The Lamb Catholic Worker is Now Peter and Dorothy's House of Hospitality

66,700 views, 100 countries! The people of this house will shine the light of Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin's hospitality, yet also highest levels of the power of the Holy Spirit! European Union viewers, research cookies that track you ("Google Analytics" and "Adsense"), to accept. Questions: ddhhjmj@mail.com. At BOTTOM hit "Older Posts" more posts! Search inside blog like for "Christian Nonviolence MLK." Monica Siemer, P.O. Box 44009, Columbus, OH 43204, (614) 235-2557

Showing posts with label Undoer of Knots. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

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

Thursday, April 25, 2013

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

Daily Prayer to St. Joseph for Purity and Daily Pledge

One of the prayers a priest uses to bless the St. Joseph Purity cords:
"God, the lover and restorer of innocence, we pray that Thy faithful who are to wear this cincture [cord] may, by the prayers of Saint Joseph, spouse of Thy Holy Mother, have their loins girded and hold burning lamps in their hands, and thus be likened to men and women who wait for their Lord when He shall return for a wedding, that when He comes and knocks the may open to Him, and be found worthy of being taken into everlasting joys; through Thee who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen."

PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH FOR PURITY
Guardian of virgins, and holy father Joseph, to whose faithful custody Christ Jesus, Innocence itself, and Mary, Virgin of virgins, were committed; I pray and beseech thee, by these dear pledges, Jesus and Mary, that, being preserved from all uncleanness, I may with spotless mind, pure heart, and chaste body, ever serve Jesus and and honor Mary most chastely all the days of my life. Amen.

DAILY ADDITIONAL PLEDGE OF PURITY for single people of all ages and walks of life (including religious):
Let this holy cord be a constant reminder of this daily pledge to be celibate in mind, heart, and body all the time without exception; and to remind me to pray for others. May our purity be upheld by and for the glory of God.
For married people:
Let this holy cord be a constant reminder of this daily pledge, as a spouse, to be chaste in mind, heart, and body all the time without exception; and to remind me to pray for others. May our purity be upheld by and for the glory of God.

When you belong to a confranternity, you have entered into a circle of people who are praying for you in your moment of weakness or temptation as you are for all who wear the St. Joseph Purity Cord. You have your back covered!

Luke 12:34-35 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Let your loins be girt and lamps burning in your hands." Pray for the 17,000+ viewers interested in these prayers (as of Dec. 27, 2013).

How to Pray the Rosary Daily as Mother Mary Asked at Fatima (for world peace)

