Dedicated to the all-holy Immaculata, the Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, to the greater glory of her Divine Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ the King.
Friday, February 21, 2014
+J.M.J+
Feast of Our Lady of Good Haven
In 1838, the crew of a vessel which had just arrived at Paimpol, in France, forty-eight in number, accomplished a vow they had made in a most perilous voyage from Newfoundland.
A terrific tempest had arisen, their sails were torn, and for three days they were in continual danger of finding a watery grave. The ship began to fill with water, and all hope of safety seemed lost, when the crew, by common consent, turned their eyes to Mary, Star of the Sea, and asked for good haven. They promised if she saved them, they would visit in the most supplicant manner the church at Paimpol, where there is an image of Our Lady much venerated by the people. They had scarcely ended their prayer, when the weather became more calm and the waves began to subside.
Profiting by this providential change, they repaired their sails, and had a favorable wind till they reached the coasts of Brittany. They landed in safety at Knod, toward the decline of day, and their first act was to prostrate themselves on the ground, and give God thanks for their return.
They then intoned the Litany of the Blessed Virgin, and advanced barefooted and bare-headed along the banks and through the streets of Paimpol, to the church of the Good Haven. The people attracted in crowds by the novelty of the sight, followed them. There were parents who went to give thanks to Our Lady of Good Haven for the return of their sons, and wives to thank Mary for restoring their husbands to them. Tears streamed down every eye, and the immense multitude knelt down before the altar of that powerful Virgin, who had received from her Son power to command wind and wave.
The torches shed a dim light on the recessed of the sanctuary, where stood the image of the Blessed Virgin, Our Lady of Good Haven, whose inclined head and exteneded arms seemed to say to all, “Come to me, I am your Mother.”
These pious mariners with the most touching expression of sentiment, chanted the hymn, “Ave Maria Stella” in which they were joined in gratitude by the people.
“Bright Mother of our Maker, hail! Thou Virgin ever blest, The ocean’s star, by which we sail, And gain the port of rest.”
Prior to 1969, 11 October was the Feast of the Maternity of Mary. Since the liturgical changes designated 1 January as the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, the old feast of her Maternity must have seemed redundant, and was discontinued. Some places, however, celebrate it as the feast of Mary under her title "Mother of the Church," which was specially promoted at the Second Vatican Council.
Prayer to Mary, Mother of the Church
O Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church to you we recommend ourselves and the entire Church.
Guide and assist our Holy Father and our Bishops in their apostolic mission, and aid all who help them in their work.
Mother of the Church, enlighten the People of God along the paths of faith, hope and love. You were given to us as a mother by your Divine Son at the moment of his redeeming death.
Remember us your children, support our prayers to God.
Praise to the Blessed Virgin Mary in Reparation for Blasphemy
Though the Virgin Mary is not God, she too is often insulted by unbelievers, and even by some who claim to love God! We Catholics cannot understand how someone could claim to love Jesus and not love the Mother He Himself loved so much. Yet since some people do just that, we, her children, might like to express our love for her to "make up" (so to speak) for the abuse and slander she endures. Since Jesus loves her so, He could only be pleased with the love we have for her. We love Mary for Jesus' sake, because He first loved her and gave her to us as our Mother.
Mary, my Immaculate Mother, I desire to offer you reparation for the offenses which your Immaculate Heart receives from the horrible blasphemies which are uttered against you. I offer you these praises to console you for so many ungrateful children who so not love you, and to console the Heart of your Divine Son Who is so deeply offended by the insults offered to you.
Receive, my Purest mother, this little act of homage. Make me love you more each day and look with pity on those blasphemers that they may not delay to cast themselves into your maternal arms. Amen.
V. Grant that I may praise you, O Holy Virgin.
R. Give me strength against your enemies.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary Most Holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be her Immaculate Heart.
Blessed be her Virginal Purity.
Blessed be her Divine Maternity.
Blessed be her Universal Mediation.
Blessed be her sorrows and her tears.
Blessed be the graces with which the Lord crowned her Queen of Heaven and Earth.
Glory be to Mary, Daughter of the Father,
Glory be to Mary, Mother of the Son,
Glory be to Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit.
My Mother, I love you for those who do not love you; I praise you for those who blaspheme you; I surrender myself to you for those who will not recognize you as their Mother.
