Prayers and Notes

MARY'S S.O.S.
(MARY'S SALVATION OF SOULS)

Through Our Lady's intercession,
Mary's Salvation of Souls (Mary's S.O.S.) devotion
encourages prayers, fasting and sacrifices for souls
who choose to reject God, especially those who will die this day.

All members of the Kolbe Prayer Apostolate are encouraged to pray for "Mary's S.O.S.", all dying souls in a state of serious sin, that they may open their hearts to God's merciful love!

Suggestions: (optional)

one Hail Mary a day (or) one decade of your daily Rosary
little prayers such as:
       -"Jesus, Mary and Joseph, save souls,
       especially those about to die today
       most in need of God's Mercy"!

Suggestions for Kolbe Eucharistic Apostolate Daily Prayer Intentions (optional)

To our two patrons:
- O Immaculate Heart of Mary, my Mother, Queen and Patroness, I give you all I am and have, "totus tuus". Lead me into the heart of Jesus, my Eucharistic King.
- St. Maximilian Kolbe, lover of the Eucharist, Mary Immaculate and neighbour, pray for me.
Jesus reign in all souls!
- "O Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, through Our Lady of the Eucharistic Heart, I beg you to reign in all souls as you desire".
(Bl. Dina Belanger, diary)
For the intentions of all our members.
- That through the prayers and works of the Kolbe Eucharistic Apostolate, many souls may offer our Eucharistic Lord deeper love, adoration and praise.
- That God raise up holy men and women who allow the Eucharistic Christ to become the heart of their lives so that they zealously spread Eucharistic devotion throughout the world!
For all priests that Christ's Eucharistic Presence be their Light, Strength and Shield.
- For the Pope, all bishops, priests and seminarians that they have an even greater love for their Eucharistic Lord and a burning zeal for the salvation of souls.
- For all the priests who minister to the Kolbe Eucharistic Apostolate: pastors, chaplains, and speakers, that God may bless them abundantly for their generosity
- For more vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Mary's S.O.S. (Mary's Salvation Of Souls Association):
- "Jesus, Mary and Joseph, save souls, especially those most in need of God's Mercy"! (for souls in serious sin who will die today, that they open their hearts to God's merciful love!)
- "My God, I love You. Save all souls who have been lured by the evil one and are dead in sin".
Our Lady's intentions
- For the Kolbe Eucharistic Apostolate members and for the whole world

Misc. Optional Prayers for your personal devotion

Eucharistic Prayers
Prayers to the Holy Spirit
Marian Prayers
Prayers for priests
Prayers to St. Joseph
Evening Prayers

OTHER:
The Divine Mercy Devotion

see also sites like www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers

EUCHARISTIC PRAYERS

An Act of Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen

Prayer While Visiting The Most Blessed Sacrament by St. Alphonsus Liguori

My Lord Jesus Christ, for the love which You bear to men, You remain night and day in this Sacrament full of compassion and of love, awaiting, calling, and welcoming all who come to visit You. I believe that You are present in the Sacrament of the Altar: I adore You from the abyss of my nothingness, and I thank You for all the graces which You have bestowed upon me and in particular for having given me Yourself in this Sacrament, for having given me your holy Mother Mary for my advocate, and for having called me to visit You in this chapel. I now salute Your most loving Heart: and this for three ends:
1. In thanksgiving for this great gift;
2. To make amends to You for all the outrages which You receive in this Sacrament from all Your enemies;
3. I intend by this visit to adore You in all the places on earth in which You are the least revered and the most abandoned.

My Jesus, I love You with all my heart. I grieve for having so many times offended Your infinite goodness. I promise with Your grace never more to offend You in the future. Now, miserable and unworthy though I be, I consecrate myself to You without reserve; I give You my entire will, my affections, my desires, and all that I possess. From now on dispose of me and of all that I have as You please. All that I ask of You and desire is Your holy love, final perseverance, and the perfect accomplishment of Your will. I recommend to You the souls in purgatory; but especially those who had the greatest devotion to the most Blessed Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin Mary. I also recommend to You all poor sinners.

