Reflection: The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and her cousin Elizabeth

Today we celebrate the Feast Day of the Visitation. Mary traveled to be with her cousin Elizabeth. Imagine the joy both women experienced in sharing the miraculous events that they were both "with child."

Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. Luke 1:39

Mary went "in haste" to Elizabeth. She knew what the Lord had asked her to do, to be the Mother of God. She knew her mission. The Lord has given you a mission too. In prayer, ask Him to reveal it to you.

Elizabeth greeted Mary with the words, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb." Luke 1:42

Mary went to serve Elizabeth and she teaches us how to serve one another. John the Baptist leaped for joy in Elizabeth's womb. John sensed the Presence of Jesus. Two women met. Elizabeth seemed to be too old to have a child, but she was destined to bear a son John; Mary, seemed to be not ready to have a child, but she was destined to bear a Son Jesus.

Mary burst forth with the song of praise called the Magnificat, with the words:

And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For He has looked upon His handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and Holy is His Name.  Luke 1:46-49

Our God is a God of surprises! He loves to delight us and often does the unexpected. He wants you to trust in Him and to expect miracles for nothing is impossible with God.

For nothing will be impossible for God. Luke 1:37  

Meditation:
On this day, find a quiet place to ponder the Visitation and the love and friendship of Mary and Elizabeth as they share with one another what God has done for them. Invite Mary to come into your home and visit with you. As you spend time with Mary, share with her all the things that are on your heart, your joys, desires, hopes, fears, sorrows and sufferings. She is your Mother. Ask her to help you persevere in prayer, having faith and expectant hope as she does. Ask Mary to help you know what mission the Lord has given you and ask her to guide you along the way. As your visit with Mary draws to a close, invite her to come back to your home. Then join with Mary in a song of praise to the Lord, making her Magnificat, your own. Take Mary's hand as she draws you to Jesus. In the Presence of Jesus, receive His love, mercy and peace.

Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.  Romans 12:12

The Ascension of the Lord

Jesus ascended to the Father into heaven, not to abandon us, but to prepare a place for us. He promised to send us a Helper, an Advocate, a Consoler, a Sanctifier. His message for us is hope, guidance and consolation. Through the grace of the Ascension, may we keep our eyes, minds and hearts fixed on heaven.

Acts of the Apostles 1:8-11
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When He had said this, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him from their sight. While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen Him going into heaven."

Pope Benedict XI:  "The Lord draws the gaze of the Apostles our gaze toward Heaven to show how to travel the road of good during earthly life. Nevertheless, He remains within the framework of human history; He is near to each of us and guides our Christian journey: He is the companion of the those persecuted for the faith, He is in the heart of those who are marginalized, He is present in those whom the right to life is denied. We can hear, see and touch our Lord Jesus in the Church, especially through the Word and the Sacraments."

As He blessed them, He parted from them and was taken up to heaven.  Luke 24:51

Reflection: Believe in the Lord Jesus

Blessed are those who have not seen but still believe.  John 20:29

When Jesus appeared in the midst of the disciples, Thomas was not with them  When they saw Thomas later, they told him that they had seen the Lord.  Thomas doubted and said, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." John 20:25  

A week later, the disciples were in the locked room again and Thomas was with them.  Jesus appeared in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving but believe." Thomas answered Him, My Lord and my God." John 20:26-28

In the Acts of the Apostles, Paul and Silas were put in prison for preaching the Word of God. Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, the jail shook, the doors flew open and their chains were loosened. The jailer was terrified, asked for a light and rushed in. When he saw Paul and Silas, unchained, he fell down before them. Trembling in fear, he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved." So they spoke the Word of the Lord to him and everyone in his house. He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once. He brought them up into his house and provided a meal and with his household, rejoiced at having come to faith in God. Acts 16:30-34

Once I had an experience which was very stressful. A holy priest told me to take my rosary in my hand and on each bead, pray, "Jesus I trust in You." I have a beautiful rosary given to me by a friend in Christ. The beads on this rosary are small miraculous medals. This rosary is so precious to me. I pray the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy every day with it. I did what the priest told me to do.  Since then, I have added my own prayer. On every miraculous medal, I pray, 

"Jesus I trust in You. Help me to trust You more deeply." 

