O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, and my mother,
from the sublime heights of your dignity
turn your merciful eyes upon me while I,
full of confidence in your bounty
and keeping in mind your Immaculate conception
and fully conscious of your power,
beg of you to come to our aid
and ask your Divine Son to grant the favor
we earnestly seek in this novena,
if it be beneficial for our immortal souls
and the souls for whom we pray.
Amen.
(State your intention here…)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception,
Mother of Christ,
you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth;
you have the same influence now in heaven.
Pray for us
and obtain for us from him
the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.
For the complete 9 day novena visit the Discerning Hearts:
En el nombre del Padre, del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo. Amén.
“Señor mío, Jesucristo, Dios y Hombre verdadero, creador y redentor mío, por ser vos quien sois, y porque os amo sobre todas las cosas, me pesa de todo corazón haberos ofendido.
Propongo enmendarme y confesarme a su tiempo y ofrezco cuanto hiciere en satisfacción de mis pecados, y confío por vuestra bondad y misericordia infinita, que me perdonaréis y me daréis gracia para nunca más pecar. Así lo espero por intercesión de mi Madre, nuestra Señora la Virgen de Guadalupe. Amén”.
Tercer día
¡Oh Santísima Virgen María de Guadalupe! ¡Qué puedo creer al verte cercada de los rayos del sol, sino que estás íntimamente unida al Sol de la Divinidad, que no hay en tu casa ninguna cosa que no sea luz, que no sea gracia y que no sea santidad!
¡Qué puedo creer sino que estás anegada en el piélago de las divinas perfecciones y atributos, y que Dios te tiene siempre en su Corazón! Sea para bien, Señora, tan alta felicidad.
Yo, entre tanto, arrebatado del gozo que ello me causa, me presento delante del trono de tu soberanía, suplicándote te dignes enviar uno de tus ardientes rayos hacia mi corazón: ilumina con su luz mi entendimiento; enciende con su luz mi voluntad; haz que acabe yo de persuadirme de que vivo engañado todo el tiempo que no empleo en amarte ti y en amar a mi Dios: haz que acabe de persuadirme que me engaño miserablemente cuando amo alguna cosa que no sea mi Dios y cuando no te amo a Ti por Dios. Amén.
Padre Nuestro
Padre nuestro, que estás en el cielo, santificado sea tu nombre, venga a nosotros tu reino, hágase tu voluntad, en la tierra como en el cielo. Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día, perdona nuestras ofensas, como también nosotros perdonamos a los que nos ofenden. No nos dejes caer en la tentación, y líbranos del mal. Amén
Ave Maria
Dios te Salve, María, llena eres de gracia, el Señor está contigo. Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre, Jesús. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. Amén
Gloria
Gloria al Padre y al Hijo y al Espíritu Santo. Como era en el principio ahora y siempre, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, ruega por nosotros. Amén
En el nombre del Padre, del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo. Amén
Mother of God, your ribboned sash identified you as a pregnant woman, a woman who bore the Christ Child to a world in darkness and who through two millennia has borne the light and love of Christ to a world that has largely rejected Him.
May the love of your Son awaken a hymn of thanksgiving and praise in all pregnant mothers, as happened long ago in the home of Elizabeth and Zechariah.
Our Father …
THE CHURCH is saying to us again and again, “Now is the acceptable time” (2 Cor 6:2). This Advent will never come again. Perhaps God will bless us with other Advents, although, with the condition the world is in right now, one could have large question marks about that. But even if he does, this one will never come again.
We recall the classic words of the poet: “The tender grace of a day that is gone will never come back to me.” The graces of this day will never come again. The opportunities for being loving and humble and generous and self-forgetful in this day will never come again. That is a large thought, and we should fill our minds with large thoughts in this season.
In the liturgy of this Sunday, the Church is saying, “You have to do something.” And she is saying, “I want to see something.” As I was reflecting in prayer on these three readings which our wise Mother the Church puts before us, our dear Lord showed me that, in a sense, we need to “read” them backward—that the conclusion, the very strong point, is in the Gospel: we begin there and then go back and see how these fruits appear.
Francis P.C.C., Mother Mary. Come, Lord Jesus (p. 65). Ignatius Press. Kindle Edition.
Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C., (1921-2006) was for more than forty years the abbess of the Poor Clare Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Roswell, New Mexico. She became recognized as an authoritative voice for the renewal of religious life through her many books, including A Right to Be Merry,But I Have Called You Friends, and Anima Christi. To learn more about Mother Mary Francis and the Poor Clare Nuns of Roswell, NM visit their website at https://poorclares-roswell.org
Discerning Hearts is grateful to Cluny Media whose permission was obtained to record these audio selections from this published work.
An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart:
Prepare your heart for Christ through Scripture, the saints, and the gentle practice of daily listening.
Week One: Awakening the Listening Heart
DAY 6 – Conversion
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4.17
Conversion is not a single moment. It is a continual turning toward God. Advent teaches this ongoing movement of the heart. Conversion is the steady, daily action of choosing God again and again. It is the refusal to remain still in spiritual life. It is the willingness to move toward the One who is constantly drawing near.
Conversion is not dramatic for most people. It is usually quiet. It is the moment when you realign your heart after noticing you have drifted. It is the instant you choose truth over distraction, love over indifference, prayer over noise. Every turn toward God, no matter how small, becomes a doorway for grace to enter.
True conversion is active. It responds to God’s initiative. God always makes the first movement. Conversion is our movement back. The discerning heart knows this is a lifelong rhythm. We turn toward Him again in moments of light, in times of weakness, in days of clarity, and in seasons of confusion.
Conversion prepares the heart for deeper listening. It keeps the soul awake, open, and progressing toward Christ.
Journey with the Saints –
St. Catherine of Siena
“Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” Attributed to St. Catherine of Siena
St. Catherine understood conversion as a continual rising into the fullness of who God created you to be. She teaches that conversion is not a narrowing of the spiritual life. It is the steady work of grace thatexpands the heart. As the heart expands, it becomes more capable of receiving God’s love and more available to give that love to others.
For St. Catherine, this expansion happens through humility and surrender. When the soul releases fear, pride, or self-reliance, the heart opens wider to God’s action. Every movement toward Him increases the heart’s capacity for charity, courage, and truth. Conversion stretches the heart so it can hold more of God and give more of God.
St. Catherine reminds us that conversion unfolds gradually. It is a lifelong process of allowing God to shape, widen, and mature the heart until Christ’s life becomes the center of everything.
Reflection for the Listening Heart
Today invites you to reflect on where your heart is turned. Conversion is not about perfection. It is about direction. You may drift at times. You may feel distracted. You may recognize places where you have resisted God. Conversion turns you back, even gently, even quietly.
Ask God to show you where He is inviting you to turn toward Him again. Perhaps in a relationship. Perhaps in prayer. Perhaps in a place where fear holds you back. Every turn toward God strengthens the listening heart.
Ask yourself: Where is Christ calling me to turn toward Him today. What step of conversion is He inviting me to take.
A Simple Practice for Today
Take one moment today and say, “Lord, turn my heart toward You.” Then choose one concrete act of love, forgiveness, or faith that reflects that turning. Later in the day, repeat the simple prayer as a way of renewing your direction.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, turn my heart toward You again. Draw me away from anything that leads me from Your love and strengthen every desire that leads me closer to You. Teach me to live conversion as a daily movement of grace. Help me to turn, and turn again, until my heart rests fully in You. Amen.
AR#6 – Advent Reflections with Deacon James Keating, Ph.D.
One of our greatest sufferings as Christians is our own impatience with ourselves. We want to be good and holy immediately. St. Francis de Sales said “Have patience with all things. But chiefly, have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage, in considering your own imperfections. But instantly set about to remedy them. Begin every day a task anew.” During Advent, lets make our new task a deeper prayer life, entrusting all our desires for goodness and holiness, to the Most Holy Trinity, who has infinite patience with us. And as we receive this amazing love from the Trinity, let us ask that our own characters be reformed, so that we might have real patience with one another.
Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.
Friday of the 1st Week of Advent – An Advent Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart
As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly. For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.
Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”
Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…
From the Holy Gospel of Matthew 9:27-31
As Jesus went on his way two blind men followed him shouting, ‘Take pity on us, Son of David.’ And when Jesus reached the house the blind men came up with him and he said to them, ‘Do you believe I can do this?’ They said, ‘Sir, we do.’ Then he touched their eyes saying, ‘Your faith deserves it, so let this be done for you.’ And their sight returned. Then Jesus sternly warned them, ‘Take care that no one learns about this.’ But when they had gone, they talked about him all over the countryside.
What word made this passage come alive for you?
