Litany of Humility Prayers It is by humility that the Lord allows Himself to be conquered, so that He will do all we ask of Him (Saint Teresa of Avila). “Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues. Hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist, there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance,” said Saint Augustine (White Lily of the Trinity, 2009). My brothers and sisters, without humility all is lost. We need to be humble at all times, especially when we pray to our Father in Heaven. “Let us ask the Lord with tears, that according to His will, so He would show his mercy to us: that as our heart is troubled by their pride, so also we may glorify in our humility” (Jdt 8:17). My brothers and sisters, Saint Vincent the Paul said, “The most powerful weapon to conquer the devil is humility. For as he does not know at all how to employ it, neither does he know how to defend himself from it” (White Lily of the Trinity, 2009). As Blessed Teresa of Calcutta said, “Humility is the mother of all virtues; the virtues of purity, charity, and obedience. It is in being humble that our love becomes real, devoted, and ardent” (Filz, 2015). “Humility is to the various virtues what the chain is in a rosary,” said Saint John Vianney. “Take away the chain and the beads are scattered. Remove humility and all virtues vanish” (Catholic Tradition, n. d.). Saint John Chrysostom said, “Humility is the root, mother, nurse, foundation, and bond of all virtue” (Healing Philosophy, 2008). My brothers and sisters, humility is the glue that bonds all virtues. Do you know what is the root of all evil? Pride! When we start to think of our own importance, that is when we let our pride take hold of us and we let the root of evil into ourselves. Saint Vincent De Paul also said, “We must ask God to give us power to fight against the sin of pride, which is our greatest enemy – the root of all that is evil and the failure of all that is good. For God resists the proud” (Catholic Bible 101, 2016). As Saint Pio said, “We must always humble ourselves lovingly before God and before men, because God speaks only to those who are truly humble and He enriches them with His gifts” (Padre Pio Devotions, 2016). “Where pride is, there also shall be reproach; but where humility is, there also is wisdom” (Pr 11:2). Saint John of the Cross said, “To be taken with love for a soul, God does not look on its greatness, but the greatness of its humility” (White Lily of the Trinity, 2009). We need to pray for the grace of humility and we need to say this prayer often: Jesus, so humble of heart, make our hearts like unto yours. Saint Francis of Assisi said, “Every day, Jesus humbles himself just as He did when He came from His heavenly throne into the Virgin’s womb. Every day, He comes to us and lets us see Him in abjection, when He descends from the bosom of the Father into the hands of the priest at the altar” (Spoolstra, n. d.). Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, related the following to Saint Faustina, “The soul’s true greatness is in loving God and in humbling oneself in His presence, completely forgetting oneself and believing oneself to be nothing; because the Lord is great, but He is well pleased only with the humble. He always opposes the proud” (Kowalska, 2005). “No man can attain to the knowledge of God, but by humility. The way to mount high is to descend,” said Blessed Giles of Assisi (Warner, n. d.). “Don’t permit your misery or defeats to depress you. Rather, let them be steps by which you descend the deep mine where we find the precious gem of holy humility,” said Saint Paola Frassinetti (Rose, 2015). “It was pride that changed angels into devils. It is humility that makes men as angels,” said Saint Augustine (White Lily of the Trinity, 2009). Saint José Maria Escriva (1963) said, “Humbly acknowledge your weaknesses. Then you can say with the Apostle: ‘For when I am weak, then I am strong.’” Join us in praying the Litany of Humility everyday! O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, Hear me. From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being praised, Deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being preferred to others, Deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, O Jesus. From the desire of being approved, Deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being despised, Deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of suffering rebukes, Deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being calumniated, Deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, O Jesus. From the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, O Jesus. That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be praised and I go unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you, save souls and take care of everything especially our intentions and the whole world joins us. Amen
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Thank you, my God, for that love for the Pope you have placed in my heart. ~St. Jose Escriva Prayers for the Pope pray everyday a short prayer for the Pope and invite others to join us in our prayers together so that the whole world will pray for the Pope everyday! Daily Prayer O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on your servant Pope Francis, whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd; Grant, we pray, that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life. May all the Angels and Saints pray for him and protect him, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you, take care of everything, especially our intentions and the whole world joins us. Amen. The Devotees of the Shoulder Wound of Christ pray a short prayer in honor of the Shoulder Wound of Christ and invite friends and family to join in this devotion whenever they can. It is related in the annals of Clairvaux that St. Bernard asked our Lord which was His greatest unrecorded suffering, and Our Lord answered: "I had on My Shoulder, while I bore My Cross on the Way of Sorrows, a grievous Wound, which was more painful than the others, and which is not recorded by men. Honor this wound with thy devotion, and I will grant thee whatsoever thou dost ask through its virtue and merit. And in regard to all those who shall venerate this Wound, I will remit to them all their venial sins, and will no longer remember their mortal sins." Daily Prayer O Loving Jesus, meek Lamb of God, I miserable sinner, salute and worship the most Sacred Wound of Thy Shoulder on which Thou didst bear Thy heavy Cross, which so tore Thy flesh and laid bare Thy Bones as to inflict on Thee an anguish greater than any other wound of Thy Most Blessed Body. I adore Thee, O Jesus most sorrowful; I praise and glorify Thee, and give Thee thanks for this most sacred and painful Wound, beseeching Thee by that exceeding pain, and by the crushing burden of Thy heavy Cross to be merciful to me, a sinner, to forgive me all my mortal and venial sins, and to lead me on towards Heaven along the Way of Thy Cross. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I love you, save souls, take care of everything, especially our prayers and the whole world joins us. Amen. The True Consecraters pray and live out their consecration to Jesus through Mary everyday as well as spread this to the whole world so that Millions of Saints will help convert the world! From True Devotion to Mary by Saint Louis De Montfort These great souls filled with grace and zeal will be chosen to oppose the enemies of God who are raging on all sides. They will be exceptionally devoted to the Blessed Virgin. Illumined by her light, strengthened by her food, guided by her spirit, supported by her arm, sheltered under her protection, they will fight with one hand and build with the other. With one hand they will give battle, overthrowing and crushing heretics and their heresies, schismatics and their schisms, idolaters and their idolatries, sinners and their wickedness. With the other hand they will build the temple of the true Solomon and the mystical city of God, namely, the Blessed Virgin, who is called by the Fathers of the Church the Temple of Solomon and the City of God. By word and example they will draw all men to a true devotion to her and though this will make many enemies, it will also bring about many victories and much glory to God alone. Finally, God in these times wishes his Blessed Mother to be more known, loved and honoured than she has ever been. This will certainly come about if the elect, by the grace and light of the Holy Spirit, adopt the interior and perfect practice of the devotion which I shall later unfold. Then they will clearly see that beautiful Star of the Sea, as much as faith allows. Under her guidance they will perceive the splendors of this Queen and will consecrate themselves entirely to her service as subjects and slaves of love. They will experience her motherly kindness and affection for her children. They will love her tenderly and will appreciate how full of compassion she is and how much they stand in need of her help. In all circumstances they will have recourse to her as their advocate and mediatrix with Jesus Christ. They will see clearly that she is the safest, easiest, shortest and most perfect way of approaching Jesus and will surrender themselves to her, body and soul, without reserve in order to belong entirely to Jesus. But what will they be like, these servants, these slaves, these children of Mary? They will be ministers of the Lord who, like a flaming fire, will enkindle everywhere the fires of divine love. They will become, in Mary's powerful hands, like sharp arrows, with which she will transfix her enemies. They will be as the children of Levi, thoroughly purified by the fire of great tribulations and closely joined to God. They will carry the gold of love in their heart, the frankincense of prayer in their mind and the myrrh of mortification in their body. They will bring to the poor and lowly everywhere the sweet fragrance of Jesus, but they will bring the odour of death to the great, the rich and the proud of this world. They will be like thunder-clouds flying through the air at the slightest breath of the Holy Spirit. Attached to nothing, surprised at nothing, troubled at nothing, they will shower down the rain of God's word and of eternal life. They will thunder against sin, they will storm against the world, they will strike down the devil and his followers and for life and for death, they will pierce through and through with the two-edged sword of God's word all those against whom they are sent by Almighty God. They will be true apostles of the latter times to whom the Lord of Hosts will give eloquence and strength to work wonders and carry off glorious spoils from his enemies. They will sleep without gold or silver and, more important still, without concern in the midst of other priests, ecclesiastics and clerics. Yet they will have the silver wings of the dove enabling them to go wherever the Holy Spirit calls them, filled as they are with the resolve to seek the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Wherever they preach, they will leave behind them nothing but the gold of love, which is the fulfilment of the whole law. Lastly, we know they will be true disciples of Jesus Christ, imitating his poverty, his humility, his contempt of the world and his love. They will point out the narrow way to God in pure truth according to the holy Gospel, and not according to the maxims of the world. Their hearts will not be troubled, nor will they show favour to anyone; they will not spare or heed or fear any man, however powerful he may be. They will have the two-edged sword of the word of God in their mouths and the blood-stained standard of the Cross on their shoulders. They will carry the crucifix in their right hand and the rosary in their left, and the holy names of Jesus and Mary on their heart. The simplicity and self-sacrifice of Jesus will be reflected in their whole behaviour. I feel more than ever inspired to believe and expect the complete fulfilment of the desire that is deeply engraved on my heart and what I have prayed to God for over many years, namely, that in the near or distant future the Blessed Virgin will have more children, servants and slaves of love than ever before, and that through them Jesus, my dear Lord, will reign more than ever in the hearts of men. It even gives me encouragement to hope for great success at the prospect of a mighty legion of brave and valiant soldiers of Jesus and Mary, both men and women, who will fight the devil, the world, and corrupt nature in the perilous times that are sure to come. The Blessed Virgin, mother of gentleness and mercy, never allows herself to be surpassed in love and generosity. When she sees someone giving himself entirely to her in order to honour and serve her, and depriving himself of what he prizes most in order to adorn her, she gives herself completely in a wondrous manner to him. She engulfs him in the ocean of her graces, adorns him with her merits, supports him with her power, enlightens him with her light, and fills him with her love. She shares her virtues with him - her humility, faith, purity, etc. She makes up for his failings and becomes his representative with Jesus. Just as one who is consecrated belongs entirely to Mary, so Mary belongs entirely to him. We can truthfully say of this perfect servant and child of Mary what St. John in his gospel says of himself, "He took her for his own." I reply that it is quite true that the most faithful servants of the Blessed Virgin, being her greatest favorites', receive from her the best graces and favours from heaven, which are crosses. But I maintain too that these servants of Mary bear their crosses with greater ease and gain more merit and glory. What could check another's progress a thousand times over, or possibly bring about his downfall, does not balk them at all, but even helps them on their way. For this good Mother, filled with the grace and unction of the Holy Spirit, dips all the crosses she prepares for them in the honey of her maternal sweetness and the unction of pure love. They then readily swallow them as they would sugared almonds, though the crosses may be very bitter. I believe that anyone who wishes to be devout and live piously in Jesus will suffer persecution and will have a daily cross to carry. But he will never manage to carry a heavy cross, or carry it joyfully and perseveringly, without a trusting devotion to our Lady, who is the very sweetness of the cross. It is obvious that a person could not keep on eating without great effort unripe fruit which has not been sweetened. Show me a new road to our Lord, pave it with all the merits of the saints, adorn it with their heroic virtues, illuminate and enhance it with the splendour and beauty of the angels, have all the angels and saints there to guide and protect those who wish to follow it. Give me such a road and truly, truly, I boldly say -and I am telling the truth - that instead of this road, perfect though it be, I would still choose the immaculate way of Mary. It is a way, a road without stain or spot, without original sin or actual