Beneath His Cross Prayer Booklet

“Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother…” John 19: 25

We are a Lay Apostolate of men and women who love our priests through the Immaculate Heart of Our Blessed Mother. We stand with Our Lady

beneath the Cross of Jesus, in prayer, sacrifice and reparation for our priests

Prayer * Reparation * Sacrifice

“...No words I can use would be too strong to state that

the Catholic priesthood needs prayer and sacrifice as never before since Calvary…”

- Servant of God, Father John A. Hardon, SJ

Beneath His Cross is a love letter through the heart of Mary to every priest Please Kneel

(ALL) O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine! O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine! O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine!

(Leader) As Beneath His Cross we come together united as mothers and fathers for our sons who are Alter Christus (another Christ).

(Leader) By your grace Lord may we be committed to you in the Blessed Sacrament with our Holy Hours. We offer this particular holy hour for the Sanctification of all Priests. Dear Jesus by your power and grace give us the capacity to love priests more and see you in every priest.

(Leader) We offer this holy hour for the priest who at this moment is struggling with the temptation to leave the priesthood, struggling with an addiction, in the hospital, jail, away on mission, and for all consecrated souls in purgatory. For those priests that feel overwhelmed, attacked, unappreciated, lonely, those suffering from depression, anxiety, despair, stress, or their health depleted. We pray for the grace of fortitude, courage, and fidelity for all priests. We pray all feel the loving consolation of Our Blessed Mother. Especially this hour we dedicate to Pope Francis, Emeritus Pope Benedict, Archbishop Jose Gomez, Bishop David O’Connell, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop Alex Aclan, Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas, Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo Nevares, Bishop Michael C. Barber, Father Bill Casey CPM, The Fathers of Mercy, Father Peter Cipriani, Father Larry Dowdel, Father Martin Yina, Father Cassian Di Rocco, Father Robert McGowan, Father Humberto Marquez, Father Daniel Ciucci, Father Stanley Onwuegbule, Father Francis Gloudeman, Father Anthony Le, Father Donatus Ekenachi, Father Erick Villa, Father Quang Minh Dong, Father Arturo Bazan, Very Rev. Fr. John Lankeit, Fr. John Nahrgang, Fr. Rafael Umana and for the repose soul of Father Louis Marx and Father Flavian. Deacon Mike Berens, Deacon Jose Rodriguez, Deacon Albert Dizon, Deacon Dave Holland, Deacon John Kortuem, Deacon Ron Horan, Deacon Peter Brause, Deacon Alan Holderness, Deacon Al Valles, Deacon Omar Uriarte, Deacon Doug Bogart, Deacon Roy Drapeau, Deacon Tony Smith, The Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart, Father Kolbe Missionaries, and the Trinitarians. For every religious, seminarian, deacon and priest that have asked us to pray for them. (Leader) At this time please mention either in the silence of your hearts or out loud those priests you would like us to remember during this holy hour.

Leader: We pray to the Lord All: Lord hear our prayer

Litany of Humility

This prayer was written by Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930), the secretary of state for Pope Saint Pius X. It is a very good daily prayer, especially when recited in front of a crucifix so that we can recall the humility of Christ. Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val recited the Litany of Humility every day after celebrating Mass.

That others may be loved more than I, O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be esteemed more than I, That, in the opinion of the world, others may, increase and I may decrease, That others may be chosen and I set aside, That others may be praised and I unnoticed, That others may be preferred to me in everything, That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, O Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. At being unknown and poor, Lord, I want to rejoice. At being deprived of the natural perfections of body and mind, Lord, I want to rejoice. When people do not think of me, Lord, I want to rejoice. O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, When they assign to me the meanest tasks, Make my heart like yours. Lord, I want to rejoice. From self-will, deliver me, O Lord. When they do not even deign to make use of me, From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, O Lord, I want to rejoice. Jesus. When they never ask my opinion, From the desire of being loved, Lord, I want to rejoice. From the desire of being extolled, When they leave me at the lowest place, From the desire of being honored, Lord, I want to rejoice. From the desire of being praised, When they never compliment me, From the desire of being preferred to others, Lord, I want to rejoice. From the desire of being consulted, When they blame me in season and out of season, From the desire of being approved, Lord, I want to rejoice. From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, O Blessed are those who suffer persecution for justice’ Jesus. sake, From the fear of being despised, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. From the fear of suffering rebukes, From the fear of being calumniated, From the fear of being forgotten, From the fear of being ridiculed, From the fear of being wronged, From the fear of being suspected, Beneath His Cross Prayer to Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Written by Yolanda Rodriguez

(All Together)

