Good Friday Novena Prayer

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

Good Friday Novena Prayer - CatholicDoors.com

Jesus Christ, 

Son of God made Man,
crowned with thorns,
bearing a scepter of a reed,
wearing a royal cloak purpled
with Your Precious Blood,
I venerate You as the Man of Sorrows
and acknowledge You as my Lord and King!

Jesus crucified,
I firmly renounce the devil
and detest all sin
that has torn me from Your loving friendship.
I pledge my loyalty to You,
my Saviour,
and beg You to make me Your own in sincerest love.
I promise to be faithful in service to You,
and to strive to become more pleasing to you
by avoiding every sin and its occasions,
by carrying out my duties
perfectly as a good Catholic,
and by practicing virtue.

Jesus crucified,
accept the homage I wish to render You
during this novena,
as a token of my sincerest appreciation
for the sorrows and sufferings
You have willingly borne to atone for my many sins
and to prove how much You love me.

I adore You as my very God,
Who willed to become Man
in order to save me from eternal death.

I thank You as my best Friend,
Who laid down Your life
as proof of the greatest love possible.

I ask pardon for having so little thought of You,
Jesus crucified,
and for having caused Your sorrows
and sufferings by the many sins I have committed.

I pray to You,
dearest Jesus,
for all the graces I need to know You,
to love You and serve You faithfully unto death,
and to save my soul.
Give me a tender and fervent devotion
to Your Sacred Passion by which I was redeemed,
venerating You especially in Holy Mass.
Teach me how to unite sorrows and sufferings
of my life with Your own.
Finally, through all Your sorrows and pains,
through Your Sacred Heart
glowing with love for me,
broken because of my want of love for You,
through the sorrows of Mary,
your Sorrowful Mother,
I ask for this special favour:

[Mention your request here...]

With childlike trust
I abandon myself to Your holy Will
concerning my request.

***

The statue of Jesus and and cross are on the grounds of The National Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Washington Township, New Jersey. The shrine is part of the World Apostolate of Fatima, USA.

Prayer for Holy Week in preparation of Good Friday

Jesus Carries His Cross - Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

Prayer for Holy Week

Jesus my Lord, let me strengthen my courage by taking on the courage of all those people who have been "centurions" for me. Many have faced disasters and hard times with great constancy. The upper hand of evil never turned them against you. They kept going. Let me be like them, Lord. No matter what the cross, let me never stop declaring you to be "truly the Son of God," the source of my hope, the reason why I will never quit on life.

(Prayer from Catholic Online)

***

Commentary by Loci B. Lenar

On Good Friday, the cross is a reminder of Jesus sacrificing His life for the salvation of sinners.

With those words in mind, sunlight creates the appearance of a cross on the above statue of Jesus. It's more than coincidence that this photo shows Jesus carrying his cross. Interestingly enough, this statue is part of the Stations of the Cross next the Holy House at The National Blue Army Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Washington, NJ. The shrine is part of the World Apostolate of Fatima, USA.

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

In two separate areas, two photos show sunlight creating similar rays of light around two statues of Jesus. Photographs were both taken in 2015 with my iPhone 6.

Visit www.Christian-Miracles.com for more faith related news.

A bleeding host in Argentina? Bishop investigates alleged Eucharistic miracle

Credit: AICA photo agency

Catholic News Agency (CNA): 'via Blog this'

Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 13, 2017 / 12:43 am (CNA/EWTN News)

A bishop in the Argentine province in Santa Fe is investigating a Eucharistic host that appeared to bleed during adoration at a drug rehabilitation home.

Bishop Luis Fernandez of the Rafaela diocese announced that an investigation will be carried out to examine what took place earlier this week, when a group of young people were in Eucharistic adoration and saw a substance in the consecrated host that appeared to be blood.

On April 11, Tuesday of Holy Week, a group of young people were praying before the Blessed Sacrament at the San Miguel drug rehabilitation home in the Guemes neighborhood, when they noticed a change in the Eucharist.

