February 17, 2025

Devotions

Why witches hate the St. Benedict Medal?

Mother & Refuge13 mins

By Aleteia The exact origin of the St. Benedict Medal is hard to pinpoint, but it is believed that the various symbols on it can be traced to a Benedictine monastery in the 17th century. According to Dom Prosper Guéranger in his short book The Medal or Cross of St. Benedict, a Benedictine monastery thwarted the plans of witches in the area. In the year 1647 at Nattremberg in Bavaria, certain witches who were accused of having exercised their spells to the injury of the people of the neighborhood were put into prison by the authorities … they confessed that their superstitious practices had never been able to produce any effect … over the monastery at Metten and this circumstance had made them feel sure that the house was protected by the cross. It was later discovered that there were “several representations of the holy cross painted on the walls and together with the cross were found the letters [now on the St. Benedict medal].” There was also a manuscript that had “drawings that represented St. Benedict in a monk’s cowl and holding in his right hand a staff, the end of which was formed into a cross.” Nearly everything that is now on the St. Benedict Medal was found at the Benedictine monastery at Metten. The medal itself was only first introduced in the 18th century and given full approval in the 19th century. Ever since, wearers of the medal have invoked the intercession of St. Benedict in the expulsion of evil influences. This is partially due to various exorcism prayers that were written on the medal. Starting from the top, in a clockwise direction, and around the edge appear the initials of the prayers: V. R. S. (Vade Retro Satan): “Get away, Satan”N. S. M. V. (Not Suade Mihi Vana): “Never tempt me with your vanities!”S. M. Q. L. (Sunt Mala Quae Libas): “What you offer me is evil.”I. V. B. (Ipse Venena Bibas): “Drink the poison yourself!” Read more…

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Be careful of Satan when he’s sweet and polite, warns pope.

Mother & Refuge03 mins

By Aleteia The devil is out to seduce us, and he comes into our lives “so sweetly and politely” to take possession of our attitudes, Pope Francis warned. The pope said this today in his morning homily, drawing from today’s Gospel reading about the unclean spirit who goes out of a person but then decides to return, and brings with him seven other spirits “more wicked than itself.” Vatican Radio reported Pope Francis’ emphasis that the passage reflects how demons enter quietly, progressively becoming more and more part of a person’s life. The devil slowly changes our attitudes, camouflaging himself to lead us to what’s called worldliness, Francis explained. This attitude brings us to look at things in ways contrary to the spirit of the Gospel. When the devil enters “so sweetly, politely and takes possession of our attitudes,” the pope said, our values pass from the service of God to worldliness. Thus we become “lukewarm Christians, worldly Christians.” Francis described this as being like a fruit salad — a bit of the spirit of the world and a bit of God’s spirit. PreventionNevertheless, the Holy Father also said there is a method for preventing this progressive progression of the devil’s seduction: “stopping for a while to examine my life, whether I am a Christian, whether I educate my children, whether my life is Christian or worldly.” The daily examination of conscience is one of the spiritual practices most promoted by the Society of Jesus, the religious order to which the pope belongs. It involves taking a few minutes at the end of the day to look over one’s day — to see the graces that God offered, and to thank him for them, and to see the moments when we refused his grace and chose to act in a way contrary to the Gospel. The examen concludes with a specific resolution to work on the next day. Read more…

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Inviolate| 11th century prayer

Mother & Refuge01 mins

Inviolate, spotless and pure art thou, O Mary Who wast made the radiant gate of the King. Holy mother of Christ most dear, receive our devout hymn and praise. Our hearts and tongues now ask of thee that our souls and bodies may be pure. By thy sweet sounding prayers obtain for us forgiveness forever. O gracious queen, O Mary, who alone among women art inviolate. Inviolata, integra, et casta es Maria, quae es effecta fulgida caeli porta. O Mater alma Christi carissima, suscipe pia laudum praeconia. Te nunc flagitant devota corda et ora, nostra ut pura pectora sint et corpora. Tu per precata dulcisona, nobis concedas veniam per saecula. O benigna! O Regina! O Maria, quae sola inviolata permansisti.

