Notre Dame de Rouen. The façade of the Gothic Church in France. Photographer: Hippo1947. Licence: SHUTTERSTOCK.

Thursday, 7 June 2018

Saint Peter Julian Eymard. The Founder Of The Congregation Of The Blessed Sacrament.



"Live on The Divine Eucharist, like the Hebrews did on the Manna. Your Soul
can be entirely Dedicated to The Divine Eucharist and very Holy in the midst
of 
your work and contacts with the World." 
(To Isabelle Spazzier, 5 Nov 1859).
Illustration: PINTEREST

The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia.

Saint Peter Julian Eymard SSS (La Mure, Grenoble, France, 1811 – La Mure, August 1868), was a French Catholic Priest, Founder of two Religious Institutes, The Congregation of The Blessed Sacrament Fathers and Brothers, and The Servants of The Blessed Sacrament.

On 20 August 1837, he entered The Society of Mary Seminary at Lyon, France, and made his Profession in February 1840. He worked with Lay Organisations, promoting Devotion to The Blessed Virgin Mary and to The Eucharist, particularly in The Forty Hours Devotion. He rose to the position of Provincial of The Society at Lyon in 1844. His new responsibilities included charge of The Third Order of Mary, a Lay Group Dedicated to Marist spirituality and to promotion of The Christian Family. Saint John Vianney was a member.



His Eucharistic spirituality did not spring full-grown from some mystical experience, but progressively. As Visitor-General, Eymard travelled throughout France to inspect the various Marist Communities. He became familiar with the practice of sustained Eucharistic Worship during a visit to Paris in 1849, when he met with members of The Association of Nocturnal Adorers, who had established Exposition and Perpetual Adoration of The Blessed Sacrament at the Basilica of Our Lady of Victories.

After Praying at The Shrine of Our Lady of Fourviere, on 21 January 1851, Eymard moved to establish a Marist Community Dedicated to Eucharistic Adoration. However, his desire to establish a separate Fraternity promoting Adoration of The Blessed Sacrament was not seen as part of the Charism of The Marists.

His Superiors disapproved, Transferring him to The Marist College at La Seyne-sur-Mer. Eventually, Eymard resolved to leave The Society of Mary, to begin his new Religious Congregation with the Diocesan Priest, Raymond de Cuers.


Logo of The Congregation of The Blessed Sacrament (Societas Sanctissimi Sacramenti).
Motto: Adveniat Regnum Tuum Eucharisticum  (May Your Eucharistic Kingdom Come).
Formation: 13 May 1856.
Date: 1 March 2016.
Source: Own work.
Author: Bendi07.
(Wikimedia Commons)



On 13 May 1856, the Paris Bishops consented to Eymard's Plans for a ‘Society of The Blessed Sacrament’. After many trials, Eymard and Father de Cuers established Public Exposition of The Blessed Sacrament in Paris on 6 January 1857 in a run-down building at 114 rue d’Enfer (which, literally, meant ‘Street of Hell’).

The Congregation of The Blessed Sacrament began working with children in Paris to prepare them to receive their First Communion. It also reached out to non-practicing Catholics, inviting them to repent and begin receiving Communion again. Father Eymard established a Common Rule for the members of The Society and worked toward Papal Approval.

A second Community was established in Marseilles, in 1859, and a third, in Angers, in 1862. Blessed Pope Pius IX granted a Decree of Approbation in June 1863. Eymard was a tireless proponent of frequent Holy Communion, an idea given more authoritative backing by Pope Saint Pius X in 1905. [Editor: Prior to the beginning of the 20th-Century, Holy Communion was normally only received by Catholics a few times a year, especially at Eastertide. Pope Saint Pius X promoted daily reception of Holy Communion, given that one was in a State of Grace in order to receive it.]



