Mother Mary, Contemplated Before Conception

Our Lady, Mother of the Word Made Flesh,
in a Gold Montrance of the Holy Eucharist, Christ

     By Monica Siemer, The Lamb Catholic Worker, Columbus, Ohio
       I must share a miraculous picture of Mary that my aunt Joannie Finneran took twenty years ago this past week, on October 12, 1995.  She took two pictures of the same statue, back-to-back, even with a date printed on them. I do not remember where she said she was, and have been told that it is from the tradition of Our Lady of Pillar (correction, most think it is Our Lady of Medjugorie), the first Marian apparition (even while she was still alive in a different location).  It is below.  The first picture is of the statue and the second picture is what appeared on the film, when the flash did not work.  A priest asked, "So, what's the miracle?"  A man standing next to him said, "The first is of a statue and the second is of a woman."  You be the judge!

Mother of the Word Made Flesh

By Monica Siemer

What can we offer you, Mary,

Conceived of

And contemplated

Before being conceived?

Great elbow nudger in the sky,

Who, at Cana, urged onward

Your Son,

Our Lord and Savior,

To take a leap of faith

For His first public miracle

Our Lady Undoer of Knots

O Mother of mothers,

God's choice

For a feminine,

Approachable being,

Grasped by our limited

Human minds.

Pray for our knots, snarls,

And tangledness

In our souls

And in our lives

Oh, true Ark of the 

Covenant Word,

You have gathered

so many

Entwined sorrows

To bring to your Son, Jesus,

And to your Spouse,

The Holy Spirit,

For love of us.

May we love you in return

And trust in your sweet, gentle

And firm prayers

As you tenderly help to

Make our ribbons smooth

Our Lady Undoer of Knots

 Mother Mary by Fritz Eichenberg, Catholic Worker Artist

Ex-Marine's "American Sniper" Reflections

In the spirit of Pope John Paul II who wrote that "any and all pre-emptive [first strike] wars are immoral," in addition to his words that the Iraqi War was NOT legally nor morally justified, we reprint the article, "Former Marine on Chris Kyle, American Sniper, and Social Implications" posted on January 27, 2015 on Washington's Blog by Robert Barsocchini.

Ross Caputi, a former marine who participated in the US’s second siege of Fallujah, writes that the reason the American Sniper book and film have been so successful is that they “tell us exactly what we want to hear”: that US America is “benevolent” and “righteous”.  That, he says, is why the book and film are so popular; their popularity speaks volumes about US society, and signals more danger ahead for the rest of the world.

The killings for which Chris Kyle is idolized, Caputi notes, were perpetrated during his participation in the second US siege of Fallujah, which Caputi, from firsthand knowledge, calls an “atrocity”.

Specifically of the siege, Caputi notes:

“All military aged males were forced to stay within the city limits of Fallujah” [while women and children were warned to flee through the desert on foot]
“…an estimated 50,000 civilians were trapped in [Fallujah] during this month long siege without water” [since the US had cut off water and electricity to the city]
“…almost no effort was taken to make a distinction between civilian men and combatants. In fact, in many instances civilians and combatants were deliberately conflated.”
“The US did not treat military action [against Fallujah] as a last resort. The peace negotiations with the leadership in Fallujah were canceled by the US.”
“[The US] killed between 4,000 to 6,000 civilians, displaced 200,000, and may have created an epidemic of birth defects and cancers“
“[The siege was] conducted with indiscriminate tactics and weapons, like the use of reconnaissance-by-fire, white phosphorous, and the bombing of residential neighborhoods. The main hospital was also treated as a military target.”
In modest conformity with international law originally flowing from the Nuremberg tribunal, he says that neither he or Kyle should receive any “praise or recognition” for their actions against Iraq.

