Dear Saviour, haste! Come, come to earth. Dispel the night and show Thy Face And bid us hail the Dawn of grace. O come, Divine Messias, The world in silence waits the day When hope shall sing its triumph, And sadness flee away. Amen
This is the Refrain from a beautiful Advent Hymn by Abbé Simon-Joseph Pellegrin, a French Cluniac Monk, Poet, Composer and Playwright.
Our Morning Offering – 30 November – Feast of St Andrew Apostle and Martyr
Exsultet Orbis! Let the World Rejoice! Unknown Author
Now let the earth with joy resound, And Heaven the chant re-echo round; Nor Heaven nor earth too high can raise The great Apostles’ glorious praise.
O ye who, throned in glory dread, Shall judge the living and the dead, Lights of the world forever more! To you the suppliant prayer we pour.
Ye close the Sacred Gates on high. At your command apart they fly. O loose for us the guilty chain We strive to break and strive in vain.
Sickness and health your voice obey, At your command they go or stay. From sin’s disease our souls restore; In good confirm us more and more.
So when the world is at its end. And Christ to Judgment shall descend, May we be called, those joys to see Prepared from all eternity.
Praise to the Father, with the Son, And Holy Spirit, Three in One; As ever was in ages past And so shall be while ages last. Amen
(Roman Breviary for the Common of Apostles) An Office Hymn that was traditionally prescribed for Vespers and Lauds on the Feasts of Apostles and Evangelists outside Easter time. The Hymn is found as early as the tenth century in a hymnal of Moissac Abbey.
Our Morning Offering – 20 November – The Last Sunday after Pentecost
Holy God, We Praise Thy Name By Fr Ignaz Franz Poland (1719-1790) (Attri) Archbishop of Schlawa, Germany
Holy God, we praise Thy Name. Lord of all, we bow before Thee. All on earth Thy sceptre claim; all in heav’n above adore Thee. Infinite Thy vast domain, everlasting is Thy reign.
Hark, the loud celestial hymn, angel choirs above are raising. Cherubim and seraphim, in unceasing chorus praising, fill the heav’ns with sweet accord: Holy, holy, holy Lord.
Holy Father, Holy Son, Holy Ghost, three we name Thee While in essence only One, Undivided God, we claim Thee and adoring, bend the knee, while we own the Mystery.
Spare Thy people Lord, we pray, By a thousand snares surrounded. Keep us without sin today, Never let us be confounded. Lo, I put my trust in Thee, Never Lord, abandon me.
Fr Ignaz Franz Poland (1719-1790) Archbishop of Schlawa, Germany, Hymnist, Musician He also functioned as the Assessor for Theological Affairs at the Apostolic Vicariate. He wrote hymn lyrics and compiled religious music. Trans. by Fr Clarence A Walworth (1820-1900) Convert, writer. He was one of the Founders of the Order of the Paulists in the U.S.A.
Our Morning Offering – 18 November – Feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Peter and Paul
Æterna Cæli Gloria Eternal Glory of Heaven By St Ambrose (340–397) Father and Doctor of the Churh Trans. John Mason Neale, (1818-1866)
Eternal glory of the sky, Blest hope of frail humanity, The Father’s Sole-begotten One, Yet born a spotless Virgin’s Son!
Uplift us with Thine arm of might, And let our hearts rise pure and bright And, ardent in God’s praises, pay The thanks we owe Him everyday.
The Day-star’s rays are glittering clear And tell that day itself is near: The shadows of the night depart; Thou, holy Light, illume the heart!
Within our senses ever dwell, And worldly darkness thence expel; Long as the days of life endure, Preserve our souls devout and pure.
The faith that first must be possessed, Root deep within our inmost breast; And joyous hope in second place, Then charity, Thy greatest grace.
All laud to God the Father be, All praise, eternal Son, to Thee; All glory, as is ever meet, To God the Holy Paraclete.
Beloved Saint Ambrose was a Roman citizen, son of a Roman prefect in Gallia Narbonensis. At age 33 or 34, (374) he was appointed governor of northern Italy. In the same year, Ambrose was selected as Bishop of Milan by popular acclaim. His Hymns first came to widespread notice during a public altercation between St Ambrose and Empress Justina, who had sent soldiers to arrest him. Ambrose and his faithful flock stayed in the Sanctuary of the Church for days, singing and praying. The Empress lost the test of wills and Ambrose’ Hymns have lived for millennia. Alleluia!
