Category: The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, FATHERS of the Church, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on PURITY, The ANNUNCIATION, THE ASSUMPTION, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 11 December – O Gloriosa Femina, O Glorious Maid, Exalted Far

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Our Morning Offering – 11 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Within the Octave

O Gloriosa Femina
O Glorious Maid, Exalted Far
By St Venantius Fortunatus (c530 – c609)
Bishop, Father o the Church

O Glorious Maid, exalted far
Beyond the light of burning star,
From Him who made thee, thou hast won
Grace to be Mother of His Son.

That which was lost in hapless Eve
Thy holy Scion did retrieve:
The tear-worn sons of Adam’s race
Through thee have seen the heavenly place.

Thou wast the gate of Heaven’s high Lord,
The door through which the Light hath poured.
Christians rejoice, for through a Maid
To all mankind is life conveyed!

All honour, laud and glory be,
O Jesu, Virgin-born, to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father and to Paraclete.
Amen.

This Hymn was used for Lauds in the Sarum Breviary for the Feasts of the Immaculate Conception, the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Annunciation, the Assumption and the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The above is the original text of this Hymn as it appears in The English Hymnal (1906), where it is listed as a Morning Office Hymn for Feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
Chant Tone: “O Gloriosa Domina” Gregorian Chant, Mode II, traditional.

Posted in DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, ONE Minute REFLECTION, ORIGINAL SIN, QUOTES on PURITY, Quotes on SALVATION, The HOLY NAME of MARY, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, The INCARNATION, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 8 December ‘ … Pure and Immaculate Virgin, chosen from among all other beings … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 8 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Feast of the Immaculate Conception – Proverbs 8:22-35 – Luke 1:26-28 – 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 (Sermon 1 for the Nativity of the Mother of God ; PG 97, 812).

PRAYER – O God, Who by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin, prepared a worthy dwelling for Thy Son, and Who, by Thy Son’s death, foreseen by Thee, preserved her from all taint, grant, we beseech Thee, through her intercession that we too, may come to Thee, unstained by sin. T 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 CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, Hail MARY!, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The ANNUNCIATION, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, The INCARNATION, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 12 September – ‘ … From Heaven, the Glorious Virgin helps us here below … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 12 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary – Ecclesiasticus 24:23-31 – Luke 1:26-38 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Hail, full of grace!” – Luke 1:28

REFLECTION – “So when the Virgin of Virgins was led by her God and Son, the King of Kings, in the joy of the Angels, the joy of the Archangels, among the acclactions of Heaven, then was accomplished the prophecy of David saying to the Lord: “The Queen stands on Thy Right, in a gilded clothing and various ornaments.” (Cf PS 44:10) Then, according to the Word of Solomon, The young girls arose and proclaimed Him blessed and the Queens in turn sang His praise (cf Pr 31:28 Vulg ). … She could not stop praising, she who saw the Son of God, born of her, sit to the Right of the Majesty of the Father and with Him in glory. “Thou held,” she said, “my right hand and Thou led me, according to Thy Will and in glory Thou received me.” (Cf PS 72:24) … raised in the midst of cheers of joy and praise, therefore, placed, first after God, on a throne of glory, above all the inhabitants of Heaven. …

Then, lowering towards the human race with an unspeakable charity and turning towards us, these merciful eyes which are the Light of the sky, it fosters an universal prayer for the clergy and the people , alive and dead. From Heaven, the Glorious Virgin helps us here below and, by her all-powerful prayer, she drives out all the evils and endows all the graces. For all those who pray to her from the bottom of the heart, it is their protection for the present life and for the future life. … Certainly, she will receive that which she beseeches, this beloved Mother, she whose very chaste body was the way in which the Son of God came to wash away the defilements of the world. Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God in all centuries of centuries. Amen” – St Amadeus of Lausanne O.Cist. (1108-1159) Cistercian Bishop (Marion Sermon VII).

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, through the protection of the most holy Virgin Mary, Thy faithful people, who delight in her name may, by her loving intercession, be delivered from all evils on earth and be found worthy to attain everlasting happiness in Heaven. 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 GOD ALONE!, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS - ANTONIO CARD BACCI, MOTHER of GOD, OUR Cross, QUOTES on SUFFERING, QUOTES on the CHURCH, QUOTES on THE MYSTICAL BODY, QUOTES on UNITY/with GOD, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 8 September – Mary, the Mother of God

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Thought for the Day – 8 September – Meditations with Antonio Cardinal Bacci (1881-1971)

Mary, the Mother of God

“St Matthew (Cf Mt 12:46-50) and St Mark (Cf Mk 3:31-35), relate how Jesus was preaching one day in Galilee, surrounded by His Apostles and by a large crowd, when a man approached and said: “Behold, thy mother and thy brethren are standing outside, seeking thee.”
“Who is my mother,” He answered, “and who are my brethren?”
Then He extended His hand towards His disciples and said: “Behold, my mother and my brethren! For whoever does the will of my Father in Heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

These words were directed at us, not at Our Lady.
Not only was she the Immaculate Mother of Jesus Christ but, she performed lovingly, on all occasions, the Will of the heavenly Father.
She did His Will, in poverty and obedience, in exile and on Mount Calvary.
Therefore, she was God’s Mother in the spiritual, as well as, in the physical sense of the word, insofar, as she was constantly united to Him by a bond of love and of conformity with His desires.

Christ’s words indicate, that Mary’s perfect and continuous acceptance of God’s Will, was even more pleasing to God, than the dignity of the Divine Motherhood.

We cannot equal her in dignity but, we can imitate her in this other respect.
Jesus will look on us as His brothers and as worthy sons of Mary, if we carry out His Will in all things.
It is not always easy to do this.
It is not easy, when we are strongly tempted to commit sins of pride, anger or impurity.
It is not easy, when we are overcome by sorrow or by sickness, when we are let down or misunderstood by others, when we are in want and, when we feel that we are collapsing beneath the weight of our cross.
At times like these, we should pray for Mary’s spirit of complete acceptance of the Will of God.”

