Category: The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, DOGMA, franciscan OFM, MARIAN POETRY, PAPAL DECREE, THE ASSUMPTION

Quote/s of the Day – 15 August – The Assumption

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 15 August – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven

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

St Amadeus of Lausanne (1108-1159)

The Praises of Mary
“Assumption”
Poem by Saint Anthony (1195-1231)
Evangelical Doctor of the Church

O how wondrous is the dignity
of the glorious Virgin!
She merited to become the mother of Him
who is the strength and beauty of the Angels
and the grandeur of all the Saints.

Mary was the seat of our sanctification,
that is to say,
the dwelling place of the Son
Who sacrificed Himself for us.

“And I shall glorify the place
where my feet have stood.”
The feet of the Saviour signify His human nature.
The place where the feet of the Saviour stood
was the Blessed Mary,
who gave Him His human nature.

Today the Lord glorifies that place,
since He has exalted Mary
above the choirs of the Angels.
That is to say,
the Blessed Virgin,
who was the dwelling of the Saviour,
has been assumed bodily into Heaven.

“In their sermons and speeches
on the Feast day of the Assumption of the Mother of God,
the holy Fathers and the Great Doctors of the Church,
were speaking of something which the faithful already knew
and accepted – all they did, was to bring it out into the open,
to explain its meaning and substance in other terms.
Above all, they made it most clear,
that this Feast commemorated, not merely the fact
that the Blessed Virgin Mary did not experience bodily decay
but also, her triumph over death
and her heavenly glory,
following the example of her only Son, Jesus Christ.”

Pope Pius XII (1876-1958)
From the Apostolic Constitution
“Munificentissimus Deus”
Defining the DOGMA of the Assumption
1 November 1950

“Jesus willed, however, that the Immaculate body
of His Mother would remain intact.
It was only her great love
and intense desire of being reunited with her Son,
which gradually consumed her mortal life.
Her ever-increasing love for God,
broke the bonds of her mortal frame
until she went to sleep at last, in the Lord.
If only our death could be the same!”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/08/15/quote-s-of-the-day-15-august-the-assumption-3/

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, THE ASSUMPTION, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 15 August – ‘ … On this day,we turn our souls towards the hope you represent for us …

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 15 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven – Judith 13:22-25; 15:10, Luke 1:41-50 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord … … my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” – Luke 1:46-47

REFLECTION – “O Mother of God, ever Virgin, your holy departure from this world, is in truth, a way and an entry into the dwelling place of God. Leaving this material world, you enter into “a better country” (Heb 11:16) where the heavenly powers greet you with sacred canticles and joyous praise, saying: “Who is this most pure creature who rises up, shining like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, radiant as the sun?” (Sg 8:5; 6:10)… “The King has brought you into His chambers” (Sg 1:4) and Angels magnify her who, according to God’s design, is their true Mother, by nature and grace, of their very Lord…

The Apostles bore your stainless body, the true Ark of the Covenant,and laid it in its holy tomb. And there, as though across another Jordan, you came to the real Land of promise, I might even say, to the “Jerusalem above,” mother of believers, (Gal 4:26) of which God is the architect and builder. Your soul most certainly “did not go down into the netherworld, nor has your flesh itself experienced corruption” (Ps 15:10; Acts 2:31). Your pure and spotless body was not left within the earth but you, Queen, Sovereign, Lady, Mother of God, true Godbearer, have been lifted to the dwellings of the heavenly Kingdom…

We approach you, O our Queen, Mother of God and Virgin, on this day, we turn our souls towards the hope you represent for us … We wish to honour you with “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs” (Eph 5:19). In thus honouring the servant, we express our dedication to our common Lord … Cast your eyes upon us, O Queen, Mother of our kind Sovereign; guide our way into the calm harbour of God’s good will.” – St John Damascene (675-749) Monk, Theologian, Father and Doctor of the Church (Sermon I on the Dormition 11-14).

PRAYER – Almighty, everlasting God, Who took up, body and soul, the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of Thy Son, into heavenly glory, grant, we beseech Thee, that, always devoting ourselves to heavenly things, we may be found worthy to share in her glory. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect)

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PAPAL PRAYERS, THE ASSUMPTION

Our Morning Offering – 15 August – Prayer in Honour of the Assumption

Posted on by AnaStpaul

“The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Prayer in Honour of the Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
By Pope Pius XII (1876-1958)

O Immaculate Virgin,
Mother of God
and Mother of men,
we believe with all the fervour of our faith,
in thy triumphal Assumption,
both body and soul, into Heaven,
where thou art acclaimed as Queen
by all the Choirs of Angels
and all the legions of the Saints.
And we unite with them,
to praise and bless the Lord,
who has exalted thee
above all other pure creatures
and to offer thee,
the tribute of our devotion
and our love.
Amen

Posted in franciscan OFM, SAINT of the DAY, THE ASSUMPTION

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven and Memorials of the Saints – 15 August

Posted on by AnaStpaul

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven
(Feast instituted by Pope Leo IV in 847) The Patronal Feast of South Africa
https://anastpaul.com/2018/08/19/the-solemnity-of-the-assumption-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-19-august/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/08/15/solemnity-of-the-assumption-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-and-memorials-of-the-saints-15-august-4/

St Alypius of Thagaste (Died 430) Bishop Bishop of the See of Thagaste (in what is now Algeria) in 394, Confessor, Reformer, Defender of the Faith against heresy, Lawyer, teacher, spiritual advisor. He was a lifelong disciple and friend of Saint Augustine of Hippo and joined him in his conversion (in 386; Confessions 8.12.28) and life in Christianity. He is credited with helping establish Augustine’s Monastery in Africa. Most of what is known about him comes from Augustine’s autobiographical Confessions.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/08/15/saint-of-the-dy-saint-alypius-of-thagaste-died-430/

Blessed Alfred of Hildesheim OSB (Died 874) Bishop, Benedictine Monk, Confessor, Founder of Essen Abbey, Hildesheim Cathedral, many Convents, Schools and Seminaries, Royal Spiritual Adviser to the East Frankish King Louis the German, Diplomatic Peacemaker, he was know for his great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
His Lifestory:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/15/saint-of-the-day-15-august-blessed-alfred-of-hildesheim-osb-died-874-bishop/

Blessed Aimo Taparelli OP (c 1395-1495) Priest and Friar of the Order of Preachers, widower and father, Reformer, spiritual writer. He served as an Inquisitor-General for his Order in the Lombard and Liguria regions of Italy and became a travelling preacher in Northern Italian Cities. His name means “defends the house with the sword.” Aimo was Beatified on 29 May 1856 by Pope Pius IX.
Blessed Aimo’s zealous Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/08/15/saint-of-the-day-15-august-blessed-aimo-taparelli-op-c-1395-1495/

Blessed Alberto Berdini OFM Conv. (1385– 1450) Priest and Friaer of the Friars Minor Conventual, known as the “King of Preachers.”
St Arduinus of Rimini
St Napoleon of Alexandria

St Simplician (c 320-c 401) Archbishop of Milan and Successor of St Ambrose (340-397) Doctor of the Church in the Archdiocese of Milan, Teacher, Catechist, Writer, Mystic.
St Ambrose used to call Simplician father, as a sign of spiritual relationship but they were also great friends. Simplician took also an active part in the conversions of both Alypius of Thagaste and Augustine of Hippo. The meeting between Augustine and Simplican occurred in Milan in 386 and it is recorded in Augustine’s Confessions. After his conversion, Augustine also called Simplician father and in 397 he dedicated to Simplician two books on the issue of predestination, known as De Diversis Quaestionibus ad Simplicianum. St Augustine, remembered and referred to him with deep gratitude, calling him the “spiritual father of my soul” and would submit his own writings to him to review and comment.
Details of the life of St Simplician here: https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/08/15/saint-of-the-day-15-august-st-simplician-of-milan/

St Tarcisius (3rd century) Martyr of the Eucharist – Patronages – Altar boys, First Communicants.
About St Tarcisius:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/08/15/saint-of-the-day-15-august-st-tarcisius-3rd-century-martyr-of-the-eucharist/

Martyrs of Nicomedia – 3 Saints: Three Christians Martyred together. No details survive but the names – Eutychian, Philip and Straton. They were martyred in Nicomedia, Bithynia (in modern Turkey).

