Mary's Little Office

Saturday, March 31, 2018

Holy Saturday - Morning Prayer


A Catholic Manual for Girl Scouts - 1958

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

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all our associates, and in particular for the general Intention recommended this month - See Video Below.

O my God, I believe in You, because You are Truth itself. Hail Mary.

O my God, I hope in You, because of Your promises to me. Hail Mary.

O my God, I love You above all things, because You are infinitely good to me. Teach me to love You more and more. Hail Mary.

Today, with the help of Your divine grace, on my honor, I will try:


To do my duty to God and my country, To help other people at all times.

I renounce Satan and all his works and pomps; and I attach myself to Jesus Christ forever.  Amen.


"An honest Scout is the noblest work of God."


Friday, March 30, 2018

Good Friday - Morning Prayers



A Catholic Manual for Girl Scouts - 1958

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

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all our associates, and in particular for the general Intention recommended this month - See Video Below.

O my God, I believe in You, because You are Truth itself. Hail Mary.

O my God, I hope in You, because of Your promises to me. Hail Mary.

O my God, I love You above all things, because You are infinitely good to me. Teach me to love You more and more. Hail Mary.

Today, with the help of Your divine grace, on my honor, I will try:


To do my duty to God and my country, To help other people at all times.

I renounce Satan and all his works and pomps; and I attach myself to Jesus Christ forever.  Amen.


"An honest Scout is the noblest work of God."


Christ Carries His Cross

Hieronymus Bosch or follower - 1510. Ghent, Museum of Fine Arts.

 The Thunderstorm



Thus in this groaning and in this great pain thou goest out of Jerusalem towards thy death. The city is so great, the people so much, that the folk come running out of each street; then stand up the folk, and great is the reek, that men may wonder that think thereon. With such a procession of worldly wondering, was never thief led to death. Some there were of the common people that sighed sore and wept for thy woe, that knew thee so tormented, and that it was for envy; for the princes and the high-priests, that burdened men with the law, did thee to death for thy true sayings, when thou would reprove them of their errors. They knew it was outrage and wrong that thou suffered, and followed thee weeping and sighing sore. Then thou said a thing that afterwards came to pass: thou bade them weep for themselves, and for the great vengeance that should fall for thy death on them and on their children, and on all the City that afterwards was destroyed, for the vengeance of their own guilt that they should be driven out of their place.

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Holy Thursday - The Garden

 
1. Sweet Lord Jesu Christ, I thank thee and yield thee grace for that sweet prayer and for that holy orison that thou madest before the holy passion for us on the mount of Olivet.

2. Sweet Lord Jesu Christ, I thank thee and yield thee grace for that great fearfulness that thou hadst for our sakes, when thou became so full of anguish that an angel of heaven came to comfort thee, when thou sweatest blood for anguish.

3. I pray thee, Lord, and beseech thee, for thy sweet memory, that thou be mine help in all mine anguish and my temptations, and send me, Lord, the angel of counsel and of comfort in all my needs, that I may turn, through that sweat, out of all sickness of soul and body into life and health. 



We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You because by Your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world!

Our Father, Hail Mary 






Holy Thursday - Morning Prayer



A Catholic Manual for Girl Scouts - 1958

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

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all our associates, and in particular for the general Intention recommended this month - See Video Below.

O my God, I believe in You, because You are Truth itself. Hail Mary.

O my God, I hope in You, because of Your promises to me. Hail Mary.

O my God, I love You above all things, because You are infinitely good to me. Teach me to love You more and more. Hail Mary.

Today, with the help of Your divine grace, on my honor, I will try:


To do my duty to God and my country, To help other people at all times.

I renounce Satan and all his works and pomps; and I attach myself to Jesus Christ forever.  Amen.


"An honest Scout is the noblest work of God."


Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Wednesday's Morning Prayer



A Catholic Manual for Girl Scouts - 1958

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

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all our associates, and in particular for the general Intention recommended this month - See Video Below.

O my God, I believe in You, because You are Truth itself. Hail Mary.

O my God, I hope in You, because of Your promises to me. Hail Mary.

O my God, I love You above all things, because You are infinitely good to me. Teach me to love You more and more. Hail Mary.

Today, with the help of Your divine grace, on my honor, I will try:


To do my duty to God and my country, To help other people at all times.

I renounce Satan and all his works and pomps; and I attach myself to Jesus Christ forever.  Amen.


"An honest Scout is the noblest work of God."


Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Morning Prayers



A Catholic Manual for Girl Scouts - 1958

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

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all our associates, and in particular for the general Intention recommended this month - See Video Below.

O my God, I believe in You, because You are Truth itself. Hail Mary.

O my God, I hope in You, because of Your promises to me. Hail Mary.

O my God, I love You above all things, because You are infinitely good to me. Teach me to love You more and more. Hail Mary.

Today, with the help of Your divine grace, on my honor, I will try:


To do my duty to God and my country, To help other people at all times.

I renounce Satan and all his works and pomps; and I attach myself to Jesus Christ forever.  Amen.


"An honest Scout is the noblest work of God."


Monday, March 26, 2018

Morning Prayers



A Catholic Manual for Girl Scouts - 1958

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

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all our associates, and in particular for the general Intention recommended this month - See Video Below.

O my God, I believe in You, because You are Truth itself. Hail Mary.

O my God, I hope in You, because of Your promises to me. Hail Mary.

O my God, I love You above all things, because You are infinitely good to me. Teach me to love You more and more. Hail Mary.

Today, with the help of Your divine grace, on my honor, I will try:


To do my duty to God and my country, To help other people at all times.

I renounce Satan and all his works and pomps; and I attach myself to Jesus Christ forever.  Amen.


"An honest Scout is the noblest work of God."


Sunday, March 25, 2018

Palm Suday's Homily by Bishop Robert Barron

THE RETURN OF THE KING

Entering Holy Week, we see numerous stirring examples of Jesus fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. From the direction he enters Jerusalem to his mode of transport, we find again and again how he is the one intended to reclaim the temple and prove to the world that he is indeed the son of God, chosen to save us through his revolutionary example of love and forgiveness.
Mass Readings
Reading 1 - Isaiah 50:4-7
Psalm - Psalm 22:8-24
Reading 2 - Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel - Mark 14:1 - 15:47

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Praying from Mingus Mountain - Jerome, Arizona


O Holy Trinity, one God, defend me this Day from the Deceits and Temptations of the Devil. Keep me from all mortal Sin, and still preserve me from sudden and unprovided Death. Raise up, O God, my Body from Sleep and drowsiness, and my Soul from Sin, that I may praise and glorify thy Holy Name; to whom belongs all benediction, Honor, Wisdom, and Thanksgiving, now and for ever. Amen.

Clemintina's Prayer Book
1786




Friday, March 23, 2018

Friday's Little Visit to Jesus and Mary




JESUS HIMSELF IS HERE
 


Great are the fatigues, many are the dangers that multitudes of Christians have faced to visit the places in the Holy Landthose places where Our Most Loving Saviour was born, where He suffered, and where He died. 

For us there is no need to make a long voyage―no need to face great dangers: this same Lord of Glory is our neighbor. He dwells in the church which is only a few steps away from our own house. St. Paulinus tells us that pilgrims who brought away a little dust from the Crib, or from the Holy Sepulchre in which Jesus was buried, thought that this was a very wonderful thing. With what burning love then should we visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament when we can do this without any fatigue and without any danger. There this same Jesus awaits us in person. 

A nun to whom God gave a special love of the Blessed Sacrament wrote a letter and among other thoughts expressed in it are the following: "I have come to see that all the good things that are mine have come to me from the Most Holy Sacrament; to Jesus in this Sacrament I have given and consecrated myself completely. I see numberless graces that were never given because this Divine Sacrament was not approached; I see that Our Savior in this Sacrament has an intense desire to distribute His graces. O Holy Mystery! O Sacred Victim! Where else does God give us such a deep knowledge of His power if it is not in this Host? Surely this Host contains in itself everything that God has ever done for us. There is no need for us to envy the Blessed who are in Heaven: on earth we have the very same Lord; but here the marvels of His love are greater. Do what you can to persuade others to devote themselves completely to the Most Holy Sacrament. I am overwhelmed at the thought of what this Sacrament means and that is why I speak in this way: of the Most Holy Sacrament I can never cease to speak―its claims on our love are so great. For the sake of Jesus in this Sacrament I know not what I can do." It is thus the letter ends. 

O Seraphim, you who burn with such sweet flames of love before that God who is both yours and mine―though it is not for your love but for mine that this King of Glory lingers here―O Angels of Love, let me burn too. Inflame me with your fiery darts so that, in His presence, the flames of your love and of mine may ascend together. 

O my Jesus, give me to understand what a tremendous thing is your love for men; so that in the presence of this great love, my longing to love you more and to give joy to you will always grow more ardent. O God of Boundless Love, I want to love you always; I want to please you only.

