Novena to the Three Archangels for Alcoholics: Day Five

Posted on by

St. Michael, whose name means “Who is like God”, be our defender against the wickedness and snares of our addiction. Keep at bay the demons that pursue and try to overtake us and prevent us from living out our vocation as the adopted children of God.

St. Raphael, whose name means “God heals”, intercede on our behalf and obtain for us the healing we seek for our addiction. As the Patron of Happy Meetings, place in our path the people we need to help us on our way.

St. Gabriel, whose name means “Strength of God”, as the Angel of the Incarnation announced the coming of the Messiah to the Blessed Virgin Mary. As the Mother of our Lord perfectly accepted God’s will into her life, please assist us in discerning His will in our own, especially as we sometimes see it dimly and haphazardly through the confusion of our addictions.

We humbly ask this in the Name of Jesus, our Lord.

(Background on this Novena here)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Novena to St. Therese, the “Little Flower”: Day Two

Posted on by

Prayers to begin Novena with each day:

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

Second Day Intentions:

O dear little Saint, now that you see the crucified Jesus in heaven, still bearing the wounds caused by sin, you know still more clearly than you did upon earth the value of souls, and the priceless worth of that Precious Blood which He shed to save them. As I am one of those children for whom Christ died, obtain for me all the graces I need in order to profit by that Precious Blood. Use your great power with our divine Lord and pray for me.

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but especially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Sin. The only grace I ask, O Jesus, is never to offend Thee.

By love and not by fear, does a soul avoid committing the least fault.

Yes, even if I have on my conscience every possible crime, I should lose none of my confidence; my heart breaking with sorrow, I should go and throw myself into the arms of my Savior.

The remembrance of my faults humbles me and makes me afraid to rely on my own strength, which is nothing but weakness.

Concluding Prayer:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Background for this post is here .

Courtesy:

LITTLE FLOWER NOVENA

(Via EWTN.)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Novena to the Three Archangels for Alcoholics: Day Four

Posted on by

St. Michael, whose name means “Who is like God”, be our defender against the wickedness and snares of our addiction. Keep at bay the demons that pursue and try to overtake us and prevent us from living out our vocation as the adopted children of God.

St. Raphael, whose name means “God heals”, intercede on our behalf and obtain for us the healing we seek for our addiction. As the Patron of Happy Meetings, place in our path the people we need to help us on our way.

St. Gabriel, whose name means “Strength of God”, as the Angel of the Incarnation announced the coming of the Messiah to the Blessed Virgin Mary. As the Mother of our Lord perfectly accepted God’s will into her life, please assist us in discerning His will in our own, especially as we sometimes see it dimly and haphazardly through the confusion of our addictions.

We humbly ask this in the Name of Jesus, our Lord.

(Background on this Novena here)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Novena to St. Therese, the “Little Flower”: Day One

Posted on by

Prayers to begin Novena with each day:

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.

First Day Intentions:

St. Thérèse, privileged Little Flower of Jesus and Mary, I approach you with childlike confidence and deep humility. I lay before you my desires, and beg that through your intercession they may be realized. Did you not promise to spend your heaven doing good upon earth? Grant me according to this promise the favors I am asking from you.

Intercede for us all the days of our life, but specially during this Novena and obtain for us from God the graces and favors we ask through your intercession. Amen.

Thought for the day: Confidence in God. We can never have too much confidence in the good God who is so powerful and so merciful. We obtain from Him as much as we hope for.

If you are nothing, do you forget that Jesus is everything? You have only to lose your nothingness in His Infinity and think only of loving Him.

Concluding Prayer

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Background for this post is here .

Courtesy:

LITTLE FLOWER NOVENA

(Via EWTN.)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

St. Therese of Lisieux: the “Little Flower”

Posted on by

Today starts another Novena, this one to St. Therese of Lisieux, affectionately known to her devotees as “The Little Flower”. This nickname arose from her theology of “littleness”, as in doing all things, especially small, menial things, with great love and care, and also from her promise to “distribute” flowers from Heaven after her death. These are well known to her devotees (myself included) and are basically “signal graces” indicating Divine presence in your life.

Her theology is what caused Philip Maynard, in his excellent book, “To Slake a Thirst: The Matt Talbot Way to Sobriety” to regard her as the chief theologian of the Matt Talbot Way.

Here is a must read online biography of her:

EWTN’s Saints and other Holy People Home

(Via EWTN)

The novena starts in the next post.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Novena to the Three Archangels for Alcoholics: Day Three

Posted on by

St. Michael, whose name means “Who is like God”, be our defender against the wickedness and snares of our addiction. Keep at bay the demons that pursue and try to overtake us and prevent us from living out our vocation as the adopted children of God.

St. Raphael, whose name means “God heals”, intercede on our behalf and obtain for us the healing we seek for our addiction. As the Patron of Happy Meetings, place in our path the people we need to help us on our way.

St. Gabriel, whose name means “Strength of God”, as the Angel of the Incarnation announced the coming of the Messiah to the Blessed Virgin Mary. As the Mother of our Lord perfectly accepted God’s will into her life, please assist us in discerning His will in our own, especially as we sometimes see it dimly and haphazardly through the confusion of our addictions.

We humbly ask this in the Name of Jesus, our Lord.

