Thursday, February 12, 2009

What Mary says about your problems?

There is no problem, no matter how difficult it is, whether temporal or above all, spiritual, in the personal life of each one of us, of our families, or the families of the world, or of the religious communities, or even of the life of peoples and nations that cannot be solved by the Rosary"

Memorare

Latin Version: Memorare
Memorare, O piissima Virgo Maria, non esse auditum a saeculo, quemquam ad tua currentem praesidia, tua implorantem auxilia, tua petentem suffragia, esse derelictum. Ego tali animatus confidentia, ad te, Virgo Virginum, Mater, curro, ad te venio, coram te gemens peccator assisto. Noli, Mater Verbi, verba mea despicere; sed audi propitia et exaudi. Amen.

Remember, O Most Gracious Virgin Mary / Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Note:
The Memorare is believed to have been written by St. Bernard of Clairvaux (A.D. 1090-1154) of the Cistercian Order.

Hail, Holy Queen / Salve Regina

Latin Version: Salve Regina
Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae: vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevae. Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria. Amen.

Hail, Holy Queen

Hail holy Queen, mother of mercy, hail 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 valley 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.

L. Pray for us O Holy Mother of God
G. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Fatima Prayer / Oratio Fatimae

Latin Version: Oratio Fatimae
Oh mi Jesu, dimitte nobis debita nostra, libera nos ab igne inferni, conduc in caelum omnes animas, praesertim illas quae maxime indigent misericordia tua.

Note:
This prayer is often added to the Rosary, right after each "Glory Be" prayer. This practice springs from the instructions of Mary given to the young children at Fatima.

Fatima Prayer

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who most in eed of Thy mercy.

Ave Maria/ Hail Mary

Latin Version: Ave Maria (or Salutatio Angelica)
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and in the hour of our death. Amen.

Note:
A beautiful story about St. Gabriel's greeting to Mary, on which the Hail Mary is based, from "The Golden Legend," compiled by Jacobus de Voragine, Archbishop of Genoa, 1275: "Of the salutation that the angel brought to the glorious Virgin, we read an example of a noble knight which for to amend his life gave and rendered himself into an abbey of Citeaux, and, forasmuch as he was no clerk, there was assigned to him a master for to teach him, and to be with the brethren clerks, but he could nothing learn in long time that he was there save these two words: Ave Maria, which words he had so sore imprinted in his heart that always he had them in his mouth wheresoever he was. At last he died and was buried in the churchyard of the brethren. It happened after, that upon the burials grew a right fair fleur-de-lis, and in every flower was written in letters of gold: Ave Maria, of which miracle all the brethren were marvelled, and they did open the sepulchre, and found that the root of this fleur-de-lis came out of the mouth of the said knight, and anon they understood that our Lord would have him honoured for the great devotion that he had to say these words. Ave Maria."

The Our Father / Pater Noster

Latin Version: Pater Noster (Oratio Dominica)
Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur Nomen tuum. Adveniat regnum tuum. Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie, et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. Et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo.

The Our Father (The Lord's Prayer)

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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.Amen.

Note:
See Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. The Catholic version prayed in the traditional liturgy does not include the concluding Doxology said by Protestants and which is not found in Scripture: "For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, amen." This doxology, though, or at least variations of it, are found as early as the first century, for example, in the Didache. The doxology is used by priests in the new rite of the Mass.

Also, some Catholics strike their breast at the words "forgive us our trespasses" (striking the breast is the classic sign of repentance, made formally during the Confiteor, the Nobis Quoque Peccatoribus, the Agnus Dei, and the Domine, Non Sum Dignus at the Mass, and informally any time to express regret.)

The English line "lead us not into temptation" is actually a bad translation, as God does not and would not actively "lead us" into temptation, a notion that would make Him the Author of evil. Though the Pater has been prayed this way in English for hundreds of years and there is no need to change it now, one must keep in mind that a more literal translation would be "allow us not to succumb to temptation." James 1:13-14: "Let no man, when he is tempted, say that he is tempted by God. For God is not a tempter of evils: and He tempteth no man. But every man is tempted by his own concupiscence, being drawn away and allured."

The Glory Be / Doxologia Minor

Latin Version: Doxologia Minor
Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

The Glory Be

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.

Symbolum Apostolorum/ The Apostles' Creed

Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem, Creatorem caeli et terrae. Et in Iesum Christum, Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum, qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto, natus ex Maria Virgine, passus sub Pontio Pilato, crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus, descendit ad inferos, tertia die resurrexit a mortuis, ascendit ad caelos, sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis, inde venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos. Credo in Spiritum Sanctum, sanctam Ecclesiam Catholicam, sanctorum communionem, remissionem peccatorum, carnis resurrectionem, vitam aeternam. Amen.

The Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into Hell. On the third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Note:
The Apostles' Creed is said during Baptisms, during the Rosary (optionally), at the Divine Office, etc.

