LOG IN          ONLINE GIVING


Home  |  Our Catholic Faith |  Notes/Sermons

Notes/Sermons


OUR LADY'S MAGNIFICAT

Writing in The Church’s Year of Grace: Advent to Candlemas (1957), Dr. Pius Parsch speaks of how central the figure of Mary is in understanding the spirit of Advent. “Since Advent means preparation for receiving God’s grace, who could be a better model than she who bodily contained and sheltered Him and was privileged to be a true Mother to Him?”

The use of Our Lady’s Magnificat (Luke 1:48- 55) in the Church’s liturgical prayer shows how every faithful Christian can be immersed in that spirit of closeness to God, expressed by Mary’s inspired Canticle. If we do not yet know Our Lady’s Magnificat by heart, I recommend its memorization as an Advent project for this year.

Here is my favorite translation (a version we sang once in the schola at the Seminary):

My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoicéd in God my Savior, For He hath regarded the lowliness of His handmaid, and, behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blesséd. For He that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is His Name, and His mercy is on them that fear Him throughout all generations. He hath shown the strength of His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts;
He hath put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the humble and meek. He hath filléd the hungry with good things, And the rich He hath sent empty away. He remembering His mercy hath holpen His servant Israel,
As He promiséd to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed forever.
(Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.)

(Fr. Higgins) 

Quick Links




MOST RECENT POSTINGS
CANDLEMAS, 2021
January 31, 2021 - read more ...
ST. SEBASTIAN: PROTECTOR OF THE FAITHFUL AGAINST PESTILENCE 
January 24, 2021 - read more ...
JANUARY 18th—25th:
OCTAVE WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 
January 17, 2021 - read more ...
THE BARBARA BRANCH
January 10, 2021 - read more ...
THANK YOU
January 3, 2021 - read more ...
MERRY TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
December 27, 2020 - read more ...
THE TIME IS FULFILLED
December 20, 2020 - read more ...
DOM PROSPER GUARANGER, O.S.B. AND THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION 
December 13, 2020 - read more ...
ADVENT AND THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF MARY
December 6, 2020 - read more ...
“BEHOLD, A VIRGIN SHALL CONCEIVE AND BEAR A SON…”
November 29, 2020 - read more ...
THANKSGIVING DAY, 1910:
DEDICATION OF THE CHURCH OF
MARY IMMACULATE OF LOURDES,
Newton Upper Falls, MA 
November 22, 2020 - read more ...
MARTIN MASS AND “ST. MARTIN’S SUMMER”
November 15, 2020 - read more ...
ON NOT PRESUMING TO “KNOW THE MIND OF GOD” IN HUMAN EVENTS 
November 8, 2020 - read more ...
THOSE WHOSE REST IS WON
November 1, 2020 - read more ...
"AND BE YE THANKFUL"
October 25, 2020 - read more ...
‘TE DEUM” FOR THE SAFE RELEASE OF FR. PIERLUIGI MACCALLI, S.M.A. 
October 18, 2020 - read more ...
ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PARISH AND CEMETERY, FOR FISCAL YEAR 2020 
October 11, 2020 - read more ...
CARDINAL SARAH ON PROTECTING THE SACREDNESS OF WORSHIP
October 4, 2020 - read more ...
OUR LADY OF RANSOM
September 27, 2020 - read more ...
TO SHINE AS STARS IN THE SKY
September 20, 2020 - read more ...
HOLY CROSS DAY: SEPTEMBER 14th
September 13, 2020 - read more ...
FATHER SALAKO'S MISSION APPEAL
September 6, 2020 - read more ...
GENESIS 3:15
THE "PROTO-EVANGELIUM"
August 30, 2020 - read more ...
FATHER STEPHEN LEBLANC ASSIGNED AS PAROCHIAL VICAR FOR MARY IMMACULATE OF LOURDES PARISH
August 23, 2020 - read more ...
THE SERVANT OF GOD MATT TALBOT
1856-1925
"How can you be lonely with Christ in the Tabernacle?"
August 16, 2020 - read more ...
FACE-MASKS IN A PANDEMIC, THEN AND NOW: 1918-2020
August 9, 2020 - read more ...
ECCE AGNUS DEI - BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD
August 2, 2020 - read more ...
A TREASURE TROVE OF PRAYERS TO THE EUCHARISTIC JESUS
July 26, 2020 - read more ...
SAINT CAMILLUS DE LELLIS: PATRON SAINT OF THE SICK AND DYING
1550-1614 A.D. 
July 19, 2020 - read more ...
SAINT ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL: BEARER OF CHRIST'S PEACE
July 12, 2020 - read more ...
THE HEARTS OF JESUS AND MARY
June 28, 2020 - read more ...
THE FAITH-FEAST OF THE SACRED HEART AND THE HOLY EUCHARIST
June 21, 2020 - read more ...
THE "YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST", June 2020-2021
June 14, 2020 - read more ...
OUR SAINT PATRICK WINDOW
June 7, 2020 - read more ...
MEMORIAL DAY MASS AND RESURRECTION
May 31, 2020 - read more ...
MEMORIAL DAY, 2020
May 24, 2020 - read more ...
THE THANKSGIVING CHURCH
1910
May 17, 2020 - read more ...
REMEMBERING THE CONSECRATION OF THE "NEW" ST. MARY'S CHURCH: APRIL 30th, 1876
May 10, 2020 - read more ...
POPE FRANCIS SPEAKS OUT ON THE DANGER OF LIVING FAITH WITHOUT THE SACRAMENTS AND COMMUNITY
 