The stressful situation resolved itself in ways I could have never imagined and Jesus did help me to believe and trust Him more deeply. Maybe you can try this way of prayer too. Jesus will draw you in close and He will help you to believe and trust Him more deeply.

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples that are not written in this book.  But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in His Name.  John 20:30-31

O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You. Jesus I trust in You.  From the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Reflection: We remember our fallen heroes...

No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13 

On this Memorial Day, we remember that freedom is not free and we honor all those who have given their lives for our freedom. May they rest in eternal peace.

As we look at this image of the American flag and the resting place of our military, we remember, with great gratitude, all our brave military men and women who gave their lives for our freedom and we remember their families, especially the children. May the Lord bring them comfort that they know He is near and with them always.

I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.  John 14:18

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. In green pastures He makes me lie down; to still waters He leads me; He restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of His Name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff comfort me. You set a table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord for endless days.  Psalm 23

Jesus is our strength and our comfort. We have nothing to fear. He is with us always and He gives us courage in times of distress.

In the world, you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.  John 16:33

Reflection: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you."

Jesus said to His disciple: "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. No as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid." John 14:27

We are living in turbulent and distressing times with violence and lack of peace. Jesus came to give us peace. He will never leave us alone. Our Lady of Fatima appeared to the shepherd children in 1917 gave us the key to peace in the world. She said, "I am the Lady of the Rosary. Say the Rosary every day to obtain peace in the world."   

"O Blessed Rosary of Mary, sweet chain that unites us to God, bond of love which unites us to the angels, tower of salvation against the assaults of Hell, safe port in our universal shipwreck, we will never abandon you.  You will be out comfort in the hour of death: yours our final kiss as life ebbs away.  And the last word from out lips will be your sweet name, O Queen of the Rosary of Pompeii, O Dearest Mother, O Refuge of Sinners, O Sovereign Consoler of the Afflicted, may you be everywhere blessed, today and always, on heaven and on earth." Saint Pope John Paul II, Apostolic Letter on the Rosary 

May we always remember Saint John Paul II's Apostolic Letter describing the Rosary as the "sweet chain that unites us to God."  

The Power of the Rosary
"The most holy Virgin in these last times in which we live has given a new efficacy to the recitation of the Rosary to such an extent that there is no problem, no matter how difficult it is, whether temporal or, above all, spiritual, in the personal life of each one of us, of our families, of the families of the world, or of the religious communities, or even of the life of peoples and nations, that cannot be solved by the Rosary. There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we cannot resolve by the prayer of the holy Rosary. With the holy Rosary, we will save ourselves; we will sanctify ourselves; we will console our Lord, and obtain the salvation of many souls." Conversation between Sr. Lucy of Fatima and Fr. Fuentes, Dec. 26, 1957

Do you desire peace? Do you pray the Rosary daily for peace? If not, begin today. 

Our Lady of the Rosary, we entrust to you all the names we receive through this prayer ministry. Keep them under your protective mantle and always in your loving care. Receive our rosaries and bring about peace in our hearts, our families, our country and our world.  Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.

Reflection: "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10

But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:2-3

Jesus is calling YOU by name. Can you hear His voice?

Spend time in silence with Jesus, talking with Him as you would with a dear friend. In Eucharistic adoration, Jesus is present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. In a chapel or church, sit before the tabernacle. Jesus is there and He is waiting for you.

Make a quiet place in your home and sit in the Presence of the Lord. Go to a place where you feel peace, take a quiet walk or sit by the seashore or a lake. Wherever you go, place yourself in His Presence and listen. You will come to know His voice.

What do you desire to do with a friend or loved one?  You want spend time together. You recognize one another's voice.  You listen and share your heart's desire.

Jesus wants you to spend time with Him and share your heart's desire with Him. He is the Good Shepherd who is always searching for you. When you turn away from Him, He never stops looking for you to draw you back. He protects you from danger and from enemies and always watches over you. He will console and heal you and restore your soul.

Place yourself in His arms and rest, knowing you are His beloved child.

Be still and listen to His voice...

Jesus came that you may have abundant life, a life lived to the fullest, here on earth and eternal life with Him in heaven. In the Scriptures, there are so many stories of struggles, suffering and pain. Jesus is in the midst of all these difficulties and He is with you in all your sufferings too. Jesus brings peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Jesus is calling YOU by name. Make time to place yourself in His Presence and listen for His voice.

