Fulfilling the Catholic Church's Call to Penance and Repentance

in the Modern World

The Confraternity of Penitents

"You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul, and with all your mind, (and) you shall love your neighbor as yourself."  (Jesus's words as recorded in Matthew 22:37-38)

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St. Jane Frances de Chantal

(1572-1641)

Follow your own way of speaking to our Lord sincerely, lovingly, confidently, and simply, as your heart dictates.

The great method of prayer is to have none.  If in going to prayer you can form in yourself the pure capacity for receiving the Spirit of God, that will suffice for all method.

--St. Jane Frances de Chantal


It is an old custom of the saints of God to have some little prayers ready and to be frequently darting them up to heaven during the day, lifting their minds to God out of the mire of this world.  He who adopts this plan will obtain great fruits with little pains.

--St. Philip Neri


You pay God a compliment by asking great things of Him.

--St. Teresa of Avila


Prayer is conversation with God.

The Christian prays in every situation, in his walks for recreation, in his dealings with others, in silence, in reading, in all rational pursuits.

--St. Clement of Alexandria


It is lawful to pray for what it is lawful to desire.

--St. Augustine


When we are linked by the power of prayer, w, as it were, hold each other's hand as we walk side by side along a slippery path; and thus by the bounteous disposition of charity, it comes about that the harder each one leans on the other, the more firmly we are riveted together in brotherly love.

He causes his prayers to be of more avail to himself, who offers them also for others.

--Pope St. Gregory the Great

Jesus Praying (detail)

by Gail Kaku and Steven Taira

"Repent and believe the Good News!" 

Penance means conversion. The Confraternity of Penitents is a world wide private Catholic association of the faithful, completely loyal to our Pope and the Magisterium. 

Our Rule of Life has been reviewed by our bishop and recognized in these words:  "this Rule does not contain anything contrary to our faith; therefore it may be safely practiced privately by you or by anyone inclined to do so.  . . . His Excellency is appreciative of your efforts to live and promote Franciscan spirituality and especially promote the neglected practice of penance and he wishes you success" (January 30, 1998). 

 Members of the Confraternity of Penitents live this Rule in their own homes, devoted to prayer, penance, fasting, conversion, and works of mercy modeled on Jesus Christ and inspired by the lives and teachings of

St. Francis,

St. Dominic,

St. Therese,

St. Benedict,

St. Augustine,

St. Ignatius,

and all the saints, most especially Mary, the Mother of God, who lived a life of true penance (conversion) in perfect union with our Lord.

May Our Lady and all the saints intercede for all who wish to embrace a life of penance, anywhere in the world, so that the grace of God will assist them to obtain every virtue necessary for a life of holiness and surrender to the Will of God! Amen.

PRAYER OF PENITENTS "Most High, Glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my mind, give me right faith, a firm hope and perfect charity, so that I may always and in all things act according to Your Holy Will. Amen." (Saint Francis's prayer before the San Damiano Crucifix)


MISSION OF PENITENTS "Go and repair My House which, as you can see, is falling into ruin." (The message given to St. Francis in a voice from the San Damiano Crucifix.)


ACTION OF PENITENTS To pray for God's specific direction in one's life so that, through humbly living our Rule of Life, each penitent may help to rebuild the house of God by bringing love of God and neighbor to his or her own corner of the world.  

CONFRATERNITY OF PENITENTS WEEKLY PRAYER PETITIONS LIST

 

Please mail prayer petitions to Donna at donnasull@gmail.com

 

Please send prayer requests in English as we are unable to translate other languages. Thank you for understanding.

 

CFP Prayer List                

 

 

May 13, 2012

Sixth Sunday of Easter

John 15: 9 – 17

 

9      As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love.

10   If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

11   These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

12   This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

13   Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14   You are my friends if you do what I command you.

15   No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

16   You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

17   This I command you, to love one another.

 

Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for May, 2012

General Intention: That initiatives which defend and uphold the role of the family may be promoted within society.

Missionary Intention: That Mary, Queen of the World and Star of Evangelization, may accompany all missionaries in proclaiming her Son Jesus.

 

PRAYER FOR AMERICA

† ONE MINUTE EACH NIGHT

This is the scariest election we as Christians have ever faced, and from the look of the polls, the Christians aren’t voting Christian values. We all need to be on our knees. Do you believe we can take God at His word? Call upon His name, then stand back and watch His wonders unfold.  If you would like to participate, every evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for peace in the world. God Bless America!

Special prayers requested for God’s abundant blessings on the Archdiocese For The Military Services. The number of their chaplains serving our military requires to be greatly increased and they certainly need our continued contributions and prayers. http://www.milarch.org

For all our troops

All the families left behind

For our President

† For all heads of government and government officials in those countries which are involved in war.

