Posted in MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 20 May – O Blessed Lady by St Bernard

Our Morning Offering – 20 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

O Blessed Lady,
Mediatrix and Advocate
By St Bernard (1090-1153)
Father and Doctor of Light

Our Mediatrix and Advocate
O blessed Lady,
you found grace, brought forth the Life,
and became the Mother of Salvation.
May you obtain the grace for us to go to the Son.
By your mediation, may we be received by the One
who through you, gave Himself to us.
May your integrity compensate with Him
for the fault of our corruption
and may your humility,
which is pleasing to God,
implore pardon for our vanity.
May your great charity
cover the multitude of our sins
and may your glorious fecundity
confer on us, a fecundity of merits.
Dear Lady, our Mediatrix and Advocate,
reconcile us to your Son,
recommend us to Him
and present us to your Son.
By the grace you found,
by the privilege you merited,
by the Mercy you brought forth,
obtain for us the favour we ask of you,
O blessed Lady.
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on REASON/INTELLECT, QUOTES on SACRED SCRIPTURE, QUOTES on WISDOM

Quote/s of the Day – 19 May – St Alcuin (c735-804) “The Schoolmaster of Europe”

Quote/s of the Day – 19 May – St Alcuin (c735-804) “The Schoolmaster of Europe” Deacon, Confessor

O Lord, our God!
By St Alcuin (c735-804)

O Lord, our God,
Who has called us to serve Thee,
in the midst of the world’s affairs,
when we stumble, catch and hold us;
when we fall, lift us up;
when we are hard pressed with evil, deliver us;
when we turn from what is good, turn us back!;
and bring us at last to Thy glory.
Amen

“… Through all the pages of Holy Scripture
we are urged to learn wisdom.
In toiling toward the happy life,
nothing is more lofty,
nothing more pleasant,
nothing bolder against vices,
nothing more praiseworthy
in every place of dignity
and moreover, according to the words
of philosophers, nothing is more
essential to government,
nothing more helpful in leading a moral life,
than the beauty of wisdom,
the praise of learning
and the advantages of scholarship.

I am made all things to all men
that I may instruct many
to the profit of God’s Holy Church
… ”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/05/19/quote-s-of-the-day-19-may-st-alcuin-of-york/

St Alcuin (c735-804)
Father of the Church

Posted in MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 15 May – St John Bosco’s Most Holy Virgin, Help of Christians

Our Morning Offering – 15 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

Most Holy Virgin Mary,
Help of Christians
By St John Bosco (1815-1888)

Most Holy Virgin Mary,
Help of Christians,
how sweet it is to come to thy feet
imploring thy perpetual aid.
If earthly mothers cease not
to remember their children,
how canst thou,
the most loving of all mothers, forget me?
Grant then to me, I implore thee
thy perpetual aid in all my necessities,
in every sorrow and especially in all my temptations.
I ask for thy unceasing assistance
for all who are now suffering.
Help the weak,
cure the sick,
convert sinners.
Grant through thy intercession,
many vocations to the religious life.
Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians,
that having invoked thee on earth
we may love and eternally thank thee in Heaven.
Amen

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, MOTHER of GOD, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 14 May – Alma Redemptoris Mater, Loving Mother of the Redeemer

Our Morning Offering – 14 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

Alma Redemptoris Mater
Loving Mother of the Redeemer
By Blessed Herman Contractus
of Reichenau OSB (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 we thy mercy see.

Alma Redemptóris Mater,
quæ pérvia cæli
Porta manes, et stella maris,
succúrre cadénti,
Súrgere qui curat pópulo:
tu quæ genuísti,
Natúra miránte,
tuum sanctum Genitórem
Virgo prius ac postérius, Gabriélis ab ore
Sumens illud Ave,
peccatórum miserére.

Marian Antiphon Traditionally said from Advent to the Purification of the Blessed Virgin.
Blessed Herman is the Author of the Salve Regina, the Veni Sancte Spiritus and the Alma Redemptoris Mater amongst others.

Posted in HYMNS, JESUIT SJ, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Ven Servant of God John A Hardon

Our Morning Offering – 13 May – A Hymn to Mary the Virgin By St Robert Bellarmine

Our Morning Offering – 13 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – St Robert Bellarmine SJ (1542-1621) Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church

A Hymn to Mary the Virgin
By St Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621)
Doctor of the Church.

