The Chaplet of the Ten Evangelical Virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary

This prayer, contained in the Rule of the Ten Virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary, has been passed on by the ancient tradition of the Marian Order.

First of all we make the sign of the Cross, then we recite one Our Father followed by ten Hail Mary’s, mentioning after the words "Holy Mary, Mother of God" one virtue, in the following order:

1. Most pure,
2. Most prudent,
3. Most humble,
4. Most faithful,
5. Most devout,
6. Most obedient,
7. Most poor,
8. Most patient,
9. Most merciful,
10. Most sorrowful,

. . . pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

V. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

R. As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.

V. In Your Conception, O Virgin Mary, You were Immaculate.

R. Pray for us to the Father whose son, Jesus, you brought forth into the world.

Let us pray.

Father, you prepared the virgin Mary to be the worthy mother of your Son. You let her share beforehand in the salvation Christ would bring by his death, and kept her sinless from the first moment of her conception. Help us by her prayers to live in your presence without sin. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

R. Amen.

V. The Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception

R. Be our Health and our Protection.

Why do Catholics Worship Idols?

I would like to again invite you to add to this and ask any questions you would like. Remain civil, keep it clean, and be nice. I would like you to post any sources that you use. I will use Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition to make my point. I will look to the early Fathers of the Church and the road map to what the Catholic Church actually believes, the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I hope as you read this you will see a new light on what the Church teaches.

To start this post, the Catechism teaches Catholics that, “The first commandment condemns polytheism. It requires man neither to believe in nor to venerate, other divinities than the one true God. Scripture constantly recalls this rejection of "idols, [of] silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see." These empty idols make their worshippers empty: "Those who make them are like them; so are all who trust in them." God, however, is the "living God" who gives life and intervenes in history.

Idolatry not only refers to false pagan worship. It remains a constant temptation to faith. Idolatry consists in divinizing what is not God. Man commits idolatry whenever he honors and reveres a creature in place of God, whether this be gods or demons (for example, satanism), power, pleasure, race, ancestors, the state, money, etc. Jesus says, "You cannot serve God and mammon." Many martyrs died for not adoring "the Beast" refusing even to simulate such worship. Idolatry rejects the unique Lordship of God; it is, therefore, incompatible with communion with God.

Human life finds its unity in the adoration of the one God. The commandment to worship the Lord alone integrates man and saves him from an endless disintegration. Idolatry is a perversion of man's innate religious sense. An idolater is someone who "transfers his indestructible notion of God to anything other than God." (Catholic Church, 2000, 2112-2214).

Ok, now what does all of that mean to the average Catholic, and to the average non-Catholic. Let's start with the question of polytheism. As a Catholic, I have been taught in the church and through catechism teaching that we are to have only one God. We are never taught to “worship” a photo or statue. Yes, as a Catholic I have used a painting or statue to help me as I pray. I would liken this to a person looking at a photo album and recalling a cherished memory of a loved one. Is this person practicing ancestor worship? No, they are just being reminded of the good times they spent with a loved one. As a Catholic, I see that by looking at an image of the passion of Christ I am able to truly see and that I can start to understand the suffering that Jesus went through for me. By seeing images of the saints I have studied I can recall the events in their lives that I would want to imitate.

We have seen what the Church teaches about Idolatry and what the Catechism teaches. What does Holy Scripture say on the subject? I think we need to look at a few key passages that cover this area. I think the best place is in Exodus Chapter 20 verses 3-5, You shall not have other gods besides me. You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; you shall not bow down before them or worship them. For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their fathers' wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation. This is very clear is it not? We are not to make an image and worship it as a god. God wants us to worship only him. If you are to read into exodus you find God letting Moses know that the people of Israel are making a graven image and are sinning against him. God Saw that his people still needed guidance. He even went as far as to have the Hebrew people perform sacrifices on the animals that the people of Egypt worshiped as gods. This was to show the Israelis that the gods of Egypt were impotent. So, does this forbid any icons or images for worship? If we are to “search the scriptures” (John 5:39) again we can find some things that might make you see this in a different light. We will start again in Exodus Make two cherubim of beaten gold for the two ends of the propitiatory, fastening them so that one cherub springs direct from each end. The cherubim shall have their wings spread out above, covering the propitiatory with them; they shall be turned toward each other, but with their faces looking toward the propitiatory (Ex 25:18-20). God is instructing the Hebrew people how to make Images. If we read on further, we see God tell Moses to make a bronze serpent (statue) and to instruct the people to look at the serpent if they are bitten and they will be healed (Num 21:8-9). They kept that statue until some tried to give it a name and worship it as a god named “Nehushtan” and at that time King Hezekiah (cf 2Kgs 18:4) had it destroyed (Catholic Answers 2006).

Now we see how God gave the Hebrews a tool to use to help them and once this was abused by the people there was someone to step up and destroy the problem. So, we can see that God has directed his followers to make icons or images. The problem starts when people try to make an image of God. How can we as people do if we have never seen God? We have seen or heard of the Holy Spirit as tongues of flame and descending as a dove. God came to earth as a man his name was Jesus. Men were able then to see God as man. So, when a Protestant has an image of a flame or a dove on their car does this make them an idolater? When a Christian kneels down to read the bible are they worshiping the Word, the bible? The answer to both of these is a resounding no. When a Catholic kneels to pray in front of an image of Jesus does this make him an idolater? Again, we hear a resounding NO.

To end this discussion I will invite you to go to Catholic Answers and read “Do Catholics Worship Statues?” This is a great resource. Catholic Answers can answer this question and more.

References

        Catholic Church. (2000). Catechism of the Catholic Church: revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II. United States Catholic Conference.

        Catholic Answers. (2006). The Essential Catholic Survival Guide. Catholic Answers.