Posted in MARIAN NOVENAS, THE ASSUMPTION

Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption, the Ninth Day – 14 August – Mary in Heaven, the Help of Christians on Earth

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption, DAY NINE :
Mary in Heaven,
the Help of Christians on Earth

Preparatory Prayer
by St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

O Mary, Virgin most Blessed
and Mother of Our Lord
and Redeemer Jesus Christ,
through thy mercy I beseech thee,
to come to my aid
and to inspire me
with such confidence in thy power
that I may have recourse to thee,
pray to thee
and implore thy aid,
in all needs of soul and body.
Amen

Meditation:
Mary’s succour as Mother of mercy is not confined to individuals.
She is the protectress and helper of the whole Church.
All over the earth, wherever we cast our glance, in the records of the history of times, long past and those of recent occurrence, we find testimony of the graces and benefits, obtained through her intercession.
The feasts celebrated by the Church, throughout the year, what are they but evidences of gratitude, offered to the Queen of Heaven for the oftentimes, miraculous delivery from war, pestilence and other great afflictions?
Hence she is rightly invoked as the “Help of Christians.”

Practice: In our days, too, storms and dangers threaten the Church.
Let us, therefore, by calling on Mary for help, do our part toward shortening the days of visitation and trial.
Let us not confine our petitions, to her, within the narrow limits, of our own personal needs but let us join in the cry for assistance ascending to the Mother of mercy, throughout all Christendom.
Let us daily, for Holy Church, send up our petition to Mary’s heavenly throne: “Help of Christians, pray for us!”

Prayer of the Church: We beseech Thee, O Lord, pardon the shortcomings of Thy servants that we who, by our own works, are not able to please Thee, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Novena Prayer: Day Nine

Glorious Virgin and Mother of God,
Mary, Queen of Heaven!
Forget us not!
Thou art the help of Christians;
lighten our tribulations
and help us with motherly intercession
at the throne of thy Divine Son.
With Holy Church,
I join in the petition to thee:
“Holy Mary, aid the miserable,
assist the desponding,
strengthen the weak,
pray for thy people,
plead for the clergy,
intercede for the devout mothers,
woman and consecrated woman.
Let all who have recourse to thee
experience the efficacy of thy succour!”
And my holy Mother and Queen,
forget not, my special petition …………….

Hail Mary …….

Ejaculation: Sweet heart of Mary be my salvation!

Indulgence. (1) 100 days, every time. (2) A Plenary Indulgence, once a month, on any day, to all who shall have said it everyday for a month, under the usual conditions.

Posted in SAINT of the DAY, THE ASSUMPTION

The Vigil of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Eusebius (Died 357) Confessor and Memorials of the Saints – 14 August

Posted on by AnaStpaul

The Vigil of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/08/14/the-vigil-of-the-assumption-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-and-memorials-of-the-saints-14-august/

St Eusebius of Rome (Died 357) Priest, Confessor. “At Rome, the birthday of the blessed Priest Eusebius, who for the defence of the Catholic Faith, was shut up in a room of his own house by the Arian Emperor, Constantius, where constantly persevering in prayer for seven months, he rested in peace. His body was removed by the Priests, Gregory and Orosius and buried in the cemetery of Cllistus on the Appian Way.” – Roman Martyrology.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/08/14/saint-of-the-day-14-august-saint-eusebius-of-rome-died-357-priest-confessor/

Bl Aimo Taparelli

St Athanasia of Timia
St Callistus of Todi
St Demetrius of Africa
St Eberhard of Einsiedeln (c890-958) Priest, Abbot
St Eusebius of Palestine
St Fachanan of Ross

Blessed Giuliana Puricelli (1427-1504) Nun, Co-Foundress, Abbess. She was the first companion of the Blessed Caterina da Pallnza, and is regarded as the Co-Founder of the Ambrosian hermitages of the Sacro Monte di Varese.
Her Holy Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/08/14/saint-of-the-day-14-august-blessed-giuliana-puricelli-1427-1504/

St Marcellus of Apamea
Bl Sanctes Brancasino
St Ursicius of Nicomedia

St Werenfridus OSB (Died c 780) Priest, Confessor, Monk, Missionary
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/08/14/saint-of-the-day-14-august-saint-werenfridus-osb-died-c-780/

Bl William of Parma

Posted in MARIAN NOVENAS, THE ASSUMPTION

Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption, the Eighth Day – 13 August – Mary, the Queen of Mercy

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Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption, DAY EIGHT:
Mary, the Queen of Mercy

Preparatory Prayer
by St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

O Mary, Virgin most Blessed
and Mother of Our Lord
and Redeemer Jesus Christ,
through thy mercy I beseech thee,
to come to my aid
and to inspire me
with such confidence in thy power
that I may have recourse to thee,
pray to thee
and implore thy aid,
in all needs of soul and body.
Amen

Meditation:
Mary is, then, a Queen and what a consolation to know it!–
a Queen always mild and gentle, always willing to confer benefits upon us.
Hence the Church teaches us, to call her the Mother of mercy.
The pious and learned Poet and Writer, Jean Charlier de Gerson (1363-1429) says:
“God’s dominion comprises Justice and mMrcy. He divided it, retaining the administration of Justice for Himself and relinquishing, in a certain sense, the dispensation of mercy to Mary, by conferring through her hands, all graces He grants to mankind.”
H,ow consoling, then, the assurance that our merciful Mother is so mighty and so loving a queen!

Practice: So great is the tenderness of Mary’s maternal heart: “that never was it known that anyone who fled to her protection, implored her help and sought her intercession, was left unaided. How many prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, ascend daily to the throne of this our exalted and merciful protectress!
There is not a cry of an afflicted, struggling and suffering soul that she does not graciously hear. Join, therefore, confidently in the prayer of Holy Church, “Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy.” Approach her with filial trust.
Neglect not to honour her yourself and do all in your power, to lead others to do her honour.

Prayer of the Church: We beseech Thee, O Lord, pardon the shortcomings of Thy servants that we who, by our own works, are not able to please Thee, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Novena Prayer: Day Eight

Glorious Virgin and Mother of God, Mary!
Holy Church teaches me
that despite the glory to which thou wast exalted,
thou didst not forget thy miserable clients
and that, in Heaven,
thy mercy is still greater
than it was during thy life on earth.
Therefore, I come to thee
and trustingly lay at thy feet,
all my needs, miseries and petitions.
My Queen, my Mother,
turn not thy gracious eyes from me.
Remember me to thy Divine Son;
cease not to pray for me
and take me under thy protection,
so that I may finally have
the happiness to see and praise thee
in thy glory forever and ever.
And once more, at thy feet,
I beg thee to hear and grant,
my special petition …………………….

Hail Mary …….

Ejaculation: Sweet heart of Mary be my salvation!

Indulgence. (1) 100 days, every time. (2) A Plenary Indulgence, once a month, on any day, to all who shall have said it everyday for a month, under the usual conditions.

