1. The Baptism of Jesus - Jesus, the Good Shepherd
Jesus came ... to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him ... Jesus said to him in reply: “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” ... After Jesus was baptized ... the heavens were opened ... the Spirit of God descending like a dove [and] ... a voice came from heaven saying: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt. 3: 13-17)
Meditation (Leader)
Jesus proclaims himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. A good shepherd protects the sheep from all dangers, even at the cost of risking his life. He looks out for the lost sheep until he finds them (Jn. 10: 11-16). At his baptism in the Jordan, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, identifies himself with the sheep, whom he will shepherd when he begins his public ministry. By letting himself be baptized in the Jordan along with the crowd, the tax collectors, soldiers, and public sinners, Jesus became one among them. At his baptism, Jesus sought out the lost sheep and familiarized himself with these sinful people, so that they may hear the voice of their Good Shepherd when he proclaimed the Good News of salvation. Jesus humiliated himself by identifying himself with sinners in order to be their Good Shepherd, but God exalted him by sending the Holy Spirit on him and proclaiming him as his beloved Son. St. Vincent Pallotti, fascinated by the manner in which Jesus ministered to God’s people, always imitated Jesus, the Good Shepherd, in his ministry as pastor and shepherd (OOCC, X, p. 675).
Do I understand what it meant for Jesus to be the Good Shepherd?
Am I ready to take risks for shepherding those entrusted to my care?
Am I, like Jesus, able to understand the problems of those under my care?
Do I shepherd others without any expectation, believing in God’s promises?
(Pray the Decade of the Rosary)
Prayer (All)
Almighty God, you gave us Jesus, your Son, as the Good Shepherd. He risked everything in his life to be our Good Shepherd. Grant us the grace to instill the spirit of Jesus in shepherding people you entrusted to our care. Mary, our Mother, help us to serve others with complete dedication and without expectation in imitation of Jesus, our Good Shepherd. Amen.
2. The Wedding at Cana - Mary’s Protection
Jesus performed his first miracle of transforming water into wine, obeying his mother’s request to help the couple during the wedding at Cana in Galilee, thereby revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him. (Jn. 2:1-12)
Meditation (Leader)
At the wedding festivities of the family at Cana in Galilee - to which Mary, Jesus, and his disciples were invited - the wine ran out. Mary noticed the immediate need of the couple and wanted to save them from embarrassment and gossip of the neighbors. She understood their need even without their asking; she felt for them in their trouble and offered help on her own. Mary was sensitive to the needs of the couple and was alert to find a solution, using the help of Jesus, though Jesus himself was hesitant to move in. Yet, obeying his mother Jesus performed the first miracle of turning water into wine and granted her request on behalf of the couple. The couple experienced Mary’s protection. St. Vincent Pallotti firmly believed in Mary’s protection. He often advised people to count on Mary as their security in difficult times. He told them: “Place yourself in the hand of the Madonna ... and do not let anything worry you.” Thus, for St. Vincent Pallotti, whatever may be their problems, physical, mental or spiritual, they must place them in the hands of Mary and do their best to cope with the situations without being worried and anxious about the outcome, feeling secure in her protection (OCL, III, 592, pp. 111-112).
What do I learn from meditating on Mary in action at the wedding at Cana?
Do I imitate her sensitive heart and alert mind to assist others in their needs?
Do I believe that in Mary I have a powerful intercessor before God?
Do I believe in Mary’s protection and approach her in my struggles and problems?
(Pray the Decade of the Rosary)
Prayer (All)
O God, infinite love and mercy, in Mary, the Mother of Jesus, you have given us a powerful intercessor before you. Her sensitivity and alertness of mind to assist us even without our asking makes us approach her in our needs. Grant us the grace to approach her in our needs and listen to her prayers on our behalf. Mary, our divine Mother, keep us always in your loving care and under your protection. Amen.
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God - Jesus’ Commitment to His Mission
After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God [saying]: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mk. 1: 14-15)
Meditation (Leader)
For Jesus, his mission of saving the world according to the plan of his Father was the most important objective of his life. His mission was his life of sacrifice to accomplish it. So, Jesus set out to prepare himself seriously for it. After his baptism, he went into the desert for forty days and forty nights to pray and discern the Father’s will. Then he was tempted by the devil, which he withstood by taking recourse to God’s Word. Having realized that the time of fulfillment had arrived, he came to Galilee and declared himself to be the promised Messiah, proclaimed by the Prophets. He announced the arrival of God’s Kingdom and called on people to repent and believe in the Gospel he preached. This beginning of his mission culminates only in his death. Reflecting on Jesus’ commitment to his mission, St. Vincent Pallotti says: “Since the life of Jesus Christ is his apostolate, he is the model of the apostolate for all.” Thus, for St. Vincent Pallotti, we must give ourselves entirely for the service of the Lord and his people in our apostolate according to our state of life within the Church in imitation of Jesus’ commitment and dedication to his mission (OOCC, III, p. 142).
Do I understand the depth of Jesus’ commitment and dedication to his mission?
Do I, like Jesus, prepare myself to be an effective minister in my apostolate?
Do I realize that I can serve Church’s apostolate according to my state of life?
Do I accept Jesus as the model of the mission entrusted to me by God?
