Category: CATHOLIC DEVOTIONS of the Month

Posted in "Follow Me", MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on JUSTICE, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on WEALTH/RICHES, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE

Thought for the Day – 5 October – The Third Joyful Mystery – The Birth of Jesus

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Thought for the Day – 5 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

“Month of the Holy Rosary”
The Third Joyful Mystery
The Birth of Jesus

“When God became man in order to instruct and redeem the lost and erring human race, the gesture would have been deprived of it’s real significance if He had chosen to be born in a palace, surrounded by the splendour of worldly glory and wealth.

It would have been meaningless, not only for God but also, for us, if He had abandoned the imperishable glory of Heaven and the infinite wealth of everlasting happiness, in order to assume the kind of earthly grandeur which, in His eyes is but a vanishing cloud.
What we needed, was to learn the way of humility and of detachment from worldly things, which can so easily lead us to forget the supernatural.
We needed someone to come and sanctify suffering, which purifies and elevates the soul.
We needed someone to appease divine justice on our behalf and to teach us, that the way of the cross, is the only one which can lead to Heaven.
This was why the Eternal Word of God became a poor and lowly infant, choosing a stable, rather than a palace and the little village of Bethlehem in Judea, in preference to the imperial city of Rome.
He wished His extreme poverty and deprivation, to be His first lesson to mankind.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on SANCTITY, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on SUFFERING, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE

Quote/s of the Day – 5 October – 3 Blesseds

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Quote/s of the Day – 5 October – the Memorial of Blessed Raymond of Capua OP (c 1330-1399) “The Second Founder,” Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos CSsR (1819-1867), Blessed Bartholomew Longo (1841-1926) “Apostle of the Holy Rosary”

“My brothers,
keep away from the beast of boasting
and concern for one’s reputation,
for these destroy and weaken,
every good work.”

Bl Raymond of Capua (c 1330-1399)

“It is only through suffering
that we become holy.
And to become holy is our only purpose in life,
our only preparation for heaven.”

TOP 10 Practical Guide to Holiness

  1. Go to Mass with deepest devotion.
  2. Spend a half hour to reflect upon your main failing
    and make resolutions to avoid it.
  3. Do daily spiritual reading for at least 15 minutes,
    if a half hour is not possible.
  4. Say the rosary every day.
  5. Also daily, if at all possible, visit the Blessed Sacrament
    and toward evening, meditate on the Passion of Christ for a half hour.
  6. Conclude the day with evening prayer
    and an examination of conscience over all the faults & sins of the day.
  7. Every month make a review of the month in confession.
  8. Choose a special patron every month
    and imitate that patron in some special virtue.
  9. Precede every great feast with a novena, that is, nine days of devotion.
  10. Try to begin and end every activity with a “Hail Mary.”

Bl Francis Xavier Seelos CSsR (1819-1867)

“The Rosary could very well be called,
the poem of human redemption.”

“The Rosary is the prayer dearest to Mary,
most loved by the Saints,
most frequently used by Christian peoples,
most honoured by God with astounding wonders,
most enriched with great promises,
by the Virgin.”

Bl Bartholomew Longo (1841-1926) “Apostle of the Holy Rosary

Posted in MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, NOVENA, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS

Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary – Day Seven – 4 October

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Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary – Day Seven – 4 October

Day Seven: We Pray for the Virtue of Fortitude
along with our private intentions.

Holy Spirit,
may we be granted today,
the virtue by which
we do the right thing,
even in the midst of hardship.
We ask Thee to consider our need
for courage and bravery,
so that we may stay strong,
to do what is good.
You alone know how often,
in our lives, many situations arise
in which it becomes difficult
to do the right thing,
even when we know what it is.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
Our Lord

Daily Prayer along with our Daily Rosary:

My dearest Mother Mary, behold me, your child, in prayer at your feet.
Accept this Holy Rosary, which I offer you in accordance with your requests at Fatima, as a proof of my tender love for you, for the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in atonement for the offenses committed against your Immaculate Heart and for this special favour which I earnestly request in my Rosary Novena: ………………………….. (Mention your request).

I beg you to present my petition to your Divine Son.
If you will pray for me, I cannot be refused.
I know, dearest Mother, that you want me
to seek God’s holy Will concerning my request.
If what I ask for should not be granted,
pray that I may receive that which will be of greater benefit to my soul.

I offer you this spiritual Bouquet of Roses because I love you.
I put all my confidence in you,
since your prayers before God are most powerful.
For the greater glory of God and for the sake of Jesus,
your loving Son, hear and grant my prayer.
Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.

Our Lady of the Rosary,
pray for our Holy Mother Church
and for our country.

Our Lady of Fatima,
obtain for humanity a lasting peace.

Sweet Heart of Jesus,
be my love.

Sweet Heart of Mary,
at the hour of my death,
lead me home.

Posted in MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on CHARITY, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The ANNUNCIATION

Thought for the Day – 4 October – The Second Joyful Mystery – Mary’s Visit to St Elizabeth

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Thought for the Day – 4 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

“Month of the Holy Rosary”
The Second Joyful Mystery
Mary’s Visit to St Elizabeth

“When the Angel told Mary that she had been chosen to be the Mother of God, he proceeded to reveal also the imminent birth of the Precursor of Jesus Christ.
Her cousin, Elizabeth, he told her, who had been sterile for such a long time, would soon have the joy of bearing a son.
When the Blessed Virgin heard this good news, she set out for a long and difficult journey to congratulate her cousin.