‌

How to recite the Holy Rosary

1. SAY THESE PRAYERS…
IN THE NAME of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (As you
say this, with your right hand touch your
forehead when you say Father, touch your
breastbone when you say Son, touch your
left shoulder when you say Holy, and touch
your right shoulder when you say Spirit.)
I BELIEVE IN GOD, the Father almighty,
Creator of Heaven and earth. And in Jesus
Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was
conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the
Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate;
was crucified, died, and was buried. He
descended into Hell. The third day He rose
again from the dead. He ascended into
Heaven, and sits at the right hand of God,
the Father almighty. He shall come again to
judge the living and the dead. I believe in
the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of
sins, the resurrection of the body, and life
everlasting. Amen.
OUR FATHER, Who art in Heaven,
hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom
come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in
Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive
those who trespass against us. And lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
HAIL MARY, full of grace, the Lord is
with thee. Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us
sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
GLORY BE to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the
beginning is now, and ever shall be, world
without end. Amen.
O MY JESUS, forgive us our sins, save us
from the fires of Hell; lead all souls to
Heaven, especially those in most need of
Thy mercy. Amen.
HAIL HOLY QUEEN, mother of mercy;
our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To
thee do we cry, poor banished children of
Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine
eyes of mercy toward us. And after this, our
exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy
womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet
Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O holy Mother of
God, that we may be made worthy of the
promises of Christ. Amen.
O GOD, WHOSE only-begotten Son by
His life, death and resurrection, has
purchased for us the rewards of eternal life;
grant, we beseech Thee, that by meditating
upon these mysteries of the Most Holy
Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may
imitate what they contain and obtain what
they promise, through the same Christ our
Lord. Amen.
ANNOUNCE each mystery by saying
something like, “The third Joyful Mystery is
the Birth of Our Lord.” This is required only
when saying the Rosary in a group.
2. IN THIS ORDER…
INTRODUCTION
1. IN THE NAME…
2. I BELIEVE IN GOD…
3. OUR FATHER…
4. HAIL MARY…
5. HAIL MARY…
6. HAIL MARY…
7. GLORY BE…
8. O MY JESUS…
THE FIRST DECADE
9. ANNOUNCE…
10. OUR FATHER…
11. HAIL MARY…
12. HAIL MARY…
13. HAIL MARY…
14. HAIL MARY…
15. HAIL MARY…
16. HAIL MARY…
17. HAIL MARY…
18. HAIL MARY…
19. HAIL MARY…
20. HAIL MARY…
21. GLORY BE…
22. O MY JESUS…
THE SECOND DECADE
23. ANNOUNCE…
24. OUR FATHER…
25. HAIL MARY…
26. HAIL MARY…
27. HAIL MARY…
28. HAIL MARY…
29. HAIL MARY…
30. HAIL MARY…
31. HAIL MARY…
32. HAIL MARY…
33. HAIL MARY…
34. HAIL MARY…
35. GLORY BE…
36. O MY JESUS…
THE THIRD DECADE
37. ANNOUNCE…
38. OUR FATHER…
39. HAIL MARY…
40. HAIL MARY…
41. HAIL MARY…
42. HAIL MARY…
43. HAIL MARY…
44. HAIL MARY…
45. HAIL MARY…
46. HAIL MARY…
47. HAIL MARY…
48. HAIL MARY…
49. GLORY BE…
50. O MY JESUS…
THE FOURTH DECADE
51. ANNOUNCE…
52. OUR FATHER…
53. HAIL MARY…
54. HAIL MARY…
55. HAIL MARY…
56. HAIL MARY…
57. HAIL MARY…
58. HAIL MARY…
59. HAIL MARY…
60. HAIL MARY…
61. HAIL MARY…
62. HAIL MARY…
63. GLORY BE…
64. O MY JESUS…
THE FIFTH DECADE
65. ANNOUNCE…
66. OUR FATHER…
67. HAIL MARY…
68. HAIL MARY…
69. HAIL MARY…
70. HAIL MARY…
71. HAIL MARY…
72. HAIL MARY…
73. HAIL MARY…
74. HAIL MARY…
75. HAIL MARY…
76. HAIL MARY…
77. GLORY BE…
78. O MY JESUS…
CONCLUSION
79. HAIL HOLY QUEEN…
80. O GOD, WHOSE…
81. IN THE NAME…
3. WHILE TOUCHING THESE BEADS TO
KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PROGRESS…
4. AND SILENTLY MEDITATING ON THESE “MYSTERIES”,
OR EVENTS FROM THE LIVES OF JESUS AND MARY…
On Monday and Saturday, meditate on the “Joyful Mysteries”
First Decade (Steps 9-22): The Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
Second Decade (Steps 23-36): The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)
Third Decade (Steps 37-50): The Birth of Our Lord (Luke 2:1-21)
Fourth Decade (Steps 51-64): The Presentation of Our Lord (Luke 2:22-38)
Fifth Decade (Steps 65-78): The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52)
On Thursday, meditate on the “Luminous Mysteries”
First Decade: The Baptism of Our Lord in the River Jordan (Matthew 3:13-16)
Second Decade: The Wedding at Cana, when Christ manifested Himself (Jn 2:1-11)
Third Decade: The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15)
Fourth Decade: The Transfiguration of Our Lord (Matthew 17:1-8)
Fifth Decade: The Last Supper, when Our Lord gave us the Holy Eucharist (Mt 26)
On Tuesday and Friday, meditate on the “Sorrowful Mysteries”
First Decade: The Agony of Our Lord in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-56)
Second Decade: Our Lord is Scourged at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26)
Third Decade: Our Lord is Crowned with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-31)
Fourth Decade: Our Lord Carries the Cross to Calvary (Matthew 27:32)
Fifth Decade: The Crucifixion of Our Lord (Matthew 27:33-56)
On Wednesday and Sunday, meditate on the “Glorious Mysteries”
First Decade: The Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord (John 20:1-29)
Second Decade: The Ascension of Our Lord (Luke 24:36-53)
Third Decade: The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41)
Fourth Decade: The Assumption of Mary into Heaven
Fifth Decade: The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth
You are encouraged to copy and distribute this sheet.
www.newadvent.org

Question I received from e-mail

Please if you could get answers to the question Why do catholic's worship idols? Often shoved in our faces by our Protestant brothers. I have been sending this on to people that I Know will challenge your spiritual Mind with good questions

I will have to do some research before I answer this so please stay tuned.

How to Practice Lectio Divina

A step-by-step guide to praying the Bible
BY: Father Luke Dysinger, O.S.B.
Lectio divina is a slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures. Time set aside in a special way for lectio divina enables us to discover in our daily life an underlying spiritual rhythm. Within this rhythm, we discover an increasing ability to offer more of ourselves and our relationships to the Father, and to accept the embrace that God is continuously extending to us in the person of his son, Jesus Christ. Very often our concerns, our relationships, our hopes and aspirations, naturally intertwine with our meditations on the Scriptures. We can attend "with the ear of our hearts" to our own memories, listening for God's presence in the events of our lives. We experience Christ reaching out to us through our own memories. Our own personal story becomes salvation history.How to Practice Lectio Divina
· Choose a text of the Scriptures that you wish to pray. Many Christians use in their daily lectio divina one of the readings from the eucharistic liturgy for the day (find the readings here); others prefer to slowly work through a particular book of the Bible. It makes no difference which text is chosen, as long as one has no set goal of "covering" a certain amount of text. The amount of text covered is in God's hands, not yours.
· Place yourself in a comfortable position and allow yourself to become silent. Some Christians focus for a few moments on their breathing; others have a beloved "prayer word" or "prayer phrase" they gently recite.. For some, the practice known as "centering prayer" makes a good, brief introduction to lectio divina. Use whatever method is best for you and allow yourself to enjoy silence for a few moments.
· Turn to the text and read it slowly, gently. Savor each portion of the reading, constantly listening for the "still, small voice" of a word or phrase that somehow says, "I am for you today." Do not expect lightning or ecstasies. In lectio divina, God is teaching us to listen to him, to seek him in silence. He does not reach out and grab us; rather, he gently invites us ever more deeply into his presence.
· Take the word or phrase into yourself. Memorize it and slowly repeat it to yourself, allowing it to interact with your inner world of concerns, memories, and ideas. Do not be afraid of distractions. Memories or thoughts are simply parts of yourself that, when they rise up during lectio divina, are asking to be given to God along with the rest of your inner self. Allow this inner pondering, this rumination, to invite you into dialogue with God.
· Speak to God. Whether you use words, ideas, or images--or all three--is not important. Interact with God as you would with one who you know loves and accepts you. And give to him what you have discovered during your experience of meditation. Experience God by using the word or phrase he has given you as a means of blessing and of transforming the ideas and memories that your reflection on his word has awakened. Give to God what you have found within your heart.
· Rest in God's embrace. And when he invites you to return to your contemplation of his word or to your inner dialogue with him, do so. Learn to use words when words are helpful, and to let go of words when they no longer are necessary. Rejoice in the knowledge that God is with you in both words and silence, in spiritual activity and inner receptivity.Sometimes in lectio divina, you may return several times to the printed text, either to savor the literary context of the word or phrase that God has given or to seek a new word or phrase to ponder. At other times, only a single word or phrase will fill the whole time set aside for lectio divina. It is not necessary to assess anxiously the quality of your lectio divina, as if you were "performing" or seeking some goal. Lectio divina has no goal other than that of being in the presence of God by praying the Scriptures. Lectio Divina as a Group ExerciseIn the churches of the Third World, where books are rare, a form of corporate lectio divina is becoming common, in which a text from the Scriptures is meditated on by Christians praying together in a group.This form of lectio divina works best in a group of between four and eight people. A group leader coordinates the process and facilitates sharing. The same text from the Scriptures is read out three times, followed each time by a period of silence and an opportunity for each member of the group to share the fruit of her or his lectio. The first reading is for the purpose of hearing a word or passage that touches the heart. When the word or phrase is found, the group's members take it in, gently recite it, and reflect on it during the silence that follows. After the silence, each person shares which word or phrase has touched his or her heart.The second reading (by a member of the opposite sex from the first reader) is for the purpose of "hearing" or "seeing" Christ in the text. Each ponders the word that has touched the heart and asks where the word or phrase touches his or her life that day. Then, after the silence, each member of the group shares what he or she has "heard" or "seen."The third and final reading is for the purpose of experiencing Christ "calling us forth" into doing or being. Members ask themselves what Christ in the text is calling them to do or to become today or this week. After the silence, each shares for the last time, and the exercise concludes with each person praying for the person on the right of him or her.Those who regularly practice this method of praying and sharing the Scriptures find it to be an excellent way of developing trust within a group. It also is an excellent way of consecrating projects and hopes to Christ before more-formal group meetings.

