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| Prayers to Saint Thomas Aquinas |
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Posted by: Hildegard of Bingen - 01-10-2021, 03:12 PM - Forum: Doctors of the Church
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(Prayers taken from the "Saint Thomas Aquinas - The Story of the Dumb OX by Mary Fabyan Windeatt)
PRAYER TO SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS
BEFORE STUDY OR LECTURE
O BLESSED Thomas, Patron of Schools, obtain for us from God
an invincible faith, a burning charity, a chaste life, and true
knowledge, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
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PRAYER TO SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS
TO OBTAIN A SPECIAL FAVOR
DEAR Saint Thomas, gentlest of saints, you loved Jesus so tenderly and wrote
so well of Him that He made you the glory of the Church and a shining star in
the Order of St. Dominic. Encouraged by your kindness and charity, I beg you
to obtain this favor that I now ask. (State your request.)
Plead my cause with your beloved Jesus, so that I may serve Him faithfully in this
life and enjoy Him forever in Heaven. Amen.
One Decade of the Rosary.
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PRAYERS OF THE ANGELIC WARFARE
Recommended to Be Said Frequently by the Members of the Society
PRAYER OF SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS
This prayer was said by St. Thomas as he lay prostrate before the cross which he
had drawn upon the wall with the burning brand after repelling the last attack
on his purity. Then the angels girded him with the cincture of perpetual chastity,
a favor which his humility concealed until the approach of death, when he revealed
to his confessor what had happened to him.
Dearest Jesus! I know well that every perfect gift, and above all others that
of chastity, depends upon the most powerful assistance of Thy Providence,
and that without Thee a creature can do nothing. Therefore, I pray Thee
to defend, with Thy grace, chastity and purity in my soul as well as in my
body. And if I have ever received through my senses any impression that
could stain my chastity and purity, do Thou, Who art the Supreme Lord
of all my powers, take it from me, that I may with an immaculate heart
advance in Thy love and service, offering myself chaste all the days of my
life on the most pure altar of Thy Divinity. Amen.
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PRAYER FOR PURITY
CHOSEN lily of innocence, purest St. Thomas! to thee who didst preserve ever fair thy
baptismal robe; to the a true angel in the flesh! to thee do I pray to Lamb, and to Mary the
Queen of Virgins, that I also, who seek to honor thee, may receive the gift of thy purity;
that thus imitating thee upon the earth, I may one day be crowned with thee, O great
guardian of my purity, amongst the angels in Paradise.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.
V. Pray for us, St. Thomas.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
O God, Who hast vouchsafed to defend with the blessed cincture of St. Thomas those who
are engaged in the terrible conflict of chastity! grant to us Thy suppliants, by his help,
happily to overcome in this warfare the terrible enemy of our body and soul, that being
crowned with the lily of perpetual purity, we may deserve to receive from Thee, among
the chaste bands of the angels, the palm of bliss. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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ANOTHER PRAYER OF SAINT THOMAS
O MERCIFUL God, grant that I may eagerly desire, carefully search out, truthfully
acknowledge, and ever perfectly fulfill all things which are pleasing to Thee, to the
praise and glory of Thy Name. Amen.
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PRAYER TO SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS
PATRON OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
O ANGELIC Doctor, Saint Thomas, prince of theologians and model of philosophers,
bright ornament of the Christian world and light of the Church; O heavenly patron of
all Catholic schools, who didst learn wisdom without guile and dost communicate
it without envy, intercede for us with the Son of God, Wisdom Itself, that the
Spirit of Wisdom may descend upon us, and enable us to understand clearly
that which thou hast taught, and fulfill it by imitating they deeds; that we may
become partakers of that doctrine and virtue which caused thee to shine like the
sun on earth, and may at last rejoice with thee forever in their most sweet fruits
in Heaven, together praising the Divine Wisdom for all eternity. Amen.
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When putting on the cord or medal of St. Thomas Aquinas say:
GIRD me, O Lord! with the cincture of purity; and by the merits of St. Thomas
extinguish within me every evil desire, that I may remain continent and chaste until death. Amen.
PRAYER TO SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS
BEFORE STUDY
Creator of all things,
True Source of light and wisdom,
Lofty origin of all being,
Graciously let a ray of Thy brilliance
Penetrate into the darkness of my understanding
And take from me the double darkness
In which I have been born,
An obscurity of both sin and ignorance.
Give me a sharp sense of understanding,
A retentive memory,
And the ability to grasp things correctly and fundamentally.
Grant me the talent of being exact in my explanations,
And the ability to express myself with thoroughness and charm.
Point out the beginning,
Direct the progress,
And help in completion;
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
A STUDENT'S PRAYER
(By St. Thomas Aquinas)
Come, Holy Ghost, Divine Creator,
True source of light and fountain of wisdom!
Pour forth your brilliance upon my dense intellect,
Dissipate the darkness which covers me,
That of sin and of ignorance.
Grant me a penetrating mind to understand,
A retentive memory,
Method and ease in learning,
The lucidity to comprehend,
And abundant grace in expressing myself,
Guide the beginning of my work,
Direct its progress,
And bring it to successful completion.
This I ask through Jesus Christ,
True God and true man,
Living and reigning with Thee
and the Father, forever and ever.
AMEN.
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| February 15th - Sts. Faustinus and Jovita |
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Posted by: Elizabeth - 01-10-2021, 03:00 PM - Forum: February
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Saints Faustinus and Jovita
Martyrs
(† 122)
Faustinus and Jovita were brothers, nobly born, and were zealous professors of the Christian religion, which they preached without fear in their city of Brescia in Lombardy, during the persecution of Adrian. Their remarkable zeal excited the fury of the heathens against them, and procured them a glorious death for their faith.
Faustinus, a priest, and Jovita, a deacon, were preaching the Gospel fearlessly in the region when Julian, a pagan officer, apprehended them. They were commanded to adore the sun, but replied that they adored the living God who created the sun to give light to the world. The statue before which they were standing was brilliant and surrounded with golden rays. Saint Jovita, looking at it, cried out: Yes, we adore the God reigning in heaven, who created the sun. And you, vain statue, turn black, to the shame of those who adore you! At his word, it turned black. The Emperor commanded that it be cleaned, but the pagan priests had hardly begun to touch it when it fell into ashes.
The two brothers were sent to the amphitheater to be devoured by lions, but four of those came out and lay down at their feet. They were left without food in a dark jail cell, but Angels brought them strength and joy for new combats. The flames of a huge fire respected them, and a large number of spectators were converted at the sight. Finally sentenced to decapitation, they knelt down and received the death blow. The city of Brescia honors them as its chief patrons and possesses their relics, and a very ancient church in that city bears their names.
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| February 14th - St. Valentine |
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Posted by: Elizabeth - 01-10-2021, 02:57 PM - Forum: February
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Saint Valentine
Priest and Martyr
(† 268)
Valentine was a holy priest in Rome, who assisted the martyrs during the persecution under Claudius II. His great virtue and influence became known, and he was apprehended and brought before the emperor's tribunal. Why, Valentine, do you want to be the friend of our enemies and reject our friendship? The Christian priest replied, My Lord, if you knew the gift of God, you would be happy, and your empire with you; you would reject the cult of your idols and would adore the true God and His Son Jesus Christ. One of the judges interrupted, asking the martyr what he thought of Jupiter and Mercury. That they were miserable, and spent all their lives in debauchery and crime! The judge, furious, cried, He has blasphemed against the gods and against the empire! The emperor nonetheless continued his questioning with curiosity, pleased to have this opportunity to know what Christians thought. Valentine had the courage to exhort him to do penance for the blood of Christians which he had shed. Believe in Jesus Christ, be baptized and you will be saved, and already in this life you will insure your empire's glory and the triumph of your arms. Claudius began to be convinced, and said to those in attendance, Hear the beautiful doctrine this man is teaching us! But the prefect of Rome, dissatisfied, cried out, See how this Christian is seducing our prince! Claudius, weakening, abandoned the holy priest to another judge.
This man, named Asterius, had a little girl who had been blind for two years. Hearing of Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, he asked Valentine if he could convey that light to his child. Saint Valentine placed his hand on her eyes and prayed: Lord Jesus Christ, true Light, illuminate this blind child! The child saw, and the Judge with all his family confessed Christ and received Baptism. The emperor, hearing of this, would have turned his gaze away from these conversions, but fear caused him to betray his sense of justice. With several other Christians Saint Valentine was tortured and martyred in the year 268.
This illustrious martyr has always been held in great honor in Rome, where there still exists a catacomb named for him
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| February 13th - St. Catherine of Ricci |
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Posted by: Elizabeth - 01-10-2021, 02:56 PM - Forum: February
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Saint Catherine of Ricci
Virgin
(1522-1590)
Alexandrina of Ricci was the daughter of a noble Florentine. At the age of thirteen she entered the Third Order of Saint Dominic in the monastery of Prato, taking in religion the name of Catherine, in honor of her patron and predecessor of Siena. Her special attraction was to the Passion of Christ, in which she was permitted miraculously to participate. During the Lent of 1541, being then twenty-one years of age, she had a vision of the crucifixion so heartrending that she was prostrated and confined to bed for three weeks, and was only restored on Holy Saturday, by an apparition of Saint Mary Magdalene and the risen Jesus.
During twelve years Saint Catherine passed every Friday in ecstasy. She received the sacred stigmata, the wound in the left side, and the crown of thorns. All these favors gave her continual and intense suffering, and inspired her with a loving sympathy for the yet more bitter tortures of the Holy Souls. In their behalf she offered all her prayers and penances; and her charity toward them became so famous throughout Tuscany that after every death the friends of the deceased hastened to Catherine to secure her prayers.
