Day Twenty-One Consecration to Mary for the 21st Century/A Lenten Journey

 Day Twenty-One Consecration to Mary for the 21st Century/A Lenten Journey

                                                                        Day Twenty-One

Friday of the Third Week of Lent

No Meat

Prayers for this week, Days17 - 22 in Lent:

Begin each day with "Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you."

First Meditation

Compliment everyone you meet today.  If you can't think of a reason to praise someone, at least say, "You look good in that color.  (Well, it's something!)  The idea is that everyone you encounter today, should feel better after meeting you.

Second Meditation

Ponder Pope Francis' words in his homily in 2015 New Year's Mass: "Christ and His Mother are inseparable."

Third Meditation

Stabat Mater Dolorosa is considered one of the greatest Latin hymns of all time.  It is most often sung at Stations of the Cross.  Meditate on the lyrics.

AT, the Cross her station keeping,

stood the mournful Mother weeping,

close to Jesus to the last.

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,

all His bitter anguish bearing,

now at length the sword has passed.

O how sad and sore distressed

was that Mother, highly blest,

of the sole-begotten One.

Christ above in torment hangs,

she beneath beholds the pangs

of her dying glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,

whelmed in miseries so deep,

Christ's dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain

from partaking in her pain,

in that Mother's pain untold?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,

she beheld her tender Child

All with scourges rent:

For the sins of His own nation,

saw Him hang in desolation,

Till His spirit forth He sent.

O thou Mother! fount of love!

Touch my spirit from above,

make my heart with thine accord:

Make me feel as thou hast felt;

make my soul to glow and melt

with the love of Christ my Lord.

Holy Mother! pierce me through,

in my heart each wound renew

of my Savior crucified:

Let me share with thee His pain,

who for all my sins was slain,

who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with thee,

mourning Him who mourned for me,

all the days that I may live:

By the Cross with thee to stay,

there with thee to weep and pray,

is all I ask of thee to give.

Virgin of all virgins blest!,

Listen to my fond request:

let me share thy grief divine;

Let me, to my latest breath,

in my body bear the death

of that dying Son of thine.

Wounded with His every wound,

steep my soul till it hath swooned,

in His very Blood away;

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,

lest in flames I burn and die,

in His awful Judgment Day.

Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,

by Thy Mother my defense,

by Thy Cross my victory;

While my body here decays,

may my soul Thy goodness praise,

safe in paradise with Thee. Amen.

End the day by praying, "Mary conceived without sin, pray for me."

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?