MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH

 

"It is the blessed Virgin Mary who faithfully and lovingly leads us to her divine Son with the maternal counsel, "Do whatever He tells you" (Jn 2:5). She is the Mother of the Redeemer who, when He was consummating the work of our salvation, gave His Mother to the Church to be her Mother always:  "Woman, behold your son! . . . Behold your Mother!" (Jn 19:26-27)

[1] Mark Miravalle, Ed. Mariology; a guide for priests, deacons, seminarians, and consecrated persons. 2007. USA: Wisdom Books (a Division of Queenship Publishing). Page xix

Image courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle "Mother of the Church" 

MOTHER MARY, WOMAN OF THE EUCHARIST

"Referring to the relationship of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Eucharistic faith and devotion, Pope Benedict XVI declared: 

In her we find realized most perfectly the essence of the Church.  The Church sees in Mary  - "Woman of the Eucharist," as she is  called by the Servant of God John Paul II - her finest icon, and she contemplates Mary as a singular model of Eucharistic life . . . From Mary we must learn to become men and women of the Eucharist and of the Church, and thus to present ourselves, in  the words of Saint Paul, "holy and blameless" before the Lord, even as He wished us to be from the beginning." (cf. Col 1:22; Eph 1:4) [1]

[1] Mark Miravalle, Ed. Mariology; a guide for priests, deacons, seminarians, and consecrated persons. 2007. USA: Wisdom Books (a Division of Queenship Publishing). Page xix

Image courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle "Mother Mary and Jesus in church" 

MOTHER OF DIVINE GRACE

 

"The vocation and mission of our Blessed Mother relates to every aspect of our life in Christ, for it is she who brings Christ into the world, through the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, and it is she who, by the work of the Holy Spirit, continues to offer Christ to the world in the Church. Rightly, we invoke her with the title. Mother of Divine Grace." [1]

[1] Mark Miravalle, Ed. Mariology; a guide for priests, deacons, seminarians, and consecrated persons. 2007. USA: Wisdom Books (a Division of Queenship Publishing). Page xix

Image courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle "Mother Mary presents Lord Jesus to the crowd" 

TRADITION THAT THE RISEN CHRIST APPEARED TO HIS MOTHER

 

"Although the Gospel accounts of the Lord's Resurrection do not mention the Blessed Virgin Mary, a tradition dating at least to the fifth century maintains that the risen Christ appeared to His Mother. According to the Latin poet Sedulius, [1] Christ appeared first to the Virgin Mary before any of the other witnesses mentioned by the evangelists or St Paul (1 Cor 15:6). Indeed, in this account, Mary who at the Annunciation served as the gate through which Jesus entered the world, now received the good news of the Lord's Resurrection, precisely in order to become the herald of His second coming. [2]

Saint John Paul II recalled this tradition in several of his Easter messages. [3] After citing Sedelius, the Pontiff considered the value of the tradition.

It seems reasonable to think that Mary, as the image and model of the Church which waits for the Risen One and meets Him in the group of disciples during the Easter appearances, had a personal contact with her risen Son, so that she too could delight in the fullness of paschal joy.

Present at Calvary on Good Friday (cf. Jn. 19:25) and in the Upper Room on Pentecost (cf. Acts 1:14), the Blessed Virgin, too, was probably a privileged witness of Christ's Resurrection, completing in this way her participation in all the essential moments of the Paschal Mystery. Welcoming the risen Jesus, Mary is also a sign and anticipation of humanity, which hopes to achieve its fulfilment through the Resurrection of the dead. [4]

[1] Grokipedia. Coelius Sedulius. Accessed 12/04/2026

https://grokipedia.com/page/coelius_sedulius

[2] Sedelius, Paschale Carmen, 5, 357-364, Sedulii opera omnia, ed Iohannes Huemer (Vienna: Gerold, 1885) Corpus scriptorum ecclesiasticorum latinorum 10:140-141

[3] St John Paul II, Wednesday general audience, April 3 1996. L'Osservatore Romano, English ed. April 10, 1996: Mary "alone remains to keep alive the flame of faith, preparing to receive the joyful and astonishing announcement of the Resurrection," Wednesday general audience May 21, 1997, L'Osservatore Romano, English ed May 28, 1997, 11. Mary was witness to the to whole paschal mystery

https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/audiences/1997/documents/hf_jp-ii_aud_21051997.html

[4] St John Paul II, Wednesday general audience, May 21, 1997, L'Osservatore Romano, English ed. May 28, 1997, II.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle "Morning Visitation in a Humble Room"

With thanks to grokipedia and vatican.va

PRAYERS IN HONOUR OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

PRAYERS IN HONOUR OF THE BLESSED 

VIRGIN MARY

THE ANGELUS

Recited daily at 06:00; 12:00 and 18:00

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,

and she conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary

Behold the handmaid of the Lord,

let it be done unto me according to Thy Word.

Hail Mary

And the Word was made flesh.

and dwelt amongst us.

Hail Mary

Pray for us, O most holy Mother of God.

that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray;

Pour forth we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy Grace into our hearts;

that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son

was made known by the message of an angel,

                may by His passion and death be brought to the glory                  of His Resurrection, through Christ our Lord.

                                              Amen.

          

HAIL HOLY QUEEN

(SALVE REGINA)

Hail, Holy Queen,

Mother of Mercy.