sin, without shadow or darkness,. When our loving Jesus comes in glory once again to reign upon earth - as he certainly will - he will choose no other way than the Blessed Virgin, by whom he came so surely and so perfectly the first time. The difference between his first and his second coming is that the first was secret and hidden, but the second will be glorious and resplendent. Both are perfect because both are through Mary. Alas, this is a mystery which we cannot understand, "Here let every tongue be silent." It was opened up by Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom. He is our one and only Head, and we, his members, cannot go wrong in following him. It is a smooth way made easy by the fullness of grace, the unction of the Holy Spirit. In our progress along this road, we do not weaken or turn back. It is a quick way and leads us to Jesus in a short time. It is a perfect way without mud or dust or any vileness of sin. Finally, it is a reliable way, for it is direct and sure, having no turnings to right or left but leading us straight to Jesus and to life eternal. Let us then take this road and travel along it night and day until we arrive at the fullness of the age of Jesus Christ. Mary, the beloved Mother of chosen souls, shelters them under her protecting wings as a hen does her chicks. She speaks to them, coming down to their level and accommodating herself to all their weaknesses. To ensure their safety from the hawk and vulture, she becomes their escort, surrounding them as an army in battle array. Could anyone surrounded by a well-ordered army of say a hundred thousand men fear his enemies? No, and still less would a faithful servant of Mary, protected on all sides by her imperial forces, fear his enemy. This powerful Queen of heaven would sooner dispatch millions of angels to help one of her servants than have it said that a single faithful and trusting servant of hers had fallen victim to the malice, number and power of his enemies. Mary will share her faith with you. Her faith on earth was stronger than that of all the patriarchs, prophets, apostles and saints. Now that she is reigning in heaven she no longer has this faith, since she sees everything clearly in God by the light of glory. However, with the consent of almighty God she did not lose it when entering heaven. She has preserved it for her faithful servants in the Church militant. Therefore the more you gain the friendship of this noble Queen and faithful Virgin the more you will be inspired by faith in your daily life. It will cause you to depend less upon sensible and extraordinary feelings. For it is a lively faith animated by love enabling you to do everything from no other motive than that of pure love. It is a firm faith, unshakable as a rock, prompting you to remain firm and steadfast in the midst of storms and tempests. It is an active and probing faith which like some mysterious pass-key admits you into the mysteries of Jesus Christ and of man's final destiny and into the very heart of God himself. It is a courageous faith which inspires you to undertake and carry out without hesitation great things for God and the salvation of souls. Lastly, this faith will be your flaming torch, your very life with God, your secret fund of divine Wisdom, and an all-powerful weapon for you to enlighten those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death. It inflames those who are lukewarm and need the gold of fervent love. It restores life to those who are dead through sin. It moves and transforms hearts of marble and cedars of Lebanon by gentle and convincing argument. Finally, this faith will strengthen you to resist the devil and the other enemies of salvation. Through Mary We must do everything through Mary, that is, we must obey her always and be led in all things by her spirit, which is the Holy Spirit of God. "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God," says St. Paul. Those who are led by the spirit of Mary are children of Mary, and, consequently children of God, as we have already shown. Among the many servants of Mary only those who are truly and faithfully devoted to her are led by her spirit. I have said that the spirit of Mary is the spirit of God because she was never led by her own spirit,, but always by the spirit of God, who made himself master of her to such an extent that he became her very spirit. That is why St. Ambrose says, "May the soul of Mary be in each one of us to glorify the Lord. May the spirit of Mary be in each one of us to rejoice in God." Happy is the man who follows the example of the good Jesuit Brother Rodriguez, who died a holy death, because he will be completely possessed and governed by the spirit of Mary, a spirit which is gentle yet strong, zealous yet prudent, humble yet courageous, pure yet fruitful. The person who wishes to be led by this spirit of Mary: 1) Should renounce his own spirit, his own views and his own will before doing anything, for example, before making meditation, celebrating or attending Mass, before Communion. For the darkness of our own spirit and the evil tendencies of our own will and actions, good as they may seem to us, would hinder the holy spirit of Mary were we to follow them. 2) We should give ourselves up to the spirit of Mary to be moved and directed as she wishes. We should place and leave ourselves in her virginal hands, like a tool in the hands of a craftsman or a lute in the hands of a good musician. We should cast ourselves into her like a stone thrown into the sea. This is done easily and quickly by a mere thought, a slight movement of the will or just a few words as, "I renounce myself and give myself to you, my dear Mother." And even if we do not experience any emotional fervour in this spiritual encounter it is none the less real. It is just as if a person with equal sincerity were to say - which God forbid! - "I give myself to the devil." Even though this were said without feeling any emotion, he would no less really belong to the devil. 3) From time to time during an action and after it, we should renew this same act of offering and of union. The more we do so, the quicker we shall grow in holiness and the sooner we shall reach union with Christ, which necessarily follows upon union with Mary, since the spirit of Mary is the spirit of Jesus. With Mary We must do everything with Mary, that is to say, in all our actions we must look upon Mary, although a simple human being, as the perfect model of every virtue and perfection, fashioned by the Holy Spirit for us to imitate, as far as our limited capacity allows. In every action then we should consider how Mary performed it or how she would perform it if she were in our place. For this reason, we must examine and meditate on the great virtues she practised during her life, especially: 1) Her lively faith, by which she believed the angel's word without the least hesitation, and believed faithfully and constantly even to the foot of the Cross on Calvary. 2) Her deep humility, which made her prefer seclusion, maintain silence, submit to every eventuality and put herself in the last place. 