Ijournal entry 050216 # 18. May, Month of Blessed Mary. Maxim by Baltasar Gracián. Quotes from Pope Francis, St. Athanasius of Alexandria, and St. Justin the Philosopher. "Confession and God’s Healing and Infinite Mercy!", by Fr. Ed. Broom, OMV. "A May for Mary", by Fr. Edward Looney. Audio presentation: "Learning to love the Rosary", by Fr. Edward Looney.
"Mary instructed us to “do whatever He tells you” and one of the last words of Jesus was to “behold your mother.” This month of May, behold Mary as your mother, and honor her in a special way. When you do, she will keep true to her promise of praying for you both now and at the hour of your death". By Fr. Edward Looney
"Get used to the bad temperaments of those you deal with, like getting used to ugly faces. This is advisable in situations of dependency. There are horrible people you can neither live with nor live without. It’s a necessary skill, therefore, to get used to them, as to ugliness, so you’re not surprised each time their harshness manifests itself. At first they’ll frighten you, but gradually your initial horror will disappear and caution will anticipate or tolerate the unpleasantness". By Balthasar Gracián:
MTA= This maxim reminds me of the experiment regarding the boiled frog. The frog became oblivious to the increasing temperature of the water and failed to respond to the threat of the extreme heat. In the case of the maxim, becoming oblivious will in a positive way, helping me to become more tolerant of of who and what often appears intolerable.
MTA= This maxim reminds me of the experiment regarding the boiled frog. The frog became oblivious to the increasing temperature of the water and failed to respond to the threat of the extreme heat. In the case of the maxim, becoming oblivious will in a positive way, helping me to become more tolerant of of who and what often appears intolerable.
🔵 "Take time... to listen patiently and attentively to everything the other person wants to say.It requires the self-discipline of not speaking untilthe time is right. Instead of offering an opinion or advice, we need to be sure that we have heard everything the other person has to say". By Pope Francis
⚪️ "When a portrait is spoiled, the only way to renew it is for the Subject to come back to the studio and sit for the artist all over again. That is why Christ came--to make it possible for the divine image in man to be recreated. We were made in God's likeness; we are remade in the likeness of his Son". By St. Athanasius of Alexandria, Doctor of the Church
🔴 "He who bears the burdens of others, assists all, humbles himself to all, even to his inferiors, and supplies the wants of the poor with what he has received from God, is truly the imitator of God". By St. Justin the Philosopher
⚪️ "When a portrait is spoiled, the only way to renew it is for the Subject to come back to the studio and sit for the artist all over again. That is why Christ came--to make it possible for the divine image in man to be recreated. We were made in God's likeness; we are remade in the likeness of his Son". By St. Athanasius of Alexandria, Doctor of the Church
🔴 "He who bears the burdens of others, assists all, humbles himself to all, even to his inferiors, and supplies the wants of the poor with what he has received from God, is truly the imitator of God". By St. Justin the Philosopher
The "First Saturday" is just around the corner. This will be number three for me this go round of participating in the devotion of the Five First Saturdays. Being this is the month of May, and our Blessed Mother Mary's month, it seems good to share my Rosary meditations from the second First Saturday devotion. It is asked that we keep company with the Blessed Mother and spend an additional fifteen minutes while meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary. The following info from this site clears things up:
"The question is often asked: Does the meditation while reciting the Rosary fulfill this condition, or is there required an additional fifteen minutes of meditation? That an additional 15 minutes of meditation is required was recently confirmed by Sr. Lucia of Fatima. It is clear too from a statement by the first Bishop of Fatima".
Info from this site: http://www.rosary-center.org/firstsat.htm
It is coming to mind how Jesus asks us for an hour, and our Lady is asking for minutes.
"The question is often asked: Does the meditation while reciting the Rosary fulfill this condition, or is there required an additional fifteen minutes of meditation? That an additional 15 minutes of meditation is required was recently confirmed by Sr. Lucia of Fatima. It is clear too from a statement by the first Bishop of Fatima".
Info from this site: http://www.rosary-center.org/firstsat.htm
It is coming to mind how Jesus asks us for an hour, and our Lady is asking for minutes.
Surely we can oblige them both, as this is easy if we have love. Blessed Mother Teresa said not to say we don't have time, say we don't have love when we give an excuse for not praying.
