Virgo Potens

HYMN Now watch with tearful eyes the stripes, The cruel blows which fall On Jesus, as He stands fast bound In Pilate's judgment hall. Those stripes that shame my sins deserve, Why fall they, Lord, on Thee? Thy love, my God, thy too great love Would bear them all for me. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

HYMN O come unto the Olive Grove And see where Jesus kneels: The anguish of His Sacred Heart, A sweat of blood reveals. To comfort Christ an angel came, And brought his God relief; We, too, by love and pray'r may try To soothe His bitter grief. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

HYMN Now watch with tearful eyes the stripes, The cruel blows which fall On Jesus, as He stands fast bound In Pilate's judgment hall. Those stripes that shame my sins deserve, Why fall they, Lord, on Thee? Thy love, my God, thy too great love Would bear them all for 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 19th 19th DAY I find no cause of death in Him; I will chastise Him, therefore, and let Him go. Luke 23:22 THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR In this second of the sorrowful mysteries we see our Blessed Lord fettered to the pillar, His sacred body stripped of its clothing, and the rude soldiers with cruel thongs, lashing His tender flesh and bruising it until the blood flows. The raucous ribaldry of the reckless and unfeeling soldiers falls upon the sacred ears of Christ as a hideous accompaniment to the stinging blows that fall upon His gentle body. With our attention riveted upon this scene, and with the knowledge that our Blessed Lady was keenly aware of all that was transpiring let us recite this decade in unison with her, striving as best we may to alleviate her pain, and solace her affliction, so far as in our power lies. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

1 of 2 19th DAY I find no cause of death in Him; I will chastise Him, therefore, and let Him go. Luke 23:22

2 of 2 The Month of the Holy Rosary October 18th 18th DAY And kneeling down He prayed.—And being in an agony, He prayed the longer. Luke 22:41,43 THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN As we devoutly recite the first decade of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary, let us strive to conjure up in our minds the picture of Jesus praying! Try to see Him kneeling on the cold ground, His elbows resting on the hard dew-damped rock, His sacred hands folded in supplication, His upturned eyes gazing piteously towards heaven, His fevered lips moving in fervent prayer. It is night. He is praying alone. The pale beams of the moon pierce the foliage and fall upon His wan face, and disclose to us the agony He is enduring. His disciples are asleep; His friends have deserted Him; one, and only one true and loyal heart is beating in love and sympathy and suffering with His—the heart of His blessed Mother! Will not that picture aid us in our effort to recite with more than ordinary devotion this first decade of the sorrowful mysteries? ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

1 of 2 18th DAY And kneeling down He prayed.—And being in an agony, He prayed the longer. Luke 22:41,43

1 of 2 18th DAY And kneeling down He prayed.—And being in an agony, He prayed the longer. Luke 22:41,43

Christus vincit! Christus regnat! Christus imperat! Christ conquers! Christ reigns! Christ commands! Novena to Christ the King October 17th - 25th Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King Last Sunday in October Begins today at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

HYMN By the cross her station keeping Stood the mournful mother weeping Close to Jesus to the last. Through her heart, His sorrow sharing All His bitter anguish bearing Now at length the sword has passed. O that blessed one, grief laden Blessed mother, blessed maiden, Mother of the All-blest One. How she stood in desolation Upward gazing on the passion Of that deathless, dying Son. ~ 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 17th 17th DAY How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know, that I must be about the things that are My Father's? Luke 2:49 THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES Mary's keeping of ''all these words in her heart" had not been in vain. Her years of meditation and daily experience with her Divine Son had taught her that the great purpose of His earthly sojourn was to make atonement to His heavenly Father for the sins of mankind; and in that atonement she was to be Co-Redemptrix. Pain and suffering and rejection and death were to be the portion of Jesus; and Mary's, the immolation of her heart, and the ''sword of grief" foretold by the aged Simeon, was to be driven to the very hilt into her spotless soul. With the death of St. Joseph and the desolate void in her heart created by the loss of his kindly companionship the realization sank deeper and deeper into her mind that soon she was to be deprived also of that other more intimate companionship, that, namely, of Jesus, who has now in reality to give himself up entirely to "the things of His Father." He was to be the victim she, the constant, sympathetic, super-suffering witness of His trials and death. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

