St. Teresa of Avila, pray for us

[an excerpt from "The Way of Perfection"
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/teresa/way.html]

CHAPTER 1
Of the reason which moved me to found this convent in such strict observance.

When this convent was originally founded, for the reasons set down in the book which, as I say, I have already written, and also because of certain wonderful revelations by which the Lord showed me how well He would be served in this house, it was not my intention that there should be so much austerity in external matters, nor that it should have no regular income: on the contrary, I should have liked there to be no possibility of want. I acted, in short, like the weak and wretched woman that I am, although I did so with good intentions and not out of consideration for my own comfort.

At about this time there came to my notice the harm and havoc that were being wrought in France by these Lutherans and the way in which their unhappy sect was increasing. This troubled me very much, and, as though I could do anything, or be of any help in the matter, I wept before the Lord and entreated Him to remedy this great evil. I felt that I would have laid down a thousand lives to save a single one of all the souls that were being lost there. And, seeing that I was a woman, and a sinner, and incapable of doing all I should like in the Lord's service, and as my whole yearning was, and still is, that, as He has so many enemies and so few friends, these last should be trusty ones, I determined to do the little that was in me -- namely, to follow the evangelical counsels (poverty, chastity, obedience) as perfectly as I could, and to see that these few nuns who are here should do the same, confiding in the great goodness of God, Who never fails to help those who resolve to forsake everything for His sake.

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Prayer of Penitents

(St. Francis's prayer before the San Damiano crucifix.)

Most High, Glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my mind,
give me right faith,
a firm hope
and perfect charity,
so that I may always
and in all things
act according to Your Holy Will.
Amen.

[this prayer recommended by the
Confraternity of Penitents]

Consecration of the United States to the Immaculate Conception and Immaculate Heart of Mary

November 11, 2006

PRAYER FOR RENEWAL OF CONSECRATION

TO OUR PATRONESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in Heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as Your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as Your Mother; in union with Mary, we adore your majesty and acknowledge Your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners—on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, Our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our country and ourselves to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. O’ Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesized by Simeon save us from degeneration, disaster and war. Protect us from all harm. O’ Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your Son in the depths of your heart be our Advocate. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the Will of your Divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.
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The Mass for the renewal of the consecration took place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, in Washington, D.C., on November 11, 2006 at 12:00 Noon, and aired on EWTN.

[text of the original press release follows:]

The World Apostolate of Fatima is pleased to announce that the U.S. Papal Nuncio, His Excellency Archbishop Pietro Sambi will be officiating the Mass for the renewal of our country’s Consecration to Our Patroness, the Immaculate Conception. All are invited to come to our nation’s Basilica-The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, in Washington, D.C., Saturday, November 11, 2006, at twelve noon.

All bishops have been invited to participate at the Mass. However, due to scheduling conflicts, the bishops may sign the Consecration prayer for their dioceses, which will then be offered at the Mass. This has been provided to them by the World Apostolate of Fatima. The prayer for the Consecration was composed by our bishops in 1959, at the dedication ceremony of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception; whereby, our country was Consecrated to Our Patroness, the Immaculate Conception. However, by this consecration on November 11, 2006, our country will be Consecrated to the Heart of Our Patroness; this is our apostolate’s primary mission for world peace.

During World War I, His Eminence Francis Cardinal Bourne, who was the Primate of England, Consecrated England to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary. He claims, and many others as well, that it stopped World War I. The Armistice for World War I was signed after the Consecration on November 11th; this, incidentally, is the same day which the Papal Nuncio chose to officiate the Mass for the United States.

During the 1720’s, the Bubonic plague was rampant in Marseille, France. Out of the town’s population of ninety thousand, fifty thousand people died in a matter of months. The Archbishop Consecrated Marseille, France to the Sacred Heart to end the plague in the town, and this did happen without any medical means or vaccinations.

Portugal was Consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary before World War II, and this country was protected from the war. With knowledge that our nation will be Consecrated to the Immaculate Conception and the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of our Blessed Mother let us continue to work with joy and excitement for the spiritual renewal of the United States, the salvation of souls and peace on earth.


(copied from: http://www.wafusa.org)
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Prayer for the conversion of Scandinavia

Good Jesus, prostrate at Thy feet, we humbly implore Thee, by Thy most sacred wounds and by the Precious Blood which Thou didst shed for the salvation of the whole world, that Thou wouldst deign to cast a look of pity on the peoples of Scandinavia, seduced from the Faith for so many centuries, and plunged in the darkness of heresy, separated from thy Church, deprived of the participation of the adorable Sacrament of Thy Body and Blood, and of the other Sacraments instituted by Thee, as the refuge of souls in life and in death.

Remember, O Redeemer of the world, that for these souls too Thou didst suffer bitter death, with the loss of all Thy blood.

Bring back, O good Shepherd, these wandering sheep of Thine to the one fold and to the healthy pastures of Thy Church, so that they may form with us one flock, tended by Thee, and by thy Vicar on earth, the supreme Pontiff, whom, in the person of the Apostle St. Peter, Thou didst commission to feed Thy sheep and Thy lambs.

Graciously hear, O good Jesus, the prayers which we offer Thee with the most lively trust in the love of Thy Sacred Heart, and to Thy most holy Name be praise, glory, honour, world without end.

Amen.

(Source: from the Raccolta. An indulgence of 300 days, once a day. Pope Leo XIII, 18 April 1885.)

grant me before my death true contrition

An Act of Contrition (version 2)

Forgive me my sins, O Lord, forgive me my sins;
the sins of my youth, the sins of my age, the sins of my soul,
the sins of my body; my idle sins, my serious voluntary sins;
the sins I know, the sins I do not know; the sins I have concealed
for so long, and which are now hidden from my memory.

I am truly sorry for every sin, mortal and venial,
for all the sins of my childhood up to the present hour.

I know my sins have wounded Thy Tender Heart,
O My Savior, let me be freed from the bonds of evil through
the most bitter Passion of My Redeemer. Amen.

O My Jesus, forget and forgive what I have been. Amen.

[copied from catholictradition.org]