 

From: Sue

§ Please continue to pray another war may be avoided.

 

From: Madeline

§ Please continue your prayers for our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.

§ Please pray for vocations for the priesthood and religious life and for those discerning.

§ Please continue to pray that RI not pay for elective abortions via taxpayers’ money or any other means.

§ That Rhode Island not legalize gay “marriage,” or approve taxpayer funding for abortion.

§ That assisted suicide will be defeated in every state where it is on the ballot.

§ Please pray for peace in the world

§ Please continue to pray for Loida and her unborn baby. She has had a series of miscarriages. Please pray that all goes well with this little one.

§ Please pray that Aimee S., expecting to be unemployed later this year, find employment.

§ Please pray for Fr. Andrew Cox, who was bound and stabbed by robbers, and left to die in his church. He was found 12 hours later.

§ Please pray for Fr. Francis Kelley, suffering from lyme disease.

§ Please pray for a successful thyroid operation for Debbie C, on June 22.

§ Please pray for Br. Fidelis Maria, Br. Isaac Mary, Br. Paul Maria, and Br. Francis Mary, who will be taking their first profession of solemn vows in the Franciscan Brothers Minor on May 21. May God bless each of them and make their vocations secure.

§ Please pray for continued rain in Stockton, TX area. Rain is coming, but much more is needed.

§ Please pray that volunteers will come forward to assist at the Brothers of St. Dismas Retreat, Fri. Sept. 28 – Sunday Sept. 30, at local prison. Indoor and outdoor volunteers are needed to bring high-energy retreat weekend to Catholic incarcerated prisoners in Fort Stockton TX.

§ Please pray for all seminarians, especially those approaching ordination.

§ Please pray for a blessed and joyous Easter season.

§ For the needs and intentions of the Bob Campbell, SFO prayer list, the Holy Innocence Prayer line, the Molonlabe Prayer List, Half the Kingdom Prayer line, the Virtual Rosary, and the Francis Ministry Prayercast.  Please also pray for the prayer intentions of the prayer lists of The Power of Prayer and Our Lady of Sorrows and Infant Jesus of Prague Prayer List, Haven of Refuge Prayer Group, and Hugh Bodey’s list.

§  Continued prayers for Mareena and her baby, Father Julian, Father John, Mother Angelica, Karis Almy, Deacon Joseph Pasquella and his wife Kathy, Ashli McCall, Amy Yerkes, the McCarthy family.

 

From: Sandi M.

§ Please pray for my daughter-in-law, Maxine, and the child she carries.

 

From: Rita

§ Please pray for Audrey’s friend Jeremy’s dad. Rick went in for a triple bypass on Thursday, which ended up being very serious – 6 bypass, and he’s not recovering well. He’s not breathing on his own or totally conscious yet. He started coming around some last night, but had serious pain, so they had to give him more meds. Doctors say he should have been sitting up and talking after a couple of days. They are really worried. Docs are wondering if there was some other unknown condition with his lungs, and feel they have to get him off the ventilator.

 

From: Karen

§ Dan’s first granddaughter, 4 weeks old, born with half a heart, passed away. Please pray for him and the baby’s parents.

 

From: Patty

§ The Lincoln family (my daughter Melissa’s in-laws) had a fire and lost their home. The Red Cross put them up in a hotel for the last 5 days, but that time is up. They are not sure where they are going to stay. Please pray for God’s provision and healing in this situation.

 

From: Deacon Len Farmer:

§ Please pray for Maria, who has been out of work for one and a half years. Her savings have run out and what little assistance she gets is being cut off at the end of the month. I told her our pray-ers would pray for her, and to expect nothing short of a miracle, so let’s not disappoint her, and offer up our prayers.

 

From: Tom

§ Please pray for Michael. He was admitted to the hospital about two weeks ago with shortness of breath and a red foot. Diagnoses: congestive heart failure (due to atrial fibrillation and some cardiac decompensation, now successfully treated), and a foot infection (also successfully treated). He is tired of fighting and readily agreed to hospice care. It appears he has come to the conclusion that the end is near.

 

From: Regina

§ Both Tom and I were away when Michael was in the hospital, and he refused to let them notify us. Some days he does not even make eye contact with us. It is sad to see him there and he is wilting on the vine with so little stimulation. He speaks little, if at all. Please pray for him.

 

From: Joanne D.

§ Please pra for Msgr. Bob Servatius, who will be having quadruple bypass (and a possible valve replacement) this Thursday, May 10. Please keep him in your prayers during surgery and during recovery. He expects to spend about a week in the hospital, and then will have 6 weeks or so of recovery.

