New Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary - by Fr. Gilles A. Surprenant - August 2018 at MHA

In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity (Jeremiah 31:31-34) every person can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.

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Most Holy Rosary – Phrases added according to St. John Paul II (2002) at Lourdes Shrine (and other phrases composed by this priest*)

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus –  

 

Messianic Mysteries* – Monday* / at dawn*   6:30

– The Eternal Word with God in the beginning, God of Adam and Eve, and Noah;

– The Almighty who called Abram to go out to the Promised Land;

– The Living Flame who from the Burning Bush sent Moses to save his people;

– The Son of Man, the Promised One, who called the prophets to prepare his way;

– The Messiah, Suffering Servant of Israel who came to serve, suffer, and die;

 

Joyful Mysteries** – Tuesday* / at morning*   8:30

The Annunciation – Who wanted to take on our human condition;

The Visitation – Who did wonders for you;

The Nativity – Who found no room in the home of men;

The Presentation – Who enters the Temple to purify it;

The Finding of Jesus – Who returned to Nazareth and was subject to you and Joseph ;

 

Hidden Life Mysteries* – Wednesday* / at mid morning*   10:00

– Refugee Child whom you and Joseph his parents protected and nurtured in exile;

– Cherished Son & Heart of your Family whom you & Joseph loved & served;

– Apprentice to Joseph who mentored Him in life, work, and devotion;

– Craftsman & Good Neighbour who worked wonders with wood and with people;

– Shoot of Jesse who like you waited patiently to do the Father’s will;

 

Luminous Mysteries** – Thursday / at noon*   12:00

The Baptism of Jesus – In whom the Father is well pleased;

Wedding at Cana – Who makes sacramental Marriage the sign of the eternal Covenant;

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God – Whose Kingdom is so very near to us;

The Transfiguration – Whose glory transforms us in his image;

The Institution of the Eucharist – Who offers us the New Covenant in his blood;

 

Sorrowful Mysteries** – Friday / at mid afternoon*   15:00

The Agony in the Garden – Who asks that the Father’s will be done and not his own;

The Scourging at the Pillar – Whose wounds heal us;

The Crowning with Thorns – Who is turned to mockery;

The Carrying of the Cross – Who collapses to the ground to lift us up from our falls;

The Crucifixion & Death of Jesus – Who commends his spirit into the hands of his Father;

 

Glorious Mysteries** – Saturday* / at evening*   18:30

The Resurrection – Who in the Father and the Holy Spirit rises from among the dead;

The Ascension – Who makes us reign with Him in loving service;

The Descent of the Holy Spirit – Who sends the Holy Spirit from beside the Father;

The Assumption of Mary – Who makes of you the living Temple of the Lord;

The Crowning of Mary – Who makes of you the Mother of the Church;

 

Eschatological Mysteries* – Sunday* / at twilight*   21:45

– Prophet of the Final Tribulation who by your tears exhorts the faithful & warns humanity;

– High Priest of Divine Mercy who prepares his Bride for the Wedding Feast of the Lamb;

– Lord of Armageddon who sends Michael to expose Satan and break earthly strongholds;

– Judge of the Nations who will come on the clouds to separate the sheep from the goats;

– King of the Universe, the Lamb, eternal Light of the New Jerusalem;

 

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us (poor) sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

*Composed **translated 180929 revised 210126 by Fr Gilles A Surprenant, MHA Associate priest & poustinik, Montréal QC Canada

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In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity (Jeremiah 31:31-34) every person can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.

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© 2006-2021 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal  QC
© 2006-2021 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC 

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Nouveaux Mystères du Très Saint Rosaire de la Bienheureuse Vierge Marie - par l'Abbé Gilles A. Surprenant - août 2018 à MHA

In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity (Jeremiah 31:31-34) every person can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.

