Prayer for the Intercession of Venerable Bruno Lanteri
O Father, fountain of all life and holiness, you gave Venerable Bruno Lanteri great faith in Christ, your Son, a lively hope, and an active love for the salvation of his brethren. You made him a prophet of your word and a witness to your mercy.
He had a tender love for Mary, and by his very life, he taught fidelity to the Church.
Father, hear the prayer of your family, and through the intercession of Father Lanteri, grant us the grace for which we ask…
May he be raised to the altars, that we may give You greater praise. We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen
All Shall Be Well: A Journey Through Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love with Kris McGregor
Episode 9: The Thirteenth Shewing (Part 1) — The Mystery of Sin and the Assurance of Divine Love
Summary:
In Episode 9 we begin with part 1 of the Thirteenth Shewing, Julian confronts the mystery of sin and the question that has echoed through every age: why did God allow it? Her desire for understanding is met not with explanation but with a word of divine assurance—”All shall be well.” This episode invites us into the mystery of redemptive hope, where God’s hidden work is not yet seen but fully underway. This is the first of several episodes on Julian’s longest and most theologically rich revelation.
Full Julian of Norwich Quotations Used in Episode 9:
From Revelations of Divine Love, Long Text, Chapters XXVII-XXXI, trans. Grace Warrack, Methuen & Co., 1901 (PDF edition).
The Mystery of Sin and the Surpassing Assurance of Christ
“AFTER this the Lord brought to my mind the longing that I had to Him afore. And I saw that nothing letted me but sin. And so I looked, generally, upon us all, and methought: If sin had not been, we should all have been clean and like to our Lord, as He made us.
And thus, in my folly, afore this time often I wondered why by the great foreseeing wisdom of God the beginning of sin was not letted: for then, methought, all should have been well. This stirring [of mind] was much to be forsaken, but nevertheless mourning and sorrow I made therefor, without reason and discretion.
But Jesus, who in this Vision informed me of all that is needful to me, answered by this word and said: It behoved that there should be sin; but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” (Ch. 27)
The Nature of Sin, the Purpose of Pain, and the Consolation of the Passion
“But I saw not sin: for I believe it hath no manner of substance nor no part of being, nor could it be known but by the pain it is cause of.
And thus pain, it is something, as to my sight, for a time; for it purgeth, and maketh us to know ourselves and to ask mercy. For the Passion of our Lord is comfort to us against all this, and so is His blessed will.” (Ch. 27)
“And for the tender love that our good Lord hath to all that shall be saved, He comforteth readily and sweetly, signifying thus: It is sooth that sin is cause of all this pain; but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner [of] thing shall be well.
These words were said full tenderly, showing no manner of blame to me nor to any that shall be saved. Then were it a great unkindness to blame or wonder on God for my sin, since He blameth not me for sin.”(Ch. 27)
Christ’s Compassion and the Glory to Come
THUS I saw how Christ hath compassion on us for the cause of sin. And right as I was afore in the [Shewing of the] Passion of Christ fulfilled with pain and compassion, like so in this [sight] I was fulfilled, in part, with compassion of all mine even-Christians—for that well, well beloved people that shall be saved. For God’s servants, Holy Church, shall be shaken in sorrow and anguish, tribulation in this world, as men shake a cloth in the wind.
And as to this our Lord answered in this manner: A great thing shall I make hereof in Heaven of endless worship and everlasting joys.”(Ch. 28)
“And then I saw that each kind compassion that man hath on his even-Christians with charity, it is Christ in him.
