Monday, March 23, 2009

Rosary of the Seven Sorrows of Mary

Devotion to the Sorrows of Mary has always been a favorite devotion among Catholics.
How touching is the beautiful hymn, Stabat Mater Dolorosa, which the Church intertwines with the public recitation of the Way of the Cross. The Church spares no pain to induce her children to venerate the sufferings of their Heavenly Mother. Seven of her sorrows have been chosen for our special veneration.
Holy Church recalls to our mind only seven of Our Lady's Dolors, but who could form an estimate of their real number! The sufferings of the Mother of God cannot be comprehended; they are inconceivable. But although her whole life was, like that of her Divine Son, a continuous series of sufferings and tribulations, the greatest woes and trials came to her during the week of the bitter passion and death of Jesus, when the storm of hatred and fury burst forth with all violence against Him.
Devotion to the sorrows of Mary should be practiced especially by souls who wish to rid themselves of sinful habits. This devotion nourishes the spirit of compunction, affords great consolation, strengthens confidence in God's mercy, draws down the special protection of the Blessed Mother in the hour of temptation and preserves the converted sinner from relapsing into sin.
The Mother of God once said to her faithful servant St. Bridget: "No matter how numerous a person's sins may be, if he turns to me with a sincere purpose of amendment, I am prepared forthwith to receive him graciously, for I do not regard the number of sins he has committed, but look only upon the dispositions with which he comes to me; for I feel no aversion in healing his wounds, because I am called and am in truth the Mother of Mercy."



Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Day 3

Feast of Annunciation

Before Novena prayer for Annuciation http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/Novena/annovena.htm

we can meditate faithfully over the great mystery of the moment of Incarnation of the Word of God , the most Holy and Immaculate Conception .
In the Feast of the Annunciation, the Church commemorates two events important to all humanity. On this day, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce that she was to be the Mother of of the Redeemer and Messiah promised for centuries in prophecy. On the same day, the Incarnation took place. God the Son, the second person of the Trinity, assumed a human body and soul and became the Son of Mary and Joseph.
The Incarnation proves that Mary is the Mother of God.

She is the Mother of the Divine Redeemer of the world, the Mother of our Lord and Master, our perfect friend and guide to her Son. After His heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit, there is no-one Jesus honours so much as His Blessed Mother. She intercedes for us to Her Son, and has been blessed with the privilege of appearing to us on occasion, as at Fatima and Lourdes.
The Feast of the Annunciation is an opportunity to bow our heads and thank Our Blessed Mother for her faith and trust, and to offer our own trusting 'Fiat' to God's designs.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Day 2

Feast of Annunciation

Before Novena prayer for Annuciation http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/Novena/annovena.htm

is good to remember that through Immaculate Mary at the moment of the Annunciation, Jesus entered the world in His human nature. Through Mary, He became a member of the human race. Through Mary, Jesus was given to the world for the salvation of mankind.

Through Mary, an Immaculate Virgin, Jesus received His human form to become the perfect sacrifice and sin offering according to the Divine will of God the Father. Through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus came an end to the imperfect sacrifices and sin .
Let us pray,
[That we may become more like Christ,
who chose to become one of us.]
Almighty Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
You have revealed the beauty of your power
by exalting the lowly virgin of Nazareth
and making her the mother of our Savior.
May the prayers of this woman
bring Jesus to the waiting world
and fill the void of incompletion
with the presence of her child,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit
one God forever and ever. Amen

Monday, March 16, 2009

Novena for the Feast of Annunciation ( 25 March )

Today we start to prepare for a great feast for mankind , the holy and glorious moment when Archangel Gabriel brings the news of Joyful Mystery : Annunciation of our Lord Jesus Christ to Immaculate Mary .

It was this day on which Our Lord entered the world, and on this day, thirty-three years later, that He left it.
It must be remembered that it was on this day, not Christmas, that Christ came to the world, as a baby inside Mary's womb , that's why true catholics fight for Life , from the very moment of conception .
Our Lady uttered her Fiat -- her words "Let it be done to me according to thy word" -- and the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity condescended to take on a human nature and become man.
God became man! through Mary .
Yes, the whole heavens were moved, and we Catholics are moved yet, honoring Christ's Incarnation at each and every Mass when we kneel in gratitude during the Creed, at the words "Et homo factus est" ("And became man"). Angelus Bells at one time (and still in some places) reminded us three times a day -- morning, noon, and evening -- of St. Gabriel's announcement, Mary's fiat, and the Creator of the Sun and Moon and Stars deigning to take on a human nature .
So let us faithfully pray , may God bless you all joining in prayers .
I greet you,
Ever-blessed Virgin,
Mother of God,
Throne of Grace,
miracle of Almighty Power!
I greet you,
Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity
and Queen of the Universe,
Mother of Mercy
and refuge of sinners!
Most loving Mother, attracted by your beauty and sweetness, and by your tender compassion, I confidently turn to you, miserable as I am, and beg of you to obtain for me from your dear Son the favor I request in this novena:(mention your request).
Obtain for me also, Queen of heaven, the most lively contrition for my many sins and the grace to imitate closely those virtues which you practiced so faithfully, especially humility, purity and obedience. Above all, I beg you to be my Mother and Protectress, to receive me into the number of your devoted children, and to guide me from your high throne of glory.
Do not reject my petitions, Mother of Mercy! Have pity on me, and do not abandon me during life or at the moment of my death.
Daughter of the Eternal Father, Mother of the Eternal Son, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, Temple of the Adorable Trinity, pray for me. Immaculate and tender Heart of Mary, refuge of the needy and hope of sinners, filled with the most lively respect, love, and gratitude, I devote myself forever to your service, and I offer you my heart with all that I am and all that belongs to me.
Accept this offering, sweet Queen of Heaven and Earth, and obtain for me of your dear Son, Jesus Christ, the favors I ask through your intercession in this novena. Obtain for me also a submission to His adorable Will, the true spirit of a Christian, and the grace of final perseverance. Amen.
Memorare
Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to your protection or asked for your aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in your goodness, I come before you and humbly implore you. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen.
Consecration
Holiest Virgin, with all my heart I venerate you above all the Angels and Saints in paradise as the Daughter of the Eternal Father, and I consecrate to you my soul with all its powers. Hail Mary
Holiest Virgin, with all my heart I venerate you above all the Angels and Saints in paradise as the Mother of the only-begotten Son, and I consecrate to you my body with all its senses. Hail Mary
Holiest Virgin, with all my heart I venerate you above all the Angels and Saints in paradise as the beloved Spouse of the Holy Spirit, and I consecrate to you my heart and all its affections, praying you to obtain for me from the Most Holy Trinity all the graces I need for my salvation. Hail Mary

