Free Lenten Devotional

  Blessed Lent to all!  

I pray this solemn season is finding you growing in love of our Lord and his most blessed Mother.  May we adore our Lord, meditating on His Passion, and honor our Lady, pierced with swords of sorrow as she stands at the foot of His Cross.

During Lent of last year for my family, I created a devotional to our Lady of Sorrows.  While my children and I focused on one of the sorrows of our Lady each week of Lent, this devotional could be prayed all at once as well.  Lent is a most fitting time to meditate on our Lady of Sorrows and her most tender heart, but this devotion can also be prayed anytime throughout the year.  I love the devotion to our Lady of Sorrows and strive to pray her chaplet daily.  

I hope this simple devotional helps you truly honor and love our Lady of Sorrows this year during your Lenten journey or whenever you choose to pray it.  It is a useful devotional for adults, children, or families.  This devotional is free for your use.  I simply ask if you post about or share this devotional or one of my other ideas, that you please be kind enough to link back to my original post. My ideas are not to be used for profit, and are to be used for personal use by individuals, families, and teachers.

I do have it available for download at the following link:  Seven Sorrows of Mary.  If you have difficulty with the link or prefer to receive it by email, please leave me a message with your email address, and I can send you the document for free.  I will NOT post your email online.  If you would rather receive a printed copy in the mail, I would have to charge a small fee for printing cost (ink and paper) and postage.  If you prefer that method, please message me again with your email, and I will email you back to set it up.  I am looking for other reliable method for downloads, but I have not decided on one yet.  If you have any reliable suggestions, please let me know.

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God bless!

+JMJ+

To our Lady of Sorrows

                                                  

 The feast of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary is always celebrated on the Friday of Passion Week, this year March 31.  St. Gabriel of our Lady of Sorrows spoke thus of our Sorrowful Mother,

“Love Mary!… She is loveable, faithful, constant. She will never let herself be outdone in love, but will ever remain supreme. If you are in danger, she will hasten to free you. If you are troubled, she will console you. If you are sick, she will bring you relief. If you are in need, she will help you. She does not look to see what kind of person you have been. She simply comes to a heart that wants to love her. She comes quickly and opens her merciful heart to you, embraces you and consoles and serves you. She will even be at hand to accompany you on the trip to eternity”

To our Lady of Sorrows

 By St Bonaventure (1217-1274) Seraphic Doctor of the Church 

O most holy Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, by the overwhelming grief you experienced when you witnessed the Martyrdom, the Crucifixion and the Death, of your Divine Son, look upon me, with eyes of compassion and awaken in my heart, a tender commiseration for those sufferings and a sincere detestation of my sins, in order that, being disengaged from all undue affection for the passing joys of this earth, I may sigh after the eternal Jerusalem and that, henceforward, all my thoughts and all my actions may be directed towards this one most desirable object, the honour, glory and love of our divine Lord Jesus, and to you, the Holy and Immaculate Mother of God. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Thirty Day Prayer to Mary

 It has long been a custom in the Church to say this prayer of petition on 30 consecutive days. It is also recommended as a Lenten devotion as well as for all Fridays of the year.  With September being dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, it is a fitting month to ask for her intercession through this prayer.

Thirty Day Prayer to Mary

Ever glorious and blessed Mary, Queen of Virgins, Mother of Mercy, through that sword of sorrow which pierced thy tender heart whilst thy only Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, suffered death and ignominy on the Cross; through that filial tenderness and pure love He hast for thee, while from His Cross He recommended thee to the care and protection of His beloved disciple, Saint John, take pity, I beseech thee, on my poverty and need; have compassion on my anxieties and cares; assist and comfort me in all my infirmities and miseries. 

Thou art the Mother of Mercies, the only refuge of the needy and the orphan, of the desolate and afflicted. Cast therefore an eye of pity on this sorrowful child of Eve, and hear my prayer; for since, in just punishment of my sins, I find myself surrounded by a multitude of evils, and oppressed with much anguish of spirit, where can I fly for more secure shelter, O loving Mother of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, than under the wings of thy maternal protection? Listen, therefore, I beseech thee, with an air of pity and compassion, to my humble and earnest request. 

I ask it through the infinite mercy of thy dear Son: through that love and humility with which He embraced our human nature, when through thine own obedience to the Divine Will, thou didst consent to become His Mother, and Whom after nine months, you didst bring forth from thy chaste womb, to visit this world, and bless it with His presence. 

I ask it, through the anguish of mind of thy beloved Son, our dear Savior, on Mount Olivet, when He besought His Eternal Father, to remove from Him, if possible, the bitter chalice of His future passion. I ask it, through the three-fold repetition of His prayers in the Garden, from whence afterwards in sorrow thou didst accompany Him to the scene of His death and sufferings. In ask it, through the laceration of His sinless flesh, caused by the cords and whips with which He was bound and scourged, when stripped of His seamless garments, for which His executioners afterwards cast lots. I ask it, through the scoffs and ignominies by which He was insulted; the false accusations and unjust sentence by which He was condemned to death, and which He bore with enduring patience. I ask it, through His bitter tears and bloody sweat; His silence and resignation; His sadness and grief of heart. I ask it, through the Blood which trickled from His royal and Sacred Head, when struck with the scepter of a reed, and pierced with His Crown of Thorns. I ask it, through the excruciating torments He suffered, when His hands and feet were fastened with nails to the tree of the Cross. I ask it, through His unbearable thirst, and bitter potion of vinegar and gall. I ask it, through His dereliction on the Cross, when He exclaimed: My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken me? 

I ask it, through His Mercy extended to the good thief, and through His recommending His precious Soul and spirit into the hands of His Eternal Father, before He expired, saying: "It is finished." I ask it, through the Blood mixed with water, which issued from His Sacred Side when pierced with a lance from whence a flood of grace and mercy has flowed to us. I ask it, through His immaculate life, bitter passion and ignominious death on the Cross, at which even nature itself was thrown into convulsions by the bursting of rocks, rending of the veil of the temple, the earthquake and darkness, of the sun and the moon. 

I ask it, through His glorious victory over death, when He arose again to life on the Third day, and through the joy which His appearance for forty days, gaveth thee, His Blessed Mother, His Apostles, and the rest of His disciples; when in thy and their presence, He miraculously ascended into Heaven. I ask it, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, infused into the hearts of His disciples; when He descended upon them in the form of fiery tongues, and by which they were inspired with zeal for the conversion of the world, when they went to preach the Gospel. I ask it, through the glorious appearance of thy Son, at the last day, when He shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world by fire. I ask it, through the compassion He bore in this life, and the wonderful joy thou didst feel at thine Assumption into Heaven, where thou doth eternally contemplate His Divine perfection. 

