A Priceless Treasure

Be inspired by these exemplary figures and turn to Our Lady of the Rosary with the prayer she cherishes most! St. Dominic, the promoter of the Rosary, used to pray the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary eight times a day, totaling one hundred and twenty prayers. St. Charles Borromeo used to recited the Rosary on his knees, often urging others: "Say the Rosary every day, or as much as you can!" St Francis de Sales devoted an hour each day to the Rosary and, on his deathbed, requested that the Rosary be wrapped around his arm, advising: "Never part from the Rosary and always keep it with you!" St Philip Neri used to keep a Rosary by his bed so he could start praying it as soon as he wake up. When St. John Berchmans was nearing death, he held the Crucifix, a Rosary, and the Rule of Life, saying: "These are the three things I love, and with them, I will die happy." Saint Paul of the Cross never siezed praying the Rosary. When advised not to pray it due to shortness of breath, he responded: "I want to keep praying it until I die, and when I can't say it verbally, I'll pray it in my heart." St. Alphonsus Liguori stated: "Anyone who loves Mary can be considered blessed in this world and have great hope of salvation. And who loves Mary? Those who honor her with the prayer she favors most, which is the Holy Rosary."

Carlo Carretto was an Italian priest and writer who served as the president of Catholic Action. He joined the Little Brothers of the Gospel of Charles de Foucauld and spent ten years in solitude in Algeria. This book is the product of his reflections during that time. In its pages, we find a tender conversation between the author and Mother Mary, where she responds to the intimate questions posed by Carretto. The essence of their dialogue can be summarized in the sentence: “Yes, it was easier to concieve him (Jesus) in the body than to accept him in faith!". To grasp this concept, we must let go of the image of Mary depicted as queen on the altar and instead see her as "our sister," a "simple, humble, poor girl," unknown to anyone in a secluded place, yet "fortunate enough to speak with angels." Imagine being told that you will give birth to a special child, the Son of the Most High. Put yourself in Mary's place during the announciation. Consider the fear and the potential persecution she might have faced, with the possibility of having Joseph accusing her in front of the Pharisees, leading to her being stoned. Who would have believed that she is carrying the Messiah? Don't you think the tempter tried to sow doubts in her heart about her divine pregnancy? But Mary did not heed the tempter. With the divine grace bestowed upon her, she submitted and echoed Gabriel the Archangel's words: " Nothing is impossible for God" (Luke 1:37). She cared for, taught, and believed in Jesus. After enduring the seven sorrows, she was rewarded by the Holy Trinity with the Assumption, with the crowning as the Queen of heaven and earth, and with being called Our Lady. This echoes the words of St Elisabeth upon meeting her: "Yes, blessed are you who believed" (Luke 1:45). Carl Zahra SDC Candidate

The Benedicta was first circulated among the SDC Members in 1934. Originally intended for the private use of Members and was meant to be read in August. The name Benedicta, meaning ‘blessed’, refers to Holy Mary, the mother of the Son of God. This book of short reflections on Our Lady's life, clearly demonstrates St. George Preca's deep devotion to our heavenly Mother. Preca was deeply moved by thoughts of Our Lady and the divine graces God bestowed upon her. St. George Preca was dedicated to spreading genuine devotion to Mother Mary and her son Jesus, and promoted various popular devotions for the general public. In the Benedicta, Preca envisions St. Gabriel the Archangel discussing episodes from Mother Mary's life, highlighting the virtues, particularly humility, that she exemplified. Though the Benedicta can be considered a book of popular devotion, it also imparts theological principles. Alongside the 31 reflections for each day of August, the book includes a collection of 31 sentences, called Practical Readings for the Month of August, intended for daily reflection for devoted readers. This book offers great spiritual benefits when read in a spirit of silence and contemplation.   Saint Gabriel: Now, I invite you to join me in greeting Mary and offering her our praise. Chorus: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women. Rejoice, O Virgin Mary, for you have found favour before God. You who believed the words of the Archangel Gabriel. While a virgin, you brought forth a son, God made man, and after childbirth, you remained a pure virgin. O Mother of God intercede for us.

