• Conversational Prayer
• Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
• Divine Mercy
• Eucharistic Adoration
• Lectio Prayer (Praying with Scripture)
• Devotion to Christ the King
• Novena to the Holy Spirit
• Rosary
• Our Lady of Sorrows
• Way of the Cross

Conversational prayer requires trust between the participants. There should be no judging of the prayers. The goal is to build a feeling of community. Periods of silence are fine, especially in the beginning. Once trust is built, this prayer often requires more time, but it is definitely time well spent!

1. Recall that Jesus is always with us. Close your eyes. Breathe deeply. Allow stresses and negative feelings to ease out of you.
    
2. Thank the Lord. Consider the positive things that have happened today or this week. Reflect on how God has been part of your life today.
    
3. Ask God for help that you, personally, need. Be very specific and brief.
    
4. Ask God for help for others. Again, be specific and loving.
    
5. Together say the Lord's Prayer (Our Father)

Background Information

It is through Christ's Sacred Heart that we enter into God's kingdom. The Sacred Heart of Jesus contains the total divine and total human love for God and for all mankind. It is no wonder devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is so popular.

In the gospels we hear Jesus' heart mentioned numerous times. Matthew says He is "meek and humble of heart." (11:29) John describes the outpouring of blood and water when Jesus' heart was pierced by a lance after His death on the Cross. (19:34) After the Resurrection Jesus invited Thomas to put his hand into the wound at His heart. (Jn 20:27)

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated on the Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost. In addition to the celebration of the Mass, many popular devotions are associated with the Sacred Heart of Jesus

• personal consecration, described by Pius XI as "undoubtedly the principal devotional practice used in relation to the Sacred Heart"

• family consecration to the Sacred Heart, in which the family, by virtue of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony already participating in the mystery of the unity and love of Christ for the Church, is dedicated to Christ so that he might reign in the hearts of all its members

• the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, approved for the whole Church in 1891, which is evidently biblical in character and to which many indulgences have been attached

• the act of reparation, a prayer with which the faithful, mindful of the infinite goodness of Christ, implore mercy for the offences committed in so many ways against his Sacred Heart

• the pious practice of the first Fridays of the month which derives from the "great promises" made by Jesus to St. Margaret Mary. At a time when sacramental communion was very rare among the faithful, the first Friday devotion contributed significantly to a renewed use of the Sacraments of Penance and of the Holy Eucharist.

First Fridays

When we first heard of this devotion, we were not spiritually ready to participate in it. Not only is it a nine month commitment, it is also a remarkable faith commitment. At first glance it seemed almost sacrilegious - we go to a few extra Masses and we get all this good stuff. That seemed like it was back-tracking 500 years to the days prior to the Reformation. Thankfully, we've grown over the years. We now realize that the effort to go to Mass on nine consecutive first Fridays is not an end in itself. It is helping us focus on the gifts God has given us, the need for peace in our families, and the need for enthusiasm in our faith. It's about accepting Jesus' deep love and not turning our backs on Him. Now we are ready to give it our all.

Requirements:

1. Attend Mass and receive the Eucharist the First Friday of nine consecutive months
2. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation within 8 days of each First Friday
3. Do these things with the intention of making reparation for those who do not live their lives loving our Lord.

We have known many wonderful people who have shown us the dignity of life and the dignity of death. Jesus is with us during all these times; the devotion to the first Fridays powerfully reminds us of that.

Nine First Friday Promises:

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will establish peace in their houses.
3. I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
4. I will be their strength during life and above all during death.
5. I will bestow a large blessing upon all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy
7. Tepid should shall grow fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
9. I will bless every place where a picture of My Heart shall be set up and honored.
10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out.
12. I promise the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.

Imagine how surprised we were to discover our favorite devotion was a cult. Once we looked up the word "cult" in Webster's International Dictionary, however, we knew we were okay. We discovered a cult is simply a system of worship or veneration, and that was what we were doing.

