Saturday, November 20, 2010

[MaryVitamin] preparing for the Presentation of Mary

 

Mary Vitamin 
 
Topic: Presentation of Mary in the Temple (November 21)

 
Quote:

see filename

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"There never was, and never will be, an offering on the part of a pure creature greater or more perfect than that which Mary made to God when, at the age of three years, she presented herself in the temple to offer him, not aromatical spices, nor calves, nor gold, but her entire self, consecrating herself as a perpetual victim in his honor."
St. Alphonsus di Liguori, 
The Glories of Mary
, (Tan Books: 1978), 337.
 
Meditation:
Part of St. Francis de Sales' sermon for the Presentation of Mary in the Temple.
"Let us pass on now to the third point, which is the absolute surrender of our glorious Mistress to the Divine Majesty. It is thus that we must give ourselves totally to the Lord because the Saviour does not want us to do what He Himself cannot do ”which is to give Himself to us partially. His goodness is so great that He wishes to give Himself to us totally. Similarly, He desires, and it is only just that we give ourselves to Him without reserve.
There remains what is most difficult to give up, yourself, your own will. It must be annihilated entirely, without reserve."
The Sermons of St. Francis de Sales on Our Lady, (Tan Books:1985), 44.
 
Our Lady, even at the tender age of three, was well advanced in the paths of holiness. She well understood the desires of God. She did not try to hand Him things, but rather Her own heart, Immaculate and pure.

 
Resolution:

Today I will imitate Our Lady's gift of self. Today I will think of Our Lady standing in the Temple seemingly empty handed but actually giving to God the greatest gift any creature has ever offered. Today, when I pass the crucifix, I will show my empty hands to the Lord on the cross and imitate Our Lady's offering of her Heart.

 
Presentation of the Virgin Mary (Russian icon)

Image via Wikipedia

Marian Vow:

St. Francis de Sales
"God is not satisfied with our offerings when they are not accompanied by that of our own heart, the Divine Majesty asks first for our heart. 'My son, give Me your heart' [Prov. 23:26], says this incomparable Goodness, and after that your offerings will be pleasing to Me."
The Sermons of St. Francis de Sales on Our Lady, (Tan Books:1985), 44.
 
I will tap my heart in remembering my Marian Vow.
 
 
I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
 
Thanks be to God for graces received.
 


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