This song video, “Mother of America," was composed in 2001 on Sept. 14th, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The United States of America did not have a national song to the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of our country like many other countries such as Fátima, Portugal and Lourdes, France.

We used the 3^rd verse and the chorus to make this video. The complete song can be found on our CD, “Mother of America.”

It was especially important to us to compose this song to our Blessed Mother as our nation had just suffered from the attack upon our citizens on 9.11.2001 in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. It was a time of great sorrow and fear of the future for everyone as the whole country came to a ‘STOP.’

We need to pray to our Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit in these catastrophic times, then and now. Our Blessed Mother will come to comfort and console us but also help us to turn to our God if we have strayed. Prayer will see us through all difficulties and sadness as well as joys and peace. But we have the choice to pray and repent as a nation. “Let us stand together, one Nation, one Nation under God!

Mother of America

Music and Lyrics by

Maria C. French & Gloria E. Giannuzzi

1. America, the beautiful, my country ‘tis of Thee,

God blessed America, our home, the land of the brave and free.

The Mother of America, the Immaculate Conception,

Prays for her suffering children in peace and tribulation.

Chorus:

Let us stand together, One nation,

One nation under God.

In peace and tribulation

With faith and hope and love of God.

2. Attacked in peace with unbelief and lies that seem the truth

That draw us away from Life Itself to the way of sin and death.

But the Mother of America, The mirror of the Just,

Teaches her children Wisdom That in God we trust. (Chorus)

3. In tribulation we’re attacked with violence and hate.

Yet in the womb and until death the violence is the same.

But the Mother of America, Who before God’s Throne she stands,

Weeps for the Holy Innocents and children of her land. (Chorus)

© 2001, 2005, 2013 RIA Music Ministry Inc

Thoughts and Sayings from St. John Vianney

Curé of Ars

Ars, France

"The saints never complain."

We also found a beautiful story from his life

in the book Cure of Ars:

"...a woman..told....Vianney that she was devastated because her husband had committed suicide. She wanted to approach the great priest but his line often lasted for hours and she could not reach him. She was ready to give up and in a moment of mystical insight that only a great saint can receive,...Vianney exclaimed through the crowd, “He is saved!” The woman was incredulous so the saint repeated, stressing each word, “I tell you he is saved. He is in Purgatory, and you must pray for him. Between the parapet of the bridge and the water he had time to make an act of contrition."

https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=399

Sanctuaire (Shrine) D'Ars

https://www.arsnet.org

https://www.arsnet.org/The-message.html

Here are pictures of the Basilica in Ars from our pilgrimage to France in 2012

God evening!

We wanted to share two thoughts by one of our favorite writers, Venerable Archbishop Fulton J Sheen. He was a Catholic priest spanning 60 years, evangelist who had his own radio show, "The Catholic Hour and is own TV show, "Life is Worth Living," and writer of many books. He is on his way to Sainthood (canonization process) in the Catholic Church having become "Venerable," with one approved miracle in which he will be called "Blessed." In the final stage he would require another miracle to be proclaimed "Saint."

The quote we wanted to share is:

"After your car is filled with gasoline, it will not drive itself.

Grace will move you

when you want it to move you,

And only when you let it move you."

- Venerable Fulton J Sheen

Blessed Feast of Our Lady of Fátima

Happy Tulip Day!

Two Hearts

Blessed Mother's Day!

The idea for this song came from the apparition of Our Blessed Mother to St. Catherine LaBouré in Paris, France on July 18, 1830. Our Lady described to her a medal that she was to have made. On one side was to be the image of Our Lady with the words, "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee." Numerous miracles have been granted to people who wear this medal and became known throughout the world as the "Miraculous Medal."

But when asked about what was on the back of the medal, no one knew the answer. That answer became the lyrics to this song.

We have used this song extensively on pilgrimages to Marian Shrines throughout the world. You will see many pictures of the Our Lord and Our Lady, the "Two Hearts." May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary bring you peace.

Two Hearts

(Miraculous Medal)

1. Sacred Heart of Jesus,Fire of Divine Love. (2x)

Sacred Heart of Flesh and Blood,Crowned with thorns. (2x)

Chorus: O purify my heart. (2x)

2. Holy Mother of God magnifies the Lord. (2x)

Mediatrix of all graces pierced with a sword. (2x)

(Chorus)

Bridge:

Unite our hearts with the Two Hearts!

St. Joseph, be our guide!

3. Hearts of Jesus and Mary purify our hearts! (2x)

(Chorus)




Music and Lyrics 
by 
Maria C. French & Gloria E. Giannuzzi
Ria Music Ministry
©  1996, 2005 RIA Music Ministry Inc 

A Prayer for Strength by St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-teresa-benedicta-of-the-cross/

A Prayer for Strength
by
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

My God,

fill my soul with joy, courage and strength to serve You.

Enkindle Your Love in me and then walk with me

along the next stretch of road before me.

I do not see very far ahead, but when I have arrived

where the horizon now closes down,

a new prospect will open before me,

and I shall meet it with peace.

Amen.

Read more about St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross by clicking the link below

https://catholicsaints.info/saint-teresa-benedicta-of-the-cross/

Totus Tuus

Today is the feast day of St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716). It is also the 304th anniversary of his death. He is noted for promoting the "Total Consecration to Jesus Christ through the Blessed Virgin Mary" as a way of growing in grace and in love for Jesus, her Son and our Lord.

To quote Pope St. John Paul II (the Great), "Thanks to St. Louis de Montfort, I came to understand that true devotion to the Mother of God is actually Christocentric, indeed, it is very profoundly rooted in the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, and the mysteries of the Incarnation and Redemption." ("Crossing the Threshold of Hope," 1994)  His heartfelt devotion to Our Lord and our Lady led him to take as his motto: "Totus Tuus." (Totally Yours) 

We sang @ the World Youth Day Opening Ceremonies in 1993 in Denver Mile High Stadium with our parish choir, the Cherubim Family Choir from Our Holy Redeemer R.C. Church, Freeport, NY. and were present when Pope John Paul II arrived. In 1996, we were blessed to have a private audience with him in Rome, Italy with the same choir.  (For those who have our CDs, you will see us with the future Pope St. JP II, our Papa) At other events, we sang for Vocation Walks with the Montfort Missionaries. These events led us to compose the song, "Totus Tuus." A Montfort Missionary helped us to keep the lyrics in the spirit of St. Louis Marie.

Totus Tuus

(St. Louis de Montfort)

Chorus: (2x)

Totus Tuus, we surrender.

1. Seek the wisdom of Christ

In the company of Mary. (Chorus)

2. Born again in the womb of Mary,

We’re shaped into Jesus

And Christ is formed in our hearts. (Chorus)

3. We depend on the Lord, our Teacher,

To do something great in the fire of His Charity. (Chorus)

4. Let us glorify God,

In the spirit of Mary. (Chorus)

This song is on the "All Holy Saints" and "Mother of America" CDs.

St. Louis' devotion, "Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary" inspired us to make our Consecration to Jesus through Mary in the 2000 Jubilee Year. We have continued this devotion every year since then. We give witness that this devotion to Jesus and Mary has changed our lives forever and opened doors for us to sing and compose songs all over the world. Praise be Jesus Christ now and forever!

"That is why perfect consecration to Jesus is but a perfect and complete consecration of oneself to the Blessed Virgin, which is the devotion I teach; or in other words, it is the perfect renewal of the vows and promises of holy baptism.” 

- St. Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort

For more information on the Montforts, visit https://www.ourladyoftheisland.com

Thanks to Joseph Pronechen for sharing 21 Quotes of St. Louis de Montfort @ the National Catholic Register