Our Morning Offering – 12 November – Mary’s Saturday – “The Month of the Holy ouls in Purgatory”
O Gloriosa Virginum By St Venantius Fortunatus (c 530 – c 609)
O Glorious Virgin, ever blest, Sublime above the starry sky, Who nurture from thy spotless breast To thy Creator didst supply.
What we had lost through hapless Eve, The Blossom sprung from these restores, And, granting bliss to souls that grieve, Unbars the everlasting doors.
O Gate, through which hath passed the King. O Hall, whence Light shone through the gloom; The ransomed nations, praise and sing Life given from the Virgin womb.
All honour, laud and glory be, O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee; All glory, as is ever meet, To Father and to Paraclete. Amen
O Gloriosa Domina is the second half of the hymn: Quem Terra, Pontus, Aethera. It was composed by St Venantius Fortunatus (c 530 – c 609) the Bishop of Poitiers. In 1632, in accordance with revisions made to the hymns of the Divine Office by Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644), it was altered and changed to O Gloriósa Vírginum. It is sung in the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Roman Breviary. It is said that St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) was always singing this hymn. His mother sang it to him as a baby,and even on his death bed after receiving Extreme Unction, he intoned the hymn.
Saint of the Day – 6 November – Nostra Signora del Suffragio / Our Lady of Suffrage for the Souls in Purgatory.
The Archconfraternity of Death and Prayer (mortis et orationis), founded in Rome, 1538, to provide for the burial of the poor and abandoned, still exists (cf. Berignani, loc. cit). At the beginning of the 17th Century, it was granted a new Indulgences by Pope Paul V (Rescr. auth. S. C. Indulg., n. 26, pp. 448 sqq. Moroni, II, 303). About 1687, the Rules for a special Confraternity “for the relief of the Most Needy Souls in Purgatory” under the Sacred Names of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, were approved in Rome. The Confraternity for the relief of the departed under the title of “Jesus Christ on Mount Calvary and the Sorrowful Mother” enjoyed special popularity and on 8 September 1760, inaugurated, the processions of the Way of the Cross in the Roman Coliseum. Among its illustrious members was St Leonard of Port Maurice OFM (1676-1751).
In 1874, the Ingolstadt Mass Association, formed by the Franciscans of Ingolstadt in 1726, to procure for all members the grace of a happy death and for those already deceased, speedy assistance and liberation form the pains of Purgatory, was raised to a formal and legal Confraternity, under the title of the Immaculate Conception. An ancient, highly venerated painting of the Mother of God, was adopted as the Titular image of the Association, which has received all the Indulgences of the Confraternity of the same name, in the Ara Coeli at Rome, that is, the Indulgences of the Blue Scapular. It numbers its members by tens and hundreds of thousands; almost 2000 Masses are daily celebrated for the intentions of the Marian Mass Association, which includes the intention of particularly assisting for the most recently deceased members.
At the close of the Middle Ages, the old Confraternities, generally confined to a town or small district, gradually disappeared, as also did many of the later ones in the confusion at the end of the eighteenth century, while others preserved only a semblance of life. Since the beginning of the 19th Century, they have been replaced by vigorous new Associations, which, richly endowed with Indulgences by ecclesiastical authorities, have rapidly extended to the entire Church.
By brief of 5 October, 1818, Pope Pius VII endowed the Archconfraternity of Our Mother of Sorrows and Suffrage of the Poor Souls in Purgatory, which was erected in the Basilica of San Maria in Trastevere, with rich Indulgences.
St Teresa of Jesus of Avila, intercedes with Our Lady of Suffrage for the Poor Souls in Purgatory
First among the later Confraternities which have extended throughout Christendom, is the “Archconfraternity for the Relief of the Poor Souls in Purgatory under the title of the Assumption of Mary, in the Redemptorist Church of San Maria in Monterone at Rome.” Founded in 1841, it rapidly developed, especially in England and North America and was endowed with Indulgences in 1841-63. Priests empowered to receive the faithful into the Confraternity enjoy various other faculties. This Confraternity is especially adapted for rapid expansion because in 1860, it was expressly authorised to include, every Confraternity of whatever name and object and to communicate to them its graces and privileges, provide they added to their original Titles “and for the relief of the Poor Souls in Purgatory.” The Redemptorist Fathers conduct this Archconfraternity.
