Day 09 Church-Pope Novena

WELCOME TO DAY 9 OF THE 54-DAY ROSARY NOVENA FOR
THE CHURCH AND POPE FRANCIS

Introductory Thoughts

There is much talk about the Church these days and there is even more talk about Francis. This one man generates many opinions! Some people love him, others hate him. Some say he is a saint, others say he is the ‘Devil’ or the ‘Antichrist’. Some say he is a wonderful reformer, others say he is a woeful destroyer. Some say is he is the pope, others say he is not a pope. Some say he was validly elected, others say the election was invalid. Some say he is a good Catholic, others say he is a good Freemason. Some Catholics dislike him, while many Freemasons publically say they love him. Some, who accept him as pope, dislike some of things he is doing. Others, who do not accept him as pope, like some of things he is doing. Some see Francis as the one who will unite the Catholic world, others see Francis as the one who will bring about the prophesied Great Schism in the Church. One single man―but many opinions about him. Francis is an “enigma”―which means “somebody or something that is not easily explained or understood; a mystery, a riddle or a puzzle.”

He speaks of understanding sinners, no matter how bad they are―he speaks of accompanying sinners in their ‘walk’ through life, he speaks of finding ways of accommodating sinners, he speaks of showing sinners mercy―yet when it comes to his fellow Catholics, who are Conservative or Traditionalist, there is little mercy or understanding for them. Francis speaks of Conservatives or Traditionalists as being “rigid”, “hypocrites”, “closed hearts”, “judgmental”, “rigorists”, “Pharisees”, “moralistic”, “unbending”, etc. Yet never do we hear Francis talking about Liberals and Modernists in the same tone. When asked about “gays”―Francis says: “Who am I to judge?” Yet when it comes to Traditionalist and Conservatives, he judges severely.

Francis later explained his comment in a new book The Name of God is Mercy, published in 2016: “On that occasion I said this: ‘If a person is gay and seeks out the Lord and is willing, who am I to judge that person?’ I was paraphrasing, by heart, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, where it says that these people should be treated with delicacy and not be marginalized. I prefer that homosexuals come to Confession, that they stay close to the Lord, and that we pray all together. You can advise them to pray, show goodwill, show them the way, and accompany them along it.”

Well, what if a person is Conservative or Traditionalist, and seeks the Lord and is willing? Why does Francis judge that person? Why does not Francis see to it that “these people should be treated with delicacy and not be marginalized.” It is no wonder that Francis has created a very noticeable and increasing division in the Church―as Our Lady of Akita says, “in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops” and which looks like growing with every successive Synod.

That is why we are praying this 54-Day Rosary Novena for the Church and for Francis―because, as Our Lady said at Akita in 1973: “Pray very much for the Pope, Bishops, and Priests! … Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and priests!” Regardless of whether you like Francis or dislike him; trust him or distrust him; think he is or is not the pope; see him as a an ally or an enemy―Heaven tells us to pray and good to our enemies; and Our Lady tells us to pray very much for the pope, the bishops and the priests. What are you doing? Are you talking the talk (gossiping about them), or are you walking the walk (praying for them)? The devil prefers you to merely talk the talk―and he will fill your mind and imagination with plenty of fuel for gossiping. Our Lady wants you to pray for them―even if they are bad, even if they are evil―for, like her Son, she seeks and save that which was lost― “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Matthew 18:11) … “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10) … “What man of you that hath an hundred sheep: and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert, and go after that which was lost, until he find it?” (Luke 15:4).

That is why Our Lady came to Fatima―to seek the lost sheep, to seek the conversion of sinners. She begged for prayers and sacrifices―not gossip and anger―for the conversion of sinners. She complained that so many sinners are lost because there is nobody to pray and offer sacrifices for them: “You have seen Hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them … Are you willing to offer yourselves to God and bear all the sufferings He wills to send you, as an act of reparation for the conversion of sinners? Then you are going to have much to suffer, but the grace of God will be your comfort … Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners; for many souls go to Hell, because there are none to sacrifice themselves and pray for them! … If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved!” (Fatima, 1917, May, July, August).

