Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Archives

Prayer

For Jesuits
Chapter 4 - Life in the Lord

by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.
Editor

For none of us lives to himself, and none dies to himself; for if we live, we live to the Lord, or if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and rose again that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Romans 14:7-9

The Goal of Religious Life

The goal of the Christian in the religious life consists in withdrawing him from worldly interests and making him conscious of those of the spirit. That is why Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, when He came into the world taught His followers by word and example to despise the world. Becoming man, He contemned the things of earth to prove they are worthy of contempt, and He bore earthly ills which He bade others bear to show that happiness is not to be sought in the one nor unhappiness feared in the other.

To remove every trace of worldly rank, He was born of a virgin who remained a virgin always, and yet was the spouse of a workingman. He was born in the obscure Judean town of Bethlehem, because He would have no one boast of the pride of an earthly city. He made Himself poor, who possessed all things and by whom all things were made, so that those who believe in Him would not give themselves airs because of their earthly wealth. He refused to have Himself made king to teach us the way of humility. He was hungry, and He feeds all; thirsty, who created every kind of drink; He was wearied from travel, who became our way to heaven; He was crucified, who put an end to our pains; He died, who raised up the dead.

What He practiced He also preached. From the beginning of His ministry He called men to repentance, but instead of earthly possessions as in the Old Testament He promised them the kingdom of heaven. To His disciples He gave the first beatitude in poverty of spirit, and to the young man who asked Him He showed the way of perfection: "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and come follow Me." This is the way His disciples still follow Him, as men who have nothing in this world yet, by virtue of the Spirit, possess all things.

St. Thomas Aquinas

O Good Jesus

Nativity Invocations

O God, You gladden our hearts with the recurrent anniversary of our redemption. Grant that as we now joyfully receive Your only-begotten Son as our Redeemer, we may also without fear await His coming as our judge, our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son, who live and reign with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

We beseech You, almighty God, grant that the joyful Incarnation of Your only-begotten Son may free us from the yoke of the ancient bondage of sin, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, Your only-begotten Son appeared in the substance of our flesh. Grant, we ask You, that as we acknowledge Him to have been externally like unto us, through Him we may deserve to be renewed in our inward selves. Who live and reign with You for ever and ever. Amen.

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 piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of our Savior Jesus Christ and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

   §  O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

Holy Childhood

Almighty and eternal God, Lord of heaven and earth, You reveal Yourself to little ones. Grant, we ask You, that by venerating with due honor the sacred mysteries of Your Son, the Child Jesus, and following them in due imitation, we may deserve to enter the kingdom of heaven which You have promised to little children. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Great Antiphons

December 17. O Wisdom, You issued from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and disposing all things gently and strongly. Come to teach us the ways of prudence.

December 18. O Adonai and leader of the house of Israel, You appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai. Come with Your outstretched arm to redeem us.

December 19. O Root of Jesse, You stand as a sign of the people, before whom kings shall remain silent and to whom the gentiles will address their prayers. Come to deliver us and do not delay.

December 20. O Key of David and scepter of the house of Israel, You open and no man closes; You close and no man opens. Come and lead out of prison the captive sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.

December 21. O Day-spring, brightness of eternal light and Sun of Justice, come and enlighten those who are seated in darkness and in the shadow of death.

December 22. O King of nations and their desired one, the cornerstone that unites both sides, come and save mankind whom You formed out of clay.

December 23. O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the desire of all nations and their Savior, come to save us, O Lord our God.

The Holy Name

The New Testament is filled with evidence of the power and efficacy of the holy name of Jesus.

In this name miracles can be wrought. "In My name they shall cast out devils and they shall speak strange tongues. They shall take up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it shall not hurt them. They shall impose hands on the sick, and they shall be healed."

In this name we may obtain whatever we ask. "Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you."

In this name we receive forgiveness of our sins. "All the prophets," says St. Peter, "bear witness that in the name of Jesus we obtain forgiveness of our sins."

In this name, whatever we do with a good intention will certainly succeed. "All, whatever you do," says the apostle, "whether in work or word, do all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

So great are the sweetness and delight of this name that the apostles rejoiced at the very thought of suffering for its sake. "They went forth from the council rejoicing because they were accounted worthy to suffer reproach for the name of Jesus."

Happy are they who can imitate the blessed Mary in her relation to this holy name, who conceive it in their hearts by salutary desires, give birth to it in works of virtue, and persevere in invoking it to the end of their lives.

St. Robert Bellarmine

Litany of the Holy Name

LET US PRAY O Lord Jesus Christ, You have said: Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you, mercifully attend to our supplications, and grant us the gift of Your divine charity, that we may ever love You with our whole heart and with all our words and deeds, and may never cease from praising You.

Make us, O Lord, to have a perpetual fear and love of Your holy name, for You never fail to help and govern those whom You bring up in Your steadfast fear and love: who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.

Perfect Confidence

My God, I believe most firmly that You watch over all who hope in You, and that we can want for nothing when we rely upon You in all things; therefore I am resolved for the future to have no anxieties and to cast all my cares upon You. "In peace in the selfsame I will sleep and I will rest; for You, O Lord, singularly have settled me in hope."

Men may deprive me of worldly goods and of honors; sickness may take from me my strength and the means of serving You; I may even lose Your grace by sin, but my trust shall never leave me. I will preserve it till the last moment of my life, and the powers of hell shall seek in vain to wrest it from me. "In peace in the selfsame I will sleep and I will rest."

Let others seek happiness in their wealth, in their talents; let them trust in the purity of their lives, the severity of their mortifications, in the number of their good works, the fervor of their prayers; as for me, O my God, in my very confidence lies all my hope. "For You, O Lord, singularly have settled me in hope." This confidence can never be vain. "No one has hoped in the Lord and has been confounded."

