South Africa Needs Our Lady

South Africa Needs Our Lady

Winning the heart and soul of South Africa for Mary by spreading the Fatima Message

Winning the heart and soul of South Africa for Mary by spreading the Fatima Message

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Saint Norbert

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Feast June 6

Invoked during childbirth for safe delivery

Norbert was born in the year 1080 in Xanten, Germany, to a noble and wealthy family.

Norbert lived a life of pleasure until one day he lost consciousness after being thrown from his horse during a thunderstorm. He awoke an hour later, and said, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” “Turn from evil and do good: seek after peace and pursue it,” came the heavenly reply.

After his conversion, Norbert pursued the priesthood and was ordained in 1115. He received special permission from the Pope to preach the Gospel wherever he chose.

Finding himself at Prémontré in France, Norbert founded a community under the rule of St. Augustine, with the sanction of the Holy See. At first, Norbert had only thirteen followers but the numbers increased to forty by 1121 and by 1125, eight abbeys and two convents had been established. Thus he founded the Norbertine Order.

In 1126, Norbert was chosen Archbishop of Magdeburg. He struggled to reform the clergy, many of whom were leading careless lives, and ultimately succeeded in his reformation endeavours.

Four years later, he defended Pope Innocent II, whose claim to the papacy was threatened by Antipope Anacletus II. Norbert won over the hierarchy of the Church in Germany to Innocent’s cause and influenced the German King Lothar to defend Innocent.

Norbert died in Magdeburg in 1134 at the age of fifty-three. He was formally recognized as a saint by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582.

Why is St. Norbert the Patron of Expectant Mothers and Infertile Couples?

A pious woman once sought the counsel of St. Norbert concerning her childless marriage. She and her husband were considering separating and entering religious life because they had been unable to have children.

St. Norbert reassured her and foretold that God would bless them with children. He further prophesied that their firstborn son would be dedicated to God’s service.

His prediction came true. The couple was blessed with children, and their first son, Nicholas, later entered the Norbertine Order at Prémontré.

Because of this remarkable event, St. Norbert came to be invoked by expectant mothers and married couples struggling with infertility. He is also traditionally prayed to for a safe and healthy childbirth.

Even today, the Norbertine Canonesses of Doksany in the Czech Republic actively promote devotion to St. Norbert among couples hoping for children and mothers facing difficult pregnancies. Through his powerful intercession, many families have reported receiving the blessing of children and experiencing God’s providential care.1

St. Norbert, patron of expectant mothers and infertile couples, pray for us.

A Prayer to St. Norbert for a Good Childbirth

St. Norbert, great and faithful servant of God!

You venerated the holy and miraculous birth of Our Saviour,

Who His Mother, the purest Virgin Mary,

conceived without the loss of her virginity

and gave birth remaining a virgin.

You connected the origin of the Premonstratensian Order

with the day of the birth of Jesus Christ.

I humbly pray to you, St. Norbert,

as a great protector, so that God will give me the grace,

through your intercession,

to give birth to this conceived child.

And so that He will give me also the grace

that this child will join the Church of Christ

through the sacrament of Baptism

and that he/she will serve Him, Our Lord,

the whole of his/her life

so that in the end we both will reach eternal salvation.

Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Amen.

(Translated from The Little Hours, 1749, by one of our Norbertine Sisters at Doksany)2

Footnotes:

1.  https://anastpaul.com/2017/06/06/saint-of-the-day-6-june-st-norbert

2. https://anastpaul.com/2017/06/06/saint-of-the-day-6-june-st-norbert

Litany of the Suffering Heart of Jesus

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Sacred Heart of Jesus dying on the cross, save me.
Sacred Heart of my Creator, perfect me.
Sacred Heart of my Redeemer, answer for me.
Sacred Heart of of my Father, govern me.
Sacred Heart of my Judge, pardon me.
Sacred Heart of my Advocate, plead for me.
Sacred Heart of my Master, teach me.
Sacred Heart of my Pastor, guard me.
Sacred Heart of my Faithful Friend, repose in me.
Sacred Heart, wounded for love of me, receive me.
Sacred Heart, retreat of afflicted souls, comfort me.

