When we read that the messenger addresses Mary as “full of grace,” the Gospel context, which mingles revelations and ancient promises, enables us to under­stand that among all the spiritual blessings in Christ, this is a special blessing. In the mystery of Christ she is present even “before the creation of the world,” as the one whom the Father has chosen as Mother of his Son in the Incarnation. And, what is more, together with the Father, the Son has chosen her, entrusting her eternally to the Spirit of holiness. In an entirely spe­cial and exceptional way Mary is united to Christ, and similarly she is eternally loved in this beloved Son, this Son who is of one being with the Father, in whom is concentrated all the glory of grace. At the same time, she is and remains perfectly open to this “gift from above” (cf. Jas 1: 17). As the Council teaches, Mary “stands out among the poor and humble of the Lord, who confidently await and receive salvation from him.”  

Bl. Pope John Paul II

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Blessed Pope John Paul II made the Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary. In his apostolic letter, “Rosarium Virginis Mariae,” the Pope noted that his personal motto “Totus Tuus” (Totally Yours) was inspired by the Total Consecration.

Further, the Holy Father said that reading St. Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary” marked a turning point in his life. Blessed John Paul II talked about this in an Oct. 2000 address to the 8th International Mariological Colloquium in Rome. Blessed John Paul II noted that he had read and reread de Montfort’s book. “Then I understood that I could not exclude the Lord’s Mother from my life without neglecting the will of God-Trinity,” he said, “who willed to begin and fulfill the great mysteries of the history of salvation with the responsible and faithful collaboration of the humble handmaid of Nazareth.”

from myconsecration.org

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Homily #131205b ( 10min) Play – Fr. Elias preaches on the Gospel message of building our houses on solid rock, the sound doctrines and commandments of the Lord rather than the passing, shifting sands of human teachings which our current society is being rebuilt on. Father relates this to the Immaculate Conception of Mary as a synthesis of this Christian Doctrine based on quotes from Bl. John Paul II and how this is connected with Advent.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Thursday in the 1st Week in Advent – Wkdy – Form: OF
Readings: 
1st: isa 26:1-6
Resp: psa 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27
Gsp: mat 7:21, 24-27

Audio (MP3)

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In a homily given at Fatima, St. John Paul II spoke about Our Lady at the foot of the Cross: 

“On the Cross Christ said: “Woman, behold, your son!” With these words he opened in a new way his Mother’s heart. A little later, the Roman soldier’s spear pierced the side of the Crucified One. That pierced heart became a sign of the redemption achieved through the death of the Lamb of God.  The Immaculate Heart of Mary, opened with the words “Woman, behold, your son!”, is spiritually united with the heart of her Son opened by the soldier’s spear. Mary’s Heart was opened by the same love for man and for the world with which Christ loved man and the world, offering himself for them on the Cross, until the soldier’s spear struck that blow.

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Ave Maria!

Stations of the Cross from Cardinal Wojtyla, Pope St. John Paul II

1. Jesus is condemned to death – Pilate was trying to remain uninvolved and on the sidelines. We should be with him and be engaged with Him be being conserved with our neighbor
2. Jesus carries His cross – Ecce Homo behold the man. Look what you have done to your God. Do we drive God out?
3. Jesus falls the first time – Falls under the weight of the cross not using the help from the angels or his Father. Fr. Garrigou Lagrange on St Thomas how Christ chose be vulnerable and week in face of persecution.
4. Jesus meets His mother – amount of suffering becomes clear when it is shared with others. When we suffer unite our sufferings with Christ.
5. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross – How long did he resent this. St Mark remarks that Simon’s sons became Christians. Bear the cross by bearing the difficulties of the poor even if we are doing it imperfectly like Simon did.
6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus – Veronica does and act of charity and Jesus leaves the imprint of his face on all acts of charity. Christ kisses all monuments of charity.
7. Jesus falls the second time – I am a worm an no man, Psalm 22:6 Appreciate the love of God even in suffering.
8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem – Do not weep for me, weep for yourselves and for your children. An invitation to an examination of conscience, weep for oursins, to receive more thorough grace
9. Jesus falls the third time – Christ can atone for our sins because his perfect sacrifice
10. Jesus is stripped of his garments – Mary’s great suffering at seeing Jesus’ body mocked
11. Crucifixion – Jesus is nailed to the cross – as if a thing, subhuman. If we teat someone with less that human dignity then we too sin
12. Jesus dies on the cross –  verticality of body vs arms are horizontal. Vertical is His Divinity and horizontal is His Humanity. We must embrace both.
13. Jesus is taken down from the cross – You will conceive in you womb  and his reign will never end. Birth and death Jesus is laid in her arms. Her hope in His resurrection helped her through.
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb – Jesus conquered death with death. So many tombs in the world but this one is the death of death.

Reflection on the reading for Holy Saturday in the Liturgy of the Hours, Christ and death do battle.

Christ comes to us each day, Adam had to wait thousands of years

Awake sleeper come forth from your tomb which is sin.

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