Accessibility Tools

Web Accessibility plugin by DJ-Extensions.com

Luisa Piccarreta

Little Daughter of the Divine Will

Luisa Piccarreta

Author Archives: DWLPco

5/19 The Descent of the Holy Spirit

Posted on by

From Day Twenty-Nine of the Virgin Mary in the Kingdom of the Divine Will

Blessed Virgin Mary to the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta:  

Now, dear daughter, My Beloved Son Jesus remained on earth, Risen, for forty days. Very often He appeared to the Apostles and disciples to confirm them in the Faith and certainty of His Resurrection; and when He was not with the Apostles, He was with His Mama in the cenacle, surrounded by the souls who had come out of Limbo. But as the term of the forty days expired, beloved Jesus Instructed the Apostles, and leaving His Mama as their Guide and Teacher, He Promised us the Descent of the Holy Spirit. Then, Blessing us all, He departed, taking flight for the vault of the Heavens, together with that great crowd of people who had come out of Limbo. All those who were there, and they were a great number, saw Him Ascend; but as He went up high, a cloud of Light removed Him from their sight.

5/19 How You Can Get Plenary Indulgences This Summer

Posted on by
Summer presents many possibilities to gain many plenary indulgences, on vacation or at home
Joseph Pronechen

Summer presents a spiritual surprise. Several plenary indulgences are possible for you, your family and friends to gain for yourself or to apply to any soul in purgatory.

These indulgences are in addition to those particular ones the Church allows on a daily basis — and which so few people realize are available. We’ve discussed daily ones before and will review them later, but let’s begin with those falling during summer.

Let’s start by reviewing the general requirements necessary for any plenary indulgence. The requirements and indulgences are spelled out in the Enchiridion Indulgentiarum, or Manual of Indulgences, Fourth Edition.

To gain a plenary indulgence you must:

  • Be baptized and in the state of grace, at least at the time the indulgenced work is done.
  • Have “the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin.” Otherwise, the indulgence becomes partial, not plenary.

And fulfill these three conditions:

  • Sacramentally confess your sins
  • Receive Holy Communion. (“It is certainly better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence only Holy Communion is required”).
  • Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father. One Our Father and one Hail Mary fully satisfies this.

One sacramental confession suffices for gaining several plenary indulgences, but a separate Holy Communion and separate prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father are required for each plenary indulgence. According to the most recent Church guidelines on the subject, “it is sufficient that these sacred rites and prayers be carried out within several days (about 20) before or after the indulgenced act.”

Of course, you must also:

  • Perform the prescribed work to which the indulgence is attached.
  • Have at least a general intention to gain the indulgence. You can’t receive an indulgence unintentionally or by accident.

If any part of the requirements is missing, then the indulgence becomes partial. Heaven determines the degree of the partial indulgence.

A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who —

On Summer’s Specific Dates 

(June 6, 2021) The Solemnity of Corpus Christi, “devoutly participate in a solemn Eucharistic procession, held inside or outside a church, of greatest importance on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ” (Corpus Christi Sunday).

(June 11, 2021) The Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. “On the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, publicly recite the act of reparation Jesu dulcissime (a partial indulgence is granted for its use in other circumstances, such as private recitation. See the form of the prayer carried in the Manual below).

(June 29, 2021) The Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. On this solemnity “make prayerful use of an article of devotion, as defined by Norm 15, that has been blessed by the Supreme Pontiff or by any bishop, provided the faithful also make a Profession of Faith using any legitimate formula.” Norm 15 identifies the articles to be “a crucifix or cross, rosary, scapular, or medal.”

August 2, the “Portiuncula” indulgence. See the specific places necessary to attend reading on.

 

Floating Summer Dates

First Communions are usually held this time of year. “The faithful who receive Holy Communion for the first time or devoutly assist at the first Holy Communion of others” can receive a plenary indulgence.

Retreats which people do attend during the summer (any time of year actually) have a plenary indulgence available for the faithful who spend at least three entire days in the spiritual exercises of a retreat.

First Mass of a newly ordained priest.  Both the “priest celebrating his first Mass before the people on a chosen day; [and] the faithful who devoutly assist at such a Mass” can receive the indulgence.

