“Every grace which is communicated to this world has a threefold origin: it flows from God to Christ, from Christ to the Virgin, and from the Virgin to us.” – Pope Leo XIII
Prayer for the Faithful at St. Francis Chapel
O Mother of Jesus, whose intercession strengthens the Church, conserve, increase and make fruitful this congregation at St. Francis Chapel. O Mary, you care for the brethren of your Son with a mother’s love; watch with maternal charity over all who rejoice today to be part of this family. Sustain our priests in their apostolate, protect travelers on their journeys, guide students who seek truth, heal the sick and afflicted, and be a bulwark for all the faithful who gather at this chapel in living out their vocations at home and in the marketplace. Blessed Mother, who have already reached the perfection of grace, mercifully pray for us that by the merits of your Son we shall increase in faith, hope and love till the consummation of heaven. Amen.
Reflection
Ven. Bruno Lanteri comments on the first invocation of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
“The Church in first place calls Mary, holy, but what kind of sanctity can be attributed to her?“
Is it the same holiness common to all the other Saints? Her holiness is such that we cannot imagine any greater. And the reason is because, as one of the Holy Fathers notes, above Mary there is no other than God, below Mary there is everything that is not God. Can we say the same of any other being, not excluding the angels?“
Therefore, after God there is no more excellent object, more worthy of praise than Mary.“
Therefore, after God we must turn to her and put all our trust in her.“
Resolution
Pray the Memorare