November 22, 2024

catholic

Prayer to Our Lady of Montserrat

Mother & Refuge02 mins

In 880, the story goes, shepherd children near Montserrat saw a light come from the sky accompanied by a beautiful song. This continued for a number of weeks then the image of the Blessed Mother was found in a cave. The wood carving still exists today though the fading varnish has turned the color of the hands and faces of Mary and Jesus a dark black. PRAYER “Oh merciful Mother, heart of love, heart of compassion, who always listens and comforts us, attends to our prayers. As your children, we implore your mediation before your son Jesus. He receives with mercy and compassion (make the request). What a joy to know that your heart is always ready for those who pray to you! We yield to your pious care and mediation our loved ones and all who feel sick, lonely or hurt. Help us, loving Mother, to carry our burdens in this life until we reach a share in eternal glory and peace with God. Amen”.

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Prayer to the Immaculate Mother of Mercy

Mother & Refuge21 mins

Immaculate Mother of Mercy, we fly to Your patronage asking that You remain always with us as our Mother and that You form our hearts after Your own. We, Your daughters, desire to serve You faithfully and in all that we are and do, in humility and forgetfulness of self to the end of our lives. Therefore, O Mother, inflame our hearts with fervent love for Your Son and for souls redeemed by His Blood. May we never hesitate to offer ourselves in sacrifice for Holy Mother Church, the Holy Father, our country and for the souls entrusted to our care. Mother of Mercy, give our Congregation numerous and holy vocations that we may forever proclaim trust in the inexhaustible mercy of God over the world and in your motherly mercy, in which we hope to find support in life and at the hour of death. Amen.

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Powerful Prayer for The Black Madonna of Poland – Our Lady of Czestochowa

Mother & Refuge32 mins

The Black Madonna is a painting of the Madonna and Christ Child which legend states was painted by St. Luke the Evangelist. St. Luke is believed to have used a tabletop from a table built by the carpenter Jesus. It was while Luke was painting Mary that she told him about the events in the life of Jesus that he eventually used in his gospel. This same legend states that that when St. Helen went to Jerusalem to search for the true cross in 326 AD, she happened upon this portrait of Our Lady. She gave it to her son, Constantine, who had a shrine built to house it. In a critical battle with the Saracens, the portrait was displayed from the walls of Constantinople and the Saracens were subsequently routed. The portrait was credited with saving the city. The painting was eventually owned by Charlemagne who subsequently presented the painting to Prince Leo of Ruthenia (northwest Hungary).It remained at the royal palace in Ruthenia until an invasion occurred in the eleventh century. The king prayed to Our Lady to aid his small army and as a result of this prayer a darkness overcame the enemy troops who, in their confusion, began attacking one another. Ruthenia was saved as a result of this intervention by Our Lady. In the fourteenth century, it was transferred to the Mount of Light (Jasna Gora) in Poland in response to a request made in a dream of Prince Ladislaus of Opola.

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Prayer to Our Lady, Queen of Hope

Mother & Refuge02 mins

‘O Mary, my Mother, I kneel before you with heavy heart. The burden of my sins oppresses me. The knowledge of my weakness discourages me. I am beset by fear and temptation of every sort. Yet I am so attached to the things of this world that instead of longing for Heaven I am filled with dread at the thought of death.  O Mother of Mercy, have pity on me in my distress. You are all-powerful with your Divine Son. He can refuse no request of your Immaculate Heart. Show yourself a true Mother to me by being my advocate before His throne. O Refuge of Sinners and Hope of Hopeless, to whom shall I turn if not you?  Obtain for me, then, O Mother of Hope, the grace of true sorrow for my sins, the gift of perfect resignation to God’s Holy Will, and the courage to take up my cross and follow Jesus.  But above all I pray, O dearest Mother, that through your most powerful intercession, my heart may be filled with Holy Hope, so that in life’s darkest hour I may never fail to trust in God my Saviour, but by walking in the way of His commandments I may merit to be united with Him, and with you in the eternal joys of Heaven. Amen.’

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Comforting Our Sorrowful Mother| Prayer in Honour of the Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mother & Refuge02 mins

Most holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, you stood beneath the cross, witnessing the agony of your dying son. Look with a mother’s tenderness and pity on me, who kneel before you. I venerate your sorrows and I place my requests with filial confidence in the sanctuary of your wounded heart.Present them, I beseech you, on my behalf to Jesus Christ, through the merits of His own most sacred passion and death, together with your sufferings at the foot of the cross. Through the united efficacy of both obtain the granting of my petition. To whom shall I have recourse in my wants and miseries if not to you, Mother of Mercy? You have drunk so deeply of the chalice of your Son, you can compassionate our sorrows.Holy Mary, your soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow at the sight of the passion of your divine Son. Intercede for me and obtain for me from Jesus (mention the desired favour) if it be for His honour and glory and for my good. Amen

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Will it be a Hungarian Pope?

