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Marian Procession

by Filed Under: 05 May, 05 May Saints, Little Flowers, Marian, Procession 3 Comments

Mary, you are the joy of those in heaven, the help of those on earth, the consolation of those still burdened by their sins. Accept our May blossoms, accept each flower as a symbol of praise and thanksgiving! Thank you for your cooperation in the plan that changed the destiny of the world. Teach us, Mary, teach us, that we, too, may make the place where we are a little paradise for God.

~ based on the lament of St. Bernard of Clairvaux

may procession collageMy family participated in our Parish/Diocese May Procession through the streets of Downtown Sac.  I coordinated the participation of my Little Flowers group.  Dragonfly and Papi tagged along.  Rose could not walk because she was required to be at the church for choir practice prior to the Solemn High Mass.  I doubt she would have been able to walk, anyways.  She is still recovering from a dislocated knee cap. 

 girls on the walkThe Little Flowers led the procession.  Each girl wore a blue hat in honor of Mary and held handmade paper basket filled with flower petals.  They tossed the petals as they walked. 

momPapi was the honorary Little Flower.  He would sneak flowers from the baskets and toss them from the stroller.  Dragonfly had the best seat in the house, my back.  He fell asleep within the first mile.  Dad was part of the security patrol.  He escorted the front of the procession.

confession on the processionThe sacrament of Confession was offered on the procession.

cathedral - processionThe three mile procession led us to the Cathedral.  A Solemn High Mass was held.  It was followed by the May Crowning.  A Little Flower (who will be receiving First Communion next week) was selected to crown Mary.

sparklesWe add a blessed day.

ALL FOR JESUS THROUGH MARY!

Mary, you are a queen! The most Blessed Trinity has confidently placed the welfare of the Church into your powerful and gentle motherly hands, just as that same Church is entrusted to each of us at our confirmation. You will lead the pilgrim people of God home to his infinite loving heart. Giving you the crown is a symbolic way to entrust to you once more the full responsibility for this task.

~based on the lament of St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Through Mary

by Filed Under: 05 May, 05 May Saints, Catholic Girl's Guide, Marian, Meditation 3 Comments

"Today, more than ever, we must take pains in choosing true devotion to our Blessed Lady." ~St. Louis de Montfort

Rose has taken the lead in our home for the month of May.  She is coordinating the family’s spiritual meditations.

Here are her primary resources. 

Catholic Girl’s Guide by Fr. F. X. Lasance & Maiden and Mother: Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary throughout the Year

