St. Raphael Prayer Family

09/02/2016

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/jimmy-akin/9-things-to-know-and-share-about-ash-wednesday2/

Ash Wednesday is upon us again! Here are 9 things to know and share . . . 1. What is Ash Wednesday? Ash Wednesday is the day t...

18/06/2015

''We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will. The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life. This is why the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she “groans in travail” (Rom 8:22). We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth (cf. Gen 2:7); our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters.'' Pope Francis' Encyclical 'On Care for Our Common Home.' http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html

Encyclical Letter Laudato si' of the Holy Father Francis on care for our common home (24 May 2015)

24/02/2015

19/02/2015

MEMORARE TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS (DONE DAILY)

Remember, O most kind Jesus, that none who has had recourse to Your Sacred Heart, implored its assistance, or called for mercy, has ever been abandoned. Filled, and animated by this same confidence, O divine Heart, Ruler of all hearts, I fly to You, and oppressed beneath the weight of my sins, I prostrate myself before You. (mention your request)

Despise not Your unworthy child, but grant me, I pray, an entrance into Your Sacred Heart. Sustain me in all my combats and be with me now, and at all times, but especially in the hour of my death. O gracious Jesus! O amiable Jesus! O loving Jesus! Amen.

PRAYER FOR A PARTICULAR DAY

WEDNESDAY

TO THE MOST SACRED HEAD OF JESUS

O Sacred Head of Jesus, seat of divine wisdom, which has ruled, inspired and guided all the nations, all the incarnations of the Sacred Heart, direct all my thoughts, words and works, as you have promised. Be the remedy for the great ills of our existence, spiritual pride and apostasy. By your sufferings, your crown which tore into your brow, which were heaped upon you, and by the intimate love of your holy mother, may you be worshipped, honoured and magnified, to the glory of God and the salvation of souls. May your divine will be fullfilled, the fervent desires of your most Sacred Heart achieved, as early, as completely, and as generously as is possible in accord with the divine providence.

THURSDAY

TO THE WOUND IN THE RIGHT HAND

My dearest crucified Lord Jesus, humbly prostrate, I adore, together with Mary, with all the angels and saints of heaven, the most Sacred Wound in your right hand. I thank you for the ceaseless love, with which You were willing to bear such cruel torments in order to blot out my sins, which I sincerely deplore. I ask you for the grace to enable your Church to be victorious over her enemies, and to cause her children to walk holily in the way of your commandments.

FRIDAY

TO THE WOUND IN THE LEFT HAND

My most loving crucified Lord Jesus, humbly prostate, I adore with Mary, all the angels and saints in heaven, the most Sacred wound on Your left hand, and ask for grace from You for poor sinners and for the dying, especially those who do not wish to be reconciled with You.

SATURDAY

TO THE WOUND IN THE RIGHT FOOT

My most loving crucified Lord Jesus, humbly prostrate, I adore with Mary, all the angels and saints in heaven, the most Sacred wound in Your right foot, and beg You for the grace that many saints may issue from the orders and religious congregations, and out of this groups of pilgrims.

SUNDAY
O HEART OF HEARTS

O most Sacred Heart of Jesus; how sweet a name! O Love of loves; how sweet it sounds. O Heart of hearts; how comforting it is! O sweet Jesus, put me in Your most Sacred Heart because I am afraid and dare not leave without You in this cruel world, full of violence and hatred. With You and in You I am fortified; I do not fear. O Sacred Heart, take my heart also, it is Yours. Take my whole body, take my soul; take my spirit and make them yours. Take me completely in Your Sacred Hands and put me in Your Heart. For I believe in Your tremendous love for me. O Eternal love! O limitless love! O Perfect Love! Knowing this is my complete happiness and peace. O Sacred Heart of Jesus! What a privilege to be Yours. What joy to be used by You! My sufferings are joy because they are Yours. What more can I expect? Your love for me is all I want. I desire nothing more, O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, My Lord and My God. You are my all. O Sweet Heart! O Sweet Love! O Jesus! Amen.

MONDAY

TO THE WOUND IN THE LEFT FOOT

My most loving crucified Lord Jesus, humbly prostrate, I adore with Mary, all the angels and saints in heaven, the most Sacred wound in the left foot, amd implore You to deliver the poor souls from Purgatory, and especially those who in this life had a special devotion to Your holy wounds, to Your Sacred Heart, to the Blessed Sacrament and to Your beloved Mother.

