Posted in Hail MARY!, LENTEN PRAYERS & NOVENAS, MARIAN PRAYERS, NOVENAS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, St Louis-Marie Grignion de MONTFORT, The HOLY FACE

Lenten Preparation Novena to the Holy Face Day Seven – 26 February

Lenten Preparation Novena
in Reparation to the Holy Face
Day Seven

All those who, attracted by My Love and venerating My Countenance, shall receive, by virtue of My Humanity, a brilliant and vivid impression of My Divinity. This splendour shall enlighten the depths of their souls, so that in eternal glory the celestial court shall marvel at the marked likeness of their features, with My Divine Countenance.” … Our Lord Jesus Christ to St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)

DAILY PREPARATORY PRAYER

O Most Holy and Blessed Trinity,
through the intercession of Holy Mary,
whose soul was pierced through
by a sword of sorrow
at the sight of the passion of her Divine Son,
we ask Your help,
in making a perfect Novena of Reparation with Jesus,
united with all His sorrows, love and total abandonment.
We now implore all the Angels and Saints
to intercede for us as we pray this Holy Novena
to the Most Holy Face of Jesus
and for the glory of the most Holy Trinity,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen

(Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer)

DAY SEVEN
Psalm 51,14-15:

Give me again the joy of your help,
with a spirit of fervour sustain me,
that I may teach transgressors your ways
and sinners may return to you.

Lord Jesus!
After contemplating Thy features,
disfigured by grief pain,
after meditating upon Thy Passion
with compunction and love,
how can our hearts fail to be inflamed
with a holy hatred of sin,
which even now, outrages Thy Adorable Face!
Lord, suffer us not to be content
with mere compassion
but grant us grace to closely follow Thee
in this Calvary,
so that the opprobrium destined for Thee
may fall on us,
0 Jesus, that thus, we may have a share,
small though it may be,
in expiation of sin.
Amen

Mary, our Mother, intercede for us.
Saint Joseph pray for us.
Through the merits of Your Precious Blood
and Your Holy Face, O Jesus,
grant us our petition ………………
Pardon and mercy.

Amen

Hail Mary, Queen of Our Hearts, Our Mother
Prayer in Honour of Mary
By St Louis Marie de Montfort (1673-1716)

Hail Mary,
Daughter of God the Father!
Hail Mary,
Mother of God the Son!
Hail Mary,
Spouse of the Holy Spirit!
Hail Mary,
Temple of the Most Holy Trinity!
Hail Mary, our mistress,
our wealth, our mystic rose.
Queen of our hearts, our Mother,
our life, our sweetness
and our dearest hope!
We are all Thine
and all we have is thine.
O Virgin, blessed above all things,
may thy soul be in us,
to magnify the Lord,
may thy spirit be in us,
to rejoice in God.
Place thyself, O faithful Virgin,
as a seal upon our hearts,
that in thee and through thee,
we may be found faithful to God.
Grant, most gracious Virgin,
that we may be numbered
among those, whom thou art
pleased to love, to teach and to guide,
to favour and to protect, as thy children.
Grant that with the help of thy love,
we may despise all earthly consolations
and cling to heavenly things,
until through the Holy Spirit,
thy faithful spouse and through thee,
His faithful spouse,
Jesus Christ, Thy Son, be formed within us
for the glory of the Father.
Amen

Pray (1) Our Father, three (3) Hail Marys, one (1) Glory Be

O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine,
be every Adoration Thine

(Three times)

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on COURAGE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PRAYER

Thought for the Day – 26 February – Visits to the Blessed Sacrament

Thought for the Day – 26 February – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Visits to the Blessed Sacrament

After the many plans and worries of the day, it is wonderful to visit a Church in the evening and kneel before the Blessed Sacrament.
There we can adore Jesus and converse lovingly with Him.
We have spent so many hours surrounded by the noise of the world.
It is restful now to spend a quarter of an hour in silent prayer before Jesus, the Prisoner of Love, in the Tabernacle.
It is He, Who invites us.
Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28).

There are so many matters worrying us.
We need some words of advice, which will clear our doubts and strengthen us in suffering.
We need words of encouragement to banish our sadness and enliven our faith.
We need words of love, which will light, in our hearts, the flame of love for God.
We can find all this on our knees before the Tabernacle.

