Our Blessed Mother is Honored on Thursday; and Everyday

12-04-2016Weekly ReflectionFr. Brian Jazdzewski

We have the honor of honoring the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary each year on December eighth, this year it's on Thursday. Some of you are aware of the Novena for Our Nation which is underway; more details will follow my portion of this article. Some of you are aware that 2017 will be the 100 Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima, who encouraged the pilgrim children to pray the Rosary daily. In the spirit of these Marian realities, consider renewing your love and devotion to Our Lady, who always leads us to Jesus.

I realize the Novena for Our Nation began on Monday. Rather than be discouraged and think you will never catch up, consider praying at least one Rosary Novena for our nation. Your personal Rosary Novena may only be nine consecutive days; perhaps you success will inspire you to offer another Rosary Novena directly after that, or in the near future.

The following paragraphs are from www.novenaforournation.com.

The nation-wide prayer campaign - Novena for Our Nation - begins November 28, the Feast of Saint Catherine Labouré (who received the apparition of the Miraculous Medal), and goes until January 20, the Presidential Inauguration.

WHAT IS THE 54 DAY ROSARY NOVENA?

Whoever desires to obtain favors from Me should make three novenas of the prayers of the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving. – Promise of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary.

On March 3, 1884 (in the same year Pope Leo XIII wrote the prayer to St. Michael, and exactly 33 years before the Fatima apparitions), a young girl named Fortuna Agrelli was graced with an apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary and given this special devotion, which she passed on to others.

At the time, young Fortuna was ill with 3 separate incurable diseases and her doctors had given up on her case saying it was hopeless. In desperation, the young girl and her family began a novena of Rosaries. Our Lady appeared to the girl, sitting upon a high throne, surrounded by luminous figures, holding the Divine Child on Her lap, and in Her hand a Rosary.

The sick girl greeted the Blessed Virgin with the following words: "Queen of the Holy Rosary, be gracious to me, restore me to health! I have already prayed to Thee in a novena, O Mary, but have not yet experienced Thy aid. I am so anxious to be cured!"

"Child," responded the Blessed Virgin, "you have invoked Me by various titles and have always obtained favors from Me. Now, since you have called Me by that title so pleasing to Me, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, I can no longer refuse the favor you petition; for this name is most precious and dear to Me. Make three novenas, and you shall obtain all."

Once more, the Queen of the Holy Rosary appeared to the young girl and said, "Whoever desires to obtain favors from Me should make three novenas of the prayers of the Rosary, and three novenas in thanksgiving."

Obeying Our Lady's instructions, the young girl was healed and restored to perfect health.

54-DAY ROSARY NOVENA

Traditionally a novena is nine days. Thus, Our Lady's words to young Fortuna, "make threenovenas of the prayers of the Rosary in petition, and three novenas in thanksgiving."

The novena consists of five decades of the Rosary (one set of mysteries) each day for twenty-seven days in petition; then immediately five decades each day for an additional twenty-seven days in thanksgiving, regardless of whether or not the request has been granted yet.

So began six novenas of Rosaries, which became known as the 54-day Rosary Novena. To do the novena properly one must pray the Rosary for 54 consecutive days, without missing a day, and must pray the particular Mystery indicated for that day following the correct sequence.

That is, the first day of the novena always begins with the Joyful Mysteries (regardless of what day of the week the novena is started); the second day, the Sorrowful Mysteries are prayed; and the third day of the novena, the Glorious Mysteries are prayed.

The fourth day of the novena begins again with the Joyful Mysteries and continues on in that sequence throughout the 54 days of the novena.

People have asked over time about the Luminous Mysteries — this novena was given by Our Lady as noted above in 1884 and only allows for the Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries.

THE MIRACULOUS ROSARY NOVENA

It has been reported that the miracle of young Fortuna's cure upon praying the 54-day Rosary Novena, made a deep impression on Pope Leo XIII. He wrote 17 encyclicals on the Rosary and urged all Christians to love the Rosary and pray it fervently.

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