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

Our Lady of Fatima, St. Jacinta and St. Francisco, pray for us!

One hundred and two years ago today, Our Lady of Fatima appeared to the three shepherd children Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco.

Our Lady appeared in Fatima between May 13th and October 13th, 1917 to the children,  Mary, the Mother of God, told them that God had sent her with a message for every man, woman and child. At the time, there was war and violence in many parts of the world, much as it is today. Mary told the children to pray the rosary daily. The Blessed Mother appealed to all to pray hard so that the war would cease. On many occasions, the children were asked to tell the people to pray the rosary daily for personal conversion and world peace. Mary warned that people would suffer the consequences of war, hunger and persecution of the Church if they disobeyed God's Will.

Pope Pius XII, on July 7, 1952, consecrated Russia to the Blessed Virgin. Saint Pope John Paul II consecrated the entire world to the Virgin Mary in 1984, a year after the assassination attempt was made on his life. Saint John Paul II believed that his life was saved and he was protected by Our Lady of Fatima. After consecrating the world to her Immaculate Heart, the Pope placed the bullet that hit him on the crown of Our Lady.

Our Lady wants us to consecrate ourselves to her Immaculate Heart, a consecration in which we make a complete surrender of self to our Mother, promising her that we will: Pray the Rosary every day. Offer the little daily sacrifices for the conversion of sinners. Make the five Communions of Reparation on the first Saturdays of five consecutive months. In the last apparition at Fatima, Our Lady appeared as Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, holding the Scapular in her outstretched hand. The Scapular is the sign of our consecration to Mary's Immaculate Heart. It can be worn as a reminder of the promise we have made to Mary.

"I am the Lady of the Rosary."
In this manner, the Mother of God identified herself to the shepherd children of Fatima. Repeatedly during Our Lady's series of apparitions to the children, she emphasized praying the Rosary daily and "to pray the Rosary well," with meditation on the mysteries. The Queen of Heaven held out the Rosary to mankind as a means of obtaining the salvation of souls, the conversion of sinners, true world peace, and the conversion of Russia. Let us use this spiritual treasure and pray the Rosary every day.

Prayer to Saints Jacinta and Francisco
God of infinite goodness, You love the innocent and exalt the humble; please grant, through the intercession of the Immaculate Mother of Your Son, that, in imitation of Saint Francisco and Saint Jacinta, we may serve You in simplicity of heart and thus may enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who is God with You in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Our Lady of Fatima, Saint Jacinta and Saint Francisco, we entrust all the names we receive through this ministry to your loving care.

Reflection: Mother's Day

Today we celebrate Mother's Day. We remember all our mothers, living and deceased, and all women who have been spiritual mothers to us. 

"When they entered the city, they went to the Upper Room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James, son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas, son of James. All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and His brothers." Acts 1:13-14

A dear friend gave me a beautiful statue of Mary called Madonna Magnificat. Mary's face is captivating and her hands are folded in prayer. She looks like she is pondering. I gaze at this image often.

"Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart."  Luke 2:19 

Meditation: 
Take a moment and be still. Gaze at an image of the face of Mary or an image of Mary gazing at the Baby Jesus. Ponder this image and call upon the Holy Spirit to be with you during this intimate time of prayer. Mary is a model for all mothers. Speak to Mary and ask her to teach you how to ponder as she did. There were many things Mary did not understand but she pondered them in her heart. Ask her for the grace to ponder the things you do not understand. Ask her to be with you as you ponder. Mary was with the Apostles at Pentecost. She is with you always and she will draw you to her Beloved Son Jesus.

Through this ministry, we pray for so many intentions. We remember today, in a special way, all mothers and we turn to Mary, our Blessed Mother for all our needs. Tomorrow, we celebrate the Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima. She appeared to the shepherd children between May 13, 1917 - October 13, 1917 as Our Lady of the Rosary.

"In this is love." 1 John 4:10

Our Lady of Fatima, we entrust to you all mothers and their families. Bless them and wrap them under your protective mantle of love.

Reflection: Mary's Garden

The Angel Gabriel visited Mary at the Annunciation to tell her that God had chosen her to be the Mother of our Savior. In this image, the Angel Gabriel is presenting to Mary the Madonna lily which symbolizes purity.

Mary's Garden is a garden, filled with flowers, plants and trees named for Mary and Jesus. It is designed to be a place of beauty to remind us of our Lord and Our Lady, a place of prayer and contemplation.

