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Ave Maria Meditations

Let us make haste to our brethren who are awaiting us…

Why should our praise and glorification, or even the celebration of this feast day mean anything to the saints? What do they care about earthly honors when their heavenly Father honors them by fulfilling the faithful promise of the Son? What does our commendation mean to them? The saints have no need of honor from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs. Clearly, if we venerate their memory (more…)

Ave Maria Mediations

If squalls of temptations arise, or thou fall upon the rocks of tribulation, look to the star, call upon Mary.

If thou art tossed by the waves of pride or ambition, detraction or envy, look to the star, call upon Mary.

If anger or avarice or the desires of the flesh dash against the ship of thy soul, turn thine eyes towards Mary.

 If, troubled by the enormity of thy crimes, ashamed of thy guilty conscience, terrified by dread of the judgment, thou beginnest to sink into sink into the gulf of sadness or the abyss of despair, think of Mary.

In dangers, in anguish, in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let her be ever on thy lips, ever in thy heart; and the better to obtain the help of her prayers, imitate the example of her life.

Following her, thou strayest not; invoking her, thou despairest not; thinking of her, thou wanderest not; upheld by her, thou fallest not; shielded by her, thou fearest not; guided by her, thou growest not weary; favored by her, thou reachest the goal. And thus dost thou experience in thyself how good is that saying: And the Virgin’s name was Mary’

 [from a homily of St. Bernard of Clairvaux]

One Minute Meditations

POWERFUL, sovereign Queen, come to our aid. Speak for us to our Lord Jesus Christ. Who can do it better than you who conversed with Him so intimately here on earth, and now so fully possess Him in heaven?

Speak to your Son for us. He cannot refuse you anything. Ask for us a great love of God, perseverance in His holy grace, and the hap­piness of dying in His friendship that we may see you and thank you with Him eternally.

- St. Bernard

Homily #100127 ( 09min) Play – St Bernard of Clairvaux preached the second crusade. But, despite the fact that he was able to  perform many miracles to confirm that this was the will of God, the crusade failed resulting in the loss of many Christian soldiers and a setback for Christian control of the Holy Land. Fr. Ignatius points out that it is sometimes God’s will that we be humbled in order to bring about greater virtue.
Ave Maria! St. John Chrysostom, Confessor and Doctor of the Church – Mass: EF, In Medio Ecclesiae – Readings: 1st: 2ti 4:1-8 – Gsp: mat 5:13-19

Audio (MP3)

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Marycast #69 ( 09min) Play – In this episode, Dr. Miravalle continues his talk on the history of Marian consecration, which is our effort to become “a servant to the handmaid of the Lord” (servus Mariae).  Pope John Paul II’s consecration & devotion to Our Lady is widely known, but have there been other popes in history that have consecrated themselves to Her as well?  In this episode is also a short biographical sketch of St. Louis de Montfort.  Listen to this brief but rich history as described by Dr. Miravalle.

“Whatever you are about to offer, remember to commend it to Mary, so that through the same channel whence grace flows, it may return to the Giver of grace.” – St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Doctor of the Church and “Oracle” of the 12th Century

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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Homily #090112 ( 08min) Play – Fr. Ignatius preaches on St. Bernard of Corleone who was a shoemaker who then became an adventurer with a love for dueling and led a disordered life. Then after mortally wounding a man, and through his remaining devotions that he had held onto, he gained the grace of conversion and became a very holy Capuchin friar. He died in 1667.
Ave Maria! Mass readings
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