M
MariaChristi
Guest
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today, following the last few threads concerning the “tenderness” of our devotion to the “best of all Mothers” and the fact that we are ending of the Month of the Rosary, I want to begin a set of threads on “Mother of Mercy”.
When Catholics pray the Rosary, it seems to me we run a grave risk of being so “familiar” with the prayers, we lose both attention and devotion – two key elements for any true prayer. St. Teresa of Avila told her sisters if they did not pray with attention and devotion, they may be moving their lips but they are not praying! We need to slow down and pay attention to what we are saying, to whom we are speaking, and to the fact that we are who speaking are nothing without God’s Great Mercy!
The Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, the Creed and finally for most of us, the Hail Holy Queen are all included in our Rosary along with the Fatima prayer added to each decade: "O my Jesus, pardon us and save us from the fires of hell, draw all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy Mercy
I underlined the last phrase of that Fatima prayer, to remind us of the title we give Mary as we pray the Hail Holy Queen: “Mother of Mercy”. It is significant to me that we will begin the Year of Mercy on December 8 - the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It underscores the truth the Catholic Church has been teaching through the centuries and which is stated so clearly in the Catechism of the Catholic Church after Vatican II:
The title “Mother of Mercy” in the Hail Holy Queen prayer many of us pray to conclude the Rosary is something we need to dwell on, especially as we approach the beginning of the “Year of Mercy”. Mary is the Mother of Mercy because she is the Mother of God Incarnate, whose Heart is overflowing with the Mercy of God. Today and tomorrow are the final days in the month of the Rosary, but Mary asked at Fatima that we pray the Rosary daily. I hope many are doing that or are beginning the practice of praying a daily Rosary today, in their effort to be tender sons and daughters of Mercy. God willing, installment # 2 will come tomorrow on Saturday, “Mary’s special day” for those who continue to hear Jesus’ words more and more deeply, “Behold Your Mother” and do as John did, taking her into our lives.
Today, following the last few threads concerning the “tenderness” of our devotion to the “best of all Mothers” and the fact that we are ending of the Month of the Rosary, I want to begin a set of threads on “Mother of Mercy”.
When Catholics pray the Rosary, it seems to me we run a grave risk of being so “familiar” with the prayers, we lose both attention and devotion – two key elements for any true prayer. St. Teresa of Avila told her sisters if they did not pray with attention and devotion, they may be moving their lips but they are not praying! We need to slow down and pay attention to what we are saying, to whom we are speaking, and to the fact that we are who speaking are nothing without God’s Great Mercy!
The Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, the Creed and finally for most of us, the Hail Holy Queen are all included in our Rosary along with the Fatima prayer added to each decade: "O my Jesus, pardon us and save us from the fires of hell, draw all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy Mercy
I underlined the last phrase of that Fatima prayer, to remind us of the title we give Mary as we pray the Hail Holy Queen: “Mother of Mercy”. It is significant to me that we will begin the Year of Mercy on December 8 - the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. It underscores the truth the Catholic Church has been teaching through the centuries and which is stated so clearly in the Catechism of the Catholic Church after Vatican II:
The Catechism does have the word “intrinsic” italicized for emphasis, because it is so very important. We simply cannot leave Mary out of our worship, because our understanding of the Incarnation would be incomplete. God chose to send His Son born of a woman. Mary is not God and never receives the worship due to God, but she is, and must be honored as His Mother, lest we dishonor His work in her. We imitate God in honoring Mary, for He honored Mary first!
The title “Mother of Mercy” in the Hail Holy Queen prayer many of us pray to conclude the Rosary is something we need to dwell on, especially as we approach the beginning of the “Year of Mercy”. Mary is the Mother of Mercy because she is the Mother of God Incarnate, whose Heart is overflowing with the Mercy of God. Today and tomorrow are the final days in the month of the Rosary, but Mary asked at Fatima that we pray the Rosary daily. I hope many are doing that or are beginning the practice of praying a daily Rosary today, in their effort to be tender sons and daughters of Mercy. God willing, installment # 2 will come tomorrow on Saturday, “Mary’s special day” for those who continue to hear Jesus’ words more and more deeply, “Behold Your Mother” and do as John did, taking her into our lives.