Mary TV Daily Reflection 1/16/2014

Humility and Purity

  
   
 (c) Mary TV 2014

J.M.J.

January 16, 2014

 

Dear Family of Mary!

"Dear children; For you to be able to be my apostles and to be able to help all those who are in darkness, to come to know the light of the love of my Son, you must have pure and humble hearts. You cannot help for my Son to be born in, and to reign in, the hearts of those who do not know Him, if He does not reign - if He is not the King - in your heart. I am with you. I am walking with you as a mother. I am knocking on your hearts. They cannot open because they are not humble. I am praying, and you my beloved children also pray, that you may be able to open pure and humble hearts to my Son and to receive the gifts which He has promised you. Then you will be led by the love and strength of my Son. Then, you will be my apostles who everywhere around them spread the fruits of God's love. My Son will act from within you and through you, because you will be "one". My motherly heart yearns for this - for unity of all of my children - through my Son. With great love I bless, and pray for those who are chosen by my Son - for your shepherds. Thank you."

At first Our Lady was sad and then decisive.  

Isn't it amazing that the first message Our Lady gave us in 2014 was about purity and humility. She truly wanted this year to get off to a good start. Purity and humility!!

Maureen sent a beautiful story that shows the power of purity and humility. It shows how these virtues allow for Jesus to work in and through us:

My daughter's young boyfriend has recently come forward and is considering becoming a Catholic. I gave him the "Seekers Catechism" for Christmas. When I asked him what got him thinking about the Catholic Church, his answer had everything to do with humility. We MUST work for humble hearts as they are what brings others to Jesus. He answered that while he was in special training in the army, there was a quiet young man who never went out with the others and never boasted or was loud like the others. As he got to know this young man, he realized how much he could've said but didn't. He was smart but felt no need to boast.  He was humble and quiet and a devout Catholic. The humility of one who stood out because he didn't stand out, is what caused Jake to realize there was something very special about him that was his faith.  So seeds were planted AND watered by one humble soul in the most unexpected environment. (Maureen)

Amazing! This young man, by being quiet, not boasting, saying less than he knew and not putting himself forward could have been overlooked. But instead, his self-control and ability to put others first caught the attention of someone who needed it. This reminds me of something St. Therese wrote:

Never seek after what seems great to the eyes of creatures. Solomon, the wisest king there ever was upon the earth, having considered all the various labors that occupy men under the sun - painting, sculpture, all the arts - realized that all these things were subject to envy and cried out that they are nought but "vanity and affliction of spirit" (Ecc 1:14)

The one thing that is not envied is the last place; the last place is the one thing that is not vanity and affliction of spirit.

Yet "the way of man is not his own" (Jer. 10:23) and sometimes we surprise ourselves by wanting something that catches the eye. Then we must number ourselves humbly with the imperfect, see ourselves as little souls which God must uphold from instant to instant. The moment He sees us convinced of our nothingness, He reaches out His hand: if we still want to try some great thing, even under color of zeal, the good Jesus leaves us to ourselves: "If I said: My foot is moved; thy mercy, O Lord, assisted me" (Ps 94:18). Yes, it is enough if we humble ourselves and bear our imperfections patiently: that is true sanctity. Let us take each other's hand and run to the last place, no one will dispute with us. (Letter to Sister Genevieve, June 7, 1897)

The last place...the place that leaves lots of room for others. The last place...the place from which the host can move us up. The last place...the place where God can lavish His gifts upon us, and call us His children.

Mother Mary, please take us by the hand, and lead us to that place where Jesus can enter and live in us, in that little, last place.

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

Cathy Nolan

©Mary TV 2014

 

PS. I am so happy to announce that next Monday, January 20, at 8:00 pm EST, Mary TV will present the documentary, "Queen of Peace" by Christina Georgotas! This presentation will replace "Fruit of Medjugorje" for that week. Join us for this fantastic documentary on Medjugorje, created by Christina Georgotas!!!

 

 "Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world!"   

