Militia of the Immaculata:GB & Ireland

On August 26th, the feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa, also known as the Black Madonna of Poland, is celebrated. This revered painting depicts the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus and is recognized as the Patroness and Protector of Poland. The image is known as the Black Madonna due to the darkening of Mary's face, a result of centuries of exposure to soot and smoke from candles that have illuminated the icon as it was hidden away for protection.

The Kolbe family, devout and patriotic, often made pilgrimages to Jasna Góra, where the Black Madonna of Częstochowa has been venerated for centuries. This sacred site, a focal point of Poland’s spirituality, profoundly influenced Rajmund’s future.

The Gate to Heaven
“Mary, who is a human creature, one of us, reaches eternity in body and soul”, said Pope Francis on the Feast of Assumption. This is why we invoke her as the “Gate of Heaven”. “There she awaits us, just as a mother waits for her children to come home”. The Pope said we are like pilgrims on our way home to Heaven. Seeing that “in paradise, together with Christ, the New Adam, there is also her, Mary, the new Eve, gives us comfort and hope in our pilgrimage down here”.

St Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us 🙏

IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

More than 100 years after the first appearance of Our Lady of Fatima, Her message is more urgent today than ever. As culture and peace in the world continue to deteriorate, Our Lady of Fatima has the answer to all of that, namely the two “musts” — the daily Rosary and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

On 10 December 1925 Sister Lucia was in her cell in the convent in Pontevedra, Spain, when the Blessed Mother appeared to her. Our Lady didn’t arrive alone. Jesus was with his Mother, appearing as a child standing on a luminous cloud.
Sister Lucia described what happened, referring to herself in the third person.

"The most holy Virgin rested her hand on her shoulder, and as She did so, She showed her a Heart encircled by thorns, which She was holding in her other hand. At the same time, the Child said: ‘Have compassion on the Heart of your most holy Mother, covered with thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment, and there is no one to make an act of reparation to remove them.’ "

The solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus falls on the Friday after the Corpus Christi octave, which is today, 07 June.

Why do we venerate the Sacred Heart of Jesus? Where does devotion to the Sacred Heart come from?

The story goes back to 27 December 1673, eastern France.
A nun named Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque began experiencing visions of the Sacred Heart. Those visions continued for 18 months.

During her visions, Sister Margaret Mary learned ways to venerate the Sacred Heart of Christ.

These devotions included the concept of a Holy Hour on Thursdays, the creation of the feast of the Sacred Heart after Corpus Christi, and the reception of the Eucharist on the first Friday of every month.

FATIMA PRAYERS

PARDON PRAYER

My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love Thee! I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love Thee. Amen.

*Delivered by the Angel of Peace during the First Apparition of the Angel to the three shepherd children of Fatima in spring of 1916.

ANGEL’S PRAYER

O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of poor sinners.

*Delivered by the Angel of Peace during the Third Apparition of the Angel in October 1916. The Angel appeared to the three shepherd children holding a chalice in his hands, with a Host above it from which drops of Blood were falling into the chalice.

DECADE PRAYER

O My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell. Lead all souls to Heaven, especially those most in need of Thy mercy. Amen.

*Delivered by Our Lady during the Third Apparition of Our Lady of Fatima to the three shepherd children on July 13, 1917. Traditionally prayed after the 'Glory Be' for each decade of the Rosary.

May, the month in which the earth springs into bloom.
It’s also the Month of Mary.

For centuries, the Catholic Church has devoted the whole month of Mary to honour Mary, Mother of God. Not just a day in May but the whole month.

It’s common for parishes to have a daily recitation of the Rosary during May, and many set up a special May altar with a statue or picture of Mary as a reminder of Mary’s month. Also, it’s a long-standing tradition to crown the statue of Mary during May – a custom known as May Crowning. It’s a reminder to us to strive to imitate our Blessed Mother’s virtue in our own lives.

However, we can and should be doing the same in our homes.
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to prepare a prayer corner in your home.

For May, give Mary a special spot in your prayer corner. It can be a statue or picture and make it a real tribute to Her beauty and virtue.

Then, crown Mary. You can give Her an actual or spiritual crown along with renewing your consecration to Her. You can do it in the beginning, at the end of May or anywhere in between.

Happy Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord!

