Saturday, May 03, 2008
Second Day Of the Novena To the Holy Ghost
Second Day:
Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set Thee, my Lord and God, before my face forever; help me to shun all things that can offend Thee, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Thy Divine Majesty in heaven, where Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity, God world without end. Amen.
Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's
Come, O blessed Spirit of Holy Fear, penetrate my inmost heart, that I may set Thee, my Lord and God, before my face forever; help me to shun all things that can offend Thee, and make me worthy to appear before the pure eyes of Thy Divine Majesty in heaven, where Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the ever Blessed Trinity, God world without end. Amen.
Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's
Our Blessed Lady's Saturday
Essentially, what I am doing every day during the month of May is the same as I do on Saturdays, which are devoted to Our Blessed Lady.
From The Glories Of Mary, by Saint Alphonsus Liguori:
O Lady, O ravished of hearts! ("O Domina, quae rapis corda.") I will exclaim with St. Bonaventure: "Lady, who with the love and favor thou showest thy servants dost ravish their hearts, ravish also my miserable heart, which desires ardently to love thee. Thou, my Mother, hast enamoured a God with thy beauty, and drawn him from heaven into thy chaste womb; and shall I live without loving thee? "No, I will say to thee with one of thy most loving sons, John Berchmans of the Society of Jesus, I will never rest until I am certain of having obtained thy love; but a constant and tender love towards thee, my Mother, who hast loved me with so much tenderness" ("Nunquam quiescam, donec habuero tenerum amorem erga Matrem meam, Mariam"), even when I was ungrateful towards thee.
And what should I now be, O Mary, if thou hadst not obtained so many mercies for me? Since, then, thou didst love me so much when I loved thee not, how much more may I not now hope from thee, now that I love thee? I love thee, O my Mother, and I would that I had a heart to love thee in place of all those unfortunate creatures who love thee not. I would that I could speak with a thousand tongues, that all might know thy greatness, thy holiness, thy mercy, and the love with which thou lovest all who love thee. Had I riches, I would employ them all for thy honor. Had I subjects, I would make them all thy lovers. In fine, if the occasion presented itself I would lay down my life for thy glory. I love thee, then, O my Mother; but at the same time I fear that I do not love thee as I ought; for I hear that love makes lovers like the person loved. If, then, I see myself so unlike thee, it is a mark that I do not love thee. Thou art so pure, and I defiled with many sins; thou so humble, and I so proud; thou so holy, and I so wicked. This, then, is what thou hast to do, O Mary; since thou lovest me, make me like thee. Thou hast all power to change hearts; take, then, mine and change it. Show the world what thou canst, do for those who love thee. Make me a saint; make me thy worthy child. This is my hope.
Amen.
From The Glories Of Mary, by Saint Alphonsus Liguori:
O Lady, O ravished of hearts! ("O Domina, quae rapis corda.") I will exclaim with St. Bonaventure: "Lady, who with the love and favor thou showest thy servants dost ravish their hearts, ravish also my miserable heart, which desires ardently to love thee. Thou, my Mother, hast enamoured a God with thy beauty, and drawn him from heaven into thy chaste womb; and shall I live without loving thee? "No, I will say to thee with one of thy most loving sons, John Berchmans of the Society of Jesus, I will never rest until I am certain of having obtained thy love; but a constant and tender love towards thee, my Mother, who hast loved me with so much tenderness" ("Nunquam quiescam, donec habuero tenerum amorem erga Matrem meam, Mariam"), even when I was ungrateful towards thee.
And what should I now be, O Mary, if thou hadst not obtained so many mercies for me? Since, then, thou didst love me so much when I loved thee not, how much more may I not now hope from thee, now that I love thee? I love thee, O my Mother, and I would that I had a heart to love thee in place of all those unfortunate creatures who love thee not. I would that I could speak with a thousand tongues, that all might know thy greatness, thy holiness, thy mercy, and the love with which thou lovest all who love thee. Had I riches, I would employ them all for thy honor. Had I subjects, I would make them all thy lovers. In fine, if the occasion presented itself I would lay down my life for thy glory. I love thee, then, O my Mother; but at the same time I fear that I do not love thee as I ought; for I hear that love makes lovers like the person loved. If, then, I see myself so unlike thee, it is a mark that I do not love thee. Thou art so pure, and I defiled with many sins; thou so humble, and I so proud; thou so holy, and I so wicked. This, then, is what thou hast to do, O Mary; since thou lovest me, make me like thee. Thou hast all power to change hearts; take, then, mine and change it. Show the world what thou canst, do for those who love thee. Make me a saint; make me thy worthy child. This is my hope.