History

The main historical point for this devotion is the faith that the Eucharist is the Real Presence of Christ. A consecrated host is bread that has been miraculously changed to the humanity and divinity of Christ. Many people today have a difficult time believing this. That's not terribly surprising, since many people over the centuries have had a difficult time believing this. When Jesus, Himself, told His followers what was happening, many of them thought it was just too difficult to comprehend. Many left His side. When Jesus asked His apostles if they, too, would leave, Peter answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go?" (Jn 6:22-69) We understand Peter's response. There is, truly, no better place to go.

By the Middle Ages, adoration of the Eucharist outside of Mass was prevalent. Although great cathedrals were being built, and many priests, monks, and nuns were being well-educated, the average person was often separated from the Mass, sometimes by language, sometimes by physical barriers, sometimes by distance to the Church. Eucharistic adoration became a way for any Christian to be in the Presence of God at any time. These people may not have had the opportunity to receive the Eucharist during Mass, but the power of the sacrament touched them just the same. Today most of us have access to both Mass and Eucharistic adoration, and that Eucharistic power can continue to guide our lives, if we are willing to accept that guidance.

How to participate in Eucharistic Adoration

In our opinion, the best way to participate in Eucharistic adoration is to show up for Eucharistic adoration. Taking a few minutes to prepare ahead of time is also a good plan.

There are a few ground rules:

• It is a time of adoration and contemplation with Jesus, not a social hour with your friends. Be prepared for quiet time.
• Show reverence by bowing or genuflecting to the exposed Eucharist before going into the pew.
• Kneel or sit quietly in the pew for a comfortable length of time.
• When you are finished, quietly step out of the pew, bow or genuflect again, then leave refreshed.
• If you are the only adorer in the Church, you must stay until someone else arrives for adoration. Jesus must never be left alone.

We've seen people show reverence for the Real Presence of Jesus in many different ways. Some people like to pray on the altar for a while, some people get down on their knees as soon as they enter the Church, and advance to the altar on their knees. The most important thing is to acknowledge God's grandeur and our humility. Just do what is appropriate for you without being distracting to others who are enjoying quiet time with Christ.

How much time is appropriate?

Traditionally, one hour is recommended. However, if you are not used to quiet prayer, or you make the wonderful decision to bring young children to this devotion, less time is just fine. The first time I took my children we lasted for 5 minutes, and they were definitely not quiet! Thankfully, we persisted. Now we last without difficulty 30-45 minutes, which is pretty good considering our youngest is only 8 years old.

What do we do during adoration time?

Whatever brings us closer to God. I prefer contemplative prayer. The younger children enjoy reading Bible stories or coloring pictures from Catholic coloring books. My oldest enjoys reading through the musicians' song book. Some people pray the rosary or use prayer books. The sky's the limit. You can do whatever you like as long as it does not disturb others. You might start out with each type of prayer:

• Thanksgiving - Take a few minutes to evaluate your day or week. Thank God for the wonders you've enjoyed.
• Contrition - Recognize that there have been times when you have not been as faithful, hopeful or charitable as you should have been. Ask for forgiveness.
• Petition - Ask for help, for yourself and others.
• Adoration - Stop and allow yourself to be aware of Almighty God. Be ready to listen with your heart for His guidance.

Many people live in parishes in which Eucharistic adoration is strongly promoted. If you are so lucky, there is no time like the present to start. If you are in a parish in which Eucharistic adoration is available, but may not be strongly promoted or popular, prepare ahead of time and show up. If your parish does not yet have scheduled times for Eucharistic adoration, take some time to pray quietly at any time that may be available. Then talk to your pastor and encourage him to start it!

"Seek in reading and you will find in meditating; knock in mental prayer and it will be opened to you by contemplation."
Guido II, Ladder of Monks

Reading Scripture can be an incredibly powerful form of prayer. Often the most difficult part is actually being comfortable enough to open a Bible and give it a try. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross and ask God to guide you on your way.

2. Open up the Bible and choose a passage to read. You can have a specific book or passage to read, or you can just see what happens when you open the Bible at random.

3. Relax and read the scripture passage. Start off with a small section, not more than one chapter.

4. Allow your senses to help you find personal meaning in the reading. What do you see, hear, feel, taste, smell? What are the characters doing?

5. Consider what place God's message from this passage has in your life.

6. Sit quietly and experience God's presence.

7. End with a prayer asking God to let His message be part of your everyday life, and finish with the Sign of the Cross.

A novena is nine days of public or private prayer to obtain special graces. There are four ways novenas may be categorized:

1. Mourning - originally these novenas were used for the death of prominent people, including popes and cardinals. They are not in common use today, although they are still permitted.
2. Preparation - these novenas were originally used only for Christmas, but their use is more widespread today for many different feasts.
3. Prayer - this popular novena is a prayer to Mary and the saints, often for healing. Over the centuries some have considered this superstitious, however, the miraculous healings that follow these novenas tend to silence the complaints.
4. Indulgenced - specific novenas which have been granted indulgences. These include the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Nine First Fridays.

Why prepare for the solemnity of Christ the King?

Americans often don't concern themselves with kingship. Usually we spend our time challenging, not honoring, those in power. The feast of Christ the King encourages us to look back to the beginning of Christianity, to a time when Jesus was an unexpected sort of Messiah. His power was in His kindness, His gentleness, His teaching, His love. Few, if any, were expecting a "suffering servant." Yet He suffered beyond imagination to show us His majesty.

The Feast of Christ the King also encourages us to look back at our own lives. Are we growing in our faith or have we experienced a dry spell? Have we testified to the Truth by our words and deeds? Have we promoted love, justice, and peace? Are we ready to welcome our King?

The Feast of Christ the King is the culmination of our liturgical year. We can celebrate our successes and admit our failures. We can participate in a novena to Christ our King to help us discern the path we need to take and pray for the guidance to pursue that path. The very next Sunday we can start anew. After all, it will be the beginning of Advent, a brand new Church year. Soon we'll be looking  forward to the coming of Jesus and getting ready to celebrate a glorious new year. Why not participate in a novena this year. What a way to ring in the new Church year!

History of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

On December 11, 1925 His Holiness Pope Pius XI announced, in the encyclical Quas Primas, the new devotional feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King. He used the 1600th anniversary of the Council of Nicea, which gave us our profession of faith the Nicene Creed, to encourage prayer to combat growing atheism and secularism.

"We firmly hope, however, that the feast of the Kingship of Christ, which in future will be yearly observed, may hasten the return of society to our loving Savior. It would be the duty of Catholics to do all they can to bring about this happy result. Many of these, however, have neither the station in society nor the authority which should belong to those who bear the torch of truth. This state of things may perhaps be attributed to a certain slowness and timidity in good people, who are reluctant to engage in conflict or oppose but a weak resistance; thus the enemies of the Church become bolder in their attacks. But if the faithful were generally to understand that it behooves them ever to fight courageously under the banner of Christ their King, then, fired with apostolic zeal, they would strive to win over to their Lord those hearts that are bitter and estranged from him, and would valiantly defend his rights."
(Quas Primas #24)

How to celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
the King

There are no traditional practices associated with this special day simply because this feast is so new. Some parishes process with the Blessed Sacrament, some families participate in te novena, other families spend this last week in prayer and fasting. We're planning a party again. We'll be spending time at home as a family and making a King Cake, which is the cake of our choice (chocolate!) baked in a bundt pan (to look like a crown) and decorated with candy "jewels."  If you have other ideas, please let us know!