Posted in MARIAN NOVENAS, THE ASSUMPTION

Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption, the Seventh Day – 12 August – Mary’s Joy in Heaven

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption, DAY SEVEN:
Mary’s Joy in Heaven

Preparatory Prayer
By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

O Mary, Virgin most Blessed
and Mother of Our Lord
and Redeemer Jesus Christ,
through thy mercy I beseech thee,
to come to my aid
and to inspire me
with such confidence in thy power
that I may have recourse to thee,
pray to thee
and implore thy aid,
in all needs of soul and body.
Amen

Meditation:
According to Holy Scripture and the Doctrine of the Church, there are, in Heaven, various grades of glory and joy, according to the rank and merit of the Saints.
They attain this higher grade of glory and joy, by the increase of their ability to enjoy the happiness of Heaven.
Their intellect is enabled to contemplate, more profoundly, the incomprehensible Essence of God.
Their power of perception, is augmented so that they may more readily recognise and admire, the splendour of the Angels, Saints and heavenly mansions.
Their will is enabled to be united, in a higher degree with God. From this we may conclude that Mary’s joy in Heaven transcends all human conception.
Her heavenly glory and reward consists in the perfect adaptation of her whole being, to the enjoyment of God and of eternal happiness

Practice: Look up, Christian soul, to this great and brilliant Queen of Heaven.
She is your gentle Mother and assures you of her help and the diadem she wears upon her brow is a proof that she has the power to help you.
Do not, therefore, refuse the hand of this mighty ally in Heaven, for she will lift you from the depths of your misery, from the dangers of temptation and lead you strong and victorious, into the Presence of her Divine Son.
Thus, you will enter into a new and supernatural life in Christ, to share in the grace-laden Mysteries of His Light, Passion and Triumph.

Prayer of the Church: We beseech Thee, O Lord, pardon the shortcomings of Thy servants that we who, by our own works, are not able to please Thee, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Novena Prayer: Day Seven

O Great and glorious Queen of Heaven, Mary!
I beseech thee, by that exalted throne
upon which God has raised thee,
above all Angels and Daints;
let me one day, appear amongst them,
to join them in their praise of thee.
Obtain for me the grace
of never ceasing to honour thee,
as thou dost deserve to be honoured,
and thereby, to become worthy
of thy mighty protection in life and death.
I beseech thee too, O holy Mother,
for the granting of this, my special petition:
…………………………………

Hail Mary …….

Ejaculation: Sweet heart of Mary be my salvation!

Indulgence: (1) 100 days, every time. (2) A Plenary Indulgence, once a month, on any day, to all who shall have said it everyday for a month, under the usual conditions.

Posted in MARIAN NOVENAS, QUEENSHIP of MARY, THE ASSUMPTION

Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption, the Sixth Day – 11 August – Mary Crowned in Heaven

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Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption, Day Six:
Mary Crowned in Heaven

Preparatory Prayer
by St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

O Mary, Virgin most Blessed
and Mother of Our Lord
and Redeemer Jesus Christ,
through thy mercy I beseech thee,
to come to my aid
and to inspire me
with such confidence in thy power
that I may have recourse to thee,
pray to thee
and implore thy aid,
in all needs of soul and body.
Amen

Meditation:
Mary’s glory received its culmination by her coronation as Queen of Heaven and earth.
It was meet that in her, should be fulfilled, the words of Holy Scripture: “Come from Libanus, my Spouse, come, thou shalt be crowned” (Cant. 4:81) and, that her own prophetic words, “He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble” (Luke 1:52) should be exemplified in her.
For it was reasonable and becoming that she, who once with Jesus, wore the crown of shame and contempt, should now share with Him, the crown of immortal glory.
It was but fair and just that, the immaculate being, who was chosen above all inhabitants of heaven and earth, to be the true and worthy Mother of God, should now be solemnly installed over all creatures in Heaven and on earth, as the Queen of Angels and men and that, to her, should be offered homage, praise and honour, by the blessed spirits and by the souls of the Saints.
But the crown which she received,is not one made of gold and precious stones, it is composed of the virtues with which Mary, in faithful co-operation with Divine grace, embellished herself.
It consists, too, of all the homage and glory, which she receives, as Queen of Heaven.
The most precious gem, in this crown, is the filial love and gratitude, Jesus shows toward His Mother in Heaven.

Practice: Indeed, “eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man,” what the heavenly Father has prepared in the mansions of eternal bliss, for His beloved Daughter, the Son for His Blessed Mother, and the Holy Ghost, for His chosen Spouse.
She is now Queen of Heaven and earth – of Heaven, for she is the Queen of all Angels and Saints; of earth, for as Mother of God, she is the Mother of all mankind, the mediatrix between the Redeemer and the redeemed.
You, too, may contribute a gem toward the crown of your heavenly Mother, by paying her filial homage, imitating her virtues and preserving, for the love of her, your innocence and purity of heart and body.

Prayer of the Church: We beseech Thee, O Lord, pardon the shortcomings of Thy servants that we who, by our own works, are not able to please Thee, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Novena Prayer: Day Six

Glorious Virgin and Mother of God, Mary!
I beseech thee, through the everlasting
crown of glory with which God
has crowned thee, Queen of Heaven and earth;
obtain for me, through thy mighty intercession,
the grace to persevere in virtue to the end,
so that finally,
I may attain the crown of bliss
prepared by God.
for those that love Him.
I beseech thee too, glorious Queen and Mother,
for this my special petition ………………

Hail Mary …….

Ejaculation: Sweet heart of Mary be my salvation!

Indulgence. (1) 100 days, every time. (2) A Plenary Indulgence, once a month, on any day, to all who shall have said it everyday for a month, under the usual conditions.

Posted in Hail MARY!, MARIAN PRAYERS, MOTHER of GOD, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 11August – Blessed are You, O Mary!

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 11August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”

Blessed are You, O Mary!
By St Jacob of Sarug (c 451-521)
Syrian Bishop and Monk

Blessed are you, O Mary
and blessed is your holy soul,
for your beatitude surpasses
that of all the Blessed.
Blessed are you who have borne,
embraced and caressed as a Baby,
the One Who upholds the ages with His secret word.
Blessed are you,
from whom the Saviour appeared on this exile earth,
subjugating the seducer and bringing peace to the world.
Blessed are you,
whose pure mouth touched the lips
of the One, Whom the Seraphim
look upon in His splendour.
Blessed are you,
who have nourished, with your pure milk
the source, from whom the living obtain life and light.
Blessed are you,
because the whole universe resounds with your memory
and the Angels and human beings, celebrate your feast.
Daughter of the poor,
you became the Mother of the King of kings.
You gave to the poor world the riches that can make it live.
You are the bark, laden with the goodness
and the treasures of the Father,
Who sent His riches once again,
into our empty home.
Blessed are you, O Mary!
Amen

Posted in MARIAN NOVENAS, THE ASSUMPTION

Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption – The Fifth Day, 10 August – Mary’s Glorious Entrance into Heaven

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption, DAY FIVE

The Fifth Day:
Mary’s Glorious Entrance into Heaven

Preparatory Prayer
by St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

O Mary, Virgin most Blessed
and Mother of Our Lord
and Redeemer Jesus Christ,
through thy mercy I beseech thee,
to come to my aid
and to inspire me
with such confidence in thy power
that I may have recourse to thee,
pray to thee
and implore thy aid,
in all needs of soul and body.
Amen

Meditation:
Joy greater, than human heart can conceive, fills the heavenly spirits when a soul enters Heaven, to receive its reward. What jubilant transports, then, must those have been, with which they hailed the entrance into heavenly bliss of the most pure and holy Virgin, the Mother of the Son of God, body and soul, transfigured in glory!
And she is and shall be, for all eternity, their mistress and Queen!
What an ineffable joy, too, for the Blessed Virgin, to behold the countless numbers of Angels, to admire their beauty, their purity, their intense love of God!
But as the feeble light of a candle disappears before the splendour of the sun’s rays, thus are these choirs of Angels, obscured by the ineffable glory of her Divine Son, coming to welcome His Mother.
Who can describe this moving meeting?
What a superabundant reward for love and suffering!
What an ocean of joy and bliss, when the Son of God presented His Mother before the throne of His heavenly Father, Who greeted her as His Beloved Daughter!
What a joy to behold the Holy Ghost, Whose pure Spouse she had been, even on earth!
These transports of bliss baffle all attempts at description.