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Très Saint Rosaire – phrases ajoutées selon St Jean Paul II (2002) au Sanctuaire de Lourdes (et d’autres phrases composées par ce prêtre*)

Je vous salue, Marie, pleine de grâce, le Seigneur est avec vous. Vous êtes bénie entre toutes les femmes, et –

Mystères Messianiques* – lundi* / à l’aurore*   6h30

– Le Verbe Éternel avec Dieu au commencement, Dieu d’Adam et Ève, et Noé;

– Le Tout Puissant qui appela Abram pour aller vers la Terre Promise;

– La Flamme Vivante qui du Buisson Ardent envoya Moïse sauver son peuple;

– Le Fils de l’Homme, le Promis, qui appela les Prophètes à préparer sa venue;

– Le Messie, Serviteur Souffrant d’Israël venu pour servir, souffrir, et mourir;

 

Mystères Joyeux** – mardi** / au matin*   8h30

L’Annonciation – Celui qui a voulu prendre notre condition d’homme;

La Visitation – Celui qui fit pour vous des merveilles;

La Nativité de Jésus – Celui qui n’a trouvé aucune place dans la maison des hommes;

La Présentation au Temple – Celui qui entre dans le Temple pour le purifier;

Recouvrement de Jésus – Celui qui revint à Nazareth et fut soumis à vous et Joseph;

 

Mystères de la Vie Cachée* – mercredi* / en avant midi*   10h00

– Enfant Réfugié que vous et Joseph ses parents avez protégé et nourri en exile;

– Fils chéri & Cœur de votre Famille que vous & Joseph avez aimé & servi;

– Apprenti de Joseph qui l’a guidé dans la vie, le travail, et la dévotion;

– Artisan et Bon Voisin qui fit des merveilles avec le bois et avec les gens;

– Rameau de Jesse qui comme vous attend patiemment pour faire la volonté du Père;

 

Mystères Lumineux** – jeudi / à midi*   12h00

Le Baptême – Celui à qui le Père donne toute sa faveur;

Les Noces de Cana – Celui qui fait du Mariage sacramentel le signe de l’Alliance éternelle;

L’Annonce du Royaume de Dieu – Celui dont le Royaume est tout proche de nous;

La Transfiguration – Celui dont la gloire nous transforme à son image;

L’Institution de l’Eucharistie – Celui qui nous offre la Nouvelle Alliance en son sang;

 

Mystères Douloureux** – vendredi / en après midi*   15h00

L’Agonie au Jardin – Celui qui demande que soit faite la volonté du Père et non la sienne;

La Flagellation – Celui dont les blessures nous guérissent;

Le Couronnement d’épines – Celui qui est tourné en dérision;

Le Portement de la croix – Celui qui tombe à terre pour nous relever de nos chutes;

La Crucifiement et la mort – Celui qui remet son esprit entre les mains de son Père;

                                                                  

Mystères Glorieux** – samedi* / au soir*   18h30

La Résurrection – Celui qui avec l’Esprit Saint a ressuscité d’entre les morts;

L’Ascension – Celui qui nous fait régner avec Lui dans un service de charité;

La Descente de l’Esprit Saint – Celui qui envoie l’Esprit Saint d’auprès du Père;

L’Assomption de Marie – Celui qui fait de vous le Temple vivant du Seigneur;

Le Couronnement de Marie – Celui qui fait de vous la Mère de l’Église;

 

Mystères Eschatologiques* – dimanche* / au crépuscule*   21h45

– Prophète de la Tribulation Finale qui par vos larmes exhorte les fidèles et avertit l’humanité;

– Grand Prêtre de la Miséricorde Divine qui pare son Épouse pour les Noces de l’Agneau;

– Seigneur d’Harmaguédone qui envoie Michel exposer Satan et briser les bastions terrestres;

– Juge des Nations qui viendra sur les nuées pour séparer les moutons des chèvres;

– Roi de l’Univers, l’Agneau, la Lumière éternelle de la nouvelle Jérusalem;

 

Jésus, le fruit de vos entrailles (ou votre Enfant), est béni. Sainte Marie, Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous (pauvres) pécheurs, maintenant et à l’heure de notre mort. Amen.

*Composés **traduits 180929 révisés 210126 par Abbé Gilles A Surprenant, prêtre associé MHA & poustinik,  Montréal QC Canada

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In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity (Jeremiah 31:31-34) every person can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.

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© 2006-2021 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal  QC
© 2006-2021 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC 

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Keeping Holy the Lord's Day

In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity (Jeremiah 31:31-34) every person can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.

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Keeping Holy the Lord’s Day             Michelle Arnold                January 27, 2017

We often get questions at Catholic Answers about how Catholics should observe Sunday and the holy days of obligation. Are there restrictions on the types of activities they can engage in? Is it a sin to work, shop, or otherwise engage in public activities or personal chores on a day of rest? What can we do to make Sunday or the holy days special and not just a day of no work?