Antonio Cardinal Bacci

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN QUOTES, MOTHER of GOD, The HOLY NAME of MARY, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Quote/s of the Day – 8 September – The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

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Quote/s of the Day – 8 September – The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

“You are more to be valued than the entire creation,
for from you alone the Creator received
a share in the first-fruits of our humanity.
His Flesh was made of your flesh,
His Blood of your blood;
God was nourished by your milk
and your lips kissed the lips of God. …
In His foreknowledge of your dignity,
the God of all the world, has loved you
and, in accordance with His love for you,
He predestined you and called you into being ”

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

“She was called Mary
that is, star of the sea,
in the foreseeing purpose of God,
that she might declare by her name,
that which she manifests
more clearly in reality.”
… For those who sail upon the sea
of the present age and call on her
with complete faith, she rescues
from the breath of the storm
and the raging of the winds
and brings them, rejoicing with her,
to the shore of their happy country.”

St Amadeus of Lausanne O.Cist (1110-1159)

Posted in BAPTISM, CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, The INCARNATION, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 8 September – ‘ … But how to bring this plan to fruition? …’

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One Minute Reflection – 8 September – The Feast of theN ativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God – Pentecost XVI – Proverbs 8:22-35 – Matthew 1:1-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary and of her was born Jesus , Who is called Christ.” – Matthew 1:16

REFLECTION – “In the beginning man had been formed out of pure and stainless earth (Gn 2:7) but his nature had been deprived of its innate dignity, when it was stripped of grace by the fall of disobedience and, was cast out of the land of life. In place of a Paradise of delight, it had nothing but a corruptible life, to hand on as its hereditary patrimony, a life from which death would follow, together with its consequence – the corruption of the race. We had,all of us, preferred the world here below to that on high. No hope of salvation remained; the state of our nature cried to Heaven for aid. There was no law which could cure our infirmity… In the end, according to His good pleasure, the Divine shaper of the universe decided to bring a new world, another world into being – a world of harmony and youth – from which the overwhelming contagion of sin and of its companion, death, would be cast out. A wholly new life, free and unencumbered, would be held out to us, who would find in Baptism a new and wholly Divine birth…

But how to bring this plan to fruition? Was it not fitting that a most pure and stainless virgin should first of all place herself at the service of this mysterious plan and should bear within her womb, the Infinite Being in a manner transcending the natural law?… Therefore, just as in Paradise, He had drawn from the virgin stainless earth, a little clay with which to fashion the first Adam, so He made use of another kind of earth, so to speak, when He brought about His Own Incarnation, namely that pure and immaculate Virgin, chosen from among all creatures. In her He remade us anew, using our own substance and He, Adam’s Creator, became a new Adam, so that the old might be saved by the New and Eternal.” – St Andrew of Crete (650-740) Bishop, Father of the Church (Sermon 1 for the Nativity of the Mother of God).

PRAYER – Bestow upon Thy servants, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gift of heavenly grace, that, as the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin stood for the beginning of our salvation, so may the solemn Feast of her Nativity, bring about an increase of peace. Through 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 HYMNS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 8 September – The Angels’ Birthday Hymn to Mary

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Our Morning Offering – 8 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The Nativity of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary

The Angels’ Birthday Hymn to Mary
Unknown Author

Hail to the Flower of grace divine!
Heiress, hail of David’s line!
Hail Redemption’s heroine!
Hail to the Virgin pre-elect!
Hail to the work without defect
Of the supernal Architect!

Hail to her ordained of old
Deep in enmities untold,
Ere the blue waves of ocean rolled,
Ere the primordial founts had sprung,
Ere in ether the globe was hung,
Ere the morning stars had sung!

Welcome the beatific morn
When the mother of life was born,
Whom all lovely gifts adorn!
What a thrill of ecstatic mirth
Danced along through heaven and earth.
At the tidings of Mary’s birth!

How was hell to its centre stirred!
How sang Hades when it heard
Of her coming, so long deferred!
Happy, happy, the Angel band
Chosen by Mary’s side to stand
As her defence on either hand!

Safe beneath their viewless wings
Mother-elect of the King of kings,
Fear no harm from hurtful things!
What though Eden vanished be,
More than Eden we find in thee!
Thou our joy and jubilee!

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, INCORRUPTIBLES, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

The Nativity of the Most Blessed and Ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Marian Feast Days around the world, St Adrian, Martyr and the Saints for 8 September

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The Nativity of the Most Blessed and Ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of God – 8 September:
https://anastpaul.com/2017/09/08/feast-of-the-nativity-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-8-september/

Nuestra Senora de la Virgen de la Caridad / Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, Cuba (1612)- 8 September:
The Story:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/09/08/feast-of-our-lady-of-charity-of-el-cobre-cuba-8-september/

Nuestra Senora de la Covadonga, also named “La Santina” / Our Lady of Covadonga (720) – 8 September:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/08/feast-of-the-nativity-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-marian-feasts-in-cuba-spain-india-andora-and-memorials-of-the-saints-8-september/

Nuestra Senora de la Meritxell / Our Lady of Meritxell (12th Century) – 8 September:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/08/feast-of-the-nativity-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-marian-feasts-in-cuba-spain-india-andora-and-memorials-of-the-saints-8-september/

St Adrian (Died 306) Confessor, Lay Martyr, Royal Court Guard in Roman Imperial Court at Nicomedia in Asia-Minor during the time of Emperor Maximian in the early 4th Century. Patronages – against the plague/epidemics, against epilepsy, arms dealers, butchers, guards, soldiers.
The Roman Martyrology reads this day: “At Nicomedia, St Adrian, with twenty three other Martyrs, who ended their Martyrdom on the 4th day of March by having their limbs crushed, after enduring many torments, under the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian. Their remains were carried to Byzantium by the Christians and buried with due honours. Afterwards, the body of St Adrian was taken to Rome on this day, on which his festival is celebrated.”
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/09/08/saint-of-the-day-8-september-st-adrian-died-306-confessor-martyr/

