Introduction

This blog contains regular postings relating to the Traditional Latin Liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes regular commentary on the saints days and the liturgical cycle, with brief background and extracts from the liturgy both in Latin and English. Much of the material has been extracted from the 'St Andrew's Daily Missal', Dom Gueranger's 'Liturgical Year', or similar sources.

Related website: http://www.liturgialatina.org/





Monday, 22 August 2016

22nd August, The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

According to a tradition sanctioned by authority, it was at Jerusalem, near the room of the Last Supper, at the spot where now stands a church committed to the care of the Benedictines, that Mary breathed her last (Secret). And it is at the foot of the Mount of Olives, in a place where about 1130 a monastery of the Benedictine monks of Cluny was built, that her mortal remains were laid and "she was carried up to heaven" (Alleluia).

The pilgrimages made to this tomb originated the feast of the Assumption which was already solemnized in the East at the end of the sixth century. At the beginning of the seventh, the feast was also solemnized at Rome, and it spread with the Roman liturgy over the whole West.

Pope Leo IV instituted the Octave in 847.

"We have accompanied thee with all our prayers when thou didst ascend towards thy Son," says St. Bernard, "and we have at least followed thee at a distance, O blessed Virgin! May thy goodness make known to the world the grace bestowed on thee by God : obtain by thy holy prayers the forgiveness of the guilty, health for the sick, strength for weak souls, consolation for the afflicted, help and deliverance for those in peril. O Mary, queen of clemency, on this joyful solemnity may thy humble servants, who praise and invoke thy sweet name, be overwhelmed with graces by Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord, who is the sovereign God, blessed throughout the ages. Amen."

Let us honour Mary with special confidence during these feasts which celebrate her triumph.

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