(Background on this Novena here)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Novena to the Three Archangels for Alcoholics: Day Two

Posted on by

St. Michael, whose name means “Who is like God”, be our defender against the wickedness and snares of our addiction. Keep at bay the demons that pursue and try to overtake us and prevent us from living out our vocation as the adopted children of God.

St. Raphael, whose name means “God heals”, intercede on our behalf and obtain for us the healing we seek for our addiction. As the Patron of Happy Meetings, place in our path the people we need to help us on our way.

St. Gabriel, whose name means “Strength of God”, as the Angel of the Incarnation announced the coming of the Messiah to the Blessed Virgin Mary. As the Mother of our Lord perfectly accepted God’s will into her life, please assist us in discerning His will in our own, especially as we sometimes see it dimly and haphazardly through the confusion of our addictions.

We humbly ask this in the Name of Jesus, our Lord.

(Background on this Novena here)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Novena to the Three Archangels for Alcoholics: Day One

Posted on by

St. Michael, whose name means “Who is like God”, be our defender against the wickedness and snares of our addiction. Keep at bay the demons that pursue and try to overtake us and prevent us from living out our vocation as the adopted children of God.

St. Raphael, whose name means “God heals”, intercede on our behalf and obtain for us the healing we seek for our addiction. As the Patron of Happy Meetings, place in our path the people we need to help us on our way.

St. Gabriel, whose name means “Strength of God”, as the Angel of the Incarnation announced the coming of the Messiah to the Blessed Virgin Mary. As the Mother of our Lord perfectly accepted God’s will into her life, please assist us in discerning His will in our own, especially as we sometimes see it dimly and haphazardly through the confusion of our addictions.

We humbly ask this in the Name of Jesus, our Lord.

(Background on this Novena here)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Novena to the Three Archangels for Alcoholics: Introduction

Posted on by

On September 29th the Church celebrates the Three Archangels: St. Michael, St. Raphael and St. Gabriel. Today starts a Novena to them, it ends on the 29th.

Some background:

St. Michael is a patron and defender of the Church and the chief angelic nemesis of Satan. His intercession can be invoked when you need to counter the “cunning, baffling, powerful” allure of alcohol. Not to blame Satan for your alcoholism, but it is a tool that he can use to keep you away from God.

St. Raphael is God’s Healer. He is also the Patron Saint of Happy Meetings (such as finding a spouse). His healing abilities are detailed in the Old Testament Book of Tobit. His intercession can be invoked in your constant battle against alcohol.

St. Gabriel is the Angel of the Incarnation. He told the Blessed Virgin Mary that she was to be the Mother of Jesus, the Messiah. He also told old Zechariah that he was to become the father of John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin and the precursor to the Messiah. His intercession can be invoked to better perceive and understand God’s will.

My next post will start the Novena.

More info: Three Archangels

(Via EWTN.)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

“Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life”

Posted on by

I have been asked by Tribute Books to write a review for one of their recent titles, “Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life” by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert.

Fabian and Lumbert are a daughter-father duo and they’ve written a very spiritual little book (114 pages) that would serve well as a guide to living a fully Catholic life.

Each short chapter is organized along four different parts: a story drawn from the personal life of each writer (they alternate), followed by a “Life Lesson” that draws out the story through questions and comments, then a Scripture passage and lastly an excerpt from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. As I read the book, drawn into each personal account of how God interacted or interceded in their lives at critical points, I was struck by the notion that “Why God Matters” would be a great companion to take to a Holy Hour of Adoration.

The major premise of the book is that faith is to be lived. Not just for an hour on Sunday and sequestered the rest of the week, but consciously lived in all areas great and small. If you listen to the “still, small voice” that God uses to speak to His people, you will learn to recognize Him in your daily activities.

Another premise is that faith is most especially to be handed down to the next generation. It is an inheritance that must be nurtured and “watered” as if it were a seed to spring into growth at an opportune time later in life. In fact, the soul is likened to a seed, the “seed of eternity.” So, in essence, the soul and faith are inextricably linked. Faith is an ongoing daily process of conversion. “Spiritual progress”, if you wish to use that term. It is a lifelong journey wherein we learn to breathe in Christ’s breath, and gradually grow in Christ.

The personal stories clearly illustrate these premises. Each story is from an episode in the lives of Fabian and Lumbert, about how God involved Himself in the major and the seemingly “small” events in their lives, and how their Faith was influenced and grew in response.

That God is present and intervenes in the “little areas” of life is a comfort to all of us. He is not only present during the obvious major happenings in life, but also in the less-than-obvious times where He quietly makes Himself known.

God is there, answering the most “meager of prayers”, and is present not only in the darkest of days but also in those times when you are deluged by the most trivial of oppressions (when everything seems to be going wrong and all is conspiring against you). It is during these times that God sometimes makes the biggest impact.

I very much recommend this book to readers of Sober Catholic. Many of the book’s “Life Lessons” caused me to go back a re-read the chapter as they gave a deeper insight into the story. That is a lesson in itself. As the readers of Sober Catholic are affected by recovery from one sort of addiction or another, this book is a wonderful guide to spiritual progression.

For further information, here are the following links:

The book’s website: Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert

To buy it through Amazon, click: Amazon.com

Karina Fabian’s Blog: Fabianspace

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)