BlessedAlanus de Rupe OP (c1428-1475) Priest, “Apostle of the Holy Rosary”

St Corbinian (c670–c 730) First Bishop of Freising and Founder of the Diocese, Hermit, Missionary, Confessor.
His Zealous Life
https://anastpaul.com/2020/09/08/saint-of-the-day-8-september-saint-corbinian-c-670-c-730/

St Disibod of Disenberg
St Isaac the Great
St Kingsmark
St Peter of Chavanon

Blessed Seraphina Sforza OSC (c1424-1478) Abbess of the Order of St Clare, Widow. Her body is Incorrupt.
Her Holy Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/09/08/saint-of-the-day-8-september-blessed-seraphina-sforza-osc-c1424-1478-abbess-widow/

St Pope Sergius I (c650–701) Papal Ascension 15 December 687. B
About St Sergius:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/08/saint-of-the-day-8-september-saint-pope-sergius-i-c%e2%80%89650-701/

St Timothy of Antioch

Martyrs of Alexandria – 5 Saints: A group of Christians Martyred together in the persecutions of Diocletian – Ammon, Dio, Faustus, Neoterius and Theophilus. Martyred in Alexandria, Egypt.

Martyrs of Japan – (21 Beati: A group of 21 Missionaries and Converts, who were executed together for their faith. They were: Antonio of Saint Bonaventure, Antonio of Saint Dominic, Dominicus Nihachi, Dominicus of Saint Francis, Dominicus Tomach, Francisco Castellet Vinale, Franciscus Nihachi, Ioannes Imamura, Ioannes Tomachi, Laurentius Yamada, Leo Aibara, Lucia Ludovica, Ludovicus Nihachi, Matthaeus Alvarez Anji, Michaël Tomachi, Michaël Yamada Kasahashi, Paulus Aibara Sandayu, Paulus Tomachi, Romanus Aibar, Thomas of Saint Hyacinth, Thomas Tomachi
Died on 8 September 1628 in Nagasaki, Japan
Beatified on 7 May 1867 by Pope Pius XI.

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Posted in BREVIARY Prayers, CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, HYMNS, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HOLY NAME of MARY, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 16 August – Hymn to St Joachim

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Our Morning Offering – 16 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Feast of St Joachim, Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Hymn to St Joachim,
Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary
From the Liturgical Year, 1907

O Joachim,
Father of the Sovereign Maiden,
who in all purity gave birth to God,
present to the Lord, our petitions
and our chaste desires.

Thou knowest, by what angry waves
we are here tossed,
whom the cruel sea of this world wearies so,
Thou knowest how many battles Satan
and the flesh, prepare for us.

Now that thou art united ,
to the holy companies in Heaven,
or rather art placed at their head,
thou canst do all if thou wilt;
for rightly, neither Jesus, thy Grandson,
nor Mary, thy daughter, can deny thee aught.

Obtain by thy prayer
that our Blessed God
may give us pardon and peace
that united with thee,
we may sweetly sing canticles to Him.
Amen

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, FATHERS of the Church, GOD the FATHER, Hail MARY!, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, MOTHER of GOD, The ANNUNCIATION, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, The INCARNATION, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 11 February – “Hail, full of grace!” – Luke 1:28

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One Minute Reflection – 11 February – “The Month of the Blessed Trinity” – The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Lourdes – Apocalypse 11:19; 12:1, 10; Luke 1:26-31 – 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 which went before. Therefore, just as in Paradise, He had taken a litle 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 (c650-c730) Bishop and Father of the Church (Sermon 1 for the Nativity of the Mother of God).

PRAYER – O God, Who by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin, prepared a worthy dwelling for Thy Son, we humbly beseech Thee that, recalling the apparition of the same Virgin, we may obtain health for both soul and body. 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).

Posted in ADVENT, ADVENT REFLECTIONS, CHRIST the SUN of JUSTICE, DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, DOGMA, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, GOD ALONE!, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MARIAN TITLES, Meditations for ADVENT, MOTHER of GOD, QUOTES on MOTHERHOOD, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WILL of GOD

Thought for the Day – 8 December – The Approaching Day

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Thought for the Day – 8 December – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

Meditations for Advent
From “The Devout Year”
By Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)

The Approaching Day

+1. When the sun is soon to appear above the horizon, the morning star, shining with a light derived indeed from Him but, nevertheless, shining bright and clear, even before His Coming, gives the signal of His approach. So, the holy Mother of God, dawning upon the world, with a grace and beauty which was the gift of her Divine Son, anticipated His Incarnation and made the world more beautiful in God’s Sight, than it had ever been before. Mary was more precious to God than all the rest of men and this, quite independently of her Divine Maternity.
Consider why this was and learn a lesson for yourself.

+2. The morning star is still clearly seen when all other stars have been extinguished by the light of the Coming Day . Mary has a brilliancy so great that the brightness of all the other Saints fades into nothing in comparison with hers. If this was the case even in comparison with the glory of St John Baptist, St Joseph, Abraham the Patriarch, the friend of God – Job, the model of patience, Daniel, the beloved of God, what must her glory be!
Thank God for having created one child of Adam worthy of Himself!

+3. Mary’s consummate beauty is the consequence of there being in her, nothing of her own. All was God’s ; no mixture of self in her motives, in her aims, in her joys and sorrows, her love and hatred.
Her affections were simply a reflection of what God loved and hated; like God she loved all things except sin and those who were the declared and eternal enemies of God.
She desired nothing for herself, except that, she might see God’s holy Will fulfilled in all.
Is this the account which you can give of yourself ?
Only if this is so, are you a worthy child of Mary.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN QUOTES, QUOTES on HUMILITY, Quotes on SALVATION, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Quote/s of the Day – 21 November – The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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Quote/s of the Day – 21 November – The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“In her, God spun a garment
with which to save us.”

