SACRED ART: "The Sistine Madonna" by Raphael
(Left-click twice on the picture to see the painting at closer range)
PRAYER: Litany of Loreto ***OPTIONAL***
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
God our Father in heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Most honored of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of the Church, pray for us.
Mother of divine grace, pray for us.
Mother most pure, pray for us.
Mother of chaste love, pray for us.
Mother and virgin, pray for us.
Sinless mother, pray for us.
Dearest of mothers, pray for us.
Model of motherhood, pray for us.
Mother of good counsel, pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, pray for us.
Mother of our Savior, pray for us.
Virgin most wise, pray for us.
Virgin rightly praised, pray for us.
Virgin rightly renowned, pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, pray for us.
Virgin gentle in mercy, pray for us.
Faithful Virgin, pray for us.
Mirror of justice, pray for us.
Throne of wisdom, pray for us.
Cause of our joy, pray for us.
Shrine of the Spirit, pray for us.
Glory of Israel, pray for us.
Vessel of selfless devotion, pray for us.
Mystical Rose, pray for us.
Tower of David, pray for us.
Tower of ivory, pray for us.
House of gold, pray for us.
Ark of the covenant, pray for us.
Gate of heaven, pray for us.
Morning Star, pray for us.
Health of the sick, pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Comfort of the troubled, pray for us.
Help of Christians, pray for us.
Queen of angels, pray for us.
Queen of patriarchs and prophets, pray for us.
Queen of apostles and martyrs, pray for us.
Queen of confessors and virgins, pray for us.
Queen of all saints, pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.
Queen assumed into heaven, pray for us.
Queen of the rosary, pray for us.
Queen of families, pray for us.
Queen of peace, pray for us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Pray for us, Holy Mother of God, that we may become worthy of the promises of Christ.
Eternal God,
Let your people enjoy constant health in mind and body.
Through the intercession of the Virgin Mary,
Free us from the sorrows of this life,
And lead us to happiness in the life to come.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
SACRED ART: "The Baptism of Christ" by Antoine Coypel
(Left-click the white slider bar in the mini picture, then drag the white slider bar left or right to find your preferred size — you might have to play with it because it’s a little tricky)
PRAYER: Invocation of the Holy Spirit ***REQUIRED***
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful,
And enkindle in them the fire of your love.
Lord, send forth your Spirit,
And you will renew the face of the earth.
O God,
Who instructs the hearts of your faithful
With the light of your Holy Spirit,
Make us responsive to his inspirations
So that we may be truly wise and
Ever rejoice in his consolations,
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
SACRED ART: "Crucifixion" by Frans Francken
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Frans_Francken_d._J._003.jpg
(Left-click once on the picture to see the painting at closer range)
SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 3: 18 ***REQUIRED***
All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit.
SACRED ART: "Founder Statue of St. Louis de Montfort" by Giacomo Parsini
(Left-click once or twice on the picture to get a closer view)
REFLECTION BY ST. LOUIS DE MONTFORT: True Devotion to Mary (#219-221) ***REQUIRED***
Please note that I say that the saints are molded in Mary. There is a vast difference between carving a statue by blows of hammer and chisel and making a statue by using a mold. Sculptors and statue makers work hard and need plenty of time to make statues by the first method. But the second method does not involve much work and takes very little time. St. Augustine speaking to our Blessed Lady says, “You are worthy to be called the mold of God.” Mary is a mold capable of forming people into the image of the God-man. Anyone who is cast into this divine mold is quickly shaped and molded into Jesus and Jesus into him. At little cost and in a short time he will become Christ-like since he is cast into the very same mold that fashioned a God-man. I think I can very well compare some spiritual directors and devout persons to sculptors who wish to produce Jesus in themselves and in others by methods other than this. Many of them rely on their own skill, ingenuity and art and chip away endlessly with a mallet and chisel at hard stone or badly-prepared wood, in an effort to produce a likeness to our Lord. At times, they do not manage to produce a recognizable likeness either because they lack knowledge and experience of the person of Jesus or because a clumsy stroke has spoiled the whole work. But those who accept this little-known secret of grace which I offer them can rightly be compared to smelters and molders who have discovered the beautiful mold of Mary where Jesus was so divinely and so naturally formed. They do not rely on their own skill but on the perfection of the mold. They cast and lose themselves in Mary where they become true models of her Son. You may think this a beautiful and convincing comparison. But how many understand it? I would like you, my dear friend, to understand it. But remember that only molten or liquefied substances may be poured into a mold. This means you must crush and melt down the old Adam in you if you wish to acquire the likeness of the new Adam in Mary.