O glorious and ever Blessed Virgin, comfort the heart of thy suppliant, by obtaining for me . . . (Here mention or reflect on your request.)  And as I believe that my Divine Savior honors thee as His beloved Mother, to whom He refuses nothing contrary to His honor, so let me soon experience thy powerful intercession. Wherefore, O most Blessed Virgin, beside my present petition, and whatever else I may stand in need of, obtain for me also of thy dear Son, our Lord and our God, a lively faith, firm hope, perfect charity, true contrition of heart and genuine tears of compunction, sincere confession, satisfaction and deliverance from sin, love of God and my neighbor, a correct attitude to the world, patience to suffer insults, even death itself, for love of thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. 

Obtain likewise for me, O Holy Mother of God, perseverance in good works, the carrying out of my good resolutions, mortification of my self-will, a holy life, and, at my last moments, a strong and sincere repentance, with such presence of mind, as will enable me to receive the last Sacrament of the Church worthily, so as to die in God's friendship and favor. Lastly, I beseech thee, for the Souls of my parents, brethren, relatives and benefactors, both living and dead, life everlasting, from the only giver of every good and perfect gift, the Lord God Almighty: to Whom be all power, now and forever.  Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Litany of the Holy Name of Mary

 On September 12 Holy Mother Church honors the most Holy Name of Mary, that name which is so sweet, so beautiful. The Feast of the Holy Name of Mary was established by Pope Innocent XI upon the victory of Christian forces against the Muslims attacking Vienna in 1683.

St. Anthony of Padua describes our Lady's beautiful name, exclaiming, “O name of Mary! Joy in the heart, honey in the mouth, melody to the ear of Her devout clients!" St. Peter Canisius also speaks of the name of our Lady. "After the most holy and adorable Name of Jesus, there is no name more glorious or more powerful than the name of Mary. At the mention of this name, the Angels rejoice and the devils tremble; through this invocation of this name, sinners obtain grace and pardon." May we always honor the beloved name of our Lady with prayers of love and gratitude.

Litany of the Holy Name of Mary

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Son of Mary, hear us.
Son of Mary, graciously hear us.
Heavenly Father, of Whom Mary is the Daughter,
Have mercy on us. ***
Eternal Word, of Whom Mary is the Mother, ***
Holy Spirit, of Whom Mary is the spouse, ***
Divine Trinity, of Whom Mary is the Handmaid,***

Mary , Mother of the Living God, pray for us.
Mary, daughter of the Light Eternal, pray for us.
Mary, our light, *.
Mary, our sister,*
Mary, flower of Jesse, *
Mary , issue of kings, *
Mary, chief work of God, *
Mary, the beloved of God, *
Mary, Immaculate Virgin, *
Mary, all fair, *
Mary, light in darkness, *
Mary, our sure rest, *
Mary, house of God, *
Mary, sanctuary of the Lord, *
Mary, altar of the Divinity, *
Mary, Virgin Mother, *
Mary, embracing thy Infant God, *
Mary, reposing with Eternal Wisdom, *
Mary, ocean of bitterness, *
Mary, Star of the Sea, *
Mary, suffering with thine only Son, *
Mary, pierced with a sword of sorrow, *
Mary, torn with a cruel wound, *
Mary, sorrowful even to death , *
Mary, bereft of all consolation, *
Mary, submissive to the law of God, *
Mary, standing by the Cross of Jesus, *
Mary, Our Lady, *
Mary, Our Queen, *
Mary, Queen of glory, *
Mary, glory of the Church Triumphant, *
Mary, Blessed Queen,*
Mary, advocate of the Church Militant, *
Mary, Queen of Mercy, *
Mary, consoler of the Church Suffering, *
Mary, exalted above the Angels, *
Mary, crowned with twelve stars, *
Mary, fair as the moon, *
Mary, bright as the sun, *
Mary, distinguished above all, *
Mary, seated at the right hand of Jesus, *
Mary, our hope, *
Mary, our sweetness, *
Mary, glory of Jerusalem , *
Mary, joy of Israel, *
Mary, honor of our people, *

Mary, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, *
Mary, Our Lady of the Assumption, *
Mary, Our Lady of Loreto, *
Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes, *
Mary, Our Lady of Fatima, *
Mary, Our Lady of Czestochowa, *
Mary, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, *
Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, *
Mary, Our Lady of the Angels, *
Mary, Our Lady of Dolors, *
Mary, Our Lady of Mercy, *
Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary, *
Mary, Our Lady of Victory, *
Mary, Our Lady of La Trappe, *
Mary, Our Lady of Divine Providence,*

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord Jesus.
Lam of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord Jesus.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us, O Lord Jesus.
Son of Mary, hear us. Son of Mary, graciously hear us.
V. I will declare thy name unto my brethren. R. I will praise thee in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Us Pray. O Almighty God, Who beholdest Thy servants earnestly desirous of placing themselves under the shadow of the name and protection of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, vouchsafe, we beseech Thee, that by her charitable intercession, we may be delivered from all evil on earth, and may arrive at everlasting joys in Heaven, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. R. Amen.

“O amor mei nomen matris Dei.” -St. Anselm (Oh name of the Mother of God, thou art my Love.)

God bless!

+JMJ+

On the Feast of St. Stephen of Hungary

 On September 2 Holy Mother Church honors the Apostle of Hungary, St. Stephen the king.  Renowned for establishing Hungary as a Catholic country, he was crowned king in 1001 on the feast of the Assumption of Mary.  St. Stephen held a great love for our Lady and declared her to be the patroness of Hungary.  His zeal for the souls throughout his kingdom brought him to spend many nights in humble prayer and penance for them.  St. Stephen is also recognized for his great care for the poor, and he often disguised himself to attend to them in secret, serving their every need.  As a sign of his charity towards the poor, St. Stephen's right hand remains incorrupt.  

