Son, Mother and Their Home

And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord), and to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.  

Luke 2:22-24

On the third Sunday of Advent, let's ponder upon the role of Mary, who – as always – teaches each & every Christian of some good approaches to take toward her Son.

The statement, heard so much today,  "Jesus is important, not the church", may, sadly, be reduced to ''Jesus will do everything for me, while I need not to do anything..."

Had the words been approved by Christ, though, He would not chosen Mary as His Mother.

She, being a devout Jewish woman, tells us on each occasion ''I will do everything for Jesus, and – while our relation is of the most importance – will strengthen the bond between us, being present at the temple for my Son as often as possible*.
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Tomasz, Racibórz +

*Presentation in the temple & looking for Jesus in the temple, can both serve as great examples of the admirable attitude of the Blessed Virgin Mary toward Our Lord.

Prayer to Our Lady, Health of the Sick (ENG-PL)

Prayer to Our Lady, Health of the Sick

Virgin, most holy, Mother of the Word Incarnate, Treasurer of graces, and Refuge of sinners, I fly top your motherly affection with lively faith, and I beg of you the grace ever to do the will of God.

Into your most holy hands I commit the keeping of my heart, asking you for health of soul and body, in the certain hope that you, my most loving Mother, will hear my prayer.

Into the bosom of your tender mercy, this day, every day of my life, and at the hour of my death, I commend my soul and body.

To you I entrust all my hopes and consolations, all my trials and miseries, my life and the end of my life, that all my actions may be ordered and disposed according to your will and that of your Divine Son. Amen.

 ***

Modlitwa do Maryi, Uzdrowienia Chorych

Najświętsza Dziewico, Matko Wcielonego Słowa, Skarbniczko Łask oraz Ucieczko Grzeszników, uciekam się do Ciebie z żywą wiarą, licząc na matczyną troskę i błagając o łaskę nieustannego czynienia Woli Bożej.

W Twoje przenajświętsze dłonie oddaję moje serce, prosząc o zdrowie duszy i ciała, wierząc – aż do granic pewności – iż wysłuchasz mojej modlitwy. 

Na Twej piersi, w której skrywasz strumień łagodności i współczucia, od dziś, już na zawsze, także w godzinie mej śmierci, pragnę złożyć me ciało i duszę. 

Tobie powierzam wszelkie me nadzieje, pocieszenia, próby i cierpienia, następujące u zarania i na końcu życia, aby było ono poddane i rozporządzane według pragnień Twoich i Bożego Syna. Amen.

TRANSLATED BY:
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Tomasz, Racibórz +

Complete Sacrifice - Complete Assurance

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Matthew 12:46-50


The above-mentioned fragment is not, as some may think, the best proof that Mary is no-one special either to Jesus or to us. On the contrary, this excerpt fits perfectly to the one wherein Jesus says “Behold, your mother(...) behold, your son.”

God cannot contradict himself, and thus the two pieces of the Holy Gospel, being complementary to each other, only affirm to the fact that Mary is not for Jesus who gave us everything he had – His Mother included.

But why he has done this? First of all, as I think, to make His sacrifice complete; secondly, to provide the promised Holy Ghost, our Paraclete and Inspirer with the concrete voice.

Today each and every rosary enthusiast may listen to her words - “do whatever He tells you, just do His Will” - knowing that the ones are inspired by the Holy Spirit that dwells in her.  
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Tomasz, Racibórz +

True Love, Love Incarnate

When St. Paul declares that love is superior to any other virtue, he points to Jesus and yes, believe me, affirms that the Blessed Virgin Mary's role in the church is of a great importance.

Some of our agnostic brothers & sisters would probably say that there is nothing we can learn of Jesus, true God, from Mary, the humblest human being.

They are misled, though, for without Mary man would not realize that true love shall not only be pondered upon and declared but, first and foremost,  incarnated.

--
Tomasz, Racibórz +

He Deserves All...

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who has been taken to heaven with body and soul, is, undoubtedly, one of the greatest events in the history of the world.

We, sinful human beings, may not be granted with such a great favor, still Mary's example shows us all that both human body and soul may, and shall, be subjected to God's grace.

Immaculata, being the best way to Jesus, protects men from negligence of either their spiritual or carnal sphere, knowing that her Son deserves ALL that He gave us.

--
 Tomasz, Racibórz +

Not why but how

Why I need Mary if there is Jesus? This question is repeated over and over again, being asked by many Protestant friends and some Catholic sisters and brothers. The only Person who, undoubtedly, never posed such a question, was Jesus himself; He, however mysterious this may sound, indeed needed Mary to be here for you and me.

