chiara mathews

September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

Concluding prayers from the 3 litanies of Our Lady of Sorrows:

We beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, let Thy Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose holy soul was pierced by a sword of sorrow at the hour of Thy Passion, implore Thy mercy for us, both now and at the hour of our death, Who livest and reignest, world without end.

Imprint, O Lady, thy wounds upon my heart, that I may read therein sorrow and love, sorrow to endure every sorrow for thee, love to despise every love for thee.

O Lord Jesus Christ, God and Man, grant, we beseech Thee, that Thy dear Mother Mary, whose soul the sword pierced in the hour of Thy Passion, may intercede for us, now, and in the hour of our death, through Thine own merits, O Saviour of the world, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, God, world without end.

Amen.

This is the second month of Nomen Christi Apostolate’s “Marian Triad of the Months,” when we are contemplating the Mariology of her Immaculate Heart, her 7 Sorrows and the Holy Rosary.  How can we honor her sorrows this month?  We can pray the litanies mentioned above, the 7 Sorrows Chaplet and also celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on the 15th.  This feast is in both the trad and new calendars.  In terms of meditation, we may ask ourselves the following questions:  “How do our Heavenly Mother’s sorrows relate to our own times?”  “How can we appeal to her during these times?”  “Why did God allow her to suffer?”  “How can we derive consolation from her own Passion, inextricably linked to Our Lord’s?” 

We also honor the Mother of God’s nativity on the 8th, her holy name on the 12th  and Our Lady of Ransom the 24th.  The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is on the 14th.  The Ember Days of Autumn always proceed the following week on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday (Wed and Sat meat at one meal and of course, the usual Friday penance).  See “Ember Days” topic to the right>>>  Other notable feasts this month:

Saint Gregory the Great/Saint Pius X-3rd

Saint Teresa of Calcutta-5th

Saint Matthew, Apostle-21st

Saint Pio-23rd

Saint Vincent de Paul-27th

The Three Archangels, Michael, Gabriel & Raphael-29th

Our Lady of Sorrows Prayers from the Tridentine Mass with PDF

The Human Spirit Shall Prevail!

To all you totalitarians. Consider yourselves warned…

“The more you tighten your grip Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers.”

Princess Leia

During These Tumultuous Times...

“…stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved…Rejoice in the Lord always, again, I say, rejoice…The Lord is nigh…in every thing, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

…whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these things.  The things which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, these do ye, and the God of peace shall be with you.  Now I rejoice in the Lord exceedingly…I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, to be content therewith…I can do all these things in him who strengtheneth me…Now to God and our Father be glory world without end. Amen…The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”

Saint Paul to the Phillipians, Chapter 4

+++ GOOD FRIDAY / DIVINE MERCY NOVENA +++

For some reason, this song is on my mind today. On this day of the beginning of our “Eclipse Pilgrimage of Mercy,” the start of the Novena of the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Our Lord spoke to Saint Faustina, as the intention for the first day, to be said on Good Friday, 9 Days before Divine Mercy Sunday…Our Lord calls from the Holy Cross:

“Today bring to Me all mankind, especially all sinners, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.”

Please have a listen and pray for the dear soul of Leonard Cohen. This is live from Belfast on his last tour before he died of a head injury…

“If It Be Your Will” by Leonard Cohen

If it be Your will
That I speak no more
And my voice be still
As it was before

I will speak no more
I shall abide until
I am spoken for
If it be Your will

If it be Your will
That a voice be true
From this broken hill
I will sing to you

From this broken hill
All Your praises they shall ring
If it be Your will
To let me sing

If it be Your will
If there is a choice
Let the rivers fill
Let the hills rejoice

Let Your mercy spill
On all these burning hearts in Hell
If it be Your will
To make us well

And to draw us near
And bind us tight
All Your children here
In their rags of light

In our rags of light
All dressed to kill
And end this night
If it be Your will
If it be Your will

Divine Mercy Chaplet Special Novena Prayers

It's Coming Like a Wave from West to East...

An “X” across the greatest military power in human history.

Spanning 7 years.

At the end of an Empire.

Pride comes before a fall.

But all ends also bring new beginnings.

What will our new beginning look like?