Most Immaculate Most Holy Most Pure Beautiful Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament I give myself to you this day as a gift for the salvation of all priests. Pray for me Blessed Mother that I may have the understanding and knowledge that first and foremost I am a daughter/son of God, loved into life with a specific mission and purpose. Obtain for me the grace to imitate your virtues especially that of purity, holy obedience and the willingness to do God's will. Blessed Mother, you carried the Word in your womb. Nourish my heart so that I too may carry the word of God in my daily life; persevering always to the very end. Open my heart so that Your Son may speak His Truth, Love and Will to me. Blessed Mother, in my times of happiness and sorrow may I never forget to run to your motherly love. I give you my sufferings, my joys, my family, and my life. Dry my tears and hold me as you did your son Jesus. Beautiful Lady how I long to be a reflection of you. Guide and teach me to live out my baptismal promises and the dignity that was given to me at my conception. Unveil to me Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament that I may have a deeper understanding, love and devotion to Him. Mother of the Most Blessed Sacrament hold close to your Most Immaculate Heart all priests throughout the world. Give them the grace of your consolation, fidelity, zeal, hope and strength in time of trial, discouragement, temptation and loneliness. Raise among us holy consecrated priests after your own heart, who will preach and defend the Gospel in its fullness to the very end. Allow me to assist you beautiful Queen of Heaven my mother, in bringing my brothers and sisters to your Son, Our Eucharistic Lord, where He resides in Tabernacles all over the world. Amen.

Beneath His Cross Luminous Mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary for Priests Meditations Written by Yolanda Rodriguez and Edited by Father Larry Dowdel

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of death. Amen.

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.

O MY JESUS forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy

The First Luminous Mystery The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan (Leader) My brother priest, when you were ordained, you were set apart-chosen by Christ among men. Souls were entrusted to you in need of healing, the truth and reconciliation with God. May you hold fast to the graces given at your baptism and ordination which we pray will continually transform and strengthen you to persevere in this great ministry entrusted to you. It is through you that we hear Christ at times when we feel scared, unworthy, ashamed, unforgiving or distrustful of God’s mercy. We pray that your heart may be invigorated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, bringing to souls Christ’s compassion, love and merciful heart. *** Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s, Glory Be, O My Jesus Leader: Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Joseph All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Mary Magdalene All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Catherine of Siena All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Peter Julian Eymard All: Pray for us Leader: Mary, Mother of Priests All: Pray for us

“The priest is a marked man the “special” target of the devil’s malice. Don’t pray for priests superficially, pray fervently. We priests need your prayers and sacrifices.” Father Bill Casey, CPM

The Second Luminous Mystery The Wedding Feast at Cana (Leader) Meditating upon Our Lady’s words, “Do whatever He tells you,” we see how she assists Christ in the work of Redemption. My brother priest, Our Lady knows Christ’s gift of priesthood imprinted on your heart and soul. Through her prayers she will always guide you showing you how to become more like Jesus her Son, Our Eternal High Priest. Her powerful intercession will assist you in overcoming the challenges, temptations, and spiritual dangers you will meet in your priestly ministry. Born of the Holy Eucharist let us reflect on what Pope John Paul II stated, “Who more than Mary can help us taste the greatness of the Eucharistic mystery? She more than anyone can teach us how to celebrate the sacred mysteries with due fervor and to commune with her Son, hidden in the Eucharist. I pray to her, then, for all of you, and I entrust to her especially the elderly, the sick, and those in difficulty. I gladly repeat to each of you the gentle and consoling words of Jesus: “Behold your Mother” We pray that your heart may always know the loving embrace of Our Lady and the graces Our Eucharistic Lord bestows upon you. *** Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s, Glory Be, O My Jesus Leader: Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Joseph All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Mary Magdalene All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Catherine of Siena All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Peter Julian Eymard All: Pray for us Leader: Mary, Mother of Priests All: Pray for us

“…As often as the sacrifice of the cross by which "Christ our Pasch is sacrificed" is celebrated on the altar, the work of our redemption is carried out…” Lumen Gentium #3

The Third Luminous Mystery Jesus Proclaims the Kingdom (Leader) Saint Paul stated, “I hardly deserve the name apostle; but by God’s grace that is what I am, and the grace he has given me will not be fruitless.” Like him, my brother priest, you are a “wounded healer,” with God showing his greatness in your struggle with your own weaknesses giving you the power to persevere. Through your being, words, and example you influence us. May you continue to inspire us to live lives of faithful service through your example. May you continually be educated, challenged, and formed by the Word of God, enabling you to preach the Truth fearlessly, for we need to be nourished by the same Truth. My brother priest, we are here for you. You may not know our names or who we are, but we deeply appreciate you. We pray daily that you may be renewed in your purpose and vocation. As Saint Paul stated, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling which you have received, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love.” *** Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s, Glory Be, O My Jesus

Leader: Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Joseph All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Mary Magdalene All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Catherine of Siena All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Peter Julian Eymard All: Pray for us Leader: Mary, Mother of Priests All: Pray for us

"If I saw an Angel and a priest, I would bend my knee first to the priest and then to the Angel." Saint Francis of Assisi

The Fourth Luminous Mystery The Transfiguration (Leader) And behold a voice out of the cloud said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to Him!” My brother priest can you hear God saying this to you? He has chosen you and entrusted the spiritual care of many souls to you. Do you feel unworthy at times? Do you feel afraid from time to time? May you not be afraid, my brother, remembering what Peter said to Jesus, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord, “and how Jesus responded to him: “Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men.” We continually support you through prayer. May Christ transform you more fully into His own image and likeness. May your heart be open to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you. *** Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s, Glory Be, O My Jesus Leader: Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Joseph All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Mary Magdalene All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Catherine of Siena All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Peter Julian Eymard All: Pray for us Leader: Mary, Mother of Priests All: Pray for us

