THE DESIRE I HAVE ALWAYS HAD TO MAKE MARY KNOWN AND LOVED

Posted on August 3, 2022 by franksantucci

“Mary Immaculate,
 inspire within me
 the same sentiments that were yours while pondering the revealed mysteries which you treasured in your heart”

When God chose Eugene de Mazenod to be the the founder of the Mazenodian Family, the priests and brothers were known as Missionaries of Provence. It took ten years to understand fully the fundamental role of Mary in this religious family and to change the name to Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. One of the highpoints of this journey of discovery took place on August 15, 1822 when Eugene blessed the statue of Mary Immaculate and received a mystical grace.

As we approach the bicentenary of this event, our daily reflections will focus on Mary Immaculate.

Looking back on his relationship with Mary, Eugene wrote in his will in 1854, at the age of 72:

To this end, I invoke the intercession of the Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, daring to remind her in all humility, but with consolation, of the filial devotion of my whole life, and of the desire I have always had to make her known and loved, and to spread her devotion everywhere through the ministry of those whom the Church has given to me as children, who have had the same desire as myself…

Eugene de Mazenod’s will, 1854

In the Sulpician Seminary, Eugene had learnt this prayer which he transmitted as part of our tradition to pray before entering into meditation. Perhaps you will find it helpful to accompany you each day in your prayer until August 15, and after:

Mary Immaculate,
faithful adorer of the Father,

Mother most admirable of the Son,

Spouse of the Holy Spirit,

inspire within me 
the same sentiments that were yours while pondering the revealed mysteries which you treasured in your heart.

Grant that I may ever live 
in union with your Son, my Saviour, together with all who, by meditation, give honor to the most Holy Trinity. Amen.

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One Response to THE DESIRE I HAVE ALWAYS HAD TO MAKE MARY KNOWN AND LOVED

  1. Eleanor Rabnett, Oblate Associate says:
    August 3, 2022 at 14:43

    Last night before going to bed I read today’s words from Eugene speaks… not to ponder them, simply to allow them to enter me and be there as I slept. I knew this prayer, but now it was in a new light. As I prepared for bed I asked that it become somehow a part of me…

    This morning as the sun rose high in the skies, there were wisps of clouds and an early morning haze which began turning various shades of pink, that lightened and deepened as the skies seemed to absorb their colour. Then as the skies lessened in colour the reflected light on the building windows became a brilliant points light, like fire: and I did not to turn away for my whole being was filled with the desire to witness the splendor of the moment. Brilliance bounced off of hundreds of small windows, becoming a large panel of light that was then in moments absorbed by the life within those buildings. I sat in wonder and awe, capable only of thanking God for this daily gift of life which whispered, “see how I love you”.

    I idly wonder if this is what it was like when God brought light and life into the void. I am not a fanciful person and yet there are moments in the day when I seem to be standing on holy ground.

    I think for a moment of the Youth Retreat that the Oblates held in the Ukraine: young people who also standing on hold ground.

    Mary most holy, human like us, grant that we may ever live in union with your Son, our Saviour, together with all who, by meditation, give honor to the most Holy Trinity. Amen

    Reply

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