Dec. 3 - First Saturday of December

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today is the First Saturday of December, and in this 100th Anniversary Year of Mary’s Apparitions of Fatima, each First Saturday-- it seems to me – takes on more significance. Jesus asked for reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in an appearance to the oldest of the three children of Fatima, Lucia, who entered the convent after the death of her young cousins Francisco and Jacinta.

In an apparition to Sister Lucia in 1925, both Jesus and Mary appeared and spoke to her:

Lucia was a postulant in the Convent of St. Dorothy in Pontevedra, Spain when she had the apparition of our Blessed Mother. She was standing over a cloud of light with the Child Jesus at her side. The Blessed Virgin put one hand on Lucia’s shoulder, while her other hand sustained her Immaculate Heart that was surrounded with thorns. The Child Jesus said: “Have compassion on the Heart of your Blessed Mother. It is surrounded with thorns that ungrateful men pierce each moment, and there is no one that is willing to offer an act of reparation to take the thorns away.”

Our Lady immediately said to Lucia: “Look, my daughter. My Heart is surrounded with thorns that ungrateful men pierce unceasingly with their blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, try to console me and announce that for all those, who for five consecutive first Saturdays, confess, receive Holy Communion, pray the Holy Rosary and accompany me for 15 minutes by meditating the mysteries of the Holy Rosary with the intention to do reparation, I promise to assist them at the hour of death with the graces needed for salvation.”

If you are unable to participate in Mass and Holy Communion today, please consider praying the Holy Rosary and accompanying our Mother for 15 minutes by meditating the mysteries of the Holy Rosary with the intention of reparation.

For more on First Saturday devotion see HERE

 

[hazcompat]

en.mariedenazareth.com/qui-est-marie/moment-mary-subscription

An eminently Marian season

The highlighting of the significance of Advent as “a time particularly
suited to the veneration of the Mother of the Lord,” does not mean
that this liturgical season should be presented as a “month of Mary.”

In Eastern Christian liturgical calendars, the preparation period to
the mystery of the event (Advent) of divine salvation (Theophany) in
the mysteries of the Nativity-Epiphany of the only Son of God the
Father, appears as an eminently Marian time. Attention is set on
preparing for the coming of the Lord in the mystery of the divine
motherhood.

In the East, all the mysteries pertaining to the Virgin Mary are
Christological mysteries, that is to say, they refer to the mystery of
our salvation in Christ. Thus, in the Coptic rite, during this period
the faithful sing the praises of Mary in the Theotokia. The Syrians
call this time Subbara, a term meaning “Annunciation” to highlight its
Marian character. In the Byzantine rite, preparing for Christmas is
marked by a growing series of Marian feasts and hymns sung in honor of
the Virgin Mary.

Peace

 

[hazcompat]

Abandonment to Divine Providence

BOOK I

ON THE VIRTUE OF ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE; ITS NATURE AND EXCELLENCE.

CHAPTER I.

SANCTITY CONSISTS IN FIDELITY TO THE ORDER ESTABLISHED BY GOD, AND IN SUBMISSION TO ALL HIS OPERATIONS.

SECTION I.—Hidden Operations of God.

Fidelity to the order established by God comprehended the whole sanctity of the righteous under the old law; even that of St. Joseph, and of Mary herself. God continues to speak to-day as He spoke in former times to our fathers when there were no directors as at present, nor any regular method of direction. Then all spirituality was comprised in fidelity to the designs of God, for there was no regular system of guidance in the spiritual life to explain it in detail, nor so many instructions, precepts and examples as there are now. Doubtless our present difficulties render this necessary, but it was not so in the first ages when souls were more simple and straightforward. Then, for those who led a spiritual life, each moment brought some duty to be faithfully accomplished. Their whole attention was thus concentrated consecutively like a hand that marks the hours which, at each moment, traverses the space allotted to it. Their minds, incessantly animated by the impulsion of divine grace, turned imperceptibly to each new duty that presented itself by the permission of God at different hours of the day. Such were the hidden springs by which the conduct of Mary was actuated. Mary was the most simple of all creatures, and the most closely united to God. Her answer to the angel when she said: “Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum”: contained all the mystic theology of her ancestors to whom everything was reduced, as it is now, to the purest, simplest submission of the soul to the will of God, under whatever form it presents itself. This beautiful and exalted state, which was the basis of the spiritual life of Mary, shines conspicuously in these simple words, “Fiat mihi” (Luke i, 38). Take notice that they are in complete harmony with those which Our Lord desires that we should have always on our lips and in our hearts: “Fiat voluntas tua.” It is true that what was required of Mary at this great moment, was for her very great glory, but the magnificence of this glory would have made no impression on her if she had not seen in it the fulfilment of the will of God. In all things was she ruled by the divine will. Were her occupations ordinary, or of an elevated nature, they were to her but the manifestation, sometimes obscure, sometimes clear, of the operations of the most High, in which she found alike subject matter for the glory of God. Her spirit, transported with joy, looked upon all that she had to do or to suffer at each moment as the gift of Him who fills with good things the hearts of those who hunger and thirst for Him alone, and have no desire for created things. …

Peace

 

[ClearWater]

Thanks for the reminder!

 

[MariaChristi]

en.mariedenazareth.com/qui-est-marie/moment-mary-subscription

An eminently Marian season

The highlighting of the significance of Advent as “a time particularly
suited to the veneration of the Mother of the Lord,” does not mean
that this liturgical season should be presented as a “month of Mary.”

