South Africa Needs Our Lady

South Africa Needs Our Lady

Winning the heart and soul of South Africa for Mary by spreading the Fatima Message

Winning the heart and soul of South Africa for Mary by spreading the Fatima Message

NEWS
STORIES
ROSARY RALLIES
PRAYERS

SANOL

5 Reasons why we need the Blessed Mother

by

First Reason:

Although we receive the necessary graces for our salvation, we still need special graces to persevere. This is because the process of the decadence of a soul generally follows a pattern. First, one commits acts of ingratitude that cause a retraction of grace. This causes the person in the state of grace to deteriorate slowly and stand in need of exceptional graces. When graces dwindle, one goes from one abuse to the next, until eventually falling into mortal sin.

Second Reason:

Devotion to Our Lady is crucial in obtaining the necessary graces to save the soul from this process. We need an intercessor who supplements this gap with requests for additional graces, so that we might have sufficient graces for our salvation.

Third Reason:

Our Lady obtains for us the graces necessary to attain salvation. The mere fact that we are devoted to her makes us pleasing to God Who is thus predisposed to answer our requests. However, human nature is so weak that we often abuse grace to such an extent that it is difficult to find those who practice sufficient fidelity to save themselves without Our Lady’s intervention.

One might ask if this means that Our Lady is not the Mediatrix of all graces, but only of extraordinary graces. No, she also obtains the minimum of essential graces for us. However, our malice serves to demonstrate that we cannot persevere in the spiritual life without her full support.

Imagine a friend who is in a “state of grace,” so to speak, in relation to you. In other words, he is a friend who depends completely on your kindness, and generally acts correctly toward you. However, although this friend does not commit grave faults against you, he nevertheless constantly commits small faults such as lack of courtesy, respect or affection. Of course, to the degree that he insists upon doing this, you gradually withdraw your friendship from him.

If he commits a grave fault, it is understandable that you severe your relationship with him.

This is a bit like the image of a sinner who, without losing the state of grace, almost inevitably, falls into mortal sin at a certain moment. To prevent this fall, the intercession of Our Lady is greatly needed. It is not only greatly needed, but indispensable since after a mortal sin, a person has no claim to obtain forgiveness.

Even if he were to repent, it is doubtful that God would give Heaven to a person in this state of soul without subjecting him to grave trials as a punishment for his attitude.

Fourth Reason:

Some people suppose that death comes as an accident, a disaster outside the ways of Providence, and that God has nothing to do with death.

Man walks along the ways of the spiritual life as he so pleases, and then all of a sudden death comes and interrupts God’s plans and the development of his soul. In fact, it is nothing like this at all. No hair drops from our head without God allowing it. Everything is proportional to the orientation of our spiritual life.

In fact, the moment of our death is perfectly chosen with regard to our sins and merits. Without an intercessor with the merits of Our Lady, it would be impossible to remain in the state of grace.

Imagine that a friend commits several small faults toward you, but nothing atrocious. All of a sudden he shows up asking you for a gift. Would you be ready and willing to give it? Depending on the situation, you might refuse any request on his part.

Fifth Reason:

Our spiritual life is not a plateau next to an abyss. It is an inclined ramp, in the middle of which is a line that separates the state of grace from mortal sin. When someone is on the upper part of this ramp, he can go down without falling into mortal sin.

When a person on the upper part of the ramp commits an infidelity, God normally diminishes His graces; and with the dwindling of grace a person can fall into such a state of destitution as to be reduced to strictly indispensable grace.

When one says that venial sin leads to mortal sin, it does not mean that man lacks the sufficient grace not to fall, but that he all too often does not correspond to grace and thus falls. Human nature has a very strong penchant to abuse grace.

However, in each concrete case, man has the will to react. Man can only obtain all the necessary and opportune graces not to fall however, if he has recourse to Our Lady. And that is why we need Our Lady.

This was adapted from a lecture given by Prof. Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira. It has been translated and edited for publication without his revision. –Ed.

