our 33 day consecration to Mary journey

Day 4 reflection
I find myself using the 33 Days in the morning of each consecration day. It feels to me a breath of fresh air, a start to the day, a newness to this Consecration that leads me to be hopeful for the day and makes me ponder all the ways that I can give myself to our Lady this day. Then in the evening or at night, I use Montforts readings and prayers as an end to my day. Brings the day to a close for me. I can reflect on the day to see -in general terms- how I gave myself to Mary , how the readings applied to my day, and how I can do Better tomorrow. The prayers leave me in peace and rest for the night and make me look forward for the next day to come.

 

I'm reading true devotion now for my third time, I think its finally sinking in. I just read chapter 54 and I love where he writes that humility will crush the head of Satan.


54. God has established not just one enmity but "enmities", and not only between Mary and Satan but between her race and his race. That is, God has put enmities, antipathies and hatreds between the true children and servants of the Blessed Virgin and the children and slaves of the devil. They have no love and no sympathy for each other. The children of Belial, the slaves of Satan, the friends of the world, - for they are all one and the same - have always persecuted and will persecute more than ever in the future those who belong to the Blessed Virgin, just as Cain of old persecuted his brother Abel, and Esau his brother Jacob. These are the types of the wicked and of the just. But the humble Mary will always triumph over Satan, the proud one, and so great will be her victory that she will crush his head, the very seat of his pride. She will unmask his serpent's cunning and expose his wicked plots. She will scatter to the winds his devilish plans and to the end of time will keep her faithful servants safe from his cruel claws.

But Mary's power over the evil spirits will especially shine forth in the latter times, when Satan will lie in wait for her heel, that is, for her humble servants and her poor children whom she will rouse to fight against him. In the eyes of the world they will be little and poor and, like the heel, lowly in the eyes of all, down-trodden and crushed as is the heel by the other parts of the body. But in compensation for this they will be rich in God's graces, which will be abundantly bestowed on them by Mary. They will be great and exalted before God in holiness. They will be superior to all creatures by their great zeal and so strongly will they be supported by divine assistance that, in union with Mary, they will crush the head of Satan with their heel, that is, their humility, and bring victory to Jesus Christ.

 

PS,

You remind me of the quote of St. Therese which is included in paragraph 2011 of the Catechism:

After earth's exile, I hope to go and enjoy you in the fatherland, but I do not want to lay up merits for heaven. I want to work for your love alone.... In the evening of this life, I shall appear before you with empty hands, for I do not ask you, Lord, to count my works. All our justice is blemished in your eyes. I wish, then, to be clothed in your own justice and to receive from your love the eternal possession of yourself.63

So you see, in disposing everything into Mary's hands, whose heart is so pure and undefiled, we can join the Little Flower in her selfless oblation!

Safe in the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart!

 

I was just reminded of something the other night. I pretty much spend my 40 minute commute home from work in prayer sometimes rather deep. I was in deep prayer to Mary and as soon as I finished and was coming up the street I noticed something in the road but was too late and hit it. In the rear view mirror I saw what I had hit. It was a snake and I literally crushed its head. I felt terrible and yet it seemed very profound all at the same time coming out of such deep prayer (well as deep as one can get driving).

 

Thank you, Indy. To be a child of Our Lady is be like Mary in humility; consequently, the world will ignore, tolerate, and ultimately hate us. Too often, however, I care too much about the opinion of others, and I fall into the camp of those whom Jesus ridiculed:

John 5:44 "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?

May the Day of Consecration find me more detached from the opinion of others!

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you!

 

I think that is a very good formula. 33 Days I find very helpful for helping to learning how to live the consecration. It is a little light on prayer requirements as has been stated, but it is material great for contemplation and easily translates into action steps to implement into my life. GGreat action steps to give everything to mary and truly live the consecration. This is what I truly need.

 

In todays day six reading I think this is a lovely way Thomas á Kempis describes the holy fathers perfection in holiness. "Every hour seemed short to spend with God;"

Actually just in case I have gone off track, we are on day six, right?

 

Yes

 

I think the Holy Spirit must have been driving

 

For the 33 dayers.

Pure Love

I cannot look unto the cross,
For I am unworthy to witness this awesome sight.
Yet I see the reflection so painfully clear,
In the one who watches beneath.

Silent she stands,
Eyes wide, transfixed on God before her.
Brow heavy, straining ears catching the last words he speaks.
Humiliation consummate, torture ultimate,
Grief, pain, sorrow.

With hands clasped she kneels,
Blood staining her garments pulsates from her breast.
He has died.

Nature answers this almighty event,
Light is shut out and earth convulses.
Stars descend adorning her head.
Prostrated she lays,
Beneath her son.



Please pray for me in these 33 days.
Thank you

 

josephite,

I will place you in the arms of Mary! Is the poem your own composition?

Humiliation consummate, torture ultimate,
Grief, pain, sorrow.

A poignant line!

Safe in the Refuge of the Sacred Heart!

 

I'm blessed more abundantly this time around by the images of St. Louis: a golden platter, unripe fruit preserved in sugar, etc...Then again, maybe my Lenten fasts are more readily attracting me to digestive imagery! Anyway, I leave our saintly Frenchman more reluctantly than last time, but also with a greater trust in Mary!