Those three children responded to Our Lady and “walked the walk” as well as spreading the message of Fatima by “talking the talk”―what will do? Will you be a “child of Mary” or a “child of devil”? Don’t be shocked or surprised by that comment! Sister Lucia of Fatima herself said the very same thing, in essence, to Fr. Fuentes, on December 26th, 1957: “Father, the Blessed Virgin did not tell me [explicitly] that we are in the last times of the world, but I understood this for three reasons. The first is because she told me that the Devil is engaging in a battle with the Virgin, a decisive battle. It is a final battle where one party will be victorious and the other will suffer defeat. So, from now on, we are either with God or we are with the Devil; there is no middle ground.” We are, as Lucia says, on one side or the other―neglecting to pray and fight puts us on the side of the devil, whether we like it or not, whether we believe or not, whether we admit or not. Our Lord said something similar: “He that is not with Me, is against Me: and he that gathereth not with Me, scattereth” (Matthew 12:30; Luke 11:23).

Are you with Our Lady―in praying the Rosary very much, as she said at Akita, for the pope, the bishops and the priests? Or are you against Our Lady by neglecting or, even worse, refusing to pray the Rosary very much for the intentions she wants it praying? Your call! Your life! Your judgment! Your fate! Or will you try to wriggle-out of your duty and responsibility with the lame excuse of Cain: “And the Lord said to Cain: ‘Where is thy brother Abel?' [Francis]. And he answered: ‘I know not: am I my brother's keeper?’ [Am I Francis’s keeper?] And the Lord said to him: ‘What hast thou done? The voice of thy brother’s [Francis's] blood crieth to Me from the earth! Now, therefore, cursed shalt thou be upon the Earth, which hath opened her mouth and received the blood of thy brother [Francis] at thy hand!’” (Genesis 4: 9-11).

“O come on!” you say, “Isn’t that a bit strong―calling us murderers because we won’t pray for Francis?” Let Holy Scripture answer you: “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer!” (1 John 3:15). “He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother in need, and shall shut up his bowels from him―how doth the charity of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17). “If any man say: ‘I love God!’ and hateth his brother; then he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother, whom he seeth, how can he love God, whom he seeth not?” (1 John 4:20). “But I say to you, ‘Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you!’ So that you may be the children of your Father Who is in heaven, Who maketh His sun to rise upon the good and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? Do not even the publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? Do not also the heathens this? Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect!” (Matthew 5:44).

DAY 9 OF THE 54-DAY ROSARY NOVENA
The Glorious Mysteries of the Holy Rosary

WHO ON EARTH ARE WE PRAYING FOR?

The grandparents of the future Pope Francis, Giovanni and Rosa Bergoglio, after marrying in Turin, Italy, moved to the town of Asti, when Giovanni came back from the First World War in 1918. Soon, Mario José's family would seek to escape the fascist rule of Benito Mussolini. They were due to set sail in October 1927, on the Principessa Mafalda, but were forced at the last minute to change their tickets and did not leave until a year later. It was a lucky escape; the Mafalda went down off Brazil, taking more than 300 passengers to their deaths. Eventually, the following year, they sailed from Genoa, in Italy, to Buenos Aires in Argentina, on the ship Giulio Cesare, to join Giovanni’s elder brothers, who had done well with their paving firm in the city of Paraná in Argentina. The couple took with them their only son, Mario, a 20-year-old bank clerk, who would eventually become the father of the future pope.

The future pope's grandparents spent two years in Paraná, before the depression caused the paving business to founder and the brothers to separate. Giovanni, Rosa, and their son, Mario, made their way to Buenos Aires. They were out on the street, with nothing. Francis’ grandfather bought a warehouse with 2,000 pesos which he borrowed, and his son Mario (Francis’ future father), who was an accountant, sold goods out of a basket. Mario was soon to meet Regina Sívori — the daughter of Genovese immigrants — through their parish, and they married in 1935. A year later, their eldest son, Jorge Mario (the future Francis), was born, on December 17th, 1936, in Flores, a neighborhood of Buenos Aires. He was baptized a week later, on Christmas Day. He was the eldest of five children of Mario José Bergoglio (1908–1959) and Regina María Sívori (1911–1981).

The figure who always looms largest in Francis' telling is Mario's mother, the pope's grandmother, Rosa Margarita Vassallo. She was a humble-born, well-read, devout and compassionate woman with finely honed political instincts. List those qualities, and you realize how much of Rosa her grandson has inherited. She was of peasant stock, and as smart as a whip. Sent to Turin at an early age to get a good education, she spoke French and was well-read. Mario — she had five more children, but they were stillborn — took after his mother: He, too, worked hard and did well at school.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17th, 1936, Mario Bergoglio was an Italian immigrant accountant, born in Portacomaro (Province of Asti) in Northern Italy's Piedmont region. Regina Sívori was a housewife, born in Buenos Aires, to a family of northern Italian (Piedmontese-Genoese) origin. Mario José's family left Italy in 1929 to escape the fascist rule of Benito Mussolini. According to María Elena Bergoglio, the Pope's only living sibling, they did not emigrate for economic reasons. His other siblings were Alberto Horacio, Oscar Adrián and Marta Regina. Two great-nephews, Antonio and Joseph, died in a traffic collision.