3) Her truly divine purity, which never had and never will have its equal on this side of heaven. And so on for her other virtues. Remember what I told you before, that Mary is the great, unique mould of God, designed to make living images of God at little expense and in a short time. Anyone who finds this mould and casts himself into it, is soon transformed into our Lord because it is the true likeness of him. In Mary We must do everything in Mary. To understand this we must realise that the Blessed Virgin is the true earthly paradise of the new Adam and that the ancient paradise was only a symbol of her. There are in this earthly paradise untold riches, beauties, rarities and delights, which the new Adam, Jesus Christ, has left there. It is in this paradise that he "took his delights" for nine months, worked his wonders and displayed his riches with the magnificence of God himself. This most holy place consists of only virgin and immaculate soil from which the new Adam was formed with neither spot nor stain by the operation of the Holy Spirit who dwells there. In this earthly paradise grows the real Tree of Life which bore our Lord, the fruit of Life, the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which bore the Light of the world. In this divine place there are trees planted by the hand of God and watered by his divine unction which have borne and continue to bear fruit that is pleasing to him. There are flower-beds studded with a variety of beautiful flowers of virtue, diffusing a fragrance which delights even the angels. Here there are meadows verdant with hope, impregnable towers of fortitude, enchanting mansions of confidence and many other delights. Only the Holy Spirit can teach us the truths that these material objects symbolise. In this place the air is perfectly pure. There is no night but only the brilliant day of the sacred humanity, the resplendent, spotless sun of the Divinity, the blazing furnace of love, melting all the base metal thrown into it and changing it into gold. There the river of humility gushes forth from the soil, divides into four branches and irrigates the whole of this enchanted place. These branches are the four cardinal virtues. The Holy Spirit speaking through the Fathers of the Church, also calls our Lady the Eastern Gate, through which the High Priest, Jesus Christ, enters and goes out into the world. Through this gate he entered the world the first time and through this same gate he will come the second time. The Holy Spirit also calls her the Sanctuary of the Divinity, the Resting-Place of the Holy Spirit, the Throne of God, the City of God, the Altar of God, the Temple of God, the World of God. All these titles and expressions of praise are very real when related to the different wonders the Almighty worked in her and the graces which he bestowed on her. What wealth and what glory! What a joy and a privilege for us to enter and dwell in Mary, in whom almighty God has set up the throne of his supreme glory! But how difficult it is for us to have the freedom, the ability and the light to enter such an exalted and holy place. This place is guarded not by a cherub, like the first earthly paradise, but by the Holy Spirit himself who has become its absolute Master. Referring to her, he says: "You are an enclosed garden, my sister, my bride, an enclosed garden and a sealed fountain." Mary is enclosed. Mary is sealed. The unfortunate children of Adam and Eve driven from the earthly paradise, can enter this new paradise only by a special grace of the Holy Spirit which they have to merit. When we have obtained this remarkable grace by our fidelity, we should be delighted to remain in Mary. We should rest there peacefully, rely on her confidently, hide ourselves there with safety, and abandon ourselves unconditionally to her, so that within her virginal bosom: 1) We may be nourished with the milk of her grace and her motherly compassion. 2) We may be delivered from all anxiety, fear and scruples. 3) We may be safeguarded from all our enemies, the devil, the world and sin which have never gained admittance there. That is why our Lady says that those who work in her will not sin, that is, those who dwell spiritually in our Lady will never commit serious sin. 4) We may be formed in our Lord and our Lord formed in us, because her womb is, as the early Fathers call it, the house of the divine secrets where Jesus and all the elect have been conceived. "This one and that one were born in her." For Mary Finally, we must do everything for Mary. Since we have given ourselves completely to her service, it is only right that we should do everything for her as if we were her personal servant and slave. This does not mean that we take her for the ultimate end of our service for Jesus alone is our ultimate end. But we take Mary for our proximate end, our mysterious intermediary and the easiest way of reaching him. Like every good servant and slave we must not remain idle, but, relying on her protection, we should undertake and carry out great things for our noble Queen. We must defend her privileges when they are questioned and uphold her good name when it is under attack. We must attract everyone, if possible, to her service and to this true and sound devotion. We must speak up and denounce those who distort devotion to her by outraging her Son, and at the same time we must apply ourselves to spreading this true devotion. As a reward for these little services, we should expect nothing in return save the honour of belonging to such a lovable Queen and the joy of being united through her to Jesus, her Son, by a bond that is indissoluble in time and in eternity. Glory to Jesus in Mary! Glory to Mary in Jesus! Glory to God alone! THIS DEVOTION AT HOLY COMMUNION Before Holy Communion 1) Place yourself humbly in the presence of God. 2) Renounce your corrupt nature and dispositions, no matter how good self-love makes them appear to you. 3) Renew your consecration saying, "I belong entirely to you, dear Mother, and all that I have is yours." 4) Implore Mary to lend you her heart so that you may receive her Son with her dispositions. Remind her that her Son's glory requires that he should not come into a heart so sullied and fickle as your own, which could not fail to diminish his glory and might cause him to leave. Tell her that if she will take up her abode in you to receive her Son - which she can do because of the sovereignty she has over all hearts - he will be received by her in a perfect manner without danger of being affronted or being forced to depart. "God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved." Tell her with confidence that all you have given her of your possessions is little enough to honour her, but that in Holy Communion you wish to give her the same gifts as the eternal Father gave her. Thus she will feel more honoured than if you gave her all the wealth in the world. Tell her, finally, that Jesus, whose love for her is unique, still wishes to take his delight and his repose in her even in your soul, even though it is poorer and less clean than the stable which he readily entered because she was there. Beg her to lend you her heart, saying, "O Mary, I take you for my all; give me your heart." During Holy Communion After the Our Father, when you are about to receive our Lord, say to him three times the prayer, "Lord, I am not worthy." Say it the first time as if you were telling the eternal Father that because of your evil thoughts and your ingratitude to such a good Father, you are unworthy to receive his only-begotten Son, but that here is Mary, his handmaid, who acts for you and whose presence gives you a special confidence and hope in him. Say to God the Son, "Lord, I am not worthy", meaning that you are not worthy to receive him because of your useless and evil words and your carelessness in his service, but nevertheless you ask him to have pity on you because you are going to usher him into the house of his Mother and yours, and you will not let him go until he has made it his home. Implore him to rise and come to the place of his repose and the ark of his