The Magnificat

 Today, I would like to do a Lectio Divina on The Magnificat for Mother's Day!

Prayer is an Everyday Event

 

Prayer is an everyday event, directed towards the Father, our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. We must put our prayer into practice in secret before our God. As children of God’s the Holy Spirit teaches us to pray, and to celebrate throughout the mass in the hope of Christ’s return. Prayer nourishes hope in us, a hope that does not disappoint because the Holy Spirit has poured the love of God into our hearts.

I take this from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition 2658, it is the words of the Cure of Ars; known as Saint John Marie Vianney who is a patron saint of Parish Priests. “ We don’t have to talk very much in order to pray well.” Saint John Vianney

“I love you, O my God and my only desire is to love you until the last breath of my life. I love you, O my infinitely loveable God, and I would rather die loving you, than live without loving you. I love you, Lord, and the only grace I ask is to love you eternally… My God, if my tongue cannot say in every moment that I love you, I want my heart to repeat it to you as often as I draw breath.”

“Remember no prayer is ever lost” Saint John Vianney

May God Bless Always, Women of Faith and Hope.

Written and created by My Mother Rose.

Prayer is a Battle

 

Prayer is a battle.

'It's a battle of our minds, our hearts, our will and the will of God's.'

Are we distracted? I would say yes all the time.

Do we lack faith? Yes, I lack faith at times.

Can we trust God? I would say not all the time because why should I?

Do we complain? Yes, I complain when I do not receive what I have asked for.

However, here is a great reminder from Saint Augustine.

“Do not be troubled if you do not immediately receive from God what you ask him; for he desires to do something even greater for you, while you cling to him in prayer. God wills that our desire should be exercised in prayer, that we may be able to receive what he is prepared to give.”

Women of Faith and Hope, we are all led by God on our paths and each one of us responds in different ways according to the responsiveness of our hearts. There are three major expressions of prayer, one being vocal prayer which is saying the ‘Our Father.’ Two being meditation, meditation is where our mind and heart seek to understand and discern what stirs us inside. Also, meditation is engaging with our thoughts, imaginations, emotions and desires. Lastly, there is contemplative prayer and in the words of Saint Teresa of Avila, “contemplative prayer in my opinion is nothing else than a close sharing between friends. It means take time frequently to be alone with him who we know loves us.” To sum up contemplative prayer is making the time for God, not giving up, it is a gaze of faith fixed on Jesus, “I look at him and he looks at me.” It is a silent and intimate love.

I will share some links that may assist us in praying especially the Lectio Divina.

A-Way-to-Pray-Personally.pdf (carmelite.com)

The Way of Prayer - Carmelite Spirit

Pray With St Thérèse of Lisieux - Carmelite Spirit

Catholic Australia - Lectio Divina

 

May you find peace with Prayer this month Women of Faith and Hope.

God Bless You Always.

Written by My Mother Rose.

How to Pray with Scripture Like a Friar

Matthew 7:7-11

 Effective Prayer

Ask, and it will be given to you, search and you will find, knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives, the one who searches always finds, the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. Is there a man among you who would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or would hand him a snake when he asked for a fish? If you, then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Receiving

 

Prayer is Receiving

Receiving means many things but in prayer receiving means we are given something, our prayers have been answered and we have received a gift. For we are told that whatever we ask for in prayer we should believe we have already received it and it will be ours. My hope is whatever you have asked for in prayer at the beginning of this journey you have received it or I hope you know that it is on it’s way to you right now.

May God Bless Always, Women of Faith and Hope

Written and created by My Mother Rose.

Psalm 62:2-12

 For you my soul is thirsting

Psalm of David when he was in the desert of Judah

Psalm 62:2-12

O God, you are my God, for you I long;

for you my soul is thirsting.

My body pines for you 

like a dry, weary land without water.

So I gaze on you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory,

for your love is better than life, 

my lips will speak your praise.

So I will bless you all my life, 

in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul shall be filled as with a banquet, 

my mouth shall praise you with joy.

On my bed I remember you.

On you I muse through the night

for you have been my help, 

in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.

My soul clings to you;

your right hand holds me fast.

Those who seek to destroy my life

shall go down to the depths of the earth.

They shall be put into the power of the sword 

and left as the prey of the jackals.

But the king shall rejoice in God.

(All that swear by him shall be blessed)

for the mouth of liars shall be silenced.