| Devotion to Our Lady |
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WHERE THE PASHCAL VIGIL MASS IS NOT OFFERED ON SATURDAY EVENING, THE CHURCH ALLOWS YOU TO MAKE THE FIRST SATURDAY DEVOTION ON EASTER SUNDAY
You can still fulfill the other obligations on the Saturday if you wish, or do everything on Easter Sunday
You can still fulfill the other obligations on the Saturday if you wish, or do everything on Easter Sunday
BOTH OUR LORD AND OUR LADY ASKED FOR THE PRACTICE OF THE
"FIVE FIRST SATURDAYS" DEVOTION!
Reparation to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary
"FIVE FIRST SATURDAYS" DEVOTION!
Reparation to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary
The introductory article, immediately below, will always remain posted for the benefit of newcomers to the "Five First Saturdays"
THIS MONTH'S PRAYERS & THE LATEST MEDITATIONS ARE FOUND BELOW THE INTRODUCTION
THIS MONTH'S PRAYERS & THE LATEST MEDITATIONS ARE FOUND BELOW THE INTRODUCTION
THE CONDITIONS OF THE DEVOTION
During her third apparition at Fatima, in July, 1917, Our Lady said to Lucia, “I shall come to ask... that on the First Saturday of every month, Communions of reparation be made in atonement for the sins of the world.” No more was said on this subject throughout the remainder of Our Lady’s apparitions at Fatima in 1917, but on December 10th, 1925, Our Lady again appeared to Lucia at Pontevedra, Spain, where Lucia had been sent to the Dorothean Sisters in order to learn to read and write. It was then that Our Lady clarified and completed her request for the Five First Saturdays and gave her great promise.
The Infant Jesus was also present in that apparition at Pontevedra, and He said to Lucia: “Have pity on the Heart of your Most Holy Mother. It is covered with thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment, and there is no one to remove them with an act of reparation.”
Our Lady then said: “See, my daughter, my Heart encircled by thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. Do you, at least, strive to console me. Tell them that I promise to assist, at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, in order to make reparation to me, on the First Saturday of five successive months, go to Confession, receive Holy Communion, say five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for a quarter of an hour, meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary.”
The elements of this devotion, therefore, consist in the following four points, all of which must be offered in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. One should make this intention before carrying out Our Lady’s requests. A renewal of the actual intention at the time is best; however, if such an intention is made now, it will fulfill the requirements if, for instance, the actual intention is forgotten at the time of Confession.
It consists in (1) going to Confession, (2) receiving Communion, (3) reciting five decades of the Rosary and (4) meditating for fifteen minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary on the first Saturday of the month, for five consecutive months, (5) and all this should be done with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the offences committed against her.
1. Going to Confession
In an apparition to Sr. Lucia, on February 15th, 1926, the Child Jesus asked Lucia if the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was being propagated. Sr. Lucia mentioned to the Child Jesus that some people were having difficulty in confessing on the first Saturday, and had asked if they could be granted eight days within which to fulfill Our Lady’s requests. Jesus answered: “Yes, even more time still, as long as they receive Me in the state of grace and have the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” (For an examination of conscience click here)
2. Receiving Holy Communion on the First Saturday
Today, in the climate of lukewarmness and indifference that pervades the Catholic Church, many have lost the sense of sin and think little of their state of soul when they go to Holy Communion. We are not allowed to receive Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin—which means having an unconfessed and unrepented serious sin on our conscience, which has robbed us (whether we realize it or not) of the grace of God. It should be an additional serious sin—a sacrilege on top of that—to receive Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin. Grace must be restored to the soul by the making of a good Confession prior to receiving Holy Communion. Alas, many perhaps, are making ‘bad’ Communions these days, which, as Holy Scripture tells us, means that they are eating and drinking damnation to themselves. No sin is so great that it cannot be forgiven, so, as Our Lord requested to Lucia, let us make sure we are in a state of grace before receiving Holy Communion—whether it be on the First Saturday or any other day.
Before receiving Holy Communion, it is likewise necessary to offer it in reparation to Our Lady. Our Lord told Lucia in 1930, “This Communion will be accepted on the following Sunday for just reasons, if my priests allow it so.” So if work or school, sickness, or another just reason prevents the Communion on a First Saturday, with this permission it may be received the following Sunday. If Communion is transferred, any or all of the other acts of the devotion may also be performed on Sunday if the person so desires.
3. Praying the Rosary
A minimum of five decades of the Rosary must be prayed. It must be remembered that that a true Rosary involves saying all fifteen decades, however, five will suffice. Nevertheless, we can remind ourselves of the words of Our Lady, regarding the little boy Francisco at Fatima, when she said he would not go to Heaven until he had prayed MANY Rosaries!
The Rosaries may be prayed anywhere and at any time, however, since you will be assisting at Mass, so as to fulfill the condition of the Holy Communion of reparation, it would be very appropriate to pray your Rosary before or after Mass, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. To fulfill Our Lady’s request, the Rosary must be prayed in a spirit of reparation and prayed properly while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.
4. ”Keep me company for fifteen minutes, while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary”
There has been some confusion over the issue of “praying the Rosary” and “meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.” People ask if “you can kill two birds with one stone” in the sense that is it allowable to meditate on the mysteries while reciting the Rosary at the same time? Sr. Lucia of Fatima explained that these are two separate things and that one does not fulfill the obligation by doing both at the same time. An additional fifteen minutes of meditation is to be added to the praying of the Rosary. This was also confirmed in a statement from the first Bishop of Fatima.
The meditation can be made on one or more, or all five mysteries—that depends on your personal preference. However, it must be noted that to meditate on all five mysteries would risk making the meditation somewhat superficial and hasty, so we recommend that you meditate on one mystery each month.
Like the Rosary, this meditation can be made anytime or anywhere on the first Saturday on the month. However, as we mentioned for the Rosary, there would no better location or time that in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament before or after Mass. Some have asked if an extra Rosary, which would require about fifteen minutes, fulfills this request? It would seem, if fruitfully MEDITATED, that it would. Or again, the fifteen minutes can be spent reading meditatively on one of the fifteen mysteries, which is really a form of mental prayer that involves reading with frequent pauses to reflect on the matter read.
5. Having the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
All of the preceding four conditions—Confession, Communion, Rosary and Meditation—mentioned above, should be fulfilled with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Should one forget to form the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, it may be formed at the next Confession, occasion to go to confession being taken at the first opportunity. For when the Child Jesus appeared to Sr. Lucia on February 16th, in 1926, Lucia asked: “My Jesus, what about those who forget to make the intention?” Our Lord answered: “They can do so at their next confession, taking advantage of their first opportunity to go to Confession.”
