Nov. 28 - Day 23 in 33 Day Preparation

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As we begin this first week of Advent, it is easy (it seems to me) to focus on Mary because she was the first to wait for His coming. Then St. Joseph, and the beautiful title for him that comes to me is "Shadow of the Eternal Father". Some time ago I posted a wood carving of that same title which I will try to find and post again.

What depth of prayer must have been in that little home of Nazareth while they waited! What a joy for St. Joseph to look upon Mary radiant with the Light within her from the Christ Child! May we gaze with humble St Joseph and learn from him how to love Jesus and Mary, and to serve them truly.

Please let us continue to pray for one another, and for all on this journey of 33 Days.

Prayers:[Litany of the Holy Spirit](http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/pentecost/pent13.htm), Ave Maris Stella (below), [Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary](http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/litany09.htm), [St. Louis De Montfort's Prayer to Mary](http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=121), Recitation of the Rosary. (Note some prayers are suggestions beyond what St. Louis wrote in his treatise True Devotion #229; as are the following readings and exercises.)
Suggested Readings: Gospel of Luke, Chapters 1 and 2; Gospel of John, chapter 2. True Devotion, paragraphs nos. 1-48, 90 - 93, 105 - 182, 213 - 225, Secret of Mary nos 23-34
Spiritual Exercises: Acts of love, pious affections for the Blessed Virgin, imitation of her virtues, especially her profound humility, her lively faith, her blind obedience, her continual mental prayer, her mortification in all things, her ardent charity, her heroic patience, her angelic sweetness, and her divine wisdom; "these being" as St. Louis says, "the ten principal virtues of the Blessed Virgin".

Ave Maris Stella

Hail, bright star of ocean,
God's own Mother blest,
Ever sinless Virgin,
Gate of heavenly rest.

Taking that sweet Ave
Which from Gabriel came,
Peace confirm within us,
Changing Eva's name.

Break the captives' fetters,
Light on blindness pour,
All our ills expelling,
Every bliss implore.

Show thyself a Mother;
May the Word Divine,
Born for us thy Infant,
Hear our prayers through thine.

Virgin all excelling,
Mildest of the mild,
Freed from guilt, preserve us,
Pure and undefiled.

Keep our life all spotless,
Make our way secure,
Till we find in Jesus,
Joy forevermore.

Through the highest heaven
To the Almighty Three,
Father, Son and Spirit,
One same glory be. Amen.

 

[MS_SURVEYOR]

“My dear Mother and Mistress, I realise that up to now I have received from God through your intercession more graces than I deserve. But bitter experience has taught me that I carry these riches in a very fragile vessel and that I am too weak and sinful to guard them by myself. Please accept in trust everything I possess, and in your faithfulness and power keep it for me. If you watch over me, I shall lose nothing. If you support me, I shall not fail. If you protect me, I shall be safe from my enemies.”

 

[MariaChristi]

“My dear Mother and Mistress, I realise that up to now I have received from God through your intercession more graces than I deserve. But bitter experience has taught me that I carry these riches in a very fragile vessel and that I am too weak and sinful to guard them by myself. Please accept in trust everything I possess, and in your faithfulness and power keep it for me. If you watch over me, I shall lose nothing. If you support me, I shall not fail. If you protect me, I shall be safe from my enemies.”

Dear MS_SURVEYOR,

Thanks for sharing this prayer with us, as we continue our journey of 33 Days in Preparation for the Feast of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. On that Feast, as we Consecrate ourselves to Jesus through Mary (or for some of us, “Re-consecrate” ourselves), let us be more grateful than we have ever been before to have received such grace from such a Good God!