Read more: Catholic News Agency

Cross of Light Appears on Palm Sunday

Signs, Wonders, and Miracles

Palm Sunday 2017

By Loci B. Lenar

On Palm Sunday, a Cross of Light outlined with a shield appeared in the morning on my backyard fence in Mine Hill, NJ. 

Scripture says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” Psalm 84:11

Palm Sunday is the start of Holy Week, and it's a time to reflect on the passion of Christ in preparation for Good Friday and the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.

The first time this Cross of Light appeared in 2017 was on the fifth Sunday of Lent, April 2. 

For many centuries the fifth Sunday of Lent was known as Passion Sunday and the beginning of Passiontide by the Catholic Church.

Furthermore, this sun phenomena has occurred every year on my residence since 2005 during different occasions, including Lent, Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It also appeared in September 2015 while Pope Francis was visiting the USA.

I spoke to my Spiritual director, Fr. Richard Tartaglia on Monday, April 10, and shared the news about the Cross of Light appearing at my residence. 

Fr. Richard Tartaglia - 2012

In addition, this sun phenomena has been verified by my spiritual director, Fr. Richard Tartaglia of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Denville, New Jersey. 

Fr. Richard photographed the Cross of Light on Good Friday, April 6, 2012. Moreover, Fr. Richard spoke about the Cross of Light during his homily at St. Mary's Evening Prayer Service held on April 19, 2012. 

Here's a link to view the video of Fr. Richard's homily which also includes information regarding other people that have witnessed a Cross of Light in other areas: Cross of Light Appears in New Jersey

Jesus said,"I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness." John 12:46

I attributes this sign sent from Our Heavenly Father as result of prayers to Jesus, Our Blessed Mother, and Saint Michael the Archangel for assistance, and with times of spiritual renewal of my Christian faith, such as Lent, as well as praying for God's protection. 

Cross of Light - 2017

Additional facts can be read on these links: Cross of Light Appears During Lent and Holy Week  and Signs from Heaven

In 2008, the Gloucester County Times reported a similar story of a cross photographed by 9 year old Gwynna Crawford on Easter Sunday in Pitman, New Jersey. The cross appeared on a neighbor's house. The article indicated that Gwyanna's mother and the neighbor were unable to find the source of the sun reflection.

More information about the Gloucester County Times story with a photograph can be seen on this link: Cross Appears on Easter Sunday in Pitman, NJ

I believe the Cross of Light is a sign from God to those that have left the church: Return to the sacraments, especially reconciliation during Holy Week and to celebrate Easter.

Pope recognizes Fatima children miracle ahead of May visit to Portugal

News from Vatican Radio

Pope Francis has officially recognized the miracle attributed to the intercession of two Fatima children - Blesseds Francisco and Jacinta Marto. He also approved the canonizations of 30 Brazilian and 3 Mexican martyrs.

The Pope will visit Fatima in Portugal on 12-13 May.

During an audience on Thursday with Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B., Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the Holy Father authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the following decrees:

The miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Francisco Marto, born on 11 June 1908 and died on 4 April 1919, and Blessed Jacinta Marto, born 11 March 1910 and died 20 February 1920, children of Fátima.

Read more: Fatima Miracle

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Saint Patrick Prayer

May the Strength of God pilot us.
May the Power of God preserve us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct us.
May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us.
May the Shield of God defend us.
May the Host of God guard us.
Against the snares of the evil ones.
Against temptations of the world

May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us,
Christ be over all!
May Thy Salvation, Lord,
Always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and evermore.

Amen.

Info from Catholic Online: St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints. He was born in Roman Britain and when he was fourteen or so, he was captured by Irish pirates during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep.

At the time, Ireland was a land of Druids and pagans but Patrick turned to God and wrote his memoir, The Confession. In The Confession, he wrote: "The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain."

Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain and was reunited with his family.

Read more: Saint Patrick

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

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