Saint Catherine offered many prayers, fasts, and penances for a certain great man, and thereby obtained his salvation. It was revealed to her that he was nonetheless in purgatory; and such was her love of Jesus crucified that she offered to suffer all the pains which would be inflicted on that soul. Her prayer was granted. The soul entered heaven, and for forty days Catherine suffered indescribable agonies. Her body was covered with blisters, emitting heat so great that her cell seemed on fire. Her flesh appeared as if roasted, and her tongue like red-hot iron. She remained calm and joyful, saying, I long to suffer all imaginable pains, that souls may quickly see and praise their Redeemer. She conversed with the Saints in glory, and frequently with Saint Philip Neri at Rome without ever leaving her convent at Prato. She died, amid angels' songs, in 1590.
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| The Recusant #54 - Epiphany 2021 |
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Posted by: Stone - 01-10-2021, 07:04 AM - Forum: The Recusant
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Quote:Greetings once again, fellow extremists, radicals and gulag-dodgers!
World Communism is almost upon us. Each day that passes we seem to be getting one step closer to the World Government through which the ‘Lord of the World’ will one day rule. The stakes, though still hidden from many, are nonetheless extremely high. Bear that in mind the next time someone looks at you disapprovingly for not wearing a face-muzzle in public. If only they knew. Bear in mind also, that Our Lord will, of course, have the last say. ...
Contents
•Archbishop Lefebvre: 1978 ‘Spotlight’ Interview
•DICI Interview with the SSPX Superior General (Analysis)
•Don’t Get the Vaccine!
•Novus Ordo Bishops speak out against the vaccine
•The Old SSPX spoke out against vaccines
•The New SSPX gives green light to the new vaccine
•Bishop Williamson changes his mind concerning the vaccine.
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| February 12th - The Seven Holy Servite Founders and St. Benedict of Anian |
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Posted by: Elizabeth - 01-10-2021, 12:13 AM - Forum: February
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The Seven Holy Servite Founders
(Mid 13th century)
Can you imagine seven prominent men of any large modern city banding together, leaving their homes and profession, and going into solitude for a life directly given to God? That is what happened in the cultured and prosperous city of Florence in the middle of the 13th century. At this time, the city was torn with political strife as well as by the heresy of the Cathari; morals were low and religion neglected.
On the feast of the Assumption in 1233, seven of the members of a Florentine Confraternity devoted to the Holy Mother of God were gathered in prayer under the presidency of Alessio Falconieri. The Blessed Virgin appeared to the young men and exhorted them to devote themselves to Her service, in retirement from the world. It was in 1240 that they decided to withdraw together from the city to a solitary place for prayer and the service of God. The eldest was Buonfiglio Monaldo, who became their leader. The others were Alexis Falconieri, Benedict dell'Antella, Bartholomew Amidei, Ricovero Uguccione, Gerardino Sostegni, and John Buonagiunta. Their aim was to lead a life of penance and prayer, but they soon found themselves disturbed by increasing numbers of visitors. They next retired to the deserted slopes of Monte Senario near Florence, where the Blessed Virgin appeared to them again. There the nucleus of a new Order was formed, called Servants of Mary, or Servites, in recognition of their special manner of venerating the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady.
In 1244, under the direction of Saint Peter of Verona, O.P., this small group adopted a religious habit similar to the Dominican habit, choosing to live under the rule of Saint Augustine. The new Order took a form resembling more the mendicant friars than the older monastic Orders. One of the most remarkable features of the new foundation was its wonderful growth. Even in the fourteenth century, the Order had more than one hundred convents in several nations of Europe, as well as in India and on the Island of Crete. The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows is one of their regular devotions, as is also the Via Matris, or Way of the Cross of Mary.
![[Image: saintb18.jpg]](https://catholicsaints.info/wp-content/uploads/saintb18.jpg) Saint Benedict of Anian
Abbot
(750-821)
Saint Benedict of Anian was the son of Aigulf, Governor of Languedoc, and was born about 750. In his early youth he served as cup-bearer to King Pepin and his son Charlemagne, under them enjoying great honors and possessions. Grace entered his soul at the age of twenty, and he resolved to seek the kingdom of God with his whole heart. Without relinquishing his place at court, he lived there a very mortified life for three years; then a narrow escape from drowning made him vow to leave the world, and he entered the cloister of Saint Seine, near Langres.
In reward for Saint Benedict's heroic austerities in the monastic state, God bestowed upon him the gift of tears, and inspired him with a knowledge of spiritual things. As procurator for the monastery, he was very solicitous for the wants of the brethren, and most hospitable to the poor and to guests. Declining to accept the abbacy, he built himself a little hermitage on the Anian brook, and lived some years in great solitude and poverty.
When the fame of his sanctity drew many souls to him, he was obliged to build a large abbey, and within a short time governed three hundred monks. He became the great restorer of monastic discipline throughout France and Germany. First, he drew up with immense labor a code of the rules of the first Saint Benedict, his patron, which he collated with those of the chief monastic founders, showing the uniformity of the exercises in each. He enforced by his Penitential their exact observance; secondly, he minutely regulated all matters regarding food, clothing, and every detail of life; and thirdly, by prescribing the same regime for all, he precluded jealousies and insured perfect charity. In a Provincial Council at which he was present, held in 813 under Charlemagne, it was declared that all monks of the West should adopt the rule of Saint Benedict of Anian. He died February 11, 821. |
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| Thoughts of the St. Cure of d'Ars (St. John Mary Vianney) |
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Posted by: Hildegard of Bingen - 01-09-2021, 10:33 PM - Forum: The Saints
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St. John Mary Vianney
The Cure of Ars
1786-1859
Patron of Parish Priests
THOUGHTS OF THE CURE OF D'ARS
Compiled and Arranged by W.M. B.
Booklet available from TAN Books
"We have nothing of our own but our will. It
is the only thing which God has so placed in
our own power that we can make an offering
of it to Him." - The Cure of Ars
Page 7
Oh! how I love those words said the first thing in
the morning: I will do and suffer everything this
day for the Glory of God . . . nothing for the world
or personal interest, all to please my Saviour!
- Counsel (T.)
Does our conduct correspond with our Faith?
- Sermon on the Incarnation, I.
God does not require of us extraordinary things.
- Catechism on Pride (Sp.).
A PURE soul is with God, as a child with its mother.
It caresses and embraces her, and its mother returns
all its endearments.
- Catechism on the Soul (M.).
With the name of Jesus we shall overthrow the
demons; we shall put them to flight. With is Name,
if they dare to attack us, our battles will be victories. . .
- Sermon on Temptation (Sp.).
The Saints were so completely dead to themselves
that they cared very little whether others agreed with
them or not.
- Catechism on Pride (Sp.)
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| Feast of the Holy Family |
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Posted by: Stone - 01-09-2021, 05:12 PM - Forum: Christmas
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Feast of the Holy Family
INTROIT (Proverbs 23-25) The father of the Just rejoiceth greatly, let Thy father and Thy mother be joyful, and let her rejoice who bore Thee. -- (Ps.88. 2, 3). How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts! my soul longeth and fainteth for the courts of the Lord. V.: Glory be to the Father . . . -- The father of the Just . .
COLLECT. O Lord Jesus Christ, who, being subject to Mary and Joseph, didst sanctify home life with unspeakable virtues: grant, that, by the aid of both, we may be taught by the example of Thy Holy Family, and attain to eternal fellowship with it: Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God . . .
EPISTLE. (Colossians 3: 12-17) Brethren, Put ye on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, the bowels of mercy, benignity, humility, modesty, patience: bearing with one another and forgiving one another: even as the Lord hath forgiven you, so do you also. But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection: and let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles, singing in grace in your hearts to God. All whatsoever you do in word or in work, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God and the Father by Jesus Christ our Lord.
GRADUAL. (Psalms 26: 4) One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. V. (Ps. 88. 5). Blessed are they that dwell in Thy house, O Lord, they shall praise Thee for ever and ever.
LESSER ALLELUIA. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Isaias 45. 15). Verily Thou art a hidden King, the God of Israel, the Savior. Alleluia.
TRACT. Hebrews 10:5. Sacrifice and oblation Thou wouldst not, but a body Thou has fitted unto me. V. Burnt-offering and sin-offering Thou didst not require: then said I: Behold I come. V. In the head of the book it is written of Me that I should do Thy will.
GREATER ALLELUIA. ALLELUIA, alleluia. V. Blessed is the man that heareth Me and that watcheth daily at My gates, and waiteth at the post of My doors. Alleluia. V. Our life is hidden with Christ in God. Alleluia.
GOSPEL. (Luke 2: 42-52) When Jesus was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast, and having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the Child Jesus remained in Jerusalem, and His parents knew it not. And thinking that He was in the company, they came a day's journey, and sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintences. And not finding Him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking Him. And it came to pass that after three days they found Him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His wisdom and His answers. And seeing Him they wondered. And His Mother said to Him: Son, why hast Thou done so to us? Behold Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing. And He said to them: how is it that you sought Me Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business? And they understood not the word that He spoke unto them. And he went down with them and come to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And His Mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and grace with God and men.
OFFERTORY. (Luke 2:22) The parents of Jesus carried Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord.
SECRET. We offer unto Thee, O Lord, this propitiatory Sacrifice, humbly entreating Thee: that the intercession of the Virgin Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, Thou wouldst firmly establish our families in Thy peace and grace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost God, world without end. Amen.
PREFACE. (Preface of the Epiphany) It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty, everlasting God; for when Thine only-begotten Son was manifested in the substance of our mortal flesh, with the new light of His own Immortality He restored us. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Throne and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying: Holy, Holy, Holy...
COMMUNION. (Luke 2:51) Jesus went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them.
