"Mary - Escatalogical Icon of the Church"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today’s Mass Readings are stunning, reminding us of the"Second Coming" of Christ. “Eschatalogical” is derived from Greek and refers to the “end times”. The title given to Mary as “Escatalogical Icon of the Church” is from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

MARY - ESCHATOLOGICAL ICON OF THE CHURCH
CCC 972 … In her we contemplate what the Church already is in her mystery on her own “pilgrimage of faith,” and what she will be in the homeland at the end of her journey. There, “in the glory of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity,” “in the communion of all the saints,” The Church is awaited by the one she venerates as Mother of her Lord and as her own mother. In the meantime the Mother of Jesus, in the glory which she possesses in body and soul in heaven, is the image and beginning of the Church as it is to be perfected in the world to come. Likewise she shines forth on earth until the day of the Lord shall come, a sign of certain hope and comfort to the pilgrim People of God.

As the liturgical year ends, the Mass Readings have been pointing us to the end of time; today in the First Reading we hear:

…They will look upon His Face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
…Night will be no more, nor will they need light from lamp or sun,
for the Lord God shall give them light,
and they shall reign forever and ever.

And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true,
and the Lord, the God of prophetic spirits,
sent His angel to show His servants what must happen soon.”
“Behold, I am coming soon.”
Blessed is the one who keeps the prophetic message of this book. (Reading 1 - RV 22:1-7)

In the Gospel for today, we hear:

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy
from carousing and drunkenness
and the anxieties of daily life,
and that day catch you by surprise like a trap.
For that day will assault everyone
who lives on the face of the earth.
Be vigilant at all times
and pray that you have the strength
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and to stand before the Son of Man.” (LK 21:34-36)

Advent is a “serious” as well as a “joyful” time. Those two attitudes are commingled in us as we light our Advent wreaths with 4 candles: 3 purple, and 1 pink. We are happy to anticipate with Mary the “First Coming” of Jesus, and the joy of all heaven and earth that He came to save us, but we need also to be serious about our call to holiness during this time. The purple vestments remind us of our need to repent and believe the Good News: not only has Jesus come to save us, but He is also coming again (at our deaths and at the end of the world) to take us home. Are we ready? Let us heed the Gospel warning to “Be vigilant at all times and pray…” Let us turn to Mary, our Mother and Model, during this Advent waiting. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray with us, and for us, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

 

[GLam8833]

Our Pastor emphasized the part of the
Gospels that says one will be taken
and another left behind. So we must
make ready as a Bride waiting for
her Beloved!! I believe in a First
Resurrection in which The Bride will
be raptured!! Rev. 20:5 Those Christ-
ians who are left will be “guests” of
the Great Marriage Supper of the
Lamb. Rev. 19:9

 

[Googler]

Oh boy, it’s beginning to look like my favorite time of year of again.
Thanks for the reminder, sister!:snowing:

O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Traditional Choir
youtube.com/watch?v=7xtpJ4Q_Q-4

The tradition of Advent (the four weeks leading up to Christmas) calls Christians to slow down and think more about what the season truly means.
We let that voice of the Spirit guide us and remind us that this season is about a promise that God is going to do what God has promised He is going to do.
That though we are trapped in the exile of sin and darkness, though we are feeling the angst of waiting on Christ to come again… we remember the faithfulness of His first coming.
We wait.
We wait, expectantly.
We wait, with all the pain and baggage the year has brought on us.
We wait, with the hurt and the pain.
We wait, with all the uncertainty that tomorrow brings. The same uncertainty Mary and Joseph faced.
We wait, placing our hope in someone greater than ourselves.
We wait, together.
We wait.
Advent prepares us to meet our Savior.

 

[patricius79]

Only Our Lady can prepare us for Advent. Without clinging to her I would have no hope of being prepared for Christmas, or for the end of my life or of the world. If we often call on her name, we will be ready. As St. Bonaventure and St. Alphonsus Liguori–both Doctors of the Church–say: to call on Mary is to obtain eternal salvation. How much she loves us in Christ!

And what a good time of year to fully consecrate ourselves to Jesus, through her, using the teachings of St. Louis DeMontfort or the newer book 33 Days to Morning Glory!

