Should I be meek, understanding, and find excuses for everyone?

 

Should I be meek, understanding, and find excuses for everyone?

Our universal mission as Christians to evangelize the world implies that we need a big heart, capable of loving everyone, whoever they are, since God calls every single person.

Meekness is the virtue that will help us to control the temptation of anger.
“Humility leads us, as it were by the hand, to treat our neighbor in the best way possible, that is, being understanding towards everyone, living at peace with everyone, forgiving everyone; never creating divisions or barriers; and behaving - always! - as instruments that foster unity. Not in vain is there in the depths of man's being a strong longing for peace, for union with his fellow man, for a mutual respect for personal rights, so strong that it seeks to transform human relations into fraternity." St Josemaría

In the Gospel, Christ shows us a very clear example of how to treat others. Our Lord's self-abasement knew no limits.

“His holy meekness led him to the most ignominious of deaths: He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even death on a Cross. And he did so out of love for men, for men whom He calls his friends, even if they don't want to be such."

If Christ has loved us so much, we too must try to affirm “the truth serenely, positively, without polemics and without humiliating anyone. We should always leave the other person an honorable way out, so they can recognize without difficulty that they have been mistaken, or have lacked formation or information. At times, the kindest charity is to let the other person be convinced that they have discovered a new truth on their own."

“But Christ not only set us an example of holy meekness. He also set us a very clear example of holy intransigence in the things of God." Though always ready to be understanding towards anyone who approached him with a contrite heart, our Lord refused to yield when his heavenly Father's honor or the good of souls was at stake. Nor can we yield when confronted by ideas contrary to the teaching of the Church: to do so would be false charity.”

Yet our holy intransigence towards error can never become bitter, intemperate zeal. We should always try to spread doctrine in a cheerful, attractive way. “The first step to bringing others to the ways of Christ is for them to see you happy and serene, sure in your advance towards God."

Holy meekness and holy intransigence are both born of love. Out of love for God and souls, we are ready to yield in everything personal that does not prejudice the truth. And out of the very same love, we refuse to give way when our Lord's saving truth is mistreated. Both stem from the same love and lead us to spread doctrine by our friendship and example.

“Don't fear the world: we are of the world and, if we're united to God, if we put our Christian spirit into practice, nothing can harm us. Perhaps at times our Christian conduct may cause surprise among people who are far from God: you must have the courage, then, supported by divine omnipotence, to be faithful."
Dec 12 Fri

What are the elements of the Eucharistic Prayer?

 

What are the elements of the Eucharistic Prayer?

The chief elements of the Eucharistic Prayer are:

-  Thanksgiving (expressed especially in the Preface): In the name of the entire people of God, the priest praises God the Father and gives thanks to him for the whole work of salvation or for some special aspect of it that corresponds to the day, feast, or season.

- Acclamation: Joining with the angels, the congregation sings or recites the Sanctus. This acclamation is an intrinsic part of the Eucharistic Prayer, and all the people join with the priest in singing or reciting it.

- Epiclesis (invocation): In special invocations, the Church implores the power of the Holy Spirit that the gifts offered by human hands be consecrated, that is, become Christ’s body and blood, and that the spotless Victim to be received in Communion be the source of salvation for those who will partake of it.

- Narrative of the Institution and Consecration: In the words and actions of Christ, that sacrifice is celebrated which he himself instituted at the Last Supper, when he offered, under the appearances of bread and wine, his body and blood, gave them to his apostles to eat and drink, and then commanded that they perpetuate and reenact this mystery.

- Anamnesis (memorial): In fulfillment of the command received from Christ through the apostles, the Church keeps his memorial by recalling especially his passion, resurrection, and ascension.

- Oblation: The oblation or offering of the victim is part of a sacrifice. In this memorial, the Church, and in particular the Church here and now assembled, offers the spotless Victim to the Father in the Holy Spirit. The Church’s intention is that the faithful not only offer the Victim but also learn to offer themselves and so to surrender themselves, through Christ the Mediator, to an ever more complete union with the Father and with each other, so that at last God may be all in all.