The most important celebration on this final Sunday of our liturgical year, however, is to accept Jesus Christ as King within our own hearts and lives. Pope Pius XI put it best:

The faithful, moreover, by meditating upon these truths, will gain much strength and courage, enabling them to form their lives after the true Christian ideal...He must reign in our minds, which should assent with perfect submission and firm belief to revealed truths and to the doctrines of Christ. He must reign in our wills, which should obey the laws and precepts of God. He must reign in our hearts, which should spurn natural desires and love God above all things, and cleave to him alone. He must reign in our bodies and in our members, which should serve as instruments for the interior sanctification of our souls, or to use the words of the Apostle Paul, as instruments of justice unto God.
(Quas Primas #33)

Christ the King Novena Prayers

As with all things, begin with the Sign of the Cross.

Recite one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

Pray the Christ the King Novena Prayer:

Our family had several barriers to get over before we got in the habit of praying the rosary.

• Ignorance - We knew a rosary was a set of beads used for counting prayers, and that the prayers included the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be; unfortunately our knowledge ended there.
• Embarrassment - We were raised Catholic had been to Catholic school. We were too embarrassed to admit we didn't know how to say the rosary.
• Fear - We were afraid to ask for help (see embarrassment above). We were afraid we would do something wrong. (When I mentioned this one to my 13-year-old she looked at me in disbelief. She asked if we thought saying a prayer incorrectly was considered a sin. What would we do without the logic of teenagers?)
• Discomfort - We did not feel comfortable praying together as a family, other than Grace before Meals and attending Mass. The Rosary is a meditative prayer, and that was new and different for us.

How did we get over the barriers? One day we just decided to DO IT!

1. We wrote "Say the Rosary" on our calendar for one evening
2. We got an instruction booklet
3. We gathered a set of rosaries for each family member (we had plenty safely tucked in drawers around the house)
4. We sat down and prayed together

Guess what? We did just fine! Before long our fears and discomforts disappeared. It was easy!

Rosary Basics

A rosary is a set of beads used for keeping track of prayers. Tradition tells us the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Dominic in the early 13th century and asked him to encourage the faithful to pray a specific set of prayers. These prayers are intended to be repeated while meditating on events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. Today we call this devotion the Rosary.  Below is the basic outline of this devotion:

• Begin with the Sign of the Cross
• Apostles' Creed
• Lord's Prayer (Our Father)
• Hail Mary (repeat 3 times)
• Glory Be

Repeat the following five times, once for each mystery (Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, Glorious):

• Announce the name of the mystery
• The Lord's prayer
• Hail Mary (repeat 10 times)
• Glory Be
• O my Jesus (Fatima prayer)

Finish with these final prayers:

• Hail Holy Queen
• Sign of the Cross

Events (Mysteries) in the lives of Jesus and Mary:

Joyful Mysteries:

These stories of the life of Mary and Jesus remind us of the constant joy in everyday encounters. Experiencing God in our simple lives, visiting family and friends, a new baby, sacramental celebrations, and celebrating the peace following a time of stress. God became man. It is an incredible love that we can try to appreciate and emulate.

1. The Annunciation - the angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will be the Mother of God. She humbly agrees.
2. The Visitation - Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with a son who will be known as John the Baptist. The older woman who suffered with infertility welcomes the younger woman; they both are joyful with their miraculous pregnancies.
3. The Nativity - the Incarnation, the birth of Jesus
4. The Presentation - Jesus, the son of observant Jewish parents, is presented at the Temple as the Law prescribes. He is recognized by both Simeon and Anna as the Messiah.
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple - Desperate parents search for their lost Son. Imagine their amazement, and maybe their frustration and confusion, when He tells them they should have known He was in His Father's house.

Luminous Mysteries:

These are the five new mysteries introduced by Pope John Paul II in 2002. They encourage us to reflect on important events during the short public life of Jesus, seeing Him as the Light of the World.

