The Seven Sorrows Novena By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor
Day Six – The Sixth Sorrow Mary Receives Jesus
Opening Prayer
V/. O God +, come to my assistance R/. O Lord, make haste to help me.
Gloria Patri …
Reflection (St Alphonsus de Liguori)
Meditation: It is over. Dark clouds have appeared in the sky and upon the world. Jesus is dead. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus take down the Body from the Cross. and Mary receives It in her arms. She is filled with a sadness that no human heart has known. This is her Son. Once she had cradled Him in her arms. listened to His voice, watched Him working at the carpenter’s bench. Now He is dead. She does not weep, her grief is too great for tears.
I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the wounding of thy compassionate heart, when the side of Jesus was struck by the lance and His Heart was pierced before His Body was removed from the Cross. Dear Mother, by thy heart thus transfixed, obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the gift of understanding. And this my special intention ……………………. (mention your intention) Amen
Ave Maria …
Prayer of St Alphonsus: O afflicted Virgin! O soul, great in virtues and great also in sorrows! for both arise from that great fire of love thou hast for God; thou “whose heart can love nothing but God; O Mother, have pity on me, for I have not loved God and I have so much offended Him. Thy sorrows give me great confidence to hope for pardon. But this is not enough; I wish to love my Lord and who can better obtain this for me than thou, thou who art the Mother of Fair Love? O Mary, thou dost console all, comfort me also. Amen
Thought for the Day – 12 September – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
The Power of Mary
“O Mary, my powerful and merciful Mother, my soul is constantly troubled by temptations. I am standing on the edge of the chasm. I promise to place myself, at once, under your maternal protection. Grant that I may never fall into sin again. Cast your merciful eyes upon me and save me when I am tempted. Grant that temptations may never again endanger the purity of my soul, by obtaining for me from God, a lively spirit of faith, a burning love fo Him and for you, a constant watchfulness over my senses and over worldly dangers and the gift of fervent and persevering prayer, in union with you and your divine Son, Jesus, Amen.”
Quote/s of the Day – 12 September – The Most Holy Name of Mary
“The name of Mary is the key to the gates of Heaven.”
St Ephrem (306-373) Father and Doctor of the Church
“Your name, O Mary, is a precious ointment, which breathes forth the odour of Divine grace. Let this ointment of salvation enter the inmost recesses of our souls.”
St Ambrose (340-397) Father and Doctor
“Your name, O Mother of God, is filled with Divine graces and blessings.”
St Methodius of Sicily (c 788-c 847)
“O great, O gentle, O most lovable Mary, thy Holy Name cannot be spoken without inflaming the heart. To those who love thee, it is unspeakable consolation and joy even to think of thee; thou art a sweet memory to those who honour thee.”
“In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray; while invoking her, you shall never lose heart; so long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception; while she holds your hand, you cannot fall; under her protection you have nothing to fear; if she walks before you, you shall not grow weary; if she shows you favour, you shall reach the goal.”
“If the hurricanes of temptation rise against you, or you are running upon the rocks of trouble, look to the star – call on Mary!”
St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Mellifluous Doctor of the Church
“She was called Mary, that is, star of the sea, in the foreseeing purpose of God, that she might declare by her name, that which she manifests more clearly in reality. (…) … For those who sail upon the sea of the present age and call on her with complete faith, she rescues from the breath of the storm and the raging of the winds and brings them, rejoicing with her, to the shore of their happy country.”
St Amadeus of Lausanne O.Cist (1110-1159)
“Glorious indeed and admirable is thy name, O Mary; for those who pronounce it at death need not fear all the powers of hell. Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as much as the powers of hell, feal the name and protection of Mary.”
St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Seraphic Doctor
“When I pronounce the name of Mary, I feel myself inflamed with such love and joy, that between the tears and happiness with which I pronounce this beautiful name, I feel as though my heart might leave my breast. For this sweet name is like a honeycomb dissolving in the innermost recesses of my soul.”
