Our Lady holding Jesus as He accepts flowers from the shepherd child

Our Lady holding Jesus as He accepts flowers from the shepherd child

Welcome to our intercessory prayer ministry for families, babies, little ones and those who love them.

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

The
Prayer of Entrustment to Mary was prayed for this ministry at the icon of the Madonna Salus Populi Romani (Salvation of the Roman People, Our Lady of Good Health) in the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of Mary Major) in Rome, Italy, in Nossa Senhora do Rosario da Fatima (Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary) in Fatima, Portugal, in Eglise du Sacre-Coeur (Sacred Heart Parish Church), the site of St. Bernadette's baptismal font, in Lourdes, France and at The National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts at the Shrine of the Holy Innocents before Our Lady of Guadalupe and at Basilica Papale de San Pietro in Vaticano (St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City) at the Tomb of St. John Paul II in Rome, Italy and at the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe) in Mexico City, Mexico.

This ministry is consecrated to Jesus Christ, Wisdom Incarnate, through the hands of Mary and dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary. In our prayers to Mary, we honor and worship her Son Jesus. When He was on the Cross, He gave His Mother to John and she became our Mother as well. "Behold, your Mother." John 19:27

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
For the greater glory of God

May 05, 2021

Reflection: I am the vine; you are the branches.

Jesus teaches us that He is the vine, God the Father is the vine grower and we are the branches.

Jesus said to His disciples, "I am the vine, and My Father is the vine grower. John 15:1

Jesus takes away the branches that do not bear fruit. He prunes them so that the branches will bear more fruit. 

How can you bear fruit?
You bear fruit by staying attached to the vine, which is Jesus. He has called you, by name, as His disciple and He wants you to bear fruit with your life.

I am the vine; you are the branches. John 15:5

How do you stay attached to the vine?  
Jesus gave us prayer and the Holy Mass to keep us attached to the vine. During the Mass, we hear the Word of God, which nourishes our minds and souls and we receive the Eucharist to feed us as food for the journey, the Bread from Heaven. We stay attached to the vine by going to confession. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Jesus pours out His Love, Mercy and Forgiveness. Through this Sacrament, Jesus will heal, prune, purify and sanctify us.

Without Jesus, we can do nothing. Jesus uses the image of the vine to show us that we can grow and become who He made us to be. When we stay attached to Him, He gives us strength and grace to endure hardships, to carry our crosses and to bear fruit with our lives. When we bear fruit, we share our gifts with others; we serve God by serving others. Jesus said:

By their fruits, you will know them. Matthew 7:20

Have you ever felt alone, isolated or excluded by others?  
If you have experienced this kind of pain, physical, emotional, psychological or spiritual, bring your hurts, sins and pain to confession. Go often to this Sacrament of healing and mercy. Bring your sufferings to Jesus, in prayer, especially during the Mass. If you can, go to daily Mass. In this way, Jesus will heal you and nourish you every day with His Word and the Eucharist.

If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples. John 15:7-8

No comments:

Post a Comment