Mary TV Daily Reflection 12/5/2011

As a mother I am with you! (c)Mary TV 2011 (Our daughter Liz and daughter-in-law Kristen with Emelia and Tess, our grandbabies!!)

December 5, 2011   Dear Family of Mary!   "Dear children, as a mother I am with you so that with my love, prayer and example I may help you to become a seed of the future, a seed that will grow into a firm tree and spread its branches throughout the world. For you to become a seed of the future, a seed of love, implore the Father to forgive you your omissions up to now. My children, only a pure heart, unburdened by sin, can open itself and only honest eyes can see the way by which I desire to lead you. When you become aware of this, you will become aware of the love of God - it will be given (as a gift) to you. Then you will give it (as a gift) to others, as a seed of love. Thank you." (December 2, 2011)   A friend commented that Our Lady described motherhood pretty succinctly in the first sentence of this message: "Dear children, as a mother I am with you so that with my love, prayer and example I may help you..."  I must agree!   Image via Wikipedia "As a mother I am with you..." I was at a beautiful retreat this weekend in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with the Dominican Sisters of Mary of the Eucharist. It was a "mom's" retreat. There were about 160 moms there, all shapes and sizes. It was wonderful! There were about 10 young moms there who had infants with them. These beautiful mothers had the babies in their arms or strapped to their bodies (with those amazing baby carriers) the entire weekend. Tirelessly they would walk their little ones in the back of the room, comforting them and caring for them while they listened to the conferences. At night, they slept right next to their babies, nursing them and surrounding them with their motherly warmth. It was beautiful to see. They were a visible image to me of what Our Lady means when she says she is with us as a mother!   "With my love, prayer and example..." Our Lady loves us. She never stops thinking about us, providing for us, serving us. Mothers love. Those young mothers loved their babies so much. You could see it in their eyes, the way they beheld their little ones. Always joy! Always solicitude! Always patience and kindness! This is motherly love. Our Lady prays for us. We know it because we ask to her pray for us constantly, with each Hail Mary!! How can she not? Like little ones that just keep asking and asking for what they need, we ask her and she will not refuse. And her example, well we know the huge impact she has had on us. Each mystery of the Rosary shows us an aspect of her life, with all the virtues she displayed, all the suffering she endured and all the joy she received in her life with God. Don't mothers model the Christian life for their children, day in and day out? Children know everything about their mothers. They study the mother's tiniest actions and memorize the slightest detail. We mothers are the first teachers of our children. So it is with Mary. She teaches us by her example!   Our Lady, as a good mother, wants to help us through her love, her prayer and her example. Let's allow her to influence us! Let's accept her help!     Prayer to the Immaculate Conception O God,  who by the Immaculate Conception  of the Blessed Virgin Mary, did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son,  we beseech You that, as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son, You did preserve Her from all stain,  so too You would permit us, purified through Her intercession, to come unto You.  Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, world without end.  Amen.   Day Seven O Immaculate Virgin, Mother of God, and my mother, from the sublime heights of your dignity turn your merciful eyes upon me while I, full of confidence in your bounty and keeping in mind your Immaculate conception and fully conscious of your power, beg of you to come to our aid and ask your Divine Son to grant the favor we earnestly seek in this novena... if it be beneficial for our immortal souls and the souls for whom we pray. (State your intention here...)   O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be according to God's will.     Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary:  http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/novena/litany_mary.htm     In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2011

 

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