Virgin adored and clothed with the sun,
grant me thine aid.
Virgin most beautiful, mystical rose,
take abode in my heart.
Virgin most chaste, all undefiled,
grant me true peace.
Virgin deserving of all honour and praise,
give me thy love.
Virgin elect and full of all grace,
lead me to God.
Virgin most blessed, star of the sea,
dispel the storms besetting me.
Virgin most virtuous, holy and sweet,
show me the way.
Virgin illustrious, with thy burning light,
enlighten thou my mind.
Virgin more precious than jewels or gold,
make reparation for me.
Virgin most worthy of all praise,
mother, daughter and immaculate spouse.
Virgin and Mother,
make me more pleasing to Jesus thy Son.
Virgin most innocent of any stain or fault,
make me more worthy of God.
Virgin enriched with every gift and grace,
obtain the remission of my sins.
Virgin most pure, grant me to enjoy
the bliss of heavenly love.
Virgin, thou lily among thorns,
I pray thee for the grace of a happy death.
Virgin more rare than the rarest dream,
bring joy to my heart.
Virgin so great, there is none like thee on earth,
bring peace to my soul.
Virgin most true, loving Mother too, Virgin Mary.
Amen

St Robert Bellarmine’s Hymn to Mary the Virgin:
Among St Robert’s extant writing, there is a short poem of twenty stanzas which he composed in the nature of a Litany to the Blessed Virgin.
The text was first published in Italian some fifty years ago and to the best of the writer’s knowledge, has never been translated into English.
Each verse-line begins with the name “Virgin,” joined to a title and petition to Our Lady, starting with the letter “A” and going down the Italian alphabet to “V”
Thus the first seven verses begin with the invocation: “Vergine adorna … Vergine Bella …Vergine casta … Vergine degna … Vergine eletta … Vergine felice … Vergine gradita …”
A translation to this tribute to the Virgin Mother reads as above: – Fr John A Hardon SJ (1914-2000).

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Hail MARY!, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MOTHER of GOD, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 12 May – Hail, O Mary, Mother of God By St Cyril of Alexandria

Our Morning Offering – 12 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God
By St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)
Father & Doctor of the Church

Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Virgin and Mother!
Morning Star, perfect vessel.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Holy Temple in which God
Himself was conceived.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Chaste and pure dove.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
who enclosed the One
Who cannot be encompassed
in your sacred womb.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
From you flowed the true light,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Through you the Conqueror
and triumphant Vanquisher
of hell, came to us.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Through you, the glory
of the Resurrection blossoms.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
You have saved every faithful Christian.
Hail, O Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for SEASONS, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR

Our Morning Offering – 10 May – O Mother Blest By St Alphonsus

Our Morning Offering – 10 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

O Mother Blest
By St Alphonsus Maira Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church
Trans. Fr Edmund Vaughn C.SS.R. (1827 – 1908 )

O Mother blest, whom God bestows
On sinners and on just,
What joy, what hope thou givest those
Who in thy mercy trust.
Thou are clement, thou are chaste,
Mary thou art fair,
Of all mothers, sweetest best,
none with thee compare.

O heavenly Mother, mistress sweet!
it never yet was told
that suppliant sinner left thy feet,
unpitied, unconsoloed.
Thou are clement, thou are chaste, …

O Mother, pitiful and mild,
Cease not to pray for me;
For I do love thee as a child,
And sigh for love of thee.
Thou art clement, thou art chaste, …

Most powerful Mother, all men know
Thy Son denies thee nought;
Thou askest, wishest it, and lo!
His power thy will hath wrought.
Thou art clement, thou art chaste, …

O Mother blest, for me obtain,
Ungrateful though I be,
To love that God who first could deign
To show such love for me.
Thou art clement, thou art chaste,
Mary, thou art fair.
Of all mothers, sweetest, best,
None with thee compare.

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, Hail MARY!, MARIAN PRAYERS, MOTHER of GOD, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 9 May – Hail to Thee, Forever Virgin,Mother of God,

Our Morning Offering – 9 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

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

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

(From “Oration on Simeon and Anna”)

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GUARDIAN ANGELS - Prayers etc, JESUIT SJ, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PRIDE

Quote/s of the Day – 8 May – Angels, Archangels

Quote/s of the Day – 8 May – The Apparition of St Michael the Archangel at Monte Gargano, Italy (492)

It was pride which changed Angels into devils;
it is humility which makes men as Angels
!”

