Friday, June 9, 2006
Treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary by St Louis de Montfort

TREATISE ON TRUE DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN

INTRODUCTION OF SAINT LOUIS MARIE

1. It was through the Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus came
into the world, and it is also through her that he must reign
in the world.

2. Because Mary remained hidden during her life she is
called by the Holy Spirit and the Church "Alma Mater", Mother
hidden and unknown. So great was her humility that she desired
nothing more upon earth than to remain unknown to herself and
to others, and to be known only to God.

3. In answer to her prayers to remain hidden, poor and
lowly, God was pleased to conceal her from nearly every other
human creature in her conception, her birth, her life, her
mysteries, her resurrection and assumption. Her own parents
did not really know her; and the angels would often ask one
another, "Who can she possibly be?", for God had hidden her
from them, or if he did reveal anything to them, it was
nothing compared with what he withheld.

4. God the Father willed that she should perform no miracle
during her life, at least no public one, although he had given
her the power to do so. God the Son willed that she should
speak very little although he had imparted his wisdom to her.

Even though Mary was his faithful spouse, God the Holy
Spirit willed that his apostles and evangelists should say
very little about her and then only as much as was necessary
to make Jesus known.

5. Mary is the supreme masterpiece of Almighty God and he
has reserved the knowledge and possession of her for himself.
She is the glorious Mother of God the Son who chose to humble
and conceal her during her lifetime in order to foster her
humility. He called her "Woman" as if she were a stranger,
although in his heart he esteemed and loved her above all men
and angels. Mary is the sealed fountain and the faithful
spouse of the Holy Spirit where only he may enter. She is the
sanctuary and resting-place of the Blessed Trinity where God
dwells in greater and more divine splendour than anywhere else
in the universe, not excluding his dwelling above the cherubim
and seraphim. No creature, however pure, may enter there
without being specially privileged.

6. I declare with the saints: Mary is the earthly paradise
of Jesus Christ the new Adam, where he became man by the power
of the Holy Spirit, in order to accomplish in her wonders
beyond our understanding. She is the vast and divine world of
God where unutterable marvels and beauties are to be found.
She is the magnificence of the Almighty where he hid his only
Son, as in his own bosom, and with him everything that is most
excellent and precious. What great and hidden things the all-
powerful God has done for this wonderful creature, as she
herself had to confess in spite of her great humility, "The
Almighty has done great things for me." The world does not
know these things because it is incapable and unworthy of
knowing them.

7. The saints have said wonderful things of Mary, the holy
City of God, and, as they themselves admit, they were never
more eloquent and more pleased than when they spoke of her.
And yet they maintain that the height of her merits rising up
to the throne of the Godhead cannot be perceived; the breadth
of her love which is wider than the earth cannot be measured;
the greatness of the power which she wields over one who is
God cannot be conceived; and the depths of her profound
humility and all her virtues and graces cannot be sounded.
What incomprehensible height! What indescribable breadth! What
immeasurable greatness! What an impenetrable abyss!

8. Every day, from one end of the earth to the other, in the
highest heaven and in the lowest abyss, all things preach, all
things proclaim the wondrous Virgin Mary. The nine choirs of
angels, men and women of every age, rank and religion, both
good and evil, even the very devils themselves are compelled
by the force of truth, willingly or unwillingly, to call her
blessed.

According to St. Bonaventure, all the angels in heaven
unceasingly call out to her: "Holy, holy, holy Mary, Virgin
Mother of God." They greet her countless times each day with
the angelic greeting, "Hail, Mary", while prostrating
themselves before her, begging her as a favour to honour them
with one of her requests. According to St. Augustine, even St.
Michael, though prince of all the heavenly court, is the most
eager of all the angels to honour her and lead others to
honour her. At all times he awaits the privilege of going at
her word to the aid of one of her servants.

