The Precious Blood & Mother

Today is the last day of July and the month of reparation is drawing to a close.

I have been sharing prayers from The Precious Blood & Mother manual that I had received from The Contemplative Sister Adorers of the Precious Blood in New York. One of the most beautiful and comprehensive prayer books I have ever seen. This book, whilst not big, is 156pgs long and it has so many, many prayers to numerous to share in this month alone.

I wanted to end this month by adding two final things from the book, a prayer and a poem.

The book is called The Precious Blood & Mother - and so the prayer is to "The Precious Blood", one of reparation from pg47:

Act of Reparation to the Precious Blood

Adorable Jesus, Lamb without spot, who ceasest not to pour forth Thy Divine Blood in order to appease and justice of Thy Heavenly Father; innocent and thrice holy Victim, who hast paid for the guilty a ransom infinite in merit and in sacrifice, I come before Thee to render thanksgiving for Thy benefits to us, and to make some poor amends for the crimes committed upon earth. Lord, how small, alas, are the number of those who do Thee honor, and how numerous, on the contrary, are they who despise and trample under foot Thy Precious Blood! How many daily satiate Thee with the approbrium of Calvary!

O Jesus, by the potent voice of Thy Divine Blood, and in the name of the infinite merits of Thy heart-rending Passion, I implore Thy mercy, not for myself alone, but for the many souls who, resisting the call of grace, refuse to seek, at the foot of the Cross, or under the shadow of the Tabernacle, pardon and life. Pity, gentle Jesus, pity all these; pity also those who dare to approach Thee all uncleansed, and to mingle Thine adorable Blood with the mire of their sins. Yes, pity, mercy, pardon! We implore these graces in the name of Thy Blood and Thy Eucharist!

Most holy Mary, bless me! Take my heart, hold it fast, and keep it in perpetual adoration before the altar; that there it may ever be, glorifying Jesus, and making reparation for the outrages offered to His Blood.

The second edition tonight is a poem on pg 5 in honor of Mary (and all dear mothers) in the, "& Mother" in the prayer manual title:

There are soft words murmured by dear, dear lips,

Far richer than any other;

But the sweetest word that the ear hath heard

Is the blessed name of "Mother."

O magical word! may it never die

From the lips that love to speak it,

Nor melt away from the trusting heart

That even would break to keep it.

Was there ever a name that lived like this?

Will there ever be such another?

The Angels have reared in Heaven a shrine

To the holy name of "Mother."

The Blood that Saves

HT: Unborn Jesus

I wanted to share, before the month of the Precious Blood finishes, two inspiring email letters I had received from HLI (Human Life International) written by Fr. Tom Euteneuer about the Precious Blood of Jesus. Just wonderful reading, please stop by and have a look, they don't long to read.

The Blood that Saves
The Demonic Abortion Industry (The Precious Blood is particularly efficacious in combating the devil, since it is the Blood that saved us.)

An Offering of the Precious Blood of Jesus

Here is a prayer on pg 6 of The Precious Blood & Mother manual:

Offering of the Precious Blood to the Eternal Father to Obtain His Blessing

Eternal Father, we offer Thee the Most Precious Blood which flowed for us from the wound in the right hand of Jesus, and by the merits and virtue of this Precious Blood, we supplicate Thy Divine Majesty to grant us Thy holy benediction in order that by it we may be protected against our enemies and delivered from all evil.

May the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, descend upon us and abide with us for ever. Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

Good St Anne

Today is the feast of my name saint, St Anne. What a wonderful, powerful intercessor she is to mothers and christian families! In all my years of ill health I have read and cried over these beautiful words from a St Anne handbook, that have given me greater trust and hope:

"St Anne obtains many graces, priceless graces for those who invoke her, but she grants her maternal assistance in particular to Christian mothers. She preserves peace in married life, restores harmony in discord, and wonderfully changes a husband's bad disposition. She protects the birth of children in an extraordinary manner, bestows blessing that lighten the tast of rearing children properly, brings wayward children back upon the right path, obtains restoration of health for the sick mother, preserves her precious life for the helpless children and prevents the loss of husband and father."

I would dearly love to talk more tonight about this beautiful saint, the mother of Our Lady and I may still do that tomorrow, but I want to place this beautiful prayer to St Anne from The Precious Blood & Mother manual from pg 114:

Novena To Saint Anne to Obtain some Special Favour

Glorious St. Anne, filled with compassion for those who invoke thee, and with love for those who suffer, heavily laden with the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at thy feet and humbly beg of thee to take the present affair which I recommend to thee, under thy special protection.

Vouchsafe to recommend it to thy Daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and lay it before the throne of Jesus, so that He may bring it to a happy issue. Cease not to intercede for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me the grace of one day beholding my God face to face, and with thee and Mary and all the Saints, praised and blessing Him for all eternity. Amen.

God St. Anne, mother of her who is our Life, our Sweetness and our Hope, pray to her for us, and obtain our request. (3 times).

Thanks to St Joseph in the Month of the Precious Blood

I wanted to post a beautiful prayer in honour of St Joseph from The Precious Blood & Mother manual (pg 96) as we have received a singular, special grace from him today. One prayed for, asking for a miracle if it be God's Will.