We will be the ones to decide.

“the great north american eclipse”

“the great american eclipse”

on the date of Our Lady of Knock apparitions, in the Month of the Immaculate Heart, in the year of the Fatima Centennial

crossing “the great north american eclipse”

on the feast of the Annunciation, in the Month of the Holy Eucharist

Images from timeanddate.com and astronomy.com

Ash Wednesday "Ginger Berry Overnight Oats"

I happened to make these overnight oats the night before Ash Wednesday, added the 2 layers for breakfast, and realized what a good “fasting day” meal this is. It is vegetarian (you can make it vegan), healthy, nutrient dense and filling. If you are eating empty calories or not enough substance, you might have difficulty getting through the day….unless that’s what you want, you do you! But if you have health issues or get irritable when you’re hungry, it might not be the most responsible thing to tax yourself too much. So here’s one idea for an Ash Wednesday / Good Friday meal and this recipe is so flexible, you can make your own variations (you decide how much of this is a meal or a snack). And from a prepper viewpoint, overnight oats is a great way to make something without needing a heat source…stock up on oats!

One cup Rolled Oats in a 6 1/2” x 6 1/2” dish. 1 tbs Chia Seeds, 1 scoop sweetened Vanilla Protein Shake Mix, any Milk (just enough to cover oats), ground Ginger to taste. Mix well. Let sit in fridge covered overnight.

Spread one serving of yogurt on top. This is a stevia-sweetened berry yogurt.

Top with Berries.

Spoon into another dish. That’s it! Overnight Oats are are meant to be eaten cold, but you can certainly warm it up a bit if you want, you may also wish to add more milk for a creamier texture.

New York Gov Issues Snow Travel BAN (Climate Lockdown)

I’m in NY and didn’t even know about this till a few days ago. This occurred Jan 13th in Erie County. This article from “Signs of the Times” is written by the attorney who is handling the case against Gov Hochul regarding “Isolation and Quarantine Procedures, Rule 2.13,” the infamous decision to allow the NYS Dept of Health unprecedented bodily control over citizens…

Conspiracy Theorists Were Right About Climate Lockdowns

"The Wonders of the Holy Name" Booklet: Act Now!

In this month of the Holy Name of Jesus (in case you haven’t noticed, this ministry is dedicated to the Holy Name), TAN Books has a great sale on the booklet mentioned above. It normally sells for $4.95 each, but if you act by January 31st, you get 5 for $10.00! It is not a prayer book, but it contains many historical anecdotes, such as Pope Gregory X’s devotion, a plague in Lisbon, glorious martyrdoms and the faith of many saints in the Holy Name.

TAN also has a monthly $10.00 “leatherette” book. They have quite a selection now of these beautiful, well-made spiritual classics and Bibles. The prices range widely, so taking advantage of the monthly offering is a good idea. As a Catholic prepper, having good quality classic books is a must. If you still need to develop your spiritual library, TAN provides a great way to move forward. They also have sets of books you might want to look at.

One warning: unless you like lots of spam, don’t sign up for their email list. Just make a point to visit the site once a month and take advantage of the leatherette, for sure.

Praise the Holy Name of Jesus now and forever!

Let us defend it valiantly!

Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary with PDF

September 15th, from the Tridentine Mass:

There stood by the cross of Jesus,

His mother, and His mother's sister Mary
of Cleophas, and Salome, and Mary
Magdalen.

Woman, behold thy son, said Jesus.
To the disciple…Behold thy mother.

O God, at Whose Passion, according
to the prophecy of Simeon, a sword of
sorrow pierced the most sweet soul of
the glorious Virgin and Mother Mary:
mercifully grant, that we who with
devotion honor her Sorrows, may
obtain the happy fruit of thy Passion.

Sorrowful and tearful art thou, O Virgin
Mary, standing by the cross of the
Lord Jesus, thy Son and Redeemer.

O Virgin Mother of God, He Whom the
whole earth containeth not, the Author
of life, made man, beareth this
anguish of the cross.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Holy Mary, Queen of Heaven and Mistress of the world,
stood by the cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, sorrowing.

