J.M.J.
THE DEVOTION OF THE "THREE HAIL MARYS"
Its Basis
The Blessed Trinity has crowned the Blessed Virgin Mary with
three diadems:
God the Father had endowed the Blessed Virgin with Power in
Heaven, on earth and in hell;
God the Son had endowed her with Wisdom of God and of His creatures;
God the Holy Spirit has endowed her with Love for God and for man.
Through the devotion of the "Three Hail Marys", we remember these
three crowns and honor her for this God-given privilege; thus the
purpose of this devotion is to give glory to God. This was revealed
by Our Lady herself to St. Mathilda.
The Vision of St. Gertrude
In a vision, St. Gertrude saw the following:
Three Beams of Light issue from the Heart of the Three Divine Persons
and penetrate into the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Then, They
return to Their Source in the Blessed Trinity.
Herein lies the admirable compendium of the entire Marian Theology.
In this vision, Mary is presented to us as "the splendor of the
Eternal Light, the mirror of the Divine Majesty and the image of the
Infinite Goodness", receiving and reflecting all the graces of the
Blessed Trinity.
Through the devotion of the "Three Hail Marys", Our Lady shows us her
gratitude to the Blessed Trinity, reminding us of this august Mystery.
Moreover, this devotion enables us to honor the Mother of God in a
suitable manner, for -- as Our Lady herself revealed to St. Mathilda
-- the "Hail Mary" is the best prayer we can offer to Our Lady to
recall her God-given privilege as Mother of God and to give her due
honor for it.
Practiced and Recommended
Many great saints have practiced and recommended the devotion of the
"Three Hail Mary". Here are the names of but a few of them: St.
Leonard of Port Maurice, St. Bruno, St. Bonaventure, St. John
Berchmans, St. John Baptist Mary Vianney (Cure of Ars), St. Anthony
of Lisbon and of Padua, St. Stanislaus Kostka, St. Louis Marie
Grignion de Montfort, St. John Joseph of the Cross, St. John Baptist
de Rossi, St. Gerard Majella, St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows,
Blessed Marcellinus Champagnat, and, above all, the great Marian
doctor St. Alphonsus Liguori who, in his writings recommended this
devotion about twenty times.
As a result, this devotion has been spreading, and we are reminded of
it in many ways: at shrines, in churches and chapels, through
association and sodalities, through novenas, pictures, statues and
medals, and especially by the innumerable graces and favors received
through the practice of this devotion. No doubt, one day in the near
future, it will be numbered among the universally-known important
Marian devotions.
Moreover, various Popes have indicated that they favor this devotion:
Some (like Pius IX, Leo XIII and St. Pius X) have granted special
indulgences for the practice of this devotion. Others (since Urban II at the
Council of Clermont in 1095) have proposed it as a means for
obtaining the triumph of the Church; while still others (like Leo
XIII and St. Pius X) have ordered its recitation after the Mass for
the same intention. (This was the reason the "Three Hail Marys" were
recited after the Low Masses before the Liturgical Reform.)
St. Pius X said: "This devotion will save Mexico", and so he
recommended all the faithful to practice it.
Innumerable Fruits
"Astonishing conversions, increase in virtues, cure of the sick,
temptations conquered, business difficulties solved, holy death.and
salvation." (This is the promise made by the Blessed Virgin to St. Mathilda).
The "Three Hail Marys", are "the best safeguard for chastity" (in the
words of St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori). This statement was recorded and
attributed to St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori by St. Pius X; "that it is
true, has been confirmed by our experiences as well as those of many
missionaries" (according to Frassinetti). Even the number of graces
and favors obtained through the practice of this devotion show us
just how pleasing it is to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Devotion for Everyone
This devotion is suitable for everyone:
For sinners, it is a classic example of a devotion approved
especially for them by the Church. Even if the complete renewal in
our way of life does not occur immediately, at least a great change
for the better will be noted. Our faithful perseverance in this
practice will succeed in obtaining the complete change, sooner or
later, through Our lady's intercession. (This is what St. Alphonsus
Maria Liguori wrote about this devotion.)
Of course, it is understood that the person who is praying for the
favor -- even if he/she be a great sinner -- must have pure
intentions and good will, and pray with great attention, fervor and constancy.
For those who progress in spiritual life, the "Three Hail Marys" are
powerful arms against temptations, especially those against purity.
