Happy Feast of the Immaculate Conception!

Happy feast of the beautiful Immaculate Conception! The Immaculate who housed Our Lord (the Most Sacred Heart) in her womb (a very precious thought during Advent, especially, Mother Mary walking around and (travelling even to Bethlehem!!) very pregnant with Our Lord!!!). 

Prayer of St Maximilian to the Immaculate

This is very beautiful.  It burrows deep into my heart. ❤️

Prayer of St. Maximilian to the Immaculate: 

Allow me to praise you, O, Most Holy Virgin. 

Allow me to praise you at my own expense. 

Allow me to live, work, suffer, expire and die for you and only for you. Allow me to bring the whole world to you. 

Allow me to contribute even more greatly to the greatest exaltation of you. 

Allow me to bring you such glory as has never been brought to you. 

Allow others to outdistance me in fervency of your exaltation, and me them, so that your glory will grow, in noble competition, deeper and deeper, faster and faster, more powerfully, as He wishes, He, Who so inexpressibly exalted you above all beings. 

In only you, incomparably, God became more glorified than in all His saints. For you, God created the world. For you also, God has called me into existence. Whence is this happiness for me? 

O, allow me to praise you, O, Most Holy Virgin.

Amen.

O Immaculata! You are our Ideal!

+ J.M.J.A.T

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam per Immaculata

Happy FEAST DAY of the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION of Our Lady Immaculate!

Today's post will quote from quite a few sources. 

POPE PIUS IX PROCLAIMS THE DOGMA OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION  On December 8, 1854, having spent all of his holy life – his boyhood, his priesthood, as bishop, cardinal and Pope – at the feet of the Mother of God, the most Blessed Virgin Mary, and having deeply considered also, in his exile at Gaeta, the earnest petitions of Catholics all over the world in its behalf, Pope Pius IX defined ex cathedra, in the glorious Basilica of Saint Peter's before one hundred and seventy bishops and innumerable pilgrims come literally from the ends of the earth, the divine dogma of Our Lady's Immaculate Conception. The voice of the Sovereign Pontiff broke and tears filled his eyes as he paused before uttering the infallible words: "We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which holds that the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the first instant of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace of the Omnipotent God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind, was preserved immaculate from all stain of original sin, has been revealed by God, and therefore should firmly and constantly be believed by all the faithful...."

As the Holy Father finished speaking, the cannon of the Castle of Sant' Angelo boomed and the bells of the basilicas and churches of Rome long rang out the glorious news, which ushered in the Age of Mary – the last age of the world. The Catholic faithful rejoiced, and grace flooded their souls as they prayed the prayer Our Lady herself had given twenty years before to Catherine Laboure, "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."

Pope Blessed Pius IX writes beautifully when he quotes from St Ephrem of Our Immaculata in Ineffabilis Deus December 8, 1854 [Apostolic Constitution]:

This doctrine so filled the minds and souls of our ancestors in the faith that a singular and truly marvelous style of speech came into vogue among them. They have frequently addressed the Mother of God as immaculate, as immaculate in every respect; innocent, and verily most innocent; spotless, and entirely spotless; holy and removed from every stain of sin; all pure, all stainless, the very model of purity and innocence; 

more beautiful than beauty, more lovely than loveliness; more holy than holiness, singularly holy and most pure in soul and body; the one who surpassed all integrity and virginity; the only one who has become the dwelling place of all the graces of the most Holy Spirit. 

God alone excepted, Mary is more excellent than all, and by nature fair and beautiful, and more holy than the Cherubim and Seraphim. To praise her all the tongues of heaven and earth do not suffice.

Papal encyclical taken from: http://www.papalencyclicals.net/

And here, another reading from the bible on Our Immaculata:

Canticle Of Canticles (Song Of Solomon) Chapter 4

Christ sets forth the graces of his spouse: and declares his love for her. [1] How beautiful art thou, my love, how beautiful art thou! thy eyes are doves' eyes, besides what is hid within. Thy hair is as flocks of goats, which Come up from mount Galaad. [2] Thy teeth as flocks of sheep, that are shorn which come up from the washing, all with twins, and there is none barren among them. [3] Thy lips are as a scarlet lace: and thy speech sweet. Thy cheeks are as a piece of a pomegranate, besides that which lieth hid within. [4] Thy neck, is as the tower of David, which is built with bulwarks: a thousand bucklers hang upon it, all the armour of valiant men. [5] Thy two breasts like two young roes that are twins, which feed among the lilies. [1] How beautiful art thou: Christ again praises the beauties of his church, which through the whole of this chapter are exemplified by a variety of metaphors, setting forth her purity, her simplicity, and her stability. [5] Thy two breasts: Mystically to be understood: the love of God and the love of our neighbour, which are so united as twins which feed among the lilies: that is, the love of God and our neighbour, feeds on the divine mysteries and the holy sacraments, left by Christ to his spouse to feed and nourish her children. [6] Till the day break, and the shadows retire, I will go to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense. [7] Thou art all fair, O my love, and there is not a spot in thee. [8] Come from Libanus, my spouse, come from Libanus, come: thou shalt be crowned from the top of Amana, from the top of Sanir and Hermon, from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards. [9] Thou hast wounded my heart, my sister, my spouse, thou hast wounded my heart with one of thy eyes, and with one hair of thy neck. [10] How beautiful are thy breasts, my sister, my spouse! thy breasts are more beautiful than wine, and the sweet smell of thy ointments above all aromatical spices. [11] Thy lips, my spouse, are as a dropping honeycomb, honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments, as the smell of frankincense. [12] My sister, my spouse, is a garden enclosed, a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed up. [13] Thy plants are a paradise of pomegranates with the fruits of the orchard. Cypress with spikenard. [14] Spikenard and saffron, sweet cane and cinnamon, with all the trees of Libanus, myrrh and aloes with all the chief perfumes. [15] The fountain of gardens: the well of living waters, which run with a strong stream from Libanus. [12] A garden enclosed: Figuratively the church is enclosed, containing only the faithful. [12] A fountain sealed up: That none can drink of its waters, that is, the graces and spiritual benefits of the holy sacraments, but those who are within its walls. [16] Arise, O north wind, and come, O south wind, blow through my garden, and let the aromatical spices thereof flow.

Taken from the Militia Immaculata website: http://www.militia-immaculatae.info/pages/en/the-immaculate.php

Again and again we can hear the cry of the saints: „Who are you, o Immaculate?" The name of the Immaculate – without imperfection – for Mary is like a preparation from the announcement of the dogma of the immaculate conception of Mary (1854) and of the apparitions in Lourdes (1858), where Mary introduced herself to saint Bernadette with the words "I am the Immaculate Conception". Saint Maximilian gave Mary almost every time the title of Immaculate. Without knowing what to say, human beings are facing uncountable miracles and mysteries, which have its origin in her. She is representing the masterpiece of God only because of her perfection and power. The church praises her merits and wants us to honour her more than all angels and saints (Hyperdulia). 

O Mary, conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee and for everyone who do not have recourse to thee, especially for all freemasons and for all those who are entrusted to thy care.
(Quick prayer of the MI from saint Maximilian)

A Prayer written by St Bernard of Clairvaux:

"O, whoever you are – because you can see, that you are more drifting in the storm of our time amidst the storms and tempests than one could say you are walking on some savely ground, do not turn away your eyes from the light of the head, if you do not want to go down in the storms. 

When the storm will start, which is the temptation, when you will be blown against the cliffs of fear, look up to the star, pray to Mary! When you will be torn away by the waves of arrogance or of ambition or of slander or of jealousy, look up to the star, pray to Mary! 

When anger or greed, the craving for flesh try to capsize the small boat of your soul, look up to Mary!  

When you are ashamed and feel guilty because your conscience is stained, horrified by the fright of court, in danger of falling in the abyss of sadness, in the precipice of despair – then think of Mary! 

In danger and fears, in doubt and hardship think of Mary, pray to Mary! Do not leave her from the rosemunde, do not let her out of your heart! And to have your prayer getting heard, do not cease imitating her life.  

When you follow her, you are not getting lost; when you pray to her, you will not despair; when you keep her in your mind, you will not do anything wrong; when she holds your hand, you cannot fall; when she protects you, you do not have to fear anything; when she leads you, you will never become tired; with her assistance you will reach the port!" 

And another quick link because I am a Biologist and I really love plants and wish that I could have green fingers: http://www.fisheaters.com/marygardens.html

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.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception

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

Today's the most beautiful feast of the Immaculate Conception. I remember clearly what happened last year at this most beautiful feast and this year was also beautiful. :) Here's the link to last year's post (around this time).

Deo gratias et Mariae! for everything :)

From today's epistle, Prov. 8

Now therefore, ye children, hear me: blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors. He that shall find me shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord.