O Mary, Star of the Sea, my gentle Sovereign, our life and Queen of Peace, how great and how wonderful the day on which the Holy Trinity crowned thee Queen of heaven and earth, Dispensatrix of all graces, our most lovable Mother--what a triumph for thee! What happiness for the angels, for the saints, for the earth, for Purgatory! I know, O Mary, that those who love thee shall be saved, and that those who love thee greatly shall be holy and shall participate one day in thy glory in Heaven. I do not doubt thy clemency nor thy power; I fear my inconstancy in praying to thee. Obtain for me perseverance. O Mary, be thou my salvation. I feel my passions, the devil, the world. O Mary, hold thou me close to thee and to thy Jesus! Permit me not to fall; leave me not even for an instant, O Mother. It is consoling to cast the first glance upon thee in the morning, to walk under thy mantle during the day, to fall asleep under thy gaze at night. Thou hast smiles for innocent children, strength for struggling youth, light for working men and women, comfort for old age awaiting Heaven. O Mary, to thee I consecrate my entire life; pray for me now and in the final battle at the hour of my death. Receive thou my soul when it breathes its last, and leave me not until I kneel before thy throne in Heaven, to love thee for all eternity. O Mary, my Queen, my Advocate, my sweetness, obtain for me holy perseverance. Amen. Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
- from "Novena Prayers to Mary, Queen of Apostles"
Hail, Mary, full of sorrows, the Crucified is with thee. Tearful art thou amongst women, and tearful is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of the Crucified, give tears to us, Crucifiers of thy Son, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen
O Mother of Perpetual Help, grant me ever to be able to call upon thy powerful name, since thy name is the help of the living and the salvation of the dying. Ah, most pure Mary, most sweet Mary, grant that thy name from this day forth may be to me the very breath of life. Dear Lady, delay not to come to my assistance whenever I call upon thee; for in all the temptations that assail me, in all the necessities that befall me, I will never leave off calling upon thee, ever repeating: Mary, Mary. What comfort, what sweetness, what confidence, what tenderness fills my soul at the sound of thy name, at the very thought of thee! I give thanks to our Lord, who for my sake hath given thee a name so sweet, so lovable, so mighty. But I am not content merely to speak thy name; I would utter it for very love of thee; it is my desire that love should ever remind me to name thee, Mother of Perpetual Help.
Thy Nativity, O Mother of God, was the herald of joy to the whole universe; for from thee arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God, who by destroying the curse bestowed the blessing, and by abolishing death gave us life everlasting. (Troparion)
By thy Nativity, O most pure Virgin, Joachim and Anna are freed from barrenness; Adam and Eve from the corruption of death. And we, thy people, freed from the guilt of sin, celebrate and sing to thee: The barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God, the Nourisher of our Life. (Kontakion)
Litany of the Holy Infant Mary (for private use only)
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 Spirit, have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us
Holy Infant Mary, pray for us
Infant Mary, Daughter of God the Father, pray for us, etc.
Infant Mary, Mother of God the Son,
Infant Mary, Spouse of God the Holy Spirit,
Infant Mary, possessed by the Divine Spirit from the beginning of your ways,
Infant Mary, beautiful as the morn,
Infant Mary, brilliant as the Sun,
Infant Mary, terrible as an army in battle array,
Infant Mary, our Mistress,
Infant Mary, our Mother,
Infant Mary, powerful in weakness,
Infant Mary, great in littleness,
Infant Mary, treasure of grace,
Infant Mary, tabernacle of Divine Love,
Infant Mary, masterpiece of God's omnipotence,
Infant Mary, delight of thy holy parents,
Infant Mary, Queen of Angels,
Infant Mary, shoot of the Patriarchs,
Infant Mary, foretold by the Prophets,
Infant Mary, procuring salvation to infants,
Infant Mary, resource of all mankind,
Be merciful to, and hear us, O Infant Mary.
Be propitious to, and intercede for us, O Infant Mary.
By thy Immaculate Conception, intercede for us, O Infant Mary.
By thy Sacred Nativity, intercede for us, O Infant Mary.
By thy glorious Presentation, intercede for us, O Infant Mary.
By thy infancy, intercede for us, O Infant Mary.
By thy childhood, intercede for us, O Infant Mary.
By all thy virtues, intercede for us, O Infant Mary.
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.
