"The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God'" (Luke 1:35).

Reflection for the Day

The Grace Bestowed Upon the Holy Virgin

Saint Thomas Aquinas stated that when God chooses a person for a specific job, mission, or position in life, He equips that person with the spiritual, mental, and physical gifts necessary for that job. Now consider how God endowed the Virgin Mary with the exalted position of Mother of God and how many extraordinary gifts God bestowed upon her.

Blessed Virgin Mary, immaculately conceived was granted indescribable merits above all the saints and angels. All the supernatural and natural gifts, the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, shone forth in the Blessed Virgin in their greatest perfection. The Blessed Virgin is the most blessed of all women. No other person born into this world has the freedom to choose his mother. But only Jesus Christ was able to choose his mother.

When the Messiah chose Mary, she became the most blessed of all women. God could create many other worlds like this one. But Saint Bonaventure states that a more perfect mother could not be created than the Holy Virgin. Mary is the name given by God, after giving her all the virtues. Let us strive to become blessed through the practice of Christian virtues. For this, let us seek the intercession of the Holy Mother.

Incident to reflect for the Day

Once, some people brought a dead body to Saint Alphonsus Liguori. They asked Alphonsus Liguori to bring the dead man back to life. Liguori prayed to God, declaring his firm faith in the Blessed Virgin. A miracle took place while many people watched. The man they had pronounced dead opened his eyes. He began to breathe. All who saw the sight were astonished. Saint Alphonsus Liguori himself described this event as his biography.

Prayer for the Day

O God, who adorned the Blessed Virgin with a purity that surpasses the purity of all the saints, grant us the grace to live a pure life without defilement of the grace we received in Baptism. May we follow your divine Mother, deepening in holiness day by day, fulfilling the duties of our lives. Amen

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate,despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Oh Holy Mary, conceived without original sin! O refuge of sinners! Here we come to your refuge. Have mercy on us and pray for us to your Son.

Our Father..Hail Mary..Glory be

Repeat Three times

Litany of Mother Mary

Hail Holy Queen

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our Life, our Sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then most gracious advocate, Thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us, the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us O Holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

Let us pray. 

O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Petitions to the Holy Mother of God

• Refuge of sinners! Pray for the Holy Church.

Hail Mary..

• Refuge of sinners! Pray for the conversion of the Gentiles and others.

Hail Mary..

• Refuge of sinners! Pray for the political authorities to uphold truth and justice.

Hail Mary..

• Refuge of sinners! Pray for the authorities of the Holy Church, such as the Pope and others.

Hail Mary..

• Refuge of sinners! Pray for the souls in purgatory, who are your beloved children.

Hail Mary..

Aspiration Prayer for the Day

Mary, Queen of Heaven, be our Queen on earth.