- Intercessions: The intercessions make it clear that the Eucharist is celebrated in communion with the entire Church and all its members, living and dead, who are called to share in the salvation and redemption purchased by Christ’s body and blood. This part includes also the commemoration of the saints in whose glory we hope to share.

- Final Doxology: The praise of God is expressed in the doxology, to which the people’s acclamation is an assent and a conclusion.

In accordance with the rubrics, the priest selects a Eucharistic Prayer from those found in the Roman Missal or approved by the Apostolic See. The Eucharistic Prayer demands, by its very nature, that the priest say it in virtue of his ordination. The people, for their part, should associate themselves with the priest in faith and in silence, as well as through their parts: specifically, the responses in the Preface dialogue, the Sanctus, the acclamation after the consecration, and the acclamatory Amen after the final doxology.
Dec 11 Thu

How can I rejoice in the Lord if He is far from me?

 

How can I rejoice in the Lord if He is far from me?

“The just man will rejoice in the Lord and put his hope in Him; the hearts of all good men will be filled with joy." We have surely sung these words with our hearts and voices. Indeed, we express our deepest feelings when we address such words to God. We must rejoice, not in material things, but in the Lord.

“Light has dawned for the just," Scripture says elsewhere, “and joy for the upright of heart." Were you wondering what reason we have for joy? “Delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires."

What are we instructed to do, and what can we do? To rejoice in the Lord. But who can rejoice in something he does not see? Am I suggesting that we see the Lord?

No, but we have been promised that we shall see Him. As long as we are in this world, we walk by faith, for we cannot see the Lord. We walk by faith, not by sight. When will it be by sight? “Beloved," says John, “we are now the sons of God; what we shall be has not yet been revealed, but we know that when it is revealed, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is." When this prophecy is fulfilled, then we shall see Him.

That will be the great joy, the supreme joy, joy in all its fullness. Then we shall no longer drink the milk of hope, but we shall feed on the reality itself. Nevertheless, even now, before that vision comes to us, let us rejoice in the Lord, for it is no small reason for rejoicing to have a hope that will be fulfilled someday.

Therefore, since the hope we now have inspires love, the just man rejoices in the Lord, Scripture says, but because he does not yet see, he hopes in Him.

Yet we have with us the first fruits of the Spirit; isn’t this another reason for rejoicing? For we are drawing near to the One we love, and not only are we drawing near, but we also anticipate and even have some slight feeling and taste of the banquet we shall one day eat and drink.

But how can we rejoice in the Lord if He is far from us? Pray that He may not be far. If He is, that is your doing. Love, and He will draw near. Love, and He will dwell within you. The Lord is at hand; have no anxiety.

How can He be with you if you love? Because God is love.

“What do you mean by love?” you will ask me. Love is what enables us to be loving.

What do we love? A Good that words cannot describe, a Good that is forever giving, a Good that is the Creator of all good.

Delight in Him from whom you have received everything that delights you—only one thing you have not received from Him: sin.
From a sermon by Saint Augustine.
Dec 10 Wed

Do all the faithful participate in the mission of the Church?

 

Do all the faithful participate in the mission of the Church?

Christians constitute the people of God, “established by Christ as a communion of life, love, and truth. It is taken up by him also as the instrument for the salvation of all, as the light of the world and the salt of the earth. It is sent forth into the whole world.”

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” This command of Christ applies to ALL the members of his Mystical Body:

In the Church, there is a diversity of ministries, but there is only one aim: the sanctification of men. And all Christians participate in some way in this task, through the character imprinted on them by the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. We must all feel responsible for the mission of the Church, which is the mission of Christ.

The fulfillment of the mission of the Church is called apostolate; its object is to spread the kingdom of Christ all over the world for the glory of God the Father.

The hierarchy renders service to the mission of the whole Church. The mission of the hierarchy is to be the instrument of Christ, as the head of the Church. Thus, the task proper to the hierarchy is to organize and watch over the fulfillment of the mission of the entire Church.

