Prayer of Consecration to St Michael the Archangel

Oh most noble Prince of the Angelic Hierarchies, valorous warrior of Almighty God and zealous lover of His glory, terror of the rebellious angels, and love and delight of all the just angels, my beloved Archangel Saint Michael, desiring to be numbered among your devoted servants, I, today offer and consecrate myself to you, and place myself, my family, and all I possess under your most powerful protection.

I entreat you not to look at how little, I, as your servant have to offer, being only a wretched sinner, but to gaze, rather, with favorable eye at the heartfelt affection with which this offering is made, and remember that if from this day onward I am under your patronage, you must during all my life assist me, and procure for me the pardon of my many grievous offenses, and sins, the grace to love with all my heart my God, my dear Savior Jesus, and my Sweet Mother Mary, and to obtain for me all the help necessary to arrive to my crown of glory.

Defend me always from my spiritual enemies, particularly in the last moments of my life.

Come then, oh Glorious Prince, and succor me in my last struggle, and with your powerful weapon cast far from me into the infernal abysses that prevaricator and proud angel that one day you prostrated in the celestial battle. Amen.

-Opus Sanctorum Angelorum

Padre Pio's View of Suffering As An Expression of Love

"Don’t be daunted by the cross. The surest test of love consists in suffering for the loved one, and if God suffered so much for love, the pain we suffer for Him becomes as lovable as love itself."

"True and substantial devotion consists in serving God without experiencing any sensible consolation. This means serving and loving God for His own sake."

"The greater your sufferings, the greater God’s love for you."

"In darkness, at times of tribulation and distress of the spirit, Jesus is with you. In such a state you see nothing but darkness, but I can assure you on God’s behalf that the light of the Lord is all around you and pervades your spirit. . .You see yourself forsaken and I assure you that Jesus is holding you"

"Remember, our suffering is brief but our reward is eternal. You must remain calm, or at least resigned, but always convinced in the voice of authority. You must confide in it, without fearing the rages of the storm, because the vessel of your soul will never be submerged. Heaven and earth may pass away, but the Word of God, that assures the one who obeys it will find victory, will never pass away and will always remain fixed in indelible script in the Book of Life: I will exist forever."

-St Pio of Pietricina

The Exaltation Of The Cross

Historically the cross is an instrument of torture and death. Our Lord Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross. Jesus Christ in turn nailed our sins to the cross (Col 2:14). After the death and the glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the cross has become the symbol of our salvation and redemption. The cross is now the symbol of our triumph over sin and death.

The cross occupies a pivotal place in Christian life.  Christian life will be impossible and incomprehensible without the cross. A Christian life devoid of the cross is not authentic. A Christian message devoid of the cross is not a Christian message but some erroneous human speculation. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing (1Cor 1:18). St John Chrysostom says " the cross, is wood which lifts us up and makes us great ... The Cross uprooted us from the depths of evil and elevated us to the summit of virtue"

The cross is not something to be avoided at all cost.  We cannot be ashamed of the cross (the instrument of our salvation). The cross is not so much what we talk about but what we embrace and carry everyday of our lives. Like St Paul, every Christian is nailed to the cross with Christ (Gal 2:9). Every Christian must take the place of Christ on the cross and make up for whatever is lacking in the sufferings of Christ (Col 1:24). The only way to heaven is the way of the cross.

The Vows of Consecrated Life (Part III)

The vows are first of all a response to God’s calling.  You did not choose me, I chose you: and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit (Jn 15:16). The initiative is from God: “it is an initiative coming wholly from the father (Cf. Jn 15:16), who asks those whom he has chosen to respond with complete and exclusive devotion” (Vita Consecrata, n. 17). The vows are free and radical responses to God’s call to follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ as enunciated in the Gospels. The religious is both responsive and responsible.

The response demanded from the consecrated person is voluntary, spontaneous, unreserved, and generous. He responds with his whole life for all his life. He generously responds to this call in his own historical context according to promptings of the Holy Spirit and the specific needs of the Church. The different content and context of one’s vocation admits of some divergence and convergence. That is why there is a great variety of responses in the Church namely: monastic life, mendicants, societies of apostolic life and the secular institutes. The multiplicity of different forms of consecrated life is considered as both a gift and activity of the Holy Spirit.