1. Baptism of Jesus - John baptizes his cousin, Jesus, in the River Jordan. The skies open up, a dove appears, and a voice announces "This is my beloved Son." The divinity and humanity of Jesus, as well as His Messianic role, are announced.
2. Wedding at Cana - Jesus performed His first miracle, changing water into wine. His mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, asked Him to intervene and help out someone in need. He complied with her request. Jesus answers our prayers, especially when they are through the intervention of His mother.
3. Proclaiming the Kingdom - For 3 years Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God, healing the sick and forgiving sinners, and completely humbling Himself for our sakes. He showed us that God is Love.
4. Transfiguration - Peter, James and John witnessed the transforming divinity of Jesus. They had seen Him as a human being; on a quiet mountain side they saw His divinity.  He is True God and True Man.
5. Institution of the Eucharist - It was at the Last Supper that Jesus told us, "This is my Body...This is my Blood." He did not give us a symbol; He did give us Himself to fortify us until the end of time.

Sorrowful Mysteries:

The Sorrowful Mysteries encourage us to share in the utter humiliation and pain Jesus experienced in the events prior to and including His crucifixion. When we contemplate His ultimate suffering, it seems easier to bear our own trials. He truly understands our difficulties, and He will always be with us to give us strength.

1. The Agony in the Garden - Jesus was aware of the inhuman torture He would experience. He prayed for this to be taken away from Him. However, when He knew that the pain was for a greater good, He accepted it with humility. We, too, can accept our comparatively small trials in the same way; we can come to understand that our trials are for the greater good.
2. The Scourging at the Pillar  - Jesus, bound and blindfolded, was brought to the point of death by flaying (tearing the skin and underlying tissues) with a whip to which a small metal hook was attached. And He was free of sin.
3. Crowning with Thorns - Jesus was crowned with thorns, wrapped in a scarlet military cloak, and handed a reed to carry as a scepter in an act intended to ridicule and inflict even greater pain and humiliation.
4. Carrying of the Cross - The vertical section of the Cross waited for Jesus outside the city of Jerusalem. Jesus carried the horizontal portion of the Cross, probably weighing about 100#, through the streets of the city. Passersby eagerly mocked and reviled Him.
5. The Crucifixion - The most agonizingly cruel death by suffocation ever devised.

Glorious Mysteries:

1. The Resurrection - We start the Glorious mysteries with the pinnacle of Christianity, Christ's Resurrection. The concept of rising from the dead may seem incomprehensible, but we need have no doubt. Witnesses to the Resurrection could have denied it ever happened, but they did not. Many went to death, often enduring horrible torture, never denying the Truth.
2. The Ascension - After Jesus appeared to the Apostles, the women who stood by Him to the end, and over 500 other people, He ascended to Heaven.
3. Descent of the Holy Spirit - We still call this special day Pentecost, although it was actually the ancient Jewish harvest festival. The Advocate Jesus promised came; tongues of fire appeared over the people; the Apostles received the gift of tongues, and they preached to the multitude so that all understood.  
4. The Assumption - The Blessed Virgin Mary, the woman who was without sin, the woman who bore our Messiah, cared for Him, stood by Him to the end, and was present for His Resurrection and Ascension, was taken, body and soul, to Heaven.
5. The Coronation of Mary - The Blessed Virgin Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven. This is not specifically in the Scriptures, but has been accepted by Sacred Tradition and scholars throughout the ages. Mary is the woman who is most venerated for her eternal role of being Mother of God.

Fatima Prayer (may be added at the end of each decade, after the Glory Be)

The Fatima Prayer became a popular addition to the Rosary in the mid-20th century, after the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to young children in Fatima, Portugal. Click here to learn the history of Fatima.  We also have additional information on apparitions in general in our monthly parish newsletter,  Transformations.

Every parent has experienced the worry of a having a feverish child, the panic of not being able to find a child, the desire to protect a child from any pain. The Blessed Virgin Mary was no different. 

