Mary's Little Office

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

A Prayer to Our Children's Guardian Angel


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






The Church Leads Us to Heaven

Make Even Larger


HOW MANY PEOPLE SAVE THEIR SOULS?

A Study of The Gospels
Scripture Textbooks for Catholic Schools
Burns Oates & Washbourne

London, 1944

Jesus was about to go up to Jerusalem for the last time, there to die as the Saviour of the world, when a man asked Him whether the number of the saved would be small. (The Jews thought that all Israelites would be saved, provided they remained true sons of Abraham.) Jesus did not give a direct answer (for the number of the saved is one of God's secrets), but He repeated His teaching given in the Sermon on the Kingdom, namely that the gate into heaven is narrow, and many who think they are on the right road are mistaken (He seems to be speaking of the Jews of His time) Then he pictured heaven as a banquet (a familiar symbol among the Jews), with Himself as the host. Many guests are admitted, but others come, to find the door locked. These knock and call out; "Lord, open to us", The host replies that He does not know them. They declare that they have eaten and drunk with Him and listened to His preaching in their streets. (Obviously these are contemporaries of our Lord.) But they are told to go away: "I know you not, Depart from Me, ye workers of iniquity". 

Then Jesus foretold that while Gentiles shall enter heaven, many Jews will fail to gain admittance. The great patriarchs will be there―Abraham, Isaac and Jacob―and all the prophets. Seeing these inside and themselves outside, the unbelieving Jews of His day will gnash their teeth. They will also see a long procession of Gentiles, coming from north, south, east and west, and entering into heaven to take their places before the throne of God. Comparing these Gentiles with the Jews, Jesus said; "Behold, they that are last shall be first, and they that are first shall be last". 

Continued tomorrow - Herod seeks to Kill Jesus



Sunday, February 25, 2018

The Mystical Transfiguration of Christ


The story of the Transfiguration of Christ has beguiled the Christian mind for centuries. It is the clearest New Testament evocation of mystical experience, the experience of spiritual things within the ordinary and the keen conviction that the spiritual reality is greater and more beautiful than ordinary experience. "Mystical" means there has been contact with a Person: the person of God.

Mass Readings

Reading 1 - Genesis 22:1-2, 9A, 10-13, 15-18

Psalm - Psalm 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19
Reading 2 - Romans 8:31B-34
Gospel - Mark 9:2-10

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Today's Lenten Gospel Reflection by Bishop Barron

Your daily Gospel reflection...
Saturday, February 24, 2018
LENT DAY 11
MATTHEW 5:43-48
Friends, once again our Gospel today is taken from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It is one of the most puzzling texts in the New Testament. It speaks of loving our enemies. Not tolerating them, or vaguely accepting them, but loving them. When you hate your enemy, you confirm him as your enemy. But when you love him in response to his hatred, you confuse and confound him, taking away the very energy that feeds his hatred.

There is a form of oriental martial arts called aikido. The idea of aikido is to absorb the aggressive energy of your opponent, moving with it, continually frustrating him until he comes to the point of realizing that fighting is useless.

Some have pointed out that there is a great deal of this in Jesus’ strategy of nonviolence and love of the enemy. You creatively absorb the aggression of your opponent, channeling it back against him, to show him the futility of violence. So when someone insults you, send back a compliment instead of an insult. When someone conspires against you, work to help him.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Scout's 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.

    

Show Thyself a Mother

Children of Mary
19th century French Holy Card

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, Dublin, 1934







15. Jesus Christ and The Holy Ghost


To the woman of Samaria He speaks of the Holy Ghost as the "Gift of God," and says that this will be "a fountain of water springing up unto life everlasting"
Be careful not to commit the dangerous sin of resisting the Holy Ghost, and His inspirations to action or suggestions of truth. 

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Thursday, February 22, 2018

Are You Smiling Today?


A smile is one of the most beautiful things that
God has given to the earth. (Pope Pius XII)


For the promises of Spring,
For the heron on the wing,
For the song the blackbirds sing.
Gracious Lord we thank Thee!

For the Summer's roses red,
For the fragrance sweet they shed,
For the cloudless skies o'erhead,
Gracious Lord we thank Thee!

For the Autumn's purple haze,
For the beauty of her ways,
For the fruitful harvest days
Gracious Lord, we thank Thee!

For the Winter, white and drear,
For the woodlands gaunt and sere,
For the passing of the year,
Gracious Lord, we thank Thee!


Prayers of an Irish Mother
Brian O'Higgins
38 UP, O'Connell Street, Dublin
1934

14. The Three Specialities of The Holy Ghost


It is a special peculiarity of the Holy Ghost that He is the bond of union between the Father and Son, Their harmony, Their peace, and Their love. 
Beseech this Spirit of love to be the bond of union between you and the Godhead, and between you and your family.  

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Wednesday, February 21, 2018

1958 Confession Card Helper

I remember the excitement I felt when I first found this 1958 Catholic Confession Card tucked inside an old book in a Catholic Thrift Store.  It hadn't even been folded for the wallet or purse.  

We hope you are having a Blessed Lent!



13. The Procession of The Holy Ghost


The love of delight is the source of spiritual joy, which is one of the fruits of the Holy Ghost. True religiousness is always joyful. Take care that this is the case with you. It will furnish an efficient test of your virtue.

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Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Daily Neglects



Daily Lenten Gospel Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron

Your daily Gospel reflection...
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
LENT DAY 7
MATTHEW 6:7-15
Friends, the Gospel for today is of great significance, for in it the Son of God teaches us to pray. We hear from not just a guru, a spiritual teacher, or a religious genius, but from the very Son of God. This is why the Our Father, the Lord’s Prayer, is the model of all prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer for the Christian journey which has been offered up consistently for the past two thousand years. Think for a moment how this prayer links us to all of the great figures in Christian history, from Peter and Paul to Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Francis of Assisi, John Henry Newman, G.K. Chesterton, John Paul II, and right up to the present day.

Keep in mind that prayer is not designed so much to change God’s mind or to tell God something he doesn’t know. God isn’t like a big city boss or a reluctant pasha whom we have to persuade. Rather, he is the one who wants nothing other than to give us good things—though they might not always be the things we want.

Monday, February 19, 2018

12. The Third Person


The Son of God was born on earth and became the Son of the Holy Virgin; and He communicated the Holy Ghost by spiration or breathing on the Apostles, and sent Him on the day of Pentecost in the form of a mighty wind (spiritus) as well as of fiery tongues. The Apostle assures you that you are the temple of the Holy Ghost. How great are the privileges and honors heaped upon those who have submitted to the obedience of faith, who strive to live the life of God, and make use of the Holy Sacraments!

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