Ordination Anniversary of a priest presents another occasion to receive a plenary indulgence. The manual states those who can gain the indulgence are “priests celebrating the 25th, 50th, 60th, 70th anniversary of their priestly ordinations, who renew before God their promise of faithfully fulfilling the duties of their vocation; bishops celebrating the 25th, 40th, and 50thanniversary of their episcopal ordination, who renew before God their promise of faithfully fulfilling the duties of their office; the faithful who devoutly assist at jubilee Mass celebrations.”

 

At Home or On Vacation

Going on vacation? Staying close to home? Near or far, many locations also offer opportunities for gaining a plenary indulgence by

Visiting Sacred Places “and there devoutly recite an Our Father and the Creed.” The specific places with lots of latitude built-in are:

1 — if abroad, one of the four Patriarchal Basilicas of Rome, either as part of a group making a pilgrimage to the basilica, or at least with the purpose of expressing during the visit filial submission to the Roman Pontiff

2 — A Minor Basilica — search one out near you or your vacation destination. When?

A – On the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (June 29)

B – On the solemnity of its Titular

C – On Aug. 2, the day of the “Portiuncula” indulgence

D – Once a year, on a day chosen by the Christian faithful

3 —  The Cathedral Church gives you the opportunity to stay in your diocese,

A –  On the solemnity of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul (June 29)

B –  On the solemnity of it Titular – if it happens to be during the summer. For example, the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco (Aug. 15), and St. Augustine Cathedral in Bridgeport, Connecticut (Aug. 28). Most do not fall during the summer.

C –  On Aug. 2, the day of the “Portiuncula” indulgence

(There are two other of these visit times, but they’re not during summer: on the

liturgical celebration of the Chair of St. Peter, the Apostle and on the dedication of

the Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior (known as St. John Lateran.)

4 — An International, National, or Diocesan Shrine Established by Competent Authority. Why not make one or more of these your summer vacation destination, or part of your planned trip? When to visit?

A –  On the solemnity of its Titular. For example, St. Anne’s Church & Shrine in Fall

River, Massachusetts. or at the Isle La Motte, Vermont, on July 26; National

Shrine of Saint Philomena in Briggsville, Wisconsin, Aug. 11; National Shrine of

St. Anthony in Cincinnati, Ohio; National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

On July 16.

B –  Once a year, on a day chosen by the Christian faithful. (Any day during your

Summer vacation or day-trip. Plan on Mass there too.)

C –  As often as they assist in a group pilgrimage visiting the shrine.

5 — A Parish Church. This is nearest of all.  When?

A – On the solemnity of its Titular. (Might not work during summer if your parish is

named after a saint whose feast falls during other times of the year. Or named

after St. Joseph or one of the Blessed Mother’s titles celebrated later or earlier.

Check the liturgical calendar for the feast date of your parish’s namesake.)

B – On Aug. 2, the day of the “Portiuncula” indulgence. This works for every parish.

6 — A church or altar on the day of its dedication. Exceptional circumstance, yet

possible.

7 — Consecration of the Family. Although for anytime during the year, why not during summer? The Manual says the members of the family gain a plenary indulgence “on the day on which it is first consecrated, if at all possible by a priest or deacon, to the Sacred Heart of Jesus or to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph if they devoutly recite the duly approved prayer before an image of the Sacred Heart or the Holy Family.”

 

Remember the Normal Daily Ones 

Even with this list geared toward summer travel, day trips, and vacations, don’t forget a plenary indulgence can be obtained “each day of the year,” but “no more than once a day.” That’s means all summer.

The four ways, together with the three basic conditions of Confession, receiving Holy Communion, and praying for the Holy Father’s intentions, are —

  • Eucharistic Adoration. “Visit the Blessed Sacrament for adoration lasting at least a half hour.”
  • Praying the Rosary. “Devoutly recite the Marian Rosary in a church or oratory, or in a family, a religious community, or an association of the faithful, and in general when several of the faithful gather for some honest purpose…”
  • Reading or listening to Sacred Scriptures. “Read the Sacred Scriptures as spiritual reading, from a text approved by a competent authority, and with the reverence due to the divine word, for at least a half an hour; if the time is less, the indulgence will be partial.” Or listen to it being read.
  • Pious exercise of the Way of the Cross. Walk them in church or where legitimately erected.

