Sins of the Flesh

"More souls go to Hell because of the sins of the flesh than for any other reason." - Our Lady of Fatima

The Truth About the Holy Rosary

Why do Catholics repeat the same prayer over and over again when they pray the Rosary? Is this not the vain repetition condemned by Christ in Matthew 6:7?

Answer: Catholics do not just repeat the same prayer over and over again when they pray the Rosary. The Rosary is a progression of many prayers--the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Gloria, the Hail Mary and the Salve Regina--and these prayers are accompanied by many holy meditations. As the Rosary progresses, Catholics meditate on the joyful, the sorrowful, and the glorious mysteries of the life of Christ and His Mother. True, the Hail Mary is repeated many times during the course of the Rosary, and some of the other prayers are repeated several times, but this is not ``vain'' repetition, certainly not the vain repetition condemned by Our Lord. The vain repetition He condemned is that of people who pray standing ``in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men.''

No prayer is vain, no matter how often repeated, if it is sincere, for Christ Himself engaged in repetitious prayer in the Garden of Gethsemani (``. . . he went again: and he prayed the third time, saying the selfsame word''--Matt. 26:39, 42, 44), and we are informed in the Apocalypse (Revelations) 4:8 that the angels in Heaven never cease repeating, night and day, the canticle: ``Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come.'' The publican humbly repeated the prayer: ``O God, be merciful to me, a sinner,'' and he went away justified; whereas the pharisee went home unjustified after his long-winded extemporaneous prayer. (Luke 18:9-14). God was likewise pleased with the repetitious prayer of the three young men in the fiery furnace, whom He preserved miraculously untouched by the flames. (Dan. 3:52-90).

Source: with Itaguyod Ang Buhay, ThePower Ofthe Rosary II, Jill Agnes Lawler, Hilsem A. Gatmaitan, Arthur Blasquiño Lagua, Merlyn Bungalso, Marielle Salvador Sarias, Anna Johnson McFadden, caron brown, Oda Dflor Abella, Kelechi Jude Anoruo-Dibia, Hail Holy Queen..., Tender Simalonda, Teewee Diego, oda flor abella and ThePower Ofthe Rosary.

Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos' Top 10 Practical Guide to Holiness

1. Go to Mass with deepest devotion.

2. Spend a half hour to reflect upon your main failing & make resolutions to avoid it.

3. Do daily spiritual reading for at least 15 minutes, if a half hour is not possible.

4. Say the rosary every day.

5. Also daily, if at all possible, visit the Blessed Sacrament; and toward evening, meditate on the Passion of Christ for a half hour.

6. Conclude the day with evening prayer & an examination of conscience over all the faults & sins of the day.

7. Every month make a review of the month in confession.

8. Choose a special patron every month & imitate that patron in some special virtue.

9. Precede every great feast with a novena, that is, nine days of devotion.

10. Try to begin & end every activity with a “Hail Mary.”


Divine Physician, You infused Francis Xavier Seelos with the gift of Your healing.
By the help of his prayers, sustain in me the grace to know Your will
and the strength to overcome my afflictions. For love of You, make me whole.
May I learn from the example of Blessed Father Seelos
and gain comfort from his patient endurance.
Amen.

Source: http://www.seelos.org or go to >>> http://www.seelos.org/lifeSayings.html

St. Josemaria Escriva on Guardian Angels

Thoughts about one’s Guardian Angel by Saint Josemaria Escriva (1902-75)

• Have confidence in your Guardian Angel. Treat him as a lifelong friend, that is what he is, and he will render you a thousand services in the ordinary affairs of each day
• If you call upon your Guardian Angel at the moment of trial, he will protect you from the devil and will bring you holy inspirations.
• Whenever you are in need of anything, or are facing difficulties, whether great or small, invoke your Guardian Angel, asking him to sort the matter out with Jesus, or to carry out the particular service you may require.
• The Guardian Angel always accompanies us as our principal witness. It is he who, at your particular judgement, will remember the kind deeds you performed for Our Lord throughout your life.
• Win over the Guardian Angel of that person whom you wish to draw towards Christ. He is always a great "accomplice."

On Distractions during Prayer

"A novice was grieving about her numerous distractions during prayer: "I too, have many," replied St. Therese of the Child Jesus, "but I accept all for love of the good God, even the most extravagent thoughts that come into my head."