Saint Maria Goretti

We pray with the Church under the patronage of Saint Maria Goretti and offer our whole day to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We hear Saint Clement confront division head-on and we ask for the humility and brotherly love that rebuild the Body of Christ. 
• opening prayers that set a posture of dependence on God 
• Morning Offering that unites our day to the sacrifice of the Mass 
• Saint Clement’s call to cling to the saints for sanctification 
• a clear warning about factions, scandal, and tearing apart Christ’s body 
• the “gate of justice” as a picture of holy living without discord 
• humility and service aimed at the common good rather than self-interest 
• closing prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Our Lady of Guadalupe 
If you found this time of prayer and reflection fruitful and would like more opportunities to grow in your faith, consider joining the Cristeros and purchasing our publications now available on Amazon.com. The Cristeros app is available on the Apple app and Google Play Store. More information on the Cristeros can be found at theCristeros.org. 

Transcript

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Opening And Sign Of The Cross

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. 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.

Morning Offering Through Mary

SPEAKER_00 0:27

O my Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the remission of my sins, for the intentions of my family and friends, and in particular, for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.

Saint Clement On Clinging To Saints

SPEAKER_00 0:49

From a letter to the Corinthians by Saint Clement, Pope. The command has been written. Cling to the saints, for those who cling to them will be sanctified. There is a passage in Scripture as well which states, With the innocent man you will be innocent, and with the chosen one you will be chosen also. Likewise, with the perverse you will deal perversely. Devote yourselves then to the innocent and the just. They are God's chosen

A Warning Against Division And Scandal

SPEAKER_00 1:17

ones. Why are there strife and passion, schisms and even war among you? Do we not possess the same spirit of grace which was given to us and the same calling in Christ? Why do we tear apart and divide the body of Christ? Why do we revolt against our own body? Why do we reach such a degree of insanity that we forget that we are members of one another? Do not forget the words of Jesus our Lord. Woe to that man. It would be better for him if he had not been born, rather than scandalize one of my chosen ones. Indeed it would be better for him to have a great millstone round his neck and to be drowned in the sea than that he lead astray one of my chosen ones. Your division has led many astray, has made many doubt, has made many despair, and has brought grief upon us all, and still your rebellion continues. Pick up the letter of Blessed Paul the Apostle. What did he write to you at the beginning of his ministry? Even then you had developed factions. So Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote to you concerning himself and Cephas and Apollos. But that division involved you in less sin because you were supporting apostles of high reputation, and a great person approved by them.

The Gate Of Justice And Holy Living

SPEAKER_00 2:36

We should put an end to this division immediately. Let us fall down before our master and implore his mercy with our tears, then he will be reconciled to us and restore us to the practice of brotherly love that benefits us. For this is the gate of justice that leads to life. As it is written, Open to me the gates of justice. When I have entered there I shall praise the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord, the just shall enter through it. There are many gates which stand open, but the gate of justice is the gateway of Christ. All who enter through this gate are blessed, pursuing their way in holiness and justice, performing all their tasks without discord.

Humility And Serving The Common Good

SPEAKER_00 3:15

A person may be faithful, he may have the power to utter hidden mysteries, he may be discriminating in the evaluation of what is said, and pure in his actions. But the greater he seems to be, the more humbly he ought to act, and the more zealous he should be for the common good, rather than his own interest. Though I am not bound to anyone, I became a slave to all, to the weak I became weak. I became all things to all men, that I might at least save some. I was eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. I was a father to the poor, I became all things to all men, that I might at least save some.

Closing Prayer And Devotions

SPEAKER_00 4:00

O God, who in the abasement of your Son have raised up a fallen world, fill your faithful with holy joy, for on those you have rescued from slavery to sin you bestow eternal gladness, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. All that I have and all that I am, I give to your hands, Jesus, through the heart of Mary, your blessed mother. Amen. Sacred heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Invitation To Join The Cristeros

SPEAKER_00 4:41

If you found this time of prayer and reflection fruitful and would like more opportunities to grow in your faith, consider joining the Cristeros and purchasing our publications now available on Amazon.com. The Cristeros app is available on the Apple app and Google Play Store. More information on the Cristeros can be found at theCristeros.org.