Shepherds of Christ Daily Writing        

 April 3, 2021

April 4th Holy Spirit Novena
Scripture selection is 
Day 2 Period II.

The Novena Rosary Mysteries 
for April 4th
are Sorrowful.

If you can help, we need donations.

Please Pray for Fr. Joe & special intentions.

Fr. Mike, Special Intention.
 

Prayer for Grace for our Country

Dear Father united to Jesus in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Sacrifice of Calvary sacramentally made present, celebrated around the world, in the Holy Spirit. We offer up all we do united to the Mass. We unite in one mind and one heart as members of the mystical body of Christ, with Christ our head in the pure and holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary, through the powerful intercession of Mary with all the angels and saints and souls in purgatory, and we beg for the saving grace, for our country, the United States. Please help us. We further pray for unity to always do the will of God in love. We spread the Blood of Jesus on the leaders and people of the United States and cast the devil into hell. We consecrate our country to the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart and all our dioceses, and beg for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. God help us. We pray for our families, the priests, the Church and the world. In the Name of Jesus please hear us, we pray. We pray for our president and leaders. We pray that we are united as one nation under God to work together in love as God wants.  

 

A Prayer for Intimacy with the Lamb, the Bridegroom of the Soul

     Oh Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, come and act on my soul most intimately. I surrender myself, as I ask for the grace to let go, to just be as I exist in You and You act most intimately on my soul. You are the Initiator. I am the soul waiting Your favors as You act in me. I love You. I adore You. I worship You. Come and possess my soul with Your Divine Grace, as I experience You most intimately.

 

April 3, 2017

A Prayer for Grace and Holiness today
A prayer to work in love and holiness
 

John 16: 23

"If you ask the Father anything in my name,
    He will give it to you"

R. God wants our unity – we ask for this
    unity – that the Spirit of God fill
    us and help us to be holy –
    that we do not hold onto any of the deadly
    sins that block us from this unity –
    that the Holy Spirit can work in our souls,
    so we can be His instruments of love
    and peace and joy among our brothers.

We pray this heavenly Father in the name of
    Jesus who said ask in my name and
    it will be given to you.

    Let us experience the joy of unity and love
    on a supernatural level and know You
    our beloved God – more and more supernaturally.
    We want our hearts to be sanctified in
    our love and work so we are holy and
    pleasing to You God.

Come to us Lord and possess our soul.

We want to walk as God intends us
    to walk today in the plan of God,
    in the work He has called us to do today.

We know that we must cooperate with the grace
    You are giving us – now and today to
    bring unity and peace and love to this
    day as we serve to do the work – You are
    calling us in our vocation to do.

Dear Heavenly Father, hear our prayer,
    in the name of Jesus, we pray,
    we ask, heavenly Father for these
    graces necessary this day to
    bring peace, love and joy to
    our relationships and work – as You
    work in us.

    We seek perfection in our souls to be holy
    souls likened to You – in work
    and in play – to be holy in prayer –
    we invite You Holy Spirit to be
    the Guest of our soul.

We seek order in our lives, not disorder.

We beg for the virtues of faith, hope, love,
    prudence, temperance, fortitude, justice,
    and humility. We seek to be obedient
    to the will of God and live obedient to
    the will of God in love.

Come Holy Spirit Come into our hearts. Transform
    us from fear to fearlessness to serve
    You as You desire in our lives.

Help our actions to be for the glory and honor
    of God with the goal of these actions
    to one day be in heaven with Thee,
    our beloved God.

Heal our hearts and our bodies – Help
    us to have health of body now in
    this work you call us to do.

Instill in us a desire to want to only
    do the will of the heavenly Father
    and to walk in holiness and love.

We pray all these prayers heavenly Father,
    united to Jesus, in His name for
    grace and holiness today and always.

Help us to live by right reasoning in
    our lives – to have the truth
    in our every thought and to live
    in order as You operate in us
    in unity and love.

Come to me Lord and possess my soul.

We seek order in our lives – Your order
    to love in us, to help us to act as
    You desire, to have the thoughts
    that are in right reasoning and in
    Your order, Lord.

Give us the grace to use our faculties
    to love and serve You and do
    Your work.

Give us faith and right reasoning.

Help us to love and be just in our actions.

Help us to seek Your Divine Will and to
    perform those actions, which are actions
    pleasing to You in everything.

Come to us Lord and purify our consciences,
    our souls.

Help us to hope and love in Thee.

We seek heavenly vision – to see
    things through the eyes of
    the heavenly Father and to be
    perfected more and more in doing
    God's will in our lives.

We pray for the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit.

We pray for this purity in our souls –
    to live virtuously, to be perfected
    more and more and filled with the
    gifts of the Holy Spirit –
    Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel,
    Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety
    and Fear of the Lord 

    and to have the fruits of the Holy Spirit –
    charity, joy, peace, patience,
    benignity (kindness), goodness,
    long-suffering, mildness,
    faith, modesty, continency,
    and chastity.

We do not want the enemies to
    invade our thoughts, our
    actions, our lives –

We pray to give up ugly bad habits of the
    deadly sins –
    pride, greed, envy, wrath, lust, gluttony, and sloth

We know on this journey we will
    experience sufferings and joys
    and we accept the struggles
    in life and ask You to help us,
    strengthen us in our lives to
    suffer and rejoice as You
    desire us to do in our lives.

We want to be a reflection of Your
    heavenly love – to be full of light –
    Your light in us. To operate in
    light and not darkness – IN You,
    our beloved God.

