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Post by magdalena on Jul 21, 2017 20:53:07 GMT -5
From the Sermons of Pope St Gregory the Great. 25th on the Gospels.
Mary Magdalen, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, through love of the truth, washed away in her tears the defilement of her sins, and the words of the Truth are fulfilled which He spake Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much. She who had remained chilly in sin, became fiery through love. When even His disciples went away again unto their own home, Mary still stood without at the sepulchre of Christ, weeping. She sought Him Whom her soul loved, but she found Him not. She searched for Him with tears; she yearned with strong desire for Him Who, she believed, had been taken away. And thus it befell her, that being the only one who had remained to seek Him, she was the only one that saw Him. It is the truth that the backbone of a good work is perseverance.
At first when she sought Him, she found Him not; she went on searching, and so it came to pass that she found Him; and this was so, to the end that her longing might grow in earnestness, and so in its earnestness might find what it sought. Hence is it that the Bride in the Song of Songs saith as representing the Church: By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth. We seek on our bed for Him Whom our soul loveth, when, having got some little rest in this world, we still sigh for the Presence of our Redeemer but it is by night that we so seek Him, for though our mind may be on the alert for Him, yet still He is hidden from our eyes by the darkness that now is.
But if we find not Him Whom our soul loveth, it remaineth that we should rise and go about the city, that is, by thought and questioning, go through the holy Church of the elect seek Him in the streets, and in the broad ways, that is, walk anxiously looking about us both in the narrow and the broad places, that if we can, we may find His footsteps there for there are some even of those who live for the world, from whom something may be learnt to be imitated by a godly man. As we thus go wakefully about, the watchmen, that keep the city, find us; the holy Fathers, who are the watchmen of the bulwarks of the Church, come to meet our good endeavours, and to teach us either by their words or by their writings. And it needeth but a little to pass from them, but we find Him Whom our soul loveth (a little we must pass,) for albeit our Redeemer in lowliness became a man among men, yet by right of His Divine Nature He is still above men.
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Post by magdalena on Jul 21, 2017 20:57:02 GMT -5
Prayer to Saint Mary Magdalen
(Can be Prayed as a Novena for Nine Consecutive Days)
St. Gertrude relates that St. Mary Magdalen said to St. Mechtilde: "Whosoever 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 to 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 love of Thee that she could love nothing apart from Thee: beseeching Thee that by her merits and intercessions Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant me tears of true repentance, and pour into my heart Thy divine love. Amen.
(Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be the Father)
catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/Litany%20Magdalen.html
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Post by magdalena on Jul 21, 2017 20:59:57 GMT -5
Hymn: Pater superni luminis
Father of lights! one glance of thine, Whose eyes the universe control, Fills Magdalene with holy love, And melts the ice within her soul.
Her precious ointment forth she brings, Upon those sacred Feet to pour; She washes them with burning tears; And with her hair she wipes them o'er.
Impassioned to the Cross she clings: Nor fears beside the tomb to stay; Nor dreads the soldiers' savage mien, For love has cast all fear away.
O Christ, thou very Love itself! Blest hope of man, through Thee forgiven! So touch our spirits from above, So purify our souls from Heaven.
To God the Father, with the Son, And Holy Paraclete, with thee, As evermore hath been before, Be glory through eternity. Amen.
catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/Litany%20Magdalen.html
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Post by magdalena on Jul 21, 2017 21:04:40 GMT -5
Hymn: Maria castis osculis
His sacred feet with tears of agony She bathes; and prostrate on the ground adores; Steels them in kisses chaste, wipes them dry With her own hair; then forth her precious ointment pours.
Praise in the highest to the Father be; Praise to the mighty co-eternal Son; And praise, O Spirit Paraclete to Thee, While ages evermore of endless ages run. Amen.
catholicharboroffaithandmorals.com/Litany%20Magdalen.html
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Post by magdalena on Jul 21, 2017 21:07:40 GMT -5
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Post by magdalena on Jul 21, 2017 21:26:10 GMT -5
... the Creed was traditionally said at the Mass of St Mary Magdalene in recognition of that fact that it was she who first announced the Resurrection to the Apostles. (This felicitous custom was removed from the Roman Missal for no discernible reason in 1955.) This is also why she was called “Apostles of the Apostles” in a great many medieval liturgical texts, such as the Benedictus antiphon in her proper Office sung by the Dominicans.
O mundi lampas, et margaríta praefúlgida, quae resurrectiónem Christi nuntiando, Apostolórum Apóstola fíeri meruisti! María Magdaléna, semper pia exoratrix pro nobis adsis ad Deum, qui te elégit.
