Virgo Potens

ACT of HUMILITY and CONFIDENCE Before Holy Communion JESUS, my Lord, I confess that I am a sinner. But in Thy goodness Thou dost invite me to approach Thy Holy Table and to partake of Thy heavenly Banquet. Trusting in Thy mercy I come to Thee with confidence, albeit with it a contrite and humble heart. Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter. under my roof; but say only the word, and my soul shall be healed. Come to me, Jesus, come to me, and keep me in Thy love.and Thy grace forevermore. ~ Rev. F. X. Lasance, My Prayer Book ~ Happiness in Goodness, 1908.

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 15th 100. (continued) O my soul, it is through humility that we shall reach Paradise. And what shall we do in paradise? There the practice of all other virtues ceases and only charity and humility remain. We shall see God, and in seeing Him we shall know that He is the infinite Good; and this perfect knowledge will bring with it more perfect love, and the more we love God, the better we shall know Him, and the better we know Him, the more humble we shall be, practicing humility through all eternity like the ancients seen in the Apocalypse by the Apostle St. John: “Who fell on their faces and adored God, saying, We give Thee thanks, O Lord God almighty, who art, and who wast, and who art to come.” [Apoc. xi, 17] ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us! NOVENA to OUR LADY HELP of CHRISTIANS Feast Day ~ May 24th Begins today, May 15th, at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi This year, the Feast of Pentecost falls on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians.

2 of 2 ~ 2.— Friday after the Ascension The Preparation for Pentecost 2. The disciples, we are told, were all of one mind. There was no jealousy now, no strife, no disagreement. Jesus had left His peace with them. They had learned the lesson of charity and submission; their constant desire was to yield to others, to minister to others. They had now all one heart and one soul, because one Lord, one faith, one end in life, one object of their ambition, to serve others for love of Him. This perfect harmony is the most certain means of drawing down the Holy Spirit. Do I seek to cultivate it among those with whom my lot is cast? 3. Joined to the disciples in their retreat were Our Lady and the holy women. The presence of Mary sanctified them. She was now their Mother. Christ Himself had entrusted them to her. She had become beneath the cross the Mother of the infant Church; they consulted her, learned from her some of the secrets of divine love that filled her soul, honored her with a reverence and a devotion which corresponded to their love for Jesus. O Mary, be thou with me, now and always, as my adviser, my hope, my Lady, and my Queen ! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS May 15th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ ~ 2.— Friday after the Ascension The Preparation for Pentecost 1. When the disciples returned to Jerusalem, they went back to the Cenacle, or upper room, where Our Lord had eaten the Pasch with them, and had instituted the Blessed Eucharist. There they spent the next eight days, according to their Master's instructions, in a retreat preparatory to Pentecost. Learn from this the importance of a quiet time alone with God as a condition of receiving from Him signal graces. (continued)

Come Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful A NOVENA PRAYER to the HOLY GHOST for a Special Favor Begins tomorrow at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

Veni, Sancte Spíritus Come Holy Ghost NOVENA to the HOLY GHOST The Novena to the Holy Ghost is traditionally prayed in preparation for the great Feast of Pentecost, from the Friday after the Ascension until the Vigil of Pentecost. It is oldest novena. No formula is specified in The Raccolta (1957), while an earlier edition (1910) says that ‘Any prayers to the HOLY GHOST may be used.’ Begins tomorrow at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

2 of 2 Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 14th Let us picture Mary in her room at Nazareth when it was announced to her by the Archangel Gabriel that the time had come for the Eternal Word to take flesh in her womb, through the operation of the Holy Ghost. She showed no sign of pride at being blest among women and chosen for such a high honour, but on the contrary she was distressed and “was troubled at his saying,” [Luke i, 29] without being able to understand why she was chosen for so great an honour. And what does she exclaim? I,–—the Mother of God! I, a vile creature, to become the Mother of God! I am but His servant, and it would be too much honour for me even to be His handmaid. “Behold the handmaid of the Lord.” [Luke i, 38] Thus Mary humbled herself as much as lay in her power; and she continued in this deep humility all through her life, behaving in all things as the servant of the Lord, without ever attributing to herself the slightest glory for being His Mother. What a beautiful example for us! Therefore if we have devotion to our Lady we ought to try and imitate her in her humility; and in all the prayers, Communions and mortifications that we offer in her honour let us always ask her to obtain for us through her intercession the grace of holy humility. There is no grace that our Blessed Lady asks so willingly of Jesus for her devotees, and which Jesus concedes so willingly to Mary as the grace of humility, since both Jesus and Mary hold this virtue in singular affection. Let us recommend ourselves to her protection and place all our confidence in her, entreating her for the love she herself bears to humility to grant that we may also become truly humble of heart; and let us not doubt but that our earnest prayers will be heard and our desires granted. (continued) ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 14th 100. After Jesus Christ, Who is King of the humble, what a beautiful example of humility we have in the Blessed Virgin Mary who is their Queen! No creature ever surpassed her in merit, or exceeded her in humility. By her humility she deserved to be the Mother of God, and by humility only she maintained the dignity and honour of the sublime Maternity. (continued)