May your summer be a joyful blessed one.

 

From Above: The Jesu dulcissime prayer for the Feast of the Sacred Heart. There are shorter versions, but this is the one printed in the latest official Manual of Indulgences.

Most sweet Jesus, whose overflowing charity for men is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence, and contempt, behold us prostrate before you, eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries to which your loving Heart is everywhere subjected.

Mindful, alas! That we ourselves have had a share in such great indignities, which we now deplore from the depths of our hearts, we humbly ask your pardon and declare our readiness to atone by voluntary expiation, not only for our own personal offenses, but also for the sins of those who, straying from the path of salvation, refuse in their obstinate infidelity to follow you, their Shepherd and Leader, or, renouncing the promises of their Baptism, have cast off the sweet yoke of your law.

We are now resolved to expiate each and every deplorable outrage committed against you; we are determined to make amends for the manifold offenses against Christian modesty in indecent dress and behavior, for all the foul seductions laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violations of Sundays and holydays, and for the shocking blasphemies uttered against you and your Saints. We wish also to make amends for the insults to which your Vicar on earth and your priests are subjected, for the profanation, by conscious neglect or terrible acts of sacrilege, of the very Sacrament of your divine love, and lastly for the public crimes of nations who resist the rights and teaching authority of the Church which you have founded.

Would that we were able to wash away such abominations with our blood. We now offer, in reparation for these violations of your divine honor, the satisfaction you once made to your Eternal Father on the cross and which you continue to renew daily on our altars; we offer it in union with the acts of atonement of your Virgin Mother and all the saints and of the pious faithful on earth; and we sincerely promise to make recompense, as far as we can with the help of your grace, for all the neglect of your great love and for the sins we and others have committed in the past. Henceforth, we will live a life of unswerving faith, of purity of conduct, of perfect observance of the precepts of the Gospel and especially that of charity. We promise to the best of our power to prevent others from offended you and to bring as many as possible to follow you.

O loving Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mother, our model of reparation, deign to receive the voluntary offering we make of this act of expiation; and by the crowning gift of perseverance keep us faithful unto death to our duty and the allegiance we owe to you, that we may all one day come to that happy home, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, for ever and ever. Amen.

5/17 Difference between the one who lives in the Divine Will and one who is resigned and submitted to It. The first one is sun, the second is earth, which lives of the effects of the light.

Posted on by

Book of Heaven
5/31/26 – Vol. 19

The light of the Divine Will continues to envelop me; and my little intelligence, while swimming in the immense sea of this light, can just barely take a few drops of light and a few little flames of the so many truths, knowledges and happinesses that this endless sea of the Eternal Will contains.  And many times I cannot find the right words in order to put on paper that little bit of light; I say little compared to the much I leave out, because my little and poor intelligence takes as much as is enough to fill me – the rest I have to leave out.  It happens as to a person who dives into the sea:  he becomes all wet, water flows everywhere on him, and maybe even in his bowels; but as he goes out of the sea, how much of all the water of the sea does he carry with himself?  Very little – indeed almost nothing compared to the water that remains in the sea.  And by having been in the sea, can he perhaps say how much water, how many species of fish and quantities of them there are in the sea?  Certainly not; but he will be able to speak of the little he has seen of the sea.  Such is my poor soul.

Then, while I was in this light, my sweet Jesus came out from within my interior and told me:  “My daughter, this is the unity of the light of my Will, and so that you may love It more and more and be confirmed more in It, I want to make known to you the great difference which exists between the one who lives in my Will, in the unity of this light, and one who resigns and submits himself to my Will.  In order to make you comprehend this well, I will give you a simile from the sun which is there on the horizon.  The sun, being in the vault of the heavens, spreads its rays over the surface of the earth.  Look:  between the earth and the sun there is a sort of agreement – the sun touches the earth, and the earth receives the light and the touch of the sun.  Now, by receiving the touch of the light, submitting to the sun, the earth receives the effects which the light contains, and these effects transmute the face of the earth; they make it turn green again, they make it flower – plants develop, fruits mature, and many other wonders which can be seen on the face of the earth, always produced by the effects contained in the solar light.  But by giving its effects, the sun does not give its light; on the contrary, it jealously preserves its unity, and its effects are not lasting, and therefore one sees the poor earth, now all flowery, now all stripped – it changes almost at each season, and undergoes continuous mutations.  If the sun gave to the earth effects and light, the earth would change into sun and would have no more need to beg for the effects, because, containing the light within itself, it would become the owner of the source of the effects which the sun contains.

