As we celebrate this beautiful feast day today, here is some information about it from Catholic Culture."Today marks the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1858 to fourteen-year-old Marie Bernade (St. Bernadette) Soubirous. Between February 11 and July 16, 1858, the Blessed Virgin appeared eighteen times, and showed herself to St. Bernadette in the hollow of the rock at Lourdes. On March 25 she said to the little shepherdess who was only fourteen years of age: "I am the Immaculate Conception." Since then Lourdes has become a place of pilgrimage and many cures and conversions have taken place. The message of Lourdes is a call to personal conversion, prayer, and charity."
❥We will be attempting some of these traditions today. As I have some very focused, keeping on schedule with 'school' today. We will have to see what we can accomplish.
Our suggestions for the day are:
♥ Books to read~
Our Lady of Lourdes. I will read this to the younger children.
Bernadette: Our Lady's Little Servant
Colouring Book about the Rosary We will colour the page on Our lady of Lourdes
♥ The tradition of a Parental blessing is a special one, different to the every day blessing we give the children, before bed or as they leave the house or we leave them behind.
♥ Of course we will once again colour in Charlotte's colouring page.
I have plans to make it into a grotto craft similar to these ones found here and here(adapting this one of course.)
♥ If time permits we would like to make some holy water fonts. We have our holy water in nice bottles but every year at this time we think about making a Holy Water font. Hopefully we will do it this year.
Some lovely examples we have 'drooled' over in past years are Alice's. This one is from Mary G
Dawn, Meredith and Charlotte all have beautiful grotto's for inspiration too!
♥ Catholic Cuisine has some wonderful recipes for today. I am keen to make the grotto. Our version will be with rice bubbles and added cocoa powder, it is what we have on hand at the moment.
In the past we have had an all white meal as well but as I have already got the meat out for stew we will have to forgo this one this time. Perhaps I can think of something else white that we can make on the spur of the moment.
♥ We have a lovely image we printed out last year for a center piece decoration and will use candles of blue and white to decorate our white tablecloth which willl be spread with lovely flowers as well.
I will also print and laminate the book marks we usually have to keep as our marking of our feast days.
♥ Our prayer time today will include the Rosary(of course) and a special prayer for this feast day.
Courtesy of Catholic Information Network (CIN)Litany of our Lady of Lourdes
Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy; Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy; Lord have mercy.
Christ hear us; Christ graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven; Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world; Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit; Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God; Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary; Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God; Pray for us.
Mother of Christ; Pray for us.
Mother of our Savior; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, help of Christians; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, source of love; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the poor; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the handicapped; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of orphans; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of all children; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of all nations; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, mother of the Church; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, friend of the lonely; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, comforter of those who mourn; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, shelter of the homeless; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, guide of travelers; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, strength of the weak; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, refuge of sinners; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, comforter of the suffering; Pray for us.
Our Lady of Lourdes, help of the dying; Pray for us.
Queen of heaven; Pray for us.
Queen of peace; Pray for us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Spare us O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; Have mercy on us.
Christ hear us; Christ graciously hear us.Let us pray: Grant us, your servants, we pray you, Lord God, to enjoy perpetual health of mind and body. By the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrows, and enjoy everlasting happiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
♥ As well as this beautiful novena 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, Hail Mary, Glory Be.)
❥ And this beautiful Hymn we plan on singing through our the day ~Immaculate Mary ~The Lourdes Hymn
Immaculate Mary, your praises we sing.
You reign now in Heaven with Jesus our King.
Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria!
In Heaven the blessed your glory proclaim;
On earth we your children invoke your sweet name.
Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria!
We pray for our Mother, the Church upon earth,
And bless, Holy Mary, the land of our birth.
Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria! Ave, Ave, Ave, Maria!
Our Lady of Lourdes ~ Pray for Us!
Blessings,
Hello Gae ~ I so enjoyed of reading of your special family traditions especially of the Parental Blessing. How beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI did check the following and I'm still on your list but it removed my profile photo and added one of the scary faceless sillouettes. I'm trying to fix that as well. Thank you for letting me know.
Wishing you joy and blessings dear sister,
Lea
I remember cooking for a big crowd, the laundry, Oh the laundry! Our youngest is graduating this year, I am beginning to show signs of empty nest syndrome! But that will soon change! I Love you family pics, Your children are beautiful, I have 14 children (all grown and on their own but one who graduates this year) and grandchildren, My Husband and I adopted several children and had 2 of our own. I am New to blogging and am trying to get started. Any tips you can offer me on my site would be greatly appreciated. I am a family therapist and work full time. My site is about trying to improve my life in 365 days. My husband and I, just received guardianship of our granddaughter Angel she is 14 months old. It has been a long time since we had an infant in our care, seems like we are starting over. If you get a chance come visit me on my site, and watch our Journey as we bring Angel home. Thanks for letting me post!
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thank you for all of your lovely links, gae!
ReplyDeleteBet your mug is cute...I do love Jemima Puddle Duck! Wishing you well! Cathy
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