It's been a long time since I last posted. The reason is simple: I haven't had anything to say. Or, more to the point, I haven't felt moved to write anything. I have plenty of opinions about all sorts of things, but I don't see this as a forum for spouting off over every little thing that that passed through my mind.
We are in the middle of the unofficial para liturgical time of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Those who are members of parishes with large Mexican contingents will know what I mean. As I write we're in day 6 of the Novena, complete with the 5 AM Mañanitas and rosary. Sunday afternoon they'll be the procession and Monday the celebrations in the morning (well before dawn) and at night. It drives liturgists crazy because it does over shadow Advent, no matter what you do. And there are ways to harmonize this popular devotion and the liturgical season - which maybe I'll get into at another time - but for the most part we just "let it be," as it were.
Last night we celebrated Second Vespers for the Immaculate Conception. In general I've felt very "plugged in," to the novenas to both feasts. The Immaculate Conception is important because it's the patronal feast of the United States and for us in the Salesian Family, the anniversary of Don Bosco beginning his work with young people.
During the singing of the Magnificat I felt this overwhelming sense of the love that Mary has for me. And not just for me; her love is for all her children. I had this deep understanding of how important the Blessed Mother is to God's plan.
I respect our Protestant brothers and sisters (even the ones who don't understand that they're Protestants - more on that at another time). They do love the Lord, and are jealous on His account. What they don't understand is that any honor given to Mary is meant to magnify the Lord. It's meant also to show us that we are called to cooperate with God's will. His will will be done, one way or the other. But he lets it to progress in fits and starts because he allows for our free will. The more we are disobedient, the more His plan is detoured. The more we cooperate, the more smoothly it proceeds. In his plan he wants us to respond in loving trust, like Mary.
She not only lends us example but gives us her aid as well. I know that she has been present in my life, protecting me from dangers and deflecting temptations. That's what I think I was understanding last night, not in an intellectual way, but in a deeply visceral, emotional way. If felt gratitude and humility in that moment.
I'll be writing more on this in the days ahead. Please pray for me as I am for you.
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