Jour 19 de 33: Connaissance de soi

 

DEUXIÈME PÉRIODE : Trois semaines consacrées à se remplir de Jésus-Christ par la Sainte Vierge

Première semaine (Jours 13 à 19): Sujet de la semaine : Connaissance de soi

Démarche : Prières, examens/réflexions, actes de renoncement à sa propre volonté, de repentir de ses fautes, de mépris de soi-même… le tout aux pieds de Marie. Car c’est d’elle que nous espérons la lumière dont nous avons besoins pour se connaître soi-même. Et c’est près d’elle que nous serons capable de mesurer l’abîme de nos misères sans désespérer (Et donc, non pas d’abord de me regarder, de me triturer, mais de me laisser regarder, de me mettre sous le regard aimant de Jésus et de Marie.).

« Pendant la première semaine, dit saint L.-M. de Montfort, ils emploieront toutes leurs oraisons et actions de piété à demander la connaissance d’eux-mêmes, et la contrition de leurs péchés : et ils feront tout en esprit d’humilité ».

Durant cette semaine, nous regarderons moins l’opposition entre l’esprit de Jésus et le nôtre, que l’état misérable où le péché nous a réduit. D’autre part, la « Vraie dévotion » étant une voie facile, courte, sûre et parfaite pour arriver à l’union avec Notre-Seigneur, but de la vie chrétienne, nous devons savoir que nous n’entrerions pas sérieusement dans cette magnifique voie d’amour surnaturel, si nous n’étions fortement convaincus de notre misère et de notre impuissance. Or, comment y arriver sans la connaissance de nous-mêmes ?

Seq S Evangelii sec Lucam

Cap XVIII

[15] Afferebant autem ad illum et infantes, ut eos tangeret. Quod cum viderent discipuli, increpabant illos. [16] Jesus autem convocans illos, dixit : Sinite pueros venire ad me, et nolite vetare eos : talium est enim regnum Dei. [17] Amen dico vobis, quicumque non acceperit regnum Dei sicut puer, non intrabit in illud. 

[18] Et interrogavit eum quidam princeps, dicens : Magister bone, quid faciens vitam aeternam possidebo? [19] Dixit autem ei Jesus : Quid me dicis bonum? nemo bonus nisi solus Deus. [20] Mandata nosti : non occides; non moechaberis; non furtum facies; non falsum testimonium dices; honora patrem tuum et matrem. [21] Qui ait : Haec omnia custodivi a juventute mea. [22] Quo audito, Jesus ait ei : Adhuc unum tibi deest : omnia quaecumque habes vende, et da pauperibus, et habebis thesaurum in caelo : et veni, sequere me. [23] His ille auditis, contristatus est : quia dives erat valde.

[24] Videns autem Jesus illum tristem factum, dixit : Quam difficile, qui pecunias habent, in regnum Dei intrabunt! [25] facilius est enim camelum per foramen acus transire quam divitem intrare in regnum Dei. [26] Et dixerunt qui audiebant : Et quis potest salvus fieri? [27] Ait illis : Quae impossibilia sunt apud homines, possibilia sunt apud Deum. [28] Ait autem Petrus : Ecce nos dimisimus omnia et secuti sumus te. [29] Qui dixit eis : Amen dico vobis, nemo est qui reliquit domum, aut parentes, aut fratres, aut uxorem, aut filios propter regnum Dei, [30] et non recipiat multo plura in hoc tempore, et in saeculo venturo vitam aeternam.

Latin notes

camelum: nom sing masc, from cămēlus, i, m. fem., = κάμηλος, a camel, with either one or two humps
foramen: fŏrāmen, ĭnis, n. id., an opening or aperture produced by boring, a hole, Transf. in gen., an opening, hole, cave
increpabant: 3rd pers plur imperf indic active, from increpō, uī, itus, rarely āvī, ātus, 1, n. and a.: to make a noise or din; resound; clash; snap; (fig.), chide, blame, reprimand; taunt
moechaberis: 2nd pers sing pres indic from moechor, ātus, 1, v. dep. moechus, to commit adultery
multō: (adv.), much, by much, by far, far

Catena Aurea

Verses 15-17

THEOPHYLACT. After what He had said, our Lord teaches us a lesson of humility by His own example; He does not turn away the little children who are brought to Him, but graciously receives them.

AUGUSTINE. (Serm. 115.) To whom are they brought to be touched, but to the Saviour? And as being the Saviour they are presented to Him to be saved, who came to save that which was lost. But with regard to these innocents, when were they lost? The Apostle says, By one man sin entered into the world. (Rom. 5:12.) Let then the little children come as the sick to a physician, the lost to their Redeemer.

AMBROSE. ... But why does He say that children are fitter for the kingdom of heaven? It is because they are ignorant of guile, are incapable of theft, dare not return a blow, are unconscious of lust, have no desire for wealth, honours, or ambition. But to be ignorant of these things is not virtue, we must also despise them. For virtue consists not in our inability to sin, but in our unwillingness. Childhood then is not meant here, but that goodness which rivals the simplicity of childhood.

BEDE. Hence our Lord pointedly says, of such, not “of these,” to shew that to character, not to age, is the kingdom given, and to such as have a childlike innocence and simplicity is the promise of the reward.

AMBROSE. Lastly, our Saviour expressed this when He said, Verily I say unto you, Whosoever will not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, &c. What child were Christ’s Apostles to imitate but Him of whom Esaias speaks, Unto us a Child is given? (Isai. 9:6.) Who when He was reviled, reviled not again. (1 Pet. 2.) So that there is in childhood a certain venerable antiquity, and in old age a childlike innocence.

BASIL. (in Reg. Brev. ad int. 217.) We shall receive the kingdom of God as a child if we are disposed towards our Lord’s teaching as a child under instruction, never contradicting nor disputing with his masters, but trustfully and teachably imbibing learning.

THEOPHYLACT. The wise men of the Gentiles therefore who seek for wisdom in a mystery, which is the kingdom of God, and will not receive this without the evidence of logical proof, are rightly shut out from this kingdom.

Verses 18-23

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA. But the ruler expected to hear Christ say, Forsake the commandments of Moses, and listen to Mine. Whereas He sends him to the former; as it follows, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not commit adultery.

THEOPHYLACT. The law first forbids those things to which we are most prone, as adultery for instance, the incitement to which is within us, and of our nature; and murder, because rage is a great and savage monster. But theft and bearing false witness are sins which men seldom fall into. And besides, the former also are the more grievous sins, therefore He places theft and bearing false witness in the second place, as both less common, and of less weight than the other.


TITUS BOSTRENSIS. But you may observe that these commandments consist in not doing certain things; that if thou hast not committed adultery, thou art chaste; if thou stealest not, honestly disposed; if thou bearest not false witness, truth-telling. Virtue then we see is rendered easy through the goodness of the Lawgiver. For He speaks of avoiding of evil, not practising of good. And any cessation from action is easier than any actual work.


TITUS BOSTRENSIS. Our Lord next declares, that though a man has kept the old covenant, he is not perfect, since he lacks to follow Christ. Thou yet lackest one thing, Sell all that thou hast, &c. As if He says, Thou askest how to possess eternal life; scatter thy goods among the poor, and thou shalt obtain it. A little thing is that thou spendest, thou receivest great things.

BEDE. Whoever then wishes to be perfect must sell all that he hath, not a part only, as Ananias and Sapphira did, but the whole.

BASIL. (in Reg. Brev. int. 92.) He does not tell us to sell our goods, because they are by nature evil, for then they would not be God’s creatures; He therefore does not bid us cast them away as if they were bad, but distribute them; nor is any one condemned for possessing them, but for abusing them. And thus it is, that to lay out our goods according to God’s command both blots out sins, and bestows the kingdom.

CHRYSOSTOM. (Hom. 22. in 1 ad Cor.) God might indeed feed the poor without our taking compassion upon them, but He wishes the givers to be bound by the ties of love to the receivers.

CHRYSOSTOM. (Hom. 32. in 1. ad Cor.) But it is asked, how does Christ acknowledge the giving all things to the poor to be perfection, whereas St. Paul declares this very thing without charity to be imperfect. Their harmony is shewn in the words which succeed, And come, follow me, which betokens it to be from love. For herein shall all men know that ye are my, disciples, if ye have love one toward another. (John 13:35.)

THEOPHYLACT. Together with poverty must exist all the other virtues, therefore He says, Come, follow me, that is, In all other things be My disciples, be always following Me.

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA. The ruler was not able to contain the new word, but being like an old bottle, burst with sorrow.

Verses 24-30

THEOPHYLACT. Our Lord, seeing that the rich man was sorrowful when it was told him to surrender his riches, marvelled, saying, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! He says not, It is impossible for them to enter, but it is difficult. For they might through their riches reap an heavenly reward, but it is a hard thing, seeing that riches are more tenacious than birdlime, and hardly is the soul ever plucked away, that is once seized by them. But he next speaks of it as impossible. It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye. The word in the Greek answers equally to the animal called the camel, and to a cable, or ship rope. However we may understand it, impossibility is implied. What must we say then? First of all that the thing is positively true, for we must remember that the rich man differs from the steward, or dispenser of riches. The rich man is he who reserves his riches to himself, the steward or dispenser one who holds them entrusted to his care for the benefit of others.

CHRYSOSTOM. (Hom. 24. in 1 ad Cor.) Abraham indeed possessed wealth for the poor. And all they who righteously possess it, spend it as receiving it from God, according to the divine command, while those who have acquired wealth in an ungodly way, are ungodly in their use of it; whether in squandering it on harlots or parasites, or hiding it in the ground, but sparing nothing for the poor. (Hom. 18. in Joan.). He does not then forbid men to be rich, but to be the slaves of their riches. He would have us use them as necessary, not keep guard over them. It is of a servant to guard, of a master to dispense. Had he wished to preserve them, He would never have given them to men, but left them to remain in the earth.

THEOPHYLACT. Again, observe that He says, a rich man can not possibly be saved, but one who possesses riches hardly; as if he said, The rich man who has been taken captive by his riches, and is a slave to them, shall not be saved; but he who possesses or is the master of them shall with difficulty be saved, because of human infirmity. For the devil is ever trying to make our foot slip as long as we possess riches, and it is a hard matter to escape his wiles. Poverty therefore is a blessing, and as it were free from temptation.

CHRYSOSTOM. (Hom. 80. in Matt.) There is no profit in riches while the soul suffers poverty, no hurt in poverty, while the soul abounds in wealth. But if the sign of a man waxing rich is to be in need of nothing, and of becoming poor to be in want, it is plain that the poorer a man is, the richer he grows. For it is far easier for one in poverty to despise wealth, than for the rich. Nor again is avarice wont to be satisfied by having more, for thereby are men only the more inflamed, just as a fire spreads, the more it has to feed upon. Those which seem to be the evils of poverty, it has in common with riches, but the evils of riches are peculiar to them.

