Devotion to Our Lady of Hope is one of the oldest Marian devotions, dating back to the first shrine erected to her in France in the year 930. Centuries later, on January 17, 1871, Our Lady of Hope appeared in the French village of Pontmain when it was threatened by Prussian armies during the War of 1870. Around 6:00 that evening, two small boys named Eugene and Joseph Barbedette saw Our Lady in the sky above a barn. Dressed in a dark blue robe sprinkled with stars, with a gold crown on her head, our Heavenly Mother lowered her hands in a gesture of welcome and smiled. The boys' called their parents, the parish priest and a convent full of sisters, but only they and two young girls could see the apparition. The pastor called the whole town together to pray the Rosary with the children and as the villagers prayed, the apparition grew steadily larger. When they finished the Rosary and began singing the Magnificat, a white banner suddenly appeared in the sky with large gold letters slowly forming the words:
"PRAY, MY CHILDREN. GOD WILL ANSWER BEFORE LONG. MY SON LETS HIMSELF BE MOVED."
At about the same time as the apparition was occurring in Pontmain, the Prussian troops stopped dead in their tracks as they came in sight of the tiny village. The Prussian General was reportedly unable to advance and told his troops: "We cannot go farther. Yonder, in the direction of Brittany, there is an invisible Madonna barring the way." Three days later, he surrendered his army. What message could be more consoling to hearts in the midst of hardship and tribulation than the tender promise of Our Lady of Hope: “Pray, my children; God will soon answer your prayers.”
For Reflection:
Our Blessed Mother under her title of Our Lady of Divine Love and Our Lady of Hope prevented devastating events from happening. Can you remember a time when you received her intercession in this way? Look at Our Lady’s words to the people of Pontmain. How is she speaking to you today through them? Journal your thoughts, insights and reflections.
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Nestled in Rome among the 700+ chapels and churches found there is the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love. Like so many of the religious places in the city, its history reflects the abundant graces which come to us through the intercession of the Blessed Mother. In 1570 a painted image of the “Mother of Divine Love” was given to a charitable organization and was positioned on a gate tower of the Castel di Leva on the outskirts of town. Two centuries later, a solitary pilgrim was walking on the Appian Way toward Rome and lost his way. He spotted some farm buildings in the distance and began to make his way in that direction when suddenly a pack of wild sheepdogs saw him and bolted towards him. He began to run but was about to be overcome by the vicious dogs when he saw the image of Our Lady on the gate tower. “Madonna, help me!” he cried out in panic. Instantly, the dogs halted as though held by an invisible force. They soon calmed down and peacefully retreated. This was the first of many miraculous interventions by the Madonna of Divine Love. In 1745, a church was erected to enshrine this miraculous image in honor of Our Lady under this title. Popularity of the Shrine began to grow and the Blessed Mother was beseeched under the title of Our Lady of Divine Love by countless numbers of pilgrims and Italians. And miracles continued to be recorded; here are two from contemporary times:
In 1935, 3,000 Italian soldiers leaving for the Ethiopian War entrusted themselves to Our Lady under this title at the Shrine. All 3,000 of them returned home unharmed in spite of the tremendous casualties that war produced.
During WWII, the city of Rome was in grave danger of destruction. Pope Pius XII ordered that the Image of the Mother of Divine Love be moved into the city and carried in pilgrimage to various churches. On June 4, 1944, the people of Rome converged at the Church of St. Ignatius and prayed to Our Lady under this title begging her to deliver their city and to keep them safe. They promised to erect a new shrine as a sign of their gratitude should their prayer be answered. It was. Rome was spared. On June 11, just one week later, the Holy Father made pilgrimage to the Shrine and conferred on Our Lady the title of “Savior of the City,” adding it to her title of Mother of Divine Love. The new shrine was completed in 1991. Like the lone pilgrim who traveled the Appian Way, we too, have need of Our Lady’s intercession as we journey in this alien land. May his cry never be far from our own lips, “Madonna, help me!”
For Reflection:
On May 1, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love. He said, “Today too, there is a need to convert to God, to God who is Love, so that the world may be freed from war and terrorism…Dear brothers and sisters, from this Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love, I therefore renew the invitation I expressed in the encyclical "Deus Caritas Est": "To practice love and in this way to cause the light of God to enter into the world" (No. 39). Amen! Today, how is God asking me to be His light in the world? Beseech Our Lady under her title of Mother of Divine Love to show you the way in which you should go.
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“Tradition ascribes to Mary the titles Mother of Divine Grace, Mother most amiable, Mother most admirable, Mother of Mercy… God has chosen her to be treasurer and dispensatrix of all His graces.. . . Since Mary has formed the Head of the predestined, Jesus Christ, it pertains to her to form also the members of the Head, who are the true Christians . . . She has received from God a special power to nourish souls and to make them grow in Him. St. Augustine goes so far as to say that the predestined in this world are enclosed in Mary's womb and that they come to the light only when their good Mother brings them forth to eternal life. It is to her that the Holy Ghost has said "Take root in my elect" (Eccl. xxiv, 13) ---- roots of profound humility, of ardent charity and of all the virtues.”
Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P.