sanctification. Tell him that you have no faith in your own merits, strength and preparedness, like Esau, but only in Mary, your Mother, just as Jacob had trust in Rebecca his mother. Tell him that although you are a great sinner you still presume to approach him, supported by his holy Mother and adorned with her merits and virtues. Say to the Holy Spirit, "Lord, I am not worthy". Tell him that you are not worthy to receive the masterpiece of his love because of your lukewarmness, wickedness and resistance to his inspirations. But, nonetheless, you put all your confidence in Mary, his faithful Spouse, and say with St. Bernard, "She is my greatest safeguard, the whole foundation of my hope." Beg him to overshadow Mary, his inseparable Spouse, once again. Her womb is as pure and her heart as ardent as ever. Tell him that if he does not enter your soul neither Jesus nor Mary will be formed there nor will it be a worthy dwelling for them. After Holy Communion, close your eyes and recollect yourself. Then usher Jesus into the heart of Mary: you are giving him to his Mother who will receive him with great love and give him the place of honour, adore him profoundly, show him perfect love, embrace him intimately in spirit and in truth, and perform many offices for him of which we, in our ignorance, would know nothing. Or, maintain a profoundly humble heart in the presence of Jesus dwelling in Mary. Or be in attendance like a slave at the gate of the royal palace, where the King is speaking with the Queen. While they are talking to each other, with no need of you, go in spirit to heaven and to the whole world, and call upon all creatures to thank, adore and love Jesus and Mary for you. "Come, let us adore." Or, ask Jesus living in Mary that his kingdom may come upon earth through his holy Mother. Ask for divine Wisdom, divine love, the forgiveness of your sins, or any other grace, but always through Mary and in Mary. Cast a look of reproach upon yourself and say, "Lord, do not look at my sins, let your eyes see nothing in me but the virtues and merits of Mary." Remembering your sins, you may add, "I am my own worst enemy and I am guilty of all these sins." Or, "Deliver me from the unjust and deceitful man." Or again, "Dear Jesus, you must increase in my soul and I must decrease." "Mary, you must increase in me and I must always go on decreasing." "O Jesus and Mary, increase in me and increase in others around me." There are innumerable other thoughts with which the Holy Spirit will inspire you, which he will make yours if you are thoroughly recollected and mortified, and constantly faithful to the great and sublime devotion which I have been teaching you. But remember, the more you let Mary act in your Communion the more Jesus will be glorified. The more you humble yourself and listen to Jesus and Mary in peace and silence - with no desire to see, taste or feel - then the more freedom you will give to Mary to act in Jesus'name and the more Jesus will act in Mary. For the just man lives everywhere by faith, but especially in Holy Communion, which is an action of faith. To Join pray our Daily Prayer and do your best to live your consecration to Jesus through Mary everyday and sign up below: I, ____________, a repentant sinner, renew and ratify today in your hands, O Immaculate Mother, the vows of my Baptism. I renounce Satan and resolve to follow Jesus Christ even more closely than before. Mary, I give you my heart. Please set it on fire with love for Jesus. Make it always attentive to his burning thirst for love and for souls. Keep my heart in your most pure Heart that I may love Jesus and the members of his Body with your own perfect love. Mary, Help me to do everything through you, in you, with you, and for you. I entrust myself totally to you: my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions. Please make of me, of all that I am and have, whatever most pleases you. Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for bringing the greatest possible glory to God and pray for all our intentions and that the whole joins us. I ask this all in the Name of Jesus. Amen. To Learn more about True Consecration read these two amazing books:
www.montfort.org/content/uploads/pdf/PDF_EN_26_1.pdf haciadios.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/33-days-to-morning-glory-michael-gaitley-.pdf St. Raphael is one of the seven Archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord. He appears, by name, only in the Book of Tobit. Raphael's name means "God heals." Disguised as a human in the Book of Tobit, Raphael refers to himself as "Azarias the son of the great Ananias" and travels alongside Tobit's son, Tobiah. Once Raphael returns from his journey with Tobiah, he declares to Tobit that he was sent by the Lord to heal his blindness and deliver Sarah, Tobiah's future wife, from the demon Asmodeus. It is then that his true healing powers are revealed and he makes himself known as "the angel Raphael, one of the seven, who stand before the Lord" Tobit 12:15. The demon Asmodeus killed every man Sarah married on the night of the wedding, before the marriage could be consummated. Raphael guided Tobiah and taught him how to safely enter the marriage with Sarah.Raphael is credited with driving the evil spirit from Sarah and restoring Tobit's vision, allowing him to see the light of Heaven and for receiving all good things through his intercession. The Raphaelites seek to honor St. Raphael and seek his powerful intercession everyday by praying this short prayer! Glorious Archangel St. Raphael, you are a guide of those who journey throughout the world, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners. We choose you as our patron and wish to love and obey you as young Tobias did. We want you to be our guide and counselor in all the dangerous and difficult problems and decisions of our lives. Because you are the “medicine of God” we humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of our souls and the ills that afflict our bodies. We ask for the great grace of purity to prepare us to be the temples of the Holy Spirit. We especially ask you to pray for all our intentions and that the whole world joins us. We ask this all in the Name of Jesus. Amen The Enthroners is a prayer group of those who try to pray with our arms extended, as Jesus taught Saint Gertrude, whenever we can. We seek to solemnly enthrone Jesus always and everywhere, especially in our hearts. We also pray a short prayer everyday for each other's intentions as well as our own. Jesus, we pray for the grace to do all of our actions in union with your Passion. Give us the grace to do this especially whenever we extend our arms in union with the love with which you stretched out your arms upon the cross and for the salvation of the whole world especially our family and friends. Please grant all our intentions and that the whole world joins us. We ask this all in the Name of Jesus. “Ah!” exclaimed St. Gertrude, “teach me, O best of teachers, how to perform even one action perfectly in memory of Thy Passion.” Our Lord replied, “When you are praying, extend your arms to represent the manner in which I extended mine to God my Father in My Passion; and do this for the salvation of every member of the Church, in union with the love with which I stretched out My arms upon the cross.” “If I do this,” she replied, “I must hide myself hide myself in a corner, for it is far from being customary.” Our Lord replied, “If anyone prays thus with his hands extended, without fear of contradiction, he pays Me the same honor as one would do who solemnly enthroned a