“Love the Madonna and pray the Rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother.” +Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)

The Seventh Week
 in the Season of Easter

Monday, May 13 | Our Lady of Fatima

Holy Gospel: Luke 11:27-28 

Prayer: O God, who chose the Mother of your Son to be our Mother also, grant us that, persevering in penance and prayer for the salvation of the world, we may further more effectively each day the reign of Christ. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Contemplation: When Jesus says, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Jesus is reminding us that divine teaching must reign supreme in guiding every aspect of our lives. As disciples of Christ we are called to be “doers of the word, not hearers only” (James 1:22). The teachings of Christ bring us to everlasting life as He is the way, the truth, and the life. If we hear the word but do not follow it – making a conscious choice to say no to God and to Jesus – we are choosing not to live a life in Christ now and, thus, jeopardizing our opportunity to spend eternal life with God and His Son, Jesus Christ, in Heaven. Do not be misled. Do not be misguided by those who claim to be “progressive” as they are progressing away from Jesus and His timeless truths, and progressing toward a way of life that separates us from God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Why would anyone ever think of doing that!

On this day we remember the anniversary of the first apparition of Our Lady of Fatima to the children at Fatima – Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta. On May 13, 1917, Mary chose to give her Rosary message to these three shepherd children in rural Fatima, Portugal. The Mother of Jesus’ purpose for these visits was to save souls from Hell and to warn us of the coming tragedies that would happen if we didn’t repent and change our ways. The children received many messages, mostly calling for personal conversion and prayer, as well as the words of five new prayers. The first prayer is one many Catholics are likely already familiar with, but the other four are not as well-known. Here are the five prayers given to the children at Fatima:

1) The Fatima Prayer/Decade Prayer: “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy. Amen.” Mary told the children that people should add this prayer to the end of each decade of the Rosary.

2) The Pardon Prayer: “My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love Thee! I beg pardon for all those that do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love Thee.” This prayer was given to the children by the angel that visited them in 1916, the year before Mary appeared to them.

3) The Angel’s Prayer: “O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary I beg the conversion of poor sinners.” This is another prayer given to them by the angel. There was a Eucharistic host and chalice suspended in the air, and the angel led them in kneeling before it and praying this prayer.

4) The Eucharistic Prayer: “Most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee! My God, my God, I love Thee in the Most Blessed Sacrament.” When Mary appeared to the children for the first time on May 13, 1917, she said, “You will have much to suffer, but the grace of God will be your comfort.” According to Lucia, one of the children, a bright light shone all around them, and without thinking about it, they all started reciting this prayer.

5) The Sacrifice Prayer: “O Jesus, it is for the love of Thee, in reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and for the conversion of poor sinners [that I do this].” Mary gave the children this prayer, as well as the Fatima Prayer/Decade Prayer, on June 13th, 1917. The prayer is meant to be recited when you are offering up suffering to God.

Tuesday, May 14 | St. Matthias

Holy Gospel: John 15:9-17

Prayer: O God, who assigned Saint Matthias a place in the college of Apostles, grant us, through his intercession, that, rejoicing at how your love has been allotted to us, we may merit to be numbered among the elect. 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.

Contemplation: What is the essence of this new commandment? True love is sacrificial. It gives all to the beloved. And there is no greater proof in love than the sacrifice of one’s life for the sake of another. Jesus proved his love for his disciples by giving his life for them, even to death on the cross. We prove our love for God and for one another when we embrace the way of the cross. What is the cross in my life? When my will crosses with God’s will, then God’s will must be done. Do you know the joy and contentment of a life fully surrendered to God and consumed with his love?

Wednesday, May 15 | St. Isidore 

Holy Gospel: John 17:11b-19

Prayer: Lord God, to whom belongs all creation, and who call us to serve you by caring for the gifts that surround us, inspire us by the example of Saint Isidore to share our food with the hungry and to work for the salvation of all people. 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.

Prayer of Farmers: Heavenly Father, King of the Universe, you are the sole source of abundance. With your help I plant my crops and by your power they give forth a harvest. Grant me the grace always to work with all my strength and ingenuity in cultivating the soil so that it will bring forth fruits for my benefits and the benefit of all who will use them. Make me ever cognizant that without my part in the work of harnessing the goods of the earth, these particular goods would be lacking to my brothers and sisters in this world. Enable me at the same time to realize that without your part in this process I would be working in vain. Accept my thanks for your continuous help in the past and your never failing assistance in the future. Amen.

Thursday, May 16

Holy Gospel: John 17:20-26 

Prayer: May your Spirit, O Lord, we pray, imbue us powerfully with spiritual gifts, that he may give us a mind pleasing to you and graciously conform us to your will. 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.

Contemplation: Look around at the people in the pews who are with you in Church. Look around at the people in your office, your school, your home, your neighborhood. The distinctive mark of Jesus’ disciples is their love for God and their desire to do his will, and their love for one another. Jesus’ prayer at the Last Supper concludes with the prayer for all men and women who will come after him and follow him as his disciples. In a special way Jesus prays here for us that as members of his body we would be one as he and his Father – God the father – are one.

Friday, May 17 

Holy Gospel: John 21:15-19 

Prayer: O God, who by the glorification of your Christ and the light of the Holy Spirit have unlocked for us the gates of eternity, grant, we pray, that, partaking of so great a gift, our devotion may grow deeper and our faith be strengthened. 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.

Contemplation: Do you want the fire of God’s love to burn in your heart? John the evangelist tells us that “God is love” (1 John 4:16). His love is unconditional, without limit, and everlasting. It’s the beginning and the end; and it’s the essence of Christianity. It draws us to the heart of God and it compels us to give to him our full allegiance and our very lives. Saint Paul the Apostle tells us that God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given us (ref. Romans 5:5). As so we ask ourselves: Do I love God with all my mind, all my heart, and all my soul? If not, then ask yourself: what is holding me back?

Scripture passages (NAB translation) courtesy of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; prayers are from The Roman Missal, Catholic Book Publishing, 2011; information about saints, solemnities, feasts and memorials courtesy of the Catholic Culture website. frlumpe:2024