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Christmas Novena- FE2445

Christmas Novena

December 16 to 24

Novena

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

OPENING PRAYER FOR EACH DAY:

Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem in piercing cold.In that hour, vouchsafe I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayers and grant my petitions through the merits of Jesus Christ and of His most blessed Mother. Amen.

(Mention your intentions here)

DAY ONE

O Great Son of God, you have become man in order to make yourself loved by men. But where is the love that men give you in return? You have given your life blood to save our souls

Why then are we so hard-hearted, repaying your love with our ingratitude? More than others, I have myself ill-treated you in this manner, Lord.

But your Passion is my hope. For the sake of that love which led you to take upon yourself our human nature and to die for me on the cross, forgive me all the offenses I have committed against you.

I love you, O Word Incarnate. I love you, O infinite goodness. Contrite and repentant, out of love for you, I could die of grief for these offenses. Give me, O Jesus, your love. Let me no longer live in ungrateful forgetfulness of the love you bear me. I wish to love you always. Grant that I may always persevere in this holy desire.

O Mary, Mother of God and my Mother, pray for me that your Son may give me the grace to love Him always. Amen.

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DAY TWO

O Dearest Infant! Tell me, what have you come on earth to do? Tell me, whom do you seek? Yes, I already know. You have come to die for me, to save me from hell. You have come seeking me, Your lost sheep, so that, instead of fleeing from you, my gentle shepherd, I may rest in the protection of loving arms. O my Jesus, my treasure, my life, my love and my all! Whom will I love, if not you? Where can I find a father, a friend, a spouse more loving and more lovable than yourself?

I love you, O my God; I love you, my only good. I regret the many years when I have not loved you as I ought, but rather spurned and offended you. Forgive me, O my beloved Redeemer; I am heartedly sorry for having treated you so coldly.

Pardon me, and give me the grace never more to withdraw from you, but constantly to love you in all the years that still lie before me in this life. My love, I give myself entirely to you; accept me, and do not reject me as I deserve.

O Mary, my advocate, by your prayers you can obtain whatever you will from your Son. Beseech Him, then, to forgive me, and to grant me holy perseverance until death. Amen

DAY THREE

O Dear Infant Jesus, would I have been so ungrateful and offended you so often, if I had realized how much you have suffered for me? But these tears which you shed, this poverty which you embrace for love of me, fill me with the hope that you will pardon all the offenses I have committed against you.

My Jesus, I am sorry for having so often turned my back on you. But now I love you above all else. "My God and my all!" From this moment forward, O my God, you shall be my only treasure and my only good. With Saint Ignatius of Loyola I will say to you, "Give me the grace to love you; that is enough for me." I long for nothing else; I want nothing else. You alone are enough for me, my Jesus, my life, my love.

O Mary, my Mother, obtain for me the grace that I may always love Jesus and always be loved by Him. Amen.

DAY FOUR

O Dearest Savior, you have embraced so many outrages for love of me, yet I am incapable of bearing a single insult without immediately being filled with resentful thoughts, I who have so often deserved to be trodden underfoot by the demons in hell! I am ashamed to appear before you, sinful and proud as I am. Yet, do not drive me from your presence, O Lord, even though that is what I deserve. You have said that you will not spurn a contrite and humbled heart. I am sorry for the offenses I have committed against you. Forgive me, O Jesus. I will not offend you again.

For love of me you have borne so many injuries; for love of you, I will bear all the injuries that are done to me. I love you, Jesus, who were despised for love of me. I love you above every other good. Give me the grace to love you always and to bear every insult for love of you.

O Mary, recommend me to your Son; pray to Jesus for me. Amen

DAY FIVE

O Jesus, my sweet Love! I too have caused you to suffer during your life. Tell me, then, what I must do in order to win your forgiveness. I am ready to do all you ask of me. I am truly sorry, O sovereign Good, for all the offenses I have committed against you. I love you more than myself, or at least I feel a great desire to love you. Since it is you who have given me this desire, do you also give me the strength to love you exceedingly.

It is only right that I, who have offended you so much, should love you very much. Always remind me of the love you have borne me, so that my soul may ever burn with love of you and long to please you alone. O God of love, I, who was once a slave of hell, now give myself entirely to you. Graciously accept me and bind me to yourself with the bonds of your love. My Jesus, from this day and forever, I shall live loving you, and, in loving you, will I die.

O Mary, my Mother and my hope, help me to love your dear God and mine. This is the only favor I ask of you, and through you I hope to receive it. Amen.

DAY SIX

O my Dear Redeemer! Where would I now be, if you had not borne with me so patiently, but had called me from this life while I was in the state of sin?

Since you have waited for me till now, forgive me quickly, O my Jesus, before death finds me still guilty of so many offenses that I have committed against you. I am so sorry for having despised you, my sovereign Good that I could die of grief. But you cannot abandon a soul that seeks you.

If hitherto I have forsaken you, I now seek you and love you. Yes, my God, I love you above all else; I love you more than myself.

Help me, Lord, to love Thee during the rest of my life. I seek nothing else of you. But this I beg of you, this I hope to receive from you.

Mary, my hope, pray for me. If you pray for me, I am sure of obtaining this grace. Amen

DAY SEVEN

Dear Infant Jesus, crying so bitterly! How much reason you have to weep in seeing yourself persecuted by men whom you have loved so much. I, too, O God, have persecuted you by my sins. But you know that now I love you more than myself, and that nothing pains me more than the thought that I have so often spurned you, my sovereign Good.

Forgive me, O Jesus, and let me bear you with me in my heart, during the remainder of my life’s journey, so that together with you, I may enter into eternity. How often have I driven you from my soul by my sins. But now I love you above all things, and more than all other misfortunes, I regret that I have offended you. I wish to leave you no more, my beloved Lord. But give me the strength to resist temptation. Never permit me to be separated from you again. Let me rather die than ever again lose your good grace.

O Mary, my hope, obtain that I may always live in God's love and then die in loving Him. Amen

DAY EIGHT

O Jesus, my Savior! When I consider how, for love of me, you spent thirty years of your life hidden and unknown in a poor workshop, how can I desire the pleasures, honors and riches of this world? Gladly do I renounce them, one and all, since I wish to be your companion on this earth, poor as you were, mortified and humble as you were, so that I may hope to be able one day to enjoy your companionship in heaven. What are all the treasures and kingdoms of this world? O Jesus, you are my only treasure, my only Good!

I keenly regret the many times in the past when I spurned your friendship in order to satisfy my foolish whims. I am sorry for them with all my heart. For the future I would rather lose my life a thousand times than lose your grace by sin. I desire never to offend you again, but always to love you. Help me to remain faithful to you until death.

O Mary, the sure refuge of sinners, you are my hope. Amen

DAY NINE

O Adorable Infant Jesus! I should not have the boldness to cast myself at your feet, if I did not know that you yourself invite me to draw near. It is I who by my sins have made you shed so many tears in the stable of Bethlehem. But since you have come on earth to pardon repentant sinners, forgive me also, now that I am heartily sorry for having spurned you, my Savior and my God, who are so good and who have loved me so much.

This blessed night, during which you bestow great graces on so many souls, grant your heavenly consolation to this poor soul of mine. All that I ask of you is the grace to love you always, from this day forward, with all my heart. Set me all on fire with your holy love. I love Thee, O my God, who became a Babe for love of me. Never let me cease loving you ever more.

O Mary, Mother of Jesus and my Mother, you can obtain everything from your Son by your prayers. This is the only favor I ask of you: pray to Jesus for me. Amen

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Novenas

St Andrew Christmas Novena

St Andrew Christmas Novena

Say 15 times daily from November 30 to December 24

So named because it starts on the feast of St. Andrew, the St. Andrew Christmas Novena is a beautiful, simple, Advent prayer, focusing on that singular, beautiful moment when Christ was born. In this short prayer, repeated 15 times each day until Christmas, we ask God with hope and confidence to grant our most heartfelt longings on this occasion when His greatest gift, Christ our Redeemer, came into the world.

It is piously believed that whoever recites the below prayer fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (Patron of Scotland; November 30) until Christmas will obtain what is asked. Canada Needs Our Lady also believes it’s pleasing and efficacious any time of the year.

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of a most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold.

In that hour vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayers and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother. 

Amen

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Novenas to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

FEAST: NOVEMBER 27

This page contains:

Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

About the Miraculous Medal

Novena

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

OPENING PRAYER:

O Most Holy Virgin, O my Mother, ask thy Son on my behalf for everything my soul and all mankind needs so that thy Reign be established on earth. My most earnest request is that thou mayest triumph in me and in all souls and implant thy Reign on earth. Amen.

DAY ONE

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, Saint Catherine 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.”

LET US PRAY

O Most Holy Virgin, O my Mother, look on my soul with mercy, obtain for me a spirit of prayer that leads me always to have recourse to thee. Obtain for me the graces that I implore of thee and, above all, inspire me to pray for the graces that thou most wants to grant me.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory be....

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!....

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Help us make 1,500 Rosary Rallies a reality across Canada on October 11th, 2025. Host your own Rosary Rally in your hometown. We will send you all the materials you need, FREE OF CHARGE.

DAY TWO

Protection of Mary in times of trial

“The times are very evil, misfortunes are going to befall France, the throne will be overthrown, the whole world will be overwhelmed with misfortunes of every kind.” The Holy Virgin looked very distressed as she said this..

“But come to the foot of this altar. Here graces will be bestowed on anyone, great or small, who asks for them with confidence and fervor... A moment will come of such great danger that all will seem lost. But I shall be with you.”

LET US PRAY

O Most Holy Virgin, O my Mother, amidst the great desolation in the world and the Church, obtain for me the graces I ask of thee and inspire me, above all, to request the graces that thou most wants to grant me.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be ....

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

DAY THREE

The Cross will be despised

“The Cross will be despised and hurled to the ground, blood will run in the streets, the Side of Our Lord will be opened again. The archbishop will be stripped of his garments.” Here the Holy Virgin, her face filled with sadness, could no longer speak. “My child, the whole world will be plunged in sorrow,” she said to me.

LET US PRAY

O Most Holy Virgin, O my Mother, obtain for me the grace to live in union with thee, with thy Divine Son and the Church at this crucial moment in history, as tragic as the Passion, when all humanity is about to choose sides for or against Christ! Obtain for me the graces I implore, especially the grace of requesting that which thou most wants to grant me.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

DAY FOUR

Mary crushes the head of the serpent

At 5:30 on the evening of November 27, 1830, as Saint Catherine was praying in the chapel, the Holy Virgin appeared to her for the second time, standing as high as Saint Joseph’s picture to the right of the main altar.

“Her face was so beautiful that it would be impossible for me to describe it. Her robe was white as the glow of dawn... Her head was covered with a white veil that extended to her feet which rested on a half sphere, with her heel crushing the head of a serpent.”

LET US PRAY

O Most Holy Virgin, O my Mother, be my protection against the assaults of the infernal enemy. Obtain for me the graces I am asking of thee and, above all, inspire me to request the graces that thou most wants to grant me.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

DAY FIVE

The Virgin of the globe

The Holy Virgin holds a globe in her hands representing the whole world, and each person in particular, and offers it to God, imploring His mercy. She wears rings on her fingers, bearing precious stones that shed rays, one more beautiful than the next, symbolizing the graces that the Holy Virgin pours out on those who ask for them.

LET US PRAY

O Most Holy Virgin, O my Mother, obtain for me the graces I am asking of thee and inspire me, above all, to request the graces that thou most wants to grant me.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

DAY SIX

The invocation on the medal

During the second apparition, Our Blessed Mother explained to Saint Catherine “how pleased she is when people pray to her and how generous she is with them; how she gives special graces to those who ask; and what a great joy she takes in granting them.”

At that point “a frame formed around Our Lady, like an oval, bearing the following words in gold letters: ‘O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.’”

LET US PRAY

O Most Holy Virgin, O my Mother, obtain for me the graces I am asking of thee and inspire me, above all, to request the graces that thou most wants to grant me.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

DAY SEVEN

Revelation of the medal

Then a voice was heard, saying, “Have a medal struck after this model. Those who wear it, blessed, around their neck will receive great graces. The graces will be abundant for those who wear it with confidence.”

LET US PRAY

O Most Holy Virgin, O my Mother, obtain for me the graces that I ask of thee and inspire me, above all, to pray for the graces that thou most wants to grant me

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

DAY EIGHT

The hearts of Jesus and Mary

After contemplating the picture on the medal, Saint Catherine saw it turn to display the back.

There she saw an “M,” the monogram of Mary, surmounted by a small cross and, below it, the hearts of Jesus and Mary, the first surrounded with thorns and the latter pierced with a sword.

Twelve stars surrounded the hearts and the monogram.

LET US PRAY

O Immaculate Heart of Mary, make my heart like unto thine. Obtain for me the graces I am asking of thee and, above all, inspire me to ask of thee the graces thou most wants to grant me.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

DAY NINE

Mary will be proclaimed

Queen of the Universe Confirming the predictions of Saint Louis Grignion de Montfort, Saint Catherine says that the Most Holy Virgin will be proclaimed Queen of the Universe:

"Oh! how beautiful it will be to hear: Mary is the Queen of the Universe. The children and everyone will cry with joy and rapture. That will be a lasting era of peace and happiness. She will be displayed on standards and paraded all over the world."

LET US PRAY

O Most Holy Virgin, O my Mother, obtain for me the graces I am asking of thee and inspire me, above all, to pray for the graces that thou most wants to grant me.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be ....

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

About the Miraculous Medal

In 1830, during the apparitions in the chapel on Rue du Bac in Paris, the Holy Virgin presented the Miraculous Medal to Saint Catherine Labouré:

"Those who wear it, blessed, around their neck will receive great graces. The graces will be abundant for those who wear it with confidence." — St. Catherine Labouré

At the time of Saint Catherine Labouré’s death, the distribution of the medal in the world had surpassed the one billion mark. The innumerable conversions, cures and cases of extraordinary protection, quickly lead to its being called the "Miraculous Medal."

Wearing and disseminating the Miraculous Medal means placing oneself under the protection of the Most Holy Virgin. It means placing oneself under the sign of the Immaculate and taking a stand in face of the troubles and indifference affecting the modern world.

"The whole world will be overwhelmed by misfortunes of all kinds... All will seem lost, but I shall be with you," the Holy Virgin promised Saint Catherine, who repeated this prophecy till the end of her life. The rays coming from Our Lady’s hands symbolize the graces she obtains for everyone who prays to her with confidence.

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Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption

Novena & Prayer to Our Lady of the Assumption

FEAST: August 15

Novena

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, You have destroyed the power of death and given the hope of eternal life for body and soul. You granted your Mother a special place in your glory, and did not allow decay to touch her body. As we rejoice in the Assumption of Mary, grant us renewed confidence in the victory of life over death. Amen

DAY ONE

Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, we believe in your triumphant assumption into heaven where the angels and saints acclaim you as Queen of Heaven and earth. .

We join them in praising you and bless the Lord who raised you above all creatures. With them we honor you. We are confident that you watch over our daily lives and we ask that you intercede for us now.

(Mention your request)

We are comforted by our faith in the coming Resurrection and we look to you for prayers and comfort.

After this earthly life, show us Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb, O kind, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen

DAY TWO

Mary, Assumed into Heaven, we venerate you as the Queen of Heaven and earth. .

As you tasted the bitterness of pain and sorrow with your Son on earth, you now enjoy eternal bliss with Him in Heaven.

Loving Queen, intercede for us in our needs.

(Mention your request)

We praise Jesus for giving us such a loving mother.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen

DAY THREE

O Mother, Assumed into Heaven, because you shared in all the mysteries of our Redemption here below, Jesus has crowned you with glory.

With your most glorious and powerful intercession, help us O loving Mother and present to Jesus our request.

(Mention your request)

O Queen assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen

DAY FOUR

O Dearest Mother Mary, Assumed into Heaven, God placed you at His right hand that you may intercede for his little ones as the Mother of God.

In the midst of all the saints you stand as their Queen and ours — dearer to the Heart of God than any creation. You pray for your children and grant us every grace won by our loving Savior on the Cross..

Please intercede for us in our needs and ask Jesus to grant our request if it be for the good of our souls.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen

DAY FIVE

O merciful and loving Mother, may your glorious beauty fill our hearts with a distaste for earthly things and an ardent longing for the joys of Heaven.

May your merciful eyes glance down upon our struggles and our weakness in this vale of tears.

Hear then loving Mother, our request and plead to Jesus for us.

(Mention your request)

Crown us with the pure robe of innocence and grace here, and with immortality and glory in Heaven.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen

DAY SIX

Mary, our dear Mother and mighty Queen, take and receive our poor hearts with all their freedom and desires, all the love and all the virtues and graces with which they may be adorned.

All we are and all we might be, all we have and hold in the order of nature as well as of grace, we have received from God through your loving intercession.

Help us dear Mother to surrender to God all that we have, including our petitions.

(Mention your request)

Our Lady and Queen, into your gentle hands, we entrust all, that it may be returned to its noble origin.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen

DAY SEVEN

Mary, Queen of every heart, accept all that we are and bind us to Jesus with the bonds of love so that we may be yours forever and may be able to say in all truth: "I belong to Jesus through Mary".

Our Mother, Assumed into Heaven and Queen of the Universe, ever-Virgin Mother of God, obtain for us what we ask, if it be for the glory of God and the good of our souls.

(Mention your request)

Our Mother, assumed into Heaven, we love you. Give us a greater love for Jesus and for you.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen

DAY EIGHT

Mary, Queen Assumed into Heaven, we rejoice that you are the Queen of Heaven and Earth. You have given your holy fiat to God and became the Mother of our Savior.

Obtain peace and salvation for us through your prayers, for you have given birth to Christ our Lord, the Savior of all mankind.

Intercede for us and bring our petitions before the Throne of God.

(Mention your request)

Through your prayers, may our souls be filled with an intense desire to be like you, a humble vessel of the Holy Spirit and a servant of the Almighty God.

Pray for us O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen

DAY NINE

O Blessed Mother Assumed into Heaven, after years of heroic martyrdom on earth, we rejoice that you have at last been taken to the throne prepared for you in Heaven by the Holy Trinity.

Lift our hearts with you in the glory of your Assumption above the dreadful touch of sin and impurity.

Teach us how small earth becomes when viewed from heaven. Make us realize that death is the triumphant gate through which we shall pass to your Son and that someday our bodies shall rejoin our souls in the unending bliss of heaven.

From this earth, which we tread as pilgrims, we look to you for help.

In honor of your Assumption into Heaven, we ask for this favor.... (Mention your request)

At the hour of our death, lead us safely to the presence of Jesus to enjoy the vision of God for all eternity together with you.

Pray for us O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen

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Novena to Sts Anne & Joachim

Novenas & Prayers to Sts Anne & Joachim

FEAST: JULY 26

Powerful Novena to Saints Anne and Joachim

Although Scripture is silent about the grandparents of Jesus, tradition tells us that Saints Anne and Joachim were married for many years before God blessed them with a child. During those years, they fasted, prayed and wept, mourning the child that would not come.

Years of longing did not weaken their trust in God, but grief eventually drove Saint Joachim into the wilderness to fast and pray. Saint Anne, remaining at home, dressed in mourning clothes and wept because she had no child of her own. Seeing her mistress distressed, a servant girl reminded Anne to put her trust in God. Saint Anne washed her face, put on her bridal clothes and went to a garden to plead with God for a child.

Angels appeared to Saint Anne in her garden and Saint Joachim in the desert, promising that, despite their old age, they would give birth to a child who would be known throughout the world. The new parents ran to meet one another at Jerusalem’s Golden Gate, and rejoiced in the new life which God had promised would be theirs.

When that child came into the world, Saints Anne and Joachim saw an even more wondrous answer to their prayers. Not just a grandchild, but a Savior who was God Himself, Jesus Christ.

On July 26, the Church honors these holy grandparents for their prayers, their trust, and most of all for the foundation of faith they laid in the Blessed Virgin Mary’s life.

Beginning on July 18th, pray the novena prayer below to Saints Anne and Joachim, trusting in their intercessory power with Our Lord, their Grandson, Jesus Christ.

O Holy Mother and Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as parents, you guided and nurtured Mary and, under your protection and love, watched her grow in holiness.

Through your faithfulness and goodness the Will of God was fulfilled; the fruits of your virtue and faith brought salvation to the whole world with the birth of the baby Jesus.

“The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14).

Most Holy Saints Anne and Joachim, come close to us and guide our hand and our hearts in the way of virtue. Help us to parent our children and grandchildren with a gentle heart as you did. Show us how to raise our children in faith and bring our families into the Light of Jesus. Remain close to us and help us on our journey to salvation.

Saints Anne and Joachim, we place our petitions in your hands and ask that you lay them before the child Jesus.

Seek this, my favor [State your request…] but only if it be for the greater glory of God and the good of my soul.

Pray: Our Father…, Hail Mary…, Glory be to the Father…. … St Anne and St Joachim: Pray for Us …
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Novena to Our Lady of Mt Carmel

Novenas & Prayers to Our Lady of Mount Carmel

FEAST: JULY 16

Novena

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

DAY ONE

O Beautiful Flower of Carmel, most fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, holy and singular, who brought forth the Son of God, still ever remaining a pure virgin, assist us in our necessity! O Star of the Sea, help and protect us! Show us that you are our Mother! (Mention your request here).

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

DAY TWO

Most Holy Mary, Our Mother, in your great love for us you gave us the Holy Scapular of Mount Carmel, having heard the prayers of your chosen son Saint Simon Stock. Help us now to wear it faithfully and with devotion. May it be a sign to us of our desire to grow in holiness. (Mention your request here).

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

DAY THREE

O Queen of Heaven, you gave us the Scapular as an outward sign by which we might be known as your faithful children. May we always wear it with honor by avoiding sin and imitating your virtues. Help us to be faithful to this desire of ours.

(Mention your request here) .

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

DAY FOUR

When you gave us, Gracious Lady, the Scapular as our Habit, you called us to be not only servants, but also your own children. We ask you to gain for us from your Son the grace to live as your children in joy, peace and love. (Mention your request here).

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

DAY FIVE

O Mother of Fair Love, through your goodness, as your children, we are called to live in the spirit of Carmel. Help us to live in charity with one another, prayerful as Elijah of old, and mindful of our call to minister to God's people. (Mention your request here) .

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

DAY SIX

With loving provident care, O Mother Most Amiable, you covered us with your Scapular as a shield of defense against the Evil One. Through your assistance, may we bravely struggle against the powers of evil, always open to your Son Jesus Christ. (Mention your request here).

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

DAY SEVEN

O Mary, Help of Christians, you assured us that wearing your Scapular worthily would keep us safe from harm. Protect us in both body and soul with your continual aid. May all that we do be pleasing to your Son and to you. (Mention your request here).

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

DAY EIGHT

You give us hope, O Mother of Mercy, that through your Scapular promise we might quickly pass through the fires of purgatory to the Kingdom of your Son. Be our comfort and our hope. Grant that our hope may not be in vain but that, ever faithful to your Son and to you, we may speedily enjoy after death the blessed company of Jesus and the saints. (Mention your request here).

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

DAY NINE

O Most Holy Mother of Mount Carmel, when asked by a saint to grant privileges to the family of Carmel, you gave assurance of your Motherly love and help to those faithful to you and to your Son. Behold us, your children.

We glory in wearing your holy habit, which makes us members of your family of Carmel, through which we shall have your powerful protection in life, at death and even after death.

Look down with love, O Gate of Heaven, on all those now in their last agony!

Look down graciously, O Virgin, Flower of Carmel, on all those in need of help!

Look down mercifully, O Mother of our Savior, on all those who do not know that they are numbered among your children.

Look down tenderly, O Queen of All Saints, on the poor souls! (Mention your request here).

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

3 Day Novena

Say this prayer for 3 consecutive days Amen

Oh, most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven.

Oh, Blessed Mother of the Son of God; Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity.

Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me you are my Mother.

Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity.

(Mention your request here)

There are none that can withstand your power.

Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. (say three times).

Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands. (say three times). Amen

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Novenas prayers

Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

FEAST DAY: June 27th

NOVENA

Pray for 9 consecutive days - June 19 to June 27

MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP, you are the dispenser of every grace that God grants us in our misery.

For this reason He has made you so powerful, so rich, and so kind that you might help us in our needs.

You are the advocate of the most wretched and abandoned sinners, if they but come to you.

Come to my aid for I commend myself to you.

In your hands I place my eternal salvation; to you I entrust my soul.

Count me among your most faithful servants. Take me under your protection; that is enough for me.

If you protect me, I shall fear nothing: not my sins, because you will obtain for me their pardon and remission; not the evil spirits, because you are mightier than all the powers of Hell; not even Jesus, my Judge, because He is appeased by a single prayer from you.

I fear only that through my own negligence I may forget to recommend myself to you and so lose my soul.

My dear Lady, obtain for me the forgiveness of my sins, love for Jesus, final perseverance, and the grace to have recourse to you at all times, Mother of Perpetual Help.

Say Three Hail Marys…

O MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP, grant that I may ever invoke your most powerful name, which is the safeguard of the living and the salvation of the dying.

O Purest Mary, O Sweetest Mary, let your name henceforth be ever on my lips. Delay not, O Blessed Lady, to help me whenever I call on you, for, in all my temptations, in all my needs, I shall never cease to call on you, ever repeating your sacred name, Mary, Mary.

O what consolation, what sweetness, what confidence, what emotion fills my soul when I utter your sacred name, or even only think of you.

I thank God for having given you, for my good, so sweet, so powerful, so lovely a name. But I will not be content with merely uttering your name; let my hope in you prompt me ever to hail you, Mother of Perpetual Help. Amen

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Novenas to Saint Anthony

Novenas & Prayers to Saint Anthony

FEAST: JUNE 13

Novena

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

OPENING PRAYER:

O wonderful St. Anthony, gloriously named “Miracle Worker” on account of your many miracles and through the sweetness of Jesus coming in the form of a little child to rest in your arms, obtain for me from His bounty the grace which I ardently desire from the depths of my heart. You who were so compassionate toward miserable sinners, regard not the unworthiness of those who pray to you, but the glory of God that it may once again be magnified by the granting of the particular request which I now ask with complete trust in your kindness. Amen

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY ONE

O holy St. Anthony, gentlest of saints, your love for God and charity for His creatures made you worthy while on earth to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me the favor I seek in this novena. The answer to my prayer may require a miracle; even so, you are the Saint of miracles. O gentle and loving Saint Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Infant Jesus, Who loved to be folded in your arms, and the gratitude of my heart will always be yours.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY TWO

O miracle-working St. Anthony, remember that it never has been heard that you did not leave without help or relief anyone who in his need had recourse to you. Animated now with the most lively confidence, even with full conviction of not being refused, I fly for refuge to you, O most favored friend of the Infant Jesus. Eloquent preacher of the Divine mercy, despise not my supplications but, bringing them before the throne of God, strengthen them by your intercession and obtain for me the favor I seek in this novena.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY THREE

O purest St. Anthony, who through thine Angelic virtue was made worthy to be caressed by the Divine Child Jesus, to hold Him in your arms and press Him to your heart. I entreat you to cast a benevolent glance upon me. O glorious St. Anthony, born under the protection of Mary Immaculate, on the Feast of her Assumption into Heaven, and consecrated to her and now so powerful an intercessor in Heaven, I beseech you to obtain for me the favor I ask in this novena. O great wonder-worker, intercede for me that God may grant my request.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY FOUR

I salute and honor you, O powerful helper, St. Anthony. The Christian world confidently turns to you and experiences your tender compassion and powerful assistance in so many necessities and sufferings that I am encouraged in my need to seek your help in obtaining a favorable answer to my request for the favor I seek in this novena. O holy St. Anthony, I beseech you, obtain for me the grace that I desire.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY FIVE

I salute you, St. Anthony, lily of purity, ornament and glory of Christianity. I salute you, great Saint, cherub of wisdom and seraph of Divine love. I rejoice at the favors our Lord has so liberally bestowed upon you. In humility and confidence, I entreat you to help me, for I know that God has given you charity and pity, as well as power. I ask you by the love you felt toward the Infant Jesus as you held Him in your arms to tell Him now of the favor I seek in this novena.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY SIX

O glorious St. Anthony, chosen by God to preach His Word, you received from Him the gift of tongues and the power of working the most extraordinary miracles. O good St. Anthony, pray that I may fulfill the will of God in all things so that I may love Him, with you, for all eternity. O kind St. Anthony, I ask you, obtain for me the grace that I desire, the favor I seek in this novena.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY SEVEN

O renowned champion of the faith of Christ, most holy St. Anthony, glorious for your many miracles, obtain for me from the bounty of my Lord and God the grace which I ardently seek in this novena. O holy St. Anthony, ever attentive to those who invoke your assistance, grant me the aid of your powerful intercession.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY EIGHT

O holy St. Anthony, you have shown yourself to be so powerful, so tender and so compassionate towards those who honor you and invoke you in suffering and distress. I ask you most humbly and earnestly to take me under your protection in my present necessities and to obtain for me the favor I desire. Recommend my request to the merciful Queen of Heaven, that she may plead my cause with you before the throne of her Divine Son.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY NINE

Saint Anthony, servant of Mary, glory of the Church, pray for our Holy Father, our bishops, our priests, our Religious Orders, that, through their pious zeal and apostolic labors, all may be united in faith and give greater glory to God. St. Anthony, helper of all who invoke you, pray for me and intercede for me before the throne of Almighty God that I be granted the favor I so earnestly seek in this novena.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

CONCLUDING PRAYER

May the Divine assistance remain always with us. Amen

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

O God, may devotion to blessed Anthony, Thy confessor, be a source of joy to Thy Church, that she may always be fortified with spiritual assistance, and deserve to enjoy eternal rewards. Amen

Prayer to Saint Anthony for help in finding missing items

Saint Anthony, perfect imitator of Jesus, who received from God the special power of restoring lost things, grant that I may find (mention your request) which has been lost.

As least restore to me peace and tranquility of mind, the loss of which has afflicted me even more than my material loss.

To this favor I ask another of you: that I may always remain in possession of the true good that is God. Let me rather lose all things than lose God, my supreme good. Let me never suffer the loss of my greatest treasure, eternal life with God. Amen

Short Prayer to Saint Anthony

Wondrous Saint Anthony, glorious for the fame of your miracles, you had the happiness of receiving in your arms our blessed Lord as a little child. Obtain for me from His mercy this favor that I desire from the bottom of my heart: (mention your request)

Since you were so gracious to poor sinners, do not regard the lack of merit on the part of him who calls upon you, but consider the glory of God, which will by exalted once more through you, by the salvation of my soul and the granting of the petition that I now earnestly present to you.

As a pledge of my gratitude, I beg you to accept my promise to live henceforth more faithfully according to the teaching of the Gospel and to be devoted to the service of the poor whom you ever loved and still love so much. Bless this my resolution and obtain for me the grace to be faithful to it till death. Amen

Ejaculatory prayers to Saint Anthony

  • Saint Anthony, attentive to those who invoke thee, grant us the aid of thy powerful intercession for the grace of holy purity, meekness, humility, obedience, the spirit of poverty, and perfect abandonment to the will of God. Amen
  • Saint Anthony, great wonder-worker, intercede for us that God may grant us our request if it be for the good of our soul. Amen
  • Saint Anthony, be our patron, our protector, and our advocate in life and in death. Amen
  • Saint Anthony, servant of Mary, obtain for us greater devotion to the blessed Mother of God. Amen
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Novenas prayers

Novena to Our Lady Help of Christians

Novena to Our Lady Help of Christians

FEAST DAY: May 24th

NOVENA

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

DAY 1

Hail, Star of the sea, Blessed Mother of God, ever fruitful Virgin, happy gate of heaven. PRAYER: O Virgin Most Holy, powerful help of Christians, I confidently appeal to the throne of your mercy. Hear the prayers of this poor sinner that begs your help, so I may always flee from sin and from the occasions of sin. Behold the first grace that I ask from this novena. Amen Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be… Hail Holy Queen… Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

Short Biblical Reading: .

Two distinguishing signs of the authentic faithful: Jesus and Mary, salvation of believers and help of Christians. Unto death I promise that I shall remain faithful to my religion: the Holy, Roman, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

DAY 2

Taking that sweet Ave, which from Gabriel came, peace confirm within us, changing Eve's name. PRAYER: Mary Most Holy, Mother of goodness and mercy, who with your visible help oftentimes freed the Christian people from the assaults and barbarism of Moslems, I ask you, my Lady, to deliver my soul from the onslaughts of the world, the devil and the flesh; and grant that I may obtain, at all times, complete victory over the enemies of my soul. Amen Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be… Hail Holy Queen… Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

Short Biblical Reading: .

In short, Mary Most Holy offers us an example of humility, obedience and readiness to do the Will of God and to cooperate in bringing about His Plan of Salvation. “Lord, what do You wish me to do? Make me an instrument of Your peace.”

DAY 3

Break the sinners' fetters, make our blindness day; chase from us all evils, for all blessings pray.

PRAYER: O Mary, most powerful Queen, who alone triumphed over the false doctrines that sought to take away so many children from the bosom of Holy Mother Church, help me, I beg you, to keep and preserve my faith firmly and my heart pure amidst the snares and venom of such harmful errors. Amen Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be… Hail Holy Queen… Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

Short Biblical Reading: .

Certainly, Mary remained until the birth of St. John the Baptist, for she knew that expectant mothers need special care and help. Here, we have a beautiful example of charity. I too promise to always practice charity and acts of mercy.

DAY 4

Show thyself our Mother by taking our voice to the One Who deigned to be born for us, from you.

PRAYER: O Mary, my most sweet Mother, you who are Queen of Martyrs, through so many heroic acts of courage and fortitude, which you performed on earth, deign to instill in my heart the necessary strength to always serve you. Help me to despise human respect, and fulfill all my religious duties openly and without shame; may I remain your devout child at all times, even unto death. Amen Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be… Hail Holy Queen… Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

Short Biblical Reading:

With what admirable kindness Mary admonishes her lost Son found in the temple. It is a beautiful example to parents. Children grow in wisdom, stature and grace before God and men when they receive the good example of their parents. In raising my children, I promise to always practice patience, prudence and seriousness.

DAY 5

O Virgin unexcelled and most gentle, make us meek and pure and preserve us from evil.

PRAYER: Mary, beloved Mother, who showed your precious Patronage in the triumph of Pope Pius VII, extend your holy mantle over Holy Mother Church, especially over her august head, against the assaults of so many enemies; deliver him from temporal sufferings and assist him always that he may securely steer the barque of Peter in Truth, and overcome the proud waves attempting to sink it. Amen Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be… Hail Holy Queen… Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

Short Biblical Reading:

And Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the marriage. Realizing that the wedding feast lacked wine, Jesus performed a miracle upon the trusting entreaty of his mother. She invites us to also obey Jesus in a special way, saying:

DAY 6

Keep our life all spotless, make our way secure till we find in Jesus, joy for evermore.

PRAYER: O Mary, Queen of the Apostles, take under thy precious protection the Sacred Ministers and all the faithful of the Catholic Church, obtain for them the spirit of unity, and fervent zeal for the salvation of souls; particularly extend your loving help to missionaries, so they may lead all peoples of the earth to the true faith. Thus may the world become one fold under the guidance of only one Shepherd, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be… Hail Holy Queen… Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

Short Biblical Reading:

In fact, God, gazing at the humility of his faithful servant, Mary Most Holy, gave us through her the Savior of all men, Our Lord Jesus Christ. “O Mary, grant us the grace to imitate thy love of God and neighbor.”

DAY 7

Praise be to God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit now and forever.

PRAYER: O Mary, Mother of mercy, who so often saved Christians from the plague and other bodily scourges by your powerful intercession, help them and deliver them now from the plague of impiety and irreligion, which insinuates itself in a thousand ways into their souls keeping them from the Church and pious practices, especially through sects, the press and perverse schools. I humbly ask you to help the good, that they may persevere; strengthen the weak; call the wayward and sinners to repentance, so that the Truth and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ may triumph here on earth, thus increasing your glory and that of your Son, and saving souls. Amen Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be… Hail Holy Queen… Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

Short Biblical Reading:

O Mary, teach us to pray, trust and persevere.

DAY 8

Glorious Lady, more brilliant than the sun, at your breast you nourished the God who created thee.

PRAYER: O Mary, the Church's spiritual pillar and Help of Christians, I beseech you to keep me firm in the Divine Faith, and safeguard in me the freedom and dignity of God's children. For my part I promise you never to stain my soul with sin, nor be a part of any society condemned by the Holy See. I promise you to obey the perennial teachings of the Church, since I want to live and die within the bosom of the Catholic Religion, the only one in which I can expect with certainty my eternal salvation. Amen Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be… Hail Holy Queen… Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

Short Biblical Reading:

We can never forget the words of the dying Jesus, “Mother, behold thy son. Son, behold thy Mother.” Before dying, he entrusted his mother Mary to his disciple so that the faithful might have such a Mother present in their last agony.

DAY 9

What Eve had destroyed, was created, through you, Holy Mary, once again in the Son, opening Heaven’s gate and giving refuge to the downcast.

PRAYER: O Mary, my most gracious Mother, at all times so ready to be the help of Christians, assist me with your powerful patronage throughout my life and especially at the hour of death. Grant that, having loved and revered you on earth, I may sing your mercies in Heaven. O God You who established the Mother of Your beloved Son as Mother and Help of Christians, grant, we beseech, that we may live under Your protection, and that the Church may rejoice in Your everlasting peace. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be… Hail Holy Queen… Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for us.

Short Biblical Reading:

Mary Most Holy, lovingly consenting to the immolation of the Victim she bore, was given as a mother to the disciple and to all of us. The Virgin Mary is the Church’s model of faith and charity. Mary, Help of Christians, cooperates in the work of the Redeemer to restore the supernatural life in souls.

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Novena to Our Lady of Fatima

Novena to Our Lady of Fatima

Pray the novena from May 5th to May 13th

DAY 1 – First Apparition of the Angel

The angel first appeared either in the spring or summer of 1916 at Loca do Cabeço, a rocky outcrop near the top of a knoll called Cabeço, not far from Aljustrel.

This is Sister Lucia’s account of the apparition:

“We had been playing for a while when a strong wind shook the trees. Since it was a calm day, we looked up to see what was happening. Then we began to see, well above the trees that covered the stretch of land to the east, a light whiter than snow in the shape of a transparent young man who was more brilliant than a crystal struck by the rays of the sun.

“As he approached, we began to see his features. He was a young man of great beauty about fourteen or fifteen years old. We were surprised and ecstatic. We did not utter a word.

“Once he drew near us, he said:

‘Fear not. I am the Angel of Peace. Pray with me.’ “Kneeling down, he bowed until his forehead touched the ground.

Led by a supernatural inspiration, we imitated him, and repeated the words we heard him say:

‘My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love Thee. I beg Thee forgiveness for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love Thee.’

“After he had repeated this twice, he rose and said: ‘Pray thus. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications.’ Then he disappeared.

NOVENA PRAYER

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

DAY 2 – Second Apparition of the Angel

The second apparition of the Angel of Portugal occurred in the summer of 1916 over the well at the house of Lucia’s parents, next to which the three children were playing.

This is how Sister Lucia narrates what the angel said to them:

 

“‘What are you doing? Pray! Pray a great deal! The Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary have merciful designs concerning you. Offer prayers and sacrifices constantly to the Most High!’

“‘How must we sacrifice?’ I asked.

“‘Offer God a sacrifice of anything you can as an act of reparation for the sins with which He is offended and as a supplication for the conversion of sinners.

‘Draw peace upon your country by doing this. I am its guardian angel – the Angel of Portugal.

‘Above all, accept and endure with submission whatever suffering the Lord sends you.’ Then he disappeared.

“The angel’s words were impressed upon our souls like a light that made us understand Who God is, how much He loves us and wishes to be loved, the value of sacrifice and how sacrifice pleases God, and how He converts sinners because of it.”

NOVENA PRAYER

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

DAY 3 – Third Apparition of the Angel

The third apparition occurred either at the end of the summer or the beginning of the fall of 1916, once again at Loca do Cabeço.

According to Sister Lucia’s account, it took place as follows:

“As soon as we arrived there, we began to say the angel’s prayer on our knees, with our faces to the ground.

 

‘My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love Thee….’ I do not know how many times we had said this prayer when we saw an unknown light shining over our heads.

We rose to see what was happening, and we saw the angel bearing a chalice in his left hand. Drops of blood fell into the chalice from a Host suspended over it.

Leaving the chalice and the Host suspended in the air, the angel prostrated himself beside us and said the following prayer three times:

‘Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I adore Thee profoundly and offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the earth, in reparation for the insults, sacrileges, and indifference with which He is offended. And through the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg Thee for the conversion of poor sinners.’

“After this, rising up, he again took the chalice and the Host in his hand; he gave the Host to me and the contents of the chalice to Jacinta and Francisco to drink, saying:

‘Take and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, who is horribly insulted by ungrateful men. Make reparation for their crimes and console your God.’

“He again prostrated himself on the ground and repeated with us the same prayer three more times. ‘Most Holy Trinity….’ Then he disappeared.”

After this vision the children remained a long time prostrated and repeating the angel’s prayer.

NOVENA PRAYER

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

DAY 4 – First Apparition of Our Lady

May 13, 1917

The three children were playing at Cova da Iria on May 13, 1917 when they saw two flashes like lightning, after which they saw the Mother of God above a holm oak.

 

She was, according to the description of Lucia, “a Lady dressed in white, more brilliant than the sun…” Her face, indescribably beautiful, was “neither sad nor happy, but serious,” with an air of mild reproach. Her hands, joined together as if she were praying, were resting at her breast and pointing upward. A rosary hung from her right hand.

“Pray the rosary every day to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war.”

The seers were so close to Our Lady – about a yard and a half away – that they stood within the light that radiated from her.

Among other things, Our Lady asked the seers directly: “Do you wish to offer yourselves to God to endure all the sufferings that He may be pleased to send you, as both an act of reparation for the sins with which He is offended and an act of supplication for the conversion of sinners?”

To which Lucia, the oldest of the three, replied, “Yes, we do.”

Well then, you will have much to suffer. But the grace of God will be your comfort,” the beautiful Lady responded.

Lucia goes on to describe what followed:

“It was upon saying these last words, ‘the grace of God…’ that for the first time she opened her hands, which emitted a most intense light that penetrated our breasts, reaching the innermost part of our souls and making us see ourselves in God, Who was that light, more clearly than we can see ourselves in the best of mirrors.

“Then, driven by a deep inspiration, we knelt down and repeated inwardly: ‘O Most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee! My God, my God, I love Thee in the Most Blessed Sacrament.’”

“A moment later, Our Lady added, ‘Pray the rosary every day to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war.’”

NOVENA PRAYER

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

DAY 5 – Second Apparition of Our Lady

June 13, 1917

Appearing for the second time above the holm oak, at the time previously designated, Our Lady spoke to the children about their futures, both in this world and in eternity. She also reveals to them for the first time the image of her Immaculate Heart!

Lucia relates the following exchange:

 

Lucia: I would like to ask you to take us to heaven.

Our Lady: Yes, I shall take Jacinta and Francisco soon, but you will remain here for some time yet. Jesus wishes to use you in order to make me known and loved. He wishes to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world. I promise salvation to those who embrace it; and these souls will be beloved of God like flowers arranged by me to adorn His throne.

Lucia: Will I stay here alone?

Our Lady: No, daughter. Does that make you suffer much? Do not be dismayed. I will never forsake you. My Immaculate Heart shall be your refuge and the road that shall lead you to God.

Lucia writes,” Upon saying these last words, she opened her hands, and for the second time she communicated to us the reflection of that intense light. We could see ourselves in it, as if immersed in God. Jacinta and Francisco seemed to be in the part of this light that went up toward heaven, and I in the part that was cast toward the ground. In front of Our Lady’s right hand there was a heart encircled by thorns that seemed to pierce it. We understood that it was the Immaculate Heart of Mary, insulted by the sins of humanity and which desires reparation.”

NOVENA PRAYER

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

DAY 6 – Third Apparition of Our Lady

July 13, 1917

 

On this date, Our Lady made her most well-known apparition at Fatima, second only, of course, to the miracle of the Sun that was to follow three months later. For the sake of the brevity required for this Novena to Our Lady of Fatima, we will recount the two most important revelations that occurred on this day.*

The first part—The vision of hell

Lucia writes, “Our Lady showed us a great sea of fire which seemed to be under the earth. Plunged in this fire were demons and souls in human form, like transparent burning embers, all blackened or burnished bronze, floating about in the conflagration, now raised into the air by the flames that issued from within themselves together with great clouds of smoke, now falling back on every side like sparks in a huge fire, without weight or equilibrium, and amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair, which horrified us and made us tremble with fear.

The demons could be distinguished by their terrifying and repulsive likeness to frightful and unknown animals, all black and transparent. This vision lasted but an instant. How can we ever be grateful enough to our kind heavenly Mother, who had already prepared us by promising, in the first Apparition, to take us to heaven. Otherwise, I think we would have died of fear and terror.”

The second part—The warning of the chastisement and how to avoid it

The children then looked up at Our Lady, who said to them so kindly and so sadly:

“You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace. The war (World War I) is going to end: but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the Pontificate of Pius XI (World War II). When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign given you by God that He is about to punish the world for its crimes, by means of war, famine, and persecutions of the Church and of the Holy Father. To prevent this (World War II), I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of reparation on the First Saturdays. If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world (communism), causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she shall be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world. In Portugal, the dogma of the faith will always be preserved.

“When you say the Rosary, after each mystery, pray:

‘O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy.’ 

NOVENA PRAYER

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

DAY 7 – Fourth Apparition of Our Lady

August 19, 1917

For the first time since Our Lady’s first apparition in May, on August 13, the seers were not at Cova da Iria.

They had been abducted by the mayor of Vila Nova de Ourém, who attempted to force from them the secret revealed in the apparition of July 13. The children held fast despite the mayor imprisoning them, and threatening to plunge them in boiling oil.

At Cova da Iria, thunder, followed by lightning, was heard at the usual time.

The spectators noticed a small white cloud that hovered over the holm oak for a few minutes. Phenomena of coloration were observed on the faces of the people, the clothing, the trees, and the ground.

Our Lady had certainly come, but she had not found the seers.

On August 19, after having been released from captivity and sent back to their homes, at about four o’clock in the afternoon, Lucia was with Francisco and another cousin at Valinhos, a property belonging to one of her uncles, when the atmospheric changes that preceded the apparitions of Our Lady at Cova da Iria began to occur: a sudden cooling of the temperature and a waning of the sun.

Feeling that something supernatural was approaching and enveloping them, Lucia sent for Jacinta, who arrived in time to see Our Lady appear – heralded as before by a bright light – over a holm oak slightly larger than the one at Cova da Iria.

Lucia: What does Your Grace wish of me?

Our Lady: I want you to continue to go to Cova da Iria on the thirteenth of each month and to continue to pray the Rosary every day. On the last month, I will perform the miracle for all to believe.

Then Our Lady’s face became more serious, and even upset.

Our Lady: If they had not taken you to Ourém, the miracle would have been even greater.

