Our Hail Mary are flowers offered to Mary

Our Hail Mary are flowers offered to Mary   The well-known Jesuit, Brother Alphonsus Rodriguez, used to say his Rosary with such fervor that he often saw a red rose come out of his mouth at each Our Father and a white rose at each Hail Mary. The red and white roses were equal in beauty and fragrance, the only difference being in their color. The chronicles of Saint Francis tell of a young friar who had the praiseworthy habit of saying the Crown of Our Lady (the Rosary) every day before dinner. One day for some reason or other he did not manage to say it. The refectory bell had already been rung when he asked the Superior to allow him to say it before coming to the table, and having obtained the permission he withdrew to his cell to pray. After he had been gone a long time the Superior sent another Friar to fetch him, and he found him in his room bathed in a heavenly light facing Our Lady who had two angels with her. Beautiful roses kept issuing from his mouth at each Hail Mary; the angels took them one by one, placing them on Our Lady's head, and she smilingly accepted them. St. Louis De Montfort

God needs a totally free "YES"

Father Hubert Le Bouquin (At the Very Beginning the Immaculate Conception)

In order for Jesus’ salvation to become the salvation of mankind, he himself needed to be recognized as true man. Saint Irenaeus rightly posits the distinction of being human in the fact of human generation: “If he had not received from a human being the substance of his flesh, he would not have become man, or son of man.” Therefore, to God's will to become man, the world's will to give him human flesh had to correspond. Indeed God could not give himself to the world if the world had not agreed to the gift that was being offered. It is mankind's responsibility, as a free being, to give this agreement. Somewhere in the history of mankind, a human will to possess God had to be in total agreement with God's will to possess man to the point of becoming himself “part” of humanity. God needs a totally free “Yes” from the world. Mary is the woman whose fullness of freedom enabled her to match God's wish (...). She is the figure of humanity restored in the unity of his will, as a result of the call that she received to receive in her the humanity of the Word. Mankind cannot give God anything beyond its own humanity, but in doing so it gives to God what he could not give to himself. For God cannot enter the world and still remain faithful to the gift of freedom he gave man except by entering through the door of this human freedom.

www.freres-capucins.fr/A-l-aube-des-commencements-l.html

Our Lady of the Conception

	Our Lady of the Conception, Patroness of Portugal   In practically its entire history, the Portuguese nation has always had a filial devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. (…) Among its countless invocations to Mary, the Immaculate Conception is probably the most important. This devotion became permanent in 1646, when King John IV proclaimed the Virgin to be the Patroness of the Kingdom of Portugal, under the name of Our Lady of the Conception. The national ceremonies celebrating the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in Portugal took place at the Shrine of Our Lady of Sameiro, whose statue was crowned more than 109 years ago.                                                                       Msgr Luciano Guerra, Rector of the Shrine of Fatima

The Virgin of Guadalupe

	The Virgin of Guadalupe is in the Family Way   On Tepeyac Hill, just north of Mexico City, on December 9, 1531, a young woman “dazzling with light” appeared to a native Indian named Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin. She presented herself to him as the Virgin Mary and instructed him to ask his bishop to build a church on the site of the apparition. The bishop was hesitant to believe Juan Diego’s story and asked the visionary to obtain a sign from the Virgin Mary, which she promptly granted. On December 12th, during her fourth and last apparition, the Virgin Mary sent the visionary to pick roses on top of the hill. When he returned, Juan Diego was amazed to find his tilma—or cloak—filled with the most beautiful roses he had ever seen, and this in the middle of winter! At the Virgin's request, he returned to the bishop and opened his cloak before the people gathered around the prelate. Everyone was astonished to see an image of the Virgin, wearing a gold-trimmed cloak, imprinted on the tilma. Proclaimed patroness of the Americas by Pope John Paul II, the Virgin of Guadalupe is now especially invoked by pro-life and pro-family movements, since she is represented expecting a child. The digitization of the image by scientists has even revealed to photographer José Carlos Salinas Chavez the reflection of a family inside her pupils.                                                                                                          The Mary of Nazareth Team