9. The whole world is filled with her glory, and this is
especially true of Christian peoples, who have chosen her as
guardian and protectress of kingdoms, provinces, dioceses, and
towns. Many cathedrals are consecrated to God in her name.
There is no church without an altar dedicated to her, no
country or region without at least one of her miraculous
images where all kinds of afflictions are cured and all sorts
of benefits received. Many are the confraternities and
associations honouring her as patron; many are the orders
under her name and protection; many are the members of
sodalities and religious of all congregations who voice her
praises and make known her compassion. There is not a child
who does not praise her by lisping a Hail Mary. There is
scarcely a sinner, however hardened, who does not possess some
spark of confidence in her. The very devils in hell, while
fearing her, show her respect.

10. And yet in truth we must still say with the saints: De
Maria numquam satis : We have still not praised, exalted,
honoured, loved and served Mary adequately. She is worthy of
even more praise, respect, love and service.

11. Moreover, we should repeat after the Holy Spirit, "All
the glory of the king's daughter is within", meaning that all
the external glory which heaven and earth vie with each other
to give her is nothing compared to what she has received
interiorly from her Creator, namely, a glory unknown to
insignificant creatures like us, who cannot penetrate into the
secrets of the king.

12. Finally, we must say in the words of the apostle Paul,
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has the heart of man
understood" the beauty, the grandeur, the excellence of Mary,
who is indeed a miracle of miracles of grace, nature and
glory. "If you wish to understand the Mother," says a saint,
"then understand the Son. She is a worthy Mother of God." Hic
taceat omnis lingua : Here let every tongue be silent.

13. My heart has dictated with special joy all that I have
written to show that Mary has been unknown up till now, and
that that is one of the reasons why Jesus Christ is not known
as he should be.

If then, as is certain, the knowledge and the kingdom of
Jesus Christ must come into the world, it can only be as a
necessary consequence of the knowledge and reign of Mary. She
who first gave him to the world will establish his kingdom in
the world.

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Novena to St. Anthony: Day Six

Prayer:

O wonderful St. Anthony, glorious on account of the fame of your miracles, and through the condescension of Jesus in coming in the form of a little child to rest in your arms, obtain for me of His bounty the grace which I ardently desire from the depths of my heart . (State your intention)

You who were so compassionate toward miserable sinners, regard not the unworthiness of those who pray to you, but the glory of God that it may once again be magnified by the granting of the particular request (State your intention) which I now ask for with persevering earnestness. Amen

(Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.)

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY SIX

O glorious St. Anthony, chosen by God to preach his Word, you received from Him the gift of tongues and the power of working the most extraordinary miracles. O good St. Anthony, pray that I may fulfill the will of God in all things so that I may love Him, with you, for all eternity. O kind St. Anthony, I beseech you, obtain for me the grace that I desire, the favor I seek in this novena (State your intention).

(One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony).

Saint Anthony, pray for us!
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Thursday, June 8, 2006
A Prayer of Reparation For Unbelievers


Believe in the Gospel and Jesus Christ and everything shall be granted unto you! Only through repentance and the Sacraments can we ever find inner peace and strength.

Why do you doubt Jesus Christ? Do you believe that Alexander the Great existed? Do you believe King Tut existed? Why would you doubt Jesus Christ? There are many proofs of His life, death, and Resurrection.

Look at the faith of the martyrs, the apostles, and the saints. Would all of the 11 faithful disciples have died for the Faith if they were making it up? Look to the fact that the Church has survived every persecution that was thrown against it. Coincidence or the will of God? After all, the Catholic Church has been persecuted more than any other church. Study Ancient Rome and see.

Look to the place of Jesus's Ascension. The spot where Christ had stood could never be covered with the pavement; and more than that, the marble slabs placed there burst upwards into the faces of those who were laying them. The footprints in the dust there prove that the Lord had stood on that spot: the footprints are discernible and the ground still retains the depressions his feet had left. This is one small miracle of the many such miracles in our world.

Look at the Miracles of the Holy Eucharist and the apparitions of Mary. Study the Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano, Italy, or the one in Sienna, Italy. These are just some of the many! Look at the Miracle of the Sun witnessed by 70,000 people in Fatima in the year 1917. This was supernatural!

