Clothed with the Son … Wednesday, March 13

Mary (Mother of Jesus) (Photo credit: da_n)

A Rosary Meditation … The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. “And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun.” Revelation 12:1. In Revelation 1:16b John, in describing Jesus, says, “and His countenance as the sun shines in its power.” Mother Mary is clothed with and reflects the Glory of God. We think about Mary and about our relationship with her and her Son. We think about their relationship, the One with the other. People might wonder why Jesus would take Mary, body and soul, into Heaven. When you’ve much to celebrate don’t you want to share your joy with family? Do you invite them over for a happy get together? When you’re ill isn’t it a comfort to have someone who’s close to you there with you during your illness? Have you ever asked a family member to come be with you when you’re not feeling well? Why would Jesus take Mary to be with Him in Heaven? Where else would He want her to be? You know, their relationship didn’t end at the crucifixion. It grew. You’ll notice John says that a “great sign appeared in heaven.” GREAT. This ain’t small potatoes here folks. Jesus loves His mother enough that He wants her to be with Him. In our day-to-day living, by our actions, do we send God the message that we want to be with Him and her too?

Today … St. Macedonius. Martyr with Modesta and Patricia, at Nicomedia. They were husband, wife, and daughter. In some lists they were martyred with nineteen companions. Family, all together in Heaven with our one true family.

And so … I hope my posts are coherent. I’m sick as a dog. I’ve always wondered why people say that. Why sick as a dog? Why not sick as an aardvark? Oh, well. I don’t feel like doing very much so I come up with stuff like sick dogs and aardvarks. Just one more reason I need to feel better.

Don’t settle for anything less than the real and original … Saturday, February 23

The Ark of the Covenant Brought into the Temple. This? It’s just the beginning of the reality. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Rosary Meditation … The Fourth Glorious Mystery, the Assumption. “And the temple of God in heaven was opened, and there came flashes of lightning, and peals of thunder.” Acts 11:29. Typology. Many of the things in the Old Testament are shadows and types or examples of things to come. The things to come came with the New Testament and are revealed through it. The temple of God on earth contained certain things. Primarily it contained the Ark of the Covenant, upon which God’s glory rested, and the Ark contained the Tablets of the Law which contained the Word of God written by God’s own hand. It also contained manna and the rod that bloomed. In the New Testament it was Mary upon whom God’s glory rested, she contained the Word which was the true Manna from Heaven and was the rod or branch or root of Jesse, the Messiah. This rod, in the Old Testament, was just a piece of dead wood but it sprouted a miraculous bloom which is prophetic of the resurrection when that branch of Jesse, the Christ, was dead and lived again. When John saw the Temple in Heaven opened he no doubt saw its contents. Its right after this that he sees a woman clothed with the sun. This is the content of the Heavenly Temple. This is the true Ark of the Covenant. This is Mary. John saw her in Heaven. This is Mary, this is a Biblical basis for the doctrine of the Assumption. Remember this. In this modern world of confused people and confusing denominations Catholics get a bad rap for being un-Biblical. This isn’t true. What’s true is that, given the confusion, many people, Catholics included, don’t know the Church’s Biblical basis for Her teachings. If they did, which understanding takes time and study, they would realize that the Holy Roman Catholic Church is the ONLY truly Biblical Church there is. And Mary, with her Assumption into Heaven, is one of the proofs of this.

Today … St. Polycarp sat at the feet of the original disciples and learned the faith from them. He was a “second generation” Catholic. He KNEW we were Biblical because he knew the guys God had used to give His Church the Bible and the beginnings of our understanding of it. I say “beginnings” because the longer the Church ponders the Scriptures and the Truths of God the more She understands them. And this understanding is guarded and led by the Holy Spirit given to the Church at Pentecost. Polycarp got in on the beginnings of all this. We are where we are, with the understanding garnered over a 2,000 year period. Keep the faith like Polycarp did. Keep the things, both written and oral, that God gave His original disciples. With that understanding, with this truth, let’s be THE Bible believing Church that we are. Study like Polycarp did. Study fosters knowing and knowing fosters an effective witness.