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

“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

“Give thanks to Almighty God
Who resists the proud
and gives grace to the humble
and offer Him all the glory
that this Maiden accorded to His Majesty
by her practice of the richest humility
during her childhood
and throughout the rest of her life.”

St John Eudes CO (1601-1680)

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 13 September – ‘ … The nativity of the whole world’s joy! …’

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One Minute Reflection – 13 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – Resumed Mass of Sunday – Proverbs 8:22-35, Matthew 1:1-16; 18-23 – – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a Son … ” – Matthew 1:23

REFLECTION – “Come, you nations; come, all peoples of every race and language, every age and rank. Joyfully let us celebrate the nativity of the whole world’s joy! If even the pagans honour the birthday of their king … what ought not we to do to honour that of the Mother of God, through whom all humanity has been transformed and the pain of Eve, our first mother, has been turned to joy? For Eve heard God’s sentence: “You will bring forth children in pain” (Gn 3:16) but Mary: “Rejoice, most highly favoured … the Lord is with thee” (Lk 1:28). …

Let all creation celebrate and sing the holy childbirth of a holy woman, for she has brought a lasting treasure into the world. … Through her, the creative Word of God has been united to the whole creation and we celebrate the ending of human barrenness, the ending of the sickness which kept us from possessing all our good. … Nature has given way to grace!… As the Virgin Mother of God had to be born of barren Anna, so nature remained without fruit until grace had produced its own. It was to open the womb of its mother, she who would give birth to “The Firstborn of all creation” in whom “all things hold together” (Col 1:15,17).

O blessed couple, Joachim and Anna! All creation owes you gratitude; through you it has offered the Creator the best of all His gifts – a Mother worthy of veneration, the only Mother worthy of the One Who created her!”- St John Damascene (675-749) Monk, Theologian, Father and Doctor of the Church – Homily on the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, 1-2 (cf SC 80, p. 48)

PRAYER – Lord God, the day of our salvation dawned when the Blessed Virgin gave birth to Your Son. As we celebrate her nativity, grant us Your grace and Your peace. Through 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 DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The HOLY NAME of MARY, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, The INCARNATION, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 12 September – ‘ … She indeed, is Mother of God, divinely named Mary … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 12 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary – Ecclesiasticus 24:23-31, Luke 1:26-38 – 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 which 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 (1Cor 15:45), that the old might be saved by the New and Eternal!” – St Andrew of Crete (660-740) Bishop (Sermon 1 for the Nativity of the Mother of God ; PG 97, 812).

PRAYER – Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, through the protection of the most holy Virgin Mary, Thy faithful people, who delight in her name may, by her loving intercession, be delivered from all evils on earth and be found worthy to attain everlasting happiness in Heaven. 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 FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MOTHER of GOD, The INCARNATION, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 8 September – The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

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Quote/s of the Day – 8 September – The Feast of theNativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child
and bear a son … ”

Matthew 1:23

“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

Praeclara Custos Virginum!
Blest Guardian of All Virgin Souls!
By Anonymous Latin, 18th Century
Trans. Fr Edward Caswall C.Orat. (1814–1878)

Blest Guardian of all virgin souls!
Portal of bliss to man forgiven!
Pure Mother of Almighty God!
Thou hope of earth and joy of Heaven!

Fair Lily, found amid the thorns!
Most beauteous Dove with wings of gold!
Rod from whose tender root there sprang
That healing Flow’r long since foretold!

Thou Tow’r, against the dragon proof!
Thou Star, to storm-toss’d voyagers dear!
Our course lies o’er a treacherous deep;
Thine be the light by which we steer.

Scatter the mists that round us hang;
Keep far the fatal shoals away
And while through darkling waves we sweep,
Open a path to life and day.

O Jesu, born of Virgin bright!
Immortal glory be to Thee!
Praise to the Father infinite
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Amen

This Hymn originated as the Hymn for Vespers in the Office of the Purity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is used for Matins on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Tune: “From High Heaven” Leipzig melody, 1539.

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MOTHER of GOD, QUOTES on JOY, Quotes on SALVATION, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 8 September – ‘ … Eve mourned – Mary rejoiced! …’

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One Minute Reflection – 8 September – The Feast of theNativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God –Pentecost XVI – Proverbs 8:22-35; Matthew 1:1-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary and of her was born Jesus , Who is called Christ.” – Matthew 1:16

REFLECTION – “Dearly beloved, the day of the blessed and ever venerable Virgin Mary so long desired, is here. Let our land rejoice in the greatest exultation. Let it shine in the light of the birth of such a virgin. For she is the flower of the field, from her bloomed the precious lily of the valley. Through her birth the nature inherited from our first parents is changed. their sin is blotted out. That unhappy curse of Eve in which it was said – ‘In sorrow shalt thou bring forth children,‘ is, in the case of Mary, ended, for she bore the Lord in joy.

Eve mourned – Mary rejoiced! Eve carried tears in her womb, Mary joy. Eve gave birth to the sinner, Mary to Innocence. The mother of the human race brought punishment into the world; the mother of the Lord salvation. Eve was the source of sin, Mary of grace. Eve harmed, by bringing death, Mary aided, by giving life. The former wounded, the latter healed. Obedience replaced disobedience; fidelity atones for infidelity.

Now Mary may play melodies upon the organ. Now may the active fingers of the young mother strike the timbrels. Now may choirs sing out with joy. Now let the sweetest Songs mingle with the varying harmonies. Hear how she, our timbrel-player, sings – ‘My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid, for, behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He Who is mighty has done great things for me. The miraculous new birth conquered the prevalent error. The canticle of Mary silenced the wailing of Eve.” – St Augustine (354-430) Bishop, Father and Doctor of Grace (Sermon on the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary).

