PRAYERS FOR MARIAN FEASTS and MARIANIST DAYS
| Feast Days and Prayers |
- January 10-Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon
- January 22-Blessed William Joseph Chaminade
- February 2-Feast of the Presentation
- February 11-Our Lady of Lourdes
- March 19-Feast of Saint Joseph
- March 25-Annunciation
- April 8-Blessed William Joseph Chaminade
- May 12-Mary, Mother of All Graces
- May 25-Mary, Help of Christians
- May 31-Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth
- June 10-Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon
- July 9-Mary, Queen of Peace
- August 13-Father Jakob Gapp, S.M.
- August 15-Assumption of Mary
- August 22-Feast of the Queenship of Mary
- September 5-Mary, Queen of the Apostles
- September 8-Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- September 12-Holy Name of Mary
- September 18-Blesseds, Brothers Fidel, Jesus, and Carlos
- October 2-Feast of the Guardian Angels
- October 12-Our Lady of the Pillar
- November 6-Marianist Martyrs of Madrid
- November 21-Presentation of Mary
- December 8-Feast of the Immaculate Conception
- December 12-Our Lady of Guadalupe
- Prayers for Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter
- Marianist Doxology
- Marianist Three o’clock Prayer
- Prayer for Students in Marianist schools
- Canticle of Mary and the Memorare
- Prayer for a deceased member of the school community
- Prayers for Justice and Peace
- Athletes Prayer and Prayer before Athletic Contests
- A Teacher’s prayer
- Biographies of the Founders and Marianist Martyrs
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January 10 - Today we remember Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon who is the founder of the Marianist sisters, the Daughters of Mary Immaculate. The sisters are in ministry throughout the world. Let us remember the Marianist sisters and all members of the Family of Mary in our prayers today.
Let us pray: O God, source of all holiness, we thank you for filling the hear of your servant Adele with an ardent missionary spirit and a deep love for the Blessed Virgin Mary. We thank you for the enthusiasm with which she spread the Gospel and love for Christ and His mother, Mary. Lord help us to follow her in being a sign of Your love for all our brothers and sisters. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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January 22 - Today we remember Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, who founded the Marianist Family in 1801 the Society of Mary in 1817. He was born in 1761 and died on this date in 1849. Today, members of the Society of Mary are in ministry throughout the world. In 2000, Pope John Paul II declared Chaminade Blessed. On this day, as a school community, let us recommit ourselves to living out our Marianist heritage today and throughout the year. Let us pray for each other and all members of the Family of Mary.
Let us pray: Oh, God You are constantly at work in Your Church, and through individuals and communities You manifest your spirit for the good of your people. In a special way You bestowed Your spirit on Your servant Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, so that he might live fully according to the Gospel and with love devote himself to Your saving work. You have inspired communities of men and women to follow his example by consecrating themselves to You so to serve the Church under the leadership of Mary. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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February 2 - Today we remember Mary and Joseph presenting Jesus in the Temple. It was at this presentation that the high priest Simeon predicted the life of joy and suffering that would be part of her life and her Jesus’ life. On this day in 1801, we have the formation by William Joseph Chaminade and a group of committed men and women of the first Marianist sodality.
Let us pray: God of light, your Son shared our flesh and blood and built us into a living, vibrant community. Guide us by the Spirit to welcome Christ into our lives. May our lives witness to our faith in You. May our lives imitate the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. May our lives be one of sharing and serving each other. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places Through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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February 11 - Today we remember the first apparition of Mary to Bernadette Soubiroux in 1858 at Lourdes in France. This was the first of eighteen apparitions Mary made to Bernadette. Since 1858, millions of people have travelled to Lourdes to pray and to ask for a physical, spiritual, or psychological cure. God has heard the prayers of many of the people who have journeyed to Lourdes.
Let us pray: we ask that we may be blessed with health of mind and body. Mary, look with favor upon us as you did that day on Bernadette. We come with confidence to ask for your intercession. In gratitude we will endeavor to imitate your virtues in our lives. We thank you for your constant presence in our lives. We ask for justice and peace throughout the world. We ask for the strength to live a life of faith that will influence all our brothers and sisters. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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March 19 - Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Joseph. Joseph was a member of the Holy Family along with Mary and Jesus. Saint Joseph has always been considered to be a patron of all members of the Marianist Family.
Let us pray: Joseph, it was to you that the Father entrusted his Son and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Continue to be for us a sign of God’s love in the Church, Mary’s family today. By the inspiration of your faith and love, draw our community closer to Mary, our Mother, and to Christ, our Brother. Share with us your love of Mary. Give us the joy of growing in our devotion to Mary and to her family. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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March 25 - Today we celebrate the memorial of the Annunciation. Mary, through a great act of faith said YES to the angel Gabriel to become the mother of Jesus, our brother. Let each of us say YES to all that God is asking of us to live the Gospel message in all we do each day.
Let us pray: Lord our God, in order to redeem us all and lead us to yourself, you sent us your beloved Son, who was made flesh and born of the Virgin Mary. Grant that we may be formed by her in the image of Your Son, and help us participate in the love of Christ for His mother. May our love of Mary influence all that we are and do for our brothers and sisters.
