"From my youthful years this prayer has held an important place in my spiritual life. The Rosary has accompanied me in moments of joy and in moments of difficulty. To it I have entrusted any number of concerns: in it I have always found comfort."
Pope John Paul II
For Reflection:
What position does the Rosary hold in my spiritual life? Am I in a moment of joy or difficulty? Am I willing to entrust this moment to this prayer?
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Queen of the Holy Rosary
Queen of the Holy Rosary!
Thee as our Queen we greet,
And lay our lowly, loving prayers
Like roses at thy feet.
Would that these blossoms of our souls
Were far more fair and sweet.
Queen of the Joyful Mysteries!
Glad news God's envoy bore.
The Baptist's mother thou didst tend;
Angels thy Babe adore,
Whom with two doves thou ransomest;
Lost, He is found once more.
Queen of the Dolorous Mysteries!
Christ 'mid the olives bled,
Scourged at the pillar, crowned with thorns,
Beneath His Cross He sped
Up the steep hill; and there once more
Thine arms embraced Him--dead!
Queen of the Glorious Mysteries!
Christ from the tomb has flown,
Has mounted to the highest heaven
And sent His Spirit down
And soon He raises thee on high
To wear thy heavenly crown.
Queen of the Holy Rosary!
We, too, have joys and woes.
May they, like thine, to triumph lead!
May labor earn repose,
And may life's sorrows and life's joys
In heavenly glory close.
Cyril Robert
For Reflection:
As I contemplate this poem, how have I seen the mysteries of Christ's life reflected in my own?
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"Deign, O Immaculate Virgin, Mother most pure, to accept the loving cry of praise which we send up to thee from the depths of our hearts. Though they can but add little to thy glory, O Queen of Angels, thou dost not despise, in thy love, the praises of the humble and the poor.
Cast down upon us a glance of mercy, O most glorious Queen: graciously receive our petitions. Through thy immaculate purity of body and mind, which rendered thee so pleasing to God, inspire us with a love of innocence and purity.
Teach us to guard carefully the gifts of grace, striving ever after sanctity, so that, being made like unto the image of thy beauty, we may be worthy to become the sharers of thy eternal happiness. Amen."
St. Paschasius
For Reflection:
Dear Mother, I make this prayer with heartfelt sincerity. Please bring everything in me into conformity with your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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"We must be pure. I do not speak merely of purity of the sense. We must observe great purity in our will, in our intentions, in all our actions. To possess purity of life - in this, all consists."
St. Peter Julian Eymard
For Reflection:
How does purity of will, of intention, of action lead to purity of life in all things?
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"Where Christ is, there modesty is found."
St. Gregory of Nazianzen
For Reflection:
Where is Christ in me? How do I see modesty in those areas? Where is Christ not in me? Where do I see immodesty?
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"We can gain nothing from God but by purity, and by holiness. God does great things only by pure souls."
St. Peter Julian Eymard
For Reflection:
What great things have I seen God do through the pure souls of our day and time? How does this encourage me toward purity of heart, mind, soul, and deed?
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"It is he who, after having broken down the ramparts of his passions, ascends with force to the Kingdom of Heaven."
St. Gregory the Great
For Reflection:
St. Gregory gives us insight into the reward of our efforts to remain chaste. What is it? Can I experience this reward even now? How has this been so in my own life?
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"The devil flatters that he may deceive us; he charms that he may injure us; he allures that he may slay us."
St. John Climacus
For Reflection:
What three tactics of the evil one does this quote reveal? How have I seen them exhibited in my fight to remain chaste? To what extent does this revelation help me to assess my strategy and remain diligent to the fight?
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"The tempter, ever on the watch, wages war most violently against those whom he sees most careful to avoid sin."
Pope Saint Leo the Great
For Reflection:
What can I expect to experience as I wage a war against impurity and seek to practice the virtue of chastity? How can this encourage my efforts?
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"It is necessary that temptations should happen; for who shall be crowned but he that shall lawfully have fought, and how shall a man fight if there be none to attack him?"
St. Bernard
For Reflection:
How does this help me to fight more strongly against the temptations that assail me including those against the virtue of chastity?
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