Divine Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

The Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In the year 1931, amid the applause of the whole Catholic world, solemn rites were celebrated to mark the completion of the fifteen centuries which had elapsed since the Council of Ephesus, moving against the Nestorian heresy, had acclaimed the Blessed Virgin Mary, of whom Jesus was born, as Mother of God.  This acclamation had been made by the Fathers of the Church under the leadership of Pope Celestine.

Feast of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary/ Commemoration for the Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost            

Double / II Class / White Vestments

Missa ‘Ecce Virgo Concipiet'

INTROIT: Isaiah 7, 14; Psalm 97:1

Ecce Virgo concipiet, et pariet  Filium, et vocabitur nomen ejus Emmanuel.

Ps. 97. Cantate Domino canticum novum, quia mirabilia fecit.

V. Gloria Patri.

Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and His name shall be called Emmanuel.

Ps. 97. O sing ye to the Lord a new canticle, because He hath done marvelous things.

Glory be to the Father.

COLLECT

God, who wast pleased that, at the message of an angel, Thy Word should take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary; grant to us Thy suppliants that we, who believe her to be truly the Mother of God may be aided by her intercession with Thee. Through the same our Lord.

Collect – Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

In Thy mercy, we beseech Thee, O Lord, grant to Thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins and also serve Thee with a quiet mind. Through our Lord.

EPISTLE: Ecclus 24, 23-31

As the vine I have brought forth a pleasant odor, and my flowers are the fruit of honor and riches. I am the mother of fair love, and of fear, and of knowledge, and of holy hope. In me is all grace of the way and of the truth in me is all hope of life and of virtue. Come over to me, all ye that desire me, and be filled with my fruits; for my spirit is sweet above honey, and my inheritance above honey and the honey-comb. My memory is unto everlasting generations. They that eat me, shall yet hunger; and they that drink me, shall yet thirst. He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded, and they that work by me, shall not sin. They that explain me shall have life everlasting.

 

GRADUAL: Isaiah 11, 1-2

There shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him.

 

ALLELUIA

Alleluia, alleluia. V. O Virgin Mother of God, He Whom the whole world cannot contain, enclosed Himself in thy womb, and became man. Alleluia.

GOSPEL: Luke 2, 43-51

At that time: When they returned the Child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and His parents knew it not. And thinking that He was in the company, they came a day’s journey, and sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And not finding Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. And it came to pass that after three days they found Him sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His wisdom and His answers. And seeing Him they wondered. And His Mother said to Him: Son, why hast Thou done so to us? Behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing. And He said to them: How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business? And they understood not a word that He spoke unto them. And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them.

OFFERTORY: Matthew 1, 18

When Mary the Mother of Jesus was espoused to Joseph, she was found to be with child, of the Holy Ghost.

SECRET

Through Thy mercy, O Lord, and by the intercession of blessed Mary every Virgin, Mother of Thy only-begotten Son, may this oblation secure for us present and perpetual prosperity and peace Through the same Lord.

Secret – Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

May these mysteries, we beseech Thee, O Lord, provide us with a Heavenly remedy: and purge our hearts from their vices. Through our Lord.

PREFACE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN

It is truly meet and just, right and availing unto salvation, that we should at all times and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father almighty and everlasting God. That on the Feast of the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin Mary we should praise and bless, and proclaim Thee. For she conceived Thine only-begotten Son by the over-shadowing of the Holy Ghost, and the glory of her virginity still abiding, gave forth to the world the everlasting light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Through whom the angels praise Thy Majesty, the Dominations worship it, and the Powers stand in awe. The heavens and the heavenly hosts together with the blessed Seraphim in triumphant chorus unite to celebrate it. Together with them we entreat Thee, that Thou mayest bid our voices also to be admitted, while we say with lowly praise:

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria Tua. Hosanna in excelsis.  Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.

Blessed is the womb of the Virgin Mary, which bore the Son of the eternal Father.

POSTCOMMUNION

May this communion, O Lord, cleanse us from guilt; and through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, make us partakers of the heavenly remedy. Through the same Lord.

