Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Guadalupe, in the Aztec Indian tongue, means "She shall crush thy head," but has been extended to the church containing the picture and to the town that grew up around it. Guadalupe is three miles northeast of Mexico City, Mexico. Pilgrimages have been made to this shrine almost uninterruptedly since 1531.

The picture which has aroused all this devotion is a representation of the Immaculate Conception, with the sun, moon, and stars, accompaniments of the text in the Apocalypse. Mary, clothed in a blue robe dotted with stars, stands on the crescent moon. Underneath the crescent is a supporting angel. The rays of the sun shoot out on all sides from behind the central figure.

According to tradition the Blessed Virgin appeared to a fifty-five-year-old neophyte named Juan Diego, who was hurrying to hear Mass in Mexico City, on Saturday, December 9, 1531. She sent him to Bishop Zumarraga to ask that a temple be built on the spot where she stood. She was at the same place that evening and Sunday evening to get the bishop's answer. After cross-questioning Juan, the bishop ordered him to ask for a sign from the lady who had said she was the Mother of God. Juan was occupied all Monday with Bernardino, an uncle, who seemed dying of fever. On Tuesday, December 12th, the grieved nephew had to run for a priest and, to avoid the apparition, slipped around where the chapel now stands. But the Blessed Virgin crossed down to meet him and said, "What road is this thou takes, son?" A tender dialogue ensued. Reassuring Juan about  his uncle-whom at that instant she cured and in an apparition to him also called herself Holy Mary of Guadalupe-she bade him go again to the bishop. Without hesitating he joyously asked for a sign. She told him to go up to the rocks and gather roses. He knew it was neither the time nor the place for roses, but he obeyed. Gathering the roses into the long cloak worn by Mexican Indians, he returned to the Blessed Mother, who rearranged them and warned him to keep them untouched and unseen till he reached the bishop. When he arrived at the bishop's home, Juan unfolded his cloak and the roses fell out. Startled to see the bishop and his attendants kneeling before him, he looked at the cloak and saw glowing there the life-sized figure of the Virgin Mother, just as he had described her. The picture was venerated in the bishop's chapel and soon after carried in procession to the first shrine.

The coarsely woven material which bears the picture is as thin and open as poor sacking. It is made of vegetable fiber and consists of two strips, about seventy inches long by eighteen wide, held together by weak stitching. The chief colors imprinted on this material are deep gold in the rays and stars, blue-green in the mantle, and the rose in the flowered tunic.

In 1709 a rich shrine was erected; in 1904 it was made a basilica. Nineteen Popes favored the shrine and its tradition. Pope Pius X decreed that Our Lady of Guadalupe should be the national patron, and made December 12th a holy day of obligation (no longer so) and ordered a special Mass and Office.

When Our Lady imprinted her image on the cloak of Juan Diego, there was no United States. From the Gulf to the St. Lawrence was one continent, and that continent had been dedicated to Our Lady by the Spaniards. The United States was dedicated to the Immaculate Conception by the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1846. The Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is the image of the Immaculate Conception. She is The Woman of the Apocalypse, clothed with the Sun, standing on the Moon, and, though without the crown of stars, wears them on her mantle. Significantly, the Child Jesus does not appear. The apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe is Mary's only recorded appearance in North America. Pope Pius XII said, "We are certain that so long as you (Our Lady of Guadalupe) are recognized as Queen and Mother, America and Mexico are saved."

Be reason of the fact that we live and work for God in one section of the earth, joined together by common interests and common needs, the people of the Americas are bound to love one another with a special charity. The force of charity by which the peoples of the Western Hemisphere must be bound together is one of those graces which the Mother of God can and will procure for her children in Christ. As the patroness of Pan-American unity, Our Lady of Guadalupe influences her children to turn toward one another in common affection for her and for Our Lord.  

PRAYER

Mary, Mother of God, in honoring you as Our Lady of Guadalupe, we honor you as the Immaculate Conception. The picture you imprinted on the cloak of the Indian at Guadalupe was the image of the Immaculate Conception. You appeared as the Woman of the Apocalypse, clothed with the sun, standing on the moon.