I am assured, therefore, of my eternal happiness, for I firmly hope in it and all my hope is in You. "In You, O Lord, have I hoped; let me never be confounded."

I know, I know but too well, that I am frail and changeable. I know the power of temptation against the strongest virtue. I have seen stars fall from heaven, and pillars of the firmament totter; but these things alarm me not. While I hope in You I am sheltered from all misfortune, and I am sure that my trust shall endure for I rely upon You to sustain this unfailing hope.

Finally, I know that my confidence cannot exceed Your bounty, and that I shall never receive less than I have hoped for from You. Therefore I hope that You will sustain me against my evil inclinations, that You will protect me against the most furious assaults of the Evil One, and that You will cause my weakness to triumph over my most powerful enemies. I hope that You will never cease to love me, and that I shall love You unceasingly. "In You, O Lord, have I hoped; let me never be confounded."

Bl. Claude la Colombiere

Teach Me, O Lord

Teach me, my Lord, to be kind and gentle in all the events of life; in disappointments, in the thoughtlessness of others, in the insincerity of those I trusted, in the unfaithfulness of those on whom I relied.

Let me put myself aside, to think of the happiness of others, to hide my pains and heartaches, so that I may be the only one to suffer from them.

Teach me to profit by the suffering that comes across my path.

Let me so use it that it may mellow me, not harden or embitter me; that it may make me patient, not irritable; that it may make me broad in my forgiveness, not narrow, proud, and overbearing.

May no one be less good for having come within my influence. No one less pure, less true, less kind, less noble for having been a fellow traveler in our journey toward eternal life.

As I go my rounds from one task to another, let me say, from time to time, a word of love to You.

May my life be lived in the supernatural, full of power for good, and strong in its purpose of sanctity. Amen.

Litany of Humility

Let Nothing Disturb You

    Let nothing disturb you;
    Let nothing dismay you.
    All things pass away;
    God never changes.
    Patience attains
    All that it strives for.
    He who has God
    Finds he lacks nothing;
    God alone suffices.
            St. Teresa of Avila

Give Me Thy Grace

Give me Thy grace, good Lord, to set the world at nought, to set my mind fast upon Thee, and not to hang upon the blast of men's mouths. To be content to be solitary. Not to long for worldly company. Little and little utterly to cast off the world, and rid my mind of all the business thereof. Not to long to hear of any worldly things, but that the hearing of worldly phantasies may be to me displeasant. Gladly to be thinking of God. Piteously to call for His help. To lean unto the comfort of God. Busily to labor to love Him. To know my own vility and wretchedness. To humble and meeken myself under the mighty hand of God. To bewail my sins passed. For the purging of them, patiently to suffer adversity. Gladly to bear my purgatory here. To be joyful of tribulations. To walk the narrow way that leadeth to life. To bear the cross with Christ.

To have the last thing in remembrance. To have ever afore mine eye my death that is ever at hand. To make death no stranger to me. To foresee and consider the everlasting fire of hell. To pray for pardon before the judge to come. To have continually in mind the Passion that Christ suffered for me. For His benefits uncessantly to give Him thanks. To buy the time again that I before have lost. To abstain from vain confabulations. To eschew light, foolish mirth and gladness. Recreations not necessary to cut off. Of worldly substance, friends, liberty, life, and all, to set the loss at right nought for the winning of Christ. To think my most enemies my best friends. For the brethren of Joseph could never have done him so much good with their love and favor as they did him with their malice and hatred. These minds are more to be desired of every man, than all the treasures of all the princes and kings, Christian and heathen, were it gathered and laid together all upon one heap.

St. Thomas More

Jesus, Love of My Soul

Jesus, love of my soul, center of my heart! Why am I not more eager to endure pains and tribulations for love of You, when You, my God, have suffered so many for me? Come, then, every sort of trial in the world, for this is my delight, to suffer for Jesus. This is my joy, to follow my Savior, and to find my consolation with my consoler on the cross. This is my happiness, this my pleasure, to live with Jesus, to walk with Jesus, to converse with Jesus; to suffer with and for Him, this is my treasure.

Alphonsus Rodriguez

Last Day

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, You have commanded us to pray at all times to avoid the evils that are to precede Your fearful judgment; hear us, we beseech You, as we pray with confidence and fear that the last day find none of us unprepared: who live and reign with the same Father, in unity with the Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen.

Bl. Peter Faber

Breastplate of St. Patrick

I bind to myself today the virtue of obedience of the angels, in the hope of the resurrection unto reward; in the preachings of the apostles, in the faith of confessors, in the purity of holy virgins, in the deeds of righteous men.

I bind to myself today God's power to guide me, God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to teach me, God's eye to watch over me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to give me speech, God's hand to guide me, God's shield to shelter me against the seductions of sin.

I invoke today all these virtues against every hostile power which may assail my body and soul, against the cries of false prophets, against the black laws of heathenism, against the deceits of idolatry, against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.

Christ, protect me today against an untimely death that I may receive abundant reward. Christ with me. Christ before me. Christ behind me. Christ within me. Christ with the soldier. Christ with the traveler. Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me. Christ in every eye that sees me. Christ in every ear that hears me. Praise to the Lord of my salvation! Salvation in Christ the Lord.

St. Patrick

Detachment

I beg of You, my Lord, to remove anything which separates me from You, and You from me. Remove anything that makes me unworthy of Your sight, Your control, Your reprehension; of Your speech and conversation, of Your benevolence and love. Cast from me every evil that stands in the way of my seeing You, hearing, tasting, savoring, and touching You; fearing and being mindful of You; knowing, trusting, loving, and possessing You; being conscious of Your presence and, as far as may be, enjoying You. This is what I ask for myself and earnestly desire from You. Amen.

Bl. Peter Faber

    §  Into Your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.