 

From: Flor

§ Please pray for Nick, an 18-year-old fine young man, who is battling a very aggressive type of bacterial meningitis. He is the nephew of a good friend of ours, and cousin of one of my boys’ good friends. Please pray for him and the doctors and nurses taking care of him, and his family. May God, for whom nothing is impossible, give them strength and peace so they can face whatever is His Will for them.

 

From: Mike M.

§ Please pray for Lisa S’s recovery from a major stroke and more recently, a kidney infection, for Tommy K’s continuing battle with cancer and heart disease, and Terry M’s continuing battle with prostrate cancer.

 

From: Maria D.

§ Please pray for my dad Norris, who is 91, in a nursing home, and recuperating from pneumonia as well as a brain blood clot.

§ Please pray for my tgravel to make sure of my dad’s care, as well as to take care of some legal and financial matters, and to make arrangements for his funeral.

§ Please pray for my sister, Luisa, who is waiting on word from her insurance company for her spinal fusion surgery. She is in a lot of daily, paralyzing pain. Doctors have added to this the discovery of several ‘dots’ in one of her breasts and will be doing biopsies this Thursday, May 17.

§ Please pray for my own health as my cervical spinal stenosis, cervical osteoarthritis, and cervical spurs are causing widespread pain and daily limitation in my mobility.

§ Please pray for a young unmarried pregnant woman who is due to deliver this month, and for assistance in all her needs as a new mom (with a 6-year old boy already), and their needs for good health, housing, employment, and stability.

§ Please pray for my niece, who at 35 is pregnant with her first child, and her husband, Greg, that this may be a healthy, uneventful pregnancy with a healthy, much-hoped-for delivery.

§ UPDATE: Had asked for prayers for my nephew, Shawn, and the short sale of his home. An offer has been received and awaiting the response from the bank. Thank you, Lord, and thanks to all those who prayed for this. May the bank accept the proposal if it is the Lord’s will.

  

From: Donna S.

§ Please pray for the health and well-being of Fr. John Connelly and Fr. Paul Sullivan.

§ Please pray for all who have left the Church, and for all who do not believe in God.

§ Please pray for the repose of the soul of Richard Connors, who died suddenly on Wednesday, May 9.

§ Please pray my sister, Cynthia Weaver, for successful brain surgery on May 15, and for her healing after the surgery.

 

From: Peter R.

§ Please pray for Mike, a recently graduated law student, who has just found out that he has cancer. Pray for peace for him and his family and loved ones, and that God guide the minds and skills of his doctors.

 

From: Wanda

§ This morning Ann Marie, 38-year-old mother of four passed away after a long battle with breast cancer. Please pray in Jesus’ name for the repose of her sul, and for comfort for the family.

§ Please pray in Jesus’ name for the healing of Dominique Hall, 16-years old and very ill, and for peace and trust for the family.

 

From: John

§ Please pray for a priest looking for a place to live.

 

From: Fr. Julian

§ Please pray for Sister Mary, from Marshfield, MA, who is due to have back surgery and is in great pain.

 

From: Rita F.

§ Please pray for Rick LaClair, my daughter’s boyfriend’s dad. He had heart surgery last Thursday (6 bypasses) and is still in ICU and not doing well at all. Today, he seems to have gone into crisis, with not breathing again.

 

From: Antoinette

§ Please pray for my sister-in-law, Joseph’s wife, who’s been in for two ops this week, one to remove polyps and then for some cancer, which may or may not have spread to the rest of her body. She’s in the hospital for the moment and will be going home Thursday.

 

From: Debbie and Steve

§ Steve is out of the hospital, with fluids literally weeping out of his legs. He is very, very ill; I see fear in his eyes. We need miracles. Please pray!

 

From: Gina:

§ Please hold Michael L. in your prayers as his time is short. Please pray that he sees a priest, wears the brown scapular being mailed to him, and sets his soul in order as he prepares to meet the Lord.

 

From:  Mercedes

§ Please pray for the Holy Father, priests, and religious.

§ Please pray for all the elderly and those who care for them.

§ Pray that the Holy Spirit will assist the Leadership Conference of Women Religious to understand concerns raised by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s recent assessment, and that they will have the grace to humbly cooperate with Archbishop Sartain in reforming the conference.

§ Please pray that the young child, 6-year-old Isabel Mercedes Celis, missing in Tucsan, Arizona will be returned to her family very soon, safe and sound.

§ Please pray for the 37 souls whose bodies were found on a Mexican highway and for the conversion of the drug gangs who have left bodies scattered in public places in Mexico, as warnings to rivals, over the past several months

§ Please pray for the soul of Pepe V and for his family.