In the sixth grade, Bergoglio attended Wilfrid Barón de los Santos Ángeles, a school of the Salesians of Don Bosco, in Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires. He attended the technical secondary school Escuela Técnica Industrial N° 27 Hipólito Yrigoyen, named after a past President of Argentina, and graduated with a chemical technician's diploma. He worked for a few years in that capacity in the foods section at Hickethier-Bachmann Laboratory, where his boss was Esther Ballestrino. Before joining the Jesuits, Bergoglio worked as a bar bouncer and as a janitor sweeping floors, and he also ran tests in a chemical laboratory.

In the only known health crisis of his youth, at the age of 21, he suffered from life-threatening pneumonia and three cysts. He had part of a lung excised shortly afterwards. Bergoglio has been a lifelong supporter of San Lorenzo de Almagro football club. Bergoglio is also a fan of the films of Tita Merello, neorealism, and tango dancing, with a fondness for the traditional music of Argentina and Uruguay known as the milonga.

CLICK ON THE DAY YOU
ARE PRAYING

VARIOUS PRAYERS AND MASS COLLECTS

FOR OUR ENEMIES

COLLECT
O God, the lover and guardian of peace and charity, grant unto all our enemies true peace and charity, together with remission of all their sins, and by Thy power deliver us from their wiles. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

SECRET
Be appeased, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by these gifts which we offer unto Thee, and in Thy mercy deliver us from our enemies, granting them the pardon of their sins. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

POSTCOMMUNION
May this communion, O Lord, deliver us from our sins, and defend us from the wiles of our enemies. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

FOR THE HIERARCHY OF THE CHURCH

COLLECT
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose spirit the whole body of the Church is sanctified and governed, hear our prayers for all orders, that, by the gift of Thy grace, all in their different degrees may faithfully serve Thee. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

SECRET
Grant, O Lord, unto Thy servants forgiveness of their sins, consolation in life and perpetual guidance, that serving Thee, they may always deserve to obtain Thy mercy. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

POSTCOMMUNION
Deliver, we beseech Thee, O Lord, from sin and from all enemies Thy servants who humbly pray to Thee; that, living in holy converse they may never be afflicted by any adversity. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

FOR THE PRELATE OR BISHOP AND THOSE UNDER THEIR CHARGE

COLLECT
Almighty and everlasting God, Who alone workest great wonders, send down upon Thy servants and upon the flocks committed to their charge the spirit of Thy saving grace; and that they may truly please Thee, pour down upon them the continual dew of Thy blessing. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

SECRET
Look favourably, O Lord, upon the sacrifice of Thy servants, that what we offer devoutly on their behalf in honour of Thy name, may be as a beneficial remedy. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

POSTCOMMUNION
Accompany, O Lord, with Thy continual help,those whom Thou hast refreshed by this heavenly gift, and grant that those whom Thou ceasest not to cherish may become worthy of eternal redemption. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

FOR A HOLY POPE

COLLECT
We most humbly entreat thee, O Lord, that Thy boundless goodness may grant, as bishop to the most Holy Roman Church, one who shall ever be pleasing to Thee, by his loving zeal in our regard, and, by his beneficent rule, deeply revered by Thy people to the glory of Thy Name. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

SECRET
May the abundance of Thy loving kindness grant to us, O Lord, that, by the sacred gifts which we reverently offer Thee, that we may have cause to rejoice that a pontiff, pleasing to Thy majesty, preside over the conduct of our Holy Mother Church. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

POSTCOMMUNION
Since we have been refreshed with the Sacrament of Thy Precious Body and Blood, O Lord, let the marvelous grace of Thy majesty make us joyful, by granting us a supreme pontiff who may both, instruct Thy people in virtue and fill the hearts of the faithful with the fragrance of spiritual odors. Who livest and reignest with the Father, in the unity of Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

The First Glorious Mystery
THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD FROM THE DEAD

