Category: CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month

Posted in "Follow Me", CARMELITES, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on PEACE, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SUFFERING, The HOLY NAME, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 11 September – ‘Thou alone I have chosen for my whole inheritance …’

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Quote/s of the Day – 11 September – St Protus and St Hyacinth (Died c257) Brother Martyrs – Wisdom 3:1-8, Luke 21:9-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And you shall be hated by all men,
for My Name’s sake.”

Luke 21:17

“If anyone serves Me,
he must follow Me
and where I Am,
there will My servant be too.”

John 12:26

“Pray in the spirit and sentiment of love,
in which the royal Prophet said to Him,
‘Thou, O Lord, art my portion.’
Let others choose to themselves,
portions among creatures,
for my part, Thou art my portion,
Thou alone I have chosen
for my whole inheritance.”

St Augustine of Canterbury (Died c605)
“The Apostle to the English”

“O strong love of God!
I really think, nothing seems impossible,
to one who loves. O happy soul
which has obtained this peace, from its God! ”

St Teresa of Jesus of Avila (1515-1582)
Carmelite Reformer

“Love consists,
not in feeling great things
but, in having great detachment
and in suffering for the Beloved.”

St John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Doctor Mysticus

“Prayer is the inner bath of love
into which the soul plunges itself.”

St Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney (1786-1859)

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS & NOVENA to St Joseph, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 11 September – Glorious St Joseph!

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Our Morning Offering – 11 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” and today St Joseph’s Wednesday

Glorious St Joseph!
Prayer for the Intercession
of St Joseph in All Our Needs
By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

Glorious St Joseph, Spouse of Mary,
grant us thy paternal protection,
we beseech thee, by the Heart of Jesus Christ.
O thou, whose power extends
to all our necessities
and can render possible for us,
the most impossible things.
Open thy fatherly eyes
to the needs of thy children.
In the trouble and distress
which afflicts us,
we confidently have recourse to thee.
Deign to take under thy charitable charge
this important and difficult matter,
cause of our worries.
Make its happy outcome
be for God’s glory
and for the good of His devoted servants.
Amen

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the JUDGE, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, Of the Holy Souls in PURGATORY, QUOTES on PURITY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Quote/s of the Day – 10 September – Saint Nicholas of Tolentino

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Quote/s of the Day – 10 September – Saint Nicholas of Tolentino OSA (1245-1305) Confessor, “The Patron of Holy Souls” Priest, Augustinian Friar Monk, Mystic, Preacher, Miralce-worker and Apostle of the poor, the sick, the needy.

“How can I be said to fast,
while every morning, at the Altar,
I receive my God?”

(Often after his Mass, it was revealed to him
that the souls for whom he had offered
the Holy Sacrifice, had been admitted
to the Presence of God.)

“The heavens are not pure
in the sight of Him Whom I serve;
how then shall I, a sinful man,
stand before Him? ”

St Nicholas of Tolentino (1245-1305)

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, OUR Cross, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Prayers to the SORROWFUL MOTHER, QUOTES on PATIENCE, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 10 September – My Sorrowful Mother, Help Me to Bear My Crosses

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Our Morning Offering – 10 September – “Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross”

My Sorrowful Mother,
Help Me to Bear My Crosses
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

My sorrowful Mother,
by the merit of that grief
which you felt
at seeing your beloved Jesus
led to death,
obtain for me the grace
to bear with patience,
those crosses which God sends me.
I will be fortunate
if I also shall know how
to accompany you
with my cross until death.
You and Jesus,
both innocent,
have borne a heavy cross
and shall I,
a sinner who has merited hell,
refuse mine?
Immaculate Virgin,
I hope you will help me
to bear my crosses with patience.
Amen

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, OUR Cross, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY NAME

One Minute Reflection – 9 September – Losing and finding our lives – Matthew 10:34-42

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One Minute Reflection – 9 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Peter Claver SJ (1581-1654) Confessor, Priest of the Society of Jesus, Missionary –Wisdom 10:10-14; Matthew 10:34-42 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“He who findeth his life, shall lose it and he, who shall lose his life for Me, shall find it. ” – Matthew 10:39

REFLECTION – “Let us consider these words of our Lord: that, He wishes “to draw all things to Himself” (Jn 12:32). Someone who wishes to draw all things, first of all, gathers them together and afterward, draws them. This is what our Lord does – first of all, He calls us back from straying and wandering outside, making us collect our senses, faculties, words, deeds and, within, our thoughts, intentions, imagination, desires, inclinations, mind, will and love. Then, when everything is rightfully returned to good order, God draws us to Himself. For we must first of all be separated from every exterior or interior possession, to which we are attached, putting all our satisfaction in them. This kind of detachment is a painful cross and, all the more painful as the attachment becomes firmer and stronger …

Why does God rarely allow one day and night, to resemble the previous day and night? Why is it that what assisted your devotion today, is of no help at all tomorrow? Why do you have a host of images and thoughts which come to nothing? My dear child, accept this cross from God and bear it – it will turn into a truly lovable cross, if you would hand these trials over to God, accept them from Him with true abandonment and thank God for them: “My soul magnifies the Lord” in everything (cf Lk 1:46). Whether God takes or gives, the Son of Man must be raised up on the Cross … Dear child, leave all that behind; rather, give your attention to true abandonment … and think about accepting to bear the cross of temptation, rather than going in search of spiritual sweetness … Our Lord has said: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him take up his cross and follow Me” (Lk 9:23).” – Fr JohannesTauler OP (c1300-1361) Dominican Priest and Friar, renowned Preacher and Theologian , leaving us more than 80 sermons.(Sermon 59, 4th for the Exaltation of the Cross).

PRAYER – God of mercy and love, Thou offer all peoples the dignity of sharing in Thy Light and Life. By the example and prayers of St Peter Claver, strengthen us to love each other as brothers. 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

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, GOOD FRIDAY, HOLY WEEK, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, Prayers to the SORROWFUL MOTHER, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 6 September – Faithful Cross Above All Others

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Our Morning Offering – 6 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” and Friday devoted to the Passion

Faithful Cross! Above All Other
By St Venantius Fortunatus (c 530 – c 609)

Faithful Cross! above all other,
one and only noble tree!
None in foliage, none in blossom,
none in fruit thy peer may be;
sweetest wood and sweetest iron,
sweetest weight is hung on thee.

Bend thy boughs, O tree of glory!
Thy relaxing sinews bend;
for awhile the ancient rigour
that thy birth bestowed, suspend
and the King of heavenly beauty
gently on thine arms extend.

Praise and honour to the Father,
praise and honour to the Son,
praise and honour to the Spirit,
ever Three and ever One:
One in might and One in glory
while eternal ages run.

Posted in CARPENTERS, WOODWORKERS, JOINERS, CABINETMMAKERS, Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS, PRAYERS & NOVENA to St Joseph, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, QUOTES on WORK/LABOUR, SAINT of the DAY, WORKERS

Our Morning Offering – 3 September – O Glorious St Joseph, Model of Labour By St Pius X

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Our Morning Offering – 3 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – St Pius X (1835-1914) Pope, Confessor and today, Wednesday, being St Joseph’s day. St Joseph continues his fatherly guardianship of Christ’s Body, the Holy Catholic Church. He is a very powerful intercessor for all of us. [Sorry friends, I got the days confused, thinking today was Wednesday – but no time to change this prayer and anyway we should pray it every day 😬😉]

O Glorious St Joseph,
Model of Labour
A Prayer to St Joseph, Daily Before Work
By St Pius X (1835-1914) Pope, Confessor

O glorious St. Joseph,
model of all those who are devoted to labour,
obtain for me the grace to work conscientiously,
putting the call of duty above
my natural inclinations;
to work with gratitude and joy,
in a spirit of penance for the remission of my sins, considering it an honour to employ
and develop, by means of labour,
the gifts received from God,
to work with order, peace, moderation and patience, without ever shrinking
from weariness and difficulties,
to work above all, with purity of intention
and detachment from self,
having always, death before my eyes
and the account which I must render of time lost,
of talents wasted, of good omitted,
of vain complacency in success,
so fatal to the work of God.
All for Jesus, all through Mary,
all after thine example, O Patriarch, St Joseph.
Such shall be my watchword in life and in death.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, franciscan OFM, MARIAN PRAYERS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Prayers to the SORROWFUL MOTHER, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 2 September – To Our Lady of Sorrows By St Bonaventure

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Our Morning Offering – 2 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross”

To Our Lady of Sorrows
By St Bonaventure (1217-1274)
Seraphic Doctor of the Church

O most holy Virgin,
Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
by the overwhelming grief thou experienced
when thou witnessed the Martyrdom,
the Crucifixion and the Death,
of Thy Divine Son,
look upon me, with eyes of compassion
and awaken in my heart,
a tender commiseration for those sufferings
and a sincere detestation of my sins,
in order that,
being disengaged from all undue affection
for the passing joys of this earth,
I may sigh after the eternal Jerusalem
and that, henceforward, all my thoughts
and all my actions may be directed
towards this one most desirable object,
the honour, glory and love
of our divine Lord Jesus,
and to thee,
the Holy and Immaculate
Mother of God.
Amen.

Posted in INDULGENCES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION, The SIGN of the CROSS

SEPTEMBER – Month of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross

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SEPTEMBER

Month of The Seven Sorrows
of the Blessed Virgin Mary and
The Holy Cross

The Seven Sorrows of
the Blessed Virgin Mary

1, The prophecy of Simeon
2. The Flight to Egypt
3. Loss of Child Jesus for 3 days
4. Meeting Jesus carrying His Cross
5. The Crucifixion of Jesus
6. The Pieta – receiving Jesus’ Body
The Burial of Jesus

Bid me bear, O Mother Blest,
On my heart, the wounds imprest,
Suffered by the Crucified!

An Indulgence of 50 days each time.
Plenary Indulgence once a month under the usual conditions.

“Yet, after all, it is reasonable that the charitable should suffer when we remember that the Lord and model of all charity, suffered all things simply because of His charity. What else caused His Agony in the Garden, His cruel Scourging at the Pillar, and His dereliction on the Cross? It was all the result of His Divine Charity.
We, therefore,, if we are to follow in His steps, must expect to encounter the same results as a reward for any charity if it resembles His, however remotely. If we are wise, we shall rejoice in any sign that we are to be honoured by sharing our Master’s lot!” Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

Relic of the Holy Cross
Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Prayers to the SORROWFUL MOTHER, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 1 September – What Can I Say? By St Anselm

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Our Morning Offering – 1 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross”

What Can I Say?
By St Anselm (1033-1109)
Magnificent Doctor
Marian Doctor

My most merciful Lady,
what can I say about the fountains
that flowed from your most pure eyes
when you saw your only Son before you,
bound, beaten and suffering?
What do I know of the flood
that drenched your matchless face,
when you beheld your Son,
your Lord and your God,
stretched on the Cross without guilt,
when the flesh of your flesh
was cruelly butchered by wicked men?
How can I judge, what sobs,
troubled your most pure breast,
when you heard, “Woman, behold your son,”
and the disciple, “Behold, your Mother,”
when you received as a son
the disciple in place of the Master,
the servant for the Lord?
Amen

From “The Prayers and Meditations of Saint Anselm with the Proslogion,” Benedicta Ward, trans,1973, Penguin classics, Penguin Group (UK).