Blessed John Paul II  -

Be connected! 

www.marytv.tv

 

 

JANUARY 15, FEAST OF OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR

JANUARY 15, FEAST OF OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR The original statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor was brought from France to the pioneer Ursuline convent in New Orleans. When the British Army threatened New Orleans in 1815, the Urslines and the relatives of the American soldiers implored the help of Our Lady of prompt Succor. The subsequent American victory caused General Andrew Jackson to visit the convent to thank the Sisters for their prayers. Our Lady of Prompt Succor was later designated by Papal degree as special patroness of the State of Louisiana. ENTRANCE HYMN Let us all rejoice in the Lord as we celebrate the feast in honor of the blessed ever-Virgin Mary, upon which the angels rejoice and praise the Son of God. Ps. 44:2. My heart overflows with good tidings; I sing my song to the king. V. Glory be . . . PRAYER O most gentle Jesus, You have entrusted the treasury of Your mercy to Your Mother Mary. May she shield us from all evil of body and soul; who lives and rules with God the Father . . . NOVENA PRAYER Our Lady of Prompt Succor, ever Virgin Mother of Jesus Christ our Lord and God, you are most powerful against the enemy of our salvation. The divine promise of a Redeemer was announced right after the sin of our first parents; and you, through your Divine Son, crushed the serpent's head. Hasten, then, to our help and deliver us from the deceits of Satan. Intercede for us with Jesus that we may always accept God's graces and be found faithful to Him in our particular states of life. As you once saved our beloved City (New Orleans) from ravaging flames, and our Country from an invading army, have pity on us and obtain for us protection from hurricanes and all other disasters. (Silent pause for individual petitions.) Assist us in the many trials which beset our path through life. Watch over the Church and the Pope as they uphold with total fidelity the purity of faith and morals against unremitting opposition. Be to us truly Our Lady of Prompt Succor now and especially at the hour of our death, that we may gain everlasting life through the merits of Jesus Christ Who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God world without end. Amen. -prayer from the National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor   ... In this world I cannot see the most high Son of God with my own eyes except for His most holy Body and Blood. Everyday He humbles Himself just as He did when He came from His heavenly throne into the Virgin's womb . . . When He descends from the bosom of the Father into the hand of the priest at the altar. (St. Francis of Assisi)

Mary TV Daily Reflection 1/15/2014

A lonely place...

 
   
 (c) Mary TV 2014

J.M.J.

January 15, 2014

 

Dear Family of Mary!

In the Gospel for today it says, "Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed." (Mark 1:35) Jesus spent the night before ministering to many people, late into the night, but he got up very early the next day and went off by himself to pray. In the RSV is says, "And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed." Certainly we can imagine such a place, deserted and lonely. It was outside of town, off in the wilderness where you would not see other people. Jesus chose such a place to find His Father in prayer.

I find this habit of Jesus to be very meaningful. Jesus was like us, human in every way but sin. So he experienced the need for prayer, the need to find His Father through prayer. Now, many would argue that if the Father is everywhere, Jesus could easily find Him wherever He was. No doubt Jesus knew the Father was with Him constantly. He said so many times. But, He still went off to a lonely place to pray.

I think that Jesus shows us something about being human in this behavior. Jesus is demonstrating something in an outward way that is true for every one of us inwardly. Human beings are solitary. We experience deep within a certain loneliness or separateness that just never goes away. Blessed John Paul II spoke of this as "original solitude". He said that it was a vital part of our being persons, and having free will. We are in a very fundamental way, alone. No one can live our lives for us. No one can get inside our head or our heart or our soul and relieve that solitude. It is part of how we are made by God.

So when Jesus went to that deserted, lonely place to pray, He was expressing that reality. At some level, we are all in a deserted, lonely place within. It is our solitude.

I can find this solitude oppressive at times. Even yesterday I was feeling lonely. It was not because I was physically alone. It was because I was in touch with that place within. And it was a bit sad and terrifying. It is not easy to realize our solitude.

But, it is in that deserted, lonely place that Jesus found the Father in prayer. And that teaches us something more. If Jesus could find the Father in that place, we can too. It is in our deepest loneliest spot within that the Father wants to come to us and love us. In fact it is only in that place that we can truly hear from the Father and experience Him. I think I experienced the sadness of my solitude yesterday because I didn't take time that morning for personal prayer. I didn't make contact with the Lord in my solitude, and so I was experiencing that lack all day.