Study … “The things which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, these do ye, and the God of peace shall be with you.” Philippians 4:9. “Carefully study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15.

Someone to look up to … Saturday, January 19

English: Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Vilnius. Mother of God with St. Francis. Please notice the direction of his gaze. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Rosary Meditation … The Fourth Glorious Mystery, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Body and Soul, into Heaven. “Thou art the glory of Jerusalem, thou art the joy of Israel, thou art the honor of our people.” Judith 15:20. Glory, joy and honor. Can you think of a better way to express the love God shows us through Mary? I always remember the question posed to Mother Teresa. Someone asked her, “Whats the big deal with Catholics and Mary?” And Mother Teresa replied, “Simple. No Mary, no Jesus.” It always comes back to Him, but you end up getting to Him through her whether you realize it or not. And her glory, joy and honor are reflections of His just as the moon reflects the sun. If it weren’t for the sun, and the moon’s ability to reflect, we would never see the moon. In a way, we might say that the sun honors the moon by sharing its luminosity. (Don’t try to take me to literally here, I wax poetic. Never did understand what wax had to do with poetry either, ah well.) If Jesus is the express image of the Father, and He is, read Hebrews 1:3, we’d be safe in saying Mary reflects, in a feminine way, Jesus. A priest told me once that if I wanted to see the feminine side of God, and He has one because He made US male and FEMALE and in HIS express image, all I needed to do was look at Mary. This is where, in her, God allows us to see the true beauty of what’s honestly feminine. Given the false information given to us on a daily basis by Hollywood, the fashion industry, and federal governments by way of health “care” mandates, etc. its nice to know that there is someplace (someone) we can turn to for a more realistic, true, honest view of womanhood. And given that because of Him we look to her for this, is it any wonder that He took her to Heaven? Now we know where to look, don’t we? We look up.

Today … St.Fillan, son of Feriach and St. Kentigerna, was also known as Foelan. He became a monk in his youth and accompanied his mother from Ireland to Scotland where he lived as a hermit near St. Andrew‘s monastery for many years, and then was elected abbot. He later resigned and resumed his eremitical life at Glendochart, Pertchire, where he built a church and was renowned for his miracles. Various legends attribute the most extravagant miracles to him. If he had lived today, given attitudes of moderns concerning parents and motherhood in particular, I’d have to say that the most wonderful miracle apparent in his life was that he followed his mother. You get my point. 😉

Motherhood … St. Anselm said: Mary was raised to the dignity of Mother of God rather for sinners than for the just, since Jesus Christ declares that he came to call not the just, but sinners.

Life in the fullest … Wednesday, January 2

Virgin and Child (Photo credit: Lawrence OP)

A Rosary Meditation … The Fourth Glorious Mystery, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. “”In every nation which shall hear thy name, the God of Israel shall be magnified on occasion of thee.” Judith 13:31. The Church, the world over, lives this verse daily. We witness to the world the greatness of God because of all He did with and through a willing Mary. We give Him glory and call attention to Him by recognizing her and paying her the respect due someone so blessed of God. See how it always comes back to Him? That’s how it is with Mary. She always, by word and example, takes us to God. And this is an example for us to follow. When people see us they ought not see us but rather see Jesus living in and through us. The greatest sermon anyone can ever preach is a Godly life. Words are nice, action speaks louder. And Mary, by her actions, shouts to the Universe that Jesus is Lord of Lord and King of Kings. Immaculately conceived, leading a sinless life of service to God, being the Mother of God, being our mother, and all the rest. Show me one sermon in the Bible she ever preached. There are none. But look at the effect her life had. And HAS. “Has” is important here because no saint is ever lost to us, least of all Mary. Mary is very much present tense. God, in His love for her, took her to Heaven. Body and soul. She lives there now, in the fullest sense, just as we will after the resurrection. As we pray this Mystery, the Assumption, let’s think about what it means to be in God’s presence, whole and entire. How will you feel, what will you experience? We can’t know now, not while we’re earth-bound. 1 Corinthians 2:9. But we can try to imagine. And it might just do us good to consider being fully with God, with all His wonders. Its something to look forward to, something to strive for. Philippians 3:14.