Abortion Survivor Sarah Smith

Pictured here are Sarah Smith and her mother Betty. In 1970, Betty tried to abort Sarah in Los Angeles. At the time, Betty did not know she was pregnant with twins. One baby was aborted, but miraculously, Sarah survived. Sarah has forgiven her mother -- and for five years they traveled the world speaking together about the pain and suffering caused by abortion. Below is Sarah's story, followed by the speech she gave in Rome in 1996.

Powerful Video Offered: At the end of this article are details about how you can receive a copy of a video that tells Sarah's amazing story.
Twins -- one aborted, one survives!
Sarah tells her story . . .
"Twenty-nine years ago, my mother decided to have an abortion. At the time, she was pregnant with twins, but nobody knew this, not even her doctor. My tiny brother and I were both there growing in her womb, until that dreadful day. Before the abortion, we were both alive. Moments later, I was alone.

It's frightening to think I was almost aborted when my mom had a D&C abortion. Somehow, miraculously, I survived! My twin brother wasn't so lucky. Andrew was aborted and we lost him forever.

Several weeks later, my mother was shocked to feel me kicking in her womb. She already had five children and she knew what it felt like when a baby kicked in the womb. She instantly knew that somehow she was still pregnant. She went back to the doctor and told him she was still pregnant...that she had made a big mistake and that she wanted to keep this baby.
To this day, my mother deeply regrets that abortion. I know the pain is unbearable for her at times when she looks at me and knows she aborted my twin brother. Mom says 'the protective hand of Almighty God saved my life . . . that God's hand covered and hid me in her womb, and protected me from the scalpel of death.

After surviving the abortion, I was born with bilateral, congenital dislocated hips and many other physical handicaps. Nine days after I was born, I was taken to an orthopedic surgeon who applied a cast to each of my tiny legs. My mom would remove these casts with pliers every Monday morning and take me to the doctor to have new casts put on.

At six weeks I was put into my first body cast. Many surgeries and body cast followed over the next few years. Unfortunately, doctors are telling me that now I'll need surgeries about every 5 years (please pray for me).

Today, I thank God I survived the abortion, but the pain continues for everyone in my family. In memory of my brother Andrew, we bought a memorial gravestone and placed it in a cemetary in Southern California.

It reads:
ANDREW JAMES SMITH, TWIN BROTHER OF SARAH -- IN OUR HEARTS YOU'LL ALWAYS BE ALIVE -- NOVEMBER 1970

Please share our story with others so the tragedy of abortion stops hurting babies and families. Everyone needs to know the truth about abortion. Thank you."
--Sarah Smith

Sarah can help you save babies!
Order Sarah's Powerful Video . . .
After surviving her mother's abortion in 1970, Sarah Smith has become one of the most powerful pro-life voices in the battle against abortion. Sarah's stirring testimony touches hearts, changes minds and saves lives. Sarah wants to help you make a difference in your community. Please order Sarah's video today and share it with people at churches, schools, rallies and conferences in your community.

This powerful 10-minute documentary was produced by the 700 Club -- and it's one you'll never forget. You'll see Sarah as a baby crawling in a body-cast, then as a teenager and later as a dynamic public speaker who travels the world exposing the pain and suffering caused by abortion. When you see Sarah, you're seeing the face of a beautiful woman who would not be alive today if the abortionist had completed his "job."

Sarah Meeting Pope John Paul II in April 1996 in Rome.
Sarah's Video - Here's How to Order:
Call Heritage House toll-free at 1-800-858-3040 and mention Pro-Life America's web site.
For another article on Sarah Smith & other abortion survivors, click here.

Sarah's Speech In Rome

On April 24, 1996, Sarah Smith gave the following speech at an international pro-life conference in Rome. The conference was called, "A Congress for Life." It was organized to celebrate the first anniversary of Pope John Paul II's encyclical letter Evangelium Vitae - The Gospel of Life. The conference was held at the Legionaries of Christ seminary in Rome and was attended by approximately 500 men and women including; pro-life leaders, political leaders, media representatives, priests and seminarians.

Following is the speech given by Sarah Smith:

"My name is Sarah Smith and I wish to thank you all, your eminencies, and all of the wonderful Legionaries of Christ for allowing us to be with you today. I did not know of the abortion until I was 12 years old. I grew up feeling that I was the same as my friends, except for having numerous surgeries and physical complications. The only difference I felt was an incredible loneliness and a knowledge that something was missing. I never felt whole. I battled with severe depression and found myself dying of anorexia nervosa at age 12, when my mother knew it was time to tell me the truth.

She sat next to me and took my hand and looked me in the eyes and said, "Sarah, you are a twin. I aborted your twin brother and tried to abort you. Please know I did not know what I was doing and I pray someday you are able to forgive me. I love you and need you to know that you are a welcome part of our family."

At that moment I knew what I had been missing all my life and that I was called to something much greater than I had knowledge of. Immediately I felt the overwhelming pain of the knowledge that I should be dead. As I stand before you today I am painfully aware that this is only possible because my twin brother took a scalpel for me, and I stand in his place and memory, giving him honor and a face.

We have become bombarded with statistics in our fight for life. Thirty-two million babies are killed in the United States alone. Yet every one had a face, a life, a creator who loved them and created them in His image. As you look at me today, you realize that I am no different than you, yet I stand before you today a representative of the dead -- a representative of the innocent lives who today may lose their lives. Who will speak for them?

The words of Christ are clear - "What you have done to the least of these you have done unto me." You and I are called and commissioned to care for these little ones just as we would care for Jesus Himself. To walk away and say this is not my problem is to walk away from Jesus Himself.
Many people upon finding out about the abortion ask me how did I feel, or to what can I compare this to. The only thing I can compare my life to is that of an innocent Jew being made to walk down the streets of Germany naked in front of many people and into a room he knows he will never come out of. In my case, unfortunately, the people leading me into that room are my mother and father. Yet the people looking on at the sidelines are people like you. And I ask you today, will you speak up or will you silently look away as another person who needs your help is led to their death?

I have forgiven my parents long ago as I remember the words Jesus spoke as he hung bleeding and bruised from the cross, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do." His words pertain to the sins of abortion. Most men and women who involve themselves with abortion don't know what they're doing, as were my parents.

Many women who demand the right to an abortion say, "It's my body, it's my choice." Let me make one thing very clear to you today - my mother's choice was my death sentence. It is not only a woman's body we are discussing in an abortion. It is the entire flesh and blood of someone just like me.

Then we have the issue of medical personnel stating it is just tissue. For anyone who has ever studied biology, you know better. Before any woman even knows she is pregnant her child already has a beating heart at 20 days. Show me one piece of tissue or cancer you believe must be cut out with a beating heart. Show me a liver or kidney that has it's own blood type. That child is perfect from it's first day. All it needs is time, oxygen and nutrition.

Another startling fact is that in medical journals it states the fetus is capable of feeling pain at 8 weeks of gestation. In America, the vast majority of abortions are performed between 10 to 12 weeks, well after the child can feel the entire procedure. So don't tell me abortion is a simple procedure that expels a piece of tissue and doesn't hurt anybody. I was there. I was less then an inch away from my innocent twin brother when his body was ripped apart, and he felt the entire thing. We were 14 to 16 weeks along in the second trimester. That was how my life was meant to end.

Yet I was spared to stand before you today and tell you on behalf of those who have no voice that if you remain silent, in my country alone a person just like you and me will die every 20 seconds of every day. We have been commissioned by Jesus to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves and we have also been commissioned by the Holy Father, who I had the privilege of meeting a few hours ago.

