,,mary1 ,,the ,,help ,,of ,,christians ,novenas in ,preparation for the ,principal ,feasts of the ,blessed ,virgin ,illustration3 ,the ,sacred ,heart of ,mary ,,compiled ,,by ,,rev4 ,,bonaventure ,,hammer1 ,o4,f4,m4 --- ,,new ,,york1 ,,cincinnati1 ,,chicago ,,benziger ,,brothers ,,printers ,,to ,,the ,,holy ,,apostolic ,,see ,,publishers ,,of ,,benzinger',s ,,magazine ,imprimi ,permittitur4 ,,fr4 ,,chrysostomus ,,theobald1 ,o4,f4,m41 ,minister ,provincialis4 ,cincinnati1 ,ohio1 die #cj1 ,martii1 #aijh4 ,nihil ,obstat4 ,,remy ,,laport1 ,s4,t4,l41 ,censor ,librorum4 ,imprimatur4 ,,john ,m4 ,,farley1 ,archbishop of ,new ,york4 ,,new ,,york1 ,march #d1 #aiji4 ,,copyright1 #aiji1 ,,by ,,benziger ,,brothers4 ,contents ,,rules ,,for ,,the ,,proper ,,observance ,,of ,,novenas ,,on ,,the ,,manner ,,of ,,reading ,,the ,,meditations ,,and ,,observing ,,the ,,practices ,,introduction3 ,,mary1 ,,the ,,help ,,of ,,christians ,i4 ,,novena ,,in ,,honor ,,of ,,the ,,immaculate ,,conception ,,of ,,the ,,blessed ,,virgin ,,mary ,,first ,,day4--,,the ,,predestination ,,of ,,the ,,blessed ,,virgin ,,mary ,,second ,,day4--,,mary',s ,,immaculate ,,conception ,,third ,,day4--,,mary1 ,,the ,,victrix ,,of ,,satan ,,fourth ,,day4--,,mary ,,without ,,actual ,,sin ,,fifth ,,day4--,,mary1 ,,full ,,of ,,grace ,,sixth ,,day4--,,mary1 ,,our ,,refuge ,,seventh ,,day4--,,mary1 ,,the ,,mother ,,of ,,chastity ,,eighth ,,day4--,,the ,,image ,,of ,,the ,,immaculate ,,conception ,,ninth ,,day4--,,the ,,feast ,,of ,,the ,,immaculate ,,conception ,,ii4 ,,novena ,,in ,,honor ,,of ,,the ,,nativity ,,of ,,the ,,blessed ,,virgin ,,mary ,,first ,,day4--,,the ,,birth ,,of ,,mary ,,second ,,day4--,,mary1 ,,the ,,elect ,,of ,,god ,,third ,,day4--,,mary1 ,,the ,,child ,,of ,,royalty ,,fourth ,,day4--,,mary1 ,,the ,,child ,,of ,,pious ,,parents ,,fifth ,,day4--,,mary',s ,,supernatural ,,prerogatives ,,sixth ,,day4--,,mary1 ,,the ,,joy ,,of ,,the ,,most ,,holy ,,trinity ,,seventh ,,day4--,,the ,,angels ,,rejoice ,,at ,,mary',s ,,birth ,,eighth ,,day4--,,the ,,joy ,,of ,,the ,,just ,,in ,,limbo ,,at ,,mary',s ,,birth ,,ninth ,,day4--,,the ,,holy ,,name ,,of ,,mary ,,iii4 ,,novena ,,for ,,the ,,feast ,,of ,,the ,,annunciation ,,of ,,the ,,blessed ,,virgin ,,mary ,,first ,,day4--,,the ,,annunciation ,,second ,,day4--,,the ,,import ,,of ,,the ,,angel',s ,,salutation ,,third ,,day4--,,the ,,effect ,,of ,,the ,,angel',s ,,salutation ,,fourth ,,day4--,,mary',s ,,question ,,fifth ,,day4--,,the ,,solution ,,sixth ,,day4--,,mary',s ,,consent ,,seventh ,,day4--,,mary',s ,,fortitude ,,in ,,suffering ,,eighth ,,day4--,,mary1 ,,the ,,mother ,,of ,,god ,,ninth ,,day4--,,mary ,,our ,,mother ,,iv4 ,,novena ,,in ,,honor ,,of ,,the ,,seven ,,sorrows ,,of ,,mary ,,first ,,day4--,,devotion ,,to ,,the ,,seven ,,sorrows ,,of ,,mary ,,second ,,day4--,,mary',s ,,first ,,sorrow3 ,,simeon',s ,,prophecy ,,in ,,the ,,temple ,,third ,,day4--,,mary',s ,,second ,,sorrow3 ,,the ,,flight ,,into ,,egypt ,,fourth ,,day4--,,mary',s ,,third ,,sorrow3 ,,jesus ,,lost ,,in ,,jerusalem ,,fifth ,,day4--,,mary',s ,,fourth ,,sorrow3 ,,she ,,meets ,,jesus ,,carrying ,,his ,,cross ,,sixth ,,day4--,,mary',s ,,fifth ,,sorrow3 ,,beneath ,,the ,,cross ,,seventh ,,day4--,,mary',s ,,sixth ,,sorrow3 ,,the ,,taking ,,down ,,of ,,jesus' ,,body ,,from ,,the ,,cross ,,eighth ,,day4--,,mary',s ,,seventh ,,sorrow3 ,,jesus ,,is ,,buried ,,ninth ,,day4--,,why ,,mary ,,had ,,to ,,suffer ,v4 ,,novena ,,for ,,the ,,feast ,,of ,,the ,,assumption ,,of ,,the ,,blessed ,,virgin ,,mary ,,first ,,day4--,,mary',s ,,death ,,was ,,without ,,pain ,,second ,,day4--,,at ,,mary',s ,,tomb ,,third ,,day4--,,the ,,empty ,,tomb ,,fourth ,,day4--,,reasons ,,for ,,the ,,bodily ,,assumption ,,of ,,mary ,,into ,,heaven ,,fifth ,,day4--,,mary',s ,,glorious ,,entrance ,,into ,,heaven ,,sixth ,,day4--,,mary ,,crowned ,,in ,,heaven ,,seventh ,,day4--,,mary',s ,,bliss ,,in ,,heaven ,,eighth ,,day4--,,mary1 ,,the ,,queen ,,of ,,mercy ,,ninth ,,day4--,,mary ,,in ,,heaven ,,the ,,help ,,of ,,christians ,,on ,,earth ,,litany ,,of ,,loreto1 ,,in ,,honor ,,of ,,the ,,blessed ,,virgin ,,mary ,list of ,illustrations ,the ,sacred ,heart of ,mary ,virgin ,most ,pure ,the ,immaculate ,conception ,the ,presentation of ,mary in the ,temple ,the ,annunciation ,mary1 the ,mother of ,sorrows ,simeon's ,prophecy in the ,temple ,the ,flight into ,egypt ,the ,finding of ,jesus in the ,temple ,jesus' ,body1 ,taken ,down from the ,cross ,the ,assumption ,mary's ,death ,mary ,crowned in ,heaven ,mary1 the ,help of ,christians on ,earth ,mary1 the ,help of ,christians ,novenas in ,preparation for the ,principal ,feasts of the ,blessed ,virgin ,illustration3 ,virgin ,most ,pure ,holy ,mary1 aid the miserable1 assist the desponding1 strengthen the weak1 pray for the people1 plead for the clergy1 intercede for the devout female sex4 ,let all who have recourse to thee experience the efficacy of thy help6--,,holy ,,church4 ,rules for the ,proper ,observance of ,novenas ,by ,st4 ,alphonsus ,liguori #a4 ,,the soul must be in the state of grace2 for the devotion of a sinful heart pleases neither ,god nor the saints4 #b4 ,we must persevere1 that is1 the prayers for each day of the novena must never be omitted4 #c4 ,if possible1 we should visit a church every day1 and there implore the favor we desire4 #d4 ,every day we ought to perform certain specified acts of exterior self-denial and interior mortification1 in order to prepare us thereby for the reception of grace4 #e4 ,it is most important that we receive holy communion when making a novena4 ,therefore prepare yourself well for it4 #f4 ,after obtaining the desired grace for which the novena was made1 do not omit to return thanks to ,god and to the saint through whose intercession your prayers were heard4 ,on the ,manner of ,reading the ,meditations and ,observing the ,practices ,,holy ,,scripture says1 ,before prayer prepare thy soul2 and be not as a man that tempteth ,god 7,eccles4 xviii4 #bc74 ,therefore place yourself in the presence of ,god1 invoke the assistance of the ,holy ,ghost1 and make a most sincere act of contrition for your sins4 ,offer up to ,god your will1 your intellect1 and your memory1 so that your prayer may be pleasing to ,god and serve to promote your spiritual welfare4 ,then read the meditation slowly1 reflecting on each point of the thought or mystery treated1 and consider what you can learn from it1 and for what grace you ought to implore ,god4 ,this is the principal object to be attained by mental prayer4 ,never rise from your prayer without having formed some special resolution for practical observance4 ,the practices at the end of each consideration in the following novenas will aid you to do so4 ,finally1 ask for grace to carry out effectively your good purposes1 and thank ,god for enlightening your mind during the meditation4 ,introduction ,mary1 the ,help of ,christians ,,no ,,catholic denies that ,our ,lord ,jesus ,christ is the only mediator through whose merits we became reconciled to ,god4 ,nevertheless1 it is a doctrine of our faith that ,god willingly grants us grace if the saints1 and especially the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary1 the queen of saints1 intercede for us4 ,if the saints1 during their life on earth1 were so potent with ,god that through their prayers the blind obtained sight1 the deaf hearing1 and the dumb speech1 that the sick of all conditions were healed1 the dead restored to life1 and the most obstinate sinners converted2 if thousands of other miracles in the order of nature and of grace were performed through their intercession2 what1 then1 will not she obtain for us from ,god1 whose virtue and merits transcend those of all the saints1 and who did more for the greater honor and glory of ,god than they all8 ,mary is the queen of saints not only because she is the ,mother of the ,most ,high1 but also because her sanctity is more perfect than theirs1 and she therefore thrones above them all in heaven4 ,hence the favor with which ,god regards her1 and consequently the power of her intercession with ,him is so much the greater4 ,if ,mary's sanctity thus impressively illustrates the potency of her intercession1 the contemplation of her dignity as the ,mother of ,god does still more so4 ,mary brought forth ,him who is the ,almighty4 ,she calls ,him her ,son1 who by the word of ,his omnipotence created from out of nothing the whole world with all its beauties1 and who can call into being countless millions of other worlds4 ,she calls ,him her ,son1 whose throne is heaven and whose footstool is the earth1 who governs all nature with almighty power and reveals ,his name to mankind through the most astounding miracles4 ,in a word1 ,mary calls ,him her ,son1 whose omnipotence fills heaven and earth2 and this great1 almighty ,god1 who honors her as ,his ,mother and has wrought in her such great things1 will ,he not heed her word of intercession1 and hear her pleading for those who have recourse to her8 ,on earth ,he was subject to her4 ,her intercession moved ,him to exercise ,his omnipotent power at the wedding feast at ,cana2 and now1 when ,he has glorified and raised her up so high ,he would let her invoke ,him in vain8 ,no1 it is inconceivable that ,god should not hear the prayers of ,his ,mother6 ,the holy ,fathers and ,doctors of the ,church vie with each other in proclaiming the power of ,mary's intercession with the ,heart of her divine ,son4 ,some say that having been subject to her on earth1 ,he desires to be so in heaven1 inasmuch as to refuse her nothing she asks4 ,hence ,st4 ,bernard calls her the ,intercessory ,omnipotence4 ,indeed1 when all the angels and saints in heaven join in supplication to ,god1 their prayers are but those of servants2 but when ,mary prays her intercession is that of ,his ,mother4 ,therefore we can not sufficiently thank ,god for having given us in ,mary so powerful an advocate4 ,st4 ,bernard aptly says3 ,the angel announces1 'thou hast found grace before ,god4' ,o supreme happiness6 ,mary shall always find grace4 ,and what else could we wish8 ,if we seek grace1 let us seek it through ,mary2 for what she seeks1 she finds4 ,never can she plead ineffectually4 ,god1 then1 who in ,his infinite mercy has been pleased to provide for all our needs1 desires through ,mary to console us1 to comfort us1 to remove all distrust1 to strengthen our hope4 ,how consoling to him who calls upon ,god in sore distress1 or implores ,his pardon for sins committed1 is the thought that at the throne of divine ,mercy he has in ,mary an advocate as mighty as she is gracious1 who supplements his great unworthiness by her sublime dignity1 and who makes good the defects of his prayer by her intercession6 ,therefore ,st4 ,bonaventure exclaims3 ,verily1 great is ,our ,lord's mercy6 ,that we1 through fear of our divine ,judge1 depart not forever from ,him1 ,he gave us ,his own ,mother for our advocate and mediatrix of grace4 ,i4 ,novena in ,honor of the ,immaculate ,conception of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary ,illustration3 ,the ,immaculate ,conception ,,indulgences ,,to ,,all the faithful who by themselves or with others1 in church or at home1 with at least contrite heart and devotion1 shall make this novena3 7#a7 #cjj days indulgence for each of the nine days2 7#b7 a plenary indulgence on one day of the novena or of the eight days following it4 7,pius ,,ix1 ,january #e1 #ahdi47 ,conditions3 ,confession1 communion1 and prayer1 according to the intentions of the ,holy ,father4 ,remark4--,whenever1 in the following pages1 an indulgence is said to be granted under the usual conditions1 these conditions are the same as above4 ,note4--,the above indulgences may also be gained for making the novena at any other time of the year1 and are not attached to any prescribed formula of prayer4 ,the same applies to all other novenas in honor of the ,blessed ,virgin4 ,,first ,,day ,predestination of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary ,,preparatory ,,prayer ,,in ,,thy conception1 ,o ,virgin ,mary1 thou wast immaculate2 pray for us to the ,father1 whose ,son ,jesus1 conceived in thy womb by the ,holy ,ghost1 thou didst bring forth4 ,indulgence4 #bjj days1 every time4 7,pius ,,vi1 ,november #ba1 #agic47 ,,meditation ,,holy ,church1 our ,mother1 purposely gathered into the season of ,advent everything which might contribute to assist us in preparing for the coming of the ,redeemer4 ,purity of heart is the most necessary and helpful requirement for receiving ,god worthily1 and for participating in the fruits of our ,redemption through ,christ4 ,to remind us of this1 ,holy ,church celebrates the feast of the ,immaculate ,conception of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary1 this primary feast of purity1 in ,advent4 ,the ,church1 moreover1 intends to remind us that the coming of ,christ1 our promised ,redeemer1 depended on the consent of the ,blessed ,virgin4 ,the ,redeemer could not appear before she was born of whom ,he was to be born4 ,the aurora must precede the rising sun4 ,thus also ,mary1 the spiritual aurora1 had to be conceived and born before the appearance of the ,sun of ,justice in this world4 ,,practice ,,in ,,mary appeared the woman who was to crush the serpent's head1 who was to repair by her willing co-operation with ,god's designs the damage wrought by the disobedience of our first parents1 and who was to become our mother and mighty advocate with ,god4 ,the designs of ,god concerning ,mary were fully accomplished4 ,god also has designs concerning us4 ,our life was planned by ,him from all eternity1 and we were destined to co-operate with ,him harmoniously and conscientiously in working out our salvation4 ,have we corresponded with ,god's designs8 ,did we not oppose them by yielding to our evil inclinations and passions8 ,what a disparity between ,god's intentions concerning us and our own co-operation1 between ,his merciful designs and our cowardly resistance to them6 ,,prayer ,,of ,,the ,,church ,o ,,god1 who through the immaculate conception of the ,virgin didst prepare a worthy dwelling-place for ,thy divine ,son2 grant that1 as in view of ,thy ,son ,thou didst preserve her from all taint1 so ,thou wouldst vouchsafe unto us that cleansed from all sin by her intercession we too may arrive at ,thine eternal glory4 ,through the same ,christ our ,lord4 ,amen4 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,behold1 ,virgin immaculate1 at thy sacred feet ,i bow1 while my heart overflows with joy in union with thine own1 because from eternity thou wast the ,mother-elect of the eternal ,word1 and was preserved stainless from the taint of ,adam's sin4 ,forever praised1 forever blessed be the ,most ,holy ,trinity1 who in thy conception poured out upon thy soul the riches of that matchless privilege4 ,i humbly pray thee1 most gracious ,mother1 obtain for me the grace to overcome the bitter results of original sin4 ,make me victorious over them1 that ,i may never cease to love my ,god4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation ,o ,mary1 conceived without sin1 pray for us who have recourse to thee6 ,indulgence4 #ajj days1 once a day4 7,leo ,,xiii1 ,march #be1 #ahhd47 ,,second ,,day ,mary's ,immaculate ,conception ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,meditation ,,according to the definition of ,pope ,pius ,,ix1 the immaculate conception of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary is that privilege by which she was preserved1 in view of the merits of our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 from original sin in the first moment of her conception4 ,by solemnly proclaiming the dogma of ,mary's immaculate conception1 the ,church confirmed anew the fundamental principles of ,christianity which in our times are so frequently attacked1 derided1 or forgotten4 ,god reserved the solemn proclamation of this dogma1 which seemingly has no practical bearing on the ,christian life1 for our age1 to recall to our mind the doctrines resulting from it4 ,,practice ,,the most important of these doctrines is that of original sin1 which to-day is rejected by many as a debasement of human nature1 and is forgotten by others as having no practical influence on our moral state4 ,by the promulgation of the doctrine of the immaculate conception of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary1 the ,church solemnly declares and defines as an article of faith1 that the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary is conceived without the stain of original sin by a special privilege and grace of ,god4 ,if1 then1 ,mary's sinlessness is an exception1 the general rule remains in force1 and all other human beings enter this world in the state of original sin4 ,thus1 by the proclamation of the dogma of the immaculate conception1 the ,church combats human pride and sensuality1 the foremost vices of the age4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,mary1 unsullied lily of heavenly purity1 ,i rejoice with thee1 because at thy conception's earliest dawn thou wast full of grace and endowed with the perfect use of reason4 ,i thank and adore the ever-blessed ,trinity1 who gave thee such high gifts4 ,i am overwhelmed with shame in thy presence1 to see myself so poor in grace4 ,o thou who wast filled with heavenly grace1 impart some portion of it to my soul1 and make me share the treasures of thy immaculate conception4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,third ,,day ,mary1 the ,victrix of ,satan ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,meditation ,,the immaculate conception of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary inaugurated the fulfilment of the divine promise made to our first parents in paradise in the words addressed to the serpent3 ,i shall put enmities between thee and the woman1 and thy seed and her seed2 she shall crush thy head 7,gen4 iii4 #ae74 ,mary is the woman in whom ,satan never had a part4 ,her intimate connection with ,god was announced by the angel3 ,hail1 full of grace2 the ,lord is with thee4 ,now was fulfilled the saying of the ,psalmist1 ,the ,most ,high hath sanctified ,his own tabernacle4 ,god is in the midst thereof1 it shall not be moved3 ,god will help it in the morning early 7,ps4 xlv4 #e-f74 ,mary was chosen to be the glorious tabernacle of the ,son of ,god in the morning early1 that is1 in the first moment of her existence4 ,god called her into being that she might assume the exalted dignity of the ,mother of ,his ,son1 and therefore granted her the singular privilege of exemption from original sin4 ,in her were fulfilled ,solomon's prophetic words of praise1 ,thou art all fair1 ,o my love1 and there is not a spot in thee 7,cant4 iv4 #g74 ,it was in view of her ,son's merits applied to her beforehand that ,god thus produced in her the image of the new man regenerated in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,,practice ,,the spirit of darkness holds mankind enslaved1 but one human being escapes him4 ,a destructive fire lays waste the whole earth1 but one tree remains unscathed4 ,a terrible tyrant conquers the whole world1 but one fortified city repels his assaults4 ,this human being retaining liberty1 this tree escaping destruction1 this city repelling the enemy's attack is the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary4 ,will the almighty and merciful ,god1 who has accomplished such great things in ,mary1 who has selected her for ,his ,mother1 not listen to her prayers when she intercedes for us8 ,st4 ,william of ,paris exclaims3 ,no other created being can obtain for us so many and so great graces from ,god as ,his ,mother4 ,by the all-powerful might of her intercession ,he honors her not only as ,his handmaid1 but also as ,his ,mother4 ,therefore we ought not be surprised when the holy ,fathers maintain that a single sigh of ,mary is more effective with ,god than the combined intercession of all the angels and saints4 ,if1 then1 ,mary's power is so great1 she will surely hear us when we invoke her help in our combat with ,satan4 ,having conquered him herself1 she will also help us to conquer him4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,mary1 thou mystical rose of purity1 my heart rejoices with thine at the glorious triumph which thou didst gain over the infernal serpent by thy immaculate conception1 and because thou wast conceived without stain of original sin4 ,i thank and praise with my whole heart the ever-blessed ,trinity1 who granted thee this glorious privilege2 and ,i pray thee to obtain for me strength to overcome all the wiles of the infernal foe1 and never to stain my soul with sin4 ,be thou mine aid2 make me1 by thy protection1 victorious over the common foe of our eternal welfare4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,fourth ,,day ,mary without ,actual ,sin ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,meditation ,,mary conceived without sin is the most blessed daughter of the eternal ,father1 the real and true ,mother of the divine ,son1 the elect spouse of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,but in the world1 in what condition do we behold her8 ,she dwells not in a splendid palace2 she is not surrounded by a retinue of servants ready at every moment to do her bidding2 she is not exempt from trials and suffering4 ,on the contrary1 she is poor2 she lives in obscurity1 and suffered so much on earth that1 without shedding her blood1 she merits to be styled the queen of martyrs4 ,her heart was transfixed with the sword of sorrow4 ,mary is not exempt from tribulations and adversity2 but one thing ,god does not permit to touch her1 i4e41 sin4 ,hence ,holy ,church applies to her the words1 ,thou art all fair1 ,o my love1 and there is not a spot in thee 7,cant4 iv4 #g74 ,,practice ,,though we were not preserved from sin like ,mary1 yet ,god in ,his ineffable goodness and mercy granted us the grace to be cleansed from sin and to be clothed with the garment of sanctifying grace in ,baptism4 ,no treasure of the world can be compared with this prerogative4 ,but as we bear this grace in a fragile vase1 we must be most careful to protect and preserve it in ourselves and others from all danger4 ,let the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary be our example4 ,well knowing the inestimable value of the grace conferred upon her1 she guarded it with the greatest care4 ,although exempt from concupiscence and full of grace1 she was so distrustful of herself as if she were in continual danger4 ,how much more1 then1 must we use precaution to preserve in ourselves and in others this treasure of grace1 since we feel in ourselves constantly the law of the flesh1 which resists the law of the spirit1 and urges us on to evil1 whilst the world and the devil never weary in placing snares for us in order to accomplish our ruin4 ,therefore let us have recourse to ,mary1 and invoking her aid bravely resist all temptations4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,mirror of holy purity1 ,mary1 ,virgin immaculate1 great is my joy while ,i consider that1 from thy immaculate conception1 the most sublime and perfect virtues were infused into thy soul1 and with them all the gifts of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,i thank and praise the ,most ,holy ,trinity1 who bestowed on thee these high privileges4 ,i pray thee1 gentle ,mother1 obtain for me grace to practise virtue1 and to make me worthy to become partaker of the gifts and graces of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,fifth ,,day ,mary1 ,full of ,grace ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,meditation ,,satan',s relation to ,god as ,his child was severed by sin4 ,the beautiful image of ,god imprinted on man's soul was disfigured by it4 ,but with the immaculate conception of ,mary1 a being full of grace1 an object of ,god's supreme complacency entered this world4 ,after the lapse of four thousand years ,god1 in ,his wisdom1 power1 and love1 for the first time again created a human being in that state in which ,he had originally created our first parents4 ,mary1 from the first moment of her existence was1 in virtue of the sanctifying grace infused into her soul1 most intimately united with ,god1 and endowed with the most precious gifts of heaven4 ,because she was predestined to become the ,mother of the ,redeemer of mankind1 it was befitting that she should unite in herself all the gifts becoming to such an ineffable dignity4 ,hence she surpassed in grace and holiness all other created beings1 and was consecrated a worthy temple of the incarnate ,word4 ,therefore she was saluted by the angel as full of grace1 and the ,church1 in our behalf1 addresses the ,almighty3 ,o ,god1 who through the immaculate conception of the ,virgin didst prepare a worthy dwelling-place for ,thy divine ,son2 grant1 that1 as in view of the death of that ,son ,thou didst preserve her from all taint1 so ,thou wouldst vouchsafe unto us that1 cleansed from all sin by her intercession1 we too may arrive at ,thine eternal glory4 ,,practice ,,the world considers men according to their rank and station1 their wealth and knowledge4 ,god recognizes in them but one difference1 that caused by the presence or absence of sanctifying grace in their soul4 ,a soul in the state of sanctifying grace is ,god's friend2 without it1 ,his enemy4 ,a man dying in the state of sanctifying grace is sure of eternal bliss4 ,therefore we ought to prize this grace above all else1 and do everything in our power to preserve it4 ,st4 ,leo exhorts us1 ,recognize1 ,o man1 thy dignity6 ,as thou hast received divine grace1 beware of returning to your former sinful condition by a wicked life4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,mary1 bright moon of purity1 ,i rejoice with thee1 because the mystery of thy immaculate conception was the beginning of salvation for the race of man and the joy of the whole world4 ,i thank and bless the ever-blessed ,trinity1 who thus did magnify and glorify thee2 and ,i beg of thee to obtain for me the grace so to profit by thy dear ,son's death and passion1 that ,his precious blood may not have been shed in vain for me upon the cross1 but that1 after a holy life1 ,i may reach heaven in safety4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,sixth ,,day ,mary1 ,our ,refuge ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,meditation ,,we ,,carry the precious treasure of sanctifying grace in a frail vessel4 ,our inclination to evil remains with us1 and continues to impel us to that which is forbidden4 ,on whom shall we call for aid8 ,call on ,mary6 ,she is conceived without sin4 ,she1 the lily among thorns1 who never lost ,god's friendship1 is our advocate4 ,let her1 who was found worthy to become the ,mother of our ,redeemer1 inspire you with trust and confidence4 ,the ,church invokes her as the refuge of sinners1 and under no other title does she show her love for us more convincingly and her power with ,god more efficiently4 ,,practice ,,we ,,may trust confidently in ,mary's intercession and aid in all temptations and trials1 if we but have recourse to her4 ,therefore ,st4 ,john ,damascene writes3 ,come to my aid1 ,o ,mother of my ,redeemer6 ,thou art my help1 my consolation in life4 ,come to my aid1 and ,i shall escape unscorched from the fire of temptation2 amongst a thousand ,i shall remain unharmed2 ,i shall brave the storms of assault unwrecked4 ,thy name is my shield1 thy help my armor1 thy protection my defense4 ,with thee ,i boldly attack the enemy and drive him off in confusion2 through thee ,i shall achieve a triumphant victory4 ,in all temptations1 therefore1 let us have recourse to ,mary and through her intercession we shall overcome them4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,mary immaculate1 most brilliant star of purity1 ,i rejoice with thee because thy immaculate conception has bestowed upon the angels in paradise the greatest joy4 ,i thank and bless the ever-blessed ,trinity1 who enriched thee with this high privilege4 ,o let me1 too1 one day enter into this heavenly joy1 in the company of angels1 that ,i may praise and bless thee1 world without end4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,seventh ,,day ,mary1 the ,mother of ,chastity ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,meditation ,,holy ,scripture and the ,fathers agree in the statement that the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary made the vow of perpetual virginity4 ,for when the ,archangel ,gabriel brought ,god's message to the immaculate spouse of ,st4 ,joseph1 that she was to become the ,mother of the ,most ,high1 she asked1 ,how shall this be done1 because ,i know not man8 7,luke i4 #cd47 ,indeed1 ,mary would not have been1 in the full and most excellent sense of the word1 the ,virgin of virgins1 had she not from her own free choice vowed her virginity to ,god4 ,during the whole ,christian era there have been heroic souls who made the vow of perpetual chastity1 consecrating themselves to ,god4 ,trusting in the powerful protection of the immaculate ,virgin1 they persevered in their resolve to bear this priceless treasure before ,god's throne despite the dangers of the world1 the temptations of concupiscence1 and the assaults of hell1 and with the help of the queen of virgins they achieved a triumphant victory4 ,,practice ,,since the fall of ,adam our senses are in rebellion against the law of ,god4 ,i see another law in my members1 fighting against the law of my mind1 and captivating me in the law of sin 7,rom4 vii4 #bc74 ,chastity is the virtue which causes us the greatest struggles4 ,st4 ,augustine says3 ,the fiercest of all combats is the one for the preservation of chastity1 and we must engage in it every day4 ,fierce as this combat is1 the aid which ,mary gives her children to achieve victory is all-powerful4 ,she sustains them by her maternal love and protection4 ,those who lead a chaste life receive the ,divine ,spirit1 are happy in this life1 and will receive a special crown in heaven4 ,among the means for the preservation of chastity1 the following are specially recommended3 ,the assiduous and constant practice of self-denial2 the frequentation of the sacraments2 the daily invocation of ,mary for her aid and protection2 scrupulous avoidance of the occasions of sin4 ,st4 ,chrysostom writes3 ,he errs who believes that he can overcome his sensual propensities and preserve chastity by his own efforts4 ,god's mercy must extinguish nature's ardor4 ,have recourse to the intercession of the immaculate ,virgin and rest assured that you will obtain this mercy4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,mary immaculate1 rising morn of purity1 ,i rejoice with thee1 gazing in wonder upon thy soul confirmed in grace from the very first moment of thy conception1 and rendered inaccessible to sin4 ,i thank and magnify the ever-blessed ,trinity1 who chose thee from all our race for this special privilege4 ,holy ,virgin1 obtain for me utter and constant hatred of all sin above every other evil1 and let me rather die than ever again fall into sin4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,eighth ,,day ,the ,image of the ,immaculate ,conception ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,meditation ,,christian art represents the ,immaculate ,conception as follows3 ,the ,blessed ,virgin appears standing on a globe1 about which is coiled a serpent holding an apple in its mouth4 ,one of ,mary's feet rests upon the serpent1 the other is placed on the moon4 ,her eyes are raised toward heaven2 her hands are either joined in prayer1 or she holds a lily in her right1 and places the left on her breast4 ,her dress is white2 her ample mantle is of blue color4 ,a crown of twelve stars encircles her head4 ,these emblems typify in a most striking manner ,mary's power and glory4 ,and a great sign appeared in heaven4 ,a woman clothed with the sun1 and the moon under her feet1 and on her head a crown of twelve stars 7,apoc4 xii4 #a74 ,,practice ,,the representation of the ,immaculate ,conception is very instructive4 7#a7 ,mary appears standing on the globe4 ,this signifies that being human1 she belongs to the earth1 and yet is exalted above the world and sin2 also1 that she trampled under foot earthly possessions1 vanities1 and joys4 7#b7 ,a serpent is coiled about the globe1 bearing an apple in its mouth4 ,this reminds us of the fall of our first parents1 and of the consequences of their sin4 7#c7 ,mary's foot rests on the serpent1 indicating that she never was under ,satan's dominion1 but was preserved from sin in the first moment of her existence4 7#d7 ,mary stands on the moon4 ,the moon1 on account of its changes1 is an emblem of inconstancy4 ,we see it at ,mary's feet1 to be reminded that we ought to be constant in faith and virtue4 7#e7 ,mary wears a crown1 to indicate that she is a queen4 ,the crown is composed of twelve stars3 she is the queen of heaven4 7#f7 ,mary's dress is white1 to denote her spotless purity and innocence4 7#g7 ,she folds her hands in prayer1 reminding us to imitate her example4 7#h7 ,or she holds a lily in her right hand1 to indicate her virginity and chastity1 and the sweet odor of her virtues4 7#i7 ,mary's mantle is blue1 which color is emblematic of humility4 ,its folds are ample1 to remind us that all who have recourse to her find a secure refuge in all dangers and necessities4 ,therefore let us invoke her intercession in the words of ,holy ,church3 ,we fly to thy patronage1 ,o holy ,mother of ,god4 ,despise not our petitions1 and deliver us from all danger1 ,o ever glorious and blessed ,virgin6 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,o ,,spotless sun6 ,o ,virgin ,mary6 ,i congratulate thee4 ,i rejoice with thee because in thy conception ,god gave thee grace greater and more boundless than ,he ever shed on all ,his angels and all the saints1 together with all their merits4 ,i am thankful and ,i marvel at the surpassing beneficence of the ever-blessed ,trinity1 who conferred on thee this privilege4 ,o make me correspond with the grace of ,god and never abuse it4 ,change this heart of mine2 make me now begin to amend my life4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,ninth ,,day ,the ,feast of the ,immaculate ,conception ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,meditation ,,early in the ,christian era the feast of ,mary's immaculate conception was observed in several countries4 ,st4 ,anselm1 ,bishop of ,canterbury1 introduced it in ,england4 ,a great number of ,popes favored the doctrine of ,mary's absolute sinlessness1 and the adversaries of the ,immaculate ,conception were bidden to be silent and not publicly assert or defend their view4 ,in #adgg1 ,pope ,sixtus ,,iv prescribed the feast of the ,immaculate ,conception to be observed in the whole ,church1 and made it obligatory on priests to recite the special canonical office and to use the ,mass formula published for the purpose4 ,in #ahdf1 the bishops of the ,united ,states assembled in plenary council in ,baltimore elected the ,blessed ,virgin under the title of her immaculate conception ,patroness of the ,church in their country4 ,finally1 ,pope ,pius ,,ix1 after consulting with the bishops throughout the world1 and having implored the ,holy ,ghost for ,his guidance in prayer and fasting1 promulgated1 on ,december #h1 #ahed1 the dogma which teaches that the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary was in her conception1 by a special grace and through the merits of her divine ,son1 preserved from the stain of original sin4 ,this doctrine was received throughout the world with ineffable joy2 and1 indeed1 no one who loves the ,blessed ,virgin can help rejoicing at this her most glorious privilege4 ,the invocation1 ,queen conceived without the stain of original sin1 was added to the ,litany of ,loreto4 ,in #ahff1 at the ,second ,plenary ,council in ,baltimore1 the feast of the ,immaculate ,conception was raised to the rank of a holyday of obligation for the ,church of the ,united ,states4 ,,practice ,,in ,,the inscrutable designs of ,his providence ,god ordained that the mystery of the immaculate conception of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary should be proclaimed an article of faith as late as the middle of the nineteenth century4 ,but1 then1 its proclamation was attended by circumstances that undeniably proved that the ,holy ,father in pronouncing the dogma had been inspired and guided by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,let us praise ,god and thank ,him for bestowing this glorious privilege on our beloved ,mother1 and let us often invoke her under her favorite title1 the ,immaculate ,conception4 ,st4 ,alphonsus ,liguori tells us that the devotion to this mystery is especially efficacious in overcoming the temptations of impurity4 ,therefore he was accustomed to recommend to his penitents thus tempted to recite three times every day the ,hail ,mary in honor of ,mary immaculate4 ,and the ,venerable ,john of ,avila assures us that he never found any one who practised a true devotion to the ,immaculate ,conception of ,mary1 who did not in a short time obtain the gift of that virtue which renders us so dear to her immaculate heart4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,o ,,living light of holiness1 model of purity1 ,mary immaculate1 virgin and mother6 ,as soon as thou wast conceived thou didst profoundly adore thy ,god1 giving ,him thanks that in thee the ancient curse was revoked1 and blessing came again upon the sinful sons of ,adam4 ,o make this blessing kindle in my heart love for ,god2 and do thou fan this flame of love within me1 that ,i may love ,him constantly and one day in heaven eternally enjoy ,him1 there to thank ,him more and more fervently for all the wondrous privileges conferred on thee1 and to rejoice with thee for thy high crown of glory4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,ii ,novena in ,honor of the ,nativity of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary ,illustration3 ,the ,presentation of ,mary in the ,temple ,,first ,,day ,the ,birth of ,mary ,,preparatory ,,prayer ,,we ,,fly to thy patronage1 ,o holy ,mother of ,god4 ,despise not our petitions in our necessities1 and deliver us from all dangers1 ,o ever glorious and blessed ,virgin6 ,,meditation ,,mary is born6 ,the dawn announcing the coming salvation of mankind is at hand4 ,the deep significance of ,mary's birth is expressed in the words of the ,church3 ,thy birth1 ,o virgin ,mother of ,god1 has brought joy to the world2 for from thee is to come forth the ,sun of ,justice1 ,christ our ,lord1 to dispel the curse and bring the blessing1 to conquer death and bring us everlasting life4 ,on this day a light broke forth to brighten the paths of men through all time4 ,let us1 then1 rejoice in ,mary's coming4 ,equally expressive and touching are the reflections of that great ,doctor of the ,church1 ,st4 ,augustine3 ,the day has dawned1 the long-wished-for day of the blessed and venerable ,virgin ,mary4 ,well may this earth of ours rejoice and be glad for having been honored and sanctified by the birth of such a virgin4 ,,practice ,,let us1 then1 rejoice in ,mary's coming4 ,let us hail the birth of her who attained the dignity of mother without losing the high privilege of a virgin4 ,let us imitate her holy life1 that she may become our intercessor before the throne of her ,son1 our judge and redeemer4 ,by becoming the ,mother of ,god she became also our ,mother4 ,as ,mother of the ,redeemer she is also the ,mother of the redeemed4 ,richard of ,st4 ,lawrence writes3 ,if we desire grace and help1 let us have recourse to ,mary and we shall obtain what we desire4 ,for1 as ,st4 ,alphonsus remarks3 ,all graces and gifts which ,god has resolved to bestow upon us ,he gives us through the hands of ,mary4 ,,prayer ,,of ,,the ,,church ,,grant to us1 ,thy servants1 we beseech ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 the gift of heavenly grace2 that to those for whom the delivery of the ,blessed ,virgin was the commencement of salvation1 the commemoration of her nativity may give increasing peace4 ,through ,christ our ,lord4 ,amen4 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,most lovely child1 who by thy birth hast comforted the world1 made glad the heavens1 struck terror into hell1 brought help to the fallen1 consolation to the sad1 health to the sick1 joy to all2 we pray thee with all fervent love1 be thou born again in spirit in our souls through thy most holy love4 ,renew our fervor in thy service1 rekindle in our hearts the fire of thy love1 and bid all virtues blossom there1 which may cause us to find more and more fervor in thy gracious eyes4 ,o ,mary1 may we feel the saving power of thy sweetest name6 ,let it ever be our comfort to call on that great name in all our troubles2 let it be our hope in dangers1 our shield in temptation1 and in death our last aspiration4 ,ejaculation ,o ,mary1 who didst come into the world free from stain3 obtain of ,god for me that ,i may leave it without sin6 ,indulgence4 #ajj days1 once a day4 7,pius ,,ix1 ,march #bg1 #ahfc47 ,,second ,,day ,mary1 the ,elect of ,god ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,meditation ,,we ,,find the explanation of the great prerogatives and privileges which ,god bestowed upon the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary by reflecting on her singular and glorious predestination4 ,from all eternity she was predestined to become the ,mother of ,his divine ,son2 therefore1 says ,pope ,pius ,,ix1 ,god loved her above all created beings1 and in ,his special predilection made her the object of ,his divine complacency4 ,with singular appropriateness we may apply to her the words of ,holy ,scripture1 ,i have loved thee with an everlasting love 7,jer4 xxxi4 #c74 ,the eternal ,father regarded ,mary as ,his beloved ,daughter2 the divine ,son honored her as ,his dearest ,mother2 the ,holy ,ghost loved her as ,his spotless ,spouse4 ,and1 says ,st4 ,anselm1 they loved each other with an affection unsurpassed by any other4 ,,practice ,,inspired by the contemplation of ,mary's extraordinary privileges1 ,st4 ,anselm exclaims3 ,thou1 ,o ,mary1 art more exalted than the patriarchs1 greater than the martyrs1 more glorious than the confessors1 purer than the virgins1 and therefore thou1 alone1 canst achieve more than they can without thee4 ,let us1 then1 rejoice that we possess such a powerful advocate in heaven1 and let us place implicit trust in her4 ,but let us also co-operate with the graces and favors which she obtains for us4 ,moreover1 let us remember that we grievously offend ,god and ,mary if we abuse what we obtain through her intercession to gratify our evil inclinations1 and that the graces she obtains for us for our salvation will redound to our ruin if we do not use them for the glory of ,god and the promotion of our soul's welfare4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,we ,,hail thee1 ,mary1 who1 sprung from the royal line of ,david1 didst come forth to the light of heaven with high honor from the womb of holy ,anna1 thy most happy mother4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,third ,,day ,mary1 the ,child of ,royalty ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,meditation ,,according to her lineage1 as traced in two ,gospels1 ,mary numbers among her paternal and maternal ancestors the holiest and most renowned personages of the ,old ,testament4 ,we find amongst them ,abraham1 the friend of ,god1 the father of ,israel and of all the faithful2 then ,david1 the man after ,god's own heart1 the inspired ,royal ,prophet2 and ,solomon1 the wise and mighty king1 and the whole line of the kings of ,juda4 ,on her mother's side she belonged to the tribe of ,levi1 and was descended from its noblest and most prominent family1 that of ,aaron the ,high ,priest1 and was therefore a relative of the ,high ,priests of the ,old ,testament4 ,thus royal and sacerdotal prestige distinguished ,mary's lineage4 ,,practice ,,the ,blessed ,virgin was not proud of her illustrious ancestry1 and not depressed because of the downfall of her family1 but applied herself diligently to adhere to the faith and follow the example of her ancestors4 ,remembering the wicked members of her family1 she learned from them that temporal greatness1 success1 wealth1 and glory are more dangerous to virtue than poverty1 retirement1 and work4 ,let us imitate ,mary's example4 ,even possessed of the most excellent prestiges of the natural order1 of ourselves we are nothing4 ,what hast thou that thou hast not received8 ,and if thou hast received1 why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received8 7#a ,cor4 iv4 #g47 ,therefore do not overestimate yourself2 do not be conceited2 do not strive for praise1 honors1 and high station2 be not boastful or arrogant2 do not presume on your merits2 rather be distrustful of yourself and patiently bear affronts1 neglect1 and humiliations4 ,however poor you may be1 be content with your lot1 remembering the words of the ,apostle3 ,they that will become rich fall into temptation1 and into the snare of the devil1 and into many unprofitable and hurtful desires which draw men into destruction and perdition4 ,for the desire of money is the root of all evils3 which some coveting have erred from the faith1 and have entangled themselves in many sorrows 7#a ,tim4 vi4 #i1 #aj74 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,we ,,hail thee1 ,o ,mary1 heavenly babe1 white dove of purity1 who1 despite the infernal serpent1 was conceived free from the taint of ,adam's sin4 ,with all our hearts we pray thee to vouchsafe in thy goodness to come down again and be born in spirit in our souls1 that1 led captive by thy loveliness and sweetness1 they may ever live united to thy most sweet and loving heart4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,fourth ,,day ,mary1 the ,child of ,pious ,parents ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,meditation ,,tradition tells us that ,mary's parents were called ,joachim and ,anna4 ,the holy ,fathers rival each other in praising the virtue of this holy couple4 ,st4 ,epiphanius writes3 ,joachim and ,anna were pleasing in the sight of ,god because of the holiness of their lives4 ,st4 ,andrew of ,crete remarks3 ,joachim was eminent for the mildness and fortitude of his character4 ,the law of ,god was his rule of life4 ,he was just1 and never relaxed in the fervor of his love of ,god4 ,anna was no less noted for her meekness1 continence1 and chastity4 ,st4 ,jerome relates3 ,the life of this holy couple was simple and just before the ,lord1 edifying and virtuous before men4 ,st4 ,john ,damascene exclaims3 ,o happy1 chaste1 and immaculate couple1 ,joachim and ,ann6 ,you are known1 according to the ,lord's word1 by your fruit4 ,your life was pleasing in the sight of ,god1 and worthy of her who was born of you4 ,,practice ,,it is a great blessing1 and one to be esteemed more highly than wealth and high station1 to have ,god-fearing1 pious parents4 ,for their sake ,god is gracious to the children and lavishes ,his gifts on them4 ,it is certainly a great privilege to be offered up to ,god immediately after birth by the hands of a pious mother4 ,to have1 from childhood up1 the example and guidance of virtuous parents is certainly of the greatest importance4 ,st4 ,chrysostom writes3 ,the parents' example is the book from which the child learns4 ,a pious bishop was wont to say3 ,the good example of the parents is the best catechism and the truest mirror that a family can have4 ,if ,christian parents imitate the example of ,joachim and ,ann the blessing of ,god will rest on them and on their children2 for because her parents were so dear to ,mary1 she will not refuse to join them in their prayers for us4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,we ,,hail thee1 brightest morn1 forerunner of the heavenly ,sun of ,justice1 who didst first bring light to earth4 ,humbly prostrate1 with all our hearts we pray thee to