My dear Saviour, I unite all my affections with the affections of Your most loving Heart; and I offer them, thus united, to Your eternal Father, and beseech Him in Your name to vouchsafe, for Your love, to accept them.
Amen.

Prayer of St. Faustina before the Blessed Sacrament

I adore You, Lord and Creator, hidden in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I adore You for all the works of Your hands, that reveal to me so much wisdom, goodness and mercy, O Lord. You have spread so much beauty over the earth and it tells me about Your beauty, even though these beautiful things are but a faint reflection of You, incomprehensible Beauty. And although You have hidden Yourself and concealed Your beauty, my eye, enlightened by faith, reaches You and my soul recognizes its Creator, its Highest Good, and my heart is completely immersed in prayer of adoration.

My Lord and Creator, Your goodness encourages me to converse with You. Your mercy abolishes the chasm which separates the Creator from the creature. To converse with You, O Lord, is the delight of my heart. In You I find everything that my heart could desire. Here You light illumines my mind, enabling it to know You more and more deeply. Here streams of graces flow down upon my heart. Here my soul draws eternal life. O my Lord and Creator, You alone, beyond all these gifts, give Your own self to me and unite Yourself intimately with Your miserable creature.

O Christ, let my greatest delight be to see You loved and Your praise and glory proclaimed, especially the honour of Your mercy. O Christ, let me glorify Your goodness and mercy to the last moment of my life, with every drop of my blood and every beat of my heart. Would that I be transformed into a hymn of adoration of You. When I find myself on my deathbed, may the last beat of my heart be a loving hymn glorifying Your unfathomable mercy. Amen.

The Anima Christi

The Anima Christi is a prayer from around the 14th century. It is still widely used after receiving the body and blood of Our Lord, Jesus Christ in Holy Communion

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ's side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever, Amen

PREPARATION FOR HOLY COMMUNION:
(or say the night before receiving the Holy Eucharist)

"When you approach to receive Me in Holy Communion, receive Me with these intentions of feeling all the glowing desire and love with which the heart of any mortal has ever been inflamed. I will accept this love and preparation, not as it is in you, but what you desire your love and preparation to be".

Dear Jesus, I ardently desire to receive You. The moment draws near, the rapturous moment, in which I shall receive You, my God, into my soul. I come to You, I run to meet you with the utmost devotion and reverence of which I, as a little child, am capable. Stretch forth Your most sacred hands to embrace my soul -Your pierced hands which were stretched forth amid the anguish of Your Passion to embrace all sinners. I stretch forth not only my hands, but my heart and my soul, to embrace You and to lead You into the innermost and secret recess of my heart.

Would that I had within me as great a devotion, love and purity as You have ever been adored with by the heart of any mortal. Would that I were filled with all virtues, with all holy desires, with perfect devotion. Would that I had the purity of all Your angels, the charity of all Your apostles, the holiness of all confessors, the chastity and cleanness of heart of all virgins and the holy fire of love of all the martyrs.

Would that I could receive You now with all that devotion, reverence and love with which Your most Blessed Mother received You in Your Incarnation, and in Your adorable Eucharist! Would that I had Your own sacred and divine Heart, that I might receive You as Your ineffable Majesty deserves!

I offer You, my sweetest Jesus - to be my fitting preparation, to make amends for all my unworthiness, my negligence's, my lack of preparation, devotion and affections. I offer You the love which the Saints and the Blessed Mother had when they received You in this Holy Sacrament.

I offer You, most holy Jesus, Your own meritorious Heart, and all the ineffable virtues and graces which the most Blessed Trinity bestowed without measure upon it, that all my sinfulness and all my unworthiness may be covered, and that a proper and most peaceful abode may be prepared for You in my soul. Amen.