“A good person, out of the store of goodness in his heart, produces good” … Luke 6:45
REFLECTION – “Those who conceal their hypocrisy beneath feigned love, bless outwardly with their mouths but curse inwardly. Those who have acquired love, endure patiently the injuries and sufferings that their enemies inflict on them. Love alone harmoniously joins all created things with God and with each other. A person who does not tolerate suspicion or disparagement of others, possesses true love. Someone who does nothing to dispel love, is precious in the sight of God and the world. True words from a pure conscience betoken unfeigned love. If you tell your brother how someone else is denigrating him, you conceal your own envy under the guise of goodwill. (…) Guard yourself from hatred and dissipation and you will not be impeded at the time of prayer. Perfume is not to be found in mud nor the fragrance of love in the soul of a rancorous person. (…) Anyone who does not envy the spiritually mature and is merciful to the wicked, has attained an equal love for all. (…) Do not trust a thought that would judge your neighbour: for it is the person who is a store of evil who thinks evil thoughts (Mt 6:21; 12:35).” … St Thalassios the Libyan (5th Century) – Priest and Abbot in Libya (see a little biography of him below).
PRAYER – Heavenly Father, assist us at all times we pray, to obtain a spirit of worthy penance, for our sins and that of all the world. To the invocation of Your Divine Son, Jesus, we call on the intercession of His holy Mother, to aid us on our pilgrimage. With great affection and confidence, we honour the Holy Hearts and invoke the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, to be our constant source of pure assistance and succour that we might bear fruits worthy of their Names. Blessed be the Name of Mary! Amen
Saint Thalassius the Libyan undertook the call of God to life as a hermit in the fifth century. Thalassius is recorded to have entered into solitude at a young age near a village named Targala in Byzantine Syria. He is dwelt there living the ascetic life with no shelter for nearly forty years. His was a soul filled with humbleness, simplicity and a gentle nature. God manifested in the saint the gifts of powerful intercession and healing for which he gained considerable renown. In time, many came to join Thalassius in the eremitic life and he welcomed them as he would welcome Christ, building them cells with his own hands. Saint Thalassius, Hermit of Syria is said to have died peacefully and is commemorated on 22 February.
Our Morning Offering – 12 September – The Memorial of The Most Holy Name of Mary
Mary! Anonymous
Mary! Sweet name revered above, And oh! How dear below! In it are hope and holy love And blessings from it flow. Mary! What music in that sound, Pure lips breathe it forth; “Ave Maria,” sings earth around, And souls look up to heaven.
Mary! Bright Angels speak the name With rev’rence soft and low And God Himself, ever the same, His love for it did show.
Mary! To me that name recalls The Queen who reigns above, An angel sister in Heaven’s halls, And one worthy of love. Mary! Bright star of heavenly rest, I love thy name and thee; Mother purest, Virgin ever blest, Look down and pray for me. Amen
Saint of the Day – 12 September – Saint Ailbe (Died 528) Bishop of Emly, “The Patrick of Munster,” Confessor, Evangelist – Saint Ailbe is venerated as one of the four great Patrons of Ireland. Also known as – Ailbhe, Albert, Albeo, Albeus, Elvis. Patronages – Cashel, Ireland, Diocese of, Cashel and Emly, Ireland, Archdiocese of, Emly, Ireland, Diocese of, Munster, Ireland,wolves.
Ailbe was born to a maidservant in the house of Cronan, lord of Eliach in County Tipperary. Cronan, for reasons unrevealed, disapproved of his birth and directed that he be exposed to ‘dogs and wild beasts, that he might be devoured.’ But, instead, the baby was found hidden under a rock (Ail) and alive (beo), by a she-wolf who reared him among her own cubs. The Saint repaid the kindness toward the end of his life, when a she-wolf chased by hunters took refuge with him. He ordered that it should not be harmed and would come to eat with him each day.
Ailbe is frequently named as leader among the four “Palladian bishops” all of whom ministered in the south of Ireland – Ailbe of Emly, Ibar of Begerin, Declan of Ardmore and Ciaran of Saighir – before or around the time of the arrival of St Patrick.