The Day that the Blessed Virgin Stopped Communism in France

	On December 8, 1947, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, France—victorious at the end of the war—was going through a serious internal crisis. (…) There was a general strike, sabotage was on the rise and clashes with the police were common. The social climate was one of civil war and a communist coup was a serious threat. It is precisely in this context that four young girls saw the Virgin Mary in l'Ile Bouchard, a village of 1,255 inhabitants situated between two branches of the Loire River, 42 kilometers south-west of Tours. Our Lady appeared to these girls for a whole week straight, from December 8-14. Was there a connection between the week of apparitions, during the octave of the Immaculate Conception, and the sudden end of the national crisis? In a letter dated September 21, 1983, Father Finet, Marthe Robin's spiritual guide, gave this testimony: “Marthe prayed a lot, because she was very pained by the speedy advance of communism in France. She feared the worst. On Friday, December 12th, after the Passion, Marthe told me that the Blessed Virgin had shown her that she had stopped communism on that day. They had been prevented from carrying out a coup (…) and seizing power. I was speechless when, a few days later, I learned that the Blessed Virgin had appeared in L'Ile Bouchard!…”
	The Mary of Nazareth Team Adapted from apparitions/bouchard/bouchard.htm

SALVATION IS BORN (MT 1:18-25)

"What is this wealth of goodness?  What is this mystery that touches me?  I received the divine image and I did not keep it.  He receives my flesh to save the image and grant immortality to the flesh.  This, his second communion with us, is far more marvelous than the first."
                                                                 St. Gregory Nazienzen

THE WAIT IS OVER (MT 1:1-17)

"He who enriches others becomes poor.  He took to himself the poverty of my flesh so that I might obtain the riches of his godhead."
                                                                                St. Gregory Nazienzen

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Lord Jesus,
I give you my hands to do your work.
I give you my feet to follow your way.
I give you my eyes to see as you do.
I give you my tongue to speak your words.
I give you my mind so you can think in me.
I give you my spirit so you can pray in me.
Above all, I give you my heart
So in me you can love your Father and all people,
I give you my whole self so you can grow in me,
Till it is you, Lord Jesus,
Who lives and works and prays in me.  Amen

Entering Into God's Presence

 

My Lord and my God, I firmly believe that you are present here and everywhere, that you are looking upon me and listening to me, and that you see into the very depths of my soul.  You are my Creator, my Redeemer, and my Father.  I believe in your love for me.  You never take your eyes off me.  You have something to say to me today.  Your love for me never grows weary.  You never stop drawing close to me, and drawing me closer to you.

Lord, who am I to place myself in your presence?  I am a poor creature unworthy of appearing before you, and yet amid all my misery I adore you devoutly.  I ask you to forgive my many sins.

Jesus, teach me to pray.  Direct my prayer, so that it may rise to your throne like fragrant incense.  Let all the thoughts of my spirit and my heart's inmost sentiments be directed towards serving and praising God in a perfect way.  I need to hear your Word for me today, and I long to hear it.  You know how much I need you, how much I want to follow you.  Grant me in this prayer the grace of knowing you better, loving you more, and becoming more like you.  Grant me the grace I most need.

My loving Mother Mary, my holy guardian angel, angels and saints in heaven: intercede for me so that this prayer will help me and all the other people connected to my life.

Seeking GOD'S Will

 

My Lord and my God, you are Love itself, and the source of all love and goodness.  Out of love you created me to know you, love you and serve you in a unique way, as no one else can.  I believe that you have a plan for my life, that you have a task in your Kingdom reserved just for me.  Your plan and your task are far better than any other I might choose: they will glorify you, fulfill the desires  of my heart, and save those souls who are depending on my generous response.

