Coming Dec 8th. Feast of the "Immaculate Conception"

The Mother of Jesus is given a great rememberance in the Catholic Church. She is reverenced as the woman,who said,"Behold the handmaid of the Lord,be it done unto me, according to Thy word". With deep confidence,trust,and faith Mary accepted her destiny as asked of her by St. Gabriel,the Archangel,the messenger of God. Mary,was humble and never asked to be put on a honor list.Mary,was simple and never boasted of her title as Mother of the Son of God. Mary was chosen,amoung thousands of other women to be the Mother of Jesus.Her purity,love and fear of God,her prayers were always that God's will be done in her.Give glory to God for Mary,who whose Immaculate Conception is the reason Jesus came to all mankind. She was Jesus' Mother. She brought forth the God-man for the salvation of all mankind.

The Miraculous Medal Story and Its Meaning

The Medal of the Immaculate Conception — popularly known as the Miraculous Medal — was designed by the Blessed Virgin herself! No wonder, then that it wins such extraordinary graces for those who wear it and pray for Mary's intercession and help.

The First Apparition1st Apparition

The story begins on the night of July 18-19, 1830. A child (perhaps her guardian angel) awakened Sister (now Saint) Catherine Labouré, a novice in the community of the Daughters of Charity in Paris, and summoned her to the chapel. There she met with the Virgin Mary and spoke with her for several hours. During the conversation Mary said to her, “My child, I am going to give you a mission.”

2nd ApparitionThe Second Apparition

Mary gave her this mission in a vision during evening meditation on November 27, 1830. She saw Mary standing on what seemed to be half a globe and holding a golden globe in her hands as if offering it to heaven. On the globe was the word “France,” and our Lady explained that the globe represented the whole world, but especially France. The times were difficult in France then, especially for the poor who were unemployed and often refugees from the many wars of the time. France was first to experience many of those troubles which ultimately reached many other parts of the world and are even present today. Streaming from rings Mary's fingers as she held the globe were many rays of light. Mary explained that the rays symbolize the graces she obtains for those who ask for them. However, some of the gems on the rings were dark, and Mary explained that the rays and graces were available but did not come because no one had asked for them.

The Third Apparition and the Miraculous Medal

The vision then changed to show our Lady standing on a globe with her arms now outstretched and with the dazzling rays of light still streaming from her fingers. Framing the figure was an inscription: O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
Front of the Miraculous Medal
The Meaning of the Front Side of the Miraculous Medal

Mary is standing upon a globe, crushing the head of a serpent beneath her foot. She stands upon the globe, as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Her feet crush the serpent to proclaim Satan and all his followers are helpless before her (Gn 3:15). The year of 1830 on the Miraculous Medal is the year the Blessed Mother gave the design of the Miraculous Medal to Saint Catherine Labouré. The reference to Mary conceived without sin supports the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary—not to be confused with the virgin birth of Jesus, and referring to Mary's sinlessness, “full of grace” and “blessed among women” (Luke 1:28)—that was proclaimed 24 years later in 1854.

The vision turned and showed the design of the reverse side of the medal. Twelve stars encircled a large “M” from which arose a cross. Below are two hearts with flames arising from them. One heart is encircled in thorns and the other is pierced by a sword.
Back of the Miraculous Medal
The Meaning of the Back Side of the Miraculous Medal

The twelve stars can refer to the Apostles, who represent the entire Church as it surrounds Mary. They also recall the vision of Saint John, writer of the Book of Revelation (12:1), in which “a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars.” The cross can symbolize Christ and our redemption, with the bar under the cross a sign of the earth. The “M” stands for Mary, and the interleaving of her initial and the cross shows Mary’s close involvement with Jesus and our world. In this we see Mary’s part in our salvation and her role as mother of the Church. The two hearts represent the love of Jesus and Mary for us. (See also Lk 2:35).