On 10 January 1969, Blessed Pope Paul VI issued a Letter to The Superior General, Father Roland Huot, S.S.S., of The Congregation of The Blessed Sacrament, lauding the most excellent function of Adoration of The Blessed Sacrament Outside Mass, declaring all those who do so make their Eucharistic Adoration "in the name of The Church" https://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/P6ADORE.HTM This concession is included in the revised Roman Ritual, Holy Communion and The Worship of The Eucharist Outside Mass, No. 90 in The Editio Typica.

By DECREE of The Congregation for The Sacraments and Divine Worship, dated 9 December 1995, SAINT PETER JULIAN EYMARD, PRIEST, was inserted in The General Roman Calendar with the Rank of Optional Memoria.

Font and fullness of all Evangelisation and striking expression of The Infinite Love of Our Divine Redeemer for mankind, The Holy Eucharist clearly marked the life and pastoral activity of Peter Julian Eymard. He truly deserves to be called an outstanding Apostle of The Eucharist. In fact, his mission in The Church consisted in promoting the centrality of The Eucharistic Mystery in the whole life of The Christian Community.

The French sculptor Auguste Rodin received counsel from Eymard, when Rodin entered The Congregation as a Lay Brother in 1862, having given up art after the death of his sister. Eymard recognised Rodin's talent and advised him to return to his vocation. Rodin later produced a bust of Eymard.


Neo-Gothic "Solar" Monstrance
used in Adoration of The Blessed Sacrament,
at the Hermitage Church of Warfhuizen, Netherlands.
Date: 18 October 2004 (original upload date).
Source: Own work.
Originally from nl.wikipedia; description page is/was here.
(Wikimedia Commons)


English: Bronze Bust of Fr. Julian Eymard, by Rodin, 1863.
Français: Musée Rodin - Bronze - Le Père Eymard 1863.
Date: 27 May 2012.
Source: Own work.
Author: Lomita.
(Wikimedia Commons)



In 1858, together with Marguerite Guillot, he Founded The Servants of The Blessed Sacrament, a Contemplative Congregation for women. He is quoted as saying, "You take Communion to become Holy, not because you already are."

Eymard was a friend and contemporary of Saints Peter Chanel, Marcellin Champagnat, and Blessed Basil Moreau. He died at the age of fifty-seven in La Mure, France, on 1 August 1868, of complications from a stroke.

He was declared Venerable in 1908, Beatified by Pope Pius XI on 12 July 1925, and Canonised by Pope Saint John XXIII on 9 December 1962. (Also Canonised with Saint Eymard were Servite Priest Anthony Mary Pucci (1819–1892) and the Capuchin Lay Brother Francis Mary of Camporosso (1804–1866)). Saint Peter Julian Eymard's Feast Day is Celebrated in The Roman Catholic Church on 2 August. Pope Saint John Paul II named Saint Eymard "Apostle of The Eucharist".

Saint Peter Julian Eymard is a Patron Saint of Saint Jean Baptiste Catholic Church in New York City. A Shrine to the Saint in the Church contains a Reliquary of the Saint. He is recognised as a major contributor to 19th-Century French spirituality.

Wednesday, 6 June 2018

Saint Norbert (1080-1134). Bishop And Confessor. Founder Of The Norbertines. Feast Day, Today, 6 June.


Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.

Saint Norbert.
   Bishop And Confessor.
   Feast Day 6 June.

Double.

White Vestments.




Saint Norbert.
Artist: René de Cramer.
"Copyright Brunelmar/Ghent/Belgium".
Used with Permission.



Norbert, born in 1080 at Xanten, near Cologne, Germany, was educated at The Holy Roman Emperor's Court. One day, when he was riding, accompanied by a servant, he was surprised by a hurricane. Like Saint Paul, on the way to Damascus, he heard a voice calling him to the service of The Church. At that moment, a crash of thunder threw him to the ground. He got up again, determined to Consecrate himself to God.

Having been admitted to Holy Orders, he devoted himself entirely to Preaching The Word of God (Collect).

Later on, guided by The Holy Ghost, Who continually Sanctifies The Church through the Centuries, he chose a Retreat in a deserted spot, called Prémontré, not far from Soissons, and Founded there The Order of Premonstratensians (Collect).