REFLECTION

Pope Francis and the 2018 Synod Fathers often referred to the Gospel story of “The Road to Emmaus” and this is included in the final document of the Synod on Youth. A common thread throughout the document is the Gospel story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. So let us look at the passage, which comes from St. Luke’s Gospel (24:13-35) and draw some points of for our reflection. After the crucifixion and death of Our Lord, there were the two disciples leaving Jerusalem on the road to Emmaus. One was named Cleophas, the other is unknown. They were disconsolate, saddened, forlorn and seemingly hopeless. All seemed lost to them. The once great promise and rosy future, shown by Jesus, had fizzled-out with His death. It was not until Jesus appeared to them, that there hopes and spirits were lifted.

And behold, two of them went, the same day, to a town which was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem, named Emmaus. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that while they talked and reasoned with themselves, Jesus Himself also drawing near, went with them. But their eyes were held, that they should not know Him.
And He said to them: “What are these discourses that you hold one with another as you walk, and are sad?”
And the one of them, whose name was Cleophas, answering, said to Him: “Art thou only a stranger to Jerusalem, and hast not known the things that have been done there in these days?”
To whom He said: “What things?”
And they said: “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, Who was a prophet, mighty in work and word before God and all the people; and how our chief priests and princes delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him! But we hoped, that it was He that should have redeemed Israel: and now besides all this, today is the third day since these things were done! Yea and certain women, also of our company, affrighted us, who, before it was light, were at the sepulcher, and, not finding His body, came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who say that He is alive! And some of our people went to the sepulcher, and found it so, as the women had said, but Him they found not!”
Then He 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 they drew nigh to the town, whither they were going: and He made as though He would go farther.
But 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, and hath appeared to Simon!”
And they told what things were done in the way; and how they knew Him in the breaking of the bread (Luke 24:13-35).

There is a similarity between this first joyful mystery and the fifth joyful mystery―the finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple. Here, just like Mary and Joseph in the fifth joyful mystery, the two disciples are WALKING AWAY from Jerusalem, and, just as did Mary Joseph, they end-up going BACK TO Jerusalem. The two disciples are sad and despairing after the crucifixion and death of Jesus because―as Jesus would tell them on the road―they did not know nor understand the Scriptures. Once Our Lord explained the Scriptures to them―they were heartened and fortified, with the result that they returned to what they had left.

This is so true of Francis and all the modern-day Liberals and Modernists. They are WALKING AWAY from the true Church, whereas they need to return to the true Church―the Church of all time, the Church of old, the Church that changes not, the Church of Eternal Tradition and Eternal Truth. They are trying to create their own particular brand of the Catholic Church―a new church―as seen by Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich in the visions God gave to her. The two disciples did not recognize Jesus when He joined them and accompanied them on the road. Francis and his Episcopal supporters are full of talk about “accompanying” the youth on their walk―yet they do not even recognize the real Jesus, who seeks to accompany them. They are creating a new Jesus and a new church―but that just takes them further and further away from ‘Jerusalem’ or the true Rome and the true Faith. They need the grace of Christ to resurrect them from the passage of death they have chosen to walk. Like the two disciples, they need their eyes opening to the perennial teaching of Church that goes back to the time of Apostles and to forsake their newly creating teaching that merely goes back to the Second Vatican Council.

PRAYING THE DECADE
(Read the following verses: one for each Hail Mary before starting the Hail Mary)

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, that coming to see the sepulcher, they might anoint Jesus. Mary Magdalen came first, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher; 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.

4. 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!”

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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!”

8. 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.

9. 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 frightened us, who were at the sepulcher, and not finding His body, came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, who say that He is alive!”

10. 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 nigh to the town, whither 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!”

DURING THE HAIL MARY
(insert the following after the word “JESUS” in the Hail Mary)

1. Preparing for His resurrection from the dead.
2. Returning with His soul to His dead body.
3. Emerging from the tomb and terrifying the guards.
4. Appearing to His Holy Mother.
5. Appearing to St. Mary Magdalen.
6. Appearing to the women who had come with spices to His tomb.
7. Appearing to St. Peter.
8. Appearing to the disciples on the road to Emmaus and rebuking them for their lack of belief.
9. Appearing to the Apostles in the Upper Room and rebuking them for their unbelief.
10. Appearing to and rebuking St. Thomas for his doubts concerning the Resurrection.