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April 8 - Today we remember Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, Founder of the Marianist Family, who was born on this day in 1761.
Let us pray: Oh, God You are constantly at work in Your Church, And through individuals and communities You manifest your spirit for the good of your people. In a special way You bestowed Your spirit On Your servant Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, So that he might live fully according to the Gospel And with love devote himself to Your saving work. You have inspired communities of men and women
To follow his example by consecrating themselves to You So to serve the Church under the leadership of Mary. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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| May 1 - Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker. We remember that Joseph was an integral member of the Holy Family. Saint Joseph is a patron saint of the Marianist Family. Let us work together to build the Marianist Family. Let us seek his guidance as we pray Joseph, it was to you that the Father entrusted his Son and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Continue to be for us a sign of God’s love in the Church, Mary’s family today. By the inspiration of your faith and love, draw our community closer to Mary, our Mother, and to Christ, our Brother. Share with us your love of Mary. Give us the joy of growing in our devotion to Mary and to her family. Amen.
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May 12 - Today, we remember Mary as the Mother of All Graces. On this day the Decree of Praise (1839) and Decree of Commendation (1865) recognizing the Society of Mary as an order of Brothers and priests offering their services to the Church were issued by the Vatican.
Let us pray: God of everlasting love, Your son gave us His Mary to be our mother. Taught by him and united with thousands of students
throughout the world in Marianist schools, we pray: Mary, do for us what you did for our brother, Jesus. Guide us so we grow strong in wisdom and grace. Give us sight to see the talents God has given us, the will to develop them, and the generosity to share our talents with others. Instill in us the desire to constantly learn, the goodness to serve generously, and the courage to follow where Jesus calls. We pray for these blessings for ourselves, for all the students at this school, and for all members of the faculty and staff. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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May 25 - Today we remember Mary as the Help of Christians. Today is considered to be the Foundation Day for the Marianist Brothers, Sisters, and priests. On this day in 1819 the Vatican recognized as religious orders the Society of Mary (Marianists) and the Daughters of Mary Immaculate. Both orders were founded by Blessed Chaminade.
Let us pray: Mary, daughter of Wisdom we, your family, desire to be your living presence in the world today. Form us to be the faith sons and daughters of your son, our brother, Jesus. Grant that we may always wholeheartedly respond to the graces sent to us by God. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary.
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May 31 - On this date we remember the visit Mary made to her cousin, Elizabeth. It is during this visit that Mary praised God by proclaiming her Magnificat. The Magnificat is a prayer that reminds us of our willingness to praise and serve God each day.
Let us pray: I acclaim the greatness of the Lord, I delight in God my savior, who regarded my humble state. For God, wonderful in power has used that strength for me. Holy is the name of the Lord, whose mercy embraces the faithful one generation to the next. The mighty arm of God scatters the proud, pulls tyrants from their thrones, and raises up the humble. God remembers the promise He made to our ancestors, to Abraham’s heirs forever. Amen.
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June 10 - Today we remember Adele de Trenquelleon founder of the Marianist sisters who was born on this day in 1789.
Let us pray: God of light, Your Son shared our flesh and blood and built us into a living, vibrant community. Guide us by the Spirit to welcome Christ into our lives. May our lives witness to our faith in You. May our lives imitate the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. May our lives be one of sharing and serving each other. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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July 9 - Today we remember Mary as Our Lady Queen of Peace. Let us live our lives witnessing and working for justice and peace.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus by your grace, help us to banish fear from our hearts that we may treat each other as brothers and sisters. Help us to realize that you call all people to learn the ways of justice and peace. Help us to share our abundance with all people. Help us to give witness to your love for all people, as we celebrate the many gifts they bring. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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August 13 - Today, we remember Marianist, Blessed Father Jakob Gapp who was martyred for proclaiming his Catholic faith and for speaking out against the Nazis. He died on August 13, 1943.
Let us pray: Oh God, You gave to Blessed Jakob the grace to fight strenuously for justice and to assert, even to death, the truth of the faith. Through his intercession and example, help us to remain true to your Son and to the church by the integrity of our lives. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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August 22 - Today we celebrate the feast of the Queenship of Mary.
Let us pray: Our God in heaven, in your eternal wisdom and love You chose the Blessed Virgin Mary To be the mother of Jesus And to be his companion in bringing about The mystery of our redemption. Grant that she may obtain for us Graces in abundance As we dedicate our lives in serving You And honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Be glorified in all places Through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen
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September 8 - Today we celebrate the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Let us pray: Mary, you are the new Eve and the mother of all nations. You gather all the poor of the earth and tenderly console them. You gather all the diverse peoples of our world and invite them to work for justice and reconciliation. We place ourselves in your care today. Renew in us the dedication to live a life of faith modeled on your example and witness your virtues of humility and openness. Amen.
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September 12 - Today we celebrate the Holy Name of Mary. This day is the patronal feast of all members of the Family of Mary. It is in the name of Mary that all members of the Society of Mary and the Marianist Family offer their ministry to the people of God. It is Mary, the woman of faith, who is our model for all we do as members of the Church community.
