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Wednesday 15 January 2014

New York Times on The Pope

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/14/world/europe/pope-with-the-humble-touch-is-firm-in-reshaping-the-vatican.html?hpw&rref=world&_r=0

More confusion

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jan/14/daughter-of-atheist-wants-to-be-catholic?CMP=twt_gu

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.....






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....






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....




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....





March 25th and the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court will hear the case against the contraception mandate in the Affordable Care Act on Tuesday, Mar. 25.

Read more: Supreme Court to Hear Contraceptive Mandate Case on March 25th | TIME.com http://nation.time.com/2014/01/08/supreme-court-to-hear-contraceptive-mandate-case-march-25th/#ixzz2qRDZBIbV

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....

The Litany of Loreto Rosary Part Six-The Joyous Mysteries-The Fifth Mystery, The Finding of The Lord Jesus in The Temple

The Fifth Joyful Mystery The Finding of the Lord Jesus in The Temple Luke 2:41-52

Our Father

Dearest Mary, show us our childishness and pettiness and lead us to accept the responsibility of adulthood in all matter spiritual and physical, through the life of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Hail Mary one

Esther 2:15
For she was exceedingly fair, and her incredible beauty made her appear agreeable and amiable in the eyes of all.

Hail Mary two

Virgin most Renowned
The beloved, admired of all heaven, holy Mary lost Christ in the largest city in Judea at that time, Jerusalem. Mary's holiness and beauty must have been tried by the circumstances of her Baby's birth and by the terrible flight into Egypt. The young Mother, again, faced her responsibility for Christ's young life--and God showed her that she, even though the chosen woman, Mother of the Messiah, was not totally responsible. How difficult it is for us to learn what are our limitations and what are our responsibilities. Mary's reputation as a Mother suffered; her soul agonized over the loss of the Boy who she alone really knew, and understood more than any other human. But, did she understand the limitations of her relationship with Him? I think so, I think the Virgin most Renowned in all of creation knew from her own Immaculate Conception her role as Mother of God, as the Virgin above all praise. But, her humility was her crown.

Hail Mary three

Mary, we experience death in releasing the innocence of our own childhood and facing the responsibilities of adulthood. Pray for us that we may be willing to both accept the limitations of our humanity, and the glory of our vocations. Help us to accept the limited works given to us to do. Help us, dear Virgin, be humble.

Hail Mary four

Esther 2:17-18
And the king loved her more than all the women... and he set the royal crown on her head....

Hail Mary five

Virgin most Powerful
As the beloved Queen of God's Heart, as the Mother of the Most High God, Mary is the most powerful woman of all time. She has more power than Esther, than any other saint. And yet, Mary had to search three days for her young son, like the three days of Christ in the tomb years later. Mary's search was Christ's search. He searches. In the Temple, the world saw their true identities. Jesus verbalized His call as Teacher, Leader, Prophet. Mary laid aside her motherly power to allow Him to be Himself, God Incarnate. This event foreshadows both the Wedding Feast at Cana, when Mary's influence over her Son caused Him to begin His public life, and the Crucifixion, when Mary gave her Son to the world in pain and separation.
The most Powerful had to experience powerlessness, like her Son.

Hail Mary six

Virgin, pray with us, especially for mothers, that they may not be possessive of their children, but willingly allow God's Will to be done in their lives. You were never possessive, even though you possessed God.

Hail Mary seven

Esther 7:3
If I have found favor in Thy sight, O king, and if it please thee, give me my life for which I ask and my people for which I request.

Hail Mary eight

Virgin most Merciful
In the face of disapproval and death, Esther pleaded for her Jewish People in the presence of an enemy. Esther's mercy grew from prayer, fasting, and courage. She risked her life for her people, and, thereby, freed the Jews from the penalty of death. When Mary found the Christ Child, she revealed mercy through a new suffering--Christ answered her bluntly. Her detachment from Christ was a necessity in order for the Jews and the Gentile to be freed from sin and death. Virgin most Merciful gave us her Son in mercy. We are reminded of Christ's words: "Who is my mother and who are my brothers?" Mary's love, like Esther's, was tried by fire. Human love and divine love meet, and divine love transcends the Mother's human heart.