Numerous saints including St. Pius X, St. John Vianney, etc. are incorruptible - their bodies have never decayed. Sixty-two canonized saints/blesseds received the stigmata, the visible wounds of Jesus Christ on their hands and feet including:
  • St. Francis of Assisi (1186-1226)
  • St. Lutgarde (1182-1246)
  • St. Margaret of Cortona (1247-97)
  • St. Gertrude (1256-1302)
  • St. Clare of Montefalco (1268-1308)
  • Bl. Angela of Foligno (d. 1309)
  • St. Catherine of Siena (1347-80)
  • St. Lidwine (1380-1433)
  • St. Frances of Rome (1384-1440)
  • St. Colette (1380-1447)
  • St. Rita of Cassia (1386-1456)
  • Bl. Osanna of Mantua (1499-1505)
  • St. Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510)
  • Bl. Baptista Varani (1458-1524)
  • Bl. Lucy of Narni (1476-1547)
  • Bl. Catherine of Racconigi (1486-1547)
  • St. John of God (1495-1550)
  • St. Catherine de' Ricci (1522-89)
  • St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi (1566-1607)
  • Bl. Marie de l'Incarnation (1566-1618)
  • Bl. Mary Anne of Jesus (1557-1620)
  • Bl. Carlo of Sezze (d. 1670)
  • Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-90)
  • St. Veronica Giuliani (1600-1727)
  • St. Mary Frances of the Five Wounds (1715-91)
  • St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) (1887-1968)
I appeal to all unbelievers, please believe! I care about your soul! Believe because the only thing keeping you from doing that is sin and Satan. Satan wants you to be condemned to suffer in Hell just like he is condemned. The five ploys of Satan include spreading doubt about God's existence. Believe and follow Jesus Christ and you can be saved. He is the pearl of great price in the treasure field.

But above all - faith is a gift from God. It can not be learned or bought, it is a gift from God. Please, what do you have to lose? Please open yourself to the reception of the virtue of Faith.

Prayer of Reparation for those that don't believe in Our God:

O Most Merciful Heart of Jesus, Divine Mercy-seat, for Whose sake the Eternal Father has promised that He would always hear our prayers! I unite myself to Thee in offering to Thine Eternal Father this poor and needy heart of mine, contrite and humbled in His Divine presence, and desirous of making complete reparation for the offenses that are committed against Him, especially those which Thou dost continually suffer in the Holy Eucharist, and more particularly those which I myself have unhappily so often committed. Would that I could wash them away with my tears, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, and blot out with my own heart's blood the ingratitude wherewith we have repaid Thy tender love. I unite my sorrow, slight as it is, with the mortal agony which caused Thy sweat to become as drops of blood in the Garden of Olives at the very thought of our sins. Do Thou offer it, dear Lord, to Thine Eternal Father in union with Thy Sacred Heart. Render Him infinite thanks for the manifold blessings which He constantly showers upon us, and let Thy love supply for our want of thankfulness and remembrance. Grant me the grace always to present myself in a spirit of deepest reverence before the face of Thy Divine Majesty, in order thus to repair in some measure the irreverence and outrages which I have dared to commit before Thee; grant also, that from this day forth, I may devote myself with all my might to drawing, both by word and example, many souls to know Thee and to experience the riches of Thy Heart. From this moment I offer and dedicate myself wholly to propagating the honor due to Thy most sweet Sacred Heart.

I choose It as the object of all my affection, and desires, and from this hour forevermore I set up in It my perpetual abode, thanking, adoring and loving It with all my heart, inasmuch as It is the Heart of my Jesus, Who is worthy to be loved, the Heart of my King and sovereign Lord, the Bridegroom of my soul, my Shepherd and Master, my truest Friend, my loving Father, my sure Guide, my unfailing protection and my everlasting blessedness. Amen.
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My Apologies: Blogger Errors

Blogger has been giving me severe problems these past few days. I am unable to post/edit my posts during the afternoon and most of the evening. My posts are sometimes posted two or three times. And, I keep getting error messages saying Blogger is down for maintenance. I found out that other bloggers are dealing with the same.