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St. Stephen desired his eldest son Emeric, a saintly young man, to follow the path of leading Hungary as a Catholic nation, and instructed him thus, “My dearest son, if you desire to honor the royal crown, I advise, I counsel, I urge you above all things to maintain the Catholic and apostolic faith with such diligence and care that you may be an example for all those placed under you by God and that all the clergy may rightly call you a man of true Christian profession. Failing to do this, you may be sure that you will not be called a Christian or a son of the Church... My beloved son, delight of my heart, hope of your posterity, I pray, I command, that at every time and in everything, strengthened by your devotion to me, you may show favor... to all who come to you... Be merciful... Be patient with everyone, not only with the powerful, but also with the weak. Finally be strong lest prosperity lift you up too much or adversity cast you down. Be humble in this life, that God may raise you up in the next. Be truly moderate and do not punish or condemn anyone immoderately. Be gentle so that you may never oppose justice. Be honorable so that you may never voluntarily bring disgrace upon anyone. Be chaste so that you may avoid all the foulness of lust like the pangs of death.  All these virtues I have noted above make up the royal crown and without them no one is fit to rule here on earth or attain to the heavenly kingdom.”

However, Emeric died seven years before St. Stephen; the king's remaining children also died, leaving him with no heirs to protect the Catholic faith in Hungary.  In 1038 St. Stephen died on his favorite day, the feast of the Assumption of Mary after receiving the Last Sacraments.  His final prayer was to our Lady, whom he loved much.   “To thee, O Queen of heaven, and to thy guardianship, I commend the holy Church, all the bishops and the clergy, the whole kingdom, its rulers and inhabitants; but before all, I commend my soul to thy care.”  St. Stephen and Emeric were canonized on the same day in 1083.

In imitation of the devotion and love towards our Lady by St. Stephen of Hungary, may we remember to honor our Heavenly Mother, offering her acts of love and reparation.  May we always remember to entrust our Lady with our own souls.

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Reparation for Insults to the Blessed Virgin Mary

O Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, look down in mercy from Heaven, where thou art enthroned as Queen, upon me, a miserable sinner, thine unworthy servant. Although I know full well my own unworthiness, yet in order to atone for the offences that are done to thee by impious and blasphemous tongues, from the depths of my heart I praise and extol thee as the purest, the fairest, the holiest creature of all God’s handiwork.

I bless thy holy name, I praise thine exalted privilege of being truly Mother of God, ever Virgin, conceived without stain of sin, Co-Redemptrix of the human race. I bless the Eternal Father Who chose thee in an especial way for His daughter; I bless the Word Incarnate Who took upon Himself our nature in thy bosom and so made thee His Mother; I bless the Holy Spirit who took thee as His bride. All honour, praise and thanksgiving to the ever-blessed Trinity who predestined thee and loved thee so exceedingly from all eternity as to exalt thee above all creatures to the most sublime heights.

O Virgin, holy and merciful, obtain for all who offend thee the grace of repentance, and graciously accept this poor act of homage from me thy servant, obtaining likewise for me from thy Divine Son the pardon and remission of all my sins. Amen.
(--The Raccolta)

God bless!

+JMJ+

On the Feast of Our Lady of Ransom

 In the 13th century many Spanish Catholics were enslaved by the Saracens, often tortured as a way to get them to renounce their Faith.  St. Peter Nolasco worked for 15 years to ransom these captives, all the while imploring heaven's help for this task.  On August 1, 1218 the Blessed Mother, our Lady of Ransom, appeared separately to St. Peter Nolasco, his confessor St. Raymond of Penafort, and King James the I of Aragon, urging them to create an order bearing her name of mercy to carry out this great work of charity.  Thus the Order of our Lady of Mercy, or Mercedarians as it was later called, was established by King James, with the order's rules consisting of raising alms for the ransom of Catholics or even giving their lives for the exchange of those enslaved.  Their constitution states,

“to visit and to free Christians who are in captivity and in power of the Saracens or of other enemies of our Law… By this work of mercy… all the brothers of this Order, as sons of true obedience, must always be gladly disposed to give up their lives, if it is necessary, as Jesus Christ gave up His for us.”

In thanksgiving for Mary's help, a feast day was established and later extended throughout the whole Church by Pope Innocent XII.  Thus holy Mother Church honors Our Lady of Ransom on September 24.  Pope Leo XIII encouraged the devotion of this feast, especially encouraging remembrance of how our Lady ransoms us from the slavery of our sins.

"No other reason is needed than that of a Divine faith which, by a powerful and most pleasant impulse, persuades us towards Mary. Nothing is more natural, nothing more desirable than to seek a refuge in the protection and in the loyalty of her to whom we may confess our designs and our actions, our innocence and our repentance, our torments and our joys, our prayers and our desires. All men, moreover, are filled with the hope and confidence that petitions which might be received with less favor from the lips of unworthy men, God will accept when they are recommended by the most Holy Mother, and will grant with all favors."--Pope Leo XIII

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Prayer to Our Lady, Mother of Mercy

Blessed Virgin Mary, who can worthily repay you with praise and thanks for having rescued a fallen world by your generous consent! Receive our gratitude, and by your prayers obtain the pardon of our sins. Take our prayers into the sanctuary of heaven and enable them to make our peace with God.

Holy Mary, help the miserable, strengthen the discouraged, comfort the sorrowful, pray for your people, plead for the clergy, intercede for all women consecrated to God. May all who venerate you feel now your help and protection. Be ready to help us when we pray, and bring back to us the answers to our prayers. Make it your continual concern to pray for the people of God, for you were blessed by God and were made worthy to bear the Redeemer of the world, who lives and reigns forever. Amen.
--Saint Augustine of Hippo

God bless!

+JMJ+

A Prayer by St. Pio

 The feast of St. Pio of Pietrelcina is celebrated on September 23. Ordained in 1910 as an Italian Capuchin priest, St. Pio was widely known for his virtues, his devotion to the Eucharist, prayer and sacrifice, and his desire to help souls. St. Pio received the visible stigmata on both of his hands in 1918 while humbly praying before the crucifix. He also was able to read the hearts of the penitents who flocked to him for the sacrament of confession; St. Pio spent ten to twelve hours in the confessional daily! Despite his popularity, he would state, "I only want to be a poor friar who prays."

St. Pio spent hours during the day and night in prayer. He once said, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry! Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer. Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart. You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips but with your heart. In fact, on certain occasions, you should speak to Him only with your heart.” He was canonized by St. John Paul II in 2002.

