HOLY ROSARY MONTH

The Catholic Church dedicated the Month of October to the Holy Rosary. October 7 is the feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

Image of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, URCI Chapel
Las Piñas City, Philippines.

HOW TO PRAY THE ROSARY

1. While holding the crucifix make the Sign of the Cross. and then recite the Apostles Creed.
2. Recite the Our Father on the first large bead.
3. Recite a Hail Mary for an increase of faith, hope and charity on each of the three small beads.
4. Recite the Glory Be to the Father on the next large bead.
5. Recite the Fatima Prayer "O my Jesus" on the large bead.
6. Recall the first Rosary Mystery and recite the Our Father on the large bead.
7. On each of the adjacent ten small beads (also referred to as a decade) recite a Hail Mary while reflecting on the mystery.
8. On the next large bead, recite the Glory Be to the Father, the Fatima prayer.
9. Each succeeding decade is prayed in a similar manner by recalling the appropriate mystery, reciting the Our Father, ten Hail Marys while reflecting on the mystery, the Glory Be to the Father, and the Fatima prayer.
10. When the fifth mystery is completed, the Rosary is Customarily concluded with the Hail Holy Queen, and the Sign of the Cross.

The Sign of the Cross: In the name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

The Apostles' Creed: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day He arose again; He ascended into heaven,and seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen

The Our Father: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name: Thy kingdom come: Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread: and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil. Amen. 

The Hail Mary: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen

Glory Be to the Father: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Fatima Prayer: "O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Your Mercy"

The Hail, Holy Queen: Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley, of tears. Turn, then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus; O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

Let Us Pray: "O God whose only begotten Son has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, Grant that we beseech Thee while meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may both imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord Amen."

Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

Lord have mercy on us

Christ have mercy on us

Lord have mercy on us

Christ hear us.

Christ graciously hear us.

God, the Father of heaven, 

have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, 

God the Holy Spirit, 

Holy Trinity, one God,

Holy Mary, 

pray for us.

Holy Mother of God,

Holy Virgin of virgins, 

Mother of Christ, 

Mother of the Church, 

Mother of divine grace, 

Mother most pure, 

Mother most chaste, 

Mother inviolate, 

Mother undefiled, 

Mother most amiable, 

Mother admirable, 

Mother of good counsel, 

Mother of our Creator, 

Mother of our Saviour, 

Mother of mercy, 

Virgin most prudent, 

Virgin most venerable, 

Virgin most renowned, 

Virgin most powerful, 

Virgin most merciful, 

Virgin most faithful, 

Mirror of justice, 

Seat of wisdom, 

Cause of our joy, 

Spiritual vessel, 

Vessel of honour, 

Singular vessel of devotion, 

Mystical rose, 

Tower of David, 

Tower of ivory, 

House of gold, 

Ark of the covenant, 

Gate of heaven, 

Morning star, 

Health of the sick, 

Refuge of sinners, 

Comfort of the afflicted, 

Help of Christians, 

Queen of Angels, 

Queen of Patriarchs, 

Queen of Prophets, 

Queen of Apostles, 

Queen of Martyrs, 

Queen of Confessors, 

Queen of Virgins, 

Queen of all Saints, 

Queen conceived without original sin, 

Queen assumed into heaven, 

Queen of the most holy Rosary, 

Queen of families, 

Queen of peace.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, 

spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, 

graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, 

have mercy on us.

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. 

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

General:

Let us pray. 

Grant, we beseech thee, 

O Lord God, 

that we, your servants,

may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body; 

and by the intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, 

may be delivered from present sorrow, 

and obtain eternal joy. 

Through Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

During Advent:

Let us pray - O God, you willed that, at the message of an angel, your word should take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary; grant to your suppliant people, that we, who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her intercession with you. Through the same Christ our Lord. . Amen.

From Christmas to the Purification:

Let us pray - O God, by the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary, you bestowed upon the human race the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beg you, that we may feel the power of her intercession, through whom we have been made worthy to receive the Author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you forever and ever. Amen.

During Paschal Time:

Let us pray - O God, who by the Resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, granted joy to the whole world, grant, we beg you, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, his Mother, we may attain the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Memorare of St. Bernard:

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. 

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

The Rosary Mysteries:

Joyful (Monday and Saturday)

1. Annunciation
2. Visitation
3. Nativity
4. Presentation at the Temple
5. Finding in the Temple

Light (Thursday)

1. Baptism of Jesus
2. Wedding of Cana
3. The proclamation of the Kingdom of God
4. The Transfiguration
5. The institution of the Eucharist

Sorrowful (Tuesday and Friday)

1. Agony of Jesus in the Garden
2. Scourging of Jesus at Pillar
3. Crowning with Thorns
4. Carrying the Cross
5. Crucifixion

Glorious (Wednesday and Sunday)

1. Resurrection of Jesus
2. Ascension of Jesus
3. Descent of Holy Spirit
4. Assumption of the Virgin Mary
5. Coronation of Blessed Virgin Mary

Holy Father Pope Francis entrusted the whole world to the Our Lady of Fatima

In celebrating the Marian Day in the Year of Faith, the Filipino faithful recited the "Act of Consecration of the Filipino People to the Immaculate Heart of Mary" last Sunday Mass, October 13, 2013 and joined the Holy Father, Pope Francis in entrusting the whole world to the Our Lady of Fatima.