 

[MariaChristi]

Only Our Lady can prepare us for Advent. Without clinging to her I would have no hope of being prepared for Christmas, or for the end of my life or of the world. If we often call on her name, we will be ready. As St. Bonaventure and St. Alphonsus Liguori–both Doctors of the Church–say: to call on Mary is to obtain eternal salvation. How much she loves us in Christ!

And what a good time of year to fully consecrate ourselves to Jesus, through her, using the teachings of St. Louis DeMontfort or the newer book 33 Days to Morning Glory!

Dear patricius,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, Mary is filled with graces to share with us as Mother and Model to prepare us for the Coming of Christ. I will be renewing my Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary, both on Dec. 8th, her Feast of the Immaculate Conception and on Christmas. I usually make the 33 Day Preparation according to St. Louis de Montfort in preparation for the Feast of the Incarnation on March 25 – but I try to renew the Act of Total Consecration on every major Feast of Our Lady. Perhaps even more importantly, I try by the power of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Mary, to LIVE my consecration one day at a time.

 

[MariaChristi]

Oh boy, it’s beginning to look like my favorite time of year of again.
Thanks for the reminder, sister!:snowing:

O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Traditional Choir
youtube.com/watch?v=7xtpJ4Q_Q-4

The tradition of Advent (the four weeks leading up to Christmas) calls Christians to slow down and think more about what the season truly means.
We let that voice of the Spirit guide us and remind us that this season is about a promise that God is going to do what God has promised He is going to do.
That though we are trapped in the exile of sin and darkness, though we are feeling the angst of waiting on Christ to come again… we remember the faithfulness of His first coming.
We wait.
We wait, expectantly.
We wait, with all the pain and baggage the year has brought on us.
We wait, with the hurt and the pain.
We wait, with all the uncertainty that tomorrow brings. The same uncertainty Mary and Joseph faced.
We wait, placing our hope in someone greater than ourselves.
We wait, together.
We wait.
Advent prepares us to meet our Savior.

Thanks dear brother,

I listened with joy to the beautiful hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” – Advent is such a Holy Season – filled with so many opportunities to grow in holiness even as Jesus grew in the womb of Mary filling her with more and more graces, – now He desires today to grow in us, and fill us with graces. May we be open to His Holy Spirit bringing us into that holiness to which we have all been called!

 

[MariaChristi]

Our Pastor emphasized the part of the
Gospels that says one will be taken
and another left behind. So we must
make ready as a Bride waiting for
her Beloved!! I believe in a First
Resurrection in which The Bride will
be raptured!! Rev. 20:5 Those Christ-
ians who are left will be “guests” of
the Great Marriage Supper of the
Lamb. Rev. 19:9

Dear GLAM,

Thanks for your reply. I’m not sure what you mean by “raptured” because there are non Catholic versions of “rapture” which the Church opposes as untrue according to the sources of Divine Revelation. You may want to read further in the Cathechism on the “End Times” paragraphs 668 - 677, but let me post three paragraphs here:

The Church’s ultimate trial

675 Before Christ’s second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the “mystery of iniquity” in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. the supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh.

676 The Antichrist’s deception already begins to take shape in the world every time the claim is made to realize within history that messianic hope which can only be realized beyond history through the eschatological judgement. the Church has rejected even modified forms of this falsification of the kingdom to come under the name of millenarianism, especially the “intrinsically perverse” political form of a secular messianism.

677 The Church will enter the glory of the kingdom only through this final Passover, when she will follow her Lord in his death and Resurrection. The kingdom will be fulfilled, then, not by a historic triumph of the Church through a progressive ascendancy, but only by God’s victory over the final unleashing of evil, which will cause his Bride to come down from heaven. God’s triumph over the revolt of evil will take the form of the Last Judgement after the final cosmic upheaval of this passing world

The Catechism gives ample references from Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church to support her teachings. Personally, I would avoid the use of the word “rapture” or “raptured” to avoid confusion with some non Catholic teachings.

