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Novena proposed in preparation of the anniversary day (101 years) of the end of the apparitions of Our Lady in Fatima:October 13th

“O Virgin and Queen of the Holy Rosary, Daughter of the celestial father, Mother of the divine son, Spouse of the Spirit with seven gifts, you can ask the Holy Trinity for all things.

I beg you to implore for me, for all your children in Belgium and in the world this grace of which we have so much need so long as it is not an obstacle to our salvation;

That we may grow in faith, that we may respect life from its beginning to its natural end, to find inner peace and peace throughout the world so that our hearts may grow in the love of Christ and that Belgium may be blessed in all she undertakes.

I ask this of you through your Immaculate Conception, your divine maternity, your joys, your sufferings, and your triumphs,

I ask this of you through the Sacred Heart of Jesus, through these nine months in which you carried him in your womb, by the sufferings of his life, by his cruel passion, by his death on the cross, by his most holy name and by his most Precious Blood.

I ask it finally by your very gentle heart, by your glorious name O Mary, who art the Star of the sea, who art the Strong Lady, the mother of suffering, the Gate of heaven, the Mother of all graces and the Queen of the most holy rosary.

I have faith in thee, I place all my hope in thee and I consecrate myself entirely to thee. Amen”

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 Pope Francis called on Catholics worldwide to pray the rosary during the month of October, asking the Mother of God and St. Michael the Archangel

Pope Francis called on Catholics worldwide to pray the rosary during the month of October, asking the Mother of God and St. Michael the Archangel “to protect the church from the devil, that always aims to divide us from God and among ourselves.”

The Vatican released the pope’s invitation to prayer at noon, Saturday, September 29, the feast of St. Michael the Archangel, who according to the scriptures and tradition is the leader of the army of angels against the forces of Satan in the world. […]

It said, “Pope Francis has decided to invite all the faithful, of the entire world, to pray the Holy Rosary every day during the Marian month of October, and to join together in prayer and penance, as the people of God, in asking the Holy Mother of God and St. Michael the Archangel to protect the church from the devil, that always aims to divide us from God and among ourselves.” [….]

The invocation is an ancient Christian hymn to the Mother of God, dating back to around the 3rd century, and is well known in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox traditions. The Vatican provided the text of the prayer in Latin and Italian. The English translation is as follows:

“We fly to thy protection, O Holy Mother of God; do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin. Amen.”

The Vatican statement recalled that in a homily on September 11, Pope Francis quoted the first book of Job, and said: “prayer is the weapon against the Great Accuser that ‘goes around the world seeking how to accuse’. Only prayer can defeat him.” […]

The Vatican said that Pope Francis has also asked that the recital of the rosary should conclude with the prayer written by Leo XIII in 1886. The English translation of the prayer is as follows:

“Saint Michael Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.” […]

[ Source: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/09/29/pope-calls-catholics-pray-protect-church-devil]

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Saint Michael Archangel, patron of Brussels, celebrated on September 29th

He is the Angel of the Apocalypse, as well as the Angel of Martyr. He consoled Jesus during his agony and collected his blood while he was crucified, before bringing it to God as an absolution for mankind’s sins.

In Belgium and more particularly in Brussels, Saint Michael is often portrayed as slaying the dragon that represents Satan and not just any demon.

At the very top of City Hall on Grand Place, the copper statue of Saint Michael has at his feet a shapeless and anthropomorphic creature with a diabolical expression and scales, which represents the Devil himself.

Around the year 1000, many monuments and chapels were built on high grounds across Europe to remind us that Saint Michael was the first defendor of the Light against Evil. (by Frédéric Solvel)

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel:

Holy Michael Archangel, defend us in the day of battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust down to hell Satan and all wicked spirits, who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

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Let’s pray for Belgium and the world with Bishop Jean-Pierre Delville

I ask every one of you to support the Rosary on the Borders.

I ask you to pray to Our Lady, a Jewish woman, who spoke Aramaic and became the Mother of Our Lord Jesus and the Mother of God.

