Nov. 19 - "This is what we do..."

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

God invites us all to grow in holiness. His Saints have cooperated most fully with His Grace in honoring Him through Mary. In writing “True Devotion”, St. Louis de Montfort quotes God’s Widom given to other Saints besides himself!

1. Here are a few passages from the Fathers of the Church which I have chosen to prove what I have just said: “Mary has two sons, the one a God-man, the other, mere man. She is Mother of the first corporally and of the second spiritually” (St. Bonaventure and Origen).

“This is the will of God who willed that we should have all things through Mary. If then, we possess any hope or grace or gift of salvation, let us acknowledge that it comes to us through her” (St. Bernard).

“All the gifts, graces, virtues of the Holy Spirit are distributed by the hands of Mary, to whom she wills, when she wills, as she wills, and in the measure she wills” (St. Bernardine).

“As you were not worthy that anything divine should be given to you, all graces were given to Mary so that you might receive through her all graces you would not otherwise receive” (St. Bernard).

1. St. Bernard tells us that God, seeing that we are unworthy to receive His graces directly from Him, gives them to Mary so that we might receive from her all that He decides to give us. His glory is achieved when He receives through Mary the gratitude, respect and love we owe Him in return for His gifts to us. It is only right then that we should imitate His conduct, “in order”, as St. Bernard again says, “that grace might return to its Author by the same channel through which it came to us”.

This is what we do by this devotion. We offer and consecrate all we are and all we possess to the Blessed Virgin in order that our Lord may receive through her as intermediary the glory and gratitude that we owe to him. We deem ourselves unworthy and unfit to approach his infinite majesty on our own, and so we avail ourselves of Mary’s intercession.

Come Holy Spirit, kindle in us the Fire of Your Love! Enable us by Your Grace to become Holy as You are Holy, (cf Pet 1:16). Show us, daily, the Truth of Jesus, and help us to Listen, and obey His Words from the Cross:

Behold Your Mother

 

[hazcompat]

Jesus takes care of your littleness!​

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

Sister Josefa Menéndez, born in Spain (1890-1923), was a novice nun in the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She wrote The Way of Divine Love (1) in which she published messages dictated by Jesus Himself, who called her His messenger. At times, the Virgin Mary came to visit Josefa to give her encouragement in her difficult mission.

In September 1921, the Virgin Mary appeared to Sister Josefa Menéndez precisely for that reason, after her Son Jesus had just asked Josefa to offer herself to Him as a victim for the salvation of souls. Mary told her: " I cannot tell you how much I, who am your Mother, desire you to be faithful; but do not lament over yourself. The only thing that Jesus asks is that you surrender yourself to His Will. He will do the rest. The more Jesus asks of you, the more you should rejoice, my daughter. In front of a masterpiece, it is not the brush, but the hand of the artist that is admired… So Josefa, even if great things happen through you, do not attribute anything to yourself, because it is Jesus who acts, He who lives in you, He who uses you. Give Him thanks for so much goodness! Be very faithful in little things as in big things, without looking at the cost. Obey Jesus, obey your superiors and remain humble and abandoned. Jesus takes care of your littleness and I am your Mother! "

Excerpt from:

Un Appel à l’amour (The Way of Divine Love), the message of Jesus to the world through his messenger Sister Josefa Menéndez. (Editions de l’Apostolat de la prière, Toulouse, page 187)

Read more on mariedenazareth.com :

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear hazcompat,

Thanks again for another beautiful excerpt. Many years ago, one of the nuns who taught me spoke about Sister Josefa to a group of us “young adults”. This nun was very devoted to the Sacred Heart, and was a good example for us.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read or heard anything about Sister Josefa or her visits from Our Lady. I did not realize that Mary had come to encourage her in her mission, but it reminds me very much of St. Faustina’s experience in being given Messages from Jesus to trust in His Mercy, and Mary also visited St Faustina. How grateful I am that God gave His saints the grace to share with us the gifts He gave to each of them!

How “real” it is to me – to think that Mary would come to those Jesus has given a “mission”! Mary is the Perfect Mother who encourages her children to “Listen” and to do whatever the Lord tells them to do!

Thank you Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the Gift of Mary to be our Mother.