 

[patricius79]

Dear patricius,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, Mary is filled with graces to share with us as Mother and Model to prepare us for the Coming of Christ. I will be renewing my Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary, both on Dec. 8th, her Feast of the Immaculate Conception and on Christmas. I usually make the 33 Day Preparation according to St. Louis de Montfort in preparation for the Feast of the Incarnation on March 25 – but I try to renew the Act of Total Consecration on every major Feast of Our Lady. Perhaps even more importantly, I try by the power of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of Mary, to LIVE my consecration one day at a time.

Then blessed are you, Maria! I wish everyone knew about this consecration. It is perfect for the weakest people like me.

St. Alphonsus and St. Louis say that from the moment Christ became Incarnate in Mary’s womb, Mary has carried us, also in her womb.

Here is a favorite passage of mine from the Glories of Mary, which can help me get ready for Christmas with confidence on Christ’s Mercy in the Incarnation and the Nativity:

The same thought makes St. Anselm cry out with joy, and encourage us, saying: “O, happy confidence! O safe refuge! The Mother of God is my Mother. How firm, then, should be our confidence, since our salvation depends on the judgment of a good Brother and a tender Mother” (“O beata fiducia! O tutum refugium! Mater Dei est Mater nostra; qua igitur certitudine debemus sperare, quorum salus, de boni Fratris et piae Matris pendet arbitrio!”—Or. 51). It is, then, our Mother who calls us, and says, in these words of the Book of Proverbs: He that is a little one, let him turn to me (“Si quis est parvulus, veniat ad me.”—Prov. ix. 4). Children have always on their lips their mother’s name, and in every fear, in every danger, they immediately cry out, Mother! Mother! Ah, most sweet Mary! ah, most loving Mother! This is precisely what thou desirest: that we should become children, and call on thee in every danger, and at all times have recourse to thee, because thou desirest to help and save us, as thou hast saved all who have had recourse to thee.
marys-touch.com/Glories/ChI.htm

 

[MariaChristi]

Then blessed are you, Maria! I wish everyone knew about this consecration. It is perfect for the weakest people like me.

St. Alphonsus and St. Louis say that from the moment Christ became Incarnate in Mary’s womb, Mary has carried us, also in her womb.

Here is a favorite passage of mine from the Glories of Mary, which can help me get ready for Christmas with confidence on Christ’s Mercy in the Incarnation and the Nativity:

The same thought makes St. Anselm cry out with joy, and encourage us, saying: “O, happy confidence! O safe refuge! The Mother of God is my Mother. How firm, then, should be our confidence, since our salvation depends on the judgment of a good Brother and a tender Mother” (“O beata fiducia! O tutum refugium! Mater Dei est Mater nostra; qua igitur certitudine debemus sperare, quorum salus, de boni Fratris et piae Matris pendet arbitrio!”—Or. 51). It is, then, our Mother who calls us, and says, in these words of the Book of Proverbs: He that is a little one, let him turn to me (“Si quis est parvulus, veniat ad me.”—Prov. ix. 4). Children have always on their lips their mother’s name, and in every fear, in every danger, they immediately cry out, Mother! Mother! Ah, most sweet Mary! ah, most loving Mother! This is precisely what thou desirest: that we should become children, and call on thee in every danger, and at all times have recourse to thee, because thou desirest to help and save us, as thou hast saved all who have had recourse to thee.
marys-touch.com/Glories/ChI.htm

Dear patricius,

Thanks for your reply and the beautiful quote and link. I do count it a great grace, and certainly it is an undeserved grace that God provided me with someone who taught me in Catholic high school about St. Louis de Montfort’s Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary and invited me to consecrate myself. I am eternally in debt to that Dominican nun, for being the instrument of His Grace for me. Having been consecrated totally to Jesus through Mary, I now by His Grace and through her intercession and the power of His Holy Spirit continue striving to live the words I pray. Renewing the Consecration, as St. Louis recommended, is a good practice for me.

Yes, the Catechism of the Catholic Church confirms what St. Alphonsus and St. Louis wrote so beautifully many years before the Catechism (written following Vatican II) was published. It is true: “from the moment Christ became Incarnate in Mary’s womb, Mary has carried us, also in her womb.” What a joy to know we are members of the Body of Christ, with Mary as our Mother! Jesus gave her to us from His Cross --He knew we need her!

