Excerpt from St. Thomas - My Way of Life - The Sacramental System p. 509

BY HIS PASSION, Christ has merited for men the grace which leads to salvation in the vision of God. But this grace must be given to men if they are to be saved. It is Christ Who distributes God's grace to men. He does this through His Church, the Holy, Roman Catholic Church. The Church is, as it were, the continuation of Christ on earth. He has won all graces for men. He distributes all graces to men. But He Himself has ascended into heaven. Nevertheless, from heaven, He distributes grace to men through His Church. He does this through His Church, which is His Mystical Body. How does He do this? Because His love for men is infinite, He is prepared always to give grace from heaven to those who will sincerely repent of their sins and come to Him in faith and love. In fact, Christ, through the Holy Spirit, is always inviting men to repentance, to faith and to love.

 

John 20: 19-23

In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, 'Peace be with you,' and, after saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord, and he said to them again, 'Peace be with you.

'As the Father sent me,
so am I sending you.'

After saying this he breathed on them and said:

Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you forgive anyone's sins,
they are forgiven;
if you retain anyone's sins,
they are retained.

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed them in a loud voice:

    ‘Men of Judaea, and all you who live in Jerusalem, make no mistake about this, but listen carefully to what I say.

    ‘For this reason the whole House of Israel can be certain that the Lord and Christ whom God has made is this Jesus whom you crucified.’

Hearing this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘What are we to do, brothers?’ ‘You must repent,’ Peter answered, ‘and every one of you must be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise that was made is for you and your children, and for all those who are far away, for all those whom the Lord our God is calling to himself.’ He spoke to them for a long time using many other arguments, and he urged them, ‘Save yourselves from this perverse generation.’ They accepted what he said and were baptised. That very day about three thousand were added to their number.

1 Peter 2: 20-25

but what glory is there in putting up with a beating after you have done something wrong? The merit in the sight of God is in putting up with it patiently when you are punished for doing your duty.

    This, in fact, is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you and left an example for you to follow in his steps. He had done nothing wrong, and had spoken no deceit. He was insulted and did not retaliate with insults; when he was suffering he made no threats but put his trust in the upright judge. He was bearing our sins in his own body on the cross, so that we might die to our sins and live for uprightness; through his bruises you have been healed. You had gone astray like sheep but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

LET US LOVE THE TWO HEARTS OF JESUS AND MARY
IN THE RECEPTION OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST.

How great was the act of love, God gave to this world, when He gave Himself and died on the cross. He gives Himself to us this day in the Holy Eucharist.

The greatest commandment is that we must love God with our whole heart, our whole soul, and our whole being. This is a commandment. If we are to enter heaven, we must follow the commandments. They are commands given by God for us to follow.

The greatest act we can do on this earth is an act of loving God. The reason for our existence is to love God. In the sacrament of His greatest love, He gives Himself to us. This is an act of love on His part. We are called to respond by giving ourselves in love to Him.

This is the purpose of the Holy Eucharist: to unite in such oneness with our Holy, Loving God. Our all consuming passion should be that of loving God. How many go to the Eucharist with the sole purpose of giving great love to God? He wants us to love Him. He wants souls to tell Him how much they truly love Him. This is the most intimate act of love when Jesus gives Himself-Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity to man. If it is such an act of love, how are we receiving Him in Communion? We should beg God, in this most intimate union with Him, to help us to love Him with greatest love.

Jesus is a Person. He wants our love. The Holy Spirit wants such intimacy with us. Our Father wants us to love Him. In the Eucharist, we unite with God. In this intimate act of uniting with our beloved God, with Divinity, we must pour out our love to God. We must pour out our heart to the most adorable Heart of Jesus. Jesus is so unjustly treated by many of His beloved souls He loves so much. Let us help make reparation to the Almighty God by loving God with our whole heart, our whole soul, and our whole being in the sacrament of His greatest love. This is the Gift of Himself.

Think of how it is to love someone and give your all for that person, to pour out your heart to him or her and then be treated with coldness and neglect. It hurts our heart so much more when we deeply love someone to be rejected by that person. Jesus loves us with the deepest love. We cannot fully comprehend this love. Let us love Him with the deepest love. Let us love Mary and her Immaculate Heart. Let us love her as the Mother of God. Let us love her as the virgin who bore the Son of God. May we, in the reception of the Eucharist pour out our love to Him, to this adorable Heart. May we pour out our love to His Holy Mother.

Mary said at Fatima that Jesus wants His Heart venerated next to the heart of His Mother. Let us love these two Hearts as we receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Then we are so deeply united with God. We see Their two Hearts surrounded with thorns for the injustices against Their Hearts. Let us help make reparation daily as we receive Him in the Eucharist. This is a special time to help make reparation to Their wounded Hearts.

Let us remember how He poured His love out to us on the cross and how He pours out His love to us now when He gives us Himself in the Eucharist, the Eucharist which contains His Heart of burning love. His Heart was pierced with a lance. Her heart was invisibly pierced with a sword. As the wounds in Their Hearts are deep, so too is Their love so deep.

He does not want "surface love". He wants hearts filled with deep burning love.

end of December 27, 1995

                The Ascension

                (1) Matthew 28: 16-20

                (2) Our work is to die to those ways not likened
                        to Christ — to live more the resurrected life
                        in Him —
                        We are commissioned in baptism to spread
                            the Good News

                (3) Ephesians 1: 17-23

                (4) Acts 1: 1-11

In my earlier work, Theophilus, I dealt with everything Jesus had done and taught from the beginning until the day he gave his instructions to the apostles he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. He had shown himself alive to them after his Passion by many demonstrations: for forty days he had continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God. While at table with them, he had told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for what the Father had promised. ‘It is’, he had said, ‘what you have heard me speak about: John baptised with water but, not many days from now, you are going to be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’

Now having met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, has the time come for you to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority, but you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit which will come on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to earth’s remotest end.’
     As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. They were still staring into the sky as he went, when suddenly two men in white were standing beside them, and they said, ‘Why are you Galileans standing here looking into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way as you have seen him go to heaven.’