Let us pray: Lord, Our God, When you son was dying on the cross, He gave us as our mother The one he had chosen to be his own mother, The Blessed Virgin Mary. Grant that we who call upon the holy name of Mary, Our mother, with confidence in her protection May receive the strength and comfort in all our needs. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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September 14 - Today we remember Venerable Marie Therese Charlotte de Lamourous who died on this day is 1836. Marie Therese worked closely with Blessed Chaminade in forming the Marianist Family.
Let us pray: God, source of all holiness, We thank you for the gift of Marie Therese. Her love of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the message of the Gospel inspire us today. We ask that we, like her, will be of service to all our brothers and sisters now and in the future. We pray for the enthusiasm with which she spread the Gospel and love for Christ and His mother. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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September 18 - Today we want to remember in our prayers, three Marianist Brothers who were killed in Spain in 1936 for proclaiming their Catholic faith. Brothers Carlos, Jesus, and Fidel were teachers who manifested their alliance with Mary and dedication to her mission to bring Jesus to the world through their ministry in education. We seek to imitate their bold and courageous faith in our lives. Brothers Carlos, Jesus, and Fidel were declared Blessed by the Catholic Church in 1995.
Let us pray: Lord, Our God, To Blessed Carlos, Fidel, and Jesus, Who were inflamed with love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, You gave the grace to suffer for Christ. Grant that, through their intercession, We may remain firm in our faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Be glorified in all places through the immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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October 2 - Today is the Feast of the Guardian Angels and on this date in 1817 the Society of Mary was founded by Blessed William Joseph Chaminade and seven committed men in Bordeaux, France.
Let us pray:
God of everlasting love,
Your Son gave us his Mother to be our mother.
Taught by him and united with thousands of students
throughout the world in Marianist schools, we pray:
Mary, do for us what you did for Jesus, our brother.
Guide us so we grow strong in wisdom and grace.
Give us sight to see the talents God has given us,
the will to develop them, and the generosity to share
these talents with others. Instill in us the desire to constantly learn,
the goodness to serve generously, and the courage to follow where Jesus calls.
We pray for these blessings for ourselves, for all students at this school, and for members of the faculty and staff. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen
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October 12 - Today we remember Our Lady of the Pillar. In 1797 Blessed William Joseph Chaminade was forced to leave France. He chose to go to Sargasso, Spain so he would be able to live near and pray at a shrine dedicated to Mary known as Our Lady of the Pillar. It is while at prayer at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar that Chaminade was inspired to found the Society of Mary and all branches of the Family of Mary. Since 1888, this feast has been celebrated by Marianists to commemorate Blessed Chaminade’s inspiration for founding the Family of Mary.
Let us pray:
Almighty and eternal God,
You gave the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Glorious mother of your son, as a pillar of strength
To all who call upon her aid;
Grant through her intercession
That we may be strong in faith,
Unwavering in hope and steadfast in love.
May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
Be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen
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November 6 - Today we remember three Marianist Brothers and a Marianist priest who were martyred for their faith in Madrid, Spain in 1936. Brothers Florencio, Joaquin, Sabino and Father Miguel were Declared Blessed by the Catholic Church in 2007.
Let us pray:
Lord, our God, who granted to the blessed martyrs
Joaquin, Sabino, Florencio, and Miguel the grace
of dedicating their lives to education under the guidance
of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of courageously professing
their faith. Grant that we, strengthened by their witness,
might give witness to our faith in word and deed.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ.
May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
Be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary.
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November 21 - Today we remember the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the temple. Like Mary let us live our lives as faith filled witnesses to the message of Jesus.
Let us pray:
God of everlasting love,
Your Son gave us his Mother to be our own.
Taught by him and united with thousands of students
throughout the world in Marianist schools, we pray:
Mary, do for us what you did for Jesus, our brother,
guide us so we grow strong in wisdom and grace.
Give us sight to see the talents God has given us,
the will to develop them, and the generosity to share
these talents with others.
Instill in us the desire to constantly learn,
the goodness to serve generously,
and the courage to follow where Jesus calls.
We pray for these blessings for ourselves, for
all students at this school, and for members of the
faculty and staff.
May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
be glorified in all places
through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen
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December 8 - Today is the memorial of the Immaculate Conception of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. This is the patronal feast of the Marianist Sisters, the Daughters of Mary Immaculate. We also remember that it was on this day in 1800 that the first men approached Blessed Chaminade to form the first Marianist Sodality. On this day, the first members of the Society of Mary made private vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Let us pray:
Creator God, in your gracious providence
You always care for us.
The immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary
is witness to your plan of salvation.
Let the fullness of your grace, which enfolded Mary,
kindle in our hearts the light of hope to all with
whom we come into contact.
Let our lives be lives of praise and service.
Let us be leaders of positive change for our
Church and for the world.