AUGUSTINE. (de Quæst Evang. lib. ii. c. 42.) The name of “rich” he here gives to one who covets temporal things, and boasts himself in them. To such rich men are opposed the poor in spirit, of whom is the kingdom of heaven. Now mystically it is easier for Christ to suffer for the lovers of this world, than for the lovers of this world to be converted to Christ. For by the name of a camel He would represent Himself: for He voluntarily humbled Himself to bear the burdens of our infirmity. By the needle He signifies sharp piercings, and thereby the pangs received in His Passion, but by the form of the needle He describes the straitening of the Passion.

CHRYSOSTOM. (Hom. 63. in Matt.) These weighty words so far exceeded the capacity of the disciples, that when they heard them, they asked, Who then can be saved? not that they feared for themselves, but for the whole world.

AUGUSTINE. (ut sup.) Seeing that there is an incomparably greater number of poor which might be saved by forsaking their riches, they understood that all who love riches, even though they cannot obtain them, were to be counted among the number of the rich. It follows, And he said to them, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God, which must not be taken as if a rich man with covetousness and pride might enter into the kingdom of God, but that it is possible with God for a man to be converted from covetousness and pride, to charity and humility.

THEOPHYLACT. With men therefore whose thoughts creep earthward, salvation is impossible, but with God it is possible. For when man shall have God for his counsellor, and shall have received the righteousness of God and His teaching concerning poverty, as well as have invoked His aid, this shall be possible to him.

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA. The rich man who has despised many things will naturally expect a reward, but he who possessing little resigns what he has, may fairly ask what there is in store for him; as it follows, Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all. Matthew adds, What shall we have therefore? (Matt. 19:27.)

BEDE. As if he says, We have done what Thou commandedst us, what reward then wilt Thou give us? And because it is not enough to have left all things, he adds that which made it perfect, saying, And have followed thee.

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA. This then we say, that he who gives up all worldly and carnal things will gain for himself far greater, inasmuch as the Apostles, after leaving a few things, obtained the manifold gifts of grace, and were accounted great every where. We then shall be like to them. If a man has left his home, he shall receive an abiding place above. If his father, he shall have a Father in heaven. If he has forsaken his kindred, Christ shall take him for a brother. If he has given up a wife, he shall find divine wisdom, from which he shall beget spiritual offspring. If a mother, he shall find the heavenly Jerusalem, who is our mother. From brethren and sisters also united together with him by the spiritual bond of his will, he shall receive in this life far more kindly affections.

Chapter 18

[15] And they brought unto him also infants, that he might touch them. Which when the disciples saw, they rebuked them.

[16] But Jesus, calling them together, said: Suffer children to come to me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. [17] Amen, I say to you: Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a child, shall not enter into it. [18] And a certain ruler asked him, saying: Good master, what shall I do to possess everlasting life? [19] And Jesus said to him: Why dost thou call me good? None is good but God alone. [20] Thou knowest the commandments: Thou shalt not kill: Thou shalt not commit adultery: Thou shalt not steal: Thou shalt not bear false witness: Honour thy father and mother.

[21] Who said: All these things have I kept from my youth. [22] Which when Jesus had heard, he said to him: Yet one thing is wanting to thee: sell all whatever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. [23] He having heard these things, became sorrowful; for he was very rich. [24] And Jesus seeing him become sorrowful, said: How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God. [25] For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

[26] And they that heard it, said: Who then can be saved? [27] He said to them: The things that are impossible with men, are possible with God. [28] Then Peter said: Behold, we have left all things, and have followed thee. [29] Who said to them: Amen, I say to you, there is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, [30] Who shall not receive much more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Évangile : Luc 18 :15-30

(Jésus et les enfants) Des gens présentaient à Jésus même les nourrissons, afin qu’il pose la main sur eux. En voyant cela, les disciples les écartaient vivement. Mais Jésus les fit venir à lui en disant : « Laissez les enfants venir à moi, et ne les empêchez pas, car le royaume de Dieu est à ceux qui leur ressemblent. Amen, je vous le dis : celui qui n’accueille pas le royaume de Dieu à la manière d’un enfant n’y entrera pas. »

(Le jeune homme riche) Un notable lui demanda : « Bon maître, que dois-je faire pour avoir la vie éternelle en héritage ? » Jésus lui dit : « Pourquoi dire que je suis bon ? Personne n’est bon, sinon Dieu seul. Tu connais les commandements : Ne commets pas d’adultère, ne commets pas de meurtre, ne commets pas de vol, ne porte pas de faux témoignage, honore ton père et ta mère. » L’homme répondit : « Tout cela, je l’ai observé depuis ma jeunesse. » À ces mots Jésus lui dit : « Une seule chose te fait encore défaut : vends tout ce que tu as, distribue-le aux pauvres et tu auras un trésor dans les cieux. Puis viens, suis-moi. » Mais entendant ces paroles, l’homme devint profondément triste, car il était très riche.

(Le danger des richesses) Le voyant devenu si triste, Jésus dit : « Comme il est difficile à ceux qui possèdent des richesses de pénétrer dans le royaume de Dieu ! Car il est plus facile à un chameau de passer par un trou d’aiguille qu’à un riche d’entrer dans le royaume de Dieu. » Ceux qui l’entendaient lui demandèrent : « Mais alors, qui peut être sauvé ? » Jésus répondit : « Ce qui est impossible pour les hommes est possible pour Dieu. »

(La récompense du renoncement) Alors Pierre lui dit : « Voici que nous-mêmes, après avoir quitté ce qui nous appartenait, nous t’avons suivi. » Jésus déclara : « Amen, je vous le dis : nul n’aura quitté, à cause du royaume de Dieu, une maison, une femme, des frères, des parents, des enfants, sans qu’il reçoive bien davantage en ce temps-ci et, dans le monde à venir, la vie éternelle. »

Prières quotidiennes

Litanies du Saint-Esprit: see below.

Ave Maris Stella: for Latin and English versions, see here.

Litanies de la Sainte Vierge: for Latin, English and French versions, see below. For a version sung by a sister of the FSI, see here.

Litanies du Saint-Esprit

Seigneur, ayez pitié de nous.
Jésus-Christ, ayez pitié de nous.
Seigneur, ayez pitié de nous.
Jésus-Christ, écoutez-nous.
Jésus-Christ, exaucez-nous.

Père céleste, qui êtes Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.
Fils Rédempteur du monde, qui êtes Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit-Saint, qui êtes Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.
Trinité sainte, qui êtes un seul Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.

Esprit, qui procédez du Père et du Fils, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit du Seigneur, qui, au commencement du monde, planiez sur les eaux (4), et les avez rendues fécondes, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit par l’inspiration duquel les saints hommes de Dieu ont parlé, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit dont l’onction nous apprend toutes choses, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit qui rendez témoignage de Jésus-Christ (7), ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de vérité qui nous instruisez de toutes choses, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit qui êtes survenu en Marie (5), ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit du Seigneur, qui remplissez toute la terre ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de Dieu, qui êtes en nous, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de sagesse et d’intelligence, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de conseil et de force, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de science et de piété ayez pitié de nous, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de crainte du Seigneur (6), ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de grâce et de miséricorde, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de force, de dilection et de sobriété, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de foi, d’espérance, d’amour et de paix, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit d’humilité et de chasteté, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de bonté et de douceur, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de toutes sortes de grâces, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit qui sondez même les secrets de Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit qui priez pour nous par des gémissements ineffables (1), ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit qui êtes descendu sur Jésus-Christ sous la forme dune colombe,(7)  ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit par lequel nous prenons une nouvelle naissance,(2) ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit qui remplissez nos coeurs de charité, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit d’adoption des enfants de Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit qui avez paru sur les disciples sous la figure de langues de feu,(3) ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit dont les Apôtres ont été remplis,(3) ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit qui distribuez vos dons à chacun selon votre volonté, ayez pitié de nous.

Soyez-nous propice, pardonnez-nous, Seigneur.
Soyez-nous propice, exaucez-nous, Seigneur.

De tout mal, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.

De tout péché, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
Des tentations et des embûches du démon, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
De la présomption et du désespoir, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
De la résistance à la vérité connue, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
De l’obstination et de l’impénitence, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
De toute souillure de corps et d’esprit, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
De l’esprit de fornication, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
De tout mauvais esprit, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.

Par votre éternelle procession du Père et du Fils, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
Par la conception de Jésus-Christ qui s’est faite par votre opération,(5) délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
Par votre descente sur Jésus-Christ dans le Jourdain(7), délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
Par votre descente sur les disciples, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.

Dans le grand jour du jugement, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
Pauvres pécheurs, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.

Afin que vivant par l’Esprit, nous agissions aussi par l’Esprit, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que nous souvenant que nous sommes le temple du Saint-Esprit,(8) nous ne le profanions jamais, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que vivant selon l’esprit nous n’accomplissions pas les désirs de la chair, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que nous mortifiions les oeuvres de la chair, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que nous ne vous contristions pas, vous qui êtes le Saint Esprit de Dieu, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que nous ayons soin de garder l’unité de l’Esprit dans le lien de la paix, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que ne croyions pas facilement à tout esprit, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que nous éprouvions les esprits s’ils sont de Dieu, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que vous renouveliez en nous l’esprit de droiture, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que vous nous fortifiiez par votre Esprit souverain, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.

Agneau de Dieu, qui effacez les péchés du monde, pardonnez-nous, Seigneur.
Agneau de Dieu, qui effacez les péchés du monde, exaucez-nous, Seigneur.
Agneau de Dieu, qui ôtez les péchés du monde, ayez pitié de nous, Seigneur.

Prions : Nous vous supplions, Seigneur, de nous assister sans cesse par la vertu de votre Esprit-Saint, afin que, purifiant par sa miséricorde les tâches de nos coeurs, il nous préserve encore de tous les maux. Par Jésus-Christ Notre-Seigneur. Ainsi soit-il.