Lucia: What does Your Grace want done with the money that the people leave at Cova da Iria?

Our Lady: Have two portable stands made. You and Jacinta with two other girls dressed in white carry one of them, and let Francisco carry the other one with three other boys. The portable stands are for the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. The money that is left over should be contributed to the chapel that they shall build.

NOVENA PRAYER

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

DAY 8 – Fifth Apparition of Our Lady

September 13, 1917

Though the briefest of all of the Fatima apparitions, on this day the Mother of God persisted in her request for prayers and sacrifices. She also prophesied to the children the specific aspects of the Miracle to occur in October.

 

A crowd estimated at 20,000 observed atmospheric phenomena similar to those of the previous apparitions: the sudden cooling of the air, a dimming of the sun to the point where the stars could be seen, and a rain resembling iridescent petals or snowflakes that disappeared before touching the ground.

This time, a luminous globe was noticed which moved slowly and majestically through the sky from east to west and, at the end of the apparition, in the opposite direction. The seers saw a light, and, immediately following this, they saw Our Lady over the holm oak.

Our Lady: Continue to pray the Rosary to obtain the end of the war. In October, Our Lord will also come, as well as Our Lady of Sorrows and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and Saint Joseph with the Child Jesus, to bless the world. God is pleased with your sacrifices, but He does not want you to sleep with the ropes; wear them only during the day. (The children were wearing ropes around their waists as a sacrifice for sinners.)

Lucia: They have requested me to ask you for many things, for the cure of some sick persons, of a deaf-mute.

Our Lady: Yes, I will cure some, others not. In October, I will perform a miracle for all to believe.

And rising, she disappeared in the same manner as before.

NOVENA PRAYER

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

DAY 9 – Sixth Apparition of Our Lady

And the Miracle of the Sun — October 13, 1917

Opening her hands, Our Lady shone the light issuing from them onto the sun, and as she rose, her own radiance continued to be cast onto the sun.

At that moment, Lucia cried, “Look at the sun!”

 

Once Our Lady had disappeared in the expanse of the firmament, three scenes followed in succession, symbolizing first the joyful mysteries of the rosary (the Holy Family), then the sorrowful mysteries (Our Mother of Sorrows; Our Lord on His way to Calvary blesses the people), and, finally, the glorious mysteries (Our Lady of Mount Carmel).

While these scenes took place, the great throng of 70,000 spectators witnessed the miracle of the sun.

It had rained all during the apparition. At the end of the conversation between Our Lady and Lucia – when the Blessed Virgin rose and Lucia shouted, “Look at the sun!” – the clouds parted, revealing the sun as an immense silver disk shining with an intensity never before seen – though not blinding.

This lasted only an instant. Then the immense disk began to “dance;” the globe of fire seemed to tremble, shake, and then plunge in a zigzag toward the terrified crowd.

All this lasted about ten minutes. Finally, the sun zigzagged back to its original place and once again became still and brilliant, shining with its normal brightness. The cycle of the apparitions had ended.

Many people noticed that their clothes, soaking wet from the rain, had suddenly dried.

The miracle of the sun was also seen by numerous witnesses up to twenty-five miles away from the place of the apparition.*

NOVENA PRAYER

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with sincere love of this devotion.

By meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in your Rosary, may we gather the fruits contained therein and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, the Peace of Christ for the world, and this favor that I so earnestly seek of you in this novena…. (here mention your request)

I ask this of you, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor and for the good of all people. Amen

3 x Our Father….
3 x Hail Mary….
3 x Glory Be….

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Story of Our Lady of Good Counsel

Story of Our Lady of Good Counsel

April 26: Feast day for Our Lady of Good Counsel

Miraculous Fresco

This is the story of an eggshell-thin fresco of Our Lady which flew all the way from Albania… One day, centuries ago, it descended on ancient Genazzano, a charming town on a hill thirty miles south of Rome.

Because of its proximity to Rome, the city was chosen by many patricians and imperial courtiers as a site for their country villas. The vast gardens surrounding these villas often served as the stage for perverse feasts, pagan games and heathen rituals in honor of the gods to whom the Romans attributed the fertility of their fields.

One of these celebrations was held every April 25 in honor of the goddess Flora or Venus. For this event, people of all social classes—freemen and slaves, patricians and plebeians—gathered together for a great feast. This practice gradually dissolved and the temples fell into ruins as the life-giving breath of Christianity regenerated the peoples of Europe.

In the quaint medieval town of Genazzano, on a side altar of the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, there is a small image of the Blessed Virgin holding her infant Son. The Child, in His turn, lovingly encircles Mary’s neck with His arm, inclining her head towards Himself in a gentle and intimate embrace.

In the third century, an order was given to build a shrine dedicated to the Mother of God under the tender invocation of Mother of Good Counsel on the ruins of the Roman temples.

As the years went by, the city became more populous and the shrine grew in fame. During the Middle Ages, the Franciscans and the Augustinians founded monasteries nearby. With the passing of years, the primitive temple erected in honor of the Mother of Good Counsel began to show signs of disrepair. Moreover, as the shrine was small, the faithful built larger and richer churches for their solemn functions.

In 1356, about a century before the appearance of the miraculous painting that would introduce Genazzano into the annals of marvels in the Church, Prince Pietro Giordan Colonna, whose family had acquired lordship of the city, assigned the most ancient church of the city and its parish to the care of the Hermits of St. Augustine.

The faithful would thereby have the necessary pastoral assistance, and repairs could be made on the old church.

Although the prayers of the faithful intensified, financial difficulties prevented the necessary and urgent restoration of the ancient temple. But the Mother who gives wise counsel in every circumstance and attentively provides for the necessities of men chose a Third Order Augustinian, Petruccia de Nocera, to carry out a supernatural prodigy that would bring about the much-desired restoration.

Petruccia had been left a modest fortune following the death of her husband in 1436. Living alone, she dedicated most of her time to prayer and services in the church of the Mother of Good Counsel. It grieved her to see the deplorable state of the sacred premises, and she prayed fervently that they would be restored.

Finally, she resolved to take the initiative. After obtaining permission from the friars, she donated her goods to initiate the restoration in the hope that others would help complete it once it was commenced.

A plan was drawn up for the building of a magnificent church. However, once that arduous undertaking had begun, Petruccia, who was already eighty years old, found that her generous offering was scarcely enough to complete the first phase of the new construction. To make matters worse, no one came forth to help.

To her dismay, the building had hardly risen three feet when construction came to a halt due to lack of resources. Her friends and neighbors began to ridicule her, and detractors accused her of imprudence. Others severely reprimanded her in public.

To all of them she would say: “My dear children, do not put too much importance on this apparent misfortune. I assure you that before my death the Blessed Virgin and our holy father Augustine will finish the church begun by me.”

On April 25, 1467, the feast day of the city’s patron, Saint Mark, a solemn celebration began with Mass. It was Saturday, and the crowd began to gather in front of the church of the Mother of Good Counsel. The only discrepant note in the celebration was the unfinished work of Petruccia.

At about four in the afternoon, everyone heard the chords of a beautiful melody that seemed to come from heaven. The people looked up toward the towers of the churches and saw a white cloud that shone with a thousand luminous rays; it gradually neared the stupefied crowd to the sound of an exceptionally beautiful melody.

The cloud descended on the church of the Mother of Good Counsel and poised over the wall of the unfinished chapel of Saint Biagio, which Petruccia had started.

Icon of Our Lady of Good Counsel

Suddenly, the bells of the old tower began to ring by themselves, and the other bells of the town rang miraculously in unison. The rays that emanated from the little cloud faded away, and the cloud itself gradually vanished, revealing a beautiful object to the enchanted gaze of the spectators.

It was a painting that represented Our Lady tenderly holding her Divine Son in her arms. Almost immediately, the Virgin Mary began to cure the sick and grant countless consolations, the memory of which was recorded for posterity by the local ecclesiastical authority.

The news of the painting and its miracles spread throughout the province and beyond, attracting multitudes. Some cities formed enthusiastic processions to see the picture that the people called the Madonna of Paradise because of its celestial entrance into the city. Numerous alms were donated as an answer to the unwavering confidence that Our Lady had inspired in Petruccia.

Amidst the general enthusiasm caused by the painting, Our Lady wished to divulge the true origin of the marvelous fresco to her devotees. Two foreigners named Giorgio and De Sclavis entered the city among a group of pilgrims that had come from Rome.

They wore strange clothes and spoke a foreign tongue, saying they had arrived in Rome earlier that year from Albania. While most people had refused to believe their story, it had a special significance for the inhabitants of Genazzano.

Albania

January of 1467 saw the death of the last great Albanian leader, George Castriota, better known as Scanderbeg. Raised by an Albanian chief, he placed himself at the head of his own people.

Subsequently, Scanderbeg inflicted stunning defeats on the Turkish army and occupied fortresses all over Albania.

With Scanderbeg’s death, the Turkish army, finally free from the Fulminating Lion of War, poured into Albania, occupying all its fortresses, cities and provinces with the exception of Scutari, in the north of the country.

However, the city’s capacity to resist was limited, and its capture was expected at any moment. With its fall, Christian Albania would be defeated. Faced with this prospect, those who wished to practice their faith in Christian lands began a sad exodus. Giorgio and De Sclavis also studied the possibility of fleeing, but something kept them in Scutari, where there was a small church, considered the shrine of the whole Albanian kingdom.

In this church the faithful venerated a picture of Our Lady which had mysteriously descended from the heavens two hundred years before.

According to tradition, it had come from the east. Having poured out innumerable graces over the whole population, its church became the principal center of pilgrimage in Albania. Scanderbeg himself had visited this shrine more than once to ardently ask for victory in battle. Now the shrine was threatened with imminent destruction and profanation.

The two Albanians were torn by the idea of leaving the great treasure of Albania in the hands of the enemy in order to flee the Turkish terror. In their perplexity, they went to the old church to ask their Blessed Mother for the good counsel they needed.

That night, the Consoler of the Afflicted inspired both of them in their sleep. She commanded them to prepare to leave their country, which they would never see again. She added that the miraculous fresco was also going to leave Scutari for another country to escape profanation at the hands of the Turks. Finally, she ordered them to follow the painting wherever it went.

The next morning, the two friends went to the shrine. At a certain moment they saw the picture detach itself from the wall on which it had hung for two centuries. Leaving its niche, it hovered for a moment and was then suddenly wrapped in a white cloud through which the image continued to be visible.

The Flying Icon

The pilgrim painting left the church and the environs of Scutari. It traveled slowly through the air at a considerable altitude and advanced in the direction of the Adriatic Sea at a speed that allowed the two walkers to follow; after covering some twenty-four miles, they reached the coast.

With unbounded confidence, Giorgio and De Scalvis walked on the waves of the Adriatic Sea.

Without stopping, the picture left the land and advanced over the waters while the faithful Giorgio and De Sclavis continued to follow, walking on the waves much like their Divine Master had done on Lake Genesareth. When night would fall, the mysterious cloud, which had protected them with its shade from the heat of the sun during the day, guided them by night with light, like the column of fire in the desert that guided the Jews in their exodus from Egypt.

They traveled day and night until they reached the Italian coast. There, they continued following the miraculous picture, climbing mountains, fording rivers and passing through valleys. Finally, they reached the vast plain of Lazio from where they could see the towers and domes of Rome. Upon reaching the gates of the city, the cloud suddenly disappeared before their disappointed eyes.

Giorgio and De Sclavis began to search the city, going from church to church asking if the painting had descended there. All their attempts to find the painting failed, and the Romans incredulously regarded the two foreigners and their strange tale.

Shortly thereafter, amazing news came to Rome: a picture of Our Lady had appeared in the skies of Genazzano to the sound of beautiful music and had come to rest over the wall of a church that was being rebuilt. The two Albanians rushed to find their country’s beloved treasure miraculously suspended in the air next to the wall of the chapel where it remains to this day.

Although some inhabitants found the strangers’ story difficult to believe, careful investigation later proved that the two were telling the truth and that the image was indeed the same one that graced the shrine in Scutari.

 

Invocation of Mother of Good Counsel

Thus Mary Most Holy, with the humble participation of a pious Third Order Augustinian on one side of the Adriatic and two faithful Albanians on the other, transported her mysterious fresco from the unhappy and unfortunate Albania to a little city very close to the heart of Christendom. Beginning her historic journey from that small Albanian shrine, which she had not chosen by chance, she traveled across the sea to pour on the world a new torrent of graces under the invocation of Mother of Good Counsel.

This special invocation of Our Lady of Good Counsel of Genazzano is for those who are searching for good advice. Her feast day is on April 26.

Article and pictures courtesy of ANF.

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Novenas prayers

Novena to Our Lady of Good Counsel

Novena to Our Lady of Good Counsel

FEAST DAY: APRIL 26

Prayed from April 18 to April 26.

Memorare of Our Lady of Good Counsel

(to be prayed each day)

Concluding prayer for each day: Remember, O Immaculate Mary, Virgin Mother of Good Counsel, that it has never been heard of in any age that such as had recourse to thee, imploring thy help and seeking thy powerful intercession, were ever rejected or refused or abandoned. Inspired with the like hope and confidence, I fly to thee, O Mary, Virgin Mother of Good Counsel, and my Mother; before thy shrine I come, casting myself on my unworthiness. O Mother of the Eternal Word made Flesh, obtain for me, through the whole course of my life, all the graces and blessings I more require, from the Sacred and Adorable Heart of Jesus, my Savior, O Virgin Mother of Good Counsel, reject not my petitions, but mercifully hear and answer me. Amen. ________________________________________

Never has it been known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly to you, O Mary, ever-Virgin Mother of the true God! Though grieving under the weight of our sins, we come to prostrate ourselves before you. We fully trust that, standing beneath your shadow and protection, nothing will trouble or afflict us, nor do we need to fear illness or misfortune, or any other sorrow.

O Virgin of Guadalupe, you want to remain with us through your admirable Image, you who are our Mother, our health, and our life. Placing ourselves beneath your maternal gaze, and having recourse to you in all our necessities, we need do nothing more.

O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer us. Amen

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

DAY 1

O Mary, my mother, I humbly beseech you to counsel me as I begin this novena of prayerful petition. I fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God. You are the defense of all Christians, the Seat of Wisdom, the Mother of Good Counsel. You know, most Holy Virgin, how much I require your all-powerful aid. Guard me from the evils that afflict me; heal my wounds; relieve my wants and miseries. Obtain for me strength and courage to bear the trials and temptations of life. O Virgin most prudent, help me to persevere until death in the love of God.

(Here mention your requests)

O Mary, most Blessed Virgin, Mother of Good Counsel, may the blessing of your Son come upon me. 3 x Hail Mary's.... Concluding Prayer

DAY 2

O most Holy Virgin, Cause of our joy, you were chosen by the Blessed Trinity to be the Mother of the Word made Flesh. You alone were conceived Immaculate; you always remained faithful to the indwelling Holy Ghost. Every moment of your life you were "full of grace." O Mary Immaculate, I gratefully acknowledge the countless joys you have gained for me the happiness I have found in my Faith; the contentment in prayer; the security of your protection. As I make known my petitions in this novena, I promise always to revere you as the Treasure of divine grace. O Mary, most Blessed Virgin, may the blessing of your Son come upon me. 3 x Hail Mary's.... Concluding Prayer

DAY 3

O Mary, Refuge of sinners, you are our life, our sweetness, our hope. It has never been heard that anyone ever sought your help and was rejected. Amid the uncertainties of life I turn to you; with aching heart I seek your comfort and counsel. No one can ever number the favors you have granted; the tears you have dried, the needs you have supplied, the sickness you have cured, the petitions you have answered. O Mother of Mercy, hear my prayers and grant my requests. O Mary, most Blessed Virgin, may the blessing of your Son come upon me. 3 x Hail Mary's.... Concluding Prayer

DAY 4

O Virgin most renowned, you are our advocate at the Throne of Mercy. By your intercession with your Divine Son you have saved us from the punishment we deserve for our sins. You have obtained for us mercy and pardon. To you I turn, imploring your aid. O gentle and loving Mother. Pity me in my misery; help me in my needs; give me good counsel. To you I pour forth my petitions in this novena, O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. O Mary, most Blessed Virgin, may the blessing of your Son come upon me. 3 x Hail Mary's.... Concluding Prayer

DAY 5

O Virgin Mary, Queen of Martyrs, I thank you for the consolation you have given me in times of sorrow and anxiety. I bring to mind the great suffering you so patiently endured. In the Temple as you offered your Divine Son, you heard the words of the prophet: "Your own soul a sword of sorrow shall pierce." Standing at Calvary you compassionated your dying Son. The lance which opened His Sacred Heart was the sword which pierced your soul. I am deeply sorry for my sins which caused your Son to suffer such a cruel Passion and Death. O compassionate Mother, help me in my hours of suffering and tribulation; counsel me to unite my sufferings with the Cross of Christ; teach me to draw from His Passion the strength to bear my cross daily and so to atone for my sins. O Mary, most Blessed Virgin, may the blessing of your Son come upon me. 3 x Hail Mary's.... Concluding Prayer

DAY 6

O Mother of Good Counsel, Star of the Sea, to you I turn for light to guide my uncertain steps through life. Throughout the world, in every land, your picture is venerated. Your gracious image is given an honored place in countless homes. So many people, in prayerful petition, have obtained from you good counsel. O Virgin most faithful, renew in my heart the joy of true devotion to you. May your counsel enlighten the darkness of my mind and safeguard me from the misery of sin. O Mary, most Blessed Virgin, may the blessing of your Son come upon me. 3 x Hail Mary's.... Concluding Prayer

DAY 7

O Mother most admirable, I recall the wondrous gifts of grace and healing which have occurred at your shrine in Genazzano. For five hundred years there has been the constant testimony of grateful clients. To countless multitudes who have knelt before your picture, health has been restored, afflictions have been removed, peace of mind restored, faith has been strengthened, repentance for sin granted. Beloved Mother of Good Counsel, be mindful of the favors you have granted to others. Listen to the prayers I humbly pour forth. Protect me from the dangers that surround me; keep me secure under your protection. O Mary, most Blessed Virgin, may the blessing of your Son come upon me. 3 x Hail Mary's.... Concluding Prayer

DAY 8

O most glorious Virgin, Mother of my Redeemer, I rejoice that I can call upon your protection. Your great desire is to be my counsellor in the urgent matter of my eternal salvation. Kindly receive me, O Consoler of the Afflicted; awaken in me a spirit of true repentance; entice me towards perfection; comfort me in my sorrows; remove from me all doubts; draw me nearer to your Divine Son. Today I implore you to heed my prayers. Obtain from Jesus pardon for my sins. Show yourself a mother unto me; counsel me to become a true child of yours. May He, through you, receive my prayer Who, for love of me became your Son. O Mary, most Blessed Virgin, may the blessing of your Son come upon me. 3 x Hail Mary's.... Concluding Prayer

DAY 9

O most glorious Queen of Heaven and earth, with joy I gaze upon your renowned picture. In your arms you lovingly enfold the Divine infant, your head turned tenderly towards Him. Safely He nestles in the protections of your embrace. From Him you draw all knowledge and counsel. In union with all who venerate you at your shrine in Genazzano, I gratefully praise God for the gift of this picture. While I mention my petitions in this novena, I promise to heed your counsel and to be fully reconciled to God's Will. I shall always strive to prove myself to be a true child of yours. O Help of Christians, give me your counsel; in life and in death assist me, O Merciful Mother. O Mary, most Blessed Virgin, may the blessing of your Son come upon me. 3 x Hail Mary's.... Concluding Prayer

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Novena Prayer to Our Lady of Good Success

Novena Prayer to Our Lady of Good Success

Feast day: February 2

Say this Novena Prayer for 9 consecutive days:

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…. (mention 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…. (mention request).

Our Father….
Hail Mary….
Glory Be….
Saint Michael, 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…. (mention request).

Our Father….
Hail Mary….
Glory Be….
Saint Michael, pray for us.

Novena prayer courtesy of ANF.

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When Saints Formed Children

When Saints Formed Children

Feast day for Saint John Bosco: January 31

“God made me to know, love, and serve Him in this world in order lo be happy with Him in the next.” Thus does the child correctly answer the catechism question of why God made him.

In consonance with this basic notion, Catholic education has traditionally meant fashioning the child’s whole personality for the practice of virtue. It thus produced children with consciences, in marked contrast to the troubled and problem children so prevalent today.

Modern schools have, for the most part, lost sight of – or utterly ignore – the true finality of education. Let us look back, then, to a time when saints formed children, leading them along the path of virtue.

Following are some selected passages from the educational guidelines laid down by Saint John Bosco last century. These forgotten truths are every bit as timely now as then.

On music: “Any educational center without music is a body without a soul. Music educates, soothes, and elevates; it is a most efficacious means for instilling discipline and contributing to morality.”

On love for beauty: “The teacher must also help his charges perfect their sentiments for beauty. This is a natural sentiment, but it must be developed and perfected. A11 children have a capacity to appreciate the beauties of nature, art, and religion.
 

“I recall that when I was a boy my mother taught me to look up and gaze at the sky and to observe the marvels of the countryside. During the serene and starlit nights, she look me outside and showed me the heavens and said to me, ‘It is God Who created the world and put so many beautiful stars above. If the firmament is so beautiful, how will paradise be?’ And when spring came around, with its wealth of flowers across the countryside, she would exclaim: ‘How many beautiful things the Lord has made for us!’ And when the clouds gathered, and the skies darkened and the thunder roared: ‘How powerful the Lord is! Who can resist Him? Therefore, let us not commit sins.’ And in winter, when all was covered with snow and ice, and we would gather together around the fire, she, even amidst our poverty, would say: ‘How grateful we should be to the Lord Who has provided us with all that is necessary! God is truly our Father: Our Father, Who art in heaven…'”

On intellectual formation: “To cultivate only the intellect, abandoning all the other human faculties, is to deform man.

“Intellectual education encompasses a series of norms, of practical measures and appropriate resources to provide the juvenile intelligence with the knowledge of letters and sciences indispensable and helpful for life. But the school should not presume to take the place of the family, and much less the Church. School must teach in relation to life.”

On moral formation: “All, or nearly all, educators sec the development of the intellect as their principal responsibility to the child.

However, this displays a lack of prudence, for they do not understand—or else easily lose sight of—human nature and the reciprocal dependency of our faculties. They direct all their efforts to the development of the cognitive faculties and sentiments, which they erroneously and tragically confound with the faculty of love. In so doing, they completely disregard the sovereign faculty, the will, which is the only source of true and pure love, and of which the sensibility is but a type of outward appearance.

“What is the obligation of the Christian teacher? According to the spirit of Jesus Christ and the practice of His moral law, the mother, the father or the teacher, must avoid giving a vitiated education to the children Providence has entrusted to them; their immediate end must be to direct the child along the path of sanctity, whose guideposts are renunciation and generosity. To communicate the spirit of sacrifice, the teacher must direct his charges, above all, to cultivate their reason and will without neglecting any of the other faculties.”

On social formation: “Games are also social elements that should not be belittled. For this reason, we give them much importance. Games leach the child to control himself and not to injure or bother his companions; to develop social sensibility; to increase habits of courtesy, affability, and manners; to stimulate the exercise of justice and loyalty, indispensable conditions not only for games but for all forms of social activity.”

On religious education: “Education must develop in youth a passion for good and a hatred of evil. The teacher is duty-bound lo understand that this is an effect of correspondence or lack of conformity to the will of God.

“One of the defects or vices of modern pedagogy is the reduction of religion to pure sentiment. For this reason, it does not want to speak to children about, or even name, the eternal truths: death, judgment, and, much less, hell.”

Article courtesy of ANF. From Biografia y Escritos de San Juan Bosco, Madrid: B.A.C., 1955.

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Novena Prayer to St John Bosco

Novena Prayer to Saint John Bosco

Feast day: January 31

Say this Novena Prayer for 9 consecutive days:

Saint John Bosco, father and teacher of the young, in need of special help, I appeal with confidence to you, for I require not only spiritual graces, but also temporal ones, and particularly….

(Mention intentions here)

May you, who on earth had such great devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to Mary Help of Christians, and who always had compassion for those who were suffering, obtain from Jesus and His Heavenly Mother the grace I now request, and also a sincere resignation to the Will of God.

Our Father….
Hail Mary….
Glory be….

Saint John Bosco, pray for us!

(Recite the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be)

Novena prayer courtesy of ANF.

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Novenas prayers

Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe

FEAST DAY: DECEMBER 12

Prayed from December 4 to December 12.

Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe

(to be prayed each day)

Remember, O most gracious Virgin of Guadalupe, that in your heavenly apparitions on the mount of Tepeyac, you promised to show your compassion and pity towards all who, loving and trusting you, seek your help and call upon you in their necessities and afflictions. You promised to hear our supplications, to dry our tears, and to give us consolation and relief.

Never has it been known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly to you, O Mary, ever-Virgin Mother of the true God! Though grieving under the weight of our sins, we come to prostrate ourselves before you. We fully trust that, standing beneath your shadow and protection, nothing will trouble or afflict us, nor do we need to fear illness or misfortune, or any other sorrow.

O Virgin of Guadalupe, you want to remain with us through your admirable Image, you who are our Mother, our health, and our life. Placing ourselves beneath your maternal gaze, and having recourse to you in all our necessities, we need do nothing more.

O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer us. Amen

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

DAY 1

Dearest Lady of Guadalupe, fruitful Mother of holiness, teach me your ways of gentleness and strength. Hear my humble prayer offered with heartfelt confidence to beg this favour....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

DAY 2

O Mary conceived without sin, I come to your throne of grace to share the fervent devotion of your faithful children who call upon you under the glorious title of Guadalupe. Obtain for me a lively faith to do your Son’s holy will always: May His will be done on earth as it is in heaven....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

DAY 3

O Mary, most sorrowful, whose Immaculate Heart, was pierced by seven swords of grief, help me to walk valiantly amid the sharp thorns strewn across my pathway. Obtain for me the strength to be a true imitator of you. This I ask you, my dear Mother....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

m>Amen

DAY 4

Dearest Mother of Guadalupe, I beg you for a fortified will to imitate your divine Son’s charity, to always seek the good of others in need. Grant me this, I humbly ask of you....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

DAY 5

O most holy Mother, I beg you to obtain for me the pardon of all my sins, abundant graces to serve your Son more faithfully from now on, and lastly, the grace to praise Him with you forever in heaven....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

DAY 6

Mary, Mother of vocations, we beg you to multiply priestly vocations and fill the earth with religious houses which will be light and warmth for the world, and safety in stormy nights. Beg your Son to send us many holy priests and religious. This we ask of you, O Mother....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

DAY 7

O Lady of Guadalupe, we beg you that parents live a holy life and educate their children in accordance with the true Catholic faith; that children obey and follow the directions of their parents; and that all members of the family pray and worship together. This we ask of you, O Mother....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

DAY 8

O Lady of Guadalupe, with my heart full of the most sincere veneration, I prostrate myself before you, O Mother, to ask you to obtain for me the grace to fulfill the duties of my state in life with faithfulness and constancy....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

DAY 9

O God, you have been pleased to bestow upon us unceasing favours by having placed us under the special protection of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. Grant us, your humble servants, who rejoice in honouring her today upon earth, the happiness of seeing her face to face in heaven....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

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2023 Rally Pictures

Fort St John British Columbia

Rosary Rally held at the Grotto of The Church of the Resurrection, Fort St. John, British Columbia.

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Toronto Ontario

Rosary Rally Captain In front of St. Anthony Catholic Church

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2023 Rally Pictures

Winnipeg Manitoba

Winnipeg, parroquia nuestra señora de la asunción

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2023 Rally Pictures

Orangeville Ontario

– 20 people.
– very calm public, quiet curiosity, polite crowds.
– great weather despite rain forecasts.

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Winnipeg Manitoba

Rosary Rally participated by Mary Queen Of Our Hearts Legion of Mary.

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2023 Rally Pictures

Francia Ontario

Thanks so much for let me be part as Captain in my community (City of Oakville, Ontario ) for the 3rd time, It was raining a lot, after the Rosary the sun shined beautiful!

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Devon Alberta

Bernadette Serafinchan

We were seven ladies this year, not as many as last year.

Our rally was held in the greenspace between Superior Street and Highway 6o in Devon, AB.

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2023 Rally Pictures

Gravenhurst Ontario

Urania Garcia from St. Pauls Gravenhurst Ont .Canada . There were 30 people in our Rally . I am happy to sign up for a Captain for next year if available .

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2023 Rally Pictures

Kingsville Ontario

It was very rainy day. But very beautiful moment with our lady.

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2023 Rally Pictures

Chapleau Quebec

 

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2023 Rally Pictures

Orleans Ontario

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2023 Rally Pictures

Kamloops British Columbia

Quiet prayer for a group of 5. Smaller turnout than last year.

We experienced Respect behavior of traffic passing through busy intersection and while stopped.

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2023 Rally Pictures

Chatham, Ontario

With rain and cold winds, our group consisted of 9 people, gathering under a shelter on Saturday, October 14. 2023 at 12 pm. on the grounds of Our Lady of Victory Parish Church. On Sunday, October 15, 2023 at 1:30 pm being our usual weekly Rosary prayer, with 10 people present, we held a repeat Rosary Rally at the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, at the church of Our Lady of Fatima. The weather was still cloudy, and cold but better. Together there were 13 individual people in attendance as some attended both. Our group consists of mostly elderly people who pray from their hearts and hold a special devotion to Our Lady, so we were joyfully praying using the program we received from Canada Needs Our Lady. Next year, we hope to make our CNOL Rosary more Public, walking along the sidewalk, in the sight of traffic which we had planned for this year. We are most grateful to have had the opportunity to join CNOL Rosary Rally.

Sorry, no pictures were taken this year.

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2023 Rally Pictures

Grande Prairie Alberta

It was a cold autumn day where a small group of the faithful gathered to pray the rosary.

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2023 Rally Pictures

Leduc Alberta

We had 19 prayer warriors attend, including our parish priest. We were situated on Main Street, one vehicle honked in appreciation. There was another church group walking to make awareness to human trafficking who showed friendly support. The day was very windy but the very light statue of Our Lady didn’t blow over even though the heavy vase with flowers was knocked over by the wind. When Barb placed her on the table she said “Mother Mary take care of her” and she did. Praise God!!! It was a humbling experience.

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2023 Rally Pictures

Niagara Falls Ontario

This was the first time being a Rally Captain and I felt it went well. When I arrived at St Thomas More Church I was surprised to meet a husband and wife who were there and had been running the Rally for over 5 years. No one had informed that there was a Rally at St Thomas More even when I had submitted the location to Canada Needs Our Lady. Regardless they were very kind and allowed me to lead the Rosary. There were about 25 in attendance including our Associate Pastor. I did make copies of the attendance sheets but due to the weather(cold and rainy) and other concerns, they were not filled out.
The other concern being that I dont quite understand why people who come out to pray are being asked to fill out their personal information for a total stranger. Although it is for a noble cause people nowadays are reluctant so I was not comfortable pursuing it.
Aside from that I was glad to be apart of such a beautiful event which this world is so much in need of especially at this time!
Thank you

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2023 Rally Pictures

Taber Alberta

This was our 3rd Rosary rally and we were blessed with 20 people joining to pray for our Nation, our community, our world and for our families.
The day started out windy and cool but by the time we were done praying, the sun was shining and warmed us up. Our rally is held in our church parking lot and faces one of our town’s main driving routes. We did received some support from passing motorists with a quick honk of their horn.
Our participants have been regular attendees for our Rosary Rally and are faithful prayer intercessors.

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2023 Rally Pictures

Milk River Alberta

We joined our 2 churches together to pray for Canada at St. Peter’s in Milk River. We started at 11:00am due to a wedding being booked in the church for 1:30pm. The majority of our participants were elderly (over 70) and the weather was not nice. We prayed in the entrance of the church with the one door open so people walking or driving by could see / hear us. Most of the participants sat on chairs with 3 of us standing. We concluded the event with coffee and desserts in our church hall. The consensus of all there was Canada needs our prayers more now than ever before.

I took a picture but somehow it is not on my phone. This concludes my report for our 3rd annual rosary rally of 2023.

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2023 Rally Pictures

Martensville Saskatchewan

We held our Rosary Rally at the intersection of 4th Street and 8th Avenue in Martensville. There were approximately 35 people who participated.

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Lachine Quebec

This rally was attended by 10 parishioners and was led by the parish priest at St. John Paul II Parish. With a number of parishioners representing a variety of backgrounds, each decade of the Rosary was led in a different language (i.e. Portuguese, Spanish, French, Tagalog, and Polish). The responses were in English.

After the rally, an independent Christian spoke with our parish priest about his appreciation for seeing a visible witness of the Christian faith and asked if he could use the Church as a background for a music video he wanted to make.

Since our Church faces a lake front, a lot of passerby noticed our public Rosary.

I am interested in being a Rosary Rally Captain once again for 2024, but will only confirm after discussing with my parish priest.

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2023 Rally Pictures

Toronto Ontario

We gathered for prayer over 25 people, some new to the group. We prayed initially the Sorrowful Mysteries, then came to my mind to ask the attendants if they would like to pray another Rosary for peace and they agreed, so we prayed the Joyful Mysteries, ended with the Litany, and chanted the Sanctissima. The participants were grateful and peaceful with joy.

I am glad we were able to accomplish this event, with the help of our Lady. I hope more people will join in the future.

Best wishes and blessings to you and your team.

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2023 Rally Pictures

High River Alberta

Rosary Rally in High River, AB.

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Novenas prayers

Novena to Saint Joseph

Novena & Prayers to Saint Joseph

FEAST DAY: MARCH 19

This page contains:

Novena

Short Prayer to Saint Joseph

A Father's Prayer to Saint Joseph

NOVENA

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

Novena Prayer to be said at the end of each day's devotion

Saint Joseph, I, your unworthy child, greet you. You are the faithful protector and intercessor of all who love and venerate you. You know that I have special confidence in you and that, after Jesus and Mary, I place all my hope of salvation in you, for you are especially powerful with God and will never abandon your faithful servants. Therefore I humbly invoke you and commend myself, with all who are dear to me and all that belong to me, to your intercession. I beg of you, by your love for Jesus and Mary, not to abandon me during life and to assist me at the hour of my death.

Glorious Saint Joseph, spouse of the Immaculate Virgin, obtain for me a pure, humble, charitable mind, and perfect resignation to the divine Will. Be my guide, my father, and my model through life that I may merit to die as you did in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Loving Saint Joseph, faithful follower of Jesus Christ, I raise my heart to you to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the Divine Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly the grace of a happy death, and the special grace I now implore: (Mention your request).

Guardian of the Word Incarnate, I feel confident that your prayers in my behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. Amen

Memorare

Remember, most pure spouse of Mary, ever Virgin, my loving protector, Saint Joseph, that no one ever had recourse to your protection or asked for your aid without obtaining relief. Confiding, therefore, in your goodness, I come before you and humbly implore you. Despise not my petitions, foster-father of the Redeemer, but graciously receive them. Amen

DAY 1

FOSTER-FATHER OF JESUS

Saint Joseph, you were privileged to share in the mystery of the Incarnation as the foster-father of Jesus. Mary alone was directly connected with the fulfillment of the mystery, in that she gave her consent to Christ's conception and allowed the Holy Spirit to form the sacred humanity of Jesus from her blood. You had a part in this mystery in an indirect manner, by fulfilling the condition necessary for the Incarnation — the protection of Mary's virginity before and during your married life with her. You made the virginal marriage possible, and this was a part of God's plan, foreseen, willed, and decreed from all eternity.

In a more direct manner you shared in the support, upbringing, and protection of the Divine Child as His foster-father. For this purpose the Heavenly Father gave you a genuine heart of a father — a heart full of love and self-sacrifice. With the toil of your hands you were obliged to offer protection to the Divine Child, to procure for Him food, clothing, and a home. You were truly the saint of the holy childhood of Jesus -- the living created providence which watched over the Christ-Child.

When Herod sought the Child to put Him to death, the Heavenly Father sent an angel but only as a messenger, giving orders for the flight; the rest He left entirely in your hands. It was that fatherly love which was the only refuge that received and protected the Divine Child. Your fatherly love carried Him through the desert into Egypt until all enemies were removed. Then on your arms the Child returned to Nazareth to be nourished and provided for during many years by the labour of your hands. Whatever a human son owes to a human father for all the benefits of his up-bringing and support, Jesus owed to you, because you were to Him a foster-father, teacher, and protector.

You served the Divine Child with a singular love. God gave you a heart filled with heavenly, supernatural love — a love far deeper and more powerful than any natural father's love could be.

You served the Divine Child with great unselfishness, without any regard to self-interest, but not without sacrifices. You did not toil for yourself, but you seemed to be an instrument intended for the benefit of others, to be put aside as soon as it had done its work, for you disappeared from the scene once the childhood of Jesus had passed.

You were the shadow of the Heavenly Father not only as the earthly representative of the authority of the Father, but also by means of your fatherhood — which only appeared to be natural — you were to hide for a while the divinity of Jesus. What a wonderfully sublime and divine vocation was yours — the loving Child which you carried in your arms, and loved and served so faithfully, had God in Heaven as Father and was Himself God!

Yours is a very special rank among the saints of the Kingdom of God, because you were so much a part of the very life of the Word of God made Man. In your house at Nazareth and under your care the redemption of mankind was prepared. What you accomplished, you did for us. You are not only a powerful and great saint in the Kingdom of God, but a benefactor of the whole of Christendom and mankind. Your rank in the Kingdom of God, surpassing far in dignity and honour of all the angels, deserves our very special veneration, love, and gratitude.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of having been chosen by God to be the foster-father of His Divine Son. As a token of your own gratitude to God for this your greatest privilege, obtain for me the grace of a very devoted love for Jesus Christ, my God and my Saviour. Help me to serve Him with some of the self-sacrificing love and devotion which you had while on this earth with Him. Grant that through your intercession with Jesus, your foster-Son, I may reach the degree of holiness God has destined for me, and save my soul.

Novena Prayer

DAY 2

VIRGINAL HUSBAND OF MARY

Saint Joseph, I honour you as the true husband of Mary. Scripture says: "Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, and of her was born Jesus who is called Christ" (Matt. 1:16). Your marriage to Mary was a sacred contract by which you and Mary gave yourselves to each other. Mary really belonged to you with all she was and had. You had a right to her love and obedience; and no other person so won her esteem, obedience, and love.

You were also the protector and witness of Mary's virginity. By your marriage you gave to each other your virginity, and also the mutual right over it — a right to safeguard the other's virtue. This mutual virginity also belonged to the divine plan of the Incarnation, for God sent His angel to assure you that motherhood and virginity in Mary could be united.

This union of marriage not only brought you into daily familiar association with Mary, the loveliest of God's creatures, but also enabled you to share with her a mutual exchange of spiritual goods. And Mary found her edification in your calm, humble, and deep virtue, purity, and sanctity. What a great honour comes to you from this close union with her whom the Son of God calls Mother and whom He declared the Queen of heaven and earth! Whatever Mary had belonged by right to you also, and this included her Son, even though He had been given to her by God in a wonderful way. Jesus belonged to you as His legal father. Your marriage was the way which God chose to have Jesus introduced into the world, a great divine mystery from which all benefits have come to us.

God the Son confided the guardianship and the support of His Immaculate Mother to your care. Mary's life was that of the Mother of the Saviour, who did not come upon earth to enjoy honours and pleasures, but to redeem the world by hard work, suffering, and the cross. You were the faithful companion, support, and comforter of the Mother of Sorrows. How loyal you were to her in poverty, journeying, work, and pain. Your love for Mary was based upon your esteem for her as Mother of God. After God and the Divine Child, you loved no one as much as her. Mary responded to this love. She submitted to your guidance with naturalness and easy grace and childlike confidence. The Holy Spirit Himself was the bond of the great love which united your hearts.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of being the virginal husband of Mary. As a token of your own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace to love Jesus with all my heart, as you did, and love Mary with some of the tenderness and loyalty with which you loved her.

Novena Prayer

DAY 3

MAN CHOSEN BY THE BLESSED TRINITY

Saint Joseph, you were the man chosen by God the Father. He selected you to be His representative on earth, hence He granted you all the graces and blessings you needed to be His worthy representative.

You were the man chosen by God the Son. Desirous of a worthy foster-father, He added His own riches and gifts, and above all, His love. The true measure of your sanctity is to be judged by your imitation of Jesus. You were entirely consecrated to Jesus, working always near Him, offering Him your virtues, your work, your sufferings, your very life. Jesus lived in you perfectly so that you were transformed into Him. In this lies your special glory, and the keynote of your sanctity. Hence, after Mary, you are the holiest of the saints.

You were chosen by the Holy Spirit. He is the mutual Love of the Father and the Son — the heart of the Holy Trinity. In His wisdom He draws forth all creatures from nothing, guides them to their end in showing them their destiny and giving them the means to reach it. Every vocation and every fulfillment of a vocation proceeds from the Holy Spirit. As a foster-father of Jesus and head of the Holy Family, you had an exalted and most responsible vocation — to open the way for the redemption of the world and to prepare for it by the education and guidance of the youth of the God-Man. In this work you cooperated as the instrument of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was the guide; you obeyed and carried out the works. How perfectly you obeyed the guidance of the God of Love!

The words of the Old Testament which Pharaoh spoke concerning Joseph of Egypt can well be applied to you: "Can we find such another man, that is full of the spirit of God, or a wise man like to him?" (Gen. 41:38). No less is your share in the divine work of God than was that of Egypt. You now reign with your foster-Son and see reflected in the mirror of God's Wisdom the Divine Will and what is of benefit to our souls.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for having made you the man specially chosen by Him. As a token of your own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace to imitate your virtues so that I too may be pleasing to the Heart of God. Help me to give myself entirely to His service and to the accomplishment of His Holy Will, that one day I may reach heaven and be eternally united to God as you are.

Novena Prayer

DAY 4

FAITHFUL SERVANT

Saint Joseph, you lived for one purpose — to be the personal servant of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Your noble birth and ancestry, the graces and gifts, so generously poured out on you by God — all this was yours to serve our Lord better. Every thought, word, and action of yours was a homage to the love and glory of the Incarnate Word. You fulfilled most faithfully the role of a good and faithful servant who cared for the House of God.

How perfect was your obedience! Your position in the Holy Family obliged you to command, but besides being the foster-father of Jesus, you were also His disciple. For almost thirty years, you watched the God-Man display a simple and prompt obedience, and you grew to love and practice it very perfectly yourself. Without exception you submitted to God, to the civil rulers, and to the voice of your conscience.

When God sent an angel to tell you to care for Mary, you obeyed in spite of the mystery which surrounded her motherhood. When you were told to flee into Egypt under painful conditions, you obeyed without the slightest word of complaint. When God advised you in a dream to return to Nazareth, you obeyed. In every situation your obedience was as simple as your faith, as humble as your heart, as prompt as your love. It neglected nothing; it took in every command.

You had the virtue of perfect devotedness, which marks a good servant. Every moment of your life was consecrated to the service of our Lord: sleep, rest, work, pain. Faithful to your duties, you sacrificed everything unselfishly, even cheerfully. You would have sacrificed even the happiness of being with Mary. The rest and quiet of Nazareth was sacrificed at the call of duty. Your entire life was one generous giving, even to the point of being ready to die in proof of your love for Jesus and Mary. With true unselfish devotedness you worked without praise or reward.

But God wanted you to be in a certain sense a cooperator in the Redemption of the world. He confided to you the care of nourishing and defending the Divine Child. He wanted you to be poor and to suffer because He destined you to be the foster-father of His Son, who came into the world to save men by His sufferings and death, and you were to share in His suffering. In all of these important tasks, the Heavenly Father always found you a faithful servant!.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of being God's faithful servant. As a token of your own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace to be a faithful servant of God as you were. Help me to share, as you did, the perfect obedience of Jesus, who came not to do His Will, but the Will of His Father; to trust in the Providence of God, knowing that if I do His Will, He will provide for all my needs of soul and body; to be calm in my trials and to leave it to our Lord to free me from them when it pleases Him to do so. And help me to imitate your generosity, for there can be no greater reward here on earth than the joy and honour of being a faithful servant of God.

Novena Prayer

DAY 5

PATRON OF THE CHURCH

Saint Joseph, God has appointed you patron of the Catholic Church because you were the head of the Holy Family, the starting-point of the Church. You were the father, protector, guide and support of the Holy Family. For that reason you belong in a particular way to the Church, which was the purpose of the Holy Family's existence.

I believe that the Church is the family of God on earth. Its government is represented in priestly authority which consists above all in its power over the true Body of Christ, really present in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, thus continuing Christ's life in the Church. From this power, too, comes authority over the Mystical Body of Christ, the members of the Church — the power to teach and govern souls, to reconcile them with God, to bless them, and to pray for them.

You have a special relationship to the priesthood because you possessed a wonderful power over our Saviour Himself. Your life and office were of a priestly function and are especially connected with the Blessed Sacrament. To some extent you were the means of bringing the Redeemer to us — as it is the priest's function to bring Him to us in the Mass — for you reared Jesus, supported, nourished, protected and sheltered Him. You were prefigured by the patriarch Joseph, who kept supplies of wheat for his people. But how much greater than he were you! Joseph of old gave the Egyptians mere bread for their bodies. You nourished, and with the most tender care, preserved for the Church Him who is the Bread of Heaven and who gives eternal life in Holy Communion.

God has appointed you patron of the Church because the glorious title of patriarch also falls by special right to you. The patriarchs were the heads of families of the Chosen People, and theirs was the honour to prepare for the Saviour's incarnation. You belonged to this line of patriarchs, for you were one of the last descendants of the family of David and one of the nearest forebears of Christ according to the flesh. As husband of Mary, the Mother of God, and as the foster-father of the Saviour, you were directly connected with Christ. Your vocation was especially concerned with the Person of Jesus; your entire activity centered about Him. You are, therefore, the closing of the Old Testament and the beginning of the New, which took its rise with the Holy Family of Nazareth. Because the New Testament surpasses the Old in every respect, you are the patriarch of patriarchs, the most venerable, exalted, and amiable of all the patriarchs.

Through Mary, the Church received Christ, and therefore the Church is indebted to her. But the Church owes her debt of gratitude and veneration to you also, for you were the chosen one who enabled Christ to enter into the world according to the laws of order and fitness. It was by you that the patriarchs and the prophets and the faithful reaped the fruit of God's promise. Alone among them all, you saw with your own eyes and possessed the Redeemer promised to the rest of men.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of being the Patron of the Church. As a token of your own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace to live always as a worthy member of this Church, so that through it I may save my soul. Bless the priests, the religious, and the laity of the Catholic Church, that they may ever grow in God's love and faithfulness in His service. Protect the Church from the evils of our day and from the persecution of her enemies. Through your powerful intercession may the church successfully accomplish its mission in this world — the glory of God and the salvation of souls!

