11th Sunday of the Year (A)

"Beg the harvest Master to send out laborers to gather his harvest"

This Sunday's gospel describes how Jesus names and calls the 12 who will be His apostles. When Jesus had to make important decisions, the gospel says that He goes out to a quiet place to pray. This is what He did when He called the 12 who will be His apostles. Jesus saw the need for followers to work in the harvesting of souls for the Kingdom of God.

"Beg the harvest Master to send out laborers to gather his harvest". This may have been the content of Jesus' prayer when praying to the Father for help to choose men to bring about the kingdom of God. Jesus chose 12 simple people - mostly fishermen. He chose them not because of any superior quality. Rather, He chose them by the qualities of mind and heart that they potentially have. These are the minds and hearts which He would form according to the mind and heart of God.

All Catholic faithful are called to be "laborers to gather Jesus' harvest". Jesus has already sown the gospel and every generation of Catholics since the apostles are entasked by baptismal consecration to witness to God's love in word and deed. Today, it is imperative that all undertake this task because St. John Paul II has described this present era as an era with "darkness". He instituted the Light Mysteries of the rosary to show that what this present era needs more than ever the Light of Christ. All Catholics can bear the light of Christ in their being if each one believes and does what Jesus asks with respect to each one's state of life. That is all that is necessary. Faith and works of charity and kindness and justice and generosity and service: in the parish, in the family, at work, or in all these. If all Catholics keep to the spirit of the Gospel and are wary and careful not to follow what is evil in the spirit of the flesh and the world, then everyone will do their part to labor for the harvest of the Kingdom. We can always pray to receive the light of Christ in the Eucharistic celebration and to bring that light to others also.

Consecration of the Family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Classic)

Family Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Steps to consecrate family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The family consecration

It is an act the family makes to the Sacred Heart: to acknowledge Him as King and promises to make Him reign and rule over the whole family.

Two elements

• the head of the family recognizes the right of the Sacred Heart to rule over his family
• an act of the will, by which he submits both himself and his family to the dominion of the Sacred Heart

Obligations of the family

• to keep God's commandments and the precepts of the Church
• to discharge the duties of their state of life
• to avoid whatever displeases the Sacred Heart, whatever endangers faith and morals
• to imitate the virtues shone in the Holy Family of Nazareth: mutual charity, obedience, prayer, purity and devotion to work
• to cultivate a spirit of true piety by
• night prayers in common
• assistance in Mass
• frequent communion
• devotion to the Sacred Heart (on First Fridays and Feast day)

Visible manifestation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

• The image of the Sacred Heart must occupy a prominent place of honor.
• Members of the family must greet Him on coming in and going out of the house (through spiritual ejaculations: 1. "O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I implore that I may ever love Thee more and more" 2. "Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine").
• They will share with Him reunions and rejoicings, making Him truly a member of the family.
• The family will best pray in common before Him especially in times of difficulties (also on First Fridays and feast of the Sacred Heart)

Ceremony preparation

• set the consecration on a day when all members of the family can be present
• invite a priest to preside over the ceremony
• decorate the image with flowers and candles in a prominent, permanent place
• prepare the family internally by confession, Mass and communion
• obtain a diploma of consecration where members will sign their names with the presiding priest

Classic Procedure

Blessing of the home

• members of the family carry lighted candles
• the priest prays the blessings for the home and all who live in it
• then he sprinkles all the rooms with holy water
• Solemn consecration of the family to the Sacred Heart
• all sing "Heart of Jesus"
• blessing of the image by the priest
• recitation of "the Apostles' creed"
• a short sermon by the priest
• all kneel for the solemn act
• the father or head of the household recites:

O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, You revealed to St. Margaret Mary Your desire to rule over Christian families; behold, in order to please You, we gather before You this day, to proclaim Your full sovereignty over our family. We desire henceforth to live Your life; we desire that the virtues, to which You have promised peace on earth, may flower in the bosom of our family; we desire to keep far from us the spirit of the world, which You have condemned. You are King of our minds by the simplicity of our faith; you are King of our hearts by our love for You alone, with which our hearts are on fire, and whose flame we shall keep alive by frequently receiving the Holy Eucharist. Be pleased, O Sacred Heart, to preside over our gathering together, to bless our spiritual and temporal affairs, to ward off all annoyance from us,to sanctify our joys and comfort our sorrows. If any of us has ever been so unhappy as to fall into the misery of displeasing you, grant that we may remember, O Heart of Jesus, that You are full of goodness and mercy toward the repentant sinner. And when the hour of separation strikes and death enters our family circle, whether we go or whether we stay, we shall bow humbly before Your eternal decrees. This shall be our consolation to remember that the day will come when our entire family, once more united in heaven, shall be able to sing of Your glory and Your goodness forever. May the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the glorious patriarch St. Joseph deign to offer You our act of consecration, and to keep the memory of it alive in us all the days of our lives. Glory to the Heart of Jesus, our King and our Father.

The whole family recites in unison:

We consecrate to You, O Heart of Jesus, the trials and joys, and all the happiness of our family life, and we beg you, to pour out Your best blessings, on all its members, present and absent, living and dead. And when one after the other, we shall have closed our eyes in holy death, O Jesus, may all of us in paradise, find again our entire family, united in Your Sacred Heart. Amen.

The priest prays an act of thanksgiving.

