Spiritual Communion and Reparation Prayers for the Growing Health and Faith Crisis

Dear Apostoli Viae Family and other Friends,

The health crisis we all face across the globe is significant, but it has also revealed a crisis in faith that is even more troubling to the faithful. This crisis of faith is both revealed in personal fear and in irrational behavior in relationship to how the Eucharist should be offered to the faithful. The purpose of this post is not to focus on the darkness, but as is in keeping with the charism of Apostoli Viae, we instead focus on what we can control or do that is honoring to the Lord and one another in these difficult times.

Accordingly, we here offer a few very powerful and important resources, 1) spiritual communion for those who are not able to avail themselves of the sacraments and 2) reparation and prayers for relief from the storms of faith and health (we strongly recommend that the daily prayers of reparation be taken up by all who participate in the charism of Apostoli Viae and especially those who are promised.) and 3) the Surrender Novena to help us with peace and trust in the storm.

Spiritual Communion Prayers

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire You in my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. As though You were already there, I embrace You and unite myself to You; permit not that I should ever be separated from You. Amen.

At Your feet, O my Jesus, I prostrate myself and I offer You repentance of my contrite heart, which is humbled in its nothingness and in Your holy presence. I adore You in the Sacrament of Your love, the ineffable Eucharist. I desire to receive You into the poor dwelling that my heart offers You. While waiting for the happiness of sacramental communion, I wish to possess You in spirit. Come to me, O my Jesus, since I, for my part, am coming to You! May Your love embrace my whole being in life and in death. I believe in You, I hope in You, I love You. Amen.

Prayers and Acts of Reparation and Faith

We recommend that these prayers and acts be offered daily during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass or Spiritual Communion as they apply.

Memorare: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Kneeling on the Floor for Abuses of the Laity: As an act of reparation and petition, inconspicuously kneel on the floor, rather than a kneeler, during all appropriate times in the Mass and before and after during preparation and thanksgiving. This quiet and humble kneeling draws us to a deeper expression of humility, and the pain or discomfort is then offered for reparation of the sins of irreverence or sacrilege. Here are a few examples of common abuses that require reparation:

• Receiving the Eucharist in a state of mortal sin.
• Irreverence in the reception of the Eucharist.
• Disrespect or usurpation of the place of the priest through liturgical posture, prayers, or roles.
• Talking or whispering before, during, or after Mass about things unrelated to the Mass and disturbing those who desire to prepare, pray, worship, and offer thanksgiving.
• Clapping during the Mass. 

Litany of the Most Blessed Sacrament for Abuses by the Clergy: Pray the Litany of the Most Blessed Sacrament (composed by St. Peter Julian Eymard) after the reception of Holy Communion. I have found that this beautiful litany is easily prayed after the reception of Communion even in small parishes if one is seated near the front. If it can’t be completed by the time of the dismissal, it can be finished after Mass during the traditional time of thanksgiving. This can also be prayed after a spiritual communion.

Offered in thanksgiving for the gift of receiving the Lord in the Eucharist, for reparation for offenses against the Blessed Sacrament, restoration of reverence and faithful liturgy and teaching, deep faith in the Real Presence of our Lord in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and for the protection and promotion of holy and faithful laity, priests, religious, and bishops.

Lord, have mercy.                    R. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.                  R. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.                    R. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.                         R. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,      R. have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, R.
God the Holy Spirit, R.
Holy Trinity, one God, R.
Jesus, Eternal High Priest of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, R.
Jesus, Divine Victim on the Altar for our salvation, R.
Jesus, hidden under the appearance of bread, R.
Jesus, dwelling in all the tabernacles of the world, R.
Jesus, really, truly and substantially present in the Blessed Sacrament, R.
Jesus, abiding in Your fullness, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, R.
Jesus, Bread of Life, R.
Jesus, Bread of Angels, R.
Jesus, with us always until the end of the world, R.
Sacred Host, summit and source of all worship and Christian life, R.
Sacred Host, sign and cause of the unity of the Church, R.
Sacred Host, adored by countless angels, R.
Sacred Host, spiritual food, R.
Sacred Host, Sacrament of love, R. 
Sacred Host, bond of charity, R.
Sacred Host, greatest aid to holiness, R.
Sacred Host, gift and glory of the priesthood, R.
Sacred Host, in which we partake of Christ, R.
Sacred Host, in which the soul is filled with grace, R.
Sacred Host, in which we are given a pledge of future glory, R.

Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. (3 Times)

For those who do not believe in Your Eucharistic presence,
  R. have mercy, O Lord.

For those who are indifferent to the Sacrament of Your love,
  R. have mercy on us. 

For those who have offended You in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar,
  R. have mercy on us.

That we may show fitting reverence when entering Your holy temple,
                                                                                    R. we beseech You, hear us.
That we may make suitable preparation before approaching the Altar, R.
That we may receive You frequently in Holy Communion with real devotion and true humility, R.
That we may never neglect to thank You for so wonderful a blessing, R.
That we may cherish time spent in silent prayer before You, R.
That we may grow in the knowledge of this Sacrament of sacraments, R.
That all priests may have a profound love of the Holy Eucharist, R.
That they may celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in accordance with its sublime dignity, R.
That we may be comforted and sanctified with Holy Viaticum at the hour of our death, R.
That we may see You one day face to face in Heaven, R.

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
  R. spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
  R. graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world,
  R. have mercy on us, O Lord.

V. O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, 
  R. all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.

