O Clavis David. (Advent Meditations)
by VP
Posted on Thursday December 19, 2024 at 11:00PM in Advent Sermons
"O
Key of David, and Scepter of the house of Israel ; Who openest and no
man shutteth, and shuttest and no man openeth ; come and deliver from
the prison-house the captive who sits in darkness and in the shadow of
death"
1. The key and the scepter are the symbols of supreme
authority ; they indicate the sway that the Savior is to hold over His
faithful people, and the right which He alone possesses of opening the
gate of heaven to the children of men, and of extending to them the
golden scepter of His mercy and forgiving love. To me, O Key of David,
unworthy though I am, open in Thy mercy the door of heaven ; stretch out
to me,all undeserving, the scepter of Thy favor and Thy love.
2.
Thou shuttest, O Lord, and no man opens. O shut not upon me the door
which will admit me to draw nigh to Thee! Shut not upon me the door of
Thy mercy and grace. Shut not the door which leads me into the inner
sanctuary of Thy love. Shut not the door of that fold wherein Thy
favorite children dwell in peace and happiness. Shut not, above all, the
door of paradise at my last hour.
3. Come then, O Lord, and
open to me now the door of my captivity. I am a captive to my own
self-will ; a captive to my want of charity ; a captive to my vanity and
love of display; a captive to my self-indulgence and dislike of
mortification ; a captive to a thousand faults of which I am scarcely
conscious. Come, O Lord, and set the captive free. I am weak, and cannot
break my chains unless I receive from Thee the necessary strength ;
come, O Lord Jesus, come quickly. "
Saint Andrew Christmas Novena: Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, [here mention your request] through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen. (15 times)
Glory Be (three times).
Infant Jesus, make me love Thee more and more.
Ember Friday Advent : Christ was crucified (Fast and abstinence)
by VP
Posted on Thursday December 19, 2024 at 11:00PM in Ember Days
Station of the Cross, Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral, Raleigh NC
Friday in Ember Week.
"This being an Ember-day,
fail not to pray for all the intentions of the Church in the institution
of these days. One important object of your prayers should be, to beg a
blessing upon all those who are at this time promoted to Holy Orders.
God has ordained His Church to be provided with pastors for the good of
the flock: beseech Him therefore to have mercy on all who at this time
receive Holy Orders. Beg of Him to give them a spirit answerable to
their function; that they may be a light to all those, who are to be under their charge. Pray to Him
to give them a zeal for the good of souls, that they may be ready to do
good to all, according to their necessities, and be prepared at all
times to give their life for their flock." The Catholic Year, Fr. John Gother
Prayer for our Bishop:
O Jesus, Prince of Pastors, Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, give our bishops ................ all those virtues, which they need for their sanctification! May they watch over themselves and the entire flock, with which the Holy Spirit has entrusted them! Fill their hearts with Thine own Spirit! Give them faith, charity, wisdom and strength! Send them faithful co-laborers in the great work of saving and guiding souls! Make them shepherds after Thine own heart, living only for their holy office, fearing nobody but Thee, and hoping for nothing but Thee, in order that when Thou shalt come, to judge shepherds and flocks, they may obtain the unfading reward of eternal life! Amen Imprimatur: Most Rev. Vincent S. Waters, D.D. Raleigh, N.C. March 25, 1956
"The violence of the enemy is always directed against those priests who
are most generous and most loyal.The more you are like your Divine
Model, your Savior and your God, the more certainly will you be the
target for the calumnies, the abuse and persecutions of the wicked." Revs. Jacques Nicolas et P. Millet, S.J. (Jesus Living in the Priest: Considerations on the greatness and Holiness of the Priesthood)
Way of the Cross for Priests ( Especially for those who are suffering persecution)
