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On the Women of Jerusalem Who Wept for Our Lord.

PRAYER BEFORE MEDITATION.

My God, I firmly believe that Thou art here present. I acknowledge that on account of my many sins I am utterly unworthy to appear before Thy sacred countenance. Yet, confiding in Thy infinite goodness and mercy, I venture to address Thee, to call upon Thy holy name, and meditate upon Thy commandments, in order that I may acquire a better knowledge of Thy holy will, and accomplish it with more fidelity. Wherefore enlighten my understanding that I may perceive what I ought to do or leave undone for the promotion of Thy glory and my own salvation; at the same time excite my will, that I may repent with my whole heart of my past sins, and resolve for the future to do all that Thou requirest of me. Grant me above all to know Jesus, my divine Teacher and Guide, more clearly, that I may love Him more dearly, and consequently labor, struggle and suffer with greater generosity and self-sacrifice in imitation of His example. Holy Mary, Mother of God and my Mother, show Jesus to me now, and let me study thy divine Son to the salvation of my soul. Holy Guardian Angel, keep far from me all distracting thoughts; my patron saint, come to my assistance. Amen.

On the Women of Jerusalem Who Wept for Our Lord.

“There is none to comfort her among all them that were dear to her; all her friends have despised her and have become her enemies.” (Lam. i. 2.)

To-day, my soul, while you recall to mind these words of the prophet, imagine that you see our Lord walking with tottering, unsteady steps along the way of the cross; see how His wandering glances look wistfully around, soliciting some sign of compassion, asking if He is not to meet with one pitying soul on His painful way, if His eyes are never to rest on any but scornful, scowling, savage countenances. For a long time Jesus sought in vain for any one who would compassionate Him; at length He encounters some; they are devout women who draw near to Him.

1st. Consider that Veronica approaches the Saviour, handing to Him her veil wherewith to wipe His face, and other pious women also approach who weep for Him. Here contemplate in the first and foremost place the courage displayed by Veronica and the holy women who compassionate our Lord. A weak woman makes her way through the crowd of savage executioners; she ventures to offer a napkin to the despised outcast; she heeds not the angry looks of the Pharisees, the mocking jests of the soldiers; nor do her companions shrink from publicly avowing their sympathy with One who was regarded by all as an object of hatred and aversion. Here, my soul, you see the might, the strength of compassion. Pitying love, the true love of one’s neighbor, hastens first of all to the way of the cross; it seeks out primarily our suffering brethren and sisters, and abounds in tender sympathy even for those who are rejected and despised by all; for unhappy sinners, malefactors, criminals condemned to death. O my soul, if you cannot help admiring the conduct of these compassionate women, ask yourself if the same pitying charity towards your neighbor urges you also to go out onto the Way of the Cross, to go there where an opportunity is offered of giving assistance, consolation, encouragement to the afflicted; for thus will our Lord’s words be fulfilled: “By this shall all men know that you are My disciples if you have love one for another.” (St. John xiii. 35.)

2d. Magdalen is one of the women who show their sympathy with our Lord on the mournful way of the cross. Heartbroken, intoxicated as it were with grief, almost fainting from the excess of her emotion, every moment adding to her anguish, heedless of the jeers and taunts of the executioners and soldiers, she follows the Saviour bearing His cross. As Veronica represents compassionate charity, so Magdalen represents penitent charity on the way of the cross. She is indeed fully conscious that her sins form part of the heavy burden weighing on the tortured Redeemer, that her soul has to answer for part of His unspeakable suffering, and for this reason she feels all the more stimulated to compassionate Him and as far as possible to share in His Passion. My soul, if the pity that stirs your heart urges you to aid others on their via crucis, let contrite, penitent love induce you to walk willingly on your own way of the cross; not merely in compunction and penance to meditate upon our Lord’s Passion, but to bear a part of it with Him and for Him, by cheerfully practising the penances prescribed by your Rule, required by your calling, and voluntarily performing special acts of mortification. Thus you will not imitate Magdalen only by straying in the path of sin, but in climbing the steep path of Calvary.