1 of 2 17th DAY How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know, that I must be about the things that are My Father's? Luke 2:49

HYMN Now are the days of humblest pray 'r When consciences to God lie bare, And mercy most delights to spare. Chorus:— O hearken when we cry, Chastise us with Thy fear Yet, Father, in the multitude Of Thy compassions hear. Now is the season, wisely long, Of sadder thought and graver song When ailing hearts grow well and strong. ~ 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 16th 16th DAY And He went down with them and came to Nazareth; and was subject to them. And His mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and age and grace with God and men. Luke 2:51-52. A RÉSUMÉ From the "Finding in the Temple" until the beginning of His public life—a period of about eighteen years—Jesus, Mary and Joseph dwelt happily together in the little home at Nazareth. Sometime before the beginning of His public life His Foster-Father, St. Joseph, breathed out his soul while his head was pillowed on the breast of Jesus. And the last lingering gaze of his eyes beheld the sweet encouragement of Mary's tearful countenance smiling upon him. During those years Mary and Joseph had pondered over the marvelous prophesies revealed to them, and that daily experience was unfolding before them. The joys of Mary's young motherhood were now over, except in the sacred memories they had traced upon her mind and heart, and with the departure of St. Joseph the "Shadow of the Cross that had lain athwart the crib of Bethlehem" began to deepen and darken and to penetrate more closely the shelter of her home. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

1 of 2 16th DAY And He went down with them and came to Nazareth; and was subject to them. And His mother kept all these words in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and age and grace with God and men. Luke 2:51-52.

HYMN O Mother, dry those bitter tears! O Mother, grieve no more! Thy Child, thy Jesus is not lost, That weary search is o'er; To do His Father's work, He chose Among the scribes to be; But now returns to dwell for years With Joseph and with thee. ~ 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 15th 15th DAY And it came to pass that after three days they found Him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and answering them questions. Luke 2:46. THE FINDING IN THE TEMPLE As we recite the final decade of the JOYFUL mysteries our attention is arrested by the wonderful picture presented to our minds. There is the Boy—JESUS—surrounded by the learned doctors of sacred scripture. After their three days of weary and sorrowful search for Him, the ears of Joseph and Mary are blessed with the music of His voice answering with wisdom the questions of His seniors; and their eyes are dififused with tears of gladness at the renewed vision of His divine face. If grief over His loss was bitter to the hearts of Joseph and Mary, with what refreshing sweetness has His Finding in the Temple comforted them? The search was long and weary and sorrowful, the finding, replete with joy and comfort. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

1 of 2 15th DAY And it came to pass that after three days they found Him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, hearing them and answering them questions. Luke 2:46.

2 of 2 The Month of the Holy Rosary October 14th 14th DAY And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother: behold this child is set for the ruin, and for the resurrection of many in Israel. Luke 2:34 THE PRESENTATION Let us concentrate our minds with ever increasing devotion upon the picture conjured up before our imaginations by the thought of the presentation of the Child Jesus in the temple! The holy old man Simeon is there to receive Him in his arms, and while fondling Him to his bosom, he gives utterance to the canticle: —''Nunc dimittis'' —''Now dost Thou dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word, in peace.” Read the expression in Mary's eyes as she hopefully searches the countenance of Simeon eagerly but respectfully following his prophetic message, which she and Joseph treasure in their hearts and ponder over in their thoughts! The life-long desire of Simeon's expectancy is gratified; the future greatness of the Child is foretold; the hearts of Mary and Joseph exult; and as we tell our beads are not our own hearts touched with a tremor of holy and responsive emotion? ~ The Rev. .Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

1 of 2 14th DAY And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother: behold this child is set for the ruin, and for the resurrection of many in Israel. Luke 2:34