Postcommunion – Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

That we may be made worthy, O Lord, of these holy gifts: make us, we beseech Thee, ever to obey Thy commandments. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

Visit to St. Joseph - Eleventh day

 

Visit to St. Joseph  

Day 11

O great Saint, through the merits of the pains which thou didst suffer in having lost Jesus in the Temple, obtain for me tears to weep continually for the injuries I have done Him. And through the joy which thou didst afterwards feel in finding Him in the temple, obtain for me the grace that I may also find Him again in my heart, by His grace, and that I may never more lose Him.

St. Joseph, increase our faith, and render it more lively, especially in the presence of Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament.

Prayer

My holy Patriarch, I rejoice at thy happiness and greatness in being made worthy to have power to command, with the authority of a father, Him Whom heaven and earth obey, and to make Him obey thee. My holy Patron, since a God has served thee, I too wish to enroll myself in thy service; I choose thee, after Mary, for my principal advocate and protector. I promise to honor thee every day by some special devotion, and each day I will place myself under thy protection. Through the sweet company of Jesus and Mary, which thou didst enjoy during life, protect me during my whole life, that I may never be separated from God by losing His grace. And through the assistance which Jesus and Mary gave thee at death, protect me at the hour of my death, that, dying in the company of thee, of Jesus and Mary, I may one day go to thank thee in paradise, and in thy company praise and love thy God to all eternity. Amen.

Visit to St. Joseph - Day 10

 

Visit to St. Joseph - Day 10

Tenth Day 

Meditation

My holy protector, through the prompt obedience which thou hast always shown to the Divine Will, obtain for me from thy Jesus the grace of perfect obedience to the divine commands. Obtain for me the grace that, in the journey my soul is making to eternity, in the midst of so many enemies, I may never, until the last moment of my life, lose the society of Jesus and Mary. If I am accompanied by them, all the toils of this life, and even death itself, shall be sweet and agreeable to me.

St. Joseph. I wish to be all thine, that by thee I may remain all Jesus and Mary's.

Prayer

My holy Patriarch, I rejoice at thy happiness and greatness in being made worthy to have power to command, with the authority of a father, Him Whom heaven and earth obey, and to make Him obey thee. My holy Patron, since a God has served thee, I too wish to enroll myself in thy service; I choose thee, after Mary, for my principal advocate and protector. I promise to honor thee every day by some special devotion, and each day I will place myself under thy protection. Through the sweet company of Jesus and Mary, which thou didst enjoy during life, protect me during my whole life, that I may never be separated from God by losing His grace. And through the assistance which Jesus and Mary gave thee at death, protect me at the hour of my death, that, dying in the company of thee, of Jesus and Mary, I may one day go to thank thee in paradise, and in thy company praise and love thy God to all eternity. Amen.

 

Novena to St. Gerard - Third Day

 

Novena to St. Gerard

October 9

Third Day

St. Gerard, bright seraph of love, who despising all earthly love, didst consecrate thy life to the service of God and thy neighbor, promoting God’s glory in thy lowly state, and ever ready to assist the distressed and console the sorrowful, obtain for me, I beseech thee, that loving God, the only God, and my neighbor for His sake, I may be hereafter united to Him for ever in glory.

Say nine Ave’s

Ave Maria

Ave Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art 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.

V. Pray for us, O St. Gerard.

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

 Let us Pray

O Almighty and everlasting God, who didst draw to Thyself St. Gerard, even from his tenderest years, making him conformable to the Image of Thy Crucified Son, grant, we beseech Thee, that imitating his example, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Teresa Novena - Fourth Day

 

       Fourth Day

O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ! We thank Thee for the gift of great desire and resolution which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa, that she might love Thee perfectly; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy most generous spouse, to give us a true desire, and a true resolution of pleasing Thee to the utmost of our power. Amen.

Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary

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 death. Amen.

Glory be

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.

St. Teresa, pray for us. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

Let us pray

Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Visit to St. Joseph - Day 9

Visit to St. Joseph - Day 9

Day 9

My holy Patriarch, through the pain which thou didst feel in seeing the divine Word born in a stable, so poor, without fire, without clothes, and in hearing the cries caused by the cold which afflicted Him. I pray thee to obtain for me a true sorrow for my sins, by which I have drawn tears from Jesus; and through the consolation which thou didst receive at the. first sight of the Infant Jesus born in the crib, so beautiful and lovely that thy heart began from that moment to burn with such great love for so loving and amiable an infant, obtain for me also the grace to love Him with an ardent love on this earth, that I may one day go to enjoy Him in heaven.