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

 

Sorry I haven't been posting as much as I should. I've been behind...but let me catch up now! I'm continuing to contemplate giving all my prayers to Mary. I had hesitation last year, as I was carrying a heavy cross, and really wanted to pray for my own intentions. I even had fear that through consecration I woud get even more crosses or would have to give up even more of my life (at the time, God was stripping me of all my posessions, place where Ilived, ability to support myself...everything so I relied only on him and the kindness of others)...so I was very nervous. But I nervously gave it all to Mary. This does give me a great sense of joy...that my prayers are being used to help others and Mary will see to my needs. And she does, as my life is slowly getting better and better. Now...how can I get to an even higher level of giving all my prayers and sacrifices away? When my Dad died, and I tried to gain an indulgence for him on all souls day so he would be released from purgatory, it put a thought in my mind. Steve D. mentioned that we could also offer our indulgences for him or others during divine mercy sunday. This is even more powerful, because you do not have to be detached from our sin...a true freebie!! So, in order to be truly empty handed...I'm giving away all the indulgences earn to Mary and will ask er to apply them to the sibling who needs it most (I do believe my dad is in heaven, based on what Padraig recieved in prayer about him as well as 2 signs I received). I had never thought of indulgences as prayer to give away...but I believe it is true. I hope to gain indulences for all my siblings. My goal and desire is to be truly empty handed when I die!

 

33-Days waps up de Montford's writings with a reflection on becoming more holy. I absolutely felt Mary working in my life daily last year. As I mentioned I was carrying a heavy cross...well throughout the consecration, I know I carried it a lot better than when I was on my own. I was in constant communication with her on my thoughts and feelings, frustrations and fears. I got so much peace in sharing it all with her and accepting my cross and offering it up. I realize now that before the consecration, God was trying to change me but I resisted the cross so much the changing process was very painful, as I was like a rock and Jesus had a hammer and chisle. During the consecration, I melted a bit and it became mary molding me...which still was not easy, but so much better than before!! As I mentioned before, I can't recommnd enough doing this consecration while carrying a cross...the cross feels so much lighter when Mary is helping you!! and you will become more holy in the process!

 

I have come to the point where I offer all indulgences and prayers for others and not myself in hopes that others offer them up for me. If they do not then hopefully at death all those I have tried to help release from purgatory will come rushing to my death bed to speak for me. At the end of the day though, if you trust in the promises of the brown scapular and live your life in accordance to what you are supposed to do with wearing the brown scapular, then Our Mother promises to come to you the Saturday after you die in Purgatory to take you to heaven.

 

O Glorious Easter, how rich the joy! Like a banquet after a long fast, such is Easter morning. I got the family up (Geralyn, Danny, Therese, and her college friend, Jenny) for our sunrise service at Salmon River Falls. We postponed the breakfast feast to greet the sun and embrace our Beloved God in prayer. It was 25 degrees, with some snow still at the base of the falls. So much water was pouring down that we could barely hear our own voices; so we sung with great gusto for Jesus' sake.

The consecration is like this! Mary is preparing a great spread of spiritual food and graces, not for us to hold onto, but to share. The protection of her mantle will stymie the attacks of JoeJerk, no matter the intensity of his assaults. On the Day of Consecration, the purity of our hearts and the depth of our faith will more closely resemble that of the Immaculate Heart. Great will be our mutual joy for we are making this journey together with Mary!

So let today be a sweet anticipation of May 13. Jesus Christ is Risen! Alleluia!!

Safe in the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart!

 

In 33 Days, we have started to read about St. Maximilian Kolbe's writings on Mary. I'll admit some of the passages we've read make my head spin a bit...but it is helping me to learn more about Mary. She truly is the spouse of the Holy Spirit...He dwells in her...lives in her...and is the reason Mary was, is, and always will be fruitful. She never strayed from living God's will perfectly. Well, that ship has sailed for me...I haven't always used my reason and will well...but I'm determined to stick close to Mary...and she'll guide me in the right direction.

One thing in the readings that popped out at me today that went right over my head last year was Kolbe had "purity of intention", meaning he directed his words, thoughts and emotions towards a divine purpose or mission. Last year, I just was not ready to even think of any divine mission I might have. I was consumed with a heavy cross, and I only focused on not letting it crush me. So as I went through the consecration last year, I was thinking of how can all of this and the consecration help me. Now that the cross is lighter...I want to start considering what divine mission I have...what is my divine purpose? Something to contemplate on!!

 

Another quality of Kolbe that is jumping out at me is his intensity, urgency and kind of military mind-set. He created the "militia Immaculata" and Mary was his general and his mission is to bring the world to God through Christ and wanted it done as soon as possible. I think I need to adopt this same sense of urgency in my life in terms of complete conversion and helping others along the way. I know however I fail at time management and I always seem exhausted from work, etc. Oh my mother, help me to instill the discipline of a soldier...no a navy seal...in my life so I may stay on target and accomplish whatever mission is God's will for my life!!!

 

What beautiful post Mario!! A feast it will be!! It's been a lovely journey with everyone so far

 

Thoughts on St Maximilian Kolbe (week two):
All grace, says the Polish saint, ultimately comes to us from God the Father who is LOVE,(1 John 4:16), and the one who abides in love abides in God and God abides in him (who abides most in God - Mary) . This happens through the merits of Jesus Christ, his Son in His life , death and resurrection and giving us Hope. This is distributed by the Holy Spirit (which deepens our FAITH); and the Holy Spirit, in distributing all grace, works in and through Mary — not because he has to do so, but precisely because in his plan of salvation, God wills to do so. And God wills to do so for a reason: Jesus, the Source of all grace, came through Mary via the work of the Holy Spirit; therefore it is fitting that all grace continue to come through Mary by the work of the Holy Spirit.
The Trinity displaying the three attributes of each , yet in each person of the trinity all attributes or the three cardinal Virtues of Faith Hope and Love are present and the greatest is LOVE. " Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. second: "Love your neighbor as yourself"

Hail Mary full of grace given from God by the work of the Holy Spirit, the Lord is with you who is all love. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus who is our hope and our strength. Holy Mary mother of God pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen
This is our Faith.
This is our Hope.
This is our love in our life.