Regarding the line, "He descended into Hell": "Hell" refers to "Sheol" (Hebrew) or "Hades" (Greek) -- the only "realm of the dead" before Heaven was opened. Sheol consists of different areas, or levels:
  • Infernus: the place of torment for the unrighteous damned and the demons. This is the place one most often thinks of when one hears the word "Hell.";

  • Purgatory: where the saved souls go to be purged of the temporal effects of their sins;

  • the Limbo of the Infants (Limbus Infantium): a possible place of perfect, natural subjective happiness to which those who died before Baptism (and so are denied the Beatific Vision) but who have not committed personal sins (so don't warrant punishment) might go;

  • the Limbo of the Patriarchs (Limbus Patrum): where the righteous who lived before Jesus came to earth went. It is this part of "Hell" that Christ descended into. It no longer exists.

Signum Crucis/ The Sign of the Cross

In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

Note:
When saying this prayer, one makes the physical Sign of the Cross by touching forehead, breast, left shoulder, then right shoulder. When devoutly prayed while making the Sign, a partial indulgence is gained under the usual conditions.

The Sign of the Cross

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Friday, February 6, 2009

How to pray the Rosary


1 - Looking at the cross, we kiss it while we make the sign of the cross and pray the Come, O, Holy Ghost. This is followed by the Apostles' Creed which is a summary of all the things we believe as Catholics.


2 - On this separate bead, we pray an Our Father, the prayer that Jesus taught us.


3 - On each of the next three beads, we pray the Hail Mary.


4 - On this separate bead, we announce the first mystery. (e.g. Joyful) Make your petition (Say your problem) here, one at a time and tell Mary about your pain.We pray the Our Father.


5 - We pray one Hail Mary on each of the next 10 beads. Then we pray the Glory Be, Fatima prayer, and then announce the second mystery.


6 - Make your next petition, reflect, and pray the Our Father.


7 - 13 - Repeat these prayers for every decade, only changing the mystery and making new petition for each decade.


We have now reached the end of the Rosary. On the medal that connects the beads we pray the Hail Holy Queen. Recite the Memorare and and Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary.


Make the sign of the Cross.

Get to know Mary's Rosary

The Rosary is made up of 59 beads and you need to know at least 8 traditional prayers, 5 mysteries which is part of 15 mysteries, broken up to 3 parts to complete a 5 decade Rosary. For the beginners, it will take at least 20-30 minutes to recite the Rosary. Don't worry too much about making mistakes! You'll overcome those mistakes as you go along and it will become second nature to you.

By the way, I also have to remind you, that since the Rosary is powerful, the devil will make many attempt to disturb and stop you from praying the Rosary.This actually is a good sign. Do not be easily bothered by these disturbances. Just proceed with your intention. Mary will look after you.

So, you can choose to either say it or no at all. Ask yourself - do you want Mary to solve your problems? Are you desperate for help and have nowhere else to turn to? Do you want to be stucked in your problems, and watch your life go into ruin? The choice is yours - it is up to you to make that decision.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Build your confidence in Mary

Recite the 'Memorare' prayer several times and truly believe every word that you have recited. Mary is a person, flesh and blood, with a soul, just like you and me. Mary's home is in heaven but she comes down to earth whenever God wills it. She comes down to earth to help Her children. Mary solves your problems - powerfully through the prayers of the Rosary. Do you know how to pray the Rosary? Don't worry, there's always a first time for everyone and if you are already praying the Rosary, I say, Ave Maria to you, persevere! The world is a battleground between good and evil.

Latin Version: Memorare

Memorare, O piissima Virgo Maria, non esse auditum a saeculo, quemquam ad tua currentem praesidia, tua implorantem auxilia, tua petentem suffragia, esse derelictum. Ego tali animatus confidentia, ad te, Virgo Virginum, Mater, curro, ad te venio, coram te gemens peccator assisto. Noli, Mater Verbi, verba mea despicere; sed audi propitia et exaudi. Amen.

Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Who is Mary?

Mary is my mother and yours too.

Mary is a mother who perpetually helps Her children.

She longs to console and help you. She is patiently waiting for Her children to come to Her and ask for Her help. If you would just let Her take you by the hand, she will gently guide you and show you how to solve your problems.

Start responding to Her by taking Her Holy Rosary. Any man of any faith CAN pray the Rosary. When you pray the Holy Rosary, mention your petitions (or your problems) and have confidence in this beautiful Mother. Entrust with all your heart, all your worries to Her. She is a POWERFUL Mother. Why do I say this? Because She is the Mary spoken in the old and new testaments of the Bible.

She is powerful against the devil:
Genesis 3: 15 - I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.

She is the Mother of God (the one and only true God):

Luke 1: 35 - 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.


All generations call Her 'Blessed':

Luke 1: 46-50 - And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name. And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.