“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)
SUNDAY, SEPT. 6th Mt. 18: 15-20 “I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Today’s meditation is a continuation of yesterday’s meditation on the First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as it relates to today’s Gospel—which is about Fraternal Correction. We should correct people who blaspheme against Mary, and we should also pray for them. And we should indeed honor and participate fully in the First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. But we should not stop there!!! We should make every effort possible every day to console the Immaculate Heart of Mary so wounded and offended by mankind.
Fr. Ed Broom provides additional concrete ways for consoling the Immaculate Heart of Mary for us to meditate upon and implement in our lives!
CONSOLE THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV
Our Lady is sad, with the deep sorrow of her sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, as she says these words that all of us should seriously take to heart and put into practice: “Sacrifice yourself for sinners and say many times, especially when you make some sacrifice: ‘O Jesus, it is for Thy love for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.’” (Our Lady of Fatima to the children and to the whole world.)
With these words as an introduction, let us enter into the topic of this specific Marian theme for our reflection, meditation, and prayer.
Our Lady revealed that there were Five Sins against her Immaculate Heart. We will briefly list them and strongly urge all to strive to make due reparation for these sins that wound the Immaculate Heart of our heavenly Mother so deeply. When moral damage is perpetrated due to sin, then in justice we must do all in our power to repair for the damage done.
THE FIVE SINS AGAINST THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY:
1. BLASPHEMES AGAINST THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
2. BLASPHEMES AGAINST MARY’S PERPETUAL VIRGINITY.
3. BLASPHEMES AGAINST MARY’S DIVINE MATERNITY, and at the same time, failure to recognize her as Mother of all mankind.
4. THE CHILDREN. Blasphemes against children—all those who try to sow in the hearts of children a coldness, indifference, rejection or even hatred toward their Immaculate Mother Mary.
5.HOLY IMAGES. The offenses of those who aggrieve the Immaculate Mother Mary by damaging and outraging her holy images.
Our Lady appeared six times to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. Lucia was the oldest of the three, at 10 years of age. The younger two, Francisco and Jacinta, died within two and a half years after Our Lady’s appearances. These words about the five sins against the Immaculate Heart of Mary were spoken to Sister Lucia when she was living in the convent as a nun; they were spoken by Jesus who ardently desires that acts of prayer and reparation be made. The reason? So that those who have so grievously offended Mary, the Mother of Jesus, will beg pardon for these grave sins and thereby receive mercy from the Heart of Jesus.
Common sense tells us that not one of us wants to go before the Lord Jesus on the day of our judgment having grievously offended His Mother Mary! The thought of this should fill us with a reverential Fear of the Lord and an ardent desire to repair for our sins, as well as the sins of the whole world. “For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, and the sufferings of the sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
Let us now proceed to take each and every one of these Marian offenses, strive to understand the offense, and consider what we can do on our part to offer worthy Acts of Reparation to the Heart of Mary and the Heart of Jesus, whose Sacred Heart was formed in the womb of Mary.
1. BLASPHEMES AGAINST THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. The Immaculate Conception, one of the four Marian dogmas of the Church, proclaims that the Blessed Virgin Mary from the moment of her conception in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne, was preserved from the stain of Original Sin that all of us contracted from our first parents, Adam and Eve. To repair for those who mock, deride, and make fun of this most profound, sublime, and holy gift that God endowed upon Mary, we suggest these concrete Acts of Reparation.
a) PRAISE AND THANK GOD constantly for having endowed Mary with this most sublime gift! Reflecting on Mary’s Immaculate Conception, purity, and virginity, call to mind the words of the English poet, Wordsworth: “Woman! Above all women glorified, our tainted nature’s solitary boast.”
b) LITURGICAL CELEBRATION. Every year, celebrate and participate with great joy and gratitude in the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th. This is the day the Church extols and exalts Mary as the Immaculate Conception. Did you know that Mary is the Patroness of the United States of America under her title of the Immaculate Conception?
c) HOLY COMMUNION OF REPARATION. Offer your Holy Communion on that day especially in reparation for all the sins and blasphemes against Mary, the Immaculate Conception.
d) THE MEDAL. Wear with great joy and pride, the medal with the title The Medal of the Immaculate Conception, also known as The Miraculous Medal due to the many miracles attributed to its being worn with trust in Mary. Try to purchase and read the beautiful and inspiring booklet on The Miraculous Medal called Garment of Grace.
e) PRAY THIS PRAYER OFTEN in reparation for the sins against Mary, the Immaculate Conception: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” (Words inscribed on the front of the Miraculous Medal.)
2. BLASPHEMES AGAINST MARY’S PERPETUAL VIRGINITY. Another one of the Church’s Marian dogmas, the Perpetual Virginity of Mary, is what the words express. Mary was always a virgin. She was a virgin before the birth of Jesus, during the birth of Jesus, and after the birth of Jesus! Perpetual means ALWAYS! How can we repair for the sins against the Perpetual Virginity of Mary?
a) CLARITY OF EXPRESSION. Be ready and willing to explain to all the meaning of this wonderful privilege given to Mary from God Himself.
b) MODESTY. In imitation of the sublime purity of Mary, let us all strive to live lives of great modesty in the way we dress, walk, speak, and act. This is a great means to repair for sins against the Perpetual Virginity of Mary.
c) PURITY. Jesus said: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.” (Mt. 5:8) In ourselves and in our children, let us strive to live lives of great purity. If this is done, we will be able to contemplate the Faces of Jesus and Mary in time and forever in heaven.