We want to follow in the footsteps
    of Jesus in giving love and
    light and unity to those
    we contact in our lives –

         

Prayer for Union with Jesus

Come to me, Lord, and possess my soul. Come into my heart and permeate my soul. Help me to sit in silence with You and let You work in my heart.

    I am Yours to possess. I am Yours to use. I want to be selfless and only exist in You. Help me to spoon out all that is me and be an empty vessel ready to be filled by You. Help me to die to myself and live only for You. Use me as You will. Let me never draw my attention back to myself. I only want to operate as You do, dwelling within me.

    I am Yours, Lord. I want to have my life in You. I want to do the will of the Father. Give me the strength to put aside the world and let You operate my very being. Help me to act as You desire. Strengthen me against the distractions of the devil to take me from Your work.

    When I worry, I have taken my focus off of You and placed it on myself. Help me not to give in to the promptings of others to change what in my heart You are making very clear to me. I worship You, I adore You and I love You. Come and dwell in me now.

-God's Blue Book, January 17, 1994

 

                April 15, 2017 - Holy Saturday

                R. We have gone through the most holy and sacred
                days of Lent to arrive at these days of the
                Tridium – Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday.

                    We sum up this time now in how we will
                live Jesus' life, death and resurrection in
                our lives.

                    How have we grown spiritually in these
                precious days in Lent and how will the
                victory of Easter live now in the next weeks
                in our lives?

                    In the Shepherds of Christ Movement Jesus has
                taught us so much about prayer – the role we
                play as members of the mystical body of Christ –
                our intimate union with Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

                    Jesus called Fr. Carter and me to write about
                these truths and to work as contemplatives
                in action in the Ministries He asked of us.

                    Here is a prayer Jesus gave me long
                ago.

 


 

A Prayer for Intimacy with the Lamb, the Bridegroom of the Soul

     Oh Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, come and act on my soul most intimately. I surrender myself, as I ask for the grace to let go, to just be as I exist in You and You act most intimately on my soul. You are the Initiator. I am the soul waiting Your favors as You act in me. I love You. I adore You. I worship You. Come and possess my soul with Your Divine Grace, as I experience You most intimately.

 

       

Prayer for Union with Jesus

Come to me, Lord, and possess my soul. Come into my heart and permeate my soul. Help me to sit in silence with You and let You work in my heart.

    I am Yours to possess. I am Yours to use. I want to be selfless and only exist in You. Help me to spoon out all that is me and be an empty vessel ready to be filled by You. Help me to die to myself and live only for You. Use me as You will. Let me never draw my attention back to myself. I only want to operate as You do, dwelling within me.

    I am Yours, Lord. I want to have my life in You. I want to do the will of the Father. Give me the strength to put aside the world and let You operate my very being. Help me to act as You desire. Strengthen me against the distractions of the devil to take me from Your work.

    When I worry, I have taken my focus off of You and placed it on myself. Help me not to give in to the promptings of others to change what in my heart You are making very clear to me. I worship You, I adore You and I love You. Come and dwell in me now.

                                                                                                  -God's Blue Book, January 17, 1994

 

Galatians 6: 14

But as for me, it is out of the question that I should boast at all, except of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

   

                R. Jesus shed His precious blood for us –

1 Corinthians 11: 24-25

and after he had given thanks, he broke it, and he said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' And in the same way, with the cup after supper, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.'


 

 

 

                R. Christ is the Light of the World –

                God calls us to go forth and bear fruit
                    for the Kingdom of God –

                Come Holy Spirit, Come renew the face of
                    the earth –

                Abraham was put to the test –

                Abraham was obedient to God –
 

Genesis 22: 15-18

    The angel of Yahweh called Abraham a second time from heaven. ‘I swear by my own self, Yahweh declares, that because you have done this, because you have not refused me your own beloved son, I will shower blessings on you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will gain possession of the gates of their enemies. All nations on earth will bless themselves by your descendants, because you have obeyed my command.’ 

    Abraham went back to his servants, and together they set out for Beersheba, and Abraham settled in Beersheba.

 

                R. God divided the Red Sea so the people
                    could escape Pharaoh –

                God gives us baptism saving us from
                    the slavery of sin –

                Sing: Come to the Water

                We receive a new Covenant with God,
                    an everlasting covenant –

 

Romans 6: 3-11

You cannot have forgotten that all of us, when we were baptised into Christ Jesus, were baptised into his death. So by our baptism into his death we were buried with him, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glorious power, we too should begin living a new life. If we have been joined to him by dying a death like his, so we shall be by a resurrection like his: realising that our former self was crucified with him, so that the self which belonged to sin should be destroyed and we should be freed from the slavery of sin. Someone who has died, of course, no longer has to answer for sin.

But we believe that, if we died with Christ, then we shall live with him too. We know that Christ has been raised from the dead and will never die again. Death has no power over him any more. For by dying, he is dead to sin once and for all, and now the life that he lives is life with God. In the same way, you must see yourselves as being dead to sin but alive for God in Christ Jesus.

  

                R. Now we are called to spread the Good News
                    of Jesus

                We are to lead a new life –

                We are to lead a risen life –
   

Colossians 3: 1-4

Since you have been raised up to be with Christ, you must look for the things that are above, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. Let your thoughts be on things above, not on the things that are on the earth, because you have died, and now the life you have is hidden with Christ in God. But when Christ is revealed—and he is your life—you, too, will be revealed with him in glory.

   

Easter Sequence

Christians, to the Paschal Victim
offer sacrifice and praise.