We have felt the need for a while to turn to this powerful advocate for our family and work needs and I had been keeping a look out for a lovely statue of St Joseph for a while. Last September we went interstate for a holiday and we visited a Marian Shrine where I found that statue! I asked dh if we could buy it but we hadn't brought cash with us this day, only our credit card and this shrine in the middle of nowhere did not have any facilities for it. Dh said, "If St Joseph wants us, he will provide the money, even here in the this isolated place."

For some reason I was full of a miraculous trust (not particuarly normal for me) so much so, that I felt sure that this money ($100 or so) would turn up behind a bush or under the mat of our car, on the floor - I just had TRUST!

We saw a beautiful Eucharistic procession wind it's way down to a grotto at the bottom end of the shrine and we followed. There we were given a sermon and had Benediction. My oldest daughter (who makes friends in an instant) and found a little friend a couple of years younger than herself and when the day had finished we started to make our way back to the cars. I chose to take a slower route to visit a few more little shrines along the way. As I looked at the last one, I saw my daughter, her little friend and the girl's mother walking towards me...."Anne?" said the girl's mum. The long and short of it was I sell Catholic dolls for the Carmelite Sisters in Lismore and this lady was my main seller in this state! She had been walking along, talking to my daughter and she had said, "Has your mother seen the Faithdolls for sale at the stall?" And my daughter chirped back, "My mother is the Faithdoll lady in Australia!!" I had not told this lady I was visiting her state but here we met up under the most incredible of circumstances!!

Next moment as we are deep in conversation, my friend says, "Oh, while you are here, I might as well give you all the money I have from the sale of the dolls as I was about to make it into a money order and send it to you! "

Do I have to tell you what happened next?

It was the amount I needed!! I couldn't get to the piety stall quick enough (nearly fell headlong over a small, chain fence in my eargerness) and as I walked up to the building, someone was walking out with a statue of St Joseph!!!! There had been two in the stall, but I was SO afraid they had bought the last one......but there was one left and it was the one I had chosen out of the two IF I had had the money.

Needless to say, I felt very LOVED by Saint Joseph that day. We all did and we also knew that St Joseph wanted us to entrust our future to him in a special way.

Thank you St Joseph, we love you!

Act of Thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity for the Privileges Granted to Saint Joseph

O Eternal Father! I adore Thee, I love Thee, and I thank Thee with all my heart, because in Thy infinite power Thou hast chosen St Joseph to be the Spouse of Mary Immaculate. In thanksgiving for this privilege and for all the favours bestowed on St Joseph, I offer the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

O Eternal Son! I adore Thee, I love Thee, and I thank Thee with all my heart, because in Thy infinite wisdom, Thou hast chosen St Joseph to be Thy Foster-Father on earth. In thanksgiving for this privilege and for all the favours conferred on St Joseph, I offer Thee Thy Most Precious Blood.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

O Eternal Holy Spirit! I adore Thee, I love Thee, and I thank Thee with all my heart, because in Thy infinite love, thou has chosen St Joseph to be the Guardian of Jesus and Mary. In thanksgiving for this privilege and for all the favours conferred on St Joseph, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.

Glory be to the Father, etc.

St Mary Magdalen's feast & the breaking of the Alabaster Jar

Today is the feast of St Mary Magdalen, one of the Church’s most famous penitents. She sinned greatly but at her repentance she then loved even greater still.

She gave her all.

It is signified in the breaking of the alabaster jar of precious, perfumed ointment, here is the story from John’s gospel, Chapter 12:

1 Jesus therefore, six days before the pasch, came to Bethania, where Lazarus had been dead, whom Jesus raised to life.
2 And they made him a supper there: and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that were at table with him.
3 Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of right spikenard, of great price, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4 Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, he that was about to betray him, said:
5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6 Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the purse, carried the things that were put therein.
7 Jesus therefore said: Let her alone, that she may keep it against the day of my burial.
8 For the poor you have always with you; but me you have not always.

There is a beautiful connection to Mary’s actions and those of women who are totally consecrated to Jesus as nuns – they give their very all.

Read the words of this beautiful, moving lyrics of a song:

The Alabaster Jar

by Sr. Ashley, a Poor Clare Postulant

Break the alabaster jar

And pour it at his feet

Like Mary Magdalene who then began to weep

Don’t be afraid to give Him your all

You’ve been called to break the alabaster jar

He has asked you for an undivided heart

From the world and all its vanities

You must set yourself apart

Follow where He leads you with true docility

And He will bless you abundantly

In this life and vale of tears

So many separations, so many fears

Go to the Blessed Sacrament

Pour out your heart to Him

He will love you, always love Him

Learn to love suffering

Embrace the Cross

Thank Him for every trial and pain

Never count the loss

This grace He has given you

To share in His own

Accept it, and let him lead you home

Drop by drop you must pour

Even when you think you can’t bear anymore

If you surrender everything

Holding nothing back

He will make up for that which you lack

You must break the alabaster jar

And pour it at his feet

Like Mary Magdalene who then began to weep

Don’t be afraid to give Him your all

You’ve been called to break the alabaster jar

Break the alabaster jar
And pour it at it his feet
Like Mary Magdalene who then began to weep
Don’t be afraid to give Him your all
You’ve been called to break the alabaster jar

You’ve been called to break the alabaster jar...