Novena Prayer

DAY 6

PATRON OF FAMILIES

Saint Joseph, I venerate you as the gentle head of the Holy Family. The Holy Family was the scene of your life's work in its origin, in its guidance, in its protection, in your labour for Jesus and Mary, and even in your death in their arms. You lived, moved, and acted in the loving company of Jesus and Mary. The inspired writer describes your life at Nazareth in only a few words: "And (Jesus) went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them" (Luke, 2:51). Yet these words tell of your high vocation here on earth, and the abundance of graces which filled your soul during those years spent in Nazareth.

Your family life at Nazareth was all radiant with the light of divine charity. There was an intimate union of heart and mind among the members of your Holy Family. There could not have been a closer bond than that uniting you to Jesus, your foster-Son and to Mary, your most loving wife. Jesus chose to fulfill toward you, His foster-father, all the duties of a faithful son, showing you every mark of honour and affection due to a parent. And Mary showed you all the signs of respect and love of a devoted wife. You responded to this love and veneration from Jesus and Mary with feelings of deepest love and respect. You had for Jesus a true fatherly love, enkindled and kept aglow in your heart by the Holy Spirit. And you could not cease to admire the workings of grace in Mary's soul, and this admiration caused the holy love which you had consecrated to her on the day of your wedding grow stronger every day.

God has made you a heavenly patron of family life because you sanctified yourself as head of the Holy Family and thus by your beautiful example sanctified family life. How peacefully and happily the Holy Family rested under the care of your fatherly rule, even in the midst of trials. You were the protector, counselor, and consolation of the Holy Family in every need. And just as you were the model of piety, so you gave us by your zeal, your earnestness and devout trust in God's providence, and especially by your love, the example of labour according to the Will of God. You cherished all the experiences common to family life and the sacred memories of the life, sufferings, and joys in the company of Jesus and Mary. Therefore the family is dear to you as the work of God, and it is of the highest importance in your eyes to promote the honour of God and the well-being of man. In your loving fatherliness and unfailing intercession you are the patron and intercessor of families, and you deserve a place in every home.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of living in the Holy Family and being its head. As a token of your own gratitude to God, obtain God's blessing upon my own family. Make our home the kingdom of Jesus and Mary — a kingdom of peace, of joy, and love.>

I also pray for all Christian families. Your help is needed in our day when God's enemy has directed his attack against the family in order to desecrate and destroy it. In the face of these evils, as patron of families, be pleased to help; and as of old, you arose to save the Child and His Mother, so today arise to protect the sanctity of the home. Make our homes sanctuaries of prayer, of love, of patient sacrifice, and of work. May they be modeled after your own at Nazareth. Remain with us with Jesus and Mary, so that by your help we may obey the commandments of God and of the Church; receive the holy sacraments of God and of the Church; live a life of prayer; and foster religious instruction in our homes. Grant that we may be reunited in God's Kingdom and eternally live in the company of the Holy Family in heaven.

Novena Prayer

DAY 7

PATRON OF WORKERS

Saint Joseph, you devoted your time at Nazareth to the work of a carpenter. It was the Will of God that you and your foster-Son should spend your days together in manual labour. What a beautiful example you set for the working classes!

It was especially for the poor, who compose the greater part of mankind, that Jesus came upon earth, for in the synagogue of Nazareth, He read the words of Isaiah and referred them to Himself: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor..." (Luke 4:18). It was God's Will that you should be occupied with work common to poor people, that in this way Jesus Himself might ennoble it by inheriting it from you, His foster-father, and by freely embracing it. Thus our Lord teaches us that for the humbler class of workmen, He has in store His richest graces, provided they live content in the place God's Providence has assigned them, and remain poor in spirit for He said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:3).

The kind of work to which you devoted your time in the workshop of Nazareth offered you many occasions of practicing humility. You were privileged to see each day the example of humility which Jesus practiced — a virtue most pleasing to Him. He chose for His earthly surroundings not the courts of princes nor the halls of the learned, but a little workshop of Nazareth. Here you shared for many years the humble and hidden toiling of the God-Man. What a touching example for the worker of today!

While your hands were occupied with manual work, your mind was turned to God in prayer. From the Divine Master, who worked along with you, you learned to work in the presence of God in the spirit of prayer, for as He worked He adored His Father and recommended the welfare of the world to Him, Jesus also instructed you in the wonderful truths of grace and virtue, for you were in close contact with Him who said of Himself, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life."

As you were working at your trade, you were reminded of the greatness and majesty of God, who, as a most wise Architect, formed this vast universe with wonderful skill and limitless power.

The light of divine faith that filled your mind, did not grow dim when you saw Jesus working as a carpenter. You firmly believed that the saintly Youth working beside you was truly God's own Son.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of being able to work side by side with Jesus in the carpenter shop of Nazareth. As a token of your own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace to respect the dignity of labour and ever to be content with the position in life, however lowly, in which it may please Divine Providence to place me. Teach me to work for God and with God in the spirit of humility and prayer, as you did, so that I may offer my toil in union with the sacrifice of Jesus in the Mass as a reparation for my sins, and gain rich merit for heaven.

Novena Prayer

DAY 8

FRIEND IN SUFFERING

Saint Joseph, your share of suffering was very great because of your close union with the Divine Saviour. All the mysteries of His life were more or less mysteries of suffering. Poverty pressed upon you, and the cross of labour followed you everywhere. Nor were you spared domestic crosses, owing to misunderstandings in regard to the holiest and most cherished of all beings, Jesus and Mary, who were all to you. Keen must have been the suffering by the bestowal of the name of Jesus, which pointed to future misfortune. Deeply painful must have been the prophecy of Simeon, the flight into Egypt, the disappearance of Jesus at the Paschal feast. To these sufferings were surely added interior sorrow at the sight of the sins of your own people.

You bore all this suffering in a truly Christ-like manner, and in this you are our example. No sound of complaint or impatience escaped you — you were, indeed, the silent saint! You submitted to all in the spirit of faith, humility, confidence, and love. You cheerfully bore all in union with and for the Saviour and His Mother, knowing well that true love is a crucified love. But God never forsook you in your trials. The trials, too, disappeared and were changed at last into consolation and joy.

It seems that God had purposely intended your life to be filled with suffering as well as consolation to keep before my eyes the truth that my life on earth is but a succession of joys and sorrows, and that I must gratefully accept whatever God sends me, and during the time of consolation prepare for suffering. Teach me to bear my cross in the spirit of faith, of confidence, and of gratitude toward God. In a happy eternity, I shall thank God fervently for the sufferings which He deigned to send me during my pilgrimage on earth, and which after your example I endured with patience and heartfelt love for Jesus and Mary.

You were truly the martyr of the hidden life. This was God's Will, for the holier a person is, the more he is tried for the love and glory of God. If suffering is the flowering of God's grace in a soul and the triumph of the soul's love for God, being the greatest of saints after Mary, you suffered more than any of the martyrs.

Because you have experienced the sufferings of this valley of tears, you are most kind and sympathetic toward those in need. Down through the ages souls have turned to you in distress and have always found you a faithful friend in suffering. You have graciously heard their prayers in their needs even though it demanded a miracle. Having been so intimately united with Jesus and Mary in life, your intercession with Them is most powerful.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of being able to suffer for Jesus and Mary. As a token of your own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace to bear my suffering patiently for love of Jesus and Mary. Grant that I may unite the sufferings, works and disappointments of life with the sacrifice of Jesus in the Mass, and share like you in Mary's spirit of sacrifice.

Novena Prayer

DAY 9

PATRON OF HAPPY DEATH

Saint Joseph, how fitting it was that at the hour of your death Jesus should stand at your bedside with Mary, the sweetness and hope of all mankind. You gave your entire life to the service of Jesus and Mary; at death you enjoyed the consolation of dying in Their loving arms. You accepted death in the spirit of loving submission to the Will of God, and this acceptance crowned your hidden life of virtue. Yours was a merciful judgment, for your foster-Son, for whom you had cared so lovingly, was your Judge, and Mary was your advocate. The verdict of the Judge was a word of encouragement to wait for His coming to Limbo, where He would shower you with the choicest fruits of the Redemption, and an embrace of grateful affection before you breathed forth your soul into eternity.

You looked into eternity and to your everlasting reward with confidence. If our Saviour blessed the shepherds, the Magi, Simeon, John the Baptist, and others, because they greeted His presence with devoted hearts for a brief passing hour, how much more did He bless you who have sanctified yourself for so many years in His company and that of His Mother? If Jesus regards every corporal and spiritual work of mercy, performed in behalf of our fellow men out of love for Him, as done to Himself, and promises heaven as a reward, what must have been the extent of His gratitude to you who in the truest sense of the word have received Him, given Him shelter, clothed, nourished, and consoled Him at the sacrifice of your strength and rest, and even your life, with a love which surpassed the love of all fathers.

God really and personally made Himself your debtor. Our Divine Saviour paid that debt of gratitude by granting you many graces in your lifetime, especially the grace of growing in love, which is the best and most perfect of all gifts. Thus at the end of your life your heart became filled with love, the fervour and longing of which your frail body could not resist. Your soul followed the triumphant impulse of your love and winged its flight from earth to bear the prophets and patriarchs in Limbo the glad tidings of the advent of the Redeemer.

Saint Joseph, I thank God for your privilege of being able to die in the arms of Jesus and Mary. As a token of your own gratitude to God, obtain for me the grace of a happy death. Help me to spend each day in preparation for death. May I, too, accept death in the spirit of resignation to God's Holy Will, and die, as you did, in the arms of Jesus, strengthened by Holy Viaticum, and in the arms of Mary, with her rosary in my hand and her name on my lips!

Novena Prayer

Short Prayer to Saint Joseph

To thee, St. Joseph, we have recourse in our tribulations, and having implored the assistance of thy most holy spouse, filled with confidence we now ask for thy patronage as well. By the sacred bond of charity that united thee to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by the paternal love thou hadst for the Child Jesus, we ardently beseech thee to cast a favourable gaze upon the inheritance that Jesus Christ conquered with His Blood, and help us in our needs with thy powerful hand.

Protect, o provident custodian of the Holy Family, the chosen people of Jesus Christ. Drive away from us, o most loving Father, the pest of error and vice.

Assist us from the heights of Heaven, o strongest bulwark in the struggle against the power of darkness; and just as thou once saved the threatened life of the Child Jesus, defend now the Holy Church of God from the ambushes of her enemies and from every adversity. Support every one of us with thy constant protection so that, following thy example and sustained with thy help, we may live virtuously, die piously, and obtain eternal blessedness in Heaven. Amen

A Father's Prayer to Saint Joseph

Saint Joseph look I am tired tonight,
But somehow I think that you care;
For being a father and one who works
Are things that both of us share.

It tires a man, yet the heart is high,
For, Patron Saint, it’s all worthwhile.
Its rich reward is a loving wife,
And joyous light in a child’s smile.

O, father, worker, bear with me,
Help me, Saint Joseph, to do my best,
To love and protect my family
‘Til work shall cease and heaven is rest. Amen

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Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes

Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes

FEAST DAY: FEBRUARY 11

Preliminary prayer to be said each day:

Be blessed, O most pure Virgin, for having vouchsafed to manifest yourself shining with life, sweetness and beauty, in the Grotto of Lourdes, saying to the child, St. Bernadette: "I am the Immaculate Conception." A thousand times we congratulate you upon your Immaculate Conception. And now, O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of mercy, Health of the sick, Refuge of sinners, Comforter of the afflicted, you know our wants, our troubles, our sufferings; deign to cast upon us a look of mercy. By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favours, and already many have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and physical. We come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain for us, O loving Mother, the granting of our request.

(Mention your request)

Through gratitude for your favours, we will endeavor to imitate your virtues, that we may one day share your glory.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon earth. You have the same influence now in Heaven. Pray for us; obtain for us from your Divine Son our special requests if it be the Divine Will. Amen

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Saint Bernadette, pray for us.

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

DAY 1

O Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, Virgin and Mother, Queen of Heaven, chosen from all eternity to be the Mother of the Eternal Word and in virtue of this title preserved from original sin, we kneel before you as did little Bernadette at Lourdes and pray with childlike trust in you that as we contemplate your glorious appearance at Lourdes, you will look with mercy on our present petition and secure for us a favourable answer to the request for which we are making this novena.

(Mention your request)

O brilliant star of purity, Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in your assumption, triumphant in your coronation, show unto us the mercy of the Mother of God. Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother, be our comfort, hope, strength, and consolation. Amen

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Saint Bernadette, pray for us.

DAY 2

Be blessed, O most pure Virgin, for having vouchsafed to manifest yourself shining with light, sweetness and beauty, in the Grotto of Lourdes, saying to the child Saint Bernadette: "I am the Immaculate Conception!" O Mary Immaculate, inflame our hearts with one ray of the burning love of your pure heart. Let them be consumed with love for Jesus and for you, in order that we may merit one day to enjoy your glorious eternity. O dispenser of His graces here below, take into your keeping and present to your Divine Son the petition for which we are making this novena.

(Mention your request)

O brilliant star of purity, Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in your assumption, triumphant in your coronation, show unto us the mercy of the Mother of God. Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother, be our comfort, hope, strength, and consolation. Amen

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Saint Bernadette, pray for us.

DAY 3

"You are all fair, O Mary, and there is in you no stain of original sin." "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." O brilliant star of sanctity, as on that lovely day, upon a rough rock in Lourdes you spoke to the child Bernadette and a fountain broke from the plain earth and miracles happened and the great shrine of Lourdes began, so now hear our fervent prayer and grant us, we beseech you, the petition we so earnestly seek.

(Mention your request)

O brilliant star of purity, Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in your assumption, triumphant in your coronation, show unto us the mercy of the Mother of God. Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother, be our comfort, hope, strength, and consolation. Amen

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Saint Bernadette, pray for us.

DAY 4

O Immaculate Queen of Heaven, we your wayward, erring children, join our unworthy prayers of praise and thanksgiving to those of the angels and saints and to your own, that the One, Holy, and Undivided Trinity may be glorified in heaven and on earth. Our Lady of Lourdes, as you looked down with love and mercy upon Bernadette as she prayed her rosary in the Grotto, look down now, we beseech you, with love and mercy upon us. From the abundance of graces granted you by your Divine Son, sweet Mother of God, give to each of us all that your motherly heart sees we need and at this moment look with special favour on the grace we seek in this novena.

(Mention your request)

O brilliant star of purity, Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in your assumption, triumphant in your coronation, show unto us the mercy of the Mother of God. Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother, be our comfort, hope, strength, and consolation. Amen

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Saint Bernadette, pray for us.

DAY 5

O Mary Immaculate, Mother of God and our mother, from the heights of your dignity look down mercifully upon us while we, full of confidence in your unbounded goodness and confident that your Divine Son will look favourably upon any request you make of Him in our behalf, we beseech you to come to our aid and secure for us the favour we seek in this novena.

(Mention your request)

O brilliant star of purity, Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in your assumption, triumphant in your coronation, show unto us the mercy of the Mother of God. Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother, be our comfort, hope, strength, and consolation. Amen

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Saint Bernadette, pray for us.

DAY 6

O glorious Mother of God, so powerful under your special title of Our Lady of Lourdes, to you we raise our hearts and hands to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the benign Heart of Jesus all the helps and graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare and for the special favour we so earnestly seek in this novena.

(Mention your request)

O Lady of Bernadette, with the stars of heaven in your hair and the roses of earth at your feet, look with compassion upon us today as you did so long ago on Bernadette in the Grotto of Lourdes.

O brilliant star of purity, Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in your assumption, triumphant in your coronation, show unto us the mercy of the Mother of God. Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother, be our comfort, hope, strength, and consolation. Amen

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Saint Bernadette, pray for us.

DAY 7

O Almighty God, Who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son, we humbly beseech You that as we contemplate the apparition of Our Lady in the Grotto of Lourdes, we may be blessed with health of mind and body. O most gracious Mother Mary, beloved Mother of Our Lord and Redeemer, look with favour upon us as you did that day on Bernadette and intercede with Him for us that the favour we now so earnestly seek may be granted to us.

(Mention your request)

O brilliant star of purity, Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in your assumption, triumphant in your coronation, show unto us the mercy of the Mother of God. Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother, be our comfort, hope, strength, and consolation. Amen

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Saint Bernadette, pray for us.

DAY 8

O Immaculate Mother of God, from heaven itself you came to appear to the little Bernadette in the rough Grotto of Lourdes. As Bernadette knelt at your feet and the miraculous spring burst forth from the earth, as multitudes have knelt ever since before your shrine, O Mother of God, we kneel before you today to ask that in your mercy you plead with your Divine Son to grant the special favour we seek in this novena.

(Mention your request)

O brilliant star of purity, Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in your assumption, triumphant in your coronation, show unto us the mercy of the Mother of God. Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother, be our comfort, hope, strength, and consolation. Amen

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Saint Bernadette, pray for us.

DAY 9

O glorious Mother of God, to you we raise our hearts and hands to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the benign Heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for our spiritual and temporal welfare, particularly for the grace of a happy death. O Mother of our Divine Lord, as we conclude this novena for the special favour we seek at this time, we feel animated with confidence that your prayers in our behalf will be graciously heard. O Mother of My Lord, through the love you bear to Jesus Christ and for the glory of His Name, hear our prayers and obtain our petitions.

(Mention your request)

O brilliant star of purity, Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Lourdes, glorious in your assumption, triumphant in your coronation, show unto us the mercy of the Mother of God. Virgin Mary, Queen and Mother, be our comfort, hope, strength, and consolation. Amen

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.

Saint Bernadette, pray for us.

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Satanists Install Devil Figure Next to Baby Jesus at Illinois State Capitol, but Catholics React

Satanists Install Devil Figure Next to Baby Jesus at Illinois State Capitol, but Catholics React

During the Christmas season, Christians the world over admire beautiful nativity scenes celebrating the birthof the Prince of Peace in a manger. The Illinois State Capitol has one on display. However, this year, asatanic “baby” Baphomet figure (the devil depicted as half goat half man) received government approval togo on display at the State House rotunda in Springfield, Illinois, right next to the Nativity scene of Jesus,Mary, and Joseph.

Only days before Christmas, The Satanic Temple announced that it would install the abomination onDecember 20, 2021. The Satanists cynically invited the bishop of Springfield to attend the event after hepublished a statement against the sinful act.

Last Minute Crusade

After attending Sunday Mass on December 19, members of the American Society of Tradition, Family, andProperty (TFP) found out about the blasphemy. TFP Student Action director John Ritchie decided that thefourteen-hour drive to Springfield to protest the disturbing event was still possible. In less than 24-hours,thirteen young TFP volunteers reached the Capitol building at 11:00 AM, December 20.

Quis Ut Deus: Who Is Like unto God?

Once inside the Capitol building, local Catholics joined TFP volunteers in prayer around the nativity scene in the rotunda. Two TFP members in their ceremonial habits stood next to the nativity scene holding a statue of the Infant Jesus on a golden damask pillow.

The recitation of the rosary and the Christmas carols echoed into the grand capitol’s cupula. Those gathered to defend God’s honour also displayed banners reading, “Satan has no rights,” “Stop Blasphemy Now,” and “Begone Satan! Mary crushes the serpent.”

A group of Satanists arrived in the middle of the rosary—what a stark contrast. On one side of the rotunda was a group of concerned Catholics holding the Prince of Peace, praying and singing. Just a few feet away stood about twenty Satanists dressed in macabre black, holding a hideous statue of a withered and twisted goat-like creature. All the Satanists shrieked together, “Hail Satan!” while flashing the devil symbol with their hands into the air. Pentagrams and occultist symbols marked their clothing, including the ubiquitous pro-LGBT rainbow flag. One Satanist wore a demon mask with horns.

At one point, a Satanist tried to scream out a type of prayer to the devil. However, his attempt was drowned out by the Hail Marys recited by TFP Student Action volunteers. With holy indignation, the young Catholics boldly said:

  • “Together with St. Michael, we cry: Quis ut Deus! Who is like unto God?”
  • “America is one nation under God – one nation under God.”
  • “Satan has no rights!”
  • “Shame, shame, shame!”
  • “Reparation, reparation, reparation!”
  • “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee, and crush the head of the wicked serpent!”
  • “Long live the Prince of Peace. Down with the father of lies, a murderer from the beginning.” (John 8:44)

Adoration of the Child Jesus

The satanic blasphemy did not last long. After a few minutes, the Satanists dispersed leaving the appalling “baby” Baphomet imp on display next to the traditional nativity scene.

But the Catholics did not stop praying.

After completing their rosary, John Ritchie encouraged those present to come before the statue of the Christ Child and venerate Him. To the calm strains of “What Child is This?” many stepped forward to kiss the feet of the Divine Infant. Three faithful prostrated themselves in the form of a cross on the rotunda floor in front of the Infant Jesus. One man was moved to tears by the spontaneous ceremony.

Employees at the State House were visibly shocked by the satanic display, and some shook their heads in disapproval and gave the Catholics protesters a thumbs up. One worker at the capitol was so grateful that she joined the rosary, gave a donation, and offered Christmas treats to the TFP volunteers.

“What Child Is This?”

There is a profound spiritual battle unfolding before us. The outcome of this conflict will shape the future of society. The agents of Lucifer are more and more brazen in their mockery of God. In the face of this constant barrage against Christ and Christian Civilization it is easy to become desensitized and forget what is at stake. The temptation is to ignore, disconnect and forget. But we must not be indifferent but rather reject the sin committed with every fibre of our hearts and souls.

Who was attacked on December 20 in such a public forum?

“What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!”

Let us gather before the Infant Jesus this Christmas and beseech Him to send His Angels to expel the forces of darkness working to destroy our beloved nation.

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Fighting Satan on the Last Frontier

No Coexistence: When Crusaders Clash With Satanists at Historic Cross

TFP protestingA spiritual battle took place on the Last Frontier as forty local activists joined with members of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property and its Return to Order campaign in Soldotna, Alaska. They were there to protest the Satanic invocation that opened the Kenai Peninsula Borough Public Assembly on June 18, 2019.

The sun shone brightly in the Alaskan afternoon as the red and gold standard of the American TFP was unfurled and a corps of prayer warriors brandished their rosaries to make reparation for the public offense against God.

The lively group of protesters was met by a disjointed opposition. One protester came out with signs promoting abortion and mocked the praying of the rosary. A young woman who joined her even bragged that she had had an abortion and enjoyed it. What united the counter-demonstrators was a hatred of the Catholic Church.

But a battle without a foe is hardly worth fighting, and TFP members were avid to make reparation and engage in open debate.

“We were expecting some people to come,” said Zechariah Long, who flew in from Texas, “But this is amazing!”

TFP member Rex Teodosio encouraged the locals to keep up the fight to defend the public square against Satanism. “I know it is easy to forget about the battles fought here against Satanism, since Alaska is so distant for many.” He said, “But I hope that our presence here will encourage those that are already fighting, and inspire others to join in making their voices heard for God’s truth.”

The delegation also delivered the 25,000 signatures gathered by the Return to Order campaign to the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. Satanism is increasingly showing its ugly head in the public. Acts of public reparation and protest are perfect means to show that the devil is not welcome in society.

“We need to remember,” Mr. John Horvat said, “Satan is only allowed to do what God permits him to do. But God expects us to react accordingly, especially when Satanism becomes public.”

“Our efforts are therefore very important,” Mr. Horvat continued, “We must always remember that Lucifer is the eternal loser. And that the Blessed Virgin will fulfill the prophecy of old: She [the Virgin] shall crush his head!”

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When Crusaders Clash With Satanists at Historic Cross

No Coexistence: When Crusaders Clash With Satanists at Historic Cross

Crusaders protesting at Historic CrossSatan showed his ugly head and was crushed by the Virgin at the Bladensburg Cross Memorial in Maryland.

Followers of the Satanic Temple planned a July 10 rally at the Bladensburg cross in Maryland to declare the controversial cross to be a symbol for Satanists. However, Satan received a mighty blow when the Temple members found Our Lady and nearly 130 prayer warriors already on the scene.

On July 10, members of the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) hosted a Rosary rally in front of the Bladensburg Cross Memorial. The cross is a solemn landmark, which honours American veterans of World War I. It was the object of a 2019 U.S. Supreme Court battle where enemies of the cross tried to have it torn down. Fortunately, the Court ruled 7-2 in favour of this symbol of salvation.

Members of the Satanic Temple sought to dedicate the cross to those Satanists that died in World War I during their rally. However, Catholic protesters foiled their efforts as TFP members and friends offered reparation and showed their devotion to Christ’s cross. The friends of the cross to the opposition were approximately 130 participants to 70.

To be consistent with its stated purpose, the Temple’s rally should have been held under the cross on the traffic island where it is located. However, police kept people off the traffic island. The prayer protest was right next to the cross. The Satanic rally was far from the Cross, more than one hundred yards away. This can be considered a victory since the Satanists had no direct access to the Cross.

Reliving the Ancient Angelic Battle

Crusaders protesting at Historic CrossThe street across from the towering 40-foot concrete cross was lined with Catholics holding signs that reaffirmed their allegiance to God. One could compare the Catholic crowd to the angels who answered Saint Michael’s call to battle when he said: “Quis ut Deus!” “Who is like unto God?”

The scene became a battle between two polar opposites. On one side were the Satanic Temple supporters. They were dressed in black, playing esoteric music and even wearing devil horns. The noisy mob shouted Hail Satan in unison with arms uplifted with fingers forming horns.

On the spiritual battle scene near the cross, Catholics loudly prayed the rosary and other prayers. No one could miss the 19–foot sign that read: “Begone Satan! Mary crushes the serpent!” Bagpipers played Marian hymns. The enthusiasm of the crowd far outshone that of the other side. The presence of so many Catholics renewing their rejection of Satan humiliated the Devil. Once again, he lost.

The Cross Is a Religious Symbol

The cross is a religious symbol that is venerated by the Catholic Church. The forces of darkness would love to see the Bladensburg Cross turned into a secular war memorial. However, all Christians know Who died on that cross so long ago. Our Lord gave His life upon the cross, sanctifying its wood. Every replica of Christ’s cross is always a reminder to serve God until the end, with all one’s strength and soul – the exact opposite of what Satan did.

For the Satanic Temple to try to appropriate this symbol is not only blasphemous but impossible.

Americans Choose God and Reject Satan

The signs that read: “Honk for the cross” caused an uproar in the traffic. Many gave thumbs up, smiles, or other gestures of approval of the campaign. Many were encouraged by the sound of bagpipes that played traditional and religious hymns.

TFP members wearing their ceremonial habits escorted a statue of the Blessed Virgin to a place of honour, taking their position on a curb across the road from the cross. The campaign participants were confident knowing that Satan is an eternal loser, whereas the children of light have every reason to hope for victory.

By putting the campaign under the patronage of the Blessed Mother, the rally participants were assured of victory and protection. After all, no evildoer has the commission of God to win – while God did bestow such a promise upon the Blessed Virgin – the “New Eve.” Our Lady was given the promise of victory over her enemy, as Saint Louis de Montfort loves to recount in the story of Genesis 3:15. “I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.” In his book, True Devotion to Mary, Saint Louis de Montfort writes:

“The most terrible of all the enemies which God has set up against the devil is His holy Mother, Mary.”1

With such an august Queen as their general, the rally was assured of victory from the start.

Fighting for God and America’s Future

This spiritual clash of two lineages, between the race of the Virgin and the race of the Serpent, is not an isolated event. The Satanic Temple has shown its head in many public events in recent years. Sadly, these demonstrations do not seem to be slowing down.

Thus, the faithful must legally and peacefully combat these manifestations every step of the way. To give in to complacency would mean the irreplaceable loss of souls – which no Catholic could ever want.

Come and stand in the ranks of Our Lady’s army. Accept her call to defend the Faith publicly. The invitation to be part of this noble cause is now extended.

Footnotes:

  • 1. Saint Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to Mary, trans. Fr. William Faber (Spring Grove, Penn.: America Needs Fatima, 2019) 20.

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The Real Sword of Saint Michael

The Real Sword of Saint Michael (PHOTOS)

Saint Michael's swordQuis ut Deus? Who is like unto God? This was the battle cry issued by Saint Michael the Archangel at the beginning of the first war in history, a war which will be fought until the end of time. That is, the struggle between the children of God and the children of Lucifer, that old serpent. It is no surprise, then, that this glorious champion of God’s cause in heaven would be a suitable patron for those devoted to His most sacred cause on Earth.

Devotion to Saint Michael flourished in the Middle Ages, particularly among the monastic orders as they viewed themselves as warriors of Christ. It follows naturally that these spiritual “special forces” in the combat for the salvation of souls would name their monasteries and shrines after Saint Michael the Archangel.

A great, yet largely unknown, sign of this devotion is the existence of a perfect ley line, known as the Sword of St. Michael, which connects a line of monasteries from Ireland to the very heart of the faith, the Holy Land. Let us take a journey through these spiritual battlegrounds.

Skellig Michael (Ireland)

Skellig MichaelThe first shrine to Saint Michael is known as Skellig Michael, a craggy mountainous island off the West coast of Ireland. In the sixth century, Saint Fionan occupied the island and founded a Celtic monastic community there. The monks lived in stone huts and were not only subject to the deprivations inherent to their ascetic life, but also the hardship of sustaining themselves given the difficulty of maintaining crops and herds in such a hostile environment. Despite harsh living conditions, the monks remained faithful.

In return for their fidelity, God rewarded the small community with miracles. As Giraldus Cambrensis, a twelfth century Cambro-Norman Archdeacon in Wales, recounts, the wine used for the consecration in the Mass was constantly in full supply, despite the lack of grapes on the island. Another event that is certainly due to the work of Divine Providence was that after a hundred years of Viking raids — which resulted in the death of countless monks — a hermit of Skellig Michael baptized Olaf Trygvasson, the King of Norway, who in turn brought the multitude of his subjects out of the darkness of heathenism.

It is also said that Skellig Michael is the location where St. Patrick waged his final battle against the serpents, expelling them from Ireland forever.

Saint Michael’s Mount (Cornwall, United Kingdom)

Saint Michael's MountNext in line is Saint Michael’s Mount, the lesser known sister-site of the famous Mont-Saint-Michel in France. Like Mont-Saint-Michel, it is on an island accessible by foot only when the tide permits.

Interestingly enough, many of the religious structures on the island were built by the same monks of Mont-Saint-Michel who received the island as a gift from Saint Edward the Confessor, the King of England in the eleventh century.

Long before it was occupied by any order, the island was a site of pilgrimage because of frequent apparitions of Saint Michael. According to sources from the Early Medieval period, the Archangel who is also the patron saint of fishermen, would guide nearby sailors to safety.

Later, the property was seized by the Crown and used as an outpost against the anti-Monarchist, anti-Catholic forces of Oliver Cromwell. Today, the site can still be visited, although much of the monastery has been assumed by secular buildings.

Mont-Saint-Michel (Normandy, France)

Mont-Saint-MichelLike its holy patron, Mont-Saint-Michel reflects the harmony and sacrality of the union of the religious and military spirit. Easily one of the most recognizable landmarks of Christendom, the abbey-fortress on the Norman coast of France traces its origins to the eighth century when St. Albert, bishop of Avranches, was instructed by Saint Michael in a series of visions to build an abbey on the island.

Around that time, France was plagued by attacks from the Vikings. Because of this new pagan threat, the Franks placed themselves under the patronage of Saint Michael, their defender. Eventually, the Norsemen — or Normans — settled down and converted to Catholicism. Naturally, their affinity with all things military brought them into the fold of St. Michael’s devotees.

Under Abbot Hildebrand II, the plan for the structures of Mont-Saint-Michel that we recognize today began. Despite setbacks, the monumental project was finally completed in 1520.

Unfortunately, the Congregation of St. Maur was forcibly removed from the shrine by French Revolutionaries, who turned the monastery into a political prison ironically named Mont Libre.

Sacra di San Michele (Turin, Italy)

Sacra di San MicheleThe origins of this shrine to the Archangel are steeped in history. Roman Legions used the location as a base and later the Lombards occupied the strategic outpost.

The Catholic history of the Sacra di San Michele begins in the tenth century, when Saint Giovanni Vincenzo, a hermit, was commanded by Saint Michael to build a shrine. Located on Mount Pirchiriano, the task before the saint was practically impossible. By a miracle, however, all of the necessary building materials appeared precisely where the shrine stands today.

Not surprisingly, the site quickly attracted pilgrims throughout Italy and beyond, including notable visitors such as Saint Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, whose nephew was a monk there.

Sanctuary of Monte Sant’Angelo (Mount Gargano, Italy)

Sanctuary of Monte Sant’AngeloLike the other shrines, the Sanctuary of Monte Sant’Angelo sits high above the surrounding countryside. However, aside from being the oldest shrine of Saint Michael in Western Europe, it is unique because it was consecrated by the Archangel himself.

In the fifth century, while Elvio Emanuele, 33rd commander of the armies of Siponto and local lord, grazed his large herd of cattle on the mountain, something unusual happened: His prized bull went missing. After a laborious search, Elvio finally found the bull at the mouth of a cave used for dark pagan practices. To get the bull to move, the nobleman fired an arrow towards the animal, but the missile bounced back.

Startled, lord Elvio told the local bishop about the incident. The bishop, equally disturbed, prayed to heaven for guidance. After three days, Saint Michael appeared to the prelate and told him to build a place of Catholic worship at the cave. The bishop procrastinated.

Another miracle associated with the shrine took place not long after when the local town was besieged by a large army. Despite the apparent hopeless situation, Saint Lorenzo beseeched Saint Michael for aid in battle. In turn, the Archangel appeared to him and assured him of victory. When the soldiers of the town met their attackers on the battlefield, lightning and thunder from heaven broke out. When the struggle ended, the enemy was destroyed.

Following this extraordinary victory, Saint Lorenzo, by his own accord and at the behest of the Holy Father, went to consecrate the grotto to their celestial defender. Before he was able to do this, the Archangel announced to the bishop that there was no need to consecrate the site, for Saint Michael had already done so. In thanksgiving, Saint Lorenzo, seven other bishops, and multitudes of clergy and laymen processed to the sacred shrine. As they went, eagles shielded the bishops from the sun with outspread wings and when they arrived, they found a complete altar in place, along with a footprint of the angel.

Saint Michael interceded again in the seventeenth century. At that time, there was a great plague ravaging southern Italy. The archbishop, Alfonso Puccinelli, realized the crisis was beyond a human solution and dedicated himself to prayer. Accompanied by an earthquake, the Archangel appeared to him in splendourous array. He instructed the archbishop to go to the grotto, gather stones, inscribe them with the initials MA (Michael Archangel) and bless them, and distribute them to the sick. The archbishop did as he was commanded and all who possessed the stones were delivered from the pestilence.

Stella Maris Monastery (Haifa, Israel)

Stella Maris MonasteryThe “tip” of the sword rests in the Holy Land, not in Jerusalem, but in Haifa, the site of the Stella Maris (Our Lady Star of the Sea) monastery on Mount Carmel. This is the same place where the prophet Elias resided, who, like St. Michael, wielded his sword against the enemies of God. Is it any surprise then that the spiritual children of this prophet, the Carmelites, live in the same spot as their father once did?

The first Carmelite community on Mount Carmel dates back to the time of the Crusades, when European pilgrims decided to emulate the life of Saint Elias, who they considered to be the first monastic. But their desire to live in isolation and prayer was shattered by the conflict between the Christian West and the Islamic East.

The Carmelites were driven out of the mountain by Saracens in 1291. Four centuries later, the discalced branch of the order returned to Mount Carmel under the guidance of Venerable Fr. Prosper. Only 130 years after rebuilding their community, they were again expelled by Muslims who destroyed the monastery. Undeterred by their setbacks, the holy monks moved their location closer to the mountain cave of the Saint Elias, this time building over the ruins of a Byzantine chapel.

In a subsequent conflict, Muslim forces massacred all the friars at the shrine, dismantled the monastery and used its stones to build a summer palace. The current monastery, a minor basilica, was built in 1836. Today, it is still home to a Carmelite community.

Bibliography:

Zimmerman, Benedict. “The Carmelite Order.” CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: The Carmelite Order. Accessed September 26, 2017. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03354a.htm.

“The myths and legends of St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall.” St Michael’s Mount. Accessed September 26, 2017. https://www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk/explore-the-mount/history-legends.

“ST MICHAEL’S MOUNT.” , St. Michael’s Mount – 1000654| Historic England. Accessed September 26, 2017. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/thelist/ list-entry/1000654.

“The myths and legends of St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall.” St Michael’s Mount. Accessed September 26, 2017. https://www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk/explore-the-mount/history-legends.

“Skellig Michael.” Historical background. Accessed September 26, 2017. http://www.worldheritageireland.ie/skellig-michael/historical-background/.

“Skellig Michael.” Sacred Sites. Accessed September 26, 2017. https://sacredsites.com/europe/ireland/skellig_michael.html.

“Sacra di San Michele.” Wikipedia. September 16, 2017. Accessed September 26, 2017. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacra_di_San_Michele.

“Places associated with St Michael.” HISTORIA VIVENS. Accessed September 26, 2017. http://www.historiavivens.eu/2/places_associated_with_st_michael_1111183.html.

Huddleston, Gilbert. “Mont-St-Michel.” CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Mont-St-Michel. Accessed September 26, 2017. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10551a.htm.

Carota, Father John. “St. Michael Archangel Apparition Monte Gargano May 8.” Traditional Catholic Priest. May 08, 2015. Accessed September 26, 2017. http://www.traditionalcatholicpriest.com/2015/05/08/st-michael-archangel-apparition-monte-gargano-may-8/.

Adams, Henry. “Mont Saint Michel.” The Catholic Thing. June 25, 2017. Accessed September 26, 2017. https://www.thecatholicthing.org/2017/06/26/montsaint- michel/.

“A Brief History of The Carmelites.” Official Website of the Carmelite Order. Accessed September 26, 2017. http://ocarm.org/en/content/ocarm/brief-historycarmelites.

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How Saint Michael Saved Brenda

St. Michael Saved Her Life and Arranged a Visit of Our Lady of Fatima

Saint MichaelNever underestimate the power of Saint Michael the Archangel. Sandra, of Ocala, Florida, found this out firsthand. She prayed a novena to the Archangel for her son to overcome an addiction. He was eventually healed. However, Sandra never imagined what her heavenly protector was about to do for her.

On the morning of May 12, 2021, she fell asleep at the wheel of her car, which went catapulting, end over end, through a cow pasture. It flipped seven times, and the first responders are not sure how, but Sandra was ejected from the car and found peacefully lying in a patch of wildflowers.

She was flown to a nearby hospital and spent the next days recovering from eight fractured ribs, a punctured lung and a lacerated eye caused by being thrown through a barbed wire fence when she ejected. Little did she know that Saint Michael was preparing something even more unexpected in her life!

Two weeks later, Sandra received a call from Bob at America Needs Fatima. He wanted to schedule a visit of the pilgrimstatue of Our Lady of Fatima with someone named “Mary.” He dialed the wrong number. Sandra was a devotee of Saint Michael, but she was not on the America Needs Fatima list. In fact, she was not even a Catholic. Nevertheless, she enthusiastically asked if Our Lady could visit her home.

On June 16, 2021, America Needs Fatima volunteer Zechariah Long and I took Our Lady to the home of this devotee of Saint Michael. On the table reserved for Our Lady, we were touched to see a statue of the Winged Warrior. We were both impressed by her devotion and marveled at what Saint Michael had done for this woman. He not only healed her son but saved her from what could have been a violent death. We were now standing in her home with a statue of the Blessed Mother. We took the opportunity to give her a rosary and a booklet explaining how to pray it. Since our Lady’s visit, Sandra has expressed a desire to convert to the Catholic faith, and steps are being taken to fulfill her wish.

This story should inspire those who have lost belief in the holy angels and their solicitude for our well-being. God did not just create angels to help little children cross a bridge. They have an unbelievable power to convert souls trapped in addiction and prevent physical catastrophes. Indeed, Bob did not dial the wrong number but called the person for whom Saint Michael had a special love.

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How Saint Michael Saved This U.S. Marine

How Saint Michael Saved This U.S. Marine

Mont Saint Michel

U.S. Soldiers in the Korean War

This is the true story of a Marine wounded in Korea in 1950. Writing to his mother, he told her of a fascinating encounter he experienced in the war. Father Walter Muldy, a U.S. Navy chaplain, who spoke to the young Marine and his mother as well as to the squad commander, always affirmed the veracity of this narrative.

We heard it from someone who read the original letter and retell the story here in all its details and in the first person to better convey some of the impact it must have had when first told by the son to his mother.

Dear Mom,

I'm writing to you from a hospital bed. Don’t worry, Mom, I'm okay. I was wounded, but the doctor says that I'll be up in no time.

But that’s not what I have to tell you, Mom. Something happened to me that I don’t dare tell anyone else for fear of their disbelief. But I have to tell you, the one person I can confide in, though even you may find it hard to believe.

You remember the prayer to Saint Michael that you taught me to pray when I was little: “Michael, Michael of the morning,…” Before I left home for Korea, you urged me to remember this prayer before any confrontation with the enemy. But you really didn’t have to remind me, Mom. I've always prayed it, and when I got to Korea, I sometimes said it a couple of times a day while marching or resting.

Well, one day, we were told to move forward to scout for Commies. It was a really cold day. As I was walking along, I perceived another fellow walking beside me, and I looked to see who it was.

He was a big fellow, a Marine about 6’4″ and built proportionally. Funny, but I didn’t know him, and I thought I knew everyone in my unit. I was glad to have the company and broke the silence between us:

“Chilly today, isn’t it?” Then, I chuckled, because suddenly it seemed absurd to talk about the weather when we were advancing to meet the enemy. He chuckled too, softly.

“I thought I knew everyone in my outfit,” I continued, “but I've never seen you before.”

“No,” he agreed, “I've just joined. The name is Michael.”

“Really?! That’s mine, too.”

“I know,” the Marine said, “Michael, Michael of the morning…”

Mom, I was really surprised that he knew about my prayer, but I had taught it to many of the other guys, so I supposed that the newcomer must have picked it up from someone else. As a matter of fact, it had gotten around to the extent that some of the fellows were calling me “Saint Michael.”

Then, out of the blue, Michael said, “There’s going to be trouble ahead.”

I wondered how he could know that. I was breathing hard from the march, and my breath hit the cold air like dense clouds of fog. Michael seemed to be in top shape because I couldn’t see his breath at all. Just then, it started to snow heavily, and soon it was so dense I could no longer hear or see the rest of my unit. I got a little scared and yelled, “Michael!” Then I felt his strong hand on my shoulder and heard his voice in my ear, “It’s going to clear up soon.”

It did clear up, suddenly. And then, just a short distance ahead of us, like so many dreadful realities, were seven Commies, looking rather comical in their funny hats. But there was nothing funny about them now; their guns were steady and pointed straight in our direction.

“Down, Michael!!” I yelled as I dove for cover. Even as I was hitting the ground, I looked up and saw Michael still standing, as if paralyzed by fear, or so I thought at the time. Bullets were spurting all over the place, and Mom, there was no way those Commies could've missed at that short distance. I jumped up to pull him down, and then I was hit. The pain was like a hot fire in my chest, and as I fell, my head swooned and I remember thinking, “I must be dying…” Someone was laying me down, strong arms were holding me and laying me gently on the snow. Through the daze, I opened my eyes, and the sun seemed to blaze in my eyes. Michael was standing still, and there was a terrible splendour in his face. Suddenly, he seemed to grow, like the sun, the splendour increasing intensely around him like the wings of an angel. As I slipped into unconsciousness, I saw that Michael held a sword in his hand, and it flashed like a million lights.

Later on, when I woke up, the rest of the guys came to see me with the sergeant.

“How did you do it, son?” he asked me.

“Where’s Michael?” I asked in reply.

“Michael who?” The sergeant seemed puzzled.

“Michael, the big Marine walking with me, right up to the last moment. I saw him there as I fell.”

“Son,” the sergeant said gravely, “you’re the only Michael in my unit. I hand-picked all you fellows, and there’s only one Michael. You. And son, you weren’t walking with anyone. I was watching you because you were too far off from us, and I was worried.

“Now tell me, son,” he repeated, “how did you do it?”

It was the second time he had asked me that, and I found it irritating.

“How did I do what?”

“How did you kill those seven Commies? There wasn’t a single bullet fired from your rifle.”

“What?”

“Come on, son. They were strewn all around you, each one killed by a swordstroke.”

And that, Mom, is the end of my story. It may have been the pain, or the blazing sun, or the chilling cold. I don’t know, Mom, but there is one thing I'm sure about. It happened.

Love, your son,

— Michael

Michael, Michael of the Morning Prayer

The prayer to Saint Michael mentioned in the story seems to be this one:

Michael, Michael of the morning,
Fresh chord of Heaven adorning,
Keep me safe today,
And in time of temptation
Drive the devil away. Amen.

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Mont Saint Michel: An Angelic Island on Earth

Mont Saint Michel: An Angelic Island on Earth

Mont Saint Michel

“a sublime example of angelic influence
in Christian Civilization”

The incredible island of Mont Saint Michel is a sublime example of angelic influence in Christian Civilization.

The small patch of land lies in a bay off the coast of Normandy, France, and has held a Catholic presence since the eighth century when Saint Michael the Archangel appeared and requested that a church be erected there in his honour.

Over the centuries, the small church was expanded to an abbey hosting a community of Benedictine monks, then to a monastery with crypts and cloisters, and eventually, to a strategic military position with defensive fortifications and a medieval village.

The mount’s surreal beauty provokes great joy and awe. From the coast, the tower is visible miles away, and at that hazy distance appears like a fantastic mirage more than a solid stronghold. This idyllic view invites marveling souls to turn beyond worldly considerations, and contemplate higher ideals.

The harmony of the military fortifications and the religious abbey perfectly honour Saint Michael in his different attributes. He is the one who rallied the angelic hosts with the cry of, “Who is like unto God?” and cast the rebellious angels along with Satan out of heaven. According to tradition, he is also one of the angels who stand before the throne of God singing eternal praise.

In a word, Mont Saint Michel’s transcendent beauty is an example of divine grace. Grace is the created participation in the uncreated life of God. When men correspond to the grace of God, the great marvels of history are worked and angelic edifices such as Mont Saint Michel are built.

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How Saint Michael Inspires Perfect Knighthood

How Saint Michael Inspires Perfect Knighthood

Saint MichaelThe Catholic calendar reads for the feast of Saint Michael: Saint Michael, Prince of the Heavenly Host fought the rebel angels in the heavenly battle. He continues to lead the battle to free us from the devil. Our guardian angels depend on him. He is the custodian angel of the Church and the one who presents the Eucharistic Oblation to the Eternal Father. We are in the novena of Our Lady of the Rosary and in the novena of Our Lady Mediatrix of All Graces.

I call your attention to the fact that Saint Michael is the chief who fought against the devil and cast him into hell. He is the leader of the guardian angels of individuals and also of the guardian angels of institutions. He is himself the guardian angel of the Institution of institutions, the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Therefore, he has a custodian function, which one may ask how it relates to his attitude or mission of casting into hell those who rose up against Our Lord, on the one hand, and on the other hand the protection he gives the Church and men in this vale of tears and in this arena of life. And we see that these two missions are related. He defended God; God wanted to use him as His shield against the devil. God wants him to be the shield of men against the devil. God wants him to be the shield of the Holy Catholic Church against the devil. But he is not merely a shield: he is also a sword. He not only defends but also defeats and casts into hell.