History

The gospel writers tell us of just a few, of the undoubtedly many, moments of pain Mary experienced being the Mother of God. By the Middle Ages, seven moments were defined as the Sorrows of Mary:

1. The prophecy of Simeon (from the Gospel of Luke) - Mary and Joseph took the Infant Jesus to the Temple as prescribed by Jewish Law. A man named Simeon saw the family and told Mary her heart would be pierced with swords.
2. The flight of the Holy Family to Egypt (Gospel of Matthew) - Herod had ordered the murder of all infant boys. The Holy Family fled to Egypt to protect the life of their Child.
3. The loss of Jesus at the Temple in Jerusalem (Gospel of Luke) - Mary and Joseph could not find their Child. He was missing for three days before they finally found Him in the Jerusalem Temple.
4. Meeting Jesus on the road to Calvary
5. Watching the Crucifixion and Death of Jesus at the foot of the Cross
6. Receiving the body of Jesus when he was taken down from the Cross
7. Witnessing the burial of Jesus

Praying the Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows

The Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows involves nine days of praying the prayer below, followed by the Seven Sorrows Chaplet. The Novena begins on September 7th and ends on September 15th, the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Novena Prayer

Most holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, you stood beneath the cross, witnessing the agony of your dying Son. Look with a mother's tenderness and pity on me, who kneel before you. I venerate your sorrows and I place my requests with filial confidence in the sanctuary of your wounded heart. Present them, I beseech you, on my behalf to Jesus Christ, through the merits of His own most sacred passion and death, together with your sufferings at the foot of the cross. Through the united efficacy of both, obtain the granting of my petition. To whom shall I have recourse in my wants and miseries if not to you, Mother of Mercy? You have drunk so deeply of the chalice of your Son, you can compassionate our sorrows. Holy Mary, your soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow at the sight of the passion of your Divine Son. Intercede for me and obtain for me from Jesus (mention request) if it be for His honor and glory and for my good. Amen.

How to pray the Seven Sorrows Chaplet:

The Seven Sorrows is a meditation using a series of familiar prayers. Beads are often used, although not mandatory, to keep track of the prayers, which makes it similar to praying the Rosary. For the Seven Sorrows beads there are 7 groups of 7 beads in a circle, with a separate string of 4 beads attached. These are available at many religious goods stores. You'll need to pray the following basic prayers: (click here for a prayer refresher)

• Sign of the Cross
• Our Father
• Hail Mary
• Glory Be

As with everything we do, start off with the Sign of the Cross. Consider the first sorrow (prophecy of Simeon) and say the Our Father. Using the first set of seven beads say seven Hail Marys. Continue with the next six Sorrows using the same pattern for saying the prayers.

When you finish all seven Sorrows, using the separate beads for the final prayers, say three additional Hail Marys, followed by one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be. Conclude with a Sign of the Cross.

Make your own prayer bead bracelet!

Materials:

• (A) 11 6mm round beads
• (B) 15-20 4 mm round beads
• (C) 40-50 11/0 filler beads
• elastic cord (about 10 inches)
• tape
• superglue

Instructions:

1. Fold tape over bottom edge of cord. This will prevent beads from falling off the cord during stringing.
2. Start with the beads for the last Hail Marys: A, C, B, C 2 times; end with A, C.
3. Next is the pattern for the Our Father beads: B, C - 3 times; A, C - one time; B, C - 3 times.
4. Now start the pattern for the Hail Mary beads: A, C, B, C. Repeat 7 times
5. Measure the bracelet to your wrist. Add additional B, C beads if necessary for comfort.
6. Remove tape from end of cord and tie ends together in a firm knot.
7. Check bracelet measurement again. Adjust knot for comfortable fit, if necessary.
8. When the bracelet fits comfortably, remove from wrist and carefully put a drop of superglue on the knot. DO NOT TOUCH SUPERGLUE!
9. Wait about 10 minutes for the glue to dry, then start using your Lady of Sorrows chaplet.