I have always struggled with prayer, especially the Rosary. My personal revelation happened recently regarding our Blessed Mother. It came most unexpected, but it was something I was trying to find an answer to for several months. I found as I tried to explain my faith to others I continued to fail in explaining the importance of the Holy Eucharist and praying the rosary. I knew that Mary had been pure all her life. I knew that she had suffered Jesus's passion as if she was enduring it side by side with Jesus. I knew she had retraced each step Jesus took in his walk to Calvary.
The rosary was a prayer to be said of heartfelt appreciation and meditation on all that Christ had endured. But yet I still didn't "feel" it. I know that Jesus holds both his immaculate heart side by side next to his mother's and he wants everyone to honor Mary as if both hearts are one. But I still struggled with all of this. Doubts filtered my mind. People said I should honor only God the Father, anything else would be considered idol worship.
Then one day when I was reading an article I was overcome with a tremendous pain in my heart. It felt amazing. I was left with no energy and I was crying. This is what I was reading:
A recent book authored by Sr. Lucia undeniably identifies the doctrine of Mary Co-redemptrix as being at the very heart of the Fatima message. In her 1998 work, Calls from the Message of Fatima, she provides an inspired theological and mystical witness to Mary Co-redemptrix and the supernatural effects of the Mother's providential role for humanity. In her treatment on devotion to Mary's Immaculate Heart, Sr. Lucia acknowledges the unity of the Heart of Mary Co-redemptrix with the Heart of Christ from the Annunciation to Calvary:
"God began the work of our redemption in the Heart of Mary, given that it was through her "fiat" that the redemption began to come about: "And Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word..." (Lk. 1:38). "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (Jn. 1:14). Thus, in the closest union possible between two human beings, Christ began, with Mary, the work of our salvation. The Christ's heart-beats are those of the heart of Mary, the prayer of Christ is the prayer of Mary, the joys of Christ are the joys of Mary; it was from Mary that Christ received the Body and Blood that are to be poured out and offered for the salvation of the world. Hence, Mary, made one with Christ, is the Co-redemptrix of the human race. With Christ in her womb, with Jesus Christ in her arms, with Christ at Nazareth and in his public life; with Christ she climbed the hill of Calvary, she suffered and agonized with Him, receiving into her Immaculate Heart the last sufferings of Christ, his last words, his last agony and the last drops of his Blood, in order to offer them to the Father..."
As I read this I finally understood the significance of praying the Rosary and asking Mary the mother of God to be an intercessor for us. We have much more reason to ask Mary to pray for us, because her prayer will be much more pleasing to the Lord in view of her dignity as Mother of God and her closer union with Christ, true God and true Man, by reason of her mission of Co-redemptrix with Christ as well as of her great sanctity.
It was the burning pain in my heart that made me realize this. I felt so humbled. I felt I had been given such a gift from God to finally profess my faith with profound words that would show no doubts! I wrote to my brother. He and I have been sharing thoughts on God for some time now. I shared what I had experienced and he told me the same thing had happened to him. He told me how he had been ashamed to pray the rosary. He told me that one day he was reading a message from God (written by a mystic) and he actually heard Jesus speak to him. He told him to put aside any resentments he had towards his mother. My brother also made the connection of the blood that was flowing through Mary is that of Jesus and it is the same blood that flows through all of us.
I hope this can help others who are feeling the same way. Pick up your Rosaries. Pray. It will help us all. This is the chain that will bind Satan.
Loading comments....
