Catholic Tower

VIRGIN, WHOLLY MARVELLOUS Hymn VIRGIN, wholly marvellous, Who didst bear God's Son for us, Worthless is my tongue and weak Of thy purity to speak. 2 Who can praise thee as he ought? Gifts, with every blessing fraught, Gifts that bring the gifted life, Thou didst grant us, Maiden-Wife. 3 God became thy lowly Son, Made himself thy little one, Raising men to tell thy worth High in heav'n as here on earth. 4 Heav'n and earth, and all that is, Thrill to-day with ecstasies, Chanting glory unto thee, Singing praise with festal glee. 5 Cherubim with fourfold face Are no peers of thine in grace ; And the six·wing'd seraphim Shine, amid thy splendour, dim. 6 Purer art thou than are all Heav'nly hosts angelical, Who delight with pomp and state On thy beauteous Child to wait. ~ St. Ephrem Syrus (c. 303-373) Tr. J. W. Atkinson, S.J. (1866-1921) ~ The Westminster Hymnal (1939)

St. Augustine was born at Tagaste, Africa in 354. Monica, his mother, constantly prayed for his conversion. At thirty-five years of age, St. Augustine finally received baptism. At forty-one, he became Bishop of Hippo. From 5is time until his death, he wrote voluminous works that have been the admiration of the ages. His sublime knowledge merited for him the title of one of the greatest Doctors of the Western Church. ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ August 28th ~ Feast of ST. AUGUSTINE, Bishop, Confessor Doctor of the Church GIVE heed, almighty God, and by the intercession of Blessed Augustine, Thy Confessor and Bishop, graciously grant the effect of Thy accustomed mercy to those to whom Thou grantest confidence to hope for forgiveness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. Collect, August 28, St. Augustine, Bishop, Confessor ~ The Saint Joseph Daily Missal (1950) ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ St. Augustine, pray for us.

Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary ~ August 28th TWELVE METHODS OF PRACTISING THIS DEVOTION (continued) The fifth is the feast of the Joys of the Heart of Mary on July 8th. There are in addition many others, for all feasts of the Blessed Virgin are really feasts of her Admirable Heart. The feast of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on December 8th, is the feast of the Creation or formation of her most holy Heart, which was fashioned by the almighty hand of God and filled with grace and love from the very first of its creation. ~ Saint John Eudes, The Admirable Heart of the Most Holy Mother of God (1680)

Act of Charity O my God! I love Thee above all things, With my whole heart and soul, Because Thou art all-good and worthy of all my love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, And ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen. ~ Baltimore Catechism, 1884

Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary ~ August 27th [151. continued] The fathers generally call hypocrisy perversity, iniquity, impiety; and it is easy not only to fall into this sin, but to become so accustomed to it that it leads us into atheism. We often begin by serving God with a certain degree of holy fervour, but when this diminishes, we no longer serve God but only pretend to serve Him in order to keep up outward appearances. “Woe unto you hypocrites!” [See St. Thomas, 2a 2æ, qu. xi, per tot.] ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

8/27/26 Final Advice in Regard to Holy Communion This explanation is intended to reassure such persons as are disposed to feel anxious when they find nothing in their hearts to correspond with the effusions of sensible love with which books of devotion abound in the preparation for Holy Communion. These usually make the mistake of taking for granted the invariable existence of sentiment, and of addressing it exclusively. How many souls do we not see who in consequence grow alarmed about their condition, believing they are devoid of grace notwithstanding their firm will to shun sin and to please God! They should, however, not give way to anxiety, nor exhaust themselves by vain efforts to excite in their hearts a sensibility that God has not given them. (continued) ~ Light and Peace, R.P. Quadrupani, Barnabite (1904), written in 1795. Sedes Sapientiæ, ora pro nobis. Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.

This holy priest was born in Spain in 1556. For 52 years he instructed children in the Faith and founded “The Order of Clerks Regular of the Poor Schools of the Mother of God.” He died in 1648 and was canonized by Pope Clement XIII in 1767. ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ August 27th ~ Feast of ST. JOSEPH CALASANCTIUS, Confessor O GOD, Who through St. Joseph, Thy Confessor, didst provide Thy Church with new helpers for training the young in the spirit of piety and understanding, grant, we beseech Thee, that by his example and intercession we may so work and so teach as to win everlasting rewards. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. Collect, August 27, St. Joseph Calasanctius, Confessor ~ The Saint Joseph Daily Missal (1950) ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ St. Joseph Calasanctius, pray for us.

Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary~ August 27th MOTHER OF GOOD COUNSEL GIFT OF COUNSEL IN MARY (continued) And this promptness with which Mary turned to God in all things and perceived the lights He sent her, preserved her holy soul continually in perfect peace. This peace abode always with her, and imparted to her every action a celestial radiance. ~ Very Rev. Alexis M. Lepicier, O.S.M., The Fairest Flower of Paradise (1922)

HAIL TO THEE! TRUE BODY SPRUNG Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament Ave, verum corpus natum HAIL to Thee ! true Body, sprung From the Virgin Mary's womb ! The same that on the Cross was hung, And bore for man the bitter doom! Thou, whose side was pierc’d, and fiow’d Both with water and with blood ; Suffer us to taste of Thee, In our life’s last agony. O kind, O loving One ! O sweet Jesu, Mary’s Son ! Lyra Catholica: Containing All the Breviary and Missal Hymns. Rev. Fr. Edward Caswall, M.A., translator. (1849) ~ attributed in a 14th century manuscript to Pope Innocent

August 27th~ The Feast of St. Joseph, Confessor St. Joseph Calasanctius was born in Aragon in 1556. Having become a priest it was revealed to him that he should teach the children of the poor. He founded the Order of the Poor Clerks Regular of the Pious Schools of the Mother of God. He was ever a devout pilgrim at the shrines of the martyrs, and daily visited the seven Churches of Rame, where he.lived for fifty years. He died August 25, 1648. ~ The New Roman Missal (1937) St Joseph Calasanctius, pray for us.

