Appreciation

Happy Feast of Pentecost and Happy Feast of the visitation of our Lady, may 31st. Today marks my 15yrs anniversary of my Total consecration to Jesus through the Immaculate heart of Mary. As I renewed my consecration to Mary to today,

I want to say a big thank you for this great month of may. I hope you learnt a lot from my posts. Thank you for following the Marian readings. I know it wasn’t easy, thank you for your time reading and praying. I am very sorry for those moments when some of the writings were lengthen but you were patient to read them, some days you expected it early but it came late. Thank you for your understanding, I shall improve and do more and do my best for Jesus and Our Mother Mary. Thanks to all those who encouraged and supported me, may our Mother Mary continue to Bless you. As we enter another season of the Church liturgical year, Remember, continue to pray the Rosary everyday. Our Mother Mary said to St. Dominic, one day through the Rosary and the Scapular I will save the world. Thank you for visiting my Blog, growing in faith with Mary http://www.be909.wordpress.com there are more to learn. I love you and I pray God keep us alive and safe for October devotion.

May Almighty God Bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen .

MARIAN READINGS: MAY DEVOTION AND NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
With Fr. Benjamin-Maria Igbinovia

Day 29
MARY: THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN

1. I welcome you to today Marian reading and Novena to the Holy Spirit, we shall be reflecting on Mary: The Queen of Heaven. The Catholic Church believed and teaches that Mary is Queen of Heaven and Earth because Her Son, Jesus Christ , is the king of Israel and heavenly king of the universe; The title Queen of Heaven ( Latin: Regina Caeli ) is one of many Queen titles used for Mary, mother of Jesus. It is derived in part from the ancient Catholic teaching that Mary, at the end of her earthly life, was taken body and soul into heaven, and that she is there honored as Queen. Just as the Davidic tradition of Israel recognized the mother of the king as the Queen Mother of Israel, who had great power as advocate with the king. King Solomon said to his Mother Bathsheba, seated on a throne at his right, “Make your request, Mother, for I will not refuse you.” 1Kings 2:20. We see this echoed in the New Testament, when Mary asks Jesus to make the water into wine, which he does.On the third day there was a wedding at Cana ….When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.”And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.”His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” (2 Jn 1-5)

2. The Roman Catholic Church views Mary as the woman clothed with the sun in the Book of Revelation 12:1–3: “A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth…..” The Church accepts Revelation 12 as a reference to Mary and affirms Mary as the mother of Jesus as the prophetic fulfilment described in Revelation 12 (cf. Isaiah 7:14, 26:17, 54:1, 66:7). Scripture also made us understand that all the faithful will be given crowns (1 Pt 5:4, Rev 2:10, 2 TIm 2:11-12, 2 Tim 4:7-8) How much more would Mary, his mother, receive the crown as Queen
The title “Queen of Heaven” has long been a Catholic tradition, it is included in the devotional prayers of the Church.

3. The Queenship of Mary is commemorated in the last of the Glorious Mysteries of the Holy Rosary—the Coronation of the Virgin as Queen of Heaven and Earth., the Hail Holy Queen is the final prayer of the Rosary, the litany of Blessed Virgin Mary, the hymn, Hail Queen of Heaven, express the queenship of Mary: the Salve Regina , the Ave Regina Caelorum , the Alma Redemptoris Mater, and the Regina Caeli . etc. They honour the Queenship of Mary.

4. “Mary lives now in Heaven and She is protecting us. She is there [in heaven], body and soul, with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. She is the same person who was born in Palestine, who gave herself to God while still a child, who received the message from St. Gabriel the Archangel, who gave birth to our Savior, and who stood beside him at the foot of the Cross. In her, all ideals become a reality. But we should never think that this sublime greatness of hers makes her in accessible to us. She is the one who is full of grace and the sum of all perfections and she is also our Mother, and She is the Queen of Heaven and Earth.”

PRAYER
O God, through the pure heart of Mary, I commit my life into your hands, please keep me in your secret place. Please keep me where the hand of the enemy cannot touch me, protect me from every dangers through Christ our Lord. Amen

RESOLUTION
I will pray my Rosary everyday.
I will pray the Memorare
I will offer to our Mother Mary today: The Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary.

PRAYER POINTS
Pray for protection
Pray against physical and spiritual attacks
Pray for evil doers

Pope Francis prayer to Mary during the month of May.
First Prayer

O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey
as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering,
and persevered in your faith.
“Protectress of the Roman people”,
you know our needs,
and we know that you will provide,
so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebration may return
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.
For he took upon himself our suffering,
and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.

