Here is a Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary to help us learn the value of modesty and humility specially when we visit our Lord in the most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. A woman who covers her head with a veil is imitating the Virgin Mother in her humility and submissiveness to the Lord. We should strive to dress modestly in front of our Lord and not lead our brothers and sisters to sin with inappropriate dressing.

Our Lady of the Veil, full of grace…it was your yes that saved the human
race. You are the Mother of Modesty, please teach us how we should be.

You want your spiritual daughters to come before your Son with purity,
please Our Lady of the Veil teach us how we should be.

You were created perfect and covered yourself in total humility, please Our
Lady of the Veil teach us how we should be.

Please pray for us to have reverence and awe before the Most Holy Trinity,
please Our Lady of the Veil teach us how we should be.

Teach us how to bow our heads covered gracefully, worshiping with purity
of intention and humility. And then we can be with you and your Son for an
eternity! Amen

Today, September 8th is the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today the Church remembers the Birth of Mary, our dear Mother. The Nativity of Mary is celebrated nine months after the Solemnity of her Immaculate Conception (Dec 8th). Let us celebrate with joy the birth of the Virgin Mary of whom was born our Lord Jesus Christ. What joy it must have been to Saints Joachim and Anne on the birth of their beloved daughter Mary. Yes this is the day the Mother of Our Lord was born, this is the day the Mother of the Whole Universe was born.  Let us offer all our joys and sorrows to her on her birthday. Let us commend our souls and bodies to our Heavenly Mother. Her maternal intercession will lead us to her beloved Son. When we entrust our lives to Mary, we can be assured that her holy intercession will take care of all our spiritual needs.

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

When you follow her; you will not go astray;
When you pray to her, You will not despair;
When you think of her, You will not err;
When she holds you up, You will not fail;
When she protects you, You will not fear;
When she leads you, You will not be fatigued;
When she favors you, You will arrive safely.
She keeps her Son from striking us;
She keeps the devil from hurting us;
She keeps our virtues from escaping us;
She keeps our merits from being destroyed;
She keeps our graces from being lost.
(St Bernard)

Happy Birthday Mother Mary!!!

La Leche is the Spanish for “the milk”. Our Lady of La Leche is the first shrine dedicated to Our Blessed Mother in the United States. The history of the devotion to the Mother of Jesus as Our Lady of La Leche may have roots in the 4th Century Milk Grotto at Bethlehem. Its centerpiece is the Blessed Virgin nursing the Infant Jesus. Thousands of visitors and pilgrims make their way to the Shrine every year. Many ask for the blessings of motherhood, beseeching the intercession of Our Lady of La Leche that God will grant them a safe and happy delivery, and healthy, holy children. Here is a Prayer to Our Lady of La Leche for Motherhood.

Lovely Lady of La Leche, most loving mother of the Child Jesus, and my mother, listen to my humble prayer. Your motherly heart knows my every wish, my every need. To you only, His spotless Virgin Mother, has your Divine Son given to understand the sentiments which fill my soul. Yours was the sacred privilege of being the Mother of the Savior. Intercede with him now, my loving Mother, that, in accordance with His will, I may become the mother of other children of our heavenly Father. This I ask, O Lady of La Leche, in the Name of your Divine Son, My Lord and Redeemer. Amen.

Most Blessed Virgin, in your life of glory, remember the sorrows of earth. Look with kindness on those who suffer, who struggle against difficulties, who drink of the bitterness of life.

Have pity on those who love each other and are separated.

Have pity on the lonely of heart.

Have pity on the weakness of our faith.

Have pity on the objects of our affection.

Have pity on those who weep, those who pray, those who fear.

Obtain for all hope and peace. Amen.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary, in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (also known as the Brown Scapular), is the habit/garment of that Order. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock holding the scapular in her hand. The earliest form of the Scapular promise states simply that wearers of the brown scapular, the Carmelite habit, will be saved. The scapular must consist of two pieces of brown cloth with one segment hanging on the wearer’s chest, and the other hanging on his/her back. These pieces are joined by two straps or strings which overlap each shoulder. It is a sign of belonging to Mary and a pledge of her motherly protection in this life and afterwards. The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated on July 16th.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Queen of Carmel, Mother of God and of poor sinners; special protectress of all who wear the holy Scapular, I ask thee to obtain for me the pardon of my sins, amendment of my life, salvation of my soul, comfort in my suffering, and particularly, the grace I now ask: (mention your request).

1. Our Father
2. Hail Mary
3. Glory be to the Father

Novena Prayer composed by St. Simon Stock

O most beautiful Flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein you are my Mother.

O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart, to succor me in this my necessity, there are none that can withstand your power. O show me herein you are my Mother.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us that have recourse to thee. (3 times)

Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands. (3 times) Amen.

