LONGER MEDITATION ON DIVINE MERCY IN THE DARK NIGHT OF UNKNOWING /  by Joe Castorino

Inspired by the Saints

St. Francis de Sales:

Dearest Jesus,

King of Divine Mercy,

I place myself in your holy presence,

And I beseech you to inspire me

By the power of the Holy Spirit

For the glory of God the Father.

Vive Jésus!

St. Paul the Apostle:

Be filled with the Spirit,

Singing to the Lord,

And giving thanks always.

San Padre Pio:

Prega e spera:

Non agitarti.

L’agitazione

Non giova a nulla.

Iddio è misericordioso,

E ascolterà

La tua preghiera.

San Giovanni Paolo II:

Non abbiate paura.

Non abbiate paura!

St. John Paul II:

I love you! I love you!

I love you! I love you!

La Madonnina d’Amore:

Fate quello que vi dirà.

Our Lord of Love:

Approach this Sea of Mercy

With great trust.

St. Augustine:

Patience is the companion of wisdom.

Venerable Fulton J. Sheen:

When Our Blessed Lord came to this earth,

He had the divine sense of humor.

St. Francis of Assisi:

True joy is divine mercy in the dark night.

St. Louis de Montfort:

Tuus totus ego sum,

Et omnia mea tua sunt.

I am all yours, O my Jesus,

And all that I have is yours,

Through Santa Maria,

Your most holy mother.

The Mystical Rose:

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.

Jesus, The Divine Mercy:

Come to me, all you who are weary

And find life burdensome,

And I will refresh you.

Take my yoke upon your shoulders

And learn from me,

For I am gentle and humble of heart.

Your souls shall find rest,

For my yoke is easy,

And my burden light.

Amen.

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI'S SPIRITUAL COMMUNION PRAYER /  by Joe Castorino

I believe you are present

In the Blessed Sacrament,

O Jesus,

I love you and desire you.

O never leave me.

I beseech you, O Lord Jesus,

May the burning

And most sweet power

Of your love

Absorb my mind,

That I may die

Through love

Of your love,

Who was graciously pleased

To die

Through love

Of my love.

Amen.

O DIVINE ARTIST /  by Joe Castorino

Prayer in the Dark Night of Unknowing

O Divine Artist,

Paint the fruit of the Spirit

On the canvas of my life,

With brushstrokes of love,

With brushstrokes of joy,

With brushstrokes of peace,

With brushstrokes of patience,

With brushstrokes of kindness,

With brushstrokes of generosity,

With brushstrokes of faithfulness,

With brushstrokes of gentleness,

With brushstrokes of self-control,

With brushstrokes of divine wisdom,

With brushstrokes of divine mercy.

O Divine Artist, make my life

A masterpiece of your love!

Amen.

O MERCIFUL LADY OF LOVE /  by Joe Castorino

Prayer in the Dark Night of Unknowing

O merciful Lady of Love,

Teach me holy compassion;

O joyful Lady of Love,

Teach me to smile;

O peaceful Lady of Love,

Teach me to surrender;

O patient Lady of Love,

Teach me to slow down;

O kind Lady of Love,

Teach me to think of others;

O generous Lady of Love,

Teach me poverty in spirit;

O faithful Lady of Love,

Teach me trust in Divine Mercy;

O gentle Lady of Love,

Teach me holy humility;

O imperturbable Lady of Love,

Teach me to be calm in battle;

O wise Lady of Love,

Teach me to listen to the Word.

O Jesus, living in Santa Maria,

I wholeheartedly trust in you!

Amen.

O LIGHT OF THE SPIRIT /  by Joe Castorino

Family Prayer at the Hour of Mercy

O Light of the Spirit,

O Light of Love,

Burn brightly in my heart!

Burn brightly in my soul!

Come, Holy Spirit,

Fill the hearts

Of your faithful,

And enkindle in us,

The fire of your love.

O Jesus, living in Santa Maria,

I wholeheartedly trust in you!

Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR /  by Joe Castorino

O Victorious Virgin,

In the dawn of this

Glorious new year,

Take my hand, gently,

And sweetly lead me

On the path to Truth;

Then joyfully unlock

The Gate of Heaven

Which opens wide

To the Prince of Peace,

To the King of Kindness,

To the Lord of Love;

And as your Son rises

From the depths of my heart,

May Divine Mercy rays

Of red and white

Shine through me

And warm the world!

Amen.

PRAYER AT THE HOUR OF MERCY /  by Joe Castorino

Dearest Jesus,

King of Divine Mercy,

I humbly come and kneel

In Spirit before you;

During this Hour of Mercy,

Help me to slow down my life,

Calmly put aside all of my worries,

And give them to Our Lady,

So that she may gently lay them

At the foot of your cross,

And so I place myself,

Lovingly and wholeheartedly,

In your most holy presence;

Help me to recall your passion,

Your painful bloody passion,

And how much you suffered,

In the agony in the garden,

In the scourging at the pillar,

In the crowning with thorns,

In the carrying of the cross,

And in the crucifixion,

So that I may better understand

How much I have wounded you

With all my sins!

