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Friday 21 November 2014

Litany of Loreto Rosary Repost Sorrowful Mysteries

Wednesday, 15 January 2014


The Litany of Loreto Rosary Part Seven-The Sorrowful Mysteries-The First Sorrowful Mystery, The Agony in The Garden

The Litany of Loreto Rosary The First Sorrowful Mystery Matthew 26: 36-46

Our Father

Mary, pray for us that we may be watchful at all times, for the coming of the Lord, even if watchfulness brings suffering.

Hail Mary one

Matthew 11:28-29
Come to me, all you labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you find rest for yours souls.

Hail Mary two

Mirror of Justice
To be a mirror, Mary faces Christ in His suffering and reflects Him. Christ is Justice, the only Man Who can truly judge right and wrong. All of our actions, or decisions have consequences which follow naturally, as one season yields to another, and as lie yields to death. Mary reflects not only suffering, but the feminine nature of Creation God created before the Fall, as beautiful and virtuous. She reminds us of a world we ignore, or consciously attempt to destroy in the fury of "progress" and sin. Mary reflects Christ's hierarchy of goodness over all of creation. She reminds us of the natural processes of our lives, which leads to eternal life or death.
The Just One endured an illegal and unjust trial. Justice endured injustice and Mary did as well, enduring this suffering with her Son. We are freed from the supernatural consequences of our sins-eternal death. Mary, as the Mirror of Justice, reveals Truth to the world.

Hail Mary three

Have pity on us, Mirror of Justice, and lead us to righteousness, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.

Hail Mary four

Matthew 11:16-19
But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the market place, who call to their companions, and say "We have piped to you, and you have not danced; we have sung dirges, and you have not mourned."  For John came neither eating and drinking, and they say "He has a devil!" The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, "Behold a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of publicans and sinners. And wisdom is justified by her children.

Hail Mary five

Seat of Wisdom
Christ referred to Wisdom in His address to the unbelieving crowd. He meant, among other things, that those who are wise reveal themselves by their actions. A wise person responds to the advice of spiritual persons, and responds to the grace of God. Mary, Sedes Sapientia, is the place where Wisdom rests. In her, all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are manifested as perfect. Her name Seat of Wisdom indicates a position of simplicity, humility, reason and peace. He Son lacked her comfort in the Garden of Gethsemane. We gain her presence and the comfort of Wisdom through His loss in this mystery.

Hail Mary six

Seat of Wisdom, who held the Divine Child in your lap, and who held the dead Christ, pray that we may become Children of Wisdom in this foolish generation.

Hail Mary seven

Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are you when men reproach you, and persecute you, and, speaking falsely, say all manner of evil against you, for my sake. Rejoice and exult, because your reward is great in heaven; for so did they persecute the prophets who were before you.

Hail Mary eight

Cause of our Joy
Did Christ recall His own words in the Garden of Gethsemane? He knew the long history of the rejection of the prophets of Israel. Yet, He told His disciples to rejoice. Anguish, at first, drives away promises of hope; all one can affirm in suffering is "The will be done." Mary's fiat let the Passion occur, Beyond the Garden of Gethsemane lies the empty tomb, unseen, yet hoped for in the promises of the prophets. Our joy, through Mary, is Christ's victory. But, He allowed Himself to take our anguish, our sorrows for that Cause. Mary's yes is Christ's yes.

Hail Mary nine

Cause of our Joy, intercede for us, that we may have grateful hearts. Pray for us, that we may be as generous in suffering as Jesus Christ was in the surrender of our wills, bodies, and spirits to the Father,

Hail Mary ten

Glory be

Fatima Prayer

(I cannot believe I wrote this in 1979-1984, but I did. This could have been written yesterday.)

To be continued...

Wednesday, 15 January 2014

The Litany of Loreto Part Eight-The Sorrowful Mysteries-The Second Sorrowful Mystery, The Scourging at The Pillar

The Litany of Loreto The Second Sorrowful Mystery The Scourging at the Pillar  John 19:1-5

Our Father

Virgin Mary, have mercy on us. Pray that we may be humble in the face of unjust criticisms and rejection.

