Glorious Mysteries
The Descent of the Holy Spirit, by Fr Hardon SJ

Introduction
The present meditation is on the Third Glorious Mystery of the Rosary, the Descent of the Holy Spirit. The Third Glorious Mystery, is the consummation of all the other Mysteries of the Rosary before what began at Nazareth on earth ended at Jerusalem on earth. We may safely say that the Person who came down on Our Lady at Nazareth was the same Divine Person who came down on those awaiting His coming in Jerusalem. At Nazareth the Angel told Our Lady that the Holy Spirit would come upon her so that she would conceive and bear a Son who would be the Son of the Most High. Thus the Holy Spirit began the work of the Incarnation. As the Spouse of the Holy Spirit, Mary became the Mother of God become Man. That was the beginning. Some thirty-three years intervened then the purpose of that first coming of the Holy Spirit on Our Lady was finally fulfilled when He actually descended and the term we should use descended on the Church and has been descending ever since. I've checked my sources - one Pope after another for centuries back says it was because Mary was with those people in Jerusalem. It was her intercession, her prayer that obtained the coming of the Holy Spirit that her Son had promised but I repeat had promised indeed but conditioned on Mary's intercessory prayer. TO READ WHOLE TEXT CLICK HERE

Credits: after Our Lady of the Rosary - Marian Retreat from
Real Presence Eucharistic Education and Adoration Association

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Regina Sacratissimi Rosarii

Come over to me and be filled with my gifts.

Thus saith the Lord to me: Make thee bands and chains: and thou shalt put them on thy neck. (Jer 27:2).

Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains. Bow down thy shoulder and bear her, and be not grieved with her bands. Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all thy power. Search for her and she shall be made known to thee, and when thou hast gotten her let her not go; for in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall be turned to thy joy. Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee and a firm foundation, and her chains a robe of glory, for in her is the beauty of life, and her bands a healthful binding. (Ecclus. 6:25-31).

Why does our Lady so love the Rosary? Because in it we call to mind the great things her divine Son has done for her and for mankind. How disappointing when we receive a signal kindness from any one to find the others do not seem to appreciate or value it at its true worth! How our hearts, overflowing with gratitude, are burning that all should recognize the generosity of the act, the thoughtfulness that prompted it, the delicacy with which it has been carried, etc.; and when we find some sympathizing friend who seems to grasp the matter in all its bearings, and proportionately to praise our benefactors, do we not rejoice as if had found a treasure? So does Mary watch with loving gratitude her children who

ponder over the mysteries of the Rosary, seeking to understand them and finding, ever more and more, cause for wonder, praise and thankfulness. In the Annunciation we turn over in our minds that most astonishing proof of God's love for man, the Incarnation, and His wonderful condescension in choosing to have a Mother. In the Visitation we see Him selecting that Mother's salutation as an instrument for working miracles of grace in the soul of the Baptist, and we re-echo Mary's cry that He hath done great things for her, thereby giving unspeakable joy to her heart. In the third mystery we bend lovingly over her infant Son, praising, loving, consoling Him by our presence and sympathy. The sorrowful decades bring before us the excess to which her divine Offspring carried His generosity and burning love for man, and the glorious ones record His victory over death and the honours He bestowed on the Mother who had been so true to Him in life. What wonder that Mary loves the Rosary, and obtains such striking graces for those who say it with devotion! What marvel that our Holy Father the Pope holds it is such esteem! Rosary is a summary of God's goodness to us, and makes us bear in mind the great things He has done in order to win our love and save us from eternal ruin. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all he hath done for thee," might be our cry after telling our beads: "For He that is mighty hath done great things for me, and holy is His name".
Then, apart from the considerations that occupy our chief thoughts during its recitation and supply the colouring to the words we say, there are the words themselves, than which we can scarce conceive any more pleasing to God. The "Our Father", given by our Lord Himself to His disciples when they asked Him to teach them to pray. The "Hail Mary", said in the first place by an archangel, that archangel having been sent on a special mission by God, and therefore delivering the message with which he had been charged by the Almighty, and to whose words we add those of St Elizabeth, uttered when the Lord had just worked a miracle of grace within her. If, in the Rosary, we did nothing else but to say fifty times, as we do: "Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus" we could understand it filling the heart of Mary with exultation and gratitude. For of there are few sorrows greater than hearing those we love reviled and maligned - and in her case there could have been none greater, for Him whom she loved with her whole being was her God - so she can have no higher joy than listening to His praises. Willingly, then, does she hearken to the last part of the "Hail Mary", when the first has been said with reverence, and many are the graces she will obtain for us, now and at the hour of our death, if we are constant and faithful in the use of this devotion. The "Gloria", with which each decade ends, is a reminder that the chief duty of a creature towards its Creator is praise; and if we have pondered well the mystery we have been contemplating, we shall not be at loss for motive to excite ourselves to the spirit of praise in the highest degree.

