Day 5 of Novena to Saint Mary Magdalene-

 

The Saint who loves much:

John 13:34-35 I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples.

Reflection:

1 Samuel 12:16 Stand here, then, and watch the great wonder the LORD will do before your eyes.

I set out with a new intention in the way I approached mass and the altar I arrived and kneeled, announcing to Jesus; “I am here.”  I sat back and started to read some of my book, and I heard ‘Fervent Love,’ I offer to anyone who meets me my faith, hopes and my fervent love a love which prevails through many disappointments and heartbreaks. I never give up though on my passion or enthusiasm for a life lived with our Lord Jesus Christ which allows me to distinguish between what is right and wrong, what a person needs and seeks from God and what I believe most of all is a person needs love, compassion, shelter, comfort, understanding and healing. However, I am treated like the enemy, a monster or Barabbas who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder. Lately, well for a long time now God wants to give me the gift of Love, love for myself, love for my family and love for others who are my neighbors, my brothers, and sisters.

I am reminded of proverbs 10:12 Hatred provokes disputes, love covers over all offences. I am not going to lie, I have hated before, but I do not want hate to rule my life or the lives of anyone what I pray is for love to win, after all love triumphs over hatred and yes it did, a man gave his life for me and for you so that we may be given a light that shines bright during our darkness. I am not your enemy, I am not a monster, and I am not Barabbas, I am a woman and a mother who is trying her best to be obedient to love like brothers and sisters in sincerity, I want to let love, love for each one of us to be real and from the heart- our new lives in Christ did not come from a mortal seed but from the everlasting word of the living and eternal God.  I love you and I always will, I want you to be happy, you do not deserve to be unhappy, or miserable because all flesh is grass and its glory like the wildflower’s. The grass withers, the flower falls, but the word of the lord remains forever. What is this word? It is the Good News, that has been brought to you. My dear brothers and sisters this is love and let us not forget that 1 Peter 22-25.

Like Saint Mary Magdalene let your love grow and grow in a radical but beautiful way this may outrage some, but it does not matter love anyway. Let me finish by sharing from the book Saint Mary Magdalene Prophetess of Eucharistic Love by Fr. Sean Davidson Ignatius, “In one way the rose has ceased to live and will soon fade away, but it has been chosen to serve the noblest of all purposes. Blessed is the rose uprooted from the world with all of its vanities to become a bride of Christ. This is the kind of radical self-sacrificial love that the example of Mary Magdalene and the praise of Christ himself are still calling us too today.”

Prayer:

Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for us…

You, who carried the alabaster jar of perfume, pray for us.

You, who from dark clay became purest crystal, pray for us.

Diamond, passing from the dust to the light, pray for us.

Transformed into a vessel of glory, pray for us.

Sparkling pearl, pray for us.

Blazing Torch for the whole world, pray for us.

Apostle to the Apostles, pray for us.

Sweet Advocate of Penitents, pray for us.

Amen,

May God Bless Always, Women of Faith and Hope.

Written, Photo and Created by My Mother Rose.

 

Day 4 of Novena to Saint Mary Magdalene-

 

Day 4 of Novena to Saint Mary Magdalene-

Divine Grace:

Psalm 18:14-15 From presumption restrain your servant and let it not rule me. Then shall I be blameless, clean from grave sin. May the spoken words of my mouth, the thoughts of my heart, win favor in your sight, O Lord, my rescuer, my rock!

Reflection:

As we all know divine grace is favor it is freely bestowed upon us and sanctifies in fact divine grace is God’s power and presence to forgive and it cost us nothing, but it cost God Jesus on the cross. Mary Magdalene once a captive in her own darkness a deep darkness within her suffered greatly, ask yourself has this ever happened all your sins flooding back against your will reminding you of all the wrong, all those choices you once made decisions that were not, right? This happened to Mary her guilt was so heavy; it made her sick until the day a man, a teacher who was much stronger stood in front of her and that man was Jesus.

Mary’s sincere repentance won our Lord’s heart, she is still today a light for us all and an example of sincere contrition, fearless and faithful love. We are all sinners called to live holy lives to become saints as Saint Padre Pio says, “if we have the courage to imitate Mary Magdalene in her sins, have the courage to imitate her penance! At times, I have been terrified to go to confession because some part of me believes God is harsh in his judgement but in recent times, I have come to understand he is a loving Father who is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in love. How good is he to all, compassionate to all his children, to all his creatures? Psalm 144:8. These are the words Mary Magdalene held onto for her whole life this made her realize the presence of God a God of forgiveness and a God who gives second chances of life.

Prayer:

Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for us…

You, who carried the alabaster jar of perfume, pray for us.

