Prayer Partners

December 2018

1. In Russia, we now have two groups of young adults, parishioners or students from the nearby Far Eastern Federal University on Russian Island, who meet with the sisters a couple times a month. The growth of the Catholic Church in Russia greatly depends on the true formation of the youth. Please embrace these youth in your prayers, and thus help them to know their Faith well so that they, though very few, can stand firm in a culture that was taught for a very long time that it was stupid to believe in God.
2. St. Padre Pio once said that the world would be more likely to survive without the sun than without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Our Catholic Faith realizes that fact since it demands we attend Mass every Sunday, and more if possible. Pray that the sisters use their musical talents to help make the Advent and Christmas liturgies beautiful and reverent so as to raise the hearts of the parishioners to truly understand and appreciate what takes place at each Mass.
   "There is no better way to experience the good God than to find Him in the perfect sacrifice of the Mass."
   --St. John Vianney
   "The celebration of Holy Mass is as valuable as the death of Jesus on the Cross."
   --St. Thomas Aquinas
3. You and all your loved ones are always remembered in our daily Mass, Rosary, and singing of the Liturgy of the Hours. Christmas time always makes our hearts swell with gratitude for you and the necessary part your prayers and sacrifices play in our mission work. May you always know God's hundredfold.
4. Prayers are needed for the sisters as they lead their parish retreat taking place this weekend at the Most Holy Mother of God Catholic Church, Vladivostok, Russia.

Thank you! Most Blessed Advent!

Prayer to Our Suffering Savior For the Souls in Purgatory by St. Alphonsus Liguori

O most sweet Jesus, through the bloody sweat which Thou didst suffer in the Garden of Gethsemane, have mercy on these Blessed Souls. Have mercy on them, O Lord, Have mercy on them.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel scourging, have mercy on them. Have mercy on them O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most painful crowning with thorns, have mercy on them. Have mercy on them O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in carrying Thy cross to Calvary, have mercy on them. Have mercy on them O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer during Thy most cruel crucifixion, have mercy on them. Have mercy on them O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the pains which Thou didst suffer in Thy most bitter agony on the cross, have mercy on them. Have mercy on them O Lord.

O most sweet Jesus, through the immense pain Thou didst suffer in breathing forth Thy Blessed Soul, have mercy on them. Have mercy on them O Lord.

Prayer Partners: Please pray that young women who have a vocation to the missionary life will come, and that our community will develop according to God's plan.

Prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for our mission work would be most appropriate.

Our community, Sisters in Jesus the Lord, is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) who was a sister of the Visitation Order in France was responsible for spreading the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus throughout the Church. She said in one of her letters:

"It seems to me that our Lord's earnest desire to have his sacred heart honored in a special way is directed toward renewing the effects of redemption in our souls. For the sacred heart is an inexhaustible fountain and its sole desire is to pour itself out into the hearts of the humble so as to free them and prepare them to lead lives according to his good pleasure.

A prayer that we sisters say daily is the following:

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – Have Mercy on us
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – Inflame our hearts with Your love
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – Help us to make You known and loved by all