Legion of Mary

CHRISTMAS HYMN Sing, my tongue, the Saviour's glory, ⁠Sing with joy and holy mirth; Tell aloud the famous story ⁠Of His spotless virgin birth: How He comes, an infant stranger, ⁠Here to dwell with us on earth. Now the long-expected fulness ⁠Of the sacred time draws nigh; Now for us the Word eternal ⁠Leaves his Father's throne on high; From a virgin's womb appearing, ⁠Cloth'd in our mortality. All within a lowly manger, ⁠Lo, a helpless Babe He lies; See, His gentle virgin Mother ⁠Lull to sleep His infant cries, While the limbs of God incarnate ⁠Round with swathing bands she ties. Blessing, honour everlasting ⁠To th' immortal Deity; To the Father, Son, and Spirit, ⁠Equal adoration be. Prais'd be Thou through earth and heaven, ⁠Sempiternal Unity ~ Edward Caswall, translator Catholic Hymns. Henry Formby, editor. (1860)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 31st The Holy Mother (continued) 3. What are Mary's thoughts as she sits watching there? She has no thought save of God. She is absorbed in Him. The hours pass like minutes, they are a sort of anticipation of Paradise. She sees her God face to face, and though His glory is veiled under the robe of flesh, yet Mary can pierce through it as none else ever could, and can bask in the Divinity which it conceals. O God, help me to realize now Thy presence when Thou art veiled under the sacramental species. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 31st The Holy Mother (continued) 2. Yet Mary has a still greater claim to our homage, a more fruitful source of blessedness even than the divine maternity. Her unswerving obedience to the inspirations of God is declared by Our Lord Himself to be a still higher privilege. "Yea, rather blessed are they who hear the Word of God and keep it." If only we realized the blessedness of unswerving obedience, how different our lot would be! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 31st The Holy Mother By the side of the manger where the Infant lies, His Mother is watching. Who is she? 1. A poor and humble maiden, but nevertheless the Mother of God. The Mother of God! How can this be? How can the Eternal, Infinite God have a human mother? Yet so it is; Mary has a privilege which raises her immeasurably above the highest of the seraphim. It makes her more perfect in her likeness to God than is possible to any other creature. If, then, we honor the saints and angels, how much more should we honor God's own Mother! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 30th The New-born Child (continued) 3. He teaches us the true dignity of self-abasement. God could not do anything unworthy of Himself when clad in human flesh. It therefore was no disparagement to the divine honor that He should thus infinitely condescend. Nay, it proved that the greatest possible likeness to God is attained by the most complete humiliation of self. How little I have learned to practise this lesson! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Memento rerum Conditor Hymn REMEMBER, O Creator Lord! That in the Virgin’s sacred womb Thou wast conceiv’d, and of her flesh Didst our mortality assume. Mother of grace, O Mary blest! To thee, sweet fount of love, we fly; Shield us through life, and take us hence To thy dear bosom when we die. O Jesu! born of Virgin bright, Immortal glory be to Thee; Praise to the Father infinite, And Holy Ghost eternally. ~ Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sung at Terce, Sext, None and Compline. Lyra Catholica: Containing All the Breviary and Missal Hymns. Edward Caswall, M.A., translator. (1849)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 29th The New-born Child (continued) 2. He teaches us never to judge by appearances. If we had been told that God had come to dwell on earth, would not the stable of Bethlehem have been the last place where we should have sought Him? In how many a humble cottage there may still be found saints more dear to God than even those who have a world wide repute for their holiness and virtue ! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Feast of the Holy Innocents December 28 Holy children of God, you suffered death before you enjoyed the fullness of life, yet now you rest and reign with Christ in glory. Look down from heaven on our poor earth where children like you still suffer and die at the hands of those blinded by this world. Surround and protect the innocent and when our own poor efforts fail, comfort and console the parents whose loss we can hardly comprehend or imagine. We commend to your joyful company in heaven the souls of all dear children who have died. Help us to become like you, simple, pure and true! Teach us to accept love and blessings like you! Fill us with the joy and laughter of life to remind us that to such babes as you, the Kingdom of Heaven belongs. AMEN

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 28th The New-born Child In the cradle before us lies the new-born Infant wrapped in swaddling-clothes and laid in the manger. Let us contemplate Him for a few moments and see what lessons He teaches us. 1. He teaches us the unspeakable force of divine charity. How was it possible for the Eternal Word, the co-equal Son of God, to leave the bosom of His Father to clothe Himself with the flesh of sinful man? It seems an almost extravagant act of love, one unworthy of the dignity of God. Yet love puts everything aside except the burning desire to promote the welfare of the loved. The Son of God forgot all else in His divine compassion for us. How dearly He must love us! How great should be our confidence in His love! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

December 28th ~ FEAST of THE HOLY INNOCENTS Salvete flores martyrum Hymn Lauds and Vespers LOVELY flowers of martyrs, hail! Smitten by the tyrant foe, On life's threshold,—as the gale Strews the roses ere they blow. First to die for Christ—sweet lambs, At the very altar ye, With your fatal crowns and palms, Sport in your simplicity. Yet is Herod's wrath in vain, Though a thousand babes he slay; Christ, amid a thousand slain, Is in safety borne away. Honour, virtue, glory, merit, Be to thee, O Virgin's Son, With the Father and the Spirit, While eternal ages run. Lyra Catholica: Containing All the Breviary and Missal Hymns. Edward Caswall, M.A., translator. (1849)