Today …  St. Bildulf was a monk at Bobbio, Italy, also called Bladulph. He confronted King Arioald of the Lombards to denounce that monarch’s heretical views and reformed the court and the area. That took guts. Notice that he didn’t die a martyr. But confronting a kink like that could easily have made him one. And I’m sure he knew that. He went anyway. Why? Because the prize to be won, Philippians 3:14 again, was more than worth the risk. As we live our daily lives and are faced by our own tiny martyrdom’s, when we have to relinquish our will or put our ego under subjection, lets remember St. Bildulf. He stood fearless before an earthly king that he might stand joyous before the King of Kings.

Remember … “We never give more honour to Jesus than when we honour his Mother, and we honour her simply and solely to honour him all the more perfectly. We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we seek – Jesus, her Son.” Saint Louis Marie de Montfort.

Saturday, December 15

A Rosary Meditation … The Fourth Glorious Mystery, The Assumption. “Blessed art though, O daughter, by the Lord the most high God, above all women upon earth.” Judith 13:23. Assumption. I like words, I enjoy a good play on words. I understand what the word “assumption” means in this context, but do you think Mary made the assumption that she would be assumed into Heaven? 🙂 Probably not. I find it hard to believe, given her humility, that Mary assumed much of anything in her relationship with God other than His goodness. If she didn’t make assumptions should we? Well, so much for playing with words. Mary was blessed by God above every other woman on earth. That means all of the women for all of time. It’s not every lady that’s chosen to give birth to Messiah. Or to stand with Him on Calvary while He hung on the cross. She was with Him from His conception till His Ascension. And He kept her with Him. No one remains with Jesus on their own. We’re all creatures and need His strength and grace in order to be able to do anything. So He kept her and she of course co-operated. He can’t keep us if we don’t co-operate. Its called free will.  After His Ascension He kept her here, during her earthly life, as mother of His Body, the Church. Do you think a loving son would ever NOT keep his mother? And so the keeping continued. All the way from this world and this life to the next. I assume He can do the same for you and me if, like Mary, we let Him.

Today … St. Mary Di Rosa. In 1848 there was war in Brescia, Italy. Sister Paula di Rosa, as she was known, was a member of the Handmaids of Charity. She and some other nuns were helping at a military hospital. No one really wanted them there. The doctors would have preferred secular or military personnel as help. One night there was a great pounding on the door. Everyone knew what it was. Soldiers. There were shouts to open. This was a dangerous situation, the soldiers angry and looking for plunder. And here was an unwanted nun, a burden and worse than a burden in such a situation, worthless to defend and needing to be defended by others not having the desire or the means, and she was heading towards the door to open it! When the door opened the soldiers were faced with this nun holding a large crucifix before them. They slunk away in silence. I don’t think she assumed God would protect her and the others. Godly people know better than to foolishly tempt Him or put Him to the test. There is a great and wonderful difference between assuming and trust.

Read … Luke 4:12 & Psalm 2:12.