THANKSGIVING AFTER MASS
THE PRAYER OF SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS:

Lord, Father all-powerful and ever-living God, I thank You, for even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, not because of my worth but in the kindness of your mercy, You have fed me with the Precious Body & Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

I pray that this Holy Communion may not bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation. May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will. May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions. May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience, and growth in the power to do good. May it be my strong defense against all my enemies, visible and invisible, and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses, bodily and spiritual.

May it unite me more closely to you, the One true God, and lead me safely through death to everlasting happiness with You. And I pray that You will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where you, with Your Son and holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect happiness to your saints. Grant this through Christ our Lord,
AMEN.

Litany of Humility
Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930),
Secretary of State for Pope Saint Pius X

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved...
From the desire of being extolled ...
From the desire of being honoured ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...
From the fear of being humiliated ...
From the fear of being despised...
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
From the fear of being calumniated ...
From the fear of being forgotten ...
From the fear of being ridiculed ...
From the fear of being wronged ...
From the fear of being suspected ...

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I ...
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease ...
That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
That others may be preferred to me in everything...
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should….

PRAYERS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT:

An Act of Consecration to the Holy Spirit

Spirit of God,
I offer myself, soul and body to you.
Help me always to be true to your love
and always to be grateful for it.
You are the Strength and the Light of my soul.
Grant that I may always watch for your light and listen for your voice
and follow your inspiration.

Contemplating the sufferings of Jesus on the Cross, I implore you, Holy Spirit,
to watch over me in my weakness that I may never sin against you.

Give me the grace to say to you always and everywhere:
"Speak Lord for your servant is listening." Amen.

0, Mary, the Holy Spirit came down upon you and together you gave us the Child Jesus. Help us to prepare our hearts so that we also may receive the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work in us. Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Breathe in me O Holy Spirit
St. Augustine

Breathe in me O Holy Spirit That my thoughts may all be holy;
Act in me O Holy Spirit That my work, too may be holy;
Draw my heart 0 Holy Spirit That I love but what is holy;
Strengthen me O Holy Spirit To defend all that is holy;
Guard me then O Holy Spirit That l always may be holy.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

0 Lord Jesus Christ, Who before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love.

Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom, that I may not be attached to the perishable things of this world, but aspire only after the things that are eternal.
The Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth.
The Spirit of Counsel, that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing You.
he Spirit of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation.
The Spirit of Knowledge, that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints.
The Spirit of Piety, that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable.
The Spirit of Fear of the Lord, that I may be filled with loving reverence towards God and may avoid anything that may displease Him.

Mark me dear Lord with the sign of your true disciples and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Come home, Holy Spirit (7x)…

Precious Blood of Jesus, cleanse me (of any anger, envy, lust, pride, gluttony, sloth, avarice).

Living Water of the Holy Spirit, fill me (with Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, Fear of the Lord).

HOLY SPIRIT please govern my heart, body, soul, spirit, mind, words, thoughts, actions, emotions, moods, energy and all senses. (3x)

MARIAN PRAYERS

examples of DAILY CONSECRATION TO MARY:

"Totus Tuus"

My Queen, my Mother,
I give myself entirely to you
And to show my devotion to you
I consecrate to you this day
my eyes, my ears, my heart,
my soul, my mind, my strength,
my whole being without reserve...
Wherefore, good Mother,
as I am your own,
Keep me, guard me,
as you property and possession.

OR: Consecration to Mary:

O Mary, Virgin most powerful and Mother of mercy, Queen of Heaven and Refuge of sinners, we consecrate ourselves to your Immaculate Heart.

We consecrate to you our very being and our whole life; all that we have, all that we love, all that we are. To you we give our bodies, our hearts and our souls; to you we give our homes, our families, our country.

We desire that all that is in us and around us may belong to you, and may share in the benefits of your motherly benediction. And that this act of consecration may be truly efficacious and lasting, we renew this day at your feet the promises of our Baptism and our first Holy Communion.

We pledge ourselves to profess courageously and at all times the truths of our holy Faith, and to live as befits Catholics who are duly submissive to all the directions of the Pope and the Bishops in communion with him. We pledge ourselves to keep the commandments of God and His Church, in particular to keep holy the Lord's Day. We likewise pledge ourselves to make the consoling practices of the Christian religion, and above all, Holy Communion, an integral part of our lives, in so far as we shall be able to do.