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

In every lodging, at every corner,
have reverence for thy Angel.
Do not dare to do, in his presence,
what you would not dare to do, if I were there.
Or do you doubt that he is present
whom you do not behold?
What if you should hear him?
What if you should touch him?
What if you should scent him?
Remember, that the presence of something
is not proved only by the sight of things.

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

O Victorious Prince,
Guardian of the Church of God
By St Aloysius de Gonzaga SJ (1568-1591)
Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel

O Victorious Prince,
most humble guardian of the Church of God
and of faithful souls,
who, with such charity and zeal,
took part in so many conflicts
and gained such great victories over the enemy,
for the conservation and protection
of the honour and glory, we all owe to God,
and for the promotion of our salvation.
Come, we pray Thee, to our assistance,
for we are continually besieged
with such great perils by our enemies,
the flesh, the world and the devil
and as Thou wast a leader
for the people of God, through the desert,
so also, be our faithful leader
and companion through the desert of this world,
until Thou conduct us safely,
into the happy land of the living,
in that blessed fatherland from which
we are all exiles.
Amen.

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Hail MARY!, MARIAN Antiphons, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MAY - The Blessed Virgin MARY'S MONTH, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on TEMPTATION, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 6 May – The Memorare By St Bernard

Our Morning Offering – 6 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

The Memorare
By St Bernard (1090-1153)
Father and Mellifluous Doctor

REMEMBER,
O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known,
that anyone who fled
to thy protection,
implored thy help,
or sought thy intercession
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
I fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins,
my Mother,
to thee do I come,
before thee I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions
but in thy mercy
hear and answer me.
Amen

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DOCTORS of the Church, EASTER, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN Antiphons, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The LITTLE OFFICE of MARY

Our Morning Offering – 5 May – Regina Caeli Laetari

Our Morning Offering – 5 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary”

Regina Caeli Laetari
Eastertide from Holy Saturday
until Trinity Sunday
(in case you forget to replace the praying
of the Angelus
).

Anthem to the Blessed Virgin

Regina Caeli Laetari
Queen of Heaven
Rejoice!

O Queen of Heaven, rejoice, Alleluia.
For He Whom thou didst merit to bear, Alleluia.
Hath risen as He said, Alleluia.
Pray for us to God, Alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary! Alleluia.
R. For the Lord is truly risen, Alleluia.

Let us pray

O God, Who by the Resurrection of Thy Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ,
hast vouchsafed to make glad
the whole world, grant, we beseech Thee,
that, through the intercession
HIs Holy Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary,
we may attain the joys of eternal life.
Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen

There is a venerable tradition connected with this joyous Anthem. It is related that a fearful pestilence raged in Rome, during one of the Easters of the Pontificate of St. Gregory the Great. In order to propitiate the anger of God, the holy Pope prescribed a public procession of both people and clergy, in which was to be carried the portrait of our Blessed Lady painted by St Luke.

The procession was advancing in the direction of Saint Peter’s and as the holy Picture, followed by the Pontiff, (it is said that he processed with bare feet), was carried along, the atmosphere became pure and free from pestilence. Having reached the bridge which joins the City with the Vatican, a choir of Angels was heard singing above the Picture and saying: “Rejoice, O Queen of Heaven, Alleluia! for He Whom thou deservedst to bear, Alleluia! hath risen, as He said, Alleluia!” As soon as the heavenly music ceased, the saintly Pontiff took courage, and added these words to those of the Angels: “Pray to God for us, alleluia!

Thus was composed the Paschal Anthem to our Lady. Raising his eyes to heaven, Gregory saw the destroying Angel standing on the top of the Mole of Hadrian and sheathing his sword.

In memory of this apparition, the Mole was called the Castle of Saint Angela and on the dome was placed an immense statue representing an Angel holding his sword in the scabbard.

( “The Sovereign Pontiff Benedict XIII, by a brief, Injuntae nobis, 14 September 1724, amended by the Sacred Penitentiary Apostolic, 20 February 1933, granted a Plenary Indulgence, once a month, to all the faithful who, everyday, in the morning (6.00), at noon and in the evening at sunset (6.00), shall devoutly say, the Angelus Dominie, with the Hail Mary, three times, or at Eastertide the Regina Caeli, on any day when, being truly penitent, after Confession and Communion, they shall pray for peace and union among Christian Princes, for the extirpation of heresy and for the triumph of Holy Mother Church. Also an indulgence of ten years, on all the other days in the year, every time they shall devoutly say these prayers.”)