At the death of this Holy Founder, this new family numbered, at this place alone, over one thousand Canons Regular. Saint Norbert shared the full Priesthood of Christ, being Anointed Archbishop of Magdeburg, Germany (Introit, Epistle, Gradual, Offertory). He helped Pope Innocent II to triumph over the Anti-Pope, Anacletus, and was the friend of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. In The Netherlands, he defended Eucharistic Worship against The Heresy of Tanchelmus (see Illustration, above).



Engraving of Prémontré Abbey, Département Aisne, France.
Founded by Saint Norbert in 1120.
Artist: Tavernier de Jonquières.
Date: 1780s.
Source/Photographer: BNF Richelieu Estampes et photographie Rés.
Ve-26j - Fol.

Destailleur Province, t. 5 , n. 1200; Bibliothèque nationale de France
(Wikimedia Commons)

After having put to full profit the talents with which God had entrusted him for the government of his Religious Family and Diocese (Gospel, Communion), "This Man of God," says The Breviary, "full of The Holy Ghost and laden with merits, fell asleep in The Lord, 1134 A.D."

Let us ask of God "to practise what Saint Norbert taught by word and by example" (Collect).

Mass: Státuit.



English: Painting of the triumph of Saint Norbert over the Heretic, Tanchelmus, in 1124.
Deutsch: Der Triumph des hl. Nobert über den Irrlehrer Tanchelm im Jahre 1124.
Artist: Joseph Appiani (1706–1785).
Date of painting: 1750.
Current location: Bavarian National Museum.
Source/Photographer: Self-photographed, User:FA2010, 2009.
(Wikimedia Commons)

Who Would Not Turn Up Every Morning To Assist At Mass In This Beautiful Sanctuary ?



Illustration: FACEBOOK RICHARD HAWKER

Tuesday, 5 June 2018

Saint Boniface. Bishop And Martyr. Feast Day, Today, 5 June.


Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

Saint Boniface.

   Bishop and Martyr.
   Feast Day 5 June.

Double.

Red Vestments.




Saint Boniface,
by Cornelis Bloemaert, circa 1630.
Date: 26 April 2013.
Author: Cornelis Bloemaert (1603-1684).
(Wikimedia Commons)



Saint Boniface was born in England at the end of the 7th-Century. He is one of the great glories of The Order of Saint Benedict. Pope Gregory II sent him to Germany, where, with a chosen band of Monks, he announced The Good News, as Jesus Risen had commanded His Apostles to do, to the people of Hesse, Saxony, and Thuringia (Collect).

Made a Legate of The Apostolic See, by Pope Gregory II, he called together several Synods, among which was the famous Council of Leptines, in the Diocese of Cambrai, Appointed Archbishop of Mainz, by Pope Zachary, he, by his order, anointed Pepin, King of The Franks.

After the death of Saint Willibrord, the Church of Utrecht, in Frisia, was committed to his care. The Frisians massacred him at Dokkum, with thirty of his Monks, in June 755 A.D. His body was buried in the celebrated Abbey of Fulda, which he had Founded.

Mass: Exsultábo.



English: The Imperial Abbey (Prince-Bishopric) of Fulda, Hesse, Germany. Now, Fulda Cathedral.
Deutsch: Reichskloster (Fürstbistum) Fulda. Aufnahme des de:Fuldaer Dom.
Español: Catedral de Fulda.
Photo: 6 April 2004 (original upload date).
Source: Originally from de.wikipedia; description page is/was here.
Author: Author and original uploader was ThomasSD at de.wikipedia.
(Wikimedia Commons)




English: Coat-of-Arms of the Bishops of Fulda.
Deutsch: Wappen des Bistums bzw. des ehemaligen
Fürstbistums und Hochstiftes Fulda.
Date: 29 December 2010.
Source: Own work.
Author: David Liuzzo.
(Wikimedia Commons)




Statue of Saint Boniface, by Werner Henschel, (1830), at Fulda, Hesse, Germany.
Photo: 30 July 2005.
Source: Own work.
(Wikimedia Commons)


The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia.

