SACRED ART: "The Marriage Feast at Cana" by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
(Left-click once or twice on the painting to get a closer view)
PRAYER: Litany of the Holy Name ***OPTIONAL***
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
God our Father in Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, splendor of the Father, have mercy on us.
Jesus, brightness of everlasting light, have mercy on us.
Jesus, king of glory, have mercy on us.
Jesus, dawn of justice, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary, have mercy on us.
Jesus, worthy of our love, have mercy on us.
Jesus, worthy of our wonder, have mercy on us.
Jesus, mighty God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, father of the world to come, have mercy on us.
Jesus, prince of peace, have mercy on us.
Jesus, all-powerful, have mercy on us.
Jesus, pattern of patience, have mercy on us.
Jesus, model of obedience, have mercy on us.
Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, have mercy on us.
Jesus, lover of chastity, have mercy on us.
Jesus, lover of us all, have mercy on us.
Jesus, God of peace, have mercy on us.
Jesus, author of life, have mercy on us.
Jesus, model of goodness, have mercy on us.
Jesus, seeker of souls, have mercy on us.
Jesus, our God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, our refuge, have mercy on us.
Jesus, father of the poor, have mercy on us.
Jesus, treasure of the faithful, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Good Shepherd, have mercy on us.
Jesus, the true light, have mercy on us.
Jesus, eternal wisdom, have mercy on us.
Jesus, infinite goodness, have mercy on us.
Jesus, our way and our life, have mercy on us.
Jesus, joy of angels, have mercy on us.
Jesus, king of patriarchs, have mercy on us.
Jesus, teacher of apostles, have mercy on us.
Jesus, master of evangelists, have mercy on us.
Jesus, courage of martyrs, have mercy on us.
Jesus, light of confessors, have mercy on us.
Jesus, purity of virgins, have mercy on us.
Jesus, crown of all saints, have mercy on us.
Lord, be merciful, Jesus save your people.
From all evil, Jesus save your people.
From every sin, Jesus save your people.
From the snares of the devil, Jesus save your people.
From your anger, Jesus save your people.
From the spirit of infidelity, Jesus save your people.
From everlasting death, Jesus save your people.
From neglect of your Holy Spirit, Jesus save your people.
By the mystery of your incarnation, Jesus save your people.
By your birth, Jesus save your people.
By your childhood, Jesus save your people.
By your hidden life, Jesus save your people.
By your public ministry, Jesus save your people.
By your agony and crucifixion, Jesus save your people.
By your abandonment, Jesus save your people.
By your grief and sorrow, Jesus save your people.
By your death and burial, Jesus save your people.
By your rising to new life, Jesus save your people.
By your return in glory to the Father, Jesus save your people.
By your gift of the Holy Eucharist, Jesus save your people.
By your joy and glory, Jesus save your people.
Christ, hear us. Christ, hear us.
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer. Lord Jesus, hear our prayer.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lord, may we who honor the holy name of Jesus
Enjoy his friendship in this life
And be filled with eternal joy in the kingdom
Where he lives and reigns forever and ever.
Amen.
SACRED ART: "The Baptism of Christ" by Antoine Coypel
(Left-click the white slider bar in the mini picture, then drag the white slider bar left or right to find your preferred size — you might have to play with it because it’s a little tricky)
PRAYER: Invocation of the Holy Spirit ***REQUIRED***
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,
And enkindle in them the fire of your love.
Lord, send forth your Spirit,
And you will renew the face of the earth.
O God,
Who instructs the hearts of your faithful
With the light of your Holy Spirit,
Make us responsive to his inspirations
So that we may be truly wise and
Ever rejoice in his consolations,
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
SACRED ART: "Sermon on the Mount" by Carl Bloch
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Bloch-SermonOnTheMount.jpg
(Left-click once on the picture to get a closer view)
SCRIPTURE: Mark 10: 24-30 ***REQUIRED***
The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through [the] eye of [a] needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Peter began to say to him, “We have given up everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.”
SACRED ART: "Founder Statue of St. Louis de Montfort" by Giacomo Parsini
(Left-click once or twice on the picture to get a closer view)
REFLECTION BY ST. LOUIS DE MONTFORT : The Love of Eternal Wisdom (#194) ***REQUIRED***
The Holy Spirit tells us that Wisdom is not found in the hearts of those who live in comfort, gratifying their passions and bodily desires, because “they who are of the flesh cannot please God,” and “the wisdom of the flesh is an enemy to God.” “My spirit will not remain in man, because he is flesh.” All those who belong to Christ, incarnate Wisdom, have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. They always bear about in their bodies the dying of Jesus. They continually do violence to themselves, carry their cross daily. They are dead and indeed buried with Christ. These words of the Holy Spirit show us more clearly than the light of day that, if we are to possess incarnate Wisdom, Jesus Christ, we must practice self-denial and renounce the world and self.
RESOLUTION ***REQUIRED***
Daily sacrifice is also a necessary component of the process of preparation — as necessary and important as consistent daily prayer and reflection. Do not continue until you have decided upon an act of sacrifice that you can make over the remainder of the period of preparation. This must be a firm decision to which you intend to be faithful.
SACRED ART: "The Visitation" by Raphael and Giulio Romano or Giovanni Francesco Penni
(Either leave the picture as it is, or you may left-click on the minus sign once or twice in order to get a farther view)
PRAYER: Jesus Living in Mary ***REQUIRED***
O Jesus living in Mary,
Come and live in your servant,
In the Spirit of your holiness,
In the fullness of your gifts,
In the perfection of your ways,
In the truth of your virtues,
In the communion of your mysteries.
Subdue within me
The power of flesh and demon
By your Holy Spirit,
For the glory of God the father.
Amen.
SACRED ART: "The Annunciation" by Giovanni Lanfranco
(Left-click once or twice on the picture to get a closer view)
PRAYER: Sub Tuum ***REQUIRED***
We fly to your patronage,
O holy Mother of God,
Despise not our petitions in our necessities,
But deliver us always from all dangers,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.
Amen.