December 12, 2017
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Today’s Gospel: Luke 1:39-47“Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior."‘
In the Christmas Season of 1975, the Dallas Cowboys, a wild card team, beat the Minnesota Vikings, Division winner of the NFC Central, in a NFL playoff game. What was significant about that particular game was the final play of the game. The quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, Roger Staubach, a Roman Catholic, threw a 50-yard bomb to wide receiver Drew Pearson to win the game. When the game was over, Roger Staubach said that after he threw the ball, he’d closed his eyes and said a Hail Mary. Since then, a last second, desperate attempt pass in the end zone has been called a “Hail Mary.” While we may not all be NFL players trying to win a game, we are all called to win what St. Paul called the imperishable crown (1 Cor. 9:25). Just like Roger Staubach, we too should call on Our Lady to help us win that everlasting crown. Turning to Mary and asking for her intercession is exactly what the Lord and His Church ask of us throughout the year and during Advent. This time of year it is important to note that the feast days and Gospel readings bring attention to Mary, the Mother of God. The Church is reminding us to go to Mary to ask for her help in our faith. As we are preparing our lives to welcome the Lord anew and preparing for His Second Coming, we should turn all the more to the arms of Our Mother to help us reach this goal. "O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all you necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine Will that she should help in every kind of necessity." - Saint Basil the Great
Ponder Together: At the wedding Feast of Cana, Mary interceded for a married couple in a very powerful way. Mary wants all of us to receive great blessings throughout our marriage. At the Cross, Jesus told the “beloved disciple” to behold His mother and St. John welcomed her into his home that very hour. Rather than this being a last minute plan to take care of His mom, Jesus was inviting all who wish to be called his beloved disciples to turn to Mary and welcome her into their homes. “Jesus Christ, after having given us all he could give, that is to say, the merit of His toils, His sufferings, and bitter death; after having given us His adorable body and blood to be food for our souls, willed also to give us the most precious thing He had left, which was His holy mother,” - St. John Marie Vianney.
Pray Together: Prayer a decade of the Rosary, preferably the 2nd Joyful Mystery today, or pray all Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary together as a couple. If you are new to the Rosary or if you need a little review, please click here.
Plan Together: Welcome Our Lady into your home by making a commitment to pray the Rosary daily. Turn to her together and ask for her intercession for your marriage and for your family.
Saints on the Rosary: “The Rosary is the most beautiful and the most rich in graces of all prayers; it is the prayer that touches most the Heart of the Mother of God…and if you wish peace to reign in your homes, recite the family Rosary.” - Pope St. Pius X“The greatest method of praying is to pray the Rosary.” - St. Francis de Sales“How beautiful is the family that recites the Rosary every evening!” - St. John Paul II “The Rosary is a prayer both so humble and simple and a theologically rich in Biblical content. I beg you to pray it.” - St. John Paul II “Go to the Madonna. Love her! Always say the Rosary. Say it well. Say it as often as you can! Be souls of prayer. Never tire of praying, it is what is essential. Prayer shakes the Heart of God, it obtains necessary graces!” – St. Padre Pio“The rosary is the most powerful weapon to touch the Heart of Jesus, Our redeemer, who loves His Mother.” - St. Louis de Montfort“The Rosary is a school for learning true Christian perfection.” - Pope St. John XXIII