Live, Jesus, in my heart, now and for all eternity.

Most sweet Jesus, who repulses none, but who does welcome even the greatest sinners, provided they repent and sincerely return to Thee, have mercy, particularly on those who invoke Thy holy name. Listen to the prayers of all who address Thee in spirit and truth, and grant that all the worshippers of Thy Sacred Heart may find, agreeably to Thy Divine promises, light, joy, strength, peace, protection, and holy love for time and eternity. Amen.


St Margaret Mary, intercede with the Sacred Heart of Jesus for me.

Taken from the book: The Love of the Most Adorable and Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

 

Practicing Virtue

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In those who are advancing from good to better…

…the good Spirit moves the soul peacefully, calmly, gently: The evil spirit moves the soul roughly, confusedly, violently.

“Learn of Me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and ye shall find rest for your soul.” Matthew 11:29

With this article we begin the “Second Book” of the treatise “Voice of Jesus – Voice of the Disciple.” It is called the “Directory for the Second Book” and, as such, it is a bit longer than normal – a 15 minute read. But ever so worth the time to my serious readers!

1.The Voice of the Disciple

The object of this Second Book is, to teach us – after we have become disengaged from our evil and inordinate affections, how we should exert ourselves, that, by the practice of virtue, we may be enabled to make our election sure. In order to do this the more efficaciously, and the more sweetly, at the same time, we should place before our eyes Jesus, with the inward dispositions of His Heart; because, by following Him who is the way, the truth, and the life, we shall proceed, with safety, certainty, and pleasure, from virtue to virtue, and secure our salvation.

The practice of the virtues, by which we may follow the Heart of Jesus, and express His interior life in ourselves, can, in every state and condition of life, be performed in two ways. The first, by practicing those virtues which are of precept and which the state and condition of every one requires.

The second, by exercising, according to the divine good pleasure, those virtues also, which are of counsel, whereby our salvation is better secured, and the divine glory and our merits are the more increased. But since both these ways contain limitless degrees, whereby virtue is ever practiced with greater perfection, there is no one, how perfect so ever he may be, who cannot here occupy himself profitably, and gather more abundant fruit.

As, however, Jesus willed that, in the imitation of His virtues, we should, above all, be humble and meek of heart, we must diligently attend and take care, both that, whatever virtues we learn and imitate in Him, we place them upon true humility as their groundwork, and perfect them in a meek charity; and again, that, in the very manner of imitating His virtues, we be especially meek and humble of heart.

2. Supernatural Virtue

Nowhere can we learn virtues more safely, and more easily, than in the Heart of Jesus. For, as that Heart is the pattern of true virtue, by merely looking upon It with attention, we shall see what virtue is, and what qualities it ought to possess: neither shall we run the risk of erring in a matter which is to us of so much importance, both for time and eternity.

Thence shall we learn, to our unspeakable consolation, that virtue is a right affection of the heart for an object, which is, in some manner, good: and we shall perceive that this good object – which sometimes we call, figuratively, virtue – is not in truth virtue itself, but simply the object of virtue. Thence we shall likewise learn, that virtue, in order to be such as it ought to be in every Christian, must not be natural, but supernatural; and we shall clearly distinguish the difference between the two.

The affections of the Heart of Jesus, which He reduced to acts, whether internal or external, did not spring from an impulse or motion of His human nature, but from a supernal or divine principle; they were not performed according to the sentiments of His human nature, but according to the divine good pleasure; they did not tend to some temporal delight of His human nature, but throughout to God, as to their last end.

Whence, if, from the impulse or emotion of mere nature, we strive after what is good; if we act simply according to the feelings of nature, whether of inclination or aversion; if we seek merely a natural end, we have only natural virtue, whereby we shall acquire no Christian perfection in this life, – no fruit of merit in eternity. But, if of the Heart of Jesus, we learn supernatural virtue, and the practice of the same; replenished with graces and merits, we shall lead an interior life, like to His own.

3. Interior Life

What is the interior life, – for which the life of the Heart of Jesus serves us as a model, – except to begin all our voluntary acts, internal as well as external, by the grace of God, or a supernatural principle; to perform them according to God’s Will; to direct them to God and His interests, as to our end; to occupy ourselves in our Heart with God, our Saviour; and to live for Him by love?