Now, such is the soul who resigns and submits to my Will:  she lives of the effects contained in It.  Not possessing the light, she does not possess the source of the effects contained in the Sun of the Eternal Volition, and therefore she looks almost like the earth – now rich in virtues, now poor; she changes at every circumstance.  Even more, if she is not always resigned and submitted to my Will, she would be like an earth that does not want to let itself be touched by the light of the sun.  In fact, if the earth receives its effects it is because it lets itself be touched by its light, otherwise it would remain squalid, unable to produce a single blade of grass.  So remained Adam after sin; he lost the unity of the light, and therefore the source of the goods and effects which the Sun of my Will contains.  He could no longer feel the fullness of the Divine Sun within himself; he could no longer see within himself that unity of light which his Creator had fixed in the depth of his soul, and which, communicating His likeness to him, made of him His faithful copy.  Before sinning, since he possessed the source of the unity of light with his Creator, each little act of his was a ray of light which, invading the whole Creation, went to fix itself in the center of his Creator, bringing Him the love and the return for all that had been made for him in the whole Creation.  He was the one who harmonized everything and formed the note of accord between Heaven and earth.  But as soon as he withdrew from my Will, his acts no longer invaded Heaven and earth like rays, but they shrank, almost like plants and flowers, within the little circle of his field.  So, losing the harmony with all Creation, he became the clashing note of all Creation.  Oh! how low he descended, and cried bitterly over the lost unity of light, which, raising him above all created things, made of Adam the little god of the earth.

Now, my daughter, from what I have told you, you can comprehend that the living in my Will is to possess the source of the unity of the light of my Will, with all the fullness of the effects contained in It.  So, light, love, adoration… arise in each act of the creature, which, constituting itself act for each act, love for each love, like solar light invades everything, harmonizes everything, centralizes everything within itself; and like a shining ray it brings to her Creator the return for all that He has made for all creatures and the true note of accord between Heaven and earth.  What a difference between the one who possesses the source of the goods which the Sun of my Will contains, and one who lives of the effects of It!  It is the difference that exists between the sun and the earth.  The sun always possesses the fullness of its light and effects, it is always blazing and majestic in the vault of the heavens, nor does it need the earth.  While it touches everything, it is untouchable, it does not let itself be touched by anyone; and if anyone dared even to fix on it, it would eclipse him, blind him and knock him down with its light.  On the other hand, the earth is in need of everything, it lets itself be touched and stripped; and if it wasn’t for the light of the sun and its effects, it would be a gloomy prison, full of squalid misery.  Therefore, there is no comparison that holds between the one who lives in my Will and one who submits to It.

So, before sinning, Adam did possess the unity of light, but he could no longer recover it during his life; it happened to him as to the earth that turns around the sun:  not being fixed, in turning around, it opposes the sun and forms the night.  Now, in order to render him firm again so that he might sustain the unity of this light, a repairer was needed, and this repairer was supposed to be superior to him; a divine strength was needed in order to straighten him up.  Here is the necessity of Redemption.

My Celestial Mama also possessed the unity of this light, and this is why, more than sun, She can give light to all.  It was never nighttime, nor was there ever a shadow between Her and the Supreme Majesty, but always full daylight.  Therefore, in each instant, this unity of the light of my Will made the whole of the Divine Life flow within Her, which brought Her seas of light, of joys, of happinesses, of divine knowledges, seas of beauty, of glory, of love.  And She, as though in triumph, brought all these seas to Her Creator as Her own, to attest to Him Her love, Her adoration, and to charm Him with Her beauty; and the Divinity made flow yet more and new beautiful seas.  She possessed so much love that, as though naturally, She could love all, adore and make up for all.  Her littlest acts done in the unity of this light were superior to the greatest acts and to all the acts of all creatures together.  Therefore, the sacrifices, the works, the love of all other creatures can be called little flames before the sun, little drops of water before the sea, compared to the acts of the Sovereign Queen; and this is why, by virtue of the unity of this light of the Supreme Volition, She triumphed over everything and conquered Her very Creator, making Him a Prisoner in Her maternal womb.  Ah! only the unity of this light of my Will, which She who ruled over everything possessed, was able to form this prodigy which had never before occurred, administering to Her acts worthy of this Divine Prisoner.

