SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Prayer To Our Lady of the Scapular

Photo:R.Massaro(c)2013SpiritSinging

Carmelite Monastery Cleveland, Ohio

O Most Blessed and Immaculate Virgin, ornament and splendor of Carmel, you who look with an eye of special kindness on those who wear the Blessed Habit, look down also upon me and cover me with the mantle of your special protection. Strengthen my weakness with your power; enlighten the darkness of my mind with your wisdom; increase in me faith, hope and love. Adorn my soul with such graces and virtues as will ever be pleasing to your divine Son and to you. Assist me in life, and console me in death, with your most holy presence, and present me to the most Holy Trinity as your devoted servant and child; that I may eternally bless and praise you in paradise. Amen.











Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Photo: R. Massaro Christ the Servant Parish Canton, Ohio

From The Secret of the Rosary by St. Louis de Montfort


THE EIGHTEENTH ROSE: The Hail Mary--Blessings

The heavenly salutation draws down upon us the blessings of Jesus and Mary in abundance, for it is an infallible truth that Jesus and Mary reward in a marvelous way those who glorify them. They repay us a hundredfold for the praises that we give them...

Now, if we say the Hail Mary properly, is not this a way to love, bless and glorify Jesus and Mary?

In each Hail Mary we bless both Jesus and Mary: "Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of they womb, Jesus."

By each Hail Mary we give Our Lady the same honor that God gave her when He sent the Archangel Gabriel to greet her for Him. How could anyone possibly think that Jesus and Mary, who often do good to those that curse them, could ever curse those that bless and honor them by the Hail Mary?

Both Saint Bernard and Saint Bonaventure say that the Queen of Heaven is certainly no less grateful and conscientious than gracious and well-mannered people of this world.  Just as she excels in all other perfections, she surpasses us all in the virtue of gratitude; so she would never let us honor her with love and respect without repaying us one hundredfold. Saint Bonaventure says that Mary will greet us with grace if we greet her with the Hail Mary.

How to join the National Rosary Confraternity

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

Saturday of Our Lady

Photo: R.Massaro
Sorrowful Mother Shrine Bellevue, Ohio

Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Mary

I offer you, my holy Mother Mary,
All my thoughts and all my actions,
all my prayers and all my acts of charity,
all my faith and good works,
and all the sacrifices that I make today.

Give me the grace to do everything in my life
with a pure intention
and a desire to please God.
I consecrate myself to your Holy
and Immaculate Heart,
and I pray, through the merits
of your intercession,
that I may adore the Divine Heart of Jesus
and through His mercy,
obtain the grace of conversion
and the remission of my sins.

O Mary, my Blessed Mother, watch over me
and protect me from all sin
and evil throughout this day.

Amen.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, O.C.D.S.

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Prayer to Our Lady for Religious Vocations 

by Pope St. John Paul II

Photo: R. Massaro (C)2021 Spirit Singing Walsh University Chapel Canton, Ohio

Mary, Mother of the Church, to you we turn. With your "yes" you have opened the door to the presence of Christ in the world, in history and in souls, receiving in humble silence and total submission the appeal of the Most High.

Grant that many men and women may know and hear, even today, the inviting voice of your Son: "Follow me." Stretch out your motherly hand over all missionaries scattered throughout the world, over religious men and women who assist the elderly, the sick, the deficient, the orphans; over those who are engaged in teaching, over the members of secular institutes, the silent leaven of good works; over those who in the cloister live on faith and love and beg for the salvation of the world. Amen.





Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Prayer to Our Lady Health of the Sick

Photo: R. Massaro (c) Spirit Singing-St. Rose Church Girard, Ohio

Our Lady, Health of the Sick,
I look to you for the comfort of a mother's love,
I pray to you on behalf of those who are suffering
and for my own healing needs.

Mary, your love strengthens me
and brings me peace.

Our Lady, Health of the Sick,
embrace all who are emotionally and physically ill that they may return to
good health under your tender care. And please intercede for my very
special needs. (mention your needs here).