May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
be glorified in all places
through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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December 12 - Today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In 1531 Mary appeared to Juan Diego near Mexico City. In 1999, Pope John Paul II decreed that Our Lady of Guadalupe to be the Patroness of the Americas.
Let us pray:
God of power and mercy, you blessed the Americas
with the presence of the Virgin Mary. May her prayers
help all men and women to accept each other
as brothers and sisters. Through your justice present
in hearts and in our service to others, may your peace
reign in the world.
May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary.
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ADVENT
Mary, inspired by your readiness
to accept all that God would work in you,
we offer you our hearts and lives
so that we too
might bring forth into our world
Jesus, the Savior.
May we be humble and compassionate
and come to say as you did,
“Behold the servant of the Lord.” Amen
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CHRISTMAS
Mary, we come to you as once did the shepherds and kings,
to find Jesus, our King and Shepherd. We offer you our lives today.
May we always find Jesus with you and treasure all the wondrous things
which come to those who search for Jesus in faith.
May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places
through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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LENT
Mary, you were a powerful and quiet presence
in the life of your Son.
Let us humbly attend, as you did,
to the God who accomplishes great things in us,
as we work and pray during this season of Lent.
May the Father and the Son and the
Holy Spirit be glorified in all places
through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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EASTER
Mary, in the brilliant light of Easter,
teach us that nothing is impossible for God.
We dedicate this day to you.
May God look upon our struggles and disappointments,
as once God looked upon your lowliness,
so that we might become
the sons and daughters of the Resurrection.
May the Father and the Son and the
Holy Spirit be glorified in all places
through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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EASTER
God of life, you have given joy to the world
by the resurrection of your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the prayers of His mother,
the Virgin Mary, bring us to the happiness
of eternal life.
May the Father and the Son and the
Holy Spirit be glorified in all places
through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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ASCENSION TO PENTECOST
Virgin Mother of God,
you were present in prayer
with the disciples in the Upper Room
awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Remain with us in our lives and work each day.
May the Father and the Son and the
Holy Spirit be glorified in all places
through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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Marianist Doxology
May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary.
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Three O’clock Prayer
Lord Jesus, we gather in spirit at the foot of the cross with your Mother and the disciple whom you loved.
We ask your pardon for our sins which are the cause of your death. We thank you for remembering us in that hour of salvation and for giving us Mary as our Mother.
Holy Virgin, take us under your protection and open us to the action of the Holy Spirit.
Saint John, obtain for us the grace of taking Mary into our life, as you did, and of assisting her in her mission.
May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary.
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Prayer for Students in Marianist Schools
God of Everlasting love, because you chose that Christ be born in every age, your son gave his mother to be our own. Taught by Him and united with thousands of students in Marianist schools throughout the world, we pray:
Mary, do for us what you did for Jesus, our brother. Guide us so we grow strong in wisdom and grace.
Give us sight to see the talents God has given us and the will to develop them.
Foster within us Jesus’ own vision of who we are.
Instill in us the desire to learn constantly, the goodness to serve generously, and the courage to lead wherever Jesus calls.
We pray for these blessings for ourselves and for all people so that the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit may be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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Canticle of Mary
I acclaim the greatness of the Lord; I delight in God my savior,
Who regarded my humble state.
Truly from this day on all ages will call
blessed. For God has used that strength for me,
Holy the name of the Lord!
Whose mercy embraces the faithful,
One generation to the next.
The mighty arm of God Scatters the proud in their conceit,
Pulls tyrants from their thrones, and raises up the humble.
The Lord fills the starving and lets the rich go hungry.
God rescues lowly Israel,
Recalling the promise of mercy,
The promise made to our ancestors,
To Abraham’s heirs forever. Amen.
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| Mary . . .
You made space in your life for God . . .
Help us make space for God in our lives.
You gave Jesus his first welcome into this world . . .
Help us to welcome him.
You knew the power of the Holy Spirit . . .
Help us follow the Spirit’s call.
You pondered the Word of God in your heart . . .
Help us listen to God’s word.
You sang God’s praises with your cousin Elizabeth . . .
Help us share our joys with others.
You knew the suffering of being homeless . . .
Help us provide shelter for those in need.
You knew the suffering of living in exile . . .
Help us welcome strangers.
You taught Jesus to seek God’s will for His life . . .
Help us say, “thy will be done.”
You recognized the needs of others . . .
Help us to be sensitive to others needs.
You helped the disciples believe . . .
Help us grow in faith.
As we endeavor, members of one family,
To live the Marianist mission
Of building God’s reign. Amen.
(Sister Laura Lemming, F.M.I.)
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Canticle of Mary
My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for He has looked with favor on the lowliness
of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me
blessed; for the Mighty one has done great
things for me, and holy is God’s name.
God’s mercy is for those who fear him from
generation to generation.
God has shown strength with his arm; he has
scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
God has brought down the powerful from their
thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled
the hungry with good things, and sent the rich
away empty.
God has helped his servant Israel, in
remembrance of His mercy, according to our
ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendents forever.
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MEMORARE
Remember, most loving Virgin Mary,
never was it heard
that anyone who turned to you for help
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
I turn to you for protection
for you are my mother.
