Showing posts with label France. Show all posts
Showing posts with label France. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
A Catholic Pilgrim in Paris: A Photo Essay

Continuing the account of my travels last month, after finishing five days in Netherlands and Belgium, I arrived via train in Paris at night on March 7th.  Paris is the home to a sadly forgotten Catholic Faith but one that is still seen in some remnants. 

On the morning of March 8th I started my pilgrimage to Paris.  I started at the most quintessential Catholic Church in France: Notre Dame.  Completed in 1345 - nearly 200 years after the groundbreaking - Notre Dame is a beacon of hope to those who pray and work for a restoration of Catholicism in France.  The Cathedral suffered serious damage in the 1790s when - like many French churches - it was desecrated by the French Revolutionaries.  Thankfully, an extensive restoration began in 1845 and today the Cathedral holds beautiful art and many treasures including the relic of the Crown of Thorns, a fragment of the True Cross, and one of the Holy Nails that pierced our Lord Jesus Christ.

The altar on which is displayed the Relic of the Crown of Thorns purchased by St. Louis IX for veneration at certain times




After visiting Notre Dame and exploring the city despite the persistent rain, I made my way north and concluded the day with Eucharistic Adoration in Sacré-Cœur, a truly breathtaking Basilica.  Unlike many of the Cathedrals and Basilicas in France, this one is relatively new as it was completed in 1914 and dedicated after WWI.

Sacré-Cœur is a monument which serves as a national penance for the defeat of France in the 1870 Franco-Prussian War and the socialist Paris Commune of 1871. Sacré-Cœur serves as an embodiment of conservative moral order, publicly dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.



Those familiar with French history will know of the desecration of many French churches including the destruction of relics, icons, paintings, and whole buildings in the French Revolution.  In fact, thousands of Catholics were killed for the Faith.  Next to the Pantheon - a church which has been desecrated and to this day still serves as a monument and burial chamber for leading atheistic revolutionaries - is the Church of Saint-Étienne-du-Mont.

Inside Saint-Étienne-du-Mont are some of the relics of St. Genevieve which were not destroyed.  I was able to venerate those sacred relics.



Taking advantage of the favorable weather, I traveled across town to Saint Chapelle - the personal chapel which St. Louis IX built to contain the Relic of the Crown of Thorns.  The holy saint spent 100,000 livres to purchase the relics and return it to the hands of a Christian nation.  By contrast, the beautiful chapel cost 40,000 livres to build and glaze.  This served for me a good reflection point - do I do all that I can to bring glory to God?  Do I sacrifice enough?



As I neared the end of my trip to France, I made time for a few additional sites.  One of which was the beautiful Shrine of the Miraculous Medal.  As the Shrine's website relates:
The chapel was built in 1815 and was dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In 1830 it was privileged with the extraordinary events of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin to Sister Catherine Labouré that marked it forever.
Heaven came down to earth… Between July and December 1830 Sister Catherine, a young Seminary Sister (novice) of the Daughters of Charity, received the extraordinary favour of conversing with the Virgin Mary on three occasions. In the preceding months Catherine had the privilege of other apparitions. Saint Vincent de Paul showed her his heart. While at prayer in the chapel, Catherine saw, on three successive days, the heart of Saint Vincent in three different colours. The heart first appeared white, the colour of peace; then red, the colour of fire; and then black, an indication of the misfortunes that would come upon France and Paris in particular. Soon afterwards, Catherine saw Christ present in the Eucharistic host. “I saw Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament all the time of my seminary except the times when I doubted.” On June 6, 1830, feast of the Holy Trinity, Christ appeared as a crucified King, stripped of all his adornments. 
July 18, 1830, the eve of the feast of Saint Vincent whom she loved so much and whose heart she had seen overflowing with love, Catherine prayed that, through his intercession, her desire to see the Blessed Virgin would finally be fulfilled. At eleven-thirty at night, she was called by name. A mysterious child was at the foot of her bed and asked her to get up. “The Blessed Virgin is waiting for you.” Catherine dressed and followed the child who was “bringing rays of brightness wherever he passed.” Having arrived in the chapel, St. Catherine stopped near the chair used by the priest in the sanctuary (current location of the statue of Saint Joseph). She then heard a sound “like the rustle of a silk dress.” Her little guide said, “Here is the Blessed Virgin.” She hesitated. But the child repeated in a stronger tone of voice, “Here is the Blessed Virgin.” In a single bound, Catherine was at the feet of the Blessed Virgin, seated on a chair and rested her hands on the knees of the Mother of God. “There, a period of time passed, the sweetest of my life. It would be impossible for me to say what I experienced. The Blessed Virgin told me how I should behave towards my spiritual director and also several other things.” The Blessed Virgin pointed to the altar where the tabernacle was and said, “Come to the foot of this altar. Here, graces will be spread over all who ask for them with confidence and fervour.” A difficult mission was announced as well as a request for the establishment of a Confraternity of the Children of Mary. Father Aladel would accomplish this request on February 2, 1840. 
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The Body of St. Luisa of Marillac.  She was the co-founder, with Saint Vincent de Paul, of the Daughters of Charity.