Do not end the day, without seeking a renewal of Christian strength, at the feet of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, if at all possible.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN Saturdays, MARIAN TITLES, QUOTES on DOUBT, QUOTES on HOPE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SIN, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, The HEART

Quote/s of the Day – 26 February – Have recourse to Mary

Quote/s of the Day – 26 February – Mary’s Saturday

Pray, pray a great deal
and make sacrifices for sinners,
for many souls go to Hell
because they have no-one
to make sacrifices
and pray for them.

Our Lady of Fatima 1917
13 May to 13 October 1917

O sinner, be not discouraged
but have recourse to Mary,
in all your necessities.
Call her to your assistance,
for such is the divine Will
that she should help
in every kind of necessity.

St Basil the Great (329-379)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“O Mary, I have not doubt
that whenever we run to you,
we shall obtain all that we desire.
Let those then who have no hope,
hope in you!”

“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.”

St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Mellifluous Doctor of the Church

It seems unbelievable
that a man should perish
in whose favour Christ said to His Mother:
‘Behold thy son’,
provided that he has not turned a deaf ear
to the words, which Christ addressed to him:
‘Behold thy Mother.’

St Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621)
Doctor of the Church

Never do anything
that your heart tells you,
is displeasing to Mary
and, in addition,
never deny her anything
that you know she would welcome
and desire from you.

St Joseph Cafasso (1811-1860)

It would be hard to find
a more touching plea.
We ask our heavenly Mother
to intercede for us
now because we have such great need
of her assistance
in this vale of tears and temptations.
May she be always by our side,
to shelter us beneath her mantle

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on OBEDIENCE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SIN, The HEART, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 26 February – ‘Show me then whether the eyes of your mind, can see and the ears of your heart, hear.’

One Minute Reflection – 26 February – Hail Holy Mother! – Sirach 24:14-16, Luke 11:27-28

Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.” – Luke 11:28

REFLECTION – “If you say, “Show me your God,” I will say to you, “Show me what kind of person you are and I will show you my God.” Show me then whether the eyes of your mind, can see and the ears of your heart, hear.

It is like this. Those who can see with the eyes of their bodies, are aware of what is happening in this life on earth. They get to know things that are different from each other. They distinguish light and darkness, black and white, ugliness and beauty, elegance and inelegance, proportion and lack of proportion, excess and defect. The same is true of the sounds we hear: high or low or pleasant. So it is with the ears of our heart and the eyes of our mind, in their capacity to hear or see God.

God is seen by those who have the capacity to see Him, provided that they keep the eyes of their mind open. All have eyes, but some have eyes that are shrouded in darkness, unable to see the Light of the Sun. Because the blind cannot see it, it does not follow that the sun does not shine. The blind must trace the cause back to themselves and their eyes . In the same way, you have eyes in your mind that are shrouded in darkness because of your sins and evil deeds. …

But if you will, you can be healed. Hand yourself over to the Doctor, and He will open the eyes and ears of your mind and heart. Who is to be the Doctor? It is God, Who heals and gives life through His Word and Wisdom. … ”St Theophilus of Antioch (Died c 185) Bishop of Antioch, Confessor, Apologist, Father (An excerpt from: A Book addressed to Autolycus).

PRAYER – Grant us, Your servants, O Lord God, we beseech You, to enjoy lasting health of mind and body; and by the intercession of glorious and blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow and partake to the full of eternal happiness. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).

Posted in MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, Our MORNING Offering

Our Morning Offering – 26 February – Prayer to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

Our Morning Offering – 26 February – Mary’s Saturday

Prayer to Our Lady
of the Miraculous Medal

Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate,
we unite ourselves to thee
under thy title of Blessed Mother,
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
May this medal be, for each one of us,
a sure sign of thy motherly affection for us
and a constant reminder
of our filial duties towards thee.
While wearing it, may we be blessed
by thy loving protection
and preserved in the grace of thy Son.
Most powerful Virgin,
Mother of our Saviour,
keep us close to thee,
every moment of our lives
so that like thee, we may live and act
according to the teaching
and example of thy Son.
Obtain for us, thy children,
the grace of a happy death,
so that in union with thee
we may enjoy
the happiness of heaven forever.
Amen
O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY

Saint of the Day – 26 February – St Alexander of Alexandria (Died c 326)

Saint of the Day – 26 February – St Alexander of Alexandria (Died c 326) Bishop of Alexandria, Confessor, Defender of the True Faith against heresies, in particular the Arians. Born in the 3rd Century in northern Egypt and died on 26 February c 326 at Alexandria, Egypt. Also known as – Alessandro di Alessandria.