As I told him my story he looked at me so intensely as if to say, "Speak the message! Proclaim the Truth!" And then he kissed me and gave me a blessing to go and speak about life. And that is what he says to all of you as he blesses and kisses us with his Encyclical. Preach the gospel - the good news of life. What is the greatest gift of all? When Jesus outstretched His arms and said, "This is my body given up for you". Imagine if Jesus had been selfish with His body and not given so freely of His life to you and me. Where would we be today? We would be nothing. The gift of a mother's body for 9 months of her life is one of the most beautiful gifts of all time. We must fight to protect it.

As I stand here alone knowing I have my brother as a precious guardian angel who is with me always, I know my life is a gift. And today I wish to give it back to you, the people and to the church, as a symbol of the consuming power of God's redemption and of His life and truth. You and I as a church represent life, and together we will extend that life into a hurting and dying world. We will give them the truth of life and we shall never be silent.
I love you and God bless you."

My Thoughts on the murder of Dr. Tiller

I invite you to comment on this if you read it. Please, make sure you do post your thoughts. I would like to add to them or address them. Remember to be kind and offer your comments in good faith.

I would like to offer my thoughts on the death of Dr. George Tiller. As I look at the media coverage of his killing I am saddened. The Main reason is because we should never condone murder. The next reason for this is because he has become a martyr for the Pro-Death crowd. Yes this may be a battle for the lives of the incident, but we as a movement must never be happy about the killing of any individual. My hope is that the Doctor was able to make amends before his life was taken. He now understands just how precious each and every life is from conception until natural death. There have been statements made about how he was a champion of woman’s rights, how he was able to provide a safe way for woman to terminate their pregnancy. It has been stated that he was able to provide a save way for late term Abortions. Let’s take a closer look this one. With every abortion there is always one victim left dead, and one left injured. So how could the good Doctor provide a safe procedure? I hope each and everyone in the pro-life movement is praying for Dr. Tiller and his killer. Each one was misguided in their actions.

I would also like to address some of the different things that came out since the Doctor was murdered. One that is of the most importance is the life that was lead by the doctor. We find many problems one being his alcohol and drug addition from the 1980’s. We see different times where his anger has come out. But we can also see that his life was threatened on different occasions. Yes he did take the life of the innocent but we never have the right to kill another. We need to look at how Jesus would have addressed this. This country needs a change of heart. In the early 90’s Dr. Tiller showed photos of the children he helped kill. There were those who had obvious abnormalities and then he said that by aborting them he offered a service so they would not have to suffer in life or be still born. Thus he decided that he knew better then God. To show his hatred The Doctor told Randall Terry “Too bad your mother’s abortion failed,” how terrible is that. Then in 1992 when Pro-Life activists were chained to his clinic gate he stated the Republican Party had become a party controlled by “religious fanatics.” “This right here represents what the Republican Party is all about right now,” said Tiller, a lifelong Republican at the time. “They have been taken over by religious fanatics like this man right here who wants to deprive the citizens of the United States … of their religious freedoms.” (Judy L. Thomas and David Klepper; The complex life of George Tiller; http://www.kansascity.com/703/story/1237637.html June 7, 2009). Let’s look closely at this statement. Who is it that is depriving people of their rights? I would have to say that it is the Doctor. He thinks that it is OK to deprive people to their right to life. This right is removed from these innocent victims, in the place were they should be the most safe, in –their mothers womb. Yes we in the pro-life movement have been made out to be fanatics but we need to look at the other side also. In order to make women think that they are not doing something wrong they tell lies. They have stated that it is just a bunch of cells not a person. an embryo, or fetus. During the holocaust of the 1930’s and 40’s there the people were told that they were not people they were "Jews". Here in America we are going through our own holocaust or genocide and we are doing nothing about it. The people who allow this to happen could be called "Nazis" and the "doctors" preforming the procedures the "SS". but that would be stooping to their low statement that pro-lifers are just "religious fanatics". Our nation will have to answer for the evil that we do here at home.

My main hope is that we are able to through prayer, peaceful protest, and addressing our elected officials with letters and phone calls stop the genocide here in America. If this does not work we as Catholics must never cast a vote that could make us enablers of this genocide. If we do this we need to refrain from receiving communion until we have been to confession. We need to offer a rosary for the souls of all the children aborted by Doctor Tiller, Doctor Tiller, and his killer. I will not name his killer here because I do not want to glorify him. What he did was wrong and we need to find a better way to make our point.

Jesus Prayer

Jesus Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.


Domine Iesu Christe, Fili Dei, miserere mei, peccatoris.

What is the Immaculate Conception if it is not when Mary conceived Jesus and why did the Church wait until 1854 to proclaim it a doctrine or Dogma? 2

I would like to continue the discussion on the Immaculate Conception with more from the early Church Fathers. I will also add more from scripture. As we look into what St Andrew of Crete said in both a sermon and a canon we see him calling Mary immaculate and sinless (Jurgens Vol. 3, 1970). We also can find St. Germain of Constantinople calling Mary the Immaculate Lady (Jurgens Vol. 3, 1970). So from the earliest times of the Church we find leaders calling Mary Immaculate. This can only be done through a special act of God. This act happened at the time of Mary’s conception. So can we find other areas in scripture where there may be proof that Mary was indeed sinless.

The best place to see one precast for Mary is in Exodus. We see the Ark of the Covenant and how it is to be built. In Exodus 25:11-21 we read “And thou shalt overlay it with the purest gold, within and without; and over it thou shalt make a golden crown round about: And four golden rings, which thou shalt put at the four corners of the ark: let two rings be on the one side, and two on the other. Thou shalt make bars also of setim wood, and shalt overlay them with gold. And thou shalt put them in through the rings that are in the sides of the ark, that it may be carried on them: And they shall be always in the rings, neither shall they at any time be drawn out of them. And thou shalt put in the ark the testimony which I will give thee. Thou shalt make also a propitiatory of the purest gold: the length thereof shall be two cubits and a half, and the breadth a cubit and a half. Thou shalt make also two cherubims of beaten gold, on the two sides of the oracle. Let one cherub be on the one side, and the other on the other. Let them cover both sides of the propitiatory, spreading their wings, and covering the oracle, and let them look one towards the other, their faces being turned towards the propitiatory wherewith the ark is to be covered. In which thou shalt put the testimony that I will give thee. Thence will I give orders, and will speak to thee over the propitiatory, and from the midst of the two cherubims, which shall be upon the ark of the testimony, all things which I will command the children of Israel by thee. Thou shalt make a table also of setim wood, of two cubits in length, and a cubit in breadth, and a cubit and a half in height.” Only the purest gold was to be used. If God was so particular about what was going to carry his word written on stone think how much more he would want to have of His Word in flesh.
We also look at some of the common arguments against the Immaculate Conception. The first is from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans 3:23 here we read the “all have sinned and are deprived Gods glory”. This is address by looking at what is meant by St Paul when he says “all”. If we are to that this literally we will have to include children under the age of reason and Adam and Eve before the fall. We then must also include Jesus in this. If God has allowed exceptions to this why could he not have included Mary in the exceptions (Keating, 1988). We could also address St Luke’s Gospel where we find Mary saying “My spirit rejoices in God my savior” LK 1:47. Catholics never state that Mary never needed a savior. We just believe that God (Jesus) gave her a special grave at the time of her conception therefore saving her at that time (Chacon & Burnham, 2003).
Again I ask if you have any questions to please ask. If you would like to comment please do so. I will try to address these as I am able. Thank you for reading and God Bless you.





Resources

Chacon, Fr. F., & Burnham, J. (2003). Beginning Apologetics 6; How to Explain and Defend Mary. Farmington, NM. San Juan Seminars.

Holweck, F. (1910). Immaculate Conception. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved April 12, 2009 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07674d.htm

Jurgens, W.A. (1970). The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume 1. MN: The Liturgical Press.

Jurgens, W.A. (1970). The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume 2. MN: The Liturgical Press.

Jurgens, W.A. (1970). The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume 3. MN: The Liturgical Press.

Keating K. (1988). Catholicism and Fundamentalism; The Attack on “Romanism” by “Bible Christians”. San Francisco, CA. Ignatius Press.