Pray for us, O Holy Infant Mary,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray
Grant, O Lord, that we who honor the infancy of the Mother of Thy Divine Son, may, through her intercession, arrive at that bliss promised to those only who become as little children for love of Thee. Through the same Jesus Christ Our Lord, Amen.
Holy Child Mary of the royal house of David, Queen of the angels, Mother of grace and love, I greet you 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 you, 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 you. 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 your 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, you are my trust and hope. O powerful advocate, from your cradle stretch out your hand, support me on the path of life. Make me serve God with ardor and constancy until death and so reach and eternity with you.
Hail Mary...
Blessed Child Mary, destined to be the Mother of God and our loving Mother, by the heavenly graces you 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 you. O holy Child, by the privileges granted to you alone and by the merits which you have acquired, show that the source of spiritual favors and the continuous benefits wich you dispense are inexhaustible, because your power with the Heart of God is unlimited.
Deign through the immense profusion of graces with which the Most High has enriched you from the first moment of your Immaculate Conception, grant me, O Celestial Child, my petition, and I shall eternally praise the goodness of your Immaculate Heart. Amen.
(IMPRIMATUR In Curia Archiep Mediolani; die 7-XII-1931, Can Cavezzali, Pro Vic. Gen.. Suore di Carita. S. Sofia 13, Milano 20122)
Hail, Fair Lily of the ever-peaceful and glorious Trinity! Hail, effulgent Rose of the Heavenly Court, of whom the King of Heaven willed to be born and by whose milk He was nourished! Do thou nourish our souls with effusions of the Divine influences." Amen.
(The Blessed Virgin Mary revealed to Saint Gertrude: "To the one who greets me thus, I will appear at his death in the bloom of such beauty that he shall enjoy a fortaste of heavenly comfort and sweetness")
Anima Mariae
Soul of Mary, sanctify me.
Heart of Mary, inflame me.
Hands of Mary, support me.
Feet of Mary, direct me.
Immaculate eyes of Mary, look upon me.
Lips of Mary, speak for me.
Sorrows of Mary, strengthen me.
O Mary, hear me
In the wound of the Heart of Jesus, hide me.
Let me never be separated from thee.
From my enemy defend me.
At the hour of death, call me.
And bid me come to thine Immaculate Heart
That thus I may come to the Heart of Jesus
And there with the saints praise you
For all eternity. Amen
Hail All-holy Immaculata, ever blessed and glorious Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary; full of grace, Queen of Heaven and earth, Advocate of sinners and our heavenly Mother. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou, O Daughter, by the Lord the Most High God, above all women upon the earth, and most blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, for thou hast brought forth Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of our souls.
Holy Mary, Daughter of God the Father, Mother of God the Son, Spouse of God the Holy Spirit, Temple of the Most Blessed Trinity, pray for us sinners, and send forth the grace from thy Immaculate Heart's Flame of Love to the whole human race, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Enraptured by the splendor of thy heavenly beauty, and impelled by the anxieties of the world, we cast ourselves into thine arms, O Immaculate Mother of Jesus and Our Mother, Mary, confident of finding in thy most loving Heart appeasement of our ardent desires and a safe harbor from the tempests which beset us on every side.
Though degraded by our faults and overwhelmed by infinite misery, we admire and praise the peerless richness with which God has filled thee above every other mere creature, from the first moment of thy conception until the day on which He crowned thee Queen of the Universe.
O Crystal Fountain of Faith, bathe our minds with the eternal truths. O Fragrant Lily of all Holiness, captivate our heart with thy heavenly perfume. O Conqueress of evil and death, inspire in us a deep horror of sin which makes the soul detestable to God and a slave to hell. O Well-beloved of God, hear the ardent cry which rises up from every heart in this year dedicated to thee (1954).
Bend tenderly over our aching wounds, convert the wicked, dry the tears of the afflicted and oppressed, comfort the poor and humble, quench hatreds, sweeten harshness, safeguard the flower of purity in youth, protect the Holy Church, make all men feel the attraction of Christian goodness. In thy name, resounding harmoniously in Heaven, may they recognize that they are brothers and that the nations are one family upon which there may shine forth the sun of a universal and sincere peace.
Receive O most sweet Mother, our humble supplications and obtain for us that one day, happy with thee, we may repeat before thy throne that hymn which is sung today around thy altars . . . "Thou art all beautiful O Mary, thou art the glory, thou art the joy, thou art the honor of our people." Amen
Somewhere in the Monte Cassino country one can visit a little shrine, in excellent condition although six centuries old, dedicated to Maria Vecchia (Mary in old age).