The Roman Martyrology states of him today: “At Alexandria, the Bishop St Alexander, an aged man held in great honour who was a successor of the blessed Peter as Bishop of the City. He expelled from the Church, Arius, one of his Priests, tainted with heretical impiety and convicted by Divine Truth and, subsequently, was one of the three hundred and eighteen Fathers, who condemned him at the Council of Nicea.”

He was a man of apostolic doctrine and life, mild, affable, exceedingly charitable to the poor and full of faith, zeal and fervour.

St Alexander was made Bishop of Alexandria in 313. He was a disciple of the previous Bishop St Peter the Martyr and had heard the warnings the great Bishop made in prison about the Deacon Arius. Alexander led an untiring battle against this heretic, preparing the way for St Athanasius.

Arius was a tall man of a grave imposing appearance. He attracted confidence by his amiable manner and agreeable conversation. He lived austerely, assumed a penitent air and showed an apparent zeal for religion. With a broad but superficial knowledge of profane literature and the ecclesiastical sciences, he was a subtle and persuasive dialectician. However, under this exterior show of virtue was a man of melancholy, turbulence, ambition and a taste for novelties. After he was Ordained Priest and charged with teaching Scriptures, he could not contain his vanity and titled himself illustrious. After the death of St Achillas, Bishop of Alexandria, Arius aspired to his See. When Alexander was chosen, Arius became his enemy. It was about this time that Arius began to teach his bad doctrine and recruit followers.

Alexander, concerned about the spreading of this heresy and finding Arius obstinate and incorrigible, excommunicated him from the Diocese of Alexandria. The heretic went to Palestine where he received the support of various Bishops, especially Eusebius of Nicomedia. There he began a campaign of intrigues against his adversaries.

The Council of Nicea in 325 condemned Arius and his doctrines. In that famous assembly of Bishops, one of the high luminaries was our Saint, Alexander. St Athanasius, who had accompanied Alexander, was also present as a Deacon. Alexander returned to Alexandria, where he died several years later, after naming St Athanasius as his successor. Having dedicated his life to gloriously fighting in defence of the Church, he delivered his soul to the Lord in c 326.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY

Notre-Dame des Champs / Our Lady of the Fields, Paris, France, consecrated by St Denis (250) and Memorials of the Saints – 26 February

Notre-Dame des Champs / Our Lady of the Fields, Paris, France, consecrated by St Denis (250) – 26 February:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/26/our-lady-of-the-fields-paris-france-consecrated-by-st-denis-250-and-memorials-of-the-saints-26-february/

Bl Adalbert of Tegernsee
St Agricola of Nevers
St Alexander of Alexandria (Died c 326) Bishop, Confessor

St Andrew of Florence
St Dionysius of Augsburg
St Faustinian of Bologna
St Felix
St Fortunatus
St Irene
St Isabelle of France

St Marggaret of Cortona TOSF (1247–1297) Penitent, Franciscan Tertiary, Mystic, Apostle of Charity, Founder of a charitable Lay Apostolate and an Order of Sisters known as “Le Poverelle” – Italian for “The Little Poor Ones.”
Biography:

https://anastpaul.com/2019/02/22/saint-of-the-day-22-february-st-margaret-of-cortona-tosf-1247-1297/

Bl Ottokar of Tegernsee

St Paula Montal Fornés of Saint Joseph of Calasanz (1799-1889)Religious Sister and Founder of the Sisters of the Pious Schools.
Biography:

https://anastpaul.com/2018/02/26/saint-of-the-day-26-february-st-paula-montal-fornes-de-san-jose-de-calasanz-1799-1889/

Bl Piedad de la Cruz Ortiz
St Porphyrius of Gaza
Bl Robert Drury

St Victor the Hermit (Died 6th Century) Priest, Monk, Hermit, miracle-worker.
About St Victor:

https://anastpaul.com/2021/02/26/saint-of-the-day-26-february-saint-victor-the-hermit-died-6th-century-priest/