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The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary The word litany is derived from the Greek word, litaneo, meaning: I pray with insistence. Since the earliest days of the Church the faithful have sought Divine assistance through the use of the litanyan alternating form of prayer."The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary," says Bossuet, "is a series of titles of honor which the Fathers of the Church have given to Our Lady, chiefly because of her exalted dignity as the Mother of God." Her Litanypart of the official prayer of the Churchis composed of wondrous, golden invocations addressed to the great Mother of God. It is noteworthy that from the first half of the sixteenth century it was customary at the Sanctuary of the Holy House of Loretto to recite a Marian litany every Saturday, and on all vigils and feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Hence, Our Ladys official Litany is known as the "Litany of Loretto". Her Litany can be divided by its content into four distinct parts. In the first part, the sacred person of the Blessed Virgin Mary is commemorated and praised. The second part mentions the principal symbols from the Old Testament which prefigured the Immaculate Mother of God. The third part, beginning with "Health of the Sick", proclaims Our Ladys role in the Redemption of mankind, and the immense power which she, as a consequence, exercises on behalf of the faithful. In the last part, the Blessed Virgin is praised for the glory she enjoys in Heaven as the Immaculate Queen of the Universe. A complete text of the Litany of Loretto appeared in 1578, in a booklet written for pilgrims to the Holy House of Loretto, and in 1857, Pope Sixtus V granted an indulgence for the recitation of the Litany. Like the other litanies, the Litany of Loretto opens with invocations to Our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Three Persons of the Blessed Trinity, and concludes with the words of St. John the Baptist: "Lamb of God, Who taketh away the sin of the world!" (John 1: 29).
Throughout the last 150 years, various other titles have been added by the Popes, not only as a mark of their great esteem and love for Our Lady, but also to defend her singular privileges. Following his solemn definition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 1854, Pius IX inserted the invocation: "Queen, Conceived without Original Sin." It is wonderful to note that Our Lady herself confirmed his words four years later, telling St. Bernadette at Lourdes: "I am the Immaculate Conception." On December 24, 1883, Pope Leo XIII added: "Queen of the Most Holy Rosary", a most appropriate homage from a Pope who wrote an encyclical on the Holy Rosary for each year of his long pontificate. He also added "Mother of Good Counsel" on April 22, 1903, in response to the many graces and miracles wrought under this title of Our Lady from her shrine in an Augustinian church in Rome, and as a fitting rebuttal to the self-sufficient pride of the Rationalists and intellectuals of his day (and our own!). At the height of the Great WarWorld War Ion November 16, 1915, Pope Benedict XV lifted up his voice in supplication to Our Lady under the title: "Queen of Peace". Our Ladys apparition at Fatima with her "Peace Plan" was a direct response to the Holy Fathers urgent plea, and her message remains the one certain hope for a true and lasting peace on earth. Finally on the Feast of All Saints, November 1, 1950, Pius XII solemnly proclaimed the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, body and soul, into Heaven, and ordered that this title be included in her litany: "Queen, Assumed into Heaven".
