Give Thanks to Christ Jesus

Incapable as we are of paying our debts to God, we should at least try to supply for them by our gratitude. Even the poorest beggar, having nothing to give in return for the alms he has received, can always acknowledge a kindness by showing gratitude to his benefactor. This is our position in regard to God: we have nothing of our own; all that we are and have comes from Him and in return for His infinite generosity, we can do nothing but use His gifts to express our gratitude…"give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thess. 5:18)."

Let us think, for example, of the nine lepers who, not returning to give thanks for the healing they had received, forfeited the joy the one grateful leper had of hearing Jesus say, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well (Luke 17:12-19)."

Adapted from NAS Letter; Divine Intimacy
by Father Gabrielle of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

Next Nocturnal Adoration: Friday, January 4, 2013

Divine Sacrament of Holy Communion

Recall the good works which souls, filled with a love imparted by the Eucharist, have accomplished because Jesus communicated to them His own sentiments of love for all of our fellow men, especially those most in need. Thus St. Francis de Sales exhorted every soul to approach the Eucharist as much as possible, because "by adoring and partaking of His beauty, His goodness and His purity in this Divine Sacrament, you will become all beautiful, good and pure."

NAS Letter

Jesus Our Eucharistic Love, by Fr. Stefano Manelli, F.F.I.

Next Nocturnal Adoration: Friday, December 7, 2012

Jesus Transforms us into Himself

If we feel frail, we need to turn to Jesus, to speak to Him and not delay in asking His help and support, for He is the very One who said, "without Me you can do nothing (Jn 15:5)." With the Eucharist not only are we capable of everything, but we also obtain... our identification with Jesus, as St. Augustine tells us: "It is not a case of us transforming Christ into ourselves, as we commonly do with food; but it is Jesus who transforms us into Himself."

Let us also visit the Lord, entering a Church every time we can to pause a little while before the tabernacle, placing our heart and body before Him who said, "Come to Me... and I will will give you rest (Matt. 11:28)."

Adapted from the National NAS Letter, 10/12

Next Nocturnal Adoration: Friday, November 2, 2012

A Pure Heart is Humble

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matt. 5:8)

If you knew what great merit and reward is earned by one act of pure love for Me, you would die of joy. I am saying this that you may constantly unite yourself with Me through love, for this is the goal of the life of your soul. This act is an act of the will. Know that a pure soul is humble. When you lower and empty yourself before My majesty, I then pursue you with My graces and make use of My omnipotence to exalt you.

NAS Letter
St. Faustina (Diary #576)

Next Nocturnal Adoration: Friday, October 5, 2012

The Sword of Silence

Silence is a sword in the spiritual struggle. A talkative soul will never attain sanctity. The sword of silence will cut off everything that would like to cling to the soul. We are sensitive to words and quickly want to answer back, without taking any regard as to whether it is God's will that we should speak. A silent soul is strong; no adversities will harm it if it perseveres in silence. The silent soul is capable of attaining closest union with God. It lives almost always under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. God works in a silent soul without hindrance.

St. Faustina (Diary #477)
NAS Letter

Next Nocturnal Adoration: Friday, September 7, 2012

Treasure in Heaven

"...lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also (Matt. 6:20, 21)."

"See my children, the treasure of a Christian is not on the earth, it is in Heaven. Our thoughts ought to be where our treasure is. Man has a beautiful office, that of praying and loving. You pray, you love -- that is the happiness of man upon the earth. Prayer is nothing else than union with God. When our heart is pure and united to God, we feel within ourselves a joy, a sweetness that inebriates, a light that dazzles us. In this intimate union God and the soul are like two pieces of wax melted together; they cannot be separated. This union of God with His little creature is a most beautiful thing. It is a happiness that we cannot understand."