My First Saturday Rosary meditations, and beginning on a scriptural note, it is to say:
My First Saturday Rosary meditations, and beginning on a scriptural note, it is to say:
📿1. The Resurrection 5:21-5:26
Jesus knew the Father's plans were trust worthy, and in His humanity, He truly believed. The Resurrection was something that could be anticipated, an expectation able to fuel the fires that strengthened Him to suffer the Passion and to keep on keeping on. We know the words of God spoken to us through scripture, but often we don't trust the Father and lack the fuel that would help us to hang tough and keep on keeping on. How sad, when we have a God calling us sons and daughters. Let us ask for a bit of that Resurrection power to help us endure and carry on, because the Father has showed us some of His cards, and we get a glimpse at the ending for those who persevere.
📿2. The Ascension 5:27-5:31
By God's mighty power, if we are in the state of grace, totally purified with our reparation all sowed up, we too can end up being transported straight into Heaven. Jesus taught us everything that is necessary, it's up to us to do our part. God never fails to keep His end, so let us place first in our lives the Father's will, and we will not be disappointed
📿The Descent of The Holy Spirit upon the Apostles 5:31-5:36
The disciples of Jesus were huddled together in the upper room, and in their midst was the Holy Blessed Virgin Mary. They all were together and their support to one another made a big difference. Pooling our prayers one for another and imploring help from the Holy Blessed Virgin Mary in our midst, really makes a difference. We as the body of Christ, still need to huddle up and go out, winning the battle for ourselves and others into the glory of God
📿The assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven 5:36-5:40
The Most Holy Virgin perfectly fulfilled her mission. "Yes" was the only response she ever gave to God. All that He asked of her, she graciously consented. Of course to fulfill and complete the mission, is to glorify God and reap the reward. Entry into heaven,that blessed abode, will be for all those who have fought the good fight of faith, loving the Lord God with all their heart, soul, and strength, and loving neighbor as self.
📿The Coronation of Blessed Virgin in Heaven (5:40-45
We have the King of Kings as our valiant warrior, the one who sits at the right hand of the Father. Who is positioned at His left? The Queen of Heaven and earth, His beloved mother. How expedient for us to have the Queen as our heavenly mother. Hand picked by the Father to be the Mother of the Son, and in turn the mother of all of God's earthly children. The Son formalized every thing when we were given her from the Cross. Crowned as Queen, we get extra help as child and as a subject. How blest we are for her help, protection, and love.
Jesus knew the Father's plans were trust worthy, and in His humanity, He truly believed. The Resurrection was something that could be anticipated, an expectation able to fuel the fires that strengthened Him to suffer the Passion and to keep on keeping on. We know the words of God spoken to us through scripture, but often we don't trust the Father and lack the fuel that would help us to hang tough and keep on keeping on. How sad, when we have a God calling us sons and daughters. Let us ask for a bit of that Resurrection power to help us endure and carry on, because the Father has showed us some of His cards, and we get a glimpse at the ending for those who persevere.
📿2. The Ascension 5:27-5:31
By God's mighty power, if we are in the state of grace, totally purified with our reparation all sowed up, we too can end up being transported straight into Heaven. Jesus taught us everything that is necessary, it's up to us to do our part. God never fails to keep His end, so let us place first in our lives the Father's will, and we will not be disappointed
📿The Descent of The Holy Spirit upon the Apostles 5:31-5:36
The disciples of Jesus were huddled together in the upper room, and in their midst was the Holy Blessed Virgin Mary. They all were together and their support to one another made a big difference. Pooling our prayers one for another and imploring help from the Holy Blessed Virgin Mary in our midst, really makes a difference. We as the body of Christ, still need to huddle up and go out, winning the battle for ourselves and others into the glory of God
📿The assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven 5:36-5:40
The Most Holy Virgin perfectly fulfilled her mission. "Yes" was the only response she ever gave to God. All that He asked of her, she graciously consented. Of course to fulfill and complete the mission, is to glorify God and reap the reward. Entry into heaven,that blessed abode, will be for all those who have fought the good fight of faith, loving the Lord God with all their heart, soul, and strength, and loving neighbor as self.
📿The Coronation of Blessed Virgin in Heaven (5:40-45
We have the King of Kings as our valiant warrior, the one who sits at the right hand of the Father. Who is positioned at His left? The Queen of Heaven and earth, His beloved mother. How expedient for us to have the Queen as our heavenly mother. Hand picked by the Father to be the Mother of the Son, and in turn the mother of all of God's earthly children. The Son formalized every thing when we were given her from the Cross. Crowned as Queen, we get extra help as child and as a subject. How blest we are for her help, protection, and love.