You, who from dark clay became purest crystal, pray for us.

Diamond, passing from the dust to the light, pray for us.

Transformed into a vessel of glory, pray for us.

Sparkling pearl, pray for us.

Blazing Torch for the whole world, pray for us.

Apostle to the Apostles, pray for us.

Sweet Advocate of Penitents, pray for us.

Amen,

May God Bless Always, Women of Faith and Hope. 

Written, photo and created by My Mother Rose.

Day 3 of Novena to Saint Mary Magdalene-

 

Day 3 of Novena to Saint Mary Magdalene-

A Saint waiting in Hope: 

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope bring you such joy and peace in your faith that the power of the Holy Spirit will remove all bounds to hope.

Reflection:

As St. Augustine suggests, we are to put our hope in Jesus Christ. Therefore, let us submit ourselves to Him and beg for His mercy. Mary Magdalene had a lot of hope in Jesus, she had an optimistic outlook when she saw darkness, she could also see the light. Is this a practice we can grow accustom too? Hope is a good thing, and “where there is hope, there is faith and where there is faith miracles happen.” When we choose to trust and wait without getting angry, upset, or demanding anything everything is possible for God.  Matthew 19:26 Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men,’ he told them ‘This is impossible; for God everything is possible.’ God is our hope in dark times, in our weakest moments and in our saddest times. Women of Faith and Hope it is when we submit ourselves wholly to Christ, we become one with him and we become stronger in love, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, counsel, fear of the Lord, piety and fortitude so I leave you with this message from Jesus, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?’ John 20:11- 18. Hope, trust have the confidence to recognize and see Jesus when he comes.

Prayer:

Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for us…

You, who carried the alabaster jar of perfume, pray for us.

You, who from dark clay became purest crystal, pray for us.

Diamond, passing from the dust to the light, pray for us.

Transformed into a vessel of glory, pray for us.

Sparkling pearl, pray for us.

Blazing Torch for the whole world, pray for us.

Apostle to the Apostles, pray for us.

Sweet Advocate of Penitents, pray for us.

Amen.

May God Bless Always, Women of Faith and Hope

Written and created by My Mother Rose.

Day 2 of Novena to Saint Mary Magdalene-

 

Day 2 of Novena to Saint Mary Magdalene-

The contemplative Saint:

John 6:35 Jesus answered: ‘I am the bread of life… He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never thirst.’

Reflection:

I could not imagine my life without Jesus Christ once you have experienced or have encountered Jesus Christ in some supernatural joy or love there is no escaping or thinking you can turn your back and walk away at any time because if there is any type of separation I feel as though I am being pulled back towards him and at times it can be painful. Recently, I felt so angry and alone, my soul was thirsty for the presence of the Lord that I threw my bible because it felt as though God had abandoned me and was not helping me to understand the things people do and why do they do it? I was about to give up and throw all the books I had brought away because I just could not go on anymore especially when I try so hard to fit in, belong, to connect with other people but it didn’t take long for God to send answers and to reassure me of the love he is trying to give me, and I am reminded of the verse in Songs of Songs 8:4, I charge you, daughter of Jerusalem, not to stir my love, not rouse it, until it please to awake but as time went on for Mary Magdalene and her relationship with Jesus there was a time where a love was awoken and was brought to the surface and made visible to many. Let us remember what contemplation means we are either looking or considering or thinking about something and this is what Mary did, she felt the pain of separation, she pined for her love, her love for Jesus and his love for her. It is not easy being far away from a person you are supposed to love, it is not fun or fair to love them from a far or in silence and this makes me think of my Nan and Granddad and the letters he wrote to her while he was away working and it’s funny how love has a way of surprising us sometimes  as Jesus did appearing in a vision at the front door of her sister’s house. Luke 10: 42 and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.

Prayer:

Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for us…

You, who carried the alabaster jar of perfume, pray for us.

You, who from dark clay became purest crystal, pray for us.

Diamond, passing from the dust to the light, pray for us.

Transformed into a vessel of glory, pray for us.

Sparkling pearl, pray for us.

Blazing Torch for the whole world, pray for us.

Apostle to the Apostles, pray for us.

Sweet Advocate of Penitents, pray for us.

AMEN.

May God Bless Always, Women of Faith and Hope.

Written and created by My Mother Rose.

Women of Faith and Hope's Novena to Saint Mary Magdalene

 

Galatians 5:13 My brothers and sisters, you were called, as you know, to liberty; but be careful, or this liberty will provide an opening for self-indulgence. Serve one another, rather in works of love.

