Thank You Lord - January 5, 2010

I am really amazed that we are already at the start of not just the year but also a new decade. 2010. I hope that this decade will bring about conversion of more people. I pray that the Holy Spirit move us all to live lives that are pleasing to the Lord.

1. Thank You Lord for the time spent with my family especially the play time with the kids.
2. Thank You Lord for Your Words, they sustain me.
3. Thank You Lord for letting me find my old pair of eyeglasses as my recent pair got broken.
4. Thank You Lord for the good timing of the due dates of our financial obligations.
5. Thank You Lord for giving me time to finish a few chapters of the book I am reading now.
6. Thank You Lord for letting us reserve the venue of my son's birthday party already.
7. Thank You Lord for taking care of my parents, siblings, nephews and nieces.
8. Thank You Lord for giving us Your Mother to be our Mother who helps us all the time.
9. Thank You Lord for teaching us how to pray, for letting us pray our novenas and especially the Rosary.
10. Thank You Lord for letting us feel loved. May we, in turn, be instruments of Your love, that all people may experience Your love through us.

Amen.

Thank You Lord - December 31, 2009

Another year has passed. In the midst of all the fireworks, food and drinks, I would like to thank the Lord for letting me enjoy life's simple pleasures. Thank You Lord for a wonderful 2009. May 2010 be a year of renewal, conversion, repentance and continued blessings and graces for all of us!

1. Thank You Lord for letting my phone work today. I cannot use my cellphone a few days ago.
2. Thank You Lord for the gravy, mashed potatoes and leche flan which were surprisingly good. (It was our first time to make those.)
3. Thank You Lord for the relatively moderate workload today. My supervisor even allowed me to welcome the New Year with the family.
4. Thank You Lord for the food stuff and other items I got from Cavite.
5. Thank You Lord for letting my PC work steadily today.
6. Thank You Lord for Head and Shoulders.
7. Thank You Lord for all the hugs and kisses I got from my kids today.
8. Thank You Lord for all the miracles that You perform yet sometimes they go unnoticed or unrecognized.
9. Thank You Lord for the Saints and the Angels.
10. Thank You Lord for not giving up on us.

Amen.

Thank You Lord - December 30, 2009

As we draw towards the end of the year, I think 2009 is still a good year for me. Lots of things to be thankful for.

1. Thank You Lord for giving me this year a wonderful and lovely son, may he grow to live a life that is pleasing to You.
   
2. Thank You Lord for sustaining my family during my times of unemployment this year.
3. Thank You Lord for my friends at 4Marks who have been so helpful and inspirational to me.
4. Thank You Lord for sending "help" in many creative forms during difficult times.
5. Thank You Lord for keeping us healthy and safe.
6. Thank You Lord for a hearty lunch of Chopsuey, Pancit Canton and Grilled Boneless Milkfish (plus a nightcap of Swissmiss and of course, Chips Ahoy!)
7. Thank You Lord for the Roast Beef idea for New's Year Eve.
8. Thank You Lord for the Lakers win versus Golden State Warriors.
9. Thank You Lord for helping me with my novenas today.
10. Thank You Lord for letting me feel the love of my family, I hope I can lead them all to You.

Amen.

10 Things To Be Thankful For

Recently, I got the inspiration somewhere to list down 10 things that I want thank God specifically for all the blessings of the day. I guess just having a grateful attitude is already a blessing in itself because even when things go wrong, you would still be able to find hope that God will see you through and thank Him for the opportunity to express your faith, patience and gratefulness. I hope that I will be able to continue doing this list as long I am able to. At the end of my life, what I really want to do, is thank God personally when I see Him in Heaven. So here goes...