Then Mary spoke to Catherine: “Have a medal struck upon this model. Those who wear it will receive great graces, especially if they wear it around the neck.” Catherine explained the entire series of apparitions to her confessor, and she worked through him to carry out Mary’s instructions. She did not reveal that she received the Medal until soon before her death 47 years later. 3rd Apparition

With approval of the Church, the first Medals were made in 1832 and were distributed in Paris. Almost immediately the blessings that Mary had promised began to shower down on those who wore her Medal. The devotion spread like wildfire. Marvels of grace and health, peace and prosperity, following in its wake. Before long people were calling it the “Miraculous” Medal. And in 1836, a Canonical inquiry undertaken at Paris declared the apparitions to be genuine.

There is no superstition, nothing of magic, connected with the Miraculous Medal. The Miraculous Medal is not a “good-luck charm”. Rather, it is a great testimony to faith and the power of trusting prayer. Its greatest miracles are those of patience, forgiveness, repentance, and faith. God uses a Medal, not as a sacrament, but as an agent, an instrument, in bringing to pass certain marvelous results. “The weak things of this earth hath God chosen to confound the strong.”

When our Blessed Mother gave the design of the medal to Saint Catherine Labouré she said, “Now it must be given to the whole world and to every person.” The Association of the Miraculous Medal in Perryville, Missouri carries out our Lady’s request in many ways, including offering you a free Miraculous Medal.

http://www.amm.org/medal.htm

Pray the First Sorrowful Mystery
"These stories of Jesus tell us not to give up -- even when things are very bad. God will help us through; God will make us strong enough to go on."

The Agony of Jesus in the Garden

Our Father

They came to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James and John with him. (Mark 14,32-33)
Hail Mary

Distress and anguish came over him and he said to them, "The sorrow in my heart is so great that it almost crushes me. Stay here and keep watch." (Mark 14,34)
Hail Mary

The Agony of Jesus in the GardenHe went a little farther on, threw himself on the ground, and prayed that, if possible, he might not have to go through that time of suffering. (Mark 14, 35)
Hail Mary

"Father," he prayed, "my Father. All things are possible for you. Take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want." (Mark 14, 36)
Hail Mary

Then he returned and found the three disciples asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Weren't you able to stay awake for even one hour?" (Mark 14, 37)
Hail Mary

And he said to them, "Keep watch, and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Luke 14, 38)
Hail Mary

He went away once more and prayed, saying the same words. The he came back to the disciples and found them asleep; they could not keep their eyes open. (Mark 14,39)
Hail Mary

When he came back the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come! Look the Son of Man is now being handed over to the power of sinners." (Mark 14,41)
Hail Mary

Jesus was still speaking when Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs... (Mark14,43)
Hail Mary

As soon as Judas arrived, he went up to Jesus and said,"Teacher!" and kissed him. So they arrested Jesus and held him tight. (Mark 14,45)
Hail Mary

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

The Scourging at the Pillar

Our Father

Early in the morning Jesus was taken from Caiphas' house to the governor's palace. (John 18,28)
Hail Mary

Pilate went outside and asked, "What do you accuse this man of?" (John 18,29)
Hail Mary

The Scourging at the PillarTheir answer was, "We would not have brought him to you if he had not committed a crime." (John 18,30)
Hail Mary

Pilate went back into the palace and called Jesus. "Are you the king of the Jews?" he asked him. (John 18,33)
Hail Mary

Jesus said, "My kingdom does not belong to this world." (John 18,36)
Hail Mary

Pilate asked him, "Are you a king then?" (John 18,37)
Hail Mary

Jesus answered, "You say I am a king. I was born and came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about the truth. Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me." (John 18, 37)
Hail Mary

Then Pilate went outside to the people and said to them, "I cannot find any reason to condemn him. But according to the custom you have, I always set free a prisoner for you during the Passover. Do you want me to set free for you the king of the Jews?" (John 18, 39)
Hail Mary

They answered him with a shout, "No, not him! We want Barabbas!" (Barabbas was a bandit.) (John 18, 40)
Hail Mary

Then Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. (John 19,1)
Hail Mary

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Pray the Third Sorrowful Mystery
"These stories of Jesus tell us not to give up -- even when things are very bad. God will help us through; God will make us strong enough to go on."

The Crowning with Thorns

Our Father

The soldiers took Jesus inside the courtyard of the governor's palace and called together the rest of the company. (Mark 15,16)
Hail Mary

The soldiers made a crown out of thorny branches and put it on his head. (John 19,2)
Hail Mary

The Crowning with ThornsThen they put a purple robe on him and came to him and said, "Long live the King of the Jews!" (John 19,3)
Hail Mary

And they went up and slapped him. (John 19,3)
Hail Mary

Pilate went out once more and said to the crowd, "Look, I will bring him out here to let you see that I cannot find any reason to condemn him." (John 19,4)
Hail Mary

So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. (John 19,5)
Hail Mary

Pilate said to them, "Look, here is the man!" (John 19,5)
Hail Mary

When the chief priests and Temple guards saw him, they shouted, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" (John 19,8)
Hail Mary

Pilate said to them, "You take him, then, and crucify him. I find no reason to condemn him." (John 19,6)
Hail Mary

But the crowd shouted back, "If you set him free, that means that you are not the Emperor's friend. Anyone who claims to be a king is a rebel against the Emperor!" (John 19,12)
Hail Mary

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Pray the Fourth Sorrowful Mystery
"These stories of Jesus tell us not to give up -- even when things are very bad. God will help us through; God will make us strong enough to go on."

The Carrying of the Cross

Our Father

Then all the disciples left him and ran away. (Matthew 26,56)
Hail Mary

The Carrying of the CrossThe soldiers led Jesus away, and as they were going, they met a man from Cyrene who was coming into the city from the country. (Luke 23,26)
Hail Mary

They seized him, put the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. (Luke 23,26)
Hail Mary

A large crowd of people followed him; among them were some women who were weeping and wailing for him. (Luke 23,27)
Hail Mary

Jesus turned to them and said, "Women of Jerusalem! Don't cry for me, but for yourselves and your children." (Luke 23,28)
Hail Mary

Two other men, both of them criminals, were also led out to be put to death with Jesus. (Luke 28,32)
Hail Mary

When they came to the place called "The Skull," they crucified Jesus there, and the two criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. (Luke 28, 33)
Hail Mary

There they tried to give him wine mixed with a drug called myrrh, but Jesus would not drink it. (Mark 15,23)
Hail Mary

They divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice. (Luke 23,34)
Hail Mary

Jesus said, "Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing." (Luke 28,34)
Hail Mary

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Pray the Fifth Sorrowful Mystery
"These stories of Jesus tell us not to give up -- even when things are very bad. God will help us through; God will make us strong enough to go on."

The Crucifixion

Our Father

It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him. The notice of the accusation against him said: "The King of the Jews." (Mark 15,26)
Hail Mary

People passing by shook their heads and hurled insults at Jesus: "Aha! You were going to tear down the Temple and build it back up in three days! Now come down from the cross and save yourself!" (Mark15,29)
Hail Mary

The CrucifixionThe soldiers also made fun of him; they came up to him and offered him cheap wine and said, "Save yourself if you are the king of the Jews."(Luke 23,36)
Hail Mary

Standing close to Jesus' cross were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clophas, and Mary Magdalene. (John19,25)
Hail Mary

Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there; so he said to his mother, "He is your son." (John19,26)
Hail Mary

At noon the whole country was covered with darkness, which lasted for three hours. At three o'clock Jesus cried out with a loud shout, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why did you abandon me?" (Mark15,33-34)
Hail Mary

Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father! In your hands I place my spirit! He said this and died." (Luke23,46)
Hail Mary

It was toward evening when Joseph of Arimathea arrived. It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath), so Joseph went boldly into the presence of Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. (Mark 15,42-43)
Hail Mary