"If we had faith, we would see God hidden in the priest like a light behind glass, like wine mixed with water.” Saint John Vianney

The Fifth Luminous Mystery The Institution of The Eucharist (Leader) “Offer your body as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God; do not conform yourself to this age but be able to judge what is God’s will, what is good, pleasing, and perfect.” My brother priest, for all eternity God has known you, and like the prophet Jeremiah, has dedicated you. Christ has given you the precious gift of priesthood as a sign for all of us of His presence and a means of sanctification through your prayers, example, teaching work, and sacramental ministry. May the Eucharist be truly for you the source and summit of all your power-the center point of your life-the focus of your ministry. May you remember what St. John Paul II said, “The priesthood and the Holy Eucharist were born together, and their destiny indissolubly linked until the end of the world.” My brother, we pray that your heart may desire Christ in the Blessed Sacrament daily. We pray that you will inspire among the people a strong desire for reverence, adoration and reception of the sacraments more often especially, the Holy Eucharist. *** Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s, Glory Be, O My Jesus Leader: Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Joseph All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Mary Magdalene All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Catherine of Siena All: Pray for us Leader: Saint Peter Julian Eymard All: Pray for us Leader: Mary, Mother of Priests All: Pray for us

"O, how great is the priest! ... If he realized what he is, he would die. Without the priest, the passion and death of our Lord would be of no avail. It is the priest who continues the work of redemption here on earth… Saint John Vianney Closing Prayers: Leader: Hail, Holy Queen All: Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve, to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Leader: Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. All: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Leader: Let us pray: All: O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life. Grant, we beseech Thee that in meditating upon these mysteries of the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer for Priests at end of Rosary All: O Almighty and Eternal God, look upon the Face of Thy Christ, and for love of Him Who is the eternal High-priest, have pity on Thy priests. Remember, O most compassionate God, that they are but weak and frail human beings. Stir up in them the grace of their vocation which is in them by the imposition of the Bishop's hands. Keep them close to Thee, lest the enemy prevail against them, so that they may never do anything in the slightest degree unworthy of their sublime vocation. O Jesus, I pray Thee for Thy faithful and fervent priests; for Thy unfaithful and tepid priests; for Thy priests laboring at home or abroad in distant mission fields; for Thy tempted priests; for Thy lonely and desolate priests; for Thy young priests; for Thy aged priests; for Thy sick priests; for Thy dying priests; for the souls of Thy priests in Purgatory. But above all I commend to Thee the priests dearest to me: the priest who baptized me; the priests at whose Masses I assisted and who gave me Thy Body and Blood in Holy Communion; the priests who taught and instructed or helped me and encouraged me; all the priests to whom I am indebted in any other way, particularly (your priest’s name here). O Jesus, keep them all close to Thy heart, and bless them abundantly in time and in eternity. Amen. Mary, Queen of the clergy, pray for us; obtain for us many and holy priests. Amen.

All: O my God, poor, weak and miserable as I am, I have come to spend this hour alone with You, in reparation for the priests who have forgotten that they are Your chosen souls. Especially, dear God, do I offer this holy hour for the priest who at the moment needs it most. In praying for consecrated souls, help me to remember my own utter weakness, misery, and nothingness. Were it not for Your grace, I would be far worse than those for whom I pray. All: O my God, help those priests who are faithful, to remain faithful: to those who are falling, stretch forth Thy Divine Hand that they may grasp it as their support. And for those unfortunate souls who have fallen, lift them up in the great ocean of Your Mercy, that being engulfed therin, they may receive the grace, to return to Your Great Loving Heart. Amen. Leader: For the Intentions of Our Holy Father Pope Francis Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be

Saint Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Prayer for the Healing of the Church

O God in heaven, we beg you to hear us as we come to you in this time of crisis and pain in the Church. Please heal the survivors and protect the innocent. May your Holy Spirit comfort us, give us clarity, and bring light to this darkness and evil. Guide us in the path that will end this abuse and our gravest sins as your Church. Come into each of our hearts, because each of us truly is your Church. Show us what we must do. Guide our steps and give us your words of wisdom and love. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Beneath Thy Protection We fly to Thy protection, O Holy Mother of God; Do not despise our petitions Our necessities, But deliver us always From all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin. Amen.

For the leaders of the Church: that they may be given wisdom and a sense of justice to speak the words of life to a world overshadowed by a culture of death; We pray to the Lord: (All) Lord hear our prayer

For the bishops and priests of our Church: that by their commitment to the innocent child, the Gospel of Life might be preached in each of our churches; We pray to the Lord: (All) Lord hear our prayer

For bishops, who seek to guide Catholic politicians in the ways of truth: that by their example and their words they might witness the Gospel of Life; We pray to the Lord: (All) Lord hear our prayer

“I AM HERE”

"I Am Here" represents us saying, "I am here” praying, loving, sacrificing and offering reparation for your priesthood through Our Lady’s Most Immaculate Heart.