Lord, grant me the light I need to see the next step in that plan; grant me the generosity I need to set aside my own plans in favor or yours; and grant me the strength I need to put my hands to your plough and never turn back.  You know me better than I know myself, so you know that I am sinful and weak.  All the more reason that I need your grace to uphold the good desires you have planted in my heart, O Lord!

Make my prayer today pleasing to you.  Show me your will for me, O gentle and eternal God, and help me to say with Mary, "I am the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word," and to say with Jesus "Let not my will be done, but yours."

And all my suffering disappeared...

This story took place during Therese's serious illness, in May 1883: One day I saw Papa come into Marie's room, where I was lying in bed. He had a terribly sad expression on his face and gave her several gold coins. He told her to write a letter to Paris and ask for Mass to be offered to Our Lady of Victories so that she may heal a poor little girl. One Sunday (during the novena of Masses), Marie went out into the garden, leaving me with Leonie who was reading by the window. After a few minutes, I began to call almost in a whisper: “Mama…Mama.” (…) Finally Marie came back (…) and then, turning to the statue of the Virgin Mary and praying to her with the fervor of a mother who asks for the life of her child, Marie obtained what she hoped for (…): All of a sudden, Our Lady looked beautiful to me, (…) but what penetrated my soul to its depths was Our Lady’s delightful smile. At that moment all my suffering disappeared, and two big tears welled up in my eyes and ran silently down my cheeks. A miracle was needed and Our Lady of Victories granted it.       Saint Therese of the Child Jesus http://www.notredamedesvictoires.com/

Fatima, the message Part II

I am Our Lady of the Rosary; I want a chapel built here in My honor.  The Rosary must be recited every day.

Men must ament their lives and ask pardon for their sins.  "Men must no longer offend Our Divine Lord, Who is already offended too much."

You have just seen Hell where the souls of poor sinners go.  To save them, Our Lord wishes to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart.  If people do what I tell you, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.

The war (of 1914) will soon end.  But if men do not stop offending the Lord, it will not be long before another and worse one begins; that will be in the next Pontificate.

When you see a night illuminated by an unknown light, know that it is the great sign which God is giving you, indicating that the world, on account of its innumerable crimes will soon be punished by war, famine and persecutions against the Church and the Holy Father.

In order to stop it, I shall ask for the consecration of the world to My Immaculate Heart, as well as Communion of Reparation on the First Saturday of the month.  If My requests are granted, Russia will be converted and there will be peace.  Otherwise, an impious propaganda will spread its errors through the world raising up wars and persecutions against the Church.  Many will be martyred; the Holy Father will have much to suffer; several nations will be wiped out,...

Fatima, the message Part 1

 

Hear the words of the Virgin Mother of God:

"Would you like to offer yourselves to God to make sacrifices and to accept willingly all the sufferings it may please Him to send you: in order to make reparation for so many sins which offend the Divine Majesty, to obtain the conversion of sinners, to make amends for all the blasphemies and offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary?

You Must recite the Rosary every day in honor of the Blessed Virgin, to obtain the end of the war through Her intercession, for only She can help you.

Sacrifice yourselves for sinners and say often, especially when you make sacrifices: "O Jesus, it is for love of Thee, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary"

When reciting the Rosary, say after each decade: "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of Hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who are most in need of Thy Mercy."

Pray, pray very much and make sacrifices for sinners.  Remember that many souls are lost because there is nobody to pray and to make sacrifices for them.
to be cont'd

Her heart was illuninated as if it were made of gold

On November 29, 1932, Fernande Voisin, age 15, and her brother Albert, age 11, went to bring their 13 year-old sister, Gilberte, home from the boarding school of the Sisters of the Christian Doctrine of Nancy, accompanied by their friend Andrée Degeimbre, age 14, and her 9 year-old sister, Gilberte. Just after ringing the doorbell of the school, Albert turned around and stared in the direction of the nearby railroad tracks, and exclaimed: "Look at the Virgin walking over the bridge!" (…). On November 30th, the Blessed Virgin appeared to them again above the bridge; and again on December 1st (…). Then, after December 29th, they saw that her heart was illuminated on her chest as if it were made of gold. The Virgin Mary appeared about thirty more times, until January 3, 1933. Our Lady introduced herself in the following way: “I am the Immaculate Virgin, the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven.” (…) The last evening, she declared: “I will convert sinners.” She said to Fernande: “Do you love my Son? Do you love me?” And, after Fernande repeated "yes" twice, she finally said: “Then, sacrifice yourself for me. Farewell.” Msgr André Marie Charue, bishop of Namur (France), approved the supernatural character of the apparitions on July 2, 1949. The Mary of Nazareth Team