All members of the Church must share in the apostolate—guided by the bishops and the pope—according to their status in the Church.

The Second Vatican Council asserted the participation of each Christian—specifically of the laity—in the common mission of the Church:
“The apostolate of the laity is a sharing in the salvific mission of the Church. Through Baptism and Confirmation, all are appointed to this apostolate by the Lord himself."

The pastors, indeed, know well how much the laity contributes to the welfare of the entire Church. They know that they themselves were not established by Christ to undertake alone the whole salvific mission of the Church to the world, but that it is their exalted office to be shepherds of the faithful and also to recognize the latter’s contribution and charisms that everyone in his own way will, with one mind, cooperate in the common task.

Hence:

- The mission of the entire Church and that of the hierarchy are not identical, just as the words Church and hierarchy are not synonymous.

- The Church’s mission falls squarely on the shoulders of all her members, while the mission of the hierarchy—a particular aspect of the mission of the Church—is carried out only by the members of the hierarchy and those members of the people of God who are authorized and qualified to help them.

- The mission of the laity is not merely a participation in the mission of the hierarchy, but it is a participation in the mission of the Church.
Dec 9 Tue

How did our Mother pray?

 

How did our Mother pray?
Our Lady’s prayer and petition go up in a constant stream to God like the sweet perfume of a rose. The fragrant aroma of her prayer is stirred by the breeze of our petition, and even by the stormy winds that blow throughout the world. She joins our thanksgiving and petitions to her own and presents them to the Father through Jesus Christ her Son.

“Our Lord himself learned from his Mother many prayers transmitted from generation to generation among the people of Israel. We too, may recall prayers that we learned from our mothers. Our Lady’s example encourages us to deepen our prayer. … ‘Mary treasured up all these sayings, and reflected on them in her heart.’ Let us try to imitate her in talking to Our Lord. We can converse about everything that happens to us, even the most insignificant incidents, like two people in love." St. Josemaría.

How easy it is to love Mary since no more lovable creature ever existed! Mary is like the smile from the Most High bent upon us. There is no defect or imperfection in her. She is not far removed from our own experience, but very much attuned to our everyday life. She knows of our vacillations, our concerns, and our needs. May we have no fear of going too far in our affection for her!

We need only invoke her name. The demons tremble at its mere utterance. And Mary, like all mothers, finds special joy in coming to help those of her children who are most in need.

“If we have this filial contact with Mary, we won’t be able to think about ourselves and our problems. Selfish personal problems will find no place in our minds. Mary brings us to Jesus."

“Be daring. Count on the help of Mary, Queen of Apostles. Without ceasing to be a mother, our Lady can get each of her children to face their own responsibilities. Mary always does the immense favor of bringing us close to the Cross, placing us face to face with the example of the Son of God, those who come close to her and contemplate her life. Facing this challenge is how Christian life is decided. And here Mary intercedes for us so that our choice may be wise and lead to a reconciliation of the younger brother – you and me – with the firstborn Son of the Father."

“Many conversions, many decisions to give oneself to the service of God have been preceded by an encounter with Mary. Our Lady has encouraged us to look for God, to desire to change, to be useful, and to lead a new life. And so, her counsel ‘Do whatever he tells you’ has turned into real self-giving, into a Christian vocation, which from then on enlightens all our personal life."

This personal conversion will be like a red rose offered to our Mother.

Resolution at the conclusion of this Novena: To live always very close to our Mother Mary. 
Dec 8 Mon

What should I do in this Season of Advent?

 

What should I do in this Season of Advent?

As John the Baptist’s message is narrated in the Gospel, 
- Christ is coming to establish the kingdom of God; 
- You must prepare by repenting from your sins and doing what is right; and
- The Lord’s judgment will be of ultimate good or bad significance to you.

In addition, John taught that a person’s status, however high, would be of no avail in this judgment.

