Ellie, there's a smiley face at the top of the reply, just click on it and all sort of little faces appear and just click on the one you want
one more thought on the blind obedience. I do think this has a lot to do with just obedience to God's will in our daily life, as I think this is what Mary Ann is getting at too. For instance, when instructed by God to flee for Egypt, Mary and Joseph fled for Egypt...no questions asked...just blind obedience. When instructed to go to Bethleham for the birth of Jesus, that's where they went...even though (according to AC Emmerich's writings), Mary thought she'd have Jesus while at her mother's house. So it must have been confusing, and probably frustrating as they could not find any room at any inn...why would God send them to Bethleham just to be frustrated at not finding shelter...but Mary had blind obedience and therefore God's plan was executed perfectly, even though it probably made no sense to Mary at the time. So, I think we are being asked for this same type of blind obedience, especially if we are to be Mary's instruments. God always has a plan...and it doesn't always make sense to us at the time. But we are asked to be obedient to the promptings of God's will in our lives, so the plan can be executed perfectly...or as perfect as we can at least!
Hi Sunburst: Below are the people who started the consecration if you have the time to pray for us: Mario, Mario's beautiful wife Geralyn, Freedom, Mary Ann, Ellie, Mary's Child, Tina, and myself thanks you for your prayers!
33-Day Thought of the Day - Day 24 Come, Holy Spirit, living in Mary... Help me to be faithful to heart-pondering prayer, as was Mary It never occurred to me that Mary would need to be shown or prepared for her role as our spiritual mother and mediatrix. It seems she's always been perfect from the start, and on the same page with God from the get-go with her unwavering and unhesitating fiat at the annunciation. But there had to be many times of confusion (fleeing Egypt), nervousness (when crowds turned on her son), and sorrow (her son's passion) just to name a few. But it was Mary's ability to ponder things in her heart and her practically non-stop prayer (if you read the Life of Mary by AC Emmerich, you will know Mary constantly, constantly prayed) that enabled her to do the will of God no matter how difficult or painful. And by doing His will, she is now spiritual mother to us all. It was a long journey on earth for her just as it is for any of us...may I learn to ponder things in my heart as Mary did and do the will of God without hesitation even when it's out of my comfort zone!
33-Day Thought of the Day - Day 25 Come, Holy Spirit, living in Mary... Remind me to ask for Mary's powerful intercession in my times of need I really don't need reminding to go to Mary and ask for her intercession...in fact, she probably wishes I kept her less busy Her role is more expansive on this than I was aware though. Pope JP states "(as a mediatrix)...she can point out to her Son the needs of mankind, and in fact, she "has the right" to do so". If she points out the needs of mankind...you better believe she does the same for each of our individual needs too..."they have no wine" becomes "PotatoSack has no job" I need to trust in Our Lady's powerful intercession for me personally so I don't worry about my temporal needs...but I worry about the other point in today's reflection..."do whatever He tells you". Am I an obedient servant? Have I been an obedient servant? Mary needs obedient servants right now...can I step up? Please pray for me and I will pray for all of you in this request of us!!
Wish we had a praying emote! "Praying"! Good question! I wonder what influence Mary had in order for the servants to obey her. I'm sure if I approach the catering people at a wedding and request something of them, the response would be ! The beautiful aspect of today's reflection is that Mary is ready to assist with all the details of my life, not just the spiritual ones or the big items. Not only does she care, but she brings them to Jesus who is more than able! And I'm sure she knows the right order to ask since, believe me, my needs are multiple! Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
Finally.....Thank you,..I will be making it a point to pray for each one on this very special day. The fact that our beloved Pope Francis will be consecrating himself to Our Lady of Fatima on this day also I think is very significant,..
33-Day Thought of the Day - Day 26 "Yes, because Mary gives us health, she is our saving grace... Mary is a mother, a mother who takes care above all of the health of her children and knows how to heal them with her great and tender love. The Madonna is the custodian of our health. I quoted the above from a homily of Pope Francis that Padraig has posted on his most recent thread. It brings to mind the times of illness, when as a child, my Mom would care for me. Would I have wanted it any other way? Never! I have read that even hardened criminals will send cards to their Mom on Mother's Day if given the opportunity. So I am at the point where my consecration to Mary poses no obstacle. I look forward to entrusting myself to her. The crucial step will be allowing Mary to implant in my heart a thirst for souls! Come Holy Spirit living in Mary. May You and your beloved spouse enlarge my heart to become a reservoir and conduit of love for others. I am too preoccupied with myself! My Jesus rule in my heart and direct me to others in fraternal charity and concrete actions! Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
There is a lengthy report that Spirit Daily linked to http://themoynihanletters.com/from-the-desk-of/letter-69-mary-and-the-deceiver and it is very inspiring that our beloved Pope Francis will be consecrated May 13th and his thoughts leading up to it. How exciting this time is...thank you for journeying together.
