October Reflection
"There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die..." (Eccl. 3: 1-2).
We only live for awhile. There are many things that we want to do and achieve in our lives, which, considering our very limited time and resources, cannot be successfully accomplished in just one sitting or overnight. But by just staying focused and doing each thing, one at a time, will bring us far and wide.
Wile away your time by beginning everything under the inspiration of God. Soon, you will gladly see that all of your dreams and plans will reach their rightful and happy conclusions.
We still have the next several seconds, minutes, hours all avaiable and waiting for us. Let us use this time to reach out to our neighbors and to God. "During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth" (Lk. 1: 39-40).
Reflection About Our Lady
Filial love for Our Lady tells of the struggle undertaken by her children to defend their Mother from attacks by heretics, indifferent Christians and by those who wants to reduce the love and glory with which the holy Virgin should be honored.
St. Cyril was victorious in defending the Divine Maternity of Our Lady. St. Jerome fought errors that denied Mary's perpetual Virginity. St. John Damascene defended the honor due the images of Mary, paying the price by having his hand cut off. St. Bernard caused Marian devotion to thrive when it was dwindling almost everywhere. St. Anthony defended and explained the truth of Mary's Assumption. Bl. John Duns Scotus presented enlightening explanations of the privilege of the Immaculate Conception. In True Devotion to Mary, St. Louis de Montfort upheld the excellence of devotion to Mary. St. Alphonus Liguori fought the battle on every front in his Glories of Mary, upholding Mary's Immaculate Conception, her rank as Mediatrix of all graces, her Assumption into Heaven, and her Queenship. He was defending his Mother.
Against recent attacks on the Rosary, St. Pio of Pietrelcina defended the perennial worthiness of this prayer by the weight of his prestigious example; he recited his beads (five decades) more than a hundred times a day.
We, like the saints, should seek to make our own, the two maxims of St. Bonaventure. The first is, "One should carefully beware of decreasing, even the slightest, the honor that is owed to Mary." Second, "One should be ready to defend Mary's privileges even at the risk of his life." In defense of their heavenly Mother, the love of true sons of Mary venture even to their death; for "charity never falleth away" (1 Cor 13: 8).
Blessing of Saint Francis of Assisi
May the Lord bless you
and keep you;
may the Lord show His face to you
and have compassion on you!
May He turn His face to you
and give you peace!
Amen.