We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God; Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from every danger, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, your petitions are most powerful. Pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen
May Almighty God bless you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

N.B. Invite you to my Blog.
Growing in faith with Mary https://be909.wordpress.com

MARIAN READINGS: MAY DEVOTION AND NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
With Fr. Benjamin-Maria Igbinovia

Day 28
MARY TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN

1. I welcome you to today Marian reading and Novena to the Holy Spirit, we shall be reflecting on Mary Taken up to Heaven. There are many misunderstandings about the Ascension and the Assumption. “Mary did not ascend into heaven; the Blessed Virgin Mary was assumed into heaven, Body and Soul. Jesus ascended by His own power. Mary was taken up into heaven by God.”

2. The Catholic Church teaches as dogma that the Virgin Mary “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”. It was fitting that the body of God’s Mother should not see corruption. Her assumption is Her glory, a fitting privilege for one who is at once Virgin and Mother. Yet we must never forget that Mary’s glory came after Her sorrows. This doctrine was dogmatically defined by Pope Pius XII on 1 November 1950, in the apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus by exercising papal infallibility.

3. The Old and New Testament contains no explicit narrative about the death nor of the Assumption of Mary, but several scriptural passages have been theologically interpreted to describe the ultimate fate in this and the afterworld of the Mother of Jesus. For example, Elijah and Enoch are mentioned as being carried off to heaven in Scripture, 2kings 2:3-9, Also, Moses didn’t write that Enoch did not die. Rather Moses wrote that “Enoch walked with God; for God took him” ( Genesis 5:24 ). Paul records the same event by saying that he “was not found, because God had translated him” ( Hebrews 11:5 ). If God can do that for Elijah and Enoch, what about His Mother, Virgin Mary.

4. According to Genesis 3:15, where it is prophesied that the seed of the woman will crush Satan with his feet: “I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.” Since, then, Jesus arose to Heaven to fulfill this prophecy, it follows that the woman (Mary) would have a similar end, since she shared this enmity with Satan. Also, Psalm 132:8 , a psalm commemorating the return of the Ark of God to Jerusalem and lamenting its subsequent loss. The second half of the psalm says that the loss will be recompensed in the New Covenant, and so it is hopefully prayed, “Arise, O Lord, into thy resting place: thou and the ark, which thou hast sanctified” . Since the Church sees this New Covenant ark in Mary, it understands that she was taken into Heaven in the same manner as the Lord – that is, body and soul.

5. Whether Mary had a physical death or not, it has not been dogmatically defined. But the Falling Asleep of the Mother of God is believed that time passed and Mary died of love. Then came her triumph. Her glorious Assumption, when she was welcome home by her Son, to be crowned Queen of Heaven and earth by the Eternal Father. “Mary has gone to heaven in both body and soul, and the angels rejoice. I can imagine, too, the delight of St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse, who awaited her in paradise. Yet what of us who remain on earth? Our faith tells us that here below, in our present life, we are pilgrims, wayfarers. Our hope is that one day we shall be in heaven.

PRAYER
O God, through the pure heart of Mary, I consecrate my whole being without reserve to you, so that after my journey on earth, I shall be united with you in heaven, through Christ our Lord. Amen

RESOLUTION
I will pray my Rosary everyday.
I will pray the Memorare
I will offer to our Mother Mary today: The Luminous Mystery of the Rosary.

PRAYER POINTS
Pray for selfless service
Pray for Holiness of life
Pray for hope

Pope Francis prayer to Mary during the month of May.
First Prayer

O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey
as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering,
and persevered in your faith.
“Protectress of the Roman people”,
you know our needs,
and we know that you will provide,
so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebration may return
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.
For he took upon himself our suffering,
and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.

We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God; Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from every danger, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, your petitions are most powerful. Pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen
May Almighty God bless you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

N.B. Invite you to my Blog.
Growing in faith with Mary https://be909.wordpress.com

THE HOLY NAME OF MARY

MARIAN READINGS: MAY DEVOTION AND NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
With Fr. Benjamin-Maria Igbinovia

Day 27
THE HOLY NAME OF MARY

1. I welcome you to today Marian reading and Novena to the Holy Spirit, we shall be reflecting on The Holy Name Of Mary. Do you know that after the most sacred name of Jesus, the name of Mary is so rich in every good thing, that on earth and in heaven there is no other from which devout souls receive so much grace, hope, and sweetness. St Luke beautifully mentions the name of Mary, after that of Jesus as the most dearly loved and invoked in the Christian world. In Luke 1:27 ” And the virgin’s name was Mary.”