The prophet Isaiah foretold that the Christ, the Son of David (the son of Jesse), would have these gifts of the Holy Spirit:

The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge, and the fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. (Is 11:1-3)

A reading of any one of the Gospels confirms that Jesus Christ possessed and practiced these gifts perfectly. 
We, ordinary followers of Christ, through Baptism and Confirmation, also share these gifts.

Through grace, God the Holy Spirit makes us “participate in the divine nature.” We then acquire a supernatural new life; we become children of God and heirs with Christ. Grace is like light whose splendor erases the stains of the soul, and we are divinized. Thus, it is comparable to a wedding garment, or a seed, in the Gospel.

The gifts are permanent dispositions that make us receptive to divine inspirations. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are a special awakening of the human soul, and they mature the supernatural life of grace in each person.

The gifts improve the virtues of those who receive them and help the faithful readily obey divine inspirations. A Christian “empowered” by the virtues can perform good deeds. The emphasis is on the decision of the person. 

A Christian who is obedient to God’s gifts and allows the Holy Spirit to act through him performs excellent deeds. The emphasis is on the Holy Spirit.

- The gift of wisdom is a loving knowledge of God and everything that comes from and leads to him.

- Understanding is the power that perfects our perception of the mysteries of the faith, enabling us to penetrate more deeply into the divine truths revealed by God.

- The gift of counsel helps us make wise decisions promptly, correctly, and according to the will of God.

- Fortitude makes us steadfast in the faith, constant in struggle, and faithful in perseverance.

- Knowledge enables us to be wise in using the things of this world.

- The gift of piety teaches us the meaning of divine filiation, the joyful supernatural awareness of being children of God and brothers and sisters of all mankind.

- Fear of the Lord inclines us to respect the all-powerful and loving God.

God showers us with gifts of grace so we can bear the kinds of good fruit that John the Baptist demands. 

What are these good fruits we should bear, right now, in this season of Advent?

- Repenting of sin by making a good examination of conscience and a good sacramental Confession.

- Carrying out our normal duties well, especially in whatever our work is.

- Accepting, embracing, and offering to God our own poverty and afflictions.

- Relieving the poverty and afflictions of others. This is showing mercy.
Dec 7 Sun

What happened with the heresies refuted in Nicaea?

 

What happened with the heresies refuted in Nicaea?

Though Pope Leo has spoken vaguely of some theological controversies as no longer relevant, he also made a point of warning in Turkey that, among our many postmodern problems, “there is also another challenge, which we might call a ‘new Arianism,’ present in today’s culture and sometimes even among believers. This occurs when Jesus is admired on a merely human level, perhaps even with religious respect, yet not truly regarded as the living and true God among us.” 

Arianism was widespread. When the Vandals invaded North Africa, around the time of Saint Augustine’s death, they came not only as “barbarians,” but also as “Arian Christians.” 
The Roman Empire itself “fell” when Odoacer, a Gothic “barbarian,” deposed the last Western emperor. Though tolerant of Catholics, Odoacer was an Arian.

Arianism appealed to soldiers, who saw Jesus as not only holy but, in his bravery during torture and death, heroic. For Arianism, Jesus was merely 'a man'.

Leo’s emphasis on Jesus as “the living God among us” also ties in with his warnings about another heresy, “Pelagianism,” which Saint Augustine famously combatted about a century after Nicaea. Pelagius believed that we are capable of following the precepts of the law without the need for divine grace.

Augustine, the Doctor of Grace, went after Pelagianism hammer and tongs, and left a great legacy of understanding how dependent we are on God, not our own will.

Pope Leo has recalled this main current in the tradition as well:
    The greatest mistake we can make as Christians is, in the words of Saint Augustine, “to claim that Christ’s grace consists in his example and not in the gift of his person”. How often, even in the not-too-distant past, have we forgotten this truth and presented Christian life mostly as a set of rules to be kept, replacing the marvelous experience of encountering Jesus – God who gives himself to us – with a moralistic, burdensome, and unappealing religion that, in some ways, is impossible to live in concrete daily life.

