Virgo Potens

The Month of the Holy Rosary October 18th

The Month of the Holy Angels October 17th One of the greatest scholars that the world has ever seen, especially of the natural sciences, was St. Albert the Great. . . . Yet the intellect of this prodigy of science bears no comparison with the intellect of the Angels and his amazing knowledge is little when compared to that of these blessed spirits. For the Angels know all the secrets of nature, they see into the center of the Earth, into the depths of the sea; they have all natural knowledge. They know more about health and medicine than all the doctors in the world, more about the stars and the heavens than all the astronomers who ever lived or ever will live. All sciences are known to them in their most absolute perfection, besides which, God fills their intelligence with very oceans of supernatural light. ~ Fr. Paul O’Sullivan O.P., All About the Angels (1945)

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)

The Month of the Holy Rosary October 17th

The Month of the Holy Angels October 16th The most notable savants of this Earth have amassed the knowledge of a limited number of subjects with infinite labor and long years of study. Nor may they claim the credit for all they know, for they began where others had left off, and others will continue from where they have left off. The knowledge, too, thus acquired at the cost of such labor is frequently mingled with errors, mistakes and doubts, whereas the knowledge of the Angels is clear, certain and free from all possibility of error. ~ Fr. Paul O’Sullivan O.P., All About the Angels (1945)

The Month of the Holy Rosary October 16th 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)

The Month of the Holy Rosary October 16th

The Month of the Holy Angels October 15th Angelic Intelligence The Angels, like God, have two great faculties: the Intellect and the Will. The intellect of the Angel is incomparably superior to the human intellect. The Angels are not only perfect in beauty, mighty in strength, but they are full of knowledge and wisdom. Their manner of understanding is likewise completely different from ours. The human mind has to plod from truth to truth just as the human body moves step by step, whereas the angelic intelligence grasps the whole of a subject at a single glance. Seeing a principle, it sees at the same time all its possible aspects. ~ Fr. Paul O’Sullivan O.P., All About the Angels (1945)

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)

The Month of the Holy Angels October 14th These Angels are helping us at every instant, doing us countless favors and saving us from danger and evils of every kind. God has given us into their charge: “For he hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee in all thy ways. In their hands they shall bear thee up: lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” (Ps. 90: 11-12) ~ Fr. Paul O’Sullivan O.P., All About the Angels (1945)

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)

The Month of the Holy Angels October 13th Were it not for their ever-vigilant protection, the history of the world would be far different, far more calamitous than it has been. The life too, of each of us, had we not a mighty Angel guarding us, would be sad in the extreme. What the life of a little child would be if abandoned, forsaken, without mother, father, or friend, such would be in great part our lot had not God in his mercy given us our holy Angel. ~ Fr. Paul O’Sullivan O.P., All About the Angels (1945)

And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him up in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7 THE NATIVITY The picture of Mary and Joseph kneeling in adoration and the ox and ass lending the warmth of their breath to comfort the new born Babe of Bethlehem can never fail to arouse within us the deepest emotions of gratitude and love towards the Infant Savior. The meekness and dependence of the Holy Infant awakens within us a heaven-born desire to aid and console His Mother and St. Joseph in their tender efforts to care for and protect Him. The cruelty of the inn which excluded them from its shelter stirs us to just indignation; but the gentleness and submission of Mary and Joseph elicit from us an act of faith and resignation. Not the grandeur of this world, but the unending bliss of heaven is the portion of those who adore at the crib of Bethlehem. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

The Month of the Holy Angels October 12th What Are The Angels Doing? Millions and millions of Angels fill the Heavens, ministering unto God, but millions and millions of Angels are also here on Earth, ministering unto us. They are in our midst, around us, about us, everywhere. Their activity in our regard is unceasing every day and every moment of the day, though we do not see them nor even suspect their presence nor feel their influence. They are watching over us with infinite care and love. ~ Fr. Paul O’Sullivan O.P., All About the Angels (1945)

And whence is this to me that the Mother of My Lord should come to me? Luke 1:43 THE VISITATION As we picture the meeting of St. Elizabeth and our Blessed Lady we must be deeply impressed with the unselfish charity of our Mother Mary! The most unique gift granted by God to mortal woman was now possessed by Mary, the most sublime of all dignity is hers. After a thanksgiving of unparalleled fervor Mary promptly sets out on a visit of charity and felicitation to the expectant mother of John the Baptist. Not Mary, but Heaven reveals to St. Elizabeth the truth that Mary is the Mother of God! Mary had come to diffuse her kindly aid and sweet benediction upon Elizabeth, not to parade her own unapproachable excellence. Her humility shrank from the latter, her charity prompted the former. ~ The Rev. Mark J. Smith, S.J., The Rosary Devotions: A Thought for Every Day in October (circa 1924)

The Month of the Holy Angels October 11th Unfortunately, so far from corresponding with their efforts for our welfare, we constantly impede them by our sins and imperfections. If only we knew them better and loved them more, and were more docile to their constant whisperings, our happiness would be unspeakably great. ~ Fr. Paul O’Sullivan O.P., All About the Angels (1945)