Be merciful and hear my prayers.
May the Father and the Son and the
Holy Spirit be glorified in all places
through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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PRAYER FOR DECEASED MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY
Almighty God, hear our prayers for your son/daughter (Name) whom
You have called from this life to Yourself. Grant him/her light,
happiness, and peace. Let him/her pass in safety through the
the gates of death, and live forever with all Your saints in heaven.
Guard him/her from all harm and on that great day of resurrection
raise him/her up with all your saints. Grant him/her eternal life
in your kingdom. We ask this through Jesus our brother.
May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified
in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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PRAYER FOR DECEASED MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY
God of all mercies and God of consolation, You love us eternally and
transform the shadows of death into the dawn of life.
Look upon our grief; be our refuge and comfort so that
our sadness and sorrow may turn into the light and
peace of your presence.
Into you hands, O God, we entrust (Name). In this life,
You embraced (Name) with your tender love; deliver him/her
now from every evil and welcome him/her into eternal life.
May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be
glorified in all places through the Immaculate virgin Mary.
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PRAYER FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE
Our loving God,
In the midst of darkness, reveal your light
as we long for lasting peace, be with us
as we long for enemies to be reconciled, be with us
as we long for cures and healing, be with us
as we long for economic security, be with us
as we long for love and community, be with us.
Fulfill the deepest longing of your people and
dispel the darkness of our hearts.
Let your Word ignite the hope the world needs
to bring to life your love and justice.
May the Father and the Son and the
Holy Spirit be glorified in all places
through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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PRAYER FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE
Mary, may your example and guidance
enkindle in all of us a love for the many
unfortunate people whom poverty and misery
reduce to a condition of life unworthy of human beings.
Arouse in our hearts a hunger and thirst
for justice and peace.
Grant peace in our days, peace to us,
peace to our families, peace to our country,
and peace among nations.
May the Father and the Son and the
Holy Spirit be glorified in all places
through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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Athlete’s Prayer in the Marianist Tradition
Lord, I am aware at this moment of your love for me, for I know you are the source of all that is good in my life. I give you special thanks for bestowing physical talent upon me and all team members that allows us to participate in ____(name sport)_______.
I thank you for the inspiration you gave to Blessed William Joseph Chaminade to gather men and women into communities that live the values of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I pray that as an athlete I can represent the Marianist tradition to the best of my ability both on and off the playing field, that I will treat my coach and teammates with respect and care, and that I will allow the Characteristics of Marianist Education to affect the manner in which I approach practice and times of competition. I ask that I can play with courage, determination, and endurance and that I can play selflessly, seeking the victory of the team over my personal triumphs.
In competition today, protect our team members and our worthy opponent. Let us rejoice in our success and not in our opponent’s defeat. If we lose, help us learn the lesson that makes us better people and athletes. Help us to witness all the values that we have come to know as central to our Marianist way of living.
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All Team Members and Coaches
May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary.
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Prayer for Athletic Contests
As a Catholic school in the Marianist tradition we begin all activities by asking for God’s blessing. (Sign of the cross) In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
God in Heaven we come before you tonight and we give you thanks for your many blessings.
May the actions of all here this evening, players and fans, always reflect your love for all people.
Please keep all of the athletes free from injury and may they be strengthened in mind, body, and soul to do their best each day.
Together we pray the Marianist doxology: May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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A Teacher’s Prayer
God grant me wisdom, creativity and love.
with wisdom, I can look to the future
and see the effect that my teaching will
have on these students and thus adapt
my methods to fit the needs of each one.
With creativity, I can prepare new and interesting
projects that can challenge my students and expand
their minds to set higher goals and dream loftier dreams.
With love, I can praise my students for jobs well done
and encourage them to get up and go on when they fall. Amen.
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A Teacher’s Prayer
Lord, let me be just what my students need.
If they need someone to trust, let me be trustworthy.
If they need sympathy, let me sympathetic.
If they need love, let me love in full measure.
Let me not anger easily, Lord but let me be just.
Permit my justice to be tempered in your mercy.
When I stand before them, Lord, let me look strong and good
and honest and loving.
Help me to counsel the anxious, crack the covering of the shy,
temper the rambunctious with a gentle attitude.
Permit me to teach only the truth.
Help me to inspire them so that learning will not cease
at the classroom door.
Let the lessons they learn make their lives fruitful and happy.
And, Lord, let me bring them to You.
Teach them through me to love you.
Permit me to learn the lessons they teach. Amen.
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Blessed William Joseph Chaminade - 1761-1850
William Joseph Chaminade was the second youngest of fifteen children of Blaise Chaminade and Catherine Bethone. Born in 1761 in Perigueux, sixty miles northeast of Bordeaux, he went at the age of ten to the College of Mussidan, where one of his brothers was a professor. First as a student, then as teacher, steward, and chaplain, he remained at the college for twenty years. The turmoil that marked the beginnings of the French Revolution forced him to leave.