O lamp of the world, and bright-shining pearl, who by announcing the Resurrection of Christ, didst merit to become the Apostle of the Apostles! Mary Magdalene, of thy kindness stand thou ever before God, who chose thee, to entreat him for us.
www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2016/06/feast-of-st-mary-magdalene-upgraded-to.html#.WXK0AlPdXIU
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Post by magdalena on Jul 21, 2017 21:32:25 GMT -5
From the Holy Gospel according to Luke Luke 7:36-50 At that time One of the Pharisees desired Jesus that He would eat with him. And He went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And so on.
Homily by St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo. Bk. 1. Hom. 23, tom. x.
Ye have listened carefully to the Gospel while it was being read, so that the thing told hath, as it were, passed before the eyes of your heart. Ye have seen in your mind's eye, albeit not with bodily sight, the Lord Jesus Christ sitting down to meat in the Pharisee's house, and not refusing when He is bidden of him. Ye have seen also an infamous woman of the city, one of utterly bad character, a sinner, thrusting herself in an uninvited guest, to the banquet where her Healer was sitting, and seeking health at His hands with godly shamelessness; thrusting herself in eager for mercy, as though eager for the feast. She knew under what a disease she laboured, and she knew that He unto Whom she came was mighty to cure it.
She drew near therefore, not unto the Lord's Head, but unto His Feet. She that had so long walked the paths of sin betook her unto the Feet that went about doing good. She first poured forth heart-felt tears, and washed the Lord's Feet with the humble service of her acknowledgment, wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them. Her silence cried aloud, next in words but in manifested love. The Pharisee, who had desired the Lord Jesus Christ that He would eat with him, belonged to that class of proud men concerning whom the Prophet Isaiah saith people which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. lxv. 5. When therefore he saw how this woman touched the Lord's Feet with her tears, her kisses, her hair, and her ointment, he spake within himself, saying This Man, if He were a Prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is, that toucheth Him; for she is a sinner.
Pharisee, that biddest and scornest the Lord! Thou invitest the Lord to meat, and thou knowest not Him That should have given thee to eat! Whence knowest thou that the Lord knoweth not who and what manner of woman this is, save from this, that she is allowed to draw near unto Him, and that He suffereth her to kiss His Feet, to wipe them, and to anoint them? Ought not an unclean woman to have been permitted to do these things to clean feet? If such a woman had drawn near to the feet of this Pharisee, he would have said to her what Isaiah putteth into the mouth of such Stand by thyself, come not near to me, for I am holier than thou. But she came unto the Lord unclean that she might go away cleansed, sick, that she might go away healed, with confession, that she might go away with thanksgiving.
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Post by magdalena on Jul 21, 2017 21:34:41 GMT -5
Prayer {from the Proper of Saints} V. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come unto thee. Let us pray. O Lord, we pray thee, that we may be helped by the pleading of Blessed Mary Magdalen, whose prayers so much availed with thee, that Thou didst call up her brother Lazarus living from the dead, when he had lain in the grave four days already. Who livest and reignest with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. R. Amen
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Post by magdalena on Jul 21, 2017 21:38:06 GMT -5
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Post by magdalena on Jul 21, 2017 21:41:48 GMT -5
The Basilica Sacre-Coeur in Paris, the boat contains Lazarus, Mary Magdalene and Martha, notice the serpent trying to get at the jar in Mary's arms.
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Post by magdalena on Jul 21, 2017 21:46:16 GMT -5
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Post by magdalena on Jul 21, 2017 21:52:03 GMT -5
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Post by magdalena on Jul 21, 2017 22:14:18 GMT -5
CREDO
Credo in unum Deum, Patrem omnipotentem, factorem caeli et terrae, visibilium omnium et invisibilium. Et in unum Dominum Jesum Christum Filium Dei unigenitum. Et ex Patre natum ante omnia saecula. Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine, Deum verum de Deo vero. Genitum, non factum, consubstantialem Patri : per quem omnia facta sunt. Qui propter nos homines, et propter nostram salutem decendit de caelis. Et incarnatus est de Spiritu sancto ex Maria Virgine : Et homo factus est. Crucifixus etiam pro nobis : sub Pontio Pilato passus, et sepultus est. Et resurrexit tertia die, secundum Scripturas. Et ascendit in caelum : sedet ad dexteram Patris. Et iterum venturus est cum gloria, judicare vivos et mortuos : cujus regni non erit finis. Et in Spiritum sanctum, Dominum, et vivificantem : qui ex Patre Filioque procedit. Qui cum Patre et Filio simul adoratur, et conglorificatur : qui locutus est per Prophetas. Et unam, sanctam, catholicam, et apostolicam Ecclesiam. Confiteor unum baptisma in remissionem peccatorum. Et expecto resurrectionem mortuorum. Et vitam venturi saeculi.
Amen.