Our Lady of Paris

by

Our Lady of Paris

Feast Day: 15 February

There does not seem to be a great deal of information about Our Lady of Paris; it is an ancient title, and can be traced well back before the 12th Century, when the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris) was begun. Some authorities say that veneration of the Blessed Virgin in Paris can be traced to the first apostles of the city. Since Saint Paul was in Gaul (France) during his travels, it may be assumed that this veneration dates to the first century of the Christian era. And if Mary was venerated in Paris at that early date, it is possible that she was, even then, known as Our Lady of Paris. Briefly, as long as Christian minds can remember, Paris was consecrated to the Virgin Mary, whom the inhabitants always venerated.  

It is known that Our Lady of Paris was a church first built by King Childebert in the year 522. About the year 1257, King Saint Louis IX assisted in the construction of a larger church carried on in the same place, built on the foundations which King Philip Augustus had laid in the year 1191. The older church built by King Childebert, which had been dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, was too ruined to be repaired, so Maurice, Bishop of Paris, decided to rebuild it — and at the same time adorn Paris with a Cathedral that would outshine all those which had hitherto been built anywhere. 


 Plans were drawn up during the reign of King Louis VII, and work began on Notre Dame Cathedral in 1162. The cornerstone was laid in the presence of Pope Alexander III. Notre Dame is a huge Gothic cathedral on the Ile de la Cite, with beautiful flying buttresses to support the tremendous height of the walls, which are adorned with stylish gargoyles. It is home to a reliquary which contains Christ’s Crown of Thorns. By the beginning of the fourteenth century, perhaps 1345, the cathedral was finished, virtually as it stands today. Sometime during the building of the Cathedral, a statue of Our Lady was fashioned and installed in a place of honour. 

As is typical during times of upheaval, the cathedral along with the statue of Our Lady were desecrated during the French Revolution, and many of the religious artefacts were lost to future generations, although the incredible stain glass windows were not destroyed, including the spectacular “rose window” that can still be seen today. 

*from The Woman in Orbit and other sources 

Our Lady of the Bells

by

Our Lady of the Bells

Feast Day 9 February

 

“Saintes” is the English translation for the French word meaning female saints. There is a great deal of history to the Poitou-Charentes region of western France where the town of Saintes is located. 

The town of Saintes was originally a thriving settlement in ancient Gaul located along the Charente River. The town became known as Mediolanum Santonum once conquered by the Romans under Julius Caesar, and the remains of the triumphal arch of Germanicus and a large amphitheatre can still be seen there today. 

The town takes its name, Saintes, due to a fascinating legend that many still piously believe. According to this tradition, Mary Salome and Mary Jacob, accompanied by other disciples of Jesus Christ, were forced to flee the Holy Land about the year 45 AD. They left taking a boat with no sail, and were miraculously transported across the Mediterranean Sea, making land near the place which became known as Saintes Maries de la Mer. 

Long before the arrival of the saints, indeed, since prehistoric times, Saintes Maries de la Mer (Saint Mary’s of the Sea) had been considered a holy place. This tradition was carried on by the Celts and then the Romans. It is recorded that St Eutropius was a bishop there in the 3rd century, and that the first cathedral was reconstructed by no less a personage than Charlemagne. Norman invaders twice burned the town during the 9th century. Richard the Lionheart took refuge there against his father, and King Saint Louis IX defeated the English on the plains before the town. The Cathedral of Saint Peter, built in the 12th century, was severely damaged by the Huguenots in the year 1568. Its bishopric was ended in 1790 due to the oppression of the French Revolution. The church is now reduced to being only an historical monument.

It is recorded, though, that one year long ago, on the octave day of the Purification, the bells in the Cathedral of Saintes, France, rang out most sweetly of themselves. The sacristans, having run to the church, saw what appeared to be several unknown men holding lighted tapers and melodiously chanting hymns in honour of the Blessed Virgin, Our Lady of the Bells, who was venerated in a chapel of this church. Approaching softly, they – the men who had run to the church – begged the last of these men carrying lighted candles, to give them one in proof of the miracle they had witnessed. The light-bearers graciously complied. 

This taper, or candle, in remembrance of Our Lady of the Bells, is said to be preserved in that church up to this day. 