Catholic Girl's Guide    

Rose has posted the list below, on our home altar.  We are committed to adopting the prescribed practices for the month of May and beyond.

~~~

Father Bowden, of the Oratory, in his Miniature Life of Mary, suggests the following practices in honor of Mary. They may be drawn by lot, or otherwise chosen, at the beginning of a month.  ~Fr. Lasance

Practices in Honor of Our Lady
from Miniature Life of Mary by Father Bowden

1. Take a short time from your recreation to spend in solitude conversing with Mary, or in meditation on the mysteries of her life.

2. Rise punctually in the morning, invoking her as "the morning star."

3. Invoke her sixty-three times as " Virgin Mother " in honor of her sixty-three years.

4. Visit in spirit one of her great sanctuaries.

5. Mortify your will three times as an offering to Mary.

6. Say three Glorias in honor of the saints and Doctors who have explained and defended her pre-rogatives.

7. Gain indulgences for the soul in purgatory most devoted to the Blessed Virgin in life; offer Mass
and communion for this purpose.

8. Ask Mary to be present with you during the day to drive away evil spirits.

9. Perform some act of kindness with inconvenience to yourself.

10. Say three Hail Marys in reparation for the blasphemies uttered against her.

11. Give an alms in honor of her poverty.

12. Invoke the saints who were related to her — Saints Joseph, Joachim, Anne, etc.

13. Mortify your sight, once or more, in honor of Mary’s modesty.

14. Burn a candle before her image or picture.

15. Recall with devotion her words recorded in the Gospel, remembering how many of your sins are committed in speech. Bear your sufferings and sorrows silently and patiently.

1 6. Say the litany for the conversion of a soul for Mary to offer to God.

17. Shun idleness during the day in imitation of Mary at Nazareth.

18. Say a Hail Mary in honor of St. Gabriel, who brought it to earth.

19. Practise some little mortification at meals.

20. Before going to sleep, place yourself with the infant Jesus in Mary’s arms.

21. Say seven Glorias with extended arms, in honor of her seven dolors.

22. Make a spiritual communion in union with her dispositions at the Annunciation.

23. Say a Memorare to obtain Mary’s help at the hour of death.

24. Keep silence for a short time, and with Mary ponder on God’s words in your heart.

25. Say a Hail Mary before going to bed, to prevent one mortal sin during the night.

26. Visit her altar or image in atonement for the desecration of her sanctuaries.

27. Say nine Hail Marys in union with the nine choirs of angels who are ever praising her.

28. Say a Salve for the spread of devotion to her.

29. Say fifteen Glorias, in honor of the last fifteen years of Mary’s life, for the grace of perseverance.

30. Kiss the ground, and say three Hail Marys for the virtue of holy purity.

31. Say a Hail Mary in reparation for your neglect of Mary’s service during this month.

32. Distribute leaflets in praise of Mary, scapulars, medals, pictures, and beads, to promote devotion to the blessed Mother of God.

~~~

"It is impossible for a client of Mary, who is faithful in honoring and recommending himself to her, to be lost." ~St. Alphonsus Ligouri

St. Matthias

by Filed Under: 02 February, 02 February Saints, 05 May, 05 May Saints, Apostles, Nameday, Patron Saint, St. Matthias 1 Comment

Matthias, one of the seventy-two disciples of Jesus, was chosen in the place of Judas. St. Matthias preached the Gospel more then thirty years in Judea, Cappadocia, Egypt, and Ethiopia. He was stoned by the Jews in 80.

212_Trier Statue at St. Matthias Abbey in Trier, where relics of the Apostle are kept

SAINT MATTHIAS

Apostle

Traditional Calendar – February 24 ~ New Calendar – May 14

DOUBLE, SECOND CLASS / RED

After the Ascension of Jesus, St. Peter proposed to the assembled faithful that they choose a disciple of Christ to fill the place of the traitor Judas in the first missionary band. Lots were drawn, with the result in favor of Matthias. According to one ancient tradition, this missioner labored in Ethiopia and was martyred there. Thus did St. Matthias receive "the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him" (James 1:12).

~~~

bw matthiasSymbols: Halbert; lance; carpenter’s square; sword held by its point; axe; saw; scroll; scimitar and book; stone; battle axe; two stones; long cross; hatchet.

Patron: Alcoholism; carpenters; reformed alcoholics; smallpox; tailors; diocese of Gary; Indiana; diocese of Great Falls-Billings, Montana.

~~~

matthias588Preface of the Apostles

It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, to entreat Thee humbly, O Lord, that Thou wouldst not desert Thy flock, O everlasting Shepherd, but, through Thy blessed Apostles, wouldst keep it under Thy constant protection; that it may be governed by those same rulers, whom as vicars of Thy work, Thou didst set over it to be its pastors. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:

~~~

212_matthias_castlots 

The Apostles cast lots to choose a replacement for Judas

RESOURCES:

 

O Saint Matthias, glorious apostle and martyr of Jesus Christ, who, by the special providence of God, wast added to the eleven apostles in the room of the traitor, I humbly beseech thee to obtain for us the grace of Him Who chose thee from all eternity, that, assisted thereby, we may, after thy example, keep the commandments of God, practice good works, and thus merit to be numbered with the elect. Through Jesus Christ our Lord,… Amen.

~~~

turn off music (in the bottom left menu) before playing

homily is 11.08 min.  it starts at 7:50. 

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