fiw^ldS O'f Wich Masses -to Oui" of- f^eroij and -^a/n^ K&jrm llonoMm f.i y A£d50li?\ (^'^) NoTcnas of Hi^b Masses to OUR LADY OF MERCY and Saint Raymond Nonnatus FIRST NOVENA. July 29 to August 6 Solemn Higb Mass, Assumption Day, Aug. 15 SECOND NOVENA, August 17 to 25 Solemn High Mass, St. Raymond’s Feast, Aug. 31 \u-50hl OUR LADY OF MERCY INVITES YOUR PRAYERS ^OD, Who is more anxious to bestow favors on us than we are to ask for them, must, it seems, use various means to attract our attention to His infinite goodness. Our human minds seem to need various appeals and reminders to realize God’s in- finite generosity. An example of this, is the centuries old devotion to Our Lady of Mercy, a devotion which God has rewarded by pour- ing out blessings on those who seek favors through her. It is with these things in mind that I invite you to present your requests to Our Lady of Mercy during the Novenas of High Masses we are about to offer at our Monas- tery in honor of Our Lady of Mercy and of Saint Raymond Nonnatus. One of these Novenas of High Masses will precede the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin into Heaven which we shall celebrate with a Solemn High Mass. The second Novena of High Masses will be celebrated before the Feast of Saint Raymond Nonnatus which we shall also cele- brate with a Solemn High Mass. You are invited to present your petitions to God through the hands of these powerful intercessors. During these eighteen High Masses and two Solemn High Masses your intentions, general and special as sent in by you, will be offered in petition by the cele- brant of the Masses. This is an opportunity in which we all place great faith and I hope that you, too, will experience the powerful help of Our Lady of Mercy. It was under that beautiful title that the Mother of God re- quested our sainted founder to establish our Order which, for seven centuries, has con- tinued to do her work and enjoyed her protection. AN INVOCATION TO OUR LADY OF MERCY ® MOTHER OF MERCY, help of Christians, most faithful minister of Divine Providence, treasurer of all graces, remember that neN^er in the world has it been heard that thou hast left him without comfort who has come to thee with true devotion. Wherefore I, trusting in thy tender pity and in thy most generous providence, bend low before thee, praying that thou wouldst hear my prayer. Obtain for me a holy provision for the future, namely, graces for all my spiritual and temporal needs. I fervently recommend to thy loving motherly heart our holy Church, the Sovereign Pontiff, the conversion of souls, the spread of the Catholic faith, and those chosen spouses of God, the holy souls suffering the dire torments of purgatory, that they may soon be comforted with eternal refreshment. Amen. NOVENA PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF MERCY For a Special Favor © MARY, thou art honored with so many beautiful titles; but oh, how sweet, how consoling, is that of Mother of Mercy. It tells as a long, never ending, glorious story, of graces and miracles and favors obtained by those who invoked thee. It means that Jesus has made thee the treasurer and dis- penser of His mercy to all those who need it most. But we are among the poorest sinners and we need now more than ever the abundance of the Divine Mercy. Oh, do obtain, nay, do dispense to us, the mercy of God and with it the favor for which we humbly and fervently pray! ^ Prayer of Consecration Immaculate Mother of God, Queen of Heaven, Mother of Mercy, Advocate and Refuge of sinners, behold, I, enlightened and inspired by the graces obtained for me abundantly from the divine treasury through thy maternal affection, resolve this day and always to place my heart in thy hands to be consecrated to Jesus. Prayers are From Approved Sources ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ FATHERS OF OUR LADY OF MERCY OUR LADY OF MERCY MONASTERY BEREA, OHIO THESE YOUNG MEN, dressed in the robes of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy, are seminarians, in one of our older monasteries abroad, who hope one day to be priests. Every religious ceremony is celebrated with the utmost solemnity and devout attention to Church ritual. A SOLEMN PROCESSION. The Blessed Sacrament will be carried between the rows of devout seminarians bowed in reverence . . . The long years of preparing for the priest- hood include not only studies but training in the hard way of self-sacrifice. ST. RAYMOND NONNATUS "Patron of Christian