1. Thank You Lord for letting me write this list. Thank You Lord for letting me have faith in You, drawing me near You. Thank You for sending Jesus to save us, Mama Mary to help us and the Holy Spirit to guide us.
2. Thank You Lord for my wife and my kids who give me so much joy and happiness.
3. Thank You Lord for my mom and dad and my brothers, they inspire me.
4. Thank You Lord for sending us good househelp.
5. Thank You Lord for sustaining us all these times especially since we are in a financial situation right now.
6. Thank You Lord for letting this 6- or 7-year-old PC help us in our livelihood.
7. Thank You Lord for the fruit juices, lettuce and the headphone that I was able to buy today.
8. Thank You Lord for Kerygma for the daily devotionals and also to USCCB for the daily readings and reflections.
9. Thank You Lord for Chips Ahoy!
10. Thank You Lord for Your protection.
    

Amen.

Thank You Lord!

I dont want this opportunity to pass. I dont want to miss it. I want to express my gratitude to my Lord and my God.



A lot of good things happened this week. God has really made me feel loved. Somebody once told me to remember the words that Jesus taught us, "Give us this day our DAILY bread." I came to appreciate these words so much particularly this week when I am direly in need. God has sent me His love and blessings in so many forms. We just need to believe in Him entirely.



Thank You Lord. Really, thank You for loving us. Thank You for everything. Lord, please let me love You as you deserve to be loved. Use me in any way that would glorify You. I offer my life to You. I hope that I and the rest of my family can live lives that are pleasing to You.



Maraming Salamat Po!

Novena to St. Therese of the Child Jesus

Hello! I just finished uploading a video about St. Therese of the Child Jesus. Please check it out. Anyway, this has been long overdue. Still, I want to share with you a favorite novena of mine, the 24 Glory Be to the Father Novena to St. Therese of the Child Jesus (aka St. Therese of Lisieux). I want to thank my friends Ghen Generillo and Roschelle Gomez for sharing their devotion to St. Therese with me. The 24 "Glory be to the Father" novena can be said any day, anytime. However, the ninth to the seventeenth of the month is particularly recommended for those days the petitioner joins with all those making the novena.





Novena Prayer to St. Therese of the Child Jesus

O Little Thérèse of the Child Jesus,
please pick for me a rose from the heavenly garden
and send it to me as a message of love.

O Little Flower of Jesus, ask God, today, to grant
the favors I now place with confidence in your hands.
Tell Him I will love Him each day more and more.

St. Thérèse, help me to always believe, as you did,
in God's great love for me, so that I might imitate
your "Little Way" each day. Amen.


(Say 24 "Glory be" prayer below... between the "Glory be", say,
"St. Therese of the Child Jesus, pray for us.")


Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.


Most Blessed Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
I ask you thru the merits of St. Therese of the Child Jesus,
during the 24 years of her earthly life,
to obtain for me thru her intercession the grace (mention your request).



LITANY OF ST. THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS

Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy
Lord, hear us
[R] Have mercy on us.

God, the Father in Heaven,
God the Son, redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, one God,
[R] Pray for us

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Saint Joseph,
Saint Teresa of Jesus,
Saint John of the Cross,
[R] Have mercy on us.

