Tag: Mama Mary

Posted in Catholic faith, novena, prayer, prayers

Our Lady of Fatima 9-day Novena

Posted on by M Artisans

9-Day Novena (May 4-12)

The Novena to Our Lady of Fatima is a nine-day prayer dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary who appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. The novena is typically prayed from May 4th to May 12th, leading up to the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima on May 13th.

This Novena is adopted from Catholic Crusade. Choosing this version as it is easy to pray and complete. We have been in Fatima, Portugal and it was one of the most beautiful and grand pilgrimage sites. Photo below shows the inside of Fatima cathedral.

Novena follows…

Photo I took from our visit
OPENING PRAYERS (every day)
O Most Holy Virgin Mary, you came to Fatima to reveal the graces that come from praying the Holy Rosary to three little shepherd children. Inspire us with a sincere love of this devotion so that, like the shepherd children, it is not a burdensome task but a life-giving prayer. May our prayers and meditations on the mysteries of our redemption bring us closer to your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Day 1

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Like the children of Fatima, we want to bring God’s word to others. Give us the strength, O Lord, to overcome our doubts so that we may be messengers of the Gospel. We know that Jesus lives in our hearts and we receive Him in the Eucharist. Lord Jesus, the miracles, prophecies and prayers that Your Mother brought to us at Fatima amazed the whole world. We are certain of her closeness to You. We ask through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima that you graciously hear and answer our prayers. 

Especially…

(mention your request)

Concluding Prayer

Our Father,
Hail Mary
Glory Be
(three times each)

Day 2

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Lady of Fatima, we pray that we may be like you and follow your example. We pray for all those who face oppression, that they will find peace. We pray and give thanks for all the blessings we enjoy. Lord Jesus, the miracles, prophecies and prayers that Your Mother brought to us at Fatima amazed the whole world. We are certain of her closeness to You. We ask through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima that you graciously hear and answer our prayers. 

Especially…

(mention your request)

Concluding Prayer

Our Father,
Hail Mary
Glory Be
(three times each)

Day 3

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Lady of Fatima, Today, we pray for an end to the suffering and injustice that plague so many parts of the world. Through the power of the Lord, you performed a miracle at Fatima and made the sun dance for thousands of people to see. Please intercede for those who are suffering. Lord Jesus, the miracles, prophecies and prayers that Your Mother brought to us at Fatima amazed the whole world. We are certain of her closeness to You. We ask through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima that you graciously hear and answer our prayers.

Especially…

(mention your request)

Concluding Prayer

Our Father,
Hail Mary
Glory Be
(three times each)

Day 4

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Lady of Fatima, let us pray today for humility to seek forgiveness for our sins and make amends for our misdeeds. Lord Jesus, the miracles, prophecies and prayers that Your Mother brought to us at Fatima amazed the whole world. We are certain of her closeness to You. We ask through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima that you graciously hear and answer our prayers. 

Especially…

(mention your request)

Concluding Prayer

Our Father,
Hail Mary
Glory Be
(three times each)

Day 5

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Lady of Fatima, may we offer everything we do today to our Lord. As we make this offering, we think of people who are affected by our actions each day. We ask God to help us be motivated by love and compassion. Lord Jesus, the miracles, prophecies and prayers that Your Mother brought to us at Fatima amazed the whole world. We are certain of her closeness to You. We ask through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima that you graciously hear and answer our prayers. 

Especially…

(mention your request)

Concluding Prayer

Our Father,
Hail Mary
Glory Be
(three times each)

Day 6

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Lady of Fatima, sometimes we live in fear and we are too afraid to let go of our anxieties. We want to be God’s instruments to achieve His will and to bring Him glory. Today we ask through your intercession, that Jesus help us to trust in Him like the children at Fatima. Lord Jesus, the miracles, prophecies and prayers that Your Mother brought to us at Fatima amazed the whole world. We are certain of her closeness to You. We ask through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima that you graciously hear and answer our prayers.


Especially…

(mention your request)

Concluding Prayer

Our Father,
Hail Mary
Glory Be
(three times each)

Day 7

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Lady of Fatima, show us how to pray always. Teach us how to speak to God as a friend. Help us to make time for silence in our hectic days so that we may listen to what God has to tell us. Throughout the business of our days, help us remember God and have our hearts centered on Him. Lord Jesus, the miracles, prophecies and prayers that Your Mother brought to us at Fatima amazed the whole world. We are certain of her closeness to You. We ask through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima that you graciously hear and answer our prayers. 

Especially… 

(mention your request)

Concluding Prayer

Our Father,
Hail Mary
Glory Be
(three times each)

Day 8

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Lady of Fatima, today we pray for your Son to come to our aid and end the suffering and wars throughout the world. Help us to be like the children at Fatima; loving, trusting and faithful. May we pray to bring peace to our own world in our own small way by choosing to love and trust in the Lord. Lord Jesus, the miracles, prophecies and prayers that Your Mother brought to us at Fatima amazed the whole world. We are certain of her closeness to You. We ask through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima that you graciously hear and answer our prayers. 