(1) [26] Similiter autem et Spiritus adjuvat infirmitatem nostram : nam quid oremus, sicut oportet, nescimus : sed ipse Spiritus postulat pro nobis gemitibus inenarrabilibus. [27] Qui autem scrutatur corda, scit quid desideret Spiritus : quia secundum Deum postulat pro sanctis.
[26] Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity. For we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit himself asketh for us with unspeakable groanings. [27] And he that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what the Spirit desireth; because he asketh for the saints according to God.[Romans 8]
(2) Christ's discourse with Nicodemus [5] Respondit Jesus : Amen, amen dico tibi, nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua, et Spiritu Sancto, non potest introire in regnum Dei. [5] Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [John 3]
(3) [3] Et apparuerunt illis dispertitae linguae tamquam ignis, seditque supra singulos eorum : [4] et repleti sunt omnes Spiritu Sancto, et coeperunt loqui variis linguis, prout Spiritus Sanctus dabat eloqui illis.[3] And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak. [Acts 2] 
(4) [1] In principio creavit Deus caelum et terram. [2] Terra autem erat inanis et vacua, et tenebrae erant super faciem abyssi : et spiritus Dei ferebatur super aquas. [1] In the beginning God created heaven, and earth. [2] And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God moved over the waters. [Gen 1]
(5) [35] Et respondens angelus dixit ei : Spiritus Sanctus superveniet in te, et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi. Ideoque et quod nascetur ex te sanctum, vocabitur Filius Dei. [35] And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. [Luke 1]
(6) Seven gifts of the HolyGhost: [1] Et egredietur virga de radice Jesse, et flos de radice ejus ascendet. [2] Et requiescet super eum spiritus Domini : spiritus sapientiae et intellectus, spiritus consilii et fortitudinis, spiritus scientiae et pietatis; [3] et replebit eum spiritus timoris Domini. [1] And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root. [2] And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness. [3] And he shall be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord. [Isaiah 11]
(7) [32] Et testimonium perhibuit Joannes, dicens : Quia vidi Spiritum descendentem quasi columbam de caelo, et mansit super eum. [33] Et ego nesciebam eum : sed qui misit me baptizare in aqua, ille mihi dixit : Super quem videris Spiritum descendentem, et manentem super eum, hic est qui baptizat in Spiritu Sancto.
[32] And John gave testimony, saying: I saw the Spirit coming down, as a dove from heaven, and he remained upon him. [33] And I knew him not; but he who sent me to baptize with water, said to me: He upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining upon him, he it is that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. [John 1] < > [9] Et factum est : in diebus illis venit Jesus a Nazareth Galilaeae : et baptizatus est a Joanne in Jordane. [10] Et statim ascendens de aqua, vidit caelos apertos, et Spiritum tamquam columbam descendentem, et manentem in ipso. [9] And it came to pass, in those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. [10] And forthwith coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit as a dove descending, and remaining on him. [John 1]
(8) [19] An nescitis quoniam membra vestra, templum sunt Spiritus Sancti, qui in vobis est, quem habetis a Deo, et non estis vestri? [20] Empti enim estis pretio magno. Glorificate, et portate Deum in corpore vestro.[1 Cor 6] [19] Or know you not, that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost, who is in you, whom you have from God; and you are not your own? [20] For you are bought with a great price. Glorify and bear God in your body.

Ave, Maris Stella: see here.

Litaniae Lauretanae

Litany of Loreto

The Litany contains many praises found in a Hymn which was first translated into Latin around the year 800. The other titles and praises are found in the writings of the early Church Fathers of the first six centuries. It is believerd the Litany was composed in Paris towards thre end of the 12th century. It gets its name from the Italian shrine at Loreto where it was adopted in 1558.

For a version (in Latin) sung by a sister of the FSI, see here.

Kyrie, eleison.
R. Christe, eleison.    
Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, audi nos.
R. Christe, exaudi nos.

Pater de caelis, Deus,
R. miserere nobis.
Fili, Redemptor mundi, Deus,
R. miserere nobis.
Spiritus Sancte Deus,
R. miserere nobis.
Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus,
R. miserere nobis.

Sancta Maria,
R. ora pro nobis.
Sancta Dei Genetrix,
R. ora pro nobis.
Sancta Virgo virginum,
R. ora pro nobis.

Mater Christi,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater Ecclesiae,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater Divinae gratiae,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater purissima,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater castissima,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater inviolata,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater intemerata,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater amabilis,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater admirabilis,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater boni Consilii,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater Creatoris,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater Salvatoris,
R. ora pro nobis.

Virgo prudentissima,
R. ora pro nobis.
Virgo veneranda,
R. ora pro nobis.
Virgo praedicanda,
R. ora pro nobis.
Virgo potens,
R. ora pro nobis.
Virgo clemens,
R. ora pro nobis.
Virgo fidelis,
R. ora pro nobis.

Speculum iustitiae,
R. ora pro nobis.
Sedes sapientiae,
R. ora pro nobis.
Causa nostrae laetitiae,
R. ora pro nobis.
Vas spirituale,
R. ora pro nobis.
Vas honorabile,
R. ora pro nobis.
Vas insigne devotionis,
R. ora pro nobis.
Rosa mystica,
R. ora pro nobis.
Turris Davidica,
R. ora pro nobis.
Turris eburnea,
R. ora pro nobis.
Domus aurea,
R. ora pro nobis.
Foederis arca,
R. ora pro nobis.
Ianua caeli,
R. ora pro nobis.
Stella matutina,
R. ora pro nobis.
Salus infirmorum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Refugium peccatorum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Consolatrix afflictorum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Auxilium Christianorum,
R. ora pro nobis.

Regina Angelorum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina Patriarcharum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina Prophetarum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina Apostolorum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina Martyrum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina Confessorum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina Virginum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina Sanctorum omnium,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina sine labe originali concepta,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina in caelum assumpta,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina Sacratissimi Rosarii,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina familiae,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina pacis,
R. ora pro nobis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
R. parce nobis, Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
R. exaudi nos, Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
R. miserere nobis.

V. Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Genetrix,
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
Oremus
Concede nos famulos tuos, quaesumus, Domine Deus, perpetua mentis et corporis sanitate gaudere: et gloriosa beatae Mariae semper Virginis intercessione, a praesenti liberari tristitia, et aeterna perfrui laetitia. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.
R. Amen.   

Tempore Adventus: 
V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae,
R. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
Oremus
Deus, qui de beatae Mariae Virginis utero Verbum tuum, Angelo nuntiante, carnem suscipere voluisti: praesta supplicibus tuis; ut, qui vere eam Genetricem Dei credimus, eius apud te intercessionibus adiuvemur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.
R. Amen.

Tempore Nativitatis:
V. Post partum, Virgo, inviolata permansisti,
R. Dei Genetrix, intercede pro nobis.
Oremus
Deus, qui salutis aeternae, beatae Mariae virginitate fecunda, humano generi praemia praestitisti: tribue, quaesumus; ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus, per quam meruimus Filius tuum auctorem vitae suscipere. Qui tecum vivit et regnat in saecula saeculorum.
R. Amen.  

Tempore Paschali:
V. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.
R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.
Oremus
Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum laetificare dignatus es: praesta, quaesumus: ut, per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam, perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum.
R. Amen.

Litany of Loreto (English)

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, 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. (repeat at end of each phrase.)
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,

Mother of Christ,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Savior,

Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,

Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of Heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,

Queen of angels,
Queen of patriarchs,
Queen of prophets,
Queen of apostles,
Queen of martyrs,
Queen of confessors,
Queen of virgins,
Queen of all saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Queen of peace.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:
Grant, O Lord God, we beseech Thee, that we Thy servants may rejoice in continual health of mind and body; and, through the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may be freed from present sorrow, and enjoy eternal gladness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Litanies de la Sainte Vierge Marie (Litanies de Lorette)

Seigneur, ayez pitié de nous.
Jésus-Christ, ayez pitié de nous.
Seigneur, ayez pitié de nous.
Jésus-Christ, écoutez-nous.
Jésus-Christ, exaucez-nous.

Père céleste qui êtes Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.
Fils, Rédempteur du monde, qui êtes Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit Saint, qui êtes Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.
Trinité Sainte, un seul Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.

Sainte Marie, priez pour nous.
Sainte Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous.
Sainte Vierge des vierges, priez pour nous.
Mère du Christ, priez pour nous.
Mère de la divine grâce, priez pour nous.
Mère de l’Eglise, priez pour nous.
Mère très pure, priez pour nous.
Mère très chaste, priez pour nous.
Mère toujours vierge, priez pour nous.
Mère sans tache, priez pour nous.
Mère aimable, priez pour nous.
Mère admirable, priez pour nous.
Mère du bon conseil, priez pour nous.
Mère du Créateur, priez pour nous.
Mère du Sauveur, priez pour nous.

Vierge très prudente, priez pour nous.
Vierge vénérable, priez pour nous.
Vierge digne de louanges, priez pour nous.
Vierge puissante, priez pour nous.
Vierge clémente, priez pour nous.
Vierge fidèle, priez pour nous.

Miroir de justice, priez pour nous.
Trône de la sagesse, priez pour nous.
Source de toute joie, priez pour nous.
Vase spirituel, priez pour nous.
Vase honorable, priez pour nous.
Vase insigne de la dévotion, priez pour nous.
Rose mystique, priez pour nous.
Tour de David, priez pour nous.
Tour d’ivoire, priez pour nous.
Maison d’or, priez pour nous.
Arche d’alliance, priez pour nous.
Porte du ciel, priez pour nous.
Étoile du matin, priez pour nous.
Salut des infirmes, priez pour nous.
Refuge des pécheurs, priez pour nous.
Consolatrice des affligés, priez pour nous.
Secours des chrétiens, priez pour nous.

Reine des Anges, priez pour nous.
Reine des Patriarches, priez pour nous.
Reine des Prophètes, priez pour nous.
Reine des Apôtres, priez pour nous.
Reine des Martyrs, priez pour nous.
Reine des Confesseurs, priez pour nous.
Reine des Vierges, priez pour nous.
Reine de tous les Saints, priez pour nous.
Reine conçue sans le péché originel, priez pour nous.
Reine élevée aux Cieux, priez pour nous.
Reine du très Saint Rosaire, priez pour nous.
Reine de la paix, priez pour nous.

Agneau de Dieu, qui enlevez les péchés du monde, pardonnez-nous, Seigneur.
Agneau de Dieu, qui enlevez les péchés du monde, exaucez-nous, Seigneur.
Agneau de Dieu, qui enlevez les péchés du monde, ayez pitié de nous, Seigneur

Priez pour nous, Sainte Mère de Dieu, afin que nous devenions dignes des promesses de Jésus-Christ.

Prions : Accordez-nous, nous vous en prions, Seigneur notre Dieu, à nous vos serviteurs, la grâce de jouir constamment de la santé de l’âme et du corps, et, par la glorieuse intercession de la bienheureuse Marie, toujours Vierge, d’être délivrés de la tristesse de la vie présente et de goûter l’éternelle félicité. Par Jésus-Christ Notre-Seigneur. Amen.

Jour 18 de 33: Connaissance de soi

DEUXIÈME PÉRIODE : Trois semaines consacrées à se remplir de Jésus-Christ par la Sainte Vierge

Première semaine (Jours 13 à 19): Sujet de la semaine : Connaissance de soi

Démarche : Prières, examens/réflexions, actes de renoncement à sa propre volonté, de repentir de ses fautes, de mépris de soi-même… le tout aux pieds de Marie. Car c’est d’elle que nous espérons la lumière dont nous avons besoins pour se connaître soi-même. Et c’est près d’elle que nous serons capable de mesurer l’abîme de nos misères sans désespérer (Et donc, non pas d’abord de me regarder, de me triturer, mais de me laisser regarder, de me mettre sous le regard aimant de Jésus et de Marie.).

« Pendant la première semaine, dit saint L.-M. de Montfort, ils emploieront toutes leurs oraisons et actions de piété à demander la connaissance d’eux-mêmes, et la contrition de leurs péchés : et ils feront tout en esprit d’humilité ».

Durant cette semaine, nous regarderons moins l’opposition entre l’esprit de Jésus et le nôtre, que l’état misérable où le péché nous a réduit. D’autre part, la « Vraie dévotion » étant une voie facile, courte, sûre et parfaite pour arriver à l’union avec Notre-Seigneur, but de la vie chrétienne, nous devons savoir que nous n’entrerions pas sérieusement dans cette magnifique voie d’amour surnaturel, si nous n’étions fortement convaincus de notre misère et de notre impuissance. Or, comment y arriver sans la connaissance de nous-mêmes ?

