#handmaidens of the holy eucharist

[jameslmartello]

The Death of the Akita Visionary: Sister Agnes Sasagawa

[dramoor]

                     The Akathist to the Theotokos: Healer of Cancer                        

We Thy faithful servants, standing with compunction before Thy newly revealed Icon, do praise Thee with songs, O Queen of All. Send down Thy healing upon Thy servants who now run to Thee, that we may all joyfully cry to Thee:                        Rejoice, O Queen of All, who dost heal our infirmities by Thy grace.                                                

Ikos 1

An archangel came down from heaven and said to the Queen of All: Rejoice! And beholding Thee, O Lord, taking bodily form, with a God-heralding voice, he cried out to her such things as these:

Rejoice, Beginning of our salvation. Rejoice, Fulfillment of the Creator's dispensation. Rejoice, for through Thee God took flesh. Rejoice, for in Thee the Invisible was made manifest. Rejoice, Thou who didst receive within Thyself a Mercy of peace. Rejoice, Thou who didst weave the fleshly garment of the Word. Rejoice, Glory raised on high, beyond the grasp of mind. Rejoice, Heavenly Manna, restoring hearts to life. Rejoice, Radiant Star of grace. Rejoice, Fountain, pouring forth living waters. Rejoice, Mother of God, blessed among women. Rejoice, Incorrupt Virgin, who gavest birth to the Saviour. Rejoice, O Queen of All, who dost heal our infirmities by Thy grace.

Kontakion 2

The unoriginate Word became a little Child through Thee, O Virgin, granting healing to all who honor Thee and who praise His ineffable Nativity in song:

Alleluia.

Ikos 2

Seeking to know the unknowable, the Virgin cried to the ministering angel: reveal to me, how I, as a pure Maiden, shall be the Mother of the Most High. Then Gabriel spoke to her in fear, crying such things as these:

Rejoice, Chosen One of the Most-high Counsel. Rejoice, Quick Hearer of those praying to Thee. Rejoice, Treasury of the peace of Christ. Rejoice, Hope and Strength of Thy people. Rejoice, wondrous Destroyer of the curse of cancer. Rejoice, Healer of other infirmities. Rejoice, only Defense for the world. Rejoice, sure Deliverance from sorrows. Rejoice, Thou who dost ever assuage weeping and tears. Rejoice, Thou who openest the gates of salvation to all. Rejoice, Scepter and Might of those who dwell on the Holy Mountain. Rejoice, Staff of monks and laity. Rejoice, O Queen of All, who dost heal our infirmities by Thy grace.

Kontakion 3

The power of the Most High overshadowed Thee, O Maiden, and ineffably took flesh, showing Thee to be a sweet meadow for all who wish to reap salvation as they sing:

Alleluia.

Ikos 3

Thy holy Icon, "Queen of All," was wondrously glorified, O Mother of God, when healing began to flow forth from Thine image. Thou grantest healing to those who sing before it with faith, that such songs as these may be multiplied:

Rejoice, Mother of the never-setting Light. Rejoice, Victory of those who endure to the end. Rejoice, true Physician in sickness and affliction. Rejoice, inviolable Wall for orphans and widows. Rejoice, Opener of the doors of Paradise. Rejoice, Defender of those who labor and are heavy laden. Rejoice, Intercessor for the salvation of the faithful. Rejoice, Mediatress for the Christian race. Rejoice, heavenly Ladder ascending from earth to Heaven. Rejoice, Living Water, washing away mortal sins. Rejoice, Ewe Lamb, preserving the hearts of the guileless. Rejoice, Protecting Veil sheltering the children of the Church. Rejoice, O Queen of All, who dost heal our infirmities by Thy grace.

Kontakion 4

Giving life to the world, the Master of all dwelt in Thy womb, though Thou hadst not known man. Having shown Thee to be the Mother of the faithful, He taught them to cry out:

Alleluia.