Our solitude is really a great gift from the Lord. It is that sanctuary where we can meet Him, receive graces from Him, and also get in touch with our greatest needs and challenges. We can hand those needs and challenges over to God only in our solitude, in our inner sanctuary. Then we can live our day with courage and focus, because we have made contact with our God.

Our Lady speaks of our solitude and our need for the Father in this incredible message:

"Dear children; As with motherly concern I look in your hearts, in them I see pain and suffering; I see a wounded past and an incessant search; I see my children who desire to be happy but do not know how. Open yourselves to the Father. That is the way to happiness, the way by which I desire to lead you. God the Father never leaves His children alone, especially not in pain and despair. When you comprehend and accept this, you will be happy. Your search will end. You will love and you will not be afraid. Your life will be hope and truth which is my Son. Thank you. I implore you, pray for those whom my Son has chosen. Do not judge because you will all be judged." (January 2, 2012)

Our Lady understands original solitude. She sees how painful it is to live without having the Father with us there. She wants us to connect with Him, to open our inner self at that deep level, where we are alone, so that we can be healed, filled with hope and truth, and learn love from Him. She wants us to not be alone anymore. In our deep, essential loneliness, God exists. We need only comprehend this and accept it! He is with us. He is within us, waiting to shower us with His love.

Today, may we all go to our deserted and lonely place within, and there discover our God and our best friend! There we will love and not be afraid!

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

Cathy Nolan

©Mary TV 2014

 

PS. I am so happy to announce that next Monday, January 20, at 8:00 pm EST, Mary TV will present the documentary, "Queen of Peace" by Christina Georgotas! This presentation will replace "Fruit of Medjugorje" for that week. Join us for this fantastic documentary on Medjugorje, created by Christina Georgotas!!!

 "Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world!"   

Blessed John Paul II  -

Be connected! 

www.marytv.tv

 

 

Mary TV Daily Reflection 1/14/2014

Give me insight, Lord...

 
   
 (c) Mary TV 2014

J.M.J.

January 14, 2014

 

Dear Family of Mary!

As I prayed the Office of Readings for Monday, Week 1, I was attracted to the short prayer before the first reading. It read:

 

Give me insight, Lord, to know your will.

-Then I will cherish it with all my heart.

Such a beautiful little prayer! It gave me peace for the whole day! I realized that I need not struggle to know God's will. I need rather to just ask Him to give me the insight to know His will for me. He will do it. He loves me! And then, when He does show me His will for me, I can receive it like the most precious of gifts, which it is! Imagine, the Almighty God actually cares what I do today! He is so intimately involved with my life that He has worked out the best way for me to tread! Imagine such a wonderful God!

Our Lady once told us:

"Dear children! Also today I call you to pray for peace. Pray with the heart, little children, and do not lose hope because God loves His creatures. He desires to save you, one by one, through my coming here. I call you to the way of holiness. Pray, and in prayer you are open to God's will; in this way, in everything you do, you realize God's plan in you and through you. Thank you for having responded to my call." (March 25, 2003)

This message is also precious, and most heartening. Our Lady gives us great reason to hope. God loves His creatures, and desires to save us, one by one!! And He is doing it through Our Lady's coming in Medjugorje in these days.

And she gives us the way to receive God's will when she tells us: "Pray, and in prayer you are open to God's will; in this way, in everything you do, you realize God's plan in you and through you." Our Lady encourages us to pray, to open our hearts to God's will, and then we will begin to cooperate with Him for His plan in our individual lives. In prayer, we will find God's plan. Prayer is the way to open our hearts to receive the insights that God wants to give us.

We are so blessed to be among Our Lady's children in these days. We have been given a great gift, in her presence with us. She is teaching us so much through her messages. May we cherish Our Lady! And may we cherish the gift of God's will for our lives. Both are great, incredible gifts for us!

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

Cathy Nolan

©Mary TV 2014

 

 "Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world!"   

Blessed John Paul II  -

Be connected! 

www.marytv.tv

 

'Satan stepping up war for souls'

Tribulation Times
January 14, 2014  

(Eph 6:10-13) Finally, brethren, be strengthened in the Lord and in the might of his power. Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. Therefore, take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day and to stand in all things perfect.

