Posted on 09/12/2018 11:57:33 PM PDT by Salvation
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From: 1 Corinthians 8:1b-7, 11-13
Idols Have No Real Existence
[4] Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has
no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” [5] For although there
may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods”
and many “lords”—[6] yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are
all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom
are all things and through whom we exist.
Not Scandalizing the Weak
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Commentary:
8:1-10:31. In these chapters St Paul deals with food offered to idols. In pagan re-
ligions a portion of the sacrificial food went to the donors, who could consume it
in the temple itself (cf. 1 Cor 8:10), or take it home. The meat could also be sold
in the market. For some Christians this posed no problem; but for others — who
were afraid that by eating this meat they were in some way taking part in the ido-
latrous worship from which it came (cf. 8:7) various practical questions arose:
when buying meat, ought they to ask where it came from? (cf. 10:25-26); could
they accept invitations to meals at which food of this type might be served? (cf.
10:27ff). The Council of Jerusalem, which took place around 48-50, had written
to the Christians of Antioch, Syria and Cilicia telling them to abstain from food
which had been sacrificed to idols (cf. Acts 15:23-29). When St Paul was prea-
ching in Corinth two years later, he probably did not say anything on this sub-
ject, given the very pagan environment of that city—very different from the expe-
rience of the communities the Council had been addressing: if the faithful at Co-
rinth had to avoid meat of this kind, they should have had to isolate themselves
from their fellow-citizens.
In replying to the questions put to him, the Apostle first explains the general prin-
ciples that apply: they may eat meat of this type, for idols have no real existence
(8:1-6), but sometimes charity requires that they do abstain from it (8:7-13); he
illustrates what he says by quoting what he himself does (9:1-27) and lessons
drawn from the history of Israel (10:1-13); and, finally, he deals with particular
queries the Corinthians have raised (10:14-33).
1-6. Clearly, idols are mere things and therefore food sacrificed to them can be
eaten without any qualms (10:25-27). But some Christians did not yet grasp this,
and they were being shocked to see other Christians eating this food (cf. 8:7-13).
So, St Paul again reminds the Corinthians (cf. 1: 18-34) that they must not rely
on their “knowledge” unless it be accompanied by charity. “The source of all the
Corinthians’ problems”, St John Chrysostom comments, “was not their lack of
knowledge but their lack of charity and lack of concern for their neighbor. This
was the cause of the divisions in that church, the cause of the vanity which was
blinding them and of all the disorder for which the Apostle has censured them
and will censure them. He will often speak to them about charity, and try to cla-
rify, so to speak, the fount of all good things [...]. Have love: that way your know-
ledge will not lead you astray. I should like your knowledge to outstrip that of
your brethren. If you love them, far from being aloof and looking down on them,
you will strive to have them share your insights” (”Hom. on 1 Cor, 20, ad loc.”).
3. “One is known by him [God]”: that is, God has recognized him as one of his
own, God is pleased with him: it is almost the same as “God has called him”,
“God has chosen him”.
4-6. St Paul reminds the Corinthians, who were living in a pagan and polytheistic
environment, of the first and basic truth of the Christian creed: there is only one
true God. Even though the idols which pagans worship were called “gods” (as in
Greek mythology) or “lords” (as heroes or divinized emperors were described),
they were such only in the imagination of men. The only one who really merits
these titles is the living and true God who is revealed to us in Sacred Scripture
as One and Three.
6. Both the Father and the Son are God and Lord: “Just as St Paul does not take
from the Father the rank of Lord, when he says that the Son is the only Lord, so
he is not denying the Son the rank of God, when he says that the Father is the
one and only God” (St John Chrysostom, “Hom. on 1 Cor, 20, ad loc.”) In fact the
title “Lord” is used with reference to God; so, calling Jesus Christ “Lord” is the
same as calling him “God”; besides, what the Apostle here says of the Father,
he attributes elsewhere to the Son; and vice versa (cf., e.g., Rom 11:36; Eph
4:5-6; Col 16-17; Heb 2:10). Creation is something that is done by all three divine
persons of the Blessed Trinity, and the Blessed Trinity is also the end or goal of
all created things (cf. Fourth Council of the Lateran, “De Fide Catholica”, chap 1).
