“Keep your priorities in order – Jesus first, your husband second, your children third, etc. The best thing you can do for your husband is to love Jesus and see Him in your husband, despite any faults and weaknesses your husband might have. The best thing you can do for your children is to let them see you love their father. Try not to work outside the home. If you do need to work outside the home, try to make sure that your work does not interfere with your primary responsibilities as a Catholic Christian wife, mother and woman living in the midst of the modern world. There is great dignity in the domesticity of this three-fold aspect of your one vocation. Develop a weekly schedule setting aside primary time for Jesus, for your husband and for each child.”
~Fr. Wade Menezes C.P.M., TEN COMMANDMENTS OF A WIFE & MOTHER (II)
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July 22 – July 30
July 31 (feast day of St. Ignatius Loyola)
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Novena to St. Ignatius of Loyola
Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess You have given me: I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.
Grant, O Lord, that my heart may neither desire nor seek anything but what is necessary for the fulfillment of Thy holy Will. May health or sickness, riches or poverty, honors or contempt, humiliations, leave my soul in that state of perfect detachment to which I desire to attain for Thy greater honor and Thy greater glory.
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
O my God, teach me to be generous:
to serve you as you deserve to be served;
to give without counting the cost;
to fight without fear of being wounded;
to work without seeking rest;
and to spend myself without expecting any reward,
but the knowledge that I am doing your holy will.
Amen.
~~~
St. Ignatius of Loyola Novena Prayer
Holy Father Ignatius,
through the centuries millions must have known
the influence of your inspiration.
Our world today needs to find your secret
of finding God everywhere,
of putting Him first in our intention and endeavor,
of desiring nothing but what He wants,
of yearning for nothing but His love and grace.
Teach us the freedom that comes from committing ourselves
to God’s designs for a world laden with creative beauty
yet marred by our violent ways.
You knew that Christ was your companion
at every step of life.
You joined him in his ongoing work
for the salvation of us all.
Help us to find courage in his presence,
to feel that he works with and in us.
May God,
through the power of your prayer
give us peace and joy
and grant us our most intimate requests
in this Novena
if they be for His greater glory
and our greater good.
Amen.
~~~
Novena to St. Ignatius of Loyola
(to be said both morning and night for nine days)
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be to the Father (three times).
(The Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus or the Litany of the Blessed Virgin may be added.)
V. Pray for us, O Holy Father, Saint Ignatius.
R. That we may be made worthy of the Promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
O God, who, for the increase of the greater glory of Thy Holy Name, hast been pleased by Blessed Ignatius to strengthen the Church militant with new help, grant that, aided by his prayers during our warfare on earth, we may so imitate his virtues as to be happily crowned with him in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Let us pray.
O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, Eternal God, who, imparting to the bodies of the sick Thy gracious blessing, dost guard Thy creature by Thy manifold tenderness, graciously assist us to invoke Thy Holy Name, that, by the intercession of Thy Confessor, Saint Ignatius, Thy servants, freed from sickness and blessed with health, may be raised up by Thy right hand, strengthened by Thy help, guarded by Thy protection, and restored to Thy Holy Church with every blessing. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
~~~
St. Ignatius of Loyola ~ ora pro nobis!
noreen says
Hi Lena, it sounds so logical and simple written out about needing to devote time to Jesus, husband and children but in reality, it’s harder than it seems. If we didn’t live in such a noisy, busy world, it wouldn’t be a big challenge. Honestly, what suffers the most is time with my husband because he works a lot and is tired when he comes home.
I think the prayers will help with the struggles of centering life on Jesus and all else will come into balance… if I let it!
I needed this reminder today. Thank you!
God Bless