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 Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine Euclid, Ohio

From St. Louis de Montfort, The Secret of the Rosary:

Are you in the miserable state of sin? Then call on Mary and say to her: Ave, which means "I salute thee with the most profound respect, thou who art without sin" and she will deliver you from the evil of your sins.

Are you groping in the darkness of ignorance and error? Go to Mary and say to her: Hail Mary: which means, "Hail thou who art bathed in the light of the Sun of Justice"--and she will give you some of her light.

Have you strayed from the path leading to heaven? Then call on Mary, for her name means "Star of the Sea, the North Star which guides the ships of our souls during the voyage of this life," and she will guide you to the harbor of eternal salvation.

Are you in sorrow? Turn to Mary, for her name means also "Sea of Bitterness which has been filled with sharp pain in this world but which is now turned into a Sea of the Purest Joy in heaven," and she will turn your sorrow to joy and your afflictions into consolation.

Have you lost the state of grace? Praise and honor the numberless graces with which God has filled the Blessed Virgin and say to her: Thou art full of grace and filled with all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and she will give you some of these graces.

Are you alone, having lost God's protection? Pray to Mary, and say: "The Lord is with thee--and this union is far nobler and more intimate than that which He has with saints and the just--because thou art one with Him...

Do you hunger for the bread of grace and the bread of life? Draw near to her who bore the Living Bread which came down from heaven, and say to her: Blessed be the Fruit of thy womb Whom thou has conceived without the slightest loss of thy virginity.


O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!



Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, OCDS

Saturday of Our Lady

Photo: R. Massaro Our Lady of Consolation, Carey, Ohio

Mary is the supreme masterpiece of Almighty God and he has reserved the knowledge and possession of her for himself. She is the glorious Mother of God the Son who chose to humble and conceal her during her lifetime in order to foster her humility.
St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin

SORROWFUL MOTHER SHRINE BELLEVUE, OHIO

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie

SATURDAY OF OUR LADY

Photo: R. Massaro (C)SpiritSinging2013
Statue in the Grotto at Lourdes, France

OUR LADY OF LOURDES

FEAST DAY: FEBRUARY 11

The Ten Principal Virtues of the most holy Virgin

1.    Profound humility
2.    Lively Faith
3.    Blind Obedience
4.    Continual Prayer
5.    Universal Mortification
6.    Divine Purity
7.    Ardent Charity
8.    Heroic Patience
9.    Angelic Sweetness
10.  Divine Wisdom
(From True Devotion by St. Louis de Montfort)

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF LOURDES

Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds

Saturday of Our Lady

Mary's Ten Principle Virtues according to
 St. Louis de Montfort

1. Deep Humility

2. Lively Faith

3. Blind Obedience

4. Unceasing Prayer

5. Self-Denial

6. Purity

7. Ardent Love

8. Heroic patience

9. Angelic kindness

10. Heavenly Wisdom

Mary is our spiritual Mother. She will lead us on the path of spiritual childhood. A holy path of total trust and confidence in God's merciful love. St. Louis de Montfort's teaching of "To Jesus through Mary" will help us to live our Carmelite vocation in a deeper and more profound manner. Mary will help us in our quest for holiness. As our community studies De Montfort's True Devotin to Mary may we all experience a deeper love for Our Lady under the title of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.


In the words of our late Holy Father, John Paul II who was a secular Carmelite:

"The reading of this book was a decisive turning-point in my life. I say "turning-point," but in fact it was a long inner journey...This "perfect devotion" is indispensable to anyone who means to give himself without reserve to Christ and to the work of redemption."


"It is from Montfort that I have taken my motto: "Totus tuus" (I am all thine).


May the Holy Spirit descend upon us with his grace and give us a share of the virtues that Our Lady possessed.

As Secular Carmelites, may we belong totally to Christ, by belonging totally to Mary, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.



Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds