Without sacrifice, saying I love You is NOTHING

Without sacrifice, saying I love You is NOTHING.

Quid est caritas?

Our Lady, Queen of All Martyrs - She suffered all that She could and much much more than anyone else in the whole earth.

Can you imagine the extent of Mamma Mary's pain as she stood at the foot of the Cross of her Son? 

Can you imagine her incredible pain, considering that Our Lord, who was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and sweated drops of His Precious Blood?

Mary's suffering began on the day of the Annunciation (March 25) 

and it did not end until Easter Sunday.

The Apparition at Tuy (1929)

In 1926, Sister Lucy left the convent in Pontevedra to enter the Dorothean noviciate at Tuy, a Spanish city near Pontevedra. She took her habit on October 26, 1926, and pronounced her first vows on October 3, 1928. It was here in Tuy that Our Lady's promise contained in the Secret of July 13, 1917 was fulfilled: "I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia..."

Sister Lucy describes the communication:

(to be continued)

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Anne, Therese, I love You; Save Souls!

Jesu mitis et humilis Corde, Fac cor nostrum secundum Cor tuum. (ter)

Deus propicias esto mihi peccatori.

Stabat Mater Dolorosa: At the Cross Her Station Keeping

The wee hours of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is now here! : )) A happy and O so beautiful feast day for all of us as we labour through Passion Week!!!

It was on this day so many years ago, in the Holy House of Loreto (Nazareth), that Our Dearest Mamma Mary humbly said YES to God, through the Angel, so that Our Dearest Saviour, Jesus could come into this world. 

1) The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.

And She conceived of the Holy Ghost.

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee, Blessed art Thou amongst 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.

2) Behold the handmaid of the Lord,

Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary ...

3) And the Word was made flesh.

And dwelt amongst us.

Hail Mary ...

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

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

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross, be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.

So great was this huge decision that was made, that this changed the entire course of events for the whole world. It was because of this decision that dearest Mother Mary, through the grace of the Most High, made, that allowed for the Saviour of the world to come into this darkness.

It was this decision, that thereby, the fate of all souls since the beginning of time to the end of time was changed. She was the one that said yes to God and thus, to a certain extent, helped accomplish for us, our salvation. In a sense, she made the first committed step, and there was no turning back after she said yes to God. This is one of the reasons why the dearest Blessed Virgin has been given the title, the Co-Redemptrix of mankind, our salvation, because, by virtue of this huge decision she made, she helped save mankind. That is why, we Catholics love her as our dearest Mother.

We need to remember something that St Pio wrote / said:

"Even Mary, the Mother of Jesus, knew that through His death, man would be redeemed, and yet She cried and suffered, and suffered much."

My favourite Stabat Mater Dolorosa: At the Cross Her Station Keeping hymn

Stabat Mater Dolorosa is considered one of the seven greatest Latin hymns of all time. It is based upon the prophecy of Simeon that a sword was to pierce the heart of His mother, Mary (Lk 2:35). The hymn originated in the 13th century during the peak of Franciscan devotion to the crucified Jesus and has been attributed to Pope Innocent III (d. 1216), St. Bonaventure, or more commonly, Jacopone da Todi (1230-1306), who is considered by most to be the real author.

The hymn is often associated with the Stations of the Cross. In 1727 it was prescribed as a Sequence for the Mass of the Seven Sorrows of Mary (September 15) where it is still used today. In addition to this Mass, the hymn is also used for the Office of the Readings, Lauds, and Vespers for this memorial. There is a mirror image to this hymn, Stabat Mater speciosa, which echoes the joy of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the birth of Jesus.