Leader: When you think you cannot go on All: I AM HERE Leader: When you think you have no one praying for you All: I AM HERE Leader: When you are feeling lonely or tempted All: I AM HERE Leader: When you have lost hope or become discouraged All: I AM HERE Leader: When your health is depleted All: I AM HERE Leader: When you feel overwhelmed or stressed All: I AM HERE Leader: When you need to rest; rest knowing All: I AM HERE

The Chaplet of Reparation Offering of the Precious Blood for Priests Taken from the book, “In Sinu Jesu”

This chaplet of reparation and intercession is meant to be prayed on an ordinary five-decade rosary.

Incline (+) unto my aid, O God; 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.

On the Our Father beads:

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Precious Blood of Thy Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb without blemish or spot, in reparation for my sins and for the sins of all Thy priests.

On the Hail Mary beads:

By Thy Precious Blood, O Jesus, purify and sanctify Thy priests.

In place of the Glory be to the Father:

O Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth is named, have mercy on all Thy priests, and wash them in the Blood of the Lamb.

Chaplet of Divine Mercy We offer for the souls of Priests and Religious in hospitals, purgatory and for those who will die today.

(All) I fly to Your mercy, Compassionate God, who alone are good. Although my misery is great, and my offenses are many, I trust in Your mercy, because You are the God of mercy; and from time immemorial, it has never been heard of, nor do heaven or earth remember, that a soul trusting in Your mercy has been disappointed. O God of compassion, You alone can justify me, and You will never reject me when I, contrite, approach Your Merciful Heart, where no one has ever been refused, even if he were the greatest sinner. (Diary, 1730) (Leader) "Today bring to me the souls of Priests and Religious and immerse them in my unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave me the strength to endure my bitter Passion. Through them, as though channels, my mercy flows out upon mankind." Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service that they perform worthy works of mercy, and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in Heaven. Eternal Father turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard - upon the souls of Priests and Religious - and endow them with the strength of Your Blessing. For the Love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your Power and Light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation, and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless Mercy for ages without end. Amen Make the Sign of the Cross In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening Prayers (ALL) You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

(ALL) (Repeat three times) O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!

The Eternal Father (ALL) Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your Dearly Beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

On the Ten Small Beads of Each Decade (LEADER) For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, (ALL) have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Conclude with Holy God (Repeat three times) (ALL) Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world. Closing Prayer (ALL) Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. (ALL) Jesus I trust in You! 3x Saint Faustina ….. Pray for us!

The Apostolate of Prayer

“…This is why the apostolate of prayer is not only the most beautiful and holy of apostolates, but also the most indispensable one to the Church, which has a still greater need of souls of prayer than of preachers, of men of penance than of men of eloquence…souls who by their persistent prayer unlock the treasures of grace closed by general indifference; true adorers, that is, souls full of zeal and sacrifice. When a great number of these shall have gathered around their divine Chief, God will be glorified and Jesus loved. The nations will return to Christianity, won back to Jesus by the apostleship of Eucharistic prayer…”

Saint Peter Julian Eymard

“The soul that lives on the Eucharist ought to occupy itself, before everything else, with the interests of this Adorable Sacrament. Now the first and dearest of all these interests to Jesus is His priesthood. It is through the priest that the Blessed Sacrament is given to us. By priests, Jesus receives that sacramental life which He consecrates to the glory of His Father; by them, He is more glorified than by even the most devout of the Faithful. He has given them all His rights and all His power. Pray, therefore, for the priesthood; beg that vocations to it may be multiplied; labor to obtain holy, zealous priests for the people. This was Mary’s prayer, her apostolate of predilection. And now, she not only begs her Son for holy vocations, but she guards and protects them. The priest is Mary’s privileged child….”

- Saint Peter Julian Eymard

Patrons and Patronesses of Beneath His Cross

Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Feast Day May 13th

Saint Peter Julian Eymard gave our lady the title

Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Saint Peter Julian Eymard

Apostle of the Eucharist

Feast Day August 2nd

Saint Mary Magdalene

Apostle to the Apostles

Feast Day July 22nd

Servant of God: Catherine de Hueck Doherty

Eternal Rest

December 14, 1985

Spiritual Mother of Priests

Servant of God Father John A. Hardon, S.J.

Eternal Rest

December 30, 2000

Saint Catherine of Siena

Feast Day April 29th

Patron of Beneath His Cross Saint Joseph – Feast Day March 19th Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, Protector of the Universal Church, Renew All Hearts In Purity & Holiness!