                (5) Let us sing - with joy to the Lord

Psalm 47: 2-3, 6-7, 8-9

For Yahweh, the Most High, is glorious, 
the great king over all the earth. 
He brings peoples under our yoke 
and nations under our feet.

Let the music sound for our God, let it sound, 
let the music sound for our king, let it sound. 

For he is king of the whole world; 
learn the music, let it sound for God! 
God reigns over the nations, 
seated on his holy throne. 

The leaders of the nations rally 
to the people of the God of Abraham. 
The shields of the earth belong to God, 
who is exalted on high. 

                (6) Jesus ascended into heaven.
                        We are to go out and to be witnesses of hope —
                            spreading the Good News —
                        They were afraid and first locked in a room —
                            but they had to be fearless and do the work
                            of the Lord
                        Jesus came to show us the way — we have
                            work to do —
                        "Why do you stand looking up at the skies?
                        What can we do there —
                        Jesus came and He ascended into heaven —
                            our mission is just beginning —
                        "Go therefore" — we are to go and work in
                            the Name of Jesus —
                        Jesus came and He did what He was
                            supposed to —
                            we must follow in His footsteps —

Matthew 28: 19-20

                (7) Acts 1: 12-14

                (8) Believe in the power of the Lord
                        The Lord is Light
                        The Lord is with us in the Eucharist —
                            truly present
                        The Lord loves us so very much —

                (9) 1 Peter 4: 13-16

                (10) Jesus always did the will of His Father —
                        We too are to have this relationship with
                            Our Father — to love Him — to want
                            to serve Him as His little child —
                        Jesus even going off to His bitter passion
                            prayed this prayer to the Father
                            because His thoughts were on His
                            disciples
                        Jesus prays for strength for them
                        Jesus prays for unity for them
                        Jesus prays for oneness with Him and the Father
                        Jesus wants us to be witnesses of hope —
                        Filled with the Spirit we can do the
                            work of transforming the world
                            in great love —

John 17: 21-23

May they all be one,
just as, Father, you are in me
    and I am in you,
so that they also may be in us,
so that the world may believe
    it was you who sent me.
I have given them the glory
    you gave to me,
that they may be one as we are one.
With me in them and you in me,
may they be so perfected in unity
that the world will recognise
    that it was you who sent me
and that you have loved them
    as you have loved me.

                Descent of the Holy Spirit

                (1) Acts 2: 1-4

                (2) Ezekiel 37: 1-14

                (3) Exodus 19: 3-8, 16-20

                (4) Joel 3: 1-5

                (5) Sing: If today you hear His Voice Harden not your Hearts —

                (6) Sing: Come to the Water

                (7) Sing: Veni Sanctus Spiritus

                (8) Sing: Come Holy Ghost

                (9)  from Tell My People

The Holy Spirit

Jesus: "My beloved friend, tell My people to pray daily to the Holy Spirit. They are to pray for an increase in His gifts. My people must realize that the Holy Spirit comes to transform them. The Spirit desires to transform you more and more according to My image. Those who are docile to His touch become increasingly shaped in My likeness. He performs this marvel within Mary's Immaculate Heart. The more one dwells in My Mother's Heart, the more active are the workings of the Spirit. The Spirit leads Mary to place you within My own Heart. In both Our Hearts, then, your transformation continues. The more you are formed after My own Heart, the more I lead you to the bosom of My Father. Tell My people all this. Tell them to pray daily for a greater appreciation of these wondrous gifts. I am Lord and Master. All who come to My Heart will be on fire to receive the gifts of the Spirit in ever greater measure! I love and bless My people!"

Reflection: The Holy Spirit is given to us to fashion us ever more according to the likeness of Jesus. And the more we are like Jesus, the more Jesus leads us to the Father. Do we, each day, pray to the Holy Spirit to be more open to His transforming influence? Do we strive each day to grow in union with Mary? The greater our union with our Mother, the spouse of the Holy Spirit, the greater is the transforming action of the Holy Spirit within us.

                (10) Priestly Newsletter Book I - March/April 1996 pp. 124-130

Thoughts on the Paschal Mystery

The Church in her Good Friday and Easter liturgies has just recently presented to us the paschal mystery of Jesus-His death and resurrection-in a very special way. In saying this we must remember that each Mass of every day makes sacramentally present the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Here are some thoughts concerning Jesus' paschal mystery and our participation in it:

St. Paul tells us: "All I want is to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and to share his sufferings by reproducing the pattern of his death. That is the way I can hope to take my place in the resurrection of the dead." (Phil 3:10-11).

When we are baptized we are incorporated into Christ's paschal mystery of death and resurrection. St. Paul speaks of this marvelous union with Jesus: "You have been taught that when we were baptized in Christ Jesus we were baptized in his death; in other words, when we were baptized we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father's glory, we too might live a new life." (Rm 6:3-4).

Christ has structured the Christian life by the way He lived, died, and rose from the dead. It is obvious, then, as Paul tells us above, that the pattern of death-resurrection must be at the heart of the Church's life. Individually and collectively, we continually die with Christ so that we may continually rise with Him. Thus we pass over in a process of ongoing religious transition to a greater participation in Christ's resurrection. It is true that our participation in Christ's resurrection will reach its completion only in eternity. Nevertheless, we begin the life of resurrection here upon the earth, in the here and now of human life, in the midst of joy and pain; in the experience of success and failure, in the sweat of our brow, in the enjoyment of God's gifts. As Christians, we should have a sense of dynamic growth concerning our here and now life of resurrection.

We cannot maintain the life of resurrection or grow in it without a willingness to suffer. This does not mean that we need to feel overwhelmed and heavily burdened in our lives. The greater portion of suffering for most Christians seems to be an accumulation of ordinary hardships, difficulties, and pains. At times, however, deep suffering, even suffering of agonizing proportions, can enter into one's life. Whether the sufferings one encounters are of either the more ordinary variety or the more rare and extreme type, Christians must convince themselves that to relate properly to the cross is to grow in resurrection, and growth in resurrection means we will also have an increased capacity to help give resurrection to others.