St. John Vianney, On Prayer

Patron Saint of Parish Priests

Next Nocturnal Adoration: Friday, August 3, 2012

Fortnight for Freedom

The U.S. Bishops have called for a “Fortnight for Freedom,” a 14-day period of prayer, education and action in support of religious freedom, from June 21-July 4.

As the Nocturnal Adoration Society is dedicated to prayer for the praise of God and the needs of the world, the following prayer is being posted so we can personally pray in unity with the Church during the Fortnight for Freedom. The prayer is from the St. Thomas More prayer card that was issued by the Bishops.

Fortnight for Freedom

June 21 - July 4 2012

O God our Creator,

from your provident hand we have received

our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

You have called us as your people and given us

the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God,

and your Son, Jesus Christ.

Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,

you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,

bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel

to every corner of society.

We ask you to bless us

in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.

Give us the strength of mind and heart

to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;

give us courage in making our voices heard

on behalf of the rights of your Church

and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.

Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,

a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters

gathered in your Church

in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,

so that, with every trial withstood

and every danger overcome—

for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,

and all who come after us—

this great land will always be “one nation, under God,

indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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Please forward this post/prayer via the big "M" email link below (or any other way) to members and all the prayer warriors you know.

Next Nocturnal Adoration: Friday, July 6, 2012

Loving God Above All Things

“...the love of God is the end, the perfection and the excellence of the universe. In this…consists the greatness and the primacy of the commandment of divine love, which the Saviour calls the first and greatest commandment,

‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment (Matt. 22:37-38*)’.

This commandment is as a sun which gives lustre and dignity to all the sacred laws, to all the divine ordinances, and to all the Holy Scriptures. All is done for this heavenly love, and all has reference to it. From the sacred tree of this commandment grow all the counsels, exhortations, inspirations, and the other commandments, as its flowers, and eternal life as its fruit; and all that does not tend to eternal love tends to eternal death. Grand Commandment, the perfect fulfilment of which lasts through eternal life, yea, is no other thing but eternal life!”

St. Francis DeSales

On The Love of God

Next Nocturnal Adoration: Friday, June 1, 2012

Visits of Love

   "There are visits of courtesy, and there are visits of pure love... Visits which are made at certain hours of the day when Jesus Christ is rarely visited... are the visits of friends. It is at those times more than any other that Jesus Christ converses more familiarly with His favorites, that He communicates Himself more intimately to them, that He opens to them His Sacred Heart and pours out on them the treasures of His grace by inflaming them with His Divine Love. ...all the saints have as a matter of fact experienced that there is no more infallible means of obtaining in a short time this great love of Jesus Christ, than to visit Him often in the Churches, especially at those hours of the day when He is honored so little and visited so rarely."

Fr. John Croiset, S.J.

Spiritual Director of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

National NAS Letter (Feb. 2007)

Next Nocturnal Adoration: Friday, April 13, 2012

Loving Friendship with Jesus

   "It is by means of making visits that we shall gain and increase the friendship of Jesus Christ. As His object in remaining on our altars is to be continually with us, consider what His sentiments of affection must be for those whom He sees often with Him. There is nothing which gains the Heart of Jesus more than frequent visits and frequent acts of adoration in His presence. It is usually at this time that He pours out His graces in greatest abundance, and it may be said that, of all His gifts and favors that He gives at these visits, the most usual is the incomparable grace of His love."

Fr. John Croiset, S. J.
Spritual Director of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
National NAS Letter (Feb. 2007)

Next Nocturnal Adoration: Friday, March 2, 2012

Annual Nocturnal Adoration Mass

Annual Nocturnal Adoration Mass

Holy Family Church (Fairmount)

Friday, February 3, 2012

7:00 p.m.
Celebrant, Father Herve Muyo

This Mass replaces the team hours throughout the night and is a general hour for all members. Following Mass there will be a short business meeting and social in the Church hall. New NAS members will be formally received at this Mass. If you want to become a dedicated adorer/member, call Bob Steves, 487-9251.


For more information, please see NAS at Holy Family Info.