These five conditions are the minimum conditions required for Our Lady’s promise to obtain for us “at the hour of death the graces necessary for salvation.” Yet, these Communions of reparation are only a beginning or a start of what should be a growth in devotion of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Let us not be minimalists in our devotion to Our Lady. The ideal would be aim at studying, making and living St. Louis-Marie de Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary. What begins as an act of reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at the start of the month, should, ideally, continue all through the month, and not just on the first Saturday.
WHY FIVE SATURDAYS?
It is sometimes asked why Our Lady asked for Communions of reparation on five first Saturdays, instead of some other number. Our Blessed Lord answered that question when He appeared to Sr. Lucia on May 29th, 1930. He explained that it was because of five kinds of offenses and blasphemies against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, namely: blasphemies against her Immaculate Conception, against her perpetual virginity, against the divine and spiritual maternity of Mary, blasphemies involving the rejection and dishonoring of her images, and the neglect of implanting in the hearts of children a knowledge and love of this Immaculate Mother.
To those who faithfully follow Our Lady’s requests for the Five First Saturdays, she has made a wonderful promise which she, as Mediatrix of All Graces, will certainly fulfill: “I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation.” This means that our Blessed Mother will be present, at the hour of death, with the actual grace of final perseverance, which is such an important grace.
After completing the Five First Saturdays, one may continue the devotion simply to console the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady. A tender love of our Blessed Mother will lead one to do all he can to make reparation for the sins which pierce her Immaculate Heart.
During her third apparition at Fatima, in July, 1917, Our Lady said to Lucia, “I shall come to ask... that on the First Saturday of every month, Communions of reparation be made in atonement for the sins of the world.” No more was said on this subject throughout the remainder of Our Lady’s apparitions at Fatima in 1917, but on December 10th, 1925, Our Lady again appeared to Lucia at Pontevedra, Spain, where Lucia had been sent to the Dorothean Sisters in order to learn to read and write. It was then that Our Lady clarified and completed her request for the Five First Saturdays and gave her great promise.
The Infant Jesus was also present in that apparition at Pontevedra, and He said to Lucia: “Have pity on the Heart of your Most Holy Mother. It is covered with thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment, and there is no one to remove them with an act of reparation.”
Our Lady then said: “See, my daughter, my Heart encircled by thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. Do you, at least, strive to console me. Tell them that I promise to assist, at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, in order to make reparation to me, on the First Saturday of five successive months, go to Confession, receive Holy Communion, say five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for a quarter of an hour, meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary.”
The elements of this devotion, therefore, consist in the following four points, all of which must be offered in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. One should make this intention before carrying out Our Lady’s requests. A renewal of the actual intention at the time is best; however, if such an intention is made now, it will fulfill the requirements if, for instance, the actual intention is forgotten at the time of Confession.
It consists in (1) going to Confession, (2) receiving Communion, (3) reciting five decades of the Rosary and (4) meditating for fifteen minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary on the first Saturday of the month, for five consecutive months, (5) and all this should be done with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the offences committed against her.
1. Going to Confession
In an apparition to Sr. Lucia, on February 15th, 1926, the Child Jesus asked Lucia if the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was being propagated. Sr. Lucia mentioned to the Child Jesus that some people were having difficulty in confessing on the first Saturday, and had asked if they could be granted eight days within which to fulfill Our Lady’s requests. Jesus answered: “Yes, even more time still, as long as they receive Me in the state of grace and have the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” (For an examination of conscience click here)
2. Receiving Holy Communion on the First Saturday
Today, in the climate of lukewarmness and indifference that pervades the Catholic Church, many have lost the sense of sin and think little of their state of soul when they go to Holy Communion. We are not allowed to receive Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin—which means having an unconfessed and unrepented serious sin on our conscience, which has robbed us (whether we realize it or not) of the grace of God. It should be an additional serious sin—a sacrilege on top of that—to receive Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin. Grace must be restored to the soul by the making of a good Confession prior to receiving Holy Communion. Alas, many perhaps, are making ‘bad’ Communions these days, which, as Holy Scripture tells us, means that they are eating and drinking damnation to themselves. No sin is so great that it cannot be forgiven, so, as Our Lord requested to Lucia, let us make sure we are in a state of grace before receiving Holy Communion—whether it be on the First Saturday or any other day.
Before receiving Holy Communion, it is likewise necessary to offer it in reparation to Our Lady. Our Lord told Lucia in 1930, “This Communion will be accepted on the following Sunday for just reasons, if my priests allow it so.” So if work or school, sickness, or another just reason prevents the Communion on a First Saturday, with this permission it may be received the following Sunday. If Communion is transferred, any or all of the other acts of the devotion may also be performed on Sunday if the person so desires.
3. Praying the Rosary
A minimum of five decades of the Rosary must be prayed. It must be remembered that that a true Rosary involves saying all fifteen decades, however, five will suffice. Nevertheless, we can remind ourselves of the words of Our Lady, regarding the little boy Francisco at Fatima, when she said he would not go to Heaven until he had prayed MANY Rosaries!
The Rosaries may be prayed anywhere and at any time, however, since you will be assisting at Mass, so as to fulfill the condition of the Holy Communion of reparation, it would be very appropriate to pray your Rosary before or after Mass, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. To fulfill Our Lady’s request, the Rosary must be prayed in a spirit of reparation and prayed properly while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.
4. ”Keep me company for fifteen minutes, while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary”
There has been some confusion over the issue of “praying the Rosary” and “meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary.” People ask if “you can kill two birds with one stone” in the sense that is it allowable to meditate on the mysteries while reciting the Rosary at the same time? Sr. Lucia of Fatima explained that these are two separate things and that one does not fulfill the obligation by doing both at the same time. An additional fifteen minutes of meditation is to be added to the praying of the Rosary. This was also confirmed in a statement from the first Bishop of Fatima.
The meditation can be made on one or more, or all five mysteries—that depends on your personal preference. However, it must be noted that to meditate on all five mysteries would risk making the meditation somewhat superficial and hasty, so we recommend that you meditate on one mystery each month.
Like the Rosary, this meditation can be made anytime or anywhere on the first Saturday on the month. However, as we mentioned for the Rosary, there would no better location or time that in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament before or after Mass. Some have asked if an extra Rosary, which would require about fifteen minutes, fulfills this request? It would seem, if fruitfully MEDITATED, that it would. Or again, the fifteen minutes can be spent reading meditatively on one of the fifteen mysteries, which is really a form of mental prayer that involves reading with frequent pauses to reflect on the matter read.
5. Having the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
All of the preceding four conditions—Confession, Communion, Rosary and Meditation—mentioned above, should be fulfilled with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Should one forget to form the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, it may be formed at the next Confession, occasion to go to confession being taken at the first opportunity. For when the Child Jesus appeared to Sr. Lucia on February 16th, in 1926, Lucia asked: “My Jesus, what about those who forget to make the intention?” Our Lord answered: “They can do so at their next confession, taking advantage of their first opportunity to go to Confession.”