POST COMMUNION. Make us, O Lord Jesus, whom Thou dost refresh with heavenly sacraments, ever to follow the example of Thy Holy Family: that in the hour of our death, the glorious Virgin Thy Mother with blessed Joseph may come to our aid, and we may be found worthy to be received by Thee into everlasting tabernacles. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost . .
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INSTRUCTION FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
GOSPEL (Lk. 2:42-52). And when Jesus was twelve years old, they going up into Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast, and having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not. And thinking that he was in the company, they came a day's journey, and sought him among their kinsfolks and acquaintance. And not finding him, they returned into Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his wisdom and his answers. And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou done so to us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? did ye not know that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the word that he spoke unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men.
Why did our Savior go with His parents to Jerusalem to the temple?
Because God commanded (Deut. 16:16) that all the male Israelites should appear, three times a year on certain festivals, and offer sacrifice to Him in the temple; Jesus fulfilled this commandment to set us an example that we, according to the will of the holy Catholic Church, should willingly and devoutly be present at the services of the Church on Sundays and holydays of obligation. Neither the distance from the church nor the difficulties of the way should prevent our attendance, since Jesus did not shun a three days' journey to the temple.
Why does the gospel say according to the custom of the feast?
That we may understand, that like Mary and Joseph, we should be punctual in observing the ecclesiastical festivals and holy usages, and like true Catholics, should observe them. Parents should require their children at an early age to take part in prayer, attend church and school, and see that they conduct themselves quietly and reverently while there. Mary and Joseph took the holy Child Jesus with them to the temple.
Why did the child Jesus remain in Jerusalem?
Because of His love of prayer and communion with His Heavenly Father, and to show, even then, some rays of His divinity, by which to make known that He had come for the glory of His Father, and to procure our salvation. The glory of God and the salvation of our souls should be our chief object in life.
Why did Mary and Joseph search so diligently for Jesus?
Because they were fearful lest they should lose Him Whom they loved so exceedingly. We should learn from this, how careful we should be not to lose Jesus by sin, or having lost Him, how anxiously we should seek by penance to find Him. The parents of Jesus, by their diligent search and inquiries for the divine Infant, teach and rebuke those parents who care less for the Christian education of their children than for their temporal advantages, who pay no attention to the persons with whom their children associate, nor to the places which they frequent, whether they learn things that are useful to them, and who for the sake of some temporal advantage permit their children sinful intimacy with evil-minded persons. From these parents God will one day demand the souls of their children with severest justice.
Why was our Savior found in the temple in the midst of the doctors, hearing them, and asking them questions?
To teach us that we ought to seek the knowledge necessary for our salvation, and attend carefully to the sermons and instructions on Christian doctrine; we should by no means be ashamed to ask questions of our pastors when we are in doubt, and should listen to their answers. Was Christ, the Eternal Wisdom, ashamed to ask questions and to answer? Why should we ignorant people hesitate? It is much to be regretted that persons who have many important things concerning their spiritual welfare on their minds, through pride and false shame, would rather go to perdition than ask advice, solely for fear of showing their ignorance.
Why did Mary say: Son, why hast thou done so to us?
These words were forced from her by pain at the absence of her Son, Whom she loved above all things, and not by indignation, for He was blameless. Mary's conduct should teach parents to remember their duty of caring for their children, and punish them when they do wrong.
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INSTRUCTION ON THE VIRTUE OF OBEDIENCE
He was subject to them (Lk. 2:51).
From this all Christians should learn to be obedient to the commandments of God and of the Church. God has united life or death, blessing or malediction with obedience or disobedience to His commandments, and the Bible (I Kings 15:22) shows that obedience pleases God more than sacrifices or the fat of rams, and that He despises disobedience as He does witchcraft and idolatry. We must be obedient to the Church, because Christ Himself with His holy Spirit lives in her, and governs her, and has said: Who hears not the Church, let him be to thee a heathen and a publican, therefore, shut out from eternal life. We must be obedient to our parents, because they are placed over us by God, and we are indebted to them, under Him, for life and many benefits. Those children who do not assist their parents when they are old, poor, and helpless, or are ashamed of them, have reason to be afraid, since even Christ Jesus, the God-Man, was obedient and subject in all things to His poor mother, and to a humble mechanic who was only His foster-father. Cursed be he that honoreth not his father and mother (Deut. 27:16); how much more cursed those who despise, deride and abandon their parents? Their eyes will one day be picked out by ravens (Prov. 30:17). If God commanded obstinate and disobedient children to be stoned (Dent. 21:20), what do those not deserve who even strike or abuse their parents?
How did Jesus advance in age, wisdom and grace?
He showed new effects of the wisdom and grace with which He was filled, as He advanced in years, and thus teaches us to progress the more in virtue, and fulfill the duties of our state in life that we may attain perfection hereafter.
ASPIRATION Most amiable Jesus! Who in the twelfth year of Thy age, didst permit Thyself to be found in the temple by Thy parents, and, as an example for us, wast humbly obedient to them, grant that we may diligently attend to the important affair of our salvation, willingly carry the yoke of Thy law from our youth, and be always obedient to the laws of Thy Church, to our parents, and superiors. Prevent uneducated youth from growing reckless, and preserve them from a scandalous life. Give parents wisdom and grace to educate their children according to Thy will in all virtue. Grant to us all, that we may never lose Thee by sin, or if we have lost Thee, anxiously to seek Thee, happily find Thee, and with Thy grace more and more increase in wisdom and in virtue. Amen.
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TRUE PIETY
They found Him in the temple (Lk. 2:46).
Many people deceive themselves in regard to true piety, because their imagination represents it to them according to the effect produced by their passions or disposition of mind. He who fasts often and willingly believes that he is pious, though in his heart he nourishes a secret hatred, and while he fears to wet the tip of his tongue with wine, even with water, lest he should not live temperately enough, finds pleasure in detraction and slander, that unquenchable thirst for the blood of his neighbor. Another, because he is accustomed daily to recite a long string of prayers, esteems himself pious, though he gives vent afterwards to haughty, bitter, offensive language, hurting people at home and abroad. Another keeps his purse open for the poor, but keeps his heart ever closed to the love of his enemy, whom he will not forgive; another forgives his enemy with all his heart, but will not pay his creditors, until forced by law. All these think themselves pious, and are perhaps so regarded by the world, but in truth they are far from being pious. In what then does true piety consist? In the perfect love of God. This love is called the beautiful love, because it is the ornament of the soul, and attracts to itself with complacency the eyes of the Divine Majesty. When it strengthens us to do good, it is called the strong love; when it causes us to do that good quickly, carefully, and repeatedly, it is called piety. The ostrich has wings, it is true, but never uses them to fly; the chickens fly heavily and not high; but the eagles, the doves, and the swallows, fly high and swiftly, and do not easily tire. The sinners are but earthly people, they creep upon the ground; the just, who are still imperfect, rise, it is true, towards heaven but seldom, and then but slowly and heavily. But there are some, true, pious souls, who like the doves and the eagles soar high on strong, swift wings to God. In a word, piety is nothing else than a certain active, swift energy of the spirit, with which the strong love in us, or we with it, performs, as far as it is possible to us, all good. As the strong love urges us to keep God's commandments, the perfect love, that is, piety, urges us to keep them carefully and with all possible zeal.
No one is just or pious who does not keep all God's commandments without exception; for, to be just we must possess the strong love, and to be pious we must possess besides, a certain eagerness to profit by all the occasions of doing good, that present themselves. Thus St. Francis de Sales writes in his Philothea, from which it is seen that true piety consists not in special devotions, or the practice of special good works, but in the zealous, earnest, continuous obedience to the commandments and performance of duty for the love of God.
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| Litany for the Holy Souls in Purgatory |
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Posted by: Hildegard of Bingen - 01-09-2021, 04:32 PM - Forum: For the Souls in Purgatory
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Litany for the Holy Souls in Purgatory
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 the Souls of the Faithful departed.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on the Souls of the faithful departed.
God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on the Souls of the faithful departed.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on the Souls of the faithful departed.
Holy Mary ,
Pray for the Souls of the faithful departed.
Holy Mother of God,
Pray for the Souls of the faithful departed.
Saint Michael, etc.
Saint Gabriel,
All ye holy Angels and Archangels,
Saint John the Baptist,
Saint Joseph,
All ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets,
Saint Peter,
Saint Paul,
Saint John,
All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists,
Saint Stephen,
Saint Lawrence,
All ye holy Martyrs,
Saint Gregory,
Saint Ambrose,
All ye holy bishops and confessors,
Saint Mary Magdalen,
Saint Catherine,
All ye holy Virgins and widows,
All ye Saints of God,
Make intercession for the Souls of the faithful departed.
Be merciful,
Spare them, O Lord.
Be merciful,
Hear them, O Lord.
From all evil,
O Lord, deliver them.
From Thy wrath,
O Lord, deliver them.
From the flame of fire, etc.
From the region of the shadow of death,
Through Thine Immaculate Conception,
Through Thy Nativity,
Through Thy Most Holy Name,
Through the multitude of Thy tender mercies, Through Thy most bitter Passion,
Through Thy most Sacred Wounds,
Through Thy most Precious Blood,
Through Thine ignominious death, by which
Thou hast destroyed our death,
We sinners,
We beseech Thee, hear us.
O Thou Who didst absolve the sinner woman and hear the prayer of the good thief,
We beseech Thee, hear us.
That thou wouldst release our deceased parents, relations and benefactors
from the bonds of their sins and the punishment for them, etc.
That Thou wouldst hasten the day of visiting Thy faithful detained in the receptacles
of sorrow, and wouldst transport them to the city of eternal peace,
That Thou wouldst shorten the time of expiation for their sins and graciously
admit them into the holy sanctuary, into which no unclean thing can enter,
That through the prayers and alms of Thy Church, and especially by the inestimable
Sacrifice of Thy Holy Altar, Thou wouldst receive them into the tabernacle of rest
and crown their longing hopes with everlasting fruition,
Son of God,
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Grant them eternal rest.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Grant them eternal rest.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Grant them eternal rest.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, etc.