And at last, my final stop was the Shrine of St. Vincent de Paul which is located just blocks from the Miraculous Medal Chapel.  There I was able to venerate and pray before his body.  It was an experience that will remain with me for the rest of my life!  


St. Vincent's body was exhumed in 1712, 53 years after his death. The written account of an eyewitness states that "the eyes and nose alone showed some decay". However, when it was exhumed again during the canonization in 1737, it was found to have decomposed due to an underground flood. His bones have been encased in a waxen figure which is displayed in a glass reliquary in the chapel of the headquarters of the Vincentian fathers in Paris. His heart is still incorrupt and is displayed in a reliquary in the chapel of the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity in Paris



Thank you for all of your prayers as I made this pilgrimage in Europe.  I prayed for the intention of all of my readers and benefactors.  And I continue to hold them in my prayers.
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Monday, November 23, 2015
The Holy Face Devotion is the Solution for France

The following prayers are taken from the prayers of Sister Saint Pierre, Carmelite Nun of Tours, to whom Our Lord gave the messages of devotion to His Holy Face and the work of reparation. 
"The future of France depends on the work of reparation, [devotion to the Holy Face.] It is always shown to me [Sister Saint Pierre] as the means of salvation which God, in His infinite mercy, has designed for FRANCE."
[Taken from the Life of Sister Saint Pierre, 1884]

PRAYERS of the seer of the Holy Face, Sister Saint Pierre OCD, with imprimatur.

Arrest, O Divine Father, the instruments of thy justice, ready to strike us!

Behold the instruments of the most Sacred Passion of Jesus, red with his Adorable

Blood. May this sight change thy justice to mercy, and move thee to speak peace to France and the world.

Eternal Father, I offer thee all the glory that our Divine Saviour Jesus has rendered thee during the thirty years of his hidden and laborious life, and all the merits he has acquired for us from the moment of his Divine Incarnation until his evangelical Life. I make this offering for the honor and glory of thy Holy Name, in reparation for the indignities offered our Saviour; finally, for the wants of the Holy Church, the salvation of France, and the Work of Reparation.

Eternal Father, I offer thee the Holy Face of Jesus for the salvation of poor France. It is the golden coin which alone can cancel her debts.
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Sunday, November 22, 2015
SSPX Response to Paris Attacks

Terrorist acts of great gravity have been inflicted upon our country. Hundreds of people were killed, injured or traumatized, and we pray for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives in this tragedy, and we pledge our prayers for their families and loved ones in mourning, and for the injured victims, that they may regain their health quickly.

Such an attack certainly warrants a prompt response from French political and military authorities. But will this be sufficient to restore order, peace and security in France? We insist that it will not.