Indulgences of the Confraternities are ever applicable to the Souls in Purgatory and the privileges of the Altar for Churches and for Priests, who are members, may be used in favour of dead members or for all poor souls. The formation of the “Catholic League for Constant Intercession for the Poor Souls in Purgatory” was proposed by certain pious citizens of Rome, approved by Leo XIII in the last years of his reign, and enriched with Indulgences. The only requisite for membership is to recite thrice daily the prayer, “Requiem æternam – Eternal Rest grant unto them O Lord …” thereby gaining, once daily, an Indulgence of 200 days.
O Turn to Jesus, Mother! Turn By Fr Frederick William Faber CO (1814-1863)
O turn to Jesus, Mother! turn, And call Him by His tenderest Names; Pray for the Holy Souls that burn, This hour amid the cleansing flames.
Ah! they have fought a gallant fight; In death’s cold arms, they persevered And after life’s uncheery night, The harbour of their rest is neared.
In pains beyond all earthly pains, Favourites of Jesus! there they lie, Letting the fire wear out their stains, And worshipping God’s purity.
Spouses of Christ, they are, for He Was wedded to them by His Blood And Angels o’er their destiny In wondering adoration brood.
They are the children of thy tears, Then hasten, Mother! to their aid; In pity think each hour appears An age while glory is delayed.
See, how they bound amid their fires, While pain and love their spirits fill; Then with self-crucified desires Utter sweet murmurs, and lie still.
Ah me! the love of Jesus yearns O’er that abyss of sacred pain, And as He looks His Bosom burns With Calvary’s dear thirst again.
O Mary! let thy Son no more His lingering Spouses thus expect, God’s children to their God restore, And to the Spirit, His elect.
Pray then, as thou hast ever prayed; Angels and Souls, all look to thee, God waits thy prayers, for He hath made Those prayers, His law of charity.
Our Morning Offering – 5 November – Within the Octave of All Saints and the Feast of the Holy Relics
Sanctorum Meritis Inclita Gaudia Sing, O Sons of the Church Unknown Author 8th Century But Attributed to St Rabanus Maurus (c 776-856) Vespers Hymn in the Common of Martyrs
Sing, O Sons of the Church sounding the Martyrs’ praise! God’s true soldiers applaud, who, in their weary days, Won bright trophies of good, glad be the voice ye raise, While these heroes of Christ ye sing!
They, while yet in the world, were by the world abhorred; Felt how fading the joys, fleeting the wealth it stored; Spurned all pleasure for Thee, and at Thy call, O Lord, Came forth strong in Thy Name, as King.
Lord, how bravely they bore fury and pain for Thee! Scourge, rod, sword, and the rack strongly endured; but free Sang out, bold in Thy love, longing on high to be; Earth’s might never their souls could bend.
While they, shedding their blood, victims for Jesus fell, No sound out of their lips came of their throes to tell; Bowed low, patient and meek, loving the Lord so well, Turned they still to the Christ, their Friend.
What joys, bright with the blood shed for Thy love they share, Those brave Martyrs of Thine crowned, with Thy laurels rare; Man’s tongue never can tell, never can half declare, How pure now is their bliss above!
Yet we, Father on high, God of eternal might, Lift weak voices in prayer, asking for peace and light; Cleanse Thou out of our heart,s every stain and blight, So our songs may be songs of love. Amen
There are thirteen translations of this Hymn and five in Liturgical usage. This one by Daniel Joseph Donahoe (1853-1930), an Irish American of Connecticut. A Judge, Poet, Writer and Latin Translator. This from his Early Christian Hymns Vol I or II.
Our Morning Offering – 31 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Goodbye October
Through Thee, to Us, our Saviour Came Sweet 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!
Our Morning Offering – 30 October – Christ the King
Jesus is Our King By Estelle White (1925-2011) Convert, Musician, Hymnist.
Crown Him, the Virgin’s Son, The God Incarnate born, Whose arm those crimson trophies won Which now His brow adorn. Awake, my soul, and sing Of Him Who died for thee; And hail Him as thy glorious King Through all Eternity.
Crown Him, the Lord of Love; Behold His bands and side,– Rich wounds, still visible above In beauty glorified: No Angel in the sky Can fully bear that sight, But downward bends His burning eye At mysteries so bright.
Crown Him, the Lord of Peace, Whose power a sceptre sways From pole to pole, that wars may cease, Absorbed in prayer aud praise: His reign shall know no end, And round His pierced feet Fair flowers of Paradise extend Their fragrance ever sweet.