This classic Augustinian view should not be understood as denying moral rules. Rather, it puts grace and the love of God first, which are the deep realities that make it possible for us to live the Christian life. 

One notable thing about Pope Leo’s pilgrimage is his decision not to pray in Istanbul’s Blue Mosque. He took off his shoes, visited “as a tourist,” but maintained a bit of distance from Islam. And rightly so. Alongside the neo-Arianism that denies Christ’s divinity, and the neo-Pelagianism that implies that we can save ourselves, a false universalism and indifferentism – like “God wills a multiplicity of religions” – has arisen in the modern world.

Thus, the radical importance of the Faith on the one hand, and on the other, to talk as if peace and brotherhood result from dialogue rather than the only true source of charity: Jesus Christ.

Excerpts from Robert Royal - Dec 7 Sun

Do I live purity well, as my response to God’s love?

 

Do I live purity well, as my response to God’s love?

In the Last Supper, Our Lord bent down to wash the disciples’ feet, indicating the cleanliness of heart necessary to sit at the table with the Lord.

The virtue of holy purity, which draws us into intimacy with God, requires a sensitive response to God's love. Although God's grace will always assist us, on our part, we have to fight. Sensuality and laziness must not be allowed to rule over us.

“And now I ask you, how are you facing up to this battle? You know very well that a fight which is kept up from the very beginning is a fight already won. Get away from danger as soon as you are aware of the first sparks of passion, and even before. Also, speak about it at once to the person who directs your soul. Better still, talk about it beforehand, if possible, because if you open your heart wide, you will not be defeated. One such act after another leads to the forming of a habit, a good inclination, and ends up making things easy. That is why we have to struggle to make this virtue a habit, making mortification a habit so that we do not reject the Love of Loves."

If the winds of temptation blow, if you stumble when confronted by temptation; look to the Star of the Sea, call out to Mary. If the waves of pride, ambition or envy tug at your heart, call on Mary. If anger, avarice, or impurity endanger the course of your soul’s journey, look to Mary.

If you are disturbed by the memory of your sins, confused by the ugliness of your conscience, fearful in the face of judgment, or you begin to sink into the bottomless pit of sadness or into the abyss of despair, think of Mary. In every danger, moment of anguish or doubt, invoke Mary. May her name be ever on your lips and engraved on your heart, too. Never stray from the example of her virtue, so that you may always gain her help as an intercessor.

You will not go off the path if you follow her; you will not fall into discouragement if you beg her. You will never be lost if you think about her. With her taking you by the hand, you will not stay down if you fall. With her protection, you will have nothing to fear. You will not lose strength, for she is your guide. You will reach a safe haven happily if you rely on her as your closest helper.

Today we will offer her a white lily, ‘the Annunciation lily’, symbol of Mary's immaculate purity, the white lily of your chastity.

Resolutions:

- Apply human means to live purity: avoid occasions of sin, guarding the senses, the eyes…

- Supernatural means: Prayer, The Eucharist, Confession, and an ardent devotion to our Lady.
Dec 6 Sat

How is my own personal relationship with my Mother Mary?

 

How is my own personal relationship with my Mother Mary?

When Our Lady consents to become the Mother of the Savior, she becomes the Mother of all men. By giving birth to Jesus, the Head of the Church, she spiritually engenders each of us as members in the Mystical Body of Christ.

Next to the Lord, when he is nailed to the Cross, stand Mary, John the beloved disciple, and some holy women. Then the Lord says to her: 'Woman, behold thy Son’. Then He says to the disciple, ‘Behold thy mother’.

This is a second Nativity. Mary gave birth, without pain, to her only-begotten Son in the stable of Bethlehem. Now though, she gives birth to her second son, John, amidst the suffering of the Cross. Now she suffers the pangs of birth for the millions of other spiritual children who will call her ‘Mother’ over the centuries. Now we understand why the Evangelist calls Christ Mary’s first-born son’. It is not because she has other sons of the flesh, but because she is to engender many children through the love of her heart.