Further, he notes that Clint Eastwood, director of the American Sniper movie, made many changes to Kyle’s accounts of what happened.  For one, Kyle, in his autobiography, recounts shooting a woman who was taking the legal action of throwing a grenade at invading forces.  Eastwood changes this so that the woman gives the grenade to her child to throw at the invaders.  “Did Clint Eastwood think that this is a more representative portrayal of the Iraqi resistance?” Caputi asks. “It’s not.”  (Caputi gives Eastwood the benefit of our lack of knowledge of his thought process; he could have asked if Eastwood did this to try to dehumanize Iraqi mothers or Iraqis in general, or whip up US American xenophobic hatred of foreigners, a not-so-difficult feat which Eastwood accomplished with flying colors.  See The Guardian’s “American Sniper: Anti-Muslim Threats Skyrocket in Wake of Film’s Release“; many who see the film “emerge from theatres desperate to communicate a kind of murderous desire.”)

The US invasion of Iraq, Caputi concludes, was “the imposition of a political and economic project against the will of the majority of Iraqis. … We had no right to invade a sovereign nation, occupy it against the will of the majority of its citizens, and patrol their streets.”

Caputi “holds an MA in Linguistics and … is working on an MA in English Studies at Fitchburg State University.”

Also see Professor of International Affairs Sophia A. McClennan’s piece, where she says the American Sniper movie is “a terrifying glimpse” of a “mind-set that couples delusion with violence”.

Farewell to the Franciscan Brothers, Faithful Sons of Mary

       By Monica Siemer, The Lamb Catholic Worker

      It is with sorrow that we bid farewell to the Franciscan Brothers Minor who have graced Columbus with their presence for the past few years.  They are moving back to Indiana, and our hope is that their quiet yet powerful and cataclysmic model of living the life of St. Francis will return here some day!

Brother Crispin Mary

      Whether seen on the icy or blazing hot pavements in their bare feet, or witnessing their humble prayerful voices alongside them at an abortion mill, or enjoying their contagious beard-lined smiles at dinner, they brought warmth to the heart and the spirit.
      Our community has had the pleasure of fellowship with 8-10 of them here, followed with a talk by Brother Crispin on living the life of poverty.  He eloquently gifted all of us with his knowledge and substantiation, from sacred Scriptures and Church teaching, on embracing a life of poverty.  When I find his notes he gave me I will better relay his wisdom (!)
       To be honest, more than any words could sound, his power and lesson came from he and his companions' way of life -- exuding Christ, His Apostles, and the early Church communities who were often spoken about as having great love, profound poverty, and profound joy.  In these they are all very rich.  These virtues are stated loudly and clearly in their coarse, patched, heavy, brown, hooded robes worn all year, their rough rope belts, nearly shaven heads and bare feet, and in other aspects and habits of their lives.

       They wear long rosaries that dangle and remind them to pray.  They never touch money and only eat what is donated to them, clearing the entire refrigerator each night, sharing it with those around them.  Knowing this last part, I kept pushing second or third helpings on many of them, but they would not take much.  It had become a way of life for them.  I was very moved.
       They are true sons of Mary, as Jesus said to John at the foot of the cross:  "Woman behold your son. John, behold your mother."  All of their middle chosen names are "Mary." Her prayers are special indeed for all, but especially for those who live a consecrated life, which has encouraged me to finally undergo a 33-day "total consecration to Jesus through Mary," as St. Louis Montfort promoted. I had never done this before. Single people and even married ones can make this consecration.  Two people within a year have suggested it for me, and on July 13, I will begin so that I finish on a Marian feast day (a requirement): the Assumption.

       There is a shortened version that is less complicated and allows for far more time to "ponder things in your heart," as Mary did.  Her prayers, those of the woman conceived of by God, or contemplated in advance, even before being conceived, are taken directly to her Spouse, the Holy Spirit, and to her most beloved Son, Jesus.  A person once challenged me that we Catholics worship Mary, and I answered the following: "Do you believe that Jesus had a mother?  (Give long wait time for them to think about and answer yes or no, which is quite a profound role of a human being).  Do you believe that Jesus wants us to honor His mother?"