That same noughting that was shewed in His Passion, it was shewed again here in this Compassion. Wherein were two manner of understandings in our Lord’s meaning. The one was the bliss that we are brought to, wherein He willeth that we rejoice. The other is for comfort in our pain: for He willeth that we perceive that it shall all be turned to worship and profit by virtue of His passion, that we perceive that we suffer not alone but with Him, and see Him to be our Ground, and that we see His pains and His noughting passeth so far all that we may suffer, that it may not be fully thought.” (Ch. 28)
The Hidden Part and the Peace of Trusting God
“The other [part] is hid and shut up from us: that is to say, all that is beside our salvation. For it is our Lord’s privy counsel, and it belongeth to the royal lordship of God to have His privy counsel in peace, and it belongeth to His servant, for obedience and reverence, not to learn wholly His counsel. Our Lord hath pity and compassion on us for that some creatures make themselves so busy therein; and I am sure if we knew how much we should please Him and ease ourselves by leaving it, we would. The saints that be in Heaven, they will to know nothing but that which our Lord willeth to shew them: and also their charity and their desire is ruled after the will of our Lord: and thus ought we to will, like to them. Then shall we nothing will nor desire but the will of our Lord, as they do: for we are all one in God’s seeing.” (Ch. 30)
The Fivefold Promise of the Trinity
“AND thus our good Lord answered to all the questions and doubts that I might make, saying full comfortably: I may make all thing well, I can make all thing well, I will make all thing well, and I shall make all thing well; and thou shalt see thyself that all manner of thing shall be well.
In that He saith, I may, I understand [it] for the Father; and in that He saith, I can, I understand [it] for the Son; and where He saith, I will, I understand [it] for the Holy Ghost; and where He saith, I shall, I understand [it] for the unity of the blessed Trinity: three Persons and one Truth; and where He saith, Thou shalt see thyself, I understand the oneing of all mankind that shall be saved unto the blessed Trinity. And in these five words God willeth we be enclosed in rest and in peace.” (Ch. 31)
The Great Deed, the Mystery of Salvation, and the Fidelity of God
“That there be deeds evil done in our sight, and so great harms taken, that it seemeth to us that it were impossible that ever it should come to good end. And upon this we look, sorrowing and mourning therefor, so that we cannot resign us unto the blissful beholding of God as we should do. And the cause of this is that the use of our reason is now so blind, so low, and so simple, that we cannot know that high marvellous Wisdom, the Might and the Goodness of the blissful Trinity. And thus signifieth He when He saith: THOU SHALT SEE THYSELF if all manner of things shall be well. As if He said: Take now heed faithfully and trustingly, and at the last end thou shalt verily see it in fulness of joy.” (Ch. 32)
“And in this sight I marvelled greatly and beheld our Faith, marvelling thus: Our Faith is grounded in God’s word, and it belongeth to our Faith that we believe that God’s word shall be saved in all things; and one point of our Faith is that many creatures shall be condemned: as angels that fell out of Heaven for pride, which be now fiends; and man in earth that dieth out of the Faith of Holy Church… all these shall be condemned to hell without end, as Holy Church teacheth me to believe. And all this so standing, methought it was impossible that all manner of things should be well, as our Lord shewed in the same time.” (Ch. 32)
“And as to this I had no other answer in Shewing of our Lord God but this: That which is impossible to thee is not impossible to me: I shall save my word in all things and I shall make all things well. Thus I was taught, by the grace of God, that I should steadfastly hold me in the Faith as I had aforehand understood, [and] therewith that I should firmly believe that all things shall be well, as our Lord shewed in the same time. For this is the Great Deed that our Lord shall do, in which Deed He shall save His word and He shall make all well that is not well. How it shall be done there is no creature beneath Christ that knoweth it, nor shall know it till it is done; according to the understanding that I took of our Lord’s meaning in this time.” (Ch. 32)
Scripture Featured
(Translations used: Revised Standard Version [RSV] )
(Romans 5:20, RSV)
“Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.”
(Romans 8:18, RSV)
“I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
(Galatians 2:20, RSV)
“.It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me”
(2 Corinthians 1:5)
“For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.”
(Deuteronomy 29:29)
“The secret things belong to the Lord our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever.”