This is, therefore, the twofold mission of Saint Michael. This is why in the Middle Ages the knights considered Saint Michael the first of all knights; the heavenly knight, perfectly loyal as a knight must be, ideally strong as a knight must be, pure as an angel as a knight must be, and victorious as a knight must be; a knight who placed his whole confidence in God, and then, after she was born, also in Our Lady.

So we should consider admirable Saint Michael as our natural ally in the struggle; because the counter-revolutionary movement wants to be nothing other than a group of men who execute, on a human level, mutatis mutandis, the task of Saint Michael the Archangel; in other words, to defend the honour of God, the glory of Our Lady, the Catholic Church, and Christian civilization. Therefore, we see this has an enormous affinity with us and that it is very fitting for counter-revolutionaries to make Saint Michael the Archangel their special patron.

Dom Guéranger has a text on the angels’ contemplative devotion:

“The Church considers Saint Michael as the mediator of her liturgical prayer. He stands between humanity and divinity. For His own glory, God, Who has established in admirable fashion the visible and invisible hierarchies, abundantly uses in His service these heavenly spirits who incessantly contemplate the adorable face of the Father and who know, better than men, how to contemplate the beauty of His infinite perfections.”

This is where it goes on to say that Saint Michael also presents the Eucharistic oblation to the Eternal Father. And this is also how he appeared to the three little shepherds at Fatima — with the chalice in hand.

“Mi – cha – El: who is like God? Of itself, this name expresses, in its brevity, the most perfect adoration, the most complete recognition of divine transcendence, and a creature’s humblest confession of his own nothingness; he is, therefore, the model of humility.”

Because he who exclaims that no one is like God, exclaims that he himself is nothing; this is perfect humility. The knight’s form of humility is not a gooey, sugary and illogic sentimentality.

“So also the Church invites the heavenly spirits to bless the Lord and sing His praises; to laud and bless Him incessantly. This contemplative vocation of the angels is the model of our own, as the beautiful preface to the Sacramentary of Saint Leo reminds us. It is truly fitting to render graces to Thee Who teaches us through the Apostle that our lives are meant for heaven; Who benevolently wishes us to transport ourselves in spirit to the place where these whom we venerate serve Thee, and especially to soar to those heights on the feast of the blessed Saint Michael the Archangel.”

This is a remarkable trait of devotion to the angels. The angels are inhabitants of the heavenly Court. And in the heavenly Court they live in eternal contemplation, a contemplation of one who sees God face-to-face; and all the great mystics tell us about their visions of parties that are held in heaven, which are true feasts indeed. They are not mere images or chimeras; they are true feasts in which God successively manifests His grandeurs and they acclaim Him with new triumphs which absolutely never end.

There is a heavenly happiness, a sense that heaven is the homeland of our soul and precisely the order of things for which we have been created; the one that fully corresponds to all our aspirations. There is such a sense of heavenly happiness through the face-to-face contemplation of God, Who is the absolute perfection of all things that some of it can and must transpire to earth. And in epochs of true faith some of that happiness filters down; something of that piety is felt by pious souls and communicated through the most pious ones to become a common treasure of the whole Church.

And that is what we lack so direly nowadays: One has no idea of heavenly happiness; and without the idea of a heavenly happiness one has no appetite for heaven; and people wallow in the sheer craving of the goods of the earth. But if they were able to understand even for a moment what the consolation of the Holy Ghost is like, what a grace from the Holy Ghost is like, what type of happiness the consideration of the heavenly goods actually brings; if they were able to understand that even for a minute they would begin to become detached from the goods of the earth and to understand how everything is fleeting, how all this is nothing, how there are values which are above all this and make the earth a little handful of dust.

That is exactly what is missing and what the angels can obtain for us; they, who are inundated with this happiness and, once in a while, communicate it to the saints. There is a kind of mystical phenomenon which is a concert — Saint Thérèse the Little Flower experienced it and tells about in The Story of a Soul — a marvellous, faraway concert with marvellous, otherworldly harmonies. It is a little bit of the eternal canticle of the angels that thus arrives to the ears of the blessed, precisely to give them an appetite for the things of heaven.

This appetite is abysmally absent in our times. Many people are only interested in and enthralled with things of the earth — money, politicking, worldliness, trivia in the daily news — but they are not enthused with elevated things, doctrinal things, and even less for specifically heavenly things.

Let us therefore ask the angels to communicate to us this desire of heavenly things with which they overflow. This is an excellent intention to be added to the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel: that he make us his imitators and perfect knights of Our Lady on this earth.

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This Is How Saint Michael Cast Out Satan From Robbie Mannheim

This Is How Saint Michael Cast Out Satan From Robbie Mannheim

Saint Michael

This Is How Saint Michael Cast Out Satan From Robbie Mannheim

This year marks the seventieth anniversary of the only documented exorcism in the United States of America.1 This is important because one of the biggest lies of the devil is to convince mankind that he does not exist. This perhaps explains the stunned reaction of audiences to the dramatized version of this exorcism in the 1973 movie The Exorcist.

The scenes in the film were so gruesome that they caused many theatre-goers to throw up while others fainted and had to be taken away by ambulance. One man leaving the theater said it best: “I believe, I believe!” This was the testimony of someone who once again believed in the devil.

While the vivid scenes of the movie showed the horror and repugnance of demonic possession, it left out the most important part of the true story of this possessed Maryland boy. He was freed from the devil’s clutches through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima and the power of Saint Michael.

Ouija Board and Possession

The central figure in the story was a teenager known by the pseudonyms “Robbie Mannheim” or “Roland Doe.” While Robbie’s true identity and that of his relatives remains a secret the details of the extraordinary events of this 1949 exorcism were meticulously recorded in the book Possessed by Thomas Allen.

Robbie grew up in Mount Rainier, Maryland. As the only child of Karl and Phyllis Mannheim, (also pseudonyms) he would often play games with adults. One such person was his Aunt Harriet, a spiritualist, who lived in St. Louis, Missouri and frequently visited the Mannheims. During a visit in January of 1949, she taught her thirteen-year old nephew how to use a Ouija board.

Not long afterwards, the Mannheims noticed strange things happening around their son. They heard strange noises in his room such as the incessant sound of dripping water and later a scratching noise like claws scraping across wood. Around the same time, Aunt Harriet died and Robbie began using the Ouija board as a means to contact her. He would use the board for hours on end, until the game became for him a possession, both figuratively and literally.

Soon, his parents noticed alarming physical abnormalities on their son’s body such as scratch marks, welts and bruises, which appeared for no apparent reason. More disturbing still was the personality transformation. Their normally quiet, timid boy suddenly became aggressive with frequent outbursts of anger and violent temper tantrums directed at them. He began to speak in Latin, a language he had no means of knowing. That is when the parents decided they needed help.

They tried everything from a regular medical doctor, to psychologists, psychiatrists and even a psychic before finally turning to their minister, Rev. Luther Miles Schulze. While the parents already considered the possibility of diabolical possession, Pastor Schulze was skeptical. He looked upon possession “as a medieval relic, something that had been left to Catholics when the Luther-led Reformation split the Christian world.”2

“You Have to See a Catholic Priest”

Rev. Schulze decided to find out for himself what was going on by inviting Robbie to spend a night at his home. That night he watched with his own eyes as Robbie’s bed moved back and forth then jumped up and down. When he asked the boy to try to sleep in a chair, it moved across the room then fell on its side leaving Robbie sprawled on the floor. When Schulze could not stand the chair upright, he realized he was in the presence of a colossal force, and had a change of heart. He took Robbie home and told his parents, “You have to see a Catholic priest. The Catholics know about things like this.”3

The Mannheims then visited St. James Catholic Church not far from their home. Fr. E. Albert Hughes was chosen to assist the parents yet proved totally unsuited for the task. He saw Robbie’s potential for violence and ordered him to be put under restraint at a hospital.

As Father Hughes began the ritual prayers, the boy managed to free his arm from restraint, reach underneath the bed and remove one of the bedsprings. He then used it as a weapon and slashed opened the priest’s forearm from wrist to elbow. It took one hundred stitches to close the wound.

Shortly afterwards, the Mannheims moved to St. Louis, Missouri to stay with Karl’s brother George and his wife Catherine. Terrifying things continued to happen to Robbie. Their daughter, Elizabeth, who was a student at St. Louis University, approached her professor, Fr. Raymond J. Bishop, to tell him about her cousin.

After an initial evaluation, the priest turned the case over to Fr. William S. Bowdern, S.J., pastor at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church, who was eventually assigned by then-St. Louis Archbishop Joseph Ritter to perform an exorcism. Fr. Bowdern, described by a fellow Jesuit as “totally fearless,” was assisted by Fr. Walter Halloran and Fr. William Van Roo.

The Fatima Story Leads to Conversion

From the very beginning of the exorcism Father Bowdern placed Our Lady of Fatima in the center of the fight. On his first visit to the home on March 11, 1949, he was speaking with the Mannheims when they heard terrible screams upstairs coming from Robbie’s room. When they entered, the boy was sitting up in his bed and was visibly frightened by what he sensed was an evil presence in the room. Father Bowdern boldly placed his rosary beads around the terrified boy’s neck and began to pray the rosary.

After he finished, Father Bowdern preached a “spontaneous homily,” in which he “told Robbie about three children around his age who had seen something that other people had not seen.”4 Father Bowdern then explained the Fatima apparitions and how those children received the special privilege of seeing the Mother of God whose name is Mary. This helped explain the Hail Mary to the boy, who was not Catholic.

The teenager was fascinated by the Fatima story, and Father Bowdern repeated it several times over the next thirty-eight days. This led Robbie to inquire more about the Catholic Faith and ultimately led to his conversion and later that of his parents.

On March 23, he began his study of the catechism and was baptized on April 1. The following day Robbie received his First Communion. Father Bowdern wisely suggested that because it was the first Saturday of the month, they pray the rosary in honour of Our Lady of Fatima.

On April 10, Palm Sunday, Robbie was taken to nearby Alexian Brothers Hospital and admitted to the psychiatric wing. This provided the exorcist more privacy but also means to deal with the boy. After his baptism, the devils which possessed Robbie became more violent. Upon his arrival, “Brother [Rector] Cornelius brought a statue of Our Lady of Fatima and placed it in the main ground floor corridor.”5

“I Will Not Go Until a Certain Word Is Pronounced”

Over the next weeks, Father Bowdern and his assistant priest endured unspeakable insults, blasphemies, filthy language and even violence from the devils who possessed the boy. At one point, Father Holloran had his nose broken when Robbie hit him with a precise blow with his eyes closed.

Through the whole process, Father Bowdern pondered something the devil had uttered in the beginning. “I will not go,” the guttural voice said, “until a certain word is pronounced, and I will not allow this boy to say it.”

During Holy Week, Father Bowdern had great hopes that Our Lord might free Robbie on the day of His Glorious Resurrection. On Holy Saturday, Brother Cornelius had a statue of Saint Michael brought to Robbie’s room and placed in the corner.

However, Easter Sunday came and went, but the next morning something truly extraordinary occurred. Robbie awoke in a fury and the same foul voice taunted the priests. “He has to say one more word, one little word, I mean one BIG word. He’ll never say it. I am always in him. I may not have much power always, but I am in him. He will never say that word.”6

Whenever the evil spirit manifested himself in Robbie, he would always go into what appeared like a seizure. The boy’s voice on these occasions was distinguishable by its cynical, harsh and diabolical tone. Throughout the day, Father Bowdern and his assistance heard this voice. That night however something changed. An entirely different voice come forth from Robbie.

“I Am Saint Michael and I Command You”

At 10:45 p.m., Robbie became very calm and entered a trance-like state, as was usual. However, those in the room were surprised when they heard a completely different voice come from the boy. The voice did not provoke fear and disgust but rather confidence and hope. In clear and commanding tones an august personage said:

“Satan! Satan! I am Saint Michael, and I command you, Satan and the other evil spirits, to leave the body in the name of Dominus, immediately. Now, NOW, NOW!”7 Robbie then went into the most violent convulsions of the entire exorcism. Finally, he became calm again and said to those surrounding his bed: “He is gone.”

Robbie explained what he saw. Saint Michael appeared as a very beautiful man with flowing wavy hair that blew in the breeze as he stood in the midst of a brilliant white light. “In his right hand he held a wavy and fiery sword in front of him. With his left hand he pointed down to a pit.”8 The boy described how he felt heat come forth, but also he saw the devil laughingly resist Saint Michael.

What happened next clearly showed that the devil was outmatched by the abrupt appearance of his angelic nemesis on this spiritual battlefield. Saint Michael turned towards Robbie, smiled and then spoke. However, the only word that Robbie heard while in the trance was the one which his tormentor had sworn he would not allow him to say, Dominus. With that one word, Robbie was free at last.

After these horrific events, Robbie went on to lead a normal life. He eventually married and named his first son Michael after the warrior angel who came to his rescue in time of urgent need.

Fr. William Bowdern remained the pastor of Saint Francis Xavier until 1956. While it might have seemed that his life also went on as usual, the opposite is true. Relatives say that, until his death in 1983 at the age of 86, this heroic priest suffered mentally and physically from what he endured during the exorcism.

“I Believe, I Believe!”

This stunning victory of Saint Michael over the devil in the case of Robbie Mannheim is merely the continuation of a war that started in the beginning of creation. The fact that this particular episode between this Angel of Light and his eternal enemy centered on one word, Dominus, is not surprising. It is actually linked to the Fatima message.

In one of her apparitions to the three children, Our Lady said that if mankind did not convert Russia would spread her errors throughout the world. One of the errors, actually the principle one, is egalitarianism, a philosophy that rejects any superiority. To refer to someone, actually anyone, as Dominus—Latin for Lord—is an outright affront to the egalitarian spirit. This explains the almost child-like joy shown by Saint Michael when he smiled at Robbie before categorically pronouncing that “detestable” word. He thus reaffirmed God’s superiority but also his power over the enemy of man.

In the seventy years since this exorcism, the belief in Satan—even if a Hollywoodian version—has actually increased. Very lamentably, belief in Saint Michael and the angels who are waiting to come to aid the faithful has decreased. One should therefore meditate on the extraordinary story of this warrior angel’s intercession in the life of a defenseless boy and repeat the words of the man leaving the theater in 1973: “I believe, I believe!”

Footnotes:

  • 1. While there have been many exorcisms, this reference is to the only one that was meticulously documented by the Jesuits who performed it.
  • 2. Thomas B. Allen, Possessed: The True Story of An Exorcism, (iUniverse, 1994) p. 17.
  • 3. Ibid., p. 24.
  • 4. Ibid., p. 70.
  • 5. Ibid., p. 201.
  • 6. Chad Garrison, "The True Story of the St. Louis House That Inspired The Exorcist" https://m.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/hell-of-a-house/Content? oid=2491650.
  • 7. Chad Garrison, "The True Story of the St. Louis House That Inspired The Exorcist"
  • 8. Possessed, p. 290.

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Novena to Saint Michael – Day 9

Day 9: The Angels

Prayer for each day:

My Lord and My God, Father of Mercy and all Consolation: I present myself to You of my own free will and with all the resolution and firmness of which my heart is capable aided by thy divine grace, so You would deign to receive me among Your humble and fervent servants under the direction of the glorious Saint Michael.

Keeping with my soul’s earnest desire, I will don the livery of humility, observe the cleanliness of chastity according to my state in life, and embrace the shield of patience with which I shall resist the arrows shot at me by the world, the devil and the flesh. I will arm myself with holy zeal to seek thy greater glory and the salvation of souls. I will strive in earnest to teach the truth and dispel ignorance, extirpate vice and cultivate virtue in me and all my neighbours. This is my resolution, which I hope to fulfill helped by divine grace, which I will receive through the merits of Jesus Christ Thy Son, by the intercession of Mary Most Holy, the glorious Saint Michael, and all other Angels and Saints. Amen.


Prayer for the Ninth Day:

God and Lord of the heavenly spirits of the Ninth Choir, called Angels because You sent them to guard humanity along the paths of Your salvation; I offer Thee, o Lord, the merits of these sovereign spirits and those of the glorious prince Saint Michael who, with the Guardian Angels, protects all men and human nature. I beg You to keep me from every sin, grant me angelic purity and happy arrival at the glory of Heaven, where I may see You face-to-face and love You perfectly for all eternity. Amen.

(Here pray nine times the Our Father and Hail Mary in union with the nine choirs of Angels and their Prince, Saint Michael. Then, pray:)

O glorious Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly hosts, terror of demons and their henchmen, great and admirable Captain next to Jesus Christ, resplendent with grace, excellence and virtue; deliver us from all adversity so that we may love God with ardent fervour, and that we may progress each day in His holy service.

V. Pray for us, O glorious Saint Michael, protector of the Holy Catholic Church

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray,

Almighty and eternal God, Who in Your great goodness and infinite mercy has chosen the glorious Prince Saint Michael to render You glory and protect mankind; grant us, by his efficacious intercession and help, that we may merit to be defended from all enemies, and may be freely and benignly presented before the throne of Your Exalted Majesty at the hour of our death. Amen.

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Novena to Saint Michael – Day 8

Day 8: The Archangels

Prayer for each day:

My Lord and My God, Father of Mercy and all Consolation: I present myself to You of my own free will and with all the resolution and firmness of which my heart is capable aided by thy divine grace, so You would deign to receive me among Your humble and fervent servants under the direction of the glorious Saint Michael.

Keeping with my soul’s earnest desire, I will don the livery of humility, observe the cleanliness of chastity according to my state in life, and embrace the shield of patience with which I shall resist the arrows shot at me by the world, the devil and the flesh. I will arm myself with holy zeal to seek thy greater glory and the salvation of souls. I will strive in earnest to teach the truth and dispel ignorance, extirpate vice and cultivate virtue in me and all my neighbours. This is my resolution, which I hope to fulfill helped by divine grace, which I will receive through the merits of Jesus Christ Thy Son, by the intercession of Mary Most Holy, the glorious Saint Michael, and all other Angels and Saints. Amen.


Prayer for the Eighth Day:

God and Lord of the heavenly spirits of the Eighth Choir, the Archangels, called thus because You entrusted to them the all-important care of Your honour and glory; I offer Thee, o Lord, the merits of these noblest spirits and those of the glorious Saint Michael, who distinguished himself so much in the great battle and heroically defended Your honour and glory against Lucifer and his followers. I implore You to grant me grace and strength to conquer and overcome all the enemies of my salvation so that, having obtained the heavenly glory, I may forever sing Your mercy. Amen.

(Here pray nine times the Our Father and Hail Mary in union with the nine choirs of Angels and their Prince, Saint Michael. Then, pray:)

O glorious Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly hosts, terror of demons and their henchmen, great and admirable Captain next to Jesus Christ, resplendent with grace, excellence and virtue; deliver us from all adversity so that we may love God with ardent fervour, and that we may progress each day in His holy service.

V. Pray for us, O glorious Saint Michael, protector of the Holy Catholic Church

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray,

Almighty and eternal God, Who in Your great goodness and infinite mercy has chosen the glorious Prince Saint Michael to render You glory and protect mankind; grant us, by his efficacious intercession and help, that we may merit to be defended from all enemies, and may be freely and benignly presented before the throne of Your Exalted Majesty at the hour of our death. Amen.

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Novena to Saint Michael – Day 7

Day 7: The Principalities

Prayer for each day:

My Lord and My God, Father of Mercy and all Consolation: I present myself to You of my own free will and with all the resolution and firmness of which my heart is capable aided by thy divine grace, so You would deign to receive me among Your humble and fervent servants under the direction of the glorious Saint Michael.

Keeping with my soul’s earnest desire, I will don the livery of humility, observe the cleanliness of chastity according to my state in life, and embrace the shield of patience with which I shall resist the arrows shot at me by the world, the devil and the flesh. I will arm myself with holy zeal to seek thy greater glory and the salvation of souls. I will strive in earnest to teach the truth and dispel ignorance, extirpate vice and cultivate virtue in me and all my neighbours. This is my resolution, which I hope to fulfill helped by divine grace, which I will receive through the merits of Jesus Christ Thy Son, by the intercession of Mary Most Holy, the glorious Saint Michael, and all other Angels and Saints. Amen.


Prayer for the Seventh Day:

God and Lord of the heavenly spirits of the Seventh Choir, called the Principalities because You have made them guardians of kingdoms and nations; I offer You, o Lord, the merits of these excellent spirits and those of the glorious Prince Saint Michael, the First Guard of all Christian kingdoms and of Holy Church; and I humbly beg You to guard my soul and body, faculties and senses from all disorder, passion, and temptations. I hope that Your kingdom may come within me, that You alone may rule in it, and that I may joyfully obey Your holy decrees with promptness and enthusiasm. Amen.

(Here pray nine times the Our Father and Hail Mary in union with the nine choirs of Angels and their Prince, Saint Michael. Then, pray:)

O glorious Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly hosts, terror of demons and their henchmen, great and admirable Captain next to Jesus Christ, resplendent with grace, excellence and virtue; deliver us from all adversity so that we may love God with ardent fervour, and that we may progress each day in His holy service.

V. Pray for us, O glorious Saint Michael, protector of the Holy Catholic Church

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray,

Almighty and eternal God, Who in Your great goodness and infinite mercy has chosen the glorious Prince Saint Michael to render You glory and protect mankind; grant us, by his efficacious intercession and help, that we may merit to be defended from all enemies, and may be freely and benignly presented before the throne of Your Exalted Majesty at the hour of our death. Amen.

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Novena to Saint Michael – Day 6

Day 6: The Powers

Prayer for each day:

My Lord and My God, Father of Mercy and all Consolation: I present myself to You of my own free will and with all the resolution and firmness of which my heart is capable aided by thy divine grace, so You would deign to receive me among Your humble and fervent servants under the direction of the glorious Saint Michael.

Keeping with my soul’s earnest desire, I will don the livery of humility, observe the cleanliness of chastity according to my state in life, and embrace the shield of patience with which I shall resist the arrows shot at me by the world, the devil and the flesh. I will arm myself with holy zeal to seek thy greater glory and the salvation of souls. I will strive in earnest to teach the truth and dispel ignorance, extirpate vice and cultivate virtue in me and all my neighbours. This is my resolution, which I hope to fulfill helped by divine grace, which I will receive through the merits of Jesus Christ Thy Son, by the intercession of Mary Most Holy, the glorious Saint Michael, and all other Angels and Saints. Amen.


Prayer for the Sixth Day:

God and Lord of the heavenly spirits of the Sixth Choir, who are the Powers, called thus for the unique power You have given them to repress the devils; I offer Thee, o Lord, the merits of these most powerful spirits and those of the glorious prince Saint Michael, who won the greatest of victories against Lucifer and his followers; and, by the same ease with which Saint Michael incessantly fights for man against his enemies, I humbly pray that You help me fight honestly, and thus merit the crown of glory. Amen.

(Here pray nine times the Our Father and Hail Mary in union with the nine choirs of Angels and their Prince, Saint Michael. Then, pray:)

O glorious Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly hosts, terror of demons and their henchmen, great and admirable Captain next to Jesus Christ, resplendent with grace, excellence and virtue; deliver us from all adversity so that we may love God with ardent fervour, and that we may progress each day in His holy service.

V. Pray for us, O glorious Saint Michael, protector of the Holy Catholic Church

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray,

Almighty and eternal God, Who in Your great goodness and infinite mercy has chosen the glorious Prince Saint Michael to render You glory and protect mankind; grant us, by his efficacious intercession and help, that we may merit to be defended from all enemies, and may be freely and benignly presented before the throne of Your Exalted Majesty at the hour of our death. Amen.

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Novena to Saint Michael – Day 5

Day 5: The Virtues

Prayer for each day:

My Lord and My God, Father of Mercy and all Consolation: I present myself to You of my own free will and with all the resolution and firmness of which my heart is capable aided by thy divine grace, so You would deign to receive me among Your humble and fervent servants under the direction of the glorious Saint Michael.

Keeping with my soul’s earnest desire, I will don the livery of humility, observe the cleanliness of chastity according to my state in life, and embrace the shield of patience with which I shall resist the arrows shot at me by the world, the devil and the flesh. I will arm myself with holy zeal to seek thy greater glory and the salvation of souls. I will strive in earnest to teach the truth and dispel ignorance, extirpate vice and cultivate virtue in me and all my neighbours. This is my resolution, which I hope to fulfill helped by divine grace, which I will receive through the merits of Jesus Christ Thy Son, by the intercession of Mary Most Holy, the glorious Saint Michael, and all other Angels and Saints. Amen.


Prayer for the Fifth Day:

God and Lord of the heavenly spirits of the Fifth Choir, called the Virtues, by whom You work miracles through Your sovereign power, governing nature so that it serves Your greater honour and glory; I offer You, o Lord, the merits of these prodigious spirits and those of the glorious prince Saint Michael, the Main Instrument of all marvels that You work in the universe; I implore You to grant that, having conquered the evil inclinations of corrupt nature, I may remain and grow in Your grace and attain eternal glory. Amen.

(Here pray nine times the Our Father and Hail Mary in union with the nine choirs of Angels and their Prince, Saint Michael. Then, pray:)

O glorious Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly hosts, terror of demons and their henchmen, great and admirable Captain next to Jesus Christ, resplendent with grace, excellence and virtue; deliver us from all adversity so that we may love God with ardent fervour, and that we may progress each day in His holy service.

V. Pray for us, O glorious Saint Michael, protector of the Holy Catholic Church

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray,

Almighty and eternal God, Who in Your great goodness and infinite mercy has chosen the glorious Prince Saint Michael to render You glory and protect mankind; grant us, by his efficacious intercession and help, that we may merit to be defended from all enemies, and may be freely and benignly presented before the throne of Your Exalted Majesty at the hour of our death. Amen.

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Novena to Saint Michael – Day 4

Day 4: The Dominations

Prayer for each day:

My Lord and My God, Father of Mercy and all Consolation: I present myself to You of my own free will and with all the resolution and firmness of which my heart is capable aided by thy divine grace, so You would deign to receive me among Your humble and fervent servants under the direction of the glorious Saint Michael.

Keeping with my soul’s earnest desire, I will don the livery of humility, observe the cleanliness of chastity according to my state in life, and embrace the shield of patience with which I shall resist the arrows shot at me by the world, the devil and the flesh. I will arm myself with holy zeal to seek thy greater glory and the salvation of souls. I will strive in earnest to teach the truth and dispel ignorance, extirpate vice and cultivate virtue in me and all my neighbours. This is my resolution, which I hope to fulfill helped by divine grace, which I will receive through the merits of Jesus Christ Thy Son, by the intercession of Mary Most Holy, the glorious Saint Michael, and all other Angels and Saints. Amen.


Prayer for the Fourth Day:

God and Lord of the heavenly spirits of the Fourth Choir, called the Dominations, who preside over the lower choirs and are ministers of Your Providence; I offer You the merits of these most eminent spirits and those of Your First Minister, the Glorious Saint Michael, so that You grant me perfect control over my passions, and perfect obedience to Your Holy Law and to all my superiors; so that I may obtain the reward reserved for those who are obedient unto death, as Jesus Christ, Your Son and Our Lord, taught us; He Who lives with You and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.

(Here pray nine times the Our Father and Hail Mary in union with the nine choirs of Angels and their Prince, Saint Michael. Then, pray:)

O glorious Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly hosts, terror of demons and their henchmen, great and admirable Captain next to Jesus Christ, resplendent with grace, excellence and virtue; deliver us from all adversity so that we may love God with ardent fervour, and that we may progress each day in His holy service.

V. Pray for us, O glorious Saint Michael, protector of the Holy Catholic Church

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray,

Almighty and eternal God, Who in Your great goodness and infinite mercy has chosen the glorious Prince Saint Michael to render You glory and protect mankind; grant us, by his efficacious intercession and help, that we may merit to be defended from all enemies, and may be freely and benignly presented before the throne of Your Exalted Majesty at the hour of our death. Amen.

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Novena to Saint Michael – Day 3

Day 3: The Thrones

Prayer for each day:

My Lord and My God, Father of Mercy and all Consolation: I present myself to You of my own free will and with all the resolution and firmness of which my heart is capable aided by thy divine grace, so You would deign to receive me among Your humble and fervent servants under the direction of the glorious Saint Michael.

Keeping with my soul’s earnest desire, I will don the livery of humility, observe the cleanliness of chastity according to my state in life, and embrace the shield of patience with which I shall resist the arrows shot at me by the world, the devil and the flesh. I will arm myself with holy zeal to seek thy greater glory and the salvation of souls. I will strive in earnest to teach the truth and dispel ignorance, extirpate vice and cultivate virtue in me and all my neighbours. This is my resolution, which I hope to fulfill helped by divine grace, which I will receive through the merits of Jesus Christ Thy Son, by the intercession of Mary Most Holy, the glorious Saint Michael, and all other Angels and Saints. Amen.


Prayer for the Third Day:

God and Lord of the heavenly spirits of the Third Choir, called the Thrones, in whom You rest as on a Throne of Glory, seated as in a Court of Justice; I offer You the merits of these noble spirits and those of the glorious Saint Michael, the most splendid throne of Your Majesty and supreme minister of Your Justice, so that You may grant me the grace to receive You during Holy Communion on the throne of my heart; and from this throne, judge me not as my faults deserve, but according to Your great mercy, that I may attain salvation. Amen.

(Here pray nine times the Our Father and Hail Mary in union with the nine choirs of Angels and their Prince, Saint Michael. Then, pray:)

O glorious Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly hosts, terror of demons and their henchmen, great and admirable Captain next to Jesus Christ, resplendent with grace, excellence and virtue; deliver us from all adversity so that we may love God with ardent fervour, and that we may progress each day in His holy service.

V. Pray for us, O glorious Saint Michael, protector of the Holy Catholic Church

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray,

Almighty and eternal God, Who in Your great goodness and infinite mercy has chosen the glorious Prince Saint Michael to render You glory and protect mankind; grant us, by his efficacious intercession and help, that we may merit to be defended from all enemies, and may be freely and benignly presented before the throne of Your Exalted Majesty at the hour of our death. Amen.

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Novena to Saint Michael – Day 2

Day 2: The Cherubim

Prayer for each day:

My Lord and My God, Father of Mercy and all Consolation: I present myself to You of my own free will and with all the resolution and firmness of which my heart is capable aided by thy divine grace, so You would deign to receive me among Your humble and fervent servants under the direction of the glorious Saint Michael.

Keeping with my soul’s earnest desire, I will don the livery of humility, observe the cleanliness of chastity according to my state in life, and embrace the shield of patience with which I shall resist the arrows shot at me by the world, the devil and the flesh. I will arm myself with holy zeal to seek thy greater glory and the salvation of souls. I will strive in earnest to teach the truth and dispel ignorance, extirpate vice and cultivate virtue in me and all my neighbours. This is my resolution, which I hope to fulfill helped by divine grace, which I will receive through the merits of Jesus Christ Thy Son, by the intercession of Mary Most Holy, the glorious Saint Michael, and all other Angels and Saints. Amen.


Prayer for the Second Day:

God and Lord of the heavenly spirits of the Second Choir, called Cherubim because they adore Your perfect Wisdom; I offer You the merits of these wise spirits and those of the glorious Saint Michael, Prince of the wise in Heaven and most brilliant Master of the wisest on earth; and I ask You to grant me the grace to know what I must do to fulfill Your holy will, and to understand it in order to teach it to others so that all may know and love You here on earth and later in Heaven. Amen.

(Here pray nine times the Our Father and Hail Mary in union with the nine choirs of Angels and their Prince, Saint Michael. Then, pray:)

O glorious Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly hosts, terror of demons and their henchmen, great and admirable Captain next to Jesus Christ, resplendent with grace, excellence and virtue; deliver us from all adversity so that we may love God with ardent fervour, and that we may progress each day in His holy service.

V. Pray for us, O glorious Saint Michael, protector of the Holy Catholic Church

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray,

Almighty and eternal God, Who in Your great goodness and infinite mercy has chosen the glorious Prince Saint Michael to render You glory and protect mankind; grant us, by his efficacious intercession and help, that we may merit to be defended from all enemies, and may be freely and benignly presented before the throne of Your Exalted Majesty at the hour of our death. Amen.

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Novena to Saint Michael – Day 1

Day 1: The Seraphim

Prayer for each day:

My Lord and My God, Father of Mercy and all Consolation: I present myself to You of my own free will and with all the resolution and firmness of which my heart is capable aided by thy divine grace, so You would deign to receive me among Your humble and fervent servants under the direction of the glorious Saint Michael.

Keeping with my soul’s earnest desire, I will don the livery of humility, observe the cleanliness of chastity according to my state in life, and embrace the shield of patience with which I shall resist the arrows shot at me by the world, the devil and the flesh. I will arm myself with holy zeal to seek thy greater glory and the salvation of souls. I will strive in earnest to teach the truth and dispel ignorance, extirpate vice and cultivate virtue in me and all my neighbours. This is my resolution, which I hope to fulfill helped by divine grace, which I will receive through the merits of Jesus Christ Thy Son, by the intercession of Mary Most Holy, the glorious Saint Michael, and all other Angels and Saints. Amen.

Prayer for the First Day:

God and Lord of the Heavenly spirits of the First Choir, called Seraphim as they are enkindled in the flames of Your love: I offer You the merits of these fervent spirits and those of Your beloved and devoted Saint Michael; and I ask You, my Only God and Lord, to grant me the grace that I, too, may love You above all things with my whole heart, mind, soul and strength, so that all may love You and none may offend You. Amen.

(Here pray nine times the Our Father and Hail Mary in union with the nine choirs of Angels and their Prince, Saint Michael. Then, pray:)

O glorious Saint Michael, Prince of the heavenly hosts, terror of demons and their henchmen, great and admirable Captain next to Jesus Christ, resplendent with grace, excellence and virtue; deliver us from all adversity so that we may love God with ardent fervour, and that we may progress each day in His holy service.

V. Pray for us, O glorious Saint Michael, protector of the Holy Catholic Church

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray,

Almighty and eternal God, Who in Your great goodness and infinite mercy has chosen the glorious Prince Saint Michael to render You glory and protect mankind; grant us, by his efficacious intercession and help, that we may merit to be defended from all enemies, and may be freely and benignly presented before the throne of Your Exalted Majesty at the hour of our death. Amen.

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Stories of the “Tree of Christ”

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Stories of the "Tree of Christ"

Saint Boniface

In the seventh century, St. Boniface traveled from Crediton, Devonshire, to Germany to teach the pagans about the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the fruits won thereby.

He spent a great deal of time there performing many good works in Thuringia, a region later to become known for its excellence in the making of Christmas decorations.

Tradition has it that St. Boniface used the triangular shape of the fir tree to describe the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The converted people began to revere the fir tree as God’s tree, as they had previously revered the oak.


"Tree of Christ"

By the twelfth century it was being hung, upside-down, from ceilings at Christmas time in Central Europe, as a symbol of Christianity and was referred to as the ‘Tree of Christ’.

The first decorated tree was at Riga in Latvia in 1510, while the first Christmas tree came to England with the Georgian Kings from Germany.

At this time, also, German merchants living in England decorated their homes with a Christmas tree. The British public were not fond of the German Monarchy, so did not copy the fashions in vogue at Court, which is why the Christmas tree did not become established in Britain at that time.

In 1846, the popular Royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were featured in the Illustrated London News. They were standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Unlike the previous Royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at Court immediately became fashionable. The English Christmas tree had arrived!

On the more profound meaning of the ‘Tree of Christ,’ the late Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira explains:

‘Each feast of the liturgical calendar brings an effusion of special graces with it. Whether men want or not, grace knocks at the door of their souls in a more sublime, meeker, more insistent way during the Christmas season.’

The Christmas tree, with its beautiful decorations, lights, and star or angel on top, helps to elevate the soul above the materialistic aspects of the modern-day Christmas. The tip of the tree points to a marvelous world that is Heaven.

This message is adapted from a Christmas greeting delivered by Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira in 1980. It has been translated and adapted without his revision. —Ed.

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Seeking the True Joy of Christmas

Seeking the True Joy of Christmas

The state of world events is so uncertain that it is impossible to know the conditions in which we will celebrate Christmas or what the New Year will bring. This is a Christmas in which Canadians are filled with uncertainty, trials and insecurity.

One could rightly ask:

“Is it proper to have these concerns during Christmastime? Shouldn’t we have only consolations, joys and satisfactions during this season?”

To answer this question, we should consider the first Christmas night. Saint Joseph and, above all, Our Lady were filled with inexpressible joy in the grotto in Bethlehem.

However, before the Child Jesus was born, they suffered affliction. They had spent the night seeking a dignified place for Our Lord’s birth. Saint Joseph was humiliated seeing that his spouse would have to deliver the Christ Child in a stable where animals ate. While there could not have been a more stupendous event that evening, neither could there have been humbler surroundings.

The manger was all Saint Joseph and Our Lady had to offer the Child Jesus. Thus, the evening was filled with unfathomable joys, but also had its sufferings.

Although the Christ Child knew that Providence had dictated the conditions of His birth, it is possible that Our Lady and Saint Joseph did not know. They could have been filled with doubts concerning the reasons for their poor surroundings, perhaps even attributing them to a wrongdoing of their own. Though faultless, Saint Joseph, who was most responsible for providing for the Holy Family, probably asked Our Lord’s pardon for the lowly accommodations he had furnished for His delivery.

Nevertheless, the evening’s joys overcame all its sadnesses to such an extent, that the latter were completely forgotten.

We should celebrate Christmas in the same manner, though we be concerned with the crisis in the Church and breakdown of society and aware of our insufficiency to face these calamities.

Realizing that we are chosen to follow Our Lady throughout these troubling times should fill us with joy and overcome the sadness we endure for our personal failings and the godlessness that surrounds us.

At the feet of the newborn Christ Child, we should thank Him for having called us to this struggle and these times. We should realize that we are only capable of resisting through His Redemption for which His birth was a necessary condition. We ought to express this gratitude through the intercession of Our Lady, the Universal Mediatrix, and Saint Joseph.

We should ask Saint Joseph, Our Lady and the Christ Child for a soul continually mindful of Our Lady’s words at Fatima:

“Finally, my Immaculate Heart will triumph!”

Thus, we will be able to overcome all sadness and advance joyfully in the fight, seeking heroism and even sacrifice.

Thus, Canada Needs Our Lady prays that Our Lady grant you this indomitable joy for Christmas and bring you ever closer to her and her Divine Son!

This message is adapted from a Christmas greeting delivered by Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira in 1980. It has been translated and adapted without his revision. —Ed.

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Stopping For Christmas

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Stopping for Christmas...

DECEMBER 25, 2023: CHRISTMAS DAY

...the “Audacious Dream”

“God manifested Himself to us in a marvelous manner.”

It is December 25, and the world stops for a brief moment. It can only be a short pause on Christmas day because there are too many “important” things to be done, places to go and people to see. But, before the world must return to the frenetic intemperance of the daily hustle and bustle, this quick respite is enough to give a most necessary and calm reprieve of sanity, peace and order to our burdened souls.

Of course, the world does not stop willingly. It even tries to secure some advantage from this unnecessary break by making frantic attempts to commercialize and secularize the feast. Despite it all, the peace of Christmas somehow prevails.

Stopping for Christmas challenges the modern world. To those enmeshed in our secular society, the birth of the Christ Child interrupts their lives with moral considerations that they would prefer not to consider. To practical atheists, Christmas is a curiosity that provokes painful memories of innocence long lost.

Shallow Christians find the feast to be a sentimental time for some vague joy that they prefer not to make more profound. All these are somehow threatened by the date; yet all are forced, willing and unwilling, to stop to observe it.

However, faithful Christians everywhere are not threatened but strengthened by Christmas. We stop because Christmas reminds us that we are called to live in the presence of an Almighty God of infinite grandeur and majesty. This fact provokes in us a sense of wonder at the immense gulf between the Creator and His creatures.

Seeing our wonder and our desire to understand Him, God manifested Himself to us in a marvelous manner. He incites in us great aspirations or dreams for a better world to come. He bridged the gulf by presenting to us that which Catholic thinker Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira called the “most striking, indisputable, and audacious dream imaginable.”

That dream was the fact that the Word was made Flesh and dwelt amongst us. On Christmas night, we hear the antiphon that proclaims this daring reality: Puer natus est nobis, Et filius datus est nobis, “For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us.” (Is. 9:6)

On that ineffable night when our Saviour was born to Mary Ever Virgin, an immense impossibility became possible: the God-Man was born and revealed Himself to us. On that holy and silent night, one can sense the sweetness and perfection that emanated from the Divine Infant in the manger in Bethlehem. He who seemed so inaccessible suddenly became accessible to all, kings and shepherds. He who appears so weak became powerful enough to stop the whole world for centuries to come.

To honour the grandeur of that sublime moment, we must stop not just once but every year to marvel at this fact that only increases our wonder at this good God that gave to us His only Begotten Son.

However, there is yet a greater reason for us to stop and marvel. The Birth of Christ also signaled the coming of a Redeemer who, for love of us, would reestablish the link broken by our first parents. In that marvelous and joyful Birth, we find foreshadowed the sorrows of His Passion. We stop and adore He who was born so that we might be redeemed, saved and united with Him for all eternity.

Finally, we stop because Christmas means much more than just our personal salvation. Christ made possible a civilization we call Christian. From the poverty of the manger in Bethlehem, an immensely rich channel of grace was opened for us. From Heaven descended torrents of blessings, which paved the way for the most audacious dreams and the immense possibilities of a world centered on the sublime principles, virtues and teachings of the Gospel. In Christendom, it became possible to practice the Commandments and evangelical counsels, inside an order that the pagan world then judged (and today’s neo-pagan nightmare still judges) impossible.

That is why everyone stops for Christmas. The powerful image of the Christ Child still has the capacity of capturing the modern imagination if only for a brief moment, amidst a world of sin and distractions. During the blessed season, the grace of God still reaches out and draws all men of good will toward Him despite so much rejection.

Others stop for the wrong reasons. Sadly, some atheists or rationalists stop merely to smirk at such considerations. They do not realize that, by limiting themselves to their sterile musings, they embrace the narrow vision of a soulless and pragmatic world, bereft of wonder.

But for those of us who celebrate a Merry Christmas (and not unhappy holidays), we stop at this time every year to recreate a marvelous wonder world visibly expressed by decorated trees, Nativity scenes and joyous caroling that reflect this joyful reality of Christ’s coming.

More importantly, we gather inside our souls the peace of the Christ Child that calls us to return to order by realigning ourselves to live in function of a world created by God, turned toward God, and where God shows Himself actively intervening out of love for us.

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Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe

FEAST DAY: DECEMBER 12

Prayed from December 3 to December 11, the Eve of the Feast Day.

Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe

(to be prayed each day)

Remember, O most gracious Virgin of Guadalupe, that in your heavenly apparitions on the mount of Tepeyac, you promised to show your compassion and pity towards all who, loving and trusting you, seek your help and call upon you in their necessities and afflictions. You promised to hear our supplications, to dry our tears, and to give us consolation and relief.

Never has it been known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly to you, O Mary, ever-Virgin Mother of the true God! Though grieving under the weight of our sins, we come to prostrate ourselves before you. We fully trust that, standing beneath your shadow and protection, nothing will trouble or afflict us, nor do we need to fear illness or misfortune, or any other sorrow.

O Virgin of Guadalupe, you want to remain with us through your admirable Image, you who are our Mother, our health, and our life. Placing ourselves beneath your maternal gaze, and having recourse to you in all our necessities, we need do nothing more.

O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer us. Amen

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

DAY 1

Dearest Lady of Guadalupe, fruitful Mother of holiness, teach me your ways of gentleness and strength. Hear my humble prayer offered with heartfelt confidence to beg this favour....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

DAY 2

O Mary conceived without sin, I come to your throne of grace to share the fervent devotion of your faithful children who call upon you under the glorious title of Guadalupe. Obtain for me a lively faith to do your Son’s holy will always: May His will be done on earth as it is in heaven....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

DAY 3

O Mary, most sorrowful, whose Immaculate Heart, was pierced by seven swords of grief, help me to walk valiantly amid the sharp thorns strewn across my pathway. Obtain for me the strength to be a true imitator of you. This I ask you, my dear Mother....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

m>Amen

DAY 4

O Mary, most sorrowful, whose Immaculate Heart, was pierced by seven swords of grief, help me to walk valiantly amid the sharp thorns strewn across my pathway. Obtain for me the strength to be a true imitator of you. This I ask you, my dear Mother....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

DAY 5

O most holy Mother, I beg you to obtain for me the pardon of all my sins, abundant graces to serve your Son more faithfully from now on, and lastly, the grace to praise Him with you forever in heaven....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

DAY 6

Mary, Mother of vocations, we beg you to multiply priestly vocations and fill the earth with religious houses which will be light and warmth for the world, and safety in stormy nights. Beg your Son to send us many holy priests and religious. This we ask of you, O Mother....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

DAY 7

O Lady of Guadalupe, we beg you that parents live a holy life and educate their children in accordance with the true Catholic faith; that children obey and follow the directions of their parents; and that all members of the family pray and worship together. This we ask of you, O Mother....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

DAY 8

O Lady of Guadalupe, with my heart full of the most sincere veneration, I prostrate myself before you, O Mother, to ask you to obtain for me the grace to fulfill the duties of my state in life with faithfulness and constancy....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

DAY 9

O God, you have been pleased to bestow upon us unceasing favours by having placed us under the special protection of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. Grant us, your humble servants, who rejoice in honouring her today upon earth, the happiness of seeing her face to face in heaven....

(Here mention your requests)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Memorare of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

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Three Ways to Have a Meaningful “Prodigal Son” Advent

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Three Ways to Have a Meaningful “Prodigal Son” Advent

DECEMBER 4, 2022: THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

“Send down the dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One: let the earth be opened, and bud forth the Redeemer.”

Thus begins the Advent hymn, “Rorate Caeli,” that mournfully calls upon God to hear our prayers. We are made to sigh with longings, as the Fathers of old, asking God to consider not our iniquities. The hymn ends with the assurance that “I will save thee, be not afraid, For I am the Lord Thy God, The Holy One of Israel, Thy Redeemer.”

As we enter Advent, most people will breeze through the season without reflection on its meaning. They will prepare for our secular celebration of Christmas with parties and shopping. Few will apply the lessons of this most august liturgical season to their daily lives.

For faithful Catholics, observing Advent should mean putting ourselves in a position analogous to the Fathers of old. This can be more easily done by imagining ourselves in the plight of the Prodigal Son.

Indeed, we are in much the same situation as the Prodigal Son. We find ourselves, through our own faults and those of society, in an agitated and frenzied world that is not our true home. We suffer amid an immoral world that only lives for pleasures and amusements. We desire to return home but do not know how to do it.

Thus, we should observe a “Prodigal Son” Advent. Here are three ways to make this liturgical season more meaningful to our lives.

Consider Our Sinful World

Like the Prodigal Son, the first thing we must do is to consider our sinful world. We live in a world which does not recognize right and wrong, or virtue or vice. Consider the magnitude of the sins that are committed. Countless mortal sins sever people’s relationships with God and send them to Hell. There are sins of abortion, unnatural vice, and impurity that cover the earth and offend God greatly.