2. According to traditions, the name Mary is an Hebrew name “Miryam- Mariam”. Based on the root word “merur”, the name signifies “bitterness”. This is reflected in the words of Naomi , who, after losing her husband and two sons lamented, ” “Do not call me Naomi (‘Sweet’). Call me Mara (‘Bitter’), for the Almighty has made my life very bitter.” Ruth 1:20. Although the life of Mary was crown with sorrows as She journey with Her Son to Calvary. She did not change her name, rather she embraced Her suffering and united it with Her Son, for the salvation of humanity. But the meanings ascribed to Mary’s name by the early Christian writers and perpetuated by the Greek Fathers include: “Bitter Sea,” “Myrrh of the Sea”, “The Enlightened One,” “The Light Giver,” and especially “Star of the Sea.”

3. The name Mary, what memories it revives! What courage it imparts! What hope it suggests! The name Mary, the name upon which we delight to linger, repeating it over and over to ourselves in hour temptation or sorrows. In our hour of Joy and happiness. Mary, the name that is a terror to demons for they fear it power. Mary, the name beloved of God and man for it is the name of the spotless virgin whom God chose for His Mother and she is our mother also.

4. St. John Damascene said, we need but to call upon Mary, to invoke her sweet name, to feel the full strength of her protection and Her help: Having confidence in you, O Mary, I shall be saved; Under your protection, O Mary, I need fear nothing; with your help, O Mary, I can fight and put to flight all my enemies, for devotion to you is a means of Salvation that God gives to all whom He would save.

5.Thomas a Kempis affirms “that the devils fear the Queen of heaven to such a degree, that only on hearing Her great name pronounced, they fly from him who does so as from a burning fire.” The Blessed Virgin herself revealed to St. Bridget “that there is not on earth a sinner, however devoid he may be of the love of God, from whom the devil is not obliged immediately to fly, if he invokes Her holy name with a determination to repent.” On another occasion she repeated the same thing to the saint, saying, “that all the devils venerate and fear Her name to such a degree, that on hearing it they immediately loosen the claws with which they hold the soul captive.” Our Blessed Lady also told St. Bridget, “that in the same way as the rebel angels fly from sinners who invoke the name of Mary, so also do the good angels approach nearer to just souls who pronounce her name with devotion.”

PRAYER
O God, through the pure heart of Mary, may I find divine favour in your name, may I enjoy the grace and sweetness of your name, so that every difficulties shall bow at the mention of your name. through Christ our Lord. Amen

RESOLUTION
I will pray my Rosary everyday.
I will pray the Memorare
I will offer to our Mother Mary today: The Glorious Mystery of the Rosary.

PRAYER POINTS
Pray for good name
Pray for Divine favour
Pray for commitment to God’s work

Pope Francis prayer to Mary during the month of May.
First Prayer

O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey
as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering,
and persevered in your faith.
“Protectress of the Roman people”,
you know our needs,
and we know that you will provide,
so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebration may return
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.
For he took upon himself our suffering,
and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.

We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God; Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from every danger, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, your petitions are most powerful. Pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen
May Almighty God bless you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

N.B. Invite you to my Blog.
Growing in faith with Mary https://be909.wordpress.com

MARY OUR SPIRITUAL MOTHER

MARIAN READINGS: MAY DEVOTION AND NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

With Fr. Benjamin-Maria Igbinovia

Day 25

MARY: OUR SPIRITUAL MOTHER

1. I welcome you to today Marian reading and Novena to the Holy Spirit, we shall be reflecting on Mary: Our Spiritual Mother. From the time of Christ’s conception until His death, Mary was united to Her Son, Jesus Christ in his work of salvation. From the Cross, Jesus entrusted his beloved disciple to Mary, telling John to see Mary as his own mother. “When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother'” (John 19: 26-27). Throughout the Church’s history, numerous popes, theologians, and writers have confirmed their belief that here John is symbolic of all humanity. In other words, that Jesus from the Cross gave His Mother to every human person for all time.

2. When the Apostles and disciples gathered to pray after the Ascension of Jesus, Mary was with them praying for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Mary continues to pray before God for the Church and all humanity.

Mary is our mother because She is the Mother of Jesus, whom Elizabeth said in her greeting, whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (Luke 1:43 ) and we, by baptism are incorporated into Jesus. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it . (1 Cor 12:27) . Jesus is the head of the body, the Church. (Col 1:18) But if Mary gave birth to the head of the Body of Christ she also gave birth to the rest of the Body of Christ (us). What mother do you know who ever gave birth to the head of her child but not the rest of that child’s body? So if Mary is the Mother of the head of the Body, She is also mother to the members of the body. Why? Because of Christ is one and we are one in Christ. Hence Mary is Mother of Jesus, we are in Jesus, Mary is thus our Mother.