The devout soul is always motivated by charity and pays no attention to difficulties or obstacles because, the grace of God possesses it completely.
We also have received and, continue to receive, many graces from our Creator.
We were nothing and God gave us being.
We were in darkness and He gave us the light of faith.
We were slaves of sin and Jesus Christ broke the bonds in which the devil held us and gave us the freedom of the children of God.
We were exiles on this earth and God became our companion and our guide.
We hungered for the supernatural and, He nourished us with the divine Bread in which He gave Himself to us completely!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, NOVENA, NOVENAS, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS

Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary – Day Six – 3 October

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Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary – Day Six – 3 October

Day Six: We Pray for the Virtue of Meekness
along with our private intentions.

O Jesus,
our pride, stubbornness
and lack of faith labelled each thorn
as it pierced Your Sacred Head.
Our exclusion of spiritual realities
tightened the branches around Your Head.
Our lack of confidence in Your Mercy
and the lukewarmness of our love,
braided torture into a wreath of unspeakable pain.
O Jesus, let us NEVER forget Your love for us all
and the reparation You offered the Father for our sake.
Let our soul magnify the Lord by humility of heart,
purity of mind
and a gentle spirit,
so that we may overcome pride, vainglory and resentments
and look forward for an increase in faith.
Send Your beloved Mother and ours, O Lord,
to teach us meekness and humility.
Make us like unto Yourself, O Lord,
“for I am meek and humble of heart.”
Amen

Daily Prayer along with our Daily Rosary:

My dearest Mother Mary, behold me, your child, in prayer at your feet.
Accept this Holy Rosary, which I offer you in accordance with your requests at Fatima, as a proof of my tender love for you, for the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in atonement for the offenses committed against your Immaculate Heart and for this special favour which I earnestly request in my Rosary Novena: ………………………….. (Mention your request).

I beg you to present my petition to your Divine Son.
If you will pray for me, I cannot be refused.
I know, dearest Mother, that you want me
to seek God’s holy Will concerning my request.
If what I ask for should not be granted,
pray that I may receive that which will be of greater benefit to my soul.

I offer you this spiritual Bouquet of Roses because I love you.
I put all my confidence in you,
since your prayers before God are most powerful.
For the greater glory of God and for the sake of Jesus,
your loving Son, hear and grant my prayer.
Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.

Our Lady of the Rosary,
pray for our Holy Mother Church
and for our country.

Our Lady of Fatima,
obtain for humanity a lasting peace.

Sweet Heart of Jesus,
be my love.

Sweet Heart of Mary,
at the hour of my death,
lead me home.

Posted in MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS

Thought for the Day – 3 October – The First Joyful Mystery – The Annunciation

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Thought for the Day – 3 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

“Month of the Holy Rosary”
The First Joyful Mystery
The Annunciation

The Rosary is both a vocal and a mental prayer.
When reciting the first five decades, we should meditate on the principal joyful mysteriest of our faith, beginning with the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin.
In other words, during the first decade, we should visualise the scene described in the Gospel.

“The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David and the Virgin’s name was Mary. And, when the Angel had come to her, he said “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women” (Lk 1:26-28).

Note the manner in which the Angel greets Mary.
He proclaims that she is full of grace, pleasing and acceptable to God.
He bows before her and says that she is blessed among women.
On previous occasions Angels had appeared to Patriarchs, Kings and Prophets but always, as superior beings bearing a command from Almighty God.
Why, then, does an Angel bow before this maiden and salute her with such reverence?
The reason is twofold.
Mary is the purest of creatures, immaculate from the moment of her conception; she is also destined to become the Mother of God, a destiny of quasi-infinite dignity.
Let we, poor sinners, bow before her also and beg her to obtain for us from God, the graces of forgiveness and of sanctification.
It is in this spirit of loving humility, that we should recite the first decade of the Holy Rosary.

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE

Our Morning Offering – 3 October – Through Thee, to Us, our Saviour Came – By St Amadeus of Lausanne

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Our Morning Offering – 3 October – “Month of the Holy Rosary” – Saturday of the Twenty Sixth week in Ordinary Time

Through Thee, to Us, our Saviour Came
To Our Lady of the Rosary
By St Amadeus of Lausanne O.Cist (1108-1159)

Through thee, to us, our Saviour came,
Through thee, to Him, we fain would go.
Our lives are marred by wrong and shame,
Yet, confidence in thee we know.
The friendship thou dost give to all
Who love thy name, shall ever be
Assurance thou wilt hear our call,
Sweet Lady of the Rosary!

Thou art our Strength upon the way,
Our Morning Star, to cheer and guide;
Our Beacon Light to show the day,
And lead us to the Saviour’s Side;
A Comforter in ev’ry pain
We find, O Mother blest, in thee,
And seek we, never, thee in vain,
Fair Lady of the Rosary!

Thy praises, Mary, we would sing,
And all our faculties employ,
That unto thee our hearts might bring
A glory-crown of love and joy.
Bless thou each humble effort made
In thy regard and grant that we,
May by thy influence be swayed,
Our Lady of the Rosary!

Posted in MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, NOVENA, NOVENAS, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS

Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary – Day Five – 2 October

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Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary – Day Five – 2 October

Day Five – We Pray for Purity of Heart
and our personal intention:

The Ever-Virgin Mary was
and remains pure in charity,
chastity and love of truth and orthodoxy of faith.
And that purity is divine
because it is inspired by God!
Each of us benefits from the purity of Mary,
regardless of how difficult it is
to be pure in charity, chastity
and right belief,
IT IS POSSIBLE… We WILL be pure
when we adopt the attitude of Our Blessed Lady
and seek the divine purity
that even yet radiates from Her.
By abandoning ourselves to God as She did,
we open ourselves to fresh opportunities of achieving purity.
(The Virtue of Purity: An Undivided Heart by Msgr Charles M Mangan)

To Our most holy Mother.
To you do we pray first with heartfelt thanks
for your YES to the Father.
Grant us your guidance
and assistance to become as pure as you are.

