SPIRITUAL EXCERCISES & RSV BIBLE EXTRACTS - WEEK 130
STARTS THURSDAY 22nd JULY 2010
THE FRUITS OF “MARIAN HOLINESS OF LIFE”
Weekly message No. 125 (17th July 1986).
5. Life with Mary, our ‘Mediatrix’.
“Dear children! Today I am calling you to reflect upon why I am with you this long. I am the Mediatrix between you and God. Therefore, dear children, I desire to call you to live always out of love all that which God desires of you. For that reason, dear children, in your own humility live all the messages which I am giving you. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
PRACTICAL:
During this week, whatever you do, show in your behaviour that you are a child of Mary.
Thursday: Building on rock.
Matthew 7:24-29.
24“Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; 25and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; 27and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.” 28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Friday: “In me is all grace of the way and the truth; in me is all hope of life and strength. Come to me, all you who yearn for me, and be filled with my fruits. For my spirit is sweeter than honey … My renown will endure down through the ages.”
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 24:25-28.
25It fills men with wisdom, like the Pishon, and like the Tigris at the time of the first fruits. 26It makes them full of understanding, like the Euphrates, and like the Jordan at harvest time. 27It makes instruction shine forth like light, like the Gihon at the time of vintage. 28Just as the first man did not know her perfectly; the last one has not fathomed her.
Friday: Cf. Luke 1:48.
48For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
Saturday: Listening to the words of Wisdom (Our Lady, ‘Seat of Wisdom’.)
Proverbs 8:32-36.
32And now, my sons, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. 34Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. 35For he who finds me finds life and obtains favour from the LORD; 36but he who misses me injures himself; all who hate me love death.
Sunday: A life guided by Divine Wisdom.
Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 14:20-27.
20Blessed is the man who meditates on wisdom and who reasons intelligently. 21He who reflects in his mind on her ways will also ponder her secrets. 22Pursue wisdom like a hunter, and lie in wait on her paths. 23He who peers through her windows will also listen at her doors; 24he who encamps near her house will also fasten his tent peg to her walls; 25he will pitch his tent near her, and will lodge in an excellent lodging place; 26he will place his children under her shelter, and will camp under her boughs 27he will be sheltered by her from the heat, and will dwell in the midst of her glory.
Monday: Living in love and humility, according to the mind of Christ.
Philippians 2:1-8.
1So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
Monday: Cf. Luke 1:48.
48For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
Tuesday: Mary’s maternal mediation in the realm of salvation.
Galatians 4:4-6.
4But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
Wednesday: Our Lady’s intercession and mediation. She leads us to Jesus: “Do whatever he tells you.”
John 2:1-12.
1On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. 3 When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.” So they took it. 9When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom 10and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” 11This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 12After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples; and there they stayed for a few days.
Ancient prayer to Our Lady:
“We fly to thy protection, holy Mother of God; do not scorn the petitions we send up in the hour of need, but ever save us from all perils, O glorious and Blessed Virgin Mary.”