Stirring Things Up!

               It the crazy month of May!  If you are a parent with children in school, you know what I mean.  Final concerts, end of the year parent meetings, sports playoff games, organizational meetings for Fall sports, final details for summer plans and maybe even planning the family vacation.  All of these joyful activities collide in this beautiful month of May.

               One of my May activities is leading a group of men and women through the 33 Days of Morning Glory retreat for Marian Consecration.  One of the participants said, “The idea of Marian Consecration is stirring things up, and my life is so busy that I don’t have time for them to be stirred up.”

               “Thank you Holy Spirit” was my silent response.  In this crazy busy world, sometimes I need to have my thoughts about my relationship with God “stirred up”. That is how I struggle and grow.  Today, I thought I would share with you some of the experiences that I have had that have “stirred things up” and brought me closer to the Lord.

Mary and Marian Consecration – As a convert, it took my many years to develop a relationship with Mary.  St. Louis de Montfort’s book True Devotion to Mary is a terrific read to understand Marian theology.  De Montfort’s Total Consecration for Mary is one method for Marian Consecration.  A second is the 33 Days to Morning Glory.  Both take 33 days and are begun on a day that allows consecration on a Marian feast. 

Catholicism series – Fr. Robert Barron is the creator and narrator of this 10 hours series on the Catholic Faith.  Rather than just words, this video series takes you on a world tour of sacred places, while teaching you about the faith.  It is visually breathtaking and spiritually challenging.  This is a series that every Catholic family should own!  It can be purchased on line for about $100 or so.

The Bible Timeline of Salvation History – Former protestant ministry, now Catholic leader has the premier video Bible Study.  This study takes you through fourteen books of the Bible and ties the Old Testament into the birth, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus.  Well worth the 24 hours of viewing and the many hours of Bible reading.  More information, including studies happening in your area can be found by ascensionpress.com.

Walking Toward Eternity: Making Choices for Today.  – This is another video series by Jeff Cavins, but very different from Bible study.  It helps Catholics live out the faith they profess by cultivating Christina virtue in their daily lives. Walking Toward Eternity combines lectio divina, journaling, group discussion, video commentary and prayer to help individuals live lives of holiness and virtue.  The first series includes lessons on faithfulness, sacrifice, humility and thankfulness.

               

What's next God?

               Last night I experienced one of those incidents when I felt that I followed God’s plan, with my action being guided by the Holy Spirit.  My action was affirmed by an email from a friend and I wanted to give the Holy Spirit a “high five”.

               Nearly five years ago, God swept me back to himself with two incidents that happened about 12 hours apart.  In the early weeks of my conversion, I came to realized that both events had to be the working of the Holy Spirit.  The first time I said to someone that it could have only been the work of the Holy Spirit, I almost whispered his name. (I thought, if I say this too loud and someone overhears the conversation, they will think I am crazy.)  I was still living in a world that included little of the supernatural. 

               Not so last night.

               A friend and I are conducting a six week adult education retreat using 33 Days to Morning Glory.  The program includes a book with daily readings, time for prayer and a weekly meeting to view a video and discuss our impressions for the week.  I was extremely delighted when a woman that I know emailed me and said she wanted to participate.  She couldn’t make the orientation so we scheduled a time when I could come over and give her the book.  She had been on my mental list of people who might benefit from the retreat.

               The evening of our appointment she cancelled and we agreed that we would find another time.  I included her on the email list of people who had signed up for the class.  The evening reading was to begin, I received an email saying that she was going through a lot; she couldn’t make the commitment, even though this was probably much needed. That message was the verification I needed to understand that this program was for her!

               I looked up her address and planned to drop it by her house in the midst of errands.  I had been to her house before, but only during the day.  As I drove toward her house on this dark and dreary evening, I realized that I left my phone, with the GPS, at home.  After about 10 minutes of driving to try to find her house, I stopped and pulled out the map book, only to discover that the four pages with the local maps were missing.

               Part of me wanted to give up and go home, but another part of me was so convinced that she needed the book, that I persevered.  After nearly 20 minutes of driving, in what seemed circles, I found her house.  It is not my nature to just drop in, even to friend’s homes, so I took a deep breath and climbed the stairs to her from porch.  Her husband answered the door and called for her. 

               “Did we plan to get together?” were the first words out of her mouth.  No, I said, but I got your email and just had to get this book to you.  I explained that the commitment was about 10 minutes of daily reading and some prayer for this retreat.  She said “thank you” and gave me a big hug.

               The next evening, I received an email message saying that she had read the introduction and was beginning the reading.  Her concluding words were “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”  And as I turned off the computer and went to bed, my words to the Holy Spirit were, “thank you, thank you, thank you”.  My prayer, as I drifted off to sleep, my prayer was, “What’s next God?”

Mary, Mother of God and my Mother

Four and a half years ago, as God was in the process of reclaiming me, I realized that I needed to understand more about Mary, the Mother of God.  I had been Catholic for more than two decades, but she played a minuet role in my faith life.  I had just finished praying the rosary, a new practice for me, and I felt urged to have both a closer relationship with her and to understand Marian theology.  I immediately walked the four blocks to The Catholic Information Center in DC.

The selection of books was overwhelming.  While I didn’t consciously say a prayer to make a good choice, I do believe the Holy Spirit guided my selection.  I decided to purchase True Devotion to Mary.  I had no idea that it was a Catholic classic, or that it was written in the early eighteenth century and not published until 1842.   Of all of the books available about Mary, I selected the one written by St. Louis de Monfort, a Dominican priest.   

   I curled up with the book at home in the evenings and learned that Mary is the ultimate role model for Christians.  She said “Fiat” (or yes) to God’s messenger when asked to become the Mother of Jesus.      De Montfort’s writings, nearly 300 years old, helped me to understand the theology of Mary.  In the book he promoted a consecration to Mary, something that intrigued me but I was not even close to being ready for it.

Over the past year or so, I have thought of revisiting the book to determine whether I was ready to try the consecration.  It is de Montfort’s belief that the fastest and truest way to Jesus is through Mary, his mother.  My relationship with Mary has grown dramatically in the past few years.  Of all of her names, Mary, Mother of God is my favorite.

In August, at the Catholic Writers Conference, I heard Fr. Michael Gaitley speak about his book, “33 Days to Morning Glory”.  It is a do it yourself retreat in preparation for Marian Consecration. It focuses on how the life of de Montfort as well at Blessed John Paul II, St. Maximilian Kolbe and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta were influenced by an intense devotion to Mary.

It was de Montfort’s plan that the preparation begins so that it ends on a Marian Feast Day.  I pulled the book from the shelf and thought about doing the retreat as a part of my Lenten practice this year.  Over a two week period, I found myself reading the introduction and last week looked to see when I would begin to end on the next Marian feast day. I began this retreat on November 29^th and, God willing, will complete the process on January 1^st, the feast of Mary, Mother of God.

Coincidence?  I think not.  With three days under my belt, I find prayer more focused.  Father Michael uses a conversational writing style, which I didn’t think I would like for such an important topic.  I have actually found the content something that I am reading a couple of times each day.  Thank you, Father Michael, for this book.  I am looking forward to making it to Morning Glory.