I believe the doctrine of the Church concerning your Immaculate Conception, which teaches that at the first moment of your conception you were, by the singular grace and privilege of the omnipotent God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved from all stains of original sin. The foundation of this doctrine is to be found in Sacred Scripture where we are taught that God, the Creator of all things, after the sad  fall of Adam, addressed the serpent in words which the Church applies to you: "I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed; she shall crush thy head" (Gen. 3:15). If at any time you had been without Divine grace, even for the shortest moment, there would not have come between you and the serpent that everlasting enmity spoken of by God.

Since the angel saluted you "full of grace" and "blessed . . . among women" (Luke 1:28), you were the abode of all divine graces, adorned both the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, so that you were never subjected to the evil spirit.

This doctrine was received in the early Church and handed down by the Fathers who praised you with extraordinary titles and most important writings.

Mary, My Mother, may the example of your sinlessness urge us to that innocence and purity of life which flees from and abhors even the slightest stain of sin. Forming with your Divine Son one spiritual body, we experience the rage of Satan until the end of time. But we, too, by our union with Jesus, and by the power of His grace, will also be united with Him in His victory over the devil. As the seed of the serpent includes all those descendants of the first man and woman who by their sinful lives bear within them the traits of the devil, so, too, the seed of the woman includes all who in the course of ages will take their stand with your Son, Jesus Christ, in His ceaseless conflict with the enemy of God.

Mary, Mother of God, your apparition at Guadalupe teaches me that devotion to you is a source of great graces. The Church has always taught that God has entrusted to your hands all heavenly treasures, and many of the saints assure me that you give to your clients as much of these treasures as you wish and when you wish to do so.

How consoling it is to know that you have these heavenly blessings at your disposal! I have but to ask for them for the salvation of my soul. There is nothing you want more than to give them to me, because you are even more anxious to save my soul than I am, for you know better than anyone else the price your Son has paid for it and the precious worth of each grace He so graciously offers to me through you.

Devotion to you brings with it sweetness and consolation for the soul. As a child runs to its mother in every need, and finds comfort in her glance and kind word, I can turn to you for help when I need it, for you are truly my Mother, whose heart is overflowing with kindness and mercy.

Mary, My Mother, the Church puts these words of the Canticles on you lips: "I love those who love me." I want to love you with all my heart that I may in some way merit that you love me in return. I already know of your great love for me for the sake of your Son Who entrusted the care of my soul to you. But I want to beloved by you even more; hence give me an ever growing love for you. This love for you was the source of great joy in the hearts of the saints. May I have more of their love for you that I may experience more of their joy in being devoted to you. Take my cold heart; put it into your own and inflame it with a fire of love like your own.

Mary, Mother of God, because the United States was dedicated to your Immaculate Conception, be pleased to take our country under your special protection and grant that, guided by justice and nurtured by charity, it may serve God faithfully and be blessed with peace and prosperity. Continue to work wonders on our shores for our spiritual and material prosperity and keep us in peace and charity. Intercede for us that we may win the victory over evil and that we may live and reign with Jesus, your Son. Our Lady of Guadalupe, who we acclaim our Queen and Mother, lead our country to God.

Mary, My Mother, your apparition at Guadalupe as the Immaulate Conception is your only recorded appearnnce in North America. Bless the people of the Americas, to which uncounted thousands have come to seek refuge and livelihood. Preserve their faith, assailed at every hour by the forces opposed to Christ. Petition God that their hope may never fail amid the troubles and the cares of this life. We beg you for a burning charity for God to imitate the works of Christ. We ask you to procure for us, by your prayers, the great grace of final perseverance so that those who are joined to honor you in the kingdom of your Son on earth may be together always in heaven.  

INDULGENCED PRAYER

Our Lady of Guadalupe, mystical rose, make intercession for holy Church, protect the Sovereign Pontiff, help all those who invoke you in their necessities, and since you are the ever Virgin Mary and Mother of the true God, obtain for us from your most holy Son the grace of keeping our faith, sweet hope in the midst of the bitterness of life, burning charity and the precious gift of final perseverance.  Amen.

Sign of Salvation with Jesus the Light, Clothed with the Sun thou art radiant bright! Promised of old as the serpent's defeat, Queenly adorned with the moon 'neath thy feet!

Garden of Eden, where sin has no part,Life-giving Tree, bearing Christ in our heart.Ark, where the Manna was hidden away,Holy of Holies, Immaculate Way!