POPE FRANCIS: “That is the path of Jesus Christ: abasement, humility, humiliation as well. If a thought, if a desire takes you along the road of humility and abasement, of service to others, is from Jesus. But if it brings you to the road of sufficiency, of vanity, of pride, along the path of an abstract thought, it is not from Jesus. We think of the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness: all three proposals the demon makes to Jesus are proposals that intended to take Him away from this path, the path of service, of humility, of humiliation, of charity. But the charity accomplished with His life, no? To the three temptations Jesus says no: ‘No, this is not my path!”

MYSTICS OF THE CHURCH BLOG: The Battle for Souls -Stories of the attacks of the demons against modern day mystic saints


NEW OXFORD REVIEW: The Devil in Our Midst


DAILY TELEGRAPH: 'Satan stepping up war for souls'


Dioceses across Italy and in other predominantly Catholic countries, such as Spain, are increasing the number of priests schooled in administering the rite of exorcism, intended to rid people of possession by the devil or his minions.

The rise in demonic possession reports is a result of more people dabbling in black magic, paganism, Satanic rites and Ouija-board conjuring, often exploring "the dark arts" with the help of information readily found on the internet, the church said.

The increase in the number of priests being trained to tackle the phenomenon is also an effort by the church to sideline self-proclaimed exorcists, and is tacit recognition that belief in Satan, once regarded by progressives as an embarrassment, is still very much alive.

The Diocese of Milan recently nominated seven new exorcists, the bishop of Naples appointed three new ones a couple of years ago and the Catholic Church in Sardinia sent three priests for exorcism training in Rome, amid concern that the Mediterranean island, particularly its mountainous, tradition-bound interior, is a hotbed of occultism.

In Spain, Antonio Maria Rouco Varela, the Archbishop of Madrid, chose eight priests to undergo special training in May to confront what he described as "an unprecedented rise" in "demonic possession". The church in Spain was coming across many cases that "go beyond the competence of psychologists" and they were occurring with "a striking frequency", the archbishop said.

"Diabolical possessions are on the increase as a result of people subscribing to occultism," said Father Francesco Bamonte, president of the International Association for Exorcists.

"The few exorcists that we have in the dioceses are often not able to handle the enormous number of requests for help," he said.

RELATED HEADLINES

Satanists’ statue design for Oklahoma Capitol: ‘Sit on the lap of Satan’
Ex-Satanist Approves of Catholic Church's Training More Priests to Perform Exorcisms

BLOG: Should the Church Consider Reintroducing the Exorcism Prayers in the Rite of Baptism? By: Msgr. Charles Pope

The Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Lust

8. Poemen said, 'As a bodyguard is always standing by to protect the Emperor, so the soul should always be ready to fight the demon of lust.'

---

Prayer request?  Send an email to: PrayerRequest3@aol.com

This month's archive can be found at: http://www.catholicprophecy.info/news2.html.

Mary TV Daily Reflection 1/13/2014

What makes for peace!

 
   
 (c) Mary TV 2014

J.M.J.

January 13, 2014

St. Hilary

Dear Family of Mary,

"Dear Children, do not tire of prayer. Pray for peace, peace, peace." (June 25, 2002 Annual apparition of Our Lady to Ivanka)

During our Daily Rosary, yesterday (January 12), I pulled this message from our message box. It struck Denis and me that this message is important for us in 2014. In such simple and direct words, Our Lady gave us the main point of her coming. She came to draw us into prayer. And she came to call us to peace.

And then as if to underline this word for us, I pulled a second message from the box after the next decade, and received this one:

"I introduced myself as 'Queen of Peace.' Again, I call you to peace, fasting, prayer. Renew family prayer and receive my blessing." (June 25, 2000 Annual apparition of Our Lady to Ivanka)

Our Lady calls herself the Queen of Peace. That is significant. She has many titles, as is evident from her Litanies. But in Medjugorje, she has introduced herself as the Queen of Peace! After I read this message, Denis turned to me and asked me how to pray for peace. He said he has never understood this request.

I responded quickly, "Well, somewhere in Scripture it says, 'Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace!'"  