3. BLASPHEMES AGAINST MARY’S DIVINE MATERNITY. This is the greatest of all of Mary’s privileges—her Divine Maternity! This means that Mary is truly the Mother of God. This was proclaimed dogmatically at the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. Mary was proclaimed as the THEOTOKUS—she who was the vessel that carried God within her as His Mother.
a) LITURGICAL SOLEMNITY. Once again we invite all to make due reparation for the sins and blasphemes against Mary, this time against the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by celebrating with preparation, attention, devotion, and joy the Liturgical Solemnity of Mary’s Divine Maternity. Actually, on Christmas Day we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus the Lord, but at the same time, we cannot separate the birth of Jesus from Mary, the mother who gave Him birth—that is to say, Mary’s Divine Maternity. Mary as Mother of God is also celebrated as we usher in the New Year. On January 1st we celebrate both Mary, the Holy Mother of God, and the World Day of Peace.
b) COMMUNION OF REPARATION. On these two days strive to make fervent Holy Communions and offer them in reparation for all the sins against Mary as Mother of God.
c) THE HAIL MARY. Pray the Hail Mary often with the purpose of reparation for the sins of the world, but most especially for the sins against Mary as Mother of God. We specifically call to mind our desire for reparation when praying these words in the second part of the Hail Mary: Holy Mary, Mother of God.
d) ABORTION AND REPARATION. In a real sense, the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary challenges us to offer Mary’s YES to life in her Divine Maternity to repair for the countless abortions—the destruction of innocent life in the womb. How do we do this? By supporting life from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death.
4. BLASPHEMES AGAINST CHILDREN. All those who try to sow in the hearts of children a coldness, indifference, rejection, or even hatred toward their Immaculate Mother Mary. The words of Jesus expressing His tender love for children resonate in our hearts: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Mt. 19:14) This scandal of blasphemes against children lacerates the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, especially when adults, particularly those in authority, speak negatively, sarcastically, and derisively as they demean, mock, and make fun of the person of the Blessed Virgin Mary. How much Mary really loves all, but children in a special way, and how much Mary desires their purity, innocence, and the salvation of their immortal souls! It is not by chance that Our Lady of Fatima appeared to three simple shepherd children—Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta!!! Those who cause coldness, indifference, rejection, or worse yet, hatred toward the Blessed Virgin Mary in the hearts of children are indeed committing an outrageous offense. We must offer due reparation to the sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary. The following are some suggestions.
a) BAPTISM. Have your children baptized as soon as possible, thereby transforming them into sons and daughters of God and of Mary.
b) NAME. Why not name your child in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary? Marian names are plentiful: Mary, Marian, Maryanne, Maria, Fatima, Lourdes, Lupe, Concepcion, Dolores, etc. Having Mary’s name brings with it a special blessing!
c) CONSECRATION TO MARY. In the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism, there is a final Rite of Consecrating the child to Mary. Do it!
d) MARIAN MEDAL. Place on your child, even the little ones, a beautiful medal of Mary.
e) CATECHISM. In the context of catechizing your children, or being a teacher of catechism, tell the children who Mary is. Tell them that besides being the Mother of Jesus, she is their Heavenly Mother. Tell them how much she really loves them! Teach the children to love Mary and to talk to her with much love, devotion, and confidence!
5. SCANDAL AND BLASPHEMES THROUGH THE IMAGES OF MARY. In recent times, there has been a series of blasphemes against images of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Statues have been sprayed or destroyed. Paintings and pictures have been ruined. Possibly even worse, there have been movies and programs that have mocked and blasphemed the Blessed Virgin Mary. How this wounds deeply the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus! It is true that the devil both hates and has a mortal fear of the Blessed Virgin Mary and will do all in his power to blaspheme her, often using human agents or instruments! Let us offer due reparation; here are some suggestions.
a) IMAGES. Buy attractive paintings/pictures of Mary and display them in your home. Why not one for every room!
b) CONSECRATION OF YOUR HOME. Buy a beautiful image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, then ask a priest to bless it and enthrone it in your home.
c) CONSECRATION OF THE FAMILY. When enthroning the image of Mary in your home, why not invite the priest to formally consecrate your whole family to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus! Make it public; invite other families to the celebration. And do this in reparation for blasphemes against Marian images.
d) CHURCHES. Encourage priests and Pastors to have beautiful images, paintings, and statues of Mary to honor and beautify their churches.
e) HOLY CARDS OF MARY. Buy a good number of attractive Holy Cards of Mary and on the back have written these words of reparation: “Sacrifice yourself for sinners and say many times, especially when you make a sacrifice: ‘O Jesus, it is for Thy love for the conversion of sinners and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.’” Then pass these out to family and friends and invite them to pray this prayer daily!
We hope and pray that all will have a greater love, respect, devotion, and limitless trust in the power, presence, and prayers of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in our daily lives. Therefore, let us do all in our power to show our great love and tenderness towards our Heavenly Mother by offering due reparation for the many sins committed against her great honor and against her singular role in our eternal salvation!
Copyright 2020 Oblates of the Virgin Mary
St. Peter Chanel Church, Hawaiian Gardens, CA