There is somewhat of a question mark that seems to surround Mary Magdalene but, in her silence, she waits with hope of the resurrection hope for whom her heart loves she seeks him throughout the city, in the streets and the squares, she seeks but does not find him the one whom she loves with all her heart. Welcome to our informal Novena to Mary Magdalene, I wanted to share something before we begin, I remember the first time I saw the one whom I love with all my heart it was at mass in the Giramee building at St. Augustine’s College, there was something different and you caught me starring and smiled at me this made me feel like I had to hide back inside my shell I know when you are around there is something tugging or pulling at my heart I can’t really explain it but it feels as though it some sort of force needing me to engage and communicate or just to stare and contemplate the amazing and beautiful love God has for both of us.  I was reading Saint Mary Magdalene Prophetess of Eucharistic Love by Fr. Sean Davidson Ignatius and it explained that her love, her actions all came from God furthermore it goes on to explain how Mary expressed her love by anointing, kissing, and wiping her tears onto the feet of Jesus Christ our savior and it is quite tempting to reenact a love that is so beautiful, tender, and real. For nine days we will walk and pray alongside Mary Magdalene I have found some beautiful quotes and verses also I found some pictures of my trip to Paris from eleven years ago so I will share those in my reflections with you all. May God Bless you always, Women of Faith and Hope.

May God Bless Always, Women of Faith and Hope.

Written and created by My Mother Rose.

Day 1 of Novena to Saint Mary Magdalene-

 

Day 1 of Novena to Saint Mary Magdalene-

The repentant sinner:

 Luke 7:47-50 For this reason I tell you that her sins, her many sins, must have been forgiven her, or she would not have shown such great love. It is the man who forgives little who shows little love. Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, ‘who is this man, that he even forgives sins?’ But he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’

Reflection: 

When I think of Mary Magdalene washing the feet of Jesus, I think of the intimate relationship she seeks with God and her genuine humility, empathy, and care for others in service to God. I thought to myself what is the symbolic meaning of washing feet? Washing feet is not just about performing a ritual it is about helping others, helping a person move or driving a person to church or to a connect group, it is helping a person through those moments of darkness and despair. These examples are the meaning of washing feet it is caring for people, cleansing a sinful world and in everything we do we are to imitate our Lord Jesus Christ as he himself as instructed us to do; John 13:15 I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.

Prayer:

Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for us…

You, who carried the alabaster jar of perfume, pray for us.

You, who from dark clay became purest crystal, pray for us.

Diamond, passing from the dust to the light, pray for us.

Transformed into a vessel of glory, pray for us.

Sparkling pearl, pray for us.

Blazing Torch for the whole world, pray for us.

Apostle to the Apostles, pray for us.

Sweet Advocate of Penitents, pray for us.

May God Bless Always, Women of Faith and Hope.

Written and created by My Mother Rose.

Tiny Little Mustard Seed.

 

Well, here we are, and this is the time of year we see how far we have traveled on our journey of faith and hope also we take the time to look at how much we have grown as a group and as individuals. This weeks’ Gospel reminds me of the song by Paul Kelly, ‘From Little Things, Big Things Grow.’ This weekend we have the opportunity and chance to plant new seeds of faith which begins as a tiny little mustard seed and each step of the way we grow a little bit more in knowing Jesus, loving Jesus, and following Jesus. Women of Faith and Hope, we need to keep up the good fight and keep running that race, run hard after Jesus and remember no matter how tiny our faith is we have the capability and momentum to move mountains read the word of God, put the word of God into action, surround yourself with people who are like minded or share in the same mysteries and faith, read great books about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Mary our Mother of God, Angels and the Saints and trust God in all your pain.

I cannot stress this enough; at some point of our lives, we have judged, and we have been judged but to me those who judge do not have the time to love as Mother Teresa puts it. I was reminded of the many gifts and the love God has for all his Children on Monday night and I might not be able to do great things, but I can do small things with great love. I have never ever measured the love I give; I just give and give however there will come a day when we all must stand in the law court of Christ, and we will get what we deserve so I say to you all Women of Faith and Hope this is an opportunity for all of us to grow in unity, peace, and love.  This is what we are trying to teach our children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews or the next generation to love each other, to tolerate and be accepting of one another, that means accepting any differences and being respectful, honestly though ignorance is not being respectful, loving or kind it is being mean, hurtful and it is an act of hatred and sin.

One last note, when we plant our tiny little mustard seed, let us plant love, kindness, compassion, and mercy.

Job14-7:9 there is always hope for a tree: when felled, it can start its life again, its shoots continue to sprout. Its roots may be decayed in the earth, its stump withering in the soil, but let it scent the water, and it buds, and puts out branches like a plant new set.

May God Bless Always, Women of Faith and Hope.

Written and created by My Mother Rose.