The Second Glorious Mystery
THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD INTO HEAVEN

REFLECTION

If Christ had lived with us from the time of His resurrection until the present day, it may well have been a stronger incentive for souls to accept His teaching, yet it would also have some drawbacks:

(1) It would lessen the role and reward of Faith—which is the belief of things unseen and which has a greater merit and reward attached to it. The Apostles who believed Jesus had risen from dead, without having personally seen Him after His resurrection, gained far more merit than St. Thomas, who would not believe unless he personally saw the risen Christ. Hence, his reward for that moment would be less than the reward given to the Apostles who did not see, yet believed.

(2) Our Lord wanted to imprint upon our minds that Heaven is our true home, and not this world. We already have too strong an attachment to this world, without it being made even stronger by the perpetual presence of Jesus. By ascending to Heaven, He detaches Himself from those whom He loves and teaches us thereby to detach ourselves from this earth and its treasures and pleasures.

(3) He is no less powerful, with regard to helping us, in Heaven than He would have been had He remained on earth. Even St. Thérèse of Liseux, the Little Flower, said that she would be able to help us more from Heaven than she could ever have done for us on earth.

(4) By ascending into Heaven, Our Lord draws the hearts, of those who love Him, to Heaven with Him. If someone, that we love, moves elsewhere, our hearts, so to speak, go with them. That is exactly where Our Lord wants our hearts to be—in Heaven with Him, and not engrossed in the gross things of this earth, which is the princedom of the devil.

While on earth, Jesus said to us: “Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up to yourselves treasures in Heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal. For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also” (Matthew 6:19-21). “Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom. Sell what you possess and give alms. Make to yourselves bags which grow not old, a treasure in heaven which faileth not: where no thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:32-34).

We see the opposite of this and the failure of doing what He asks in the above passage, exemplified in the unfortunate YOUNG rich man, who wanted to go to Heaven, but had stored up for himself treasures here upon Earth:

“And behold a certain young man, running up and kneeling before Him, said: ‘Good Master, what good shall I do that I may have life everlasting?’ And Jesus said to him: ‘Thou knowest the commandments—keep the commandments!’ The young man said to Jesus: ‘All these I have kept from my youth, what is yet wanting to me?’ And Jesus looking on him, loved him, and said to him: ‘One thing is wanting unto thee: go, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven; and come, follow Me!’ And when the young man had heard this word, being struck sad at that saying, went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

"Then Jesus, looking round about, said to His disciples: ‘Amen, I say to you: How hardly shall they that have riches, enter into the Kingdom of God! And again I say to you: It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven!’ And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus again answering, said to them: ‘Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches, to enter into the Kingdom of God!’ And when they had heard this, the disciples wondered very much, saying: ‘Who then can be saved?’ And Jesus looking on them, said to them: ‘With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible!’” (Matthew 19:16-26; Mark 10:17-27).

The rich young man could not separate God and mammon—he wanted to have both God and mammon—but Our Lord had already denounced that as a false and futile principle: “No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one, and love the other: or he will sustain the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). The rich young man had his heart set on Heaven, it is true, but his heart was even more attached to the things of the earth—and this choked his soul, just as Our Lord had indicated in the parable of the Sower of the Seed:

“Hear you therefore the parable of the sower. Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. And they by the way side are they that hear; then the devil cometh, and takes the word out of their heart, lest believing they should be saved. Now they upon the rock, are they who when they hear, receive the word with joy: and these have no roots; for they believe for a while, and, in time of temptation and persecution, because of the word, they fall away. And he that received the seed upon stony ground, is he that hears the word, and immediately receives it with joy. And that which fell among thorns, are they who have heard, and going their way, are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and yield no fruit.  But that on the good ground, are they who in a good and perfect heart, hearing the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit in patience: one a hundredfold, and another sixty, and another thirty” (Matthew 13:16-23; Luke 8:11-15).

PRAYING THE DECADE
(Read the following verses: one for each Hail Mary before starting the Hail Mary)

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 part 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.

DURING THE HAIL MARY
(insert the following after the word “JESUS” in the Hail Mary)

1. Preparing to return to the Father.
2. Leading His disciples to Mount Olivet.
3. Promising His disciples the Holy Ghost.
4. Commanding His disciples to preach the Gospel to the whole world.
5. Commanding His disciples to baptize all nations.
6. Promising salvation to those who are baptized and who believe.
7. Promising to be with His disciples unto the end of the world.
8. Being taken up into Heaven.
9. Sitting at the right hand of His Father in Heaven.
10. Sending angels to comfort His disciples.

