The Scourging at The Pillar

The Second Sorrowful Mystery.

Posted by dad.

They bound you to a post in Pilate's court and scrounged you mercilessly. Following each strike, wounds remained. Your blood flowed; you were loosing your strength and were in pain. You offered all this for us in order to free us from evil and sin.

How does one identify with this kind of suffering? Even if you tried you would come up miserly short. When I was asked to reflect on this decade of the rosary I found myself despairing because it brought to mind the greatest sorrow in my own life, the loss of my 3 year old son who was struck down by a station wagon in front of our home. The driver came around the corner of our street with a load of 2x4’s hanging out his rear window. My son and a young neighborhood boy were out front at the time. The neighbor boy took my son by the hand to take him across the street to play. The driver was watching the shifting lumber that was not tied down in his car and he did not see the boys crossing the street. At that instant our lives were forever dramatically changed. I could not forget or forgive that person.

For years I wished that moment would be taken away; my anger grew and this affected the rest of my family. The only thing that kept me going was to know my son was in a better place with his heavenly Father and that some day I would be with him in heaven.

Christ is always close to the broken hearted and in his infinite mercy he sent my father his own mother, Mary. Mary, who stood under the cross of her own Son with a heart full of anguish, who's faith was great even in her suffering, held dad close to here maternal heart and embraced his sorrow so that his heart would not grow cold.

Thank you Lord for giving us your son Jesus so that we may all be united together in
Heaven.

Lord, I offer my prayers for those who, in their hearts, carry the wounds they receive in their lives. Jesus, break those wounds that may cause them to fall into new evils, scourging themselves and others. Jesus, break the chains of evil and sin so that your peace, love and forgiveness may come to dwell in every heart. I offer my prayers to you for parents who have scourged their children with drunken behavior, faithlessness, drugs, gambling, fights and divorces. Please free families from these evils. Grant that all of their wounds be healed so that we may experience peace, joy and both spiritual and physical health. Amen. 1

1 Fr. Slavko Barbaric, O.F.M

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

 It was through the Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus came into the world, and it is also through her that he must reign in the world.

– St. Louis de Montfort

I am the Mother of God and Queen of Peace....BVM, Medjugorje, October 12, 1981

There could be no better way to start the new year than to honor Our Blessed Mother,the Mother of God and Queen of Peace.

 "Mary, the all-holy ever-virgin Mother of God, is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the Spirit in the fullness of time. For the first time in the plan of salvation and because his Spirit had prepared her, the Father found the dwelling place where his Son and his Spirit could dwell among men. In this sense the Church's Tradition has often read the most beautiful texts on wisdom in relation to Mary. Mary is acclaimed and represented in the liturgy as the "Seat of Wisdom." — Catechism of the Catholic Church 721

"Dear children, today, the first day of the New Year, I invite all of you to live the messages which I give you. You know, dear children, that because of you, I have stayed here this long in order to teach you to walk on the road to holiness. Therefore, dear children, pray constantly, and live all the messages which I give you. I do it with a great love for God ~ and for you." BVM, Medjugorje, January 1, 1987

You have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. Col 3:9-10

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new. 2 Cor 5:17

Our Lady calls us today to live her messages anew, for she knows that are the key to the spiritual gifts we so desire, an abiding peace and happiness, a spirit of love.

As Our Lady gave her humble "yes" to God, today we pray that we give our "yes" to living the messages of prayer, peace, penance and fasting.

On this feast of Mary, the Mother of God, let us recommit ourselves to her messages and her plan of salvation.

Adapted from:

Medjugorje Day by Day, Richard J Beyer

Mary Immaculate And America

 

My children, it is only because many years ago you consecrated your country to Me that you have not received the destruction that is gradually coming closer to you from the outside world. But if you turn from Me now I no longer will be able to shield you."

 ~Our Lady, July 1, 1971

The above quote is from a private revelation (not sure to whom) and while we do not need to believe in private revelations, these words seem to ring very true for us today.

 In 1846,the first Council of Baltimore formally declared the Blessed Virgin Mary conceived without sin, the patroness of the United States. This formal declaration came eight years before Pope Pius IX declared the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.

We in this country need to turn to Mary. As patroness of this country she is also a protector. This country comes closer every day to the destruction referred to in the quote. 

Our Lady's sole desire is to bring us closer to her Son. If we turn to her, she will surely do this, not just individually but as a nation.

We pray to our patron saints for guidance and protection in our lives. Let us pray, as one nation under God, to Our Lady under the title of the Immaculate Conception for guidance and protection. She will lead us to Jesus who is our ultimate Savior and Protector.

