WEAR THE ARMOUR OF GOD, THE BATTLE IS ON

Ephesians 5: 6-20 Duty to Live in the Light

Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. So do not be associated with them.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.

And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another [in] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. http://usccb.org/bible/ephesians/5

 Psalm 91: Security Under God’s Protection

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shade of the Almighty, Say to the LORD, “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.”

He will rescue you from the fowler’s snare, from the destroying plague, He will shelter you with his pinions, and under his wings you may take refuge; his faithfulness is a protecting shield.

You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day, Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness, nor the plague that ravages at noon. Though a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, near you it shall not come.

You need simply watch; the punishment of the wicked you will see. Because you have the LORD for your refuge and have made the Most High your stronghold,

No evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent. For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go. With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You can tread upon the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon.

Because he clings to me I will deliver him; because he knows my name I will set him on high. He will call upon me and I will answer; I will be with him in distress; I will deliver him and give him honor. With length of days I will satisfy him, and fill him with my saving power. http://usccb.org/bible/psalms/91  

The Blessed Trinity

O God of the heavens, God of light, God of the angels and archangels obedient to Your authority and power; O God, glorified in your saints, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Your only begotten-Son, who delivered the souls that were bound to death and enlightened those who dwelt in darkness; He who released us from all our misery and pain and has protected us from the assaults of the enemy.

And You, O Son and Word of God, who have intended us for immortality by your death and glorified us with Your glory; You who loosed us from the fetters of our sins through Your cross, rendering us pleasing to yourself and uniting us to God; You who rescued us from destruction and cured all our diseases; You who set us on the path to heaven and changed our corruption to incorruption:

Hear me, who cry to You with longing and fear, You before whom the mountains and the firmament under the heavens shrink back; You who make the elements of nature to tremble, keeping them within their own limits; and because of whom the fires of retribution dare not overstep the boundary set for them, but must await the decision of Your will; and for whom all creation sighs with great sighs awaiting deliverance; by whom all hostile nature’s have been put to flight, and the legion of the Enemy has been subdued, the Devil is frightened, the Serpent trampled under foot, and the Dragon slain; You who have enlightened the nations that confess and welcome Your rule, O Lord; You through whom life has appeared, hope has prevailed, through whom man of the earth was recreated by belief in You.

For who is like You, Almighty God? For this reason we beseech You, O Father, Lord of mercies, who existed before the ages and surpasses all good, calling upon Your holy name, through the love of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Holy One, and Your All-powerful Spirit:

Cast away from my soul every malady, all disbelief; spare me from the furious attacks of unclean, hellish, fiery, evil-serving, lustful spirits; the love of gold and silver; conceit, fornication; every shameless, unseemly, dark, and profane demon. Indeed, O God, expel from me every energy of the Devil, every enchantment and delusion; all idolatry, lunacy, astrology, necromancy; every bird of omen, the love of luxury and the flesh, drunkenness, carnality, adultery, licentiousness, shamelessness, anger, contentiousness, confusion; and all evil suspicion.

Yes, O Lord our God, breathe upon me the Spirit of your peace; watch over me and in this way produce the fruits of faith, virtue, wisdom, chastity, self-control, love, uprightness, hope, meekness, long suffering, patience, prudence and understanding in me, so that I may be welcomed by You in the name of Jesus Christ, believing in the consubstantial Trinity, giving witness to and glorifying your dominion, along with the angels and archangels and all the heavenly host, guarding our hearts by them.

For all things are possible to You, O Lord. Therefore we ascribe glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the age of ages. Amen. Adapted from an ancient prayer of St. Basil of Caesarea, Manual of Spiritual Warfare   

Prayer to the Holy Trinity

O God, Thou who art one in nature and three in persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, first cause and last end of all creatures, the infinite Good, incomprehensible and ineffable, my Creator, my Redeemer, and my Sanctifier, I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, and I love Thee with all my heart.

In the midst of Thine infinite happiness, Thou didst choose me, through no merits of mine, in preference to countless other creatures, who would doubtless have corresponded with Thy blessings better than I have done; Thou didst love me from eternity; and when my hour in time had come, Thou didst draw me from nothingness into earthly existence and didst bestow upon me Thy grace, as a pledge of everlasting life.

From the depths of my misery, I adore Thee and I give Thee thanks. Thy holy Name was invoked over my cradle to be my profession of faith, my plan of action, and the only goal of my earthly pilgrimage; grant, O most Holy Trinity, that I may ever be inspired by this faith, and may carry out this plan with perseverance, so that, when I have reached the end of my journey upon earth, I may be able to fix my gaze upon the blessed splendours of Thy glory.  Amen. 

Psalm 54

O God, by your name save me, and by your might defend my cause. O God, hear my prayer; hearken to the words of my mouth. For the haughty men have risen up against me, the ruthless seek my life; they set not God before their eyes. Behold, God is my helper; the Lord sustains my life. Freely will I offer you sacrifice; I will praise your name, O LORD, for its goodness.

Lectio Divina, 25th Week In Ordinary Time

August Queen of Heaven

August Queen of Heaven, sovereign queen of Angels, you who at the beginning received from God the power and the mission to crush the head of Satan, we beseech you humbly, send your holy legions so that, on your orders and by your power, they will track down demons, fight them everywhere, curb their audacity and plunge them into the abyss.

Who can be compared to God? Oh good and tender Mother, you will always be our love and our hope. Oh divine Mother, send the Holy Angels and Archangels to defend me and to keep the cruel enemy far from me. Holy Angels and Archangels defend us, protect us.  Amen. 

August Queen of Heaven

 August Queen of Heaven! Sovereign Mistress of the angels! Thou who from the beginning hast received from God the power and mission to crush the head of Satan, we humbly beseech thee to send thy holy Legions, that, under thy command and by thy power, they may pursue the evil spirits, encounter them on every side, resist their bold attacks and drive them hence into the abyss of eternal woe. Amen  

Saint Michael the Archangel Prayer

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.

O glorious prince St. Michael, chief and commander of the heavenly hosts, guardian of souls, vanquisher of rebel spirits, servant in the house of the Divine King and our admirable conductor, you who shine with excellence and superhuman virtue deliver us from all evil, who turn to you with confidence and enable us by your gracious protection to serve God more and more faithfully every day. Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/prayers/michael.htm#ixzz2BhRba58m

 Help Against Spiritual Enemies Prayer

Glorious Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly hosts, who stands always ready to give assistance to the people of God; who fought with the dragon, the old serpent, and cast him out of heaven, and now valiantly defends the Church of God that the gates of hell may never prevail against her, I earnestly entreat you to assist me also, in the painful and dangerous conflict which I sustain against the same formidable foe.

Be with me, O mighty Prince! that I may courageously fight and vanquish that proud spirit, whom you, by the Divine Power, gloriously overthrew, and whom our powerful King, Jesus Christ, has, in our nature, completely overcome; so having triumphed over the enemy of my salvation, I may with you and the holy angels, praise the clemency of God who, having refused mercy to the rebellious angels after their fall, has granted repentance and forgiveness to fallen man. Amen.    Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/prayers/Spiritual_Enemies.htm#ixzz2BhVxe4yI  

Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.