Practice: Although we are unable to have an adequate perception of Mary’s glory in Heaven, by which she is raised above all Angels and Saints, yet, it is in our power, to do one thing – we can rejoice at the glory of our Blessed Mother and join the heavenly spirits and the Saints, in paying homage to her.
Let us resolve to do this and never to forget that Mary attained to the largest share of her Divine Son’s glory because, she was foremost in sharing His sufferings. Let this encourage us to bear our cross, to bear it with our Saviour, even to the height of Calvary, there to die with Him.

Prayer of the Church: We beseech Thee, O Lord, pardon the shortcomings of Thy servants that we who, by our own works, are not able to please Thee, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Novena Prayer: Day Five

Glorious Virgin and Mother of God, Mary!
I beseech thee through the preparation
with which thou wast glorified by God–
by the Father ,as His most Beloved Daughter,
by the Son, as His Immaculate Mother
and by the Holy Ghost,
as His most pure Spouse, in Heaven;
obtain for me the grace
to share, to some extent, this,
thy glory and, therefore,
to live so that I may deserve it.
And too most Blessed Mother,
this, my special Petition: ………………….

Hail Mary …….

Ejaculation: Sweet heart of Mary be my salvation!

Indulgence. (1) 100 days, every time. (2) A Plenary Indulgence, once a month, on any day, to all who shall have said it everyday for a month, under the usual conditions.

Posted in NOVENAS, QUOTES on DEATH, THE ASSUMPTION

Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption – The Fourth Day – 9 August – Reasons for the Bodily Assumption of the Blessed Virgin into Heaven

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Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption, DAY FOUR

Preparatory Prayer
by St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

O Mary, Virgin most Blessed
and Mother of Our Lord
and Redeemer Jesus Christ,
through thy mercy I beseech thee,
to come to my aid
and to inspire me
with such confidence in thy power
that I may have recourse to thee,
pray to thee
and implore thy aid,
in all needs of soul and body.
Amen

Reasons for the Bodily Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin into Heaven

Meditation: The wages of sin is death. Now, as the Blessed Virgin, from the first moment of her existence was preserved from all sin and even from original sin, it necessarily follows that death could have no permanent dominion over her and that, her body would not be permitted to see corruption.

  1. This sinless body had been the medium by which the Body of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who was the conqueror of death, had been formed. How, then, could such a highly privileged body, a pure and virginal body, be permitted to pass through corruption and decay?
  2. As Mary had yielded up her sacred person to be a dwelling-place for the Lord of Heaven, it seems fitting that this same Lord, in His turn, should give the Kingdom of Heaven to her as her resting-place. St Bernard expresses this sentiment as follows: “When Our Lord came into this world, Mary furnished Him with the noblest dwelling on earth, the temple of her virginal womb. In return, the Lord,on this day, raises her up to the highest throne in Heaven.”

Practice:
If You desire to look forward to death, without fear and to expect your dissolution with confidence, follow the Apostle’s injunction, “Therefore, whilst we have time, let us do good works, to all men” (Gal. 6:10). Avoid sin, perform good works, be patient in affliction and strive to expiate the punishment due to your sins by voluntary acts of penance, thus reducing your inclination to sin. Therefore, offer up to God, every morning, in a spirit of penitence, all your labours, trials and sufferings.

Prayer of the Church: We beseech Thee, O Lord, pardon the shortcomings of Thy servants that we who, by our own works, are not able to please Thee, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Novena Prayer: Day Four

Glorious Virgin
and Mother of God, Mary!
I beseech thee through the ineffable glory,
thou didst make for thy departure
from this world by a life of retirement,
full of merits and virtue,
dedicated to God alone;
obtain for me the grace,
of, following thy example,
that I may detach my heart from this world
and patiently bear affliction and adversity,
carefully avoid sin
and always strive to advance
in the love of God.
Obtain for me too, I beg thee Holy Mother,
this my special petition ……………………

Hail Mary …….

Ejaculation: Sweet heart of Mary be my salvation!

Indulgence: (1) 100 days, every time. (2) A Plenary Indulgence, once a month, on any day, to all who shall have said it everyday for a month, under the usual conditions.

Posted in MARIAN Aspirations and Ejaculations, MARIAN NOVENAS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, THE ASSUMPTION

Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption, the Second Day – 7 August

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Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption DAY TWO

The Second Day: At Mary’s Deathbed and Tomb

Preparatory Prayer
by St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

O Mary, Virgin most Blessed
and Mother of Our Lord
and Redeemer Jesus Christ,
through thy mercy I beseech thee,
to come to my aid
and to inspire me
with such confidence in thy power
that I may have recourse to thee,
pray to thee
and implore thy aid,
in all needs of soul and body.
Amen

Meditation:

Ancient legend relates that, led by Heaven, all the Apostles, except St Thomas, Wwho joined them a little later, assembled at the Blessed Virgin’s deathbed. After she had breathed forth her pure spirit, her sacred remains were prepared for the grave by wrapping the body in new white linen and decking it with flowers . Meanwhile ,the Apostles, assembled in another room, sang Psalms and Hymns, in praise of their departed Mother. The Apostles, all the disciples and the faithful dwelling in Jerusalem, followed the blessed remains to the grave chanting Psalms and Hymns. Arriving in the valley of Josaphat, the body was gently placed in a sepulcher of stone, not far from the Garden of Olives. After the entombment ,the Apostles and crowds of the faithful, lingered near the sacred spot in prayer, meditation and chanting of Psalms in which Angels’ voices were heard to mingle.

Practice: Join in spirit with the Apostles and faithful in their prayer and meditation at the grave of our Blessed Mother. Contemplate and review her whole life. Could a course like hers have terminated more appropriately than with so beautiful, painless and tranquil a passing away? Prepare yourself, even now, for your departure from this life. Do not postpone the settlement of your affairs, spiritual and temporal, until the last uncertain hours. Above all, remove now, or as soon as possible, all doubts, anxieties and irregularities of conscience because, delay is dangerous and leads to impenitence and because, in the last hours, the powers of hell usually assail the departing soul with all their might.

Prayer of the Church: We beseech Thee, O Lord, pardon the shortcomings of Thy servants that we who, by our own works, are not able to please Thee, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Novena Prayer: Day Two

Glorious Virgin,
who for thy consolation
didst deserve to die comforted
by the sight of thy dear Son Jesus
and in the company of the Apostles and Angels,
pray for us, that at that awful moment we, too,
may be comforted by receiving Jesus
in the most holy Sacrament
and may feel see nigh,
when we breathe forth our soul.
Obtain for me too, I beseech thee,
this my special petition ………………..
Amen

Hail Mary …….

Ejaculation: Sweet heart of Mary be my salvation!