 

[patricius79]

Dear patricius,

Thanks for your reply and the beautiful quote and link. I do count it a great grace, and certainly it is an undeserved grace that God provided me with someone who taught me in Catholic high school about St. Louis de Montfort’s Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary and invited me to consecrate myself. I am eternally in debt to that Dominican nun, for being the instrument of His Grace for me. Having been consecrated totally to Jesus through Mary, I now by His Grace and through her intercession and the power of His Holy Spirit continue striving to live the words I pray. Renewing the Consecration, as St. Louis recommended, is a good practice for me.

Yes, the Catechism of the Catholic Church confirms what St. Alphonsus and St. Louis wrote so beautifully many years before the Catechism (written following Vatican II) was published. It is true: “from the moment Christ became Incarnate in Mary’s womb, Mary has carried us, also in her womb.” What a joy to know we are members of the Body of Christ, with Mary as our Mother! Jesus gave her to us from His Cross --He knew we need her!

Dear MariaChristi,

I take it you were blessed to attend a Catholic high school? How did the nun approach you about Total Consecration? I had to learn the hard way how much I need Our Lady. But I’m not angry about that at all. It has taught me how much I need her, and how much she loves us. St. Alphonsus indicates that Mary loves each person, individually, far more than all mothers together, have every loved all their children. Do you ever read the Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary by St. Bonaventure, a Doctor of the Church? I love that writing too. It is so consoling and sweet.

Yes, how much we need her to face what St. Louis calls “the more than perilous times which are to come”!

 

[patricius79]

Here is a link to St. Louis paragraph 114 about the perilous times to come:

ewtn.com/library/Montfort/TRUEDEVO.HTM

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear MariaChristi,

I take it you were blessed to attend a Catholic high school? How did the nun approach you about Total Consecration? I had to learn the hard way how much I need Our Lady. But I’m not angry about that at all. It has taught me how much I need her, and how much she loves us. St. Alphonsus indicates that Mary loves each person, individually, far more than all mothers together, have every loved all their children. Do you ever read the Psalter of the Blessed Virgin Mary by St. Bonaventure, a Doctor of the Church? I love that writing too. It is so consoling and sweet.

Yes, how much we need her to face what St. Louis calls “the more than perilous times which are to come”!

Dear patricius,

Yes, I’ve been blessed in attending Catholic schools from First Grade through Graduate School. I’ve had wonderful teachers: nuns, priests and lay persons. The Dominican nun who invited me was not only our Religion teacher in our Junior year of high school but she also was the Spiritual Director for our Legion of Mary group which met after school. As I remember, Sister invited the entire group of girls (not just me). It was not a “requirement” for belonging to the Legion of Mary. It was a completely free choice and I can’t remember how many of us actually prayed the act of Total Consecration. I know I did and it has been one of the greatest blessings of my life.

Years later, I joined an Adult “Praesidum” (as local Legion of Mary groups are called) and learned much more about the founding of the Legion and how it began with a small group of lay persons who wanted to live the Act of Consecration written by St. Louis de Montfort.
I began to read De Montfort’s “True Devotion” while I was a Junior in high school but began to understand far more in reading it as an adult. I continue to learn more by the Grace of God, each time I re-read De Montfort’s classic treatise, “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary”.

As a Member of the Legion of Mary, I now invite others who have never read De Montfort’s book to read it, and like St. John Paul II and Servant of God Frank Duff (who founded the Legion of Mary) they may find it to be a “turning point in their lives”. Also I encourage them to do as those two men did and read the book more than just once! Written in the 1700’s this little book is still in print and can be purchased at Amazon: see HERE or read online HERE

I have read some works of St. Bonaventure but can’t recall reading the “Psalter of the Blessed Virgin”. I will try to look at that soon; thanks for the reference. As St. Bernard is credited with saying: “De Maria numquam satis” ---- “Of Mary, never enough!”

