Immaculate Heart, Oh Sacred Heart

This is a beautiful Consecration to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Divine Mercy Chaplet - Musical Version

This is a wonderful version of the Divine Mercy Chaplet - quite haunting. And the World could sure use an enormous outpouring of Divine Mercy in our day.


Donna Cori Gibson - Divine Mercy Chaplet - Video - Catholic Online

The Importance of Meditation and Contemplation for Priests

The following is an extract from an Apostolic Exhortation on Priestly Sanctity given by Pope St. Pius X called Haerent Animo. It is a rather long extract but well worth a read.

Despite the high dignity of the various functions of the priestly office and the veneration which they deserve, frequent exercise of these functions may lead those who discharge them to treat them with less respect than is their due. From a gradual decline in fervor it is an easy step to carelessness and even to distaste for the most sacred things. In addition, a priest cannot avoid daily contact with a corrupt society; frequently, in the very exercise of pastoral charity, he must fear the insidious attacks of the infernal serpent. Is it not all too easy even for religious souls to be tarnished by contact with the world? It is evident, therefore, that there is a grave and urgent need for the priest to turn daily to the contemplation of the eternal truths, so that his mind and will may gain new strength to stand firm against every enticement to evil.

Moreover, it is the strict duty of the priest to have a mind for heavenly things, to teach them, to inculcate them; in the regulation of his whole life he must be so much superior to human considerations that whatever he does in the discharge of his sacred office will be done in accordance with God, under the impulse and guidance of faith; it is fitting then that he should possess a certain aptitude to rise above earthly considerations and strive for heavenly things. Nothing is more conducive to the acquisition and strengthening of this disposition of soul, this quasi-natural union with God, than daily meditation; it is unnecessary to dwell upon this truth which every prudent person clearly realizes.

The life of a priest who underestimates the value of meditation, or has lost all taste for it, provides a sad confirmation of what we have been saying. Let your eyes dwell on the spectacle of men in whom the mind of Christ, that supremely precious gift, has grown weak; their thoughts are all on earthly things, they are engaged in vain pursuits, their words are so much unimportant chatter; in the performance of their sacred functions they are careless, cold, perhaps even unworthy. Formerly, these same men, with the oil of priestly ordination still fresh upon them, diligently prepared themselves for the recitation of the Psalms, lest they should be like men who tempt God; they sought a time and place free from disturbance; they endeavored to grasp the divine meaning; in union with the psalmist they poured forth their soul in songs of praise, sorrow and rejoicing. But now, what a change has taken place!

In like manner, little now remains of that lively devotion which they felt towards the divine mysteries. Formerly, how beloved were those tabernacles! It was their delight to be present at the table of the Lord, to invite more and more pious souls to that banquet! Before Mass, what purity, what earnestness in the prayers of a loving heart! How great reverence in the celebration of Mass, with complete observance of the august rites in all their beauty! What sincerity in thanksgiving! And the sweet perfume of Christ was diffused over their people! We beg of you, beloved sons: Call to mind . . . the former days; for then your soul was burning with zeal, being nourished by holy meditation.

Some of those who find recollection of the heart a burden, or entirely neglect it, do not seek to disguise the impoverishment of soul which results from their attitude, but they try to excuse themselves on the pretext that they are completely occupied by the activity of their ministry, to the manifold benefit of others.

They are gravely mistaken. For as they are unaccustomed to converse with God, their words completely lack the inspiration which comes from God when they speak to men about God or inculcate the counsels of the christian life; it is as if the message of the Gospel were practically dead in them. However distinguished for prudence and eloquence, their speech does not echo the voice of the good Shepherd which the sheep hear to their spiritual profit; it is mere sound which goes forth without fruit, and sometimes gives a pernicious example to the disgrace of religion and the scandal of the good.

It is the same in other spheres of their activity; there can be no solid achievement, nothing of lasting benefit, in the absence of the heavenly dew which is brought down in abundance by the prayer of the man who humbles himself.

Recommended Reading (4)

The book I recommend today is a wonderful book written in the form of a retreat on the spirituality of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. It's a book I go back to time and time again and always come away with something new.

The details are as follows:

Author: Jean C.J. D’Elbee,

Title: I Believe in Love: A Personal Retreat Based on the Teaching of St.Therese of Lisieux

Publisher: Sophia Institute Press, 2001

Sometimes it's good to just praise HIM!

This Video reminds us of the awesome power and goodness of God which can be seen in the things he has created.

And this Video is just another for good measure. Enjoy!

Act of Consecration of Children to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Our Lady of Fatima, Mary our Mother, to your Immaculate Heart we consecrate ourselves, our youth, our growth in faith and our future.

Mother Mary, keep us close to you and protect us from anything that leads us away from Jesus.

Keep us pure and teach us how to love God above everything.

In this consecration we place ourselves into the care of your Immaculate Heart, so that under your protection and through your intercession we will grow up to be happy holy and healthy young men and women, strong in the faith and with a great love for you and for Jesus.

Blessed Francisco of Fatima, pray for us.
Blessed Jacinta of Fatima, pray for us.

Act of Consecration of the Family to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Immaculate Virgin, Our Lady of Fatima, trusting in your motherly goodness and your great concern for Christian families, we come before you and we consecrate our family and every family to your Immaculate Heart.

To you we gladly consecrate our family, our children, our life together in the home, our marriage, our vocation as Catholic spouses and parents. Look kindly upon our home as we ask you today to defend, now and always, our family from everything that is not of God. Ask your Holy Spouse, St. Joseph, to guard our family home, that he may be the guardian and protector of our family as he was the Guardian and Protector of the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Dearest Mother Mary, as we consecrate ourselves and our family to your Immaculate Heart we pledge to make greater room for you in our hearts and in our home, especially through the practice of family prayer together – in particular the Holy Rosary. Through this act of consecration we entrust all family to your intercession in the certain knowledge that Jesus our Lord will refuse nothing you ask of him.

Mary, our Mother and our Queen, may your Immaculate Heart triumph and reign in our home and in our hearts so that Jesus may be the true heart of our family and that our home may be filled with his heavenly blessing. Oh Lady of Fatima, obtain from the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for our family and for every family that we may faithfully fulfil our Christian duties and that we all may be enriched with the abundant blessings of Almighty God.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Refuge of Sinners, Cause of our Joy – Pray for us now and always. Amen.