Undaunted by rising political tension and religious persecution, Chaminade redoubled his efforts to continue his ministry. In the first wave of the forced exile of religious and priests from France, Chaminade remained. Defying authorities, he went underground disguised as a tinker or needle peddler and continued to bring to the church of Bordeaux his compassion and ministry. It was during this period of the revolution that Chaminade met Marie Therese Charlotte de Lamourous.
In 1797, he came out of hiding to exercise his ministry openly. But a sudden shift in the political situation caught him off guard. He was falsely accused of having returned from exile without permission and was forced to leave France. Taking refuge in Spain, he spent three years in Saragossa praying at the shrine of Our Lady of the Pillar, sharing life with thousands of exiles and planning for an unknown but hoped for return to France.
With the end of the revolution in 1800, he returned to Bordeaux. Appointed administrator of the badly devastated Diocese of Bazas, he managed to restore it to some semblance of normalcy within two years. At the time, he began in Bordeaux a work that would occupy him for the next fifty years.
Chaminade gathered together a number of young men and women, many of whom he had known before and during the years of persecution and formed a “community” of mutual support and Christian outreach that attracted people from all sectors of society and parts of the city. He first worked in limited and temporary quarters, but in 1804 he established the permanent headquarters for his sodality in the former chapel of the Madelonnette Sisters. The site became the center of the Sodality of the Madeleine. It remains today in the hands of the Marianists and is a vital urban church in Bordeaux.
Chaminade’s concept of the Sodality was to gather all Christians—men and women, young and old, lay and clerical, rich and poor—into a unique community of Christ’s followers unafraid to be known as such, committed to living and sharing their faith and dedicated to supporting one another in living the Gospel to the fullest. The enterprise was placed under the patronage and protection of Mary.
As his insights developed, he came to see the Sodality as the Marianist family, dedicated to sharing her mission of bringing Christ into the contemporary world. It was characterized by a deep sense of the equality of all Christians, regardless of state of life; by energizing a spirit of independence; by effective concern for individual spiritual growth; and the desire, in Chaminade’s words, of “presenting to the world the amazing and attractive reality of a people of saints.” Side by side with him in this endeavor were Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon and Marie Therese de Lamourous.
In 1816, together with Venerable Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon, he founded at Agen the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, and the following year, at Bordeaux, the Society of Mary (Marianists).
The two institutes developed rapidly in France and in 1839 received the decretum laudis from Pope Gregory XVI. Since teaching was a primary need at the time, both institutes dedicated themselves to primary schools, secondary schools, trade schools and normal schools (teacher training). They taught in order to educate and form their students in the faith.
During the years after 1830, Chaminade gave priority to drafting the Constitutions and wrote important circulars on consecration-covenant with Mary and on Marianist religious life. The Society of Mary continued to grow in France, then in Switzerland (1839) and the United States (1849).
The last ten years of Chaminade’s life were difficult. He faced these difficulties with confidence in Mary, faithful to his conscience and to the Church, filled with faith and charity. He died peacefully in Bordeaux on January 22, 1850.
Prayer:
Oh Lord,
You are constantly at work in Your Church,
And through individuals and communities
You manifest your Spirit for the good of Your people.
In a special way You bestowed Your Spirit
On Your servant Blessed William Joseph Chaminade,
So that he might live fully according to the Gospel
And with love devote himself to Your saving work.
You have inspired communities of men and women
To follow his example by consecrating themselves to You
To serve the Church under the leadership of Mary.
May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary.
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Blessed Father Jakob Gapp, S.M.
Jakob Gapp was born on July 6, 1897 in Wattens (Tyrol, Austria), and professed his first vows in the Society of Mary in 1921. He was ordained a priest in Fribourg (Switzerland) in 1930. In the following years he worked as a religion teacher and spiritual director, and performed his priestly duties in various Marianist institutions in Austria. He had a special concern for the poor and unemployed.
Faithful to the teachings of the Church, he proclaimed the incompatibility of the principles of National Socialism with Christianity, and beginning in 1938 was consequently persecuted. In 1939, at the wish of his superiors, he fled to France and then to Spain. There, in these countries, he also preached the truth about how the Church was being persecuted by the Nazis. On November 9, 1942, at the Spanish-
French border in Hendaye, he was kidnapped by the Gestapo, arrested, and brought to Berlin.
During the interrogation, he remained unshaken in his defense of the Church and of the faith. He as subsequently condemned to death, and on August 13, 1943 was beheaded in the Plotzensee prison in Berlin. His remains were never released for burial, because the Nazis feared that Jakob Gapp might be honored as a martyr.
On November 24, 1996, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Rome, Italy.
Prayer
O God, You gave to Blessed Jakob the grace
To fight strenuously for justice
And to assert, even to death, the truth of the faith.
Through his intercession and example,
Help us also to remain true to your Son and
To the Church by the integrity of our life.