And so, as I stand at Golgotha,

Watching the blood and water

That flow from your side,

I approach this Sea of Mercy

With great trust —

Please, fill my heart,

To overflowing measure,

With your unfathomable mercy.

I pray for myself, for my family,

For the Church, for my diocese,

For my parish and my pastor,

For the world, and for the

Poor souls in purgatory;

Please fill us all with

The fruit of your Spirit.

Amen.

PRAYER AFTER HOLY MASS /  by Joe Castorino

O Jesus, The Divine Master,

I surrender to you!

O Jesus, The Divine Mercy,

I trust in you!

O Jesus, The Divine Artist,

I humbly kneel in awe before you!

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your love,

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your joy,

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your peace,

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your patience,

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your kindness,

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your generosity,

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your faithfulness,

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your gentleness,

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your self-control,

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your divine wisdom,

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your divine mercy.

O Sacrament most holy,

O Sacrament divine,

All praise and all thanksgiving,

Be every moment thine.

Amen.

PRAYER AFTER HOLY COMMUNION /  by Joe Castorino

Tuus totus ego sum,

Et omnia mea tua sunt,

I am all yours, O my Jesus,

And I all that I have is yours,

Through Santa Maria

Your most holy mother.

O Divine Artist, please speak to my heart now,

And make my life a masterpiece of your love…

O Jesus,

King of Divine Mercy,

I pray for myself,

I pray for my family,

I pray for the Church,

I pray for my diocese and parish,

I pray for the world,

I pray for the poor souls of Purgatory,

I pray for the intention of today’s indulgence.

Dearest Jesus,

Please fill us with the fruit of the Spirit!

Please fill us with great trust in your divine mercy!

Please fill us with holy humility!

Please fill us with holy love!

Please fill us with holy thanksgiving!

Amen.

LITTLE SPIRITUAL COMMUNION PRAYER /  by Joe Castorino

To be said just before and after receiving Holy Communion

Inspired by St. Francis de Sales

O Lord of Love,

I long for holy union with you!

O Lord of Love,

I long for holy union with you!

O Lord of Love,

I long for holy union with you!

Thank you, Jesus,

For the gift of your love!

Amen.

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS /  by Joe Castorino

Inspired by St. Francis de Sales

Dearest Jesus,

I place myself in your holy presence,

And I beseech you to inspire me

By the power of the Holy Spirit,

For the glory of God the Father.

My heart is ready, O God,

My heart is ready.

Jesus, I trust in You!

Vive Jésus!

Amen.

PRAYER AT THE HOUR OF MERCY /  by Joe Castorino

Dearest Jesus,

King of Divine Mercy,

I humbly come and kneel

In spirit before you;

During this Hour of Mercy,

Help me to slow down my life,

Calmly put aside all of my worries,

And give them to Our Lady,

So that she may gently lay them

At the foot of your cross,

And so I place myself,

Lovingly and wholeheartedly,

In your most holy presence;

Help me to recall your passion,

Your painful bloody passion,

And how much you suffered,

In the agony in the garden,

In the scourging at the pillar,

In the crowning of thorns,

In the carrying of the cross,

And in the crucifixion,

So that I may better understand

How much I have wounded you

With all my sins!

And so, as I stand at Golgotha,

Watching the blood and water

That flow from your side,

I approach this Sea of Mercy

With great trust —

Please, fill my heart,

To overflowing measure,

With your unfathomable mercy.

I pray for myself, for my family,

For the Church, for my diocese,

For the world, and for the

Poor souls of purgatory;

Please fill us all with

The fruit of your Spirit!

Amen.

ST. LOUIS DE MONTFORT'S PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY /  by Joe Castorino

A favorite prayer of St. Louis de Montfort

Hail Mary,

Beloved Daughter of the Eternal Father.

Hail Mary,

Admirable Mother of the Son.

Hail Mary,

Faithful Spouse of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary,

My Mother, my loving Mistress, my powerful sovereign.

Hail, my joy, my glory, my heart and my soul.

You are all mine by mercy,

And I am yours by justice.

But I am not yet sufficiently yours.

I now give myself wholly to you

Without keeping anything back

For myself or others.

If you see anything in me

Which does not belong to you,

I beseech you to take it

And make yourself the absolute Mistress

Of all that is mine.

Destroy in me all that may displease God;

Root it up and bring it to nought.

Place and cultivate in me

Everything that is pleasing to you.

May the light of your faith

Dispel the darkness of my mind.

May your profound humility

Take the place of my pride;

May your sublime contemplation

Check the distractions

Of my wandering imagination.

May the continuous sight of God

Fill my memory with his presence;

May the burning love of your heart

Inflame the lukewarmness of mine.

May your virtues

Take the place of my sins;

May your merits be my only adornment

In the sight of God

And make up for all that is wanting in me.