Now, all this he does, who begins all his voluntary acts by the divine good pleasure; who performs them according to the divine good pleasure; directs them to the divine good pleasure, as his end, – being most constantly occupied internally with the Lord, through love.

Behold the truly interior life, by which genuine and solid virtues are acquired; by which we may attain, safely and sweetly, to true sanctity and divine union. This life is fitted for every state and condition; it is adapted, not only to ecclesiastics and religious, but equally to all laics and persons in the world. Did not the first Christians generally lead this life? Does not the Gospel teach this life to all?

Whoever has a good will may lead this sanctifying life, practice supernatural virtue and attain to perfection. For, the acquiring, or not acquiring of virtue, does not depend on temperament, on a mild or passionate character, – as many seem to believe: but it depends on the grace of God, and the cooperation of man’s will. For, since God gives grace, not in view of natural qualities, but first gratuitously, and afterwards also in consideration of supernatural merits and prayers; and since the human will, whatever be the natural disposition of a man, is truly free to co-operate, or not to co-operate with grace, it is evident, that virtue does not depend on temperament or natural disposition.

Wherefore, we acquire virtue the better, and the more perfectly, not in proportion as our natural disposition is yielding, but in proportion as our co-operation is more efficacious: we reach a more pure and more solid virtue, not by reason of the fewness of natural repugnances we feel, but by means of the more generous acts of the will, which we perform, in spite of natural repugnances. This doctrine, so full of consolation – which the Saints unanimously teach, and which they learned of the very Heart of Jesus – deserves our whole attention.

4. The Practice of Virtue

In the practice of virtue, we must guard against delusions, among which this one is the chief and most common: That we are satisfied with producing the object of a virtue, whilst we do not practice the virtue itself; or, that we believe that we practice a virtue, when we bring forward the object of virtue through a natural inclination or intention; or even that we think we can acquire true and solid virtue, without repeated and generous acts, whereby the emotions of the passions, and the impulses of nature are overcome or denied. They that neglect to cleanse their heart perfectly are especially wont to fall into this dreadful delusion.

Other delusions, which may occasionally occur in the practice of virtue, arise nearly all from the preceding. Such are: on the one hand, to grow despondent in mind, on account of the difficulties or oppositions of nature: to look upon these as obstacles to virtue, not as means, such as they may be in reality, if they are used with a generous heart, to acquire true and solid virtue: on the other hand, to deem the good qualities of nature, freedom from vices or temptations, a virtue; or, even, overlooking true and solid virtue, to aspire to divine union. Now, these, and other delusions, you will easily avoid, if, like a true Disciple of the Heart of Jesus, you lead an interior life.

5. Spiritual Life

When, therefore, you have come to that part of the spiritual life, which the Heart of Jesus teaches in this Book, you should direct your endeavours to this: to know and love Jesus as perfectly as you can, to learn and acquire, ever better and better, in thinking, in speaking, in acting, the dispositions of His Heart. To attain to this, besides the two methods of meditating – (which were given before the first Book) and which you may also employ here, if you find them useful – what follows, will enable you to understand more fully this matter.

6. Meditation and contemplation

The proper method of using this second Book is twofold: the one of meditating, the other of contemplating: both agree entirely with what the Saints have taught us concerning mental prayer.

 

Meditation

If you meditate, let the memory represent to you some virtue of the Heart of Jesus, and let it retain the same, after the meditation; so as to put it in practice.

Let the understanding consider the qualities of the virtue proposed; then, let it compare your own heart with the Heart of Jesus, in regard to the virtue considered; afterwards, let it recall your past life, whether and how far you have practiced this virtue; if sufficiently, return thanks, and give honour to God, your Saviour; but, if the contrary, grieve and ask pardon; lastly, let it look forward into the future, considering when, and how, you can improve this virtue.

Let the will embrace the same virtue, excite internal acts of the same; yea, conversing with Jesus Himself, let it utter the sentiments of the heart: for what it is sorry, what it proposes; what it fears, what it hopes; what it dislikes, what it loves; nay, let it devoutly communicate its every desire, and, finally, ask much.