This Advent, we should fortify the conviction of the moral rottenness of our society in ourselves and others this Advent. We should constantly remind ourselves of this reality because human nature gets used to the most horrendous situations. As incredible as it might sound, the Prodigal Son probably did not immediately realize just how miserable his new situation in the pigsty was. He may have even thought that it was the new normal. From the parable it can be inferred that he had eaten the husks of the swine for some time until he could bear it no longer.

At a certain point, however, he realized his misery. Likewise, we also need to convince ourselves of this rottenness, because the world tries to convince us of the contrary. We are constantly told that it is not that bad or that it will not get worse. Others say we need to get used to it. Or we have the idea that we are the only ones who are miserable and everyone else is happy.

We need to be convinced that the world is as rotten as Our Lady of Fatima said it would be. We merit punishment. The new normal is not normal.

Practical Consequences

Such a conviction has consequences. Realizing the rottenness of the world means being aware of what is happening. It means reading the news even when it hurts. It means coming to grips with the tragic situation inside the Church. We need to face the evils before us and reject them. We need to join with others and reassure them.

Once we see things as they are in all their rottenness, the next step is to fight against these evils with protest, prayer or other actions. We should invite others to join us in these battles in the public square. In this way, we can be like the Prodigal Son who realizes the rottenness of his situation and resolves to take action to reject it. By these actions, we effectively call out to the Father saying we want to return home.

Longing for the Father's House

No one can survive just thinking about rottenness. Our Advent would become morbid and depressing when it should be a time of hope. Pondering the evils of his situation is what led to the Prodigal Son thinking about the Father’s house.

Likewise, the second thing we can do is to awaken in ourselves and others a longing for the Father’s house.

This longing for the Father’s house cannot be made up of vague feelings for a society of love and peace. Just as the Fathers of old longed for the fullest expression of God in a Redeemer, so we long for the fullest expression of the Father’s house in society.

This was defined well by Pius XI in the encyclical Quas Primas on the social kingship of Christ, in which he said,

“When once men recognize, both in private and in public life, that Christ is King, society will at last receive the great blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, peace and harmony.”

This house was also revealed by Our Lady at Fatima when she spoke of her eventual triumph.

We should, therefore, desire the Father’s house and nothing less. We must not simply desire to leave the pigsty and live comfortably next door. Some might want to return to their hometown or find a less sinful city. Still others might crave a Benedict Option somewhere nearby. There can be no halfway house on our road home.

Our longings should make us want the Father’s house—the whole house, and nothing but the house. As Fatima devotees, we should long for Our Lady’s triumph. This is what sustains us and gives us hope.

More Practical Consequences

These longings also have consequences. It is not easy to awaken longings for a house which we have never seen or lived in. However, this can be done in many ways.

One way is through admiration. All that is good, true, and beautiful speaks to us of the Father. When we admire these things, we take to heart the words of Saint Paul in Holy Scripture. He invites us to look to these same ideals when he says,

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” ~ (Phil. 4:8)

Thus, we must seek out those marvelous things in our daily lives that can trigger our love for the father’s house. We might look for those honorable, just, pure, and lovely things which are to be found in the home, family, community, or liturgy.

Another way to trigger in ourselves longings for the Father’s house is to cultivate the graces that God sends which provoke this longing. God gives us graces that work in our souls to keep our hopes alive, strengthen us, and give us glimpses of the splendours of his house.

Sometimes the grace of being together with other Catholics can awaken these longings. At other times, the grace of suffering well strengthens the soul and allows us to feel the dependency we must have on the Father. The very struggle to keep the Faith can trigger longings for that for which we fight.

Another way to trigger longings for the Father’s house is to never stop learning and imagining what the Christian order is—what the Father’s house should look like. Church literature and teaching are full of descriptions of Christendom. Our longings increase when we know that it can be practically achieved.

Confide in the Father

The final thing we should do this Advent is to confide in the Father with humble and contrite hearts. Like the Prodigal Son who left the house of the Father, so also we as individuals have left the ways of God. When we distance ourselves from God, he cannot act because we will not let him.

However, we must confide that God will not reject our humble and contrite hearts. If we do our part by rejecting the evils of the day and longing for the Father’s house, we can be assured that he will respond to our longings both as individuals and, more importantly, as a nation.

We must be convinced that God desires our grand return home much more than we do. He watches from afar for the least sign of our cooperation to the graces that he so freely bestows upon us. And when he finds humbled hearts moving toward him, he is not outdone in generosity. He goes out to meet us on the road and treats us as if we had never erred.

We are much more blessed than the Prodigal Son. The parable only tells of the action of the father. We can also expect, however, the action of a mother. When we count on Our Lady for aid, the situation changes exponentially. We can be assured that she will take up our cause and make our return much easier.

Let us, therefore, have confidence in the midst of our present afflictions. A Prodigal Son Advent can be a way to open our hearts and return home. Let us present ourselves with humble and contrite hearts this Advent and take comfort in the final words of the “Rorate Caeli” hymn:

“I will save thee, be not afraid, For I am the Lord Thy God, The Holy One of Israel, Thy Redeemer.”

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During this Advent, May Grace Rain on a Sinful World

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During this Advent, May Grace Rain on a Sinful World

NOVEMBER 27, 2022: THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Advent: From the Latin ad-venio, to come to.

“Send down the dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the Just One: let the earth be opened, and bud forth the Redeemer.”

These words of the Advent hymn, Rorate Caeli, echo the longings of the Fathers of old for the coming of a Redeemer who would blot out our iniquities and save us.

Words like these can also awaken an appetite for wondrous, divine things far superior to earthly considerations. No fleeting delight the world can offer compares with the deep and spiritual joy these heavenly topics bring.

Such thoughts touch us because God gave us a natural capacity to know Him and supernatural reality. Our souls sigh for Him and the superior reflections that will satisfy our yearnings. In vain do we seek beauty, happiness and well-being without touching upon this higher realm of transcendentals found in the supernatural order.

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Every being strives to arrive at its fullest expression. For example, a plant needs to develop according to its proper dimensions, colour, and characteristics. From seed to sapling and on to maturity, a tree seeks the full expression of its being. This happens to us as well. We naturally tend to develop according to our abilities, appetites and yearnings.

When, through our malice, we do not tend to those good and heavenly things proper to our nature, we reach for their contrary. We become attracted to horrendous and vile things that favour our most deep-rooted and unbridled passions.

So many today have descended this dark path. The sense of true spiritual joy seems to have abandoned the world, and an earthly and macabre feast absorbs ever-greater numbers of people. We can say that this dark spectacle prepares humanity for the adoration of the devil.

However, from the depth of our decadence and abandonment, we can sense the same yearnings as the Fathers of old. They longed for the coming of the Saviour. Thus, hymns like the Rorate Caeli can speak to our souls amid the dark anxiety.

This Advent, we must ardently ask Our Lady for graces that will rain down like the dew in the night, to irrigate and make fecund this hymn’s sublime scriptural words that call us back to God. We need graces that will touch those devastated by our modern world, graces of restoration.

This heavenly dew would give humanity what it now rejects. We hope that it will trigger a process whereby we might disconnect from the macabre self-centered world of frenetic intemperance and embrace that most profound and eternal order of things that shines like the star of Bethlehem. We will then feel the relief and joy of abandoning this evil world and fulfilling our soul’s noblest yearnings.

The hymn ends with the assurance that “I will save thee. Be not afraid, for I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Redeemer.”

Thus, this Advent, we must ask with an insistent ardour that the gates of Heaven open and, once again, let shine the lumen Christi, the light of Christ upon the earth, initiating the triumph and reign of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

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Novena to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

Novena to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

FEAST DAY: DECEMBER 8

RECITED DAILY FROM NOVEMBER 29TH TO DECEMBER 7TH (EVE OF THE FEAST DAY)

O Mary, Most Holy, conceived without sin and all pure before the sight of the Most High God, we beseech Thee to have mercy on us and on our nation.

Look with loving eyes upon the plight of your children who implore Your powerful protection. The wicked serpent continues to wage war against God, against You and against the Holy Catholic Church and every good thing in society. The devil lays snares of confusion and deceit to lead souls along the path of perdition. The culture of death continues to attack the sanctity of life, marriage and the family.

Yet, from the very instant of Your conception, You, our Blessed Mother, Our Queen and Our Advocate, crushed the head of the diabolical enemy. At this moment, receive this prayer that we present to You before the throne of God. May we never fall into the snares of the devil; may we always follow the path of virtue and true courage toward our true home in Heaven. May the Holy Catholic Church obtain victory over the forces of evil and may the peace of Christ come down upon our souls, our nation and all peoples.

Obtain for us, O Virgin Most Pure, the grace of angelic purity which was Your favourite virtue. Grant us purity of heart so that we will seek God alone in all things. Provide for us the grace of purity of intention so that every thought, every word and every action in our daily lives be directed to the greater glory of Your Divine Son.

Obtain for us a participation in Your spirit of prayer, in Your humility and in Your self-denial. May we truly live the Fatima message of prayer, penance and conversion. May we recover through penance that innocence lost by sin and become more faithful and more united to the Will of God.

O Dear Mother, grant us unlimited Hope amid the current situation in our nation. Grant us an increasing love of Truth amid the lies and confusion of our times. Obtain for us from Your Divine Son greater Faith and growing Charity toward God and toward others.

Through Your grace and assistance, may we seek in all things the glory of God, the salvation of souls, and what is best for our beloved nation.

Hear our pleas, O Mother of Mercy, and hasten the triumph of Your Immaculate Heart as you promised in Fatima over 100 years ago. And may You, the Immaculate Conception, crush once and for all the head of the wicked serpent and his followers. Amen

To be recited for nine consecutive days.

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Quotes from Saints about the Holy Souls in Purgatory

souls in purgatory

Quotes from Saints about the Holy Souls in Purgatory

“I come to tell you that they suffer in Purgatory, that they weep, and that they demand with urgent cries the help of your prayers and your good works. I seem to hear them crying from the depths of those fires which devour them: ‘Tell our loved ones, tell our children, tell all our relatives how great the evils are which they are making us suffer. We throw ourselves at their feet to implore the help of their prayers. Ah! Tell them that since we have been separated from them, we have been here burning in the flames!’”

“It is definite that only a few chosen ones do not go to Purgatory and the sufferings there that one must endure exceed our imagination.”

“The fire of Purgatory is the same as the fire of Hell; the difference between them is that the fire of Purgatory is not everlasting.”

“If it were but known how great is the power of the good souls in Purgatory with the Heart of God, and if we knew all the graces we can obtain through their intercession, they would not be so much forgotten. We must, therefore, pray much for them, that they may pray much for us.”

- St. John Vianney

“I do not think that apart from the felicity of Heaven, there can be a joy comparable to that experienced by the souls in Purgatory. An incessant communication from God renders their joy more vivid from day to day: and this communication becomes more and more intimate, to the extent that it consumes the obstacles still existing in the soul… On the other hand, they endure pain so intense, that no tongue is able to describe it. Nor is any mind capable of comprehending the smallest spark of that consuming fire, unless God should show it to him by a special grace.”

- St. Catherine of Siena

“The more one longs for a thing, the more painful does the deprivation of it become. And because after this life, the desire for God, the Extreme Good, is intense in the souls of the just (because this impetus toward Him is not hampered by the weight of the body, and that time of enjoyment of the Perfect Good would have come) had there been no obstacle; the soul suffers enormously from the delay.”

- St. Thomas Aquinas

“If only you knew with what great longing these holy souls yearn for relief from their suffering. Ingratitude has never entered Heaven.”

- St. Margaret Mary

“He who saves a soul saves his own and satisfies for a multitude of sins.”

- St. James the Apostle

“If, during life, we have been kind to the suffering souls in purgatory, God will see that help be not denied us after death.”

- St. Paul of the Cross

“By assisting them we shall not only give great pleasure to God, but will acquire also great merit for ourselves. And, in return for our suffrages, these blessed souls will not neglect to obtain for us many graces from God, but particularly the grace of eternal life. I hold for certain that a soul delivered from Purgatory by the suffrages of a Christian, when she enters paradise, will not fail to say to God: ‘Lord, do not suffer to be lost that person who has liberated me from the prison of Purgatory, and has brought me to the enjoyment of Thy glory sooner than I have deserved.’”

“The practice of recommending to God the souls in Purgatory, that He may mitigate the great pains which they suffer, and that He may soon bring them to His glory, is most pleasing to the Lord and most profitable to us. For these blessed souls are His eternal spouses, and most grateful are they to those who obtain their deliverance from prison, or even a mitigation of their torrents. When, therefore, they arrive in Heaven, they will be sure to remember all who have prayed for them.”

- St. Alphonse Maria de Liguori

“My love urges Me to release the poor souls. If a beneficent king leaves his guilty friend in prison for justice’s sake, he awaits with longing for one of his nobles to plead for the prisoner and to offer something for his release. Then the king joyfully sets him free. Similarly, I accept with highest pleasure what is offered to Me for the poor souls, for I long inexpressibly to have near Me those for whom I paid so great a price. By the prayers of thy loving soul, I am induced to free a prisoner from purgatory as often as thou dost move thy tongue to utter a word of prayer!”

- Our Lord to St. Gertrude

“If it were but known how great is the power of the good souls in Purgatory with the Heart of God, and if we knew all the graces we can obtain through their intercession, they would not be so much forgotten. We must, therefore, pray much for them, that they may pray much for us.”

- St. John Chrysostom

“As we enter Heaven, we will see them, so many of them, coming towards us and thanking us. We will ask who they are, and they will say ‘a poor soul you prayed for in purgatory.’”

- Ven. Fulton Sheen

“We must empty Purgatory with our prayers.”

- St. Pio of Pietrelcina

“No one is barred from heaven. Whoever wants to enter heaven may do so because God is merciful. Our Lord will welcome us into glory with His arms wide open. The Almighty is pure however, and if a person is conscious of the least trace of imperfection and at the same time understands that Purgatory is ordained to do away with such impediments, the soul enters this place of perfection gladly to accept so great a mercy of God. The worst suffering of these suffering souls is to have sinned against Divine Goodness and not to have been purified in this life.”

- St. Catherine of Genoa

“I come to tell you that they suffer in Purgatory, that they weep, and that they demand with urgent cries the help of your prayers and your good works. I seem to hear them crying from the depths of those fires which devour them: ‘Tell our loved ones, tell our children, tell all our relatives how great the evils are which they are making us suffer. We throw ourselves at their feet to implore the help of their prayers. Ah! Tell them that since we have been separated from them, we have been here burning in the flames!’”

- St. Francis de Sales

“Each one will be presented to the Judge exactly as he was when he departed this life. Yet there must be a cleansing fire before judgment because of some minor faults that may remain to be purged away.”

- Pope St. Gregory the Great

“In our prayers, let us not forget sinners and the poor souls in Purgatory especially our poor relatives.”

- St. Bernadette

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Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary

our lady of the rosary

Novena to Our Lady of the Rosary

SEPTEMBER 28TH TO OCTOBER 6TH - EVE OF THE FEAST OF THE HOLY ROSARY

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

DAY 1

A PLEA FOR REPARATION

"Do you wish to offer yourselves to God to endure all the sufferings that He may be pleased to send you, as both an act of reparation for the sins with which He is offended and an act of supplication for the conversion of sinners?"
— Our Lady of Fatima

Prayer

O Mary Immaculate, who appeared at Fatima to Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta to ask for the conversion of a sinful world, I beg thee for the grace to grieve sincerely over my own sins and over those that weigh so heavily upon the souls of men, sins that crushed thy Divine Son beneath the Cross and then nailed Him to it upon the heights of Calvary.

O Advocate of Sinners, compenetrate my heart with true contrition and an intense gratitude and love for so good a God. In union with thy Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, I offer my poor heart, such as it is, with all its miseries, its weakness and good desires, in reparation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – thy Son and our God – for the many sins, outrages, blasphemies, sacrileges, and offenses by which He is so grievously offended.

(Here mention your request)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, pray for us.

DAY 2

FOR THE CONVERSION OF SINNERS

“If men knew what eternity is, they would do everything to change their lives.”

"Confession is a sacrament of mercy. Therefore, one must approach the confessional with confidence and joy. Without confession there is no salvation." — Jacinta

Prayer

O Mary Immaculate, who at Fatima confided to three little children the anguish and pain of a true mother’s heart with the plea, “Let them offend Our Lord no more for He is already much offended,” obtain for sinners the grace of repentance. Mindful of our own sinfulness and unworthiness, graciously accept our desire to pray and sacrifice for the conversion of sinners.

O Refuge of Sinners, obtain for them and for us the pardon of so many sins. A word from thee will obtain grace and forgiveness for all.

Hasten, O Lady, the conversion of sinners that they may love Jesus and cease to offend God, already so much offended, and thus avoid eternal punishment. Turn thine eyes of mercy towards us so that henceforth we may love God with all our heart while on earth and enjoy Him forever in Heaven.

(Here mention your request)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, pray for us.

DAY 3

DEVOTION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY AND WORLD PEACE

“Jesus wishes to use you in order to make me known and loved. He wishes to establish devotion to my Immaculate Heart in the world. I promise salvation to those who embrace it; and these souls will be beloved of God like flowers arranged by me to adorn His throne.” — Our Lady of Fatima

“Tell everybody that God grants us His graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, that they should ask her for them, that the Heart of Jesus wants the Immaculate Heart of Mary to be honoured along with Him, that they should ask the Immaculate Heart of Mary for peace because God has placed it in her keeping.” — Jacinta

Prayer

O Mary Immaculate, who at Fatima made known to Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta God’s request for devotion to thy Immaculate Heart to obtain peace in the world, restore in our souls that “tranquility of order” of which Saint Augustine speaks. We do not seek rest from our labors or the cessation of turmoil in our surroundings, but that true interior peace of which thou art Queen.

O Queen of Peace, restore harmony in our families, order in our society, so ravaged by the evils of sin. Through thy powerful intercession with the Prince of Peace, Who assumed our human nature in thy virginal womb, obtain for us perseverance in virtue, patience in trial, courage in persecution, zeal for His glory, enthusiasm in loving and serving our God, and confidence in the public defense of His Holy Name and of His divine and natural laws.

(Here mention your request)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, pray for us.

DAY 4

THE HOLY ROSARY

“The Most Holy Virgin in these last times in which we live has given a new efficacy to the recitation of the Rosary to such an extent that there is no problem, no matter how difficult it is, whether temporal or above all spiritual, in the personal life of each one of us, of our families…that cannot be solved by the Rosary. There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary.” — Lucia

Prayer

O Mary Immaculate, who revealed thyself at Fatima to Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta as “Our Lady of the Rosary,” renew in my heart the joy of true devotion to thee.

May the contemplation of the mysteries contained in the Life, Passion, and Glory of thy Divine Son be for me strength in weakness, assurance in doubt, courage in suffering, and gratitude in joy.

O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, in these times of trial and confusion, obtain for me, by the Precious Blood of thy Son, pardon for my sins, the salvation of my soul, and the necessary means to secure it. Protect my family from the dangers that surround us and keep us secure under thy protection. Grant that the Holy Catholic Church may triumph over her enemies, and that the Kingdom of Christ may be propagated on earth.

(Here mention your request)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, pray for us.

DAY 5

PURITY AND MODESTY

“To be pure in body is to keep chastity. To be pure in soul is not to commit sins, not to look at what one should not see . . .”

“Fashions that will greatly offend Our Lord will appear. People who serve God should not follow fashions. The Church has no fashions. Our Lord is always the same.”

“The sins that lead more souls to Hell are the sins of the flesh.” — Jacinta

Prayer

O Mary Immaculate, who revealed thyself at Fatima to Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta as “Our Lady of the Rosary,” renew in my heart the joy of true devotion to thee.

May the contemplation of the mysteries contained in the Life, Passion, and Glory of thy Divine Son be for me strength in weakness, assurance in doubt, courage in suffering, and gratitude in joy.

O Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, in these times of trial and confusion, obtain for me, by the Precious Blood of thy Son, pardon for my sins, the salvation of my soul, and the necessary means to secure it. Protect my family from the dangers that surround us and keep us secure under thy protection. Grant that the Holy Catholic Church may triumph over her enemies, and that the Kingdom of Christ may be propagated on earth.

(Here mention your request)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, pray for us.

DAY 6

PRIESTS, RELIGIOUS AND RULERS

“Pray much for priests! Pray much for religious! Priests should only occupy themselves with the affairs of the Church. Priests should be pure, very pure. The disobedience of priests and religious to their superiors and to the Holy Father greatly offends Our Lord.”

“Pray much for those who govern! Woe to those who persecute the religion of Our Lord! If the government left the Church in peace and gave freedom to the holy Faith, it would be blessed by God.” — Jacinta

Prayer

O Mary Immaculate, who at Fatima entrusted to Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta a merciful solution to the moral crisis of our times, look with compassion upon those who govern our souls and those who rule over our nation. A serious rendering of their grave responsibilities will be requited by Almighty God of these spiritual and temporal leaders for all those placed in their charge.

O Mother of the Eternal High Priest and Divine Victim, obtain for His priests the grace to apply to themselves the words they say every day at the altar, “This is my Body, this is my Blood,” recalling interiorly, “I am no longer myself, I am Jesus, Jesus crucified. I am, like the bread and wine, a substance no longer itself, but by consecration another.” And obtain for our civil leaders a love and veneration for the divine and natural laws that, guided by them, they may rule your people in righteousness.

(Here mention your request)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, pray for us.

DAY 7

THE VISION OF HELL

“Our Lady showed us a great sea of fire which seemed to be under the earth. Plunged in this fire were demons and souls in human form, like transparent burning embers, all blackened or burnished bronze, floating about in the conflagration, now raised into the air by the flames that issued from within themselves together with great clouds of smoke, now falling back on every side like sparks in a huge fire, without weight or equilibrium, and amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair, which horrified us and made us tremble with fear. The demons could be distinguished by their terrifying and repulsive likeness to frightful and unknown animals, all black and transparent.” — Lucia

Prayer

O Mary Immaculate, who at Fatima showed Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta a brief – but terrifying – glimpse of Hell, preserve us from its ravishing flames, “O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell.”

How generous was their response to thy maternal plea to “Pray, pray much, and sacrifice for sinners, for many souls go to Hell because there is no one to offer sacrifices and pray for them.”

O Mother of Mercy, in thee God clothed Himself in our humanity that He might redeem us from sin and open for us the gates of Paradise. The immeasurable suffering of His Passion and Death should evince from our souls a love commensurate with the abandon with which He shed His Precious Blood, and yet we persist in our sins. Shake us from our spiritual lethargy by this vision of Hell and move us to heed thy motherly plea to amend our own lives and pray for sinners.

(Here mention your request)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, pray for us.

DAY 8

THE ERRORS OF RUSSIA

“You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace. The war [World War I] is going to end: but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the Pontificate of Pius XI [World War II]. When you see a night illumined by an unknown light, know that this is the great sign given you by God that He is about to punish the world for its crimes, by means of war, famine, and persecutions of the Church and of the Holy Father. To prevent this, I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart, and the Communion of reparation on the First Saturdays. If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world . . .” — Our Lady of Fatima

Prayer

O Mary Immaculate, who at Fatima predicted to Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta that unless men converted and thy requests were fulfilled, worse calamities would befall, show thyself a mother to us in these perilous times.

The “errors of Russia” – atheistic Communism with all of its inherent and consequential immorality – had not even manifested themselves when you spoke, but have indeed “spread throughout the world.”

O Mary, Help of Christians, the heart of such a mother cannot fail but be moved with compassion at the sight of thy children suffering under the yoke of Communism. But what sorrow must be thine on seeing the vast majority of men accepting those errors which you warned them against! In these times of such brazen impiety, show thy power with the signs of thy former victories, and look with mercy upon the Church of thy Son, sorely oppressed in this mighty conflict.

(Here mention your request)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, pray for us.

DAY 9

THE TRIUMPH OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

“. . . if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; various nations will be annihilated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she shall be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world. In Portugal, the dogma of the faith will always be preserved, etc. . . .” — Our Lady of Fatima

Prayer

O Mary Immaculate, who at Fatima in 1917 warned the world through Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta of a terrible chastisement, and in 1973 in New Orleans wept with the abandon of a heartbroken mother, how truly devastating must be the sight of the world in our own days! What moral aberrations have been embraced in the years since you wept! Thou art truly the Mother of Sorrows!

But thou art also that “woman clothed with the sun” chosen by God the Father to be the Mother of His Only-Begotten Son and espoused by God the Holy Ghost. Thy “Fiat” launched the work of redemption, thy intercession, the first public miracle of the Son of God, and in thy company the Apostles received the Holy Ghost at Pentecost. Fill our souls with a total and unwavering confidence in the fulfillment of thy prophesy at Fatima: “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph!”

(Here mention your request)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, pray for us.

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Novenas prayers

Novena to Our Lady Undoer of Knots

Novena to Our Lady Undoer of Knots

FEAST: SEPTEMBER 28

This novena can be prayed at any time throughout the year, but is usually prayed from September 19 to September 27.

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

DAY 1

Dearest Holy Mother Mary, you undo the knots that cripple your children. Extend your merciful hands to me. I entrust to you today this knot and all the negative consequences that it imposes on my life.

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.

Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to caress your beloved children because they are moved by divine love and the immense mercy that exist in your Immaculate Heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exists in my life. You know very well how weak I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I place into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot.

[Mention your request here]

I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my greatest hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my poverty, and, with Christ, the freedom from my chains.

Hear my plea.

Keep me, guide me, and protect me, o safe refuge!

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me. Amen

DAY 2

Mary, Beloved Mother, mediatrix of all grace, I give to you today my heart, recognizing that I am a sinner in need of your help. I entrust into your hands this knot which keeps me from reflecting the glory of God.

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.

Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to caress your beloved children because they are moved by divine love and the immense mercy that exist in your Immaculate Heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exists in my life. You know very well how weak I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I place into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot.

[Mention your request here]

I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my greatest hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my poverty, and, with Christ, the freedom from my chains.

Hear my plea.

Keep me, guide me, and protect me, o safe refuge!

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me. Amen

DAY 3

Meditating Mother, Queen of heaven, in whose hands the treasures of the King are found, turn your merciful eyes upon me today. I entrust into your holy hands this knot in my life and the debilitating resentment it has caused in me.

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.

Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to caress your beloved children because they are moved by divine love and the immense mercy that exist in your Immaculate Heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exists in my life. You know very well how weak I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I place into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot.

[Mention your request here]

I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my greatest hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my poverty, and, with Christ, the freedom from my chains.

Hear my plea.

Keep me, guide me, and protect me, o safe refuge!

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me. Amen

DAY 4

Dearest Holy Mother, you are generous with all who seek you, have mercy on me. I entrust into your hands this knot which robs the peace of my heart, paralyzes my soul and keeps me from going to my Lord and serving Him with my life.

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.

Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to caress your beloved children because they are moved by divine love and the immense mercy that exist in your Immaculate Heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exists in my life. You know very well how weak I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I place into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot.

[Mention your request here]

I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my greatest hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my poverty, and, with Christ, the freedom from my chains.

Hear my plea.

Keep me, guide me, and protect me, o safe refuge!

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me. Amen

DAY 5

Mother, Undoer of Knots, so generous and compassionate, I come to You today to once again entrust this knot in my life to you and to ask the divine wisdom to undo, under the light of the Holy Spirit, this snarl of problems.

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.

Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to caress your beloved children because they are moved by divine love and the immense mercy that exist in your Immaculate Heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exists in my life. You know very well how weak I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I place into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot.

[Mention your request here]

I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my greatest hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my poverty, and, with Christ, the freedom from my chains.

Hear my plea.

Keep me, guide me, and protect me, o safe refuge!

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me. Amen

DAY 6

Queen of Mercy, I entrust to you this knot in my life and I ask you to give me a heart that will patiently wait until you undo it.

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.

Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to caress your beloved children because they are moved by divine love and the immense mercy that exist in your Immaculate Heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exists in my life. You know very well how weak I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I place into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot.

[Mention your request here]

I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my greatest hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my poverty, and, with Christ, the freedom from my chains.

Hear my plea.

Keep me, guide me, and protect me, o safe refuge!

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me. Amen

DAY 7

Mother Most Pure, I come to you today to beg you to undo this knot in my life and free me from the snares of evil.

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.

Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to caress your beloved children because they are moved by divine love and the immense mercy that exist in your Immaculate Heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exists in my life. You know very well how weak I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I place into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot.

[Mention your request here]

I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my greatest hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my poverty, and, with Christ, the freedom from my chains.

Hear my plea.

Keep me, guide me, and protect me, o safe refuge!

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me. Amen

DAY 8

Virgin Mother of God, overflowing with mercy, have mercy on your child and undo this knot in my life.

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.

Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to caress your beloved children because they are moved by divine love and the immense mercy that exist in your Immaculate Heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exists in my life. You know very well how weak I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I place into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot.

[Mention your request here]

I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my greatest hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my poverty, and, with Christ, the freedom from my chains.

Hear my plea.

Keep me, guide me, and protect me, o safe refuge!

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me. Amen

DAY 9

Most Holy Mary, our Advocate, Undoer of Knots, I come today to thank you for undoing this knot in my life.

You know very well the suffering it has caused me. Thank you for coming, Mother, with your long fingers of mercy to undo this knot in my life; you receive me in your arms and make it possible for me to receive once again the divine grace. Mary, Undoer of Knots, dearest Mother, I thank you for undoing the knots in my life. Wrap me in your mantle of love, keep me under your protection, and enlighten me with your peace! Amen

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.

Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to caress your beloved children because they are moved by divine love and the immense mercy that exist in your Immaculate Heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exists in my life. You know very well how weak I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I place into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot.

[Mention your request here]

I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my greatest hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my poverty, and, with Christ, the freedom from my chains.

Hear my plea.

Keep me, guide me, and protect me, o safe refuge!

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for me. Amen

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Intentions to the North American Martyrs

My THANK YOU to the North American Martyrs
Feast Day: September 26

PRAYER INTENTIONS TO THE NORTH AMERICAN MARTYRS

Marc,


I will always cherish my Catholic Faith. Please say THANK YOU to the North American Martyrs for me. And pray for my intentions below:

Name(Required)
Postal Code

Please note that your intentions and personal information will be kept
private and confidential as per our privacy policy.

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Novena & Prayers to Saint Padre Pio

saint padre po

Novena & Prayers to Saint Padre Pio

FEAST: SEPTEMBER 23

Novena to Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

Start on September 16 to end on the eve of his Feast Day

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

DAY 1

Beloved Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, who bore on your body the signs of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, you took the Cross to the ends of the world while enduring the physical and moral sufferings that scourged your body in a continuous martyrdom. We beg you to pray to God for us, that each of us may accept the crosses of our lives, great and small, so that everyone may turn their own suffering into a safe bond that binds us to eternal life.

Padre Pio, pray for us!
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory be...

DAY 2

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, who are now with Our Lord Jesus, you who knew how to resist the temptations, blows and oppression of the evil one who sought to induce thee to abandon the path of holiness, we implore you to pray to God for us so that, with your help and the help of all the angels and saints, we may find the strength to turn away from sin and to persevere in the faith till the day of our death.

Padre Pio, pray for us!
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory be...

DAY 3

Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, who are now with Our Lord Jesus, you who knew how to resist the temptations, blows and oppression of the evil one who sought to induce thee to abandon the path of holiness, we implore you to pray to God for us so that, with your help and the help of all the angels and saints, we may find the strength to turn away from sin and to persevere in the faith till the day of our death.

Padre Pio, pray for us!
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory be...

DAY 4

Most chaste Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, who so loved and taught us to love the Holy Guardian Angel that served you as companion, guide, defender and messenger, to you the angels bring the prayers of your spiritual children. Intercede with God for us so that we too may learn to speak with our Guardian Angel, so we may obey him at all times, as he is the living light of God, the one who delivers us from the misfortune of falling into sin. Our Angel is always ready to teach us the right path and dissuade us from doing evil.

Padre Pio, pray for us!
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory be...

DAY 5

Most prudent Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, who so loved and taught us to love the souls in Purgatory; you who offered yourself as a victim to atone for their sins; pray to God Our Lord to place in our hearts feelings of compassion and love for these holy souls. We too will help the souls in Purgatory and will reduce their time of banishment and great distress. With sacrifices and prayers, we will obtain the eternal rest of their souls and the holy indulgences required to obtain their release from that place of suffering.

Padre Pio, pray for us!
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory be...

DAY 6

Most obedient Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, you who loved the sick even more than yourself by seeing Jesus in them; you, who in God’s Name have wrought miracles of healing and the full restoration of health in body and soul, pray to God for all the sick, through the intercession of Mary Most Holy, so they can experience your strong help, and through their bodily healing they may find spiritual benefits and be always thankful to God.

Padre Pio, pray for us!
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory be...

DAY 7

Most blessed Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, you who have accomplished God’s plan of salvation and have offered your sufferings to free sinners worldwide from the claws of Satan, pray to God for unbelievers so they may acquire a great and true faith and be converted, repenting from the depth of their hearts; for people with little faith to improve their Christian life; and for the righteous to continue on the path of salvation.

Padre Pio, pray for us!
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory be...

DAY 8

Most pure Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, you who so loved your spiritual children as to buy many of them at the cost of your blood: grant also those of us who did not know you personally to be considered your spiritual children so that, under your fatherly protection and with your holy guidance and strength, at the moment of our death we and all the children of God may find you waiting for us at the gates of Paradise.

Padre Pio, pray for us!
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory be...

DAY 9

Humble Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, you who are truly loved by Holy Mother Church, pray to God, the Lord of prosperous harvests, to send out workers into His harvest so that we may have holy priests with strength and divine inspiration. We also beseech you to intercede with the Blessed Virgin Mary so that she will lead all men to convert to the one true religion of the One True God, the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church.

Padre Pio, pray for us!
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory be...

Prayer to Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

God, Who gave Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, a Capuchin priest, the great privilege of admirably participating in the Passion of Your Son, grant me through his intercession, the grace of......... which I so desire; and above all, grant me to be united to the Passion of Jesus in order to eventually attain His glorious Resurrection.

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory be...

Consecration to Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

O glorious Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, thou, who art a saint and my friend, Comforter of my soul and help of this sinner, who in thy suffering keenly understands my own, to thee I consecrate myself and my loved ones; to thee I entrust my spirit, that thou makest it able to withstand all the tribulations of my heart; I beseech thee to present my soul to Our Lady of Grace so I may obtain from God, eternal salvation; I ask thee to intercede that I may obtain from Divine Goodness the grace of........., which I ardently desire. Take me under thy protection. Defend me from the onslaughts of the evil one. Above all, intercede with the Almighty to grant me the pardon for my sins and make me persevere on the right path.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen (3 times).

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Novena & Prayers to Our Lady of Sorrows

Novena & Prayers to Our Lady of Sorrows

FEAST: SEPTEMBER 15

The Seven Sorrows of Our Lady

  1. The Prophecy of Simeon
  2. The Flight into Egypt
  3. The Loss of the child Jesus in the Temple
  4. The Meeting of Mary and Jesus on the Way to Calvary
  5. The Crucifixion and Death of Jesus
  6. The Piercing of the Side of Jesus and His Descent from the Cross
  7. The Burial of Jesus

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows

These prayers are to be recited each day after the Novena.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen

Prayer to our Sorrowful Mother for a particular grace

O, mother most holy and sorrowful, Queen of Martyrs, you who stood by your Son as He agonized on the cross; by the sufferings of your life, by that sword of pain that pierced your heart, by your perfect joy in heaven, look down on me kindly as I kneel before you, sympathizing with your sorrows and offering you my petition with childlike trust.

Dear Mother, since your Son refuses you nothing, ask of His Sacred Heart to mercifully grant what I ask, through the merits of His sacred passion, along with those of your sufferings at the foot of the cross.

Mother most merciful, to whom shall I go in my misery if not to you who pities us poor sinful exiles in this valley of tears? In our name, offer Jesus but one drop of His most precious blood, but one pang of His loving heart. Remind Him that you are our sweetness, our life and our hope, and your prayer will be heard. Amen

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your clemency, hear and answer me. Amen

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

DAY 1

PRAYER IN HONOUR OF THE FIRST SORROW OF MARY — THE PROPHECY OF SIMEON

Most Sorrowful Mother, grief filled was your heart when, on offering your divine Son at the temple, Holy Simeon foretold that a sword would pierce your soul. There and then you knew you would suffer with Jesus.

Queen of Martyrs, let me unite my heart to yours in this pain, and ask you the grace to keep the thought of my death in mind, so I may always avoid sin.

Hail Mary...
Prayer to our Sorrowful Mother for a particular grace...
Memorare...

DAY 2

PRAYER IN HONOUR OF THE SECOND SORROW OF MARY — THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT

Most sorrowful Mother, Your mother’s heart brimmed over with sorrow at the hate of Herod for your innocent Son. To save Him from the king’s jealousy, you had to flee with Him to Egypt. Your heart also suffered at seeing the suffering of your holy spouse, Saint Joseph, at the prospect of taking the divine babe and you, his delicate spouse, into the wilderness and the unknown.

Queen of Martyrs let me unite my heart to yours in this sorrow, and obtain for me the grace to avoid those who wish me evil, above all evil to my soul. Let me avoid temptations and never leave the difficult but royal road to heaven.

Hail Mary...
Prayer to our Sorrowful Mother for a particular grace...
Memorare...

DAY 3

PRAYER IN HONOUR OF THE THIRD SORROW OF MARY — THE LOSS OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

Most sorrowful Mother, grief, sorrow and anxiety filled your immaculate heart when you found you were separated from your Son on leaving Jerusalem.

For three days He remained lost to you and to your holy spouse. For three days you sought Him who was the light of your life. And for three days you failed to find Him.

Let me join you in this pain, O Queen of Martyrs, and obtain for me the grace to never lose Jesus through sin, but to stay united to Him by the help of His grace. If I have the misfortune of falling, may I never doubt His mercy and always return through the Sacrament of Confession, which He instituted.

Hail Mary...
Prayer to our Sorrowful Mother for a particular grace...
Memorare...

DAY 4

PRAYER IN HONOUR OF THE FOURTH SORROW OF MARY — THE MEETING OF MARY AND JESUS ON THE WAY TO CALVARY

Most sorrowful Mother, who can fathom the grief of your heart when you saw your Son fall, wounded and bleeding under the crushing weight of the cross, on the way to Calvary?

Queen of Martyrs, let me unite my heart to yours in this sorrow, and obtain for me the grace to bear patiently whatever cross God may see fit to send me.

Hail Mary...
Prayer to our Sorrowful Mother for a particular grace...
Memorare...

DAY 5

PRAYER IN HONOUR OF THE FIFTH SORROW OF MARY — THE CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH OF JESUS

Most sorrowful Mother, standing by the cross of Jesus, your heart was one great knot. And yet, you did not sit, you did not even lean, but stood as you watched Him suffer for the sins of the whole world–for my sins. Like Abraham, you offered the sacrifice standing up, consciously and willingly. In your case, you offered it for me, and for every sinner. Still, unlike Abraham, you stood and watched Him die. In your case, your perfect Son was not spared.

Queen of Martyrs, let me join you in this sorrow, and obtain for me the grace to fight against temptation and sin at the cost of effort, suffering and even life. When my turn comes, grant me, Mother, by your Jesus’ death and your sacrifice, the grace to die in His holy Grace–the grace of a happy death.

Hail Mary...
Prayer to our Sorrowful Mother for a particular grace...
Memorare...

DAY 6

PRAYER IN HONOUR OF THE SIXTH SORROW OF MARY — THE PIERCING OF THE SIDE OF JESUS AND HIS DESCENT FROM THE CROSS

Most Sorrowful Mother, when your Son’s body was lowered from the cross and laid in your arms, sorrow filled your heart.

Though now this sorrow had a note of relief, how painful it was for you to gaze on that body, formerly the seat of perfect life, health and beauty, gruesomely scarred, pale and lifeless.

Mother, Queen of Martyrs, let me join my heart to yours in this grief, and obtain for me to receive Jesus into my soul before I die, so I may join Him in heaven forever.

Hail Mary...
Prayer to our Sorrowful Mother for a particular grace...
Memorare...

DAY 7

PRAYER IN HONOUR OF THE SEVENTH SORROW OF MARY — THE BURIAL OF JESUS

Most sorrowful Virgin, sorrow again filled your heart when the sacred body of your Son was taken from your arms, and placed in a cold grave. Yet you did not doubt that He would rise again.

Queen of Martyrs, let me join you in your sorrow, and grant me your own deep, trusting faith in the word of your Son. Let me trust that even in suffering, even when all seems lost, with Jesus there is always a way out.

Obtain for me too, a sincere sorrow for all my sins, a burning love for my God, a tender devotion to you, so that one day, I may die in His grace and, with Him, rise to eternal life.

Hail Mary...
Prayer to our Sorrowful Mother for a particular grace...
Memorare...

DAY 8

EVE OF THE FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS, SEPTEMBER 14

Sweet Mother of Sorrows, Providence wished that Saint Helena, like you the mother of a king, find the cross of your Son and lavish honours on this relic of relics.**

Grant, me Sorrowful Queen and Mother that, like Saint Helena, I always honour the symbol of our salvation, the cross. And like the Church, may I hold it high, display and wear it with gratitude and pride.

Above all, may I unite my sufferings to that of Jesus on the cross, and carry my crosses not in shame but in faith, love and patience as He did.

The Church teaches that suffering thus carried and united to His, is never in vain, but a powerful, redemptive prayer.

May I always believe it, so my life will always have meaning.

Hail Mary...
Prayer to our Sorrowful Mother for a particular grace...
Memorare...

**(Saint Helena did this while on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the year 326 A.D. To celebrate this fact, the Catholic Church established the feast of The Exaltation of the Holy Cross.)

DAY 9

EVE OF THE FEAST OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, MOTHER OF SORROWS

O most holy Virgin, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ: by the overwhelming grief you experienced when you witnessed the martyrdom, crucifixion, and death of your divine Son, look upon me kindly, and awaken in my heart a tender sympathy for Our Lord’s sufferings.

Grant me a sincere detestation of my sins, so that free from undue affection for the passing joys of earth, I may set my sights higher on the eternal joys of heaven.

May all my thoughts and all my actions be directed towards this one great goal. Honour, glory, and love to our divine Lord Jesus, and to the holy and immaculate Mother of God. Amen

Hail Mary...
Prayer to our Sorrowful Mother for a particular grace...
Memorare...

Petitions to the Sorrowful Heart of Mary

V. Incline unto my aid, O God!
R. O Lord, make haste to help me!
Glory be...

  1. I compassionate thee, O sorrowful Mother Mary, on account of that grief suffered by thy tender heart at the prophecy of the aged Holy Simeon. O dearest Mother, through this thy afflicted heart, implore for me the virtue of humility and the Gift of the Fear of God.
    Hail Mary...
  2. I compassionate thee, O sorrowful Mother Mary, on account of those distressing fears which thy affectionate heart endured on the flight to Egypt and during thy sojourn there. O dearest Mother, through this thy anxious heart implore for me the virtue of generosity, particularly for the poor, and the Gift of Piety.
    Hail Mary...
  3. I compassionate thee, O sorrowful Mother Mary, on account of that anxiety which thy worried heart endured in the loss of thy beloved Child Jesus. O dearest Mother, through this thy exceedingly troubled heart, implore for me the virtue of chastity and the Gift of Knowledge.
    Hail Mary...
  4. I compassionate thee, O sorrowful Mother Mary, on account of that horror with which thy mother's heart was stricken when meeting Jesus, bearing the Cross. O dearest Mother, through this thy exceedingly oppressed heart, implore for me the virtue of patience and the Gift of Fortitude.
    Hail Mary...
  5. I compassionate thee, O sorrowful Mother Mary, on account of that martyrdom which tortured thy magnanimous heart at the death-agony of Jesus. O dearest Mother, through this thy martyred heart, implore for me the virtue of temperance and the Gift of Counsel.
    Hail Mary...
  6. I compassionate thee, O sorrowful Mother Mary, on account of the anguish inflicted upon thy tender heart by the thrust of the lance that opened the side of Jesus and pierced His Most Adorable Heart. O dearest Mother, through this vicarious transfixion of thy own heart, implore for me the virtue of brotherly love and the Gift of Understanding.
    Hail Mary...
  7. I compassionate thee, O sorrowful Mother Mary, on account of that agony of soul which racked thy most loving heart at the burial of Jesus. O dearest Mother, through this extreme torment that filled thy burdened heart, implore for me the virtue of zeal and the Gift of Wisdom.
    Hail Mary...

V. Pray for us, O Virgin Most Sorrowful!

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

Let us pray

O Lord Jesus Christ, we beseech thee that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, whose soul was pierced by the Sword of Sorrow in the hour of Thy Passion, may be our advocate at the throne of Thy Mercy, now, and at the hour of our death. Through Thee, Jesus Christ, Redeemer of the World, Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen

The Seven Graces

The Blessed Virgin Mary grants to souls who honour Her daily by saying seven Hail Marys and meditating on Her tears and Dolors. The devotion was passed to us by Saint Bridget.

  1. I will grant peace to their families.
  2. They will be enlightened about the divine mysteries.
  3. I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work.
  4. I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the Adorable Will of my Divine Son or the sanctification of their souls.
  5. I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives.
  6. I will visibly help them at the moment of their death, they will see the face of their mother.
  7. I have obtained (this grace) from my Divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and sorrows, will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son will be their eternal consolation and joy.

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Novena for the Nativity of Our Lady

nativity of mary

Novena for the Nativity of Our Lady

FEAST: SEPTEMBER 8

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Prayer to start the Novena each day

V. O God, come to my assistance.

R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

DAY 1

Heavenly Child, lovable Mary, the Eternal Father delights in your birth, for He beholds in your coming into this world one of His creatures who is so perfect that she will become the worthy Mother of His divine Son.

May your birth give joy to my soul also, by obtaining for me from the heavenly Father, the pardon of my sins, and an abiding sorrow for them.

Dearest Mother, please pray for me and for these my intentions... (State your intentions)

Hail Mary...

Prayer

Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, was the herald of joy to the whole world; since from you arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God, who, destroying the curse, bestowed the blessing, and confounding death, rewarded us with life everlasting.

V. Let us celebrate with joy the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

R. That she may intercede for us with Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us pray

Grant to us your servants, we beseech you, O Lord, the gift of Your heavenly grace, that as our salvation was begun in the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin, so from this solemn festival of her Nativity may we obtain an increase of peace. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

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DAY 2

O Chosen One among the daughters of Adam, admirable Mary, the Son of God delights in your birth, for He beholds the one chosen to be His Mother, and oh! such a beloved Mother.

May your birth give joy to my soul also, by obtaining from your divine Son the grace to be born again spiritually to a holy life, perfectly conformed to yours, so that I may merit to obtain eternal glory.

Dearest Mother, please pray for me and for these my intentions... (State your intentions)

Hail Mary...

Prayer

Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, was the herald of joy to the whole world; since from you arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God, who, destroying the curse, bestowed the blessing, and confounding death, rewarded us with life everlasting.