Although St Paul does not mention the Holy Spirit in this passage, he does
speak of him elsewhere in the letter (cf. 2:10ff; 6:19-20).
7-13. Charity requires that one abstain from food sacrificed to idols, if eating can
cause scandal to others, can be “a stumbling block to the weak” (v. 9). The Apos-
tle’s teaching is clear: if there is any danger of scandalizing someone for whom
Christ has died, “I will never eat meat” (v. 13; cf. similar teaching in Rom 14:14-
23).
The scandal caused to those Christians is an example of what is called giving
“scandal to the weak”, whereby an action in itself good or indifferent can lead
others into sin because of their ignorance, weakness or poor understanding of
the faith. In such cases also one should, out of charity, try to avoid giving scan-
dal (cf. note on Rom 14:13-21).
11-13. St Paul emphasizes the gravity of the scandal given by those Corinthians
who in the blindness of their pride failed to realize the harm they were doing to
other brothers in the faith: they might lead into perdition someone “for whom
Christ died”; our Lord sacrificed himself on the cross for each and every person
in every generation. “How precious must man be in the eyes of the Creator, if he
‘gained so great a Redeemer’ (”Exsultet” at the Easter Vigil), and if God ‘gave us
his only son’ in order that man ‘should not perish but have eternal life’ (cf. Jn 3:
16)” (Bl. John Paul II, “Redemptor Hominis” 10). One should never lose sight
of the immense value of every individual, a value which can be deduced especial-
ly from the price paid for him—the death of Christ. “For every soul is a wonderful
treasure; every person is unique and irreplaceable. Every single person is worth
all the blood of Christ” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 80).
The Apostle also points out that by giving scandal “you sin against Christ”: our
Lord himself said this: “as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren you
did it to me” (Mt 25:40; cf. 25:45); this was something deeply engraved on Paul’s
soul ever since the time, when he was persecuting Christians, he heard Jesus
say to him, “Why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4). The Christian should always
see Christ in others.
From this it follows logically that, if necessary, as he says, “I will never eat meat.”
One must be ready for any sacrifice if the salvation of a soul is at stake.
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
From: Luke 6:27-38
Love of Enemies
[32] “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners
love those who love them. [33] And if you do good to those who do good to you,
what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. [34] And if you lend to
those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners
lend to sinners, to receive as much again. [35] But love your enemies, and do
good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and
you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish.
[36] Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
[37] “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be
condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; [38] give, and it will be given to you;
good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your
lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
*********************************************************************************************
Commentary:
27. “In loving our enemies there shines forth in us some likeness to God our Fa-
ther, who, by the death of His Son, ransomed from everlasting perdition and re-
conciled to Himself the human race, which previously was most unfriendly and
hostile to Him” (”St. Pius V Catechism”, IV, 14, 19). Following the example of
God our Father, we must desire for everyone (even those who say they are our
enemies) eternal life, in the first place; additionally, a Christian has a duty to re-
spect and understand everyone without exception, because of his or her intrin-
sic dignity as a human person, made in the image and likeness of the Creator.
28. Jesus Christ teaches us by example that this is a real precept and not just
a pious recommendation; even when nailed to the cross He prayed to His Father
for those who had brought Him to such a pass: “Father, forgive them, for they
know not what they do” (Lk 23:34). In imitation of the Master, St Stephen, the
first martyr of the Church, when he was being stoned, prayed to our Lord not to
hold the sin against his persecutors (cf. Acts 7:60). In the liturgy of Good Friday
the Church offers prayers and suffrages to God on behalf of those outside the
Church, asking Him to give them the grace of faith; to release from their igno-
rance those who do not know Him; to give Jews the light to the truth; to bring
non-Catholic Christians, linked by true charity, into full communion with our Mo-
ther the Church.