Finally, we promise thee, O glorious Mother of God and loving Mother of men, to devote ourselves whole-heartedly to the service of your blessed care, in order to hasten and assure, through the sovereignty of your Immaculate Heart, the coming of the kingdom of the Sacred Heart of your adorable Son, in our own hearts and in those of allpeople, in our country and in all the world, as in heaven. so on earth. Amen.

Memorare Prayer:

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored thy help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

PRAYER FOR PRIESTS

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, give all priests Thy spirit of humility;
Jesus, poor and worn out for souls, give all priests Thy spirit of zeal;
Jesus, full of patience and mercy for sinners, give all priests Thy spirit of compassion;
Jesus, victim for the sins of the world, give all priests Thy spirit of sacrifice;
Jesus, lover of the little and the poor, give all priests Thy spirit of charity.
Mary, Queen of the Clergy, pray for us;
and obtain for us numerous and holy priests and religious.
Amen

Prayer for Priests

O Almighty, Eternal God, look upon the face of Your Son and for love of Him who is the Eternal High Priest, have pity on your priests. Remember, O most compassionate God, that they are but weak and frail human beings. Stir up in them the grace of their vocation, which is in them by the imposition of the Bishop's hands. Keep them close to you, lest the enemy prevail against them, so that they may never do anything in the slightest degree unworthy of their sublime vocation.

O Jesus, I pray for your faithful and fervent priests; for your unfaithful and tepid priests; for your priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields; for your tempted priests; for the lonely and desolate priests; for your young priests; for your dying priests; for the souls of your priests in purgatory. But above all, I commend to you the priests dearest to me; the priest who baptized me; the priests who absolved me from my sins; the priests at whose Masses I assisted and who gave me your Body and Blood in Holy Communion; the priests who taught and instructed me or helped and encouraged me; all the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way. O Jesus, keep them all close to your heart, and bless them abundantly in time and eternity. Amen.

PRAYERS TO ST. JOSEPH

O blessed Joseph, faithful guardian of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ, protector of thy chaste spouse, the virgin Mother of God, I choose thee this day to be my special patron and advocate and I firmly resolve to honour thee all the days of my life. Therefore I humbly beseech thee to receive me as thy client, to instruct me in every doubt, to comfort me in every affliction, to obtain for me and for all the knowledge and love of the Heart of Jesus, and finally to defend and protect me at the hour of my death. Amen

"I know by experience," says St. Teresa of Avila, "that the glorious St. Joseph assists us generally in all necessities. I never asked him for anything which he did not obtain for me."

Act of Consecration to St. Joseph

O dearest St. Joseph, I consecrate myself to your honor and give myself to you,
that you may always be my father, my protector and my guide in the way of salvation.
Obtain for me a greater purity of heart and fervent love of the interior life.
After your example may I do all my actions for the greater glory of God, in union with the Divine Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
O Blessed St. Joseph, pray for me, that I may share in the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen

EVENING PRAYERS

EVENING MEDITATION FOR DAILY NEGLECTS

This Prayer for Daily Neglects, as it is best known, invites us to offer God the Father the Sacred Heart of his Divine Son, as we read below, in reparation for our sins. Some books note that soon after the death of a certain Poor Clare nun, she appeared and said:"I went straight to Heaven because I paid all my debts by virtue of this daily prayer"(plus regular confession).

Eternal Father, I offer You the Sacred Heart
of Jesus, with all its love, sufferings and merits
First: To expiate all the sins I have committed this day and during all my life.
Glory be to the Father…
Second: To purify the good I have done poorly this day and during all my life.
Glory be to the Father…
Third: To supply for the good I ought to have done and that I have neglected this day and all my life . Glory be to the Father…

+ + +

"During the night you will rest in My Heart! My Heart will listen to the beats of yours , which will be so many acts of love and desire. Thus even while you are sleeping, you will bring back to Me souls that so offend Me…Ask forgiveness for the whole world, especially for those that know Me and yet sin; offer yourself in reparation".
Our Lord to Sr. J .Menendez

ETERNAL FATHER, I desire to rest in Your Heart this night.

