Mar. 12 - Wk 2 - Day 2 - "seeking understanding of Mary"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Before continuing with St. Louis de Montfort’s words in chapter 2 of True Devotion, the daily Mass Readings for Lent continue to be a source of great help to us on our journey. God’s Word is so beautiful and powerful and it was Mary’s “daily bread” which nourished her, has nourished all our saints, and continues to nourish us all today! Mass Readings for today: HERE

Before the Annunciation and Incarnation when The Word was Made Flesh within her, Mary pondered God’s Word in her heart. No wonder saints like St. Louis de Montfort were so steeped in the Scripture. So must we never neglect to Listen as the Father told us:

“This is My Beloved Son, listen to Him.”

All the Scriptures point to Jesus and if we are to understand Mary, we need to do as she did. Mary listened to all Jesus said and did and pondered all in her heart. She is our Mother and our Model. St. Louis listened and learned from Jesus to be meek and humble of heart, and in Chap. 2 St. Louis continues writing the marks of authentic devotion and lists the first of Mary’s virtues to be her humility:

1. Third, true devotion to our Lady is holy, that is, it leads us to avoid sin and to imitate the virtues of Mary. Her ten principal virtues are: deep humility, lively faith, blind obedience, unceasing prayer, constant self-denial, surpassing purity, ardent love, heroic patience, angelic kindness, and heavenly wisdom…

May God give us true understanding as we pray with attention and true devotion especially as we hear in today’s Gospel to pray as Jesus taught us:
Litany of the Holy Spirit: HERE
Ave Maris Stella HERE
Five decades of the Holy Rosary (I pray the Sorrowful Mysteries during Lent) – praying each “Our Father” especially slowly to listen, as Mary does.

 

[hazcompat]

The World’s First Love

BY THE MOST REVEREND FULTON J. SHEEN, PH.D., D.D.

Agrege en Philosophie de L’Universite de Louvain Auxiliary Bishop of New York

National Director, World Mission Society for the Propagation of the Faith

[Etext edited by Br. Sean, a choir monk, 2008, from a text file at archive.org]

McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. New York - London - Toronto Copyright, 1952, by Fulton J. Sheen.

DEDICATED TO

THE WOMAN I LOVE

The Woman Whom even God dreamed of Before the world was made;

The Woman of Whom I was born At cost of pain and labor at a Cross; The Woman Who, though no priest, Could yet on Calvary’s Hill breathe:

"This is my Body; This is my Blood" For none save her gave Him human life. The Woman Who guides my pen, Which falters so with words

In telling of the Word.

The Woman Who, in a world of Reds, Shows forth the blue of hope.

Accept these dried grapes of thoughts From this poor author, who has no wine;

And with Cana’s magic and thy Son’s Power Work a miracle and save a soul – Forgetting not my own.

Peace

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear hazcompat,

How beautiful a dedication to his book on Mary! Out of the fullness of his heart, the now Venerable Fulton Sheen, spoke and wrote to honor our Mother Mary so well – and through her to honor God Who loved her First! Thanks again, for your reply, today,

Ven. Fulton Sheen was a true son and servant, after Mary’s Heart, for he sought to obey her words: “Do whatever He tells you”. As we continue this week of seeking an understanding of Mary, it is good to read what the holy ones have written about her. I’ve not read that particular book of his on Mary – but thanks for the link, because if I ever get time to read it, on line, I would surely like to do so. We have two other books by him in our library given to us as gifts, and I have yet to read them.

I try to imitate our Mother in my daily prayers, and service to those God has put into my life. My reading-time seems more and more limited, as I get older but prayer is always possible with just a gaze of the heart. Pondering the virtues St. Louis de Montfort listed for us, Mary’s “unceasing prayer” seems to me to be the one most needed for it is our “relationship with God”. As St. John Vianney defines prayer: it is our union with Him. We are enabled by His Grace, even as Mary was, to ask and receive, seek and find, knock and the door is opened for us.

Venerable Fulton Sheen spoke and wrote as one who prayed like Mary, who learned from her Son…“When you pray, say: Our Father…”

Our Father knows how to give good gifts to His children. When we pray as Jesus taught, by grace we can imitate Mary who humbly believed, and obeyed all Jesus said and did, she pondered all in her heart – her prayer was truly unceasing on earth as it is now in heaven.

Mother, remember us and pray for us, as we seek, to understand you more!

“O Jesus, living in Mary, come and live in Your servants, in the spirit of Your holiness, in the fullness of Your power, in the perfection of Your ways, in the truth of your virtues, in the communion of your mysteries. Rule over every adverse power, in Your Spirit, for the glory of the Father. Amen.” (Prayer of Fr. Olier)