I remember a beautiful episode on Life on the Rock at EWTN that I had watched and I was struck by this beautiful song called “The Alabaster Jar.” These lovely, young Poor Clare Nuns were singing it so sweetly, to the soft, strumming of a harp. St Alison was the young sister playing the harp and she had this to say about the song:

“The song is called the Alabaster Jar written by my sister Ashley (also a Poor Clare Nun.) Basically, when I was discerning my vocation, a Carmelite Nun said, “You’ve got to break the alabaster jar of your life.” And I thought about it, “That’s what I want to do, spend it all for God.” After I entered the Poor Clares, my sister wrote this song on the feast of St Therese, and Therese said, “Jesus for you my ointment jar I break the perfume of my life is Thine.” And this song, it talks about how Mary Magdalen, she broke the jar and gave it all to Jesus. She was criticized for it, when she could have spent it for the poor. A young girl can be criticized for giving her whole life to the cloister for Jesus because people say, “You could do so much more if you were out in the world.” But God deserves our all, so that’s our vocation, to spend it all."

You can hear this beautiful song by clicking here
Please scroll down to episode #336

Then click on “Listen Now” and then fast forward to 11mins into the show,

if you have any young daughters, sit them down to hear this, for this special feast day!

The song would also make beautiful copywork.

Here is a prayer to Mary Magdalen from The Precious Blood & Mother manual on pg 108:

(St. Mary Magdalen said to St. Mechtilde: “Whoever shall give God thanks for all the tears I shed upon the feet of Jesus, our most merciful God will grant him, through my intercession, remission of all his sins before his death, and a great increase of love of God.”)

O most merciful Jesus, I give Thee thanks for that work of piety which the blessed Mary Magdalen wrought on Thee, when she washed Thy feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed them and anointed them with fragrant ointment; whereby she obtained from Thee such signal grace that Thou didst pour into her heart and soul so great a love of Thee, that she could love nothing apart from Thee; beseeching Thee, that by her merits and intercessions Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give me tears of true repentance and pour into my heart Thy divine love. Amen.

Hymn to the Precious Blood

From pg 8 of The Precious Blood & Mother manual
is this hymn to the Precious Blood, it would make
lovely copywork in the month of the Precious Blood.

Hymn to the Precious Blood

Glory to Thee, Glory to Thee.
O Blood of our Saviour,
We adore evermore, we adore evermore,
Blood of the Eucharist and Calvary.

Thou, O Jesus, art my portion,
Here on earth, and after above.
To Thy Blood I bring the homage
Of my heart and all my love.
I’ll live, O Jesus, for Thy glory.
Immolating all to Thee,
Thy cross, Thy Eucharist divine,
Have alone sweet charms for me.

From Thy wounds, all torn and bleeding,
I behold a painful sight,
Crimson Blood-drops ever flowing,
Pleading love both day and night.
It flows, yet sinners, so ungrateful,
Mock its pains with laughing jeers,
At least Virgins whom Thou lovest,
With Thy Blood shall mingle tears.

Come infuse the grace and fervor,
That should fill my heart for Thee;
A deep love, that never seeketh,
Save Thy cross its joy to be.
And when the guilty world forgets Thee,
Heedless of Thy Blood Divine,
My God, with seraphic ardor,
Come inflame this heart of mine.

If by pain and immolation
I could see the sinner rest
Safe within Thine arms paternal,
This reward would be the best.
While in this weary land of exile
My sole joy is found near Thee,
With Thy Grace and Blood so Precious
I await eternity.

The above is a translation of “Gloire au Sang.”
The favourite hymn of the Holy Foundress,
Mother Catherine Aurelia (foundress of the Sister
Adorers of the Precious Blood.)

Prayer to the Holy Cross in the Month of the Precious Blood

A beautiful prayer to the Holy Cross from The Precious Blood & Mother manual pg 23, I just love the imagery in this prayer (and so many like this one, in this special manual.)

Prayer to the Holy Cross

Hail, O Holy Cross, my light and my strength! bond of my redemption, my salvation and my glory. Hail, O Holy Cross, my refuge and my shelter! Hail, emblem of grace, consolation of the afflicted, impregnable wall against the power of the evil spirit! Hail, standard of peace, empurpled by the Blood of Jesus, and ornamented by His Sacred Limbs as though by precious stones! O Holy Cross, thou through whom we have obtained eternal glory, be my victor over all inimical powers, the remedy for all my ills, my support in my weariness, and the guarantee of the resurrection of my body. May Jesus, the God-Man, our Saviour, Who shed His Blood for us, protect me through Thee and conduct me to my heavenly home. Amen.

