Virgo Potens

2 of 2 February 11th ~ FEAST of OUR LADY of LOURDES (continued from above) The Holy Virgin revealed five prophetic secrets to St. Bernadette, which were handwritten and entrusted to the Vatican. These were not disclosed until a century later, having been miraculously found in the Vatican Library in an unlabeled box by a priest researching Lourdes. Xavier Reyes-Ayral in his book Revelations (2022), states that the first four secrets (including Lourdes as a center of healing, the harnessing of electricity, the rise of Hitler and man’s flying in outer space and walking on the moon) have been fulfilled. The time of the fifth secret is the 21st century. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. St. Bernadette Soubirous, pray for us.

1 of 2 February 11th ~ FEAST of OUR LADY of LOURDES Between February 11, 1858 and July 16th, 1858 the Most Holy Virgin Mary appeared a total of 18 times to a poor, illiterate, fourteen-year-old peasant girl by the name of Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France. The ‘Lady’ identified herself as the ‘Immaculate Conception’, confirming the doctrine infallibly defined, ex cathedra, by Pope Pius lX in 1854 (the Papal Bull Ineffabilis Deus) and a miraculous spring at the location of the apparitions has cured untold numbers of men, women and children. The apparition itself received formal papproval by Pope Pius lX on February 1, 1876. St. Bernadette died at the age of 35, a pious and holy nun, and her body remains incorrupt to this day. (continued)

2 of 2 February 11th ~ FEAST of OUR LADY of LOURDES (continued from above) The Holy Virgin revealed five prophetic secrets to St. Bernadette, which were handwritten and entrusted to the Vatican. These were not disclosed until a century later, having been miraculously found in the Vatican Library in an unlabeled box by a priest researching Lourdes. Xavier Reyes-Ayral in his book Revelations (2022), states that the first four secrets (including Lourdes as a center of healing, the harnessing of electricity, the rise of Hitler and man’s flying in outer space and walking on the moon) have been fulfilled. The time of the fifth secret is the 21st century. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. St. Bernadette Soubirous, pray for us.

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 11th Eleventh Day (continued from above) St. Paula, according to St. Jerome, was so filled with the thought of her own nothingness, on account of her great humility, that one who was not acquainted with her, and wished to see her on account of the great reputation for sanctity she had acquired, would never suspect it was she from the lowliness of her aspect. Surrounded by a number of pious virgins, there was nothing in her exterior, in her language or manners to distinguish her from them. One would think she was the last among those to whom she was a mother and a model. “ I am not worthy to be looked upon, to be borne with; I am not worthy to live, since I have sinned; I am worthy only to be despised and abused; I am worthy only of hell,” said a great servant of God. Prayer Teach me, O my God, to be little in my own eyes, to be the least of all. Deign to make known to me my ingratitude to Thee, and that I may never lose sight of it, but be always deeply penetrated with the sense of it. ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 11th Eleventh Day Our Saviour has said that it is necessary for him who would become greater than others to make himself the least. This is a truth all Christians believe. How is it so few conform their lives to it ?—St. Vincent de Paul.

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 10th Tenth Day (continued from above) There was no one St. Vincent de Paul did not esteem. In his eyes every one was better than himself, more pru­dent, more perfect, better fitted to perform any duty. From this, he had no difficulty in preferring the opinions of others to his own. This thought that all others were better than himself it was that made him constantly place himself at the feet of all. Imagine that you hear Jesus Christ address you in these words: “If you wish for a great love of God, keep yourself interiorly at the feet of all creatures. Believe that this is your place.” Prayer I have good reason, O my God, to prefer myself to no one. There is no one more guilty than I, more unworthy of Thy mercies. Have pity on a miserable worm of the earth, who has the audacity to rebel against Thee and make use of Thy gifts to offend Thee. ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 10th Tenth Day We should always consider others as our superiors, and even submit ourselves to those who are our inferiors, by showing a wish to serve them. May God well establish us in this excellent practice ! —St. Vincent de Paul (continued below)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 9th Ninth Day (continued from above) St. Vincent de Paul said of himself that he was an old sinner, unworthy to live, and was much in need of the mercy of God on account of the enormity of his sins. Prostrating himself one day before the priests of his con­gregation, they were astonished to hear him thus address them: “If you knew my miseries, you would drive me from the congregation of which I have charge, which I dis­honor, and to which I do harm.” He often spoke of the lowliness of his birth. One day a nephew called to see him, who was dressed in the costume of a poor peasant. The Saint afterwards accused himself to his priests of the mortification he felt in presenting his relative to them and to some other gentlemen who were present on that occasion. Having occasion to speak frequently of his slavery at Tunis, he never mentioned that he was the cause of bringing back to the Church his master, who was a renegade, lest it might awaken vain thoughts in him. If necessity or charity obliged him to speak of any good that he did, it was always to the zeal of others he attributed his success. Prayer I acknowledge, O my God, that I merit all kinds of re­proaches, humiliations, and contempt. I have done only evil. I am ready to submit to whatever punishment Thou mayst inflict. But remember Thou art my Father. Spare me in the world to come. ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 9th Ninth Day Humility, which Jesus Christ has so recommended by word and example, should have three conditions. It should convince us that we deserve to be blamed by men. It should make us rejoice when others see our faults and despise us. If God performs any good in us or through us, it should make us attribute it to the mercy of God and the merit of others.—St. Vincent de Paul (continued below