Queen of the most Holy Rosary, pray for us.

The holy cards included in this meditation are from the Italian discourse on the Marian devotions of the Pope St Pius Vth. The first Holy card image is a reproduction of the famous painting by Giovanni Battiste Sassoferrato "Regina Sacratissim Rosarri". Enjoy and pray your Rosary daily, it is the most Catholic devotion and brings all necessary graces to devotees for their salvation. Guaranteed!

Text after "My Mother and My Queen"

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Latin Mass Society Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden in London.

October is the Month of the Holy Rosary and London's Catholics show devotion to Our Lady through participation in the Rosary Crusade of Reparation, and in the Pilgrimages to the Shrines of Our Lady of Walsingham and Our Lady of Willesden. Today we visited Our Lady of Willesden shrine where Our Blessed Mother and Queen was honoured and venerated since 10th century up to Reformation upheaval. Pilgrimages and devotion to Our Lady was forbidden whereas her statue was burnt at stake. The shrine was visited by thousands of Catholics, including prominent political and religious figures such as St Thomas Moore, great scholar, martyr and Lord Chancellor in times of King Henry the VIIIth. St Thomas lost his life for being faithful to his Christian principles and faith. He defended the practice of pilgrimages (citing Willesden as an example) against the attacks of reformers like Thomas Bilney. His last visit to the shrine was in 1534, just before his arrest. He was beheaded in 1535 and canonised by Pope Pius XI in 1935.

Another prominent religious figure and saint who visited the Shrine was St Josemaria Escriva, the founder of the Opus Dei. He made two visits, on 15th August 1958 and 17th August 1962, to renew consecration of Opus Dei to the Name of Mary. St Josemaria died in 1975 and was canonised by Pope John Paul II in 2002. Every year, on the Feast of the Assumption, members of Opus Dei living in London make private pilgrimages to Willesden, in the footsteps of their Founder.

Our pilgrimage started with Holy Rosary recitation followed by small conference held by Fr Laurence Hemming. He told us a beautiful legend of the origin of devotion to Our Lady of Willesden. The small plaque above Church's door depict the story and can be seen on the movie below. The legend tells us about certain monk who lived in the Middle Ages. Sadly, he was addicted to gambling, however, he was devoted to Our Lady throughout his whole life and whenever he came across Our Lady's statue or shrine he promptly knelt down and said his prayers. His inordinate life brought him to death without confession and at that time, when the rules of religious life where kept very carefully, his body could not stay overnight in the Church, as his soul was considered lost, but was kept outside in the Church's courtyard. During the night, Our Lady appeared in a dream to parish priest of the Church and she asked him very firmly to bring poor man's body inside the Church. She said he was very faithful in his devotion to her and all his prayers were very pleasing to her, like if a lily grew out of his mouth. After the conference, Solemn High Mass was celebrated - (celebrant was Revd Fr Patrick Hayward) and our little pilgrimage came to the end with after Mass prayers before the statue of Our Lady. It was very beautiful day and spiritually rich experience, and if anyone would like to read more about OLW shrine I include the link: HERE

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Saturday - Day of Our Lady!

Refuge of sinners, pray for us!

This is the second invocation extending "Cause of our joy" one and implies conviction Our Lady Immaculate can help us all in temporary and spiritual needs and miseries - in overcoming sins. How true it is, for she gave us her Son who became man to break the bond of sin and Satan. She fully cooperated with Our Redeemer for conversion of sinners, she prayed, interceded and sacrificed many beginning in Bethlehem up to Golgotha's last moment. Her whole life on earth was dedicated to serve sinners. This is what she continue to do for us in Heaven, helping sinners to abandon sinful ways and to gain Heaven through Our Lord merits. Confirmation of this Catholic belief is founded on writings of Church's Fathers and theologians including St Alphonsus, St Bonaventura and St Blaise. For example, St Alphonsus says Our Lady's zeal for salvation of souls is so great she herself seeks them first to bring help. Furthermore, St Bonaventure think Our Lady, like Ruth from Old Testament, found favour in God's eyes for the very purpose of salvation of abandoned souls. St Blaise ensures us that even the worst of the worst sinner can obtain Our Lady's greatest assistance without delay when asked for. St Bernard of Siena cites the words of St Peter that Satan like a roaring lion looks for souls to devour, whereas Our Lady with great dedication and tirelessly looks for souls in need of help. We can certainly think about Mary as our help and refuge from the misery of sin and evil passions. We can always turn and cling to her in all spiritual needs and we can certainly ask her assistance not only for our needs but also for the conversion of those from our family or friends who went astray. She will always listen to our prayers for the conversion of sinners. How beautiful, true and powerful is the prayer said in trust and love: "Hail, Mary, full of grace, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death"

Holy card above from Holy Cards for Your Inspiration blog

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