The Monastery of Fulda was a Benedictine Abbey, in Fulda, in the present-day German State of Hesse. It was Founded in 744 A.D. by Saint Sturm, a Disciple of Saint Boniface. Through the 8th- and 9th-Centuries A.D., the Fulda Monastery became a prominent centre of learning and culture in Germany, and a site of religious significance and Pilgrimage following the burial of Saint Boniface. The growth in population around Fulda would result in its elevation to a Diocese in the 18th -Century.




English: Boniface chops down a cult tree in Hessen, Germany.
Engraving by Bernhard Rode, 1781.
Deutsch: Bonifacius haut in Hessen einen Opferbaum um.
Radierung von Bernhard Rode1781.
Date: artwork: 1781; file: 2009.01.17.
Source: Eigene Fotografie (own photography).
Author: Artwork: Bernhard Rode (1725–1797). File: James Steakley.
(Wikimedia Commons)


Saint Boniface (Latin: Bonifatius) (Circa 675 A.D. – 5 June 754 A.D.), born Winfrid, Wynfrith, or Wynfryth, in the Kingdom of Wessex in Anglo-Saxon England, was a leading figure in the Anglo-Saxon mission to the Germanic parts of The Frankish Empire during the 8th-Century A.D.

He established the first organised Christianity in many parts of Germany. He is the Patron Saint of Germany, the first Archbishop of Mainz and the "Apostle of the Germans". He was killed in Frisia in 754 A.D., along with fifty-two others. His remains were returned to Fulda, where they rest in a sarcophagus, which became a site of Pilgrimage. Facts about Boniface's life and death as well as his work became widely known, since there is a wealth of material available — a number of "Vitae", especially the near-contemporary "Vita Bonifatii auctore Willibaldi", and legal documents, possibly some Sermons, and, above all, his correspondence.

According to the "Vitae", Boniface felled the Donar Oak, Latinised by Willibald, the "Apostle of the Frisians", as "Jupiter's Oak,", near the present-day Town of Fritzlar, in northern Hesse. According to his early biographer, Willibald, Boniface started to chop the Oak down, when suddenly a great wind, as if by a Miracle, blew the ancient Oak over.




Saint Boniface Altar, Fulda Cathedral, Fulda, Germany.
Photo: 21 October 2006 (original upload date).
Source:Transferred from nl.wikipedia to Commons.
Originally from en.wikipedia; description page is/was here.
Author: AJW at Dutch Wikipedia.
(Wikimedia Commons)


When the god ("Jupiter") did not strike him down, the people were amazed and converted to Christianity. He built a Chapel, Dedicated to Saint Peter, from its wood at the site — the Chapel was the beginning of the Monastery in Fritzlar.

Through his efforts to re-organise and regulate The Church of The Franks, he helped shape Western Christianity, and many of the Dioceses, that he proposed, remain today. After his Martyrdom, he was quickly hailed as a Saint, in Fulda, and other areas in Germany and England. His cult is still notably strong today. Boniface is celebrated (and criticised) as a Missionary; he is regarded as a Unifier of Europe, and he is seen (mainly by Catholics) as a Germanic national figure.

Monday, 4 June 2018

Saint Francis Caracciolo (1563-1608). Confessor. Feast Day 4 June.


Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.

Saint Francis Caracciolo.
   Confessor.
   Feast Day 4 June.

Double.

White Vestments.




Saint Francis Caracciolo (1563-1608).
Date of Illustration: 1894.
Source: Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints.
Author: Unknown.
(Wikimedia Commons)



Francis, of the noble family of Caracciolo, in The Abruzzi, Southern Italy, determined, during a severe illness, to devote himself to the Service of God, so as to be ready when The Master should come to take him away (Gospel).

A Letter, delivered to him by mistake, apprised him of a Project of two pious men to Found a new Religious Institute. In this, he saw a providential sign and he became one of the Founders of The Order of Minor Clerks Regular.