        St. Louis de Montfort and Fr. Michael Gaitley put it most eloquently:  "'When Mary said, 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38),' we can see most clearly that she's the spouse of the Holy Spirit for at that moment, she gave the Holy Spirit permission to conceive Christ in her womb.  Thus, at that moment, the already unfathomably deep bond between Mary and the Holy Spirit that had begun at the first moment of her Immaculate Conception [when she herself had been conceived in an immaculate manner, planned in advance by God] was revealed as nothing less than a two-become-one marital union... As a result of that union [unique to no other human being but Mary], the Holy Spirit is pleased to work and act through his spouse, Mary,..." (Booklet: "33 Days to Morning Glory, p. 5).
        Another thought-provoking message of Fr. Gaitley in this booklet was that even God entrusted Himself  to Mary.  That Jesus, who existed before the world was even made, came down from His heavenly glory to become a human being - of a few extremely fragile cells - entrusting  Himself to her body, her soul, her very being to nurture Him and put into motion His plan for salvation.  Fr. Gaitley put it this way:  "We should give ourselves to Mary in imitation of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  After all, didn't Jesus give himself to Mary from the moment of the Incarnation?  Yes he did" (p. 9). If God entrusted Himself to Mary to that degree, we can trust in her intercessory action as well.

       Msgr. Reuf gave a stirring homily on Mary recently and explained how Mary freely decided to conform her will to God's will, and so began God's transformation in her that continued her whole life.  Mary also pondered things at length in her heart, a worthy trait and virtue for us all.

Mary Mother of the Eucharist

      Today I had to wait in line for an hour and a half at the BMV where there seemed to be not a single adult without one or more gadgets that monopolized their time, continuously.  These had complete power over them, keeping their minds and attention occupied (captive) the entire time.  It seems at the level of an alarming addiction now in society, with people having grown up with cell phones and somewhat with smartphones.  It appears to be almost a Satanic grip on all of society, choking up any hint of time for pondering and reflecting, or even conversing face-to-face with people beside them.

       Social networking online at the home computer and with a cell phone (Facebook, etc), and especially the feedback from others, can have a powerful effect on young minds too.  I have heard that it sometimes feels as though one's popularity and "worth" are directly tied to how many responses one gets to one's posts.  I am wondering if it contributed to a recent suicide of a mid-20's handsome, college grad here who posted his new picture 2 days before he killed himself.  One Catholic Worker supporter said that he had to get off of Facebook altogether because it was affecting his self-esteem somewhat.  Good for him.  He cut himself free.  I have even had to pull away from this website some, because, even though we are above 21,000 viewers, I will think that it should be much higher, and doubts creep in at times.  It is only the Evil One trying to pull downward.  It is good though, to step back from gadgets, even ones used for good intentions, and take a spiritual and psychological pulse.
       So, does this radical (meaning going back to one's roots) and counter-cultural Franciscan lifestyle look primitive and boring?  Talk about an adventure when one does not know if he will eat the very next day or not!  How exciting when God comes through for them, when Mary's prayers for them are answered!  What a thrill, each day, on how the prayer will be answered, who the Holy Spirit will place in their paths, and for what reason.  Every day would be unpredictable and quite a new adventure, but the greatest aspect of all seems to be the grace that comes with it in the joys, trials, and even sorrows.  What a brotherhood of support!  This is also very Catholic Worker, in the spirit of trust and adventure one must have to take up the call to live radically poor.