Ikos 4

Most glorious things have come to pass concerning Thee, O City of God, through the healing pouring forth from Thy holy Icon; and receiving refreshing streams of healing, we cry with thanksgiving, O Queen of All:

Rejoice, Herb of healing, relieving pains. Rejoice, Coolness, refreshing feverish ailments. Rejoice, Flame, burning the curse of cancer. Rejoice, Thou who dost raise from their beds those abandoned by doctors. Rejoice, Thou who revealest Thy most-pure face to Thy chosen ones. Rejoice, Release from the fetters of sin. Rejoice, for through Thee deliverance from death has been granted. Rejoice, for through Thee countless multitudes of the faithful have been justified. Rejoice, Height unattained by human thoughts. Rejoice, Depth experienced by the Word alone. Rejoice, One prophesied by patriarchs of old. Rejoice, Guide of hierarchs who pray to Thee. Rejoice, O Queen of All, who dost heal our infirmities by Thy grace.

Kontakion 5

Thou hast been shown, O Maiden, to be the most-pure Temple of the Saviour. We fall down before Thee, O Pure One, asking Thee to make us also temples of the Godhead, as we cry out:

Alleluia.

Ikos 5

The ranks of angels–having seen in Thy hands Him Who with His hands made man, and knowing Thee to be the only Sovereign Lady though 'thou didst call Thyself a servant–endeavor to serve Thee, O blessed One, with songs such as these:

Rejoice, Thou whom God placed higher than the heavenly hosts. Rejoice, Thou who fillest the world with miraculous healings. Rejoice, Thou who dost hear praise and glory from the heavens. Rejoice, Receiver of thanksgiving from the earth. Rejoice, Thou who dost consume the seeds of corruption in our hearts. Rejoice, zealous Vanquisher of the snares of the devil. Rejoice, Thou who hast filled the vale of weeping with joy. Rejoice, Thou who dost transform sorrows into heavenly sweetness. Rejoice, Fragrance acceptable to God. Rejoice, exceeding Gladness of repentant sinners. Rejoice, Armor of truth against temptation. Rejoice, Shield of protection from enmity and destruction. Rejoice, O Queen of All, who dost heal our infirmities by Thy grace.

Kontakion 6

The preachers of God's Word, the Saviour's disciples, appeared miraculously before Thee, O Virgin, when Thou didst ascend from earth to Heaven, that with one heart and mouth they might sing to God:

Alleluia.

Ikos 6

Wondrous grace shone from Thine Icon, O Queen of All, when the youth, darkened by satanic teachings, fell motionless before it. Freed beyond hope from the bonds of darkness, with fear and joy he cried to Thee thus:

Rejoice, Correction of a dishonorable life. Rejoice, Consolation of those grievously tormented. Rejoice, Expeller of demonic hordes from the Church. Rejoice, Disperser of the gloomy cloud of sin. Rejoice, Abolition of invisible snares. Rejoice, all-powerful Conqueror of demonic charms. Rejoice, lamp, guiding those led astray. Rejoice, Cloud, protecting the innocent from evil. Rejoice, Mountain, nourishing us with heavenly manna. Rejoice, Valley, saturating us with the humility of Christ. Rejoice, Precious Gem of the Heavenly Kingdom. Rejoice, Reflection of the eternal light. Rejoice, O Queen of All, who dost heal our infirmities by Thy grace.

Kontakion 7

Desiring to give Thyself as food for the faithful Thou didst will to be incarnate of the Virgin, that receiving Thy Most-pure Body and Thy Blood they might know Thee, the Perfect God; therefore, marveling at this ineffable wisdom, we cry:

Alleluia.

Ikos 7

The Creator revealed a new Mystery when He celebrated with His disciples His Mystical Supper. And we, who pray to the Queen of All to make us worthy of the divine and Holy Gifts, sing to Her such things as these:

Rejoice, Giver of the Heavenly Bread. Rejoice, Bearer of the Eternal Life. Rejoice, Chalice, partaking of Christ. Rejoice, Thou who dost unite soul and body with God. Rejoice, golden Spoon, filled with the Divine Mysteries. Rejoice, precious Ark, containing the great and Holy Gifts. Rejoice, Directress, pointing us to the Holy Eucharist. Rejoice, Holy Table, offering us Holy Food. Rejoice, Thou who dost place worthy communicants on Thy right hand. Rejoice, Thou who dost rescue ardent defenders of the Divine Liturgy from Hades. Rejoice, Guide of the dead to the fountain of immortality. Rejoice, Shelter of peace and strength for Thy children. Rejoice, O Queen of All, who dost heal our infirmities by Thy grace.

