She who was all loveliness... is today all loneliness.
Anonymous asked:
Hello Father! I hope you're well. Two related questions. 1, Do you have any book/website recommendations for rosary meditations, to help focus on and deepen appreciation of the mysteries? 2, Praying in general: How can I cultivate a relationship with Christ or Mary without getting caught up in false "imaginings"? I mean, how can I be sure I'm really praying truly, and not imagining a presence that isn't there, or just lost in my own head? Thank you so much! :)
My personal favorite for rosary meditations is the NCRegister's Rosary Guide, though I'm sure that Magnificat's similar booklet is also very good. You can find good things online, too, like this and Fr Tommy Lane's excellent resources, but of course a booklet is easier to pray with.
Sometimes those "imaginings" of the truths of faith are actually fairly important for our prayer. We think in terms of things we can see and touch, so even though that's a very limited way to deal with divinity, it's our best and only entryway. As prayer life deepens over the years, the soul is gradually prepared for purer and more perfect ways to get to know God, but true vision is still only reserved for the next life.
So by faith we know that Jesus and our Blessed Mother really are there. Just not in a spatial way. Imagining God's smile on you and the Virgin Mary's smile on you is true. Just not in a spatial way. So you know that, if you start imagining that Mary decided to wear white instead of blue today, it's all in your head.
Of course, it's necessary to be humble enough to recognize that your imaginings are just that, but that the deeper truth of God's loving presence is so incredible that your imaginings could never ever do it justice.
God bless you and say a little prayer for me, would you?
- Father Shane
fathershane reblogged
Ave Maris Stella (Latin, “Hail Star of the Sea”) is a plainsong Vespers hymn to Mary. It is of uncertain origin and can be dated back at least as far as the eighth century. It was especially popular in the Middle Ages and has been used by many composers as the basis of other compositions. The creation of the original hymn has been attributed to several people, including Saint Venantius Fortunatus[1] and Hermannus Contractus.[2] The melody is found in the Irish plainsong “Gabhaim Molta Bríde”, a piece in praise of St. Bridget.
Ave, maris stella, Dei mater alma, atque semper virgo, felix cœli porta. Sumens illud “Ave” Gabrielis ore, funda nos in pace, mutans Evæ nomen. Hail, star of the sea, Nurturing Mother of God, And ever Virgin Happy gate of Heaven. Receiving that “Ave” From the mouth of Gabriel, Establish us in peace, Transforming the name of “Eva” (Eve).
This chant was my first introduction to Gregorian chant. Good way to start!
“If you invoke the Blessed Virgin when you are tempted, she will come at once to your help, and Satan will leave you.”
— Saint John Vianney
The new translations of the Mass that we’ll start praying at the end of this year are really great. Here’s one of the opening prayers for the Masses of the Blessed Virgin:
O God, who willed that your Word, begotten from eternity, should come forth from the Virgin’s womb, grant, we pray, that with Blessed Mary interceding he may illumine our darkness with the splendor of his presence, and from his fullness give us joy and peace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
“Illumine our darkness,” o Lord!