I was meditating on the Nativity a few days ago and thought I took away a few gems from it. As I stood looking down and Jesus in the Manger, I thought, 'What shall I say?' My first thought was a great big, 'Thank you!' For here was a baby come to Earth to die and to dei in the most horrible circumstances to save me, a poor sinner and to save all Men. He knew this but still the little baby came. I glanced to my right and there was the Virgin Mary , Raised on one arm staring lovingly at the Infant. It came to me that she had been awake all night staring and praying to him with the Greatest Love. It came to me that of course Mary had never slept. How could she? Love kept her awake. She is the perfect type for all who pray in Front of the Blessed Sacrament. Awake. Watching. Praying. Loving. Then as I looked to the moth of the Cave I saw that St Joseph was sleeping there Guarding the Mother and Child. He reminded me of my two large dogs who come into my bedroom to sleep at night. One at the foot of my bed , one at the side. Guarding. St Joseph was the perfect type of Catholic Bishops everywhere who Guard the Church.
You know I think Christmas shows what is wrong with the Church at the moment. In order to greet the New Born Baby Jesus in the Manger we have to become very,very little ourselves and so many are not very little at all. They are in fact, very,very,very big. I think almost by definition small and child like are our Catholic Surnames.
Thank you! I hope when we are in heaven we'll get a chance to travel back in time to see it all over again.
I was meditating on the Nativity again yesterday and as I looked towards Bethlehem I saw the dawn light. Then an angel in white standing beside me and he said, 'Son of the Dawn!' Then otherangels appeared around me and they repeated this. I checked this out on Google and apparently Morning Star is one of Christ's Titles. Revelation 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star https://www.christianity.com/jesus/...sus/why-is-jesus-called-the-morning-star.html
It's so curious but Son of the Dawn and Morning Star are also the main titles Satan. Which is why , for instance the Communists took the Red Star as their symbol and placed it over the Kremlin ..a former Monastery which was built in honour of Our Lady. Satan, legend has it was the God's First Creation. He wished to take God's place on High. This being Christ's Place at the Right Hand of God. Luke 10:18 The Joyful Return 17The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.” 18So He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.… Which is what is happening again in the World. Satan leading even the Church into Full Out Rebellion. Mary being the new St Michael, the General of God's Army, saying, 'Who is like unto God?' And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.' When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.' So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:8-20
We should really get set we have entered the stage of All out war between Heaven and Hell and this of course will be reflected on Earth in Terms of Wars and all kinds of Physical Catastrophes, Wars and Sign in the Heavens. Be very aware that Satan and the Demons have been granted Huge Freedom and may attack you very directly indeed. Even physically.
I remember Bl. A.C. Emmerick saying how when St. Joseph had his dream to flee from Herod, on going to tell Mary he was surprised to find her awake and praying. Another story Fr. Pacwa told about the good shepherd parable. Shepherds drove their sheep into a stone enclosure for the night, but there were no gates to to these closures. The good shepherd laid down across the the gateway and slept there protecting the sheep from the wolves. So St. Joseph was the good shepherd laying down his life to protect Jesus and Mary.
I'm so glad to read this again. Tomorrow at my Holy Hour I will think of Mary awake all night watching her Baby as the model for all Adorers. A wonderful meditation Padraig.
Thank you. I discovered a very old huge picture of Mary, the Immaculate Heart in a charity shop a few years ago and placed it in my bedroom. Last year I donated it to my Church and expected them to hand it up somewhere out back and hidden. To my delight at this time last year they constructed a special altar with the most beautiful HUge Gold Crown on top and my old picture as a centerpiece surrounded by flowers. This year again, more delight the same picture the same gorgeous flowers and Crown. I must take a picture this evening and post it. ..it's the little things...
I often think how we may be dressed in heaven. The saints indicate how we are dressed there and what jewels, will be an indicator of how we live in Earth. We shall see God Face to Face as He really is. But we shall also see others inside out as they really are too. What lies within. I think the Coronation of Mary is Part of this, of seeing the Mother of God in her own true colours, crowned with stars. But we shall have our own inner realities revealed...too... Crowned with Stars. We hail you, Oh Our LadyMary, Holy Virgin clothed with the sun Crowned with stars, the moon is under your feet In you we are given The dawn of salvation 1 - Mary New Eve and joy of your Lord, You have given birth to Jesus the savior. Through you the doors of the garden are opened to us Guide us on the way, morning star. 2 - You stayed faithful, mother at the foot of the cross, Sustain our hope and guard our faith. From the side of your son, you have drawn for us, The water and the blood that saves us from sin. 3 - Such was the joy of Eve when you were lifted, Higher than all the angles, higher than the clouds, And such is our joy, sweet Virgin Mary To contemplate in you the promise of life. 4 - Oh Immaculate Virgin, preserved from sin, With your soul and your body, you entered the heavens. Brought in glory, holy queen of the heavens, You will welcome us, one day in front of God.