Indeed, Pope Pius XI in his beautiful encyclical Quas Primas on the social Kingship of Christ, seeing the early twentieth century clouds gathering over the whole world, proclaimed:

These manifold evils in the world are due to the fact that the majority of men have thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives; that these have no place either in private affairs or in politics: and that as long as individuals and states refuse to submit to the rule of our Savior, there will be no hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations.

Only Christ, the Prince of Peace, is able to restore in the heart of human society the reign of justice, love and peace which has been shattered by sin and by the rejection—public and private—of God's law. That is why we must work every day to establish the "peace of Christ through the reign of Christ," that is to say the fruitful union of faith and of the fatherland, the Church and the State.

These tragic events are the terrible consequences of the divorce (for more than two hundred years now) of France from the Catholic Church, which led our leaders to reject Christ the King and drag our country in the direction of gradual apostasy.

Thus we must all begin to work with all of our strength for the restoration of the reign of Christ the King.

We call on the bishops, priests, Catholics and all people of good will to rediscover the courage of our fathers and to work every day for the proclamation of Christ’s rule for the greater good of souls and of all society.

May Christ the King of all nations have mercy on our country, and may the Virgin Mary, Patroness and Queen of France, inspire generous souls and brave men and women to dedicated themselves to the restoration of the Catholic soul of France that made this country great.

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Sunday, November 15, 2015
Litany of French Saints


For Private Devotion Only.

V. Kyrie, eléison.
R. Christe, eléison.
V. Kyrie, eléison. 

V. Christe, audi nos.
R. Christe, exáudi nos.

V. Pater de cælis, Deus.
R. Miserére nobis. 

V. Fili Redemptor mundi Deus,
R. Miserére nobis.

V. Spíritus Sancte, Deus.
R. Miserére nobis.

V. Sancta Trínitas, unus Deus.
R. Miserére nobis.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Holy Mother of God, pray for us.

Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.


St. Michael, pray for us.

St. Gabriel, pray for us.

St. Raphael, pray for us.

All you Holy Angels and Archangels, pray for us. 


St. John the Baptist, pray for us.

St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin, pray for us.

All you Holy Patriarchs and Prophets, pray for us. Holy Mary, pray for us.


Holy Mother of God, pray for us.

Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.

St. Peter, pray for us.

St. Paul, pray for us.

St. Andrew, pray for us.
St. James, pray for us.
St. John, pray for us.
St. Thomas, pray for us.
St. James, pray for us.
St. Philip, pray for us.
St. Bartholomew, pray for us.
St. Matthew, pray for us.
St. Simon, pray for us.
St. Jude, pray for us.
St. Matthias, pray for us.
St. Barnabas, pray for us.
St. Luke, pray for us.
St. Mark, pray for us.
All you holy Apostles and Evangelists, pray for us.
All you holy Disciples of the Lord, pray for us.
All you holy Innocents, pray for us.

(French Saints)

St. Abbo of Fleury , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Adelaide of Italy , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Adelelmus of Burgos , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Adelelmus of Flanders , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Adelin of Séez , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Aderald , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Aimo , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Albert of Montecorvino , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Alexander (martyr) , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Andrew of Trier , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Anselm of Canterbury , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Anthony the Hermit , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Antoninus of Pamiers , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Artaldus , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Ascelina , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Auspicius of Toul , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Auspicius of Trier , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Aventinus of Tours , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Leonie Aviat , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Aymard of Cluny , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Baldwin of Rieti , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Madeleine Sophie Barat , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Bernard of Thiron , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Siméon-François Berneux , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Berno of Cluny , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Bertrand of Comminges , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Joan Elizabeth Bichier des Ages , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Julie Billiart , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Jean-Louis Bonnard , pray for France and of the whole world.
St.Pierre Dumoulin-Borie Bourgeoys , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Jean de Brébeuf , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Canus Natus , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Noël Chabanel , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Peter Chanel , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Jane Frances de Chantal , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Colette of Corbie , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Jean-Charles Cornay , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Antoine Daniel , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Marie-Nicolas-Antoine Daveluy , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Dionysius of Vienne , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Domnin , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Pierre-Henri Dorie , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Louis Gabriel Taurin Dufresse , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Ebontius , pray for France and of the whole world.

