Mediatrix of Hope

I've decided that it would be profitable to say some extra prayer for this Lent.

The Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary seems to be a meditation that is suiting the best the liturgical period we are now in.

While reflecting on the sorrows of Our Lady, I have fully realized why, and to how great extent, some of our Protestant friends are misled, saying that the Blessed Virgin Mary is worshiped in a Catholic Church, adding that honoring her is both blasphemous and useless.

Of course, the statements are not true, as Catholics pray through the intercession Mary so that her Son may be worshiped in a more beautiful, deeper manner. 

How it is so, as -- according to some Protestants -- ''Mary cannot add anything to our understanding of Jesus'' ?

When her seven sorrows are recalled, we almost automatically think of her Son who is, indeed, THE ULTIMATE remedy for our misery:


I) Teaching us all, Mary included, that any piece of sad news shall be accepted with joy -- for Jesus;

II) telling us that we should escape from temptation and sin, not from His Will;

III) instructing us that, even in times of great distress, man can find Jesus while attending church;

IV) showing us that each and every way of the cross is easier to get through with both Our Lord and compassionate people around us;

V) providing us with the knowledge that our death not only may be, but actually is, meaningful because of the death of Jesus;

VI) showing us that sufferings, that come to us because of Jesus, are both important and -- however difficult this may be -- worth of our acceptance;

VII) pointing to the fact that, at some point of man's life, everything will be lost -- except, hopefully, for their faith in resurrection.


Sick, disabled and lonely people who, in my opinion, should appreciate this prayer most, know well that sufferings are real.

Some of them, though, do not want to recognize the reality of God because there is no human who they may go to, asking for prayer; the one that will be willing to listen, hold their hand - just be - telling them that Jesus is real, living and loving no matter what...

In a presence of Mary, they can be assured that pain -- unlike Jesus's concrete Mercy for these at the Cross -- will not be with them forever.

--
Tomasz, Racibórz +

P.S. Please pray for my uncle who has passed away a few days ago.

Solidarity Needs Responsibility

Our Lady of Kibeho, pray for us to Christ!

Both beginning and the end of 1980s, are mainly associated with the activity and subsequent victory of Poland's Solidarity Movement.

The time, interestingly, has been marked by some other crucial – yet not much known – events; they are, in my opinion, of the most importance for the whole world just as the Solidarity's victory is.

I speak of the Kibeho's Apparitions (1981-1989) that were officially approved by the Church in 2001.

During one of them, Our Lady, reportedly, said:

The world is reining at its loss, it is going to fall into an abyss that means to be plunged into innumerable and unceasing misfortunes. 

That her words had been true, we all saw a few years later, observing the Rwandan Genocide.

The fact should not be taken for granted and, moreover, needs to be seen as a kind of warning to so-called  Solidarity Generation and to us all; it is so, for truly political freedom may not be enough, if it is not leading to man's good choices.
--
Tomasz, Racibórz +

P.S. Please pray for me(I feel lonely at times) and for the other Solidarity's Children.

Two Springs

Me at Lourdes, August 2011

Some people are distrustful or even disrespectful toward Mary, thinking that she –  in some mysterious way – competes with her Son.

What they overlook, though, is that God, the Holy Spirit, reached man through both Christ and Mary.

In fact you can't have One without the Other; this point can be well-proven in connection to the following fact that may provide both disabled and able-bodied visitors to Lourdes with strong confidence:

The Immaculata showed us all the famous French healing spring only because God had shown to her an inexhaustible Spring of all Graces, the most merciful Child Jesus, before!
--
Tomasz, Racibórz +

P.S. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us all!

Two Presentations

The feast of the Presentation of the Lord, briefly referred to on this blog before, is, undoubtedly, one of the most important Christian feasts.

It is so, because of both its universality and multifaceted character; namely, it points to the following fact that just cannot be overlooked:

Each and every baptized person, who has once been presented in the temple, now – through the grace of Jesus and intercession of His loving Mother – can (and indeed should) become the best present for God.  

--

 Tomasz, Racibórz +

P.S. Please pray for me.

Who Lent is Really for?

Lent, whether one like it or not, is a penitential period; the main point, though, is ''what, or rather Who, it is for''.

Yes, in my opinion Lenten time is not so much for mere penance, being rather the time for Jesus.

It is so for each and every of our penitential act gives us all a great opportunity to provide Christ with more place in our hearts.

He enters them many times, for he's entered Jerusalem before, but is willing to stay inside only when people are happy with His presence even after Palm Sunday.... longing for the one more than for what the world may offer.
--
 Tomasz, Racibórz +

P.S. Have a blessed Holy Week and please pray for me.

One Baptism - Many Hopes

Today, while at the Holy Masses, most of us, adults, renew own baptismal promises, renouncing -- at the same time -- personal attachment to sins. In the last fact, in my opinion, lays the great significance and beauty of the Solemn Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

It is so for the baptismal renewal and joy are not reserved for the babies; they can  be with us all every single day, if only we trust that Jesus is stronger than anyone else and, subsequently, are willing to choose His Spirit over the worldly one.      

Even if you would fail once, twice or seventy-seven times, though, it is important for you to remember that Jesus instituted the baptismal practice not only for Himself and the ones who are to be baptized in the future, but also for these baptized people who still falsely believe that, because of some trespasses from the past, ''rivers of their lives'' have to remain unclean.

--
Tomasz, Racibórz +

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*.
--
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.