We celebrate a beloved family patron saint today and seek his intercession always.

May Our Lady help us make the maxims of St. John of the Cross firm principles for the good of our souls.

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The Litany of St. John of the Cross

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven,

Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,

Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Ghost,

Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God,

Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

Queen and Beauty of Carmel,

pray for us.

Saint John of the Cross,

pray for us.

St. John, our glorious father, etc.

Beloved child of Mary, the Queen of Carmel,

Fragrant flower of the garden of Carmel,

Admirable possessor of the spirit of Elias,

Foundation stone of the Carmelite reform,

Spiritual son, and beloved father of St. Teresa,

Most vigilant in the practice of virtue,

Treasure of charity,

Abyss of humility,

Most perfect in obedience,

Invincible in patience,

Constant lover of poverty,

Dove of simplicity,

Thirsting for mortification,

Prodigy of holiness,

Mystical Doctor ,

Model of contemplation,

Zealous preacher of the Word of God,

Worker of miracles,

Bringing joy and peace to souls,

Terror of devils,

Model of penance,

Faithful guardian of Christ’s vineyard,

Ornament and glory of Carmel,

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

Have mercy on us.

V. Holy father Saint John of the Cross, pray for us,

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray.

O God, Who didst instill into the heart of Saint John of the Cross, Thy confessor and our father, a perfect spirit of self-abnegation and a

surpassing love of Thy Cross, grant that assiduously following in his footsteps, we may attain to eternal glory. Through Christ Our Lord.

R. Amen.

Fr. Weninger offers the following practical consideration.

“Saint John asked of God, in his first Mass, the grace of remaining free from all mortal sin; and at another time, he begged to suffer, to labor, and to be despised for Christ’s sake.

Oh! how different from this is the object of your prayers!

What do you seek and ask of God?

To what end do you promise masses, fasts, pilgrimages, and prayers?

Is not almost everything you ask temporal?

When you, your child, your husband or wife is sick, then you promise in your prayers to do all that is possible in order that God may ward off the disease.

When you have a cross to bear, you pray to God to release you from it. Although it is praiseworthy to fly to God for refuge in such circumstances, tell me, why do you not ask His assistance in much more weighty matters, in such as concern your soul?

Why do you not ask as often or oftener and more earnestly for spiritual gifts, and beg the Almighty to avert spiritual evils? Is not this an incontestable proof that you are far more solicitous for your body and your temporal welfare, than for your soul and your salvation?

And is not this not only unreasonable, but even wicked?

Correct this fault in future, and pray to God frequently and fervently to bestow spiritual gifts and graces upon you, and to avert from you spiritual and eternal evils.

Pray to Him for the grace to avoid sin; to be freed from temptations, or to be upheld in battling against them, for strength to correct evil habits, to overcome sinful inclinations or to practice virtues; to die a happy death, and to escape eternal destruction.

“Pray,” says Cardinal Hugo, “for all that you need for your salvation.” Such graces are more necessary than all others, and you may be sure that they are useful to you, while you do not know that temporal blessings are for your good.” #frweninger #saintoftheday #jffsaints