Dec. 4 - First Saturday, "Mary's Day" in Advent, Wk 3 day 4 on our Journey

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Heart of Jesus was within Mary as she and Joseph went to Bethlehem. Yesterday I had not included the fact that it was the First Friday of Advent, but the Lord provided words in His Gospel today for us to continue our seeking to “understand Jesus better” during this 3rd Wk of our Journey. Let us Listen with the ears of our hearts to His Words:

Alleluia (Is 33:22) - The LORD is our Judge, our Lawgiver, our King; He it is who will save us.​

Gospel (Mt 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8)Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, His Heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Then he summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”​

• Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint John of Damascus, priest, religious, doctor of the Church (Optional Memorial of Saint John of Damascus, priest, religious, doctor of the Church)

St. Louis de Montfort, by God’s grace, wrote in “True Devotion”:

1. Time does not permit me to linger here and elaborate on the perfections and wonders of the mystery of Jesus living and reigning in Mary, or the Incarnation of the Word. I shall confine myself to the following brief remarks. The Incarnation is the first mystery of Jesus Christ; it is the most hidden; and it is the most exalted and the least known. It was in this mystery that Jesus, in the womb of Mary and with her co- operation, chose all the elect. For this reason the saints called her womb, the throne-room of God’s mysteries. It was in this mystery that Jesus anticipated all subsequent mysteries of His life by His willing acceptance of them. Consequently, this mystery is a summary of all His mysteries since it contains the intention and the grace of them all.

Lastly, this mystery is the seat of the mercy, the liberality, and the glory of God. It is the seat of His mercy for us, since we can approach and speak to Jesus through Mary. We need her intervention to see or speak to Him. Here, ever responsive to the prayer of His Mother, Jesus unfailingly grants grace and mercy to all poor sinners. “Let us come boldly before the throne of grace.” It is the seat of liberality for Mary, because while the new Adam dwelt in this truly earthly paradise God performed there so many hidden marvels beyond the understanding of men and angels. For this reason, the saints call Mary “the magnificence of God”, as if God showed his magnificence only in Mary. It is the seat of glory for His Father, because it was in Mary that Jesus perfectly atoned to His Father on behalf of mankind. It was here that he perfectly restored the glory that sin had taken from His Father. It was here again that our Lord, by the sacrifice of Himself and of His will, gave more glory to God than he would have given had He offered all the sacrifices of the Old Law. Finally, in Mary He gave His Father infinite glory, such as His Father had never received from man.​

Brothers and Sisters, by God’s Grace. let us ponder this Mystery today, and offer reparation to the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary for our sins and the sins of the whole world. O Jesus living in Mary. come and live in us!

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Heart of Jesus was within Mary as she and Joseph went to Bethlehem. Yesterday I had not included the fact that it was the First Friday of Advent, but the Lord provided words in His Gospel today for us to continue our seeking to “understand Jesus better” during this 3rd Wk of our Journey. Let us Listen with the ears of our hearts to His Words:

Alleluia (Is 33:22) - The LORD is our Judge, our Lawgiver, our King; He it is who will save us.​

Gospel (Mt 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8)Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, His Heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to His disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Then he summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness.Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”​

• Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint John of Damascus, priest, religious, doctor of the Church (Optional Memorial of Saint John of Damascus, priest, religious, doctor of the Church)

St. Louis de Montfort, by God’s grace, wrote in “True Devotion”:

1. Time does not permit me to linger here and elaborate on the perfections and wonders of the mystery of Jesus living and reigning in Mary, or the Incarnation of the Word. I shall confine myself to the following brief remarks. The Incarnation is the first mystery of Jesus Christ; it is the most hidden; and it is the most exalted and the least known. It was in this mystery that Jesus, in the womb of Mary and with her co- operation, chose all the elect. For this reason the saints called her womb, the throne-room of God’s mysteries. It was in this mystery that Jesus anticipated all subsequent mysteries of His life by His willing acceptance of them. Consequently, this mystery is a summary of all His mysteries since it contains the intention and the grace of them all.

Lastly, this mystery is the seat of the mercy, the liberality, and the glory of God. It is the seat of His mercy for us, since we can approach and speak to Jesus through Mary. We need her intervention to see or speak to Him. Here, ever responsive to the prayer of His Mother, Jesus unfailingly grants grace and mercy to all poor sinners. “Let us come boldly before the throne of grace.” It is the seat of liberality for Mary, because while the new Adam dwelt in this truly earthly paradise God performed there so many hidden marvels beyond the understanding of men and angels. For this reason, the saints call Mary “the magnificence of God”, as if God showed his magnificence only in Mary. It is the seat of glory for His Father, because it was in Mary that Jesus perfectly atoned to His Father on behalf of mankind. It was here that he perfectly restored the glory that sin had taken from His Father. It was here again that our Lord, by the sacrifice of Himself and of His will, gave more glory to God than he would have given had He offered all the sacrifices of the Old Law. Finally, in Mary He gave His Father infinite glory, such as His Father had never received from man.​

Brothers and Sisters, by God’s Grace. let us ponder this Mystery today, and offer reparation to the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary for our sins and the sins of the whole world. O Jesus living in Mary. come and live in us!

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks again, Michie! You are a real "gift" of encouragement to me, and I'm sure you are very pleasing to Jesus and Mary as you let others know also that you are liking what God's Word tells us and as He speaks also through Saints like St. Louis de Montfort to whom He revealed much concerning our Mother Mary.

Have you ever read St. Louis de Montfort's "True Devotion" ? Treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin | EWTN

Pope St. JPII wrote that reading it changed his life as a young man. I could say that of myself as well as it continues to change my life. It is a small but powerful little book. I first consecrated myself as a teenager, many years ago and I will be eternally grateful to the Dominican Nun in our Catholic High School who encouraged us to Consecrate ourselves totally to Jesus through Mary. She explained St. Louis De Montfort's Consecration and a few of us in our sophomore year made that Consecration in Church under her guidance.

I wonder if any one else on this Forum has made this Total Consecration and renewed it as I've done so many times -- and am so looking forward to renewing it again on Dec. 8! If so, I'd be happy to hear from anyone who has (or maybe is going to consecrate themselves on this Dec. 8 for the first time) -- or from anyone who would like to learn more. Our Mother Mary is not truly loved by many in the world today -- even some Catholics have lost their zeal and are close to losing their faith. The evil one continues to prowl around seeking someone to devour (as St. Peter wrote in his letter)!