To you St. Joseph we bring our broken hearts and all of the discouragement that weighs us down. Impurity and scandal have wounded our Church and have brought much shame, sorrow and tears. We ask you dearest St. Joseph, to be our guide along this very dark path, for you are the model of faith, purity and devotion that we need so desperately. May the Lord send forth the burning fire of the Holy Spirit, and renew the face of the Church, and the world. May all who bear the title “Father”, whether by nature or by ordination, look to you as their model of virtue; that they may lovingly protect and nurture those in their care. Guide us to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your beloved bride, and to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the hope of all humanity. O St. Joseph, pray ceaselessly for the Church during this time of suffering and great mourning. May this current pain inflicted upon the Church be transformed by the power of Christ’s cross, and lead to further renewal and continued purification. Amen. - Pedro de la Cruz

References for Yolanda Rodriguez and Beneath His Cross:

Yolanda Rodriguez is an amazing woman; I believe with all my heart the Lord is allowing Our Blessed Mother to use Yolanda to change hearts and restore them back to Him. I heard her speak at a Magnificat Women’s prayer breakfast this past September 2018 and my life was forever changed. Her powerful, wise, heartfelt, humble, sincere words awakened the Holy Spirit in my heart. Quoting a priest who became a saint, at the end of her talk that day she said “God calls us today, tomorrow will be too late,” that very evening I went to Vigil Mass and invited our new priest to the next Magnificat Prayer Breakfast, and to come over to my home for dinner with my family. Since then my family and I have been forming a wonderful relationship with our parish priest, Fr. Anthony Le, who we are blessed beyond words to have leading our spiritual lives. I couldn’t stop thinking about Yolanda and her testimony about the many wonderful priests who changed her life in many beautiful ways, and her call to pray for and support them. I remembered her website and reached out to her. I was so moved by her words on the priesthood, because coming into the Catholic Church nearly 11 years ago, two very special priests have been like the father I never had, they healed my broken heart and brought Jesus to me through the Sacraments... miracles I could never have imagined in my former life. Since reaching out to Yolanda, she and I have become spiritual sisters, she inspired me to consecrate myself to Our Lady through Saint Maximilian Kolbe’s spirituality and I have become the director of Beneath His Cross at my parish. Fr. Anthony shared that he felt Beneath His Cross was an answered prayer in his mission to restore the spiritual life of our parish, Saint Catherine of Siena. He welcomed Yolanda to come and speak at our parish, and many hearts were healed through her brave words when she gave her talk entitled “Do Not Waste Your Sufferings: Healing our Wounds with The Church and Healing the Church with our Wounds.” She spoke with truth and love on the abuse crisis, not afraid to talk about the reality of the insurmountable damage done to victims of sexual abuse committed by priests, and at the same time the need to protect innocent, holy priests, as they too are victims of the crimes committed by their brothers. Yolanda spoke about the importance of sacrificial prayer and making reparation for the sins of priests that have committed these criminal acts and to see every priest through the eyes of Our Blessed Mother. Our parish was so blessed to spend three evenings with Yolanda to begin our 2019 Lenten journey…she led us in our 1st Beneath His Cross prayer cenacle, a powerful Stations of the Cross for priests, and then gave her final talk on her last evening with us. Many hearts were ignited with a renewed commitment to spiritual practice through the beautiful prayer cenacle Beneath His Cross offers for the healing of our church, and desperately needed fervent prayers for our priests. Many of my fellow parishioners, and even our wonderful Deacons personally thanked me for bringing Yolanda and Beneath His Cross to our parish. She came to share a message they needed to hear, it gave them hope, renewed their faith and commitment to our church and her priests.

-Jessica Preciado Director of Beneath His Cross Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church Martinez, CA Dear Yolanda, I would like to thank you for your love for Christ and his priests. It was our humble honor to have you.

Beneath His Cross Apostolate is a divine gift given to the Church in a time of great crisis. It is truly a divine gift because it is divinely inspired and directed toward Christ through whom, in whom, and with whom all Christians share His holy Priesthood.

Furthermore, Beneath His Cross is a concrete way the faithful fulfill their priestly vocation. By virtue of baptism, all share in Christ’s priesthood. Now as the faithful gather, adore, and offer sacrifices together with the Blessed Lord to the Father, they realize what the Church teaches: “In him[Christ] all the faithful are made a holy and royal priesthood; they offer spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ, and they proclaim the perfections of him who has called them out of darkness into his marvelous light” (Presbyterorum Ordinis No . 2).

Thus, it is not possible for the ministerial priesthood of the ordained to truly be fulfilled and lived out authentically without the sacrificial and spiritual support of the common priesthood of the faithful. For that I pray one day all parishes will embrace this apostolate for the sake of Christ and her Church.

May you continue to be blessed and guided by the Spirit of Christ.

Yours in Christ,

Fr Anthony Le Saint Catherine of Siena Catholic Church Martinez, CA

“I give my wholehearted and grateful support to the badly-needed initiative which is being undertaken by the members of the "Beneath His Cross" apostolate on behalf of our bishops, priests, deacons and seminarians. During these trying times when priests are typically confronted with so much opposition, infidelity and misunderstanding, as well as the relentless temptations and attacks of the powers of hell, the prayers, support and spiritual sacrifices of our dear friends of the "Beneath His Cross" apostolate are surely a great source of graces, blessings, comfort, strength and consolation to us all. May Almighty God abundantly reward them all for their unfailing love for Christ and His Church, His Eucharistic Presence, and the holy priesthood He instituted at the Last Supper.” - Fr. Bill Casey of the Congregation of the Fathers of Mercy What people are saying about Beneath His Cross:

 Beneath His Cross apostolate has helped increase my understanding of the dignity of the priesthood tremendously. You can't help but walk away with a greater reverence for the Priesthood and Mass. You wish everyone could participate and receive the rich knowledge we receive at Beneath His Cross. – Evelyn, La Puente

 Words that come to mind are - beautiful, inspiring and edifying. I felt a renewed inspiration to pray for priests. Praying the rosary with those beautiful meditations made me feel closer to priests. Father Marx’s explanation of the Mass was his best ever!!! I just want to thank you Yolanda for your dedication and hard work in getting this ministry going. – Maria, Upland

 Beneath His Cross Apostolate is an answer to the need for more prayer and support for our priests. Father Marx’s talk on the Holy Mass was so inspiring and heartfelt. The emotion in his sharing was so moving and touched my heart. I was especially elated that we started with the Holy Mass, followed by the Rosary and Chaplet for Priests. It all worked out very beautifully. Thank you, Yolanda. – Amy, West Covina

 Beneath His Cross is a beautiful and holy ministry that uplifts one’s heart and mind to God through His Holy Mother Mary. It has inspired me to pray and sacrifice especially for priests. I grew up during the turmoil and confusion of the 1960-70’s when many priests were leaving the priesthood. Beneath His Cross advocates for priests (and religious) and the need to pray for their strength, courage and perseverance to live their vocation. It is a vital ministry today when religious freedom and true catechesis is under attack. Our priests need prayers to thwart such evil attacks and to serve as Alter Christus. – Mary, Upland

 Yolanda’s apostolate, workshops, and retreats have further ignited my love and appreciation for priests. She has a great love for Christ in the priesthood and a true gift for sharing the magnificence of what a priest represents. I view Yolanda as a humble and authentic woman who gently and lovingly encourages others to support priests in any way possible. Yolanda has been a blessing in my life and a prayer partner for priests. This apostolate is a lovely reminder and invitation to my heart that Christ calls me to pray fervently and offer sacrifices for our dear priests……always. – Elsa, Alta Loma

Beneath His Cross has the blessing and support of the Most Reverend David G. O’Connell who is Episcopal Vicar of the San Gabriel Pastoral Region in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles

Blessing and Support of Reverend Louis Marx Spiritual Director of Beneath His Cross Eternal Rest on April 13, 2018

Bring Beneath His Cross to your Parish Prayer Cenacle Guidelines

 You could either meet once a month as a group or weekly  Any day of the week. Preference Thursdays - Luminous Mysteries: In honor of Institution of the Holy Priesthood and Holy Eucharist  Each Prayer Cenacle lasts one hour and thirty minutes  If possible, the preference is to meet before the Blessed Sacrament or Tabernacle.  Celebrate feast days of Patroness’s and Patron  Cenacle Leader to be under holy obedience of Pastor and Spiritual Director.  Cenacle Leader to help guide group to support, pray and be there for all priests at their parish.  Cenacle Leader and group to remain faithful and true to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, Mission Statement of Beneath His Cross and foundational blueprint of Beneath His Cross  Cenacle Leader will have a monthly one-hour meeting with foundress Yolanda via computer or phone for guidance, advice, formative classes on Spiritual Motherhood, Spiritual Fatherhood, Dignity of the Priesthood, etc.  Cenacle Leader and group promise to pray for Bishop David G. O’Connell, Father Bill Casey CPM, Father Peter Cipriani, Father Larry Dowdel, Father Cassian Di Rocco, Father Robert McGowan, the Fathers of Mercy and for the repose soul of Father Louis Marx and Father Flavian. And all cenacle directors.  Spread the Spirituality of Saint Peter Julian Eymard on the Holy Eucharist  (Optional) Fly out founder Yolanda Rodriguez to lead first prayer cenacle and give a talk. This is if it’s in the parish budget. It makes such a difference.  Cenacle director to be consecrated to Jesus through Our Lady through Saint Maximilian Kolbe Spirituality. (Knights of the Immaculata) Line up of Prayer Cenacle:

 Opening Prayers, Litany of Humility, Beneath His Cross Prayer to Our Lady  Luminous Mysteries of the Most Holy Priests for Priests  Chaplet of Reparation  Divine Mercy Chaplet  Fifteen-minute meditation led by Prayer Cenacle Leader. On Spirituality of our Patron Saints, Prayer, Spiritual Motherhood, Spiritual Fatherhood and the Holy Priesthood.  Closing giving All Glory to God

Excerpt from Conchita: A Mother’s Spiritual Diary Jesus speaks to Conchita (Spiritual Mother for Priests) “Why have I desired that you call me Son? Because those affections and tenderness that I am drawing out of your heart should be rightfully mine.

Once Conchita embraces Jesus as her first son, He gives her many other sons(priests). Through her they will be united to Jesus and receive His graces.

The Value of Prayer and Sacrifice for Priests

by Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.

I would like to address myself to the subject of the value of prayer and sacrifice for priests – the value of prayer and sacrifice for priests. If there was ever a need to pray and sacrifice for priests for their preservation and sanctity it is today. It is not exaggeration to say that the Catholic priesthood in countries like our own is going through the most difficult ordeal in the Church's history. That is no exaggeration. We have lost well over ten thousand priests in the United States since the close of the Vatican Council.

