A reading from the second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (1:3-7)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all encouragement,
who encourages us in our every affliction,
so that we may be able to encourage
those who are in any affliction
with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God.
For as Christ’s sufferings overflow to us,
so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow.
If we are afflicted,
it is for your encouragement and salvation;
if we are encouraged,
it is for your encouragement,
which enables you to endure the same sufferings that we suffer.
Our hope for you is firm,
for we know that as you share in the sufferings,
you also share in the encouragement.
From a conference by Mother Mectilde de Bar
Love Mary, and you will not die without her having made you love Jesus. This is what she does best, and this is what she never fails to do, if we are willing to correspond to the graces she presents to us.
When I encounter a soul who has what she ought regarding the Mother of God, it seems to me that I hold such a soul’s salvation in my hands; by this I mean that I take it as something assured. If all souls were persuaded of this, they would love her tenderly and have a total trust in her. One must never fear to give her too much, nor to go beyond what is due her, because nothing remains in her, and all returns to Jesus and in Jesus.
I would have much more to say if I could express the advantages of this devotion. It is certain that it opens the intelligence to the understanding of ineffable things concerning the sacred mysteries and the ways of grace. It teaches one to pray, to practice mortification. It sustains and consoles one in sorrows. It keeps one from falling in the hour of temptation. It chases away our enemies visible and invisible, and defends us against their wicked designs.
O admirable Mother, thy bounties are not perceived for want of confidence and because we do not abandon ourselves lovingly into thy hands. Grant me the mercy of looking upon me in thy gentle kindness. Even though I have, all my life, abused of thy graces, reject not the broken and humbled heart that knows itself to be infinitely unworthy.
Whosoever you are who know yourself to be tossed among the storms and tempests of this troubled world rather than to be walking peacefully upon the shore, turn not your eyes away from the shining of this star, if you would not be overwhelmed with the tempest. If the winds of temptations arise, if you are driving upon the rocks of tribulation, look to the star, invoke Mary! If you are tossed upon the waves of pride, ambition, envy, rivalry, look to the star, invoke Mary! If wrath, avarice, temptations of the flesh assail the frail skiff of your mind, look to Mary! If you are troubled by the greatness of your crimes, confused by the foulness of your conscience and, desperate with horror of judgement, you feel yourself drawn into the abyss of despair; in dangers, in difficulties, in perplexities: invoke and think of Mary! Let not the name depart from heart and from lips; and that you may obtain a part in the petitions of her prayer, do not desert the example of her life. If you think of and follow her, you will not go wrong, nor despair if you beg of her. With her help you will not fall or be fatigued; with her protection you will not fear; if she is favorable, you will be sure to arrive; and thus you will learn by your own experience how right it is said: And the Virgin’s Name was Mary! (Saint Bernard,In Praise of the Virgin Mother, Sermon 2:17)
Musical Selection (Archangel Voices)
My Queen most blessed,
O Theotokos my hope,
Guardian of orphans,
Intercessor for strangers,
Joy of the sorrowful,
Protectress of the wronged,
thou seest my misfortune,
thou seest mine affliction.
Help me for I am weak;
feed me for I am a stranger.
Thou knowest mine offense,
absolve it as thou wilt.
For I have no other help beside thee,
no other intercessor nor good consoler
except thee, O Mother of God,
do thou preserve and protect me
unto the ages of ages, amen.
Prayer
Lord our God,
through the Virgin Mary
you graciously sent Jesus Christ
to be the consolation of your people;
grant that, through her intercession,
we may be filled with all consolation
and share it among our brothers and sisters.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.(Mother of Consolation)