Here's a link to the 54 day novena, on which you can find loads of other prayers too. http://www.prayerflowers.com/54DayNovena.htm
I awoke today to news my widowed brother-in-law and his new girlfriend are coming to town. My sister is going to have all the siblings over for a get-together to see them both and to meet her before the two travel onto the Southwest and they'll be staying overnight with my sister. What is wrong with this picture? It doesn't matter if my brother-in-law and his girlfriend are older and their children are gone. They're not married! Everyone who is going to be in attendance is baptized Catholic except one and all are far from the faith, not practicing or really know the faith as they should. It is overwhelming, how do you witness to such a group? I shared awhile back, I sent out a message from Heaven to all on my contacts, family included. It was something at least. Now the latest, you do not have to be married to carry on as if you are. I do not feel like going to this party. When do I say something? I use to, years ago, after my conversion. It makes me sad, they won't hear it. I'll pray and trust in God's mercy and promise to help our families. Here are two messages about the Chaplet. + + + God Speaks Will You Listen 11/02/06 I will renew my church for I am its founder and head.Praise the Lord for this day of warning. Pray for those souls who are in the darkness of sin and especially the lukewarm that they will respond to my mercy during the warning.Pray divine mercy chaplets with this intention now. http://www.scribd.com/doc/22505473/God-Speaks-Will-You-Listen Message to Pelianito Jan 13 2014 Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy… A few nights ago I had a dream in which I was in a room with someone I know who is away from the church. I looked outside and saw a form coming towards us. I KNEW it was the Lord, even though the form was not human-shaped. I fell to my knees and began to pray repeatedly, “Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy…” The form covered us and then left. In the dream I felt this was a global event. I immediately turned to the person I was with and asked, “Did the Lord touch you?” and he said, “Yes!” I could see the conversion in him and was overjoyed. I feel this dream was a confirmation that our prayers—especially the Divine Mercy chaplet—are bearing fruit in souls. Let us not be lax in our prayers, but continue to flood the earth with Divine Mercy. I asked for a Scripture passage for this dream and was given Obadiah 1:17 But there will be survivors on Mount Zion—a holy remnant. The house of Jacob will take possession of its own inheritance. http://www.pelianito.stblogs.com/
If unmarried people want to sleep together in my house, that's one thing. But I wouldn't confront the situation you describe unless directly inspired by the holy spirit. So, I would put a flower in my hat, go to the party with the sinners and tax collectors, and show them the love and joy of the Lord.
kathy k, The family get together coming up, thank you , I shall take your advise. It is best to lay low for now. In the beginning, I use to address the fallen away situations in my family, it didn't help, ended in scenes These days I do not speak up except about faith in the news or my love of the faith. My siblings usually say something to me first now, little things in front of the group, sort of their way of acknowledging the truth of the faith. The older and latest message about praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, I shall try to add another one, maybe two Chaplets to my day.
It rarely ever works to try to convert people if they are not ready. These people see it as judgement of them and thus they feel you are being a hypocrite in judging them. We have to be very careful I feel in these matters and sometimes silent prayer is the best approach I feel. I have noticed that when I have these conversations with people I find my patience dwindling away and anger begins to build as I am being challenged in what I am saying. Now I try to think of Jesus. He sat with the sick and loved them before he preached. Once he preached if they did not like his words he dusted off his shoes and moved on. He never judged or debated. He spoke the truth to those with ears to hear and the ones who did hear were forever changed and converted. I think in your situation if you just had to say something try to think of a way to plant a seed but not pass judgement and then pray that the seed takes root. The situation otherwise could turn very bad and you may find that it ends up turning another off that you may not think could be turned off because of taking the approach of judgement. I think this is why Jesus always spoke in parables. It allowed for time for people to think about what he was saying and examine the hidden meanings. It was stories and not coming right out and saying if you do this you will go to hell. When I think about how I converted back to the faith it was not harsh judgement for my sins it was a simple question from a baptist friend that got me thinking. We were talking about heaven and she said that she was going to heaven and knew for certain. She asked me if I knew where I was going when I died. I said I think I am going to heaven but did not know and asked her how she could possibly know for sure. I had this know it all smirk on my face in talking with her. Later while driving home I was troubled because she knew in her heart and had no doubts. I wanted to feel that way too. She had planted a seed with one simple question and no more. That seed thankfully and by the grace of God took root and now almost a year later now it has grown into a young sapling and hopefully will become a mighty oak in time. Plant the seed if you can Jackie or pray silently and take it to The Lord or Our Mother and they can plant the seed. We are all troubled by sin and see it everywhere but have to be very careful and selective on how we want to address this with people without coming off as some "crazy Christian" as many sadly feel we can be.