STABAT Mater dolorosa iuxta Crucem lacrimosa, dum pendebat Filius.	AT, the Cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to Jesus to the last.
Cuius animam gementem, contristatam et dolentem pertransivit gladius.	Through her heart, His sorrow sharing, all His bitter anguish bearing, now at length the sword has passed.
O quam tristis et afflicta fuit illa benedicta, mater Unigeniti!	O how sad and sore distressed was that Mother, highly blest, of the sole-begotten One.
Quae maerebat et dolebat, pia Mater, dum videbat nati poenas inclyti.	Christ above in torment hangs, she beneath beholds the pangs of her dying glorious Son.
Quis est homo qui non fleret, matrem Christi si videret in tanto supplicio?	Is there one who would not weep, whelmed in miseries so deep, Christ's dear Mother to behold?
Quis non posset contristari Christi Matrem contemplari dolentem cum Filio?	Can the human heart refrain from partaking in her pain, in that Mother's pain untold?
Pro peccatis suae gentis vidit Iesum in tormentis, et flagellis subditum.	Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled, she beheld her tender Child All with bloody scourges rent:
Vidit suum dulcem Natum moriendo desolatum, dum emisit spiritum.	For the sins of His own nation, saw Him hang in desolation, Till His spirit forth He sent.
Eia, Mater, fons amoris me sentire vim doloris fac, ut tecum lugeam.	O thou Mother! fount of love! Touch my spirit from above, make my heart with thine accord:
Fac, ut ardeat cor meum in amando Christum Deum ut sibi complaceam.	Make me feel as thou hast felt; make my soul to glow and melt with the love of Christ my Lord.
Sancta Mater, istud agas, crucifixi fige plagas cordi meo valide.	Holy Mother! pierce me through, in my heart each wound renew of my Savior crucified:
Tui Nati vulnerati, tam dignati pro me pati, poenas mecum divide.	Let me share with thee His pain, who for all my sins was slain, who for me in torments died.
Fac me tecum pie flere, crucifixo condolere, donec ego vixero.	Let me mingle tears with thee, mourning Him who mourned for me, all the days that I may live:
Iuxta Crucem tecum stare, et me tibi sociare in planctu desidero.	By the Cross with thee to stay, there with thee to weep and pray, is all I ask of thee to give.
Virgo virginum praeclara, mihi iam non sis amara, fac me tecum plangere.	Virgin of all virgins blest!, Listen to my fond request: let me share thy grief divine;
Fac, ut portem Christi mortem, passionis fac consortem, et plagas recolere.	Let me, to my latest breath, in my body bear the death of that dying Son of thine.
Fac me plagis vulnerari, fac me Cruce inebriari, et cruore Filii.	Wounded with His every wound, steep my soul till it hath swooned, in His very Blood away;
Flammis ne urar succensus, per te, Virgo, sim defensus in die iudicii.	Be to me, O Virgin, nigh, lest in flames I burn and die, in His awful Judgment Day.
Christe, cum sit hinc exire, da per Matrem me venire ad palmam victoriae.	Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence, by Thy Mother my defense, by Thy Cross my victory;
Quando corpus morietur, fac, ut animae donetur paradisi gloria. Amen.	While my body here decays, may my soul Thy goodness praise, safe in paradise with Thee. Amen.

