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You are here: Home / Archives for ZZDD / DD May 2021 / DD May 2021 Other

The Regina Coeli

The authorship of the “Regina Caeli” being unknown, legend says the St. Gregory the Great (d. 604) heard the first three lines chanted by angels on a certain Easter morning in Rome while he walked barefoot in a great religious procession and that the saint thereupon added the fourth line: “Ora pro nobis Deum. Alleluia.” — Fr. Gant, moderator, Catholic News

The opening words of the Eastertide anthem of the Blessed Virgin, the recitation of which is prescribed from Compline of Holy Saturday until Afternoon Prayer of the Saturday after Pentecost inclusively. Substitute this prayer for the Angelus during the Paschal (Easter) season. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who devoutly recite this according to the formula indicated for the time of the year. It is a praiseworthy practice to recite these prayers in the early morning, at noon, and in the evening. The ecclesial community addresses this antiphon to Mary for the Resurrection of her Son. It adverts to, and depends on, the invitation to joy addressed by Gabriel to the Lord’s humble servant who was called to become the Mother of the saving Messiah.

Queen of heaven, rejoice. Alleluia.
For He whom thou didst deserve to bear, Alleluia.
Hath risen as He said, Alleluia.
Pray for us to God, Alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia. R. Because Our Lord is truly risen, Alleluia.
Let us pray

O God, who by the resurrection of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
hast vouchsafed to make glad the whole world, great, we beseech Thee, that,
through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may attain the joys of eternal life.
Through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen

Filed Under: DD May 2019 Others, DD May 2020 Other, DD May 2021 Other, Monthly Devotions Tagged With: Blessed Virgin Mary for England, Regina Caeli

The Miracle of the Miraculous Medal

Miraculous Medal

These are witnesses of faith and a sign of veneration of the Holy Mother of God, as well as of trust in her maternal protection. The Church blesses such objects of Marian devotion in the belief that “they help to remind the faithful of the love of God, and to increase trust in the Blessed Virgin Mary.”

The Miracle of the Miraculous Medal: Designed and Revealed by the Blessed Virgin

The Medal of the Immaculate Conception, popularly known as the Miraculous Medal, is unique among all medals.

The Miraculous Medal was created in response to a request from the Blessed Virgin Mary, who entrusted us with our mission. It was given by the Blessed Virgin Mary herself! No wonder, then, that it gives such extraordinary graces to those who wear it and pray for Mary’s intercession and help. Our Lady manifested the Medal to St. Catherine Labouré on November 27, 1830, in the mother-house of the Daughters of
Charity of St. Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac, in Paris.
queen-holy-rosary-marian
The First Apparition

During the night of July 18-19, 1830, the Most Holy Virgin appeared for the first time to Saint Catherine Labouré, who had been awakened and led from the dormitory to the chapel by her guardian angel.

In the sanctuary, St. Catherine Labouré later wrote:

“I heard something like the rustling of a silk dress, coming from the side of the tribune, close to Saint Joseph’s picture. She alighted on the steps of the altar on the Gospel side, in an arm chair like Saint Anne’s… As I looked up at Our Lady I flung myself close to her, falling on my knees on the altar steps, my hands resting in her knees. That was the sweetest moment of my life.”

Catherine saw Our Lady standing on a globe, with dazzling rays of light streaming from her outstretched hands. Framing the figure was an inscription: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” Then Mary spoke to Catherine: “Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck.”

The vision then seemed to turn to show the reverse of the Medal: the letter M surmounted by a cross with a bar at its base; below this monogram, the Sacred Heart of Jesus crowned with thorns, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary pierced with a sword.

With approval of the Catholic Church, the first medals were made in 1832 and were distributed in Paris. Almost immediately the blessings that Mary had promised began to shower down on those who wore her medal, and soon all of France was clamouring for what the people referred to as the “Miraculous Medal.” Use of the Medal spread from country to country and now blankets the world. Everywhere, the Medal is still drawing down from God blessings for body and soul.