One way to pray the Rosary is to focus on the WORDS of the rosary (much slower pace, typically), which is self-explanatory.
Another is to meditate on the MYSTERIES of the Rosary, typically done at a medium, rhythmic, natural pace. Here you are focusing on the words of the few prayers at the beginning, end, and between the actual mysteries: the Creed, Our Father, initial Hail Mary, Glory Be, Hail Holy Queen, Memorare,The Rosary Prayer, etc. Within the rosary though, after announcing each of the 5 individual mysteries of a set (which is always done), you deeply meditate upon that mystery of the rosary itself, or scene from the life of Christ and of Mary by putting yourself in them while rythmically saying the 10 Hail Marys and fingering the beads. Doing something simple and rhythmic frees up your spirit and "monkey mind" as St. Therese de Lisieux called it - our minds that jump all over the place when trying hard to concentrate on one thing. By keeping it's more "automatic" side busy (that, say, drives a car without thinking while carrying on a conversation in the car) in a simple way, this frees it to focus clearly with newer heights of meditation and prayer. Thomas Merton especially emphasized this level of meditation (of repetitious prayers, prayer beads, and extremely deep meditation), which is in many major religions and religious people. Even though major mystics typically employed less words to enter into deep meditation, it has this effect time and time again. Not all can meditate upon the MYSTERIES of the Rosary - doing two things at once - which is fine.
Mother Mary asked at Fatima if we would pray the rosary daily for world peace. There's always new insights if you open your heart and soul, especially when asking the Holy Spirit to come and pray with you! Please see the new column in the bottom right margin called, "Being There: Putting Yourself in the Rosary Scenes." As you have newer insights (you will!) you may send them to us to share at: thelambcatholicworker@gmail.com
THE ROSARY PRAYER
In addition to the "Hail Holy Queen," at the end of the Rosary, as seen on most Rosary pamphlets and the "Memorare" ("Remember O most gracious virgin Mary, that never was it known, ..."), another wonderful end-of-Rosary prayer, is "The Rosary Prayer," an older powerful one - especially if you are the type to meditate on the actual mysteries during the Rosary:
THE ROSARY PRAYER
O God, whose only begotten Son,
by His life, death, and resurrection
has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life;
grant, we beseech Thee,
that while meditating upon the mysteries
of the most holy Rosary
of the blessed virgin Mary,
we may imitate what they contain
and obtain what they promise
through the same Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.
THE SEVEN SORROWS OF MARY ROSARY (prayed by Franciscans for centuries, and whose concepts are the flip side of the coin of other already existing mysteries - the Finding of Jesus in the Temple is the Loss of Jesus in the Temple, etc). These give a more full picture of the other mysteries, for deeper meditation. After each mystery, in block parenthesese, will be the corresponding mystery of the traditional Rosary.
1. The Prophecy of Simeon -Luke 2:25-35 [part of the Presentation]
2. The Flight into Egypt -Matt. 2:13-15 [Birth of Jesus]
3. Loss of Jesus for Three Days -Luke 2:41-50 [Finding Jesus..]
4. Mary Meets Jesus on His Way to Calvary -Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17 [Carrying the Cross]
5. Crucifixion and Death of Jesus -John 19:25-30 [Crucifixion]
6. The Body of Jesus Being Taken From the Cross -Psalm 130; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37 [Crucifixion]
7. The Burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47) [Crucifixion]
As mentioned in the Links, "Our Lady of Kibeho" is an excellent resource to deeply meditate on these mysteries while praying this unique Rosary, or the traditional ones (with these ideas and imagery painting a more detailed picture of those).
PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY FOR WORLD PEACE!
WALKING (OR JOGGING) WITH THE ROSARY AND CHAPLET
If you still are not sold on these two most critical daily prayers, you already know you have to keep your energy level up by regular exercise. While it is preferable to sit or kneel in quiet to deeply meditate, many of us have great trouble finding the time in a hectic day. Many do take time to jog or walk for exercise and health though (which is critical too!). Don't waste that opportunity to still "get in" your daily Rosary and Chaplet! In fact, the rhythmic pace of walking or even better - lightly jogging - greatly contributes to the rhythmic meditatative aspects of the repetitive prayers of the Rosary and Chaplet. This can be the best of all worlds. it is critical for our world as well. Prayer is powerful, especially this one!
One trick I learned is that since I do not want a Rosary dangling while running, I use my right hand for the first five of a decade and the left for the other. I simply jog with fists and stick out number one, then two, etc. on the right hand first, then the left. This becomes automatic and you deeply meditate instead of wondering where you are. You don't even have to think when you go right hand first, then left. I find a long street with almost no traffic or pedestrians to distract the meditations. If the meditation was not focused enough, I simply do that mystery again - of getting lost, with Christ, in the scene on which you are meditating.
Hope this helps! If you are already in a jogging group, start a Rosary and Chaplet jogging group! It will open up a whole new world for you and possibly help to save the world (both souls and the world itself from full blown war).

Whoa, Jesus and Mary at Your Right and Left

When you pray the Rosary daily, you may not feel the presence of Jesus and Mary while praying it (many times you probably will though). Afterwards, you look to the right, startled, whoa, there's Jesus; and to the left, whoa, there's Mary. There is no doubt they are standing right beside you and stay with you a long time.
When you pray the Rosary daily, asking the Holy Spirit to pray with you and fill you, afterwards it is as though the Holy Spirit is and continues pouring and lavishing you with grace and with His very self, urging you to attempt to do His work in the world, to be His presence in the world. You walk away feeling more one with God.