Amen.
Labels: Restorationists
Friday, May 02, 2008
Novena To the Holy Ghost, First Day
First Day:
Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given us forgiveness of all our sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us Thy sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. Amen.
Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's
Almighty and eternal God, Who hast vouchsafed to regenerate us by water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given us forgiveness of all our sins, vouchsafe to send forth from heaven upon us Thy sevenfold Spirit, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Fortitude, the Spirit of Knowledge and Piety, and fill us with the Spirit of Holy Fear. Amen.
Recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and seven Glory Be's
Labels: Restorationists
Saint Joseph the Carpenter
The foster father of Our Lord's feast in his role as provider for the Holy Family and model for those who work is transferred to today, because of Ascension Thursday falling on May 1st.
Labels: Restorationists
Daily Marian Prayer And Image For May
From The Glories Of Mary, by Saint Alphonsus Liguori
O most holy Mother Mary, how is it possible that I, having so holy a mother, should be so wicked? a mother all burning with the love of God, and I loving creatures; a mother so rich in virtue, and I so poor? Oh, amiable Mother, it is true that I do not deserve any longer to be thy son, for by my wicked life I have rendered myself unworthy of so great an honor. I am satisfied that thou shouldst accept me for thy servant; and in order to be admitted amongst the vilest of them, I am ready to renounce all the kingdoms of the world. Yes, I am satisfied. But still thou must not forbid me to call thee mother. This name consoles and fills me with tenderness, and reminds me of my obligation to love thee. This name excites me to great confidence in thee. When my sins and the divine justice fill me most with consternation, I am all consoled at the thought that thou art my mother. Allow me then, to call thee mother, my most amiable mother. Thus do I call thee, and thus will I always call thee. Thou, after God, must be my hope, my refuge, my love in this valley of tears. Thus do I hope to die, breathing forth my soul into thy holy hands, and saying, My Mother my Mother Mary, help me, have pity on me!
Amen.
Labels: Restorationists
Friday At the Foot Of the Cross
Thirty-Three Salutations to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
HAIL, Heart of my Jesus-----save me!
Hail, Heart of my Savior-----deliver me!
Hail, Heart of my Judge-----pardon me!
Hail, Heart of my Spouse-----love me!
Hail, Heart of my Master-----teach me!
Hail, Heart of my King-----crown me!
Hail, Heart of my Benefactor-----enrich me!
Hail, Heart of my Pastor-----keep me!
Hail, Heart of my Friend-----caress me!
Hail, Heart of the Infant Jesus-----attract me!
Hail, Heart of Jesus dying on the Cross-----atone for me!
Hail, Heart of Jesus in all its Conditions-----give Thyself to me!
Hail, Heart of my Brother-----remain with me!
Hail, Heart of incomparable Goodness-----forgive me!
Hail, Heart most Glorious-----shine forth in me!
Hail, Heart most Amiable-----inflame me!
Hail, Heart most Charitable-----work in me!
Hail, Heart most Merciful-----answer for me!
Hail, Heart most Humble-----repose in me!
Hail, Heart most Patient-----bear with me!
Hail, Heart most Faithful-----make satisfaction for me!
Hail, Heart most Adorable and most Worthy-----bless me!
Hail, Heart most Peaceful-----calm me!
Hail, Heart most Desirable and most Beautiful-----delight me!
Hail, Heart most Illustrious and most Perfect-----ennoble me!
Hail, Heart most Holy, Balm most Precious-----preserve and sanctify me!
Hail, Heart most Holy and most Salutary-----reform me!
Hail, Heart most Blessed, true Physician and Remedy for all our ills-----heal me!
Hail, Heart of Jesus, Consolation of the afflicted-----comfort me!
Hail, Heart most loving, ardent Furnace burning with Love-----consume me!
Hail, Heart of Jesus, Model of Perfection-----enlighten me!
Hail, Divine Heart, Source of all Happiness-----strengthen me!
Hail, Heart of eternal Benediction-----call me to Thee!
Labels: Restorationists
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Ascension Thursday
Happily, the Archdiocese of Boston adheres to the old rule, that the Ascension falls 40 days after Easter, on a Thursday. And even if it didn't, since I follow the 1962 Ordo (with some exceptions and additions) today would still be Ascension thursday, a holy day of obligation.
