Sorrow #3

I am thankful my stitches are out but my typing is limited.  My thoughts are limited too.  So much more could be said or written about the first two sorrows.  Here I am at the third and I am sure that others have said more profound and insightful things.  This one is my favorite though.  I can imagine Mary’s terror – your child is missing.  Terror.  pure terror.  If we take the unspoken truth of the first two sorrows that Mary has been given a great responsibility to raise the Son of God – triple the terror.  Someone might now say – well she had faith and that faith means don’t worry.  Jesus wondered about her mistrust too.  But she was a mom, her child was missing – terror.  I believe Mary understands all of our terrors.  She has lived them all.  She has suffered.  I place my trust in her that she will understand me and my prayers.  I place my trust that she will pray with me.  I trust she will help us all go through the terror to find Jesus.

Mary, Most Holy Pray for Us

Sorrow #2

I have three stitches in my index finger – can’t really type tonight.  This will be short!

Are we allowed to pray for Mary?  I cannot imagine her suffering at the death if the Innocents.  Can you?  I cannot imagine how anyone can kill a child.  We should abhor it. Why don’t we? Why us it okay to abort children? Why?

Mary, Most Holy, Pray for us!!! Please.  I think I am going to start praying for you as well as to you.  I am a poor sinner with nothing to offer.  My prayers are weak because I am weak, but Mother Mary, I pray for the success if your mission.  Bring us all  closer to your son.   I pray for some respite to your and the Lord’s pain. Amen.

Sorrow #1

I often say that I feel “lost”.  Sometimes, I feel abandoned.  I don’t disagree with much of what Francis says, although he often doesn’t say it well.  Still, I have this sense of abandonment that pervades me when I listen to some of the Cardinals, Bishops and, sometimes Francis.  I don’t recognize God or the Holy Spirit in some of it.  This is not a good thing.  I often feel alone in this abandonment.

In contemplating the seven sorrows, I am reminded that the Blessed Mother must have felt similar only more intense feelings.  She has had an encounter with God and then spends her life encountering a lot of evil.  She had God with her much of her life but her pain and sorrow must have been intense.  In particular, when Jesus was arrested, abused and crucified, she must have felt very alone, very pained, and maybe gave in to the feelings I cannot describe other than with words like abandoned, alone, lonely.  She did not cave.  She helped the early Christian community.

I often feel like caving in.  I think I do cave in.  At least, I don’t act.  I don’t know how or what to do.  Prayer has always been my main action and my main hope.  I believe in prayer.  I believe in God.  I believe he hears us.  I believe his “will” will be “done.  I must have the faith of Simeon.  He longed for the Lord.  We see him as a cause of Mary’s suffering, but perhaps, we should see him as a man like us- who longs for the truth and who has hope!  The New Testament narrative says:

“When the days were completed for their purification^* according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,” and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel,^* and the holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord.  He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.”

Simeon is  a source of pain for Mary but a source of hope and peace for us.  His faith is strong, he is rewarded and he understands.  Someday, I may understand.  Someday, I might witness with the steadfastness of Anna.

Mary, Most Holy, pray for us.

One more time

I haven’t been able to write in many, many months.  I feel lost and abandoned.  Recent church news doesn’t inspire me.  However, my faith is not in Francis nor in his cardinals.  My faith is in Jesus Christ.

Today is a first Saturday.  In June, I decided to take up this devotional practice once again.  About 20 years ago, I used to go to a Marian shrine on first Saturdays and I would say the Glorious Mysteries and contemplate the seven sorrows.  Last month I went to a local shrine and said the Glorious Mysteries.  I had forgotten about the seven sorrows all together.  Today at another shrine, I was leaving when all of a sudden it dawned on me that I had not contemplated the seven sorrows.  And, a little voice in my brain said – you can write about them tonight.  I guess this was my nudge to try again.

And so here are the seven sorrows, a Hail Mary is said after each.  There are more sophisticated meditations and practices.  I am just contemplating and praying.

1. The prophecy of Simeon. 
2. The flight into Egypt. 
3. The loss of the Child Jesus in the temple. 
4. The meeting of Jesus and Mary on the Way of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion.
6. The taking down of the Body of Jesus from the Cross.
7. The burial of Jesus.

Mary, Most Holy, pray for us.

I don’t know if the “little voice” was an inspiration or my own invention.  I haven’t thought of writing because my negativity probably does damage.  However, I took “the little voice” as inspiration.  I will hopefully write again soon.  Maybe, I have found solid ground again.  My faith is in the Trinity:  Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit!

Praying for the Church while on vacation

Old posts will show that I am not a fan of FrancisChurch.  I find myself on vacation right now.  I haven’t been and won’t be posting much.  So I am praying for the Church and me.  I’m afraid I don’t know what the Church is anymore.  I know my faith but I find Francis’s ideas about Church hard to take.  He’s proposing decentralization. Go for it Francis and we will find ourselve even less unified than before, more will be relavatized.  I’m not sure his intentions are ever bad in my contemplation of Francis.  I think he is right about his emphasis on mercy and pastoral care.  I find him hard to swallow on liturgy, his carelessness and his contempt for all ideas other than his own.  And, he is not the humble paragon the media portrays him to be. I don’t think he is not humble but I also think he can be manipulative, secretive, conniving and not very collegial.  In sum, like all of us he is paradoxical. I also find him quite Protestant.