Kontakion  8

Having beheld a strange Nativity, and having laid aside all earthly cares, let us lift up our hearts. For this reason the Most High appeared, to draw to Himself those who call out:

Alleluia.

Ikos 8

Ever existing in the bosom of the Father, the uncircumscribable Word became flesh on earth. Our Great God glorified the Virgin and regarded the lowliness of His Handmaiden, who now hears such things as these:

Rejoice, Container of the uncontainable God. Rejoice, Thou who revealest to the world the Creator above the world. Rejoice, Shatterer of the power of death. Rejoice, Healer of Adam's wound. Rejoice, Healing poultice, curing spiritual wounds. Rejoice, Holy Oil, anointing bodily sores. Rejoice, Thou who dost assauge the pains of those giving birth. Rejoice, Relief of the torments of the dying. Rejoice, Cause of the defeat of Hades. Rejoice, Deadener of the sting of death. Rejoice, Hope of the general resurrection. Rejoice, undoubted Salvation of the Orthodox. Rejoice, O Queen of All, who dost heal our infirmities by Thy grace.

Kontakion 9

All angelic and human nature was amazed at the greatness of Thine incomprehensible Incarnation, O Word. Gazing with wonder before this great mystery of piety, with fear and trembling we thankfully cry out to Thee:

Alleluia.

Ikos 9

Afflicted by many illnesses, we receive healing without measure from Thy Holy Icon, O Queen of All, that having received grace by faith, with a mighty voice we may cry out to Thee:

Rejoice, constant Preserver of healthy children. Rejoice, Bearer of health to the sick. Rejoice, Healing of ailing children. Rejoice, Mother of suffering youths. Rejoice, Thou who dost raise up those cast down upon the bed of sickness. Rejoice, Comfort of those held by the fear of death. Rejoice, Thou who dost heed men's weeping. Rejoice, Thou who dost regard our moaning. Rejoice, Suffuser of earthly pains with heavenly joy. Rejoice, supernatural Patience of the tempest tossed. Rejoice, Thou who preparest joy for those who weep. Rejoice, Thou who provident the meek with wings of prayer. Rejoice, O Queen of All, who dost heal our infirmities by Thy grace.

Kontakion 10

Desiring to save human nature, corrupted by sin, the Creator descended upon Thee as dew upon the fleece, and made Thee to be a burning bush. Being God, He became man, that we might sing to Him:

Alleluia.

Ikos 10

A bulwark art Thou to virgins, O Pure Maiden, and to all who struggle for purity. God dwelt in Thee, thus cleansing His rational creatures, that having been delivered from all impurity, we may offer these songs to Thee:

Rejoice, Converser with seekers of silence. Rejoice, Crown of those who preserve virginity. Rejoice, Beginning and End of spiritual perfection. Rejoice, Repository of the Divine Revelation. Rejoice, Initiate of the Counsel of the Trinity. Rejoice, Cause of the salvation of men. Rejoice, Summit, unapproachable to proud minds. Rejoice, Refuge, open to humble hearts. Rejoice, O Pure One, purer than the heavens. Rejoice, Thou who art more honorable than the cherubim and the seraphim. Rejoice, O Joyful One, for thou didst receive rejoicing from the archangel. Rejoice, O Consoled One, for thou didst touch with Thy hands the risen Christ. Rejoice, O Queen of All, who dost heal our infirmities by Thy grace.

Kontakion 11

Though striving to bring a rational song to the Saviour, we remain unworthy, O Sovereign lady, yet we are still Thy servants; for who can worthily hymn God, whose name is as out-poured myrrh; therefore we cry to Him:

Alleluia.