(1 Timothy 2:4)
“God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (also cited in CCC 1037)
Catechism of the Catholic Church
“God permits it, however, because he respects the freedom of his creatures and, mysteriously, knows how to derive good from it.” (CCC 311)
“To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of ‘predestination’, he includes in it each person’s free response to his grace.” (CCC 600)
“The last judgment will reveal even to its furthest consequences the good each person has done or failed to do during his earthly life… Then through his Son Jesus Christ he will pronounce the final word on all history.” (CCC 1039)
“God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end.” (CCC 1037)
“In everything God works for good with those who love him… and the greatest moral evil ever committed—the rejection and murder of God’s only Son—was permitted by God… in order to bring about his saving plan of redemption.” (CCC 312)
St. Thomas Aquinas:
“Evil is the privation of good, which belongs properly to the subject. Hence, it has no formal or specific nature of its own, but is rather the absence of some good.”— Summa Theologiae, I, q. 48, a. 1
“Since every nature, as such, is good, evil cannot signify a particular nature or being, but only the privation of good in a being.”— Summa Theologiae, I, q. 48, a. 3
St. Augustine:
“And I beheld and saw that whatsoever is, is good. And that evil is not a substance; for if it were, it would be good. For either it would be an incorruptible substance, and so be the chief good; or a corruptible substance, which, unless it were good, could not be corrupted. I saw that all that is corrupted is deprived of good.” Confessions, trans. E.B. Pusey, Book VII, Ch. 12 (sometimes labeled §16–17 in scholarly editions)
God judged it better to bring good out of evil than not to permit evil to exist.” (Enchiridion, 11.3)
Reflection Questions for Prayer
When Julian says “Sin is behovable,” what does this suggest about God’s sovereignty even over human failure?
How does the repetition of “All shall be well” speak differently to your heart each time you hear it?
Have you ever mourned over suffering or evil in the world and struggled to believe God could bring good from it?
In what ways might we try to “understand” mysteries that are instead meant to be trusted?
What role does humility play in receiving a truth that our reason cannot yet grasp?
Closing Prayer
O Lord of all wisdom and mercy, You who know the end from the beginning, Draw our restless hearts into the stillness of trust. In the face of sin, You reveal Your Passion. In the shadow of sorrow, You speak peace. May we hold fast to Your word— Even when we do not understand— And rest in the mystery that all shall be well. Amen.
Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast
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 According to St. Matthew 14:22-36
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ‘Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?’ And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’
Having made the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the local people recognised him they spread the news through the whole neighbourhood and took all that were sick to him, begging him just to let them touch the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched it were completely cured.
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 made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ‘Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?’ And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’
Having made the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the local people recognised him they spread the news through the whole neighbourhood and took all that were sick to him, begging him just to let them touch the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched it were completely cured.
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 made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ‘Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?’ And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’
Having made the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the local people recognised him they spread the news through the whole neighbourhood and took all that were sick to him, begging him just to let them touch the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched it were completely cured.
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?
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
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.
This labour of ours is brief, but the reward is eternal; let the noises of the fleeting world and its shadow not confound you; let the empty spectres of the deceiving world not drive you mad; shut your ears to the whispers of hell and, strong, break down its attempts [against you]; willingly bear adverse evils and let provident goods not puff you up; for the one requires faith, the other demands it; what you promised God, faithfully render, and he will repay you.
Dear St. Clare,
As a young girl, you imitated your mother’s love for the poor of your native Assisi.
Inspired by the preaching of St. Francis, who sang enthusiastically of His Lord Jesus and Lady Poverty, you gave your life to Jesus at nineteen years of age, allowing St. Francis to cut off your beautiful hair and invest you with the Franciscan habit.
All through your life you offered your great suffering for your Sisters, the Poor Clares, and the conversion of souls. You greatly aided St. Francis with his new order, carrying on his spirit in the Franciscans after his death.
Most of all you had a deep love of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, which fueled your vocation to love and care for the poor.
Please pray for me (mention your request) that I will seek to keep Jesus as my first love, as you did. Help me to grow in love of the Blessed Sacrament, to care for the poor, and to offer my whole life to God.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of St. Clare. Through her intercession, please hear and answer my prayer, in the name of Jesus Your Son.
“One day, through the Rosary and the Scapular, Our Lady will save the world”
St. Dominic’s prophecy about the Rosary and the Scapular highlights the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Catholic spirituality. The Rosary, with its meditative prayer structure focusing on the life of Christ and Mary, invites us to reflect deeply on the mysteries of our faith. The Scapular, a sign of Mary’s protection and a commitment to live according to her guidance, serves as a constant reminder of our devotion. This prophecy reassures us of Mary’s role in leading souls to Christ and emphasizes the transformative power of these devotions in achieving personal and global salvation. In a world facing many challenges, this promise brings hope and calls for a renewed commitment to Marian devotion, trusting that through prayer and dedication, we can contribute to the salvation of the world.
