Day 26 - (Last Day of Week 2)

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today as we conclude this second week of our preparation/journey, it occurs to me how much of a continuum there is among these 33 days. By God’s Grace, we are invited to go forward, grace upon grace. In one sense we begin and end, but in another sense – if we are corresponding faithfully to God’s graces – we continue to grow spiritually!

Sometime ago I realized (cannot give you a date or time) but I know it was a “new grace” to realize I couldn’t think of Mary without thinking of Jesus. Recently one of our priests speaking to us before praying the Rosary was sharing that when we pray the Rosary in God’s Presence, Mary is there with us as well. Heaven, after all, is where God is.

Let us listen to St. Louis De Montfort:

1. The Holy Spirit speaking through the Fathers of the Church, also calls our Lady the Eastern Gate, through which the High Priest, Jesus Christ, enters and goes out into the world. Through this gate he entered the world the first time and through this same gate he will come the second time.

The Holy Spirit also calls her the Sanctuary of the Divinity, the Resting-Place of the Holy Spirit, the Throne of God, the City of God, the Altar of God, the Temple of God, the World of God. All these titles and expressions of praise are very real when related to the different wonders the Almighty worked in her and the graces which he bestowed on her. What wealth and what glory! What a joy and a privilege for us to enter and dwell in Mary, in whom almighty God has set up the throne of his supreme glory!

1. But how difficult it is for us to have the freedom, the ability and the light to enter such an exalted and holy place. This place is guarded not by a cherub, like the first earthly paradise, but by the Holy Spirit himself who has become its absolute Master. Referring to her, he says: “You are an enclosed garden, my sister, my bride, an enclosed garden and a sealed fountain.” Mary is enclosed. Mary is sealed. The unfortunate children of Adam and Eve driven from the earthly paradise, can enter this new paradise only by a special grace of the Holy Spirit which they have to merit.

I know that I am not “always” remaining in Jesus and Mary yet, perhaps only for moments at a time, but I am very grateful for any instant when by the grace of God I am there. Certainly at Holy Communion time, and at moments during the Rosary, or even doing housework, I am drawn to remember them and to place myself in the crossing of her arms. But “remaining” is something more. As a holy and learned priest once told me when I asked him how to “remain” as Jesus tells us in John 17-- Father told me: “You’ll know you’re remaining, when you’re remaining”.

Come Holy Spirit, give us the grace we need “to enter and dwell in Mary, in whom almighty God has set up his supreme glory!” Litany of the Holy Spirit HERE
Mary, you are my Mother, intercede for me that I may remain in you and Jesus. Ave Maris Stella HERE

 

[liturgy96]

Mary, spouse of the Holy Spirit, pray for us! Ark of the covenant, pray for us! Vessel of honor, pray for us!

 

[MariaChristi]

Mary, spouse of the Holy Spirit, pray for us! Ark of the covenant, pray for us! Vessel of honor, pray for us!

Dear liturgy96,

Thanks so much for your prayers. How very important it is for all of us to pray for one another! Looking back on my prayer to our Mother, in today’s post, I was especially praying for me!!! Was I thinking no one else needed prayer, or was I thinking all were already “remaining” in Jesus and Mary? Well, let me re-phrase my prayer to: “Mary, you are our Mother, intercede for all of us that we may remain in you and Jesus”