To impel the beauty of the new evangelization – this is the charism of the Heralds of the Gospel; Its founder, Monsignor João Dias explains."The Heralds of the Gospel is a private association of faithful with a very special charism based essentially on three points: the Eucharist, Mary and the Pope."
The Heralds of the Gospel are an International Association of the Faithful of Pontifical Right, the first to be established by the Holy See in the third millennium, during a ceremony which occurred during the feast of the Chair of St. Peter (February 22) in 2001.
The Heralds of the Gospel strive to be instruments of holiness in the Church by encouraging close unity between faith and life, and working to evangelize particularly through art and culture. Their apostolate, which differs depending upon the environments in which they work, gives pride of place to parish animation, evangelizing families, providing catechetical and cultural formation to young people, and disseminating religious Iiterature.
It is with the greatest joy that we welcome the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVII. In the words of Paschal Uche who, after the Mass in Westminster Cathedral this morning, welcomed the Holy Father in the name of the young people of Britain today, we say:
Dear Holy Father,
It is a privilege and a great pleasure to welcome you …. Your visit brings us together – it is like a family reunion - and we are very pleased to see you.…. It is our prayer that your visit inspires us to be “saints of the third millennium.”
For many of us before today you were a face on the television or a picture in a Church but today we behold you face to face and (we) would like to express (our) profound and heartfelt gratitude for your visit.
We have been contacted by our friends and Companions in Canada, seeking the prayers and intercessions of all British friends of the Heralds of the Gospel, for Bro. Claudio Imperatrice, who is seriously ill. Bro. Claudio is greatly loved in Canada, having been instrumental in the foundation of the Heralds in that country. Below are two excerpts from e-mails received:
From our Canadian Companions:
Salve Maria! Some time ago we were told that a Brother of the Heralds of the Gospel, Br. Claudio Imperatrice , one of the first brothers to come to Canada from Brazil, was diagnosed with cancer. .... This brother was very instrumental in the foundation of the Heralds here in Canada. There was nothing he wouldn't do to advance the cause of Our Lady here in this land. The Heralds are here today because of the determination of this man. We are asking all companions to begin a novena to Our LADYstarting today and ending on the feast of the Nativity asking Her to restore his health..
Please feel free to include anyone who may not be on this email to join in this novena. Thanking you in advance and in union of prayers
Excerpt from Bro. Claudio's e-mail to the Canadian Companions:
Before, during and immediately after the operation on May 27th my state was very critical and I only survived due to Masses offered and prayers said on my behalf. I can call it a miracle! ... Besides the tumor in the intestines, it was discovered that I had metathesis in the liver and left lung that now are producing visible symptoms and signs. ... Since the operation, I have lost a considerable amount of weight, but now keeping a steady level. My skin, because of the liver turned yellowish and I went through a series of discomforts, but not pain. ... right now, I am not in a critical but in a very serious level which can either return to red alert or go down to a serious or very cautious depending how I respond. .. In plain words, I am engaged in a total war. If, first and more important of all, I keep fighting not allowing lose confidence and full determination to go to the very end, than I win. Here comes the supernatural aspect of the struggle where prayers comes to place, thanks to Our Lady they are coming from all sides especially Monsenhor Joao Cla who constantly enquires about my situation. Yes, do ask the Companions to pray on my behalf. Again, thank you for your e-mail. May Our Blessed Virgin Mary through the intercession of our Holy Founders grant you all choicest graces, In Iesu et Maria, Claudio
PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP
Mother of Perpetual Help, you have been blessed and favored by God. You became not only the Mother of the Redeemer, but Mother of the redeemed as well. We come to you today as your loving children. Watch over (...) and take care of (him). As you held the child Jesus in your loving arms, so take (him)in your arms. Be a mother ready at every moment to help (him). For God who is mighty has done great things for you, and God's mercy is from age to age on those who love God. Intercede for (him), dear Mother, in obtaining (his recovery) if it be your Son's Holy Will, pardon for (his) sins, love for Jesus, final perseverance, and the grace always to call upon you, Mother of Perpetual Help AMEN.
This week we celebrate the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is celebrated each year on the eighth of September. Usually it is the custom of the church to celebrate the feast day of a saint on the date of their death as this is truly their "die natalis", the day remembered as their birth into everlasting happiness. Mary, however, entered this world sinless through the privilege of the Immaculate Conception and is the firstborn of the redeemed. Her nativity is a cause for great joy as it is considered the" dawn of our salvation" as Pope Paul VI wrote in the document, Marialis Cultus in 1972.
Our Lady’s birthday marks a new era. Under the Old Covenant mankind endured a long wait for the coming of the Messiah. But at a certain blessed moment, the Divine Providence decreed that Mary should be born. Her nativity represents the entrance into the world of the perfect creature who found grace before God and had merit sufficient to bring that agonising wait to an end.
