"The Sorrowful Mother Stood" - ("Stabat Mater" stanzas 8 - 9)

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today, we ponder stabzas 8 - 9 of the Hymn “Stabat Mater”:

For the sins of His own nation,
Saw Him hang in desolation
Till His spirit forth He sent.

O thou Mother: fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
Make my heart with thine accord.

Anyone who has read St. Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin” may be reminded of his Supplement on how to practice this devotion at Holy Communion (paragraphs 266 - 273.) Here are some excerpts:

Implore Mary to lend you her heart so that you may receive her Son with her dispositions. Remind her that her Son’s glory requires that he should not come into a heart so sullied and fickle as your own, which could not fail to diminish his glory and might cause him to leave. Tell her that if she will take up her abode in you to receive her Son - which she can do because of the sovereignty she has over all hearts - he will be received by her in a perfect manner without danger of being affronted or being forced to depart. "God is in the midst of her. She shall not be moved."

… Tell her with confidence that all you have given her of your possessions is little enough to honour her, but that in Holy Communion you wish to give her the same gifts as the eternal Father gave her. Thus she will feel more honoured than if you gave her all the wealth in the world. Tell her, finally, that Jesus, whose love for her is unique, still wishes to take his delight and his repose in her even in your soul, even though it is poorer and less clean than the stable which he readily entered because she was there. Beg her to lend you her heart, saying, "O Mary, I take you for my all; give me your heart."

Mary is Mother and Model for the Church, and the Catechism teaches us in paragraph 971: “The Church’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship.”… God has made Mary essential to His Plan of Salvation for all. God so loved the world He sent Jesus and continues to send Him through Mary.

Come Holy Spirit, enable us to receive Jesus into our hearts through Mary, with Mary, in Mary and for Mary as You have taught st. Louis de Montfort and all your saints to have hearts in accord with hers .

 

[Mary888]

In the prayers for the days of the week, on Saturdays we also.pray that we may know the sorrow of Christ’s mother and the annointing women’s pain during His Crucifixion. Every Saturday. Tomorow again.
May the Lord’s will be revealed unto us.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Mary888,

Thanks so much for your reply and the love you have for Jesus through Mary. Yes, Saturday is especially “Mary’s Day” for her heart was pierced with her Son’s Heart – spiritually. Holy Saturday, none had the faith of Mary to believe as firmly in His Resurrection as Mary did. The women who followed Jesus suffered with Him but none suffered as much as His Mother.

Saturdays (like Fridays) have become days of "reparation’ for me. I try to offer little sacrifices with great love in reparation for my sisns and the sins of the world. By God’s Grace may we grow daily more like Mary that through her Jesus may live more fully in us.

Come Holy Spirit fill our hearts as you filled the Heart of Mary with Love.

“O Jesus, living in Mary, come and live in Your servants, in the spirit of Your holiness, in the fullness of Your power, in the perfection of Your ways, in the truth of Your virtues, in the communion of Your mysteries. Rule over every adverse power, in Your Spirit, for the glory of the Father. Amen.” – Prayer of Fr. Olier

 

[sevenswords]

Love is a deep mystery and children never love perfectly,
I need Christ in my heart hence I pray "even though I am not worthy to receive you, only say the word and my soul shall be healed.
I ask Mary to rest in my heart also and find her spouse the Holy Spirit there waiting and may I feel the effects of this Love union in me and carry it into the world to do the will of Our Father.
May God bless all those who bless his Mother.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear sevenwords,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, God is Love and hence Love is a mystery to us and yet, in His Word we find Him revealing Himself to us – both the Old and New Covenants speak to us of His Love for us.

Mary pondered all Jesus said and did in her heart and so must we – that we may gain wisdom of heart. Today is Saturday, “Mary’s Day” ! For centuries, the Church has honored Mary as Mother of God and Mother of our faith. She remained faithful, waiting for His Resurrection on that first Holy Saturday.

Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.