       On this feast of St. Benedict (who began monasticism), I can vouch for even those holed up in an abbey, whose entire life is dedicated to prayer - seven evenly-spaced scheduled chapel times per day, in addition to other prayers and reading!  When I had to end my 3-week silent retreat two years ago - the last 8 days being at Thomas Merton's Trappist abbey, Gethsemane, in Kentucky - I was so sad and could have gone for 4 more months.  It was exhilarating!! So much went on in my spirit, in my soul!
        I believe my spiritual life raised to such a higher level (hopefully) because of that very aspect of removing oneself from society, like the desert fathers.  There is little to distract you and to hold your time and attention captive - except for God and a rhythm of prayer and openness and listening constantly.  You can pick up that still small voice, that is God, in that wisp of communication here and there that would normally be very hard to catch.  Msgr. Mottet said that most of his active early priesthood he would take a whole day retreat every month just for listening to the voice of God all day, in a quiet, removed retreat to think and pray over all the typically social justice-oriented projects and people in his life.  He always says that he went in with questions and came out with answers.
       Most profound was an intimacy with God that I had not experienced since my youth.  I had focused mainly on the Carmelite spirituality of St. Teresa of Avila (Interior Castles) and St. John of the Cross with The Ascent to Mount Carmel and Dark Night of the Soul, which could be summarized with the first reading on the very last day of all three weeks (a recent reading as well):  "I will allure her; I will lead her into the desert where I will speak to her heart... On that day, says the Lord, she shall call me 'My husband,' ..."I will espouse you to me forever ..." (Hosea 2:17-21).
       It was actually quite a honeymoon in nearly every modality, not just interiorly too.  Strange and beautiful songs kept being put into my heart like the refrain of the Moody Blues song, "Knights in White Satin," that goes, "yes I love youuuu, ohhhhhh how I love you..." The other two main songs in my heart were:  "I Have Loved You With an Everlasting Love," and "Shepherd Me O God." It was a very touching time with the ultimate Bridegroom.  Even the details or special touch of awe-inspiring European castle-looking architecture and windows of the massive Our Lady of Consolation Shrine and Basilica in Carey, Ohio (the first week of the 3-week retreat) late at night with its changing lights - it is open all night - was almost too much. At one point there, I was the only one in the church and the organ started playing, "Shepherd Me O God," without me ever having noticed or heard anyone come in (which obviously they did).  When they finished the song, they left (so it wasn't organ practice).
       The exact same can be told of constantly meditating along the medieval-looking monastery and many high stone walls of the Abbey of Gethesemane, where I felt placed back in the time of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila.  This was exhilarating since they fought hard to reform the Carmelite order back to its roots, back to holiness, back to its Bridegroom, which may also be in the works for the Catholic Worker movement.
      Even action-packed physical adventure was part of this retreat, beginning on day 1 at the Abbey of Gethsemane with the death of the most beloved Trappist, Brother Ambrose.  He had quite a large crowd of Kentucky locals come to pay tribute to the man from Mexico who could fix any of their tractors, knew and helped constantly on their farms, and was always there in other ways for their families.  The many stories reminded me so much of Peter Maurin, especially the monks' stories about him being so talkative (which was ironic!).  Retreatants at that time were able to join in for the funeral in a part of the chapel no outsiders were ever normally allowed to go. Later, I helped with shovel to bury him deep in the ground on a bed of Juniper (yes, it is true!), getting to further know the personalities of the monks and brothers.  This life for Christ is not boring!  I conversed with and asked Brother Ambrose's prayers for our Catholic Worker, as I sat at his gravesite many hours, having made a small flower bed on the tall pile of dirt that will eventually sink down even with the ground.  I did the same at the gravesite of Thomas Merton (Brother Louis), where I placed many natural, beautiful things.
       As Columbus has lost quite a witness to living the life of radical poverty in these austere Franciscans leaving, I pray that the Catholic Worker community here will take up that baton valiantly, even to a World Cup level, or even, to the early Church level, of living out the call to embrace "Lady Poverty." I pray that, like St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila, those drawn to this life become truly consecrated to Jesus, to Truth itself, through the intercession of Mary and her simple, immaculate heart.  I am certain that these Franciscans have had a lasting effect everywhere, especially to other seminarians and faculty at the Josephenum.  It is a call to all in living more simply in this world, and to solely be channels of love and of peace, as St. Francis preached and lived.  They are a great inspiration for other Franciscans too, I am sure.

     The shorter version of total consecration to Jesus through Mary is in a booklet called, "33 Days to Morning Glory," a "Do It Yourself Retreat."  There is also a bestseller book (same title) explaining it in full depth, but for those who feel nudged by the Holy Spirit to do this and wonder when they will have enough free time to read a whole book, this large booklet makes it accessible to everyone right now. It is also for those who cannot give up 33 days at a retreat center.  In addition, it's also for those who do not have a great deal of time figuring out the flipping back and forth with daily, building prayers, given the complexity of their lives in de Montfort's book (which I also have as a resource and plan to read fully), but who still feel very called to undergo this.  You can call and order the booklet at 1-800-462-7426 or online at ShopMercy.org. You must begin in 33 days before a Marian feast day, and some start dates to come are: start on August 6 - with Fr. Schalk - to end on Sept. 8, the Nativity of Mary; start on August 13 to end on the September 15, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. The cover is the Mary picture above (although she was probably dark-haired and dark-skinned).

