Category: Virgin Mary

A Mother’s Love

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Christian Blogger, Christianity, Divine Mercy, Father Chris Alar, Father Mark Goring, Mother Mary, prayer, Ralph Martin, Spirituality, Ukraine, Virgin Mary, Why Pray?

Through our prayers, we can help avert the dangers that befalls our world. Marian apparitions throughout history has always come with grave warnings of impending danger to our humanity. At all times, they are warnings and calls to return to God. They are request by Mother Mary to pray daily on our own, as country, or as a community for God’s Divine Mercy.

It is easy to feel a sense of doom especially in light of the many events that has happened within the last two years. It is just as easy to fall into a depression, and take on an attitude that one can do nothing.

A mother’s love is great, and Mother Mary has come time and time again to warn us to ask for the diversion of impeding disasters through prayer, and turning back from our sins. She reminds us to embrace the Divine Mercy of God. Pray the Rosary daily. Pray for love and peace as a community, with a friend, with your family, or on your own:

The Hail Mary

Hail, Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death. 
Amen.

Pray The Rosary

We must denied ourselves and take up the cross of Jesus Christ.  

33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and his[righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

To deny our disorders, laziness, our distractedness and inordinate comforts. Denying all those things that keep us from prayer, worship and time with God. The temptation is there, and we need overrun the evil one with God’s help by taking up the cross (Ralph Martin – Run: You Can!)

Choose God, choose faith, choose to take up the cross and pray unceasingly.

Times like these will tempt our faith. They will make us doubt. There is a battle going on between good and evil. Run to Jesus with every breathe and with every step. I always imagine within my mind’s eye of stomping on the serpent’s head – with God’s help (Genesis 3:15, Revelation 12:1-6).

Be open to receiving God’s grace to that we can let go of all the burdens that weights us down.

Hope, Faith, and Charity.

Jesus, I trust in you.

Posted below are a few videos by Mark Goring, Father Chris Alar and Ralph Martin that I compiled in the hope of easing your fears, anxieties and stress for present world events. They are a reminder that Mother Mary loves her children, and needs our help in prayer. They remind us to take up the cross for Jesus. This means denying the secularism that has pushed God and all sense of spirituality into the back burners of our lives.

God Bless 💖Let us all cone together in prayer.

Mark Goring on Prophesy and Marian Apparition in Kiev

Father Chris – Explaining the Faith – Ukraine, Russia, Fatima: What Heaven is Telling Us

Ralph Martin – Run: You Can!

Thank you Jesus.

What is the Triumph of The Immaculate Heart

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Catholic Journey, Catholicism, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Faith, God, Jesus, Personal Reflection, prayer, Rosary, Virgin Mary

Why pray the rosary?

From personal experience, praying the rosary is my spiritual weapon. This is especially needed, for the closer I draw near to God’s embrace, the more sneaky the evil one is in attacking me. Think Eve in the garden of Eden, especially upon how the serpent seduced her with tricky words:

Being on guard to how my wandering thoughts, words and heart can betray God through Satan’s tricky is something I need to be aware off. This is why praying the rosary (“Hail Mary”) stops me before a sinful desire or a licentious thought can entrap or take hold of me. When I want to read a trashy romance, I ask myself – is it worth it to give up heaven for temporal pleasure? Is it worth giving up heaven for my addiction to my devices and spending hours on end on social social media (time once past is gone forever). It’s easy to fall into Satans grasp! That’s why the rosary (a mother’s fighting stance) and verses from the Bible are my spiritual weapon.

Genesis 3:1-5 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
The First Sin and Its Punishment

3 Now the serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

When we invite Holy Mary into our lives through the rosary, we are using a weapon given to us by God – for she will crush Satan’s head with her feet:

Genesis 3:15 New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.”

We have the Immaculate Heart of Mary battling for us! I want to share with all my readers a must watch video with Fr. Luke:

Also watch Fr. Calloway’s testimony on how the Blessed Mother Mary saved him: https://youtu.be/PyarRMo64ew

God Bless 💖

The Greatest Gift

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Christianity, Faith, God, Ignatian Spirituality, inspiration, Jesus, Luke 1:39-45, Praise, prayer, Spirituality, Virgin Mary
Luke 1.39-45

Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry:

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

I love reading and rereading the Gospel of Luke as we head into Christmas. There is much joy resounding from these passages. The birth of Jesus is our greatest gift from God. As I meditate on the union of Mother Mary and Elizabeth, I think about their Spirit filled inner joy and blessings from our Almighty God. It also brings to mind all the blessings and gifts from God in my life. I may not always recognize God’s blessing amidst the din in my busy life. It is often when I take the time during the end of the evening when I do my Daily Examen that I see the beauty of God’s hand in my life.

