Virgo Potens

August 4th ~ ST. DOMINIC de GUZMÁN ~ Confessor Founder of the Dominicans Patron Saint of astronomers, natural scientists and those wrongfully accused (b. circa 1170, Castile, Spain - d. August 6, 1221, Bologna, Italy) Traditional Feast

Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary ~ August 4th When the angels beheld their Queen and ours at the moment of her immaculate conception they were filled with admiration at such fulness of grace and in their wonderment exclaimed: “Who is she that cometh forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as any army set in array?” What then must their rejoicing be, now that they behold in heaven all the marvellous perfections of her Heart from the first moment of her life on earth until the last? ~ Saint John Eudes, The Admirable Heart of the Most Holy Mother of God (1680)

Novena to St. Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney, the Curè of Ars August 3rd ~ Day Four: For a Horror of Sin ℣ Saint John-Marie Baptist Vianney, O Holy Priest of Ars, ℟ Thou wast so adamant against sin, yet so sympathetic and so ready to welcome the sinner. I come to thee today as if thou wert still on earth and as if I were kneeling at thy feet; for thou canst hear and aid. Bend towards me, listen to my repentant sorrow for the weaknesses and miserable deeds of mine. Holy Priest of God, inexhaustible Confessor, I beg thee, obtain for me the horror for sin. Thou wanted us first to avoid the occasion of sin. I want to heed thy advice and make the resolution to break sinful habits and to avoid the dangerous occasions of sin. Help me today to examine my conscience. Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in thine intercession. ℣ Pray for me during this novena especially for (name your request(s)) Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be. ℣ St. John-Marie Vianney, Patron of Priests, ℟ Pray for us and for all priests, especially (name the priest(s) for whom you wish to pray). Amen.

Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary ~ August 3rd Of Mary’s admirable Heart I shall attempt to speak in this book although to speak and write worthily of the holy Heart of God’s own Mother one would need a heart of fire. To know and proclaim the perfections of the noble Heart of the Queen of Angels one should have the intellect of a cherub and the flaming love of a seraph. Nay more, it would be necessary to possess the mind, the heart, the tongue and the hand of Jesus Christ, the King of all hearts, to understand, honor, proclaim or commit to writing the treasures of sanctity contained in the holy Heart of Mary, the worthiest, most royal and most marvellous of all hearts after the most adorable Heart of our Saviour Himself. ~ Saint John Eudes, The Admirable Heart of the Most Holy Mother of God (1680)

On the Immaculate Heart of Mary In the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I Trust. Look to the Star. Call upon Mary! In danger, in difficulty, or in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Keep her name on your lips. Never let it pass out of your heart. Following in her footsteps, you will not go astray: praying to her, you will not fall into despair: thinking of her, you will not err. While she keeps hold of your hand, you will not fall, you will not grow weary, you will have no fear. Enjoying her protection, you will reach the goal. ~ Saint Bernard

DEVOUT EXERCISES The faithful who offer prayers or other acts of piety in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, on any day in the month of August, may gain: An indulgence of 5 years, once. Those who persevere in such a devout exercise daily throughout the month of August, may gain: A plenary indulgence on the usual conditions. (S.C. Holy Off., March 13, 1913; S.P. Ap., June 2, 1935). (The Raccolta, 1957)

DEVOUT EXERCISES The faithful who devoutly recite prayers in honor of the most pure Heart of Mary, at any season of the year, with the intention of persevering in the same for nine consecutive days may gain: An indulgence of 5 years, once on any day of the novena; A plenary indulgence on the usual conditions at the end of the novena (Pius IX, Audience Jan. 3, 1849; S. C. of Bishops and Religious, Jan. 28, 1850; S.C. Ind., Nov. 26, 1876; S.P. Ap., April 29, 1933). (The Raccolta, 1957)

Novena to St. Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney, the Curè of Ars August 2nd ~ Day Three: For a True Love of Neighbor ℣ Saint John-Marie Baptist Vianney, O Holy Priest of Ars, ℟ Because of thy love of God, thou showed great charity towards thy neighbor. Thou couldst not preach on the Love of God without burning tears of love. During thy last years, it seemed as though thou couldst not talk of anything else or live for anything else. Thus, thou sacrificed thyself for thy neighbor by consoling, absolving, and sanctifying them to the limits of thy strength. Thy charity inspires me to greater love of God, a love which is shown more by acts than by words. Help me to love my neighbor generously as Jesus Christ (here bow your head) loves them; help me to practice more faithfully the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in thine intercession. ℣ Pray for me during this novena especially for (name your request(s)) Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be. ℣ St. John-Marie Vianney, Patron of Priests, ℟ Pray for us and for all priests, especially (name the priest(s) for whom you wish to pray). Amen.

Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary ~ August 2nd Do not be surprised if I say that the virginal Heart of this Mother of Fair Love is an admirable Heart indeed. Mary is admirable in her divine Maternity because as St. Bernardine of Siena says, “to be Mother of God is the miracle of miracles,” miraculum miraculorum. But the august Heart of Mary is also truly admirable, for it is the principle of her divine Maternity and of the wonderful mysteries this privilege implies. ~ Saint John Eudes, The Admirable Heart of the Most Holy Mother of God (1680)

Novena to St. Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney, the Curè of Ars August 1st ~ Day Two: For Complete Trust in God ℣ Saint John-Marie Baptist Vianney, O Holy Priest of Ars, ℟ What confidence the people had in thy prayers! Thou couldst not leave thine old rectory or thy humble church without being surrounded by imploring souls, who appealed to thee as they would have appealed to Jesus Christ (here bow your head) Himself during His earthly life. And you, O good Saint, gave them hope by thy words, which were full of love for God. Thou, who had always counted entirely on the heart of God, I beg thee to obtain for me a deep filial trust in His providence. As the hope of divine goods fills my heart, give me courage and help me to always obey the Commandments of God. Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in thine intercession. . ℣ Pray for me during this novena especially for (name your request(s)) Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be. ℣ St. John-Marie Vianney, Patron of Priests, ℟ Pray for us and for all priests, especially (name the priest(s) for whom you wish to pray). Amen.

Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary ~ August 1st Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God, chose the incomparable Virgin Mary from among all creatures to be His Mother and deigned to be nourished and governed by her. In His infinite goodness He also gave her to us to be our Queen, our Mother and our sure Refuge in all our needs. He therefore wishes us to honor her as He honors her and to love her as He loves her. ~ Saint John Eudes, The Admirable Heart of the Most Holy Mother of God (1680)

August ~ Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary This month’s meditations @ Virgo Potens will be taken from: The Admirable Heart of the Most Holy Mother of God St. John Eudes (1601-1680) This was the first book written on devotion to the Sacred Hearts and was finished one month before the saint’s death in 1680. The writings of St. John Eudes formed a foundation for subsequent devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. For many years the devotional works of St. John Eudes were practically unknown. Although some of his works were popular during his lifetime, many others were only preserved as manuscripts and were lost during the French Revolution. In the 1800’s, the spiritual sons of St. John Eudes united in a tribute of filial piety to bring out a complete edition of the works of their spiritual father, seeking them in public and private libraries throughout the world. About twenty volumes were found and they were edited in 1905; in 1935, a second French edition was published, consisting of nine volumes, of which The Admirable Heart of the Most Holy Mother of God is one. This edition, in English, was published in 1948.

Novena to St. Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney, the Curè of Ars July 31st ~ Day One: For an Ardent Faith ℣ Saint John-Marie Baptist Vianney, O Holy Priest of Ars, ℟ Thou wast born of a deeply religious mother; from her thou received the Holy Faith; thou learned to love God and to pray. At a young age, thou wast seen kneeling in the front of the statue of Mary. Thy soul wast supernaturally carried towards the things on High. Despite the high cost, thou answered thy vocation! Against many obstacles and contradictions, thou hadst to fight and suffer to become the perfect priest which thou wast. But thy deep spirit of faith supported thee in all these battles. O Great Saint, thou knowest the desire of my soul; I would like to serve God better; from Him I have received so many good things. For this, obtain for me more courage and especially the depth of faith. Many of my thoughts, words, and actions are useless for my sanctification and for my salvation, because this supernatural spirit does not stir up my life. Help me to be better in the future. Holy Priest of Ars, I have confidence in thine intercession. ℣ Pray for me during this novena especially for (name your request(s)) Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be. ℣ St. John-Marie Vianney, Patron of Priests, ℟ Pray for us and for all priests, especially for (name the priest(s) for whom you wish to pray). Amen.

NOVENA - St. Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney (July 31st ~ August 8th) Traditional Feast Day ~ August 9th

July 31st ~ St. Ignatius Loyola ~ Confessor Patron Saint of the Society of Jesus, Soldiers, Educators/Education, and Retreats (c. 1491 - 1556) St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, was born in the Castle of Loyola, Spain in 1491, the 13th child in a family of minor nobility. Highly influenced by romantic stories of knightly chivalry, he joined the army at the age of 17. His goal was military fame and for many years he lived a sinful life. He was severely wounded in the siege of Pamplona in 1521, which ended his military career. During his convalescence, with nothing to read but religious books, he experienced a conversion, became inflamed with the love of God, and discerned a vocation. It was at this time, while meditating in a cave outside of the town of Manressa, that he began to record his feelings in encountering scripture, and began work on what would later become the Spiritual Exercises. After traveling to the Holy Land he returned to Spain and in 1524 began to correct his educational defects so that he could become a priest. He eventually gained a Magisterium from the University of Paris at the age of forty-three in 1535, and on Christmas Day 1538 celebrated his first Mass at the Church of St. Mary Major, Rome. While studying in Paris, he had met Ss. Peter Faber and Francis Xavier with whom, and four other companions, he formed what would become the ‘Society of Jesus’, which was was approved as a religious order by Pope Paul III in 1540. He became the first ‘Father General’, although he felt unworthy due to the sinfulness if his early life. He served in this position for 15 years, until his death. St. Ignatius envisioned the purpose of the order as missionary work and teaching, and the Jesuits dispersed all over the world. He was declared patron saint of all spiritual retreats by Pope Pius XI by in 1922. His Spiritual Exercises (1548) record his method of formation for recruits to the Society of Jesus, and have become known as Ignatian spirituality. St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us.

Sang précieux de notre Rédempteur, c’est par vous que nos àmes seront sauvées. Precious Blood of Our Saviour, it is through thee that our souls will be saved.