So, please forgive my lack of posts. I'm trying to post, but Blogger isn't allowing me for a good part of the day. Now, with it getting late, I am able to post again.
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Words of Inspiration: June 8, 2006

Blessed Mother Teresa:

"When you know how much God is in love with you the you can only live your life radiating that love."

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain
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Prayer for Peace

O God, from Whom are holy desires, right counsels, and just works: give to Thy servants that which the world cannot give, both that our hearts may be disposed to obey Thy commandments, and also, the fear of enemies being removed, our times, by Thy protection, may be peaceful. Through our Lord.

Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal, Votive Mass for Peace


Image Source: Mass during World War I, Public Domain

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Novena to St. Anthony: Day Five

Prayer:

O wonderful St. Anthony, glorious on account of the fame of your miracles, and through the condescension of Jesus in coming in the form of a little child to rest in your arms, obtain for me of His bounty the grace which I ardently desire from the depths of my heart . (State your intention)

You who were so compassionate toward miserable sinners, regard not the unworthiness of those who pray to you, but the glory of God that it may once again be magnified by the granting of the particular request (State your intention) which I now ask for with persevering earnestness. Amen

(Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.)

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY FIVE

I salute you, St. Anthony, lily of purity, ornament and glory of Christianity. I salute you, great Saint, cherub of wisdom and seraph of divine love. I rejoice at the favors our Lord has so liberally bestowed upon you. In humility and confidence I entreat you to help me, for I know that God has given you charity and pity, as well as power. I ask you by the love you did feel toward the Infant Jesus as you held him in your arms to tell Him now of the favor I seek through your intercession in this novena (State your intention).

(One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony).

Saint Anthony, pray for us!
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Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Prayer to Forgive Those that Hurt Us

Almighty God, You have listened patiently to my concerns and consoled me in times of hardship. Let me remember Your presence and love for me when I am called upon to forgive another person for an unkind word or action. You have shown me how to act, what to say, what to do, and yet I sometimes react in anger and find it difficult to forgive others as You so often have forgiven me. Grant that I may recognize this failing in myself and remember Your words and example whenever I have need of a forgiving spirit. Amen

Image Source: Unknown, Believed to be in the Public Domain
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Novena to St. Anthony - Day Four

Prayer:

O wonderful St. Anthony, glorious on account of the fame of your miracles, and through the condescension of Jesus in coming in the form of a little child to rest in your arms, obtain for me of His bounty the grace which I ardently desire from the depths of my heart . (State your intention)

You who were so compassionate toward miserable sinners, regard not the unworthiness of those who pray to you, but the glory of God that it may once again be magnified by the granting of the particular request (State your intention) which I now ask for with persevering earnestness. Amen

(Pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony.)

Saint Anthony, pray for us!

DAY FOUR

I salute and honor you, O powerful helper, St. Anthony. The Christian world confidently turns to you and experiences your tender compassion and powerful assistance in so many necessities and sufferings that I am encouraged in my need to seek you help in obtaining a favorable answer to my request for the favor I seek in this novena (State your intention). O holy St. Anthony, I beseech you, obtain for me the grace that I desire.

(One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and Glory Be to the Father, in honor of Saint Anthony).

Saint Anthony, pray for us!
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Tuesday, June 6, 2006
Pope Benedict XVI Celebrates Pentecost

This past weekend we celebrated Pentecost and the Holy Father did the same. In a Mass to more than 100,000 including thousands of members of lay movements that met with him the previous day, Pope Benedict XVI said the Holy Spirit "...rebuilds the bridge of true communication between heaven and earth." He also said the spirit tears down "...the walls of indifference, hatred, and violence." And it "... illuminates the human spirit and, revealing Christ crucified and risen, indicates the way to become like Him."

Photo Source: (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

Pentecost at the Pantheon:

From WDTPRS:

"Today at the Church S. Maria ad Martyres, otherwise known as the Pantheon, an annual event much beloved of the Romans took place. At the end today’s Pentecost Mass red rose petals were let to fall in great abundance through the oculus or "eye" of the dome, which is open to the sky. The dome is actually a foot wider than the cupola of St. Peter’s Basilica. At the end of Mass fireman from Rome’s fire department did the honors and let fall the petals."
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