"Confession and God’s Healing and Infinite Mercy!", by Fr. Ed. Broom, OMV
One of the greatest gifts that our merciful Savior gave to the world, that first Easter Sunday, was the Sacrament of Confession . Jesus passed through the walls and then breathed the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and said:“Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive shall be forgiven; whose sins you retain shall be retained.”
One of the greatest gifts that our merciful Savior gave to the world, that first Easter Sunday, was the Sacrament of Confession . Jesus passed through the walls and then breathed the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and said:“Receive the Holy Spirit; whose sins you shall forgive shall be forgiven; whose sins you retain shall be retained.”
In this moment, with these words and with the breathing forth of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles Jesus instituted the Sacrament of His infinite mercy that we call Sacrament of Confession, Penance, Reconciliation, forgiveness, and Sacrament of His infinite mercy. Have great trust in God’s mercy and to approach with trust, confidence, humility and faith the Sacrament of Confession, ten short encouraging words or suggestions to help us to receive this great Sacrament.
🎗1. TRUST IN GOD’S INFINITE MERCY. Jesus complained to Saint Faustina saying that the greatest sin that wounds His Sacred Heart most is the lack of trust in His infinite mercy. Jesus said that if the sinner had as many sins as the grains of sand on the seashore, if he were to simply trust in Jesus’ mercy then that would be enough to engulf and swallow these sins in the ocean of His infinite mercy. St Paul reminds us: “Where sin abounds God’s mercy abounds all the more.”
🎗1. TRUST IN GOD’S INFINITE MERCY. Jesus complained to Saint Faustina saying that the greatest sin that wounds His Sacred Heart most is the lack of trust in His infinite mercy. Jesus said that if the sinner had as many sins as the grains of sand on the seashore, if he were to simply trust in Jesus’ mercy then that would be enough to engulf and swallow these sins in the ocean of His infinite mercy. St Paul reminds us: “Where sin abounds God’s mercy abounds all the more.”
Indeed the greatest sinners can become the greatest saints if they simply trust unreservedly in God’s mercy. Examples abound: Mary Magdalene, the Good thief, Saint Augustine, Saint Margaret of Cortona, St Ignatius of Loyola, St. Camillus de Lelis, Saint Mary of Egypt, and many more…
🎗2. PREPARATION. Prepare yourself well for the reception of the Sacraments. In fact sacramental theology enunciates this important principle: one receives graces in proportion to the disposition of the heart and the prior preparation before receiving the Sacrament. Have a good examination of conscience booklet at hand. Give yourself time to prepare to encounter the loving and merciful Savior. Do your examination in silence so that you can meet yourself with the merciful Savior in your soul-searching. Write down the sins on a sheet of paper so that when you go in to the priest who represents Christ, due to nervousness, you will not draw a blank. Usually, the better the preparation the better the results—as is the case in any practice!
🎗3. PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST. Strive to understand that our religion is fundamentally a personal relationship and friendship with Jesus. Jesus indeed is the friend who will never fail us. If we can understand that the essence of sin is hurting the one who loves us, the one who desires a deep friendship with us, the one who died on the cross for us, then it will be much easier to avoid sin in the future. At the Last Supper Jesus called the Apostles friend; we are the friends of Jesus. Sin is not so much that of breaking a rule, but breaking the loving Heart of Jesus.
🎗4. APPRECIATE THE SACRAMENT, THE GRACES AND THE OPPORTUNTIES. A constant danger for practicing Catholics is to take the Sacraments for granted. As in a marriage, it is always possible to take one’s spouse for granted. Likewise, we can take Jesus and His Sacraments for granted. Our attitude should be such that every time we receive the Eucharist as well as Confession we should receive it as if it were our last time and that we will be judged upon the way we received the Sacrament this time. As the sign in the sacristies remind us: “Say Mass as if it were your first Mass, last Mass and only Mass.” So may we strive to receive Confession as if it were our first, last and only every time we approach this Sacrament of God’s mercy.
🎗5. FIRM PURPOSE OF AMMENDMENT. There are five steps in making a good confession:
🏵 1) Examination of Conscience;
🏵 2) Sorrow for sin;
🏵3) Firm Purpose of Amendment;
🏵4) Confession of sins to the priest;
🏵5) Carry out the penance given by the priest. The third step, in many penitents, should be improved. By this we mean this: that to confess well there must be a firm commitment on our part to avoid any person, place or thing or circumstance that could lead us into the snares of sin. This demands self-examination, self-knowledge, humility, and fortitude. This also demands a rewinding the film of our life to see where, why, when, how, with whom, and where that led us into the falling into sin. There are many sayings that spell this out: “He who does not know history is condemned to repeat the same errors.” Socrates stated: “A life that is not examined is a life that is not worth living.” A key proverb of the desert Fathers says it in two succinct words: KNOW THYSELF! If you like, using an image from SUPERMAN: We have to know our own kryptonite—our own weak point, our own Achilles heel!