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Post by magdalena on Jul 22, 2017 11:52:20 GMT -5
Lesson Lesson from the book of Canticles Song 3:2-5; 8:6-7 I will rise and go about the city; in the streets and crossings I will seek Him Whom my heart loves. I sought Him but I did not find Him. The watchmen came upon me as they made their rounds of the city: Have you seen Him Whom my heart loves? I had hardly left them when I found Him Whom my heart loves. I took hold of Him and would not let Him go till I should bring Him to the home of my mother, to the room of my parent, I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and hinds of the field, do not arouse, do not stir up love before its own time. Set me as a seal on Your heart, as a seal on Your arm; for stern as death is love, relentless as the nether world is devotion; its flames are a blazing fire. Deep waters cannot quench love, nor floods sweep it away. Were one to offer all he owns to purchase love, he would despise it as nothing. R. Thanks be to God.
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Post by magdalena on Jul 22, 2017 12:34:08 GMT -5
Mary Magdalene -- The Provencal Tradition
There is a widely recognized, time-honored alliance between Mary Magdalene and Provence—South of France. Two significant sites of pilgrimage bear witness to this claim: the Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene in St.-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume and La Sainte-Baume, a mountain cave on the plain of the Plan d’Aups, overlooking the Massif de la Sainte-Baume.
Tradition has it that, after the execution of St. James in Jerusalem (son of Zebedee and Mary Salome), Mary Magdalene, her sister Martha and brother Lazarus were persecuted by the Jews of Jerusalem and imprisoned. The Jews were afraid of the crowd if they were to execute the prisoners so they towed them off the shores of Palestine in a boat without sails or oars or supplies and abandoned them to the open sea. Others in the boat included Mary Jacobe, mother of James and the sister of the Virgin Mary, Mary Salome, mother of the apostles James and John, Maximin, one of the seventy two disciples of Christ, Cedonius, the blind man who was miraculously healed by Jesus, Marcelle, Martha’s servant, and Sara, maid of the two Marys.
After narrowly escaping death during a storm at sea the boat finally came to shore on the coast of Gaul in a town now called Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer in Camargue.
Mary Jacobe, Mary Salome and Sara remained in Camargue. Martha traveled towards Avignon and ended up in Tarascon. Mary Magdalene, Lazarus, Maximin and Cedonius traveled on to Marseille where Mary Magdalene began to preach. They ended up converting the whole of Provence. Lazarus became the first bishop of Marseille. Mary Magdalene then went on to Aix where Maximin had already gone, some twenty miles north of Marseille.
Maximin became the first bishop of Aix and Mary Magdalene retreated to a mountain cave on the plain of the Plan d’Aups known as La Sainte Baume (47 AD) where she remained alone for the last thirty years of her life in contemplation, prayer and penance. She is said to have been lifted up by the angels seven times each day at the canonical hours and fed heavenly nourishment. The tiny chapel of Saint Pilon on the crest above La Sainte Baume was built in memory of Mary Magdalene being raised by angels.
When the time of Mary Magdalene’s death arrived she was carried by angels to the oratory of Maximin, where she received viaticum. She died in Maximin’s arms and her body was laid in an alabaster sarcophagus in an oratory he constructed in the Gallo Roman town of Villa Latta or Tégulata, which after Maximin’s death became St. Maximin.
Maximin, Cedonius and Marcelle are buried at St. Maximin. Mary Jacobe, Mary Salome and Sara are buried in the parish church in Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Martha is buried in St. Martha’s Church in Tarascon and the skull of Lazarus is in a reliquary at Cathedral of Saint Mary Major in Marseille.
Dominicans appointed as Guards of the Relics of Saint Mary Magdalene
In 1254, returning from the seventh Crusade, Saint Louis, king of France, on hearing of La Sainte Baume, greatly desired to visit it with his knights; this royal pilgrimage ended up having great repercussions.
Mary Magdalene Relics Unearthed in 1279
In 1279, St. Louis’ nephew, Charles II (Prince of Salerno and Count of Provence) acquired knowledge that the relics were buried in the town of St. Maximin in the church with the same name, so he ordered excavations in Saint Maximin to search for them. On December 10, 1279, deep in the earth, he found the marble tomb. When he tried to open it a wonderful smell of perfume filled the air. Inside lay her entire body except her jaw bone. In the dust inside the tomb was a wooden tablet wrapped in wax:
Here lies the body of Mary Magdalene
“Here lies the body of Mary Magdalene” and a parchment which explained that in 710 her remains had been secretly transferred during the night into the marble tomb of Cedonius and hidden so that the Saracens wouldn’t find them.
On April 6, 1295 the skull was reunited with its jaw bone at St. John Lateran in Rome where it had been venerated for centuries, thanks to Pope Boniface VIII, who then published the pontifical bull for the establishment of the Dominicans at La Sainte Baume and St. Maximin. Some years later the Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene was built over the spot where Charles II found her remains. A Dominican priory was built in St. Maximin as well as a little priory at La Sainte Baume.
Since then hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, including many kings and popes and saints, have continued to journey to La Sainte Baume and St. Maximin to pray to and to give thanks for the intercession of Saint Mary Magdalene.
www.magdalenepublishing.org/about/
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