To follow Jesus entails a willingness to suffer for Him and His cause. The furthering of any worthwhile cause demands a spirit of sacrifice, a willingness to endure a variety of hardships and difficulties. We cannot expect it to be otherwise regarding the cause of Christ. To follow Jesus, to spread His message, to help further the process of ongoing redemption, all this demands a price. There is an almost endless variety of pains, sufferings, and difficulties which can arise in following Jesus and promoting His cause. At times seeing few, if any, visible results of our labors, feeling unappreciated, experiencing opposition, sometimes comprehending that we are being hated precisely by some of those whom we are striving to help, at times being laughed at and ridiculed-these are some of the ways we experience the sufferings of an apostle.

The suffering involved in contributing to the process of ongoing redemption is not, however, the complete picture. The happiness resulting from commitment to Christ and His mission far outweighs the hardships. To be aware that one is so intimately loved by Jesus, to experience the satisfaction that one is contributing to a cause that cannot fail, to play a role in helping to bring to others the peace and love of Jesus—all of this makes for a life that has no equal. The committed follower of Christ, experiencing what it means to be closely associated with Jesus, realizes why St. Peter said, "Lord,...it is wonderful for us to be here." (Mt 17:4).

St. Paul strikingly portrays the living of death-resurrection: "We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body. Indeed, while we are still alive, we are consigned to our death every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in our mortal flesh the life of Jesus, too, may be openly shown." (2 Cor 4:8-11).

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus Himself speaks to us about this paschal mystery, about the necessary connection between the cross and resurrection, between the cross and life: "Then he said to them, 'You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?' Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself." (Lk 24:25-27).
 

— and Resurrection!

                Assumption

                (1) Mary is our spiritual Mother.

John 19: 25-27

                (2) Priestly Newsletter Book I - March/April 1996 pp. 133-134

1.                                         14. Pope John Paul II, "Let us Give Children a Future of Peace," Dec. 8, 1995, as in Inside the Vatican, February, 1996.

                (3) The Rosary tells us about the Mysteries
                        of the lives of Jesus and Mary —
                        It is a help for us to have greater
                        knowledge of our faith.

                    Sing: The Rosary Song - entirety

                (4) Sing Song: See the Eyes that Look at Mary

                (5) From Blue Book 4 - July 14, 1994

The Rosary

R. The rosary tells us much about Christ and Mary.

How can I be Christ-like if I do not meditate on His Life? My life is to be a model after Christ's life. How can I model myself after how He loved if I am not intimately involved in a love relationship with Him?

Christ shows us the way. Jesus went through His Passion and death for our salvation and for love of us.

The more I meditate on the rosary, the more I see the oneness of Christ and His Mother. They are one in Their Hearts. They shared each Other's pains, sorrows, joys, suffering. They were so connected to each Other.

This is shown all through the Passion, her sorrows, presentation in the temple, finding in the temple, her journey into Egypt, her watching during the scourging, her journey during the Passion when Their eyes met, (this alone could be meditated on to tell Their union and suffering) putting the nails in His hands, standing under the cross, beholding His lifeless body under the cross, and after His death, laying Him in the tomb.

Their Hearts beat as one, as she suffered so silently with Him, always by His side. No mother was ever so connected with her Son.

Sorrow increases intimacy. When I suffer and give it to Christ, I am admitting how much He is truly a Person I depend on. I want to depend on Him, to be so intimate that it is He to Whom I run when my heart is torn.

He loves us so, He knows our every thought and feeling. He loves us with such attentiveness and care, and He waits for us to run to His arms and share ourselves with Him.

He longs for our love, He longs for our time. He wants us to go to Him as our best Friend, a real Person, but what a Person and what He can do for us!

You are my Savior Lord, You saved me from my sins by Your brutal death. You give me life in Your Resurrection. I am born into Your life in Baptism and You live in my heart. God lives within me. Father, Son and Holy Spirit dwell within my breast in a most special way when I am in the state of grace. Mary is one with Jesus.

Oh, God, I love You so. I want to know You and love You and serve You.

Spirit, open me to know my precious Lord. I am Yours to possess and I live to do Your holy will.

Father, fashion me, mold me more into the image of Jesus, Your precious Son. "...yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me...(Ga 2:20). I want to be one in You, so that You live and dwell in my heart.

Meditating on the rosary is meditating on much of Christ's Life. How can I be molded more into His image if I do not meditate on Him and His Life?

The First Commandment commands that I love God above all things. What is love? Is it lip service or is it a fire that burns within the soul?

May my love of God be this flame that burns for love of each Person in God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit and for Mary also. May I grow in intimacy with each Person and Mary, and may Joseph be close by her side as he stood close to Jesus and guarded Him.

                (6) The Red Rosary Book is centered
                        in the intimacy between Jesus and Mary
                        and the deep love for us of these 2 Hearts —
                        I experienced some of Mary's sufferings and
                        was given insight into her deep
                        connection with her Son. From
                        conception to His Ascension, such
                        oneness in Their lives together!
                        The rosary is from her young life to
                        her old life. I saw the faces:
                        young faces, old faces, joyful faces,
                        sorrowful faces. I experienced
                        some suffering of Mary holding the
                        Child Jesus and holding His lifeless
                        body under the cross. The intimacy
                        between Jesus and Mary is felt
                        so deeply in Their peering
                        eyes on the way to Calvary —

                (7) From Blue Book 4 - July 15, 1994

The Assumption

Jesus:   

    Mary was taken up into heaven. My beautiful Mother lived many years after My death. She complied, always, willingly to My Father.

    You wander this barren desert in search of water to quench your thirst, but you find none to suffice.

    Your strength is found in the interior union you have with God in your soul.

    You search in vain, you wander. My child, you were created for the love of God and your neighbor.

    You seek, you wander, you roam, but only this interior flame burning within your breast gives you the glow you wear on your face.

    Glory, child, the glory of the God who dwells within your very soul! His fire is a burning ember, burning deeply in your breast. Your union is constant. You never go from the flame. It is the source of His love, deep within your soul.

