The devotion to the Sacred Heart (also known as the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Sacratissimum Cor Iesu in Latin) is one of the most popular devotions. The Chaplet of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is composed of some of the Church’s most beloved short indulgenced prayers and ejaculations, simple and beautiful expressions of love. Pope Pius VII, according to a Rescript of 20th March, 1815, granted 300 days’ indulgence to all who with a devout and contrite heart say the following chaplet, every time they say it; and once a month, a plenary indulgence to those who have said[…]

In 1899, Pope Leo XIII consecrated the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Since then, his successors have exhorted the faithful to turn to the Sacred Heart and make acts of personal consecration. They have also begged the faithful to offer prayers and penances to the Sacred Heart in reparation for the many sins of the world. On April 2nd, 1899 Pope Leo XIII approved the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for public use. This litany is actually a synthesis of several other litanies dating back to the 17th century.  The Litany makes a total of 33 invocations,[…]

The Ascension of Our Lord – NOVENA to the HOLY GHOST Start Novena on Friday, nine days before the feast of Pentecost  FOREWORD The novena in honor of the Holy Ghost is the oldest of all novenas since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord Himself when He sent His apostles back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Ghost on the first Pentecost. It is still the only novena officially prescribed by the Church. Addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is a powerful plea for the light and strength and[…]

The world knows not the Holy Ghost. Many pious souls have no devotion towards Him. He is, as it were, forgotten almost by all, and He is, nevertheless, the Soul of the Church. Leo XIII, in his Encyclical upon the Holy Ghost, strongly urges all the faithful to love this Divine Spirit. He exhorts all Bishops and priests to preach this sanctifying devotion with a new and burning zeal. Jesus, before His Ascension into Heaven, commends this devotion to His Apostles, promising them the coming of the Holy Ghost, Who “will teach you all things” (St. John xiv. 26). The[…]

This festival is celebrated on the Sunday after Pentecost, because as soon as the apostles were instructed and consoled by the Holy Ghost, they began to preach openly that which Christ had taught them. That we may openly profess our faith in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, which is the first of Christian truths, the foundation of the Christian religion, and the most sublime of all mysteries; and that we may render thanks, to the Father for having created us, to the Son for having redeemed us, and to the Holy Ghost for having sanctified us. Why do we[…]

For this Novena, the chief object of which is to promote the reunion of those who have fallen away from the Catholic Church (the Church of the Apostles) either by heresy or by schism, any approved form of prayer may be used — e.g., ”The Chaplet of ‘he Holy Ghost” (below); the hymn ”Veni, Creator Spiritus” (the Sequence used in the Tridentine Mass at Pentecost); or the “Our Father” — the ”Hail Mary” —’the “Glory be” — seven times. In apostolic letter Provida Matris Caritate Pope Leo XIII calls for a sacred novena prayers between the feasts of the Ascension[…]

According to the Roman Catholic Liturgical Calendar, the Ascension Day is celebrated on a Thursday, the fortieth day of Easter. Every parish priest celebrates Mass for the people of his parish. Pentecost Sunday is not far behind. Coming 50 days after Easter, and ten days after the Ascension of Our Lord, Pentecost marks the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles. Pray NOVENA to the HOLY GHOST – Start on June 1st (nine days before the feast of Pentecost). On The Ascension of Our Lord by the very Rev. Dom Prosper Guéranger, Abbot of Solesmes Consider first, that our Lord,[…]