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Maker of All, Eternal King |from the Roman Breviary, by St. Ambrose

Mother & Refuge04 mins

Maker of all, eternal King, who day and night about dost bring: who weary mortals to relieve, dost in their times the seasons give: Now the shrill cock proclaims the day, and calls the sun’s awakening ray, the wandering pilgrim’ guiding light, that marks the watches night by night. Roused at the note, the morning star heaven’s dusky veil uplifts afar: night’s vagrant bands no longer roam, but from their dark ways hie them home. The encouraged sailor’s fears are o’er, the foaming billows rage no more: Lo! e’en the very Church’s Rock melts at the crowing of the cock. O let us then like men arise; the cock rebukes our slumbering eyes, bestirs who still in sleep would lie, and shames who would their Lord deny. New hope his clarion note awakes, sickness the feeble frame forsakes, the robber sheathes his lawless sword, faith to fallen is restored. Look in us, Jesu, when we fall, and with Thy look our souls recall: if Thou but look, our sins are gone, and with due tears our pardon won. Shed through our hearts Thy piercing ray, our soul’s dull slumber drive away: Thy Name be first on every tongue, to Thee our earliest praises sung. All laud to God the Father be; all praise, Eternal Son, to Thee; all glory, as is ever meet, to God the Holy Paraclete. Amen. Aeterne rerum conditor, noctem diemque qui regis, et temporum das tempora, ut alleves fastidium; Praeco diei iam sonat, noctis profundae pervigil, nocturna lux viantibus a nocte noctem segregans. Hoc excitatus lucifer solvit polum caligine, hoc omnis erronum chorus vias nocendi deserit. Hoc nauta vires colligit pontique mitescunt freta, hoc ipsa petra ecclesiae canente culpam diluit. Surgamus ergo strenue! Gallus iacentes excitat, et somnolentos increpat, Gallus negantes arguit. Gallo canente spes redit, aegris salus refunditur, mucro latronis conditur, lapsis fides revertitur. Iesu, labantes respice, et nos videndo corrige, si respicis, lapsus cadunt, fletuque culpa solvitur. Tu lux refulge sensibus, mentisque somnum discute, te nostra vox primum sonet et ore psallamus tibi. Sit, Christe, Rex piissime, tibi Patrique gloria cum Spiritu Paraclito, in sempiterna saecula. Amen.

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PRAYER AGAINST MALEFICE FROM THE GREEK RITUAL

Mother & Refuge03 mins

Kyrie eleison. God, our Lord, King of ages, All-powerful and All-mighty, You Who made everything and Who transform everything simply by Your will. You Who in Babylon changed into dew the flames of the ‘seven-times hotter’ furnace and protected and saved the three holy children. You are the doctor and the physician of our soul. You are the salvation of those who turn to You. We beseech You to make powerless, banish, and drive out every diabolic power, presence, and machination; every evil influence, malefice, or evil eye and all evil actions aimed against Your servant [name of person/s]. Where there is envy and malice, give us an abundance of goodness, endurance, victory, and charity. O Lord, You Who love man, we beg You to reach out Your powerful hands and Your most high and mighty arms and send the angel of peace over us, to protect us, body and soul. May he keep at bay and vanquish every evil power, every poison or malice invoked against us by corrupt and envious people. Then, under the protection of Your authority may we sing, in gratitude, ‘The Lord is my salvation; whom should I fear? I will not fear evil because You are with me, my God, my strength, my powerful Lord, Lord of peace, Father of all ages.” Yes, Lord our God, be merciful to us, Your image, and save your servant [name of person/s] from every threat or harm from the evil one, and protect him/her by raising him/her above all evil. We ask You this through the intercession of our Most Blessed, glorious Lady, Mary ever Virgin, Mother of God, of the most splendid archangels and all Your saints. Amen!

