Pentecost - Mary's influence then and now

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MariaChristi

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Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost tomorrow, may we listen to and ponder seriously, Pope St. John Paul II’s words:
…Mary had a deep influence on the early community
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Responding to the prayer of the Blessed Virgin and the community gathered in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit bestows the fullness of his gifts on the Blessed Virgin and those present, working a deep transformation in them for the sake of spreading the Good News. The Mother of Christ and his disciples are granted new strength and new apostolic energy for the Church’s growth. In particular, the outpouring of the Spirit leads Mary to exercise her spiritual motherhood in an exceptional way, through her presence imbued with charity and her witness of faith.
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In the nascent Church she passes on to the disciples her memories of the Incarnation, the infancy, the hidden life and the mission of her divine Son as a priceless treasure, thus helping to make him known and to strengthen the faith of believers.
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We have no information about Mary’s activity in the early Church, but we may suppose that after Pentecost her life would have continued to be hidden and discreet, watchful and effective. Since she was enlightened and guided by the Spirit, she exercised a deep influence on the community of the Lord’s disciples. (Full text of his words can be read HERE)
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I wonder how many in the Catholic Church are ignoring or neglecting the influence God intends Mary to have on all of us. Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of Your Faithful. Overshadow us as you overshadowed Mary in your Mysterious and Beautiful Ways of Love. Enable us to bring Jesus, spiritually to others by our own remaining in Him and by all you inspire us to say or do, with Mary’s influence!
 
Again, thank you for this great post MariaChristi! May we always remember to look to Mary, our sweet and amiable Mother for guidance to her holy Son Jesus Christ and ask of her that she may be a most holy channel by which the graces of God can come to us through her.

Come Holy Spirit, reign in our hearts, and enkindle in us the fire of your love! Amen. 🙂
 
MariaChristi said:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost tomorrow, may we listen to and ponder seriously, Pope St. John Paul II’s words:

I wonder how many in the Catholic Church are ignoring or neglecting the influence God intends Mary to have on all of us. Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of Your Faithful. Overshadow us as you overshadowed Mary in your Mysterious and Beautiful Ways of Love. Enable us to bring Jesus, spiritually to others by our own remaining in Him and by all you inspire us to say or do, with Mary’s influence!
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I’m not here to denigrate Mary…but I’ve never seen anything in the Bible about Mary’s prayer to the HS on Pentecost. Is there info about that I’ve never noticed before?

Thanks and God bless!

Rita
 
Thank you sister to that link to St. Pope John Paul II’s catechisis.

Unlike the surprise at the Annunciation, this time, Mary, the Mother of the Church, granted with many offspring at the foot of the Cross, was expecting this descent of the Holy Spirit, with absolute certainty, ready and waiting.

A member of this community before Pentecost in the upper room must have been filled with hope and anticipation. Yet the fear of confronting God could not be ignored.

Mary must have been working hard to calm them and help them understand the importance of being prepared for the encounter of receiving these holy gifts that will make all apostles of Christ spiritual mothers.
…and gifts even in greater abundance to those who have recourse to the Immaculata.
 
spedteacherita said:
I’m not here to denigrate Mary…but I’ve never seen anything in the Bible about Mary’s prayer to the HS on Pentecost. Is there info about that I’ve never noticed before?

Thanks and God bless!

Rita
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Dear Rita,

Thanks for assuring us you’re not here to denigrate Mary. Our dear Mother has many who do not understand how much she is loved by God and how much God loves us, through Mary. Because of Mary’s unique union with God in the Incarnation, we cannot even imagine how much she loves God’s sons and daughters, by His Grace.

It is so sad to me that many have not heard deeply enough Jesus words from the Cross: “Behold your Mother” (John 19:27). The more we look at her through Scripture the more we learn of her. Not everything Jesus did are written down as John’s Gospel tells us: “But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one to be written, I suppose the world itself could not contain the books that could be written”. (John 21:25)

It is not written down that Jesus, before He died or after He arose, told Mary to pray with the disciples or to help them prepare for the Holy Spirit but we do know from Scripture (Acts 1:12 -14) that she was praying with them in the upper room after Jesus’ ascension:
…Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet which is a day’s journey away; and when they entered they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of alphas and simon, the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus and with his brothers…
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When Jesus entrusted Mary with John the beloved disciple, saying “Woman, behold your Son”, Mary obedient as always. took John into her life. Mary always says, “Yes” to God and so it seems very likely that just as she interceded with her Son for the couple at Cana, she would be interceding even more for her new sons and daughters given to her on Calvary, as they waited with her for the Holy Spirit Jesus had promised. Her example of prayer would teach them to pray, even if she said no words to them. Her peace, helped them to be peaceful. Her faithfulness, her confidence in Jesus’s promise to send the Holy Spirit would help them to wait, faithful and confident in their prayer.

