Wk 3 - Day 5 - "seeking to understand Jesus better"(continuing Advent)

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Sunday Liturgy takes precedence, so there’s no mention of St. Juan Diego’s feast today, but he’s a “favorite” of mine for his humble and devoted love of Mary – who leads all her children closer to Jesus. If you’d like to read about the apparitions of Mary to St. Juan Diego, you can read more HERE

I’ve been writing threads, preparing, God willing, to renew my Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dec. 12. Others are hoping to consecrate themselves also and that is addional joy. Let us all listen to St. Louis de Montfort, God’s faithful messenger in writing True Devotion:

1. Please note that I say that saints are moulded in Mary. There is a vast difference between carving a statue by blows of hammer and chisel and making a statue by using a mould. Sculptors and statue-makers work hard and need plenty of time to make statues by the first method. But the second method does not involve much work and takes very little time. St. Augustine speaking to our Blessed Lady says, “You are worthy to be called the mould of God.” Mary is a mould capable of forming people into the image of the God-man. Anyone who is cast into this divine mould is quickly shaped and moulded into Jesus and Jesus into him. At little cost and in a short time he will become Christ-like since he is cast into the very same mould that fashioned a God-man.
2. … those who accept this little-known secret of grace which I offer them can rightly be compared to smelters and moulders who have discovered the beautiful mould of Mary where Jesus was so divinely and so naturally formed. They do not rely on their own skill but on the perfection of the mould. They cast and lose themselves in Mary where they become true models of her Son.
3. You may think this a beautiful and convincing comparison. But how many understand it? I would like you, my dear friend, to understand it. But remember that only molten and liquefied substances may be poured into a mould. That means that you must crush and melt down the old Adam in you if you wish to acquire the likeness of the new Adam in Mary.

Litany of the Holy Spirit -HERE
Ave Maris Stella - HERE
Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus - HERE

 

[Wm777]

I am still with you. Just taking things a bit more slowly.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear William,

Thanks for letting us know. I thought of and prayed for you and all those who would be giving themselves totally to Jesus through Mary on the Feast of Her Immaculate Conception. “Slow is beautiful” as a dear priest-friend used to say. He was so true to God’s Word; the first time I met him he was serving persons in the Dining Room during a week-end retreat. When I met with him later that evening, he encouraged me to pray Mary’s “Magnificat”. What as gift he was to my husband and me! We miss him, but trust he is with God. Another thing he told me and this was his last word to me before he died: “Stay small”!

How important humility is! Jesus said, “Learn of Me, for I am Meek and Humble of Heart!” (cf Mt 11:29-31). After I give myself totally to Jesus through Mary on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I want to “slow down” more, too. I’m thinking I will take time away from the Forum until after Christmas, in order to have more “quiet time” to pray and read – preparing for His Coming.

 

[Wm777]

The 33 Days was fulfilled. I experienced an infusion of grace last night.

It was nothing major. I didn’t levitate or anything. The “sense of the encounter” was more like one of caring for a baby. That’s Jesus’ signature trademark.

Thus, the blessing was made known to me; reminding me of the great things to come.

So, now, renewed - back to living in thanks…

Alleluia!

 

[MariaChristi]

Yes, dear brother, as Jesus Who is Truth has told us:

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asks for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him. (Mt 7: 7-11)

 

[Wm777]

I had another infusion, although it took awhile to realize it…

Around the second to last week, I started (sporadically) watching this movie about The Holy House of Loreto:

https://www.amazon.com/Loreto-Myste...=1544515278&sr=1-1&keywords=loreto+holy+house

I happened across it, and I figured, we say the Litany of Loreto regularly throughout the 33 Days, so it might have some good information in it.

I never knew about the legend of the flying house. They explain how it could have been moved by humans, but they also give the explanation of how the house may have been translated by angels. I thought it was an interesting story one way or the other…

The other thing is, they mention some mystical quotes of Saint Catherine of Bologna, who is an important Saint to me. A long time ago, I was considering becoming a Secular Franciscan, and I once took part in their annual “Extractions” tradition. Saint Catherine was drawn as my patron Saint for that year, so I always have a very special place in my heart for her. In any case, some of Saint Catherine’s mystical writings claim she had visions of the translation of the Holy House by Angels from Nazareth to Loreto - and some of the other places the house has been known to have been placed…

If you get a chance to watch the movie, then you might enjoy it. You might already know about the Holy House, but - while I have been saying the Litany - it was still very much a new discovery to me. I hold many of the connections I drew as something like an intellectual infusion.

I think I might just go back to saying the Consecration all over again… despite the timing or the end date… I miss it already…

God’s Blessings! Totus Tuus! Ad Jesu Per Mariam!

Wm

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear William,

Yes, I’ve long known about the Holy House of Loreto and read several sites concerning the translation from Nazareth to Italy. It is another of God’s mighty works and so we can rejoice in whatever He does – as Our Lady shares in her Magnificat: “The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is His Name!”

Speaking of saints, I was reading yesterday from the Collected works of St. John of the Cross. I want to post His poem today on Mary, “The Wayfaring Virgin”. Since this will be my Day 33 and the end of this particular journey, it seemed a good time to post this poem again. I’ve posted it several times during Advent in previous years.

The Total Consecration written by St. Louis de Montfort has both the long form and the short form. Sometime ago I read of an incident in the life of St. John Paul II when he was visiting the order of priests founded by St. Louis De Montfort. Discussing the Act of Consecration, one of the priests told St. JPII that they prayed the short form every day. St. JPII replied that he prayed the long form every day – I suspect there were a few De Montfort Fathers blushing after that!

I tried to pray that long Consecration Prayer every day for awhile but went back to the short form everyday. I’ve not yet come anywhere near the prayerfulness of St. John Paul II. However, I trust that Jesus, the Good Shepherd gathers the lambs in His arms still.