James Fitzhenry, roman-catholic-saints.com, Marian Calendar 

Our Lady of the Bowed Head

by

Our Lady of the Bowed Head

Feast Day: 7 February

 

Among the many miraculous images of the Mother of God through which she deigns to grant her favours, there is one in the monastery church of the Carmelites in Vienna, entitled the Mother of Grace, or Our Lady of Grace, also known also as Our Lady of the Bowed Head.

In 1610 a Carmelite, Dominic of Jesus-Mary, found among the votaries of an old altar in the monastery church of Maria della Scala in Rome, an oil painting of the Mother of God, dust-covered and somewhat torn, which grieved him. Taking it into his hands, he shook the dust off it, and kneeling down venerated it with great devotion.

He had the picture renovated and placed it on the shelf in his cell, where he made it the object of his love and supplications in favour of those who came to him in their necessities and afflictions.

One night while he was praying fervently before the picture, he noticed that some dust had settled on it. Having nothing but his coarse woollen handkerchief he dusted it with that and apologized,

“O pure and holiest Virgin, nothing in the whole world is worthy of touching your holy face, but since I have nothing but this coarse handkerchief, deign to accept my good will.”

To his great surprise, the face of the Mother of God appeared to take on life, and smiling sweetly at him, she bowed her head, which thereafter remained inclined.

Fearing he was under an illusion, Dominic became troubled, but Mary assured him that his requests would be heard: he could ask of her with full confidence any favour he might desire. He fell upon his knees and offered himself entirely to the service of Jesus and Mary, and asked for the deliverance of one of is benefactor’s souls in purgatory. Mary told him to offer several Masses and other good works; a short time after when he was again praying before the image, Mary appeared to him bearing the soul of his benefactor to Heaven. Dominic begged that all who venerated Mary in this image of Our Lady of Grace might obtain all they requested. In reply the Virgin gave him this assurance:

“All those who devoutly venerate me in this picture and take refuge to me will have their request granted and I will obtain for them many graces; but especially will I hear their prayers for the relief and deliverance of the souls in purgatory.”

Dominic soon after placed the image into the church of Maria Della Scala so that more devotees of Mary could venerate it. Many wonderful favours were obtained by those who honoured and invoked Mary here. Reproductions were made of Our Lady of Grace and sent to different parts of the world.

After the death of Dominic, the original painting was lent to Prince Maximilian of Bavaria. He gave it to the discalced Carmelites in Munich in 1631; they gave it to Emperor Ferdinand II of Austria and his wife Eleanore. After Ferdinand’s death, Eleanore entered the Carmelite convent in Vienna and took the picture with her. During the succeeding years the image was transferred to various places.

Today it is in the monastery church of Vienna Doabling. On 27 September 1931 it was solemnly crowned by Pope Pius XI – its 300th anniversary of arrival in Vienna.

From: The Woman in Orbit

Quotes of St John Bosco

by

Quotes of St John Bosco

 

  1. Whatever you do, think of the Glory of God as your main goal.
  2. Do not try to excuse your faults; try to correct them.
  3. Run, jump, shout, but do not sin.
  4. We do not go to Holy Communion because we are good; we go to become good.
  5. Enjoy yourself as much as you like – if only you keep from sin.
  6. Health is God’s great gift, and we must spend it entirely for Him. Our eyes should see only for God, our feet walk only for Him, our hands labour for Him alone; in short, our entire body should serve God while we still have the time. Then, when He shall take our health and we shall near our last day, our conscience will not reproach us for having misused it.
  7. The principle trap that the devil sets for young people is idleness.
  8. Be good. This will make your angel happy. When sorrows and misfortunes, physical or spiritual, afflict you, turn to your guardian angel with strong trust and he will help you.
  9. The power of evil men lives on the cowardice of the good.
  10. Fly from bad companions as from the bite of a poisonous snake.
  11. Only God knows the good that can come from reading one good Catholic book.
  12. Ask your angel to console and assist you in your last moments.
  13. Be ever more convinced that your guardian angel is really present, that he is ever at your side. St. Frances of Rome always saw him standing before her, his arms clasped at his breast, his eyes uplifted to Heaven; but at the slightest failing, he would cover his face as if in shame, and at times, turn his back to her.
  14. Do not do anything today that can embarrass you tomorrow.
  15. Our greatest enemy is laziness; Let us fight it without rest.
  16. Remember, God does not reward results, but effort.
  17. Let yourself be guided by reason and not by passion.
  18. Stay away from laziness and lazy people. Carry out your labours, for when we allow ourselves to be lazy, we are in danger of sinning.
  19. If your parents live in the faith, they will be good counsellors, because they will know you well, and their counsel will be good and reliable.
  20. Experience has shown me that the well-being and happiness of a family are only guaranteed by the practice of religion.
  21. If the youth is well educated, we will have moral order. If not, vice and disorder will prevail.
  22. If we want to have a good society, we must concentrate all our efforts on educating young people in Christianity. Experience has taught me that caring for young people is the only way to achieve a sustainable civil society.
  23. Purify your heart through confession, and free it from anything that might have corrupted it.
  24. When in danger or in need, have recourse to Mary. The Blessed Virgin has always helped me and will always do so!