At his Profession, he took the name of Francis, on account of his Devotion to Saint Francis of Assisi. To the love of Penance, he added a great zeal for Prayer (Collect). Burning with love for The Blessed Sacrament, his heart melted like wax when he was in the presence of The Tabernacle (Introit), for there he felt the overflowing sweetness prepared by God for those who fear Him (Communion).

He died at the age of forty-four, in 1608, on The Vigil of Corpus Christi, and, "although his life was short, he completed a long course, for a spotless life is equivalent to protracted years" (Epistle).

Following Saint Francis Caracciolo's example, let us Pray and reduce our bodies to subjection (Collect), so that, burning like him with the fire of Charity, we may worthily kneel at The Communion Table (Secret).

Mass: Factum est.

New Forensic Evidence Validates The Shroud Of Turin And The Resurrection Of The Person In It. Now Say It's A Fake !!!




New Forensic Evidence Validates The Shroud Of Turin
And The Resurrection Of The Person In It.
Available on YouTube at

This Article is taken from, and can be read in full at, CATHOLICISM PURE AND SIMPLE

Sunday, 3 June 2018

Bishop Schneider: Consecration Will Bring Russia "To The Fullness Of Conversion".



Text and Illustration: LIFE SITE NEWS

This Article is a Re-Post from 2017.

ROME, May 30, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) –

As Cardinal Raymond Burke made his historic call for The Consecration of Russia to
The Immaculate Heart of Mary at the Rome Life Forum last week, one of his most enthusiastic supporters was Bishop Athanasius Schneider, who was also present at the Forum.

Bishop Schneider was one of the first signatories to the appeal for the Consecration, and explained to LifeSite his thoughts on the matter.

Bishop Schneider says he considers Cardinal Burke’s initiative to ask The Holy Father to “explicitly” Consecrate Russia to The Immaculate Heart of Mary “very important.”

It will, he said, “fulfill more completely and perfectly the desire of Our Lady of Fatima.”

Saturday, 2 June 2018

Saints Marcellinus, Peter, And Erasmus. Bishop, Martyrs. Feast Day 2 June.


Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.


Saints Marcellinus, Peter, And Erasmus.
   Bishop, Martyrs.
   Feast Day 2 June.

Simple.

Red Vestments.




Saint Marcellinus.
Martyr.
Seligenstadt, Germany.
Source: Own work.
Author: Agridecumantes.
(Wikimedia Commons)



The Exorcist, Peter, sent to prison, under the Emperor Diocletian, converted his gaoler and all his family, and brought them to the Priest, Marcellinus, who Baptised them. The Judge, Serenus, ordered them both to appear before him and they bore witness to Jesus Christ (Gospel). They were condemned to death and, after atrocious torments, were beheaded, towards 303 A.D.

Possessing The First Fruits of The Holy Ghost, they awaited with sighs the adoption of The Children of God, and their sufferings were in nowise compared with the Glory which now shines forth in them (Epistle). Both Saints are mentioned in The Canon of The Mass (Second List). The Station of The Saturday on The Second Week in Lent is held in the Church Dedicated to them.

Saint Erasmus, Bishop in Syria, afterwards Hermit in Lebanon, was cruelly tortured several times in Antioch and in Illyria under the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian. His legend tells us that his entrails were wound round a windlass; he is, therefore, Invoked for internal diseases, as one of "The Fourteen Auxiliary Saints". He died at Formiae, Campania, Italy.

Let us follow the examples of courage and fortitude of these Holy Martyrs, whose merits are our joy (Collect).

Mass: Out of Paschaltide: Clamavérunt.
Mass: In Paschaltide: Sancti tui.

Friday, 1 June 2018

Angels Appointed To Watch Over Us. And The Prayer: "August Queen Of Heaven".


This Article is taken from, and can be read in full at, VULTUS CHRISTI



The Blessed Virgin Mary is Crowned in Heaven by her Beloved Son.
Illustration: AD MOIOREM DEI GLORIAM


August Queen of Heaven,
Sovereign Mistress of The Angels,

thou who, from the beginning, hast received from God
the power and the mission to crush the head of Satan,
we humbly beseech thee to send thy Holy Legions, that,
under thy command and by thy power, they may pursue
the evil spirits, encounter them on every side, resist their
bold attacks, and drive them hence into Eternal woe.

