NOVENA time

Madonna is planning on doing a mock crucifixion during her concert in Rome. She's also going to prance around wearing a fake crown of thorns. Sometimes when spiritually empty women who live on their looks reach middle age they panic. They start feeling as though they need to do something---anything--- to get attention and prove to themselves that they are still young and attractive. That's why you see 50 year old mincing through the mall in crotch high mini skirts and five inch heels or you see a grandma suddenly take a lover who's half her age. In Madonna's case her behavior is mostly a ploy to reboot her career but I suspect it's partially middle age panic and faded beauty that makes her act the way she does.

Novenna Prayer for Conversion
After each invocation say: My Jesus, pardon and mercy through Thy Sacred Wounds

My dear parents and grandparents,

My brothers and sisters and other near relatives,

My godparents and sponsors of Confirmation,

My spiritual and temporal benefactors,

My friends and neighbors,

All for whom love or duty bids me pray,

Those who have offended me,

Those who will offend me,

Those who have suffered disadvantage of harm through me,

Those whom I, still a sinner, will offend,

Those who are especially beloved by Thee,

Those whose death is near at hand,

Those who desire most to be united to Thee,

Those who endure the greatest sufferings and trials, especially spiritual torments,

Those whose death is most remote,

Those sinners have no one to pray for them,

Those who are most deserving on account of their services to the Church,

The rich who do not need Thee and are thus the most destitute,

The mighty who spurn Thee,

The spiritually blind, that they might see their folly,

The frivolous, who spend their time in idleness,

The poor, who do not seek the treasures of Heaven,

The tepid, who devote little time to prayer,

The indolent, who neglect to perform good works,

Those of little faith, who neglect the frequent reception of the Sacraments,

The habitual sinners, who require for their salvation to a miracle of grace,

Parents who fail to watch over their children,

Superiors who are not solicitous for the salvation of those entrusted to them,

Those who strive for worldly riches and pleasures,

The worldly minded, who fail to use their wealth and talents in the service of God,

Those who witness the death of others, but do not think of their own,

Those who blaspheme and commit sacrilege,

Those who violate the dignity of the human body and mind through impurity,

Those who sin because of my sins and bad example,

Those who do not provide for the life hereafter,

Those whose judgment will be severe because of the great things entrusted to them,

The pope, kings and rulers,

The bishops and their counselors,

My teachers and spiritual advisors,

The priests of this diocese,

The priests and religious of the Catholic Church,

The defenders of the holy Catholic Faith,

Those who die on the battlefield,

Those who fight for their country,

Those who will be buried in the sea,

Those who are to die suddenly, in accidents and from other causes,

Those who will die of heart attacks,

Those who suffer with cancer,

Those who suffer with AIDS,

Those who shall die without the last rites of the Church,

Those who shall die within the next twenty-four hours,

For Catholic apostates, heretics, and other unbelievers,

For Catholics who hold Masonic membership or in other secret societies,

For the conversion of the Jews, Thy chosen people of old,

For abortionists and those who aid them,

For women who seek abortions,

For those who promote or practicre contraception,

For those who give scandal, especially to children,

My own poor soul when I shall have to appear before Thy judgment seat.
PRAYER
Final perseverance and pardon grant unto all of these, O Lord; and let Thy graces through these petitions flow unto them and be fruitful. Amen.