Wow, that's right. I had forgotten you were in the lead! I love your garden analogy-it's the right time of the year. And it reminds me of the great mystic, Theresa of Avila, who utilized the same imagery in her teaching on the fruits of prayer (i.e. the flowers)! You're in my prayers! Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
Thank you Mario,..I love the picture in your avatar,..the babe in your arms reminds me of the trust God wants us to have in Him. You have a beautiful wife too. You are very fortunate.
33 Day Thought of Day 13 These days of preparation have proven to be very challenging because I've used them also as a form of daily meditation. Usually I use a Scripture passage, especially one from the gospels, as my launchpad for prayer. But now for 13 days all I've been hearing is Mary, Mary, or a theological explanation of our consecration to her. Well, I love Mary, but my heart was asking, "Where are you, Jesus, in all of this?" First, I was put a little at ease when Maximillian addressed Mary as our little, little mother. Surely my humble Mother would not seek to draw all of the attention to herself, so I asked Our Lady to help me out with my difficulty. Just then, a verse from John 12 came to mind: Jesus says: Where I am, there will be my servant also. Of course, Mary is always with Jesus. Where He is, she is. Where they are, we are! There is no competition. My finite mind wants to compartmentalize everything! I got the sense that Our Lady laughed and told me this is a matter of the heart and leave the theology to others! So if any of you are getting bogged down, it's OK! And if any of you are asking, "What's Mario's problem?", well then, rejoice that it's one less problem for you! Safe in the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart!
great analogy Sunburst. Has anyone else felt like since this consecration started...Mary began weeding out the bad roots immediately? this is how it felt like to me anyway. she has a long way to go before I am presentable to the Father as a beautiful flower!
33 Day Thought of the Day - Day 14 I can't believe we are finishing up St. Maximillan Kolbe today! His words have been inspiring but a bit challenging all week. The past few days have resonated with me since they are a bit more action oriented. Yesterday I contemplated being an instrument in the hands of our Lady. She desires to use us to help convert people...save their souls. That is so powerful. and it is very similar to what the visionaries of Medj told us pilgrims when I was there...to go home and be a good example and witness so others around us will be drawn back to the faith and eventually conversion. If we let ourselves be led by her and trust in her...we'll be doing our part as her instruments and the fruits of this will be powerful! Today, we pray that we are able to give all of ourselves to Mary so she can use us to gain other souls and to help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Amen! I'm going to need LOTS of grace for that
I hear you Mario. I've been addressing Mary more and more in my daily thoughts/prayers, and it felt a little "odd" in adoration sitting in front of Jesus but thinking about Mary and the meditations for this consecration. I felt like I was ignoring Jesus! what you say above helps me out. I will also have to refer back to the True Devotion to Mary book, where he addresses these types of concerns. They don't pop up for me often but I understand how you feel.
33 Day Thought of Day 15 Today's reflection hit the nail on the head for me. There is a certain type of spiritual darkness that I flee from: attachment to relationships. Now don't get me wrong! I love people; I love friendships! Ever since my older boys went off to minor seminary (14 yrs. old), the Lord has been training me in detachment. Where do things stand, now? Ben and Pat are in the Legion of Christ and we see them very infrequently. Rachel (presently in VA) recently said her little family is moving to California by summer's end. Christopher is in college down in Florida. Therese has been gone for a year, doing a year of service for the Church. At least Danny is home. But even letting go of friendships is tough for me. Mother Theresa struggled in her time of darkness, but me, I dig my heels in! So I think this consecration will be an occasion where I go to Mary and embrace her gift: the darkness of detachment. Better to be close to the Two Hearts in the darkness, then trying to ignite my own torches. Isaiah 50:10 Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant, who walks in darkness and has no light, yet trusts in the name of the LORD and relies upon his God? 11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who set brands alight! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the brands which you have kindled! This shall you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment. Mary, I am willing to entrust my darkness to you! Safe in the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart!
the De Montfort book also talks about detachment today referring to John 12 verse 24 "Amen, amen, I say to you,unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." There are so many tangible ways to put this into action in my life and circumstances and I have been reflecting on ways that I can do this. Mario, you bring up good points about the detachment we need to have regarding our children. My high school sons are becoming more tight-lipped about just about everything in their lives and it is hard. I trust that they are making okay decisions, but not being let in on their thoughts stings. I can see them in action at their swim meets though, which is a real joy. I'm getting used to it as I know other mothers that have the same struggles. That is just one example, there are literally millions of ways to die to my own agenda, I just have to think about all the ways.
yes, there are a million ways I need to die to self...live God's Will (capital W) v. my will (small w)...real love v. self love. It's something I'm trying to think of more often throughout the day! Detachment. It must be tough to detach from your children and let them fly away. I can only imagine as I don't have children. I struggle with detachment in general as I'm stubborn and don't like change. It seems sometimes my heels are perpetually dug in May I take Mario's recommendation and get closer to the two hearts in my darkness of detachment!
