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O Most Holy Heart of Mary

immaculateheart

Consecration to the Admirable Heart Of Mary
by Saint John Eudes

O most holy Heart of Mary, ever Immaculate, ever Virgin, holiest, purest, noblest, greatest, inexhaustible fountain of goodness, sweetness, mercy and love; model of every virtue, image of the Adorable Heart of Jesus Christ ever burning with the most ardent charity, who lovest God more than all the Seraphim together. Heart of the Mother of the Redeemer, seat of peace, wherein mercy and justice are allied, whence peace between Heaven and earth has begun to be treated, who didst feel our miseries so deeply, who didst suffer so much for our salvation, who still lovest us so ardently and who dost merit by all these rights, the respect, love and confidence of all men: deign to accept my poor
tribute of love.

Prostrate before thee I tender thee the most profound homage of which I am capable; I thank thee for the feelings of love and mercy with which thou an so deeply moved at the sight of our misery; I offer thee my humble thanks for all the gifts I have received from thy goodness, and I unite with all the pure souls who delight in honoring, praising and loving thee. They have learned from the Holy Spirit Who directs them, that it is through thee they most goto Jesus Christ, and offer to this God-Man their need of adoration.

Therefore, O most loving Heart, thou shalt henceforth be the object of my veneration, of my love and most tender devotion; thou shalt be the way whereby I shall go to my Saviour, as it is through thee that His mercy shall come to me; thou shalt be my refuse in every need, my consolation in every affliction; from thee I shall learn the purity, humility, meekness and above all, the love of Jesus; I shall ask for these virtues through thy merits and so shall infallibly obtain them. I presume to offer thee my heart sullied with a thousand sins; all unworthy as it is I trust that thou wilt not despise it. Grant by thy powerful mediation that it may be purified and detached from every creature; penetrate it with sorrow for my sins; fill it with the love of the Divine Heart of Jesus, thy Son, that it may be eternally united with thee in Heaven, there to love God forever. Amen.

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Why Should Our Churches Be Beautiful?

6E5E4AB6-DCB5-4AE3-A16D-3DA0A4C8E4B1Well, one explanation was given by Abbot Suger of St. Denis, back in the twelfth century “The dull mind rises to the truth through material things” and even more fully, in answering some of his own minimalist contemporaries (they had them then too) “To be sure, those who criticize us argue that holy mind, pure heart and faithful intention should suffice … These are, we agree, the things that matter most; yet we profess that we should also serve God with the external ornaments of sacred vessels, in all internal purity and in all external nobility, and nowhere is this to be done as much as in the service of the holy sacrifice. For it is incumbent upon us in every case to serve our redeemer in the most fitting way for in all things, without exception, he has not refused to provide for us, has united our nature with his in a single, admirable individual, and “setting us on his right hand” he has promised “that we will truly possess his kingdom” (Mtt. 25:33f.).” ~  Why Beauty in Church? Why Art?

Fresh flowers make a huge difference.  We have decided on four simple bud vases of flowers placed in a staggered fashion on the upper and lower gradines.  889C86BB-D68B-41E3-B5C9-916231317A6C

We tried adding two larger flower arrangements on portable pillars on either side of the altar, but they seemed to distract from the altar and of course, were an additional expense that we could do without. These items help tremendously but are still manageable for us to do each Sunday.  The altar itself requires a good bit of time to set up and take down, so all these things need to be kept in mind when deciding on artistic elements in a temporary setting such as many mission chapels like ours.

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An Assumption Prayer by St. Alphonsus

The Assumption
‘Modello’ for the Assumption of Mary by Peter Paul Rubens 1622-25 Oil on panel, 88 x 59 cm Mauritshuis, The Hague

O most sweet Lady and our Mother, thou hast already left the earth and reached thy kingdom, where, as Queen, thou art enthroned above all the choirs of angels, as the Church sings: ‘She is exalted above the choirs of angels in the celestial kingdom.’ We well know that we sinners are not worthy to possess thee in this valley of darkness; but we also know that thou, in thy greatness, hast never forgotten us miserable creatures, and that by being exalted to such great glory thou hast never lost compassion for us poor children of Adam; nay, even that it is increased in thee. From the high throne, then, to which thou art exalted, turn, O Mary, thy compassionate eyes upon us, and pity us. Remember, also, that in leaving this world thou didst promise not to forget us. Look at us and succour us. See in the midst of what tempests and dangers we constantly are, and shall be until the end of our lives. By the merits of thy happy death obtain for us holy perseverance in the Divine friendship, that we may finally quit this life in God’s grace; and thus we also shall one day come to kiss thy feet in Paradise, and unite with the blessed spirits in praising thee and singing thy glories as thou deservest. Amen.