We must be a reflection of Mary to help disheartened souls

We must help disheartened souls as there are so many. Let us follow the path that Our Lord made ready for us, by faithfully responding to grace, and fighting the good fight of the Lord. When we speak of prayer, sacrifice, or Eucharistic adoration, it does not resonate in people’s hearts anymore. God has been abandoned for pleasure and material wealth. Jesus, who is everything to Mary, is everything to us as well. Mary is completely His. She gave up everything—her life and her whole being—she sacrificed everything for Him and for us. May our lives belong totally to Him, following Mary's example.

Mother Mary of the Cross (Maria Nault) 1901-1999, Textes choisis (Selected Works), volume 5: Avec Marie vivre le combat spirituel, Entretiens spirituels B6 -Noël 40

Mary, Mother of Jesus

Mary, Mother of Jesus, in the Accomplishment of the Work of Redemption   For Saint John, Mary is above all “the Mother of Jesus.” He introduces her for the first time at the wedding at Cana, but he forgets to tell us her name: the Mother of Jesus was there... His Mother told the disciples (…). If we could understand the full significance of this title, we would know perfectly well who Mary is, for she is only this: the Mother of Jesus. Yet, at the foot of the Cross, St John reveals a new light to us, by confirming the place of Mary's motherhood in the salvific economy of grace. Indeed, being the Mother of Jesus is not limited to giving birth to him. She remains his Mother during his whole life on earth and in the accomplishment of the work of Redemption, through the Sacrifice of the Cross. At that supreme moment, in the presence of Mary, Jesus is still her Son: she is the first one he sees; he thinks of the intense pain that "pierces her heart," according to Simeon's prophecy. Beyond the solicitude of the Son for his Mother, this ultimate dialogue sheds light on their new relationship that springs from the fulfillment of his Sacrifice. Fr. Guy Frenod, O.S.B Exerpt from a Homily

As the world returns to the love of Mary...

The term ‘Woman’ indicated a wider relationship to all humanity than ‘Mother.’ It meant that she (Mary) was to be not only his mother, but that she was also to be the mother of all mankind, as he was the Savior of all mankind. She was now to have many children—not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. Jesus was her firstborn in the flesh in joy; John was her second-born in the spirit of sorrow; and we are her millionth and millionth born. (…) Every objection against devotion to Mary grows in the soil of an imperfect belief in the Son. It is a historical fact that, as the world lost the Mother, it also lost the Son. It may be that, as the world returns to the love of Mary, it will also return to a belief in the divinity of Christ. Venerable Fulton J. Sheen American Bishop

The Rosary Beats the Time of Life

	The Rosary is my favorite prayer. A marvelous prayer! Marvelous in its simplicity and in its depth. In this prayer we repeat many times the words that the Virgin Mary heard from the Archangel, and from her kinswoman Elizabeth. The whole Church joins in these words. (...) In fact, against the background of the words "Ave Maria" the main episodes in the life of Jesus Christ pass before the eyes of the soul. They are composed altogether of the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries, and they put us in living communion with Jesus through - we could say - his Mother's heart. At the same time our heart can enclose in these decades of the Rosary all the facts that make up the life of the individual, the family, the nation, the Church and mankind. Personal matters and those of one's neighbor, and particularly of those who are closest to us, who are dearest to us. Thus the simple prayer of the Rosary beats the time of human life. John Paul II, Angelus, October 29, 1978