Prayer before an Operation in the Month of the Precious Blood

Tonight I’d thought I would put this prayer on from The Precious Blood & Mother manual pg 152. As there is often a time in our lives when loved ones or ourselves need to undergo surgery.

A dear friend of mine (in her early 30’s) *Editing to add a link (2011) required open heart surgery earlier this week, she is a mother of five, all under the age of 13. Many were praying for a very good outcome and it was successful!

She was able to have her mitral valve repaired rather than have a plastic valve to replace the damaged one. This is a great blessing, it means no blood-thinner drugs for the rest of her life and still keeps open the possibility for more children in the future.

Prayer Before An Operation

Father, as I face this operation, I come to You with my fears and misgivings and ask You to put into my heart the needed courage to face the day with unwavering confidence in Your goodness and protection. May the knowledge that You do not slumber nor sleep while I am in a deep sleep, be an assurance to me that I need not worry nor be afraid. Calm my nerves, put my mind at ease and, in Your Mercy, forgive me all my sins.

Give the surgeon a steady hand and the skill to do his task with ease and perfection. Give to my loved ones the reassuring faith that You are with us, the Keeper of my body and the Lover of my soul! Calm all their anxieties during the coming hours of my operation.

Into Your Hands I entrust my well being. All this I ask, Father, in the Name of Jesus and through the merits of His Most Precious Blood. Amen.

Adoring the Precious Blood of Jesus

Here is another beautiful prayer from the Precious Blood & Mother pg 143

Offering of the Hour of Adoration

August Mother of a Crucified God! I come to adore the Blood of thy Jesus; that Blood which my sins have caused to flow and which has been shed only to deliver me from the Eternal malediction pronounced against them.

Moved to repentance, penetrated with gratitude, I should wish to render to the generous Blood of my beloved Redeemer every homage of glorification and love of thanksgiving and reparation which He has a right to expect from those whom He has redeemed at so great a price.

Permit me, then O our Lady of the Precious Blood, to fall on my knees before thee, most humbly begging thee to bless me. Yes, dearest Mother, bless me; bless this “Hour of Adoration” and deign to unite it to the three hours of agony during which thou didst adore the Soul of thy Crucified Son transpierced with sorrow; the bleeding victim exposed on the Altar of the Cross. Impregnate my heart with all the sentiments which filled thine own and communicate to it that spirit of adoration, compassion, reparation and zeal which was so sweet to Jesus Crucified and so useful to souls.

Offer to God, perpetually immolated on the altar, all the pious exercises by which, during the hour of adoration, I wish to render homage to His Divine Blood. Penetrate me with the devotion of which this Blood is the source in order that I may adore It in a manner which may glorify It, repair the outrages of which It is the object, save a countless number of souls and, above all, obtain that not one of those who will appear today before the throne of Eternal Justice may be rejected from the number of the Elect who are to receive unending mercy, love and happiness.

May thy intercession, O Mary, obtain these graces for the glory of the blood of thy Son Jesus! Amen.

What stopped the French Revolution?

Have you ever wondered?

Well first we need to analyse what was the main objective of the conspirators who created this horrific period in history.

The total destruction of the Catholic Church, to be replaced by atheisim.

The devil wished to completely crush this Catholic nation, known as “The Oldest Daughter of the Church” - this Catholic land so ancient. It's very beginning, blossoming from the arrival of Lazarus, Martha & Mary Madgalen to it's shores so many, many centuries before.

But this demonic Goliath was brought down by a ‘David’ – 16 of them to be precise, whose slingshot was loaded with a powerful sacrifice of love that brought the French Revolution crumbling to the dust.

Who are these Davids?

Sixteen Carmelite Nuns of Compiègne who had been thrown out of their monastery (like many orders were) and then later condemned to death by guillotine. Sometime in 1792, Mother Teresa of St Augustine had the thought to make an act of consecration, to make of themselves a holocaust to God for the end of this satanic reign.

This holocaust found it’s fulfilment 2 years later as the community of Carmelites were lead to their execution.

But this execution was different.

Usually the Parisian crowd would be jeering and shouting the executioners on in their grisly task but as the Carmelite’s voices were raised in chant the crowd became silent.

This was a sight like no other, this was a sound like no other. Witnesses would later say that they looked like brides going to their wedding feast.

The youngest sister was the first to die, and one by one the chant grew fainter until there was only one voice left, that of Mother Teresa.

Then there was silence.

A silence that resounded through the hearts and minds of the people, culminating in the deafening reply of the complete collapse of the Revolution 10 days later, 27 of July 1794.

10 days later... a sign had been surely left for the world to know exactly why this had ended so abruptly, so unexpectedly.

The Church has a tradition that is rooted in the New Testament – that of a novena.

Prayers for nine days then followed by the tenth day, which is the ‘feast’ of those previous nine days of petition. The Apostles and Our Lady were the first to pray and offer such a novena.

When Christ ascended back to His Heavenly Father, He promised them the Holy Spirit who would lead and guide them, till the end of time. Naturally the Apostles were afraid and so they hid for nine days in the Upper Room, praying and fasting, calling upon the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen them, to hear their petitions.

