Catholic devotions for the 4th September
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Saint of the DayReading of the Martyrology
Dedication of the Month
Dedication of the Day
Rosary
Five Wounds Rosary in Latin
Seven Sorrows Rosary in English
Latin Monastic Office
Reading of the Rule of Saint Benedict
Celebration of Mass
Reading from the School of Jesus Crucified
Feast of Saint Rose of Viterbo
Born of poor and pious parents, Rose was remarkable for holiness and for her miraculous powers from her earliest years. When but three years old, she raised to life her maternal aunt. At the age of seven, she had already lived the life of a recluse, devoting herself to penances. Her health succumbed, but she was miraculously cured by the Blessed Virgin, who ordered her to enroll herself in the Third Order of St. Francis, and to preach penance to Viterbo, at that time (1247) held by Frederick II of Germany and a prey to political strife and heresy. Her mission seems to have extended for about two years, and such was her success that the prefect of the city decided to banish her. The imperial power was seriously threatened. Accordingly, Rose and her parents were expelled from Viterbo in January, 1250, and took refuge in Sorriano. On 5 December, 1250, Rose foretold the speedy death of the emperor, a prophecy realized on 13 December. Soon afterwards she went to Vitorchiano, whose inhabitants had been perverted by a famous sorceress. Rose secured the conversion of all, even of the sorceress, by standing unscathed for three hours in the flames of a burning pyre, a miracle as striking as it is well attested. With the restoration of the papal power in Viterbo (1251) Rose returned. She wished to enter the monastery of St. Mary of the Roses, but was refused because of her poverty. She humbly submitted, foretelling her admission to the monastery after her death. The remainder of her life was spent in the cell in her father's house, where she died. The process of her canonization was opened in that year by Innocent IV, but was not definitively undertaken until 1457. Her feast is celebrated on 4 September, when her body, still incorrupt, is carried in procession through Viterbo.
The Reading from the Martyrology
September is the Month of Our Lady of Sorrows
The Seven Sorrows of Our Lady
The First Sorrow: The Prophecy of Saint Simeon
“Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
LUKE 2:34–35
We grieve with you, O Mary most sorrowful.
Your heart was pierced by the prophecy of holy Simeon and Anna. Comfort us in our times of uncertainty and fear of the unknown. Give us tender hearts for those who live with deep anxiety and insecurity about their future.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
The Second Sorrow: The Flight into Egypt
The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under. (Matthew 2:13–14, 16)
We grieve with you, O Mary most sorrowful.
Your heart was pierced by the sudden departure from your homeland to a foreign country. Comfort us when we meet unexpected challenges that draw us away from our complacency. Give us tender hearts for all the migrants and refugees in our world who flee their homes because of violence, persecution, and insecurity.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
The Third Sorrow: The Loss of the Child Jesus
The boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. (Luke 2:43–50)
We grieve with you, O Mary most sorrowful.
Your heart was pierced by losing your beloved son for three days. Comfort us when we feel lost and vulnerable. Give us tender hearts for all families who are separated from one another either by circumstance or by injustice.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
The Fourth Sorrow: The Condemnation of Jesus
With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed. The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished. As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. (Luke 23: 23–27).
We grieve with you, O Mary most sorrowful.
Your heart was pierced by watching Jesus unjustly condemned and forced to carry his own cross to his death. Comfort us when we feel unfairly judged and humiliated. Give us tender hearts for all those who are unjustly condemned, discriminated against, and killed in our world today.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
The Fifth Sorrow: The Crucifixion of Jesus
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I thirst.” There was a vessel filled with common wine. So they put a sponge soaked in wine on a sprig of hyssop and put it up to his mouth. When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, “It is finished.” And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit. (John 19:25–30)
[A brief silence is observed]
We grieve with you, O Mary most sorrowful.
Your heart was pierced when you stood at the foot of his cross and watched him declare “It is finished”. Comfort us when we face the death of those we love. Give us tender hearts for all those who die due to persecution, abuse, neglect, and lack of resources.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
The Sixth Sorrow: The Retrieval of Jesus’ Body
They took the body of Jesus and bound it with burial cloths along with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. (John 19:40)
We grieve with you, O Mary most sorrowful.
Your heart was pierced when you held your beloved son’s lifeless body in your arms. Comfort us when we feel defeated. Give us tender hearts for all parents who watch helplessly as their children die in their arms.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
The Seventh Sorrow: The Burial of Jesus
Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by. (John 19:41–42)
We grieve with you, O Mary most sorrowful.
Your heart was pierced when you watched them put your son in the tomb, not knowing when you would see him again. Comfort us when we feel helpless and afraid. Give us tender hearts to respond with kindness and generosity to all the suffering around us.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Conclusion
Let Us Pray:
Hear our prayer, O merciful God, through the intercession of our Beloved Mother. Through this meditation, may we find comfort and strength in our own sorrows. And, knowing that our faith calls us to care for one another, may this prayer give us compassion for our neighbors. And, at the hour of our death, may Mary draw close to us, bringing us to rest in eternity with you. Amen.
Monday is the Day dedicated to the Holy Ghost and the Souls in Purgatory
VENI, Sancte Spiritus,
et emitte caelitus
lucis tuae radium.