🎗6. PRAY FOR THE PRIEST CONFESSOR. On one occasion Saint Faustina left the confessional and felt intranquility, lacking the peace that she usually experienced after making her sacramental confession. Jesus appeared to her and told her the reason for this lack of peace was because she did not pray for the priest confessor before entering the confessional. A short prayer for the priest Confessor—Hail Mary, prayer to the Holy Spirit or prayer to the Guardian angel—can drastically improve one’s confession. Try it!
🎗7. QUALITIES OF A GOOD CONFESSION. In the Diary of Saint Faustina Jesus highlights three indispensable conditions for a good confession. They are: transparency, humility and obedience. When we confess to the priest, who really represents Jesus the Divine Physician, then we should be as clear and transparent as possible. Then we should never try to justify, rationalize or blame others for our sins and that means we should be humble. Finally, we should obey whatever advice or counsel that the priest gives us recognizing that the priest acts in the person of Christ.
🎗8. CONFESS FREQUENTLY. It is of capital importance in the spiritual life to receive the sacraments well but also with great frequency. The Church allows as well as encourages frequent Confession as a most efficacious means to grow in holiness. One is obliged to confess mortal sins in number and species. However, the saints and Popes strongly encourage us to confess even venial sins; this is called the “Confession of devotion.” One could also confess past mortal sins and renew sorrow for them. All too often sins leave a deeply engrained habit or stain in our soul. Frequent Confession serves to gradually expunge and eliminate the stain! The warning however is to avoid making mechanical, routine or perfunctory confessions—to confess without any firm purpose to amend our ways!
🎗9. CLARIFY DOUBTS. If it is such that there is some moral confusion, doubt or uncertainty about some moral matter, or personal behavior then you should be humble and forthright to ask a good confessor to clarify the doubt. In other words moral theology teaches us that we should never act on a doubtful conscience. On the contrary, we should clarify the moral question with our confessor before acting. Having a well-formed conscience, having a pure and clear conscience, having interior peace of soul is one of the greatest gifts that one can experience this side of heaven.
🎗10. THANKSGIVING. After you have completed your confession then make sure that you thank God abundantly for His infinite mercy, for His kindness, for His compassion, for the gift of the sacrament of Confession. God rejoices in the hearts of those generous souls who render Him constant thanksgiving. May the prayer of the Psalmist be our prayer: “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever.”
🎗2. PREPARATION. Prepare yourself well for the reception of the Sacraments. In fact sacramental theology enunciates this important principle: one receives graces in proportion to the disposition of the heart and the prior preparation before receiving the Sacrament. Have a good examination of conscience booklet at hand. Give yourself time to prepare to encounter the loving and merciful Savior. Do your examination in silence so that you can meet yourself with the merciful Savior in your soul-searching. Write down the sins on a sheet of paper so that when you go in to the priest who represents Christ, due to nervousness, you will not draw a blank. Usually, the better the preparation the better the results—as is the case in any practice!
🎗3. PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST. Strive to understand that our religion is fundamentally a personal relationship and friendship with Jesus. Jesus indeed is the friend who will never fail us. If we can understand that the essence of sin is hurting the one who loves us, the one who desires a deep friendship with us, the one who died on the cross for us, then it will be much easier to avoid sin in the future. At the Last Supper Jesus called the Apostles friend; we are the friends of Jesus. Sin is not so much that of breaking a rule, but breaking the loving Heart of Jesus.
🎗4. APPRECIATE THE SACRAMENT, THE GRACES AND THE OPPORTUNTIES. A constant danger for practicing Catholics is to take the Sacraments for granted. As in a marriage, it is always possible to take one’s spouse for granted. Likewise, we can take Jesus and His Sacraments for granted. Our attitude should be such that every time we receive the Eucharist as well as Confession we should receive it as if it were our last time and that we will be judged upon the way we received the Sacrament this time. As the sign in the sacristies remind us: “Say Mass as if it were your first Mass, last Mass and only Mass.” So may we strive to receive Confession as if it were our first, last and only every time we approach this Sacrament of God’s mercy.