May the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit
Be glorified in all places through
The Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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Blesseds Brother Carlos Erana, S.M., Brother Fidel Fuidio, S.M. and Brother Jesus Hita,
Brother Carlos Erana was born in Aozaraza-Arechavaleta, Spain, on November 2, 1884. He professed vows in the Society of Mary in 1903. He dedicated his whole life to the Christian education of children. He was Director in the Marianist schools in Ciudad Real, Tetuan (Morocco), and Madrid. When the religious persecution began, he moved to Ciudad Real, where he had earlier worked so hard on behalf of the very poor. This time, however, he was imprisoned, and on September 18, 1936, he was shot because he was a religious educator.
Brother Fidel Fuidio was born in Yecora, Spain, on April 24, 1880. He dedicated himself to the service of God in the Society of Mary in 1897. He was an excellent educator and easily gained the trust of the young. He gave his students an eagerness for research. He spent three months in Cuidad Real in painful captivity, which he endured with great faith and fortitude. He was shot on October 17, 1936.
Jesus Hita was born in Calahorra, Spain, on April 17, 1900. He made his religious profession as a Marianist in 1918. He was dedicated to teaching, devoting himself to the Christian education of youth. During the religious persecution he lived for two months in the home of a pious family. He prepared himself for martyrdom and was martyred on September 25, 1936.
These three Marianists were beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 1, 1995.
Prayer
Blessed Carlos, Fidel, and Jesus,
Were inflamed with the love of the Virgin Mary,
They responded to your grace to suffer for Christ;
Grant that, through their intercession,
We may remain firm in the faith
Which they taught day in and day out,
And to which they bore witness.
May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
Be glorified in all places
Through the Immaculate Virgin Mary.
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Marianist Martyrs of Madrid
Brother Florencio Cejudo, S.M., Brother Sabino Erraski, S.M.,
Father Miguel Garay, S.M., Brother Joaquin Salazar, S.M.
On November 6, 2007 these four members of the Society of Mary were beatified
by Pope Benedict XVI.
Brother Florencio was born on May 10, 1909. He professed his first vows in the Society of Mary in 1926. he obtained his university degree and was sent to teach at Marianist schools where he was greatly admired by his students. Like his brothers, as the Civil War in Spain broke out, he was forced to seek refuge with a family. He was martyred for his faith in Madrid, Spain on September 14, 1936.
Brother Sabino was born on December 29, 1911. He made his first profession in the Society of Mary in 1928. He taught in Marianist schools in Spain. He was known for his kind smile and his intense life of faith. When the Civil War broke out and the religious persecution was declared, he sought refuge in the home of a sympathetic family. He was arrested and ultimately shot in the presence of his fellow Marianists on September 14, 1936.
Father Miguel was born on February 17, 1885. He professed first vows in the Society of Mary in 1903 and was ordained a priest in 1915. He devoted himself as a teacher and chaplain at various Marianist schools in Spain. Father Miguel was known as a very dedicated teacher and was respected by his students. When the religious persecution broke out at the time of the Civil War, Father Miguel continued to minister while in hiding. On July 28, 1936 he was arrested and shot by one of revolutionary militias.
Brother Joaquin was born on April 16, 1910. He professed his first vows in the Society of Mary in 1928. Having completed his university degree, he served as a teacher at Marianist schools and was dedicated to his profession as a teacher. Following the military uprising and subsequent revolution in Spain in 1936, he took refuge in the house of a family friend. He was soon arrested and on September 14, 1936 he shot in the company of his fellow Marianist brothers Sabino and Florencio.
Let us pray:
Lord, Our God,
You granted to the blessed martyrs Brother Florencio, Brother Sabino, Father Miguel, and Brother Joaquin the grace of dedicating their lives in the ministry of education under the guidance of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They courageously professed their faith, even to their deaths. Strengthen by their example, we pray that we may give witness to our faith in word and deed to all people we meet during each day. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.
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Venerable Adele de Batz de Trenquelleon - 1789-1828
Like Marie Therese, Adele was of noble birth; unlike Marie Therese, she was of a wealthy and aristocratic family. Her father, the Baron de Trenquelleon, was an officer in the king’s royal guard. When Adele was two-and-a-half years old, he voluntarily went into exile to support the anti-revolutionary movement. In 1797, the Baroness and her two children were forced into exile by the same law that entrapped Blessed Chaminade. After six years of separation, the Baron was able to join his family.
Shortly after the return of the family to Trenquelleon, some fifteen miles west of the city of Agen, Adele embarked on a twofold career of spiritual growth. When she was not yet thirteen, she pestered her brother’s tutor to give her a personal Rule of Life to prepare herself for the Carmelite vocation she so ardently desired to follow. By the time she was fifteen, she and a small group of friends had formed an association of prayer and support to promote their own spiritual growth and to prepare themselves for a good death. Given the health hazards of the time and the ever present possibility of renewed anti-Catholic persecution, it was not unusual for even young girls to think seriously of their death. This spiritual union spread rapidly and soon counted some two hundred young women scattered over an area the size of the state of Ohio.