Let us thank Our Lady for appearing to three children in Fatima, in 1917, to condemn the horrors of Word War I, and again in Banneux, in 1933, to give a holy source of water to all nations just as the nazi regime started to gain power.

In the diocese of Liege, a group of faithful will pray the rosary in Moresnet, at a crossroads between Belgium, Holland and Germany. It is a place where three different languages are used, a contact point between three different cultures, who respect and appreciate each other.

Let us pray for the Dutch and the Germans, for the Belgian people who speak French, Dutch or Arabic, or other languages, for the Belgian people who do not share our religion, Christians as well as moslems.

Let us pray that our country, touched by a diversity of cultures, may be always ready to welcome foreigners, migrants and refugees.

Let us pray that the whole Word, often divided and violent, may find peace and reconciliation through the intercession of Our Lady, Queen of Peace.

+ Jean-Pierre Delville

Bishop of Liège

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Meditations for the Rosary ( continued).

The Glorious Mysteries 

1- First glorious mystery : the Resurrection of Our Lord

Fruit of the mystery: Faith

Jesus is not in His tomb. He has risen and He appears to Saint Mary Magdalene, to Saint Peter and to many others … He is alive. Life has triumphed over death.

O Mary, Jesus also appeared to You – You who never doubted His word or His promises of eternal Life.

Our Lady, pray for us, for the people of Belgium and for all the people of the World, so that we may believe in Life after suffering and death. Help us to prepare for our own death with care.

2- Second glorious mystery : the Ascension of Our Lord

Fruit of the mystery: Hope

The Apostles were with Jesus for the last time. While He was blessing them, He suddenly disappeared. Jesus is now in a world that is invisible to us.

O Mary, we are mere creatures. We look for comfort from You and You show us the invisible community of Saints who are always with us.

Our Lady, pray for us, for the people of Belgium and for all the people of the World, so that our faith in the community of Saints may be increased, so that we may never forget to pray for the members of our own families who have left this world and for all the faithful departed, including those who have given their lives for our country.

3- Third glorious mystery : the Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

Fruit of the mystery: Apostolic Charity

A strong wind, tongues of fire … The coming of the Holy Spirit brings He who will help us by His strength and who will always be with us. Filled with the Holy Ghost, and in the name of Christ, the Apostles preached about God the Father in many different languages.

O Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, You, above all others received the graces of the Spirit, and with Your free will you perfectly loved God and Your neighbour.

Our Lady, pray for Pope Francis, for all the bishops and priests and for all the faithful of the World, so that all of them, obedient to the Holy Spirit, may worship God in word and deed.

4- Fourth glorious mystery : the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven

Fruit of the mystery: The grace of a holy death

Our Lady is taken into Heaven body and Soul. The heavenly court is full of joy, as they welcome God’s daughter, God’s mother, God’s spouse, and the mirror of God’s beauty.

O Mary, if there is a beauty that can save the World, it is God’s beauty, and You are the purest reflection of that beauty. However, human beings commit sins and corrupt their souls and bodies, and, even worse, they corrupt their neighbours’ souls and bodies.

Our Lady, pray for us, for the people of our country and all the people of the World, so that we may protect God’s creation and so that each one of us, according to our state in life, may respect the virtue of chastity and strive for purity.

5- Fifth glorious mystery : the Coronation of Our Lady in Heaven

Fruit of the mystery: Greater devotion to Mary

A great sign was seen in Heaven : a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet. God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, You gave us Mary as our Queen.

O Mary, only God is greater than You are. O Queen of Heaven, we wish to honour You as the Mother of the Catholic Church, even if we don’t always merit to be called your children.

Our Lady, pray for the Belgian Church, for the universal Church, and for unity, peace and loyalty within the Catholic Church.

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Bishop André Léonard joins us in the prayer

Even though I don’t have any responsibility anymore in Belgium, I am delighted about the Rosary prayer project for Faith, Life and Peace that will be recited in our country on October 13th. From the Monastery of the Visitandines of Thonon-les-Bains (France), where I will be preaching a retreat that day, I will unite myself closely with this initiative in communion with all my compatriots.