"From my wide experience, I know that boys and girls who faithfully
honor Mary, do not usually commit serious sins" (according to Frassinetti).
And this devotion is really very easily practiced, for its very
brevity makes it suitable for everyone, however busy they may be,
since it does not even take one minute to pray the "Three Hail
Marys". (It takes only some 40 seconds.) Therefore, of the 1,440
minutes in each day, are we unable to devote about one minute and
half per day to reciting the "Three Hail Marys" in the morning and at
night in order that we may obtain our eternal salvation?!
How to Pray the "Three Hail Marys"
Although the devotion of the "Three Hail Marys" is very easy, there
are certain conditions which we should observe:
1. Our intentions must be pure, and we must have good will.
2. We must pray with attention, fervor and constancy.
3. With each "Hail Mary", we must have the intention of honoring one
of the three privileges granted by the Blessed Trinity to the Blessed
Virgin Mary: POWER, WISDOM and MERCY.
4. Since the main aim of these "Three Hail Marys" is our
sanctification and salvation, we should add one of the ejaculations
which recall this aim. Some of them had been recommended and
indulgenced by Leo XIII or by St. Pius X.
Here are some examples:
a) "Mary, my Mother, keep me free from mortal sin during this
day" or "during this night" (as the case may be).
b) "O Mary, by your Immaculate Conception, keep my body pure
and my soul holy."
c) "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have
recourse to thee and also for those who do not have recourse to thee,
especially for the enemies of the Church."
Its Effectiveness
Here is the personal testimony of a sinner who used the devotion with
good results:
"For the last three years, I have been the slave of a bad habit
against the virtue of purity. How could I get rid of this terrible
passion? I tried every means available, but all proved useless. I
used to give in to very serious sins and even to sacrileges. This was
most disheartening.
"Then, one day, someone recommended to me the devotion of the "Three
Hail Marys". And now, it is not yet quite one month since I started
to pray the "Three Hail Marys" every morning and every night without
fail. I cannot explain what has happened within me, but I do know and
can assure you that, since the very first moment, it has produced
wonderful results within me: I have not succumbed to the impure
temptations since then. When I have been weak and just about ready to
succumb, something or another has happened which has stopped me from
giving in; and, indeed, I do know that it was something stronger than
my desire of sinning."
Fatal Delay in Explaining
Although the recitation of the "Three Hail Marys" was recommended
after Low Masses, at the beginning of each Rosary, etc., the
importance of this devotion was not explained to the faithful on a
wide scale. Therefore, most Catholics did not know its meaning or its
importance, and so, they did not pray them with the proper
dispositions. As a result, anti-Christian forces -- like Atheism,
Communism, etc. -- have been able to organize secret societies to
attack the Church.
Let us hasten to start practicing this devotion of the "Three Hail
Marys" every morning and every night! Let us not put it off till
tomorrow! Moreover, let us introduce this devotion to our friends and
relations and urge them to recite the "Three Hail Marys" daily, every
morning and every night! Through the practice of this simple devotion
we may be led to study the Message of Fatima in greater detail, and
so we may lead a life of greater prayer, sacrifice and consecration
to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The suppression of the
anti-Christian doctrines, the conversion of sinners and of Russia,
and -- above all -- peace in the world depends on our obtaining the
necessary graces from God through our prayers and sacrifices!
(Translated and adapted by Rally of June, 1978 from an extract from a
leaflet by Rev. Fr. Nazario Perez, S.J., which appeared in the
"Cavaleiro da Imaulada".)
The above is an article from "Fatima Findings" (January 2002), a
monthly bulletin of the Reparation Society of the Immaculate Heart
of Mary, 7920 Beverly Ave., Baltimore, Maryland 21234-5308
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While still in the month of October, we recommend listening to Fr.
Pfeiffer's sermon (21 minutes) on the creation and temptation of God's
angels. Father Pfeiffer describes the response of St. Michael the
Archangel to the "Non servium" reaction of Lucifer to God's revelations
(http://www.voiceofcatholicradio.com/100205_fr_pfeiffer_st_michael__and_the_angels_special,21min.mp3).
Presented by "Voice of Catholic Radio"
(http://www.voiceofcatholicradio.com/catholicradiowebpage_002.htm).
--
Sincerely in Christ,
Our Lady of the Rosary Library
"Pray and work for souls"
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Lord, may everything we do begin with Your inspiration and continue
with Your help,
so that all our prayers and works may begin in You and by You be happily ended.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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