The cherished devotion to the Holy Rosary was revealed and taught to St. Dominic of Guzman in the 13th century by Mary, the Queen of Heaven and Earth. St. Dominic presented the Rosary to Christians as a weapon against the heresies of his time. This devotion was embraced with such joy that, to this day, no other devotion to Our Lady compares to it. Mary holds the Rosary close to her heart. Through this prayer, one combines vocal prayer with mental prayer, meditating on episodes from the lives of Jesus and Mary while reciting beautiful prayers. The Rosary is noble and immensely beneficial to those who pray it. It helps us live virtuously, empowers us against the temptations of the devil, and, above all, it honors and glorifies God and our Mother Mary. The Holy Rosary is deeply cherished by the Queen of Heaven and Earth. While in Lourdes, Mary appeared to St. Bernadette with the Rosary on her right arm, in Fatima, she recommended the Rosary, underscoring how dear it is to her heart and how powerful and beneficial it is for us. St. Charles Borromeo used to exclaim, "What is a Christian without the Rosary?" So let us carry the blessed Rosary with us wherever we go and recite the Holy Rosary daily to instill true devotion to Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary!

Satan should remember that he owes his very existence to the Most High to whom no one can be equal. No power can remove Jesus Christ, the Son of the Most High and of the Virgin Mary, from his eternal glory. In consequence of Satan's malice, the truly happy guilt of the first parents of the human race rendered God's Son their own brother. Satan can never and by no means or effort find peace and rest not even by persecuting the servants of God themselves. The anguish of soul and the tormenting of the body brought about on people through Satan's hatred are the cause of a greater crown of glory. He who said "I will not serve" brought, through his malice and confusion, the effect of God's incomprehensible judgements. To God alone praise, honour, and glory for he receives the humble and casts the proud away. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.   The prayer St Michael's Voice written by St George Preca in Maltese:

A feature in Maltese commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first Night of St. Michael, celebrated by St. George Preca and the SDC Members in 1924. The feature, recalling this first Night of St Michael, encourages gratitude to God and inspires us to embrace the same enthusiasm as the early SDC Members. Confident in St. Michael's protection, they believed that, despite the spiritual battles, they were on the victorious side. To God alone praise, honour, and glory, for he receives the humble and sends the proud away!

What is my vocation? Marriage, priesthood, consecrated life, something else? What does God want me to do with my life? How would I know? Fr. Nicholas Crowe's, Living Your Vocation, addresses one of the most profound questions for Christians: discerning God's vocation for their lives. He explores the common anxieties surrounding whether one is called to marriage, priesthood, consecrated life, or another path. Crowe emphasizes that regardless of one's uncertainty, everyone can live a holy life pleasing to God. He frames vocational choices as acts of love offered to God, emphasizing the importance of the love with which these choices are made. Crowe teaches that true discipleship means living a life of self-sacrificial love in communion with others, mirroring Jesus' life. He advises looking to God rather than oneself to understand one’s calling, reinforcing that our existence and purpose are rooted in God's love. The book challenges readers to prioritize holiness and consider which life context best fosters their journey toward sainthood. Crowe also broadens the concept of vocation beyond religious roles, highlighting that any work done with love contributes to God's providential care for the world. This insightful and accessible guide offers profound spiritual guidance, making it a valuable resource for anyone seeking to discern and live out their vocation. “God has created this world so that we might have the joy of offering him a gift. Our life is a gift of love from our heavenly Father: our task is to offer him a gift of love in return as a sign of our gratitude. This is the frame through which to view our vocational choices: we are little children offering our heavenly Father a gift. More important, then, than what we choose is the love with which our gift is offered. Perhaps, objectively speaking, our life might seem unimpressive or even an ugly mess. But if we offer up our life as a gift of love, then our gift will be welcomed with joy. It is by loving that we fulfil our vocation” (p.6-7).