Monsignor Marv Mottet, Whose Life Legacy is a Perfect Inspiration

Monsignor Marv Mottet, a retired diocesan priest from Davenport, Iowa, is cofounder, along with Rev. Richard McSorley, S.J., of the St. Francis Catholic Worker Community in Washington, D.C. has been visited by Blessed Mother Teresa and has cofounded many organizations serving the poorest in our country. At the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) from 1978-1985, he headed the Campaign for Human Development. He has spent nearly his entire priesthood "trying to marry the charismatic movement and peace and social justice issues (including pro-life, anti-abortion)," more recently emphasizing Blessed John Paul II's promotion of a "Culture of Life" and a "Culture of Pentecost."

Being There :Putting Yourself in the Rosary Scenes

PLEASE SEE THE ROSARY RELATED POSTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LEFT MARGIN AS WELL

Joyful Mysteries

ANNUNCIATION (the fruit of meditating on this mystery: Humility)

-Mary's expectant "yes" and God allowing questioning as to how this can be done

-Greeting of Gabriel to Mary is the basis of the prayer, "Hail Mary," if anyone doubts the scriptural basis of awe and reverence for Mary

-What was Jesus' chromosonal pattern or DNA like under a microscope as it formed into cells, or divided?

-How could the God who encompasses all things be encompassed in a uterus, or become human by starting with the most tiny cells?

-a famout saint once said that the most astounding feat was not that God suffered and died for us, nor that He rose from the dead and opened Heaven - no, it was that He became a human

VISITATION (fruit: Love of neighbor)

-The famous "Magnificat" - "My soul doth magnify the Lord.."

-Mary was the first to truly know Jesus' power - as she carried Jesus in her abdomen, she knew he was not conceived of man, hence the praise and worship of God in her Magnificat

BIRTH OF JESUS: (fruit: Poverty - Poverty a fruit? Very Catholic Worker!)

-How tricky and overwhelming to be in labor at age 14; to worry of dying in the desert if she gives birth on the way; no room as the time gets closer

- No bed to give birth in, but must give birth on the floor of a dirty stable (things may be high stress like this in our lives, but we can get through them too!); and childbirth without her mother

- What joy after the birth! Hearing the multitude of angels, seeing the shepherds, kings, gifts, etc.

PRESENTATION (fruit: Obedience)

-How Anna and Simeon's words must have stung (Luke 2:25-38) "He will be a sign of contradiction, a sword will pierce your [Mary's] heart, ...

THE FINDING OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE

-This is poignant for anyone who has lost a child in public, particularly when you cannot find them or get to them for a period of time. You are frantic. Think of our fallen away Catholic relatives who have "lost" Jesus. Parents are panic-stricken, like St. Monica, who prayed untiringly for Augustine. Lord, help them find their way back to you

-No one can come to Jesus, "unless the Father draw him. What a priceless gift we have been given - that of our faith in God

-The thrill Jesus must have had to be "cut loose," so to speak, and impart wisdom and explanation to the holy men of the day at the Temple for three whole days!

SORROWFUL MYSTERIES

THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN (fruit: Sorrow for Sin)

-Picture His anguish over the torture that is about to happen. Have you ever had something coming the next day that you dreaded or agonized over? He fully understands human panic and anguish. "Cast all your cares on Him for He cares for you." "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, and those who are crushed in spirit, He saves."