By losing this unity of light, Adam turned himself upside down and formed night, weaknesses, passions, for himself and for the generations.  By never doing Her own will, this excelling Virgin remained always straight, and facing the Eternal Sun; therefore it was always daylight for Her, and She made the day of the Sun of Justice arise for all generations.  If this Virgin Queen had done nothing else but preserve the unity of the light of the Eternal Volition in the depth of Her immaculate soul, this would have been enough to give Us back the glory of all, the acts of all, and the requital of love of all Creation.  Through Her, by virtue of my Will, the Divinity felt come back to Itself, the joys and the happiness which It had established to receive through Creation.  Therefore She can be called the Queen, the Mother, the Foundress, the Base and the Mirror of my Will, in which all can reflect themselves to receive Its Life from Her.”

After this, I felt as though soaked with this light, and I comprehended the great prodigy of living in the unity of this light of the Supreme Volition; and my sweet Jesus, coming back, added:  “My daughter, Adam in the state of innocence and my Celestial Mama possessed the unity of light of my Will – not by their own virtue, but by virtue communicated by God.  On the other hand, my Humanity possessed it by Its own virtue, because in It there was not only the unity of the light of the Supreme Volition, but there was the Eternal Word; and since I am inseparable from the Father and the Holy Spirit, the true and perfect bilocation occurred – that while I remained in Heaven, I descended into the womb of my Mama; and since the Father and the Holy Spirit are inseparable from Me, They too descended into it, and at the same time They remained in the heights of the Heavens.”

Now, while Jesus was saying this, the doubt came to me about whether the Three Divine Persons had suffered, all Three of Them, or the Word alone; and Jesus resumed His speaking, saying:  “My daughter, because They are inseparable from Me, the Father and the Holy Spirit descended with Me and I remained with Them in the Heavens; but the task of satisfying, of suffering, and of redeeming man was taken by Me.  I, Son of the Father, took on the role of reconciling God with man.  Our Divinity was untouchable by the suffering of the slightest pain; it was my Humanity that, united with the Three Divine Persons in an inseparable way, placing Itself at the mercy of the Divinity, suffered unheard-of pains and satisfied in a divine manner.  And since my Humanity possessed not only the fullness of my Will as Its own virtue, but the Word Himself, as well as the Father and the Holy Spirit as a consequence of Our inseparability, It surpassed in a more perfect way both innocent Adam and my very Mama.  In fact, in them it was grace, in Me it was nature; they had to draw light, grace, power, beauty from God; in Me there was the springing fount of light, beauty, grace….  So, the difference between Me, as nature, and my very Mama, as grace, was so great, that She remained eclipsed before my Humanity.  Therefore, my daughter, be attentive, your Jesus possesses the springing fount, and has always something to give you, and you have always something to take.  As much as I may tell you about my Will, I have always something to tell you, and neither the short life of the exile nor the whole eternity will be enough to make known to you the long story of my Supreme Will, and to enumerate for you the great prodigies contained in It.”

05/17 Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (last Saturday of May – on 5/25 this year) starts today

Posted on by

Remember, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, what ineffable power thy Divine Son hath given thee over His Own adorable Heart. Full of trust in thy merits, we come before thee and beg thy protection. O heavenly Treasurer of the Heart of Jesus, that Heart which is the inexhaustible source of all graces, which thou mayest open to us at thy good pleasure, in order that from it may flow forth upon mankind the riches of love and mercy, light and salvation, that are contained therein; grant unto us, we beseech thee, the favors which we seek . . . We can never, never be refused by thee, and since though art our Mother, O our Lady of the Sacred Heart, graciously hear our prayers and grant our request. Amen.

