Novena of the Assumption, Day Five

O merciful and loving Mother, may your glorious beauty fill our hearts with a distaste for earthly things and an ardent longing for the joys of Heaven. May your merciful eyes glance down upon our struggles and our weakness in this vale of tears. Hear then loving Mother, our request and plead to Jesus for us (mention your request). Crown us with the pure robe of innocence and grace here, and with immortality and glory in Heaven. Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. 

Novena of the Assumption, Day Four

O Dearest Mother Mary, God placed you at His right hand that you may dispose of the treasures of grace by a singular title – that of Mother of God. In the midst of all the Saints you stand as their Queen and ours – dearer to the Heart of God than any creature in God’s Kingdom. You pray for your children and distribute to us every grace won by our loving Savior on the Cross. With your most holy title, please intercede for us in our needs and ask Jesus to grant our request if it be for the good of our souls (mention your request). Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. 

Latin Mass and Inter Parish Picnic

See below the pages from a flyer.

Novena of the Assumption, Day Three

O Mother, Assumed into Heaven, because you shared in all the mysteries of our Redemption here below, Jesus has crowned you not only with glory but with power. With your most glorious and powerful intercession, help us O loving Mother and present to Jesus our request (mention your request). O Queen assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen.

Novena of the Assumption, Day Two

Mary, Assumed into Heaven, we venerate you as the Queen of Heaven and earth. Your own Son led you to a throne of glory in Heaven next to His own. As you tasted the bitterness of pain and sorrow with Him on earth, you now enjoy eternal bliss with Him in Heaven. As our loving Queen, intercede for us in our needs (mention your request). We thank Jesus for having put a most beautiful crown upon you head, while all the Angels and Saints acclaim you as their Queen. O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen.

Novena of the Assumption, Day One

Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, we believe in your triumphant assumption into heaven where the angels and saints acclaim you as Queen of Heaven and earth. We join them in praising you and bless the Lord who raised you above all creatures. With them we offer you our devotion and love. We are confident that you watch over our daily efforts and we pray that you may intercede for us in our needs (mention your request). We take comfort from the faith in the coming Resurrection and we look to you, our life, our sweetness and our hope. After this earthly life, show us Jesus, the blest fruit of your womb, O kind, O loving, O sweet virgin Mary. O Queen Assumed into Heaven, pray for us. Amen. 

Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Aug 15, 2011

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

(Taken from "Treasury of Novenas" with Meditations by Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D.)

The Blessed Virgin Mary obeyed the law of death, but her death was rather a peaceful slumber, a gentle separation of the soul from the body. Her soul reached such a degree of love that it seemed unable to rest any longer except in the blissful embrace of the Blessed Trinity. It left her immaculate body and sped to enjoy the blessed vision of God. But soon her beautiful soul was again united to her body which lay peacefully in the tomb, and suddenly Mary stood immortal and glorified, clothed in queenly glory. 

As angels sang their hymns of praise, Mary was raised on high to the Kingdom of glory by God's own power. Who can tell the joy of that loving embrace whereby Jesus welcomed and admitted His own Virgin Mother to unending union with Him in the glory of heaven! 

Mary's peaceful tomb had been opened by the Apostles and found to be empty. Tradition tells us that beautiful flowers filled the place where her body had once lain, and heavenly music enveloped her empty tomb. The Apostles then realized that she had been taken up into heaven, soul and body. 

It was fitting that Mary should be assumed into heaven with soul and body. By her Assumption, God honoured her body that was always the temple in which He dwelt by grace. It was a gate through which the Son of God, the Divine Word, passed to earth and became Man. 

It was fitting that Mary's holy and virginal body which gave flesh and blood to the God of all sanctity, the Victor over death, should never experience the corruption of the grave. Death and corruption are a result of original sin; but by her Immaculate Conception Mary was preserved from original sin and its effects. 

Mary offered herself to suffering and her beloved Son to death for the redemption of mankind; it was fitting that she should be united with Him in glory.

We should rejoice that after years of suffering on earth, Mary has at last been taken to the throne prepared for her in heaven where she reigns with her Son. The Church expresses this joy on the solemn feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, August 15, which is also a Holy Day of Obligation.

This year, in the Diocese of Cleveland, the Feast of the Assumption is not a Holy Day of Obligation, but that doesn't mean the day can't be reverenced with pious acts of devotion. 

Novena, to Begin on August 6, 2011

Mary, Queen Assumed into Heaven, 

I rejoice that after years of heroic martyrdom on earth, Thou hast at last been taken to the throne prepared for Thee in heaven by the Holy Trinity.

Lift my heart with Thee in the glory of Thy Assumption 

above the dreadful touch of sin and impurity. Teach me how small earth becomes when viewed from heaven. Make me realize that death is the triumphant gate through which I shall pass to Thy Son, and that someday my body shall rejoin my soul in the unending bliss of heaven.

From this earth, 

over which I tread as a pilgrim, I look to Thee for help. I ask for this favor:  

(State your intention here...) 

When my hour of death has come, 

lead me safely to the presence of Jesus to enjoy the vision of my God for all eternity together with Thee. 

We will also be sending out daily email reminders with particular novena prayers for the day. Check your inbox and the blog.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Solemn Mass Recap

The Solemn Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16 was beautiful. Thanks to all who came, especially the St. Stephen schola for providing the music. 

For Father Michael Donovan, O. de M., this was his first time celebrating Solemn Mass. Good job, Father! He was assisted by Fr. Bede Kotlinski, OSB (deacon), and Brother David Spencer, O. de M. (subdeacon).

After Mass, Fr. Michael invited everyone who wished to be enrolled in the Brown Scapular to stay for the enrollment ritual. 

Confiteor Deo...

The Gospel.

The Creed

IN PRINCIPIO ERAT VERBVM

Come Pray with Our Lady of Guadalupe, Protectress of the Unborn

From the St. Stephen bulletin:

On Wednesday, July 20th, St. Stephen Church will host a visit of the Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and an evening of prayer for conversions, reverence for life, and the sanctity of the family. Our Pro-Life Ministry has arranged for this image, a full-size reproduction blessed at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, to be present during Mass and Holy Hour. This image is one of several which have journeyed on Visitation in the New Evangelization throughout the world and have visited each of the United States in over one thousand parishes. A Latin Low Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be celebrated at 6:30pm with our Schola Choir singing tradtional Marian hymns. Mass will be followed by a brief talk on Our Lady of Guadalupe, and then a Holy Hour with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The Miraculous Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be available before Mass and after Holy Hour for Veneration. 

Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Cleveland will host a Solemn High Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16, 2011. The Mass will be at 10am. This is also the weekend that begins their parish festival. All are encouraged to attend and enjoy.