As far as we know, the photograph on the left reveals what the first Miraculous Medals might have looked like when they were made and distributed in the 1830s. This would be about two years after Our Lady manifested the Medal to St. Catherine Labouré on November 27, 1830, in the Apparition Chapel of the mother-house of the Daughters of Charity in Paris.

Filed Under: DD May 2019 Others, DD May 2020 Other, DD May 2021 Other, Monthly Devotions Tagged With: Blessed Virgin Mary for England, Louis Grignion de Montfort, Miraculous Medals of Our Lady, Saint Catherine Labouré, Saint Louise de Marillac

Victory Through The Rosary

Holy Rosary

“You will be granted all you ask of me by recitation of the rosary.”

Also called the Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Rosary is one of the most excellent prayers to the Mother of God. Thus, “the Roman Pontiffs have repeatedly exhorted the faithful to the frequent recitation of this biblically inspired prayer which is centred on contemplation of the salvific events of Christ’s life, and their close association with the Virgin Mother.”

Our Lady’s Action in History and Today

Since the time of Saint Dominic, the Most Holy Rosary has been the weapon by which Our Lady has brought about the greatest victories for the Church. On many occasions when all seemed lost humanly speaking, this act of trust in Our Lady has transformed what appears to be certain failure into glorious triumph. The heroic conviction displayed by Catholics of generations past and present shows Our Lady’s power and certain intercession in overcoming the greatest obstacles.

Will Our Lady grant a victory to Catholics in the twenty-first century as she has in the past? As Catholics of previous generations have testified, trusting in the certain victory of the Immaculate Heart of Mary through the rosary can defeat the forces of evil and change the course of history.

Filed Under: DD May 2019 Others, DD May 2020 Other, DD May 2021 Other, Monthly Devotions Tagged With: Blessed Virgin Mary for England, Month of The Holy Rosary, Paul VI: Encyclical on the Month of May no. 1, Pius IX, Pius VII, Regina Caeli, The Litany of Loretto

The Brown Scapular – The full promise of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

The Brown Scapular and other Scapulars

The full promise of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to Saint Simon Stock July 16, 1251 “Accept this Scapular. It shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger and a pledge of peace. Whosoever dies clothed in this Scapular shall not suffer eternal fire.”

Such is the extraordinary promise Our Lady makes to those who wear Her Brown Scapular. And this wonderful promise makes the Scapular the most powerful sacramental Heaven’s mercy has given us. Who could doubt Our Lady’s promise, as not to wear, with profoundest gratitude and reverence, this abbreviated form of the Carmelite Mantle? This garment of grace — two simple pieces of brown wool worn over the shoulders — is a tangible sign of the Blessed Mother´s love and protection for Her devotees.

It is a gift to you from your Heavenly Mother.“WHOSOEVER DIES IN THIS GARMENT SHALL NOT SUFFER ETERNAL FIRE.” promise of Our Lady to St. Simon Stock on July 16, 1251. The scapular is an external sign of the filial relationship established between the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother and Queen of Mount Carmel, and the faithful who entrust themselves totally to her protection, who have recourse to her maternal intercession, who are mindful of the primacy of the spiritual life and the need for prayer.

The Brown Scapular

 

Filed Under: DD May 2019 Others, DD May 2020 Other, DD May 2021 Other, NL 15072018 Headline Post Tagged With: Brown Scapular, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Simon Stock

Litany of Loreto

Ave Maria The Litany of the Blessed Virgin–also called the Litany of Loreto–is one of the many Marian litanies, or praises of Mary, composed during the Middle Ages. The place of honour it now holds, in the life of the Church, is due its faithful use at the shrine of the Holy House at Loreto, which, according to tradition, was the small cottage-like home where the Holy Family had lived and which was miraculously transported by angels, in 1291, from the Holy Land to its present location in Loreto. It was definitely recommended by Pope Clement VII and approved by Sixtus V in 1587, and all other Marian litanies were suppressed, at least for public use.