     *For those who are pacifists, like the Christ-followers of our Church for its first 300 years, the comments on the first day can be disturbing, with the analogy of having the zeal of nearly crazed, slashing, passionate Celtic warriors.  I see it more as the even higher passion and zeal of the Apostles who gave all, their very lives, passionately, to be martyred brutally as Christ had been.  That one sits much better in this world that justifies participation by Christ-followers in modern war killing - the ending of another sacred human life (even children), for whatever reason the secular government at hand orders, even if it is against our Pope (as in the Iraqi War).  

       One can also see it more along the lines of the disciplined, self-sacrificing passion of a Brazilian soccer player, or those rugby players in the movie, "Forever Strong."  Pushing oneself in an over-the-top strenuous manner, in body, mind, virtue and soul, is always a good thing from time to time.  The harder one strikes out for God, the harder Satan strikes back at him or her.  One needs spiritual readiness, preparedness, for what comes his way in his personal life and in the world, putting on the armor of love and self-sacrifice. 

       Mother Mary and St. Francis, pray for us!  Brother Ambrose, Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, we need your prayers too!

Shepherd Me O God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5a1M9OxOZI

Here you go: Refrain 

Shepherd me, O God, 
beyond my wants, 
beyond my fears, 
from death into life. 

1. God is my shepherd, 
so nothing shall I want, 
I rest in the meadows 
of faithfulness and love, 
I walk by the quiet waters of peace. 

2. Gently you raise me 
and heal my weary soul, 
you lead me by pathways 
of righteousness and truth, 
my spirit shall sing 
the music of your Name. 

3. Though I should wander 
the valley of death, 
I fear no evil, 
for you are at my side, 
your rod and your staff, 
my comfort and my hope. 

4. You have set me a banquet of love 
in the face of hatred, 
crowning me with love 
beyond my pow’r to hold. 

5. Surely your kindness and mercy 
follow me all the days of my life; 
I will dwell in the house of my God 
forevermore.

I Have Loved You With an Everlasting Love

I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine
I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine

seek the face of the lord and long for him
he will bring you his light and his peace

I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine
I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine

seek the face of the lord and long for him
he will bring you his joy and his hope

I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine
I have loved you with an everlasting love
I have called you, and you are mine

The Loveliest Rose of the Vale, Mary

THE LAMB CATHOLIC WORKER, Columbus - As we are praying one of Pope Francis' favorite devotions, the "Our Lady Undoer of Knots" novena, toward the committing day of May 1st, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker and 80th anniversary of the Catholic Worker Movement, we also include Mother Mary on that first day of the month honoring her.  We will begin a tradition of crowning Mary (with flowers) on this yearly anniversary of our founding. It is not surprising that over 30 million people per year visit Marian sights the world over, and how much influence she still has in opening hearts to the love of God through her powerful intercessory prayers for all people!
I enclose my feeble attempt at a poem to honor Mary:

Mother of the Word Made Flesh

By Monica Siemer

What can we offer you, Mary,

Conceived of

And contemplated

Before being conceived?

Great elbow nudger in the sky,

Who, at Cana, urged onward

Your Son,

Our Lord and Savior,

To take a leap of faith

For His first public miracle

Our Lady Undoer of Knots

O Mother of mothers,

God's choice

For a feminine,

Approachable being,

Grasped by our limited
Human minds,

Pray for our knots, snarls,
And tangledness

In our souls

And in our lives

Oh, true Ark of the
Covenant Word,
You have gathered
So many

Entwined sorrows

To bring to your Son, Jesus,

And to your Spouse,

The Holy Spirit,

For love of us.