PRAYER – Bestow upon Thy servants, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gift of heavenly grace, that, as the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin stood for the beginning of our salvation, so may the solemn Feast of her Nativity, bring about an increase of peace. Through 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 MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN TITLES, Our MORNING Offering, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 8 September – The Angels’ Birthday Song to Mary

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Our Morning Offering – 8 September – “The Month of The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary and The Holy Cross” – The Nativity of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary

The Angels’ Birthday Song to Mary
Unknown Author

“Thy nativity, O Virgin Mother of God,
gives joy to the whole world, because from thee
shall rise, the Sun of Justice, Christ our Lord. ”

Hail to the Flower of grace divine!
Heiress, hail of David’s line!
Hail Redemption’s heroine!
Hail to the Virgin pre-elect!
Hail to the work without defect
Of the supernal Architect!

Hail to her ordained of old
Deep in enmities untold,
Ere the blue waves of ocean rolled,
Ere the primordial founts had sprung,
Ere in ether the globe was hung,
Ere the morning stars had sung!

Welcome the beatific morn
When the mother of life was born,
Whom all lovely gifts adorn!
What a thrill of ecstatic mirth
Danced along through heaven and earth.
At the tidings of Mary’s birth!

How was hell to its centre stirred!
How sang Hades when it heard
Of her coming, so long deferred!
Happy, happy, the Angel band
Chosen by Mary’s side to stand
As her defence on either hand!

Safe beneath their viewless wings
Mother-elect of the King of kings,
Fear no harm from hurtful things!
What though Eden vanished be,
More than Eden we find in thee!
Thou our joy and jubilee!

Posted in FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, INCORRUPTIBLES, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

The Nativity of the Most Blessed and Ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Marian Feast Days around the world, St Adrian, Martyr and the Saints for 8 September

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The Nativity of the Most Blessed and Ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of God – 8 September
On this Marian Feast Day:
https://anastpaul.com/2017/09/08/feast-of-the-nativity-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-8-september/

Nuestra Senora de la Virgen de la Caridad / Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, Cuba (1612)- 8 September:
The Story:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/09/08/feast-of-our-lady-of-charity-of-el-cobre-cuba-8-september/

Nuestra Senora de la Covadonga, also named “La Santina” / Our Lady of Covadonga (720) – 8 September:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/08/feast-of-the-nativity-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-marian-feasts-in-cuba-spain-india-andora-and-memorials-of-the-saints-8-september/

Nuestra Senora de la Meritxell / Our Lady of Meritxell (12th Century) – 8 September:
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/08/feast-of-the-nativity-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-marian-feasts-in-cuba-spain-india-andora-and-memorials-of-the-saints-8-september/

St Adam Bargielski
St Adela of Messines

St Adrian (Died 306) Confessor, Lay Martyr, Royal Court Guard in Roman Imperial Court at Nicomedia in Asia-Minor during the time of Emperor Maximian in the early 4th Century. Patronages – against the plague/epidemics, against epilepsy, arms dealers, butchers, guards, soldiers.
The Roman Martyrology reads this day: “At Nicomedia, St Adrian, with twenty three other Martyrs, who ended their Martyrdom on the 4th day of March by having their limbs crushed, after enduring many torments, under the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian. Their remains were carried to Byzantium by the Christians and buried with due honours. Afterwards, the body of St Adrian was taken to Rome on this day, on which his festival is celebrated.”
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/09/08/saint-of-the-day-8-september-st-adrian-died-306-confessor-martyr/

Bl Alanus de Rupe

St Corbinian (c670–c 730) First Bishop of Freising and Founder of the Diocese, Hermit, Missionary, Confessor.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/09/08/saint-of-the-day-8-september-saint-corbinian-c-670-c-730/

St Disibod of Disenberg
St Isaac the Great
St Kingsmark
St Peter of Chavanon
Blessed Seraphina Sforza OSC (C1424-1478) Abbess. Her body is Incorrupt.

St Pope Sergius I (c650–701) Papal Ascension 15 December 687. B
About St Sergius:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/08/saint-of-the-day-8-september-saint-pope-sergius-i-c%e2%80%89650-701/

St Timothy of Antioch

Martyrs of Alexandria – 5 Saints: A group of Christians Martyred together in the persecutions of Diocletian – Ammon, Dio, Faustus, Neoterius and Theophilus. Martyred in Alexandria, Egypt.

Martyrs of Japan – (21 Beati: A group of 21 Missionaries and Converts, who were executed together for their faith. They were: Antonio of Saint Bonaventure, Antonio of Saint Dominic, Dominicus Nihachi, Dominicus of Saint Francis, Dominicus Tomach, Francisco Castellet Vinale, Franciscus Nihachi, Ioannes Imamura, Ioannes Tomachi, Laurentius Yamada, Leo Aibara, Lucia Ludovica, Ludovicus Nihachi, Matthaeus Alvarez Anji, Michaël Tomachi, Michaël Yamada Kasahashi, Paulus Aibara Sandayu, Paulus Tomachi, Romanus Aibar, Thomas of Saint Hyacinth, Thomas Tomachi
Died on 8 September 1628 in Nagasaki, Japan
Beatified on 7 May 1867 by Pope Pius XI.