From Death to Life

Jesus Christ, may Your death be my life and in Your dying may I learn how to live. May Your struggles be my rest, Your human weakness my courage, Your embarrassment my honor, Your passion my delight, Your sadness my joy, in Your humiliation may I be exalted. In a word, may I find all my blessings in Your trials. Amen.

Bl. Peter Faber

All My Hope

All my hope is nothing save in Your great mercy. Grant what You command and command what You will. You command continence. For by continence we are collected and bound up into unity within ourselves, whereas we had been scattered abroad in multiplicity. Too little does any man love You, who loves some other thing together with You, loving it not on account of You, O Love, who are ever burning and never extinguished! O Charity, my God, enkindle me! You command continence: grant what You command and command what You will.

St. Augustine

Word Made Flesh

How much You have loved us, O good Father, who spared not even Your own Son, but delivered Him up for us wicked men! How You have loved us, for whom He who thought it not robbery to be equal with You became obedient even unto the death of the cross, He who alone was free among the dead, having power to lay down His life and power to take it up again: for us He was to You both victor and victim, and victor because victim: for us He was to You both priest and sacrifice, and priest because sacrifice: turning us from slaves into Your sons, by being Your Son and becoming a slave.

Rightly is my hope strong in Him, who sits at Your right hand and intercedes for us; otherwise I should despair. For many and great are my infirmities, many and great; but Your remedy is greater than they. We might well have thought Your Word remote from union with man and so have despaired of ourselves, if it had not been made flesh and dwelt among us.

St. Augustine

True Friend

Jesus, You are my true friend, my only friend. You take a part in all my misfortunes; You take them on Yourself; You know how to change them into blessings.

You listen to me with the greatest kindness when I relate my troubles to You, and You have always balm to pour on my wounds. I find You at all times, I find You everywhere, You never go away; if I have to change my dwelling, I find You wherever I go. You are never weary of listening to me, You are never tired of doing me good. I am certain of being beloved by You if I love You; my goods are nothing to You, and by bestowing Yours on me You never grow poor. However miserable I may be, no one nobler or wiser or even holier can come between You and me, and deprive me of Your friendship; and death, which tears us away from all other friends, will unite me forever to You.

All the humiliations attached to old age or to the loss of honor will never detach You from me; on the contrary, I shall never enjoy You more fully, and You will never be closer to me than when everything seems to conspire against me, to overwhelm me, and to cast me down. You bear with all my faults with extreme patience, and even my want of fidelity and ingratitude do not wound You to such a degree as to make You unwilling to receive me back when I return to You. Jesus, grant that I may die praising You, that I may die loving You, that I may die for the love of You. Amen.

Bl. Claude la Colombiere

My Shepherd Is the Lord

My shepherd is the Lord;
   there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
   where He gives me repose.
Near restful waters He leads me,
   to revive my drooping spirit.
He guides me along the right path;
   He is true to His name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness
   no evil would I fear.
You are there with Your crook and Your staff;
   with these You give me comfort.
You have prepared a banquet for me
   in the sight of my foes.
My head You have anointed with oil;
   my cup is overflowing.
Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me
   all the days of my life.
In the Lord's own house shall I dwell
   for ever and ever.

Psalm 22

Man of Sorrows

O Jesus, who in Your cruel Passion did become the reproach of men, the Man of Sorrows, I worship Your divine face. Once it shone with the beauty and sweetness of Your divinity; now for my sake it has become as the face of a leper. Yet in that disfigured countenance I recognize Your infinite love and I am consumed with the desire of loving You and of making You loved by all mankind. The tears that streamed in such abundance from Your eyes are to me as precious pearls, which I delight to gather, that with their infinite worth may be ransomed the souls of poor sinners. O Jesus, whose face is the sole beauty that ravishes my heart, the sweetness of Your glance here upon earth I may not behold. To this I consent, but I pray You to imprint in me Your divine likeness. With Your love, I implore You, so inflame me that it may quickly consume me, as soon as I may reach in heaven the vision of Your glorious face. Amen.

St. Therese of Lisieux

Prayer for Union

Most merciful Jesus, I offer myself to Your majesty and to Your goodness, humbly commending myself to You. By all the wounds of Your body, by each drop of Your precious blood, by the infinite tenderness of Your Heart, I beseech You to receive me into Your favor, to deliver and preserve me from all sin. May my soul be united to You, O my God, by the most perfect, the most fervent, the most faithful and unceasing love; that with all my heart, and from the depth of my soul, I may love You, seek You, desire You, bless and praise You, in all things and above all things. Jesus, my God, may I think but of You, desire but You, may I be inseparably united to You alone.

Ludolph of Saxony

  §  Most holy Heart of Jesus, shower Your blessings in abundant measure on Your holy Church, on the supreme pontiff, and all the clergy. To the just grant perseverance, convert sinners, enlighten unbelievers. Bless our relatives, friends, and benefactors. Assist the dying, deliver the holy souls in purgatory, and extend over all hearts the sweet empire of Your love. Amen.

The Way of the Cross

During many centuries pious Christians went as pilgrims to Jerusalem, but when the Holy Land was taken over by the Moslems these pilgrimages ceased. As a result in many parts of Europe the custom arose of placing pictures in churches, representing the journey to Calvary. Probably the first to do this was Blessed Alvarez, a Dominican, at Cordova in Spain. About 1350 the Franciscans adopted the practice in Italy and even today the privilege of erecting the Stations of the Cross belongs by apostolic indult to the Order of Friars Minor.

The stations are fourteen in number, although in the past, in different places, the number varied from eleven to sixteen. They may begin on either side of the church.