Indulgence . (1) 100 days, every time. (2) A Plenary Indulgence, once a month, on any day, to all who shall have said it everyday for a month, under the usual conditions.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUEENSHIP of MARY, QUOTES on GRACE, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 7 August – Mary, Mother of Grace by St Athanasius

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

Mary, Mother of Grace
By St Athanasius (297-373)
Father & Doctor of the Church

It becomes you to be mindful of us,
as you stand near Him who granted you all graces,
for you are the Mother of God and our Queen.
Help us for the sake of the King,
the Lord God and Master, Who was born of you.
For this reason,
you are called full of grace.
Remember us, most holy Virgin,
and bestow on us gifts
from the riches of your graces,
Virgin full of graces.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN NOVENAS, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, THE ASSUMPTION

Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption – The First Day

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Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption – DAY ONE

First Day: Mary’s Death Was Without Pain

Preparatory Prayer
by St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

O Mary, Virgin most Blessed
and Mother of Our Lord
and Redeemer Jesus Christ,
through thy mercy I beseech thee,
to come to my aid
and to inspire me
with such confidence in thy power
that I may have recourse to thee,
pray to thee
and implore thy aid,
in all needs of soul and body.
Amen

Meditation:
Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, was conceived without original sin. She never dimmed by actual sin, the lustre of sanctifying grace which beautified her soul.
Nevertheless, she had to pass through the dark prtal of death, before she was assumed, body and soul, into Heaven.
She had not been endowed with the privilege of immortality, with which God had invested our first parents in paradise.
It was meet that she should be like unto her Divine Son in everything, even in death.
But as she had drained, the bitter cup of suffering during her whole life and especially, when standing beneath the Cross, her death was to be free from pain and suffering.
She quietly passed away, yielding up her spirit, in a yearning desire to be united forever, with her Divine Son in Heaven.

Practice:
If you have dispossessed your heart of all unruly attachment to the goods and enjoyments of this earth, you, too, may hope for a happy and tranquil transition, from this land of exile, to your home in Heaven.
Therefore, if you are still attached to the transitory things of this life, disengage your heart from them now.
The voluntary renouncement of earthly goods, alone is meritorious before God.
The separation from them, enforced by the strong hand of death, is of no supernatural value.

Prayer of the Church: We beseech Thee, O Lord, pardon the shortcomings of Thy servants that we who, by our own works, are not able to please Thee, may be saved by the intercession of the Mother of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Novena Prayer: Day One

O Most benign Mother Mary!
I rejoice that by thy happy and tranquil death,
the yearning of thy heart was appeased
and thy life, so rich in merit and sacrifice,
received its crown.
I rejoice that after passing from this life,
thou, O most loving Mother,
was made the glorious and powerful
Queen of Heaven
and dost exercise thy influence as such,
for the benefit of thy frail, exiled children on earth.
Obtain for me, I beseech thee,
this my special petition ………………..
and a happy death
that I may praise and glorify
thy might and kindness,
forever in Heaven.
Amen

Hail Mary …….

Ejaculation: Sweet heart of Mary be my salvation!

Indulgence. – (1) 100 days, every time. (2) A Plenary Indulgence, once a month, on any day, to all who shall have said it everyday for a month, under the usual conditions.

Posted in DOGMA, MARIAN NOVENAS, MARIAN QUOTES, St Louis-Marie Grignion de MONTFORT, THE ASSUMPTION, To JESUS through MARY

Reminder – The Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption – Begins tomorrow

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The Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption
Begins 6 August in preparation
for the Feast on 15 August – a Holy Day.

“We never give more honour to Jesus
than when we honour His Mother,
and we honour her,
simply and solely,
to honour Him all the more perfectly.
We go to her only as a way
leading to the goal we seek – Jesus, her Son.” s

St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716)

Please join us as we pray a Novena in reverence and filial devotion
to Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Assumed into Heaven, our Queen and our Mother Mary.

We pray in preparation for the great Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, Body and Soul as defined and declared as Dogma on 1 November 1950, by Pope Pius XII.
Thus he solemnly proclaimed that the belief whereby, the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the close of her earthly life, was taken up, body and soul, into the Glory of Heaven, definitively forms part of the deposit of faith, received from the Apostles.

Our Novena will include a brief Meditation with practical reflection, a preparatory prayer by St Alphonsus Liguori and the daily prayer each morning for nine days. See you here!

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN DEVOTIONS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, NOVEMBER - Month of the SOULS in PURGATORY, Of a Holy DEATH & AGAINST A SUDDEN DEATH, of the DYING, FINAL PERSEVERANCE, DEATH of CHILDREN, DEATH of PARENTS, PARTIAL Indulgence, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PURGATORY, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on HELL, QUOTES on PRAYER, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, REDEMPTORISTS CSSR, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY GHOST

Quote/s of the Day – 2 August – St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

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Quote/s of the Day – 2 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” and the Feast of St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church

The Glories of Mary (audio book)

Evening Prayer
By St Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor
(Indulgence of 3 Years, Once a Day)

Jesus Christ my God,
I adore Thee and thank Thee
for all the graces Thou hast given me this day.
I offer Thee my sleep
and all the moments of this night
and I beseech Thee
to keep me without sin.
Wherefore ,I put myself,
within Thy sacred side
and under the mantle of our Lady, my Mother.
Let Thy holy Angels stand about me
and keep me in peace
and let Thy blessing be upon me, O Lord my God.
Amen

“How pleasing to Him it will be,
if you sometimes forget yourself
and speak to Him of His own glory;
of the miseries of others,
especially those who mourn in sorrow;
of the souls in purgatory,
His spouses, who long to behold Him in Heaven
and, of poor sinners,
who live deprived of His grace.”

Come O Holy Spirit!
By St Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

You made Mary full of grace
and inflamed the hearts of the Apostles
with a holy zeal,
enflame our hearts with Your love.
You are the Spirit of goodness,
give us the courage to confront evil.
You are Fire,
set us ablaze with Your Love.
You are Light,
enlighten our minds,
that we may see what is truly igood and true.
You are the Dove,
give us gentleness.
You are a Soothing Breeze,
bring calm to the storms which rage within us.
You are the Tongue,
may our lips ever sing God’s praises
You are the Cloud,
shelter us under the shadow of Your protection.
O Holy Spirit, melt the frozen,
warm the chilled
and enkindle in us,
an earnest desire to please You.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen

“The powers of hell
will assail the dying Christian
but his Angel Guardian
will come to console him.
His Patrons and St Michael,
who has been appointed by God
to defend his faithful servants,
in their last combat with the devils,
will come to his aid.”

“We should not forget,
that the devil has his martyrs
and that he infuses into them
a false constancy.
It is not the punishment
but the cause,
that makes the Martyr;
that is – the confession
of the True Faith.”

Prayer for a Holy Death
By St Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor
Patron of Final Perseverance

My beloved Jesus,
I will not refuse the cross,
as the Cyrenian did;
I accept it, I embrace it.
I accept, in particular,
the death Thou hast destined for me,
with all the pains which may accompany it;
I unite it to Thy Death,
I offer it to Thee
Thou hast died for love of me; I
will die for love of Thee
and to please Thee.
Help me by Thy grace.
I love Thee, Jesus, my love;
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

O Afflicted Virgin!
By St Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

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

MORE by St Alphonsus:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/08/02/quote-s-of-the-day-2-august/

St Alphonsus de Liguori (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Posted in CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, Hail MARY!, NOTES to Followers, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS on FAITH, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Please pray for me … Thank you! 🙏💖

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Dearest faithful Friends and fellow Pilgrims

I am off to Cape Town for about a week+- for an Eye Operation which has become essential. It will hopefully assist with comfort and reduce pain. For those who are unaware of this issue – I do have a note on my ‘About’ regarding this problem eye.

We have on the site, under PATRONAGE sub-category EYES Diseases, the BLIND – 36 Patrons who I am sure will be very happy to assist, by their intercession, to our Divine Physician and let us never forget the endless caring love and prayers of our Holy Virgin Mother.

I beg your prayers and, if any Priests here with us, would offer a Holy Mass – if possible on Tuesday morning 25 July, I will be endlessly grateful. The operation is scheduled for South African time – 8.00 am.

THANK YOU ALL – MY poor Prayers are always yours! Ana 🙏💖

Prayer to St Lucy
for the Protection of our Eyes
and the Eyes of our Faith

O St Lucy, you preferred to let your eyes be torn out
instead of denying the faith
and defiling your soul
and God, through an extraordinary miracle,
replaced them with another pair of sound and perfect eyes
to reward your virtue and faith,
appointing you as the protector against eye diseases.
I come to you for you to protect my eyesight
and to heal the illness in my eyes.