Pope Francis incenses the official statue of
Our Lady of Fatima during Mass
on St. Peter Square. October 13, 2013.
Rex Features via AP Images

Immaculate Heart of Mary
Parish of the Last Supper of Our Lord

Act of Consecration of the Filipino People to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Beloved Mother of Jesus, and our Mother, trustingly we gather before you. We lay before you all the longing and hopes, sufferings and anxieties of all our people. To your Immaculate Heart we raise from our hearts this Act of Entrustment and Consecration. Embrace us, dear Mother, and gather each one of us within your saving mantle, take us within your motherly love. 

Immaculate Heart of Mary, we seek to unite ourselves with the consecration which Jesus the Son made to His heavenly Father on the night before He gave His life for us, when He prayed: "For their sakes I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth." (John 17:19) His consecration obtains pardon and mercy and secures redemption for all sinners and from all sin. Its power overcomes every evil which the powers of darkness awaken in human hearts throughout history. It joins us in His heart to make us one in the grace of His Paschal Mystery. 

Immaculate Heart of Mary, your heart is most wholly united with your Son's redeeming consecration. As we entrust ourselves to you, help us to live in truth Jesus' consecration, faithfully each day. Deliver us from the power of sin, in all its forms and manifestations, in personal and social living. Help us strive to raise up in our land a civilization of solidarity, justice and love, by the grace of the Spirit of Jesus. 

May the infinite power of the merciful love of God, through motherly intercession, be revealed in our history as a people. May it change our hearts to the likeness of the Pierced Heart of Jesus, and the likeness of your own Immaculate Heart. 

By this consecration, may we become ever more truly, "pueblo amante de Maria", a people which loves you mightily in its own heart, a people you make each day ever more your own, held securely and cherished in your Immaculate Heart. AMEN. AMEN.

VICARIATE PRE-EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

The Vicariate of St. Joseph in Las Pinas City, held it's Pre-Eucharistic Congress last, Friday, August 9, 2013. This was attended by church workers and their respective priests from St. Joseph Parish (Las Piñas Bamboo Organ), Christ the King Parish, Good Shepherd Parish, Last Supper of Our Lord Parish, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, St. Joseph the Worker Parish, and Immaculate Conception Parish.

The congress started with a Holy Hour at 9:00 AM, and followed with a talk by Rev. Msgr. Chito Bernardo. The participants were divided into small groups for discussion. To cap the congress, a Eucharistic mass was led by Msgr. Ernesto Joaquin.

 

 

 

 

 
 

The final blessing of Msgr. Ernie...

Complete text of Msgr. Chito Bernardo's talk outline:

PRE-CONGRESS CELEBRATION OF VICARIATE LEVEL – AUGUST 9, 2013

Introduction: Concept of the Pre-Congress = 1st basically a “preparation in the vicariate level” since not all will be part of the Congress; 2nd a “Disposition and Deepening” of the one year preparation that was done in the whole Diocese and in the Parish level; 3rd a way of “Challenging the community” to SUSTAIN the graces of the one year preparation, prayers recited after the Masses

Presentation of the Theme of my Reflection this morning:

“The Eucharist as the SOURCE of Communion/Unity/Fellowship in the Parish Communities”

Why this topic from the many possible other topics that we can focus? Because if there seems to be one key aspect that we have been neglecting or taking for granted – it is the important grace of communion/unity/fellowship that we all are in need of in the aspects of our life: as Family, Parish, Society, and as a Nation. This call to communion was the last PRAYER (HABILIN of a Dying Man) that Jesus said before he entered His Passion: “Father I pray that they may be one so that the world will believe that You sent me: => the believability of Jesus in the world is how His disciples are approximating the gift of communion, unity, and fellowship => “By this will the world know that you are my disciples if you love one another.”

And as the challenge for all of the Parishes at the end of this Eucharistic Year = it is to RE-COMMIT ourselves to make this our priority and as the grace of the Year of Faith and the Eucharist = which means in concrete => to have a concerted efforts to adopt and strategize ways and means to make this our “Battle Cry and Catch Word” that will continue deepening even after the Year of Faith and Eucharist; especially after we have received Holy Communion 

