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

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

                                                                        Day Sixteen

Saturday of the Second Week of Lent

Prayers for this week, Days11-17 in Lent:

Begin each day with "Lord, I wish to consecrate myself to You, through Your Mother, Mary."

First Meditation

Meditate upon these two images of Mary.

Note how big Mary is in both pictures.  In Aidan Hart's icon of the Mother of God, she is holding a little man.  See how muscular His arms and legs are, yet look at how tenderly He caresses His Mother.  In Michaelangelo's famous statue, the Pieta, Mary is so much larger than the grown man--Jesus.  Why do you think these two artist depicted Mary as larger than Jesus?

Second Meditation

Out of all these titles of Mary, which is your favorite?  Why is this your favorite?

Gate of Heaven                             Queen of Angels                              Blessed Virgin
Mother of God                                Madonna                                         Immaculate Mary
Help of Christians                          Throne of Wisdom                            Our Lady of Sorrow
Mother of Mercy                             Theotokos                                       Mystical Rose
Ark of the Covenant                        Morning Star                                   Refuge of Sinners
Mother of the Poor                          Spouse of the Holy Spirit                 Queen of the Most Holy Rosary
Untier  of Knots

Third Meditation

Eve shut all her children out of paradise; the Virgin Mary opened wide the gates of paradise.  Contemplate on this fact, and thank God for His Divine Plan.

End the day with, "Lord, hear Your Mother's prayers."

End your day with an examination of conscience--even in bed.

Mother of God, pray for me. 

What good did I do today?

Where did I fail?

How can I do better?