Further thoughts on the "Marian Mystery"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Yesterday, I received a beautiful message from one who read the post on “…why the Church herself is a Marian mystery”. Having pondered the words of Pope Emeritus, she prayerfully expressed these thoughts:

… The Marian Mystery. Jesus in His mother’s womb grew and matured until He was ready to be born. We the Church, the body of Christ, should also be growing and maturing within His mother, waiting for His return. I have much to ponder on this. Most Holy Mother of God, have mercy on us, and pray for us.

Her words have remained with me to ponder as well. Her words reminded me of a passage in St. Louis de Montfort’s True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin in which he wrote:

Remember what I told you before, that Mary is the great, unique mould of God, designed to make living images of God at little expense and in a short time. Anyone who finds this mould and casts himself into it, is soon transformed into our Lord because it is the true likeness of Him. (within paragraph 260 of “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin”; and described at greater length in paragraphs 218 through 221)

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful; kindle in us the Fire of Your Love. Fill us as you filled Mary with Jesus!

 

[patricius79]

For members of the Church to be good soil, we have to be increasingly-detached from everything but Jesus Christ and the whole Trinity. Doing this is much easier if we give ourselves completely over to Mary, is “the field which the Lord hath blessed”. If we aren’t detached, our activities in the Church will make noise and be visible, but will bear little fruit.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear patricius,

Thanks again for your “heart” and also for your reply. The “good soil” which Pope Emeritus speaks of is certainly Mary first of all, but also the “good soil” of the saints who like Mary LISTENED with the ears of thei heart as Mary did to all Jesus said and did. In the “Parable of the Sower and the Seed” and the explanation of that parable which Jesus gives His disciples, we begin to understand by God’s Grace the meaning of the parable and the Truth Jesus is teaching us.

Certainly as you wrote in your comment, we must become increasingly detached – or in the words of St. Louis de Montfort:

…we need to rid ourselves of the spirit of the world which is opposed to the spirit of Jesus.

The 33 day journey to Total Consecration of ourselves to Jesus through Mary begins with
“at least twelve days in emptying themselves of the spirit of the world, which is opposed to the spirit of Jesus” Then the first week is spent seeking true knowledge of self and the last two weeks spent seeking true knowledge of Mary and finally of Jesus. If we are not detached from the wolrd so that we can serve only One Master - Jesus, then as you said:
"our activities in the Church or anywhere will make noise but will bear little fruit.

St. Paul goes further in 1 Cor 13, when he wrote:

If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing… ( 1 Cor 13: 1-3)

Yes, Mary is blessed above all and gave all to bear fruit a hundredfold! Poring ourselves into the unique mould that is Mary is as St. Louis and St. Augustine learned is to be transformed into Christ. I re-read paragraphs 218 through 221 in True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin early this morning and continue to be blessed by this beautiful image into which we pour ourselves! By God’s Grace may we bring forth good fruit!

 

[patricius79]

One of the Popes said that when one thinks of Mary, he is naturally moved toward love of neighbor.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear patricius,

Thanks for that thought from one of the Popes – “when one thinks of Mary, he is naturally moved toward love of neighbor.” It makes perfect sense to me!!! Mary is the most loving person God created – It also causes me to remember that Mary listened to Jesus and she did the Truth she heard:

“This is My Commandment that you love one another as I have loved you”

 

[patricius79]

St. Alphonsus said that when one says Mary’s name it causes one’s heart to be miraculously softened. Knowing her maternal mercy, it’s no wonder that thinking of her would lead one to inwardly “feel” loved, and thus able to have compassion on others.