king.” Life of St. Gertrude; Part 4, Chapter 13. "Three Chapters a Day keeps the Devil Away" is a prayer group of members who try to at least read three chapters of the Bible everyday and pray a short prayer for graces for each other and their intentions everyday. Join Today! Father, anoint us with your Holy Spirit, so that as we read your eternal word, your word may penetrate our whole being and transform us. Our Lord Jesus Christ, open the ears and eyes of our hearts so that we may hear your words and understand them, and may fulfill Thy Holy will. Grant us the blessing to be faithful disciples in believing the Word of God and that we may be lights shining upon all those in darkness. Also please grant all our intentions and that the whole world joins us. We ask this in the Name of Jesus Amen I recommend one chapter from the Gospel, one from the New Testament and one from the Old Testament a day. ~The Rosary Doctor “Let us seek friends that will stir up our prayers, our Bible reading, our use of time, and our salvation.” J. C. Ryle “Fill your mind with God’s Word and you will have no room for Satan’s lies.” “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” “The Bible is the only book whose author is always present when one reads it.” “Reading the Scriptures is a great safeguard against sin”– St. Epiphanius “The Holy Scriptures were not given to us that we should enclose them in books, but that we should engrave them upon our hearts”– St. John Chrysostom “It is not possible ever to exhaust the mind of the Scriptures. It is a well which has no bottom”– St. John Chrysostom “When you begin to read or listen to the Holy Scriptures, pray to God thus: “Lord Jesus Christ, open the ears and eyes of my heart so that I may hear Thy words and understand them, and may fulfill Thy will” – St. Ephraim the Syrian “Learn the heart of God from the word of God”– Pope St. Gregory The Great “The person who thirsts for God eagerly studies and meditates on the inspired Word, knowing that there he is certain to find the One for whom he thirsts” – St. Bernard of Clairvaux “The Lord, always sowing his word, just asking an open heart to listen and willingness to put it into practice.” – Pope Francis The more you read the Bible the More you will love the author! “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”St Jerome A well-used Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to a person who isn’t. The Bible is meant to be our daily bread, not cake for special occasions. Scripture is good medicine. You can sum up the Bible in two words: Come closer. John Eldridge The New Testament lies hidden in the Old; the Old is made accessible by the New. Saint Augustine The Bible should come with a warning label. Beware of the Bible: It may change your life. Peter Kreeft I congratulate you all for memorizing Scripture. You’re hiding His Word in your hearts so that in times of trial and temptation, you will have a weapon to fight with. Tim Tebow The Bible does not teach us how the heavens go, but how to go to Heaven. Galileo God never intended that we should merely get into His Word. His intent is that the Word should get into us. Nancy Leigh DeMoss The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible. Dwight L. Moody Nature reveals God’s mind and imagination, and scripture reveals God’s heart and will. Peter Kreeft Become familiar with the Bible so that it can be your compass pointing out the road to follow. Pope Benedict XVI We speak to God when we pray; we listen to Him when we read the Scriptures. Saint Ambrose The Holy Bible is like a mirror before our mind’s eye. In it we see our inner face. From the Scriptures we can learn our spiritual deformities and beauties. And there too we discover the progress we are making and how far we are from perfection. Saint Gregory the Great Join the 3 Chapters a Day Keeps the Devil Away! Just pray the Daily Prayer and do your best to read 3 chapters a Day from the Holy Bible! The Doublers pray a simple prayer first prayed by Saint Therese which asked for a double portion of all the angels and saints love. We pray that and also ask a double portion of their graces, virtues and merits as well. All you do is pray this prayer everyday and sign up below! We join our prayer with Saint Therese's prayer for a double portion of all the angels and saints love, also their graces, virtues and merits, and that they adopt us as their children forever. We also ask that they pray for all the Doublers intentions and that the whole world joins us. We ask this in the Name of Jesus. Amen. “Love can only be repaid by love. I wanted to do everything at once and I thought of a prayer Eliseus made to our father Elias when he asked him for a double portion of his spirit, and in that sense I prayed to all the Angels and Saints in heaven. ‘I am the most insignificant of creatures,’ I told them, ‘and I could not be more conscious of my own wretched failings. But I know how generous hearts like yours love to do well to those around them, and I want you, the blessed citizens of heaven, to adopt me as your child. Whatever credit I win by such means will belong to you entirely, but do not despise the rash request I make of you when I ask you to obtain for me a double portion of your love.” "The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works." --St. Augustine The Confessioners was formed so that each member would pray for the grace to make good and frequent confessions and also to pray for each other's intentions and that the whole world joins us! All you have to do as a member is pray the daily prayer and do your best to go to confession at least once a month or better. The Confessioners Prayer Come Holy Spirit, into my soul. Enlighten my mind that I may know the sins I ought to confess, and grant me your grace to confess them fully, humbly, and with a contrite heart. Help me to firmly resolve not to commit them again. Also give me the grace to make at least once a month confession and to grant all the graces and intentions of the Confessioners and mine and that the whole world joins us. I ask this in the Name of Jesus. Amen Confession is the soul's bath. You must go at least once a week. I do not want souls to stay away from confession more than a week. Even a clean and unoccupied room gathers dust; return after a week and you will see that it needs dusting again!”~St. Pio A recommended frequency, based on the teachings of past popes and canon law, is between once a month and once a week. This practice "was introduced into the Church by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit", according to Pius XII. Pius XII, who went to Confession daily,[6] explained that by frequent Confession: genuine self-knowledge is increased, Christian humility grows, bad habits are corrected, spiritual neglect and tepidity are resisted, the conscience is purified, the will strengthened, a salutary self-control is attained, grace is increased in virtue of the sacrament itself. John Paul II who went to Confession weekly, said: "It would be an illusion to seek after holiness, according to the vocation one has received from God, without partaking frequently of this sacrament of conversion and reconciliation. Those who go to Confession frequently, and do so with the desire to make progress, will notice the strides that they make in their spiritual lives." According to Rev. Fr. Sal Ferigle, "For those who sincerely wish to do their best to avail themselves of the opportunity of frequent Confession in order to grow spiritually, frequent Confession will ordinarily be linked to having a fixed confessor. The confessor will be the