 

Contemplation

But, if you contemplate, see in the mystery, or in the particular subject which you propose to contemplate, what are the sentiments of the Heart of Jesus, or of Jesus in His Heart, concerning all and each of the things that occur in the subject; what He esteems, and how highly; what He condemns and how greatly; what He shuns, and what He embraces.

Then, give heed, in this matter, to the words which issue from the Heart of Jesus, and what words are not even thought in His Heart, much less uttered.

Lastly, observe, in the same manner, what kind of acts proceed from the Heart of Jesus, and with what virtues they are adorned.

And, throughout the whole contemplation, according to your devotion, or your wants, or the motions of grace; indulge and persist in acts, that is, pious affections and petitions.

Learn, in this manner, by contemplation, to feel, and speak, and act like Jesus Himself.

The acts, specially recommended in this part of the interior life, besides acts of the theological virtues, are frequent acts of that virtue to which you are applying yourself, of generous self-abnegation of your ill-ordered nature, of a noble love of Jesus. Repeat these constantly.

 

Summary

But, whether you meditate, or whether you contemplate, you ought so to consider the mysteries of the life of Jesus, as if you were present at them: which is expressly taught by St. Bonaventure: “If you desire,” says he, “to derive fruit from these things, you must, with all the affection of your mind, setting aside all other cares and anxieties, represent yourself as present at what is related to have been spoken or done by the Lord Jesus Christ; in such a manner as if you heard them with your ears, saw them with your eyes.”

7. Learning from the Saints

The Saints, who were skilled in the interior ways of the spiritual life, teach us, that the demon, the evil spirit, is more wont to tempt, under the appearance of good, those who, leading a life already exempt from sins, exercise themselves in acquiring virtues.

Wherefore, to such persons, they recommend the following rules, to enable them to discern between the good and the evil spirit, and between the suggestions of either.

  1. In those who are advancing from good to better, the good Spirit moves the soul peacefully, calmly, gently: The evil spirit moves the soul roughly, confusedly, violently. But on those who proceed from bad to worse, the said spirits act in a contrary manner. For the good Spirit stings them inwardly, disquiets and arouses them that he may bring them to conversion. And the wicked spirit endeavours to make them quiet in sin, caresses, and flatters them, that he may keep and push them onward in evil.
  2. It is peculiar to God, as well as to every good Spirit, in His motions, to give to them that act rightly, or use sincere efforts, true joy and spiritual consolation, and to remove the sadness and trouble, which the evil spirit causes. And it is the characteristic of the evil spirit to fight against such joy and consolation, by adducing specious reasons, subtleties, and various fallacies.
  3. The evil spirit observes very much, whether a soul possesses a delicate or a loose conscience: If it is a delicate one, he strives to render it still more delicate, even to scrupulousness and every extreme, so that he may the more easily trouble and overcome her: thus, if he sees that a soul commits no mortal sin, nor venial, nor any voluntary defect, the evil spirit, as he cannot make her fall into some sin, tries to cause her to judge and think that it is a sin which is not a sin.
  4. But if the soul is of lax conscience, the evil spirit strives to make her still more lax and gross; so that, if before she made no account of venial sins, he endeavours to induce her now to make light of mortal sins; and, if before she cared little for grievous sins, he uses his efforts to make her now care much less, or even nothing at all, for them.
  5. A soul that desires to make progress in the spiritual life, must always proceed in a manner contrary to that by which the evil spirit proceeds. Wherefore, if he tries to make the soul more lax, she must take care to render herself more delicate: in like manner, if he endeavours to make her so delicate, as to lead her to extremes, or to scruples, she should manage to place herself firmly in the golden mean, so that she may render and keep herself altogether quiet.
  6. It is the characteristic of the evil spirit, who transforms himself sometimes into an angel of light, to begin by thrusting in thoughts conformable to the pious soul, and to finish, by suggesting his own wicked ones.
  7. The soul should rightly attend to the course of the thoughts suggested: for if the beginning, the middle, and the end are good, and tend to a good object, it is a sign that the thoughts suggested come from the good Spirit: but if in the succession of thoughts, which the spirit suggests, he ends with something bad, or which turns away from a certain good, or even with a less good than that which the soul had before resolved to do: or, if he renders the soul restless, or disturbs her, by taking away the tranquillity and peace which she enjoyed before, it is an evident sign, that those thoughts come from the evil spirit.
  8. When the enemy has been discovered, and is known by the evil, to which he leads, it is then useful, that the soul consider the course of thoughts suggested to her, under the appearance of good; and that she review from the beginning, how the enemy tried to overthrow, and take away by degrees, her interior peace and tranquillity, until he brought in his own wicked intention. Taught by this experience, the soul will for the future guard more easily against the deceits of the evil spirit.