V. Let us celebrate with joy the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

R. That she may intercede for us with Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us pray

Grant to us your servants, we beseech you, O Lord, the gift of Your heavenly grace, that as our salvation was begun in the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin, so from this solemn festival of her Nativity may we obtain an increase of peace. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

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DAY 3

O Chosen One among the daughters of Adam, lovable Mary, the Eternal Word takes delight in your birth, for He sees the source of His Immaculate Blood.

May your birth give joy to my soul also, by obtaining for me from the Word made Flesh, the grace to find in this Divine Blood the eternal happiness of my soul.

Dearest Mother, please pray for me and for these my intentions... (State your intentions)

Hail Mary...

Prayer

Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, was the herald of joy to the whole world; since from you arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God, who, destroying the curse, bestowed the blessing, and confounding death, rewarded us with life everlasting.

V. Let us celebrate with joy the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

R. That she may intercede for us with Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us pray

Grant to us your servants, we beseech you, O Lord, the gift of Your heavenly grace, that as our salvation was begun in the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin, so from this solemn festival of her Nativity may we obtain an increase of peace. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

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DAY 4

O Chosen One among the daughters of Adam, admirable Mary, the Redeemer, promised to mankind from the beginning of the world, takes delight in your birth, for He sees the one who is destined to become the Co-redemptress of souls by uniting her tears to the Blood shed on the Cross to save mankind.

Dearest Mother, please pray for me and for these my intentions... (State your intentions)

Hail Mary...

Prayer

Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, was the herald of joy to the whole world; since from you arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God, who, destroying the curse, bestowed the blessing, and confounding death, rewarded us with life everlasting.

V. Let us celebrate with joy the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

R. That she may intercede for us with Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us pray

Grant to us your servants, we beseech you, O Lord, the gift of Your heavenly grace, that as our salvation was begun in the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin, so from this solemn festival of her Nativity may we obtain an increase of peace. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

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DAY 5

Resplendent Lily of Paradise, lovable Mary, the Holy Spirit takes delight in your birth for He sees in you the soul never stained by sin, which would forever be His worthy Temple.

May your birth give joy to my soul also, by obtaining for me from the Holy Spirit His divine love and final perseverance.

Dearest Mother, please pray for me and for these my intentions... (State your intentions)

Hail Mary...

Prayer

Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, was the herald of joy to the whole world; since from you arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God, who, destroying the curse, bestowed the blessing, and confounding death, rewarded us with life everlasting.

V. Let us celebrate with joy the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

R. That she may intercede for us with Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us pray

Grant to us your servants, we beseech you, O Lord, the gift of Your heavenly grace, that as our salvation was begun in the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin, so from this solemn festival of her Nativity may we obtain an increase of peace. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

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DAY 6

Most Beautiful Branch of the tree of David, most admirable Mary, whose birth was such a consolation to St. Joachim and St. Anne who were delighted to be the parents of so holy a child, may your birth be the consolation of my soul, by obtaining for me from God, victory over the world and detachment from all the things of this earth.

Dearest Mother, please pray for me and for these my intentions... (State your intentions)

Hail Mary...

Prayer

Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, was the herald of joy to the whole world; since from you arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God, who, destroying the curse, bestowed the blessing, and confounding death, rewarded us with life everlasting.

V. Let us celebrate with joy the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

R. That she may intercede for us with Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us pray

Grant to us your servants, we beseech you, O Lord, the gift of Your heavenly grace, that as our salvation was begun in the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin, so from this solemn festival of her Nativity may we obtain an increase of peace. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

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DAY 7

Resplendent Morning Star, lovable Mary, your birth was the cause of great joy to the angels, for they beheld in you the Mother of the Redeemer of the world, who by His Death would repair the loss sustained by the fall of rebellious angels in paradise.

May your birth give joy to my soul also, by obtaining for me from God, victory over the infernal enemy, deliverance from all his snares, and the grace to be associated in glory with the angels in heaven.

Dearest Mother, please pray for me and for these my intentions... (State your intentions)

Hail Mary...

Prayer

Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, was the herald of joy to the whole world; since from you arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God, who, destroying the curse, bestowed the blessing, and confounding death, rewarded us with life everlasting.

V. Let us celebrate with joy the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

R. That she may intercede for us with Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us pray

Grant to us your servants, we beseech you, O Lord, the gift of Your heavenly grace, that as our salvation was begun in the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin, so from this solemn festival of her Nativity may we obtain an increase of peace. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

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DAY 8

Brilliant Aurora of Heaven, lovable Mary, your birth brought great consolation to the souls of the saints detained in limbo, for it announced the approach of the Sun of Justice, Jesus Christ, who would enlighten their darkness and then conduct them to paradise.

May your birth give joy to my soul also, and obtain for me from God, patience in all adversities, a perfect and constant conformity to His most holy will.

Dearest Mother, please pray for me and for these my intentions... (State your intentions)

Hail Mary...

Prayer

Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, was the herald of joy to the whole world; since from you arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God, who, destroying the curse, bestowed the blessing, and confounding death, rewarded us with life everlasting.

V. Let us celebrate with joy the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

R. That she may intercede for us with Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us pray

Grant to us your servants, we beseech you, O Lord, the gift of Your heavenly grace, that as our salvation was begun in the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin, so from this solemn festival of her Nativity may we obtain an increase of peace. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

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DAY 9

Mediatrix between God and mankind, admirable Mary, by your birth you perfected the joy of all the children of Adam, who, through you, have received the Author of Grace, for He has made you the treasurer of all the graces which are imparted to us.

May your birth be a special cause of joy to my soul by obtaining for me from God, eternal salvation and all the graces necessary to obtain it.

Dearest Mother, please pray for me and for these my intentions... (State your intentions)

Hail Mary...

Prayer

Your Nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, was the herald of joy to the whole world; since from you arose the Sun of Justice, Christ our God, who, destroying the curse, bestowed the blessing, and confounding death, rewarded us with life everlasting.

V. Let us celebrate with joy the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

R. That she may intercede for us with Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us pray

Grant to us your servants, we beseech you, O Lord, the gift of Your heavenly grace, that as our salvation was begun in the child-bearing of the Blessed Virgin, so from this solemn festival of her Nativity may we obtain an increase of peace. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

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Prayer in Honour of the Queenship of Mary

queenship of mary

Prayer in Honour of the Queenship of Mary

FEAST: AUGUST 22

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“Since the great Virgin Mary was raised to the dignity of Mother of the King of Kings, the Church justly honors her, and wishes that she be honored with the glorious title of Queen,” — St. Alphonsus de Liguori.

Blessed Pope Pius IX said of Mary: “Turning her maternal Heart toward us and dealing with the affair of our salvation, she is concerned with the whole human race. Constituted by the Lord Queen of Heaven and earth, and exalted above all choirs of Angels and the ranks of Saints in Heaven, standing at the right hand of Her only-begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, she petitions most powerfully with Her maternal prayers, and she obtains what she seeks.”

In his 1954 encyclical, Ad Coeli Reginam, Pope Pius XII established the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the Universal Church.

In so doing, the Holy Father was officially giving sanction to a devotion that had existed from the earliest centuries of the Church to the sovereign Mother and Queen of heaven and earth and Mediatrix of all graces.

Because of her eminence, the Blessed Virgin Mary is entitled to the highest honor that can be bestowed upon any creature, for she is the glorious Queen of the universe.

"We commend that on the festival there be renewed the consecration of the human race to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Upon this there is founded a great hope that there may arise an era of happiness that will rejoice in the triumph of religion and in Christian peace,” the Holy Father writes.

“Therefore, let all approach with greater confidence more than before, to the throne of mercy and grace of our Queen and Mother to beg help in difficulty, light in darkness and solace in trouble and sorrow…

“…Whoever, therefore, honors the lady ruler of the Angels and of men—and let no one think themselves exempt from the payment of that tribute of a grateful and loving soul—let them call upon her as most truly Queen and as the Queen who brings the blessings of peace, that She may show us all, after this exile, Jesus, who will be our enduring peace and joy.

Prayer in Honour of the Queenship of Mary

O Mary Immaculate Queen, look down upon this distressed and suffering world. You know our misery and our weakness. O thou who art our Mother, saving us in the hour of peril, have compassion on us in these days of great and heavy trial.

Jesus has confided to you the treasure of His grace, and through you He wills to grant us pardon and mercy. In these hours of anguish, therefore, your children come to you as their hope.

We recognize your Queenship and ardently desire your triumph. We need a Mother and a Mother's Heart. You are for us the luminous dawn which dissipates our darkness and points out the way to life. In your clemency obtain for us the courage and the confidence of which we have such need.

Most Holy and Adorable Trinity, You Who did crown with glory in Heaven the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Savior, grant that all her children on earth may acknowledge her as their Sovereign Queen, that all hearts, homes, and nations may recognize her rights as Mother and as Queen.

Mary Immaculate Queen, triumph and reign! Amen

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Novena to Our Lady of Assumption

our lady of the assumption

Novena to Our Lady of the Assumption

FEAST: AUGUST 15

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Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, You have destroyed the power of death and given the hope of eternal life for body and soul. You granted your Mother a special place in your glory, and did not allow decay to touch her body. As we rejoice in the Assumption of Mary, grant us renewed confidence in the victory of life over death. Amen

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

DAY 1

Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, we believe in your triumphant assumption into heaven where the angels and saints acclaim you as Queen of Heaven and earth.

We join them in praising you and bless the Lord who raised you above all creatures. With them we honour you.

We are confident that you watch over our daily lives and we ask that you intercede for us now.

(Mention your request)

We are comforted by our faith in the coming Resurrection and we look to you for prayers and comfort.

After this earthly life, show us Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb, O kind, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen

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DAY 2

Mary, Assumed into Heaven, we venerate you as the Queen of Heaven and earth.

As you tasted the bitterness of pain and sorrow with your Son on earth, you now enjoy eternal bliss with Him in Heaven.

Loving Queen, intercede for us in our needs.

(Mention your request)

We praise Jesus for giving us such a loving mother.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen

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DAY 3

O Mother, Assumed into Heaven, because you shared in all the mysteries of our Redemption here below, Jesus has crowned you with glory.

With your most glorious and powerful intercession, help us O loving Mother and present to Jesus our request.

(Mention your request)

O Queen assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen

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DAY 4

O Dearest Mother Mary, Assumed into Heaven, God placed you at His right hand that you may intercede for his little ones as the Mother of God.

In the midst of all the saints you stand as their Queen and ours — dearer to the Heart of God than any creation. You pray for your children and grant us every grace won by our loving Savior on the Cross.

Please intercede for us in our needs and ask Jesus to grant our request if it be for the good of our souls.

(Mention your request)

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen

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DAY 5

O merciful and loving Mother, may your glorious beauty fill our hearts with a distaste for earthly things and an ardent longing for the joys of Heaven.

May your merciful eyes glance down upon our struggles and our weakness in this vale of tears.

Hear then loving Mother, our request and plead to Jesus for us.

(Mention your request)

Crown us with the pure robe of innocence and grace here, and with immortality and glory in Heaven.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen

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DAY 6

Mary, our dear Mother and mighty Queen, take and receive our poor hearts with all their freedom and desires, all the love and all the virtues and graces with which they may be adorned.

All we are and all we might be, all we have and hold in the order of nature as well as of grace, we have received from God through your loving intercession.

Help us dear Mother to surrender to God all that we have, including our petitions.

(Mention your request)

Our Lady and Queen, into your gentle hands, we entrust all, that it may be returned to its noble origin.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen

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DAY 7

Mary, Queen of every heart, accept all that we are and bind us to Jesus with the bonds of love so that we may be yours forever and may be able to say in all truth: "I belong to Jesus through Mary".

Our Mother, Assumed into Heaven and Queen of the Universe, ever-Virgin Mother of God, obtain for us what we ask, if it be for the glory of God and the good of our souls.

(Mention your request)

Our Mother, assumed into Heaven, we love you. Give us a greater love for Jesus and for you.

O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen

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DAY 8

Mary, Queen Assumed into Heaven, we rejoice that you are the Queen of Heaven and Earth. You have given your holy fiat to God and became the Mother of our Savior.

Obtain peace and salvation for us through your prayers, for you have given birth to Christ our Lord, the Savior of all mankind.

Intercede for us and bring our petitions before the Throne of God.

(Mention your request)

Through your prayers, may our souls be filled with an intense desire to be like you, a humble vessel of the Holy Spirit and a servant of the Almighty God.

Pray for us O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen

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DAY 9

O Blessed Mother Assumed into Heaven, after years of heroic martyrdom on earth, we rejoice that you have at last been taken to the throne prepared for you in Heaven by the Holy Trinity.

Lift our hearts with you in the glory of your Assumption above the dreadful touch of sin and impurity.

Teach us how small earth becomes when viewed from heaven. Make us realize that death is the triumphant gate through which we shall pass to your Son and that someday our bodies shall rejoin our souls in the unending bliss of heaven.

From this earth, which we tread as pilgrims, we look to you for help.

In honour of your Assumption into Heaven, we ask for this favor.... (Mention your request)

At the hour of our death, lead us safely to the presence of Jesus to enjoy the vision of God for all eternity together with you.

Pray for us O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen

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Novena & Intentions to Saint Anne

Novena to Saints Anne & Joachim

FEAST: JULY 26

Although Scripture is silent about the grandparents of Jesus, tradition tells us that Saints Anne and Joachim were married for many years before God blessed them with a child. During those years, they fasted, prayed and wept, mourning the child that would not come.

Painting of Anne and Joachim with the Blessed Virgin Mary as a Child Years of longing did not weaken their trust in God, but grief eventually drove Saint Joachim into the wilderness to fast and pray. Saint Anne, remaining at home, dressed in mourning clothes and wept because she had no child of her own. Seeing her mistress distressed, a servant girl reminded Anne to put her trust in God. Saint Anne washed her face, put on her bridal clothes and went to a garden to plead with God for a child.

Angels appeared to Saint Anne in her garden and Saint Joachim in the desert, promising that, despite their old age, they would give birth to a child who would be known throughout the world. The new parents ran to meet one another at Jerusalem’s Golden Gate, and rejoiced in the new life which God had promised would be theirs.

When that child became a woman and pronounced her "Fiat" to Saint Gabriel, Saints Anne and Joachim saw an even more wondrous answer to their prayers. Not just a grandchild, but a Savior who was God Himself, Jesus Christ.

July 26, the Church honours these holy grandparents for their prayers, their trust, and most of all for the foundation of faith they laid in the Blessed Virgin Mary’s life.

Beginning on July 17, pray the novena prayer below to Saints Anne and Joachim, trusting in their intercessory power with Our Lord, their Grandson, Jesus Christ.

Novena

To be prayed for nine consecutive days

O Holy Mother and Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as parents, you guided and nurtured Mary and, under your protection and love, watched her grow in holiness.

Through your faithfulness and goodness the Will of God was fulfilled; the fruits of your virtue and faith brought salvation to the whole world with the birth of the baby Jesus.

“The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14)

Most Holy Saints Anne and Joachim, come close to us and guide our hands and our hearts in the way of virtue.

Help us to parent our children and grandchildren with a gentle heart as you did.

Show us how to raise our children in faith and bring our families into the Light of Jesus.

Remain close to us and help us on our journey to salvation.

Saints Anne and Joachim, we place our petitions in your hands and ask that you lay them before the child Jesus.

Seek this, my favour [Mention your request] but only if it be for the greater glory of God and the good of my soul.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

St. Anne and St. Joachim: Pray for Us!

PRAYER INTENTIONS TO SAINT ANNE

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Dear Saint Anne, please answer my prayers!


Yes, please take my intentions to the feet of Saint Anne at the Miraculous Shrine of Saint Anne de Beaupré in Quebec, Canada.

This will take place on July 26th, the feast day of Saint Anne celebrated by the Catholic faithful all over the world.

No request is too great or too small for the grandmother of Our Lord Jesus Christ!

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“Canada Needs Our Lady’ Is a Crusade to Restore Canada

canada flag in sky

‘Canada Needs Our Lady’ Is a Crusade to Restore Canada

JULY 1, 2022 | BY JOSEPH GENSENS

To address the moral crisis facing the nation today, the Canadian Society for the Defence of Christian Civilization started a special campaign called Canada Needs Our Lady. Founded in 2014, the campaign is a spiritual crusade to win the hearts and minds of Canadians for Mary Most Holy.

This crusade promotes and defends the values of Catholic civilization. From its main office in Saint Hubert, Quebec, members reach out to concerned families and individuals, using every means to spread the message of Our Lady of Fatima.

Going into the streets: Public Square Rosary Rallies, and Marches for Life

2017 rosary rally

Canada Needs Our Lady seeks to engage the culture through a variety of means.

One powerful way of spreading the Catholic faith today is through public prayer. Indeed, public prayer is a way of making reparation for all the public sins committed today. Each year, Canada Needs Our Lady organizes hundreds of Public Square Rosary Rallies across the country. On October 16, 2021, there were an encouraging 649 Rosary rallies throughout the country.

A big highlight of this effort was the 2017 celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima’s apparitions. The rallies held in October of that year showed the enthusiasm of the participants. One rosary rally captain in Regina, Saskatchewan reported on her rally of 60 people that “Attendees doubled this year. . . Our Blessed Mother was touching and calling everyone to come.”

The Rosary Rallies organized in October 2020 faced difficult challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns. The situation looked bleak because of the obstacles. However, when the Rosary Rallies took place, the final tally was 351!

Each year, Canada Needs Our Lady also joins thousands of pro-lifers at the National March for Life in Ottawa. Young volunteers play Marian hymns on bagpipes and drums to encourage the marchers as they take a stand for the unborn.

Going into Homes: The Fatima home visits, and Rosary Mailings

Our Lady appears to St Simon StockA crucial part of the Canada Needs Our Lady campaign is its home visitation program, spreading devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. A Canada Needs Our Lady custodian visits Catholics in their houses with a large statue of Our Lady of Fatima. He speaks about the importance of Our Lady’s message for today and gives the “homework” asked by Our Blessed Mother—prayer, the Holy Rosary, making sacrifices for poor sinners, and amendment of life.

During the home visits, the custodian focuses on the Five First Saturday’s devotion, which Our Lady asked as a means to make reparation for all the blasphemies and offences against her Immaculate Heart. The visit always concludes with the Rosary.

When Our Lady gave the Holy Rosary to Saint Dominic in 1214, she called it a “battering ram” against evil. Canada Needs Our Lady puts this powerful weapon into the hands of Catholics through home mailings. In the last eight years, over 275,000 rosaries have been distributed by mail to homes around the country.

Going Online: The e-mail and e-protest campaigns

Another part of this crusade to win Canada for Mary is the e-mail and e-protest campaigns. Canada Needs Our Lady uses modern e-mail techniques to protest against an ever-increasing number of blasphemies and attacks against Our Lord, Our Lady, and the Catholic faith.

During Christmas 2020, Canada Needs Our Lady organized an e-protest to prevent the removal of a Nativity scene in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Every year for the past 65 years, the Knights of Columbus of Thunder Bay have put up a Nativity scene in the city’s Connaught Square without a problem.

A local man Vic Germaniuk protested to the city explaining: “If city council does not rescind this parochial display, then in all fairness, the city and its parks must give way to other religious orders, such as the satanic temple, a Muslim display, a Buddhist shrine… or shut the whole thing down and remain neutral.” 1

A group of four Satanists took up this man’s cause and in a letter to the city council stated that “giving favours to one specific religious organization or creed...is not a practice befitting a public institution which is meant to represent constituents of dozens of different faiths."2

Moving Forward With the Certainty of Victory

There are few natural solutions to the present problems in Canada. That is why Canada Needs Our Lady can look to the future with courage and faith. With the most powerful weapon, the Holy Rosary, the Faithful can wage war against the devil with the certainty of victory. When Our Lady appeared at Fatima in 1917, she foretold the crisis, but she also proclaimed her victory, saying, “Finally, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.” With this in mind, Canada Needs Our Lady moves forward with confidence in the crusade to win hearts and minds for Mary Most Holy.

Footnotes:

  • 1. https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/nativity-doesnt-belong-on-city-land-resident-says-3176662
  • 2. https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/satanists-speak-out-against-nativity-display-on-city-land-3201817

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Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapular

Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Brown Scapular

FEAST: JULY 16

One day, a long time ago, walking the streets of Rome, three outstanding men of God bumped into one another. Friar Dominic of Guzman was recruiting members for the Order of Preachers, later known as the “Dominicans,” which he had founded. Brother Francis of Assisi, the Poverello, had just brought together some men to serve what he called Lady Poverty. The third, Friar Angel, had come from Mount Carmel in Palestine, and was called to Rome because he was a great preacher.

Illuminated by the Holy Ghost, the three recognized one another, and during the conversation made many prophecies. Saint Angel, for example, predicted God would give Saint Francis the stigmata. And Saint Dominic prophesied:

“One day, Brother Angel, the Blessed Mother will give your Carmelite Order a devotion that will be known as the Brown Scapular, and to my Order of Preachers a devotion that will be called the Rosary. And one day she will save the world through the Rosary and the Scapular.”

On the spot where that meeting took place, a chapel was built which exists in Rome to this day. 1

Mother and Splendour of Carmel

It was on the celebrated Mount Carmel, on the coast of Palestine, that Saint Elias, the “Prophet of Fire,” saw the little cloud that, in a period of great drought, was a forerunning sign that a redeeming rain would fall upon the parched earth.

Pilgrims at the grotto of St Elias, Mt Carmel
Pilgrims at the grotto of St Elias, Mount Carmel, near Haifa, Israel

Pilgrims at the grotto of St Elias, Mt Carmel Pilgrims at the grotto of St Elias, Mount Carmel, near Haifa, Israel Through a supernatural intuition he figured that the simple cloud, in the form of a human footprint, symbolized that blessed woman, later mentioned by Prophet Isaiah in chapter 7, verse 14 (“Behold a virgin will conceive, and bear a child . . . .”), who would be the Mother of the Redeemer.

From her virginal bosom would come He who, washing with His blood the earth dried out by sin, would open the life of grace for mankind.

According to tradition, the Order of Carmel, of which Mary is the Mother and splendour, was born from the followers of Elias and his successors.

And, in Isaias’ words, “[T]he glory of Libanus is given to it: the beauty of Carmel, and Saron” (Is. 35:2).

From Palestine, the hermits of Mount Carmel moved to Europe, laying down roots in several countries, including England, where Saint Simon Stock lived.

Saint Simon Stock: Noble and Holy

Saint Simon was born in 1165 in the castle of Harford, in Kent, England, thanks to the prayers of pious parents who were both very virtuous and from the highest nobility. Some authors believe they were related to the royal family.

His mother consecrated him to the Blessed Mother before he was born. Before breastfeeding him, in gratitude for her happy delivery and asking special protection for her son, the young mother would offer him to the Virgin Mary and say three Hail Marys on her knees. What a beautiful attitude by such a noble lady!

The boy learned to read at a very tender age. Like his parents, he began to pray the Little Office of Our Lady, and soon also the Psalter. At the age of seven, the young genius started to study fine arts at Oxford College and was so successful that his professors were surprised. At that time he also received his First Communion and consecrated his virginity to the Blessed Mother.

Persecuted by his envious older brother, and heeding an interior voice that gave Saint Simon a desire to leave the world, at the age of twelve he left home and found refuge in a forest where he lived entirely alone for twenty years in prayer and penance.

The Carmelite Order

Our Lady appears to St Simon Stock
Our Lady appears to St Simon Stock, by Lawrence OP, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic

Our Lady then manifested to Saint Simon her wish that he join some monks who were to come to England from Mount Carmel in Palestine, “especially because those religious had been consecrated to the Mother of God in a special way.” Simon thus left his solitude and, obeying another order from Heaven, studied theology and received Holy Orders.

Our Lady and St Simon Stock Representation of Our Lady giving the scapular to St Simon Stock He devoted himself to preaching until 1213, when two Carmelite friars finally arrived. He was then able to receive the habit of the Order in Aylesford.

In 1215, as the fame of Saint Simon’s virtues reached the ears of Saint Brocardo, Latin General of the Carmelite Order, he wished to make Simon lieutenant general of the Order. In 1226, Saint Brocardo appointed Saint Simon vicar-general of all Carmelite provinces in Europe.

Saint Simon had to face a real storm unleashed against the Carmelites in Europe, which the devil raised with men supposedly zealous for Church laws. On various pretexts, those men wanted at all cost to suppress the entire Order. But the pope issued a bull declaring the existence of the Carmelite Order to be legitimate and in accordance with the Lateran decrees, and allowed it to continue to establish new houses in Europe.

In 1237, Saint Simon participated in the General Chapter of the Order in the Holy Land. In 1245, in a new chapter, he was elected the sixth prior-general of the Carmelites.

The Great Promise

YOU WILL NOT GO INTO THE FIRE OF HELL

If the papal bull had momentarily placated the wrath of the enemies of Carmel, it did not stop it completely. After a period of calm, the persecution started again with more intensity.

Devoid of human aid, Saint Simon resorted to the Blessed Mother with all the sadness of his heart, asking her to help his beleaguered Order and to send a sign of her alliance with it.

In the morning of July 16, 1251, he was begging in earnest the Mother of Carmel for her protection, reciting a beautiful prayer he had composed, Flos Carmeli. 2 As he reported to his secretary and confessor, Father Peter Swayngton:

"Suddenly the Virgin appeared to me with a great retinue, and, having the habit of the Order in her hand, told me, “Receive, My beloved son, this habit of thy order: this shall be to thee and to all Carmelites a privilege, that whosoever dies clothed in this shall never suffer eternal fire . . . . It shall be a sign of salvation, a protection in danger, and a pledge of peace. Whoever dies clothed in this Scapular will not suffer eternal fire." 3

That most special grace was immediately distributed in places where the Carmelites were established and confirmed by many miracles to such an extent that the enemies of the Brothers of the Most Holy Virgin of Mount Carmel were silenced.

Saint Simon attained old age and extremely high holiness, working many miracles, and also receiving the gift of tongues. He surrendered his soul to God on May 16, 1265.

The Sabbatine Privilege

FREE OF PURGATORY ON THE FIRST SATURDAY AFTER DEATH

In addition to this special grace of eternal salvation, connected with the Scapular, Our Lady gave another, which became known as the Sabbatine Privilege. The following century, on March 3, 1322, she appeared to Pope John XXII, communicating to those who wear her scapular, “As a tender mother, I will descend into Purgatory on the Saturday after their death and will deliver them and bring them to the holy mountain, into the happy sojourn of life everlasting.” 4

What are the specific promises of Our Lady?

1. Whoever dies clothed with the Scapular, will not suffer the fire of Hell.

What did Our Lady mean with these words? First, on making this promise, Mary does not mean that a person who dies in mortal sin will be saved. Death in mortal sin and condemnation are the same thing. Mary’s promise undoubtedly translates into these words, “Whoever dies clothed in this Scapular, will not die in mortal sin.” To make that clear, the Church often adds the word “piously” to the pledge, “He who dies piously will not suffer the fire of Hell.” 5

2. Our Lady will free from Purgatory the person wearing her Scapular on the first Saturday after his or her death.

Although this privilege is often interpreted literally, that is, the person will be freed from Purgatory on the first Saturday after his or her death, “everything that the Church has officially stated on several occasions to explain these words, is that those who fulfill the conditions of the Sabbatine Privilege, through the intercession of Our Lady, will be freed from Purgatory shortly after death, and especially on Saturday.” 6

Order your FREE brown scapular here!

In any case, if we are faithful in observing the words of the Blessed Mother, she will be much more faithful in observing her own, as shown in the following example:

During the preaching of some missions, a young man who was touched by grace decided to quit his life of sin and receive the Scapular. Some time later he lapsed again into disorderly passions and became even worse. Nevertheless, he kept wearing the holy Scapular.

Being the mother that she is, the Most Holy Virgin struck him down with a serious illness. During his illness the young man dreamed that he found himself before the most just tribunal of God, Who condemned him to eternal damnation for his perfidy and his wretched life.

In vain did the hapless young man argue with the Supreme Judge that he was wearing the Scapular of His Holy Mother.

“And where are the customs that match this Scapular?” God asked him.

Not knowing what to answer, the unfortunate young man turned to Our Lady.

“I cannot undo what my Son has done,” she answered.

“But, Madam!” The young man exclaimed, “I will change!”

“Do you promise?”

“Yes.”

“Live then.”

At that point the patient awakened frightened to death by what he had seen and heard, and resolved thenceforth to wear Mary’s Scapular with greater seriousness. Indeed, he was healed and joined the Order of Premonstratensians. And after an edifying life, he surrendered his soul to God, as the chronicles of the Order narrate. 7

The Scapular and Fatima

IS THE SCAPULAR RELATED TO FATIMA IN ANY WAY?

Yes. After the last appearance of Our Lady at Cova da Iria, the seers saw three different scenes. In the first, the Mother of God appeared as Our Lady of the Rosary, standing by Saint Joseph and holding the Child Jesus on her lap. Then, she appeared as Our Lady of Sorrows, by the painful Christ on His way to Calvary. And finally, she appeared in glory, crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth, as Our Lady of Carmel, with the Scapular in her hand.

“Why do you think Our Lady appeared with the Scapular in that last vision?” Lucia was asked in 1950.

“That’s because Our Lady wants everyone to wear the Scapular,” she replied.

“And this is why the Rosary and the Scapular, the oldest, most privileged, universal and valuable Marian sacramentals are more important today than in any past period in history.” 8

Origin and Historical Evolution of the Scapular

Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, by Lawrence OP, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic

Both the Scapular (from the Latin scapulae, shoulders), and the monastic habit and liturgical vestments developed from lay clothing.

Our Lady of Mt Carmel and the brown Scapular Statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the Church of Holy Mary of Carmel in Traspontina in Rome, Italy Over time, the monastic Scapular evolved until the twelfth century when it attained its present form, becoming an integral part of almost all monastic habits, including the Carmelite one. But it did not have the meaning that it later acquired, as we shall see.

With the development of the First Orders (monks or friars), there arose the Second Orders (nuns), and then the Third Orders or Oblates, formed by single or married lay people living with their families.

Members of the Third Orders were bound to the First Orders by vows or promises according to their state, and participated in the spiritual benefits of the Order.

These Third Order members received a simpler religious habit, which they wore every day or, more commonly, only on Sundays and religious feast days.

Later came the Confraternities for lay people unable to join the Third Orders.

According to Father María Simón Besalduch, the Confraternity of Our Lady of Carmel is as old as the Scapular.

Footnotes:

  • 1. Cf. John Haffert, Maria na sua promessa do Escapulário (Edições Carmelo, Aveiro, Portugal, 1967), 265–266.
  • 2. In Latin, that beautiful prayer says, “Flos Carmeli, Vitis florigera, Splendor Coeli, Virgo puerpera, Singularis; Mater mitis, sede viri nescia. Carmelitis da privilegia, Stella maris!” (Flower of Carmel, blossoming vine, Splendor of Heaven, incomparable and singular Virgin! O loving and ever virgin Mother, give Carmelites the privileges of thy protection, of Star of the Sea!).
  • 3. Monsignor Paul Guérin, Les Petits Bollandistes (Bloud et Barral, Paris, 1882), 592.
  • 4. Father Simón Ma. Besalduch, OCD, Enciclopedia del Escapulario del Carmen (Luis Gili Editor, Librería Católica Internacional, Barcelona, 1931), 243-293.
  • 5. John Haffert, supra note 1, at 34.
  • 6. Id. at 112.
  • 7. Father Simón Ma. Besalduch, OCD, supra note 4, at 167.
  • 8. John Haffert, supra note 1, at 269, 272.

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prayers

Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Novena to Our Lady of Mount Carmel

FEAST: JULY 16

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

Three Day Novena

NINE DAY NOVENA

First Day

O Beautiful Flower of Carmel, most fruitful vine, splendour of heaven, holy and singular, who brought forth the Son of God, still ever remaining a pure virgin, assist us in our necessity! O Star of the Sea, help and protect us!

Show us that you are our Mother! (Mention your request here)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Second Day

Most Holy Mary, Our Mother, in your great love for us you gave us the Holy Scapular of Mount Carmel, having heard the prayers of your chosen son Saint Simon Stock. Help us now to wear it faithfully and with devotion.

May it be a sign to us of our desire to grow in holiness. (Mention your request here)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Third Day

O Queen of Heaven, you gave us the Scapular as an outward sign by which we might be known as your faithful children. May we always wear it with honour by avoiding sin and imitating your virtues.

Help us to be faithful to this desire of ours. (Mention your request here)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Fourth Day

When you gave us, Gracious Lady, the Scapular as our Habit, you called us to be not only servants, but also your own children. We ask you to gain for us from your Son the grace to live as your children in joy, peace and love. (Mention your request here)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Fifth Day

O Mother of Fair Love, through your goodness, as your children, we are called to live in the spirit of Carmel. Help us to live in charity with one another, prayerful as Elijah of old, and mindful of our call to minister to God's people. (Mention your request here)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Sixth Day

With loving provident care, O Mother Most Amiable, you covered us with your Scapular as a shield of defense against the Evil One. Through your assistance, may we bravely struggle against the powers of evil, always open to your Son Jesus Christ. (Mention your request here)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Seventh Day

O Mary, Help of Christians, you assured us that wearing your Scapular worthily would keep us safe from harm. Protect us in both body and soul with your continual aid. May all that we do be pleasing to your Son and to you. (Mention your request here)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Eighth Day

You give us hope, O Mother of Mercy, that through your Scapular promise we might quickly pass through the fires of purgatory to the Kingdom of your Son. Be our comfort and our hope. Grant that our hope may not be in vain but that, ever faithful to your Son and to you, we may speedily enjoy after death the blessed company of Jesus and the saints. (Mention your request here)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

Ninth Day

O Most Holy Mother of Mount Carmel, when asked by a saint to grant privileges to the family of Carmel, you gave assurance of your Motherly love and help to those faithful to you and to your Son. Behold us, your children.

We glory in wearing your holy habit, which makes us members of your family of Carmel, through which we shall have your powerful protection in life, at death and even after death.

Look down with love, O Gate of Heaven, on all those now in their last agony!

Look down graciously, O Virgin, Flower of Carmel, on all those in need of help!

Look down mercifully, O Mother of our Saviour, on all those who do not know that they are numbered among your children.

Look down tenderly, O Queen of All Saints, on the poor souls! (Mention your request here)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be....
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us.

THREE DAY NOVENA

Say this prayer for 3 consecutive days

Oh, most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendour of Heaven.

Oh, Blessed Mother of the Son of God; Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity.

Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me you are my Mother.

Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity.

(Mention your request here)

There are none that can withstand your power.

Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. (say three times).

Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands. (say three times). Amen

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British Columbia

Holland Park, Surrey, BC.

We were a small group mostly from the Immaculate Conception Parish in North Delta, but we had 6 nationalities, and the youngest was 14, the oldest was 84! Hail Mary! Praise God!

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British Columbia

Richardson Elementary School ground, Delta, BC

This Public Rosary was attended mostly by parishioners of Immaculate Conception Parish in Delta. It was held in honour of Our Lady in the month of May, 2017. More than 65 people including several children attended.

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Ontario

Mississauga, On St Catherine of Siena Parish

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Ontario

Toronto, 263 Roncesvalles Ave @ Westminster Ave

This was our second consecutive year holding the Public Square Rosary Rally thanks to your encouraging initiatives and supplies…and we tripled the number of prayerful participants to approximately 40 individuals!

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New Brunswick

Fredericton

The Rally was held in Fredericton, N.B., Saturday morning, Oct. 14, 2017 on the lawn of St. Dunstan’s Church near the Statue of Our Lady. It was directly across the street from the bustling Boyce Farmers Market. The Rally was organized by local priest, Rev. Dr. Michael McGowan. He asked for participation from local Fredericton parishioners from Our Lady of Fatima (incl. Fr. Richard Harris), St. Dunstan’s and other local Catholic churches, members of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada, the Knights of Columbus Councils, Fredericton Right to Life and others. Catholic passersby from the market also joined in. There were about 40 people in the group and your banners were held up for all to see.

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Ontario

Ontario

I was very please with the turn out this year and everyone who attended where very enthusiastic!

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Saskatchewan

St. Paul’s Cathedral

From Donald Okonkwo

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Ontario

Pembroke

This was Pembroke’s 1st Public Rosary Rally. I booked the Pembroke Amphitheater well in advance so it was easier for the older people to sit and so everyone could hear us pray with the microphones.
The waterfront is generally a busy spot.
I asked our local Deacon to play his guitar and sing the songs with us. He also helped me make sure that all the parishes in our area received notification, (three weeks in advance), to put in their bulletins.
The Pembroke Diocese has both French and English parishes, therefore I asked a parishioner from one of our local French Church to help me say the Rosary in French as well. We took turns doing the intentions, 1st in English next in French and so on. I would say the first Joyful Mystery she would do the second and so on.
She also helped me welcome everyone, had them sign the attendance sheet and handed out the programs and intentions. I had copies of both French and English made.
A total of 65 people came to join us, including two Priests and one Deacon.
It was also nice to see two young families there.
I was very pleased with the turn out. Only 57 signed the attendance sheet.
If each of these 57 people brought one person next year we will have over 100.!!
When we finished singing O Sanctissima I asked Fr. Stephen to give all us a final blessing.
Pembroke had heavy rain earlier that morning but as we were beginning to set up for the Rally there was a whole in sky of no clouds and as we were saying the third Joyful Mystery The Sun came out ! It was so beautiful to see.
Thank you for giving me this beautiful opportunity to share my faith with others.

We have 37 pictures that were taken at the Rally these are the three best ones that show most of the grp and the people that helped me make it such a success.
Laurie Mintha Captain
Pembroke, Ontario

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Ontario

Ottawa Near Rideau River Pathway

Our rally location was near the Rideau River Pathway on the edge of the street with cars passing by and pedestrians. A car passed by and honked and waved as an encouraging expression. We were able to do the rosary rally in Spanish as our group was Hispanic. It was our great pleasure to bring this Public Rosary to our Ottawa area. We hope to promote it and reach more individuals next year. Thank you for the blessed opportunity.

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Quebec

Sherbrooke

On Saturday, October 14, we did a rosary pilgrimage from Sherbrooke’s Immaculée Conception church to the Beauvoir sanctuary. We recited the entire 20 mysteries of the rosary out loud and even sang parts of it in the downtown Sherbrooke area. We did not receive the Canada Needs Our Lady banner that we ordered, but we still managed to pull off a public rosary to pray for sinners and peace in the world.

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British Columbia

Victoria

We pray that our meager prayers will find favor with Our Lord through the intercession of Our Lady and our Father in Faith, St Joseph for the correction of the direction our country has taken but especially for souls that are being led astray.

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Ontario

Elliot Lake

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Quebec

Quebec

It was announced in the bulletin at different parishes. We were 5 people that took part in the rally. We couldn’t walk too far cause of 1 personneeded a bathroom in close proximity due to health problems. So we walked around a little and then stood in front of the church. Some people passing by seen us.

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Saskatchewan

Christ the King Church

Oct.14 2017
Our Rosary Rally in front of Christ the King Church.

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Ontario

WINDSOR

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Alberta

Northern Alberta

We had a great group of CWL Members, Parishioners, and the lay faithful gather and brave the cold Northern Alberta windy weather to pray together in celebration and honour of Our Lady.

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Articles

Look Deep Into Her Eyes, and Let Her Look Into Yours!

Français

Sacred ImageLook into these maternal eyes. They know you! They understand your sufferings even more than you do. They’re full of compassion, love, and hope. Open yourself to this gaze. It offers a remedy for every defect, help for every problem, hope for every affliction.

Who is this Mother? She’s Mary, the Mother of God and ours, so beautifully represented by this miraculous statue of Our Lady of Fatima.

Look into Her eyes. And let Her look into yours! She’ll touch your heart. Speak to your soul!

In New Orleans, this statue wept 14 times! Why tears, not smiles? Why sorrow, not joy?

Find the answer to these gripping questions in this inspiring article by Prof. Plinio Correa de Oliveira:

Tears, a Miraculous Warning

On July 21, 1972, the newspaper Folha de São Paulo published a photograph from New Orleans showing a statue of Our Lady of Fatima shedding tears. The report sparked keen interest in the Brazilian public and I think many readers will welcome more information on the topic.

Statue of the International Pilgrim Virgin of Fatima photographed in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1972 miraculously weeping real human tears.

The best source of information on the matter is found in an article with a typical American title: “The Tears of Our Lady Wet my Finger” by Fr. Elmo Romagosa. It was published on July 20 in the Clarion Herald, a New Orleans weekly, distributed in eleven Louisiana parishes or counties.

3 Seers of FatimaThe background to this event is universally known. In 1917, Lucy, Jacinta and Francisco had visions of Our Lady at Fatima. The authenticity of these visions was confirmed by the miracle of the sun, witnessed by a whole multitude even as the Virgin spoke to the three children.

In general terms, Our Lady charged the little shepherds to tell the world that she was deeply upset by the wickedness and corruption of men. She warned that if men did not amend, a terrible chastisement would come that would annihilate many nations. Russia would spread its errors throughout the world. The Holy Father would have much to suffer.

The punishment could only be avoided if men converted, Russia and the world were consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and men did the communion of reparation on the first Saturday of each month.

      * * *

In view of the above, a question naturally comes to mind: Were Our Lady’s requests heeded?

In 1942, Pius XI consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Sister Lucy said the consecration lacked some characteristics Our Lady had requested. I do not intend to analyze this complex subject here. I simply mention, in passing, that whether Our Lady’s request for the consecration of Russia was heeded is open to debate.

As for Our Lady’s second request for an amendment of life, it has so obviously been neglected that no further comment is necessary.

Our Lady stated that obedience to her requests was a condition to avoid the apocalyptic punishments that she predicted. Therefore, it is logical that God’s vengeful and purifying wrath should fall upon mankind before it converts and the Reign of Mary is established.

        * * *

Pilgrim Virgin StatueOf the three Fatima children, only Lucy survived beyond her childhood. She was a Carmelite nun in Coimbra. Under her supervision, a sculptor carved two statues that reproduced as closely as possible the facial expression of the Most Holy Virgin as she appeared at Fatima. Both of them were called “pilgrim statues” and have been taken around the world by priests and laity. One was in New Orleans, where it shed tears.

Father Romagosa, author of the abovementioned report, was told of the statue’s tears by Fr. Joseph Breault, M. P., the statue’s custodian. However, he was reluctant to admit the miracle and thus asked Father Breault to call him if any further weeping occurred.

Father Breault noticed moisture in the eyes of the Pilgrim Virgin statue on July 17 and immediately called Father Romagosa, who reached the statue at 9:30 p.m., bringing along photographers and reporters. In fact, they all noticed the moisture in the eyes of the statue, which was soon photographed. Father Romagosa then touched his finger on the moist surface and collected a drop, which was also photographed. According to Father Breault, this was the thirteenth weeping he had witnessed.

Large Photo of Sacred Image in TearsAt 6:l5 a.m. the next morning, Father Breault called Father Romagosa saying that the statue had been crying since 4 a.m. Father Romagosa arrived shortly afterwards. In his words: “I saw much liquid in the statue’s eyes, and a large drop hanging from the tip of her nose.”

This drop, so graciously hanging, was captured in the famous photograph that came out in the press. Father Romagosa adds that he saw “a tear move as it slowly formed on the lower eyelid.”

However, he wanted to eliminate all doubt. He noticed that the statue had a crown fixed on its head by a small metal connecting rod and thought:

Can it be that water was poured into the hole where the crown is fixed on the statue, and this water drains into the eyes?

Once the weeping ceased, Father Romagosa removed the crown from the statue: the metallic connecting rod was entirely dry. He then inserted into the hole a wire wrapped in a special paper which would absorb any liquid that might be there. The paper remained absolutely dry.

Still not satisfied with his efforts, he poured some water into the hole. Yet the eyes remained absolutely dry. Father Romagosa then turned the statue upside down. The water he had poured into the hole drained normally. He was finally convinced that no water could come through the hole in the statue’s head into her eyes, and there simply was no other hole.

Father Romagosa knelt. At last, he believed.

      * * *

Pilgrim Virgin StatueThese mysterious tears show Our Lady of Fatima crying over the modern world, as Our Lord once cried over Jerusalem. Tears of most tender affection, tears of deep pain for the punishment that will come.

It will come to the men of the 21st century, if they do not reject immorality and corruption. It will come if they do not fight especially against the self-destruction of the Church, the cursed smoke of Satan that according to Paul VI has penetrated even into the sacred places.

Reader, there is still time, therefore, to stop the punishment!

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Articles

Fatima – 10 Forgotten Facts

Français

headerWhile many Fatima devotees know the salient aspects of Our Lady’s message and the various events surrounding the apparitions, certain details or nuances could yet be overlooked. We dare offer here several points for study and reflection in the hope they will help one better appreciate the meaning of the Fatima message:

1.    A seventh apparition

Our Lady appeared six times at Fatima from May, 1917 to October, 1917. However, during the first apparition Our Lady mentioned that she will return to Cova the Iria, the site of the apparition, a seventh time. In her own words Our Lady said,

“I have come here to ask you to come here for six months in succession on the thirteenth day of each month at this same hour. Later I will tell you who I am and what I want. Afterward, I will return here a seventh time.”

Although Fatima specialists differ in their opinions with regard to its interpretation, nothing against Faith prevents a Catholic to hope and confide that this promise would be fulfilled in the near future. Certainly it is a glorious and most singular event a faithful Catholic could eagerly look forward to especially in our confusing and chaotic times. Perhaps, the seventh apparition would usher in the time of peace that St. Louis Grignion de Montfort described as the Reign of Mary and which Our Lady prophesied as the triumph of Her Immaculate Heart.

Rosary Bridge in Canada 2.    The Rosary and Purgatory                             

Also on the above occasion, Our Lady revealed to the three children that Francisco must say many Rosaries before he will go to Heaven and that a certain Amelia will be in Purgatory until the end of the world.

Here, Our Lady reiterates the salutary practice of praying the most Holy Rosary as a means to save one’s soul and offers it as a guarantee to Francisco’s safe passage to Heaven -certainly an invaluable counsel from the Queen of Heaven and Earth.

She likewise points out the very reality of the existence of Purgatory and even cites a striking example of a poor yet already saved soul who will endure its purifying fires till the end of the world. According to the research done by Father Sebastião Martins dos Reis, Amelia died under circumstances involving dishonor in matters of chastity. Shocking as this fact may had been to  Father Thomas McGlynn, O.P. during his own interview, Sister Lucia recalled that more tragic were those souls who suffered the fires of hell forever because of a single mortal sin!

Angel and the 3 Children3.    The difference between the Angel’s and Our Lady’s apparitions

The children’s physical, emotional and psychological experience with the Angel of Portugal and Our Lady were different. In her memoirs, Sister Lucia writes,

“I do not know why, but the fact is that the apparitions of Our Lady had a very different effect on us. There was the same intimate gladness, the same peace and happiness. But instead of physical weariness, we felt a certain expansive liveliness, a sense of glee instead of that annihilation in the Divine Presence, a certain communicative enthusiasm instead of that difficulty in speaking…”

One stark contrast between the angel and Our Lady is their different natures. The former is pure spirit while the latter is flesh and spirit; body and soul. The angel’s superior nature drained much energy from the children which left them in a state of annihilation.