The Third Glorious Mystery
THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY GHOST AT PENTECOST

REFLECTION

Our salvation was begun by the Holy Ghost: “Now the generation of Christ was in this wise. When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child, of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 1:18). To Our Lady, the Angel Gabriel announced: “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” (Luke 1:35). The Angel reaffirmed the same truth to St. Joseph: “Behold the angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: ‘Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost!’” (Matthew 1:20).

The precursor to Our Lord, St. John the Baptist, was the “work of the Holy Ghost” as the Angel Gabriel tells the disbelieving Zachary: “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” (Luke 1:15).

Our Lord, Himself, was under the influence of the Holy Ghost: “And Jesus―being full of the Holy Ghost―returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the desert, for the space of forty days; and was tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing in those days; and when they were ended, He was hungry” (Luke 4:1-2).

The disciples and saints were the handiwork of the Holy Ghost: “And Zachary his father was filled with the Holy Ghost” (Luke 1:67). “And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost” (Luke 1:41). “There was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, just and devout; and the Holy Ghost was in him” (Luke 2:25). At Pentecost Our Lady, the Apostles and disciples “were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak” (Acts Of Apostles 2:4). “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 13:52). “And when they had prayed, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with confidence” (Acts 4:31). “They chose Stephen, a man full of Faith, and of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 6:5).

Man was created free, and he also remains free under the dispensation of divine grace and the operations of the Spirit. Whilst the union of the Holy Ghost with the Mystical Body of Christ cannot be ruptured, the mystical union of the Holy Spirit with the individual soul is liable to be broken as long as man has not yet finished his pilgrimage on Earth. Man because of his free will, can resist God. He can slight and neglect the inspirations of the Holy Ghost and thereby “grieve the Spirit.” He can even go farther than that, and, by mortal sin, he can “extinguish the Spirit”, thereby destroying the temple of the Holy Ghost, and reducing his soul to the state of darkness and death. He can go farther yet and, by direct rebellion against the Spirit, commit the sin which the Lord emphatically styles “the sin or blasphemy against the Holy Ghost” and which is the consummation of man’s infidelity to the merciful operation of infinite love.

Now, in a general sense, every sin is a sin against the Holy Spirit, as far as sin involves neglect of and resistance against the Holy Ghost's operation by divine grace. Yet we can, according Holy Scripture, either “grieve the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:30), or “extinguish the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19), or finally sin “by blasphemy of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 12:31).These three classes of sin, as an act of opposition to the Holy Ghost, can be categorized as: Venial Sin, Mortal Sin and the Sin against the Holy Ghost.

Sadly, the recent 2018 Synod―even though, as always, there was much talk of listening to the Holy Spirit―failed to produce the Spirit of God in its final document. If anything, the Synod did more to “grieve the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:30), or “extinguish the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). The spirit that guided the Synod into producing this ‘empty’ shell of a document―full of vagueness and generalities―was certainly not the Spirit of God. We need to pray that real Spirit of God return to the Church and drive out the “smoke of Satan” that has entered the Church―as admitted on two occasions by Pope Paul VI.

PRAYING THE DECADE
(Read the following verses: one for each Hail Mary before starting the Hail Mary)

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. Now 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! For the promise is to you, and to 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.

DURING THE HAIL MARY
(insert the following after the word “JESUS” in the Hail Mary)

1. Promising to send the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete.
2. Sending the Fire of Love from Heaven.
3. Sending the Spirit of Truth from Heaven.
4. Sending the Spirit of charity and joy from Heaven.
5. Sending the Spirit of peace and patience from Heaven.
6. Sending the Spirit of benignity and goodness from Heaven.
7. Sending the Spirit of longanimity and mildness from Heaven.
8. Sending the Spirit of faith and modesty from Heaven.
9. Sending the Spirit of continency and chastity from Heaven.
10. Sending the Spirit of truth and fortitude from Heaven.

The Fourth Glorious Mystery
THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY INTO HEAVEN

REFLECTION

While on Earth, Jesus said to us: “Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up to yourselves treasures in Heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal. For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also” (Matthew 6:19-21). “Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom. Sell what you possess and give alms. Make to yourselves bags which grow not old, a treasure in heaven which faileth not: where no thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:32-34).

