Advent and sadness?

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today I read about the second young girl to whom Our Lady of Kibeho appeared, and there was an element of sadness that again reminded me of Fatima, when the three little children were asked if they were willing to make sacrifices for sinners. Like the purple vestments worn during the Advent season we are reminded to repent of our sins and the sins of the world. John the Baptist cried in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord”. Mary calls us also.

Our Lady of Kibeho came to 17 yr. old Anathalie, student at the same school and a member of the Legion of Mary for some years. Alphonsine had not been believed so she prayed to Our Lady – to appear to another girl at the school too. Alphonsine had been believed by only a few, and thought she might be expelled. She suffered especially from the taunts of many classmates. More believed after Mary appeared to Anathalie, but still there was unbelief and suffering for both girls.

When Mary spoke to the second girl, she sounded so forlorn that the girl thought her heart would break. Mary said:

"My child, I am sad because I have sent a message and no one will listen to my words as I desire…So many souls are running to ruin that I need your help to turn them back to my Son. As long as you are on earth, you have to contribute to the salvation of souls. If you work with me, I shall give you a mission to lead those lost souls back from darkness. Because the world is so bad, my child, you will suffer – so if you accept this mission, you must accept all the sufferings I send you, with love and patience… "

“I accept, Mother”, Anathalie replied through her tears. I accept my mission willingly."

Like St. Bernadette of Lourdes, this young girl was willing to receive from Mary no promise of happiness in this world, but the promise of eternal happiness in the next world.

Advent is a “short” season and is becoming more of a “forgotten” season for many persons. Christmas has become the focus with little or no sense of any need to prepare spiritually. Our Lady’s days of preparation for Jesus’ coming were days of both joy and suffering. She does not ask of us anything she did not learn from God as He continually revealed His Truth to her. Her “Yes” was constantly faithful and loving. She accepted her “mission” and now she offers to share that mission with us. Like her Son, she knows that love entails a willingness to suffer in this world.

Perhaps we can ask ourselves: Am I willing to work with Mary as she works with God for others? While I wait with the Mother of the Word, will I listen to her Son, as she listened to Him and obeyed His Word? Will I love others as Jesus and Mary love? Will I pray for all and be willing to offer my sufferings in union with Jesus through Mary? By God’s Grace we can, through Mary, and with Mary we can, but are we willing? I pray for God’s Grace to keep learning and growing as Mary did – receiving mysterious joy even in the midst of sadness – not a superficial joy but one that is deep, and of the Holy Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit! Come, Lord Jesus! Mary, Mother of the Word, pray for us.

 

[mlz]

What a beautiful grace having our Blessed Mother but there is such a yearning for her children to pray and make reparation for souls in addition to reaching out to those that cross our path or where we are led to go. Time is short and we are confronted by such evil. Be encouraged and be perseverant to the end In His Sacred Heart and the Immacualte Heart of our Blessed Mother!! Alleluia!
mlz

 

[MariaChristi]

What a beautiful grace having our Blessed Mother but there is such a yearning for her children to pray and make reparation for souls in addition to reaching out to those that cross our path or where we are led to go. Time is short and we are confronted by such evil. Be encouraged and be perseverant to the end In His Sacred Heart and the Immacualte Heart of our Blessed Mother!! Alleluia!
mlz

Dear miz,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, it is a beautiful grace, and I do thank God for sending Jesus through Mary, and for her presence in my life and in the lives of all God’s children. I believe it is part of the grace of having her in my life that brings also the strong impulse from the Holy Spirit to pray in reparation for my own sins and the sins of the world. It is also Mary’s influence which sends us with haste as she went with haste to bring Jesus to her cousin Elizabeth and Baby John the Baptist in Elizabeth’s womb.

We have only each day to receive our daily bread, and by God’s Grace we can faithfully keep reaching out to those who need Him with our prayers and good works. Without Him we can do nothing. Please let us pray for one another as we seek to console Jesus and Mary. Let us pray to the Holy Spirit to guide us as we prepare for the Coming of Jesus at Christmas and even more for His final Coming.

Whatever sadness, He permits in our lives, let us remember – His Grace is sufficient – and so we can sing with Mary, “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior!”

 

[bardegaulois]

I’ve always found Advent to be a sad season–yes, our Lord is absent and has not come–yet somewhat unlike Lent, balanced with the joy of expectation–but we await Him and His kingdom, knowing it is glorious beyond measure. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Mass and Office readings of Gaudete Sunday. Both of the “Sundays in rose,” so to speak, impress me greatly because of the counterpoint they present to the days both immediately before and after them.

The antiphon to the Magnificat states it excellently and succinctly: “Blessed art thou, O Mary, who didst believe the Lord; what the Lord said to thee shall be fulfilled in thee. Alleluia.”

 

[MariaChristi]

I’ve always found Advent to be a sad season–yes, our Lord is absent and has not come–yet somewhat unlike Lent, balanced with the joy of expectation–but we await Him and His kingdom, knowing it is glorious beyond measure. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Mass and Office readings of Gaudete Sunday. Both of the “Sundays in rose,” so to speak, impress me greatly because of the counterpoint they present to the days both immediately before and after them.

The antiphon to the Magnificat states it excellently and succinctly: “Blessed art thou, O Mary, who didst believe the Lord; what the Lord said to thee shall be fulfilled in thee. Alleluia.”

Dear bardegaulois,

Thanks so much for your reply. Yes, I believe we are called to a certain, mysterious blending of joy and sorrow in our lives here on earth. It is a valley of tears, and we are only here for a short time. Although Jesus came to Mary and to the world in His first coming – and He comes to us in Holy Communion, most intimately, we still long for His Final Coming to take us to our eternal home. Advent is so important for us to prepare our hearts to welcome Him, as Mary did.

May Our Blessed Mother intercede for us that we may grow in faith, to stand firm as we wait. May we grow in hope and above all charity, as Mary grew in her life on this earth.