29. Our Lord gives us more examples to show us how we should act if we want
to imitate the mercy of God. The first has to do with one of what are traditionally
called the “spiritual works of mercy” — forgiving injuries and being patient with
other people’s defects. This is what He means in the first instance about turning
the other cheek.
To understand what our Lord is saying here, St. Thomas comments that “Sa-
cred Scripture needs to be understood in the light of the example of Christ and
the saints. Christ did not offer the cheek to be struck in the house of Annas (Jn
18:22ff), nor did St. Paul when, as we are told in the Acts of the Apostles, he
was beaten in Philippi (Acts 16:22f). Therefore, we should not take it that Christ
literally meant that you should offer the other cheek to some to hit you; what He
was referring to was your interior disposition; that is, if necessary we should be
ready not to be intolerant of anyone who hurts us, and we should be ready to put
up with this kind of treatment, or worse than that. That was how the Lord acted
when He surrendered His body to death” (”Commentary on St John”, 18, 37).
36. The model of mercy which Christ sets before us is God Himself, of whom St.
Paul says, ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father
of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions” (2 Cor
1:3-4). “The first quality of this virtue”, Fray Luis de Granada explains, “is that it
makes men like God and like the most glorious thing in Him, His mercy (Lk 6:
36). For certainly the greatest perfection a creature can have is to be like his
Creator, and the more like Him he is, the more perfect he is. Certainly one of
the things which is most appropriate to God is mercy, which is what the Church
means when it says that prayer: ‘Lord God, to whom it is proper to be merciful
and forgiving...’. It says that this is proper to God, because just as a creature,
as creature, is characteristically poor and needy (and therefore characteristical-
ly receives and does not give), so, on the contrary, since God is infinitely rich
and powerful, to Him alone does it belong to give and not to receive, and there-
fore it is appropriate for Him to be merciful and forgiving” (”Book of Prayer and
Meditation”, third part, third treatise).
This is the rule a Christian should apply: be compassionate towards other peo-
ple’s afflictions as if they were one’s own, and try to remedy them. The Church
spells out this rule by giving us a series of corporal works of mercy (visiting and
caring for the sick, giving food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty...) and spiritual
works of mercy (teaching the ignorant, correcting the person who has erred,
forgiving injuries...): cf. “St Pius X Catechism”, 944f.
We should also show understanding towards people who are in error: “Love and
courtesy of this kind should not, of course, make us indifferent to truth and good-
ness. Love, in fact, impels the followers of Christ to proclaim to all men the truth
which saves. But we must distinguish between the error (which must always be
rejected) and the person in error, who never loses his dignity as a person even
though he flounders amid false or inadequate religious ideas. God alone is the
judge and searcher of hearts; He forbids us to pass judgment on the inner guilt
of others” (Vatican II, “Gaudium Et Spes”, 28).
38. We read in Sacred Scripture of the generosity of the widow of Zarephath,
whom God asked to give food to Elijah the prophet even though she had very
little left; He then rewarded her generosity by constantly renewing her supply
of meal and oil (1 Kings 17:9ff). The same sort of thing happened when the boy
supplied the five loaves and two fish which our Lord multiplied to feed a huge
crowd of people (cf. Jn 6:9) — a vivid example of what God does when we give
Him whatever we have, even if it does not amount to much.
God does not let Himself be outdone in generosity: “Go, generously and like a
child ask Him, ‘What can You mean to give me when You ask me for “this”?’”
(St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 153). However much we give God in this life, He will
give us more in life eternal.
*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
Liturgical Colour: White.