Our Lady’s heart was always in Heaven, or turned towards Heaven, focusing upon Heaven, working towards Heaven. The eternal life of Heaven is only gained through death to this world. Part of the mystery of the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven is death. Before being assumed into Heaven, most theologians agree on the fact that Our Lady died. Death is something most people fear—in fact, trillions of dollars are spent worldwide trying to stave-off death. Fear of death is only natural—for God originally did not make us to die. Even in Our Lords’ time, people were begging Him to ward-off death from their beloved ones: “The ruler saith to Him: ‘Lord, come down before my son die!’” (John 4:49). Martha lamented to Our Lord: “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died!” (John 11:21).

However, death had to be! Death came as a punishment for sin: “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into this world, and by sin death; and so death passed upon all men, in whom all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). “Sin hath reigned to death” (Romans 5:21). “By one man’s offence death reigned” (Romans 5:17).

The thought of this should engrave in our hearts and minds the seriousness of sin—which, alas, is a notion that has been lost by most people today. “All iniquity is sin. And there is a sin unto death” (1 John 5:17). Mortal Sin is spiritual death—a death that fits us, not for assumption in Heaven, but for descent to Hell. This is death we should fear above all! However, look at today’s Catholics, we must almost imagine that the modern Catholics are like Martin Luther, the Catholic who became Protestant, who wrote in a letter to Philip Melanchton: “Be a sinner and sin boldly, but believe and rejoice in Christ even more boldly!”—for today’s Catholic seems to say: “Sin! What’s the big deal? That’s what confession is for!” In other words, sin and sin boldly, for you can always go to the ‘spiritual car-wash’ in confession at the weekend! Yet, sadly, most Catholics don’t even go to confession anymore! “What fruit therefore had you then in those things, of which you are now ashamed? For the end of them is death!” (Romans 6:21).

The recent 2018 Synod of Bishops spent too much time discussing the things of this Earth and too little time trying to convince the Youth to abandon or exchange the things of this Earth for the things of Heaven. This is failure is clearly seen by the preponderance of worldly, earthy, material, sociological and anthropological vocabulary which led to a minimizing or marginalizing of the much needed spiritual vocabulary. The crisis among the youth will not be solved by human and material methods, but by grace and spiritual methods. Until Francis and his supporters “die to their own ideas” and “assume the ideas of Heaven”, then nothing is going to change or get better―rather, things will change for the worse.

PRAYING THE DECADE
(Read the following verses: one for each Hail Mary before starting the Hail Mary)

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).

DURING THE HAIL MARY
(insert the following after the word “JESUS” in the Hail Mary)

1. Seeing Mary finish her course upon Earth.
2. Seeing Mary take leave of her friends.
3. Seeing Mary prepare for her final days.
4. Seeing Mary accepting death in imitation of Thee.
5. Sending Thy angels to escort Mary to Heaven.
6. Rejoicing with all the angels and saints at Mary’s assumption.
7. Joyfully awaiting Thy Mother’s arrival in Heaven.
8. Joyfully receiving Thy Mother into eternal bliss.
9. Forever reunited with Thy Holy Mother.
10. Granting Thy Holy Mother her eternal reward.

The Fifth Glorious Mystery
THE CORONATION OF OUR LADY IN HEAVEN

REFLECTION

The road to Heaven is a road that leads us away from sin. It leads us away from worldliness and it leads us to virtue, which is a prerequisite for entrance to Heaven. There is no unrepentant sinner in Heaven; there is no former sinner with unpaid debts in Heaven; nor is there any lukewarm soul in Heaven—for only saints go to Heaven. We were all made to be saints! We were all made to be holy! God is uncompromising on that count. Yes, Pope Francis might take note of that description: “God is uncompromising!” whereas Our Lady of Akita said in 1973, that in our day “the Church will be full of those who accept compromises!” Pope Francis tends to be a compromiser and seems to advocate compromising! Rather than demand that people relinquish sin and embrace the road to holiness, Francis is all for some kind of wishy-washy compromise, where we can all walk along the road together―regardless of what we believe or how we live. Here we have a problem!

This was the message in the Old Testament and it is still the same message in the New Testament: “I am the Lord your God! Be holy, because I am holy! … You shall be holy, because I am holy!” (Leviticus 11:44-46). These words of God from the Old Testament are maintained in the New Testament, as St. Peter uses those very same words, quoting the Old Testament: “According to Him that hath called you―Who is holy―be you also in all manner of conversation holy: because it is written: ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy!’” (1 Peter 1:15-16). Our Lord says the same thing: “Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect!”(Matthew 5:48).