 

Read also:

» St John Bosco

» Family Tip 1: Saintly Role Models

Our Lady of the Rose

by

Our Lady of the Rose, Lucca, Italy

Feast Day 30 January

History shows that the rose is the favourite flower of Our Lady herself, the Madonna of the Rose. In her apparition at Guadalupe, she made use of roses as a sign of her presence and even arranged them with her own beautiful hands in the tilma of Juan Diego. At La Salette she wore a profusion of roses in three garlands and had tiny roses around the rim of her slippers. She brought beautiful roses with her at Lourdes, Pontmain, Pellevoisin, Beauraing, and Banneaux. To Sister Josefa Menendez she showed her Immaculate Heart encircled with little white roses. Truly, she could be called the Madonna of the Rose.

Mary’s wedding garment, according to approved revelation, was “richly embroidered with blue, white, violet, and gold roses.” At the Incarnation, while the Angel vanished down the path that led up to Heaven, showers of half-blown roses fell on Mary.

In the Syrian capital Damascus, very familiar to Mary, hundreds of men and women once earned a living working with roses, from which they distilled rosewater and extracted attar and rose syrup. These people carried the scent of roses with them wherever they went. This is a lesson for us: let us become so saturated with the virtues of Mary, the Madonna of the Rose, that we carry their fragrance and attract other souls to our Divine Lord through His Mother, the Mystical Rose, the Madonna of the Rose.

Among the many feasts of Our Lady we find mentioned in an old Latin chronicle: “January 30, Our Lady of the Rose, at Lucca in Italy. Three roses were found in January in the arms of the statue of Our Lady there.”

Cardinal Newman says “Mary is the most beautiful flower ever seen in the spiritual world. It is by the power of God’s grace that from this barren and desolate earth there ever sprung up at all flowers of holiness and glory; and Mary is the Queen of them all. She is the Queen of spiritual flowers; and therefore, is called the Rose, for the rose is called of all flowers the most beautiful. But, moreover, she is the Mystical or Hidden Rose, for mystical means hidden.”

 

In the stately college of King’s Chapel, in Cambridge, England, one of the most renowned universities, built by Henry VIII in memory of his father, there can be discerned, hidden in one of the Tudor rose-bosses on the walls, a small head of Our Lady which somehow escaped observation at the despoliation of images at the Protestant Deformation. Brother John, a clever carver, was hired to carve all of the roses; knowing of the king’s quarrel with the pope, he secretly carved a tiny head of Mary, half-hidden within the rose petals in the upper tier of decorations, saying, “There you remain, Our Lady of the Rose, even if wicked men try to drive you and your Son from this Church.” His words came true, when the place was stripped of every trace of Faith, the diminutive head of the Mother of God still remained.

But a rose has thorns, and so had the Mystical Rose – the sharpest for herself alone; so she could have compassion on our infirmities. Never did the breath of evil spoil the splendour of this Mystical Rose; never did God’s lovely flower, the Madonna of the Rose, cease to give forth the sweet perfume of love and praise.