 

St. Ignatius, St. Bernard, St. Gertrude

“Voice of Jesus” is taken from Arnoudt’s “Imitation of the Sacred Heart”, translated from the Latin of J.M. Fastre; Benziger Bros. Copyright 1866

Saint Anthony of Padua

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St Anthony and the Mule

FEAST DAY 13 JUNE

 

Anthony was born Fernando Martins in Lisbon, Portugal, in August, 1195. His noble and wealthy family arranged for him to be instructed at the Cathedral school where he was instilled with a deep religious piety.

At fifteen, Fernando entered the Augustinian Order at the Abbey of Saint Vincent on the outskirts of Lisbon and there studied theology, Latin and the Holy Scriptures.

It was after his ordination to the priesthood that Fernando first came into contact with some Franciscan friars who settled near his monastery.

From the beginning, Fernando was strongly attracted to the simple, evangelical lifestyle of the friars. However, it was not until the news came of the first martyrs of their order – five Franciscans beheaded in Morocco – and Fernando saw their mutilated bodies, which had been ransomed, being buried in the Abbey of Santa Cruz, that he obtained permission to leave the Augustinian Order and join the Franciscans, where he received the new name of Anthony.

So inspired was he by the martyrs’ example that he set out for Morocco himself, with the hope of becoming a martyr too. However, he fell seriously ill on route and was forced to return to Portugal to regain his health. According to the designs of Divine Providence, on the return voyage, the ship was blown off course and landed in Sicily.

From Sicily he made his way to Tuscany where he was assigned to a convent of the order, but he was later assigned to the rural hermitage of San Paolo near Forlì, Romagna, a choice made after considering his poor health. There he lived in a cell made by one of the friars in a nearby cave and spent his time in private prayer and study.

One day, in 1222, in the town of Forli, on the occasion of an ordination, Anthony was persuaded to be the homilist. So simple and resounding was his teaching of the Catholic Faith that even the most unlettered and innocent might understand it and it made a great impression on all who heard. Not only his rich voice and arresting manner, but the entire theme and substance of his discourse and his moving eloquence, held the attention of his hearers.

Everyone was impressed with his knowledge of Scripture, acquired during his years of solitude at the hermitage of Forli.

Saint Barnabas

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FEAST DAY 11 JUNE

Though Barnabas, a Jew of Cyprus, was not one of the Twelve chosen by Our Lord, he is still considered an apostle.

He was closely involved with the apostles after Pentecost, and was principally responsible for their accepting Paul, who was a recent convert, into their midst.

Barnabas was sent by the disciples to lend a guiding hand to recent evangelization efforts in Antioch. The success in Antioch led to his first official mission trip: the holy man travelled all over, preaching the Gospel to all who would listen, even the Gentiles. Barnabas took Paul with him, and the two continued to evangelize and preach the Gospel together for many years.

Later, when the two apostles decided to revisit their missions, a sharp contention arose between them over whether John Mark should accompany them, and they parted company going their separate ways: Paul with Silas to Asia Minor and Barnabas with John Mark sailing to Cyprus.

In the Apostle Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians he indicates that their friendship was unimpaired by this disagreement.

It has been said that Barnabas was stoned to death at Salamis, the Greek city-state near Cyprus in about the year 60.

 

St Christopher Magallanes & Companions

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Martyrs of the Cristero War

Feast May 21

Christopher Magallanes was born in 1869 in the province of Guadalajara, Mexico, of devout parents who were poor farmers.