It seems that this Madonna has often bestowed favors on men of the sea, for the walls of the chapel are lined with toy boats; here and there an oil painting depicts a shipwreck. The ceiling is colored in Virgin-blue and the wall surface in pure white. "The seating capacity is not over fifty," estimates Father Kusman, Marianist war chaplain, who recently stumbled upon this hidden gem and immediately offered the holy Sacrifice there before the usual congregation of aging women. "I felt strangely calm when during the Mass I glanced at the six-foot image of our Blessed Lady pictured as an aging woman."
The Mother of Jesus did, in fact, attain to a considerable age. Some Mariologists claim that she achieved the age of seventy-two. The Franciscan Crown consists of seventy-two Aves to signify the nuber of years in Mary's life.
Certainly the Blessed Virgin advanced towards the age of sixty or seventy. yet, ordinarily in Catholic imagination (art and poetry) there is never any question of old age for the Mother of God. She is always young, always beautiful, always graceful, always as amiable as in the days of the Visitation or of Christmas. So much so, that with the art critics the well-known Marian conceptions of Murillo are often indiscriminately named Assumption or Immaculate Conception, though the Assumption took place in her extreme old age, and the Immaculate Conception is most fittingly symbolized by the freshness of early youth.
If the infirmity of old age be considered one of the consequences of original sin, then we can readily understand theologically (and not only artistically) why Mary's physical beauty should not be subject to the corruption of deterioration of age.
In a certain sense these extremes really do meet not only in the life our our Blessed Mother, but in our own lives as well: advance in age goes on for even the youngest of us; and at any time it is not advance in age that really counts, but advance in grace and virtue. This is, we may sincerely believe, the only kind of advance that concerned the Blessed Virgin whose life was ever and only measured by the maxim "Be it done unto me according to Thy word."
In like manner - and here is the lesson - the true servant of Mary, to use a beautiful paragraph of Father Chaminade, "becomes a little child, according to the expression and spirit of the Gospel, and experiences the peace and happiness of that age. What he is doing today, what he will do tomorrow, where he will pass his life and how long it will last, nowise disquiet him; he has but one thing at heart - to do always and everywhere the holy will of God."
[Taken from Imitate Your Blessed Mother, by Peter A. Resch, S.M., S.T.D. (St. Meinrad, IN: Grail, 1946: 60-61).]
I greet thee, Ever-blessed Virgin, Mother of God, Throne of Grace, miracle of Almighty Power! I greet thee, Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity and Queen of the Universe, Mother of Mercy and Refuge of sinners!
Most loving Mother, attracted by thy beauty and sweetness, and by thy tender compassion, I confidently turn to thee, miserable as I am, and beseech thee to obtain for me from thy dear Son the favor I request in this novena:
(mention your request).
Obtain for me also, Queen of heaven, the most lively contrition for my many sins and the grace to imitate closely those virtues which thou didst practice so faithfully, especially humility, purity and obedience. Above all, I beseech thee to be my Mother and Protectress, to receive me into the number of thy devoted children, and to guide me from thy high throne of glory.
Do not reject my petitions, O Mother of Mercy! Have pity on me, and abandon me not during life and at the moment of my death. Amen.
Hail Mary! Daughter of God the Father.
Hail Mary! Mother of God the Son.
Hail Mary! Spouse of God the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary! Temple of the Most Blessed Trinity.
Hail Mary! Pure Lily of the Effulgent Trinity, God.
Hail Mary! Celestial Rose of the ineffable Love of God.
Hail Mary! Virgin pure and humble, of whom the King of Heaven willed
to be born and with thy milk to be nourished.
Hail Mary! Virgin of virgins.
Hail Mary! Queen of Martyrs, whose soul a sword transfixed.
Hail Mary! Lady most blessed, unto whom all power in Heaven and
earth is given.
Hail Mary! My Queen and my Mother! My life, my sweetness and my
hope.
Hail Mary! Mother most amiable.
Hail Mary! Mother most admirable.
Hail Mary! Mother of Divine Love.
Hail Mary, Immaculate! Conceived without sin!
Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with thee!
Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus!
Blessed be thy spouse, Saint Joseph.
Blessed be thy father, Saint Joachim.
Blessed be thy mother, Saint Anne.