Marians of the Immaculate Conception. (2008). The Blue Scapular and the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception. National Shrine of the Divine Mercy, Stockbridge, MA.

Was Mary Assumed Body and Soul into Heaven?

Introduction

The Assumption of Mary is a topic often proposed to Catholics, accompanied by the challenging question: where is it in the Bible? Addressing this, many struggle to find a straightforward answer, often relying on tradition. In this exploration, I will delve into the biblical roots of the Assumption, drawing from scripture and Church Tradition to shed light on this doctrine.

Biblical Precedence for the Assumption

Contrary to the belief that Mary ascended to heaven under her own power, Catholic doctrine holds that Jesus, in His divine nature, assumed Mary's body and soul into heaven. This concept finds resonance in biblical instances. Genesis 5:24 speaks of Enoch, "taken" by God, and Hebrews 11:5 narrates Enoch's ascension due to his faith. Similarly, 2 Kings 2:11 depicts Elijah's fiery chariot ascent. Moreover, after Christ's death, saints were resurrected, suggesting their bodies might have gone to heaven.

The Symbolism of the Ark

To understand the Assumption, considering Mary as the Ark of the Covenant is essential. In Revelation 11:19-12:1, the heavenly temple reveals the Ark, representing Mary. Just as the Ark carried the Word of God in imperishable form, Mary bore the incarnate Word. Just as the Ark was preserved, Mary, being sinless, wouldn't undergo corruption.

Theological Insight from Early Church Fathers

Early Church Fathers, like St. Gregory of Tours and St. John Damascene, provide valuable insights into the Assumption. St. Gregory's Eight Books of Miracles elucidates the event, while St. John Damascene's homilies affirm Mary's bodily assumption into heaven. These perspectives bolster the theological basis for this doctrine.

Conclusion

In essence, the Assumption of Mary finds biblical support through analogies, symbols, and early Church writings. Exploring these facets not only deepens our understanding of this doctrine but also strengthens the connection between biblical teachings and Catholic traditions. For further discussions or queries, feel free to engage, and I'll gladly provide more insights backed by research and Church teachings.

References

Catholic Answers. (2005). The Essential Catholic Survival Guide. San Diego, CA: Catholic Answers, Inc.

Jurgens, W.A. (1970). The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume 3. MN: The Liturgical Press.

Universal Living Rosary Association

A special message from Father Daniel of Tanzania stationed in Australia

Dear Fellow Members of the Living Rosary Association,

I wanted to share with you some thoughts about our commitment as Christians to keeping Christ at the center of our lives. If Jesus is not the foundation of our lives, we have no foundation and we have no life worth living. The question we must ask ourselves is: Do we want Jesus? If we are determined to be like everyone else in our community then we will not sense any need for Christ. We live in a society that focuses heavily on self-interest. For example, when someone is asked to help another, the question that many respond with is, "What do I get in return?" This is not the way of the Christian. The only concern of a Christian is Jesus Christ and striving to be more like Him. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He must be the Cornerstone of our lives. It's all about You, Jesus.

There is a cost, however. Sure, when we preach the good news and stand up for Jesus, we are often joined by fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who also wish to change the world for the better. But we are also often rejected by many who want nothing to do with Jesus, His Way, or His Life. Have others asked you to join them in something that is against the life of Jesus? Have you ever had to say, "No" -- no to drugs, no to alcohol, no to sex outside of marriage, no to gossip, no to destroying someone's reputation, no to excluding someone, no to cheating, no to stealing, etc. And when we do say "No," what happens? Quite often, we are rejected by others. We need to lift these individuals up in prayer for they are not just rejecting us. They are rejecting Our Lord. The stone that is being rejected is Jesus. We live for Jesus. We share His Life and His Love. We also share in His rejection and His crucifixion. We also share in His recreation of the world into the Kingdom of God.

This is reflected in the gospel of the Good Shepherd. Jesus is the good and most faithful shepherd. He offers Himself up completely for His people. He and He alone is our life and our salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ, the world is healed. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are healed.

With love,
Father Daniel




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

United with Heaven's Plan for Peace
Dear Devoted Apostles of the Living Rosary Association,

Today we faithfully remember and celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima and Her important messages to the world regarding the need for prayer and penance. It was in Our Lady's messages more than 90 years ago that She warned God's children to amend their lives in order to prevent further suffering and wars.

In 1916, three shepherd children Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta (ages seven to nine), of the mountain village of Fatima, Portugal, were visited by the Angel of Portugal prior to Our Lady's appearances. The Angel told them to pray constantly to the Most High, and to accept and endure the sufferings sent to them by the Lord.

A beautiful gift of Our Lady's messages was the reminder to all, of the spiritual triumph that is achieved when the Rosary is prayed with great devotion. Our Lady said, "Say the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war…if they do what I tell you, many souls will be saved, and there will be peace…But if they do not stop offending God, another and worse one will begin in the reign of Pius XI."

Before the child Jacinta died in 1920, she revealed one of the messages she had received from Our Lady: "Tell everybody that God gives graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary…and that the Heart of Jesus wishes to be venerated together with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for the Lord has confided the peace of the world to Her."

Our Lady of Fatima requested the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart and the Communion of reparation on the First Saturdays.

She proclaimed to Lucia, the eldest of the three children to whom She appeared, "Jesus wishes to make use of you to have me acknowledged and loved. He wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the path that leads you to God."

Pope Pius XII issued an Encyclical in 1948 to the whole world calling upon every family and every diocese to make the consecration. Lucia, who became a Carmelite nun, wrote that, although God was pleased with this act, it was incomplete.

We will know that the Immaculate Heart of Mary has triumphed, just as She promised, when the Holy Father united with all of the Bishops gather in Rome to define the fifth Marian dogma - that Our Blessed Mother is the Mediatrix of All Graces And Co-Redemptrix of the World. This will be the outward sign of the Triumph of her Immaculate Heart.

Through the Fatima revelations, Our Lord made it known that the sacrifice He requires of each person is the faithful accomplishment of their daily duty through prayer and sacrifice.

Our Lord said, "All that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours." (Mark 12:24) The daily Rosary increases our faith, hope and charity. It enhances our belief, adoration, trust and our love for Jesus and Our Blessed Mother. It sanctifies us and helps us avoid sin.

Sister Lucia wrote, "Jesus wishes that it be made clear to souls that the true penance He wants and requires consists first of all in the sacrifice that each one must make to fulfill his own religious and temporal duties."

My love and prayers are with all of you and your families always.

Your fellow servant and sister in Christ, together we labor for the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary,

Bon courage, dear Child of Mary,

Patti Melvin, ULRA Director

Please pray for me as I will pray for you all the days of my life!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Spiritual Communion with Mary
O Immaculate Queen of Heaven and Earth, Mother of God and Mediatrix of every Grace! I believe that Thy dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, is truly and substantially contained in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love Him above all things and I long to receive Him into my heart. Since I cannot now receive Him sacramentally, be so good as to place Him spiritually in my soul.

O my Jesus, I embrace Thee as One Who has already come and I unite myself entirely to Thee. Never permit me to be separated from Thee. Amen.

Sister Lucia helped write the Fatima Morning Offering. As soon as we awaken, we should give our thoughts to God and consecrate the day to Him by praying the Morning Offering:

O my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary (here kiss the Brown Scapular), I offer Thee the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, joining with it my every thought, word and action of this day.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Note of Gratitude
We want to offer our heartfelt thanks and deepest appreciation to Thomas Nelson of TAN Publishingfor his most generous donation of more than 100,000 books to the Universal Living Rosary Association of Saint Philomena (ULRA). Nelson, who is a strong devotee of St. Philomena, gifted our missionary work with sacred books ranging from catechisms of the Catholic Church, to Our Lady, St. Joseph, St. Philomena and many other saints, and more. Each one is such a treasure of our faith and is so needed in the remote areas of the world where Christ's most vulnerable people are starved for His sacred word.