Hail Mary one

Lamentations 1:12
O all ye that pass by the way, attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow: for he hath made a vintage of me, as the Lord spoke in the day of His fierce anger

Hail Mary two

Spiritual Vessel
A vessel may be a cup, or a ship, or any carved-out thing capable of holding something. Sorrow hollows out our hearts so that we may be filled with love. Christ was a strong Man. He knew He was the Son of God, and was always in the Presence of the Trinity. He knew His "rights" as the Son of the Most High, as the Messiah, the Promised One. The scourging was an experience of the withdrawal of the Father's loving protection for our sake. Christ did not cry out for His Godhead, His "rights" to be recognized. Mary, too, experienced pain with her Son. She, too was made empty--a vessel read to be filled in a few days with new love and joy at the salvation of all mankind. The vessel was emptied and filled, the Cup of Salvation, now filled with Christ's Blood, through the spirituality of His Mother Mary, through her yes, which she said over and over and over during the Passion.

Hail Mary three

Spiritual Vessel, only that which is emptied may be filled. Pray for us that we may be freed of all self-will in order to be overflowing with the wine of new life.

Hail Mary four

Lamentations 3: 15 and 30
He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath inebriated me with wormwood.

He shall give his cheek to him that striketh him, he shall be filled with reproaches.

Hail Mary five

Vessel of Honor
Do we not honor someone who has undergone great suffering and triumphed over pain? The wine of pain becomes the wine of honor. Mary's sainthood was dearly bought. Let us not take for granted her sacrifice, her holiness. Let us honor her who is most honorable and holds the honor of God more than any other human.

Hail Mary six

Lamentations 3:21
These things I shall think over in my heart, therefore will I hope.

Mary, pray for us who hold sorrow in our hearts.

Hail Mary seven

Lamentations 4:1-2
How is the gold become dim, the finest color is changed, the stones of the sanctuary are scattered in the top of every street? The noble sons of Sion, and they that were clothed with the best gold: how they esteemed as

Hail Mary eight

Singular Vessel of Devotion
Mary is unusual in that she, a golden chalice of graceful shape, is reduced to a clay pot during the humiliation of her Son. As her Son was degraded, so was she. Mary experienced every wound inflicted on her only Child. Mary has, indeed, "earned" our devotion. Devotion to the Sorrowful Mother is a powerful love and when we love, we are devoted which means very, very loving.

Hail Mary nine

Mother of the Suffering Christ, pray for us that we may not be afraid of the sufferings of our lives, of our friends, of our relatives. Help us to not hide from the pain of others and help us be devoted to you, Sorrowful Mother.

Hail Mary ten

Glory be

Fatima Prayer

To be continued...
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Wednesday, 15 January 2014

The Litany of Loreto Rosary Part Nine-The Sorrowful Mysteries-The Third Mystery, The Crowning with Thorns

The Litany of Loreto Rosary The Third Sorrowful Mystery The Crowning of Thorns John 19:23

Our Father

Mother Mary, enlighten our minds that we may understand deeply the significance of Christ's Passion in our lives.

Hail Mary one

Isaias 53:5
But he was wounded for our iniquities: he was bruised for our sins: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we are healed.

Hail Mary two

Mystical Rose
At the Christmas Eve Mass of old, the Passion is recalled to remind us of the reason for the Incarnation. Mary's title, Rosa Mystica was particularly popular in the Middle Ages. A Medieval Poem provides us with a meditation: let us remember that when we crown Mary with roses, that her crown of glory was a crown with thorns.

There is no rose of such virtue
As is the rose that bear Jesu:
Alleluia.
For in this rose contained was
Heaven and earth in a little space:
Res Miranda.
By that rose we may well see
There be one God in Persons Three:
Pares forma.
The angels sang, the shepherds too:
Gloria in Excelsis Deo
Gaudeamus.
Leave we all this worldly mirth
And follow we this joyful birth:
Transeamus.