Ikos 11

As the great Light - the Orient from on high, Thy Son and God - shone on those sitting in darkness, do Thou visit us, O Virgin. Thou hast become a candle on a candlestand, a light-bearing child of the Church, teaching us to offer to Thee such things as these:

Rejoice, Dawn of the noetic Sun. Rejoice, Container of the Divine Fire. Rejoice, Light, Who didst weave the clothing of the saints. Rejoice, Torch, driving away demonic darkness. Rejoice, Enlightenment of unreceptive minds. Rejoice, Light of sinful hearts. Rejoice, Right Hand, drawing us from a sea of vanities. Rejoice, Ray of light, guiding to the Kingdom those being saved. Rejoice, Lightening, startling the unrepentant. Rejoice, Thunder, frightening the destroyers. Rejoice, Brightening of evil consciences. Rejoice, Propitiation at the judgment of God. Rejoice, O Queen of All, who dost heal our infirmities by Thy grace.

Kontakion 12

Desiring to give us grace, the Giver of the Old Testament bestowed upon us the New; then, having received grace—not through works of the law, but by the true Faith—and having found salvation, we all cry:

Alleluia.

Ikos 12

We hymn Thy Nativity, as of old Israel extolled with cymbals the tabernacle of the law, which was but a foreshadowing of Thee, the true Tabernacle, whom we now glorify with virtues, that Thou mightest hear from all such things as these:

Rejoice, Song sung on high. Rejoice, Psalm heard below. Rejoice, worthy Servant of the One God. Rejoice, Pleaser of the Divine Trinity by Thy humility. Rejoice, Thou who didst carry within Thyself Him who holds the ages. Rejoice, Throne of Him who holds the universe in His hands. Rejoice, ineffable Mystery of all ages and times. Rejoice, firm Hope of all peoples and nations. Rejoice, heartfelt Rejoicing of reverent priests. Rejoice, swift Hearer of prayers - both in churches and in cells. Rejoice, Vessel of Mercy chosen by God. Rejoice, O Queen of All, who dost heal our infirmities by Thy grace.

Kontakion 13

O Mother, Queen of all, who didst bear the Word, Who is Holiest of all the saints, having received our present song, heal us from all deathly illnesses and deliver from the judgment to come those who cry: Alleluia.(Repeat Thrice.)

We then repeat Ikos 1

An archangel came down from heaven and said to the Queen of All: Rejoice! And beholding Thee, O Lord, taking bodily form, with a God-heralding voice, he cried out to her such things as these:

Rejoice, Beginning of our salvation. Rejoice, Fulfillment of the Creator's dispensation. Rejoice, for through Thee God took flesh. Rejoice, for in Thee the Invisible was made manifest. Rejoice, Thou who didst receive within Thyself a Mercy of peace. Rejoice, Thou who didst weave the fleshly garment of the Word. Rejoice, Glory raised on high, beyond the grasp of mind. Rejoice, Heavenly Manna, restoring hearts to life. Rejoice, radiant Star of grace. Rejoice, Fountain, pouring forth living waters. Rejoice, Mother of God, blessed among women. Rejoice, Incorrupt Virgin, who gavest birth to the Saviour. Rejoice, O Queen of All, who dost heal our infirmities by Thy grace.

Kontakion 1 Repeated

Thy faithful servants, standing with compunction before Thy newly revealed Icon, do praise Thee with songs, O Queen of All. Send down Thy healing upon Thy servants who now run to Thee, that we may all joyfully cry to Thee: Rejoice, O Queen of All, who dost heal our infirmities by Thy grace.

Troparion Tone 4

Do Thou, O Sovereign lady, By Thy joy-bestowing honorable Icon "Queen of All," Save those who with fervent desire implore Thy grace; Deliver from afflictions those who run to Thee; From all dangers do Thou guard Thy flock, Who ever call upon Thine intercession.

(You can order this Akathist in booklet form from

St. Paisius Serbian Orthodox Monastery, P.O. Box 1075, Safford, Arizona 85548 for $3.95.)