Posted in IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN PRAYERS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 31 August – O Purest of Creatures, Sweet Mother, Sweet Maid

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Our Morning Offering – 31 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” the Last Day and Mary’s Saturday

O Purest of Creatures,
Sweet Mother, Sweet Maid
By Fr Frederick W Faber C.Orat. (1814-863)

O Purest of creatures, sweet Mother, sweet maid,
The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid!
Dark night hath come down on us, Mother! and we
Look out for thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!

Deep night hath come down on this rough-spoken world,
And the banners of darkness are boldly unfurled;
And the tempest-tossed Church,—
all her eyes are on thee;
They look to thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!

He gazed on thy soul, it was spotless and fair,
For the empire of sin—it had never been there;
None ever had owned thee, dear Mother but He.
And He blest thy clear shining, sweet Star of the Sea!

Earth gave Him one lodging; t’was deep in thy breast,
And God found a home where the sinner finds rest;
His home and His hiding-place, both were in thee,
He was won by thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!

Posted in AUGUST - The Immaculate Heart of Mary, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, IMMACULATE HEART Quotes, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MOTHER of GOD, QUOTES on PURITY, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, St Louis-Marie Grignion de MONTFORT, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Quote/s of the Day – 26 August – Our Lady

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Quote/s of the Day – 26 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” and the Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Queen of Poland

O Pure and Immaculate Blessed Virgin
By St Ephrem (306-373)
Father and Doctor of the Church

O Pure and Immaculate
and likewise Blessed Virgin,
who art the sinless Mother of thy Son,
the mighty Lord of the universe,
thou who art inviolate and altogether holy,
the hope of the hopeless and sinful,
we sing thy praises.
We bless thee, as full of every grace,
thou who didst bear the God-Man:
we bow low before thee;
we invoke thee and implore thine aid.
Rescue us, O holy and inviolate Virgin,
from every necessity that presses upon us
and from all the temptations of the devil.
Be our intercessor and advocate
at the hour of death and judgement,
deliver us from the fire
that is not extinguished
and from the outer darkness;
make us worthy of the glory of thy Son,
O dearest and most clement Virgin Mother.
Thou indeed art our only hope most sure
and sacred in God’s sight,
to Whom be honour and glory
and majesty and dominion
forever and ever,
world without end.
Amen

St Ephrem (306-373)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“You have guarded the integrity
of the temple [of your body];
you have kept your tabernacle free from all sin,
so that the Father becomes your guest,
the Holy Ghost overshadows you
and the Only-begotten Son Incarnate
is born of you.”

St Hesychius of Jerusalem (Died c450)
Priest, Exegete, Father

“O Mother blest!
And chosen Shrine
wherein the Architect Divine,
Whose Hand contains the earth and sky
vouchsafed in hidden guise to lie;
Blest in the message Gabriel brought;
blest in the work, the Spirit wrought;
Most blest, to bring to human birth,
the long desired of all the earth!”

St Venantius Fortunatus (c530 – c609)
Bishop, Poet, Theologian, Father

“It is through the most
Blessed Virgin Mary
that Jesus Christ came into the world
and, it is also through her
that He will reign in the world.”

St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716)

Posted in IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on PHYSICAL SICKNESS, ILLNESS, QUOTES on SUFFERING

Our Morning Offering – 24 August – O Mary, Immaculate Virgin, Prayer for Health of Soul and Body

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Our Morning Offering – 24 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”and Feast of Our Lady Health of the Sick

O Mary, Immaculate Virgin
Prayer for Health of Soul and Body

O Mary, Immaculate Virgin,
our salvation lies in thy hands.
Cleanse our souls,
we beseech thee,
from the leprosy of sin
and assist us in our corporal infirmities.
And, if it be the will of God
that we must be acquainted
with sickness and suffering,
obtain for us, at least,
perfect patience and resignation,
in whatsoever God may dispose.
Amen.

Posted in AUGUST - The Immaculate Heart of Mary, AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MARIAN QUOTES, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on REPARATION/EXPIATION, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, SACRED HEART PRAYERS, The SEVEN LAST WORDS of CHRIST, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 22 August – Mother of love

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Quote/s of the Day – 22 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” and the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Octave Day of the Assumption – Ecclesiasticus 24:23-31, John 19:25-27 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Woman, behold thy son. …
Behold thy mother.”

John 19:26-27

“And from that hour,
the disciple took her to his own.”
John 19:27

“ As His last will and testament,
He committed, to His beloved heir,
the care of His Mother…
The Church fell to Peter, Mary to John.
This bequest belonged to John,
not only by right of kinship but too,
because of the privilege, love had bestowed
and the witness, his chastity bore…
It was fitting that none other than the beloved
of her Son, should minister to the Mother of the Lord… Providence too arranged, very conveniently
that he who was to write a Gospel,
should have intimate conferences with her,
who knew about them all,
for she had taken note from the beginning,
of everything that happened to her Son
and “treasured all the words concerning Him, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19).”

