Tres Magna Benefits

Attending Mass is a participation in the most noble act of man – which is sacrifice, according to St. Thomas Aquinas. Each Mass is the re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary, and His sacrifice is the highest act of all acts. At each Mass a Catholic attends, he is bathed in a font of great graces and blessings.

Each Mass devoutly attended:

• Renders God the highest form of worship
• Releases souls from Purgatory, and shortens our time there
• Preserves soul and body from dangers
• Consoles at moment of our death; will be one’s greatest consolation
• Intercedes before God at one’s judgment
• Brings down God’s blessings, and attention to petitions
• Increases one’s love for Christ, through better understanding of His Passion

• Brings one into union with God – surrounded by all of heaven
• Strengthens one spiritually, and for making daily decisions
• Forgives all venial sin
• Increases virtue
• Provides right-orientation, spiritually and psychologically, for the day and beyond

St. Louis De Montfort, author of the famous treatise on the rosary – The Secret of the Rosary, says that “the roses of your Rosary will never wilt or die, and they will be just as exquisite thousands of years from now as they are today.”

More recently, Our Lady herself asked the three children at Fatima (in her 1917 apparition), to tell mankind to stop offending God, and to pray the rosary daily – in reparation for sin, and for heavenly help in managing the difficulties and crises of modern life, including diseases, wars, and threats to peace.

The Rosary was originally presented by Our Lady to St. Dominic Guzman, a Spanish priest, in her 1208 apparition to him. He was praying for an end to the growing Albigensian heresy in Europe. She then asked him to preach her Psalter to overcome Albigensian dissent. The Marian Psalter, originally developed by the Cistercians, involved praying 150 Hail Marys divided into groups of 10, separated by the Our Father. Mary then gave St. Dominic the three sets of mysteries based on stories of Christ’s life – Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious – to correspond with the Psalter prayers.  Our Lady likewise assured St. Dominic of 15 promises of the Rosary, for those who say it with devotion.

15 Promises of the Rosary:

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall receive signal graces.
2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.
3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.
4. The Rosary will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities, and will lift them to the desire for eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.
5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.
6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just he shall remain in the grace of God, and become worthy of eternal life.
7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the sacraments of the Church.
8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death they shall participate in the merits of the saints in paradise.
9. I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.
10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.
11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.
12. All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.
13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire celestial court during their life and at the hour of death.
14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons and daughters, and brothers and sisters of my only Son Jesus Christ.
15. Devotion of my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

The Albigensians were roundly defeated, as were many foreboding opponents to faithful Catholics throughout the ages. The Rosary to this day remains a great weapon in beating back the threats of evil over good, and of falsehood over Truth. Through the rosary, the prayers of the faithful become a beautiful ‘bouquet’ to Christ through Mary, for an incomparable result.

Frequent Confession is crucial to receiving the graces for overcoming personal flaws, ingrained habits, and worldly intimidations. This sacrament develops humility, so a serious Catholic can live in accordance with actual reality – about himself, situations around him, and God’s Truth.
 
Coming to Confession regularly – perhaps monthly or more – acquaints a person better with himself as he genuinely is, and how he is progressing before God. It not only imbues a healthy humility, it embeds real contrition, holy courage, and acquaintance with Christ’s true teachings.

Many devout Catholics have a priestly spiritual director who likewise serves as their confessor. Certain situations – especially those in business – need the objective assessment and counsel of a detached spiritual confidante, often a trusted priest.

A state of grace is critical for contending successfully with daily challenges. Confession rebuffs the assaults of Hell against someone returned to a state of grace. He then can live in true peace of soul according to his God-pleasing purpose – and be an exemplary ambassador to others.