A Prayer for Trust and Confidence in God's Mercy

O Lord, we ask for a boundless confidence and trust in Your divine mercy, and the courage to accept the crosses and sufferings which bring immense goodness to our souls and that of Your Church. Help us to love You with a pure and contrite heart, and to humble ourselves beneath Your cross, as we climb the mountain of holiness, carrying our cross that leads to heavenly glory. May we receive You with great faith and love in Holy Communion, and allow You to act in us as You desire for Your greater glory. O Jesus, most adorable Heart and eternal fountain of Divine Love, may our prayer find favor before the Divine Majesty of Your heavenly Father. Amen.

--By St. Pio of Pietrelcina

“Kneel down and render the tribute of your presence and devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Confide all your needs to Him, along with those of others. Speak to Him with filial abandonment, give free rein to your heart, and give Him complete freedom to work in you as He thinks best.”  --St. Pio

God bless!

+JMJ+

Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis

 While Holy Mother Church celebrates the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4, this great saint is also honored on September 17, the day on which the Church remembers the Stigmata of St. Francis.  Although St. Francis received the Wounds of Christ on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, September 14, the Church honors this awesome event on September 17 that it might have its own commemoration.  In the Little Flowers of St. Francis, one reads of St. Francis receiving the Stigmata,

"For upon his hands and feet began immediately to appear the figures of the nails, as he had seen them on the Body of Christ crucified, who had appeared to him in the likeness of a Seraph. And thus the hands and feet appeared pierced through the midst by the nails, the heads whereof were seen outside the flesh in the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet, and the points of the nails stood out at the back of the hands, and the feet in such wise that they appeared to be twisted and bent back upon themselves, and the portion thereof that was bent back upon themselves, and the portion thereof that was bent back or twisted stood out free from the flesh, so that one could put a finger through the same as through a ring; and the heads of the nails were round and black. In like manner, on the right side appeared the image of an unhealed wound, as if made by a lance, and still red and bleeding, from which drops of blood often flowed from the holy breast of St Francis, staining his tunic and his drawers... Now although these sacred wounds, which had been impressed upon him by Christ, gave great joy to his heart, yet they caused unspeakable pain to his body; so that, being constrained by necessity, he made choice of Brother Leo, for his great purity and simplicity, to whom he revealed the whole matter, suffering him to touch and dress his wounds on all days except during the time from Thursday evening till Saturday morning, for then he would not by any human remedy mitigate the pain of Christ’s Passion, which he bore in his body, because at that time our Saviour Jesus Christ was taken and crucified, died and was buried for us."

O Divi Amoris Victima

O victim dear of heavenly love, impurpled by thy fivefold sign, Saint Francis, father of the poor, of Jesus' Cross a living shrine. Thou, burning with the glowing flames of love of God and love of man, dost yearn for Christ to shed thy blood and thrice dost try the seas to span. Although denied thy heart's desire, thou lettest not thine ardor wane; but kindled still with love divine to stir new fires thou strivest amain. Still living in thine Orders three, thou art found in many a savage clime; and frozen hearts, warmed at thy flame, grow fervent with thy fire sublime. So shalt thou crush the powers of hell, thy conquering arms our foes dismay; when Holy Church doth seem to fail, still is thy mighty strength her stay. Come, help us, father, while we pray, thy love within our hearts inspire, thy boundless love, that spreads abroad the glowing brightness of its fire. Praise we the Father and the Son, praise we the Holy Paraclete: He grant us grace to emulate Our father's spirit, as is meet. Amen.

O divi amoris victima Quino cruenta vulnere, Francisce qui vivam Crucis Christi refers imaginem. Tu caritatis fervidis Flammis adustus, sanguinem Christo daturus, barbara Ter cogitasti litora. Voti sed impos, non sinis Languere flammas desides: Et excitas caelestia, Flagrans amore incendia. In prole vivens efferas Pervadis oras; algida Gelu soluto, ut ferveant Ardore sancto pectora. Sic pertimendis lividum Armis Avernum conteris; Virtutis et firmum latus Templo labanti subiicis. Adsis, Pater, precantibus Ignemque, late quo tua Exarsit ingens caritas, Accende nostris mentibus. Sit laus Patri et Filio, Sit inclyto Paraclito, Qui nos Parentis optimi Det aemulari spiritum. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Prayer to the Queen of Martyrs, Our Lady of Sorrows

 

In this beautiful prayer to Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs, we pray to our Blessed Mother, remembering her sorrows at the sufferings and death of her Beloved Son.  We beg of her to help us to accept our own crosses as God's Will and unite them with hers, recognizing suffering as a means of true repentance for our sins and reparation for sins throughout the world.
May we strive to embrace our daily crosses, as Jesus and Mary willingly carried theirs, and offer them as acts of love to the Blessed Trinity and our sweet, heavenly Mother.

To the Queen of Martyrs

Mary, most holy Virgin and Queen of Martyrs, accept the sincere homage of my filial affection. Into thy heart, pierced by so many swords, do thou welcome my poor soul. Receive it as the companion of thy sorrows at the foot of the Cross, on which Jesus died for the redemption of the world. With thee, O sorrowful Virgin, I will gladly suffer all the trials, contradictions, and infirmities which it shall please our Lord to send me. I offer them all to thee in memory of thy sorrows, so that every thought of my mind, and every beat of my heart may be an act of compassion and of love for thee. And do thou, sweet Mother, have pity on me, reconcile me to thy divine Son Jesus, keep me in His grace, and assist me in my last agony, so that I may be able to meet thee in heaven and sing thy glories.  Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

A Prayer to Our Lady after Receiving Holy Communion

                                            

On this blessed feast of the Seven Sorrows of Mary, may we remember to honor Our Lady in a special way, perhaps by attending Mass or reciting the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows.  

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Recently I discovered a prayer to Our Lady, which is to be recited after receiving the Blessed Lord in Holy Communion.  Of course, after receiving the Most Blessed Sacrament, priority should be given to showering our Lord with adoration, love, and thanksgiving for allowing us to receive Him, for His great sacrifice on the cross and remaining in the tabernacle, waiting for our visit, and for all of His blessings.

However, it also seems fitting to express gratitude and love to the Blessed Mother, our Lady of Sorrows, who also experienced great sacrifice and grief upon the sufferings and death of her Son.  Yet she lovingly obeyed the will of God and silently endured these pangs for love of Him and us.  May we remember to pause and thank her and love her also.  Mother Mary, our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us!