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Prayer found at the tomb of Jesus Christ our Risen Lord

Mother & Refuge05 mins

The following Prayer was found in the tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ in the year 803 and was sent from the Pope to the Emperor Charles as he was going to battle, for safety. They who repeat it every day, or hear it repeated or keep it about them shall never die a sudden death, nor be drowned in water, nor shall poison have any effect on them, and if read over a woman in labour she will be delivered safely, and be a glad mother, and when the child is born lay this on his or her right side, and he or she shall not be troubled with any misfortunes, and if you see any one in fits, lay it on his or her right side, and he or she shall stand up and thank the Lord. They who shall repeat it in any house shall be blessed by the Lord and he that will laugh at it will suffer; believe this for certain, it is true as the holy Evangelist had written it they who keep it about them shall not fear the lightning or thunder,and they who shall repeat it every day shall have three days warning, before death. O Adorable Lord and Saviour JESUS CHRIST dying on the gallows tree for our sins,O holy Cross of JESUS see me in my thoughts;O holy Cross of JESUS ward off from me all weapons of danger;O holy Cross of JESUS ward off from me all that are evil;O holy Cross of JESUS protect me from my enemies;O holy Cross of JESUS ward off from me a dangerous death, and give always life;O Crucified JESUS of Nazareth, have mercy on me now and forever;In Honour of Lord JESUS CHRIST, and in Honour of his Sacred Passion, and in honour of his Holy Resurrection and God like ascension, which he likes to bring me right to Heaven.True as  JESUS CHRIST was born on Christmas day in the stable;True as  JESUS CHRIST was Crucified on Mount Calvary on Good Friday;True as the Three Wise Kings brought their offerings on the thirteenth day;True as he ascended into Heaven so the honour of Jesus will keep me from enemies visible and invisible now and for evermore.O Lord JESUS, have mercy on me,Mary and Joseph, pray for me.Nicodemus and Joseph who took our Lord down from the Cross and buried him, pray for me.O Lord JESUS CHRIST through thy sufferings, for truly Your soul was parting out of this sinful world, give grace that I may carry my Cross patiently without dread and fear when I suffer without complaining and that through thy sufferings I may escape all dangers now and for evermore.AMEN. In the Name of the FATHER, and of the SON and of the HOLY SPIRIT.AMEN.

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New Catholic Children’s Book Released!

Mother & Refuge03 mins

“Apparitions of Holy Mother Mary: Five Heavenly Calls to Children!” Embark on a breathtaking journey through time and faith in “Apparitions of Holy Mother Mary.” In this captivating children’s book, the heavenly voice of Holy Mother Mary reaches out to young hearts across the globe. Through chosen messengers, she conveys messages of repentance, prayer, and peace, resonating with the modern world more than ever before. Within the pages of this delightful book, beautifully illustrated stories unfold, capturing the essence of five extraordinary apparitions. Delve into the miraculous events of Our Lady of Fatima, where three shepherd children witnessed the graceful presence of Holy Mother Mary. Travel to Rwanda and discover the profound significance of Our Lady of Kibeho, an apparition that brought hope to a war-torn land. Journey onward to the radiant hills of Medjugorje, where the eternal message of Holy Mother Mary continues to touch countless lives. Then, venture to the charming village of Garabandal in Spain, where the presence of Our Lady unfolds in mesmerizing ways. Finally, find solace in the mystic revelations of Our Lady of Akita, an apparition that unfolded in the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan. Through captivating storytelling and stunning illustrations, “Apparitions of Holy Mother Mary” ignites devotion and inspires purpose within the hearts of readers, young and old alike. As you explore the lives of these remarkable characters and witness the unfolding of sacred messages, you’ll be transported to a realm where faith and wonder intertwine. Discover the power of prayer, the joy of repentance, and the everlasting pursuit of peace through the tender guidance of Holy Mother Mary. Immerse yourself in the transformative pages of this cherished book, as you join a global community of believers, united by love and a shared devotion to the Most Holy Trinity.   Buy Your Copy Here!

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