Wednesday, November 28

A Rosary Meditation … The Fourth Glorious Mystery, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. In today’s Gospel reading, Luke 21:12-19, Jesus talks about how His followers will be treated. He doesn’t paint a pretty picture. Persecution is never pleasant and, given history, is never-ending. Or so it seems. Our lives can seem so long to us and this length of days can make the rough spots seem never-ending too. But there will be an end to the hard times and we have a good example of the end here in the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Now, its true that her Assumption was something special and that it will never be repeated with any other human being, at least not exactly, but it still gives us an example applicable to ourselves and a hope to carry us through the dark periods of life. Think about Mary’s earthly life. She had a hard life. That doesn’t mean that she had a bad life. We need to remember that, remember that hardship doesn’t negate the basic goodness involved in living. As hard as her life was she got to spend it with Jesus. As hard as our own life may seem we have the opportunity to spend it with Jesus. And then there’s the ending of those things that cause us such discomfort, that cause us all the pain. Think about the Assumption. After all the pain was over the glory began. How much more is goodness to be appreciated when the badness ends? How good we feel when the pain stops. If you’ve ever had a headache or a cold weren’t you happy when it went away? Someday, like Mary, if we spend our lives here on earth with Jesus like she did, He will reward us with Heaven too. All the negatives ended for Mary with her Assumption. When we take our last breath here, and all the aggravations, both major and minor, end, think about where you’ll be and Who you’ll be with when you take your next breath.

Today … St. Andrew Trong was a Vietnamese soldier back in the early 19th century. He was also a Catholic. Remember how Jesus said we’d be handed over to our enemies in today’s Gospel reading? In 1834 Andrew was arrested for being a Christian. He was beheaded, his mother kneeling next to him. She received his head in her lap. Think about how Elizabeth felt when John the Baptizer was beheaded. Think about how Mary felt as she held the dead body of her Son. Think about the pains of life these people suffered and dwell, for a moment, on your own. Okay, that’s ENOUGH! There’s plenty of sadness in the world and pains to go with it. And it is all MORE than enough. NOW it is time, for a change, NOT to worry about these things.  Why is now a good time to set these things aside? Because we do it, “it” being worry and feel the pain, ENOUGH ALREADY! Think about what comes next, what happens after, and about how long it will last. Borrow from that happiness for today, because there will be more than enough. If you spill some on today I can promise that you won’t go lacking then.

Remember … “For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these things.” … “And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord unto length of days.” Philippians 4:8 & Psalm 23:6b.

Saturday, November 10

A Rosary Meditation … The Fourth Glorious Mystery, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. “On the third day after the most pure soul of Mary had taken possession of this Glory never to leave it, the Lord manifested to the Saints His Divine Will, that She should return to the World, resuscitate Her Sacred Body and unite Herself with it, so that She might in body and soul be again raised to the right hand of Her Divine Son without waiting for the general resurrection of the dead.” (“The Mystical City of God” by Mary of Agreda) Consider how much Mary has in common with Jesus because she set her eyes on God’s Glory and not the worlds, she put God first with others second and self third if at all, and because her will was nonexistent. In its place there was always the will of God. In life she followed Him. She even followed Him in death. She spent, her body spent, three days wrapped in the cold shroud of death just as He did. And now, as a result? She sets forever, whole and entire, at the right hand of Jesus. Have you ever thought about the various apparitions, Mary appearing to this or that person? It was no ghost, no disembodied spirit. It was really her, all of her, body and soul. Have you ever thought about how wonderful it would be to be in her presence? It would be wonderful because in her presence we would be with someone so close to Jesus that she is a feminine reflection of Him, of God. What would our reaction be? The next time we’re introduced to someone we might like to check their reaction to us. It could provide insight into how close we are to Him.

Today … St. Justus of Canterbury. A Benedictine archbishop sent to evangelize the Anglo-Saxons by Pope St. Gregory I the Great. Now there’s a resume. They tell me that for a resume to have optimum impact it should be impressive and short. A saint sent by a saint to convert the wicked and the ignorant. Not to mention the violent. What a world he walked into when he arrived at his mission! But he was a saint, which is just one more way of saying he was very close to God with no desire to be anywhere else. That’s simple. Simplicity ought never to be confused with ease. Being a saint he had nothing to fear from the heathen around him. The worst they could do would be send him to his death, which means a trip Home. There was no reason to fear the powers, the violent, the proud, the arrogant, or the ignorant. No reason to fear unjust laws, or worldly courts and immoral legalities, or bad governmental mandates, or … Well, like I said, it is simple, but it isn’t easy.

More today … Pray for the people that St. Justus would work to convert if he were here now. Beause he’s not. But you are.