Posted on 12/07/2003 1:54:02 PM PST by Coleus
Your Praises We Sing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
by Bill Dodds On the eve of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, a look at Mary's singular honor.
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Blessed be her immaculate conception.
Blessed be her glorious assumption.
In theory, you are correct - but once we reach the age of reason, we need the Sacraments to help us remain free from sin. Without the Sacraments - particularly Confession and Communion, its doubtful at best, if we could remain free from sin for very long at all. As TotusTuus points out, even though we get baptised, we still suffer the effects of Original Sin, other wise know as concupiscience or "the tendancy toward sin".
Our Blessed Mother, being born without Original Sin, was not subject to concupiscience. Our Blessed Mother, lacking the essential ingredient for sinning therefore lacked its effects or its tendecies - rather, Her tendancy was always toward God and growing in His grace.
That is perhaps the most difficult thing for us to imagine because we struggle to remain in the state of grace, but Our Lady constantly grew in the state of grace.
5-December-2004 -- Vatican Information Service |
CONCEPTIONVATICAN CITY, DEC 5, 2004 (VIS) - Pope John Paul dedicated today's Angelus reflections entirely to the upcoming feast of the Immaculate Conception, as this year marks the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of this dogma by Pope Pius IX.
"We prepare to celebrate with intimate joy," he said, "the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary which this year takes on special meaning. We will commemorate, in fact, the 150 years since the proclamation of this important Marian doctrine.
"We will remember this anniversary on December 8 with a solemn Eucharistic celebration in St. Peter's Basilica where, in 1854 my venerated predecessor, Blessed Pius IX, proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, together with many bishops from every part of the world. Thus we will honor 'Tota pulchra', she whom God chose as the Mother of His only begotten Son."
The Holy Father closed by reminding everyone that in the afternoon, as he does every year, he will go to Rome's famed Piazza di Spagna for the traditional homage to Mary Immaculate. "I invite all of you, dear Romans and pilgrims, to join me in this act of filial veneration to our heavenly Mother."
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O Lord, who, by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, did prepare a fitting dwelling for your Son, we beseech you that as by the foreseen death of your Son, you did preserve her from all stain of sin, grant that through her intercession, we may be favored with the granting of the grace that we seek for at this time...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.
Glorious and immortal Queen of Heaven, we profess our firm belief in your Immaculate Conception preordained for you in the merits of your Divine Son. We rejoice with you in your Immaculate Conception. To the one ever-reigning God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three in one Person, one in nature, we offer thanks for your blessed Immaculate Conception. O Mother of the Word mad Flesh, listen to our petition as we ask this special grace during this novena...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.
O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, and my mother, from the sublime heights of your dignity turn your merciful eyes upon me while I, full of confidence in your bounty and keeping in mind your Immaculate conception and fully conscious of your power, beg of you to come to our aid and ask your Divine Son to grant the favor we earnestly seek in this novena... if it be beneficial for our immortal souls and the souls for whom we pray.
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.
O Most gracious Virgin Mary, beloved Mother of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, intercede with him for us that we be granted the favor which we petition for so earnestly in this novena...O Mother of the Word Incarnate, we feel animated with confidence that your prayers in our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. O Glorious Mother of God, in memory of your joyous Immaculate Conception, hear our prayers and obtain for us our petitions.
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.
O Mother of the King of the Universe, most perfect member of the human race, "our tainted natures solitary boast," we turn to you as mother, advocate, and mediatrix. O Holy Mary, assist us in our present necessity. By your Immaculate Conception, O Mary conceived without sin, we humbly beseech you from the bottom of our heart to intercede for us with your Divine Son and ask that we be granted the favor for which we now plead...
(State your intention here...)
O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.
Recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.
Oh boy! Link-o-rama!
so disappointing ... at close of Mass, the organist kicks in for some exeunt music but no "Immaculate Mary" during communion or anything.
(Not that most Catholics would know the words anymore but still ...)
Thanks for posting this picture! It is my favorite picture of Mary!
Litany of the Blessed Virgin Lord, have mercy on us |
(Not that most Catholics would know the words anymore but still ...) >>
I hear ya. My pastor is more traditional and makes sure the proper music is sung. I don't even remember posting this thread, thanks for the reminder, I'll save it now.
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