Mary, your love strengthens me and brings me peace.

Our Lady, Health of the Sick, pray for us.  Amen.


Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Photo: R. Massaro (C)2019 Spirit Singing

Enjoy this article about Our Lady written by 

Deacon Keith Fournier

https://www.catholic.org/mary/handmaid.php

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, ocds

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Photo: R. Massaro (C)2019 Spirit Singing

IT IS TRULY PROPER TO GLORIFY YOU

 

 

It is truly proper to glorify You, who have borne God, the Ever-Blessed and Immaculate, and the Mother of our God.

More honorable than the Cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim,who, a Virgin, gave birth to God the Word; You, truly the Mother of God (Theotokos), we magnify.



Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Photo: R. Massaro (c) 2019 Spirit Singing

 

 

 

THE HAIL MARY FOR THE POOR SOULS IN PURGATORY

Hail Mary! Behold, most merciful Mother, Thy poor and sorrowful children who suffer so grievously in the purification of purgatory. We beg Thee, for the sake of the great joy which the angelic salutation caused Thee, have compassion on them, and send them Thy holy angel to bring them also joyful greeting, and to announce to them release from their sufferings. 

Full of Grace! Obtain for them grace, mercy and remission of the great cleansing they now endure. The Lord is with Thee! He will deny Thee nothing, but will hear Thy prayer and mercifully come to the assistance of these poor souls.  

Blessed art thou amongst women! Aye among all creatures in the world! Bless and render happy with Thy intercession the poor imprisoned souls, and deliver them from their bonds.  

And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, who is the Savior and Redeemer of the whole world, born without pain of Thee, a Virgin! Have mercy on the souls departed! O Merciful Mother, hasten to their assistance.  

Holy Mary, Mother of God! Wonderful Virgin Mother, pray for us sinners and for the souls in purgatory now and forever, and at the hour of our death; and as Thou didst assist the souls departed in their last agony, so assist them now in their grievous suffering, that delivered by Thy motherly intercession they may pass from present suffering to everlasting joy, from their anguish and torment, to everlasting rest and glory, and rejoice with Thee and the whole Heavenly Host through all eternity. Amen. 

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Photo: R. Massaro Lourdes, France  (C)2019 Spirit Singing

The Catholic faith sees Mary as a sign of God's special love...That's why her name goes straight to our heart. Our relationship with our own mother may show us how to deal with Mary the Lady of the Sweet Name. We have to love God with the same heart with which we love our parents, our brothers and sisters, the other members of our family, our friends. And we must love Mary with that same heart, too...

Let us be contemplative souls, carrying on an unceasing dialogue with our Lord at all hours--from the first thought of the day to the last, turning our heart constantly toward our Lord Jesus Christ, going to him through our Mother, Holy Mary, and through him to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

St. Josemaria Escriva




Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Photo: R. Massaro (c)2019 Spirit Singing  Sorrowful Mother Shrine Bellevue, Ohio

The Pieta speaks the universal language of human anguish; it possesses a universal meaning as it silently utters the deepest human grief...

In this painful scene, Mary appears once again as a woman of great courage and a sign of hope. Courageously Mary hold the lifeless body of her only child after he was taken down from the cross. Jesus endured the scandal of a criminal's execution and Mary, probably recognized by some as his mother, endured the ridicule, reproach and insults of the crowd. Perhaps she also received the pity of neighbors who knew that this widowed mother had only one son--and he seemed a failure. Mary bore in her arms the weight of her son, and in her tender heart the weight of her grief. 

Mary's right arm supports Christ's body while she extends her left hand as in an embrace, an offering, a gesture of immeasurable pain. She is every mother holding her dead child, every person who grieves for someone dear and departed, every man and woman grieving over lost dreams or shattered hopes. Mary feels the heartbreak of all humanity; she feels all the sadness of life. 