Our Morning Offering – 28 October – Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles
Exsultet Orbis! Let the World Rejoice! Unknown Author
Now let the earth with joy resound, And Heaven the chant re-echo round; Nor Heaven nor earth too high can raise The great Apostles’ glorious praise.
O ye who, throned in glory dread, Shall judge the living and the dead, Lights of the world forever more! To you the suppliant prayer we pour.
Ye close the Sacred Gates on high. At your command apart they fly. O loose for us the guilty chain We strive to break and strive in vain.
Sickness and health your voice obey, At your command they go or stay. From sin’s disease our souls restore; In good confirm us more and more.
So when the world is at its end. And Christ to Judgment shall descend, May we be called, those joys to see Prepared from all eternity.
Praise to the Father, with the Son, And Holy Spirit, Three in One; As ever was in ages past And so shall be while ages last. Amen
(Roman Breviary for the Common of Apostles) An Office Hymn that was traditionally prescribed for Vespers and Lauds on the Feasts of Apostles and Evangelists outside Easter time. The Hymn is found as early as the tenth century in a hymnal of Moissac Abbey.
Our Morning Offering – 24 October – Feast of St Raphael the Archangel
Jesu, Brightness of the Father! Hymn for the Feast of St Raphael By St Rabanus Maurus (776-856) Trans. Fr Edward Caswall (1814–1878)
Jesu, brightness of the Father! Life and Strength of all who live! In the presence of the Angels, Glory to Thy Name we give; And Thy wondrous praise rehearse, Singing in alternate verse.
Hail, too, ye Angelic Powers! Hail, ye Thrones celestial! Hail, Physician of Salvation! Guide of life, blest Raphael Who the foe of all mankind, Didst in links of iron bind.
Oh may Christ, by thy protection, Shelter us from harm this day; Keep us pure in flesh and spirit; Save us from the enemy and vouchsafe us, of His grace, In His Paradise a place.
Glory to the Almighty Father, Sing we now in anthems sweet; Glory to the great Redeemer, Glory to the Paraclete; Three in One and One in three, Througout all eternity. Amen
Our Morning Offering – 23 October –Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost – Feast of the Most Holy Redeemer
Be Thou My Vision By St Dallan Forgaill (c 530- 598)
Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best thought by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my Light.
Be Thou my Wisdom and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord. Thou my great Father, I Thy true son; Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle-shield, sword for my fight, Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight. Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower. Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine inheritance, now and always. Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won, May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Son, Heart of my heart, whatever befall Still be my vision, O ruler of all.
Our Morning Offering – 20 October – Feast of Mater Admirabilis / Mother Most Admirable (1844)
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.
Our Morning Offering – 18 October – The Feast of St Luke, the Evangelist
Holy and Learned, Great Saint Luke Prayer/Hymn in Honour of St Luke “Plausibus Luca canimus” Trans the Benedictines of Saint Cecilia’s Abbey, Ryde, UK
Holy and learned, great Saint Luke, we praise you, Closely you followed in the steps of Jesus, As supreme witness to His life and teaching Shedding your life-blood.
Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, You left in writing, for all time to study Stories unrivalled for their depth and beauty, Christ’s love revealing.
Yours are the records which we read with pleasure Of the beginning of the Church so fervent, Under the impulse of the true and living Spirit of Jesus.
Paul’s earnest helper, sharer in his travels, Zealous as he was, with a heart as loving, Make our souls also steadfast and devoted To the Lord Jesus.
Tender physician, use your gift of healing, Comfort our weakness with a faith unswerving, So that rejoicing, we may praise forever God the Almighty. Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 16 October – Feast of the Purity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Holy light on earth’s horizon, Star of hope to those who fall, Light amid a world of shadows, Dawn of God’s design for all.
O Mary, conceived without sin, Pray for us who have recourse to thee.
“Thou alone and Thy Mother, are in all things fair, there is no flaw in Thee and no stain in Thy Mother.”
St Ephrem of Syria (306-373) Father and Doctor of the Church
“The very fact that God has elected her, proves, that none was ever holier than Mary; if any stain had disfigured her soul, if any other virgin had been purer and holier, God would have selected her and rejected Mary.”
St Jacob of Sarug (c 451-521) Bishop, Theologian, Poet, Writer
“He Who is Infinite, Limitless, came to dwell in your womb; God, the Child Jesus, was nourished by your milk. You are the ever virginal Doorway of God; your hands hold your God; your lap is a throne raised up above the Cherubim… You are the wedding chamber of the Spirit, the “city of the living God, gladdened by the runlets of the stream,” that is to say, the waves of the Spirit’s gifts. You are “all fair, the Beloved” of God.”