This devotion has always been highly indulgenced, to a point where in 1931 Pius XI annulled the existing indulgences, which had become incalculable. Instead the following were decreed: (1) A plenary indulgence each time for all the faithful who, at least with contrite hearts, either singly or in groups, perform the Way of the Cross. To gain this plenary indulgence toties quoties, no special prayers are prescribed, nor is it necessary to leave and reenter the church in order to gain it repeatedly; (2) another plenary indulgence for those who receive Holy Communion on the same day on which they have made the Way of the Cross, or within a month from the time when they have completed it ten times; (3) a partial indulgence of ten years for each of the stations, in case, having begun the exercise, they failed for any reasonable cause to finish it.

A Station Crucifix is a crucifix specially blessed for the indulgences of the Way of the Cross by a priest having the faculty, with a single sign of the cross. The conditions for gaining the indulgences of the Way of the Cross with a crucifix so blessed are: (1) Persons impeded from visiting the stations by other causes than sickness must hold the crucifix in their hands, or, if any reasonable cause prevents this, must carry it with them in some way, and must moreover recite twenty Paters, Aves, and Glorias—fourteen for the stations, five for the five wounds, and one for the intention of the Holy Father; (2) the sick who cannot visit the stations may of course gain the indulgences as above described, but if they are unable without grave inconvenience to fulfill those conditions they can gain all the indulgences of the Way of the Cross if with a loving and contrite heart they either kiss or even look at any crucifix which has been blessed for this purpose, and which is shown to them by a priest or by any other persons, and recite some short prayer or aspiration (even mentally) in memory of the passion and death of our Lord.

In making the stations only two things are required: to move from one to the other without notable interruption between them, and to meditate on the Passion.

It is not required, although certainly proper, to meditate on the particular mystery of the Passion represented by the station one is visiting. Neither is it necessary to say vocal prayers while making the stations, or after making them to pray for the intention of the Holy Father. If one cannot move about because of a crowd, or if the stations are being made publicly, it is sufficient to turn toward each station.

According to Benedict XIV, the Way of the Cross is one of the best means for converting sinners, stirring up fervor in the hearts of the lukewarm, and leading virtuous souls on to perfection.

1 Jesus Is Condemned to Death

Jesus, hearing His sentence, has only one resolve at heart; to complete His mission in spite of all the repugnances of nature.

Should I, His companion, abandon my resolutions in order to follow my whims? I desire to be perfect, a saint and an apostle according to my vocation. For love of God alone, I will become indifferent to everything. A man of eternity, yet doomed to die, I am impatient to fulfill my mission: to glorify God and save my soul. Since I am on the road to heaven, I must ascend by Calvary, which is the only way there.

2 Jesus Carries His Cross

Jesus receives His cross as from the hand of His Father. Embracing it lovingly, He eagerly takes it upon Himself.

And I, His companion, also desire henceforth to receive everything from the hand of God, my Father. As I meet every cross, whether in religious life, in my occupation, in my relations with myself or with my neighbor, I will only say: "Be it done! Thank you, Lord!"

3 Jesus Falls the First Time

Jesus, exhausted with fatigue from His lack of food and sleep, from blows, and from loss of blood, falls because of His weakness, suffers from His fall, but rises and again presses onward.

How many times do I, His companion, also fall from weakness; yes, but culpable weakness! I let myself grow weak because of my negligence in my spiritual exercises.

I will arise, therefore, and replenish my strength by an increase of spiritual food: prayer, meditation, reading, devout reception of the sacraments, and monthly recollection.

4 Jesus Meets His Blessed Mother

Jesus associates Mary with Himself on His Way of the Cross in order to give her to me as my mother, that she may protect and strengthen me.

I will practice devotion to Mary, not from routine; petition everything through her, both for myself and for others; prepare for all her feasts; recite my beads imitating Jesus saluting Mary. May her name be ever on my lips, remembrance of her always in my heart.

5 Simon the Cyrenian

Jesus, in order to teach us that the cross ought to be carried both by the Redeemer and the redeemed, wished to share His cross with Simon the Cyrenian.

I wish to constrain Jesus to carry my cross with me, directing all my efforts that I may be united with Him: united in intellect by making all His decisions mine; united in will and action, by allowing Jesus to will and work in me and through me. May Jesus become the soul of my soul, the life of my life, since He is the head, I, the member; since He is the vine, and I, the branch. The consummation of this union occurs daily at the Communion of the Mass.

6 Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus

Jesus, abandoned, surrounded with outrages, is consoled not by the apostles, but by holy Veronica.

In recompense He imprints His sacred face on her veil with the sweat, the blood, and the spittle of His Passion. Just as His holy face was outraged, so is Jesus most abused today in the Holy Eucharist and in the suffering of His Church.

Therefore, the two devotions I will most practice are reparative adoration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and devotedness to the Holy Father and the Church, as in the Rules of St. Ignatius. The only recompense I desire is that the likeness of my Jesus may be reproduced in me with His sweat, blood, and spittle, in my labors, sufferings, and humiliations.

7 Jesus' Second Fall

Jesus comes to an ascent in the street and falls again, despite the assistance of the Cyrenian.

How many times have I, His companion, culpably fallen as a result of obstacles in my path. Here, a sacrifice that I obstinately refuse God; a limit I set to my perfection; an occasion of a particular friendship; a habit; perhaps some stubborn, selfish love persevered in.

I wish unreservedly to be in the Third Class of Men using the true correctives, wishing, and at times asking for, and then pursuing that which I most dislike not because I dislike it, but in order to be more and more like my suffering Lord and Master.

8 Jesus Meets the Daughters of Jerusalem

Jesus forgets Himself and His pains to think only of His apostolate—His apostolate of doing good to others.

And I, His companion, will forget myself, will constrain myself to be self-sacrificing, in order to think only of souls, to seek only their welfare. I will be an apostle always, especially in conversation both public and private, in spite of distaste, my dislike, or my weariness.

9 Jesus' Third Fall

Jesus, having arrived almost at the end, exhausted from His journey, falls again.

