Thursday, June 8, 2017

Prayer

PRAYER

    James 5:16
    The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.

The Sign of the Cross

Most of the Scripture in this section was taken from Danielou's Bible and the Liturgy pp. 54-70.

The Problem: Many Christians either do not understand or actively argue against the use of the prayer of the Sign of the Cross, saying that it ties the supplicant to the curse of the Cross, instead of the Redemption of Christ.

The Truth: All things are to be done in the name of Christ, using the sign by which He conquered sin and death. While Christ carried our curse, becoming, in a certain sense, a curse for our sakes, He was not Himself cursed, for God does not curse Himself, nor undertake blasphemies against His own name. Rather, Jesus was beloved of the Father for having done the Father's will perfectly. On the Cross, the love of the Father poured out on His Son in acknowledgement of the love the Son bore the Father through the pouring out of His own life for the sake of His Father's will.

Deut 21:22-23 "And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, 23 his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is accursed by God; you shall not defile your land which the Lord your God gives you for an inheritance.

Gal 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for usfor it is written, "Cursed be every one who hangs on a tree"

The argument is that Christ bears the curse of Deuteronomy, and the cross is therefore a cursed sign. This overlooks the fact that Christ was doing the will of His Father, for He finally carried out the covenant duties for all mankind, which included accepting the punishment due us for our transgressions. Thus, Jesus Christ, hanging on the Cross, was looked on with great love by the Father.

Gal 6:14 But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Mt 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...

The cross is a sign to be gloried in. It is no longer a curse, for no one glories in God's curse. It is the
sign of obedience and salvation.

Gen 4:15 Then the Lord said to him, "Not so! If any one slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who came upon him should kill him.

God marked Cain with a sign of protection.

Ezek 9:4 And the Lord said to him, "Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it."

Marks of protection were also to be placed on the holy ones.

Gal 6:17 Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel,

The sign of the cross, called "the sphragis," was given at baptism, and was considered a seal or brand, showing everyone that the Shepherd owned this sheep. The sign continued to be used on a daily basis by all who glory in Christ's saving work, as a constant reminder to the Christian that he belonged to Christ. "Many [even] tattooed themselves on the hand or the arm with the name of Jesus or the cross" (Procopius of Gaza, 87:2401).

Repetitious Prayer

The Problem: Most sola scriptura Christians do NOT like the Rosary. Honor given to Mary is honor which detracts from Jesus Christ (the idea that one might honor an artist by extolling the beauty of His work is often lost). A single Scripture passage is therefore used to attack the Rosary in the only way possible - it constitutes repetitious prayer. While this charge is sometimes also used in conjunction with litanies and the types of prayer associated with certain indulgences, the last two are generally attacked directly as "unScriptural" without bothering to resort to Matthew's Gospel.

The Truth: The praying of the Rosary is a proper way to praise God through honoring the work of His hands, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and meditating on the events of His life and the promises of His salvation.

Mt 6:7-8 And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Have you said the Our Father today? Did you say it yesterday? If so, you are prayng repetitiously. If we are permitted to say the same prayer twice in our lives, what is the Scripturally-approved time limit between the first time one says the prayer and the second time one says it? May we only implore God's help and mercy in our lives once, in order to avoid repetition? Or only once per subject? This seems unlikely. Perhaps we should examine other examples of Christ's prayer advice to us:

Lk 18:10-14 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.' 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

The tax collector engages in repetitious prayer and is exalted.

Lk 18:2-8 "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man; 3 and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Vindicate me against my adversary.' 4 For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, 'Though I neither fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.'" 6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Lk 11:5-9 And he said to them, "Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; 7 and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything'? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you..."

Christ recommends repetitious prayer.

Acts 10:1-5 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms liberally to the people, and prayed constantly to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius." 4 And he stared at him in terror, and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and bring one Simon who is called Peter...

Cornelius prays constantly and is rewarded.