Hail Mary nine

Mother of Mercy, Mater misericordiae! Your are also Virgin Most Faithful, which means that you are my Mother, and Mother of the remnant. Pray for us in these times of confusion and chaos. Help us to be merciful as well as accepting mercy. Help us to be faithful in living in faith. Let us show courage in being merciful and faithful, and in giving mercy through forgiveness based on good faith. Virgin Most Faithful, help us grow by Faith, while in the Dark Night. Mercy and Faithfulness combine to help us reach out to others at all times, in season and out of season.

Hail Mary ten

Glory be

Fatima Prayer

To be continued....

The Litany of Loreto Rosary Part Five-The Joyous Mysteries-The Fourth Mystery, The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple

The Fourth Joyful Mystery The Presentation of Our Lord  Luke 2:21-40

Our Father

Lady Mary, pray that we become humble enough, like you, to submit to rules which we think are inferior to our state of grace or position in life, an attitude which reveals pride. Help us to respect the weak, who are easily scandalized and to comfort the strong in the daily life of the Church. Help us to accept sorrow in grace and peace.

Hail Mary one

Psalm 8:4-6
For I behold the heavens, the works of Thy fingers; the moon and the stars which Thou has founded. What is man that Thou art mindful of him?  Or the son of man that Thou visitest him?

Hail Mary two

Mother of Our Creator
A creature enfleshes the Creator, and a Daughter of Zion, a member of the People of God of the Old Testament,  fulfills the Old Law. A Sister and Bride of the New Testament meets the representatives of the Old, Simeon and Anna. Only in Mary are all the prophecies fulfilled, all the possible roles of a creature met in grace, all relationships between God and Man find perfection. In this mystery, the Mother of Our Creator meets the creatures who have been waiting for the Creator, the Messiah. Mary, as co-creator with God of the Son of God made Flesh, reconciles the spirit and the flesh, the New Covenant with the Old.

Hail Mary three

Creation's Crown, pray for us, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Hail Mary four

Psalm 43:26
Arise, O Lord, help us and redeem us for Thy name's sake.

Hail Mary five

Mother of Our Redeemer
Another name of Mary, Our Lady of Ransom, reveals to us the glory of the Name of the Ransomer from death and the law. Christ came to ransom us, to pay back the debt mankind owed for Adam and Eve's sin. Christ delivered us from the bondage held by all His predecessors and the old people in the Temple recognized their Redeemer. Jesus was revealed to the Jews through the prophecies of Anna and Simeon. The Old Covenant gives way to the New. The Temple is now Mary, who holds Christ in her arms.
The Lord has finally come to His People. He has arisen to save them. Mary's assent to following the law and the prophets is their freedom and our freedom.

Hail Mary six

Redeem us, Christ, from our own darkness and the darkness of others, through the intercession of the Co-Redemptorix, Mary, Mother of Our Redeemer.

Hail Mary seven

Psalm 83:1-3, 11
How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord. My heart and my flesh have rejoiced in the Living God. For better is one day in Thy courts above thousands. I have chosen to be an abject in the house of my God, rather than to dwell in the tabernacles of sinners.

Hail Mary eight

Mother most Prudent
Mary acted reasonably. She did not flaunt her exalted status as the Mother of the Living God in the Temple. Instead, she, on this appointed day, responded to a religious procedure. She chose to be one of the ordinary mothers of her people on her purification day, even though she was most pure. She was not afraid, nor intimidated by the regulations of her religion, but was prudent, wise, cautious and reverent in her actions to the priests and to Simeon and Anna.

Hail Mary nine
Mother most Venerable, who alone among women is worthy of our reverence, pray for us, that we may be use the virtue of prudence in this rash and irreverent society. You were given the prophecy of sorrows from Simeon. May we face all the sorrows of the increasing hatred of law and religion in our times.

Hail Mary ten

Glory be

Fatima prayer

To be continued...