(Pray the Decade of the Rosary)
Prayer (All)
O God, our loving Father, in Jesus, your Son, we find the depth of commitment and dedication to the mission you have entrusted him to accomplish during his life on earth. He faithfully accomplished it, even dying for it. Grant us the grace to imitate his spirit in carrying out our mission. Mary, Queen of Apostles, help us to carry out our apostolate in the Church according to our state of life with the very commitment of Jesus. Amen.
4. The Transfiguration - Father’s Fidelity to Jesus
While Jesus was praying with Peter, John and James on the mountain, his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. He was conversing with Moses and Elijah about the exodus he was to accomplish in Jerusalem. Then from the cloud came a voice that said: “This is my chosen one; listen to him.” (Lk. 9: 28-38)
Meditation (Leader)
As his practice, Jesus, along with Peter, John and James, went up to Mount Tabor to pray. While at prayer, Jesus was transfigured and experienced a deep communion with his Father. In this experience, the Father deigned to share with Jesus, for a brief moment, the beatific vision - their Trinitarian life in heaven, assured Jesus that he is the chosen one of God, and let him converse with Moses and Elijah about Jesus’ own suffering. Half way through Jesus’ public ministry, by revealing his glory in a personal way to Jesus, the Father wanted to strengthen Jesus in his mission and declare his fidelity to Jesus. This experience caused Jesus to believe in God’s faithfulness to him, forget himself in the love of his Father, and grow more committed to his mission. Inspired by the Father’s fidelity to Jesus, St. Vincent Pallotti says: “Forget yourself in the love of God and God will never forget you.” He believed that God is ever faithful and never forgets his needs. St. Vincent asked his followers to believe, like Jesus, in the Father’s fidelity to them, forget themselves in God’s love for them, and be committed to their apostolate (OCL, IV, 832, p. 71).
Do I understand what the Transfiguration experience at Mount Tabor meant for Jesus?
Do I, like Jesus, open myself to deeper experiences of communion with the Father?
Do I believe in the Father’s faithfulness towards me despite my unfaithfulness? How does my faith in God’s fidelity affect my life of commitment?
(Pray the Decade of the Rosary)
Prayer (All)
O God, ever gracious Father, you loved Jesus, your Son, eternally and deigned to assure him of your fidelity and love at his transfiguration experience. Grant us the grace to believe in your unfailing love for us, despite our unfaithfulness. Mary, our loving Mother, help us to imitate Jesus’ response to the Father’s love, particularly by being devoted to our ministry. Amen.
5. The Institution of the Most Holy Eucharist - Jesus’ Loving Presence
While celebrating the Passover with his disciples, Jesus took bread and said: “This is my body which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” Then, he took the cup and said: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.” (Lk. 22: 14-23)
Meditation (Leader)
By instituting Eucharist as a sacrament, Jesus wanted to leave his loving presence with his disciples in a real and lasting way. For St. Vincent Pallotti, Jesus, by asking us to do this in his memory, wanted the celebration of the Eucharist to become an occasion of an intimate communion with Jesus’ loving presence. Thus, the holy communion with Jesus, the Eucharistic Lord, transforms the recipient into the loving presence of Jesus. Jesus’ thoughts, feelings, sentiments, and attitudes take hold of the recipient, so that it is not the person who acts, but Jesus who acts in him (OOCC, X, pp. 460-461). As a result, the recipient’s evil tendencies are removed, the mind achieves clarity of vision, the heart is purified, and he arrives at genuine holiness of life as he comes into contact with God at the deepest level of his being. Such a deep personal contact with Jesus’ loving presence in the Eucharist helps the recipient to achieve the unity of mind and heart with each member of the Christian community and works together with them to accomplish God’s holy will for himself and others (OOCC, X, p.450).
Do I understand the Eucharist as Jesus’ loving presence among us?
Am I worthy to participate in the Eucharist so as to experience Jesus’ loving presence?
Does my participation in the Eucharist purify my evil tendencies?
Does the reception of the Eucharist bring about unity of mind and heart with others?
(Pray the Decade of the Rosary)
Prayer (All)
Almighty and ever-living God, Jesus, your Son, in his desire to remain with us in a lasting way instituted the Eucharist as the sacrament of his loving presence among us. Grant us the grace to be worthy to celebrate this sacrament so that our lives may be transformed into Jesus. Mary, Mother of Jesus, help us grow in our love and devotion to the Eucharistic Lord, thereby accomplishing God’s holy will by working with others united in mind and heart. Amen.
HAIL HOLY QUEEN
All: 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 towards us, and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Leader: Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
All: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ
Leader: Let us pray.
All: O God, whose only begotten Son, by his life, death and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation; grant, we beseech thee, that meditating on the 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.
Leader: May the Divine Assistance remain always with us.
All: Amen. And may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen
“True devotion to Mary, consists in imitating her Son and learning from her how to imitate Him”
—Saint Vincent
LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY – LITANY OF LORETO
The Litany of Loreto was originally approved in 1587 by Pope Sixtus V.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, 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.
Response for the following: Pray for us.
Holy Mary
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 most admirable
Mother of good counsel
Mother of our Creator
Mother of our Savior
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 honor
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
Comforter 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, 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.
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
Grant, we beg you, O Lord God, that we your servants
may enjoy lasting health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession
of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow
and enter into the joy of eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord.
R. 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.
R. 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.
R. Amen.
During Paschaltime
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.
R. Amen.