3. It is not some mere sentimental thing. It is a real motherhood. Mary is our true Spiritual Mother, we must ask what this means for us in our everyday lives? What is a mother, anyway? What does a mother do? Why did God arrange it so that every human person would come into the world through a mother? There must be a reason. Does a mother simply give birth to a child only to abandon him or her? Of course she does not. A mother not only gives birth, but she also is given by God so that she might nurture, feed, teach, guide, and protect her child. God entrusts her with these tasks.

4. In the human family, a mother is not optional. So too, in the spiritual family of the Mystical Body of Christ, Mary, our Mother is not optional. Down through the ages, Catholics have turned confidently with love and devotion to the Mother of Jesus for protection, guidance, and assistance in their hours of gravest need. Why did they do this? It seems safe to assume they did so because they wished to obey Jesus. And, after all, she had given birth to Him, nurtured, fed, guided, and protected Him. If God allowed Himself to be born of Her and chose Her as His Mother, can we do anything but accept Her as ours? To put our trust and confidence in her will always be pleasing to God because everything she does will always lead us closer to Him.

5. It is not enough just to know that she is our Mother, we need to think and talk about Her as such. She is our Mother and we are her children. She loves you as if you were Her only child in this world. Treat Her accordingly. Tell Her about everything that happens to you; honor Her and love Her. No one will do it for you or as well as you.” because we are her spiritual children, she looks tenderly on us and after us with a love so profound that we are moved to plead, “Oh Blessed Mother, pray for us, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

PRAYER

O God, through the pure heart of Mary, give me the grace to always acknowledge Mary as my Mother, may She nurture, feed, teach, guide, protect and help me to be a true Child of God, through Christ our Lord. Amen

RESOLUTION

I will pray my Rosary everyday.

I will pray the Memorare

I will offer to our Mother Mary today: The Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.

PRAYER POINTS

Pray for all Mothers

Pray for those looking for children

Pray for your children

Pray for young ones

Pope Francis prayer to Mary during the month of May.

First Prayer

O Mary,

You shine continuously on our journey

as a sign of salvation and hope.

We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the foot of the cross,

were united with Jesus’ suffering,

and persevered in your faith.

“Protectress of the Roman people”,

you know our needs,

and we know that you will provide,

so that, as at Cana in Galilee,

joy and celebration may return

after this time of trial.

Help us, Mother of Divine Love,

to conform ourselves to the will of the Father

and to do what Jesus tells us.

For he took upon himself our suffering,

and burdened himself with our sorrows

to bring us, through the cross,

to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.

We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God; Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from every danger, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, your petitions are most powerful. Pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen

May Almighty God bless you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

N.B. Invite you to my Blog.

Growing in faith with Mary https://be909.wordpress.com

MARIAN READINGS: MAY DEVOTION AND NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
With Fr. Benjamin-Maria Igbinovia

Day 24
MARY: HELP OF CHRISTIANS

1. I welcome you to today Marian reading and Novena to the Holy Spirit, we shall be reflecting on Mary: Help of Christians. Today in a special way, May 24th we celebrate Mary, Help of Christians. Mary’s title Help of Christians is one of the invocations in the well-known Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Lady became the helper of the human race for the first time when Her prayers were heard and God send His Son to rescue the world from the empire of sin.

2. She is the great woman predicted in the Proto -evangelium of Genesis, who will crush the head of the devil ( Genesis 3:15 ). She is also portrayed in the Apocalypse as the Woman clothed with the sun, ( Revelation 12:1 ). Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God ( Christians ) and hold the testimony of Jesus ( Revelation 12:17 ). She accepted the invitation of God to be the Mother of the Messiah when she responded to the angel: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word” ( Luke 1:38 ).