On the tenth day, The Sanctifier came and poured out His Spirit and Life upon them and they boldly stepped out and started the mission that Jesus had left for them.

It was the birthday of the Church, with the baptising of thousands that day.

With the death of the 16 Martyrs of Compiègne we see a repeat of this ’10 days’ where their sacrifice found its Heavenly acceptance in the destruction of Satan’s ultimate plans for France.

This is a story that all should know.

Today I recalled this beautiful story to my children, with great emotion and love! (“Mummy, are you crying?”)

Here are some recommended reading and listening:

To Quell the Terror

The Song at the Scaffold

Poulenc 's opera Dialogues des Carmélites, became perhaps the most widely loved modern opera, even among non-Christians and nonbelievers. An opera that re-lives this moment in history, that has the Carmelites mounting the scaffold, chanting Salve Regina.


How blessed are we to have such saints in our Church and may we always celebrate their feast with great love and devotion each and every year!

Happy Feast Day!

Feast of Our Lady of Mt Carmel

(The Virgin of Carmel Moretto da Bresciac. 1522 Gallerie dell'Accademia, Venice)

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Mt Carmel – it is a Marian feast that is special to me. Our family has always had a close connection with the Carmelites, my parents are third order Carmelites.

My confirmation saint is St Theresa of Avila the great reformer of the Order and Doctor of the Church (along with St Therese another Carmelite Nun). I have worn the scapular since childhood, my husband also. Our children are enrolled in the scapular as well.

To read more about the Scapular and its meaning pop over to visit Ruth, she has a beautiful posting for the feast! Here is the beautiful prayer from the Precious Blood manual to Our Lady of Mt Carmel I posted about earlier in the week. Also, have a look at our scapular cake we had tonight!

I wanted to write something about the origins of the Carmelites but I am tired again tonight (I think I am under the influence of too much chocolate cake!) but I have found a link from the Australian Carmelite website that explains the origins and history so well that I will link you to it, I hope you have the time to stop by and read, its origins are rooted in the Old Testament in a special way and it is an order that has great devotion to the Mother of God.

It has given as so many great saints, including St Therese of the Little Flower, who gave us a profound and simple spirituality that could be adopted by all. If you have never read A Story of a Soul, I pray that you will consider reading it.

Over at 4Real one of the patrons is St. Teresa Benedicta (Edith Stein) a Jewish convert to the faith who died in a Aushwitz concentration camp during WWII. St John of the Cross who gave us The Dark Night of the Soul and I will stop there because I am afraid that I would mention too many but possibly leave out some that should receive a recommendation.

Their great saints and theologians have promoted devotion to the Mother of God and often championed the mystery of her Immaculate Conception. And on that note, I will place a beautiful prayer in Honour of the Immaculate Conception from the Precious Blood & Mother manual on pg 25.

Three Offerings of the Precious Blood in Thanksgiving for the Privilege of Mary’s Immaculate Conception (Recited before the Stations of the Cross)

Eternal Father, in union with the Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin, and in her name, and in union with all the Blessed in Heaven and all the Elect upon earth, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in thanksgiving for the gifts and privileges conferred on Thy most obedient Daughter, especially in her Immaculate Conception. I offer Thee also this Most Precious Blood for the conversion of all sinners, for the propagation and exaltation of our Holy Faith, for the conservation and prosperity of the Sovereign Pontiff of Rome and according to his intentions.
Glory Be to the Father etc.

Eternal and Incarnate Word, in union with the Most Holy and immaculate Virgin, and in her name, and in union with all the Saints and Angels in Heaven and all the Elect upon earth, I offer Thee Thy Most Precious Blood, in thanksgiving for the gifts and privileges conferred on Thy most loving Mother, especially in her Immaculate Conception. I offer Thee also Thy Most Precious Blood for the conversion of all sinners, for the propagation and exaltation of our Holy Faith, for the conservation and prosperity of the Sovereign Pontiff of Rome and according to his intentions.
Glory Be to the Father etc.

Holy and Eternal Spirit, in union with and in honour of the Immaculate Virgin Mary and in her name, in union with all the Angels and Saints in Heaven and all the Elect upon earth, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in thanksgiving for the gifts and privileges conferred on Thy most faithful Spouse, especially in her Immaculate Conception. I offer Thee also this Most Precious Blood for the conversion of all sinners, for the propagation and exaltation of our Holy Faith, for the conservation and prosperity of the Sovereign Pontiff of Rome and according to his intentions.
Glory Be to the Father etc.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in expiation of my sins and for the wants of Holy Church.

(Our Lady of Mount Carmel with angels and souls in Purgatory. Baroque sculpture

from Beniaján Spain)

Enjoying the feast of Our Lady of Mt Carmel

Today is the very special feast of Our Lady of Mt Carmel and I wanted to share with you our creation for the evening! I am not a great cook by any stretch of the imagination and so this cake is just two mud cakes I bought on special at Coles. (I walked through the front door of Coles and right in front was a big display of chocolate mud cakes – no joke!)