Blessed be thy guardian, Saint John.
Blessed be thy holy angel, Saint Gabriel.
Glory be to God the Father, Who chose thee.
Glory be to God the Son, Who loved thee.
Glory be to God the Holy Spirit, Who espoused thee.
O Glorious Virgin Mary, May all men love and praise thee.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us and bless us,
Now and at death, in the Name of Jesus, thy Divine Son. Amen
Holy Mother of Czestochowa,
Thou art full of grace, goodness and mercy.
I consecrate to thee all my thoughts, words and actions -
my soul and body.
I beseech thy blessings
and especially prayers for my salvation.
Today, I consecrate myself to thee, Good Mother, totally -
with body and soul amid joy and sufferings
to obtain for myself and others
Thy blessings on this earth and eternal life in Heaven. Amen.
Virgin Most Holy, Mother of the Word Incarnate, Treasury of graces and Refuge of Sinners, I fly to thy motherly affection with lively faith, and I beg of thee the grace ever to do the will of God.
Into thy most holy hands I commit the keeping of my heart, asking thee for health of soul and body, in the certain hope that thou, my most loving Mother, wilt hear my prayer.
Into the bosom of thy tender mercy, this day, every day of my life, and at the hour of my death, I commend my soul and body.
To thee do I entrust all my hopes and consolations, all my trials and miseries, my life and the end of my life, that all my actions may be ordered and disposed according to thy will and that of thy Divine Son. Amen.
Oh, most sacred Virgin Mary, Queen of Angels, how beautiful, accomplished and perfect has Heaven made you! O that I could appear to God as you appear to me. You are so beautiful and gracious that with your beauty you ravish hearts...
When your devoted servant, St. John Damascene, contemplated you, and saw your beauty, it seemed to him that you had taken that which was best in every creature, and therefore he called you "the loveliness of nature," The grace and comeliness of every creature...
O sovereign Princess, from the immense ocean of your beauty the beauty and grace of all creatures flowed forth as rivers. The sea learned to curl its waves, and to wave its crystal waters from the golden hair, which gracefully flowed over your shoulders and neck. The crystal fountains and their transparent depths learned their tranquil and steady flow from the serenity of your beautiful brow and placid countenance. The lovely rainbow, when in full beauty, learnt with studious care its graceful bend from your eyebrows, thus better to send forth its rays of light. The morning star itself, and the sweet star at night, are sparks from your beautiful eyes. The roses stole their color from your lovely cheeks. Envious purple and coral sigh for the color of your lips. The most delicious milk and sweetest honey are distillations from the sweet honeycomb of your mouth. The scented jasmine and fragrant damask rose stole their perfume from your breath. The loftiest cedar and the most fair, erect cypress, were happy when they beheld their image in your erect and lofty neck. The palm tree, emulous and jealous, likened itself to your noble stature. In fine, O Lady, every created beauty is a shadow and trace of your beauty.
-"Acclaimations in Praise of Mary", from The Glories of Mary
O Victorious Lady,thou who has ever such powerful influence with thy Divine Son, in conquering the hardest of hearts, intercede for those for whom we pray, that their hearts being softened by the rays of Divine Grace, they may return to the unity of the true Faith, through Christ, our Lord. Amen
HAIL, O Queen of Heav'n enthron'd,
Hail, by angels Mistress own'd
Root of Jesse, Gate of morn,
Whence the world's true light was born.
Glorious Virgin, joy to thee,
Loveliest whom in Heaven they see,
Fairest thou where all are fair!
Plead with Christ our sins to spare.
V. Allow me to praise thee, sacred Virgin.
R. Give me strength against thy enemies.
Let us pray
Grant, O merciful God, to our weak natures Thy protection, that we who commemorate the holy Mother of God may, by the help of her intercession, arise from our iniquities. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Our Lady of Knock, Queen of Ireland,
you gave hope to the Irish people in a time of distress
and comforted them in sorrow.
You have inspired countless pilgrims
to pray with confidence to your divine Son,
remembering His promise:
"Ask and you shall receive, Seek and you shall find".
Help me to remember
that we are all pilgrims on the road to heaven.
Fill me with love and concern
for my brothers and sisters in Christ,
especially those who live with me.
Comfort me when I am sick or lonely or depressed.
Teach me how to take part
ever more reverently in the holy Mass.
Pray for me now, and at the hour of my death.
Amen.
