Saint Andrew Christmas Novena

St. Andrew Christmas Novena

The Feast Day of Saint Andrew, The Apostle, is celebrated on November 30^th . Unlike most novenas which are said for nine days or nine weeks this one is said for twenty-five days. One would start it on November 30^th,  Saint Andrews' Feast Day and continue to say it during the Advent season up till and including Christmas Eve, December, 24^th. It is known by a few different names; Saint Andrew's Novena, The Christmas Novena or the Advent Novena.

It is believed to have originated in either Ireland or Scotland over a hundred years ago. There are beads specifically for this novena consisting of fifteen beads connected in a loop onto a Saint Andrew medal.

It is a very simple one prayer repeated fifteen times over the course of a day. It is convenient to break it up into three segments such as before each meal or morning, mid day and night time. 

Some believe that reciting this prayer fifteen times a day until Christmas Eve that whatever favor requested will be granted. I prefer to think of it as a way to prepare ones heart and spirit to welcome the baby Jesus into the world. The spirit of Christmas is about the coming of Christ, Our Savior. 

THE PRAYER

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God,to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

Although Many Times

The opening paragraph of QUAMQUAM PLURIES an ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII given on August 15th, 1889 is as relevant today as the day it was issued. Encyclicals are known by the opening lines, written in Latin, as this one became known. A literal translation of QUAMQUAM PLURIES into English is Although Many Times.

This encyclical is rather short, just seven paragraphs, which is directed at the subject of a devotion to Saint Joseph. The opening paragraph is what I find so significant today as it was 130 years ago.

“ Although We have already many times ordered special prayers to be offered up in the whole world, that the interests of Catholicism might be insistently recommended to God, none will deem it matter for surprise that We consider the present moment an opportune one for again inculcating the same duty. During periods of stress and trial - chiefly when every lawlessness of act seems permitted to the powers of darkness - it has been the custom in the Church to plead with special fervour and perseverance to God, her author and protector, by recourse to the intercession of the saints - and chiefly of the Blessed Virgin, Mother of God - whose patronage has ever been the most efficacious. The fruit of these pious prayers and of the confidence reposed in the Divine goodness, has always, sooner or later, been made apparent. Now, Venerable Brethren, you know the times in which we live; they are scarcely less deplorable for the Christian religion than the worst days, which in time past were most full of misery to the Church. We see faith, the root of all the Christian virtues, lessening in many souls; we see charity growing cold; the young generation daily growing in depravity of morals and views; the Church of Jesus Christ attacked on every side by open force or by craft; a relentless war waged against the Sovereign Pontiff; and the very foundations of religion undermined with a boldness which waxes daily in intensity. These things are, indeed, so much a matter of notoriety that it is needless for Us to expatiate on the depths to which society has sunk in these days, or on the designs which now agitate the minds of men. In circumstances so unhappy and troublous, human remedies are insufficient, and it becomes necessary, as a sole resource, to beg for assistance from the Divine power.”

Prayer to Saint Michael

Prayer to Saint Michael

On September 29, 2018 Pope Francis called upon Catholics to say the Rosary and at the end to recite a prayer given to us by the great Pope Leo XIII. On October 13, 1884, 33 years before Our Lady was to make her final visit to the three shepherd children at the Cova da Iria, in Fátima, Portugal. It was on October 13, 1917 that a crowd estimated to be as many as 100,000 witnessed what has been called “The Miracle of the Sun”. 

On Monday, October 13, 1884 Pope Leo XIII had just finished saying Mass in his private chapel.  Observers say that as he reached the bottom step of the altar he froze and stared as if in a trance for about ten minutes. When he finally was able he dashed to his office and wrote “The Prayer to Saint Michael”.

Saint 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, thrust into Hell, Satan and all the other evil spirits, who prowl throughout the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

On October 13, 1886 The Pope instructed that this prayer was to be said at the end of each Low Mass. It continued to be said up till 1964. Later Saint Pope John-Paul II would again urge Catholics to start reciting this prayer. Now we have Pope Francis again calling for us to recite this prayer at the end of Our Daily Rosary.

What PP Leo told of his vision can be found at this link:

https://www.michaeljournal.org/articles/roman-catholic-church/item/the-vision-of-pope-leo-xiii

Devotional Prayer for October to St. Joseph

Prayer to Saint Joseph for the October Devotion

In 1889 Pope Leo XIII to the encyclical QUAMQUAMPLURIESENCYCLICALOF POPE LEO XIII ON DEVOTION TO ST. JOSEPH ordered this special devotional prayer to be said to Saint Joseph during the month of October, the month of the Most Holy Rosary.

Prayer to Saint Joseph

To thee, O blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our affliction, and having implored the help of thy thrice holy Spouse, we now, with hearts filled with confidence, earnestly beg thee also to take us under thy protection. By that charity wherewith thou wert united to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by that fatherly love with which thou didst cherish the Child Jesus, we beseech thee and we humbly pray that thou wilt look down with gracious eye upon that inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by His blood, and wilt succor us in our need by thy power and strength.

Defend, O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen off-spring of Jesus Christ. Keep from us, O most loving Father, all blight of error and corruption. Aid us from on high, most valiant defender, in this conflict with the powers of darkness. And even as of old thou didst rescue the Child Jesus from the peril of His life, so now defend God's Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity. Shield us ever under thy patronage, that, following thine example and strengthened by thy help, we may live a holy life, die a happy death, and attain to everlasting bliss in Heaven. Amen.