🎗5. FIRM PURPOSE OF AMMENDMENT. There are five steps in making a good confession:
🏵 1) Examination of Conscience;
🏵 2) Sorrow for sin;
🏵3) Firm Purpose of Amendment;
🏵4) Confession of sins to the priest;
🏵5) Carry out the penance given by the priest. The third step, in many penitents, should be improved. By this we mean this: that to confess well there must be a firm commitment on our part to avoid any person, place or thing or circumstance that could lead us into the snares of sin. This demands self-examination, self-knowledge, humility, and fortitude. This also demands a rewinding the film of our life to see where, why, when, how, with whom, and where that led us into the falling into sin. There are many sayings that spell this out: “He who does not know history is condemned to repeat the same errors.” Socrates stated: “A life that is not examined is a life that is not worth living.” A key proverb of the desert Fathers says it in two succinct words: KNOW THYSELF! If you like, using an image from SUPERMAN: We have to know our own kryptonite—our own weak point, our own Achilles heel!
🎗6. PRAY FOR THE PRIEST CONFESSOR. On one occasion Saint Faustina left the confessional and felt intranquility, lacking the peace that she usually experienced after making her sacramental confession. Jesus appeared to her and told her the reason for this lack of peace was because she did not pray for the priest confessor before entering the confessional. A short prayer for the priest Confessor—Hail Mary, prayer to the Holy Spirit or prayer to the Guardian angel—can drastically improve one’s confession. Try it!
🎗7. QUALITIES OF A GOOD CONFESSION. In the Diary of Saint Faustina Jesus highlights three indispensable conditions for a good confession. They are: transparency, humility and obedience. When we confess to the priest, who really represents Jesus the Divine Physician, then we should be as clear and transparent as possible. Then we should never try to justify, rationalize or blame others for our sins and that means we should be humble. Finally, we should obey whatever advice or counsel that the priest gives us recognizing that the priest acts in the person of Christ.
🎗8. CONFESS FREQUENTLY. It is of capital importance in the spiritual life to receive the sacraments well but also with great frequency. The Church allows as well as encourages frequent Confession as a most efficacious means to grow in holiness. One is obliged to confess mortal sins in number and species. However, the saints and Popes strongly encourage us to confess even venial sins; this is called the “Confession of devotion.” One could also confess past mortal sins and renew sorrow for them. All too often sins leave a deeply engrained habit or stain in our soul. Frequent Confession serves to gradually expunge and eliminate the stain! The warning however is to avoid making mechanical, routine or perfunctory confessions—to confess without any firm purpose to amend our ways!
🎗9. CLARIFY DOUBTS. If it is such that there is some moral confusion, doubt or uncertainty about some moral matter, or personal behavior then you should be humble and forthright to ask a good confessor to clarify the doubt. In other words moral theology teaches us that we should never act on a doubtful conscience. On the contrary, we should clarify the moral question with our confessor before acting. Having a well-formed conscience, having a pure and clear conscience, having interior peace of soul is one of the greatest gifts that one can experience this side of heaven.
🎗10. THANKSGIVING. After you have completed your confession then make sure that you thank God abundantly for His infinite mercy, for His kindness, for His compassion, for the gift of the sacrament of Confession. God rejoices in the hearts of those generous souls who render Him constant thanksgiving. May the prayer of the Psalmist be our prayer: “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever.”
"A May for Mary", by Fr. Edward Looney
Info fromthis site:
http://catholicexchange.com/a-may-for-mary
"I always look forward to the month of May_ Because it is the month, that we as a Church, honor the Mother of God. To a certain degree, I treat the month of May as I do Lent. In particular, I try to add one Marian devotion to my daily repertoire or do something concretely Marian that month. Have you ever done something extra special for Mary during the month of May? If not, here are a couple of suggestions for living May for Mary this year!
📘Read a Book _After Jesus, the Mother of God is one of the people subjected the most to writings and artistic depictions. There are several different genres of Marian books though. There are devotional books, meant to prompt further reflection on the life of Mary. I recently had the opportunity to review one for a journal called Mother of Mercy by Sr. Marie Paul Farran. She provides 31 reflections based on titles of Mary derived from the scriptures. Accompanied with an icon related to the title, along with a source text and a prayer from the tradition, makes the book a wonderful asset. There is also a marvelous work by Bishop Bousset, titled Meditations on Mary which will satiate anyone’s Marian hunger.Then there are greater works on Mary by popular authors. One that immediately comes to mind is Fulton Sheen’s work The World’s Greatest Love. The classics from St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to Mary or The Secret of the Rosary are timeless treasures. For a more contemporary look at Mary, I recommend either Dr. Scott Hahn’s text or the work of Dr. Edward Sri. And, little did you expect, there are even fictitious novels on Mary. One interesting one is Our Lady of the Lost and Found by Diane Schoemperlen. The novel recounts how Mary unexpectedly shows up at someone’s house one day. It’s an interesting story which interweaves history and teaching.