May we love you in return

And trust in your sweet, gentle

And firm prayers

as you tenderly help to

make our ribbons smooth 



Catholic Worker Art

  

Bring Flowers of the Fairest

Bring flowers of the fairest

Bring flowers of the rarest

From garden and woodland

And hillside and vale

Our full hearts are swelling.                                      

Our glad voices telling

The praise of the loveliest

Rose of the vale

O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today

Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May

O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today

Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May

Our voices ascending,

In harmony blending

Oh! Thus may our hearts turn

Dear Mother, to thee

Oh! Thus shall we prove thee

How truly we love thee

How dark without Mary

Life's journey would be

O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today

Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May

O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today

Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May


 
     

Divine Mercy Sunday April 7: Prepare by Beginning the Divine Mercy Novena on Good Friday

THE LAMB CATHOLIC WORKER, Columbus http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm
Novena of Divine Mercy
http://thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/chaplet.php
http://vita-nostra-in-ecclesia.blogspot.com/2010/05/shroud-of-turin-passio-christi-passio.html

"Jesus I Trust In You"

      Divine Mercy Sunday (the Sunday after Easter) was instituted by Pope John Paul II at the request, posthumously, of Saint Faustina, in her writings - of whom he held a close prayerful friendship with throughout his entire seminary and priestly life. He would talk to her at her grave site as a young man, touched by her life, death at a young age, and especially, at the inspirations of which she had such passion. Her tender intercession for him may have been one reason why he became Pope.  He was able to honor her in return by beatifying her (2000) before his death and launching Divine Mercy Sunday.  His death came just one day before this holy day - with the entire world praying for him that day, then for mercy upon the world the next within the context of one of his greatest papal masterpieces - initiating this most exquisite day of mercy overflowing from Jesus' heart, or BEAMING as powerful rays, into the hearts of all people of the world. (note: Also see the attached link above -the third one, for a wonderful meditation on Holy Saturday by Pope Emeritus Benedict).

      If you have never done a Divine Mercy "pilgrimage," this would be the year to do it!  You cannot help but become a new creation.  On the same day you do all of the following: mass ( Holy Communion), the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Confession, the Rosary, listening time in Eucharistic Adoration, the Stations of the Cross, singing,  - simply spending an entire day with the Lord, continuously praying for His mercy upon yourself, your family, your community, your country, your Church, and your world.  Physically you feel very different afterward, perhaps because it is so strenuous.  Also, perhaps Jesus' "high-beam" rays of mercy penetrate to the deepest recesses of our souls to reveal concealed fear, pain, and sin at the root of of our sometimes dark and ugly thoughts. Perhaps a lifetime of meditating on and contemplating this concept and image of Christ's mercy in high beam rays of light is what inspired Pope John Paul II in the creation of the Luminous Mysteries of the rosary.  It certainly sounds that way!

      Fr. Barron, in his Catholicism series explains that all that makes one a saint is this - to know one's sinfulness.  This is a day to be honest with yourself. The length of this pilgrimage leaves no stone unturned if we are open and willing to work at it, truly humbling ourselves.  The floodlights of His mercy then, in laser-light surgery fasion, removes past sin, lingering guilt, and negative habitual thinking patterns that are not part of His plan for you or for the salvation of the world.  His Transfiguration intensity of mercy sheds light on His word as well, on Himself, the Word, opening our minds to His teachings and way in the world.  He floods us with Himself.

     Even though a difficult, arduous prayer road, this day of pilgrimage is nothing compared to the pilgrimage trips others have taken throughout history!   If you find a church that has only parts of it for only a couple of hours, find another to go to after.  Plan on spending about 4-6 hours or more, even if you have to find two different churches.  The best is to have at least an hour after to simply listen to our Lord in regards to our lives, letting Him simply hold you in His arms and love you.

      Just as importantly, if you start the Divine Mercy Novena (nine days of prayer) on Good Friday, it helps to prepare you spiritually for Easter as well as for the feast of Divine Mercy - to have the most  effective impact. 