TUESDAY

TO THE WOUND IN THE LORD’S SIDE

My most loving crucified Lord Jesus, humbly prostrate, I adore with Mary, all the angels and saints in heaven, the most Sacred wound in Your holy side, and beg you to bless and hear all who have asked me to pray for them. Amen.

LET US PRAY (Concluding prayer for everyday)

Crucified Lord Jesus, give force to these our prayers through the merits of your passion; grant me to be holy in this life and at the moment of death the grace to receive holy sacraments, and finally to enjoy eternal happiness. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be…

Short Litany of Aspirations
May I prove to You my love, O Heart my of Jesus,
By a spirit of self-sacrifice for Your interests, O Heart of my Jesus

May I cheerfully make every sacrifice You demand of me, O Heart of my Jesus.
May the sacrifices You ask of me glorify You, O Heart of my Jesus.
May each sacrifice made for Your love draw me nearer to You, O Heart of my Jesus.
By increasing in the spirit of self-sacrifice, may I become more like You,
O Heart of my Jesus.
May the sacrifices I make be agreeable to You, O Heart of my Jesus.
May each sacrifice win one soul to You, O Heart of my Jesus.
May each sacrifice prevent one mortal sin, O Heart of my Jesus.
May each sacrifice earn a special grace for some soul, O Heart of my Jesus.
May each sacrifice merit a holy death for some soul, O Heart of my Jesus.
May each sacrifice relieve a soul in purgatory, O Heart of my Jesus.
May each sacrifice ascend as a prayer to You, O Heart of my Jesus.
May each sacrifice be as a hymn of praise to You, O Heart of my Jesus.
May Your Holy Spirit instruct me more and more in the spirit of self-sacrifice,
O Heart of my Jesus.
May the spirit of self-sacrifice increase in our family, O Heart of my Jesus.
May the same spirit be propagated throughout the whole Church,
O Heart of my Jesus,
And may it hasten the Church's triumph, O Heart of my Jesus.

O Lamb of God, sacrificed for us,
Give us a spirit of self-sacrifice,
O Lamb of God, daily immolating Yourself upon the altar for us,
Give us grace to immolate our wills for Your sake.
O Lamb of God, dying for us,
Give us grace to die to all that wounds your Sacred Heart.

Let’s Pray:
O Lord Jesus Christ, whose whole life was one continual sacrifice for the glory of Your Father and the salvation of our souls, grant us the grace to find our joy in making sacrifices for You and for the interests of Your Sacred Heart.
Amen.

19/02/2015

SALUTATION: HAIL HEART OF JESUS (DONE DAILY)

Hail, Heart of Jesus, save me!
Hail, Heart of my Creator, perfect me!
Hail, Heart of my Saviour, deliver me!
Hail, Heart of my Judge, grant me pardon!
Hail, Heart of my Father, govern me!
Hail, Heart of my Spouse, grant me love!
Hail, Heart of my Master, teach me!
Hail, Heart of my King, be my crown!
Hail, Heart of my Benefactor, enrich me!
Hail, Heart of my Shepherd, guard me!
Hail, Heart of my Friend, comfort me!
Hail, Heart of my Brother, stay with me!
Hail, Heart of the Child Jesus, draw me to Thyself!
Hail, Heart of Jesus dying on the Cross, redeem me!
Hail, Heart of Jesus in all Thy states, give Thyself to me!
Hail, Heart of incomparable goodness, have mercy on me!
Hail, Heart of splendor, shine within me!
Hail, most loving Heart, inflame me!
Hail, most merciful Heart, work within me!
Hail, most humble Heart, dwell within me!
Hail, most patient Heart, support me!
Hail, most faithful Heart, be my reward!
Hail, most admirable and most worthy Heart, bless me!
(Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque)

19/02/2015

About Devotion to the Holy Wounds of Jesus
Although the Devotion to the Holy Wounds of Jesus is now part of the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, this devotion is actually older than the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is one of the many devotions, alongside with the devotion to the Heart of Mary, which actually drew people to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In a way, we can say the Franciscan devotion to the Holy Wounds of Jesus gave birth to the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as the wound on the side of Jesus later drew more attention from mystics and visionaries finally leading multitudes to the Heart of Jesus.

Procedure
After your ordinary prayers, do the Salutation to the Heart of Jesus, which is followed by the Memorare to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Then do a prayer that is marked for that particular day of the week. If it is a Monday, go for the Monday prayer. Follow by doing the concluding prayer for everyday. Finish each day with the Short Litany of Aspirations. In difficult events of temptation or in need of extra strength, the short litany will be extremely helpful. Do this procedure for 44days.