This beautiful akathist is written to the Mother of God, "Pantanassa" or "Queen of All", a 17th-century miraculous Icon treasured in the Athonite Greek Monastery of Vatopedi.  Through the grace of this Icon, there were so many healings of cancer that a copy of it was requested, and blessed, to be painted for those suffering in Russia from this severe disease.  There too, many miracles have occurred.

A copy of this Icon was painted and touched to the Icon in Russia and is now in Atlanta GA at the Orthodox Church of St. John the Wonderworker.

At least one miraculous healing - of a 5 year old child with cancer - has occurred when the Akathist was said before the icon. But, more than that, many healings have occurred that have never been reported, simply because people have said the Akathist in secret.

(Source)

[romancatholicreflections]

24th December >> Sunday Homilies and Reflections for Roman Catholics on the Fourth Sunday of Advent (B).

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:26-38

vs.26 The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, vs.27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. vs.28 He went in and said to her, “Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” vs.29 She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, vs.30 but the angel said to her, “Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. vs.31 Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. vs.32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; vs.33 he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.” vs.34 Mary said to the angel, “But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?” vs.35 “The Holy Spirit will come upon you,” the angel answered “and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. vs.36 Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, vs.37 for nothing is impossible to God.” vs.38 “I am the handmaiden of the Lord,” said Mary “let what you have said be done to me.” And the angel left her.

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We have four commentators available from whom you may wish to choose . Scroll down to the name of the commentator.

Michel DeVerteuil :     A Trinidadian Holy Ghost Father, late director of the Centre of Biblical renewal . Thomas O’Loughlin:  Professor of Historical Theology, University of Wales, Lampeter. Sean Goan:                       Studied scripture in Rome, Jerusalem and Chicago and teaches at Blackrock College and works with Le Chéile Donal Neary SJ:         Editor of The Sacred Heart Messenger and National Director of The Apostlship of Prayer. ****************************************

Michel DeVerteuil Lectio Divina with the Sunday Gospels www.messenger.ie

General Comments

St Mark has no story of Mary’s conception of Jesus nor of her pregnancy, so the reading for the Fourth Sunday of Advent this year is from St Luke, the famous story of the Annunciation.

It is difficult to enter into the story because we have long been accustomed to read it as uniquely the story of Mary, and therefore outside our experience. This is clearly against the intention of St Luke who had given us Mary as the model of the faithful one entering into God’s great plan for the world. Take her as model of a church community discovering its vocation to bring Jesus into the world, or an individual person discovering his or her personal vocation. Take the story as a long journey during which God, through the angel, walks with Mary. He is accompanying her at every stage, until finally she surrenders herself to him and he leaves her.

Textual Comments

vs 26 – 28: Mary experiences herself deeply loved by God at her first encounter with His word.vs 29 – 30: She is filled with awe but the angel reassures her, calling her by name.vs 31 – 33:  The angel unfolds God’s plan for her, a plan that is way beyondher own expectations for herself.vs 34 – 35: Mary is in awe again, and once more she receives words of reassurance.vs 36 – 37: The angle gives further grounds for trust by citing another example of God’s power.vs 38a:       Mary leaves herself humbly and trustingly in God’s hands and plan.vs 38b:       Mary is now perfectly at peace and the angel can leave her.

Scripture Reflection Prayer

Lord, there is something very wonderful stirring within your church: – she in entering into the struggles of the poor for a more human society; – voices within the church speak out fearlessly against all forms of injustice; – lay people grow in holiness through their family commitments and their work It seems that you have sent your angel to your church in our time, with the good news that she is still your chosen one, called to bring forth your Son into the modern world and make the dreams of the ancient prophets a reality. Naturally, we are confused and fearful, deeply disturbed by this word. We have become set in our ways, sterile even. Tell us again, Lord, through your holy angel, that we need not be afraid: – that the power of the Most High will cover us with its shadow; – what has been conceived within us will be your own child; – that you have done wonderful deeds before, since nothing is impossible to you, so that we may see ourselves as your humble servants, letting you bring to fulfillment the word you have spoken to us.