Regina caeli, laetare, Alleluia.

Qua quem meruisti portare, Alleluia.
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, Alleluia.
Ora pro nobis Deum, Alleluia.

V. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, Alleluia.
R. Qua surrexit Dominus vere, Alleluia.

Oremus

Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui,
Domini nostri, Jesu Christi,
mundum laetificare dignatus es, praesta,
quaesumus, ut per ejus
Genitricem Virginem Mariam
perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae:
per eumdem Christum, Dominum nostrum.
Amen

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, GOOD FRIDAY, HOLY WEEK, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for SEASONS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The SEVEN PASSION Feasts

Our Morning Offering – 18 April – A Prayer of the Passion

Our Morning Offering – 18 April – Good Friday

A Prayer of the Passion
By St Melito of Sardis (Died 180)
Bishop of Sardis, Apologist, Father

Lord Jesus Christ,
Thou were bound as a ram,
Thou were shorn like a lamb,
Thou were led to the slaughter like a sheep,
Thou bore the wood of the Cross on Thy shoulders,
Thou were led up the hill of Calvary,
Thou were displayed naked on the Cross,
Thou were nailed to the bitter Cross by three spikes,
Thou delivered Thy last Seven Words from the Cross
Thou died on the Cross, with a shout of victory,
Thou were buried in noble Joseph’s rock-hewn tomb,
By Thy boundless suffering on our behalf,
fix our eyes unceasingly on Thy broken Body
and the Blood which poured
from Thine Hands, Feet and Side.
By the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
which each day renews Thy Sacrifice
of the Cross on our Altars,
apply the merits of the Cross to all humanity
and, especially to those, who worship it daily
and who offer themselves back to Thee,
our great High Priest
and perpetual Intercessor,
before the Eternal Throne of God.
Thou livest and reigns,
throughout all the ages of ages.
Amen

Posted in GOD ALONE!, HYMNS, JESUIT SJ, POETRY, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 15 April – My God, I Love Thee

Our Morning Offering – 15 April – Tuesday in Holy Week

My God, I Love Thee
By St Francis Xavier (1506-1552) (Attri)
Transr: Fr Edward Caswall CO (1814-1878)

My God, I love Thee, not because
I hope for heav’n thereby,
nor yet for fear, that loving not,
I might forever die
but for that Thou didst all mankind
upon the Cross embrace;
for us didst bear the nails and spear
and manifold disgrace.

And griefs and torments numberless
and sweat of agony;
e’en death itself and all for man,
who was Thine enemy.
Then why, most loving Jesus Christ,
should I not love Thee well?
Not for the sake of winning heav’n,
nor any fear of hell.

Not with the hope of gaining aught,
nor seeking a reward
but as Thyself hast loved me,
O ever loving Lord!
E’en so I love Thee and will love
and in Thy praise will sing,
solely because Thou art my God
and my eternal King!
Amen

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, GOOD FRIDAY, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The LAMB of GOD, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 14 April – Sing, My Tongue, The Saviour’s Glory By St Venantius Fortunatus

Our Morning Offering – 14 April – Monday in Holy Week

Sing, My Tongue, The Saviour’s Glory
By St Venantius Fortunatus (c530 – c609)
Bishop, Father o the Church
Trans. Fr Edward Caswell CO (1814-1878)

Sing, my tongue, the Saviour’s glory;
Tell His triumph far and wide;
Tell aloud the famous story
Of His Body Crucified;
How upon the Cross a Victim,
Vanquishing in death, He Died.

Thus did Christ to perfect manhood
In our mortal flesh attain:
Then of His free choice He goeth
To a death of bitter pain;
And as a Lamb, upon the altar
Of the Cross, for us is slain.

Lo, with gall His thirst He quenches!
See the thorns upon His Brow!
Nails His tender Flesh are rending!
See, His Side is open’d now!
Whence, to cleanse the whole creation,
Streams of Blood and Water flow.

Faithful Cross, O Tree all beauteous!
Tree all peerless and Divine!
Not a grove on earth can shew us
Such a flower and leaf as thine.
Sweet the nails and sweet the wood,
Laden with so sweet a load!