best qualified person to suggest the frequency suited to the spiritual development and the physical and moral possibilities of the penitent. Just as an animal becomes a stronger beast of burden and more beautiful to behold the more often and better it is fed, so too confession - the more often it is used and the more carefully it is made as to both lesser and greater sins - conveys the soul increasingly forward and is so pleasing to God that it leads the soul to God's very heart. --Revelations of St. Bridget The want of proper examination, true contrition, and a firm purpose of amendment, is the cause of bad confessions, and of the ruin of souls.' --St. Benedict Joseph Labre Obedience to a confessor is the most acceptable offering which we can make to God, and the most secure way of doing the divine will. --St. Alphonsus Liguori Daughter, when you go to confession, to this fountain of My mercy, the Blood and Water which came forth from My Heart always flows down upon your soul and ennobles it. Every time you go to confession, immerse yourself in My mercy, with great trust, so that I may pour the bounty of My grace upon your soul. When you approach the confessional, know this, that I Myself am waiting there for you. I am only hidden by the priest, but I myself act in your soul. Here the misery of the soul meets the God of mercy. Tell souls that from this fount of mercy souls draw graces solely with the vessel of trust. If their trust is great, there is no limit to My generosity. The torrents of grace inundate humble souls. The proud remain always in poverty and misery, because My grace turns away from them to humble souls. --St. Faustina, Divine Mercy in My Soul Tell souls where they are to look for solace; that is, in the Tribunal of Mercy. There the greatest miracles take place [and] are incessantly repeated. To avail oneself of this miracle, it is not necessary to go on a great pilgrimage or to carry out some external ceremony; it suffices to come with faith to the feet of My representative and to reveal to him one's misery, and the miracle of Divine Mercy will be fully demonstrated. Were a soul like a decaying corpse so that from a human standpoint, there would be no [hope of ] restoration and everything would already be lost, it is not so with God. The miracle of Divine Mercy restores that soul in full. Oh, how miserable are those who do not take advantage of the miracle of God's mercy! You will call out in vain, but it will be too late. (1448) --St. Faustina, Divine Mercy in My Soul Go to your confessor; open your heart to him; display to him all the recesses of your soul; take the advice that he will give you with the utmost humility and simplicity. For God, Who has an infinite love for obedience, frequently renders profitable the counsels we take from others, but especially from those who are the guides of our souls. --St. Francis de Sales "Confession is like a bridle that keeps the soul which reflects on it from committing sin, but anything left unconfessed we continue to do without fear as if in the dark." --Saint John Climacus "A soul does not benefit from the sacrament of confession if it is not humble. Pride keeps it in darkness. The soul neither knows how, nor is it willing, to probe with precision the depths of its own misery. It puts on a mask and avoids everything that might bring it recovery." --Saint Faustina From the bottom of my heart, I recommend frequent confession and communion, but both of these sacraments should be received with the proper dispositions, so that progress in virtue can be made each time (Saint John Bosco). “Go to confession every 15 days or once a month. Never go less than that . . . pray for your confessor and follow his advice,” said Saint John Bosco “In trying to get rid of bad habits, it is of the greatest importance not to put off going to confession after a fall and also to keep to the same confessor,” said Saint Philip Neri Obedience. A disobedient soul will win no victory. Jesus said to Saint Faustina, “By obedience you give great glory to Me and gain merit for yourself. Yes, when you are obedient, I take away your weakness and replace it with My strength. I am very surprised that souls do not want to make that exchange with Me” (ibid.). Saint Francis de Sales said, “Go to your confessor, open your heart to him, display to him all the recesses of your soul. Take the advice that he will give you with the utmost humility and simplicity. For God, Who has an infinite love for obedience, frequently renders profitable the counsels we take from others, but especially from those who are the guides of our souls” I recommend that you to go to confession often, if you can at least once a month, and meet the God of mercy and obtain pardon. Here is a story about the peace and strength that going to confession can impart to you. The capture of a slave ship (Reprinted from The Secret of Confession by Rev. Paul O’Sullivan, with permission) Some years ago, a British warship had orders to watch for slavers, which were said to be plying their barbarous trade on the African coast (O’Sullivan, 2013). One of these was sighted, but disregarding the signals to come to, managed to round a promontory and get into shallow water. A launch was ordered to follow and, if possible, capture her. The command was given to a young lieutenant, who boarded the enemy ship under a hail of bullets. A desperate fight ensued with the crew, which were composed of fierce desperadoes. The young commander behaved with conspicuous bravery and succeeded against heavy odds in securing the prize. On his return to England, he was rewarded with a captaincy. Replying to a speech at his old school, he said, “Gentlemen, I scarcely merit the praise you bestow me. Though aware of my danger, I can’t say I felt any fear. I was at confession a few days before and knew that I was alright.” “Go to confession every week, even if you have nothing serious to confess. It is a pleasing act of humility to God, because it reawakens our remorse for sins already forgiven; it makes us realize how imperfect the small faults of every day make us,” said Saint John Bosco When we go to confession, we should accuse ourselves of our worst sins first and of those things which we are most ashamed of, because by this means, we put the devil to greater confusion and reap more fruit from our confession . . . One of the very best means of obtaining humility is sincere and frequent confession,” said Saint Philip Neri “I assure you, my dear boys, that as I write, my hand trembles at the thought of the great number of Christians who go to eternal perdition [damnation] only because they held back or were not completely honest about certain sins in confession,” said Saint John Bosco “He who conceals a grave sin in confession is completely in the Devil’s hands. Let us always go to confession with sincerity and take this as our rule: Never, out of human respect, to conceal anything from our confessor, however inconsiderable it may be,” said Saint Philip Neri To join sign up below and do your best to pray the daily prayer everyday! The Confessioners Prayer Come Holy Spirit, into my soul. Enlighten my mind that I may know the sins I ought to confess, and grant me your grace to confess them fully, humbly, and with a contrite heart. Help me to firmly resolve not to commit them again. Also give me the grace to make at least once a month confession and to grant all the graces and intentions of the Confessioners and mine and that the whole world joins us. I ask this in the most Holy Name of Jesus. Amen Whoever spreads devotion to the Blessed Sacrament is Saved! If you