First reading |
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1 Corinthians 8:1-7,11-13 © |
Your brethren may be weaker than you: do not lead them astray |
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Responsorial Psalm |
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Psalm 138(139):1-3,13-14,23-24 © |
Gospel Acclamation | Jm1:21 |
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Or: | 1Jn4:12 |
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Gospel | Luke 6:27-38 © |
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Love your enemies |
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Luke | |||
English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Vulgata Clementina | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
Luke 6 |
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27. | But I say to you that hear: Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you. | Sed vobis dico, qui auditis : diligite inimicos vestros, benefacite his qui oderunt vos. | αλλ υμιν λεγω τοις ακουουσιν αγαπατε τους εχθρους υμων καλως ποιειτε τοις μισουσιν υμας |
28. | Bless them that curse you, and pray for them that calumniate you. | Benedicite maledicentibus vobis, et orate pro calumniantibus vos. | ευλογειτε τους καταρωμενους υμιν προσευχεσθε υπερ των επηρεαζοντων υμας |
29. | And to him that striketh thee on the one cheek, offer also the other. And him that taketh away from thee thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also. | Et qui te percutit in maxillam, præbe et alteram. Et ab eo qui aufert tibi vestimentum, etiam tunicam noli prohibere. | τω τυπτοντι σε επι την σιαγονα παρεχε και την αλλην και απο του αιροντος σου το ιματιον και τον χιτωνα μη κωλυσης |
30. | Give to every one that asketh thee, and of him that taketh away thy goods, ask them not again. | Omni autem petenti te, tribue : et qui aufert quæ tua sunt, ne repetas. | παντι δε τω αιτουντι σε διδου και απο του αιροντος τα σα μη απαιτει |
31. | And as you would that men should do to you, do you also to them in like manner. | Et prout vultis ut faciant vobis homines, et vos facite illis similiter. | και καθως θελετε ινα ποιωσιν υμιν οι ανθρωποι και υμεις ποιειτε αυτοις ομοιως |
32. | And if you love them that love you, what thanks are to you? for sinners also love those that love them. | Et si diligitis eos qui vos diligunt, quæ vobis est gratia ? nam et peccatores diligentes se diligunt. | και ει αγαπατε τους αγαπωντας υμας ποια υμιν χαρις εστιν και γαρ οι αμαρτωλοι τους αγαπωντας αυτους αγαπωσιν |
33. | And if you do good to them who do good to you, what thanks are to you? for sinners also do this. | Et si benefeceritis his qui vobis benefaciunt, quæ vobis est gratia ? siquidem et peccatores hoc faciunt. | και εαν αγαθοποιητε τους αγαθοποιουντας υμας ποια υμιν χαρις εστιν και γαρ οι αμαρτωλοι το αυτο ποιουσιν |
34. | And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thanks are to you? for sinners also lend to sinners, for to receive as much. | Et si mutuum dederitis his a quibus speratis recipere, quæ gratia est vobis ? nam et peccatores peccatoribus fnerantur, ut recipiant æqualia. | και εαν δανειζητε παρ ων ελπιζετε απολαβειν ποια υμιν χαρις εστιν και γαρ αμαρτωλοι αμαρτωλοις δανειζουσιν ινα απολαβωσιν τα ισα |
35. | But love ye your enemies: do good, and lend, hoping for nothing thereby: and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the sons of the Highest; for he is kind to the unthankful, and to the evil. | Verumtamen diligite inimicos vestros : benefacite, et mutuum date, nihil inde sperantes : et erit merces vestra multa, et eritis filii Altissimi, quia ipse benignus est super ingratos et malos. | πλην αγαπατε τους εχθρους υμων και αγαθοποιειτε και δανειζετε μηδεν απελπιζοντες και εσται ο μισθος υμων πολυς και εσεσθε υιοι υψιστου οτι αυτος χρηστος εστιν επι τους αχαριστους και πονηρους |
36. | Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. | Estote ergo misericordes sicut et Pater vester misericors est. | γινεσθε ουν οικτιρμονες καθως και ο πατηρ υμων οικτιρμων εστιν |
37. | Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven. | Nolite judicare, et non judicabimini : nolite condemnare, et non condemnabimini. Dimitte, et dimittemini. | και μη κρινετε και ου μη κριθητε μη καταδικαζετε και ου μη καταδικασθητε απολυετε και απολυθησεσθε |
38. | Give, and it shall be given to you: good measure and pressed down and shaken together and running over shall they give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you shall mete withal, it shall be measured to you again. | Date, et dabitur vobis : mensuram bonam, et confertam, et coagitatam, et supereffluentem dabunt in sinum vestrum. Eadem quippe mensura, qua mensi fueritis, remetietur vobis. | διδοτε και δοθησεται υμιν μετρον καλον πεπιεσμενον και σεσαλευμενον και υπερεκχυνομενον δωσουσιν εις τον κολπον υμων τω γαρ αυτω μετρω ω μετρειτε αντιμετρηθησεται υμιν |
Pray for Pope Francis.