Since Ailbe was also known in South Wales, it seems certain that before Patrick there was a movement of Christians between the south of Wales and the south of Ireland. And it may be from this movement that Ailbe received his Christian faith. Another source says Ailbe Baptised St David of Wales.
Ailbe was particularly friendly with Declan. The Life of Declan says: “They loved one another like brothers…” The Life also says they both went to Rome and were Ordained Bishop by the Pope.
The Life of Declan also deferentially declares: “Humble Ailbe was the Patrick of Munster….” He was considered to be one of the pre-Patrician Saints of Ireland
The church Ailbe founded at Emly in south-west Tipperary became a centre of formation for other well-known monastic saints, such as St Colman of Dromore and St Enda of Aran island.
Ailbe is said to have petitioned King Aengus of Cashel for a site for a Monastery for St Enda. Unaware that he had islands in his domain, Aengus that night dreamed about them and granted them to Enda.
According to the Annals of Innisfallen, which draws on records originally compiled at Emly, Ailbe died in 528.
Another interesting story is that Ailbe’s tomb, long forgotten, was discovered in Cashel in 580 when St Brendan of Birr came on a visit to inaugurate the new king. An ancient and weathered Celtic cross in its churchyard is known as “St Ailbe’s Cross.”
Emly later became an important Ecclesiastical centre and Diocese. In 1718 it was united with Cashel and St Ailbe is the Patron of the joint Archdiocese.
St Ailbe’s monastic Rule: A ninth century monastic rule bears Ailbe’s name. It consists of 56 verses in Irish, including these instructions to a monk:
Ailbe’s windowLet him be steady, let him not be restless, let him be wise, learned, pious; let him be vigilant; let him be a slave; let him be humble kindly.
Let him be gentle, close and zealous, let him be modest, generous and gracious; against the torrent of the world, let him be watchful, let him not be reproachful; against the brood of the world, let him be warlike.
The jewel of baptism and communion, let him receive it.
Let him be constant at prayer, his canonical hours let him not forget; his mind let him bow it down without insolence or contention.
A hundred genuflections for him at the Beata at the beginning of the day… thrice fifty psalms with a hundred genuflections every hour of vespers.
A genuflection thrice, earnestly, after going in past the altar rail, without frivolity and without excitement, going into the presence of the King of the angels.
A clean house for the guests and a big fire, washing and bathing for them and a couch without sorrow.
The Most Holy Name of Mary – 12 September (Optional Memorial): Feast of the entire Latin Church. It was first observed at Cuenca, Spain in 1513, then extended to the universal Church and assigned to its present place and rank by Pope Innocent XI in 1683 in thanksgiving to God and the Blessed Virgin for the liberation of Vienna, France and the signal victory over the Turks on 12 September 1683. It is the titular feast of the Society of Mary (Marianists) and of the Congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
Bl Maria Luisa Angelica/Gertrude Prosperi (1799-1847) St Mancius of Saint Thomas St Paul of Saint Clare Bl Pierre-Sulpice-Christophe Faverge St Sacerdos of Lyon St Silvinus of Verona St Tomás de Zumárraga Lazcano — Martyrs of Alexandria – 6 saints: A group of Christians martyred in the persecutions of Diocletian. We know little more than their names – Hieronides, Leontius, Sarapion, Seleusius, Straton and Valerian. They were drowned c 300 at Alexandria, Egypt.
Martyrs of Phrygia – 3 saints: Three Christians who were martyred for destroying pagan idols. We know little more than their names – Macedonius, Tatian and Theodolus. They were burned to death in 362 in Phrygia (modern Turkey).
Martyred in the Spanish Civil War: • Blessed Fortunato Arias Sánchez • Blessed Francisco Maqueda López • Blessed Jaume Puigferrer Mora • Blessed Josep Plana Rebugent • Blessed Julián Delgado Díez
AnaStpaul 
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