Let us pray for one another
Mary, Our Mother, Pray for us! This is a great week within the season of Advent. Within five days we celebrate two great feasts of Mary, the mother of Jesus – Mary, Immaculately Conceived, and Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is the same Mary! She has many characteristics, manifestations, appearances, teachings, and examples of motherhood that we admire and honor.
What are your petitions to Mary this year? How do you want Our Mother to pray for you and your loved ones and the world this year? There is a beautiful traditional prayer that we pray as we ask for Mary’s intercession. We trust that she hears us, every time we pray, and for each person or reason for which we pray. She always finds a way to answer. That prayer is called The Memorare: REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
As a boy I can remember my mother and father praying that prayer regularly. In fact, a card with the prayer printed on it was taped to the mirror in the bathroom. We could all read and pray the prayer as we started or ended the day.
Let us pray for one another. Let us ask each other and tell each other about our needs and our hopes, our worries and our sorrows. Let us include Mary in our conversation and our prayers. Together, with Jesus our brother and Savior, Mary his mother, and Joseph her blessed spouse, may the Holy Family be an inspiration and example for all of us in these holy days of December.
Peace, Fr. Andy