Prayer Entrusting the United States to Mary Immaculate

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our President and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy, born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the tempted, sinners—on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give ourselves to you. Protect us from every harm. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God.
Amen.

(Excerpt from a prayer attributed to Archbishop John Carroll, first bishop of the United States)

Thank you Karinann, Daughter of the King, for sharing this beautiful blog today.

Remebering Fatima

May 13, 1917

"I have come to exhort the faithful to change their lives, to avoid grieving Our Lord by sin; to pray the Rosary.”  Lady of Fatima

Our Lady of Fatima asked the children if the would pray and make sacrifice for sinners, to which they said "Yes". This was the beginning of a new life for them, for their sole purpose in life was to pray and make sacrifices for sinners. As young as they were, they would even give their lunches to the sheep as a sacrifice and other acts of mortification.

Application~ What sacrifice am I willing to make for Our Lord? How long has it been since I have offered a family rosary for the souls of others?

Prayer:   

Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls into heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy.  Amen.

Citation: Our Lady of Fatima, Cultural Catholic

All Things Begin With "Yes"

"Dear children! Also today I am with you and I am looking at you and blessing you, and I am not losing hope that this world will change for the good and that peace will reign in the hearts of men. Joy will begin to reign in the world because you have opened yourselves to my call and to God’s love. The Holy Spirit is changing a multitude of those who have said ‘yes’. Therefore I desire to say to you: thank you for having responded to my call." BVM, January 25, 2011 Message to Marija



True, maximum freedom does not mean saying No. It means saying yes, opening up and conforming one’s will to that of God. 1


All beginnings start with yes and there are as many opportunities to start over as there are new days in our lives. Each day Jesus calls us to follow him just like he called Simon Peter, Andrew and the other disciples. He calls us, ordinary people, to do extraordinary things in his name. He calls us to bring hope to a world that has little hope and love to those that have little love.

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35

Adam, who stands in for humanity, “thought that No was the top of freedom; only someone who says No is truly free, and so says No to God.”2

Mary on the other hand said “let it be done to me according to your word.” She said yes!

God of all people, help us to live this day in joyful hope. Grant us the grace to see it as a gift from you to be shared with those you send our way. Thank you for Mother Mary, the lodestar of this new day, clothed with the sun and the moon at her feet. Her “yes” to You continues to lead and guide us to her Son.

1,2 Pope Benedict XVI, Saying 'Yes' to God Brings True Freedom

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

In October of 1981, the Blessed Virgin gave the following message:

 I am the Mother of God and the Queen of Peace.. BVM, Medjugorje October 12, 1981

And on New Year's Day in 1987, she said:

"Dear children, today, the first day of the New Year, I invite all of you to live the messages which I give you. You know, dear children, that because of you, I have stayed here this long in order to teach you to walk on the road to holiness.

Therefore, dear children, pray constantly, and live all the messages which I give you. I do it with a great love for God- and for you. BVM, Medjugorje, January 1, 1987                                  

Living anew the messages during the New Year speaks of fresh beginnings. From Paul's letter to the Colossians :

You have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator   (Col 3:9-10).

And from 2 Corinthians: So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new (2 Cor 5:17).

It's appropriate that on this New Year's Day, Our Lady calls us to live her messages anew, for she knows they are the key to the spiritual gifts we so desire - an abiding peace and happiness, a sprit of love.

Living the messages of prayer, peace, penance, and fasting means, as St. Paul says today, to be formed anew in the image of the Creator overtime. It means a new perspective, a new attitude toward life and death, where, as Revelation says, "He shall wipe every tear from their eyes," and make all things new.

On this feast of Mary, the Mother of God, let us recommit ourselves to her messages and her plan of salvation, which she is giving us, as she says today, with great love toward God. 1

            1     Richard J. Beyer, Medjugorje Day by Day

Her Loving Gaze is Upon Us

Our Lord entrusts each of us into the care of the most blessed of all women- Mary, His mother.

“How delicate a mother’s heart really is and how it shows its tenderness in a thousand little cares that no on thinks about.”

The Story of a Soul, Saint Therese “the Little Flower”

Since the moment of our conception, we have been under the gaze of Our Lady. Even now, at this very moment, her loving gaze is upon us.