“Mystical Rose, thou hast been hailed to shed they fragrance sweet, to flood our desert with thy perfume rare. We beg thee, daily kneeling at thy feet, let fall thy petals for our repose, shower upon us thy aroma, O thou Mystical Rose.”

www.roman-catholic-saints.com

Click here to send a Rose to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico in February

Litany of the Infant Jesus

by

A beautiful litany prayer to the Infant Jesus that offers a wonderful meditation throughout the year but especially during Christmas season.

 

Litany

 

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy,

Christ, have mercy, Christ, have mercy,

Lord have mercy, Lord, have mercy.

Infant Jesus, hear us, Infant Jesus, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

 

Infant Jesus, have mercy on us.

Infant, very God, have mercy on us.

Infant, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us.

Infant, Son of the Virgin Mary, have mercy on us.

Infant, begotten before the morning star, have mercy on us.

Infant, Word made flesh, have mercy on us.

Infant, Wisdom of your Father, have mercy on us.

Infant, Purity of your mother, have mercy on us.

Infant, only Son of your Father, have mercy on us.

Infant, First-Born of you mother, have mercy on us.

Infant, Image of your Father, have mercy on us.

Infant, Creator of your mother, have mercy on us.

Infant, Splendour of your Father, have mercy on us.

Infant, Honour of your mother, have mercy on us.

Infant, equal to your Father, have mercy on us.

Infant, subject to your mother, have mercy on us.

Infant, Joy of your Father, have mercy on us.

Infant, Riches of your mother, have mercy on us.

Infant, Gift of your Father, have mercy on us.

Infant, Offering of your mother, have mercy on us.

Infant, precious fruit of a virgin, have mercy on us.

Infant, Creator of man, have mercy on us.

Infant, Power of God, have mercy on us.

Infant, our God, have mercy on us.

Infant, our Brother, have mercy on us.

Infant, perfect Man from your conception, have mercy on us.

Infant, ancient in wisdom from your childhood, have mercy on us.

Infant, Father of ages, have mercy on us.

Infant, of days, have mercy on us.

Infant, giving life, and nourished at the breast, have mercy on us.

Infant, Eternal Word, and making yourself dumb, have mercy on us.

Infant, weeping in the crib, have mercy on us.

Infant, thundering in heaven, have mercy on us.

Infant, terror of hell, have mercy on us.

Infant, Joy of Paradise, have mercy on us.

Infant, dreaded by tyrants, have mercy on us.

Infant, desired by the Magi, have mercy on us.

Infant, exiled from your people, have mercy on us.

Infant, King in exile, have mercy on us.

Infant, Destroyer of idols, have mercy on us.

Infant, Vindicator of the glory of God, have mercy on us.

Infant, strong in weakness, have mercy on us.

Infant, powerful in abasement, have mercy on us.

Infant, Treasure of Grace, have mercy on us.

Infant, Fountain of Love, have mercy on us.

Infant, Author of the blessings of heaven, have mercy on us.

Infant, Repairer of the evils of earth,have mercy on us.

Infant, Head of the angels, have mercy on us.

Infant, Stem of the patriarchs, have mercy on us.

Infant, Word of the prophets, have mercy on us.

Infant, Expectation of nations, have mercy on us.

Infant, Joy of the shepherds, have mercy on us.

Infant, Light of the Magi, have mercy on us.

Infant, Salvation of children, have mercy on us.

Infant, Hope of the just, have mercy on us.

Infant, Teacher of doctors, have mercy on us.

Infant, First-fruits of the saints, have mercy on us.

 

Be merciful, spare us, O Infant Jesus.

Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Infant Jesus.

 

From the bondage of the children of Adam, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the slavery of the devil, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the corruption of the world, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the lust of the flesh, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the pride of life, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the immoderate desire of knowledge, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the blindness of mind, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From the perversity of will, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

From our sins, Infant Jesus, deliver us.

Through your most pure conception, deliver us.

Through your most humble birth, deliver us.

Through your tears, deliver us.

Through your most painful circumcision, deliver us.

Through your most glorious epiphany, deliver us.

Through your most devout presentation, deliver us.

Through your most innocent conversation in the world, deliver us.