-"Father take this cup away,..but not my will Yours be done"

THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR (fruit: Purity)

- What would it be like to be whipped with just two lashes over the same spot, once in your life - to know the level of torture that rips open sensitive skin, tearing it? Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus in "The Passion of the Christ," passed out in pain on the set making the movie when the whip had gone around his apparatus and actually got him once

-"By His stripes, we are healed ..." Heal me, Lord, of all bad things I may think or do. Humble me, Lord

THE CROWNING OF THORNS (fruit: Courage)

-With stinging back laid open wide in searing pain, they put on blindfolds and struck him hard on the thorned head, 1 inch thorns digging into his skull; all while they mocked him and spit on him. It makes any humiliation you suffer for His name and for His teachings and Way, seem easy

-We take on blows to crowned thorn head when people - especially family and friends - say critical words of Christ's way that we try to live, especially in the Catholic Worker

CARRYING OF THE CROSS (fruit: Patience)

-He accepted the cross being handed to Him - Father help me accept my crosses you have for me

-How heavy - like dragging large logs uphill through a forest, inch by inch; and with such stinging wounds on His back, shoulders, arms, neck and head; legs quivering under such massive weight until giving out and everything painfully crashing down on Him

-How did He ever get back up for more of the same when He knew He couldn't carry it's massive weight? Leg first, then arms to carry, and more weight on the bloody skinless shoulders

-What did Jesus' face really look like? The Shroud of Turin, believed to be His facial outline, is a great place to start. "This is the people who long to see your face"

CRUCIFIXION (fruit: Perseverance)

-Excruciating - No split-second of relief- He couldn't pull up on His hands to relieve His feet nor rest on His feet to relieve His hands - everything stinging, throbbing, begging for a split second of relief. If you have ever had to dig a deep splinter out of your hand or a finger (or foot) and needed a minute to rest from the pain and soreness of digging it out, this excruciating pain had no rest; indeed, those most excruciating points of pain held up his entire body weight - constant irritation and rubbing of the open wounds! May we unite what little suffering we have to Christ on the cross

-How very, very hard the crucifier must have had to pound the heavy hammer onto the crude spike/nail again and again to get through the solide flesh of Jesus' doubled feet

-We cannot imagine the excruciating suffering - writhing in pain but not able to move without much more pain; irritation at the open wounds for hours, tugging from the full body weight

-Mary witnessing all of this! She stood at the foot of the Cross staring up at her Son, her once little boy, who was suffering in agony. She is at the foot of our crosses. She brings us to the Cross, to our source of life and freedom, her Son, Jesus

-One account has Jesus on the cross for SIX hours (Mark 16: 1-39). "It was 9:00 in the morning when they crucified Him," with the next verse being the inscription put above His head

-Two times the word "loudly or loud" were used to show His outcries of overwhelming anguish and despair (same Gospel), and over the physical torture (if you are a who has passed a full-sized kidney stone or given birth without pain killers, you come a hint nearer to this level of nerves being shot and crying out)

- How God the Father must have suffered too! How difficult to watch and experience!

-Seven last words, or sentences (I thirst, it is finished, etc)

-What did/does Jesus really look like? The Shroud of Turin is believed to be His actual facial features. "This is a people that long to see your face!"

GLORIOUS MYSTERIES

RESURRECTION (fruit: Faith)

-What state was His body in for the three days? God cannot fully die; did He descend to hell, as in one creed? What happened there?

-Was His body in a state of incorruption totally (like St. Margaret Josephine Bakhita) or in the process of corrupting, then fully restored?

-What was His first thought on coming back to life? What did it feel like? Or was He alive always, outside His body, then flew back in, so to speak?

-Did He dance around, or simply stand in awe?

-On the beach making a fire and laughing to Himself as He asks them to throw the net again; cooking the breakfast fish for them

- The road to Emmaus walk and breaking of bread

- Suddenly appearing, "Peace be with you," they being startled, and He eating a piece of fish to prove it was Him and not a ghost

-Putting my own hands into His hand wounds, touching them like Thomas

-"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you, ..." (Jn. 14:27) Do we receive and solely be this peace to the world, His peace? Or are we channels of the opposite?

-Jesus telling them"But when he comes, the spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth." (Jn. 16:12)

-Picture gazing into His resurrected face, His eyes, ... one look would flood you with excitement and perspective of this fleeting life and the power of God if we follow Him and His ways alone, whatever He should want. Who else has power over life and death? In the end, after it all, the Lamb love triumphs.