How is my own personal relationship with her? Do I approach her trustingly as St John would? Do I often remember that she is at my side? Do I seek her intercession frequently?

Being a mother entails care and vigilance for the children. Thus, our Blessed Mother offers her spiritual protection to all without exception. She intercedes, and obtains the opportune graces of which all of us are in need. Just as Jesus is the Good Shepherd who calls his sheep by name. Mary distinguishes us personally from all others, and knows us by our name. Her maternal concern extends to our overall well-being, both of body and soul, but mostly to the supernatural life of her children.

She leads us to sanctity and to a more perfect identification with her Son. Thus, Our Lady collaborates in the mission of the Holy Spirit, who bestows on us supernatural life and grants us the grace to persevere in it.

“And from that hour, the disciple took her into his home". We see in these words of the Gospel an invitation for all Christians to bring Mary into their lives. We can visualize the young Apostle’s tremendous respect in all his everyday dealings with her. How full of confidence the conversations between the two must have been. We can appeal to her as her sons and daughters and ask her to ‘show us you are our mother.’

The most pleasing homage we can render to our Mother is to implore her maternal protection often. She knows of our vacillations, our concerns and our needs.

The incense of our prayer must rise up constantly to God Our Father. Time and again we ask Our Lady, who is already in heaven, body and soul, to petition Jesus for us.

Resolutions:

- To cast glances at the image of Our Mother in our room or place of work, frequently.
Dec 5 Fri

- To pray the Rosary, the Angelus. Three Hail Mary before going to rest.

- To utter many aspirations during the day, internally, without being noticed.

Today, we offer her forget-me-not flowers, which remind us of her continuous protection.
Dec 5 Fri

What is the connection between the Last Supper and the Eucharistic Prayer?

 

What is the connection between the Last Supper and the Eucharistic Prayer?
St John tells us what happened in the Upper Room after the meal. Jesus alone spoke; the disciples listened; they would listen to him forever. Before long, Jesus was no longer speaking to them; He was addressing the Father. They all held their breath. Jesus prayed.

Isn’t this situation almost exactly like that which is reproduced in the Mass? Only the priest proclaims the Eucharistic Prayer by virtue of his ordination. We have heard the Lord’s teaching; we have prayed aloud together, beseeching his mediation. Now the priest speaks ‘in persona Christi.’ All things considered, it would be better that no other human voice should make itself heard: Jesus is going to pray with us and for us.

In this Eucharistic Prayer, we announce to the world the death and resurrection of the Lord. This is the paschal message that transforms us interiorly, turning us into heralds of the Good News.

Our faith seems to us too faint and our love too little to allow us to accompany our Lord in his oblation and hymn of praise to the Father. But we believe because it is Jesus Christ who has revealed to us this wonderful mystery. We believe in Christ’s word—there is no truer token than Truth’s own word.

Now, let us submit to God in all things and not contradict him, even if what He says seems to contradict our reason and intellect; let his words prevail over our reason and intellect. Let us act in this way about the Eucharistic mysteries, and not limit our attention just to what can be perceived by the senses, but instead hold fast to his words, for his word cannot deceive.

We believe and we want to love; we do not want to be like the disciples who fell asleep in the supreme moment when Jesus prepared himself for the holocaust. “I believe, Lord, but help my unbelief!” we should say with that man, the father of the boy possessed by the devil. “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you,” we should repeat once and again.

Thus, we can transcend the limited horizons of our egoism, as a person in love strives to overcome their personal limitations and serenade their beloved when they want to.

As Christ offers himself to the Father, we must join him, as a living part of the Church, his Mystical Body. What a pity if we allow Christ to go on without us, if we spurn him.

We should be awake and praying, following Christ from the Upper Room to the cross, to realize how little a life is to offer to God. Thus, we will finally shed our nasty habit of bargaining with God.
Dec 4 Thu

Do I ask our Mother Mary to intercede for me?

 

Do I ask our Mother Mary to intercede for me?

