Consecration Week 2 - Day 4

By: Laura Worhacz

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. (Abbreviated text)



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 by 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 the 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 forever be 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 and 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. She 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 way of Holy Communion. In the simplicity of our humanity, all we need is to follow a daily practice. Rise and reach out to 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 in 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.


PRAYER



For Week II to accompany the daily readings, please recite the Litany of the Holy Spirit.
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.

Litany of the Holy Spirit
 
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 Spirit, Who proceedest from the Father and the Son, enter our hearts.
Holy Spirit, Who art equal to the Father and the Son, enter our hearts.
Response: Have mercy on us.
Promise of God the Father,
Ray of heavenly light,
Author of all good,
Source of heavenly water,
Consuming fire,
Ardent charity,
Spiritual unction,
Spirit of love and truth,
Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
Spirit of counsel and fortitude,
Spirit of knowledge and piety,
Spirit of the fear of the Lord,
Spirit of grace and prayer,
Spirit of peace and meekness,
Spirit of modesty and innocence,
Holy Spirit, the Comforter,
Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier,
Holy Spirit, Who governest the Church,
Gift of God, the Most High,
Spirit Who fillest the universe,
Spirit of the adoption of the children of God,
Holy Spirit, inspire us with the horror of sin.
Holy Spirit, come and renew the face of the earth.
Holy Spirit, shed Thy light in our souls.
Holy Spirit, engrave Thy law in our hearts.
Holy Spirit, inflame us with the flame of Thy love.
Holy Spirit, open to us the treasures of Thy graces.
Holy Spirit, teach us to pray well.
Holy Spirit, enlighten us with Thy heavenly inspirations.
Holy Spirit, lead us in the way of salvation.
Holy Spirit, grant us the only necessary knowledge.
Holy Spirit, inspire in us the practice of good.
Holy Spirit, grant us the merits of all virtues.
Holy Spirit, make us persevere in justice.
Holy Spirit, be Thou our everlasting reward.
 
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, send us Thy Holy Spirit.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, pour down into our souls the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, grant us the Spirit of wisdom and piety.
Come, Holy Spirit! Fill the hearts of Thy faithful.
And enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
 
Let us Pray
Grant, O merciful Father, that They Divine Spirit 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.  Amen.
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