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Praying Lent together with Sorrowful Mother of God

Photobucket
As Mother of God, Mary was exalted to an incomparable height of holiness. Who can comprehend the lofty height of her greatness or fathom the abyss of her sanctity? St. Thomas attempted, and concluded that omnipotence itself could not invent a "greater greatness." It was necessary that her sorrows should correspond to her holiness, for the sufferings and tribulations of the Saints always keep apace with their sanctity. What then must Mary's sufferings have been in order to be proportionate to her greatness ---- the greatness of the Mother of God! Who can comprehend the immensity of her graces and merits, and consequently the enormous weight of sufferings required by such holiness, to complete her perfection, to crown her most condignly?

The sorrows of the Mother of God surpassed the power of human endurance. It is the unanimous opinion of spiritual writers that beneath the pressure of her inconceivable sufferings, the Blessed Virgin's life was miraculously preserved. From the moment of Simeon's prophecy she foresaw her sorrows in vivid reality. Without the special aid of God's omnipotence, her soul would have been separated from her body.

True, Mary was marvelously tranquil, because she was wholly submissive to the will of God; but this did not lessen her sorrows. Her nature, never disturbed by sin, possessed an extraordinary tenderness and was susceptible to suffering in an inexpressibly high degree. "Men will never comprehend the anguish of my sorrows!" she revealed to St. Bridget.

The picture of Mary bowed down with sorrow on Calvary teaches us that pain is the twin sister of love on earth.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Our Lady of Lourdes Novena ( Day 9 )

Our Lady of Lourdes
Be blessed, O most pure Virgin,
for having vouchsafed to manifest Your shining with Life,
sweetness and beauty,
in the Grotto of Lourdes,
saying to the child, St. Bernadette:
"I am the Immaculate Conception."
A thousand times we congratulate You
upon Your Immaculate Conception.
And now, O ever Immaculate Virgin,
Mother of Mercy, Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
You know our wants,
our troubles,
our sufferings;
deign to cast upon us a look of mercy.
By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes,
You were pleased to make it a privileged Sanctuary,
whence You dispense Your graces,
and already many have obtained the cure of their infirmities,
both spiritual and physical.
We come, therefore,
with the most unbounded confidence
to implore Your maternal intercession.
Obtain for us, O loving Mother,
the granting of our request...
(Make your request here...)
Through gratitude for Your favours,
we will endeavor to imitate Your virtues,
that we may on day share Your glory.
Our Lady of Lourdes,
Mother of Christ,
You had influence with Your Divine Son while upon earth.
You have the same influence now in Heaven.
Pray for us;
obtain for us from Your Divine Son
our special requests if it be the Divine Will. Amen.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Saint Bernadette, pray for us.
(Recite the appropriate daily prayer..)

Day 9

O glorious Mother of God,
to You we raise our hearts
and hands to implore Your powerful intercession
in obtaining from the benign Heart of Jesus
all the graces necessary for our spiritual
and temporal welfare,
particularly for the grace of a happy death.
O Mother of our Divine Lord,
as we conclude this novena
for the special favour we seek at this time...
(Make your request here...)
we feel animated with confidence
that Your prayers in our behalf will be graciously heard.
O Mother of My Lord,
through the love You bear to Jesus Christ
and for the glory of His Name,
hear our prayers and obtain our petitions.
O Brilliant star of Purity,
Mary Immaculate,
Our Lady of Lourdes,
glorious Assumption,
triumphant in Your Coronation,
show unto us the Mercy of the Mother of God,
Virgin Mary,
Queen and Mother,
be our comfort, hope, strength,
and consolation.Amen
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Saint Bernadette, pray for us. Amen

Eternal Father, I offer You the most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus Christ , in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, for those in my own home and in my family. Amen

WEAR THE GARMENT OF GRACE ~~ BROWN SCAPULAR ~~


O Mary, Queen and Mother of Carmel, I come today to consecrate myself to thee, for my whole life is but a small return for the many graces and blessings that have come from God to me through thy immaculate hands.

Since thou look with special kindness on those who wear thy Scapular, I implore thee to strengthen my weakness with thy power, to enlighten the darkness of my mind with thy wisdom, and to increase in me Faith, Hope and Charity that I may repay each day my debt of humble homage to thee.

May thy Holy Scapular bring me thy special protection in my daily struggle to be faithful to thy Divine Son and to thee. May it separate me from all that is sinful in life and remind me constantly of my duty to imitate thy virtues.

From now on, I shall strive to live in God's Presence, and offer all to Jesus through thee. Dearest Holy Mother, support me by thy never-failing love and lead me to paradise through the merits of Christ and thy own intercession. Amen.

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