The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb;
and Christ, the undefiled,
hath sinners
to his Father reconciled.

Death with life contended:
combat strangely ended!
Life's own Champion, slain,
yet lives to reign.

Tell us, Mary:
say what thou didst see upon the way.

The tomb the Living did enclose;
I saw Christ's glory as He rose!

The angels there attesting;
shroud with grave-clothes resting.

Christ, my hope, has risen:
He goes before you into Galilee.

That Christ is truly risen
from the dead we know.
Victorious King, Thy mercy show!
Amen. Alleluia.

 

                R. Our Founder taught on the spiritual
                    life his whole life –

                Here are excerpts that Jesus wanted
                    me to put on for us living
                    more His life in us –
                    living in greater intimacy with God –
                    living the resurrected life in Jesus.

 

Through Him, With Him, In Him

 


 

Excerpts from Response to God's Love by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J.

The Christian Virtues - Chapter 5 (excerpt)

       Another sign of humility is one's willingness to live out the various implications of being a social person. A proud person is a falsely independent person who, in various ways, refuses to admit his or her social dimension, namely, that he or she needs others. A proud person also tends to refuse to admit his or her obligation to help others. To be available to others in their manifold needs demands a price, and a proud person, who is closed in upon his or her own self-interest is often not willing to pay this price. Whether it is a question of receiving from others or giving to them, humility helps to remind us of the truth of John Donne's classic observation that "no man is an island." 

       Humility also bids a person to accept himself or herself as coming forth from the creative hand of God. God has given each of us certain fundamental talents that can be great, but can also be ordinary. God has also given each of us a certain basic temperament and personality, and we must realize that he leads us on in Christian holiness according to this fundamental structure. This is not to say that we are not to improve upon our essential structure; it is rather to say that we are not to strive to become what God does not intend us to be. 

       Humility likewise leads a person to seek and fulfill the task in life that God has appointed for him or her. To act in this way is to exercise humility because it manifests a realization of what it means to be God's creature. We cannot always be as sure of our role in life as we would like. If we utilize prayer and the other means that are available, however, we can be as certain as God wants us to be, and this is what matters. Within this God-given role, we should strive to give our reasonable best each day despite the possible monotony, frustration, or hiddenness of our work. We must give our attention primarily to the task of the present. At times, a lack of humility can tempt us to live too much in the past or too much in the future (other causes are admittedly possible). To fail to properly live in the present can mean that we are dissatisfied with the tasks and circumstances that God's providence, here and now, puts before us. If this is the truth of the matter, it means that we are failing to some extent to act as creatures before our Creator; it is to fail in humility. It is appropriate that we conclude these remarks concerning humility by listening to St. Paul speak of Jesus: 

              Your attitude must be that of Christ.
              Though he was in the form of God,
                     he did not deem equality with God
                     something to be grasped at.
              Rather, he emptied himself
                     and took the form of a slave,
                     being born in the likeness of men.
 
              He was known to be of human estate,
                     and it was thus that he humbled
                     himself,
                     obediently accepting even death,
                     death on a cross!
                                       
                     —Phil 2:5-8

end of excerpt

 

The Christian Virtues - Chapter 5 (excerpt)

Mary realized both her greatness and the source of that greatness. In Mary's song of thanksgiving—the Magnificat—we read:
 

              My being proclaims the greatness of
                     the Lord,
              my spirit finds joy in God my
                     savior,
              For he has looked upon his servant in
                     her lowliness;
              all ages to come shall call me
                     blessed.
              God who is mighty has done great
                     things for me,
              holy is his name
                                                      —
Lk 1:46-49
 

       If humility is truth and, consequently, allows us to properly recognize our gifts, it also necessitates that we admit to the evil within us, which is also part of the truth and must be acted upon. Humility not only bids us to admit that there is evil in us, but also tells us that, as creatures of God, we should conform to his will and work against this evil side of our persons. In summary, humility allows us to properly evaluate both the good and evil within ourselves. 

       Because humility is the realization of the implications of our creaturehood, it helps us to accept the human condition with all its ramifications. One aspect of the human condition is that we occasionally suffer because of the limitations and sinfulness of others. To rebel in these situations is a failure to realize what it means to be part of the human condition, a failure to relate to reality, a failure in humility. Christ, the sinless one, the perfect one, suffered tremendously because of the human condition, but he did not rebel. He realized what it meant to be a human being—namely, that one must accept the fact that at times one is going to suffer because of the evil in others. Christ did not flinch; as human being, he fully accepted his creaturehood with all its ramifications. He was truly humble.   end of excerpt

 

The Christian Prays  (excerpt)

Progress toward spiritual maturity depends very much on a consistent prayer life. The truth of this statement unfolds as one reflects on all that prayer contains.

Christian prayer is rooted in the personal relationship that exists between the Christian and the triune God. Prayer is becoming conscious, in a special way, of the fact that the life of grace brings us into a deeply intimate union with the divine persons—a union that is so intimate that Father, Son, and Holy Spirit actually dwell with us in the most personal fashion.

During prayer, we are especially aware of God's presence to us and, reciprocally, of our presence to him. This attitude of personal presence should dominate prayer. In prayer we are engaging in a love-dialog with the God who is so concerned with us. The personal presence of prayer should be rooted in our openness to God, in our willingness to listen to him. Our attitude should be like that of Samuel: "When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, 'Samuel, Samuel!' Samuel answered, 'Speak, for your servant is listening' " (1 Sam 3:10).