First Day of the Novena

 

WORD OF GOD (John 19, 31-37)

It was Preparation Day, and to prevent the bodies remaining on the cross during the Sabbath – since that Sabbath was a day of special solemnity – the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away. Consequently the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with him and then of the other. When they came to Jesus, they found he was already dead, and so instead of breaking his legs one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water. This is the evidence of one who saw it – trustworthy evidence, and he knows he speaks the truth – and he gives it so that you may believe as ell. Because all this happened to fulfil the words of scripture: “Not one bone of his will be broken”; and again, in another place scripture says: “They will look on the one whom they have pierced”.

 

Lord Jesus, your pierced Heart is an open door for all humanity:

– give us the grace so that we in turn may know how to open our hearts to love as you have loved, and grow into togetherness with you.

Lord Jesus, your Heart is source of mercy, compassion, courage, strength:

– give us the grace to make our own the sentiments of that Heart so that one recognizes in us the Living One who makes us live.

Lord Jesus in your Heart there dwells the fullness of God’s love for the world:

– give us the grace to live this Novena in communion with all communities throughout the world, so that your love be everywhere known and loved.

Lord Jesus, in your Heart there dwells the love of God for creation and the love of creation which reaches towards the Father:

– give us the grace to be witnesses of that love with which you fill our lives both here and throughout the world.

Jesus, kindness of God!                              Come, live in us!

Jesus, mystery of love!                           Come, live in us!

Jesus, source of life!                               Come, live in us!

Jesus, Heart of our hearts!                      Come, live in us!

Jesus, tenderness of God                        Jesus, mystery of love!

Jesus, source of Life!                             Jesus, Heart of our hearts!

 

Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

 

Second Day of the Novena

 

WORD OF GOD (Ezekiel 36, 25-28)

I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; I shall cleanse you of all your defilement and all your idols. I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep my laws and sincerely respect my observances. You will live in the land which I gave your ancestors. You shall be my people and I will be your God.

 

LORD JESUS, the wound in your side has become the source of many blessings for us:

– at the heart of our wounds teach us to discover your saving love.

LORD JESUS, a new world flowed from your open side on <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags” />Calvary:

– at the heart of our world in constant change, teach us to discern the seeds of this new world.

LORD JESUS, you make rise up from nothing those who were in darkness:

– together with the people and our confreres in Papua New Guinea we learn to welcome the Gospel as the seed of life.

LORD JESUS, from your wounded Heart there poured forth streams of grace and light:

– together with our confreres and the peoples of Australia and Oceania, make us also radiate that light.

LORD JESUS…

 

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Our Lady of the open Heart,

You are the Mother of all those who will be reborn to the life of God.

As John did in that moment,

We welcome you in our home.

And since you are our Mother,

May our home truly become your home.

 

Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

 

Third Day of the Novena

 

WORD OF GOD (John 4, 21-24) – The Samaritan Woman

Jesus said: “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know; for salvation comes from the Jews. But the hour will come – in fact it is here already – when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth: that is the kind of worshipper the Father wants. God is spirit, and those who worship must worship in spirit and truth”.

 

LORD JESUS, “perfect adorer of the Father”:

– teach us to know how to adore in spirit and in truth, so that there may well up in us the desire of your presence.

LORD JESUS, you invite us to pray by calling God “Our Father”,

– teach us to live, like you, as beloved daughters and sons of the Father, in universal sisterhood and brotherhood.

LORD JESUS, your life is continuous, lasting, worship; everything in you is adoration:

– teach us to awaken in ourselves a sense of total gift and gratuitousness; may we acknowlede that everything comes from you.

LORD JESUS, you make us responsible for watching over, safeguarding, the faith:

– teach us, together with the people and with our confreres who live in Europe, to safeguard in our hearts the challenge of faith and the rich treasury of what we hope in.

We come before you, O Lord, seeking the Spirit’s coming, like Mary and the Apostles at Pentecost:

– Teach us to seek the gift of the Spirit and build up the Church!

 

Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

 

Fourth Day of the Novena

 

WORD OF GOD (Colossians 1, 24-26)

It makes me happy to suffer for you, as I am suffering now, and in my own body to do what I can to make up all that has still to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church. I became the servant of the Church when God made me responsible for delivering God’s message to you, the message which was a mystery hidden for generations and centuries and has now been revealed to his saints.

 

LORD JESUS, you are our peace and our reconciliation:

– give us the grace of knowing how to create a more just and fraternal world.

