Everyday Rosary Newsletter, Volume 4 Issue #01 -- Why Mary Is So Much More Than Just A Holy Woman Who Said Yes To God

Winter 2011-2012

Greetings!

The monthly Everyday Rosary Newsletter is brought to you from the How-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com website. In each issue you will find Rosary inspirations, new meditations, feature articles and ideas that support your prayer life, a calendar of upcoming Rosary Feast Days, and how to incorporate your faith in other holidays. Plus stories on how the Rosary has affected the lives of others and what people are doing to promote the Rosary. It will also keep you up-to-date on information added to the site. It is your monthly dose of Rosary inspiration!

Table of Contents

• A Note From The Editor
• Articles
• Top Picks
• How To Checklist
• Calendar Of Upcoming Feast Days
• Resources
• Testimonials
• Q&A
• What's New

A Note From The Editor:

It is disturbingly prevalent, even in our Catholic churches, to hear of the Blessed Virgin Mary's role in salvation history and influence during our own times, minimized to that of simply a good woman who said "yes" to God. Her fiat, as it is called, is one of her attributes, but she is much more important and worthy of special honor because of her Immaculate Conception, her divine motherhood and her role as Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix and Advocate

The concept of Mary's Immaculate Conception is easily grasped when considering the words of Fr. James B. Buckley, F.S.S.P.:

"Our Lord...is the fullness of all grace through Whose foreseen merits Our Lady was preserved from the first moments of her conception from all taint of original sin."

The Blessed Virgin Mary deserves our highest honor and esteem because she is the Mother of God. Fr. Reginald Marie Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. explained that because she was to be the Mother of God, Mary was more loved by God in the first instant of her being than any angel or saint.

By cooperating with God's plan for our salvation, Mary earned the title of Co-Redemptrix, and because through her all graces flow, she is also called the Mediatrix of all Graces. Her special love and care for us, her children, makes her our Advocate.

The Blessed Virgin Mary being treated in such an irreverent way is a serious problem. It is a sin against her Immaculate Heart and causes great pains to Our Dear Lord. All Catholics must first, give Mary the special honor she deserves. Second, they must understand the authentic Church teachings about Our Lady. And third, they need to be prepared to defend these teachings when they are brought into question, neglected, or dismissed entirely.

Read on to learn why Mary is more than just a holy woman who said yes to God.

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Articles

Mary, Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix Of All Graces, And Advocate

The Church has declared four Marian dogmas, or official teachings about the Blessed Virgin Mary. The four dogmas are...

• Mary is the Theotokos or Mother of God
• Mary is Ever Virgin
• Mary is the Immaculate Conception
• Mary was assumed into Heaven body and soul, the Assumption

Mary is the Mother of God and therefore deserves special honor. Anyone can come to the conclusion that Mary is the Mother of God by following this simple logic...

Jesus is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Jesus is God. Mary is the mother of Jesus, therefore Mary is the Mother of God. This doctrine is also referred to as Mary's divine motherhood and her divine maternity.

The second Marian dogma, Mary is ever Virgin means that she was a virgin when she conceived of the Holy Spirit and remained so for the entirety of her life. The Church has held this truth from the beginning and has defended Mary's Perpetual Virginity for centuries. After carrying Our Lord in her body and giving Him flesh, it is absurd to think that she may have carried other children.

Furthermore, tradition tells us of Mary's Presentation. "This occasion was not simply a "presentation" as we understand the word today, but rather it was the official entrance of Mary, at only three years old and at her own request, into the Temple, where she was to live a life of dedication to God in continuous prayer, similar to convent life today.

"Mary's parents were obedient to an extraordinary request from God and from Mary to allow the Temple teachers to oversee the formation of Mary because of her singular role in salvation history. Her role and her sinless condition meant she needed a very special formation." -taken from the November 2011 Seton Home Study School Newsletter. www.setonhome.org

Part of this dedicated life of continuous prayer included a vow of chastity. God would not ask Mary to take back this sacred vow. Mary was immaculate and completely pure. She was a virgin before, during and after the birth of Jesus. For this reason we call St. Joseph her most chaste spouse.