“One day, through the Rosary and the Scapular, Our Lady will save the world”
How can you incorporate the Rosary and the Scapular into your daily spiritual practices to deepen your devotion to Mary and strengthen your faith?
Incorporating the Rosary and the Scapular into your daily life can profoundly deepen your spiritual journey. Begin by setting a specific time each day for praying the Rosary, allowing you to meditate on its mysteries and draw closer to the life of Christ and Mary. Wearing the Scapular throughout the day serves as a tangible reminder of your commitment to Mary and her protective mantle. Additionally, you can consecrate yourself to Mary, dedicating your daily actions to her guidance. Reflect on the promises associated with the Scapular, such as Mary’s protection and intercession, and strive to live a life that aligns with these spiritual commitments. These practices not only enhance personal piety but also connect you with a broader community of believers who share in these devotions, fostering a sense of unity and support in your faith journey.
“One day, through the Rosary and the Scapular, Our Lady will save the world”
The Dominican Blessing, from an anonymous 13th-century English Dominican, captures St. Dominic’s timeless call for blessings, healing, and divine guidance.
May God the Father, who made us, bless us.
May God the Son, who redeemed us, send healing into our midst.
May God the Holy Spirit, who gives us life, move within us.
May God give us eyes to see to God, ears to hear God, and hands to bring God’s work into the world.
May we walk with God and preach the word of God to all.
May the angel of peace watch over us and lead us at last by God’s grace to the eternal Kingdom.
Amen
Lord God,
you gave Saint Dominic to the Church of his day
as a great preacher of your truth.
We pray that he will help us in our time
by his merits, his teaching, and his unfailing prayer.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
St. Dominic Quotation taken from: Constitutions of the Order of Preachers
For the complete 9-Day Novena to St. Dominic visit here
A St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Novena for the Discerning Heart
Day 6 – Trust and Surrender
From the writings of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
When night comes, and retrospect shows that everything was patchwork and much which one had planned was left undone; when so many things rouse shame and regret, then take all as it is, lay it in God’s hands, and offer it up to Him.*
Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross speaks to the universal experience of reflection and regret, especially at the end of a day or life phase. She advises turning these feelings into a spiritual offering, placing them in God’s hands as an act of trust and surrender. This practice fosters a sense of peace and acceptance, knowing that divine grace can transform even our shortcomings. Edith Stein’s intellectual and spiritual journeys were marked by moments of uncertainty, yet she consistently found peace in surrendering to God’s will, exemplifying a deep trust in divine providence.
When night comes, and retrospect shows that everything was patchwork and much which one had planned was left undone; when so many things rouse shame and regret, then take all as it is, lay it in God’s hands, and offer it up to Him.*
How can you practice surrender and trust in God’s plan when faced with your own shortcomings and unfinished plans?Offer your regrets and unmet goals to God in prayer, trusting in His mercy and wisdom. Embrace a spirit of humility and acceptance, believing that God can bring good out of every situation and that He guides you towards spiritual growth. Deepen your trust by reflecting on Christ’s own surrender to the Father’s will in the Garden of Gethsemane, and regularly participate in the sacraments, especially Reconciliation and the Eucharist, which provide grace and strength. Seek the intercession of saints like Edith Stein, who found profound peace in trusting God’s plan. Pray for the grace to accept your limitations and to trust in God’s loving providence, knowing that He works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
A Prayer of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
O my God, fill my soul with holy joy, courage and strength to serve You. Enkindle Your love in me and then walk with me along the next stretch of road before me. I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived where the horizon now closes down, a new prospect will open before me and I shall meet with peace
All-powerful, ever-living God,
you gave Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
the courage to witness to the gospel of Christ
even to the point of giving her life for it.
By her prayers, help us to endure all suffering for love of you
and to seek you with all our hearts,
for you alone are the source of life.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
*Citation: Edith Stein, The Collected Works of Edith Stein, Volume 5: The Science of the Cross. Translated by Josephine Koeppel (ICS Publications, 2002), p. 161.
