangerous evil of our day is the lack of prayer. It is so great, that the world is being lost to the Devil because of it. St. Pio went on to say that one who prays very much will be saved; those who pray little are in great danger; and those who do not pray are lost. (Yipe!)

There is and has been for many centuries an over-emphasis on works to the extent where prayer itself was left unfinished or completely done away with. Mother Teresa of Calcutta is known for her work and helping the poor, but she always spent several hours every day, at least two (not including communal prayer and Mass) in prayer. It is what allows us to do works, to merit for Christ.

May God bless us and guide us, and keep us safe. And may the souls of the Faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Thanksgiving Novena to St. Jude

O Holy St. Jude, Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need, to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg to whom God had given such agreat power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition.

(Make your request here)

In retun I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked. St. Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen.

Pray this Novena daily. Say 3 Pater's (Our Father's), 3 Ave's (Hail Mary's), 3 Gloria's (Glory Be...) This Novena has never been known to fail.