OCTOBER DEVOTION: UNDERSTANDING THE MARIAN TITLES IN THE LITANY OF LORETO (PART 2) – DAY 12: “QUEEN OF MARTYRS” (REGINA MARTYRUM)

DAY 12 PRAYER INTENTION: Today, pray for all those who are depressed due to the vicissitudes of life and other life’s unpleasant experiences to the point of thinking of giving up on God (despair). May the Blessed Virgin Mary – the Star of hope and Mother of Mercy visit them, assist them, console them and revive their hope, to the greater glory of God. Amen (Also add your own intention…

Now, say the 20 decades of the Rosary…

At the end of the 20 decades, say the following Prayers:

Hail Holy Queen

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 valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile show us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray

O God, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal salvation. Grant, we beseech Thee, that while meditating on these mysteries of the most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us! Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us! St. Joseph, pray for us!

Litany of Loreto

Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
Christ hear us.
Christ graciously hear us.

God, the Father of heaven,
have mercy on us (Repeat after each invocation)

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, one God,

Holy Mary,
pray for us (Repeat after each invocation)
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of the Church,
Mother of Mercy,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother of Hope,
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 Saviour,
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 honour,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower if ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Solace of Migrants,
Comfort 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 families,
Queen of peace.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord God, that we, your servants, may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body;
and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sorrow, and obtain eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Prayer to Saint Joseph after the Rosary

To you, O Blessed Joseph, we come in our trials, and having asked the help of your most holy spouse, we confidently ask your patronage also. Through that sacred bond of charity which united you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God and through the fatherly love with which you embraced the Child Jesus, we humbly beg you to look graciously upon the beloved inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by his blood, and to aid us in our necessities with your power and strength.

O most provident guardian of the Holy Family, defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ. Most beloved father, dispel the evil of falsehood and sin. Our most mighty protector, graciously assist us from heaven in our struggle with the powers of darkness. And just as you once saved the Child Jesus from mortal danger, so now defend God’s Holy Church from the snares of her enemies and from all adversity. Shield each one of us by your constant protection, so that, supported by your example and your help, we may be able to live a virtuous life, die a holy death, and obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

DAY 12 REFLECTION: “QUEEN OF MARTYRS” (REGINA MARTYRUM)

The fifth of Our Lady’s twelve invocations as “Queen” praises her as “Queen of Martyrs” (Latin, Regina Martyrum) in the Litany. After the apostles, the martyrs were the main pillar of the faith of the early Christians. The word “Martyr” from the Greek root, means “witness.” Martyrs were those who testified to their faith with their own blood; put differently, a person who voluntarily suffers death as the penalty of witnessing to and refusing to renounce his/her faith. Given the antecedent, how precisely is Mary “Queen of Martyrs?” Yes, she is Queen of heaven and earth, including the martyrs. But did she experience martyrdom such that she becomes a queen and model of Martyrs?

First, the most familiar biblical reference to Mary’s martyrdom springs from Simeon’s prophecy in the Temple, when he received the infant Jesus into his arms. He prophesied that Mary’s heart (soul) would be pierced by a sword (cf. Lk 2:35). Years later, this prophecy came to its fulfilment at the scene of the crucifixion on Mount Calvary, where Mary stood at the foot of the cross where her dying Son was nailed; she wept bitterly in watching him die such a shameful death (cf. Jn. 19:25), and the eventual piercing of His side with a lance (Jn. 19:34). In fact, as a mother, she experienced such a horrible and painful sorrow that she nearly died with her suffering and dying Son in a way that it can justly be said that she collaborated in the redemption of humanity with Christ. That time was the very point where the “sword pierced her soul.” Therefore, it becomes pertinent to say that Mary participated with her heart what Jesus suffered in the flesh on the cross. In this light, the Blessed Virgin Mary could be said to be the first Christian martyr. This is a profound mystery that unites the mother with her son, which cannot be disputed; virtually all mothers understand this reality.

Our Lady’s martyrdom could be likened to the relationship between rose and thorns. Just as the rose grows, the thorns grow; so too, the more the Virgin, the chosen Rose of the Lord, grew in age, the more the thorns of her cruel martyrdom on account of the faith grew to torment her. Our life can be a martyrdom, a slow martyrdom of little daily irritations, a martyrdom of illnesses, setbacks, and other forms of challenges for the sake of the gospel, etc. This is reminiscent of what Paul talks about in 2 Cor. 4:8-12: “We are subjected to every kind of hardship, but never distressed; we see no way out but we never despair; we are pursued but never cut off; knocked down, but still have some life in us; always we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus, too, may be visible in our body. Indeed, while we are still alive, we are continually being handed over to death, for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may be visible in our mortal flesh. In us, then, death is at work; in you, life.” Hence, Mary lived intensely her son’s diverse “passions” without an atom of despair; thus, being the mother of the Redeemer, she lived out her consistent and true compassion in a very special way. That is why the Church calls her “co-redemptrix,” that is, a collaborator with the Redeemer. In fact, she anticipated what the martyrs of all times would be called to live.

Dear friends in Christ, we know that there are different forms of martyrdom, today. The community of Christian disciples is always in a state of martyrdom, whether in the etymological sense (that is, “witness”) or in the most common of being persecuted and killed on account of the gospel. We have a thousand opportunities to bear witness to our faith. It can happen in the family, in the community, at work, in friendships. This will often require tears, sweat and, of course, blood. Put differently, all of us are called to the martyrdom of charity and compassion – Mary’s martyrdom. We die to ourselves and give witness to Christ in all the small sacrifices of daily life. And, like glorious stained-glass windows, we must do so joyfully, aware that in the beauty of self-control, generosity and prayerfulness, our lives illuminate others’ with Christ’s light. By invoking the Blessed Virgin Mary as “Queen of Martyrs,” may we be encouraged to follow Christ’s footsteps in bearing witness to the gospel even in the face of death.

Let us pray

Lord our God, You called the Blessed Virgin Mary as a faithful disciple to bear witness and share in the passion of your Son as Queen of Martyrs. Through her intercessions, may we be endowed with compassionate hearts towards the sufferings of our fellowmen and continually bear witness to the truth even at the expense of our lives. Amen.

Great job reflecting on Day 12! Click here for Day 13 – “Queen of Confessors”