As in any relationship, the more we get to know a person, the more we begin to appreciate all the gifts God has given that person. Each person God creates is unique with unique gifts from Him. Mary is His “Masterpiece” among human persons. Jesus is a Divine Person and His Human nature is like ours while He remains God, but Mary is only human, and God has made her the most perfect reflection of Jesus. Her Immaculate Heart grew more and more like His Sacred Heart, Meek and Humble, from the moment He was conceived by the Holy Spirit within her womb. She is filled with God’s Love for us!

By her intercession and the power of the Holy Spirit may we obey Jesus’s words: “Behold Your Mother”. Close to her, we are close to Him, and safe from any perilous times we face!

 

[patricius79]

Dear patricius,

Yes, I’ve been blessed in attending Catholic schools from First Grade through Graduate School. I’ve had wonderful teachers: nuns, priests and lay persons. …
I have read some works of St. Bonaventure but can’t recall reading the “Psalter of the Blessed Virgin”. I will try to look at that soon; thanks for the reference. As St. Bernard is credited with saying: “De Maria numquam satis” ---- “Of Mary, never enough!”

As in any relationship, the more we get to know a person, the more we begin to appreciate all the gifts God has given that person. Each person God creates is unique with unique gifts from Him. Mary is His “Masterpiece” among human persons. Jesus is a Divine Person and His Human nature is like ours while He remains God, but Mary is only human, and God has made her the most perfect reflection of Jesus. Her Immaculate Heart grew more and more like His Sacred Heart, Meek and Humble, from the moment He was conceived by the Holy Spirit within her womb. She is filled with God’s Love for us!

By her intercession and the power of the Holy Spirit may we obey Jesus’s words: “Behold Your Mother”. Close to her, we are close to Him, and safe from any perilous times we face!

I’m glad you received such a good education. I mostly learn from just a few books, including the Glories of Mary, True Devotion to Mary, the Scriptures, 33 Days to Morning Glory, and the Catechism.

I’ve heard of the Legion of Mary. I’ve also heard of the Association of Mary (which I’m a member of and which anyone can joint if they’ve made the consecration by DeMontfort’s teaching) and the Millitia of the Immaculata.

Yes exactly, with Mary we are safe from every evil. She is our hope and our tower of refuge. I like how St. Maxilimilian Kolbe says that to honor Mary is very specifically to adore the Holy Spirit, because the two are so united in spiritual marriage.

Here is a link to the Psalter of the Blessed Virgin:
ewtn.com/library/SOURCES/PSALTER.TXT

 

[MariaChristi]

I’m glad you received such a good education. I mostly learn from just a few books, including the Glories of Mary, True Devotion to Mary, the Scriptures, 33 Days to Morning Glory, and the Catechism.

I’ve heard of the Legion of Mary. I’ve also heard of the Association of Mary (which I’m a member of and which anyone can joint if they’ve made the consecration by DeMontfort’s teaching) and the Millitia of the Immaculata.

Yes exactly, with Mary we are safe from every evil. She is our hope and our tower of refuge. I like how St. Maxilimilian Kolbe says that to honor Mary is very specifically to adore the Holy Spirit, because the two are so united in spiritual marriage.

Here is a link to the Psalter of the Blessed Virgin:
ewtn.com/library/SOURCES/PSALTER.TXT

Dear Patricuius,

Actually, most of us learn more from books as we continue to learn throughout our lives, after formal schooling – especially by prayerfully reading Scripture and writings of Saints. Magisterial documents, are not always easy reading but many of them are important for our understanding of Church Teaching. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is one book that I continually refer to and pray over and am blessed by what I read each time.

I’m also enrolled in the Association of Mary, Queen of all Hearts. When I learned about it, I contacted the person in charge to see if I might have been enrolled as a teenager by the nun who helped us consecrate ourselves using St. Louis de Montfort’s Act of Consecration. The person took time to search the archives but found no record but she told me she would fill out the enrollment form with the date of my original Consecration. So I have my enrollment certificate now. I was blessed to know that they have in their archives the enrollment of Servant of God Frank Duff, (Founder of the Legion of Mary).