Joseph bought a linen sheet, took the body down, wrapped it in the sheet, and placed it in a tomb which had been dug out of solid rock. (Mark 15,46)
Hail Mary

Then he rolled a large stone across the entrance to the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph were watching and saw where the body of Jesus was placed. (Mark 15,47)
Hail Mary

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Justin Martyr

"[Jesus] became man by the Virgin so that the course which was taken by disobedience in the beginning through the agency of the serpent might be also the very course by which it would be put down. Eve, a virgin and undefiled, conceived the word of the serpent and bore disobedience and death. But the Virgin Mary received faith and joy when the angel Gabriel announced to her the glad tidings that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon her and the power of the Most High would overshadow her, for which reason the Holy One being born of her is the Son of God. And she replied ‘Be it done unto me according to your word’ [Luke 1:38]" (Dialogue with Trypho the Jew 100 [A.D. 155]).

Irenaeus

"Consequently, then, Mary the Virgin is found to be obedient, saying, ‘Behold, O Lord, your handmaid; be it done to me according to your word.’ Eve, however, was disobedient, and, when yet a virgin, she did not obey. Just as she, who was then still a virgin although she had Adam for a husband—for in paradise they were both naked but were not ashamed; for, having been created only a short time, they had no understanding of the procreation of children, and it was necessary that they first come to maturity before beginning to multiply—having become disobedient, was made the cause of death for herself and for the whole human race; so also Mary, betrothed to a man but nevertheless still a virgin, being obedient, was made the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race. . . . Thus, the knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. What the virgin Eve had bound in unbelief, the Virgin Mary loosed through faith" (Against Heresies 3:22:24 [A.D. 189]).

"The Lord then was manifestly coming to his own things, and was sustaining them by means of that creation that is supported by himself. He was making a recapitulation of that disobedience that had occurred in connection with a tree, through the obedience that was upon a tree [i.e., the cross]. Furthermore, the original deception was to be done away with—the deception by which that virgin Eve (who was already espoused to a man) was unhappily misled. That this was to be overturned was happily announced through means of the truth by the angel to the Virgin Mary (who was also [espoused] to a man). . . . So if Eve disobeyed God, yet Mary was persuaded to be obedient to God. In this way, the Virgin Mary might become the advocate of the virgin Eve. And thus, as the human race fell into bondage to death by means of a virgin, so it is rescued by a virgin. Virginal disobedience has been balanced in the opposite scale by virginal obedience. For in the same way, the sin of the first created man received amendment by the correction of the First-Begotten" (ibid., 5:19:1 [A.D. 189]).

Tertullian

"And again, lest I depart from my argumentation on the name of Adam: Why is Christ called Adam by the apostle [Paul], if as man he was not of that earthly origin? But even reason defends this conclusion, that God recovered his image and likeness by a procedure similar to that in which he had been robbed of it by the devil. It was while Eve was still a virgin that the word of the devil crept in to erect an edifice of death. Likewise through a virgin the Word of God was introduced to set up a structure of life. Thus what had been laid waste in ruin by this sex was by the same sex reestablished in salvation. Eve had believed the serpent; Mary believed Gabriel. That which the one destroyed by believing, the other, by believing, set straight" (The Flesh of Christ 17:4 [A.D. 210].

Pseudo-Melito

"If therefore it might come to pass by the power of your grace, it has appeared right to us your servants that, as you, having overcome death, do reign in glory, so you should raise up the body of your Mother and take her with you, rejoicing, into heaven. Then said the Savior [Jesus]: ‘Be it done according to your will’" (The Passing of the Virgin 16:2–17 [A.D. 300]).

Ephraim the Syrian

"You alone and your Mother are more beautiful than any others, for there is no blemish in you nor any stains upon your Mother. Who of my children can compare in beauty to these?" (Nisibene Hymns 27:8 [A.D. 361]).

