...according to the Apostle of Mary, Saint Louis Marie de Montfort:
1) her profound humility
2) her lively faith
3) her blind obedience
4) her continual mental prayer
5) her mortification in all things
6) her ardent charity
7) her heroic patience
8) her angelic sweetness
9) her divine wisdom
10) her divine purity
Let us this month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of the most glorious Virgin, imitate these virtues all for the greater glory of her Divine Son, to Whom be praise forever.
Showing posts with label BVM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BVM. Show all posts
Monday, 16 August 2010
Our Lady and the Most Holy Sacrifice
The Holy Virgin reigns in great glory in heaven because of the wonderful things the Good Lord has done for her, truly holy is His Name. The Mother of God is not simply to be admired from afar, but wishes ardently that we imitate her holy example for the greater glory of her Divine Son.
God in Sacred Writ is named as the potter, while we are likened to clay. Mere, brute matter cannot resist the artist's hands, on the other hand, we are able to destroy grace in us. Instead of humbly submitting to His mercy, we prevent Him working great things in us. Our Blessed Lady's Fiat is the supreme human example of handing oneself over to the will of the Good Lord. I am sure that what she consented to in great faith and trust was not fully known by her. Even greater therefore should she be honoured by men for her love!
Each day we are confronted with the question, posed by the grace of the Holy Spirit, her Heavenly Spouse, whether we wish to become saints or accept corruption and perish. No day must go by, without our commending of our souls to His hands, willing to accept whatever death may be pleasing to Him.
At the Holy Sacrifice, we are again presented with this probing question. The Priest at the Offertory, begs the Eternal Father to accept this spotless host, which he the unworthy servant of God offers for his offenses, sins, and negligences, for all those present, on behalf of all faithful Christians, so that we may possess life in abundance. This is not an isolated act where the faithful kneel idly before the distribution of the Holy Gifts. We must place ourselves on the Paten with the host, offering in union with the Sacred Victim, our memories, intellects, wills, bodies and souls, all for the honour of the Blessed and Undivided Trinity. We are graciously called to the foot of the Cross, with the Holy Virgin who suffered a silent and bloodness martyrdom, with the Divine John and the prostrated Seraphim and Cherubim.
The tears rolled softly down her cheeks, yet her humble obedience to her Lord's will was perfect, lacking in nothing. At the Mass, the Supreme Act of adoration, thanksgiving, petition and reparation we are urged to do the same. Now that is truly 'active participation'.
God in Sacred Writ is named as the potter, while we are likened to clay. Mere, brute matter cannot resist the artist's hands, on the other hand, we are able to destroy grace in us. Instead of humbly submitting to His mercy, we prevent Him working great things in us. Our Blessed Lady's Fiat is the supreme human example of handing oneself over to the will of the Good Lord. I am sure that what she consented to in great faith and trust was not fully known by her. Even greater therefore should she be honoured by men for her love!
Each day we are confronted with the question, posed by the grace of the Holy Spirit, her Heavenly Spouse, whether we wish to become saints or accept corruption and perish. No day must go by, without our commending of our souls to His hands, willing to accept whatever death may be pleasing to Him.
At the Holy Sacrifice, we are again presented with this probing question. The Priest at the Offertory, begs the Eternal Father to accept this spotless host, which he the unworthy servant of God offers for his offenses, sins, and negligences, for all those present, on behalf of all faithful Christians, so that we may possess life in abundance. This is not an isolated act where the faithful kneel idly before the distribution of the Holy Gifts. We must place ourselves on the Paten with the host, offering in union with the Sacred Victim, our memories, intellects, wills, bodies and souls, all for the honour of the Blessed and Undivided Trinity. We are graciously called to the foot of the Cross, with the Holy Virgin who suffered a silent and bloodness martyrdom, with the Divine John and the prostrated Seraphim and Cherubim.
The tears rolled softly down her cheeks, yet her humble obedience to her Lord's will was perfect, lacking in nothing. At the Mass, the Supreme Act of adoration, thanksgiving, petition and reparation we are urged to do the same. Now that is truly 'active participation'.
