Praised be Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament!
This reflection was written by Sr. Katherine Joseph Marie Allensworth, HMSS
There are nine days until Christmas. How quickly Advent is going by! Really though, how quickly nine months have passed since March 25, when we celebrated the Annunciation; when the angel came to Mary announcing she would bring Jesus into the world! As we enter the final nine days before Christmas, I want to share with you about our tradition of Las Posadas. Being from Mexico, our Mother Foundress Ven. Maria del Refugio Aguilar y Torres had a great devotion to celebrating Las Posadas.
Las Posadas are nine days of celebrations, from December 16 through December 24, that represent Mary and Joseph journeying to find a place in Bethlehem for Jesus to be born. Each day of the nine days, we pray particular prayers, re-enact going from door to door as pilgrims with Mary and Joseph, sing carols along the way, and finally find a place for Mary and Joseph to stay at the last of the three doors, where we finish by celebrating with a meal and fellowship together. This tradition draws out the joy and gift of Jesus becoming man and dwelling among us.
We continue to carry on this tradition as a way to preserve the spiritual traditions of our Institute. During these days of Las Posadas, I will share three reflections about the different parts of the celebration: the prayers, the fellowship, and spirituality.
The Prayers
In our communities, we begin each night of Las Posadas with prayer. It is our custom to first recite Evening Prayer, or Vespers, which is part of the Liturgy of the Hours. After we pray Vespers, we chant the Litany of Loreto in Latin. We chant this Litany to call to mind the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary as she is soon giving birth to her Son. I have included the English version of the Litany for you to pray with all the beautiful titles of Mary that we honor her under. It is from our prayer that we begin to prepare our hearts to walk as pilgrims with Mary and St. Joseph in welcoming their Son.
The rest of the evening’s activities are imbued with a spirit of prayer. The meaning behind all we do during the Las Posadas celebration is to make present the reality of Jesus coming into the world and enter into the experience of Mary and St. Joseph. As we become pilgrims with the Holy Family each night, we hold in our hearts the stories recounted in Scripture with joy. In this way, we seek to be greater conformed to the example of the Holy Family, that we may prepare our hearts to receive Baby Jesus.
As we begin this novena to Christmas today, I invite you to spend time in prayer, intentionally asking Mary and St. Joseph to prepare your heart to welcome Baby Jesus in a few days. This could be by praying the Litany of Loreto, praying the Rosary with your family, or setting aside time to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. May the Holy Family guide you and accompany you always.
The Litany of Loreto
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy on us.
Christ hear us.
Christ graciously hear us.God, the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.Holy Mary, Pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, Pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, Pray for us.
Mother of Christ, Pray for us.
Mother of the Church, Pray for us.
Mother of Mercy, Pray for us.
Mother of Divine Grace, Pray for us.
Mother of Hope, Pray for us.
Mother most pure, Pray for us.
Mother most chaste, Pray for us.
Mother inviolate, Pray for us.
Mother undefiled, Pray for us.
Mother most amiable, Pray for us.
Mother admirable, Pray for us.
Mother of good counsel, Pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, Pray for us.
Mother of our Savior, Pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, Pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, Pray for us.
Virgin most renowned, Pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, Pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, Pray for us.
Virgin most faithful, Pray for us.
Mirror of justice, Pray for us.
Seat of wisdom, Pray for us.
Cause of our joy, Pray for us.
Spiritual vessel, Pray for us.
Vessel of honour, Pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion, Pray for us.
Mystical rose, Pray for us.
Tower of David, Pray for us.
Tower of ivory, Pray for us.
House of gold, Pray for us.
Ark of the covenant, Pray for us.
Gate of heaven, Pray for us.
Morning star, Pray for us.
Health of the sick, Pray for us.
Refuge of sinners, Pray for us.
Solace of migrants, Pray for us.
Comfort of the afflicted, Pray for us.
Help of Christians, Pray for us.
Queen of Angels, Pray for us.
Queen of Patriarchs, Pray for us.
Queen of Prophets, Pray for us.
Queen of Apostles, Pray for us.
Queen of Martyrs, Pray for us.
Queen of Confessors, Pray for us.
Queen of Virgins, Pray for us.
Queen of all Saints, Pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin, Pray for us.
Queen assumed into Heaven, Pray for us.
Queen of the most Holy Rosary, Pray for us.
Queen of families, Pray for us.
Queen of peace. Pray for us.Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.Let us pray.
Grant, we beseech thee, O Lord God, that we, your servants,
may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body;
and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin,
may be delivered from present sorrow,
and obtain eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.