The Cord of St. Philomena

Of the several forms which devotion to St. Philomena has taken, perhaps the one that is best known and most used is that of her Cord.  The holy Cure of Ars himself blessed and distributed a great many. The cord is white and red, and may be made either of linen, woolen, or cotton threads, so interwoven as to give an almost equal preponderance to both colors; it has two knots at one end. The white color represents virginity; the red, martyrdom.

The cord has been approved by the Sacred Congregation of Rites and is enriched with indulgences. It is usually worn under the outer garment as a girdle. No ceremony is required in conferring it, but it should be blessed. When replacing a worn Cord with a new one, this too, should be blessed. Wearers of the Cord ought to have the intention of honoring St. Philomena to the best of their ability in order to merit protection against evils of soul and body, and to obtain through her prayers perfect chastity and the spirit of faith. It is also recommended that the following prayer be said daily:

Saint Philomena, virgin and Martyr, pray for us that through thy powerful intercession we may obtain that purity of mind and heart which leads to the perfect love of God. Amen.

The Cord of Saint Philomena has been the instrument of innumerable favors. It is used by the sick, and is a protection against accidents and evils of ever kind. Those suffering from temporal trials, or spiritual temptations, have found it a wonderful help. It is especially recommended that children be given the Cord, for it is a marvelous protection in the many mishaps which threaten them.

But the Cord is worn especially as a safeguard of the virtue of chastity. St. Philomena is regarded as a powerful protectress of this virtue because, if the reputed facts of her life are true, her own virginal purity was so outstanding. Hence her clients believe God has given her a special power of assisting those who are tempted against this virtue.

Plenary Indulgences of The Cord of Saint Philomena

1. On the day on which the cord is worn for the first time.
2. On May 25th, anniversary of opening of Saint Philomena's tomb - catacombs of Saint Priscilla.
3. On August 11, her proper feast.
4. On December 15, the anniversary of the approbation of the cord by the holy see.
5. At the moment of death, under the ordinary conditions.

With the exception of the last, it is necessary for gaining the above indulgences to go to confession, receive Holy Communion, make a visit to some church and there pray for the intentions of the Sovereign Pontiff.

From the Roman Ritual

Benedictio Cinguli in Honorem S. Philumenae Virg. et Mart.

(Approbata a S.R.C. die 20 Dec. 1883)

Sacerdos, superpelliceo et stolla rubea indutus, dicit:

Adjutorium in Nomine Domini
Qui fecit caelum et terram
Dominus vobiscum
Et cum spiritu tuo
Oremus

Domine Jesu Christe, benedic + , quaesumus, hoc cingulum, et praesta: ut , qui (quae) illud gestaverit, Sanctae Philumenae Virginis et martiris protectione munitus (a) , ab omnibus periculis defendi, atque animae et corporis sanitatem percipere mereatur: qui vivis et regnas Deus in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Et aspergatur aqua benedicta

Rite of Bridge Blessing

Blessing of the new bridge on Vistula river by bishop Karol Radoński in 1937

 1931 Bridge on the Warta river

Blessing of Pilsudzki bridge in Krakow by archbishop Adam Sapieha in 1933

Our Mother Holy Church provides us with blessings for all kind of human activities and things that we use in our daily life.

Are bridges in your town blessed? If a new one being built,  it would be a good idea that the local catholic community ask to bless the bridge ‘that everyone who pass over it may ever find in God a safeguard amidst the joys and sorrows of this fickle world’.

Moreover, during the blessing the priest is asking the almighty God to appoint an Angel ‘to watch over, protect, and support this bridge and all who pass over it’.

Rite from the Roman Ritual.

BENEDICTIO PONTIS V . Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini. R . Qui fecit caelum et terram. V . Dominus vobiscum. R. Et cum spiritu tuo. Oremus. Adesto, Domine, supplicationibus nostris: et pontem istum, et omnes qui per eum transibunt,bene + dicere dignare; ut inter prospera hujus mundi et adversa tuo semper protegantur auxilio.Per Christum Dominum nostrum.  R. Amen. Oremus. OratioExaudi nos, Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, ?terne Deus: et mittere digneris sanctumAngelum tuum de c?lis, qui custodiat, visitet, et defendat pontem istum, et omnes qui per eumtransibunt. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. R . Amen. Et aspergatur aqua benedicta.