"This is a wonderful day, and a most important Feast day. The Blessed Trinity has entrusted to Mary Immaculate, a wonderful vocation; not only is the Blessed Virgin the Immaculate Conception, the New Eve, the Mother of God, Christ's Perfect Helper in the work of His Redemption, but Mary is also the Confirmer and Clarifier of the truths of Christ. The English translation of today's Gospel isn't as good as it could be; in the original Greek, the Angel Gabriel is absolutely clear that 'you [Mary] will conceive in womb' [en gastri]'; in other words, Jesus will take His human flesh from Mary, who will be His true mother (in regards to His human nature). All Marian feasts, while honouring the beauty and wonder of the Blessed Virgin, have as their primary function, the defending of the full and undimmed majesty of Christ: the worship and dignity that must be afforded to Him, and the Saving Truths that must be professed about Him. Mary, Destroyer of all heresies, pray for us!"

Fr Gerard Mary, the Special Delegate for the M.I. in Great Britain & Ireland.

“He has risen. This is the heart of our faith. Mary was a silent witness of all these events. Let us ask her to help us also to receive the fullness of this Easter message.” — St. John Paul II

Lent is already underway.

This profound quote from St. Maximilian emphasizes the connection between love and sacrifice, highlighting that genuine love thrives through selfless giving and sacrifice.

Indeed, St. Maximilian's words provide a meaningful perspective for Lent, encouraging us to embrace sacrificial love as a vital element in our spiritual journey during this season of reflection and preparation.

Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Help of the Sick.

Since the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1858, millions of people from all over the world have flocked to Lourdes every year to experience the grace of this place. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is above all the place of healing of bodies and hearts where one comes to pray humbly to the one who revealed her name to Bernadette Soubirous: “I am the Immaculate Conception”.

O ever-Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy,

health of the sick, refuge of sinners,

comforter of the afflicted,

you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings;

look with mercy on me.

By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes,

you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary,

whence you dispense your favours;

and already many sufferers have obtained

the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal.


I come, therefore, with complete confidence

to implore your maternal intercession.


Obtain, O loving Mother, the grant of my requests.

(mention your petition)

Through gratitude for your favours,

I will endeavour to imitate your virtues,

that I may one day share your glory.

Amen.

Mary, the Theotokos
Mary is the Mother of God because she is the Mother of Jesus, true God and true Man. Because of this, she more than anyone else can lead us to her Son, for no other like her knows who Jesus is, and no one knows how to relate with Him as well as she does. Mary is the Mother who, on hearing the shepherd’s words, understood immediately that the Child was not just “her Son”. “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice” Jesus would say one day (Lk. 8:19-21). She, who for nine months had borne Him in her womb, knew how to listen to everyone the Lord allowed her to meet: the shepherds, the magi, Simeon and Anna…because each of them would “reveal” something about Jesus’ identity and mission.

Prayer
We fly to your protection,
O Holy Mother of God;
Do not despise our petitions
in our necessities,
but deliver us always
from every danger,
O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

(Ancient Marian Prayer)

Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, “full of grace” through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854:

The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.

In November of 1830, Mary appeared to St. Catherine at the Rue de Bac Chapel. She was standing on a globe, with dazzling rays of light streaming from her outstretched hands. Framing the apparition was an inscription: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” When Mary spoke to St. Catherine, She said “Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck. Those who repeat this prayer with devotion will be, in a special manner, under the protection of the Mother of God. Graces will be abundantly bestowed upon those who have confidence.”

Did you know that fact about Mary's Queenship?

The Assumption of Our Lady

Perfectly united with the life and saving work of Jesus, Mary shares his heavenly destiny in body and soul.

The Feast of St Maximillian Kolbe
St. Maximilian Kolbe is a modern day saint that shows just how necessary it is for us to guard, protect, and promote our great faith. As a child, he had a strong faith in our Blessed Mother, and received a vision. He allowed this vision to be a guiding force in his life, eventually being ordained. He spent his entire life promoting the faith, and building up the Church. Eventually his capture and being sent to Auschwitz would cost him his life. He willingly laid down his life in 1941, for a fellow prisoner. No greater love has one than to lay down his life for a friend. How far are we willing to go today, to defend, protect, and promote the faith?

ST. JOHN PAUL II PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF LOURDES

Hail Mary, poor and humble Woman,
Blessed by the Most High!
Virgin of hope, dawn of a new era,
We join in your song of praise,
to celebrate the Lord’s mercy,
to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom
and the full liberation of humanity.

Hail Mary, lowly handmaid of the Lord,
Glorious Mother of Christ!
Faithful Virgin, holy dwelling-place of the Word,
Teach us to persevere in listening to the Word,
and to be docile to the voice of the Spirit,
attentive to his promptings in the depths of our conscience
and to his manifestations in the events of history.

Hail Mary, Woman of sorrows,
Mother of the living!
Virgin spouse beneath the Cross, the new Eve,
Be our guide along the paths of the world.
Teach us to experience and to spread the love of Christ,
to stand with you before the innumerable crosses
on which your Son is still crucified.

