FEAST OF ST. THERESA  OF AVILA

October 15

Pope Francis’ Letter for the Fifth Centenary of the Birth of St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa emphasised the importance of cheerful perseverance and prayer.

Vatican City, 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has sent a message to Bishop Jesus Garcia Burillo of Avila on the occasion of the fifth centenary of the birth of St. Teresa of Avila, whose feast day is celebrated today. In his letter, Pope Francis mentions the joy the saint often spoke of “in encountering the suffering of work and pain”, and how she affirmed that “the Gospel is not a bag of lead that trails heavily behind us, but rather a source of joy that leads the heart to God and urges us to serve our brethren”: St. Teresa emphasised the importance of cheerful perseverance and prayer. For her, contemplative prayer was “a close sharing between friends; … taking time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us”.

The Pope remarks that this advice is “perennially valid”: “In a culture of the temporary”, he says, “to live faithfully ‘forever and ever and ever’; in a world without hope, to show the fruitfulness of an enamoured heart; and in a society with many idols, to give witness that ‘only God is enough’”. A path that, the Holy Father reiterated, we cannot walk alone; we must do so together and, as the Saint said, with Christ. “Teresa of Jesus recommended three things: to love each other, to free each other, to free oneself of everything, and to aspire to true humility”.

“It is this Teresian realism”, writes the Pope, “that demands works instead of emotions, love in the place of dreams, and the realism of humble love instead of eager asceticism”. He concludes, “Let us hope that everyone may be infused by this holy impulse to travel the roads of our own time, with the Gospel in our hand and the Spirit in our heart!”.

From the Book of Heaven

V16 – 2.5.24 – “Don’t you know that cheerfulness for the soul is like fragrance for flowers, like condiment for foods, like the skin tone for people, like maturation for fruits, like the sun for plants?”

V6 – 10.29.04 – “Everything – everything is linked to the way of operating with Perseverance; the Chain of My Graces is linked to Persevering Works. So, if the soul makes some escapes, she breaks this Chain – and who can assure her that it will be linked again? My Designs are accomplished only in one who attaches his works to Perseverance. Perfection, sanctity, everything – everything goes along United with it; but if the soul is intermittent, her operating without Perseverance, like an intermittent fever, renders the Divine Designs vain, dissolves her perfection and makes her Sanctity fail.”

V6 – 4.11.05 – “Indeed, that of the soul which pleases Me the most is Perseverance, because Perseverance is Seal of Eternal Life and development of Divine Life. In fact, just as God is ever Old and ever New and Immutable, in the same way, through Perseverance, by having exercised it always, the soul is Old, and by her attitude of exercising it, she is ever New; and each time she exercises it she is Renewed in God, remaining Immutable, and without realizing it. Since through Perseverance she continuously acquires Divine Life within herself, by acquiring God she is Sealed with Eternal Life. Can there be a seal safer than God Himself?”

FEAST OF THE MATERNITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

OCTOBER 11

click image for Lux Veritatis III by Pope Pius XI for more on the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

FROM THE BOOK OF HEAVEN

V36 – 12.28.38

(Jesus to Luisa):  “Now, My daughter, listen to Me and pay attention. I want to tell you a Great Surprise of Our Love, and nothing must escape you. I want you to know the extent of the Maternity of My Celestial Mother—what She did, how much it cost to Her, and what She is still doing. You must know that the Great Queen was not My Mother only in Conceiving Me, delivering Me to the light, feeding Me with Her milk, and offering Me all the possible cares that I needed during My Infancy; this was not enough, either to Her Maternal Love, or to My Love as her Son. Her Maternal Love was always running through My Mind, and if Sorrowful thoughts were troubling Me, she laid Her Maternity in each one of them, hiding them inside Her Love and kissing them. I could always feel My Mind as if it was hidden under Her Maternal Wings, that never left Me alone; each one of My Thoughts was kept by My Loving Mother, who gave Me all Her Maternal attentions. Her Maternity was placed in each one of My Breaths and heartbeats; and if My Breath and heartbeats felt smothered by My Love and suffering, She would run with Her Maternity to free Me from My suffocating Love and put balm on My Pierced Heart. If She looked, spoke, worked and walked—She ran, as a Mother, to receive in Her Maternal Love My Glances, Words, Works and steps, Investing them with Her Love and hiding them in Her Heart. She would also make Her Maternal Love flow in the food She prepared for Me, so that while eating it, I could feel Her Loving Maternity. How much more could I tell you of the expression of Her Maternity in My sufferings? There was not a Pain, not a drop of the Blood I shed that was not felt by My Mother. But after doing these things as My Mother, She would then take all My Pains and My Blood, and hide them inside Her Maternal Heart to Love them and continue Her Maternity.