Daily Prayer along with our Daily Rosary:

My dearest Mother Mary, behold me, your child, in prayer at your feet.
Accept this Holy Rosary, which I offer you in accordance with your requests at Fatima, as a proof of my tender love for you, for the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in atonement for the offenses committed against your Immaculate Heart and for this special favour which I earnestly request in my Rosary Novena: ………………………….. (Mention your request).

I beg you to present my petition to your Divine Son.
If you will pray for me, I cannot be refused.
I know, dearest Mother, that you want me
to seek God’s holy Will concerning my request.
If what I ask for should not be granted,
pray that I may receive that which will be of greater benefit to my soul.

I offer you this spiritual Bouquet of Roses because I love you.
I put all my confidence in you,
since your prayers before God are most powerful.
For the greater glory of God and for the sake of Jesus,
your loving Son, hear and grant my prayer.
Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.

Our Lady of the Rosary,
pray for our Holy Mother Church
and for our country.

Our Lady of Fatima,
obtain for humanity a lasting peace.

Sweet Heart of Jesus,
be my love.

Sweet Heart of Mary,
at the hour of my death,
lead me home.

Posted in MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, NOVENA, NOVENAS, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS

Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary – Day Four – 1 October

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Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary – Day Four – 1 October

Day Four – We Pray for the Virtue of Humility
and our personal intention:

May Almighty God
give us compassion
and humility in our hearts.
Let us be kind, gentle, generous,
loving, giving and forgiving
wherever we may go.
Allow pride to never get the best of us
as You fulfill our dreams.
Help us not to have a boastful tongue
against our brothers.
Let humility invade our souls…
Amen

Daily Prayer along with our Daily Rosary:

My dearest Mother Mary, behold me, your child, in prayer at your feet.
Accept this Holy Rosary, which I offer you in accordance with your requests at Fatima, as a proof of my tender love for you, for the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in atonement for the offenses committed against your Immaculate Heart and for this special favour which I earnestly request in my Rosary Novena: ………………………….. (Mention your request).

I beg you to present my petition to your Divine Son.
If you will pray for me, I cannot be refused.
I know, dearest Mother, that you want me
to seek God’s holy Will concerning my request.
If what I ask for should not be granted,
pray that I may receive that which will be of greater benefit to my soul.

I offer you this spiritual Bouquet of Roses because I love you.
I put all my confidence in you,
since your prayers before God are most powerful.
For the greater glory of God and for the sake of Jesus,
your loving Son, hear and grant my prayer.
Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.

Our Lady of the Rosary,
pray for our Holy Mother Church
and for our country.

Our Lady of Fatima,
obtain for humanity a lasting peace.

Sweet Heart of Jesus,
be my love.

Sweet Heart of Mary,
at the hour of my death,
lead me home.

Posted in Hail MARY!, MARIAN Antiphons, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS, PRACTISING CATHOLIC, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE

Devotion for October, The Month of the Holy Rosary

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October, The Month of the Holy Rosary

AVOIDING DESTRACTION WHILE PRAYING THE ROSARY

Use various approaches, depending on disposition and degree of concentration.
Overall principle – don’t let yourself float and slide, carried away by your imagination.
Keep it in check at all times, as much as possible.

When tired and without much focus, “concentrate” on the peaceful repetition of the Hail Marys, entering its rhythm and imaging to be in the company of Mary. Leave it at that.
If in somewhat better disposition, try to focus on images, one or more of Christ, Mary or scenes of their lives as mentioned in the Mysteries.
Look at and contemplate what you see, while saying the different decades.
Don’t even attempt to enter into a more intellectual mood exploring only the imagery.

A different and more demanding mode will lead you to a reflection on the deeper meaning of each one of the Mysteries:
What is their meaning regarding salvation history then and now?
What is the Mystery’s immediate significance for my personal spiritual life?
Entertain some of these considerations while reciting the decade.

Also, don’t forget to make of the Rosary, a prayer of praise and thanksgiving, once in a while at least because it is in the Rosary that we summarise and remember our redemption and the great things God did for Mary and through her.

In a special manner, try to develop a personal habit to say the Rosary in company with Mary.
The Mysteries are stations of a beautiful journey leading to eternal happiness.
Mary leads the way and is our traveling companion.

Be self-critical enough to shift gears when needed.
It may well happen, that all the various modes are methods which need to be applied during one and the same Rosary Prayer.

May your Rosary Prayer be perseverant. Amen

PS – don’t forget to add the “Sub Tuum praesídium” and the St Michael Prayer after the final prayers.

We fly to Thy protection,
O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our petitions in our necessities
but deliver us always from all dangers,
O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

Saint Michael Archangel,
defend us in battle,
be our protection
against the wickedness
and snares of the devil,
may God rebuke him,
we humbly pray
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
cast into hell Satan
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl throughout the world
seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen

Posted in MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on TIME, The HOLY ROSARY/ROSARY CRUSADE

Thought for the Day – 1 October – The Month of the Holy Rosary

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Thought for the Day – 1 October – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

The Month of the Holy Rosary

“We should say the Rosary devoutly everyday.
This beautiful prayer is very pleasing to Our Lady and, the Church, is particularly anxious that we should recite it during the month of October.
Families which say the Holy Rosary together can hope for a special blessing from God and for the maternal protection of Mary.

If possible, every family should gather together in the evening and recite the Rosary before an image of our Blessed Mother.
If the parents set an example, their child will join them.
It is consoling to come together after the toil and trouble of the day, in order to confide our cares and hopes to Mary.

