Mary's Little Office

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Mr. Lambert


St. Peter Catholic Church, Jefferson, South Dakota


Years ago while visiting my mother-in-law at Holy Spirit nursing home in Sioux City, Iowa,  I struck up a friendship with Mr. Lambert who was also a resident there.  He was losing his memory but as bad as it became over the years that I knew him, he always greeted me in the language of his altar boy days. 

You too, can learn this beautiful greeting which my friendship with Mr. Lambert began.
Remember that some words in English are implied in Latin so there is not a word for word translation.

Greeting:
Dóminus,      vobiscum
The Lord       be with you.


Response:
Et        cum      spíritu   tuo.
And     with      your spirit.




 Where Mr. Lambert spent his altar boy days.


Mr. Lambert is buried in the cemetery shown on the left.

 Mr. Lambert, pray for us. 




550,814

Sunday, February 26, 2017

I Will Use Time



MY GIRL KATHY
 


O My Lord Jesus, I will use time. It will be too late to pray when life is over. There is no prayer in the grave - there is no meriting in Purgatory. Low as I am in Thy all Holy sight, I am strong in Thee, strong through Thy Immaculate Mother, through Thy Saints; and thus I can do much for the Church for the world, for all I love. O let not the blood of souls be on my head. O let me not walk my own way without thinking of Thee. Let me bring everything before Thee, asking Thy leave for everything I do. . . As the dial speaks of the sun, so will I be ruled by thee alone, if Thou will take me and rule me. Be it so, my Lord Jesus, I give myself wholly to Thee. Amen. 


To Our Children's Angel - A Prayer


Highland Park, Texas - 1947



To the Guardian Angels of Your Teen-agers

Holy angels, guardian of my children, you know that I cannot shield, guide, and direct my older children as when they were younger. They are entrusted to your care. I beg you with the heart of a mother, protect my children today in body and soul; keep them free from harm. Awaken their consciences when they become weak and give them the strength to do what is right. You see the face of the heavenly Father. Ask Him to lead my children along life's way to goodness, so that one day, together with you, we may sing His praise. Amen.
Women Before God
Newman Press, 1961




2,373,500

Friday, February 24, 2017

And the King Loved Her



It is of her that we must understand those words of the Book of Esther: And the King loved her more than all the women. And we must conclude that to love that Mother of fair love and to be loved by her, is happiness, fortune, hope, victory, and life.

My Mother

I put my trust forever,
O Mary, pure in thee.
Then show thyself a mother,
And daily succor me.
And when death's hand shall touch me,
Thy pity I implore;
Oh, lead me, dearest Mother,
To God―for evermore!

"The Virgin Mother"
According to Theology, 1889


Thursday, February 23, 2017

Ave Maria

St. Moritz, Switzerland
Photo by Alfred Eisensteadt, 1947

Ave Maria.

The Manual of Children of Mary - 1930 

Ave Maria! full of grace,
When shall we behold thy face?
See the Star of morning rise,
As in prayer we lift our eyes
To the mansions of the skies,
Thy home, dear Mother, the land of rest.

Ave Maria! when in death
We slowly draw the parting breath,
Be sure, dear Mother, thou art there
With gracious aid and fervent prayer.
Ora Mater, full of grace,
Then shall we behold thy face.  



I opened the window to the gentle rain and said my prayers there.

St. Moritz, Switzerland
2016






Holy Mother of Jesus


Holy Mother of Jesus


Holy Mother of Jesus, I love thee,
My heart throbs with joy at thy name;
O, had I the tongue of an angel,
Thy glory to all I'd proclaim.
Like an exile I sigh for my home
In the far away mansion above,
To dwell with bright angels and thee
Near the fountain of undying love.

O my sad soul is weary of life,
I long for that haven of rest.
There the peace I have sought will I find.
Take me, Mother, to thy gentle breast.
It is Jesus alone that can fill
The void in the wanderer's breast;
Mother, ask Him to say "Peace be still,"
And my soul's troubled ocean will rest.

No more shall my heart's tendrils twine
Round perishing idols of clay;
Ask thy dear Son to sever each tie
That keeps me from Him far away.
When the shadow of death hovers round,
Still, Mother, I call upon thee,
Nor fear the last trumpet's dread sound,
For I know thou art waiting for me. 

Chapel of the Miraculous Medal - 1930

St. Vincent's Hospital, Los Angeles, California 






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Wednesday, February 22, 2017

O Lily of The Valley


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.





Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Will Your Pet go to Heaven? Mine Did.