An outrage that is repeatedly referred to in classrooms and even in sermons is that Mary was an unwed teenage mother. It is such a horrendous and damaging statement because it at least implies a correlation between Mary, Mother of God and Ever Virgin to a teenager who is pregnant out of wedlock. This is a serious crime against the Immaculate Heart of Mary and must stop! Take action if you hear someone speaking this way even if it is just an implication.

The third Marian dogma states that Mary was immaculately conceived and was always free from original sin, the sin passed on to us from Adam. Because Jesus would be made flesh through her, by a singular grace, and by the foreseen merits of Christ's death on the cross, Mary was kept free from all stain of sin, both original sin and actual sin which is any sin which we ourselves commit.

The fourth dogma is that Mary was gloriously assumed into heaven. Because, Mary was conceived without sin and the Mother of God, Jesus would not allow her body to decay because the devil had no power over her. Jesus took her, body and soul up to Heaven where He had a place prepared for her. There she is now, among the angels and the saints praising God and interceding on our behalf.

Many Catholics hope that a fifth and final Marian dogma will be promulgated. This dogma would proclaim that Mary is...

• The Co-Redemptrix
• The Mediatrix of all Graces
• And Our Advocate

Let’s take a closer look at each of these titles and their significance. This will help you see why Mary is so much more than just a holy woman who said "yes" to God...

Co-Redemptrix - A simple definition of the title Co-Redemptrix is 'one with the Redeemer'. Mary is one with Jesus. She reflects Jesus in all things. Because she cooperated with God's Will she played a key role in our redemption. She even suffered with Jesus while He was on the cross.

Mediatrix - By mediatrix of all graces, it is meant that through Mary all graces flow.

Now remember none of these concepts are new ideas. There are not new ideas in the Catholic Church, the Church is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

With that said, it is sound doctrine and logical to believe the following...

Because of Jesus' sufferings and death on the cross, He merited all the grace necessary for each and everyone of us to attain heaven. These graces flow from God to us. These graces that Jesus merited are handed to us through the hands of Mary. This is fitting because through Mary, Jesus came into the world. He sees fit to send graces to the world likewise, through His Most Holy Mother Mary.

Advocate - In a similar but converse manner, Mary is our Advocate. She is our route to God. We ask for the things we need through her. Her intercession is very powerful before the throne of God. Which leads to our meditation on the fifth Glorious Mystery.

New Meditation on The Coronation

Mary is our Advocate, for our prayers are more efficacious when passed through her noble hands. God choose her from all time to be the mother of Jesus Christ. She was immaculate and pure, free from all stains of sin from the moment she was conceived in her mother’s womb. She is the New Eve, and therefore the type of person God intended all mankind to be before Adam and Eve's sin.

Because of her holiness and because Our Lord wouldn't deny His mother anything she is our surest and most effective way to ask for those things we need from God. Just like any relationship, if we want someone to grant us a request, what would be the best way to present this request? Why of course through that person's closest friend. Mary works this way.

If you have anything to ask of Our Lord, ask it through His Mother. She will take it, make it more beautiful and pleasing, then ask it of God. How blessed are we to have such a kind and loving Mother and Advocate.

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Top Picks

Fruits Of The Rosary

Mary is our Advocate, the Co-Redemptrix and the Mediatrix of all Graces, in order to be closer to her and secure her friendship we must pray the Rosary everyday. Contemplating the fruits of each Rosary mystery will help us become more like her on our way to holiness.

Fruits of the Joyful Mysteries

• Humility
• Neighborly Love
• Poverty
• Obedience
• Joy In Finding Jesus

Fruits of the Sorrowful Mysteries

• Contrition
• Purity
• Courage
• Patience
• Perseverence

Fruits of the Glorious Mysteries

• Faith
• Hope
• Charity
• Grace of a Happy Death
• Trust in Mary’s Intercession

Fruits of the Luminous Mysteries

• Openess to the Holy Spirit
• To Jesus through Mary
• Repentance and Trust in God
• Piety
• Adoration

Praying the Rosary will actually make you grow in virtue and holiness. Just as a good tree produces quality fruits, likewise, the Rosary produces virtue in those who pray it daily.

How To Checklist

How to Make Reparation for Sins Committed Against Mary's Immaculate Heart

Part of the Fatima message is that reparation must be made for sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary. What are sins committed against the Immaculate Heart? Well...

1. Blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception - Those committing this blasphemy would include all Protestants who refuse to believe that Mary was free from all stain of sin.
2. Blasphemies against Her Perpetual Virginity - Again, most Protestant commit this blasphemy when claiming Jesus had brothers and sisters, etc.
3. Blasphemies against Her Divine Maternity, in refusing at the same time to recognize Her as the Mother of men - Once again this blasphemy is committed by the majority of Protestant sects. Some deny the term Mother of God, mistakenly believing it is meant that Mary is the Mother of the Creator. While nearly all Protestant deny the belief that Mary was made the Mother of all mankind when Jesus gave her to us at the foot of the cross. "When Jesus therefore had seen his mother and the disciple standing whom he loved, he saith to his mother: Woman, behold thy son. After that, he saith to the disciple: Behold thy mother." -John 19:26-27
4. The blasphemies of those who publicly seek to sow in the hearts of children indifference or scorn, or even hatred of this Immaculate Mother. - This too is clearly rampant in Protestant congregations. And is also committed within the Catholic Church with preachers and teachers who carelessly compare Mary to unwed, teenage mothers. Just imagine the image that gives young people.
5. The offenses of those who outrage Her directly in Her holy images. - In its most extreme form, neo pagans commit this sin when blasphemous and sacrileges images of Our Lady are displayed as so-called art in tasteless museums. This sin was witnessed on a mass scale when the Nazis and Communists destroyed churches both Roman Catholic and Orthodox during World War II and the years following. Some Protestants commit this outrage.

Now that you know what is meant by blasphemies against the Immaculate Heart. you can make reparation for them. To do this you must complete the following with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the sins committed against her Immaculate Heart...

For five consecutive first Saturdays of the month...

1. Receive the sacrament of Penance (Confession)
2. Receive Holy Communion (attend Mass)
3. Pray five decades of the Rosary (one set of five mysteries of your choosing, regular 15-20 minute Rosary)
4. Meditate on all 15 traditional mysteries of the Rosary for 15 minutes. (This is in addition to the aforementioned Rosary and can include the Luminous Mysteries but must include meditating upon the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries, just the events without praying all ten Hail Marys)

Be successful in this and you will be doing your part in fulfilling Our Lady's requests at Fatima. Special graces are attached to this devotion for it was revealed by the Blessed Mother to Lucia, "I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation all those who, in order to make reparation to me, on the First Saturday of five successive months, go to confession, receive Holy Communion, say five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for a quarter of an hour, meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary."

Calendar Of Upcoming Feast Days

The Presentation of Our Lord - February 2nd

This feast day is the Fourth Joyful Mystery. Mary and Joseph presented the baby Jesus to the Lord in the temple in Jerusalem in accordance with the Jewish law that every male child must be presented in the temple and two turtle doves were to be offered as a sacrifice. This is the scene where Simeon, the prophet told Mary that Jesus was "set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted" and that her "own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed." This event is concluded with these words from Sacred Scripture, "The child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom; and the grace of God was in him." -Luke 2:40

First Friday, St. Blaise’s Feast Day - February 3rd

Jesus asked St. Margaret Mary to spread devotion to His Sacred Heart. A key element to this devotion is making reparation for the sins against His Sacred Heart committed by the whole world. You do this by receiving Communion and going to Confession on the nine consecutive first Fridays of the month. Traditionally, Catholics get their throats blessed on St. Blaise’s feast day. Go to Mass this day and your priest should have people process up as though going to Communion. He will then cross two candles on your throat and pray a special blessing that you will not have sickness of the throat or choke on anything. Through St. Blaise's prayers to God, a boy was miraculously cured of a bone that was stuck in his throat

First Saturday - February 4th

Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary includes making five first Saturdays of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart. The five first Saturdays of Reparation consist of going to Confession, receiving Communion, praying the Rosary and "keeping her company" for 15 minutes while meditating on all of the Mysteries of the Rosary.

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes - February 11th

At Lourdes, the Blessed Virgin Mary emphasized the importance of the Rosary. She actually prayed the Rosary many times with St. Bernadette. Furthermore, Our Lady identified herself as the Immaculate Conception, confirming the this Marian dogma. Learn more about Lourdes here...