Being open to God in prayer, listening to him, is based on the very sound theological reality that God takes the initiative in the Christian life. This has been God's special procedure throughout salvation history; in fact, this is the only way it can be because of the very nature of the order of grace. We never have to fear, however, that God will fail to take the initiative; he is granting us his grace in abundance. The danger actually lies with us—with the possibility that we will be deaf to God's call, that we will not listen properly, or that our openness to him will be marred by our selfishness.

To be open to God in prayer means to listen to what he has to tell us about both himself and ourselves. To be open to God in prayer means to be willing to allow God in his love to possess us more, to be willing to allow that love to direct our lives. To be open to God means to search for God's will, to determine to be more aware of the varied manner in which his will for us is manifested. God's will is channeled to us through the commandments, for instance, as well as through the interior whisperings of the Spirit, the needs of others, the circumstances of our lives, and Scripture.

Perhaps we do not often enough reflect upon Scripture as a source of God's will for us, yet it is one of the primary ways in which God speaks to us. The word of Scripture is truly one of the great norms against which our lives must be measured. The word of Scripture judges us: "Indeed, God's word is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates and divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the reflections and thoughts of the heart" (Heb 4:12).

The mention of Scripture leads to another important aspect of prayer's very personal encounter with God—namely, its Christocentrism. Christ, the center of Scripture, is also central to prayer. Our listening to God in prayer and our concomitant response is focused in Jesus because Jesus is the mediator of Christianity in all its aspects, including prayer. The Christian is in the image of Christ; in his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has shown us how to bring this image to maturity. In the quiet of prayer, the Father, under the touch of the Holy Spirit, bids us to look at his Son, for the Father's will for us is summed up in the Christ-event. The Father wants us to assimilate the mysteries of Christ's existence more radically into our own. These mysteries, in their perennially transcendent reality and dynamism, are present in the glorified Christ. As we encounter this Christ in the intimate, personal union of prayer, we also encounter these mysteries—especially those of death and resurrection—and the graces that are necessary to more deeply incorporate them into our lives. The fundamental transcendency of Christ's mysteries make them always supremely relevant to Christians of any age. In short, they possess a perennial vitality to meet all our exigencies.

If openness to God in prayer means, in part, listening to what he has to tell us about his will for us as it touches the varied aspects of human existence, it is obvious, then, that when we pray, God expects us to talk not only about our direct relationship with him, but also about everything else; for our relationship to God radically includes everything. In prayer, God wants us to dialog with him about our personal relationships, our work, our temptations, our joys and happiness, our sorrows and pain, our successes and failures, our thrill at being alive and working for him, and the difficulties we might be having with the human struggle. All these various dimensions of our lives are caught up in the dynamic of prayer and become part of that prayer as long as the attitude of personal presence dominates.

The dialog with God in prayer does not have to focus distinctly and sharply on the various aspects of our lives that we have just mentioned; there may be a distinct consideration of work, joy, temptation, and so forth. However, it need not be this way. Often the reality of personal presence—that is, of God to us and us to him—will be a simplified experience. In this type of experience, the personal presence attitude is the only aspect of which we are dominantly aware; all the rest is there, but only implicitly or obscurely because it is summed up in the experience of personal presence. The following analogy helps bring out the point. A husband and wife, very much in love, are alone together at the end of the day; their young children are now fast asleep. The husband and wife, happy to share some time alone, become very much aware of their deep, mutual love—this is the only thing of which they are directly aware at the moment. However, if one were to ask them whether this vivid, loving awareness of each other in some way included their love for their children, they would unhesitantly answer in the affirmative. This example demonstrates how our consciousness of God in prayer—excluding, at times, any other direct awareness—can implicitly include the other various aspects of our lives.

We see, then, the close connection that exists between prayer and life. A corollary of this fact is easily recognizable: If we have glowing thoughts and lofty feelings about God during prayer, yet these have no real influence on our lives at other times, then our prayer is deficient. Effective prayer, on the other hand, gives a light to the intellect and a love and determination to the will that appropriately accompany the various activities of daily existence. Fully authentic prayer helps shape us to be contemplative in action—an idea that we will further develop a bit later.

From what we have already said, it is obvious that there is a connection between prayer and growth in self-identity. In prayer, there is a greater grasp of who I am—the unique person that God has created and redeemed—and how God wants me to act. Let us now expand a bit upon this idea.

Each of us is aided in achieving self-knowledge—self-identity—through a proper relationship with others and the world about us. Through this interplay between ourselves and the various facets of reality that are external to us, we come to learn many things about our strengths, weaknesses, talents, and personalities. This going out of ourselves to others and to the world about us, however, will not, by itself, achieve the grasp on our self-identity that we are looking for. We must also, in the quiet of prayer and reflection, enter into ourselves, gaze upon our mysterious uniqueness, and, through the light of the Spirit, try to see ourselves as we really are—ultimately, to see ourselves as God wants us to see ourselves. There should be a double thrust in our lives, then—a going out of ourselves and an entering into ourselves. Rahner observes: "Man is placed in an ineradicable dualism of two basic lines of self-fulfillment: he is a being who is thrust out of himself into the world and the human community, and he is a being who turns back upon himself" (Christian in the Market Place, pp. 90-91).

