PRACTICING THE CONTRARY VIRTUE /  by Joe Castorino

Inspired by St. Francis de Sales

When I am afraid,

And not so loving,

Thank you, Jesus,

For the gift of your wondrous love.

When I am afraid,

And not so joyful,

Thank you, Jesus,

For the gift of your wondrous joy.

When I am afraid,

And not so peaceful,

Thank you, Jesus,

For the gift of your wondrous peace.

When I am afraid,

And not so patient,

Thank you, Jesus,

For the gift of your heroic patience.

When I am afraid,

And not so generous,

Thank you, Jesus,

For the gift of your heroic generosity.

When I am afraid,

And not so faithful,

Thank you, Jesus,

For the gift of your heroic faithfulness.

When I am afraid,

And not so kind,

Thank you, Jesus,

For the gift of your angelic kindness.

When I am afraid,

And not so gentle,

Thank you, Jesus,

For the gift of your angelic gentleness.

When I am afraid,

And not so self-controlled,

Thank you, Jesus,

For the gift of your angelic self-control.

When I am afraid,

And not so wise,

Thank you, Jesus,

For the gift of your magnificent wisdom.

Amen.

THE LITTLE CANDLE OF SAN PADRE PIO /  by Joe Castorino

Listen to Our Lady speaking these words to you…

Prega e spera:

non agitarti.

L’agitazione

non giova a nulla.

Iddio è misericordioso,

e ascolterà

la tua preghiera!

(Pray and hope:

don’t be agitated.

Agitation doesn’t help at all.

God is merciful,

and He will hear

your prayer!)

THE LITTLE CANDLES OF OUR LADY /  by Joe Castorino

Be courageous. Fear not.

The Divine Mercy is your victory!

Fate quello que vi dirà!

(Do whatever He tells you!)

Be courageous.

Do not fear

apparent obstacles,

but fix your gaze

on the Passion of my Son,

and in this way

you will be victorious!

CHECKLIST PRAYER FOR A PLENARY INDULGENCE ON FIRST SATURDAYS /  by Joe Castorino

O Lord of Love,

Through your holy grace,

I have wholehearted contrition,

And I am free from all affection for sin

And all attachment to sin,

And so, with a sincere heart,

I offer you this Our Father,

And also this Hail Mary,

For the Holy Father’s intentions.

And along with these prayers,

Please accept my indulgenced work

In reconsecrating my life to Jesus

Through Santa Maria,

Over these past five days;

Please accept today’s confession;

Please accept today’s recitation of the Holy Rosary;

Please accept today’s reception of Holy Communion,

Offered in reparation for the sins and blasphemies

Against the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady,

And if it pleases you, Lord,

May it also be offered for the benefit of _____,

Or offered for my own benefit,

Or offered for whomever else the

Merciful Mystical Rose most wishes,

In accordance with your holy will;

Please accept today’s 15-minute meditation

On the 20 mysteries of the Holy Rosary;

Please accept today’s recitation

Of the “Act of Reparation.”

In short, I humbly request that 

Through the sweet hands of

Our Lady of Fátima,

You accept today the gift

Of this plenary indulgence,

In accordance with your holy will.

Amen.

O LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL /  by Joe Castorino

As I gently finger the beads of the rosary,

  I touch your warm soft hands,

I gaze into your merciful, majestic eyes,

  And I contemplate your loveliness;

Together our precious prayers mingle,

  And rise up like sweet incense,

Its scent perfumes the halls of Heaven,

  And delights the Lord of Light.

THE NATIVITY OVERTURE /  by Joe Castorino

Prayer for the Dark Night of Unknowing or the Dark Night of the Cross

O Gesù Bambino,

I surrender to you!

I offer you the frankincense

of my sweet prayer.

I offer you the myrrh

of my bitter suffering.

I offer you the gold

of my sincere love.

O Gesù Bambino,

I trust in you!

Amen.

ALPHA & OMEGA /  by Joe Castorino

It begins with

words,

And it ends with

actions;

It begins with

prayer,

And it ends with

love;

In the beginning was the incarnation of

The Word,

And in the end was the ultimate sacrifice of

Love;

Then, after the bitter

crucifixion,

came the beautiful and glorious

resurrection!