Mt 26:39-44 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, thy will be done." 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words.

Even Christ engages in repetitious prayer.


Litany
When God replies to Job out of the whirlwind, He spends four chapters (38-41) engaged in thematic repetition - a series of rhetorical questions directed towards Job. Dan 3:52-90, Psalm 103, the beginning of Psalm 118, and Psalm 148, all have examples of litany-like repetitious prayer, but Psalms 136 and 150 are the finest examples of litany:

Psalm 136 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures for ever.
2 O give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures for ever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
6 to him who spread out the earth upon the waters, for his steadfast love endures for ever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
10 to him who smote the first-born of Egypt,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in sunder,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
17 to him who smote great kings,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
18 and slew famous kings,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures for ever.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures for ever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures for ever.
26 O give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures for ever.

Rom 1:9-10 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you always in my prayers, 10 asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.

2 Tim 1:3 I thank God whom I serve with a clear conscience, as did my fathers, when I remember you constantly in my prayers.

One might argue that the verses above tell us to pray to God directly, and not to Mary, but in that case the discussion is not about repetitious prayer anymore. Scripture clearly shows that repetitious prayer in and of itself is not the problem - rather it is the use of prayer as an incantation which is to be avoided. Pagans think an incantation forces a spirit to appear or forces a spirit to undertake some action. Prayer is never to be used with the intention of forcing something to happen, but in a spirit of begging God for assistance. This unconscious attempt to equate the Rosary with necromancy is no more than that, and fails precisely because prayers to the saints are NOT necromancy.

How many times may you honor God in a day? How often may you tell someone you love them? Who honors the Body of Christ, and His saints who are the cells of His Body, gives honor to God.

The Hail Mary

The prayer:

"Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. "

The prayer, Scripturally analyzed:

Lk 1:28 "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you."

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee...

Lk 1:38 "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!"

blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

1 Cor 7:34 "And the unmarried woman or girl is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit."

Holy Mary,

Lk 2:6-7 "And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. 7 And she gave birth to her first-born son..."

Mother of God,

2 Cor 1:11 "You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us in answer to many prayers."

pray for us sinners now
...
Mt 10:22 "But he who endures to the end will be saved."

and at the hour of our death. Amen.

The Rosary

The Rosary is an extended meditation on the life of Christ and His salvific mission. A complete Rosary consists of fifteen decades: five Joyful Mysteries, five Sorrowful Mysteries, and five Glorious Mysteries. Each decade of the Rosary consists of an Our Father, followed by ten Hail Marys. While the Doxology (the "Glory Be") is not a strictly necessary part of the Rosary, it is almost always said at the end of every decade. Generally, a set of five decades (i.e., the Joyful, or the Sorrowful, or the Glorious Mysteries) is prayed in one session.

Joyful

Annunciation Lk 1:26-38
Visitation Lk 1:39-45
Birth Mt 1:25, Lk 2:6-7
Presentation Lk 2:22-38
Finding in the Temple Lk 2:41-52

Sorrowful

Agony in the Garden Mt 26:36-46, Mk 14:32-42, Lk 22:39-46
Scourging at the Pillar Mt 20:19, 27:26, Mk 15:15, Lk 23:22, Jn 19:1
Crowning with Thorns Mt 27:29-30, Mk 15:16-20, Jn 19:2-5
Carrying of the Cross Mt 27:31-34, Mk 15:22-23, Lk 23:26-33, Jn 19:16-17
Dying on the Cross Mt 27:45-56, Mk 15:33-41, Lk 23:44-49, Jn 19:30-37

Glorious

Resurrection Mt 28:1-10, Mk 16:1-11, Lk 24:1-12, Jn 20:1-18
Ascension Mk 16:19, Lk 24:50-51
Descent of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:1-12
Mary's Assumption Psalm 132:8, Rev 12:1-18
Mary, Crowned Heaven's Queen 1 Cor 9:25, 2 Tim 4:8, Jas 1:12, 1 Pet 5:4, Rev 2:10, Rev 12:1

Every mystery of the Rosary is a meditation on Christ. Some say the last two mysteries, which meditate on Mary's Bodily Assumption into Heaven and her being crowned Queen of Heaven, is detraction from Christ. However, she is the archetypical Christian - by meditating on the glories given her by God, we come to a deeper understanding of the glories God has in store for us at the Final Judgement. We must always keep in mind these glories are reserved for those who are most obedient, most humble, and most docile to God's will, as Mary was.

