Consecration Week 2 - Day 4

Week 2 theme: "MOTHER OF GOD"


READING

-ELEVENTH DAY-
Consecration to Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament St. Peter Julian Eymard, Library Vol. 7 Pages 66-71

(Or pages 77-82 on the online book. You can find the link here:)
http://archive.org/stream/monthofourladyof00eymauoft#page/77/mode/1up


St Peter Julian Eymard's words:

Chapter title: MARY AT BETHLEHEM

The mystery of Bethlehem is full of love and sweetness. ...Let us enter into the attitude of the mind of the Most Blessed Virgin.

Let us unite with Mary in her expectation, during the hours that preceded the blessed moment of her Son's birth. ...

Mary knew from the Prophecies all the suffering that awaited her Son, and she was ready to serve Him in His way, and to follow Him everywhere. Let us imitate this spirit of self-sacrifice, this true love.

...St. Joseph's sorrow must indeed have been very great! It was incumbent on him as head of the family to find shelter for his holy spouse, and we can well imagine what must have been his anxiety, his distress, when, denied admittance everywhere, he was forced to lead Mary, about to bring for her the Child,...Mary was happy even in the midst of these rebuffs.....

...Man is disturbed; he seeks human helps, and when he has exhausted all known means in vain, God leads him where He wills. ...It is in this state of abandonment that we feel most sensibly the goodness of God. ...The Israelites received more favors in the desert than in the Promised Land, God was nearer to them there;...

...Who indeed could be more beautiful than Mary, even exteriorly? She is that pure lily of the valley that has grown in an immaculate soil. Mary is the paradise of God!...Let us now penetrate into Mary's soul and contemplate its beauty. There is beauty enough there to give us unending happiness when we come to know it well. ...She becomes the ostensorium of the Word Incarnate. She is the channel by which Jesus comes to us!

...The Eucharist began at Bethlehem in Mary's arms. It was she who brought to humanity the Bread for which it was famishing, and which alone can nourish it. ...She accepts God's will, and, bearing Him in her arms, herself prepares for us the Victim of Calvary-that Victim of our Altars. ....

Some days later it is the Magi who bring their tribute of adoration and their royal gifts. Mary offers her Babe to their love: it is in her arms that they find Him.
...
​
To find Jesus in the arms of His Mother, to unite oneself to Mary's sentiments as she presses Him to her heart- O what a ravishing moment! Oh, wonderful moment in which all else is forgotten, in which we no longer desire anything else, not even heaven -for we possess it already, we have Jesus and Mary.

Practice- Let us constantly ask Mary to give us Jesus.

Aspiration-Hail, Mary, holy mountain upon which the Eucharistic Lamb found rich pasturage!


MEDITATION

St. Peter Julian leaves us in this chapter with, "we no longer desire anything else, not even heaven-for we possess it already, we have Jesus and Mary." The consolation of every soul can be found in these words which direct us to the heart of the Eucharist. Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament can only bring us to Jesus Eucharistic! The poverty of our spirit will be nourished on this Divine reality." Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 5:3) The Kingdom of heaven is already found in the poverty of our spirit. We long for freedom, the true liberty that comes from being born of Mary. Jesus was born in poverty. We too must be born into this poverty of the Father's love, the poverty of our obedience to the will of God in our lives. We, like the Magi, pay homage by acceptance to God's will, His love and life in us. St. Joseph was helpless; his poverty led him to hope in the help of the Heavenly Father.

The consecration vows we are entering into should permeate our existence. We no longer have to be on our own; we have our Mother. Mary will take us by the hand each day as a guide to the life of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God's love made manifest by the life of Christ truly present in the Blessed Sacrament will set us free. God's mercy is new every morning. "They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness." (Lam 3:23)

In our human existence we will be forever in battle with the enemy of our salvation. "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places." (Eph 6:12) How can we live in this world without a Mother? It is impossible. God would not have it so! A Mother prays, protects and preserves life. We have a place to rest our head in this world like St. John in the heart of our Savior at the last supper. Mary, as the good mother, ensures the place of rest for us. She is with us at every Holy Mass and accompanies us as we Receive Holy Communion into our very souls to embrace the life of Jesus so we may love through this earthly journey. We live in the Pascal mystery of our salvation by the way of Holy Communion. In the simplicity of our humanity all we need to take as a daily practice is to rise and address the Mother of God. Good morning Mom, bring us to your Son, Jesus!

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

"To find Jesus in the arms of His Mother, to unite oneself to Mary's sentiments as she presses Him to her heart- O what a ravishing moment! Oh, wonderful moment in which all else is forgotten, in which we no longer desire anything else, not even heaven -for we possess it already, we have Jesus and Mary." (St Peter Julian Eymard)

The Kingdom of Heaven is with us here at the Altar of the Lord, Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament!

Mary! Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us.


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. Try to find time to spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

For Week II to accompany the daily readings please recite the Litany of the Holy Ghost.
You may choose to continue the Ave Maris Stella and Veni Creator throughout the preparation weeks.

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us,

-Laura


PRAYER

Litany of the Holy Ghost

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Father all powerful, have mercy on us
Jesus, Eternal Son of the Father, Redeemer of the world, save us.
Spirit of the Father and the Son, boundless life of both, sanctify us.
Holy Trinity, hear us

Holy Ghost, Who proceedest from the Father and the Son, enter our hearts.
Holy Ghost, Who art equal to the Father and the Son, enter our hearts.

Promise of God the Father, have mercy on us.
Ray of heavenly light, have mercy on us
Author of all good, have mercy on us
Source of heavenly water, have mercy on us
Consuming fire, have mercy on us
Ardent charity, have mercy on us
Spiritual unction, have mercy on us
Spirit of love and truth, have mercy on us
Spirit of wisdom and understanding, have mercy on us
Spirit of counsel and fortitude, have mercy on us
Spirit of knowledge and piety, have mercy on us
Spirit of the fear of the Lord, have mercy on us
Spirit of grace and prayer, have mercy on us
Spirit of peace and meekness, have mercy on us
Spirit of modesty and innocence, have mercy on us
Holy Ghost, the Comforter, have mercy on us
Holy Ghost, the Sanctifier, have mercy on us
Holy Ghost, Who governest the Church, have mercy on us
Gift of God, the Most High, have mercy on us
Spirit Who fillest the universe, have mercy on us
Spirit of the adoption of the children of God, have mercy on us

Holy Ghost, inspire us with horror of sin.
Holy Ghost, come and renew the face of the earth.
Holy Ghost, shed Thy light in our souls.
Holy Ghost, engrave Thy law in our hearts
Holy Ghost, inflame us with the flame of Thy love.
Holy Ghost, open to us the treasures of Thy graces
Holy Ghost, teach us to pray well.
Holy Ghost, enlighten us with Thy heavenly inspirations.
Holy Ghost, lead us in the way of salvation
Holy Ghost, grant us the only necessary knowledge.
Holy Ghost, inspire in us the practice of good.
Holy Ghost, grant us the merits of all virtues.
Holy Ghost, make us persevere in justice.
Holy Ghost, be Thou our everlasting reward.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Send us Thy Holy Ghost.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, pour down into our
souls the gifts of the Holy Ghost.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, grant us the Spirit of
wisdom and piety.

V. Come, Holy Ghost! Fill the hearts of Thy faithful,
R. And enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.

Let Us Pray
Grant, 0 merciful Father, that Thy Divine Spirit may enlighten, inflame and
purify us, that He may penetrate us with His heavenly dew and make us
fruitful in good works, through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who with
Thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, liveth and reigneth forever and
ever. R. Amen.