What did you sense the Lord saying to you?
Once more give the Lord an opportunity to speak to you:
As Jesus went on his way two blind men followed him shouting, ‘Take pity on us, Son of David.’ And when Jesus reached the house the blind men came up with him and he said to them, ‘Do you believe I can do this?’ They said, ‘Sir, we do.’ Then he touched their eyes saying, ‘Your faith deserves it, so let this be done for you.’ And their sight returned. Then Jesus sternly warned them, ‘Take care that no one learns about this.’ But when they had gone, they talked about him all over the countryside.
What did your heart feel as you listened?
What did you sense the Lord saying to you?
Once more, through Him, with Him and in Him listen to the Word:
As Jesus went on his way two blind men followed him shouting, ‘Take pity on us, Son of David.’ And when Jesus reached the house the blind men came up with him and he said to them, ‘Do you believe I can do this?’ They said, ‘Sir, we do.’ Then he touched their eyes saying, ‘Your faith deserves it, so let this be done for you.’ And their sight returned. Then Jesus sternly warned them, ‘Take care that no one learns about this.’ But when they had gone, they talked about him all over the countryside.
What touched your heart in this time of prayer?
What did your heart feel as you prayed?
What do you hope to carry with you from this time with the Lord?
We thank you, Lord Jesus for this time with you.
Keep us alert, we pray, O Lord our God,
as we await the advent of Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever
Amen
Excerpt from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright (c) 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House, Inc. Reprinted by Permission.
“Christ asks for a home in your soul, where he can be at rest with you, where he can talk easily to you, where you and he, alone together, can laugh and be silent and be delighted with one another.“
Commentary: Houselander’s vision of Christ seeking a “home” in our souls is a beautiful and intimate portrayal of His desire for closeness with us. This isn’t a distant or formal relationship; instead, she describes a place where Christ can rest, talk, laugh, and simply be with us. This invitation to create a “home” for Christ within our hearts is about nurturing a familiar, joyful, and personal connection with Him. Through this image, Houselander encourages us to make space in our lives where we can freely enjoy His presence.
Personal Reflection: Reflect on your inner life. How can you make it a welcoming place where Christ feels truly at home? Consider setting aside a moment today to simply “be” with Him, enjoying His presence without any formal prayers or requests.
Houselander quote from: Caryll Houselander, Thomas Hoffman (2000). “A Child in Winter: Advent, Christmas and Epiphany with Caryll Houselander”, Rowman & Littlefield
Advent #2 – Embracing Hope and Presence – Advent Reflections w/ Dr. Anthony Lilles – Discerning Hearts Podcasts
In this episode of the Discerning Hearts podcast, Dr. Anthony Lilles focuses once again on the profound insights of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) from his work “Seeking God’s Face.” The episode explores the concept of waiting with hope during Advent and understanding the significance of Christian time and history.
Dr. Lilles reflects on a passage from Pope Benedict about the different aspects of waiting – from the anticipation of something better in life to the endurance of illness. The conversation highlights how waiting becomes meaningful when filled with the presence of Christ. This presence, not limited to the future, is active and transformative in the present, offering comfort and direction.
The podcast delves into the idea that Christian hope elevates every moment of life, making it precious. It contrasts this with the despair and nihilism prevalent in society, where people often wait without purpose. Dr. Lilles emphasizes that Christian hope sees God’s love in all circumstances, whether in joy, sorrow, success, or failure.
The episode concludes with the notion that the blessings received now are just a foretaste of the greater joy and fulfillment to come in heaven, urging listeners to live in gratitude and expectation of God’s inexhaustible goodness. This Advent reflection encourages embracing each moment as a gift from God, filled with His loving presence.
Thursday of the 1st Week of Advent – An Advent Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart
As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly. For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.
Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”
Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…
From the Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 7:21,24-27
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!’
What word made this passage come alive for you?
What did you sense the Lord saying to you?
Once more give the Lord an opportunity to speak to you:
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!’
What did your heart feel as you listened?
What did you sense the Lord saying to you?
Once more, through Him, with Him and in Him listen to the Word:
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!’
What touched your heart in this time of prayer?
What did your heart feel as you prayed?
What do you hope to carry with you from this time with the Lord?
We thank you, Lord Jesus for this time with you.
Keep us alert, we pray, O Lord our God,
as we await the advent of Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever
Amen
Excerpt from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright (c) 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House, Inc. Reprinted by Permission.