V. And lead us not into temptation,
R. But deliver us from all evil. Amen.
V. From the gates of Hell,
R. Deliver their Souls, O Lord.
V. May they rest in peace.
R. Amen.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer ,
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Let Us Pray.
O God, Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the Souls of Thy
departed servants the remission of all their sins, that through our pious
supplications they may obtain the pardon which they have always desired.
Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. R. Amen.
O God, the Giver of pardon and the Lover of the salvation of men, we beg Thy clemency on behalf of our brethren, kinsfolk and benefactors
who have departed this life, that by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the Saints, Thou wouldst receive them into the joys of
Thine everlasting kingdom.Through Christ Our Lord. R. Amen.
O God, to Whom it belongs always to have mercy and to spare, be favorably propitious to the Souls of Thy servants and grant them the remission
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| Litany of Our Lady of Perpetual Help |
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Posted by: Hildegard of Bingen - 01-09-2021, 04:30 PM - Forum: Marian Litanies
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THE LITANY OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. 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, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Queen conceived without the stain of Original Sin, pray for us.
Queen the most Holy Rosary, pray for us.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us.
O Mother of Perpetual Help, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
That I may love God with all my heart, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
That I may in all things conform my will to that of thy Divine Son, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
That I may always shun sin, the only real evil, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
That I may always remember my last end, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
That I may often and devoutly receive the Sacraments, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
That I may avoid every proximate occasion of sin, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
That I may never neglect prayer, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
That I may ever remember to invoke thee, particularly in time of temptation, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
That I may always be victorious in the hour of temptation, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
That I may generously pardon my enemies, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
That I may arise quickly, should I have the misfortune of falling into mortal sin, Come to my aid. O loving Mother.
That I may courageously resist the seductions of evil companions, Come to my aid. O loving Mother.
That I may be strong against my own inconstancy, Come to my aid. O loving Mother.
That I may not delay my conversion from day to day, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
That I may labor zealously to eradicate my evil habits, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
That I may ever love to serve thee, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
That I may lead others to love and serve thee, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
That I may live and die in the friendship of God, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
In all necessities of body and soul, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
In sickness and pain, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
In poverty and distress, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
In persecution and abandonment, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
In in grief and dereliction of mind, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
In time of war, famine and contagion, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
In every danger of sin, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
When assailed by the evil spirits, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
When tempted by the allurements of a deceitful world, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
When struggling against the inclinations of my corrupt nature, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
When tempted against the holy virtue of purity, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
When death is nigh, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
When the loss of my senses shall warn me that my earthly career is at an end, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
When the thought of my approaching dissolution shall fill me with fear and terror, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
When at the decisive hour of death, the evil spirit will endeavor to plunge my soul into despair, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
When the priest of God shall give me Extreme Unction, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
When my friends and relations, surrounding my bed moved with compassion, shall invoke thy clemency on my behalf, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
When the world will vanish from my sight, and my heart will cease to beat, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
When I shall yield my soul into the hands of its Creator, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
When my soul will appear before its Sovereign Judge, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
When the irrevocable sentence will be pronounced, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
When I will be suffering in Purgatory, and sighing for the vision of God, Come to my aid, O loving Mother.
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.
V. Pray for us, our powerful Mediatrix,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
Almighty and merciful God, Who, in order to succor the human race, hast willed the Blessed Virgin Mary to become the
Mother of Thy only-begotten Son, grant, we beseech Thee, that by her intercession we may avoid the contagion of sin and serve
Thee with a pure heart, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
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| Novena to Our Lady of Good Success |
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Posted by: Hildegard of Bingen - 01-09-2021, 04:22 PM - Forum: Novenas
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Novena to Our Lady of Good Success
Long Version
(Begin January 24th)
ACT OF REPENTANCE (To be said 1st, each day of the novena)
I believe in Thee, O my God.
Strengthen, O Lord, my faith.
I hope in Thee, O my God.
Affirm, O Lord, my hope.
I love Thee, O my God.
Increase, O Lord, my love.
I repent of having offended Thee.
O my God, help me to have contrition,
So that I may, with the help of Thy grace
And the powerful patronage of
Holy Mary of Good Success,
Never sin again.
O Lord, have pity and mercy on me.
Amen.
OPENING PRAYER
O most Excellent and Immaculate Queen of Heaven,
Holy Mary of Good Success,
Most favored Daughter of the Eternal Father,
Most beloved Mother of the Divine Son,
Most cherished Spouse of the Holy Ghost,
Sublime throne of the Divine Majesty,
August Temple of the Holy Trinity,
In whom the Three Divine Persons
Have placed the treasures of
Their Power, Wisdom, and Love!
Remember, Virgin Mary of Good Success,
Whom God has made so great
So that thou canst give succor to miserable sinners;
Remember that thou has often promised to show thyself
A merciful Mother to those who have recourse to thee.
I come to thee then, Mother most merciful,
And I beg thee, for thy love of the Most High,
That thou shouldst obtain for me from God the Father
A lively Faith that never loses sight of the eternal truths;
From the Son, a firm Hope that always aspires to reach that glory
That He won for me with His Blood;
And from the Holy Ghost,
A charity so inflamed that I will always live
Loving the Supreme Goodness and thee,
Most Holy Virgin, until, through thy intervention,
I should love and enjoy thee eternally in glory.
Amen.
We salute thee Mary, as the Favored Daughter of God the Father.
Hail Mary....
We salute thee Mary, as the Chosen Mother of the Divine Son .
Hail Mary...
We salute thee Mary, as the Singular Spouse of the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary...
Glory be to the Father...
(Go to the Day of the Novena)
Act of Thanksgiving to the Blessed Virgin
O Virgin blessed among all women! We lack the words to give thee thanks for the innumerable blessings that we have received from thy hand. The day of thy birth can be called the day of thanksgiving, happiness, and consolation. Thou art the honor of mankind, the joy of Paradise, the beloved gift of God, and the well being of our country. What merit do we have, Blessed Virgin of Good Success, to deserve to have thee as our Mother? May God be forever blessed Who has desired it so! Blessed also art thou, Virgin Mary, because, despite our ingratitude, thou showest us thy propitious favor.
Thus art thou, most clement Mother, our consolation on earth, our refuge, our help and our protection in both our public and private needs. Safeguard us from war, pestilence, hunger, storms, earthquakes and all the calamities, which we merit by our guilt.. Pray for the Holy Church and for her visible head. Hear the supplications of those who invoke thee. Be thou our Advocate, our Mother, for as thus do we place our confidence in thee. To thee do we have recourse, and through thy intercession we hope to achieve from thy Son pardon for our sins and perseverance in grace until death.
Amen.
Here, each one raising up his heart to God, should ask, through the intercession
of Blessed Mary of Good Success, that grace or favor which he desires to receive.
Praises to the Holy Virgin
O Virgin Mary, our Mother preeminent above all on earth.
Response: Come to our assistance and show us mercy, because thou art our Mother.
Above all others, thou were attentive to the Word of the Father, who does great things in thy honor.
Response: Come to our assistance and show us mercy, because thou art our Mother.
Thou art the most worthy temple of the Most Holy Trinity.
Response: Come to our assistance and show us mercy, because thou art our Mother.
In thee is that same purity the Angels enjoy.
Response: Come to our assistance and show us mercy, because thou art our Mother.
The Christian world proclaims that thou doth reign on the right side of the King of Kings.
Response: Come to our assistance and show us mercy, because thou art our Mother.
O Mother of Grace! O our hope! Port for the shipwrecked and star of the sea.
Response: Come to our assistance and show us mercy, because thou art our Mother.
Gate of Heaven, health of the sick, light in the darkness.
Response: Come to our assistance and show us mercy, because thou art our Mother.
Through thee, we will find ourselves before God in the court of the Saints, where He lives and reigns.
Response: Come to our assistance and show us mercy, because thou art our Mother.
Guide our steps and help us, O sweet Mary, in our last hours.
Response: Come to our assistance and show us mercy, because thou art our Mother.
Receive this praise from our tender lips, which cannot express thy singular grandeur.
Response: Come to our assistance and show us mercy, because thou art our Mother.
Antiphon: Holy Mary save the miserable, help the weak, intercede for the afflicted, plead for the
people, intercede for the clergy, petition for the faithful. Permit all those who celebrate
thy holy memory to experience thy favor and assistance.
V. Pray for us, O Virgin of Good Success!
R. So that we may be made worthy to receive the promises of Christ.
Final Prayer
We ask thee, Our Lord and God, that Thou grant us health of soul and body through the intercession of the glorious Virgin Mary. Through her merits and those of her sovereign Child Jesus, we hope to be freed from the present evils and to attain eternal happiness.
Amen
First Day
Act of Repentance and Opening Prayer...
Consider how great and incomparable are t he wonders of God Omnipotent, manifesting the treasures of His Mercy in favor of those He redeemed. Therefore, if we admire the excesses of His Goodness in the many benefits with which he has enriched us, how much more should we marvel at and be filled with gratitude for the greatest blessing of His Right Hand, that most excellent and privileged creature, Mary most holy, whom He gave us for our consolation, especially for those who serve and love Him with all their hearts, and inspired the diverse titles and invocations that honor her. Through these devotions, we receive great favors by means of her succor and protection. This has been the experience of true devotees of the Mother of God, and especially of those who have recourse to her by means of the marvelous Statue of Good Success, which is placed in the Church of the Royal Hospital in the City of Madrid, miraculous from the beginning in the special and unexpected way that this Treasure was found in the wilderness. As God said to the Prophet Isaiah, He would seek out those who had not come seeking for Him, and would set aside those who had not believed in His goodness and largesse. Thus also did the Most High made clear His Will that His Holy Mother be honored and venerated under the avocation of Good Success.