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 8th Eighth Day (continued from above) Prayer Lord, have compassion on the greatest of sinners, on be­holding that I detest my sins because they offend Thee Who art my Father, my God. ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 8th Eighth Day Be abject in your own eyes, and esteem yourself happy to be regarded so by others. Do not exalt yourself on account of the gifts of God. Then you will be perfectly humble.—St. Bonaventure St. Magdalene of Pazzi persuaded herself that she was the most miserable of creatures, that there was nothing on earth more abominable than herself. Her great humility made her exaggerate her least faults, so that others also might have the same opinion of her. It was a great torment to so humble a soul to hear herself praised, to see herself esteemed. She was most unhappy that she was unable to hide the favors which Our Lord granted her as a sign of His love and of her predilection. Another saint attributed to her sins all those committed by others. She said she resembled the demon on account of her pride and ingratitude. (continued below)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 7th Seventh Day (continued from above) Prayer My God, I am worthy of Thy anger, of Thy maledic­tions, and of Thy vengeance, on account of my sins and the abuse of Thy grace. Have pity on this miserable sinner, who dares not raise his eyes to Thee and is penetrated with sorrow. ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 7th Seventh Day One day during which we humble ourselves profoundly on account of our sins and miseries brings to us more graces than many days employed in prayer.—St. Teresa St. Francis of Assisi regarded himself as the greatest sinner in the universe, and worthy of hell. He said that he did not deserve that God would deign to cast one look upon him. “I know what I will do to appease Our Lord,” said St. Bonaventure. “ I will look upon myself as the vilest on earth; I will be to my eyes an object of horror; and when I see myself humbled, despised, outraged, covered with opprobrium, I will rejoice, I will bless the Lord.” St. Vincent de Paul humbled himself continually before God, and said: “How many sins will I not commit if Thou regulate not my words and actions!” (continued below)

(continued below) 2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 7th Seventh Day (continued from above) Prayer My God, I am worthy of Thy anger, of Thy maledic­tions, and of Thy vengeance, on account of my sins and the abuse of Thy grace. Have pity on this miserable sinner, who dares not raise his eyes to Thee and is penetrated with sorrow. ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 7th Seventh Day One day during which we humble ourselves profoundly on account of our sins and miseries brings to us more graces than many days employed in prayer.—St. Teresa St. Francis of Assisi regarded himself as the greatest sinner in the universe, and worthy of hell. He said that he did not deserve that God would deign to cast one look upon him. “I know what I will do to appease Our Lord,” said St. Bonaventure. “ I will look upon myself as the vilest on earth; I will be to my eyes an object of horror; and when I see myself humbled, despised, outraged, covered with op­probrium, I will rejoice, I will bless the Lord.” St. Vincent de Paul humbled himself continually before God, and said: “How many sins will I not commit if Thou regulate not my words and actions!” (continued below)

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 6th Sixth Day (continued from above) Prayer Lord, I have nothing, I deserve nothing, I am less than nothing, since I am a sinner. I have recourse to Thee. The more wretched a poor man is, the greater is his hope that the rich, to whom he addresses himself, will take pity on him. I beseech Thee, have mercy on me, according to the greatness of my miseries. ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 6th Sixth Day The humble, those who have a lowly opinion of themselves and love to be despised by others, please God the most. He makes it His delight to be with them, to pour upon them the treasures of His grace, to reveal to them His secrets, and to attract them sweetly to Himself.—Thomas à Kempis Thais, being converted, never forgot her past disorderly life. Penetrated with confusion at her sins, she never dared to mention the holy name of God. Thus she expressed herself in addressing Him: “Thou Who hast created me, have mercy on me.” By such sentiments of humility she became so pleasing to God that she obtained an eminent degree of sanctity. A servant of God much esteemed by St. Ignatius said: “He who thinks he is of no value is worth much; and he who thinks he is of much worth is worth nothing.” (continued below)

I firmly wish that My Face reflecting the intimate pains of My Soul, the suffering and love of My Heart, be more honored! Whoever gazes upon Me already consoles Me . . . NOVENA IN HONOR OF THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS OF THE SHROUD OF TURIN “See how I suffer. Nevertheless, I am understood by so few. What ingratitude on the part of those who say they love Me. I have given My Heart as a sensible object of My great love for man and I give My Face as a sensible object of My sorrow for the sins of man. I desire that It be honored by a Special Feast on Tuesday in Quinquagesima [Shrove Tuesday – the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday]. The Feast will be preceded by a Novena in which the faithful make reparation to Me, uniting themselves in participating with Me in My sorrow.” (Our Lord Jesus Christ to Sister Maria Pierina) This novena may be said anytime during the year. Posted at Defende nos in prœlio. https://t.me/Defende_nos

2 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 5th Fifth Day (continued from above) St. Dominic was accustomed to kneel at the gates of the city where he was about to preach, and beg of God not to afflict the people with any chastisements on account of his sins. St. Philip Neri advised those whom he directed to say when they had fallen into a fault: “ If I had been humble I should not have fallen.” Prayer Lord, I am but a sinner. How many sins have I not committed! I sin unceasingly. Have pity on me; grant me mercy. Woe to me if Thou treatest me as I have merited! ~ Abbé Lasausse, Short Meditations For Every Day (1889)

1 of 2 Month of the Holy Family ~ February 5th Fifth Day The most powerful weapon to vanquish the demon is humility.—St. Francis of Paula St. Teresa could not conceive why preachers spoke so frequently of the necessity of humility. Is it not evident, said she, that in nothing can we glorify ourselves, since all the good we have comes from God? How can we, who are subject to so many miseries, and who have committed so many sins, be proud? We have nothing in us of which we can be vain. Father Alvarez compared his life to a bunch of grapes in which almost every grape was spoiled. Among so many actions, said he, there is scarcely any without a defect. “And woe to me,” added he, “if God examines them too closely!” (continued below)