Saturday, 14 August 2010
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - 1 Cl.
Thou art the honour of thy people, O holy Mother of God, there is no stain in thee.
This Sunday, we commemorate the Assumption of the Holy Virgin, body and soul into Heaven. She shares the fullness of glory and joy, above all other creatures. While we, in this valley of tears, sigh for the adoption of the sons of God and the redemption of our bodies, she rejoices in the Presence of her Divine Son Who preserved her from all stain of sin.
She crushed the head of the serpent by her entire self-offering to God, at the Annunciation and at her silent immolation at Calvary in intimate union with our Redeemer. We say, with the Fathers, 'Death through Eve, life through Mary'. O Holy Mother of God and our Mother, blessed art thou amongst all women, praise of thy name shall not depart out of the mouth of men. Loving Mother, thou art the glory of Jerusalem, through whom all the graces of God pass, intercede for us with thy Son, our Lord and God.
There was nothing in common between thee and satan, that prince of lies and creator of evil. Enmities were placed between that fallen angel and thee, Queen of Heaven. O Mother, you brought forth the Second Adam, to free us from the corruption of sin, preserve us from clinging to the 'old man'.
Judith was praised by the sons of Israel for cutting off the head of Holofernes to liberate the people from foreign oppression. What greater glory should Mary earn because of her obedience and humility, death has been conquered! She did not destroy armies but by her cooperation in the redeeming plan of God, assisted in the reconciliation of men to God, and the renewal of the inward man.
Truly we must call her blessed, as the Good Lord has blessed her by His Power, that is the Spirit, so that she could bring forth the Saviour.
From Vespers on this most joyous occasion:
'Mary is taken up into Heaven, the Angels rejoice, and bless God with songs of praise. Mary the Virgin is taken up into the bridal chamber of Heaven, where the King of Kings sitteth on His starry throne. We run after the odour of Thine ointments. The young maidens have loved thee exceedingly. O daughter, blessed art thou of the Lord, for through thee we have partaken of the fruit of life. Fair and beautiful art thou, o daughter of Jerusalem, terrible as an army in battle array'.
This Sunday, we commemorate the Assumption of the Holy Virgin, body and soul into Heaven. She shares the fullness of glory and joy, above all other creatures. While we, in this valley of tears, sigh for the adoption of the sons of God and the redemption of our bodies, she rejoices in the Presence of her Divine Son Who preserved her from all stain of sin.
She crushed the head of the serpent by her entire self-offering to God, at the Annunciation and at her silent immolation at Calvary in intimate union with our Redeemer. We say, with the Fathers, 'Death through Eve, life through Mary'. O Holy Mother of God and our Mother, blessed art thou amongst all women, praise of thy name shall not depart out of the mouth of men. Loving Mother, thou art the glory of Jerusalem, through whom all the graces of God pass, intercede for us with thy Son, our Lord and God.
There was nothing in common between thee and satan, that prince of lies and creator of evil. Enmities were placed between that fallen angel and thee, Queen of Heaven. O Mother, you brought forth the Second Adam, to free us from the corruption of sin, preserve us from clinging to the 'old man'.
Judith was praised by the sons of Israel for cutting off the head of Holofernes to liberate the people from foreign oppression. What greater glory should Mary earn because of her obedience and humility, death has been conquered! She did not destroy armies but by her cooperation in the redeeming plan of God, assisted in the reconciliation of men to God, and the renewal of the inward man.
Truly we must call her blessed, as the Good Lord has blessed her by His Power, that is the Spirit, so that she could bring forth the Saviour.
From Vespers on this most joyous occasion:
'Mary is taken up into Heaven, the Angels rejoice, and bless God with songs of praise. Mary the Virgin is taken up into the bridal chamber of Heaven, where the King of Kings sitteth on His starry throne. We run after the odour of Thine ointments. The young maidens have loved thee exceedingly. O daughter, blessed art thou of the Lord, for through thee we have partaken of the fruit of life. Fair and beautiful art thou, o daughter of Jerusalem, terrible as an army in battle array'.