 

Seq S Evangelii sec Lucam

Cap XVII

Christ teaching his disciples. JJ Tissot. Brooklyn Museum.

[1] Et ait ad discipulos suos : Impossibile est ut non veniant scandala : vae autem illi per quem veniunt. [2] Utilius est illi si lapis molaris imponatur circa collum ejus, et projiciatur in mare quam ut scandalizet unum de pusillis istis. [3] Attendite vobis : Si peccaverit in te frater tuus, increpa illum : et si poenitentiam egerit, dimitte illi. [4] Et si septies in die peccaverit in te, et septies in die conversus fuerit ad te, dicens : Poenitet me, dimitte illi.

[5] Et dixerunt apostoli Domino : Adauge nobis fidem.[6] Dixit autem Dominus : Si habueritis fidem sicut granum sinapis, dicetis huic arbori moro : Eradicare, et transplantare in mare, et obediet vobis. [7] Quis autem vestrum habens servum arantem aut pascentem, qui regresso de agro dicat illi : Statim transi, recumbe : [8] et non dicat ei : Para quod coenem, et praecinge te, et ministra mihi donec manducem, et bibam, et post haec tu manducabis, et bibes? [9] Numquid gratiam habet servo illi, quia fecit quae ei imperaverat? [10] non puto. Sic et vos cum feceritis omnia quae praecepta sunt vobis, dicite : Servi inutiles sumus : quod debuimus facere, fecimus.

Latin vocab

adauge: end pers sing imperat act, from ăd-augĕo, xi, ctum, 2, v. a., to make greater by adding to, to increase, augment.
increpa: 2nd pers sing imperat act, from increpō, uī, itus, rarely āvī, ātus, 1, n. and a. To exclaim loudly against a person, to blame or upbraid loudly, to chide, rebuke, reprove.
molāris, is, m.: a millstone; (meton.), a huge stone. mŏlāris, e, adj. mola, of or belonging to a mill or to grinding, mill-.
mōrus, i, f., = μῶρα or μορέα, Ia mulberry-tree: mōrus, a, um, adj., = μωρός, foolish, silly
pusillis: dat plur masc, from pŭsillus, a, um, adj. dim. [pusus], very little, very small, petty, insignificant  
scandala: nom plur neut from scandălum, i, n., = σκάνδαλον, that which causes one to stumble, a stumblingblock (eccl. Lat.).an inducement to sin, a temptation, cause of offence,
scandălizo, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a., = σκανδαλιζω to cause to stumble, tempt to evil (eccl. Lat.)
sinapis:   sinapi, ~is f [CL < σίναπι], ~ium 1 plant of the mustard family

Gospel: St Luke

Chapter 17

[1] And he said to his disciples: It is impossible that scandals should not come: but woe to him through whom they come. [2] It were better for him, that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should scandalize one of these little ones. [3] Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother sin against thee, reprove him: and if he do penance, forgive him. [4] And if he sin against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day be converted unto thee, saying, I repent; forgive him.

[5] And the apostles said to the Lord: Increase our faith.

[6] And the Lord said: If you had faith like to a grain of mustard seed, you might say to this mulberry tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou transplanted into the sea: and it would obey you. [7] But which of you having a servant ploughing, or feeding cattle, will say to him, when he is come from the field: Immediately go, sit down to meat: [8] And will not rather say to him: Make ready my supper, and gird thyself, and serve me, whilst I eat and drink, and afterwards thou shalt eat and drink? [9] Doth he thank that servant, for doing the things which he commanded him? [10] I think not. So you also, when you shall have done all these things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which we ought to do.

Notes

Catena aurea: Verses 1-4

BEDE; This is spoken according to the custom of the province of Palestine; for among the ancient Jews the punishment of those who were guilty of the greater crimes was that they should be sunk into the deep with a stone tied to them ; and in truth it were better for a guilty man to finish his bodily life by a punishment however barbarous, yet temporal, than for his innocent brother to deserve the eternal death of his soul. Now he who can be offended is rightly called a little one; for he who is great, whatsoever he is witness of; and how great soever his sufferings, swerves not from the faith. As far then as we can without sin, we ought to avoid giving offense to our neighbors. But if an offense is taken at the truth, it is better to let the offense be, than that truth should be abandoned.

AMBROSE; That there might neither be hard-wrung pardon, nor a too easy forgiveness, neither a harsh upbraiding, to dishearten, nor an overlooking of faults, to invite to sin; therefore it is said in another place, Tell him his fault between him and you alone. For better is a friendly correction, than a quarrelsome accusation. The one strikes shame into a man, the other moves his indignation. He who is admonished will more likely be saved, because he fears to he destroyed. For it is well that he who is corrected should believe you to be rather his friend than his enemy. For we have readily give ear to counsel than yield to injury. Fear us a weak preserver of consistency, but shame is an excellent master of duty. For he who fears is restrained, not amended. But He has well said, If he trespass against you. For it is not the same thing to shun against God and to sin against man.

BEDE; But we must mark, that He does not bid us forgive every one who sins, but him only who repents of his sins. For by taking this course we may avoid offenses, hurting no one, correcting the sinner with a righteous zeal, extending the bowels of mercy to the penitent.

BEDE; By using the number seven He assigns no bound to the giving of pardon, but commands us either to forgive all sins, or always to forgive the penitent. For by seven the whole of any thing or time is frequently represented.
  

Cornelius a Lapide: Verses 5-10

[5] Et dixerunt apostoli Domino : Adauge nobis fidem.Ver. 5.—And the Apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith. 
The Apostles said this, when, from their little faith, they had been unable to cast out the devil from the lunatic. They then asked for greater faith, as appears from the above words compared with those of S. Matt. xvii. 19, &c., for Christ made the same reply in each place, “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed you would move mountains.”

Ver. 6.—If ye had faith. “This indeed,” says S. Chrysostom, “is small in quantity but great in power. He means that the least portion of faith can do great things.” And Bede, “Perfect faith is a grain of mustard seed: in appearance it is small, in the heart it is fervent.”

You would say unto this sycamine tree (a mulberry tree (moro) close at hand, to which Christ pointed). Be thou rooted up and be thou east into the sea, and it would have obeyed you.—For mulberry tree, Matt. xvii. 20 has mountain. Christ therefore said both. It is called the mulberry tree allegorically, as if μώζος (foolish); that is by antithesis, because it is the wisest of trees; not putting forth its leaves till the frost is over, lest they should be cut off. The mulberry signifies the gospel of the cross of Christ, which to the Gentiles appears foolishness, but to the faithful is “the power of God and the wisdom of God,” 1. Cor. i. 24. Hence S. Augustine (Lib. II, Quæst. Evan.: quæst. 39): “Let those servants speak through the grain of mustard seed, to this mulberry tree; that is, to the gospel of the cross of Christ through the blood-coloured apples hanging like wounds on that tree which is to give food to the nations. Let them say that it is rooted up by the unbelief of the Jews, and transferred to the sea of the Gentiles and planted there, for by this home service they will minister to the hungering and thirsting Lord.” So too Bede. “The mulberry tree,” he says, “by the blood colour of the fruit and shoots, is the gospel of the cross of Christ, which, through the faith of the Apostles, when it was held as it were in the stem of its kind, was rooted up from the Jews, and planted in the sea of the Gentiles.” The Gloss adds, “The leaves of the mulberry, offered to the serpent, bring death upon him, as the word of the cross destroys all hurtful and venomous things of the soul.” On the other hand, SS. Ambrose and Chrysostom and the Gloss understand by the mulberry tree, the devil, whom the faith of Christ casts out and sends into hell. “The fruit of the mulberry, tree,” says S. Ambrose, “is firstly white, when in flower, when fully blown red, and when ripe it becomes black. The devil also, from the white flower of his angelic nature and power, when cast out by his reddening wickedness, grew horrible from the foul odour of sin. Behold Christ saying to the mulberry tree, ‘Be thou rooted up and cast into the sea;’ when He cast the Legion out of the man, He permitted them to enter into the swine which, being driven by the spirit of the devils, cast themselves into the sea.”

Hear also S. Chrysostom in the Catena: “As the mulberry feeds worms (silkworms) which spin silk from its leaves, so does the devil, from thoughts springing from those leaves, nourish in us an undying worm; but faith has power to root this tree out of our souls, and to plunge it into hell.”

Lastly, the Arabic for the mulberry has “sycamine,” or “sycamore,” of which, chap. xix. 4. Christ, moreover, exalts the power of faith, that He might implant in the Apostles an additional desire of increasing its keenness, and of praying for its gift to them; for He who gave to men the mind and desire of praying, wished also to increase the faith of those who prayed. Hence He subsequently increased their faith, especially when He sent the Holy Spirit upon them at Pentecost. Hence too, by the strength of their excelling faith, they wrought so great wonders and miracles, converting the whole world; and, lest they should grow proud of such deeds, and become vainglorious, Christ, by the following Parable, teaches them to be humble-minded, and to say, “we are unprofitable servants.”

Ver. 7.—But who is there of you, having a servant ploughing or keeping sheep. 

Christ represses the vainglory of the Apostles, lest, when by their exalted faith they had performed wonderful and stupendous acts, they might glory in them and not ascribe to God, whose it is, the honour. “He,” says Euthymius,” who attains the result, plucks up the effect of boasting. The servant was not a slave as the heretics say, but one who was hired, and who, in addition to the service agreed upon or ordered by his master, might perform another for him to which he was not bound.” Here observe that the heretics abuse this passage to the opposing of good works, but wrongly. For this servant, as clearly appears, truly deserved the daily payment due to him by agreement, but did not deserve that his master should render him thanks; for masters are not accustomed to bestow thanks upon those whom they pay for their labour. Thanks are only given to assistance rendered gratuitously and without payment. We who are the servants of God, through the works ordered by Him, if we offer them, merit eternal life, as the hired servant who has laboured throughout the day deserves his daily payment. Mark ix. 41; Matt. x. 41; Apoc. xi. 18. For although our works, as far as they are ours, are of little or no value, yet so far as they flow from the grace of Christ, and are therefore the works of Christ, our head, they are of great worth and desert, and do merit, as such, eternal glory; for grace is the seed of glory; especially as God, of His immeasurable goodness, has been pleased to promise to them, as done by the grace of Christ, eternal glory.

Vers. 8, 9.—And will not rather say unto him. That is, I suppose, because he does not owe thanks to his servants. “For it is incumbent upon such an one to do his master’s will,” says Theophylact. “So there is laid upon us,” as Bede says, “the necessity of doing all things that God has commanded, and by fresh diligence, of always increasing our former services.” The meaning is, as S. Ambrose says, “As we not only do not say to our servant, Take thy repose (recumbe), but require of him a further service, and give him no thanks, so neither does the Lord permit in us one only work, for all while living ought to work always. Acknowledge we ourselves therefore to be servants, lending very many acts of obedience on interest. Nor should we exalt ourselves, because we are called the sons of God. Grace is to be acknowledged, but nature is not to be passed over (ignoranda), nor should we boast ourselves, if we have served well in that which we ought to do. The sun obeys, the moon submits, the angels serve.”