May 3, 2020 - read more ...
EUCHARISTIC FAMINE
April 26, 2020 - read more ...
UNRESERVED TRUST IN GOD
April 12, 2020 - read more ...
A TIME FOR PRAYER AND PATIENCE
March 22, 2020 - read more ...
PARISH LENTEN MISSION: THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS OF THE LOURDES PILGRIMAGE, CONFERENCE II
THE BEGINNINGS OF THE MASS PILGRIMAGE AND THE CAUSE OF ROYALIST FRANCE 
March 15, 2020 - read more ...
PARISH LENTEN MISSION: THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS OF THE LOURDES PILGRIMAGE, CONFERENCE I
March 8, 2020 - read more ...
CATECHUMENS, PENITENTS, ALL-THE-FAITHFUL
March 1, 2020 - read more ...
LENTEN RENEWAL
February 23, 2020 - read more ...
TIME AFTER EPIPHANY
January 26, 2020 - read more ...
NEWS FROM FATHER SALAKO'S MISSION
January 19, 2020 - read more ...
MARY IMMACULATE OF LOURDES: 109th ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHURCH DEDICATION
NOVEMBER 24th, 1910
(THANKSGIVING DAY)
November 24, 2019 - read more ...
THE MACCABEE REVOLT AND THE GOSPEL BOOKS
November 17, 2019 - read more ...
CHURCH SUPPORT IN THE LIFE OF THE AMERICAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
November 3, 2019 - read more ...
THE SOCIAL KINGSHIP OF CHRIST AND CHURCH SUPPORT
October 27, 2019 - read more ...
"CARITAS SUI" AND THE DOCTRINE OF LIFE
October 20, 2019 - read more ...
OCTOBER, THE MONTH OF "RESPECT-FOR-HUMAN-LIFE"
October 13, 2019 - read more ...
OCTOBER, THE MONTH OF THE ROSARY
October 6, 2019 - read more ...
CONFIRMATION: FEAST OF FAITH
September 29, 2019 - read more ...
WELCOME, BISHOP REED
September 22, 2019 - read more ...
SCENES FROM OUR 2019 PARISH PICNIC
September 15, 2019 - read more ...
OUR FIRST PARISH PICNIC - 120 YEARS AGO
September 8, 2019 - read more ...
THANK YOU TO FATHER SALAKO
September 1, 2019 - read more ...
THE ORIGIN OF THE MONTH OF AUGUST
August 11, 2019 - read more ...
THE MONTH OF THE IMMACULATE HEART
August 4, 2019 - read more ...
THE "GREAT COMMISSION" CONTINUES IN OUR DAY
July 28, 2019 - read more ...
MISSION APPEAL FOR THE DIOCESE OF FORT PORTAL, UGANDA
July 21, 2019 - read more ...
MISSION APPEALS AND A TRIDUUM OF CHARITY
July 14, 2019 - read more ...
TIME AFTER PENTECOST
July 7, 2019 - read more ...
POPE EMERITUS BENEDICT'S MESSAGE ON THE PRESENT DISTRESS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
June 16, 2019 - read more ...
D-DAY 75 YEARS LATER
June 9, 2019 - read more ...
THE 93rd ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST MEMORIAL MASS AT ST. MARY'S CEMETERY
(Photos by Rod Phillips)
June 2, 2019 - read more ...
FATHER BRIAN PETER O'HANLON "AD MULTOS ANNOS"!
May 19, 2019 - read more ...
FIVE KEY LESSONS FOR THE LOURDES APPARITIONS
May 12, 2019 - read more ...
WHEN EVERY SUNDAY IS "LOW SUNDAY"
May 5, 2019 - read more ...
EASTER GREETINGS FROM FATHER DESIRÉ SALAKO, S.M.A.
April 28, 2019 - read more ...
LOURDES AND THE WORLD OF SECOND EMPIRE FRANCE
(Concluding Conference: April 12th, 2019) 
April 21, 2019 - read more ...
LOURDES AND THE WORLD OF SECOND EMPIRE FRANCE
(Conference V: April 5th, 2019)
April 14, 2019 - read more ...
LOURDES AND THE WORLD OF SECOND EMPIRE FRANCE
(Conference IV: March 22nd, 2019)
April 7, 2019 - read more ...
LOURDES AND THE WORLD OF SECOND EMPIRE FRANCE
(Conference III: March 22nd, 2019)
March 31, 2019 - read more ...
LOURDES AND THE WORLD OF SECOND EMPIRE FRANCE
(Conference II: March 15th, 2019)
March 24, 2019 - read more ...
LOURDES AND THE WORLD OF SECOND EMPIRE FRANCE