    Oh, what you feel when you know Our love! It truly is life that radiates from your being, a burning endless flame that goes on despite anything that surrounds you in this world.

    I am the Alpha. I am the Omega. I am your all, My beautiful one. I burn for love of you, in all your precious uniqueness.

    My Mother was taken up to heaven in such happiness. Her days were completed. She lived here to accomplish the work of the Father. Now she lives in your hearts as your beloved Mother.

    She did not leave you, she forever is your loving Mother Mary! Oh, child, if you knew her motherly, undying love for you! You have the ardent love of the sweetest Mother. She is always with you. She was taken into heaven, but remains forever with you as your Mother. Sweet one, you are so loved. One of your greatest glories is the love your great mother has for you. She was assumed into heaven to be with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. What joy for her to see the face of God.

                (8) From Blue Book 4 - July 16, 1994

Live Our Lives In the Rosary

Mary: My blessed daughter, I do not ever abandon you. I am your loving Mother, your other mother is in heaven with me. Come and know I mother you constantly, my child. No one will give you the motherly love you crave but me. Your mother in all her holiness could not mother you this day as I mother you.

  Come to me, my child and know I am truly by your side. I love you so, my dear, sweet one.

Jesus: Live to love Me. I know how far you are from being perfect and I love you anyway.

When you see your faults beg to be given the graces to overcome them.

R. When I speak of my love for You Lord, let me come from a place of love and not pride, ever, ever.

Teach me Your ways.

Jesus: Strive to be Christ-like My child. All your actions should be rooted in love.

VISION

R. The bare skin, being beaten, the bare skin when He was stripped, the bare skin on the cross and taken down in His Mother's arms.

He comes to us as He was born, no coverings, He comes and gives us His all, they beat His precious skin, they pierced His tender skull, they pounded nails through His body. They tore His flesh and it hung.

He gave the last beat of His Heart, He gave the last drop of His Blood, no coverings, He gave Himself.

Jesus gives us Himself in the Eucharist, He gives Himself to you, His Body, His Blood.

What more do we want from this beautiful God to give His all for love of us.

    Yet we do not even know what He is giving us, we are so blind, we run after foolish things and He, the Son of God, waits for us to be with Him, out of deepest love for us.

    His head was pierced, His back was torn, He was beaten down to His ribs, His flesh hung from His body.

Jesus: I GIVE you My BODY and BLOOD for love of you and you cry for love.

    God gives His very own Body and Blood to you.

    I am the Savior of this world, I come to save you from your sins the price I paid is My life, given for each of you. I held nothing back.

Will you love your brothers this way for Me?

I am the Alpha, I am the Omega, I am God, yet I give you Myself because I love you.

Do not ever go from My love.

R. How can I be likened to Christ and model myself after His actions, if I do not pray the rosary. This is Christ and Mary's life from His beginning to end and the Ascension into heaven. It is her life from the Annunciation to her crowning in heaven.

    The love They had for us, the love we need to have for one another. We are truly brothers in Christ.

Jesus: I am the Way, I am the Truth, I am the Life. I am Jesus come to love you this day with My ardent love.

                (9) From Blue Book 4 - July 26, 1994

Believe that My Mother Mary and I Love You!

Jesus: My dear sweet one, I am the Son of God. You know I am longing for your time spent with Me. You awake and you wish to continue sleeping. Do you ever want to get up? You need to go to bed at night, do not get on the phone, do not talk to people - just come to Me and be with Me.

     I am the Alpha and the Omega. Satan is trying to block your union with Me with many distractions.

R. I can't believe Mary or Jesus would love me.

    I can't believe that Jesus truly loves me so much that He died for me. I can't believe that the same Mary that bore Christ and stood beneath the cross at His death is ever by my side and loving me as such a loving mother!

Mary: My dear child, I have come to you with such tenderness and love this morning to tell you of my great love as your loving mother. Believe all I say to you. I love you as the most dear mother.

     Love can only exist if you trust. You must realize your own preciousness and know I never leave you. I am guarding your very way. Trust in my Son Jesus. He truly laid down His life for love of you and would die for you this very day.

     Love is given to you, my child. Look to the uniqueness of this love poured out to you. Pray to the Holy Spirit for the gift of understanding to understand all I am teaching you here.

     In your heart, you will know a new love of Jesus and myself as you let yourself experience Our love, given to you.

     Center on the uniqueness of this love. It is in realizing this personal love you will be able to give His love to others.

     He loves you, so dearly. He would suffer every beating, every thorn, every laceration, every ugly word, His most bitter death, this very day for you and you alone.

      Meditate on His passion and know this is the love He has for you.

     My precious little one, thank you for responding to this call. I am calling you to wrap yourselves in the arms of my beloved Son and experience His love - His life, His flesh, His blood, given for you.

     I am your most loving mother, Mary.

Jesus: My dear child, do you realize how much you must ponder My love for you? My passion is the key for you to understanding this love. Pray for the gift to realize this love. I would die for you this very day. For you, My sweet one! Think: Jesus loves ME this much! This will increase your closeness to Me. It is in this personal love I pour out to you that we will be ever closer. My Heart is ever beating for you in such oneness. I am the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I am your Jesus. I love you with this love. Meditate on My passion and see how I loved you.

     I am your most loving Jesus, tenderest of all hearts and I am in your midst this very day.

 

                (10) August 9, 2000

     Oh, there is not one so fair as thee, my beloved Mother Mary.

     Of all the maidens that God could have chosen it was you, oh shining Star of Heaven.

     Oh Mary, Mother of us all.

     She doth appear as a wonder so fair indeed,

     A permanent sign of God's love.
      A Woman clothed in gold.
      One that glistens with the radiance of a golden tone,

     Her beauty dancing in the sunlit hours of every day.

     In morning splendor, in dancing light at noon day as the sun glistens on her rainbow glow and at night she has appeared on special dates in golden splendor and light.

     Would you quote the Scripture for Mary so fair.