Ambrose of Milan

"Mary’s life should be for you a pictorial image of virginity. Her life is like a mirror reflecting the face of chastity and the form of virtue. Therein you may find a model for your own life . . . showing what to improve, what to imitate, what to hold fast to" (The Virgins 2:2:6 [A.D. 377]).

"The first thing which kindles ardor in learning is the greatness of the teacher. What is greater [to teach by example] than the Mother of God? What more glorious than she whom Glory Itself chose? What more chaste than she who bore a body without contact with another body? For why should I speak of her other virtues? She was a virgin not only in body but also in mind, who stained the sincerity of its disposition by no guile, who was humble in heart, grave in speech, prudent in mind, sparing of words, studious in reading, resting her hope not on uncertain riches, but on the prayer of the poor, intent on work, modest in discourse; wont to seek not man but God as the judge of her thoughts, to injure no one, to have goodwill towards all, to rise up before her elders, not to envy her equals, to avoid boastfulness, to follow reason, to love virtue. When did she pain her parents even by a look? When did she disagree with her neighbors? When did she despise the lowly? When did she avoid the needy?" (ibid., 2:2:7).

"Come, then, and search out your sheep, not through your servants or hired men, but do it yourself. Lift me up bodily and in the flesh, which is fallen in Adam. Lift me up not from Sarah but from Mary, a virgin not only undefiled, but a virgin whom grace had made inviolate, free of every stain of sin" (Commentary on Psalm 118:22–30 [A.D. 387]).

Pray the First Glorious Mystery
"God gives us a new life that never ends."

The Resurrection of Jesus from the Dead

Our Father

Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been taken away from the entrance. (John 20,1)
Hail Mary

She went running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him." (John 20,2)
Hail Mary

The Resurrection of Jesus from the DeadMary stood crying outside the tomb. Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing there; but she did not know that it was Jesus. "Woman, why are you crying?" Jesus asked her. "Who is it you are looking for?" (John 20,14-15)
Hail Mary

She thought he was the gardener, so she said to him, "If you took him away, sir, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him." (John 20,15)
Hail Mary

Jesus said to her, "Mary!" (John 20,16)
Hail Mary

She turned toward him and said in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (This means "Teacher".) (John 20,16)
Hail Mary

"Do not hold on to me," Jesus told her, "because I have not yet gone back up to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am returning to him who is my Father and their Father, my God and their God." (John 20,17)
Hail Mary

So Mary Magdalene went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and related to them what he had told her. (John 20,18)
Hail Mary

It was late that Sunday evening, and the disciples were gathered together behind locked doors, because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities. Then Jesus came and stood among them, "Peace be with you," he said. (John 20,19)
Hail Mary

After saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord. (John 20,20)
Hail Mary

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Pray the Second Glorious Mystery
"God gives us a new life that never ends."

The Ascension of Jesus into Heaven

Our Father

Before Jesus was taken up, he gave instructions by the power of the Holy Spirit to the men he had chosen as his apostles. (Acts 1,2)
Hail Mary

For forty days after his death he appeared to them many times in ways that proved beyond doubt that he was alive. (Acts 1,3)
Hail Mary

The Ascension of Jesus into HeavenAnd when they came together, he gave them this order: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift I told you about, the gift my Father promised." (Acts 1,4)
Hail Mary

Jesus said to them... "when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1,8)
Hail Mary

After saying this, he was taken up to heaven as they watched him, and a cloud hid him from their sight. (Acts 1,9)
Hail Mary

They still had their eyes fixed on the sky as he went away, when two men dressed in while suddenly stood beside them and said,"Galileans, why are you standing looking up at the sky?" (Acts 1,10-11)
Hail Mary

Then the apostles went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is about a mile away from the city. (Acts 1,12)
Hail Mary

They gathered frequently to pray as a group, together with the women and with Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers. (Acts 1,14)
Hail Mary

The disciples went and preached everywhere. (Mark 16,20)
Hail Mary

And the Lord worked with them and proved that their teaching was true by the miracles that were performed. (Mark 16,20)
Hail Mary

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

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