I cut the two cakes into the shape of each end of the scapular and printed a lovely picture of Our Lady giving the scapular to St Simon Stock. I had intended to use my icing equipment to write the words on the other cake but the smaller nozzle was playing up, so I printed the words up from the computer and iced around the two sheets in blue. New, brown shoe strings were used for the cord of the scapular and we were done – nothing too complicated at all!

I hope to post again tonight with prayers from my book and to talk about this special feast.

St Fortunatus would just LOVE this....

(If this is the very first medieval posting you are reading, please do not read on, but go to the posting before this one, as this is a two part series in sequence...)

Meet my St Forunatus pig...(that is my pet name for this fellow) He had me facinated throughout most of the day as we passed back and forth ("Not ANOTHER photo of it?!" my dh kept saying..) and so I took a few photos of him slowly being roasted in preparation for a feast that night amongst the re-enactors living the medieval life down to the last pig's bristle in the tooth, honey mead in the goblet and deer's skin as a cosy night coverlet...

So why exactly, do I call it "my St Forunatus pig?"

Well firstly I'll give you a link to this saint's life.

And secondly, my Cooking with the Saints book (a great book on liturgical eating in the home) says the traditional food for his feast (14th December) is a suckling pig and the appealing picture in the cook book has the little roasted pig relaxing on a platter with two cherry tomatoes in his eyes and an apple in his mouth...no, I'm not joking and yes, quite a sight!!

Here we are 9.30am and my little pig looks juicy and succulent, sizzling away in the sunlight...but he has many hours to go, the knight informs me he will ready in time for their private feasting at 6pm that night..."hmmmmm, no tidbits for me, we will be chanting over at the chapel...and we are definately not singing for our suppers!"

Afternoon rolls around and he's still going, "I wonder what is in the pots?" Never got round to asking them...

Our final glance, we are almost finished for the day and heading over to the chapel, he looks done and I sure hope they enjoyed him.

Makes me think of a childhood memory, way, way back. Celebrating an aunties birthday and they had a pig on a spit...it was pretty facinating to me then and have never forgotten that fabulous night. Nothing like a spit to make the celebration extra festive.

I said to dh, "Can we cook a pig for St Fortunatus' feast?"

Well, all I will say is that we don't share the same love for little pigs on spits, no matter WHO it is in honor of....

"I wonder what they hope to cook here for the evening? Sure looks authentic..."

As we head over to the chapel there are little fires, spits, roasts and smoke everywhere, such a medieval atmosphere. I really do not want to leave, the fun is only just beginning....

One of the children ran up and said, "Their cooking a pair of coneys!"

"Where have I heard that expression before?" (Just a bit of the LOTR fan coming out in me..)

We're backtracking a bit now into the day to the jousting, always one of the highlights of the festival but we turned up late and I find myself behind these bars and peeping around and over heads...

Look at this fellow, they like to create a formidable sight (to their fellow jousters) and a dashing look, (to the fair damsels and ladies.)

I mean, just look at the black 'love heart' shaped plumes....it is sure to send a fluttering of silken hankies being thrown his way.

I think this jouster's get up looks the fanciest, lucky to get this shot, that is a monk's head in front of me nearly obscuring my view.

"Charge!!!"

This fellow got hit in the head and his 'squire' is trying to dislodge a piece of his opponent's lance from his visor...certainly a dangerous sport!!!

That draws to mind some story from long ago about a saint that predicted the death of a king during jousting. (In punishment for his sins?) The king laughed because his armour was so protective but he got hit in the visor and pierced him through the eye and died days later....does anyone know what I am talking about? I just can't quite place the story.....love to know the full facts again.

(Jackie has given the correct story on this, in the 'comments section' - thank you Jackie!)

Here is my medieval 'fighting' monk. (He assures me they had them and that he is one..)

And here is my St George-loving 4 year old who thinks he has met the saint of his dreams!!!!

We are getting ready to process in for our afternoon recital. This year it was Marian chants, it was really lovely - I LOVE Marian chants!!!

Here we go, ds carrying the processional cross and my two dd's with little bells in hand. We are just about to sing, "Christus Vincit" as we process into the chapel.

So are you wondering if I am going to mention the connection between roasted pigs and chanting? (well I have to admit, it is a very obscure connection...)

When I was reading about the life of St Fortunatus in whom the roast pig is eaten in his honor, I discovered that he had composed some of my very favourite chants!!!! I cannot believe this, I've only discovered it while writing these posts!

I'll quote from the link I had given at the beginning of this post:

"The best of his talents were stimulated by the arrival at Poitiers in 569 of relics of the True Cross, sent by the Emperor Justin II, which was the occasion for his fine hymn ‘Vexilla regis prodeunt’ (‘The royal banners forward go’), used in the liturgy of Passiontide and especially Good Friday. At about the same time he composed ‘Pange lingua gloriosi’ (‘Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle’), likewise for Passiontide and ‘Salve festa dies’ for Easter. These are all generally reckoned to be among the finest examples of Christian hymnody, combining as they do classical skill and Christian religious sentiment to a high degree."

Vexilla Regis Prodeuent a simply rousing and powerful chant that I am told would often be chanted when going into battle as well as for liturgical feasts.

And Salve Festa Dies (click to hear the beautiful tune of the refrain.)

Here is the translation of it:

"Hail, festal day, venerable of all ages. By which God conquers hell and holds the stars."

This is also one of my favourites, it is an Easter chant and it certainly has that lovely, joyfulness that all Easter chants/hymns have!

Thank you St Fortunatus!

And finally, here we are, by candlelight chanting the Requiem chants (it was the 7.7.07 and my father's 7th anniversary of his death, I was so pleased to chant them in his memory) and finishing with compline.

Compline is always finished with Salve Regina. And as a lovely old Irish monk once told our choir master, "It is a lovely thing to have, " (In his Irish brogue) '..Virgo Maria' as the last parting words on your lips each night." (as the monastic silence continues then till the next morning) ...and never a truer word said!

Medieval Festival in Australia 2007

It has taken me a week to get these photos up on here. My choir, Schola Cantorum sung last Saturday at the Abbey Tournament. This medieval festival is the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere....(that sounds impressive, doesn't it?) But of course that is completely different than if I said, "The biggest Medieval Festival in the Northern Hemisphere..." As I would imagine that Europe would host the best festivals in the world complete with real castles etc..

But still it is a wonderful festival that attracts interstate and overseas visitors and it continues to grow each year. Big plans are underway to build a Medieval Villiage as a permanent fixture for daily visitors, which would naturally be the home to this glorious festival each year.

What can be boasted of at present, is their Abbey Museum that is open daily, which contains may ancient and medieval artifacts including a shoe belonging to Mary, Queen of Scots and their Chapel that is home to 14th century stained glass windows originally from Westminster Cathedral.

Our choir sings in the Chapel during the Saturday of the Festival. Starting with an hour workshop in the morning, a recital in the afternoon and chanting requiem chants and compline by candlelight in the early evening.

I have alot of photos to share so I will do it over two postings....enjoy!

Medieval re-enactors in their encampment.

A nice roast cooking in the Vikings Camp.

Roving minstrels...

Just a bit of medieval chinwagging...

The jouster's encampment.

The jouster's gear and finery...

Could you imagine facing a whole army of warriors wearing that mask-like helmet on our right? Gives me the shivers!

The gypsy encampment with young dancers.

Medieval minstrels.

Colourful encampment.

A peek inside a tent....

Wow! What fancy headgear. "Er, um, excuse me sir, I think a dragon may have alighted on your helmet.."

These warriors obvious mean business if disturbed...

Here we are at the end of the day. (Actually, ready to sing compline over at the chapel.)

I will publish more photos soon of the jousting.

Also roast pigs and chanting.....could you ever imagine a connection between the two?

Wait until the next posting!!

Novena Prayer to the Precious Blood

Please stop by and visit Andrea’s beautiful blog and see her craft activities for the month of the Precious Blood that she has done with her children. Such a fabulous job, Andrea, especially with the use of paper mache!

Here is a Novena prayer to the Precious Blood of Jesus on pg 37 of the Precious Blood & Mother manual.

Novena to the Precious Blood

By the voice of Thy Blood, O Jesus, we would press Thee, solicit Thee, importune Thee. Though Thou seemest to reject our supplications, we will not leave Thy bleeding feet until Thou hearest our prayers. So many graces, so many mercies have come forth from Thy Blood that we shall not cease to hope even to the end, in its efficacy. Then, O Jesus, by Thy Precious Blood seven times shed for the welfare of men, by each drop of that Sacred Price of our Redemption, by the tears of Thy Immaculate Mother, we entreat Thee to hear our prayers.
(Here pause and mention your requests) –
O Thou, Who during all the days of Thy mortal life consoled so many sufferings, healed so many infirmities, encouraged so many who were disheartened, Thou wilt not fail to have pity on a soul who cries to Thee from the depths of her anguish! No, it is impossible. Another sigh from our wounded hearts, and from the wound in Thy own will flow to us upon a wave of Thy Precious Blood the graces we ardently desire! O Jesus, hasten the moment when Thou wilt change our tears into joys, our sighs into thanksgivings.
Holy Mary, source of the Divine Blood, we entreat Thee not to lose this occasion for glorifying the Blood which made thee immaculate. Amen.

More beautiful prayers from the Precious Blood Manual

I thought that I would put a few prayers up tonight. What I love so much about this little manual (Precious Blood & Mother) is that these prayers are so rare, precious and written to stir the heart and mind toward a deep love of the Precious Blood & our Heavenly Mother.

Here is one on pg 76:

The Mother of Dolors

O Mother of Dolors, by the anguish and love with which thou didst stand beneath the cross of Jesus, stand by me in my last agony. To thy maternal heart I commend the three last hours of my life.

Offer these hours to the Eternal Father, in union with the agony of our dearest Lord. Offer in atonement for my sins the Precious Blood of Jesus, mingled with thy tears on Calvary, to obtain for me the grace to receive Holy Communion with dispositions of perfect love and contrition immediately before my death, and to breathe forth my soul in the actual presence of Jesus, in the Blessed Sacrament.

