Beautiful

Our Lady of Sorrows - Ora pro nobis!

The Narrow Gate

Virgin of Sorrows by Albrecht Durer

"Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat. How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it!" ~Matthew 7:13-14

How often we have heard these beautiful words of our Lord. How often we have heard that true devotion of Mary is the fastest, more sure, safest way to become closer to God? We need to turn to Mary, give her all of our selves, sparing nothing and place within her Immaculate Heart all our spiritual and temporal needs. It is within this sacred vessel that we shall oneday break upon the shores of salvation.

Dear Blessed Mother, I ask, wilt thou be for me

and my family the Narrow Gate which leads to Heaven?

Mary, Mother of Sorrows, Mother of God, be our salvation!

O Mater Dolorosa ~ Ora Pro Nobis! Amen+

From the Throne of Peter V

"When man has hardened his heart and hate has overrun the earth, when fire and sword convulse the world and make it resound with clash of arms and wailing, when human plans have prove misleading, and when all social well-being is upset, faith and history point to Mary as the only refuge." - Benedict XV, To the Consistory of Cardinals and Bishops, December 24, 1915

From the Throne of Peter IV

"She is the best of Mothers, our safest confidant and in fact the very motive of our hope: she obtains all she asks for and her prayers are always heard." - Pius VII, Exultavit cor Nostrum, November 21, 1851

From the Throne of Peter III

"Almighty God enriched the Blessed Virgin with the gifts of his grace more abundantly than He enriched any other creature. He chose her from all mankind and at the word of an angel elevated her to the ineffable dignity of dignity of the Mother of God." - Benedict XIV, Gloriosae Dominae, September 27, 1748

From the Throne of Peter II

(photo credit - Holy Cards for Your Inspiration)

"...by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, for the honor of the Holy and undivided Trinity, for the glory and adornment of the Virgin Mother of God, for the exaltation of the Catholic Faith, and for the furtherance of the Catholic religion, by the authority of Jesus Christ our Lord, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own; We declare, pronounce and define that in the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary , in the first instance of her Conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful." -Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, December 8, 1854

From the Throne of Peter I - She Commands

Central panel of Masaccio's Pisa Polyptych

"When she approaches Her divine Son's throne, as Advocate She begs, as Handmaid She prays, but as Mother She commands." - Pius IX, tanto studio, February 19, 1805

Our Lord Jesus Christ will deny her nothing. Mary Mother of God - ora pro nobis!

Missing Holy Relic

"I saw the Blessed Virgin’s wedding-ring; it is neither of silver nor of gold, nor of any other metal; it is dark in color and iridescent; it is not a thin narrow ring, but rather thick and at least a finger broad. I saw it smooth and yet as if covered with little regular triangles in which were letters. On the inside was a flat surface. The ring is engraved with something. I saw it kept behind many locks in a beautiful church. Devout people about to be married take their wedding-rings to touch it. " ~Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich from "The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary"

Does anyone know of this ring? Where is it and are there any pictures of it? My searching has come up empty...

By the way...the picture above is a drawing made from the highly detailed description of the wedding clothes of the Blessed Virgin Mary as related from the visions of Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich. You can read this account in THIS book. These are traditional jewish wedding clothes from the time.

Beautiful Mary Holding Jesus II

O Holy Virgin Mother of God - I entrust the entire world to thine intercession. Convert sinners, save souls - especially mine and all those for whom I pray. It is my sincere wish to spend all eternity seated at thy feet, looking up to gaze upon your face! Amen+

Novena for Life

Please in your charity consider starting a novena today for an end to the culture of death - for the end to all forms of willful murder: abortion, child abuse, euthanasia, etc. We can do this simply by saying one Memorare for this intention for nine consecutive days from the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (today September 15) until September 23. Traditionally this novena is said from the Feast of our Lady's nativity, but if you missed it (uh...like me) its never too late to start!

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,

that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection,

implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee,

O Virgin of virgins, my mother;

to thee do I come, before thee I stand,

sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,

but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.

Queen of Heaven

"Mary has been made Queen of heaven and earth by God, exalted above all the choirs of angels and all the saints. She is to be called Queen not only because of her divine motherhood, but also because she, by the will of God, had an outstanding part in the work of our eternal salvation”

~Pope Pius XII, Encyclical Letter, To the Queen of Heaven

Mary, the Blessed Mother of God was Christ's greatest disciple and as such, she was given the greatest share in His suffering. Those who compassionate and carry a devotion to her sorrows will be greatly assisting in this life and rewarded in heaven. Do not forget this!

Beautiful Mary Holding Jesus

(photo credit)

This is a 1950s work in the late medieval style by the King workshop of Norwich at Acle in Norfolk, England. This stained glass image of Our Lady holding the infant Jesus almost got me choked up it is so beautiful - the tender way which Jesus touches her, the regal flowing gown. I know its a bit crude in that medieval style, but stunning at the same time.

Regina Caeli - Ora pro nobis!

Queen of Heaven

The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus, was born of an Immaculate Conception;
found favor with God and is blessed amongst all women;
Our Lady Mary, gave birth as a virgin to the Messiah, Our Lord Jesus;
The Queen of Heaven, Mary hears our prayers and will beg God and His Son, on our behalf, for our help, for our forgiveness and for our salvation. Amen+

The Most Beautiful "Annunciation"

by Mikhail Vasilievich Nesterov
Found the on Jeffrey Smith's special project Russian Art blog.