One, Holy, Catholic

Mother of Mercy Hymn 1 Mother of mercy, day by day My love of thee grows more and more ; Thy gifts are strewn up on my way, Like sands upon the great seashore, Like sands upon the great seashore. 2 Though poverty, and work, and woe, The masters of my life may be; In darkest hours, who does not know That all is light with love of thee ? That all is light with love of thee. 3 Oh, gain me grace to love thee more : Thy Son will give, if thou wilt plead ! And, Mother, when life's cares are o'er, Oh ! I shall love thee then indeed, Oh ! I shall love thee then indeed. 4 My Lord, when His three hours were run, Bequeath'd thee, from the cross, to me ; And oh, how can I love thy Son, Sweet mother, if I love not thee ? Sweet mother, if I love not thee. ~ Fr. Frederick W. Faber ~ Laudis Corona (1880)

Month of The Immaculate Heart of Mary~ August 17th MOTHER MOST ADMIRABLE DUTIES OF JESUS TOWARD MARY (continued) This was not in truth the submission of an inferior toward his superior, for the hypostatic union places Jesus high above all creatures. It was the act of deference of a son toward her, whom Divine Providence had singled out to provide for the temporal needs of his life ~ Very Rev. Alexis M. Lepicier, O.S.M., The Fairest Flower of Paradise (1922)

ASPIRATION O VIERGE IMMACULÉE Je vous offre mon cœur, gardez-le, sanctifiez-le. O IMMACULATE VIRGIN I offer you my heart, keep it, sanctify it.

PRAYER to the QUEEN of ANGELS by the Ven. Louis Edward Gestae AUGUST Queen of Heaven and Mistress of Angels, who hast been commissioned by God with power to crush the head of Satan, we humbly beseech thee to send forth the legions of Heaven, that under thy command they may seek out all evil spirits, everywhere put them to flight, curb their insolence, and hurl them back into the abyss. Who is like unto God? Holy Angels and Archangels, defend and keep us. O good and tender Mother, thou shalt ever be our love and our hope. O Mother of God, send the holy Angels to defend me, and drive far away from me the cruel enemy. 300 Days, once a day. Pius X, July 8. 1908 ~ The Raccolta (1910)

MAIDEN MOTHER, UNDEFILED Maiden Mother undefiled, Deign to take me for Thy child; All my life, oh let it be My best joy to think of Thee: Virgo Maria! Teach me, when the sun-beam bright Calls me with its golden light, How my waking thoughts may be Turned to Jesus and to Thee: Virgo Maria! Teach me also through the day Oft to raise my heart and say: “Maiden Mother undefiled, Guard and guide Thy faithful child!” Virgo Maria! When my eyes are closed in sleep, O’er my slumbers vigil keep; Make my latest thought to be How to please Thy Son and Thee: Virgo Maria! Thus, sweet Mother, day and night Do thou guide my steps aright; Let my dying whisper be: “Virgin Mother, pray for me!” Virgo Maria! ~ Catholic Hymnal (1920)

Month of The Immaculate Heart of Mary~ August 16th MOTHER MOST ADMIRABLE DUTIES OF JESUS TOWARD MARY (continued) *** Not only did Jesus love Mary with a most profound love, showing her a respect in accordance with her dignity, but He was even pleased to be subjected to her as long as He lived upon earth: "And He was subject unto them." [LUKE ii, 51] ~ Very Rev. Alexis M. Lepicier, O.S.M., The Fairest Flower of Paradise (1922)

Month of The Immaculate Heart of Mary~ August 15th MOTHER MOST ADMIRABLE DUTIES OF JESUS TOWARD MARY (continued) It is a great thing indeed that both angels and men should pay homage to Mary, proclaim ing her Queen of heaven and earth. But it passes all comprehension that God Himself should deign to lavish such singular tokens of esteem and veneration upon this marvelous and most excellent creature. ~ Very Rev. Alexis M. Lepicier, O.S.M., The Fairest Flower of Paradise (1922)

Sayings of the Saints “After the love which we owe Jesus Christ, we must give the chief place in our heart to the love of His Mother Mary.” ~ St. Alphonsus Liguori St. Alphonsus, pray for us.

THREE OFFERINGS MOST Holy Virgin, I venerate thee with my whole heart above all angels and saints in Paradise, as the Daughter of the Eternal Father, and I consecrate to thee my soul with all its powers. Ave Maria. MOST Holy Virgin, I venerate thee with my whole heart above all angels and saints in Paradise, as the Mother of the Only-begotten Son, and I consecrate to thee my body with all its senses. Ave Maria. MOST Holy Virgin, I venerate thee with my whole heart above all angels and saints in Paradise, as the Spouse of the Holy Ghost, and I consecrate to thee my heart and all its affections, praying thee to obtain for me from the ever-blessed Trinity all that is necessary for my salvation. Ave Maria. I. 300 Days, ii. Plenary, once a month, under the usual conditions Leo XII, Pr. Ma. October 21, 1823. Pius IX, June 18, 1876. ~ The Raccolta (1910)

August 14th ~ The Vigil of the Feast of the Assumption of Our Blessed Lady As early as the Seventh Century the preparation, by a solemn fast, for keeping devoutly the great festival of the Assumption, is described as a custom of great antiquity. In many parts of the Church the strict fast enjoined lasted over several days. The Mass celebrated on this day is of Our Blessed Lady, on account of its being that of a vigil, and is said in purple vestments, and the hymn Gloria in excelsis is omitted. ~ The New Roman Missal (1937)

