Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa

Our Lady of Czestochowa, pray for us!

Mahalo Mary Jane.

Our Lady of Sorrows

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The Seven Dolors of Mary

1. The Prophecy of Simeon.
2. The Flight into Egypt.
3. The Loss of the Child Jesus
4. The Meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross.
5. The Crucifixion
6. Jesus' body Struck by a Lance, Taken Down from the Cross
7. The Burial of Jesus.

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"...On Calvary, we behold the thorns that wounded the adorable head of our Saviour, the nails that pierced His hands and feet, the lance that opened His Heart, the ropes that bound Him, the gall and vinegar He was given to drink, and the wounds which covered His body from Head to foot.

We can see the same wounds in the maternal Heart of His saintly Mother. 'The Cross and the nails which crucified the Son's body, crucified the Mother's Heart as well.'

St. Jerome quotes St. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem, as saying:  'All the wounds which covered the body of Jesus, had their counterpart in Mary's Heart.  The whips, the thorns, the nails, which pierced and tore the Saviour's body, ran through His holy Mother's Heart and shattered it.Every blow rending the body of the Son had its cruel echo in the Heart of His Mother.'

'O my Queen,' exclaims St. Bonaventure, 'Thou are not only standing near the Cross, but thou art with Thy Son on the Cross; Thou dost suffer, thou art crucified with Him, the only difference being that while He suffers in His body, thou dost suffer in thy loving Heart.  All the wounds scattered over His body are united in thy Heart, because the sword of sorrow has pierced they very soul.  Thy virginal Heart, O my sovereign Lady, is wounded by the lance, pierced by the nails and thorns, heaped with opprobrium, ignominy and imprecations, saturated with vinegar and gall.  Why wouldst thou, most honored Lady, be immolated for us?  Is not our Saviour's Passion sufficient for our salvation?  Must the mother also be crucified with her Son?  O sweetest Heart, so full of love, must thou then be changed into bitter sorrow?  I seek to behold thy loving Heart, my dearest Mistress, but it seems to have vanished and in its place I find only the bitterness of gall, myrrh and absinthe.  I seek the Mother of /God and I find only thorns, nails, a lance, a sponge and vinegar.  I look for Mary on the Cross and I see only spittle, insults, lashes and wounds, so truly has she been overwhelmed by outrages.

- from the Admirable Heart of Mary by St. John Eudes

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Stabat Mater

At the cross her station keeping,
Mary stood in sorrow weeping
When her Son was crucified.

While she waited in her anguish,
Seeing Christ in torment languish,
Bitter sorrow pierced her heart.

With what pain and desolation,
With what noble resignation,
Mary watched her dying Son.

Ever-patient in her yearning
Though her tear-filled eyes were burning,
Mary gazed upon her Son.

Who, that sorrow contemplating,
On that passion meditating,
Would not share the Virgin's grief?

Christ she saw, for our salvation,
Scourged with cruel acclamation,
Bruised and beaten by the rod.

Christ she saw with life-blood failing,
All her anguish unavailing,
Saw him breathe his very last.

Mary, fount of love's devotion,
Let me share with true emotion
All the sorrow you endured.

Virgin, ever interceding,
Hear me in my fervent pleading:
Fire me with your love of Christ.

Mother, may this prayer be granted:
That Christ's love may be implanted
In the depths of my poor soul.

At the cross, your sorrow sharing,
All your grief and torment bearing,
Let me stand and mourn with you.

Fairest maid of all creation,
Queen of hope and consolation,
Let me feel your grief sublime.

Virgin, in your love befriend me,
At the Judgment Day defend me.
Help me by your constant prayer.

Savior, when my life shall leave me,
Through your mother's prayers
receive me
With the fruits of victory.

Virgin of all virgins blest!
Listen to my fond request:
Let me share your grief divine

Let me, to my latest breath,
In my body bear the death
Of your dying Son divine.

Wounded with His every wound,
Steep my soul till it has swooned
In His very Blood away.