Through your most holy life, deliver us.

Through your poverty, deliver us.

Through your sorrows, deliver us.

Through your labours and travails, deliver us.

 

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Infant Jesus.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Infant Jesus.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us, O Infant Jesus.

 

Infant Jesus, hear us, Infant Jesus, graciously hear us.

 

Let us pray:

O Lord Jesus, who allowed the greatness of your incarnate divinity and most sacred humanity to be born in time, to become a little child, and to suffer bitter death, grant that we may acknowledge infinite wisdom in the silence of a child, power in weakness, majesty in abasement, so that adoring your humility and littleness on earth we may contemplate your glories in heaven. We ask this of you, who, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns God, forever and ever. Amen.

The Chaplet of the Holy Infant Jesus

by

 

Divine Infant Jesus, I venerate Your cross and accept all the crosses You will be pleased to send me.

Adorable Trinity, I offer You for the glory of the Holy Name of God, all the adorations of the Sacred Heart of the Holy Infant Jesus.

“And the Word was Made Flesh and dwelt among us.”

Our Father… (3 times, in honour of the Holy Family)

“And The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us”

Hail Mary… (12 times, in honour of the twelve years of the Holy Infancy)

 

The Divine Infant promised Ven. Marguerite that He would grant special graces, above all, purity of heart and innocence, to all who carried this chaplet on their person and recited it in honour of the mysteries of His Holy Infancy.

Efficacious prayer to the Holy Child Jesus

by

O Child Jesus, I have recourse to Thee by Thy Holy Mother; I implore Thee to assist me in this necessity, for I firmly believe that Thy Divinity can assist me. I confidently hope to obtain Thy holy grace. I love Thee with my whole heart and my whole soul. I am heartily sorry for my sins, and I entreat Thee, O good Jesus, to give me strength to overcome them.

I firmly resolve never to offend Thee again and to suffer everything rather than displease Thee. Henceforth, I wish to serve Thee faithfully. For love of Thee, O divine Child, I will love my neighbour as myself. O Jesus, omnipotent Child, I entreat Thee again to come to my assistance in this necessity. (Here mention the necessity.) Grant me the grace of possessing Thee eternally with Mary and Joseph, and of adoring Thee with Thy Holy Angels and Saints. Amen.

 

Prayer from a revelation said to have been made by the Blessed Mother to the Ven. Servant of God, Father Cyril of the Mother of God, who died in the odour of sanctity in 1675.

Our Lady of the Word

by

Our Lady of Speech

FEAST DAY: 14 JANUARY

In the year 1514, Our Lady was venerated at a shrine near Montserrat, Spain. Her aid was invoked on behalf of a dumb man who went on pilgrimage there, and the Blessed Virgin miraculously restored his speech. From that time on she was given the title Our Lady of Speech.

Here again the words of the “Memorare” were verified:

“Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to you do I come, before you I kneel, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me.”

When God was made man, it was she who gave voice to the Word. In the Magnificat, God the Holy Ghost, her mystical spouse, spoke though her. When Christ was a child, she was His voice. When Our Lord was a man, He spoke for himself, while his mother remained silent. After the Ascension, she again became His voice as she guided the infant Church through those perilous times. Over and over again the words of God came through her, for she is His Mediatrix of grace, the link between us and Him.

Vested with the almighty power of her Divine Son, Mary, imitating Him, visits the earth, going about doing good, granting petitions, supplying the needs of those who invoke her, and giving solace, comfort and aid to her children. She is indeed Our Lady of the Word; Mother of the Word Incarnate; “And the Word was made Flesh and dwelt among us,” through her “Fiat.”

As a consequence, even while on earth, His Mother’s word had great influence upon Christ. “They have no wine,” uttered in behalf of the embarrassed newlyweds at Cana, was all that was necessary to bring forth her Sons’ first miracle.

And so, down the ages, Mary hearkens to the words of her Calvary-born children and speaks in their behalf to Jesus. Her intercession, her word, her speech, is never in vain. Let us never cease to invoke this powerful protectress, who wants nothing more than to intercede for us, her children, before the throne of God.

 

*from The Woman in Orbit