Aspiration
―My Jesus, I believe in you, I hope in you, I love you; I love you and I give myself to you.


SPIRITUAL COMMUNION  

Jesus, I believe you are in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you; I want you to come to me. Come into my heart; I embrace you; O never depart from me.  
 

A VISIT TO MARY 

THE MOTHER OF ORPHANS 



O Virgin most loving, you are named by St. Bonaventure "The Mother of Orphans." St. Ephram proclaims you "The Receiver of Orphans," that is, the one who welcomes the orphan. Who are these unhappy orphans? They are non others than poor sinners who have lost God, their Father. Most holy Mother, I have lost my Father; you are my Mother. I come to you and you will welcome me. In my great misfortune I call on you for help and you will aid me. Will you leave me in my grief? No; for this is what Innocent III says to me about you, "Who has ever called on her and did not receive her kindly help?" And indeed who ever prayed to you without being both heard and helped? Was anybody ever lost after pleading with you? The only one that is lost is the one that does not go to you. My Queen, if you wish to save me, then help me to invoke you and to confide in you always.

Aspiration
―O most holy Mary, give me confidence in you.


Prayer After Each Visit






Thursday, March 22, 2018

Jesus we Seek


Mary, our Mother dear,
Health of the weak,
Sick are our souls with fear―
Jesus we seek;
Dark lower the clouds around,
Sunshine grows dim;
Safety with thee is found―
Lead us to Him.


Published by the Union Review in 1867
Republished in Carmina Mariana, London - 1897


Tuesday, March 20, 2018

The Thirteenth Station

Terrible, pathetic and heart-rending were all the events in our Saviour's Passion and Death as presented to us in the Gospel, but the most touching and humanly appealing scene in the whole sad series is in the Thirteenth Station, which presents the moment when the bruised and mangled body of our Saviour has been taken down from the Cross and laid in the arms of his agonized Mother. 
If the spotless Son of God and His sinless Mother could willingly endure such suffering and grief for our sakes, how cheerful should we bear our own little trials and burdens.  Let us pray . . . .


Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus
Stabat Mater - See Bottom

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, the Son 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, the mighty God,
Have mercy on us
Jesus, Father of the world to come,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Angel of the great council,
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 mankind,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, God of peace,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Author of life,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Model of virtues,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, zealous for 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 the angels,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, King of the patriarchs,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Master of the apostles,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Teacher of the evangelists,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, strength of the 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,
Have mercy on us 
Be merciful, Spare 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 fornication,
Jesus, deliver us.
From everlasting death,
Jesus, deliver us.
From neglect of thy inspirations,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through the mystery of Thy Holy Incarnation,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy nativity,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy infancy,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy most divine life,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy labors,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy agony and passion,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy cross and dereliction,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy weariness and faintness,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy death and burial,
Jesus deliver us.
Through Thy resurrection,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy ascension, 
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 takes 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," grant, we beseech Thee, to us who ask the gift of Thy divine love that we may love Thee with our whole heart, in word and work, and never cease from showing forth Thy praise.

Grant, O Lord, that we may have a perpetual fear and love of Thy holy name for thou never failest to direct and govern those whom Thou instructs in Thy true and solid love.
Through Our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Amen.




STABAT MATER
medieval Latin hymn on the suffering of the Virgin Mary at the Crucifixion.


Mater Dolorosa stood,
Weeping sore beside the Rood,
      Whilst on it hung her Son.
Tender moanings told the smart,
Told the anguish of her heart 
Through which a sword was run.

Oh! How doleful and distressed
Was that maiden-mother blest
      Of sole-begotten One.
Vast and deep was her lament.
Keen her grief with anguish blent,
      To see her Son's distress.

Who's the man, with feeling true,
That with tearless eyes could view 
      Christ's mother in such stress?

Who could see that mother mild
Grieving for her peerless Child,
      And not with pity mourn?

For the sins of his own race
She saw Jesus in disgrace,
      And with the scourges torn.

She beheld her only-born
Die forsaken―all forlorn
      Whilst yielding up His soul.

Mother! Fount of love divine.
Make me feel that grief of thine;
      With thee let me condole.

Make my heart with fervor glow,
Make me in Christ's favor grow,
And in His love abide.

Mother dear! This boon I crave;
Deeply in my heart engrave 
      His wounds―the Crucified.

Let me share in thy Son's pains
Who by wounds and torments designs
      To prove His love for me.

