Apr. 20 - '"If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above..."

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Continuing this Easter Season, waiting 50 days after Easter for Pentecost, the Alleluia verse before today’s Gospel and the Gospel also blessed me:

Alleluia, alleluia.
If then you were raised with Christ,
seek what is above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Alleluia, alleluia.

The Gospel relates the story of Nicodemus’ visit at night to speak with Jesus. Conscious of CAF’s limit on length, I shortened Jn 3: 1-8:

…Nicodemus said to him,
“How can a man once grown old be born again?
Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?”
Jesus answered,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless one is born of water and Spirit
he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.
What is born of flesh is flesh
and what is born of spirit is spirit.
Do not be amazed that I told you,
‘You must be born from above.’
The wind blows where it wills,
and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

While we cannot enter our earthly mother’s womb again, in the new birth we receive at Baptism, we do in a spiritual sense enter into the womb of Mary, Mother and Model of the Church. I quoted paragraph 36 from True Devotion in my last reply to St. Faustina’s Prayer to Mary, below are paragraphs 34 and 35:

1. God the Holy Spirit wishes to fashion his chosen ones in and through Mary. He tells her, “My well-beloved, my spouse, let all your virtues take root in my chosen ones that they may grow from strength to strength and from grace to grace. When you were living on earth, practising the most sublime virtues, I was so pleased with you that I still desire to find you on earth without your ceasing to be in heaven. Reproduce yourself then in my chosen ones, so that I may have the joy of seeing in them the roots of your invincible faith, profound humility, total mortification, sublime prayer, ardent charity, your firm hope and all your virtues. You are always my spouse, as faithful, pure, and fruitful as ever. May your faith give me believers; your purity, virgins; your fruitfulness, elect and living temples.”
2. When Mary has taken root in a soul she produces in it wonders of grace which only she can produce; for she alone is the fruitful virgin who never had and never will have her equal in purity and fruitfulness. Together with the Holy Spirit Mary produced the greatest thing that ever was or ever will be: a God-man. She will consequently produce the marvels which will be seen in the latter times. The formation and the education of the great saints who will come at the end of the world are reserved to her, for only this singular and wondrous virgin can produce in union with the Holy Spirit singular and wondrous things.

Come, Holy Spirit!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Wm777 and Cath,

Thank you both for your “hearts” which let us know again your love for Jesus through Mary, and the writings of St. Louis de Montfort. It is always a blessing to “see by faith” how the Lord provides for us, isn’t it?

In our Diocese the Bishop postponed the planned reception of RCIA Candidates coming into the Church at Easter, and decided they will be welcomed into the Church on the Feast of Pentecost. How beautiful!

Please let us continue to pray for one another and for the Church and the world so in need of Mary, Mother and Model of the Church. Totus tuus!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear QuietTrad and Stephanie,

Thank you both for your “hearts” letting us know you read this thread, the words of Jesus in the Gospel and the words of St. Louis de Montfort in his treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin.

Jesus is our Way, our Truth and our Life, as He revealed in John’s Gospel, yet He also shows us the beautiful examples of His Mother who followed Him perfectly, living the Truth she heard from Him, and also His Saints who were faithful to Him, through Mary and by the power of His Holy Spirit.

By God’s Grace may we all strive to follow Him through Mary and by the power of His Holy Spirit. Totus tuus!