November 4, 2010
Saint Charles Borromeo Dear Family of Mary! "Dear children! With motherly perseverance and love I am bringing you the light of life to destroy the darkness of death in you. Do not reject me, my children. Stop and look within yourselves and see how sinful you are. Be aware of your sins and pray for forgiveness. My children, you do not desire to accept that you are weak and little, but you can be strong and great by doing God's will. Give me your cleansed hearts that I may illuminate them with the light of life, my Son. Thank you." (November 2, 2010) This message reveals the motherly heart of Our Lady. By motherly, I mean a heart that aches for her children, worries for her children, constantly thinks of her children, remains open to her children, and sees the dangers that surround her children. Mother Mary gazes upon us with her motherly eyes and heart, seeing our struggles and crosses, our victories and our follies. She sees the state we are in. And she wants very much to help us. Though her words may sound harsh, I don't think she means them to be. She is concerned. She understands the gravity of our situation. We live in a very dangerous world full of temptations and trials. We are offered "chocolate covered death" by this materialistic, hedonistic, greedy and self-centered world culture. The comfort and sensual pleasures of our age look very inviting, but if we embrace them, they will lead us to darkness and death. Our Lady sees it very clearly, and she wants very much show us the way to true joy, true happiness in God. She is our mother. She is present, now. She is our best friend, the person who most loves us and wants us to thrive. Her motherly heart impels her to warn us, to encourage us, to wake us up and show us the truth about our situation. But we may not realize what a blessing she is as our mother. We may not understand the value of such a mother! I am reading the book, Northanger Abbey by Jane Austin. The young heroine, Catherine Moreland, visits the Tilney family estate, becoming friends with Eleanor, the only daughter. Eleanor's mother died when she was 13, leaving her with a father and two brothers. At one point Eleanor explains how much she misses having a mother: "Her death must have been a great affliction!"
"A great and increasing one," replied the other [Eleanor], in a low voice, "I was only thirteen when it happened; and though I felt my loss perhaps as strongly as one so young could feel it, I did not, I could not, then know what a loss it was." She stopped for a moment, and then added, with great firmness, " I have no sister, you know - and though Henry - though my brothers are very affectionate, and Henry is a great deal here, which I am most thankful for, it is impossible for me not to be often solitary."
"To be sure you must miss him very much."
"A mother would have been always present. A mother would have been a constant friend; her influence would have been beyond all other." (Jane Austin. Northanger Abbey. Chap. 22) "A mother would have been always present!" Mothers dedicate their lives to their children. They do not leave them alone. They stay close and available for their children at all times. This is what children need. Dear Mother Mary is always present to us, in prayer. She is only a Hail Mary away! She listens to us, and waits for us to turn to her, so that she can help us! "A mother would have been a constant friend." Mothers are the ones who listen to their children constantly. No story is too small for a mother to cherish. No injustice to petty for a mother to compassionate with. Mothers never reject their children. Mother Mary is definitely a constant friend. She never rejects us, never leaves our side. Our earthly mothers are truly our best friends throughout life. Whenever I see a football player waving at the camera and saying, "Hi Mom!" I realize how true this is. Our inner identity comes from such love of a mother. We "are" because they love us! And it is most true of Our Lady. We know who we are because we know that our mother's love us! Especially Mary! "Her influence would have been beyond all other." For Eleanor, the loss of her mother so early in life meant that she grew up without the incredibly valuable teaching and guidance of her mother. She grew up without the influence of her mother's loving heart. She knew it was a great loss, but not until she grew up. We who have found Our Lady and allowed her to mother us know what an incredible influence she is in our lives. We have been changed, converted, healed and blessed by Mother Mary. She loves us so much. She knows us so well. We have needed her and will need her! I guess I am just trying to say that Our Lady is speaking as such a good mother in this message. She isn't angry at us, only concerned. And her love for us is without question. Let's receive these words with trust and openness. She is really the best of mothers!
In Jesus and Mary!
Cathy Nolan
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please no anonymous comments. I require at least some way for people to address each other personally and courteously. Having some name or handle helps.
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.