St. Bernadette’s Feast Day - February 18th

St. Bernadette is the peasant girl that the Blessed Mother appeared to at Lourdes, France.

Bl. Francisco and Jacinta’s Feast Day - February 20th

Blessed Franisco and Bl. Jacinta are two of the three children the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to at Fatima, Portugal. The Rosary is the cornerstone of the Fatima message. Learn more about Fatima here...

Ash Wednesday, First Day of Lent - February 22nd

The holy and deeply penitent season of Lent begins today. On this day Catholics receive ashes on their foreheads as a reminder that "thou art dust, and unto dust thou shalt return." This day bears a deep spirit of penance and the thought of the particular judgment that is to follow death. This is a day of fast and abstinence. You must abstain from meat and eat only three meals and no snacks. The first two meals when combined must not equal the third meal.

First Friday - March 2nd

See above

First Saturday - March 3rd

See above

St. Joseph’s Feast Day - March 19th

Good Saint Joseph is the foster father of Jesus. His life was filled with selfless devotion to Jesus and Mary. He is the protector of the Holy Catholic Church, the protector of families and the patron saint of a happy death. Read more about St. Joseph here...

The Annunciation - March 26th

This feast day is the first Joyful Mystery. The angel Gabriel was sent from God to Mary to ask Mary if she would be the mother of Jesus. Mary answered a humble, "I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word." This answer set the stage for Mary’s life on earth and her role in Salvation. At this time, the Holy Spirit overshadowed her and Jesus was made incarnate in her womb.

Resources

• Mens Miraculous Medal Rosary with Black Onyx Beads - This is a traditional set of five-decade Catholic rosary beads wrapped with 20 gauge silver plate wire. It is guaranteed to last a lifetime during normal prayer; you'll never have to buy another rosary.

• Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Rosary - High quality, petite Rosary which is silver-oxidized metal. Precious Hail Mary 4mm embossed rose beads. Miraculous Medal Our Father beads. Mirculous Medal center on both sides. Budded crucifix aprox. 1". Loc-link construction for durability. Imported direct from Italy. Velvet pouch contains Our Lady of the Miraculous Madal prayer card and how to pray the rosary leaflet.

Books And Spiritual Reading

• The Glories of Mary - This classic devotional work testifies to St. Alphonsus Liguori's love of Mary and is a treasury of Marian stories and teachings. Alphonsus provides a phrase-by-phrase examination of the Marian hymn "Hail Holy Queen" and meditations on various Marian themes, including her major feasts, seven sorrows, virtues and practices of devotion in her honor.

• True Devotion To Mary - Considered by many to be the greatest single book of Marian spirituality ever written, True Devotion to Mary, is St Louis de Montfort's classic statement on the spiritual way to Jesus Christ though the Blessed Virgin Mary. In this beautiful and sublimely inspiring book, de Montfort explains the wonderful spiritual effects which true devotion to Mary brings about in a person's life.

• The Secret of Mary by St. Louis De Montfort - The Secret of Mary is the Companion to True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis De Montfort. In order to complete the consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary through the method of St. Louis De Montfort, it is necessary to purchase "The Secret of Mary". The "Secret of Mary" sets forth the very heart of "True Devotion to Mary". In this small but powerful book, St. Louis De Montfort shows why this "secret", known by few, is such an excellent yet easy means of union with God. Followed and recommended by Popes and Saints, this way of life is nevertheless perfect for lay people, as well as for priests and religious. It is primarily an interior practice to be carried out daily, from moment to moment--and followed faithfully, it will certainly bring a person to profound holiness and great effectiveness as an apostle. The Secret of Mary has already become a Catholic classic, published in hundreds of editions and in many languages. Its teaching is a gift from Heaven--which is certain to play a very important part in the coming triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

• Marie, Notre Mère: The World's Most Beautiful Songs to the Virgin Mary - Various artists and groups, Jade (BMG) CD (1997). 19 tracks in French, Latin, and Spanish. Tracks are: (1) Ave Mater, (2) Ave Maria, (3) Ecce Ancilla Domini, (4) Ave Maria, (5) Réjouis-toi Marie, (6) Sancta Et Immaculata Virginitas, (7) O gloriosa Domina, (8) Beata viscera, (9) Gospodi sil – O Seigneur des armées, (10) Ave Maria, (11) Tota pulchra es 12) Outoli bolezni – Adoucis notre peine, (13) Salve Mater Misericordiae, (14) Alleluia, Stabat Mater, (15) Los bronces se enternezcan, (16) Cum juncunditate, (17) Congratulamini mihi omnes, (18) Salve Regina, and (19) Magnificat. Includes front and back inserts.

