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

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

                                                                      Day Twenty-Three

Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Prayers for this week, Days 23-28 in Lent:

Begin each day with "My Mother, my hope."

First Meditation

Pray the prayer Act of Reparation for Blasphemies against the Blessed Virgin Mary:

Most glorious Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, turn shine eyes in pity upon us, miserable sinners; we are sore
afflicted by the many evils that surround us in this life, but especially do we feel our hearts break within us upon hearing the dreadful insults and blasphemies uttered against thee, O Virgin Immaculate. O how these impious sayings offend the infinite Majesty of God and of His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ! How they provoke His indignation and give us cause to fear the terrible effects of His vengeance! Would that the sacrifice of our lives might avail to put an end to such outrages and blasphemies; were it so, how gladly we should make it, for we desire, O most holy Mother, to love thee and to honor thee with all our hearts, since this is the will of God. And just because we love thee, we will do all that is in our power to make thee honored and loved by all men. In the meantime do thou, our merciful Mother, the supreme comforter of the afflicted, accept this our act of reparation which we offer thee for ourselves and for all our families, as well as for all who impiously blaspheme thee, not knowing what they say. Do thou obtain for them from Almighty God the grace of conversion, and thus render more manifest and more glorious thy kindness, thy power and thy great mercy. May they join with us in proclaiming thee blessed among women, the Immaculate Virgin and most compassionate Mother of God. Amen.

Hail Mary three times-An indulgence of 5 years

Second Meditation

Meditate upon this picture. What do you think it's about?  Make up a narrative about this picture.

Third Meditation

This is a picture of Our Lady Undoer of Knots. Pope Francis, when studying as a priest in Germany, was attracted to this painting.  The story behind it involves a married couple who seemed to have irreconsolable differences.  Their parish priest tried to help them.  The priest prayed to the Blessed Virgin and told the Blessed Mother about the bonds of matrimoney and how they were about to be untied.  Peace eventually was restored between the husband and wife.  It was like a tight knot, angry in anger and then suddenly it was loosened and smoothed out.  The grandson of this couple commissioned this painting.

      Father Jorge Bergoglio brought this image to his home country in Argentina.  Since then, the devotion has spread.  

End the day with the prayer, "We fly to thy patronage, O Holy Mother of God; despice not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Amen"

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

 

What good did I do today?

Where did I fail?

How can I do better?