St. Elzéar of Sabran , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Émilie de Villeneuve , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Estelle , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. John Eudes , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Peter Julian Eymard , pray for France and of the whole world.
Sts. Peter Faber , pray for France and of the whole world.
Felix, Fortunatus, and Achilleus , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Floribert of Liège , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Peter Fourier , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Andrew Fournet , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Frederick of Liege , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. François-Isidore Gagelin , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Charles Garnier , pray for France and of the whole world. 
St. Gaugericus , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Gens , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Gérard of Brogne , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Goneri of Brittany , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Goswin , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. René Goupil , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Guarinus of Sitten , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Théodore Guérin , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Guirec , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Hilary of Poitiers , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Hugh of Noara , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Laurent-Joseph-Marius Imbert , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Isabelle of France , pray for France and of the whole world.



St. Joan of Arc , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Joan of France, Duchess of Berry , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Isaac Jogues , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. John of the Grating , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Judoc , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Julian the Hospitaller , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Catherine Labouré , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Benedict Joseph Labre , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Jean de Lalande , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Gabriel Lalemant , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Lambert of Vence, pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Jeanne de Lestonnac , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Leudwinus , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Louis IX King of France , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Magloire , pray for France and of the whole world.

St. Jeanne-Marie de Maille , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Joseph Marchand , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Marie of the Incarnation , pray for France and of the whole world. 
St. Louise de Marillac , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Louis Martin and Marie-Azélie Guérin , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Maurice of Carnoet Méen , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Louis de Montfort , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Nazarius , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Odo of Cluny , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Ormond , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Paternus of Auch, pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Vincent de Paul , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Paulinus of Trier , pray for France and of the whole world.
St Mary Euphrasia Pelletier , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. John Gabriel Perboyre , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Peter of Juilly , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Peter of Tarentaise , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. William Pinchon , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Prosper of Aquitaine , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Quintian of Rodez , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Raymond of Barbastro , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Raymond of Toulouse , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Richard of Vaucelles , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Richardis , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Roch , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Émilie de Rodat , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Benildus Romançon , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Elizabeth Rose , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Francis de Sales , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Saturnina , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Augustin Schoeffler , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Serenus the Gardener, pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Severinus, Exuperius, and St. Felician , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Sigo , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Bernadette Soubirous , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Stephen of Obazine , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Theobald of Dorat , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Theodard , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Theophilus of Corte , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Claudine Thévenet , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Joan Antidea Thouret , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Tironensian Order , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Torpes of Pisa , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Marie Therese Vauzou , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Venant de Viviers , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Théophane Vénard , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Veranus of Vence , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Emily de Vialar , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. John Vianney , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Vincent of Digne , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Walric, abbot of Leuconay , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. William of Æbelholt , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. William of Breteuil , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. William of Donjeon , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. William of Gellone , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. William of Pontoise , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Wivina , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Zachary (bishop of Vienne) , pray for France and of the whole world.
St. Émilien of Nantes, pray for France and of the whole world.



Ye holy men and women, Saints of God,
R. intercede for us.


Be merciful
R. spare us, O Lord.


Be merciful
R. graciously hear us, O Lord.


From all evil,
R. deliver us, O Lord.


From all sin,
R. deliver us, O Lord.


From Thy wrath,
R. deliver us, O Lord.


From sudden and unprovided death,
R. deliver us, O Lord.