These five conditions are the minimum conditions required for Our Lady’s promise to obtain for us “at the hour of death the graces necessary for salvation.” Yet, these Communions of reparation are only a beginning or a start of what should be a growth in devotion of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Let us not be minimalists in our devotion to Our Lady. The ideal would be aim at studying, making and living St. Louis-Marie de Montfort’s True Devotion to Mary. What begins as an act of reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at the start of the month, should, ideally, continue all through the month, and not just on the first Saturday.
WHY FIVE SATURDAYS?
It is sometimes asked why Our Lady asked for Communions of reparation on five first Saturdays, instead of some other number. Our Blessed Lord answered that question when He appeared to Sr. Lucia on May 29th, 1930. He explained that it was because of five kinds of offenses and blasphemies against the Immaculate Heart of Mary, namely: blasphemies against her Immaculate Conception, against her perpetual virginity, against the divine and spiritual maternity of Mary, blasphemies involving the rejection and dishonoring of her images, and the neglect of implanting in the hearts of children a knowledge and love of this Immaculate Mother.
To those who faithfully follow Our Lady’s requests for the Five First Saturdays, she has made a wonderful promise which she, as Mediatrix of All Graces, will certainly fulfill: “I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation.” This means that our Blessed Mother will be present, at the hour of death, with the actual grace of final perseverance, which is such an important grace.
After completing the Five First Saturdays, one may continue the devotion simply to console the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady. A tender love of our Blessed Mother will lead one to do all he can to make reparation for the sins which pierce her Immaculate Heart.
Please note that the Prayers and Meditations that follow can be prayed and read entirely or prayed and read in part. It will depend on the level of your devotion and the time you have available or the amount of time you make available for praying and reading. For those who can and wish to do so, by all means say all the prayers and make all the readings. For those who cannot, do what you can and do it well. Another option is to carry the prayers over into the days that follow the First Saturday, much like we do with octaves of great feast days, or as we do when returning from a memorable event, or a visit to a dear friend or relative--we relive and rethink the event, the visit, the words, throughout the days that follow. This shows that your love of Our Lady goes beyond the common superficial level. Do what you can, but do it repeatedly. A little often, is often better than a lot all at once!
THE PRAYERS ACT OF REPARATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
O Most Holy Virgin Mother, we listen with grief to the complaints of thy Immaculate Heart, surrounded with the thorns, placed therein, at every moment, by the blasphemies and ingratitude of ungrateful humanity. We are moved by the ardent desire of loving thee, as our Mother, and of promoting a true devotion to thy Immaculate Heart.
We therefore kneel before thee, to manifest the sorrow we feel for the grievances that people cause thee, and to atone, by our prayers and sacrifices, for the offenses with which they return return thy love. Obtain for them, and for us, the pardon of so many sins. Hasten the conversion of sinners, that they may love Jesus and cease to offend the Lord, already so much offended. Turn thy eyes of mercy toward us, that we may love God, with all our heart, on Earth and enjoy Him forever in Heaven. Amen. LITANY TO THE
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY 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. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Favorite Daughter of God the Father, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of God the Son, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Spouse of the Holy Ghost, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Instrument of the Holy Ghost, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Like unto the Heart of God, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sanctuary of the Divine Trinity, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immaculate from thy creation, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Conceived free of Original Sin, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, All pure and holy,pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Full of grace, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Exalted by Divine grace above all Angels and men, pray for us Immaculate Heart of Mary, Who embraced God’s saving will with a full heart, impeded by no sin,pray for us Immaculate Heart of Mary, Blessed among all hearts, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Who conceived the Word of God in thy heart before thou didst in thy womb, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, United to the Heart of Jesus, pray for us.. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Who gave precious Blood to the Son of God in His human nature, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Tabernacle of God Incarnate, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Throne of glory, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother and Model of the Church, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Most humble, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Holocaust of Divine Love, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Excellent exemplar in Faith and Charity, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Redeemed in a sublime manner by the merits of thy Son, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Fastened to the Cross with Jesus Crucified, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Whose sweet soul a sword pierced beneath the Cross, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Given to us as Mother by Jesus as He hung dying on the Cross, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Who accepted us as sons, as thou stood beneath the Cross, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mediatrix of grace, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Refuge of sinners, pray for us.. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Seat of mercy, pray for us.. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Comfort of the afflicted, pray for us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Obtain for us pardon for our manifold sins and offenses. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Console the sorrowful who trust in thee. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Cure the sick who confide in thee. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Come to the aid those in their last agony. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Bring back to the right road our erring brothers. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Help those who invoke thine aid. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Help us to resist temptations. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Give us back our ancient fervor. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Make our Catholics more fervent. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Make our family life holy. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Help those who are dear to us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sanctify our clergy. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for our dear country. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Guide and inspire those who govern us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Obtain for us all that we lovingly ask of thee. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Deliver us from all dangers. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Bring all men to the feet of thy Divine Child. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Obtain peace for the world. 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, wast pleased that the Immaculate 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 and honor her Immaculate Heart, by the merits and intercession of the same Blessed Virgin, may merit the grace to imitate and be like unto the Sacred Heart of Jesus, through the same Christ Our Lord. R. Amen. PETITIONS TO THE
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY R. Incline unto my aid, O God.
V. O Lord, make haste to help me. R. Glory be to the Father, etc. V. As it was in the beginning, etc. Immaculate Virgin, who, conceived without sin, directed every movement of thy most pure Heart toward God, and were always obedient to His divine Will, obtain for me the grace to hate sin, with all my heart, and to learn, from thee, to live in perfect resignation to the will of God. Our Father. 7 Hail Marys. Mary, I admire that deep humility, which troubled thy blessed Heart, at the message of the Angel Gabriel, when he announced that thou hadst been chosen to be the Mother of the Son of the most high God. Thou didst consider thyself only God’s lowly handmaid. Ashamed at the sight of my own pride, I beg of thee the grace of a contrite and humble heart, so that I may acknowledge my misery and reach the glory promised to the truly humble of heart. Our Father. 7 Hail Marys. Blessed Virgin, thou didst keep in thy Heart the precious treasure of the words of Jesus, thy Son and, ponderinger the sublime mysteries they contained, thou didst live only for God. How ashamed I am of my coldness of heart! Dear Mother, obtain for me the grace of meditating always on the holy law of God and of seeking to follow thine example, in the fervent practice of all the Christian virtues. Our Father. 7 Hail Marys. Glorious Queen of Martyrs, during the Passion of thy Son, thy holy Heart was cruelly pierced by the sword, which had been foretold by the holy and aged Simeon. Obtain, for my heart, true courage and holy patience, to bear the sufferings and trials of this difficult life. May I prove to be thy true child, by crucifying my flesh and all its desires, in the mortification of the Cross. Our Father. 7 Hail Marys. Mary, Mystical Rose, thine amiable heart, burning with the living fire of love, adopted us as thy children at the foot of the Cross, and thou didst thereby become our most tender Mother. Let me feel the sweetness of thy motherly heart and the power of thine intercession with Jesus, in all the dangers that I meet with during life, and especially at the dread hour of my death. May my heart be ever united to thine and love Jesus now and forever. Amen. Our Father. 7 Hail Marys. (Indulgence of 3 years; Raccolta, no. 392) YOUR SCRIPTURAL ROSARY MEDITATIONS
Ten Scriptural quotes, one for each Hail Mary.