2 of 2 ~ 1.— Ascension Day The Return of the Apostles to Jerusalem 2. How happy they were ! their hearts brimful of joy and delight. Yet they had just lost Him Who would, they had hoped, reign as earthly King of Israel. They knew better now. They had learned the true meaning of His promises, and they were content, more than content, to wait for the day in the far future, when He should make His enemies His footstool, and reign over the whole earth, King of kings, Lord of lords. Am I content to wait for that joyful day, and to live in hope ? 3. But the chief source of their happiness was the knowledge that He Whom they loved better than life itself had returned to the bosom of His Eternal Father. Theirs was an unselfish joy indeed ! What mattered it if they had to suffer persecution and trouble, if Jesus had entered on the reward earned by His Passion and death ? This should be the joy that I must aim at. I must rejoice at the victory of Jesus Christ, and triumph in His glory. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

2 of 2 ~ 1.— Ascension Day The Return of the Apostles to Jerusalem 2. How happy they were ! their hearts brimful of joy and delight. Yet they had just lost Him Who would, they had hoped, reign as earthly King of Israel. They knew better now. They had learned the true meaning of His promises, and they were content, more than content, to wait for the day in the far future, when He should make His enemies His footstool, and reign over the whole earth, King of kings, Lord of lords. Am I content to wait for that joyful day, and to live in hope ? 3. But the chief source of their happiness was the knowledge that He Whom they loved better than life itself had returned to the bosom of His Eternal Father. Theirs was an unselfish joy indeed ! What mattered it if they had to suffer persecution and trouble, if Jesus had entered on the reward earned by His Passion and death ? This should be the joy that I must aim at. I must rejoice at the victory of Jesus Christ, and triumph in His glory. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

2 of 2 ~ 1.— Ascension Day The Return of the Apostles to Jerusalem 2. How happy they were ! their hearts brimful of joy and delight. Yet they had just lost Him Who would, they had hoped, reign as earthly King of Israel. They knew better now. They had learned the true meaning of His promises, and they were content, more than content, to wait for the day in the far future, when He should make His enemies His footstool, and reign over the whole earth, King of kings, Lord of lords. Am I content to wait for that joyful day, and to live in hope ? 3. But the chief source of their happiness was the knowledge that He Whom they loved better than life itself had returned to the bosom of His Eternal Father. Theirs was an unselfish joy indeed ! What mattered it if they had to suffer persecution and trouble, if Jesus had entered on the reward earned by His Passion and death ? This should be the joy that I must aim at. I must rejoice at the victory of Jesus Christ, and triumph in His glory. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS May 14th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ ~ 1.— Ascension Day The Return of the Apostles to Jerusalem 1. When the apostles had received from the angels the message respecting the future return of Jesus, slowly and in silence they left the spot where they had been gazing in ecstasy after their King and Lord: their thoughts in heaven, their hearts in heaven, where they knew that their Master was rejoicing at the right hand of God. They would fain have remained still looking up to the place whither He had gone before them. But they had learned the lesson of obedience, and without hesitation or delay they obeyed the angels' word. (continued)

2 of 2 40.— The Return to Jerusalem 1. The apostles remain long gazing into heaven. At length they are roused from their trance by two angels, who ask them why they stand looking up into heaven, and tell them that one day Jesus will so come again as they have seen Him go into heaven. The angels speak almost as if it would be but a few months or years before He would return; so the apostles themselves and the saints of God seem to anticipate His speedy coming. The happy day will not be long delayed, and we know not how near it may be. If our hearts are in heaven we shall be watching and waiting to welcome Jesus when He returns in His glory. 2. Slowly,and like men awaking out of a dream, but with the sweet remembrance still living in their hearts, they return to Jerusalem with greal joy. How could they rejoice when their Master had departed? They did not think of themselves, but of Him. They rejoiced in His exaltation and glory. Their joy was the best and truest and brightest joy— the unselfish joy in the joy of their Lord and Master. 3. When they returned to Jerusalem they were always in the Temple, praising and blessing God. This is what Our Lord loves— that we should show our joy by thanking Him in that place where He is specially present. In all times of joy, what can I do better than go and kneel before the altar, to thank Him for all His love and goodness to me? ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893) On this 40th day, we end our meditations from Easter to the Ascension, and begin, below, meditations from the Ascension until the Octave of Corpus Christi.