Denis got excited and said, "Yes!! Luke 19: 41-44!!":

 

And when he drew near and saw the city he wept over it, saying, "Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast up a bank about you and surround you, and hem you in on every side, and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time of your visitation." (Luke 19: 41-44)

He continued:  

"Of course that happened historically 70 years later, to the Jews. The Romans came in and just tore down the temple. But it is a scary word for us too. "Because you did not know the time of your visitation." Pope John Paul II knew the importance of it, that's why he called Medjugorje the spiritual center of the world."

And I answered,  

This occurred to me during the prayer with the parish we had today that was at 2:00 (going up Apparition hill together praying the Rosary) - The parish has been living this visitation through these prayer, going up the mountain and remembering Our Lady's coming and doing what she asked which is to pray. And on Friday, going up Krizevac, and again praying in response to her call....that is remembering the hour of our visitation. And when we pray our Rosary together here (on Mary TV) we are remembering the hour of our visitation, we are remembering Our Lady coming to Medjugorje, and through her we are remembering Jesus, who came to be one of us. And that is how we pray for peace. We remember the hour of our visitation. And we do what we have been asked. That is what Our Lady was asking for in Kibeho. She needs our response [now in Medjugorje]. 

And I feel that whenever we pray our Rosary with the parish going up the mountain or the silent prayer that we have with the Angelus at 6:00 pm Medjugorje time, whenever we pray with the parish, at those moments, we are remembering the hour of our visitation, and that is how we pray for peace because whenever we respond to Our Lady's call, we pray for peace." (I am quoting here from our Rosary for January 12, 2014. You can find it in our Daily Rosary archives at www.marytv.tv .)

Well, Our Lady does not want us to miss this hour of visitation. She wants us to get every last grace that is being offered to us, for ourselves, our families, our communities, and our world. She wants to triumph and bring us peace. As Queen, she wants peace to reign. Our response now of prayer, fasting, and faith will make this visitation fruitful!!

Let's not hold back, but respond with all our hearts to the visitation of Our Lady. Clearly, the enemy has done all he can to keep us from recognizing the hour of our visitation. We can defeat him, through our loving response to Mary's call.

"Thank you for having responded to my call." She has said this to us in almost every message! Why? Because this is the key to our recognizing the hour of our visitation and discovering what makes for peace!

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

Cathy Nolan

©Mary TV 2014

 

 

 "Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world!"   

Blessed John Paul II  -

Be connected! 

www.marytv.tv

 

Mary TV Daily Reflection 1/10/2014

To be One with Jesus


   
 (c) Mary TV 2014

J.M.J.

January 10, 2014

Dear Family of Mary!

"Dear children; For you to be able to be my apostles and to be able to help all those who are in darkness, to come to know the light of the love of my Son, you must have pure and humble hearts. You cannot help for my Son to be born in, and to reign in, the hearts of those who do not know Him, if He does not reign - if He is not the King - in your heart. I am with you. I am walking with you as a mother. I am knocking on your hearts. They cannot open because they are not humble. I am praying, and you my beloved children also pray, that you may be able to open pure and humble hearts to my Son and to receive the gifts which He has promised you. Then you will be led by the love and strength of my Son. Then, you will be my apostles who everywhere around them spread the fruits of God's love. My Son will act from within you and through you, because you will be "one". My motherly heart yearns for this - for unity of all of my children - through my Son. With great love I bless, and pray for those who are chosen by my Son - for your shepherds. Thank you."

At first Our Lady was sad and then decisive.

Our Lady yearns for the day when we will be led by the love and strength of her Son, the day when her Son will act from within us and through us because we will be "one"! She knows that it is only when Jesus lives and acts through us that we will be able to draw others to Him. Actually it will be Jesus to draws them, loving through us as He wishes!!

St. Therese of Lisieux experienced this reality, precisely because she was so humble, so small, and so pure in her love for God. She once wrote:

Under the Old Law, when God told His people that they must love their neighbor as themselves, it was before he had come upon earth Himself: knowing how much man loved himself, it was the best he could ask. But when Jesus gives His apostles a new Commandment (John 13:34), His own Commandment (John 15: 12), He asks them to love one another, not only as they love themselves, but as he himself loves them, and will love them even unto the consummation of the world!

Yet I know, my Jesus, that You never command the impossible; You know better than I do how frail and imperfect I am; You know perfectly well that I can never hope to love my Sisters as you love them unless You Yourself love them in me.

