Wednesday, February 22, 2012

A Novena of Mediations on Fasting

I thought I might re-post this old post on fasting for Lent. Enjoy!

Reinvigorate fasting in your spiritual life by meditating for nine days on the following Scripture passages about the practice. While you're at it, read Pope Benedict XVI's Message for Lent (from 2009) on the same topic.

First Day - Genesis 2:4-17

Second Day - Isaiah 58:1-9

Third Day - Jonah 3

Fourth Day - Matthew 4:1-11

Fifth Day - Matthew 6:14-21

Sixth Day - Mark 2:18-22

Seventh Day - Mark 9:14-29

Eighth Day - Luke 16:19-31

Ninth Day - John 4:31-38


"My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work." (John 4:34)

A Devotion to Saint Michael

Here's a devotion I have come up with. It combines praying the St. Michael Prayer while meditating on scriptural passages referring to St. Michael, much like a decade of the scriptural rosary. Suffice it to say this devotion could be used for spiritual warfare.

Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory be

1 - "At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble." (Dan 12:1) Saint Michael Prayer

2 - "But at that time your people shall be delivered, every one whose name shall be found written in the book of life." (Dan 12:1) Saint Michael Prayer

3 - "When the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, disputed about the body of Moses, he did not pronounce a reviling judgment on him." (Jude 9) Saint Michael Prayer

4- "But he said, 'The Lord rebuke you.'" (Jude 9) Saint Michael Prayer

5- "Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon." (Rev 12:7) Saint Michael Prayer

6- "And the dragon and his angels fought, but they were defeated and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. " (Rev 12:7-8) Saint Michael Prayer

7- "And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, 'Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come.'" (Rev 12:10) Saint Michael Prayer

8- "For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before God." (Rev 12:10) Saint Michael Prayer

9- "And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." (Rev 12:11) Saint Michael Prayer

10- "Rejoice then, O heaven and you that dwell therein!" (Rev 12:12) Saint Michael Prayer

Prayer to the Guardian Angel

Angel of God, my Guardian dear,
To whom His love commits me here,
Ever this day be at my side,
To light, to guard, to rule, and guide. Amen.


For reference, here is the St. Michael Prayer:

St. Michael the 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.

A Novena of Meditations on Spiritual Warfare


Lent is a good time to whet your sword of the spirit for spiritual warfare. I am thus re-posting this old post on the topic.

First Day - Matthew 10:24-31

Second Day - Matthew 17:14-20 or Mark 9:14-29

Third Day - Luke 10:17-20

Fourth Day - Luke 11:14-26

Fifth Day - John 8:31-47

Sixth Day - Ephesians 4:25-32

Seventh Day - Ephesians 6:10-20

Eighth Day - 1 Peter 5:6-11

Ninth Day - Revelation 12:7-12


The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be still.  (Exodus 14:14)

Email Your Representatives

This is a very quick way to email your representatives to ask them to support the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, against the HHS mandate. Just click on the below link, enter your name and address, and it takes care of the rest for you, finding out who your representatives are and emailing a message asking them to support the Act. Thanks!

http://actions.nchla.org/Core/core.aspx?APP=GAC&AID=970&IssueID=25200&SiteID=-1