We would also like to thank one of our members, who wishes to remain anonymous, for funding the entire cost to have the books loaded and delivered by truck to our Texas residence. As the old adage goes, give a person a fish and you feed him for a day, but teach him how to fish and you've fed him for a lifetime. With the help of these books souls will learn their faith and be able to explain and defend it for the remainder of their lives.






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our Mission
The Living Rosary's purpose is accomplished by helping bring about the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the world. Our Blessed Mother is our direct way to Jesus Christ and her holy Rosary is one of the most powerful spiritual weapons to bring about the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She is the fountain of grace which is poured out upon us through the Most Holy Rosary and the Scapular of Mt. Carmel.



We need your continued strong commitment. God knows what is necessary for the current spiritual battle and he will inspire souls to fulfill these needs. But it is our duty to make known to you these needs. Each month hundreds of 'mission parcels' loaded with spiritual treasures for our poor missionaries are carefully and lovingly packed. The Priority box from the post office is 12x12x6 and can be loaded with up to 20 pounds of materials. We include Rosaries, miraculous medals, Scapulars, leaflets, newsletters, two TAN books, large color prints, the blessed cords and holy oil of St. Philomena, decade cards and registration lists for the leaders and priests. Each box costs $53.95 to send. Our very mission is united to the plan for peace that Our Lady delivered at Fatima. Make it part of your "Daily Duty" to encourage the faithful to take up a decade in the Living Rosary and help reach the missions with the tools they need to know and live the message of Our Lady at Fatima. Through this work we have been given a beautiful opportunity to carry out Christ's work and pass on our faith to as many souls as possible.



It is Our Lady who summons us to Her service in this sacred work of souls – souls for whom Our Lord shed His Blood on Cavalry. We must join the children of Fatima and consecrate our hearts to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Sacred Heart of Jesus. Everything else will fall into place according to Our Lord's plan.



In John 7:37, Jesus said, "Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink." Our united work and prayers of the most Holy Rosary will continue to help spread God's message of hope and peace and quench the spiritual thirst of His lost sheep.

O Blessed Mother, make us live in God, with God, and for God and "May the favor of the Lord our God be ours. Prosper the work of our hands!" (Psalm 90:17)


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Share Your Gift of Faith
For centuries, our cherished Catholic faith has been passed from person to person, parent to child, etc. Each of us carries in our heart a special memory of how God first graced us with the knowledge of the faith and how Our Blessed Mother, St. Philomena, Venerable Pauline Jaricot and other saints changed our lives and brought us closer to Christ.

In our work in the Universal Living Rosary Association, we see first hand how millions of souls are currently living without that knowledge of God and are living outside of His grace. We have been given a beautiful opportunity to carry out Christ's work and pass on our faith and blessings to others who would otherwise never be introduced to Our Lord, the Savior of all mankind. Just as we pray for the souls in Purgatory who have no one to pray for them, we should also make it a part of our life's mission to pass on our faith to as many souls as possible who have no one else to pass it on to them, who don't know Our Lord and His promise of salvation.



The Living Rosary Association was founded by Venerable Pauline Marie Jaricot at Lyon, France in 1826, at the age of 27. She first founded the Propagation of the Faith at the age of twenty. Pauline as a close friend of Saint Jean Marie Vianney, the Curé of Ars. It was approved and richly indulgenced by Pope Gregory XVI, and accorded official canonical status on January 27, 1832.

The Living Rosary Association began its revival on December 8, 1986, with 30 local members. Blessed 1000-fold by Our Lady and under the powerful patronage of St. Philomena, the membership is now 11,320,018 and has been planted in every continent of the world. Over 3/4 of the membership lies in foreign and Third World countries. Each member is asked to voluntarily give a small monthly donation. There is no other financial support other than from its members. The funds received are placed directly back into the work of our Missionary Centers around the world. For those who are unable to contribute a monetary donation, we ask for your fervent prayers that our material needs are met.

Click here to become a member
Click here to sign up to receive future issues of our ULRA NewsFlash email
The Holy Rosary according to the Method of St. Louis de Montfort


Patti Melvin, Director
Universal Living Rosary Association
P.O. Box 1303, Dickinson, Texas 77539, U.S.A.
Fax: (281) 337-3722 / (281) 309-9821
E-Mail: Filomena@Philomena.org
Web: www.Philomena.org
(Pakistan) www.ULRAPak.com
(UK) www.WaysideAudio.com
(Ukraine) www.LivingRosary.org.ua
web site by richard donley fox

What is the Immaculate Conception if it is not when Mary conceived Jesus and why did the Church wait until 1854 to proclaim it a doctrine or Dogma?

How can the Church change its teaching or add new teaching after 1800 years? This is a good question and again the fast answer is it didn’t. I do plan to address this from the view point of scripture and Tradition. This is a difficult question to answer so please bear with me I try to explain the Church’s view point and as always please feel free to ask any questions or add something you think I may have missed. If you do add something please state the references for the research that you used.

As a starting point I would like to address what the Constitution Ineffabilis Deus of December 8th 1854 from Pope Leo IX states. This was what defined the Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. It pronounced and defined that the Blessed Virgin Mary "in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin" Holweck, F. (1910). This is about Mary been conceived with out the stain of original sin. Ok, so this did not start until the 19th centenary. How can a church change its doctrine or core its beliefs. The easy answer is that it can not. The full truth was given to the church at time of Christ’s death. There has been no new revelation given. So when did Catholics start to believe in the Immaculate Conception? We can look into this and also address where in scripture we can see references to the possibility of an Immaculate Conception.

I would like to point out just one reference that would show that Catholics did not make this doctrine in the 19th century. We can look back 400 years eairler to the year 1484 When St Beatrice de Silva Menesses founded the order of Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. One of the requirements of this order was to wear the Scapular of the Immaculate Conception beneath there habits. Again in 1583 the Venerable Servant of God founded the Congregation of Oblates of the Immaculate Conception. This order then developed the Blue Scapular after Sister Ursula received a vision of the Blessed Mother (Marians of the Immaculate Conception. 2008). So we can find evidence of this teaching much earlier the 1854.

We can also look at the writings of the early Church Fathers. I will start with St Ephraim from his Nisibene Hymns These were written about 370 A.D. [27,8] “You alone and Your Mother are more beautiful then any others; For there is no blemish in you, nor any stains upon your Mother. Who of my children can compare in beauty to these (Jurgens Vol. 1, 1970)? By stating that there are no blemishes on Mary, St Ephraim is stating that she had no sin. Who else stated that Mary had no sin? We can look at St Ambrose of Milan’s Commentary on Psalm 118; 397-399A.D. Here we find St Ambrose saying “Come, then, and search out Your sheep, not through Your servant or hired men, but do it Yourself. Lift me up bodily and in the flesh, which is fallen in Adam. Lift me up not from Sara but from Mary, a virgin not only undefiled but a virgin whom grace has made inviolate, free of every stain of sin (Jurgens Vol.2, 1970).


When we look into scripture we can find inferences to the fact that Mary was with out sin. To start we can look at the Gospel of Luke. Here we find the passages of the announcement to Mary. It states; ”And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David: and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Who having heard, was troubled at his saying and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God. Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Jesus. 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. And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? 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. And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren. Because no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:26-28 Douay-Rheims). The question to ask here is how someone is “full of grace”, if they are in a state of sin? We can not be in a state of grace if we have sin on our soul. The only way to achieve this is either through baptism or the sacrament of reconciliation or confession. Mary received neither of these prior to Jesus enacting these sacraments. The only way to be free of sin at that time was by a special grace from God. This grace was given to Mary at the time of her conception (which occurred in the normal fashion) so she could become the Ark of the Covenant carrying God’s Word.

This is just a start of this discussion it will need to be added to in the future. Again please ask any questions or make any additions to this. I will address them as they are posted.


Resources

Holweck, F. (1910). Immaculate Conception. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved April 12, 2009 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07674d.htm

Marians of the Immaculate Conception. (2008). The Blue Scapular and the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception. National Shrine of the Divine Mercy, Stockbridge, MA.

Jurgens, W.A. (1970). The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume 1. MN: The Liturgical Press.

Jurgens, W.A. (1970). The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume 2. MN: The Liturgical Press.

