My rosary has begun for the day on my trip to town with my hubby to try to get rid of a persistent ear infection and then some other errands. Mary is my constant companion as I lift up each of my kids on the 5 decades of the rosary each day in order of their age, and then I have added 5 more for my husband, Godchildren, my family, Pat's family and a decade for my beloved Church with all that tries to tear it down and battles it has to fight for The Truth!
This close time with Mary where she appeared 100 years ago to the 3 children comes very closely on the heels of Nancy's personal encounter with Mary during the painful stillborn loss of her 20 week Maximilian on Thanksgiving...
http://www.dosmallthingswithlove.com/2018/02/mary-is-real-and-she-loves-you-2.html
Nancy's words about her encounter and forever changed and in love with Mary, our Mother of heaven and earth!
"And in that silent, dark room, the drugs started to drip in and my body started to slowly, painfully respond. The hours ticked by and we waited, not really knowing what to expect, except that the baby inside of me was dead and that the future we had fallen in love with was never going to be.
The hours we spent waiting for Maximilian to be delivered were some of the darkest I have experienced. I wept until I was completely dehydrated and numb, and yet, in those moments I also received one of the most profound gifts of my life.
I was allowed to experience Mary.
Thanks to all I had been taught growing up Catholic, I knew to call on Mary in my pain. I began to pray the ‘Hail Mary’, aloud and silently, and when that seemed too much, I fell into simply saying her name. “Mary, Mary, Mary,” and as I did, I could feel her presence in that room. She did not come gradually, but suddenly and all at once, as if she had been just waiting for me to call.
Thinking back on those moments I can visualize exactly where she was standing in the room, just to the right of my bed, looking directly at me. I never doubted that she was really there, right there. But more than anything I remember feeling a deep stillness emanating from where she stood. I knew she was there gazing on me with love.
My experience of Mary was really quite simple. There were no bright lights or premonitions or words from heaven. Just a feeling of peace and love, and the comfort of knowing that she was there and she loved me.
The weeks and months following the loss of our little Maximilian have been difficult, and I expect more struggles as we attempt to get pregnant and once more open ourselves up to the pain of loss. But the gift Mary gave me in that hospital room has endured. I no longer feel her presence as strongly as I did that day, but I am left with the knowledge of who she is.
And I can honestly say that I know Mary now. I tasted her love for me. I was able to touch, for just a few minutes, her tender hand and I know now that those same hands are holding my little Maximilian up in heaven.
The knowledge that Mary is really there has changed everything. I cling to my Rosary and attempt to carry her with me everywhere."
rosary, penance and devotion to her Immaculate heart is what Mary asked of us!
Over the tomb of Francisco.. he lived a short life where he loved The Eucharist and accepted his suffering and early death. Holding a Lamb the symbol of sacrifice!
The Gospel today had those amazing words from St John 16
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn,
while the world rejoices;
you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.
When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived;
but when she has given birth to a child,
she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy
that a child has been born into the world."
The pain is forgotten! Yes! So true! Yet, as I was reminded of yesterday by Diana... the pain will find us still as we go down the narrow path following after Jesus with those children of ours. For a child to go ahead of their parents is so very hard and excruciating indeed! How to recover? Humanly it is next to impossible and we need to rely on our Faith and find comfort with Mary, our mother in heaven.
Jesus, I need you and give my all to you... may I die to self so that your Spirit may work through me. May I give without counting the cost most especially with those closest to me in my domestic Church/family. I am assured that I cannot love your Mother too much. "You cannot love her more than Jesus did." St Maximilian Kolbe Jesus, we trust in you. Amen and Hallelujah
http://familysoulstory.blogspot.com/p/johns-cancer-stories.html
I just found some great new pictures from Maria's blog... Therese turning 10!
Such a humble loving and serving girl that you are! WE love you so much!
Fear not, I am with you; be not dismayed; I am your God. I will strengthen you, and help you, and uphold you with My right hand of justice. Isaiah 41:10
LOVE!!!
“Always stay close to this Heavenly Mother, because she is the sea to be crossed to reach the shores of Eternal Splendour.”
-Saint Padre Pio
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