What then is the purpose of light, if not to shine? To shine brightly so as to drive out all darkness. That is precisely what every Christian, disciples of Christ Jesus our Lord must do. We are to be His light into the world, to love, heal and drive out all darkness in the lives of those who do not yet know Him.
We have power from on High to love others into the kingdom. We must therefore be disciplined, exercising self control so as to be powerful witnesses of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We want more of You Lord in our lives! More! Come Holy Spirit fill us with Your presence! Drive out all forms of darkness within us, so that we can pure lights of Him who sends us into the world. Amen
Saints Timothy and Titus pray for us…
________
First reading
2 Timothy 1:1-8 ·
Fan into a flame the gift God gave you
From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus in his design to promise life in Christ Jesus; to Timothy, dear child of mine, wishing you grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.
Night and day I thank God, keeping my conscience clear and remembering my duty to him as my ancestors did, and always I remember you in my prayers; I remember your tears and long to see you again to complete my happiness. Then I am reminded of the sincere faith which you have; it came first to live in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I have no doubt that it is the same faith in you as well.
That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God’s gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control. So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord, or ashamed of me for being his prisoner; but with me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy.
________
Gospel
Mark 4:21-25
A lamp is to be put on a lampstand. The amount you measure out is the amount you will be given
Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Would you bring in a lamp to put it under a tub or under the bed? Surely you will put it on the lamp-stand? For there is nothing hidden but it must be disclosed, nothing kept secret except to be brought to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to this.’
He also said to them, ‘Take notice of what you are hearing. The amount you measure out is the amount you will be given – and more besides; for the man who has will be given more; from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.’
CatholicJules.net 
Day three
Mary and Holiness
Humanity cannot be converted without the sanctification of each human soul, hence the obligation to decide for holiness. Jesus exhorts us to do so by saying: “You, then, be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5, 48)
There is no holiness without humility. Humility will always grow in the soul that is on its way to holiness. The more the soul humbles itself, the more holiness grows in it. From our humble confidence in God, springs the procession of all other virtues. Every moment of Mary’s life was a continual “Yes” to God’s will. Why? Because Mary is the humble one who, in total submission, accepted God’s Will for her life: to be the Mother of the Savior: to go to Bethlehem to obey the census edict, to flee to Egypt, to welcome the prophecy of Simeon, to see her Son die on the Cross, to witness his burial, etc. Let us observe Mary who takes jealous care to preserve humility in the heart of her messenger Elisabeth and so protecting her holiness.
Virgin Mary – “My little one, why did you try so hard? Why did you want to speak eloquent words on behalf of my Flame of Love? Keep before your eyes that you are destined for suffering. Remember also the words my Divine Son told you: ‘Give yourself to suffering and sacrifice yourself ceaselessly.’ Your sufferings are not in vain, but it is not for you to worry about who understands my Flame of Love. Do not be surprised, my little instrument, that you cannot speak eloquent words. I am the one who acts and who enkindles the Flame of Love in the depth of hearts. I am the one who confused your words and darkened your mind. I did not want any pride in your soul. That would be a great fault. You, little instrument, be reasonable and totally humble. You are an instrument in our hands. We care for you and allow no sin to come close to you. Be careful in all your temptations. The Evil One takes advantage of every situation to shake your humility.” (Spiritual Diary – December 17, 1962)
Jesus – “With each beat of your heart, repent of your sins. Make reparation and console Me. If your love decreases, turn to our heavenly Mother and she will fill your heart with abundant love for Me. I am grateful to you because your heart suffers with Me, beats in Me. Never tire of contemplating My sacred Wounds, from which you will always draw strength. Offer yourself to the Eternal Father. Abide within the Most Holy Trinity. In temptations, flee under the mantle of our Mother. She will defend you from the Evil One who will continually trouble you. I will be with you if you stay close to Me. No one and nothing will snatch you from Me.” (Spiritual Diary – Between March 4 and 7, 1962)
Moment for reflection
1. Do we desire the peace that holiness brings? How will we achieve this?
2. Do we guard and preserve the sanctifying grace we received at baptism?
3. Do we faithfully love the Unity Prayer Jesus gave us in order to be united with Him at every moment in our lives and to let Him transform our hearts?
Intention We renew our decision for holiness and we live every day in the Grace of our baptism—always choosing good and renouncing evil.
Closing Prayers:
+ST. MICHAEL ARCHANGEL, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. O glorious prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day. Amen.