“Who could say how much She Loved Me and how much I Loved Her? My Love was such that in everything, I could not be without feeling Her Maternity within me. I can say that She would run, never to leave Me alone, not even in My Breathing. And I called her. Her Maternity was for Me a need, a relief, a support for My Life down here.

“Now, My daughter, listen to another Love Surprise of your Jesus and of our Heavenly Mother. In all We did, Love was never obstructed between Us; the Love of one ran into the Love of the other to form One Single Life. But in wanting to do the same with creatures, how many obstructions, rejections, ingratitudes do we find. You must know that as My inseparable Mother laid Her Maternity inside and outside of My Humanity, so She was made and Confirmed as Mother of every thought, every breath, every heartbeat and word of creatures, placing Her Maternity in their works, in their steps and in all their sufferings. Her Maternity runs everywhere. If creatures are in danger of falling into sin, she covers them with Her Maternity to prevent them from falling; and if they do, she leaves Her Maternity as help and defense, to make them stand up again. Her Maternity runs and lays also on the souls who want to be good and holy, as if She found Her Jesus in them. She becomes Mother of their intelligence, and Guide of their words, covering and hiding them in Her Maternal Love, in order to grow as many other Jesuses. Her Maternity shows on the beds of the dying. Using the rights of authority as Mother given to Her by Me, in such a tender tone that I cannot refuse Her anything, She says: ‘My Son, I am the Mother, and they are My children; I must save them. If You don’t grant Me this, My Maternity would be compromised.’ And as She says this, She covers them with Her Love, hiding them with Her Maternity to rescue them.

“My Love was such that I told her: ‘Mother, I want you to be the Mother of all, and I want you to do for all creatures all that you have done for Me, laying your Maternity in all their acts so that I will see them covered and hidden in your Maternal Love.’ My Mother accepted and remained Confirmed, not only as the Mother of all, but also as the One who would Invest each of their acts with Her Maternal Love. This was one of the Greatest Graces I have given to the whole of human generations. But what Pains does My Mother not receive? Creatures even reach the point of not wanting to recognize Her Maternity—of denying it. Therefore the whole of Heaven prays and anxiously waits for the Divine Will to be known and to Reign. Then, the Great Queen will do to the children of My Will what She did for Her Jesus, and Her Maternity will have Life in Her children.

“I will give My own Place in Her Maternal Heart to those who Live in My Will. She will raise them for Me, guiding their steps and hiding them in Her Maternity and Sanctity. Her Maternal Love and Her Sanctity will be Impressed in all their acts; they will be Her True Children, being like Me in everything. O! how I would Love everyone to know that if they want to Live in My Will, they have a Queen and a Powerful Mother who will compensate for all they lack. She will raise them on Her Maternal lap, being with them in everything they do, molding their acts as Her own; to the extent that they will be known as the children grown, kept and educated by the Loving Maternity of My Mama. These will be the ones who will make Her Happy, the ones who will be Her Glory and Honor.”

The Rosary: A Gift of Her Heart
Meditation of H.H. Benedict XVI
Recitation of the Holy Rosary
Pontifical Shrine of Pompeii
Sunday, 19 October 2008

Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate and in the Priesthood,
Dear men and women religious,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Before entering the Shrine to recite the Holy Rosary with you, I paused briefly before the tomb of Bl. Bartolo Longo and, praying, I asked myself: “Where did this great apostle of Mary find the energy and perseverance he needed to bring such an impressive work, now known across the world, to completion? Was it not in the Rosary, which he accepted as a true gift from Our Lady’s Heart?” Yes, that truly was how it happened! The experience of the Saints bears witness to it: this popular Marian prayer is a precious spiritual means to grow in intimacy with Jesus, and to learn at the school of the Blessed Virgin always to fulfill the Divine Will. It is contemplation of the mysteries of Christ in spiritual union with Mary as the Servant of God Paul VI stressed in his Apostolic Exhortation Marialis cultus (n. 46) and as my venerable Predecessor John Paul II abundantly illustrated in his Apostolic Letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae that today I once again present in spirit to the Community of Pompeii and to each one of you. You who live and work here in Pompeii, especially you, dear priests, men and women religious and lay people involved in this unique portion of the Church, are all called to make Bl. Bartolo Longo’s charism your own and to become, to the extent and in the way that God grants to each one, authentic apostles of the Rosary.