Lofty Tree, bend down thy branches,
To embrace thy Sacred load;
Oh, relax the native tension
Of that all too rigid wood;
Gently, gently bear the Members
Of thy dying King and God.

Tree, which solely wast found worthy
The world’s great Victim to sustain;
Harbour from the raging tempest!
Ark, which sav’d the world again!
Tree, with sacred Blood anointed
Of the Lamb for sinners slain.

Blessing, honour everlasting,
To the immortal Deity;
To the Father, Son, and Spirit,
Equal praises ever be:
Glory through the earth and Heaven
To Trinity in Unity.

This Hymn is used for Passiontide and on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (14 Sept) in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Breviary.
This is the original text of this hymn as it appears in the Lyra Catholica (1849).
Part I is used for Matins and Part II is used for Lauds.
Tune (Church Hymns): “St Lawrence”

Posted in CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, franciscan OFM, GOD ALONE!, HOLY WEEK, HYMNS, LENT- 2025, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on DEATH

Our Morning Offering – 13 April – To Thee, O Jesus, Hosanna! By St Bonaventure

Our Morning Offering – 13 April – Palm Sunday

To Thee, O Jesus, Hosanna!
By St Bonaventure (1217-1274)

Seraphic Doctor of the Church

To Thee, O Jesus,
do I turn, as my true and last end.
Thou art the River of Life
which alone can satisfy my thirst.
Without Thee, all else is barren and void.
Without all else, Thou alone art enough for me.
Thou art the Redeemer of those who are lost,
the sweet Consoler of the sorrowful,
the Crown of Glory of the victors,
the recompense of the Blessed.
One day I hope to receive of Thy Fullness
and to sing the song of praise, in my true home.
Give me only on earth, some few drops of consolation
and I will patiently await Thy Coming,
when I hope to enter into the joy of my Lord.
Hosanna!

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for SEASONS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, Prayers to the SORROWFUL MOTHER

Our M orning Offering – 12 April – What Can I Say? By St Anselm

Our Morning Offering – 12 April – Saturday in Passion Week

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

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

From “The Prayers and Meditations of Saint Anselm with the Proslogion.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Hail MARY!, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Prayers to the SORROWFUL MOTHER, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on THE WORLD

Our Morning Offering – 11 April – O Mother of Sorrows ,Stand by Me in My Last Agony

Our Morning Offering – 11 April – Feast of the Seven Sorrows 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 didst 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 DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, franciscan OFM, GOD is LOVE, HOLY WEEK, LENT- 2025, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for SEASONS, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD

Our Morning Offering – 10 April – O Holy Lord!

Our Morning Offering – 10 April – Thursday in Passion Week

O Holy Lord!
By St Bonaventure (1217-1274)
Seraphic Doctor of the Church

O Holy Lord,
Father Almighty, Everlasting God,
for the sake of Thy bounty
and that of Thy Son,
Who for me,
endured suffering and death;
for the sake of the most excellent
holiness of His Mother
and the merits of all His Saints,
grant unto me, a sinner,
unworthy of Thy blessings,
that I may love Thee only,
may ever thirst for Thy love,
may have continually, in my heart,
the benefits of the Passion of Thy Beloved Son,
may acknowledge my own wretchedness
and, may desire to be trampled upon
and to be despised by all men.
Let nothing grieve me,
save my guilt!
Amen

Posted in Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for SEASONS, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The HEART, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The PASSION, The SEVEN PASSION Feasts

Our Morning Offering – 8 April – O Most Merciful Lord, Engrave Thy Wounds Upon My Heart by St Gertrude

Our Morning Offering – 8 April – Tuesday in Passion Week

O Most Merciful Lord,
Engrave Thy Wounds Upon My Heart
By St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
grant that I may aspire to Thee
with my whole heart, with yearning desire
and with a thirsting soul,
seeking only Thy sweetness and Thy delights,
so that my whole mind
and all that is within me,
may ardently sigh for Thee,
Who art our true Beatitude.
O most merciful Lord,
engrave Thy Wounds upon my heart
with Thy most Precious Blood
that I may read in them,
both Thy Grief and Thy Love.
May the memory of Thy Wounds
ever remain in my inmost heart,
to excite my compassion for Thy sufferings
and to increase my love for Thee.
Grant too that I may despise all creatures
so that my heart may delight in Thee alone.
Amen.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, GOD ALONE!, JESUIT SJ, OUR Cross, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on CONSOLATION, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 7 April – A Prayer to Seek the Consolation of the Cross