The Legion of Mary was founded in 1921 in Ireland, the Militia of the Immaculata was founded by St. Maximillian Kolbe later in Poland, but I find some similarities. A few years ago, while doing some research on St. Maximilian on his Feast Day, I was moved tp pray his Act of Consecration also. It was a unique blessing for me because in some way it seemed to “complete” my Act of Consecration written by St. Louis de Montfort. Somehow it gave me an additional “apostolic thrust”. I did not join the militia since I was already in the Legion, but as I said, there are some similarities and both give honor to God through Mary.

I continue to be blessed by the lives and writings of St. Louis De Montfort, St. Maximillian Kolbe and layman Servant of God Frank Duff. One of the reasons it is taking so long for Duff’s cause to proceed toward canonization in Rome is that he wrote so much!! All his writings need to be examined, and the postulator of his cause admits it is a gigantic task, but God knows and in His time, we’ll see how it may progress.

Thanks much for the psalter. It is long – much like the Book of Psalms in its format. I’ll try to read a bit at a time, prayerfully. May our Advent with Mary continue to be a blessing!

 

[patricius79]

Dear Patricuius,

Actually, most of us learn more from books as we continue to learn throughout our lives, after formal schooling – especially by prayerfully reading Scripture and writings of Saints. Magisterial documents, are not always easy reading but many of them are important for our understanding of Church Teaching. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is one book that I continually refer to and pray over and am blessed by what I read each time.
…
Thanks much for the psalter. It is long – much like the Book of Psalms in its format. I’ll try to read a bit at a time, prayerfully. May our Advent with Mary continue to be a blessing!

MariaChristi,

Yes, I think the Psalter of Mary is meant to be read slowly. I read only a little at a time, which suits me because I’m a very slow reader. It’s wonderful that all of us enrolled in the Association of Mary and related groups are all in spiritual communion with one another as we prepare for what is to come. I think the head of the Association of Mary might be the head of the Legion of Mary too.

Only in the end will we understand how connected we are as brothers and sisters in the Family of God.

Yes I love Maximillian Kolbe too. I have the book “the Immaculate Conception and the Holy Spirit” which I read from periodically. I love the passage, for example, where he says that all our acts of love are purified by our consecration to Mary, and that Jesus then enriches them with an infinite value before the Father. This, he says, should make our hearts burn with love for Our Heavenly Father.

Praise be to God for His Mercy in Mary and Jesus!

 

[MariaChristi]

MariaChristi,

Yes, I think the Psalter of Mary is meant to be read slowly. I read only a little at a time, which suits me because I’m a very slow reader. It’s wonderful that all of us enrolled in the Association of Mary and related groups are all in spiritual communion with one another as we prepare for what is to come. I think the head of the Association of Mary might be the head of the Legion of Mary too.

Only in the end will we understand how connected we are as brothers and sisters in the Family of God.

Yes I love Maximillian Kolbe too. I have the book “the Immaculate Conception and the Holy Spirit” which I read from periodically. I love the passage, for example, where he says that all our acts of love are purified by our consecration to Mary, and that Jesus then enriches them with an infinite value before the Father. This, he says, should make our hearts burn with love for Our Heavenly Father.

Praise be to God for His Mercy in Mary and Jesus!

Dear patricius,

The Association of Mary, Queen of All Hearts is headed by the Montfort Fathers at Bayshore in NY. There is a very close relationship between the Montfort Fathers and the Legion of Mary, since it was after reading De Montfort’s True Devotion, that Servant of God Frank Duff (founder of the Legion of Mary) met with a small group who had also consecrated themselves to Jesus through Mary and with their parish priest, to pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance and then prayed the Rosary asking Mary to lead them in living that Consecration to Jesus through her. That first meeting was the “birth of the Legion” on Sept 7, 1921. It is amazing how from those humble beginnings, The Legion of Mary now has millions of members all over the world.

The link for learning more about the Association is HERE

For learning more about the Legion of Mary see HERE

Yes, I have a copy of Kolbe’s book, *Immaculate Conception and the Holy Spirit * also and am blessed by it each time I read it.

The Mystical Body of Christ is a beautiful work which includes Mary in a unique way. I believe Servant of God Frank Duff was given a profound understanding of Mary as Mother of all of us and how we are to live as she did caring for the Body of Her Son on earth. Thanks for all your encouragement to me and to others by posting on CAF to make Jesus and Mary better known and loved.