🌹Plant a Mary Garden_Vincenzina Krymow wrote a magnificent book, Mary’s Flowers: Gardens, Legends, Meditations, in which she details flowers representative of Mary. Many families might have a Mary statue in their front yard, so why not spruce it up with some flowers this year? And when you plant the garden, be sure to bring flowers of the rarest and fairest to the Queen of the May.
🏃🏽Go on Pilgrimage_There are many Marian Shrines in the United States, Canada, and across the world. If you are able, go to one of those shrines. Many of them have Holy Doors commemorating the Year of Mercy. Walking through the Holy Doors affords you an opportunity to gain an indulgence. Marian Shrines are oases of God’s mercy since the sacrament of Penance is regularly offered. On pilgrimage, make time for Mass, and pray before the devotional image of Mary honored at that particular shrine. Here are few Shrines I’d recommend:USA: Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help (WI), Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians (WI), Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (WI), Marytown, Seven Sorrows Basilica (IL), Our Lady of the Snows (IL), Our Lady of Consolation (OH), Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Washington DC).Canada: Notre Dame du Cap, St. Anne de Beaupre, or one of their cathedrals to Notre Dame.
🙏🏾Pray the Rosary_The rosary by and large is the Marian devotion par excellence. When people think Marian devotion, they usually think the rosary. If you are an irregular rosary pray-er, make May a month when you commit to praying it every day. During March 2016, I published a new rosary devotional book, which literally transforms how people pray the rosary one bead at a time. It’s called A Rosary Litany. Essentially, I developed a pious custom taught by St. Louis De Montfort, namely, the addition of meditative phrase following the name of Jesus in the Hail Mary prayer. While St. Louis de Montfort only recommended one phrase, I propose a phrase for each Hail Mary to its corresponding mystery. Many people have started praying the rosary this way, and they have told me it’s the only way they pray the rosary now. Order your copy from arosarylitany.comSecondly, one of my favorite ways of praying the rosary is by walking. It’s a nice way for me to end the day, and since I’ve committed some of the phrases of A Rosary Litany to memory, I can even pray the rosary in that fashion while I walk. Last year, I wrote an article for Catholic Exchange titled, “Walking with Mary” which explained why praying the rosary while walking is legit. In summary, try to pray the rosary during the month of May. If you would like, try my new rosary book, or do something different; buy someone else’s rosary meditation book, listen to it while you drive, or pray it while you walk. Pray the rosary. Mary asked us to pray it every day when she appeared in Fatima, so May is an opportune time to start, since those apparitions began on May 13th!
👀Watch a Marian Film_There are many Marian movies, old and new alike, that someone could watch during the month of May. Some movies highlight Marian apparitions like The Song of Bernadette, The Passion of Saint Bernadete [Lourdes]; The Thirteenth Day, The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima [Fatima]; and Guadalupe: The Miracle and the Message, to name a few. Ignatius Press put out Mary of Nazareth a few years ago, which traces the life of Mary from her youth to her presence on Calvary. And recently, a wonderful film Full of Grace was released and depicts the life of Mary in the early Church and takes us to her dormition. I reviewed Full of Grace for Catholic Exchange here.
🗣Pray the Regina Caeli or the Angelus_You might hear Church bells ring daily at 6, 12, and 6. Those bells indicate the traditional time of praying the Angelus, a prayer which focuses on the incarnation. From Easter Sunday through Pentecost, the Regina Caeli replaces the Angelus prayer. The Regina Caeli focuses on Easter joy, and the resurrection of Jesus. During the month of May, both the Regina Caeli and Angelus will be prayed, so why not pray them at least once each day, if not all three times. If you cannot observe 6, 12, and 6, then pray before breakfast, lunch, and supper.
🎉Celebrate the Feast of the Visitation_On May 31st the Church celebrates the feast of the Visitation. I love the feast of the Visitation, partly because I was ordained a transitional deacon on that day, but secondly because there is a beauty in Mary’s generous response to become the mother of the Lord and the extension of generosity in her service to Elizabeth. If you have never done a Marian consecration, consider Fr. Michael Gaitley’s 33 Days to Morning Glory. You would begin on April 28th and end your consecration on May 31st. Another way to honor the feast of the Visitation would be to pray a novena in honor of the feast, consider praying the Efficacious Novena of the Three Hail Mary’s, available here.