By 1810, a number of young women, like a number of the young men and women of the Sodality of the Madeleine, were looking for some form of religious life. By 1814, their plans had taken clear shape. After the abdication of Napoleon and the death of her father, Adele was able to move freely and openly and put her plan into motion. Under Chaminade’s guidance and with the encouragement of Bishop Jacoupy of Agen, she and her companions in 1816 inaugurated their community living: the Daughters of Mary. Like the Sodality, the community saw itself as called to give its members mutual support, to engage in Christian outreach to the world, and to carry Mary’s mission of giving birth to Christ in every age. They integrated remarkably well the characteristics of the contemplative life of the Carmelites and the active missionary thrust of the Sodality.
After the foundation of the religious community, the Sodality continued to be a primary concern for the foundress. Though Church Law of the time required that women religious be cloistered, each of the five convents founded during her brief twelve years in religious life was the center of a Sodality for Young Women, a Married Women’s Sodality, and a Third Order Secular, which carried on the community’s mission beyond the walls of the enclosure. For years, she looked forward to the day when a Third Order Regular could be founded, so that the mission of the Sisters might reach those neglected rural areas with which she had been so familiar. Only in 1836, eight years after her death, was this dream realized. The Daughters of Mary and the thriving Third Order Regular were combined in 1918, when church law redefined them both as “religious institutes.”
Prayer:
O God, source of all holiness,
We thank you for filling the heart
Of your servant Adele de Trenquelleon
With an ardent missionary spirit
And a deep love for the Virgin Mary.
We thank you for the enthusiasm
With which she spread the Gospel
And love for Christ and His Mother,
Especially among the young and the poor.
Lord, help us to follow her
In being a sign of Your love
For our sisters and brothers.
May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
be glorified in all places through the
Immaculate Virgin Mary.
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Venerable Marie Therese Charlotte de Lamourous - 1754-1836
Marie Therese, the eldest of eleven children, was of a noble, but relatively poor family. Her father, a lawyer, apparently was not skilled at being a business manager and had to sell various parcels of family property in order to make ends meet. All that remained for Marie Therese’s inheritance was a portion of her mother’s estate, a country home and farm at Pian en Medoc, some twelve miles northwest of Bordeaux.
Born and raised in Barsac, she moved to Bordeaux with her family when she was twelve. Very close to her mother—they related almost as equals—she because head of the family at the latter’s death in 1785. When nobles were forced out of the port cities in 1794, she retired to the family estate at Pian. The pastor at the local church was a constitutional cleric, so she refused to attend services. But she remained on good terms with the man and was instrumental in having him renounce his civil oath. With his departure, the parish church was abandoned, Marie Therese filled this void, and she because the heart and soul of the parish community for the next six years. She gathered the parishioners for prayer, religious instruction, family counseling, and secret masses celebrated by disguised and fugitive priests. For all practical purposes, she was the “pastor” of the flock and was dearly beloved by all. In fact, when the revolution was over and priests could function in the open again, she had a hard time persuading “her” parishioners to go to the church again instead of coming to her.
She kept in touch with Chaminade during his three year exile, 1797-1800. On his return she worked with him to develop the Sodality. But her major work after 1800 was breathing life back into a badly needed service in Bordeaux: providing a place to live and an opportunity to change for the prostitutes who wished to redirect their lives.
Such work had begun before the revolution by two of her friends. When calm was restored, one of them, Jeanne Germaine de Pichon, took it up again. When she approached Chaminade to ask for Marie Therese’s help, his response was negative; he had counted on Marie Therese for his work with the Sodality and was unwilling to let her spend energy on something else. On second thought, however, he left the decision up to her. She, at first, would not hear of it. But, after a couple of visits to the house where the prostitutes had been sheltered, Marie Therese changed her mind.
Even though she had been in poor health since her birth almost fifty years earlier, she approached her work with incredible energy, determination, compassion, and creativity. When the number of prostitutes proved too large for several different rented locales, she made a leap of faith. Without funds, but with great confidence in
God she purchased at auction a former convent, named it Maison de la Misericorde (the House of Mercy), and took in as many prostitutes as it could hold, eventually up to four hundred at a time. The only condition for entry was that the women wished to change their way of life. They came freely; they stayed freely. Despite overwhelming obstacles and difficulties, the work prospered. Through the years until Marie Therese’s death, Chaminade was at her side with his encouragement, fundraising, spiritual guidance, and friendship.
It would be impossible to exaggerate the impact Marie Therese had on the work of the Misericorde and as co-founder with Chaminade of the Marianist family. Confined to her bed for most of the last ten years of her life, Marie Therese continued to guide with her same loving heart. On September 14, 1836, she raised her eyes to heaven and peacefully died.
The official process for her canonization began in 1911. On December 21, 1989, the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints decreed that she had practiced heroic virtue during her lifetime.
Prayer:
O God, source of all holiness,
We thank you for filling the heart
Of your servant Marie Therese de Lamourous
With an ardent missionary spirit
And a deep love for the Virgin Mary.
We that you for the enthusiasm
With which she spread the Gospel
And love for Christ and His Mother,
Especially among the young and the poor.
Lord, help us to follow her
In being a sign of Your love
For our sisters and brothers.
May the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit
be glorified in all places through the
Immaculate Virgin Mary.
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