City of God, with the Lamb as thy Light, Dawn of Eternal Day knowing no night! Bride of the Spirit and Form of our God, Heavenly Path which the Blessed have trod!

O God, Who bestowed upon us unceasing favors by having place us under the special protection of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, grant us, Your humble servants, who rejoice in honoring her today upon earth, the happiness of seeing her face to face in heaven. Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Our Lady in Catholic Life, MacMillian Co., 

 by Fr. Lawrence Lovesik, 1957

Photos - Diocese of Phoenix Facebook

Mary in Two Minutes

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Be Brave Be Safe Stay Well

It was a rainy morning in Vatican Square in 2014. 

I glanced to my right to find a young Italian woman in the chair next to me. It was an irresistible photo shot which I shared with her after Holy Mass. I pray she is well. 

Be Brave, Be Safe & Stay Well! 

Sunday's - Teeney Tiny Treat

Click on the BIRD

Hurled Like a Leaf

 
Suddenly, a terrific explosion filled the air with one bursting thunderstroke. An invisible force lifted me from the chair, hurled me through the air, shook me, battered me, whirled me 'round and 'round like a leaf in a gust of autumn wind.  (Father Hubert Schiffer)

Sorrowful Mother Headstone, 
Rapperswil Catholic Cemetery

I put my trust forever,

O Mary, pure, in thee.

Then show thyself a mother,

And daily succour me.

And when death's hand shall touch me,

Thy pity I implore;

Oh, lead me, dearest Mother,

To God―for evermore!

Payers of an Irish Mother

Brian O'Higgins

38 Up. O'Connell Street, Dublin, 1934

                   ⬆︎  ⬆︎

Our Sorrowful Mother's Image was taken at this headstone, Rapperswil, Switzerland, 2015

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Who Made Us?

Enlarge this Great Old Photo Here!

Who Made Us?

There is no doubt about this, for the ninety-ninth Psalm of holy David says, "He made us and not we ourselves." Some people do, indeed deny the existence of God; but to do this is to act against reason, for they thereby make their own existence a greater mystery than that which they deny.

The Catechism Simply Explained,
B. Herder Book Company, 1899

Mary Visits Zeitoun

THE COPTIC CHURCH IN EGYPT celebrates thirty-two feast days in honor of the Virgin mary.  The last one of these falls on April 2 and the commemorates Mary under her title of Our Lady of Light. The great majority of Egypt's population is Muslim.  The Copts are a Christian sect whose members did not convert when that country was invaded in the eighth century.  They make up about 10 percent of Egypt's population.  The Copts have a great reverence for the Holy Family since it was to Egypt that Joseph and Mary took the Infant Jesus to hide from Herod.  One place where the family rested was Zeitoun near Cairo.

When Mary appeared over the Coptic Church of Saint Mark on April 2, 1968, she was seen by a diverse religious crowd.  Islamic tradition also has great reverence for Mary.  A hadith of the Prophet Muhammad states, "Every child is touched by the devil as soon as he is born and this contact makes him cry.  Excepted are Mary and her Son."  Like Catholics, the Muslims believe that Mary was a virgin when she conceived Jesus and that she was spiritually superior to all other humans.  She is one of eight people who have their own chapter in the Koran.  When Mary appeared in Egypt she was welcomed by Coptic Christians, the Protestant Church, the pope's envoy, and the Muslim population.

On April 2, 1968, at 8:30 at night, the mechanics of bus drivers who worked out of the Public Trasport Authority heard a disturbance in the street.  A young woman dressed in white was on the dome of the Church of Saint Mark across from the garage.  Frightened that she was about to kill herself, the Muslim mechanic implored her to be careful, while his compatriot ran to alert the priests.  Since it was impossible to walk on the curved dome of the church, the onlookers gathering in the street were astounded to see the woman move onto the dome, bowing and kneeling in front of a cross.  It was then that someone yelled out, "It is our Holy Mother Mary!"  went up from the crowd.  As the night sky darkened, the figure of Mary on the roof glowed luminously.

This was the start of a series of hundreds of apparitions that was to last three years.  In all of them Mary remained silent but brought a sense of peace and harmony to the hundreds of thousand in the crowds who would gather to be with her.  Not everyone in the crowd saw her, some saw only light.  Others, Muslims as well as Christians viewed her with great clarity.