Since the children are of the same nature as Our Lady, one could surmise that this may explain why the children were more at ease with Our Lady. The human nature they shared with Our Lady found a pleasing and lively consonance with her. One could feel assurance and confidence in Lucia’s observation and experience that, indeed, Our Lady was assumed into Heaven in both body and soul – a dogma of the Faith.

Rosary Rally Windsor4.    The importance of prayer, penance, sacrifices and mortification for the conversion of sinners.

While it is true that the above is the constant and recurring theme of Our Lady’s Fatima message, it behooves Catholics to understand how and why it is so; especially in modern minds where the notion of mortification and penance is watered down or simply brushed aside as archaic or medieval.

The gravity of the moral crisis pervasive in the world requires continued prayers, penances and sacrifices which prompted the three children especially little Francisco and Jacinta to practice them to an extreme and heroic degree. At the height of their innocence, the two younger children understood their necessity and offered themselves admirably as expiatory victims. But Our Lady’s appeal for prayer and penance made to the children also applies to the rest of mankind.

According to Father Fredrick William Faber, D.D. in his book, Growth in Holiness, much is to be gained by us lesser mortals in the practice of mortification for it tames the body and brings the unruly passions under the control of grace and our superior will. It increases the range of our spiritual vision and makes our conscience more sensitive to the discernment of the subtleties that separate not only those between venial and mortal sins but also those between what is faulty and imperfect.

Suffering easily becomes power in the things of God. For isn’t it true that Our Lord redeemed mankind through His bloody sacrifice and immense suffering on Calvary?

Leading mortified lives encourages us to persevere in prayer, gives us strength in resisting temptations, makes us unworldly and frees our heart from earthly vanities and attachments.

10 facts header5.    The persecutions suffered by the children from family and friends, people and media because of the apparitions 

Lucia, in particular, was most aggrieved by the incredulity of her mother and kin as well as by the withdrawal of their affectionate treatment of her. Her sufferings were much more intensified given her tender age.

Francisco and Jacinta fared better within their family for their parents never held a hostile attitude towards the apparitions. Yet, they weren’t spared from the jokes and wisecracks of neighbors and from the laughter and sneers of by-standers along the road.

The skeptical and secular media of their day were no less forgiving in subjecting them to ridicule and sarcasm. Nationwide, newspapers staged a bitter campaign of hatred and denigration to discredit the apparitions.

Nevertheless, despite all these ill-treatment and vitriolic affronts, the children bore them with admirable patience and charity always mindful of Our Lady’s request to offer their sacrifices for the sake of poor sinners. An edifying example one should emulate in the daily inconveniences one encounters everyday. Here one is reminded of St. Therése of the Child Jesus’ little way.

6.    Modifications to the Five First Saturday Devotion to facilitate its practice

The original request of Our Lady asks one to confess and receive Communion on five consecutive first Saturdays; to say five decades of the Rosary; to meditate during 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary for the purpose of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in reparation for the sins of men.

In subsequent private visions and apparitions however, Sister Lucia presented to Our Lord the difficulties that devotees encountered in fulfilling some conditions. With loving condescension and solicitude, Our Lord deigned to relax the rules to make this devotion easy to observe:

  1. Confession may be done on other days other than the First Saturday so long as one receives Our Lord worthily and has the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
  2. Even if one forgets to make the intention, it may be done on the next confession, taking advantage of the first occasion to go to confession.
  3. Sister Lucia also clarified that it is not necessary to meditate on ALL mysteries of the Rosary on each First Saturday.  One or several suffice.

With much latitude granted by Our Lord Himself, there is no reason for the faithful to hesitate or delay this pious practice in the spirit of reparation which the Immaculate Heart of Mary urgently asks.

click through7.    Reasons for the Five First Saturdays Devotion

This may seem academic to some but it would be good to recapitulate here the reasons for they can be forgotten. Devotions have intentions attached to them and knowing them adds merit and weight to the practice.

The five first Saturdays correspond to the five kinds of offenses and blasphemies committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. They are:

a. Blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception

b. Blasphemies against her virginity

c. Blasphemies against her divine maternity, at the same time the refusal to accept her as the Mother of all men

d. Instilling indifference, scorn and even hatred towards this Immaculate Mother in the hearts of children

e. Direct insults against Her sacred images

8.    A greater miracle denied

Sister Lucia revealed later in her life that the miracle of the sun could have been greater had the children not been abducted by Arthur Oliveira Santos, the cruel and conniving administrator of the Administrative Council of Vila Nova de Ourém. She originally expressed this remarkable detail in the interrogation done by Father Manuel Marques Ferreira on August 21, 1917, two days after the apparition but which she left out in her 1941 report.

Here is a fitting example of a transgression committed against the wishes of Our Lady which she left unpunished. Though no fault of the children, it is lamentably sad to note that the multitudes at Fatima on the afternoon of October 13, 1917 were deprived of a far greater miracle if not for the deception, trickery and malice of civil authorities.

Image29.    Unknown light or Aurora Borealis?

Sister Lucia considered the extraordinary light that illuminated the skies of Europe on the night of January 25-26, 1938 during the hours of 8:45 p.m. to 1:15 a.m., as “the great sign” – the unknown light that Our Lady predicted that would signal that war was near.

Astronomers and skeptic brush it off as a mere aurora borealis though its character was remarkably unprecedented.

Interestingly enough, the book, The Secrets of Fatima explains:

“This aurora appeared as far south as Galicia, Spain, where Sister Lucy was then cloistered, and she, the only survivor of the three Fatima shepherds, recognized it immediately as the sign. Visible even to Pius XI in Rome, the unprecedented aurora was accompanied by a ‘crackling’ sound, possibly attributable to discharges of atmospheric energy. Indeed, in many areas of Europe, panic broke out; as the populace concluded that the world was on fire and that the End had come.”

The New York Times for January 26, 1938, carried the following:

“London, January 25th, 1938. The Aurora Borealis rarely seen in Southern or Western Europe spread fear in parts of Portugal and lower Austria tonight while thousands of Britons were brought running into the streets in wonderment. The ruddy glow led many to think half the city was ablaze. The Windsor Fire Department was called out thinking that Windsor Castle was afire. The lights were clearly seen in Italy, Spain, and even Gibraltar. The glow bathing snow-clad mountain tops in Austria and Switzerland was a beautiful sight but firemen turned out to chase non-existent fires. Portuguese villagers rushed in fright from their homes fearing the end of the world.”

10.    Jacinta’s last words:

JacintaTempered and molded by extraordinary penance and sacrifice, 10-year-old Jacinta proved to be precocious and prophetic in her vision of things. She had many private apparitions and countless revelations. Such was her supernatural illumination and holy wisdom that Mother Godinho, the directress of the Lisbon orphanage where Jacinta stayed prior to her death in the hospital, could only asked in awe and wonder, “Who taught you all these things?” The following statements uttered by Jacinta showed her depth of soul in face of the moral decay ravishing the world:

  • The sins which cause most souls to go to Hell are the sins of the flesh.
  • To be pure of body is to keep chastity. To be pure in soul is not to commit sins, not look at what one should not see, not to steal, never to lie, always to tell the truth however hard it may be.
  • Fashions that will greatly offend Our Lord will appear. People who serve God should not follow fashions. The Church has no fashions. Our Lord is always the same.
  • Doctors do not have the light to cure the sick because they do not have love of God
  • Priests should only occupy themselves with the affairs of the Church. Priests should be pure, very pure. The disobedience of priests and religious to their superiors and to the Holy Father greatly offends Our Lord.
  • To be a woman religious, it is necessary to be very pure in soul and body.
  • Many marriages are not good; they do not please Our Lord, and they are not of God.
  • Confession is a sacrament of mercy. Therefore, one must approach the confessional with confidence and joy.
  • My godmother, pray much for those who govern! Woe to those who persecute the religion of Our Lord. If the government left the Church in peace and gave freedom to the holy Faith, it would be blessed by God.
  • Wars are nothing but punishments for the sins of the world.
  • Our Lady can no longer hold back the arm of her beloved Son from the world. It is necessary to do penance. If people change their ways, Our Lord will still spare the world; but if they do not, the chastisement will come.

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Des Articles

Fatima

English

Alors que de nombreux dévots de Fatima connaissent les aspects les plus marquants du message de la Sainte Vierge et les divers événements entourant les apparitions, certains détails ou nuances sont encore négligés par beaucoup. Nous offrons ici plusieurs points d’étude et de réflexion dans l’espoir qu’ils aideront à mieux apprécier le sens du message de Fatima :

1. La septième apparition

Notre Dame est apparue six fois à Fatima, de mai 1917 à octobre 1917. Cependant, lors de la première apparition, Notre Dame a mentionné qu’elle reviendrait une septième fois à Cova da Iria, le site de l’apparition. Notre Dame a dit :

« Je suis venue vous demander de venir ici pendant six mois de suite, le 13, à cette même heure. Je vous dirai après qui Je suis et ce que Je veux. Puis Je reviendrai encore ici une septième fois ».

Bien que les spécialistes de Fatima diffèrent sur l’interprétation à donner à ce message, rien n’empêche un catholique fidèle d’espérer et d’être certain que cette promesse sera accomplie dans un avenir proche. C’est un événement glorieux et singulier qu’un catholique fidèle peut attendre avec impatience, en particulier dans ces temps confus et chaotiques. Sans doute, la septième apparition inaugurera-t-elle le temps de paix qu’a décrit saint Louis Grignion de Montfort comme le Règne de Marie, et que Notre-Dame a prophétisé comme étant le triomphe de son Cœur Immaculé.

2. Le Rosaire et le Purgatoire                           

A cette l’occasion, Notre Dame a révélé aux trois enfants que Francisco devait dire plusieurs Rosaires avant qu’il ne parvienne au Ciel, et qu’une certaine Amélia sera au Purgatoire jusqu’à la fin du monde.

Ici, Notre Dame réitère la pratique salutaire de prier le très saint Rosaire comme un moyen de sauver notre âme ; et elle l’offre comme une garantie pour le passage de Francisco au Ciel – sans aucun doute un précieux conseil de la Reine des Cieux et de la Terre.

Elle souligne également la réalité de l’existence du Purgatoire et cite l’exemple frappant d’une âme médiocre, déjà sauvée, qui devra néanmoins supporter les feux de la purification jusqu’à la fin du monde. Selon les recherches du Père Sebastião Martins dos Reis, Amelia est décédée dans le déshonneur en matière de chasteté. Aussi étonnant que ce fait rapporté au Père Thomas McGlynn, O.P., Sœur Lucia a rappelé lors de son entretien qu’encore plus malheureuses sont les âmes qui doivent subir les feux de l’enfer pour toujours à cause d’un seul péché mortel!

3. La différence entre les apparitions de l’Ange et celles de la Sainte Vierge

Il a une différence entre l’expérience physique, émotionnelle et psychologique des enfants avec l’Ange du Portugal et avec Notre Dame. Dans ses mémoires, Sœur Lucia a écrit:

« Je ne sais pas pourquoi, mais le fait est que les apparitions de Notre Dame ont eu un effet très différent sur nous. Il y avait la même joie intime, la même paix et le bonheur. Mais au lieu de la fatigue physique, nous avons senti une certaine vivacité expansive, un sentiment de joie au lieu de cette anéantissement dans la Présence Divine, un certain enthousiasme communicatif au lieu de cette difficulté à parler … »

Il y a un contraste éclatant entre l’Ange et Notre Dame dû à leur nature différente. L’Ange est un esprit pur tandis que Notre Dame possède chair et l’esprit, corps et âme. La nature supérieure de l’Ange a consommé beaucoup d’énergie des enfants, les ayant laissés dans un état d’anéantissement.

Puisque les enfants sont de la même nature que Notre Dame, on peut supposer que cela pourrait expliquer pourquoi ils se sentaient plus à l’aise avec elle. La nature humaine qu’ils partageaient avec Notre Dame était en consonance agréable et vivante avec elle. On pouvait sentir l’assurance et la confiance de Lucia lorsqu’elle observait que, en effet, Notre Dame était dans le Ciel en corps et en âme – un dogme de la Foi.

4. L’importance de la prière, de la pénitence, des sacrifices et de la mortification pour la conversion des pécheurs

Bien qu’il soit vrai que la phrase ci-dessus est le thème constant et récurrent du message de Notre Dame à Fatima, il incombe aux catholiques de comprendre comment et pourquoi il en est ainsi ; et surtout pour les esprits modernes où la notion de mortification et de pénitence est atténuée ou simplement regardée comme archaïque ou médiévale.

La gravité de la crise morale dans le monde actuel nécessite des prières, des pénitences et des sacrifices constants, ce qui a incité les trois enfants, en particulier les petits Francisco et Jacinta, à les pratiquer à un degré extrême et héroïque. Au plus fort de leur innocence, les deux jeunes enfants en ont compris la nécessité et se sont offerts admirablement comme des victimes expiatoires. Mais l’appel de Notre Dame aux enfants pour la prière et la pénitence s’adresse également au reste de l’humanité.

Selon le père Frederick William Faber, D.D., dans son livre Croître en sainteté, nous, pauvres mortels, avons beaucoup à gagner par la pratique de la mortification parce qu’elle domestique le corps et nous permet, avec la grâce, de contrôler les passions désordonnées et notre volonté. Cela augmente la portée de notre vision spirituelle et rend notre conscience plus sensible pour discerner les subtilités qui séparent les péchés véniels et mortels, mais aussi ce qui est défectueux de ce qui est imparfait.

Dans le monde de Dieu, la souffrance devient facilement une puissance pour le bien. Car, n’est-il pas vrai que Notre-Seigneur a racheté l’humanité par son sacrifice sanglant et ses souffrances immenses au Calvaire?

Une vie de mortification nous incite à persévérer dans la prière, nous donne la force pour résister aux tentations, et libère notre cœur des vanités et des attachements mondains.

5. Les persécutions subies par les enfants en provenance de leur famille, de leurs amis, des personnes et des médias, en raison des apparitions

Lucia, en particulier, a été très affligée par l’incrédulité de sa mère et de ses parents, ainsi que par leur manque d`affection à son égard. Ses souffrances étaient beaucoup plus intenses à cause de son jeune âge.

Francisco et Jacinta s’en sont mieux sortis car leurs parents n’ont jamais eu d’attitude hostile à l’égard des apparitions. Pourtant, ils n’ont pas été épargnés par les plaisanteries et bavardages des voisins ni par les rires et ricanements des passants sur la route.

Les médias sceptiques et laïques de leur époque n’étaient pas indulgents non plus, et les soumettaient au ridicule et au sarcasme. À l’échelle nationale, les journaux ont organisé une campagne acharnée de haine et de dénigrement pour discréditer les apparitions.

Néanmoins, malgré tous ces mauvais traitements et affrontements au vitriol, les enfants ont supportés cette hostilité avec une patience et une charité admirables, toujours conscients de la demande de la Sainte Vierge d’offrir des sacrifices pour les pauvres pécheurs. C’est un exemple édifiant qu’on devrait imiter lors des désagréments que nous rencontrons tous les jours. Cela doit nous rappeler la petite voie de Sainte Thérèse de l’Enfant Jésus.

6. Modifications à la dévotion des cinq premiers samedis du mois pour en faciliter la pratique

La demande originelle de Notre Dame était de pratiquer la confession et de recevoir la Communion cinq premiers samedis consécutifs, de dire cinq dizaines du Rosaire, et de méditer pendant 15 minutes sur les mystères du Rosaire en réparation au Cœur Immaculé de Marie pour les péchés commis par les hommes.

Cependant, au cours des visions privées et des apparitions suivantes, Sœur Lucia a présenté à Notre Seigneur les difficultés rencontrées par les dévots dans l’accomplissement de certaines de ces conditions. Avec une tendre condescendance et sollicitude, Notre Seigneur a daigné alléger les règles pour rendre cette dévotion plus facile à observer:

  1. On peut faire la confession dans un jour autre que le premier samedi tant que l’on reçoit Notre Seigneur dignement avec l’intention de faire réparation au Cœur Immaculé de Marie.
  2. Si on oublie de faire l’intention, on peut la faire à la prochaine confession, en profitant de la première occasion pour aller se confesser.
  3. Sœur Lucia a également précisé qu’il n’est pas nécessaire de méditer sur TOUS les mystères du Rosaire à chaque premier samedi. Un ou plusieurs mystères sont suffisants

 Avec une si grande latitude accordée par Notre Seigneur Lui-même, les fidèles n’ont aucune raison d’hésiter ou de retarder cette pratique pieuse dans l’esprit de réparation que demande avec urgence le Cœur Immaculé de Marie.

7. Raisons pour pratiquer la dévotion les cinq premiers samedis

Cela pourra sembler académique pour certains, mais il est bon de récapituler ici ces raisons parce qu’elles peuvent être oubliées. Les dévotions ont des intentions qui leur sont attachées, et le fait de les connaître ajoute du mérite et du poids à leur pratique.

Les cinq premiers samedis correspondent aux cinq formes d’offenses et de blasphèmes commis contre le Cœur Immaculé de Marie :

  1. Blasphèmes contre l’Immaculée Conception
  2. Blasphèmes contre sa virginité
  3. Blasphèmes contre sa maternité divine et le refus de l’accepter comme Mère de tous les hommes
  4. Introduction, dans le cœur des enfants, de l’indifférence, du mépris et même de la haine envers cette Mère Immaculée
  5. Insultes directes contre ses images sacrée

8. La négation d’un miracle majeur

Sœur Lucia a révélé plus tard dans sa vie que le miracle du soleil aurait pu être plus grand si les trois enfants n’avaient pas été enlevés par Arthur Oliveira Santos, le cruel et sournois maire de Vila Nova de Ourém.

Elle donna ce détail remarquable,  qu’elle n’avait pas mentionné dans son rapport de 1941, lors de son interrogatoire par le Père Manuel Marques Ferreira le 21 août 1917, deux jours après l’apparition.

Voilà l’exemple d’une transgression commise contre les vœux de Notre-Dame et qui est restée impunie. Bien que ce ne soit pas la faute des enfants, il est regrettable de constater que la foule qui se trouvait à Fatima dans l’après-midi du 13 octobre 1917 a été privée d’un miracle bien supérieur à cause de la tromperie et de la malice des autorités civiles.

9. Lumière inconnue ou Aurore Boréale ?

Sœur Lucia a considéré la lumière extraordinaire qui a illuminé les cieux d’Europe dans la nuit du 25 au 26 janvier 1938 de 8h45 du soir à 1h15 du matin comme « le grand signe » – la lumière inconnue qu’avait prédite Notre Dame et qui signifiait que la guerre était proche.

Les astronomes et les sceptiques la décrivent comme une simple aurore boréale, bien que son caractère ait été remarquablement sans précédent.

Il est intéressant de noter que le livre The Secrets of Fatima explique :

« Cette aurore est apparue jusqu’en  Galice du sud, en Espagne, où sœur Lucia était alors cloîtrée ; et elle, la seule survivante des trois bergers de Fatima, l’a reconnue immédiatement comme étant le signe. Visible même par Pie XI à Rome, l’aurore sans précédent a été accompagnée d’un «crépitement», probablement attribuable aux rejets d’énergie atmosphérique. En effet, dans de nombreuses régions de l’Europe, la panique a éclatée, la population ayant conclu que le monde était en feu et que la fin était venue ».

Quant au New York Times du 26 janvier 1938, il signale :

« Londres, le 25 janvier 1938. Ce soir, une aurore boréale rarement vue en Europe du Sud ou de l’Ouest a répandu la peur dans certaines parties du Portugal et de basse Autriche, alors que des milliers de Britanniques ont couru dans les rues avec émerveillement. La lueur de couleur rouillée a conduit beaucoup à penser que la moitié de la ville était en feu. Le service des pompiers de Windsor a été appelé parce qu’on pensait que le château était en feu. La lumière ont été vue clairement en Italie, en Espagne, et même à Gibraltar. La lueur qui baignait les cimes des montagnes autrichiennes et suisses créait une vue magnifique, mais les pompiers se sont rendu compte qu’ils chassaient des feux inexistants. Les villageois portugais ont fui avec effroi leurs maisons, craignant la fin du monde ».

10. Les derniers mots de Jacinta

De nature tempérée et forgée par une pénitence et un sacrifice extraordinaires, Jacinta s’est révélée, dès l’âge de 10 ans, précoce et prophétique dans sa vision des choses. Elle avait eu beaucoup d’apparitions privées et d’innombrables révélations.

 

Si grandes étaient son illumination surnaturelle et sa sagesse que Mère Godinho, la directrice de l’orphelinat de Lisbonne où Jacinta séjourna avant sa mort à l’hôpital, ne pouvait que demander avec émerveillement: «Qui t’a enseigné toutes ces choses?» Les déclarations suivantes de Jacinta témoignent de sa profondeur d’âme face à la décadence morale du monde:

  • Les péchés qui envoient la plupart des âmes en enfer sont les péchés de la chair.
  • Être pur de corps, c’est garder la chasteté. Être pur dans l’âme, c’est ne pas commettre de péchés, ne pas regarder ce que l’on ne doit pas voir, ne pas voler, ne jamais mentir, et toujours dire la vérité pour difficile qu’elle puisse être.
  • Des modes qui vont gravement offenser notre Seigneur vont se développer. Les gens qui servent Dieu ne devraient pas suivre les modes. L’Église n’a pas de mode. Notre Seigneur est toujours le même.
  • Les médecins n’ont pas la lumière pour guérir les malades parce qu’ils n’ont pas l’amour de Dieu.
  • Les prêtres ne devraient s’occuper que des affaires de l’Église. Les prêtres devraient être purs, très purs. La désobéissance des prêtres et des religieux à leurs supérieurs et au Saint-Père offense grandement notre Seigneur.
  • Pour être une femme religieuse, il faut être d’âme et de corps très purs.
  • De nombreux mariages ne sont pas bons. Ils ne plaisent pas à notre Seigneur, et ils ne sont pas de Dieu.
  • La confession est un sacrement de miséricorde. Par conséquent, il faut aller au confessionnal avec confiance et joie.
  • Ma marraine, priez beaucoup pour ceux qui gouvernent ! Malheur à ceux qui persécutent la religion de Notre-Seigneur. Si le gouvernement laissait l’Église en paix et laissait la sainte Foi en liberté, il serait béni par Dieu.
  • Les guerres ne sont que des punitions pour les péchés du monde.
  • Notre Dame ne peut plus retenir le bras de son Fils bien-aimé. Il faut faire pénitence. Si les gens changent leur comportement, notre Seigneur épargnera encore le monde ; mais s’ils ne le font pas, le châtiment viendra.

 

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Regardez-la au Fond Des Yeux

English

Regardez-la au fond des yeux, et laissez-la regarder dans les vôtres! *

Regardez bien ces yeux maternels. Ils vous connaissent ! Ils comprennent vos souffrances encore plus que vous-même. Ils sont pleins de compassion, d’amour et d’espoir. Ouvrez votre âme à ce regard. Il offre un remède pour tout défaut, apporte de l’aide pour chaque problème, de l’espoir pour chaque affliction.

Qui est cette mère? C’est Marie, la Mère de Dieu et la nôtre, si joliment représentée par cette miraculeuse statue de Notre Dame de Fatima.

Regardez-la droit dans les yeux. Et laissez-la vous regarder dans les vôtres ! Elle va toucher votre cœur. Et parler à votre âme !

À La Nouvelle-Orléans, cette statue a pleuré 14 fois! Pourquoi tant des larmes et aucun sourire ? Pourquoi le chagrin, et pas la joie?

Trouvez la réponse à ces questions saisissantes dans cet émouvant article du Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira.

Des larmes, avis miraculeux

Le 21 juillet 1972, le journal Folha de São Paulo a publié une photo de La Nouvelle-Orléans montrant une statue de Notre-Dame de Fatima qui versait des larmes. Le rapport a suscité un vif intérêt dans le public brésilien et je pense que de nombreux lecteurs aimeront avoir plus d’informations sur le sujet.

La meilleure source d’information sur la question se trouve dans un article intitulé « The Tears of Our Lady Wet My Finger » (Les larmes de Notre Dame ont mouillé mon doigt) par le Père Elmo Romagosa. Il a été publié le 20 juillet dans le Clarion Herald, un hebdomadaire de La Nouvelle-Orléans distribué dans onze « paroisses » ou comtés de la Louisiane.

Le contexte de cet événement est universellement connu. En 1917, Lucia, Jacinta et Francisco eurent des visions de Notre-Dame à Fatima. L’authenticité de ces visions a été confirmée par le miracle du soleil, confirmé par toute une foule en même temps que la Vierge parlait aux trois enfants.

En termes généraux, Notre-Dame a chargé les petits bergers de dire au monde qu’elle était profondément contrariée par l’impiété et la corruption des hommes. Elle a averti que si les hommes ne modifiaient pas leur comportement, un châtiment terrible viendrait qui anéantirait de nombreuses nations. La Russie répandrait ses erreurs dans le monde entier. Le Saint-Père aurait beaucoup à souffrir.

Le châtiment ne pourrait être évité que si les hommes se convertissaient, si la Russie et le monde étaient consacrés au Cœur Immaculé de Marie, et si les gens faisaient la communion réparatrice le premier samedi pendant cinq mois consécutifs.

* * *

Compte tenu de tout cela, la question qui vient naturellement à l’esprit est de savoir si les demandes de Notre-Dame ont été exaucées.

Pie XII a fait en 1942, une consécration du monde au Cœur Immaculé de Marie. Sœur Lucia a affirmé que l’acte avait oublié quelques-unes des caractéristiques indiquées par Notre-Dame. Je ne vais pas analyser ici ce sujet complexe. Je ne fais que mentionner, en passant, qu’on peut se demander si la première demande de Notre Dame -la consécration de la Russie- a été exaucée ou non.

En ce qui concerne la seconde demande de la Sainte Vierge -que les hommes changent leur comportement- elle a été négligée au point qu’il n’est pas besoin de plus de commentaires.

La Saint Vierge ayant établi que l’obéissance à ses demandes était une condition pour éviter les fléaux apocalyptiques qu’elle avait annoncés, c’est dans la logique des choses que la colère vengeresse et purifiante de Dieu tombe sur l’humanité avant que celle-ci ne se soit convertie et que le Royaume de Marie soit établi.

* * *

Des trois enfants de Fatima, seule Lucia a survécu au-delà de son enfance, rentrant au couvent des carmélites à Coimbra. Sous sa supervision, un artiste a sculpté deux statues qui reproduisent le plus près possible l’expression du visage de la Très Sainte Vierge tel qu’il était à Fatima. Ces deux statues, appelées « pèlerines », ont été montrées partout dans le monde par des prêtres et des laïcs. L’une se trouvait à La Nouvelle Orléans, où elle a versé des larmes.

Le Père Romagosa, auteur du dit rapport, a été informé des larmes de la statue par le Père Joseph Bréault, M. P., gardien de la statue. Cependant, il avait des réticences à admettre ce miracle et il a donc demandé au Père Bréault de l’appeler si elle pleurait à nouveau.

Le 17 juillet, le Père Bréault a noté de l’humidité dans les yeux de la statue de la Vierge Pèlerine et a immédiatement appelé le Père Romagosa, qui est venu près de la statue à 21:30 avec des photographes et des journalistes. En fait, ils ont tous remarqué l’humidité dans les yeux de la statue, qui fut aussitôt photographiée. Le Père Romagosa a ensuite porté son doigt sur la surface humide et a recueilli une goutte, qui a également été photographiée. Selon le Père Bréault, c’était le treizième larmoiement dont il avait été le témoin.

À 6:15 le matin suivant, Quand le Père Bréault a appelé le Père Romagosa, la statue pleurait depuis 4 heures. « Je voyais beaucoup de liquide dans les yeux de la statue, et une grosse goutte suspendue au bout de son nez » a dit le Père Romagosa.

Cette goutte, si gracieusement suspendue, apparait dans la célèbre photo publiée par la presse. Le Père Romagosa a ajouté avoir vu « une larme se former au fur et à mesure qu’elle se déplaçait lentement vers la paupière inférieure ».

Cependant, il a voulu dissiper tout doute. Comme il remarquait que la statue avait une couronne fixée sur la tête par une petite tige métallique, il pensa : « Serait-il possible que de l’eau ait été versée dans le trou où la couronne est fixée sur la statue, et coule ensuite dans les yeux ? »

Après que les larmes avaient cessé, le père Romagosa ôta donc la couronne de la tête de la statue : la tige de connexion métallique était entièrement sèche. Puis il inséra dans le trou où avait été la tige un fil enroulé d’un papier spécial de façon à absorber tout liquide qui aurait pu s’y trouver. Le papier resta tout à fait sec.

Toujours non satisfait, il versa de l’eau dans le trou. Les yeux restèrent pourtant absolument secs. Le Père Romagosa tourna alors la statue à l’envers. L’eau qu’il avait versée dans le trou s’écoula normalement. Il fut convaincu que l’eau ne pouvait pas du tout couler du trou vers les yeux de la statue. Car il n’y avait tout simplement pas d’autre trou.

Le Père Romagosa se mit à genoux. Finalement, il croyait.

* * *

La Vierge de Fatima pleure sur le monde contemporain comme Notre Seigneur avait pleuré sur Jérusalem. Ce sont des larmes de la plus tendre affection, des larmes de douleur profonde, en prévision du châtiment qui viendra.

Il viendra pour les hommes du XXIe siècle s’ils ne renoncent pas à l’impiété et à la corruption. S’ils ne se battent pas en particulier contre l’auto-démolition de l’Église, la fumée maudite de Satan qui, selon les paroles de Paul VI lui-même, est entrée dans l’enceinte sacrée.

Cher lecteur, il est encore temps, donc, d’arrêter la punition !

 

* Statue de la Vierge pèlerine internationale de Fatima, photographiée à La Nouvelle Orléans, Louisiane, en 1972, miraculeusement en train de pleurer de véritables larmes humaines.

 

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Mississauga

It was my first time pleasure and privilege to have led a 2021 Rosary Rally. Canada definitely needs Our Lady and I was happy that so many of us came together. . Our Lady seat of wisdom, PRAY FOR US!
Love and God’s gracious blessings,
Ann Margaret Ali

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Novenas & Prayers to Saint Anthony

Novenas & Prayers to Saint Anthony

FEAST: JUNE 13

Novena

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

OPENING PRAYER:

O wonderful St. Anthony, gloriously named “Miracle Worker” on account of your many miracles and through the sweetness of Jesus coming in the form of a little child to rest in your arms, obtain for me from His bounty the grace which I ardently desire from the depths of my heart. You who were so compassionate toward miserable sinners, regard not the unworthiness of those who pray to you, but the glory of God that it may once again be magnified by the granting of the particular request which I now ask with complete trust in your kindness. Amen

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY ONE

O holy St. Anthony, gentlest of saints, your love for God and charity for His creatures made you worthy while on earth to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me the favor I seek in this novena. The answer to my prayer may require a miracle; even so, you are the Saint of miracles. O gentle and loving Saint Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Infant Jesus, Who loved to be folded in your arms, and the gratitude of my heart will always be yours.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY TWO

O miracle-working St. Anthony, remember that it never has been heard that you did not leave without help or relief anyone who in his need had recourse to you. Animated now with the most lively confidence, even with full conviction of not being refused, I fly for refuge to you, O most favored friend of the Infant Jesus. Eloquent preacher of the Divine mercy, despise not my supplications but, bringing them before the throne of God, strengthen them by your intercession and obtain for me the favor I seek in this novena.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY THREE

O purest St. Anthony, who through thine Angelic virtue was made worthy to be caressed by the Divine Child Jesus, to hold Him in your arms and press Him to your heart. I entreat you to cast a benevolent glance upon me. O glorious St. Anthony, born under the protection of Mary Immaculate, on the Feast of her Assumption into Heaven, and consecrated to her and now so powerful an intercessor in Heaven, I beseech you to obtain for me the favor I ask in this novena. O great wonder-worker, intercede for me that God may grant my request.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY FOUR

I salute and honor you, O powerful helper, St. Anthony. The Christian world confidently turns to you and experiences your tender compassion and powerful assistance in so many necessities and sufferings that I am encouraged in my need to seek your help in obtaining a favorable answer to my request for the favor I seek in this novena. O holy St. Anthony, I beseech you, obtain for me the grace that I desire.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY FIVE

I salute you, St. Anthony, lily of purity, ornament and glory of Christianity. I salute you, great Saint, cherub of wisdom and seraph of Divine love. I rejoice at the favors our Lord has so liberally bestowed upon you. In humility and confidence, I entreat you to help me, for I know that God has given you charity and pity, as well as power. I ask you by the love you felt toward the Infant Jesus as you held Him in your arms to tell Him now of the favor I seek in this novena.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY SIX

O glorious St. Anthony, chosen by God to preach His Word, you received from Him the gift of tongues and the power of working the most extraordinary miracles. O good St. Anthony, pray that I may fulfill the will of God in all things so that I may love Him, with you, for all eternity. O kind St. Anthony, I ask you, obtain for me the grace that I desire, the favor I seek in this novena.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY SEVEN

O renowned champion of the faith of Christ, most holy St. Anthony, glorious for your many miracles, obtain for me from the bounty of my Lord and God the grace which I ardently seek in this novena. O holy St. Anthony, ever attentive to those who invoke your assistance, grant me the aid of your powerful intercession.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY EIGHT

O holy St. Anthony, you have shown yourself to be so powerful, so tender and so compassionate towards those who honor you and invoke you in suffering and distress. I ask you most humbly and earnestly to take me under your protection in my present necessities and to obtain for me the favor I desire. Recommend my request to the merciful Queen of Heaven, that she may plead my cause with you before the throne of her Divine Son.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY NINE

Saint Anthony, servant of Mary, glory of the Church, pray for our Holy Father, our bishops, our priests, our Religious Orders, that, through their pious zeal and apostolic labors, all may be united in faith and give greater glory to God. St. Anthony, helper of all who invoke you, pray for me and intercede for me before the throne of Almighty God that I be granted the favor I so earnestly seek in this novena.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

CONCLUDING PRAYER

May the Divine assistance remain always with us. Amen

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

O God, may devotion to blessed Anthony, Thy confessor, be a source of joy to Thy Church, that she may always be fortified with spiritual assistance, and deserve to enjoy eternal rewards. Amen

Prayer to Saint Anthony for help in finding missing items

Saint Anthony, perfect imitator of Jesus, who received from God the special power of restoring lost things, grant that I may find (mention your request) which has been lost.

As least restore to me peace and tranquility of mind, the loss of which has afflicted me even more than my material loss.

To this favor I ask another of you: that I may always remain in possession of the true good that is God. Let me rather lose all things than lose God, my supreme good. Let me never suffer the loss of my greatest treasure, eternal life with God. Amen

Short Prayer to Saint Anthony

Wondrous Saint Anthony, glorious for the fame of your miracles, you had the happiness of receiving in your arms our blessed Lord as a little child. Obtain for me from His mercy this favor that I desire from the bottom of my heart: (mention your request)

Since you were so gracious to poor sinners, do not regard the lack of merit on the part of him who calls upon you, but consider the glory of God, which will by exalted once more through you, by the salvation of my soul and the granting of the petition that I now earnestly present to you.

As a pledge of my gratitude, I beg you to accept my promise to live henceforth more faithfully according to the teaching of the Gospel and to be devoted to the service of the poor whom you ever loved and still love so much. Bless this my resolution and obtain for me the grace to be faithful to it till death. Amen

Ejaculatory prayers to Saint Anthony

  • Saint Anthony, attentive to those who invoke thee, grant us the aid of thy powerful intercession for the grace of holy purity, meekness, humility, obedience, the spirit of poverty, and perfect abandonment to the will of God. Amen
  • Saint Anthony, great wonder-worker, intercede for us that God may grant us our request if it be for the good of our soul. Amen
  • Saint Anthony, be our patron, our protector, and our advocate in life and in death. Amen
  • Saint Anthony, servant of Mary, obtain for us greater devotion to the blessed Mother of God. Amen

INTENTIONS TO SAINT ANTHONY

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"Christians must lean on the Cross of Christ just as travelers lean on a staff when they begin a long journey." - Saint Anthony

Dear Saint Anthony, please answer my prayers!

Yes, please take my intentions to Saint Anthony and touch them to his tomb in Padua, Italy.

I love Saint Anthony and am confident he will help restore the Faith in the hearts of those who have grown cold towards God and His Church.

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The Return of the Queen: A Sign of Great Hope​

The Return of the Queen: A Sign of Great Hope

Travel back in your mind 1,500 years to a charming port city on the English Channel in northern France. It is the year 636 A.D. and a small boat without sails, oars, or sailors floats into the harbor of Boulogne-sur-Mer.

As the townspeople gather around it, they discover that the boat contains an innocuous treasure: a wooden statue of Our Lady holding the Child Jesus in her left hand. She has an air of divine majesty, yet is calm and maternal. Our Lady’s statue is solemnly carried into the chapel and the newly christened shrine of Notre Dame de Boulogne became one of the most well-known and visited shrines in Christendom. Her feast day is February 20, and is celebrated locally in Boulogne on October 22.

Medieval chroniclers wrote about the many miracles of Our Lady of Boulogne. A chronicle of the life of the holy King of France, Saint Louis IX, includes several references to the miraculous cures obtained through the intercession of Our Lady of Boulogne. She was especially powerful towards sailors and expectant mothers.

England Invades

In 1544, disaster came to Boulogne-sur-Mer. Henry VIII, King of England, declared war on France and sent a fleet with 47,000 troops across the Channel. One of the first cities he attacked was Boulogne, laying siege to it on July 18. Boulogne, although a walled city with very strong defenses, was manned by only 2,000 soldiers. The city surrendered on September 14, 1544.

The invading Protestant army sacked the city. Statues, altars, relics of saints and other sacred objects were hacked to pieces and burned in the streets in an orgy of hatred for the Catholic Faith. Worst of all, the statue of Our Lady of Boulogne was dragged out of the church, mocked and insulted and taken back to England as a trophy of victory. They transformed Our Lady’s medieval shrine into an armory.

The English finally surrendered Boulogne on April 25, 1550, and shortly afterwards returned the statue of Our Lady. The church and city were rebuilt and restored over the following decades and Our Lady’s shrine reacquired much of its original splendor.

Huguenots Attack

The same Revolutionary virus that had infected Europe was preparing bloody rebellion and religious civil war in France with the Huguenots, the French Protestant sect.

During the night of October 11, 1567, hundreds of Huguenot soldiers secretly broke into the church of Our Lady of Boulogne. They wrecked the church and tore out the miraculous statue. Tying a rope around her neck, they dragged her through the muddy streets until they reached the main gate of the old town. There they mocked and blasphemed her.

But when they tried to chop Our Lady into pieces, a miraculous force protected her. They hit her over and over again with swords and hammers, but the statue, as if made of steel, suffered no damage. The miracle infuriated the Protestants even more, and they threw the statue into a great bonfire. Again, Our Lady was miraculously preserved intact amidst the flames. The Huguenots took the statue out of the city and they threw her down a well.

By the following spring, order was restored to the port city. A local Catholic woman, knowing the whereabouts of the miraculous statue, secretly retrieved it and took it to her house. On September 26, 1607, to the acclamations of large crowds of faithful, Our Lady solemnly reentered Boulogne.

Devestation of the French Revolution

The French Revolution began in 1789 with tragic consequences for France and Our Lady of Boulogne.

On November 10, 1793, after the Revolutionaries in Boulogne finished celebrating in a former church the so-called “Feast of the goddess of Reason,” they began an orgy of destruction. Full of hate for the Catholic Faith, they piled numerous statues, paintings, vestments, and relics in the city square and destroyed everything in a giant bonfire.

A mob of thugs armed with picks and screaming the Marseillaise dragged Our Lady of Boulogne to the main square. The sans-culottes put a red Phrygian cap on Our Lady’s head, symbol of the French Revolution, and began to mock and blaspheme her. When they tired of this, they burned her in a great bonfire, dancing like savages in celebration for the victory of “reason” over “superstition.” port city. A local Catholic woman, knowing the whereabouts of the miraculous statue, secretly retrieved it and took it to her house. On September 26, 1607, to the acclamations of large crowds of faithful, Our Lady solemnly reentered Boulogne.

Not satisfied with the destruction of the miraculous statue, in 1798 the revolutionary government completely demolished the shrine. Devotion to Our Lady of Boulogne, who for more than eleven centuries had served as a symbol of the mutual love between the French people and the Mother of God, came to an end.

Or did it? Did Our Lady abandon the France that had abandoned her? Or, seeing her children do penance and return to the true Faith, would she make a Grand Return just as she did after the previous disasters, first under the English and then under the Huguenots?

A New Statue, A New Shrine

Shortly after the end of the French Revolution, the Catholics of Boulogne decided to make a copy of the original statue of Our Lady of Boulogne from memory, and the devotion to Our Lady of Boulogne began once again.

Father Benoît-Agathon Haffreingue, a priest from Boulogne-sur-Mer, decided to rebuild the ruined church. On May 1, 1827, he laid the first stone of the new shrine of Our Lady of Boulogne, which was completed thirty-nine years later on August 24, 1866. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims poured into Boulogne each year. Devotion to Our Lady of Boulogne surpassed what it had been even before the French Revolution.

France and Europe had much more suffering ahead of them. The Franco-Prussian war and the First World War utterly devastated France. It was during the Second World War, however, that Our Lady of Boulogne worked her greatest miracle: the Grand Retour or the “Grand Return.”

Origins of the Grand Return

In the summer of 1938, Boulogne hosted a Marian Congress. To prepare the faithful for this national event, two priests decided to make four copies of the original statue of Our Lady of Boulogne and take them on a great tour of the towns and parishes of the diocese. Christened the “Fiery Path,” it was a success far exceeding expectations. In ten weeks the four statues covered more than 1,500 miles and made 466 stops at parishes.

After the close of the Marian Congress, some clergy led by Father Gabriel Ranson, a Jesuit, decided to continue this “Fiery Path” of Our Lady around France until the next Congress, to be held in the summer of 1942 in Le Puy, in southern France. In the fall of 1939 and the spring of 1940, he and a handful of young laymen took Our Lady of Boulogne to northeastern France where they visited many parishes, as well as battlefields from the First World War.

After a very successful Congress, Our Lady of Boulogne continued her tour of France to Lourdes. She arrived there on September 7, 1942, eve of the Nativity of Our Lady, greeted by a massive crowd of pilgrims. With her triumphal entry into Lourdes, it seemed that Our Lady’s great tour of France would come to a close.

Precisely at this moment, Pope Pius XII made a direct appeal to the Mother of God. On December 8, 1942, feast of the Immaculate Conception, the Supreme Pontiff consecrated the human race to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The following year, on March 28, 1943, the French bishops solemnly renewed this consecration. This day was also the beginning of what came to be known as the Grand Return of Our Lady of Boulogne.

The Grand Return Begins

The bishop of Tarbes, where Lourdes is located, had the idea of sending the statue of Our Lady of Boulogne to each of the parishes of his diocese in pilgrimage. During each stop, the faithful would renew the consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. After passing through his diocese and others across France, Our Lady would make her final return to Boulogne, hence the name “Grand Return.”

The response was so great that the organizers decided to send all four copies of Our Lady of Boulogne around France on four different itineraries. With the letter of approval from Pope Pius XII in May, the four began their great tour of France, which would continue without stopping for five years straight.

Each statue traveled with a group of about a dozen or so young men, all volunteers, led by two or three priests. They placed the statue on a very simple wheeled carriage, pulled by men the whole way from village to village. These men and the whole crowd often processed barefoot in a spirit of penance. When Our Lady arrived at the local parish, an honor guard would carry her into the church. The priest would preach a sermon on Our Lady of Boulogne and the meaning of the Grand Return, and they would hear confessions.

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Then the all-night vigil would begin, with villagers taking one or often many hours during the night. At midnight, Mass would begin. Each person received a copy of the Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Pope Pius XII. The whole congregation would pray the consecration aloud and each one would sign it and place it at the feet of Our Lady, along with other written intentions.

With World War II underway, the intentions were often simple requests for the safe return of a father, husband, brother, or son from a prison camp or working as a forced laborer in Germany. Many asked for the conversion of a family member. Everyone asked Our Lady to save France.

The all-night vigil continued until the following morning. In the morning, the priest celebrated a Mass of farewell. A large crowd of villagers gathered once again to escort the Blessed Virgin all the way to the next town, where a crowd of faithful had already gathered, and the sequence began again.

Conversions, Penance, Graces

Most remarkable about the Grand Return was the unprecedented avalanche of graces, especially of conversions and penance. Thousands upon thousands of atheists, communists, freemasons, and fallen-away Catholics converted on the spot when they saw Our Lady enter their village.

One bishop described the effect on the faithful: “The passing of Our Lady in my diocese is the most extraordinary contemporary religious event of our times, and the most significant. Crowds of people rose up, motivated and enthusiastic. In fact, the confessionals and communion rails were besieged during the holy vigils, while the recitation of the mysteries of the rosary kept the faithful praying in the churches. In some parishes, there were tremendous conversions like never seen before on the missions.” 1

Parish priests also testified to the effect of the Grand Return. “I was a bit uneasy about the welcome that my very indifferent parish would give to Our Lady. People around me said that the welcome would be mediocre…Three kilometers from [our village of] Nantiat, we see the delegation of this parish, my parish. And I was moved to tears when I saw how big it was: men and young men, women; the whole crowd did not hesitate to kneel upon the wet ground, with arms in the form of a cross, to greet our illustrious Visitor…Truly the Holy Virgin has sent a breath of grace on this not very religious community.” 2

Another prelate testified: “Last Saturday, at around 2 pm, the Virgin arrived at [our] parish of Basville. For centuries no doubt, ever since the beginning of the world maybe, no king, no queen, no princess so royal or so powerful had ever visited us. Truly, this evening was at the least a return to Christianity, a general conversion, a call of my people to Our Mother and Queen…Yes, I think that if the Bishops send us a Virgin every year, in ten years the people of France will convert to Jesus Christ through Mary.”. 3

One observer wrote the following: “It is like the atmosphere at Lourdes. We would dare say that it is stronger than Lourdes in a certain sense. The pilgrim of Lourdes is transplanted out of his element into an ambience that is so impregnated with the supernatural that nothing appears difficult to him, neither the rosary in his hand nor prayer with the arms in the form of a cross, nor to kneel in the dirt. These gestures of faith, Our Lady of Boulogne makes us do them where we live, in our street, under the attentive gazes of our neighbors, of people whom we know. We are no longer worried about what they think, and they don’t dare laugh or criticize.”. 4

When the Grand Return arrived in Marseille, she passed through a neighborhood known for its support for communism. As she passed by a bar in which some communists were gathering for a meeting, several came out to investigate the commotion. The passing of the white Virgin had such an effect on them that they converted on the spot and joined the procession.