Especially… 

(mention your request)

Concluding Prayer

Our Father,
Hail Mary
Glory Be
(three times each)

Day 9

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Lady of Fatima, thank you for appearing to the children at Fatima and delivering messages that are still relevant to us today. We pray again and again for peace in the world and for an end to war. May we continue to pray and sacrifice as you requested. Lord Jesus, the miracles, prophecies and prayers that Your Mother brought to us at Fatima amazed the whole world. We are certain of her closeness to You. We ask through the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima that you graciously hear and answer our prayers. 

Especially…

(mention your request)

Concluding Prayer

Our Father,
Hail Mary
Glory Be
(three times each)

 Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us!

Posted in Catholic faith, prayer

Going to Simala Shrine Cebu

Posted on by M Artisans

The Simala Shrine is a Catholic pilgrimage site in Cebu. In my opinion, it is the Cebuano version of Lourdes Grotto in France. We have been in Lourdes and Fatima, Portugal a couple of times pre-pandemic and this local site has the same level of holy experience and devotion.

This sacred place hosts the Our Lady of Lindogon, the local title of the Virgin Mary in Sibonga, Cebu. It was built in 1998 by the Marian Monks of Eucharistic Adoration (MMEA) from Pampanga.

Simala Shrine is believed to be miraculous by devotees of Mama Mary after it is attributed to the healing of those who were afflicted with dengue in 1998.  The image reportedly shed tears first in 1998 and the latest on September 8, 2016. It is quite unique amongst the images of Our Lady, this one wearing pink instead of blue.

It is also famous for its castle-like design, huge infrastructure atop the mountains of Sibonga. The shrine is associated with numerous miracles, with many answered petitions showcased in their musem.

crutches, wheelchairs and objects of those healed and answered

The church dedicated an area (& museum) to store items like crutches and wheelchairs used by devotees who were healed after praying at the Simala Shrine. They also have letters, stories, and photos thanking Mama Mary for her intervention.

There are 4 ways to pray ask for your petitions here in Simala;

  1. Halok (kiss) – halok is Cebuano for kiss, here you will line up and kiss the image of Mama Mary while praying for your requests. You will be asked to take off your shoes as you line up and enter.

2. Pray in the adoration chapel – there’s the beautiful chapel where you can opt to sit or kneel.

3. Pray under her mantle (holy image) – you need to line up again for this one, it’s a symbolic representation of Our Lady being Our Mother and ready to intercede for us.

4. Light a candle – light a candle in the open area outside the chapel for your prayers. You can use color-coded candles based on your intentions.

Here is the list of colors and their specific prayer requests:

  • White – Purity, guidance, or the right path
  • Black – Praying for loved ones who passed away
  • Green – Prosperity or success (financial or business, passing exams)
  • Gold – Healing or good health
  • Orange – Reconciliation with partner/enemy/family
  • Pink – Blessing or forgiveness
  • Yellow – Peace, strength, courage, or hope
  • Red – Love
  • Gray – Deliverance from evil ways/things/spirits
  • Brown – Vocation
  • Blue – Perseverance
  • Violet – Achievement

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.

♥️

Posted in Catholic faith, prayer

Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal – Novena Prayer

Posted on by M Artisans

Novena Prayer

O Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of Our Lord Jesus and Our Mother, penetrated with the most lively confidence in your all-powerful and never failing intercession, manifested so often through the Miraculous Medal, we your loving and trustful children implore you to obtain for us the graces and favors we ask during this Novena. If they be beneficial to our immortal souls and the souls for whom we pray; (here mention your petition).

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us, who have recoursed to Thee (3 times).

Our Father, Haily Mary, Glory Be…

A personal favorite of mine, this perpetual novena is short and sweet that I can pray on a regular basis. Hope you find this helpful and ask Mama Mary for her intercession. The shrine in Paris France is a special place for me as a pilgrim or devotee of Our Lady.

For physical Novena cards, I found an online shop (not sponsored) that sells beautifully crafted prayer cards –

❤

Posted in Catholic faith, Our Mother of Perpetual Help, prayer

Prayer for home to Our Mother of Perpetual Help

Posted on by M Artisans

Sharing this prayer I’ve learned from Redemptorist church when I was young while joining Nanay (grandma) to her Wednesday devotions. Been praying this ever since.

Our Mother of Perpetual Help

we salute thee as the chosen queen of our home

we beseech thee by thy tender motherly love

to preserve its inmates from destructive fires and earthquakes,

from thieves, accidents and calamities

and above all from sudden and unprovided death,

O Mother of Perpetual Help

be ever the queen of our home,

Amen.

Posted in Catholic faith, prayer

Miraculous Medal Prayer

Posted on by M Artisans

Miraculous Medal Prayer

Virgin Mother of God, Mary Immaculate,
we unite ourselves to you under your title of
Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.
May this medal be for each one of us
a sure sign of your motherly affection for us and a constant reminder of our filial duties towards you.
While wearing it, may we be blessed by your loving protection and preserved in the grace of your Son.
Most powerful Virgin, Mother of our Savior,
keep us close to you every moment of our lives so that like you we may live and act
according to the teaching and example of your Son.
Obtain for us, your children, the grace of a happy death so that in union with you we may enjoy the happiness of heaven forever.
Amen.