3. According to the tradition of the Church, Saint John Chrysostom was the first person to use this Marian title in year 345 A.D as a devotion to the Virgin Mary. the invocation of Mary as Help of Christians is part of the oldest prayer addressed directly to Mary, the “Sub tuum praesidium”, which was found on a papyrus dating, from the end of the 3rd century. Praesidium is translated as “an assistance given in time of war by fresh troops in a strong manner.” Since the Apostolic Age, Christians have turned with great confidence to the Blessed Virgin Mary for spiritual and temporal help. Knowing that the Mother of God is also our spiritual Mother, Christians have sought her maternal aid and intercession with the Divine Majesty. And Mary Immaculate, being the marvelous Mother that she is, often comes to help her children before they even come to implore her avail, sometimes before they are even aware of their particular need. Her desire to help was imminent during her intervention at the wedding of Cana, when she manifested to the Lord that they had no wine and prompted Him to perform the first miracle by changing water into wine. ( John 2:1-11 ) In this passage of scripture, She demonstrated her power of intercession. But her desire to help was increased by added responsibility given to her at Calvary when Our Lord made her the mother of all the redeemed children of God in the person of John the Apostle, “behold your son” ( John 19:26 ). As Mother of God’s children, She has responded by helping Christians throughout the ages. She has done this by coming to the aid of individuals, families, towns, kingdoms and nations.

4. The tradition of this advocation goes back to 1571, when the whole of Christendom was saved by Mary Help of Christians when Catholics throughout Europe prayed the Rosary. The great battle of Lepanto occurred on October 7th 1571. For this reason this date has been chosen as the feast of the Holy Rosary. In 1573 Pope Pius V instituted the feast in thanksgiving for the decisive victory of Christianity over Islamism. The Church has traditionally focused on two aspects of Our Lady’s help of Christians on this feast day. Firstly, the Church focuses in this feast upon the role of Our Lady’s intercession in the fight against sin in the life of a believer. Secondly, the Church has focused upon Our Lady as one who assists Christians as a community, through her intercession, in fighting against anti-Christian forces. We must celebrate this day with a very special act of thanksgiving to Our Lady, praying the holy rosary, attending holy mass if possible and making an Act of consecration to Our Lady.

PRAYER
O God, through the pure heart of Mary, help me to be a true Christian, and may I follow the example of Mary, your Mother, through Christ our Lord. Amen

RESOLUTION
I will pray my Rosary everyday.
I will pray the Memorare
I will offer to our Mother Mary today: The Glorious Mystery of the Rosary.

PRAYER POINTS
Pray for all Christians
Pray for conversion of sinners

Pope Francis prayer to Mary during the month of May.
First Prayer

O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey
as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering,
and persevered in your faith.
“Protectress of the Roman people”,
you know our needs,
and we know that you will provide,
so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebration may return
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.
For he took upon himself our suffering,
and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.

We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God; Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from every danger, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, your petitions are most powerful. Pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen
May Almighty God bless you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

N.B. Invite you to my Blog.
Growing in faith with Mary https://be909.wordpress.com

MARY AND THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

MARIAN READINGS: MAY DEVOTION AND NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
With Fr. Benjamin-Maria Igbinovia

Day 23
MARY AND THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. I welcome you to today Marian reading and Novena to the Holy Spirit, we shall be reflecting on Mary and the Role of the Holy Spirit. The role of the Holy Spirit in the life of Mary is especially pertinent to our time. According to the eternal saving plan of the Father, the Holy Spirit came upon Mary who conceived ghe divine Word made flesh (John 1:14)

2. After Jesus himself, the Blessed Virgin Mary is the supreme New Testament example of one who is led by the Holy Spirit. Not only the Magnificat, but Mary’s whole life was a song of love inspired by the Holy Spirit. “Led by the Holy Spirit, She devoted Herself entirely to the mystery of man’s redemption.” Mary experiences, in perfect docility to the Spirit, the richness and the universality of God’s love, which opens Her heart and enables it to embrace the entire human race.

3. ‘It is always the Holy Spirit who regenerates the world and his agency is always Mary. By the operation of the Holy Spirit in Mary, the Eternal Son is made Man. Thereby mankind is united to the Holy Trinity, and Mary Herself is placed in a distinct, unique relation to each Divine Person. One of the fathers of the Church composed this powerful prayer of supplication: “I beg you, Holy Virgin, that I may have Jesus from the Holy Spirit, by whom you brought Jesus forth. May my soul receive Jesus through the Holy Spirit by whom your flesh conceived Jesus…. May I love Jesus in the Holy Spirit in whom you adore Jesus as Lord and gaze upon Him as your Son.” Amen.

PRAYER
O God, through the pure heart of Mary, may my thoughts, words and deeds be directed by Holy Spirit, through Christ our Lord. Amen

RESOLUTION
I will pray my Rosary everyday.
I will pray the Memorare
I will offer to our Mother Mary today: The Joyful Mystery of the Rosary.