For the complete 9-Day St. Teresa of Benedicta Novena for the Discerning Hearts visit here
Conference 7 – Hope in Difficult Times: with Sts. Therese, Louis, and Zelie and Their Family with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V.
Fr. Timothy Gallagher reflects on the pivotal transformation in Léonie Martin’s life, one of St. Thérèse’s sisters. He recounts the painful history between Léonie and the family maid, Louise, who secretly mistreated her for years under the guise of discipline. Despite outward appearances of affection, Marie, Léonie’s older sister, discerned something amiss. After the death of their aunt, Marie bravely revealed her concerns to their mother, Zélie, who took immediate action, forbidding Louise from interacting with Léonie and arranging her eventual dismissal. This intervention opened Léonie’s heart for the first time to true maternal love and marked the beginning of her interior healing. Though her path remained marked by trials, including repeated failed attempts to enter religious life, this moment was a decisive turning point.
The second half of the talk centers on the deep spiritual bond between Thérèse and her aunt, Celine, who had stepped in as a maternal figure after Zélie’s death. Fr. Gallagher reads a letter from Thérèse to her aunt on her feast day, expressing profound gratitude and love, and a moving response from Celine. Through these letters, listeners glimpse the loving sensitivity of Thérèse’s heart and the Martin family’s ethos of grace, forgiveness, and deep familial affection. Fr. Gallagher beautifully illustrates how love—especially when rooted in Christ—has the power to heal, restore, and elevate even the most wounded of hearts.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
How can I become more attentive to hidden suffering in those around me, as Marie was with Léonie?
In what ways do I respond when others dismiss or overlook someone’s pain?
Do I trust that God’s grace can bring transformation even after years of struggle?
How do I practice forgiveness toward those who have hurt me deeply, as Léonie eventually did?
When have I mistaken control or harshness for love in my own relationships?
Do I pray for those I struggle to understand or help, as Zélie did for her daughter?
How does my love for God overflow into love for family and others, like it did for Thérèse?
Who has been a spiritual mother or father to me, and have I expressed gratitude to them?
Do I believe that God can work healing even through my weakest and most painful moments?
How can I imitate the Martin family’s trust in God during trials, especially in my own home?
Did you know that Fr. Timothy Gallagher has 15 different podcasts series on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts? Visit here to discover more!
Fr. Gallagher obtained his doctorate in 1983 from Gregorian University. He has taught (St. John’s Seminary, Brighton, MA; Our Lady of Grace Seminary Residence, Boston, MA), assisted in formation work for twelve years, and served two terms as provincial in his own community. He has dedicated many years to an extensive ministry of retreats, spiritual direction, and teaching about the spiritual life. Fr. Gallagher is the author of six books (Crossroad) on the spiritual teaching of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Consider also the midst of his life, his humility, or at least his blessed poverty, the countless hardships, and the punishments that he endured for the redemption of the human race. Indeed, ponder the final days of this mirrored one, contemplate the ineffable love with which he was willing to suffer on the tree of the cross and to die there a kind of death that is more shameful than any other. That mirror suspended upon the wood of the cross from there kept urging those passing by of what must be considered, saying: O all you who pass by this way, look and see if there is any suffering like my suffering. In response let us with one voice and in one spirit answer him who is crying out and lamenting: I will remember this over and over and my soul will sink within me.
Dear St. Clare,
As a young girl you imitated your mother’s love for the poor of your native Assisi.
Inspired by the preaching of St. Francis, who sang enthusiastically of His Lord Jesus and Lady Poverty, you gave your life to Jesus at nineteen years of age, allowing St. Francis to cut off your beautiful hair and invest you with the Franciscan habit.
All through your life you offered your great suffering for your Sisters, the Poor Clares, and the conversion of souls. You greatly aided St. Francis with his new order, carrying on his spirit in the Franciscans after his death.
Most of all you had a deep love of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, which fueled your vocation to love and care for the poor.
Please pray for me (mention your request) that I will seek to keep Jesus as my first love, as you did. Help me to grow in love of the Blessed Sacrament, to care for the poor, and to offer my whole life to God.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of St. Clare. Through her intercession, please hear and answer my prayer, in the name of Jesus Your Son.