It is only because You are willing to do this that You have given us a New Commandment, and I love it because it is my assurance of Your desire to love in me all those whom You command me to love.

I know that whenever I am charitable, it is Jesus alone who is acting through me, and that the more closely I unite myself to Him, the more I will be able to love all my Sisters.

(The Story of a Soul, IX, 119)

St. Therese was so practically humble. She applied this humility to every facet of her life, and it made her an incredible apostle of the Lord, just as Our Lady tells us. St. Therese knew that if Jesus commanded her to love others as He loves them, then He would have to do it Himself through her. Simple! And we can believe the same. If Jesus wants to live in us, enter our hearts, and love others through us, He will have to do it!! We have only to remain very small, very dependent upon Him, and very pure in our intentions.

This weekend, as we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, may we dedicate ourselves to our Lord and King as never before. May we choose to become pure and humble, and to invite Him into our hearts to be King!!

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

Cathy Nolan

©Mary TV 2014

PS. We will have the Daily Rosary at 10:00 am EST, Silent Prayer with Medjugorje at 11:30 am EST, and Family Prayer at 3:00 pm EST, today, Friday, January 10! Join us!!

 "Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world!"   

Blessed John Paul II  -

Be connected! 

www.marytv.tv

 

Mary TV Daily Reflection 1/9/2014

Pure and humble hearts!

   
 (c) Mary TV 2013

J.M.J.

January 9, 2014 

Dear Family of Mary!

January 2, 2014 message through Mirjana:

"Dear children; For you to be able to be my apostles and to be able to help all those who are in darkness, to come to know the light of the love of my Son, you must have pure and humble hearts. You cannot help for my Son to be born in, and to reign in, the hearts of those who do not know Him, if He does not reign - if He is not the King - in your heart. I am with you. I am walking with you as a mother. I am knocking on your hearts. They cannot open because they are not humble. I am praying, and you my beloved children also pray, that you may be able to open pure and humble hearts to my Son and to receive the gifts which He has promised you. Then you will be led by the love and strength of my Son. Then, you will be my apostles who everywhere around them spread the fruits of God's love. My Son will act from within you and through you, because you will be "one". My motherly heart yearns for this - for unity of all of my children - through my Son. With great love I bless, and pray for those who are chosen by my Son - for your shepherds. Thank you."

At first Our Lady was sad and then decisive.  

Our Lady tells us that she is knocking on our hearts, hoping that they will open. But sadly, she says that our hearts do not open because they are not humble. She also asks us to pray for purity and humility in our hearts, so that Jesus may enter them. "I am praying, and you my beloved children also pray, that you may be able to open pure and humble hearts to my Son and to receive the gifts which He has promised you." Humility and purity are very important qualities for receiving Jesus.

As I have been pondering this message, it occurred to me that there is only one person on earth who truly has a pure and humble heart. And that person is most capable of teaching us about such a heart. Of course, I mean Our Lady! She is the Immaculate Conception. Her heart is pure. And she is the Handmaid of the Lord. Her heart is completely humble. And further, she has given us the pattern to follow in opening our hearts in humility and purity. That pattern can be found in the Annunciation of Luke's Gospel.

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man? And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God."Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:26-38)

We learn some things about Mary in this account. She was a virgin. She was pure. She was an observant, silent, listening person who perceived the Angel Gabriel when he came to her. She received the greeting of Gabriel, and she immediately pondered it. She used her intellect. She thought about it in terms of what she knew about God and herself. She didn't reject it. But she also was cautious. She pondered.

Then Gabriel explained why he had come, and the proposal that God was making to her. He gave her the basic facts, everything she needed to know to make a good decision about God's offer. And then she pondered some more. She explained that she was a virgin, and not having marital relations. Mary was practical and thorough in her response to Gabriel. But she took everything he said seriously.

When Gabriel announced that the Holy Spirit would come upon Mary and that she would conceive by the Holy Spirit's power, and Gabriel offered Mary another piece of information as a confirmation to her that He was speaking the truth (that Elizabeth had conceived), then Mary had to decide. She accepted all of Gabriel's answers and opened her heart to God. She said that beautiful sentence, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."