Beginning on September 26, 1956, the Blessed Virgin Mary, began appearing to Sister Mary Ephrem (Mildred Neuzil) as “Our Lady of America“.  Sister Mary Ephrem belonged to the Convent of the Precious Blood Sisters at Rome City, Indiana. On October 13, 1956, the Blessed Virgin Mary requested that a statue of “Our Lady of America” be enshrined in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., as a special place of pilgrimage and a special safeguard for the United States of America.

This devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of America enjoys complete canonical approval through former Archbishop of Cincinnati, OH, the late Paul Francis Leibold. You can read more about Our Lady of America here.

Oh Immaculate Mother, Queen of our country, open our hearts, our homes, and our land to the coming of Jesus, your Divine Son. With Him, reign over us, O heavenly Lady, so pure and so bright with the radiance of God’s light shining in and about you. Be our leader against the powers of evil set upon wresting the world of souls, redeemed at such a great cost by the sufferings of your Son and of yourself, in union with Him, from that same Savior, Who loves us with infinite charity.

We gather about you, O chaste and holy Mother, Virgin Immaculate, Patroness of our beloved Land, determined to fight under your banner of holy purity against the wickedness that would make all the world an abyss of evil, without God and without your loving maternal care.

We consecrate our hearts, our homes, our Land to your Most Pure Heart, O great Queen, that the kingdom of your Son, our Redeemer and our God, may be firmly established in us.

We ask no special sign of you, sweet Mother, for we believe in your great love for us, and we place in you our entire confidence. We promise to honor you by faith, love, and the purity of our lives according to your desire.

Reign over us, then, O Virgin Immaculate, with your Son Jesus Christ. May His Divine Heart and your most chaste Heart be ever enthroned and glorified among us. Use us, your children of America, as your instruments of peace among men and nations. Work your miracle of grace in us, so that we may be a glory to the Blessed Trinity, Who created, redeemed, and sanctifies us.

May your valiant spouse, St. Joseph, with the holy Angels and Saints, assist you and us in “renewing the face of the earth.” Then when our work is over, come, Holy Immaculate Mother, and as our Victorious Queen, lead us to the eternal kingdom, where your Son reigns forever as King.

Amen

The Feast of Annunciation is celebrated every year on March 25th, 9 months before Christmas (Dec 25th). The Archangel Gabriel greeted the Virgin Mary and brought her good news that by the power of the holy Spirit, she would become mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord. The Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the most important feasts on the Church Calendar. It celebrates the incarnation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Annunciation Novena is recited for nine days from March 16th to March 24th.

I greet you, Ever-blessed Virgin, Mother of God, Throne of Grace, Miracle of Almighty Power! I greet you, Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity and Queen of the Universe, Mother of Mercy and Refuge of Sinners!

Most loving Mother, attracted by your beauty and sweetness, and by your tender compassion, I confidently turn to you, miserable as I am, and beg of you to obtain for me of your dear Son, the favor I request in this novena:
( Here mention your request to our dear Mother)

Obtain for me also, Queen of Heaven, the most lively contrition for my many sins and the grace to imitate closely those virtues which you practiced so faithfully, especially humility, purity, and obedience. Above all, I beg you to be my mother and Protectress, to receive me into the number of your devoted children, and to guide me from your high throne of glory.

Do not reject my petitions, mother of mercy! Have pity on me, and do not abandon me during life or at the moment of my death. Amen.

• Our Father in Heaven
• Hail Mary
• Glory Be

Here is the Malayalam Litany Prayer to Mother Mary with English Lyrics. Sorry for the delay in posting though Sophia had shared this with me few months ago. This Litany is usually recited after the Malayalam Rosary as part of the Daily Evening Family Prayer. May the Blessed Virgin Mary intercede for all of us!

• Karthaave Anugrahikkanname / Karthaave Anugrahikkanname
• Mishihaaye Anugrahikkanname / Mishihaaye Anugrahikkanname
• Karthaave Anugrahikkanname / Karthaave Anugrahikkanname
• Mishihaaye njangallude Praathana Kelkenname / Mishihaaye njangallude Praathana Kelkenname
• Mishihaaye njangallude Praathana Kaikollenname / Mishihaaye njangallude Praathana Kaikollenname

• Swargasthanaaya Pithaavaaya Daivame / Njangalle Anugrahikkanname
• Bhooloka rakshakanaaya Puthranaaya Daivame / Njangalle Anugrahikkanname
• Parshuddhaathmaavaaya Daivame / Njangalle Anugrahikkanname
• Ekadaivamaaya parishuddha thrithwame / Njangalle Anugrahikkanname