Blessed Guerric of Igny O. Cist. (c1080-1157)
Cistercian Abbot

“In the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I trust.
Look to the Star, call upon Mary!
In danger, in difficulty or in doubt,
think of Mary, call upon Mary.
Keep her name on your lips,
never let it pass out of your heart.”

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

O Immaculate Heart of Mary
By St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)

O Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I have nothing in myself to offer thee
which is worthy of thee
but what thankgiving I ought I to pay thee,
for all the favours
which thou hast obtained for me
from the Heart of Jesus!
What reparation ought I to make thee
for all my tepidity in thy service!
I desire to return thee love for love,
the only good which I possess,
is the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
which thou, thyself hast given me.
I offer thee this Treasure of Infinite Price,
I cannot do more
and thou dost not deserve less, at my hand
but, receiving from me,
this Gift most Precious in thy sight,
be pleased, I beseech thee,
to accept too, my poor heart
which I here offer to thee
and I shall be forever blessed!
Amen.

Posted in IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, MOTHER of GOD, The HOLY NAME of MARY

Our Morning Offering – 22 August – I’ll Sing a Hymn to Mary

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Our Morning Offering – 22 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” and the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of our Most Blessed and Loved Mother Mary

I’ll Sing a Hymn to Mary
By Father John Wyse (1825-1898)
Irish Priest and Hymn writer

I’ll sing a hymn to Mary,
The Mother of my God,
The Virgin of all virgins,
Of David’s royal blood.
O teach me, Holy Mary,
A loving song to frame,
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
To love and bless thy name.

O Lily of the Valley,
O Mystic Rose, what tree,
Or flower, e’en the fairest,
Is half so fair as thee?
O let me, tho’ so lowly
Recite my Mother’s fame.
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
I’ll love and bless thy name.

O noble Tower of David,
Of gold and ivory.
The ark of God’s own promise,
The gate of Heav’n to me.
To live and not to love thee
Would fill my soul with shame.
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
I’ll love and bless thy name.

When troubles dark afflict me
In sorrow and in care,
Thy light doth ever guide me
O beauteous Morning Star.
Lo, I’ll be ever ready
Thy goodly help to claim,
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
To love and bless thy name.

The saints are high in glory,
With golden crowns so bright;
But brighter far is Mary,
Upon her throne of light.
Oh that which God did give thee,
Let mortal ne’er disclaim;
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
I’ll love and bless thy name.

But in the crown of Mary,
There lies a wonderous gem,
As Queen of all the Angels,
Which Mary shares with them;
No sin hath e’er defiled thee,
So doth our faith proclaim;
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
I’ll love and bless thy name.

And now O Virgin Mary
My mother and my Queen,
I’ve sung thy praise so bless me,
And keep my heart from sin.
When others jeer and mock thee,
I’ll often think how I
To shield my Mother, Mary,
Would lay me down and die.

Verses 4, 5 and 6 omitted on image.

Posted in AUGUST - The Immaculate Heart of Mary, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN TITLES, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, SAINT of the DAY

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Octave Day of the Assumption) and Memorials of the Saints – 22 August

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Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Octave Day of the Assumption) – Pope Pius XII instituted the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1944 to be celebrated on 22 August, coinciding with the traditional Octave Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin.
(In 1969, after Vatican II, the Feast was moved to the Saturday, immediately after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.).
https://anastpaul.com/2017/06/24/the-feast-of-the-immaculate-heart-of-mary-24-june-2017-the-saturday-following-the-feast-of-the-sacred-heart/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/06/09/feast-of-the-immaculate-heart-of-mary-8-june/

St Timothy and Companions – they were + St Hippolytus of Porto and + St Symphorian of Autun. The three died at different times in different places – Martyrs

St Andrew of Fiesole (Died c880) Archdeacon, Monk, Missionary, Miracle-worker. Andrew was the Irish-born disciple and assistant of St Donatus (Died c874). He served as Archdeacon of Fiesole, Italy under Bishop Donatus – about St Donatus here: https://anastpaul.com/2020/10/22/saint-of-the-day-22-october-st-donatus-of-fiesole-died-874/:
His body is incorrupt.
A life of Boundless Charity:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/08/22/saint-of-the-day-22-august-st-andrew-of-fiesole-died-c880-archdeacon/

St Anthusa of Seleucia
St Antoninus of Rome
St Arnulf of Eynesbury
St Athanasius of Tarsus
Bl Bernard Perani
St Dalmau Llebaría Torné
St Epictetus of Ostia
St Ethelgitha of Northumbria
St Fabrician of Toledo
St Felix of Ostia

+ St Hippolytus of Porto

Blessed Giacomo/James Bianconi OP (1220–1301) Confessor, Priest and Friar of the Order of Preachers, Spiritual Advisor, founder and restorer of Convents and Churches. Pope Urban VIII Beatified the Blessed Giacomo in 1641.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/08/22/saint-of-the-day-22-august-blessed-giacomo-bianconi-op-1220-1301/

St Gunifort
St Joan Farriol Sabaté

St John Kemble (1599 – 1679) Martyr, Priest. Ordained in 1625, he returned to Monmouthshire and served more than 50 years as an itinerant Priest, winning admirers even among Protestants. After being dragged on a hurdle to Widemarsh Common, Kemble declared on the scaffold that he died for the religion that had made this country Christian and that he forgave all his enemies. He was then obliged to encourage the executioner, who had no stomach for his task.
Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/08/22/saint-of-the-day-22-august-st-john-kemble-1599-1679-martyr/