To be apostles of the Rosary, however, it is necessary to experience personally the beauty and depth of this prayer which is simple and accessible to everyone. It is first of all necessary to let the Blessed Virgin take one by the hand to contemplate the Face of Christ: a joyful, luminous, sorrowful and glorious Face. Those who, like Mary and with her, cherish and ponder the mysteries of Jesus assiduously, increasingly assimilate his sentiments and are conformed to him. In this regard, I would like to quote a beautiful thought of Bl. Bartolo Longo: “Just as two friends, frequently in each other’s company, tend to develop similar habits”, he wrote, “so too, by holding familiar converse with Jesus and the Blessed Virgin, by meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary and by living the same life in Holy Communion, we can become, to the extent of our lowliness, similar to them and can learn from these supreme models a life of humility, poverty, hiddenness, patience and perfection” (I Quindici Sabati del Santissimo Rosario, 27th edition, Pompeii, 1916, p. 27: cited in Rosarium Virginis Mariae, n. 15).

The Rosary is a school of contemplation and silence. At first glance, it could seem a prayer that accumulates words, therefore difficult to reconcile with the silence that is rightly recommended for meditation and contemplation. In fact, this cadent repetition of the Hail Mary does not disturb inner silence but indeed both demands and nourishes it. Similarly to what happens for the Psalms when one prays the Liturgy of the Hours, the silence surfaces through the words and sentences, not as emptiness, but rather as the presence of an ultimate meaning that transcends the words themselves and through them speaks to the heart. Thus, in reciting the Hail Mary, we must be careful that our voices do not “cover” the voice of God who always speaks through the silence like the “still small voice” of a gentle breeze (1 Kgs 19: 12). Then how important it is to foster this silence full of God, both in one’s personal recitation and in its recitation with the community! Even when the Rosary is prayed, as today, by great assemblies, and as you do in this Shrine every day, it must be perceived as a contemplative prayer. And this cannot happen without an atmosphere of inner silence.

I would like to add a further reflection concerning the Word of God in the Rosary, particularly appropriate in this period in which the Synod of Bishops is taking place on the theme: “The Word of God in the life and mission of the Church”. If Christian contemplation cannot leave the Word of God out of consideration, if it is to be a contemplative prayer, the Rosary must always emerge from the silence of the heart as a response to the Word, after the model of Mary’s prayer. Seen clearly, the Rosary is completely interwoven with scriptural elements. First of all there is the enunciation of the mystery, preferably made, as it has been today, with words taken from the Bible. The Our Father follows; by giving the prayer a “vertical” orientation, the soul of who recites the rosary is opened to the correct filial attitude in accordance with the Lord’s invitation: “When you pray say: Father…” (Lk 11: 2). The first part of the Hail Mary, also taken from the Gospel, lets us listen again each time to the words that God addressed to the Virgin through the Angel and to the words of her cousin Elizabeth’s blessing. The second part of the Hail Mary resounds like the answer of children who, in addressing supplications to their Mother, do nothing other than express their own adherence to the saving plan revealed by God. Thus the thought of those who pray remains ever anchored to Scripture and to the mysteries presented in it.

Lastly, remembering that today we are celebrating World Mission Sunday, I wish to recall the apostolic dimension of the Rosary, a dimension that Blessed Bartolo Longo lived intensely, drawing inspiration from it to carry out on this earth so many charitable initiatives and works of human and social promotion. Furthermore, he wanted this Shrine to be open to the whole world as a centre of outreach of the prayer of the Rosary and as a place of intercession for peace among peoples. Dear friends, I would like to reinforce both of these aims: the apostolate of charity and prayer for peace, and I wish to confirm and entrust them once again to your spiritual and pastoral commitment. Following the example and with the support of the venerable Founder, never tire of working with enthusiasm in this part of the Lord’s vineyard for which Our Lady has shown a special fondness.

Dear brothers and sisters, the time has come to take my leave of you and of this beautiful Shrine. I thank you for your warm welcome and especially for your prayers. I thank the Archbishop Prelate and Pontifical Delegate, his collaborators and those who worked to prepare my Visit in the best possible way. I must leave you, but my heart remains close to this region and to this community. I entrust you all to the Blessed Virgin of the Holy Rosary and I cordially impart the Apostolic Blessing to each one.

Before leaving the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary at Pompeii, the Holy Father spoke briefly to the faithful:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The time has come for me to say “good-bye’ but as I said, in my heart I shall always remain close to you, close to this most beautiful Shrine, to this people full of faith, enthusiasm and charity. Thank you! Let us stay faithful to Our Lady and thus we shall stay faithful to love and to peace. I bless you all in the name of Almighty God, Father, and Son and Holy Spirit. Good-bye until next time! Thank you!

© Copyright 2008 – Libreria Editrice Vaticana

 October 2, A.D. 2014 – Holy Guardian Angels

Calendar for the Traditional Roman Rite

click image for more on Guardian Angels

Luisa and her Guardian Angel

Taken from: Childhood Memories

Padre Bucci: “… her writings can’t reveal everything about Luisa’s life, because it was far more complex”.

“That’s true” Aunt Rosaria answered. “I could tell of many things that no one knows”.

“So why do you insistently refuse to speak?” “If Luisa had wished them to be known she would have written them down, or the Church would have ordered her to write them; it is clear that certain phenomena which occurred, which I and others witnessed, do not serve for the sanctification of souls.

The Lord permitted to be known all that is of use to the Church and to souls, the rest serves no purpose. In speaking of these things I feel as if I were profaning the intimacy that was built up between God and Luisa, human beings would not understand. The message bequeathed by Luisa exceeds her very person. Luisa wanted the Lord alone to have all the honor and glory, and she was to disappear into nothingness; this is why she loved solitude and silence, and showed great distress when she noticed that she was the object of people’ veneration, for she considered herself only a poor sick person, in need of everything. I and others knew very well that Luisa had no need of anything, and that we had to be the custodians of her mystery. How often in the morning did I find Luisa all tidy and the altar already prepared for Holy Mass with the candles lit”.

“And how did this happen, if Luisa never set foot out of bed for about sixty years? Are you sure of what you say?”.

“Absolutely certain! Because I was the only one who entered her room”

“Did you never wonder what the explanation was?”.

“I thought that Angels served her, especially her guardian Angel, to whom she was deeply devoted. Her room was often found full of fragrance”.

“And did others smell this fragrance?”.

“Yes, those who took part in Holy Mass. I remember that once Fr. Cataldo De Benedictis, who had come to celebrate

Holy Mass in the absence of her confessor, said to me: ‘Don’t scent the room, or I will come out with a headache’. I assured him that no one had put scent in the room, but he did not believe me”.

From Divine Will Newsletter No. 149

St. Therese of the Child Jesus

October 1

(This Feast is Celebrated on October 3, 2014 –

in the Calendar for the Traditional Roman Rite)

In the above picture of Luisa “The Little Daughter of the Divine Will” in prayer in front of the Crucifix is a picture of St. Therese “The Little Flower.”

From the Book of Heaven – November 29, 1910

(Luisa Piccarreta): – “While I was saying this, my blessed Jesus made Himself seen looking in my interior, turning everything upside down to see if there was something which He did not like. And while turning and turning, He took something like a grain of white sand in His hands, and He threw it to the ground. Then He said to me: “Dearest daughter of Mine, it is absolutely right that for one who is all for Me, I be all for her. I am too jealous that someone else might give her the slightest comfort. I alone – I Myself alone want to make up for all, and in everything. What is it that afflicts you? What do you want? I do everything to make you content. Do you see that white grain that I removed from you? It was nothing but a little bit of anxiety, for you wanted to know my Will from others. I removed it from you and I threw it on the ground so as to leave you in holy indifference – the way I want you.”

This is very similar to what the “Little Flower”, wrote in her journal called “Story of a Soul” where she writes: “Unfortunately when I have compared myself with the saints, I have always found that there is the same difference between the saints and me as there is between a mountain whose summit is lost in the clouds and a humble grain of sand trodden underfoot by passers-by. Instead of being discouraged, I told myself: God would not make me wish for something impossible and so, in spite of my littleness, I can aim at being a saint. It is impossible for me to grow bigger, so I put up with myself as I am, with all my countless faults. But I will look for some means of going to heaven by a little way which is very short and very straight, a little way that is quite new.

The message given to Luisa was on November 29, 1910. St. Therese died 13 years earlier in 1897 and afterwards her Sisters sent 2,000 copies of Therese’s writings to other convents. By 1910 St. Therese’s writings would be well know by the Religious in Luisa’s hometown.

It was also in 1910, while visiting the Trani Diocese to establish an orphanage, Father Hannibal Di Francia met Luisa Piccarreta for the first time, most likely at the suggestion of her confessor, Fr. Gennaro Di Gennaro. Soon thereafter, Father Hannibal found himself at the center of a loose association of priests who shared a common thirst for holiness and a deep admiration for Luisa. Members of the group included Father Gennaro Braccale, S.J.; Father Eustacchio Montemuro, founder of the Sisters of the Divine Side; and Father Ferdinando Cento, who later became a cardinal.

From the Divine Will Newsletter No. 149

FEAST OF THE ARCHANGELS

September 29

click image for more information

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF RANSOM

Also known as Our Lady of Mercy

September 24

Today, in many parts of the world, the Catholic Church commemorates the feast of Our Lady of Ransom, also known as Our Lady of Mercy or Nuestra Señora de la Merced.

The Blessed Virgin appeared in 1218 in separate visions to St. Peter Nolasco, St. Raymund of Penafort, and James, king of Aragon, asking them to found a religious order dedicated to freeing Christian captives from the barbarous Saracens or Moors, who at that time held a great part of Spain. On August 10, 1218, King James established the royal, military and religious Order of our Lady of Ransom (first known as the Order of St. Eulalia, now known as the Mercedarian Order), with the members granted the privilege of wearing his own arms on their breast. Most of the members were knights, and while the clerics recited the divine office in the commanderies, they guarded the coasts and delivered prisoners. This pious work spread everywhere and produced heroes of charity who collected alms for the ransom of Christians, and often gave themselves up in exchange for Christian prisoners.

FROM THE BOOK OF HEAVEN

V18 – 10.10.25 – As I was in my usual state, my poor mind found itself within an extremely high atmosphere.  I seemed to see the Divinity, and upon one knee of the Celestial Father, the Queen Mama, dead, as if She had no life.  Surprised, I thought to myself:  ‘My Mama is dead; but what a happy death – to die on the knees of our Creator!’  But, looking more closely, I saw Her will as though detached from Her body, held in the hands of the Divine Father.  Amazed, I looked, and I could not give myself a reason for what I was seeing; but a voice coming from the divine throne said:  “This is the elect among all the elect; She is the all beautiful; She is the only creature who gave Us Her will as gift, and left it, dead, upon Our knees, in Our hands.  And We, in exchange, gave Her the gift of Our Will.  Greater gift We could not give Her, because by acquiring this Supreme Will, She had the power to make the Word descend upon earth, and to have the Redemption of mankind be formed.  A human will would have no power nor attraction over Us; but a Divine Will, given by Ourselves to this incomparable creature, won over Us, conquered Us, enraptured Us; and unable to resist, We surrendered to Her petitions to make the Word descend upon earth.  Now We are waiting for you to come to die upon Our other knee, giving Us your will; and We, in seeing it dead in Our hands, as if it no longer existed for you, will give you the gift of Our Will, and through you – that is, through this Will of Ours given to you – Our Fiat will return to live upon earth.  These two wills, dead upon Our knees, will be the ransom for many rebellious wills, and We will keep them as a precious pledge, which will repay Us for all the evils of the other creatures, because with Our Will they will be able to satisfy Us.”

The voice could no longer be heard, and I found myself on the other paternal knee, in the act of breathing my last, and dying.  But at that moment I found myself inside myself, but I am unable to say what I felt within me; only, I prayed from the heart that my will might never again enter into me, but only the Divine might have life in me.  Ah! It alone is the bearer of all goods and the repeater of Jesus within souls; and echoing the Fiat of Creation, It embraces everything and everyone as though in one breath, and requites God for the work of Creation, Redemption and Sanctification.  The Divine Will operating in us can do anything; It is the true Queen who reigns and rules over everything.

Prayer for the Feast of Our Lady of Ransom

“O God, who by means of the most glorious Mother of Thy Son was pleased to give new children to Thy Church for the deliverance of Christ’s faithful from the power of the heathen; grant, we beseech Thee, that we who love and honor her as the foundress of so great a work may, by her merits and intercession, be ourselves delivered from all sin and from the bondage of the evil one. Through the same Christ, our Lord, Amen.

FEAST OF THE SEVEN SORROWS OF MARY

From the Virgin Mary in the Kingdom of the Divine Will

Day 23

Now, at the end of the forty days, the dear Baby, drowned more than ever in His love, wanted to obey the law, presenting Himself to the temple to offer Himself for the salvation of each one. It was the Divine Will that called us to the great sacrifice, and we promptly obeyed. My child, when this Divine Fiat finds promptness in doing what It wants, It places at the creature’s disposal Its divine strength, Its sanctity, Its creative power to multiply that act, that sacrifice, for all and for each one. In that sacrifice It places the little coin of infinite value, with which one can pay and satisfy for all.

It was the first time that your Mama and Saint Joseph went out together with Baby Jesus. All Creation recognized its Creator; they felt honored at having Him in their midst, and in a festive attitude, they accompanied us along the way. As we arrived at the temple, we prostrated ourselves and adored the Supreme Majesty. Then we placed Him in the arms of the priest, who was Simeon, who made of Him an offering to the Eternal Father – offering Him for the salvation of all. And while he offered Him, inspired by God, he recognized the Divine Word, and exulting with immense joy, he adored and thanked the dear Baby. After the offering, he assumed the attitude of prophet, and predicted all of my sorrows. Oh, how painfully did the Supreme Fiat make my maternal Heart feel, with vibrating sound, the cruel tragedy of all the pains which my divine Son was to suffer! Each word was a sharp sword that pierced Me. But that which pierced my Heart the most was to hear that this Celestial Infant would be not only the salvation, but also the ruin of many, and the target of contradictions. What pain! What sorrow! If the Divine Will had not sustained Me, I would have died instantly of pure pain. But It gave Me life, to begin to form in Me the Kingdom of Sorrows within the Kingdom of Its very Divine Will. Therefore, with the right of Mother which I had over all, I also acquired the right of Mother and Queen of all Sorrows. Oh, yes, with my sorrows, I acquired the little coin with which to pay the debts of my children, and also those of my ungrateful children.

Now, my child, you must know that through the light of the Divine Will which reigned in Me, I already knew all the sorrows I was to suffer – and even more than those which the holy Prophet told me. Rather, I can say that he prophesied to Me the sorrows which I was to receive from the outside, but he said not a word about my interior pains which would pierce Me more, and the interior pains which passed between Me and my Son. But in spite of this, in that act, so solemn, of the offering of my Son, in hearing them being repeated to Me, I felt so pierced that my Heart bled, and new veins of sorrow and deep wounds opened within my soul.

Now, listen to your Mama. In your pains, in the painful encounters which are not lacking for you either, and when you know that the Divine Will wants some sacrifice from you – be ready, do not lose heart, but rather, repeat quickly the dear and sweet Fiat: “Whatever You want, I want”. And with heroic love, let the Divine Will take Its royal place in your pains, that It may convert them into the little coin of infinite value, with which you will be able to pay your debts, as well as those of your brothers – to ransom them from the slavery of the human will, and to let them enter, as free children, into the Kingdom of the Divine Fiat. In fact, you must know that the Divine Will is so pleased by the sacrifice It wanted of the creature, that It gives her Its divine rights, and constitutes her queen of the sacrifice and of the good which will arise in the midst of creatures.

The soul to her Celestial Mother:

Holy Mama, I place all my pains in your pierced Heart – and You know how much they afflict me. Be my Mama, and pour the balm of your sorrows into my heart, that I may share your own destiny of using my pains to court Jesus, to keep Him defended and sheltered from all offenses, and as the sure means to conquer the Kingdom of the Divine Will, and make It come to reign upon earth.

Little Sacrifice:

Today, to honor Me, you will come into my arms, that I may offer you to the Celestial Father together with my Son, to obtain the Kingdom of the Divine Will.

Ejaculatory Prayer:

Holy Mama, pour your sorrow into my soul, and convert all my pains into Will of God.

 Meditation 3

Now, at the end of the forty days, the dear Baby, drowned more than ever in His love, wanted to obey the law, presenting Himself to the temple to offer Himself for the salvation of each one. It was the Divine Will that called us to the great sacrifice, and we promptly obeyed. My child, when this Divine Fiat finds promptness in doing what It wants, It places at the creature’s disposal Its divine strength, Its sanctity, Its creative power to multiply that act, that sacrifice, for all and for each one. In that sacrifice It places the little coin of infinite value, with which one can pay and satisfy for all.

It was the first time that your Mama and Saint Joseph went out together with Baby Jesus. All Creation recognized its Creator; they felt honored at having Him in their midst, and in a festive attitude, they accompanied us along the way. As we arrived at the temple, we prostrated ourselves and adored the Supreme Majesty. Then we placed Him in the arms of the priest, who was Simeon, who made of Him an offering to the Eternal Father – offering Him for the salvation of all. And while he offered Him, inspired by God, he recognized the Divine Word, and exulting with immense joy, he adored and thanked the dear Baby. After the offering, he assumed the attitude of prophet, and predicted all of my sorrows. Oh, how painfully did the Supreme Fiat make my maternal Heart feel, with vibrating sound, the cruel tragedy of all the pains which my divine Son was to suffer! Each word was a sharp sword that pierced Me. But that which pierced my Heart the most was to hear that this Celestial Infant would be not only the salvation, but also the ruin of many, and the target of contradictions. What pain! What sorrow! If the Divine Will had not sustained Me, I would have died instantly of pure pain. But It gave Me life, to begin to form in Me the Kingdom of Sorrows within the Kingdom of Its very Divine Will. Therefore, with the right of Mother which I had over all, I also acquired the right of Mother and Queen of all Sorrows. Oh, yes, with my sorrows, I acquired the little coin with which to pay the debts of my children, and also those of my ungrateful children.

Now, my child, you must know that through the light of the Divine Will which reigned in Me, I already knew all the sorrows I was to suffer – and even more than those which the holy Prophet told me. Rather, I can say that he prophesied to Me the sorrows which I was to receive from the outside, but he said not a word about my interior pains which would pierce Me more, and the interior pains which passed between Me and my Son. But in spite of this, in that act, so solemn, of the offering of my Son, in hearing them being repeated to Me, I felt so pierced that my Heart bled, and new veins of sorrow and deep wounds opened within my soul.

Now, listen to your Mama. In your pains, in the painful encounters which are not lacking for you either, and when you know that the Divine Will wants some sacrifice from you – be ready, do not lose heart, but rather, repeat quickly the dear and sweet Fiat: “Whatever You want, I want”. And with heroic love, let the Divine Will take Its royal place in your pains, that It may convert them into the little coin of infinite value, with which you will be able to pay your debts, as well as those of your brothers – to ransom them from the slavery of the human will, and to let them enter, as free children, into the Kingdom of the Divine Fiat. In fact, you must know that the Divine Will is so pleased by the sacrifice It wanted of the creature, that It gives her Its divine rights, and constitutes her queen of the sacrifice and of the good which will arise in the midst of creatures.

The soul to her Celestial Mother:

Holy Mama, I place all my pains in your pierced Heart – and You know how much they afflict me. Be my Mama, and pour the balm of your sorrows into my heart, that I may share your own destiny of using my pains to court Jesus, to keep Him defended and sheltered from all offenses, and as the sure means to conquer the Kingdom of the Divine Will, and make It come to reign upon earth.

Little Sacrifice:

Today, to honor Me, you will come into my arms, that I may offer you to the Celestial Father together with my Son, to obtain the Kingdom of the Divine Will.

Ejaculatory Prayer:

Holy Mama, pour your sorrow into my soul, and convert all my pains into Will of God.

Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross

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The Feast of the Most Holy Name
of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“…the Feast commemorates all the privileges given to Mary by God and all the graces we have received through Her intercession and mediation.”

“If you want Graces and Miracles, Come to My Mother; I will never deny anything She wants.” – From the Virgin Mary in the Kingdom of the Divine Will – Meditation 6

From the Catholic Encyclopedia:

We venerate the Name of Mary because it belongs to her Who is the Mother of God, the Holiest of creatures, the Queen of heaven and earth, the Mother of Mercy. The object of the Feast is the Holy Virgin bearing the name of Mirjam (Mary); the Feast commemorates all the privileges given to Mary by God and all the graces we have received through Her intercession and mediation. It was instituted in 1513 at Cuenca in Spain, and assigned with proper Office to 15 Sept., the octave day of Mary’s Nativity.

After the siege of Vienna and the glorious victory of Sobieski over the Turks (12 Sept., 1683), the Feast was extended to the Universal Church by Innocent XI, and assigned to the Sunday after the Nativity of Mary by a Decree of 25 Nov., 1683 (duplex majus);

According to a Decree of 8 July, 1908, whenever this Feast cannot be celebrated on its proper Sunday on account of the occurence of some Feast of a higher rank, it must be kept on 12 Sept., the day on which the victory of Sobieski is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology.

The feast of the Holy Name of Mary, is the Patronal Feast of the Clerics Regular of the Pious Schools (Piarists) and of the Society of Mary (Marianists), in both cases with a proper office.

At Rome one of the twin churches at the Forum Trajani is dedicated to the Name of Mary. In the Ambrosian Calendar of Milan the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary is assigned to 11 September.

Litany of the Holy Name of Mary

The Feast of the Holy Name of Mary was established by Pope Innocent XI upon the victory of Christian forces against the Moslems beseiging Vienna in 1683. This litany, reflecting the nature of the Feast, is for private devotion.

Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Son of Mary, hear us.
Son of Mary, graciously hear us.

Heavenly Father, of Whom Mary is the Daughter, have mercy on us.
Eternal Word, of Whom Mary is the Mother…
Holy Spirit, of Whom Mary is the Spouse…
Divine Trinity, of Whom Mary is the Handmaid…

Mary, Mother of the Living God, pray for us
Mary, Daughter of the Light Eternal…
Mary, our light…
Mary, our sister…
Mary, Flower of Jesse…
Mary, Issue of Kings…
Mary, Chief Work of God…
Mary, the Beloved of God…
Mary, Immaculate Virgin…
Mary, all fair…
Mary, Light in Darkness…
Mary, our sure rest…
Mary, House of God…
Mary, Sanctuary of the Lord…
Mary, Altar of the Divinity…
Mary, Virgin Mother…
Mary, embracing your Infant God…
Mary, reposing with Eternal Wisdom…
Mary, Ocean of Bitterness…
Mary, Star of the Sea…
Mary, suffering with your only Son…
Mary, pierced with a sword of sorrow…
Mary, torn with a cruel wound…
Mary, sorrowful even unto death…
Mary, bereft of all consolation…
Mary, submissive to the law of God…
Mary, standing by the Cross of Jesus…
Mary, Our Lady…
Mary, Our Queen…
Mary, Queen of Glory…
Mary, Glory of the Church Triumphant…
Mary, Blessed Queen…
Mary, Advocate of the Church Militant…
Mary, Queen of Mercy…
Mary, Consoler of the Church Suffering…
Mary, exalted above the angels,
Mary, crowned with twelve stars…
Mary, fair as the moon…
Mary, bright as the sun…
Mary, distinguished above all…
Mary, seated at the right hand of Jesus…
Mary, Our Hope…
Mary, Our Sweetness…
Mary, Glory of Jerusalem…
Mary, Joy of Israel…
Mary, Honor of Our People…
Mary, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception…
Mary, Our Lady of the Assumption…
Mary, Our Lady of Loreto…
Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes…
Mary, Our Lady of Fatima…
Mary, Our Lady of Czestochowa…
Mary, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal…
Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel…
Mary, Our Lady of the Angels…
Mary, Our Lady of Dolors…
Mary, Our Lady of Mercy…
Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary…
Mary, Our Lady of Victory…
Mary, Our Lady of La Trappe…
Mary, Our Lady of Divine Providence…

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord Jesus.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord Jesus.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Lord Jesus.

Son of Mary, hear us.
Son of Mary, graciously hear us.

I will declare your name unto my brethren.
I will praise you in the assembly of the faithful.

Let Us Pray (Oremus)
O Almighty God, Who beholds Thy servants earnestly desiring to place themselves under the shadow of the name and protection of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, grant, we beseech You, that by her charitable intercession, we may be delivered from all evil on earth, and may arrive at everlasting joys in Heaven, through Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Amen.