Why do we make the Sign of the Cross?

We make the Sign of the Cross......
 _ To remind us of the blessed Trinity- Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. We repeat their
 names whilst making the sign of the Cross.
_ To remind us that the Son of God died on the Cross for all men. Before Calvary it was
a sign of disgrace. Christ made it a thing of glory and power.
_ To stir up our faith. It recalls that God is one and God is three; it recalls that the
 Second person of the Trinity died for all men; it professes our faith; it identifies the
Catholic.
_ To strengthen our hope. By making this sign we express the hope that
through the Cross, all blessings will come to us. It is also a powerful protection from
all dangers and temptations especially against the Evil One.
_ To kindle and feed our charity. Making this sign recalls the limitless love of Jesus
who died upon the cross. We determine to return love for love.
_ It is used in all blessings bestowed by Bishops and Priests.
_ It is used in all the sacraments: 14 times in Baptism; 17 times in Extreme Unction.


Yes, even in the semi-darkness of the confessional the Priest makes the Sign of the
Cross over you. A love and bring
toward this sacred sign is the mark of a true
follower of Christ. Use it frequently, use it thoughtfully, use it lovingly. It will  bring
you countless blessings.

What is the greatest prayer in modern times?

The prayer that has captured the hearts of the faithful on account of its simplicity and efficacy is the pious
invocation : Jesus I trust in You!"

This prayer when said meaningfully is a firm affirmation that Jesus is the Lord and Saviour of our lives. It is
a simple but profound act of abandonment and trust in Jesus' goodness and mercy and a plea of hope in all
our necessities. In the heart of Jesus, those anguished by life's sorrows find peace; those afflicted by suffering
and  illness find relief; those who feel constricted by uncertainty and anguish feel joy, because Christ's heart is
filled to overflowing with consolation and love for those who turn to It with trust. Great are the promises of our Lord to those who use this Divine Mercy invocation as a reminder of his mercy and our obligation to be merciful, just as Our Father in heaven is merciful to each and everyone of us.


                                           General Prayers

         Morning Offering
       
        Lord God Almighty, who have brought us to the beginning of this day, defend us during
        this day by your power, that they may not fall into sin but that all our words, thoughts and
        deeds may always proceed and be directed toward that which is just in your sight. Amen.

        Evening Prayer

        O my God, at the end of this day I thank you most heartily for all the graces I have
        received from you. I am sorry that I have not made a better use of them. I am sorry for all
        the sins that I have committed against you. Forgive me ,O my God, and graciously protect me
        this night. Blessed Virgin Mary , my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection.
        St. Joseph, my dear Guardian Angel, and you all saints of God, pray for me.Sweet Jesus ,
        have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls
       in purgatory. Amen.
      
       Prater before a Crucifix

       Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, while before your face I humbly kneel, and
       with a burning soul I pray and beseech you to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith,
       hope and charity, true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendments, while I contemplate
       with great love and tender pity your five wounds, pondering over them within me, calling to mind the
       words  which David, your prophet, said of you, my dear Jesus : " They have pierced my hands and my
       feet; they have numbered all my bones." ( Ps 21: 17-18 )
      
       Prayer for Religious Vocations

       Father , you call all who believe in you to grow perfect love by following in the footsteps of  Christ
       your Son. May those whom you have chosen to serve you as religious provide by their way a 
       convincing sign of your kingdom for the Church and the whole world. Amen.

      Prayer for Priests
  
       O my most Sweet Jesus, O Jesus, Eternal High Priest, keep your Priests in the shelter of
       your Sacred Heart, where no one can hurt them. Keep their anointed hands unsullied,
       which daily handle your Sacred Body. Keep pure the lips which are reddened with your
       Precious Blood. Keep pure and unworldly their hearts which are sealed with the sublime
      token of your glorious priesthood. Cause them to grow in love and loyalty to you and
      protect them from the contamination of the world. With their power of transforming bread
      and wine, give them the power of transforming hearts. Bless their work with rich fruit and
      grant them one day the crown of eternal life. Amen.

     St. Gertrude's Prayer for the Souls in Purgatory

     Eternal Father, I offer you the Most Precious Blood of your Divine Son, Jesus, in union
     with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in purgatory, for
     sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my own home and
     within my family. Amen.
       



 
    
       

Who are we to evangelize?

First yourself, then your family, friends, colleagues and those who are around you in your daily life. Pope Benedict XVI said: " The absence of God is worse than material poverty. People are hungry and thirsty
for the truth. We must bring it to them."

YOUCAT - Christoph Cardinal Schoenborn : Ignatius Press

YOUCAT - Christoph Cardinal Schoenborn : Ignatius Press

PRAYER IN THE BIBLE

Introduction: Biblical prayer could be described as a personal encounter between God and the humans  resulting in the phase of a complete and intimate communion. Just as in the human relationship, in the divino-human encounter too there is a place for petition, entreaty, expostulation ,confession, thanksgiving , recollection, praise,adoration,meditation etc.leading to communion. All these elements could be reduced to four basic features- recognition, recall, praise, petition - which are true both in human relationship and in divino-human relationship (prayer). Biblical prayers comprise basically of these four elements. Some may have one or two or all of these four elements and also in different propositions. Since our relationship with God (Mt :21-26),biblical prayer has a horizontal and also a vertical dimension. Both these are so intertwined that when one suffers,the other too does  suffer.

The Old Testament

What is the Christian meaning of death?

The Christian who dies  in Christ Jesus is "away from the body and at home with the Lord" ( 2 Cor 5:8). This is the Christian meaning of death. [ See CCC 1681 ]