Its forty-nine titles (fifty, or fifty-one, or even more, in some versions: with “Mother of the Church” and “Mother of Mercy” and being the ‘official’ ‘newcomers’ in recent times and which are included on the Vatican website version) and invocations set before us Mary’s exalted privileges, her holiness of life, her amiability and power, her motherly spirit and queenly majesty. Reflection on the titles of the litany, therefore, will unfold before us a magnificent picture of our heavenly Mother, even though we know little about her life.

In form, the Litany of Loreto is composed on a fixed plan common to several Marian litanies already in existence during the second half of the fifteenth century, which in turn are connected with a notable series of Marian litanies that began to appear in the twelfth century and became numerous in the thirteenth and fourteenth. The Loreto text had, however, the good fortune to be adopted in the famous shrine, and in this way to become known, more than any other, to the many pilgrims who flocked there during the sixteenth century. The text was brought home to the various countries of Christendom, and finally it received for all time the supreme ecclesiastical sanction.

Sixtus V, who had entertained a singular devotion for Loreto, by the Bull “Reddituri” of 11 July, 1587, gave formal approval to it, as to the litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, and recommended preachers everywhere to propagate its use among the faithful.

Excerpted from The History of the Litany of Our Lady


V. Lord, have mercy.
R. Christ have mercy.
V. Lord have mercy. Christ hear us.
R. Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of Virgins, [etc.]
Mother of Christ,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good Counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Saviour,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of Angels,
Queen of Patriarchs,
Queen of Prophets,
Queen of Apostles,
Queen of Martyrs,
Queen of Confessors,
Queen of Virgins,
Queen of all Saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Queen of families,
Queen of peace,
V. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
R. Spare us, O Lord.
V. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
R. Graciously hear us, O Lord.
V. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we thy servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be freed from present sorrow, and rejoice in eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.


Thanksgiving Prayer

Mother of Perpetual Help, today we face so many difficulties. Your picture tells us so much about you. It reminds us to reach out and help those in need. Help us understand that our lives belong to others as much as they belong to us.

Mary, Model of Christian love, we know we cannot heal every ill or solve every problem. But with God’s grace, we intend to do what we can. May we be true witnesses to the world that love for one another really matters. May our daily actions proclaim how fully our lives are modelled after yours, Mother of Perpetual Help.

O Mother of Perpetual Help, with grateful hearts we join you in thanking God for all the wonderful things he has done for us, especially for giving us Jesus, your Son, as our Redeemer.

O God, our Creator, we thank you for the gift of life and all the gifts of nature: our senses and faculties, our talents and abilities.
We thank you for creating us in your image and likeness and for giving us this earth to use and develop, to respect and cherish.
Despite our failures, you continue to show your love for us today by increasing the life of your Spirit in us at the Eucharistic table.
Finally, we thank you, loving Father, for giving us Mary, the Mother of your Son, to be our Mother of Perpetual Help.

We are grateful for all the favours we have received through her intercession. We pray that those past favours may inspire us to greater confidence in your loving mercy and to seek the aid of our Mother of Perpetual Help. Amen.

Filed Under: DD Apr 2019 TUESDAYS, DD Apr 2020 TUESDAYS, DD Apr 2021 TUESDAYS, DD FEB 2018 MONDAYS, DD Feb 2019 MONDAYS, DD Feb 2020 MONDAYS, DD Feb 2021 MONDAYS, DD Mar 2018 MONDAYS, DD Mar 2019, DD Mar 2019 MONDAYS, DD Mar 2020 MONDAYS, DD Mar 2021 MONDAYS, DD May 2019 Others, DD May 2020 Other, DD May 2021 Other Tagged With: Litany of Loreto, Mother of Perpetual Help, Pope Clement VII, Reddituri, Sixtus V

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