Who is like unto God ?

O good and tender Mother,
thou willest always to be our love and our hope.
O Mother of God, send thy Holy Angels to defend us
and drive far from us the cruel enemy.
Holy Angels and Archangels, defend us and keep us.

Amen.




. . . There is one other thing that I want to share with you in this regard: Five years ago, I read Yves Chiron’s biography of Blessed Louis–Edouard Cestac (1801–1868), a French Priest Beatified in May 2015. 
Monseigneur Marc Aillet wrote the Introduction to the book. On
13 January 1864, Blessed Father Cestac was suddenly struck by a ray of Divine Light. He saw devils scattered throughout the Earth, wreaking inexplicable ravages. At the same time, The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to him.

The Mother of God told Blessed Father Cestac that devils had

indeed been let loose in the World, and that the hour had come
to Pray to her as Queen of Angels.

The Mother of God invited Blessed Father Cestac to Pray her
to send out Legions of Angels to fight and rout The Powers of Hell.


“Mother”, said Father Cestac, no mean Theologian,
“thou, who art so good, couldst thou not send them without being asked ? ”

“No”, answered The Blessed Virgin Mary.
“Prayer is a condition set by God Himself to obtain Graces”.

“So, Mother”, replied the Priest,
“wouldst thou thyself teach me how one must Pray to thee ? ”

And Blessed Father Cestac received from
The Most Blessed Virgin
the Prayer
August Queen of Heaven . . .


Thursday, 31 May 2018

Corpus Christi. Happy Feast.



Illustration: FACEBOOK/RICHARD HAWKER

Saint Petronilla. Virgin. Feast Day 31 May.


Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.

Saint Petronilla.
   Virgin.
   Feast Day 31 May.

Simple.

White Vestments.




Saint Petronilla.



Aurelia Petronilla was the Spiritual daughter of The Prince of The Apostles in the 1st-Century A.D.

God delivered her, by sudden death, from the snares laid to imperil her Virginity. Her body rests in the Basilica Dedicated to Saint Peter who had taught her The Faith.

Mass: Vultum tuum.



Saint Petronilla.
Illustration: SANTORAL




The Altar of Saint Petronilla in Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome.
Illustration: FATHER JERABEK'S BLOG



The Altar of Saint Petronilla in Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome.
Illustration: FATHER JERABEK'S BLOG

Saint Angela Merici. Virgin. Feast Day, Today, 31 May.


Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.

Saint Angela Merici.
   Virgin.
   Feast Day 31 May.


Double.

White Vestments.




Saint Angela Merici (1474-1540) as a teacher.
Devotional picture (pastel on paper) by Pietro Calzavacca (1855-1890).
Current location: Merician Museum, Brescia, Italy.
Date: Mid-19th-Century.
Source: Painting, Merician Museum, Brescia, Italy. File from museum website.
Author: Pietro Calzavacca (1855-1890).
(Wikimedia Commons)



Born at Desenzano, on the Lake of Garda, Italy, in 1474, of pious parents, Angela, from her childhood, ever tried to please Jesus, the Spouse of her Soul (Epistle, Gospel, Communion). She adopted the rule of The Third Order of Saint Francis and united evangelical poverty to the merit of Virginity.

She "loved justice and hated iniquity" (Introit) and subjected her body to the severest austerities to atone for the sins of the World. "The disorders of society." she used to say, "are caused by those in families; there are few Christian mothers, because the education of young girls is neglected."

In consequence of a vision, she successfully formed, in 1535, in The Church, a new Society of Holy Virgins (Collect). Its object being the Christian education of youth, she placed it under the Patronage of Saint Ursula, the chief of an Army of Virgins.

She died in 1540 at Brescia, Italy, with the name of Jesus on her lips.

