Learning to talk to Mary and the Saints

[buzzoff1031]

I grew up being forced to go to church. A fundamental church at that. I rarely prayed as a child (when I thought I was in trouble). I didn’t pray at all as a teen. And as an adult, my prayer life has still been far less than adequate. Once I discovered the Rosary, I at least had something to focus my attention in prayer. And, while I love the Rosary (and now the St. Michael chaplet) and will never stop praying it, I wish also to include conversations with Mary and the Saints. Any suggestions on where to begin? I think that this could also lead to a more fulfilling prayer life with our Lord since, as Mary herself said, her soul magnifies Him.

 

[Trishie]

It’s wonderful that you use these prayers but as you ask about other ways, you are free, you know to speak with our Mother Mary and the saints naturally as you go about your daily life. You can also use scripture.
For instance, I wrote the following at one time on the basis of John 19:26-27 and John 1:1-12

Woman of faith, pray for us
Dear Mother Mary, you have been honoured, blessed, and gifted by God. You are our mother because in figure of John, Jesus gave us to you as your children as He hung dying on the cross. We ask you to speak to God on our behalf.

It was through your faith that Jesus first manifested His power at Cana, thus beginning His work before the appointed time. Although it concerned neither life nor death, nor eternal salvation but the human feelings of others, He granted your trusting prayer. Such was your faith, and God’s love for you, Saint of all saints! Therefore, we trust our prayer to Your faith in God!

You see everything that we need in service of God, and all that we desire for each other. You feel the aching of our hearts and hear our longing prayers. You behold our faith, our repentance, and our love.

Stand not silently by, Mother! Our Father, your Son, and the Holy Spirit who overshadowed you and blessed you with our Saviour—They cannot refuse you!

Please give us your unfailing intercession before God so that the fullest gifts and blessings are granted to each of us. We stand humbly before you, Mother, and entreat you with our hearts, minds, and spirits…Mother!

 

[Trishie]

Regarding the saints I do similar things like the following prayer around Jesus’ death
I don’t know if any of that meets with your question. Anyway, God bless you!

Apostles, pray for our restoration and faith

Dear Apostles of Jesus, many of us experience crucifixion in our lives and in the lives of dear ones, as you did. Please pray for us and guide us, so that if loss and pain engulfs others’ lives or our own, we will continue to pray and evangelise.

You were His chosen companions. Your hearts were broken and your lives shattered by the terrible betrayal and death of your great hope Jesus. He had preached love and faith; He had preached the Kingdom to which He claimed all persons are called. Defeated and disgraced with no more honour than the vilest criminal, He was tortured, executed and buried.

His words and acts now meant nothing, as all of you—except John—scattered and hid to avoid a similar fate. Disillusioned, you wondered if the last few years were a shameful mistake. Were you betrayed by your discipleship to this condemned Man?

Poor men, how could you reconcile the terrible events of this Passover with the Son of God, the Saviour whom you had believed Jesus to be! How could this disgrace, loss, and failure be the end to which He, and possibly yourselves, could be destined!

Peter, you, His appointed one, denied even an acquaintanceship with Him. How great your shock and your disillusionment when the full realisation of your perfidy assailed you!
Only John returned to stand beneath the cross with the grieving women. Beloved John!

Shaking with grief and shock, you stood there, gutted by the unbelievable tragedy unfolding before you. Faith and love supported you, yet did you not experience the same terrible emptiness and loss as your fellow apostles and other disciples?

Dear Apostles, throughout the ages, countless individuals experience in some way the crucifixion of a loved one, or of themselves, and the consequent challenge to hope and faith. They may feel emptiness, or loss of zeal. They may lose all trust in the living, merciful God.

Pray for them, for us, that in such periods we may be faithful, regardless of broken heart and anguish of spirit. Pray that we may be restored to hope, to trust, to prayer, to active service of love in the Kingdom. Intercede for such resurrection in us. Implore the Holy Spirit to come and restore our spirits, making us true apostles of Jesus. Pray that we become evangelists, enabling the Spirit to draw others into the Kingdom of God.

Thank you, Apostles of Jesus, whose weaknesses mirror our weakness, and whose restored faith, zeal, and courage, inspire us. Pray for us who are your sisters and brothers throughout the ages. Share your blessings with us. Pray that we shall receive in fullness those precious gifts of His love that He longs for us to share and distribute.

Obtain that we honour and delight our God with all heart and strength. Then, when at last our souls rise to join yours, we shall enjoy eternity at your side, honouring and loving the great Son of God, whom we once betrayed out of our fear and selfishness. 1999

It’s both human and spiritual as the both are linked in our lives.

 

[JustaServant]

I grew up being forced to go to church. A fundamental church at that. I rarely prayed as a child (when I thought I was in trouble). I didn’t pray at all as a teen. And as an adult, my prayer life has still been far less than adequate. Once I discovered the Rosary, I at least had something to focus my attention in prayer. And, while I love the Rosary (and now the St. Michael chaplet) and will never stop praying it, I wish also to include conversations with Mary and the Saints. Any suggestions on where to begin? I think that this could also lead to a more fulfilling prayer life with our Lord since, as Mary herself said, her soul magnifies Him.

It is such a joy to read posts like this. Keep praying that Rosary, it is powerful. I would suggest a Catholic prayer book to help you as well. Memorize and meditate on the prayers in them. The results will come.
Even as a fundamental preacher I never prayed as much as I pray now as a Catholic.