Do you say the Rosary everyday?
If you have neglected ths pious practice, begin today.
Do not plead lack of time.
There is time for so many other things, so surely, there is time to pray and to entrust ourselves, in a special way, to the protection of our heavenly Mother!
The practice of reciting the Holy Rosary will win for you, the blessing of God and the patronage of the Blessed Virgin.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in MARIAN DEVOTIONS, NOVENA, NOVENAS, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS

Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary – Day Three – 30 September

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Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary – Day Three – 30 September

Day Three – We Pray for the Priesthood and Consecrated Life
and our personal intention:

To Our most holy Mother.
To you do we pray first with heartfelt thanks
for those who have said YES to the Father.
Help them to trust in you and your son, Jesus,
in all the challenges that they face.
Teach them patience in all things
and to accept all that happens
and when it happens, in God’s time.
We join them in total consecration to you.
Reclaim us all as you own
and mould us in all ways necessary
to conform to God’s will.
We love you, Mother Mary,
Help us all!

Daily Prayer along with our Daily Rosary:

My dearest Mother Mary, behold me, your child, in prayer at your feet.
Accept this Holy Rosary, which I offer you in accordance with your requests at Fatima, as a proof of my tender love for you, for the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in atonement for the offenses committed against your Immaculate Heart and for this special favour which I earnestly request in my Rosary Novena: ………………………….. (Mention your request).

I beg you to present my petition to your Divine Son.
If you will pray for me, I cannot be refused.
I know, dearest Mother, that you want me
to seek God’s holy Will concerning my request.
If what I ask for should not be granted,
pray that I may receive that which will be of greater benefit to my soul.

I offer you this spiritual Bouquet of Roses because I love you.
I put all my confidence in you,
since your prayers before God are most powerful.
For the greater glory of God and for the sake of Jesus,
your loving Son, hear and grant my prayer.
Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.

Our Lady of the Rosary,
pray for our Holy Mother Church
and for our country.

Our Lady of Fatima,
obtain for humanity a lasting peace.

Sweet Heart of Jesus,
be my love.

Sweet Heart of Mary,
at the hour of my death,
lead me home.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 30 September – What Can I Say, Merciful Lady? by St Anselm (1033-1109)

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Our Morning Offering – 30 September – The Last day of the Month of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Wednesday of the Twenty Sixth week in Ordinary Time

What Can I Say, Merciful Lady?
St Anselm (1033-1109)
Doctor of the Church

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 hurt?
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 me?
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

Posted in MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, NOVENA, NOVENAS, OCTOBER - The HOLY ROSARY and The HOLY ANGELS

Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary – Day One – 28 September

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Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary – Day One – 28 September

Day One – We pray for the Holy Church
and our personal intention:

To Mary, Mother of God and our Mother,
who sees how the Catholic Faith
is assailed by the devil and the world,
To Thy protection, we entrust ourselves .
Kindly offer to Thy Divine Son our resolutions and
obtain from Him the graces necessary for us
to keep them unto the end.
Amen

Daily Prayer along with our Daily Rosary:

My dearest Mother Mary, behold me, your child, in prayer at your feet.
Accept this Holy Rosary, which I offer you in accordance with your requests at Fatima, as a proof of my tender love for you, for the intentions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in atonement for the offences committed against your Immaculate Heart and for this special favour which I earnestly request in my Rosary Novena:

………………………….. (Mention your request).

I beg you to present my petition to your Divine Son.
If you will pray for me, I cannot be refused.
I know, dearest Mother, that you want me
to seek God’s holy Will concerning my request.
If what I ask for should not be granted,
pray that I may receive that which will be of greater benefit to my soul.

I offer you this spiritual Bouquet of Roses because I love you.
I put all my confidence in you,
since your prayers before God are most powerful.
For the greater glory of God and for the sake of Jesus,
your loving Son, hear and grant my prayer.
Sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation.

Our Lady of the Rosary,
pray for our Holy Mother Church
and for our country.

Our Lady of Fatima,
obtain for humanity a lasting peace.

Sweet Heart of Jesus,
be my love.

Sweet Heart of Mary,
at the hour of my death,
lead me home.

Posted in MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 26 September – Mother of Love, of Sorrow and of Mercy

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Our Morning Offering – 26 September – “Month of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Saturday of the Twenty Fifth week in Ordinary Time

Mother of Love, of Sorrow and of Mercy
By St Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373)

O Blessed Virgin Mary,
Immaculate Mother of God,
who endured a martyrdom of love and grief,
beholding the sufferings and sorrows of Jesus!
Thou didst co-operate in the benefit of my redemption
by thy innumerable afflictions
and by offering to the Eternal Father,
His only-begotten Son, as a holocaust
and victim of propitiation for my sins.
I thank thee for the unspeakable love
which led thee to deprive thyself
of the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus,
true God and true Man, to save me, a sinner.
Oh! make use of the unfailing intercession
of thy sorrows with the Father and the Son,
that I may steadfastly amend my life
and never again crucify
my loving Redeemer by my sins
and that, persevering till death in His grace,
I may obtain eternal life
through the merits of His Cross and Passion.
Amen
Mother of love, of sorrow and of mercy, pray for us!

Posted in Against SCRUPELOSITY, for Scrupulous people, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, GOD is LOVE, GOD the FATHER, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on FEAR, QUOTES on FORGIVENESS, QUOTES on TRUST and complete CONFIDENCE in GOD, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Thought for the Day – 18 September – Filial and Servile Fear

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Thought for the Day – 18 September – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Filial and Servile Fear

“We should not be afraid of God because He is our greatest benefactor and loves us infinitely.
When we are lost, He searches for us as a loving father would search for a wandering son.
Because they think only of the majesty and justice of God, some people keep themselves at a distance from Him, as Adam did, after he had sinned.
They forget that the Lord told Adam, the sinner, of the coming of the pardoning Redeemer (Gen 3:9).
Bossuet truly observes, that “after the curse which came upon men through sin, there has always remained, in their hearts, a certain dread of the supernatural, which prevents them from approaching God with confidence.”
Jansenism increased this fear, emphasising the justice and majesty of God, rather, than the infinite love of Jesus and the beauty of His teaching.