Mass: Dilexisti.
Commemoration of Saint Petronilla, by the Collects of The Mass: Vultum tuum.


The following Text is from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia.

Angela Merici, or Angela de Merici, 21 March 1474 – 27 January 1540, was an Italian Religious Educator. She Founded The Company of Saint Ursula in 1535 in Brescia, Italy, in which women dedicated their lives to the Service of The Church through the education of girls.

From this organisation later sprang The Monastic Order of Ursulines, whose Nuns established places of Prayer and Learning throughout Europe and, later, Worldwide, most notably in North America.

The Blessed Virgin Mary. Mediatrix Of All Graces. Feast Day 31 May.


Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.

The Blessed Virgin Mary.
   Mediatrix of All Graces.
   Feast Day 31 May.

(Local Feasts. Feasts kept

in some Religious Congregations
and in some places).

White Vestments.




Rose Illustration: AD MAJOREM DEI GLORIAM


The Blessed Virgin Mary.
Mediatrix of All Graces.
Illustration: SHUTTERSTOCK



A Feast and Mass granted by Pope Benedict XV to many Dioceses.

"The Will of God is that we should have everything through Mary," says Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. The Father has sent us His Son, but His Will was to make His Coming depend upon The Fiat of The Virgin, which He commanded The Angel Gabriel to solicit on The Day of The Annunciation.

The Father and The Son send us The Holy Ghost, but it is through Mary that He comes down to men. On The Day of Pentecost, according to an ancient Tradition, The Heavenly Fire, which descended on The Cenacle, first rested on Mary, and then on The Apostles. This is a figure of what happens every day in The Church, where The Holy Ghost is sent invisibly into our Souls.


"All The Gifts of The Holy Ghost are distributed by Mary to those whom she chooses, whenever she wishes and as much as she wishes", says Saint Bernadine of Siena.

The Graces, which The Holy Ghost pours down on us, are due to The Merits of Christ on Calvary; but in order that God may bestow them on the World, it is necessary that Mary should intervene. Having co-operated by her Divine Maternity and by her sufferings at The Foot of The Cross in The Incarnation and Redemption, she has deserved to co-operate when they are continually applied to creatures by The Most High,


"By The Communion of Sorrows and of Will, between Christ and Mary," says Pope Saint Pius X, "she has deserved to become the dispenser of all the Blessings which Jesus acquired for us by His Blood" (Encyclical, 2 February 1904).

Such is His Will, but it is essential that she should constantly intercede for each one of us. This, she does, relying on The Blood of Christ, by Whom she was herself saved, and Who alone saves us. This actual intervention of Mary plays a preponderating part in The Salvation of The World. It is important that we should realise this, and it is the object of The Feast of Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces. A clear idea of the fact may be obtained by simply reading the Texts of The Mass and Vespers.

"Through The Virgin," says Saint Bernadine of Siena, "Life-Giving Graces flow from Christ, Who is The Head, into His Mystical Body"."Through her," adds Saint Antoninus, "come from Heaven all The Graces granted to The World." "What all The Saints united to thee may obtain for us by their Intercession," writes Saint Anselm, "thy pleading, alone, may obtain without the help of their Prayers."


The Maternal Solicitude of Mary, for The Whole Human Race, is therefore continual, and it is because of this that, unceasingly, through The Mass, The Sacraments, the hierarchy and other channels of Grace, The Merits of Calvary are applied to our Souls. "We may affirm," declares Pope Leo XIII, "that, by The Will of God, nothing is given to us without Mary's Mediation, in such a way that, just as no-one can approach The Almighty Father but through His Son, so no-one, so to speak, can approach Christ but through His Mother." (Encyclical, 22 September 1891.)

Let us therefore not consider as of small importance the efforts made to establish this point of Doctrine of Mary's Mediation, since this Doctrine enables us to understand The Divine Plan, and clearly manifests The Mediation of The Son of God, of which it is a corollary.

Mass: Adeamus.
Creed.
Preface: Of The Blessed Virgin: Et te in festivitáte.






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