Say the appropriate one before saying the Hail Mary. THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES
1. THE ANNUNCIATION
1. And in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent, from God, into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth. 2. He was sent to a Virgin espoused to a man, whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the Virgin’s name was Mary. 3. And the Angel, being come in, said unto her: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women!” 4. Who, having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought within herself what manner of salutation this should be. 5. And the Angel said to her: “Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God!” 6. “Behold! Thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a Son; and thou shalt call His Name Jesus.” 7. “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David, His father; and He shall reign in the House of Jacob for ever. And of His kingdom there shall be no end.” 8. And Mary said to the Angel: “How shall this be done, because I know not man?” 9. And the Angel, answering, said to her: “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee. And, therefore also, the Holy, which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God.” 10. And Mary said: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Be it done unto me according to thy word!” And the Angel departed from her. 2. THE VISITATION 1. A priest, named Zachary, and his wife, Elizabeth, were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame. And they had no son, for Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years. 2. And it came to pass, when Zachary executed the priestly function, going into the Temple of the Lord in the order of his course before God, for it was his lot to offer incense, according to the custom of the priestly office. And all the multitude of the people was praying outside, at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zachary, seeing him, was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 3. The angel said to him: “Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice in his nativity. For he shall be great before the Lord; and shall drink no wine, nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And he shall convert many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.” 4. Zachary said to the angel: “Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years!” And the angel answering, said to him: “I am Gabriel, who stands before God: and am sent to speak to thee, and to bring thee these good tidings. And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and shalt not be able to speak until the day wherein these things shall come to pass, because thou hast not believed my words, which shall be fulfilled in their time!” 5. The people were waiting for Zachary; and they wondered that he tarried so long in the Temple. And when he came out, he could not speak to them―and they understood that he had seen a vision in the Temple. And he made signs to them, and remained dumb. 6. And it came to pass, after the days of his office were accomplished, he departed to his own house. And after those days, Elizabeth, his wife, conceived and hid herself five months, saying: “Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein He hath had regard to take away my reproach among men!” 7. And Mary, rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda. And she entered into the house of Zachary and saluted Elizabeth. And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. 8. And Elizabeth cried out with a loud voice, and said: “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb! And whence is this to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leapt for joy! And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.” 9. And Mary said: “My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. Because He hath regarded the humility of His handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because He that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is His Name. And His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him. He hath showed might in His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away. He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy: as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His seed for ever.” 10. And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house. Now Elizabeth’s full time of being delivered was come, and she brought forth a son. And her neighbors and kinsfolks heard that the Lord had showed His great mercy towards her, and they congratulated her. And it came to pass, that, on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they called him by his father’s name―Zachary. And his mother answering, said: “Not so! But he shall be called John!” And they said to her: “There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name!” And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And demanding a writing table, he wrote, saying: “John is his name!” And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came upon all their neighbors; and all these things were noised abroad, over all the hill country of Judea. And all they that had heard them, laid them up in their heart, saying: “What a one, think ye, shall this child be? For the hand of the Lord was with him!” 3. THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD AT BETHLEHEM 1. And it came to pass, that in those days there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that the whole world should be enrolled. This enrolling was first made by Cyrinus, the governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem―because he was of the house and family of David―to be enrolled with Mary his espoused wife, who was with Child. 2. And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him up in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 3. And there were, in the same country, shepherds watching and keeping the night watches over their flock. And, behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them; and they feared with a great fear. And the angel said to them: “Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy―that shall be to all the people!” 4. “For, this day, is born to you a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you―you shall find the Infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger!” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God, and saying: “Glory to God in the highest; and on Earth peace to men of good will!” 5. And it came to pass, after the angels departed from them into Heaven, the shepherds said one to another: “Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath showed to us!” And they came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the Infant, lying in the manger. And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this Child. And all that heard, wondered at those things that were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God, for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. 6. When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of King Herod, behold, there came Wise Men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East, and are come to adore Him.” And King Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And assembling together all the Chief Priests and the Scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born. But they said to him: “In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the prophet: ‘And thou Bethlehem, the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come forth the Captain that shall rule My people Israel.’” 7. Then Herod, privately calling the Wise Men, learned diligently of them the time of the star, which appeared to them; and, sending them into Bethlehem, said: “Go and diligently inquire after the Child, and, when you have found Him, bring me word again, that I also may come to adore Him.” Who, having heard the king, went their way; and, behold, the star which they had seen in the East, went before them, until it came and stood over where the Child was. And, seeing the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And entering into the house, they found the Child with Mary His Mother, and falling down they adored Him; and opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts―gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And, having received an answer, in sleep, that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country. 8. And, after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph, in his sleep, saying: “Arise, and take the Child and His Mother, and flee into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee! For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the Child to destroy Him.” Who arose, and took the Child and His Mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod―that it might be fulfilled, which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: “Out of Egypt have I called My Son.” 9. Then Herod, perceiving that he was deluded by the Wise Men, was exceedingly angry; and, sending soldiers, killed all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the Wise Men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: “A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not!” But when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared, in Egypt, to Joseph in his sleep, saying: “Arise, and take the Child and His Mother, and go into the land of Israel. For they are dead that sought the life of the Child.” 10. Who arose, and took the Child and His Mother, and came into the land of Israel. But, hearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea, in the room of Herod his father, he was afraid to go there―and, being warned in sleep, retired into the quarters of Galilee. And coming, he dwelt in a city called Nazareth― that it might be fulfilled which was said by prophets: “That He shall be called a Nazarene.” 