St John Wall
St Josep Roselló Sans
St Julio Melgar Salgado
St Maprilis of Ostia
St Martial of Ostia
St Maurus of Rheims
St Philibert of Toledo
Bl Richard Kirkman
St Saturninus of Ostia
Bl Simeon Lukach
St Sigfrid of Wearmouth
+ St Symphorian of Autun

Blessed Timoteo da Monticchio OFM (1444-1503) Priest of the Order of the Friars Minor, he ws endowed with mystical gifts, especially of the Blessed Virgin and of St Francis of Assisi. On 10 March 1870, his Beatification was confirmed by Pope Pius IX. His body is incorrupt.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/22/saint-of-the-day-22-august-blessed-timoteo-da-monticchio-ofm-1444-1503/

St Thomas Percy
Bl William Lacey

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, Holy Name PRAYERS, HYMNS, MARCH the month of ST JOSEPH, MARIAN QUOTES, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS, QUOTES on ANGELS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, St JOSEPH, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE

Quote/s of the Day – 20 August – A little bit of Bernard’s wisdom

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Quote/s of the Day – 20 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Feast of St Bernard (1090-1153) Confessor, Father and Doctor

“ They are there at your side, then,
not just with you but for you.
They stand beside you to protect and help you.
What return will you make to the Lord
for all the good He has done for you? (Ps 115:31).
It is to Him, alone, we should give thanks
and honour for their aid; it is He,
Who has commanded them.
“Every perfect gift,” (Jas 1:17)
comes from Him alone.
But we are, on no account,
to fail in thanksgiving regarding the Angels,
in view of the great charity, with which they obey Him and the great need we have of their assistance!”

“Nevertheless, small though we be
and long and dangerous though the road
may be which remains for us to travel,
what do we have to fear
under so good a guardian?…
The Angels are faithful,
wise and powerful –
what have we to fear?
Let us only follow them
and hold fast to them
and we shall abide under the protection
of the God of Heaven!”

“But what shall we offer, brothers,
what shall we give Him
for all the benefits He has given us?
He offered the most precious Victim
He possessed for our sake;
in truth, He could not have had
anything more precious.
So let us, too,
do what we can,
let us offer Him the best we have,
that is to say, ourselves!
He offered Himself,
so who are you,
to hesitate to offer yourself?”

“God, to Whom Angels submit themselves
and Who Principalities and Powers obey,
was subject to Mary
and not only to Mary
but Joseph too, for Mary’s sake …
God obeyed a human creature;
this is humility without precedent.
A human creature commands God!
it is sublime beyond measure!

jesu Dulcis Memoria
Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee!
By St Bernard (1090-1153)
Father and the Mellifluous Doctor of the Church

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus’ Name,
The Saviour of mankind.

O hope of every contrite heart!
O joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!

But what to those who find?
Ah! this nor tongue, nor pen, can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.

Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shall be;
In Thee be all our glory now
And through eternity.
Amen

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/08/20/quote-s-of-the-day-20-august-st-bernard-3/

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

Posted in IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, SACRED HEART PRAYERS

Our Morning Offering – 19 August – A Magnificat By St John Eudes

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Our Morning Offering – 19 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Feast of St John Eudes (1601-1680) Confessor, “The Apostle of Two Hearts”

A Magnificat
By St John Eudes (1601-1680)
A Hymn of Praise and Thanksgiving
to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and to the Holy Heart of Mary

My soul doth magnify the admirable
Heart of Jesus and Mary
And my spirit rejoices in Thou great Heart.
Jesus and Mary have given me their Heart,
This immense Heart,
in order that all in me
May be performed in its love.

Infinite praise to them, for their ineffable gift.
This Heart infinitely merciful,
has done great things for me.
It has possessed me from the womb of my mother.
Infinite thanksgiving for Thou ineffable gifts.

The abyss of my misery has called
on the abyss of His Mercy.
Infinite thanksgiving for His ineffable gifts.
This Heart infinitely meek has presented me
With blessings of its sweetness.
Infinite thanksgiving for His ineffable gifts.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Hail MARY!, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MOTHER of GOD, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Quotes on SALVATION, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Quote/s of the Day – 16 August – Mother of God

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Quote/s of the Day – 16 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Joachim, Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Ecclesiasticus 31:8-11, Matthew1:1-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And Jacob begot Joseph,
the husband of Mary
and of her was born Jesus,
Who is called Christ.”

Matthew 1:16

“That anyone could doubt the right
of the holy Virgin
to be called the Mother of God,
fills me with astonishment.
Surely she must be the Mother of God,
if our Lord Jesus Christ is God
and she gave birth to Him!”

St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“Having confidence in thee,
O Mother of God, I shall be saved.
Being under thou protection,
I shall fear nothing.
With thy aid,
I shall give battle to my enemies
and put them to flight,
for devotion to thee,
is an arm of Salvation.”