Some writers compare our souls with the divine majesty and justice, in order to stress our unworthiness but, they forget, that Jesus is “Meek and humble of heart,” that He forgave the penitent woman, the good thief and the adulteress and, had kind words for the lost sheep and the prodigal son.
They never think of the wonderful words of the beloved disciple: “God is love” (1 Jn 4:16).

This false fear of God, dries up our piety and lessens our trust in His mercy.
It can lead to moroseness, to scrupulosity and to discouragement.

We should avoid this excessive fear which separates us from God.
Even though we are sinful and unworthy, we should remember, that God is our loving Father, Who is always ready to help us and to grant us forgiveness.
We should recall, moreover, that out of love for us, He did not spare His own Son, (Cf Rom 8:32) but gave Him to us for our redemption.
If Jesus shed His blood and died for us, how can we doubt His love?!“

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, NOVENAS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

The Seven Sorrows Novena By St Alphonsus Liguori – 15 September – Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Sorrows

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The Seven Sorrows Novena
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Day Nine
Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Sorrows

Opening Prayer

V/. O God +, come to my assistance
R/. O Lord, make haste to help me.

Gloria Patri …

Let intercession be made for us,
we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ,
now and at the hour of our death,
before the throne of Thy mercy,
by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother,
whose most holy soul
was pierced by a sword of sorrow
in the hour of Thy bitter Passion.
Through Thee, Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world,
Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost
lives and reigns, world without end.
Amen

Reflection (St Alphonsus de Liguori)

Meditation:
Consider the meeting of the Son and the Mother,
which took place on this journey. Jesus and Mary looked at each other and their looks became as so many arrows to wound those hearts which loved each other so tenderly. My most loving Jesus, by the sorrow Thou didst experience in this meeting, grant me the grace of a truly devoted love for Thy most holy Mother. And thou, my Queen, who wast overwhelmed with sorrow, obtain for me, by thy intercession, a continual and tender remembrance of the Passion of thy Son.

Closing Prayers
V/. Pray for us, O Virgin most sorrowful
R/. That we may be made be worthy of the promises of Christ.

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

Posted in MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES - J R R Tolkien and MORE, QUOTES on PATIENCE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

Thought for the Day – 15 September – Mary’s Patience 2

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Thought for the Day – 15 September – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Mary’s Patience 2

“We also have our share of suffering and humiliation.
It is useless to try and escape from it, useless to rebel against it.
If we embrace the cross patiently and lovingly, a Jesus and Mary did, it will seem lighter, even welcome.
If we attempt to cast it from us, it will weigh more heavily on our shoulders.
There are two kinds of men, those who bear their cross, patiently and embrace it because they wish to be like Jesus and, those who do not want to suffer and rebel.
The former may stagger beneath their daily burden but, they have peace of soul because they are putting into practice, the great Gospel precept: “By your patience, you will win your souls” (Lk 21:19).
They know that they are on the path to Heaven and this thought is consolation, which cannot be taken from them.
The second group of men, rebel against the cross and, therefore, suffer doubly, in body and in soul.
“The senseless man,” the Holy Spirit says, “loves not to be reproved” (Prov 15:12).

To which of these two categories do we belong?
Do we love our cross, or do we carry it patiently, at least?
Anyone who does not want the cross, does not want Jesus.
Let the example of Mary and of the Saints inspire us.
They always bore their burden patiently, they even looked for suffering and humiliation.
If we cannot reach such heroic heights, let us at last, accept, from the hands of Our Lord, the cross which He offers us.
Let us accept the sufferings which we meet on the way of life.
If we are not heroic enough to seek to be unknown and mortified, let us resolve to accept, patiently, the inevitable sorrows of life.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, CONFESSION, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, INCORRUPTIBLES, MARIAN Antiphons, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN TITLES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on REPENTANCE, QUOTES on SIN, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The PASSION

Quote/s of the Day – 15 September – Our Lady of Sorrows and of St Catherine of Genoa

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Quote/s of the Day – 15 September – The Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows and of St Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510)

‘By the cross of our salvation
Mary stood in desolation
While the Saviour hung above
All her human powers failing,
Sorrow’s sword, at last prevailing,
Stabs and breaks her heart of love…
Virgin Mary, full of sorrow,
From your love I ask to borrow
Love enough to share your pain.
Make my heart to burn with fire,
Make Christ’s love my own desire,
Who for love of me was slain.’

Stabat Mater

“The spear which opened His side
passed through the soul of the Virgin,
which could not be torn
from the heart of Jesus.”

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

“Whoever you are, who love the Mother of God,
take note and reflect
with all your innermost feelings,
upon her, who wept for the Only-Begotten as He died…
The grief she felt in the Passion of her son,
goes beyond all understanding.”

St Amadeus of Lausanne (1108-1159)

“Near the cross stood His mother, speechless;
living she died;
dying she lived.”

St Alphonsus (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

More Sorrowful Mother here:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/09/15/quote-s-of-the-day-15-september-the-memorial-of-our-lady-of-sorrows/

+++++++++++++

“Any time spent before the Eucharistic presence,
be it long or short,
is the best-spent time of our lives.”

“We must not wish anything other
than what happens from moment to moment,
all the while, however, exercising ourselves in goodness.”

“And when I hear it said,
that God is good and He will pardon us
and then see, that men cease not from evil-doing,
oh, how it grieves me!
The infinite goodness
with which God communicates with us,
sinners as we are,
should constantly make us love and serve Him better
but we, on the contrary,
instead of seeing in His goodness
an obligation to please Him,
convert it into an excuse for sin,
which will, of a certainty,
lead in the end,
to our deeper condemnation.”