4. THE PRESENTATION OF THE INFANT JESUS IN THE TEMPLE 1. And after the days of her purification were accomplished, according to the law of Moses, they carried Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord―as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every male, opening the womb, shall be called holy to the Lord!”―and to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 2. And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was in him. 3. And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. And he came by the Spirit into the Temple. 4. And when His parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the Law, Simeon also took Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said: “Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word in peace; because my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples―a light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel!” 5. And His father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning Him. 6. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother: “Behold this Child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; and thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.” 7. And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was far advanced in years, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow for eighty-four years; who departed not from the Temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day. 8. Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord; and spoke of Him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel. 9. And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth. 10. And the Child grew and waxed strong, full of wisdom; and the grace of God was in Him. 5. THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE 1. And His parents went every year to Jerusalem, at the solemn day of the Pasch. 2. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem, according to the custom of the feast. 3. And having fulfilled the days, when they returned, the Child Jesus remained in Jerusalem; and His parents knew it not. 4. And thinking that He was in the company of others, they came a day’s journey, and sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances. And not finding Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 5. And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found Him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and asking them questions. And all that heard Him were astonished at His wisdom and His answers. And seeing Him, they wondered. 6. And His mother said to Him: “Son, why hast Thou done so to us? Behold Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing!” 7. And He said to them: “How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know, that I must be about My Father’s business?” And they understood not the word that He spoke unto them. 8. And He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. 9. And His Mother kept all these words in her heart. 10. And Jesus advanced in wisdom, and age, and grace with God and men. THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES
1. THE AGONY OF OUR LORD IN THE GARDEN
1. And a hymn being said, going out, He went, according to His custom, to the Mount of Olives. He went forth over the brook Cedron and His disciples also followed Him. Then Jesus came with them into a country place, a farm which is called Gethsemane. And taking with Him Peter and James and John, the two sons of Zebedee, He said to His disciples: “Sit you here, till I go yonder and pray!” And He began to fear and to be heavy, and grow sorrowful and to be sad. Then He said to them: “My soul is sorrowful even unto death: stay you here, and watch with Me!” 2. And when He was gone forward a little, and was withdrawn away from them a stone’s cast, He fell upon His face, flat on the ground; and He prayed, that if it might be, the hour might pass from Him, saying: “My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from Me--remove this chalice from Me! Nevertheless, not My will, but Thine be done!” 3. And He cometh to His disciples and findeth them asleep, and He saith to Peter: “What! Could you not watch one hour with Me? Watch ye, and pray that ye enter not into temptation! The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh weak!” 4. Again the second time, He went and prayed, saying: “My Father, if this chalice may not pass away, but I must drink it, Thy will be done!” And He cometh again and findeth them sleeping―for their eyes were heavy and they knew not what to answer Him. 5. And leaving them, He went again and He prayed the third time, saying the same words. And there appeared to Him an angel from Heaven, strengthening Him. And, being in an agony, He prayed the longer. And His sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground. And when He rose up from prayer, and was come to His disciples, He found them sleeping for sorrow and saith to them: “Sleep ye now and take your rest! It is enough! Behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners! Rise! Let us go! Behold he is at hand that will betray Me!” 6. And while He was yet speaking, behold, Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, came―and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs―sent from the Chief Priests and the Ancients of the people. Judas, who betrayed Him, knew the place; because Jesus had often visited there―together with His disciples. Judas, therefore, having received a band of soldiers and servants from the Chief Priests and the Pharisees, cometh there with lanterns and torches and weapons. And he, that betrayed Him, gave them a sign, saying: “Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is He! Hold Him fast and lead Him away carefully!” And forthwith coming to Jesus, and immediately going up to Him, he said: “Hail, Rabbi!” And he kissed Him. And Jesus said to him: “Friend, whereto art thou come? Judas, dost thou betray the Son of man with a kiss?” 7. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon Him, went forth, and said to them: “Whom seek ye?” They answered Him: “Jesus of Nazareth!” Jesus saith to them: “I am He!” And Judas also, who betrayed Him, stood with them. As soon, therefore, as He had said to them: “I am He”, they went backward, and fell to the ground. Again, therefore, He asked them: “Whom seek ye?” And they said: “Jesus of Nazareth!” Jesus answered: “I have told you that I am He! If therefore you seek Me, let these go their way!” That the word might be fulfilled which He said: “Of them whom Thou hast given Me, I have not lost any one” Then they came up, and laid hands on Jesus, and held Him. 8. And they, that were about Him, seeing what would follow, said to Him: “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And, behold, one of them that was with Jesus, Simon Peter, having a sword, stretching forth his hand, drew out his sword and struck the servant of the High Priest and cut off his right ear. And the name of the servant was Malchus. Then Jesus saith to him: “Put up thy sword into the scabbard! For all that take the sword shall perish with the sword! The chalice which My Father hath given Me―shall I not drink it? Thinkest thou that I cannot ask My Father, and He will give Me presently more than twelve legions of angels? How then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that so it must be done? Suffer ye thus far!” But when Jesus had touched his ear, He healed him. 9. And Jesus said―to the Chief Priests, Magistrates of the Temple and the Ancients, that were come unto Him: “You are come out as it were to a robber, with swords and clubs, to apprehend Me! I sat daily with you, teaching in the Temple, and you laid not hands on Me! But this is your hour and the power of darkness!” Now all this was done, that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then the disciples, all leaving Him, fled away. And a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and they laid hold on him. But he, casting off the linen cloth, fled from them naked. 10. Then the band and the tribune, and the servants of the Jews, apprehending and holding Jesus, bound Him and led Him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiphas, who was the High Priest of that year, and then to Caiphas, where the Scribes and the Ancients were assembled. But Peter followed afar off. 2. THE SCOURGING OF OUR LORD AT THE PILLAR 1. And when morning was come, all Chief Priests holding a consultation with the Ancients of the people and the Scribes and the whole Council, took counsel against Jesus, that they might put Him to death. And the whole multitude of them, rising up, binding Jesus, led Him away from Caiphas to the governor’s hall and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor. They went not into the hall, that they might not be defiled, but that they might eat the Pasch. 2. Pilate, therefore, went out to them, and said: “What accusation bring you against this Man?” They answered and said to him: “If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up to thee!” And they began to accuse Him, saying: “We have found this Man perverting our nation, and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that He is Christ the King!” 3. And when He was accused by the Chief Priests and Ancients, He answered nothing. Then Pilate saith to Him: “Dost not Thou hear how great testimonies they allege against Thee?” And He answered him not a word; so that the governor wondered. And Pilate again asked Him, saying: “Answerest Thou nothing? Behold in how many things they accuse Thee!” But Jesus still answered nothing; so that Pilate wondered exceedingly. 