      What Jesus did tonight, Holy Thursday, and tomorrow (the way of the Cross), make up the greatest outpouring of mercy into the world, no doubt.  Imagine Him washing tenderly the feet of the one who would betray Him (turning their feet this way then that), ... of offering and breaking the bread, His own Body, for those who will soon scatter at His most dire hour of need.  Picture Him taking on the slicing nails that never stop slicing as those wounds hold up His body weight for hours.  His love and mercy are far more powerful and steady than any ugliness we can throw at Him.  This 9-day novena continues that theme throughout the Octave of Easter, of empyting Himself for us; thus, we too work toward emptying ourselves of sin and doubt. Talk about getting cleaned out!  How to pray this novena leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday is in two links at the top of this article.  Walk with our Lord on Calvary and to the Resurrection.  Allow His love and mercy to wash over you and wash over the world. 

      SPEAKING OF EASTERTIDE (an added note later):  Here are some exerpts from Pope Francis' first Easter homily:

"What does it mean that Jesus has risen?  It means that the love of God is stronger than evil and death itself; it means that the love of God can transform our lives and let those desert places in our hearts bloom..."

"So this is the invitation that I address to everyone:  Let us accept the grace of Christ's Resurrection!  Let us be renewed by God's mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of his love to transform our lives too; and let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation and make justice and peace flourish.  And so we ask the risen Jesus, who turns death into life, to change hatred into love, vengeance into forgiveness, war into peace.  Yes, Christ is our peace, and through him we implore peace for all the world ... Middle East ... Africa ... Mali ... Congo ... Nigeria ... Central African Republic ... Korean peninsula ...[He goes into more detail about each]."

"May the risen Christ guide you and all humanity on the paths of justice, love and peace!"

Mary's Intercessory Prayers are Powerful

  THE LAMB CATHLIC WORKER, Columbus - Pray the Rosary daily and trust in Mother Mary's intercessory prayers to God on our country's behalf and on the world's behalf. Mary, please pray for our counry and our world (Mariam to the Muslim world).
       Think about it, her prayers are powerful for people of all religions.  Ask her for prayers for you too; she has a love and humility beyond this world.  It is beautiful that she visited Fatima, a city named after a famous Muslim woman (Mohammed's fourth daughter).
       What do you think Mary was thinking and praying as her son was brutally whipped, taunted, and made to carry the cross?  Could it have been:
        "My life may be in danger as well because of the hostility of the crowds, so I must stay back and hidden.  Look how they are treating him!  Please be with Him.  I am scared, so I can't even imagine how much my "little boy" is suffering... and what it will all lead to on top of the hill!"
        "Please, God, no, please ease his suffering."
        "Please, send someone to wipe His face, He can't see where He is walking, with the blood dripping into His eyes so heavily."
        "Please, he keeps falling and they keep whipping Him! He can't do it alone.  Please have someone HELP Him, or to stop whipping Him so much!  Or at least, for selfish reasons of the centurion, if He were to die too soon, change his heart to have someone else carry that huge cross for Him!  He is too weak, and He keeps trying and trying to get up again and carry it.  He can't do it. He's getting up again! He is just staggering along already.  Please, don't make Him have to carry it."
       "Please send someone to cry over Him instead of all these people screaming into His face, spitting on Him, throwing things at Him, and making fun of Him! Look how beaten down physically and emotionally He is!  Please God, let Him feel a hint of love in this crowd!!"
       "Please help me to be brave enough to step forward, even if they do take me and do the same.  I want to be by my son, at this horrible time in His life.  I want Him to feel my love right now, please make a way for me to!  Please give me the courage, as all His followers have scattered. He needs me right now!"

       As you can see, with Simon helping Jesus, Veronica wiping His face, the women and children crying for Him, and Mary letting Him feel oneness with His mother during this terrible time, Mary's intercession was powerful.  She is the great elbow-nudger in the sky, if we let her be!  Our Lady, Queen of the Americas, pray for us!  Our Lady of Guadalupe, pregnant one who protects the unborn (and just born), pray for us!  Our Lady Queen of Peace, pray for us!  We love and honor you as Jesus did.  Intercede for our children, our families, and even our enemies, as Jesus desires.