Categoría: Christianity

May is the month of Mary

Hi folks! I hope this finds you well.

May — the month of Mary!

I just wanted to share with you the link to a beautiful transcript and podcast that includes some of the private revelations, including those given to St Bridget of Sweden and Ven. Mary of Agreda, all compiled in Raphael Brown’s book (2014), entitled ‘The Life of Mary as Seen by the Mystics’.

The link comes from Our Catholic Prayers website (first established in 2006 by Christopher Castagnoli, the author of the material and a lay volunteer at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City).

It is a beautiful site that I discovered some time back, and it has a great wealth of prayers: prayers for all moments and occasions, reflections, daily readings, meditations, novenas, litanies, as well as podcasts and valuable links, blogs and a prayer request page too. I think there is something for everyone in this very rich site.

Below is an extract from Brown’s book, The Life of Mary as Seen by the Mystics, taken from the Our Catholic Prayers site:

“Later, when Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in turn began to write the Gospels, the Blessed Virgin not only prayed for them, but also appeared to each and requested him not to mention her except when absolutely necessary (emphasis added). Only St. Luke received her permission to write somewhat more freely about her, and he drew much of his information from her direct inspiration. Even when St. John wrote his Gospel some years after Mary’s death, she appeared to him and told him that it was still not opportune for him to reveal the mysteries which he knew concerning her part in the plan of the Redemption, in order that many of the new Christians who had been idolaters should not make a goddess of the Holy Mother of their God (emphasis added).”…

“She also prayed regularly with the Apostles and disciples and gave them helpful instruction on mental prayer. Gradually they all realized that their departed Master had left them an ideal guide in His modest and holy Mother, and more and more they came to look upon Mary as their Mediatrix with Him and as the Consoler and Mother of His spiritual family, the Church.»

The page finishes with Mary’s assumption into heaven, when she pronounces:

«My Son and my Lord, Thou didst suffer death without being obliged to do so. It is proper therefore that as I have tried to follow Thee in life, so I follow Thee also in death» before she finally uttered AS SHE DIED OF LOVE, “Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.”

This is just part of the article written on The Hidden Mary — and I strongly recommend the Our Catholic Prayers website for true nourishment of the soul.

But before I go, I just wanted to include the hymn we used to sing at school and church in England during May. It’s called Bring flowers of the Rarest. (I also remember dear old Sister Carmela who used to nod off during our history class as she steadily munched her way through her McVitie’s digestives!).

Thank you for visiting. As usual, your comments are always welcome!

Take care, bye for now xxx

The hour approaches…

Hi folks, I hope you are all well.

I just wanted to share this beautiful painting with you that I have taken from the Our Catholic Prayers site. This is actually the latest page from their blog and includes the ‘Agony in the Garden Prayer’.

Jesus at Gethsemane by Carl Heinrich Bloch
(1834-1890, Copenhagen, Denmark). To view more of his gorgeous paintings, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Bloch

The painting reflects the passage from the Gospel of Luke (Lk 22:43-44, KJV):

‘And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.’

I wish you all a good Lenten season.

Thank you for visiting — take care! xxx

The Stabat Mater Dolorosa — Lent and Easter

Hello all! I do hope you’re keeping well, especially in these troubled times.

Having now entered Easter Week, I just wanted to share this moving prayer with you, the Stabat Mater Dolorosa (The Sorrowful Mother was Standing). It tells the story of the Virgin Mary’s suffering at Jesus Christ’s crucifixion.

It is unknown who wrote this 13th century hymn, but many have thought it could be the work of Franciscan friar Jacopone da Todi or Pope Innocent III. It was translated into English by 19th century Anglican clergyman and hymn writer Edward Caswall.

STABAT MATER DOLOROSA

At the Cross her station keeping
Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.

Through her Heart, His sorrow sharing,
All His bitter anguish bearing,
Lo! the piercing sword had passed.

O how sad and sore distressed
Was that Mother, highly blessed,
Of the Sole-Begotten One.

Mournful, with Heart’s prostration,
Mother meek, the bitter Passion
Saw She of Her glorious Son.

Who on Christ’s dear Mother gazing,
In Her trouble so amazing,
Born of woman, would not weep?

Who on Christ’s dear Mother thinking,
Such a cup of sorrow drinking,
Would not share Her sorrow deep?

For His people’s sins rejected,
Saw Her Jesus unprotected.
Saw with thorns, with scourges rent.

Saw Her Son from judgement taken,
Her Beloved in death forsaken,
Till His Spirit forth He sent.

Fount of love and holy sorrow,
Mother, may my spirit borrow
Somewhat of your woe profound.

Unto Christ with pure emotion,
Raise my contrite heart’s devotion,
To read love in every wound.

Those Five Wounds on Jesus smitten,
Mother! in my heart be written,
Deep as in your own they be.

You, your Saviour’s Cross did bare,
You, your Son’s rebuke did share.
Let me share them both with Thee.

In the Passion of my Maker,
Be my sinful soul partaker,
Weep ‘til death and weep with you.

Mine with you be that sad station,
There to watch the great salvation,
Wrought upon the atoning Tree.

Virgin, you of virgins fairest,
May the bitter woe Thou bearest
Make on me impression deep.

Thus Christ’s dying may I carry,
With Him in His Passion tarry,
And His Wounds in memory keep.

May His Wound both wound and heal me,
He enkindle, cleanse, strengthen me,
By His Cross my hope and stay.

May He, when the mountains quiver,
From that flame which burns forever,
Shield me on the Judgement Day.

Jesus, may Your Cross defend me,
And Your Mother’s prayer befriend me;
Let me die in Your embrace.

When to dust my dust returns,
Grant a soul, that to You yearns,
In Your paradise a place.

Amen

Pietro Perugino‘s depiction of Mary at The Cross (1482). Washington National Gallery

Thank you for visiting. I hope you have a good Easter Week.

Bye for now, take care xxx