Act of Hope O my God! relying on Thine infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, The help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, Through the merits of Jesus Christ, My Lord and Redeemer. Amen. ~ Baltimore Catechism, 1884

Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary ~ August 27th TWELVE METHODS OF PRACTISING THIS DEVOTION (continued) The third is the feast of the Sorrows of the Pure Heart of the Mother of Jesus, which is celebrated on the Friday following Passion Sunday. The fourth is the feast of the Resurrection of the Heart of Mary which was restored to life by the Resurrection of her Divine Son: "(Her) spirit (was) revived," and overwhelmed with the greatest joy imaginable when this beloved Son visited her after His Resurrection. For that reason this feast is observed under the name of the Apparition of the Risen Jesus to His Most Holy Mother, on the first free day after the octave of Easter. ~ Saint John Eudes, The Admirable Heart of the Most Holy Mother of God (1680)

Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary~ August 26th MOTHER OF GOOD COUNSEL GIFT OF COUNSEL IN MARY (continued) Her soul was, in fact, at all times turned toward God, to whose inspirations she ever responded with alacrity. In her, far more than in any other saint, the following words find their full and complete application: "Counsel shall keep thee and prudence shall preserve thee." ~ Very Rev. Alexis M. Lepicier, O.S.M., The Fairest Flower of Paradise (1922)

Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary ~ August 26th [151. continued] Also when in all the functions connected with the service of God we pretend to have a pure intention when we have it not: “And seek to please not God but men, not the conversion but the favour of the people.” [D. Th. 2a 2æ, qu. lxi, art. 2] (continued) ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

2 of 2 Final Advice in Regard to Holy Communion The natural virtues are gratuitous gifts of God. The world is right in esteeming them for they come from Him, but it errs when it esteems them exclusively for they do not of themselves give us any title to heaven. God has placed them at the disposal of our will as means to an end, and we can make a good or bad use of them just as we can of all God's other gifts. We may be deprived of these natural virtues and live by the will alone, spiritually dry and devoid of sentiment, and yet in a state of intimate union with God. (continued) ~ Light and Peace, R.P. Quadrupani, Barnabite (1904), written in 1795. Sedes Sapientiæ, ora pro nobis. Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.

Final Advice in Regard to Holy Communion A cause of frequent error and trouble, particularly in regard to Holy Communion, is that feelings are confused with acts of the will. The faculty of willing is the only one we possess as our own, the only one we can use freely and at all times. Hence it follows that it is by the will alone that we can in reality acquire merit or commit sin. (continued)

2 of 2 PRAYER TO THE NINE CHOIRS OF HOLY ANGELS after having besought you benignantly to accept the inviolable resolution we now take to have a special devotion to you for the remainder of our days, and to promote its establishment and increase by every means in our power wherever we can, we implore the aid of all your glorious bands, for the advancement of the reign of the Adorable Jesus and the amiable Mary over all heathens, heretics, schismatics, over all persons who live in true submission to the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Church, and particularly over the Sovereign Pontiff, who is its one visible head on earth, and over all other prelates; so that, all people professing the same faith, cleaving to the purity of its maxims, and leading a life conformable to its rules, the sacred interests of God Only may live and reign in all hearts throughout all ages. This is the grace for which we ask, O mighty princes of the heavenly host, from the Father of Mercies, through your powerful intercession; this is the consolation which we beseech the God of all consolation to grant us; that His Name may be sanctified, His Kingdom come, His Will be done on earth as it is in heaven; that the empire of sin and of the devils may be destroyed; that the Gospel may be preached to all nations, and received throughout all the earth; that the Holy Name of God may be honoured and glorified; that all spirits may bless the Lord, adore Him, love Him, and live in perfect and entire submission to His Divine Will. Come, then, O ye Angels and Archangels, hasten to establish the dominion of God in kingdoms and provinces, in towns and country-places, and in all who dwell therein; ye sacred Principalities, rule all hearts, possess them, that you may subject them to the empire of Jesus and Mary; ye admirable Powers, confound the devils, who oppose themselves thereto, defeat the designs of hell, and the malice of all sorcerers and magicians, and other enemies of God; ye divine Virtues, lead souls to walk in the solid paths of Divine love; ye glorious Dominations, make known to men, to this end, the will of God concerning them; ye amiable Thrones, establish in their inmost hearts that peace which our Lord bequeathed to us; ye Cherubim, princes of heavenly science, communicate its excellent light to our earth; and ye Seraphim, princes of pure love, cause men to live only by its flames, that God Only may be the true Sovereign and the absolute Master of all we are, and all we do. Amen. Amen. Amen. God Only, God Only, God Only. ~ as found in Devotion to the Nine Choirs of Holy Angels (Henri-Marie Boudon, 1869)