THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY

The Assumption of Mary

Today Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, is remembered as being assumed body and soul into Heaven at age 69…a promise for all of us.

“It came to pass after that we reached the 16th of Mesore, and were gathered with the apostles at the tomb.  We saw lightnings and were afraid.  There was a sweet odour and a sound of trumpets.  The door of the tomb opened; there was a great light within.  A chariot descended in fire; Jesus was in it; he greeted us.

He called into the tomb:  “Mary, my mother, arise!”  And we saw here in the body, as if she had never died.  Jesus took her into the chariot.  The angels went before them.  A voice called, “Peace be to you, my brethren.”

–The Discourse of Theodosius

Holy Mary, thank you for bringing us closer to heaven

JESUS SPEAKING

Good Friday

THOUGHT DIVINE

“Gaze on me, O my children, if you will, for I am helpless; gaze on your Maker, whether in contempt or in faith and love.  Here I wait, upon the Cross, the appointed time of grace and mercy; here I wait till the end of the world, silent and motionless, for the conversion of the sinful and consolation of the just; here I remain in weakness and shame, though I am so great in heaven, till the end, patiently expecting My full catalogue of souls, who, when time is at length over, shall be the reward of My passion and the triumph of My grace to all eternity.”

…a meditation from Blessed John Henry Newman – Discourse 15

MERCY

The Original Painting of Divine Mercy 1934

Thank You Saint Faustina

My thought:

“The love of God and neighbor is the greatest expression of Divine Mercy.”

There is a treasure to be found in the ‘Diary of Maria Faustina Kowalska,’ explaining Heaven, Purgatory and the 7 sufferings of Hell.

Diary Entry #699:

“My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy.  I desire that Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls.  I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount o My mercy.”

Saint Faustina, pray for our current world

…and Vera, thank you for this diary that continues to transform me…

ANGELIC GUARDIAN

 Contemporary Angel Painting by Ivan Guaderrama

My Guardian Angel

Today, I honor you – Alexandria

for your constant protection against evil on my life

*

The counsels and suggestions from our guardian angels come from God for our benefit.  They understand us, they are with us constantly.  They read our thoughts.  They see God always as they stand by us.

…Do you know your guardian angel by name?

It will be revealed to you if you ask…

HAIL MARY

Head of the Madonna ca. 1509

by Franciabigio di Cristofano

Honoring the Most Holy Name of Mary – September 12

God created Mary from the beginning of Time

and She fell in love with the Word of God

becoming the supplication for our prayers to the Father.

Let us praise God for this mystery and love

sending His Son born of Mary – means of our salvation.

*

In the words of Saint Louis Grignion de Montfort:

“The salvation of each individual is bound up with the Prayer:”

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you,

blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Holy Mary, Mother of God

pray for us sinner now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

MARY’S BIRTHDAY

The Birth of Mary – September 8

Happy Birthday!  Mother Mary

Saints Anne and Joachim gave birth to Mary in Jerusalem about 20 BC, as promised by God in Genesis 3:15:

“…the serpent’s head will be crushed by the woman’s foot.”

Although there is no mention in Holy Scripture, an account of her birth is found in the Apocryphal Protoevangelium of James:

Mary was “…born by the hands of the angels…pure and stainless, beautiful and full of grace.”

Two excerpts from “The Mystical City of God” by Venerable Mary of Agreda:

“…and Mary was in the temple of the Lord as a dove that is nurtured: and she received food from the hand of an angel.”

“…those that shall invoke Her name with devout affection shall receive most abundant graces…shall be consoled and vivified and will find in it the remedies of their evils…the light which shall guide them to heaven.”

In the words of Sedulius, Christian poet of the 5th century:

“Mary has put an end to vices and taught the way of life.”

Together, let us pray:

Holy Mother Mary

Dawn of our salvation

Through your Son, Jesus Christ

Intercede for us, amen