St John Damascene (676-749)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Hail to Thee, Forever Virgin,
Mother of God,
By St Methodius of Olympus (Died c311)

Hail to thee forever-Virgin
Mother of God,
our unceasing joy!
for unto thee do I again return. . . .
Hail, thou fount of the Son’s love for man. . . .
Wherefore, we pray thee,
the most excellent among women,
who boast in the confidence
of thy maternal honours
that thou wouldst, unceasingly,
keep us in remembrance.
O holy Mother of God,
remember us, I say,
who make our boast in thee
and who, in august hymns
celebrate thy memory
which will ever live
and never fade away.
Amen

(From “Oration on Simeon and Anna”)

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MOTHER of GOD, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUEENSHIP of MARY, The ANNUNCIATION, THE ASSUMPTION, The INCARNATION, The NATIVITY of JESUS

Quote/s of the Day – 14 August – ‘Rejoice, O Mary, House of the Lord …’

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Quote/s of the Day – 14 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Vigil of the Assumption

“And some seed fell on good ground”
Luke 8:8

“Rejoice, O Mary, House of the Lord,
earth trodden by the Footsteps of God…
Rejoice, O Paradise
more happy than the Garden of Eden,
where every virtue has been seeded
and where the Tree of Life has grown.”

St Theodore the Studite (750-826)
Father, Abbot, Theologian, Writer

“May the Blessed Virgin,
unique in her merits,
stand in the presence of her Creator
interceding always in our favour.
She will be radiant in the fullness of glory,
she who brought forth,
from her virginal womb,
the King of glory.”

St Amadeus of Lausanne (1108-1159) 

O Mary, Mother of God
By St Ephrem (306-373)
Father and Doctor of the Church

O Virgin most pure, wholly unspotted,
O Mary, Mother of God,
Queen of the universe,
thou art above all the Saints,
the hope of the elect
and the joy of all the blessed.
It is thou who hast reconciled us with God;
thou art the only Refuge of sinners
and the safe harbour of those
who are shipwrecked;
thou art the consolation of the world,
the ransom of captives,
the health of the weak,
the joy of the afflicted
and the salvation of all.
We have recourse to thee
and we beseech thee
to have pity on us.
Amen.

Posted in IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, MARIAN PRAYERS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUEENSHIP of MARY, QUOTES on PURITY

Our Morning Offering – 12 August – Deign, O Immaculate Virgin

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 12 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”

Deign, O Immaculate Virgin
By St Paschasius Radbertus (785–865)

Deign, O Immaculate Virgin,
Mother most pure,
to accept the loving cry of praise
which we send up to you
from the depths of our hearts.
Though they can but add little to your glory,
O Queen of Angels,
you do not despise, in your love,
the praises of the humble and the poor.
Cast down upon us a glance of mercy,
O most glorious Queen,
graciously receive our petitions.
Through your immaculate purity of body and mind,
which rendered you so pleasing to God,
inspire us with a love of innocence and purity.
Teach us to guard carefully the gifts of grace,
striving ever after sanctity, so that,
being made like the image of your beauty,
we may be worthy to become,
the sharers of your eternal happiness.
Amen

St Paschasius Radbertus was a Theologian
and the Abbot of Corbie.
Read about him here: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2019/04/26/saint-of-the-day-26-april-saint-paschasius-radbertus-785-865/

Posted in IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, IMMACULATE HEART Quotes, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Our Morning Offering – 7 August – O Purest of Creatures, Sweet Mother, Sweet Maid

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Our Morning Offering – 7 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”

O Purest of Creatures,
Sweet Mother, Sweet Maid
By Fr Frederick W Faber C.Orat. (1814-1863)

O Purest of creatures, sweet Mother, sweet maid,
The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid!
Dark night hath come down on us, Mother! and we
Look out for thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!

Deep night hath come down on this rough-spoken world,
And the banners of darkness are boldly unfurled;
And the tempest-tossed Church,—
all her eyes are on thee;
They look to thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!

He gazed on thy soul, it was spotless and fair,
For the empire of sin—it had never been there;
None ever had owned thee, dear Mother but He.
And He blest thy clear shining, sweet Star of the Sea!

Earth gave Him one lodging; t’was deep in thy breast,
And God found a home where the sinner finds rest;
His home and His hiding-place, both were in thee,
He was won by thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the CHURCH

Our Morning Offering – 5 August – O Mary, Immaculate Virgin 

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 5 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Feast of the Dedication of Our Lady of the Snows

O Mary, Immaculate Virgin
Prayer for Health of Soul and Body

O Mary, Immaculate Virgin,
our salvation lies in thy hands.
Cleanse our souls,
we beseech thee,
from the leprosy of sin
and assist us in our corporal infirmities.
And, if it be the will of God
that we must be acquainted
with sickness and suffering,
obtain for us, at least,
perfect patience and resignation,
in whatsoever God may dispose.
Amen.

Posted in Hail MARY!, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 3 August – Hail Mary! Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, By St John Eudes

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Our Morning Offering – 3 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” and Mary’s Saturday

Hail Mary!
Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
By St John Eudes (1601-1680)
“The Apostle of Two Hearts”

Hail Mary! Mother of God the Son.
Hail Mary! Spouse of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary! Temple of the Most Blessed Trinity.
Hail Mary! Pure Lily of the Effulgent Trinity.
Hail Mary! Celestial Rose
of the Ineffable Love of God.
Hail Mary! Virgin pure and humble,
of whom the King of Heaven willed to be born
and, with thy milk to be nourished.
Hail Mary! Virgin of Virgins,
Hail Mary! Queen of Martyrs,
whose soul a sword transfixed.
Hail Mary! Lady most blessed!
unto whom all power in Heaven
and earth is given.
Hail Mary! My Queen and my Mother!
my Life, my Sweetness and my Hope,
Hail Mary! Mother Most Amiable,
Hail Mary! Mother of Divine Love,
Hail Mary! Immaculate!
Conceived Without Sin!
Hail Mary! Full of Grace!
The Lord is with Thee!
Blessed art thou among women!
And blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus!
Blessed be thy spouse, Saint Joseph,
Blessed be thy father, Saint Joachim,
Blessed be thy mother, Saint Anne,
Blessed be thy guardian, Saint John,
Blessed be thy holy Angel, Saint Gabriel,
Glory be to God the Father, Who chose thee,
Glory be to God the Son,
Who loved thee,
Glory be to God the Holy Spirit,
Who espoused thee. AMEN,

