May

7

Greetings from the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe

May 7, 2008 |

Dear Friends,

May is traditionally the month dedicated to Our Blessed Mother.  One of the Marian devotions that the Franciscans have is the Franciscan Crown – the seven joys of our Lady.  The legend goes that in the 15th century there was a novice named James who would always place flowers at the altar of the Blessed Mother.  To test his obedience, the novice director forbade him to continue this practice.  He was greatly saddened but was obedient.  He went to the altar of Our Lady to tell her that he could no longer bring her flowers.  He had to be obedient.  Our Lady appeared to James and said because he was obedient she would show him a way to give her! a beautiful bouquet, more beautiful that any floral bouquet.  She taught him the Franciscan Crown of her seven joys and as he prayed each “Hail Mary” a beautiful flower went from his lips to the head of the Virgin where they formed a very beautiful crown – thus the name Franciscan Crown.  The novice was overjoyed and prayed the Franciscan crown each and every day giving to Our Lady a bouquet of prayers that far surpassed only a bouquet of flowers. The Franciscan Crown of the seven joys of Our Lady is comprised of seven decades.  It begins with the Our Father and the first decade and continues in this fashion.  The “Glory be” is not prayed between the decades.  After the 7th decade, two more “Hail Mary’s” are prayed bringing the total of “Hail Mary’s” prayed to 72, the traditional age of Our Lady before she was assumed into heaven body and soul.  The crown ends by praying an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be for the intentions of the Holy Father. The seven joys of Our Lady are as follows:

    1. Her joy at the Annunciation.
    2. Her joy at the Visitation.
    3. Her joy at the Birth of Jesus. 
    4. Her joy at the Adoration by the Magi.   
    5. Her joy at the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple. 
    6. Her joy at Seeing Jesus after the Resurrection.
    7. Her joy at her Assumption and Coronation as Queen of heaven and earth.

During this Marian month, why not give Mary a beautiful bouquet and crown her with your prayers – the seven joys of Our Lady, the Franciscan crown.

            In the Immaculata,

            Fr. Stephen


Comments

1 Comment so far

  1. Br. Michael Anthony on May 7, 2008 6:03 pm

    Fr. Philip Wozniak OFM Conv. celebrates his 50th anniversary of Franciscan Priesthood in May. Fr. Philip has served as Assistant General of the Conventual Franciscans in Rome, Minister Provincial and Cleric Master for the Province of St. Bonaventure. He resides at Marytown.

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