Blessed Holy Mother: 2014

Friday, December 5, 2014

Meditations on the Joyful Mysteries

by Dawn Pisturino

THE FIRST JOYFUL MYSTERY: The Annunciation

There would be no Christmas without Mary and Joseph.

Mary answered the call to serve God by agreeing to become the mother of Jesus. She supported Jesus throughout his ministry, suffering as He suffered, and growing in her faith, despite the terrible death of her son.

Joseph overcame his doubts and fears and accepted the responsibility of becoming a stepfather to Mary's son. He loved and protected the blessed infant and his mother. He stands as a role model for all men everywhere.

THE SECOND JOYFUL MYSTERY: The Visitation

What joy Elizabeth felt when she recognized the special gift growing in Mary's womb! What joy she felt when her own son, John, leapt in her own womb! Both women, blessed by God, helped to change the world. This is the special gift of all mothers, that their children have the power to create a better world for all God's children.

THE THIRD JOYFUL MYSTERY: The Nativity

The King arrives as a simple child, guileless, innocent, and vulnerable. His complete purity of mind, heart, and body reminds us that we, too, were born innocent. The world takes away that innocence, and it is in worshipping the small, innocent child that we regain our own purity. Kneel down to the King and worship Him.

KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS

THE FOURTH JOYFUL MYSTERY: The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple

Mary fulfilled her duties and presented her child to the Temple and to God, his father. So, too, can we fulfill our duties by attending Mass and presenting ourselves to God, our father.

THE FIFTH JOYFUL MYSTERY: The Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple

Just as Jesus got about His father's business in the Temple, so, too, must we educate ourselves, be familiar with the Gospels and the teachings of the Catholic Church, and be about our Father's business.

PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Dawn Pisturino

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Salve Regina

Artwork by Stephen Pisturino

The “Hail, Holy Queen” (Salve Regina) is attributed to a German monk, Hermann of Reichenau. This beautiful prayer to the Blessed Holy Mother is traditionally said at the end of the Rosary.

Hail, Holy Queen

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee to we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Salve, Regina

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae;
vita, dulcedo et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevae.
Ad te suspiramus gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia ergo, advocata nostra,
illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte.
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria.

V. Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix.
R. Ut digni efficamur promissionibus Christi.

The Salve Regina in Song

Pray the Rosary Daily

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Hail, Mary!

The Annunciation Dove by Jean Fouquet

The Annunciation reminds us that Mary, without question, and with complete faith and devotion to God's will, accepted God's offer to become the Mother of the Word Incarnate.

The Hail Mary

Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Hail, Mary! is the greeting made to Mary by the Angel Gabriel when he delivered the awesome message that God had chosen Mary, above all women, to be the Mother of God. The complete prayer did not come into common practice until the 15th century. The Hail Mary is now the foundation of the Holy Rosary. The Annunciation is the first mystery in the Joyful Mysteries.

PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY

August Devotion: The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

O Mary, Virgin most powerful and Mother of mercy, Queen of Heaven and Refuge of sinners, we consecrate ourselves to your immaculate heart. Amen.

And don't forget The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin on August 15th.

God Bless You.

Dawn Pisturino

August 12, 2014

Monday, July 28, 2014

The Memorare

The Memorare is a traditional Catholic prayer dedicated to the Blessed Holy Mother. Originally composed as part of a longer prayer, the words were adapted into a separate devotion by the late 15th century. Father Claude Bernard (1588-1641), a French priest, was particularly devoted to this beautiful intercession to the Blessed Virgin. When struck down by serious illness, his prayers to the Holy Mother were quickly answered. He began to get well as soon as he prayed the Memorare. He used this powerful prayer in his ministry with convicts and those condemned to death. Many prisoners were converted from a life of sin through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Mother Theresa used the Memorare in a quick novena. She would pray the devotion nine times in succession, imploring the Holy Mother's help.

The prayer is often attributed to St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153.)

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 with this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

July Dedication: The Precious Blood of Jesus

Lord Jesus Christ, who came down from Heaven to earth from the bosom of the Father, and did shed your Precious Blood for the remission of our sins: we humbly beseech You, that on the day of judgment we may deserve to hear, standing at Your right hand: "Come, ye blessed." Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Dawn Pisturino

July 28, 2014