Let us follow the Son of God from Bethlehem to Calvary. Mary's fiat was a yes to both His Life and Death, to His Crown of Thorns and Crown of Glory.

Hail Mary three

Mary, in our sorrows, give us a glimpse of joy, and in our joys keep us mindful of our end. Let us hold both joy and sorrow, life and death, lightly in our hands.

Hail Mary four

Isaias 61:4
And they shall build the places that have been waste from of old, and shall raise up ancient ruins, and shall repair the desolate cities, that were destroyed for generation and generation.

Hail Mary five

Tower of David
A tower is used both for defense and decoration. Towers indicated the wealth and power of a lord in ancient times, and in all times up to the present day. These edifices demonstrate the pride of the owners. David, the beloved King, symbolizes the entire nation of the Jews. To name Mary a Tower emphasizes her strength as well as her beauty. To call her the Tower of David points to her status within the People of Israel-she is their defense and their glory. But, in suffering, Mary stood strong, bravely, like a tower holding the assaults of the enemy at bay. How ironic, that Christ, Israel's True King, would be crowned with thorns, and that His Mother would be considered the parent of an outcast, when instead, she is the Pride of Israel.

Hail Mary six

Tower of David, Hope of Israel, pray for all those who do not know your Son, the King of Kings wearing their Crown of Thorns.

Hail Mary seven

Isaias 49:22
Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles, and will set up my standard to the people...

Hail Mary eight

Tower of Ivory
Ivory, the lovely cream tusk of the elephant, was not indigenous to the Holy Land. That Mary is named Tower of Ivory indicates her position as Queen, defender, pride of the Gentiles. Her strength was tried in the Passion. As Christ was mocked, so was Mary. As Christ was assaulted, so was Mary. As Christ would be glorified, so would be Mary. A Tower of Ivory unscathed by suffering...

Hail Mary nine

Mary, Mother of all Nations, pray for all peoples, even those who persecute Christ today, that they may recognize in the sufferings of Christ the real source of new life.

Hail Mary ten

Glory be

Fatima Prayer

To be continued....

Wednesday, 15 January 2014

The Litany of Loreto-Part Ten-The Sorrowful Mysteries-The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery, The Carrying of The Cross

The Litany of Loreto  The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery The Carrying of the Cross John 20: 17

Our Father

Virgin, help us to do what St. Ireneaus suggested: "to accept the Cross as God sends it, not as we imagine it to be."

Hail Mary one

Hebrews 3:4-6
For every house is built by someone; but he who created all things is God. And Moses indeed was faithful "in all his house" as a servant, to testify concerning those things that were to be spoken; but Christ is faithful as the Son over his own house. We are that house, if we hold fast to the confidence and the hope in which we glory unto the end.

Hail Mary two

House of Gold
Mary is the House, the Temple of God. She is the Tabernacle of Gold-the Gold of the Eucharist. Remember Christ's statement referring to His Passion, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Temple is Christ's Body, Mary, the Church which is the Mystical Body of Christ. Through the Calvary event, Mary and Christ call us to enter into their house. Mary, as the Bride of God, looks towards the Church as the Bride of Christ, and in the Passion, the Church is saved from eternal death with all mankind. Christ is the Gold, which God the Father allowed to be seen only as clay on the Via Dolorosa. The way for all of us to the House of God is the road of suffering, of carrying our cross.

Hail Mary three

Blessed Mary, help us to become solid gold bricks in the House of the Lord, through your intercession.

Hail Mary four

Hebrews 9:3-4
..but beyond the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden censor and the Ark of the Covenant overlaid on every side with gold. In the Ark was a golden pot containing the manna and the rod of Aaron which had budded, and the tablets of the covenant...

Hail Mary five

Ark of the Covenant
The simple maid of Nazareth became the New Ark of the New Covenant. Christ's suffering on the road to Calvary ratified the new agreement between God and man. Mary's willingness opened negotiations, as it were, which were sealed with the Blood of the Lamb, the Blood of Christ. The Body and Blood of Christ on the altar of sacrifice at Mass is the unbloody Sacrifice of Calvary.

