The Scratches of Life

When Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro was a boy he liked to make outdoor excursions. Many times he would drag his sisters along for the fun, telling them that it would do them all some good to “get out and see more of the sky”.

Ask, Act, and Trust

He is the “Universal Doctor”. His knowledge in the field of sciences, philosophy, and theology was vast. But St. Albert the Great’s wisdom did not come from his genius alone. St. Albert had help in reaching the heights of wisdom: Mary, Seat of Wisdom.

The Marian Threshold

There were three early thresholds that Karol Wojtyla crossed in becoming a slave of love for Jesus in Mary: his family home, the parish church of Wadowice, and the Shrine of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska.

Small Town Lessons

Karol Wojtyla’s devotion to Mary was first planted in his family home. His mother’s and father’s influence was briefly touched on in our last post. In this new post, we want to consider the second seedbed of Marian devotion: his local parish and the surrounding Catholic community.

Devotion Begins at Home

In 1994, Time Magazine honored John Paul II, by calling him the “Man of the Year”. Thirty years later, we could also call him the “Man of the Century”. Among the many things that made this man “great” was his great love for Mary. His example of being a slave of love for Mary can help us “marianize” our lives as well.

Never left unaided

Looking for security? Look to Mary. Never was it known that she ever left her children unaided.

Trust Mary Always

Does consecration to Mary save us from all harm? No. Absolutely speaking, consecration to Mary does not save us from all harm. It does however, guarantee Mary’s motherly care and protection for our eternal well-being. Mary may not save us from every accident, danger, illness, or even death itself, but she will save us from eternal damnation.

Live Loudly for Mary

Is it a wrong thing for Christian dogma to “live loudly” within us? A few years back the late Senator Dianne Feinstein thought so. During the interview process for Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearing, the senator indicated that she was concerned that Judge Barrett’s Catholic faith would influence her discernment as a federal judge, saying, “The dogma lives loudly within you.”

Trust Her

We bear this treasure in vessels of clay. Such is the expression that St. Paul uses to describe the human person in the state of grace. The expression could equally be applied to the gift of our Marian consecration. We bear the great treasure of being loving slaves of Mary in vessels of clay, that is to say, in the midst of our human weakness.