For Reflection:
Following is an excerpt from a poem written by Gerard Manley Hopkins about Our Lady under this title. Prayerfully read the poem. In light of the above quote, which verse(s), phrase(s), or word(s) from the poem echoes St. Augustine’s concept of the “world enclosed in Mary’s womb” and the idea that Mary brings us forth to eternal life? What other similarities do you see between the above quote and the sentiments of the poem? To what extent does this increase your appreciation of Our Lady’s role in your own salvation? How does the above quote and the poem relate to yesterday’s considerations?
from, Mary Mother of Divine Grace, compared to the Air we breath
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For centuries, the month of May has been dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary perhaps influenced by the ancient Greek and Roman cultures. In ancient Greece, May was dedicated to Artemis, the goddess of fecundity, and ancient Rome dedicated it to Flora, the goddess of bloom. But what better woman exemplifies the beginnings of life than the one whose fertile fiat ushered Eternal Life into the world? Mary the Mother of God, Mary the Mother of Mercy, Mary the Mother of the Mysteries of Salvation, Mary the Perfect Woman!
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, now our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, put it this way: "The mood of springtime informs the church's interior; nature's blossoming, the warm air of May evenings, human gladness in a world that is renewing itself -- all these things enter in. Veneration of Mary has its place in this very particular atmosphere, for she, the Virgin, shows us faith under its youthful aspect, as God's new beginning in a world that has grown old. In her we see the Christian life set forth as a youthfulness of the heart, as beauty and a waiting readiness for what is to come." (Seek That Which is Above, Ignatius, 1986, pp. 95-96).
For Reflection:
To what extent do I feel the “fertility of the fiat” stirring within me? Am I filled with a “waiting readiness for what is to come?” Explore this in light of your call to spiritual motherhood. Journal your insights.
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While my body here decays
May my soul your goodness praise,
Safe in heaven eternally. Amen Alleluia.
For Reflection:
This final stanza of the Stabat Mater encourages us to consider the Divine Mercy that floods the heart of Our Savior, who gave Himself for us. In what one way do you most need to experience this Ocean of Mercy? Journal your response. Read again the GraceLine for April 5, hear the voice of Jesus talking to you.
*Stabat Mater is a 13th century Roman Catholic hymn to Mary. It has been attributed to both Franciscan Jacopone da Todi and to Pope Innocent III. There are two Stabat Mater hymns, the Stabat Mater Dolorosa is about Mary's sufferings in union with her Son, Jesus Christ. Stabat Mater Speciosa refers to the Nativity of Jesus.
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Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
Lest in flames I burn and die,
In His awe-full judgment day.
Savior, when my life shall leave me,
Through your mother's prayers receive me
With the fruits of victory.
For Reflection:
Read again the For Reflection of April 25. How are you assured that Our Lady will be "nigh" to you on your judgment day? Journal your interior response.
Mary has assured us of her maternal intercession and God assures us forgiveness of our sins when we truly repent. However the evil one seeks to steal all assurance from us. He does this in three ways: discouragement, distrust, doubt. Discouragement because we are afraid we now can never acquire a deep union with God; distrust that God will treat us less favorably now and that He will be niggardly in the grace He gives us; doubt that God has forgiven us at all because our sin is so great.
To what extent is any one of these true of you? Read Rev. 21:5-6. Journal your insights, inspirations and consolations.
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Wounded with His every wound,
Steep my soul till it has swooned
In His very Blood away. For Reflection:
Read Mark’s account of the Passion . Underline or circle all of the wounds of Christ – physical, emotional, psychological. Which of these wounds have you experienced? How? Unite each of these sufferings to the wounds of Jesus and ask that the Precious Blood shed for you on Calvary’s hill will fill you with the healing balm of the Holy Spirit.
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Let me, to my latest breath,
In my body bear the death
Of your dying Son divine. For Reflection:
To die with Christ and be risen in Him is the quest of every holy soul. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the greatest aids in making this holy desire our final reality. It helps us advance in virtue, grow in self-knowledge, attain true humility, uproot bad habits, prevent spiritual negligence, combat apathy, purify our conscience, strengthen our will, receive spiritual direction, and acquire the grace of the Sacrament itself (Mystici Corporis).
Of the benefits of the Sacrament listed above, which do I most need? Which would others tell me I most need? Journal your insights.
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Virgin of all virgins blest!
Listen to my fond request:
Let me share your grief divine. For Reflection:
To enter more deeply into the hearts of Jesus and Mary and to experience the treasury of grace that is found there we must stay united to Christ. Father Faber outlines three ways we can fall away from Jesus and put ourselves in spiritual peril: 1) by breaking away from Him through sin; 2) by letting the attractions of the world become greater than attraction to Him; 3) by slowly distancing ourselves from Him by imperceptible degrees.
Make a serious examination of conscience according to these three perils. Make a good Act of Contrition and then avail yourself of the Sacrament of Reconciliation as soon as you can.
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Savior, when my life shall leave me,
Through your mother's prayers receive me
With the fruits of victory.For Reflection:
Consider the above stanza in light of these words written by Reverend Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange: … At the hour of death, that supreme moment when the soul’s destiny is decided, the Blessed Virgin Mary bears in mind the love that has been shown to her, recalling how her servants have said to her time and time again: ‘Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of death’. She holds them up in the struggle of their last agony and defends them against the devil… inspires them with true contrition … and when they have died she watches over them in purgatory that she may lead them at last into heaven.”
To what extent do I offer no resistance to Mary’s good inspirations? To what extent have I recommended myself to her? What hope does this give me?
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