COME, Holy Ghost,
send down those beams,
which sweetly flow in silent streams
from Thy bright throne above.
Veni, pater pauperum,
veni, dator munerum
veni, lumen cordium.
O come, Thou Father of the poor;
O come, Thou source of all our store,
come, fill our hearts with love.
Consolator optime,
dulcis hospes animae,
dulce refrigerium.
O Thou, of comforters the best,
O Thou, the soul's delightful guest,
the pilgrim's sweet relief.
In labore requies,
in aestu temperies
in fletu solatium.
Rest art Thou in our toil, most sweet
refreshment in the noonday heat;
and solace in our grief.
O lux beatissima,
reple cordis intima
tuorum fidelium.
O blessed Light of life Thou art;
fill with Thy light the inmost heart
of those who hope in Thee.
Sine tuo numine,
nihil est in homine,
nihil est innoxium.
Without Thy Godhead nothing can,
have any price or worth in man,
nothing can harmless be.
Lava quod est sordidum,
riga quod est aridum,
sana quod est saucium.
Lord, wash our sinful stains away,
refresh from heaven our barren clay,
our wounds and bruises heal.
Flecte quod est rigidum,
fove quod est frigidum,
rege quod est devium.
To Thy sweet yoke our stiff necks bow,
warm with Thy fire our hearts of snow,
our wandering feet recall.
Da tuis fidelibus,
in te confidentibus,
sacrum septenarium.
Grant to Thy faithful, dearest Lord,
whose only hope is Thy sure word,
the sevenfold gifts of grace.
Da virtutis meritum,
da salutis exitum,
da perenne gaudium,
Amen, Alleluia.
Grant us in life Thy grace that we,
in peace may die and ever be,
in joy before Thy face.
Amen. Alleluia.
The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary are prayed on Monday
The Rosary in Latin
Chaplet of the Five Holy Wounds of Christ in Latin
Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady in English
Latin Monastic Office for today from Le Barroux in France Texts also provided
The Reading of the Rule of Saint Benedict for September 4
21 Succinctis ergo fide vel observantia bonorum actuum lumbis nostris, per ducatum evangelii pergamus itinera eius, ut mereamur eum qui nos vocavit in regnum suum videre.
22 In cuius regni tabernaculo si volumus habitare, nisi illuc bonis actibus curritur, minime pervenitur.
23 Sed interrogemus cum propheta Dominum dicentes ei: Domine, quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo, aut quis requiescet in monte sancto tuo?
24 Post hanc interrogationem, fratres, audiamus Dominum respondentem et ostendentem nobis viam ipsius tabernaculi,
25 dicens: Qui ingreditur sine macula et operatur iustitiam;
26 qui loquitur veritatem in corde suo,
27 qui non egit dolum in lingua sua; qui non fecit proximo suo malum, qui opprobrium non accepit adversus proximum suum;
28 qui malignum diabolum aliqua suadentem sibi, cum ipsa suasione sua a conspectibus cordis sui respuens, deduxit ad nihilum, et parvulos cogitatos eius tenuit et allisit ad Christum;
29 qui timentes Dominum, de bona observantia sua non se reddunt elatos, sed ipsa in se bona non a se posse sed a Domino fieri existimantes, 30 operantem in se Dominum magnificant, illud cum propheta dicentes: Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam;
31 sicut nec Paulus apostolus de praedicatione sua sibi aliquid imputavit, dicens: Gratia Dei sum id quod sum;
32 et iterum ipse dicit: Qui gloriatur, in Domino glorietur.
The Prologue
21 Having therefore girded our loins with faith and the performance of good works, with the Gospel as guide (Eph 6:14-15) let us walk in his paths, that we may deserve to see him who has called us into his kingdom (I Thess.2:12).
22 Is the tent of this kingdom where we wish to dwell? Unless by our good deeds we run there, we shall never arrive there.
23 But let us with the Prophet inquire of the Lord, saying to him: Lord, who shall dwell in your tent, or who shall rest upon your holy mountain? (Ps. 15:1)
24 After this question, brothers, let us hear the Lord responding, showing us the way to his tent,
25 saying: One who walks without stain and works justice;
26 one who speaks truth in his heart,
27 who has not practiced deceit with his tongue; one who has done no evil to his neighbor, and has not believed false accusations against his neighbor (Ps. 15:2-3);
28 one who has expelled the malignant devil together with all his advise and persuasiveness out of the sight of his heart, casting him to naught; and has grasped his infantile thoughts, and hurled them against Christ. (Ps 14:4; 136:9)
29 These are they who, fearing the Lord, are not elated over their own good observance; rather, knowing that the good which is in them comes not from themselves but from the Lord, 30 they magnify (Ps. 15:4) the Lord who works in them, saying with the Prophet: Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give the glory. (Ps. 115:1)
31 In this way the Apostle Paul imputed nothing of his preaching to himself, but said: By the grace of God I am what I am. (I Cor. 15:10)
32 And again he says: He who glories, let him glory in the Lord. (II Cor. 10:17)
Today's Celebration of the Mass
The Mass of Saint Gregory
Jesu Christi Passio sit semper in cordibus nostris
May the Passion of Jesus Christ be always in our hearts
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