An expression of undivided love

Primarily, the vows constitute a response to the unconditional love of God, an acknowledgement of God’s faithful and unrelenting love, surrender to God’s tremendous and everlasting love. The evangelical counsels are ravishingly lovely. They are intended as a concrete expression of passionate love of God (Cf. Apostolic Letter of His Holiness Pope Francis To All Consecrated People on the Occasion of the Year of Consecrated Life). They are an act of personal love for God who first generously loved us.

 Love is the motive and goal of evangelical counsels, “such love should fill each of you … from the very source of that particular consecration which—on the sacramental basis of holy Baptism--- is the beginning of your new life in Christ and in the Church; it is the beginning of the new creation” (Redemptoris Donum, n. 8). The consecrated persons are naturally lovers- lovers of Christ and the whole humanity.  Having derived their love from the contemplation of Trinitarian love, they “show that the power of God’s love can accomplish great things precisely within the context of human love” (Vita Consecrata, n. 88).


The wonder of amazing grace

The intention to take the vows is inspired and elicited by the promptings of divine grace; the vows are an outward response to the inward grace. Stupendous grace disposes the religious to respond joyfully to his/her religious vocation. Therefore, religious profession is an external manifestation of the inner workings of unmerited grace in the life of the consecrated person. The whole project of consecrated life is a testimony of what the grace of God can achieve in the face of human weakness and imperfections. This divine grace necessarily accompanies the consecrated person in all his endeavours to fulfill the obligations of his vows. The Lord who invites a Christian to embrace the vows also furnishes him with all the necessary graces he needs to live the vows joyfully and convincingly.

In the bogs of doubt, quicksand of fear, and winds of anxiety, the consecrated person realizes his/her need for grace.  Without the grace of God, no consecrated person can fulfill the vows. Without me you can do nothing (Jn 15:5).  Every consecrated person needs the grace of God to weave the fabric of his destiny. Consecrated life is an adventure that requires a willingness to surrender to divine grace.  “Religious, therefore, at pains  to be faithful to what they have professed, should believe our Lord’s words and relying on God’s help, should not presume on their own strength” (Perfectae Caritatis, n. 12).

Psalm 23: The Praise of Divine Providence

Psalm 23 is one of the most popular, most beautiful and most meaningful poems in the bible. It is more than a poem; it is also a profound prayer of trust in divine providence and protection. It has been translated into almost all the living languages, sung by millions of musicians and memorized by countless number of people.

This psalm is suitable for all times and places- in times of peace or war; joy or sorrow; plenty or want; well being or sickness. It provides sense of meaning and purpose in times of distress and uncertainties of life.

It is loved by different kinds of people- children sing it every morning in school, soldiers recite it in war fronts, prisoners say it in the darkness of their cells, and the sick pray it on their sickbeds. It has inspired and enlivened both old and young, rich and poor, believers and non believers alike. The dying wish to sing it as the last song on their lips.

This beautiful Psalm has brought smiles to distressed faces, peace to restless hearts, confidence to the fearful, encouragement to the discouraged, hope to the hopeless and guidance to the lost. It has calmed fears, addressed concerns, removed sorrows and dispelled anxieties and hopelessness.

The theme of this beloved Psalm is reassuring, the structure is endearing and the appeal is magnetic. It has a compelling force and enduring attraction. In any situation we find ourselves, the psalm reminds us of the abiding presence of God and his unfailing providence.

If we forget everything in this world, even if we forget our names, we must never forget that the Lord is our shepherd. There is nothing we shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures where He gives us repose.  And near restful waters he leads us, to revive our drooping spirit.

He guides us along the right path; he is true to his name. And even if we should walk in the valley of darkness, we will fear no evil. He is there with his crook and staff to give us comfort. And surely goodness and kindness shall follow us all the days of our lives. In the Lord’s own house, we shall dwell forever and ever.