vouchsafe in thy goodness to be born again in spirit in our souls1 that1 led captive by thy loveliness and sweetness1 they may ever live united to thy most sweet and loving heart4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,fifth ,,day ,mary's ,supernatural ,prerogatives ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,meditation ,,mary was the masterpiece of ,god's creation2 her soul was the most perfect ever dwelling in a human body4 ,a pious tradition tells us that she possessed the use of reason much earlier than other children4 ,her intellect was illuminated by supernatural light2 her will was exempt from concupiscence4 ,being preserved from original sin1 she surpassed in holiness1 from the first moment of her existence1 all angels and men4 ,she possessed all virtues in the highest degree1 because of her faithful co-operation with sanctifying grace and with the countless actual graces granted to her4 ,she lived in constant communion with ,god1 undisturbed by evil inclinations from within or temptations from without4 ,,practice ,,through the effects of original sin we have lost the supernatural prerogative of original justice1 and even after receiving sanctifying grace in holy ,baptism we are exposed to many temptations4 ,our life is a constant warfare4 ,we must1 however1 not despair in this struggle1 for if we are true children of ,mary she will come to our aid4 ,in all temptations ,mary is the ,help of ,christians if we have recourse to her4 ,but if we wish her to help us1 we must not expose ourselves unnecessarily to temptation4 ,he that loveth danger shall perish in it 7,ecclus4 iii4 #bg74 ,this sad experience has come to many4 ,let us1 therefore1 avoid the danger and occasion of sin2 and whenever evil approaches us in any shape1 let us call upon ,mary1 and we may rest assured that she will assist us4 ,i shall certainly triumph over my enemies1 exclaims ,st4 ,alphonsus1 if ,i place my trust in thee1 ,o ,mary1 and if thou art my shield and protection against them4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,we ,,hail thee1 ,o chosen one6 who like the untarnished sun didst burst forth into being in the dark night of sin4 ,humbly prostrate at thy feet1 ,o ,mary1 we give thee our homage1 and with all our hearts we pray thee to vouchsafe in thy goodness to be born again in our souls1 that1 led captive by thy loveliness and sweetness1 they may ever live united to thy most sweet and loving heart4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,sixth ,,day ,mary1 the ,joy of the ,most ,holy ,trinity ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,meditation ,,in ,,the child ,mary the eternal ,father beheld ,his unsullied glorious image1 which image had been defaced in all other human beings by original and actual sin4 ,what a joy to ,him to behold this stainless1 immaculate child6 ,and how great must have been the joy of the ,son of ,god at the birth of her who was to be ,his ,mother6 ,from her ,he was to take that sacred body in which ,he was to dwell on earth1 the blood of which ,he was to shed on the cross for our redemption1 and in which ,he was to return to heaven to sit at the right hand of the ,father4 ,he will call her ,mother1 and regard her with all the filial tenderness of a child for his mother4 ,she will love ,him in return with a true mother's affection and devotion4 ,as the ,mother of ,sorrows she will weep over ,his inanimate body taken down from the cross4 ,but like ,himself1 she will leave the tomb1 and reign at ,his side as the queen of heaven4 ,how great1 then1 must have been ,his joy at the birth of this child6 ,the ,holy ,ghost1 too1 rejoiced at ,mary's birth4 ,he infused into her the plenitude of ,his holy love1 for she was destined to become the ,mother of ,god4 ,and how ,mary will love ,god1 from whom she received so many and so great graces1 and whom she is to bear in her arms as her real and true ,son6 ,this1 her divine ,son's love for mankind1 will be imparted also to her4 ,therefore the ,holy ,ghost rejoices at this child1 who received into her heart the fulness of ,his grace1 and shall be the helper of those who have recourse to her4 ,,practice ,,raise your spirit above time and space2 try to contemplate well the mystery of ,mary's predestination4 ,to make us realize the great privileges conferred upon her1 the ,church applies to her the words of ,holy ,scripture1 ,he that shall find me1 shall find life1 and have salvation from the ,lord 7,prov4 viii4 #ce74 ,only when we consider ,mary as the ,mother of ,god1 do we arrive at a right conception of her great dignity4 ,hence ,st4 ,bonaventure exclaims1 ,god might have created a more beautiful world2 ,he might have made heaven more glorious2 but it was impossible for ,him to exalt a creature higher than ,mary in making her ,his ,mother4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,we ,,hail thee1 beauteous moon1 ,o ,mary most holy1 who didst shed light upon a world wrapped in the densest darkness of sin4 ,humbly prostrate at thy feet1 we give thee our homage1 and with all our hearts we pray thee to vouchsafe in thy goodness to be born again in spirit in our souls1 that led captive by thy loveliness and sweetness they may ever live united to thy most sweet and loving heart4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,seventh ,,day ,the ,angels ,rejoice at ,mary's ,birth ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,meditation ,,describing ,god's power and wisdom as shown in creation1 ,holy ,scripture1 according to the explanation of the ,fathers1 introduces ,him as saying1 ,when the morning stars praised me together1 and all the sons of ,god made a joyful melody 7,job xxxviii4 #g71 and by these words intends to convey with what joy the angels praised ,god's omnipotence on beholding the wonders of creation4 ,what1 then1 must have been their joy on beholding this new wonder of divine power and wisdom1 the child ,mary1 destined to be their queen4 ,filled with admiration they exclaimed1 ,who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising1 fair as the moon1 bright as the sun1 terrible as an army set in array8 7,cant4 vi4 #i47 ,and moreover1 if1 as ,our ,lord declares1 the angels rejoice at the conversion of a sinner1 how great must have been their joy at the birth of her who was to be the refuge of sinners and the mother of ,him who was to be the ,redeemer of sinners8 ,again1 the angels rejoiced at ,mary's birth1 because she would fill1 through the salvation of mankind by her divine ,son1 the places made vacant in heaven by the apostate angels4 ,,practice ,,good children rejoice on the birthday of their parents and gratefully remember all the benefits they have received from them4 ,thus should we1 also1 celebrate the nativity of the ,blessed ,virgin by a grateful remembrance of the innumerable graces1 individual and general1 we received through her intercession4 ,in acknowledging ,mary's co-operation with our salvation1 ,holy ,church calls her our mediatrix1 and greets her as the ,cause of our joy1 because1 though we receive grace from ,christ1 it comes to us through her mediation4 ,what cause1 then1 have we not for rejoicing at her birth6 ,again1 greeting ,mary as the cause of our joy1 let us remember the protection she extended to the ,church in times of adversity and persecution2 let us1 furthermore1 remember all the graces which1 according to the holy ,fathers1 are dispensed to us by ,mary's hands4 ,of her plenitude1 says ,st4 ,bonaventure1 we have all received2 the captive liberty1 the sick health1 the sad consolation1 the sinner pardon1 the just grace4 ,therefore the ,church invokes ,mary as the mother of mercy1 the health of the sick1 the comforter of the afflicted1 the refuge of sinners1 the help of ,christians1 in a word1 as the cause of our joy4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,we ,,hail thee1 fair soul of ,mary1 who from all eternity wast ,god's1 and ,god's alone2 sanctuary and living temple of the ,holy ,ghost2 sun without blemish1 because free from original sin4 ,with all our hearts we pray to thee1 ,o ,mary1 to vouchsafe in thy goodness to be born again in spirit in our souls1 that1 led captive by thy loveliness and sweetness1 they may ever live united to thy most sweet and loving heart4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,eighth ,,day ,the ,joy of the ,just in ,limbo at ,mary's ,birth ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,meditation ,,for four thousand years the just in limbo sighed for redemption1 and sent up to ,heaven the plaintive cry1 ,o that ,thou wouldst rend the heavens1 and wouldst come down6 7,is4 xiv4 #a47 ,drop down dew1 ye heavens1 from above1 and let the clouds rain the just2 let the earth be opened and bud forth a ,saviour 7,is4 xlv4 #h74 ,what joy must have filled the souls of the just when they heard the welcome tidings of the birth of ,mary1 the virgin ,mother of the promised ,messias2 how great their consolation at the rising of that dawn which preceded the ,sun of ,justice1 whose splendor was to illuminate the darkness of them that sat in the shadow of death6 ,,practice ,a ,,joy similar to that which filled the captive souls in limbo at ,mary's birth now fills the souls in purgatory when we implore her to come to their relief4 ,contemplating the immense love of the ,most ,holy ,trinity for ,mary1 we may not doubt but that1 by her intercession1 she might at once deliver all the suffering souls from their prison1 if such were in accordance with ,god's will4 ,but ,god's wisdom and providence have decreed otherwise4 ,therefore ,mary does not pray for the release of all souls in purgatory1 but recommends them1 in conformity with ,god's will1 to ,his mercy4 ,st4 ,bernardine of ,sienna applies to ,mary the words of ,holy ,scripture1 ,i have penetrated into the bottom of the deep and have walked in the waves of the sea 7,ecclus4 xxiv4 #h71 and says3 ,she descends into that sea of suffering and soothes the pains of the poor souls4 ,st4 ,denis the ,carthusian remarks1 that when the name of ,mary is mentioned in purgatory1 the souls there imprisoned experience the same relief as when a sick person hears words of consolation on his bed of pain4 ,therefore let us entrust our prayers for the souls in purgatory to ,mary4 ,she will present our petitions to ,god1 and thus presented1 ,he will speedily hear and graciously grant them4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,we ,,hail thee1 strong child1 who didst put to flight all hell and the powers of darkness4 ,we give thee our homage1 and with all our hearts we pray thee to vouchsafe in thy goodness to be born again in spirit in our souls1 that1 led captive by thy loveliness and sweetness1 they may ever live united to thy most sweet and loving heart4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,ninth ,,day ,the ,holy ,name of ,mary ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,meditation ,,st4 ,,alphonsus writes of the name of ,mary3 ,this name was neither invented on earth1 nor imposed by human agency4 ,it came from heaven and was given to the ,mother of ,god by divine command4 ,just as it is a peculiar glory of our ,saviour's name1 that ,god hath given ,him a name which is above all names1 that in the name of ,jesus every knee should bow of those that are in heaven1 on earth1 and under the earth 7,philipp4 ii4 #i71 thus it also behooves that ,mary1 the most perfect1 the most pure1 and most exalted of all created beings1 should receive a most holy1 lovely1 and powerful name4 ,st4 ,methodius declares that the name of ,mary is so rich in grace and blessing1 that no one can pronounce it devoutly without at the same time receiving a spiritual favor4 ,bl4 ,jordan exclaims3 ,let a heart be ever so obdurate1 let a man even despair of ,god's mercy1 if he have recourse to thee1 ,o ,mary1 virgin most clement1 he can not fail to be softened and filled with confidence if he invokes thy name2 for thou wilt inspire him with hope in ,god's mercy1 pardon1 and grace4 ,,practice ,,it ,,is1 then1 meet and just that we should devoutly honor and praise the name of ,mary4 ,let us never mention it except in reverence and devotion4 ,let us invoke ,mary by it in all dangers of body and soul1 mindful of the words of ,st4 ,bernard3 ,o sinner1 when the floods and tempests of this earthly life overwhelm thee so that thou canst not firmly set thy foot1 turn not away thy gaze from the light of this guiding star4 ,when the storms of temptation assail thee1 and the rocks and quicksands of vexation and trial threaten to shatter thy bark of hope1 look up to that bright star in the heavens1 and call on the name of ,mary4 ,when the billows of pride and of ambition1 when the floods of calumny are about to submerge thee1 look up to this star and call on the name of ,mary4 ,when anger1 avarice1 and concupiscence convulse the peace of thy soul1 look up to this star and call on ,mary4 ,when thy sins rise up like hideous monsters before thy troubled vision1 when thy conscience stings thee1 when the terrors of future judgment fill thee with deadly anguish1 when gloom and sadness overpower thee1 when thou findest thyself on the brink of hellish despair1 take courage2 think of ,mary1 and thou wilt find from thy own inward experience how true are the sayings of those who tell thee that the name of the ,blessed ,virgin is ',star of the ,sea1' the name of the ,virgin is ,mary4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,we ,,hail thee1 beloved child ,mary1 adorned with every virtue1 immeasurably above all the saints1 and therefore worthy ,mother of the ,saviour of the world1 who by the operation of the ,holy ,ghost didst bring forth the incarnate ,word4 ,we give thee our homage1 and with all our hearts we pray thee to vouchsafe in thy goodness to be born again in our souls1 that1 led captive by thy loveliness and sweetness1 they may ever live united to thy most sweet and loving heart4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the ,novena74 ,,iii ,novena for the ,feast of the ,annunciation of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary ,illustration3 ,the ,annunciation ,,first ,,day ,the ,annunciation ,,preparatory ,,prayer ,,my ,,queen1 my ,mother1 remember ,i am thine own4 ,keep me1 guard me1 as thy property and possession6 ,indulgence4 #dj days1 every time4 7,pius ,,ix1 ,august #e1 #ahea47 ,,meditation ,,at ,,nazareth1 a mountain village in ,judea1 lived poor and in obscurity ,mary1 the virgin selected by ,god to become the ,mother of ,his ,son4 ,on ,march #beth she was in prayer in her chamber1 and perhaps sent up to heaven the yearning petition1 ,drop down dew1 ye heavens1 from above1 and let the clouds rain the just2 let the earth be opened and bud a ,saviour 7,is4 xlv4 #h74 ,behold1 suddenly the chamber is suffused by a heavenly light4 ,the archangel ,gabriel stands reverently before her and says1 ,hail1 full of grace1 the ,lord is with thee4 ,blessed art thou among women4 ,and when ,mary heard the angel's words1 she was troubled at his saying1 and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be 7,luke i4 #bh1 #bi74 ,,practice ,,the angel's salutation comprises two titles of ineffable greatness4 ,mary is called full of grace1 because of her innocence and purity2 she is called blessed among women1 because she is the elect ,mother of ,god4 ,never before was a human being thus greeted4 ,it was ,god ,himself who sent the message to ,mary4 ,a good angel now repaired the harm once done by a bad angel4 ,for ,lucifer1 the fallen angel1 seduced ,eve to sin and thereby caused the ruin of the whole human race2 now another angel1 ,gabriel1 was sent to announce the glad tidings to ,mary1 that she was to conceive the ,redeemer from sin1 who was to accomplish the salvation of mankind4 ,mary was troubled at the angel's words1 and reflected on the meaning of the message4 ,st4 ,ambrose writes3 ,mary was troubled1 not because the angel was a heavenly spirit1 but because he appeared to her in the form of a youth4 ,still more was she troubled at the