I had a very difficult time with the passing of Aunt Bea. She had been my doggie soul mate for 13 years. When she left I was devastated. My world seemed empty. I wrestled with the great void Aunt Bea's passing had left inside of me. I couldn't let go of her and cried daily for weeks - that is until she came back for a visit.


THE DREAM

I was in the basement near our clothes washer and low and behold Aunt Bea was sitting on top of a paper grocery sack filled with old clothes. I looked at her in amazement and said BEAAAAA! She gingerly climbed off the grocery bag and sash-shayed over to me as only she could do. She often did that little wiggle especially when meeting new people. It was her way of saying Hello.

I picked her up and held her close thinking only that I could not take my eyes off of her or my little darling would disappear. It was peculiar because my little 35 pound girl seemed to weigh nothing at all, but I could feel her shape and smell her puppy fur in my face. I ran up the steps shouting for Kathy. I remember shouting "Kathy! Aunt Bea! - Aunt Bea! I flew up the steps with my little girl in my arms and when I got to the landing Kathy was there but Aunt Bea was gone. As quickly as she came she had left.


I knew without a doubt that my little girl had come back to let me know all was well on her side of the fence. I was then able to let her go once and for all. I gave her to the Blessed Mother knowing she would be on the best of heavenly laps. 


Six Years Later:

My wife and I did get another Corgi: Charlie Marie is the girl on the left. Her friend Colton (right) came for a Valentine Day Visit.


The Inner Court

Catholic Schools, USA - 1959

A Commendation of Oneself to Our Lady

O Holy Mary, my sovereign Lady, into thy blessed trust and special custody and into the bosom of thy mercy do I this day and every day, and at the hour of my death, commit my soul and my body; to thee I commit all my hope and happiness, all my anxieties and miseries, my life and the end of my life, that through thy most holy intercession and through thy merits all my actions may be guided and governed according to thine and thy Son's will. Amen.


The Inner Court
Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd, London, 1924




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Monday, February 20, 2017

Morning Prayer




I opened my window to the gentle rain 
and said my prayers there. (Lugano - 2015)

MORNING PRAYER



On awakening offer your first thoughts and affections to God; make the Sign of the Cross, and say:

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


Bless me, O Lord; defend and govern me this day and for ever, and after this short and miserable pilgrimage, bring me to everlasting happiness with thee.

O God, my Creator and Redeemer, look graciously on thy servant, the work of thy hands; and mercifully grant that all my thoughts, words, and actions, may be directed to the praise and honor of thy name, and the salvation of my own soul. Amen.  



Place yourself in the presence of God.

Most holy and august Trinity, one God in three Persons, I believe that thou art here present; I adore thee with sentiments of the most profound humility, and render thee, with all my heart, the homage which is due to thy Sovereign Majesty.

Thank God, and offer yourself to Him.

My God, I thank thee most humbly, for all the favours thou hast bestowed upon me; it is thy goodness which has brought me to the beginning of this day, which I desire to employ only in thy service.
I consecrate to thee all my thoughts, words, actions, and sufferings; bless them, O Lord, that they may be animated by thy love, and tend only to promote thy greater glory.

Resolve to avoid sin, and to practice holiness.

Adorable Jesus, Divine Model of that perfection to which we should aspire, I will endeavour this day, after thy example, to be mild, humble, chaste, zealous, patient, charitable, and resigned; and I will strive particularly to avoid those faults to which I am most subject, and which I sincerely desire to correct.  

Beg the necessary grace.

My God, thou knows my weakness; I can do nothing without the assistance of thy holy grace; do not refuse it to me. O my God, but proportion it to my wants; give me sufficient strength to avoid what thou hast forbidden, to practice the good thou expectest of me, and to suffer patiently all the crosses thou mayest be pleased to send me.

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 Almightly, 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.

Act of Faith

MY God, I most firmly believe in thee, and in all that thou hast revealed to thy holy Catholic Church; because thou art truth itself, who neither canst deceive, nor be deceived.  Amen.

Act of Hope

MY God, I most firmly hope in thee, because of all thy promises; and I trust that thou wilt give me eternal life, and all the graces necessary to obtain it, through the merits of my Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Act of Charity

MY God, I love thee with my whole heart and above all things, because thou art the Sovereign Good, and for thy own perfections most worthy of all love; and for thy sake I love my neighbour as myself. Amen.




Ask the Prayers of the Saints.

