Lenten Rules for the Knights of the Republic

Justin Haggerty | The Daily Knight

Christ's Temptations in the Desert (Our Sunday Visitor)

"O my Jesus, when I behold You cruelly fastened to an infamous gibbet before the eyes of a whole multitude who are insulting You; when I reflect that in this condition You are the model whom all Christians ought to imitate; when I recall the divine decree that You Yourself, having been loaded with sins which You did not commit, should merit Your glory by the pains and shame of these bitter torments; when I remember my own sins, and that penance is the only path, though a hard and rough one, whereby to regain the way of life; when I set before my mind the greatness of all I hope for, and the unavoidable choice between an eternity of punishment and an eternity of bliss; when, O Lord, I compare time with eternity, and find no proportion whatever between them; then I gladly put myself into Your hands, that I may receive by the hammer of tribulation the form which it pleases You to give me and which will make me a fitting stone in Your heavenly edifice. But, alas! the least shock disturbs or overthrows me; then my thoughts are scattered and my good resolutions prove unavailing. O my Savior, by that sweat of blood which the anticipation of Your passion drew from You, sustain my courage in the practice of penance and enable me now to drink of Your bitter chalice of afflictions, in order that, seated at Your table, I may drink perpetually of the torrent of divine delights." - The Prayer Book, Catholic Press, 1954

Purpose of Lent

As the second penitential season of the liturgical year, the Church and our Church Fathers have afforded us a great period for penance and reparation in preparation for Good Friday and Easter, in thanksgiving for the Lord's most merciful and victorious sacrifice, and to purify our souls of concupiscence and fortify them in a state of Sanctified and Actual Graces.

Below are the Lenten rules of the Sacred Military Order of Knights of the Republic and the Most Victorious Heart of Jesus, for prayer and fasting. All Knights and Candidates, of good health, are required to adhere for the good of their souls.

Prayer and Penance

1. Additional Daily Prayers for Morning

For God's Help

"O Lord God, King of heaven and earth, vouchsafe this day to direct and sanctify, to rule and govern our hearts and our bodies, our thoughts, words, and deeds in Thy law and in the works of Thy commandments, that now and forever we may merit by Thy help to attain salvation and freedom, O Savior of the world, who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen." - Roman Breviary

Petition for Grace

"O my God, Thou knowest my weakness and failings, and that without Thy help I can accomplish nothing for the good of souls, my own or others'. Grant me, therefore, the help of Thy grace. Grant it according to my particular needs this day. Enable me to see the task Thou wilt set before me in the daily routine of my life, and help me to work hard at my appointed tasks. Teach me to bear patiently all the trials of suffering or failure that may come to me today. Amen." - The Prayer Book, Catholic Press, 1954

Morning Offering

"O Jesus! Through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer Thee my prayers, works, and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Thy Sacred Heart, in union with the holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all our associates, and in particular, for the intention recommended this month by the Holy Father.

I wish to gain all the indulgences attached to the prayers I shall say and the good works I shall perform this day." - The Prayer Book, Catholic Press, 1954

2. Additional Daily Prayers for Evening

Act of Contrition

"Have mercy on me, according to Thy great mercy. Behold, I am deeply sorry for all my sins, because I have deserved to be punished by Thee, the all-knowing and just Judge, in this live and i the life to come, but much more because I have offended and grieved Thee, the most high and most lovable Good.

And according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies, blot out my iniquities. Cast me not away from Thy face, and take not Thy holy spirit from me. I am firmly resolved never to offend Thee again. Help me with Thy grace. O Jesus, for Thee I live; O Jesus, for Thee I die; O Jesus, I am Thine in life and death. Amen." - The Prayer Book, Catholic Press, 1954

The Memorare

"Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen." - The Prayer Book, Catholic Press, 1954

3. Daily Holy Rosary, including the five Sorrowful Mysteries, with a special intention of penance for your sins, the conversion of your soul, and the conversion of all souls.

4. Daily Adoration before the Crucifix

Prayer Before a Crucifix

"Behold, O good and sweetest Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in Thy sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech Thee to impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, true repentance for my sins, and a most firm purpose of amendment: whilst with deep affection and grief of soul I consider within myself and mentally contemplate Thy five wounds, having before my eyes that which David, the prophet, long ago spoke in Thine own person concerning Thee, my Jesus: "They have pierced my hands and my feet; they have numbered all my bones." - The Prayer Book, Catholic Press, 1954

5. Weekly Adoration of the Holy Eucharist; make spiritually before a crucifix if not able to attend Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at a parish.

Invocation

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

Body of Christ, save me.

Blood of Christ, fill me.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O good Jesus, hear me.

Within Thy wounds hide me.

Never permit me to be separated from Thee.

From the wicked enemy defend me.

At the hour of my death call me

And bid me come unto Thee,

That with Thy saints I may praise Thee

For ever and ever. Amen. - The Prayer Book, Catholic Press, 1954

Act of Adoration

"I adore Thee, O Jesus, true God and true Man, here present in the Holy Eucharist, humbly kneeling before Thee and united in spirit with all the faithful on earth and all the blessed in heaven. In deepest gratitude for so great a blessing, I love Thee, my Jesus, with my whole heart, for Thou art all perfect and all worthy of love.

Give me grace nevermore in any way to offend Thee, and grant that I, being refreshed by Thy Eucharistic presence here on earth, may be found worthy to come to the enjoyment with Mary of Thine eternal and everblessed presence in heaven. Amen." - The Prayer Book, Catholic Press, 1954

Act of Reparation

"O kind and merciful savior, from my heart I earnestly desire to return Thee love for love. My greatest sorrow is that Thou art not loved by men, and, in particular, that my own heart is so cold, so selfish, so ungrateful. Keenly aware of my own weakness and poverty, I trust that Thy own grace will enable me to offer Thee an act of pure love. And I wish to offer Thee this act of love in reparation for the coldness and neglect that are shown to Thee in the sacrament of Thy love by Thy creatures. O Jesus, my supreme good, I love Thee, not for the sake of the reward which Thou hast promised to those who love Thee, but purely for Thyself. I love Thee above all things that can be loved, above all pleasures, and above myself and all that is not Thee, promising in the presence of heaven and earth that I will live and die purely and simply in Thy holy love, and that if to love Thee thus I must endure persecution and suffering I am completely satisfied, and I will ever say with Saint Paul: Nothing " will be able to separate us from the love of God." O Jesus, supreme master of all hearts, I love Thee, I adore Thee, I praise Thee, I thank Thee, because I am now all Thine own. Rule over me, and transform my soul into the likeness of Thyself, so that it may bless and glorify Thee forever in the abode of the saints." - Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

Fasts and Mortification - Summa Theologiae, St. Thomas Aquinas

1. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are black fasts: no food consumed.

2. Fast all 46 days of Lent, until nones at 3pm (the hour that Christ died); break fast for Sundays, but continue to abstain.

3. Abstain from all animal meats or fats.

4. Fish is authorized.

5. Abstain from eggs.

6. Abstain from lacticinia or “dairy products”: milk, cheese, cream, and butter.

7. Wine and beer, with control, are authorized.

8. No sexual intercourse between spouses.

9. Remove other sources of temptation to fight concupiscence.

10. During Passion Week, follow rules on fasting and abstain from all foods except water and bread.

In Christ Crucified and the Most Victorious Heart of Jesus.