+Prayer to St. Joseph- O GOD, who by your ineffable Providence has deigned to choose Saint Joseph as the husband of your Most Holy Mother, grant us, we ask you, that we may have for an intercessor in Heaven the one we venerate as protector on earth. Amen. SAINT Joseph, you sought refuge for the Blessed Virgin in Bethlehem, help us to seek refuge for her Flame of Love in the hearts of all people. Amen
+Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Act of consecration, revealed by Jesus to Saint Margaret-Marie Alacoque (1647-1690) During an appearance at Paray Le Monial- I [ ] give and consecrate to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ, my person, my life, my actions, my pains and sufferings, so that I may be unwilling to make use of any part of my being save to honor, love, and glorify the Sacred Heart. It is my unchanging intention to be all His and to do all for love of Him. I renounce at the same time with all my heart whatever can displease Him. I, therefore, take You, O Sacred Heart, for the only object of my love, the protector of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my weakness and inconstancy, the atonement for the faults of my life, and the secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be then, O Heart of goodness, my justification before God the Father, and turn away from me the punishment of His just anger. O Heart of love, I put my confidence in You, because I fear everything from my own sinfulness and weakness. I hope for all things from Your mercy and generosity. Destroy in me all that can displease or resist Your holy Will. Let Your pure love impress You so deeply upon my heart, that I may never forget You or be separated from You. May my name, by your loving kindness, be written In You, because in You I desire to place all my happiness and all my glory in living and dying in very bondage to you. Amen.
+Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary- O IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY, ever-filled with kindness, show us Your Love. May the Flame of Love of Your Heart descend upon all men. We love You with all that we are. Instill true love in our hearts, that we may have toward You an unceasing devotion. O MARY, who art meek and humble of Heart, remember us when we are in a state of sin. By means of Your motherly and Immaculate Heart, heal us from all our spiritual ailments and deficiencies. Grant that we may always see the kindness of Your motherly Heart, and be converted by Your Flame of Love. Amen.
+Prayer for the spread of the Flame of Love With the personal approval of His Holiness Paul VI November 1973 – Blessed Virgin Mary our Mother, Your love of God and Your love for us your children is such that You offer us to Your Divine Son Jesus on the Cross, to obtain forgiveness for our sins from the Eternal Father, and thus, obtain our salvation, and for anyone believing in Jesus not to perish but obtain Eternal Life. It is with filial trust that we beseech you, Blessed Mother, with the Flame of Love of Your Immaculate Heart and through the Holy Spirit, to inflame in our hearts the fire of a perfect love for God and all men. Help us to spread this Holy Flame to all people of goodwill, so that the Flame of Love may extinguish the fires of hate all over the world, and Jesus, the Prince of Peace, may be King, front and center, in every heart, in the Sacrament of His Love on the throne of our Altars. Amen
** Initial approach and prayers for each day of the Novena
1. Each day, before reciting the prayers of this Novena, we light a candle and begin by making the sign of the cross five times while taking refuge in the five wounds of Jesus.
2. We pray for the intentions of our Blessed Mother and we also ask her for graces for each of our personal intentions. The most important thing is to live every step of this Novena with a generous loving heart—with a living faith and a deep recollection.
3. We take a moment to acknowledge our faults and ask God’s forgiveness:
Act of contrition My God, I am very sorry for offending you because you are infinitely good, infinitely kind and you hate sin. Forgive me by the merits of Jesus Christ my Savior. I resolve, by your holy grace, not to offend you and to do penance. Amen.
4. We ask for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all humanity for the salvation of souls. Invocation of the Holy Spirit Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the power of the Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. (3 times)
Du har skickat
You gladden my heart more than in the days when grain and wine are plentiful.
Psalm 4:8
The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17
On Today’s Gospel
16h sedan
Catholicjules.net
What then is the purpose of light, if not to shine? To shine brightly so as to drive out all darkness. That is precisely what every Christian, disciples of Christ Jesus our Lord must do. We are to be His light into the world, to love, heal and drive out all darkness in the lives of those who do not yet know Him.
We have power from on High to love others into the kingdom. We must therefore be disciplined, exercising self control so as to be powerful witnesses of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We want more of You Lord in our lives! More! Come Holy Spirit fill us with Your presence! Drive out all forms of darkness within us, so that we can pure lights of Him who sends us into the world. Amen
Saints Timothy and Titus pray for us…
________
First reading
2 Timothy 1:1-8 ·
Fan into a flame the gift God gave you
From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus in his design to promise life in Christ Jesus; to Timothy, dear child of mine, wishing you grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.
Night and day I thank God, keeping my conscience clear and remembering my duty to him as my ancestors did, and always I remember you in my prayers; I remember your tears and long to see you again to complete my happiness. Then I am reminded of the sincere faith which you have; it came first to live in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I have no doubt that it is the same faith in you as well.
That is why I am reminding you now to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God’s gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control. So you are never to be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord, or ashamed of me for being his prisoner; but with me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy.
________
Gospel
Mark 4:21-25
A lamp is to be put on a lampstand. The amount you measure out is the amount you will be given
Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Would you bring in a lamp to put it under a tub or under the bed? Surely you will put it on the lamp-stand? For there is nothing hidden but it must be disclosed, nothing kept secret except to be brought to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to this.’
He also said to them, ‘Take notice of what you are hearing. The amount you measure out is the amount you will be given – and more besides; for the man who has will be given more; from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.’