Ver. 10.—Even so ye also. “Woe unto us if we do it not,” says S. Bernard in his fourth sermon on Psalm xv. So the Apostle, 1 Cor. ix. 16, “Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel,” because God has commanded me to do so.

The heretics object, “Christ here calls His faithful, useless servants, therefore by their merits they deserve nothing, nay, they do nothing good, because they contribute nothing useful ” I .answer, Their first premiss is false, for Christ does not call His own servants unprofitable, nay, in Matt. xxv. 23, He says, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” &c. But He warns each one of the faithful to call himself unprofitable, to the avoidance of vainglory, and to the greater increase of humility and equally so of their merit, as say SS. Ambrose, Chrysostom, Theophylact, Bede, and others, passim; and that, in a sense not false and pretended but true and sincere. Because the faithful servant, in merely fulfilling the precepts of God, does nothing peculiar or remarkable, but only that which by the law of God he ought to do, and to which he was bound under the penalty of sin. He therefore both is, and is called, unprofitable, because he has fulfilled the commandments alone, but has omitted the counsels and works of supererogation, as Christ Himself explains: “All things that are commanded,” and “what we ought to do we have done.” He therefore gains only the ordinary reward of such observance of His commands; but to that exceptional glory, and crown, and aureole of the observance of the Evangelical counsels he does not attain; as says S. Paul, whose words I will shortly cite. Again, says S. Chrysostom, “When we say, with humility, we are unprofitable servants,” Christ says, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

S. Bernard again, in his treatise de Præcept et Dispens., thus explains the matter, “We are unprofitable servants, we have done what we ought;” i.e. If you are content with the mere precept and traditions of the law, and do not give yourselves up to the counsels and persuasions of perfection, you are free indeed from debt, but you are not praiseworthy for merit; you have escaped punishment, you have not gained the crown.

It is this which S. Paul, when preaching the Gospel freely, and when he might have required food from the faithful, 1 Cor. ix. 15, calls his glory.

Secondly, Even S. Paul himself, the other Apostles, and the Religious, in observing not only the precepts but also the counsels of Christ, can truly say, “We are unprofitable servants: we have done what we ought to do.” Firstly, because we owe to God our souls, our bodies, our lives, and all that we have, which, whatever good we do, we can never pay back. This debt is infinite and manifold, but it is especially fourfold. 

1. First, there is the debt of creation, for as we were created out of nothing by God, the whole that we are we owe to God our Creator. Thus Plato in his Phædo, “Man is one of the possessions of God.” “Behold,” says S. Bernard on “Our Fourfold Debt,” “He is at the door who made the heavens and the earth. He is thy Creator and thou art His creature: thou art the end of His work.” 
2. The second is the debt of emption and redemption, for Christ redeemed us from death and hell at the price of His own blood. We are therefore slaves of purchase, nay, “the purchased servants of Christ,” 1 Cor. vi. 20.  S. Bernard, in the sermon already cited: “Firstly, we owe all our lives to Christ Jesus, for He laid down His life for us, and endured bitter torments, that we might not have to undergo eternal ones.” He sums up thus: “When I give to Him all that I am, all that I can do, is not this as a star to the sun, a drop to the river, a stone to the mountain, a grain to the heap?” So in his tract, De Deo dilig.: “If I owe my whole self for my first creation, what shall I add for my second, and that brought about as it was? For a second creation is not effected as easily as a first. He who made me once and only by a word, in creating me a second time spoke many words and did wonderful things and endured hard things, and not only hard but even undeserved things. In the first creation He gave me to myself, in the second He gave Himself to me, and when He gave Himself to me He restored me to myself. Given, then, and restored, I owe myself for myself, and I have a double debt. What reward shall I give to God for Himself, for if I were to weigh myself a thousand times, what am I to God?” 
3. The third debt is, that renouncing Satan in our baptism we have given ourselves wholly over to the obedience of Christ; He in regenerating us in Himself has made us new men, and divine, who are the Temple of God and of the Holy Ghost. 
4. The fourth is that He is our beginning and final end, and He to whom we ought to direct all our actions. For He has promised us the happiness of heaven, and everlasting glory, which is nothing else than the vision and fruition of God. See Jerome (Platus, Book I., On the Grace or a Religious State, chapters iii. iv.), where he recounts seven titles of our service, on account of which we are not of our own right, but are God’s and Christ’s.

To these add that we are unprofitable servants in respect of God; for, to God who is immense, most rich, and most blessed, we can add no good thing. Hence S. Augustine on Psalm xxxix. “He possesses thee that thou mayest possess Him. Thou wilt be His land, Thou wilt be His house. He possesses thee, He is possessed by thee, that He may profit thee. Canst thou profit Him in any way? For I said to the Lord, ‘Thou art my God, therefore shall I want no good thing.’”

Again, we are unprofitable, because we sin in many things, and many of our words are infected by negligence or vainglory or some other fault. In addition to this, our actions, if looked upon with strictness, as they proceed from men, are without value to the meriting of the grace and glory of God: according to the Apostle, Rom. viii. 18. So S. Augustine, whose words I will shortly produce. Lastly, all our actions derive the dignity of worth and merit from the grace and promise of God, and are useful to ourselves, not to Him. Hence the Arabic reads, “We are indeed useless servants, for we have done that which was our interest to do.” So Euthymius, S. Cyril in the Catena, and others.

And thus did those monks of the Alps to whom S. Bernard wrote his 152d Epistle; “You account yourselves unprofitable, and you have been found to be humble. To act rightly, and yet to think themselves without value, is found in few, and therefore many admire it. This I say, this assuredly makes you, from illustrious, even more illustrious; from holy, more holy; and wherever this report is published it fills all things with the odour of sweetness;” for, as the same author says in his 42d Sermon on Canticles, “Humility, like the ointment of spikenard, scatters its sweet scent, growing warm in love, flourishing in devotion, smelling pleasantly to the senses of others.”

S. Augustine indeed, for useless servants (inutiles) reads super-vacui, men at leisure, who after their labour look for repose; that eternal reward and glory which far surpass and exceed all their toil. “Nothing remains for us to do: we have finished our trial, there awaits us a crown of righteousness. We may say all things of that ineffable perfruition, and the more all things can be said the less can anything be said worthily; for it is the light of the illuminator, the repose of the toiler, the country of the returned wanderer, the food of the needy, the crown of the conqueror, whatever the temporal goods of unbelievers the holiness of the sons of God will find others more true, and such as will remain in the Creator to all eternity.” Hence the conclusion of Theophylact, “If when we have done all things, we ought not even then to have any lofty thoughts; how deeply do we sin when we do not perform the greatest part of the commandments of God, and yet are praised not the less.”

Évangile : Luc 17 :1-10

(De ceux qui s’égarent) Jésus disait à ses disciples : « Il est inévitable que surviennent des scandales, des occasions de chute ; mais malheureux celui par qui cela arrive ! Il vaut mieux qu’on lui attache au cou une meule en pierre et qu’on le précipite à la mer, plutôt qu’il ne soit une occasion de chute pour un seul des petits que voilà.

(De la correction fraternelle) Prenez garde à vous-mêmes ! Si ton frère a commis un péché, fais-lui de vifs reproches, et, s’il se repent, pardonne-lui. Même si sept fois par jour il commet un péché contre toi, et que sept fois de suite il revienne à toi en disant : “Je me repens”, tu lui pardonneras. »

(Le pouvoir de la foi) Les Apôtres dirent au Seigneur : « Augmente en nous la foi ! » Le Seigneur répondit : « Si vous aviez de la foi, gros comme une graine de moutarde, vous auriez dit à l’arbre que voici : “Déracine-toi et va te planter dans la mer”, et il vous aurait obéi.

(Humble service)« Lequel d’entre vous, quand son serviteur aura labouré ou gardé les bêtes, lui dira à son retour des champs : “Viens vite prendre place à table” ? Ne lui dira-t-il pas plutôt : “Prépare-moi à dîner, mets-toi en tenue pour me servir, le temps que je mange et boive. Ensuite tu mangeras et boiras à ton tour” ? Va-t-il être reconnaissant envers ce serviteur d’avoir exécuté ses ordres ? De même vous aussi, quand vous aurez exécuté tout ce qui vous a été ordonné, dites : “Nous sommes de simples serviteurs : nous n’avons fait que notre devoir.” »

De Imitatione Christi

Depuis longtemps je me nourrissais de «la pure farine» contenue dans l'Imitation, c'était le seul livre qui me fît du bien, car je n'avais pas encore trouvé les trésors cachés dans l'Evangile. Je savais par coeur presque tous les chapitres de ma chère Imitation, ce petit livre ne me quittait jamais ; en été, je le portais dans ma poche, en hiver, dans mon manchon, aussi était-il devenu traditionnel ; chez ma Tante on s'en amusait beaucoup et l'ouvrant au hasard, on me faisait réciter le chapitre qui se trouvait devant les yeux.

For  a  long  time  I  nourished  my  spiritual  life  with  the  "fine  flour" contained  in  the Imitation  of  Christ. It  was  the  only  book  which  did  me good,  for  I  had  not  yet  discovered the  treasures  hidden  in  the  Holy  Gospels.  I knew by heart nearly every chapter in my beloved 'Imitation'. The little volume never left my side. In summer, I kept it in my pocket; in winter, it was in my muff. My aunt used to love turning to a page at random and asking me to recite by heart the chapter she had chanced upon.

From Chapter V of the Autobiography of a Soul, by Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. See here on our sister blog and here for copies of her manuscripts.

Liber Tértius

De intérna consolatióne

Cap. 47. Quod ómnia grávia pro ætérna vita sunt toleránda

DOMINUS. Labores breves sunt

1. Fili, non te frangant labóres quos assumpsísti propter me, nec tribulatiónes te dejíciant usquequáque : sed mea promíssio in omni evéntu te róboret, et consolétur. Ego suffíciens sum ad reddéndum supra omnem modum et mensúram. Non diu hic laborábis, nec semper graváberis dolóribus. Exspécta paulísper, et vidébis célerem finem malórum. Véniet una hora, quando cessábit omnis labor et tumúltus. Módicum est et breve omne, quod transit cum témpore.

Latin vocab

frangō, frēgī, frāctus, 3, a.: to break; crush, grind; dishearten, discourage; baffle; weaken, impair, ruin, destroy
gravaberis: 2nd pers sing fut indic passive, from grăvo, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. gravis.To charge with a load, to load, burden, weigh down, oppress 
modum: modus , ī, m.: a method; mode, manner, way; a measure, of song, measure, strain, note; bound, limit, end
paulisper (paull-), adv. paulumper, for a little while, for a short time
roboret: 3rd pers sing pres subj active, from rōbŏro, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a. id., to make strong; to strengthen, invigorate, confirm 
usque quāque adv (less correctly as one word, usquequaque), in every thing, on every occasion

Book 3 - On inward consolation

Chapter XLVII - That all troubles are to be endured for the sake of eternal life

1. My Son, let not the labours which thou hast undertaken for Me break thee down, nor let tribulations cast thee down in any wise, but let my promise strengthen and comfort thee in every event. I am sufficient to reward thee above all measure and extent. Not long shalt thou labour here, not always be weighed down with sorrows. Wait yet a little while, and thou shalt see a speedy end of thine evils. An hour shall come when all labour and confusion shall cease. Little and short is all that passeth away with time.