     "Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, robed with the sun, standing on the moon, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant, and in labour, crying aloud in the pangs of childbirth." (Revelation 12: 1-2)

     Would you see her as she appeared in little villages in the 20th century, tucked in hills and out of the way places.

     If you missed these enormous signs from heaven, of one so fair, she appears there clothed in the golden sun of the day, reflecting her radiant beauty painted by the hand of the Father. She is His chosen maiden so fair.

     She appears daily, she is there by day and beneath the black shadows of night, she does not slumber, but calls to her children of light to come through her golden doorway and let the light of Christ shine in their souls.

     She appears one so fair, by day and sometimes by night clothed in radiance and golden, her garment hemmed with glistening sunlight. She once appeared to a few and her visits fleeting in remotest places, she remains a Woman Clothed with the Sun, the sun dancing on her garments of rainbow color on a busy, busy corner for all to see, in the state of the sun, sunny Florida. She is a Woman painted by the brush of God.

     And do you know the wonder of one who calls the children far and wide, to hear the voice of her Son, Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the Flock.

     Mary, the heavenly maiden, to call them home to His Heart.

     Oh, of one so fair, do we not boast and praise our God and thank Him for such a wonder.

     Oh, to Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, we cry, help us to do what you asked for at Fatima and help us in our mission of telling the world of your Son's desire to spread His Movement so men will be Shepherds of Christ.

 

Transcribed from a tape entitled

The Blessed Mother 

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Conference given for priests - Conference 18
Ministr-o media, Inc. 1974

Lovely Lady dressed in blue,
    teach me how to pray.
God was just your little Boy,
    tell me what to say.

Did you lift Him up sometimes,
    gently on your knee?
Did you sing to Him the way
    mother does to me?

Did you ever try telling Him
    stories of the world?
And oh, did He cry?

Do you think He cares
    if I tell Him things?
Just little things that happen.

And do angels wings make a noise?
    Can He hear me if I speak low?
Does He understand me now?
    Tell me for you know.

Lovely Lady dressed in blue,
    teach me how to pray.
God was just your little boy
    and you know the way.”

                Mary is Queen of Heaven and Earth                       

                (1) From Blue Book 4 - August 5, 1994

As Mary Appeared

As Mary appeared, she delivered this message to Father Cather

Mary: Every thing you do will be by the hand of God. You will be given all that you need to write all of my Son's messages. You will speak from Him, you have been chosen to do this very special work which will bring the priests back to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and I am Mary, I am your Mother, you will be given the graces needed to accomplish each task, you should never worry for you are escorted by a band of angels. I am constantly by your side, you are my beloved chosen one, I will see to the accomplishment of this task and all tasks you are called to.
    I am Mary your mother and thank you for being my beloved priest-son. I love you, your loving Mother.

R. She is still appearing to me.

August 5, 1994

Mary appeared as I received this message from Jesus

R. It is no longer I who live, but He who lives in me. 

Jesus: Make yourselves likened to Me in all your ways.

Do not follow after the things of the world, focus on the Spirit as the Spirit is alive within your soul. I am the Lord, thy God and I am ever present and dwell in your hearts. Come to Me. Let My life live in you. I am the Way, I am the Truth, I am the Life. Come and abide in Me that you might live in Me and I in you. I am Jesus, your precious Savior come to prepare you for your home in heaven.

                (2) From Blue Book 4 - September 2, 1994 - After Communion

Promote My Rosary

R. Such emotion I feel, looking at Mary's statues. I can hardly take it in. I feel so close to Christ in my heart and have an intense longing for Him. I felt a burning in my chest, wanting more. I felt such sorrow around Mary, I couldn't bear to look at the statue and wanted to cry.

Mary: My little girl, I am Mary, your beloved mother. As I have told you, you will suffer. My heart is so sad for all those who do not know the love of my Son. You know some of His intense love for all the beloved souls. I give you some of my emotions to allow you to experience my suffering, to know all those who reject the love of my precious Son. Sweet child of mine, you know how He loves all. I tell you to pray, pray for each other.

Promote the rosary. I am showing you how to make the rosary alive in your life. The rosary is such a powerful prayer against Satan. Satan is running rampant. He will be squelched by the praying of the rosary. Promote the rosary. I appear to you as the Lady of Light. My rosary will light up the world! I am the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Who will hear if you are not speaking? Constantly be about the work of promoting Our Two Hearts and praying the rosary. I show myself to you to comfort you and to lead others to my rosary. I am sorrowful to know the hearts of men. They have turned so cold, when Jesus has a burning fire waiting to warm them.

Jesus: I am Jesus. I am the Sacred Heart of Jesus. My Heart burns for love of My beloved children. It is through My Mother's Heart and My Heart that so many will turn their cold hearts and lukewarm hearts to hearts ablaze with the fire of My love.

Promote My Heart through My Mother's Heart. You will continue to experience such emotions! My Mother is so closely united to Me! To know her is to know her suffering for the sinners that will be lost in eternal damnation. She appears to you in such light! You must preach the contents of these letters. Your words will be a light to the dark world. I speak through you. You are delivering My messages to those I love. Your tongue should forever declare My intense, burning love for all. This world will shine with the love of My Sacred Heart. These words will illuminate their hearts. You hold words given to My loved ones from Me. Do not take this job lightly. You need to get my messages out. Souls will be lost forever because they did not know My burning love. This is the medicine for the sick world. They need these messages.

I am Jesus. I speak here to the world. These are My intense love letters to all. They need to hear these words. They are given from Me to each precious soul. This is an urgent message. Time is so short! You will know soon that the time delayed will hurt many souls.

Souls will not know of My love. They need these messages. I speak so tenderly to My beloved ones here! Please, I beg you to spread these words to My hurting children.

Mary is appearing as a Lady of Light. These letters will light men's hearts with My intense love for them. The world will shine with My love. Circulate the messages. This is an urgent message.

                (3) From Blue Book 4 - September 10, 1994

The Coronation

The Two Hearts - the Sacred Heart - the Immaculate Heart.

Mary is crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth.

  Can you imagine Mary's great joy to be crowned Queen of Heaven and Earth?

  Can you imagine her immense joy to be in heaven?

