Day: September 14, 2023

Our Lady of Sorrows   September 15, 2023 Our Lady of Sorrows Dear Family of Mary! On this beautiful Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, we are given a great gift.  We can compassionate with Our Lady.  We can think about her life, and all that she sacrificed and suffered for our sake, and we can thank her.  On this day we can stop thinking about ourselves for a moment and think about Our Lady.  We can wonder at her patience and humility, her constant selfless service to Jesus, Joseph, and all those who entered their lives.  We can ache with her as Jesus was rejected and misunderstood.  We can cry with her when Jesus was condemned by the leaders of the Jews, mistreated and reviled, scourged, crowned with thorns, and forced to carry the Cross.  We can remain silent with her underneath the Cross as Jesus died for our sins.  And we can weep with her  at His tomb. We may wonder how we could ever be like Mary, so able to suffer with love.  In this message she gave us some advice that will help us: February 2, 2016  “Dear children, I have called you and am calling you anew to come to know my Son, to come to know the truth. I am with you and am praying for you to succeed. My children, you must pray much in order to have all the more love and patience; to know how to endure sacrifice and to be poor in spirit. Through the Holy Spirit, my Son is always with you… His Church is born in every heart that comes to know Him. Pray that you can come to know my Son; pray that your soul may be one with Him. That is the prayer and the love which draws others and makes you my apostles. I am looking at you with love, with a motherly love. I know you; I know your pain and sorrows, because I also suffered in silence. My faith gave me love and hope. I repeat, the Resurrection of my Son and my Assumption into Heaven  are hope and love for you. Therefore, my children, pray to come to know the truth; to have firm faith which will lead your heart and which will transform your pain and sufferings into love and hope. Thank you.” If you have time today, pray this litany.  May Our Lady’s Sorrows teach us how to love. Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows V. Lord, have mercy on us. R. Christ, have mercy on us. V. Lord, have mercy on us. V. Christ, hear us. R. Christ, graciously hear us. God, the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us. Holy Virgin of virgins, Mother of the Crucified, Mother most sorrowful, Mother most tearful, Mother afflicted, Mother forsaken, Mother bereft of thy Son, Mother pierced with the sword, Mother consumed with grief, Mother filled with anguish, Mirror of patience, Rock of constancy, Joy of the afflicted, Ark of the desolate, Refuge of the abandoned, Shield of the oppressed, Conqueror of the incredulous, Solace of the wretched, Medicine of the sick, Help of the faint, Strength of the weak, Haven of the shipwrecked, Calmer of tempests, Companion of the sorrowful, Treasure of the Faithful, Theme of Prophets, Staff of the Apostles, Queen of Martyrs, Light of Confessors, Pearl of Virgins, Comfort of Widows, Joy of all Saints, Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world. Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world. Hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world. Have mercy upon us. Let us pray. Imprint, O Lord, thy wounds upon our hearts, that we may read therein sorrow and love; sorrow to endure all suffering for thee; love to despise all love but thine; who lives and reigns, world without end, Amen. In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan (c) Mary TV 2023

  The Exaltation of the Holy Cross September 14, 2023 The Exaltation of the Holy Cross Dear Family of Mary! Our Lady encouraged us to venerate her Son on the Cross from the early days of her presence in Medjugorje. Along with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursdays, she began the practice of venerating the Holy Cross every Friday evening after the Mass in Medjugorje. Here is a message in which she encouraged this veneration; Saturday, May 28, 1983 (To Jelena): “It is very beautiful to remain Thursdays, for the Adoration of my Son in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. It is likewise beautiful to venerate the Cross each Friday. I wish that every Saturday, which is the day that the Church had dedicated to me, you will consecrate to me at least a quarter of an hour. Meditate during this time, on my life, my messages, and pray.” Our Lady has built this Veneration of the Holy Cross into the weekly schedule of St. James Parish. And it has become a beautiful time of prayer for all of us. Jesus speaks eloquently from the Cross. It is His pulpit! From the Cross all graces flow! In the following message Our Lady gives us beautiful direction for our spiritual life, which culminates in the Cross: February 2, 2020 “Dear children, by the act of the decision and love of God, I am chosen to be the Mother of God and your mother. But also by my will and my immeasurable love for the Heavenly Father and my complete trust in Him, my body was the chalice of the God-man. I was in the service of truth, love and salvation, as I am now among you to call you, my children, apostles of my love, to be carriers of truth; to call you to spread His words, the words of salvation, by your will and love for my Son: that with your actions you may show, to all those who have not come to know my Son, His love. You will find strength in the Eucharist – my Son who feeds you with His Body and strengthens you with His Blood. My children, fold your hands [in prayer] and look at the Cross in silence. In this way, you are drawing faith to be able to transmit it; you are drawing truth to be able to discern; you are drawing love that you may know to love truly. My children, apostles of my love, fold your hands [in prayer], look at the Cross. Only in the Cross is salvation. Thank you.” Thank you, Dearest Mother, for teaching us to venerate your Son’s Cross. It is through that Cross, that Jesus saved us all. We humbly thank Him, and praise Him for His love. And we thank you, Mother, for drawing us ever closer to Jesus. Amen In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan (c) Mary TV 2023