Miscellaneous

• Immaculate Heart of Mary Statue

Important Links

• Munificentissiums Deus - Defining The Dogma Of The Assumption
• Redemptoris Mater - On the Blessed Virgin Mary in the life of the Pilgrim Church

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Testimonials

"Thank you for the message. I am reciting the Rosary everyday as our family prayer." -Louis Ferrao

Q&A

Are there special graces or is the Rosary especially strong if it is said by a group rather than alone?

In Sacred Scripture, Our Lord says:

"For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" Matthew 18:20

This verse is often quoted to show the power of group prayer. This certainly would include praying the Rosary as a group but is not exclusive to the Rosary. Besides this Scripture verse, many Popes have encouraged group Rosaries. Here are two notable quotes from Blessed Pope Pius IX: "Give me one million families praying the Rosary and the world is saved." and, "If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, in your country, assemble every evening to recite the Rosary."

Saints have also encouraged the formation of Rosary prayer groups. St. Louis Marie de Montfort, the most prominent of them, said, "When people say the Rosary together it is far more formidable to the devil than one said privately, because in this public prayer it is an army that is attacking. It is very easy to break a single stick, but if you join it to others to make a bundle, it cannot be broken. In union, there is strength."

He listed these five benefits to group Rosary prayer in his book The Secret of the Rosary...

1. Normally, our minds are far more alert during public prayer than when we pray alone.
2. When we pray in common, the prayer of each one belongs to all. We make one great prayer together, so that if one person is not praying well, someone else in the same gathering who prays better may make up for his deficiency. In this way, those who are strong uphold the weak. Those who are fervent inspire the lukewarm.
3. One who says his Rosary alone only gains the merit of that one Rosary. But if he says it together with others, he gains the merit of each Rosary. This is the law of public prayer.
4. Public prayer is far more powerful than private prayer, to appease the anger of God, and to call down His mercy. Holy Mother Church, guided by the Holy Ghost, has always advocated public prayer in times of public tragedy and suffering.
5. If the faithful pray five decades of the Rosary in company with others, whether in public or private, they may gain an indulgence of ten years, once a day. A plenary indulgence can be gained on the last Sunday of the month – with the addition of detachment from venial sin, confession, Communion, a visit to the church and prayers for the intentions of the Pope – if they perform such recitation at least three times in any of the preceding weeks.

It is strongly suggested to form Rosary groups especially during these troubling times of economic and social upheaval. Pray for the Church. Pray to end abortion and euthanasia. Pray for lasting peace. Pray for the triumph of Mary's Immaculate Heart. And Pray especially for the Holy Father's intentions.

Please visit the Ask A Rosary Question Section on the website and ask your questions. You are encouraged to answer questions that have been posted there as well.

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What's New

A Glimpse Into The Next Newsletter

Next Newsletter - Lent Edition

New On The Site - Quick Links Page

We listened to our visitors suggestions and came up with a Quick Links page for people who are already familiar with the Rosary and want a quick and simple Rosary guide complete with illustrations and Scripture verses. It is a convenient way to view the mysteries and their fruits while you pray. Check it out by clicking here...

Coming soon to How-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com - Group Rosary Page

Our Group Rosary page explains in detail why group Rosary prayers are so special. It outlines how to pray the Rosary as a group. And it gives tips on how to start a prayer group or block Rosary.

Thank You!

Thank you for reading! Keep visiting www.how-to-pray-the-rosary-everyday.com and remember we love hearing from you. Please use the "contact us" page to leave any and all suggestions or comments.

In the months leading up to Lent, I pray your faith will be strengthened and your devotion to the Rosary deepened.

Pray for us O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

To Jesus through Mary,

Kathleen Bowen and The Rosary Team

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