  Can we imagine her joy to see the angels and saints praising God?

  Mary is my most beloved mother and now she reigns in the courts of heaven.

*  She who carried the baby Jesus in her womb, who held Him in her arms, who walked by Him during the passion, who stood under His cross, who held His lifeless body and watched Him, locked in the tomb...Now is taken up to heaven and crowned Queen of Heaven, forever to reign in the courts of heaven with her Beloved Son!

Mary, my mother, is crowned Queen.

  She forever intercedes for us, her beloved children, and cares for our every need as a loving mother.

  Jesus gave to us His mother and she is the Queen of Heaven.

   

Mary appearing in priest residents chapel.

Note:  I see the same beautiful face of Mary on the Sorrowful Mother statue, I am seeing it now.

God lives in us.

                (4) From Blue Book 4 - September 11, 1994

Mary's Heart

R. It is through Mary's heart I know the Heart of Jesus more. She carried Him in her womb. She took Him to the temple. She fled with Him into Egypt. She lost Him for a brief time. She cared for Him all through His young life. She watched Him heal the sick and preach the love of God. She watched the gentle ways of God. She knew His joy and suffering. She knew His Heart. She walked next to Him on Calvary and peered into His eyes. She stood under His cross and watched Him die. She held His lifeless body. She cried outside of His tomb and she saw His beautiful body after the Resurrection. She saw Him ascend into heaven.

How well does the heart of Mary know and love the Heart of Jesus! She is closer to Him than is any other human person. The Father and Holy Spirit are one with Him. It is through this knowing of His most tender Heart that she wants to place us so tenderly into Jesus' Heart. She, who knows His Heart so well, she who is without sin, she who is close to Him, she who loved Jesus and knew Him so dearly, she is the way to reach the deepest part of His Heart. She is the door to Jesus. It is through her heart that I am most closely united in deepest love with my Jesus.

Mary knows the Father's love. It was He Who created her sinless and chose her to be the Mother of His Son. She knew well the love of her Spouse, the Holy Spirit. She was filled with the Holy Spirit when Jesus was conceived. She was filled with the Holy Spirit at Elizabeth's house. She was filled all through her life. She was filled on Pentecost. She knew the love of the Holy Spirit. She is the human person closest to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is through her most knowing and loving heart that we will reach the deepest intimacy with God.

Prayer: Mary, through your Immaculate Heart, place us in the deepest part of Jesus' Heart so we can more deeply love Him. It is through your heart and Jesus' Heart we want to have a deeper union with the Father.

Dear Holy Spirit, impart to us Your gifts to lead us to such love, to union with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Lead us in Your ways to know God and love Him more fully. Give us all Your seven gifts: Wisdom, Knowledge, Piety, Fear of the Lord, Understanding, Fortitude, Counsel. Lead us to greater union with God. Impart to us the fire of Your love. Where we were once blind, let us see. Fill us with Your love, Oh, Holy Spirit, through Mary's Immaculate Heart, we pray. Amen.

                (5) From Blue Book 4 - September 13, 1994 - 5:30 a.m.

Mary Saw It All

R.  Mary saw it all. She lived it all. She carried Him, she held Him, she fed Him. If I am to know Christ, I must go through His Mother's heart because she knew Him best. Her heart was filled with joy. Her heart was pierced with a sword. She saw, she felt, she lived her life with His. He was formed in the womb of the Blessed Mother by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us His gifts to know God more.

  Oh, Lord, how I thirst to know You more! How I long for Your life. The Holy Spirit is God. He is a Spirit. He is on fire. He is love.

Prayer:

  Spirit of God, pour Yourself out on me, release Your grace to me. Make me full of this fire for love of God. Let me know Your presence, God alive in my heart.

  I love You so, God. I love you, Mary. Please work in me. I long for closer union with God: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit through Mary's Immaculate Heart.

Jesus:  I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. I am Jesus, your precious Savior. My life is a vibrant force that can be actively alive in your heart. Your heart is the center of your life. Constantly be aware of its existence within you. I communicate to you in your heart. You know Me in your heart. I am alive and burning in your heart. I am God and I come and dwell within your heart. I want to have My life in you. Let go, My precious ones. I love you so very much. I want to be one in you. Pray the Prayer for Union with Me.

  It is in this union you will experience such peace. The more you unite with God, the more you live your life as God the Father intended. Pray for this union. Ask Mary to place you tenderly in My Heart. The Holy Spirit is her Spouse. She will deeply place you in My Heart.

                (6) From Blue Book 4 - September 18, 1994

Mother Teresa's Prayer:

Mary, Mother of Jesus, give me your heart, so beautiful, so pure, so Immaculate, so full of love and humility, that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life, love Him as you loved Him and serve Him in the distressing disguise of the Poorest of the Poor.

                (7)

Excerpts from The Spirituality of Fatima

by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.   

May 13, 1917 

    "Do not be afraid, I will do you no harm..... I am from Heaven.

    "I have come to ask you to come here for six months in succession, on the 13th day, at the same hour. Later on, I will tell you who I am and what I want

    "Are you willing to offer yourselves to God and bear all the sufferings He wills to send you, as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners?

    "Pray the Rosary every day in order to obtain peace for the world, and the end of the war." ⁽⁸⁾

  

June 13, 1917

    "God wishes you to remain in the world for some time because He wants to use you to establish in the world the devotion to my Immaculate Heart. I promise salvation to those who embrace it, and their souls will be loved by God as flowers placed by myself to adorn His throne." ⁽¹⁰⁾

  

July 13, 1917

    "During her appearance in July, Our Lady, in answer to Lucia's plea, promised that in October she would work a great miracle so that all might believe and know who she was. Again, the Mother of God told the children to sacrifice themselves for sinners and to say many times, especially when making a sacrifice, this prayer: "O my Jesus, I offer this for love of Thee, for the conversion of poor sinners, and in reparation for all the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary." ⁽¹¹⁾

    "During this same July apparition, Mary showed the three children a vision of Hell. She told them:

    "You have seen Hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish, in the world, devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If people do what I tell you, many souls will be saved and there will be peace.