praises spoken to her4 ,she was innocent and humble1 and therefore reflected on the meaning of the message4 ,she had always considered herself as a poor and unknown virgin2 she deemed herself unworthy of ,god's grace2 therefore she was troubled at the salutation4 ,in that decisive moment she was and remained our model4 ,,prayer ,,of ,,the ,,church ,,pour forth1 we beseech ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 ,thy grace into our hearts1 that we unto whom the ,incarnation of ,christ ,thy ,son was made known by the message of an angel1 may1 by ,his passion and cross1 be brought to the glory of the resurrection4 ,through the same ,christ our ,lord4 ,amen4 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,with wonder ,i revere thee1 holiest ,virgin ,mary2 for of all ,god's creatures thou wast the humblest on the very day of thy annunciation1 when ,god ,himself exalted ,thee to the sublime dignity of ,his own ,mother4 ,o mightiest ,virgin1 make me1 wretched sinner that ,i am1 know the depths of my own nothingness1 and make me humble myself at last with all my heart1 beneath the feet of all men4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation ,virgin ,mary1 ,mother of ,god1 pray to ,jesus for me6 ,indulgence4 #ej days1 once a day4 7,leo ,,xiii1 ,march #bj1 #ahid47 ,,second ,,day ,the ,import of the ,angel's ,salutation ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,hail1 full of grace6 ,mary was greeted as full of grace by the ,giver of grace ,himself4 ,the angel's salutation meant3 ,the grace of ,god has preserved thee from all sin4 ,neither the stain of original sin1 nor the guilt of actual sin1 ever obscured the mirror of thy soul4 ,by the special favor of ,god the most sublime virtues were infused into thy soul4 ,the ,lord is with thee4 ,from all eternity the ,lord was with ,mary4 ,he was with her not only as ,he is with ,his whole creation1 but ,he was with her in a special manner4 ,the eternal ,father was with her from all eternity as with ,his beloved ,daughter4 ,the divine ,son was with her from all eternity as with ,his chosen ,mother4 ,the ,holy ,ghost was with her from all eternity as with ,his beloved ,spouse4 ,this intimate union never was disrupted4 ,therefore ,mary is ,blessed among women1 and ever was1 and ever shall be the beloved of the ,lord4 ,,practice ,,consider how ,mary receives the angel's message4 ,she is troubled1 she is disturbed at the praise1 at the reverence of the angel4 ,what an example of humility6 ,let us imitate her in this virtue by the acknowledgment before ,god of our weakness1 our unworthiness1 our nothingness1 and by ordering our whole being accordingly4 ,humility renders us pleasing in the sight of ,god and makes us susceptible of ,his grace4 ,hence ,st4 ,augustine writes3 ,god resists the proud and gives ,his grace to the humble4 ,what a terrible punishment for the proud1 what a splendid reward for the humble6 ,the proud man resembles a rock1 the humble man a beautiful valley4 ,the grace of ,god descends from heaven like a gentle rain4 ,it can not penetrate the rock of pride1 and hence the proud man loses ,god's grace and love4 ,but in the valley of humility the waters of divine grace can diffuse themselves and fructify the soul of the humble man1 so that it may bring forth fruit unto eternal life4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,o ,,mary1 holiest ,virgin1 who1 when the archangel ,gabriel hailed thee in thy annunciation1 and thou wast raised by ,god above all choirs of the angels1 didst confess thyself the handmaid of the ,lord2 do thou obtain for me true humility and a truly angelic purity1 and so to live on earth as ever to be worthy of the blessings of ,god4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,third ,,day ,the ,effect of the ,angel's ,salutation ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,the effect of the angel's salutation on ,mary was striking4 ,imbued with sentiments quite different from ours1 she was troubled at the praise addressed to her4 ,meanwhile she is silent and considers within herself what might be the meaning of these words4 ,and now the angel calls her by name1 saying1 ,fear not1 ,mary1 for thou hast found grace with ,god4 ,behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb1 and shalt bring forth a son1 and thou shalt call ,his name ,jesus4 ,he shall be great1 and shall be called the ,son of the ,most ,high1 and the ,lord ,god shall give unto ,him the throne of ,david ,his father3 and ,he shall reign in the house of ,jacob for ever1 and of ,his kingdom there shall be no end 7,luke i4 #cj-cc74 ,,practice ,,let us admire the prudence shining forth in ,mary4 ,after hearing the angel's words of praise she was silent and thought within herself what kind of a salutation this was4 ,she is very careful and prudent4 ,on this her conduct ,st4 ,thomas ,aquinas remarks3 ,mary did not refuse to believe1 nor did she receive the message with credulity4 ,she avoided ,eve's gullibility and the distrust of ,zachary the high priest4 ,and ,st4 ,bernard writes3 ,mary preferred to remain silent in humility1 rather than to speak inconsiderately4 ,let us strive always to speak and act with deliberation4 ,our conversation ought always to be judicious2 for often a word spoken inconsiderately causes bitter regret4 ,st4 ,thomas ,aquinas observes3 ,song was given to a number of creatures1 but human beings alone were endowed with the faculty of speech1 to indicate that in speaking we should use our reason4 ,and ,st4 ,chrysostom says3 ,let us always guard our tongue2 not that it should always be silent1 but that it should speak at the proper time4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,i ,,rejoice with thee1 ,o ,virgin ever blessed1 because by thy humble word of consent thou didst draw down from the bosom of the eternal ,father the divine ,word into thy own pure bosom4 ,o draw1 then1 ever my heart to ,god2 and with ,god bring grace into my heart that ,i may ever sincerely bless thy word of consent1 so mighty and so efficacious4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,fourth ,,day ,mary's ,question ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,well versed as ,mary was in ,holy ,scripture1 she fully understood the words she had heard and knew their great import4 ,she was destined to become the ,mother of the ,most ,high1 the ,son of ,god4 ,but there is an obstacle which prevents her from giving immediate assent4 ,she has solemnly vowed her virginity to ,god4 ,not knowing how the mystery announced to her was to be accomplished1 and intent above all on keeping inviolate her vow1 she interrupts her silence by the short but comprehensive question1 ,how shall this be done1 because ,i know not man8 7,luke i4 #cd47 ,this is the first word of ,mary recorded in the ,gospel4 ,,practice ,,how shall this be done1 because ,i know not man8 ,truly a momentous question1 proceeding from her knowledge of the great excellence and value before ,god of virginity1 which1 before ,mary1 was unknown to the world4 ,let us follow ,mary's example and esteem holy purity and chastity above all things4 ,let us remember how highly ,holy ,scripture extols this virtue4 ,o how beautiful is the chaste generation with glory2 for the memory thereof is immortal1 because it is known both with ,god and with men 7,wis4 iv4 #a74 ,st4 ,athanasius writes3 ,o chastity1 thou precious pearl1 found by few1 even hated by some1 and sought only by those who are worthy of thee6 ,thou art the joy of the prophets1 the ornament of the apostles1 the life of the angels1 the crown of the saints4 ,let us therefore carefully guard this inestimable treasure4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,mary1 mighty ,virgin1 thou who on the day of thy annunciation wast found by the archangel so prompt and ready to do ,god's will1 and to correspond with the desires of the august ,trinity1 who wished for thy consent in order to redeem the world2 obtain for me that1 whatever happens1 good or ill1 ,i may turn to my ,god1 and with resignation say1 ,be it done unto me according to thy word4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,fifth ,,day ,the ,solution ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,the angel explains to ,mary how1 without detriment to her virginity1 she will become a mother4 ,he says1 ,the ,holy ,ghost shall come upon thee1 and the power of the ,most ,high shall overshadow thee4 ,and therefore also the ,holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the ,son of ,god 7,luke i4 #ce74 ,st4 ,bernard remarks3 ,let him who can1 comprehend it4 ,who1 but that most happy ,virgin who was worthy to experience the influence and effect of the power of the ,most ,high and to penetrate this sublime mystery1 can understand how the divine ,light was poured into the ,virgin's womb8 ,the ,most ,holy ,trinity alone co-operated in the sacred act1 and it remains an impenetrable mystery to all1 except to her who was called to so sublime a destiny4 ,,practice ,,mary did not entertain a single doubt concerning the wonders which the angel announced to her about the coming ,messias and ,his kingdom4 ,she believed with simple faith the words of the heavenly messenger4 ,only about that which concerned her personally she asked a question4 ,when the wonderful mystery was explained to her1 she did not ask how this can be done1 but only how it shall be done4 ,and after the angel had declared to her that she shall conceive by the ,holy ,ghost1 she was fully resigned and announced her implicit belief in these humble words3 ,behold the handmaid of the ,lord2 be it done to me according to thy word 7,luke i4 #ch74 ,therefore the ,holy ,ghost ,himself praised her by the mouth of ,elizabeth3 ,blessed art thou that hast believed 7,luke i4 #de74 ,let us remain steadfast in the profession of all articles of faith1 and let us oppose1 like a strong shield1 the words1 ,nothing is impossible with ,god1 to all attacks of unbelievers1 and to all doubts that may arise in our own minds4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,mary most holy1 ,i see that thy obedience united thee so closely to ,god1 that all creation never shall know again union so fair and so perfect4 ,i am overwhelmed with confusion in seeing how my sins have separated me from ,god4 ,help me1 then1 gentle ,mother1 to repent sincerely of my sins1 that ,i may be reunited to thy loving ,jesus4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,sixth ,,day ,mary's ,consent ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,we ,,admire the creative word of ,god1 by which heaven and earth were called into existence4 ,but ,mary's word1 ,be it done to me according to thy word1 is even mightier and more efficacious2 for it commands the obedience even of the almighty ,creator4 ,without this word of humility and obedience the incarnation of our divine ,saviour would not have been accomplished4 ,mary does not say1 ,i accept the proposal1 ,i agree to the proposition1 nor does she use other words of similar import4 ,she simply says1 ,be it done to me according to thy word4 ,it was not her own choice1 nor her own decision1 but a voluntary1 full1 and complete surrender to the will of ,god that the message found in ,mary's soul1 which was expressed in these words4 ,what a source of consolation to her in the subsequent sorrowful and afflicted stages of her life was this complete surrender to ,god's will6 ,it comprised the tranquilizing assurance that ,he to whose designs she submitted1 would endow her with the fortitude and strength necessary to co-operate with them4 ,,practice ,,just as our divine ,lord ,himself became obedient unto death1 thus also ,his incarnation and the motherhood of ,mary were the result of obedience4 ,again1 in contemplating the works that in the course of time were undertaken in the ,church for the glory of ,god and the salvation of man1 we find that only those were really great1 effective1 and enduring1 which had their beginning1 continuation1 and consummation in obedience4 ,rejoice1 then1 if it is your happy lot to walk in the safe path of obedience4 ,avail yourself of every opportunity to submit your will to the will of your ,superiors4 ,they are the representatives of ,god4 ,by obeying them we fulfil ,his will1 not the will of men4 ,st4 ,bonaventure calls obedience the key of heaven4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,holiest ,mary1 if through thy modesty thou wert troubled at the appearance of the archangel ,gabriel in thy dwelling1 ,i am terrified at the sight of my monstrous pride4 ,by thy incomparable humility1 which brought forth ,god for men1 reopened paradise and let the captive souls go free from their prison1 draw me1 ,i pray thee1 out of the deep pit into which my sins have cast me1 and make me save my soul4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,seventh ,,day ,mary's ,fortitude in ,suffering ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,although ,mary's consent was free1 and freely given1 she was clearly convinced and perfectly conscious of the responsibility1 the obligations1 and the duties involved by that consent1 and which she now assumed4 ,great are the duties and tearful the days of a mother who has to raise her ,son1 who is also ,god1 to be sacrificed on the cross4 ,mary assumes with the dignity this responsibility4 ,she consents to conceive the ,son of ,god1 to give birth to ,him1 to nourish ,him1 to educate ,him for the ignominious death of the cross4 ,when she pronounced the words1 ,be it done1 her eyes were fixed on the distant tragedy of ,golgotha1 on the cross towering upon its height4 ,yet she accepts it1 together with the dignity of ,mother of ,god4 ,,practice ,,mary1 in consenting to become the ,mother of ,jesus1 became not only ,his ,mother1 but the ,mother of all mankind4 ,she became1 for all time1 the refuge of sinners1 the health of the sick1 the intercessor with ,god for man2 she consented to exercise a mother's love for suffering and sinful humanity4 ,but alas1 how many of those adopted by ,mary as her children under the cross of her dying ,son are unworthy of her mother love6 ,how many are rebellious children1 who fill her heart with sorrow and anguish6 ,others1 faithless and obdurate1 become a reproach to her4 ,have you1 during your past life1 always been a good child of this loving ,mother8 ,are you to her an honor or a disgrace1 a joy or a sorrow8 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,though my tongue is unhallowed1 yet1 purest ,virgin1 ,i presume to hail thee every day with the angel's salutation1 ,hail ,mary1 full of grace6 ,from my heart1 ,i pray thee1 pour into my soul a little of that mighty grace wherewith the ,holy ,spirit1 overshadowing thee1 filled thee to the full4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,eighth ,,day ,mary1 the ,mother of ,god ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,mary',s true greatness consists in her having been chosen the ,mother of ,god4 ,this sublime dignity1 pre-eminently her own and shared by no other creature1 elevates her to a station inconceivably exalted4 ,mother of ,god6 ,st4 ,peter ,damian thus gives expression to his conception of this dignity3 ,in what words may mortal man be permitted to pronounce the praises of her who brought forth that divine ,word who lives for all eternity8 ,where can a tongue be found holy and pure enough to eulogize her who bore the author of all created things1 whom the elements praise and obey in fear and trembling8 ,when we essay to extol a martyr's constancy1 to recount his heroic acts of virtue1 to describe his devotion to his ,saviour's cause and honor1 we are supplied with words by facts and occurrences that belong to the province of human experience4 ,but when we undertake to describe the glories of the ,blessed ,virgin1 we are on unknown ground1 on a subject transcending all human effort4 ,we fail to find words suitable to portray her sublime prerogatives1 privileges1 and mysteries4 ,,practice ,,st4 ,,anselm1 writing on the motherhood