Her love for us is pure and holy. Her maternal love finds expression in guiding us to Jesus. Mary is all about Jesus, and what her heart desires is whatever Jesus desires for us, namely, that we do the Father’s will.  Sister Sophia, O.C.D., Spirit of Carmel, spring 2010

"Dear children! At this time, when in a special way you are praying and seeking my intercession, I call you, little children, to pray so that through your prayers I can help you to have all the more hearts be opened to my messages. Pray for my intentions. I am with you and I intercede before my Son for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call." BVM Monthly Message, April 25, 2010

I offer you my every thought word and deed this day as a prayer for your intentions, oh holy Mother Mary. May every heart be open to your messages.  In Jesus name I pray.

How Many Times

“A light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.” He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”….”I am Jesus, whom your are persecuting.” ( From Acts 9:1-20)

How many times Lord have I persecuted you without thinking?

Perhaps it was in the grudge that I held against a brother or sister, a co-worker, a neighbor or a spouse; the sin of pride can run so deep.

Perhaps it was the negative thought about another that I shared with someone else, leading them into the pit of sin with me.

Perhaps it was the time that I did not speak out the truth, but instead took the wide road of comfort, choosing to be liked rather than despised by those around me.

Lord, as you sent Ananias to Saul to lay hands on him that he would regain his sight,

Send your spirit to me that the scales may fall from my eyes and I may regain my sight.

“My Son suffers very much because men do not want to be reconciled. They have not listened to me. Be converted. Be reconciled.” Message from the BVM 10-15-83

Praise the Lord, all you nations; glorify him, all you peoples.
For steadfast is his kindness toward us, and the fidelity of the Lord endures forever. Psalm 117

One Heart and Mind

Let us shout out our joy and happiness, and give glory to God, the Lord of all, because he is our King, alleluia. (Rv 19:7, 6)

The community of believers was of one heart and mind,

and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,

but they had everything in common.

With great power the Apostles bore witness

to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,

and great favor was accorded them all. (Acts 4: 32, 33)

The early Christians lived out the message of Jesus Christ not just in word, but in deed.In joy and humility they shared all they had and no one was in need of anything. They were living witnesses to the faith


Mother Mary,

Please intercede that the light of the Risen Lord makes us like you-joyful witnesses of the Gospel and full of hope.

"Dear children! Also today I desire to call you all to be strong in prayer and in the moments when trials attack you. Live your Christian vocation in joy and humility and witness to everyone. I am with you and I carry you all before my Son Jesus, and He will be your strength and support. Thank you for having responded to my call." BVM March 25, 2010 Message, Medjugorje

Be it done to me according to your Word

Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above,

Like gentle rain let the skies drop it down.

Let the earth open and salvation bud forth;

Let justice also spring up!

I, the Lord have created this. Isaiah 45:8

Be it done according to your Word! (Lk 1:38)

For thirty three days I have been praying for the Total Consecration of my family to Jesus through Mary.

Today on this feast of the Annunciation, before the holy tabernacle of our Lord Jesus Christ, I consecrate them officially to  Jesus through you, oh mother Mary. You alone are their mother, their protector, their intercessor. Be the mother to them that I never was. Hold them close to your motherly heart and present them to your Son daily, that they may grow closer to him daily.

May their love for your Son and their love for others blossom like the flowers of spring, attracting all those you send their way. May their hearts be filled with peace, that they may become bearers of peace to all they meet each day. May their joy be so contagious that all they meet might catch it. And may their arms always be open, as your son Jesus arms are always open to comfort those in need.

In His name I pray.
Amen

Ask not what your mother can do for you...

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13: 1

Last night my husband and I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a home mass with a group of eleven dear friends. The evening started with the recitation of the rosary, then mass, finished with a wonderful meal.

When I walked into the kitchen to help with the meal preparation I saw a plaque on the wall; it was a Mother’s day gift from the host's son and when I read it I thought of our Blessed Mother.


"Ask not what your Mother can do for you,
But what you can do for your Mother. "

This simple message said so much to me. I thought of a mother's love and it was a gentle reminder to pray for for the gift of love, not only for myself and my family, but for the world as a whole.


"Dear children! Today I call you to love with all your heart and with all your soul. Pray for the gift of love, because when the soul loves it calls my Son to itself. My Son does not refuse those who call Him and who desire to live according to Him. Pray for those who do not comprehend love, who do not understand what it means to love. Pray that God may be their Father and not their Judge. My children, you be my apostles, be my river of love. I need you. Thank you." BVM , Medjugorje, March 18, 2010 Message

Pray Before the Crucifix

“From tonight I ask you to pray even more. Meditate on the wounds of Jesus. Pray as much as you can in front of the crucifix.” BVM Medjugore 03/20/89

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,

but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength (1 Cor 1:18; 22-25)

Mary asks us to contemplate the wounds of Christ, for they speak so clearly of his love. Christ’s entire life and especially his passion were one unequaled act of divine love.