A second argument asserts that this is a profane prayer, since each decade has ten Hail Marys as opposed to a single Our Father. However, Scripture indicates that this is as it should be:

1 Cor 3:10-11 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Is 28:16 therefore thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'He who believes will not be in haste.'

Christ is the cornerstone, the first stone laid in a foundation. Thus, the prayer Christ taught us is the cornerstone prayer, the first prayer prayed in a decade of the Rosary.

1 Pet 2:5 and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

We are to build ourselves up like many living stones. Mary was such a perfect follower of God that God gifted her with allowing the Second Person of the Trinity to enter creation through her womb. The better we imitate Mary, the more fully Jesus the Christ will take form within us. Each Hail Mary is a request for Mary to pray to God for us, that He might give us the grace to become perfect followers of Christ as she was - that each of us become living stones. We are praying that God allows us to become like living stones, built up into a spiritual house. Praying ten Hail Marys symbolizes praying for the completion of that formation of Christ within us, for Scripture counts the gestation of pregnancy according to the lunar cycle - ten months:

Wis 7:1-2 I also am mortal, like all men, a descendant of the first-formed child of earth;
and in the womb of a mother I was molded into flesh, 2 within the period of ten months, compacted with blood, from the seed of a man and the pleasure of marriage.

The Rosary is the prayer for the building up of the Church. It follows the design laid out by Scripture, for the completion of the Body of Christ.

The Sub Tuum Praesidium
(ca. 250 A.D.)

The Prayer (composed at or before 250 A.D.): "We fly to your patronage, O Holy Mother of God, despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin!"

The prayer, Scripturally analyzed:

Song 6:10 Who is she who comes forth as the morning rising, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army set in battle array?

We fly to your patronage, O Holy Mother of God...

Esther 5:2,3 She found favor in his sight... and the king said to her, "What is it...? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom."

despise not our petitions in our necessities...

Esther 9:22 ...[These are] the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness...


but deliver us from all dangers, O
glorious and blessed Virgin!
Memorare

The Prayer: "Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O virgin of virgins, my mother. To thee I come, before thee I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of Mercy, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen."

Lk 1:26-27 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary...

Esther 4:8-9 Mordecai also gave [the messenger] a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction... to show it to [her] and explain to her and charge her to go to the king to make supplication to him and entreat him for her people. "Beseech the Lord and speak to the king concerning us; and deliver us from death."

that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided...

Jn 19:26-27 When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O virgin of virgins, my mother. To thee I come, before thee I stand...

Psalm 51:3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.

sinful and sorrowful...

Lk 1:35, 2:6-7 Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God....While they were there, the time came for her to be delivered, and she gave birth to her firstborn son...

Dan 9:9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness...

O Mother of Mercy,

1 Kings 2:20 And the king said to her, "Make your request, my mother; for I will not refuse you."

despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Hail Holy Queen

The Prayer: "Hail holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope, to thee do we cry poor banished children of Eve, to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.

Turn then, O most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O Most Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Almighty and everlasting God, by the cooperation of the Holy Spirit you prepared the body and soul of Mary, glorious Virgin and Mother, to become the worthy habitation of your Son; grant that by her gracious intercession, in whose commemoration we rejoice, we may be delivered from present evils and from everlasting death. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

May the divine assistance remain always with us. Amen."

Rev 12:1 And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.