How many times have not I, His companion, fallen into discouragement and weariness! A few hours after my spiritual exercises, a few weeks after my recollections and retreats I stop, exhausted and discouraged. Then I make more effort and more progress; but in spite of it all my life remains tepid and easygoing, lacks self-examination, the practice of penance, a spiritual outlook, and a recollected spirit. I see all this now; and so, I desire to adhere faithfully to my ideal of becoming a holy religious, an apostle, by my practice of mortification and the particular examen.

10 Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments

Jesus, having arrived at the summit of Calvary, is completely stripped. His clothes, to which pieces of flesh adhere, are violently torn off His body.

If I wish to become perfect, here is the first duty for me, His companion: I must divest myself of everything that is the result of sin or that may lead to it. In other words, I must strip myself of my threefold concupiscence: the desire for the goods of the earth, by means of the highest degree of poverty, holding nothing as my own and using nothing for myself and having as little as possible; the lust of the flesh, by angelic chastity, safeguarded by continual mortification; and the pride of life, by a humility that sincerely rejoices when I am filled with reproaches.

11 Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross

Jesus obediently stretches Himself on the cross, and gives His feet, His hands, His entire body, wholly to the executioners.

Obedience ought to crucify me, His companion, also and nail me to the cross with Jesus by my vows, my rules, and my superiors. My feet and my hands must be crucified by my actions, my will by the sacrifice of my personal freedom, my judgment by giving up my own opinions. By obedience I must be crucified, by such an obedience which embraces all my other virtues, and in which I observe my rules most faithfully.

12 Jesus Dies on the Cross

Jesus on His cross between heaven and earth, stripped of His clothes, at the greatest point of humiliation and suffering cries out: "I thirst!" He thirsts and desires to do still more!

I, His companion, wish to live with this ideal of perfection always in view: men crucified to the world. I desire to keep my heart thirsting ever to do more; and not to descend from, but to stay on the cross between heaven and earth, rejoicing at my despoliation, my sufferings, and my humiliations. This is the means chosen by Jesus to glorify God, to acquire merit, and to save souls.

Without the cross there is no salvation; perfection is unattainable.

13 Mary at the Foot of the Cross Receives the Body of Jesus into Her Arms

Mary bends over that Heart which has just been pierced, reads in the wounds of Jesus how His love has so truly shown itself, and draws from this divine contact overflowing love for God and man. She receives the strength to say her Magnificat again, an act which puts the crown of perfection on her virtues.

As a companion of Jesus and child of Mary's sorrows, I also want to place myself near to their hearts, to draw therefrom an ever-increasing love for God and man, to learn under their tutelage how true love sacrifices itself, ready even to die for those it loves.

14 Jesus in the Sepulcher

Jesus in the holy sepulcher no longer lives as man. In the calm and silence He keeps only His divine life and the life of His human soul.

For me, His companion, here is the picture of my religious life, a tomb in which I also ought to be dead to the world, but living for God a life of faith and confidence.

I will practice exterior recollection in silence and modesty; interior recollection in a careful watch over my senses; divine life in purity of soul and the practice of the greatest virtues: faith, hope, charity, and patience. May sensuality, egoism, pride cease living in me. Jesus and His grace henceforth will be my life.

Heirs of Christ

Jesus Christ, Son of the eternal Father, our Lord and King of all creation, what have You left behind in the world that we as Your heirs could inherit from You? What have You possessed but sorrow, pain, ignominy, and a tree on which You were to suffer a most bitter death? We Your true children, O God, will not abandon our inheritance; we shall not flee from suffering. Amen.

St. Teresa of Avila

    §  Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Litany of the Precious Blood

LET US PRAY  Almighty and eternal God, You have appointed Your only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by His blood. Grant, we beg of You, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation, and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of this present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

PREPARATION FOR DEATH

Merciful Jesus

Lord Jesus Christ, God of goodness and Father of all mercies, I prostrate myself before You with a humble and contrite heart, and commend to You my last hour and what awaits me after it.

When my feet are deprived of movement and tell me that I am soon to be leaving this world, merciful Jesus, have pity on me.

When my hands are trembling and unable to hold the crucifix on which I look for comfort, merciful Jesus, have pity on me.

When my eyes are glazed at the prospect of death and fix their dying look upon You, merciful Jesus, have pity on me.

When my lips, cold and convulsed, pronounce for the last time Your adorable name, merciful Jesus, have pity on me.

When my face, pale and livid, inspires pity in those around me, and my head is moist with the sweat of death, merciful Jesus, have pity on me.

When my ears, soon to be closed to the voices of men, are ready to hear from Your lips the sentence that will fix my lot for eternity, merciful Jesus, have pity on me.

When my heart, oppressed by suffering, is fearful of death and needs courage in its struggle for salvation, merciful Jesus, have pity on me.

When I shed my last tears, accept them, O Lord, as an act of reparation that I may die as a victim of penance, and in that moment, merciful Jesus, have pity on me.

When I breathe my last sigh as the soul leaves the body, receive it, O Lord, as a sign of my eagerness to go to You, and then, merciful Jesus, have pity on me.

Lastly, when my soul appears before You and for the first time looks at the splendor of Your Majesty, do not reject her but deign to receive her in the bosom of Your mercy, that she may sing Your praises eternally. And then, and now, and always, merciful Jesus, have pity on me. Amen.

Remigio Vilarino, S.J.

From a Sudden and Unprovided Death

Holy Mary, my Mother, full of grace and mercy, I, your unworthy servant, ask you not to permit me to die a sudden death, that my soul may not leave this world without complete faith, confession, and satisfaction of all my sins. Blessed Virgin Mary, for the love of your beloved Son, pray for me a sinner. Amen.