Hail 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 towards us;

and after this, our exile, show unto us

the Blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Oh clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

HAIL MARY

(AVE MARIA)

Hail Mary,

full of grace,

the Lord is with thee,

blessed art thou among women

and blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary,

Mother of God,

pray for us, sinners, now

and at the hour of our death.

Amen

HAIL THOU STAR OF OCEAN

(AVE MARIS STELLA)

Hail thou star of ocean,

portal of the sky.

Ever Virgin Mother,

of the Lord most high.

Oh by Gabriel’s Ave,

uttered long ago:

Eva’s name reversing.

established peace below.

Break the sinners’ fetters,

light on darkness pour;

all our ills expelling,

every bliss implore.

Show thyself a mother,

offer Him our sighs;

Who for us Incarnate,

did not thee deny.

Virgin of all Virgins,

to thy shelter take us;

gentlest of the gentle.

chaste and gentle make us.

Still as on we journey,

help our weak endeavour;

till with thee and Jesus,

we may live forever.

Through the highest heaven.

to the Almighty Three,

Father, Son and Spirit,

one same glory be.

Amen.

LITANY IN HONOUR OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Lord have mercy on us,                             

Lord have mercy on us. 

Christ have mercy on us,                            

Christ have mercy on us.

Lord have mercy on us,                             

Lord have mercy on us.

Christ hear us,                                             

Christ graciously hear us.

God the Father of 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.  

Holy Virgin 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 most chaste,

Pray for us.   

Mother inviolate,

Pray for us.  

Mother undefiled,

Pray for us.  

Mother most amiable,

Pray for us.   

Mother most admirable,

Pray for us.   

Mother of Good Counsel,

Pray for us.   

Mother of our Creator,

Pray for us .  

Mother of our Saviour,  

Pray for us.                                         

Virgin most prudent,

Pray for us.   

Virgin most venerable,

Pray for us.  

Virgin most renowned,

Pray for us.  

Virgin most powerful,

Pray for us,   

Virgin most merciful,

Pray for us.   

Virgin most faithful,

Pray for us .  

Mirror of justice,

Pray for us.   

Seat of wisdom,

Pray for us.   

Cause of our joy,

Pray for us.   

Spiritual vessel,

Pray for us.   

Vessel of honour,

Pray for us.   

Singular vessel of 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 afflicted,

Pray for us.   

Help of Christians,

Pray for us.   

Queen of angels,

Pray for us.   

Queen of patriarchs,

Pray for us .  

Queen of prophets,

Pray for us.  

Queen of apostles,

Pray for us.  

Queen of martyrs,

Pray for us.   

Queen of confessors,    

Pray for us.                                                    

Queen of 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 most holy Rosary, 

Pray for us.   

Queen of peace,

Pray for us.   

Lamb of God who take away the sins of the world,

Spare us O Lord.

Lamb of God who take away the sins of the world,         

Graciously hear us O Lord.

Lamb of God who take away the sins of the world ,         

Have mercy on us.

Pray for us O holy Mother of God,                                 

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

LET US PRAY:

"Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord, that we your servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may we be delivered from present sorrow and enter into the joy of eternal happiness, through Christ our Lord.  Amen."

REMEMBER

(MEMORARE)

"Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary,

that never was it known;

that anyone who fled to thy protection,

implored thy help, or sought thine intercession,

was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee;

Oh Virgin of virgins, my mother,

to thee do I come,

before thee I stand,

sinful and sorrowful.

Oh Mother of the Word Incarnate,

despise not my petitions

but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen."

THE ROSARY

On the cross, the Creed is prayed:

"I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.  And in Jesus Christ. His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.  He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again from the dead.  He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty.  From thence He shall come, to judge the living and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the Body and the life everlasting.  Amen."

On the single beads the Our Father is prayed:

On the sets of beads, the Hail Mary is prayed.

At the end of each set of beads, the Glory Be is prayed:

"Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end Amen."

This is followed by the Fatima prayer:

"O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, and save us from the fires of hell, Lead all souls into heaven, especially those who have the most need of thy mercy."

Most people recite five of the fifteen mysteries of the Holy Rosary each day:

The Joyful Mysteries (recited on  Mondays and Thursdays)

1.    The Annunciation

2.    The Visitation

3.    The Birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ in a stable in Bethlehem

4.    The Presentation

5.    The finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple.

The Sorrowful Mysteries (recited on Tuesdays and Fridays)

1.     The Agony of our Lord in the Garden

2.     The Scourging at the Pillar

3.     The Crowning with Thorns

4.     The Carrying of the Cross

5.     The Crucifixion and Death of our Lord Jesus Christ

The Glorious Mysteries (recited on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays)

1.      The Resurrection from the dead

2.      The Ascension into heaven

3.      The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon Our Lady and the Apostles

4.      The Assumption of Our Lady, body and soul, into Heaven

5.      The Crowning of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven and earth.

At the end of the Rosary all recite the Hail Holy Queen, followed by:

"Pray for us, O most Holy Mother of God:        

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ."

LET US PRAY:

"Oh God, Who by the life, death and resurrection of Thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, didst purchase for us the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech Thee, that, whilst meditating upon these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may both imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen." 

Image courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle  "Mother Mary and the Blessed Trinity"