HOLY Virgin, Mother of God, my mother and patroness, I place myself under thy protection, and I throw myself with confidence into the bosom of thy mercy.
O Mother, most amiable, be my refuge in my necessities, console me in my sufferings, and be my advocate with thy Divine Son, to-day and every day of life, but particularly at the hour of my death.

O Angel of God, who art appointed to be my guardian, enlighten and protect me, direct and govern me.

O all ye blessed Saints who stand around the eternal throne, particularly you whose names I bear, my holy patrons and protectors, defend me and pray for me; that, like you, I may serve God faithfully on earth, and, with you, glorify him eternally in heaven. Amen.

Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, 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.
Jesus, Son of the living God,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, splendor of the Father,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, brightness of eternal light,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, King of glory,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Sun of justice,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most amiable,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most admirable,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, mighty God,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Father of the world to come,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Angel of great counsel,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most powerful,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most patient,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most obedient,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, lover of chastity,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, lover of us,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, God of peace,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, author of life,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, example of virtues,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, zealous lover of souls,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, our God,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, our refuge,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Father of the poor,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, treasure of the faithful,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Good Shepherd,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, true light,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, eternal wisdom,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, infinite goodness, 
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, our way and our life,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, joy of Angels,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, King of Patriarchs,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Master of Apostles,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Teacher of Evangelists,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, strength of Martyrs,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, light of Confessors,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, purity of virgins,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, crown of all Saints,
Be merciful unto us,
Spare us, O Jesus.
Be merciful unto us,
Graciously hear us, O Jesus.
From all evil,
Jesus, deliver us.
From all sin, 
Jesus, deliver us.
From thy wrath,
Jesus, deliver us.
From the snares of the devil,
Jesus, deliver us.
From the spirit of uncleanness,
Jesus, deliver us.
From everlasting death,
Jesus, deliver us.
From the neglect of thy inspirations,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through the mystery of thy holy Incarnation,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through thy nativity,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through thine infancy,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy most Divine life,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy labours,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through thine agony and passion, 
Jesus deliver us
Through thy cross and dereliction, 
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy faintness and weariness,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through thy death and burial,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through the resurrection,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thine ascension,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy institution of the Most Holy Sacrament,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy joys,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy glory,
Jesus deliver us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us, O Jesus.
Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.


LET US PRAY

O LORD Jesus Christ, who hast said: Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; give, we beseech thee, to us who ask, the grace of thy most divine love, that with all our hearts, words, and works, we may love thee, and never cease to praise thee.
Make us, O Lord, to have a perpetual fear and love of thy Holy Name; for thou never failest to govern those whom thou dost solidly establish in thy love. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Almighty and eternal God, who hast appointed thy only-begotten Son the Saviour of mankind, and hast commanded that he should be called Jesus; mercifully grant that we may enjoy in Heaven the blessed vision of him, whose Holy Name we venerate upon earth. Who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.







The "Angelus Domini."

To be said morning, noon, and night, in memory of our Saviour's becoming man for us.
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary;
And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.
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.


Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
Be it done to me according to thy word.
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.
And the Word was made flesh,
And dwelt amongst us.
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.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,
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. 


In Paschal time the Regina Coeli is said instead of the above. 

TRIUMPH, O Queen of Heaven to see; alleluia.

The Sacred Infant born of thee; alleluia.
Return in glory from the tomb; alleluia.
And by thy prayers prevent our doom; alleluia. 
 
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary; alleluia.


R. For the Lord hath risen indeed; alleluia. 


LET US PRAY  

O GOD, who didst vouchsafe to give joy to the world through the resurrection of thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ; grant, we beseech thee, that, through his Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.  

__________

HAIL! Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy; our Life, our Sweetness, and our Hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve, to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious Advocate, thy merciful eyes towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement! O loving! O sweet Virgin Mary!

Union of Daily Prayer for the Pope

POUR down thy choicest blessings, O Lord, on our Sovereign Pontiff, and rejoice thy Church by the speedy proclamation of universal peace, that, resting in the bosom of unity, our strength against the enemy may be perfected in charity. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

Lord Jesus, shelter under the protection of thy divine Heart our Holy Father Pope Francis.

(300 days' indulgence each time; plenary once a month. Pius IX. 9th July 1859)

Back to School



There is no better way for Christian friends to greet and part company than to say , "The Lord be with you." Your friend may rejoin "and with your spirit."  

Now you can learn this friendship greeting in the beautiful language of the Church by using the simple translation below.  The Latin phrase is in blue with the translation directly beneath.  Remember that some words in English are implied in Latin so there is not a word for word translation.