Hope that helps a bit. 🙂
 
Richard_White said:
Again, thank you for this great post MariaChristi! May we always remember to look to Mary, our sweet and amiable Mother for guidance to her holy Son Jesus Christ and ask of her that she may be a most holy channel by which the graces of God can come to us through her.

Come Holy Spirit, reign in our hearts, and enkindle in us the fire of your love! Amen. 🙂
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Thanks for your reply and your prayers. Please let us continue to pray with Mary and Jesus before the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit. How much the world needs the prayer of God’s Faithful. Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of Your Faithful, through Mary! 🙂
 
Vigilant said:
amazon.com/Mystical-City-God-Popular-Abridgement/dp/0895550709/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1432404761&sr=8-3&keywords=book+mystical+city+god
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Dear Vigilant,

Thanks for your reply. There is also an online version of The Mystical City of God for those who like me have already several bookcases full of books bought over the years. 🙂

I’ve read parts of The Mystical City of God and been blessed in reading Venerable Mary Agreda’s words, but I think Rita was asking specifically about the Bible. Private Revelations can help us in some ways but private revelations are intended to help us live God’s Word and not “add to it”. See Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 67 especially.

Many saints have written about Mary, and some quote the Bible more than others. The important thing is that nothing the saints wrote contradicts Scripture.

One of my favorite saints, St. Therese of Lisieux wrote a beautiful poem “Why I love you, O Mary” and she stays with what she heard in the Gospels. It is also online; see HERE
 
Googler said:
Thank you sister to that link to St. Pope John Paul II’s catechisis.

Unlike the surprise at the Annunciation, this time, Mary, the Mother of the Church, granted with many offspring at the foot of the Cross, was expecting this descent of the Holy Spirit, with absolute certainty, ready and waiting.

A member of this community before Pentecost in the upper room must have been filled with hope and anticipation. Yet the fear of confronting God could not be ignored.

Mary must have been working hard to calm them and help them understand the importance of being prepared for the encounter of receiving these holy gifts that will make all apostles of Christ spiritual mothers.
…and gifts even in greater abundance to those who have recourse to the Immaculata.
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Dear brother,

Yes, Pope St. John Paul II is such a devoted son of Mary! Each time I read his words, I’m blessed. As I am blessed also in reading words of St. Louis de Montfort and St. Maximilian Kolbe and other saints who have opened their hearts to the Holy Spirit and received so much love for Mary, to share with us. Of course we know that in loving Mary we love Jesus – for there is such a union between Jesus and Mary. St. Louis de Montfort wrote that when we say “Mary”, she says “God”. 🙂

Our Lady of Light, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, pray for us.
 
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Spirit of God,
I offer myself, soul and body to you.
Help me always to be true to your love
and always to be grateful for it.
You are the Strength and the Light of my soul.
Grant that I may always watch for your light and listen for your voice
and follow your inspiration.
Contemplating the sufferings of Jesus on the Cross, I implore you, Holy Spirit,
to watch over me in my weakness that I may never sin against you.
Give me the grace to say to you always and everywhere:
“Speak Lord for your servant is listening.” Amen.
0, Mary, the Holy Spirit came down upon you and together you gave us the Child Jesus. Help us to prepare our hearts so that we also may receive the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work in us. Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
 
MariaChristi said:
Dear Rita,

Thanks for assuring us you’re not here to denigrate Mary. Our dear Mother has many who do not understand how much she is loved by God and how much God loves us, through Mary. Because of Mary’s unique union with God in the Incarnation, we cannot even imagine how much she loves God’s sons and daughters, by His Grace.

It is so sad to me that many have not heard deeply enough Jesus words from the Cross: “Behold your Mother” (John 19:27). The more we look at her through Scripture the more we learn of her. Not everything Jesus did are written down as John’s Gospel tells us: “But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one to be written, I suppose the world itself could not contain the books that could be written”. (John 21:25)

It is not written down that Jesus, before He died or after He arose, told Mary to pray with the disciples or to help them prepare for the Holy Spirit but we do know from Scripture (Acts 1:12 -14) that she was praying with them in the upper room after Jesus’ ascension:

When Jesus entrusted Mary with John the beloved disciple, saying “Woman, behold your Son”, Mary obedient as always. took John into her life. Mary always says, “Yes” to God and so it seems very likely that just as she interceded with her Son for the couple at Cana, she would be interceding even more for her new sons and daughters given to her on Calvary, as they waited with her for the Holy Spirit Jesus had promised. Her example of prayer would teach them to pray, even if she said no words to them. Her peace, helped them to be peaceful. Her faithfulness, her confidence in Jesus’s promise to send the Holy Spirit would help them to wait, faithful and confident in their prayer.

Hope that helps a bit. 🙂
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Well said.
Mary.
 
