May 6
“God the Father wishes to have children by Mary till the consummation of the world…”
-St. Louis Grignion de Montfort, True Devotion, 29
Today's Reflection
As the sister of Jesus Christ, Mary is your mother through the action of the Holy Spirit by God’s holy design. To what extent does this apply to every person who has ever had life and every person who will ever have life? Think of the person who causes you the most suffering. Consider this person in light of this understanding. What is your response?
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LR asks: ” How can we bless and cleanse our house of evil spirits.”
AL writes: “A friend of mine watches a tv series on Hallmark channel called “Good Witch,” and she doesn’t understand why I’ve chosen not to watch it. She thinks it’s just because it has the word “witch” in the title, but I’ve tried to explain to her that it’s more than that, that the show seems to have a connection to the New Age cult and that, even if the magic in the show really is harmless, I would rather watch something else just to be safe. I’ve also researched the show a lot and what alarms me is that there a lot of witch blogs where the witches…that they love the show because it portrays witches as good, ordinary people. So, my question for you is, do you believe that we, as Catholics, should not watch 'Good Witch?' And if so, what are your reasons for it?"
May 5
“Although in the most pure womb of Mary there was but one grain of corn, which was Jesus Christ, yet it is called a heap of wheat because all the elect were virtually contained in it.”
-St. Ambrose
Today's Reflection
Consider St. Ambrose’s statement. By virtue of her conception of Jesus Christ, explain how you were, in a sense, “spiritually conceived in Mary” at the moment of the Annunciation? (For more insight, meditate on Eph. 1:4.) What is your interior response to this reality? Journal your insights.
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DW asks: "Are you familiar with Splankna? It would fall under the general category of 'Energy Psychology' and uses three protocols: Neuro-Emotional Technique (N.E.T.), Thought Field Therapy (T.F.T.), and E.M.D.R. (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing). Because the basis of this approach uses the 'Meridian System of Energy,' does it possess the same issues as Reiki and other new age healing modalities?"
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We have had several questions in the past about Hypnobirthing® and Hypnobabies, which are programs that employ hypnosis during childbirth. Some are good, and some are bad. Here’s what I found out.
May 3
“This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she gave in faith at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the Cross, until the fulfillment of all the elect.”
-Documents of Vatican II Lumen Gentium, 62
Today's Reflection
Consider the events in Mary’s life given to us in Sacred Scripture (cf., Gen 3:15; Is. 7:14; Lk 1:26-56; Lk 2:19, 51; Mt 2:13-23; Lk 2: 41-51; Lk 8:21 [Mt 12:48-Mk 3:33]; Jn 2:3-7; Jn 19: 26-27; Rev 12). How do they show Mary’s motherhood in the order of grace continuing uninterruptedly from the Annunciation to the Crucifixion? Of these events, which impresses you most deeply? Why? How was Mary’s consent “unwavering” in the event which most deeply impressed you? What do you make of the teaching that Mary’s consent continues “until the fulfillment of all the elect?” How does this apply to the Church Suffering (the Holy Souls) as well as the Church Militant (here on earth)?
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May 2
“Tradition ascribes to Mary the titles Mother of Divine Grace, Mother most amiable, Mother most admirable, Mother of Mercy… God has chosen her to be treasurer and dispensatrix of all His graces.. . . Since Mary has formed the Head of the predestined, Jesus Christ, it pertains to her to form also the members of the Head, who are the true Christians . . . She has received from God a special power to nourish souls and to make them grow in Him. St. Augustine goes so far as to say that the predestined in this world are enclosed in Mary;s womb and that they come to the light only when their good Mother brings them forth to eternal life. It is to her that the Holy Ghost has said; 'Take root in my elect' (Eccl. xxiv, 13) ---- roots of profound humility, of ardent charity and of all the virtues.”
-Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P.
Today's Reflection
Following is an excerpt from a poem written by Gerard Manley Hopkins about Our Lady under this title. Prayerfully read the poem. In light of the above quote, which verse(s), phrase(s), or word(s) from the poem echoes St. Augustine’s concept of the “world enclosed in Mary’s womb” and the idea that Mary brings us forth to eternal life? What other similarities do you see between the above quote and the sentiments of the poem? To what extent does this increase your appreciation of Our Lady’s role in your own salvation? How does the above quote and the poem relate to yesterday’s considerations?
from, Mary Mother of Divine Grace, compared to the Air we breath
Wild air, world-mothering air, Nestling me everywhere, That each eyelash or hair Girdles, goes home betwixt The fleeciest, frailest-flixed Snowflake; that’s fairly mixed With riddles, and is rife In every least thing’s life; This needful, never spent And nursing element; My more than meat and drink, My meal at every wink; This air which by life’s law My lungs must draw and draw Now, but to breathe its praise, -- Minds me in many ways Of her who not only Gave God’s infinity, Dwindled to infancy, Welcome in womb and breast, Birth, milk, and all the rest, But mothers each new grace That does now reach our race, Mary Immaculate,
Merely a woman, yet Whose presence, power is Great as no goddess’ Was deem̀d, dream̀d; who This one work has to do – Let all God’s glory through, God’s glory, which would go Thro’ her and from her flow Off, and no way but so. I say that we are wound With mercy round and round As if with air: the same Is Mary, more by name, She wild web, wondrous robe, Mantles the guilty globe.
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