Labels: Restorationists
Daily Marian Prayer and Image For May
I will be illustrating the prayers to Our Blessed Lady, all of which come from Saint Alphonsus Liguori's The Glories Of Mary, with a different illustration each day. I have over 1,200 illustrations of Our Blessed Lady in my archives, so I hope to be able to vary somewhat from last year's images. However, I do have my favorites, which will inevitably show up. This one, often called Our Lady of Loreto, has begun May here for the last couple of years. I think we see a tradition here in the making.
O, Mother of my God, and my Lady Mary; as a beggar, all wounded and sore, presents himself before a great queen, so do I present myself before thee, who art the Queen of heaven and earth. From the lofty throne on which thou sittest, disdain not, I implore thee, to cast thine eyes on me, a poor sinner. God has made thee so rich that thou mightiest assist the poor, and has constituted thee Queen of Mercy in order that thou mightiest relieve the miserable. Behold me then, and pity me: behold me and abandon me not, until thou seest me changed from a sinner into a saint. I know well that I merit nothing; nay more, that I deserve, on account of my ingratitude, to be deprived of the graces that, through thy means, I have already received from God. But thou, who art the Queen of Mercy, seekest not merits, but miseries, in order to help the needy. But who is more needy than I?
O, exalted Virgin, well do I know that thou, who art Queen of the universe, art already my queen; yet am I determined to dedicate myself more especially to thy service, in order that thou mayest dispose of me as thou pleasest. Therefore do I address thee in the words of St. Bonaventure: "Do thou govern me, O my Queen, and leave me not to myself" ("Domina, me tuae dominationi committo, ut me plenarie regas et gubernes; no mihi me relinquas."�Stim. Div. Am. p. 3, c. 19). Command me; employ me as thou wilt, and chastise me when I do not obey; for the chastisements that come from thy hands will be to me pledges of salvation. I would rather be thy servant than the ruler of the earth. I am thine; save me ("Tuus sum ego, salvum me fac."�Ps. cxviii. 94). Accept me, O Mary, for thine own, and as thine, take charge of my salvation. I will no longer be mine; to thee do I give myself. If, during the time past I have served thee ill, and lost so many occasions of honoring thee, for the future I will be one of thy most loving and faithful servants. I am determined that from this day forward no one shall surpass me in honoring and loving thee, my most amiable Queen. This I promise; and this, with thy help, I hope to execute.
Amen.
Labels: Restorationists
May
Tulip beds in May at the Boston Public Garden
May is devoted to Our Blessed Lady.
Important feasts observed during the month of May include:
1st St. Joseph the Carpenter (transferred to May 2nd due to Ascension Thursday)
2nd Ss. James the Lesser and St. Phillip, Apostles, and Saint Athanasius
4th St. Monica
5th St. Pope Pius V
6th St. Dominic Savio
8th St. John the Evangelist
10th St. Solange
12th St. Flavia Domitilla (martyr) and St. Pancras
13th Our Lady of Fatima and Bl. Julian of Norwich
14th St. Matthias
15th St. Dymphna
16th St. Brendan the Navigator, St. Simon Stock, and St. John Nepomucene
19th St. Dunstan and St. Peter Celestine
20th St. Bernardine of Siena
24th Our Lady,Help of Christians, and St. Simeon Stylites the Younger
25th St. Pope Gregory VII
26th St. Phillip Neri
27th St. Augustine of Canterbury, and St. Bede the Venerable
28th Bl. Margaret Pole (martyr)
29th St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi
30th St. Jeanne de Arc
The First Friday (for purposes of the Sacred Heart devotion) is May 2nd.
The First Saturday is May 3rd.
May opens With Ascension Thursday, May 1st. Whitsunday (Pentecost) is Sunday May 11th. The remainder of the month is in the time after Pentecost. The Whitsun Embertide is Wednesday May 14th, Friday May 16th, and Saturday May 17th.
Trinity Sunday is Sunday May 18th. Thursday May 22nd is Corpus Christi. Friday May 30th is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Our Lord. Saturday May 31st is the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Our Blessed Lady for those using the 1970 Ordo.
The Novena To the Holy Ghost, the only approved novena of the Church, is customarily said in the days between Ascension Thursday and Whitsunday.
Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI's prayer requests for the month of May, 2008 are:
General:
That Christians may use literature, art and the media to greater advantage to favour a culture which defends and promotes the values of the human person
Mission:
That just as she accompanied the Apostles in the early stages of the Church, may the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of Evangelization and Queen of Apostles, continue to guide missionaries throughout the world with maternal affection.
Labels: Restorationists
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
OMG! It's Rogationtide!
Today is the Vigil of the Ascension. Ascension Thursday is tomorrow. I would have forgotten but for the notice on the chapel door this morning as I went in for my holy hour.
Here is my post from last year on Rogationtide. Do follow the links.
Here is another post on rogations from last year.
But wait, there's more!
I was really on top of Rogationtide last year. Sadly, this year, I am behind.
Tomorrow begins Our Blessed Lady's month of May, which I intend to honor, as I have in the past, with a different Marian image and Marian Prayer from The Glories of Mary by Saint Alphonsus Liguori for every day.
Here is my post from last year on Rogationtide. Do follow the links.
Here is another post on rogations from last year.
But wait, there's more!
I was really on top of Rogationtide last year. Sadly, this year, I am behind.
Tomorrow begins Our Blessed Lady's month of May, which I intend to honor, as I have in the past, with a different Marian image and Marian Prayer from The Glories of Mary by Saint Alphonsus Liguori for every day.
Labels: Restorationists
The Transalpine Redemptorists Declare...Something
Father Z analyzes a declaration of the Transalpine Redemptorists dated Monday of this week, in which they say that the time may be ripe to begin exploring full communion with Rome.
They don't want to cut ties with the SSPX, and others not in full communion, but they declare that the reasons which led them out of full communion have diminished, and that the Holy Father has their loyalty. They are grateful to him for Summorum Pontificum. Readers will remember that they accepted the Holy Father's revision of the Good Friday Prayer for the Jewish People in the 1962 Missal, where the SSPX did not.
They couch what they declare in careful locutions, but why bother to declare anything unless there is a willingness to move forward? I think their next step is to go through the Ecclesia Dei Pontifical Commission, in order to lay the groundwork for recognition as a Roman Catholic religious community operating under PCED's aegis. This could happen soon.
I am excited about this because of the Transalpine Redemptorists' special chrism of praying the traditional liturgy for the souls in Purgatory. I am a friend to their mission, and wish to see them in full communion. It can only strengthen the Church. And full communion for them could have further gravitational effects on the SSPX and others.
They don't want to cut ties with the SSPX, and others not in full communion, but they declare that the reasons which led them out of full communion have diminished, and that the Holy Father has their loyalty. They are grateful to him for Summorum Pontificum. Readers will remember that they accepted the Holy Father's revision of the Good Friday Prayer for the Jewish People in the 1962 Missal, where the SSPX did not.
They couch what they declare in careful locutions, but why bother to declare anything unless there is a willingness to move forward? I think their next step is to go through the Ecclesia Dei Pontifical Commission, in order to lay the groundwork for recognition as a Roman Catholic religious community operating under PCED's aegis. This could happen soon.
I am excited about this because of the Transalpine Redemptorists' special chrism of praying the traditional liturgy for the souls in Purgatory. I am a friend to their mission, and wish to see them in full communion. It can only strengthen the Church. And full communion for them could have further gravitational effects on the SSPX and others.
Labels: Restorationists
Monday, April 28, 2008
Two Great Saints
In the calendar of the Ordinary Form of the Mass, today, April 28th, is the feast of Saint Louis de Montfort. He is best known for his book True Devotion To The Blessed Virgin Mary.
Fisheaters has broken down the method for total consecration to Jesus through Mary here.
Saint Louis de Montfort, pray for us!
And for those following the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, today is the feast of Saint Paul of the Cross, founder of the Passionists. The Catholic Encyclopedia has more.
Saint Paul of the Cross, pray for us!
Fisheaters has broken down the method for total consecration to Jesus through Mary here.
Saint Louis de Montfort, pray for us!
And for those following the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, today is the feast of Saint Paul of the Cross, founder of the Passionists. The Catholic Encyclopedia has more.
"It is an excellent and holy practice to call to mind and meditate on our Lord's Passion, since it is by this path that we shall arrive at union with God. In this, the holiest of all schools, true wisdom is learned, for it was there that all the saints became wise."
Saint Paul of the Cross, pray for us!
Labels: Restorationists
