St Bernard | DAILY PRAYERS

03/07/201828/04/2023

Express Novena of Mother Teresa – Memorare

St Bernard’s Memorare was used as an “express one-day” novena by St Mother Teresa to our Blessed Mother Mary for the grace of urgent favours. She repeated the prayer nine times, often aloud and with her accompanying Nuns and helpers.

Remember, O Most Gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help or sought your intercession,
was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence,
I fly onto you O Virgin of virgins, my Mother;
to you I come, before you I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the word incarnate,
despise not my petitions… (State your request… )
but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

[Repeat nine times]

••• Mary Queen of Heaven, Pray for Us •••

••• St Bernard: Pray for Us •••

(Memorare was written by St Bernard)

24/01/201627/04/2023

Bernard of Clairvaux

Act of Spiritual Communion

As I cannot this day enjoy the happiness of assisting at the Holy Mysteries, O my God, I transport myself in spirit at the foot of Your altar. I unite with the Church which by the hands of the Priest, offers You Your adorable Son in the Holy Sacrifice. I offer myself with Him, by Him and in His Name. I adore, I praise and thank You, imploring your mercy, invoking your assistance and presenting You the homage I owe You as my Creator, the love due to You as my Saviour.

Apply to my soul, I beseech You, O Merciful Jesus, Your infinite merits; apply them also to those for whom I particularly wish to pray. I desire to communicate spiritually, that Your Blood may purify, Your Flesh strengthen, and Your Spirit sanctify me. May I never forget that You, my divine Redeemer, died for me; may I die to all that is not You, that hereafter I may live eternally with You. Amen.

Mary, O Lady

Run, hasten, O Lady,
and in your mercy help your sinful servant,
who calls upon you,
and deliver them from the hands of the enemy.
Who will not sigh to you?
We sigh with love and grief,
for we are oppressed on every side.

How can we do other than sigh to you,
O solace of the miserable,
refuge of outcasts,
ransom of captives?
We are certain that when you see our miseries,
your compassion will hasten to relieve us.
O our Sovereign Lady and our Advocate,
commend us to your Son.

Grant, O blessed one,
by the grace which you have merited,
that he who through you
was graciously pleased to become a partaker
of our infirmity and misery,
may also through your intercession,
make us partakers of his happiness and glory. Amen.

(By St Bernard of Clairvaux)

… St Bernard, Pray for Us …

23/01/201627/04/2023

Memorare – St Bernard

Remember, O Most Gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help or sought your intercession,
was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence,
I fly onto you O Virgin of virgins, my Mother;
to you I come, before you I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the word incarnate,
despise not my petitions
but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

••• Mother Mary, Our Advocate •••

(By St Bernard)

20/08/201524/01/2020

St Bernard Clairvaux

Featured Saint: St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 – 1153)

St Bernard was born into royalty, the third in a family of ten children at Fontaine-Les-Dijon, France. He excelled at school and developed a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary; a devotion that, in later life, he preached to others.

At 19, St Bernard’s mother died and he decided to join the Cistercian Order. There he founded Clairvaux Abbey and was appointed its Abbot. The regime that he set within the Abbey, was so austere that even he became ill. However, followers flocked to it including, his father and all his brothers.

St Bernard defended the rights of the Church against the encroachments of Kings and Princes’. He assisted in bringing to an end, a disagreement within the Church regarding Papal appointments and was called upon to help combat heresy. St Bernard is a noted Doctor of the Church.

+In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen+

Short Quote: Jesus said, “Many are called but few are chosen”. (Matthew 22:14)

Thoughts: Pope Saint Pius, when referring to his humble origins said, “I was born poor, I have lived poor, and I wish to die poor”.

However, he built great treasures in heaven, while on earth!

Reflection: Lord Jesus, guide me on my road today.

As I perform my duties, gather the riches that I sow from among your people and accept my humble prayers of thanks.

Prayer: Abandonment ~ by Charles de Foucauld
Father, I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you;
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me.
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul:
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands without reserve
and with boundless confidence, for you are my Father.

St Bernard of Clairvaux: Pray for Us

Today’s Music Suggestion: Peace is Flowing Like a River

+ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen +

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