The Holy Bible Translated by Msgr. Ronald Knox Copyright Sheed & Ward, Inc., New York, 1950
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Sacred Scripture: The Holy Bible translated by Msgr. Ronald Knox Copyright Sheed & Ward, Inc., New York, 1950. Cover: The Madonna of the Burning Bush; Georges Trubert, Book of Hours, c. 1480, The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. Veneration of the Holy Mother of God Popular devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is an important and universal ecclesial phenomenon. Its expressions are multifarious and its motivation very profound, deriving as it does from the People of God’s faith in, and love for, Christ, the Redeemer of mankind, and from an awareness of the salvific mission that God entrusted to Mary of Nazareth, because of which she is Mother not only of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but also of mankind in the order of grace. Indeed, the faithful easily understand the vital link uniting Son and Mother. They realize that the Son is God and that she, the Mother, is also their mother. They intuit the immaculate holiness of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and in venerating her as the glorious queen of Heaven, they are absolutely certain that she who is full of mercy intercedes for them. Hence, they confidently have recourse to her patronage. The poorest of the poor feel especially close to her. They know that she, like them, was poor, and greatly suffered in meekness and patience. They can identify with her suffering at the crucifixion and death of her Son, as well as rejoice with her in his resurrection. The faithful joyfully celebrate her feasts, make pilgrimage to her sanctuary, sing hymns in her honor, and make votive offerings to her. They instinctively distrust whoever does not honor her and will not tolerate those who dishonor her. The Church exhorts all the faithful - sacred minister, religious and laity - to develop a personal and community devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary through the use of approved and recommended pious exercises. Liturgical worship, notwithstanding its objective and irreplaceable importance, its exemplary efficacy and normative character, does not in fact exhaust all the expressive possibilities of the People of God for devotion to the Holy Mother of God. [Directory of Popular Piety and the Liturgy 183] 1 2 The Most Holy Rosary The Rosary, or Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is one of the most excellent prayers to the Mother of God. Thus, the Roman Pontiffs have repeatedly exhorted the faithful to the frequent recitation of this biblically inspired prayer which is centered on contemplation of the salvific events of Christ’s life, and their close association with his Virgin Mother. The value and efficacy of this prayer have often been attested by saintly Bishops and those advanced in holiness of life. The Rosary is essentially a contemplative prayer, which requires tranquillity of rhythm or even a mental lingering which encourages the faithful to meditate on the mysteries of the Lord’s life. Its use is expressly recommended in the formation and spiritual life of clerics and religious. [Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy 197] How to Pray the Most Holy Rosary Make the Sign of the Cross and say the Apostles Creed. Say the Our Father for the intentions of the Holy Father. Say three Hail Marys for an increase in faith, hope and charity. Say the Glory Be. Announce the first mystery; then say the Our Father. Say ten Hail Marys, while meditating on the mystery. Say the Glory Be and the Fatima Prayer. Announce the second mystery; then say the Our Father, followed by ten Hail Marys, the Glory Be, and the Fatima Prayer. Repeat for the third, fourth, and fifth mysteries in the same manner. Say the Hail Holy Queen. Say the Prayer After the Rosary. End with the Sign of the Cross. 3 4 The Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Joyful Mysteries (The Church suggests praying the Joyful Mysteries on Monday and Saturday.) 1. Annunciation of the birth of Jesus to Mary by the angel Gabriel 2. Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth 3. Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 4. Presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple 5. Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple by Mary and Joseph The Luminous Mysteries (The Church suggests praying the Luminous Mysteries on Thursday.) 1. Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River 2. The self-revelation of Christ at the marriage of Cana 3. Christ’s announcement of the Kingdom of God 4. The Transfiguration of Christ 5. The Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper The Sorrowful Mysteries (The Church suggests praying the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesday and Friday.) 1. Agony of Christ in the Garden 2. Scourging of Jesus at the Pillar 3. Placing of the crown of thorns on the head of Jesus 4. Carrying of the Cross by Jesus 5. Crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ The Glorious Mysteries (The Church suggests praying the Glorious Mysteries on Wednesday and Sunday.) 1. Resurrection of our Lord from the dead 2. Ascension of our Lord into Heaven 3. Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles on Pentecost 4. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven 5. Coronation of the Virgin Mary Fatima Prayer “When you pray the Rosary, say after each mystery: ‘O Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of your mercy.’ “ (June 13, 1917) 5 6 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 will 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 life everlasting. Amen. Our Father 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 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 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. Hail Holy Queen Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our Life, our Sweetness, and our Hope. To thee we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee 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. Prayer after the Rosary Let us pray. 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 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. 7 8 Angelus The Angelus is a brief devotion in honor of the Incarnation that consists of short verses drawn from the Bible and a triple repetition of the Hail Mary. The devotion derives its name from the opening phrase in Latin: Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae (the Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary). It is recited at 6:00am, noon and 6:00pm or thereabouts. The practice seems to have always been associated with the ringing of a bell at 6:00am, noon, and 6:00pm. In prior times whole villages and towns would literally come to halt when the Angelus bell rang. Laborers in the fields, workers in shops, and families at home set aside what they were doing and prayed the Angelus together. Today many churches and monasteries, as well as a number of radio and television stations, ring the Angelus bell at six o’clock in the morning, at noon, and at six in the evening, inviting the faithful to pause what they are doing and pray. Praying the Angelus sanctifies the hours of the day. God is our all in all, our very beginning and the end toward which we strive. By intentionally setting aside time for prayer throughout the day, every day, we turn our whole lives over to God, who becomes the motivation of all we do and all we are. V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary: R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. V. Hail Mary . R. Holy Mary, Mother of God . V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord: R. Be it done unto me according to Thy word. V. Hail Mary . R. Holy Mary, Mother of God . V. And the Word was made Flesh: (genuflect) R.