You are an enclosed garden, my sister, my bride, an enclosed garden, a fountain sealed. Arise, north wind! Come, south wind! Blow upon my garden that its perfumes may spread abroad. Song of Solomon 4:12,16

During the Middle Ages, there were reminders of Mary, the Mother of God, in the flowers and herbs growing around them. Violets were symbols of her humility, lilies of her purity and roses of her glory, marigolds were Mary’s Gold, clematis was the Virgin’s Bower, lavender was Our Lady’s Drying Plant, petunias and purple blossoms of the blue flag iris. The Madonna lily, carried by the Angel Gabriel, bedstraw, holy hay and other herbs filled the humble manger where Mary gave birth to Jesus. The Christmas rose bloomed on that holy night.

May crownings were often tradition during Mary’s month of May and makeshift home altars bearing an image of Mary were decorated with home-grown blossoms

More than 30 flowers and herbs have legends about Mary’s life. Many of the plants can be easily grown in your own Mary Garden and can be found throughout the world.

Lily of the Valley Convalleria majalis Mary’s Tears.
It was said that when Mary wept at the foot of the Cross, her tears fell to the ground and turned into the tiny fragrant blossoms of this early spring plant. In England it had the name “Our Lady’s Tears” because when viewed from a distance the white flowerets gave the appearance of teardrops falling. The lily of the valley was a symbol of the Virgin Mary because of its pure white flowers, sweet smell and humble appearance. It symbolized Mary’s Immaculate Conception and represented the purity of body and soul by which Mary found favor with God.



O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today, Queen of the Heavens, Queen of the May. Make our hearts a garden of prayers for all those we pray for and their families.

Reflection: John 10:10 Prayer Ministry + Today we celebrate our 9th Anniversary

"I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." John 10:10

Today we celebrate the 9th Anniversary of this prayer ministry. We honor our Blessed Mother Mary on this first day of her month of May. The ministry is consecrated to Jesus Christ, Wisdom Incarnate, through the hands of Mary.

Saint Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, Patroness of  the John 10:10 prayer ministry  "Prayer is, for me, an outburst from the heart; it is a simple glance darted upwards to Heaven; it is a cry of gratitude and of love in the midst of trial as in the midst of joy!"

In great gratitude, we pray for our beloved priests who have prayed a Prayer of Entrustment to Mary for this prayer ministry at:  The Basilica of Mary Major in Rome, Italy, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Fatima, Portugal, Sacred Heart Parish Church at the site of St. Bernadette's Baptismal font in Lourdes, France, the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy at the Shrine of the Holy Innocents in Stockbridge, Massachusetts USA, St. Peter's Basilica at the tomb of St. John Paul II, Vatican City, Rome, Italy and the Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Mexico

This ministry began on May 1, 2010 but the prayers actually began in May 2006, praying for an unborn baby, Lily Grace. There were medical problems with the baby and we began praying the novena to Saint Anne that "Lily Grace would have abundant life." Through the intercession of Saint Anne, mother of our Blessed Mother and grandmother of Jesus, Lily Grace was born in November 2006. We give thanks for all the prayers for this precious little baby. She is now a healthy and happy twelve year old who loves her little sister, nine year old Norah!

Over these past years, as we pray each day, we have received so many other names to include in our prayers through this ministry. We pray for families, for unborn babies and for children who are healthy, sick or disabled. We pray for priests and seminarians whose vocations are nurtured in their families. We pray for pregnant women, couples who are trying to become pregnant, couples who want to adopt, mothers who have had miscarriages. We pray for parents who have suffered the death of a baby or a child. We pray for grandparents and their grandchildren. We pray for mothers and fathers who have had an abortion or considered having one. We pray for parents who are struggling to accept their disabled child, as well as parents who embrace their disabled child and see, in that child, the beauty that was created by God.

We pray for families, for the sanctity of all life and for vocations to marriage, the priesthood and consecrated life, which are born and nurtured in families.

Prayer changes things. Jesus performs miracles, seen and unseen, through all your prayers. We give thanks for the John 10:10 prayer partners who pray the Memorare every day for all the names we have received and all the names we will receive.

A monthly Mass is offered for all the John 10:10 prayer partners and all the prayer intentions.

SWEET VIDEO
(This video was posted on the first blog posting on May 1, 2010)