Concluding Week - Day 2

Consecration Week Theme: MARY'S TRIUMPH


READING


-THIRTIETH DAY-
Consecration to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament St. Peter Julian Eymard, Library Vol. 7 Pages 165-171


(Or pages 157-162 on the online book. You can find the link here:)
http://archive.org/stream/monthofourladyof00eymauoft#page/157/mode/1up



St Peter Julian Eymard's words:


Chapter title: Mary's Triumph

On the day of her glorious Assumption into heaven, Mary received the crown of all her graces. Truly we should rejoice, for, although our Mother has been taken from us, we have not lost her. We simply send her before us to prepare our place in heaven and to acquire for us certain rights over the Heart of God. ...

The triumph of Mary is also the triumph of Jesus. ...Jesus loved his mother so much,.. Mary died of love; the longing to see her Son and to be re-united with Him snapped her thread of life. Jesus is now to accord her a grand triumph. ...

Jesus himself introduces His Mother to the glorified state; He owes her compensation. ...she enters by a special gate, open for her alone;... If the twelve Apostles are the twelve gates of heaven, Mary is the royal entrance to that celestial country, the gate par excellence. O august and holy Gate!...

Jesus leads His Mother by the hand, up to the very Throne of God: "Behold, O Father, her with whom Thou art associated by Thy choice of her as My Mother-to give me my humanity!" And the Father therewith crowns her with her three most beautiful titles: Queen, Mother, and Mediatrix. But in Mary's diadem there are three pearls that shine with an even more dazzling brightness-the pearls of her humility, of her poverty, and of her suffering.

Mary was the most humble of all creatures, consequently in heaven she is now the most glorious. ...

...The demon has been forced to acknowledge that he is never sure of victory so long as he whom Mary protects retains a breath of life. She supplicates, importunes and snatches, as it were, from God the graces of mercy and pardon for the most hardened sinners.

...It was God's Will that Mary should suffer a continual martyrdom. Simeon's prophecy poisoned all her joy. From the moment of its utterance, Mary substituted for Jesus while He was still too young to suffer publicly.

...
In a word , God has crowned Mary with glory and honor as the Masterpiece of His love. He alone is greater than she: "Solo tonante minor!" But, in the midst of her glory , Mary never forgets that she is our Mother. She ascended to heaven before us to facilitate our entrance there and to conduct us thither. She herself will come for us at that supreme moment of our lives- the hour of our death-if we only summon to her aid!


Practice-Let us help to prepare those who are in their last agony to receive Holy Communion. We should notify the priest in time, and arrange a proper reception for our Lord in the homes of the poor.


Aspiration-O Mary give us Jesus Christ now, and at the hour of our death!




MEDITATION


Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and will be forever  AMEN! 

Today is the final day of our Chapter reflections. We will continue to prepare this week for the recitation of our consecration promise. The consecration can be read privately or in a group, which would be an added blessing.

Our Lady is sending us off with the concluding title in Chapter thirty, Mary's Triumph! St. Peter Julian Eymard can attest to these words in his founding of The Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. The Congregation currently blesses the Catholic Church with Priests, Brothers, Sister Servants and Lay Aggregates throughout the world. St. Peter Julian knew precisely what Mary's triumph will offer those who love her, "The Triumph of Mary is also the triumph of Jesus."  Our Blessed Mother has only one desire and that is to bring us closer to Jesus Christ truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. Mary's hope would be for the consecration preparation to inspire us to make holy hours before the Blessed Sacrament a part of our weekly prayer time. Mary has taken us somewhere through the life of St. Peter Julian Eymard. In our time of preparation we have made a promise to remain close to Mary so she may guide our lives as the good mother she is to the heart of Jesus Christ. When JESUS triumphs in our lives, this is Mary's triumph, her glory and her love.