Prayer:
O Lord of infinite goodness, by the miraculous making of this image of Mary Most Holy, Thou hath given us a powerful intercessor to whom we might have recourse with total confidence in her amiable protection in our necessity. Grant us the assistance that we are asking with fervor and confidence so that we might know, honor and serve the Blessed Virgin, and so that, by her intercession, we may achieve on this earth our sanctification and afterwards, be happy with her in Heaven.
Amen.
Act of Thanksgiving Prayer and Praises to the Holy Virgin...
Second Day
Act of Repentance and Opening Prayer...
Consider how the providence of the Most High desired to so favor mankind by manifesting the hidden treasure of the precious statue of Holy Mary under the avocation of Good Success. After the death of Brother Bernandine de Obrego n, founder of the Brotherhood of the (Friar) Minors for the Service of the Sick (the Order of St. Francis of Paola), Gabriel de Fontaned was elected to replace him. Accompanied by Guillermo Rigosa, he traveled to Rome to ask the Supreme Pontiff for his official approval of the Institute and the habit with the purple cross that distinguishes the order.
As they were passing through the town of Traigueras (under the jurisdiction of Tortosa in the Principate of Cataluna), they were caught in a terrifying hailstorm with lightening and thunder so strong that their hearts were filled with terror.. They begged God to provide them with a shelter where they could take refuge so that they might prepare to die in peace, for the unrelenting rigor of the storm had persuaded them that they would not survive it. But God in His Divine Mercy so disposed that this search for shelter should be a presage of a good fortune. In a burst of lightning, they were able to discern a turnoff in the path. Following it, they could see the contours of a cave set far up in the hill above them. Even from the distance, they could see a bright light illuminating its interior and smell a sweet and heavenly aroma, more intense than anything on earth. Their souls were inundated with a great happiness as well as a sentiment of reverent admiration. At the same time, they felt an interior impulse to know the cause of such wonders.
Prayer:
O God, admirable in all Thy works! May Thou always convert the most hazardous occurrences of life into proofs of Thy mercy, and in the most desperate storms may Thou show the preludes of Thy prodigies in our favor, just as Thou did with the Minorite brothers by means of that terrifying storm. Grant to us, through the intercession of the Queen of Good Success, the virtue of patience, to suffer with a resigned spirit the trials sent us by Thy Divine Will, because at any moment Thou can change them to consolations in this life and afterwards grant us Thy eternal reward in Heaven, where we will always sing Thy praise and the praise of Holy Mary.
Amen
Act of Thanksgiving Prayer and Praises to the Holy Virgin...
Third Day
Act of Repentance and Opening Prayer...
Consider how the travelers, impelled by grace and attracted by curiosity to examine such surprising wonders, set out for the site offering them refuge. Taking off their shoes, they climbed the hill with great difficulty, helping each other over large boulders and sharp cliffs. When they reached the cave, which they were able to see in the flashes of lightening, how great was their surprise of joy and admiration! For they saw that this cave had been delicately carved by nature as a spacious temple. It protected a beautiful Statue of the Holy Virgin holding the Christ Child in her left arm, and carrying a scepter in her right hand. A precious crown rested on her forehead. Her dress, like that of the Infant, was simple but elegant, and both were made in the same material and style.
The site was adorned with various types of flowers that carpeted the floor and climbed on the walls, filling the air with an exquisite fragrance for the Queen of Heaven. Set in the rock was a lamp so expertly craft ed that it gave off the illumination of many lights. Such beauty and delight to honor such an admirable Lady! Such surprise and admiration for the overwhelmed travelers! The ecstatic pair contemplated this little part of Heaven and calmed their overwrought hearts in the presence of their Mother, who, after the terrible storm, had come to them so unexpectedly, radiant with beauty and tender of feature, to provide them with refuge and consolation in that desperate and difficult juncture.
So also my soul is calmed before the image of Mary. When the burdens of life and its imminent dangers bring us close to despair, let us go, then, to her with tranquility and confidence, thanking God Who in His Omnipotence permitted that portentous statue to be miraculously found in that hidden place for the honor of the Immaculate Virgin and so that all might venerate Her under that precious avocation of Good Success.
Prayer:
O God of Mercy, Who never abandons in desolation one who faithfully and fervently serves Thee amid the misfortunes and dangers of life, and Who leads us to find our Mother and advocate as a refuge in our adversities, grant us a tender and fervent heart to search for Mary and find her, always loving and protective, so that we might serve her and merit, through Thy intercession, to lead a good and Christian life and afterwards be with her forever in Heaven.
Amen.
Act of Thanksgiving Prayer and Praises to the Holy Virgin...
Fourth Day
Act of Repentance and Opening Prayer..
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Consider the indescribable joy of the good Minorite brothers upon contemplating these prodigies. The Statue of our beloved Mother shone before them like a resplendent star, and they reverently prostrated themselves before her to praise and thank her for a gift so unique and an event so extraordinary. Their thoughts and sentiments were raised to heavenly considerations and they believe themselves favored by something supernatural. For everything they saw and felt within those walls of rock in such an inaccessible place so far from any other houses seemed made by more than human hands. They repeated their prayers of thanksgiving with fervor.
Then, asking light and grace from Heaven to know what they should do, they decided to try to discover the origin of that sanctuary and Statue by seeking the pious persons or community who were caring so prodigiously for this cult. Even though it seemed impossible to them that such magnificence was the work of men in a place so retired and inaccessible, prudence and piety cautioned them to first make a cautious investigation about the matter. They inquired at the hamlets nearest the cave, which were more than three leagues in distance, but found no one who could give them the least information about the Statue. Not even the persons they questioned who were 80 and 100 years old had ever heard about the statue or any such devotion in those outlying woods or any other place near the region.
Consider, then, the astonishment and holy joy of the Brothers, now the owners of the extraordinary finding, as they humbled themselves again before the Holy Statue, offering her their warmest thanks with embraces and warm emotion, choosing her as their special patron and mediatrix under the very significant title of Mother of Good Success. The heart is moved by sentiments of pious gratitude and admiration for such a prodigious favor as this that was granted to the Holy Brothers.
Let us unite with them in their tender embraces of Mary, loving her and lavishing her with generous resolutions, because we also have mercifully found her on the dangerous pathway of life amid the horror of the storm of our passions.
Prayer:
O God of infinite love! Thou hath given us in our Mother a precious shelter and consolation, placing her in the pathway of our hazardous lives so that she might be a shield to defend us in persecutions and dangers as Our Mother of Good Success. Thankful for Thy goodness, may we correspond with the practice of virtue and a tender and constant devotion to Mary Most Holy, so that through her intercession we might find Heaven.
Amen.
Act of Thanksgiving Prayer and Praises to the Holy Virgin...
Fifth Day
Act of Repentance and Opening Prayer...
Consider how the holy travelers, now convinced that their precious discovery belonged to them, placed the Statue in a basket, and with this so amiable and powerful companion they continued easily and happily on their trip to Rome, where they were graciously received by His Holiness Paul V, a very chaste and pious man. They informed him of how they had found the Statue of the Virgin. Seeing her so precious and radiating with a supernatural presence, he prostrated himself before her and hung his precious gold and enamel pectoral around the neck of the Statue, granting graces and indulgences to all who venerated her.
He charged the fortunate religious who had found the image in such a marvelous way to honor the statue and zealously spread her devotion everywhere. They saw in this, and even in the name of Our Lady of Good Success that the Pope gave her, all the signs that this was a supernatural discovery. This prodigious gift soon became an inexhaustible source of graces and wonders which were experienced by the inhabitants of the city of Valencia where the religious brothers took her. Later the Statue was transferred with solemn splendor to the magnificent Church of Madrid, the capitol of Spain, where the venerated Statue continues to work wonders, her cult extending throughout Europe and even to the farthest regions of our America.
Animate yourself, my soul, in the presence of Mary, that this encounter might carry you through the most difficult junctures of life, consoling you with her sweet and smiling visage. See, then, the Holy Father of the faithful prostrate in her presence, offering you this most priceless treasure and charging you to be devout and faithful in the service of Mary. Be content with the state in which God has placed you, because you have Mary, who serves you as companion and protectress. Praise her, bless her, and present her with the pectoral of your love, placing at her feet your dominant passion, offering your efforts to overcome yourself with determination and constancy in order to obtain the exceptional favors that so many pious people have received from this Holy Statue of Good Success.
Prayer:
O Sovereign God! Thou hath given us Thy highest counsel, the Most Holy Virgin of Good Success, as a companion to accompany us in our pilgrimage, so that she might serve us as guide, guard and protectress amid its conflicts. We go, then, to her, filled with confidence and finding the way easily on the journey to the dwelling place of our Eternal Father, where all that we desire will be granted. Enflame our hearts with love for the Most Holy Virgin of Good Success so that we might offer them to Our Holy Mother, with the gift of gratitude, a firm and constant love, and the conquering of our passions by means of the great graces received from Thy Merciful Hands. Thus might we always have her favor in this life and her sweet assistance at death, so that we might merit eternal salvation. Amen.
Act of Thanksgiving Prayer and Praises to the Holy Virgin...
Sixth Day
Act of Repentance and Opening Prayer...
Consider how the city of Quito and its oldest Convent, the Convent of the Conceptionists, also experienced the special favor of the glorious Mother of Good Success, who appeared prodigiously to Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres, a Spaniard and one of the Founding Mothers of this Convent, in the year 1610, after the Convent had already been founded for 33 years. This fortunate and pious sister was praying alone with tender devotion, imploring the help of Mary under the avocation of Good Success for the needs of her own soul, for her sisters in the cloister, and for all mankind. In the fervor of her pleas, made with such profound faith and confidence, she raised her eager eyes to Heaven, calling on her Mother to come and save her and grant what she humbly asked with sincere interest for the good of her Convent and for all the Catholic Church.