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We thank you, God our Father, for those who have responded to your call to priestly ministry.
Accept this prayer we offer on their behalf: Fill your priests with the sure knowledge of your love.
Open their hearts to the power and consolation of the Holy Spirit.
Lead them to new depths of union with your Son.
Increase in them profound faith in the Sacraments they celebrate as they nourish, strengthen and heal us.
Lord Jesus Christ, grant that these, your priests, may inspire us to strive for holiness by the power of their example, as men of prayer who ponder your word and follow your will.
O Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, guard with your maternal care these chosen ones, so dear to the Heart of your Son.
Intercede for our priests, that offering the Sacrifice of your Son, they may be conformed more each day to the image of your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Saint John Vianney, universal patron of priests, pray for us and our priests
This icon shows Jesus Christ, our eternal high priest.
The gold pelican over His heart represents self-sacrifice.
The border contains an altar and grapevines, representing the Mass, and icons of Melchizedek and St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney.
Melchizedek: king of righteousness (left icon) was priest and king of Jerusalem. He blessed Abraham and has been considered an ideal priest-king.
St. Jean-Baptiste Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests.
1. Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
2. The Apostles Creed: 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; 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; from there He shall come 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 the life everlasting. Amen.
3. 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. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
4. (3) 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. (Three times)
5. 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.
6. Fatima Prayer: Oh, my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy.
Announce each mystery, then say 1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be and 1 Fatima prayer. Repeat the process with each mystery.
End with the Hail Holy Queen:
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 towards 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.
Final step -- The Sign of the Cross
The Mysteries of the Rosary By tradition, Catholics meditate on these Mysteries during prayers of the Rosary. The biblical references follow each of the Mysteries below.
The Luminous Mysteries or Mysteries of Light (Thursdays) see Rosarium Virginis Mariae
1. Jesus' Baptism in the Jordan (II Corinthians 5:21, Matthew 3:17 and parallels) [Spiritual fruit - Gratitude for the gift of Faith]
2. Jesus' self-manifestation at the wedding of Cana (John 2:1- 12) [Spiritual fruit - Fidelity]
3. Jesus' proclamation of the Kingdom of God, with His call to conversion (Mark 1:15, Mark 2:3-13; Luke 7:47- 48, John 20:22-23) [Spiritual fruit - Desire for Holiness]
4. Jesus' Transfiguration (Luke 9:35 and parallels) [Spiritual fruit - Spiritual Courage]
5. Jesus' institution of the Eucharist, as the sacramental expression of the Paschal Mystery. (Luke 24:13-35 and parallels, 1 Corinthians 11:24-25) [Spiritual fruit - Love of our Eucharistic Lord]
St. Michael the Archangel
~ PRAYER ~
St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle
Be our protection against the wickedness
and snares of the devil;
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God,
Cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen
+
Sea of Sorrow
Oh! on what a sea of sorrow
Was the Virgin-Mother cast,
When her eyes with tears o'erflowing
Gazed upon her Son aghast,
From the bloodstained gibbet taken,
Dying in her arms at last.