§ Please pray for all affected by the sex abuse scandal in Pennsylvania.

§ Last month Eulalia Auqui Gomez passed away. She battled a rare autoimmune disease known as scleroderma, and as she grew weaker and weaker, her final battle was lost with a heart attack on July 11. Eulalia died at age 46, leaving behind four children (two boys and two girls) as well as her husband. Please lift her up to Our Lord, to ask for the eternal repose of her soul, and for help, peace, and consolation for her family.

§ Please pray for Sebastian, who recently graduated high school, and will be going to university in August. May Our Blessed Mother be with him to love and guide. His parents, although raised Catholic, do not go to Mass or receive the sacraments. Sebastian probably has not received any type of Catholic instruction. I know he was baptized, but have no idea if he ever received confirmation.

§ Please pray for all mothers.

§ Please pray for all alcoholics and their families.

§ Please pray for the defeat of all propositions to legalize homosexual unions anywhere.

§ Please pray for the Holy Spirit to instill in Catholics a faithful obedience to the Magisterium, and a strong desire to actively participate in the political life of their respective countries, as a force of good.

§ Please pray for a personal intention. Thank you for your prayers.

 

There is an urgent need for rosaries to help the missionaries. The Family Rosary in cooperation with Lewis and Company, a rosary parts supplier since 1950, is addressing the need with a Free Missionary Rosary Kit for all people who would like to help the missionaries. Call 800.342.2400 and request your free kit if you are willing to make rosaries for the missions. The Rosaries are distributed through the Family Rosary, on the World Wide Web at: www.familyrosary.org.

 

 

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT AND PRAYER

Practices Necessary to Attain the Spiritual Life

From The Practice of the Presence of God

By Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection

 

1.    The holiest, most common, most necessary practice in the spiritual life is the presence of God, that is to take delight in and become accustomed to His divine company, speaking humbly and talking lovingly to Him at all times, at every moment, without rule or system and especially in times of temptation, suffering, spiritual aridity, disgust and even of unfaithfulness and sin.

 

2      We must continually work hard so that each of our actions is a way of carrying on little conversations with God, not in any carefully prepared way but as it     comes from the purity and simplicity of the heart.

 

3.      We must carry out all of our actions, without the impetuosity and precipitancy of a distraught mind; it is necessary to work peacefully, tranquilly, and lovingly with God, begging him to accept our work, and by this continual mindfulness of God we shall crush the head of the devil and cause his weapons to fall from his hands.

 

2.    During our work and other activities, during our spiritual reading and writing, even more so during our formal devotions and spoken prayers we should stooften as we can, for a moment, to adore God from the bottom of our hearts, to savor Him, by stealth as it were, as He passes by. Since you know God is with you in all your actions, that He is in the deepest recesses of your soul, why not, from time to time, leave off your external activities and even more your spoken prayers to adore Him inwardly, to praise Him, to petition Him, to offer Him your heart and to give Him thanks? 

 

What can be more agreeable to God than to withdraw thus many times a day from the things of man to retire into ourselves and adore Him interiorly; in addition these interior retreats to God gradually free us by destroying the self love which can exist only among our fellow human beings.

 

And finally, we can give God no greater witness of our fidelity than in renouncing and despising time and again material things to be with our Creator for a single moment.

 

I do not mean by this that you should always set aside your external activities, that is not possible; but prudence, which is the mother of the virtues, can guide you; nevertheless, I say that it is a common error among spiritual persons not to leave the external world to adore God inwardly and to enjoy peacefully a few moments of His divine presence.

 

This digression has been lengthy but I thought the matter deserved this full explanation.

 

3.     All these acts of adoration should be made by faith, knowing that God is truly in our hearts, that we must adore, love and serve Him in spirit and in truth, 

         that He sees everything that happens and will happen to us and to all His creatures, that He is independent of everything and all creatures depend on    

         Him; He is infinitely perfect and by His infinite excellence and sovereign domain deserves our whole beings and everything on heaven and on earth, all of

         which He can dispose as He pleases in time and in eternity; in justice we owe Him all our thoughts, our words and our actions. Let us make sure we do.

 

6.     We must carefully ascertain what virtues we most need, which are the most difficult to acquire, the sins we fall into most often, and the most frequent and

        unavoidable occasions of such falls; in times of temptation we should have recourse to God with complete confidence, remain steadfast in His Divine

        Majesty, adore Him humbly, tell Him of our troubles and weaknesses and ask Him lovingly for the help of His grace, and we will find in Him all the

         virtues we ourselves lack.

 

 

C

 

Confraternity of Penitents

520 Oliphant Lane

Middletown RI USA

02842-4600

401/849-5421

bspenance@hotmail.com

copenitents@yahoo.com