+ Archbishop Emeritus André Léonard

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Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows, Our Lady of La Salette:

The Feast of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows arose out of Christian piety, and in particular the association of the Virgin Mary with the passion of her Son. From the XIth century onwards, the suffering of the Blessed Virgin has been the object of private devotion. It was celebrated with great solemnity from the XVIIth century, and it was established as a feast in the Church calendar, for September 15, by Saint Pius X in 1912.

In the suffering of Mary, the Church highlights the courageous love which enabled her to take on such an intimate role in the work of our redemption. She is truly the one who, like Judith in the face of the distress of her people, spared nothing in order to save us from ruin. In offering her Son for us, she became our mother and we became her children.

On September 19, 1846, at La Salette in France, Mélanie (14 years old) and Maximin (10 years old) were guarding the flocks of their masters in the mountains. A dazzling light appeared to them and before their eyes they saw a beautiful lady sitting with her head in her hands. This beautiful lady stood up, and with tears running down her face she looked at them, and gave them a message in three parts:

1) The first part is a warning to all Christian people against their blasphemies and their neglect of the commandments of God and the Church. Here is the text of Mary’s Message at La Salette:

“Come my children, do not be afraid, I am here to tell you important news.

If my people will not submit, I will be forced to let go of the arm of my Son. It is so strong and so heavy that I cannot maintain it anymore. All this the time I suffer for you! If I want my Son not to abandon you, I am charged to pray to him incessantly. But you, you do not care! No matter how much you pray, how much you do, you will never be able to reward the trouble I have taken for you.

I gave you six days to work, I reserved the seventh and you do not want to give it to me. This is what presses on the arm of my Son.

And also, those who lead the carts cannot swear without using the name of my Son. These are the two things that weigh heavily on the arm of my Son.

If the harvest is spoiled, it is only because of you. I tried to make you see last year with the potatoes, but you have not taken any notice. On the contrary, when you found the spoiled potatoes, you swore, you blasphemed against the name of my Son. The spoiled harvest will continue, and this year, for Christmas, there will be more. […]

If the people convert, the stones and rocks will become heaps of wheat and the potatoes will be seeded by the land.

Do you pray well, my children?

Not much, ma’am.

Ah! My children, it must be done. Every evening and morning, would you say a “Our Father” and a “Hail Mary…”. And when you can pray better, say more.

In the summer, only a few elderly women go to Mass. The others work on Sundays all through the summer, and in winter, when they do not know what to do, they go to Mass only to make fun of religion.

During Lent, they go to the butchers, like dogs. [….]

Well, my children, you will pass on this message to all my people!

Come, my children, pass it on well to all my people!”

2) The second part includes the “secrets” addressed separately to Melanie then to Maximin that they would only be able to divulge later.

3) The third part consists of a Rule of Religious Life, which Melanie agreed to dictate.

Pius IX having the information in hand, officially proclaimed the facts. Leo XIII in his turn confirmed them.

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Meditations for the Rosary ( continued).

The Luminous Mysteries 

1-First luminous mystery : the Baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan

    Fruit of the mystery: Constant fidelity to our baptismal promises

    

Jesus wanted to be baptized by Saint John. The Holy Spirit descended upon Him and a voice came from Heaven saying : “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”.

By Him and with Him, the sacrament of baptism makes us children of God, a temple of the Holy Spirit. As with all the sacraments, Jesus works a miracle by using human signs and instruments.

Our Lady, pray for us, for the people of Belgium and for all the people of the World, so that we may value and respect the sacraments, with a deep belief in the real action performed by Jesus through them.

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2- Second luminous mystery : the wedding feast at Cana

    Fruit of the mystery: Greater confidence in Mary

Jesus and Mary honour the newlyweds by Their presence at the feast. They even contribute to the success of the party: Mary, through Her attention and mediation, and Jesus through the miracle of the water changed into wine.

Later, Jesus tells us that the sacrament of marriage must be as God wants it. Husband and wife become united, body and soul, to form a community of love and fidelity. In Cana, He shows us that He and His mother will always help us and make sure that there is always enough “elixir of love”.