33 Day Thought of Day 16 Mother Theresa stresses again and again that Jesus thirsts for each one of us. He who is complete within the Trinity, desires to have this personal, deep relationship with me! Simply amazing! And as God thirsts for us, so He will satisfy our thirst for Him. Ps 42:1 As a hart longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. This is the important thing for me to do. Allow Jesus to satisfy my thirst for love. Too often, I look to others to fill that need. I guess it goes back to my detachment theme of yesterday. Because, if the all-encompassing love of the Sacred Heart satisfies my longing, then I need not fear pouring myself out for the sake of others; I can get busy loving them. And as Mother Theresa says we should allow Mary to teach us the mystery of Jesus' words, "I thirst!", so this consecration will set me on the path of doing just that. Yesterday, PotatoSack used a lot fewer words to make a similar point: ...I need to die to self...live God's Will (capital W) v. my will (small w)...real love v. self love. It's something I'm trying to think of more often throughout the day! Safe in the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart!
You are all almost done! May God grant you many graces through your consecration to Jesus through Mary! God bless, ~Rae
Jesus thirsts for us...each and every single person here, as an individual. Not only does He thirst for us...He longs for us...He misses us when we don't come close. Amazing, simply amazing where am I when I don't come close to Jesus...that's when I'm doing my own will...when I'm not dying to self...when I'm living a life of self love. It is amazing but it seems like everything comes back to living God's will as opposed to our will. And His will affects every single decision point in our lives...whether it be how we handle relationships, how we carry a cross or tangible problems in our lives...any decision we make really. we must pray for guidance so all our decisions are aligned with God's will. It also struck me with Mother Teresa's readings, just how serious Jesus takes a vow/promise we make to him. She made a personal vow to Jesus...to refuse Jesus nothing. I must say, He seems to have called her out on this a few times already I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a little nervous about this consecration vow we will be making...it's a big deal
33 Day Thought of the Day - Day 17 Come Holy Spirit, living in Mary...Bring me face to face with the love in the Heart of Jesus crucified. It is funny, I always call my time in adoration my one on one face time with Jesus. And today we are contemplating Mary's role in bringing us face to face with Jesus. This is her desire for us, and her mission. I have no doubt that Mary will do this for each of us. she will gently take us by the hand to her son. If we tried to find Jesus on our own, we would find Him. But, we'd be taking a path that is winding, circular, and long. Going to Mary to find Jesus we are taken on a straight line to Him, which is the fastest. So, don't be surprised if your life is suddenly jolted a bit with changes you need to make to get on the right path to God. As someone else compared, Mary will dig deep and expose some bad roots that need to be weeded out before we are presented to God. But despite the jolting, we just need to remember that Mary is molding us a little each day to transform us and our lives. Molding is faster and less painful than using a hammer and chistle to transform us. Mary does not have an easy time with me to complete her mission of bringing me face to face with God. it seems my heels are always dug in resisting change
You've hit the nail in the head Potatosack. It is a big deal, in my mind. Spot the chicken over here. This one is very nervous. Hence the fasting, I guess. Thanks for your post
Not to be fearful, but certainly not to be taken lightly. I need to remember I'm doing this to pursue holiness (God's Will again!), not for sentimental reasons. Having said this, I'm not about to deny Our Lady's tender heart! Just echoing you, Freedom! Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
33 Day Thought of the Day - Day 17 From PotatoSack - Come Holy Spirit, living in Mary...Bring me face to face with the love in the Heart of Jesus crucified. Going to Mary to find Jesus we are taken on a straight line to Him, which is the fastest. So, don't be surprised if your life is suddenly jolted a bit with changes you need to make to get on the right path to God. As someone else compared, Mary will dig deep and expose some bad roots that need to be weeded out before we are presented to God. Amen! One other thought from today: I plan on making the prayer a regular part of each day, but with a slight modification: Come Holy Spirit, living in Mary...May you both bring me face to face with the love in the Heart of Jesus crucified. Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
Yes,..that's right PotatoSack April 28th,..by then I will have written out my consecration by hand,..ready to sign. I will continue on in my journey along with you all, in our "totus tuus" You are all in my prayers....
Wow, what a day it will be! It is my oldest daughter, Rachel's, birthday. We'll also be celebrating my youngest son, Daniel's, baptismal day. And now sunburst's consecration! Safe in the joy of the Holy Spirit!