BLESSING OF A BRIDGE P: Our help is in the name of the Lord. All: Who made heaven and earth. P: The Lord be with you. All: May He also be with you. Let us pray. Lord, heed our prayers, and be pleased to bless + this bridge and all who pass over it, that they may ever find in you a safeguard amidst the joys and sorrows of this fickle world; through Christ our Lord. All: Amen. Let us pray. Hear us, holy Lord and Father, almighty everlasting God, and in your goodness send your holy angel from heaven to watch over, protect, and support this bridge and all who pass over it; through Christ our Lord. All: Amen. It is sprinkled with holy water.

Source of photos NAC

Transfiguration: Special Blessing of Grapes

Fr. John Zuhlsdorf has posted on his blog an interesting text on the blessing of grapes on the feast of Transfiguration, which we celebrate today. Read it HERE

Source of photo: The Hermeneutic of Continuity

Scapular of Our Lady Of Mount Carmel

BENEDICTIO ET IMPOSITIO SCAPULARIS B. MARIÆ VIRG. DE MONTE CARMELO Propria Ordinis Carmelitarum Discalceatorum Persona recipienda ad Habitum genuflexa, Sacerdos superpelliceo et stola alba indutus dicat: Ant. Suscépimus, Deus, misericórdiam tuam in médio templi tui: secúndum nomen tuum, Deus, sic et laus tua in fines terræ, justítia plena est déxtera tua. Kýrie, eléison. Christe, eléison. Kýrie, eléison.  Pater noster secreto usque ad V. Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem. R. Sed líbera nos a malo. Pro uno vel una V. Salvum (-am) fac servum tuum (ancíllam tuam). R. Deus meus, sperántem in te.  V. Mitte ei, Dómine, auxílium de sancto. R. Et de Sion tuére eum (eam).  V. Nihil profíciat inimícus in eo (ea). R. Et fílius iniquitátis non appónat nocére ei.  V. Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam. R. Et clamor meus ad te véniat.  V. Dóminus vobíscum. R. Et cum spíritu tuo. Orémus.                                                                                          Oratio Suscípiat te (vos) Christus in número fidélium suórum, et nos, licet indígni, te (vos) suscípimus in oratiónibus nostris. Concédat tibi (vobis) Deus per Unigénitum suum, mediatórem Dei et hóminum, tempus bene vivéndi, locum bene agéndi, constántiam bene perseverándi, et ad ætérnæ vitæ hereditátem felíciter perveniéndi: et sicut nos hódie fratérna cáritas spirituáliter jungit in terris, ita divína píetas, quæ dilectiónis est auctrix et amátrix, nos cum fidélibus suis conjúngere dignétur in cælis. Per eúmdem Christum Dóminum nostrum. R. Amen.

BLESSING AND INVESTITURE WITH SCAPULAR OF OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL Formerly reserved to the Order of Discalced Carmelites. The person who is to receive the scapular is kneeling. The priest vested in surplice and white stole, says: Ant. O God, we ponder your kindness within your temple. * As your name, O God, so also your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is full of justice. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.  Our Father the rest inaudibly until V. And lead us not into temptation. R. But deliver us from evil.  V. Save your servant. R. Who trusts in you, my God.  V. Lord, send him (her) aid from your holy place. R. And watch over him (her) from Sion.  V. Let the enemy have no power over him (her). R. And the son of iniquity be powerless to harm him (her).  V. Lord, heed my prayer. R. And let my cry be heard by you.  V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. Let us pray.                                                                    Prayer May Christ add you to the number of His faithful; and we, in spite of our unworthiness, include you in our prayers. May God, through His only-begotten Son, the Mediator of God and men, help you to live well, to do good, to persevere in your resolution, and to attain the inheritance of everlasting life. And as today brotherly love joins us in a spiritual bond here on earth, so may the divine goodness, in whom all love has its origin and its growth, be pleased to unite us with His faithful in heaven; through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

