His mother said to him,
“Son, why have you treated us like this?
Your father and I have been
anxiously searching for you.” Luke 2:48
“Son, why have you treated us like this?
Your father and I have been
anxiously searching for you.” Luke 2:48
Leader: Mary, mother of mothers
Response: pray for us.
Mary is the human mother of a human child. She
fed him, guided him, picked him up and kissed him
better when he fell. She comforted him when
he was ill, and stood by him when he was alone.
Leader: While we are growing
Response: Pray for us
Leader: When we we fall
Response: Pray for us
Leader: In our moments of shame
Response: Pray for us
Like many women through the ages, bright
but without influence, Mary accepted life and set
about being the best she could be: a model
of trust, acceptance, courage and integrity.
of trust, acceptance, courage and integrity.
Leader: Mary, model of prayer, model of assent
Response: Pray for us
Leader: Mary, beacon of hope
Response: Pray for us
Leader: Mary, bearer of pain
Response: Pray for us
You stood by your son in his pain, when he was
naked before the world and not able to protect
himself. You took him from his place of suffering
to a place of rest. You carried on through your pain.
Leader: Mary, patient listener, faithful to
your call
Response: Pray for us
Leader: Help us as we, like you, watch for
God in our lives
Response: Pray for us
Leader: When we too are called to stand at
the foot of our crosses
Response: Pray for us
God called to Mary throughout her life, and she listened to hear the gentle breeze as well as the
clear inner voice. She helped her son, a son of man,
hear and accept and follow the God in him.
Leader: Mary, model of prayer
Response: Pray for us
Leader: You gave hope to the Apostles in
their dark moments; give hope to us too
Response: Pray for us
Leader: You said "yes" to hope, to love, to God
Response: Pray for us
Mary too heard and accepted the God in her.
This human being came to see that she too was
created in the image of that God, and when
her time came, undoubtedly faced the transition
with the same peace and love and acceptance
as she faced the other crises of her life.
Leader: Mary, you stood by your son at the
foot of the cross. At the hour of our death
Response: Pray for us
Leader: As we walk our individual paths home
Response: Pray for us
Leader: When we stumble on our path
Response: Pray for us
Leader: When we are distracted and turn away
Response: Pray for us
Leader: And, at the hour of our deaths
Response: Pray for us
Suggestions for meditation
Response: Pray for us
Leader: Mary, beacon of hope
Response: Pray for us
Leader: Mary, bearer of pain
Response: Pray for us
You stood by your son in his pain, when he was
naked before the world and not able to protect
himself. You took him from his place of suffering
to a place of rest. You carried on through your pain.
Leader: Mary, patient listener, faithful to
your call
Response: Pray for us
Leader: Help us as we, like you, watch for
God in our lives
Response: Pray for us
Leader: When we too are called to stand at
the foot of our crosses
Response: Pray for us
God called to Mary throughout her life, and she listened to hear the gentle breeze as well as the
clear inner voice. She helped her son, a son of man,
hear and accept and follow the God in him.
Leader: Mary, model of prayer
Response: Pray for us
Leader: You gave hope to the Apostles in
their dark moments; give hope to us too
Response: Pray for us
Leader: You said "yes" to hope, to love, to God
Response: Pray for us
Mary too heard and accepted the God in her.
This human being came to see that she too was
created in the image of that God, and when
her time came, undoubtedly faced the transition
with the same peace and love and acceptance
as she faced the other crises of her life.
Leader: Mary, you stood by your son at the
foot of the cross. At the hour of our death
Response: Pray for us
Leader: As we walk our individual paths home
Response: Pray for us
Leader: When we stumble on our path
Response: Pray for us
Leader: When we are distracted and turn away
Response: Pray for us
Leader: And, at the hour of our deaths
Response: Pray for us
Suggestions for meditation
Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to you".
The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to ask for God's help and to open yourself to God's input. We cannot do this on our own.
Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.
Listen for the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!
If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation try Luke 1: 46-49 from today's Mass in New Zealand (tomorrow's Mass in the rest of the world) ...
And Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his Name."
Re-read the passage or the meditation - maybe read it slowly aloud.
Is there a word or phrase that jumps out to speak to you?
Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.
Then spend 5, or 10, or 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word LOVE or BLESSED.
You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention).
You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds.
After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen.
Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).
You may need a countdown clock.
At the end thank God, and return to your day.
Always begin by offering your time to God and asking for the grace to grow closer: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time as I reach out to you, and ask that you guide me now, and each day, closer to you".
The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to ask for God's help and to open yourself to God's input. We cannot do this on our own.
Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.
Listen for the personal message for you. There will always be one word or phrase that will reach into your heart. Think of it as the personal meaning God has for you alone!
If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation try Luke 1: 46-49 from today's Mass in New Zealand (tomorrow's Mass in the rest of the world) ...
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me
and holy is his Name."
Is there a word or phrase that jumps out to speak to you?
Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.
Then spend 5, or 10, or 15 minutes with your word from Jesus, or the word LOVE or BLESSED.
You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention).
You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds.
After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen.
Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).
You may need a countdown clock.
At the end thank God, and return to your day.
No comments:
Post a Comment