LORD JESUS, you make yourself come close to the hearts of the wounded and bruised:

– give us the grace to imitate you wholeheartedly through our presence among those who are oppressed and discouraged.

LORD JESUS, you accepted humiliation to redeem us and save us:

– give us the grace to discover your face in all those who have been wounded by life; may we be able to love them as you love them.

LORD JESUS, your compassionate love has no limits or barriers:

– give us, the grace of solidarity with those who live in very difficult life-situations.

Then shall our sisters and brothers be able to draw joy, abundant life,

from the well-springs of your Heart; until that day when we shall be “new heavens, new earth” marked by the seal of the Spirit, for the glory of the Father and the triumph of the Lamb! AMEN.

 

Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

 

Fifth Day of the Novena

 

WORD OF GOD (John 3, 14-17)

The Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.

 

The Motive for my Creation

LORD JESUS, in your Heart you reveal God’s love for us:

– may we be throughout our lives creative and challenging witnesses of that love so that the world may believe.

LORD JESUS, everything in the world is a word of that love which God bestows on us:

– may we come to acknowledge in our lives the gifts with which you favour us each day.

LORD JESUS, your love is at the centre of our brittle lives:

– because you have chosen and called us to be witnesses of that love to everyone, make that love, likewise, increase in us.

LORD JESUS, in you God gives God’s self wholly and without calculation:

– together with our confreres and faithful

we ask you to give us fraternal hearts able to live according to the spirit of the Beatitudes.

Together with Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, you wish us to be, like her, witnesses of hope, and you send us as “missionaries” of your Heart today, tomorrow, and always.

May we be so in truth! AMEN.

 

Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

 

Sixth Day of the Novena

 

WORD OF GOD (Luke 17, 14b-19): The Healing of the ten Lepers

As they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, “Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner”. And he said to the man, “Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you”.

 

LORD JESUS, you give thanks for those little ones who understand better than the wise and learned:

– give us a child-like heart capable of wonder and drawn to sing of the marvels God has accomplished for us.

LORD JESUS, it brings you joy to pour out the tenderness of your Heart on the little ones, the poor and sinners:

– give us the desire to give thanks in acknowledging what you bring about in the hearts of those who are scarred by life and un-loved.

LORD JESUS, you invite us to prayer and thanksgiving:

– help us to know how to pray like you and with you so that the world may discover the love with which it is loved.

LORD JESUS, your marvels shine like the rising sun coming to meet us each morning:

– together with the peoples and our confreres in India and Asia, may we know how to live every moment in acknowledgement and thanksgiving.

 

Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

 

Seventh Day of the Novena

 

WORD OF GOD (Mt 9, 36 & Mt 11, 28-30)

When he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd…

Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.

 

LORD JESUS, your Heart is full of gentleness and humility:

– stir up within us the feelings of your Heart so that we may live fully united to you and all the baptized.

LORD JESUS, yours is a compassionate Heart for those who suffer:

– give us a heart which is sensitive to those who suffer so that the burden they bear may be lightened.

LORD JESUS, your heart overflows with mercy for sinners:

– preserve us from judgment and condemnation; may our hearts entreat your merciful love.

LORD JESUS, in your Heart is found the gentleness and strength which come from God:

– together with the people and our confreres of Central Europe and Russia, we beseech you to favour us with a courageous faith and a passionate pursuit of mercy.

 

Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

 

Eighth Day of the Novena

 

WORD OF GOD (John 17, 9-15)

I pray for them; I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they belong to you: all I have is yours and all you have is mine, and in them I am glorified. I am not in the world any longer, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep those you have given me true to your name, so that they may be one life us. While I was with them, I kept those you had given me true to your name. I have watched over them and not one is lost except the one who chose to be lost, and this was to fulfil the scriptures. But now I am coming to you and while still in the world I say these things to share my joy with them to the full. I passed your word on to them and the world hated them, because they belong to the world no more than I belong to the world. I am not asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the evil one.

 

LORD JESUS, you who beseeched the Father during your Passion:

– may the desire grow in us to conform our lives to God’s will,

in asking Him for what we really need.

LORD JESUS, your prayer is communion with the Father in the Spirit:

– awaken in us the desire for true prayer, so that we shall be in communion with you and with one another.