Anyway, I am just a poor powerless sinner who doesn’t understand.  So, I pray.  I think I need to pray for the Church right now.  It seems to me she needs it. Mary, Mother of the Church, help us.

Our Father

In today’s gospel, Jesus teaches us to pray.  Prayer is so needed in these times.  I’ve been mocked about praying.  Some see it as a psychological crutch.  Others that I’m talking to my “invisible friend”.  Of course I am talking to my friend and whether He is visible or not depends on your definitions. I see God everywhere.  His hand is in everything.  We are in Him.  We are His children.  I suppose, non-Catholics think that I am cult worshipping in praying to Mary, especially when Jesus told us to pray to His Father.  I don’t think so.  I pray to both, to all, as I believe in a Triune God.  Mary is not on the same level.  However, she intercedes for us now, just as she did then.

Times are strange.  Evil seems to be on the march.  It never really stops marching but you can feel it can’t you?  You can see it and hear it.  We need all the intercessors we can get!!!  Let’s all pray the Our Father tonight, the Rosary and a prayer of our favorite saint asking the Lord to not abandon us and to have Mercy upon the whole world

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Pray for Munich

Dear Mary, Mother of God, The city of Munich has honored and adored you and your son for centuries.  In this an age of forgetfulness, look on them with mercy and ask your son to have mercy on us all.  Amen.

Our Lady of Fatima

My grandparents  had two big bookshelves in their living room.  They were filled with many different types of books.  One of them was a  history of the apparation at Fatima.  At age seven or eight that was my favorite to read during “down” moments at their house.  I was fascinated.  As an adult, I have not been as fascinated with it, other than when the third secret was revealed and Cardinal Ratzinger wrote his interpretation.  After this, I have been fascisnated by all the conspiracy theories, etc.  Since I believe Pope Benedict tells the truth, I believe the third secret has been revealed.  I also believe there is much more to the story as Lucia had a more complex story than we know.  I am sure all will be revealed in due time about that.

I believe the apparation was real.  I believe we have been living through a period that is about to come to an end next year.  What that means or will look like – I don’t know.  But the increasing violence, the lack of faith, the lukewarmness of the faithful are all part of this experience.  So, I think we should consider praying the Our Lady of Fatima prayers often;

Say the rosary and here are some others:

My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love Thee! I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love Thee.

Most Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit- I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges, and indifferences whereby He is offended. And through the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners.

Oh my Jesus, I offer this for love of Thee, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

and then there is this one which I often say:

Oh My Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who have most need of Thy mercy.

Oh Mary, Most Holy, please continue to teach  us to pray, intercede for us and help us to love your son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Amen

Return

My title is sort of a personal pun. After being away from blogging, I’ve returned.  I was gone for two days, looking as if I have abanondoned my blogging but – I have returned.

I traveled to a funeral.  These are always sobering and as I age, increasing in frequency.  In your kindness, say a prayer for my friend and his family.  My friend was a father and grandfather, a husband and brother.  He was a recovering alcoholic and drug addict.  At one time he was homeless.  His wife, one of the strongest women I’ve met, practised tough love.  After awhile, she won.  And so did God, he was back in Church and volunteered at a local soup kitchen, helping others.  He was the prodigal son who returned.  Or was he? Perhaps he never was lost.  Does it matter? No, I don’t think so.  My friend loved and was loved.  He gave of himself.  He lived.  He was a child of God, who never abandons his children. God loves and doesn’t lose us.  We lose Him.

I pray to the Lord for my friend’s soul and for His consolation to the family.  I pray, I beg, that the mercy He extends to individuals, He will extend to all.  May we hear His call, that whisper of love in our hearts.  If we do, we will not kill and maim our brothers and sisters.  Lord, do not abandon us – Shepherd Us!

Mary Mother of God, pray for us.

Day 2 of “Time to Be More Active”

It is heart wrenching to read about the latest terror attack in Nice.  They are all heart wrenching.  But, it is particularly heart wrenching to read about children being mowed down.  My heart goes out to the parents as well as the children who lost a parent or parents.  This must be a crime that calls out to heaven, calls out to all of us.

Mary Mother of God Pray for us.

“Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope.

To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve, To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of they womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary, Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.”.

I know I am crying, begging for help.  I am just plain crying too.  It is a valley of tears.  I do feel banished too – why is this happening? Where is the Lord?  We know these are cries throughout all of history during these types of events.  We know the Lord is near, He is with us.  He has not abandoned us.  Although unworthy, we need Him to hear us.  Please pray to Mary, our most powerful intercessor; to the Lord; to the Father that the world will be spared and that we are made more worthy of the promises of Christ.  May the Lord Have Mercy and show us the way. May we have eyes and ears to see and hear the way. Oh Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, pray for us.

I learned after posting that today is the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.  Our Lady of Mount Carmel, please pray for us.