The Heart Of The Mother

Lots of wonderful feasts this weather, and today's is truly fine, and indeed most important for the Fraternity of St Genesius.  Today we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  In the Fraternity the memoria of the Immaculate Heart was raised by our Protector Bishop to the dignity of a Feast: the Immaculate Heart is the patroness of our family of prayer.  So, to all our members, a very happy feast day!

Our Fraternity is at the service of the Immaculate Heart, we see our mission to be part of her mission of bringing her children to her Son.  Our aim is to pray for souls and to work towards the triumph of the Immaculate Heart - hence the importance of Fatima in the spirituality of the Fraternity.  It was there in June 2006 that the idea was consecrated to her. 

As her children, it is only right to seek to assist her in her mission.  Jesus tells us to love God and love our neighbour, the psalms speak of how good it is for brothers to live in unity - in helping Mary win souls for Christ we fulfil both of these teachings - loving our neighbour by seeking to bring them to God and seeking unity with them in faith and love.  

One of our members in the US, Kevin O'Brien, has come up with an interesting idea - a period of prayer and penance for those we pray for and the mission of the Fraternity in the days which link the two feasts of the Fraternity - the Immaculate Heart and St Genesius on the 25th August.  That's an idea - a spiritual rope linking our two celebrations. 

Some prayers for our celebration today:

Fraternity Consecration

to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

O you, Immaculate Heart of Mary

we consecrate ourselves,

our hearts, minds, wills and lives

and all those works we undertake,

so they may be for the glory of God,

the sake of the Gospel and the salvation of souls.

Holy Mother, our Queen and our Joy

give to our hearts the dimensions of yours

and form us in the image of your Beloved Son

Litany of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

composed by Blessed John Henry Newman

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.

Heart of Mary, Pray for us.
Heart of Mary, after God’s own Heart, 
Heart of Mary, in union with the Heart of Jesus, 
Heart of Mary, the vessel of the Holy Spirit, .
Heart of Mary, shrine of the Trinity, 
Heart of Mary, home of the Word, 
Heart of Mary, immaculate in your creation, 
Heart of Mary, flooded with grace, 
Heart of Mary, blessed of all hearts, 
Heart of Mary, Throne of glory,
Heart of Mary, Abyss of humbleness,
Heart of Mary, Victim of love, 
Heart of Mary, nailed to the cross,
Heart of Mary, comfort of the sad, 
Heart of Mary, refuge of the sinner,
Heart of Mary, hope of the dying,
Heart of Mary, seat of mercy, 

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.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

Lord, have mercy.  
Christ, have mercy. 
Lord, have mercy.

Immaculate Mary, meek and humble of heart.
Conform our hearts to the heart of Jesus.

Let us pray:

O most Merciful God, Who for the Salvation of Sinners and the Refuge of the Wretched, has made the Immaculate Heart of Mary most like in Tenderness and Pity to the Heart of Jesus, grant that we, who now commemorate her most Sweet and Loving Heart, may by her Merits and Intercession, ever live in the Fellowship of the Hearts of both Mother and Son, through the same Christ Our Lord.
Amen