Let Me grieve with thee yet more,
And the Crucified deplore
      As long as life shall be.

Near the Cross and by thy side
Willing would I still abide
      A sharer in thy woe.

Virgin Queen of virgin train,
Look not on me with disdain,
      But bid my tears to flow.

Let me in Christ's passions share,
Close His death about me bear,
      And in His sweet wounds dwell.

With His bruises make me sore,
With His Cross and crimson gore
      Inebriate me well.

Screen me, Virgin, judgement-day,
Let me not be cast away,
      To feed the flames of hell.

Lord! When hence I must repair,
Through Thy mother let me bear
      The palm of victory.

When this body turns to earth,
Bid my soul renew its birth,
      In Paradise with Thee.  Amen.  

P.  Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.  


LET US PRAY

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that the most blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, may intercede for us before the throne of Thy mercy now and at the hour of our death; through whose most holy soul in the hour of Thine Own passion the sword of sorrow passed. Through Thee, Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost forever and ever.  Amen.

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Planting The Law Within Us

by Bishop Robert Barron March 18, 2018

Jeremiah 31:31 contains the great prophecy that the Lord will one day place his law within our hearts. In the Old Testament, God's law was written on stone and often appreciated as an imposition, a burden. But Jesus is the Law incarnate, the Torah made flesh. Therefore, when we eat his body and drink his blood, we take the law into our hearts, and thus we realize the prophecy of Jeremiah.
Mass Readings
Reading 1 - Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm - Psalm 51:3-15
Reading 2 - Hebrews 5:7-9
Gospel - John 12:20-33


THE THRONE OF LOVE

There will come a day when in the Valley of Josaphat Jesus will be seated on His throne in majesty. But now in the Most Holy Sacrament He is seated on His throne in love.  

Suppose a King came to dwell in the town where a poor shepherd lived in order to prove how much he loved him. What would you think of the ingratitude of this same uncouth fellow if he would not so much as go out of his way to visit the King, even though he knew that the King had a great desire to see him, and that this was the very reason why he had come to that place? 

O my Jesus, how well I know it! It is for the love of me that you have come to stay here in the Blessed Sacrament; if it were possible for me to do so, I would like to stay in your presence both night and day. My Lord and my Godthere is never a moment that the angels of Heaven are not present with youthey stand amazed at the love you have for us. How right it is that I should be there too giving you joy by praising your boundless goodness to me, because you are on this altar for my sake, not theirs: "In the sight of the angels I will praise you; I will adore at your holy altar, and for your mercy and your truth I will praise your name." (Psalm 137).
I love You, Jesus my God, here in this Sacrament: Bread of Angels and Food Divine. But with my love neither you nor I am satisfied. I love you truly but altogether too little is my love.  

O Jesus, see to it, that I may begin to understand the Beauty, the Boundless Goodness, that is the object of my love. See to it, yourself, that my heart may be made free from all earthly loves and that all the space that is in it may be filled with your Divine Love.  

Every day you come down from Heaven to fill me with your love and to bring about the closest union between us: what else is left for me to do, after all this, but to concentrate my whole being on loving and adoring you and giving you pleasure. 

I love you with all my heart, my Jesus; I love you with all my heart. If you are looking for a way to return my lovethen give me more love. Give me a love that will burn with ardent flames: a love that will consume me with longing desire always to give greater joy to you.


AspirationJesus, give me more love.


SPIRITUAL COMMUNION 

Jesus, I believe you are in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love you; I want you to come to me. Come into my heart; I embrace you; O never depart from me. 

A VISIT TO MARY

THE REFUGE


  
People who are poor can find shelter when they are sick, but only in the public hospitals, because all others forsake them on account of their poverty. In the same way the most wretched of sinners are received by the Mercy of Mary, even when everybody else would abandon them on account of their miserable condition. 

Mary's mercy was given to the world by God to be for sinners, like the public hospital, a refuge for the abandoned and forsaken. St. Basil tells us this: "God has established a public hospital for sinners." St. Ephrem tells us that Mary is a place of refuge where the sinner finds a welcome. 

Mary, my Queen, God had made you great so that you might give shelter to those whose condition is most wretched. So you cannot cast me away when I come to you, even though I have committed so many sins. The greater my misery is, the greater also is my right to be taken under your protection. To you I come; under your mantle I take shelter. You are the refuge of sinners, so you are my refugethe hope of my salvation. If you cast me out where will I go?

Aspiration
Mary, my refuge, save me.

Prayer After Visit