Mary of the Plague

 Tonight after the Rosary, the deacon explained that: 

Holy Mary, Mother of God
pray for us sinners,
now, and at the hour of our death.
Amen

was added during the Plague in Medieval times. Now during COVID-19, I think we should say this often, especially at the hour of our death. 

Praying for Our Country

How about this?  Every time you pass the flag of our country, you pray a Hail Mary for keeping our people in God's hands.  It is very appropriate to pray this prayer because Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patron of the Americas and the United States is dedicated to Mary of the Immaculate Conception. 

Davy and Mary

This picture reminds me of Davy, in my RCIA class.  He loves the rosary.  He walks around with it wrapped around his hands.  He wants to pray Hail Mary all day.

Davy actually wanted to be Catholic because he thought we worshipped Mary.  We've told him a hundred times that we don't, but he insists that we honor her so specially that it's worship.  I don't know what else to do to get through to him.  Finally, I've asked Mary to lead him to Jesus, not her.  Mary will straightened Davy out.

Davy and three others will be confirmed, Saturday.  Come Holy Spirit!

Mary Morphs into Martha

Somewhere during Advent, I change from my Mary personality into Martha (Luke 10: 38-42).  No matter what I do, it happens.  I've tried going on retreat during Advent, but that caused a worse transformation.  Mary became a raving maniac, Martha.  I had too much to catch up on.

Baking Christmas cookies, writing Christmas cards, shopping, wrapping presents, social obligations, and feeling guilty because Advent should be one of the holiest times of the year.  I should be growing closer to God, not the opposite.

Every year, I more or less try to not let this happen.

Well, this year, I found an aid.  It's the rosary.  I've started praying the rosary, a bit differently.

In the second part, "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for" _____________, I add what I'm praying for.

It can be a person, a situation, whatever.  Two people praying, are better than one, especially one that has some "pull."

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.  Blessed are thou among women; and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.  Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray that I may grow closer to your Son, this Advent season.  Amen.

Hail Mary

The scriptural origin of the first part of the Hail Mary is in the Gospel of St. Luke. It is a comination of the first words of Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:28) and the greeting of Elizabeth to her cousin Mary (Luke 1: 42) Full of grace indicates that Mary is highly favored. "The Lord is with you is affirmation.

"Blessed are you among women" prefigure what Elizabeth with say to Mary in Luke 1:42.

Blessed is the fruit of your womb. (Deuteronomy 28:4)

The second part of the Hail Mary is not biblical. It was added by the Church in supplication to the Mother of God, asking for her intercessory prayers for us sinners, and the necessary grace for our salvation now, and at the hour of our death.

Amen

The only belief of the Holy Roman Catholic Church about Mary, not specifically mentioned, is her perpetual virginity.

Thanks to Beads and Prayers: The Rosary in History & Devotion, by John D. Miller, pp. 31-37.