of ,mary1 says3 ,it was eminently just and proper that the creature chosen to be the ,mother of ,god should shine with a luster of purity far beyond anything conceivable in any other creature under heaven4 ,for it was to her that the eternal ,father decreed to give ,his only-begotten ,son1 whom ,he loves as ,himself2 and to give ,him in such a mysterious manner that ,he should be at the same time the ,son of ,god and the ,son of the ,virgin ,mary4 ,she must indeed be purity itself1 whom the ,son of ,god elected as ,his ,mother1 and who was the chosen ,spouse of the ,holy ,ghost1 to be overshadowed by ,him to bring forth the ,second ,person of that ,most ,blessed ,trinity from whom ,he ,himself proceeds4 ,let us honor the virgin ,mother with filial devotion1 gratefully greeting her often in the words of the angel1 ,hail ,mary1 full of grace6 ,let us remember that ,god alone is above ,mary1 and beneath her is all that is not ,god4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,i ,,believe1 holiest ,mary1 that almighty ,god was ever with thee from thy conception1 and is1 by ,his incarnation1 still more closely united to thee4 ,make it thy care1 ,i pray thee1 that ,i may be with that same ,lord ,jesus ever one heart and soul by means of sanctifying grace4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,ninth ,,day ,mary1 ,our ,mother ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,mary could not consent to become the ,mother of the ,redeemer without including in her consent those to be redeemed4 ,she bore one man1 says ,st4 ,antonine1 and thereby has borne all men again4 ,beneath the cross of her divine ,son she has reborne us to life with great pain1 just as ,eve our first mother1 has borne us under the tree of forbidden fruit unto death4 ,that there be no doubt concerning it1 her divine ,son made this declaration in ,his last will4 ,when therefore ,jesus had seen ,his ,mother and the disciple standing whom ,he loved1 ,he saith to ,his ,mother1 ,woman1 behold thy son4 ,after that ,he saith to the disciple1 ,behold thy ,mother 7,john xix4 #bf #bg74 ,she gave up her ,son for the redemption of mankind1 and ,he gave us1 in the person of ,his beloved disciple ,st4 ,john1 to her as her children1 declaring her our ,mother4 ,from that moment we belong to ,mary1 and ,mary belongs to us3 ,behold thy ,mother6 ,,practice ,,mary loves us because she loves ,god1 and because ,god loves us4 ,she loves us as her brethren who share human nature with her4 ,she loves us as her children1 whom she has borne to eternal life4 ,she loves us because we are miserable and helpless4 ,true1 we offended her divine ,son1 but she knows our frailty1 our blindness1 the assaults of the flesh and the devil to which we are exposed2 and by all this she is moved to come to our aid4 ,do not1 however1 imagine that this good and amiable ,mother will hear your call for assistance if you continue to offend her divine ,son with malice prepense4 ,to obtain her aid you must make yourself in a manner worthy of it4 ,this you do by striving to imitate her virtues4 ,or is there anything in her example that we are unable to imitate8 ,true1 we can not attain to her perfection in virtue1 but we can copy it to a certain degree4 ,to follow ,mary's example there is no need of performing miracles1 of having ecstasies1 or of doing any other extraordinary deeds4 ,all that is necessary is to persevere faithfully in the ordinary duties of life1 and to perform them to the best of our ability4 ,behold thy ,mother6 ,these words of our dying ,lord were addressed to the beloved disciple ,st4 ,john1 but were intended for all mankind4 ,even as ,mary never ceases to be the ,mother of ,god1 she never will cease to be our ,mother4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,o ,,holiest ,mary1 bless me1 my heart and my soul1 as thou thyself wast ever blessed of ,god among all women2 for ,i have this sure hope1 dear ,mother1 that if thou bless me while ,i live1 then1 when ,i die1 ,i shall be blessed of ,god in the everlasting glory of heaven4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,iv ,novena in ,honor of the ,seven ,sorrows of ,mary ,illustration3 ,mary1 the ,mother of ,sorrows ,,note4--,besides the indulgences granted for every novena in honor of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary by ,pius ,,ix1 ,pope ,leo ,,xiii1 ,january #bg1 #ahhh1 granted that all the faithful may gain1 on the third ,sunday in ,september1 being the second feast of the ,seven ,sorrows of ,mary 7the other is observed on the ,friday before ,palm ,sunday71 a plenary indulgence as often as they visit1 after confession and communion1 a church where the ,archconfraternity of the ,seven ,sorrows is canonically established1 and pray there for the intentions of the ,holy ,father4 ,this indulgence is applicable to the souls in purgatory4 ,,first ,,day ,devotion to the ,seven ,sorrows of ,mary ,,preparatory ,,prayer ,,bid me bear1 ,o ,mother blessed1 ,on my heart the wounds impressed ,suffered by the ,crucified6 ,indulgence4 #cjj days1 once a day4 ,a plenary indulgence1 on any one day1 in each month1 to those who shall have practised this devotion for a month1 saying besides seven ,hail ,marys1 followed each time by the above invocation4 ,conditions3 ,confession1 communion1 and prayer for the intentions of the ,pope4 7,pius ,,ix1 ,june #ah1 #ahgf47 ,,meditation ,,from the dolorous way of ,our ,lord's passion ,holy ,church selected fourteen incidents to place before us for consideration1 which are called the ,stations of the ,cross4 ,in the same manner the pious devotion of the faithful selected seven events in the life of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary1 and gives itself to their religious contemplation4 ,they are3 7#a7 ,simeon's prophecy in the ,temple2 7#b7 the flight into ,egypt with the divine ,child2 7#c7 the loss of the divine ,child at ,jerusalem2 7#d7 ,mary's meeting with her ,son bearing the cross2 7#e7 ,mary beneath the cross2 7#f7 ,mary receives the body of her ,son from the cross2 7#g7 the placing of ,jesus' body in the tomb4 ,,practice ,,forget not the sorrows of thy mother 7,ecclus4 vii4 #bi74 ,according to this exhortation of ,holy ,scripture it is our duty to remember and meditate often on the sorrows of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary4 ,we ought never to forget that our sins were the cause of the sufferings and death of ,jesus1 and therefore also of the sorrows of ,mary4 ,holy ,church celebrates two feasts in honor of the sorrows of ,mary2 she approved of the ,rosary and of many other devotions in honor of the ,seven ,dolors1 and enriched them with numerous indulgences4 ,let us practise these devotions to enkindle in our hearts a true and ardent love for our sorrowful ,mother4 ,,prayer ,,of ,,the ,,church ,,grant1 we beseech ,thee1 ,o ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that the most blessed ,virgin ,mary1 ,thy ,mother1 may intercede for us before the throne of ,thy mercy1 now and at the hour of our death1 through whose most holy soul1 in the hour of ,thine own passion1 the sword of sorrow passed4 ,through ,thee1 ,jesus ,christ1 ,saviour of the world1 who livest and reignest with the ,father and the ,holy ,ghost1 for ever and ever4 ,amen4 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,ever glorious ,blessed ,virgin ,mary1 queen of martyrs1 mother of mercy1 hope1 and comfort of dejected and desolate souls1 through the sorrows that pierced thy tender heart ,i beseech thee take pity on my poverty and necessities1 have compassion on my anxieties and miseries4 ,i ask it through the mercy of thy divine ,son2 ,i ask it through ,his immaculate life1 bitter passion1 and ignominious death on the cross4 ,as ,i am persuaded that ,he honors thee as ,his beloved ,mother1 to whom ,he refuses nothing1 let me experience the efficacy of thy powerful intercession1 according to the tenderness of thy maternal affection1 now and at the hour of my death4 ,amen4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation ,mother of ,sorrows1 queen of martyrs1 pray for us6 ,,second ,,day ,mary's ,first ,sorrow3 ,simeon's ,prophecy in the ,temple ,illustration3 ,simeon's ,prophecy in the ,temple ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,forty days after the birth of our divine ,saviour1 ,mary ,his ,mother fulfilled the law of ,moses by offering ,him to ,his divine ,father in the ,temple4 ,and behold there was a man in ,jerusalem named ,simeon1 and this man was just and devout1 waiting for the consolation of ,israel1 and the ,holy ,ghost was in ,him4 ,and he received an answer from the ,holy ,ghost1 that he should not see death before he had seen the ,christ of the ,lord4 ,and he came by the ,spirit into the temple4 ,and when ,his parents brought in the child ,jesus1 to do for ,him according to the custom of the law1 he also took ,him into his arms1 and blessed ,god1 and said3 ,now dost ,thou dismiss ,thy servant1 ,o ,lord1 according to ,thy word1 in peace2 because my eyes have seen ,thy salvation1 which ,thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples4 ,a light to the revelation of the gentiles and the glory of ,thy people ,israel4 ,and ,his father and mother were wondering at these things which were spoken concerning ,him4 ,and ,simeon blessed them1 and said to ,mary ,his ,mother3 ,behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in ,israel1 and for a sign which shall be contradicted2 and thy own soul a sword shall pierce1 that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed 7,luke ii4 #be-ce74 ,,practice ,,mary was familiar with the predictions of the prophets and knew that ignominy1 sorrow1 and suffering would be her divine ,son's portion throughout ,his earthly career4 ,but to have this secret of her anxious soul thus publicly and solemnly declared by ,simeon1 was a sharp thrust of that seven-edged sword which was to pierce her loving heart4 ,in spirit she viewed that boundless1 surging sea of trials1 pain1 and death on which her ,son was to be tossed about1 and was willing to be engulfed in its bitter waters4 ,her affliction would have scarcely been greater had the death sentence of her divine ,son been pronounced then and there and put into execution4 ,what a sorrow1 what an affliction1 what a trial for such a tender ,mother6 ,well might she exclaim with the ,royal ,prophet3 ,my life is wasted with grief1 and my years in sighs 7,ps4 xxx4 #aa74 ,let us often contemplate this sorrow1 and excite our hearts to a tender compassion with the ,mother of ,sorrows4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,i ,,compassionate thee1 sorrowing ,mary1 in the grief thy tender heart underwent when the holy old man ,simeon prophesied to thee4 ,dear ,mother1 by thy heart then so afflicted1 obtain for me the virtue of humility and the gift of the holy fear of ,god4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,third ,,day ,mary's ,second ,sorrow3 ,the ,flight into ,egypt ,illustration3 ,the ,flight into ,egypt ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,for the second time the sword of sorrow pierced ,mary's heart when she was commanded to fly into ,egypt with her divine ,child4 ,without manifesting undue perplexity or discontent1 she hastily gathered a few necessaries for the journey1 while ,st4 ,joseph saddled the beast of burden4 ,then taking the infant ,jesus into her arms and pressing ,him to her throbbing heart1 the holy pilgrims set forth into the cold1 starry night1 away to a foreign land1 through the trackless desert1 and into a heathen country4 ,arrived in ,egypt1 the experience of ,bethlehem was renewed2 no one gave them shelter4 ,,practice ,,during this second great sorrow1 what was ,mary's behavior8 ,she was content to fulfil the will of ,god2 she did not ask for reasons1 or complain of the fatigues of the journey1 but preserved her peace of heart amid all the trials of this severe probation4 ,she is poor1 but her poverty does not render her unhappy or querulous4 ,if ,god sends us trials1 we ought not murmur or complain4 ,following the example of ,mary1 let us bear them submissively4 ,if we suffer patiently with ,mary on earth1 we shall enjoy eternal bliss with her in heaven4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,i ,,compassionate thee1 sorrowing ,mary1 for the anxiety which thy most tender heart underwent during thy flight into ,egypt and thy sojourn there4 ,dear ,mother1 by thy heart then so sorrowful1 obtain for me the virtue of liberality1 especially toward the poor1 and the gift of piety4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,fourth ,,day ,mary's ,third ,sorrow3 ,jesus ,lost in ,jerusalem ,illustration3 ,the ,finding of ,jesus in the ,temple ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,who can describe ,mary's sorrow when1 returning from ,jerusalem1 she missed her divine ,son8 ,with ,st4 ,joseph she retraced her steps in anxious search of ,him whom her soul loved4 ,she went to all her relatives and acquaintances in ,jerusalem1 but heard no tidings of her lost ,child4 ,she passed three long days of anxiety in her search1 and this constitutes her third sorrow4 ,of it1 ,origen writes3 ,on account of the ineffable love of ,mary for her divine ,son1 she suffered more by ,his loss than the martyrs suffered amid the most cruel tortures4 ,,practice ,,in ,,meditating on this sorrow of ,mary1 we ought to remember how indifferent so many ,christians are after having lost ,god by sin4 ,they feel no compunction1 no sorrow at having offended ,him1 and yet they can weep at the loss of a trifle2 they shed copious tears when their will is crossed1 or when they receive a deserved reprimand2 but for the loss of their ,god they have not a tear4 ,they have lost ,him1 perhaps years ago1 and never make the least effort to find ,him4 ,pray to the sorrowful ,mother that she preserve you from such a deplorable fate6 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,i ,,compassionate thee1 sorrowing ,mary1 for the terrors felt by thy anxious heart when thou didst lose thy dear ,son1 ,jesus4 ,dear ,mother1 by thy heart1 then so agitated1 obtain for me the virtue of chastity1 and with it the gift of knowledge4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,fifth ,,day ,mary's ,fourth ,sorrow3 ,she ,meets ,jesus ,carrying ,his ,cross ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,the time was at hand when mankind's redemption was to be accomplished4 ,already the divine ,victim of our sins is bearing the instrument of our salvation4 ,torn by the cruel scourging1 crowned with thorns1 and covered with blood ,he proceeds on ,his way to ,calvary1 and in this pitiful condition meets ,his blessed ,mother4 ,what a spectacle1 what a sight for a ,mother such as ,mary6 ,anxious to look upon her1 and with one fond glance to thank her for her heroic1 unselfish love1 ,he made an effort to change ,his bowed position beneath the cross1 feebly raised ,his head1 and directed toward her one loving glance of ineffable anguish1 mingled with grateful recognition and humble resignation4 ,then the sad procession moves on1 ,mary following her divine ,son on ,his way to death4 ,,practice ,,we1 ,,by our sins1 placed into the hands of the ,jews and executioners the weapons by which ,jesus suffered1 and thus we thrust the sword of sorrow into ,mary's heart4 ,we repeat this1 in a certain sense1 as often as we commit a grievous sin1 because we thereby number ourselves among those whom the ,apostle describes as crucifying again to themselves the ,son of ,god1 and making ,him a mockery 7,heb4 vi4 #f74 ,cardinal ,hugo writes3 ,sinners crucify1 as far as is in them1 ,christ our ,lord1 because they repeat the cause of ,his crucifixion4 ,doing this1 we thrust anew the sword of sorrow into ,mary's heart4 ,let this consideration fill us with hatred for and fear of sin4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,i ,,compassionate thee1 sorrowing ,mary1 for the shock thy mother heart experienced when ,jesus met thee as ,he carried ,his cross4 ,dear ,mother1 by that heart of thine1 then so afflicted1 obtain for me the virtue of patience and the gift of fortitude4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,sixth ,,day ,mary's ,fifth ,sorrow3 ,beneath the ,cross ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,at ,,the crucifixion of ,jesus the soul of ,mary was plunged into a sea of sorrow when she stood three hours under the cross4 ,writhing in excruciating pain1 the ,son of ,god hung upon the tree of disgrace and infamy1 yet ,mary continued to stand at its foot1 tearful1 grieving1 yet persevering1 filled with anguish because she could do nothing to help ,him4 ,another great sorrow befell the heart of ,mary when she slowly withdrew her tearful gaze from the face of ,jesus1 and cast her weeping eyes upon the cold and indifferent world that lay in darkness around and about ,calvary4 ,and yet1 ,when ,jesus therefore had seen ,his ,mother and the disciple standing whom ,he loved1 ,he saith to ,his ,mother1 ,woman1 behold ,thy son4 ,after that ,he saith to the disciple1 ,behold thy ,mother 7,john xix4 #bf1 #bg74 ,,practice ,,these words1 ,behold thy son1 behold thy ,mother1 contain and express the mystery of unbounded love1 which ,jesus has for all mankind1 but more especially for the ,church which is appointed and authorized to lead men to salvation4 ,o blessed1 ,o happy bequest6 ,it was not enough for the love of ,jesus to have restored heaven to us by ,his atoning death2 ,he wished also to give us ,his dearest ,mother4 ,and she has always shown herself as such4 ,to each of us individually she was and is a kind and loving ,mother4 ,give thanks to her1 bless and praise her for having adopted you as her child1 and strive to become worthy of so great a privilege4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,i ,,compassionate thee1 sorrowing ,mary1 for the martyrdom thy generous heart bore so nobly whilst thou didst stand by ,jesus agonizing4 ,dear ,mother1 by thy heart then so cruelly martyred1 obtain for me the virtue of temperance and the gift of counsel4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,seventh ,,day ,mary's ,sixth ,sorrow3 ,the ,taking ,down of ,jesus' ,body from the ,cross ,illustration3 ,jesus' ,body1 ,taken ,down from the ,cross ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,who can describe the sorrow and anguish of ,mary's heart when the body of ,jesus was taken from the cross1 when her tearful eyes fell upon ,his disfigured features6 ,the pure and holy and beauteous form of her ,son was a mass of clotted blood and unsightly wounds2 and yet1 disfigured as it was1 there shone in ,his countenance a clear1 calm expression of divine majesty4 ,now ,mary views the wounds of that sacred body2 she looks at the gap made in ,his side by the cruel spear1 and can almost see the ,sacred ,heart of ,jesus1 all bruised and broken for love of man4 ,before her vision passes in detail ,his life and her own4 ,memory presents to her mind every day and hour of their quiet1 happy life at ,nazareth4 ,is it to be wondered1 then1 that at this bitter moment her sorrow was so great that1 as ,st4 ,anselm observes1 she should have died had she not been sustained by a miracle of divine omnipotence8 ,,practice ,,ought not the contemplation of the sorrows of our blessed ,mother confirm us in patience1 in resignation to the will of ,god in our trials and sufferings8 ,if the ,son of ,god said of ,himself3 ,ought not ,christ to have suffered these things1 and so to enter into ,his glory8 7,luke xxiv4 #bf72 if the most pure and holy ,mother of ,god1 despite her great prerogatives and merits1 had to suffer a sorrow so ineffable1 do not murmur if the word of ,christ is addressed also to you3 ,and he that taketh not up his cross and followeth ,me1 is not worthy of ,me 7,matt4 x4 #ch74 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,i ,,compassionate thee1 sorrowing ,mary1 for the pain thou didst suffer when the body of thy divine ,son1 taken down all torn and bloody from the cross1 was placed in thy arms4 ,dear ,mother1 by thy heart pierced through1 obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the gift of understanding4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,eighth ,,day ,mary's ,seventh ,sorrow3 ,jesus is ,buried ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,the sacrifice for the redemption of the world was accomplished4 ,and ,joseph1 taking the body1 wrapt it up in a clean linen cloth1 and laid it in his own new monument1 which he had hewed out in a rock4 ,and he rolled a great stone to the door of the monument1 and went his way 7,matt4 xxvii4 #ei74 ,mary also took part in the burial of her beloved ,son1 though the evangelists do not mention her name amongst those who were present on that mournful occasion4 ,never1 most assuredly1 was human soul visited by such woe and desolation1 as that which overwhelmed hers as she cast a last glance on the precious remains of her dead ,son4 ,,practice ,,let us learn of the sorrowful ,mother at the tomb of her divine ,son submission to ,god's holy will in all things1 but especially when ,he takes from us one of our dear ones4 ,again1 the contemplation of the sufferings of ,mary should fortify us in patience1 whenever ,god is pleased to visit us with a light and small cross of affliction1 or even with a sorrow that causes our heart to bleed4 ,it should inspire us with a filial confidence in ,mary1 who thus suffered for us and gave her divine ,son for our salvation4 ,we can and ought to prove our love for her1 not by sentimental feelings of affection1 but by a sincere hatred of sin and great fervor in the service of her divine ,son4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,i ,,compassionate thee1 sorrowing ,mary1 for the anguish felt by thy loving heart when ,jesus' body was laid in the sepulcher4 ,dear ,mother1 by all the bitterness of desolation thou didst know1 obtain for me the virtue of diligence and the gift of wisdom4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,ninth ,,day ,reasons ,why ,mary ,had to ,suffer ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,the reasons why ,god permitted ,mary to suffer so much may be briefly stated as follows3 ,he did so from ,his love for ,mary and from ,his love for us4 ,he did so from ,his love for ,mary1 because by suffering she merited greater glory in heaven4 ,as ,mother of the ,crucified she persevered beneath the cross1 and now she thrones in heaven as the glorious ,mother of the risen ,redeemer4 ,because she shared in ,his suffering1 she now shares ,his glory4 ,again1 ,god permitted ,mary to suffer because ,he loved us4 ,if she had not experienced such bitter sorrow1 we would not have recourse to her1 for whosoever has not suffered himself can not have sympathy with the sufferings of others4 ,mary knows the pangs of sorrow by experience1 and therefore knows also how to console and help us4 ,,practice ,,because she herself drained the most bitter cup of sorrow1 ,mary is always willing to help those who invoke her aid4 ,but above all she is inclined to help repentant sinners1 because she knows how great the price of their redemption was1 paid by the blood of her divine ,son4 ,she is able to help us1 because1 after ,god1 she is most powerful2 she is most willing to help us1 because she loves us1 whom ,god so has loved as to give ,his only-begotten ,son 7,john iii4 #af74 ,let us1 therefore1 have recourse to her in all our needs1 and we shall experience the power of her help in life and death4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,i ,,compassionate thee1 sorrowing ,mary1 for all thy sorrows4 ,i beseech thee1 dear ,mother1 by thy heart pierced through by them1 obtain for me full abandonment to the will of ,god in everything and perseverance to the end4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,v ,novena for the ,feast of the ,assumption of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary ,illustration3 ,the ,assumption ,,first ,,day ,mary's ,death was without ,pain ,illustration3 ,mary's ,death ,,preparatory ,,prayer ,o ,,mary1 ,virgin most blessed and ,mother of ,our ,lord and ,redeemer ,jesus ,christ1 through thy mercy ,i beseech thee to come to my aid1 and to inspire me with such confidence in thy power1 that ,i may have recourse to thee1 pray to thee1 and implore thy aid in all needs of soul and body4 ,,meditation ,,mary1 the virgin ,mother of ,god1 was conceived without original sin4 ,she never dimmed the luster of sanctifying grace which beautified her soul by actual sin4 ,nevertheless she had to pass through the dark portal of death before she was assumed1 body and soul1 into heaven4 ,she had not been endowed with the privilege of immortality with which ,god had invested our first parents in paradise4 ,it was meet that she should be like unto her divine ,son in everything1 even in death4 ,but as she had drained the bitter cup of suffering during her whole life1 and especially when standing beneath the cross1 her death was to be free from pain and suffering4 ,she quietly passed away yielding up her spirit in a yearning desire to be united forever with her divine ,son in heaven4 ,,practice ,,if ,,you have dispossessed your heart of all unruly attachment to the goods and enjoyments of this earth1 you1 too1 may hope for a happy and tranquil transition from this land of exile to your home in heaven4 ,therefore1 if you are still attached to the transitory things of this life1 disengage your heart from them now4 ,the voluntary renouncement of earthly goods alone is meritorious before ,god4 ,the separation from them enforced by the strong hand of death is of no supernatural value4 ,,prayer ,,of ,,the ,,church ,,we ,,beseech ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 pardon the shortcomings of ,thy servants2 that we who1 by our own works1 are not able to please ,thee1 may be saved by the intercession of the ,mother of ,thy ,son1 ,our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,amen4 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,o ,,most benign ,mother ,mary6 ,i rejoice that by thy happy and tranquil death the yearning of thy heart was appeased1 and thy life1 so rich in merit and sacrifice1 received its crown4 ,i rejoice that after passing from this life1 thou1 ,o most loving ,mother1 wast made the glorious and powerful queen of heaven and dost exercise thy influence as such for the benefit of thy frail1 exiled children on earth4 ,obtain for me1 ,i beseech thee1 a happy death1 that ,i may praise and glorify thy might and kindness forever in heaven4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation ,sweet heart of ,mary be my salvation6 ,indulgence4 7#a7 #ajj days1 every time4 7#b7 ,a plenary indulgence1 once a month1 on any day1 to all who shall have said it every day for a month1 under the usual conditions4 ,,second ,,day ,at ,mary's ,tomb ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,an ,,ancient legend relates that1 led by ,heaven1 all the ,apostles1 except ,st4 ,thomas1 assembled at the ,blessed ,virgin's death-bed4 ,after she had breathed forth her pure spirit1 her sacred remains were prepared for the grave by wrapping the body in new white linen and decking it with flowers4 ,meanwhile the apostles1 assembled in another room1 sang psalms and hymns in praise of their departed ,mother4 ,the apostles1 all the disciples1 and the faithful dwelling in ,jerusalem followed the blessed remains to the grave chanting psalms and hymns4 ,arrived in the valley of ,josaphat1 the body was gently placed in a sepulcher of stone not far from the ,garden of ,olives4 ,after the entombment the apostles and crowds of the faithful lingered near the sacred spot in prayer1 meditation1 and chanting of psalms in which angels' voices were heard to mingle4 ,,practice ,,join in spirit with the apostles and faithful in their prayer and meditation at the grave of our blessed ,mother4 ,contemplate and review her whole life4 ,could a course like hers have terminated more appropriately than with so beautiful1 painless1 and tranquil a passing away8 ,prepare yourself even now for your departure from this life4 ,do not postpone the settlement of your affairs1 spiritual and temporal1 until the last uncertain hours4 ,above all1 remove now1 or as soon as possible1 all doubts1 anxieties1 and irregularities of conscience1 because delay is dangerous and leads to impenitence1 and because in the last hours the powers of hell usually assail the departing soul with all their might4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,,glorious ,virgin1 who for thy consolation didst deserve to die comforted by the sight of thy dear ,son ,jesus1 and in the company of the apostles and angels2 pray for us1 that at that awful moment we1 too1 may be comforted by receiving ,jesus in the most holy ,eucharist1 and may feel thee nigh when we breathe forth our soul4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,third ,,day ,the ,empty ,tomb ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,st4 ,,john ,,damascene writes3 ,st4 ,thomas was not with the other apostles when the ,blessed ,virgin died1 but arrived in ,jerusalem on the third day after that event4 ,ardently desiring to see once more and to venerate the sacred body which had given flesh and blood to his beloved ,master1 the grave was opened for this purpose4 ,the body could nowhere be seen1 and a delicious perfume filled the empty tomb4 ,the apostles then became convinced that as ,god had preserved the body of ,mary free from sin before1 in1 and after the birth of ,his ,son1 ,he was pleased likewise1 after her death1 to preserve that same body from corruption1 and to glorify it in heaven4 ,a council held in ,jerusalem in the year #afgb declared3 ,it is beyond all doubt that the ,blessed ,virgin is not only a great and miraculous sign on earth1 because she bore ,god in the flesh and yet remained a virgin1 but she is also a great and miraculous sign in heaven1 because she was taken up thither with soul and body4 ,for although her sinless body was enclosed in the tomb1 yet1 like the body of ,our ,lord1 it arose on the third day and was carried up to heaven4 ,although the doctrine of the bodily assumption of ,mary into heaven was not defined by the ,church as an article of faith in the strict sense1 yet the learned ,pope ,benedict ,,xiv remarks1 ,it would be presumptuous and blameworthy in any one to call into doubt or to question this beautiful and consoling belief of ages4 ,,practice ,,let us rejoice at the thought of the glorious resurrection of our dear ,mother4 ,let us unite ourselves in spirit with the apostles in heaven and with ,holy ,church to congratulate her on this extraordinary privilege4 ,but let us also rejoice at the thought of our own resurrection4 ,true1 it shall not take place immediately after death1 but it is therefore not the less certain1 and it depends on us to make it glorious and blessed4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,o ,,glorious ,virgin and ,mother of ,god1 ,mary6 ,as thy sacred body after death was preserved from corruption1 and united with thy sinless soul was borne to heaven by the angels2 obtain for me the grace that my life and death be holy1 so that on the ,day of ,judgment ,i may arise to glory everlasting4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,fourth ,,day ,reasons for the ,bodily ,assumption of ,mary into ,heaven ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation #a4 ,,the wages of sin is death4 ,now1 as the ,blessed ,virgin from the first moment of her existence was preserved from all sin1 and even from original sin1 it necessarily follows that death could have no permanent dominion over her1 and that her body would not be permitted to see corruption4 #b4 ,this sinless body had been the medium by which the body of ,our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who was the conqueror of death1 had been formed4 ,how1 then1 could such a highly privileged body1 a pure and virginal body1 be permitted to pass through corruption and