Let us pray: Most merciful Father, You continue to draw us to Yourself through the Eucharistic Mystery. Grant us fervent faith in this Sacrament of love, in which Christ the Lord Himself is contained, offered and received. We make this prayer through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

CHURCH LEADERSHIP, DIOCESE, and PARISH PRAYER

Can be offered for specific intentions related to the Church, diocese, parish, and local Catholic community.

Mary - Mother of the Church, Guardian Angels of the Church, our parish, and diocese, St. Peter - Father of the Church, St. Joseph - Protector of the Church, we beseech you to join with us in prayer for the Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, leaders, and all Apostoli Viae members around the world.

Merciful Father, we beg You by Your boundless love, Jesus' passion and death, and this meager act of prayer and sacrifice, to penetrate, regenerate, and encourage the hearts of all these leaders and especially bishop/cardinals(s) ______________ our priests _________________ religious, deacons, educators, and leaders of our parish and diocese and those whom they serve. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon them. Set them continually on fire with a faithful submissive and compelling love for Christ and His Church. 

Bring life, discipline, healing, repentance, humility, and holy passion to those who need to turn their hearts to you. Lift up those who work to serve and submit to You, Your Church, and Your magisterium. Encourage them, strengthen them, bless them, protect them, and make their joyful voices heard as they live and proclaim Your marvelous truth and love. We beg you to silence, expose, and make of no effect those who will not repent and who sow sin, rebellion, discord, confusion and untruth in the Body of Christ.

Most Holy and Blessed Trinity, grant us permission and the means to humbly and effectively serve Your glorious church in and through our parish and diocese. Open the doors and hearts necessary to allow us to see and serve those whom You are drawing ever more deeply into Your care. Help us to humbly and energetically love and serve them, as we would You.

Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Surrender Novena
Given by Jesus to Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo

Day 1

Why do you confuse yourselves by worrying?
Leave the care of your affairs to me and everything will be peaceful. I say to you in truth that every act of true, blind, complete surrender to me produces the effect that you desire and resolves all difficult situations.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)

Day 2

Surrender to me does not mean to fret, to be upset, or to lose hope, nor does it mean offering to me a worried prayer asking me to follow you and change your worry into prayer. It is against this surrender, deeply against it, to worry, to be nervous and to desire to think about the consequences of anything. It is like the confusion that children feel when they ask their mother to see to their needs, and then try to take care of those needs for themselves so that their childlike efforts get in their mother’s way. Surrender means to placidly close the eyes of the soul, to turn away from thoughts of tribulation and to put yourself in my care, so that only I act. Saying You take care of it.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)

Day 3

How many things I do when the soul, in so much spiritual and material need turns to me, looks at me and says to me; You take care of it, then close its eyes and rests. In pain you pray for me to act, but that I act in the way you want. You do not turn to me, instead, you want me to adapt to your ideas. You are not sick people who ask the doctor to cure you, but rather sick people who tell the doctor how to. So do not act this way, but pray as I taught you in the Our Father: Hallowed be thy Name, that is, be glorified in my need. Thy kingdom come”, that is, let all that is in us and in the world be in accord with your kingdom. Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, that is, in our need, decide as you see fit for our temporal and eternal life.
If you say to me truly: Thy will be done. Which is the same as saying: You take care of it. I will intervene with all my omnipotence, and I will resolve the most difficult situations.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)

Day 4

You see evil growing instead of weakening? Do not worry, Close your eyes and say to me with faith: Thy will be done, You take care of it. I say to you that I will take care of it, and that I will intervene as does a doctor and I will accomplish miracles when they are needed. Do you see that the sick person is getting worse? Do not be upset, but close your eyes and say You take care of it. I say to you that I will take care of it, and that there is no medicine more powerful than my loving intervention. By my love, I promise this to you.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)

Day 5

And when I must lead you on a path different from the one you see, I will prepare you; I will carry you in my arms; I will let you find yourself, like children who have fallen asleep in their mother’s arms, on the other bank of the river.  What troubles you and hurts you immensely are your reason, your thoughts and worry, and your desire at all costs to deal with what afflicts you.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)

Day 6

You are sleepless; you want to judge everything, direct everything and see to everything and you surrender to human strength, or worse- to men themselves, trusting in their intervention,- this is what hinders my words and my views. Oh how much I wish from you this surrender, to help you and how I suffer when I see you so agitated! Satan tries to do exactly this: to agitate you and to remove you from my protection and to throw you into the jaws of human initiative. So, trust only in me, rest in me, surrender to me in everything.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)

Day 7

I perform miracles in proportion to your full surrender to me and to your not thinking of yourselves. I sow treasure troves of graces when you are in the deepest poverty. No person of reason, no thinker, has ever performed miracles, not even among the saints. He does divine works whosoever surrenders to God. So don’t think about it any more, because you mind is acute and for you it is very hard to see evil and to trust in me and to not think of yourself. Do this for all your needs, do this all of you and you will see great continual silent miracles. I will take care of things, I promise this to you.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)

Day 8

Close your eyes and let yourself be carried away on the flowing current of my grace; close your eyes and do not think of the present, turning your thoughts away from the future just as you would from temptation. Repose in me, believing in my goodness, and I promise you by my love that if you say You take care of it. I will take care of it all; I will console you, liberate you and guide you.

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)

Day 9

Pray always in readiness to surrender, and you will receive from it great peace and great rewards, even when I confer on you the grace of immolation, of repentance and of love. Then what does suffering matter? It seems impossible to you? Close your eyes and say with all your soul, Jesus, you take care of it.Do not be afraid, I will take care of things and you will bless my name by humbling yourself. A thousand prayers cannot equal one single act of surrender, remember this well. There is no novena more effective than this:

O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything! (10 times)

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mother, I am yours now and forever.
Through you and with you I always want to
belong completely to Jesus.