Catholic Morning Offering, Friday, August 15, 2025, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Starting the morning off with God is the key to strength and success in your day!

Join me in praying the Catholic morning offering, as well as hear meditations, learn about the saint of the day,  and hear today's Scripture readings from Holy Mass.

To sign up to receive a daily email of the Morning Offering through The Catholic Company, go to https://www.morningoffering.com/

Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

The Morning Glory Consecration Prayer is excerpted from "33 Days to Morning Glory:  A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Marian Consecration" by Michael E. Gaitley, MIC, © 2011 Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M., p. 137.

If you have any comments, please email me at Deanna.pierre25@gmail.com.

Transcript

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Starting the morning off with God is the key to strength and success in your day. Good morning! Today is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is an ancient feast of the Church, celebrated universally by at least the 6th century. According to tradition, all of the Apostles were present when Our Lady came to the end of her earthly life and peacefully went to be with Christ in Heaven, an event also known as the Dormition of Mary. The tomb where her body was laid was found empty, her body being taken up into heaven a short time after she passed into eternal life. The Church's historic belief that the Virgin Mary is presently in heaven, reigning as the Queen of Heaven and Earth, in body and soul, next to her divine Son, was pronounced as infallible dogma in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. The bodily assumption of Jesus' mother into heaven is a foretaste of our own bodily resurrection at the end of time. Please join me in praying the morning offering prayer and prayers for our Holy Father. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Prayers for the Holy Father Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy upon thy servant, Pope Leo XIV, our Supreme Pontiff, and direct him, according to thy lovingkindness, in the way of eternal salvation, that of thy gift he may ever desire that which is pleasing unto thee, and may accomplish it with all his might. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Quote from Saint Therese of Lisieux. To ask something of the Blessed Virgin is not the same as to ask something of God. She knows well what to do with all my little desires, and it is for her to decide whether to ask for them or not. Meditation of the Day, an excerpt from The Glories of Mary by St. Alphonsus Liguori, pages 377 and 378 O most sweet Lady and our Mother, Thou hast already left the earth and reached thy kingdom, where, as queen, thou art enthroned above all the choirs of angels, as the church sings. She is exalted above the choirs of angels in the celestial kingdom. We well know that we sinners are not worthy to possess thee in this valley of darkness. But we also know that thou in thy greatness hast never forgotten us miserable creatures, and that, by being exalted to such great glory, thou hast never lost compassion for us poor children of Adam, nay, even that it is increased in thee. From the high throne, then, to which thou art exalted, turn, O Mary, thy compassionate eyes upon us, and pity us. Remember also that in leaving this world, thou didst promise not to forget us. Look at us and succor us. See in the midst of what tempests and dangers we constantly are and shall be until the end of our lives. By the merits of thy happy death, obtain for us holy perseverance in the divine friendship, that we may finally quit this life in God's grace. And thus we also shall one day come to kiss thy feet in paradise, and unite with the blessed spirits in praising thee and singing thy glories as thou deservest. Scripture Verse of the Day Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand. Romans chapter 5, verses 1 through 5. Saint of the Day The Saint of the Day for August 15th is Saint Tarsisius. Saint Tarsisius lived in the 3rd century. He was a boy who lived during the persecution of Roman Emperor Valerian. When the Christians would secretly celebrate daily mass in the catacombs, a deacon would be sent to carry the Holy Eucharist to the Christians waiting in prison to be executed. At one point, there was no deacon to send, and so Saint Tarsisius... a 12-year-old acolyte, was sent to carry the holy mysteries to the prisoners. One day on his way, he was stopped by pagan boys his own age with whom he would sometimes play games. They asked him to play, but Tarsisius declined because of the holy mission in which he was presently engaged. The crowd of boys became curious about what he was carrying and soon discovered that he was a Christian. In their profane desire to see the holy secret he so carefully guarded, They descended on him as a mob and beat him to death. A fellow Christian came to his rescue and carried his bloodied body back to the catacombs. Tarsisius died from his injuries along the way. He was buried in the cemetery of St. Callistus, and his relics are kept in the Church of San Silvestro. Legend has it that the consecrated host disappeared during the attack. St. Tarsisius is the patron of... altar boys, altar servers, and first communicants. Saint Tarsisius, pray for us. God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child, and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth. Then another sign appeared in the sky. It was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadems. Its tail swept away a third of the stars in the sky and hurled them down to the earth. Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child when she gave birth. She gave birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was caught up to God in his throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, Now have salvation and power come, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his anointed one. Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 45 Hear, O daughter, and see, turn your ear, forget your people and your father's house. The Queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold. So shall the King desire your beauty, for he is your Lord. The Queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold. They are born in with gladness and joy. They enter the palace of the King. The Queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold. A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians. Chapter 15, verses 20-27 Then at his coming, those who belong to Christ, Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he subjected everything under his feet. The Word of the Lord. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke, chapter 1, verses 39-56. Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And Mary said, My spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed. The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel. For he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever. Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. Prayer of Spiritual Communion In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. My Jesus, Morning Glory Consecration Prayer Prayer to Saint Joseph O glorious Saint Joseph, chosen by God to be the guardian of the Holy Family, whose protection is so great, so strong, in union with the Blessed Virgin Mary and our Savior Jesus Christ, send down from heaven a blessing from God to protect us from any harm, strengthen us in body, soul, and spirit. We ask this through thy powerful intercession. Holy Family, pray for us. Amen. Guardian Angel Prayer O angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen. Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, Cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who prowl throughout the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen. The Three Hail Marys Devotion The first Hail Mary, in honor of God the Father. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. The second Hail Mary, in honor of God the Son. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. The third Hail Mary, in honor of God the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. O my mother, preserve my soul from mortal sin during this day. Amen. Memorare to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Remember, O Most Gracious Virgin Mary. that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because you have revealed them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. In this faith I intend to live and die. Amen. Act of Hope Oh my God, relying on your almighty power, infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon for my sins, the help of your grace, and the life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen. Act of Love Oh my God, I love you above all things with my whole heart and soul, because you are all good and worthy of all love. Prayer for the Poor Souls in Purgatory O gentle heart of Jesus, ever present in the blessed sacrament, ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in purgatory, have mercy on them. Be not severe in thy judgment, but let some drops of thy precious blood fall upon the devouring flames. Merciful Savior, send thy angels to conduct them to a place of refreshment, light, and peace. Amen. Act of Resignation to the Divine Will O Lord my God, from this moment do I accept from thy hands, with burning love and sincere contrition, with a calm and willing disposition, whatsoever death thou shalt choose to send me, with its pains and griefs. Amen. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Starting the morning off with God is the key to strength and success in your day.