Jurgens, W.A. (1970). The Faith of the Early Fathers Volume 3. MN: The Liturgical Press.

The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows

The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows
This rosary recalls the seven major sorrows that the Virgin Mary suffered through—albeit with love and compassion—during the life, trials, and agonizing death of her son, Jesus Christ. It's very special to the immaculate heart of the Blessed Mother, and she wants all of us to say it as often as possible.
The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows dates back to the Middle Ages, but it gained new popularity following the Marian apparitions in Kibeho, which have been approved by the Catholic Church. During Mary's apparitions to Marie-Claire Mukangango, she assigned the young visionary a mission to reintroduce this special rosary to the world. Before her untimely death, Marie-Claire did just that, traveling widely to teach it to thousands of people, who then taught it to thousands of others.
During her visitations to Kibeho, the Holy Virgin revealed that this rosary possesses immense spiritual power for those who say it sincerely. She promised that when prayed with an open and repentant heart, the rosary would win us the Lord’s forgiveness for our sins and free our souls from guilt and remorse. She also promised that over time, the rosary would develop within us a deep understanding of why we sin, and that knowledge would give us the wisdom and strength to change or remove any internal flaws, weakness of character, or personality faults, causing unhappiness and keeping us from enjoying the joyous life God intended for us to live.
The Rosary of the Seven Sorrows contains all the power you need to change your life for the better, obtain peace and happiness, realize your true potential, fulfill all your dreams, and grow closer to God’s light. During one of her many apparitions to Marie-Claire, the Holy Virgin suggested that it be prayed as often as possible, but especially on Tuesdays and Fridays: Tuesday being the day Mary first appeared to Mary-Claire, and Friday being the day Christ was crucified. The Blessed Mother also stressed that the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows is intended to complement—and in no way replace—the traditional rosary. Pray both rosaries regularly and you’ll be doubly blessed!
* * *
The following is a description of this amazing rosary as the Virgin Mother herself taught it to Marie-Claire in Kibeho. It may be prayed aloud or contemplated silently, alone or with others; the key is for the prayers, reflections, and meditations to always come from the depths of your heart.
I speak from experience when I promise that you’ll never regret learning this wonderful rosary and that you’ll soon lose track of the countless blessings that praying it will bring into your life. It’s my hope that more people than ever before will learn just how amazing this rosary is.
Please note that you don’t necessarily need any special beads to say these prayers; just follow the diagram and instructions below. (It is, however, important that when you reach each sorrowful mystery, you take a moment to meditate on the magnitude of Mary’s suffering … and the strength of her love.)

1. On the large medal at the bottom of the rosary:
a. Make the sign of the cross.b. Say the Introductory Prayer. c. Say the Act of Contrition.
2. For each of the next three beads, say a Hail Mary.
3. On the first small medal:
a. Say the prayer, "Most merciful mother, remind us always about the sorrows of your son, Jesus." b. Meditate upon the First Sorrowful Mystery. c. Say the Lord’s Prayer.
4. For each of the next seven beads, say a Hail Mary.
5. On the second small medal:
a. Say the prayer, "Most merciful mother" b. Meditate upon the Second Sorrowful Mystery. c. Say the Lord’s Prayer.
6. For each of the next seven beads, say a Hail Mary.
7. On the third small medal:
a. Say the prayer, "Most merciful mother" b. Meditate upon the Third Sorrowful Mystery. c. Say the Lord’s Prayer.
8. For each of the next seven beads, say a Hail Mary.
9. On the fourth small medal:
a. Say the prayer, "Most merciful mother" b. Meditate upon the Fourth Sorrowful Mystery. c. Say the Lord’s Prayer.
10. For each of the next seven beads, say a Hail Mary.
11. On the fifth small medal:
a. Say the prayer, "Most merciful mother" b. Meditate upon the Fifth Sorrowful Mystery. c. Say the Lord’s Prayer.
12. For each of the next seven beads, say a Hail Mary.
13. On the sixth small medal:
a. Say the prayer, "Most merciful mother" b. Meditate upon the Sixth Sorrowful Mystery. c. Say the Lord’s Prayer.
14. For each of the next seven beads, say a Hail Mary.
15. On the seventh small medal:
a. Say the prayer, "Most merciful mother" b. Meditate upon the Seventh Sorrowful Mystery. c. Say the Lord’s Prayer.
16. For each of the next seven beads, say a Hail Mary.
17. Upon reaching the large medal at the bottom of the rosary:
a. Say the prayer, "Most merciful mother" b. Say the Concluding Prayer. c. Say three times: "Mary, who was conceived without sin and who suffered for us, pray for us."
Make a sign of the cross – your prayers will be answered!

Introductory Prayer
My God, I offer You this rosary for Your glory, so I may honor Your Holy Mother, the Blessed Virgin, so I can share and meditate upon her suffering. I humbly beg You to give me true repentance for all my sins. Give me wisdom and humility so that I may receive all the indulgences contained in this prayer.

Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell; but most of all because they offend You, my God, You Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
Before Each Mystery, Pray
Most merciful mother, remind us always about the sorrows of your son, Jesus.

1. The First Sorrowful Mystery: The Prophecy of Simeon (Lk 2:22-35)
The Blessed Virgin Mary took Jesus to the temple, as tradition demanded that all newborns be blessed in the temple before God. There, the old priest Simeon held the baby Jesus in his hands, and the Holy Spirit filled his heart. Simeon recognized Jesus as the promised Savior and held the child high toward heaven, thanking God for granting his wish that he would live long enough to behold the Messiah.
"Now Your servant may depart this life in peace, my Lord," he said. Then he looked upon Mary and proclaimed, "And you, woman, a sword of sorrow will pierce your heart because of the suffering that shall befall your child."
The Blessed Virgin knew that she had given birth to the Savior of humankind, so she immediately understood and accepted Simeon’s prophecy. Although her heart was deeply touched by this favor of bearing the baby Jesus, her heart remained heavy and troubled, for she knew what had been written about the ordeals and subsequent death of the Savior. Whenever she saw her son, she was constantly reminded of the suffering he would be subject to, and his suffering became her own.

Prayer: Beloved Mother Mary, whose heart suffered beyond bearing because of us, teach us to suffer with you and with love, and to accept all the suffering God deems it necessary to send our way. Let us suffer, and may our suffering be known to God only, like yours and that of Jesus. Do not let us show our suffering to the world, so it will matter more and be used to atone for the sins of the world. You, Mother, who suffered with the Savior of the world, we offer you our suffering, and the suffering of the world, because we are your children. Join those sorrows to your own and to those of the Lord Jesus Christ, then offer them to God the Father so that He will know the one who created it. You are a mother greater than all.

2. The Second Sorrowful Mystery: The Flight into Egypt (Mt 2:13-15)
Mary’s heart broke and her mind was greatly troubled when Joseph revealed to her the words of the angel: they were to wake up quickly and flee to Egypt because Herod wanted to kill Jesus. The Blessed Virgin hardly had time to decide what to take or leave behind; she took her child and left everything else, rushing outside before Joseph so that they could hurry as God wished. Then she said, "Even though God has power over everything, He wants us to flee with Jesus, His son. God will show us the way, and we shall arrive without being caught by the enemy."
Because the Blessed Virgin was the mother of Jesus, she loved him more than anyone else. Her heart was deeply troubled at the sight of her infant son’s discomfort, and she suffered greatly because he was cold and shivering. While she and her husband were tired, sleepy, and hungry during this long travel, Mary’s only thought was about the safety and comfort of her child. She feared coming face to face with the soldiers who had been ordered to kill Jesus because she was aware that the enemy was still in Bethlehem. Her heart remained constantly anguished during this flight. She also knew that where they were going, there would be no friendly faces to greet them.

Prayer: Beloved Mother, who has suffered so much, give to us your courageous heart. Give us strength so that we can be brave like you and accept with love the suffering God sends our way. Help us to also accept all the suffering we inflict upon ourselves and the suffering inflicted upon us by others. Heavenly Mother, you alone purify our suffering so that we may give glory to God and save our souls.