Finally, dearly beloved Mother,

Grant, if it be possible,

That I may have no other spirit but yours

To know Jesus, and His Divine Will;

That I may have no other soul but yours

To praise and glorify God;

That I may have no other heart but yours

To love God with a love as pure and ardent as yours.

I do not ask you for visions, revelations,

Sensible devotions, or spiritual pleasures.

It is your privilege to see God clearly,

It is your privilege to enjoy heavenly bliss,

It is your privilege to triumph gloriously in heaven

At the right hand of your Son,

And to hold absolute sway

Over angels, men, and demons.

It is your privilege to dispose of all the gifts of God,

Just as you will.

Such, O heavenly Mary, the “best part,”

Which the Lord has given you,

And which shall never be taken away from you —

And this thought fills my heart with joy.

As for my part here below,

I wish for no other than that which was yours,

To believe sincerely

Without spiritual pleasures,

To suffer joyfully

Without human consolation,

To die continually to myself

Without respite,

And to work zealously and unselfishly for you

Until death, as the humblest of your servants.

The only grace I beg you, for me,

Is that every moment of the day,

And every moment of my life, I may say,

“Amen, so be it, to all you are doing in heaven.

Amen, so be it, to all you did do upon earth.

Amen, so be it, to all you are doing in my soul,”

So that you alone may fully glorify Jesus in me

For time and eternity.

Amen.

O DIVINE ARTIST /  by Joe Castorino

Prayer in the Dark Night of Unknowing

O Divine Artist,

Paint the fruit of the Spirit

On the canvas of my life,

With brushstrokes of love,

With brushstrokes of joy,

With brushstrokes of peace,

With brushstrokes of patience,

With brushstrokes of kindness,

With brushstrokes of generosity,

With brushstrokes of faithfulness,

With brushstrokes of self-control,

With brushstrokes of divine wisdom,

With brushstrokes of divine mercy.

O Jesus, living in Santa Maria,

I wholeheartedly trust in you!

Live, Jesus!

Amen.

CONCLUDING PRAYER OF "THE LITTLE CROWN OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY" /  by Joe Castorino

A favorite prayer of St. Louis de Montfort

Hail, Mary, Daughter of God the Father;

Hail, Mary, Mother of God the Son; 

Hail, Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit;

Hail, Mary, Temple of the Most Holy Trinity;

Hail Mary, my Mistress, my treasure, my joy, Queen of my heart;

My Mother, my life, my sweetness, my dearest hope --

Yes, my heart and my soul!

I am all yours and all that I have is yours, 

O Virgin blessed above all things!

Let your soul be in me to magnify the Lord; 

Let your spirit be in me to rejoice in God. 

Set yourself, O Faithful Virgin, as a seal upon my heart,

That in you and through you I may be found faithful to God.

Receive me, O gracious Virgin, 

Among those whom you love and teach, 

Whom you lead, nourish and protect as your children. 

Grant that for love of you 

I may despise all earthly consolations, 

And ever cling to those of Heaven, 

Until, through the Holy Spirit, your faithful Spouse,

And through you, His faithful spouse,

Jesus Christ your Son be formed in me,

For the glory of the Father.

Amen.

O MERCIFUL LADY OF LOVE /  by Joe Castorino

Prayer in the Dark Night of Unknowing

O merciful Lady of Love,

Teach me holy compassion;

O joyful Lady of Love,

Teach me to smile;

O peaceful Lady of Love,

Teach me to surrender;

O patient Lady of Love,

Teach me to slow down;

O kind Lady of Love,

Teach me to think of others;

O generous Lady of Love,

Teach me poverty in spirit;

O faithful Lady of Love,

Teach me trust in Divine Mercy;

O gentle Lady of Love,

Teach me holy humility;

O imperturbable Lady of Love,

Teach me to be calm in battle;

O wise Lady of Love,

Teach me to listen to the Word.

O Jesus, living in Santa Maria,

I wholeheartedly trust in you!

Live, Jesus!

Amen.

O LIGHT OF THE SPIRIT /  by Joe Castorino

O Light of the Spirit,

O Light of Love,

Burn brightly in my heart!

Burn brightly in my soul!

Come, Holy Spirit,

Fill the hearts

Of your faithful,

And enkindle in us,

The fire of your love.

O Jesus, living in Santa Maria,

I wholeheartedly trust in you!

Live, Jesus!

Amen.

MARIAN PRAYER OF OFFERING FOR A PARTIAL INDULGENCE /  by Joe Castorino

O Lord of Love,

Through your holy grace,

I have wholehearted contrition,

And am free from all affection for 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 recent confession,

And this morning’s indulgenced work, 

And reception of Holy Communion.

In short, I humbly request that 

Through the sweet hands of

Our Lady of Love,

You accept the little gift of

This partial indulgence,

Offered for the benefit of _____,

Or for whomever the merciful

Mystical Rose most wishes,

In accordance with your holy will.


Amen.