Andy3, Your first sentences, really, it is absolutely true. My sister texted me today saying the new girlfriend party is on and what can she do, she said "I couldn't say no to them staying over." She knew I was bothered without my saying so... It is coming for all of us, the time when our far away from God family and friends will come to us. I pray I will have the words and have the help they need. Wow! I often ask people who convert, what is it that touched you, the moment? And you share, oh my, thanks! Look where you are faith wise, spiritually, you can read the joy in your posts.
I think what you are saying here is exactly what Pope Francis is trying to teach us, by what he is saying (and not saying) and by what he is doing.
A wise nun said to me one time, 'You don't help someone by not talking to or avoiding them'. I always thought this was wise. Luke 5:32 Jesus Calls Levi …31And Jesus answered and said to them, "It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. 32"I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."
The Pope encourages us to take risks for the kingdom. Like Christ we must eat with the tax collectors and sinners for we have been forgiven much.
Tomorrow is the 41st anniversary of the US Supreme Court decision to legalize abortion in this country. It has led to 55 Million (yes million) abortions. How incredibly sad and horrendous that we have wiped out almost 1/3 of the total US population. It truly cries out for Christ's Divine Mercy. Please take a moment tonight or tomorrow to pray for all the post-abortive mothers and fathers and for an end to this modern day slaughter of the Innocents. http://www.lifenews.com/2013/01/22/i-am-overwhelmed-by-55-million-babies-killed-since-roe-v-wade/
I recall but I can't find it, a modern, a current message from Heaven where it says with every word of the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy prayed, a soul is saved. Oh, the mercy of God "in whom mercy is endless." I found this, reference to Faustina's diary. St Faustina's Diary #961 - She asked for a soul for every stitch. Jesus gave it to her. ASK FOR A SOUL for every WORD you say on your Rosary & Divine Mercy Chaplet.
In the Chaplet of Holy Wounds Jesus made a promise that for every word said, He would let a drop of His Precious Blood fall upon a sinner: Sister Mary Martha Chambon Mary Martha Chambon (1841-1907) was a lay Sister of the Monastery of the Visitation Order in Chambery, France. During her life, Jesus Himself is said to have revealed to her the following two invocations, giving her the double mission to adore and invoke the Sacred Wounds unceasingly and to revive this devotion in the hearts of creatures. She died in the odor of sanctity on 21 March 1907, and the cause for her beatification was introduced in 1937. Eternal Father I offer Thee the Wounds of Our Lord Jesus Christ to heal the wounds of our souls. My Jesus, pardon and mercy through the merits of Thy Sacred Wounds. Here are some statements Jesus is said to have made to Sr. Mary Martha about this devotion: "Come to My Wounds with hearts burning with love, and make the aspirations with great fervor that you may obtain the graces and favors you desire. Come to this wound in My Side; it is the Wound of Love from which issue flames of fire" "You must pray that the knowledge of My Sacred Wounds may spread in the world". (As He said these words, Sr. Mary Martha saw five luminous rays of glory issue from the Wounds of Christ, and envelop the globe.) "My Holy Wounds sanctify souls and insure their spiritual advancement...Offer Me your actions united to My Sacred Wounds, and even the smallest will have an incomprehensible value" Offer them often to Me for sinners because I thirst for souls. At each word of the invocation that you utter, I will let a drop of My Blood fall upon the soul of a sinner." "When you offer My Holy Wounds for sinners, you must not forget to do so for the souls in Purgatory, as there are but few who think of their relief. The Holy Wounds are the treasure of treasures for