Lord, we think today of all who are faced with a difficult decision: – can they attempt a reconciliation? – take on some new responsibility? – engage themselves in a work of human liberation? Send them an angel to walk with them as Gabriel walked with Mary, – to call them by name; – to speak a word of encouragement – “Rejoice, so highly favoured, do not be afraid”; – to assure them that what they have conceived will be great and a Son of  the Most High; – to remind them that nothing is impossible to you, and finally, when they have accepted your will, to leave them.

Lord, we thank you today for those who have conceived a child and received it as a sign that they are highly favoured. Even if they feel deeply disturbed, called to bring forth a holy child who is destined to live forever, they see themselves as humble servants of this great mystery, and give themselves trustingly to the fulfillment of your word.

Lord, we thank you today for the many great women of our world. They conceived a vision within themselves, trusting that it came from you. They struggled with feelings of infertility, imposed on them by society, but they took courage from knowing that they were servants of a sacred work, bringing to birth the rule of your Son.

Lord, we thank you for the precious moments of contemplative prayer, when after a long journey with many doubts and hesitations, with you at our side calming fears and answering questions, we finally felt able to let the word you had spoken be done to us and you could withdraw your sensible presence from us.

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Thomas O’Loughlin Liturgical Resources for the Year of Matthew www.columba.ie

Introduction to the Celebration

Christmas is just about here, but we all know that there are still lots of things to be done. One of these things is for us as a community of the followers of Jesus to appreciate more fully that it is only in the life he brings to us and shares with us that we can be truly at rest and happy and at peace. So today at our sacred gathering there is a prayer running through all we say and do: ‘Lord, come into our hearts this Christmas as our Lord, our Leader, and our Light.’

Homily Notes

1. Part of the way that Christians have always attempted to celebrate and communicate the mystery of the Lord has been to apply passages and titles to him from the time of the covenant of preparation: the time of the Old Testament. The liturgy abounds with such titles at this time, but most Christians miss them as they are found in the daily eucharistic liturgy and in the Liturgy of the Hours. Often when they do come up we pass on so quickly that we miss them, yet these titles express some of our most basic hopes.

2. The most famous set of Advent titles are the ‘Great O Antiphons‘ that accompany the Magnificat at Evening Prayer Between 17 and 23 December. Exactly how old they are is disputed (Some date them to the Second Century Century), but by around 800 preachers were already using the acrostic for remembering their order to make a point in preaching. The acrostic works like this: take the first letter of each in reverse order and it spells two words thus:  ‘ero cras’ O Sapientia  17 Dec.   Our wisdom who is more than all human cunning.

O Adonai       18 Dec.   Our leader who is like the morning star and calls us from  sleep.

O Radix          19 Dec    The one promised by the Father who frees us from darkness.

O Clavis          20 Dec   The one who shows us the way that leads to peace.

O Oriens         21 Dec    And he is the giver of light and happiness to suffering humanity.

O Radix           22 Dec   He is God living among his people.

O Emmauel   23 Dec   Jesus Christ whom we follow and who we are about to welcome again this Christmas is all of these, and more

The words ‘ero cras’ mean ‘I am coming tomorrow’ literally: ‘I will be [here] tomorrow‘. Jesus Christ whom we follow and who we are about to welcome again this Christmas is all of these, and more.

3. One of the ways that we expand our religious understanding is by expanding the range of names we use to name the divine. Here is a lovely set of names all addressing Christ using a different Old Testament range of images; it was by applying such images that the first Christology was Created. Using them today – and having the prophecy of Nathan as the first reading is a cue for bringing them to the foreground today —can deepen our appreciation of the mystery we are celebrating.

Final Note

This Sunday has another marian theme running through it — although in most circumstances it probably would only add noise to draw attention to it — which is the celebration of the moment of the Annunciation such as is celebrated in the recitation of the Angelus. Not only is the gospel reading that of the Annunciation, but the collect for today is the famous Gratianz tuam known to generations of English-speaking Catholics as ‘Pour forth we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace …’ and now rendered: ‘Lord, fill our hearts with your love’. If this is a theme that you want to explore, then one way of doing so is to recall that Christians — following the example of the Jews of the Second Temple — have always seen regular collective times of prayer as a way of both sanctifying the day and of praying as a whole body even if individuals are scattered. In the early church this led to the practice of reciting the Our Father at dawn, noon, and sunset; while in more recent times it has been expressed in the recitation of the Angelus.