Posted in AUGUST - The Immaculate Heart of Mary, JESUIT SJ, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS

August – The Month of theImmaculate Heart of Mary

Posted on by AnaStpaul

August – The Month of the
Immaculate Heart of Mary

Messenger of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 1876

Excerpt from – “Object Of This Devotion”

The object of the Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is twofold, material and spiritual; the former secondary, the latter primary. The material object is the material heart of the Mother of the Word Incarnate. The spiritual object is her spiritual heart, that is to say, the ardent charity with which she was inflamed for God, as well as that, which she bore towards men. There is neither distance, separation nor opposition between these two loves; it is precisely because she loves God that Mary loves us and, the more perfectly she loves God, the greater her affection for us.

The love which Mary bears us is similar to that manifested towards us by her Divine Son, when, while on earth, He sought sinners rather than the just; our condition as sinners, far from opposing an obstacle, is rather a claim upon her. In this point, as in all others, Mary walks faithfully in the footsteps of her Son and model and, if she loves the just with a love of complacency because of their virtues, the love of compassion and mercy which she feels for sinners, is still greater, not because they are worthy of it but because, of their greater necessities. Finally the material heart of Mary, by means of which we should raise our thoughts to the spiritual, is ordinarily represented, not only with flames escaping from it which figure her love and crowned with flowers, emblems of her virtues but also, pierced with a sword, to call our attention to her sorrows.

The end proposed by devotion to the Immaculate Heart, is to urge us to a greater love towards Mary; for this object we are invited to consider her heart which is the most perfect masterpiece which nature and grace combined, have ever formed of a simple creature – besides this, in our regard, it is the heart of the most tender of mothers who loves us far better than we love ourselves. In these two considerations is to be found her claim upon our love –can we refuse it?
This general end contains several partial ones, some of which it will be well to indicate – such as gratitude towards Mary, confidence in her, lively compassion for her sufferings and imitation of her virtues.

Note: The Messenger of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Jesuit periodical of the Apostleship of Prayer.
It is printed in Dublin, Ireland and with monthly sales of around 52,000, it is still one of the largest-selling magazines in Ireland and I believe there are versions in various countries around the world.

Posted in AUGUST - The Immaculate Heart of Mary, AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, IMMACULATE HEART Quotes, MARIAN QUOTES, MOTHER of GOD, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Quote/s of the Day – 1 August – The Blessed Virgin Mary

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Quote/s of the Day – 1 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”

“Mary is the new Tree of Life,
who, instead of the bitter fruit picked by Eve,
gives to mankind that Sweet Fruit
on which the whole world is fed.”

St Ephrem (306-373)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“Gracious Lady,
thou art a Mother and Virgin,
thou art the Mother
of the body and soul
of our Head and Redeemer,
thou art too, truly Mother
of all the members of Christ’s Mystical Body.
For through thy love,
thou hast co-operated
in the begetting of the faithful in the Church.
Unique among women,
thou art Mother and Virgin,
Mother of Christ and Virgin of Christ.
Thou art the beauty and charm of earth, O Virgin.
Thou art, forever, the image of the holy Church.
Through a woman came death,
through a woman came Life,
yes, through thee, O Mother of God.“

St Augustine (354-430)
Father and Doctor of Grace

“In the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I trust.
Look to the Star, call upon Mary!
In danger, in difficulty or in doubt,
think of Mary, call upon Mary.
Keep her name on your lips,
never let it pass out of your heart.”

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

“The most efficacious means
to foster devotion
to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
is through the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”

St Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690
Visionary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Posted in AUGUST - The Immaculate Heart of Mary, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, HYMNS, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Our Morning Offering – 1 August – INVIOLATA!

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Our Morning Offering – 1 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”

INVIOLATA!
INVIOLATE!
Unknown Author
(11th Century)

Thou art inviolate, undefiled and chaste, O Mary.
Thou has been made the resplendent Gate of Heaven,

O loving and dearest Mother of Christ,
Accept our devout acclamations in praise of thee.

That our minds and bodies may be pure,
Devoted hearts and lips now implore thee.

Through thy sweet sounding prayers,
Gain us pardon forever.
O kind one, who alone didst remain inviolate.

The Hymn Inviolata has been claimed by the Carmelite Order, as a Traditional Hymn originating within their ranks. The Hymn is also used by Dominican Friars in the chanting of Compline. Its origins trace to the 11th century. It appears in Hymnals from 1860 to 1920.

Inviolata, integra, et casta es Maria,
quae es effecta fulgida caeli porta.

O Mater alma Christi carissima,
suscipe pia laudum praeconia.

Te nunc flagitant devota corda et ora,
nostra ut pura pectora sint et corpora.

Tua per precata dulcisona,
nobis concedas veniam per saecula.

O benigna! O Regina! O Maria,
quae sola inviolata permansisti.