The Litany of Loreto Rosary Part Four-The Joyous Mysteries-The Third Mystery, The Birth of Our Lord

I am sorry this is taking so long to put on, as I know some of you will want to use it. But there are two obstacles to speed, this asthma flare and the net going on and off. So bear with me, please.

The Litany of Loreto Rosary The Third Joyful Mystery  The Birth of Our Lord Luke 2:1-7

Our Father

Blessed among women, pray for us that we may be open to Christ's birth in our souls.

Hail Mary one

Luke 1:46-48
My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden; for behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

Hail Mary two

Mother undefiled
The word "undefiled" is derived from the Old French word, "defouler", meaning "to trample" or "to crush". The virtue of purity becomes an active trait, not a passive position for freedom, from dishonor, or from stain.
The old definition recalls the promise of Genesis 3:15, "I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shall lie in wait for her heel."
Mary dishonors satan; she withstands defilement from all sin, and like the other great woman of the Old Testament, Judith, who points to Mary, Our Mother smites evil with her purity. Mary remains untouched, untrammeled, not crushed, a real Queen bringing a King into the world, Who is victorious forever. Mary shares in the victory of Her Son in prevenient grace.

Hail Mary three

Mother Mary, pray for us that we may not allow any evil, bitterness, sorrow, or anxiety to defile our spirits. May we hold Baby Jesus in our arms, gazing at His Purity and yours, understanding that we may share, in our own ways, according to God's Plan in this purity.

Hail Mary four

Luke 1:49
...Because He Who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His Name...

Hail Mary five

Mother most amiable
"Amicus" the Latin word for friend, forms the base of this title of Mary. She is friendly, and "good-natured", manifesting a generous spirit to all. In her moment of glory, the Birth of Christ, Mary gives the glory back to God. When the shepherds and the Wisemen find the Child, one can imagine Mary's warm words of hospitality, her kindness comforting them. Mary's openness reaches all hearts who want to know her. Can we refuse to approach her pleasing, amiable nature?

Hail Mary six

Dear Mother and Friend, let us think of you when we are cross and petty, when we do not want our time interrupted, or are thoughts jarred. Teach us the humility of an amiable spirit, through your intercession and the example of the Babe in the manger. Amen.

Hail Mary seven

Luke 2:7
And, she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Hail Mary eight

Mother most admirable
Under the poorest of circumstances, Mary "showed her quality". She was not disheartened by the conditions under which her Baby was born, but with fortitude cared for her Child in a cave. Do we sustain a Queen's dignity, or even a pioneer spirit in bad circumstances, resisting the desire to complain? Mother most to be admired. pray for us.

Hail Mary nine

Mother of Good Counsel, you who kept counsel with yourself in difficult times, give us prudence and peace. Revive in us the gifts we received, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, most evident in you. Send a spark into our souls, inspiring our gift of wisdom, that we may be silent or speak at appropriate times. Thank you, dear Mother of Good Counsel, for responding to grace, that we may have a model in these days of anti-heroes.

Hail Mary ten

Glory be

Fatima prayer

to be continued....




A musical break...





A break --- one of my favorite composers, Arvo Part.







The Litany of Loreto Rosary Part Three- The Joyous Mysteries-The Second Mystery, The Visitation

The Litany of Loreto Rosary  The Joyous Mysteries

The Second Mystery The Visitation Luke 1:39-56

Our Father

"And how have I deserved that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?" Come, Dear Mother, and be with us as we pray.

Hail Mary one

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all things give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus regarding you all.

Hail Mary two

Mother of Divine Grace
The word grace connotes graciousness, gentleness, and courtesy as well as denoting God's "life". Mary is the Lady of Courtesy, showing respect to her cousin, Elizabeth. But, Mary's grace is not merely human gentleness, but the very kindness of God. Mary's title, Mother of Divine Grace, indicates that she carries Divinity to us, just as she carried Christ in her womb to Elizabeth. More than that, Mary imparts the grace of God into the fetus, John the Baptist, who is immediately freed from Original Sin. Thus, the Precursor is the first of all men born of woman and man to be freed as we are in baptism of sin and satan. Mary's visit is, indeed, joyful.