Suddenly a refulgent light flooded the church, and the good sister fell into ecstasy. Her mind was overcome by a sudden astonishment and her heart was moved by an inexplicable joy. Her faith grew and her devotion increased as the light diffused itself before her astonished and dazzled gaze. A singular joy entered her heart, and she redoubled her pleas in an ecstasy of unlimited confidence.
Thus is the soul invited to leave the mean Earth and look to Heaven with the eyes of a lively and penetrating faith. Heaven opens for it a path to the light of divine clarity and inundates it with the splendors of divinity. "The just live by faith." So indeed do the Just make their Heaven here on the lowly earth, attracting by their faith the light that does nothing to diminish the morning stars.
Let us also strengthen our faith in the revealed mysteries. Let us see with the eyes of intelligence, following the example of true religious souls, all the actions of our lives, leaving aside all thoughts of this lowly material life and focusing our understanding with efforts of faith on the ways of Divine Providence. It is principally by prayer that we leave this earth and transfer our thinking to matters of Heaven, where the Omnipotent God and Mary, his Daughter, Mother, and Spouse, dwell, awaiting our humble entreaties as pilgrims who, prostrate at their feet, implore the graces that we need.
Prayer:
O, inaccessible light of supernatural truth that illuminates our being with its celestial splendor and leads us to Thee, illuminate our minds with the light of the firm and living faith. It was such a faith that moved Our Mother of Good Success to show herself to the eyes of that blessed Conceptionist religious Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres.. Because we are anxious to enjoy the supernatural goods, help us to be less concerned about the things of this earth. With the protection of Holy Mary and a constant and sure faith in the revealed mysteries, help us to live contemplating the brilliance of our final end and anticipating the joy of seeing Thee and Mary Most Holy for all eternity.
Amen.
Act of Thanksgiving Prayer and Praises to the Holy Virgin...
Seventh Day
Act of Repentance and Opening Prayer...
Consider how the fortunate religious, in the fervor of her pleas and illuminated by that bright light that inundated her, fixed her eyes upon the source of that brilliance, finding before her a Lady of extraordinary beauty and kindness of face. As the light dissolved, she saw that the Lady was carrying in her left arm a Child, shining and bright like a morning star, full of grace and goodness, His features tender and kind. In her right hand she held a beautiful l scepter of shining gold and precious stones, and around her forehead was a magnificent crown with dazzling stones. She wore a garment similar to the that of the Statue (in Spain) of Mary of Good Success, whose miraculous discovery was recounted earlier and to whom the pious Conceptionist sister had been praying when she received the favor of this vision.
The good religious was at the same time transported with joy and confused to be thus visited by her Celestial Mother. Her soul was filled with a joy and gratitude without limit, and her heart flooded by holy sentiments. As thoughts of lively faith and valiant love and confidence overwhelmed her being, she asked: "Who art thou? And what dost thou desire?"
Then, O marvel of goodness! In a sweet and suave voice, the Lady responded:
"I am Mary of Good Success whom you invoked with such tender affection. Your prayer has pleased me very much. Your faith has brought me here. You love has invited me to visit you."
Ponder, O my soul, the singular privilege of this blessed sister, who merited by her faith, devotion, and fervor in prayer to attract the presence of Mary Most Holy and to thus contemplate her so lovely, so pure, and so beautiful, to be dazzled by her splendors, to enjoy her intimacies, and to hear her most amiable voice. Ah! Fortunate creature! How great your love for your Celestial Mother! How strong your inclination to humble yourself and bless her! How ardent your desire to be with her! How continuous, attentive, and devout your prayers!
This goodness of Mary should thus encourage us to invoke her with deep faith under the title of Good Success and to pray always with attention and confidence, considering that only a living faith and vigilant attention in prayer will make us deserve to be heard and favored by the Holy Virgin, who will respond not with privileged visions, but with other gifts of grace that will help us triumph over our passions and the enemies of religion.
Prayer:
O God of goodness, Who doth deign to reward the faith and zealous sentiments of piety of Thy chosen souls with visits of Mary Most Holy, hear also our prayers that the presence of this Statue of Good Success might illuminate our faith and increase our confidence that she will benignly hear our prayers. Grant us a never increasing faith in Thy paternal goodness, make us ever more confident that we will receive what we ask for. Make us also ever more fervent in our prayers, so that, supported by the great valor of our powerful Patroness, we might be freed from the dangers that threaten us, serve Thee better, and win the honor of being in Thy company and that of Mary Most Holy in Heaven for all eternity.
Amen.
Act of Thanksgiving Prayer and Praises to the Holy Virgin...
Eighth Day
Act of Repentance and Opening Prayer...
Consider that the Holy Virgin, on appearing to the sister, did not desire to favor her alone with a single transitory grace, for God does not bestow His special gifts except with the providential plan of increasing the piety, stimulating the moral progress, and improving the religious discipline of all the members of a community, a country, or the whole Church. For this reason Mary Most Holy of Good Success told the Conceptionist sister, "It is the Will of God that I command you to have a statue made that would represent this apparition in all its details, so that it might be placed in the choir where all the religious pray directly above the Abbess' chair, so that they might consider this memorable Statue as their principal Abbess." Thus would this Statue stimulate perpetual gratitude, special attentiveness in prayer, perfect obedience, a firm faith, a confident hope, and an ardent love for Mary Most Holy who thus offered herself to preside over and govern this Convent.
Ah, if we had a living faith! With what veneration and respect would we place ourselves before that Statue! How keenly we would recall her apparition so full of goodness and her promises and favors! How confident would we be in our supplications, how attentive in our prayers, how fervent in our devotions, how spontaneous in our obedience, how regular in our observance of the Commandments and the duties of our state of life!
Enliven, O my soul, your faith and if you are lacking in it, ask God and Mary of Good Success to grant it to you. Thus, by taking advantage of the special gift and singular privilege of having Mary of Good Success as our intercessor, we may not be responsible for a disdain or lack of appreciation for the gift that Providence has given us to increase our piety and encourage us in the practice of the virtues of faith, confidence, charity, obedience, and the fulfillment of all our duties and obligations.
Prayer:
O God, loving guardian of pious persons, families, and Communities, Who in Thy Providence doth guard and protect them because of their attention to prayer and fulfillment of their duties of life, hear now our prayers. Be attentive to our cries, enflame the light of our faith in Thy powerful protection, so that we fear not our enemies. For if Thou doth assist us, nothing can harm us. G r ant us unlimited confidence in Mary Most Holy of Good Success and the grace of obedience to and observance of our Rule (or to the fulfillment of the duties of our particular state of life), so that we might be worthy of a Mother so holy and a Protectress so powerful. May we always be Thy grateful and docile subjects so that one day we may sing with glory Thy praises in Heaven, Thou Who hath favored Mary as Daughter, Mother and Spouse of the Most Holy Trinity, the one God who lives forever and ever.
Amen.
Act of Thanksgiving Prayer and Praises to the Holy Virgin...
Ninth Day
Act of Repentance and Opening Prayer...
Consider how the humble sister felt on hearing the command of Holy Mary to have a statue made of the same size and appearance as the apparition. She excused herself saying that it would be impossible, that no sculptor could reproduce such rare beauty or render with precision its proper proportions. The beautiful Lady, with most amiable forbearance, replied to her: " Do not fear for this reason. Take off the cord around your waist and measure my height."
Since, from a natural fear, the religious did not dare to touch Mary with her hands, the Heavenly Queen herself took the end of the cord and held it to her head, while the sister touched it to her feet to measure the exact height of the marvelous vision. Then Holy Mary said: " Here, as I told you, you have the height for the statue that you should order to be made, and the rest of the measurements should be in proportion to it. Place the statue in the place I have indicated with a crosier and the keys of the cloister in my right hand, for I desire to be Advocate and Protectress of this Convent." Having said this, the vision disappeared.
The heart of the sister who had just received so signal a favor and so pleasing a mission was penetrated, filled with gratitude and warm sentiments for Mary Most Holy! Ah! Search, o my soul, in your heart for those sentiments, and be dissolved in gratitude for Mary of Good Success, our Advocate and Protectress. Let me venerate her Image with the most tender gratitude and the vehement desire of corresponding to such singular graces by leading a life that is holy, obedient, and observant of all the duties of my state of life.
Then the holy sister who had been favored with this vision sent for a capable sculptor to begin the work on this statue that Mary herself had ordered to be made. And thus this statue, full of sweetness and majesty, will last until the end of time. Venerated in the upper choir of this Convent, the religious there always have recourse to her in their most grave conflicts. So also has she been the refuge of all the people who come to her in their necessities, and through her intercession many portentous favors and special graces have been obtained.
The measurements given by Mary symbolize the measure of her humility, obedience, and love of God and neighbor, which she gives to us so that we might strive to reproduce them. Imitate her, and you will also carry an image of the Virgin Most Holy in your heart. Strive like that holy sister to make the moral image of your Virgin Mother in your customs and sentiments, in your bearing and way of acting, in your fidelity to the rule and your prayers, in your meekness and your candor, in your purity and your detachment from earthly things, thus aspiring only to heavenly goods.
Prayer:
Oh God! Tender Father of Thy creatures Who in every manner demonstrates Thy paternal care and guidance for us, principally by giving us Mary Most Holy as our Advocate, Protectress and model ideal of virtue, infuse our hearts with a constant desire to imitate our Mother and Queen, modeling our thoughts, desires, and actions after those of Mary Most Holy so that we might be like Her in all that our fragile nature permits. Assisted by Thy Divine Grace , may we conquer our passions and receive the choicest graces that our Mother grants to her children who confidently come to her as Advocate in their pressing needs. May we find her ready to assist us in the last difficult moment of life, and afterward enjoy the pleasure of her company in Heaven forever and ever.