From the snares of the devil,
R. deliver us, O Lord.

From anger, hatred, and all ill-will,
R. deliver us, O Lord.


From the spirit of fornication,
R. deliver us, O Lord.


From lightning and tempest,
R. deliver us, O Lord.


From the scourge of earthquake,
R. deliver us, O Lord.


From plague, famine and war,
R. deliver us, O Lord.


From everlasting death,
R. deliver us, O Lord.


Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation,
R. deliver us, O Lord.


Through Thy coming,
R. deliver us, O Lord.

Through Thy nativity,
R. deliver us, O Lord.

Through Thy Baptism and holy fasting,
R. deliver us, O Lord.

Through Thy Cross and Passion,
R. deliver us, O Lord.

Through Thy Death and Burial,
R. deliver us, O Lord.

Through Thy Holy Resurrection,
R. deliver us, O Lord.

Through Thy wondrous Ascension,
R. deliver us, O Lord.

Through the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete,
R. deliver us, O Lord.


In the day of judgment,
R. deliver us, O Lord.

We sinners,
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.


That Thou wouldst spare us,
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst pardon us,
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst bring us to true repentance,
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst govern and preserve Thy Holy Church,
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst preserve the Bishop of the Apostolic See, and all orders of the Church in holy religion,
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst humble the enemies of Holy Church,
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst grant peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes,
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst grant peace and unity to all Christian peoples
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst call back to the unity of the Church all who have strayed from her fold, and to guide all unbelievers into the light of the Gospel
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service,
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires,
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst render eternal blessing to all our benefactors,
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst deliver our souls and the souls of our brethren, relations and benefactors from eternal damnation,
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst grant and preserve the fruits of the earth,
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed,
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst graciously hear us,
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.

Son of God,
R. we beseech Thee, hear us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
R. spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
R. graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
R. have mercy on us.

Christ,
R. hear us.


Christ,
R. graciously hear us.

Kyrie, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison. 

Kyrie, eleison.

Christe, eleison.
Christe, eleison. 

Christe, eleison.

Kyrie, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison.


Our Father (in silence until)

And lead us not into temptation,
R. but deliver us from evil.


V. O God, come to my assistance;
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.


V. Let them be confounded and ashamed;
R. those who seek my life.


V. Let them be rebuffed and disgraced,
R. those who wish me evil.


V. Let them be turned away blushing for shame,
R. those who say unto me: Aha! Aha!.


But let all those who seek Thee:
R. rejoice and be glad in Thee.


And may they always say: "Great is the Lord",
R. all those who delight in Thy salvation.


V. But I am afflicted and poor ,
R. O God, help me.


Thou art my helper and deliverer,
R. O Lord, do not delay.


Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.


V. Save Thy servants.
R. My God, who hope in Thee.


V. Be unto us, O Lord, a tower of strength.
R. In the face of the enemy.

V. Let not the enemy prevail against us.
R. Nor the son of iniquity have power to harm us.


V. O Lord, deal not with us according to our sins.
R. Nor render unto us according to our sins.

V. Let us pray for our Sovereign Pontiff ___________
R. That The Lord preserve him and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.


V. Let us pray for our benefactors.
R. Deign to grant, O Lord, for the sake of Thy Name, eternal life to all those who do good to us.


V. Let us pray for the faithful departed.
R. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord: and let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen.

V. May they rest in peace.
R. Amen.


V. For our absent brethren.
R. Save Thy servants who hope in Thee, O my God.


V. Send them help, O Lord, from Thy holy place.
R. And from Sion protect them.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.


V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with thy spirit.



Let us pray:

O God, Whose property is always to have mercy and to spare, receive our petition; that we and all Thy servants who are bound by the chain of sin may, by the compassion of Thy goodness mercifully be absolved.