LORD JESUS, you seek on our behalf what is rightly for our benefit:

– awaken in our hearts a strong and wholehearted desire to live authentically the mission you have confided to us.

LORD JESUS, you desire what God desires so that His Kingdom come:

– together with the people and our confreres in the U.S.A. and Canada, we beseech you to bring about in us the desire to work gratuitously for your Kingdom.

LORD JESUS…

I lift my eyes towards your PIERCED HEART, Lord Jesus!

YOUR HEART, where human beings and your Father give themselves the kiss of peace:

– Blessed are you, and take pity on us, O Lord.

I lift my eyes towards your PIERCED HEART, Lord Jesus!

YOUR HEART, an open door to the inexpressible love of the Trinity:

– Blessed are you, and take pity on us, O Lord.

I lift my eyes towards your PIERCED HEART, Lord Jesus!

THAT HEART, whence you renew us after the image of your Father:

– Blessed are you, and take pity on us, O Lord.

I lift my eyes towards your PIERCED HEART, Lord Jesus!

THAT HEART, source of all the sacraments:

– Blessed are you, and take pity on us, O Lord.

I lift my eyes towards your PIERCED HEART, Lord Jesus!

YOUR WOUNDED HEART, on which we are all grafted:

– Blessed are you, and take pity on us, O Lord.

Holy Trinity, present in us, we adore You,

Father, source of all gifts,

Son, perfect in welcoming and sharing,

Spirit of the Father and the Son, Spirit of communion, bring us together as one body, of which Jesus becomes the Heart!

 

Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

 

Ninth Day of the Novena

 

WORD OF GOD (John 15, 1-4.26-27)

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more. You are pruned already by means of the word that I have spoken to you. Make your home in me, as I make mine in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, but must remain part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me… When the Advocate comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, he will be my witness. And you too will be witnesses, because you have been with me from the outset.

 

Father You so loved the world that you gave us your Son!

We thank you for your Messenger, who took to himself a human heart like ours, a Heart through which he could love and bless us.

We lift our eyes towards this adorable Heart, which we daily continue to wound in our sisters and brothers.

through our violence, our injustice, our egoism and our indifference.

Father of Jesus and Our Father, you formed our human hearts by focusing your gaze on the Heart of your Son,

who would be born of the Virgin Mary.

Continue in us today what you have so marvellously begun!

Give to all children of the Sacred Heart the strength to travel with joy on Calvary’s narrow way and to live out each day their consecration in the Church and for the world so that your Kingdom may come!

With Our Lady, we contemplate the one who has been pierced.

He has given up his Spirit, he has closed his eyes, he can no longer speak.

But there remains for him, as “love’s last word”,

The wound in his Heart “open forever more”.

LORD JESUS, you have called us to follow you and serve you.

So that the world may come to know your love, we entrust ourselves to the infinite mercy of your Heart,

and, supported by the gift of your Spirit, we renew today our consecration

to the Sacred Heart.

May your Spirit of love,

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

and St. Joseph

help us to remain faithful to your call and to our vocation, here and everywhere in the World!

AMEN.

 

Prayer to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Fiat!

 

                  Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,

                        we pray to you today with confidence

 

In this Novena,

                        we place ourselves under your protection

                        to share our Founder’s faith,

                        the audacity to the point of folly of his projects,

                        the poverty of the means at his disposal,

                        the courage of his commitments,

                        his fidelity to prayer,

                        his understanding of a worldwide mission,

                        his care for the powerless and the poor,

                        his passionate love for the Heart of Jesus,

                        since we bear, as he promised you,

                        the name of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

 

All:                  Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,

                        with you and like you

                        we raise our eyes to your Son.

                        We contemplate

                        the One who was Pierced, his open Heart.

 

Reader:           In this Novena,

                        we ask through your intercession,

                        Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,

                        the grace to carry out

                        our vocation and our mission

                        here and everywhere throughout the world,

                        so that Love may be loved and

                        the world may thereby be renewed.

                        May the Lord consecrate us

                        in the truth of his Love,

                        gather us together in his Unity,

                        send us on his Mission,

                        and give us a share in His Spirit.

 

All:                  Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,

                        be forever our Mother

                        so that, following your advice,

                        we may “always do what your Son tells us!”

 

                        AMEN.