In the quiet of prayer, we have the opportunity to gather up what would otherwise become the fragmented, nonintegrated pieces of our lives. Prayer is meant to be a constructive and integrative force that will help us delineate more clearly our self-identity. Through the light of prayer, we see how the pieces fit together, how the mysterious self in its uniqueness is meant to give shape and meaning to all facets of our existence. We see that this image of mysterious uniqueness—that is to say, our self-identity—should be imprinted upon the raw stuff of everyday life so that the true self shows through and is in command of the myriad events that make up the human condition. In prayer, we see that this is what should be; we are not passively carried on by life in a haphazard fashion like a log in a wildly churning river.

During prayer, the Spirit not only gives this light that allows us to both arrive more surely at self-identity and see how this self-identity should guide our lives, but also gives the determination to act upon this self-identity. The Spirit gives the strength so that we may have the courage and moral stamina to allow this self-identity to authentically unfold itself in and through all dimensions of our existence.

In prayer, then, everything that bears upon the question of self-identity is brought into sharper focus. The light of prayer shows us our weaknesses, our limitations, and the extent to which we can and should strive to correct these. To the extent that these limitations cannot be removed, however, the light of prayer moves us to a healthy self-acceptance. Prayer also shows us our strengths, our great potential for good, our unique mission in life. Prayer, if we allow it to accomplish its task, fills us with a basic peace that is consequent upon an authentic acceptance of that self which God has made. Prayer also fills us with the desire to develop that self as the Spirit wishes. Briefly, then, prayer is formative of true self-identity.   end of excerpt

  

April 4, 2017

                R. Dear Holy Spirit please come to me the
                Guest of my soul. Please pour
                into me Your virtues and gifts.

                    Dear Father, Son and Holy Spirit dwell in me.
                Please fill me with the
                supernatural gifts I received at
                baptism – that they may grow
                ever greater to know and love supernaturally.

                Dear Holy Spirit,

                    Please mold in me more and
                more the image of Jesus in my
                heart and soul.

                                

           From Tell My People by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J.

The Holy Spirit

Jesus: "My beloved friend, tell My people to pray daily to the Holy Spirit. They are to pray for an increase in His gifts. My people must realize that the Holy Spirit comes to transform them. The Spirit desires to transform you more and more according to My image. Those who are docile to His touch become increasingly shaped in My likeness. He performs this marvel within Mary's Immaculate Heart. The more one dwells in My Mother's Heart, the more active are the workings of the Spirit. The Spirit leads Mary to place you within My own Heart. In both Our Hearts, then, your transformation continues. The more you are formed after My own Heart, the more I lead you to the bosom of My Father. Tell My people all this. Tell them to pray daily for a greater appreciation of these wondrous gifts. I am Lord and Master. All who come to My Heart will be on fire to receive the gifts of the Spirit in ever greater measure! I love and bless My people!"

Reflection: The Holy Spirit is given to us to fashion us ever more according to the likeness of Jesus. And the more we are like Jesus, the more Jesus leads us to the Father. Do we, each day, pray to the Holy Spirit to be more open to His transforming influence? Do we strive each day to grow in union with Mary? The greater our union with our Mother, the spouse of the Holy Spirit, the greater is the transforming action of the Holy Spirit within us.

Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, fill us with your gifts of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord. As we dwell in the Heart of Mary, Your spouse, fashion us more and more according to the Heart of Jesus.

end of excerpt

  

                R. Help me to live my life praising
                and loving God in love and
                being as God wants me to be.
                Holy Spirit be the Guest of my soul.
                Come Holy Spirit fill me with the Spirit –
                Let the Spirit of God be in me.
 

John 16:12-15

I still have many things to say to you
but they would be too much for you
    to bear now.
However, when the Spirit of truth comes
he will lead you to the complete truth,
since he will not be speaking
    of his own accord,
but will say only what he has been told;
and he will reveal to you
    the things to come.
He will glorify me,
since all he reveals to you
will be taken from what is mine.
Everything the Father has is mine;
that is why I said:
all he reveals to you
will be taken from what is mine.

 

                Sing: Come Holy Ghost

                Sing: Come Holy Spirit

                R. Let the Light of Christ live
                in my soul. Amen.

                    We see when the Holy Spirit lives
                in us there is cooperation with
                the Plan of God, Our heavenly Father.
                The Holy Spirit brings unity to the soul –
                order in our hearts – direction
                according to and with God,
                our heavenly Father who
                created us in the image and
                likeness of God.

             

Genesis 1: 26-27

God said, ‘Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild animals and all the creatures that creep along the ground.’

God created man in the image of himself,
    in the image of God he created him,
    male and female he created them.

 

                R. The Holy Spirit opens our hearts and
                souls to God – so God can dwell
                in us more abundantly.

                    Come to me God and possess my
                soul –

                Sing: Come to me, Lord, and possess my soul. Come into my heart and permeate my soul.
                    Help me to sit in silence with You and let You work in my heart.

                    We are imperfect – the Holy Spirit
                comes to transform our souls
                more and more in the image and
                likeness of Jesus –

                    Come to me Lord and possess
                my soul –

                    God fills us more and more abundantly
                with His life –

                Sing Song: I Love You Jesus


 

                R. The Holy Spirit is the Spouse of the
                Virgin Mary – perfect handmaid
                of the Lord.

                    The Holy Spirit wants to transform
                us more and more into the image of Jesus.
                We were created for this –

                    Oh God, we are so grateful for
                the sacrament of baptism and
                the other sacraments. We are
                so grateful for the Eucharist
                whereby, you feed the life you
                gave to us.

                    God gives us a sharing in
                His life in baptism and feeds
                us with the Body and Blood
                of Jesus in the Eucharist.

