Apostleship of Prayer

As we anticipate the great Solemnity of the Annunciation which we will celebrate tomorrow, we recall that salvation entered the world through a woman, and we pray with Pope Benedict that the nations of the world will recognize the value of women and their unique role. Our reflection is from a homily the Holy Father gave on this feast in 2006.

And yet – today of all days we contemplate this aspect of the Mystery – the divine wellspring flows through a privileged channel: the Virgin Mary. St Bernard speaks of this using the eloquent image of aquaeductus. In celebrating the Incarnation of the Son, therefore, we cannot fail to honor his Mother. The Angel’s proclamation was addressed to her; she accepted it, and when she responded from the depths of her heart: “Here I am… let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1: 38), at that moment the eternal Word began to exist as a human being in time. …

In fact, the Angel, “appearing to her”, does not call her by her earthly name, Mary, but by her divine name, as she has always been seen and characterized by God: “Full of grace”, and the grace is none other than the love of God; thus, in the end, we can translate this word: “beloved” of God (Luke 1: 28). Origen observes that no such title had ever been given to a human being, and that it is unparalleled in all of Sacred Scripture.

It is a title expressed in passive form, but this “passivity” of Mary, who has always been and is for ever “loved” by the Lord, implies her free consent, her personal and original response: in being loved, in receiving the gift of God, Mary is fully active, because she accepts with personal generosity the wave of God’s love poured out upon her. In this too, she is the perfect disciple of her Son, who realizes the fullness of his freedom and thus exercises the freedom through obedience to the Father.

Today’s Readings: Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12;  Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9;  John 5:1-16

Today is a special feast day for the Society of Jesus, the religious order to which the popes of the last century have entrusted the work of the Apostleship of Prayer. St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and begged for her help at all the critical moments of his life and in the life of his order. On this day in 1541, after receiving official papal approval of his order and being elected its first General Superior, St. Ignatius and his first companions celebrated Mass and pronounced their vows at Our Lady’s altar in the church of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls in Rome. As we pray the following three prayers to the Blessed Virgin, let us ask that all Jesuit seminarians, as well as seminarians in mission countries, may grow in holiness and zeal for souls.

Prayer of St. Ignatius Loyola to the Mediatrix:

May it please our Lady to intercede with her Son for us poor sinners and obtain this grace for us, that with the cooperation of our own toil and effort she may change our weak and sorry spirits and make them strong and faithful to praise God.

Prayer of St. Francis Xavier one of the first Jesuits and co-patron of the missions and the Apostleship of Prayer:

Mary, my Lady, Hope of Christians, Queen of angels and all the saints who are with God in heaven. I commend myself to you, my Lady, and to all the saints, now, as if I were at the hour of death, to preserve me from the world, the flesh, and the devil—the enemies who plot with all their power against my soul, and hope in their malice to cast me into hell. Prevent this, most loving Mother, I pray and beseech you. Amen.

Prayer of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, patron saint of youth:

Holy Mary, my Queen, I recommend myself to your blessed protection and special keeping, and to the bosom of your mercy, today and every day and at the hour of my death. My soul and my body I recommend to you. I entrust to you my hope and consolation, my distress and my misery, my life and its termination. Through your most holy intercession and through your merits may all my actions be directed according to your will and that of your Son. Amen.

Today’s Readings:  Acts 14:19-28;  Psalm 145:10-13ab, 21;  John 14:27-31a

St. Bernadette, to whom the Blessed Mother appeared at Lourdes, is remembered on this day though her feast is not celebrated in the universal calendar of the Church. She is a saint not because she received visions, but because of her holiness of life which involved carrying a cross of misunderstanding and physical suffering. Our Lady herself told her: “I do not promise you happiness in this world, but in the next.” During this year we have been celebrating the 150th anniversary of the apparitions at Lourdes, when Mary revealed herself to the fourteen year old Bernadette as the “Immaculate Conception.”

Today is Pope Benedict’s 81st birthday; let us thank God for his life and service of the Church. He will celebrate Mass this morning at the residence of the Apostolic Nuncio. At 10:30 AM he will meet privately with President Bush and give a major address in his presence. This is only the second time in history that a pope has visited the White House. He will have lunch with the U.S. Cardinals and then at 5:30 PM will celebrate Vespers with the Bishops of the U.S. at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of our nation, and then address them. Let us pray today that our nation and our Church may listen carefully to the Holy Father’s words and respond generously to them. Our prayer is from the consecration prayer used in 1959 for the dedication of the National Basilica and Shrine.

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of Your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as Your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as Your mother; in union with Mary, we adore Your majesty and acknowledge Your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to You. Through her we wish to thank You for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners – on all who are in need.

Today’s Readings:  Acts 12:24-3:5a;  Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8;  John 12:44-50

Around 4 PM (Eastern Time) Pope Benedict will arrive at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C. Thus will begin his first visit as pope to the United States. We will depart during the coming days from our usual focus on the Holy Father’s monthly intentions to pray in a special way for him, his safety and well-being during this visit, and for our nation, that we may be open to the words he brings us. As the Risen Jesus told the apostles to be at peace and opened the Scriptures to them, so may we be open to the words of the Vicar of Christ. The following prayer is from the Knights of Columbus.