December 28th ~ FEAST of THE HOLY INNOCENTS Audit tyrannus anxius Hymn Matins WHEN it reach’d the tyrant’s ear, Brooding anxious all alone, That the King of kings was near, Who should sit on David’s throne; Stung with madness, straight he cries, “Treason threatens—draw the sword ! Rebels all around us rise! Drown the cradles deep in blood !” What is guilty Herod’s gain, Though a thousand babes he slay? — Christ, amid a thousand slain, Is in safety borne away. Honour, glory, virtue, merit, Be to Thee, O Virgin’s Son! With the Father, and the Spirit, While eternal ages run. Lyra Catholica: Containing All the Breviary and Missal Hymns. Edward Caswall, M.A., translator. (1849)

December 27th ~ FEAST of ST. JOHN the Evangelist Quæ dixit, egit, pertulit Hymn THE life which God’s Incarnate Word Liv’d here below with men, Three blest Evangelists record, With Heav’n-inspired pen: John penetrates on eagle wing The Father’s dread abode; And shews the mystery wherein The Word subsists with God. Pure Saint! upon his Saviour’s breast Invited to recline, Twas thence he drew, in moments blest, His knowledge all divine: There too, with that angelic love Did he his bosom fill, Which, once enkindled from above, Breathes in his pages still. Oh, dear to Christ!—to thee upon His Cross, of all bereft, Thou virgin soul! the Virgin Son His Virgin Mother left. To Jesus, born of Virgin bright, Praise with the Father be; Praise to the Spirit Paraclete, Through all eternity. Lyra Catholica: Containing All the Breviary and Missal Hymns. Edward Caswall, M.A., translator. (1849)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 27th The Nativity (continued) 3. But when the gift came at last, it was a gift worthy of the divine generosity. It was a gift of infinite value, given to all and each of the sons of men. It was a gift in which God gave Himself to be wholly ours. That little Infant in the cradle before Whom I kneel to-day is the omnipotent God, loving me with an immeasurable love; my King, my Lord, my Redeemer, my best Friend, the divine Lover of my soul. Oh, would that I loved Him more. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 26th The Nativity (continued) 2. All the world was at peace at the moment when Christ was born. The angry passions of men were hushed as if in compliment to the Prince of peace. He never comes where strife and confusion prevail. If I desire that He should come into my heart to-day, I must resolve to keep under my evil passions, and the self-will that dares to do battle against the will of God. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 25th The Nativity 1. Four thousand years had passed since God promised to our first parents that a Redeemer should come to free the world from the curse that had fallen upon it when Adam was disobedient to the divine command. Prophets and kings had desired to see the day when that promise should be fulfilled, but had not seen it. The whole world had long expected the day of redemption. God always is slow in His best gifts. Hence learn to be patient. "He will surely come, He will not tarry." ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 24th Christmas Eve (continued) 3. Yet Mary and Joseph, in spite of the sorrow of the one and the anxiety of the other, were both of them overflowing with heavenly consolations. How could it be otherwise, when one of them carried Christ in her chaste womb, and the other was more dear to God than any other of the sons of men, for he was Mary's chosen spouse, and he knew that before another day was past she was to bring forth into the world the Son of God. Our happiness, like that of Joseph and Mary, does not depend upon external circumstances, but on the love that we bear to God in our hearts. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 24th Christmas Eve (continued) 2. Mary meantime was patiently waiting. She was simply praying that God's will might be done, whatever suffering it might bring to her. She was offering herself to God, to be used by Him as He should see fit. She was making acts of perfect conformity to the will of God in all things. Blessed are those who wait patiently in such a spirit. God will soon fulfil all the desires of their heart. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 24th Christmas Eve 1. How did Mary and Joseph spend the first Christmas Eve? St. Joseph spent it in a fruitless attempt to find a lodging for his holy spouse. Vainly he sought for a place in the caravansery or inn, where travellers were received. Vainly he went from house to house in Bethlehem. Everywhere he was disappointed. Thus it is that God prepares His saints and chosen ones for some signal blessing. We must not be cast down by the fruitlessness of our efforts. It is a sign that some great grace is close at hand. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 23rd The Approaching Day (continued) 2. The morning star is still clearly seen when all other stars have been extinguished by the light of the coming day. Mary has a brilliancy so great that the brightness of all the other saints fades into nothing in comparison with hers. If this was the case even in comparison with the glory of St. John Baptist, St. Joseph, Abraham the Patriarch, the friend of God, Job, the model of patience, Daniel, the beloved of God, what must her glory be! Thank God for having created one child of Adam worthy of Himself. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Immaculate Conception ~ December 22nd The Approaching Day 1. When the sun is soon to appear above the horizon, the morning star, shining with a light derived indeed from him, but nevertheless shining bright and clear even before his coming, gives the signal of his approach. So the holy Mother of God, dawning upon the world with a grace and beauty which was the gift of her divine Son, anticipated His Incarnation and made the world more beautiful in God's sight than it had ever been before. Mary was more precious to God than all the rest of men, and this quite independently of her divine maternity. Consider why this was, and learn a lesson for yourself. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)