St. Alphonsus Rodriguez

Invocations

Lord Jesus, pour into us the spirit of Your love, that in the hour of our death we may be worthy to conquer the enemy and attain the heavenly crown. Who live and reign, world without end. Amen.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart, my spirit, and my life.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I die in peace in Your blessed company.

O Lord, my God, I accept this day from Your hand willingly and with submission the kind of death that it may please You to send me, with all its sorrows, pains, and anguish.

O Jesus, while adoring Your last breath, I ask You to receive mine. In the uncertainty whether I shall have the command of my senses when I shall depart out of this world, I offer You from this moment my agony and all the pains of my passing away. You are my Father and my Savior, and I give back my soul into Your hands. I desire that my last moment may be united to the moment of Your death, and that the last beat of my heart may be an act of pure love of You. Amen.

Grant unto us, Lord Jesus, ever to follow the example of Your Holy Family, that in the hour of our death Your glorious Virgin Mother together with blessed Joseph may come to meet us, and we may be worthily received by You into everlasting dwellings. Who live and reign world without end. Amen.

Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you. Refuge of Sinners, Mother of the dying, do not forsake us at the hour of our death. Obtain for us the grace of perfect sorrow, sincere contrition, the pardon and remission of our sins, a worthy reception of holy Viaticum, and the strength of the sacrament of extreme unction, that we may appear with greater security before the throne of the just but merciful judge, our God and Redeemer. Amen.

Lord Jesus, pour into us the spirit of Your love, that in the hour of our death we may be worthy to conquer the enemy and attain the heavenly crown. Who live and reign world without end. Amen.

From a sudden and unprovided death, deliver us, O Lord.

We ask You, O Lord, in the hour of our death to be refreshed by Your holy sacraments and delivered from all guilt, and so deserve to be received with joy into the arms of Your mercy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

O my Lord and Saviour, support me in that hour in the strong arm of Thy sacraments and by the fresh fragrance of Thy consolations. Let the absolving words be said over me and the holy oil sign and seal me, and Thy own body be my food, and Thy blood my sprinkling; and let my sweet mother Mary breathe on me, and my angel whisper peace to me, and my glorious saints (NAME) smile upon me; that in them all and through them all, I may receive the gift of perseverance and die, as I desire to live, in Thy faith, in Thy Church, in Thy service, and in Thy love. Amen.

Cardinal Newman

§  God, come unto my assistance: Lord, make haste to help me.

Confidence Before Death

My Jesus, the balance sheet (of graces and sins) will be submitted to Your scrutiny, and on Your judgment depends the whole of my eternity. At the thought of this my soul is divided between hope and fear. I tremble at the remembrance of my infidelities, but I trust in Your mercy.

After having been, all my life, the object of Your fatherly love; after having experienced the unspeakable tenderness of Mary for the child of her adoption; after having visibly received favors without number from St. Joseph; how can I, O Lord, admit into my heart the least anxiety?

Yes, Lord Jesus, I have the right to apply to myself the words of Your apostle: "Perfect love casts out fear." I love You, Jesus. I love you, Mary. I love you, Joseph. In you I place my entire hope.

Adolph Petit, S.J.

RESURRECTION AND LIFE

Christ Is Risen

Christ is risen! This historic truth shines forth undimmed by any shadow of doubt, and its splendor persists, supported by the living testimony of the Church, which would not have survived the burden of the centuries if Christ had not risen.

Christ is in the midst of us! The reality of Christ living and working in the Church shines out with irresistible clarity. This Church which cannot be the result of human design—which is rather the denial of inordinate tendencies, and for that reason is hated by the world—stands firm because there is in it One who gives it ever anew the freshness of life and youth. It is God, made man and risen again, who conceals Himself within it in order to instill into humanity an interior and unfailing life, by communicating to those who believe in Him His own truth, grace, and peace.

For a Christian enlightened by the truth of the Resurrection, the faith is life, the essential fullness of life in communion with Christ in the Church.

Let your faith, therefore, be a living faith. Let it be a faith glowing and alive, so that religion directs your life, and life, in turn, becomes a continual act of religion.

Pius XII

Temples of the Holy Spirit

I look at Thee, my Lord Jesus, and think of Thy most holy body, and I keep it before me as the pledge of my own resurrection. Though I die, as die I certainly shall, nevertheless I shall not forever die, for I shall rise again.

My Lord, the heathen who knew Thee not, thought the body to be of a miserable and contemptible nature—they thought it the seat, the cause, the excuse of all moral evil. No wonder, then, that the wise men of the world, who did not believe in Thee, scoffed at the Resurrection. But I, by Thy grace, will ever keep before me how differently I have been taught by Thee. O best and first and truest of teachers! O Thou who art the Truth, I know, and believe with my whole heart, that this very flesh of mine will rise again. I know, base and odious as it is at present, that it will one day, if it be worthy, be raised incorruptible and altogether beautiful and glorious. This I know; this, by Thy grace, I will ever keep before me.

O my God, teach me so to live, as one who does believe the great dignity, the great sanctity of that material frame in which Thou hast lodged me. And therefore, O my dear Saviour, do I come so often and so earnestly to be partaker of Thy Body and Blood, that by means of Thy own ineffable holiness I may be made holy.

O my Lord Jesus, I know what is written, that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost. Should I not venerate that which Thou dost miraculously feed, and which Thy coequal Spirit inhabits? O my God, who wast nailed to the cross, "pierce Thou my flesh with Thy fear." Crucify my soul and my body in all that is sinful in them, and make me pure as Thou art pure. Amen.