A Prayer to Our Lady

O Mary, most holy Virgin Mother, lo, I have received thy well-beloved Son, Whom thou didst conceive in thy stainless womb,
didst bring forth and suckle, and enfold in thy sweet embraces. See, humbly and lovingly I give back to thee the Son, Whom it was all rapture and delight for thee to look upon; I offer Him to be clasped in thy arms, to be loved with all thy heart, and to be offered up to the Holy Trinity in the supreme homage of adoration, for thy honor and glory, and for my needs and those of all mankind. Most loving Mother, I beg thee to obtain for me forgiveness of all my sins, grace in abundance to serve Him more faithfully from now onward, and lastly, final perseverance, so that I may praise Him with thee forever and ever.  Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Feast of the Seven Sorrows of Mary

 Our Lady of Sorrows is honored with feasts on September 15 and on the Friday of Passion week, this coming Friday.  I have always had a great love for Our Lady of Sorrows and love singing the beautiful "Stabat Mater" during the Stations of the Cross.  Meditating upon the sorrowful countenance of our gentle Mother, bowed low over the body of her Son as she holds him near her grief-stricken heart, fills my being with true sorrow for my sins, for my selfishness and weakness.  May the image of Our Lady of Sorrows remain before our eyes throughout the remainder of Lent, filling our hearts with a true horror of sin  and a desire to perform penance for our sins and and the sins committed throughout the world.  

Litany of the Sorrowful Mother

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, 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.

Holy Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of Our Saviour Crucified, pray for us.
Mother most Sorrowful, pray for us.
Mother most tearful, pray for us.
Mother most afflicted, pray for us.
Mother most lonely, pray for us.
Mother most desolate, pray for us.
Mother pierced by the sword of sorrow, pray for us.

Queen of martyrs, pray for us.
Comfort of the sorrowful, pray for us.
Help of the needy, pray for us.
Protectress of the forsaken, pray for us.
Support of widows and orphans, pray for us.
Health of the sick, pray for us.
Hope of the troubled, pray for us.
Haven of the ship-wrecked, pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Hope of the despairing, pray for us.
Mother of mercy, pray for us.

Through thy poverty in the stable of Bethlehem, pray for us.
Through thy sorrow at the prophecy of Simeon, pray for us.
Through thy sad flight into Egypt, pray for us.
Through thy anxiety when seeking thy lost Child, pray for us.
Through thy grief when seeing thy divine Son persecuted, pray for us.
Through thy fear and anxiety when Jesus was apprehended, pray for us.
Through thy pain caused by the treason of Judas and the denial of Peter, pray for us.
Through thy sad meeting with Jesus on the way of the Cross, pray for us.
Through the tortures of thy loving Heart at the Crucifixion of Jesus, pray for us.
Through thy agony at the death of Jesus, pray for us.
Through the sword of sorrow that pierced thy heart when the side of Jesus was transfixed by the
lance, pray for us.
Through thy lamentations over the dead Body of thy divine Son lying on thy bosom, pray for us.
Through thy deep mourning at His tomb, pray for us.
Through thy desolation after the burial of Jesus, pray for us.
Through the tears thou didst shed for thy beloved Son, pray for us.
Through thy wonderful resignation to the will of God in all thy sufferings, pray for us.

O Queen of peace, pray for us.
In all our tribulations, pray for us.
In our illnesses and pains, pray for us.
In our sorrows and afflictions, pray for us.
In our need and destitution, pray for us.
In our fears and dangers, pray for us.
In the hour of our death, pray for us.
On the Day of Judgment, pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord.

Pray for us, O Sorrowful Virgin, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray.  We beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, let Thy Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose holy soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow at the hour of Thy Passion, implore Thy mercy for us, both now and at the hour of our death, Who livest and reignest, world without end.  Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

On the Feast of St. Pio of Pietrelcina

 The feast of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, who was canonized in 2002, is celebrated on September 23. Ordained an Italian Capuchin priest in 1910, St. Pio was widely known for his virtues, his devotion to the Eucharist, prayer, sacrifice, and his desire to help souls. St. Pio received the visible stigmata on both of his hands in 1918 while humbly praying before the crucifix. He also was able to read the hearts of the penitents who flocked to him for the sacrament of confession; St. Pio spent ten to twelve hours in the confessional daily! Despite his popularity, he would state, "I only want to be a poor friar who prays." St. Pio spent hours during the day and night in prayer.

He once said, “Pray, hope, and don’t worry! Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer. Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart. You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips but with your heart. In fact, on certain occasions, you should speak to Him only with your heart.”

The following prayer, penned by St. Alphonsus Liguori, was recited daily by St. Pio.

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Prayer for A Visit to the Most Blessed Sacrament

O my Lord Jesus Christ, who for the love You bear mankind, remain night and day in this Sacrament, all full of tenderness and love, expecting and receiving all those who come to visit You: I believe that You are present in the Sacrament of the altar; I adore You from the depths of my own nothingness and thank You for all the favors You have bestowed upon me; and especially for having given me Yourself in this Sacrament, and Your holy Mother Mary as my Advocate; and for having called me to visit You in this church. I pay homage this day to Your most loving Heart and this I intend to do for three intentions: first, in thanksgiving for this great gift; secondly, in reparation for all the insults You have received from Your enemies in this Sacrament; thirdly, by this visit I intend to adore You in all places upon the earth, where You are least adored and most neglected in Your Sacrament.

My Jesus, I love You with my whole heart. I repent of having in the past so many times displeased Your infinite goodness. I intend, with the help of Your grace never more to offend You in the future; and at the present, wretched as I am, I consecrate myself wholly to You. I give You, and utterly renounce, my entire will, all my affections, all my desires, and all that I possess. From this day forth, do with me and with all that is mine whatever is pleasing in Your sight. I ask and desire only Your holy love, final perseverance and the perfect fulfillment of Your will.

I commend to You the souls in purgatory, especially those who were most devoted to this Blessed Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

I commend to You in like manner all poor sinners. Finally, my dear Savior, I unite all my affections with those of Your most loving Heart, and thus united I offer them to Your eternal Father, and I pray to Him in Your name graciously to accept and answer them for love of You.

---by St. Alphonsus Liguori

God bless!

+JMJ+

Exaltation of the Holy Cross

 On September 14 Holy Mother Church celebrates the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, which commemorates three events: the finding of the True Cross in the 4th century by St. Helena, the dedication of the basilica built by St. Helena and Constantine over the Holy Sepulchre, and the rescuing of the Holy Cross from the Persians in 629. On this feast we exalt the Cross of Christ as the instrument of our salvation. Exalting the Cross is thus adoration of Jesus Christ who suffered, died, and rose for our redemption.

