Daily praying
through Mary, the Mother of the Word, especially the Rosary and the Chaplet of Seven Sorrows is extraordinarily helpful. Two reasons why: Mary enriches our merits with her own, which are much greater than our own, and it is more humble to go through an intermediary. The two best instructional readings I know of on the concept of praying through Mary are by St. Louis Mary Grignon de Montfort:
True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin fisheaters.com/totalconsecrationmontfort.html
**Secret of the Rosary **
montfort.org.uk/Writings/Rosary.html
One might also reflect on the sufferings of Our Lady and her own loneliness in life to better understand her:
On the Dolors of Mary by St. Alphonsus de Liguori, one of the 33 Doctors of the Catholic Church, explains the sufferings of Our Lady
http://writer.zoho.com/public/immaculate/Seven-dolors
Right now, I am go through severe trials, and this passage of Scripture helps me.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.
Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as sons: “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.”
Endure your trials as “discipline”; God treats you as sons. For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline?
If you are without discipline, in which all have shared, you are not sons but bastards.
Besides this, we have had our earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them. Should we not (then) submit all the more to the Father of spirits and live?
They disciplined us for a short time as seemed right to them, but he does so for our benefit, in order that we may share his holiness.
At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.
So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.
Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.
Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:4-14
And, it tends to help me if I accept my sufferings when they come and imitate St. Maria Faustina,
“Jesus, I endure this for you!” That way I know that at least they are not being wasted and they are contributing to the salvation of mankind.
Hopefully, I will get a chance to pray for you today.
So, perhaps if I had a recommendation to you to grow closer to the will of God,
- deeply strengthen your prayer life and frequent the healing sacraments of the Church to the best of your ability such as Daily Mass and Confession
- struggle intensely, in warrior-life way, with tremendous effort to cut all occurrences of sin for your life - recognizing that after the Crucifixion (death) is the Resurrection
- join a prayer group to pray more powerfully and for the intentions of the Church (According to the Secret of the Rosary, group prayer is much more powerful than individual prayer). Daily Mass often has a rosary group preceding it. St. Maximilian Maria villages (miyouth.org and consecration.com) meet together for prayer and fellowship. The Legion of Mary legionofmary.org/ may also do the same
- it is my experience that hard-core Catholics who participate in the group prayer life for the Church, study the readings of the Saints, and volunteer at Soup Kitchens and pro-life ministries are wonderfully kind, loving, and generous people, maybe more so than the Catholic community as a whole with lukewarm sinners like myself. You might also read Christian books to learn how to make friends.
**P.S. Job might just resemble Jesus **
P.P.S. I’m sorry and greatly apologize if this message is too long, I can try to cut it down or post in smaller bits if you can’t follow all of it. I just didn’t want to omit any important points or recommendations.
*Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. *
Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse. Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse. Come Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, your well beloved spouse.
For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world! For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world! For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world!
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!
Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!
*Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed art Thou among women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. *