ET – Imitation du Christ : Livre 3 chapitre 47 :1

Qu’il faut être prêt à souffrir pour la vie éternelle tout ce qu’il y a de plus pénible

Mon fils, que les travaux que vous avez entrepris pour moi ne brisent pas votre courage, et que les afflictions ne vous abattent pas entièrement; mais qu’en tout ce qui arrive, ma promesse vous console et vous fortifie. Je suis assez puissant pour vous récompenser au-delà de toutes bornes et de toute mesure. Vous ne serez pas longtemps ici dans le travail, ni toujours chargé de douleurs. Attendez un peu et vous verrez promptement la fin de vos maux.

Jour 17 de 33: Connaissance de soi

DEUXIÈME PÉRIODE : Trois semaines consacrées à se remplir de Jésus-Christ par la Sainte Vierge

Première semaine (Jours 13 à 19): Sujet de la semaine : Connaissance de soi

Démarche : Prières, examens/réflexions, actes de renoncement à sa propre volonté, de repentir de ses fautes, de mépris de soi-même… le tout aux pieds de Marie. Car c’est d’elle que nous espérons la lumière dont nous avons besoins pour se connaître soi-même. Et c’est près d’elle que nous serons capable de mesurer l’abîme de nos misères sans désespérer (Et donc, non pas d’abord de me regarder, de me triturer, mais de me laisser regarder, de me mettre sous le regard aimant de Jésus et de Marie.).

« Pendant la première semaine, dit saint L.-M. de Montfort, ils emploieront toutes leurs oraisons et actions de piété à demander la connaissance d’eux-mêmes, et la contrition de leurs péchés : et ils feront tout en esprit d’humilité ».

Durant cette semaine, nous regarderons moins l’opposition entre l’esprit de Jésus et le nôtre, que l’état misérable où le péché nous a réduit. D’autre part, la « Vraie dévotion » étant une voie facile, courte, sûre et parfaite pour arriver à l’union avec Notre-Seigneur, but de la vie chrétienne, nous devons savoir que nous n’entrerions pas sérieusement dans cette magnifique voie d’amour surnaturel, si nous n’étions fortement convaincus de notre misère et de notre impuissance. Or, comment y arriver sans la connaissance de nous-mêmes ?

Readings

De Imitatione Christi

Depuis longtemps je me nourrissais de «la pure farine» contenue dans l'Imitation, c'était le seul livre qui me fît du bien, car je n'avais pas encore trouvé les trésors cachés dans l'Evangile. Je savais par coeur presque tous les chapitres de ma chère Imitation, ce petit livre ne me quittait jamais ; en été, je le portais dans ma poche, en hiver, dans mon manchon, aussi était-il devenu traditionnel ; chez ma Tante on s'en amusait beaucoup et l'ouvrant au hasard, on me faisait réciter le chapitre qui se trouvait devant les yeux.

For  a  long  time  I  nourished  my  spiritual  life  with  the  "fine  flour" contained  in  the Imitation  of  Christ. It  was  the  only  book  which  did  me good,  for  I  had  not  yet  discovered the  treasures  hidden  in  the  Holy  Gospels.  I knew by heart nearly every chapter in my beloved 'Imitation'. The little volume never left my side. In summer, I kept it in my pocket; in winter, it was in my muff. My aunt used to love turning to a page at random and asking me to recite by heart the chapter she had chanced upon.

From Chapter V of the Autobiography of a Soul, by Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. See here on our sister blog and here for copies of her manuscripts.

Liber Primus

Admonitiónes ad Vitam spirituálem útiles

Cap. 24. De judício et poenis peccatórum

1. In ómnibus rebus réspice finem, et quáliter ante distríctum stabis júdicem, cui nihil est occúltum, qui munéribus non placátur, nec excusatiónes récipit; sed quod justum est, judicábit. O misérrime et insípiens peccátor, quid respondébis Deo, ómnia mala sciénti; qui intérdum times vultum hóminis iráti? Ut quid non próvides tibi in judícii die? Quando nemo póterit per álium excusári vel deféndi; sed unusquísque suffíciens onus suum portábit sibi ipsi. Nunc labor tuus est fructuósus, fletus acceptábilis, gémitus exaudíbilis, dolor satisfactórius et purgatívus.

Book I - Admonitions profitable for the spiritual life

Chapter XXIV - Of the judgment and punishment of the wicked

In all that thou doest, remember the end, and how thou wilt stand before a strict judge, from whom nothing is hid, who is not bribed with gifts, nor accepteth excuses, but will judge righteous judgment. O most miserable and foolish sinner, who art sometimes in fear of the countenance of an angry man, what wilt thou answer to God, who knoweth all thy misdeeds? Why dost thou not provide for thyself against the day of judgment, when no man shall be able to be excused or defended by means of another, but each one shall bear his burden himself alone? Now doth thy labour bring forth fruit, now is thy weeping acceptable, thy groaning heard, thy sorrow well pleasing to God, and cleansing to thy soul.

Livre 1 chapitre 24 :1

Du jugement et des peines des pécheurs

En toutes choses regardez la fin, et reportez-vous au jour où vous serez là, debout devant le Juge sévère à qui rien n’est caché, qu’on n’apaise point par des présents, qui ne reçoit point d’excuses, mais qui jugera selon la justice. Pécheur misérable et insensé ! que répondrez-vous à Dieu, qui sait tous vos crimes, vous qui tremblez quelquefois à l’aspect d’un homme irrité ? Par quel étrange oubli de vous-même vous en allez-vous, sans rien prévoir, vers ce jour où nul ne pourra être excusé ni défendu par un autre, mais où chacun sera pour soi un fardeau assez pesant ? Maintenant votre travail produit son fruit: vos larmes sont agréées, vos gémissements écoutés, votre douleur satisfait à Dieu et purifie votre âme.

Seq S Evangilii sec Lucam

Cap XVI

[1] Dicebat autem et ad discipulos suos : Homo quidam erat dives, qui habebat villicum : et hic diffamatus est apud illum quasi dissipasset bona ipsius. [2] Et vocavit illum, et ait illi : Quid hoc audio de te? redde rationem villicationis tuae : jam enim non poteris villicare. [3] Ait autem villicus intra se : Quid faciam? quia dominus meus aufert a me villicationem. Fodere non valeo, mendicare erubesco. [4] Scio quid faciam, ut, cum amotus fuero a villicatione, recipiant me in domos suas. [5] Convocatis itaque singulis debitoribus domini sui, dicebat primo : Quantum debes domino meo? [6] At ille dixit : Centum cados olei. Dixitque illi : Accipe cautionem tuam : et sede cito, scribe quinquaginta. [7] Deinde alii dixit : Tu vero quantum debes? Qui ait : Centum coros tritici. Ait illi : Accipe litteras tuas, et scribe octoginta. [8] Et laudavit dominus villicum iniquitatis, quia prudenter fecisset : quia filii hujus saeculi prudentiores filiis lucis in generatione sua sunt.

Notes 

Cornelius a Lapide: Commentary

[1] Dicebat autem et ad discipulos suos : Homo quidam erat dives, qui habebat villicum : et hic diffamatus est apud illum quasi dissipasset bona ipsius.

Having rebuked in three parables those who murmured because He received penitents, Christ now adds a fourth and fifth on almsgiving and frugality, for the proud and avaricious Pharisees refused both pardon to the penitent, and relief to those who were in want. Gloss.

ad discipulos: i.e. His hearers, those who were His followers, although they had not given up all, as the Apostles.

villicum: A steward, οι̉κονόμος, one who had the management of his master’s property, and was answerable for the letting of his land.

Hence we learn “that we are not masters of what we possess, but rather stewards of that which is another’s.” S. Ambrose and Theophylact.

For although as regards men we are the absolute masters of our own possessions, yet with respect to God, who is Lord over all, we are but stewards. Because, whatever we possess was given us for our own moderate use and for the relief of our poorer brethren, and in the day of judgment we shall have to render a strict account of our stewardship.

So S. Paul says, “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Cor. iv. 2.
For all our gifts and endowments are not our own, but belong to God who gave them. Hence we are bound to use them not for our own pleasure, but according to His will. Thou hast genius, a keen judgment, a retentive memory, wisdom, eloquence, or the like! Forget not that thou art a steward of these gifts, not a master. Remember that thou hast to give an account of their use, and take heed to use them to the honour and glory of God. Hear S. Chrysostom, “There is an erroneous opinion that all the good things of this life which we possess are our own, and that we are lords over them. But we are as it were guests and strangers, whose departure draweth nigh, and dispensers of another’s bounty. We ought therefore to assume the humility and modesty of a steward, for nothing is our own, but all things are the gift of God.”

diffamatus est:Was accused, διεβλήθθ, denounced, Arabic. Hence the devil διάβολος, is called the “accuser” (Rev. xii. 10), because he accuses us before God. “We are accused,” says the Interlinear, “not only when we do evil, but when we omit to do good.” For a steward ought to omit nothing which concerns his own duty or his master’s good.

dissipasset bona ipsius: Had wasted his goods, i.e. by carelessness and riotous living.

[2] Et vocavit illum, et ait illi : Quid hoc audio de te? redde rationem villicationis tuae : jam enim non poteris villicare. And he called him, and said unto him,. . . give an account of thy stewardship, i.e. of how much thou hast received and how thou hast expended it, for thou mayest be no longer steward.

So Christ saith, unto every one in the hour of death, “Give an account of thy stewardship. Give an account of thy life, of thy goods, and of thy talents, whether thou hast used them to promote the glory of God and the salvation of thyself and thy fellow-men.”

Climacus relates that a monk, who was afterwards abbot, saw in a dream, the first night he entered the monastery, certain men who demanded of him the payment of one hundred pounds of gold. Whereupon for the space of three years he gave himself up to obedience and mortification, and at the end of that time was told that ten pounds had been subtracted from his debt. For thirteen years longer he continued to practise still greater austerities, and then messengers were sent from God to say that all his debt was forgiven. The same writer has also something terrible to say about the abbot Stephen, who had for forty years lived a holy life of fasting and prayer. This man, the day before he died, fell into a trance, and was heard as if in colloquy with an unseen judge, denying at one time the accusations against him, at another time pleading guilty to the charges, and praying for mercy. Terrible indeed was the spectacle of this invisible and stern judgment.

[3] Ait autem villicus intra se : Quid faciam? quia dominus meus aufert a me villicationem. Fodere non valeo, mendicare erubesco. Ver. 3.—Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do?
The steward acknowledges the justice of the accusation. He had wasted his master’s goods, henceforward he must labour or beg for his living. The one thing he was unable, and the other he was ashamed to do. In his distress, he knows not which way to turn. Truly, St. Chrysostom says, “A slothful life is powerless in action.” Symbolically, when life is past, no compunction can, as it were by digging, prepare the soul for fruit; whilst to beg, after the manner of the foolish virgins, is not only disturbing, but vain and useless. Gloss.