Cardinal Newman

Easter Invocations

O God, on this day through Your only-begotten Son You have overcome death and opened to us the gate of eternal life. Confirm with Your aid the desires You have placed in our minds, and by Your continual assistance bring the same to good effect. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, in the paschal solemnity You have bestowed Your healing grace on the world. We ask You to continue pouring forth Your heavenly gifts on Your people, that thereby we may deserve to obtain freedom and advance toward eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

O God, by the humility of Your Son You have raised up a fallen world. Grant to Your faithful people abiding joy, that those whom You have delivered from the perils of eternal death You may cause to enjoy endless happiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Lord's Is the Earth

The Lord's is the earth and its fullness,
   the world and all its peoples.
It is He who set it on the seas;
   on the waters He made it firm.
Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?
   Who shall stand in His holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart,
   who desires not worthless things.
   Who has not sworn so as to deceive his neighbor.
He shall receive blessings from the Lord
   and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek Him,
   seek the face of the God of Jacob.
O gates, lift high your heads;
   grow higher, ancient doors.
   Let Him enter, the King of glory!
Who is the King of glory?
   The Lord, the mighty, the valiant,
   the Lord, the valiant in war.
O gates, lift high your hands;
   grow higher, ancient doors.
   Let Him enter, the King of glory!
Who is He, the King of glory?
   He, the Lord of armies,
   He is the King of glory!

Psalm 23

DAILY REFLECTIONS OF ST. PETER CANISIUS

1 Humility

1. Consider how humbly the Son of God and God Himself came down from heaven into the chaste womb of a humble virgin. Ask Him for true humility of heart, and bend every effort to root out as far as possible all pride, as well as vain glory and self-complacence, keeping ever before your mind your countless faults and your little progress in virtue.
   
   
2. Consider how humbly Christ wished to be baptized by John, as though He were a sinner in need of cleansing—He who free from every stain bestows all grace on all men. Humble yourself and be submissive to all mortals, even your inferiors who wish to instruct or correct you.
   
   
3. Consider how humbly He makes known the sadness of His Heart to the apostles, and allows them to see His human weakness, who is really the source of joy in heaven and on earth. Do not, therefore, be presumptuous in temptations, either interior or exterior, but humble yourself by seeking and following the sound judgment of others.
   
   
4. Consider how humbly Christ, prostrate on the ground, prayed to His Father with tears and burned with such ardent love for us as to sweat blood to make satisfaction for us, although in Himself He was the all-powerful and all-blessed Lord. In every trial, therefore, turn to Him in humble prayer, and out of love for Him spare yourself in nothing.
   
   
5. Consider how humbly Christ surrenders His will to the will of His Father, with the words: "Not My will, but Thine be done"; and how humbly again He who alone is the consolation of the universe, is willing to be strengthened by the consolation of an angel. Bow down, therefore, with deep humility before the lovable will of God, and in everything that befalls you, from within or without, look for consolation from on high with a humble and resigned heart.

2 Meekness

1. How meek He shows Himself even to a hostile world, being born an innocent child! Pray to Him for true innocence and meekness of heart.
   
   
2. How meekly He associated with His apostles, showing every gentleness toward them in deed and word, although they were clumsy and ignorant! Again how meekly He answered the malicious examination of the Jews and their sly questions! See that you deal meekly with all, even your opponents, with no fault against meekness in action or speech.
   
   
3. How meekly He allowed the betrayer to kiss Him, and Himself to be seized and cruelly bound! Do you meet with kindness and love those who mock you, no matter how great the wrong you feel they do to you?
   
   
4. How meekly He stood before Annas and answered his questions, accepting also that awful slap. Be sure that you behave meekly to those who answer you harshly, even when you think your cause is just.
   
   
5. How meekly He behaved in all hidden pains and sufferings, when in the house of Caiphas they spat in His face and subjected Him to other torments still unrevealed to anyone. Whatever you suffer, therefore, inwardly or outwardly, and even if someone persists in annoying you secretly, suffer it meekly and bear it with no sign of resentment. Show a mildness and evenness of temper because of your love for so great a friend and spouse of your soul.

3 Patience

1. How soon He began to teach the virtue of patience! While still an infant He shed His blood for us in the rite of circumcision. Hence, cut away everything that is evil in you, and never neglect your rules, but fulfill the law after the example of Christ, no matter how annoying to nature this may seem.
   
   
2. How patient He was in every persecution of the Jews, in every act of cruelty of His enemies, when they wanted to stone Him and blasphemed Him! Do you be patient, silent, restrained in all trials, even when you are treated unjustly.
   
   
3. How patient He was before Pilate, when He was falsely and maliciously accused! Even when you are spurned and held to be of little worth, recall Christ's word to Pilate: "My kingdom is not of this world," and do not seek any honor here below.
   
   
4. How patiently He bore insulting words and actions in the palace of Herod, and when from the house of Herod He was led back through the streets as a fool, He uttered not a word! Do you also learn to be patiently silent, even though it brings you the reputation in any quarter of being useless and ignorant.
   
   
5. How shockingly was the Spouse and Savior of your soul bound to the pillar, how painful the scourging He submitted to, how patiently He shed His blood for you! Will you, therefore, put up with shame and discomfort, ready for harsh words and blows and whatever must be borne out of love for such a spouse?

4 Obedience

1. Three kings, seeing the star, left their country, their kingdoms, their wealth, to seek and adore Christ newly born. Do you be attentive to interior inspirations and follow them, when you are reminded, offering your will to God in all things.
   
   
2. How Christ spared Himself in nothing to do the will of His Father, and later, in toils, in fasts, in watchings, in prayer, and dealing with sinners! "My food," He said, "is to do the will of him who sent me, to accomplish his work" ( John 4:34). Spare no labor, then, that is laid on you by obedience, or connected with the good of the neighbor, and do all in your power to comply with your duty.
   