Our Morning Offering – 7 April – Monday in Passion Week

This is My Joy, To Follow My Saviour
A Prayer to Seek the Consolation of the Cross
By St Alphonsus Rodriguez SJ (1532-1617)

Jesus, love of my soul,
centre of my heart!
Why am I not more eager to endure pains
and tribulations for love of Thee,
when Thou, my God,
have suffered so many for me?
Come, then, every sort of trial in the world,
for this is my delight,
to suffer for Jesus.
This is my joy,
to follow my Saviour
and to find my consolation
with my Consoler on the Cross.
This is my happiness,
this my pleasure –
to live with Jesus,
to walk with Jesus,
to converse with Jesus,
to suffer with and for Him,
this is my treasure!
Amen

Posted in Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, St Francis de Sales, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 6 April – Hail, Sweet Jesus!

Our Morning Offering – 6 April – Passion Sunday

Hail, Sweet Jesus!
Prayer to Christ
in His Passion and Death
By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor Caritas

Hail, sweet Jesus!
Praise, honour and glory be to Thee, O Christ,
Who, of Thou own accord, embraced death,
and recommending Thyself to Thy heavenly Father,
bowing down Thy venerable Head,
did yield up Thy Spirit.
Truly thus giving up Thy life for Thy sheep,
Thou hast shown Thyself, to be the Good Shepherd.
Thou died, O Only-begotten Son of God.
Thou died, O my beloved Saviour,
that I might live forever.
O how great hope,
how great confidence have
I reposed in Thy Death and Thy Blood!
I glorify and praise Thy Holy Name,
acknowledging my infinite obligations to Thee.
O good Jesus,
by Thy bitter Death and Passion,
give me grace and pardon.
Give unto the faithful departed,
rest and life everlasting.
Amen.

Posted in ACT of CONTRITION, DOMINICAN OP, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on GRATITUDE, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING

Our Morning Offering – 5 April – St Vincent Ferrer’s Prayer of Petition, Grant Me, O My God

Our Morning Offering – 5 April – St Vincent Ferrer OP (1350-1419) Confessor, called the “Angel of the Apocalypse/The Last Judgement” and the “Mouthpiece of God”

Grant me, O my God
By St Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419)

Good Jesus,
let me be penetrated with love
to the very marrow of my bones,
with fear and respect toward Thee.
Let me burn with zeal for Thy honour,
so that I may deeply resent,
all the outrages committed against Thee,
especially those of which,
I myself have been guilty.
Grant further, O my God,
that I may humbly adore
and acknowledge Thee,
as my Creator and penetrated with gratitude
for all Thy benefits,
I may never cease to render Thee thanksgiving.
Grant that I may bless Thee in all things,
praise and glorify Thee,
with a heart full of joy and gladness
and obeying Thee with docility
in every respect, I may one day,
despite my ingratitude and unworthiness,
be seated at Thine table
together with Thine Holy Angels and Apostles,
to enjoy ineffable delights for all eternity!
Amen

Posted in INDULGENCES, Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS, PARTIAL Indulgence, PLENARY Indulgences, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, The SEVEN PASSION Feasts

Our Morning Offering – 4 April – Indulgenced Act of Oblation to Our Father

Our Morning Offering – 4 April – “The Month of the Resurrection and the Blessed Sacrament”– The Feast of the Most Precious Blood for the Friday after Laetare Sunday

By the Merits of the
Precious Blood of Jesus
By Servant of God Pope Pius VII (1742-1823)

Papacy from 1800 to 1823
Indulgenced Act of Oblation to Our Father

Eternal Father!
I offer Thee the merits
of the Precious Blood of Jesus,
Thy well-beloved Son,
my Saviour and my God,
for all my wants,
spiritual and temporal,
in aid of the Holy Souls in Purgatory
and chiefly for those
who most loved this Precious Blood,
the price of our redemption
and who were most devout
to the sorrows and pains
of most Holy Mary,
our dear Mother.

Glory be to the Blood of Jesus,
now and forever
and throughout all ages.
Amen.