PRAYER POINTS
Pray for gifts of Holy Spirit
Pray for docility to the Holy Spirit
Pray for oneness of the Holy Spirit

Pope Francis prayer to Mary during the month of May.
First Prayer

O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey
as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering,
and persevered in your faith.
“Protectress of the Roman people”,
you know our needs,
and we know that you will provide,
so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebration may return
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.
For he took upon himself our suffering,
and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.

We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God; Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from every danger, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, your petitions are most powerful. Pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen
May Almighty God bless you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

N.B. Invite you to my Blog.
Growing in faith with Mary https://be909.wordpress.com

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
(Saint Augustine)

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my thoughts may all be holy.

Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my work, too, may be holy.

Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
That I love but what is holy.

Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
To defend all that is holy.

Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,
That I always may be holy.

DAY ONE OF NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Begins Friday May 22
Ends Saturday, May 30
Feast Sunday, May 31

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Amen

PRAYER TO THE HOLY GHOST
Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love.

V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created;
R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.
O God who didst instruct the hearts of Thy faithful by the light of the Holy Ghost, grant that, by the same Spirit, we may be truly wise, and ever rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Pray an Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and all the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, Who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.

Sing or Recite the hymn Come Holy Ghost

Come Holy Ghost, Creator come,
From Thy bright heavenly throne!
Come take possession of our souls,
And make them all Thine own!

Thou who art called the Paraclete,
Best Gift of God above,
The Living Spring, the Living Fire,
Sweet Unction, and True Love!

Thou who art seven-fold in Thy grace,
Finger of God’s right Hand,
His promise, teaching little ones,
To speak and understand!

O guide our minds with Thy blest light,
With love our hearts inflame,
And with Thy strength which ne’er decays,
Confirm our mortal frame.

Far from us drive our hellish foe,
True peace unto us bring,
And through all perils guide us safe,
Beneath Thy sacred wing.

Through Thee may we the Father know,
Through Thee the Eternal Son,
And Thee the Spirit of them Both,
Thrice-blessed Three in One.

All glory to the Father be,
And to the risen Son;
The same to Thee, O Paraclete,
While endless ages run.
Amen.

OTHER PRAYERS TO THE HOLY GHOST
Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart with Your holy gifts. Let my weakness be penetrated with Your strength this very day that I may fulfill all the duties of my state conscientiously, that I may do what is right and just.
Let my charity be such as to offend no one, and hurt no one’s feelings; so generous as to pardon sincerely any wrong done to me. Assist me, O Holy Spirit, in all my trials of life, enlighten me in my ignorance, advise me in my doubts, strengthen me in my weakness, help me in all my needs, protect me in temptations and console me in afflictions.
Graciously hear me, O Holy Spirit, and pour Your light into my heart, my soul, and my mind. Assist me to live a holy life and to grow in goodness and grace. Amen.

The Holy Spirit Novena
************
Pray the following prayer before each day’s intention

O Holy Spirit, Divine Consoler!
I adore you as my True God.
I bless You by uniting myself to the praises
You receive from the angel and saints.
I offer You my whole heart,
and I render You heartfelt thanks
for all the benefits You have bestowed
and do unceasingly bestow upon the world.
You are the author of all supernatural gifts
and who did enrich with immense favors the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, I beseech you to visit me by Your grace and Your love, and grant me the favor
I so earnestly seek in this novena.
(State your request here)
O Holy Spirit,
spirit of truth,
come into our hearts:
shed the brightness of your light on all nations,
that they may be of one faith and pleasing to You. Amen.
Come, O Holy Spirit,
fill the hearts of your faithful,
and kindle in them the fire of Your love.

Day 1
O Holy Spirit, bestow upon us Your seven holy gifts. Enlighten our understanding that we may know You. Give us wisdom that Your will may be clear to us and that we may accept it. Grant us the gift of counsel that we may always perceive what is right. Fortify us that we may always be capable of fulfilling Your Divine Will. Inspire us with the spirit of learning that we may be able to penetrate more deeply into the truths that You have revealed. Let our hearts be steeped in the spirit of childlikeness that we may bring You joy. Let us have proper fear of God that we may never grieve You or wander from the path of goodness. Give us the fullness of Your gifts that we may glorify You. Amen.
Look with compassion upon us, O Holy Spirit, and grant us the favour we seek in this novena
(State your request here)
if it be in accordance with Your Holy Will.