Posted in MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

FIRST SATURDAY, Vigil of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St Cloud and the Saints for 7 September

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FIRST SATURDAY

Vigil of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, instituted by Pope Gregory II (722):
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/07/vigil-of-the-nativity-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary-instituted-by-pope-gregory-ii-722-and-memorials-of-the-saints-7-september/

St Cloud (522-c 560) Priest, Hermit, Confessor and Abbot.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2017/09/07/saint-of-the-day-7-september-st-cloud/

St Alcmund of Hexham
Bl Alexander of Milan
St Augustalus
St Balin
St Carissima of Albi
St Chiaffredo of Saluzzo
Bl Claude-Barnabé Laurent de Mascloux
St Desiderio of Benevento
St Dinooth
Bl Eugenia Picco
St Eupsychius of Caesarea
St Eustace of Beauvais
St Evortius of Orleans (Died c340) Bishop
St Faciolus
St Festo of Benevento
Bl François d’Oudinot de la Boissière
St Giovanni of Lodi
St Goscelinus of Toul
St Gratus of Aosta
St Grimonia of Picardy
St Hiduard
Bl John Duckett
Bl John Maki
Bl John of Nicomedia
Bl Ludovicus Maki Soetsu
St Madalberta of Mauberge (Died c706) Abbess
Bl Maria of Bourbon

Blessed Marko Križevcanin (c1588-1619) Priest Martyr, Missionary, Professor of Theology. At the time of his Martyrdom he was 31 years old.
Shortly after the Martyrdom, Cardinal Pázmány began the canonical process in view of Beatification, which would take place on 15 January 1905 in Rome by St Pius X.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/09/07/saint-of-the-day-7-september-blessed-marko-krizevcanin-c1588-1619-priest-martyr/

St Melichar Grodecký
St Memorius of Troyes
St Pamphilus of Capua
Bl Ralph Corby

St Regina (3rd Century) Virgin Martyr
Her Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/09/07/saint-of-the-day-7-september-saint-regina-3rd-century-virgin-martyr/

St Sozonte

Blessed Thomas Tsuji SJ (1570-1627) Priest of the Society of Jesus, Martyr.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/07/saint-of-the-day-7-september-blessed-thomas-tsuji-sj-1570-1627-martyr/

St Tilbert of Hexham

Martyrs of Noli: Four Saints: Christians who became soldiers and were martyred together for their faith. A late legend makes them member of the Theban Legend who escaped their mass martyrdom but that’s doubtful – Paragorius, Partenopeus, Parteus and Severinus. They were born in Noli, Italy and martyred in Corsica, France. Attribute – soldiers with a banner of NoliM

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, FATHERS of the Church, HYMNS, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of PETITION, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The HOLY NAME of MARY, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 16 August – Hymn to St Joachim

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Our Morning Offering – 16 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Feast of St Joachim, Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Hymn to St Joachim,
Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary
From the Liturgical Year, 1907

O Joachim,
Father of the Sovereign Maiden,
who in all purity gave birth to God,
present to the Lord, our petitions
and our chaste desires.

Thou knowest, by what angry waves
we are here tossed,
whom the cruel sea of this world wearies so,
Thou knowest how many battles Satan
and the flesh, prepare for us.

Now that thou art united ,
to the holy companies in Heaven,
or rather art placed at their head,
thou canst do all if thou wilt;
for rightly, neither Jesus, thy Grandson,
nor Mary, thy daughter, can deny thee aught.

Obtain by thy prayer
that our Blessed God
may give us pardon and peace
that united with thee,
we may sweetly sing canticles to Him.
Amen

Posted in DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, DIVINE Mercy, Goodness, Patience, FATHERS of the Church, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, MARIAN QUOTES, SAINT of the DAY, The ANNUNCIATION, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The GOOD SHEPHERD, The MOST HOLY REDEEMER, Our SAVIOUR, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

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

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

“Thou art the Good Shepherd;
seek me, Thy lamb
and neglect me not,
who has gone astray.
[John 10:11-14]”

“Thou art my sweet Jesus,
Thou art my Creator;
in Thee, O Saviour,
I shall be justified.”

“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!”

“Today humanity, in all the radiance
of her Immaculate nobility,
receives its ancient beauty.
The shame of sin
had darkened the splendour
and attraction of human nature
but when the Mother
of the Fair One par excellence,
is born, this nature again,
regains, in her person,
its ancient privileges
and is fashioned according to a perfect model,
truly worthy of God ….
The reform of our nature begins today
and the aged world,
subjected to a wholly divine transformation,
receives the first fruits of the second creation.”

MORE:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/07/04/quote-s-of-the-day-4-july-st-andrew-of-crete/

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

Posted in DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, ONE Minute REFLECTION, ORIGINAL SIN, QUOTES on PURITY, The HOLY NAME of MARY, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, The INCARNATION, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 December ‘ … Pure and Immaculate Virgin, chosen from among all other beings … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 9 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – Saturday of the First Week of Advent Within the Octave of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God – Proverbs 8:22-35, Luke 1:26-28 – 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 (Sermon 1 for the Nativity of the Mother of God ; PG 97, 812).

PRAYER – O God, Who by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin, prepared a worthy dwelling for Thy Son, and Who, by Thy Son’s death, foreseen by You, preserved her from all taint, grant, we beseech Thee through her intercession that we too may come to Thee unstained by sin. 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).

Posted in DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, DOCTORS of the Church, DOGMA, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, Hail MARY!, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, ONE Minute REFLECTION, The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, The INCARNATION, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 8 December – Blessed art thou among women … St John Damascene

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One Minute Reflection – 8 December – “The Month of the Divine Infancy and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary” – The Feast of the Immaculate Conception – Proverbs 8:22-35, Luke 1:26-28 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women” – Luke 1:28

REFLECTION – “Today the Creator of all things, the Word Who is God, has composed a new work sprung from the Father’s heart, to be written, as by a pen by the Spirit, Who is God’s tongue. … Most holy daughter of Joachim and Anne! you who have evaded the attention of the Principalities and Powers and the “flaming arrows of the Evil One” (Col 1:16; Eph 6:16), you dwelt within the bridal chamber of the Spirit and were preserved undefiled, so that you might become the bride of God and God’s Mother by nature. … God’s beloved daughter, the credit of your parents, generation after generation calls you Blessed, as you yourself so truthfully affirmed (Lk 1:48). Worthy daughter of God, our human nature’s beauty, restoration of Eve our first mother! For with your birth, she who fell was raised. … For if, through the first Eve, “death entered the world” (Wis 2:24; Rom 5:12) because she put herself at the service of the serpent, yet Mary, who made herself servant of the Divine Will, deceived the deceiving serpent and brought immortality into the world.