    "The war (World War I, then raging) is going to end. But if people do not stop offending God, another and worse one will begin in the reign of Pius XI. When you shall see a night illuminated by an unknown light [January 2, 1938], know that this is the great sign that God gives you that He is going to punish the world for its many crimes by means of war, hunger, and persecution of the Church and the Holy Father. ⁽¹²⁾

    "To prevent this, I shall come to ask for the consecration of Russia to my Immaculate Heart and the Communion of Reparation on the five first Saturdays. If my requests are granted, Russia will be converted and there will be peace. If not, she will scatter her errors throughout the world, provoking wars and persecutions of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, and various nations will be destroyed....

    "But in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph, the Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, Russia will be converted, and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world." ⁽¹³⁾

  

August 19, 1917

    She told them she was greatly displeased by the action of the mayor. As a result, the miracle promised for October would not be as impressive as originally planned. ⁽¹⁵⁾

 

September 13, 1917

    More than 30,000 people were present in September, and saw a shower of mysterious white petals fall to within 10 feet of the ground before dissolving into the air. Many also saw the globe of light bearing the Lady come to rest atop the tree, and the branches bend as though someone were standing on them. Later, they saw the cloud depart into the east, from whence it had come.⁽¹⁶⁾

  

October 13, 1917

    I am the Lady of the Rosary. I have come to warn the faithful to amend their lives and to ask pardon for their sins. They must not offend Our Lord any more, for He is already too grievously offended by the sins of men. People must say the Rosary. Let them continue saying it every day.⁽¹⁷⁾

    While the people in attendance were beholding the great Miracle of the Sun, the three young visionaries, and they alone, were privileged to see striking visions in the heavens:

    As Our Lady had promised, St. Joseph had come with the Holy Family and had blessed the world. Then, Our Lady appeared as the Mother of Sorrows, accompanied by her Divine Son, Who also blessed the world. Finally, Lucy had seen the Blessed Virgin, dressed in the brown robes of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth, holding a brown Scapular in her hand, with her infant Son upon her knee. However, in none of these visions had any of the figures spoken to the children. ⁽¹⁸⁾

---

NOTES:

8. Frere Michael de la Trinite', The Whole Truth about Fatima 
    (Buffalo: Immaculate Heart Publications, 1989), pp.112-114.
9. For background material on Fatima, I am particularly indebted to 
    Our Lady of Fatima's Peace Plan from Heaven (Rockford: TAN 
    Books and Publishers, Inc., 1983). p.30.
10. Ibid., p.3.
11. Ibid., pp.3-4.
12. Ibid., pp.4-5.
13. Ibid., p.5.
14. Rev. Edward Carter, S.J., Mother at Our Side: Mary's Role in 
        the Spiritual Life (1993: Faith Publishing Co., Milford, Ohio), p.21.
15. Our Lady's Peace Plan, op cit., p.6.
16. Ibid., p.6.
17. Ibid., p.7.
18. Ibid., p.8.

                (8) Priestly Newsletter Book II by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J. pp. 201-203

Mary's Presence

    Fr. René Laurentin, one of the world's foremost Mariologists, speaks to us concerning Mary's presence to Christ: "Mary is present throughout the life of Christ...She introduced him into the human family, unfolded his humanity, accompanied him throughout his hidden life until he reached the age of thirty. She became involved in his ministry by suggesting to him the sign of Cana (John 2:1-22). During the three years of separation, her spiritual communion deepened further. She was one with him physically and morally during his suffering and death on Calvary, through compassion with his passion. She prepared for and accompanied, through her prayer, the birth of the Church (Acts 1:14). Finally, she rejoined her son in the glory of the Assumption."

    Laurentin also speaks about the presence of Mary in the life of the Church: "Mary's discreet and universal presence continues throughout the life of the Church: visible and invisible, in history, its churches, its religious art. The call for her intercession appears throughout the dogmatic history of the Councils and the various complex struggles within the Church which, during the Carolingian era, inspired the famous anthiphon: 'You have conquered all heresies throughout the world.'

    "She was also the inspiration for the initiatives and victories of the Church. Many feasts were instituted in order to commemorate her efficacious assistance. From the earliest centuries, the most ancient churches were dedicated to her since she was the first temple of God and remains the model of all others. Mary, model of the Church, is also the model of the churches where the eucharistic presence of the Lord is renewed and where prayer takes place continuously."

    Present to the universal Church, Mary is also present to the individual Christian. Laurentin quotes from the writings of numerous holy men and women who give witness concerning this personal presence of Mary. There follow some of Laurentin's quotations regarding this testimony.

    He refers to St. Anthony of Padua: "And St. Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church, whose canonization broke all records, taking place less than two years after his death, concluded one of his principal homilies with this prayer: 'We beseech you, Our Lady, our hope, tossed about as we are by the storm. You, Star of the Sea, bright ray, direct us towards safe harbour, assist our arrival by the protection of your presence. (Sermon 3 in Praise of the Virgin, op. 1, p 163.)"

    Laurentin also refers to Jean Jacques Olier, founder of the Sulpicians, and one of the most prominent figures of the French School of Spirituality. He quotes Olier: "One Saturday Mary became interiorly present to my soul...She recalled to me that her dear son had told me that he would only live in me through her...as if she were a sacrament by which he wished to communicate his life to me. (Brettonvillers, L'esprit de Monsieur Olier, t. 1, 1, 9 pp. 396-397)."