Saint Therese of the Chid Jesus and the Holy Face,
Saint Therese, Gift of God to Carmel,
Saint Therese, Gift of God to the Church,
Saint Therese, Patroness of the Missions,
Saint Therese, Doctor of the Church,
Saint Therese, Beloved child of the heavenly Father,
Saint Therese, passionately in love with Jesus,
Saint Therese, who so wanted to resemble the Child Jesus,
Saint Therese, who so wanted to resemble the Suffering Jesus,
Saint Therese, on fire with love through the Holy Spirit,
Saint Therese, Who gave us the "little way of spiritual childhood,
Saint Therese, Who sought only the truth,
Saint Therese, Who "chose all" that God wanted,
Saint Therese, Who understood and practiced humility of heart,
Saint Therese, Who forgot yourself to make others happy,
Saint Therese, Who fought with the weapons of prayer and sacrifice,
Saint Therese, Who wanted to love like Jesus Himself,
Saint Therese, Who understood and lived charity,
Saint Therese, Who praised the work of the Creator,
Saint Therese, Who praised the Mercies of the Lord,
Saint Therese, poor, chaste and obedient,
Saint Therese, faithful in the little things,
Saint Therese, whose weakness is folly,
Saint Therese, free and joyful,
Saint Therese, patient and courageous,
Saint Therese, simple in joy and suffering,
Saint Therese, tried in our faith,
Saint Therese, Who hoped against all hope,
Saint Therese, Who refused God nothing,
Saint Therese, rapidly consumed by love,
Saint Therese, martyr of love,
Saint Therese, nourished by the word of God,
Saint Therese, burning with desire to the Eucharist,
Saint Therese, love in the heart of the Church,
Saint Therese, word of God for the world,
Saint Therese, teacher of the spiritual life,
Saint Therese, Apostle of Mercy,
Saint Therese, offered to Merciful Love,
Saint Therese, Who came before God with empty hands,
Saint Therese, happy in your weakness,
Saint Therese, trusting in spite of everything,
Saint Therese, Who found in abandonment to the Father an ocean of peace,
Saint Therese, consumed with zeal for the salvation of souls,
Saint Therese, sister and friend of all,
Saint Therese, support of your missionaries,
Saint Therese, mother of a multitude,
Saint Therese, seated at the table of the sinners,
Saint Therese, Who made a condemned criminal your first child,
Saint Therese, close to prisoners, sister of the wounded in life,
Saint Therese, friend of unbelievers,
Saint Therese, close to those who are tempted and who doubt,
Saint Therese, close to those who despair,
Saint Therese, presence of pardon and peace,
Saint Therese, witness of God, our merciful Father,
Saint Therese, witness of Christ, Servant and Savior,
Saint Therese, witness of the Spirit of Love and Holiness,
[R] 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, O Lord.
Pray for us Saint Therese, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray -

God our Father, You have promised your Kingdom to those who are willing to become like little children. Help us to follow the way of Saint Therese with confidence, so that by her prayers, we may come to know your eternal glory. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Therese
St. Thérèse, please draw me into your great life of love. Teach me that no act is too small to fill with love. Give me great respect for others. Remind me that everyone is a child of God and is specially loved by God. Draw me closer to God and allow me to feel God's love for me. Draw me into the heart of God and widen the horizons of my mind and heart. Then I may be able to think nothing, feel nothing, wish nothing, do nothing except those things that will build up others and inspire them to love. Help me to do this over and over again - to practice with you, being Love in the heart God. Amen.


Miraculous Invocation to Saint Therese of Lisieux
O Glorious St. Thérèse, whom Almighty God has raised up to aid and inspire the human family, I implore your miraculous intercession. You are so powerful in obtaining every need of body and spirit from the Heart of God. Holy Mother Church proclaims you "Prodigy of Miracles... the Greatest Saint of Modern Times." Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition (mention here) and to carry out your promises of spending Heaven doing good upon earth... of letting fall from Heaven a Shower of Roses. Little Flower, give me your childlike faith, to see the Face of God in the people and experiences of my life, and to love God with full confidence. St. Thérèse, my Carmelite Sister, I will fulfill your plea "to be made known everywhere" and I will continue to lead others to Jesus through you. Amen.


Another Prayer to St. Therese
May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us. Amen.

Sharing for the First Time - Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Hi, this is my first time to write a blog. I am rather new to this kind of technology which has empowered a lot of people in the world. Although I do not have the skills of a professional writer, I have always wanted to share my thoughts and feelings in a way that can be read by people as I expressed them. Wish me luck!

My name is Ryan P. Herrera, a medical transcriptionist by profession, who loves to cook and travel. I guess some of my future blog entries would be about my cooking, recipes, and places that I have visited.

I also would like to have this opportunity to share with you several novenas that I have prayed over the last few months. I have my own share of life’s ups and downs and praying these novenas have certainly helped me “weather the storms.” (Note: A novena is a prayer of petition or thanksgiving that is recited for 9 consecutive days.)