St John Damascene (675-749) Father and Doctor of the Church
“Free from the concupiscence which has disturbed our human nature, she was like a snow-white lily, sparkling in the sunlight. Her mortal life was a continuous ascent towards the highest peak of holiness. … her daily correspondence with God’s gifts was as remarkable as her dignity. … The most chaste Virgin Mary, is a model for our imitation.”
Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
Tota Pulchra Es, Maria You Are All Beautiful, Mary Unknown Author – 4th Century
You are all beautiful, Mary, and the original stain is not in you. You are the glory of Jerusalem, you are the joy of Israel, you give honour to our people. You are an advocate of sinners. O Mary, O Mary, Virgin most intelligent, Mother most merciful. Pray for us, Plead for us, To the Lord Jesus Christ.
Tota pulchra es, Maria. Et macula originalis non est in Te. Tu gloria Ierusalem. Tu laetitia Israel. Tu honorificentia populi nostri. Tu advocata peccatorum. O Maria, O Maria, Virgo prudentissima. Mater clementissima. Ora pro nobis. Intercede pro nobis. Ad Dominum Iesum Christum.
This prayer used by the Church since the 4th Century for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the Purity of the Blessed Virgin. It takes some text from the book of Judith and other text from Song of Songs, specifically 4:7. Many composers have set this prayer to music over the centuries.
Our Morning Offering – 16 October – Feast of the Purity of the Blessed Virgin 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!
Quote/s of the Day – 11 October – Feast of the Divine Maternity
“Mary, having merited to give flesh to the Divine Word and thus, supply the price of our redemption that we might be delivered from eternal death, therefore, she is more powerful than all others, to help us gain eternal life.”
St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace
“The One Who is the Wisdom of the Father, put His arms around her neck, the One Who is the strength, which gives movement to everything, sat in her arms. He, Who is the rest of souls, (Mt 11:29) rested on her motherly breast. … Filled with the Holy Spirit, she held Him close to her heart … She never had enough of seeing Him or of hearing Him … Thus Mary, grew evermore in love and her mind was unceasingly attached , to Divine contemplation.”
St Amadeus of Lausanne (1108-1159) Bishop (Homily on the Motherhood of Mary, 4).
“Wherefore, in the same holy bosom of His most chaste Mother, Christ took to Himself flesh and united to Himself, the spiritual Body formed by those who were to believe in Him. Hence Mary, carrying the Saviour within her, may be said, to have also carried, all those. whose life was contained in the life of the Saviour. Therefore, all we who are united to Christ and, as the Apostle says, are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones (Eph 5:30), have issued from the womb of Mary, like a body united to it’s head.”
St Pius X (1835-1914) Pope from 1903 to 1914 Encyclical “Ad diem illum laetissimum” #10-11
Alma Redemptoris Mater Loving Mother of the Redeemer By Bl Herman of Reichenau (1013–1054)
Loving Mother of the Redeemer! Hear thou thy people’s cry, Star of the deep and portal of the sky! Mother of Him Who thee from nothing made, Sinking we strive and call to thee for aid; Oh, by that joy which Gabriel brought to thee, Thou Virgin first and last, let us thy mercy see.
Our Morning Offering – 7 October – “The Month and Feast of the Most Holy Rosary”
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!
Our Morning Offering – 2 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels
Custodes Hominum Psallimus Angelos Praise We the Guardian Angels of Men By St Robert Bellarmine SJ (1542-1621) Archbishop of Capua, Theologian Doctor of the Church
Angel-guardians of men, spirits and powers we sing, Whom our Father hath sent, aids to our weakly frame, Heavenly friends and guides, help from on high to bring, Lest we fail through the foeman’s wile.
He, the spoiler of souls, Angel-traitor of old, Cast in merited wrath out of his honoured place, Burns with envy and hate, seeking their souls to gain Whom God’s mercy invites to Heaven.
Therefore, come to our help, watchful ward of our lives: Turn aside from the land, God to thy care confides Sickness and woe of soul, yea and what else of ill Peace of heart to its folk denies.
Now to the Holy Three praise evermore resound: Under Whose Hand Divine resteth the triple world Governed in wondrous wise, glory be Theirs and Might While the ages unending run. Amen
This Hymn by St Robert Bellarmine,was added to the Roman Breviary in 1608, by command of Pope Paul V. It is for Vespers in the Office for “the Holy Guardian Angels. Double of the second class,” 2 October..