"We are celebrating the feast of the cross which drove away darkness and brought in the light. As we keep this feast, we are lifted up with the crucified Christ, leaving behind us earth and sin so that we may gain the things above. So great and outstanding a possession is the cross that he who wins it has won a treasure. Rightly could I call this treasure the fairest of all fair things and the costliest, in fact as well as in name, for on it and through it and for its sake the riches of salvation that had been lost were restored to us.

Had there been no cross, Christ could not have been crucified. Had there been no cross, life itself could not have been nailed to the tree. And if life had not been nailed to it, there would be no streams of immortality pouring from Christ’s side, blood and water for the world’s cleansing. The legal bond of our sin would not be cancelled, we should not have attained our freedom, we should not have enjoyed the fruit of the tree of life and the gates of paradise would not stand open. Had there been no cross, death would not have been trodden underfoot, nor hell despoiled.

Therefore, the cross is something wonderfully great and honourable. It is great because through the cross the many noble acts of Christ found their consummation – very many indeed, for both his miracles and his sufferings were fully rewarded with victory. The cross is honourable because it is both the sign of God’s suffering and the trophy of his victory. It stands for his suffering because on it he freely suffered unto death. But it is also his trophy because it was the means by which the devil was wounded and death conquered; the barred gates of hell were smashed, and the cross became the one common salvation of the whole world... ."

---St. Andrew of Crete

While we remember our Lord's Cross and Sacrifice done out of love for us, let us also think of our own crosses and lovingly embrace them as a means to grow closer to God. Instead of complaining of our crosses and trials, we need to ask ourselves, as St. Josemaria Escriva suggests, “...what is this compared to what I deserve?” On this feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, let us attempt to offer up each of our crosses to God, laying them at the foot of the Cross. In this way we may change each struggle of our day into a prayer to our Lord who loves us and asks us to take up our cross daily and follow Him. The following hymn, which is sung on the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross and during Holy Week was penned by Venantius Fortunatus and is considered one of the greatest hymns of the Church's liturgy.

Vexilla Regis Prodeunt
(link to the Gregorian chant)

Forth comes the Standard of the King: All hail, thou Mystery ador'd! Hail, Cross! On which the Life Himself Died, and by death our life restor'd! On which our Saviour's holy side Rent open with a cruel spear Of blood and water poured a stream, To wash us from defilement clear. O sacred wood! In Thee fulfill'd Was holy David's truthful lay! Which told the world, that from a tree The Lord should all the nations sway. Most royally empurpled o'er How beauteously thy stem doth shine! How glorious was its lot to touch Those limbs so holy and divine! Thrice blest, upon whose arms outstretched The Saviour of the world reclined; Balance sublime! Upon whose beam Was weighed the ransom of mankind. Hail, Cross! Thou only hope of man, Hail, on this holy Passionday! To saints increase the grace they have; From sinners purge their guilt away. Salvation's spring, blest Trinity, Be praise to Thee through earth and skies: Though through the Cross the victory Dost give; oh, also give the prize! Amen.

Vexílla Regis pródeunt: Fúlget Crucis mystérium, Qua vita mortem pértulit, Et morte vitam prótulit. Quæ vulneráta lánceæ Mucróne diro críminum Ut nos laváret sórdibus, Manávit unda et sánguine. Impléta sunt quæ cóncinit, David fidéli cármine; Dicéndo natiónibus: Regnávit a ligno Deus. Arbor decóra et fúlgida, Ornáta Regis púrpura, Elécta digno stípite, Tam sancta membra tángere. Beáta, cujus bráchiis, Prétium pepéndit sæculi: Statéra facta córporis, Tulítque prædam tártari. O crux, ave, spes única; Hoc Passiónis témpore, Piis adáuge grátiam, Reísque dele crÍmina. Te, fons salútis, Trínitas, Colláudet omnis spíritus: Quibus Crucis victóriam Largíris, adde præmium. Amen.

--St. Andrew's Daily Missal

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us!!!

God bless!

+JMJ+

Sorrowful Mother Novena

                                               

Holy Mother Church dedicates September to Our Lady of Sorrows. May we pray to Our Lady of Sorrows throughout this month, remembering and honoring her suffering, which she endured out of love for God and for us.  With the feast of the Seven Sorrows of Mary being celebrated on September 15, this is a fitting time to recite the following novena, which would begin on September 6 and finish on the vigil of the feast, September 14. In this novena we remember the sorrows of our Heavenly Mother, while asking her to help us gain specific virtues and the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Sorrowful Mother Novena

V. O God, hasten to my aid.
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
R. As it was in the beginning,...

1. I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the affliction of thy tender heart at the prophecy of the holy and aged Simeon. Dear Mother, by thy heart so afflicted, obtain for me the virtue of humility and the Gift of the holy Fear of God.  *Hail Mary

2. I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the anguish of thy most affectionate heart during the flight into Egypt and thy sojourn there. Dear Mother, by thy heart so full of anguish, obtain for me the virtue of generosity, especially toward the poor, and the Gift of Piety. *Hail Mary

3. I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in those anxieties which tried thy troubled heart at the loss of thy dear Jesus in the Temple. Dear Mother, by thy heart so full of anguish, obtain for me the virtue of chastity and the Gift of Knowledge. *Hail Mary

4. I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the consternation of thy heart at meeting Jesus as He carried His Cross. Dear Mother, by thy heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of patience and the Gift of Fortitude. *Hail Mary

5. I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the martyrdom which thy generous heart endured in standing near Jesus in His agony on the Cross. Dear Mother, by thy afflicted heart, obtain for me the virtue of temperance and the Gift of Counsel. *Hail Mary

6. I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the wounding of thy compassionate heart, when the side of Jesus was pierced by a lance before His Body was removed from the Cross. Dear Mother, by thy heart thus transfixed, obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the Gift of Understanding.  *Hail Mary

7. I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, for the pangs that wrenched thy most loving heart at the 
burial of Jesus. Dear Mother, by thy heart sunk in the bitterness of desolation, obtain for me the virtue of diligence and the Gift of Wisdom.  *Hail Mary

Let us pray. Let intercession be made for us, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, now and at the hour of our death, by the throne of Thy mercy, by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, whose most holy soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the hour of Thy bitter Passion, through Thee, O Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns world without end. Amen.

God bless!