Monday, 17 May 2010
Mother Mary
This month of May, he honour the Glorious Ever Virgin Mary. Her love, so pure and tender, was and remains greater than the love of all other mothers united, and she occupies the first place in Heaven outwith the Blessed Trinity.
Our Divine Lord, at the moment of His supreme immolation on the Cross, presented His spotless Mother to John to take to his own home, therefore all adopted sons of the Father through Christ receive nourishment and consolation from her. Through her pure virginal hands, pass all graces which she has obtained from the Paraclete, her Heavenly Spouse for the salvation of souls and the glory of God. Let us turn to her with confidence and trust in her goodness, as she has never refused a sinner pity, that we made be molded to the likeness of her Blessed Son.
All Christians should have recourse to our Mother, who will lead us more closely to Jesus, as she still speaks to us today as she speak so lovingly at Cana, 'Do whatever He tells you'.
Our Divine Lord, at the moment of His supreme immolation on the Cross, presented His spotless Mother to John to take to his own home, therefore all adopted sons of the Father through Christ receive nourishment and consolation from her. Through her pure virginal hands, pass all graces which she has obtained from the Paraclete, her Heavenly Spouse for the salvation of souls and the glory of God. Let us turn to her with confidence and trust in her goodness, as she has never refused a sinner pity, that we made be molded to the likeness of her Blessed Son.
All Christians should have recourse to our Mother, who will lead us more closely to Jesus, as she still speaks to us today as she speak so lovingly at Cana, 'Do whatever He tells you'.
“Mary is the fruitful Virgin, and in all the souls in which she comes to dwell she causes to flourish purity of heart and body, rightness of intention and abundance of good works. Do not imagine that Mary, the most fruitful of creatures who gave birth to a God, remains barren in a faithful soul. It will be she who makes the soul live incessantly for Jesus Christ, and will make Jesus live in the soul” (St. Louis Marie de Montfort)
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
The Woman I Love
I have not yet praised the merits and glories of the Most Holy Mother therefore I must do so now. As sinful creatures of wrath, we were not worthy to receive directly from the hands of the Heavenly Father, His only-begotten Son, so He out of His inestimable goodness and mercy, created the pure Virgin out of nothing. He bestowed on her all His graces and privileges, thereby preserving her from the stain of original sin, so that she would be the terrestrial paradise to shelter His soon-to-be incarnate Son. What other women out of the billions who have ever been conceived, can compare to the Holy Mother, the Ark of the Covenant? No other female has ever been chosen to bear the Redeemer of the World. It is true indeed, that through her, the New Eve, comes our peace and salvation.
Why should we beseech the intercession of our Most Holy Mother, why should we turn to her as devoted children and servants? For one reason; this was the path taken by our Lord. He came to this earth taking His human nature from her undefiled womb and being born from her while causing her no pain, and was made visible to sinners. He remained under her authority for thirty years, so why should we wretched evil-doers shy away from abiding with her?
Her Son, Jesus is our Messias, the One who takes away the sin of the world, He is our Way to the Father, yet He is not known in this world as He should be. Saint Louis-Marie de Montfort rightly says that this is so as His Mother is not honoured enough by men. Our prayers should always be to the Mother of God, beseeching her to bring us closer to her Son, as there is no saint nearer our Lord Christ than His Mother. He assumed her into Heaven, body and soul, upon the completion of her earthly existence and crowned her with righteousness. She received in advance the aim of all Christian men. She had beforehand remained at the foot of the Cross, gently crying, her tender heart had truly been pierced, yet she remained ever faithful and knew that He whom she did merit to bear would rise as He said.
Let us therefore humble ourselves before our Mother, the same one given by our Loving Redeemer to the most chaste Saint John, and ask her devoutly to bring us to Jesus.
''Let us not imagine that we obscure the glory of the Son by the great praise we lavish on the Mother; for the more she is honored, the greater is the glory of her Son. There can be no doubt that whatever we say in praise of the Mother gives equal praise to the Son." - St. Bernard of Clairvaux.
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