The One True Faith

Claudio Ridofi--Wikipedia                                                         Mary at the foot of the Cross                                                       Santa Maria in Portuno, Corinaldo Consecration to Mary for the 21st Century/A                                              Lenten Journey                                                                         Day Ten
Saturday of the First Week of Lent
Prayers for this week, Days 5-10 in Lent:
Begin each day with, "Mary, Mother of God, help me with your prayers." End each day with, "Mother of God, pray for me," and don't forget your examen.
First Meditation
Have you gone to confession yet?  C'mon.  Push yourself.  Look what Mary suffered watching her Son suffer.  I can't imagine her heart break.  As a parent, I could hardly bear watching my child strike out, in a baseball game. "Oh Mary, how could you stand it?"  Meditate …

Day Nine Consecration to Mary for the 21st Century/A Lenten Journey                                                                       Day Nine
                                                                                               No Meat Today
Friday of the First Week of Lent
Prayers for this week, Days 5-10 in Lent:
Begin each day with, "Mary, Mother of God, help me with your prayers." End each day with, "Mother of God, pray for me," and don't forget your examen.
First Meditation
Mary, Mother of God, help me with your prayers. Look at people's faces all day today.  Every time you see a sad or agitated face, pray "Mary, Mother of God, help them with your prayers."  
Second Meditation
Contemplate the words of St. Augustine, who teaches that the world was unworthy to receive Jesus directly through His hands.  Only Mary was worthy enough.  The Father gave His Son to Mary in order for the rest of the world to receive Him, through her.  Do y…

Day Eight Consecration to Mary for the 21st Century/A Lenten Journey 
Day Eight
Thursday of the First Week of Lent
Prayers for this week, Days 5-10 in Lent:
Begin each day with, "Mary, Mother of God, help me with your prayers." End each day with, "Mother of God, pray for me," and don't forget your examen.
First Meditation
St. Louis de Montfort tells us that if Jesus is not known, it is because Mary is not known.  Read his words. "One reason Jesus is not known as He ought to be is because Mary is unknown.  If then, as is certain, the knowledge and the kingdom of Jesus Christ are to come into the world, they will be but a necessary consequence of the knowledge and the kingdom of the most holy Virgin Mary, who brought Him into the world for the first time and will make His second Advent full of splendor."  (St. Louis de Montfort's TrueDevotion Consecration to Mary, by Fr. Helmuts Libietis, Angelus Press, Kansas City, 1998, p.153.)
Second Meditation
…

Day Seven Consecration to Mary for the 21st Century/A Lenten Journey
Day Seven
Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
Prayers for this week, Days 5-10 in Lent:
Begin each day with, "Mary, Mother of God, help me with your prayers." End each day with, "Mother of God, pray for me," and don't forget your examen.
First Meditation
Start thinking and preparing yourself to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Look up the times in area churches.  Promise yourself to go.  Also start thinking what to confess.  If you need a thorough examination of conscience, do a google search for one.  I think http://www.focusequip.org/assets/pdf/examination-of-conscience.pdf  is a good one, even though this examen is geared toward college students, I an old lady, use it too. Second Meditation
Pray one decade of the Rosary asking for Mary's assistance to get you to go to Confession.
Our Father Ten Hail Mary's Glory Be
Third Meditation
Meditate upon St. Louis de Montfort's…

Day Six Consecration to Mary for the 21st Century/A Lenten Journey Day Six
Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
Prayers for this week, Days 5-10 in Lent:
Begin each day with, "Mary, Mother of God, help me with your prayers." End each day with, "Mother of God, pray for me," and don't forget your examen.
First Meditation   Look at this picture of a statue of Mary.  What do you think of her expression and posture?  What is she doing?  Why is she dressed as she is?  Make up a story of why Mary is posed as she is.   
                                          Second Meditation
Meditate upon this prayer ejaculation for the rest of the day.  "Am I worthy of God to love?  What do you think?
Third Meditation
When you have time read the story behind this picture of the statue of Our Lady of La Salette.  It's from Wikipoedia.  
In 1846 the village of La Salette consisted of eight or nine scattered hamlets. The population was about 800, principally small farmers with …

Day Five Consecration to Mary for the 21st Century/A Lenten Journey
Day Five
Monday of the First Week of Lent
Prayers for this week, Days 5-10 in Lent:
Begin each day with, "Mary, Mother of God, help me with your prayers." End each day with, "Mother of God, pray for me," and don't forget your examen.
First Meditation  
Meditate upon the fact that Jesus gave up everything for you.  He was even stripped of His dignity, as He died naked upon the cross--exposed to ridicule.  You must do something for Him.  You must!  Today think of your options and commit yourself to doing something--some ministy---anything: altar and sanctuary care, baptism prep, bereavement, Bible sharing/study, devotions, Adoration, food pantry, Knights of Columbus, Lector, Eucharistic Ministers, Legion of Mary, Holy Name Society, Marriage prep, R.C.I.A., rosary devotions, usher, respect life committees, prayer shawls, St. Vincent de Paul Society, web site committee, youth ministry, parish spor…

First Sunday in Lent It's a day of rest.  Go to Mass.

What a busy week!  We're buried under snow.  We've shoveled, sanded, salted, and chipped.  We can't wait for Spring!  This week was busy because I helped distribute ashes on Ash Wednesday.  I volunteered at the library.  I also went to the wake and funeral of a friend.  I also am posting an on-going prayer.  It's a consecration, which I define as a special prayer promising to devote oneself.  In this case, it's a consecration to the Virgin Mary.  I'm doing this for Lent, for myself, and whomever is so moved to join me.
     Now it's time to link to the blog This And That And The Other Thing.  I post what I did for the week, along with other bloggers.  I posted daily, but it's all

Consecration to Mary for the 21st Century/A Lenten Journey

Day Four Consecration to Mary for the 21st Century/A Lenten Journey
Saturday after Ash Wednesday
Ejaculatory prayer to pray all day, "Come Holy Spirit."

First Meditation
Pray the Angelus.  This is a prayer which is traditionally prayed three times a day (6:00 AM, Noon, 6:00PM), but you may pray it when you can.  The practice comes from the twelfth century monastic life.  The bells would ring three times a day, and the monks, and the people around the monastery (like Jean-Francois Millet's famous picture), would stop whatever they were doing and take a minute to pray.  This is what I'm asking you to do. Stop what you are doing and pray the Angelus.
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
 Hail Mary, full of grace,
    The Lord is with Thee;
    Blessed art thou among women,
    And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
    Holy Mary, Mother of God,
    Pray for us sinners,
    Now and at the hour of our death. Amen
V. Behold the h…