DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS FOR FEBRUARY 2007

+Thoughts for the Month of Our Lady of Victories+

THE LORD IS WITH THEE

(Some comforting words by the late Father Daniel Considine,S.J.

We ought to go through the world holding God’s hand.The Angel Gabriel said to Our Lady:“The Lord is with thee!” We ought to make the intention,every time we say the Hail Mary,of asking Our Lord to be with us. Try and love God! In spite of darkness and despondency we must keep on asking Him to be with us…….Health,money,success are not His best gifts.He rarely gives them to His dearest friends.We say that we should like to be settled in life and have more money,beauty,talents. Are you certain they would be good for you?
Our Lord is always wondering how He can best help us to love Him. If you find life difficult,tell Him so; if you find it hard to be good,tell Him so. You are suffering,or at any rate you cannot pray well(and you regret it)tell God so. That in itself is prayer.
If you try to do these things of your own strength,you will never succeed. If you go through life holding His hand,love will make everything easy.

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Bishop Anthony writes:If we think about it,JESUS and MARY did not have easy lives!Before His great Ministry began(and with it all the suspicion and ultimate rejection which lead to His Passion)Our Lord was an ordinary carpenter. As Father Considine says: “Think of all the daily boredom in that!”
As Saint Bernard reminds us: MARY sowed much in tears while on earth,and now she is reaping much in heavenly joy. In this month of OUR LADY OF VICTORIES,let us remember that the same is true for us. The more spiritual victories we attain while on earth,the more we will receive in heaven.
MARY is indeed the Mother of all Victories and let us,during February,in union with our Holy Father,
Pope Benedict,pray for the conversion of the whole world to JESUS who alone is the world’s Redeemer.
The Litany of Our Lady of Victories is available on the Home Page of our Website.If you are one of the many,many people who receive the Kalendar & Notes by post,let me know if you would like a copy of it.

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Let us pray: Grant us,Heavenly Father,Thy grace to obtain daily spiritual victories over ourselves,the world and our enemies.May we ever be faithful to MARY,Our Lady of Victories, and so share at last her glory in heaven with Thee. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

And a passing thought

The salvation of the whole world began with the “Hail Mary.” Hence the salvation of each person is also attached to this prayer. (St.Louis de Montfort)

OUR LADY OF VICTORIES,PRAY FOR OUR PEACE AND SALVATION!
SACRED AND EUCHARISTIC HEART OF JESUS,HAVE MERCY UPON US!