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Sean Goan Let the reader understand www.columba.ie

Gospel notes

If John the Baptist dominates the early part of Advent, it is Mary the mother of Jesus who comes centre stage now. In this text from Luke, our attention is focused on the event upon which the mystery of God’s saving will depends. Throughout the scriptures, God has sought out people with humility and courage to hear and respond to his word and through them his saving will has been made known. In this young woman from Nazareth the human response to God finds its perfect model. Luke presents Mary as the woman of faith and he gives more prominence to her than the other evangelists. By her openness to the Spirit of God she opens the way for God to come into the world and that is the way Luke presents discipleship. God will be at work in the world wherever the followers of Jesus leave themselves open to the work of his Spirit in an attitude of faith.

Reflection

It’s a little ironic that David should have imagined that he could do something for God. It seems that his success as king went to his head and he forgot his humble origins as a shepherd boy. In the gospel for today we see an Israelite who is fully aware of who she is before her God and it is this humility which allows her to say ‘yes’. The promise made to David in the grandeur of his palace centuries before would now be fulfilled because an ordinary girl in ordinary surroundings has an extraordinary openness to her God. There is very little splendour and majesty in the Christmas story; it is characterised by simplicity and humility and these are the gifts we need to appreciate the power of it.

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Donal Neary SJ Gospel Reflections www.messenger.ie/bookshop/

Annunciations Big and Small

I got stuck miles away in a small village and had no public transport.   There was a public holiday so I had to stay put.  A family put me up for the night and fed me!  This was an annunciation for me! Annunciations announce the coming of the Lord, favour from God. Life is full of little and big annunciations.  Ways in which we bring the Son of God alive within the world. The beginning now of what would later be the resurrection event.

For Mary it was in the ordinary – maybe at the well, as she collected the water for the day. Or in her house. Any time we find genuine help, compassion, justice, all the gifts of God’s Spirit, then this is annunciation. It can be an annunciation of new faith and love in God. What Mary got at annunciation was the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit and the Son of God in her womb.

We are the people who find grace and hope in the middle of everything.  Maybe like in a busy shop, the middle of a bus journey, and with the children and the friends and the family, at Mass or prayer.  It can happen anywhere.

There is always a response. If we have been gifted, we give. Someone let me out of the carpark and I let the next person out. Someone visited me in hospital and I did the same later.  Our Christmas way of celebration and helping others is a response.

Don’t ask how did you get over the Christmas, but did Christmas get into you!   Let the big mystery of God’s love get deeply into us this time of year.

Let Jesus into your hear this year

Remember when you felt close to God’s presencein your live and give thanks.Welcome, Lord Jesus

[pamphletstoinspire]

Saint Mary Magdalen - Feast Day: July 22nd - Both Calendars

Saint Mary Magdalene, woman of many sins, who by conversion became the beloved of Jesus, thank you for your witness that Jesus forgives through the miracle of love. You, who already posses eternal happiness in His glorious presence, please intercede for me, so that some day I may share in the same everlasting joy. Amen.

Overview

Saint Mary Magdalen, a converted great sinner, became a follower of Christ and has been the classic example of the repentant sinner from earliest times. She is identified with the sinner who anointed Christ’s feet in Simon’s house (Luke 7:36ff.) and traditionally is thought to be Mary, the sister of Martha. She had seven devils cast out of her by the Lord (Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2), ministered to him in Galilee (Luke 8:2), was among the women at the Crucifixion (Matt. 27:56; Mark 15:40; John 19:25) and with Mary, the mother of James and Salome, discovered the empty tomb and heard the angelic announcement of the Resurrection of Christ (Matt. 28:1ff.; Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-10). She was the first person to see Christ later the same day (Matt. 28:9; Mark 16:9; John 20: 1-18). According to tradition, she accompanied John to Ephesus, where she died. Her Fest Day is July 22.