 

[patricius79]

Dear patricius,

The Association of Mary, Queen of All Hearts is headed by the Montfort Fathers at Bayshore in NY. There is a very close relationship between the Montfort Fathers and the Legion of Mary, since it was after reading De Montfort’s True Devotion, that Servant of God Frank Duff (founder of the Legion of Mary) met with a small group who had also consecrated themselves to Jesus through Mary and with their parish priest, to pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance and then prayed the Rosary asking Mary to lead them in living that Consecration to Jesus through her. That first meeting was the “birth of the Legion” on Sept 7, 1921. It is amazing how from those humble beginnings, The Legion of Mary now has millions of members all over the world.

The link for learning more about the Association is HERE

For learning more about the Legion of Mary see HERE

Yes, I have a copy of Kolbe’s book, *Immaculate Conception and the Holy Spirit * also and am blessed by it each time I read it.

The Mystical Body of Christ is a beautiful work which includes Mary in a unique way. I believe Servant of God Frank Duff was given a profound understanding of Mary as Mother of all of us and how we are to live as she did caring for the Body of Her Son on earth. Thanks for all your encouragement to me and to others by posting on CAF to make Jesus and Mary better known and loved.

Dear sister,

Thanks for the information about the Legion of Mary. Maybe I can look into joining that as well. And thank you also for your encouragement. To me the best thing about this spirituality, again, is that it is for the “little ones” as both St. Louis and St. Alphonsus and St. Maximillian say. As. St. Max. says, the weaker we are the better because the Immaculata is, as it were, the “incarnation of Divine Mercy”. This also reminds me of St. Therese.

We are, as St. Louis says, borne at the bosom of Mary. She takes care of us. We don’t trust in ourselves anymore. We trust in God’s Mercy in her. Padre Pio said that if we understood the Eucharist we would be clawing at the doors of the church. I think that if we understood Our Lady, we would be constantly seeking her love. Yes, we are to love others in the Body of Christ with her own love. We are called to live in her heart, so that we can love each other with her own perfect love. Thank you also, my friend, for sharing your beautiful devotion.

Pat

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear sister,

Thanks for the information about the Legion of Mary. Maybe I can look into joining that as well. And thank you also for your encouragement. To me the best thing about this spirituality, again, is that it is for the “little ones” as both St. Louis and St. Alphonsus and St. Maximillian say. As. St. Max. says, the weaker we are the better because the Immaculata is, as it were, the “incarnation of Divine Mercy”. This also reminds me of St. Therese.

We are, as St. Louis says, borne at the bosom of Mary. She takes care of us. We don’t trust in ourselves anymore. We trust in God’s Mercy in her. Padre Pio said that if we understood the Eucharist we would be clawing at the doors of the church. I think that if we understood Our Lady, we would be constantly seeking her love. Yes, we are to love others in the Body of Christ with her own love. We are called to live in her heart, so that we can love each other with her own perfect love. Thank you also, my friend, for sharing your beautiful devotion.

Pat

Dear Pat,

Yes, do look into the Legion of Mary for yourself and for members of your family. It is the largest Catholic Lay Apostolate and is open to men, women and children. Children from age 8 to 18 would become Junior Legion of Mary members and have their own meetings. We’ve been trying to form a Junior Legion in our parish for about 5 years and have not been able to get one started as yet. I began as a Junior Legion member so I know how much of a blessing it can be for young persons, as well as for adults.

I read of a couple who met each other at a Legion meeting. They married and their son who is now a priest had as many as 18 Active Legion groups in his parish. He was transferred to another parish and I haven’t checked to see how many he has there at the new place but he is a very zealous priest! If you’d like to read about him see HERE

Check at your Parish Office to see if there is an active Legion of Mary group there. If not, ask for the Diocesan phone number or e-mail to find out where the nearest Legion of Mary Meeting might be. Call at that parish and find out who the contact person is and ask when and where they meet each week. The Legion Meetings are always open to visitors who are interested.

Ah yes, Mary (like most Mothers) is always more attentive to the weakest among her children. God made us that way, and it’s the way He wants the Church to be also – like our Mother who cares and nurtures us to grow more and more like Christ!