The mystery of the cross, for truly it is a mystery of the deepest currents of love, can only be comprehended through prayer.1

O Jesus! I remember the abundant outpouring of Blood which You shed. From Your Side, pierced with a lance by a soldier, Blood and Water poured forth until there was not left in Your Body a single Drop; and finally the very substance of Your Body withered and the marrow of Your Bones dried up.


Through this bitter Passion and through the outpouring of Your Precious Blood, I beg You to pierce my heart so that my tears of penance and love may be my bread day and night. May I be entirely converted to You; may my heart be Your perpetual resting place; may my conversation be pleasing to You; and may the end of my life be so praiseworthy that I may merit Heaven and there with Your saints praise You forever. Amen.    Prayer of St. Bridget


1 Medjugoreje Day by Day, A Daily Meditation Book Based on the Messages of Our Lady of Medjugorje. Richard J. Beyer

Intercession

"Then He spoke of exterminating them, but Moses, His chosen one, withstood Him in the breach to turn back His destructive wrath." –Psalm 106:23


As I read today’s passage from the book of Exodus, the word “intercession” comes to mind. Though Israel turns from God, Moses intercedes on behalf of the people and asks God to show them mercy.

Like Israel, we too have turned away from God many times in our lives, individually and as a nation. Our molten calf might not be made of wood and gold, but what we tend to worship can come in many forms; these things lead us more toward self interest and less toward the kingdom and glory of God.

Thankfully, God in His mercy is aware of our weakness and He sends us wonderful angels of intercession to help us find our way back to Him. These angels come in many forms, such as family members, friends or people in our Christian community. But above all these, He sends us the Blessed Mother, Queen of the Angels, Mother of the Living God.

Mary intercedes for us before the Father and she is always asking us to intercede for the needs of the world as well.

“Have them believe and pray; I cannot help him who does not pray and does not sacrifice…The more you pray and fast for the same intention, the greater is the grace and the mercy of God.” BVM Medjugore 8/18/1982


May we all become intercessors for others and the world as a whole.

Vocare

I'm not sure if it was the snoring of our dog or if it was the restlessness of my husband that roused me from my sleep last night. What I do know is that it was 3:00 a.m. and I was staring into the darkness of our room rather than enjoying the peacefulness of my dreams.


Turning to my side and tucking the blankets tightly around me, I tried to go back to sleep, but a single word kept playing over and over in my head, "vocation". I had read an article before going to bed this night entitled “The Vocation of Christians in American Public Life” which led me to reflect on my own vocation as a Catholic wife, mother, grandmother, and woman in the world today.

As I thought about the vocation I have been called to, I thought about the strong women of faith in my own life, the ones closes to me that have led me by their examples, like my mother and grandmother. I thought of the many women of faith that I have prayed with in our times of need; I thought of the women of courage and conviction I have read about like Mother Teresa and Dorothy Day.

The woman I thought about the most however, was our Blessed Mother Mary. Called to be the “Mother of the Redeemer”, Mary showed us how to fulfill our call to spritual motherhood by becoming the handmaid of the Lord. She was ready to serve God according to His will.

I came to realize that in following Mary's example our vocation cannot be a passive one, but an active call to action; after all her beloved Son was considered quite radical.

According to St. Louis de Montfort’s "The Secret of Mary", this calling requires a sincere desire for the gift of humility, unceasing prayer, complete self-denial, abandonment to divine Providence, and obedience to the will of God.

This is a tall order for most of us; it sure is for me, and the grace and help of God is absolutely necessary for us to put these virtues to practice. But, just like anything we strive to achieve; we must first desire to achieve it.

God bless you and yours always.




Take From Ave Maris Stella

Virgin all excelling,

mildest of the mild,

free from guilt preserve us

meek and undefiled.

Keep our life all spotless,

make our way secure

till we find in Jesus,

joy for evermore.

Inseparable

A soft blanket surrounds me;

My mother’s arms embrace me.
Softly, she whispers of your love for me.

Stars twinkle brightly; moon high above,
Peace is my pillow;
I reflect on your love.

Sleep has now found me;
You are beside me,
Together we will share these hours of the night.

Until the morning light wakes me,
Safe I will be in the arms of my mothers,
As she whispers to me.


Devotion to Mary means Devotion to Jesus.