CAPG's Blog 

"Now it is in the Host that I can see you carry your annihilation in full. How humble you are , oh Divine King of Glory in submitting Yourself to all your priests without making any distinction between those who love you and those who, alas, are lukewarm or cold in your service! You descend from Heaven to their call. They can anticipate or delay the time of your Holy Sacrifice. You are always ready! (Pr 20)" -- St. Therese of Lisieux

Prayer for Priests and Vocation ( Ste. Thérèse de Lisieux)

O Holy Father, may the torrents of love flowing from the sacred wounds of Thy Divine Son bring forth priests like unto the beloved disciple John who stood at the foot of the Cross; priests: who as a pledge of Thine own most tender love will lovingly give Thy Divine Son to the souls of men.
May Thy priests be faithful guardians of Thy Church, as John was of Mary, whom he received into his house. Taught by this loving Mother who suffered so much on Calvary, may they display a mother’s care and thoughtfulness towards Thy children. May they teach souls to enter into close union with Thee through Mary who, as the Gate of Heaven, is specially the guardian of the treasures of Thy Divine Heart. Give us priests who are on fire, and who are true children of Mary, priests who will give Jesus to souls with the same tenderness and care with which Mary carried the Little Child of Bethlehem.
Mother of sorrows and of love, out of compassion for Thy beloved Son, open in our hearts deep wells of love, so that we may console Him and give Him a generation of priests formed in thy school and having all the tender thoughtfulness of thine own spotless love.
O my God, help those priests who are faithful to remain faithful, to those who are falling, stretch forth Your Divine Hand that they may grasp it as their support. And for those poor unfortunate souls who have fallen, lift them up in the great ocean of Your Mercy, that being engulfed therein, they may receive the grace to return to Your Great Loving Heart. Amen. 

Joan of Arc by Jules Eugène Lenepveu

"After partaking of the communion, which she received with abundance of tears, she perceived the bishop, and addressed him with the words,"Bishop, I die through you..." And, again, "Had you put me in the prisons of the Church, and given me ghostly keepers, this would not have happened...And for this, I summon you to answer before God!" The Maid of Orleans, History of France By Jules Michelet

PRAYER OF JOAN OF ARC IN HER PRISON
(written by St. Therese of Lisieux 1896)

My voices truth foretold: -a prisoner behold me.
I look for help from none save from Thee, O my Lord,
An orphan for Thy love, no father's arms enfold me, 
Estranged from cloudless skies, I tread no flowery sward.

My valley lies afar-my mother, fond and cherished, 
The standard of the Cross I hold aloft on high. 
Lord, in Thy Name I led where countless foes have perished,
And mighty warriors paused to heed my battle cry.

Behold my rich reward, a prison dark confining,
The price of blood, of toil, of sorrow's bitter tear.
I see no more the spot where infant memories twining, 
Enwreathe the smiling fields where myriad blooms appear;

I see no mountain far with soft, enclouding curtain, 
Its snowy summit plunged in azure of the sky; 
I hear no village bell with note so faint, uncertain, 
In undulating waves that float and softly die. 

My dungeon dread, obscure, the firmament is veiling, 
I seek in vain the stars, the radiance of the night; 
No more the leafy Spring shall twine o'er me its paling, 
When 'mid my flocks I sleep, soft shadowed from the light; 

Here in my troubled sleep, 'mid sad and tearful showers, 
I dream of odours rare, refreshment of the morn, 
I dream of lowly vales, of gently wooded bowers,
I wake with clank of chains, from slumber rudely torn.

O Lord, for love of Thee I fear nor death nor fire, 
My martyrdom of pain I willingly embrace. 
To see Thee, O my Jesus, to clasp Thee, I aspire, 
No longing hath my heart save to behold Thy Face. 
My cross I gladly take, sweet Saviour, go before me, 
To die for Thy pure love, this only I desire; 
O Love, I long to die, in union to adore Thee; 
Jesus, I long to die that Thou new life inspire. 
 1894.