🌐Learn a New Marian Prayer or the Hail Mary in a New Language_There are lots of Marian prayers. So many, that they fill prayer books. How many do you know? Try a new Marian prayer like the Memorare or Sub Tuum Praesidium. Memorize the Magnificat (Mary’s Song of Praise from Luke 1: 46-55. Or learn the Hail Mary in another language: Latin, Spanish, Italian, or French.
🛐Pray the Litany of Loreto There are many titles for Mary, and the Litany of Loreto contains a lot of them. During the month of May, discover a fondness for a new title of Mary you are unfamiliar with. Seek Mary’s intercession daily with the Litany of Loreto, and along the way, you might find a new devotional title for Mary to invoke.
📿Learn How to Make Corded Rosaries_During the Marian month of May, not only could you foster a greater devotion to Mary, but you could also help someone else. Many people have learned how to make corded knot rosaries. Learn how to make these rosaries and then give them away! Give them away or donate them to the missions. Learn how to make corded rosaries here.
Conclusion_May is Mary’s month. There are many ways for us to get to know our Mother. The above ten ways are mere suggestions and I know there are plenty I have left out. In a different article I reflected on twelve other forms of Marian piety. .
Info fromthis site:
http://catholicexchange.com/a-may-for-mary
"I always look forward to the month of May_ Because it is the month, that we as a Church, honor the Mother of God. To a certain degree, I treat the month of May as I do Lent. In particular, I try to add one Marian devotion to my daily repertoire or do something concretely Marian that month. Have you ever done something extra special for Mary during the month of May? If not, here are a couple of suggestions for living May for Mary this year!
📘Read a Book _After Jesus, the Mother of God is one of the people subjected the most to writings and artistic depictions. There are several different genres of Marian books though. There are devotional books, meant to prompt further reflection on the life of Mary. I recently had the opportunity to review one for a journal called Mother of Mercy by Sr. Marie Paul Farran. She provides 31 reflections based on titles of Mary derived from the scriptures. Accompanied with an icon related to the title, along with a source text and a prayer from the tradition, makes the book a wonderful asset. There is also a marvelous work by Bishop Bousset, titled Meditations on Mary which will satiate anyone’s Marian hunger.Then there are greater works on Mary by popular authors. One that immediately comes to mind is Fulton Sheen’s work The World’s Greatest Love. The classics from St. Louis de Montfort, True Devotion to Mary or The Secret of the Rosary are timeless treasures. For a more contemporary look at Mary, I recommend either Dr. Scott Hahn’s text or the work of Dr. Edward Sri. And, little did you expect, there are even fictitious novels on Mary. One interesting one is Our Lady of the Lost and Found by Diane Schoemperlen. The novel recounts how Mary unexpectedly shows up at someone’s house one day. It’s an interesting story which interweaves history and teaching.
🌹Plant a Mary Garden_Vincenzina Krymow wrote a magnificent book, Mary’s Flowers: Gardens, Legends, Meditations, in which she details flowers representative of Mary. Many families might have a Mary statue in their front yard, so why not spruce it up with some flowers this year? And when you plant the garden, be sure to bring flowers of the rarest and fairest to the Queen of the May.
🏃🏽Go on Pilgrimage_There are many Marian Shrines in the United States, Canada, and across the world. If you are able, go to one of those shrines. Many of them have Holy Doors commemorating the Year of Mercy. Walking through the Holy Doors affords you an opportunity to gain an indulgence. Marian Shrines are oases of God’s mercy since the sacrament of Penance is regularly offered. On pilgrimage, make time for Mass, and pray before the devotional image of Mary honored at that particular shrine. Here are few Shrines I’d recommend:USA: Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help (WI), Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians (WI), Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (WI), Marytown, Seven Sorrows Basilica (IL), Our Lady of the Snows (IL), Our Lady of Consolation (OH), Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Washington DC).Canada: Notre Dame du Cap, St. Anne de Beaupre, or one of their cathedrals to Notre Dame.