---

From the Liturgia Horarum. Translation by Fr. Edward Caswall (1814-1878)The Stabat Mater speciosa: By the Crib Wherein Reposing Stabat Mater speciosa is considered one of the seven greatest Latin hymns of all time and one of the tenderest. It is based upon the Gospel account of the birth of Jesus. The hymn originated in the 13th century and has been attributed to Jacopone da Todi (1230-1306). There is a mirror image to this hymn, Stabat Mater dolorosa, which echoes the sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the crucifixion and death of Jesus. STABAT Mater speciosa iuxta faenum gaudiosa, dum iacebat parvulus.  BY, the crib wherein reposing, with His eyes in slumber closing, lay serene her Infant-boy,  Cuius animam gaudentem laetabundam et ferventem pertransivit iubilus.  Stood the beauteous Mother feeling bliss that could not bear concealing, so her face o'erflowed with joy.  O quam laeta et beata fuit illa immaculata, mater Unigeniti!  Oh, the rapture naught could smother of that most Immaculate Mother of the sole-begotten One;  Quae gaudebat et ridebat, exultabat, cum videbat nati partum inclyti.  When with laughing heart exulting, she beheld her hopes resulting In the great birth of her Son.  Quisquam est, qui non gauderet, Christi matrem si videret in tanto solatio?  Who would not with gratulation see the happy consolation of Christ's Mother undefiled?  Quis non posset collaetari, Christi Matrem contemplari ludentem cum Filio?  Who would not be glad surveying Christ's dear Mother bending, praying, playing with her heavenly Child  Pro peccatis suae gentis Christum vidit cum iumentis et algori subditum.  For a sinful world's salvation, Christ her Son's humiliation She beheld and brooded o'er;  Vidit suum dulcem Natum vagientem, adoratum, vili deversorio.  Saw Him weak, a child, a stranger, yet before Him in the manger kings lie prostrate and adore.  Nato, Christo in praesepe caeli cives canunt laete cum immenso gaudio.  O'er that lowly manger winging, joyful hosts from heaven were singing canticles of holy praise;  Stabat, senex cum puella non cum verbo nec loquela stupescentes cordibus.  While the old man and the maiden, speaking naught, with hearts o'erladen, pondered on God's wondrous ways.  Eia, Mater, fons amoris me sentire vim ardoris fac, ut tecum sentiam.  Fount of love, forever flowing, with a burning ardor glowing, make me, Mother, feel like thee;  Fac, ut ardeat cor meum in amatum Christum Deum ut sibi complaceam.  Let my heart, with graces gifted all on fire, to Christ be lifted, and by Him accepted be.  Sancta Mater, istud agas, prone introducas plagas cordi fixas valide.  Holy Mother, deign to bless me, with His sacred Wounds impress me, let them in my heart abide;  Tui Nati caelo lapsi, iam dignati faeno nasci, poenas mecum divide.  Since He came, thy Son, the Holy, to a birth-place, ah, so lowly, all His pains with me divide.  Fac me vere congaudere, Iesulino cohaerere, donec ego vixero.  Make me with true joy delighted, to Child-Jesus be united while my days of life endure;  In me sistat ardor tui, puerino fac me frui dum sum in exilio.  While an exile here sojourning, make my heart like thine be burning with a love divine and pure. Spotless Maid and sinless Woman, make us feel a fire in common, make my heart's long longing sure.  Virgo virginum praeclara, mihi iam non sis amara, fac me parvum rapere.  Virgin of all virgins highest, prayer to thee thou ne'er denyest, let me bear thy sweet Child too.  Fac, ut pulchrum infantem portem, qui nascendo vicit mortem, volens vitam tradere.  Let me bear Him in my bosom, Lord of life, and never lose Him, since His birth doth death subdue.  Fac me tecum satiari, Nato me inebriari, stantem in tripudio.  Let me show forth how immense is the effect on all my senses of an union so divine. All who in the crib revere Him, like the shepherds watching near Him, will attend Him through the night,  Inflammatus et accensus, obstupescit omnis sensus tali me commercio.  By thy powerful prayers protected, grant, O Queen, that His elected may behold heaven's moving light.  Fac, me Nato custodiri, verbo Dei praemuniri conservari gratia.  Make me by His birth be guarded, by God's holy word be warded, by His grace till all is done;  Quando corpus morietur, fac, ut animae donetur tui nati gloria. Amen.  When my body lies obstructed, make my soul to be conducted, to the vision of thy Son. Amen.  From Latin Hymns, March, 1894. Translation by Denis Florence MacCarthy

Attende Domine

Happy Feast Day of St Patrick! and Laetare Sunday: Rejoice! :D

Laetare Sunday: Pink - a little pink for Lent!

Taken from: http://www.fisheaters.com/customslent7.html

Laetare Jerusalem: et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam: gaudete cum laetitia, qui in tristitia fuistis: ut exsultetis, et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestrae. (Psalm) Laetatus sum in his, quae dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus. Gloria Patri.

Rejoice, O Jerusalem: and come together all you that love her: rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow: that you may exult, and be filled from the breasts of your consolation. (Psalm) I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: we shall go into the house of the Lord. Glory be to the Father.