the souls in Purgatory."6 (Nihil obstat: John A. Schulien, Censor Librorum; Milwaukee, WI, 2 May 1956. Imprimatur: +Albertus G. Meyer, Archbishop of Milwaukee, 1 May 1956.) Chaplet of the Holy Wounds To be said on the Crucifix and the first three beads of an ordinary Rosary: O Jesus, Divine Redeemer, be merciful to us and to the whole world. Amen. Strong God, holy God, immortal God, have mercy on us and on the whole world. Amen. Grace and mercy, O my Jesus, during present dangers; cover us with Your Precious Blood. Amen. Eternal Father, grant us mercy through the Blood of Jesus Christ, Your only Son; grant us mercy, we beseech You. Amen, Amen, Amen. The following prayers, composed by Our Lord, are to be said using the Rosary beads. On the large beads: Eternal Father, I offer You the Wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ. To heal the wounds of our souls. On the small beads: My Jesus, pardon and mercy, through the merits of Your Holy Wounds. Promises of Our Lord for those who are Devoted to His Wounds At each word that you pronounce of the Chaplet of the Holy Wounds, I allow a drop of My Blood to fall upon the soul of a sinner. Each time that you offer to My Father the merits of My divine Wounds, you win an immense fortune. Souls that will have contemplated and honored My crown of thorns on earth, will be My crown of glory in Heaven! I will grant all that is asked of Me through the invocation of My Holy Wounds. You will obtain everything, because it is through the merit of My Blood, which is of infinite price. With My Wounds and My Divine Heart, everything can be obtained. From My Wounds proceed fruits of sanctity. As gold purified in the crucible becomes more beautiful, so you must put your soul and those of your companions into My sacred Wounds; there they will become perfected as gold in the furnace. You can always purify yourself in My Wounds. My Wounds will repair yours. My Wounds will cover all your faults. Those who honor them will have a true knowledge of Jesus Christ. In meditation on them, you will always find a new love. My wounds will cover all your sins. Plunge your actions into My Wounds and they will be of value. All your actions, even the least, soaked in My Blood, will acquire by this alone an infinite merit and will please My Heart. In offering My Wounds for the conversion of sinners, even though the sinners are not converted, you will have the same merit before God as if they were. When you have some trouble, something to suffer, quickly place it in My Wounds, and the pain will be alleviated. This aspiration must often be repeated near the sick: "My Jesus, pardon and mercy through the merits of Your Holy Wounds!" This prayer will solace soul and body. A sinner who will say the following prayer will obtain conversion: "Eternal Father, I offer You the Wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ to heal those of our souls." There will be no death for the soul that expires in My Holy Wounds; they give true life. This chaplet is a counterpoise to My justice; it restrains My vengeance. Those who pray with humility and who meditate on My Passion, will one day participate in the glory of My divine Wounds. The more you will have contemplated My painful Wounds on this earth, the higher will be your contemplation of them glorious in Heaven. The soul who during life has honored the Wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ and has offered them to the Eternal Father for the Souls in Purgatory, will be accompanied at the moment of death by the Holy Virgin and the angels; and Our Lord on the Cross, all brillant in glory, will receive her and crown her. The invocations of the Holy Wounds will obtain an incessant victory for the Church.7
At each word that you pronounce of the Chaplet of the Holy Wounds, I allow a drop of My Blood to fall upon the soul of a sinner. Thank you hope, Our Lord said it, so it is true. And this is #1 of 17 promises. The constant "pray more" in the messages, when we think of the benefit, we will. We got to, the loss of souls.