A MORE MODERN VERSION OF THE PRAYER, Shared by the Marian's:

To you, O blessed Joseph,
do we come in our tribulation,
and having implored the help of your most holy Spouse,
we confidently invoke your patronage also.

Through that charity which bound you
to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God
and through the paternal love
with which you embraced the Child Jesus,
we humbly beg you graciously to regard the inheritance
which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood,
and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family,
defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ;
O most loving father, ward off from us
every contagion of error and corrupting influence;
O our most mighty protector, be kind to us
and from heaven assist us in our struggle
with the power of darkness.

As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril,
so now protect God's Holy Church
from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity;
shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection,
so that, supported by your example and your aid,
we may be able to live piously, to die in holiness,
and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven.

Amen.

Novena in honor of The ASSUMPTION OF MARY

A Novena of Masses in honor of

The ASSUMPTION OF MARY

August 7 – 15:

TO BE OFFERED FOR THE INTENTIONS OF ALL CONFRATERNITY MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS

NOVENA:

The word Novena is rooted in the Latin word for nine. Over time, members of Roman Catholic faith began to associate novena with Christian themes. The Church Fathers also assigned special meaning to the number nine, seeing it as symbolic of imperfect man turning to God in prayer. The practice of novena grew by the Middle Ages to include pious prayers for nine days before a feast in honor of a saint identified on a liturgical calendar.

NOVENA PRAYER:

O Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother of men, we believe with all the fervor of our faith in your trimphal Assumption into Heaven, body and soul, where you are acclaimed as Queen of all the choirs of Angels, and the countless multitude of saints. We unite with them in thanking and praising God who has exalted you above all the heavenly hosts.

In your mercy, dearest Mother, look down upon our miseries and our sorrows, upon our struggles and our weaknesses. Help us to remain pure in mind and body, to bear the crosses of life, and to live and die in close union with your Divine Son. Intercede with Him on our behalf, and obtain the graces and favors we ask in this Novena.

(Here make your requests)

THE MEMORARE:

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful; O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petition, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

(Add your daily Rosary)

How to Pray the Rosary:

https://www.rosarycenter.org/homepage-2/rosary/how-to-pray-the-rosary/

The CONFRATERNITY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY

The CONFRATERNITY OF

THE MOST HOLY ROSARY

,the members of which strive to pray the entire Rosary during the course of one

The Rosary Confraternity is a spiritual association of the Catholic Church, the members of which strive to pray the entire Rosary during the course of one week.

The CONFRATERNITY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY brings its members under the special protection of Our Lady, QUEEN OF THE ROSARY, and places their spiritual welfare in her hands. Too, it enables them to share in the Masses, Prayers, Acts of Penance and Apostolic works of over 100,000 members of the Family of St. Dominic. To this is added the prayers of hundreds of thousands of members of the Rosary Confraternity throughout the world who pray for one another.
Speaking of this, Pope Leo XIII wrote: “Whenever a person fulfills his obligation of reciting the Rosary according to the rule of the Confraternity, he includes in his intentions all its members, and they in turn render him the same service multiplied many times over.” The Confraternity asks its members to pray the entire Rosary each week. This does not bind under sin.

Since the Holy Father St. John Paul II added the five luminous mysteries, it would seem that members of the Confraternity should strive to include that extra weekly Rosary. Those who recite only the fifteen traditional mysteries will continue to share in the benefits of the Confraternity until some official source declares the contrary.  Commenting on the great fruitfulness of the Rosary devotion, and on the “healing power” it possesses for the ills of society, Pope Leo XIII added: “these advantages will be secured in a higher and fuller measure by those who band themselves together in the Confraternity of the Rosary, and who are thus more than others united by a special and brotherly bond of devotion to the Most Holy Virgin. They are, so to speak, the battalions which fight the battle for Christ, armed with His sacred mysteries and under the banner and guidance of the Heavenly Queen.” 

The Rosary Center P.O. Box 3617 Portland, Oregon 97208 USA

www.rosary-center.org

Saying The Rosary on a One Decade Rosary

Saying The Rosary on a One Decade Rosary:

On a previous blog I wrote a number of reasons for using a smaller one decade rosary as opposed to the larger conventional Rosary. Every night before bed I say at least a complete five mystery Rosary but during the day just moving around in the world I like to have a smaller set of beads to say a decade when I have spare time on my hands, trying never to be idol.

Saying the One Decade Rosary is the same as saying it on a conventional pair of beads replacing the five beads on the tail with the one Our Father bead. On this one bead one would say The Our father, three Hail Mary's and The Glory Be.

After the preamble is completed then one would say the Rosary just as on a conventional pair of beads. Depending on which Mysteries one will be meditating on then start with the first; on Tuesday and Friday it would be the Sorrowful Mysteries, begin with Our Lord's Agony in The Garden. Say the Rosary as you would normally by starting with the large bead as The Our Father bead and the ten small beads are the Hail Mary beads. End the first Mystery with a Glory Be to The Father, then the Fatima Prayer and I always say a short prayer; Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Now I am ready to start the second mystery; The Scourging at the Pillar. Then repeat the prayers just as the first Mystery. Repeat this until all five Mysteries are completed. I try to say the three conventional Mysteries every day; The Glorious, the Joyful and the Sorrowful. I occasionally meditate on the Luminous Mysteries but not as often.

Enjoy this gift of The Holy Rosary as a way to spend a few precious minutes with God. Always look at it as an honor and never a chore. One thing I always come away with from saying the Rosary is that God loves me and that he hears my prayers. Only I know how much trouble I have avoided and been saved from and I know it was because of His tender loving hands I have received so many blessings.

Lord, You know all things. You know that we love You.