WEEK NINETEEN: FROM DISBELIEF TO BELIEF - DAY 1



WEEK NINETEEN: FROM DISBELIEF TO BELIEF - DAY 1

MORNING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD:
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Jesus appears to Mary, his Mother: #218-225; 299 (at the end of this email).  Read the Reflection; then pray from #218-225: ask for the grace to be glad and rejoice intensely because of the great joy and the glory of Christ our Lord (#221)

We do not have a separate account of the Risen Lord appearing to his mother in the gospels. However, we do know that Mary was with the community of apostles after the resurrection, as we are told in Acts 1: 14: "All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers." It can be assumed, therefore, that she was with the first community of disciples when Jesus appeared to them. Besides, she was in the care of John the Beloved. There is a tradition in the Church that Jesus appeared to his mother, Mary. This tradition has been strongly cultivated by some of the saints, like Francis of Assisi and Ignatius of Loyola. In his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius proposes the appearance of the Risen Lord to his mother as one of the resurrection apparitions. The Method of Contemplation would be the most appropriate way of entering into this apparition. You would put yourself in the scene and witness at close quarters the encounter between Jesus and his mother. You could see and hear them speak to each other; you can speak to them separately or together. You could hear them speak to you, etc.

What is God saying to you? Live within the Divinity of Christ, this is where true joy resides.  (You can not have a family without a mother)

Witnessing Mary and Jesus coming together for the first time.  Mary has always known of her son's Divnity, been given to her by God because of her yes but now His divinity has been revealed in flesh and blood.  It is no longer hidden.  Mary experienced the desolation, pain and suffering that Jesus endured but now the joy of what has been accomplished has been revealed.  Jesus out of love for His Mother, the same love He has for His Father goes to His Mother.  Their sacred hearts are united in mission, Jesus gives His mother full understanding of what is next and asks for her yes once again.  She becomes the spiritual influence in the disciples until they encounter the Divinity of Christ in Pentecost Sunday.  "Then he said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home." John‬ ‭19:27‬  We are never left alone on our spiritual journey through life, Jesus sees to that, it is your yes that makes it possible to the Divinity of Christ.  

Dear Father, there is much to be gleamed when we close our eyes and witness to Your love for us.  This is a place I would like to stay at but I must open my eyes with the knowledge that You give and respond with Yes Lord, send me.  I thank You for this day and what it has to offer, I thank You for the insights into Your Divinity and how You make Yourself known to us.  Watch over us Lord, protect what You have placed upon our hearts and give us strength as You gave Your Son.  I ask this in Jesus name, Amen.  

Mary, Queen of Heaven, Pray for us. 

St Joesph, Protector of the Church, Pray for us. 

Viva Cristo Rey. 

https://youtu.be/G2Ejipe3rVE

Fourth Week

(218)

First Contemplation

The apparition of Christ our Lord to our Lady. # 299

Prayer

The usual preparatory prayer.

(219)

First Prelude

This is the history. Here it is how after Christ expired on the cross His body remained separated from the soul, but always united with the divinity. His soul, likewise united with the divinity, descended into hell. There he sets free the souls of the just, then comes to the sepulcher, and rising, appears in body and soul to His Blessed Mother.

(220)

Second Prelude

This is a mental representation of the place. Here it will be to see the arrangement of the holy sepulcher and the place or house of our Lady. I will note its different parts, and also her room, her oratory, etc.

(221)

Third Prelude

This will be to ask for what I desire. Here it will be to ask for the grace to be glad and rejoice intensely because of the great joy and the glory of Christ our Lord.

(222)

The First, Second, and Third Points

These will be the usual ones as presented in the contemplation on the Last Supper.

(223)

Fourth Point

This will be to consider the divinity, which seemed to hide itself during the passion, now appearing and manifesting itself so miraculously in the most holy Resurrection in its true and most sacred effects.

(224)

Fifth Point

Consider the office of consoler that Christ our Lord exercises, and compare it with the way in which friends are wont to console each other.

(225)

Colloquy

Close with a colloquy, or colloquies, as the circumstances suggest, and at the end say the Our Father.

Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.  1 John 4:4b