THE RESURRECTION and ASCENSION of JESUS CHRIST May 14th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 40.— The Return to Jerusalem Read St. Luke xxiv. 52, 53 And they adoring went back into Jerusalem with great joy. And they were always in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. Acts i. 10-12 And while they were beholding him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by them in white garments. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 13th My soul, let us gaze upon the Crucified, “Who endured the cross, despising the shame”; [Heb. xii, 2] and by thus confronting His humility with our pride we shall be filled with shame and confusion. And learn yet another lesson. Does it seem well to thee to adore the humility of Jesus crucified and not to wish to imitate Him? To profess to follow Jesus Christ in His religion, which is founded on humility, and yet to feel aversion and even hatred towards this very humility? But when we so often hear it said and preached that whoever wishes to be saved must imitate the Saviour, in what do we imagine that this imitation, which is commanded to us and which is necessary for our salvation, should consist if not in humility? It is all very well to say that we must imitate Jesus, but in what must we imitate Him if not in this humility which is the summing-up of all the doctrine and examples of His life? For that Humble One on the Cross will be our Judge; and His humility will be the standard by which it will be seen whether we shall be predestined for having imitated it, or eternally condemned for having rejected it. It is necessary for us to be firmly convinced of this truth. God does not propose that we should all imitate His Incarnate Son in all the mysteries of His life. The solitude and austerity which He endured in the desert are reserved only for the imitation of anchorites. In His teaching He is only to be imitated by the apostles and preachers of His Gospel. In the working of miracles only those can imitate Him who have been chosen by Him to be co-adjutors in the establishment of the Faith. In the sufferings and agony of Calvary none may imitate Him but those to whom He has given the privilege of Martyrdom. But that humility of heart practiced by Jesus Christ in every hour of His life on earth is given to all of us as an example which we are compelled to follow, and to this imitation God has united our eternal salvation: “Unless you be converted and become as a little child.” [Matt. xviii, 3] We may believe that Jesus Christ was comparing Himself with a little child whom He had before Him when He said: “Unless you be converted and become as little children, you shall not enter the kingdom of Heaven.” [Matt. xviii, 3].” ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven Month of the Blessed Virgin Mary ~ May 13th 99. And what lessons of humility may we not learn from the sacred Passion of our Lord? St. Peter tells us that Jesus Christ suffered for us, leaving us His example so that we might imitate Him: “Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow His steps.” [1 Pet. ii, 21]. He does not pretend that we ought to imitate Him by being scourged, crowned with thorns, or nailed to the cross. No; but in all His life, and especially during His Passion, He repeats that important exhortation that we should learn of Him to be humble: “Learn of Me, because I am meek and humble of heart.” [Matt. xi, 29] (continued)

2 of 2 39.— The Ascension 1. As the apostles gaze upon their Lord in His Divine Beauty, He slowly rises through the air, and the glorious vision fades away from their sight, until at length an intervening cloud hides Him entirely from them. They still stand there gazing upwards. Their hearts, their affections, their hopes, their interests, nay, their very lives, have gone with Him to heaven. Henceforward they are risen with Christ into heaven; and so they must seek those things that are above. I did not see Christ ascend, but I know it by faith. Has His Ascension the same influence on my life? Are my thoughts and hopes fixed on heavenly things? 2. Why had Christ left them? Not for His own sake, but for theirs. He might have remained with them if it had been for their advantage; but then they would not have been able to live a life of faith, or to prove their fidelity by their outward remembrance of Him whom they saw no longer. It would be no benefit to us if Christ were still visibly present among us. It would deprive us of the merit of loving Him that is invisible, and believing in Him though we see Him not. 3. Besides, Christ in His wondrous love has not left us. He is present in every church under the Eucharistic species. There we can talk to Him, pray to Him, praise Him, listen to His voice speaking to our souls— everything save see Him with our eyes. One day we shall see Him, and then indeed our joy will be full. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

THE RESURRECTION and ASCENSION of JESUS CHRIST May 13th, 2026 ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 39.— The Ascension Read St. Luke xxiv. 51 And it came to pass, whilst he blessed them, he departed from them, and was carried up to heaven. Acts i. 9 And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight. (continued)