"Mary died of love; the longing to see her Son and to be re-united with Him snapped her thread of life." This statement by St. Peter Julian is so powerful. We hear in it detachment from things of this world, not detachment from love, only detachment to the things of this world. Mary "snapped" her thread of life. May our consecration promise give us a glimpse of this kind of love for God; that we will strive through this earthly pilgrimage to snap out of this life into Heaven! This is Mary's grand triumph! St. Peter Julian continues to give us this visual to desire holiness, "If the twelve Apostles are the twelve gates of heaven...." The twelve give their lives in testimony to the life of Jesus Christ. This is the mission of the church from the beginning and our continued mission as consecrated children of Mary, that we may give witness by our lives to the Son of God. The Apostles by the twelve gates make their entrance way to the Divine Light of Heaven, yet Mary is the "gate per excellence". This seems like an invitation to the gate of heaven by the Heart of our Mother. We are guided by her in this life and carried into Eternity by her way of love. This next thought St. Peter Julian offers us should inspire us to cling to our good Mother. "The demon has been forced to acknowledge that he is never sure of victory so long as he whom Mary protects retains a breath." Jesus assures us, "I will not now speak many things with you. For the prince of this world cometh, and in me he hath not any thing." (John 14:30) The darkness has no power over light. God's Triumph comes to us in following His Son, Jesus Christ truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. God's Triumph comes to us by taking the gift of this Lady of Light, who will keep us free from all that will try to darken our hearts. We should cling to Mary. We who will consecrate our lives to her love for Jesus Christ will be re-united with him in the fullness of His glory at His appointed time for us to, with hope, enter Heaven. St. Peter Julian confirms this thought, "Mary never forgets that she is our Mother. She ascended to heaven before us to facilitate our entrance there and to conduct us thither. She herself will come for us at that supreme moment of our lives- the hour of our death-if we only summon to her aid! " Mother keep us close to you! 

Time to prepare! Our preparation continues throughout this week until the day of our Consecration. Mary's Triumph will live through her consecrated children, we who keep Jesus Eucharistic alive and well and with us through the testimonies of our lives. We live our faith by the example of God's love made manifest through us. We can not give whom we do not have. We need to keep our love for Holy Communion at the center of our lives by the Sacramental or Spiritual reception of Jesus. The consecration promise too must be kept alive, not filed or set aside for next time, but renewed with hope daily. It would be suggested to add a prayer to your day so you can recall what we have done throughout these consecration days. You may simply take on the prayer to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament daily and at the recitation of it think of your consecration promise. By this offering you will keep the relationship you have formed well nourished. The consecration promise will be as real to your heart as you keep it. We will be consecrated to Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament, what greater gift can we receive? And we will receive still more in Jesus Eucharistic. St. Peter Julian concludes with this thought, "In a word, God has crowned Mary with glory and honor as the Masterpiece of His glory and honor as the Masterpiece of His love. He alone is greater than she: "Solo tonante minor!"  Mary's Triumph of love continues through our consecrated lives of love to Jesus Eucharistic, through her. The Promise of the Father, the promise of the Son, and the promise of the Holy Spirit will shine through us by MARY.

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and death shall be no more, nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former things are passed away."  (Revelation 21:4)

The triumph of Mary is also the triumph of Jesus. St. Peter Julian Eymard, Apostle of the Eucharist, pray for us.

This is the Promise of the Father!




SEND


Make a perpetual promise to recite a spiritual communion prayer if you cannot get to daily Mass, the faith you place into the prayer is the grace you will receive from it. Continue to journal and prepare for a good and humble confession. If you are able recite the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary aloud. Ponder which verse if most prominent to you right now and pray on what Our Lady may be calling you to.




Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us.



-Laura






PRAYER


Litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary




Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world:
Have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us. (repeat at end of each phrase.)
Holy Mother of God,
Holy Virgin of virgins,
Mother of Christ,
Mother of divine grace,
Mother most pure,
Mother most chaste,
Mother inviolate,
Mother undefiled,
Mother most amiable,
Mother most admirable,
Mother of good counsel,
Mother of our Creator,
Mother of our Savior,
Virgin most prudent,
Virgin most venerable,
Virgin most renowned,
Virgin most powerful,
Virgin most merciful,
Virgin most faithful,
Mirror of justice,
Seat of wisdom,
Cause of our joy,
Spiritual vessel,
Vessel of honor,
Singular vessel of devotion,
Mystical rose,
Tower of David,
Tower of ivory,
House of gold,
Ark of the covenant,
Gate of Heaven,
Morning star,
Health of the sick,
Refuge of sinners,
Comforter of the afflicted,
Help of Christians,
Queen of angels,
Queen of patriarchs,
Queen of prophets,
Queen of apostles,
Queen of martyrs,
Queen of confessors,
Queen of virgins,
Queen of all saints,
Queen conceived without original sin,
Queen assumed into heaven,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
Queen of peace.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.


Let us pray:
Grant, O Lord God, we beseech Thee, that we Thy servants may rejoice in continual health of mind and body; and, through the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, may be freed from present sorrow, and enjoy eternal gladness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.