V. Adjutórium nostrum in nómine Dómini. R. Qui fecit cælum et terram.  V. Sit nomen Dómini benedíctum. R. Ex hoc nunc, et usque in sæculum. V. Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam. R. Et clamor meus ad te véniat.  V. Dóminus vobíscum. R. Et cum spíritu tuo. Orémus.                                             Oratio Aetérne Pater et omnípotens Deus, qui Unigénitum tuum vestem nostræ mortalitátis indúere voluísti: obsecrámus, imménsam tuæ largitátis bene + dictiónem in hoc genus efflúere vestiménti, quod sancti Patres ad innocéntiæ et humilitátis indícium a renuntiántibus sæculo gestári sanxérunt; et sic ipsum bene + dícere dignéris, ut, quicúmque eo usus fúerit, indúere mereátur ipsum Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum Fílium tuum: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sæcula sæculórum. R. Amen. Orémus.                                                                                          Oratio Supplíciter te, Dómine, rogámus, ut super hunc hábitum servo tuo (ancíllæ tuæ) imponéndum bene + díctio tua benígna descéndat, ut sit bene + díctus, atque divína virtúte procul pellántur hóstium nostrórum visibílium et invisibílium tela nequíssima. R. Amen.    Aspergat Habitum aqua benedicta. Si autem Habitus solum sit benedicendus, incipit a V. Adjutórium nostrum, usque ad Orationem Supplíciter, inclusive.

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth.  V. Blessed be the name of the Lord. R. Both now and forevermore.  V. Lord, Heed my prayer. R. And let my cry be heard by you.  V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. Let us pray.                                                                     Prayer Almighty God and everlasting Father, who willed that your only- begotten Son be clothed in our mortal nature, we humbly beg you in your boundless goodness to let your blessing + flow out on this garment, which our holy fathers have sanctioned to be worn by those who renounce the world, in token of innocence and lowliness. Let it please you to endow it with such blessing, + that he (she), who is to wear it, may likewise put on our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. R. Amen. Let us pray.                                                                     Prayer We earnestly beg you, O Lord, to let your gracious blessing + come on this garment, in which your servant is to be clothed. May it be blessed and endowed with your power to repel all vicious assaults of our visible and invisible enemies. R. Amen. He sprinkles the habit with holy water. ¶ If only the habit is to be blessed, the blessing begins with the versicle Our help etc. and concludes with the aforementioned prayer "We earnestly beg you," etc.

 

Imponens ei Habitum, dicat: Accípe, vir devóte (múlier devóta), hunc hábitum benedíctum: precans sanctíssimam Vírginem, ut ejus méritis illum pérferas sine mácula, et te ab omni adversitáte deféndat, atque ad vitam perdúcat ætérnam. R. Amen. Adésto, Dómine, supplicatiónibus nostris: et hunc fámulum tuum, quem (hanc fámulam tuam, quam) Sodalitáti sanctæ Religiónis Carmelitárum sociámus, perpétua tríbue firmitáte corroborári, ut, perseveránti propósito, in omni sanctitáte tibi váleat famulári. Prótege, Dómine, fámulum tuum (fámulam tuam) subsídiis pacis, et beátæ Maríæ semper Vírginis patrocíniis confidéntem, a cunctis hóstibus redde secúrum (-am). Bene + dícat te Cónditor cæli et terræ, Deus omnípotens, qui te elígere dignátus est ad beatíssimæ Vírginis Maríæ de Monte Carmélo Societátem et Confraternitátem: quam precámur, ut in hora óbitus tui cónterat caput serpéntis, qui tibi est adversárius, et tandem tamquam victor (victrix) palmam, et corónam sempitérnæ hereditátis consequáris. Per Christum Dóminum nostrum. R. Amen. Deinde aspergat Confratrem (-es) aqua benedicta, et subjungat: Ego auctoritáte, qua fungor, et mihi concéssa, recípio te (vos) ad Confraternitátem sacræ Religiónis Carmelitárum, et invéstio, ac partícipem (-s) te (vos) fácio ómnium bonórum spirituálium ejúsdem Ordinis. In nómine Patris, et Fílii, + et Spíritus Sancti. R. Amen. Hic expletis, Sacerdos Confratrem paucis sed efficacioribus verbis adhortetur ad caute, pie, sancteque vivendum, ad onera omnia adimplenda tum generalia pro omnibus Confratribus, tum specialia pro iis, qui gaudere volunt privilegio, vulgo nuncupato “Sabbatino” (circa quæ eumdem sufficienter instruat), atque ad Virginem Deiparam in posterum peculiaribus devotionis obsequiis assidue colendam, eamque veluti singularem ac dulcissimam Matrem filiali et sincero affectu prosequendam.