Vocations to the priesthood in our country have dropped almost seventy-five percent since the Council. Countless seminaries have closed there is confusion in many Catholic circles as to what is the priesthood. As a result we can safely say that the welfare of the Church in our country and in many other so-called, developed countries is at stake. Having taught priests over 30 years.

I am now teaching priests having lived with priests and having labored for them loving them suffering with them. No words I can use would be to strong to state that the Catholic priesthood needs prayer and sacrifice as never before since Calvary.

I would like to ask a series of questions to spark an answer that should be a prayerful reflection on our own responsibility. First, briefly, why the priesthood. In a single sentence the most important reason we need the priesthood is: That without the priesthood there cannot be the Eucharist. Without the Eucharist there would be no sacrifice of the Mass, No Holy Communion, no Jesus Christ, no Real Presence on earth to continue His work of salvation in the world. As I sometimes look at photographs of the monuments of genius, the cathedrals of France and Germany, Italy, I say to myself the only reason that generations were sometimes spent in building these tributes to the faith of those who constructed them is that every Catholic Church from the smallest Chapel to the Cathedral of Notre Dame or St. Peter’s in Rome. These are all, we believe, literally houses of God, Jesus Christ. The Son of God who became the son of Mary really dwells. But without the priesthood, Jesus Christ would not be on earth. That is our Catholic faith.

We go on. Why do priests need special graces from God? They need special graces because they have extraordinary responsibilities before God. They are to be more than ordinarily holy, more generous, more zealous, more patient. In a word, those who are responsible for Christ's presence on earth they are to be, of all people, most Christ-like. They are to be patterns of what Christ wants all of us to be. Count all of the grave crises in the Church over the centuries. Every single one of them, somehow at heart, was due to the fact that priests had failed the people of God.

As long as I live, I will never forget the retreat of the late Fr. Daniel Lord gave us scholastics before our ordination. He recalled the episode of a conversation that Pope Pius had with Fr. Edmond Walsh, then of Georgetown who had just returned from a mission in Russia, where millions were starving because of the treachery of their Communist overlords. After the famine had abated, Fr. Lord was told to meet with the Holy Father. Late into the night Pope and Jesuit were in conversation over the conditions of the Church in that day. And the Pope asked Fr. Walsh who do you think are the greatest trials to the Church? Are they the persecutors, the Neros and Attilas, the Communists? The Pope answered his own question. No, they are unfaithful priests. It is no overstretch of language to say as the priesthood goes, so goes the Church. We go on. In our day, more than I believe in any other day before, there are pressures on all those who wish to remain faithful to Christ such as were not experienced ever before. But the pressures are experienced by priests with a violence and a virulence such as no one else but a priest can understand. One saint after another has declared that the devil’s principal target on earth is the Catholic priest. Stands to demonic reason – if the devil can deceive and delude a Catholic priest and draw him away from Christ, what happens? What happens is what we see happening in our world today. Priests are subject to extraordinary temptations from the devil, first and mainly, but also from the world.

I never dreamed that I would be told this, but told this I was. Six months after being on the faculty of a state university, one of my fellow faculty members told me John, you are the first priest that this university has ever had. I happened to be the first Catholic priest hired by a state university to teach Catholicism and paid to do so by the state. John, he said, we wanted to test you, especially in your chastity. You didn't know this, but women students on campus found out you are genuine.

Priests need, Lord how they need, special graces from God. We ask, why pray, then, for priests? We should pray for priests and bishops because this has been the practice of the Church since apostolic times. It’s a matter of revealed truth. It is a divine mandate. Whatever we find, certainly in the Scriptures of the apostolic age, we believe has been revealed by God. In the Acts of the Apostles, we are told Herod had James the Apostle beheaded. He then put Peter in prison. Then says Saint Luke, I quote, "All the time Peter was under guard the Church prayed for him unremittingly." I like that adverb, unremittingly. As a priest, may I beg you to pray unremittingly for Christ's unworthy servants whom He ordained as priests.

In one of the seven letters that Saint Martin of Antioch wrote on his way to martyrdom in Rome, date 107 A.D., the future martyr begged the people, "Pray for me who stands in need of your charity who stands before the mercy seat of God."

Why, then, pray for priests? Because through prayer we gain graces for them which otherwise they would not obtain. If we all need the help of one another, and we do to receive the graces we need, how much more should we pray for priests from whom we have received Jesus Christ in the Eucharist – and by whom we have been so often absolved from our sins. I don't want to even think of the state of soul I would be in except for the absolutions that over the years I have received from priests. As fellow members of the Mystical Body priests need, desperately need, our help and in no way more urgently than to obtain through the prayers we offer for them the graces from God of which, in my judgment, no one stands in greater need than do priests.