“The one sole thing, in myself,
in which I glory,
is that I see in myself,
nothing, in which I can glory.”

“Oh, what peril attaches to sin, wilfully committed!
For it is so difficult for man to bring himself to penance
and without penitence,
guilt remains and will ever remain,
so long as man retains unchanged,
the will to sin,
or is intent upon committing it.”

“I see clearly with the interior eye,
that the sweet God loves, with a pure love,
the creature that He has created
and has a HATRED for nothing but SIN,
which is more opposed to Him,
than can be thought or imagined.”

St Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510)

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on SACRIFICE, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The REDEMPTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 15 September – “Behold your mother.”

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One Minute Reflection – 15 September – The Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, Readings: 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31,Psalms 100:1-2, 3, 4, 5, John 19:25-27 

“Near the cross of Jesus, there stood his mother…” … John 19:25

REFLECTION – “Mary, the mother of the Lord, stood by her Son’s cross. No-one has taught me this but the holy Evangelist John. Others have related how the earth was shaken at the Lord’s passion, the sky was covered with darkness, the sun withdrew itself and how the thief was, after a faithful confession, received into paradise. John tells us what the others have not told, how the Lord, while fixed on the cross called to His mother. He thought it was more important that, victorious over His sufferings, Jesus gave her the offices of piety, than that He gave her a heavenly kingdom. For, if it is the mark of religion to grant pardon to the thief, it is a mark of much greater piety, that a mother is honoured with such affection by her Son. “Behold,” He says, “your son.” “Behold your mother.” Christ testified from the cross and divided the offices of piety, between the mother and the disciple.

Nor was Mary below what was becoming of the mother of Christ. When the Apostles fled, she stood at the cross and with pious eyes beheld her Son’s wounds. For she did not look to the death of her offspring but to the salvation of the world. Or perhaps, because that “royal hall” knew that the redemption of the world would be through the death of her Son, she thought that by her death, she also might add something to that universal gift. But Jesus did not need a helper for the redemption of all, who saved all without a helper. This is why He says, “I am counted among those who go down to the pit. I am like those who have no help.” He received indeed the affection of His mother but sought not another’s help. Imitate her, holy mothers, who in her only dearly beloved Son, set forth so great an example of maternal virtue. For neither have you sweeter children, nor did the Virgin seek the consolation of being able, to bear another son.” … St John Chrysostom (347-407) Father and Doctor of the Church – Letter 63

PRAYER – Our Father, when Jesus Your Son, was raised up on the Cross, it was Your will that Mary, His Mother, should stand there and suffer with Him in her heart. Grant that in union with her, the Church may share in the passion of Christ and so be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Be our intercessor and our consolation, Our Lady of Sorrows, amen.

Posted in MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 15 September – O Mother of Sorrows

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Our Morning Offering – 15 September – The Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

O Mother of Sorrows,
Stand by Me in My Last Agony
By St Gabriel Francis Possenti
of Our Lady of Sorrows (1838-1862)

O Mother of Sorrows,
by the anguish and love
with which thou did stand at the Cross of Jesus,
stand by me in my last agony.
To thy maternal heart
I commend the last three hours of my life.
Offer these hours to the Eternal Father
in union with the agony of our dearest Lord,
in atonement for my sins.
Offer to the Eternal Father
the most precious blood of Jesus,
mingled with your tears on Calvary,
that I may obtain the grace of receiving Holy Communion
with the most perfect love and contrition
before my death
and that I may breathe forth my soul
in the adorable presence of Jesus.
Dearest Mother,
when the moment of my death has at last come,
present me as your child to Jesus.
Ask Him to forgive me for having offended Him,
for I knew not what I did.
Beg Him to receive me into His kingdom of glory
to be united with Him forever.
Amen

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, MYSTICS, SAINT of the DAY, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

Memorial of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the Saints – 15 September

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The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Memorial)
About this Sorrowful Memorial:

https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/09/15/memorial-of-our-lady-of-sorrows-15-september/
AND here:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/09/15/memorial-of-our-lady-of-sorrows-15-september-2/

St Aichardus
St Albinus of Lyon
Bl Anton Maria Schwartz
St Aprus of Toul
St Bond of Sens
St Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510)

Bl Camillus Constanzo
St Emilas of Cordoba
St Eutropa of Auvergne
St Hernan
Bl Jacinto de Los Ángeles and Bl Juan Bautista
St Jeremias of Cordoba
St Joseph Abibos
St Mamillian of Palermo
St Melitina
St Mirin of Bangor
St Nicetas the Goth
St Nicomedes of Rome
Blessed Paolo Manna PIME (1872-1952) “A Burning Soul” Priest, Missionary
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/09/15/saint-of-the-day-15-september-blessed-paolo-manna-pime-1872-1952-a-burning-soul/

St Porphyrius the Martyr
St Ribert
St Ritbert of Varennes
Bl Rolando de Medici
Bl Tommasuccio of Foligno
St Valerian of Châlon-sur-Saône
St Valerian of Noviodunum
St Vitus of Bergamo
Bl Wladyslaw Miegon
—
Martyrs of Adrianopolis – 3 saints: Three Christian men martyred together in the persecutions of Maximian – Asclepiodotus, Maximus and Theodore. They were martyred in 310 at Adrianopolis (Adrianople), a location in modern Bulgaria.

Martyrs of Noviodunum – 4 saints: Three Christian men martyred together, date unknown – Gordian, Macrinus, Stratone and Valerian.
They were martyred in Noviodunum, Lower Moesia (near modern Isaccea, Romania).

