OCTOBER DEVOTION: UNDERSTANDING THE MARIAN TITLES IN THE LITANY OF LORETO (PART 2) – DAY 4: “HEALTH OF THE SICK” (SALUS INFIRMORUM)

DAY 4 PRAYER INTENTION: Today, pray for all pregnant women, and especially those in labour at the moment; May they be visited, consoled and assisted by Our Lady of the Visitation, and may the grace that flows from the Mother of God see them through a healthy and safe delivery, to the greater glory of God (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 4: REFLECTION

“HEALTH OF THE SICK” (SALUS INFIRMORUM)

Today, being the fourth day of our devotion to Mary in the month of October, we are stationed at an interesting and consoling title of Mary as illustrated in her litany: “Health of the Sick” (Latin, “Salus Infirmorum”). Throughout the Scripture, we hear of Jesus’ healing and care for the sick, and also the disciples who also received power to heal/cure the sick; however, no direct reference was made to our Blessed Mother in relation to those who were sick. Why then do we refer to her as “Health of the sick?” Is it implied Scripturally or does the Bible give us a clue? In order to understand this title better, we turn to the etymology of the phrase in Latin: “Salus infirmorum.”

The term sick was popularly understood as “infirm” in late Middle English, which springs from the Latin “infirmus.”  “Infirmus” is a compound word with the prefix “in” meaning “not” and its suffix “firmus” meaning “firm.” In the simple sense, it means “not firm,” and generally, it means “weak,” “frail,” “feeble,” “not strong,” or “unhealthy.”

Having established the foregoing, we understand that those who are weak need strength, or someone who will support them. It is in this sense that man, recognizing his insecurity, his weakness, feels that he has to seek God’s support. Thus, infirmity is not only referred to those who are just deprived of physical or mental strength by sickness, but also to the aged, those who are not firm – lacking support, etc. These are actually classified as being “sick.” Therefore, when someone seeks support from the Blessed Virgin Mary, a saint, an angel, or even from his fellowman under these conditions (stated above), it is still in God that he relies, since the Blessed Virgin Mary, the angels, saints, and even humans can only help with the strength received from God, for being in union with God (for our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth – Ps. 124:8). And since the sin of the first man brought death, pain sickness to the world, and Mary was prophesied as the woman to bring forth the saviour to redeem mankind from death, therefore, it becomes appropriate to invoke the Blessed Virgin Mary as “Health of the Sick.”

Secondly, we all know the pain of a mother before her sick child and the support she naturally tends to offer. At times, what the child only needs is the tender loving care (and support) of the mother to get well again. Bearing in mind this powerful role of a mother, the Prophet Isaiah uses it to make us understand the love of God for us: “Does a woman forget her child?” Also, in another chapter of Isaiah, we read: “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.” (see Is. 49:15; 66:13). And having entrusted us all to the maternal care and motherhood of His Blessed Mother through the “beloved disciple” (cf. Jn 19:25-27); I dare to say that, it is, therefore, the attentive tenderness of our Blessed Mother that attracts us and fills us with hope, leading us to invoke her as “Salus infirmorum” (Health of the Sick), for the integral recovery of strength, firmness, health, etc. Similarly, Saint John Marie Vianney, also known as the “Curé d’Ars” is the standard of all pastors. This is so because he was “a cure for souls,” being a pastor of the small French town of Ars (Curé d’Ars). In other words, since he pastorally “took care” of the Lord’s flock, he was attributed with the title of “Curé.” Once again, we see that healing is synonymous to “care.” Therefore, he who knows how to take care of people is collaborating with their healing. In this light, invoking our Blessed Mother as “Health of the Sick” is clearly understood; for she is our mother per excellence, who knows how to take care and heal each one of us. Do you want good health? Look up to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

It is pertinent to also note that Mary has something far beyond the power of literally healing the sick, which is her incomparable love and grace. On the other hand, although we can trust her intercession in our pains and illnesses, I believe that it is mainly in our spiritual diseases that the focus should be, of which Mary becomes an infallible remedy in our doubts, fears, ignorance, temptations, anxieties.

Dear friends in Christ, in every infirmity/sickness (both physical and spiritual), let us, therefore, turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary – Health of the Sick. If the physical health will be useful to the soul, this will be obtained; if the illness will be more useful spiritually, then she will obtain for us the grace of holy resignation to God’s will and the strength in supporting the sickness and pain.

Blessing
Through the intercession of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, may Almighty God bless + you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.