Amen
Novena to Our Lady of Good Success
Short Version
(Begin January 24th)
Hail Mary Most Holy, Beloved Daughter of God the Father
Through the intercession of Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres,
grant thy good success to this request (name request)...
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be... Saint Michael, pray for us.
Hail Mary Most Holy, Admirable Mother of God the Son
Through the intercession of Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres,
grant thy good success to this request (name request) ...
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be... Saint Gabriel, pray for us.
Hail Mary Most Holy, Most Faithful Spouse of the Holy Ghost
Through the intercession of Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres,
grant thy good success to this request (name request) ...
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be... Saint Raphael, pray for us.
Hail Mary Most Holy,
Temple and Sacrarium of the Most Holy Trinity.
St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, pray for us.
Our Lady of Good Success,
thou who art the all-powerful intercessor before the Most Holy Trinity,
deign to hear and answer my request — so long as it contributes to the salvation
of my soul and the glory and exaltation of Holy Mother Church.
Salve Regina…(Hail holy Queen...)
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| 9 Hour Novena to the Infant Jesus of Prague |
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Posted by: Hildegard of Bingen - 01-09-2021, 04:10 PM - Forum: Novenas
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NOVENA TO THE INFANT JESUS OF PRAGUE
(This Novena is to be said at the same time every hour for NINE CONSECUTIVE HOURS in just one day.)
O Jesus, Who hast said,
ask and you shall receive,
seek and you shall find,
knock and it shall be opened to you,
through the intercession of Mary,
Thy Most Holy Mother,
I knock, I seek,
I ask that my prayer be granted.
(Make your request)
O Jesus, Who hast said,
all that you ask of the Father in My Name,
He will grant you.
Through the intercession of Mary,
Thy most Holy Mother,
I humbly and urgently ask Thy Father
in Thy Name that my prayer be granted.
(Make your request)
O Jesus, Who hast said,
"Heaven and earth shall pass away
but My word shall not pass",
through the intercession of Mary,
Thy Most Holy Mother,
I feel confident that my prayer will be granted.
(Make your request)
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| Little Litany of the Holy Family |
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Posted by: Stone - 01-09-2021, 03:58 PM - Forum: Litanies
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Little Litany of the Holy Family
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
Hear us.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
Help our family.
That we may love poverty,
Holy Family, hear us.
That we may love humility,
Holy Family, hear us.
That we may love labor,
Holy Family, hear us.
That we may love order,
Holy Family, hear us.
That we may love quiet,
Holy Family, hear us.
That we may love kindness,
Holy Family, hear us.
That we may love charity,
Holy Family, hear us.
That we may love courtesy,
Holy Family, hear us.
That we may love peace,
Holy Family, hear us.
O Lord God Who on earth loved poverty and humility, teach us to live in our families in peace and quiet order and with charity to all. Amen.
Source
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| Man Beats French Priest During Mass |
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Posted by: Stone - 01-09-2021, 02:07 PM - Forum: Anti-Catholic Violence
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Man with ‘Psychiatric Problems’ Beats French Priest During Mass
Breitbart | Jan 20210
A man in his twenties described as displaying psychiatric problems attacked and beat a priest during Mass in the city of Colmar, France.
The incident began at the St Paul’s Church on Paris Avenue at around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday when the priest asked a man sitting near the altar to take a seat in a pew.
The man immediately became aggressive and began making threatening statements towards the priest. The clergyman attempted to calm the man, and in reaction, he headbutted the cleric, punched him, and knocked him to the ground, L’Alsace reports.
Quote:French Police Investigate Suspicious ‘Allahu Akbar’ Letters Sent to Priests https://t.co/AUL0r7Whrl
Parishioners intervened to aid the priest and subdue the man until police arrived. When officers did come, the suspect asked for their weapons so he could kill the clergyman.
While the man was not known to either the cleric or churchgoers, he is known to authorities for violence and other criminal acts. He has a previous conviction, according to the newspaper.
The local prosecutor’s office has ordered a psychiatric evaluation after the man exhibited mental problems while in police custody and was admitted to a healthcare facility.
Investigators also claimed that, so far, “there is nothing in this man’s behaviour to suggest that these acts were committed in connection with religious radicalisation, or for racist reasons”.
In recent years, there have been several attacks against clergymen in France, including the killing of Father Jacques Hamel in 2016 by two radical Islamic terrorists.
In October of last year, the Nice terror attack saw a Tunisian illegal migrant kill three in a church and put France on its highest terror alert level.
Just a day later, a lone male shot a Greek Orthodox priest in Lyon with a sawn-off shotgun. The 40-year-old was taken into custody and later admitted to the attack, claiming that he had personal issues with the cleric.
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| The Liturgical Year: January 9th - Fourth day within the Octave of the Epiphany |
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Posted by: Stone - 01-09-2021, 01:13 PM - Forum: Christmas
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January 9 – Fourth Day within the Octave of the Epiphany
Taken from The Liturgical Year by Dom Prosper Gueranger (1841-1875)
The Star foretold by Balaam having risen in the East, the three Magi, whose hearts were full of the expectation of the promised Redeemer, are immediately inflamed with the desire of going in search of him. The announcement of the glad coming of the King of the Jews is made to these holy Kings in a mysterious and silent manner; and hereby it differs from that made to the Shepherds of Bethlehem, who were invited to Jesus’ Crib by the voice of an Angel. But the mute language of the Star was explained to them by God himself, for he revealed his Son to them; and this made their Vocation superior in dignity to that of the Jewish Shepherds, who, according to the dispensation of the Old Law, could know nothing save by the ministry of Angels.
The divine grace, which spoke directly and by itself to the souls of the Magi, met with a faithful and unhesitating correspondence. St. Luke says of the Shepherds that they came with haste to Bethlehem; (Luke 2:16) and the Magi show their simple and fervent eagerness by the words they addressed to Herod: We have seen his Star in the East, they say, and we are come to adore him. (Luke 2:2)
When Abraham received the command from God to go out of the land of Chaldea, which was the land of his fathers and kindred, and go into a strange country, he obeyed with such faithful promptitude as to merit the being made the Father of all them that believe; (Romans 4:11) so, likewise, the Magi, by reason of their equally docile and admirable faith, have been judged worthy to be called the Fathers of the Gentile Church.
They too, or at least one or more of them, went out from Chaldea, if we are to believe St. Justin and Tertullian. Several of the Fathers, among whom are the two just mentioned, assert that one, if not two, of these holy Kings was from Arabia. A popular tradition, now for centuries admitted into Christian Art, tells us that one of the three was from Ethiopia; and certainly, as regards this last opinion, we have David and other Prophets telling us that the colored inhabitants of the banks of the Nile were to be objects of God’s special mercy.
The term Magi implies that they gave themselves to the study of the heavenly bodies, and that, too, for the special intention of finding that glorious Star whose rising had been prophesied. They were of the number of those Gentiles who, like the centurion Cornelius, feared God, had not been defiled by the worship of idols, and maintained, in spite of all the ignorance which surrounded them, the sacred traditions of the religion that was practiced by Abraham and the Patriarchs.
The Gospel does not say that they were Kings; but the Church applies to them those verses of the Psalm where David speaks of the Kings of Arabia and Saba that should hereafter come to the Messias, bringing their offerings of gold. The tradition of their being Kings rests on the testimony of St. Hilary of Poitiers, of St. Jerome, of the Poet Juvenal, of St. Leo, and several others; and it would be impossible to controvert it by any well-grounded arguments. Of course, we are not to suppose them to have been Monarchs whose kingdoms were as great as those of the Roman Empire; but we know that the Scripture frequently applies this name of King to petty princes, and even to mere governors of provinces. The Magi, therefore, would be called Kings of they exercised authority over a considerable number of people; and that they were persons of great importance, we have a strong proof in the consideration and attention showed them by Herod, into whose palace they enter, telling him that they are come to pay their homage to the newborn King of the Jews. The city of Jerusalem is thrown into a state of excitement by their arrival, which would scarce have occurred had not the three strangers, who came for a purpose which few heeded, been attended by a numerous retinue, or had not attracted attention by their imposing appearance.
These Kings, then, docile to the divine inspiration, suddenly leave their country, their riches, their quiet, in order to follow a Star: the power of that God who had called them, unites them in the same path, as they were already one in faith. The Star goes on before them, marking out the route they were to follow: the dangers of such a journey, the fatigues of a pilgrimage which might last for weeks or months, the fear of awakening suspicions in the Roman Empire towards which they were evidently tending—all this was nothing to them; they were told to go, and they went.
Their first stay is at Jerusalem, for the Star halts there. They, Gentiles, come into this Holy City (which is soon to have God’s curse upon it) and they come to announce that Jesus Christ is come! With all the simple courage, and all the calm conviction of Apostles and Martyrs, they declare their firm resolution of going to him and of adoring him. Their earnest inquiries constrain Israel, who was the custodian of the divine prophecies, to confess one of the chief marks of the Messias—his Birth in Bethlehem. The Jewish Priesthood fulfills, though with a sinful ignorance, its sacred ministry, and Herod sits restlessly on his throne, plotting murder. The Magi leave the faithless City, which has turned the presence of the Magi into a mark of its own reprobation. The Star reappears in the heavens and invites them to resume their journey. Yet a few hours, and they will be at Bethlehem, at the feet of the King they are in search of.