The virtue of temperance restrains our passions and moderates, according to right reason and faith, the use of food, sleep, and our sense. It is a cardinal virtue. If moderation is praiseworthy in everthing, it is especially so in the use of natural things: food, rest and pleasure. Contributing to temperance is modesty, that is, the fear which St. Thomas Aquinas calls "reserve;" and also decency, that is, decorous behavior. The fruits of temperance are: mortification, abstinence, sobriety, modesty and a just measure of rest and recreation. Created things are good. Scripture says, in fact, "Thou waterest the hills from Thy upper rooms: the earth shall be filled with the fruit of Thy works: bringing forth grass for cattle, and herbs for the service of men. That Thou mayest bring bread out of the earth: and that wine may cheer the heart of man. That he may make the face cheerful with oil: and that bread may strengthen mans heart." (Ps. 103:13-15) The use of natural things is good in itself; sin lies in the abuse of created things. Temperance also teaches modesty, that is, a proper manner of dressing, adorning ones self, walking, talking, visiting, etc. "Where there is Christ there is also modesty," says St. Gregory. "Dress yourselves, speak, look, and walk in a manner pleasing to God, in keeping with your dignity, and edifying to your neighbor," says St. Ambrose. St. Paul wrote to Timothy: "In like manner I wish women to be decently dressed, adorning themselves with modesty and dignity, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothing, but with good works such as become women professing godliness." (1 Tim. 2: 9-10) Even humility comes from temperance. It restrains our natural craving for grandiose things and the esteem and praise of men, by giving us a true estimation of ourselves, not an exaggerated one. It is a virtue proper to Gods children. The Blessed Virgin Mary was temperate in food, mortified in repose, regulated in the affections and sentiments of her heart. St. Jean Marie Vianney was so temperate in eating that one wonders how he could have lived so long and labored so vigorously; St. Thomas Aquinas was so privileged as to be miraculously freed from the desires of the flesh; St. Charles Borromeo limited his hours of sleep to a very few each night. All of the saints knew how to regulate themselves with self-denial and mortification, abstaining from sin and everything that would lead to sin. The Blessed Virgin Mary, however, surpassed them all as their Teacher and Queen. Conceived without the least stain of sin, through the gift of integrity, there was neither excess nor abuse in her; all was moderate. She ate without being concerned about the taste of food, but only and always to maintain herself in Gods holy service. Her body rested, but her Immaculate Heart kept vigil with God. The sole object of her pure Heart, with all its strength, was the Lord God; in Him alone she loved her chaste spouse, St. Joseph, her relatives, and all of mankind. Repugnance never kept her from fulfilling her obligations; never did any intemperate desire drag her to excesses. Man, created in the image and likeness of God, possesses certain passions, which are forces that can spur him on to good or evil, but, unfortunately, having become rebellious and fallen through Original Sin, they often urge him on to evil. In the Blessed Virgin Mary this was not the case: human passions were perfectly regulated and only served for good. Her burning love was always directed towards good; hatred always turned implacably against evil. She always fervently desired Gods Kingdom and His Justice; she was irreconcilably opposed to sin. She greatly rejoiced in everything that pleased the Triune Divinity; she only feared for offenses against God. Arrogance is an exaggerated self-esteem and desire for glory. It puffs us up, it is conceited and rejoices in vain things. The Virgin Mary was perfectly humble; in her mind, where the truth alone ever held sway; in her will, which always sought Gods glory alone; in her dress and comportment, which was simple, decorous and modest; in her actions, for she served everyone, took the last place, and was always perfectly obedient to God in the person of His representatives on earth. Pride is the root of every sin; humility is the foundation of every virtue. The Virgin Mary was profoundly humble. "Just as there never was such an exalted creature," says St. Bernardine of Siena, "so, too, there was never a creature who had such a lowly opinion of herself." Mary did not consider herself a sinner, for she knew that "He Who is mighty had done great things" unto her. She indeed recognized her exalted privileges, but she attributed them all to Gods infinite goodness, regarding herself as a poor handmaid gratuitously adorned by His Majesty. In her sublime canticle, the Magnificat, she speaks of none but God and herself; of God, to exalt Him, and of herself, to be humbled. It is as if she said to her saintly cousin who reverently venerated her: "Thou, O Elizabeth, dost exalt me for the dignity I possess, but I exalt only the Lord Who has thus given it to me." This humblest of all creatures keeps her treasure jealously concealed. She learns the sublime mysteries from the Archangel, but because they redound to her glory they remain hidden in her Immaculate Heart. She does not speak of them to anyone, not even to the High Priest, Zachary, her relative; nor to Elizabeth to whom she knew God had miraculously revealed them; nor even to St. Joseph, under the most delicate circumstances, when it seemed she had every reason to speak. And that was not all. When her Divine Son performed wondrous miracles: fed thousands of people with a few loaves of bread, freed