In her bitter desolation,
His sweet mouth, His bosom too,
Then His riven side beloved,
Then each hand, both wounded through,
Then His feet, with blood encrimsoned,
Her maternal tears bedew.
She, a hundred times and over,
Strains Him closely to her breast
Heart to Heart, arms arms enfolding,
Are His wounds on her impressed:
Thus, in sorrow's very kisses,
Melts her anguished soul to rest.
Oh, dear Mother! we beseech thee,
By the tears thine eyes have shed,
By the cruel death of Jesus
And His wounds' right royal red,
Make our hearts o'erflow with sorrow
From thy heart's deep fountainhead.
To the Father, Son, and Spirit,
Now we bend on equal knee:
Glory, sempiternal glory,
To the Most High Trinity;
Yea! perpetual praise and honor
Now and through all ages be.
Novena Prayer To Our Sorrowful Mother
Most Blessed and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, who didst stand generously beneath the cross, beholding the agony of thy dying Son; by the sword of sorrow which then pierced thy soul, by the sufferings of thy sorrowful life, by the unutterable joy which now more than repays thee for them; look down with a mother's pity and tenderness, as I kneel before thee to compassionate thy sorrows, and to lay my petition with childlike confidence in thy wounded heart. I beg of thee, O my Mother, to plead continually for me with thy Son, since He can refuse thee nothing, and through the merits of His most sacred Passion and Death, together with thy own sufferings at the foot of the cross, so to touch His Sacred Heart, that I may obtain my request,
For to whom shall I fly in my wants and miseries, if not to thee, O Mother of mercy, who, having so deeply drunk the chalice of thy Son, canst most pity us poor exiles, still doomed to sigh in this vale of tears? Offer to Jesus but one drop of His Precious Blood, but one pang of His adorable Heart; remind Him that thou art our life, our sweetness, and our hope, and thou wilt obtain what I ask, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hail Mary
Virgin Most Sorrowful, pray for us
(Seven times each)
Mary, most holy Virgin and Queen of Martyrs, accept the sincere homage of my filial affection. Into thy Heart, pierced by so many swords, do thou welcome my poor soul. Receive it as the companion of thy sorrows at the foot of the Cross, on which Jesus died for the redemption of the world. With thee, O sorrowful Virgin, I will gladly suffer all the trials, contradictions, and infirmities which it shall please Our Lord to send me. I offer them all to thee in memory of thy sorrows, so that: every thought of my mind and every beat of my heart may be an act of compassion and of love for thee. And do thou, sweet Mother, have pity on me, reconcile me to thy Divine Son, Jesus; keep me in His grace and assist me in my last agony, so that I may be able to meet thee in Heaven and sing thy glories.
