Mother of Good Counsel . . .

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Mary Introduction
Mary's Litany

Your concern Mary, is for your children, all whom your Son has redeemed.  You are solicitous for the welfare of all.  The counsels given during your earthly appearances are promptings that tell how we should heed the Gospel message of your son.   You protect us in life and lead us safely through the events of our life toward the heavenly love which He prepared for us.  You shelter us from the dangers of the world; all for the purpose that we might reach heaven.  You instruct us through the Church your Son founded in which we share His life through the sacraments and are strengthened by His own body and blood in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

Through you do the miserable obtain mercy, the ungracious grace, sinners pardon, the weak strength, the worldly heavenly things, mortals life, and pilgrims their country. (1)  St. Augustine of Hippo

All the gifts, virtues and graces of the Holy Spirit are distributed by Mary, to whom she wishes, when she wishes, the way she wishes, and as much as she wishes. (2)  St. Bernadino of Siena

I am satisfied that whoever has had recourse to thee, O blessed virgin, in his wants, and can remember that he did so in vain, should no more speak of or praise your mercy. (3)  St. Bernard-abbot of Clairvaux

Keep her name on your lips, her love in your heart.  Imitate her, and her powerful intercession will surround you.  Following her, you will not stray.  Praying to her, you will ward off disaster and despair.  Meditate on her, and you will not commit mistakes.  Cling to her and you cannot fall. (4)  St. Bernard-abbot of Clairvaux

It is pride to wear the outward sign of being Mary’s child on the heart, without having the virtues of meekness, purity, and charity so dear to her within it. (5)  St. Elizabeth Seaton

I was not born for present things, but for the future; for these eternal things only, let me live, O Mary, and not for those which pass.
  (6)  St. John Berchmans

She is the first of the daughters of the king.  If you will have her for a friend, she will lead you into the presence of the king.  For no one has as free access to him as she has.  For she caused him to put on man’s nature on earth and bring salvation to all.
  (7)  St. John the Almsgiver

The heart of Mary is so tender towards us, that the hearts of all mothers in the world put together cannot be compared to hers.  All that the son asks the father is granted him.  All that the mother asks of the son is in like manner granted to her. 
  (8)  St. John Vianney

It is through Mary that we are able to eat the bread of heaven every day; it is through her prayers that God inspires us to receive it and grants us the grace to receive it worthily.  As Eve induced man to eat of the forbidden fruit which brought death upon us, so it is right that Mary should prompt us to eat the bread which gives us life. (9)  St. Peter Damian

Through Mary’s intercession, many souls are in paradise who would not be there had she not interceded for them, for God has entrusted her with the keys and treasures of the heavenly kingdom. (10) St. Thomas Aquinas

Let us than cast ourselves at the feet of this good Mother, and embracing them let us not depart until she blesses us, and accepts us for her children.  (11)  St. Bernard-abbot of Clairvaux

Let us run to Mary, and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence.  (12)  St. Francis de Sales

Do thou, our blessed Mother . . . do thou gather together our prayers and we beseech thee (our hearts one with yours) present them before God's throne. (13)  St. Pius X, pope

True devotion to Mary consists in imitating her Son and in learning from her how to imitate Him. (14)  St. Vincent Pillotti

What the most Blessed Virgin wants of us is not to lose sight of Jesus, the divine model of all humanity.  Always look to Jesus with confidence.  From her we shall receive the strength and virtue to imitate Him. (15)  St. Vincent Pillotti

Like good children, we must console our Mother, Mary, and endeavor to grow in every way conformable to Her Son.
  (16)  St. Vincent Pillotti

Mary enjoys such power with God, she radiates so much goodness that she can and will support us in our trials.
  (17)  Pius XII, pope

Do thou, our blessed Mother . . . do thou gather together our prayers and we beseech you (our hears one with yours) present them before God's throne. (18)  Pius IX, pope

The Queenship of Mary can suggest to rulers of nations attitudes and counsels corresponding to the needs of our day.  But she does not neglect others, never ceasing to pour forth upon all the peoples of the earth and upon all classes of society the abundance of her graces. (19)  Pius XII, pope