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
To be recited daily during the Novena

On my knees I before the great multitude of heavenly witnesses I offer myself, soul and body to You, Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Your purity, the unerring keenness of Your justice, and the might of Your love. You are the Strength and Light of my soul. In You I live and move and am. I desire never to grieve You by unfaithfulness to grace and I pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest sin against You. Mercifully guard my every thought and grant that I may always watch for Your light, and listen to Your voice and follow Your gracious inspirations. I cling to You and give myself to You and ask You, by Your compassion, to watch over me in my weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and looking at His Five Wounds, and trusting in His Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and stricken Heart, I implore You, Adorable Spirit, Helper of my infirmity, to keep me in Your grace that I may never sin against You. Give me grace O Holy Spirit, Spirit of the Father and the Son to say to You always and everywhere, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant heareth.” Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
To be recited daily during the Novena

O Lord Jesus Christ Who, before ascending into heaven did promise to send the Holy Spirit to finish Your work in the souls of Your Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul, the work of Your grace and Your love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal, the Spirit of Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of Your divine truth, the Spirit on Counsel that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with You and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable, and the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with a loving reverence toward God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord with the sign of Your true disciples, and animate me in all things with Your Spirit. Amen.

A LITANY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON HUMAN WHOLENESS

Spirit of God the father Have mercy on us
Spirit of God the son. Have mercy on us
Trinity one God Have mercy on us

For giving us yourself. (R.) Thank you O Holy Spirit
For teaching us the mysteries
of love and true living ”
For filling us with all virtues.
For enabling us to do the will
of God
For nourishing our souls and body
For occupying our minds and senses
For your bounteous gifts
For you constant inspiration
and direction
For your ever consoling presence
For burning off our sins
For healing our hearts and wound
For delivering us from the evil one
For lightening our burdens of life
For reconciling us with the Father
For reconciling us with one another
For reconciling Christian denominations
in your love
For destroying disunity and scandal
among Christians
For making us brothers and sisters
of one another
For making us servants and
witnesses of Christ
For leading us to eternal life
For renewing the faith and
commitment of your sacred ministers
For blessing Christian marriages
For destroying the spirit of secularism
and materialism among us
For restoring us to health of
mind and body
For anointing your priests
and religious

Spirit of faith and fear of God. (R.) Abide with us
Spirit of love and hope
Spirit of wisdom and knowledge
Spirit of understanding and counsel
Spirit of prudence and discernment
Spirit of courage and strength
Spirit of prayer and service
Spirit of mission and witness
Spirit of justice and peace
Spirit of chastity and faithfulness
Spirit of obedience and docility
Spirit of gentleness and meekness
Spirit of patience and endurance
Spirit of penance and sacrifice
Spirit of repentance and reconciliation
Spirit of perseverance in prayer
and holy living
Spirit of tenderness and kindness
Spirit of community and friendship
Spirit of forgiveness and sensitivity
to the needs of others
Spirit of loving God and neighbour
Spirit of loving oneself
Spirit of forgiving oneself and others
Spirit of contemplation and meditation
Spirit of sharing and joyfulness
Spirit of openness and affirmation
Spirit of orderliness and truth
Spirit of accountability
Spirit of intercession and reparation
Spirit of purity of mind and body
Spirit of praise and thanksgiving
Spirit of longing for eternal life
Spirit of saving others

Holy Advocate and master of our souls. (R.) Spare us O Divine Spirit
Holy Advocate and master of our souls(R.) Graciously hear us O Divine Spirit
Holy Advocate and master of our souls (R.)
Have mercy on us O Divine Spirit
Spirit of the living God (R.)
Fall afresh on us

LET US PRAY
Most Glorious and Holy Spirit, Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, we reverently surrender ourselves to you today. Compassionate Paraclete, we are grateful for you manifold blessings and healing. Graciously grant us the strength we need to appropriate all your virtues, which are most essential for our eternal communion with God and all the saints. In your loving mercy, burn off all our iniquities that we may attentively listen to you and participate fully in the work of salvation. We make this prayer in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and God the Father, world without end. Amen

LITANY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Father all-powerful, have mercy on us. Jesus, Eternal Son of the Father, Redeemer of the world, save us. Spirit of the Father and the Son, boundless life of both, sanctify us. Holy Trinity, hear us.

Holy Spirit, Who proceedest from the Father and the Son, enter our hearts. Holy Spirit, Who art equal to the Father and the Son, enter our hearts.