[4] Scio quid faciam, ut, cum amotus fuero a villicatione, recipiant me in domos suas. Ver. 4.—I am resolved what to do, &c. 1 will give each one of my lord’s debtors a bond to show that they owe less than they are actually indebted, so that in return for my kindness and dishonesty, they may entertain me when I am deprived of my stewardship.

[5] Convocatis itaque singulis debitoribus domini sui, dicebat primo : Quantum debes domino meo? [6] At ille dixit : Centum cados olei. Dixitque illi : Accipe cautionem tuam : et sede cito, scribe quinquaginta.Vers. 5 and 6.—How much owest thou unto my Lord? And he said, an hundred measures of oil. Greek βάτος, in the Vulgate cadus, the tenth part of an homer. Levit. xxvii. 16, and Ezek. xlv. II.

And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fourscore. Greek γζάμμα, i.e. “cautio” or bond, or as the Vulgate renders it “obligatio.” The meaning is, “Take back thy bond, wherein thou didst acknowledge that thou owest one hundred measures of oil. Tear it up and write another, confessing to a debt of fifty only, and divide the other fifty between me and thee.”

[7] Deinde alii dixit : Tu vero quantum debes? Qui ait : Centum coros tritici. Ait illi : Accipe litteras tuas, et scribe octoginta.Ver. 7.—Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. The κόζος which was the same size as the homer, contained ten ephahs. See Ezek. xlv. II.

“To me,” says S. Augustine (Quæst. Evang. Lib. ii 34), “the meaning of the passage seems this; that whatever the Jews do for the priests and Levites, should be more liberally provided for in the Church; that whereas they give a tenth, Christians should give a half, as Zaccheus gave, not of his crops, but of his goods; or at least that they should give two tenths, and thus exceed the payments of the Jews.”

[8] Et laudavit dominus villicum iniquitatis, quia prudenter fecisset : quia filii hujus saeculi prudentiores filiis lucis in generatione sua sunt. Ver. 8.—And the lord commended the unjust steward because he had done wisely.
The landlord, not the Lord Jesus, as Erasmus holds. The lord praised not the action, for it was dishonest, but the prudence, the cunning craft of the steward, just as we often admire, not indeed a crime, but the cleverness shown in contriving it.

The children of this world are in their generation, i.e. after their kind, in worldly matters, or as Himmel understands it, amongst their fellow-men, wiser than the children of light, i.e. than those who are followers of Christ. Very wisely has some one said, “In worldly matters we are philosophers, as to our spiritual affairs, fools; in earthly things we are lynx-eyed, but in heavenly we are moles.”

The children of this world, says S. Augustine (Lib. ii. de Genesi) are wiser in providing for their future; and very naturally so, because the desire of earthly pleasure and enjoyment is strong in man, but the aspirations of his soul are blunted and weakened, partly because of the body, partly from love of earthly things. Hence those that are led by the flesh are more active and energetic than those who are led by the spirit, inasmuch as spiritual things, being invisible, produce but little effect on the minds of men.

The parable was directed against the avarice of the Pharisees. We are taught by it to use our riches not for our own selfish ends, but for the relief of our poorer brethren. For Christ bids us all remember that we are but stewards of God’s good gifts, and therefore bound to use them so that we may give a good account of our stewardship, and obtain our due reward. In this sense the unjust steward is held up as an example, and not because of his injustice and fraud.

Hence S. Augustine, as already referred to, considers that Christ reasons thus, “If this steward could so wisely provide for this life, much more ought we to be solicitous for the life to come.” And again, “If this steward, unjust as he proved himself to be, was praised for his wisdom, much more shall we receive praise of God, if by our almsgiving we injure none, but benefit many.” And he goes on to say, “If a wrongdoer received praise from his lord, how much more pleasing are they to the Lord God, who do all in accordance with His will. So from the parable of the unjust judge Christ took occasion to speak of God as judge, although between the two no comparison was possible.”

We learn then from this parable:

1. That those who are possessed of riches, or any other gift of God, such as health, intellect, and the like, are but stewards of His bounty.
2. That every one is bound to use his possessions to the honour and glory of God.
3. And that every one at the day of judgment will have to give account, not only for the sins which he has committed, but also for duties which he has neglected to perform. Such is the general meaning of the parable

Douay Rheims

[1] And he said also to his disciples: There was a certain rich man who had a steward: and the same was accused unto him, that he had wasted his goods. [2] And he called him, and said to him: How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship: for now thou canst be steward no longer. [3] And the steward said within himself: What shall I do, because my lord taketh away from me the stewardship? To dig I am not able; to beg I am ashamed. [4] I know what I will do, that when I shall be removed from the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. [5] Therefore calling together every one of his lord's debtors, he said to the first: How much dost thou owe my lord? [6] But he said: An hundred barrels of oil. And he said to him: Take thy bill and sit down quickly, and write fifty. [7] Then he said to another: And how much dost thou owe? Who said: An hundred quarters of wheat. He said to him: Take thy bill, and write eighty. [8] And the lord commended the unjust steward, forasmuch as he had done wisely: for the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light.

French version: Évangile : Luc 16 :1-8

Jésus disait encore aux disciples : « Un homme riche avait un gérant qui lui fut dénoncé comme dilapidant ses biens. Il le convoqua et lui dit : “Qu’est-ce que j’apprends à ton sujet ? Rends-moi les comptes de ta gestion, car tu ne peux plus être mon gérant.” Le gérant se dit en lui-même : “Que vais-je faire, puisque mon maître me retire la gestion ? Travailler la terre ? Je n’en ai pas la force. Mendier ? J’aurais honte. Je sais ce que je vais faire, pour qu’une fois renvoyé de ma gérance, des gens m’accueillent chez eux.” Il fit alors venir, un par un, ceux qui avaient des dettes envers son maître. Il demanda au premier : “Combien dois-tu à mon maître ?” Il répondit : “Cent barils d’huile.” Le gérant lui dit : “Voici ton reçu ; vite, assieds-toi et écris cinquante.” Puis il demanda à un autre : “Et toi, combien dois-tu ?” Il répondit : “Cent sacs de blé.” Le gérant lui dit : “Voici ton reçu, écris quatre-vingts.” Le maître fit l’éloge de ce gérant malhonnête car il avait agi avec habileté ; en effet, les fils de ce monde sont plus habiles entre eux que les fils de la lumière.

Prières quotidiennes

Litanies du Saint-Esprit: see below.

Ave Maris Stella: for Latin and English versions, see here.

Litanies de la Sainte Vierge: for Latin, English and French versions, see below. For a version (in Latin) sung by a sister of the FSI, see here.

Litanies du Saint-Esprit

Seigneur, ayez pitié de nous.
Jésus-Christ, ayez pitié de nous.
Seigneur, ayez pitié de nous.
Jésus-Christ, écoutez-nous.
Jésus-Christ, exaucez-nous.

Père céleste, qui êtes Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.
Fils Rédempteur du monde, qui êtes Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit-Saint, qui êtes Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.
Trinité sainte, qui êtes un seul Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.

Esprit, qui procédez du Père et du Fils, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit du Seigneur, qui, au commencement du monde, planiez sur les eaux (4), et les avez rendues fécondes, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit par l’inspiration duquel les saints hommes de Dieu ont parlé, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit dont l’onction nous apprend toutes choses, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit qui rendez témoignage de Jésus-Christ (7), ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de vérité qui nous instruisez de toutes choses, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit qui êtes survenu en Marie (5), ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit du Seigneur, qui remplissez toute la terre ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de Dieu, qui êtes en nous, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de sagesse et d’intelligence, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de conseil et de force, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de science et de piété ayez pitié de nous, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de crainte du Seigneur (6), ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de grâce et de miséricorde, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de force, de dilection et de sobriété, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de foi, d’espérance, d’amour et de paix, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit d’humilité et de chasteté, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de bonté et de douceur, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit de toutes sortes de grâces, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit qui sondez même les secrets de Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit qui priez pour nous par des gémissements ineffables (1), ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit qui êtes descendu sur Jésus-Christ sous la forme dune colombe,(7)  ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit par lequel nous prenons une nouvelle naissance,(2) ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit qui remplissez nos coeurs de charité, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit d’adoption des enfants de Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit qui avez paru sur les disciples sous la figure de langues de feu,(3) ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit dont les Apôtres ont été remplis,(3) ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit qui distribuez vos dons à chacun selon votre volonté, ayez pitié de nous.

Soyez-nous propice, pardonnez-nous, Seigneur.
Soyez-nous propice, exaucez-nous, Seigneur.

De tout mal, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.

De tout péché, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
Des tentations et des embûches du démon, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
De la présomption et du désespoir, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
De la résistance à la vérité connue, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
De l’obstination et de l’impénitence, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
De toute souillure de corps et d’esprit, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
De l’esprit de fornication, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
De tout mauvais esprit, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.

Par votre éternelle procession du Père et du Fils, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
Par la conception de Jésus-Christ qui s’est faite par votre opération,(5) délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
Par votre descente sur Jésus-Christ dans le Jourdain(7), délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
Par votre descente sur les disciples, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.

Dans le grand jour du jugement, délivrez-nous, Seigneur.
Pauvres pécheurs, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.

Afin que vivant par l’Esprit, nous agissions aussi par l’Esprit, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que nous souvenant que nous sommes le temple du Saint-Esprit,(8) nous ne le profanions jamais, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que vivant selon l’esprit nous n’accomplissions pas les désirs de la chair, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que nous mortifiions les oeuvres de la chair, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que nous ne vous contristions pas, vous qui êtes le Saint Esprit de Dieu, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que nous ayons soin de garder l’unité de l’Esprit dans le lien de la paix, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que ne croyions pas facilement à tout esprit, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que nous éprouvions les esprits s’ils sont de Dieu, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que vous renouveliez en nous l’esprit de droiture, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.
Afin que vous nous fortifiiez par votre Esprit souverain, nous vous prions, écoutez-nous.

Agneau de Dieu, qui effacez les péchés du monde, pardonnez-nous, Seigneur.
Agneau de Dieu, qui effacez les péchés du monde, exaucez-nous, Seigneur.
Agneau de Dieu, qui ôtez les péchés du monde, ayez pitié de nous, Seigneur.

Prions : Nous vous supplions, Seigneur, de nous assister sans cesse par la vertu de votre Esprit-Saint, afin que, purifiant par sa miséricorde les tâches de nos coeurs, il nous préserve encore de tous les maux. Par Jésus-Christ Notre-Seigneur. Ainsi soit-il.