  

The apparitions become so well-know that they were even broadcast on Egyptian television to an audience of one million people.  The Marxist president of Egypt, Abdul Nasser, was among the many political dignitaries who would stand in the street, waiting for Mary.  The Egyptian government went so far as to tear down buildings around the church to make room for the ever-expanding crowds.

This silent apparition never appeared at the same time and would come two to three times a week.  It was instantly declared a miracle by the Coptic Church when the first man who saw Mary, the mechanic from the garage, went the next day to have a gangrenous finger amputated.  Doctors unwrapping his bandages were shocked to find his finger totally healed.  Many nights the Virgin would bow to the crowd and bless it;  sometimes she appeared with a baby in her arms;  many times she waved an olive branch of peace;  other times a luminous mist spread everywhere, giving off the scent of incense.
  

A priest at the church has written, "I have seen the Virgin myself reflected against the surface of the moon whose disk got bigger as the moon got nearer to the church.  The Virgin made her apparition carrying a babe in her arms."  Another witness who watched from his brother's apartment said, "I saw her twice.  She was ver tall, and she did not stand on the ground.  She shone more than the moon, all completely white, sometimes with her arms together and sometimes with her arms outstretched.  Every night there were doves, and doves, you know, do not fly at night."  A woman remembering the time of the apparitions said, "There were Muslims and Christians, and everyone was as one, one religion together."

Scientific studies were launched within a fifteen-mile radius of the church.  It was thought that the apparition was being projected from somewhere, but no evidence of such an elaborate hoax was ever found.  Pope Pius VI's envoy, who witnessed several of the apparitions in the first month, recommended these visions as legitimate visits by Mary.  With the exception of the Omaha World Herald the visions the West was silent regarding the visions.

Several reasons were suggested for why Mary chose this time and place to appear.  One was the disatrous defeat Egypt suffered in the 1967 Six Day War with Israel.  Because of it, the Coptic holy sites in Jerusalem were off-limits to Egyptians.  Not only was Mary soothing the people in their defeat, she was visiting them with they could not go to the holy land to visit her.

 

Another reason was the Zeitoun had sheltered the Holy Family during their flight from Herod, and Mary was revisiting a place that had protected her. The apparitions ended in 1971, when the Egyptian government started to charge admission to stand in the street.  There are many black-and-white photographs of these sighting, but original witnesses insist they serve as poor documentation of the luminous visions they remember.

Credits:  The article was gratefully borrowed from Visions of Mary by Barbara Calamari & Sandra Dipasqua

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Feast of the Most Holy Rosary

Our Lady and St. Bernadette, Lourdes

Above the grotto of Massabielle, in a rustic niche formed by the rocks, and standing upright in the midst of a supernatural light, was a Woman of incomparable splendor. Of medium stature, and of a beauty to which no earthly beauty approaches, she was vested in a long and trailing white robe: the naked feet rested in the rock and lightly pressed a branch of wild rose; upon each of the feet appeared a mystical rose of golden color. A blue girdle encircled the waist, fastened by a half-knot with long ends. A white veil fastened round her head descended to the foot of the robe behind. She wore neither rings, necklace, crown, or jewels, but between her hands, piously joined, hung a chaplet of milk-white beads and golden chains. The beads slid through the fingers of the Virgin, but her lips did not move; in place of reciting the Rosary, she doubtless listened to the everlasting echo of the Angelic Salutation that rose up from all parts of the earth.

The Virgin Mother According to Theology, Fr. J. Petitalot, 1889

Pray Your Rosary Every Day

Happy Birthday Mother Mary

Compliments of Catholic Cuisine

Each year, on the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, our family makes a cake to celebrate. Last year we made a Blueberry Cheesecake and this year we opted for a Lemon Blueberry Cake.   Although the type of cake varies from year to year, I usually make sure the cake itself is white, symbolizing Mary's purity, and then we add blueberries to symbolize her blue mantle.

We top the cake with a small statue of Mary and surrounded it with a circle of 10 candles, representing one decade of the rosary.  The children then take turns lighting the candles as the whole family prays a "Hail Mary" for each candle.  Afterwards we sing Happy Birthday and let the children blow out the candles!!!  My children look forward to this tradition every year!

