I came across a chapter in a book on prayer by a very famous and saintly Spanish Mystical theologian called, 'Mary and Prayer'. It took me aback a little because I had never specifically thought about Our Blessed Lady and our prayer/mystical life before. But last night I lay awake thinking of this. The first influence I can think of in this is in conversions. There are a huge, huge number of conversions to the Faith clearly down to Mary many of them miraculous. So much so in fact I suspect the majority of current conversions can be accounted to her. So we can see she is very,very active as a Fisher of Souls in our present days. By conversions I don;t mean simply of other Faiths becoming Catholic I mean mostly Catholic who convert into a living personal relationship with Jesus / Whose Faith becomes real so to speak. Who through Mary start down the road of prayer. A good example of this comes from Seminaries round the World which report that most of their vocations are coming from men who travelled to Medugorje now probably the greatest Marian pilgrimage site in the World. Along with this there are reports of persecution of seminarians from clerical authorities who say the rosary who show a Devotion to the Mother of God. But it would be a mistake to think Mary simply works these conversions and then goes away. It is clear that Mary brings about conversion and then leads the soul deeper and deeper in the ways of prayer.
I can attest to this! Cradle Catholic here, fell far, far, far away from holy mother church. Started praying the rosary and within months made a general confession and have never been closer to, not only Mary, but her Son. It's been wild my radical transformation but I still have very far to go. Last night I reflected on the holiness and power of her name. How we say it twice in the "Haily Mary" and how her name encloses the most holy name of Jesus. I wear the miraculous medal for many reasons and there so many amazing stories of conversions but this by far is a personal favorite:
For Protestants I think it is reading the Fathers of the Church that is the big doorway because they are just not open to Mary's guidance..as yet. But for cradle Catholics I think Mary is the Big Doorway. Later on Mary hands the reins over to Jesus and fades more to the back ground as she did at the Wedding Feast of Cana when she said, 'Do as He tells you'. But she is still very much there as for example with the rosary. I tend to think of Mary as the Moon to the Sun of Christ. Kind of shedding radiance in the back ground. Especially I think in times of Darkness. It reminds me of my own mother who had seven sons and three daughters. I think when we were young my mother had the biggest role but as we grew older and became young teens my father kind of came more to the fore. I think it can be a little like that in the Spiritual Life. But when things turn Dark we tend to head back to Our Mother. Especially I think when people are dying or in severe problems or in the Dark Night. Mary's mothering role comes forth again. Of course this may vary from country to country. Here in Spain Mary seems always very much to the fore. Motherhood and family are always big biggies here.
I think one thing that alerted me to the fact we had real problems in the Church was when a brand new ultra modern Church was built in our Parish and there was no statue of Our Lady in it. I asked the Parish Priest why not and he told me it was for health and safety reasons in case it fell over and hurt someone. I reminded him that I had been in Catholic Churches all over the World but had never yet been in one that did not have a statue of Mary and that they all seemed to manage Health and Safety issues, but he didn't budge. That's when I twigged that there was something very seriously wrong going on. Mary just didn't fit in. Mary wasn't with the programme.
The interior life of our Lady touches the very thresholds of the infinite for she is uniquely related to the Holy Trinity. In some mysterious way our Lady reveals the very nature of God Himself.
I often think of the image of the Woman in Revelation 12 as a kind of visual theology: Mary is clothed with the sun, which represents God in His essence and splendor. Being clothed in the brightest light, she allows herself to be absorbed by it, while at the same time serving as the channel through which its rays (graces) are distributed to the world—yet without ever overshadowing the Sun Himself (Christ). In the early centuries of the Church, there was a strong emphasis on visual theology, which allowed for the veneration of icons and had a partly didactic role for a population that was still largely illiterate. In my opinion, this is something that is still lacking today. Understanding Mary through iconography helps highlight the role of her prerogatives granted by God, for example, as the Woman Clothed with the Sun and the Queen Consort in the heavenly court. https://responsorialpsalmcatholic.w...tands-the-queen-in-garments-of-gold-psalm-44/
The is something very much of this in the Hail Holy Queen. The Salve Regina. Everytime I pray it I love to picture myself in a little prayer nook in front of a large icon of Our Blessed Mother with loads of nice thick large candle burning away. Just being there. The Theotokos.
In my in-laws Italian neighborhood, they used to do a Marian feast day every year in August, really a week long festival with a Marian procession. One year they just dumped the statue in their front yard and left it there. My MIL called the church-the priest didn't want her back in the church. She called other churches and monasteries but nobody wanted her. After my in-laws passed, a new priest wanted her back. The statue was restored and was reinstalled in a special mass. I hold a lot of hope for the young priests now. Mary has come forth at this stage to lead us all to victory. Who* is this that comes forth like the dawn, beautiful as the white moon, pure as the blazing sun, fearsome as celestial visions?” MARY
One time I was in a little village in the mountains south of Rome and called into the tiny little Church there. I love to explore strange Churches. But I got a real shock when in a alcove at the back of the Church were six large statues of Our Lady exactly the same like a little army. But looking a little closer I realised that although they were all the same they were all dressed differently. Putting two and two together I suspect they were each for different Processions or Fiestas during the course of the year. Imagine six different Marian procession in such a tiny village! I am sorry we do not have much of that in Ireland. But the Spanish love this too..and they can be so beautiful. I love it when they shout, 'Viva!' and wave their hankies.
I feel a bit guilty that I have not thought more about Mary's role in our prayer life before. To remember her help is to encourage gratitude and thanks giving. Our Lady told me she would teach me how to pray, especially the Rosary and so she did. I think the biggest lesson was to say the Rosary slowly and with intent and meaning. To be attentive. If we are talking to someone and they are day dreaming or distracted we realise this at once. The same when we talk to God. Our hearts and minds should always be where they are supposed to be, at the feet of God. Not partly there but wholly there. Looking back on it Mary in teaching me this was so like a mother teaching a very,very small child. But this is not a problem for Mary for her truly is a Mother. No matter how small or low our condition she will lower herself to it so she can raise us up in her arms.
Please if people could.I know it's trivial with the real problems in some people's lives but if ye could spare a moment. I had a interview for a job today that I'd love to get.I believe id did mediocre please say a prayer to mary that if it's her sons will I will be considered and get it.thanks everyone
Remember, oh most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence we fly unto thee....
