![]() I imagine the fear they felt when they realized Jesus was not with them as they returned from Jerusalem. Finding Jesus in the Temple – PietyĪfter not knowing where he was for three days, Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the temple. I pray for trust in God’s plan and patience in waiting for it to unfold. She continues to trust God, not knowing what lies ahead. He also warns Mary that her own heart will be pierced. The Christ for whom he has waited has arrived just as God promised. There they meet Simeon who has waited many years to meet the Messiah. Mary and Joseph obey the law and bring their newborn son to the temple and offer a sacrifice. I pray for the grace to depend on God completely. As the angels announce Jesus’ birth and the shepherds come to pay him homage, Mary and Joseph are surrounded by God’s love. They know God cares for them and he will not abandon them on this holy journey. I imagine their worry but also their sense of calm. Rather than panicking, they rely on God who leads them to a safe, warm place for his son’s birth. Mary and Joseph are far from home and she is about to give birth. I imagine them at the end of the day sitting together and sharing their feelings about these two miraculous babies. Despite her own possible exhaustion and morning sickness, she serves her cousin. I imagine her performing the tasks of life so that Elizabeth, in her third trimester when the physical burden of pregnancy is greatest, can rest. While knowing that all will call her blessed, she spends several months serving Elizabeth. She is greeted with great joy and exclaims her Magnificat. ![]() Newly pregnant, Mary walks several days to visit her cousin Elizabeth. I pray that I can put God’s will before my own. She allows God’s will to be done and with that fiat the salvation of the world is set in motion. She whispers “yes” knowing that her life is forever changed and possibly going to be much harder. I imagine her kneeling in wonderment at the angel Gabriel, his hands encompassing hers, his forehead pressed against hers as he tells her of God’s great plan. Mary risked a lot because she had faith in God’s goodness. JOYFUL MYSTERIES The Annunciation – Fruit of Humility Below are some thoughts to help in your own prayer. The Rosary is most effective when we meditate on the mysteries. As Padre Pio said, “Love the Madonna and pray the Rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today.” Mary wants to help us be closer to her son. I have also experienced spiritual attack which is not unexpected. I began having insights into the important parts of his life and grew in appreciation of his sacrifice, and as a result I have grown in my desire to sin less and pray more. The rhythm of the Hail Marys quiets my mind to reflect on Christ’s life. This summer when I found my life upended, I started praying it daily. I started with a weekly Rosary and began having some lovely prayer experiences. Not wanting it to be an obligation I wanted to do it in love. I felt guilty for not wanting to do it while at the same time feeling like I did want to do it. The Arise night arrived and was beautiful and I stopped praying a daily Rosary.īut the idea persisted. ![]() I felt guilty about that, but I’d made a commitment to God and I wasn’t going to quit. ![]() I had never done a regular Rosary and it became a bit of a chore. So I said yes and again, I’ll admit, it was hard. The next morning the request returned and the fact that forty is a pretty biblical number was making it hard to say no. I’ll admit, my response was, “Are you sure? That’s” (quick counting) “forty days away!” I decided to sleep on it. After the first planning meeting, I heard God tell me to say a Rosary every night until the event. An Arise night is no small feat and I was the point person for the parish. Arise Milwaukee is a group that helps people fall in love with Jesus in the Catholic Church. Several years ago, my church hosted an Arise night.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |