December 6, 2018
St. Nicholas
Dear Family of Mary!
“Dear children! When you come to me, as to a mother, with a pure and open heart, know that I am listening to you, encouraging you, consoling you and, above all, interceding for you with my Son…” (December 2, 2018)
Today we have a litany written by Blessed John Henry Newman! I think the way to pray this litany is not to rush, not to rattle off the words as if we are in a race. Instead, let’s take each title as an invitation to silent prayer, a moment to ponder what this title could mean. Our Lady, when she was greeted by the Angel Gabriel, took a moment to ponder, to let the words he spoke to her rumble around in her heart and head, until she had inspected them properly. Only then could she respond.
In the same we when we pray, especially prayers that are written for us, we need to take some time with the words we say, let them rumble around in our poor heads and hearts until we can make some sense out of them. Then we need to present them to God for light. What does this mean, and what do you make of it, Lord? Or in this case what do you think of it, Mother? Then wait for light. Each title carries a grace and a gift for us, because everything about Our Lady is a grace and gift for us!
So here is our prayer for today, as we approach the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception:
LITANY OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
The First of Three Litanies
(For private use only)
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. 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 Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Mary, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, like unto the Heart of God, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, united to the Heart of Jesus, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, instrument of the Holy Ghost, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, sanctuary of the Divine Trinity, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, tabernacle of God Incarnate, pray for us., pray for us.
Heart of Mary, immaculate from thy creation, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, full of grace, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, blessed among all hearts, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, throne of glory, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, most humble, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, holocaust of Divine Love, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, fastened to the Cross with Jesus Crucified, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, comfort of the afflicted, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, hope of the agonizing, pray for us.
Heart of Mary, seat of mercy, pray for us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
V. Immaculate Mary, meek and humble of heart,
R. Make our hearts like unto the Heart of Jesus.
Let Us Pray
O most merciful God, Who, for the salvation of sinners and the refuge of the
miserable, was pleased that the Most Pure Heart of Mary should be most like
in charity and pity to the Divine Heart of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, grant that we,
who commemorate this sweet and loving Heart, by the merits and intercession
of the same Blessed Virgin, may merit to be found like unto the Heart of
Jesus, through the same Christ Our Lord. R. Amen.
This litany was composed by John Henry (Cardinal) Newman shortly after he converted to Catholicism in 1845.
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2018
PS. Again I am including the new information about Mike Nolan’s Pilgrimages, found on his new website! It includes the schedule for 2019!!