St. Ignatius Daily Examen

I would like to invite all of you to think about the beauty of God’s hand and gift in your life. How can we give back to God? How can we be like Jesus? Sometimes, all it takes is a smile. Praying for those around us – our family, friends, to the sick. Praying for the homeless, those we don’t know in need, and for souls in purgatory. At other times, it is leading a hand to those around us. It may be helping our neighbors, or volunteering. I found today’s homily by Fr. Anthony inspiring – casting our eyes not upon ourselves, but upon another with love and the joy of giving:

God Bless 💖Let us step outside of our comfort zone and give our gift of Jesus to another.

The Whole World Awaits Mary’s Reply

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Bible, Catholic Faith, Catholicism, Christianity, Faith, God, inspiration, Saints, Spirituality, Virgin Mary

Rejoice! Rejoice! My heart rejoices at Mary’s “YES”!

Mary’s “YES” Luke 1:26-38

As I reflect on my little “yes” to God, there is a wonderful homily written by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux hundred’s of year ago that reflected on the importance of Mary’s “YES”, and it has such insight, I share it below:

The Whole World Awaits Mary’s Reply On the Annunciation and Mary’s “fiat”
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

This homily excerpt of St. Bernard is in the Office of Readings for
December 20, the fourth week of Advent.
 

You have heard, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer; it is time for him to return to God who sent him. We too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion; the sentence of condemnation weighs heavily upon us.

The price of our salvation is offered to you. We shall be set free at once if you consent. In the eternal Word of God we all came to be, and behold, we die. In your brief response we are to be remade in order to be recalled to life.

Tearful Adam with his sorrowing family begs this of you, O loving Virgin, in their exile from Paradise. Abraham begs it, David begs it. All the other holy patriarchs, your ancestors, ask it of you, as they dwell in the country of the shadow of death. This is what the whole earth waits for, prostrate at your feet. It is right in doing so, for on your word depends comfort for the wretched, ransom for the captive, freedom for the condemned, indeed, salvation for all the sons of Adam, the whole of your race.

Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word. Breathe a passing word, embrace the eternal Word.

Why do you delay, why are you afraid? Believe, give praise, and receive. Let humility be bold, let modesty be confident. This is no time for virginal simplicity to forget prudence. In this matter alone, O prudent Virgin, do not fear to be presumptuous. Though modest silence is pleasing, dutiful speech is now more necessary. Open your heart to faith, O blessed Virgin, your lips to praise, your womb to the Creator. See, the desired of all nations is at your door, knocking to enter. If he should pass by because of your delay, in sorrow you would begin to seek him afresh, the One whom your soul loves. Arise, hasten, open. Arise in faith, hasten in devotion, open in praise and thanksgiving. Behold the handmaid of the Lord, she says, be it done to me according to your word.
 

Hom. 4, 8-9: Opera omnia, Edit. Cisterc. 4 [1966], 53-54

My Little “yes”!

I ask myself, have I said “yes” to God? “Can I really do that? Often doubt and fear clouds my judgement, and that’s when I need God to help me over come my insecurities. Last week, I almost said no to helping drive food baskets to the needy in my parish, but at the last minute, I said, “Yes!”. My hesitancy was fear – of meeting people I didn’t know. God gave me a chance to say, “yes”, and it was one of the most humbling and happy thing I could have done. There was a joy in sharing with those in need the love of Jesus, and giving a helping hand. As I knocked on doors, God opened my heart to see His people, and to give them much needed food so that they may have a Merry Christmas.

Let each of us reflect on our “YES” to our Almighty God.

God Bless 💖

Happy Anniversary!

by rejoiceandpraise, posted in Bible, Catholic Faith, Catholicism, Christian Blogger, Christianity, Faith, God, Jesus, Virgin Mary
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Gospel Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.

Mary’s “yes” always moves me and leads me to ponder over my “yes” to God. I always ask myself what “yes” have I said to God. I recall a time when I would ignore Gods call. I also recall a time when I told Him I was not ready. Throughout my “no” and “not yet”, God was always patient and faithful. When I finally said “yes”, the power of the Holy Spirit filled me with inner joy, peace and love – so that no matter what life challenges I face, Jesus gives me the strength to endure all.

Let us ponder on the “yes” we say to God. Let us rejoice on how our “yes” has lead to transformations within our own lives.

God Bless 🌹