As a youth, he worked as a shepherd, but felt called to be a shepherd of souls. He entered the seminary at nineteen and was ordained at the age of thirty.

He worked as a parish priest in his hometown of Totatiche for two decades, and there also opened a carpentry business to help provide jobs for the local men.

When, in the first decades of the twentieth century, the atheistic Mexican government launched a merciless persecution of the Catholic Church, a new constitution banned the training of priests.

In 1915, Fr. Christopher opened his own small seminary in Totatiche where he soon had a dozen students.

Consequently, accused of trying to incite rebellion, Fr. Christopher was arrested on his way to say Mass, imprisoned and condemned to be shot without trial.

His few possessions he gave away to his jailer and he was executed on 21 May 1927 with another twenty-one priests and three lay Catholics. His last words were:

“I die innocent, and ask God that my blood may serve to unite my Mexican brethren.”

He was canonized by Pope John Paul II on 21 May 2000.

Church in Guadalajara Mexico. Photo by Humberto

Daily Prayer of Abbot Pfanner

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Saints of God obtain for me
the grace which I desire through the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, namely:
Always to do the will of God
Always to remain united with God
To think of nothing but of God
To do everything for the love of God
To seek in all things the honour of God
To realize fully my own nothingness
To recognize ever more the will of God
To preserve a spirit of recollection.
Amen.

NOVENA TO THE SERVANT OF GOD ABBOT FRANCIS PFANNER

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WHAT IS A NOVENA?

Our Divine Saviour promised that our Heavenly Father will answer our prayers if we “pray without ceasing.” Since the Church’s earliest days it has been a pious custom to ask God’s favours directly or through the intercession of His saints by means of a “Nine Days Devotion” or a Novena.

We have many examples that prove that God does grant special graces at the end of a Novena that was made with confidence and absolute trust in the Will of God.

This Novena is intended for private use only. A public veneration of the servant of God, Abbot Francis Pfanner, is only permitted after he has been declared “Blessed”. 

However, you may report any favour or blessings received through the intercession of Abbot Francis to:  info@mariannhillmonastery.org.za

NOVENA PRAYERS


FIRST DAY 


RUN SO AS TO OBTAIN THE PRIZE 


When Francis Pfanner became Abbot of Mariannhill, he chose the motivational words of St. Paul (1 Cor. 9:24) as his motto. Through his commitment to his faith and his need to prove his loyalty to God as a priest, monk and missionary, Father Francis devoted his life to helping as many people as possible to know God better, and to enable them to live fulfilled lives by their understanding and keeping of God’s commandments.


PRAYER: Father in Heaven, with great confidence I turn to you in my need: (mention your intention…) I thank you for giving us Abbot Francis Pfanner as an example of true commitment to the Catholic Faith. Like him, I too wish to be loyal to the Church’s teachings, and wish to serve You through my being of service to others.


Glorify Your Name, Father, and listen to my prayer, through the intercession of Abbot Francis, your Venerable Servant and Apostle of our people. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

SECOND DAY


GOD’S PROVIDENCE DOES ALL THINGS FOR US, BUT NOT WITHOUT OUR CO-OPERATION 


Father Francis placed his absolute trust in Divine Providence and he appealed to God whenever he needed help. His life’s work and achievements are testimonies to his belief that absolute faith and the power of prayer can indeed move mountains and make all things possible.


PRAYER: Father in Heaven, with great confidence I turn to You in my need: (mention your intention…) Help me to maintain my trust in You, even though there is little to hope for and not many people whom I may trust. I know that You do not refuse a sincere prayer from the heart, even if it means that You must pertorm a miracle. I am in desperate need of Your help and love.
Glorify Your Name, Father, and listen to my prayer, through the intercession of Abbot Francis, your Venerable Servant and Apostle of our people. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

THIRD DAY


IF THE LOVE OF THE SACRED HEART CANNOT IMPEL US TO GREATER COMMITMENT,
THEN LET SATAN’S EAGERNESS FOR SOULS MAKE US ASHAMED… 


The source of Abbot Francis’ love of people, particularly those in need, came from his zealous love of the Sacred Heart. Like his fellow Cistercian, St. Bernard, he always worked eagerly and enthusiastically for his “fairest Lord Jesus”. Mariannhill has flourished because of his faithful service to the Son of God. 