Mary could not, however, more fully display the greatness of her charity than she did in the offering which she made of her Son to death for our salvation. (20)  St. Alphonsus de Liguori

O blessed among women, your purity surpasses that of the angels, and your compassion that of the saints!  (21)  St. Anselm

Nor has this love of Mary for us diminished now that she is in heaven, but it has increased; for now she better sees the miseries of men. (22)  St. Bonaventure

Great was the mercy of Mary toward the wretched when she was still in exile on earth; but far greater is it now that she reigns in heaven. (23)  St. Bonaventure

O Mother of Mercy, by obtaining for me perseverance from your Jesus, and strength to be always faithful to you until death; permit me to always serve you in life, so that I may praise you in Paradise for all eternity.
(24)  St. Alphonsus de Liguori

At the school of Mary, "Woman of the Eucharist," as the late Pope John Paul II loved to call her, we welcome Jesus' living presence in ourselves to bring him to everyone by loving service. (25)  Benedict XVI, pope

Mary welcomed Jesus with faith and gave him to the world with love.  This is also our vocation and our mission, the vocation and mission of the Church: to welcome Christ into our lives and give him to the world, so "that the world might be saved through him."
  (26)  Benedict XVI, pope

In our recourse to the Mother of Jesus, we have always found the security and confident hope which gives us joy in God and makes us joyful in our faith in him.  May we too receive Mary as the lodestar guiding our lives, introducing us into the great family of God!  Truly, those who believe are never alone. (27)  Benedict XVI, pope

Mary is an example and support for all believers: she encourages us not to lose confidence before the difficulties and inevitable problems of every day.  She assures us of her help and reminds us that it is essential to seek and think of "the things above", not those of the earth. (28)  Benedict XVI, pope

May Mary, who in embracing the divine will without reserve, was consecrated with all her energies to the person and work of her Son, teach us to keep in our heart and to meditate in silence, as she did, upon the mysteries of Christ's life. (29)  Benedict XVI, pope

Mary, help us to find the strength to offer reconciliation and forgiveness.  Help us to become patient and humble, but also free and courageous, just as you were at the hour of the Cross. (30)  Benedict XVI, pope

Let us entrust ourselves to her so that she may guide our steps in this new period of time which the Lord gives us to live, and help us to be authentic friends of his Son and thus also courageous builders of his Kingdom in the world, a Kingdom of light and truth.
  (31)  Benedict XVI, pope

Let us pray to Mary Most Holy, who accompanies and sustains us on our Lenten journey, so that she may help every Christian to rediscover the greatness, I would say, the beauty, of conversion.  May she help us understand that doing penance and correcting one's conduct is not simply moralism, but the most effective way to change oneself and society for the better.  And adage expresses it well: to light a candle is worth more than to curse the darkness. 
  (32)  Benedict XVI, pope

Let us invoke Mary's intercession.  May she help us to be open to God's surprises, to be faithful to Him each and every day, and to praise and thank Him, for He is our strength. (33)  Francis I, pope

Our Lady helps us to grow as human beings and in the faith, to be strong and not to give in to the temptation to be human and Christian in a superficial way, but to live with responsibility, to aim ever higher.  (34)  Francis I, pope

Mary, like a good mother, is close to us so that we never lose courage in facing the adversity of life, in facing our weakness, our sins: she gives us strength, she indicates the path of her Son. (35)  Francis I, pope

Mary helps us to become more and more men and women of conscience, free in conscience; because it is in conscience that there is dialogue with God.  She helps us to become more and more men and women capable of listening to God's voice and of following it with decision. (36)  Francis I, pope

One always goes to Jesus and one "returns" to him through Mary.  (37)  St. Josemaria Escriva

Our Lady of Sorrows.  When you contemplate her, look into her Heart; she is a Mother with two sons, facing each other; He . . . and you.    
  (38)  St. Josemaria Escriva

So your strength is failing you?  - Why don't you say so to your Mother: Consolatrix afflictorum, Auxilium Christianorum . . . , Spes Nostra, Regina Apostolorum - Comfort of the afflicted, Help of Christians, Our Hope, Queen of Apostles?  (39)  St. Josemaria Escriva

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