Compassion in the Hearts of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today, January 23 used to be the Feast of the Espousals of Mary and Joseph. That fest is no longer on most calendars but I remember it from years ago, and today I was reminded of it as I saw this:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Pondering the caption for Day 3 of the Pro-life Novena published by the USCCB, I thought both of the “old Feast” of the Espousals of Mary and Joseph and also a section in the book “Mary - the Church at the Source” which I’ve posted on CAF recently. Pope Emeritus, then Cardinal Ratzinger wrote a beautiful reflection on Mary and compassion.

God willing I’ll find those passages in the book and post more on that later but for today let us pnder this caption and the need we have in our own hearts to be compassionate as Jesus, Mary and Joseph were in their lives on earth.

 

[patricius79]

St. Alphonsus says, in the Glories of Mary, that while the devil prowls about seeking someone to devour; but Mary goes everywhere seeking someone to help and comfort.

He says she holds nothing against anyone, provided that they come to her with a good intention.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Little Flower, Bluebright, patricius and Stephie,

Thank you all for your “hearts” which let me know you appreciated knowing today’s Feast – if your didn’t already know – and its significance in connection with Day 3 of the Novena for Life. It made me think of the importance of compassion for all of us. There are so many in the word today who are close to despair over the difficulties in their lives and also the situalions of conflict we find even in the Church.

Please let us continie to pray for one another that we may grow more and more like Jesus Who is Meek and Humble of Heart, learning from Him as Mary and Joseph did on this earth. Let us have compassion on all whom God has permitted to be in our lives, loving them with His Love, as Joseph and Mary learned to do. Thanks so much.

 

[patricius79]

There are so many in the word today who are close to despair over the difficulties in their lives and also the situalions of conflict we find even in the Church.

That is very true. I was close to despair for years–or perhaps in despair–and only found peace through seeking Christ through Mary, after I read True Devotion to Mary and the Glories of Mary.

Yes, let us pray for all who are close to despair and don’t know Jesus Christ through the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of Mercy.

 

[MariaChristi]

Ah, yes, patricius – what beautiful gifts of Wisdom God shares with His saints! And what love for Mary, Saints like St. Alphonsus and St. Louis de Montfor, Pope St. john Paul II and others show us!

Your words taken from St. Alphonsus’ book “The Glories of Mary” fit so well with the the virtue of Compassion. Thanks so much for your reply.

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks also for your second reply, patricius, sharing with us your own experience of being close to despair, and then the beauty of God’s Grace leading you to read both the Treatise on “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin” by St. Louis de Montfort, and “The Glories of Mary” by St. Alphonsus.

(Note: If anyone has not read these books the links will take you to the online versions. Both are also available for purchase at Amazon.com)

God is always near to us, dear brother patricius, and His Mercy endures forever. How grateful you and I can be, as well as all others who have heard in a deep and lasting way Jesus’ words from His Cross:

Behold your Mother

 

[patricius79]

God is always near to us, dear brother and His Mercy endures forever. How grateful you and I can be as well as others who have heard in deep and lasting way Jesus’ words for His Cross:

Behold your Mother

There is so much of our Crucified Lord’s Compassion in those three words!

I still can remember reading excerpts from the Glories of Mary online and knowing I had finally found what I needed to know.

And the same goes for True Devotion to Mary.

As St. Alphonsus says, those who find Mary find every grace and all salvation from Christ.

 

[MariaChristi]

As St. Alphonsus says, those who find Mary find every grace and all salvation from Christ.

Thanks, dear brother patricius for this quote from St. Alphonsus, repeated, above, Today on this Memorial of St. Francis de Sales, we hear again the word “Compassion” in the life of this saintly Bishop. The Church in her Liturgy of the Hours and in the Mass for this day, has chosen to highlight that virtue. God willing, I want to continue pondering today on my new thread, what I’ve learned from the writing of Pope Emeritus in his book, “Mary - The Church at the Source” about the compassion of Mary we see reflected in God’s Compassion .

 

[patricius79]

St. Bonaventure says to Mary: “the light of your compassion you hath shined on me.”

The eminent theologian, Fr. Reginald Garrigou- Lagrange, wrote this so beautifully:

The four invocations of the Litany of Loreto, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Consoler of the Afflicted, Help of Christians, recall unceasingly to the faithful how truly Mary is Mother of divine grace and Mother of mercy. The Church sings that she is our hope: Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy! Hail, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! She is our hope in that she has merited, with her Son, all that we need of help from God, and in that she transmits it to us now by her intercession. She is therefore the living expression and the instrument of God’s helping Mercy, which is the formal motive of our hope. Confidence, or firm hope, is certain in its tendency to salvation,[347] and its certainty increases with our growth in grace. This certainty derives from our faith in the goodness of God Omnipotent and in His fidelity to His promises. Thence comes that almost constant sense of His watchful Paternity which we find in the saints. Mary’s influence leads us gradually to this perfect confidence and makes its motive ever more clear.
The Mother Of The Saviour by Reverend Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange O.P.