Hail holy Queen...

Mt 1:25, 2:1 but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.... born in Bethlehem of Judea...

Tob 3:2 "Righteous art thou, O Lord; all thy deeds and all thy ways are mercy and truth..."

Mother of Mercy...

Rev 12:2,17 She was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery... Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus.

our life, our sweetness, and our hope, to thee do we cry ...

Gen 5:3 When Adam had lived a hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image...

poor banished children of Eve,

2 Sam 14:15 "and your handmaid thought, 'I will speak to the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his servant...' "

to thee do we send up our sighs,

Psalm 6:6 every night I flood my bed with tears;

I drench my couch with my weeping.

mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.

Jn 2:3 When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."

Turn then, O most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy towards us,

Gen 3:23-24 therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man...

and after this our exile,

Gal 4:4-5 But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Lk 1:38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."

Lk 1:36, 39-40, 56 "And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren." ...In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth..... And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

2 Cor 1:10-11 on him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer

Pray for us, O Most Holy Mother of God,

Heb 6:11-12 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Dan 13:42 Then Susanna cried out with a loud voice, and said: "O eternal God, who dost discern what is secret, who art aware of all things before they come to be... "

Almighty and everlasting God,

1 Cor 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own...

by the cooperation of the Holy Spirit you prepared the body and soul of Mary, glorious Virgin and Mother,

Jn 2:5 His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

to become the worthy habitation of your Son;

1 Kings 2:20 Then she said, "I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me." And the king said to her, "Make your request, my mother; for I will not refuse you."

grant that by her gracious intercession, in whose commemoration we rejoice,

Esther 4:8-9 Mordecai also gave [the messenger] a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction... to show it to [her] and explain to her and charge her to go to the king to make supplication to him and entreat him for her people. "Beseech the Lord and speak to the king concerning us; and deliver us from death."

we may be delivered from present evils and from everlasting death.

Rom 2:16 God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.

Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

2 Chron 14:10 O Lord, there is none like thee to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on thee, and in thy name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

May the divine assistance remain always with us. Amen.

THE LITANY TO JESUS IN THE WOMB OF MARY

Respond to each invocation with "Have mercy on us".
Jesus, knit so wonderfully in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, uniquely human from the moment of conception in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, present at creation, created in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, word made flesh, taking on a human body in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, revealed by the Father, concealed in the womb of Mary
Jesus, subject to human development in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, whose Precious Blood first flowed through tiny arteries and veins in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, hidden nine months in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, begotten by God, nourished by the substance and blood of His Most Holy Mother in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, leaping from eternity into time, in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, revealing with His Father and the Holy Spirit all wisdom and knowledge to His Most Holy Mother, in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, aware of His role as Redeemer in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, Sanctifier of His Precursor from the womb of Mary,
Jesus, Eternal Word, Divine Child, embraced by the Father, in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, raising His Mother to the heights of sanctification, in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, everlasting delight of heaven, in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, manifesting His Incarnation to His Holy Mother, in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, adored and contemplated by His Mother in the sanctuary of her womb,
Jesus, before whom the angels prostrated themselves, in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, in whom the very angels beheld the humanity of the Infant God and the union of the two natures of the Word in the virginal womb of Mary,
Jesus, our protector and savior, asleep in the inviolable womb of Mary,
Jesus, whose Holy Limbs first budded in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, whose Godhead the world cannot contain, weighing only a few grams in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, Divine Immensity, once measuring only tenths of an inch in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, Sacrificial Lamb, Docile Infant in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, who was to suffer the agony and passion of death, accepting the human capacity for pain and grief, in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, foretelling His Eucharistic Presence, in the womb of Mary,
Jesus, Lamb of God in the womb of Mary -- Spare us, O Lord.
Jesus, Holy Innocent in the womb of Mary -- Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Jesus, Son of God and Messiah in the womb of Mary -- Have mercy on us, O Lord

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