Hail Mary three

Mary, Mother of Divine Grace, pray for us that in our busy, anxious lives, we may be always courteous and grace-full to all we meet.

Hail Mary four

1:Thessalonians 5:5
For you are all children of the light and children of the day. We are not of night, nor of darkness.

Hail Mary five

Mother most pure
To be pure means to be clear, like a pane of glass. Mary is a window through which the Light of Christ comes into the world, into us. Mary's clarity reveals not only one virtue of purity, but a prism of virtues made of love. She is pure of heart, mind and soul. Even her body is pure. Mother most pure.

Hail Mary six

Blessed Mother most pure, pray that we may become purified, like glass, revealing Christ's light in this murky, confused world.

Hail Mary seven

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you abstain from immorality; that every one of you learn how to possess his vessel in holiness and honor...

Hail Mary eight

Mother most chaste
Chastity is not merely the absence of sexual sins, but purity in thought and action. Chastity implies simplicity and discipline. Again, Mary reminds us of a noble, self-possessed Lady--clear, strong, modest. Her chastity is not the mere avoidance of sin, but an active position of interior integrity and peace.

Hail Mary nine

Mother most chaste, Mother inviolate, intercede for us, that we may be strong, witnessing a counter-culture Kingdom of God to the world

Hail Mary ten

Glory be

Fatima prayer

To be continued...

(Notice the language of this text which is at least 31 years old.)


Litany of Loreto Rosary Part Two-The Joyful Mysteries-The First Mystery, The Annunciation

As it is Wednesday, I should start with the Glorious Mysteries, but as the booklet I wrote is based on the litany as explained yesterday, I thought I would present it all in order.

The Joyful Mysteries

The First Joyful Mystery: The Annunciation: Luke 1:26-38

Our Father

Hail, Full of Grace. Give us the grace to pray this rosary with attention and peace.

Hail Mary one

Genesis 1:27
And God created man to His own image: to the image of God He created him: male and female He created them.

Hail Mary two

Holy Mary
In this first name of the Litany, a Hebrew young woman is called "holy". The name Mary in Hebrew, Mara, means "capable of enduring much sorrow", "bitter", like salt--the salt of the earth. Mary images the holiness of God the Father. She, also, mirrors the Son of God, Savior, the "Man of Sorrows". St Bernard of Clairvaux wrote that men and women have the image of God the Father, but have lost the likeness. This salutation of the angel Gabriel, who is the angel of death at the Passover in Jewish tradition, brings life to the world and restores the divine likeness to the human race. Christ becomes Incarnated, sorrow and joy meet.

Hail Mary three

Holy Mary, a woman in the image and likeness of God in perfection, pray for us that we may be made into the likeness of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hail Mary four

Genesis 2:23
And Adam said: this is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called woman, because she was taken out of man.

Hail Mary five

Mother of God
In this name, Theotokos, resides a great mystery. God Himself becomes flesh of a woman's flesh. The creation of Adam and Eve is renewed in Mary's womb. The Creator become His creature, man. Mary holds God in her body. How can we appreciate this great mystery of grace?

Hail Mary six

Dear Mother, pray that we may be encompassed by Christ, becoming one with Him. Help us, as you are one with Him in glory. You are the New Eve, allowing the Yes of your heart, mind, and will to change history, our history, my history.

Hail Mary seven

Genesis 3:30
And Adam called the name of his wife Eve: because she was the mother of all the living.

Hail Mary eight

Holy Virgin of Virgins
Mary's "fiat" did not destroy her virginity. Mary became all she was created to be-Virgin and Mother-with her entire being given to God. She, alone, is the complete woman.

Hail Mary nine

Blessed, blessed Virgin, Mother of the long-awaited Messiah, Mother of the Christ, you are the bearer of our freedom. Pray that we may respond to this freedom by following completely, as you did, in our way, the Will of God in our lives.

Hail Mary ten

Glory Be

Fatima Prayer



To be continued....