O St Lucy, preserve the light of my eyes
so that I may see the beauties of creation,
the glow of the sun,
the colour of the flowers
and the smile of children.

Preserve also the eyes of my soul,
the faith, through which I can know my God,
understand His teachings,
recognise His love for me
and never miss the road that leads me
to where you, St Lucy,
can be found in the company of the angels and saints.
St Lucy, protect my eyes and preserve my faith.

St Lucy, “Bringer of Light”
Pray for those with eye ailments,
Pray for us all!

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, CARMELITES, GOD ALONE!, JESUIT SJ, MARIAN QUOTES, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, QUOTES on CONSCIENCE, QUOTES on HUMILITY, QUOTES on MORTIFICATION, QUOTES on SELF-DENIAL, QUOTES on the DEVIL/EVIL, QUOTES on TRUTH, St Francis de Sales, The ANNUNCIATION, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Quote/s of the Day – 17 July – Humility

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Quote/s of the Day – 17 July –The Feast of the Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“To arrive at the knowledge of the Truth,
there are many paths – the first is humility,
the second is humility
and the third is humility.”

“Humility is a very strange entity.
The moment we think we have it,
we have already lost it!”

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

“True humility consists in persuading
and convincing oneself
that without God,
we are insignificant and despicable
and, in acceptance,
to be treated as such!”

St Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

“In order to overcome the power of the devil,
the soul needs prayer
and will not be able to understand his deceptions,
without mortification and humility.”

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

The most holy Virgin, Our Lady,
gave us an outstanding example of this
when she spoke these words:
“Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord,
let it be done to me according to your word”
(Lk 1:38). When she said she was
the handmaid of the Lord,
she was performing the greatest act of humility
it is possible to do and,
all the more so, in that she was contradicting
the praise given her by the angel –
that she would be mother of God,
that the child to be born from her womb
would be called Son of the Most High,
a greater dignity than any we might imagine –
I say, she opposed her lowliness
and unworthiness to all these praises
and greatness, by saying
that she was the handmaid of the Lord.”

St Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Doctor of Charity

A FEW MORE FROM ST FRANCIS de SALES:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/07/17/quote-s-of-the-day-17-july-humility/

“There are some people who
have a right conscience …
Nevertheless, these must remember
St Paul’s warning: “Let him who thinks he stands,
take heed, lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:12).
They must not grow proud, like the Pharisee
who prayed in front of the altar
but, must be humble, like the poor publican,
who knew that without God’s direction and grace,
he would fall into serious sin.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Posted in CARMELITES, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Quote/s of the Day – 16 July – Our Lady of Mount Carme

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Quote/s of the Day – 16 July – Our Lady of Mount Carme

“This fair olive-tree,
led to the temple
and, thenceforward planted
in the House of God
and cultivated by the Spirit,
she, as a fruitful olive-tree,
became the abode of all virtues.”

St John Damascene (675-749)
Father and Doctor of the Church

“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 Pius X (1835-1914)

“The Flos Carmeli
The Flower of Carmel”
By St Simon Stock (1165-1265)

O most beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel,
fruitful vine, splendour of Heaven,
Blessed Mother of the Son of God,
Immaculate Virgin,
assist me in this my necessity.
O Star of the Sea,
help me and show me herein
that thou art my Mother.
O Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Queen of Heaven and earth,
I humbly beseech thee from the bottom of my heart,
to succour me in this my necessity.
There are none that can withstand thy power.
O show me herein, that thou art my Mother. Amen.

O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for those who have recourse to thee.
(Repeat three times)

Sweet Mother, I place this cause in thy hands.
(Repeat three times)

This prayer, the “Flos Carmeli”
(“The Flower of Carmel”),
was composed by St Simon Stock (1165-1265),
a Carmelite, so-called because he and other members of his order lived atop Mount Carmel in the Holy Land.
St Simon Stock was visited by the Blessed Virgin Mary on 16 July 1251, at which time, she bestowed upon him a scapular, or habit, (commonly called “the Brown Scapular”), which became part of the liturgical clothing of the Carmelite order
Oral tradition tells of St Simon Stock praying, with a passionate intensity to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, during a time of great distress and hardship for the Order. With fervour and faith, he prayed his prayer, the Flos Carmeli for the first time.
And Our Lady answered his prayer.
Thus, for seven centuries the Flos Carmeli continues to be prayed to the Blessed Mother with the firm faith that she she will answer its request with her powerful help.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, franciscan OFM, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYERS, QUOTES on TIME, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 14 July – To Our Lady of Sorrows By St Bonaventure

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Our Morning Offering – 14 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus,” The Friday Devotion of the Passion and Feast of St Bonaventure OFM (1221-1274) Seraphic Doctor of the Church

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

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

Posted in DOCTRINE, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY WEEK, HOLY WEEK 2019, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, QUOTES on DEATH, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HOLY CROSS, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The PASSION, The SIGN of the CROSS

Quote/s of the Day – 4 July – St Andrew of Crete

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Quote/s of the Day – 4 July – St Andrew of Crete (c660-c740) Bishop, Father of the Church

“But Jesus he delivered up to their will.”
Luke 23:25

“Then, let us run with Him as He presses on to His Passion.
Let us imitate those who have gone out to meet Him,
not scattering olive branches
or garments or palms in His path
but spreading ourselves before Him as best we can,
with humility of soul and upright purpose.
So may we welcome the Word as He comes (Jn 1:9);
so may God, Who cannot be contained within any bounds,
be contained within us.
For He is pleased to have shown us this gentleness,
He, Who is gentle and who “rides upon the setting sun”
(Ps 56:12) which refers to our extreme lowliness.
He is pleased to come and live with us
and to raise us up or bring us back to Himself

“We are celebrating the Feast of the Cross
which drove away darkness and brought in the light…
Had there been no Cross,
Christ could not have been Crucified.
Had there been no Cross,
Life Itself could not have been nailed to the tree.
And if Life had not been nailed to it,
there would be no streams of immortality,
pouring from Christ’s side –
Blood and Water for the world’s cleansing.
The legal bond of our sin would not be cancelled,
we should not have obtained our freedom,
we should not have enjoyed the fruit
of the tree of life and the Gates of Paradise
would not stand open.
Had there been no Cross,
death would not have been trodden underfoot,
nor hell despoiled…
The Cross is called Christ’s glory;
it is saluted as His triumph,
through the Word which unites to God!”

“… The design of the Redeemer of our race
was to bring about a birth and, as it were,
a new creation to replace the one that went before.
Therefore, just as in Paradise,
He had taken a little clay
out of the pure and spotless earth,
to fashion the first Adam (Gn 2,7),
so, at the moment of bringing about
His Own Incarnation,
He made use of another earth, so to speak,
namely, this Pure and Immaculate Virgin,
chosen from among all other beings He had created.
It is in her that He, Adam’s Creator,
has remade us in our very substance
and became a new Adam (1Cor 15,45)
that the old might be saved by the new and eternal.”

“Today the Virgin is born,
tended and formed
and prepared for her role as Mother of God,
who is the universal King of the ages.
… Therefore, let all creation sing and dance
and unite, to make worthy contribution
to the celebration of this day.
… Let everything, mundane things
and those above, join in festive celebration.
Today, this created world is raised
to the dignity of a holy place
for Him, Who made all things.
The creature is newly prepared
to be a Divine Dwelling Place for the Creator.”