St. Joseph, penetrate our hearts with contrition, and render them more sensible of the loveliness of Jesus.

Prayer

My holy Patriarch, I rejoice at thy happiness and greatness in being made worthy to have power to command, with the authority of a father, Him Whom heaven and earth obey, and to make Him obey thee. My holy Patron, since a God has served thee, I too wish to enroll myself in thy service; I choose thee, after Mary, for my principal advocate and protector. I promise to honor thee every day by some special devotion, and each day I will place myself under thy protection. Through the sweet company of Jesus and Mary, which thou didst enjoy during life, protect me during my whole life, that I may never be separated from God by losing His grace. And through the assistance which Jesus and Mary gave thee at death, protect me at the hour of my death, that, dying in the company of thee, of Jesus and Mary, I may one day go to thank thee in paradise, and in thy company praise and love thy God to all eternity. Amen.

Novena to St. Teresa of Avila - Third Day

 

    Novena to St. Teresa of Avila

       October 8

        Third Day

    Novena Prayer

O most loving Lord Jesus Christ! We thank Thee for the great gift of love which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy most loving spouse, to give us the great, the crowning gift of Thy perfect love.

   Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

  Hail Mary

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 death. Amen.

 Glory be

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.

St. Teresa, pray for us. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

 Let us pray

Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

ST. TERESA OF AVILA NOVENA - SECOND DAY

ST. TERESA OF AVILA NOVENA

          Second Day               

       Novena Prayer

O most merciful Lord Jesus Christ! We thank Thee for the great gift of hope which Thou didst grant to Thy beloved Teresa; we pray Thee, by Thy merits, and by those of Thy holy spouse, to give us a great confidence in Thy goodness, by reason of Thy Precious Blood, which Thou hast shed to its last drop for our salvation.

        Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

         Hail Mary

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 death. Amen.

      Glory Be

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.

St. Teresa, pray for us. That we may become worthy of the promises of Jesus Christ.

 Let us pray

Graciously hear us, O God of our salvation! that as we rejoice in the commemoration of the blessed virgin Teresa, so we may be nourished by her heavenly doctrine, and draw from thence the fervour of a tender devotion; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

Novena to St. Gerard Majella - First day

 

 Novena to St. Gerard Majella

    October 7 – October 15

                First Day

St. Gerard, ever full of faith, obtain for me that , believing firmly all that the Church of God proposes to my belief, I may strive to secure through a holy life the joys of eternal happiness.

         Say nine Aves

            Ave Maria

Ave Maria gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

          Hail Mary  

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art 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.

Pray for us, O Saint Gerard, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

       Let us Pray

O Almighty and everlasting God, who didst draw to thyself Saint Gerard, even from his tenderest years, making him conformable to the Image of Thy Crucified Son, grant we beseech Thee, that imitating his example, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Visit to St. Joseph - Day 8

 

Visit to St. Joseph - Day 8

According to St. John Damascene, God gave St. Joseph the love, the care, and the authority of a father over Jesus: He gave him the affection of a father, that he might guard Him with great love; the solicitude of a father, that he might watch over Him with care; and the authority of a father, that he might feel sure that he would be obeyed in all that he arranged as to the person of this Son.

St. Joseph, be thou always a father to us, and may we ever be thy faithful children.

Prayer

My holy Patriarch, I rejoice at thy happiness and greatness in being made worthy to have power to command, with the authority of a father, Him Whom heaven and earth obey, and to make Him obey thee. My holy Patron, since a God has served thee, I too wish to enroll myself in thy service; I choose thee, after Mary, for my principal advocate and protector. I promise to honor thee every day by some special devotion, and each day I will place myself under thy protection. Through the sweet company of Jesus and Mary, which thou didst enjoy during life, protect me during my whole life, that I may never be separated from God by losing His grace. And through the assistance which Jesus and Mary gave thee at death, protect me at the hour of my death, that, dying in the company of thee, of Jesus and Mary, I may one day go to thank thee in paradise, and in thy company praise and love thy God to all eternity. Amen.