Lemon Blueberry Cake

adapted from the Food Network

Ingredients:

• 2 (8-inch) round white cakes (I made mine using a boxed white cake mix)
• 1/3 cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
• 2 teaspoons lemon extract, divided
• 2 (12-ounce) cans cream cheese frosting
• Fresh blueberries (I used frozen since I had some in the freezer.)
• Fresh mint sprigs and Lemon slices, quartered (optional)

Directions:

Use a knife to slice cake layers in half horizontally. Use a pastry brush to brush each layer with lemonade concentrate; set aside.

Stir 1 teaspoon of lemon extract into each can of frosting; set aside.

To assemble cake: frost and stack the cake layers on top of each other.

Decorate the cake with blueberries.  You can then add the optional clusters of mint sprigs and quartered lemon slices for further decoration if you'd like.

Happy Birthday Dear Blessed Mother!

Today is The Queenship of Mary

O Queen of Heaven, rejoice, Alleluia.

For He Whom thou didst merit to bear, Alleluia.

Is risen, as He said. Alleluia.

Pray for us to God. Alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary. Alleluia.

R. Because the Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia.



Let Us Pray

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

Evening Prayers

Look Closely to see the trees sway in this real time event.

EVENING PRAYER

Manual for The Children of Mary

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

  

ACT OF ADORATION

O MY GOD, I adore thee with all the submission which the presence of thy Sovereign Majesty inspires; I believe in thee because thou art truth itself; I hope in thee because thou art infinitely good; I love thee with my whole heart because thou art sovereignly amiable; and I love my neighbour as myself, for the love of thee.

ACT OF THANKSGIVING

HOW shall I thank thee, O my God, for all the favours which thou hast bestowed upon me? Thou hast drawn me out of nothing; thou hast given thy life to save me; and every day thou bestows new favours upon me. Alas! Lord, what return can I make thee for so much goodness.
  
O ALL ye blessed Spirits, unite with me in praising God, for all the favours which He is continually bestowing upon the most unworthy and ungrateful of His creatures.

PRAYER TO ASK THE LIGHT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

O ETERNAL Source of Light, Holy Spirit, enlighten me, that I may discover the enormity and the malice of sin; grant me grace, O my God, to conceive so great a horror of it, that I may hate it as thou hatest it, and carefully avoid it for the future.

Here let us examine what sins we have committed against God, our neighbour, and ourselves.

ACT OF CONTRITION

BEHOLD me, O Lord, all covered with confusion, and penetrated with sorrow at the sight of my faults. I am heartily sorry for them, because they have offended a God so good, so amiable, and so worthy of being loved.

Is this, O my God, all the return I have made to thee for the love that made thee shed, for me, the last drop of thy most precious blood?

Yes, Lord! I have carried my malice and ingratitude too far; I humbly implore thy pardon; and I beg thee, O my God, by that goodness which has been so often shown to me, to grant me the grace of sincere repentance.

PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT.

O THAT I had never offended thee, my God! But since I have been so unfortunate as to displease thee, I will endeavour to testify my contrition by a conduct quite opposite to that which I have hitherto pursued.

I now renounce sin, and all the occasions of sin, and particularly that into which I most frequently fall; and, if thou wilt deign to grant me thy grace, I will endeavour to fulfill faithfully all my duties, and to promote as much as possible thy honor and glory.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name: thy kingdom come: thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.  Amen. 

THE HAIL MARY

HAIL MARY, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

THE APOSTLES' CREED

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell, the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of Saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

THE CONFITEOR.

I CONFESS to Almighty God, to blessed Mary, ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the Saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.  Therefore I beseech the blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me.

May Almighty God have mercy on us, and forgive us our sins, and bring us to life everlasting. Amen.

May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution and remission of our sins. Amen.

I beg thy blessing, O my God, on the repose that I am going to take, so that strengthened by it, I may serve thee better for the future.

PRAYER FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE SAINTS

HOLY MARY, Mother of God, and after Him my only hope; my good Angel, and holy Patron, intercede for me; protect me this night and during the rest of my life, but more particularly at the hour of my death.

PRAYER FOR THE LIVING AND THE DEAD

BLESS, O Lord, my parents, benefactors, friends, and enemies; protect my spiritual and temporal superiors; succor the poor, the afflicted, the sick, the agonizing, prisoners, and travellers; convert all heretics, and enlighten all infidels.
  