Month of The Immaculate Heart of Mary~ August 14th MOTHER MOST ADMIRABLE DUTIES OF JESUS TOWARD MARY (continued) We find a symbol of the veneration which Jesus had for Mary, in the act of deference of King Solomon toward his mother Bethsabee. As she was going to him in order to petition a favor of him, Solomon rose up and went forward to meet his mother: then bowing before her, he ordered a throne to be placed for her, and seated her at his right hand. Thus Jesus honors Mary, His Mother, seating her at His right hand, and sharing with her the love and honor which men have for Himself. "TheQueen stood on thy right hand in gilded clothing, surrounded with variety." [Ps. xliv, 10] ~ Very Rev. Alexis M. Lepicier, O.S.M., The Fairest Flower of Paradise (1922)

Doux coeur de Marie, sois mon salut. Sweet Heart of Mary, be my Salvation. PRAYER of PETITION to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Prostrate at thy sacred feet, O august Queen of Heaven, I venerate thee with the most profound respect, and I believe that thou art the daughter of the Eternal Father, the Mother of His Divine Son, and the Spouse of the Holy Ghost. Full of grace and virtues and heavenly gifts, thou art the purest temple of the most Holy Trinity; thou art the treasury and dispenser of divine mercy. Thine Immaculate Heart, full of charity, sweetness and tenderness, has given thee the name of Mother of Divine Clemency. Therefore, in my affliction and agony I present myself with confidence before thee, our most loving Mother, and I pray thee to make me experience the love which thou bearest us. Grant me (here mention your request) if it be the Will of God and for the good of my soul. Amen. ~ Attributed to Saint Bernard

Month of The Immaculate Heart of Mary~ August 13th MOTHER MOST ADMIRABLE DUTIES OF JESUS TOWARD MARY (continued) *** The incomparable dignity of Mary, the absence of all sin in her and the presence of the choicest graces in her soul, were for Jesus so many motives for thus especially honoring His Mother. Thus, the Son of God teaches us by His own example, with what respect we should treat our Heavenly Queen. ~ Very Rev. Alexis M. Lepicier, O.S.M., The Fairest Flower of Paradise (1922)

Words of Our Lady "Pray the Rosary every day in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary to obtain peace in the world . . . for she alone can save it." ~ Our Lady of Fatima (July 13th, 1917)

Words of Our Lady "Do you wish to offer yourselves to God to endure all the sufferings that He may be pleased to send you, as both an act of reparation for the sins with which He is offended and an act of supplication for the conversion of sinners?" ~ Our Lady of Fatima

Month of The Immaculate Heart of Mary~ August 12th MOTHER MOST ADMIRABLE DUTIES OF JESUS TOWARD MARY (continued) The reverence which Jesus showed to Mary during His earthly life, was equal to His love for her. It was not merely His own quality of Son which impelled Him to venerate Mary: it was also the acknowledgment of the sublime privileges and extraordinary sanctity wherewith the Virgin's soul was adorned. ~ Very Rev. Alexis M. Lepicier, O.S.M., The Fairest Flower of Paradise (1922)

2 of 2 Three Efficacious Petitions to the Blessed Virgin O most Blessed Virgin Mary, I beseech thee by the most spotless purity wherewith thou didst prepare in thy womb a still and glad abode for the Son of God, that by thy intercessions I may be cleansed from every stain. O most Blessed Virgin Mary, I beseech thee by that thy most gentle, deep humility whereby thou didst merit to be raised high above all angels and saints, that by thy intercessions all my negligences may be forgiven and satisfied for. O most Blessed Virgin Mary, I implore thee by that unutterable love which united thee inseparably to God, that by thy intercessions I may receive an abundance of all merit. Amen. ~ Preces Gertrudianae (1861)

It is in thee, o Mary that we find all blessings, and even God Himself. (St. Laurence) 1 of 2 Three Efficacious Petitions to the Blessed Virgin When St. Gertrude recited these three petitions, which she had learned of the Blessed Virgin, it seemed to her as though she were so clothed and adorned with her surpassing merits, that the Lord of Majesty took ineffable delight in her. (continued)

Month of The Immaculate Heart of Mary~ August 11th MOTHER MOST ADMIRABLE DUTIES OF JESUS TOWARD MARY (continued) To such love Mary responded by a boundless love toward her Son, and this mutual love begun here below, formed the bond which unites those two Hearts now in heaven so closely, that they areas it were but one Heart: "My beloved to me and I to him." [CANT. ii, 16] ~ Very Rev. Alexis M. Lepicier, O.S.M., The Fairest Flower of Paradise (1922)

THANKSGIVING for the GRACES BESTOWED on the BLESSED VIRGIN When St. Gertrude had recited this short prayer, she saw in vision the Mother of divine grace arise and beseech the Blessed Trinity to grant her as large a measure of grace as the heart of man can receive in this life. Then the most glorious Trinity turned towards the saint, and filled her soul with unutterable grace and benediction. Blessed be the ineffable, ever adorable omnipotence of God the Father; and blessed the wondrous and manifold wisdom of God the Son; and blessed the amazing and most tender goodness of the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete; for that ever-glorious Trinity hath deigned to decree from eternity, to create in time, and to bestow on us as our most effectual help and succor, the Virgin so full of all grace, in order that He might communicate to her His own divine and super-abounding beatitude. Amen. ~ Preces Gertrudianae (1861)