I am part of the United States Grace Force. I am part of Operation: Reparation 54, which is the 54 Day Rosary Novena, lasting from February 21st (the first day of the special summit at the Vatican regarding the abuse crisis) through April 15th (Monday of Holy Week). It is very special to be a part of this. I invite all reading this to join us in this operation.
If you are interested in joining Reparation 54 but have not started on day one, do not be afraid. Simply begin on whatever day the novena is at. Just as in the Holy Gospel for Septuagesima Sunday in the Extraordinary Form (which, providentially, was the Sunday preceding the beginning of Reparation 54), there are some who are called at the beginning of the day, some who are called at midday, and some who are called at the eleventh hour, yet all receive their payment.
At that time, Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And having agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the market place idle. And he said to them: Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be just. And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did in like manner. But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith to them: Why stand you here all the day idle? They say to him: Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them: Go you also into my vineyard. And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward: Call the laborers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last even to the first. When therefore they were come, that came about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first also came, they thought that they should receive more: and they also received every man a penny. And receiving it they murmured against the master of the house, saying: These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats. But he answering said to one of them: Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst thou not agree with me for a penny? Take what is thine, and go thy way: I will also give to this last even as to thee. Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? is thy eye evil, because I am good? So shall the last be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen. (St. Matthew 20:1-16).
Remember that this is a novena of reparation to God for the sins of the clergy, and anything offered to God in reparation -- if offered with a sincere, upright, and pure heart -- is supremely pleasing to Him, no matter at what part of this novena you join in.
I have added a couple of things to my Rosary during this novena. I am a member of the Rosary Confraternity, so I offer up this Confraternity prayer after the first decade. I am a member of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, so I offer up the Parents Prayer for Vocations after the third decade. I am also a member of the Confraternity of Saint Peter, so I offer up this Confraternity prayer after the fifth decade.
I also include one or two verses of a hymn after each decade has been completed. For Operation: Reparation 54, I find some hymns more appropriate.
Hymns for Reparation
Hymns for Battle
Hymns of Self-Offering
Marian Hymns
At the end of the Rosary, I also pray the Prayer to Saint Joseph after the Rosary, which was composed by Pope Leo XIII, who commanded in the encyclical Quamquam Pluries that this same prayer be added at the end of the Holy Rosary during the month of October. I also find the formula very fitting for this time in the Church.
To thee, O blessed Joseph, do we have recourse in our tribulation, and, having implored the help of thy thrice-holy Spouse, we confidently invoke thy patronage also. By that charity wherewith thou wast united to the immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by that fatherly affection with which thou didst embrace the Child Jesus, we beseech thee and we humbly pray, that thou wouldst look graciously upon the inheritance which Jesus Christ hath purchased by His Blood, and assist us in our needs by thy power and strength. Most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, protect the chosen people of Jesus Christ; keep far from us, most loving father, all blight of error and corruption: mercifully assist us from Heaven, most mighty defender, in this our conflict with the powers of darkness; and, even as of old thou didst rescue the Child Jesus from the supreme peril of His life, so now defend God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity; keep us one and all under thy continual protection, that we may be supported by thine example and thine assistance, may be enabled to lead a holy life, die a happy death and come at last to the possession of everlasting blessedness in Heaven. Amen.
May we who have begun this good work of Reparation 54 persevere through the last day. If one of the virtues we struggle with is constancy, let this be an exercise of the will. And let us never fail to ask God for the grace to persevere, because every virtue is attained partly through exercise and hard work, and partly through the grace of God. Let us knock daily -- even hourly -- at the door of the Mediatrix of all graces for the virtues we strive to possess.