Even though we all desire peace and quiet, our whole life is a battle—whether we like it or not, whether we choose to fight or not. Everyone in this life will end up either a winner or a loser—they will either fight and win the battle of life; fight and lose the battle of life; or refuse to fight and lose the battle of life. This is why the Book of Job warns us: “The life of man upon earth is a warfare!” (Job 7:1) and Our Lord adds: “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent bear it away” (Matthew 11:12)—which is why St, Paul enjoins us to “Fight the good fight of Faith! Lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art called!” (1 Timothy 6:12), encouraging us by his own example: “I have fought a good fight! I have finished my course! I have kept the Faith! As to the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice, which the Lord, the just judge, will render to me!”(2 Timothy 4:7-8).

St. Louis de Montfort puts it so succinctly when he writes: “God wants you to become holy like Him in this life, and glorious like Him in the next (Matthew 5:48). It is certain that growth in the holiness of God is your vocation. All your thoughts, words, actions, everything you suffer or undertake, must lead you towards that end. Otherwise you are resisting God, in not doing the work for which He created you and for which He is even now keeping you in being.” (St. Louis de Montfort, The Secret of Mary).

St. Louis de Montfort, after pointing out our goal in life, then points out the means: “Chosen soul, how will you bring this about? What steps will you take to reach the high level to which God is calling you? The means of holiness and salvation are known to everybody, since they are found in the Gospel; the masters of the spiritual life have explained them; the saints have practiced them and shown how essential they are for those who wish to be saved and attain perfection. These means are: sincere humility, unceasing prayer, complete self-denial, abandonment to divine Providence, and obedience to the will of God.

“The grace and help of God are absolutely necessary for us to practice all these, but we are sure that grace will be given to all, though not in the same measure. No one can contest these principles” (St. Louis de Montfort, The Secret of Mary).

St. Louis then develops the idea why Mary is so essential for our path to holiness and Heaven: “It all comes to this, then. We must discover a simple means to obtain from God the grace needed to become holy. It is precisely this I wish to teach you. My contention is that you must first discover Mary if you would obtain this grace from God. I explain:

(1)  Mary alone found grace with God for herself and for every individual person (Luke 1:30). No patriarch nor prophet nor any other holy person of the Old Law could manage to find this grace;

(2) It was Mary who gave existence and life to the author of all grace and, because of this, she is called the “Mother of Grace.”

(3) God the Father, from Whom, as from its essential source, every perfect gift and every grace come down to us (James 1:17), gave her every grace when He gave her His Son. Thus, as St. Bernard says, the will of God is manifested to her in Jesus and with Jesus.

(4) God chose her to be the treasurer, the administrator and the dispenser of all His graces, so that all His graces and gifts pass through her hands. Such is the power that she has received from Him that, according to St. Bernardine, she gives the graces of the eternal Father, the virtues of Jesus Christ, and the gifts of the Holy Ghost to whom she wills, as and when she wills, and as much as she wills.

(5) As in the natural life a child must have a father and a mother, so in the supernatural life of grace a true child of the Church must have God for his Father and Mary for his mother. If he prides himself on having God for his Father, but does not give Mary the tender affection of a true child, he is an imposter and his father is the devil.

(6) Since Mary produced the head of the elect, Jesus Christ, she must also produce the members of that head, that is, all true Christians.

(7) The Holy Ghost espoused Mary and produced His greatest work, the incarnate Word, in her, by her and through her..

(8) Mary received, from God, a unique dominion over souls, enabling her to nourish them and make them more and more godlike. (St. Louis de Montfort, The Secret of Mary).

PRAYING THE DECADE
(Read the following verses: one for each Hail Mary before starting the Hail Mary)

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 exceeding 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).

DURING THE HAIL MARY
(insert the following after the word “JESUS” in the Hail Mary)

1. Receiving His Holy Mother as Queen.
2. Crowning His Holy Mother as Queen of Heaven.
3. Crowning His Holy Mother as Queen of Earth.
4. Granting His Holy Mother power over all angels.
5. Granting His Holy Mother power over all the Earth.
6. Granting His Holy Mother power over all Hell and demons.
7. Granting His Holy Mother His treasury of all graces.
8. Seating His Holy Mother at His right hand.
9. Clothing His Holy Mother with a robe of glory.
10. Giving His Holy Mother the scepter of government.