First of all, it is important to distinguish Sunday and the Christian holy days of obligation from the Jewish Sabbath. Sunday is not “the Sabbath,” and the Catechism of the Catholic Church makes this clear:

Sunday is expressly distinguished from the Sabbath which it follows chronologically every week; for Christians its ceremonial observance replaces that of the Sabbath. In Christ’s Passover, Sunday fulfills the spiritual truth of the Jewish Sabbath and announces man’s eternal rest in God. For worship under the law prepared for the mystery of Christ, and what was done there prefigured some aspects of Christ: those who lived according to the old order of things have come to a new hope, no longer keeping the Sabbath, but the Lord’s Day, in which our life is blessed by him and by his death (CCC 2175).

Sunday should not be called “the Sabbath”; rather, it is the Lord’s Day, the first day of the week, when Christ rose from the dead. Each and every Sunday is a commemoration of that first Easter Sunday.

“By a tradition handed down from the apostles which took its origin from the very day of Christ’s Resurrection, the Church celebrates the Paschal mystery every seventh day, which day is appropriately called the Lord’s Day or Sunday.” The day of Christ’s Resurrection is both the first day of the week, the memorial of the first day of creation, and the “eighth day,” on which Christ after his “rest” on the great Sabbath inaugurates the “day that the Lord has made,” the “day that knows no evening” (CCC 1166).

General principles

What guidance does the Church offer for keeping holy the Lord’s Day? Since the Church is legislating for a global community of Christians with disparate circumstances in which they live out their Christian lives, it tends not to give specific permissions or prohibitions for honoring the Lord’s Day—and, by extension, the holy days of obligation—but offers general principles for Christians to consider. It is the work of each Christian to assess his circumstances and to do his best to act in accord with those principles.

The first and most fundamental obligation of Sunday and the holy days of obligation is to attend Mass. Christians are also to do their best, according to their state in life, to rest from work or business. The Code of Canon Law states:

On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to assist at Mass. They are also to abstain from such work or business that would inhibit the worship to be given to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, or the due relaxation of mind and body (canon 1247).

The Church provides that Catholics can meet the Mass obligation by attending Mass on either the Sunday or holy day or on the evening before at the vigil Mass.

Most Catholics understand the Mass obligation. It is the injunction to rest from unnecessary work or business that can be confusing. Does this mean they cannot shop, or eat out at a restaurant? Does it mean they cannot do their laundry or wash their car? What if they have a job that requires them to work on Sunday?

St. John Paul II, in his apostolic letter Dies Domini, wrote:

[Christians] are obliged in conscience to arrange their Sunday rest in a way which allows them to take part in the Eucharist, refraining from work and activities which are incompatible with the sanctification of the Lord’s Day, with its characteristic joy and necessary rest for spirit and body (67).

St. John Paul II’s key point is to urge Christians to arrange their Sunday rest in a way that allows them to go to Mass and to refrain from work. In other words, he is suggesting to Christians to plan ahead—to arrange their schedules, insofar as possible, to allow them to fulfill their obligation to attend Mass and to rest.

And how might one arrange one’s Sundays?

Job obligations. Perhaps right now your job requires you to work on Sunday. Are you able to attend the vigil Mass on Saturday? Are you able to attend an early morning or an evening Mass on Sunday? Does your employer allow you to indicate to him times you would prefer to have off? You may not be able to do anything about your work schedule now, but could you resolve to keep an eye out for opportunities to change it in the future?

Home obligations. What do you ordinarily do on Sunday now? Is there a way to rearrange your weekend activities to do ordinary household work (laundry, grocery shopping, home maintenance projects, chores) either on Saturday or on some other day of the week? Perhaps you won’t be able to arrange to do all of your Sunday work at other times, but could you work up to that goal by rescheduling just one chore at a time to another day?

Resting. Sunday is not a day to do nothing. As St. John Paul II noted:

In order that rest may not degenerate into emptiness or boredom, it must offer spiritual enrichment, greater freedom, opportunities for contemplation and fraternal communion. Therefore, among the forms of culture and entertainment which society offers, the faithful should choose those which are most in keeping with a life lived in obedience to the precepts of the gospel (DD 68).

If you have a family, perhaps you might wish to get together as a family to plan special family activities for Sunday. This does not mean you need to spend money. Even what otherwise might be a “chore,” such as gardening or working on a home improvement project, might offer opportunities for “spiritual enrichment, greater freedom, [and] fraternal communion” when done together as a family.