Mother & Refuge24 mins

Hungarian Cardinal Péter Erdő – Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest – may be emerging as a front-runner to succeed Pope Francis. The canon law expert is fast becoming a contender to succeed the Holy Father as rumours mount about the latter’s health, even with a potential candidate from Asia emerging as a frontrunner as well. Filipino Cardinal Tagle would certainly align with the more liberal position taken by the current Pope. His appointment would also point to the changing demographics of the Church. A Hungarian Pope however would be enormously significant given the cultural Iron Curtain dividing a de-Christianised western Europe from a re-Christianising east. As John Gizzi – Chief Political Correspondent for Newsmax – recently pointed out, “talk of Erdő as a future Pope is nothing new.” Indeed, Cardinal Erdő was being talked about as early as 2013. But, as Gizzi wrote, one Vatican insider told Newsmax the current Pope “is not going to be around for long”, adding that “at the most, he will be there until December.” Meanwhile the source told Newsmax to closely “watch Cardinal Erdő … he is the one who [the College of Cardinals, who will elect the next Pope] are beginning to talk about.” So, who exactly is Cardinal Erdő? Cardinal Erdő is considered a traditionalist who respects the celebration of the Latin Mass. But Cardinal Erdő is also respected by liberals like the Holy Father, suggesting he could be a unifying force within the Church. Pope Francis has already appointed Cardinal Erdő as the “relator general” of the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. The Hungarian cardinal has also been vocal in his support for outreach to Orthodox Christians which may be significant given the huge numbers of Ukrainians currently in Hungary. But what Cardinal Erdő has said is perhaps less important than what his appointment would represent. Pope St. John Paul II was considered instrumental in the collapse of communism in central and eastern Europe. The Polish Pope’s election helped spark the peaceful end of communism in his native country, with his visit in 1979 being a major turning point. While it would be wrong to characterise Cardinal Erdő as aligned directly with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a man at the forefront of the culture clash within the EU, his past statements suggest some sympathies, while he is the leading Catholic in a country which is now 80 per cent Christian and very much on the conservative nationalist side of the great European cultural divide. Read More at Catholic Herald

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Ronaldo makes sign of the cross during soccer game in Iraq

Mother & Refuge02 mins

ristiano Ronaldo is a world-famous soccer player from Portugal who has won dozens of awards and trophies throughout his 31-year career. He has played for clubs in Portugal, England, Spain, and Italy. Earlier this year, he moved to Al-Nassr, a club from Saudi Arabia. In his last match, in the semifinals of the Arab Club Champions Cup, the player scored the goal that gave the club promotion to the finals of this Arab equivalent of the Champions League. After scoring the goal, the Portuguese player made the sign of the cross. This isn’t a surprise per se, because he declares himself a believer and has shared his faith more than once. There would be nothing spectacular about it, if it weren’t for the fact that he did it in Iraq. The Saudi Al-Nassr club he plays for was facing off against Iraq’s Al Shorta. According to Open Doors, an organization that deals with religious persecution, Iraq ranks 18th on the list of countries that persecute Christians. Although the pope’s visit to the country in 2021 was a positive development with lasting effects, problems continue. Moreover, Saudi Arabia, where Ronaldo plays, ranks 13th on that list. Read more on Aleteia

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Surely the most beautiful photo of the Lisbon World Youth Day 2023

Mother & Refuge01 mins

“Todos, todos, todos” (“Everyone, everyone, everyone”): This became the catchphrase of the Lisbon WYD, after Pope Francis’ first address to the young people gathered for his welcoming ceremony on August 3. A Church open to all, universal, calling everyone to follow Christ. And if ever there was a photo to symbolize this exhortation, it’s this one of a young Brazilian man with a disability being lifted at arm’s length by his friends in his wheelchair, so that he too can see the Pope on the day of the vigil, Saturday, August 5. Fr. Omar Sánchez Portillo, a priest known for his extensive solidarity work in Peru, shared the photo on his social networks. It quickly went viral because of the pure, profound joy it radiates. “For me, this photo reflects what the Church is all about: universality, joy, hope, and love,” he says. Images: Aleteia See more…

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Use this prayer if you’re widowed and feeling lonely

Mother & Refuge03 mins

By Aleteia Did Jesus not say, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” (Mt 5:4)? This promise gives those who have lost a loved one the right to hope. They can hope for a new encounter with God, hope that Christ will come to live and fill their hearts, hope to live in communion with their deceased loved ones, hope to find new meaning and purpose… Vatican II, in Gaudium et Spes, notes that widowhood is part of the vocation to marriage: Widowhood, accepted bravely as a continuation of the marriage vocation, should be esteemed by all.(8) There are many different paths that can lead to joy and consolation for those who remain in this life after the loss of a spouse or any loved one. Here’s one example of a prayer a widowed person can pray when they feel lonely and need to encounter the risen Jesus: Lord Jesus, You know the sorrow and pain I endured when my spouse went to our Father’s house.I beg you to give me the support and comfort I need so much today.Fill my loneliness with joy and hope and ease my fears for the future. Like the Virgin Mary who was widowed when Joseph died,keep my heart pure and give me a clear vision of God’s plan for me. If it is not good for me to be alone (see Gen 2:18),grant me the grace of finding again those who will be my helpers here below,while living in communion with my deceased spouse in the hope of being reunited in eternity. You, who were compassionate to the widow of Naim (Lk 7:11-16),have mercy on me and intercede with God the Fatherthat joy may spring up again in my wounded heart. Amen.

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