"The Spirit of the Lord hath filled the whole world, alleluia; and that which containeth all things hath knowledge of the voice, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia." (Psalm 67:)
- Introiot: Mass of Pentecost O saintly Workman, Model of all workers,
Teach us the lessons of good Christian living, That all our labor and our very workshops may be made holy! - Hymn at Matins "Our Blessed Lady, in her immense love for us, is eager to receive into her virginal hands the gift of our actions, imparting to them a marvelous beauty and splendor,
and presenting them herself to Jesus most willingly. More glory is given to our Lord in this way than when we make our offering with our own guilty hands." - St. Louis Marie de Montfort: True Devotion #224 "Holy Saturday is liturgically a day of deepest mourning, a day which the Church spends at our Lord's sepulcher, meditating on His Sacred Passion and Death." - 1962 Roman Missal
Ecce lignum Crucis, in quo salus mundi pependit. Behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung the Savior of the world. "Let the faithful be led to understand properly today's special liturgical act, in which the Passion of our Lord is solemnly chanted; prayers offered for the needs of the whole Church and the human race: the Holy Cross, monument of our Redemption, is adored most devoutly by clergy and faithful, the whole family of Christ: finally, as for hundred of years was the practice, all who wish and are duly prepared go forward to receive Communion with this as their chief intention, that by devoutly receiving the Body of the Lord (which He delivered this day for all men) they may enjoy richer fruits of that Redemption/ Let the priest urge the faithful to make this sacred day one of loving recollection, neither should they forget the law of abstinence and fasting." - Extract from General Decree restoring the liturgy of Holy Week
With the eyes of faith, one sees that nothing is coincidence; everything of God is done with exact purpose, meaning, and love. One sees this reality in God's choosing of a date to become Incarnate. As March 25th often falls during the holy season of Lent, and sometimes even during Holy Week, God provides us with a point of contemplation. The Solemnity of the Annunciation amidst the season of Lent reminds us of the purpose of Our Lord's birth. As we are all born into this world to live, Christ was born to die - to die so that we might have eternal life.
The apparitions of Our Blessed Mother retain a special place of honor within our Marian community, as we strive to practice all she requested.
"The Church presents to us the 'first fruits' of these 'true Christians,' those who by their works, and even by their death, having sung the glory of the Redeemer. We see them in the retinue of the divine Child, like angels on earth, who unite their hymn to that of the angels in heaven."
"O God, by foreseen merits of the death of Christ, You shielded Mary from all stain of sin and preserved the Virgin Mother immaculate at her conception so that she might be a fitting dwelling place for Your Son. Cleanse us from sin through her intercession so that we also may come to You untainted by sin."
- Collect for the Immaculate Conception - "Holy Church, our Good Mother, after having exalted with fitting praise all Her children who now rejoice in heaven, strives also to help all those who still suffer in purgatory,
and to this end intercedes with all Her power before Christ, Her Lord and Spouse, in order that as speedily as possible they may join the society of the elect in heaven." Roman Martyrology |
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