(Conference I: March 8th, 2019)
March 17, 2019 - read more ...
PENANCE and PROCESSION
March 10, 2019 - read more ...
"FORTY HOURS" SUNDAY
March 3, 2019 - read more ...
SHROVETIDE
February 24, 2019 - read more ...
SEPTUAGESIMA: THE EASTER CYCLE BEGINS
February 17, 2019 - read more ...
OUR PATRONAL PARISH FEAST DAY
February 10, 2019 - read more ...
STEWARDSHIP IN THE BLEAK MID-WINTER
February 3, 2019 - read more ...
THE MAGISTERIAL TEACHINGS OF POPE SAINT PAUL VI
January 13, 2019 - read more ...
THE THREE STATION MASSES OF CHRISTMAS
December 23, 2018 - read more ...
MASS OFFERINGS AND MASS INTENTIONS: MARY IMMACULATE OF LOURDES PARISH, 2018
December 16, 2018 - read more ...
THE STATION CHURCHES OF ROME
December 9, 2018 - read more ...
THE SEASON OF THE ADVENT OF OUR LORD
December 2, 2018 - read more ...
THE 108th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEDICATION OF OUR PARISH CHURCH
November 25, 2018 - read more ...
THE SOCIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH: MAGISTERIAL TEACHING ON IMMIGRATION AND EMIGRATION
November 18, 2018 - read more ...
THE MAGISTERIAL TEACHING OF POPE SAINT PAUL VI
November 11, 2018 - read more ...
ALL SAINTS DAY AND THE SEVEN NEW SAINTS OF THE CHURCH
November 4, 2018 - read more ...
ST. JUDE (THADDEUS), APOSTLE
October 28, 2018 - read more ...
WORLD MISSION SUNDAY
October 21, 2018 - read more ...
PARISH ANNUAL REPORT: FISCAL YEAR 2018
October 14, 2018 - read more ...
MESSAGE FROM FR. SALAKO ON THE KIDNAPPING OF HIS MISSIONARY PRIEST
October 7, 2018 - read more ...
SOME THOUGHTS ON THE SCANDALS: BEARING THE "BURDEN OF THE CHURCH" AND THE MYSTERIUM INIQUITATIS
September 30, 2018 - read more ...
THE PARISH ALTAR RELICS
September 16, 2018 - read more ...
CARDINAL NEWMAN'S NOVENA OF ST. PHILIP HERI
September 9, 2018 - read more ...
FATHER BABER ON "TAKING SCANDAL"
September 2, 2018 - read more ...
MISSION APPEAL BY FATHER SALAKO FOR BENIN-NIGER PROVINCE OF THE S.M.A. FATHERS
August 26, 2018 - read more ...
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
August 19, 2018 - read more ...
SCENES FROM OUR PARISH LIFE AT HIGH SUMMER
August 12, 2018 - read more ...
"JESUS LOVED MARTHA AND MARY HER SISTER AND LAZARUS HER BROTHER" - John 11:5
July 29, 2018 - read more ...
THE LOURDES PILGRIMAGE OF THE MOTHER OF ST. THERESE OF LISIEUX
July 22, 2018 - read more ...
"AN HISTORIC EVENT": THE PASSING OF ANNA MARIE (WALSH) COUGHLIN, A.D. 1910-2018
July 15, 2018 - read more ...
"GLORY TO THE BLOOD OF JESUS"
July 8, 2018 - read more ...
WELCOME BACK, FATHER SALAKO
July 1, 2018 - read more ...
SAINT JOHN'S NATIVITY: THE "SUMMER CHRISTMAS"
June 24, 2018 - read more ...
MEMORIAL DAY AT SAINT MARY'S CEMETERY SIXTY-SIX YEARS AGO
May 27, 2018 - read more ...
PHOTO ALBUM OF FIRST HOLY COMMUNIONS IN THE PARISH SINCE 2007
May 6, 2018 - read more ...
BROTHER MARTIN DE PORRES MACKENZIE, M.I.C.M., PROFESSION OF FIRST VOWS, APRIL 28th, 2018 A.D.
April 29, 2018 - read more ...
PARISH LENTEN MISSION 2018: "THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST"
Conference V, Friday, March 23, 2018 A.D.
April 1, 2018 - read more ...
PARISH LENTEN MISSION 2018: "THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST"
Conference IV, Friday, March 16, 2018 A.D.
March 25, 2018 - read more ...
PARISH LENTEN MISSION 2018, "THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST"
Conference III, March 9th, 2018 A.D.
March 18, 2018 - read more ...
LATARE SUNDAY AND MID-LENT
