Mary and "administrative machinery"

[MariaChristi]

“The more administrative machinery we construct, be it the most modern, the less place there is for the Spirit, the less place there is for the Lord, and the less freedom there is. It is my opinion that we ought to begin an unsparing examination of conscience on this point at all levels in the Church.” - Pope Benedict XVI

As I read this quote I began to examine my own conscience. I am not an "administrator" in any business -- in fact I remember very distinctly having a passionate discussion with someone who tried to convince me that the Church is a business. It has never been a business in my heart and mind. The translation which has Jesus saying that He must be about his Father's business is also translated He must be in His Father's House. Translations can have different connotations, it seems to me. While Mary and Joseph did not understand Jesus' words, Mary kept them in her heart; and as Pope Benedict wrote in his book on the Infancy Narratives, God's Words and Actions kept in her heart matured over time.

In a broad sense, I am an "administrator" with my husband in our home. I need to examine myself on how much I live in the Spirit as I go about my ordinary tasks as wife and mother. Since the Pope asks us to examine our conscience on every level, I go first to that basic level of being created in his image as a child of His, baptized into Christ by water and the Spirit, confirmed as a mature Christian, and living now as a married woman in the Catholic Church. How do I "administer" my life in the Church? Am I living truly in His Spirit as Mary did on this earth or have I become "machine oriented" doing things mechanically and without reference to what His Spirit may be prompting me to do? What have I "constructed" which may be limiting my freedom to be placed at the Lord's feet, to be in the Lord's House? Am I giving the Lord a "place" as Mary did on earth?

I invite you to respond to this invitation from Pope Benedict, in this Year of Faith, "to begin an unsparing examination of conscience" at whichever level you may be in the Church. Mary is our Mother and Model.  May she guide us, as she is filled with the Holy Spirit, to become the saints God created us to be, in the Church of our own day.

 

[inomcoke]

Praying to help us all perform good examination of conscience and live up to our duties in whatever our role in the Church.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

 

[244Rocket]

Praying for the church.

 

[MariaChristi]

Praying to help us all perform good examination of conscience and live up to our duties in whatever our role in the Church.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Dear inomcoke,

Thanks for your reply and your prayers. Renewal of the Church is needed in every age; for we human and fallible persons are always needing to cooperate and grow in God’s Grace. How we need to be convinced of the reality of ongoing conversion, at every level of the Church, in every member! May this be a particularly fruitful Lent, in which we not only examine our conscience but by His Grace make positive advances in our journey of Faith.

Mary, Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Mary, Mother and Model of the Church, intercede for us, and for all those in need of Mercy.

 

[MariaChristi]

Praying for the church.

Dear Rocket,

Thanks for your reply and for praying for the Church. How very much we need to encourage one another with our prayers and by living truly in Christ! Come, Holy Spirit, enable us to unsparingly examine our consciences at every level that we know how to build up the Body of Christ, His Church. Mary, Mother of the Church intercede for us and all those in most need of His Mercy.

 

[HolyRosaryChild]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

For all Christians and non-Christians throughout Thy World Jesus Christ our Saviour and Dear Our Lady Mary Mother of Jesus, that we all open up our hearts to Ye Dear Lord, have ‘Confidence’ in You, live Thy Holy Words of the Gospel and pray daily, giving us conscience in our daily lives now and for Eternity, Amen

Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, Amen.

Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, Amen

Our Father who art in Heaven Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, Amen

 

[MariaChristi]

HolyRosaryChild:

For all Christians and non-Christians throughout Thy World Jesus Christ our Saviour and Dear Our Lady Mary Mother of Jesus, that we all open up our hearts to Ye Dear Lord, have ‘Confidence’ in You, live Thy Holy Words of the Gospel and pray daily, giving us conscience in our daily lives now and for Eternity, Amen

Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, Amen.

Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, Amen

Our Father who art in Heaven Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, Amen

Dear HolyRosary Child,

Thanks for your post. The Our Father is the perfect prayer taught to us by Jesus. May we live this prayer in union with Him as Mary did.