Googler said:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EDWtGf8Uj9I/UMorkBBVBsI/AAAAAAAABMQ/UVf6bzmePxM/s1600/spirit.png
Spirit of God,
I offer myself, soul and body to you.
Help me always to be true to your love
and always to be grateful for it.
You are the Strength and the Light of my soul.
Grant that I may always watch for your light and listen for your voice
and follow your inspiration.
Contemplating the sufferings of Jesus on the Cross, I implore you, Holy Spirit,
to watch over me in my weakness that I may never sin against you.
Give me the grace to say to you always and everywhere:
“Speak Lord for your servant is listening.” Amen.
0, Mary, the Holy Spirit came down upon you and together you gave us the Child Jesus. Help us to prepare our hearts so that we also may receive the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work in us. Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
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Thanks for the prayer, dear brother.
 
MaryT777 said:
Well said.
Mary.
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Thanks, Mary!

Let us pray for all to come to a true knowledge of our Mother. As St. Louis De Montort wrote:
“It was through the blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus Christ came into the world and it is through her that he must reign in the world.” ( from True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, paragraph 1).

Happy, Holy Pentecost to you and to all!
Mary our Mother and Spouse of the Holy Spirit, pray for us.
 
I appreciate this thread. I’ve been prayerfully watching for clues as to how to go deeper into Pentecost’s meaning for my life, and this thread has been tremendously helpful.
 
Thank you MariaChristi for starting this thread and reminding us that Mary was there from the beginning of Christ’s Church. We see Mary everywhere in the Gospels and her role did not end the day Jesus died on the Cross. She continued to do God’s work.
Thank you for the words of St. Pope John Paul II also.
God bless!
 
penitent76 said:
I appreciate this thread. I’ve been prayerfully watching for clues as to how to go deeper into Pentecost’s meaning for my life, and this thread has been tremendously helpful.
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Dear penitent,

Thanks for your reply. If you’d like to go deeper into the relationship of the Holy Spirit and Mary, you may be interested also in the work of St. Maximilian Kolbe. He is a great Marian saint who gave his life to save another in the German prison camp at Auschwitz. St. Maximilian wrote in Polish and many of his writings are not translated. One book which includes much of his writing on Mary and the Holy Spirit is : Immaculate Conception and the Holy Spirit see HERE

This is a small paperback and inexpensive. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to learn more and to live in the Spirit of Pentecost. We were given the Holy Spirit at Baptism and He came again in a special way at our Confirmation. He continues to come to us as we continue to ask for increase in grace. We need to ask in order to receive more, seek in order to find more and keep knocking on the door for it to be opened for us. The more we listen to God’s Truth, by the power of the Holy Spirit the more His Charity impels us to go and share the Good News.

Mary was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit at the Annunciation and went with haste into the hill country to visit Elizabeth. 🙂
 
7_Sorrows said:
Thank you MariaChristi for starting this thread and reminding us that Mary was there from the beginning of Christ’s Church. We see Mary everywhere in the Gospels and her role did not end the day Jesus died on the Cross. She continued to do God’s work.
Thank you for the words of St. Pope John Paul II also.
God bless!
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Dear 7 Sorrows,

Yes, Mary has been in the mind of God from all Eternity! She certainly is at the beginning of His Church. 🙂 Mary is wherever we find Jesus for their union is unique and continues now where she is enthroned as Queen of Heaven and Earth. St. John Paul II is such a faithful and loving son to Mary! May we all continue to grow as faithful sons and daughters of our Ever Faithful and Loving Mother! Thanks for your reply and encouragement, dear sister.
 
MariaChristi said:
It is so sad to me that many have not heard deeply enough Jesus words from the Cross: “Behold your Mother” (John 19:27).
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From personal experience, I learned the meaning of those words. In my younger days, I prayed the rosary, not because of devotion to Mary, but only because it was the “Catholic” thing to do. I had no real interior disposition of love toward her and after associating with movements “more modern” I eventually gave up any intent of giving her honor through prayer.

Purely from grace and discernment and something that was brought to my attention, I had a conversion of heart and an urge to turn toward the more traditional treasures of the church. Oddly enough, one of my best friends was given this same grace and together we explored the riches we had previously discarded. What a wealth we discovered after taking a second look at Theotokos. A Marian prayer group was started and I was asked to cross stitch a prayer cloth which was to be laid out at each cenacle. It took me months to do and with each rose stitched with metallic “gold” thread something began to happen deep within. As I would put on music to listen to while I stitched, they would often be Marian hymns and the words began to carry new meaning for me. Mary moved from an abstraction in my mind directly to my heart - that part of the soul that with grace can recognize the spiritual. It truly was a new experience and a great gift from God Himself. It then leads one to offer themselves to Mary through consecration - giving her disposal of all the good we do throughout the day in order that she herself may best give them to her Son.
 
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