+JMJ+

Novena for the Birth of Mary

Holy Mother Church celebrates the feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8, nine months after the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

Butler's Lives of the Saints states,
"The birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary announced joy and the near approach of salvation to the lost world. Mary was brought forth in the world not like other children of Adam, infected with the loathsome contagion of sin, but pure, holy, beautiful, and glorious, adorned with all the most precious graces which became her who was chosen to be the Mother of God. She appeared indeed in the weak state of our mortality; but in the eyes of Heaven she already transcended the highest seraph in purity, brightness, and the richest ornaments of grace. If we celebrate the birthdays of the great ones of this earth, how ought we to rejoice in that of the Virgin Mary, presenting to God the best homage of our praises and thanksgiving for the great mercies He has shown in her, and imploring her mediation with her Son in our behalf! Christ will not reject the supplications of His mother, whom He was pleased to obey whilst on earth. Her love, care, and tenderness for Him, the title and qualities which she bears, the charity and graces with which she is adorned, and the crown of glory with which she is honored, must incline Him readily to receive her recommendations and petitions."

In honor of such a great feast, Our Lady's birth, the following novena may be recited from August 30 through September 7, the vigil of her birthday.

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Novena to Maria Bambina (Child Mary)

Holy Child Mary of the royal house of David,
Queen of the angels, Mother of grace and love,
I greet thee with all my heart.
Obtain for me the grace to love the Lord faithfully during
all the days of my life. Obtain for me, too, a great devotion
to thee, who are the first creature of God's love.
(Hail Mary)

O heavenly Child Mary, who like a pure dove was born
immaculate and beautiful, true prodigy of the wisdom of
God, my soul rejoices in thee. Oh! Do help me to preserve
the angelic virtue of purity at the cost of any sacrifice.
(Hail Mary)

Hail, lovely and holy Child, spiritual garden of delight, where,
on the day of the Incarnation, the tree of life was planted,
assist me to avoid the poisonous fruit of vanity and pleasures of the world.
Help me to engraft into my soul the thoughts, feelings,
and virtues of thy Divine Son.
(Hail Mary)

Hail, admirable Child Mary, Mystical Rose, closed garden,
open only to the heavenly Spouse. O Lily of paradise,
make me love the humble and hidden life;
let the heavenly Spouse find the gate of my heart always open
to the loving calls of His graces and inspiration.
(Hail Mary)

Holy Child Mary, mystical dawn, gate of heaven,
thou art my trust and hope.
O powerful advocate, from thy cradle stretch out thy hand,
support me on the path of life.
Make me serve God with ardor and
constancy until death and so reach an eternity with thee.
(Hail Mary)

Blessed Child Mary, destined to be the Mother of God and our loving Mother,
by the heavenly graces thou dost lavish upon us, mercifully listen to my supplications.
In the needs which press upon me from every side and especially in my present tribulation,
I place all my trust in thee.

O holy Child, by the privileges granted to thee alone and by the merits which thou hast acquired,
show that the source of spiritual favors and the continuous benefits which thou dispense are inexhaustible, because thy power with the Heart of God is unlimited.

Deign through the immense profusion of graces with which the Most High
has enriched thee from the first moment of thy Immaculate Conception,
grant me, O Celestial Child, my petition, and I shall eternally praise the goodness of thy Immaculate Heart. Amen.

In addition to the beautiful novena above, the following prayer, penned by St. Anselm, provides a fitting devotion to Our Lady on the Feast of her Nativity.

In Honor of Mary's Nativity

Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin; give me strength against thine enemies, and against the enemy of the whole human race.
Give me strength humbly to pray to thee. Give me strength to praise thee in prayer with all my powers, through the merits of thy most sacred nativity, which for the entire Christian world was a birth of joy, the hope and solace of its life.
When thou wast born, O most holy Virgin, then was the world made light.
Happy is thy stock, holy thy root, and blessed thy fruit, for thou alone as a virgin, filled with the Holy Spirit, didst merit to conceive thy God, as a virgin to bear Thy God, as a virgin to bring Him forth, and after His birth to remain a virgin.
Have mercy therefore upon me a sinner, and give me aid, O Lady, so that just as thy nativity, glorious from the seed of Abraham, sprung from the tribe of Juda, illustrious from the stock of David, didst announce joy to the entire world, so may it fill me with true joy and cleanse me from every sin.
Pray for me, O Virgin most prudent, that the gladsome joys of thy most helpful nativity may put a cloak over all my sins.
O holy Mother of God, flowering as the lily, pray to thy sweet Son for me, a wretched sinner. Amen.

--St. Anselm

God bless!

+JMJ+

Seven Prayers in Honor of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

                                                       "Oh, how sad and sore distressed

                                                            Was that Mother highly blest,

Of the sole begotten One!"

                                     --From the Stabat Mater

Devotion to Our Sorrowful Mother has long been a favorite among Catholics, but even so, Mary, speaking to St. Bridget, related, "I gaze upon the children of men to see whether anyone feels compassion for me, and alas, I see but few!...Consider how much I have suffered."  

The Church has given the title Queen of Martyrs to the Blessed Virgin for although she did not receive bodily torture, her heart was pierced by the sword of sorrow for her Divine Son, a sorrow greater than any we may know.  Holy Mother Church applies these words of Jeremias to our Lady of Sorrows:  "O all ye that pass by the way, attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow." (Lamentations 1:12).  

Numerous saints also spoke on the intensity of Mary's grief.  St. Bernardine of Siena said the sorrow of Mary was go great that if it would have been evenly divided upon all men, they would have died immediately!  St. Basil also says of Mary's sorrow, "...[T]he sorrows of Mary surpass all the tortures of the martyrs."  

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"O thou Mother! fount of love!

Touch my spirit from above;

Make my heart with thine accord.

Make me feel as thou hast felt;

Make my soul to glow and melt

With the love of Christ our Lord.

Holy Mother! pierce me through;

In my heart each wound renew

Of my Saviour crucified.

Let me share with thee His pain,

Who for all my sins was slain,

Who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with thee,

Mourning Him who mourn'd for me,

All the days that I may live.

By the cross with thee to stay,

There with thee to weep and pray,

Is all I ask of thee to give."

                                             ---from the Stabat Mater

Seven Prayers in Honor of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

V. O God, come to my assistance;
R. O Lord, make haste to help me.
V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
R. As it was in the beginning, etc.