Fasting
On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Catholics between the ages of 14 and 60 are obliged to fast and abstain. (Code of Canon Law, canons 1250 – 53) All Fridays through out the year are days of abstinence unless they are Feasts or Memorials. Fasting means eating one main meal per day and eating smaller amounts of food at all other times. Snacking is not permitted. Abstinence means refraining from consuming all meat, that is flesh and organs of mammals and fowls. For all other days, while Catholics are not obliged, they are strongly encouraged to fast and abstain. All Sundays are Feast Days throughout the year and so no fasting is prescribed. However, during Lent, it is important to remain in the spirit of Lent and avoid heavy meals that will extinguish all the sacrifices we may have made during the week.

As a prayer family, our fasting is going to be as follows to those who can manage. Everyday of the week except Sunday shall be a day of fasting. If you prefer dry fasting, that means only supper per day. No snacks, no water, no drink, nothing enters the mouth until supper time. On Fridays, no food, no drink, no water, nothing until supper time. At supper, no meat or meat product. Those who are pregnant or taking medicine and minors are exempted from this rigorous process. It will be intense, but don’t suffer alone. We are together in the wilderness. When you are in temptation, txt and ask someone to help you pray. Pick up your Short Litany of Aspirations and extra strength shall be given to you.

After 44days of prayer and fasting, you cannot be the same. Remember, the three pillars of Lent are Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. The world diets. The Church fasts. We are not dieting. We are fasting. Pray and give to the needy. Read Tobit 12:8 – 10. May God Bless You.

19/02/2015

Easter: The Feast of Our Redemption
The Apostle Paul calls us to be spiritually literate. He says, “Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.” Ephesians 5: 15 – 17. In other words, he is advising us not be indifferent to the seasons of grace. Doing so is foolishness.

Easter is the biggest feast in the Church. It is bigger than Christmas. The whole Church gathers herself together and becomes alert to the events at the core of her redemption. Easter marks that point in time when God enters the fray to interrupt the downward descend of mankind. It is the creation of a new world. “See, I am doing something new. Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” Isaiah 43:18. The apostle Paul unlocks the mystery, “So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who had reconciled us to himself through Christ…” 2 Corinthians 5: 17. Thus on Easter, the world is born anew. It is created anew. The Easter story is a creation story. The creation of a world in which all things are held together in Christ. We become a creation that is beyond destruction. Our redemption is unprecedented. As long as we remain in Christ, the devil can rest assured, we are not candidates for hell.

It therefore follows that Easter is not only bigger than Christmas, but is bigger than original creation story. That’s why Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI says, “When we realise that a single Heart stands on a higher scale than the whole extent of the universe…then we can begin to understand that the act by which God becomes man, that he who is the Creator… comes down to enter into human existence and unites himself with it, so that he himself is this man – that this act is an event far greater in significance [than the creation of the world].”

How great is the love of Jesus? We could not ascend to Him, so he descended unto us, that with Him, we may ascend to the Father. He said, “And when I am lifted from the earth, I will draw everyone to Myself.” John 12:32.

These 40days are our honeymoon with the Man who so dearly loved us. To appreciate this love, we must appreciate his passion. The essential element in Christ’s suffering is not pain but love and obedience which led him to endure the pain. The wounds of Jesus are a mirror of his love for us. That passion did not end in just pain but even death as if to say, “You are worth dying for. Do you not perceive it?” In our attempt to perceive it, to discern, we have chosen the Devotion to the Holy Wounds of Jesus. Every single day we will focus on a particular area of suffering, a particular wound and allow us to be drawn into deep intimacy with Jesus

19/02/2015

40 DAYS: HONEYMOON IN THE WILDERNESS

“Behold the Man!” John 19:5.

These are the words of Pilate, directing the multitudes to behold Christ after the scourging and the crowning with the crown of thorns.

More than a thousand years later, 1675, a teenage girl will hear similar words, calling all mankind to… “Behold this Heart of Mine which so loved men that it gave up everything, sparing nothing for Itself.” With amazement and deep adoration, Margaret Mary beholds this Heart, from which flames of love are pouring as from a furnace.

At one time, the Lover of mankind appears in His Majesty with arms outstretched and His five wounds shining like five separate suns. She is won over to adoration of these Holy Wounds, this Heart, this Man who earlier on had confirmed to her, “I am the most accomplished of all lovers.” How can He not be? These wounds, no any other man bears. This Heart, no any other man possesses.

“Behold the Man,” Pilate tells his subjects. “Behold this Heart…” Margaret Mary is told. The Centurion on the crucifixion scene looked up to Jesus and said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God.” Mark 15:39.

