Everyday Rosary Newsletter Vol.2, Issue #05 -- The Real Secret to Living A Catholic Life All Summer Long
July 1, 2010
Summer Greetings!
The monthly Everyday Rosary Newsletter is brought to you from the
How-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com
website. In each issue you will find Rosary inspirations, new meditations, feature articles and ideas that support your prayer life, a calendar of upcoming Rosary Feast Days, and how to incorporate your faith in other holidays. Plus stories on how the Rosary has affected the lives of others and what people are doing to promote the Rosary. It will also keep you up-to-date on information added to the site. It is your monthly dose of Rosary inspiration!
Table of Contents
A Note From The Editor:
Summer has finally arrived. This is the season for family vacations, water sports, gardening and relaxing in the shade. But while enjoying the sun, you must be sure not to allow your devotional life to take a vacation as well. Learn the real secret to living a Catholic life all summer long.
Rather than letting your devotional life slip this summer, why not vamp it up and add some extra devotions. June is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Devotions to the Sacred Heart go hand in hand with devotions to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and devotion to the Rosary. This issue is loaded with ways of incorporating this devotion into your life.
July is the month of the Precious Blood of Jesus. This devotion may not be as well known but this newsletter highlights many elements of this devotion as well. Read on to discover ways to immerse yourself in devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as well as the Precious Blood of Jesus. If you do, your spiritual life and your relationship with Jesus Christ will grow by leaps and bounds this summer.
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Articles
The Sacred Heart, The Precious Blood, and Divine Mercy
April, June and July are months dedicated to Our Lord in unique but intricately connected ways. April is the month of Our Lord's Resurrection. The great feast of Divine Mercy falls in this month. The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and July is dedicated to His most Precious Blood.
The Sacred Heart of Our Lord was pierced after He died on the Cross. Every drop of His Precious Blood was shed for the sins of each one of us. He cleansed the earth with His Precious blood. The sin of Adam had closed the gates of Heaven to all. Only a man could satisfy for the sins of man. "For God so loved the world" (John 3:16), He became Man and underwent His Passion and death so as to expiate for the sins of mankind as a whole, the sin of Adam, and the sins of each individual, our own countless sins.
You can see these devotions are intimately united. One idea and devotion flows into the next. During Our Lord's Passion His Divine Mercy gushed forth (April) when his Sacred Heart (June) was pierced every drop of His Precious Blood (July) was shed for you and for me, for the remission of sin.
There is a gap between the months of April and June that is appropriately filled by May the Month of Mary, His sorrowful Mother. During May our attention is focused on the glories of Mary as a sweet interlude between these three sorrowful months. The month of August is also dedicated to Our Lady and the feast of her Assumption is celebrated. Again in September however our attention is drawn back to the hallmark of our Faith being the Month of the Holy Cross.
Holy mother Church dedicated these months as a way for Catholics to live the Faith all year long. This summer, spend time in extra prayer and meditate on the different elements of the Faith as presented by the Church. Below you will find many ideas.
New Meditation on the Crucifixion
Our Lord's Passion was completed during the Crucifixion. Jesus spoke the words,
"It is consummated" -John 13:29
It is accomplished. Jesus' primary mission on earth was completed. He came to make reparation for the sins of man and it was when He died on the cross that he accomplished this mission. What agonies Our Lord suffered for each one of us individually. He suffered His Passion for your sins and for my sins. He opened the gates of Heaven so that all who would believe in Him and keep His Commandments could enter eternal life with God in Heaven.
After Jesus "gave up the ghost" and expired. A centurion took a lance and pierced Our Lord's Sacred Heart. Immediately His Precious Blood and water gushed forth spilling His Divine Mercy out upon the world. Jesus shed all His Precious Blood for our sins.
Ejaculations are short prayers to say often. In addition to meditating on this mystery of the Rosary, it is good to get in the habit of saying this prayers often throughout the day...
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Devotion to the Precious Blood
It is clear that from the earliest days of the Church there was devotion to the Precious Blood of Our Lord. Just listen to the words of St. John who was present at the Cross, "The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." -1 John 1:7
But this devotion gained favor and was propagated in recent years by Blessed Gaspar Buffalo founder of the Congregation of the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ during the mid 1800s. The Litany to the Precious Blood is listed below. You would enjoy great benefits if you added this litany to your family prayer time...
Litany to the Precious Blood
Lord, have mercy. (Lord, have mercy.)
Christ, have mercy. (Christ, have mercy.)
Lord, have mercy. (Lord, have mercy.)
Christ, hear us. (Christ, hear us.)
Christ, graciously hear us. (Christ, graciously hear us.)
God the Father of Heaven, ("have mercy on us" after each)
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God, the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, One God,
Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the eternal Father, ("save us" after each)
Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God,
Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament,
Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in Agony,
Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging,
Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns,
Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross,
Blood of Christ, price of our salvation,
Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness,
Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls,
Blood of Christ, stream of mercy,
Blood of Christ, victor over demons,
Blood of Christ, courage of Martyrs,
Blood of Christ, strength of Confessors,
Blood of Christ, bringing forth Virgins,
Blood of Christ, help of those in peril,
Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened,
Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow,
Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent,
Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying,
Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts,
Blood of Christ, pledge of eternal life,
Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory,
Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor,
Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, (spare us, O Lord.)
Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, (graciously hear us, O Lord.)
Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, (have mercy on us, O Lord.)
Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, in Thy Blood. (And made us, for our God, a kingdom.)
Let us pray. Almighty and eternal God, Thou hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world and willed to be appeased by his blood. Grant, we beg of Thee, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. (Amen.)
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Top Picks
Promises of the Sacred Heart
Jesus appeared to Saint Margaret Mary and asked that devotion to His Sacred Heart be spread throughout the world. He revealed many promises for those who fulfilled His request and become devoted to His Sacred Heart. Here you will find listed the Twelve Promises of the Sacred Heart.
1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will give peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.
5. I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.
9. I will bless those places wherein the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.
10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
11. Persons who propagate this devotion shall have their names eternally written in my Heart.
12. In the excess of the mercy of my Heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.
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How To Checklist
Devotion to the Sacred Heart Checklist
The Twelve Promises of the Sacred Heart are wonderful promises indeed. Just what must you do to be eligible for these promises you may wonder. Well a good place to start is by going through this checklist.
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Attend Mass on the First Friday of each month for 9 consecutive months. You must receive Holy Communion in reparation for those who do not receive Jesus, who do not love Him, and who wound Him by their sinful lives. (See 12th promise above)
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Attend Mass on the Feast of the Sacred Heart (The Friday after the Feast of Corpus Christ which falls on the Second Sunday after Pentecost or June 3 in the Extraordinary Form of the Liturgy)
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Words of Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary..."I ask that the Friday after the Feast of Corpus Christi be set apart for a special feast to honor My Heart, by communicating on that day and making reparation to it by a solemn act, in order to make amends for the indignities which it has received during the time it has been exposed on altars. I promise you that My Heart shall expand itself to shed in abundance the influence of its divine love upon those who shall thus honor it and cause it to be honored"
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Make a Holy Hour of Reparation (weekly Adoration)
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Consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Any act of Consecration will suffice. Below is one composed by Pope St. Leo XIII.
Consecration to the Sacred Heart
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thy altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be. But, to be more surely united with Thee, behold, each of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy Most Sacred Heart. Many, indeed, have never known Thee. Many, too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart. Be Kind, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee. Grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church, assurance of freedom and immunity from harm. Give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: "Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation-to It be glory and honor forever!" Amen.
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Calendar Of Upcoming Feast Days
June - 2010
June 3rd - Feast of Corpus Christi (Traditional)
June 6th - Feast of Corpus Christi (USA)
June 11th - Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
June 12th - Feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
June 24th - Solemnity of Birth of St. John the Baptist, cousin of Our Lord
June 29th - Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, apostles
July - 2010
July 4th - Feast of the Precious Blood, Independence Day (USA)
July 16th - Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
"One day through the Rosary and Scapular I will save the World." Our Lady's words to St. Dominic
July 22nd - St. Mary Magdalene
July 26th - Sts. Joachim and Ann, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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Resources
Rosary Gift Resources
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www.battlebeads.com
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Sacred Heart of Jesus Rosary Box - This wonderful little rosary box (or pill box) features an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the top and is made of shiny brass. Imported from Italy.
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Sacred Heart Sterling Silver Rosary - This beautiful Sacred Heart Sterling Silver rosary is made of only the finest materials - sterling silver pins, chains, medals and clasps. This rosary features a traditional sterling crucifix and a Sacred Heart sterling center piece. Comes is a nice velour presentation gift box. Made in the U.S.A.
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Chaplet of the Precious Blood - This devotion consists of 7 mysteries in which me meditate on the 7 principal sheddings of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus. The chaplet has 6 groups of 5 red glass beads each, a medal of the Holy Face and a crucifix. It comes with a prayer card and instructions.
Books And Spiritual Reading
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Precious Blood - The Price of Our Salvation by Fr. Faber
-Why do we honor the Precious Blood of Jesus? Because it is, as Father Faber indicates by the subtitle of this book, "The Price of Our Salvation." Our Lord died on the cross from loss of blood. Hence His Precious Blood is in truth the instrument of our salvation. With this thought being central to his book, Father Faber explores, in his inimitable manner, all the implications of the Precious Blood of Jesus in our lives-its mystery and necessity, its history and prodigality, the devotion we should have toward it, and the sway of its empire. For "it is from the Precious Blood of Jesus alone that our salvation comes." The Precious Blood by Father Faber is therefore actually a study in our salvation, but, as with all of his books, it is more; it is also a resume of our faith and of our religion from the standpoint of this dominant insight. After this book, the reader will conclude with Father Faber that "it is out of the Precious Blood that men draw martyrdoms, vocations, celibacies, austerities, heroic charities and all the magnificent graces of high sanctity."