Hail Mary, woman of faith,
First of the disciples!
Virgin Mother of the Church, help us always
to account for the hope that is in us,
with trust in human goodness and the Father’s love.
Teach us to build up the world beginning from within:
in the depths of silence and prayer,
in the joy of fraternal love,
in the unique fruitfulness of the Cross.

Holy Mary, Mother of believers,
Our Lady of Lourdes,
pray for us.

Amen.

January 8th is St. Maximillian’s Birthday (January 8, 1894) and also the anniversary of his Baptism, since he was baptized the very same day at the parish church dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady. .Maximiliankolbe

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

“O marvellous humility, O astonishing poverty! The King of angels, the Lord of Heaven and earth, is laid in a manger!” (St Francis of Assisi)

TODAY is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Let's meditate on the Life of Jesus through the Mysteries of the Holy Rosary.

Happy Feast Day
Our Lady of La Salette
1846
Feast Day: September 19
In 1846 the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to two children, Maximin Giraud and Melanie Calvat on a mountain in La Salette, France while they were attending cattle. She was weeping and an intense light surrounded her. Around her neck was a crucifix, with a hammer and pincers on either side. Her message was one of a severe warning to mankind to keep the commandments and pursue holiness. She told of a terrifying apocalyptic future unless people repented. The local bishop formally approved the public devotion and prayers to Our Lady of La Salette in 1851.
https://www.portraitsofsaints.com/collections/all/all-images-our-lady-of-la-salette

12 September - the Most Holy Name of Mary

"After the most holy and adorable Name of Jesus, there is no name more glorious or more powerful than the Name of Mary. At the mention of this Name, the Angels rejoice and the devils tremble; through this invocation of this Name, sinners obtain grace and pardon." (St. Peter Canisius)

Can you imagine the love and affection of Our Lord when He hears the Name of His Mother? Let us invoke the Name of Mary with a similar love and affection as often as possible.

Hail, Holy Queen!
Mother of Mercy,
Our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, O Most Gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us,
And after this, our exile, show unto us the most blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary,
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

For more about the Church's teaching on the Assumption of Mary, body and soul, into heaven: https://bit.ly/EWTN_Assumption

Happy Feast Day
Saint Maximilian Kolbe
1894 - 1941
Feast day: August 14

MARY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

O Mary, my good Mother,
faithful Spouse of the Holy Spirit,
deign to obtain for me from our God of Love
all His Ardour and Light.

Do place my poor soul in His divine flames,
that He may consume it of His love,
awaken its faith and fulfill its hope.

Do grant me also, an inviolable faithfulness
to the impulses of grace
and to His divine operations.

O Holy Spirit, through Mary's intercession,
I confide myself to your purifying and sanctifying love !
May you dwell alone in me with the Father and the Son.

Humble servant of the Lord,
God has placed his faith in you.
Blessed are you, admirable Virgin!

Mother of the Savior Jesus,
generous among all women,
blessed are you,
Virgin is so good!

Mary, faithful and poor,
The Lord finds his joy in you.
Blessed are you,
Virgin worthy of praise!

13 May - Our Lady of Fatima

The message of Our Lady of Fatima (Selections):

"I am the Lady of the Rosary, I have come to warn the faithful to amend their lives and ask for pardon for their sins. They must not offend Our Lord any more, for He is already too grievously offended by the sins of men. People must say the Rosary. Let them continue saying it every day."
Our Lady gravely said, "Sacrifice yourselves for sinners and say often, especially when you make some sacrifice, 'O my Jesus, this is for love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.' "
"The sins of the world are very great ... If men only knew what eternity is, they would do everything in their power to change their lives."
"Fly from riches and luxury; love poverty and silence; have charity, even for bad people."
"More souls go to Hell because of sins of the flesh than for any other reason."
"Certain fashions will be introduced that will offend Our Lord very much."
"Woe to women lacking in modesty."
On July 13, 1917 the Blessed Virgin unveiled a terrifying reality before the three children's eyes. Lucia recounts: "Our Lady showed us a great sea of fire, which seemed to be under the earth. Plunged in this fire were demons and souls, in human form, like transparent burning embers, all blackened or burnished bronze, floating about in this conflagration in clouds of smoke, lifted
by flames coming out of their bodies. They rose and fell on all sides, like sparks in roaring fires, without weight or direction, amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair that terrified us and made us tremble with fear. (...) Then we raised our eyes to Our Lady, who said with kindness and sadness: 'You have seen Hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to My Immaculate Heart. If people do what I am going to tell you, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.' "