I make the intention of offering to You every beat of my heart,
joining to them as many acts of love and desire.
I pray that even while I am asleep, I will bring back to You
souls that offend You. I ask forgiveness for the whole
world, especially for those who know You and yet sin.
I offer to You my every breath and heartbeat
as a prayer of reparation. Amen

St. Augustine's evening prayer

Watch O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight,
and give Your angels and saints charge over those who sleep.
Tend Your sick ones, 0 Lord Christ.
Rest Your weary ones. Bless Your dying ones.
Soothe Your suffering ones. Pity Your afflicted ones.
Shield Your joyous ones, and all for Your love's sake. Amen.

DELIVERANCE PRAYER

In the Name of JESUS, I take authority over all evil spirits around me.
BEGONE in the Name of Jesus and report to JESUS quickly and quietly
at the foot of the cross at the nearest tabernacle!
JESUS, please pour Your precious BLOOD over me
and SEAL me in Your precious BLOOD.

Mary put your mantle around me.
Come with your angels and saints and protect me.
Jesus, I love You. (3x)

PRAYER OF ST. IGNATIUS LOYOLA

Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty,
my memory, my understanding and my whole will.
All that I am and all that I possess You have given me.
I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will.
Give me only Your love and Your grace;
with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.

HOW TO SAY THE ROSARY

Make the Sign of The Cross
Apostles Creed
Our Father
Hail Mary on next three beads
Glory Be
Announce the 1st Mystery & Our Father
10 Hail Mary's (one decade)
Glory Be
Announce the 2nd Mystery & Our Father etc.
Hail Holy Queen & Rosary Prayer

THE PRAYERS OF THE ROSARY

THE APOSTLES CREED

I BELIEVE in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

THE OUR FATHER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

THE HAIL MARY

Hail Mary, full of grace! The Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

GLORY BE TO THE FATHER

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

PRAYER BETWEEN EACH DECADE (after the Glory Be)

* Prayer the Blessed Virgin Mary requested at Fatima*

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell,
Lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy.

optional extra prayer:
Come Holy Spirit, Come by means of the most powerful intercession
of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Thy well beloved spouse.

PRAYERS SAID AFTER THE ROSARY

THE HAIL HOLY QUEEN

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, O most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement! O Loving! O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

ROSARY PRAYER

Let us pray:
O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation. Grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the Intentions of the Holy Father

Catholics who say the rosary in a group, or, individually before the Blessed Sacrament, may gain a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions, which includes prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father.
For the intentions of the Holy Father:
Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.

PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL: (optional with the rosary prayers)

This prayer was composed by Pope Leo XIII, 1888.

Pope St. John Paul II urged Christians not to forget it and to recite it to obtain help in the battle against forces of darkness and against the spirit of this world. (St. Peter's Square, Sunday, April 24, 1994)

Saint Michael the Archangel, Defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
And do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
By the power of God, thrust into hell
Satan and all evil spirits
who wander throughout the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

BLESSED SACRAMENT PRAYER /and hymn

(optional with the rosary prayers before the Blessed Sacrament )

O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine,
All praise and all thanksgiving, be every moment Thine!

THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY

On each decade ( 10 Hail Marys) of the rosary, meditate on one of the Mysteries (or stories) of the Rosary, which summarizes the Life of Christ found in Scripture.