    And it is not surprising that Laurentin, in his discussion of Mary's presence to us, refers to St. Louis de Montfort, one of the greatest apostles of devotion to Mary. Laurentin says: "Let us not pick any further from the petals of the dossier (Laurentin refers to the list of citations he has made concerning Mary's presence to us) which stretches over the centuries and which seems to justify de Montfort's prediction in his Treatise on True Devotion (no 46): 'At the end of the world, the greatest saints will be those who are most devoted to praying to the most Holy Virgin, and who have had her always present... in order... to have her as their powerful helper in their time of need '' " ¹²

    Let us remind ourselves, regarding St. Louis de Montfort, that his Marian devotion is deeply Christocentric. J. Patrick Gaffney, S. S. M., tells us: "Montfort's intense devotion to Mary is clearly Christocentric. So strongly does the saint insist upon the point that he forcefully teaches that if devotion to Mary alienated us from Jesus it would have to be rejected as a diabolical temptation...with Mary we enter into a more intense and more immediate union with the Incarnate Wisdom. To wrench Mary from salvation history and therefore from Christian life is, for Montfort, to reject the plan of salvation as decreed by the Father." ¹³

12. Fr. René Laurentin, A Year of Grace with Mary, translated by Monsignor Michael J. Wrenn, Veritas, pp l13-l19.
13. God Alone, The Collected Works of St. Louis de Montfort, Montfort Publication, p. xv.
 

                (9) Priestly Newsletter Book II by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J., pp. 179-181

Mother at Our Side

    I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him, abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep; this is because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep. (Jn 10:11-15¹)¹)

    Yes, the Good Shepherd has laid down His life for us. As He was near death, an awesome episode in the work of redemption took place: Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, "Woman, this is your son". Then to the disciple he said, "This is your mother." And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home." (Jn 19:25-27).

    Speaking of Mary, Vatican II tells us: "In an utterly singular way she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope and burning charity in the Savior's work of restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason she is a mother to us in the order of grace." ²

    Mary is the Mother of Jesus. She is also our Mother. The above words of Scripture and of the Second Vatican Council attest to this.

    Yes, Jesus has given us Mary as our spiritual Mother. As He hung on the cross, Jesus told John to look upon Mary as his Mother, this John who represented all of us. In His moment of deepest anguish and suffering, Jesus was thinking of us. As the undescribable physical pain racked His body from head to toe, as the unfathomable spiritual anguish penetrated to the depths of His magnificent Heart, Jesus was thinking of us. If we allow this scene to penetrate into our hearts, if we take the time to contemplate the depth of Jesus' and Mary's love for us as their Hearts were pierced with grief, we are truly overwhelmed with the magnificent greatness, sorrow, and tenderness of the scene.

    The fact that Mary is our Mother, the fact that she has such a powerful role to play in our salvation in no way detracts from the mediatorship of Christ. Vatican II states: "The maternal duty of Mary toward men in no way obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power. For all the saving influences of the Blessed Virgin on men originate, not from some inner necessity, but from the divine pleasure. They flow forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ, rest on His mediation, depend entirely on it, and draw all their power from it. In no way do they impede the immediate union of the faithful with Christ. Rather, they foster this union." ³

1. Scriptural quotations are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, Doubleday & Co.
2.  Documents of Vatican II, "Dogmatic Constitution on the Church", America Press edition, no. 61
3. Ibid., No. 45.

                (10) Priestly Newsletter Book II by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J., Mother at Our Side - continues pp. 179-181

    In her loving, maternal role, Mary cooperates with the Holy Spirit in forming Christ in us. Pope John Paul II tells us: "The Church knows that 'all the saving influences of the Blessed Virgin on mankind originate... from the divine pleasure...' This saving influence is sustained by the Holy Spirit, Who, just as He overshadowed the Virgin Mary when he began in her the divine motherhood, in a similar way constantly sustains her solicitude for the brothers and sisters of her Son." ⁴

    Mary, our Mother is ever with us, guiding us, teaching us, caring for us, protecting us, loving us. With her maternal assistance we go to the Father through and with Christ in the Holy Spirit.

    Mary nourishes our growth in Christ with a very tender and specialized love for each of us. She regards each of us as a precious, unique individual. John Paul II again speaks to us: "Of the essence of motherhood is the fact that it concerns the person. Motherhood always establishes a unique and unrepeatable relationship between two people: between mother and child and between child and mother. Even when the same woman is the mother of many children, her personal relationship with each one of them is of the very essence of motherhood. For each child is generated in a unique and unrepeatable way, and this is true both for the mother and for the child." ⁵

    The Holy Father then applies these ideas to Mary and us: "It can be said that motherhood 'in the order of grace' preserves the analogy with what 'in the order of nature' characterizes the union between mother and child. In the light of this fact it becomes easier to understand why in Christ's testament on Golgotha His Mother's new motherhood is expressed in the singular, in reference to one man." ⁶

    This is the awesome and consoling truth-you and I are very precious to Mary. She shows us her Heart as a symbol of her life of love, including her most special, unique love for each of us individually. Yes, she loves each of us much more than we can ever fathom. It is our great privilege and responsibility to love her in return. She asks for this love, she asks for our trust, she asks us to come to her maternal and Immaculate Heart, so that she can lead us ever closer to the Heart of her Son, Jesus.

    Are we sorrowful, anxious, troubled? Let us go to Mary our Mother and ask her to console us. Let us ask her for the grace to handle our sorrow, our anxieties, our troubles properly-according to God's will. In this way our suffering will bring us closer to Christ as it simultaneously allows us to contribute to the ongoing Christianization of the world.

    Are we especially joyful, happy, basking in the glow of a goal successfully accomplished? Let us go to Mary and ask her to help us handle our joy, our happiness, our success as God intends. Let us petition her not to allow our joy to make us forgetful of God, our God Who is the source of all true joy, success and happiness.

    Yes, Mary invites us to come to her in all circumstances-whether it be in joy or sorrow, success or failure, laughter or tears. Mary wants us to share in her maternal wisdom so that we may understand how to use our various experiences to come closer to God in Christ. Sharing our lives with Mary in this fashion, and on a consistent basis, requires that we love her, that we trust her, that we surrender ourselves to her maternal love.

    Help us, Mother Mary, to probe ever more deeply into the depths of your love for us. Help us to realize more and more that to be loved by you is to experience a sweetness, a warmth, a tenderness, a serenity, a security, which makes us cry out, "O Mother, how good and loving you are!"

4. Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Letter, The Mother of the Redeemer, United States Catholic Conference, No. 38.
5. Ibid., No. 45.
6. Ibid., No. 45.

 

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