In Eastern Christian liturgical calendars, the preparation period to
the mystery of the event (Advent) of divine salvation (Theophany) in
the mysteries of the Nativity-Epiphany of the only Son of God the
Father, appears as an eminently Marian time. Attention is set on
preparing for the coming of the Lord in the mystery of the divine
motherhood.

In the East, all the mysteries pertaining to the Virgin Mary are
Christological mysteries, that is to say, they refer to the mystery of
our salvation in Christ. Thus, in the Coptic rite, during this period
the faithful sing the praises of Mary in the Theotokia. The Syrians
call this time Subbara, a term meaning “Annunciation” to highlight its
Marian character. In the Byzantine rite, preparing for Christmas is
marked by a growing series of Marian feasts and hymns sung in honor of
the Virgin Mary.

Peace

Thanks for the reply and for the link, hazcompat!

I’d visited that site sometime ago and been blessed by the work they have undertaken. I was glad to spend a little time there today. Yes, the mysteries pertaining to Mary are Christological mysteries. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:

CCC - 487 What the Catholic faith believes about Mary is based on what it believes about Christ, and what it teaches about Mary illumines in turn its faith in Christ.

Blessings to you during this beautiful season of Advent.

 

[MariaChristi]

Abandonment to Divine Providence…Hidden Operations of God.

Thanks again, hazcompat!

The book “Abandonment to Divine Providence” by Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade,SJ is a book I’ve read more than once and been blessed each time. I’ve quoted only part of the passage you posted, but it is the part that reminded me of the Church’s encourageiment to see in Mary both our Mother and our Model. How simple her life was! How perfectly she prayed and lived the prayer Jesus taught us to pray: “Our Father…Thy Will be done…” How totally she, learned from Him to be meek and humble of heart. In every moment, by God’s grace, we can be like Mary, in saying our own “Yes” to His hidden operations.

May this Advent be one of waiting with Mary, abandoned to God’s Divine Providence. May He come and find us Faithful in doing His Will. Come, Lord Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit, through Mary!

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks for the reminder!

You are always welcome to anything the Holy Spirit gives me, dear ClearWater!

May this First Saturday be a day filled with our prayers, and little actions of loving reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for all that she has suffered because of our sins and the sins of the world.

Let us remember the words of Jesus to Sister Lucia:

…The Child Jesus said: “Have compassion on the Heart of your Blessed Mother. It is surrounded with thorns that ungrateful men pierce each moment, and there is no one that is willing to offer an act of reparation to take the thorns away.”

and the words of Mary during the same apparition to Sister Lucia in 1925:

…“Look, my daughter. My Heart is surrounded with thorns that ungrateful men pierce unceasingly with their blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, try to console me and announce that for all those, who for five consecutive first Saturdays, confess, receive Holy Communion, pray the Holy Rosary and accompany me for 15 minutes by meditating the mysteries of the Holy Rosary with the intention to do reparation, I promise to assist them at the hour of death with the graces needed for salvation.”

 

[AKDee]

Thanks for the info. I am on my second try to do the Five First Saturdays, this is my second First Saturday this go-round. I am off to confession in a little under an hour.

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks for the info. I am on my second try to do the Five First Saturdays, this is my second First Saturday this go-round. I am off to confession in a little under an hour.

Good for you, AKDee! Keep up the good work!

 

[Pythagoras]

By the way, regarding the Holy Communion requirement. I don’t have to attend the Holy Mass right? (although it is a preference)

I can just attend the Holy Communion distribution right?

 

[MariaChristi]

By the way, regarding the Holy Communion requirement. I don’t have to attend the Holy Mass right? (although it is a preference)

I can just attend the Holy Communion distribution right?

Dear Pythagoras,

Interesting question! I went back to the link I gave HERE in my original post on this thread, and it does say Holy Communion on First Saturdays, but I think I’ve always assumed that Holy Communion would be received at Holy Mass. If a person is unable to participate in Holy Mass, for example one who is sick or homebound or some reason that only allows the reception of Holy Communion outside of Mass, that would be perfectly within what Our Lady asked.

If it is impossible for you to attend Mass, then the requirement is only Holy Communion, but if it is possible, why would you not participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as well? I do not think it is a matter of merely “preference”, but rather “if you have a good reason” for not participating in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to receive Holy Communion or not.

Here are some quotes from Canon Law:

Can. 897 The most venerable sacrament is the blessed Eucharist, in which Christ the Lord himself is contained, offered and received, and by which the Church continually lives and grows. The eucharistic Sacrifice, the memorial of the death and resurrection of the Lord, in which the Sacrifice of the cross is forever perpetuated, is the summit and the source of all worship and christian life. By means of it the unity of God’s people is signified and brought about, and the building up of the body of Christ is perfected. The other sacraments and all the apostolic works of Christ are bound up with, and directed to, the blessed Eucharist. (underlining is mine)

Can. 898 Christ’s faithful are to hold the blessed Eucharist in the highest honour. They should take an active part in the celebration of the most august Sacrifice of the Mass; they should receive the sacrament with great devotion and frequently, and should reverence it with the greatest adoration. In explaining the doctrine of this sacrament, pastors of souls are assiduously to instruct the faithful about their obligation in this regard.(my underlining)

Can. 918 It is most strongly recommended that the faithful receive holy communion in the course of a eucharistic celebration. If, however, for good reason they ask for it apart from the Mass, it is to be administered to them, observing the liturgical rites.

For more see HERE

 

[Pythagoras]

Thanks MariaChristi

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks MariaChristi

You are always welcome to anything I can do to help – and thank you for the question. It was good for me to investigate and find what I found. Now we both can answer others who may have wondered about the same question!