                Come to me Lord and possess my soul –               

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

               

1 Corinthians 3: 16

    Do you not realise that you are a temple of God with the Spirit of God living in you?

   

                R. We consecrate ourselves to God.
                We give ourselves to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
 

   

From the Shepherds of Christ Prayer Manual

Holy Spirit Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, almighty Sanctifier, God of love, who filled the Virgin Mary with grace, who wonderfully changed the hearts of the apostles, who endowed all Your martyrs with miraculous courage, come and sanctify us. Enlighten our minds, strengthen our wills, purify our consciences, rectify our judgment, set our hearts on fire, and preserve us from the misfortunes of resisting Your inspirations. Amen.

 

Act of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
 and the Immaculate Heart of Mary

"Lord Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock, I consecrate myself to Your most Sacred Heart. From Your pierced Heart the Church was born, the Church You have called me, as a member of Shepherds of Christ Associates, to serve in a most special way. You reveal Your Heart as a symbol of Your love in all its aspects, including Your most special love for me, whom You have chosen as Your companion in this most important work. Help me to always love You in return. Help me to give myself entirely to You. Help me always to pour out my life in love of God and neighbor! Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You!

"Dear Blessed Virgin Mary, I consecrate myself to your maternal and Immaculate Heart, this Heart which is symbol of your life of love. You are the Mother of my Savior. You are also my Mother. You love me with a most special love as a member of Shepherds of Christ Associates, a movement created by your Son as a powerful instrument for the renewal of the Church and the world. In a return of love, I give myself entirely to your motherly love and protection. You followed Jesus perfectly. You are His first and perfect disciple. Teach me to imitate you in the putting on of Christ. Be my motherly intercessor so that, through your Immaculate Heart, I may be guided to an ever closer union with the pierced Heart of Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock."

 

 

Shepherds of Christ Book Store
 
Books written by the cofounder of Shepherds of Christ Ministries
 
Rita Ring
Mass Book
A Journey Into the Heart of Jesus - Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur
$ 12.00

  Mass Book, by Rita Ring: Many of the entries in the Priestly Newsletter Volume II from a spiritual journal came from this book. These entries
  are to help people to be more deeply united to God in the Mass. This book is available in English and Spanish with the Church’s
Imprimatur.

  $12

Rosary Meditations for Parents and Children
From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur
$ 10.00

  Rosary Meditations for Parents and Children, by Rita Ring, Short Meditations for both parents and children to be used when praying the
  rosary. These meditations will help all to know the lives of Jesus and Mary alive in their Hearts. Available in both English and Spanish with
  the Church’s
Imprimatur.
$10

   
God's Blue Book 4
The Love of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Author: Rita Ring
$ 5.00

God's Blue Book IV by Rita Ring. This book is about the love Jesus has for Mary and Mary has for Jesus and Jesus and Mary have for us    It is truly the Love of the Two Hearts. Mary appeared every day at the Holy Spirit Center    Fr. Carter was there. Mary's first apparition July 5, 1994. $5

God's Blue Book 5
So Deep Is the Love of His Heart. Author: Rita Ring.
$ 5.00

God's Blue Book V by Rita Ring. Jesus wants to be the bridegroom of our soul    He is our beloved    Jesus tells us about pure love    how we are to be pure of heart and love God and love others. It is a must, to hear about love from Jesus    Jesus is love    $5

God's Blue Book 6A
He Calls Us to Action Author: Rita Ring.
$ 5.00

God's Blue Book 6A by Rita Ring. Rosaries from Their Hearts during apparitions. Jesus and Mary appeared every day and I received rosaries from Them and They were transcribed from a tape. Also messages of love from Jesus on days of January, 1995    About Baptism    writings from Fr. Carter and the Scriptures. $10

God's Blue Book 6B
He Calls Us to Action - The Sixth Book, Part B Author: Rita Ring.
$ 5.00

God's Blue Book 6B by Rita Ring. Jesus and Mary appeared every day in February, 1995    So beautiful    transcribed from a tape    the Stations, 7 Sorrows, prayers in the Prayer Manual, the Holy Spirit Novena Book and the Song Book. Pure love    loving and forgiving    a book about Jesus' love, baptism, grace and Fr. Carter's Newsletter. $10

God's Blue Book 6C
He Calls Us to Action - The Sixth Book, Part C Author: Rita Ring.
$ 5.00
God's Blue Book 7
Intimacy with God by Rita Ring
$ 5.00
God's Blue Book 8
See thru the Eyes of Mary. Author: Rita Ring and Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 5.00
God's Blue Book 9
The Mass and the Hearts of Jesus and Mary
$ 5.00
God's Blue Book 10
God's Blue Book 10 - This is My Body
$ 5.00
God's Blue Book 11
God's Blue Book 11 - Showers of His Grace
$ 5.00
God's Blue Book 12
Solidarity In Chirst
$ 5.00
God's Blue Book 13
Grace
$ 5.00
God's Blue Book 14
God the Father Speaks After Clearwater
$ 5.00
God's Blue Book 15
Life
$ 5.00
Blue Book 16
Mary Mother of the Eucharist
$ 5.00
Apostle's Manual
Shepherds of Christ Overview: Very carefully discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S. J.
$ 20.00

Apostles Manual. About the Movement — the structure of the Movement    All Ministries — from the time 3 months before Mary appeared in Clearwater and 3 months after. Rosaries of the 13ths, Fr. Carter's Newsletters. Messages from God the Father    Reaching the priests, the Church, the schools and the world. $20

Rosaries From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Volume I
Red Rosary Book - Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 10.00

Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Book 1. Mary appeared in Clearwater December 17, 1996 in rainbow color and these rosaries left the printer the same day from Apparitions of Jesus and Mary    transcribed from a tape. $10

Blue Rosary Book
Rosaries From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary - Volume II
$ 12.00

Rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Book 2. This is a book of so many rosaries — transcribed from a tape. So many beautiful rosaries.   pages  $12

Messages From Jesus
Messages From Jesus for the Ederly, Ill, and Homebound Given by Jesus to His Messenger - Author: Rita Ring Discerned by Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 10.00

Messages for the Elderly, Ill and Homebound. This is a big book of loving messages for nursing home people and homebound from Jesus and Mary    Their lives are so important    united to the Mass offering up their suffering, their lives for the souls of this earth. $10

Short Rosary Meditations for the Ederly, Ill, and Homebound
From the Hearts of Jesus and Mary: Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur
$ 10.00

Short Rosary Meditations for the Elderly, Ill and Homebound. This book is so important with pictures they can open it and lay it on their laps and pray the rosary. $10

Songs From Jesus
Given by Jesus to His Messenger Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 5.00

Songs from Jesus Songbook. These loving songs were given from Jesus. So beautiful    Love Songs from Jesus of His love — helping us have pure and loving hearts. $3

Daily Messages From Heaven
From the Florida Apparition Site Author: Rita Ring. Discerned by: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 10.00
Rosary Meditations for Little People and Elderly
Short Meditations for the Rosary
$ 3.00
Meditaciones del Rosario
para Pequenos y Ancianos
$ 10.00
Fr. Joe Robinson
 
Inspiring Homilist & Author
 
Fr. Joseph Robinson has dedicated his life to serving Christ and the Church for over 40 years.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Guiding Light - Bread of Life

Guiding Light - Bread of Life, Cycle A for 2019/2020
$ 10.00

Guiding Light - Walk in the Light

Guiding Light - Walk in the Light, Cycle C for 2018/2019
$ 10.00

Guiding Light - The Word Alive in Our Hearts

Guiding Light - The Word Alive in Our Hearts Cycle B 2017/2018

$10.00

Guiding Light — The Word Alive in Our Hearts. Cycle B    Homilies by the Reverend Joe Robinson given at St. Boniface Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is a tremendous honor Fr. Joe has allowed us to share these great gifts with you – for greater holiness and knowing more and more about God. $10

Guiding Light - The Soul Who Could

Guiding Light - The Soul Who Could Cycle A 2016/2017

$10.00

Guiding Light — The Soul Who Could. Cycle A    Homilies by the Reverend Joe Robinson given at St. Boniface Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.  $10

Guiding Light - Trust and Transform
Guiding Light - Trust and Transform, Cycle C for 2015/2016
$ 10.00
Guiding Light - By God Through Me
Guiding Light - By God Through Me, Cycle B for 2014/2015
$ 10.00
Guiding Light - Inspired To Be Genuine
Guiding Light - Inspired To Be Genuine, Cycle A for 2013/2014
$ 10.00
Guiding Light - Centered In Christ
Fr. Joe Robinson's latest homilies for Cycle C for 2012/2013.
$ 10.00
Guiding Light - Reflect on the Word
Inspiring Homilies Covering Cycle B of the Litugical Year (2011/2012)
$ 10.00

Guiding Light homily series — Reflect on the Word — Cycle B     The Word leaves an impression on our souls. In my thoughts and reflections are born a more tangible understanding of these eternal concepts presented in the Gospels and the readings. Anyone can read a sentence, but not anyone can absorb it's true meaning. Truth, in this day and age, is almost a matter of opinion or individual entitlement. We believe that Christ's truth is our Roman Catholic Church. We, as priests, champion it's teachings; we are ambassadors for the Pope and Christ to those faces looking at us. We are the light by which our congregation reads to reflect upon real truth and we do it hand in hand. $10

Guiding Light - Steadfast to the Son
Inspiring Homilies Covering Cycle A of the Litugical Year
$ 10.00

Guiding Light homily series — Steadfast to the Son — Cycle A    The sunflower is a great example of how we should be steadfastly guided by light. What a powerful thought that this exceptional plant is not stuck in one pose day in and day out, yet adaptable and magnetized to the sun. We feel the same about our Son. Our heads turns to face Christ as each day presents its challenges to find light. We join together like plants in a field and soak up the Son through the pulpit. We are a warm circle of strength using the wind of our breath to carry our priests' words, Christ's words, to new rich soil. $10

Guiding Light - Focusing on the Word
Inspiring Homilies Covering Cycle B of the Litugical Year
$ 10.00

Guiding Light — Focusing on the Word — Cycle B    At times we may feel that our path to Christ is a bit "out of focus". Like the disciples in the Book of Mark, this ordinary life clouds our vision of Christ's Divinity. We may doubt the practicality or possibility of applying His teachings and example to our modern life. Cycle B's homilies are a "guiding light" to help us realize Jesus' Messianic greatness and His promise of better things to come. $10

Guiding Light - Feed My Soul
Inspiring Homilies Covering Cycle C of the Litugical Year
$ 10.00

Guiding Light — Feed My Soul — Cycle C    In a world rapidly advancing and encouraging personal gain, we are faced with modern problems. There is a challenge to find time in our busy schedules for Sunday Mass or a family meal. We are able to research, shop, bank and even work without hearing one human voice. It is no wonder that we may often feel disconnected and famished at our week's end. In Fr. Joe's third book of homilies from Cycle C, we are reminded of the charity that Christ intended us to show each other. We have a calling to turn the other cheek and be the Good Samaritan to others. We are rewarded with the Father's kingdom and love when we are not worthy. We are not left alone or hungry. $10

 

 

Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.