4. Pilate therefore said to them: “Take Him you, and judge Him according to your law!” The Jews therefore said to him: “It is not lawful for us to put any man to death!” That the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which He said, signifying what death He should die. But they were more earnest, saying: “He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.” But Pilate, hearing “Galilee”, asked if the Man were of Galilee. And when he understood that He was of Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him away to Herod, who was also at Jerusalem in those days. 5. And Herod, seeing Jesus, was very glad; for he was desirous of a long time to see Him, because he had heard many things of Him; and he hoped to see some sign wrought by Him. And he questioned Him in many words. But He answered him nothing. And the Chief Priests and the Scribes stood by, earnestly accusing Him. And Herod, with his army, set Him at nought, and mocked Him, putting on Him a white garment, and sent Him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate were made friends that same day; for, before, they were enemies one to another. 6. And Pilate, calling together the Chief Priests, and the Magistrates, and the people, said to them: “You have presented unto me this Man, as one that perverts the people; and, behold I, having examined Him before you, find no cause in this Man, in those things wherein you accuse Him. No, nor Herod neither! For I sent you to him, and behold, nothing worthy of death is done to Him!” But they cried again, saying: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” And he said to them again: “Why? What evil hath this Man done? I find no cause of death in Him. I will chastise Him therefore, and let Him go!” But they cried again, saying: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” 7. Pilate, therefore, went into the hall again, and called Jesus. And Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked Him, saying: “Art Thou the king of the Jews?” Jesus answered: “Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it thee of Me?” Pilate answered: “Am I a Jew? Thy own nation, and the Chief Priests, have delivered Thee up to me! What hast Thou done?” 8. Jesus answered: “My kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, My servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now My Kingdom is not from hence.” Pilate therefore said to Him: “Art Thou a king then?” Jesus answered: “Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world―that I should give testimony to the truth. Everyone that is of the truth, heareth My voice!” Pilate saith to Him: “What is truth?” 9. And when Pilate said this, he went out again to the Jews, and saith to them: “I find no cause in Him! But you have a custom that I should release one unto you at the Pasch! Will you, therefore, that I release unto you the King of the Jews?” Then they all cried again, saying: “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber. Pilate said to them: “What shall I do then with Jesus, that is called Christ?” They all said: “Let Him be crucified!” The governor said to them: “Why? What evil hath He done?” But they cried out the more, saying: “Let Him be crucified!” And the whole people answering, said: “His blood be upon us and our children!” 10. But they insisted with loud voices, requiring that He might be crucified; and their voices prevailed. And Pilate seeing that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, taking water, washed his hands before the people, saying: “I am innocent of the Blood of this just Man―look you to it!” And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them Barabbas, whom they had desired―who, for murder and sedition, had been cast into prison; but he had Jesus scourged and delivered up to their will. 3. THE CROWNING OF OUR LORD WITH THORNS 1. Then the soldiers of the governor led Jesus away into the hall, the court of the palace, and they called together unto Him the whole band; and stripping Him, they put a scarlet cloak about Him. 2. And plaiting a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand. 3. And they began to salute Him, and, bowing the knee before Him, they adored Him. And they mocked Him, saying: “Hail, King of the Jews!” 4. And they took the reed and struck His Head with the reed. And they did spit on Him and they gave Him blows. 5. And after they had mocked Him, they took off the purple cloak from Him, and put on Him His own garments, and led Him back to Pilate. 6. Pilate therefore went forth again, and said to them: “Behold, I bring Him forth unto you, that you may know that I find no cause in Him!” Jesus therefore came forth, bearing the crown of thorns. And Pilate said to them: “Behold the Man!” When the Chief Priests, therefore, and the servants had seen Him, they cried out, saying: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” 7. Pilate said to them: “Take Him you, and crucify Him! For I find no cause in Him!” The Jews answered him: “We have a law; and according to the law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God!” When Pilate therefore had heard this saying, he feared the more. And he entered into the hall again, and he said to Jesus: “Whence art Thou?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 8. Pilate therefore said to Him: “Speakest Thou not to me? Knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee, and I have power to release Thee?” Jesus answered: “Thou shouldst not have any power against Me, unless it were given thee from above. Therefore, he that hath delivered Me to thee, hath the greater sin!” 9. And from henceforth Pilate sought to release Him. But the Jews cried out, saying: “If thou release this Man, thou art not Caesar’s friend! For whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Caesar!” Now when Pilate had heard these words, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat, in the place that is called Lithostrotos, and in Hebrew Gabbatha. And it was the Parasceve of the Pasch, about the sixth hour, and he said to the Jews: “Behold your King!” But they cried out: “Away with Him! Away with Him! Crucify Him!” 10. Pilate said to them: “Shall I crucify your King?” The Chief Priests answered: “We have no king but Caesar!” Then, therefore, he delivered Him to them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led Him forth. 4. OUR LORD CARRIES HIS CROSS TO CALVARY “And bearing His own Cross, He went forth to that place which is called Calvary, but in Hebrew, Golgotha” (John 19:17). 1. And after they had mocked Him, they took off the cloak from Him, and put on Him His own garments, and led Him away to crucify Him. 2. And bearing His own Cross, He went forth to that place which is called “Calvary”―but in Hebrew, “Golgotha.” 3. And there were also two other malefactors, led with Him, to be put to death. 4. And going out, they found a man named Simon, who passed by, coming out of the country of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and of Rufus. And they forced Simon to take up His Cross. 5. And there followed Him a great multitude of people, and of women, who bewailed and lamented Him. 6. But Jesus turning to them, said: “Daughters of Jerusalem! Weep not over Me; but weep for yourselves, and for your children! For behold, the days shall come, wherein they will say: ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the paps that have not given suck!’” 7. Jesus said to them: “Then shall they begin to say to the mountains: ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills: ‘Cover us!’ For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry?” 8. Pilate wrote a title, also, and he put it upon the Cross. And the writing was: “Jesus of Nazareth, The King of the Jews.” 9. This title, therefore, many of the Jews did read―because the place where Jesus was crucified was near to the city―and it was written in Hebrew, in Greek, and in Latin. 10. Then the Chief Priests of the Jews said to Pilate: “Write not, ‘The King of the Jews’; but that He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews’!” Pilate answered: “What I have written, I have written!” 5. THE CRUCIFIXION AND DEATH OF OUR LORD “And it was the third hour, and they crucified Him” (Mark 15:26). 1. And it was the third hour when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, they crucified Him there. And Jesus said: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” The soldiers, therefore, when they had crucified Him, took and divided His garments, and they made four parts, to every soldier a part, and also His coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. They said then one to another: “Let us not cut it, but let us cast lots for it, whose it shall be!” that the Scripture might be fulfilled, saying: “They divided My garments among them; and upon My vesture they cast lots.” And the soldiers indeed did these things. 2. And they put over His head the written inscription of His cause: “This is Jesus the King of the Jews.” And with Him they crucified two thieves; the one robber on His right hand, and the other on His left, so that the Scripture was fulfilled, which saith: “And with the wicked He was reputed.” And they sat and watched Him. 3. And they that passed by, blasphemed Him, wagging their heads, and saying: “Vah! Thou that destroyest the Temple of God, and in three days dost rebuild it! Save Thy own self! If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross!” In like manner also the Chief Priests, with the Scribes and Ancients, mocking, said: “He saved others; Himself He cannot save! Let Christ the King of Israel come down now from the Cross! If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the Cross, that we may see and believe! He trusted in God; let Him now deliver Him if He will have Him! For He said: ‘I am the Son of God!’ He saved others; Himself He cannot save!” And the soldiers also mocked Him, coming to Him and offering Him vinegar, and saying: “If Thou be the King of the Jews, save Thyself!” And the self-same thing the thieves, that were crucified with Him, also reproached Him with and reviled Him. 4. And one of those robbers, who were hanged, blasphemed Him, saying: “If Thou be Christ, save Thyself and us!” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying: “Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art condemned under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man hath done no evil!” And he said to Jesus: “Lord! Remember me when Thou shalt come into Thy Kingdom!” And Jesus said to him: “Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with Me in paradise!” And it was almost the sixth hour. 5. Now there stood by the Cross of Jesus, His Mother, and His Mother’s sister, Mary of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalen. When Jesus, therefore, had seen His Mother and the disciple standing, whom He loved, He saith to His Mother: “Woman, behold thy son!” After that, He saith to the disciple: “Behold thy Mother!” And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own. 6. And when the sixth hour was come, the sun was darkened and there was darkness over the whole Earth until the ninth hour. And, about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying: “Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani?” That is: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” And some that stood there and heard, said: “Behold, this Man calleth Elias!” And the others said: “Let be! Let us see whether Elias will come to deliver Him!” 7. Afterwards, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said: “I thirst!” Now there was a vessel set there, full of vinegar. And immediately, one of them running, took a sponge and filled it with vinegar and hyssop and put it on a reed. And they, putting a sponge full of vinegar and hyssop, put it to His mouth and gave Him to drink. Jesus, therefore, when He had taken the vinegar, said: “It is consummated!”” 8. And Jesus, again crying with a loud voice, said: “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit!” And after saying this, bowing His head, He gave up the ghost. And the veil of the Temple was rent in two, from the top to the bottom. And the centurion, who stood over against Him, seeing that, crying out in this manner, He had given up the ghost, seeing what was done, glorified God, saying: “Indeed this was a just Man! Indeed this Man was the Son of God!” And all the multitude of them that were come together to that sight, and saw the things that were done, returned striking their breasts. 9.Then the Jews, because it was the Parasceve, that the bodies might not remain on the Cross on the Sabbath day—for, at the time of the Pasch or Passover, it was a great Sabbath day—besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. The soldiers, therefore, came; and they broke the legs of the first and of the other, that was crucified with Him. But after they were come to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers, with a spear, opened His side, and immediately there came out blood and water. For these things were done, that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “You shall not break a bone of Him.” And again another Scripture saith: “They shall look on Him Whom they pierced.” And he that saw it, hath given testimony, and his testimony is true. And he knoweth that he saith true; that you also may believe. 10. And all His acquaintances, and the women that had followed Him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. Among whom was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joseph, and Salome: who, also, when He was in Galilee, followed Him, and ministered to Him, and many other women that came up with Him to Jerusalem. And when evening was now come, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a noble counsellor, who was also himself looking for the Kingdom of God, came and went in boldly to Pilate and begged the Body of Jesus. But Pilate wondered that He should be already dead. And sending for the centurion, he asked him if He were already dead. And when he had understood it by the centurion, he gave the Body to Joseph. And Joseph, buying fine linen and taking Him down, wrapped Him up in the fine linen, and laid Him in a sepulcher, which was hewed out of a rock. And he rolled a stone to the door of the sepulcher. And Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of Joseph, beheld where He was laid. THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES
1. And when the Sabbath was past, when it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended from Heaven, and coming, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. And his countenance was as lightning, and his raiment as snow. And for fear of him, the guards were struck with terror, and became as dead men. Later the guards came into the city, and told the Chief Priests all things that had been done. And they, being assembled together with the Ancients, taking counsel, gave a great sum of money to the soldiers, saying: “Say you: ‘His disciples came by night, and stole Him away when we were asleep!’ And if the governor shall hear this, we will persuade him, and secure you!” So they, taking the money, did as they were taught: and this word was spread abroad among the Jews―even unto this day.
2. Very early in the morning Mary Magdalen, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought sweet spices, so that, coming to see the sepulcher, they might anoint Jesus. Mary Magdalen came first unto the sepulcher, when it was yet dark; and she saw the stone taken away from the sepulcher. She ran, therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith to them: “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid Him!” 3. Meanwhile, with the sun being now risen, the other women arrived at the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they said one to another: “Who shall roll us back the stone from the door of the sepulcher?” For it was very great. And looking, they saw the stone rolled back. And entering into the sepulcher, they found not the Body of the Lord Jesus. They saw a young man, sitting on the right side, clothed with a white robe―and they were astonished. They were afraid and bowed down, their countenance towards the ground. And the angel answering, said to the women: “Be not afraid! For I know that you seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified! Why seek you the living with the dead? He is not here, but is risen. Remember how He spoke unto you, when He was in Galilee, saying: ‘The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again!’ He is risen! He is not here! Come, and see the place where the Lord was laid. Now go quickly, tell His disciples and Peter that He will go before you into Galilee; there you shall see Him, as He told you!” 4. But they going out, fled from the sepulcher with fear and great joy, running to tell His disciples. For a trembling and fear had seized them: and they said nothing to any man; for they were afraid. And going back from the sepulcher, they told all these things to the Eleven, and to all the rest. And these words seemed to them as idle tales; and they did not believe them. 5. In the meantime, Peter went out, and that other disciple, and they came to the sepulcher. And they both ran together, and that other disciple did outrun Peter and came first to the sepulcher. And when he stooped down, he saw the linen cloths lying; but yet he went not in. Then cometh Simon Peter, following him, and went into the sepulcher, and saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin that had been about His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but apart, wrapped up into one place. Then that other disciple also went in, who came first to the sepulcher, and he saw and believed. For, as yet, they knew not the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. The disciples therefore departed again to their home. 6. Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalen, out of whom He had cast seven devils. Mary, having returned again to the sepulcher, stood outside, weeping. Now as she was weeping, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher, and she saw two angels in white, sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the Body of Jesus had been laid. They said to her: “Woman, why weepest thou?” She said to them: “Because they have taken away my Lord; and I know not where they have laid Him!” When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing; and she knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her: “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?” She, thinking it was the gardener, saith to Him: “Sir, if Thou hast taken Him out of here, tell me where Thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away!” Jesus said to her: “Mary!” She, turning, said to Him: “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Master). Jesus said to her: “Do not touch Me! For I am not yet ascended to My Father! But go to My brethren and say to them: ‘I ascend to My Father and to your Father, to My God and your God!’” Mary Magdalen went and told the disciples: “I have seen the Lord! And these things He said to me!” 7. In the meantime, Jesus met the women, saying: “All hail!” But they came up and took hold of His feet, and adored Him. Then Jesus said to them: “Fear not! Go, tell My brethren that they go into Galilee, there they shall see Me!” The women told these things to the Apostles. And these words seemed to them as idle tales; and they did not believe them. And they hearing that He was alive, and had been seen, did not believe. And after that He appeared in another shape to two of them walking, as they were going into the country. And they going told it to the rest: neither did they believe them. At length He appeared to the Eleven as they were at table: and He upbraided them with their incredulity and hardness of heart, because they did not believe them who had seen Him after He was risen again. 