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.

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.

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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.

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.  
--
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.

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 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.    
--
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?
--
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.



--
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 +

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 +