+++ sequence +++

At the cross her station keeping, Stood the mournful Mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.
Through her heart His sorrow sharing, All his bitter anguish bearing,
Now at length the sword had pass'd.
Oh how sad and sore distress'd, Was that Mother highly blest,
Of the Sole-Begotten One!
Christ above in torment hangs, She beneath beholds the pangs,
Of her dying glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep? Whelmi'd in miseries so deep,
Christ's dear Mother to behold.
Can the human heart refrain, From partaking in her pain,
In that Mother's pain untold?
Bruis'd, derided, curs'd, defil'd, She beheld her tender Child,
All with bloody scourges rent.
For the sins of His own nation, Saw Him hang in desolation,
Till His Spirit forth He sent.

O thou Mother font of love! Touch my spirit from above,
Make my heart with thine accord.
Make me feel as thou hast felt, Make my soul to glow and melt,
With the love of Christ our Lord.
Holy Mother pierce me through, In my heart each wound renew,
Of my Savior crucified.
Let me share with thee His pain, Who for all my sins was slain,
Who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with thee, Mourning Him who mourned for me,
All the days that I may live.
By the Cross with thee to stay, There with thee to weep and pray,
Is all I ask of thee to give.
Virgin of all virgins best, Listen to my fond request,
Let me share thy grief divine.
Let me to my latest breath, In my body bear the death,
Of that dying Son of thine.

Wounded with His every wound, Steep my soul till it hath swoon'd,
In His very Blood away.

Be to me O Virgin nigh, Lest in flames I burn and die,
In His awful Judgment day.

Christ when Thou shalt call me hence, Be Thy Mother my defense,
Be Thy Cross my victory.
While my body here decays, May my soul Thy goodness praise,
Safe in paradise with Thee.

+++

Remember, O Virgin Mother of God,
when thou standest in the presence of
the Lord, that thou speak good things
for us and turn His wrath from us.

We offer Thee prayers and sacrifices,
O Lord Jesus Christ, humbly
entreating that we, who commemorate
in our prayers the piercing of the most
dear soul of blessed Mary, Thy
Mother, may, through the multiplied
intercession of her and of her holy
companions under the cross, by the
merits of Thy death, receive our
portion with the blessed.

Happy the senses of the blessed
Virgin Mary, which without death
earned the palm of martyrdom
beneath the cross of our Lord.

May the sacrifices of which we have
partaken, O Lord Jesus Christ,
devoutly celebrating the piercing of
Thy virgin Mother's soul, obtain for us
with Thy clemency the effect of every
salutary benefit.
Amen.

PDF (Printable) of Sequence

Pray with your Family or Church Group during this Month of Our Lady of Sorrows!

July is the Month of the Most Precious Blood of Christ

April is the month when we honor the Body of Christ, and July, we honor His Blood.  The birthstone for July is the red ruby, seemingly reflecting the red Blood of Our Lord, raised up in adoration this month.  God made all things of the natural world and they continually praise Him, each in its own way.  A life of authenticity is a life immersed in His creation, the surest way to happiness.

July 1st is the feast of the Most Precious Blood, in the traditional calendar.  The ensuing week invokes many who shed their own blood, directing humanity to that which was shed upon the Holy Cross.  We celebrate the Visitation on the 2nd, when Saint John the Baptist leapt in Saint Elizabeth’s womb, the one who paved the way for Christ and was martyred in the process.  The 3rd, we honor Saint Thomas, the one who doubted, but later also gave his life, doubting no more.  And on the 6th, there is Saint Maria Goretti, the young girl who gave her life for purity.  Later in the month, on the 25th, Saint James the Greater is honored, also a martyred Apostle. 

Also from the 1st Century, Saints Mary Magdalen on the 22nd, Joachim & Anne on the 26th and Martha on the 29th.  Our Lady of Mount Carmel, who gave Saint Simon Stock the miraculous Brown Scapular, is celebrated on the 16th.

Almighty and Eternal God, Thou hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world, and willed to be appeased by His Blood.  Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may worthily adore the Price of our salvation, and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of this present life, so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in Heaven.  Through the same Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

From the Litany of the Most Precious Blood

This month’s Roman Catholic Traditional Calendar:  Calefactory.org

Please note, we discuss both trad and new feasts.