My turn to comment! I wouldn't quite call this blind obedience, though I might simply be struggling with terminology. If we take the example of God's call to Abram out of Ur, now that was blind obedience for apparently this was Abram's first encounter with God. Our future Father-in-faith had no history, experience, or point of reference to trigger a response of trust. It was different for Joseph and Mary. It is different for us. What I do agree with is that we're blind in that we can't see around the bend. I'm usually hesitant because I'm uncertain/fearful of the cost or can't see how it ever could work out. So the primary motivator for an obedient heart is my trust level. The greater my trust, the quicker is my commitment and the more complete is my surrender. This is a key component of the consecration, too! I hope to entrust everything to Our Lady! Safe in the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart!
PS - you are an inspiration - a verse of Scripture from the Acts of the Apostles literally jumped out at me in the Sunday readings a week ago but it is of little consolation!! 2 They put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith, saying, 'We must all experience many hardships before we enter the kingdom of God.' Despite this if we have the peace of God in our hearts we have everything we need. The Holy Spirit has been telling me for weeks 'keep looking up' 'raise your gaze to Heaven' 'seek first the kingdom above' - in other words let go of worldly ambition and worries for these drag you down and God knows what we need and will provide if we keep our eyes 'fixed on Jesus, Heaven and the Saints' which is our destiny and focus but to get to the mountaintop requires that we are going against the grain, we are swimming upstream, running into the wind but when we look up, when we pray and lift our souls in prayer to the heavenly then this lightens the burden for the Spirit provides for our every need and it is God who helps us climb the mountain and the Spirit helps us to soar above the problems but we will always have burdens and difficulties for we are tested as precious metal in the furnace of sufferings, we are shaped like clay in the potter's hands for His Divine purposes and re-shaping is painful and the dislocation is needed if we are to be conformed into His image and likeness. Seek first the Kingdom of God and all of these things will be given to you as well is a truth we can rely on -- the Spirit is the source of our strength and a comfort amidst the trials of life - but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
garabandal said: ...but to get to the mountaintop requires that we are going against the grain, we are swimming upstream, running into the wind but when we look up, when we pray and lift our souls in prayer to the heavenly then this lightens the burden for the Spirit provides for our every need and it is God who helps us climb the mountain and the Spirit helps us to soar above the problems but we will always have burdens and difficulties for we are tested as precious metal in the furnace of sufferings... I like that! Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
33-Day Thought of the Day - Day 27 Home is where I am most transparent. It is where I let my hair down and where my warts show. They can be pretty ugly! We had a couple in our parish who once nicknamed us the "holy family". We all had a good laugh over that and invited them to come and stay a week with us! Then they would know! Mary already knows all about me and my family. A wonderful thing will occur with the consecration, though! I will invite her home and she will come wholeheartedly. She will bring no warts with her, only Maternal blessings! John 19: 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Thank you Garabandal, for posting this scripture...I really, really needed to hear it, especially about relying on God's providence, how he will take care of my needs. This month of May is big for me in terms of finances and living arrangements and I pray for God's providence. I would probably be less of an inspiration to you if you realized all the knots I have in my stomach over it. Learning to trust is very, very hard...but it is all in God's hands for me. I am trying to fill the water jugs just as the obedient servants at the wedding of Canna...but instead of filling them with water, I'm filling them with prayer, obedience to God's will, and job search activity so Jesus can do something with it. The beautiful thing about this consecration is there is a lot more readings about Mary interceding for us and our temporal needs than crosses...Please Mary, intercede for me!!
Woman Clothed with the Sun is also part of the consecration group! Sorry WCWTS, and thanks for your prayers Sunburst!
You are in my prayers PS. Padraig reminded me recently of a devotion to 'Our Lady, undoer of knots' and May is the month of our Lady so may she untie every knot for you! http://www.taylormarshall.com/2013/03/mary-untier-of-knots-pope-francis.html