As he invests the person with the habit he says: Take, dear brother (sister), this blessed garment, and call on the most holy Virgin, that by her merits you may keep it spotless, be shielded by her from all adversity, and attain everlasting life. R. Amen. Lord, hear our humble entreaties, and help this servant of yours, whom we enroll in the holy sodality of the Carmelites, to be ever constant and true to his (her) proposal, and to serve you in all holiness. Protect your servant, Lord, with the saving grace of peace; and as he (she) confides himself (herself) to the patronage of blessed Mary, ever a Virgin, let him (her) be safe from all adversaries. May almighty God, Maker of heaven and earth, bless + you, He who graciously chose you for the society and confraternity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. We pray to her that in the hour of your death she will crush the head of your adversary, the serpent, so that you may finally and triumphantly possess the palm and crown of the everlasting inheritance; through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. He sprinkles the person with holy water; after which he adds: By the delegated power which I enjoy, I receive you into the confraternity of the holy order of Carmelites, and enroll you as a partaker of all the spiritual benefits of this order; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. R. Amen. At the end of the service the priest addresses a few but effectual words of admonition to the newly enrolled member, to the effect that he order his life wisely and piously, and fulfill all the obligations, both those laid down in general for all tertiaries, as well as the special ones for members who desire to enjoy the so-called "Sabbatine" privileges (concerning which he should fully enlighten the party); moreover, that in future he be assiduous in honoring the Virgin Mother of God with devotions of a special nature, and dedicate himself in filial and sincere affection to her whom he regards in a special way as a most tender Mother.

Chaplet of the Most Precious Blood

We are in the middle of the month of July, which is specially dedicated to the MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF OUR LORD. There is still time to choose from variety of devotions and sacramental of the Most Precious Blood one for us, which particularly will suit us.
One of them is the Chaplet of the Most Precious Blood. How to pray it follow the LINK.

Read and pray also the below powerful Blessing of the Rosaries of the Precious Blood taken from the Rituale Romanum. The remarkable are the words which in one sentence summarize why Our Lord came down from heaven:

“God, who, out of exceeding love for us, willed that your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, come down from heaven to earth, taking flesh at the angel's message in the sacred womb of Our Lady, the blessed Virgin Mary, in order to snatch us from Satan's tyranny;”

 

BENEDICTIO CORONARUM PRETIOSISSIMI SANGUINIS  Propria Congregationis Missionariorum pretiosissimi Sanguinis Constat corona precatoria triginta tribus granulis, in septem distinctis partes, quarum quæque quinque habet granulos, septima parte excepta, quæ tantum tres numerat; ut ita honorentur septem Sanguinis Christi præcipuæ effusiones recitatione triginta trium Pater et septem Glória. V. Adjutórium nostrum in nómine Dómini. R. Qui fecit cælum et terram. V. Redemísti nos, Dómine, in Sánguine tuo. R. Et fecísti nos Deo nostro regnum. V. Te ergo quæsumus, tuis fámulis súbveni. R. Quos pretióso Sánguine redemísti. V. Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam. R. Et clamor meus ad te véniat. V. Dóminus vobíscum. R. Et cum spíritu tuo. Orémus.                                                             Oratio Omnípotens et miséricors Deus, qui propter exímiam caritátem tuam, qua dilexísti nos, Fílium tuum unigénitum, Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, de cælis in terram descéndere, et de beatíssimæ Vírginis Maríæ Dóminæ nostræ útero sacratíssimo, Angelo nuntiánte, carnem suscípere voluísti, ut nos eríperes de potestáte diáboli: obsecrámus imménsam cleméntiam tuam; ut has corónas in honórem, et laudem pretiósi Sánguinis ejúsdem Fílii tui ab Ecclésia tua fidéli dicátas bene + dícas, et sanctí + fices, eísque tantam infúndas virtútem Spíritus + Sancti, ut, quicúmque harum quámlibet secum portáverit, aut in domo sua reverénter tenúerit, ab omni hoste visíbili et invisíbili semper et ubíque in hoc sæculo liberétur, et post éxitum suum, méritis ipsíus pretiosíssimi Sánguinis, ad ætérnam beatitúdinem felíciter pervéniat. Per eúmdem Christum Dóminum nostrum. R. Amen. Et aspergantur aqua benedicta