O dear Jesus! we also are following thee; we are walking in thy light, for thou hast said, in the Prophecy of thy beloved Disciple: I am the bright and morning Star. (Apocalypse 22:16) The meteor that guides the Magi is but thy symbol, O divine Star! Thou art the morning Star; for thy Birth proclaims that the darkness of error and sin is at an end. Thou art the morning Star; for after submitting to death and the tomb, thou wilt suddenly arise from that night of humiliation to the bright morning of thy glorious Resurrection. Thou art the morning Star; for by thy Birth and the Mysteries which are to follow, thou announcest unto us the cloudless day of eternity. May thy light ever beam unto us! May we, like the Magi, be obedient to its guidance, and ready to leave all things in order to follow it! We were sitting in darkness when thou didst call us to thy grace, by making this thy light shine upon us. We were fond of our darkness, and thou gavest us a love for the Light! Dear Jesus! keep up this love within us. Let not sin, which is darkness, ever approach us. Preserve us from the delusion of a false conscience. Avert from us that blindness into which fell the City of Jerusalem and her king, and which prevented them from seeing the Star. May thy Star guide us through life, and bring us to thee, our King, our Peace, our Love!
We salute thee too, O Mary, thou Star of the Sea, that shinest on the waters of this life, giving calm and protection to thy tempest-tossed children who invoke thee! Thou didst pray for the Magi as they traversed the desert; guide also our steps, and bring us to Him who is thy Child and thy Light eternal.
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Let us close this day with the expressions of divine praise offered us by the ancient Liturgies. Let us begin with the continuation of the Hymn of Prudentius, on the vocation of the Gentiles. The following are the concluding stanzas.
Hymn
O Bethlehem! greater than the greatest of cities! ’Twas thy happy lot to give birth to the Prince of our salvation, who had become incarnate by the heavenly mystery.
’Twas thou didst nurse him who is the Only-Begotten Son and Heir of the eternal Father; he was made Man by the power of the Spirit of the God who darts the thunderbolts; and this same Jesus is God under human flesh.
His eternal Father, who bears witness to him, bids him enter on his kingdom and inherit it. The Prophets, who are his witnesses and vouchers, were the proclaimers of the Father’s will.
This kingdom of Jesus includes all things—the firmament, the sea, the earth from where the sun rises to where he sets, and hell and heaven.
He is the King of those ancient judges who ruled the race of Jacob: he is the King of the Church, the Mistress of the earth: he is King of both temples, the new and old.
The children of Ephraïm and the holy family of Manasses worship him; the tribes of the twelve Brethren, sons of Jacob, also receive him as their God.
The degenerate race too, which, observing the rites of idolatrous worship, had framed in hot furnaces the statue of the cruel Baal.
Now turns to worship Chist, leaving for his sake the smoke-grimed gods of their fathers, stones and metals and stocks, planed, hewn and chiselled by the hands of man.
Rejoice, all ye nations of the earth! Judea, Rome and Greece, Egypt, Thrace, Persia, Scythia! Ye are now all under the one same King!
Praise your King, O all ye people! just and sinners, living, weak and dead, give him praise. None must die henceforth!
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The following beautiful prayer, from the Mozarabic Missal, will assist us to celebrate,
in a becoming manner, the triple Mystery of the Epiphany.
O God, who to lighten the labors of this present life hast conferred upon us the various consolations and joys of thy gifts which we commemorate in the yearly recurrence of the festivals: thou grantest us now, on this present solemnity, to unite in the mysteries celebrated by thy Church. Havin kept, a few days past, the feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior, who was born unto us in time and yet was born of thee from eternity, and preceded and created all ages and time; having, eight days after that, with like devotion and with the same solemn sacrifice, honored the Circumcision, that feast resplendent with the light of thine Only Begotten Son; we now on this day worship the Epiphany, which revealed unto us the divinity of hum wo had assumed our Humanity. We proclaim those various manifestations, whereby our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son made known his having come into this world. We proclaim his having sent from the heavens that Star which announced his own rising, and by whose Magi to the cradle where he lay in his assumed Infant Flesh. We proclaim his sanctifying, unto the cleansing of all nations, the waters by his own Baptism, when he entered the bed of the Jordan, and where by thy Spirit hovering in the shape of a dove over him, thou didst show and by thy paternal voice didst declare that he was thy beloved Only-Begotten Son. We proclaim his first miracle wrought in Cana of Galilee, when, at the marriage-feast, he changed the water into wine, teaching us, by a sublime and admirable mystery, that he had come in order to be united to the Church, the Spouse he had, for ages, chosen to himself, and that the faith in the promises was henceforth to be changed into the wine of sweet spiritual wisdom. Thus it is, that in the three wonders which are the object of our faith on this day’s solemnity, our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, achieves both the operation of thy power, and the preparation of our salvation. Wherefore, we beseech thee, O Lord, grant us, agreeably to these three prodigies, that there may abide in us the soundness of spiritual grace, that our hearts may relish the wine of prudence, and that the star of justice may shine forth in our works. Amen.
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The ancient Paris Missal of 1584 contains the following Sequence
for one of the days during this Octave. It is full of unction.
Sequence
The Star of the Cross has risen; let us most earnestly seek the King of kings.
Let us seek him in humility, for it is to humble hearts alone that he shows himself.
He lies in a crib, for he scorns a regal couch, and lives in poverty.
He thus teaches them that seek him to despise the things of earth, and love those of heaven.
Let us turn away from Herod, and follow without delay, the Magi, and pay our homage to Jesus.
They are led by the Star, and hasten to the King, whom they proclaim as the everlasting Ruler.
Let us mystically offer the gifts, which they really offered him so magnificently:
Let us offer Incense to Jesus, as our God; our Myrrh to him, as Man; our Gold to him, as King.
Do thou, O Mary, pure Lily! pray for us to thy Son, who is full of sweetness, that these our gifts may render him propitious;
That so, being freed from this world, we may live with him for ever in the heavenly land above. Amen.
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Hymn
How gentle art thou, dear Babe! How mighty is the omnipotent and irresistible power of thy judgments! How sweet and amiable is thy love! Who can withstand thee?
Thy Father dwells in the high heavens; thy Mother stands on the lowly earth; who can understand thee? If the earthly man investigate thy nature, which surpasses the ken of mortals, it is found in the highest heavens, hid in the vast bosom of the divinity.
If, again, one wish to see thy Body made visible to the eye of man, lo! it lies upon the earth: it has issued from the narrow womb of Mary, and all may see it. The soul knows not what to think, and the mind grows bewildered in the calculation of thy ways, O Jesus! rich Lord and God!
Thy divinity is shut beneath a twofold barrier; yet art thou, and I confess it, an immeasurable ocean to him who attempts to fathom thee, even now that thou has humbled thy greatness to our littleness. When we seek for a sight of thee, we see thee a Man, having hoped to see thee as the great od: and when we wish to look upon thee as Ma, then straightway is our eye struck and dazzled by the bright splendor of thy Divinity.
And who would think thee to be the Heir of David’s throne? Instead of costly furniture, thou hast but a Crib: instead of the regal palaces, thou has but a Cave: instead of the richly caparisoned steeds, there stands near thee one poor ass.
Yet, dear Babe, how lovely art thou! accessible to all, and meeting with thy smile all wo come to thee! Thy love is verily the love of one who longeth after men, as a hungry man that longeth after bread.
Thou welcomest to thee, with a like affection, strangers and thy kindred, women and thy Mother, impure prostitutes and the Virgin that feeds thee at her Breast. And how is this? Is is the sweet condescension of thy heart, or is it the love wherewith thou lovest all things thou hast made, that has brought thee to this excess of affection?
What is it that induces thee to stoop thus towards all, rich and poor, and run even to them that ask thee not to come? Whence hast thou this inclination to love us men so much?
What charity is this, that if a man insult thee, thou art not indignant? or if he threaten thee, thou fearest not to go to him? or if he treat thee with cruelty, there is not a wrinkle on thy brow? Ah! thy charity is of another sort from theirs who persecute them that do them wrong and who seek revenge upon their enemies.
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Let us honour the Virgin -Mother, by addressing to her these stanzas of a Hymn composed by St. Joseph the Hymnographer. It is in the Menaea of the Greek Church.
Die iv Januarii
Let us honor the divine Palace of the King, in which it was his will to dwell: the virgin and incomparable Mother of God: let us sing our praises to Her by whom we were raised up to God.
Thou, O truly Virgin-Mother, wast pure before thy delivery, and in thy delivery, and after thy delivery; for thou didst give birth to that God whom the Apostolic College made known to the world by their preaching.
The most blessed choir of the Prophets of old, divinely inspired by the Spirit, did, in their sacred prophecies, call thee, O most chaste one, the Gate and the Mountain o’ershadowed.
Enlighten, O Virgin! the eyes of my heart, and send within me the bright ray of compunction; deliver me from eternal darkness; O thou Gate of Light, and Refuge of all Christians faithfully praising thee.
I praise thee, the creature alone worthy of all praise; I glorify thee, O thou that hast ever been glorified by God; and I bless thee, O Virgin, thou most happy in a divine blessedness, who art called Blessed by all generations.
O most pure one! thou hast been made the propitiatory of them that sin often, for thou didst miraculously bring forth Christ, who taketh away the sins of the world, and to whom we cry: Blessed art thou, O Lord and God of our fathers!
O miracle that surpasseth all miracles! How is it, O most chaste Spouse of God, that thou bearest a Child, yet remainest a Virgin? Thou hast given birth to the Word, co-eternal with the Father, to whom we all thus sing: Praise him, all ye his works, and magnify the Lord above all for ever.
The bright splendor of thy delivery has shone forth, and has shed a most joyful light over the whole earth, and has destroyed the prince of darkness, O most chaste Mother of God, thou joy of the Angels, and protectress of all who honor thee with their unceasing praises.
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