Saint Faustina saw from the pierced side of Jesus two rays, one white and the other red enveloping the whole world.

On 20 September 1918, on a Friday, a young priest while praying before a crucifix after Mass, Christ appeared to him, His wounds bleeding profusely. The priest, Padre Pio, buried himself in adoration and the same wounds appeared on his own body, very fresh and dripping blood. He begged the Lord to take away the bleeding and leave the wounds and the pain, so that no one would notice. He was to carry these wounds of our Lord until his death in September 1968. 50 years of bearing everyday pain that is worse than death.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8.

Today the invitation is on you, to set apart 40days, to walk away from everything, into the wilderness for a honeymoon with ‘the most accomplished of all lovers’.

09/02/2015

Dear Friends. Today we start a special novena to Saint Joseph. If you do not have the novena, inbox and we will send it to you.

09/02/2015

Day One
FOSTER-FATHER OF JESUS
Saint Joseph, you were privileged to share in the mystery of the Incarnation as the foster-father of Jesus.Mary alone was directly connected with the fulfillment of the mystery, in that she gave her consent to Christ's conception and allowed the Holy Spirit to form the sacred humanity of Jesus from her blood. You had a part in this mystery in an indirect manner, by fulfilling the condition necessary for the Incarnation -- the protection of Mary's virginity before and during your married life with her. You made the virginal marriage possible, and this was a part of God's plan, foreseen, willed, and decreed from all eternity.
In a more direct manner you shared in the support, upbringing, and protection of the Divine Child as His foster-father. For this purpose the Heavenly Father gave you a genuine heart of a father -- a heart full of love and self-sacrifice. With the toil of your hands you were obliged to offer protection to the Divine Child, to procure for Him food, clothing, and a home. You were truly the saint of the holy childhood of Jesus -- the living created providence which watched over the Christ-Child.
When Herod sought the Child to put Him to death, the Heavenly Father sent an angel but only as a messenger, giving orders for the flight; the rest He left entirely in your hands. It was that fatherly love which was the only refuge that received and protected the Divine Child. Your fatherly love carried Him through the desert into Egypt until all enemies were removed. Then on your arms the Child returned to Nazareth to be nourished and provided for during many years by the labor of your hands. Whatever a human son owes to a human father for all the benefits of his up-bringing and support, Jesus owed to you, because you were to Him a foster-father, teacher, and protector.
You served the Divine Child with a singular love. God gave you a heart filled with heavenly, supernatural love -- a love far deeper and more powerful than any natural father's love could be.

You served the Divine Child with great unselfishness, without any regard to self-interest, but not without sacrifices. You did not toil for yourself, but you seemed to be an instrument intended for the benefit of others, to be put aside as soon as it had done its word, for you disappeared from the scene once the childhood of Jesus had passed.

You were the shadow of the Heavenly Father not only as the earthly representative of the authority of the Father, but also by means of your fatherhood -- which only appeared to be natural -- you were to hide for a while the divinity of Jesus. What a wonderfully sublime and divine vocation was yours -- the loving Child which you carried in your arms, and loved and served so faithfully, had God in Heaven as Father and was Himself God!

Yours is a very special rank among the saints of the Kingdom of God, because you were so much a part of the very life of the Word of God made Man. In your house at Nazareth and under your care the redemption of mankind was prepared. What you accomplished, you did for us. You are not only a powerful and great saint in the Kingdom of God, but a benefactor of the whole of Christendom and mankind. Your rank in the Kingdom of God, surpassing far in dignity and honor of all the angels, deserves our very special veneration, love, and gratitude.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of having been chosen by God to be the foster-father of His Divine Son. As a token of your own gratitude to God for this your greatest privilege, obtain for me the grace of a very devoted love for Jesus Christ, my God and my Savior. Help me to serve Him with some of the self-sacrificing love and devotion which you had while on this earth with Him. Grant that through your intercession with Jesus, your foster-Son, I may reach the degree of holiness God has destined for me, and save my soul.
*NOVENA PRAYER

09/02/2015

Novena to St. Joseph
*NOVENA PRAYER
*(prayer to be said at the end of each day's devotion)

Saint Joseph, I, your unworthy child, greet you. You are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have special confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in you, for you are especially powerful with God and will never abandon your faithful servants. Therefore I humbly invoke you and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore:

(Mention your request).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that your prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen.

MEMORARE
Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to your protection or asked for your aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in your goodness, I come before you and humbly implore you. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.

02/09/2014

Is there a question about prayer that always troubles you? Please share with us and lets help each other get the answers.