8. Two disciples, the same day, walked to a town which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, named Emmaus. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And while they talked and reasoned, Jesus Himself joined them. But their eyes were held, that they should not know Him. And He said to them: “What are you talking about and why are you so sad?” And Cleophas said to Him: “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, and how our Chief Priests and princes delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. We hoped, that it was He that should have redeemed Israel! Today is the third day since these things were done and some women of our company, who were at the sepulcher, and not finding His body, came and frightened us, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who say that He is alive!” 9. Then Jesus said to them: “O foolish, and slow of heart to believe in all things which the prophets have spoken! Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and so to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded to them, in all the Scriptures, the things that were concerning Him. And as they drew near to the town where they were going, they constrained Him; saying: “Stay with us, because it is towards evening, and the day is now far spent!” And He went in with them. And it came to pass, whilst He was at table with them, He took bread, and blessed, and broke, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him: and He vanished out of their sight. And they said one to the other: “Was not our heart burning within us, whilst He spoke in this way, and opened to us the Scriptures?” And rising up, the same hour, they went back to Jerusalem: and they found the Eleven gathered together, and those that were staying with them, saying: “The Lord is risen indeed!” 10. Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, who is called “Didymus”, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him: “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them: “Except I shall see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe!” And, after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said: “Peace be to you!” Then he saith to Thomas: “Put in thy finger here, and see My hands; and bring here thy hand, and put it into My side―and be not faithless, but believing!” Thomas answered, and said to Him: “My Lord, and my God!” Jesus saith to him: “Because thou hast seen Me, Thomas, thou hast believed! Blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed!” 2. THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD INTO HEAVEN 1. And the Eleven Disciples went into Galilee, and Jesus led them out as far as Bethania, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And seeing Him they adored: but some doubted. 2. They, therefore, who were come together, asked Him, saying: “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” And Jesus, spoke to them, saying: “It is not for you to know the times or moments, which the Father hath put in His own power.” 3. And Jesus said to them: “All power is given to Me in Heaven and in Earth. But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost parts of the Earth. Go ye into the whole world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. Teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” 4. “He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned.” 5. “And these signs shall follow them that believe—In My Name they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover.” 6. “Behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world!” 7. And the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, lifting up His hands, He blessed them. And it came to pass, whilst He blessed them, He departed from them, and was carried up to Heaven while they looked on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. He now sitteth on the right hand of God. 8. And while they were beholding Him going up to Heaven, behold two men stood by them, in white garments, who also said: “Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to Heaven? This Jesus, Who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come, as you have seen Him going into Heaven!” 9. Then they adoring went back from the mount, which is near Jerusalem, that is called Olivet, and with great joy returned to Jerusalem, which is within a Sabbath day’s journey. 10. And when they reached Jerusalem, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Jude the brother of James. All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and with His brethren. 3. THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY GHOST AT PENTECOST 1. And when the days of the Pentecost were accomplished, they were all together in one place. 2. And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven, as of a mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3. And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them. 4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak. 5. And when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded in mind, because that every man heard them speak in his own tongue. 6. And they were all amazed and astonished, and wondered, saying one to another: “What meaneth this?” But others mocking, said: “These men are full of new wine!” 7. But Peter standing up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke to them: “Ye men of Judea, and all you that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known to you, and with your ears receive my words! For these are not drunk, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day!” 8. “Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God among you, by miracles, and wonders, and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you―as you also know. This same Being delivered up, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you, by the hands of wicked men, have crucified and slain. Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the sorrows of Hell, as it was impossible that He should be held by it. 9. When they had heard these things, they had compunction in their heart, and said to Peter, and to the rest of the Apostles: “What shall we do, men and brethren?” But Peter said to them: “Do penance, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins―and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost! The promise is to you, your children and to all that are far off, whomsoever the Lord our God shall call!” 10. And with very many other words did he testify and exhort them, saying: “Save yourselves from this perverse generation!” They, therefore, that received his word, were baptized; and there were added in that day about three thousand souls. And they were persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles, and in the communication of the breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul―many wonders also and signs were done by the Apostles in Jerusalem, and there was great fear in all. And all they that believed, were together, and had all things common. Their possessions and goods they sold, and divided them to all, according as everyone had need. 4. THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY INTO HEAVEN 1. “Lift up your eyes to Heaven” (Isaias 51:6). 2. “Look up to Heaven and see, and behold the sky, that it is higher than thee” (Job 35:5). 3. “They shall make themselves wings like those of an eagle, and shall fly towards Heaven” (Proverbs 23:5). 4. “Who mounteth above the Heaven of Heaven” (Psalm 67:34). 5. “If I ascend into Heaven, Thou art there” (Psalm 138:8). 6. “And He had commanded the clouds from above, and had opened the doors of Heaven” (Psalm 77:23). 7. “God give thee the dew of Heaven” (Genesis 27:28). 8. “Then hear thou from Heaven, and do justice to thy servants” (2 Paralipomenon 6:23). 9. “Hear thou from Heaven their prayers and their supplications” (2 Paralipomenon 6:35). 10. “Hear thou from thy dwelling place, that is, from Heaven, and show mercy!” (2 Paralipomenon 6:21). 5. THE CORONATION OF OUR LADY IN HEAVEN 1. “Be thou faithful until death―and I will give thee the crown of life!” (Apocalypse 2:10). 2. “When the Prince of pastors shall appear, you shall receive a never fading crown of glory” (1 Peter 5:4). 3. “Behold, I come quickly! Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown!” (Apocalypse 3:11). 4. “Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thou shalt set her upon thee as a crown of joy” (Ecclesiasticus 6:32). 5. “God will clothe thee with the double garment of justice, and will set a crown on thy head of everlasting honor” (Baruch 5:2). 6. “Thou shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God” (Isaias 62:3). 7. “That thou mayest receive a crown as an ornament of grace” (Ecclesiasticus 32:3). 8. “And a great sign appeared in Heaven―a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Apocalypse 12:1). 9. “With the crown set upon her head, to show her beauty to all … for she was exceedingly beautiful” (Esther 1:11). 10. “A jewel upon thy forehead and earrings in thy ears, and a beautiful crown upon thy head” (Ezechiel 16:12). |
MEDITATION & READINGS FOR MARCH
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