the possessed, cured the sick and raised the dead, Mary simply remained hidden in the crowd. However, when Jesus ascended Calvary and expired as a condemned criminal upon the Cross, then Our Lady made herself known as Christs Mother, and publicly assisted Him in His Agony. God shed numberless gifts upon the Blessed Mary: nobility of birth, talents of spirit and perfection of body; beauty, but without ostentation; wisdom, but without arrogance; affability, but without frivolity. The beauty of the dawn, the mid-day sun, the silver moon, the most exquisite blossoms and most beautiful plants are all images of the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Rich in interior gifts, she has: a keen mind, an upright will, no disorderly inclination, admirable attraction for virtue, imperturbable calm in emotions and manner and an affable character. Even in the midst of such a wealth of gifts, what was Marys bearing? It was always reserved, composed, and simple. What a remarkable masterpiece of virtuethis Blessed Lady whom we are privileged to serveand what a marvelous example for our instruction, inspiration, and imitation! We are called to the perfect exercise of temperance, according to the command of Our Divine Lord: "Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matt. 5:48) Moderation teaches us not to be discouraged by contradictions and opposition, nor to exalt ourselves in success. The earthly lives of the children of God are composed of both tribulations and consolations. "Now we know that for those who love God, all things work together unto good." (Rom. 8:28) Thus was Marys entire life. She was always even-tempered: she suffered, but she never became discouraged by sorrow; she rejoiced in consolation, but did not exalt herself; her virtue was perfect. This is called the virtue of equinimity. Without humility it is impossible to be saved: "Amen I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven," Our Divine Lord declared to us. (Matt. 18:3) "If you asked what road leads to truth, or what virtue is principal in religion and in the imitation of Christ, I would answer: the first is humility. What is the second? Humility. What is the third? Humility. If you questioned me one hundred times, I would give the same answer each time.... Do you wish to build a great edifice that not only reaches the sky, but also to the very sight of God? Think first of the foundation of humility, and the higher you wish to erect the building, the deeper must you dig the foundation of humility." (St. Augustine) When faced with contradictions, moderation in anger produces meekness. Jesus said: "Learn of Me, for I am meek and humble of heart." (Matt. 11: 29) Jesus rightly associates meekness with humility, for one cannot be practiced without the other. Meekness must not be confused with weakness of character; for dominating ourselves requires great strength and virtue. The truly meek not only moderate their anger, but abstain from it, according to what Jesus Christ said: "But I say to you, love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you." (Matt. 5:44) What is here commanded is a Christian patience under injuries and affronts, and to be willing even to suffer still more, rather than to indulge the sinful desire of revenge. Does this not describe the entire life of the Immaculate and Sorrowful Virgin whom we are so privileged to call our own Mistress? Let us earnestly endeavor to conform our hearts and our conduct to hers, employing that essential art of self-denial commanded by her Divine Son, that we may be worthy children of so great a Mother and Queen. "If My Requests are not Heeded, There will Come another Great War..." In light of present military conflicts, Our Ladys words recall to us the real reason for the tragedy of war: the sins of mankind. Her mournful prophecy is thus a warning of conflicts to come, since the vast majority of men have not heeded her requests. In order to truly understand the veracity of her words, however, it is imperative that Fatima apostles be fully aware of the diabolical nature of the evil forces which are threatening to destroy the last vestiges of the old Christian order, which still provides a modicum of freedom for mankind to know and accept the saving doctrines of Our Lord Jesus Christ. That would not be possible in a country governed by sharia, the strict Islamic law of the fanatical Muslims with whom we are now at war. Indeed, the long and blood history of Islamic expansion is replete with horrible atrocities perpetrated upon Catholic Europe, in its quest to dominate the world with its rabidly anti-Christ religion. From the very beginning of this potent force of error, their infamous imposter prophet Mohammed set forth a brutal ultimatum to subjugated peoples: "Convert to Islam or die!" Throughout the centuries, the Popes have clearly been the most important defenders of the world from this diabolical menace. Nothing is more revealing about the present apostasy in Rome than its ecumenical pleas of mercy for Christendoms most ancient military enemy, which stands in striking contrast to the courageous condemnation of the evils of Communism under Popes Pius XI and Pius XII. What a terrible chastisement if the fanatical Imams of Islam were to consummate their evil marriage with the unrepentant Marxist potentates of Russia, China, North Korea, and dozens of other Socialist and Muslim states across the globe. What a price would be paid in souls lost for all eternity! Let us resolve to pray and sacrifice to avert such a chastisement, and labor to make these truths known to complacent "Catholics", that they too may realize their peril and strive to avert it!
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