Originally it was natural rose, then a single  golden rose of natural size, but since the fifteenth century it has consisted of a cluster or branch of roseswrought of pure gold in brilliant workmanship by famous artists. The popes bless one every year, and often confer it upon churches, shrines, cities, or distinguished persons as a token of esteem and paternal affection. In case of such a bestowal, a new rose is made during the subsequent year. (The Golden Rose at right was given to the Shrine at Knock, Ireland)

The golden rose represents Christ in the shining splendor of His majesty, the "flower sprung from the root of Jesse," and it is blessed with these words: 

The rose vestments on Laetare Sunday is a custom originating in the fact that, as a symbol of joy and hope in the middle of this somber Season, popes used to carry a golden rose in their right hand when returning from the celebration of Mass on this day (way back in 1051, Pope Leo IX called this custom an "ancient institution.")

O God! by Whose word and power all things have been created, by Whose will all things are directed, we humbly beseech Thy Majesty, Who art the joy and gladness of all the faithful, that Thou wouldst deign in Thy fatherly love to bless and sanctify this rose, most delightful in odor and appearance, which we this day carry in sign of spiritual joy, in order that the people consecrated by Thee and delivered from the yoke of Babylonian slavery through the favor of Thine only-begotten Son, Who is the glory and exultation of the people of Israel and of that Jerusalem which is our Heavenly mother, may with sincere hearts show forth their joy. Wherefore, O Lord, on this day, when the Church exults in Thy name and manifests her joy by this sign, confer upon us through her true and perfect joy and accepting her devotion of today; do Thou remit sin, strengthen faith, increase piety, protect her in Thy mercy, drive away all things adverse to her and make her ways safe and prosperous, so that Thy Church, as the fruit of good works, may unite in giving forth the perfume of the ointment of that flower sprung from the root of Jesse and which is the mystical flower of the field and lily of the valleys, and remain happy without end in eternal glory together with all the saints.

Note: you can remember to differentiate between Advent's Gaudete Sunday and Lent's Laetare Sunday -- the two "rose vestment" Sundays -- by remembering that Laetare Sunday comes in Lent, both of which begin with the letter "L."

We must always be happy and cheerful, 

even during lent! 

Thoughts as we begin March 2015: Ite ad Joseph!!!

"Lord, teach me to be generous: to serve you as you deserve; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek to rest; to labour and to ask for no reward save that of knowing I do your holy will. Amen."

- Saint Ignatius of Loyola

St Ignatius of Loyola

A little snippet into the life of St Ignatius of Loyola:

Ignatius keeps vigil at Montserrat, offering up his earthly sword for that of a heavenly one.
March 1522

This picture is taken from this website: The Life of St Ignatius Loyola

by Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640)  1577 - 1640) 

by Peter Paul Rubens (1577 - 1640) 

And as March is the month of St Joseph!!! a little something from St Alphonsus Liguori to spur us on in our devotion to St Joseph:

Ite ad Joseph!!!

Ite ad Joseph: St Joseph's heart, is so pure, so holy. Our Lord Jesus Christ chose him as His father on earth!

Since we all must die, we should cherish a special devotion to St. Joseph, that he may obtain for us a happy death. All Christians regard him as the advocate of the dying who had honoured him during their life, and they do so for three reasons:

1) because Jesus Christ loved him not only as a friend, but as a father, and on this account his mediation is far more efficacious than that of any other Saint.

2) because Saint Joseph has obtained special power against evil spirits, who tempt us with redoubled vigour at the hour of death.

3) the assistance given Saint Joseph at his death by Jesus and Mary obtained for him the right to secure a holy and peaceful death for his servants. Hence, if they invoke him at the hour of death he will not only help them, but he will also obtain for them the assistance of Jesus and Mary. 

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Anne, Therese, I love You; Save Souls!

Jesu mitis et humilis Corde, fac cor nostrum secundum Cor tuum. (ter)

Deus propitius esto mihi peccatori.