So next time, when tempted to repeat the old, well known question, please change you mind and ask yourself instead:  How may I express my gratitude to Mary for there is Jesus...?

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, pray for us to your Son.    
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Tomasz, Racibórz +

He is Love

Some people think that God cannot be understood when referred to in any human language.

That's, undoubtedly, true, and thus - as Pseudo Dionysius once stated - it is easier for us to tell who God is not than to declare who He is. Therefore, respecting and esteeming formal ways of the theological approach, it is better for us all to love God than to ponder over Him.

If it was otherwise He would not provide us with image, mystery and Goodness of His Sacred Heart.

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Tomasz, Racibórz +

The Encounter: It's all About Jesus

The Litany of Loreto is, undoubtedly, one of the most beautiful Christian prayers known to
the faithful. Some people would probably say that this is not a Christian but rather the Marian prayer.

They are only partially right, though, for – what is evident and clearly seen through this meditation – Mary is powerful and beautiful both thanks to Jesus and
for Him.

It is He who has granted His Mother with all the beauty, so we all may know that for a human being nothing is more
worthy and life-changing than an encounter with the Person of Christ.
--
 Tomasz, Racibórz +

The Most Meaningful Prayer

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with thee,
blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God,
pray for us sinners, now, and at
the hour of our death.
Amen.


Some of our Protestant sisters and brothers – basing their beliefs on  following biblical passage – criticize us, Catholics, for meditating on the rosary:

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words[Matthew 6:7].

By so doing, however, they seem to overlook an important fact about the said, most meaningful Christian prayer; although repetitious in its nature, the rosary is neither void nor godless:
How can it be with the Holy Name of Jesus placed it the center of all its "particles" – fifty-three Hail Marys?
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Tomasz, Racibórz +

Corpus Christi '2013

There are at least three things that we can learn of Jesus exclusively from His relation with the Blessed Virgin Mary. Firstly, we know that He, being true God, may reward one's humility with the fullness of grace (i.e. with Himself), secondly – that He gives to each and every human being strength to endure their great crosses, and thirdly, what is of the most importance, that just-mentioned facts are just as real as His Nativity, pierced Body and meaningful Life.    


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 Tomasz, Racibórz +

He Did It First

While it is true that only God shall be adored, there is no reason for us, Christ's followers, to refuse Mary all honors due to Her.
If you are tempted to do so, look at Jesus, God and Man, who had provided us with the Fourth Commandment and then, being faithful to His own Law, undoubtedly honored the Blessed Mother.



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Tomasz, Racibórz +

The Perfect Reversion

While all of us, faithful Christians, are totally in love with Jesus, many undervalue roles of both His Cross & Mother in their lives. By so doing, though, they seem to forget about both their paradisal roots and, may it be so, destiny.

The Garden of Eden. There Adam and his wife, Eve, who had  had been tempted by the devil, ate of the Tree of Knowledge. The well known biblical fact, despite of its sadness, should lead no one to desperation.

Instead, through pondering upon it, we all shall come to the better understanding of the greatest love, wisdom & power of Jesus, who – acting as the New Adam – has chosen both the Tree of  Holy Cross and the Blessed Virgin Mary, the new Eve, as tools needed to overturn dreadful consequences of devilish pride.


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Tomasz, Racibórz +

Now There Stood by The Cross...

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

 John 19


At the foot of the Cross there were, what is well known – still not enough appreciated –   the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John.

John, the only apostle who had died of some natural causes and, surprisingly, not of sudden shock, remained by His Master to the end, strengthened, as I believe, by Immaculata's intercession.

The said grace seems to be an important part of Christ's saving Plan: It is so, for before Jesus granted his beloved disciple –  by the mean of His Holy Death –  with the  real fatherhood of God, He had chosen to explicitly provide him with the maternal care of Mary.

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 Tomasz, Racibórz +

Honour Your Father and Your Mother

Following Christ is, undoubtedly,  the key to salvation of us all.
Still, in order to become a saint, one not only should follow Jesus; what is more important, (s)he shall conform their lives to the Live of Christ.

To achieve the said goal, start your journey of faithfulness to Father's Plan, just like Our Lord did 2000 years ago, with the Blessed Mother, so that Jesus may tell you one day:

We are, indeed, of the same Father, Mother and destiny.
--
Tomasz, Racibórz +

Love Needs Vessel(updated)

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1:41

Although just-quoted Bible passage is first and foremost the great source of inspiration for each and every active pro-lifer, it may also give us an insight into the cooperation of Jesus & His Mother. As we all know only Christ can provide us with all the graces, blessings etc., needed so we may some day meet Him in heaven.