Quote of the Day – 28 September – St Wenceslaus (907-935) Duke of Bohemia, Martyr.
Good King Wenceslaus
Good King Wenceslaus looked out, on the Feast of Stephen, When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even; Brightly shone the moon that night, t ho’ the frost was cruel, When a poor man came in sight, gath’ring winter fuel.
“Hither, page and stand by me, if thou know’st it, telling, Yonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?” “Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain; Right against the forest fence, by Saint Agnes’ fountain.”
“Bring me flesh and bring me wine, bring me pine logs hither, Thou and I will see him dine, when we bear them thither.” Page and Monarch, forth they went, forth they went together; Through the rude wind’s wild lament and the bitter weather.
“Sire, the night is darker now and the wind blow stronger; Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer.” “Mark my footsteps, my good page. Tread thou in them boldly Thou shalt find the winter’s rage, freeze thy blood less coldly.”
In his master’s steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted; Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed. Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing, Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.
Our Morning Offering – 27 September – “The Month of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Holy Cross
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.
Quote/s of the Day – 24 September – Our Lady of Ransom
“No matter how sinful one may have been, if he has devotion to Mary, it is impossible that he be lost.”
St Hilary of Poitiers (315-368) Father & Doctor of the Church
“Go to Mary and sing her praises and you will be enlightened. For it is through her, that the true Light shines on the sea of this life.”
St Ildephonsus (607-670)
“O great, O gentle, O most lovable Mary, thy Holy Name cannot be spoken without inflaming the heart. To those who love thee, it is unspeakable consolation and joy even to think of thee; thou art a sweet memory to those who honour thee.”
“O Mary, I have not doubt that whenever we run to you, we shall obtain all that we desire. Let those then who have no hope, hope in you!”
St Bernard (1090-1153) Mellifluous Doctor of the Church
“Let us run to Mary and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.”
St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Church
“No-one who shall invoke this Mother of Grace, with devotion and perseverance, can possibly perish forever.”
St John Eudes (1601-1680) “The Apostle of Two Hearts”
“Truly we are passing through disastrous times, when we may well make our own, the lamentation of the Prophet: “There is no truth and there is no mercy and there is no knowledge of God in the land” (Hosea 4:1). Yet in the midst of this tide of evil, the Virgin Most Merciful rises before our eyes like a rainbow, as the arbiter of peace between God and man.”
St Pope Pius X (1835-1914)
Salve Regina Hail Holy Queen By Blessed Herman of Reichenau (1013–1054)
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, Hail our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, Poor banished children of Eve; To thee do we send up our sighs, Mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, Thine eyes of mercy toward us; And after this our exile, Show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
This line, below, by St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Doctor of the Church
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
℣ Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, ℟ that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Quote/s of the Day – 24 August – St Bartholomew the Apostle and Martyr
“Here is a true child of Israel. There is no guile in him.”
John 1:47
Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
John 1:49
“You are the light of the world, you are the salt of the earth.”
Matthew 5:14
“Like peaceful conquerors, without any human weapons but backed by by the power of God, they divided the world amongst themselves, so that they might win it for Christ! The Roman Empire was small to them. They travelled, moreover, to the distant shores of Ethiopia and India, where the Eagle of Rome had never found its way! Surely, this is the most extraordinary Miracle of history?!
The Holy Spirit accomplished that, which human armies had never been able to do, save in part, or for a limited period of time. In this achievement, He used the weakest possible human means, namely, twelve poor fishermen! The earthly Empire of Rome, passed away but the Spiritual domain of Christ still remains, with its centre at Rome, as the only true Light, the only unfailing hope and the only pledge of salvation for individuals and nations.”
Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)
O Fathers of Our Ancient Faith
O Fathers of our ancient faith, With all the heav’n, we sing your fame Whose sound went forth in all the earth To tell of Christ and bless His Name.
You took the Gospel to the poor, The Word of God alight in you, Which in our day is told again, That timeless Word, forever new.
You told of God, Who died for us And out of death triumphant rose, Who gave the Truth which made us free and changeless through the ages goes.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Whose gift is faith that never dies, A light in darkness now, until The Day-Star in our hearts arise.
O Fathers of Our Ancient Faith is written by the Benedictine Nuns of Stanbrook Abbey. In the Divine Office it is sung at Morning Prayer in the Common of Apostles. It is set to the anonymous tune associated with the 7th century Latin hymn, Creator Alme Siderum.
AnaStpaul 
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