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Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Fr. Croiset, S.J. - Appearing in print during the first year after the Saint's death, the book was an instant success and was translated into all the European languages except English. For 13 years it was the primary vehicle for making universally known the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. But then, through a technicality, it was placed on the "Index of Forbidden Books," to go into obscurity until modern times, when the Bishop of Sarajevo (Yugoslavia) discovered this treasure and asked the Sacred Congregation of the index to reexamine it. They did, and approved it without change, thus fulfilling St. Margaret Mary's prophecy that it would become forgotten for a time but then would come to light again.
This present translation is the first in English of the unabridged book and contains Fr. Croiset's full sketch of the Saint's life, as well as all her prayers in honor of the Sacred Heart, and a complete list of the Promises of the Sacred Heart, which number many more than the famous "12 Promises."
In all, Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Fr. John Croiset, S.J., rather than a boring book on a dry subject, is the best explanation of the central devotion of the Catholic Church and in the process is a challenge to every Catholic to raise himself to that level of the spiritual life Our Lord expects and requires of him and which alone will enable him to become a great saint.
Miscellaneous
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Sacred Heart of Jesus Framed Print - Reproduced from the originals of leading religious artists including the the world famous Simeone, this line is produced with 13in. x 16in. linen prints in a 2in. under glass antique gold wood frame with a linen liner. Overall size is 16in. x 20in.
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Our Lady of Fatima Statue - This beautiful hand-painted statue of Our Lady of Fatima is made in Portugal. It has glass eyes and measures approximately 16.5 inches tall - height includes the crown. Made from a chalk compound.
Important Links
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Testimonials
We love to hear from our visitors. Here is what a recent visitor had to say about How-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com
"I really love the website. I am very happy to have come across it...The Rosary can be truly encouraged to others when they surf this site. Keep up the good work and I pray that you'd have billions of viewers who would comment and share their thoughts and stories here." -Justine
Meet This Month's Rosary Promoter!
Who:
Mary from Battlebeads.com. Mary, a retiree who has been making affordable rosary beads since July 2009, takes great pride in craftsmanship and perfection. Mary's motto is: "I always do my best to accommodate requests!"
Read entire interview here...
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If you would like to be highlighted as the Rosary Promoter of the Month, use the Rosary Promoter Submission page on How-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com and write us asking for a Rosary Promoter application. If you know someone that promotes the Rosary and should be featured as a Rosary promoter, by all means pass this along to them or send us their information and we'll contact them.
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Q&A
This question was taken from our Ask A Rosary Question Section at How-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com
When I pray the Rosary, I want to consistently feel that nice feeling before, during and after prayer. How important is this "feeling"? When the feeling is not present my mind is not focused and I am simply uttering words. This makes me worry that the prayer may not be as pleasing to the Blessed Virgin Mary. So is "feeling" the Rosary very important?
That "feeling" you are referring to is not at all important while praying the Rosary. Prayer is the lifting up of our minds and hearts to God (Baltimore Catechism). Uniting with God in prayer will always produce happiness and often times will be accompanied by pleasure (or this good feeling you are speaking of). But you must not confuse the two. Happiness and pleasure are not the same thing and do not always go hand in hand. The Catholic understanding of happiness is perfect union with God. You will not be truly happy until you are eternally in His presence in Heaven. While on earth, the things that bring about this happiness are not always associated with pleasure the way we would think. Things that bring about happiness are often not pleasurable: sacrifice, suffering and even at times prayer.
When you are new to something like praying the Rosary, you may experience good feelings, but don't forget the purpose of praying the Rosary is to draw you closer to God not to bring about pleasure. Just keep praying. The benefits are the same whether you feel good about it or not. And Our Lady is pleased just to have you try your best and persevere.
Here is one more point taken from the Baltimore Catechism that may put your mind at ease: "Distractions in our prayers are not displeasing to God, unless they are willful."
Please visit Ask A Rosary Question Section - Where you are encouraged to answer questions and add comments to questions that have been posted there.
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What's New
A Glimpse Into Next Month's Newsletter
Next month's Newsletter - How To Hold On To The Final Weeks Of Summer
Please note: Because this issue was late getting out, June/July will be sent as one issue in July. We plan to get back on our regular monthly schedule thereafter. Sorry for the inconvenience. We know many of you look forward to these newsletters and we do our best getting them to you in a timely manner. We run on a bare bones volunteer only staff and your donations are greatly appreciated. Click here to make your donation today. Thank you.
New On The Site
A page about the purpose of prayer was recently added to the site. Check it out by clicking here...
Coming soon - Our recommended reading list in an all new Rosary Books section!
Thank You!
Thank you for reading! Keep visiting www.how-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com and remember we love hearing from you. Please use the "contact us" page to leave any and all suggestions or comments.
I hope your Summer is filled with peace and blessings from God.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
To Jesus through Mary,
Kathleen Bowen and The Rosary Team
P.S.
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