Indulgence of 300 days, each time this prayed is offered,
22 September 1817 with a Plenary Indulgence, once a month,
under the usual conditions.

Note of Interest: On 15 August 1811 – the Feast of the Assumption – it is recorded that the Pope celebrated Mass and was said to have entered a trance and began to levitate in a manner that drew him to the Altar. This particular episode aroused great wonder and awe among attendants, which included the French soldiers guarding him, who were awestruck at what had occurred and left records of it.

Posted in DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DYING / LAST WORDS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on THANKSGIVING, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 3 April – Lord Jesus Christ, Have Mercy Upon Me. The Dying Prayer of St Richard of Chichester

Our Morning Offering – 3 April – The Feastday of St Richard (1197-1253) Bishop of Chichester

Lord Jesus Christ,
Have Mercy Upon Me.
The Dying Prayer of
St Richard of Chichester (1197-1253)

Lord Jesus Christ,
I thank Thee
for all the blessings Thou hast given me
and for all the sufferings and shame,
Thou didst endure for me,
on which account,
that pitiable cry of sorrow was Thine:
Behold and see, if there was any sorrow
like unto My sorrow!

Thou knowest Lord,
how willing I should be, to bear insult
and pain, and death for Thee,
therefore, have mercy upon me,
for to Thee do I commend my spirit.
Amen

St Richard recited this prayer on his deathbed, surrounded by the Clergy of his Diocese. The words were transcribed, in Latin, by his Confessor and friend, Fr Ralph Bocking (who ultimately also became his Biographer), a Dominican Friar. The prayer was eventually published in the Acta Sanctorum, an Encyclopedic text in 68 folio volumes of documents examining the lives of Saints. The British Library copy contains Fr Bocking’s transcription of the prayer in his handwriting as below:

Gratias tibi ago,
Domine Jesu Christe,
de omnibus beneficiis
quae mihi praestitisti;
pro poenis et opprobrious,
quae pro me pertulisti;
propter quae planctus ille lamentabilis
vere tibi competebat.
Non est dolor similis sicut dolor meus.

However, the first English translation is as above and not the version below, or the one more commonly known as “Day by Day” which words were never in the original and were added and used in the extremely sacrilegious and blasphemous “Godspell” – even though the common version with the rhyming “Triplet” (i.e. clearly, dearly, nearly) – is the one found commonly in Hymn and Prayer Books.
Bearing in mind that this was “The Dying Prayer ” of St Richard, it is obviously highly unlikely that he would have requested the grace of daily sanctity, “day by day!”

Thanks be to Thee,
my Lord Jesus Christ
For all the benefits
Thou hast given me,
For all the pains and insults
Thou hast borne for me.
O most merciful Redeemer,
Friend and Brother,
May I know Thee more clearly,
Love Thee more dearly,
Follow Thee more nearly.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, Holy Name PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, QUOTES on Lukewarmness, Quotes on SALVATION, The HOLY NAME, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The REDEMPTION

Our Morning Offering – 1 April – Complete Us, O Lord Jesus Christ, For the Glory of Thy Holy Name

Our Morning Offering – 1 April – Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Lent

Complete Us, O Lord Jesus Christ,
For the Glory of Thy Holy Name.
By St Anselm (1033-1109)
Magnificent and Marian
Doctor of the Church

O Lord Jesus Christ,
our Redemption and our Salvation,
we praise Thee and give Thee thanks.
Although we are unworthy of Thy benefits
and cannot offer to Thee,
the devotion Thou deserves,
let Thy loving-kindness complete,
whatever our weakness attempts.
Before Thee, O Lord,
we lay all our desires
and whatever our heart rightly wishes,
it is because of Thy gifts.
Help us to love Thee as Thou commands.
Do not let Thy gifts be unfruitful.
Complete what Thou hast begun,
give what Thou hast made us desire,
convert our lukewarmness
into fervent love of Thee,
for the glory of Thy Holy Name.
Amen

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the KING Prayers, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on JEALOUSY, SOLDIERS/ARMOUR of CHRIST

Our Morning Offering – 30 March – Be Thou My Vision

Our Morning Offering – 30 March – Laetare Sunday / The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Be Thou My Vision
By St Dallan Forgaill (c530- 598)
Martyr

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.