QUESTIONS ***REQUIRED***
Am I truly willing to experience a total transformation of my person in Christ? Does the call to such a complete personal transformation give me fear? Am I attracted by the idea of being transformed into Christ? What is stronger within me — the fear of changing or the attraction to Christ?
SACRED ART: "The Visitation" by Raphael and Giulio Romano or Giovanni Francesco Penni
(Either leave the picture as it is, or you may left-click on the minus sign once or twice in order to get a farther view)
PRAYER: Jesus Living in Mary ***REQUIRED***
O Jesus living in Mary,
Come and live in your servant,
In the Spirit of your holiness,
In the fullness of your gifts,
In the perfection of your ways,
In the truth of your virtues,
In the communion of your mysteries.
Subdue within me
The power of flesh and demon
By your Holy Spirit,
For the glory of God the father.
Amen.
SACRED ART: "The Coronation of the Virgin" by Pedro de Calabria
(Either leave the picture as it is, or you may left-click on the plus sign or minus sign in order to get a closer or farther view)
PRAYER: St. Louis de Montfort’s Rosary Prayer ***REQUIRED***
Hail Mary,
Beloved Daughter of the Eternal Father,
Admirable Mother of the Son,
Faithful Spouse of the Holy Spirit,
August Temple of the most Holy Trinity,
Hail, Sovereign Princess,
To whom all owe subjection
In Heaven and on earth!
Hail, sure refuge of sinners,
Our Lady of Mercy,
Who has never refused any request.
All sinful though I am,
I cast myself at your feet
And beseech you to obtain from Jesus,
Your Beloved Son,
Contrition and pardon for all my sins,
As well as the gift of divine wisdom.
I consecrate myself entirely to you
With all that I have.
I choose you today
For my Mother and Mistress.
Treat me, then, as the least of your children,
And the most obedient of your servants.
Listen, my princess,
Listen to the sighs of a heart
That desires to love and serve you faithfully.
Let it never be said
That of all those who have had recourse to you,
I was the first to be abandoned.
O my hope, O my life,
O my faithful and Immaculate Virgin Mary,
Defend me, nourish me,
Hear me, teach me, and save me.
Amen.
PRAYER: Five Decades of the Holy Rosary ***REQUIRED***
SACRED ART: "The Holy Family with St. Elizabeth and the Infant St. John the Baptist" by Pompeo Batoni
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Hermitagebatoniholyfamily.jpg
(Either leave the picture as it is, or you may left-click once on the picture to get a closer view)
PRAYER: Ave Maris Stella ***REQUIRED***
Hail, bright star of ocean,
God’s own Mother blest,
Ever sinless Virgin,
Gate of heavenly rest.
Taking that sweet Ave,
Which from Gabriel came,
Peace confirm within us,
Changing Eva’s name.
Break the captives’ fetters,
Light on blindness pour,
All our ills expelling,
Every bliss implore.
Show thyself a Mother;
May the the Word Divine,
Born for us thy Infant,
Hear our prayers through thine.
Virgin all excelling,
Mildest of the mild,
Freed from guilt, preserve us,
Pure and undefiled.
Keep our life all spotless,
Make our way secure,
Till we find in Jesus,
Joy forevermore.
Through the highest heaven,
To the Almighty Three,
Father, Son, and Spirit,
One same glory be.
Amen.