Part I – Clarify the Key Teachings/Concept about the Eucharist based on the Encyclical “ECCLESIA DE EUCHARISTIA” = The Eucharist in its Relationship to the Church – April 17, 2003 – Holy Thursday

a) Basic principle: From Identity Flows Mission => if we are clear about the WHAT the Eucharist is, then we will also be committed to its mission; in fact this reality is very true: if all the Eucharist and Communion we have celebrated and received would truly be internalized and understood, then our communities/families/society/country would have been a much better place to live in. And the opposite is also very much TRUE: we have not fully maximized the graces of the Eucharist/Communion we have been celebrating NOT because we are “Bad People” BUT because we have NOT fully appreciated and understood the POWER of what the Eucharist is offering us: SOURCE OF UNITY AND COMMUNION.

b) In Chapter 4, #34 => “The Eucharist thus appears as the culmination of ALL the sacraments in perfecting our communion with God the Father by identification with His only-begotten Son through the working of the Holy Spirit……” #35 => “The celebration of the Eucharist however CANNOT be the starting point for the communion; it PRESUPPOSES that communion ALREADY EXISTS, a communion which it seeks to CONSOLIDATE and BRING TO PERFECTION… both in its “invisible dimension” and in its “visible dimension”…. Only a communion which it seeks to CONSOLIDATE and BRING TO PERFECTION… both in its “invisible dimension” and in its “visible dimension”…. Only in this context can there be a legitimate celebration of the Eucharist and a true participation in it. Consequently it is an INTRINSIC REQUIREMENT OF THE EUCHARIST THAT IT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED IN COMMUNION, AND SPECIFICALLY in this context can there be a legitimate celebration of the Eucharist and a true participation in it. Consequently it is an INTRINSIC REQUIREMENT OF THE EUCHARIST THAT IT SHOULD BE CELEBRATED IN COMMUNION, AND SPECIFICALLY MAINTAINING THE VARIOUS BONDS OF THAT COMMUNION INTACT!” The Question now to ask: what kind of Masses have we been celebrating especially when our families are divided, parishes are divided and when a Diocese is divided? Is this possible reason why the Grace of the Eucharist has not been maximized because we are still suffering from the “Human Experiences of all sorts of division and brokenness”?

c) PASTORAL IMPLICATIONS: Even though we are still so far off from the ideal demands of UNITY/Communion in the Human Level, this should not prevent us from continuing to celebrate the Mass every day; rather to be MORE FOCUSED on the NEED for HEALING of our division and to make our reception of Holy Communion more directed towards being empowered to be the INSTRUMENT of Unity/Communion! Thus the words that we pray before receiving Communion: “Lord I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof but only say the word and MY SOUL SHALL BE HEALED => grace of healing of our indifference and divisions!

d) The close connection between the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist #37 – (quote this passage) => the continuous need for “Conversion of Heart” => this implies that we who receive communion DAILY are being invited to CLAIM our personal Conversion as the first fruit of the Body and Blood of Christ that we receive every time we go to communion! Thus I am empowered to be more patient with myself and others; and to be more forgiving of the failures of others. Thus we now go DEEPER to the connection of the HOLY SPIRIT in the Eucharist we celebrate and receive => the intrinsic BOND and SOURCE of UNITY in the Church.

e) The Role and Gift/Function of the HOLY SPIRIT in the life and Growth of the CHURCH/PARISHES => the GRACE OF PENTECOST = making us BOLD WITNESSES of the RISEN LORD – this means we cannot be “secret disciples” or remain only in the level of personal holiness = “Me and Jesus Alone mentality/disposition”.

Part 2 – Connection with the YEAR OF FAITH = what it means/consequences – the Year of the Eucharist for the Diocese/Vicariate.

Pope Benedict’s Last Official Proclamation: a Prophetic message as the answer to the many modern challenges and struggles/evils in the world today = go back to where it all began = the call of Faith – the gift of Faith – the life of Faith – the Community of the Faithful => (Quote the Key points of the Year of Faith).

Faith as a PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF JESUS IN MY LIFE – this means = How Alive/Real is Jesus in my heart/mind/total being will also be the jumping board of just How Much I can feel/experience that Jesus is alive/real in the other persons around me, in the community and family that surrounds me! => “Gold and Silver I do not have; but what I do have, in the name of Jesus stand up” – a conviction that is much needed today = that I do have Jesus – Jesus is in me and because of this I CAN SHARE HIM WITH OTHERS.

Part 3: Conclusion and Challenge to Sustain the Graces of this Year of Faith and the Eucharist

You can only “sustain something” if you have discovered just how “Precious and Valuable” a thing, person or event is! And so the first challenge that we can all accept in this Pre-Congress = can you identify the particular graces, values and treasure the Faith and the Eucharist that you have discovered during this whole year? If none, try to reflect now and discern what the Spirit is trying to offer you after this conference. If there are: WRITE THEM DOWN and CLAIM IT AS YOUR GIFT and MIRACLE you have received during this year that you have been praying the official prayer of the Diocese.

Lastly be accountable with what you have discovered or identified as your grace = share it with others and seek help from them so that you will continually RENEW and REFRESH this experience of your miracle! As leaders or members of the Parish Church, try to discover CREATIVE WAYS that you can FOLLOW UP the Year of Faith and Eucharist that is adoptable in your particular context.