Greeting:
Dóminus,      vobíscum.    
The Lord       you with.     

Response:
Et        cum      spíritu   tuo.
And     with      spirit   your.



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Sunday, February 19, 2017

Missing Our Lady at the Front Door





Sweet Mary Immaculate Mother!
When death's dreary shadows draw nigh,
Wilt thou come from thy throne in the heavens
And teach me thyself how to die?


Prayers of an Irish Mother
Brian O'Higgins, 1920


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Saturday, February 18, 2017

Best Holy Communion Prayers





BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION


Prayer for Help
O my God help me to make a good Communion. Mary, my dearest Mother, pray to Jesus for me. My dear Angel Guardian, lead me to the Altar of God.

Act of Faith
O God, because Thou hast said it, I believe that I shall receive the Sacred Body of Jesus to eat, and His precious Blood to drink. My God, I believe that with all my heart.

Act of Humility
My God, I confess that I am a poor sinner; I am not worthy to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus on account of my sins. Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest enter under my roof; say but the word, and my soul shall be healed.

Act of Sorrow
My God, I detest all the sins of my life. I am sorry for them, because they have offended Thee, my God who art so good. I resolve never to commit sin any more. My good God, pity me, have mercy on me, forgive me. Amen.

Act of Adoration
O Jesus great God, present on the Altar, I bow down before Thee, I adore Thee.


Act of Love and Desire
Sweet Jesus, I love Thee. I desire with all my heart to receive Thee. Most sweet Jesus, come into my poor soul, and give me Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to drink. Give me Thy whole self, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, that I may live forever with Thee.

O most sweet Virgin Mary, Mother of God and my Mother, lend me, I beseech thee, thy Immaculate Heart to receive my Jesus: that so I may receive Him by thee, by  whom the world received Him.

O Jesus, I offer Thee Thy sinless Mother's Heart, with its perfect dispositions at the moment of Thy Incarnation and all her communions. Come to me now by her, as I came to Thee by her. With her heart let me receive Thee.







AFTER HOLY COMMUNION



O my Queen, thou hast given me Jesus in thy heart, therefore, now, with the same true heart, entertain Him for me. Adore Him, thank Him, and implore Him for the graces thou knows me to need-in particular . . . . .

ACT OF FAITH
O Jesus, I believe that I have received Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to drink, because Thou hast said it, and Thy word is true.

ACT OF ADORATION
O Jesus, my God, my Creator, I adore Thee, because from Thy Hands I came and with Thee I am to be happy forever.

ACT OF HUMILITY
O Jesus, I am but dust and ashes, and yet Thou hast come to me, and my poor heart may speak to Thee.

ACT OF LOVE
Sweet Jesus, I love Thee; I love Thee with all my heart. Thou knows that I love Thee, and wish to love Thee daily more and more.

ACT OF THANKSGIVING
My good Jesus, I thank Thee with all my heart. How good, how kind Thou art to me, sweet Jesus. Blessed be Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

ACT OF OFFERING
O Jesus, receive my poor offering. Jesus Thou hast given Thyself to me, and let me give myself to Thee:


I give Thee my body, that it may be chaste and pure.


I give Thee my soul, that it may be free from sin.


I give Thee my heart, that it may always love Thee.


I give Thee every breath that I shall breathe. and especially my last; I give Thee myself in life and in death, that I may be Thine for ever and ever.


O Jesus, wash away my sins with Thy precious Blood.


O Jesus, the struggle against temptation is not yet finished. My Jesus, when temptation comes near me, make me strong against it. In the moment of temptation may I always say, "Jesus, mercy! Mary, help!"


O Jesus, may I lead a good life; may I die a happy death. May I receive Thee before I die. May I say when I am dying, "Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul."

Listen now for a moment to Jesus Christ; perhaps He has something to say to you. There may be some promise you have made and broken, which He wishes you to make again and keep. Answer Jesus in your heart, and tell Him all your troubles. Then pray for others.

O Jesus, have mercy on Thy Holy Church; take care of it.


O Jesus, have pity on poor sinners, and save them from hell.


O Jesus, bless my father, my mother, my brothers and sisters, and all I ought to pray for, as Thy Heart knows how to bless them.


O Jesus, have pity on the poor souls in Purgatory, and give them eternal rest.


Sweet Jesus, I am going away for a time, but trust not without Thee. Thou are with me by Thy grace. I will never leave Thee by mortal sin. I do not fear to do so, though I am so weak, because I have such hope in Thee. Give me grace to persevere. Amen.