ASCENSION (fruit: Hope)

-Jesus telling them that the Holy Spirit will come to them and stay until the end of time, guiding, directing, giving them power

-He floated up, then did He pick up speed, going past this and that like a rocket?

- What did the first split second of heaven feel like to Him?

- What was the clamor like in heaven receiving Him, especially knowing how the angels celebrated at His birth! And this after suffering in such loneliness, pain, and despair; what a celebration!

-Picture what Jesus looks like now, radiating in power and light (brighter than the Transfiguration): one look at Him having risen would clear away any doubt, pain, worry

-What did the Apostles think as they are watching Him float up into the sky, still looking when the angel came to speak? Can you imagine that sight! Nothing could contain you

THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (fruit: Love of God) -Upper room, scared and wondering if they are next - Jesus coming through the wall; "Peace be with you," and breathing on them

-The apostles' praise and openness to the Spirit, then the whole vast assembly filled with the Spirit, caught up in praising and worshipping God, speaking in tongues; filled with His loving spirit toward all of many tongues; getting a taste of heaven

THE ASSUMPTION OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER TO HEAVEN (fruit: Grace of a Good Death)

-How tenderly God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit took their precious Mary by the hand, after all that she had been through, and brought her to heaven

-What a clamor when Mary set one foot in Heaven!

-Mary was so special that she was a pre-conceived design, with God planning for her creation before she even was conceived, and espoused her like no other human being

THE CORONATION OF MARY (fruit: Trust in Mary's Intercession)

-What is going on with Mary now in heaven? What is she doing?

LUMINOUS MYSTERIES

BAPTISM OF OUR LORD (fruit: Openness to the Holy Spirit)

-How humble of our God to go through religious ritual, bowing His head down to be baptized by a man - what a great role model of humility in this modern, proud, and independent age!

-Put yourself in St. John the Baptist's position of pouring water over Jesus' humbled, bowed down hair on His head

-"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased," - don't we want to also be that beloved child, making Him proud and well-pleased with us too?

Wedding Feast at Cana (fruit: to Jesus Through Mary)

-Mary, the great elbow nudger! "They need more wine;" "Women, what concern is that of mine, my hour has not yet come;" "Do whatever He tells you;" "Fill these jars, ..."

PROCLAMATION OF THE KINGDOM (fruit: Conversion and Trust in God)

-How did these apostles walk away from their lives - from everything and everyone familiar! Dropping their nets, leaving their tax post, or warm homes - and just follow Jesus?

-What about the rich young man starved to do more, but when asked to sell and and come follow Jesus, he left. What adventure he missed! And for his comfortable former way!

-Look how OLD Jesus was when He started all this! Thirty years old when life expectancy was probably 45! It's never too late

-He stayed up all night on the mountain in prayer before setting off to call the specific apostles for His work; so rooted in prayer always first; what a great role model! Jesus, help us to pray before everything major and even minor in our lives. Gather those who you call to The Lamb Catholic Community, Lord, as well as to all your other works of all kinds throughout the world!

TRANSFIGURATION (fruit: Desire for Holiness)

- One look at Him would have told them He is God; if He was that radiant then, how must He be in heaven?

-"This is my beloved Son, listen to Him."

INSTITUTION OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST (fruit: Adoration)

-"Unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of man and drink of His blood, you shall not have life within you. For My flesh is real food and My blood real drink." Many left Him over this, and He turneds to the apostles and said: "Will you leave Me too?" And Peter answered, "Master, where will we go? You have the words of everlasting life" -The tenderness of Jesus bent down washing your feet at the last supper, the top of His hair, His hands turning your feet this way then that, ... "Whoever wishes to be first must be servant to all"

-With what heavy, heavy arms He held out the bread, making it into His body - the agony in the garden minutes away. How did He lovingly think of them and future generations when His life was at such risk that very night?

-What humility of God to have become and continue to become a simple substance like bread then and through all times, over and over and over again