Our Lady, pray for us, for the people of Belgium and for all the people of the World, so that all married couples may trust God’s grace and so that God will transform their marriage into a path of love and sanctity through fidelity.

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3- Third glorious mystery : the announcement of the kingdom of God and the call to repentance

    Fruit of the mystery: The conversion of the heart

“I have come to set the earth on fire”. Filled with this fire, Jesus is preaching the Good News in villages, on the shores of lakes, everywhere. “Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is close at hand”.

Jesus wants to reign over our souls with His love and His truth, but he never  forces us. Only if we truly wish to receive Him … only if we want to repent for our sins.

Our Lady, pray for us, for the people of Belgium and for all the people of the World, so that we may be given the grace of contrition, so that we may know our sins and have the desire to confess them.  In this way, through the sacrament of penance, we shall regain peace of heart.

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4- Fourth luminous mystery : the Transfiguration of our Lord on Mount Tabor

    Fruit of the mystery: Prayer

Jesus’ body is shining. Saint Peter and the other apostles could not stop contemplating Him. They wanted the vision never to end. But what happens when the vision stops and life continues?

One day, we may see God face to face. But what now? Now, we should pray and love to pray. This means being with Jesus Christ, simply talking to Him, listening to Him and meditating on His life. All this will allow us to nurture a strong desire to see Him one day face to face. And this is why prayer transforms us.

Our Lady, pray for us, for the people of Belgium and for all the people of the World, so that we may never stop praying and that we may discover how prayer can change us.

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5- Fifth luminous mystery : the institution of the Eucharist

    Fruit of the mystery: Love of the Eucharist

Jesus wanted to give His apostles a proof of His infinite love for them. He announced a new covenant, with a new Easter sealed by the sacrifice of His body and blood.

O Mary, how can we forget that Jesus is present in the Eucharist ? How can we forget that He renews His sacrifice on the cross and gives us His body and blood to feed us and comfort us ? No, we cannot forget the real meaning of the Catholic Mass.

Our Lady, pray for us, for the people of Belgium and for all the people of the World, so that our faith in the real presence of God in the Eucharist may be revived and increased.

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The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Her Most Holy Name: September 8

The Church solemnly celebrates the birth of the Virgin Mary on September 8, heralding the dawn of our Redemption, the appearance in the world of the woman who was to be the mother of our Saviour. In memory of all that this birth represents, the Church exults and asks God for an increase of the peace that is given to man by the mystery of the Incarnation.

In accordance with the Jewish practice, eight days after the birth of the Virgin, her parents gave her her name. The liturgy, which instituted a feast of the Holy Name of Jesus a few days after Christmas, also wanted to introduce a feast of the Holy Name of Mary (September 12) shortly after Our Lady’s Nativity. The Hebrew name Mary means ‘Lady’ or ‘Sovereign’; and this is indeed what she is, by the very authority of her Son, Christ the King. Let us all rejoice to call Mary ‘Our Lady’, as we call Jesus ‘Our Lord’; to pronounce her name is to affirm her power, to implore her succour, and to put us under her beneficent protection.

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Interview with Bishop John Armitage

Rosary on the Coast, Great Britain

The first recorded words of Our Lady in the Annunciation shows us a women of faith, who when presented with Gods Will in her life was at first “deeply troubled” but the assurance of the Archangel Gabriel not to be afraid because “nothing is impossible for God” led her to open her heart and say yes to God. Her last recorded words are “Do whatever he tells you”.

The Rosary enables us to reflect on the events of the life of Our Lady’s Son, and to share in her joy that her son become our Saviour.

When we are troubled and afraid, we shall find joy and courage as we seek to “do whatever he tells us”. The Rosary Around the Coast is an act of faith in troubled times, asking for the protection and motherly care of the women who stood at the foot of the Cross.

This simple public act of faith intercedes for all Gods people, that they may share with us the cause of Marys joy, Jesus Christ our Saviour.

God bless

+ Mgr John Armitage,
Rector of The Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, Great Britain