All the prayers, sufferings, and faithfulness of the just, living and dead, were at last rewarded with her arrival. There had been Patriarchs, Prophets, just men and women among the Chosen People and certainly some just men and women among the Gentiles who had prayed, suffered, and waited; none of this was sufficient to bring the coming of the Redemption. But at the appointed time, God made the perfect creature, born to be the Mother of the Saviour. Therefore, the entrance of this exquisite woman into the world is a foreshadowing of the Redemption. The gates of Heaven that had been tightly locked began to open, and the light of a new dawn, a breeze of hope, passed through.
Mary’s birth marks the arrival of a new grace, a new blessing, a new presence which would lead soon after to the presence, blessing and grace of her Most Holy Son, our Saviour. For all these reasons the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady should be most dear to us. It announces the fall of Paganism.
Since we are children of Our Lady not by our own merit but by her choice, let us ask of her a special grace. Many mystics who had visions of Our Lady said that on her feast days she visits Purgatory to release a great number of souls whom she takes back with her to Heaven. What happens with the Church Suffering gives us an idea of what takes place with the Church Militant. On her feast days her grace envelops us and gains incalculable favours for us.
As we celebrate the birth of our Most Holy Mother, perhaps it is not too early to begin to prepare ourselves for the nativity of her Son. We do not need to wait for the formal beginning of Advent to embark on the making ready of the stables of our hearts so that on Christmas night, when Joseph comes asking whether we have any room for Mary and her beloved child, we may joyfully answer, “Yes, you are most welcome. I have been expecting you and everything is ready for your stay!”
The Heralds of the Gospel honour Our Blessed Mother. Could we, her children, ever tire of singing her glorious praises!
Lord have mercy on us. Lord have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us. Lord 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, have mercy on us. God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us Holy Mother of God, pray for us Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us Mother of Christ, pray for us Mother of divine grace, pray for us Mother most pure, pray for us Mother most chaste, pray for us Mother inviolate, pray for us Mother undefiled, pray for us Mother most amiable, pray for us Mother most admirable, pray for us Mother of good counsel, pray for us Mother of our Creator, pray for us Mother of our Redeemer, pray for us Virgin most prudent, pray for us Virgin most venerable, pray for us Virgin most renowned, pray for us Virgin most powerful, pray for us Virgin most merciful, pray for us Virgin most faithful, pray for us Mirror of justice, pray for us Seat of wisdom, pray for us Cause of our joy, pray for us Spritual vessel, pray for us Vessel of honor, pray for us Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us Mystical rose, pray for us Tower of David, pray for us Tower of ivory, pray for us House of gold, pray for us Ark of the covenant, pray for us Gate of Heaven, pray for us Morning Star, pray for us Health of the sick, pray for us Refuge of sinners, pray for us Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us Help of Christians, pray for us Queen of Angels, pray for us Queen of Patriarchs, pray for us Queen of Prophets, pray for us Queen of Apostles, pray for us Queen of Martyrs, pray for us Queen of Confessors, pray for us Queen of Virgins, pray for us Queen of all Saints, pray for us Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us Queen of the most holy Rosary, pray for us Queen of peace, pray for us
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world: Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world: Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world: Have mercy on us.
Pray for us, most holy Mother of God, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray.
O God, whose only begotten Son, by his life, death and resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech you, that while meditating of the mysteries of the most holy rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
A million copies of the ‘Magnificat – Liturgies and Events of the Papal Visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United Kingdom’ are due to be distributed to parishes across England, Scotland and Wales.
The handbook contains the texts for the times the Holy Father will participate in public prayer, together with a series of brief articles about the Visit. It comes in a hard-wearing, pocket-sized format which makes it easy to carry around and ‘pray as you go’. It's also a key companion for the Papal liturgies ….
The publication has been produced by the Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales and Scotland in co-operation with Gabriel Communications, the Catholic Truth Society and Magnificat. It also includes texts for the Liturgy of the Church (Morning and Evening Prayer, and the Mass) for some days before and after the Papal Visit.
To read the full article, see official website: Pope Benedict XVI in the United Kingdom at:
His Eminence Cardinal Merry del Val was accustomed to recite daily after he celebrated the Holy Mass
O Jesus meek and humble of heart, Hear me
From the desire of being esteemed. Deliver me, Jesus From the desire of being loved --- From the desire of being extolled --- From the desire of being honored. --- From the desire of being praised. --- From the desire of being preferred --- From the desire of being consulted --- From the desire of being approved---
From the fear of being humiliated --- From the fear of being despised --- From the fear of suffering rebukes --- From the fear of being calumniated --- From the fear of being forgotten --- From the fear of being ridiculed --- From the fear of being wronged --- From the fear of being suspected ---
That others may be loved more than I Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it That others may be esteemed more than I --- That in the opinion of the world others may increase and I may decrease --- That others may be chosen and I set aside--- That others may be praised and I unnoticed--- That others may become holier than I, provided that I may became as holy as I should---