 

[patricius79]

Dear Pat,

Yes, do look into the Legion of Mary for yourself and for members of your family. It is the largest Catholic Lay Apostolate and is open to men, women and children. Children from age 8 to 18 would become Junior Legion of Mary members and have their own meetings. We’ve been trying to form a Junior Legion in our parish for about 5 years and have not been able to get one started as yet. I began as a Junior Legion member so I know how much of a blessing it can be for young persons, as well as for adults.

I read of a couple who met each other at a Legion meeting. They married and their son who is now a priest had as many as 18 Active Legion groups in his parish. He was transferred to another parish and I haven’t checked to see how many he has there at the new place but he is a very zealous priest! If you’d like to read about him see HERE

Check at your Parish Office to see if there is an active Legion of Mary group there. If not, ask for the Diocesan phone number or e-mail to find out where the nearest Legion of Mary Meeting might be. Call at that parish and find out who the contact person is and ask when and where they meet each week. The Legion Meetings are always open to visitors who are interested.

Ah yes, Mary (like most Mothers) is always more attentive to the weakest among her children. God made us that way, and it’s the way He wants the Church to be also – like our Mother who cares and nurtures us to grow more and more like Christ!

Thanks, MariaChristi,

Being homebound, II will definitely prayerfully consider becoming an auxiliary to the Legion of Mary.

I want to do what I can to help myself and everyone get ready for the definitive coming of Christ through Mary.

If people only knew how much Mary loves us! We all want to be loved so much. If only we knew where to find this perfect love!

Your brother in Mary,

Pat

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks, MariaChristi,

Being homebound, II will definitely prayerfully consider becoming an auxiliary to the Legion of Mary.

I want to do what I can to help myself and everyone get ready for the definitive coming of Christ through Mary.

If people only knew how much Mary loves us! We all want to be loved so much. If only we knew where to find this perfect love!

Your brother in Mary,

Pat

Thanks so much, dear Pat.

If you cannot find a Legion of Mary in your local parish or Diocese, I would be happy to enroll you in our Queen of Peace Praesidium and you can try praying the Legion Tessera Prayers (takes about 5 minutes beyond the Rosary) for 3 months. You can space out the prayers; for instance, praying the Prayer to the Holy Spirit and one decade in the Morning, then another decade or two midday with “Catena” (Mary’s Magnificat from Luke’s Gospel) and finish your Rosary with the Legion’s Concluding Prayer in the evening.

There are many ways you can space the prayers to fit your your health or other circumstances of a “busy” day. One of our Auxiliaries explained to me that she prays her Legion Prayers and Rosary at night and it gives her such peace, she sleeps well. This is a woman who has many worries and suffers much but her Rosary and the Legion Prayers have been a unique blessing.

Pray about it and please know that 3 months are offered to all potential members as a time to “try it”, but there is no obligation attached. Just send me a PM and let me know, if and when you may want to try. I would like to invite any other members of CAF also who may be interested in the Legion of Mary to visit the official website HERE and if you have any other questions, I’m more than happy to try and help you find answers.

PS Just a note on the latin words used in the Legion of Mary. The Founder, Servant of God Frank Duff, modeled the Legion after the structure of the Roman Army since it was the most formidable army perhaps in history which conquered the known world in its time. Why not have an army to conquer the world for Jesus through Mary?

So: Latin words: “Praesidium” = “Garrison” or meeting place for soldiers;
“Catena” = “chain or cord” binding the active and auxiliaries members together.
“Tessera” = “tablet” on which Roman soldiers wrote their password.

Each local group pf Legion members is called a “Praesidium” as Active members meet together weekly. Each group chooses a title of Our Lady for its name. Ours is “Queen of Peace Praesidium”. Auxiliaries are the “prayer wing” of the each Legion Praesidium.

Active Members are required only to pray the “Catena” daily so it is a prayer which binds all the members, active and auxiliaries together. Active members spend 2 hrs, beyond their meetings in works of charity.

The Legion Prayer Leaflet is called the “Tessera” - all members recongize it and recongize one another for we all use it as part of our “identity” almost like a password soldiers use.