(I) THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES: (Mondays, Saturdays)

1. The Annunciation:
"Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women."[Luke 1:28]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

2. The Visitation
"When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary
the babe in her womb leapt,
and she was filled with the Holy Spirit." [Luke 1:41]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

3. The Nativity:
And she brought forth her first-born Son
and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes." [Luke 2:7]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

4. The Presentation
"According to the law of Moses, they took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present Him to the Lord." [Luke 2:37]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

5. The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple:
"After three days they found Him in the Temple.
He was sitting in the midst of the teachers." [Luke 2:45,46]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

(II) THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: (Tuesdays, Fridays)

1. The Agony of the Garden:
"Jesus came with them to Gethsemane
and He began to be saddened and exceedingly troubled." [Matt. 26:36,37]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

2. The Scourging at the Pillar:
"Pilate then took Jesus and had Him scourged." [Jn. 19:1]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

3. The Crowning of Thorns:
"And plaiting a crown of thorns they put it upon His head
and a reed in His right hand." [ Matt. 27:29]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

4. The Carrying of the Cross:
"And bearing the Cross for Himself,
He went forth to the place called The Skull." [ Jn. 19:17]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

5. The Crucifixion
"And when they came to the place called The Skull
they crucified Him." [Luke 23:33]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

(III) THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES: ( Thursdays)

1. The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan
"Jesus came from Nazareth in the province of Galilee, and
was baptized by John in the Jordan." [Mark 1:9]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

2. The Wedding Feast at Cana
"There was a wedding in the town of Cana, in Galilee,
Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples
had also been invited..." [John 2:1]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom
"Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the synagogues,
preaching the Good News about the Kingdom, and healing
people who had all kinds of disease and sickness." [Mark 4:23]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

4. The Transfiguration of Our Lord
"Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him
and went up a mountain to pray. While He was praying,
His face changed in appearance, and His clothes became
dazzling white." [Luke 9:28-29]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

5. The Institution of the Holy Eucharist
"I am the Bread of Life," Jesus told them.
"Those who come to Me will never be hungry;
those who believe in Me will never be thirsty." [John 6:35]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

(IV) THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES: (Sundays, Wednesdays)

1. The Resurrection of Our Lord
"He is not here, but has risen.
Behold the place where they laid Him." [Luke 24:6; Mark 16:6]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

2. The Ascensions of Our Lord into Heaven
"And He was taken up into Heaven
and sits at the Right Hand of God." [Mark 16:19]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon Mary and the Apostles
"And suddenly there came a sound from Spirit Heaven...
and there appeared to them parted tongues...
and they were filled with the Holy Spirit." [Acts 2:2,3,4,11]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

4. The Assumption of our Lady into Heaven
"Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear,
for the King shall desire your beauty.
All glorious is the king's daughter as she enters;
her raiment is threaded with spun gold." [Ps 45:10-14]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

5. The Coronation of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven and Earth
"And a great sign appeared in Heaven:
a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet,
and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." [Rev 12:1]
(Say the Our Father; ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be to the Father)

MORE INFORMATION ON THE ROSARY:

Archbishop Fulton Sheen said,

"The rosary is the book of the blind, where souls see and there enact the greatest drama of love the world has ever known; it is the book of the simple, which initiates them into mysteries and knowledge more satisfying than the education of other men; it is the book of the aged, whose eyes close upon the shadow of this world, and open on the substance of the next. The power of the rosary is beyond description."

THE FIFTEEN PROMISES OF THE VIRGIN MARY:

Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.
I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of people from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.
Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its Sacred Mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.
Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plentitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the Saints in Paradise.
I shall deliver from purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary. (if it is God's will)
All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.
All who recite the Rosary are my children, and brothers and sisters of my only Son, Jesus Christ.
Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

BENEFITS OF THE ROSARY:

It gradually gives us a perfect knowledge of Jesus Christ.
It purifies our souls, washing away sin.
It gives us victory over all our enemies.
It makes it easy for us to practice virtue.
It sets us on fire with love of Our Lord.
It enriches us with graces and merits.
It supplies us with what is needed to pay all our debts to God and to our fellow men; and finally, it obtains all kinds of graces for us from Almighty God.

