Our Lady Defender of the Innocents

Our
Lady of Guadalupe, we turn to you who are the protectress
of unborn children and ask that you intercede for us, so
that we may more firmly resolve to join you in protecting
all human life. Let our prayers be united to your
perpetual motherly intercession on behalf of those whose
lives are threatened, be they in the womb of their
mother, on the bed of infirmity, or in the latter years
of their life. May our prayers also be coupled with
peaceful action, which witnesses to the goodness and
dignity of all human life, so that our firmness of
purpose may give courage to those who are fearful and
bring light to those who are blinded by sin. Encourage
those who will be involved in the March for Life; help
them to walk closely with God and to give voice to the
cry of the oppressed, in order to remind our nation of
its commitment to life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness for all people. O Virgin Mother of God, present
our petitions to your Son and ask Him to bless us with
abundant life. Amen

Our Holy Father on the Immaculate Conception

"As a merciful Mother, Mary is the anticipated figure and everlasting portrait of the Son. Thus, we see that the image of the Sorrowful Virgin, of the Mother who shares her suffering and her love, is also a true image of the Immaculate Conception. Her heart was enlarged by being and feeling together with God. In her, God's goodness came very close to us."
- - Pope Benedict XVI (December 8, 2005)

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St Francis on the Hail Mary

Hail Mary


When I say "Hail Mary",

the heavens bow down,

the angels rejoice;

the earth jubilates,

hell trembles;

and the devils take flight!

--St. Francis of Assisi

The more I think on Mary as truly my Mother, the calmer I become, for I see a place of sure refuge. Always, always, always--she takes me straight to Jesus. I know she is helping me to receive the graces I need to begin to trust more in the Lord always, no matter what happens.
Who better to take our cares to the hands of her Divine Son, Our Lord.

How I love her!

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Our Lady of Sorrows

This image is one of the most haunting sorrowful Virgins I have ever seen. I don't know who painted it--if anyone knows and can tell me, I would be grateful to know, and to give proper attribution.

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.



the 7 Sorrows of Mary:

1. The prophecy of Simeon.
2. The flight into Egypt.
3. The loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple.
4. Mary meets Jesus carrying His cross.
5. The Crucifixion
6. Mary received the Body of Jesus from the cross
7. The Body of Jesus is placed in a tomb.

One way of praying this devotion is simply to meditate on each sorrowful event while praying a Hail Mary for each.

Two Hearts Network has a lovely Our Lady of Sorrows page that I would encourage you to visit. I found some beautiful prayers there; some I had never seen or heard of before, such as the "Sorrowful Hail Mary", which follows.

The Sorrowful Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of sorrows, the Crucified is with thee; thou art pitiable amongst women, and pitiable is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of the Crucified, implore for us, the crucifiers of thy Son, tears of contrition, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

----approved by Pope Pius IX in 1847