can, stay a few minutes every day in Eucharistic adoration in front of the tabernacle where Jesus is really present, and you will see your level of holiness increase considerably. -Bl. Carlo Acutis The Blessed Sacramenters was formed to bring together everyone who loves Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and wants to pray for the graces to spend more time with Him everyday. To join sign up below and do your best to pray our daily prayer! Dearest Jesus, we pray for the grace to spend more time with you before the Blessed Sacrament and spiritually be there always with Mary, Joseph, and all the angels and saints. We also pray to spread the devotion to the Blessed Sacrament to the whole world! Jesus, we pray for all your intentions in the Blessed Sacrament as well as ours and that the whole world joins us. Amen How to be with Jesus spiritually in the Blessed Sacrament. Try to picture your favorite Blessed Sacrament Monstrance or Tabernacle that you love and see it in your mind's eye whenever you can but especially when you pray, thus you will be with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament always! You can also have a picture, a screensaver, or go virtually as well. It is impossible to find on earth a more precious gem or a treasure more worthy of our love than Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament. Certainly, among all devotions that of receiving the Sacraments, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament holds first place, is the most pleasing to God and the most useful to ourselves. Do not then, O devout soul, refuse to begin this devotion; and forsaking the conversation of men, dwell each day, from this time forward, for at least a half or a quarter of an hour in some church in the presence of Jesus Christ under the sacramental species. O taste and see that the Lord is sweet. Psalm 33:9. Only try this devotion, and by experience you will see the great benefits that you will derive from it. Be assured that the time you will thus spend with devotion before this most divine Sacrament will be the most profitable to you in life and the source of your greatest consolation in death and in eternity. ~St. Alphonsus Ligouri “How kind is our Sacramental Jesus! He welcomes you at any hour of the day or night. His Love never knows rest. He is always most gentle towards you. When you visit Him, He forgets your sins and speaks only of His joy, His tenderness, and His Love. By the reception He gives to you, one would think He has need of you to make Him happy.” “The Blessed Sacrament is everything!” "Be the apostle of the divine Eucharist, like a flame which enlightens and warms, like the Angel of his heart who will go to proclaim him to those who don’t know him and will encourage those who love him and are suffering." "The Eucharist is the supreme proof of the love of Jesus. After this, there is nothing more but Heaven itself," St. Peter Julian Eymard "Know also that you will probably gain more by praying fifteen minutes before the Blessed Sacrament than by all the other spiritual exercises of the day. True, Our Lord hears our prayers anywhere, for He has made the promise, 'Ask, and you shall receive,' but He has revealed to His servants that those who visit Him in the Blessed Sacrament will obtain a more abundant measure of grace." - St. Alphonsus Liguori "The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time that you will spend on earth. Each moment that you spend with Jesus will deepen your union with Him and make your soul everlastingly more glorious and beautiful in heaven, and will help bring about an everlasting peace on earth." - Mother Teresa of Calcutta "We must visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament a hundred thousand times a day." - St. Francis de Sales "I have a burning thirst to be honored by men in the Blessed Sacrament, and I find hardly anyone who strives, according to My desire, to allay this thirst by making Me some return of love." - Words of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary “If the heart wanders or is distracted, bring it back to the point quite gently and replace it tenderly in its Master's presence. And even if you did nothing during the whole of your hour but bring your heart back and place it again in Our Lord's presence, though it went away every time you brought it back, your hour would be very well employed.”~ St. Francis De Sales "Make frequent visits to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and the devil will be powerless against you."-- St. John Bosco "Jesus has made Himself the Bread of Life to give us life. Night and day, He is there. If you really want to grow in love, come back to the Eucharist, come back to that Adoration." "When the Sisters are exhausted, up to their eyes in work; when all seems to go awry, they spend an hour in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. This practice has never failed to bear fruit: they experience peace and strength," St. Mother Teresa "Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament has His hands full of graces, and He is ready to bestow them on anyone who asks for them," - St. Peter of Alcantara "Nowhere does Jesus hear our prayers more readily than in the Blessed Sacrament,"- Blessed Henry Suso "If souls but understood the Treasure they possess in the Divine Eucharist, it would be necessary to encircle the tabernacles with the strongest ramparts for, in the delirium of a devouring and holy hunger, they would press forward themselves to feed on the Bread of Angels. The Churches would overflow with adorers consumed with love for the Divine prisoner no less by night than by day,"- Blessed Dina Belanger "Consider the humble sacrifice that the shepherds and the three Wise Men made in their long journey to adore the Christ Child. Only the humble shepherds and the wise astrologers followed the star of faith to Bethlehem. He was the King, much greater than they were. No journey was too long because any trouble they had was infinitely worth the sacrifice. When they saw Him, they bowed down before Him. Where was the rest of the world? Who could understand then that the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes was the hidden Incarnate Word of God? He came quietly and lovingly. Only the humble and wise could see the humble Jesus lying in a manger. The rest of the world passed Him by. Look at how God has never stopped honoring the shepherds and the magi for honoring His Son in Bethlehem. The humble sacrifice of their long journey is praised in Scripture. And around the world in every church and Christian home at Christmas, they are included in every Nativity scene. In the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus comes to us even more humbly than He did before. That is why your sacrifice will give God even greater glory than the glory given Him by the shepherds and the three Wise Men. And God will honor you even more than the shepherds and the three Wise Men for all eternity for honoring His Son in the Blessed Sacrament with the humility of your sacrifice!" - from the pamphlet "The Value of Sacrifice" To join sign up below and do your best to pray our daily prayer! Dearest Jesus, we pray for the grace to spend more time with you before the Blessed Sacrament and spiritually be there always with Mary, Joseph, and all the angels and saints. We also pray to spread the devotion to the Blessed Sacrament to the whole world! Jesus, we pray for all your intentions in the Blessed Sacrament as well as ours and that the whole world joins us. Amen |
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