Mercedarian Martyrs of Morocco – 6 beati: A group of six Mercedarians who were captured by Moors near Valencia, Spain and taken to Morocco. Though enslaved, they refused to stop preaching Christianity. Martyrs. – Dionisio, Francis, Ildefonso, James, John and Sancho. They were crucified in 1437 in Morocco.

Martyred in the Spanish Civil War:
Bl Antonio Sierra Leyva
Bl Pascual Penades Jornet

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, ON the SAINTS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS

The Seven Sorrows Novena By St Alphonsus Liguori – 14 September – Day Eight

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Day Eight
Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Opening Prayer

V/. O God + come to my assistance
R/. O Lord, make haste to help me.

Gloria Patri …

Sweet Mother of Sorrows,
Providence wished that Saint Helena,
like you the mother of a king,
find the Cross of your Son
and lavish honours on this relic of relics.
Grant, me Sorrowful Queen and Mother
that, like Saint Helena,
I always honour the symbol of our salvation, the Cross.
And like the Church,
may I hold it high, display
and wear it with gratitude and pride.
Above all, may I unite my sufferings
to that of Jesus on the Cross
and carry my crosses not in shame
but in faith, love and patience as He did.
I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful,
for the pangs that wrenched
thy most loving heart at the death of your Son, Jesus.
Dear Mother,
by thy heart sunk in the bitterness of desolation,
obtain for me the virtue of patience in suffering
and the gift of zeal for the salvation of souls
and this my special intention
……………………. (mention your intention)
Amen

Reflection (St Alphonsus de Liguori)

Meditation:
Consider how, after the death of our Lord, two of His disciples, Joseph and Nicodemus, took Him down from the Cross and placed Him in the arms of His afflicted Mother, who received Him with unutterable tenderness and pressed Him to her bosom.

Ave Maria …

Prayer of St Alphonsus:
O Mother of Sorrows,
for the love of this Son,
accept me for thy servant
and pray to Him for me.
And Thou, my Redeemer,
since Thou hast died for me,
permit me to love Thee,
for I wish but Thee and nothing more.
I love Thee, my Jesus
and I repent of ever having offended Thee.
Never permit me to offend Thee again.
Grant that I may love Thee always
and then do with me what Thou will.
Amen

Note: As St Alphonsus has only done the Seven Sorrows, Day 8 has been adapted and included from his Stations of the Cross. However, Day 9 is from his reflections and prayers on our Mother of Sorrows.

Posted in DEVOTIO, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, LENTEN PRAYERS & NOVENAS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for SEASONS, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The SIGN of the CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 14 September – In Honour of the Holy Cross Third Prayer from the Seven Penitential Psalms Devotion

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Our Morning Offering – 14 September – Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Prayer In Honour of the Holy Cross
Third Prayer from the Seven Penitential Psalms Devotion

Almighty God,
Lord Jesus Christ,
who, for our sake, stretched out
Your pure hands on the Cross
and redeemed us with
Your precious Blood,
grant me to feel and understand
that I may have true repentance
and great perseverance,
all the days of my life.
Your reign is a reign for all ages.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY NAME of MARY

The Seven Sorrows Novena By St Alphonsus Liguori – 13 September – Day Seven

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The Seven Sorrows Novena
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Day Seven – The Seventh Sorrow
Jesus is Placed in the Tomb

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:
Hastily the Body is wrapped in a clean linen cloth. Nicodemus has brought myrrh and aloes and the Body is bound in the Shroud with them. Nearby is a new tomb, belonging to Joseph of Arimathea and there they lay Jesus. Mary and John and the holy women follow them and watch as the great stone to the sepulchre is rolled. It is the end.

I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful,
for the pangs that wrenched
thy most loving heart at the burial of Jesus.
Dear Mother,
by thy heart sunk in the bitterness of desolation,
obtain for me the virtue of diligence
and the gift of wisdom.
And this my special intention
……………………. (mention your intention)
Amen

Ave Maria …

Prayer of St Alphonsus:
My afflicted Mother,
I will not leave thee alone to weep;
no, I wish to keep thee company with my tears.
This grace I ask of thee to-day –
obtain for me a continual remembrance
of the passion of Jesus
and of thine also
and a tender devotion to them,
that all the remaining days of my life,
may be spent in weeping for thy sorrows, O my Mother
and for those of my Redeemer,
I hope that these dolors
will give me the confidence and strength
not to despair at the hour of my death,
at the sight of the offences
I have committed against my Lord.
By these must I obtain pardon,
perseverance, paradise,
where I hope to rejoice with thee
and sing the infinite mercy of my God
through all eternity –
thus I hope, thus may it be.
Amen, amen.

Posted in MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, NOVENAS, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

The Seven Sorrows Novena By St Alphonsus Liguori – 12 September – Day Six

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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

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

The Seven Sorrows Novena By St Alphonsus Liguori – 11 September – Day Four

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The Seven Sorrows Novena
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Day Five – The Fifth Sorrow
Jesus Dies on the Cross

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:
With John, Mary stands at the foot of the Cross. “A sword shall pierce thy soul,” Simeon told her. Truly her heart is pierced with sorrow. Her beloved Son is dying and she shares in His suffering. She does not ask God to take away this agony. She is His Mother, so close to Him that His pain is hers, too. And now He speaks from the Cross: “Woman, behold thy son.” Jesus give His Mother to John, and to us. For all eternity she is our Mother.