St Andrew of Crete (660-740)
Bishop, Father of the Church

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MOTHER of GOD, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The INCARNATION, The REDEMPTION

Quote/s of the Day – 2 July – Mary, Mother of God

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 2 July – The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“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

“She is the eldest daughter of the Great King.
If you enjoy her favour,
she will introduce you
to the Monarch of the Universe.
No-one has so great an interest with Him than Mary,
who was the occasion of His coming down from Heaven
to become man, for the redemption of mankind.”

St John the Merciful (c 552-c 616)

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

Adapted from a sermon preached by St Cyril, Archbishop of Alexandria (444), presiding as representative of the Holy See at the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus, in 431. In refuting Nestorianism, he is called “Doctor of the Incarnation.

“O daughter of King David
and Mother of God,
the universal King.
O Divine and living object
whose beauty has charmed God the Creator;
your whole soul is completely open
to God’s action and attentive to God alone.
… Your womb will be the abode
of the one whom no place can contain.
Your milk will provide nourishment for God,
in the little Infant Jesus.
Your hands will carry God
and your knees will serve
as a throne for Him
that is more noble
than the throne of the Cherubim.
… You are the temple of the Holy Spirit,
the city of the living God,
made joyous by abundant flowers,
the sacred flowers of Divine grace.
You are all-beautiful
and very close to God,
above the Cherubim
and higher than the Seraphim,
right near God Himself!
Amen”

St John Damascene (675-749)
Father and Doctor of the Church

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, The ANNUNCIATION, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

The Feast of the Visitation of Our Lady – 2 July

Posted on by AnaStpaul

The Feast of the Visitation of Our Lady, instituted in 1385 by Pope Urban IV – 2 July.

Mary’s first thought after the Archangel’s visit was to hasten to the little Town of Ain Kharin and congratulate her cousin, Elizabeth on the wonderful event about to take place. As Mary hastened along, those who met her, little realised that she bore the Son of God – humble, sweet and gracious, to all.

So the young girl from Nazareth, passed unobserved upon her way. But as she raised her voice in loving salutation to Elizabeth, when entering the house, a marvelous thing occurred, for the unborn infant in Elizabeth’s womb, leapt for joy, as he heard the voice of God’s Mother sounding in his ears. Elizabeth, stricken with amazement, cried out:

“Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed art thou that hast believed because those things shall be accomplished which were spoken to thee by the Lord.”

In that instant Elizabeth knew that she was standing in the presence of God; she knew that the young girl standing before her was God’s Mother; knew all that had taken place at Nazareth; knew of Mary’s fiat.

Then Mary lifted up her voice in high thanksgiving and gave forth the marvelous canticle:

“My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid; for behold, from henceforth, all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty, hath done great things for me and holy is His name. And His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him. He hath shewed might in His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.”

The Magnificat nbby James Tissot

In this Magnificat of the humble young girl of Nazareth, there is an intense personal note; she sees why it is that she is exalted – her humility. She prophesies and foretells her future glory. Then she says that God’s mercy follows those who fear Him; she sings of God’s might; she returns to the thought of God’s mercy and with this mercy in mind, the young virgin ends her triumphant song.

For three months Mary and Elizabeth rejoiced in each other’s company and gave thanks to God for all the wonderful mercy He had bestowed upon them – one, the mother of the Herald of God, the other, the Mother of God Himself. Yet these months saw nothing outwardly extraordinary; it was just the quiet outwardly ordinary daily round, such as might be seen in any family.

After those three months the Virgin set out on her way home to Nazareth and her return was as little noted as her going. She came full of joy and she returned full of joy, for no hint of coming sorrow cast a shadow upon her.

This Feast of the Visitation of Our Lady was instituted by Pope Urban IV, in the year 1385 and confirmed by Pope Boniface IX, in the year 1389.

Posted in 7 GIFTS of the HOLY GHOST: Wisdom, Understanding, Prudence, Strength, Knowledge, Piety, Fear, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, DOCTORS of the Church, franciscan OFM, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, PATRONAGE - LOST KEYS/LOST ARTICLES, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on MERCY, THE ASSUMPTION, The HOLY GHOST

Quote/s of the Day – 13 June – Prayer to St Anthony for the Restoration of Things Lost or Stolen and Prayers by St Anthony

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 13 June – The Feast of St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) Cpmfessor, Evangelical Doctor of the Church

Prayer to St Anthony of Padua
for the Restoration of Things Lost or Stolen

O Blessed St Anthony!
the grace of God has made thee
a powerful advocate in all necessities
and the Patron for the restoration
of things lost or stolen.
To thee I turn today, with childlike love
and heartfelt confidence.
Oh, how many thousands
hast thou miraculously aided
in the recovery of lost goods!
Thou wast the counsellor of the erring,
the comforter of the afflicted,
the healer of the sick,
the raiser of the dead,
the deliverer of the captive,
the refuge of the afflicted.
To thee do I hasten, O Blessed St Anthony.
Help me in my present affliction.
I recommend that which I have lost to thy care,
in the secure hope that thou wilt restore it to me,
if it be to the greater glory of God
and to the spiritual benefit of my soul.
I pray too that I may praise and thank thee,
in time and eternity,
for thy glorious intercession on my behalf.
Amen

The Praises of Mary
“Assumption”
Poem by Saint Anthony

O how wondrous is the dignity
of the glorious Virgin!
She merited to become the mother of Him
who is the strength and beauty of the Angels
and the grandeur of all the Saints.

Mary was the seat of our sanctification,
that is to say,
the dwelling place of the Son
Who sacrificed Himself for us.

“And I shall glorify the place
where my feet have stood.”
The feet of the Saviour signify His human nature.
The place where the feet of the Saviour stood
was the Blessed Mary,
who gave Him His human nature.

Today the Lord glorifies that place,
since He has exalted Mary
above the choirs of the Angels.
That is to say,
the Blessed Virgin,
who was the dwelling of the Saviour,
has been assumed bodily into Heaven.

Mary, our Queen and Mother of Mercy
By St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231)
Evangelical Doctor of the Church

Mary, our Queen!
Holy Mother of God,
we beg you to hear our prayer.
Make our hearts overflow with Divine grace
and resplendent with heavenly wisdom.
Render them strong with your might
and rich in virtue.
Pour down upon us the gift of mercy
so that we may obtain the pardon of our sins.
Help us to live in such a way
as to merit the glory and bliss of Heaven.
May this be granted us, by your Son Jesus
Who has exalted you above the Angels,
has crowned you as Queen
and has seated you with Himself
forever, on his refulgent throne.
Amen.

O God, Send Forth Your Holy Spirit
By St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231)

O God,
send forth Your Holy Spirit
into my heart
that I may perceive,
into my mind,
that I may remember,
and into my soul,
that I may meditate.
Inspire me to speak with piety,
holiness, tenderness and mercy.
Teach, guide and direct my thoughts
and senses, from beginning to end.
May Your grace,
ever help and correct me,
and may I be strengthened now
with wisdom from on high,
for the sake of Your infinite mercy.
Amen

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/06/13/quote-s-of-the-day-13-june-st-anthony/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/06/13/quote-s-of-the-day-13-june-st-anthony-of-padua-2/

St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231)
Evangelical Doctor of the Church

Posted in ASPIRATIONS and EJACULATIONS, AUGUST - The Immaculate Heart of Mary, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DOCTORS of the Church, DOGMA, EUCHARISTIC, EUCHARISTIC Adoration, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, GOD the FATHER, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, INDULGENCES, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, PARTIAL Indulgence, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, Quotes on SALVATION, SACRAMENTS, St JOSEPH, THE ASSUMPTION, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The REDEMPTION

Quote/s of the Day – 11 June – He left His Body and His Blood …

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 11 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – The Solemnity of Corpus Christi – 1 John 3:13-18, Luke 14:16-24. – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“… This Body which He took from us,
He gave wholly for our salvation.
For, He offered His own Body to God the Father,
upon the Altar of the Cross,
as a Victim for our reconciliation
and, He shed, His own Blood,
both to redeem and cleanse us
that we, being bought back
from a wretched slavery,
might be washed from all our sins.
And then, that the memory
of such a great benefit might abide in us,
He left His Body to be our food
and His Blood to be our drink
that the faithful might receive them
under the species of Bread and Wine.”

