Regina Caeli

 

 

Mary said "Yes!" to God's invitation to become the mother of Our Savior, Jesus Christ. She raised him, shared his joys and sufferings, and witnessed his horrible death. And now, she is with him in Heaven. She is the model for feminine beauty, modesty, and holiness. She is the model of dedicated motherhood. She is the model for patient suffering. And she is our witness to her son and God Himself. Bless you, Mary, for being our mother, too.

Regina Caeli

V. Queen of Heaven rejoice, alleluia.

R. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.

V.  Has risen, as He said, alleluia.

R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.

V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.

R. Because our Lord is truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Dawn Pisturino
June 18, 2018

Copyright 2018 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

Thanksgiving Blessings

A Blessing for the House and Family

Visit, we beseech you, O Lord, this house and family,
and drive far from it all the snares of the enemy; let
your holy angels dwell therein, who will keep us in
peace, and let your blessing be always upon us:
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Blessing for the Less Fortunate

O God, our Father, we ask you to bless those for
whom there will be no sleep tonight; those who must
work throughout the night to maintain the public
services, doctors who must wake to usher new life into
the world, to close the eyes of those for whom this life
is passing away, to ease the sufferer's pain; nurses and
all who watch by the bedside of those who are ill; those
who this night will not sleep because of the pain of
their body or the distress of their mind; those in
misfortune, who will lie down in hunger and in cold;
those who are far from home and far from friends, and
who are lonely as the shadows fall. Grant that in our
own happiness and comfort we may never forget the
sorrow and the pain, the loneliness and the need of
others in the slow, dark hours. This we ask for your
love's sake.  Amen.

~ William Barclay ~

General Blessings

May the Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil,
and bring us to life everlasting; and may the souls of
the faithful, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.

~ Manual of Our Lady ~

Prayer to Mary

O, that the spirit of Mary were in us to glorify the Lord!
That the spirit of Mary were in us to rejoice in God.

~ Saint Ambrose ~

Pray for our nation and an end to hatred and strife. Help President Trump and Congress do what is right for our Nation and the American people -- and bring America back to God.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Dawn Pisturino

November 16, 2017

Copyright 2017 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.





 

Consecrate America!

 

 

 

Act of Consecration for the United States

 

 

Most Holy Trinity -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit --

in union with the Blessed Virgin Mary, we adore Your

majesty and acknowledge Your supreme eternal

dominion and authority.

 

Most Holy Trinity, we place the United States of

America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order

that she may present the country to You. Through the

intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic

Church in America. Have mercy on our President

and on all the officers of our government. Protect

family life in our nation. Grant the precious gift of

many vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, and

all who are in need.

 

Mary Immaculate Virgin, Our Mother, Patroness

of our land, we honor you and ask your maternal

protection and care for us. Obtain for us the graces

we need to live and die according to the Will of your

Divine Son.

Amen.

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Washington, D.C.

 

A message from Dawn Pisturino:

 

The United States is under attack by the Liberal and Radical Left.

Pray that all enemies of the United States will be defeated.

Pray to bring America back to God!

On this Independence Day, 2017, please remember that we are not yet free from the forces of evil that are harming our children, our families, and our nation.

 

We are in a state of spiritual warfare. Pray to win!

 

Happy Fourth of July! Go in Peace and Love.

 

Dawn Pisturino

July 3, 2017

Copyright 2017 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.



The Pieta

 

Michelangelo's Pieta

 

 





Michelangelo's Pieta depicts an idealized Virgin Mary cradling her beloved son, Jesus Christ, after the crucifixion. Instead of horror and pain, the Virgin's face reveals serenity, fulfillment, and obedience to the will of God.

Christ appears to be sleeping peacefully in his mother's arms. It is a poignant portrayal of the eternal love between mother and child, and God and His children -- perfectly mirroring the nativity scene in Bethlehem.

 

Pieta Prayer to the Virgin Mary

 

My Queen, my Mother, I give myself entirely to Thee, and to show my devotion to Thee, I consecrate to Thee this day, my eyes, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Wherefore good Mother as I am Thine own, keep me, guard me, as Thy property and possession. Amen.

 

from Pieta Prayer Book









 

 

Dawn Pisturino

June 5, 2017

Copyright 2017 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.



Mary is My Mother

 

 

Mary is My Mother

 

by Dawn Pisturino

 

 

During one of the darkest periods of my life, Mary walked with me and held my hand. She showered me with hope, draped me in her warm reassurance, and blessed me with knowledge of her powerful rosary.

 

You see, Mary is my mother. I know that I can count on her unconditional love and acceptance. I know that I can run to her for comfort in times of pain.

 

She is my guiding light, my solid rock, my consoling balm.

 

I love her.

 

Mary is my mother.

 

February 7, 2017

 

Coyright 2017 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved. 

Mary, Undoer of Knots

 

 

 

Painting by Johann Georg Melchior Schmidtner

 

St. Irenaeus of Lyons wrote in his work, Adversus haereses, that "the knot of Eve's disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith."

 

In 1989, in Styria, Austria, the first chapel was dedicated to Mary, the Undoer of Knots, in response to the nuclear accident in Chernobyl, Russia.

 

Pope Francis has inspired increased devotion, especially in Argentina and Brazil. A nine day novena can be performed by adding the rosary when saying the following prayer:

 

O Virgin Mary, faithful Mother who never refuses

to come to the aid of your children;

Mother whose hands never cease to help,

because they are moved by the loving kindness

that exists in your Immaculate Heart;

Cast your eyes of compassion upon me,

and see the snarl of knots that exist in my life.

 

You know all the pains and sorrows

caused by these tangled knots.

Mary, my Mother, I entrust to your loving hands

the entire ribbon of my life.

In your hands there is no knot

which cannot be undone.

 

Most holy Mother,

pray for Divine Assistance to come to my aid.

Take this knot (make your personal request here)

into your maternal hands this day;

I beg you to undo it for the glory of God,

once and for all,

in the name of your divine Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

 

Dawn Pisturino

Copyright 2016 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.

 



 

The Angelus

Artwork by Jean Francois Millet

"The Angelus"

V.  The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,

R.  And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

      Hail Mary, full of Grace . . .

V.  Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

R.  Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

      Hail Mary, full of Grace . . .

V.  And the Word was made flesh.

R.  And dwelt among us.

      Hail Mary, full of grace . . .

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.

 

The Angelus prayer developed over several centuries into its present form and is traditionally recited at 6 am, 12 noon, and 6 pm. In some places, it is accompanied by a bell. This wonderful Marian devotion reminds us that Mary said "Yes!" when the Angel Gabriel delivered God's request that she become the mother of His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

Dawn Pisturino