Almighty Father, who pours forth blessings in abundance upon us, we humbly pray that you will inspire, guide and protect Pope Benedict XVI on his pastoral visit to the United States. Lord God, bless our Holy Father who comes as a messenger of peace and charity to all people of faith and good will. May his presence in the United States serve to build up the bonds that unite us who are each made in your image and likeness, and may his teaching and witness strengthen the faith of the People of God. Father, we lovingly entrust Pope Benedict’s visit to the care of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Queen of the Americas. Through her prayers may he be preserved from all harm, and may he shine forth with the truth of the Gospel that he proclaims, and may his presence among us foster a renewal of the Church in our country. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today’s Readings: Acts 11:19-26; Psalm 87:1b-7; John 10:22-30

St. Vincent was born in Spain and entered the Dominican Order when he was seventeen. He became a powerful preacher and miracle-worker who traveled throughout Europe. He lived at one of the lowest points in the Church’s history—the Great Western Schism—when there were three different bishops who claimed to be pope. The Council of Constance resolved the issue in 1414 and, through St. Vincent’s tireless work on behalf of Church unity, peace was restored.

On this First Saturday, when we honor the Immaculate Heart of Mary, let us continue to reflect on Pope John Paul’s Angelus Meditation of August 27, 1989, praying that through Mary’s intercession our faith in the resurrection may grow.

Brothers and sisters, no one experienced that the Heart of Jesus is “life and resurrection” as Mary did. From him, the life, Mary received the life of original grace and by listening to his word and attentively observing his salvific actions she was able to preserve and nourish it. From him, the resurrection, she was associated in a singular way to his victory over death. The mystery of her assumption—body and soul—into heaven is the consoling proof that Christ’s victory over sin and death is extended in the members of his Mystical Body, first of all to Mary, the “most eminent member” of the Church (Lumen Gentium #53).Glorified in heaven, with her motherly heart the Virgin is at the service of the redemption effected by Christ. “Mother of life,” she is close to every woman who brings a child into the world, and is near every baptismal font where Christ’s members are born of water and the Spirit (John 3: 5). “Health of the sick,” she is present where life is languishing, stricken by suffering and illness. “Mother of mercy,” she calls those who have fallen under the weight of guilt to return to the fountains of life. “Refuge of sinners,” she shows those who have strayed from it the way that leads to Christ. “Sorrowful Virgin,” near her dying Son (John 19: 25), she is to be found wherever life is drawing to a close. Let us invoke her now with the Church: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.”

Today’s Readings: Acts 6:1-7;  Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19;  John 6:16-21

At an early age today’s saint followed his namesake and became a Franciscan of great piety. God inspired him to become a hermit and when others joined him he founded the Order of Hermits of St. Francis of Assisi in 1456, later to be known as the Order of Minims (little ones). They lived a strict Lenten fast all year long abstaining from eggs and milk as well as from meat. He was sent by the pope to be the spiritual director for several kings of France.

Today is also the third anniversary of Pope John Paul’s death. Our belief consoles us that this beloved pope is not dead and gone forever. Our hope is that he is with the Lord and that one day we will be with him in heaven. As we pray for Pope Benedict’s intentions, let us reflect on his homily at last year’s Mass on this anniversary.

In Karol Wojtyla’s life, the word “cross” was not merely a word. From his childhood, he was familiar with suffering and death. As priest and Bishop and especially as Supreme Pontiff, he took most seriously the Risen Christ’s last call to Simon Peter on the shore of the Lake of Galilee: “Follow me… Follow me!” (John 21: 19, 22). His whole life, particularly with the slow but implacable advance of the disease which gradually stripped him of everything, became an offering to Christ, a living proclamation of his passion in hope brimming with faith in the resurrection. …Dear brothers and sisters, the Responsorial Psalm has placed words full of trust on our lips. In the Communion of Saints, we seem to hear them spoken aloud by our beloved John Paul II, who, from the Father’s House, we are sure of it, never ceases to accompany the Church on her way: “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord!” (Ps 27[26]: 13-14). Yes, let your heart take courage, dear brothers and sisters, and burn with hope! With this invitation in our hearts let us continue the Eucharistic Celebration, already looking at the light of the Resurrection of Christ…. May the Totus tuus of the beloved Pontiff encourage us to follow him on the path of the gift of ourselves to Christ through the intercession of Mary, and may she herself, the Virgin Mary, obtain it for us while we entrust to her motherly hands this father, brother and friend of ours, that he may rest in God and rejoice in peace. Amen.

Today’s Readings: Acts 5:17-26; Psalm 34:2-9; John 3:16-21 

Normally this solemnity is celebrated on March 25 but because that day fell during the Octave of Easter, it was transferred to this day. In our prayer intentions for this month we have prayed that the world may understand the importance of forgiveness and that persecuted Christians may continue to bear witness to the Word of God. The Blessed Virgin Mary received the Word of God into her Immaculate Heart and conceived that Word in her womb. Without Mary the Word of God would not have taken flesh, and the world would not have been reconciled to God. Thus we rightly honor Mary and pray that we may surrender to God’s will in our lives as she did in hers. Our reflection is from Pope Benedict’s Angelus Message on March 25, 2007.

The Annunciation, recounted at the beginning of St. Luke’s Gospel, is a humble, hidden event – no one saw it, no one except Mary knew of it -, but at the same time it was crucial to the history of humanity. When the Virgin said her “yes” to the Angel’s announcement, Jesus was conceived and with him began the new era of history that was to be ratified in Easter as the “new and eternal Covenant”.In fact, Mary’s “yes” perfectly mirrors that of Christ himself when he entered the world, as the Letter to the Hebrews says, interpreting Psalm 40[39]: “As is written of me in the book, I have come to do your will, O God” (Hebrews 10: 7). The Son’s obedience was reflected in that of the Mother and thus, through the encounter of these two “yeses”, God was able to take on a human face. This is why the Annunciation is a Christological feast as well, because it celebrates a central mystery of Christ: the Incarnation.“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your Word”. Mary’s reply to the Angel is extended in the Church, which is called to make Christ present in history, offering her own availability so that God may continue to visit humanity with his mercy. The “yes” of Jesus and Mary is thus renewed in the “yes” of the saints, especially martyrs who are killed because of the Gospel.