You are more to be valued than the entire creation, for from you alone the Creator received a share in the first-fruits of our humanity. His Flesh was made of your flesh, His Blood of your blood; God was nourished by your milk and your lips kissed the lips of God. … In His foreknowledge of your dignity, the God of all the world, has loved you and, in accordance with His love for you, He predestined you and called you into being “in the final time” (1 Pt 1:20; Heb 1:2) … So let wise Solomon shut his mouth and say no more: “Nothing is new under the sun” (Eccl 1:9).” – St John Damascene (675-749) Father and Doctor of the Church (Homily for the Nativity of the Virgin, 7, 10 – “See, I make all things new” (Apoc 21:5).

PRAYER – O God, Who by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin, prepared a worthy dwelling for Thy Son, and Who, by Thy Son’s death, foreseen by Thee, preserved her from all taint, grant, we beseech Thee, through her intercession that we too, may come to Thee, unstained by sin. T 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 DECEMBER - The DIVINE INFANCY and The IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Prayers and Novena, MARIAN HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, QUOTES on PURITY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The LITTLE OFFICE of MARY, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 16 October – Praeclara Custos Virginum! Blest Guardian of All Virgin Souls!

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Our Morning Offering – 16 October – “The Month of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Angels” – Feast of the Purity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Praeclara Custos Virginum!
Blest Guardian of All Virgin Souls!
By Anonymous Latin, 18th Century
Trans. Fr Edward Caswall C.Orat. (1814–1878)

Blest Guardian of all virgin souls!
Portal of bliss to man forgiven!
Pure Mother of Almighty God!
Thou hope of earth and joy of Heaven!

Fair Lily, found amid the thorns!
Most beauteous Dove with wings of gold!
Rod from whose tender root there sprang
That healing Flow’r long since foretold!

Thou Tow’r, against the dragon proof!
Thou Star, to storm-toss’d voyagers dear!
Our course lies o’er a treacherous deep;
Thine be the light by which we steer.

Scatter the mists that round us hang;
Keep far the fatal shoals away
And while through darkling waves we sweep,
Open a path to life and day.

O Jesu, born of Virgin bright!
Immortal glory be to Thee!
Praise to the Father infinite
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Amen

This Hymn originated as the Hymn for Vespers in the Office of the Purity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is used for Matins on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Tune: “From High Heaven” Leipzig melody, 1539.

Posted in ADVENT, CHRISTMASTIDE!, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN HYMNS, MARIAN QUOTES, MOTHER of GOD, QUOTES on DOUBT, Quotes on SALVATION, The ANNUNCIATION, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

Quote/s of the Day – 11 October – Feast of the Divine Maternity

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Quote/s of the Day – 11 October – Feast of the Divine Maternity

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

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

The God Whom Earth and Sea and Sky
For Mary, The Mother of God
For the Annunciation, Advent and Christmas
By St Venantius Fortunatus (c 530 – c 609)

The God whom earth and sea and sky
Adore and praise and magnify,
Whose might they claim, whose love they tell,
In Mary’s body comes to dwell.

O Mother blest! the chosen shrine
Wherein the Architect Divine,
Whose Hand contains the earth and sky,
Has come in human form to lie.

Blest in the message Gabriel brought,
Blest in the work the Spirit wrought,
Most blest, to bring to human birth
The long desired of all the earth.

O Lord, the Virgin-born, to You
Eternal praise and laud are due,
Whom with the Father we adore
And Spirit blest for evermore.

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

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

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

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

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

(Sermon 2 for the Nativity of Mary)

Posted in ArchAngels and Angels, MARIAN HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 10 September – The Angels’ Birthday Song to Mary

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

The Angels’ Birthday Song to Mary
Unknown Author

“Thy nativity, O Virgin Mother of God,
gives joy to the whole world, because from thee
shall rise, the Sun of Justice, Christ our Lord. ”

Hail to the Flower of grace divine!
Heiress, hail of David’s line!
Hail Redemption’s heroine!
Hail to the Virgin pre-elect!
Hail to the work without defect
Of the supernal Architect!

Hail to her ordained of old
Deep in enmities untold,
Ere the blue waves of ocean rolled,
Ere the primordial founts had sprung,
Ere in ether the globe was hung,
Ere the morning stars had sung!

Welcome the beatific morn
When the mother of life was born,
Whom all lovely gifts adorn!
What a thrill of ecstatic mirth
Danced along through heaven and earth.
At the tidings of Mary’s birth!

How was hell to its centre stirred!
How sang Hades when it heard
Of her coming, so long deferred!
Happy, happy, the Angel band
Chosen by Mary’s side to stand
As her defence on either hand!

Safe beneath their viewless wings
Mother-elect of the King of kings,
Fear no harm from hurtful things!
What though Eden vanished be,
More than Eden we find in thee!
Thou our joy and jubilee!

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, MARIAN TITLES, SAINT of the DAY, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Solemnity of the Nativity of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Beata Vergine Maria della Vita / Our Lady of Life (1289), St Nicholas of Tolentino and the rest of the Saints for 10 September

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Solemnity of the Nativity of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary

The 15th Sunday after Pentecost

Beata Vergine Maria della Vita / Our Lady of Life (1289) 10 September:
Patronage – hospitals in the Diocese of Bologna, Italy.
HERE:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/10/beata-vergine-maria-della-vita-our-lady-of-life-1289-and-memorials-of-the-saints-10-september/

St Nicholas of Tolentino OSA (1245-1305) Confessor, known as the Patron of Holy Souls, Priest, Augustinian Friar Monk, Mystic.
Biography:
https://anastpaul.com/2017/09/10/saint-of-the-day-10-september-st-nicholas-of-tolentino-patron-of-holy-

St Agapius of Novara
St Alexius Sanbashi Saburo

St Ambrose Edward Barlow OSB (1585-1641) Priest, Martyr.
His Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2019/09/10/saint-of-the-day-10-september-saint-ambrose-edward-barlow-osb-1585-1641-martyr/