🙏🏾Pray the Rosary_The rosary by and large is the Marian devotion par excellence. When people think Marian devotion, they usually think the rosary. If you are an irregular rosary pray-er, make May a month when you commit to praying it every day. During March 2016, I published a new rosary devotional book, which literally transforms how people pray the rosary one bead at a time. It’s called A Rosary Litany. Essentially, I developed a pious custom taught by St. Louis De Montfort, namely, the addition of meditative phrase following the name of Jesus in the Hail Mary prayer. While St. Louis de Montfort only recommended one phrase, I propose a phrase for each Hail Mary to its corresponding mystery. Many people have started praying the rosary this way, and they have told me it’s the only way they pray the rosary now. Order your copy from arosarylitany.comSecondly, one of my favorite ways of praying the rosary is by walking. It’s a nice way for me to end the day, and since I’ve committed some of the phrases of A Rosary Litany to memory, I can even pray the rosary in that fashion while I walk. Last year, I wrote an article for Catholic Exchange titled, “Walking with Mary” which explained why praying the rosary while walking is legit. In summary, try to pray the rosary during the month of May. If you would like, try my new rosary book, or do something different; buy someone else’s rosary meditation book, listen to it while you drive, or pray it while you walk. Pray the rosary. Mary asked us to pray it every day when she appeared in Fatima, so May is an opportune time to start, since those apparitions began on May 13th!
👀Watch a Marian Film_There are many Marian movies, old and new alike, that someone could watch during the month of May. Some movies highlight Marian apparitions like The Song of Bernadette, The Passion of Saint Bernadete [Lourdes]; The Thirteenth Day, The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima [Fatima]; and Guadalupe: The Miracle and the Message, to name a few. Ignatius Press put out Mary of Nazareth a few years ago, which traces the life of Mary from her youth to her presence on Calvary. And recently, a wonderful film Full of Grace was released and depicts the life of Mary in the early Church and takes us to her dormition. I reviewed Full of Grace for Catholic Exchange here.
🗣Pray the Regina Caeli or the Angelus_You might hear Church bells ring daily at 6, 12, and 6. Those bells indicate the traditional time of praying the Angelus, a prayer which focuses on the incarnation. From Easter Sunday through Pentecost, the Regina Caeli replaces the Angelus prayer. The Regina Caeli focuses on Easter joy, and the resurrection of Jesus. During the month of May, both the Regina Caeli and Angelus will be prayed, so why not pray them at least once each day, if not all three times. If you cannot observe 6, 12, and 6, then pray before breakfast, lunch, and supper.
🎉Celebrate the Feast of the Visitation_On May 31st the Church celebrates the feast of the Visitation. I love the feast of the Visitation, partly because I was ordained a transitional deacon on that day, but secondly because there is a beauty in Mary’s generous response to become the mother of the Lord and the extension of generosity in her service to Elizabeth. If you have never done a Marian consecration, consider Fr. Michael Gaitley’s 33 Days to Morning Glory. You would begin on April 28th and end your consecration on May 31st. Another way to honor the feast of the Visitation would be to pray a novena in honor of the feast, consider praying the Efficacious Novena of the Three Hail Mary’s, available here.
🌐Learn a New Marian Prayer or the Hail Mary in a New Language_There are lots of Marian prayers. So many, that they fill prayer books. How many do you know? Try a new Marian prayer like the Memorare or Sub Tuum Praesidium. Memorize the Magnificat (Mary’s Song of Praise from Luke 1: 46-55. Or learn the Hail Mary in another language: Latin, Spanish, Italian, or French.
🛐Pray the Litany of Loreto There are many titles for Mary, and the Litany of Loreto contains a lot of them. During the month of May, discover a fondness for a new title of Mary you are unfamiliar with. Seek Mary’s intercession daily with the Litany of Loreto, and along the way, you might find a new devotional title for Mary to invoke.
📿Learn How to Make Corded Rosaries_During the Marian month of May, not only could you foster a greater devotion to Mary, but you could also help someone else. Many people have learned how to make corded knot rosaries. Learn how to make these rosaries and then give them away! Give them away or donate them to the missions. Learn how to make corded rosaries here.
Conclusion_May is Mary’s month. There are many ways for us to get to know our Mother. The above ten ways are mere suggestions and I know there are plenty I have left out. In a different article I reflected on twelve other forms of Marian piety. .
Audio presentation: "Learning to love the Rosary", by Fr. Edward Looney
Link to the site:
http://www.buzzsprout.com/37572/362224-learning-to-love-the-rosary-with-fr-edward-looney.mp3?client_source=small_player&download=true
Link to the site:
http://www.buzzsprout.com/37572/362224-learning-to-love-the-rosary-with-fr-edward-looney.mp3?client_source=small_player&download=true