BLESSINGS OF THE ROSARY

Sinners are forgiven.
Souls that thirst are refreshed.
Those who are fettered have their bonds broken.
Those who weep find happiness.
Those who are tempted find peace.
The poor find help.
Religious are reformed.
Those who are ignorant are instructed.
The living learn to overcome pride.
The dead (the Holy Souls) have their pains eased by suffrages.

Catechesis on Devotions

Catechesis on the Divine Mercy Devotion is offered to parishes in a two hour presentation by the Kolbe Eucharistic Apostolate. Pastors have used this presentation to instruct parishioners and start this devotion in their parishes, especially during lent in preparation for Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter).

The Chaplet of The Divine Mercy

Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.
Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:
Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity
of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion,
have mercy on us and on the whole world.
(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).
Conclude with (three times):
Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One,
have mercy on us and on the whole world

THE DIVINE MERCY DEVOTION

In the 1930's, in obedience to her spiritual director, Sister (St.) Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938) wrote a diary of some 600 pages ("Divine Mercy in My Soul") recording the revelations she was receiving about God's mercy.

Devotion to the Divine Mercy involves a total commitment to God as Mercy. It is a decision to trust completely in Him, to accept His mercy with thanksgiving and to be merciful as He is merciful. Pope John Paul II, who canonized St. Faustina on April 30, 2000(the Feast of Mercy), wrote his encyclical letter "Dives in Misericordia" (Rich in Mercy,1981), stressing Christ as the "incarnation of mercy…the inexhaustible source of mercy". He emphasized that "Christ's messianic program, the program of mercy" must become "the program of His people, the program of the Church".

Our Lord gave St. Faustina the Chaplet of Divine Mercy in 1938 attaching extraordinary promises to its recitation.

"Encourage souls to say the Chaplet which I have given you (diary 1541) ... Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death (687) ... When they say this chaplet in the presence of the dying, I will stand between My Father and the dying person, not as the just Judge but as the Merciful Savior (1541) ... Priests will recommend it to sinners as their last hope of salvation. Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy (687) ... I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy (687) ... Through the Chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for is compatible with My will". (1731).

The Chaplet, an intercessory prayer, extends the offering of the Eucharist, so it is appropriate to use it after having received Holy Communion at Holy Mass.

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy may be said at any time, but our Lord specifically told St. Faustina to recite it for the nine days before the Feast of Mercy (the first Sunday after Easter). He then added: "by this Novena, [starting on Good Friday] I will grant every possible grace to souls" (796).

"On that day [the Feast of Mercy] the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fountain of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the Divine floodgates through which graces flow are opened. (699)

In His revelations, Our Lord also asked for a special remembrance of His Passion during the "Hour of Great Mercy" (3-4 pm each day). Our Lord also told St. Faustina :

"I am Love and Mercy itself. When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls " (1074).."Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet (699)...My mercy is greater than your sins…I let My Sacred Heart be pierced with a lance, thus opening wide the source of mercy for you...Come then with trust to draw graces from this fountain. I never reject a contrite heart (1485)...Sooner would heaven and earth turn into nothingness than would My mercy not embrace a trusting soul ". (1777)

"Paint an image according to the pattern you see with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You…I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory (47,48)…I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature : "Jesus, I trust in You" (327) I desire that this image be venerated..throughout the world (47) I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it . (341)

Prayer for the Conversion of Sinners

Jesus said to St. Faustina Kowalska of the Most Blessed Sacrament : (diary 1397)

"You always console Me when you pray for sinners. The prayer most pleasing to Me is the prayer for their conversion. Know, My daughter, that this prayer is always heard and answered"

On another occasion He told her:

"I desire that you know more profoundly the love that burns in My Heart for souls, and you will understand this when you meditate upon My Passion. Call upon My mercy on behalf of sinners; I desire their salvation. When you say this prayer with a contrite heart and with faith on behalf of some sinner, I will give him the grace of conversion. This is the prayer:
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus
as a fountain of mercy for us, I trust in You". ( diary 186, 187)

This promise of Our Lord was specifically made to Saint Faustina, but if we pray this prayer with the same purity of intention, we have reason to believe God will honour it.