Recitation of the Litany of the Sacred Heart

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 Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit, in the womb of the Virgin Mother, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, sacred Temple of God, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, house of God and Gate of Heaven, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of charity, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, abode of justice and love, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, King and center of all hearts, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, in whom dwells the fullness of divinity, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father was well pleased, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, patient and most merciful, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, enriching all who invoke You, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, loaded down with reproaches, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, bruised for our offenses, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, obedient unto death, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, victim of sin, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who trust in You, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in You, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, spare us O Lord.

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, make our hearts like unto Thine.

Let us pray:

O almighty and eternal God, look upon the Heart of Your dearly beloved Son, and upon the praise and sanctification He offers You in behalf of sinners, and being appeased, grant pardon to those who seek Your mercy, in the name of the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns in You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.

Prayer for the deceased members of the family

Our Father...

Hail Mary...

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon them.

May their souls and the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

Invocations

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Your Kingdom come.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, protect our families.

Heart of Jesus burning with love of us, set our hearts on fire with love of You.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You.

Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.

Glory, love and thanksgiving be to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Blessing of the family by the priest

Final hymn

Signing of the consecration dimploma

Indulgence gained

plenary indulgence - confession and communion

indulgence of 7 years

Renewal of the family consecration to the Sacred Heart

This is done every year on the first anniversary or feast of the Sacred Heart or Christ the King or any important family occasion.

• hymn "Heart of Jesus"
• apostles' creed
• act of consecration
• prayer for departed members
• prayer for the family

O God of goodness and mercy, to Your fatherly protection we commend our family, our household, and all that belong to us. We commit all to Your love and keeping. Fill this house with Your blessing even as You filled the holy house of Nazareth with Your presence. Keep far from us, above all things else, the taint of sin and reign alone in our midst by Your law, by Your most Holy Love and by the exercise of every Christian virtue. Let each one of us obey You, love You, and set himself to imitate in his own life Your example, that of Mary, Your Mother and our Most loving Mother, and that of Your blameless guardian, St. Joseph. Preserve us and our house from all evils and misfortunes, and grant that we may always be resigned to Your divine will even in the sorrows which it may please You to send us. Finally, give to all of us the grace to live in perfect harmony and in the fullness of love toward our neighbor. Grant that every one of us may deserve, by a holy life, the comfort of Your holy sacraments at the hour of death. O Jesus, bless us and protect us. O Mary, mother of grace and of mercy, defend us against the wicked spirit; reconcile us with Your Son, commit us to His keeping, so that we may be made worthy of His promises. St. Joseph, foster-father of our Savior, guardian of His Holy Mother, head of the Holy Family, intercede for us, bless us and defend our home at all times. St. Michael, defend us against all the wicked cunning of hell. St. Gabriel, make us understand the holy will of God. St. Raphael, keep us free from all sickness and from every danger to our lives. Our Holy Guardian angels, keep our feet safely on the path of salvation day and night. O Holy Patrons, pray for us before the throne of God. Yes, bless this house, O God, the Father, who has created us. O God the Son, who suffered for us upon the Holy Cross. O Holy Spirit, who has sanctified us in holy baptism. May the one God in three divine persons preserve our bodies, purify our minds, direct our hearts and bring us all to everlasting life. Glory be to the Father, glory be to the Son, glory be to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Final hymn

Indulgence gained

plenary indulgence - same conditions

an indulgence of three years

Making the consecration is one thing, living the consecration is another

To be made by at least one member of the family

• daily Mass and communion
• first Friday devotions
• family holy hour each month
• daily rosary
• observe the month of June with Mass and communion as often as possible
• renewal of the family consecration on the feast of the Sacred Heart

The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton

The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton is an autobiographical novel that is inspiring to any reader in search of God. The book is Merton's own search for God before he entered the Cistercian Order (The strictest branch - The Trappists). This book is an eye-opener for anyone discerning to enter religious life or the seminary. But it can also be a refreshing reading experience for those building their professional careers. Professionals and business people can achieve better balance from the reading experience.

An autobiography

The Seven Storey Mountain begins with the story written in the author's own words: his search for God beginning in the context of a university setting. Merton was a student first and then became a professor in the university where he graduated. He was not Catholic. But, in the course of his teaching career, life events have led him to seek God. The book will give details of this conversion experience. So, Merton found himself baptized in the Catholic Church. His first attempt in his search was with the Franciscans. This did not work out for Thomas Merton. Finally, after additional discernment, he finally entered the Order of the Cistercians of the Strict Observance. This is a monastic order that has a vow of silence in one of its vows. In his life as a Trappist monk, Thomas Merton authored many books. This book, The Seven Storey Mountain is one of them; it is his most popular auto-biography.

Poignant moments

The book has some poignant moments can deeply affect readers. One of which relates to his family. Merton tells the story of how his younger brother visited him one day to inform Merton of a decision to join the Air Force. Merton then tells the story poignantly of the meeting and of the time also when he heard the news of his brother's death in the war.

A modern Catholic classic

The Seven Storey Mountain could well be considered a modern classic that any personal library can have. It can be read and reread as many times as one wishes, because Merton writes very intelligently. He gives a lot of his insights and wisdom in his life-story. His reflections are naturally deep and integrated in his autobiography. The education-rich setting of a university and his life as a Trappist monk all contributed to the richness of his faith and wisdom. If one needs a break, a "retreat" from the secular concerns one is daily attending to, this book is refreshing break from the "rat race". For it will certainly provide many great reminders of what really are the essential things in life. If you need a great book to read and reread way up to your retirement and leisure years, this certainly is a must-have.