Excerpt from Mary First Disciple by Bishop Thomas J. Grady



Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

Photo: R.Massaro (C) Spirit Singing Carmelite Monastery Cleveland, Ohio

SOLEMNITY OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL

Bounteous Mother of God, Glory of Mount Carmel, we are members of your family, endow us with your own virtues; have pity, and protect us from every danger.




Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

Photo: R. Massaro Lourdes, France (C)2019 Spirit Singing

Prayer to Our Lady of Life

Holy Mary, Our Lady of Life,
teach us to be grateful that
we have been created in love
by God our Father.

Teach us to understand that each person,
at every stage in life,
is precious in the eyes of God
and is our brother or sister in Christ Jesus.

Teach us to defend the unborn,
the disabled, the sick and the dying
with all our strength, our love
and our support.

Teach us to proclaim to the world
the most sacred truth about the gift of life,
with charity and conviction.

Please ask your Son,
Who is the way, the Truth and the Life,
to send us the Paraclete
so that the face of the earth may be renewed in his love.

Amen.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Photo: R. Massaro (C)2019 Spirit Singing (Our Lady of Lourdes Church New London, Ohio)

PRAYER TO THE SORROWFUL AND

 IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, dwelling pure and holy, cover my soul with your maternal protection so that being ever faithful to the voice of Jesus, it responds to His love and obeys His Divine Will.

O, my Mother, keep me close to you every moment of my life. Obtain for me true sorrow for my sins. Obtain for me also a spirit of prayer and self denial that I may recover by penance what I have lost by sin. Keep me always in the love of your Divine Son, Jesus.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us!

Amen.

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Photo: R. Massaro (C)2019 Spirit Singing

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF SORROWS

Our mother of sorrows, with strength from above you stood by the cross, sharing in the sufferings of Jesus, and with tender care you bore him in your arms, mourning and weeping. 

We praise you for your faith, which accepted the life God planned for you.  We praise you for your hope, which trusted that God would do great things in you.  We praise you for your love in bearing with Jesus the sorrows of his passion.

Holy Mary, may we follow your example, and stand by all your children who need comfort and love.

Mother of God, stand by us in our trials and care for us in our many needs.  Pray for us now and at the hour of our death.

Amen!

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS  

THE DARK NIGHT OF THE CHURCH

Dear Secular Carmelites,

The entire Church-the body of Christ- is experiencing a dark night of faith and of the spirit. Now is the time for us to remain faithful to our calling of prayer on behalf of the Church.

During this time of purgation, let us call upon Our Lady under the titles of Our Lady of Mount Carmel,Our Lady, Mother of the Church, and Our Lady, Star of the sea, to help us and guide us through this storm. 

Let us remain faithful to the charism of Carmel: to pray for priests and seminarians. Let us pray for our Holy Father, all bishops, and all those in leadership positions within the Church. May they keep their minds and hearts fixed on Jesus.

Come, Holy Spirit, enlighten us and guide us!

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

Traditional Prayer to Our Lady, Star of the Sea

Ave Maris Stella
Hail bright star of ocean,
God's own Mother blest,
Ever sinless Virgin,
Gate of heavenly rest
Taking that sweet Ave
Which from Gabriel came,
Peace confirm within us,
Changing Eva's name.
Break the captives' fetters,
Light on blindness pour,
All our ills expelling,
Every bliss implore.
Show thyself a Mother;
May the Word Divine,
Born for us thy Infant,
Hear our prayers through thine
Virgin all excelling,
Mildest of the mild,
Freed from guilt, preserve us,
Pure and undefiled.
Keep our life all spotless,
Make our way secure,
Till we find in Jesus
Joy for evermore
Through the highest heaven
To the Almighty Three
Father, Son, and Sprit
One same glory be, Amen.

  

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

O God, who prepared a fit dwelling place for the Holy Spirit in the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, graciously grant that through her intercession we may be a worthy temple of your glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.


Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL

(From a Novena dated 1931)

FEAST DAY: JULY 16

Photo: R. Massaro (C) 2017 Spirit Singing St. Anthony Church Akron, Ohio

DAY 1

O Glorious Queen of Angels! Most pure and Ever Blessed Virgin Mary of Mt. Carmel! Powerful Advocate of all those who wear thy holy Scapular! Faithful Protectress of all the servants of thy Son Jesus Christ! I, an unworthy sinner, do this day, in the presence of thy beloved Son, my Saviour, choose thee for my Patroness, that through thy intercession, I may receive from Him whatsoever grace may be necessary and profitable for me now, and at the hour of my death. Amen.

Our Father and Hail Mary, Glory Be.

Let us pray...

O Almighty and Eternal God, who didst adorn the holy Order of Carmel with the glorious title of Thy Immaculate and ever Blessed Mother, grant propitiously that those who celebrate her Solemn Commemoration  may, by the assistance of Thy grace, turn their affection from all irregular adherence to this world, and place them entirely on the enjoyment of Thee, Who livest and reignest, one God world without end. Amen.

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS

The Fruits of the Holy Spirit- Sixth Hymn of Virtue: Gentleness

Photo: R. Massaro (c) 2017 Spirit Singing- Poor Clare Monastery North Canton, Ohio

Because you are God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt compassion, with kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12)

(Please enjoy this post from the archives)

People are given to complimenting each other's clothing, hair and external accessories. That is the way of the world. As Christians, we are striving to weave beautiful and holy garments with the fabric of virtue provided by the Holy Spirit.

St. Paul tells us to clothe ourselves in virtue. This holy attire should be evident for all to see, but as St. Teresa of Avila tells us, people who possess true humility and virtue usually are unaware that they possess these spiritual gifts. The saints spend their entire lives constantly striving to achieve virtue, totally unaware that the virtues they possess is what attracts others to them.

Photo: R. Massaro (c)2017 Spirit Singing  Walsh University Chapel Canton, Ohio

I recently saw a statue of Our Lady and the Infant Jesus. The statue is a representation of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I have only seen icons of Our Lady under this title, never a statue. And it is truly a beautiful statue that is displayed in the chapel of Walsh University in Canton, Ohio. I bring up this point because of Our Lady's garment on this statue. Icons are typically full of symbolism. The gold in the background of icons represents the glorious light of heaven. If you look closely, you will see the gold shining through Our Lady's garment in the photo of this statue. This light symbolizes what Christ said to the apostles and to us, “Let your light shine before men.” Not that they will say how wonderful we are but for others to give glory and praise to God.

The Gospel reading this past Saturday was about Our Lord's Transfiguration. We heard in that Gospel that his clothes became radiant as light. This manifestation was a glimpse of his glory that the apostles were blessed to witness. Jesus, a living icon, displayed his glory amidst the brilliant light of heaven! And then the voice of the Father: "This is my beloved Son, listen to him."

Reflecting on this statement, I can't help to see the similarity between the Father's command and what Our Lady said at the wedding feast at Cana. She stated to the servant, "Do whatever he tells you." In other words, listen to Him. I'm confident she said this with great gentleness and charity.

As Christians, we can ask ourselves, have I displayed the holy attire of gentleness in my dealings with family, friends and co-workers? Or, am I harsh and demanding? St. Therese tells us she (through the Holy Spirit) perfected her physical manner to become gentle in her voice and in the way she looked at others. She desired that her whole being reflect the love that was in her heart.

As Carmelites, we know that we must strive for this holy gem of virtue. Why is gentleness so important? Because the holy garment of gentleness has the light of mercy shining through it! If we, as sinners, want to be treated gently and mercifully by Our Lord, we must treat others in this same manner.

I believe these virtues are angelic qualities we must long for and possess before we are fit for the kingdom of heaven. We know that St. Paul even names one rank of angels as Virtues.

I meditate on the gentleness exhibited by the Archangel Gabriel when he addressed the Virgin Mary at the Annunciation: “Do not be afraid Mary, you have found favor with God.” Wouldn't those be lovely words to hear at our judgment? Let us pray that when the Lord summons us home, Our Lady will be by our side defending us poor sinners before the throne of God. And may we hear those gentle words that were spoken to Our Lady, “Do not fear, little one, you have found favor with God.”