Posted in prayer

The Most Powerful Prayer

Posted on by M Artisans

Why do you confuse yourselves by worrying? Leave the care of your affairs to me and everything will be peaceful.

I say to you in truth that every act of true, blind, complete surrender to me produces the effect that you desire and resolves all difficult situations… A thousand prayers do not equal one act of abandonment; don’t ever forget it. There is no better novena than this:

O Jesus, I abandon myself to you. Jesus, you take over.

Posted in Catholic faith

Feast of Mary’s birth

Posted on by M Artisans

Bible does not give an account of Mary’s birth. However, the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James fills in the gap. It reflects the development of Christian piety. According to this account, Anna and Joachim are infertile but pray for a child. They receive the promise of a child who will advance God’s plan of salvation for the world. Such a story, like many biblical counterparts, stresses the special presence of God in Mary’s life from the beginning.

Saint Augustine connects Mary’s birth with Jesus’ saving work. He tells the earth to rejoice and shine forth in the light of her birth. “She is the flower of the field from whom bloomed the precious lily of the valley. Through her birth the nature inherited from our first parents is changed.”(1)


Posted in Catholic faith

A prayer to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Posted on by M Artisans

This July 16 is the feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. It is well known as the Lady of the brown scapular with Virgin Mary’s apparition to St. Simon Stock. I will be writing a pithy story of this apparition in my future post. For now, I’m sharing with you all the prayer to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. It is said to be derived from an antiphon, “Flos Carmeli” (the Flower of Mt. Carmel) and written by St. Simon Stock himself after she appeared to him last July 16 year 1251. This prayer is recited as a novena before the feast day of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel but can uttered in times of great need…

A prayer to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel 

O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this… my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show herein that you are my Mother.

O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart, to succor me in this… my necessity. There is none that can withstand your power. O show me herein that you are my Mother.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (pray 3 times)

Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands (pray 3 times)

Posted in Catholic faith, Our Mother of Perpetual Help

Our Mother of Perpertual Help

Posted on by M Artisans

The icon of Our Mother Perpetual Help is one of the most well known and loved images of Mama Mary. The original icon is enshrined in the Redemptorist Church of St. Alphonsus in Rome which I was fortunate to visit last 2009.  This June 27, 2016  will be it’s 150th Jubilee.

History can be traced back to year 1495, when this ancient image was enshrined in a church on the island of Crete in the Mediterranean sea. When the island was threatened by invaders, the icon was carried off, perhaps stolen, by a merchant who took it with him to Rome. This man upon arriving in Rome became severely ill. Before his death, he begged his friend to bring it to one of the churches in Rome so it can be publicly venerated. Upon his death however, the friend’s wife kept the painting in their home for several months. One night, the Lady appeared to the man in a dream & warned him not to keep the picture. Twice she appeared to him, and twice he disregarded the warning. The third time, She warned her that if he still disobeys he would die a miserable death. So the man tried to convince his wife to give up the painting, but she refused. Our Lady appeared to him for the last time and told him of his impending death, within a short time, he became sick and died.

Our Lady appeared to the man’s 6 year old daughter, telling her to tell her mother, “Holy Mother of Perpetual Help commands you to take her out of the house.” The mother, who saw the same vision, was terrified and was about to give the icon but her neighbor convinced her that she should not pay attention to just a dream. That night the neighbor became ill, realizing her fault, she made a solemn promise to the Lady and then was immediately cured. Again, the Lady manifested herself to the young girl, asked her to tell her mother to place her image in a church between St. Mary Major’s and St. John Lateran’s. That same day, March 27, 1499, the icon was delivered with a solemn procession to the church of St. Matthew the apostle. It was a quaint church and even before the image entered it’s walls, a paralyzed man was healed after the icon passed by his house.

For 300 years, this humble church where the miraculous icon was placed became a famous pilgrimage in Rome. But came the Napoleonic armies and overrun Italy, General Massena ordered the destruction of St. Matthew’s and other churches in Rome. The icon was saved by the Augustinian Order who was taking care of that church and hid it for the next 68 years.

 OLPH Perpetual Help

The church of St. Alphonsus was built near the site of St. Matthew’s by the Redemptorist Order. In 1866, Pope Pius IX ordered that the icon be given to Redemptorists and place it where the Lady has chosen it to be, in St. Alphonsus’ church. He also encouraged  – Mary under the title of – Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH) make known to the world. They have successfully done this, that’s why there are many shrines of Our Mother of Perpetual Help throughout the world, and became shrines of great devotion and prayers.

One of the icons is located in Redemptorist church in Baclaran, where my devotion to Mama Mary has started. Every Wednesday there’s novena masses hourly, and prayers of devotees like myself has been heard many times and even to this day I continue to trust on the Perpetual Help from Our Mother…