Hail Mary six

Dear Sorrowful Mother, you watched your Son stumble through the crowded streets cramed with the ugly crowds in Jerusalem on His way to His death. He did not speak to you on this last journey, but met you in the deep silence of love. Pray for us in our Dark Nights, when we do not hear the voice of the Savior.

Hail Mary seven

Hebrews 9:24
For Jesus has not entered into a holies made by hands, a mere copy of the true, but into heaven itself, to appear now before the face of God on our behalf...

Hail Mary eight

Gate of Heaven
The Psalmist sang, "Open ye to me the gates of justice: I will go in to them, and give praise to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord, the just shall enter it." But, Christ had to go outside the Gates for us to enter in.
Jesus had to pass outside the Gates of Jerusalem to be crucified as a criminal, outside the walls of the city. This mud-spattered, bloody and bruised Man hardly seemed a King or the Face of God. Mary, the Gate of Heaven, had to become an outsider as well, for the sake of her Son. The Gate of Heaven stood beyond the gates of Jerusalem, the Earthly City of Man, so that we may enter through her into the Celestial City of God.
We go through Mary to Christ.

Hail Mary nine

Dearest Mother, be a gate for each one of us to enter through the narrow way. You will help us with your grace and Mediation. If we come to you, you will not shut the gate on our petitions.

Hail Mary ten

Glory be

Fatima Prayer

To be continued....

Wednesday, 15 January 2014

The Litany of Loreto Part Eleven-The Sorrowful Mysteries-The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery, The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord

The Litany of Loreto  The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord  John 19:17-30

Our Father

Our Lady of Sorrows, Mater Dolorosa, pray for us.

Hail Mary one

John 1:5
And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness grasped it not.

Hail Mary two

Morning Star
The morning star in the sky is Venus. I saw Venus tonight, bright and bold. It glows most fiercely just before dawn. Venus reflects the sun's rays, raising the minds and hearts of all who see this planet. Mary radiated the Light which is her Son, Christ. On Calvary, Christ's Light was momentarily eclipsed by the night of evil, the darkness in each one of us, in the world, in satan. Mary is the Beacon of Hop for us even on Calvary. She is the star in the dim days of our lives.

Hail Mary three

Morning Star, direct our attention to the True Light, when we are lost in the darkness of sin and death. When we are in the Dark Night, intercede for us for courage and faith.

Hail Mary four

John 7: 37-38
Now on the last, the great day of  the festivity, Jesus stood and cried out, saying: "If any man thirst, let him come to me and drink. He that believeth in me, as the scripture saith, Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

Hail Mary five

Health of the sick
She who could not stop the blood and water from flowing out of the side of Jesus her Son is now called Health of the Sick. The word "health" originates from the Anglo-Saxon word, "haelth", meaning "whole" or "hale". Health is not merely freedom from disease, but the well-being of mind, soul and body. In heath is integrity. The Virgin leads us to Calvary where we and the entire human race are healed. Christ gives us, from His side, the Living Water which is given to us in baptism, making us whole, taking away Original Sin.
Mary, conceived without Original Sin, is the only human worthy of bringing us to Christ.

Hail Mary six

Health of the sick, have mercy on us. Make us holy, through your wholeness, through the sufferings of Jesus on Calvary.

Hail Mary seven

John 19:26-27
When Jesus, therefore, saw His mother and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He said to His mother, "Woman, behold, they son." Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, they mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

Hail Mary nine

Refuge of sinners.
Given to all of us by the dying Christ, Mary is the shelter, the secure place, the secret garden, the refuge, the protection for all the children of Eve. She is the new Garden of Eden. She is our Mother, taking care of us, as she did John in his house.

Hail Mary ten

Refuge of sinners, pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Be our refuge against temptation and sin.

Glory be

Fatima Prayer

to be continued.....