Virgo Potens

1 of 2 12th DAY And whence is this to me that the Mother of My Lord should come to me? Luke 1:43

HYMN What mortal tongue can sing thy praise, Dear Mother of the Lord? To Angels only it belongs Thy glory to record. Who born of man can penetrate Thy soul's majestic shrine? Who can thy mighty gifts unfold, Or rightly them divine? Say, Virgin, what sweet force was that Which from the Father's breast, Drew forth His co-eternal Son, To be thy bosom's guest? 'Twas not thy guileless faith alone That lifted thee so high, 'Twas not thy pure seraphic love Nor peerless chastity. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

2 of 2 The Month of the Holy Rosary October 11th 11th DAY And in the sixth month the Angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the Virgin was Mary. Luke 1: 26-27 THE ANNUNCIATION It requires but a slight effort of the imagination to picture this beautiful scene. The Angel sent from God stands before Mary who is kneeling in prayer. Their eyes meet, the message is delivered, and the holy rapture of both messenger and recipient glows on the countenance of each. The redemption of fallen man is secured and sealed by the reply of Mary:—"Be it done unto me according to thy word." With this scene clearly visualized in our minds how can we ever tire of repeating over and over again the ever refreshing inspiration expressed in the divinely thrilling phrases of the Hail Mary! ~ The Rev. .Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

1 of 2 11th DAY And in the sixth month the Angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the Virgin was Mary. Luke 1: 26-27

HYMN Mother dear, O! pray for me, Whilst far from heaven and thee I wander in a fragile bark, O'er life's tempestuous sea; O Virgin Mother, from thy throne, So bright in bliss above, Protect thy child and cheer my path With thy sweet smile of love. Chorus Mother dear, remember me And never cease thy care 'Till in heaven eternally, Thy love and bliss I share. Mother dear, O! pray for me Should pleasure's siren lay E'er tempt thy child to wander far From Virtue's path away; When thorns beset life's devious way And darkling waters flow, Then Mary, aid thy weeping child, Thyself a mother show. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

2 of 2 The Month of the Holy Rosary October 10th 10th DAY And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. Luke 1:35 THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES While reciting the first five decades of the rosary our Holy Mother the Church asks us to contemplate in succession the gladness and joy that thrilled Mary as she realized the privilege of her marvelous and sacred motherhood of the Holy One, promised of old as the Redeemer of mankind! The holy rapture and sacred ecstacy that accompanied every episode from the Annunciation to the Finding in the Temple prepared and strengthened Mary for the desolation and “sword of grief" that later was to pierce her soul. Contemplation of these sacred mysteries strengthens our trust in Mary and secures us against the danger of presumption when we are blessed with spiritual joy and consolation. Mary accepted her joys with serenity, ours should be accepted with gratitude and humility. ~ The Rev. .Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

1 of 2 10th DAY And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. Luke 1:35

HYMN Hail, heavenly Queen! Hail, foamy ocean star! O be our guide, diffuse thy beams afar; Hail, Mother of God ! above all virgins blest, Hail, happy gate of heav'n's eternal rest. Chorus Hail, foamy ocean star! Hail, heav'nly Queen! O be our guide to endless joys unseen. Hail, full of grace, with Gabriel we repeat; Thee, Queen of heav'n, from him we learn to greet; Then give us peace which heav'n alone can give, And dead thro' Eve, thro' Mary let us live. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

2 of 2 The Month of the Holy Rosary October 9th 9th DAY My soul doth magnify the Lord; and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. Luke 1:46-47 THE MYSTERIES Each decade of the rosary commemorates a particular event called a mystery in Mary's existence. And while saying the rosary we should devoutly meditate upon the event suggested by these mysteries. The Joyful Mysteries cluster about the happy motherhood of Mary; the Sorrowful Mysteries present her to us as the Co-Redemptrix of our fallen race; while the Glorious Mysteries relate the reward and triumph that is hers for all eternity. Hers was the privilege to bring the Savior of mankind into the world; to share with Him by sympathy and by suffering His sacred passion and death; and finally to be placed by Him on the exalted throne in heaven where for all eternity she reigns Queen of Angels and of men. With the contemplation of these mysteries before us the recitation of the rosary must ever grow dearer and sweeter and more and more sublime. ~ The Rev. .Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

1 of 2 9th DAY My soul doth magnify the Lord; and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. Luke 1:46-47

HYMN Ave Maria, Gratia plena, Dominus tecum, Benedicta tu In mulieribus Et benedictus Fructus ventris Tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria Mater DEI Ora pro nobis Peccatoribus, Nunc, et in hora Mortis nostræ. Amen. (Gounod) ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