3. The Third Sorrowful Mystery: The Loss of Jesus in the Temple (Lk 2:41-52)
Jesus was the only begotten son of God, but he was also Mary’s child. The Blessed Virgin loved Jesus more than herself because he was her God. Compared to other children, he was most unique because he was already living as God. When Mary lost Jesus on their way back from Jerusalem, the world became so big and lonely that she believed she couldn’t go on living without him, so great was her sorrow. (She felt the same pain her son felt when he was later abandoned by his apostles during the Passion.)
As the Holy Mother looked anxiously for her beloved boy, deep pain welled in her heart. She blamed herself, asking why she didn’t take greater care of him. But it was not her fault; Jesus no longer needed her protection as before. What really hurt Mary was that her son had decided to stay behind without her consent. Jesus had pleased her in everything so far: he never annoyed her in any way, nor would he ever displease his parents. She knew that he always did what was necessary, however, so she never suspected him of being disobedient.

Prayer: Beloved Mother, teach us to accept all our sufferings because of our sins and to atone for the sins of the whole world.

4. The Fourth Sorrowful Mystery: Mary Meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary (Lk 23:27-31)
Mary witnessed Jesus carrying the heavy cross alone—the cross on which he was to be crucified. This didn’t surprise the Blessed Virgin because she already knew about the approaching death of Our Lord. Noting how her son was already weakened by the numerous hard blows given by the soldiers’ clubs, she was filled with anguish at his pain. The soldiers kept hurrying and pushing him, though he had no strength left. He fell, exhausted, unable to raise himself. At that moment, Mary’s eyes, so full of tender love and compassion, met her son’s eyes, which were pained and covered in blood. Their hearts seemed to be sharing the load; every pain he felt, she felt as well. They knew that nothing could be done except to believe and trust in God and dedicate their suffering to Him. All they could do was put everything in God’s hands.

Prayer: Beloved Mother, so stricken with grief, help us to bear our own suffering with courage and love so that we may relieve your sorrowful heart and that of Jesus. In doing so, may we give glory to God Who gave you and Jesus to humanity. As you suffered, teach us to suffer silently and patiently. Grant unto us the grace of loving God in everything. O Mother of Sorrows, most afflicted of all mothers, have mercy on the sinners of the whole world.

5. The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery: Mary Stands at the Foot of the Cross (Jn 19:25-27)
The Blessed Virgin Mary continued to climb the mount to Calvary, following behind Jesus painfully and sorrowfully, yet suffering silently. She could see him staggering and falling with the cross some more, and she witnessed her son being beaten by soldiers who pulled his hair to force him to stand up. Despite his innocence, when Jesus reached the top of Calvary, he was ordered to confess in front of the crowd so they could laugh at him. Mary deeply felt her son’s pain and humiliation, particularly when his tormentors forced him to strip off what was left of his clothing. The Blessed Virgin felt sick at heart seeing these tyrants crucifying her son naked, shaming him terribly merely to amuse the jeering crowd. (Jesus and Mary felt more disgrace than normal people did because they were without sin and holy.) The Blessed Virgin Mary felt pain beyond bearing when Jesus was stretched out on the cross. His murderers sang merrily as they approached him with hammers and nails. They sat on him heavily so that he could not move when they spiked him to the wood. As they hammered the nails through his hands and feet, Mary felt the blows in her heart; the nails pierced her flesh as they tore into her son’s body. She felt her life fading away. As the soldiers lifted the cross to drop it into the hole they’d dug, they deliberately jerked it, causing the force of Jesus’ bodily weight to tear through the flesh on his hands and expose his bone. The pain shot through his body like liquid fire. He endured three excruciating hours skewered on the cross, yet the physical pain was nothing compared to the agonizing heartache he was forced to bear seeing his mother suffering below him. Mercifully, he finally died.

Prayer: Beloved Mother, Queen of the Martyrs, give us the courage you had in all your sufferings so that we may unite our sufferings with yours and give glory to God. Help us follow all His commandments and those of the Church so that Our Lord’s sacrifice will not be in vain, and all sinners in the world will be saved.

6. The Sixth Sorrowful Mystery: Mary Receives the Dead Body of Jesus in Her Arms (Jn 19:38-40)
The friends of Jesus, Joseph and Nicodemus, took down his body from the cross and placed it in the outstretched arms of the Blessed Virgin. Then Mary washed it with deep respect and love because she was his mother. She knew better than anyone else that he was God incarnate who’d taken a human body to become the Savior of all people.
Mary could see the terrifying wounds from the flogging Jesus had received while at Pilate’s. His flesh had been shredded and large strips had been torn from his back. His entire body had been so lacerated that gaping wounds crisscrossed him from head to toe. Mary found that the wounds from the nails were less severe than those caused by the flogging and by carrying the cross. She was horrified at the thought that her son had managed to carry the heavy, splintered cross all the way to Calvary. She saw the circle of blood the crown of thorns had made on his forehead and, to her horror, realized that many of the barbed thorns had dug so deeply into his skull they had penetrated his brain. Looking at her broken boy, the Holy Mother knew that his agonizing death was far worse than the torture reserved for the wickedest of criminals. As she cleaned his damaged body she envisioned him during each stage of his short life, remembering her first look at his beautiful newborn face as they lay in the manger, and every day in between, until this heartrending moment as she gently bathed his lifeless body. Her anguish was relentless as she prepared her son and Lord for burial, but she remained brave and strong, becoming the true Queen of Martyrs. As she washed her son she prayed that everybody would know the riches of paradise and enter the gates of heaven. She prayed for every soul in the world to embrace God’s love, so her son’s torturous death would benefit all humankind and not have been in vain. Mary prayed for the world; she prayed for all of us.

Prayer: We thank you, Beloved Mother, for your courage as you stood beneath your dying child to comfort him on the cross. As our Savior drew his last breath, you became a wonderful mother to all of us; you became the Blessed Mother of the world. We know that you love us more than our own earthly parents do. We implore you to be our advocate before the throne of mercy and grace so that we can truly become your children. We thank you for Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer, and we thank Jesus for giving you to us. Please pray for us, Mother.

7. The Seventh Sorrowful Mystery: Jesus Is Placed in the Tomb (Jn 19:41-42)
The life of the Blessed Virgin Mary was so closely linked to that of Jesus she thought there was no reason for her to go on living any longer. Her only comfort was that his death had ended his unspeakable suffering. Our sorrowful mother, with the help of John and the holy women, devoutly placed Jesus’ body in the sepulcher, and she left him there as any other dead person. She went home with great pain and tremendous sorrow; for the first time she was without him, and her loneliness was a new and bitter source of pain. Her heart had been dying since her son’s heart had stopped beating, but she was certain that our Savior would soon be resurrected.
Prayer: Most Beloved Mother, whose beauty surpasses that of all mothers, mother of mercy, mother of Jesus, and mother to us all, we are your children and we place all our trust in you. Teach us to see God in all things and all situations, even our sufferings. Help us to understand the importance of suffering, and also to know the purpose of our suffering as God had intended it. You yourself were conceived and born without sin, were preserved from sin, yet you suffered more than anybody else has. You accepted suffering and pain with love and with unsurpassed courage. You stood by your son from the time he was arrested until he died. You suffered along with him, felt every pain and torment he did. You accomplished the will of God the Father; and according to His will, you have become our savior with Jesus. We beg you, dear Mother, to teach us to do as Jesus did. Teach us to accept our cross courageously. We trust you, most merciful mother, so teach us to sacrifice for all the sinners in the world. Help us to follow in your son’s footsteps, and even to be willing to lay down our lives for others.

Concluding Prayer: Queen of Martyrs, your heart suffered so much. I beg you, by the merits of the tears you shed in these terrible and sorrowful times, to obtain for me and all the sinners of the world the grace of complete sincerity and repentance. Amen.

Three times, say: Mary, who was conceived without sin and who suffered for us, pray for us

Retrived From Mother of All Peoples Web site: http://www.motherofallpeoples.com/articles/marian-devotion/the-rosary-of-the-seven-sorrows.html