Promise of God the Father, have mercy on us.
Ray of heavenly light, have mercy on us.
Author of all good,
Source of heavenly water Consuming fire
Ardent charity
Spiritual unction
Spirit of love and truth
Spirit of wisdom and understanding
Spirit of counsel and fortitude
Spirit of knowledge and piety
Spirit of the fear of the Lord
Spirit of grace and prayer
Spirit of peace and meekness
Spirit of modesty and innocence
Holy Spirit, the Comforter
Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier
Holy Spirit, Who governest the Church
Gift of God, the Most High
Spirit Who fillest the universe
Spirit of the adoption of the children of God

Holy Spirit, inspire us with horror of sin.
Holy Spirit, come and renew the face of the earth.
Holy Spirit, shed Thy light in our souls.
Holy Spirit, engrave Thy law in our hearts.
Holy Spirit, inflame us with the flame of Thy love.
Holy Spirit, open to us the treasures of Thy graces.
Holy Spirit, teach us to pray well.
Holy Spirit, enlighten us with Thy heavenly inspirations.
Holy Spirit, lead us in the way of salvation.
Holy Spirit, grant us the only necessary knowledge.
Holy Spirit, inspire in us the practice of good.
Holy Spirit, grant us the merits of all virtues.
Holy Spirit, make us persevere in justice.
Holy Spirit, be Thou our everlasting reward.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Send us Thy Holy Spirit.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
pour down into our souls the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
grant us the Spirit of wisdom and piety.

V. Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of Thy faithful,
R. And enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.

Let us pray. Grant, O merciful Father, that Thy Divine Spirit may enlighten, inflame and purify us, that He may penetrate us with His heavenly dew and make us fruitful in good works, through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who with Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, liveth and reigneth, one God, forever and ever.

R. Amen.

MARY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

MARIAN READINGS: MAY DEVOTION AND NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

With Fr. Benjamin-Maria Igbinovia

Day 22

MARY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. I welcome you to today Marian reading and Novena to the Holy Spirit, we shall be reflecting on Mary and the Holy Spirit. In the beautiful story of the Annunciation, we hear this words address to Mary: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called Holy, the Son of God.” (Lk 1:35) Also, St. Matthew tells us “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit.” (Mt 1:18) ..for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit….” (Mt 1:20). “We see Mary prayerfully imploring the gift of the Spirit, who had already overshadowed her in the Annunciation.”( Acts 1:14)

2. Two thousand years ago the Son of God was made man by the power of the Holy Spirit and was born of the Immaculate virgin Mary. Mary, who conceived the Incarnate Word by the power of the Holy Spirit is described in the Apostles’ Creed: He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Also the Nicene Creed: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became Man.

3. There is an intimacy between Mary and the Holy Spirit. This intimacy is a mystery. In the gospel of St. Luke the angel Gabriel puts it very simply: ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you.’ Mary and the Holy Spirit are inseparable. There is an unbreakable friendship between them. It is the Holy Spirit together with Mary that gives Jesus to the world. This is an eternal principle. In his True Devotion to Mary, St. Louis Marie de Montfort wrote: ‘It is with Her and in Her, and of Her that the Holy Spirit produced His masterpiece which is God made man.’ Mary could be defined as total openness to the Holy Spirit. It is precisely because we seek to be united with Mary in all things that we Catholics seek to be totally open to the Holy Spirit too.

4. Again as St. Louis Marie says: ‘When the Holy Spirit finds Mary in a soul He flies to that soul.’ We honour the Holy Spirit as the indwelling guest of our souls; He is our constant companion, guide, and the source of all contemplative and apostolic love. He is the supreme gift of the Father and the Son to each one of us and enables us to live the life of the Blessed Trinity. Jesus comes into the world through the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. It is on the basis of this principle that Jesus comes into any heart, into any place and at any time.

PRAYER

O God, through the pure heart of Mary, may the Holy Spirit fills my heart and rekindle the fire of your love in me, through Christ our Lord. Amen

RESOLUTION

I will pray my Rosary everyday.

I will pray the Memorare

I will offer to our Mother Mary today: The Sorrowful Mystery of the Rosary.

PRAYER POINTS

Pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit

Pray for Divine guidance

Pray for openness to the Holy Spirit

Pope Francis prayer to Mary during the month of May.

First Prayer

O Mary,

You shine continuously on our journey

as a sign of salvation and hope.

We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the foot of the cross,

were united with Jesus’ suffering,

and persevered in your faith.

“Protectress of the Roman people”,

you know our needs,

and we know that you will provide,

so that, as at Cana in Galilee,

joy and celebration may return

after this time of trial.

Help us, Mother of Divine Love,

to conform ourselves to the will of the Father

and to do what Jesus tells us.

For he took upon himself our suffering,

and burdened himself with our sorrows

to bring us, through the cross,

to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.

We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God; Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from every danger, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, your petitions are most powerful. Pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen

May Almighty God bless you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

N.B. Invite you to my Blog.

Growing in faith with Mary https://be909.wordpress.com