I have come across an interesting take from the Church Fathers on the wedding at Cana. In the first few chapters of Genesis we have the fall from grace of Adam and Eve on what the Fathers still considered the 6th day. Adam did not name the woman, Eve, until after their expulsion on what would be the 7th day in the mind of the Fathers. If you go through the scenarios in John1 and the beginning of Chapter 2, the Fathers point out that Jesus' 1st miracle at Cana occurs on Day 6. But unlike the woman's disobedience (Eve) in Genesis, the Woman (Mary) remains ever confident in her Son and responds to Jesus' question, "What would you have me do, woman?" with: "Do whatever He tells you [obey Him]." Thus the Fathers claim confidence and trust in her unstained relationship with Jesus, and her deference to Him at the wedding, reveals Mary as the New Woman, the new Eve. It makes one's head spin, but there you have it.
Whatever I just read this. So sorry about your pain. Today is St Anthony’s feast day. I’ll pray to him for you.
I’ll join you, Byron. St. Anthony, please intercede on Whatever’s behalf. Reward her faithful trust in the power of prayer.
Thank you for this Terry. It seems to me that the Mysteries of the Rosary are very,very special windows into Mary and Marian Devotion. I heard Father Linus Clovis say something recently in a homily which has stuck on my mind like glue. He asks the question, 'Why did Jesus speak in Parables?' He goes on to give the answer that Jesus gave, 'That seeing they may not see and hearing they may not hear'. Matthew 13:13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In other words that understanding is pure gift and not given to those who are not worthy, or ready for understanding. They Mysteries of the Rosary are like that , the door only opens to give light inasmuch as we spiritually ready to receive. If we look at a Protestant understanding of the Wedding Feast of Cana we would see a radically different understanding from a Catholic/Marian perspective in so many ways. For we Catholics Mary's role is right up their and is central. For Protestants she is at best a minor / bit player and some even see Mary as being in a bad place and being openly and publically rebuked by her son. I find as the years roll onwards the Mysteries of the Rosary never grow stale but like flowers that never die remain ever fresh with ever greater riches to bring to the table of my old heart. Why is this so? Because as our hearts change and become a little less hardened and cold more and more in seeing we see more and in hearing we understand more. It is not the mystery that has changed; it is our hearts that have matured in love. I think this is so well exemplified in the beautiful Protestant hymn, 'Mary did you know?' The Protestant take is Mary did not know; the Catholic take is Mary very much did know, how could she not? So we see once again that they see without seeing and hear without hearing.
Oh my word that just gave me goosebumps I was in st peters yesterday and went to light a candle for @Whatever I was looking for St Therese statue but its been moved and St Anthony was the only statue that I could light a candle so I did and said sorry St Anthony I was looking for St Therese but seeing as your here could you please help with whatever 's recovery
the way things are going, that really would be a miracle. Meanwhile I'm arranging to have the pallet moved downstairs. I was delighted to read on your thread that you and Joe were able to go to the wedding. That was a lovely picture you posted of the happy couple. Looked to be a nice church too. So, in the end, all manner of things were well. Thanks be to God.
Byron, I'm furious with myself for missing this. I had done St. Anthony's novena every week for decades. Started going after work for a friend who was ill and years later even grew my own lilies for the blessing on the feast day. Then the old priest died and I didn't care for his replacement so stopped going to the novena Mass and eventually stopped doing the novena. On reflection now, I realise how stupid I was. Mass was still the Holy Sacrifice and St. Anthony didn't stop being a saint because of that priest and his homilies. I think that your post and Quis's post are a nudge to me to shape up and know my place. As soon as I can walk again I'll be resuming the Tuesday novena. I can't thank you enough for the reminder. If I hadn't stopped doing the novena I could have had someone go to the blessing of the lilies yesterday and had what has always been called here "a rub of the lily".
Thank you Rory. And thanks to anyone else who promised to pray and whom I didn't thank properly. My brain is a bit scattered. I was about to tell Padraig that an image of Our Lady as mother that sticks in my mind is from Mel Gibson's movie about the Passion. I've never seen the movie but that clip is shown on some online Rosaries and Stations of the Cross. It's the one where Jesus falls and Mary remembers picking up the child Jesus and cuddling him after he had fallen. I went searching for the right movie clip, got distracted, started praying the rosary with one of the links and fell asleep in the middle of it.
Back Pain is very hard to deal with. I pray that you receive comfort and are relieved of your pain. When I am experiencing pain I try to unite myself with Christ carrying His cross. May He give you peace!
Thank you Mario and Dave. I'm very grateful. The prayers are helping me not focus on worst case scenarios.