If you are single, you could plan to spend the day with friends or with extended family. If you have a skill you truly enjoy, such as cooking or some other creative activity, perhaps you might offer it to someone in need. For example, perhaps you have an elderly neighbor who would enjoy a home-cooked meal. Perhaps there is a local charity that would be happy to accept hand-sewn clothing or hand-crafted toys for the needy in your community.

In short, Sundays and the holy days of obligation should be time each week, and several days throughout the year, to live out the joy of our Lord’s Resurrection.

Understood and lived in this fashion, Sunday in a way becomes the soul of the other days, and in this sense we can recall the insight of Origen that the perfect Christian “is always in the Lord’s Day, and is always celebrating Sunday” (St. John Paul II, DD 83).

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In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity (Jeremiah 31:31-34) every person can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.

----------------------------------------------------------------

© 2006-2021 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal  QC
© 2006-2021 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC 

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A World Day of the Poor Story – The Joy of Encounters Given and Blessed by God

In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity, as reported in Jeremiah 31:31-34, every human being can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.

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A World Day of the Poor Story – The Joy of Encounters Given and Blessed by God

It happened at the Late Sunday Mass on the first World Day of the Poor, November 19th, 2017, the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Two weeks later, a Deacon wrote this note which in turn received the reply which follows from the Priest. 

Note from the Deacon:

Reverend Father, Two Sundays ago a crippled man entered after the last chance Mass had begun. He attracted my attention because of his demeanour. 

He stood throughout most of the Mass. During the reception of Holy Communion I do not think he received. When I returned to my place he stood a little ways off from me. However, now he was in front of my line of sight and was facing toward me. 

At the end of Mass, he stood with one hand on the horn of the bench where I was kneeling down following your blessing. I stood as usual as you processed to the confessional. I greeted you with my usual salutation, Praise be to God. 

You passed this man as you briefly spoke with someone you appeared to know. The crippled man continued standing there awkwardly, and I resolved to bless him seven times (within my heart). Upon opening my eyes, I reached out and touched him with one finger on the hand, which continued resting on the horn of the bench in front of the kneeler. 

I looked into his countenance and slowly he raised his head and faced toward me. Then, I held my gaze with his for what seemed like a very long time. I felt it was a great blessing for me. 

I do not remember getting up and passing by him to bow before the Lord before taking my leave of the Church. However, on the return trip home I remained in a state of sustained joy. Several days later, it was brought to my attention that Sunday was the First World Day of the Poor. 

An afterthought was that this man did not seek or gesture for money or help. He was just there. And it never entered my mind to offer him money. It was simply an encounter in the Lord's temple. A profound one at that. 

Do you remember seeing the man I have described? Has he ever presented himself before (I do not recall ever seeing him there)? 

Response from the Priest:

Reverend Deacon, I believe that was the same night when after hearing confessions I went to chat with a few people who had waited for me. 

The poor man asked where he might use a phone to call for a cab. I brought him over to folks waiting for me because I just knew they would be willing to give him a lift, since they were going in his direction. 

While we were talking about it a young woman came up and, having overheard, said that she was going very near to where he lived and would be delighted to give him a lift. So, that is how it ended. Divine Providence arranged for that poor man to be a blessing to many.

I was that priest, and I give testimony that this unfolded as reported by us. Fr. Gilles S.

Link to MORE INSPIRATIONAL TEXTS 

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In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity, as reported in Jeremiah 31:31-34, every human being can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.

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© 2006-2021 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal  QC
© 2006-2021 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC 

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Preparation for Confession - the Sacrament of Reconciliation - for ongoing conversion for Jesus

 In .S.

In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity (Jeremiah 31:31-34) every person can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.

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PDF version      Préparation pour la Confession - version PDF  

Review of Life

Pick a period of time to review.  It should be at least the time since your last confession.

Think of the habits of your life during that time.  How did you work?  What did you do for fun?  What responsibilities did you have?

Think of the relationships you had during that time.  Which ones were the most significant?  Did any change??

Think of any significant events, happy or sad, that occurred to you during this time. Now ask yourself these questions:

What sinful patterns, whether of commission or omission, crept into the patterns of my life?

What sinful patterns crept into my relationships?  Did the changes come because of sin?

Did the events reveal and expose sin, or cause sin to be hidden??

ACT OF CONTRITION

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Saviour Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy. Amen.