Motherhood" "Advocate for Happiness in Christian Families" A Friend of Great Power for Your Family T housands of homes — right here in the United States — are crumbling. Great un- happiness is resulting from the neglect of family ties, a neglect that endangers every family in some degree. Divorces, separation, and family strife are bringing suffering to many. God, Who instituted family life, wishes it to prosper. Your own wish to have a happy and holy family life is His wish, also. Saint Raymond Nonnatus was selected by God to do great service in protecting family life at a time when Christian wives, husbands, and entire families were being captured and held for ransom by the Moors. The great Saint raised funds with which to ransom Christians from a life of captivity. His funds ex- hausted, Raymond gave himself up as a hostage so that fathers and children might be returned to their families. It is not surprising, therefore, that as a Saint he is known to be a special inter- cessor for the benefit of families. He soon became known as the "Advocate for Happiness in Chris- tian Families.” As a hostage the Saint suffered prolonged tor- ments, but he could not be prevented from making the rounds of his fellow captives to con- sole them. He even made converts among his Moorish captors. His tormentors pierced his lips and fastened them with a padlock, but even this savage treatment did not stop the heroic Ray- mond whose love for his fellow men spoke louder than words. Eventually his captors, realizing that his death would destroy his value as a hostage, released him. He immediately resumed his efforts to con- vert his captors. He was again imprisoned until a member of his religious association, the Order of Our Lady of Mercy, arrived with ransom money. Upon his return to Spain, Raymond was made a Cardinal by Pope Gregory IX who summoned him to Rome. But death overtook him on the journey. He was seized with a fever from which he died August 31, 1240, at the age of 37. Tradition relates that Our Lord came with angels to bring Holy Viaticum to Raymond be- fore he died. Since his canonization Our Lord has been pleased to evidence His pleasure in this servant by showering blessings on those who petitioned Heaven through Saint Raymond. To- day, when family life is threatened with increas- ing danger, I recommend to you the powerful help of this Saint. The efficacy of Saint Raymond’s intercession should be depended on for such petitions as these: Harmony among parents, the health and happiness of children, preparation for successful marriages, relief from family discord and mis- understandings, tranquillity among children and parents. Those whose own family life is blessed will find Saint Raymond a ready intercessor for others in whose behalf they pray. Thus, relatives and in-laws may properly be regarded as special subjects of the Saint’s benevolence. The bless- ings which Saint Raymond obtained for mothers and expectant mothers has been recognized in a new title, 'Tatron of Christian Motherhood.” NOVENA PRAYER TO SAINT RAYMOND NONNATUS ILLUSTRIOUS Saint Raymond Nonnatus, by thy powerful intercession protect and defend our Christian families from all harm. Obtain for parents the necessary graces to live together in peace with unselfish devotion to duty, in patience, obedience and holiness, and to be especially zealous for the religious training of their children. Pray that our children may be obedient, diligent, humble and pious, and may ever observe God’s command- ments: that our homes may be temples in which all the members of our families united may find their greatest joy in this world and may work out their eternal salvation for the next, where with thee they will praise the Father with the Son and the Holy Ghost, forever and ever. Amen. Prayers are From Approved Sources BLESSED HOLY WATER and CANDLES of St. Raymond Nonnatus Many Catholic married women place great faith in aid received from Saint Raymond through using Holy Water and Candles which have received bles- sings in his honor. These special blessings are contained in the Roman Ritual. These blessed articles are widely used by ex- pectant mothers. They are also used by men and women suffering from injuries or illnesses. Candles and Holy Water may be had on request. It is suggested that a donation accompany your letter, in order to cover the cost of the articles and to aid the work of this Order in educating poor young men worthy of becoming priests. OUR LADY OF MERCY MONASTERY . BEREA, OHIO B6051 R1