• Parishuddha Marriyame  / Njangalkku vendi apekshikanname
• Thamburaante punnya jananee / -do-
• Kanyakakalkku makudamaaya nirmmala kanyake / -do-
• Mishihaayude maathaave / -do-
• Daiva vara prasaadathinte Maathaave / -do-
• Athyantha virakthiyulla Maathaave/ -do-
• Karrayata kanyakayaayirikkunna Maathaave/ -do-
• Kanyaavruthathinu bhangam varaatha Maathaave/ -do-
• Snehathinu paathramaayirikkunna Maathaave/ -do-
• Athbhuthathinu vishayamaayirikkunna Maathaave/ -do-
• Salbuddhiyude Maathaave  / -do-
• Srishtaavinte Maathaave/ -do-
• Rakshakante Maathaave  / -do-
• Viveka aishwaryamulla kanyake  / -do-
• Vanakkathinu ettam yogyayaaya kanyake  / -do-
• Sthuthikku yogyayaaya kanyake  / -do-
• Vallabhamulla kanyake  / -do-
• Kanivulla kanyake  / -do-
• Vishwasthayaayirikkunna kanyake  / -do-
• Neethiyude darppaname  / -do-
• Bodha njaanathinte simhaasaname  / -do-
• Njangallude thellivinte kaaraname  / -do-
• Aathmanjaana pooritha paathrame  / -do-
• Bahumaanathinte pathrame  / -do-
• Athbhuthakaramaaya bhakthiyude paathrame  / -do-
• Daiva rahasyam nirranjirikkunna rosaapushpame  / -do-
• Daveedinte kottaye  / -do-
• Nirmmala dantham kondulla kottaye  / -do-
• Swarnnaalayame  / -do-
• Vaagdaanathinte pettakame  / -do-
• Aakaasha mokshathinte vaathile  / -do-
• Ushakaalathinte nakshathrame  / -do-
• Rogikallude aarogyame  / -do-
• Paapikallude sankethame  / -do-
• Vyaakulanmaarude aashwaasame  / -do-
• Kristhyaanikallude sahaayame  / -do-
• Maalaakhamaarude raajnee  / -do-
• Baavaanmaarude raanjee  / -do-
• Deerkha darshikallude raajnee  / -do-
• Shleehanmaarude raajnee  / -do-
• Veda saakshikallude raajnee  / -do-
• Vandhakanmaarude raajnee  / -do-
• Kanyakakallude raajnee  / -do-
• Sakala punyavaanmaarydeyum raajnee  / -do-
• Amalothbhavayaayirikkunna raajnee  / -do-
• Swargaaropithayaaya raajnee  / -do-
• Parishuddha japamaalayude raajnee  / -do-
• Karmmala sabhayude alankaarammayirikkunna raajnee  / -do-
• Samaadhaanathinte raajnee  / -do-

• Bhooloka paapangalle neekkunna daiva chemmariyaattinkuttee – Karthaave, njangallude paapam porrukenname
• Bhooloka paapangalle neekkunna daiva chemmariyaattinkuttee – Karthaave, njangallude praarthana kelkenname
• Bhooloka paapangalle neekkunna daiva chemmariyaattinkuttee – Karthaave, njangalle anugrahikkenname

Sarveshawarante punya poornayaya maathaave! Ithaa, njangal ninnil abhayam thedunnu. Njangallude aavashya nerathu njangallude apekshakal upekshikkaruthe. Bhaagyavathiyum anugraheethayumaaya kanyakaa maathaave, sakala aapathukallil ninnum eppozhum njangalle kaathukollename. Amen.

Eesho mishihaayude vaagdaanangalku njangal yogyaraakuvan,
Sarveswarante parushuddha daiva maathaave, njangalkuvendi apekshikkename.

Our Lady of Lourdes is the Marian apparition that appeared to Saint Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France. Lourdes is one of the greatest pilgrimage sites of the world. The Catholic Church celebrates a mass in honor of “Our Lady of Lourdes”, in many countries on February 11th of each year — the anniversary of the first apparition. Here is a beautiful prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes.

O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfort to the Afflicted, you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy. By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal.
I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests. Through gratitude for favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us. Amen.

• Our Father in Heaven
• Hail Mary
• Glory Be

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Petition Prayer 2

Most pure Virgin, you chose to manifest yourself shining with life, sweetness and beauty, in the Grotto of Lourdes.
To St. Bernadette you revealed yourself: “I am the Immaculate Conception”.
Immaculate Virgin, you know my wanted, my troubles, my sufferings. Look upon me with mercy. Through your intercession, many have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and physical.
Receive my prayers with love. Secure a favorable answer to my request. O loving Mother, obtain for me.. (Mention your request)
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for me. Amen.

Gentle Mother of God, full of grace, the Door of Heaven that is always open, through you may the eyes of God rest upon us.

In your goodness, help the needy. To those who hesitate, to the little ones, grant your assistance. Comfort the weak, protect the poor, walk with the abandoned.

May the persecuted find in you consolation, and the persecutors, conversion and forgiveness. Have mercy on all prisoners; spare them of all despondency of soul and sadness of heart.

Pray for all people; intercede for the bishops and priests, and for all consecrated souls. May all those who celebrate your memory rejoice in receiving your assistance. Lend an attentive ear to the prayers of all those who beseech you, and grant them the favor they seek.

Support by your constant intercession the holy people of God. Consecrate them in unity and in truth.

May we finally experience, Blessed Mother, the joy which flows from you, who has chosen to bear the price of mankind, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and God forever. Amen. Alleluia.