St Autbert of Avranches
St Barypsabas
St Candida the Younger
St Clement of Sardis
St Finnian of Moville
St Frithestan
Bl Jacques Gagnot

Blessed Oglerio O.Cist (c 1136-1214) Cistercian Monk, Abbot, Mediator and peace-maker, Reformer, Penitent, Writer.
His Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/09/10/saint-of-the-day-blessed-oglerio-o-cist-c-1136-1214/

St Peter Martinez (Died c1000) Archbishop

St Pulcheria (399-453) Virgin Empress of the Eastern Roman Empire in Constantinople, Widow, (remaining chaste during her marriage), Defender of the Faith against heresy, Apostle of the poor.
Her Story:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/09/10/saint-of-the-day-10-september-saint-pulcheria-399-453/

St Salvius of Albi
St Sosthenes of Chalcedon
St Theodard of Maastricht
St Victor of Chalcedon

Martyrs of Bithynia – 3 Sister Saints: Three young Christian sisters Martyred in the persecutions of Emperor Maximian and governor Fronto: Menodora, Metrodora, Nymphodora. They were Martyred in 306 in Bithynia, Asia Minor (in modern Turkey).

Martyrs of Japan – 205 Beati: A unified feast to memorialise 205 Missionaries and native Japanese known to have been murdered for their Faith between 1617 and 1637.

Martyrs of Sigum – 8 Saints: A group of Nicomedian Martyrs, condemned for their faith to be worked to death in the marble quarries of Sigum. There were Priests, Bishops and Laity in the group but only a few names have come down to us: Dativus, Felix, Jader, Litteus, Lucius, Nemesian, Polyanus, Victor. They were worked to death c 257 in Sigum.

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN QUOTES, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, QUOTES on ETERNAL LIFE, QUOTES on FAITH, QUOTES on HEAVEN, The HOLY NAME of MARY, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 9 September – ‘ … Call on her with complete faith … ‘

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One Minute Reflection – 9 September –The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Proverbs 8:22-35, Matthew 1:1-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“And Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary and of her was born Jesus , Who is called Christ.” – Matthew 1:16

REFLECTION – “She was called Mary, that is, star of the sea, in the foreseeing purpose of God, that she might declare by her name, that which she manifests more clearly in reality. …

Robed in beauty, robed equally in strength, she has girded herself, ready to curb, with a single gesture, the extraordinary tumults of the sea (Ps 92:1,4). For those who sail upon the sea, of the present age and call on her with complete faith, she rescues from the breath of the storm and the raging of the winds and brings them, rejoicing with her, to the shore of their happy country. One cannot tell, beloved, how often some would have struck hard rocks, about to suffer shipwreck, some fall on foul sandbanks, to return no more … did not the star of the sea, Mary Ever Virgin, stand in the way with her mighty aid and, when now the rudder was broken, the deck shattered and they were without human aid, bring them, by her heavenly leading, to the haven of inner peace. Therefore, rejoicing in new triumphs in the new rescue of the boat, in the new additions of peoples, she manifests her joy in the Lord …

Indeed, glowing and and conspicuous, with this twofold love, on the one hand, she is most ardently fixed on God, to whom she clings and she is one spirit with Him (cf. 1 Cor 6:17); on the other, she gently comforts and attracts the hearts of the elect and shares with them, excellent gifts coming from the generosity of her Son.” …  St Amadeus of Lausanne O.Cist (1110-1159) Bishop – Homily VIII in praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary

PRAYER – Bestow upon Thy servants, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the gift of heavenly grace that, as the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin stood for the beginning of our salvation, so may the solemn Feast of her Nativity, bring about an increase of peace. 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).

Posted in AUGUSTINIANS OSA, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN QUOTES, MOTHER of GOD, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Quote/s of the Day – 8 September – The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

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Quote/s of the Day – 8 September – Feast of theNativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“She is the flower of the field
from whom bloomed
the precious Lily of the Valley.”

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

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

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

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

(Sermon 2 for the Nativity of Mary)

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

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

Posted in CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MARIAN REFLECTIONS, MOTHER of GOD, ONE Minute REFLECTION, QUOTES on GRACE, The NATIVITY of the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 8 September – ‘ … The Nativity of the whole world’s joy! …’

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One Minute Reflection – 8 September – Feast of theNativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Proverbs 8:22-35, Matthew 1:1-16; 18-23 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son … ” – Matthew 1:23

REFLECTION – “Come, you nations; come, all peoples of every race and language, every age and rank. Joyfully let us celebrate the nativity of the whole world’s joy! If even the pagans honour the birthday of their king … what ought not we to do to honour that of the Mother of God, through whom all humanity has been transformed and the pain of Eve, our first mother, has been turned to joy? For Eve heard God’s sentence: “You will bring forth children in pain” (Gn 3:16) but Mary: “Rejoice, most highly favoured … the Lord is with you” (Lk 1:28). …

Let all creation celebrate and sing the holy childbirth of a holy woman, for she has brought a lasting treasure into the world. … Through her, the creative Word of God has been united to the whole creation and we celebrate the ending of human barrenness, the ending of the sickness that kept us from possessing all our good. … Nature has given way to grace … As the Virgin Mother of God had to be born of barren Anna, so nature remained without fruit until grace had produced its own. It was to open the womb of its mother, she who would give birth to “The Firstborn of all creation” in whom “all things hold together” (Col 1:15,17).

O blessed couple, Joachim and Anna! All creation owes you thanks; through you it has offered the Creator the best of all His gifts: a Mother worthy of veneration, the only Mother worthy of the One who created her!”- St John Damascene (675-749) Monk, Theologian, Father and Doctor of the Church – Homily on the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, 1-2 (cf SC 80, p. 48)

PRAYER – Lord God, the day of our salvation dawned when the Blessed Virgin gave birth to Your Son. As we celebrate her nativity, grant us Your grace and Your peace. Through Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).