PRAYER: Father in Heaven, with great confidence I turn to You in my need: (mention your intention…) Like Father Francis, I take refuge in the merciful and generous love of the Heart of Your Son, Jesus. I want to live my love for You in all that I say and do, but I am weak. Forgive me, and have mercy on me for Jesus’ sake.
Glorify Your Name, Father, and listen to my prayer, through the intercession of Abbot Francis, your Venerable Servant and Apostle of our people. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

FOURTH DAY


I TRY TO DO GOD’S WILL IN ALL I WISH
TO ACHIEVE OR SUFFER 


Francis Pfanner’s daily prayer from the time he joined the seminary was simply to know the will of God, so that he could carry out all that God wanted him to do. Any setbacks merely confirmed God’s will for Abbot Francis, and once he was sure that he had made the right decision he would continue undeterred until his task was completed.


PRAYER: Father in Heaven, with great confidence I turn to You in my need: (mention your intention…) Let “Your Will be done” for only You know best what is good for me. Help me to understand the inspirations of Your grace in my daily life, so that I may learn to recognize Your Will and live my life according to Your Holy Word.
Glorify Your Name, Father, and listen to my prayer, through the intercession of Abbot Francis, your Venerable Servant and Apostle of our people. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…


FIFTH DAY


EVERY GRACE, GOOD THOUGHT AND ASPIRATION COMES FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT 


Father Francis was inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit in his missionary work and, therefore, he encouraged every church to openly display a symbol of the Holy Spirit. He also advised anyone in a position of leadership to pray humbly on a daily basis for the spirit of wisdom.


PRAYER: Father in Heaven, with great confidence I turn to You in my need: (mention your intention…) Let me be open to Your guidance and I ask You to call me back when I go astray. I wish to give my life in such a way that I may be of service to the Church, motivated by my admiration of the Spirit’s great deeds in and through holy Christians.
Glorify Your Name, Father, and listen to my prayer, through the intercession of Abbot Francis, your Venerable Servant and Apostle of our people. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…


SIXTH DAY


IF GOD DOES NOT GRANT US WHAT WE ASK,
IT IS BECAUSE HE WANTS TO GIVE US SOMETHING BETTER 


Abbot Francis turned his every thought into purposeful action in his own life that was dedicated totally to the service of God. “How many souls have you saved by your prayer, suffering and personal efforts?” he would ask. Daily, at Emaus, he prayed the Stations of the Cross.


PRAYER: Father in Heaven, with great confidence I turn to You in my need:(mention your intention…) Help me to walk in Your Presence like Abbot Francis, and remain in communion with You. Let my prayer be pure and simple. I wish to be concerned more about the needs of those I love, rather than my own.
Glorify Your Name, Father, and listen to my prayer, through the intercession of Abbot Francis, your Venerable Servant and Apostle of our people. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…


SEVENTH DAY


I DO NOT MIND TO SUFFER SEASICKNESS MANY TIMES OVER TO GAIN HEAVEN FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT YET KNOW CHRIST 


Not only did Father Francis have weak lungs, a sensitive stomach, arteriosclerosis and frequent bouts of malaria, but he also suffered great emotional anguish through his misjudgement, rejection, failure and isolation by others. Despite this he persevered in his service of God.


PRAYER: Father in Heaven, with great confidence I turn to You in my need: (mention your intention…) I unite my sufferings with those of Your Son, Jesus. Make me ready to bear my small crosses in life patiently. May my faith in Your compassionate love never falter.
Glorify Your Name, Father, and listen to my prayer, through the intercession of Abbot Francis, your Venerable Servant and Apostle of our people. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…


EIGHTH DAY


WE ARE REDEEMED AT THE PRICE OF CHRIST’S BLOOD; ALL ARE ENTITLED TO KNOW WHO LOVES THEM SO MUCH 


The Precious Blood of Jesus was for Abbot Francis a sanctuary from evil and a source of strength. He founded the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood “for the purpose of making this treasure fruitful in many souls.” “Courage,” he said, “you have not yet shed blood in God’s service!”