It is so, still remember that Christ, along with His Father & the Holy Spirit, often acts through people.  We see this in the cited Luke Gospel's fragment.

Here, thanks to the intercession of Love-carrying Mary, John the Baptist had leaped upon the presence of Jesus enjoying His abundant graces.

--
Tomasz, Racibórz +

The Lord is With Thee

Me & Mary, Fatima 2011

"Hail" – the word used with reference to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Gabriel the Archangel indicated that before his visitation the new Empress had been given to the world.

It is true, for the concept of Mary Queen of the Universe is neither an idea of some wise Catholic theologians nor courtesy of the said angel.

Mary is our Queen and Empress because God Himself, in His great Love for the Mankind and His only Son, decided that the Lord, could, should and would be with Her.

Our Lady of Fatima,  pray for us all to your Son.

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Tomasz, Racibórz +

The Ascension of Our Lord

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Tomasz, Racibórz +

The Landmarks

"The Lord is with thee" 

As we all know Jesus is the only known Way that can, and undoubtedly will, lead each and every true believer to the Father's arms.

After giving  full acknowledgment to this fact, one must admit that no one in the entire universe knows this Way better than the Blessed Mother – the first human being who had chosen to take It with the best  fiat attitude  – expressed by Her next to the two most important salvation's landmarks:  Jesus' crib and His Holy Cross.
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 Tomasz, Racibórz +

Everlasting Prayer, Everlasting Hope

Mary offers her prayer to God

Some do not understand why the Catholics believe in the Communion of interceding Saints, seeming to see Holy men & women in heaven as some unnecessary figures, who can do nothing for the living.

They, however, overlook the fact that God draws us to His Person with the help of people and that the said human beings share Creator's graces with theirs neighbors by means of  both good deeds and prayer. This starts in this word but may as well be continued in the other.
    
From the Catholic perspective it is logical that, if human prayerful and immortal soul is granted with the heavenly reward, after man’s death (s)he still can pray that their relatives may be saved . If it was otherwise it would mean that God distances himself from wishes of individuals who are closest to Him, namely His faithful and blessed family.

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 Tomasz, Racibórz +

You will Never be Alone(in His Family)

Members of the Church, children – as well as brothers and sisters – of God, temples of the Holy Spirit...We, privileged so much to be parts of the Catholic family, may be described in many beautiful, communal ways.
Taking this into consideration, we all must admit that Catholics would never be alone and that Mary, along with all the other saints, is needed in our Church so that Jesus' Body, His relatives and worshipers, may grow and be adequately cared for.

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Tomasz, Racibórz +

Christ is Risen...

Truly He is risen!

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Tomasz, Racibórz +

Ad Jesum per Mariam

Some people undervalue the role of Mary, some other insult Her on the regular basis. Let's consider their positions and examine whether they are right or not. It is true that one can be saved without Her intercession. Moreover, God Himself did not necessarily need the Blessed Virgin in order to manifest His Holy Will to people. He could have excluded the simplest human being, Miriam, from His divine plan. Still it has been chosen otherwise and –  whatever we may think of this –  our religion would be a kind of oxymoron without Immaculata; it is so, for as you cannot have Christianity without Christ, you cannot imagine Christ without His Mother.
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Tomasz, Racibórz +

P.S. Blessed Paschal Triduum to you all!

Fiat is Enough

People do not want to hear about God for several reasons.
Some of them are indifferent, some, on the contrary, are active opponents of Christian's/monotheistic/ view of the world.
Regardless of their motivations, and - what is important as well - without some noisy attitude, there is always a chance to present God to almost each and every of them.
In order to accomplish the said goal, please do not talk so much about your faith: Instead, let the one tell something about you*.
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Tomasz, Racibórz +

* Mary's faith, condensed in Her single fiat, is among the finest examples of just-presented attitude.

Two Ways, One Love

Why we all have to suffer? This question, to which many people cannot give a satisfactory answer, seems to constitute some challenge to God's Love, Mercy and Justice. In fact, and this can be well proven, it is not the challenge to Creator's Goodness, but rather Its affirmation. People will always suffer because of their sins; that's the part of God's Justice - some theologians would tell you.  That is true but still incomplete answer to the presented issue. Do not forget about God's twofold Mercy, the One that can cleanse us either on earth or in purgatory; both ways lead sufferers to the infinite, divine Love.            
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Tomasz, Racibórz +

P.S. Let's pray for our newly elected pope, Francis.