At the wedding in Cana, Mary realized, before anyone else did, that they had run out of wine. She helps us discover and correspond to the will of God in the hundred and one little incidents of each day.

Mary was constantly aware of her being the predilect Daughter of God, of her divine filiation.

As the Mother of God, she was also keenly aware of her maternal role in the service of all humanity.

Both realities are permeated by her exquisitely refined piety. She will continue to love and help us since we are her children, and a mother is always closest to her child who is most in need.

When Mary looked or smiled at Jesus, or just thought about him, she was looking, smiling, speaking to God. This is truly what it means to pray. Our Lady carried out all her actions with the express desire of pleasing her Son.

Our own daily meditation should lead us to identify ourselves fully with Jesus, and approach even the relatively unimportant details of each day with supernatural perspective. At Cana, she shows how we can petition Our Lord, through her, with delicate tact. She was his mother, and a Son loves his Mother.

She had seen him sleeping in her arms, but nevertheless she did not venture here to tell him what He should do. She merely pointed out the problem to him, convinced that whatever solution He offered, no matter what He decided to do, would be the best possible. She left the matter entirely to him, leaving him completely free to do his own Will without any feeling of obligation.

Why? She knew that whatever He chose to do, it would be the most perfect thing that could be done, and the problem would be solved in the best possible way. She did not tie his hands, so to speak, or force him to take one line of action. She trusted in his wisdom, in his wider and deeper vision of things, a vision that “saw” aspects and circumstances perhaps unknown to her.

She did not even ask whether He would think it fitting to intervene or not: She merely pointed out the problem and left it in his hands. The fact is that faith ‘puts God under an obligation’ more than the most skillful and forceful arguments. Mary teaches us to remain at the foot of the cross in silent prayer during difficult moments of our lives. The last we hear of Mary in the Gospel is when she is praying with the Apostles for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Resolutions:

- To have frequent recourse to Our Lady with aspirations.

- The Memorare Prayer.

- The Holy Rosary.

Today, bring her an iris, which is always upwards, open, and directed to God, and firm, which represents your faith.
Dec 3 Wed

Do I look at everything with God's eyes?

 

Do I look at everything with God's eyes?

The Virgin Mary greeted Elizabeth, and John the Baptist jumped for joy in his mother's womb.

Elizabeth was astounded when she discovered the great mystery that had taken place in Mary, and she exclaimed: "Blessed art thou among women!" The Holy Spirit flooded her with light, for only in this way could she see what was hidden; no one else either learned of it or was able to guess its meaning because it could be understood only by supernatural means.

Almost immediately, we see the first result: Elizabeth was filled with admiration and gratitude for the honor which had been accorded her, for the woman who visited her was not simply Mary, but "the Mother of my Lord," a fact manifested to her when she felt how John was sanctified in her womb.

When the Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth with this grace, she praised Mary's faith: “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

St Augustine resisted his conversion: “Later on!” he would answer. Until one day God sought him, “pushed” him, and he surrendered to Him.

But Mary, the humblest of creatures, was full of grace. She did not understand completely: the mystery remained a mystery, but she believed in God and in His power. She believed without hesitation what God communicated to her through Gabriel; she did not ask for visible signs, poor proofs that we so often beg for. She surrendered to God.
This is faith: to answer the Lord with promptness and generosity.

Life is like a game of treasure hunt. One finding gives us a clue to the next site, and to the next…at the end, we find the treasure.
Our treasure is Christ. The road to it is the fulfillment of God’s Will.

The clues may be a sickness, suffering, a friend, or a sudden light in prayer. Our Lady took seriously the clues, and meditated on them in her heart.

Our resolutions:
- To examine in our prayer, from God’s perspective, whatever happens around us, this is supernatural outlook.
- To greet the Lord in the tabernacle, and “live” the Mass intensely.
- To say aspirations, like “Lord, increase my faith!”

The flower we offer today, a Lady-Slipper ‘Our Lady's Slipper’, is a symbol of Mary's Visitation trip to Elizabeth, thus, of her faith.
Dec 2 Tue