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Doctor Angelicus/Doctor Communis

“I adore Thee at every moment,
O Living Bread of Heaven, great Sacrament!
Jesus, heart of Mary, I pray Thee, bless my soul.
Holiest Jesus, my Saviour, I give Thee my heart.”

(Indulgence of Two Hundred Days;
Pope Pius VII, 1915)

The Divine Praises

Blessed be God.
Blessed be His Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints.

May the Heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament,
be praised, adored and loved with grateful affection,
at every moment, in all the Tabernacles of the world,
even to the end of time.
Amen.

Posted in AUGUST - The Immaculate Heart of Mary, IMMACULATE HEART PRAYERS, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS to the SAINTS, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, SACRED and IMMACULATE HEARTS, SACRED HEART PRAYERS, SEPTEMBER-The SEVEN SORROWS of MARY and The HOLY CROSS, The HEART

Our Morning Offering – 10 June – Prayer to the Two Holy Heartsof Jesus and Mary

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Our Morning Offering – 10 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Saturday Within the Octave of Corpus Christi and Mary’s Saturday

Prayer to the Two Holy Hearts
of Jesus and Mary

O Heart of Jesus, pierced for our sins
and giving us Your Mother on Calvary!
O Heart of Mary, pierced by sorrow
and sharing in the sufferings of your Divine Son
for our redemption!
O Sacred union of these Two Hearts!
Praised be the God of Love who united them together!
May we unite our hearts and every heart,
so that all hearts may live in unity and in imitation
of that Sacred unity which exists in these Two Hearts.
Triumph, O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary!
Reign, O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus!
– in our hearts, in our homes and families,
in the hearts of those who as yet do not know You
and in all nations of the world.
Establish in the hearts of all mankind the sovereign triumph
and reign of Your Two Hearts so that the earth may resound
from pole to pole with one cry:
Blessed forever be the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
and the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary!
Obtain for me a greater purity of heart
and a fervent love of the spiritual life.
May all my actions be done for the greater glory of God
in unions with the divine heart of Jesus
and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Hear and answer our prayers and intentions
according to Your most merciful will.
Amen

Posted in GOD is LOVE, JULY - The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, SACRED HEART REFLECTIONS, The MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The PASSION

Thought for the Day – 3 June – The Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Revealed in the Gospel

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

The Love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Revealed in the Gospel

“If we meditate on the pages of the Gospel, we shall find that they are vibrant with the infinite love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Let us, in imagination, enter the cave of Bethlehem and kneel before the crib where the Divine Infant is lying.
Darkness is all around, darkness over the earth, darkness in the minds and hearts of the majority of men.
But, now, the heavens open and from the brightness the voices of angels ring out, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace among men of goodwill.”
Who is this infant?
He is the Eternal Word, the substantial image of God, Who, for love of us, has been made man.
He is the Infinite One Who has willed to unite Himself with the finite, in order to lift us towards Himself.
This little heart is throbbing like that of any baby but, in this throb, is expressed the love of the God-Man.
It is a profound mystery, that God should have loved man so much, that He became a tiny infant.
Yet, He did this so that we might love Him more easily and in order to show us His own immeasurable love.
There is about this Infant, a fascination, at once human and divine, which compels us to love Him, even as Mary, Joseph and the simple shepherds loved Him.
He is asking us for love, adoration and complete surrender.
Can we refuse Him?

Now let us take ourselves in imagination to Calvary and kneel at the foot of the Cross.
The heart which began to beat with the sacred love in the manger at Bethlehem, has given everything for us, has poured forth it’s precious blood for our salvation and, has bestowed on us, as a final gift, the Blessed Mother of God.
Now, this heart is consumed with love for us and ceases to beat only when it has give us everything.
“It is consummated” (Jn 19:30).
At Bethlehem we have experienced a joyful ecstasy of love.
Here, at the foot of the Cross, we should experience a deep sorrow, which will cause us to weep for our sins and to transform our lives after the model of Jesus Christ.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, Hail MARY!, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, QUEENSHIP of MARY, QUOTES on GRACE, QUOTES on HEAVEN, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The INCARNATION, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR

Quote/s of the Day – 31 May – The Queenship of Mary

Posted on by AnaStpaul

Quote/s of the Day – 31 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Queenship of Mary

“She is the eldest daughter of the Great King.
If you enjoy her favour,
she will introduce you
to the Monarch of the Universe.
No-one has so great an interest with Him than Mary,
who was the occasion of His coming down from Heaven
to become man, for the redemption of mankind.”

St John the Merciful (c 552-c 616)

“Just as Mary surpassed in grace
all others on earth,
so also, in Heaven, is her glory unique.
If eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
nor the human heart conceived
what God has prepared
for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9),
who can express, what He has prepared,
for the woman who gave Him birth
and who loved Him,
as everyone knows,
more than anyone else?”

St Bernard (1090-1153)
The Last Father
and Mellifluous Doctor of the Church

“The Angels rejoiced to see their Queen,
the Apostles rejoiced to see their lady
and both obeyed her, with loving devotion.
… Therefore, when the Virgin of virgins
was led forth by God and her Son,
the King of kings. amid the company of exulting Angels
and rejoicing Archangels,
with the Heavens ringing with praise,
the prophecy of the psalmist was fulfilled,
in which he said to the Lord:
At your right hand stands the Queen,
clothed in gold of Ophir.”

St Amadeus of Lausanne O.Cist (1108-1159)

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, Hail MARY!, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, QUEENSHIP of MARY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 31 May – ‘ … This woman, alone of her kind, chosen by the world’s Creator … ‘

Posted on by AnaStpaul

One Minute Reflection – 31 May – “The Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Queenship of Mary – Eccli 24:5; 14:7; 14:9-11; 24:30-31, Luke 1:26-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Hail, full of grace!”– Luke 1:28

REFLECTION – “The degeneration caused by sin had obscured the beauty of our original nobility. But when the mother of supreme Beauty is born, our nature finds its purity once more and sees itself moulded according to the perfect model, worthy of God (Gn 1:26)… We had all preferred the world below to that above. There no longer remained any hope of salvation. The state of our nature cried aloud to Heaven to come to the rescue… Then, at last, in His good pleasure, the world’s Divine Artificer determined to make a new world appear, a different world full of harmony and youth.

Now, was it not fitting, that a most pure virgin without stain, should place herself at the service of this mysterious plan, first of all?… And where was this virgin to be found if not in this woman, alone of her kind, chosen by the world’s Creator before all generations? Yes, she indeed is Mother of God, divinely named Mary, whose womb gave birth to God Incarnate and whom, He Himself, had supernaturally prepared as His temple…

In this way, then, the design of the Redeemer of our race was to bring about a birth and, as it were, a new creation to replace the one that went before. Therefore, just as in Paradise He had taken a little clay, out of the pure and spotless earth, to fashion the first Adam (Gn 2:7), so, at the moment of bringing about His own Incarnation, He made use of another earth, so to speak, namely this pure and immaculate Virgin, chosen from among all other beings He had created. It is in her that He, Adam’s Creator, has remade us in our very substance and become a new Adam (1 Cor 15:45) that the old might be saved by the new and eternal.” – St Andrew of Crete (660-740) Bishop, Father (Sermon 1 for the Nativity of the Mother of God).

PRAYER – Grant we beseech Thee, O Lord, that we who keep the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Queen, safe under her protection, may be worthy to have peace now and glory, in the future. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).Through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).