Our Lady opened her pure and humble heart to God in her meeting with Gabriel. She clearly wanted to do God's will from the beginning of the conversation. But she needed to ponder, to use her intellect to understand what she was being asked. This is where her humility came in. Once Mary had discerned that Gabriel was for real, and God was speaking to her, offering her this incredible gift of being the Mother of Jesus, she was able to say yes, because she was so humble. She was not looking for her own glory. She was not self-concerned or worried about her own future. She was not timid. She was not complicated and confused. And she did not need to take control.  She was humble. She was totally in God's hands, and she knew it. She trusted the Father completely. And saying yes to Him was her great delight.  And she opened her heart to receive Jesus as no one ever had before or will ever do! 

If we can follow Our Lady's example, we will be able to receive God's gifts to us as well. If we can become pure, shunning all sin, as best we can and going to confession; if we can be humble, honestly entering into conversation with God and seeking to understand His will for us, and then submitting with great peace to His plan, then we will be able to receive Jesus into our hearts a little bit like Mary did! It is a process that involves our human faculties of intellect and will. It is a process that works best if we are pure and humble. And it is a process that makes for great joy!

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

Cathy Nolan

©Mary TV 2014

 "Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world!"   

Blessed John Paul II  -

Be connected! 

www.marytv.tv

 

 

Mary TV January 8, 2014 Update from Denis - Silent Prayer in Medjugorje!

"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world!"    Blessed John Paul II  - Be connected!  www.marytv.tv   January 8, 2014 Dear Medjugorje Family, A WONDERfUL NEW DEVELOPMENT FOR 2014 !!!!!! From 11:30am to 12:00 Noon EST (5:30 pm to 6:00 pm Medjugorje time) you can pray in silence at < www.marytv.tv> with Our Lady in Medjugorje - in unity with the parishioners and pilgrims gathered there... Mary TV is STREAMING LIVE a half hour of silent prayer from one of the many holy places of prayer in Medjugorje. Our half hour of silent prayer includes the time of Our Lady's apparition (11:40 EST) and concludes with the parish's recitation of the Angelus at the ringing of the bells of St. James. Joining the church's prayer of the Angelus is very much like placing blessed objects around your house, a little way of welcoming into your day the protective faith of the Church. "The demons flee at those words, 'The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,'" (Fr. Dermot Roache -from his homily in Medjugorje: http://www.marytv.tv/daily-reflections/998-01-06-14-the-angelus). Our Lady began and ended her January 2, 2014 message reminding us we're called to be her apostles. Several years ago she said:"Do not forget that you are all important in this great plan, which God leads through Medjugorje. God desires to convert the entire world ... I call you all to open yourselves to this great grace that God gives you through my presence here." (June 25, 2007). Twenty five years ago she called in her message: "From today decide to consecrate at time in the day only for an encounter with God in silence. In that way you will be able, with God, to witness my presence here," (July 25, 1989). Spread the wonderful news that you can be in silent prayer with Our Lady in Medjugorje - LIVE over the internet - to everyone in your email list. You are the only way we have of letting people know ! God bless you! Denis Nolan www.marytv.tv   (c)Mary TV 2013

From Opus Bono Sacerdotii : Priest Emergency!

Opus Bono Sacerdotii Work for the Good of the Priesthood Deacon   This is a brutal winter for all of our priests, but especially for the elderly ones and the sick and infirmed.  They’ve had to pay extra for couriers and delivery services to their homes in order to avoid the dangers of going outside in the harsh climates and getting hurt.  I ask you to please pray for our homebound Catholic priests and if possible to make an immediate and urgent donation to assist them in their dire need!   IF YOU CAN PLEASE ACT NOW!    Go to http://opusbono.org/donate.html now and make your emergency gift to a Catholic priests in urgent need.  100% of your donation will go to helping these priests.     Thank you and may Our Lady of Priests be your health and your protection!     Sincerely,   Pete     PS Please share this emergency situation for priests with your family and friends :)   www.opusbono.org www.facebook.com/opusbono www.twitter.com/opusbono www.youtube.com/user/opusbono www.cafepress.com/opusbono www.blogtalkradio.com/opusbono     Opus Bono Sacerdotii P.O. Box 663, Oxford, MI 48371-0663   P 313.937.6305