In some cities such as Verdun, Bauvais, and Reims associations of so-called “free-thinkers” tried to organize counterdemonstrations against the scheduled appearances of Our Lady of Boulogne. In each case the plan backfired. So many people came out for Our Lady and so few “free-thinkers” showed up that it made them look ridiculous. In Reims, after a big propaganda campaign, the “freethinkers” were only able to gather 12 people against 35,000 who turned out for Our Lady. 5

Return to God, to the Church, to the Medieval Faith

A Benedictine monk who had a role in the Grand Return, Father Jean-Marie Beaurin, published a book in 1945 titled The Arc of Our Alliance. He described the Grand Return as a prophetic movement and compared what was happening to the French nation with the apostasy, suffering, and conversion of the Jews of the Old Testament. After the abomination of desolation, the ingratitude, the declarations of the Popes and the apparitions of Our Lady, and finally the wrath of God, France was returning to the Faith of Clovis, Saint Remigius, Saint Louis, and Saint Joan of Arc.

This rebirth of the Faith that followed the Grand Return was not a Catholicism impregnated with the modern spirit. Father Beaurin described the spirit of the Grand Return as a rebirth of the medieval Faith and the spirit of the Crusades.

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The Bishop Paul Rémond of Nice affirmed this about the Grand Return: “It is not a triumphal cortege, comprised of processions, or of grandiose manifestations… It is much greater than that: the Grand Return is a testimony of filial affection and thanksgiving to our benefactress in Heaven. It is a passing mission, a conquering crusade.”

Shortly after World War II ended, the Grand Return began to spread across the world, to Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Canada, and even as far away as Ceylon, Madagascar, and China. In Italy, hundreds of cities were visited by pilgrim statues of Our Lady in the same manner as the French Grand Return. On May 11, 1947, more than 100,000 people gathered in Milan to welcome the traveling Madonna with unprecedented devotion and Catholic fervor.

End of the Grand Return

In short, the Grand Return was both a mission and a crusade. It represented the beginning of a rebirth of the French Medieval Catholicism with its crusading spirit and the rejection of the French Revolution and all its errors.

Everything about the Grand Return seemed to indicate that it was the means that Divine Providence chose to re-Christianize France, and through the first-born daughter of the Church, the whole world.

Tragically, this never happened.

On August 29, 1948, the four traveling statues converged at the shrine of Boulogne-sur-Mer for the last time, effectively ending the Grand Return. Why did this movement—the biggest public manifestation of piety in history—end so prematurely?

Partially, because the Catholic faithful did not correspond to the grace of the Grand Return as they should have. Millions of Frenchmen returned to the Faith, but millions of others did not.

In addition, the majority of French bishops and lower clergy did not receive and promote the Grand Return as they should have. Many were believers in false “ecumenism” and disliked processions or public acts of piety. Others supported the Modernist, progressivist, and even socialist tendencies found in Catholic Action, Jeunesse ouvrière chrétienne (Young Christian Workers), the Liturgical Movement, and the Worker Priest Movement and therefore did not look kindly on traditional Catholic spirituality in general, much less a Marian crusade like the Grand Return.

Cardinal Achille Liénart of Lille (whose open support for socialist causes earned him the nickname “the red bishop”) summarized the general attitude of a large portion of the clergy. He did not ban the Grand Return outright from his diocese but wrote a cold letter to the organizers: “I think that this long voyage which began in Lourdes in 1943 and which, no doubt, has done great good, should not continue indefinitely. In order to protect its effectiveness and vigor, you should not transform it into a permanent institution. I wish therefore the return of this statue without delay to Boulogne from where she came.” 6

Why We Hope for a Future "Grand Return"

But that is not the end of the story. More than anything, the story of Our Lady of the Grand Return should give us boundless hope for the future.

Professor Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira learned about the Grand Return during his trip to Europe in 1952. As a slave of Our Lady according to the method of Saint Louis de Montfort, he was keenly interested in the story of Our Lady of the Grand Return.

It was obvious that the world did not convert even after the horrors of the Second World War. As a devotee of Our Lady of Fatima, he was convinced that another even more terrible chastisement would come. Drawing on the words of Our Lady of Fatima and the writings of Saint Louis de Montfort, Professor Plinio hypothesized that this chastisement would be characterized by confusion in the Church and a terrible persecution of Catholics.

After suffering this terrible chastisement, an “era of peace” would begin as Our Lady of Fatima predicted. This “Reign of Mary” cannot come without many, many conversions. Total conversions, in the same line as Saint Paul. Conversions not just of individuals, but of whole nations.

We need a very special grace from Our Lady, one that would be analogous to that of Pentecost for the Apostles. Just as it was impossible for the Apostles to go out and convert all nations without the coming of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, we will not have the strength to build the Reign of Mary without a very special grace. And it will be completely unmerited, just as Pentecost was unmerited by the Apostles, who had fled Our Lord during the Passion. Saint Louis de Montfort alludes to this grace of conversion in his writing. Professor Plinio developed a whole theory about it and named this future grace the Grand Return.

More than anything, the Grand Return is our great hope for the future. We have hope that Our Lady will pardon us, cure us, convert the world, and inaugurate the Reign of Her Immaculate Heart. Most important of all, we must all stay at our post, fighting with all we have, until that D-Day of Our Lady comes.

Footnotes:

  • 1 L. Devineau, Dans le Sillage de la Vierge, Société St. Paul: 1963, p. 36.
  • 2 L. Devineau, p. 62.
  • 3 L. Devineau, p. 64.
  • 4 Louis Pérouas, “Le Grand Retour de Notre-Dame de Boulogne à travers la France (1943-1948): Essai d’interprétation.” In Archives de Sciences Sociales des Religions, No. 56/1, 1983, p. 42.
  • 5 L. Devineau, p. 26.
  • 6 Louis Pérouas, “Le Grand Retour de Notre-Dame de Boulogne à travers la France (1943-1948): Essai de reconstitution.” L’espace et le Sacré. Vol. 90, No. 2 of Annales de Bretagne et des pays de l’Ouest, 1983, p. 178.
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Jacinta’s Visions and Prophecies

Jacinta's Visions and Prophecies

Private Revelations

During and after the apparitions, in the short time Francisco and Jacinta spent on earth, they had several private revelations – especially Jacinta. Below are a few excerpts of the principal revelations to Jacinta.

About the Pope and oppressed peoples

To Lucia:

“….I saw the Holy Father in a very large house, kneeling before a table, with his face in his hands, crying. Outside the house were many people, some of whom cast stones at him, others cursed him and said many ugly words. Poor Holy Father! We have to pray a lot for him.”

“…Don’t you see so many roads and so many ways filled with people crying with hunger and having nothing to eat? And the Holy Father in a church before the Immaculate Heart of Mary, praying? And so many people praying with him?”

On war, sin and peace

To Lucia:

“Tell everybody that God grants us His graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, that they should ask her for them, that the Heart of Jesus wants the Immaculate Heart of Mary to be honoured along with Him, that they should ask the Immaculate Heart of Mary for peace because God has placed it in her keeping.”

“You know, Our Lord is very sad because Our Lady told us He should not be offended anymore because He was already much offended, but nobody paid attention. People continue to commit the same sins."

"Wars are nothing but punishments for the sins of the world."

"Our Lady can no longer hold back the arm of her beloved Son from the world. It is necessary to do penance. If people change their ways, Our Lord will still avail the world; but if they do not, the chastisement will come."

"If men do not change their ways, Our Lady will send the world a punishment the like of which has never been seen. It will fall first . . . upon Spain."

Jacinta also spoke of "great world events that would take place around 1940."

On priests and rulers

When Jacinta was moved to Lisbon to be treated at Dona Estefania Hospital, she was lodged at an orphanage in the care of Mother Maria Godinho who carefully took down the seer’s words.

To Mother Godinho:

"… pray much for sinners! Pray much for priests! Pray much for religious! Priests should only occupy themselves with the affairs of the Church. Priests should be pure, very pure. The disobedience of priests and religious to their superiors and to the Holy Father greatly offends Our Lord."

"My godmother, pray much for those who govern! Woe to those who persecute the religion of Our Lord! If the government left the Church in peace and gave freedom to the holy Faith, it would be blessed by God."

On sin, fashions and marriage

To Mother Godinho:

"The sins that lead more souls to hell are the sins of the flesh."

"Fashions that will greatly offend Our Lord will appear. People who serve God should not follow fashions. The Church has no fashions. Our Lord is always the same."

"The sins of the world are very great."

"If men knew what eternity is, they would do everything to change their lives."

"Men are lost because they do not think of the death of Our Lord and do not do penance."

"Many marriages are not good; they do not please Our Lord, and they are not of God."

On Christian virtue

To Mother Godinho:

"…do not walk in the midst of luxury. Flee from riches. Be very fond of holy poverty and silence.

"Have much charity even for those who are bad. Speak ill of no one and flee from those who do so. Be very patient, for patience leads us to heaven. Mortification and sacrifices greatly please Our Lord."

"Confession is a sacrament of mercy. Therefore, one must approach the confessional with confidence and joy. Without confession there is no salvation."

On Fashions

To Mother Godinho:

“The sins which cause most souls to go to hell are the sins of the flesh.” Directly enlightened from above, this perfectly innocent, barely ten-year-old girl repeats what Saint Alphonsus Liguori says, that it is sins against chastity “that fill hell with souls.”

When Mother Godinho asked Jacinta if she understood what it meant to be “pure,” she answered, “I do. To be pure in body is to keep chastity. To be pure in soul is not to commit sins, not to look at what one should not see...”

The other, rather prophetic statement of Jacinta, is: “Fashions will much offend Our Lord.”

It is well to recall here that modesty is the outer defense of chastity, the walls that defend the castle, as well as the gardens that adorn the palace.

The correct question, when it comes to fashion, is not what is the extreme limit at which one is allowed to arrive, but how can one’s attire more clearly manifest love of modesty and of the virtue of purity.

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Three Hail Marys Pledge

Three Hail Marys Pledge

Pray:

Recite, every morning or evening, three Hail Marys in honor of the three great privileges, with this invocation at the end:

  • "O my Mother, preserve me this day (or night) from mortal sin."

Benefits:

  • Indulgences of 200 days granted by Pope Leo XIII.
  • "A devout servant of Mary shall never perish." — St. Alphonsus Liguori
  • This practice has been revealed to St. Melchtilde in the 13th Century with the promise of a good death, if faithful to it every day. (see below)

List of intentions:

  1. For the increase of devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
  2. For the conversion of sinners and the salvation of souls; especially those of my family and friends.
  3. For the conversion of our country. That Canada as a nation may come to fully respect and honor the 10 Commandments of the Divine Law.
  4. For the fidelity and perseverance in the true Faith of all and especially those who are currently most tried against it.
  5. For our children, so they may remain innocent and protected from all moral corruption.
  6. For the relief of souls in Purgatory, that they may soon join the saints in Heaven; especially those of my family and friends.
  7. In reparation for the sins of abortion and euthanasia in our country.
  8. In reparation for the sins against the virtue of purity and the family as set forth by God from the beginning of creation.
  9. For the rejection of the “Errors of Russia” foretold by Our Lady in Fatima. In short, for the rejection of Socialism and Communism in Canada and the world.
  10. For the restoration of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church according to the eternal designs of Her Founder, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
  11. For all those who are good, that they may become even better and more fervent souls. For those who are weak, that they may become stronger in the fight against evil.
  12. For the good health, spiritual and physical, of all those close to us and specially for all those who have requested our prayers.
  13. And finally, May Jesus and Mary bless us individually and our Nation and grant us mercy and grace in spite of all our shortcomings so that we may grow in fidelity to the One True Church, the Mystical Body of Christ on this earth and be with Him for all eternity in Heaven.

About this devotion:

This devotion was revealed by our Blessed Mother Herself to the Benedictine mystic, St. Mechtilde - 1270.

The first Hail Mary: will be in honor of God the Father, Whose omnipotence raised my soul so high above every other creature that, after God, I have the greatest power in Heaven and on earth. In the hour of your death, I will use that power of God the Father to keep any hostile power far from you.

The second Hail Mary: will be said in honor of the Son of God, Who communicated His inscrutable wisdom to me. In the hour of your death, I will fill your soul with the light of that wisdom, so that all the darkness of ignorance and error will be dispelled.

The third Hail Mary: will be in honor of God the Holy Ghost, Who filled my soul with the sweetness of His love and tenderness and mercy. In your last hour, I will then change the bitterness of death into divine sweetness and delight.

SIGN THIS PLEDGE

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”To desire grace without recourse to the Virgin Mother is to desire to fly without wings.” — Pope Pius XII

MY THREE HAIL MARYS PLEDGE:


I pledge to pray three Hail Mary's daily for the intentions listed and for all of my intentions.

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Excerpt from “The Glories of Mary”

An excerpt from the book "The Glories of Mary"

BY SAINT ALPHONSUS DE LIGUORI

the glories of mary book“In the year 1604 there lived in a city of Flanders two young students, who, instead of attending to their studies, gave themselves up to excesses and dissipation. One night, having gone to the house of a woman of ill fame, one of them, named Richard, after some time returned home, but the other remained. Richard having gone home was undressing to go to rest, when he remember ed that he had not recited that day, as usual, Borne "Hail Marys." He was oppressed with sleep and very weary, yet he roftsed himself and recited them, although without devotion, and only half awake. He then went to bed, and having just fallen asleep, he heard a loud knocking at the door, and immediately after, before he had time to open it, he saw before him his companion, with a hideous and ghastly appearance.

"Who are you?" he said to him.

"Do you not know me?" answered the other.

"But what has so changed you? you seem like a demon."

"Alas!" exclaimed this poor wretch, "I am damned."

"And how is this?"

"Know," he said, "that when I came out of that infamous house, a devil attacked me and strangled me. My body lies in the middle of the street, and my soul is in hell. Know that my punishment would also have been yours, but the blessed Virgin, on account of those few Hail Marys said in her honor, has saved you. Happy will it be for you, if you know how to avail yourself of this warning, that the mother of God sends you through me." After these words he opened his cloak, showed the fire and serpents that were consuming him, and then disappeared.

Then the youth, bursting into a flood of tears, threw himself with his face on the ground, to thank Mary, his deliverer, and while he was revolving in his mind a change of life, he hears the matin bell of a neighboring Franciscan Monastery.

"It is there," he exclaimed, "that God calls me to do penance." He went immediately to the convent to beg the fathers to receive him. Knowing how bad his life had been, they objected. But after he had related the circumstance which had brought him. there, weeping bitterly all the while, two of the fathers went out to search in the street, and actually found there the dead body of his companion, having the marks of strangulation, and black as a coal. Whereupon the young man was received.

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Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

FEAST: JUNE 27

Pray for 9 consecutive days - June 18 to June 26

MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP, you are the dispenser of every grace that God grants us in our misery.

For this reason He has made you so powerful, so rich, and so kind that you might help us in our needs.

You are the advocate of the most wretched and abandoned sinners, if they but come to you.

Come to my aid for I commend myself to you.

In your hands I place my eternal salvation; to you I entrust my soul.

Count me among your most faithful servants. Take me under your protection; that is enough for me.

If you protect me, I shall fear nothing: not my sins, because you will obtain for me their pardon and remission; not the evil spirits, because you are mightier than all the powers of Hell; not even Jesus, my Judge, because He is appeased by a single prayer from you.

I fear only that through my own negligence I may forget to recommend myself to you and so lose my soul.

My dear Lady, obtain for me the forgiveness of my sins, love for Jesus, final perseverance, and the grace to have recourse to you at all times, Mother of Perpetual Help.

Say Three Hail Marys...

O MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP, grant that I may ever invoke your most powerful name, which is the safeguard of the living and the salvation of the dying.

O Purest Mary, O Sweetest Mary, let your name henceforth be ever on my lips. Delay not, O Blessed Lady, to help me whenever I call on you, for, in all my temptations, in all my needs, I shall never cease to call on you, ever repeating your sacred name, Mary, Mary.

O what consolation, what sweetness, what confidence, what emotion fills my soul when I utter your sacred name, or even only think of you.

I thank God for having given you, for my good, so sweet, so powerful, so lovely a name. But I will not be content with merely uttering your name; let my hope in you prompt me ever to hail you, Mother of Perpetual Help. Amen

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Irresistible Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Irresistible Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Novena

O my Jesus who didst say: “Indeed I say to you, ask and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you.” Here I am, knocking, seeking, and asking the grace.... (mention your request)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory be….
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in Thee.

O my Jesus who didst say: “Indeed I say to you, whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, it shall be granted to you.” Here I am, asking Thy Father in Thy name for the grace.... (mention your request)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory be….
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in Thee.

O my Jesus who didst say: “Indeed I say to you, heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass.” Here I am, and supporting myself on the infallibility of Thy words, I ask Thee the grace.... (mention your request)

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory be….
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in Thee.

Prayer

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom only one thing is impossible and that is not to feel compassion for the wretched, have pity on us, miserable sinners, and grant us the grace which we ask Thee through the Immaculate Heart of She who is Thy tender Mother and also ours.

Hail Holy Queen...

Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen

Saint Joseph foster father of Jesus, pray for us.

Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to Families Who Honour His Most Sacred Heart

  • I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
  • I will establish peace in their families.
  • I will bless every house in which a picture of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
  • I will console them in all their difficulties.
  • I will be their refuge during life and especially at the hour of death.
  • I will shed abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
  • Sinners shall find in My Heart a fountain and boundless ocean of mercy.
  • Tepid souls shall become fervent.
  • Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.
  • I will give to priests the power of touching the hardest hearts.
  • Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out.
  • I promise thee, in the excessive mercy of My Heart, that My all-powerful love will grant to all who communicate on the first Friday of the month for nine consecutive months the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My displeasure nor without the sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.

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pledges

Three Hail Marys Pledge

Three Hail Marys Pledge

Pray:

Recite, every morning or evening, three Hail Marys in honour of the three great privileges, with this invocation at the end:

  • "O my Mother, preserve me this day (or night) from mortal sin."

Benefits:

  • Indulgences of 200 days granted by Pope Leo XIII.
  • "A devout servant of Mary shall never perish." — St. Alphonsus Liguori
  • This practice has been revealed to St. Melchtilde in the 13th Century with the promise of a good death, if faithful to it every day. (see below)

List of intentions:

  1. For the increase of devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
  2. For the conversion of sinners and the salvation of souls; especially those of my family and friends.
  3. For the conversion of our country. That Canada as a nation may come to fully respect and honour the 10 Commandments of the Divine Law.
  4. For the fidelity and perseverance in the true Faith of all and especially those who are currently most tried against it.
  5. For our children, so they may remain innocent and protected from all moral corruption.
  6. For the relief of souls in Purgatory, that they may soon join the saints in Heaven; especially those of my family and friends.
  7. In reparation for the sins of abortion and euthanasia in our country.
  8. In reparation for the sins against the virtue of purity and the family as set forth by God from the beginning of creation.
  9. For the rejection of the “Errors of Russia” foretold by Our Lady in Fatima. In short, for the rejection of Socialism and Communism in Canada and the world.
  10. For the restoration of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church according to the eternal designs of Her Founder, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
  11. For all those who are good, that they may become even better and more fervent souls. For those who are weak, that they may become stronger in the fight against evil.
  12. For the good health, spiritual and physical, of all those close to us and specially for all those who have requested our prayers.
  13. And finally, May Jesus and Mary bless us individually and our Nation and grant us mercy and grace in spite of all our shortcomings so that we may grow in fidelity to the One True Church, the Mystical Body of Christ on this earth and be with Him for all eternity in Heaven.

About this devotion:

This devotion was revealed by our Blessed Mother Herself to the Benedictine mystic, St. Mechtilde - 1270.

The first Hail Mary: will be in honour of God the Father, Whose omnipotence raised my soul so high above every other creature that, after God, I have the greatest power in Heaven and on earth. In the hour of your death, I will use that power of God the Father to keep any hostile power far from you.

The second Hail Mary: will be said in honour of the Son of God, Who communicated His inscrutable wisdom to me. In the hour of your death, I will fill your soul with the light of that wisdom, so that all the darkness of ignorance and error will be dispelled.

The third Hail Mary: will be in honour of God the Holy Ghost, Who filled my soul with the sweetness of His love and tenderness and mercy. In your last hour, I will then change the bitterness of death into divine sweetness and delight.

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”To desire grace without recourse to the Virgin Mother is to desire to fly without wings.” — Pope Pius XII

MY THREE HAIL MARYS PLEDGE:


I pledge to pray three Hail Mary's daily for the intentions listed and for all of my intentions.

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Articles

Jacinta’s Visions and Prophecies

Jacinta's Visions and Prophecies

Private Revelations

During and after the apparitions, in the short time Francisco and Jacinta spent on earth, they had several private revelations – especially Jacinta. Below are a few excerpts of the principal revelations to Jacinta.

About the Pope and oppressed peoples

To Lucia:

“….I saw the Holy Father in a very large house, kneeling before a table, with his face in his hands, crying. Outside the house were many people, some of whom cast stones at him, others cursed him and said many ugly words. Poor Holy Father! We have to pray a lot for him.”

“…Don’t you see so many roads and so many ways filled with people crying with hunger and having nothing to eat? And the Holy Father in a church before the Immaculate Heart of Mary, praying? And so many people praying with him?”

On war, sin and peace

To Lucia:

“Tell everybody that God grants us His graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, that they should ask her for them, that the Heart of Jesus wants the Immaculate Heart of Mary to be honoured along with Him, that they should ask the Immaculate Heart of Mary for peace because God has placed it in her keeping.”

“You know, Our Lord is very sad because Our Lady told us He should not be offended anymore because He was already much offended, but nobody paid attention. People continue to commit the same sins."

"Wars are nothing but punishments for the sins of the world."

"Our Lady can no longer hold back the arm of her beloved Son from the world. It is necessary to do penance. If people change their ways, Our Lord will still avail the world; but if they do not, the chastisement will come."

"If men do not change their ways, Our Lady will send the world a punishment the like of which has never been seen. It will fall first . . . upon Spain."

Jacinta also spoke of "great world events that would take place around 1940."

On priests and rulers

When Jacinta was moved to Lisbon to be treated at Dona Estefania Hospital, she was lodged at an orphanage in the care of Mother Maria Godinho who carefully took down the seer’s words.

To Mother Godinho:

"… pray much for sinners! Pray much for priests! Pray much for religious! Priests should only occupy themselves with the affairs of the Church. Priests should be pure, very pure. The disobedience of priests and religious to their superiors and to the Holy Father greatly offends Our Lord."

"My godmother, pray much for those who govern! Woe to those who persecute the religion of Our Lord! If the government left the Church in peace and gave freedom to the holy Faith, it would be blessed by God."

On sin, fashions and marriage

To Mother Godinho:

"The sins that lead more souls to hell are the sins of the flesh."

"Fashions that will greatly offend Our Lord will appear. People who serve God should not follow fashions. The Church has no fashions. Our Lord is always the same."

"The sins of the world are very great."

"If men knew what eternity is, they would do everything to change their lives."

"Men are lost because they do not think of the death of Our Lord and do not do penance."

"Many marriages are not good; they do not please Our Lord, and they are not of God."

On Christian virtue

To Mother Godinho:

"…do not walk in the midst of luxury. Flee from riches. Be very fond of holy poverty and silence.

"Have much charity even for those who are bad. Speak ill of no one and flee from those who do so. Be very patient, for patience leads us to heaven. Mortification and sacrifices greatly please Our Lord."

"Confession is a sacrament of mercy. Therefore, one must approach the confessional with confidence and joy. Without confession there is no salvation."

On Fashions

To Mother Godinho:

“The sins which cause most souls to go to hell are the sins of the flesh.” Directly enlightened from above, this perfectly innocent, barely ten-year-old girl repeats what Saint Alphonsus Liguori says, that it is sins against chastity “that fill hell with souls.”

When Mother Godinho asked Jacinta if she understood what it meant to be “pure,” she answered, “I do. To be pure in body is to keep chastity. To be pure in soul is not to commit sins, not to look at what one should not see...”

The other, rather prophetic statement of Jacinta, is: “Fashions will much offend Our Lord.”

It is well to recall here that modesty is the outer defense of chastity, the walls that defend the castle, as well as the gardens that adorn the palace.

The correct question, when it comes to fashion, is not what is the extreme limit at which one is allowed to arrive, but how can one’s attire more clearly manifest love of modesty and of the virtue of purity.

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prayers

Novenas & Prayers to Saint Anthony

saint anthony

Novenas & Prayers to Saint Anthony

FEAST: JUNE 13

Novena

Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9

OPENING PRAYER:

O wonderful St. Anthony, gloriously named “Miracle Worker” on account of your many miracles and through the sweetness of Jesus coming in the form of a little child to rest in your arms, obtain for me from His bounty the grace which I ardently desire from the depths of my heart. You who were so compassionate toward miserable sinners, regard not the unworthiness of those who pray to you, but the glory of God that it may once again be magnified by the granting of the particular request which I now ask with complete trust in your kindness. Amen

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY ONE

O holy St. Anthony, gentlest of saints, your love for God and charity for His creatures made you worthy while on earth to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited your word, which you were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me the favor I seek in this novena. The answer to my prayer may require a miracle; even so, you are the Saint of miracles. O gentle and loving Saint Anthony, whose heart was ever full of human sympathy, whisper my petition into the ears of the Infant Jesus, Who loved to be folded in your arms, and the gratitude of my heart will always be yours.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY TWO

O miracle-working St. Anthony, remember that it never has been heard that you did not leave without help or relief anyone who in his need had recourse to you. Animated now with the most lively confidence, even with full conviction of not being refused, I fly for refuge to you, O most favored friend of the Infant Jesus. Eloquent preacher of the Divine mercy, despise not my supplications but, bringing them before the throne of God, strengthen them by your intercession and obtain for me the favor I seek in this novena.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY THREE

O purest St. Anthony, who through thine Angelic virtue was made worthy to be caressed by the Divine Child Jesus, to hold Him in your arms and press Him to your heart. I entreat you to cast a benevolent glance upon me. O glorious St. Anthony, born under the protection of Mary Immaculate, on the Feast of her Assumption into Heaven, and consecrated to her and now so powerful an intercessor in Heaven, I beseech you to obtain for me the favor I ask in this novena. O great wonder-worker, intercede for me that God may grant my request.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY FOUR

I salute and honor you, O powerful helper, St. Anthony. The Christian world confidently turns to you and experiences your tender compassion and powerful assistance in so many necessities and sufferings that I am encouraged in my need to seek your help in obtaining a favorable answer to my request for the favor I seek in this novena. O holy St. Anthony, I beseech you, obtain for me the grace that I desire.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY FIVE

I salute you, St. Anthony, lily of purity, ornament and glory of Christianity. I salute you, great Saint, cherub of wisdom and seraph of Divine love. I rejoice at the favors our Lord has so liberally bestowed upon you. In humility and confidence, I entreat you to help me, for I know that God has given you charity and pity, as well as power. I ask you by the love you felt toward the Infant Jesus as you held Him in your arms to tell Him now of the favor I seek in this novena.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY SIX

O glorious St. Anthony, chosen by God to preach His Word, you received from Him the gift of tongues and the power of working the most extraordinary miracles. O good St. Anthony, pray that I may fulfill the will of God in all things so that I may love Him, with you, for all eternity. O kind St. Anthony, I ask you, obtain for me the grace that I desire, the favor I seek in this novena.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY SEVEN

O renowned champion of the faith of Christ, most holy St. Anthony, glorious for your many miracles, obtain for me from the bounty of my Lord and God the grace which I ardently seek in this novena. O holy St. Anthony, ever attentive to those who invoke your assistance, grant me the aid of your powerful intercession.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY EIGHT

O holy St. Anthony, you have shown yourself to be so powerful, so tender and so compassionate towards those who honor you and invoke you in suffering and distress. I ask you most humbly and earnestly to take me under your protection in my present necessities and to obtain for me the favor I desire. Recommend my request to the merciful Queen of Heaven, that she may plead my cause with you before the throne of her Divine Son.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY NINE

Saint Anthony, servant of Mary, glory of the Church, pray for our Holy Father, our bishops, our priests, our Religious Orders, that, through their pious zeal and apostolic labors, all may be united in faith and give greater glory to God. St. Anthony, helper of all who invoke you, pray for me and intercede for me before the throne of Almighty God that I be granted the favor I so earnestly seek in this novena.

Our Father....
Hail Mary....
Glory Be to the Father....
Concluding prayer....

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

CONCLUDING PRAYER

May the Divine assistance remain always with us. Amen

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

O God, may devotion to blessed Anthony, Thy confessor, be a source of joy to Thy Church, that she may always be fortified with spiritual assistance, and deserve to enjoy eternal rewards. Amen

Prayer to Saint Anthony for help in finding missing items

Saint Anthony, perfect imitator of Jesus, who received from God the special power of restoring lost things, grant that I may find (mention your request) which has been lost.

As least restore to me peace and tranquility of mind, the loss of which has afflicted me even more than my material loss.

To this favor I ask another of you: that I may always remain in possession of the true good that is God. Let me rather lose all things than lose God, my supreme good. Let me never suffer the loss of my greatest treasure, eternal life with God. Amen

Short Prayer to Saint Anthony

Wondrous Saint Anthony, glorious for the fame of your miracles, you had the happiness of receiving in your arms our blessed Lord as a little child. Obtain for me from His mercy this favor that I desire from the bottom of my heart: (mention your request)

Since you were so gracious to poor sinners, do not regard the lack of merit on the part of him who calls upon you, but consider the glory of God, which will by exalted once more through you, by the salvation of my soul and the granting of the petition that I now earnestly present to you.

As a pledge of my gratitude, I beg you to accept my promise to live henceforth more faithfully according to the teaching of the Gospel and to be devoted to the service of the poor whom you ever loved and still love so much. Bless this my resolution and obtain for me the grace to be faithful to it till death. Amen

Ejaculatory prayers to Saint Anthony

  • Saint Anthony, attentive to those who invoke thee, grant us the aid of thy powerful intercession for the grace of holy purity, meekness, humility, obedience, the spirit of poverty, and perfect abandonment to the will of God. Amen
  • Saint Anthony, great wonder-worker, intercede for us that God may grant us our request if it be for the good of our soul. Amen
  • Saint Anthony, be our patron, our protector, and our advocate in life and in death. Amen
  • Saint Anthony, servant of Mary, obtain for us greater devotion to the blessed Mother of God. Amen

INTENTIONS TO SAINT ANTHONY

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"Christians must lean on the Cross of Christ just as travelers lean on a staff when they begin a long journey." - Saint Anthony

Dear Saint Anthony, please answer my prayers!

Yes, please take my intentions to Saint Anthony and touch them to his tomb in Padua, Italy.

I love Saint Anthony and am confident he will help restore the Faith in the hearts of those who have grown cold towards God and His Church.

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Articles

The Return of the Queen: A Sign of Great Hope​

The Return of the Queen: A Sign of Great Hope

our lady of boulogne

Travel back in your mind 1,500 years to a charming port city on the English Channel in northern France. It is the year 636 A.D. and a small boat without sails, oars, or sailors floats into the harbor of Boulogne-sur-Mer.

As the townspeople gather around it, they discover that the boat contains an innocuous treasure: a wooden statue of Our Lady holding the Child Jesus in her left hand. She has an air of divine majesty, yet is calm and maternal. Our Lady’s statue is solemnly carried into the chapel and the newly christened shrine of Notre Dame de Boulogne became one of the most well-known and visited shrines in Christendom. Her feast day is February 20, and is celebrated locally in Boulogne on October 22.

Medieval chroniclers wrote about the many miracles of Our Lady of Boulogne. A chronicle of the life of the holy King of France, Saint Louis IX, includes several references to the miraculous cures obtained through the intercession of Our Lady of Boulogne. She was especially powerful towards sailors and expectant mothers.

England Invades

In 1544, disaster came to Boulogne-sur-Mer. Henry VIII, King of England, declared war on France and sent a fleet with 47,000 troops across the Channel. One of the first cities he attacked was Boulogne, laying siege to it on July 18. Boulogne, although a walled city with very strong defenses, was manned by only 2,000 soldiers. The city surrendered on September 14, 1544.

The invading Protestant army sacked the city. Statues, altars, relics of saints and other sacred objects were hacked to pieces and burned in the streets in an orgy of hatred for the Catholic Faith. Worst of all, the statue of Our Lady of Boulogne was dragged out of the church, mocked and insulted and taken back to England as a trophy of victory. They transformed Our Lady’s medieval shrine into an armory.

The English finally surrendered Boulogne on April 25, 1550, and shortly afterwards returned the statue of Our Lady. The church and city were rebuilt and restored over the following decades and Our Lady’s shrine reacquired much of its original splendor.

Huguenots Attack

The same Revolutionary virus that had infected Europe was preparing bloody rebellion and religious civil war in France with the Huguenots, the French Protestant sect.

During the night of October 11, 1567, hundreds of Huguenot soldiers secretly broke into the church of Our Lady of Boulogne. They wrecked the church and tore out the miraculous statue. Tying a rope around her neck, they dragged her through the muddy streets until they reached the main gate of the old town. There they mocked and blasphemed her.

But when they tried to chop Our Lady into pieces, a miraculous force protected her. They hit her over and over again with swords and hammers, but the statue, as if made of steel, suffered no damage. The miracle infuriated the Protestants even more, and they threw the statue into a great bonfire. Again, Our Lady was miraculously preserved intact amidst the flames. The Huguenots took the statue out of the city and they threw her down a well.

By the following spring, order was restored to the port city. A local Catholic woman, knowing the whereabouts of the miraculous statue, secretly retrieved it and took it to her house. On September 26, 1607, to the acclamations of large crowds of faithful, Our Lady solemnly reentered Boulogne.

Devestation of the French Revolution

The French Revolution began in 1789 with tragic consequences for France and Our Lady of Boulogne.

On November 10, 1793, after the Revolutionaries in Boulogne finished celebrating in a former church the so-called “Feast of the goddess of Reason,” they began an orgy of destruction. Full of hate for the Catholic Faith, they piled numerous statues, paintings, vestments, and relics in the city square and destroyed everything in a giant bonfire.

A mob of thugs armed with picks and screaming the Marseillaise dragged Our Lady of Boulogne to the main square. The sans-culottes put a red Phrygian cap on Our Lady’s head, symbol of the French Revolution, and began to mock and blaspheme her. When they tired of this, they burned her in a great bonfire, dancing like savages in celebration for the victory of “reason” over “superstition.” port city. A local Catholic woman, knowing the whereabouts of the miraculous statue, secretly retrieved it and took it to her house. On September 26, 1607, to the acclamations of large crowds of faithful, Our Lady solemnly reentered Boulogne.

Not satisfied with the destruction of the miraculous statue, in 1798 the revolutionary government completely demolished the shrine. Devotion to Our Lady of Boulogne, who for more than eleven centuries had served as a symbol of the mutual love between the French people and the Mother of God, came to an end.

Or did it? Did Our Lady abandon the France that had abandoned her? Or, seeing her children do penance and return to the true Faith, would she make a Grand Return just as she did after the previous disasters, first under the English and then under the Huguenots?

A New Statue, A New Shrine

Shortly after the end of the French Revolution, the Catholics of Boulogne decided to make a copy of the original statue of Our Lady of Boulogne from memory, and the devotion to Our Lady of Boulogne began once again.

Father Benoît-Agathon Haffreingue, a priest from Boulogne-sur-Mer, decided to rebuild the ruined church. On May 1, 1827, he laid the first stone of the new shrine of Our Lady of Boulogne, which was completed thirty-nine years later on August 24, 1866. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims poured into Boulogne each year. Devotion to Our Lady of Boulogne surpassed what it had been even before the French Revolution.

France and Europe had much more suffering ahead of them. The Franco-Prussian war and the First World War utterly devastated France. It was during the Second World War, however, that Our Lady of Boulogne worked her greatest miracle: the Grand Retour or the “Grand Return.”

Origins of the Grand Return

In the summer of 1938, Boulogne hosted a Marian Congress. To prepare the faithful for this national event, two priests decided to make four copies of the original statue of Our Lady of Boulogne and take them on a great tour of the towns and parishes of the diocese. Christened the “Fiery Path,” it was a success far exceeding expectations. In ten weeks the four statues covered more than 1,500 miles and made 466 stops at parishes.

After the close of the Marian Congress, some clergy led by Father Gabriel Ranson, a Jesuit, decided to continue this “Fiery Path” of Our Lady around France until the next Congress, to be held in the summer of 1942 in Le Puy, in southern France. In the fall of 1939 and the spring of 1940, he and a handful of young laymen took Our Lady of Boulogne to northeastern France where they visited many parishes, as well as battlefields from the First World War.

After a very successful Congress, Our Lady of Boulogne continued her tour of France to Lourdes. She arrived there on September 7, 1942, eve of the Nativity of Our Lady, greeted by a massive crowd of pilgrims. With her triumphal entry into Lourdes, it seemed that Our Lady’s great tour of France would come to a close.

Precisely at this moment, Pope Pius XII made a direct appeal to the Mother of God. On December 8, 1942, feast of the Immaculate Conception, the Supreme Pontiff consecrated the human race to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The following year, on March 28, 1943, the French bishops solemnly renewed this consecration. This day was also the beginning of what came to be known as the Grand Return of Our Lady of Boulogne.

The Grand Return Begins

The bishop of Tarbes, where Lourdes is located, had the idea of sending the statue of Our Lady of Boulogne to each of the parishes of his diocese in pilgrimage. During each stop, the faithful would renew the consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. After passing through his diocese and others across France, Our Lady would make her final return to Boulogne, hence the name “Grand Return.”

The response was so great that the organizers decided to send all four copies of Our Lady of Boulogne around France on four different itineraries. With the letter of approval from Pope Pius XII in May, the four began their great tour of France, which would continue without stopping for five years straight.

Each statue traveled with a group of about a dozen or so young men, all volunteers, led by two or three priests. They placed the statue on a very simple wheeled carriage, pulled by men the whole way from village to village. These men and the whole crowd often processed barefoot in a spirit of penance. When Our Lady arrived at the local parish, an honor guard would carry her into the church. The priest would preach a sermon on Our Lady of Boulogne and the meaning of the Grand Return, and they would hear confessions.

Then the all-night vigil would begin, with villagers taking one or often many hours during the night. At midnight, Mass would begin. Each person received a copy of the Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Pope Pius XII. The whole congregation would pray the consecration aloud and each one would sign it and place it at the feet of Our Lady, along with other written intentions.

With World War II underway, the intentions were often simple requests for the safe return of a father, husband, brother, or son from a prison camp or working as a forced laborer in Germany. Many asked for the conversion of a family member. Everyone asked Our Lady to save France.

The all-night vigil continued until the following morning. In the morning, the priest celebrated a Mass of farewell. A large crowd of villagers gathered once again to escort the Blessed Virgin all the way to the next town, where a crowd of faithful had already gathered, and the sequence began again.

Conversions, Penance, Graces

Most remarkable about the Grand Return was the unprecedented avalanche of graces, especially of conversions and penance. Thousands upon thousands of atheists, communists, freemasons, and fallen-away Catholics converted on the spot when they saw Our Lady enter their village.

One bishop described the effect on the faithful: “The passing of Our Lady in my diocese is the most extraordinary contemporary religious event of our times, and the most significant. Crowds of people rose up, motivated and enthusiastic. In fact, the confessionals and communion rails were besieged during the holy vigils, while the recitation of the mysteries of the rosary kept the faithful praying in the churches. In some parishes, there were tremendous conversions like never seen before on the missions.” 1

Parish priests also testified to the effect of the Grand Return. “I was a bit uneasy about the welcome that my very indifferent parish would give to Our Lady. People around me said that the welcome would be mediocre…Three kilometers from [our village of] Nantiat, we see the delegation of this parish, my parish. And I was moved to tears when I saw how big it was: men and young men, women; the whole crowd did not hesitate to kneel upon the wet ground, with arms in the form of a cross, to greet our illustrious Visitor…Truly the Holy Virgin has sent a breath of grace on this not very religious community.” 2

Another prelate testified: “Last Saturday, at around 2 pm, the Virgin arrived at [our] parish of Basville. For centuries no doubt, ever since the beginning of the world maybe, no king, no queen, no princess so royal or so powerful had ever visited us. Truly, this evening was at the least a return to Christianity, a general conversion, a call of my people to Our Mother and Queen…Yes, I think that if the Bishops send us a Virgin every year, in ten years the people of France will convert to Jesus Christ through Mary.”. 3

One observer wrote the following: “It is like the atmosphere at Lourdes. We would dare say that it is stronger than Lourdes in a certain sense. The pilgrim of Lourdes is transplanted out of his element into an ambience that is so impregnated with the supernatural that nothing appears difficult to him, neither the rosary in his hand nor prayer with the arms in the form of a cross, nor to kneel in the dirt. These gestures of faith, Our Lady of Boulogne makes us do them where we live, in our street, under the attentive gazes of our neighbors, of people whom we know. We are no longer worried about what they think, and they don’t dare laugh or criticize.”. 4

When the Grand Return arrived in Marseille, she passed through a neighborhood known for its support for communism. As she passed by a bar in which some communists were gathering for a meeting, several came out to investigate the commotion. The passing of the white Virgin had such an effect on them that they converted on the spot and joined the procession.

In some cities such as Verdun, Bauvais, and Reims associations of so-called “free-thinkers” tried to organize counterdemonstrations against the scheduled appearances of Our Lady of Boulogne. In each case the plan backfired. So many people came out for Our Lady and so few “free-thinkers” showed up that it made them look ridiculous. In Reims, after a big propaganda campaign, the “freethinkers” were only able to gather 12 people against 35,000 who turned out for Our Lady. 5

Return to God, to the Church, to the Medieval Faith

A Benedictine monk who had a role in the Grand Return, Father Jean-Marie Beaurin, published a book in 1945 titled The Arc of Our Alliance. He described the Grand Return as a prophetic movement and compared what was happening to the French nation with the apostasy, suffering, and conversion of the Jews of the Old Testament. After the abomination of desolation, the ingratitude, the declarations of the Popes and the apparitions of Our Lady, and finally the wrath of God, France was returning to the Faith of Clovis, Saint Remigius, Saint Louis, and Saint Joan of Arc.

This rebirth of the Faith that followed the Grand Return was not a Catholicism impregnated with the modern spirit. Father Beaurin described the spirit of the Grand Return as a rebirth of the medieval Faith and the spirit of the Crusades.

The Bishop Paul Rémond of Nice affirmed this about the Grand Return: “It is not a triumphal cortege, comprised of processions, or of grandiose manifestations… It is much greater than that: the Grand Return is a testimony of filial affection and thanksgiving to our benefactress in Heaven. It is a passing mission, a conquering crusade.”

Shortly after World War II ended, the Grand Return began to spread across the world, to Italy, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Canada, and even as far away as Ceylon, Madagascar, and China. In Italy, hundreds of cities were visited by pilgrim statues of Our Lady in the same manner as the French Grand Return. On May 11, 1947, more than 100,000 people gathered in Milan to welcome the traveling Madonna with unprecedented devotion and Catholic fervor.

End of the Grand Return

In short, the Grand Return was both a mission and a crusade. It represented the beginning of a rebirth of the French Medieval Catholicism with its crusading spirit and the rejection of the French Revolution and all its errors.

Everything about the Grand Return seemed to indicate that it was the means that Divine Providence chose to re-Christianize France, and through the first-born daughter of the Church, the whole world.

Tragically, this never happened.

On August 29, 1948, the four traveling statues converged at the shrine of Boulogne-sur-Mer for the last time, effectively ending the Grand Return. Why did this movement—the biggest public manifestation of piety in history—end so prematurely?

Partially, because the Catholic faithful did not correspond to the grace of the Grand Return as they should have. Millions of Frenchmen returned to the Faith, but millions of others did not.

In addition, the majority of French bishops and lower clergy did not receive and promote the Grand Return as they should have. Many were believers in false “ecumenism” and disliked processions or public acts of piety. Others supported the Modernist, progressivist, and even socialist tendencies found in Catholic Action, Jeunesse ouvrière chrétienne (Young Christian Workers), the Liturgical Movement, and the Worker Priest Movement and therefore did not look kindly on traditional Catholic spirituality in general, much less a Marian crusade like the Grand Return.

Cardinal Achille Liénart of Lille (whose open support for socialist causes earned him the nickname “the red bishop”) summarized the general attitude of a large portion of the clergy. He did not ban the Grand Return outright from his diocese but wrote a cold letter to the organizers: “I think that this long voyage which began in Lourdes in 1943 and which, no doubt, has done great good, should not continue indefinitely. In order to protect its effectiveness and vigor, you should not transform it into a permanent institution. I wish therefore the return of this statue without delay to Boulogne from where she came.” 6

Why We Hope for a Future "Grand Return"

But that is not the end of the story. More than anything, the story of Our Lady of the Grand Return should give us boundless hope for the future.

Professor Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira learned about the Grand Return during his trip to Europe in 1952. As a slave of Our Lady according to the method of Saint Louis de Montfort, he was keenly interested in the story of Our Lady of the Grand Return.

It was obvious that the world did not convert even after the horrors of the Second World War. As a devotee of Our Lady of Fatima, he was convinced that another even more terrible chastisement would come. Drawing on the words of Our Lady of Fatima and the writings of Saint Louis de Montfort, Professor Plinio hypothesized that this chastisement would be characterized by confusion in the Church and a terrible persecution of Catholics.

After suffering this terrible chastisement, an “era of peace” would begin as Our Lady of Fatima predicted. This “Reign of Mary” cannot come without many, many conversions. Total conversions, in the same line as Saint Paul. Conversions not just of individuals, but of whole nations.

We need a very special grace from Our Lady, one that would be analogous to that of Pentecost for the Apostles. Just as it was impossible for the Apostles to go out and convert all nations without the coming of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, we will not have the strength to build the Reign of Mary without a very special grace. And it will be completely unmerited, just as Pentecost was unmerited by the Apostles, who had fled Our Lord during the Passion. Saint Louis de Montfort alludes to this grace of conversion in his writing. Professor Plinio developed a whole theory about it and named this future grace the Grand Return.

More than anything, the Grand Return is our great hope for the future. We have hope that Our Lady will pardon us, cure us, convert the world, and inaugurate the Reign of Her Immaculate Heart. Most important of all, we must all stay at our post, fighting with all we have, until that D-Day of Our Lady comes.

Footnotes:

  • 1 L. Devineau, Dans le Sillage de la Vierge, Société St. Paul: 1963, p. 36.
  • 2 L. Devineau, p. 62.
  • 3 L. Devineau, p. 64.
  • 4 Louis Pérouas, “Le Grand Retour de Notre-Dame de Boulogne à travers la France (1943-1948): Essai d’interprétation.” In Archives de Sciences Sociales des Religions, No. 56/1, 1983, p. 42.
  • 5 L. Devineau, p. 26.
  • 6 Louis Pérouas, “Le Grand Retour de Notre-Dame de Boulogne à travers la France (1943-1948): Essai de reconstitution.” L’espace et le Sacré. Vol. 90, No. 2 of Annales de Bretagne et des pays de l’Ouest, 1983, p. 178.