   
3. How obedient was Christ to His Father up to death, how subject to Mary and to Joseph, and even to His torturers, when they clothed Him with purple and later stripped Him. At their command He sat, stood, came forth, bowed His head when they wanted to crown Him with thorns. Do you also obey others, if it can be done with a good conscience and without sin on your part. Do not contradict or criticize, or resist when commanded, no matter how annoying are the things you are asked or told to do.
   
   
4. How promptly He allows Himself to be led before the people gathered by Pilate, who says Ecce homo! What was His shame as He stood before all the people and heard their angry shout: Crucify Him! Do you also practice obedience by bearing the shame of correction, and always show your good will, even when you think you are without fault.
   
   
5. How obediently Christ the God-Man bowed to the sentence of death by the cross pronounced by a pagan judge! Do you remain obedient in the irksome judgments of men, no matter how harsh, obedient to death. Do nothing disloyal, but be zealous, keeping in mind: "You would have no power against Me unless it were given you from above."

5 Kindness

1. How kindly and sweetly the Child rested in the arms of Simeon, when He was brought to the temple! Pray that this Beloved of yours take His rest in the arms of your soul, and bestow on you an affectionate kindliness and sweetness of heart for all.
   
   
2. With what kindness He washes the feet of His disciples and kisses them! And in the same way how affectionately. He gives Himself to the apostles and to us in the sacrament of the Eucharist! How affectionately He encourages the apostles during the supper and after it! Do you be kind to all without exception, even though they be rude and opposed to you.
   
   
3. How kindly He received the heavy cross that was laid upon Him, how gently He bore the weight of sin, and how He consoled the weeping women! Do not refuse to bear the yoke of the Savior with kindliness and cheerfulness, without complaint, even though you think it is heavier than you have deserved. Do not be gloomy under the burden you have accepted, do not look for a partner in your suffering, but rather share the sufferings of others, and help them when you can, or when others ask or look to you for help.
   
   
4. How kind He is, as the moment of crucifixion approaches; helping His executioners when they try to remove the clothing that clings to His wounds! So you should be kind to those who point out the faults of which you are ridding yourself, and offer yourself to them with kindness and eagerness so that they may lead you wherever they wish.
   
   
5. Again, how kindly He extends His arms and looks upon His executioners, as they fix His hands and feet to the cross, and crucify Him so cruelly. Do you be kind to your opponents, and gladly and eagerly consider whatever happens as for God's service and the help of your brethren.

6 Charity

1. How great was the charity of Christ! In order to make you an heir to the kingdom of His Father, He was willing to be an exile in a foreign land, live in great poverty while still a child, fleeing into Egypt with His Mother for fear of Herod! In every temptation flee promptly to the loving Heart of Christ, place before you His goodness and charity, comparing with it your baseness, malice, faithlessness, pride.
   
   
2. How great is His charity as He calls all to Him: "Come to Me all you who labor and are burdened and I will refresh you," and thus He shows Himself ready; and offers and desires for love of us to bear the burdens of each and every one! Wherefore, cast your sins with great confidence into the abyss of His charity, and you will soon find yourself relieved. Strive also to have and to draw God's love to you, for love will make you ready to do all and bear all for your Beloved.
   
   
3. How lovingly your spouse consumed all His strength in His love for you when dying of thirst He hung on the wood of the cross! Do you strive also to consume gladly all your strength in His service, and think little enough whatever you can do for love of Him, but do not waste your strength on your own judgment or your own will or your own passions and desires.
   
   
4. With what charity He spoke the seven words on the cross! He wished to bear witness to us of the measureless charity He bore in His Heart! Do you, for love of Him, be modest in your use of words, truthful, humble, mature, kindly. You will thus prove that you bear in your heart a genuine fear and love of God.
   
   
5. With what love and pain He bore that most bitter death! Be careful, therefore, to mortify all your sensual affections, and be glad to bear annoyances because of that love by which Christ chose and suffered a most bitter death for you.

7 Generosity

1. At the age of twelve Christ wished to be presented to the world and declare to all that He had come to save us through Himself and prove His generosity toward us. Often think of why you have come into the world. Of course, to make an unconditional surrender of yourself and to offer yourself generously and without reserve to the worship of God.
   
   
2. How generously Christ pledges us in His most sacred blood, when His sacred side was opened by the lance on the cross! Do you in turn show your gratitude, and for His love be on the watch to offer Him and generously give Him what is annoying to nature.
   
   
3. What a generous promise He made when He said to all: "If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink…. 'From within him there shall flow rivers of living water' " (John 7:37-38). Hence, be generous to your neighbor whoever he be, and testify not only in word but also in deed, to the inmost generosity of your heart, or at least by a sign, if there is nothing you can do for him.
   
   
4. Add the boundless compassion of our Lady through the entire Passion of her Son, and especially when He was taken down from the cross and placed in her arms. How her eyes lingered on His wounds, how she felt them and bathed them with her tears. Do you frequently turn over in your mind the Passion of the Spouse of your soul and the compassion of His blessed Mother. You will thus have compassion for the Son in His sufferings and the Mother in her grief for Him. Let your conduct be always modest and mature and free from all wavering.
   
   
5. Reflect on the great grief of His Mother and His friends at the burial of the Son of God. Strive to bear in your heart, and as it were store there the Passion as well as the life of your Lord, by frequently going over it in your mind. See that you frequently cleanse the sepulcher of your conscience by contrition and confession, and thus make it new. Let it be seen that you are ready and generous in doing penance for your sins in memory of the Passion of Christ.

St. Peter Canisius

   §  My dearest Jesus, teach me to be patient when all the day long my heart is troubled by small but annoying crosses.

Cardinal Merry del Val

   §  Omnipotence of the Father, help my weakness and save me from the depths of misery. Wisdom of the Son, direct all my thoughts, words, and actions. Love of the Holy Spirit, be the source of all the operations of my mind, to have them ever conformed to the good pleasure of God.

Copyright © 1998 by Inter Mirifica