March 11, 2018 - read more ...
PARISH LENTEN MISSION 2018: "THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST"
Conference II, February 23rd, 2018 A.D.
March 4, 2018 - read more ...
PARISH LENTEN MISSION 2018: "THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST"
Conference I, February 16th, 2018
February 25, 2018 - read more ...
MAKING A GOOD LENT
February 18, 2018 - read more ...
LENTEN PARISH MISSION FOR 2018: "THE MIRACLES OF CHRIST"
February 11, 2018 - read more ...
INNOCENCE OF LIFE
January 21, 2018 - read more ...
PRAYERS AT THE TIME OF A NEW YEAR
January 7, 2018 - read more ...
"TE DEUM" FOR 2017 and the PARISH'S SPECIAL INTENTIONS FOR 2018
December 31, 2017 - read more ...
"REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS"
December 24, 2017 - read more ...
OUR SCRIPTURE VERSE COMPANIONS
December 17, 2017 - read more ...
OUR LADY'S MAGNIFICAT
December 10, 2017
"TO THEE, O LORD, I LIFT UP MY SOUL"
December 3, 2017 - read more ...
FATHER T.J. DANAHY AND THE CHURCH DEDICATION
November 26, 2017 - read more ...
OUR COMING PLEDGE-PLAN FOR CHURCH SUPPORT FOR THE CHURCH'S YEAR OF GRACE, 2018
November 19, 2017 - read more ...
AFTER THE MIRACLE AT FATIMA, THE "OCTOBER REVOLUTION" IN RUSSIA
November 12, 2017 - read more ...
THE MIRACLE OF THE SUN AT FATIMA, 100 YEARS AGO
October 29, 2017 - read more ...
PRAYER FOR PEACE AND THE FATIMA MESSAGE
October 22, 2017 - read more ...
PARISH ANNUAL REPORT FOR FISCAL 2017
October 1, 2017 - read more ...
FR. DESIRE SALAJO, S.M.A.: CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM WEST AFRICA
January 15, 2017 - read more ...
THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD: THE HIGH POINT OF THE CHRISTMAS FEAST
January 8, 2017 - read more ...
THE HOLY HOUSE OF LORETO: "NOTHING SHALL BE IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD"
December 18, 2016 - read more ...
THE HOLY HOUSE OF LORETO
December 11, 2016 - read more ...
A NOTE ON SAINT BARBARA'S DAY
December 4, 2016 - read more ...
DON'T LET THE "GRINCH" OF COMMERCIAL CHRISTMAS STEAL YOUR SPIRITUAL CHRISTMAS
November 27, 2016 - read more ...
ANNIVERSARY OF THE PARISH CHURCH DEDICATION - THANKSGIVING DAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1910
November 20, 2016 - read more ...
CREMATION IS NOT THE CATHOLIC WAY
November 13, 2016 - read more ...
THE SOCIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH AND THE CULTURE OF LIFE
October 30, 2016 - read more ...
THE PRIMARY MORAL DUTY OF KEEPING ONESELF ALIVE 
October 16, 2016 - read more ...
THE GATES OF LIFE
October 9, 2016 - read more ...
A MONTH OF "RESPECT FOR LIFE"
October 2, 2016 - read more ...

About Our Parish

Mary Immaculate of Lourdes is Newton and Needham Massachusetts's oldest Roman Catholic Parish. Founded as Saint Mary's Parish in 1870 it was renamed "Mary Immaculate of Lourdes" when the new Church was dedicated on Thanksgiving Day, 1910. In addition to being a regular territorial parish of the Archdiocese of Boston it is also a "Mission Parish" since 2007 with a special apostolate for the Traditional Latin Mass (1962 Missal).

Privacy Policy
Return Policy

Christian Life

"If you are willing to serenely bear the trial of being displeasing to yourself, then you will be for Jesus a pleasant place of shelter."
- St. Therese of Lisieux (+1897)

Contact Us



Copyright © 2014-2021 Mary Immaculate of Lourdes Parish. All Rights Reserved.

Designed, powered and hosted by UNI COMP, Inc.