The first novena prayer that I will share with you is the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I got this novena prayer from the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Makati City, Philippines. Here is their website http://www.nsshph.blogspot.com/

Please feel free to email me or send comments. I would like to hear your stories after praying the novenas. Peace!






NOVENA PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Divine Jesus, You have said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." Behold us kneeling at your feet, filled with a lively faith and confidence in the promises dictated by your Sacred Heart and pronounced by Your adorable lips, We come to ask this favor: (Here silently mention your petitions).

To whom can we turn to if not to You. Whose Heart is the source of all graces and merits? Where should we seek if not in the treasure which contains all the riches of Your kindness and mercy? Where must we knock if not at the door through which God gives Himself to us and through which we go to God? We have recourse to You, Heart of Jesus. In You we find consolation when afflicted, protection when persecuted, strength when burdened with trials, and light in doubt and darkness.

Dear Jesus, we firmly believe that You can grant us the grace we implore, even though it should require a miracle. You have only to will it and our prayer will be granted. We admit that we are most unworthy of your favors, but this is not a reason for us to be discouraged. You are the God of Mercy and You will not refuse a contrite heart. Cast upon us a look of mercy we beg of you, and Your kind Heart will find in our miseries and weaknesses a reason for granting our prayer.

O Sacred Heart, whatever may be Your decision with regard to our request, we will never stop adoring, loving, praising and serving You. Lord Jesus, be pleased to accept this our act of perfect resignation to the decrees of Your adorable Heart which we sincerely desire may be fulfilled in and by us and all Your creatures forever.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, we know that there is but one thing impossible to You; to be without pity to those who are suffering or in distress. Look upon us, we beg of You, dear Jesus. and grant us the grace for which we humbly implore You through the Immaculate Heart of Your most sorrowful Mother. You have entrusted us to Her as Her children, and Her prayers are all powerful with You, Amen.


LITANY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Leader: Lord, have mercy on us,
All: Christ, have mercy on us.
Leader: Lord, have mercy on us. Christ hear us.
All: Christ, graciously hear us.
Leader: God the Father of Heaven,
All: Have mercy on us.

God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father,
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the Womb of the Virgin Mary,
Heart of Jesus, united with God's Eternal Word,
Heart of Jesus, of Infinite Majesty,
Heart of Jesus, Holy Temple of God,
Heart of Jesus, Tabernacle of the Most High,
Heart of Jesus, House of God and Gate of Heaven,
Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of Charity,
Heart of Jesus, abode of Justice and Love,
Heart of Jesus, full of Goodness and Love,
Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues,
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise,
Heart of Jesus, King and center of all hearts,
Heart of Jesus, in Whom all are the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,
Heart of Jesus, in Whom dwells the fullness of Divinity,
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased,
Heart of Jesus, of Whose fullness we have all received,
Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills,'
Heart of Jesus, patient and most merciful,
Heart of Jesus, generous to all who turn to You,
Heart of Jesus, source of life and holiness,
Heart of Jesus, atonement for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, overwhelmed with reproaches,
Heart of Jesus, bruised for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, obedient to death,
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance,
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation,
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection,
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation,
Heart of Jesus, sacrifice for sins,
Heart of Jesus, salvation of all who trust in You,
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in You
Heart of Jesus, delight of all the Saints, have mercy on us.


Leader: Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
All: Spare us, O Lord.
Leader: Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
All: Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Leader: Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
All: Have mercy on us.
Leader: Jesus, meek and humble of Heart,
All: Make our hearts like yours.


Leader: Let us pray, O Almighty and Eternal God, look upon the Heart of Your dearly beloved Son, and upon the praises and satisfaction which He offers You in the name of sinners; and for those who implore Your mercy, in Your great goodness, grant us pardon in the name of the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever.

All: Amen.