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
Lest in flames I burn and die,
In His awe-full judgment day.

Savior, when my life shall leave me,
Through your mother's prayers
receive me
With the fruits of victory.

While my body here decays
May my soul your goodness praise,
Safe in heaven eternally. Amen Alleluia.

Prayer source

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Prayer of Consecration to the Immaculata

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O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you. I, (name), a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet, humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to yourself as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you.

If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: "She will crush your head," and "You alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world." Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you enter you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Allow me to praise you, O Sacred Virgin
Give me strength against your enemies

Amen

Thanks to Sue Cifelli.

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Prayer:

Mary, you showed true charity in visiting Elizabeth and remaining with her for three months before the birth of John the Baptist; obtian for me the grace to love my neighbor.

Prayer Source: New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book Catholic Book Publishing.

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Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum,

et exsultávit spíritus meus

in Deo salvatóre meo,

quia respéxit humilitátem

ancíllæ suæ.

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Ecce enim ex hoc beátam

me dicent omnes generatiónes,

quia fecit mihi magna,

qui potens est,

et sanctum nomen eius,

et misericórdia eius in progénies

et progénies timéntibus eum.

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Fecit poténtiam in bráchio suo,

dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui;

depósuit poténtes de sede

et exaltávit húmiles.

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Esuriéntes implévit bonis

et dívites dimísit inánes.

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Suscépit Ísrael púerum suum,

recordátus misericórdiæ,

sicut locútus est ad patres nostros,

Ábraham et sémini eius in sæcula.

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Glória Patri et Fílio

et Spirítui Sancto.

Sicut erat in princípio,

et nunc et semper,

et in sæcula sæculórum.

Amen.

Prayer Source Women for Faith and Family

Curé of Ars - THE SERVICE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN

Source: DAY 37 – March 25, 2010
Selected Sermons of the Curé of Ars
St. John Vianney (Patron Saint of Parish Priests)

THE SERVICE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN

If I wanted to, I would show you that in all walks of life there have been great servants of the Blessed Virgin. I would find for you, among them, those who begged their bread from door to door. I would find for you, among them, those who lived in much the same sort of state in life as many of you. I would find them for you among the wealthy, and in great number, too. We read in the Gospel that our Lord always treated people with great tenderness, except for one type of people whom He treated with severity; these were the Pharisees, and they were so treated because they were proud and hardened in sin. They would willingly have hindered, if they could, the accomplishment of the will of the Father. What is more, our Lord called them "whited sepulchers, hypocrites, brood of vipers, offspring of vipers, who devour the breasts of their mothers."

We can say the same thing on the subject of devotion to the Blessed Virgin. All Christians have a great devotion to Mary except those old and hardened sinners who, for a very long time, having lost the faith, wallow in the slime of their brute passions. The Devil tries to keep them in this state of blindness until that moment
when death opens their eyes. Ah! If they had but the happiness to have recourse to Mary they would not fall into Hell, as will happen to them! No, my dear children, let us not imitate such people! On the contrary, let us follow the footsteps of all those true servants of Mary. Belonging to this number were St. Charles Borromeo, who always said his rosary on his knees. What is more, he fasted on all vigils of the feasts of the Blessed Virgin. He was so careful about saluting her on the stroke of the bell that when the Angelus rang, wherever he was, he went down on his knees, sometimes even in the middle of the road when it was full of mud. He desired that his whole diocese should have a great devotion to Mary and that her name would be uttered everywhere with the utmost respect. He had a number of chapels built in her honor.

Now then, my dear brethren, why should not we imitate these great saints who obtained so many graces from Mary to preserve them from sin? Have we not the same enemies to fight, the same Heaven to hope for? Yes, Mary always has her eyes upon us. Do we suffer temptations? Let us turn our hearts towards Mary and we shall be delivered.