decay8 #c4 ,as ,mary had yielded up her sacred person to be a dwelling-place for the ,lord of heaven1 it seems fitting that this same ,lord1 in ,his turn1 should give the kingdom of heaven to her as her resting-place4 ,st4 ,bernard expresses this sentiment as follows3 ,when ,our ,lord came into this world1 ,mary furnished ,him with the noblest dwelling on earth1 the temple of her virginal womb4 ,in return1 the ,lord on this day raises her up to the highest throne in heaven4 ,,practice ,,if ,,you desire to look forward to death without fear1 and to expect your dissolution with confidence1 follow the ,apostle's injunction1 ,therefore1 whilst we have time1 let us work good 7,gal4 vi4 #aj74 ,avoid sin1 perform good works1 be patient in affliction1 and strive to expiate the punishment due to your sins by voluntary acts of penance1 thus reducing your inclination to sin4 ,therefore offer up to ,god every morning1 in a spirit of penitence1 all your labors1 trials1 and sufferings4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,o ,,glorious ,virgin and ,mother of ,god1 ,mary6 ,i beseech thee through the ineffable glory thou didst make for thy departure from this world by a life of retirement1 full of merits and virtue1 dedicated to ,god alone2 obtain for me the grace that1 following thy example1 ,i may detach my heart from this world1 and patiently bear affliction and adversity1 carefully avoid sin1 and always strive to advance in the love of ,god4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,fifth ,,day ,mary's ,glorious ,entrance into ,heaven ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,a ,,joy greater than human heart can conceive fills the heavenly spirits when a soul enters heaven to receive her reward4 ,what jubilant transports1 then1 must those have been with which they hailed the entrance into heavenly bliss of the most pure and holy ,virgin1 the ,mother of the ,son of ,god1 body and soul1 transfigured in glory6 ,and she is1 and shall be1 for all eternity1 their mistress and queen6 ,what an ineffable joy1 too1 for the ,blessed ,virgin1 to behold the countless numbers of angels1 to admire their beauty1 their purity1 their intense love of ,god6 ,but as the feeble light of a candle disappears before the splendor of the sun's rays1 thus are these choirs of angels obscured by the ineffable glory of her divine ,son coming to welcome ,his ,mother4 ,who can describe this affecting meeting8 ,what a superabundant reward for affliction and suffering6 ,what an ocean of joy and bliss1 when the ,son of ,god presented ,his ,mother before the throne of ,his heavenly ,father1 who greeted her as ,his beloved ,daughter6 ,what a joy to behold the ,holy ,ghost1 whose pure ,spouse she had been even on earth6 ,these transports of bliss baffle all attempts at description4 ,,practice ,,though we are unable to have an adequate perception of ,mary's glory in heaven1 by which she is raised above all angels and saints1 yet it is in our power to do one thing2 we can rejoice at the glory of our blessed ,mother1 and join the heavenly spirits and the saints in paying homage to her4 ,let us resolve to do this1 and never to forget that ,mary attained to the largest share of her divine ,son's glory because she was foremost in sharing ,his sufferings4 ,let this encourage us to bear our cross1 to bear it with our ,saviour even to the height of ,calvary1 there to die with ,him4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,o ,,glorious ,virgin and ,mother of ,god1 ,mary6 ,i beseech thee through the preparation with which thou wast glorified by ,god--by the ,father as ,his most beloved ,daughter1 by the ,son as ,his immaculate ,mother1 and by the ,holy ,ghost as ,his most pure ,spouse--in heaven2 obtain for me the grace to share to some extent this thy glory1 and therefore to live so that ,i may deserve it4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,sixth ,,day ,mary ,crowned in ,heaven ,illustration3 ,mary ,crowned in ,heaven ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,mary',s glory received its culmination by her coronation as queen of heaven and earth4 ,it was meet that in her should be fulfilled the words of ,holy ,scripture3 ,come from ,libanus1 my ,spouse1 come1 thou shalt be crowned 7,cant4 iv4 #h71 and that her own prophetic words1 ,he hath put down the mighty from their seat1 and hath exalted the humble 7,luke i4 #eb71 should be exemplified in her4 ,for it was reasonable and becoming that she1 who once with ,jesus wore the crown of shame and contempt1 should now share with ,him the crown of immortal glory4 ,it was but fair and just that the immaculate being who was chosen1 above all inhabitants of heaven and earth1 to be the true and worthy ,mother of ,god1 should now be solemnly installed over all creatures in heaven and on earth as the queen of angels and men1 and that to her should be offered homage1 praise1 and honor by the blessed spirits and by the souls of the saints4 ,but the crown which she received is not one made of gold and precious stones2 it is composed of the virtues with which ,mary1 in faithful co-operation with divine grace1 embellished herself2 it consists1 too1 of all the homage and glory which she receives as queen of heaven4 ,the most precious gem in this crown is the filial love and gratitude ,jesus shows toward ,his ,mother in heaven4 ,,practice ,,indeed1 eye hath not seen1 ear hath not heard1 neither has it entered into the heart of man1 what the heavenly ,father has prepared in the mansions of eternal bliss for ,his beloved ,daughter1 the ,son for ,his ,blessed ,mother1 and the ,holy ,ghost for ,his chosen ,spouse4 ,she is now queen of heaven and earth2 of heaven1 for she is the queen of all angels and saints2 of earth1 for as ,mother of ,god she is the ,mother of all mankind1 the mediatrix between the ,redeemer and the redeemed4 ,you1 too1 may contribute a gem toward the crown of your heavenly ,mother by paying her filial homage1 imitating her virtues1 and preserving1 for the love of her1 your innocence and purity of heart4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,o ,,glorious ,virgin and ,mother of ,god1 ,mary6 ,i beseech thee through the everlasting crown of glory with which ,god has crowned thee queen of heaven and earth2 obtain for me through thy mighty intercession the grace to persevere in virtue to the end1 so that finally ,i may attain the crown of bliss prepared by ,god for those that love ,him4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,seventh ,,day ,mary's ,bliss in ,heaven ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,according to ,holy ,scripture and the doctrine of the ,church1 there are in heaven various grades of glory and bliss1 according to the rank and merit of the saints4 ,they probably attain this higher grade of glory and bliss by the increase of their ability to enjoy the happiness of heaven4 ,their intellect is enabled to contemplate more profoundly the incomprehensible essence of ,god2 their power of perception is augmented so that they may more readily recognize and admire the splendor of the angels1 saints1 and heavenly mansions2 their will is enabled to be united1 in a higher degree1 with ,god4 ,from this we may conclude that ,mary's bliss in heaven transcends all human conception4 ,her heavenly glory and reward consists in the perfect adaptation of her whole being to the enjoyment of ,god and of eternal bliss4 ,,practice ,,look up1 ,christian soul1 to this great and brilliant queen of heaven4 ,she is your gentle ,mother and assures you of her help1 and the diadem she wears upon her brow is a proof that she has the power to help you4 ,do not1 therefore1 refuse the hand of this mighty friend in heaven1 for she will lift you from the depths of your misery1 from the rocky shoals of temptation1 and lead you strong and victorious into the presence of her divine ,son4 ,thus you will enter into a new and supernatural life in ,christ1 to share in the grace-laden mysteries of ,his life1 passion1 and triumph4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,o ,,great and glorious queen of heaven1 ,mary6 ,i beseech thee by that exalted throne upon which ,god has raised thee above all angels and saints2 let me one day appear amongst them to join them in their praise of thee4 ,obtain for me the grace that ,i may never cease to honor thee as thou dost deserve to be honored1 and thereby to become worthy of thy mighty protection in life and death4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,eighth ,,day ,mary1 the ,queen of ,mercy ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,mary is1 then1 a queen1 but--what a consolation to know it6--a queen always mild and gentle1 always willing to confer benefits upon us4 ,hence the ,church teaches us to call her the ,mother of mercy4 ,the pious and learned author ,gerson says3 ,god's dominion comprises justice and mercy4 ,he divided it1 retaining the administration of justice for ,himself1 and relinquishing1 in a certain sense1 the dispensation of mercy to ,mary1 by conferring through her hands all graces ,he grants to mankind4 ,how consoling1 then1 the assurance that our merciful ,mother is so mighty and so loving a queen6 ,,practice ,,so ,,great is the tenderness of ,mary's maternal heart that never was it heard that any one who fled to her protection1 implored her help1 and sought her intercession was left unaided4 ,how many prayers1 petitions1 and thanksgivings ascend daily to the throne of this our exalted and merciful protectress6 ,there is not a cry of an afflicted1 struggling1 and suffering soul that she does not graciously hear4 ,join1 therefore1 confidently in the prayer of ,holy ,church1 ,hail1 holy queen1 ,mother of mercy6 ,approach her with filial trust4 ,neglect not to honor her yourself1 and do all in your power to lead others to do her honor4 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,o ,,glorious ,virgin and ,mother of ,god1 ,mary6 ,holy ,church teaches me that despite the glory to which thou wast exalted1 thou didst not forget thy miserable clients1 and that in heaven thy mercy is still greater than it was during thy life on earth4 ,therefore ,i come to thee and trustingly lay at thy feet all my needs1 miseries1 and petitions4 ,my queen1 my ,mother1 turn not thy gracious eyes from me4 ,remember me with thy divine ,son2 cease not to pray for me and take me under thy protection1 so that ,i may finally have the happiness to see and praise thee in thy glory for ever and ever4 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,ninth ,,day ,mary in ,heaven1 the ,help of ,christians on ,earth ,preparatory ,prayer 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,,meditation ,,mary',s help as ,mother of mercy is not confined to individuals4 ,she is the protectress and helper of the whole ,church4 ,all over the earth1 wherever we cast our glance1 in the records of the history of times long past and those of recent occurrence1 we find testimony of the graces and benefits obtained through her intercession4 ,the feasts celebrated by the ,church throughout the year1 what are they but evidences of gratitude offered to the queen of heaven for the oftentimes miraculous delivery from war1 pestilence1 and other great afflictions8 ,hence she is rightly invoked as the ,help of ,christians4 ,,practice ,,in ,,our days1 too1 storms and dangers threaten the ,church4 ,let us1 therefore1 by calling on ,mary for help1 do our part toward shortening the days of visitation and trial4 ,let us not confine our petitions to her within the narrow limits of our own personal needs1 but let us join in the cry for help ascending to the ,mother of mercy throughout all ,christendom4 ,let us daily1 for ,holy ,church1 send up our petition to ,mary's heavenly throne3 ,help of ,christians1 pray for us6 ,prayer of the ,church 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,litany of ,loreto 7located in the final section of the book74 ,prayer ,o ,,glorious ,virgin and ,mother of ,god1 ,mary1 queen of heaven6 ,forget us not4 ,thou art the help of ,christians2 lighten our tribulations1 and help us with motherly intercession at the throne of thy divine ,son4 ,with ,holy ,church ,i join in the petition to thee3 ,holy ,mary1 aid the miserable1 assist the desponding1 strengthen the weak1 pray for the people1 plead for the clergy1 intercede for the devout female sex4 ,let all who have recourse to thee experience the efficacy of thy help6 ,hail ,mary1 etc4 ,ejaculation 7located on the first day of the novena74 ,the ,litany of ,loreto ,in ,honor of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary ,illustration3 ,mary1 the ,help of ,christians on ,earth ,,lord1 have mercy on us1 ,christ1 have mercy on us4 ,lord1 have mercy on us1 ,christ1 hear us4 ,christ1 graciously hear us4 ,god the ,father of heaven1 have mercy on us4 ,god the ,son1 ,redeemer of the world1 have mercy on us4 ,god the ,holy ,ghost1 have mercy on us4 ,holy ,trinity1 one ,god1 have mercy on us4 ,holy ,mary1 pray for us4 ,holy ,mother of ,god1 pray for us4 ,holy ,virgin of virgins1 pray for us4 ,mother of ,christ1 pray for us4 ,mother of divine grace1 pray for us4 ,mother most pure1 pray for us4 ,mother most chaste1 pray for us4 ,mother inviolate1 pray for us4 ,mother undefiled1 pray for us4 ,mother most amiable1 pray for us4 ,mother most admirable1 pray for us4 ,mother of good counsel1 pray for us4 ,mother of our ,creator1 pray for us4 ,mother of our ,redeemer1 pray for us4 ,virgin most prudent1 pray for us4 ,virgin most venerable1 pray for us4 ,virgin most renowned1 pray for us4 ,virgin most powerful1 pray for us4 ,virgin most merciful1 pray for us4 ,virgin most faithful1 pray for us4 ,mirror of justice1 pray for us4 ,seat of wisdom1 pray for us4 ,cause of our joy1 pray for us4 ,spiritual vessel1 pray for us4 ,vessel of honor1 pray for us4 ,singular vessel of devotion1 pray for us4 ,mystical rose1 pray for us4 ,tower of ,david1 pray for us4 ,tower of ivory1 pray for us4 ,house of gold1 pray for us4 ,ark of the covenant1 pray for us4 ,gate of heaven1 pray for us4 ,morning star1 pray for us4 ,health of the sick1 pray for us4 ,refuge of sinners1 pray for us4 ,comforter of the afflicted1 pray for us4 ,help of ,christians1 pray for us4 ,queen of angels1 pray for us4 ,queen of patriarchs1 pray for us4 ,queen of prophets1 pray for us4 ,queen of apostles1 pray for us4 ,queen of martyrs1 pray for us4 ,queen of confessors1 pray for us4 ,queen of virgins1 pray for us4 ,queen of all saints1 pray for us4 ,queen conceived without original sin1 pray for us4 ,queen of the most holy rosary1 pray for us4 ,lamb of ,god1 who takest away the sins of the world3 ,spare us1 ,o ,lord4 ,lamb of ,god1 who takest away the sins of the world3 ,graciously hear us1 ,o ,lord4 ,lamb of ,god1 who takest away the sins of the world3 ,have mercy on us1 ,o ,lord4 ,v4 ,pray for us1 ,o holy ,mother of ,god3 ,r4 ,that we may be made worthy of the promises of ,christ4 ,let us pray ,,pour forth1 we beseech ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 ,thy grace into our hearts1 that we1 to whom the incarnation of ,christ ,thy ,son was made known by the message of an angel1 may by ,his passion and cross be brought to the glory of ,his resurrection4 ,through the same ,christ our ,lord4 ,amen4 ,v4 ,pray for us1 ,o holy ,mother of ,god4 ,r4 ,that we may be made worthy of the promises of ,christ4 ,let us pray ,,vouchsafe1 ,o ,lord1 that we may be helped by the merits of ,thy most holy ,mother's spouse2 that what of ourselves we can not obtain may be given us through his intercession4 ,who livest and reignest1 world without end4 ,amen4 ,indulgence4 7#a7 #cjj days1 every time4 7#b7 ,a plenary indulgence on the following five feasts of the ,blessed ,virgin3 ,immaculate ,conception1 ,nativity1 ,purification1 ,annunciation1 and ,assumption2 under the usual conditions1 to all who shall have said it daily during the year4 7,pius ,,vii1 ,september #cj1 #ahag47 ,these indulgences are granted for the litany alone2 hence the prayers following it may be omitted4