The Seven Beasts

Taken from “Reconciliation Time” by Madeline Pecora Nugent in St. Anthony Messenger Magazine, March 2015, pg 12-13

For St. Anthony of Padua, these beasts represent “the seven kinds of sin, which should all and individually be fully disclosed in confession” (Sermons I, p. 81).

Confession (we would say the confessional) therefore becomes for Anthony “the habitation of dragons” and the other beasts mentioned because the penitent brings these beasts forth in the confessing of sin.

The names and descriptions are according to St. Anthony’s own words. The questions are by the author Madeline Pecora Nugent.

Dragon:     the poisonous malice of hatred and detraction – Who do I hate or even dislike? When have I spoken ill of someone?

Ostrich:     the deceitfulness of hypocrisy – Do I try to appear one way in public when actually I am doing or living the opposite?

Ass:     lust – What do I look at, listen to, read that incites lustful feelings? Do I succumb to these?

Ox:     pride – What is my response when criticized? Even though I will not admit it to others, do I think that I am better than they? Do I believe my ideas are generally correct?

Hairy Beast:    avarice and usury – If I were graded in alms giving, would I get an A? What is my attitude about lending someone anything? If I have a business, do I price my merchandise fairly? Do I pay my employees a decent wage? Do I honestly declare my income for my tax return?

Lamia:     heresy and lack of faith – Do I believe everything the Church teaches? Do I pick and choose what to believe? Do I dabble in non-Christian practices or beliefs? Do I speak up for Jesus?

Ericius:     (hedgehog) the crafty excusing of the sinner – Do I make excuses for my sins? Do I say that I cannot help it if God does not care? Do I neglect to think about my sins so that they do not trouble me?

In preparing for confession, it might help to take a blank sheet of paper, which is as barren as a desert, and use it to list on it each sin as soon as we have committed it. The next time we go to confession, take the paper along. Then, once our sins are washed away with the life-giving water of God’s forgiveness, the desert of the confessional will become a spiritual field of grace.

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ACT OF FAITH

O my God, I firmly believe that you are one

God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man, died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the holy Catholic Church teaches, because you have revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. Amen.

            The Ten Commandments

1.      I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me.

2.      You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

3.      Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.

4.    Honour your father and mother.

5.      You shall not kill.

6.      You shall not commit adultery.

7.      You shall not steal.

8.      You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

9.      You shall not covet your neighbour’s spouse.

10.  You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods.

ACT OF LOVE

O my God, I love you above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because you are all good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbour as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen.

Prayer for Conviction

O Holy Spirit, I confess to you that I am a sinner. 

Often enough, I make excuses for my sin.  I tell myself I am “not that bad”, or that my sin was unavoidable or even necessary at the time.  But these sins offend God just the same, and all sin is ugly.

Holy Spirit, lead me away from hardness of heart.

If I have forgotten my sin, help me to remember.

If I have excused it, grant me the grace of conviction.

If I am too ashamed to admit it, grant me the courage to confess.

And if I do not want to let go of it and change my life, grant me repentance.

O Holy Spirit, reveal my sin to me, that I may bring it to Jesus through the sacrament of reconciliation.  Amen. 

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ACT OF HOPE

O my God, relying on your almighty power

and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of your grace, and life everlasting through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen. 

Fraternal Correction

Sometimes the reason it is hard to think of something to confess is because we are too close to it, so it hides just underneath our nose. In such cases what can help is to ask someone we trust to journey with us as we engage in an examination of conscience.  

Doing such an examination with the help of another, especially someone who knows us well, keeps us honest with ourselves.  We discover quickly where we feel ashamed, where we would rather some truth not be told.  These are good indicators of things to bring to confession.

Priests often have people come to confession who know they need to be there but have trouble thinking of what to confess.  Do not be ashamed to ask the priest to help you examine your conscience, even during the sacrament itself.

 

“Somebody Else’s Shoes” 

So you can’t think of anything to confess?  Here’s a little trick… Make a list of your primary relationships: spouse, family members, co-workers, and so on.

Now imagine each of those persons being asked to give suggestions as to what you should bring to confession.  Would they have any suggestions?  What would they be?

Now bring those suggestions to confession.

Updated with French translation December 18th, 2008. First composed / published by Bishop Thomas Dowd, at the time Father Thomas Dowd, in 2003 at St. Thomas à Becket Parish, Pierrefonds QC

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In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity (Jeremiah 31:31-34) every person can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.

----------------------------------------------------------------

© 2006-2021 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal  QC
© 2006-2021 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC 

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