Posted in APRIL -MONTH of the RESURRECTION and the BLESSED SACAMENT, CHRIST the KING, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on Love of Self, QUOTES on SUFFERING, St Francis de Sales, The FAITHFUL on PILGRIMAGE, The KINGDOM of GOD / HEAVEN, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The RESURRECTION, The SECOND COMING, The WILL of GOD

Quote/s of the Day – 30 July – Heaven

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 30 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – St Abdon and St Senen (Died c250) Martyrs – 2 Corinthians 6:4-10; Matthew 5:1-12 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward
will be great in Heaven.”

Matthew 5:12

“I know a man in Christ—
whether he was in or outside the body,
I do not know, God knows—
who was snatched up to the third heaven. . .
and heard secret words,
words which it is not granted to man to utter.”

2 Corinthians 12:2-4

“Our Lord Jesus Christ
Has appeared to us from the bosom of the Father.
He has come and drawn us out of the shadows
And enlightened us with His joyful Light.

Day has dawned for humankind,
Cast out the power of darkness.
For us, a Light from His Light has arisen
That has enlightened our darkened eyes.

Over the world He has made His glory arise
And has lit up the deepest depths.
Death is no more, darkness has ended,
The gates of hell are shattered.

He has illumined every creature,
All the shades from times long past.
He has brought about salvation and given us Life;
Next He will come in glory.

Our King is coming in His great glory:
Let us light our lamps
and go out to meet Him (Mt 25,6);
Let us be glad in Him, as He has been glad in us
And gives us gladness, with His glorious Light.

My friends, arise! make yourselves ready
To give thanks to our Saviour King,
Who will come in His glory and make us joyful
With His joyous Light in the Kingdom.”

St Ephrem (306-373)
Father of the Church
(Hymn I on the Resurrection)

“You will begin to taste, even in this life,
a foretaste of eternal life,
for the principal beatitude of the soul in Heaven,
is to be confirmed forever in the Will of the Father.
Thus, it tastes the divine sweetness.
But it will never taste it in Heaven,
if it is not clothed with it on earth,
where we are pilgrims and travellers.
When it is clothed with it, it tastes God
by grace in its troubles; its memory will be full
of the Blood of the Lamb without blemish;
its mind will be opened and contemplate
the ineffable love that God has made known
in the Wisdom of His Son and the love it finds,
in the Holy Spirit’s goodness, casts out self-love
and love for created things, to love only God.
So do not be afraid … but suffer with joy,
so as to conform yourself to the Will of God.””

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritatis

“Let us not strive for the rewards of Heaven,
valuable though they may be
but live, so as to please the God of Heaven.
If God were not in Heaven,
all its beauty, riches and sweetness,
would be dull rather than delightful.
By faith, we know, God already dwells within us.
But in Heaven, we will see God face-to-face.
May we so live that one day,
we will be in Heaven praising
and praying eternally,
before our Lord and Saviour!”

St Jane Frances de Chantal VHM (1572-1641)

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, Holy Name PRAYERS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, JESUIT SJ, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY NAME, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The REDEMPTION

Our Morning Offering – 30 July – A devout Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ,

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 30 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood”

Glory, Honour and Praise,
To Our Lord Jesus Christ!
A devout Prayer to our Lord Jesus Christ,
to be said both Morning and Evening
By St Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621)
Doctor of the Church
(From His “A Brief Christian Doctrine”)

GLory, Honour and Praise Be,
May all the world adore Thee,
blessed be Thy Holy Name,
Who for us sinners,
vouchsafest to be born of a humble Virgin
and blessed be Thine infinite goodness,
Who died upon the Cross for our Redemption.
O Jesu, Son of God
and Saviour of mankind,
have mercy upon us
and so dispose our lives here,
by Thy Grace
that we may, hereafter,
rejoice with Thee forever
in Thy Heavenly Kingdom,
Amen.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, HUMILITY-Fr Richard Clarke, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, QUOTES on HUMILITY

Thought for the Day – 28 July – Models of Humility: The Blessed Virgin

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Thought for the Day – 28 July – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

HUMILITY
Meditations for a Month

Models of Humility:
The Blessed Virgin

No-one of all the children of Adam ever approached the Blessed Virgin Mary in humility. What had she to make her humble? She had no sin or imperfection for which to humble herself before God. Yet the greatest of sinners never humbled himself as did Mary. How was this? It was because no-one, save she, ever recognised her own nothingness in God’s sight. This is the surest basis for humility.
We are so wanting in humility because we do not recognise our utter insignificance and the absence of any good in us, save that which, is the gift of God.

Thus, it was that, because Mary had a right to the highest place, she always sought the lowest.
This is the law, which everywhere prevails. Those who deserve the lowest place, seek the highest and those who deserve the highest, seek the lowest. The enemies of God do not like to lower themselves. But, His friends recognise the lowest place as the place most suitable for them
Am I, in this respect, one of God’s friends or one of His enemies?

Mary’s humility was also the result of her desire to be like to her Divine Son in all things.
When she saw Him stoop from the highest Heaven to earth, she longed to stoop to the very dust. She placed herself in spirit beneath the feet of all and, would have placed herself lower still, if it had been possible.
For what humiliation could even Mary endure which was in any way comparable to that of her Son?
If Mary, then, is my Queen and Mother, I will seek to imitate her in this. If the Immaculate Mother of God loved to humble herself, how much more should I, who am but a miserable worm of earth?