A Novena in honor of Ven. Bruno Lanteri, founder of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary
Day 9 – Opening to the Supreme Joy: Friendship with Jesus
“[The heart of the human person] finds itself in great distress without a close union with God, because only the fullness of being, of intelligence and of love, the infinite Unity and ineffable Trinity of God, can fill and satisfy its immense capacity.”
“The Church sings the solemn chant: Nobis datus, nobis natus–For us he has been given, for us he is born! Who would ever doubt this truth after so many testimonies? Jesus Christ is all for us. His Father gave him to us. He gave himself to us. There is no other acquisition better than this gift. He is therefore mine. Yes, he is mine and belongs to me. Oh Love! Oh Goodness! What is necessary on my part to gain this gift, greater than any gift, that contains in itself every other gift? Three things are necessary: faith, confidence and offering.”
“They are always in Jesus’ company; they are always conversing with Jesus. They strive to keep their memory gently fixed on Jesus, to accustom their intellect to always see and judge everything according to Jesus, to keep their will always tranquil and united to that of Jesus.”
Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you created me in your plan of love. You created all the things on the face of the earth to help me find true happiness. Fully aware of my weakness, I resolve this day to become a living copy of Jesus, letting him rejoice in me.
Daily Novena Prayer
Venerable Bruno Lanteri, I come to you confident in the words of Jesus: Ask and you shall receive (Matthew 7:7). You said, “It is impossible to hope too much; the one who hopes for everything attains everything.” You taught that the greatest miracles are those that change the heart. Through your intercession, may the good God, whose infinite mercy surpasses all the malice of the world, console my heart and grant my request.
By your prayers keep my poor heart in peace, protect me from discouragement, and help me to serve God with a holy joy. Amen.
O Father, fountain of all life and holiness you gave Father Bruno Lanteri great faith in Christ, your Son, a lively hope, and an active love for the salvation of his brethren. You made him a prophet of your Word and a witness to your Mercy. He had a tender love for Mary and by his very life he taught fidelity to the Church. Father, hear the prayer of your family and, through the intercession of Fr. Lanteri, grant us the grace for which we now ask…. May he be glorified on earth that we may give you greater praise.
We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
“A man who governs his passions is master of the world. We must either rule them, or be ruled by them. It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.”
St. Dominic practiced a disciplined lifestyle, emphasizing the importance of self-control and temperance. He believed that mastering one’s passions is key to achieving true freedom and spiritual growth. This aligns with the Catholic virtue of temperance, which helps individuals regulate their desires and actions in harmony with God’s will.
“A man who governs his passions is master of the world. We must either rule them, or be ruled by them. It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.”
What steps can you take to better manage your passions and desires?
To manage your passions and desires, start by practicing self-discipline through regular prayer and meditation. Participate in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, to receive grace and strength. Embrace the virtue of temperance by moderating your consumption of food, drink, and other pleasures. Reflect on your actions and motivations regularly through an examination of conscience. Engaging in spiritual exercises, such as retreats or fasting, can help strengthen your will and focus on God’s will for your life. Seek guidance from a spiritual director or confessor to stay accountable and receive personalized advice.
“A man who governs his passions is master of the world. We must either rule them, or be ruled by them. It is better to be the hammer than the anvil.”
The Dominican Blessing, from an anonymous 13th-century English Dominican, captures St. Dominic’s timeless call for blessings, healing, and divine guidance.
May God the Father, who made us, bless us.
May God the Son, who redeemed us, send healing into our midst.
May God the Holy Spirit, who gives us life, move within us.
May God give us eyes to see to God, ears to hear God, and hands to bring God’s work into the world.
May we walk with God and preach the word of God to all.
May the angel of peace watch over us and lead us at last by God’s grace to the eternal Kingdom.
Amen
Lord God,
you gave Saint Dominic to the Church of his day
as a great preacher of your truth.
We pray that he will help us in our time
by his merits, his teaching, and his unfailing prayer.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
St. Dominic Quotation take from: Constitutions of the Order of Preachers
For the complete 9-Day Novena to St. Dominic visit here
Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast
A St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross Novena for the Discerning Heart
