Day 1 : The Mystery of the Blessed Trinity
The Rosary
The Doxology
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only begotten 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 onto hell. On the third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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.
The Joyful Mysteries -- Mondays & Saturdays
- The Annunciation
- The Visitation
- The Birth of the Lord
- The Presentation
- The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
The Sorrowful Mysteries -- Tuesdays & Fridays
- The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane
- The Scourging at the Pillar
- The Crowning with Thorns
- The Carrying of the Cross
- The Crucifixion and Death of the Lord
The Luminous Mysteries -- Thursdays
- The Baptism of Jesus
- Christ's Manifestation at the Wedding in Cana
- The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
- The Transfiguration
- The Institution of the Holy Eucharist
The Glorious Mysteries -- Wednesdays & Sundays
- The Resurrection
- The Ascension
- The Descent of the Holy Spirit
- The Assumption of Mother Mary
- The Coronation of Mother Mary as Queen
Hail Holy Queen
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy. Hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee, do we cry, poor banish children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, Oh most gracious Advocate thine eyes of mercy toward us. And after this, our exile, show us the Blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Oh Clement, Oh loving, Oh Sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.
The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Entrance Song
Come Holy Ghost, Creator Blest
And in our souls, take up your rest
Come with your grace and heavenly aid
To fill the hearts which you have made
To fill the hearts which you have made
The Act of Contrition
Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and I am afraid of the pains of Hell. But most of all, I have offended Thee my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to confess my sins, to do my penance, to amend my life and sin no more. AMEN.
Salutations
Opening Prayers
Oh most powerful Paraclete, God the Holy Spirit, we humbly ask of you to sanctify us and give us the best of health, give us the strength and courage to overcome our sinfulness.
Praises to the most Blessed Trinity
Prayers continued after Reflection...
Reflection
Day 1 : The Mystery of the Blessed Trinity
Leader: Pope Leo XII, in his Encyclical on the Holy Spirit, defines the Blessed Trinity as the greatest mysteries of the Catholic Church because it is the "substance of the New Testament".
In baptism, the fundamental truth and reality that one is baptized "in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" must be accepted and believed. Becoming a Christian necessitates that a person must have to submit oneself to Baptism, an act that even Christ submitted Himself into.
The Trinity has always been the very root of the Church's faith expressed in the baptismal liturgy. Even in the opening of the Liturgy of the Eucharist when the priest says, "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Cor. 13:13), the BLESSED TRINITY is already invoked.
When the Church speaks of the Blessed Trinity, there are THREE TERMS that we must put into our minds in order to give us a better understanding of the Blessed Trinity. These are:
- SUBSTANCE, also called ESSENCE or NATURE. This affirms that the Blessed Trinity is of ONE essence and ONE nature.
- PERSON, which clearly designates Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
- RELATION, which designates that their distinction lies in their relationship with each other. (Catechism of the Church)
The Blessed Trinity is ONE. The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit have the same essence or nature which is DIVINE. The Church does NOT teach that in the Blessed Trinity they are distinct from one another. But each of them is GOD, whole and entire. Even when we make the sign of the cross, we say with great faith and reverence, "In the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit". We do not say "In the NAMES of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit" because the three persons do not share the one divinity among themselves. Each of the persons is that supreme reality of the divine substance, divine essence or divine nature.
The Blessed Trinity is really distinct from one another in their RELATIONS of origin. As stated in the fourth Lateran Council, "It is the Father who generates the Son who is the begotten, consubstantial with HIM and with the HOLY SPIRIT, who proceeds from the Father and the Son" (Fourth Lateran Council). They work together harmoniously. There is NO power struggle between them.
Let us not wonder, or think or ask: "How can there be three Persons in only One God?". Asking this question will just lead us to be confused. And confusion can lead to doubts in what we believe. This is because the human mind is a limited faculty in man. The human mind fails to understand what FAITH can see with clarity. Believing and seeing at the same time do not hold through at all times.
Instead why don't we put what we believe into action and good deeds?
Let us meditate on these words of SAINT JAMES:
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.
16 If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed." but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that; and they tremble..."
20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." and he was called God's friend.
24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
(St. James 2:14-24)
Prayer
Novena Prayers (cont)
Petitions to the Blessed Trinity
God eternal Son, image of the splendor and greatness of the Father, teach us how to be humble and truthful in our words and actions. Give us the grace to follow your footsteps the way your Apostles and disciples followed you. Grant us the courage to bear the burdens of our daily life which are just very little compared to the sufferings you have encountered, due to our sinfulness. Bless us with the Love that had consumed your being just to give us our salvation, choosing death in order to give us back our life. May your Sacred Heart be always a constant source and fountain of the kindness, of your mercy, and goodness with which you have redeemed us. May your image in front of us, be a constant reminder that you really care for us, and may your presence in the Blessed Sacrament bring us joy, peace, and eternal happiness.
Oh God, the Holy Spirit, mutual love of the Father and the Son, grant, we beseech you, that all of humanity be endowed with that same mutual love and togetherness which exists in the most Blessed Trinity. Enkindle our hearts with the fire of your eternal Love. Purify and sanctify our souls with the virtues that we need so that we can achieve that eternal life prepared for us. AMEN.
Consecration to the Three Divine Persons
Oh Jesus, we desire to serve you with that same love that impels you to remain with us in the Holy Eucharist for the nourishment of our souls. Strengthen us, Oh Lord, and make pure our hearts and minds so that we may serve you with our pure and true love.
Oh Holy Spirit, we desire to dedicate our whole being to you and offer ourselves, body and soul, in the same manner that our Mother Mary has dedicated herself to you in union with Saint Joseph and the martyrs and all the saints in Heaven. With them, we praise, honor and glorify YOU, now and forever. AMEN.
Concluding Prayers
Final Prayer
Final Song -- Hymn to our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Fatima
We come on bended knees
To beg your intercession
For peace and unity
Dear lady, won't you show us
The right and shining way
We pledge our love and offer you
A rosary each day
You promised at Fatima
Each time that you appeared
To help us if we pray to you
To vanish war and fear
Dear Lady on first Saturdays
We ask your guiding hands
For grace and guidance here on earth
And protection of our land
¡VIVA SANTISIMA TRINIDAD!