BLESSING OF ROSARIES OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD Formerly reserved to the Congregation of Missionaries of the Precious Blood The rosary is made up of thirty-three beads divided into seven parts, six of which have five beads each, and the seventh only three. In this way the seven principal sheddings of Christ's blood are honored by the recitation of thirty-three Our Fathers and seven Glory be to the Fathers. V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. You have redeemed us, Lord, in your blood. R. You have made us to reign with our God. V. We therefore implore you to save your servants. R. Whom your precious blood has redeemed. V. Lord, heed my prayer. R. And let my cry be heard by you. V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.  Let us pray.                                      Prayer Almighty and merciful God, who, out of exceeding love for us, willed that your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, come down from heaven to earth, taking flesh at the angel's message in the sacred womb of Our Lady, the blessed Virgin Mary, in order to snatch us from Satan's tyranny; we humbly beg you in your boundless goodness to bless + and to hallow + these rosaries, which your faithful Church has consecrated to the honor and praise of the precious blood of your Son. Let them be endowed with such power of the Holy + Spirit, that whoever carries one on his person or reverently keeps one in his home, may always and everywhere in this life be shielded from all enemies, visible and invisible, and at his death, by the merits of the precious blood, happily attain everlasting blessedness; through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. They are sprinkled with holy water.

Votive Garb Of The Precious Blood

 The Roman Ritual provides one more devotion associated with the Most Precious Blood: 'Votive Garb'. If you know anything more about this devotion, feel free to share it with us.

All we read in the ritual is that the vestment should be black and be wear by person who want to honor the Precious Blood and obtain 'well-being in body and mind. Help her to worship you in true faith as the Creator of all things; strengthen her hope in your only-begotten Son, Redeemer of the world; help her to love you above all else as the supreme good and to keep your holy commandments, until it becomes her happy lot to attain everlasting glory'.

BENEDICTIO VESTIS VOTIVÆ PRETIOSI SANGUINIS Vestis votiva nigra adhibetur. V. Adjutórium nostrum in nómine Dómini. R. Qui fecit cælum et terram. V. Redemísti nos, Dómine, in Sánguine tuo. R. Et fecísti nos Deo nostro regnum. V. Te ergo quæsumus, tuis fámulis súbveni. R. Quos pretióso Sánguine redemísti. V. Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam. R. Et clamor meus ad te véniat. V. Dóminus vobíscum. R. Et cum spíritu tuo.

BLESSING OF A VOTIVE GARB OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD This garb is black in color. V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. You have redeemed us, Lord, in your blood. R. You have made us to reign with our God. V. We therefore implore you to save your servants. R. Whom your precious blood has redeemed. V. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come unto Thee. V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

Orémus.                                                                                             Oratio Dómine sancte, Pater omnípotens, ætérne Deus, a quo descéndit omne bonum, et omne donum: tibi grátias reférimus pro suscéptis votis, et per mérita pretiosíssimi Sánguinis dilécti Fílii tui Dómini nostri Jesu Christi, ac per intercessiónem beatíssimæ Vírginis Maríæ præsta fámulæ tuæ, quæ hanc vestem indúerit, salútem mentis et córporis; ut te Creatórem ómnium recta fide colat, et in Fílium tuum Unigénitum, Redemptórem mundi, spem suam confírmet, teque summum bonum super ómnia díligat, ac sanctis mandátis tuis semper obédiat, donec ad ætérnam glóriam felíciter perducátur. Per eúmdem Christum Dóminum nostrum. R. Amen.  Et aspergatur aqua benedicta.

Let us pray.                                                                       Prayer Holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, from whom every good and every gift descends on us, we offer you our thanks for having heard our prayers. By the merits of the precious blood of your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the prayers of the blessed Virgin Mary, bestow on your servant who is to wear this garment well-being in body and mind. Help her to worship you in true faith as the Creator of all things; strengthen her hope in your only-begotten Son, Redeemer of the world; help her to love you above all else as the supreme good and to keep your holy commandments, until it becomes her happy lot to attain everlasting glory; through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. It is sprinkled with holy water.