First Sorrow: The Prophecy of Simeon
I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the affliction of thy tender heart at the prophecy of the holy and aged Simeon. Dear Mother, by thy heart so afflicted, obtain for me the virtue of humility and the gift of the holy fear of God. Recite 1 Hail Mary.

Second Sorrow:  The Flight Into Egypt
I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the anguish of thy most affectionate heart during the flight into Egypt and thy sojourn there. Dear Mother, by thy heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of generosity, especially toward the poor, and the gift of piety. Recite 1 Hail Mary.

Third Sorrow:  The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple
I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in those anxieties which tried thy troubled heart at the loss of thy dear Jesus. Dear Mother, by thy heart so full of anguish, obtain for me the virtue of chastity and the gift of knowledge. Recite 1 Hail Mary.

Fourth Sorrow:  Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary
I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful in the consternation of thy heart at meeting Jesus as he carried His Cross. Dear Mother, by thy heart so troubled, obtain for me the virtue of patience and the gift of fortitude. Recite 1 Hail Mary.

Fifth Sorrow:  Jesus Dies on the Cross
I grieve for thee O Mary, most sorrowful, in the martyrdom which thy generous heart endured in standing near Jesus in His agony. Dear Mother, by thy afflicted heart, obtain for me the virtue of temperance and the gift of counsel. Recite 1 Hail Mary.

Sixth Sorrow:  Mary Receives Jesus
I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the wounding of thy compassionate heart, when the side of Jesus was struck by the lance and His Heart was pierced before His body was removed from the Cross. Dear Mother, by thy heart thus transfixed, obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the gift of understanding. Recite 1 Hail Mary.

Seventh Sorrow:  Jesus is Placed in the Tomb
I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, for the pangs that wrenched thy most loving heart at the burial of Jesus. Dear Mother, by thy heart sunk in the bitterness of desolation, obtain for me virtue of diligence and the gift of wisdom. Recite 1 Hail Mary.

V. Pray for us, O Virgin most sorrowful;
R. That we made be worthy of the promises of Christ

Let us Pray: Let intercession be made for us, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, now and at the hour of our death, before the throne of Thy mercy, by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, whose most holy soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the hour of Thy bitter Passion. Through Thee, Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, world without end. Amen.

God bless!  May you have a very blessed Holy Week!

+JMJ+

Chaplet in Honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, our Lady of Sorrows

 The following prayer is a fitting prayer to recite during the month of March.  The prayer draws upon the Annunciation of Mary, which Holy Mother Church celebrates as a solemnity on March 25.  It also brings to mind the sorrows Our Lady endured during her Son's crucifixion and death, perfect to meditate upon during the Lenten season and especially on the Friday after Passion Sunday (this next Sunday), on which we honor Our Lady with the Feast of the Seven Sorrows of Mary.  This chaplet would also be appropriate said as a novena.

Chaplet in Honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, our Lady of Sorrows

Incline unto my aid, O God! O Lord, make haste to help me!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, etc.

1. Immaculate Virgin, who, conceived without sin, didst direct every movement of thy most pure heart to that God Who was ever the object of thy love, and who was ever most submissive to His will, obtain for me the grace to hate sin with my whole heart, and to learn of thee to live in perfect resignation to the will of God.

***repeat each time: Our Father [One], Hail Mary [Seven]. Heart transpierced with pain and woe, set my heart with love aglow!

2. I marvel, Mary, at thy deep humility, through which thy blessed heart was troubled at the gracious message brought thee by Gabriel, the archangel, that thou wast chosen Mother of the Son of the Most High, and through which thou didst proclaim thyself his humble handmaid. Wherefore, in great confusion at the sight of my pride, I ask thee for the grace of a contrite and humble heart, that, knowing my own misery, I may obtain that crown of glory promised to the truly humble of heart. ***

3. Blessed Virgin, who, in thy sweetest heart, didst keep as a precious treasure the words of Jesus thy Son, and pondering on the lofty mysteries they contained, didst learn to live for God alone, how doth my cold heart confound me! O dearest Mother! Get me grace so to meditate within my heart upon God's holy law that I may strive to follow thee in the fervent practice of every Christian virtue. ***

4. Glorious Queen of Martyrs, whose sacred heart was pierced in thy Son's bitter Passion by the sword, whereof the holy man Simeon had prophesied, gain for my heart true courage and a holy patience to bear the troubles and misfortunes of this miserable life, that so by crucifying my flesh with its desires while following the mortification of the Cross, I may indeed show myself to be a true child of thine. ***

5. O Mary, Mystical Rose, whose loving heart, burning with the living fire of charity, did accept us for thy sons at the foot of the Cross, becoming thus our tender Mother, make me feel the sweetness of thy maternal heart and thy power with Jesus, that when menaced by the perils of this mortal life, and most of all in the dread hour of death, my heart united with thine may love my Jesus then and through all ages. Amen. ***

Let us now turn to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, that He may inflame us with His holy love!
O Divine Heart of Jesus! To Thee I consecrate myself, full of deep gratitude for the many blessings I have received and daily do receive from Thy boundless charity. With my whole heart I thank thee for having, in addition to them all, vouchsafed to give me Thy own most holy Mother, giving me to her as a child, in the person of the beloved disciple. Let my heart ever burn with love for Thee, finding in Thy sweetest Heart its peace, its refuge, and its happiness. Amen.
--My Prayer Book

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Sea of Sorrow

Oh! on what a sea of sorrow

Was the Virgin-Mother cast,

When her eyes with tears o'erflowing

Gazed upon her Son aghast,

From the bloodstained gibbet taken,

Dying in her arms at last.

In her bitter desolation,

His sweet mouth, His bosom too,

Then His riven side beloved,

Then each hand, both wounded through,

Then His feet, with blood encrimsoned,

Her maternal tears bedew.

She, a hundred times and over,

Strains Him closely to her breast

Heart to Heart, arms arms enfolding,

Are His wounds on her impressed:

Thus, in sorrow's very kisses,

Melts her anguished soul to rest.

Oh, dear Mother! we beseech thee,

By the tears thine eyes have shed,

By the cruel death of Jesus

And His wounds' right royal red,

Make our hearts o'erflow with sorrow

From thy heart's deep fountainhead.

To the Father, Son, and Spirit,

Now we bend on equal knee:

Glory, sempiternal glory,

To the Most High Trinity;

Yea! perpetual praise and honor

Now and through all ages be.

--Ascribed to the Servite, calusto Palumbella

God bless!

+JMJ+