Dearest Mother, when the moment of my death has at length arrived, present me as thy child to Jesus, and say to Him, “Forgive her and receive her this day into Thy kingdom.”

And this beautiful prayer on pg 59.

A Daily Oblation to the Sacred Heart

Jesus, my only Treasure, I give Thee every one of my thoughts, actions, breaths, steps and movements from now until the hour of my death. Come for me then, dear Jesus, and grant me the grace I most humbly and ardently crave, that of dying in Thy Sacramental embrace while yet incorporated with Thy Sacred Body, and of being presented by Thee to Thy Eternal Father, spotless from the Fountain of Thy Precious Blood. Amen.

This prayer is on pg 53.

Prayer to the Precious Blood

Most Precious Blood of Life Eternal, price of sinful man’s redemption, by whose saving streams the thirst of souls is quenched, and their stains are washed away, Thou Who dost plead the cause of man before the throne of infinite mercy, from the depths of my heart I adore Thee and desire, as much as lies in my power, to make atonement for the injuries and insults that are constantly offered Thee by mankind, and especially by those who rashly dare to blaspheme Thee. Who will not bless and praise this Blood of infinite value? Whose soul would not be inspired with love for Jesus Who shed It all for us? What would be my fate, had I not been redeemed by this Divine Blood? And what drew Thee from the veins of my Saviour even to the last drop? It was love! O boundless love, which has given us this saving balm! O priceless balm, welling from the fount of immeasurable love! Grant that all hearts and tongues may praise Thee, magnify Thee, and give Thee thanks, now and throughout all ages. Amen.

Feast of St Benedict in the month of the Precious Blood

A famous painting of St Benedict by Fra Angelico.

Today is the feast of one of the Church’s most famous saints, St Benedict. Founder of the Benedictine Order and Western Monasticism. 'Following the known motto: Ora et labora, Pray and work, St Benedict and the numerous monasteries he founded in the entire Europe, began to build a new civilisation of love, reason and moral order', says Bishop Stanislaw Wielgus.

It is indeed appropriate that Pope Paul VI in 1964 made St Benedict patron of Europe, for Europe is in much need of spiritual help as in the days of Benedict himself. We read a few of our St Benedict books here in the home, enjoying particularly the stories of his raising people to life. (John 14:12) Here is his story.

Over at 4Real on a thread discussing St Benedict’s feast it was pointed out by Jenn, that he is also the patron of beekeepers.

We are great lovers of honey here, it is a chief sweetener in the home and my father use to keep bees in our backyard, the health benefits of honey are numerous. So we decided for the feast to go visit a bee farm to see a demonstration and talk, to learn all about bees, here are some of the photos from the day.

Outside the front entrance.

Door leading to the demonstration and talk on bees.

Some of the honey products for sale in their shop.

Part of the demonstration - what the inside of a hive looks like.

See where the honey is slowly filling...

Special apparatus for spinning the honey from the comb.

The man showed us one of the frames that was half full.

A demonstration of extracting the honey from the comb.

It was a great morning and I'd love to talk more of it but I am so tired tonight!

It would be remiss of me not to mention St Benedict's Medal a very well known and powerful sacramental of the Church. Particularly for it's protection against the devil. Here is a story told by the chief exorcist of Rome, Fr Gabriele Amorth in his book The Exorcist Tells His Story (a simply fabulous read) :

"One of the most famous instances of diabolical possession, which many books report, thanks to the accuracy of the historical documentation, concerns two brothers, the Burners, in Illfur, Alsatia. The two brothers were freed in 1869, following a series of exorcisms. It is reported that among the many, extremely vicious, actions of the demon was a plan to overturn the coach that transported the exorcist, a monsignor, and a nun. The devil was foiled in his intent only because the coach driver, at the last minute, was given a medal of Saint Benedict to protect him on the journey, and the good man devoutly put it in his pocket."



I'd like to finish with a beautiful prayer, once again from The Precious Blood & Mother manual pg 107, to St Benedict:

(St Benedict said to St Gertrude: "Whoever shall delight in recalling to my mind the grace which was vouchsafed to me, of dying while I was standing and praying. I will assuredly be with him in the hour of his death, and will stand between him and his enemies, wherever their assault is most deadly and furious.")

"O most glorious patriarch, holy father, Benedict, I recall to thy mind now, that great and glorious grace bestowed on thee, by our Lord, of breathing out thy last sigh as thou didst stand praying, on which account thy lips now exhale a fragrance which ravishes all the saints with delight; beseeching thee to be with me in the hour of my death, with loving fidelity, and to place thyself between me and the enemies, round about me, wheresoever thou seest them rage most furiously against me, so that, protected by thy presence, I may escape all their snares and reach the joys of heaven safe and blessed forever. Amen."

Our camera ran out of charge after returning from our bee trip so I didn't get to photograph our yummy sweet - a bee sting which is a special type of cake with custard/cream in the center and with honey and almond flakes on top - we all really enjoyed this sweet in honor of St Benedict's feast. I only wish I had the time to make the St Benedict Salad Stef is preparing for the feast!