Gegrüßet seist du, Maria, voll der Gnade, der Herr ist mit dir. Du bist gebenedeit unter den Frauen, und gebenedeit ist die Frucht deines Leibes, Jesus. Heilige Maria, Mutter Gottes, bitte für uns Sünder jetzt und in der Stunde unseres Todes. Amen.

From the Alone with God, by Fr. J. Heyrmann S.J.:

Alone with God
Fr. J. Heyrmann S.J.

The Immaculate Conception

December 8

1. On December 8, 1854, in St Peter’s at Rome, Pope Pius IX, surrounded by hundreds of Bishops and thousands of Catholics, who had assembled in the Eternal City from every part of the world, solemnly and infallibly proclaimed that Mary’s Immaculate Conception is a dogma of the Catholic Faith, revealed by God. In imagination we may assist at this glorious ceremony, remembering meanwhile how the angel appeared to Mary in the humble house of Nazareth and called her “full of grace”.

2. Petition: The grace to be moved to joy at the homage paid to our Lady, to thank God with her, and to acquire firm confidence in her powerful intercession.

I. “Saved in a More Sublime Manner”

Mary was a daughter of Adam and Eve, and therefore liable to the penalty that had befallen all Adam’s descendents. In the genealogies, which we read in the Holy Bible, many sinners are mentioned, both men and women. Mary, like ourselves, stood in need of Redemption – and Redemption by the one and only Redeemer, her Son Jesus Christ. But as Pius IX wrote in the bull proclaiming the dogma, “by a special grace and privilege, in view of the merits of Christ, Saviour of the whole human race, Mary, from the first moment of her existence was preserved from all taint, so that she was saved in a more sublime manner. She was so close to the Sun, that no shadow at all could fall upon her.” She was “full of grace”, the “all-beautiful”, the “glory of our race”. These favours were not bestowed on her because of any excellence or merit of her own, but on account of her Son and through His merits. No one was better aware of this than Mary herself; for in her Magnificat she proclaimed, “He that is mighty hath done great things to me.”

It was because she had been saved in so sublime a manner that she was so abysmally humble.

II. “For the Honour of Mary”

“To the honour and glory of the Virgin from whom He was born,” says the papal bull. “God has loved her, and adorned her; has vested her with a splendid garment.” Love feels the need of adorning and embellishing the object of its affection: in the case of Mary, He that loved was all powerful. The omnipotent Son would make His Virgin Mother all beautiful. (Tota pulchra est) He would make her worthy to mould His sacred Humanity, Body and Soul into, “the Son of Man”.

He would preserve her form the faintest breath or shadow of sin. He endowed her with the fullest measure of grace which a creature can receive.

All this grace and spiritual beauty was hers, when in the humble house of Nazareth she awaited the coming of the Divine Child. But all this beauty was interior, quite hidden form the eyes of the simple folk, who saw in her no more than the spouse of Joseph, the village carpenter.

III. “In Honour of the Holy and Undivided Trinity”

These are the opening words of the papal bull, defining the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. All the three Persons of the Blessed Trinity bear a part in the creation, the redemption, and the forming of Mary. The more complete and sublime her redemption was, the greater was her holiness, and therefore the greater the glory she gave to the Gather, to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. No creature ever stood in such unique, such intimate relation to each of the three Persons of the Blessed Trinity.

“The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).

Human words, even our loftiest figures of speech, are too carnal and too gross to express adequately the mysterious relation that exists between Mary and the Father Almighty, Mary and the Word Incarnate, Mary and the Holy Ghost. An old Latin Hymn tried to express it as follows:

Thee made the Father, who knows no beginning;
On thee lay the shadow of the Father’s only Son;
Upon thee came the Holy Ghost;
Thy whole being, O Mary, is related to God.

Prayer: O God, who didst prepare worthy dwelling for Thy Son by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin: we beseech Thee, who didst preserve her from all stain in view of the death of Thy Son, to make us through her intercession so pure as to be admitted to Thy presence. Through our Lord. (Collect, Feast of the Immaculate Conception).

Deus propitius esto mihi peccatori.

Jesus, Mary, I love Thee; Save Souls!

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

Deo gratias et Mariae! and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

DEO GRATIAS ET MARIAE!

the exams are over and im glad =D

the general sprucing up of this blog will commence soon in a few days

and now for rest.

and

today, December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception! =D Mamma Mary, Mummy!

O Dearest Mother Mary, Through thy Most Holy Virginity and thy Immaculate Conception, O Most Pure Virgin, Please purify my body and sanctify my soul!

God bless all!

Jesus, Mary, I love Thee, Save Souls!