Closer Look

The New Testament and tradition are the Church’s sources for Saint Mary Magdalen, who is almost always depicted in art with flowing red hair, either with Christ in the house of Simon or beneath the Cross, or alone with her jar of precious oil and or a book, symbolizing the knowledge she had from both Jesus and Mary. Our Saint gets her full name from the town she came from, Magdala, near Bethany; the actual site of the town is in ruins and has been given a variant of the name today.

When our Lord began preaching and going about the countryside He no longer had a fixed abode; He visited the homes of friends or those open to hospitality. The domicile of the two sisters, Mary [Magdala] and Martha, and their brother Lazarus, is considered the house He most frequented. Bethany is only two miles from Jerusalem. Mary and her sister were devoted to Christ and it was at their home that Christ spent His last days before the Passion. The Saturday before Palm Sunday, St. Mary Magdalen showed her complete reverence for the Son of God when she poured out the costly nard, approximately the yearly salary of today’s typical working man or laborer, onto the feet of Our Savior. Not only did this act reveal her deep repentance for a former life of sin, but it signaled the price Our Lord would pay for our salvation a mere six days hence. Before she anointed the feet of the Lamb of God, she performed the custom of the times concerning honored guests - she refreshed the top of Jesus’ head with the oil first. To be so lavish as to then bathe His feet was not only an extraordinary event, it was inspired by the Holy Spirit, for once again His Heavenly Father was well pleased with His Son. In keeping with Jesus’ words in St. Matthew 26: 10-13, the memory of St. Mary Magdalen’s work is now immortalized in art. The Scripture passages that tell of this marvel are perhaps among the most often repeated and well known among most Christians.

We have to look to the tradition of the Church as to who Mary Magdalen really was, as there is more than one Mary in the Gospel identified with a famous sinner. Pope St. Gregory the Great is considered the most authoritative source. He identifies Mary of Bethany with Mary Magdalen, the converted sinner.

Legend

Suggestions of commentators and legend continues her story. Fourteen years after the ascension, Lazarus with his two sisters, Martha and Mary; with Maximin, one of the seventy-two disciples, from whom they had received baptism; Cedon, the blind man whom our Saviour had restored to sight; and Marcella, the handmaiden who attended on the two sisters, were by the Jews set adrift in a vessel without sails, oars, or rudder; but, guided by Providence, they were safely borne over the sea till they landed in a certain harbor which proved to be Marseilles, in the country now called France.

The people of the land were pagans, and refused to give the holy pilgrims food or shelter; so they were fain to take refuge under the porch of a temple and Mary Magdalene preached to the people, reproaching them for their senseless worship of idols; and though at first they would not listen, yet being after a time convinced by her eloquence, and by the miracles performed by her and by her sister, they were converted and baptized. And Lazarus became, after the death of the good Maximin, the first bishop of Marseilles.

These things being accomplished, Mary Magdalene retired to the cliffs not far from the city. It was a frightful barren wilderness and in the midst of horrid rocks she lived in the caves of Sainte Baume; there for thirty years she devoted herself to solitary penance for the sins of her past life, which she had never ceased to bewail bitterly. During this long seclusion, she was never seen or heard of, and it was supposed that she was dead.

She fasted so rigorously, that but for the occasional visits of the angels, and the comfort bestowed by celestial visions, she might have perished. She was given the Holy Eucharist by angels as her only food. Every day during the last years of her penance, the angels came down from heaven and carried her up in their arms into regions where she was ravished by the sounds of unearthly harmony, and beheld the glory and the joy prepared for the sinner that repenteth.

One day a certain hermit, who dwelt in a cell on one of those wild mountains, having wandered farther than usual from his home, beheld this wondrous vision— the Magdalene in the arms of ascending angels, who were singing songs of triumph as they bore her upwards; and the hermit, when he had a little recovered from his amazement, returned to the city of Marseilles, and reported what he had seen.

[jameslmartello]

Receiving God's Love, Journey from Head to Heart