(1) [26] Similiter autem et Spiritus adjuvat infirmitatem nostram : nam quid oremus, sicut oportet, nescimus : sed ipse Spiritus postulat pro nobis gemitibus inenarrabilibus. [27] Qui autem scrutatur corda, scit quid desideret Spiritus : quia secundum Deum postulat pro sanctis.
[26] Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity. For we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit himself asketh for us with unspeakable groanings. [27] And he that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what the Spirit desireth; because he asketh for the saints according to God.[Romans 8]
(2) Christ's discourse with Nicodemus [5] Respondit Jesus : Amen, amen dico tibi, nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua, et Spiritu Sancto, non potest introire in regnum Dei. [5] Jesus answered: Amen, amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [John 3]
(3) [3] Et apparuerunt illis dispertitae linguae tamquam ignis, seditque supra singulos eorum : [4] et repleti sunt omnes Spiritu Sancto, et coeperunt loqui variis linguis, prout Spiritus Sanctus dabat eloqui illis.[3] And there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak with divers tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them to speak. [Acts 2] 
(4) [1] In principio creavit Deus caelum et terram. [2] Terra autem erat inanis et vacua, et tenebrae erant super faciem abyssi : et spiritus Dei ferebatur super aquas. [1] In the beginning God created heaven, and earth. [2] And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God moved over the waters. [Gen 1]
(5) [35] Et respondens angelus dixit ei : Spiritus Sanctus superveniet in te, et virtus Altissimi obumbrabit tibi. Ideoque et quod nascetur ex te sanctum, vocabitur Filius Dei. [35] And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. [Luke 1]
(6) Seven gifts of the HolyGhost: [1] Et egredietur virga de radice Jesse, et flos de radice ejus ascendet. [2] Et requiescet super eum spiritus Domini : spiritus sapientiae et intellectus, spiritus consilii et fortitudinis, spiritus scientiae et pietatis; [3] et replebit eum spiritus timoris Domini. [1] And there shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse, and a flower shall rise up out of his root. [2] And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, the spirit of counsel, and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge, and of godliness. [3] And he shall be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord. [Isaiah 11]
(7) [32] Et testimonium perhibuit Joannes, dicens : Quia vidi Spiritum descendentem quasi columbam de caelo, et mansit super eum. [33] Et ego nesciebam eum : sed qui misit me baptizare in aqua, ille mihi dixit : Super quem videris Spiritum descendentem, et manentem super eum, hic est qui baptizat in Spiritu Sancto.
[32] And John gave testimony, saying: I saw the Spirit coming down, as a dove from heaven, and he remained upon him. [33] And I knew him not; but he who sent me to baptize with water, said to me: He upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining upon him, he it is that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. [John 1] < > [9] Et factum est : in diebus illis venit Jesus a Nazareth Galilaeae : et baptizatus est a Joanne in Jordane. [10] Et statim ascendens de aqua, vidit caelos apertos, et Spiritum tamquam columbam descendentem, et manentem in ipso. [9] And it came to pass, in those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. [10] And forthwith coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit as a dove descending, and remaining on him. [John 1]
(8) [19] An nescitis quoniam membra vestra, templum sunt Spiritus Sancti, qui in vobis est, quem habetis a Deo, et non estis vestri? [20] Empti enim estis pretio magno. Glorificate, et portate Deum in corpore vestro.[1 Cor 6] [19] Or know you not, that your members are the temple of the Holy Ghost, who is in you, whom you have from God; and you are not your own? [20] For you are bought with a great price. Glorify and bear God in your body.

Ave, Maris Stella: see here.

Litaniae Lauretanae

Litany of Loreto

The Litany contains many praises found in a Hymn which was first translated into Latin around the year 800. The other titles and praises are found in the writings of the early Church Fathers of the first six centuries. It is believerd the Litany was composed in Paris towards thre end of the 12th century. It gets its name from the Italian shrine at Loreto where it was adopted in 1558.

For a version (in Latin) sung by a sister of the FSI, see here.

Kyrie, eleison.
R. Christe, eleison.    
Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, audi nos.
R. Christe, exaudi nos.

Pater de caelis, Deus,
R. miserere nobis.
Fili, Redemptor mundi, Deus,
R. miserere nobis.
Spiritus Sancte Deus,
R. miserere nobis.
Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus,
R. miserere nobis.

Sancta Maria,
R. ora pro nobis.
Sancta Dei Genetrix,
R. ora pro nobis.
Sancta Virgo virginum,
R. ora pro nobis.

Mater Christi,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater Ecclesiae,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater Divinae gratiae,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater purissima,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater castissima,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater inviolata,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater intemerata,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater amabilis,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater admirabilis,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater boni Consilii,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater Creatoris,
R. ora pro nobis.
Mater Salvatoris,
R. ora pro nobis.

Virgo prudentissima,
R. ora pro nobis.
Virgo veneranda,
R. ora pro nobis.
Virgo praedicanda,
R. ora pro nobis.
Virgo potens,
R. ora pro nobis.
Virgo clemens,
R. ora pro nobis.
Virgo fidelis,
R. ora pro nobis.

Speculum iustitiae,
R. ora pro nobis.
Sedes sapientiae,
R. ora pro nobis.
Causa nostrae laetitiae,
R. ora pro nobis.
Vas spirituale,
R. ora pro nobis.
Vas honorabile,
R. ora pro nobis.
Vas insigne devotionis,
R. ora pro nobis.
Rosa mystica,
R. ora pro nobis.
Turris Davidica,
R. ora pro nobis.
Turris eburnea,
R. ora pro nobis.
Domus aurea,
R. ora pro nobis.
Foederis arca,
R. ora pro nobis.
Ianua caeli,
R. ora pro nobis.
Stella matutina,
R. ora pro nobis.
Salus infirmorum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Refugium peccatorum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Consolatrix afflictorum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Auxilium Christianorum,
R. ora pro nobis.

Regina Angelorum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina Patriarcharum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina Prophetarum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina Apostolorum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina Martyrum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina Confessorum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina Virginum,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina Sanctorum omnium,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina sine labe originali concepta,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina in caelum assumpta,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina Sacratissimi Rosarii,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina familiae,
R. ora pro nobis.
Regina pacis,
R. ora pro nobis.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
R. parce nobis, Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
R. exaudi nos, Domine.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
R. miserere nobis.

V. Ora pro nobis, Sancta Dei Genetrix,
R. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi.
Oremus
Concede nos famulos tuos, quaesumus, Domine Deus, perpetua mentis et corporis sanitate gaudere: et gloriosa beatae Mariae semper Virginis intercessione, a praesenti liberari tristitia, et aeterna perfrui laetitia. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.
R. Amen.   

Tempore Adventus: 
V. Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae,
R. Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto.
Oremus
Deus, qui de beatae Mariae Virginis utero Verbum tuum, Angelo nuntiante, carnem suscipere voluisti: praesta supplicibus tuis; ut, qui vere eam Genetricem Dei credimus, eius apud te intercessionibus adiuvemur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.
R. Amen.

Tempore Nativitatis:
V. Post partum, Virgo, inviolata permansisti,
R. Dei Genetrix, intercede pro nobis.
Oremus
Deus, qui salutis aeternae, beatae Mariae virginitate fecunda, humano generi praemia praestitisti: tribue, quaesumus; ut ipsam pro nobis intercedere sentiamus, per quam meruimus Filius tuum auctorem vitae suscipere. Qui tecum vivit et regnat in saecula saeculorum.
R. Amen.  

Tempore Paschali:
V. Gaude et laetare, Virgo Maria, alleluia.
R. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia.
Oremus
Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Iesu Christi, mundum laetificare dignatus es: praesta, quaesumus: ut, per eius Genetricem Virginem Mariam, perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum.
R. Amen.

Litany of Loreto (English)

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, 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. (repeat at end of each phrase.)
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,

Mother of Christ,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Savior,

Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,

Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of Heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,

Queen of angels,
Queen of patriarchs,
Queen of prophets,
Queen of apostles,
Queen of martyrs,
Queen of confessors,
Queen of virgins,
Queen of all saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Queen of peace.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:
Grant, O Lord God, we beseech Thee, that we Thy servants may rejoice in continual health of mind and body; and, through the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may be freed from present sorrow, and enjoy eternal gladness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Litanies de la Sainte Vierge Marie (Litanies de Lorette)

Seigneur, ayez pitié de nous.
Jésus-Christ, ayez pitié de nous.
Seigneur, ayez pitié de nous.
Jésus-Christ, écoutez-nous.
Jésus-Christ, exaucez-nous.

Père céleste qui êtes Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.
Fils, Rédempteur du monde, qui êtes Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.
Esprit Saint, qui êtes Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.
Trinité Sainte, un seul Dieu, ayez pitié de nous.

Sainte Marie, priez pour nous.
Sainte Mère de Dieu, priez pour nous.
Sainte Vierge des vierges, priez pour nous.
Mère du Christ, priez pour nous.
Mère de la divine grâce, priez pour nous.
Mère de l’Eglise, priez pour nous.
Mère très pure, priez pour nous.
Mère très chaste, priez pour nous.
Mère toujours vierge, priez pour nous.
Mère sans tache, priez pour nous.
Mère aimable, priez pour nous.
Mère admirable, priez pour nous.
Mère du bon conseil, priez pour nous.
Mère du Créateur, priez pour nous.
Mère du Sauveur, priez pour nous.

Vierge très prudente, priez pour nous.
Vierge vénérable, priez pour nous.
Vierge digne de louanges, priez pour nous.
Vierge puissante, priez pour nous.
Vierge clémente, priez pour nous.
Vierge fidèle, priez pour nous.

Miroir de justice, priez pour nous.
Trône de la sagesse, priez pour nous.
Source de toute joie, priez pour nous.
Vase spirituel, priez pour nous.
Vase honorable, priez pour nous.
Vase insigne de la dévotion, priez pour nous.
Rose mystique, priez pour nous.
Tour de David, priez pour nous.
Tour d’ivoire, priez pour nous.
Maison d’or, priez pour nous.
Arche d’alliance, priez pour nous.
Porte du ciel, priez pour nous.
Étoile du matin, priez pour nous.
Salut des infirmes, priez pour nous.
Refuge des pécheurs, priez pour nous.
Consolatrice des affligés, priez pour nous.
Secours des chrétiens, priez pour nous.

Reine des Anges, priez pour nous.
Reine des Patriarches, priez pour nous.
Reine des Prophètes, priez pour nous.
Reine des Apôtres, priez pour nous.
Reine des Martyrs, priez pour nous.
Reine des Confesseurs, priez pour nous.
Reine des Vierges, priez pour nous.
Reine de tous les Saints, priez pour nous.
Reine conçue sans le péché originel, priez pour nous.
Reine élevée aux Cieux, priez pour nous.
Reine du très Saint Rosaire, priez pour nous.
Reine de la paix, priez pour nous.

Agneau de Dieu, qui enlevez les péchés du monde, pardonnez-nous, Seigneur.
Agneau de Dieu, qui enlevez les péchés du monde, exaucez-nous, Seigneur.
Agneau de Dieu, qui enlevez les péchés du monde, ayez pitié de nous, Seigneur

Priez pour nous, Sainte Mère de Dieu, afin que nous devenions dignes des promesses de Jésus-Christ.

Prions : Accordez-nous, nous vous en prions, Seigneur notre Dieu, à nous vos serviteurs, la grâce de jouir constamment de la santé de l’âme et du corps, et, par la glorieuse intercession de la bienheureuse Marie, toujours Vierge, d’être délivrés de la tristesse de la vie présente et de goûter l’éternelle félicité. Par Jésus-Christ Notre-Seigneur. Amen.