To Jesus through Mary! Good afternoon and happy feast of St. Dominic! We’re really excited about the week’s Cause of Our Joy! God has been inspiring us a lot lately- both with the deep conviction to ramp up our own prayer life, but also to be bolder in our witness to others. During days such as these, we cannot afford to be shy fence-sitters any longer! We’re not being hyperbolic when we say that souls are at stake!
This week we’re taking our cues from the readings for tomorrow’s Sunday Mass, and there is pure gold packed into these scriptures! Whether you are experiencing the consolation of The Spirit or are going through a dark night, we hope there is something here for everyone.
So, without further ado, let’s get into this!
Walking on Water
This article from Marcellino D’Ambrosio has a great reflection as we head into tomorrow’s Mass readings. Peter, like so many of us, has initial courage, but the power of the wind and waves gets the better of him and he loses trust. However, now especially, is when we need mature courageous Faith. Even though it feels like there is tumult on every side, Jesus is right there with us, holding out His hand.
Why is Prayer So Hard?
The still, small voice of The Spirit is hard to hear these days. In our own prayer lives we’ve experienced the struggle of slogging through the noise and distraction to find that inner place where He is waiting for us. To be honest, there are a lot of days we feel defeated and frustrated in prayer. Recently, however, we came across some solid advice that is both practical and doable. We think you’ll be able to glean a few good pointers from it too!
Saint Spotlight
One of our all-time favorite saints is celebrating a feast day this coming Friday, August 14! St. Maximilian Kolbe wanted to do something great for God, and he did! He was a huge proponent of Marian Consecration and is known as “The Saint of Auschwitz” because he gave his life for a fellow prisoner who was a husband and father. Learn more about this incredible saint here!
St. Dominic and the Most Holy Rosary
Regular prayer is beneficial for our salvation. At the Marian Center, we encourage people to pray the Rosary faithfully. Read about the 15 promises made by the Blessed Virgin to St. Dominic and Blessed Alanus.
Saved from Destruction
In the midst of total devastation, eight Jesuit missionaries in their rectory survived the bombing of Hiroshima. Father Hubert Schiffer recalled a terrific explosion and bursting thunder stroke. He was lifted from his chair and hurled through the air “like a leaf in a gust of autumn wind.” There was nothing in any direction. All buildings were demolished. None of the priests were seriously injured, and none had been poisoned by radiation. “We believe that we survived because we were living the message of Fatima. We lived and prayed the Rosary daily in that home,” he said.
Liturgical Living
We found some really good resources for learning about and celebrating the feast day of St. Maximilian Kolbe and St. Dominic.
Marian Center Update
It’s easy to practice social distancing while attending our exhibit on Marian Apparitions! And you can shop at the Marian Center Gift Shop. We are open for our full schedule from Tuesday-Saturday, 10 to 4. Hope to see you soon!
To Christ Through Mary,
Katie Moe and Lori Mercer
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