Here are all the products in this category:

Books written by the founder of Shepherds of Christ Ministries

Response in Christ
Fr. Edward J. Carter gives to the modern Christian a message that will sustain him.
$ 10.00
Response to God's Love
...God Himself is the Ultimate Mystery
$ 10.00

Response to God’s Love by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. In this book Fr. Carter speaks of God as the ultimate mystery. We can meditate on the interior life of the Trinity. Fr. Carter tells us about our uniqueness in the Father's Plan for us, how the individual Christian, the Church and the world are in the state of becoming. Imprimatur. $10

Shepherds of Christ Spirituality Newsletters 1
Selected Writings on Spirituality—for All People Editor: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur
$ 10.00

Shepherds of Christ — Selected Writings on Spirituality for all People as Published in Shepherds of Christ Newsletter for Priests. Contains 12 issues of the newsletter from July/August 1994 to May/June 1996. $15

Spirituality Newsletters 2
Selected Writings on Spirituality — for All People Editor: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimatur
$ 12.00

Shepherds of Christ — Volume 2: by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. Contains issues 13—29 of the newsletter (September/October 1996 — Issue 5, 1999) $15

Shepherds of Christ Spirituality Newsletters 3
Selected Writings on Spirituality — for All People Editor: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J.
$ 10.00

Shepherds of Christ — Volume 3 by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. Contains Newsletter Issues 1 through 4 of 2000 including Fr. Carter’s tremendous Overview of the Spiritual Life $10

Tell My People
Messages from Jesus and Mary Author: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimi Potest
$ 10.00

Tell My People. Messages from Jesus and Mary (As given to Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.)    One of Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.'s Synopsis of the Spiritual Life    From Jesus to Fr. Carter "On Holy Saturday, 1994, Jesus told me that on the following day, Easter, I would also begin to receive messages for others. Our Lord also told me that some of these were eventually to be published in a book  and here is that book." $10

Spirituality Handbook
Shepherds of Christ Associates Spirituality Handbook - A Way of Spiritual Life
Author: Fr. Edward J. Carter S.J. Imprimi Potest

$ 3.00

Spirituality Handbook. Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. did 3 synopsis of the spiritual life. The Spirituality Handbook, the Priestly Newsletter 20he Tell My People book. The way of spiritual life proposed to the members of Shepherds of Christ Associates is centered in consecration to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. All aspects of the spiritual life discussed below should be viewed as means to help members develop their lives in consecration to Christ, the Sacred Heart, and to Mary, the Immaculate Heart. $3

The Spirituality of Fatima
Fatima: The Setting, The Message, The Spirituality of Consecration
$ 5.00

The Spirituality of Fatima by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. The Fatima apparitions and messages received official Church approval in 1930. In giving her official approval to the Fatima event, the Church tells us that what took place at Fatima involving the three young visionaries is worthy of our belief. $5

  Shepherds of Christ Holy Spirit Novena CD
  Holy Spirit Novena Read by: Rita Ring
  $ 10.00 
plus postage


  Holy Spirit Novena CD. Prayers and scripture readings from the Holy Spirit Novena Booklet read by Rita Ring. $10

 

Statues/Religious Items

 
 
Blue Crystal Rosary
  Rosary with the Image of Our Lady of Clearwater
  8mm - $ 40.00
plus shipping

 

  Red Crystal Rosary
  Rosary with the Image of Our Lady of Clearwater
  8mm - $ 40.00 plus shipping

 

 

  Clear Crystal Rosary
  Rosary with the Image of Our Lady of Clearwater
 
8mm - $ 40.00 plus shipping
 

 

 

  


                 

R. Pray for These Things

                1) Pray for the Pope & hierarchy to help us start prayer chapters.
                2) Pray for Special people.
                3) Pray for the priests, the Church and the world!
                4) Pray for the spread of prayer chapters,
                    also for the spread of priests doing prayer chapters.
                5) Pray for the spread of Blue Books.
                6) People going to Florida and China.
                7) Vocations to all 7 categories.
                8) Pray for spread of Consecration and Rosary.
                9) Pray for pope helping us.
               10) Pray for Jeff.
               11) Pray for the country
               12) All intentions on my list, Jerry's list.
               13) Priests getting Fr. Joe's book.
               14) Pray for Fr. Joe's new book, cover & funds for printing & postage.
               15) Donors and members and their families.
               16) Healing of the Family tree.
               17) Pray for the Corona Virus to go away
               18) All who asked us to pray for them.
               19) All we promised to pray for.
               20) Rita, Doris, Sheila, Jerry, Sanja, Fr. Mike, Louie, Laverne,
                    Fr. Joe, all priests helping us, Ed, Jimmy, Mary,
                    Carol R., a special couple, Rosie & all involved.
               21) All of our families.
               22) Funds and insurance.
               23) All of our houses.
               24) In thanksgiving for gifts, graces, & blessings received.
               25) Spread the Blood of Jesus on all of us here.
               26) Consecrate all hearts.
               27) Cast the devil out of all of us here and all in Movement.

 


Shepherds of Christ Ministries  
P.O. Box 627  China, Indiana 47250

Telephone: (toll free) 1-888-211-3041 or (812) 273-8405  
FAX: (812) 273-3182

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