St Dallan here:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/01/29/saint-of-the-day-29-january-st-dallan-forgaill-c-530-598/

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR

Our Morning Offering – 29 March – Shelter Me Under Thy Mantle, Refuge of Sinners By St Alphonsus

Our Morning Offering – 29 March – Saturday of the Third Week in Lent,

Shelter Me Under Thy Mantle,
Refuge of Sinners
By St Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Most holy Virgin Immaculate, my Mother Mary,
to thee, who art the Mother of my Lord,
the Queen of the Universe, the Advocate,
the Hope, the Refuge of sinners,
I, who am the most miserable of all sinners,
have recourse this day.
I venerate thee, great Queen
and I thank thee for the many graces
thou hast bestowed upon me, even unto this day,
in particular, for having delivered me from the hell
which I have so often deserved by my sins.
I love thee, my dearest Lady
and because of that love,
I promise to serve thee willingly forever
and to do what I can to make thee loved by others.
I place in thee all my hopes for salvation,
accept me as thy servant
and shelter me under thy mantle,
thou, who art the Mother of Mercy.
And since thou are so powerful with God,
deliver me from all temptations,
or at least, obtain for me the strength
to overcome them until death.
From thee, I implore, a true love for Jesus Christ.
Through thee, I hope to die a holy death.
My dear Mother, by thy love for Almighty God,
I pray thee to assist me always
but most of all, at the last moment of my life.
Forsake me not then,
until thou shalt see me safely in Heaven,
there to bless thee and sing of thy mercies,
throughout all eternity.
Such is my hope.
Amen

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY CROSS, The SIGN of the CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 27 March – Hail, Most Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord!

Our Morning Offering – 27 March – The Feastday of St John Damascene (675-749) Confessor, Father and Doctor of the Church

Hail, Most Precious
and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord!
By St John Damascene (675-749)
Confessor, Father

and Doctor of the Church

Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered
and let those, who hate Him,
flee from His Presence.
As smoke vanishes, let them vanish
and as wax melts by the presence of fire,
so let the demons perish by the presence
of those who love God
and who sign themselves
with the Sign of the Cross
and say in gladness:
Hail, Most Precious
and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord,
for Thou drives away the demons
by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ
Crucified on thee, Who went down to hell
and trampled on the power of the devil
and gave us thee, His venerable Cross,
for driving away all enemies.
O Most Precious and Life-Giving Cross of the Lord,
help me, with our holy Lady,
the Virgin Mother of God
and with all the Saints, throughout the ages.
Amen.

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, JESUIT SJ, PARTIAL Indulgence, POETRY, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS

Quote/s of the Day – 24 March – St Gabriel “Strength of God”

Quote/s of the Day – 24 March – Feast of St Gabriel the Archangel
It is piously believed that St Gabriel, who assisted in His Mission to Redeem mankind, is also the Angel of the Agony, who assisted Jesus in His terrible sufferings in the completion of that Redemption.

St Gabriel “Strength of God”
By St Aloysius de Gonzaga SJ (1568-1591)

O Angel truly strong,
strengthen, guide and protect us,
thou who, by thy embassy
didst usher even God Himself to earth!
most strong of all, Who,
having carried off the spoils
and having routed that strongly armed one
who for so long a time, had exercised
his destructive tyranny over us,
didst rescue us from slavery
and restore us to the liberty
of the sons of God!

O holy Angel who didst strengthen Jesus Christ our Lord,
come and strengthen us also, come and tarry not!

An indulgence of 300 day

The Angel of the Agony
John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

Jesu! by that shuddering dread which fell on Thee;
Jesu! by that cold dismay which sicken’d Thee;
Jesu! by that pang of heart which thrill’d in Thee;
Jesu! by that mount of sins which crippled Thee;
Jesu! by that sense of guilt which stifled Thee;
Jesu! by that innocence which girded Thee;
Jesu! by that sanctity which reign’d in Thee;
Jesu! by that Godhead which was one with Thee;
Jesu! spare those souls which are so dear to Thee;
Who in prison, calm and patient, wait for Thee;
Hasten, Lord, their hour and bid them come to Thee;
To that glorious Home, where they shall ever gaze on Thee.
Amen

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, POETRY, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS on the CROSS of CHRIST, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, The HOLY CROSS

Our Morning Offering – 21 March – Faithful Cross! Above All Other

Our Morning Offering – 21 March – The Feast of the Holy Shroud of Jesus

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.