Hearts console hearts

Both the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus & the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary may provide each and every involved man with enormous blessings.
Still, in addition to many promises associated with just-mentioned devotions, there is some special grace related to them that must not be overlooked by any human being; in my opinion the grace, namely a  possibility that we all may remove some thorns from the beloved Hearts, seems to be the main source of both devotions' popularity among the faithful and of their appreciation, paired with acts of generosity, expressed either by Our Lord or His Mother.

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Tomasz, Racibórz +

On Two Kinds of Dreams(Thank You)

While at shrine of Lourdes, many of us, disabled people, would like to be granted with the grace of good health. The physical well-being, what can easily be understood, is of the great importance for almost each & every human being. That is a common dream of many.
We know, however, that there is some other dimension to one's health, namely the spiritual one. Mary, the gentlest of all mothers, loves us so much that sometimes -- thinking about the greatest dream of both Jesus & His co-sufferers -- grants some of Her children with cure for their souls. Thank you, my dear Mother!
  
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 Tomasz, Racibórz +

P.S. St. Bernadette, pray for us!

The Trinitarian Mother

Source: http://www.societyofourlady.net/

Some opponents of Catholic's view on the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary state that - apart from giving birth to Jesus and caring for Him - Immaculata, based on scriptural evidences, may be seen as a minor Bible character.
They seem to forget, though, that just-mentioned functions are sufficient to honor Her as much as it is possible. Still there is something more about Her; the fact that can be appreciated and - what is more important - emulated by all the Christians, regardless of their denominations, around the world even today. I speak of Mary's acceptance of the Will of God, expressed through Her love for Christ, in openness to the Holy Spirit. Thanks to Mary the faithful, sometimes driven by sad hypocrisy, may see better that the Trinitarian reality should not only be pondered upon but, with all possible consequences, affirmed by human choices.

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Tomasz, Racibórz +

Believe in His Love

We are living in very difficult times, being - at least to some extent - exposed to offences, persecutions, rising of both the secularism and many dangerous sects.

If you, my dear reader, are at the risk of any kind of desperation or skepticism right now, please do not forget that God not only IS; in addition, His LOVE to you is stronger than the hatred of all the evil men & demonic spirits combined.


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 Tomasz, Racibórz +

Not Only Words

Many medical doctors say that, although a human life is important, it needs to have some other component to it, namely a proper quality of one's existence, in order that it may be valued and, therefore, protected.

This pattern of thinking is common in so-called culture of death. The terminology, regardless of its importance, is not the main preoccupation, though, when it comes to the issue of active life's protection: where mere words may offend*, actions evangelize.

If  physicians want –  really, without any fear, and useless rhetoric – act against the culture of death, they all shall have in their mind that a patient is always the greatest good, not only “the great good  for the sake or goods, features, or opinion (s)he is currently holding.”


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 Tomasz, Racibórz +

* I know a professor who states that labeling his views with the culture of death phrase is extremely hurting and offends him. After careful consideration, I must admit that it is better for us to promote the culture of life than to speak about the culture of death. 

Live and let me live

Routledge Encyclopedia of Bioethics(2003) informs its readers that there are 4 models of law patterns that regulate most countries' attitude toward the problem of abortion; they are as follows:

1. a model of prohibition;

2. a model of permission;

3. a model of prescription; and

4. a model of privacy.

In is sad, though, that - regardless of the great knowledge possessed by authors of the said encyclopedia - none of their models listed above mention a word on the support given to a pregnant woman and her baby, whose(if only cared for) favorite models would, in most cases, respectively be : "Live and let me live."

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Tomasz, Racibórz +

Ave Maria!

It is rather well known that the Roman Empire and its legionnaires failed to land on Irish soil.
Interestingly, though, the Emerald Island has its own Legion that is lead by Mary, Mother of God.
This very interesting set of facts, whatever we may think of it, can be pondered upon over and over again even in its relation to the supernatural order:

It is so for The Legion of Mary of which I am writing here, reminds us all
that even the masses of laicised people can't enter the sphere that belongs to God,
and that His actions - especially the ones done through hands of the Blessed Virgin - surpass each and every human deed.

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 Tomasz, Racibórz +

PS To learn more about the Legion of Mary, visit www.legionofmary.ie/ webpage.