O God of goodness and mercy, have compassion on the souls of the faithful departed; terminate their sufferings, and grant repose and light to those in particular for whom I ought to pray.

ON LYING DOWN TO REST

IN THE NAME of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified, I lay myself down to rest; bless me, O Lord, defend and govern me this night and for ever; and, after this short and miserable pilgrimage, bring me to everlasting happiness with thee.  Amen.

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Our Lady's Litany

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. 
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, Pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, Pray for us.
Mother of Christ, Pray for us.
Mother of divine grace, Pray for us.
Mother most pure, Pray for us.
Mother most chaste, Pray for us.
Mother inviolate, Pray for us.
Mother undefiled, Pray for us.
Mother most amiable, Pray for us.
Mother most admirable, Pray for us.
Mother of good counsel, Pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, Pray for us.
Mother of our Saviour, Pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, Pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, Pray for us.
Virgin most renowned, Pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, Pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, Pray for us.
Virgin most faithful, Pray for us.
Mirror of justice, Pray for us
Seat of wisdom, Pray for us.
Cause of our joy, Pray for us.
Spiritual vessel, Pray for us.
Vessel of honor, Pray for us.
Vessel of singular devotion, Pray for us.
Mystical rose, Pray for us.
Tower of David, Pray for us.
Tower of ivory, Pray for us.
House of gold, Pray for us.
Ark of the covenant, Pray for us.
Gate of heaven, Pray for us.
Morning star, Pray for us.
Health of the weak, Pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, Pray for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, Pray for us.
Help of Christians, Pray for us.
Queen of angels, Pray for us.
Queen of patriarchs, Pray for us.
Queen of prophets, Pray for us.
Queen of apostles, Pray for us.
Queen of martyrs, Pray for us.
Queen of confessors, Pray for us.
Queen of virgins, Pray for us.
Queen of all saints, Pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin, Pray for us.
Queen of the most holy Rosary, Pray for us.
Queen of peace, Pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.     
     V.  Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
     R.  That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Ind. of 300 days, each time.―Pius VII. Sept. 30, 1817.)

Ejaculations to the Blessed Virgin

Mary. 
(Ind. of 25 days, each time.―Clement XIII. Sept. 5, 1750.)

Mary, Virgin Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me. 
(Ind. of 50 days, once each day.―Leo XIII. March  29, 1894.)

Mary our hope, have pity on us. 
(Ind. of 300 days, each time.―Pius X. Jan 8, 1906.) 

My Mother, my trust. 
(Ind. of 300 days, each time.―Benedict XV. Sept. 6, 1915.)

Our Lady of the most Holy Sacrament, pray for us. 
(Ind. of 300 days, each time, before the Blessed Sacrament exposed.―Pius X.  Jan 10, 1906.)

The Man of God

Fr.  Callan & McHugh
Authors of "Blessed Be God."

P. J. Kennedy & Sons, 1928

From the Pasture

Pasture Brook - Wengen, Switzerland

O Lily of the Valley,
O Mystic Rose, what tree
Or flower, e'en the fairest,
Is half so fair as thee!
Oh let me, though so lowly,
Recite my Mother's fame;
When wicked men blaspheme thee,
I'll love and bless thy name.  

Sancta Maria, Ora pro nobis

Holy Mary, Pray for us.

27 Times

The artist Murillo painted his picture of the Immaculate Conception twenty-seven times. After each attempt, he was not satisfied. It did not praise Mary enough. On the twenty-seventh attempt, he painted the most beautiful picture of Mary ever painted. 

Today, somewhere in this world, there is a soul which loves Mary more than anyone else. Why couldn't that soul be one of us?

A blind girl was once asked what she would most like to see and she replied "Sometimes, I think that I should like to see the Mother of God."

We too hope someday to see the Mother of God in heaven. Therefore, we should listen to the words of Saint Bernard:

"If the winds of temptation arise, if you should fall on the rocks of tribulation, look toward that star―call on Mary. If anger or avarice or the allurements of the flesh have dashed against the ship of your soul look towards Mary. When endangered, when perplexed, think of Mary―call on Mary."

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo 
(born December 1617, baptized January 1, 1618 – April 3, 1682)