Why sacrifice for priests? Our prayer for priests should be joined with sacrifice. In other words, our prayer should be united with the practice of patience, selfless charity and mortification. Why? Because the most effective prayer is the prayer that costs – costly prayer, otherwise known as sacrificial prayer. How powerfully before the throne of God are the sufferings of the sick, the lonely, the abandoned, the poor, the crushed offered up to God for our purpose, when offered up for priests.

After all, that is what a priest’s life is supposed to be, a life of sacrifice. By now I have told hundreds of priests, “Fathers you are not only to offer the Mass, you are to live the Mass.” But if priests are to be truly priestly, they need, how they need, to have the faithful to offer their own trials and temptations to obtain from the great High Priest, Jesus Christ, the light and strength that the priesthood demands.

What grace does a priest most need? There is no doubt in my mind that the one grace that the priest most needs is to embrace the Cross. His union with Christ Crucified is the priest’s key to an effective priesthood. His power as a priest comes from the Cross as he identifies himself with the Crucified Lord. What are we saying? We are saying that a priest must be willing and able to have happen to him what happened to his Master in Palestine. As I've told so many priests and by now have so often told myself, I am only as much a priest and genuinely priestly as I am ready and willing, like Jesus Christ, to suffer for souls.

Can we be more specific? Yes, the principal cross which priests experience today is the suffering they feel with the situation in the Church today. As one priest put it I quote, “The cross is the present, the now experience and not some imagined and future pain.” That is why making the Way of the Cross – and I am now recommending the Stations of the Cross to others – I consider a most effective way of praying for priests. To make the Way of the Cross, uniting oneself with Jesus Christ, no longer suffering in His physical body, but suffering in His Mystical Body, which is the Church.

I would recommend that all the faithful daily offer at least one prayer for all the priests in the Church and especially for those who have done most for them in their lives. I try to remember at Mass every day the priest who baptized me, the priest who heard my first Confession, who gave me my First Holy Communion, the bishop who ordained me, the bishop who confirmed me. I recommend, therefore, that all the faithful daily, in a special and concrete way, pray for priests. I further strongly recommend that all the faithful offer up each day some sacrifice. I am tempted to say some little sacrifice. NO! I suggest it be the most difficult sacrifice of the day for priests. I further recommend that when we hear about a priest who has been unfaithful to his high calling, that our first and immediate reaction should be to pray for him. I finally recommend we do everything in our power to extend and propagate the apostolate of prayer and sacrifice for priests.

Needless to say, the Church of the future will not only survive, but please God in our own country, will thrive. But that will occur only where and insofar as the priests have not only been faithful to their vocation, but have lived their priesthood how I like to say this, in a living martyrdom in union with the first martyr, Jesus Christ. It is, therefore, no mere recommendation or exhortation as far as I can make an imperative. Pray and sacrifice for priests.

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, you ordained the apostles priests at the Last Supper to continue your mission of mercy to the end of time. We believe that every Catholic priest traces his ordination to that first ordination on Holy Thursday night. We know how much you expect of your priests and we also know how weak and human they are. Inspire us, dear Jesus, to pray and sacrifice for your priests who are also our priests that by their faithfulness to you in this life they may bring countless souls to you in the life to come. Mary, mother of priests, pray for priests that they may love your Divine Son, even as you did unreservedly, all the days of their lives. Amen.

The Dialogue of Saint Catherine of Siena

“The sins of the clergy should not lessen your reverence for them.” (Dialogue 116)

In the book, a soul (St. Catherine) has a conversation with God and asks Him several questions, which He answers in great depth. One of St. Catherine’s requests is that God would reveal to her the sins of the clergy, so that she might intensify her “sorrow and compassion and restless longing for their salvation.” (108)

Because St. Catherine’s motive is love and not judgment—she wants only to be stirred to deeper prayers for the souls of the clergy—God grants her request and reveals to her the evil that His ministers are doing. First, though, He reminds St. Catherine of the sublime dignity of the priesthood, and the reverence due to priests, by virtue of the sacrament of the altar which they alone have received the power to celebrate. He says:

The reverence you pay to [priests] is not actually paid to them but to me, in virtue of the blood I have entrusted to their ministry. If this were not so, you should pay them as much reverence as to anyone else, and no more. It is this ministry of theirs that dictates that you should reverence them and come to them, not for what they are in themselves but for the power I have entrusted to them, if you would receive the sacraments of the Church…. So the reverence belongs not to the ministers, but to me and to this glorious blood made one thing with me because of the union of divinity with humanity. And just as the reverence is done to me, so also is the irreverence, for I have already told you that you must not reverence them for themselves, but for the authority I have entrusted to them. Therefore you must not sin against them, because if you do, you are really sinning not against them but against me. This I have forbidden, and I have said that it is my will that no one should touch them. (116)

The part of the faithful, God tells St. Catherine, is to weep over the sins of clergy who do not follow God’s will, and to call upon His mercy for them.

You should hold [these sinful ministers] out to me with tears and great desire, so that I in my goodness may clothe them with the garment of charity… Indeed, I have appointed them and given them to you to be angels on earth…as I have told you. When they are less than that, you ought to pray for them. But you are not to judge them. Leave the judging to me, and I, because of your prayers and my own desire, will be merciful to them. (120)