Hail Mary, Gentle Woman, pray for us!

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

The Power of the Holy Spirit-in the hand of the Bishop

Photo: R. Massaro (c)2017 Spirit Singing-St. Joseph Church Dover, Ohio

Many parishes during this time of year are celebrating the sacrament of Confirmation.  A lot of preparation takes place before the event. The children and adults, the confirmandi, as they are referred to, must be given instruction before they stand before the bishop ready to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

I was confirmed in 1969. The way the sacrament is conferred has changed since I was a young girl. I was confirmed at the age of 12, now teens are a little older when they are confirmed. Today, the candidates stand before the bishop as he or she is confirmed. On October 16, 1969, I knelt before Bishop Clarence Elwell to be confirmed. I also remember being told that as the bishop confirmed me he would slap me on the cheek!  As children, we were petrified about this part of the ceremony. We wondered, will the bishop actually hit us? Will it hurt? We didn't know what to expect, only to brace ourselves for the blow!

I remember walking up the aisle of the church, in a long procession of candidates to be confirmed. At the time, it seemed like two miles until I would reach the altar. I was in procession, behind my uncle, an adult convert, who was beaming with joy, ready to be confirmed.

My mother had helped me with trying to choose a saint for my confirmation name. She told me stories about the saints, which I found fascinating. I remember the agony I went through in trying to decide between St. Bernadette and St. Margaret Mary. I finally decided on St. Bernadette, but as Divine Providence would have it, I was confirmed on the feast of St. Margaret Mary. 

Continuing with my memory of approaching the bishop...I remember kneeling before the bishop and announcing my confirmation name of Bernadette, he anointed me and gently patted my cheek. All that worry over nothing! The power of the the Holy Spirit, through the hand of the bishop, was imparted gently and tenderly with a soft pat on the cheek. 

Let us pray that the Holy Spirit continue to work in our lives. Let us pray that He imparts all of his gifts on us. Gifts that are needed to live with Him in the company of all the angels and saints forever. 

I'll be re-posting a series on the Holy Spirit I wrote a few years ago. These meditations about the gifts of the Holy Spirit are in light of Carmelite spirituality. I hope you are blessed by these posts.


Seven Songs of the Spirit-First Song: Wisdom

https://rosemarie-spiritsinging.blogspot.com/2008/07/seven-songs-of-spirit.html




Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Photo: R. Massaro (C)2017 Spirit Singing St. Judy Church Elyria, Ohio

I grieve for thee, O Mary most sorrowful, in the wounding of thy compassionate heart, when the side of Jesus was struck by the lance and His Heart was pierced before His body was removed from the Cross. Dear Mother, by thy heart thus transfixed, obtain for me the virtue of fraternal charity and the gift of understanding. 

The Seven promises to those who honor the seven sorrows of Mary:

The Blessed Virgin Mary grants seven graces to the souls who honor her daily by saying seven Hail Mary's and meditating on her tears and dolors (sorrows). The devotion was passed on by St. Bridget.

HERE ARE THE SEVEN GRACES:

1. I will grant peace to their families.
2. They will be enlightened about the divine mysteries.
3. I will console them in their pains and I will accompany them in their work.
4. I will give them as much as they ask for as long as it does not oppose the adorable will of my divine Son or the sanctification of their souls.
5. I will defend them in their spiritual battles with the infernal enemy and I will protect them at every instant of their lives.
6. I will visibly help them at the moment of their death, they will see the face of their Mother.
7. I have obtained from my divine Son, that those who propagate this devotion to my tears and dolors, will be taken directly from this earthly life to eternal happiness since all their sins will be forgiven and my Son and I will be their eternal consolation and joy.

THE SEVEN SORROWS DEVOTION

Peace be with you!

Rosemarie, OCDS