3d. The Blessed Virgin Mary is also one of the women who show sympathy with our Lord on the mournful way of the cross. Grave and resolute, heedless of the curious stare of the gaping populace, from whom her recollected demeanor, her deep sorrow command a certain respect, she follows in the footsteps of her Son. This is the first time the way of the cross is made on earth. It is an act of worship, a silent supplication on Mary’s part; her heart shares in Christ’s Passion; in spirit she voluntarily, willingly carries His cross both out of love for her Son who suffers and out of love for the sinful world for whom He suffers. Here you see an example of the highest, purest charity, the charity which does not merely weep over and bewail the sufferings of another, as the women of Jerusalem did, which does not content itself with displaying sympathy by free-will offerings, as was the case with Veronica, but which courageously takes suffering upon itself, the practice of voluntary mortifications, of works of penance, and these it does not perform for itself as Magdalen did for herself, but on behalf of others. Learn to-day from the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary to follow our Lord on the way of the cross in atonement for the sins of others, that highest, most perfect act of charity.

PRAYER AFTER MEDITATION.

My God, I give Thee heartfelt thanks for all the graces and all the light Thou hast conferred on me during this meditation. Pardon me all the negligence and the distractions of which I have been guilty, and give me strength to carry out the resolutions that I have made. Fortify me, that from henceforth I may diligently practise this virtue . . . avoid this fault . . . perform this action . . . to Thy honor. Help me to do this, sweet Virgin Mary; and if I ever forget my good resolutions, I entreat my Angel Guardian to recall them to my memory. Amen.

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March Devotion: St. Joseph

Virtue to practice: Mortification

Litany of St. Joseph

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, 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 Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Illustrious Son of David, pray for us.
Splendour of patriarchs, pray for us.
Spouse of the Mother of God, pray for us.
Chaste Guardian of the Virgin, pray for us.
Foster-father of the Son of God, pray for us.
Watchful Defender of Christ, pray for us.
Head of the Holy Family, pray for us.
Joseph most just, pray for us.
Joseph most pure, pray for us.
Joseph most prudent, pray for us.
Joseph most couragious, pray for us.
Joseph most obedient, pray for us.
Joseph most faithful, pray for us.
Mirror of patience, pray for us.
Lover of poverty, pray for us.
Model of all who labor, pray for us.
Glory of family life, pray for us.
Preserver of virgins, pray for us.
Mainstay of families, pray for us.
Solace of the afflicted, pray for us.
Hope of the sick, pray for us.
Patron of the dying, pray for us.
Terror of demons, pray for us.
Protector of the Holy Church, pray for us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
V. He hath made him master of His house,
R. And ruler of all His possessions.

Let us Pray.

O God, Who in Thine ineffable providence didst vouchsafe to choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most Holy Mother; grant, we beseech Thee, that we may be worthy to have him for our intercessor in heaven whom on earth we venerate as our Protector. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Ancient Prayer to St. Joseph

(This prayer was said to be founded in the 50 A.D. In the 1500′s it was sent by the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle. According to oral tradition, whoever reads this prayer, hears it, or carries it, will not fall into the hands of the enemy, nor be burned in any fire, nor will they be defeated in battle.)

O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in thee all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph, do assist me by thy powerful intercession and obtain for me from thy Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below thy heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers. O St. Joseph I never weary contemplating thee and Jesus asleep in thy arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near thy heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for me. Amen.

Prayer to St. Joseph by Pope St. Pius X

O Glorious St. Joseph, model of all those who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work conscientiously, putting the call of duty above my natural inclinations, to work with gratitude and joy, in a spirit of penance for the remission of my sins, considering it an honor to employ and develop by means of labor the gifts received from God, to work with order, peace, moderation, and patience, without ever shrinking from weariness and difficulties, to work above all with purity of intention and detachment from self, having always death before my eyes and the account that I must render of time lost, of talents wasted, of good omitted, of vain complacency in success, so fatal to the work of God. All for Jesus, all through Mary, all after thine example, O Patriarch, St. Joseph. Such shall be my watchword in life and in death. Amen.

Good St. Joseph protect us, protect the holy Church.

O good and kind St. Joseph guide us in the way of perfection.

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