PRAYER: Father in Heaven, with great confidence I turn to you in my need: (mention your intention…) I thank you for Your Son, Jesus. He died for me so that I, and my loved ones, might follow Him and one day be with You in Heaven.
Glorify Your Name, Father, and listen to my prayer, through the intercession of Abbot Francis, your Venerable Servant and Apostle of our people. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…


NINTH DAY


JUST AS MARY PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN
THE WORK OF REDEMPTION, SO ARE WOMEN INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORK OF EVANGELISATION 


Father Francis dedicated himself, his life’s work and all his achievements to Our Lady. Therefore it was most appropriate that the first hymn sung by the monks at Mariannhill was the Salve Regina. Abbot Francis recognized the power of a mother’s love to nurture her children, so he established groups of women to share in the work, thereby nurturing the growth of the missions.


PRAYER: Father in Heaven, with great confidence I turn to You in my need: (mention your intention…) Like Our Lady, I dedicate myself whole-heartedly to You. Do with me as You please; I wish to be Your humble servant so that many people may find salvation.
Glorify Your Name, Father, and listen to my prayer, through the intercession of Abbot Francis, your Venerable Servant and Apostle of our people. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…


NOVENA PRAYER FOR THE INTRODUCTION
OF THE CAUSE OF BEATIFICATION OF
ABBOT FRANCIS PFANNER


Lord, through Your Son, Jesus, we know the depths of Your unfailing love for all mankind and that it is Your will that we follow paths which lead to happiness, peace and final union with You.


You accepted the life service of Francis Pfanner to improve the lot of men and women and to carry out Your every wish and command. lt was his constant appeal for “all to recognize, love and serve the One Who loved them so much as to die for them.” Abbot Francis embraced the cross of pain, failure and disrepute unreservedly in the knowledge that he had succeeded in establishing new communities that were firmly rooted in the true Faith and totally dedicated to doing Your Will.


We humbly ask You to show us the true stature of Your Servant, and as a sign of Your approval of him, to grant us the help we need at his intercession. Father, manifest Your glory through the beatification of Francis Pfanner. As you heard the many prayers of Francis Pfanner, so we ask You to listen to ours. 


Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood

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A as a result of his enthusiastic articles in the German Catholic press, five young German women travelled to South Africa to join Abbot Pfanner’s missionary work and arrived on 1 September 1885. They aspired to a vocation in the religious life, and were eager to have a specific common rule of life.

They were given red material to sew a simple uniform which they wore for the first time on 8 September 1885, and received their community rules. This is considered the foundation date of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood.


Mother Paula arrived at Marianhill at 19 years of age on 7 October 1886. A month later she made her commitment and took her first vows on 8 December 1888. At age 22 she took up the leadership of the Sisters.

In 1907, Sr Paula was elected as First Canonical Superior General of the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood. By this time new congregations had spread to many parts of the world.


Abbot Franz Pfanner regarded himself as the founder of his “Red Sisters” and personally recruited all the members of the newly founded congregation up to 1892. Impressed by his personality and his program, hundreds of women followed him into uncharted territories as he instilled in them his God-given charism, zeal and enthusiastic penchant for mission life!

Maria Linden Mission

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The land designated for the Mission station, Maria Linden, was granted by the local chief in 1896. Building commenced immediately, which included a school, and was completed in 1897.

The church, in the inimitable style of the early Trappist stations has a lovely façade. It is situated on the road from Matatiele to Mariazell and was initially an outstation of Mariazell.


This Mission is once again named after a famous Marian Shrine in Europe near the village of Otterweiler.

Maria Linden has a history that dates back to the time of Christianisation around the year 700AD. Early records show that in 1484 a church was built in an open field, near a well and a linden grove, where for many centuries an ancient image of Mary had been venerated.


There is a legend that surrounds the emergence of this place of pilgrimage. It tells of a miraculous rediscovery of the Image of Grace in the hollow of a linden tree, which came to light again after periods of war and destruction. Many people came, according to the legend, to see the miracle and to pray there.

Maria, “by the seven linden trees,” as an old name referred to her, proved to be a special advocate for all help and consolation seekers.