Most holy Virgin and Mother, whose soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow in the Passion of thy Divine Son, and who in His glorious Resurrection wast filled with never ending joy at His triumph, obtain for us who call upon thee, so to be partakers in the adversities of Holy Church and the Sorrows of the Sovereign Pontiff, as to be found worthy to rejoice with them in the consolations for which we pray, in the charity and peace of the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Litany of the Seven Sorrows
Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God, the Father of heaven, God the Son, Redeemer of the world, . God the Holy Ghost, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Holy Virgin of virgins, Mother of the Crucified, Sorrowful Mother, Mournful Mother, Sighing Mother, Afflicted Mother, Foresaken Mother, . Desolate Mother, Mother most sad, Mother set around with anguish, Mother overwhelmed by grief, Mother transfixed by a sword, Mother crucified in thy heart, Mother bereaved of thy Son, Sighing Dove, Mother of Dolors, Fount of tears, Sea of bitterness, Field of tribulation, Mass of suffering, Mirror of patience, Rock of constancy, Remedy in perplexity, Joy of the afflicted, Ark of the desolate, Refuge of the abandoned,. Shiled of the oppressed, Conqueror of the incredulous, Solace of the wretched, Medicine of the sick, Help of the faint, Strength of the weak, Protectress of those who fight, Haven of the shipwrecked, Calmer of tempests, Companion of the sorrowful, Retreat of those who groan, Terror of the treacherous, Standard-bearer of the Martyrs, Treasure of the Faithful, Light of Confessors, Pearl of Virgins, . Comfort of Widows, . Joy of all Saints, Queen of thy Servants, Holy Mary, who alone art unexampled, Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin, |
Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, graciously hear us. |
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Let us pray, --- O God, in whose Passion, according to the prophecy of Simeon, a sword of grief pierced through the most sweet soul of Thy glorious Blessed Virgin Mother Mary: grant that we, who celebrate the memory of her Seven Sorrows, may obtain the happy effect of Thy Passion, Who lives and reigns world without end, Amen. |
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The Seven Sorrows of Our Lady 1. The Prophecy of Simeon 2. The Flight into Egypt . 3. The Loss of Jesus in the Temple 4. Mary meets Jesus Carrying the Cross 5. The Crucifixion 6. Mary Receives the Dead Body of Her Son 7. The Burial of Her Son and Closing of the Tomb. |
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Consecration to Our Lady of Sorrows Most holy Virgin and Queen of Martyrs, Mary, would that I could be in Heaven, there to contemplate the honors rendered to thee by the Most Holy Trinity and by the whole Heavenly Court! But since I am still a pilgrim in this vale of tears, receive from me, thy unworthy servant and a poor sinner, the most sincere homage and the most perfect act of vassalage a human creature can offer thee. In thy Immaculate Heart, pierced with so many swords of sorrow, I place today my poor soul forever; receive me as a partaker in thy dolors, and never suffer that I should depart from that Cross on which thy only begotten Son expired for me. With thee, O Mary, I will endure all the sufferings, contradictions, infirmities, with which it will please thy Divine Son to visit me in this life. All of them I offer to thee, in memory of the Dolors which thou didst suffer during thy life, that every thought of my mind, every beating of my heart may henceforward be an act of compassion to thy Sorrows, and of complacency for the glory thou now enjoyest in Heaven. Since then, O Dear Mother, I now compassionate thy Dolors, and rejoice in seeing thee glorified, do thou also have compassion on me, and reconcile me to thy Son Jesus, that I may become thy true and loyal son (daughter); come on my last day and assist me in my last agony, even as thou wert present at the Agony of thy Divine Son Jesus, that from this painful exile I may go to Heaven, there to be made partaker of thy glory. Amen. |
Litany of Sorrows
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Prayer To Our Lady of Sorrows, by St. Bridget
O Blessed Virgin Mary, Immaculate Mother of God, who didst endure a martyrdom of love and grief beholding the sufferings and sorrows of Jesus! Thou didst cooperate in the benefit of my redemption by thine innumerable afflictions and by offering to the Eternal Father His only begotten Son as a holocaust and victim of propitiation for my sins. I thank thee for the unspeakable love which led thee to deprive thyself of the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus, true God and true Man, to save me, a sinner. Oh, make use of the unfailing intercession of thy sorrows with the Father and the Son, that I may steadfastly amend my life and never again crucify my loving Redeemer by new sins, and that, persevering till death in His grace. I may obtain eternal life through the merits of His Cross and Passion. Amen.
Mother of love, of sorrow and of mercy, pray for us.
Saint Alphonsus Liguori's Prayer To The Mother Of Sorrows
O, my Blessed Mother, it is not one sword only with which I have pierced thy heart, but I have done so with as many as are the sins which I have committed. O, Lady, it is not to thee, who art innocent, that sufferings are due, but to me, who am guilty of so many crimes. But since thou hast been pleased to suffer so much for me, by thy merits, obtain me great sorrow for my sins, and patience under the trials of this life, which will always be light in comparison with my demerits; for I have often deserved Hell.
Amen.
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