Feast of the Annunciation

Mary the Dawn

Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day;
Mary the Gate, Christ the Heavenly Way!
Mary the Root, Christ the Mystic Vine;
Mary the Grape, Christ the Sacred Wine!
Mary the Wheat-sheaf, Christ the Living Bread;
Mary the Rose-tree, Christ the Rose blood red!
Mary the Font, Christ the Cleansing Flood;
Mary the Chalice, Christ the Saving Blood!
Mary the Temple, Christ the Temple’s Lord;
Mary the Shrine, Christ the God Adored!
Mary the Beacon, Christ the Haven’s Rest;
Mary the Mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!
Mary the Mother, Christ the Mother’s Son;
Both ever blest while endless ages run. Amen.

Shared by Father Vince I.

The following are points of meditation by Terrence Cardinal Cooke from the a collection of his sermons Meditations of Mary.

"Mary's faith was the most perfect that ever existed and it is most worthy of our admiration and imitation. In speaking about our Lady's faith, we might mention that we do not find the virtue of faith in the soul of Our Divine Lord, for faith is 'the evidence of things we see not' and the human soul of Christ ever beheld the beatific vision of the Divine Essence...

...Eve, contrary to the assurance she had received from God, believed the serpent and brought death into the world. Mary, Our Queen, believed the angel when he told her that she, remaining a virgin, would become the Mother of God and in this way, she brought salvation into the world. St. Augustine says, that when Mary consented to the Incarnation of the Eternal Word, by means of her faith she opened heaven to men...

What tremendous demands were made on Mary's faith! In the beautiful words of St. Alphonsus: 'The Most Holy Virgin had more faith then all men and angels. She saw her Son in the crib of Bethlehem, and believed him the Creator of the world. She saw him fly from Herod and yet believed him the King of kings. She saw him born and believed him eternal. She saw him poor and in need of food, and believed him the Lord of the universe. She saw him lying on straw, and believed him omnipotent. She observed that he did not speak, and she believed him Infinite Wisdom. She head him weep, and believed him the Joy of Paradise...And blessed is she who has believed, because the things promises to her by the Lord shall be accomplished.'...

Excerpt from Conferences by the Servant of God Terence Cooke: Meditations on Mary, Alba House, NY.

Litany of Our Lady of Lourdes

Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy.

Christ have mercy; Christ have mercy.

Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy.

Christ hear us; Christ graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven; Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world; Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit; Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God; Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary; Pray for us.

Holy Mother of God; Pray for us.

Mother of Christ; Pray for us.

Mother of our Savior; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, help of Christians; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, source of love; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the poor; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the handicapped; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of orphans; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of all children; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of all nations; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the Church; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, friend of the lonely; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, comforter of those who mourn; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, shelter of the homeless; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, guide of travelers; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, strength of the weak; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, refuge of sinners; Pray for us.

Our Lady of Lourdes, comforter of the suffering; Pray for us. Conception.'

- Shared by Brother John Samaha, 

Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A Meditation on the Feast of the Presentation of Mary

Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary

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The Rosary

"Together we confirm that the holy rosary is not a pious practice banished to the past, like prayers of other times thought of with nostalgia. Instead, the rosary is experiencing a new springtime. Without a doubt, this is one of the most eloquent signs of love that the young generation nourish for Jesus and his Mother, Mary.

In the current world, so dispersive, this prayer helps to put Christ at the center, as the Virgin did, who meditated within all that was said about her Son, and also what he did and said.

When reciting the rosary, the important and meaningful moments of salvation history are relived. The various steps of Christ's mission are traced. With Mary the heart is oriented toward the mystery of Jesus. Christ is put at the center of our life, of our time, of our city through the contemplation and mediation of his holy mysteries of joy, light, sorrow, and glory.

May Mary help us to welcome within ourselves the grace emanating from these mysteries, so that through us we can 'water' society, beginning with our daily relationships, and purifying them from so many negative forces, thus opening them to the newness of God.

The rosary, when it is prayed in an authentic way, not mechanical and superficial but profoundly, brings, in fact, peace and reconciliation. It contains within itself the healing power of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, invoked with faith and love at the center of each 'Hail Mary'".

Pope Benedict XVI

October Issue 2009 Magnificat