The Month of the Holy Rosary October 8th 8th DAY Blessed art thou among women; and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Luke 1:42 THE HAIL MARY The Hail Mary consists of the utterances of the Angel, of St. Elizabeth, and of the Church. By the Angel, Mary is told that she possesses the plenitude of grace and is to be the mother of the Redeemer; by St. Elizabeth, the prophesy is made that Mary shall be blessed among women, and blessed is the fruit of her womb; and the Church adds the petition to Mary to pray for us. Thus did Angel, Prophetess and Church unite in formulating for us this most simple, and most familiar of all prayers—the Hail Mary. ~ The Rev. .Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

1 of 2 8th DAY Blessed art thou among women; and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Luke 1:42

2 of 2 O QUEEN of the HOLY ROSARY (continued) Sweet Lady of the Rosary White roses let us bring, And lay them round thy footstool, Before our infant King, For nestling in thy bosom God’s Son was fain to be, The child of thy Obedience And spotless purity. Dear Lady of the Rosary Red roses cast we down, But let thy fingers weave them Into a worthy crown. For how can we poor sinners Do aught but weep with thee, When in thy train we follow Our God to Calvary. O Queen of the Holy Rosary, We share thy joy and pain, And long to see the glory Of Christ’s triumphant reign. Oh, teach us holy Mary, To live each mystery, And gain by patient suffering The glory won by thee. ~ Emily M. G. Shapcote

Queen of the Holy Rosary, pray for us. Our Lady, Help of Christians, pray for us. 1 of 2 O QUEEN of the HOLY ROSARY O Queen of the Holy Rosary! Oh bless us as we pray, And offer thee our roses In garlands day by day, While from our Father’s garden With loving hearts and bold, We gather to thine honor Buds white and red and gold. O Queen of the Holy Rosary! Each myst’ry blends with thine, The sacred life of Jesus In ev’ry step divine, Thy soul was His fair garden, Thy virgin breast His throne, Thy tho’ts His faithful Mirror, Reflecting Him alone. (continued)

2 of 2 TO THEE, O BLESSED JOSEPH (continued from above) O most watchful Guardian of the Divine Family, defend the chosen children of JESUS CHRIST; O most loving Father, ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence; O our most mighty protector, be propitious to us and from Heaven assist us in this our struggle with the power of darkness; and, as once thou didst rescue the Child JESUS from deadly peril, so now protect God's holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity: shield, too, each one of us by thy constant protection, so that, supported by thine example and thine aid, we may be able to live piously, to die holily, and to obtain eternal happiness in Heaven. Amen. i. Seven Years and Seven Quarantines, if said after the Rosary in October. ii. 300 Days, once a day, at other times (and in this case the words in italics are omitted). ~ The Raccolta (1910)

1 of 2 TO THEE, O BLESSED JOSEPH TO thee, O blessed Joseph, do we fly in our tribulation, and having implored the help of thy most holy spouse, we confidently crave thy patronage also. Through that charity which bound thee to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and through the paternal love with which thou didst embrace the Child JESUS, we humbly beseech thee graciously to regard the inheritance which JESUS CHRIST hath purchased by his Blood, and with thy power and strength to aid us in our necessities. (continued)

HYMN Dear Guardian of Mary ! dear nurse of her Child ! Life's ways are full weary, the desert is wild; Bleak sands are all round us, no home can we see; Sweet Spouse of our Lady ! we lean upon thee. For thou to the pilgrim art father and guide, And Jesus and Mary felt safe by the side; Ah ! blessed St. Joseph, how safe should I be, Sweet Spouse of our Lady ! if thou wert with me. O blessed St. Joseph ! how great was thy worth, The one chosen shadow of God upon earth, The father of Jesus — ah ! then, wilt thou be, Sweet Spouse of our Lady ! a father to me ? ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

2 of 2 The Month of the Holy Rosary October 7th 7th DAY Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee, Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost. Matt. 1:20 PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH By order of the Supreme Pontifif the "Prayer to St. Joseph" is to be recited daily during the October Devotions in honor of Our Lady. St. Joseph was Mary's unfailing protector in life, and it would be an unpardonable slight to him were we to appeal to Mary and exclude St. Joseph. Were such exclusion deliberate we should certainly fail to obtain Mary's aid; for a slight to him is an ofifense to his immaculate spouse. They shared each other's joys and sufferings in life, and they are today sharing each other's triumphs and glories in heaven. They are one in mind and heart and victory, and they are not to be separated in our petitions and prayers. ~ The Rev. .Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

1 of 2 7th DAY Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee, Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost. Matt. 1:20