News from West Orange, New Jersey

On Tuesdays
Saint Anthony Devotions

Evening Mass is followed by devotions in honor of Saint Anthony of Padua, the mighty intercessor and beloved patron saint of our chapel.

Prayer to Saint Anthony

Good Saint Anthony, in God's providence thou hast secured for His people many marvelous favors. Thou hast been especially celebrated, good Saint Anthony, for your goodness to the poor and the hungry, for finding employment for those seeking it, for thy special care of those who travel, and for keeping safe from harm all who must be away from home. Thou art widely known also, good Saint Anthony, for securing peace in the family, for your delicate mercy in finding lost things, for safe delivery of messages, and for thy concern for women in childbirth. In honoring thee, Saint Anthony, for the many graces our Lord grants through thy favor, we trustfully and confidently ask thy aid in our present need. V. Pray for us, Saint Anthony, R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. O God, may it be a source of joy to Thy Church that we honor the memory of Thy Confessor and Doctor, Saint Anthony. May his spiritual help always make us strong in the Faith, and by his assistance may we enjoy an eternal reward. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

On Thursdays
Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration

Our Lord refused us nothing, but once He asked for one thing only: watch and pray one hour with Me !

Then Jesus came with them into a country place which is called Gethsemani; and he said to his disciples: Sit you here, till I go yonder and pray. And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to grow sorrowful and to be sad. Then he saith to them: My soul is sorrowful even unto death: stay you here, and watch with me. And going a little further, he fell upon his face, praying, and saying: My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me. Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh to his disciples, and findeth them asleep, and he saith to Peter: What? Could you not watch one hour with me? Watch ye, and pray that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh weak. Again the second time, he went and prayed, saying: My Father, if this chalice may not pass away, but I must drink it, thy will be done. And he cometh again and findeth them sleeping: for their eyes were heavy. And leaving them, he went again: and he prayed the third time, saying the selfsame word. Then he cometh to his disciples, and saith to them: Sleep ye now and take your rest; behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go: behold he is at hand that will betray me. Matthew 26:36-46

Therefore, will you at least come and

Keep Him company for one hour during His bitter hour?
Comfort His sorrowful, wounded Heart?
Make reparation for the terrible blasphemies against God, the saints and His Church?
Pray for the conversion of poor sinners?
Spend an hour praying for holy priests, religious and truly Christian families?

If not, who else will do it?

 

So, come and join us every week ! The Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration begins at 7:00 pm.

 

 

On Saturdays
The Miraculous Medal Novena

Every week the Novena follows the Saturday 9:00 am Mass each week.

The devotion commonly known as that of the Miraculous Medal was made known by the Blessed Virgin Mary to Saint Catherine Laboure, to whom she appeared three separate times in the year 1830. At the second apparition, Saint Catherine records that the Blessed Virgin appeared standing on a globe, with rays of beautiful light flowing from rings on her fingers. Our Lady explained that these rays were symbols of grace which she sheds upon those of us who ask for them.

However, some of the precious gems on the rings were dark. The rays of heavenly grace are always made readily available, explained our Blessed Mother, but that they did not shine forth because no one had asked for them. Then an oval frame was formed around the Blessed Virgin, on which were written in gold: “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”

Then Our Lady said to Saint Catherine: “Have a Medal made according to this model. Those who wear it after being blessed shall receive great graces, especially if they wear it around their neck. Graces will be abundant for those who have confidence.”

Having obtained the approval of the Archbishop of Paris in 1832, the first medals were made and with their distribution, the devotion spread rapidly. Almost immediately, the blessings that Our Lady has promised began to shower down upon those who wore her medal. The Medal was first known as the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, but so many conversions and bodily cures occurred for those who wore it with faith and confidence, that it became popularly known as the Miraculous Medal.