Graciously hear, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the prayers of Thy supplicants and pardon the sins of those who confess to Thee: that in Thy bounty Thou mayest grant us both pardon and peace.
In Thy clemency, O Lord, show unto us Thine ineffabile mercy; that Thou mayest both free us from sins and deliver us from the punishments which we deserve for them.


O God, who by sin art offended, and by penance appeased, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy people making supplication to Thee; and turn away the scourges of Thy wrath which we deserve for our sins.


Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy upon Thy servant, N, our Sovereign Pontiff: and direct him according to Thy clemency into the way of everlasting salvation: that, by Thy grace, he may desire those things which are pleasing to Thee, and accomplish them with all his strength.


O God, from Whom are holy desires, right counsels, and just works: grant to Thy servants the peace which the world cannot give; that our hearts may be devoted to the keeping of Thy commandments, and that, being removed from the fear of our enemies, our times may be peaceful through Thy protection.


Inflame, O Lord, with the fire of the Holy Spirit, our hearts and our desires; that we may serve Thee with a chaste body and please Thee with a clean heart.


O God, the Creator and redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of Thy departed servants the remission of all their sins; that through pious supplications they may obtain the pardon they have always desired.


Direct, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our actions by Thy holy inspirations and carry them on by Thy gracious assistance; that every prayer and work of ours may always begin with Thee and through Thee be happily ended.


Almighty and everlasting God, Who hast dominion over the living and the dead, and art merciful to all whom Thou foreknowest shall be Thine by faith and good works: we humbly beseech Thee; that they for whom we intend to pour forth our prayers, whether this present world still detains them in the flesh, or the world to come has already received them out of their bodies, may, through the intercession of all Thy Saints, and in Thy compassionate goodness, obtain the pardon of all their sins. Through Christ our Lord.

V. May the almighty and most merciful Lord graciously hear us.
R. Amen.

V. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen.

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
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Friday, August 21, 2015
St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Foundress of the Order of the Visitation

Double (1955 Calendar): August 21

August 21st is the Feast of St. Jane Frances de Chantal, the widow who founded the Order of the Visitation after the death of her husband.  Even when it seems that our lives are over in our old age and after disasters, God can use our situation to bring about a manifold of graces. Her charity was so great she even served as godmother of the son of the man who killed her own husband.
She was the second child of Benignus Fremiot, president of the French Parliament of Burgundy.  Her mother died while she was a child, but her father took the greatest care of her education.  At her confirmation the name of Frances was added to her baptismal name.  At the age of 20, she married the Baron de Chantal, of the family of Rabutin, an officer in the army of Henry IV.  Her wedded life was happy, but an unexpected blow put an end to it.  The baron was killed by accident while hunting, and he expired in the arms of his disconsolate wife, who he left a widow at the age of 28 with one little son and three daughters.  She now gave herself entirely to God and to the exercises of religion.

In 1604 she first met St. Frances de Sales and soon placed herself under his direction.  By the advice of this holy Bishop she determined to abandon the world, having made satisfactory provision for her children, and her son being then 15 years of age.  She laid the foundation of her new "Order of the Visitation" at Annecy on Trinity Sunday in 1610, and the number of postulants soon increased.  For many years she suffered great interior trials with great resignation, while she labored to extend her Order and promote the glory of God.

St. Francis preceded her to the tomb in 1622, but she survived him nearly 20 years.  During the remainder of her life she continued to direct her Religious in the spirit with which St. Francis de Sales had imbued her.  In 1638 she went to Turin to found a convent.  Soon after, the Queen of France invited her to Paris.  She died at her convent at Moulins on December 13, 1641, at the age of 62.

Source: Father Hugo Hoever's "Live of the Saints
Prayer:

O Almighty and merciful God, who willed to add glory to Your Church through the new congregation founded by blessed Jane Frances, You inflamed this saint with such a love of Yourself that her wondrous strength of soul led her in the way of perfection during her whole life. May her merits and prayers bring us grace from heaven to overcome everything that hinders us, for we are conscious of our own frailty and trust solely in Your strength. Through our Lord . . .

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal
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