I grieve for thee O Mary, most sorrowful,
in the martyrdom which thy generous heart endured
in standing near Jesus in His agony.
Dear Mother, by thy afflicted heart,
obtain for me the virtue of temperance
and the gift of counsel.
And this my special intention
……………………. (mention your intention)
Amen

Ave Maria …

Prayer of St Alphonsus:
O Mother, the most afflicted of all mothers,
thy Son, then, is dead;
thy Son so amiable
and who loved thee so much!
Weep, for thou hast reason to weep.
Who can ever console thee?
Nothing can console thee
but the thought that Jesus,
by His death, hath conquered hell,
hath opened paradise which was closed to men
and hath gained so many souls.
From that throne of the Cross
He was to reign over so many hearts,
which, conquered by His love,
would serve Him with love.
Do not disdain, O my Mother,
to keep me near to weep with thee,
for I have more reason than thou to weep
for the offences that I have committed against thy Son.
O, Mother of mercy,
I hope for pardon and my eternal salvation,
first through the death of my Redeemer
and then through the merits of thy dolors.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN TITLES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ANGER, QUOTES on ENVY, QUOTES on HYPOCRISY, QUOTES on JUDGING, QUOTES on LOVE, QUOTES on PRIDE, QUOTES on PURITY of INTENTION, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 11 September – The log and the speck – Luke 6:39-42

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One Minute Reflection – 11 September – “Month of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Friday of the Twenty Third week in Ordinary Time, Readings: 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22b-27, Psalms 84:3, 4, 5-6, 12, Luke 6:39-42

“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye and then you will see clearly, to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.” … Luke 6:42

REFLECTION – “The Lord in this passage warns us against rash and unjust judgement. He wants us to act with a heart that is single and intent on God alone. Because there are many things about which, it would be rash to pass judgement, since we do not know with what kind of a heart they are done. For the most part, those who readily judge and condemn, are those who love to find fault and to condemn rather than to reprove and correct – and this is the vice of pride or envy. (…)

So if, for instance, someone sins through anger, you would reprove him through hatred. There is as much difference between anger and hatred, as there is between a speck and a beam. For hatred is an inveterate anger which, in time, has come to such a pitch that it may aptly be called a beam. Even though you are angry with someone, you may nevertheless wish them to amend. But if you hate someone, you cannot wish them to change for the better (…) First rid yourself of hatred, and then you will immediately be able to correct the person you love.” … St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace – Commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, 19,63

PRAYER – Lord God, in Your wisdom, You created us, in love. By Your providence, You rule us, in love. Penetrate our inmost being with the holy light of Your Son. Penetrate our hearts with the overwhelming love for Your love, so that we may weep in consolation. May the Light that is Jesus Christ our Lord, enlighten our hearts that we may see clearly the way we should tread. May the prayers of Your holy Angels, Martyrs, Saints and our Sorrowful Martyr Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, be our guiding inspiration. Through Christ our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, God forever amen.

Posted in MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, NOVENAS, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

The Seven Sorrows Novena By St Alphonsus Liguori – 10 September – Day Four

Posted on by AnaStpaul

The Seven Sorrows Novena
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Day Four – The Fourth Sorrow
Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary

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:
Mary has known fear and sorrow but none so great, as seeing her beloved Son stumbling under the weight of the Cross. She hears the jeering shouts from the crowd and has no power to help Him. Pity and love are in her eyes as she gazes at His blood-stained face. To many around her, He is no better than a criminal and her heart is breaking as she follows Him to Calvary or Golgotha.

I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful
in the consternation of thy heart
at meeting Jesus as he carried His Cross.
Dear Mother,
by thy heart so troubled,
obtain for me the virtue of patience
and the gift of fortitude.
And this my special intention
……………………. (mention your intention)
Amen

Ave Maria …

Prayer of St Alphonsus:
My sorrowful Mother,
by the merit of that grief
which thou did feel
at seeing thy beloved Jesus led to death,
obtain for me the grace also to bear with patience,
those crosses which God sends me.
Happy me, if I also shall know
how to accompany thee with my cross until death.
Thou and Jesus, both innocent,
have borne a heavy cross
and shall I a sinner,
who have merited hell, refuse mine?
O, Immaculate Virgin,
I hope that thou will help me
to bear my crosses with patience.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, NOVENAS, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS

The Seven Sorrows Novena By St Alphonsus Liguori – 9 September – Day Three

Posted on by AnaStpaul

The Seven Sorrows Novena
By St Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Day Three – The Third Sorrow
The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple

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:
When Jesus is twelve, He is taken to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. On the return journey Joseph and Mary find at the end of the first day that Jesus is not with them. Racked with anxiety, they search for Him. Nobody in the streets, not even the beggars, can tell them where He is. Not till the third day do they find Him, in the Temple.

I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful,
in those anxieties which tried thy troubled heart
at the loss of thy dear Jesus.
Dear Mother,
by thy heart so full of anguish,
obtain for me the virtue of chastity
and the gift of knowledge.
And this my special intention
……………………. (mention your intention)
Amen

Ave Maria …

Prayer of St Alphonsus:
O blessed Virgin,
why art thou afflicted, seeking thy lost Son?
Is it because thou dost not know where He is?
But dost thou not know that He is in thy heart?
Dost thou not see that He is feeding among the lilies?
Thou, thyself have said it:
“My beloved to me and I to Him who feeds among the lilies.”
These, thy humble, pure and holy thoughts and affections,
are all lilies, that invite the divine spouse to dwell with thee.
O Mary, do thou sigh after Jesus,
thou who loves none but Jesus?
Leave sighing to me and so many other sinners
who do not love Him
and who have lost Him by offending Him.
My most amiable Mother,
if through my fault thy Son has not yet returned to my soul,
will thou obtain for me, that I may find Him.
I know well, that He allows himself to be found by all who seek Him:
The Lord is good to the soul that seeks him: ”
Bonus est Dominus . . . animse quaerenti ilium.”
Make me to seek Him as I ought to seek Him.
Thou art the gate through which all find Jesus;
through thou, I too hope to find Him.
Amen