Friday-2nd week of Advent 2011

After a few days of saints and our Blessed Mother's Immaculate Conception, we can continue with Advent's prayers. We can get back to thinking about what Christmas is REALLY about again. The first hymn is from the Mozarabic breviary:

Only-begotten Son of the Father, thou comest to us by the Virgin, consecrating us all by the dew of Baptism, and by faith regenerating us.
The Most High coming from heaven has taken on himself the form of man, returning after conquering death, and giving us the joys of a new life.
Wherefore, we beseech thee, O Redeemer, descend upon us in thy mercy, and give to our hearts the brightness of the divine light.
To God the Father, and to his only Son, and to the holy Paraclete, be glory for ever and ever.
Amen.

Protestants do not understand this point: That when Mary she gave her fiat, allowed it to be done as God wished, that Jesus come through her. Thus, all of the mercy we have obtained, plus all the graces we have been given, in a way, have come through Mary, also. On of our beloved past Popes, Leo XIII, said it very clearly in his Encyclical, Octobri Mense, which was dedicated to Mary and the study of her. He states as follows:

"With equal truth may it be also affirmed that, by the will of God, Mary is the intermediary through whom is distributed unto us this immense treasure of mercies gathered by God, for mercy and truth were created by Jesus Christ. Thus as no man goeth to the Father but by the Son, so no man goeth to Christ but by His Mother."

Nuff said!

Now, here is our prayer for Holy Communion. This is for after Communion, as an act of humility:

Look, O tender Father, upon the face of thy Christ; and since he who is now so closely united to me is thy beloved Son, in whom thou hast ever been well pleased, regard me, too, I humbly beseech thee, with merciful eyes. his is the guardianship and protection, his the merits which hearten me in my approach to thee, that in thy loving regard for him, thou mayest mercifully and graciously look upon me also as his slave and servant for ever. Permit not, I implore thee, that soul to perish which has so often received into itself thy Son, who was sent by thee, and came into this world to seek and save that which was lost. Grant me this of thy infinite mercy. --Paradisus Animae