Painting by Duccio (1308-11)Meditation 73
MARY AND THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. Preparation.
The Apostles and the Disciples betook themselves to the Supper Room in order to prepare themselves there together with the Holy Mother for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Examine their preparation:
a) First they retire because it is in solitude and retirement that God communicates Himself to souls. Gos does not like to speak in the midst of the turmoil of the world. His Spirit is not captured in dissipation nor then can His voice be clearly heard. Love the solitude and silence wherein God speaks to you. Yet solitude must not be merely external, but chiefly internal by the banishing of those thoughts, businesses, impressions and occupations which distract us. Inquire if it is not on account of this that your prayer is so faulty and that you derive so little profit for your soul. Do you master the art of external and internal retirement? Do you know how to bring silence into your soul casting out all those things that are foreign to prayer?
b) They gathered together to pray. Prayer is the solution of every problem. Our Lord never acted without prayer. He prayed in the Supper Room, in the Garden, on the Cross. The Angel of the Annunciation found Mary at prayer. The Apostles under the leadership of Mary betook themselves to prayer. You are also daily invited to prayer. How do you respond? Are you a man of prayer? Have you recourse to it when you need light, consolation and strength?
c) In the company of Mary. How lucky were those Apostles since the could pray together with Mary. She led the prayer, She set the example of fervor. By merely looking at Her, all tiredness, all lukewarmness, all distractions would certainly vanish. But could you not do the same if you wished? How is it that you do not pray with Mary, looking to Her, learning from Her? Examine yourself and ask yourself if at the beginning, at the middle, at the conclusion of your prayer you keep Mary company. Learn also how to have a great esteem for prayer in common. It is very pleasing to God. It is highly fruitful.
d) Finally, remark their perseverance. The Holy Spirit did not come down on them until after ten days of constant prayer. Instead, how easily we grow tired of prayer! We want to get everything at once. If not, we grow discouraged, disappointed. What a lack of perseverance! Ask Our Lady to teach you how to be constant, not just for one day or two, but let your prayer always be fervent and so it will be efficacious and sanctifying.
[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]
The Apostles and the Disciples betook themselves to the Supper Room in order to prepare themselves there together with the Holy Mother for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Examine their preparation:
a) First they retire because it is in solitude and retirement that God communicates Himself to souls. Gos does not like to speak in the midst of the turmoil of the world. His Spirit is not captured in dissipation nor then can His voice be clearly heard. Love the solitude and silence wherein God speaks to you. Yet solitude must not be merely external, but chiefly internal by the banishing of those thoughts, businesses, impressions and occupations which distract us. Inquire if it is not on account of this that your prayer is so faulty and that you derive so little profit for your soul. Do you master the art of external and internal retirement? Do you know how to bring silence into your soul casting out all those things that are foreign to prayer?
b) They gathered together to pray. Prayer is the solution of every problem. Our Lord never acted without prayer. He prayed in the Supper Room, in the Garden, on the Cross. The Angel of the Annunciation found Mary at prayer. The Apostles under the leadership of Mary betook themselves to prayer. You are also daily invited to prayer. How do you respond? Are you a man of prayer? Have you recourse to it when you need light, consolation and strength?
c) In the company of Mary. How lucky were those Apostles since the could pray together with Mary. She led the prayer, She set the example of fervor. By merely looking at Her, all tiredness, all lukewarmness, all distractions would certainly vanish. But could you not do the same if you wished? How is it that you do not pray with Mary, looking to Her, learning from Her? Examine yourself and ask yourself if at the beginning, at the middle, at the conclusion of your prayer you keep Mary company. Learn also how to have a great esteem for prayer in common. It is very pleasing to God. It is highly fruitful.
d) Finally, remark their perseverance. The Holy Spirit did not come down on them until after ten days of constant prayer. Instead, how easily we grow tired of prayer! We want to get everything at once. If not, we grow discouraged, disappointed. What a lack of perseverance! Ask Our Lady to teach you how to be constant, not just for one day or two, but let your prayer always be fervent and so it will be efficacious and sanctifying.
[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]
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